ezan. 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 ti

t 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? Damsel, I'll have about with you again, Or else let Talbot perish with this shame. Puc. Are you so hot, sir?—Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace; If Talbot . E. thunder, rain will follow.— Talbot, and the rest, consult together. Godspeed the parliament! whoshallbethespeaker? T ". ye come forth, and meet us in the l

And as his father here was conqueror;
As sure as in this late betrayed town
Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buried;
Sosure I swear to get the town, or die.
Bur. My vows are equal partners with thy vows.
Tal. But, ere we go, regard this dying prince,
The valiant duke of i. :—Come, my lord,
We will bestow you in some better place,
Fitter for sickness, and for crazy age.
Bed. Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me:
Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,
And will be partner of your weal, or wo.
Bur. Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade

Fou. Bed. Not to be gone from hence; for once I read That stout Pendragon, in his litter, sick, Came to the field, and vanquished 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 keepold 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.

Capt. Whither away, sir John Fastolfe, in such haste? Fast. Whither away? to save myself by flight; We are like to have the overthrow again. Capt. What! will you fly, and leave lord Talbot? Fast. Ay, All the Talbots in the world to save my life. [Exit. Capt. Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee! [Exit. Retreat; Ercursions. Enter from the town, La Pucelle, Alençon, Charles, &c.; and exeunt, flying.

Bed. Now, quiet.soul, departwhen heavenplease; 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 sain 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 off. victory ! Bur. Warlike and martial Tiongni, 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: Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his leeks?? What, alla-mort?" Rosien 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 y 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 deceas'd, But see his exequies' fulfill'd in Rouen;

(4) Make some necessary dispositions. (5) Funeral rites.

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.

SCENTE 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 rul’d. Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto, 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, #. have thee reverenc'd like a blessed . loy thee then, sweet virgin, for our o Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise; § fair persuasions, mix'd with sugar'd words, e 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. JAlen. For ever should they be expuls'd? from France, And not have title to an earldom here. Puc. Your honours shall perceive how I willwork, To bring this matter to the wished end. [Drums heard. Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.

Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence. Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with y words. Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubtedhopedf France! so thy humble handmaid speak to thee. r. 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 woful breast! O, turn thy edged sword another way;

(1) Rooted out. (2) Expelled.

Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that." One drop of blood, drawn from thy country's bo. Should grieve thee more than streams of for.

re: Return o: therefore, with a flood of tears, And wash away thy country's stained spots! Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd me with h. words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and Frence exclaims

on thee, d lawf

Doubting thy birth and lawful eny.
Who othou with, but o, nation,
That will not trust thee, but for profit's sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
And fashion'd thee that instrument 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 ransom paid,
In spite of Burgundy, and all his friends.
See then! thou fight'st inst 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. I am vanquished; these haughty” words of

hers

Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot,
And made me almost yield upon my knees.-
Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen:
And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace:
My forces and my power of men are yours;–
So, farewell, Talbot; I’ll no longer trust thee.

Puc. Done like a Frenchman; turn, and turn

in : Char. Wome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh. Bast. Anddothbeget new o in our breasts. JAlen. Pucelle hath bravely play'd her partin this, And doth deserve a coronet of gold. Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our

wers; And o we may prejudice the foe. [Exe.

SCENTE IV.-Paris. A room in the palace. Enter King Henry, Gloster, and other Lords, Vernon, Basset, &c. To them Talbot, and some of his Qfficers.

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,
Besides 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. Ho Wor, brave captain, and victorious

ord

When I was young (as yet I am not old.)
I do remember how my father said,
A stouter champion never handled sword.

(3) Elevated.

since we were resolved of your truth,

Your faithful service, and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been re on'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.

[Ereunt 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,+ Dar'st thou maintain the former words thouspak'st? Bas. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Against my lord the duke of Somerset. Per. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is. Bas. Why, what is he? as good a man as York. Wer. Hark ye; not so; in witness, takeye 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. Pser. Well, miscreant, I'll be there assoon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. [Ereunt.

ACT IV.

SCENTE I.—The same. A room of state. Enter King o Gloster, Exeter, York, Suffolk, Somerset, Winchester, Warwick, Talbot, the Governor of Paris, and others.

Glo. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head. Win. God save king Henry, of that name the Sixth ! 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 pretendo Malicious practices against his state: This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! Ereunt Governor 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 o
In which assault we lost twelve hundred men;
Myself, and divers gentlemen beside,

Were there surpris'd, 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 §: 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.6
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's

ooin 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. Whatmeans his grace, that he im chang'd his style? [Piewing the superscription. No more but, plain and bluntly,–To the king? Hath he forgot, he is his sovereign? Or doth this churlish superscription Pretendo some alteration in good will? What's here?—I have, upon especial cause[Reads JMov'd with compassion of my country's wrook, Together with the pitiful complaints Qf 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; 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 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 you not content? Tal. Content, my liege? Yes; but that I am revented, 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. [East.

Enter Vernon and Basset. Wer. 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 to speakSay, gentlemen, What makes you thus exclaim? And wherefore crave you combat? or with whou,”

(6) i. e. In greatest extremities. (7) Design. (8 Anticipated.

Ver. With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong. Bas. And I with him; for he hath done me wronK. Hen. Wài 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 . When stubbornly he did repugn' 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. Wer. 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 provok'd by him; And he first took exceptions at this badge, Pronouncing—that the paleness of this flower Bewray'do 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 shallarise — 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 shall 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. P'er. 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 you not asham’d, With this immodest clamorous outräge 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 o: you take a better course. Ere. 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; In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation: If they perceive ão. 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? O, think upon the conquest of my father,

(1) Resist. (2) Betrayed. (3) "Tis strange, or wonderful.

My tender years; and let us not fo
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
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:
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,
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;
From thence to England; where I hope ere long
To be presented, by your victories,
With Charles, Alençon, and that traitorous rout.
[Flourish. Ereunt 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.
War. Tush! that was but his . blamehinnot;
I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.
York. And, if I wist, he did, Butlet it rest;
Other affairs must now be managed.
Ereunt York, Warwick, and Vernon.
Ere. 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 imagin'd or suppos'u.
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 unkinds division;
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion. [Ex.

SCENTE II—France. Before Bourdeaux. En. ter Talbot, with his forces.

Tal. Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter, Summon their general unto 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 ... the offer of their love.
Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death.

(4) Enmity. . (5) Unnatural

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 fortified,
And strong enough to issue out and fight:
If 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
Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot.
Lo! there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant man,
Of an invincible unconquer'd spirit:
This is the latest glory of thy praise,
That I, thy enemy, duel 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,
Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul;
And mine shall ring thy dire departure out.
[Ereunt General, &c. from the walls.
Tal. He fables not, I hear the enemy;-
Out, some lighthorsemen, and peruse their wings.-
O, negligent and heedless discipline!
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;2
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,
And they shall find dear deer of us, my friends.-
God, and Saint George! Talbot, and England's
right!
Prosper co colours in this dangerous fight! [Ere.

SCE.WE III—Plains in Gascony. Enter York, with forces; to him a Messenger.

York. Are not the speedy scouts return'd That dogg'd the mighty army of the dauphini

JMess. They are return'd, my lord; and giveitout, That he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power, To fight with Talbot: As he march'd along, By your espials were discovered Two mightier troops than that the dauphin led; Which join'd with him, and made their march 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.

in,

(1) Endue, honour. (2) In high spirits. (3) A rascal deer is the term of chace for lean r deer. (4) Spies. (5) Wanquished, baffled. (6) Expended, consumed. wol. ii.

Never so needful on the earth of France,
Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot;
W. 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. OGod! that Somerset—who in proudheart
Doth stop my cornets—were in Talbot's place!
So should we save a valiant gentleman,
By forfeiting a traitor and a coward.
Mad ire, and wrathful fury, makes me weep,
That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.
Lucy. Q, send some succour to the distress'd lord!
#. He dies, we lose; Ibreak my warlike word:
We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;
All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.
Lucy. Then, God take mercy on braveTalbot's
soul!
And on his son, young John; whom, two hours
since,
I met in travel toward 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,
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. [Exit.
Lucy. Thus, while the vultures 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. [Exit.

SCENTE IV.-Other plains of Gascony. Enter
Somerset, with his forces; an Officer of Tal-
bot's with him.
Som. It is too late; I cannot send them now :
This expedition was by York, and Talbot,
Too rashly plotted; . our general force
Might with a sally of the very town
Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot
Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour,
By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure:
York set him on to fight, and die in shame,
That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name.
Offi. Here is sir William Lucy, who with me
Set from our o'er-match'd forces forth for aid.

Enter Sir William Lucy.

Som. How now, sir William? whither were you sent? Lucy. Whither, my lord? from bought and sold lord Talbot;8 Who, ring'd about? 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

(7) Alluding to the tale of Prometheus.

(8) i. e. From one utterly ruined by the treacherous practices of others.

(9) Encircled.