Pucel. Question, my lords, no further of the case,
How, or which way: 'tis sure they found some
part

But weakly guarded, where the breach was made.
And now there rests no other shift but this,-
To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd,
And lay new plattorms to endamage them.
Alarum. Enter a Soldier crying, A Talbot! A
Talbot! they fly, leaving their clothes behind.

Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.-
5 You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world
of men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd:

Sol. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. 10 And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword;
For I have loaden me with many spoils,
Using no other weapon but his name.

SCENE II.

The same.

[Exit.

Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, &c.
Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled,
Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth.
Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.

[Retreat.

Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury;
And here advance it in the market-place,
The middle centre of this cursed town.
Now have I pay'd my vow unto his soul ;-
For every drop of blood was drawn from him,
There hath at least five Frenchmen dy'dto-night,
And, that hereafter ages may behold
What ruin happen'd in revenge of him,
Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd:
Ipon the which, that every one may read,
Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans;
The treacherous manner of his mournful death,
And what a terror he had been to France.
But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,

I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace;
His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc;
Nor any of his false confederates. [began,

And in submission will attend on her.-
Will not your honours bear me company?
Bed. No, truly; that is more than manners will:
And I have heard it said, -Unbidden guests
15 Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal. Well then, alone, since there's noremedy,
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
Come hither, captain. [Whispers] - You perceive
my mind.

20 Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly.

25

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

The Countess of Auvergne's Castle.
Enter the Countess, and her Porter.
Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
And, when you have done so, bring the keys to me.
Port. Madam, I will.

[Exit.

Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,

30 I shall as famous be by this exploit,
As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no less account:
Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,

35 To give their censure of these rare reports.
Enter Messenger, and Talbot.
Mess. Madam, accordingasyourladyshipdesir'd,
By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come.
Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man?

Bed. "Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight 40 Mess. Madam, it is.

Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
They did, amongst the troops of armed inen,
Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern,
For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night)
Am sure, I scar'd the Dauphin, and his trull;
When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,
Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves,
That could not live asunder day or night.
After that things are set in order here,
We'll follow them with all the power we have.

Enter a Messenger.
Mess. All hail, my lords! Which of this princely
Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts [train
So much applauded through the realm of France?
Tal. Here is the Talbot; Who would speak

with him?

Count. [as musing] 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 :

45 I thought, I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf:
It cannot be, this weak and wrizled shrimp
50 Should strike such terror to his enemies.

55

Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne,
With modesty admiring thy renown,
By me entreats, great lord, thouwouldst vouchsafe 60
To visit her poor castle where she lies;

That she may boast, she hath beheld the man

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?

Mess. 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.

Re-enter Porter with keys.

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner,
Tal. Prisoner! to whom?

Count. This is a riddling merchantforthenonce; 25 Plant. Since you a

He will be here, and yet he is not here:
How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I shew you presently.
Windshishorn; drums strike up: apeal of ordnance.

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. 50 Giving my verdict on

Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured

Enter the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and Warwick; 55 Opinion shall be surge

Richard Plantagenet, Vernon, and another Lawyer.
Plant. Great lords and gentlemen, what means

1 i. e. so foolish. The term merchant, which was, and now is, frequentl of dealers, seems anciently to have been used on familiar occasions in contra signifying, that the person shewed by his behaviour he was a low fellow. The a word of the same import with merchant, in its less respectable sense, is still in in Staffordshire, and the adjoining counties, as a common denomination for mean to speak with freedom or disrespect. 3 The rose (as the fables say)

ted by Cupid to Harpocrates to conceal the lewd pranks of

The argument you held, was wrong in you;
[To Somerset.
In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too.
Plant. Now, Somerset, where is your argument
Som. Here, in my scabbard; meditating, that 5
Shall dye your white rose to a bloody red. [roses;
Plant. Meantime your cheeks do counterfeitour
For pale they look with fear, as witnessing
The truth on our side.

Som. No, Plantagenet,
"I is 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.
Plant. Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset
Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet: 15
Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain his
truth;

Plant.

Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood.
Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleed-
ing roses,

That shall maintain what I have said is true,
Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen.
Plant. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand,
I scorn thee and thy fashion', peevish boy.

Som. Ay, thou shalt find us ready for thee still:
And know us, by these colours, for thy foes;
For these my friends, in spight of thee, shall wear.
Plant. And, by my soul, this pale and angry rose,
As cognisance of my blood-drinking hate,
Will I for ever, and my faction, wear;
Until it wither with me to my grave,
Or flourish to the height of my degree. [bition!

tious Richard.

Suf. Go forward, and be choak'd with thy am10 And so farewell, until I meet thee next. [Exit. Som. Have with thee, Poole. - Farewell, ambi[Exit. Plant. How I am brav'd, and must perforce endure it! [house, War. This blot, that they object object against your 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. 20 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,

Suf. Turn not thyscorns this way, Plantagenet. 25 Shall send, between the red rose and the white,

Plant. Proud Poole, I will; and scorn both him

and thee.

Suf. I'll turn my part thereof into thy throat.

A thousand souls to death and deadly night.
Plant. Good master Vernon, I am bound to you,
That you on my behalf would pluck a flower.

Ver. In your behalf still will I wear the same.

War. Now, by God's will, thou wrong'st him,

Plant. Thanks, gentle sir.

Somerset;

Som. Away, away, good William De-la-Poole!

We grace the yeoman, by conversing with him. 30 Larv. And so will I.

His grandfather was Lionel duke of Clarence,
Third son to the third Edward king of England;
Spring crestless yeomen from so deep a root: 35
Plant. He bears him on the place's privilege',
Or durst not, for his craven heart, say thus.

Come, let us four to dinner: I dare say,
Thisquarrelwill drink blood anotherday.[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A Room in the Tower.

Som. By him that made me, I'll maintain my On any plot of ground in Christendom: [words

Enter Mortimer', brought in a chair, and Jailors.
Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying age,
Let dying Mortimer here rest himself.-

Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cambridge, 40 Even like a man new haled from the rack,

For treason executed in our late king's days?
And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?
His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood;
And, 'till thou be restor'd, thou art a yeoman.
Plant. 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':

Look to it well; and say you are well warn'd.

So fare my limbs with long imprisonment:
And these grey locks, the pursuivants of death,
Nestor-like aged, in an age of care,

Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.
45 These eyes--like lamps whose wasting oil is spent--
Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent':
Weak shoulders, over-bornewithburth'ning grief;
And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine
That droops his sapless branches to the ground.-
50 Yet are these feet-whose strengthless stay is
Unable to support this lump of clay,- [numb,
Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,
As witting I no other comfort have.-

By fashion is meant the badge of the red rose, which Somerset says he and his friends should be distinguish'd by. i. e. those who have no right to arms. 3 The Temple, being a religious house, was an asylum, a place of exemption, from violence, revenge, and bloodshed. * Exempt for excluded. i. c. opinion. • A badge is called a cognisance à cognoscendo, because by it such persons as do wear it upon their sleeves, their shoulders, or in their hats, are manifestly known whose servants they are. Mr. Edwards observes, that Shakspeare has varied from the truth of history, to introduce this scene between Mortimer and Richard Plantagenet. Edmund Mortimer served under Henry V. in 1422, and died unconfined in Ireland in 1424. Holinshed says, that Mortimer was one of the

And answer was return'd, that he will come.

To king Edward t

Mor. Enough; my soul then shall be satisfy'd.- 5 From John of Gau

Poor gentleman! his wrong doth equal mine.

Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign, (Before whose glory I was great in arms,) This loathsome sequestration have I had;

Being but the four
But mark; as, in t
They laboured to

I lost my liberty, a

And even since then hath Richard been obscur'd, 10 Long after this, wh

Depriv'd of honour and inheritance;

But now, the arbitrator of despairs,

Just death, kind umpire 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.

Enter Richard Plantagenet.

Keep. My lord, your loving nephew now is

come,

[come?

Succeeding his fath hy father, earl of From famous Edmu Marrying my sister 15 Again, in pity of m Levied an army; v And have install'd But, as the rest, so And was beheaded

Mor. Richard Plantagenet, my friend? is he 20 In whom the title

Plant. Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly us'd,

Mor. Direct mine arms, I may embrace his neck,

Your nephew, late-despised Richard, comes.

Plant. Of which, m
Mor. True; and t

And that my fainti

And in his bosom spend my latter gasp:

Thou art my heir;

That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.

Plant. Thy grave

And now declare, sweet stem from York's great

stock,

But yet, methinks,
Was nothing less th

Mor. With silenc

Oh, tell me, when my lips do touch his cheeks, 25 But yet be wary in

Why didst thou say of late thou wert despis'd?

Plant, First, lean thine aged back against mine 30 Strong fixed is the

And, like a mounta But now thy uncle i As princes do their With long continuar th; 35 Plant. O, uncle, w

And, in that ease, I'll tell thee my disease2. [arm;
This day, in argument upon a case,
Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and me:
Among which terms, he us'd his lavish tongue,
And did upbraid me with my father's death;
Which obloquy set bars before my tongue,
Else with the like 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. [me,
Mor. That cause, fair nephew, that imprison'd
And hath detain'd me, all my flow'ring youth,
Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine,
Was cursed instrument of his decease.

Might but redeem Mor. Thou dost th t'rer doth, Which giveth many 40 Mourn not, except t Only, give order for And so farewell; and And prosperousbeth Plan. And peace, ne [was: 45 In prison hast thou s And like a hermit ov Well, I will lock his And what I do imagi Keepers, convey hin 50 Will see his burial be Here dies the dusky Choak'd with ambiti And, for those wrong Which Somerset hath

Plant. Discover more at large what cause that
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,
Vas-fortl that(youngking Richard thus remov'd
Leaving no heir begotten of his body)

55 I doubt not, but with
And therefore haste I
Either to be restored
Or make my ill the a

6

That is, he that terminates or concludes misery. 2 i.e. my uneasines • The sense is, I acknowledge thee to be my heir; the consequences wh thence, I recommend it to thee to draw. i. e. lucky or prosperous. speaker as reflecting on the ill fortune of Mortimer, in being always ma of the north in their rebellious intrigues; rather than in asserting his clair of his own princely ambition.

SCENE Ι.
The Parliament.

ACT III.

Flourish. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Gloster,
Winchester, Warwick, Somerset, Suffolk, and 5
Richard Plantagenet. Gloster offers to put up
a Bill; Winchester snatches it, and tears it.

lines,

Win. COM'ST thou with deep premeditated
With written pamphlets studiously devis'd,
Humphrey of Gloster? If thou canst accuse,
Or ought intend'st to lay unto my charge,
Do it without invention suddenly;

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

Glo. Presumptuous priest! this place com-
mands my patience,

Glo. Thou art reverent

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
Win. Rome shall remedy this.
War. Roam thither then.

Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
War. Ay, see the bishop be not over-borne.
Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious,
And know the office that belongs to such.
War. Methinks, his lordship should be humbler;
[near.
Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so
War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of that?

10 It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.

Is not his grace protector to the king?

Rich. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his tongue;
15 Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should;
Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?
Else would I have a fling at Winchester. [Aside.
K. Henry. Uncles of Gloster, and of Winchester,
The special watchmen of our English weal;

20 I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
To join your hearts in love and amity,
Oh, 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,
25 Civil dissention is a viperous worm,

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 forg'd, 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;
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 30
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, vouch-
To give me hearing what I shall reply. [safe
If I were covetous, perverse, ambitious,
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 dissention, 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-

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 protector, saucy priest?
Win. And am I not a prelate of the church?
Glo. Yes, as an out-law in a castle keeps,

And useth it to patronage his theft.
Hin. Unreverent Gloster!

That gnaws the bowels of the common-wealth.
[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.
Mayor. Oh, my good lords, and virtuous
Pity the city of London, pity us!
[Henry,-
35 The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men,
Forbidden late to carry any weapon,
Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble-stones;
And, banding themselves in contrary parts,
Do pelt so fast at one another's pate,

40 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 men in skirmish, with bloody pates.
K.Henry. We charge you, on allegiance to ourself,
45 To hold your slaught'ring hands, and keep the
Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. [peace.
1 Serv. Nay, if we be

50

Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth.
2 Serv. Do what you dare, we are as resolute.
[Skirmish again.
Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish
And set this unaccustom'da fight aside. [broil,
3 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a man
Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,

55 Inferior to none, but to his majesty:
And, ere that we will suffer such a prince,
So kind a father of the common-weal,
To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate3,
We, and our wives, and children, all will fight,