Tal. Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!— Then be it so :-Heavens keep old Bedford safe!

And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand,
And set upon our boasting enemy.

[Exeunt BURGUNDY, TALBOT, and Forces,
leaving BEDFORD, and others.

Alarums: Excursions. Enter Sir JOHN FAS-
TOLFE, and a CAPTAIN.

Cap. Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such
haste?

And of thy cunning had no diffidence ;
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, And we will make thee famous through the world.

Alen. We'll set thy statue in some holy place, And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint; Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good. Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:

Fast. Whither away? to save myself by flight;

We are like to have the overthrow again.

France were no place for Henry's warriors;
Cap. What! will you fly, and leave lord Tal- Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
bot?
But be extirped from our provinces.
Fast. Ay,

Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd + from
France,

All the Talbots in the world to save my life.

And not have title to an earldom here.
Puc. Your honours shall perceive how I will
work,
To bring this matter to the wished end.
Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive
[Drums heard.
Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.
An English March. Enter, and pass ever

at a distance, TALBOT, and his Forces. There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread; And all the troops of English after him.

[Exit.

Cap. Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee! [Exit.

Retreat: Excursions. Enter from the Town,
LA PUCELLE, ALENÇON, CHARLES, &c. and
Exeunt, flying.

Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven
please;

For I have seen our enemies' overthrow.
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They, that of late were daring with their scoffs,
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[Dies, and is carried off in his Chair. Alarum: Enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and

others.

Tal. Lost, and recover'd in a day again!
This is a double honour, Burgundy :
Yet, heavens have glory for this victory!

Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
Enshrines thee in his heart; and there erects
Thy noble deeds, as valour's monument.

Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pu-
celle now?

I think, her old familiar is asleep:
Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles
bis gleeks? *
What, all a-mort?+ Rouen hangs her head for
grief,

That such a valiant company are fled.
Now will we take some order in the town,
Placing therein some expert officers;
And then depart to Paris, to the king;
For there young Harry, with his nobles, lies.
Bur. What wills ford Talbot, pleaseth Bur-
gundy.

Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget
The noble dike of Bedford, late deceas'd,
But see his exequies $ fulfill'd in Rouen;
A braver soldier never couched lance;
A gentler heart did never sway in court:
But kings and mightiest potentates must die;
For that's the end of human misery.

[Exeunt.

By fair persuasions, mix'd with sugar'd words,
We will entice the duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot, and to follow us.

Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do
that,

A French March. Enter, the duke of BUR

GUNDY and Forces.

Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and
his;
Fortune, in favour, make him lag behind.
Summon a parley, we will talk with him.
[A Parley sounded.
Char. A parley with the duke of Burgundy.
Bur. Who craves a parley with the Bur-
gundy?

Puc. The princely Charles of France, thy
Countryman.

Bur. What say'st thou, Charles ? for Im
marching hence.
Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with
thy words.

Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of
France;

Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.
Bur. Speak on; but be not over-tedious.
Puc. Look on thy country, look on fertile
France,

And see the cities and the towns defac'd
By wasting ruin of the cruel foe !
As looks the mother on her lowly babe,
When death doth close his tender dying eyes,
See, see, the pining malady of France;
Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds,
Which thou thyself hast given her woeful breast!
O turn thy edged sword another way;

Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that
help!
One drop of blood, drawn from thy country's
Should grieve thee more than streams of foreiga
bosom,

gore;

Return thee, therefore, with a flood of tears,
And wash away thy country's stained spots!
Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her
words,

Or nature makes me suddenly relent.

Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaims
on thee,
Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.
Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly ha-
tion,

When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
That will not trust thee, but for profit's sake?
And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill,
Who then but English Henry, will be lord,

Rooted out.

† Expellid.

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

479

Dar'st thou maintain the former words thon spak'st?

Bast. Yes, Sir; as well as you dare patronage
The envious barking of your sancy tongue
Against my lord the duke of Somerset.

Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.
Bas. Why, what is he? as good a man as
York.

Ver. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye
that.
[Strikes him.
Bas. Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is
such,

That who so draws a sword, 'tis present death;
blood.
Or else this blow should broach thy dearest

But I'll unto his majesty, and crave
I may have liberty to 'venge this wrong;
When thou shalt see, I'll meet thee to thy cost.
Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as
you:

And, after, meet you sooner than you would.
[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The same.-A Room of State. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, EXETER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WINCHESTER, WARWICK, TALBOT, the GOVERNOR of Paris, and others.

Glo. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,--[GOVERNOR kneels. That you elect no other king but him: Esteem none friends, but such as are his friends;

K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain, and victo-
rious lord!
When I was young, (as yet I am not old,)
I do remember how my father said,
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolved of your truth,
Your faithful service, and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face :
Therefore, stand up; and, for these good de-

towns of To haste unto your coronation,
A letter was deliver'd to my hands,

And none your foes, but such as shali pretend ⚫
Malicious practices against his state:

This shall ye do, so help you righteous God !
[Exeunt Gov. and his Train.

serts, Webere create you earl of Shrewsbury; And in our coronation take your place. [Exeunt King HENRY, GLOSTER, TALBOT,

and Nobles.

er. Now, Sir, to you, that were so hot at

sea,

He then, that is not furnish'd in this sort,
Doth bat usurp the sacred name of knight.
Profaning this most honourable order;
And should (if I were worthy to be judge,)
Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain
That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
K. Hen. Stain to thy countrynien ! thou hear'st
thy doom:

Be packing therefore, thon that wast a knight:
Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death.-
[Exit FASTOLFE.
And now, my lord protector, view the letter
Sent from our uncle duke of Burgundy.
Glo. What means his grace, that he hath
chang'd his style!
[Viewing the superscription.
No more but, plain and bluntly,-To the king?
Hath he forgot, he is his sovereign ?
Or doth this churlish superscription
Pretend some alteration in good will?
What's here -I have, upon especial cause,—
[Reads.
Mov'd with compassion of my country's
wreek,

Together with the pitiful complaints
Of such as your oppression feeds upon,
Forsaken your pernicious faction,
And join'd with Charles, the rightful king
of France.

O monstrous treachery! Can this be so;
[guile.
That in alliance, amity, and oaths,
There should be found such false dissembling
K. Hen. What! doth my uncle Burgundy
revolt?

When stubbornly he did repugu⚫ the truth,
About a certain question in the law,
Argu'd betwixt the duke of York and him;
With other vile and ignominious terms:
In confutation of which rude reproach,
And in defence of my lord's worthiness,
I crave the benefit of law of arms.

Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord:
For though he seem, with forged quaint con-
ceit,

To set a gloss upon his bold intent,
Yet know, my lord, I was provok'd by him;
And he first took exceptions at this badge,
Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower
Bewray'd the faintness of my master's heart.
York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be
left?

Glo. He doth, my lord; and is become your foe.

K. Hen. Is that the worst this letter doth contain ?

Glo. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.

K. Hen. Why then, lord Talbot there shall talk with him,

And give him chastisement for this abuse ;-
My lord, how say you? are not you content?

Tal. Content, my liege? Yes; but that I am
prevented, +

I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd.

Enter VERNON and BASSET.

Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious

reign !

And perish ye, with your audacious prate!
Presumptuous vassals! are you not asham'd,
With this immodest clamorous outrage
To trouble and disturb the king and us!
And you, my lords,-methinks, you do not
well,

To bear with their perverse objections;
Much less to take occasion from their mouths
To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves:
Let me persuade you take a better course.
Exe. It grieves his highness;-Good my
lords; be friends.

K. Hen. Come hither, you that would be
combatants:
Henceforth, I charge you, as you love our
favour,

Quite to forget this quarrel, and the cause.—
And you, my lords,-remember where we are;
sove-In France, amongst a fickle wavering vation :
If they perceive dissention in our looks,
And that within ourselves we disagree,
How will their grudging stomachs be provok'd
To wilful disobedience, and rebel ?
Beside, what infamy will there arise,
When foreign princes shall be certified,
That, for a toy, a thing of no regard,
King Henry's peers, and chief nobility,
Destroy'd themselves, and lost the realm of

France ?

K. Hen. Then gather strength, and march unto him straight : Let him perceive, how ill we brook his trea

son;

And what offence it is, to flout his friends.
Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still,
You may behold confusion of your foes. [Exit.

Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it

K. Hen. Good lord! what madness rules in
brain-sick men ;

When, for so slight and frivolous a cause,
Such factious emulations shall arise!--
Good cousins both, of York and Somerset,
Quiet yourselves, I pray, aud be at peace.
York. Let this dissention first be tried by
fight,

And

then your highness shall command a
peace.
Som. The quarrel toucheth none but as
alone;

Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.
York. There is my pledge: accept it, So-

merset.

Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the combat

too!

York. This is my servant: Hear him, noble
prince!
Som. And this is mine: Sweet Henry, favour

him!

This fellow here with envious carping tongue,
Upbraided me about the rose I wear;
Saying the sanguine colour of the leaves
Did represent my master's blushing cheeks,
• Design.
↑ Anticipated.

Som. Your private grudge, my lord of York, will out,

K. Hen. Be patient, lords; and give them
leave to speak.-

Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim?
And wherefore crave you combat? or with
whom?
Ver. With him my lord; for he hath done

me wrong.

Bas. And I with him; for he hath done me

wrong.

K. Hen. What is that wrong whereof you
both complain?
First let me know, and then I'll answer you.
Bas. Crossing the sea from England into

France,

Ver. Nay, let it rest where it began at first.
Bas. Confirm it so, miue honourable lord.
Glo. Confirm it so! Confounded
be your

strife!

O think upon the conquest of my father,
My tender years; and let us not forego
That for a trifle, that was bought with blood:
Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife.
I see no reason, if I wear this rose.
[Putting on a red Rose.
more incline to Somerset than York:
That any one should therefore be suspicious
Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both:
As well they may upbraid me with my crown,
Because forsooth the king of Scots is crown'd.
But your discretions better can persuade,
Than I am able to instruct or teach:
And therefore, as we hither came in peace,
So let us still continue peace and love.—
+ Betrayed.

• Resist.

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

Scene II.

To wall thee from the liberty of flight:

Cousin of York, we institute your grace
To be our regent in these parts of France :-
And good my lord of Somerset, mite

Your troops of horsemen with his bands
foot;-

of

And no way canst thou turn thee for redress,
But death doth front thee with apparent spoil,
Ten thousand French have ta'en the sacra-
And pale destruction meets thee in the face.
ment,

And, like true subjects, sons of your progeni-
tors,

To rive their dangerous artillery

Go cheerfully together, and digest

Your angry choler on your enemies.
Ourself, my lord protector, and the rest,
After some respite, will return to Calais;

Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot.
Lo! there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant
man,

Of an invincible unconquer'd spirit:

long
To be presented, by your victories,
With Charles, Alençon, and that traitorous

That 1, thy enemy, due thee withal;
From thence to England; where I hope ere This is the latest glory of thy praise,
For ere the glass, that now begins to run,
These eyes, that see thee now well coloured,
Finish the process of his sandy hour,
Drum affar off.
Shall see thee wither'd, bloody, pale, aud dead.
bell,
Hark! hark! the Dauphin's drum, a warning

rout.

[Flourish Exeunt King HENRY, GLO. SOM.
WIN. SUF. and BASSET.
War. My lord of York, I promise you, the
king

Prettily, methought, did play the orator.
York. And so he did; but yet I like it not,
In that he wears the badge of Somerset.
Wor. Tush! that was but his fancy, blame
him not:

481

Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul;
And mine shal! ring thy dire departure out.

[Exeunt GENERAL, &c. from the Walls.
Tal. He fables not, I hear the enemy;-
Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their
wings.-

I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no
barm.

O negligent and heedless discipline!

York. And if I wist he did,-But let

it

rest;
Other affairs must now be managed.

[Exeunt YORK, WARWICK, and VERNON.
Exe. Well didst thou, Richard to suppress
thy voice:

A little herd of England's timorous deer,
How are we park'd, and bounded in a pale ;
Maz'd with a yelping kennel of French curs!
If we be English deer, be then in blood : +
But rather moody-mad, and desperate stags
For rascal-like, ‡ to fall-down with a pinch;
Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of
steel,

For, had the passions of thy heart burst out,
I fear we should have seen decipher'd there,
More rancorous spite, more furious raging broils,
Than yet can be imagin'd or suppos'd.
But howsoe'er, no simple man that sees
This jarring discord of nobility,
This should'ring of each other in the court,
This factious bandying of their favourites,
But that it doth presage some ill event.
'Tis much, when sceptres are in children's
hands;
But more, when envy breeds unkind divi-
sion;
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion.
[Exit.
SCENE II.-France.-Before Bourdeaux.
Enter TALBOT with his Forces.

Tal. Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trum-That
peter,
Sammon their general unto the
Trumpet sounds a Parley.

wall.
Enter, on the
Walls, the GENERAL of the French Forces,
and others.
English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth,
Servant in arms to Harry king of England;
And thus he would,--Open your city gates,
Be humble to us; call my sovereign your's,
And do him homage as obedient subjects,
And I'll withdraw me and my bloody power:
Fut, if you frown upon this proffer'd peace,
You tempt the fury of my three attendants,
Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing
fire;

• Tis strange, or wonderful.
¡ Unnatural.
+ Enauty.

Sell every man his life as dear as mine,
And make the cowards stand aloof at bay:
And they shall find dear deer of us, my
friends.-

God and Saint George! Talbot and England's
right!

Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight!
[Exeunt.

SCENE 111.-Plains in Gascony. Enter YORK, with Forces; to him a MusSENGER.

York. Are not the speedy scouts return'd
again,
That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin?
Mess. They are return'd, my lord; and give

Who, in a moment, even with the earth
Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,
If ya forsake the offer of their love.

Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,
ar nation's terror, and their bloody scourge !
The period of thy tyranny approacheth.

OD

as thou canst not enter, but by death: .
For, I protest, we are well fortified,
And strong enough to issue out and fight:
I then retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,'
Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee:
On either hand thee there are squadrons pitch'd,

it out,

he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power,

To fight with Talbot: as he march'd along,
By your espials were discovered

Which join'd with him, and made their march
Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led;
for Bourdeaux.

York. A plague upon that villain Somerset ;
That thus delays my promised supply
Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege !
Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid;
And I am lowted by a traitor villain,
And cannot help the noble chevalier :
God comfort him in this necessity!
If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.

Enter Sir WILLIAM LUCY.

Lucy. Thou princely leader of our English

strength,

Never so needful on the earth of France,
Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot;
Who now is girdled with a waist of iron,
And hemm'd about with grim destruction:
To Bourdeaux, warlike duke! to Bourdeaux,
York !
Else, farewell, Talbot, France, and England's
honour.
York. O God! that Somerset-who in proud
heart

Ta high spirt.
Endue, honour.
A rascal deer is the term of chase for lean poor deer,
| Vanquished, baffled.
Spies.

3Q