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Act 4. Scene 3.]

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY

Beside, What infamy will there arise,
When foreign princes shall be certify'd,
That, for a toy, a thing of no regard,
King Henry's peers, and chief nobility,
Destroy'd themselves, and lost the realmof France
O, think upon the conquest of my father,
My tender years; and let us not forego
That for a trifle, which 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.
That any one should therefore be suspicious
I more incline to Somerset, than York:
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:

Enter General aloft.
English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth,
Servant in arms to Harry king of England;
And thus he would,--Open your city gates,
5 Be humbled to us; call my sovereign yours,
And do him homage as obedient subjects,
And I'll withdraw me and my bloody power:
But, if you frown upon this proffer'd peace,
You tempt the fury of my three attendants,-
10 Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing fire;
Who, in a moment, even with the earth
Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,
If forsake the offer of their love.

you

Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,
15 Our nation's terror, and their bloody scourge!
The period of thy tyranny approacheth.
On us thou canst not enter, but by death:
For, I protest, we are well fortify'd,
And strong enough to issue out and fight:
2cIf thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,
Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee:
On either hand thee there are squadrons pitch'd,
To wall thee from the liberty of flight;
And no way canst thou turn thee for redress,
But death doth front thee with apparent spoil,
And pale destruction meets thee in the face.
Ten thousand French have ta’en the sacrament,
To rive their dangerous artillery

And therefore, as we hither came in peace,
So let us still continue peace and love.-
Cousin of York, we institute your grace
To be our regent in these parts of France :-
And, good my lord of Somerset, unite
Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot ;-
And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors, 25
Go chearfully 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.

From thence to England; where I hope ere long 30 Lo! there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant man,
To be presented, by your victories,
With Charles, Alençon, and that traitorous rout.
[Flourish. Exeunt.

Manent York, Warwick, Exeter, and Vernon.
War. My lord of York, I promise you, the king 35
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.

3

Of an invincible unconquer'd spirit:
This is the latest glory of thy praise,
That I, thy enemy, due thee withal;
For ere the glass, that now begins to run,
Finish the process of his sandy hour,
These eyes, that see thee now well coloured,
Shall see thee wither'd, bloody, pale, and dead.
[Drum afar off.
Hark! hark! the Dauphin's drum, a warning bell,
40 Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul;
And mine shall ring thy dire departure out.
[Exit from the walls.
Tal. He fables not, I hear the enemy;-
Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their
Ere. Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress 450, negligent and heedless discipline! [wings.-

War. Tush! that was but his fancy, blame
him not;

I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.
York. And, if I wist', he did-But let it rest;
Other affairs must now be managed. [Exeunt.

Manet Exeter.

thy voice:

For, had the passions of thy heart burst out,
I fear, we should have seen decypher'd there
More rancorous spight, 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 he doth presage some ill event.
'Tis much, when scepters are in children's hands;
But more, when envy breeds unkind division;
Therecomesthe ruin,there begins confusion.[Exit.

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How are we park'd, and bounded in a pale;
A little herd of England's timorous deer,
Maz'd with a yelping kennel of French curs!
If we be English deer, be then in blood:
50 Not rascal like, to fall down with a pinch;
But rather moody mad, and desperate stags,
Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of steel
And make the cowards stand aloof at bay:
Sell every man his life as dear as mine,
55 And they shall find dear deer of us, my friends.-
God, and saint George! Talbot, and England
right!

160

Prosper ourcolours in thisdangerousfight! [Exeur

SCENE III.
Another part of France.

Enter a Messenger meeting York, who enters w
a trumpet, and many soldiers.

the speedy scouts return'd aga

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5

SCENE IV.
Another part of France..

Enter Somerset, with his Army.

Som. It is too late: I cannot send them now:
This expedition was by York and Talbot
Too rashly plotted; all our general force
Might with the sally of the very town

Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot
Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour
10 By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure:
York set him on to fight, and die in shame,
That,Talbot dead, great York might bear thename.
Capt. Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me
Set from our o'er-match'd forces forth for aid.
Enter Sir William Lucy.

15

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.Thouprincelyleader 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! toBourdeaux, York!
Else, farewell Talbot, France, and England's ho-25

nour.

York. O God! that Somerset-who in proud
heart

Doth stop my cornets-were in Talbot's place!
So should we save a valiant gentleman,
By forfeiting a traitor, and a coward.

Som. How now, Sir William? whither were you sent?

Lucy. Whither, my lord? from bought and
sold lord Talbot;

20 Who, ring'd about 2 with bold adversity,
Cries out for noble York and Somerset,
To beat assailing death from his weak legions.
And whiles the honourable captain there
Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,
And, in advantage ling'ring', looks for rescue,
You, his false hopes, the trust of England's honour,
Keep off aloof with worthless emulation *.
Let not your private discord keep away
The levied succours that shall lend him aid,
30 While he, renowned noble gentleman,
Yields up his life unto a world of odds:
Orleans the Bastard, Charles, and Burgundy,
Alençon, Reignier, compass him about,
And Talbot perisheth by your default. [him aid.
Som. York set him on, York should have sent
Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;
Swearing, that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
[the horse;
Som. York lies; he might have sent, and had
I owe him little duty, and less love;
And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by sending.
Lucy. The fraud of England, not the force of
France,

Mad ire, and wrathful fury, makes me weep,
That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.
Lucy. O,send some succour to the distress'd' lord!
York. He dies, we lose; I break my warlike|35|
word:

We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;
All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.

Lucy. Then, God take mercy on brave Talbot's
soul!
[since, 40
And on his son young John; whom, two hours
I met in travel towards his warlike father!
This seven years did not Talbot see his son;
And now they meet where both their lives are done.
York. Alas! what joy shall noble Talbot have, 45
To bid his young son welcome to his grave?
Away! vexation almost stops my breath,
That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death.-
Lucy, farewell: no more my fortune can,
But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.—
Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours, are won away,
'Long all of Somerset, and his delay.

Lucy. Thus, while the vulture of sedition
Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,
Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss
The conquest of our scarce-cold conqueror,
That ever-living man of memory,

Henry the fifth-Whiles they each other cross,
Lives, honours, lands, and all, hurry to loss.

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Hath now entrapt the noble-minded Talbot.
Never to England shall he bear his life;
But dies, betray'd to fortune by your strife.

Som. Come, go; I will dispatch the horsemen
Within six hours they will be at his aid. [straight:
Lucy. Too late comes rescue; he is ta'en, or slain:
50 For fly he could not, if he would have fled;
And fly would Talbot never, though he might.
Som. If he be dead, brave Talbot then adieu!
Lucy. His fame lives in the world, his shame
in you.
[Exeunt.

55

SCENE V.

A Field of Battle near Bourdeaux.
Enter Talbot, and his Son.

Tal. O young John Talbot! I did send for thee, [Exeunt. 60 To tutor thee in stratagems of war;

2 i. e. environed, encircled. 'i. e. protracting his resistance In this line, emulation signifies merely rivalry, not struggle for

That

That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd,
When sapless age, and weak unable limbs,
Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.
But,-O malignant and ill-boding stars!--
Now art thou come unto a feast of death',
A terrible and unavoided danger:
Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse;
And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape
By sudden flight: come, dally not, begone.

John. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son
And shall I fly? O! if you love my mother,
Dishonour not her honourable name,
To make a bastard, and a slave of me:
The world will say-He is not Talbot's blood,
That basely fled, when noble Talbot stood.

2

Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain. John. He that flies so, will ne'er return again. Tal. If we both stay, we both are sure to die. John. Then, let me stay; and, father, do you fly: Your loss is great, so your regard should be; My worth unknown, no loss is known in me. Upon my death the French can little boast; In yours they will, in you all hopes are lost. Flight cannot stain the honour you have won; But mine it will, that no exploit have done : You fled for vantage, every one will swear; But if I bow, they'll say-it was for fear. There is no hope that ever I will stay, If, the first hour, I shrink, and run away. Here, on my knee, I beg mortality, Rather than life preserv'd with infamy.

Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? John. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb.

5

Where is John Talbot?--Pause,and take thy breath; I gave thee life, and rescu'd thee from death.

John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son: The life, thou gav'st me first, was lost and done; Till with thy warlike sword, despight of fate, To my determin'd time thou gav'st new date. Tal. When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire,

It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire 10 Of bold-fac'd victory. Then leaden age, Quicken'd with youthful spleen, and warlike rage, Beat down Alençon, Orleans, Burgundy, And from the pride of Gallia rescu'd thee. The ireful bastard Orleans-that drew blood 15 From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood Of thy first fight-I soon encountered; And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed Some of his bastard blood; and, in disgrace, Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, base, 20 And mis-begotten blood I spill of thine, Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine, Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:Here, purposing the bastard to destroy, Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care; 25 Art not thou weary, John? How dost thou fare? Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly, Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry? Fly, to revenge my death, when I am dead; The help of one stands me in little stead. 30 Oh, too much folly is it, well I wot,

To hazard all our lives in one small boat.. If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage, To-morrow I shall die with mickle age: By me they nothing gain, and if I stay, 35Tis but the short'ning of my life one day: In thee thy mother dies, our household's name, Mydeath's revenge,thy youth, and England'sfame: All these, and more, we hazard by thy stay; All these are sav'd, if thou wilt fly away. [smart, John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me These words of yours draw-life-blood from my heart:

Tal. Upon my blessing I command thee go.
John. To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.
Tal. Part of thy father may be sav'd in thee.
John. No part of him, but will be shame in me.
Tal. Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not
lose it.
[abuse it? 40
John. Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight
Tal. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from
that stain.

John. You cannot witness for me, being slain.
If death be so apparent, then both fly.

[die?

Tal. And leave my followers here to fight and
My age was never taintedwith such shame.[blame
John. And shall my youth be guilty of such
No more can I be sever'd from your side,
Than can yourself yourself in twain divide:
Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I;
For live I will not, if my father die.

Tal. Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son,
Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon.
Come, side by side together live and die;
And soul with soul from France to heaven fly.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.
Alarum:excursions, wherein Talbot's son is hemm'd
about, and Talbot rescues him.

Tal. Saint George, and victory! fight, soldiers, The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, [fight: And left us to the rage of France's sword.

45

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50 And if I fly, I am not Talbot's son:

Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;
If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot.

Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete, Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:

55 If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side. And, commendable prov'd, let's die in pride. [Exeunt.

60

SCENE VII.

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To a field where death will be feasted with slaughter. Meaning, your care of your own safety. 1i. c. make me like, or reduce me to a level with, the peasant boys, &c.

002

Triumphant

Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity!!
Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee:-
When he perceiv'd me shrink, and on my knee,|
His bloody sword he brandish'd over me,
And, like a hungry lion, did commence
Rough deeds of rage, and stern impatience:
But when my angry guardant stood alone,
Tend'ring my ruin, and assail'd of none,
Dizzy-ey'd fury and great rage of heart,
Suddenly made him from my side to start
Into the clust'ring battle of the French:
And in that sea of blood my boy did drench
His over-mounting spirit; and there dy'd
My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

Enter John Talbot, bɔrne.

borne!

is

Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your son
[scorn,
Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to

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25 Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field,
Valiant lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury?
Created for his rare success in arms,
Great earl of Washford, Waterford, and Valence;
Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield,
Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of Alton,
Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, lord Furnival of Shef-
The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; [field,
Knight of the noble order of Saint George,
Worthy saint Michael, and the golden fleece;
Great Marshall to Henry the sixth,

AD York and Somerset brought 30
rescue in,

We should have found a bloody day of this.
Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's raging-

wood *,

Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood: 35
Pucel. Once I encounter'd him, and thus I said,Į
Thou maiden youth, be vanquish'd by a maid:
But-with a proud, majestical, high scorn-
He answer'd thus; Young Talbot was not born-
To be the pillage of a giglot' wench:
So, rushing in the bowels of the French,
He left me proudly, as unworthy fight. [knight:
Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble
See, where he lies inhersed in the arms
Of the most bloody nurser of his harms. [asunder; 45
Bast. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones
Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's wonder.
Char. Oh, no; forbear: for that which we have
During the life, let us not wrong it dead. [tled

Enter Sir William Lucy.

Lucy. Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know

Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.

Of all his wars within the realm of France?

Pucel. Here is a silly stately style, indeed!
The Turk, that two-and-titty kingdoms hath,
Writes not so tedious a style as this.-
Him, that thou magnify'st with all these titles,
Stinking, and fly-blown, lies here at our feet.

Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchman's only

Scourge,

Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis?
Oh, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd,
That I, in rage, might shoot them at your faces!
Oh, that I could but call these dead to life,
It were enough to fright the realm of France:
Were but his picture left among you here,
50 It would amaze the proudest of you all.
Give me their bodies; that I may bear them hence,
And give them burial, as beseems their worth.

Char. On what submissive message art thou sent?
Lucy. Submission, Dauphin? 'tis a mere French 55
word;

We English warriors wot not what it means.
I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta'en,
And to survey the bodies of the dead.

Char. For prisoners asks't thou? hell our prison is. 60
But tell me whom thou seek'st.

Pucel. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost, He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit. For God's sake, let him have 'em; to keep them They would but stink, and putrefy the air. [here, Char. Go, take their bodies hence.

Lucy. I'll bear

Them hence: but from their ashes shall be rear'd A phoenix, that shall make all France afeard. [wilt. Char.So we be rid of them, do with him what thou 2i. e. watching me with tenderness in my fall. Raging-wood signifies raging mad. ~? Giglet is a wanton, or a strumpet.

1i.e. stained and dishonoured with captivity. 3 Lither is flexible or yielding.

And now to Paris, in this conquering vein;
All will be ours, now bloody Talbot's slain.

SCENE II.
England.

[Exeunt.

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King, and train. Win.Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive The sum of money, which I promised

5 Should be deliver'd to his holiness
For clothing me in these brave ornaments.

Enter King Henry, Gloster, and Exeter.
K. Henry. Have you perus'd the letters from the
The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac? [pope,
Glo. have, my lord; and their intent is this,10
They humbly sue unto your excellence,
To have a godly peace concluded of,
Between the realms of England and of France.
K. Henry. How doth your grace affect their
motion?

Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only means
To stop effusion of our Christian blood,
And stablish quietness on every side.

K.Henry.Ay,marry, uncle; for I always thought,
It was both impious and unnatural,
That such immanity' and bloody strife
Should reign among professors of one faith.

Glo. Beside, my lord,-the sooner to effect,
And surer bind, this knot of amity,-
The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles,
A man of great authority in France,—
Proffers his only daughter to your grace
In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.
K. Henry. Marriage? uncle, alas! my years are
And fitter is my study and my books, [young;
Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,
So let them have their answers every one.
I shall be well content with any choice
Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.
Enter a Legate, and two Ambassadors; with Win-
chester as Cardinal.

Exe. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd,
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree!

Then, I perceive, that will be verify'd,

Henry the fifth did sometime prophesy,

If once he come to be a cardinal,

He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.
K.Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits
Have been consider'd and debated on.
Your purpose is both good and reasonable:
And, therefore, are we certainly resolv'd
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which, by my lord of Winchester, we mean
Shall be transported presently to France.

Glo. And for the profferof my lord your master,-
I have inform'd his highness so at large,
As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
He doth intend she shall be England's queen.
K. Henry. In argument and proof of which
contract,

15

20

Legate. Iwill attend upon your lordship's leisure.
Win. Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,
Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,
That, nor in birth, nor for authority,
The bishop will be overborne by thee:
I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

France.

Enter Dauphin, Burgundy, Alençon, and Joan la
Pucelle.

Dau. These news, my lords, may cheer our
drooping spirits:

'Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And turn again unto the warlike French. [France, Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of 25 And keep not back your powers in dalliance. Pucel.Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces! Enter a Scout.

30

35

40

45

Scout. Success unto our valiant general,
And happiness to his accomplices!

[speak. Dau. What tidings send our scouts? Ipr'ythee, Scout. The English army, that divided was

Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;
And means to give you battle presently.

Dau. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;
But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there;
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.
Pucel. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:--
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.
Dau. Then on, my lords; and France be for-
[Exeunt.

tunate!

SCENE IV.

Alarum: excursions. Enter Joan la Pucelle.
Pucel. The regent conquers,and the Frenchmen
Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts'; [fly.--
And ye choice spirits, that admonish me,

50 And give me signs of future accidents! [Thunder.
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north',
Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!
Enter Fiends.

55 This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd

Bear her this jewel, pledge of: my affection.-
And so, my lord protector, see them guarded,
And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd,[60]

Of

Out of the powerful regions under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the field.
[They walk, and speak not.

1i. e. barbarity, savageness. 2 Periapts were charms sewed up and worn about the neck as preservatives from disease or danger. Of these, the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. 3 The north was always supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north.

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