Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with-
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of
inen
Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul’d:—
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her.—
Will not your honours bear me company?
Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will:
And I have heard it said, Unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.
Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy,
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy..
Come hither, on. [Whispers.j—You perceive

[Exeunt. SCENTE III—Auvergne. Court of the castle. Enter the Countess and her Porter.

Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And, when you have done so, bring the keystome.

Port. Madam, I will. [Exit.

Count. The plotis laid; if all things fallout right, I shall as famous be by this exploit, As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour of o readful knight, And his achievements of no less account: Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censurel of these rare reports.

Enter Messenger and Talbot.

2. Madam, ladyship desir'd According as your ip desir'd, By : o, so is . Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. What? is this the man? JMess. Madam, it is. Count. Is this the scourge of France? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see, report is fabulous and false: I thought, I should have seen some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspéct, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf: It cannot be, this weak and writhleda shrimp, Should strike such terror to his enemies. Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: But since your ladyship is not at leisure, I'll sort some other time to visit you. Count. What means he now?–Go ask him whither he goes? JMess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her, Talbot's here.

And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
Tal. Ha, ha, ha!
Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall
turn to moan.
Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond,”
To think that you have aught but on. shadow,
Whereon to practise your severity.
Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal. I am indeed.
Count. Then have I substance too.
Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
You are deceiv'd, my substance is nothere;
For what you see, is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity:
I tell you, ma were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.
Count. This is a riddling merchant for the

nonce;4 He will be here, and yet he is not here: How can these contrarieties agree? Tal. That will I show you presently.

He winds a horn. Drums heard; then a peal of ordnance. The gates being forced, enter soldiers.

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded,
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength,
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks;
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.
Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
I find, thou art no less than fame hath bruited;"
And more than may be gather'd by thy shape.
Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
For I am sorry, that with reverence
I did not entertain thee as thou art.
Tal. Be not dismay'd, fairlady; normisconstrue
The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.
What you have done, hath not offended me:
No other satisfaction do I crave,
But only (with your patience,) that we may
Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have;
For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.
Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured
To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Ereunt.

SCENTE IV.-London. The Temple Garden.
Enter, the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and
Warwick; Richard Plantagenet, Vernon, and
another Lawyer.
Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means
this silence?
Dare no man answer in a case of truth?
Suff. Within the Temple hall we were too loud;
The garden here is more convenient.
Plan. Then say at once, if I maintain'd the truth;
Or else was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Suff. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.
Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then
between us.
War. * twohawks, which flies the higher
itch;
Between F. dogs, which hath the deeper mouth; "
Between two blades, which bears the better temper;
Between two horses, which doth bear him best ;6
Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye;
I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judgment

(5) Announced loudly. (6) i. e. Regulate his motions most adroitly.

But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.
Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance.
The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.
Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Plan. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath to

In dumb *m. proclaim your thoughts: Let him, that is a true-born gentleman, And stands upon the honour of his birth, If he suppose that I have pleaded truth, From .# this brier pluck a white rose with me. Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no flatterer, But dare maintain the o of the truth, Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me. War. I love no colours; and, without all colour Of base insinuating flattery, I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet. " Suff. I pluck this redrose, with youngSomerset: And say withal, I think he held the right. Ver. Stay, lords and gentlemen; and pluck no more, Till you conclude—that he, |. whose side The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree, Shall yield the other in the right opinion. Som. Goodmaster Vernon, it is well objected;2 If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence. Plan. And I. Wer. Then, for the truthand plainness of the case, I pluck this pale, and maiden blossom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose side. Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off; Lest, bleeding, you do paint the white rose red And fall on my side so against your will. Per. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt, And keep me on the side where still I am. Som. Well, well, come on: Who else? Law. Unless my study and my books be false, The argument you held, was wo you; [To Somerset. In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too. Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argument? Som. Here, in my scabbard; meditating that, Shall die your white rose in a bloody red. Plan. Mean time, your cheeks do counterfeit

our roses; For pale they look with fear, as witnessing The truth on our side. Som. No, Plantagenet, Tis not for fear; but anger, that thy cheeks, Blush for pure shame, to counterfeit our roses; And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error. Plan. #. not thy rose a canker, Somerset? Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet” Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain his truth: Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood. *Som. Well, I'll find friends to wearmy bleeding

roses, That shall maintain what I have said is true, Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen. Plan. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand, I scorn thee and thy fashion, peevish boy. Suff. Turn not thy scorns o way, Plantagenet. Plan. Proud Poole, I will; and scorn both him and thee.

(1) Tints and deceits: a play on the word.

(2) Justly proposed.

*3) i. e. ' who have no right to arms. vol. ii.

Suff. I’ll turn my part thereof into thy throat. Som. Away, away, good William De-la-Poole! We grace the yeoman, by conversing with him. War. Now, by God's will, thou wrong'st him, Somerset; His grandfather was Lionel, duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward king of England; Spring crestless yeomen” from so deep a root? Plan. He bears him on the place's privilege, Or durst not, for his craven heart, say thus. Som. By him that made me, I'll maintain my words On any plot of ground in Christendom: Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cambridge, For treason executed in our late king's days? And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted, Corrupted, and exempts from ancient gentry? His tres yet lives guilty in thy blood; And, till thou be restor'd, thou art a yeoman. Plan. My father was attached, not attainted, Condemn'd to die for treason, but no traitor; And that I'll prove on better men than Somerset, Were growing time once ripen'd to my will. For your partaker" Poole, and you yourself, I'll note you in my book of memory, To scourge you for this apprehension 7 Look to it well; and say you are well warn'd. Som. Ay, thou shalt find us ready for thee still And know us, by these colours, for thy foes; For these my friends, in spite of thee, shall wear. Plan. And, by my soul, this pale and angry rose, As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate, Wiliffor ever, and my faction, wear; Until it wither with me to my grave, Or flourish to the height of my degree. suff: Go forward, and be chok'd with thy ambition! And so farewell, until I meet thee next. ... [Erit. Som. Have with thee, Poole.—Farewell, ambitious Richard. . Plan. How I am brav'd, and must perforce endure it! War. This blot, that they object against your house, Shall be wip'd out in the next parliament, Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Gloster: And, if thou be not then created York, I will not live to be accounted Warwick. Mean time, in signal of my love to thee, Against proud Somerset, and William Poole, Will I upon thy party wear this rose: And here I prophesy, This brawl to-day, Grown to this faction, in the Temple garden, Shall send, between the red rose and the white, A thousand souls to death and *...* Plan. Good master Vernon, I am bound to you, That you on my behalf would Fo a flower. P'er. In your behalf still will I wear the same. Law. And so will I. Plan. Thanks, gentle sir. Come, let us four to dinner: I dare say, This quarrel will drink blood another day. [Ere.

And these grey locks, the pursuivants of death,
Nestor-like aged, in an age of care,
Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.
These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is
nt,<-
Wax dimo drawing to their exigent:2
Weak shoulders, overborne with burd'ning grief;
And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine,
That droops his sapless branches to the ground.—
Yet are these feet—whose strengthless stay is

numb,

Unable to support this lump of clay,+
Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,
As witting I no other comfort have.—
But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?

1 Keep. Richard Plantagenet, mylord, will come: We sent unto the Temple, to his chamber; And answer was return'd, that he will come.

JMor. Enough; my soulshall then be satisfied.— Poor gentleman! his wrong doth equal mine. Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign #. whose glory I was great in arms,)

his loathsome sequestration have I had; And even since then hath Richard been obscur'd, Depriv'd of honour and inheritance: But now the arbitrator of despairs, Just death, kind umpires of men's miseries, With sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence; I would, his troubles likewise were expir'd, That so he might recover what was lost.

arm: And, in that ease, I'll tell thee my disease.* This day, in argument upon a case, Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and me: Among which terms he used his lavish tongue, And did upbraid me with my father's death; Which obloquy set bars before my tongue, Else with the fike I had requited him: Therefore, good uncle, for my father's sake, In honour of a true Plantagenet, And for alliance' sake, declare the cause My father, earl of Cambridge, lost his head. JMor. Thatcause, fair nephew, thatimprison'dme, And hath detain'd me, all my slow'ring youth, Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine, Was cursed instrument of his decease. Plan. Discover more at large what cause that was: For I am ignorant, and cannot guess. ..Mor. I will; if that my fading breath permit, And death approach not ere my tale be done Henry the Fourth, grandfather to this king, Depos'd his nephew Richard; Edward's son,

The first-begotten, and the lawful heir
Of Edward king, the third of that descent:
During whose reign, the Percies of the north,
Finding his usurpation most unjust,
Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne:
The reason mov'd these warlike lords to this,
Was—for that (young king Richard thus remov’d,
Leaving no heir begotten of his body,)
I was the next by birth and parentage;
For by my mother I derived am
From Lionel duke of Clarence, the third son
To king Edward the Third; whereas he,
From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,
Being but fourth of that heroic line.
But mark; as, in this haughtyo great attempt,
They laboured to plant the rightful heir,
I lost my liberty, and they their lives.
Long after this, when Henry the Fifth,
Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did o,
Thy father, earl of Cambridge, then deriv'd
From famous Edmund Langley, duke of York,+
Marrying my sister, that thy mother was,
Again, in pity of my hard distress,
Levied an army; weening” to redeem,
And have install'd me in the diadem:
But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl,
And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,
In whom the title rested, were .
Plan. Of which, my lord, your honour is the last.
JMor. True; and thouseest, that I no issue have;
And that my fainting words do warrant death:
Thou art my heir; the rest, I wish thee gather:
But yet be wary in thy studious care.
Plan. Thy grave admonishments prevail with me:
But yet, methinks, my father's execution
Was nothing less than bloody tyranny.
.Mor. With silence, nephew, be thou politic;
Strong-fixed is the house of Lancaster,
And, like a mountain, not to be remov’d.
But now thy uncle is removing hence;
As princes do their courts, when they are cloy'd
With long continuance in a settled place.
Plan. O, uncle, 'would some part of my young
years
Might but redeem the passage of your age!
JMor. Thou dost then wrong me; as the slaugh
t’rer 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 fairs be all thy hopes!
And prosperous be thy life, in peace, and war!
[Dies.
Plan. And peace, no war, befall 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—
[Ereunt Keepers, bearing out Mortimer.
Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,
Chok'd 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,
Or make my illo the advantage of my good. (Exit

(4) Lately-despised. (5). Uneasiness, discontent (6) High. (7) Thinking. (8) Lucky, prosperous. (9) My ill, is my ill usage.

ACT III.

SCE.WE I.—The same. The Parliament-House. Flourish. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Gloster, Warwick, Somerset, and Suffolk; the Bishop of Winchester, Richard Plantagenet, and others. Gloster offers to put up a bill;1 Winchester snatches it, and tears it.

Win. Com'st thou with deep premeditatedlines, With written pamphlets studiously devis'd, Humphrey of Gloster? if thou canst accuse, Oraught intend'st to lay unto my charge, Do it without invention suddenly; As I with sudden and extemporal speech Pu to answer what thou canst object. lo. Presumptuous priest! this place commands my patience, Orthou should'st 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 forg'd, or am notable Kerbatim 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; Froward 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? Besides, 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 provok'd? No, my good lords, it is not that offends; It is not that, that hath incens'd 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 As good?

Glo. Thou bastard of my dfather!— 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 3. church? Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps, And useth it to Matronage his theft. Win. Unreverent Gloster! Glo. Thou art reverent Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life. 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. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so near.

(1) i. e. Articles of accusation. (2) Unseemly, indecent.

War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of that? Is not his grace protector to the king?

Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold histongue; Lost it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should; JMust your bold verdict enter talk with lords? Else would I have a fling at Winchester. [Aside.

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!

What tumult's this?

War. An uproar, I dare warrant, Begun through malice of the bishop's men. [A noise again; Stones! stones!

Enter the Mayor of London, attended.

JMay. O, my good lords,-and virtuous Henry, Pity § city o London, pity us! ry The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men, Forbidden late to carry any weapon, Have fill'd their pockets o 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: Qur 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 rates.

K. Hen. Wechargeyou, on allegiance to ourself, Tohold yourslaught'ringhands, andkeep 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. Yo o my household, leave this peevish rol And set this unaccustom’d, fight aside. 3 Serv. Mylord, we know your grace to be aman Just and upright; and, for your royal birth, Inferior to none, but his j 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. #. 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,

o This was a term of reproach towards men of learning.

Hath been enacted through your .
Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.
Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compassion on the king commandsmestoop:
Or, I would see his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get that privilege of me.
War. Behold, mylord of Winchester, the duke
Hath banish'd m discontented fury,
As by his smoothed to. 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
reach, -
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. o: king!—the bishop hath a kindly
ird.1
For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent;
What, shall a child instruct you what to do?
Win. Well, duke of Gloster, I will yield to 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. Oloving uncle, kind duke of Gloster,
How joyful am I made by this contráct!—
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.
3 Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern
affords. [Ereunt Servants, Mayor, &c
War. Acceptthis scroll, mostgracious sovereign;
Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet
We do exhibit to your majesty.
Glo. Well o, mylord oWarwick; 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 recompens'd.
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. Plan. § so thrive Richard, as thy foes may all! And as my duty springs, so perish they . That grudge one §. against your i. ! ...All. Woo, high prince, the mighty duke of York'

§ Feels an emotion of kind remorse. (2) Recompense.

Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of York: ...Aside. Glo. Now it will best avail your majesty, To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France: The presence of a king engenders love Amongst his subjects, and his loyal friends; As it disanimates his enemies.

K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king Hen

ry goes; For friendly counsel cuts off many foes. Glo. Your ships already are in readiness. [Ereunt all but Exeter. Ere. #. we may march in England or in rance, Not seeing what is likely to ensue: This late dissension grown betwixt the peers, Burns under feigned ashes of forg'd 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, nam'd the Fifth, Was in the mouth of every sucking babe, That Henry, born at Monmouth, should win all; And Henry, born at Windsor, should lose all: Which is so plain, that Exeter doth wish His days may finishere that hapless time. [Eart.

SCENTE II.-France. Before Rouen. Enter La Pucelle disguised, and Soldiers dressed like countrymen, with sacks upon their backs.

Puc. These are the citygates, 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, That come to gather money for their corn. 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 Sold. Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city, And we be lords and rulers over Rouen; Therefore we'll knock. Guard. [Within.) Qui est lå2 Puc. Paisans, pauvres gens de France: Poor market-folks, that come to sell their corn. Guard. Enter, 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.

(3) Confederates in stratagems. (4) i. e. No way equal to that.