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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,
"You see not ev'n adversity can shake :"

Think it not weakness then that I lament them.
Per. It is the loveliest mark of royal virtue ;
'Tis what demands our most exalted praise,
Is worthy of yourself, and must endear
The best of princes to the best of people.
Till my return be hope your comforter:
If 'tis within the scope of human means,
I'll ward the blow.

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,
"It is not for myself, but for my friends."
I've run no mean, inglorious race; and now,
If it must end, 'tis no unlucky time.

As yon great planet, thro' its radiant course,
Shoots at his parting the most pleasing rays,
So to high characters a gallant death

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,
And awe of coward natures? 'Tis but rest,
Rest that should follow every arduous toil,
Relieve the valiant, and reward the good:
Nor is there aught in death to make it dreadful,
When fame is once establish'd.

War. That secure,

Our foes, who wail its loss, can ne'er recover
The glory ravish'd from them.

"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—

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[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,
And almost fear the Nuncio may succeed.
Methinks we should not lose the bless'd occasion,
Or for surpassing ev'ry former conquest,
Or gaining glorious death, immortal fame.

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,
To all but England's daring sons unknown!
"Firm as the stately oak, our island's boast,
"Which fiercest hurricanes assault in vain,
"We'll stand the driving tempest of their fury.
"And who shall shake our martial glories from us?
"Yon puny Gauls? They ne'er have done it yet,
"Nor shall they now -Oh, never will we wrong
"So far ourselves and our renown'd forefathers !"
Here part we, lords; attend your sev'ral duties.
Audley, distribute thro' the camp provisions-
Keep ev'ry soldier's spirits in a glow,

Till from the French this final message comes:
Then, if their pride denies us terms of honour,
We'll rush outrageous on their vaunting numbers;
And teach them, that with souls resolv'd, like ours,
Ev'n desperation points the way to conquest.
When (in defiance of superior might)

Plung'd in the dreadful storm of bloody fight,
Shall ev'ry Briton do his country right.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

The French Camp. Enter RIBEMONT.

Ribemont.

[Exeunt.

THE troops, array'd, stand ready to advance ;
And this short p use, this silent interval,

With awful horror strikes upon my soul——

I know not whence it comes, but till this moment,
Ne'er did I feel such heaviness of heart.

Fear, thou art still a stranger here; and death
Have I oft seen in ev'ry form he wears;
Defy'd him, fac'd him, never fled him yet :
Nor has my conscience since contracted guilt,
The parent of dismay-then whence is this?
Perhaps 'tis pity for yon hopeless host-
Pity! For what ?—The brave despise our pity;.
For death, encounter'd in a noble cause,
Comes, like the gracious lord of toiling hinds,
To end all labours, and bestow reward.

Then let me shake this lethargy away

By Heav'n, it wo' not off!- -The sweat of death
Is on me-a cold tremor shakes my joints—
My feet seem rivetted-my blood congeals—
Almighty Pow'rs!Thou ever awful form!
Why art thou present?-Wherefore?-What, a sigh I
Oh, smile of sweet relief!-If aught from Heav'n' ́
A mortal ear be worthy to- -Again

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

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