Here link'd together by the graceful bonds Of amity and honour: all to me For ever faithful and for ever dear, "The worth that rooted when my fortune smil'd, Think it not weakness then that I lament them. Prince. Good Heaven repay you, sir : Tho' acts like yours carry such blessings with them As are their full reward—My lord, farewell. [Exit Perigort, attended as he came in. Aud. Well, sir, how fare you now? Prince. Oh, never better ! "If I have frailty in me, Heaven can tell, As yon great planet, thro' its radiant course, Lends the best lustre, and ennobles all. Aud. Why, there, my prince, you reach even virtue's summit; For this I love you with a fonder flame, Than proud prosperity could e'er inspire. 'Tis triumph, this, o'er death. Prince. And what is death, That dreadful evil to a guilty mind, War. That secure, Our foes, who wail its loss, can ne'er recover "Prince. Who can tell? "Has Fortune been so badly entertain'd "That she should leave us? No, my noble friends, "Her smiles and favours never were abus'd; "Then what we merit we may yet maintain." Chan. An hundred of us, with your royal person, Deliver'd up their pris'ners at discretion! The French have surely lost all modesty, Or the remembrance of themselves and us. "Aud. But here, in my mind's tablet, there remains "A memorandum that might make them start, "In this career of their presumptuous hope. "Nine times the seasons scarce have danc'd their rounds, "Since the vain father of their present king, "Philip, who stil'd himself his country's fortune, "Gaudy and garnish'd, with a numerous host, "Met our great Edward in the field of fight. "I was one knight in that illustrious service, "And urge I may, (for 'tis a modest truth) "We made the Frenchmen tremble to behold us: "Their king himself turn'd pale at our appearance, "And thought his own trim troops, compar'd with ours, "Effeminated cowards-Such they prov'd: "And since that day, what change in them or us, "Can ground security on wond'rous odds? "The same undaunted spirits dare the combat ; "The same tough sinews and well-temper'd blades “Again shall mow them down, like autumn corn, "Another harvest of renown and glory. "Chan. There the brave monarch of Bohemia strove, "In vain, to kindle valour in their hearts: "He fought, he fell when our victorious prince "Seiz'd his gay banner, with yon boast-I SERVE— [Pointing to the Prince's standard. "Which, now more suited to his princely charge, Triumphantly, as conqueror, he wears; “And, in his honour, England's eldest hope "Shall ever wear it to the end of time." Sal. Now, as I live, I wish we were at work, Prince. Then set we here ill-fortune at defiance, "Secure, at least, of never-fading honour." Oh, my brave leaders! in this warm embrace, [They all embrace. Let us infuse that fortitude of soul, Till from the French this final message comes: Plung'd in the dreadful storm of bloody fight, ACT IV. SCENE I. The French Camp. Enter RIBEMONT. Ribemont. [Exeunt. THE troops, array'd, stand ready to advance ; With awful horror strikes upon my soul—— I know not whence it comes, but till this moment, Fear, thou art still a stranger here; and death Then let me shake this lethargy away By Heav'n, it wo' not off!- -The sweat of death That piteous action! that dejected air!: Speak out the cause-I beg thee, speak-'tis gone !→→→ "Yet would I gaze, by such enchantment bound"Thou pleasing, dreadful vision!”—Oh, return ! Unfold thy errand, tho' I die with hearing Enter ATHENS. Ath. You're well encounter'd, Ribemont; the king, Ere this, has Edward's answer; as I past F |