The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, to which are Added His Miscellaneous Poems. (Life of William Shakspeare, by Mr. N. Rowe.).

Plan. O, uncle, 'would some part of my young years

Might but redeem the passage of your age!

Mor. Thou dost then wrong me; as the slaughterer doth,

Which giveth many wounds, when one will kill.
Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good;
Only give order for my funeral;

And so farewell; and fair be all thy hopes!
And prosperous be thy life, in peace, and war! [Dies.
Plan. And peace, no war, befal thy parting soul!
In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage,
And like a hermit overpass'd thy days.-
Well, I will lock his counsel in my breast;
And what I do imagine, let that rest.-
Keepers, convey him hence; and I myself
Will see his burial better than his life.-

[Exeunt Keepers, bearing out Mortimer.
Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,
Choked with ambition of the meaner sort:-
And, for those wrongs, those bitter injuries,
Which Somerset hath offer'd to my house,-
I doubt not, but with honour to redress:
And therefore haste I to the parliament;
Either to be restored to my blood,

Win. This Rome shall remedy. War. Roam thither then.

Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear. War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne. Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious, And know the office that belongs to such. War. Methinks, his lordship should be humbler; It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.

Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so near. War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of that?, Is not his grace protector to the king!

[Aside.

Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue; Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should; Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords? Else would have a fling at Winchester. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster, and of Winchester, The special watchmen of our English weal; I would prevail, if prayers might prevail, To join your hearts in love and amity. O, what a scandal is it to our crown, That two such noble peers as ye, should jar! Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell, Civil dissension is a viperous worm, That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.[A noise within; Down with the tawny coats! War. An uproar, I dare warrant, Begun through malice of the bishop's men.

Or make my ill the advantage of my good. [Erit. What tumult's this?

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The Same.-The Parliament House. Flourish.-Eter King HENRY, EXETER, Gloster, WARWICK, SOMERSET, and SUFFOLK; the Bishop of WINCHESTER, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, and others.-GLOSTER offers to put up a Bill WIN. CHESTER Snatches it, and tears it.

Win. Comest thou with deep premeditated lines,
With written pamphlets studiously devised,
Humphrey of Gloster? If thou canst accuse,
Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge,
Do it without invention suddenly;

As 1 with sudden and extemporal speech
Purpose to answer what thou canst object.

Glo. Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience,

Or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonour'd me.
Think not, although in writing I preferr'd
The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes,
That therefore I have forged, or am not able
Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen:
No, prelate; such is thy audacious wickedness,
Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks,
As very infants prattle of thy pride.
Thou art a most pernicious usurer;
Forward by nature, enemy to peace;
Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems
A man of thy profession, and degree;
And for thy treachery, What's more manifest?
In that thou laid'st a trap to take my life,
As well at London bridge, as at the Tower?
Beside, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted,
The king, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt
From envious malice of thy swelling heart.
Win. Gloster, I do defy thee.-Lords, vouchsafe
To give me hearing what I shall reply.
If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse,
As he will have me, how am I so poor?
Or how haps it, I seek not to advance

Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling?
And for dissension, who preferreth peace
More than I do,-except I be provoked?
No, my good lords, it is not that offends;
It is not that, that hath incensed the duke:
It is, because no one should sway but he;
No one, but he, should-be about the king;
And that engenders thunder in his breast,
And makes him roar these accusations forth.
But he shall know, I am as good-

Glo. As good?

Thou bastard of my grandfather!→

Win. Ay, lordly Sir; for what are you, I pray, But one imperious in another's throne?

Glo. Am I not the protector, saucy priest? Win. And am I not a prelate of the church? Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, And useth it to patronage his theft.

Win.. Unreverent Gloster!

Glo. Thou art reverent

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.

[A Noise again; Stones! Stones!
Enter the MAYOR OF LONDON, attended.
May. O, my good lords,-and virtuous Henry,-
Pity the city of London, pity us!

The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men,
Forbidden late to carry any weapon,
Have till'd their pockets full of pebble-stones;
And, banding themselves in contrary parts,
Do pelt so fast at one another's pate,
That many have their giddy brains knock'd out:
Our windows are broke down in every street,
And we, for fear, compell'd to shut our shops.
Enter, skirmishing, the Retainers of GLOSTER and
WINCHESTER, with bloody Pates.

K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself, To hold your slanght'ring hands,and keep the peace. Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife.

1 Serv. Nay, if we be

Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth. 2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute. [Skirmish again. Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish broil,

And set this unaccustom'd fight aside.

3 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a man Just and upright; and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none, but his majesty: And, ere that we will suffer such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal, To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate +, We, and our wives, and children, all will fight, And have our bodies slaughter'd by thy foes. 1 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field, when we are dead.

[Skirmish again.

Glo. Stay, stay, I say!
And, if you love me, as you say you do,
Let me persuade you to forbear a while.

K. Hen. O, how this discord doth afflict my soul!
Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold
My sighs and tears, and will not once relent?
Who should be pitiful, if you be not?

Or who should study to prefer a peace,
If holy churchmen take delight in broils?
War. My lord Protector, yield;- Yield Win-
chester;-

Except you mean, with obstinate repulse,
To slay your sovereign, and destroy the realm.
You see what mischief, and what murder too,
Hath been enacted through your enmity;
Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.

Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compassion on the king commands me stoop;
Or, I would see his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get that privilege of me.

War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the duke Hath banish'd moody discontented fury,

As by his smoothed brows it doth appear:
Why look you still so stern, and tragical?

Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand.
K. Hen. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard you
preach,

That malice was a great and grievous sin:
And will not you maintain the thing you teach,
But prove a chief offender in the same?

War. Sweet king 1-The bishop hath a kindly
gird-

For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent;
What, shall a child instruct you what to do?

And Henry, born at Windsor, should lose all:
Which is so plain, that Exeter doth wish
His days may finish ere that hapless time. [Exit

SCENE 11.-France.-Before Roüen.

Enter LA PUCELLE disguised ; and SOLDIERS dressed
like Countrymen, with Sacks upon their Backs.
Puc. These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen,
Through which our policy must make a breach:
Take heed, be wary how you place your words;
Talk like the vulgar sort of market-men,

Win. Well, duke of Gloster, I will yield to That come to gather money for their corn.

thee;

Love for thy love, and hand for hand I give.

Glo. Ay; but I fear me, with a hollow heart.-
See here, my friends, and loving countrymen ;
This token serveth for a flag of truce,
Betwixt ourselves, and all our followers:
So help me God, as I dissemble not!

Win. So help me God, as I intend it not!

(Aside. K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind duke of Gloster, How joyful am I made by this contract!Away, my masters, trouble us no more; But join in friendship, as your lords have done. 1 Serv. Content; I'll to the surgeon's. 2 Serv. And so will I.

affords.

3 Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern [Exeunt Servants, Mayor, &c. War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign; Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet We do exhibit to your majesty.

Glo. Well urged my lord of Warwick;-for,
sweet prince,

An if your grace mark every circumstance,
You have great reason to do Richard right:
Especially, for those occasions

At Eltham-place I told your majesty.

K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of
force;

Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is,
That Richard be restored to his blood.

War. Let Richard be restored to his blood;
So shall his father's wrongs be recompensed.
Win. As will the rest, so willeth Winchester.
K. Hen. If Richard will be true, not that alone,
But all the whole inheritance I give,
That doth belong unto the house of York,
From whence you spring by lineal descent.
Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience,
And humble service, till the point of death.
K. Hen. Stoop, then, and set your knee against
my foot;

And, in reguerdon + of that duty done,

I girt thee with the valiant sword of York:
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet;
And rise created princely duke of York.

If we have entrance, (as, I hope we shall,)
And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
I'll by a sign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.
1 Sol. Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,
And we be lords and rulers over Rouen;
Therefore we'll knock.

(Knocks.

Guard. [Within.] Qui est là?
Puc. Paisans, pauvres gens de France:
Poor market-folks, that come to sell their corn.
Guard. Euter, go in the market bell is rung.

[Opens the Gates. Puc. Now, Rouen, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground. [Pucelle, &c., enter the City.

Enter CHARLES, BASTARD of ORLEANS, ALENÇON,

and Forces.

Char. Saint Dennis bless this happy stratagem!
And once again we'll sleep secure in Rouen.
Bast. Here enter'd Pucelle, and her practisants":
Now she is there, how will she specify
Where is the best and safest passage in?

Alen. By thrusting out a torch from yonder

tower;

Which, once discern'd, shews, that her meaning is,-
No way to that t, for weakness, which she enter'd.
Enter LA PUCELLE on a Battlement; holding out a
Torch burning.

Puc. Behold, this is the happy wedding torch,
That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen ;
But burning fatal to the Talbotites."

Bast. See, noble Charles! the beacon of our
friend,

The burning torch in yonder turret stands.
Char. Now shine it like a comet of revenge,

A prophet to the fall of all our foes!
Alen. Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends;
And then do execution on the watch. [They enter.
Enter, and cry-The Dauphin !-presently,

Alarums.-Enter TALBOT, and certain English.
Tal. France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy
tears,
If Talbot but survive thy treachery.-

Plan. And so thrive Richard, as thy foes may Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress,

fall!

And as my duty springs, so perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty !
All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty duke of
York!

Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of York!
[Aside.

Glo. Now will it best avail your majesty,
To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France:
The presence of a king engenders love
Amongst his subjests, and his loyal friends;
As it disanimates his enemies.

Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
[Exeunt to the Town.
Alarum:-Excursions.-Enter, from the Town, BED
FORD, brought in sick, in a Chair, with TALBOT,
BURGUNDY, and the English Forces.-Then, enter
on the Walls, LA PUCELLE, CHARLES, BASTARD,
ALENÇON, and others.

Puc. Good morrow, gallants! Want ye corn for

bread?

I think, the duke of Burgundy will fast,

K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king Before he'll buy again at such a rate:

Henry goes;

For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.
Glo. Your ships already are in readiness.
[Exeunt all but Exeter.
Exe. Ay, we may march in England, or in France,
Not seeing what is likely to ensue :
This late dissension, grown betwixt the peers,
Burns under feigned ashes of forged love,
And will at last break out into a flame:
As fester'd members rot but by degrees,
Till bones, and flesh, and sinews fall away,
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal prophecy,
Which, in the time of Henry, named the fifth,
Was in the mouth of every sucking babe,-
That Henry, born at Monmouth, should win all;

Feels an emotion of kind remorse.
Recompence.

'Twas full of darnel; do you like the taste?

Bur. Scoff on, vile fiend, and shameless courtezan! I trust, ere long to choke thee with thine own, And make thee curse the harvest of that corn. Char. Your grace may starve, perhaps, before that time.

Bed. O, let no words, but deeds revenge this treason!

Puc. What will you do, good grey-beard? Break
a lance,

And run a tilt at death within a chair?
Tal. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite,
Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours!
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age,
And twit with cowardice a man half dead?

• Confederates in stratagems.
ti. e. No way equal to that.
Haughty power.

If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.→
[Talbot, and the rest, consult together.
God speed the parliament! Who shall be the
speaker?

Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his gleeks⚫ ?

Damsel, I'll have a bout with you again,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
Pue. Are you so hot, Sir -Yet, Pucelle, hold What, all a-most? Rouen hangs her head for grief,
thy peace;
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 lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgundy.
Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget
The noble duke of Bedford, late deceased,
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.

Tal. Dare ye come forth, and meet us in the field? Puc. Belike, your lordship takes us then for fools,

To try if that our own be ours, or no.

Tal.

speak not to that railing Hecaté,
But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest;
Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out!
Alen. Signior, no.

Tal. Signior, hang!-Base muleteers of France!
Like peasant foot-boys, do they keep the walls,
And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.

Puc. Captains, away: let's get us from the walls;
For Talbot means no goodness, by his looks.-
God be wi' you, my lord! We came, Sir, but to tell

[Exeunt La Pucelle, &c. from the Walls.
Tal. And there will we be too, ere it be long,
Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame !—
Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
(Prick'd on by public wrongs, sustain'd in France,)
Either to get the town again, or die:
And I,-as sure as English Henry lives,
And as his father here was conqueror;
As sure as in this late-betrayed town
Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buried;
So sure I swear, to get the town, or die.

Bur. My vows are equal partners with thy

you.

Bed. Not to be gone from hence; for once I read,
That stout Pendragon, in his litter, sick,
Came to the field, and vanquish'd his foes:
Methinks, I should revive the soldiers' hearts,
Because I ever found them as myself.

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..

Alarum :—Excursions.—Enter Sir JOHN FASTOLFE,
and a CAPTAIN.

Cap. Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such

haste?

Fast. Whither away? To save myself by flight;
We are like to have the overthrow again."

Cap. What! will you fly, and leave lord Talbot?
Fast. Ay,

All the Talbots in the world, to save my life. [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 Pucelle

now?

I think, her old familiar is asleep:

SCENE III.-The same.-The Plains near the City.
Enter CHARLES, the BASTARD, ALENÇON, LA
PUCELLE, and Forces.

Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident,
Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered:
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,
For things that are not to be remedied.
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while,
And like a peacock sweep along his tail;
We'll pull his plumes, and take away his train,
If Dauphin, and the rest, will be but ruled.
Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto,
And of thy cunning had no diffidence;
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.
Bust. 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 reverenced like a blessed saint;
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.
Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:
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,
France were no place for Henry's warriors;
Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
But be extirped from our provinces.

Alen. For ever should they be expulsed from
France,

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.

[Drums heard.
Hark! By the sound of drum, you may perceive
Their powers are marching on to Paris-ward.
An English March.-Enter, and pass over at a dis-
tance, TALBOT, and his Forces.
There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread;
And all the troops of English after him.

A French March.-Enter the Duke of BURGUNDY
and Forces.
Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his
Fortune, in favour, makes 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 Burgundy?
Puc. The princely Charles of France, thy coun-
tryman.

Bur.

What say'st thou, Charles? for I am 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 defaced
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 bosom,

⚫ Scoffs.
+ Quite dispirited.
Make some necessary dispositions.
Funeral rites.

Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign

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 nation,
That will not trust thee, but for profit's sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
And fashion'd thee that instrumeut of ill,
Who then, but English Henry will be lord,
And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?

Call we to mind, and mark but this, for proof;

Was not the duke of Orleans thy foe?
And was he not in England prisoner?
But, when they heard he was thine enemy,
They set him free, without his ransome paid,
In spite of Burgundy, and all his friends.
See then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen,
And join'st with them will be thy slaughter-men.
Come, come, return; return thou wand'ring lord;
Charles, and the rest, will take thee in their arms.
Bur. Í am vanquished; these haughty words of

hers

Tal. My gracious prince, and honourable peers,

Hearing of your arrival in this realm,

I have a while given truce unto my wars,

To do my duty to my sovereign:

In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaim'd
To your obedience fifty fortresses,

Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength,
Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,-
Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet;
And, with submissive loyalty of heart,
Ascribes the glory of his conquest got,
First to my God, and next unto your grace.

K. Hen. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Gloster,
That hath so long been resident in France?

Glo. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.
K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain, and victorious
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 deserts,
We here create you earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronation take your place.

[Exeunt King Henry, Gloster, Talbot,
and Nobles.

Ver. Now, Sir, to you, that were so hot at sea,
Disgracing of these colours that I wear
In honour of my noble lord of York,—

Darest thou maintain the former words thou spakest?
Bas. Yes, Sir; as well as you dare patronage
The envious barking of your saucy 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;
Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.
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.

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; And none your foes, but such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state: This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! [Exeunt Gov. and his Train. Enter Sir JOHN FASTOLFE. Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais, To haste unto your coronation, A letter was deliver'd to my hands, Writ to your grace from the duke of Burgundy. Tal. Shame to the duke of Burgundy, and thee! I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next, To tear the garter from thy craven's + leg,

[Plucking it off.

(Which I have done) because unworthily
Thou wast installed in that high degree.-
Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest:
This dastard, at the battle of Patay,-
When but in all I was six thousand strong,
And that the French were almost ten to one,-
Before we met, or that a stroke was given,
Like to a trusty squire, did run away;
In which assault we lost twelve hundred men;
Myself, and divers gentlemen beside,
Were there surprized, and taken prisoners.
Then, judge, great lords, if I have done amiss;
Or whether that such cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood, yea, or no.

Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous,
And ill beseeming any common man;
Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords,
Knights of the garter were of noble birth;
Valiant, and virtuous, full of haughty courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes 3.
He then, that is not furnish'd in this sort,
Doth but 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 countrymen! thou hear'st
thy doom:

Be packing therefore, thou 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 changed
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.

And join'd with Charles, the rightful king of |
France.

O monstrous treachery! Can this be so;
That in alliance, amity, and oaths,
There should be found such false dissembling guile?
K. Hen. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?
Glo. He doth, my lord; and is become your foe.
K. Hen. Is that the worst, this letter doth con-

tain ?

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 you not content?
Tal. Content, my liege? Yes; but that I am pre-
vented,

I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd.
K. Hen. Then gather strength, and march unto
him straight:

Let him perceive, how ill we brook his treason;
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.

Enter VERNON and BASSET.

[Exit.

Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign!
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!

K. Hen. Be patient, lords, and give them leave
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
wroug.

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,
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,
When stubbornly he did repugn + the truth,
About a certain question in the law,
Argued 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 conceit,
To set a gloss upon his bold intent,
Yet know, my lord, I was provoked 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?
Som. Your private grudge, my lord of York, will
out,

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, and be at peace.

York. Let this dissension first be tried by fight,
And then your highness may command a peace.
Som. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;
Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

York. There is my pledge; accept it Somerset.
Ver. Nay, let it rest where it began at first.
Bas. Confirm it so, mine honourable lord.
Glo. Confirm it so? Confounded be your strife!
And perish ye, with your audacious prate!
Presumptuous vassals! are ye not ashamed,
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 com
batants:

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;
In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:
If they perceive dissension in our looks,
And that within ourselves we disagree,
How will their grudging stomachs be provoked
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?
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 his rose,

[Putting on a red Rose.
That any one should therefore be suspicious
more incline to Somerset, than York:
Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both:
As well they may upbraid me with my crown,
But your discretions better can persuade,
Because, forsooth, the king of Scots is crown'd.
Than I am able to instruct or teach:
And therefore, as we hither came in peace,
Cousin of York, we institute your grace
So let us still continue peace and love.-
And good my lord of Somerset, unite
To be our regent in these parts of France:
Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot;-
Go cheerfully together, and digest
And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors,
Your angry choler on your enemies.
Ourself, my lord protector, and the rest,
After some respite, will return to Calais;
From thence to England; where I hope ere long
To be presented, by your victories,
With Charles, Alençon, and that traitorous rout.
[Flourish.-Exeunt King Henry, Glo.
Som. Win. Suf. and Bass.
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.
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 York, Warwick, and Vernon. Exe. Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress thy voice:

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 imagined or supposed.
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 ‡ division;
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion. [Exit.

SCENE IL-France.-Before Bourdeaux.

Enter TALBOT, with his Forces.
Tal. Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter,
Summon their general to the wall.
[Trumpet sounds a Parley.-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 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,
Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing fire;
Who, in a moment, even with the earth
Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,
If you forsake the offer of their love.
Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,
+ Enmity.

'Tis strange, or wonderful.

t Unnatural.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, to which are Added His ..., 第 1 卷