EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE. ACT 1. SCENE I. The PRINCE of WALES's Tent. Prince EDWARD discovered seated, WARWICK, SALISBURY, AUDLEY, CHANDOS, and others standing. Prince. My lords, I summon'd ye in haste to council; What's to be done? To tarry longer here, War. Royal sir, It is for marching back, with speed, to Bourdeaux. B Our little army, harrass'd with fatigue, And heavy-laden with the spoils of war, Should, like the careful bees, ere storms o'ertake us, Aud. Shameful thought! What, spirit dastards by inglorious flight? Sal. Audley's thoughts Accord with mine. While Salisbury has breath, His tongue shall hurl defiance at their force. Remember, princely Edward, Cressy's field; Remember every battle we have fought, How much out-counted, yet how greatly victors! Loud were the calls that broke our sleep of peace, And bade us rouze and buckle on cur arms; To fich away the fruits of painful conquest, As any in our host. But as success Hath crown'd our arms with ample spoils and glory, I do confess, the wrongs that urg'd us hither And vengeance we have had. Their burning towns And death and desolation our attendants. "Such have their suff'rings been thro' two campaigns, "And that a third may rise with added horrors, "And carry indignation to his goal," Now homeward let us look; and wisely there Recruit, in time, our vigour and our numbers: Prince. True wisdom, Chandos, dictates to your tongue, And modest, manly eloquence adorns it. Such mighty hosts are rais'd, and now in motion, Th' extensive plains that our retreat must skirt, Aud. And shall we pass ? Go tamely by And give them cause for vaunting, That Englishmen avoided once a battle? No; never let us merit such a stain ; But boldly seek them, dare their double numbers, And drive them, if a combat they decline, To skip and wanton at a safer distance. Sal. Give us, my prince, the pleasure but to spring This gaudy flight of prating popinjays, And we'll retire contented. Chand. There my voice Shall join ye, lords; to force them from their home At such a juncture, will be doubly glorious ! Or should they venture battle, their discomfit Will render our retreat to Bourdeaux safe, And end our labours with a noble triumph. Prince. Then be it so: for Poitiers we'll prepare. [Rising. Give instant orders, good my lords, for marching: To-morrow's sun shall see us face our foes. "There, if they wait our coming, we once more "Will dress contention in her gorgon horrors: "Drive fear and slaughter thro' their shuddʼring ranks, "Stalk o'er their mangled heaps, and, bath'd in blood, "Seize with red hands the wreath of victory!" Here break we off; go each where duty calls. [Exeunt Lords. Now for an office is most grateful to me. Welcome, Arnold. Enter ARNOLD. I ne'er behold thy face, but pleasure springs |