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Retreat: excursions. Pucelle, Alençon, and Dauphin fly.
Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven shall
For I have seen our enemies' overthrow. [please;
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They, that of late were daring with their scoffs, 5
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[Dies, and is carried off in his chair.
An alarum. Enter Talbot, Burgundy, and the rest.
Tal. Lost, and recover'd in a day again!
This is a double honour, Burgundy:-
Yet, heaven have glory for this victory!
Burg. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
Enshrines thee in his heart; and there erects
Thy noble deeds, as valour's monument. [now?

To bring this matter to the wished end. [Drum beats afar off. Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward. [Here beat an English march. There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread; And all the troops of English after him. [French march. Now, in the rereward, comes the duke, and his 10 Fortune, in favotir, makes him lag behind. Summon a parley, we will talk with him.

[Trumpets sound a parley. Enter the Duke of Burgundy, marching. Dau. A parley with the duke of Burgundy.

Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle 15 Burg. Who craves a parleywith the Burgundy?

I think her old familiar is asleep: [gleeks?
Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his
What, alla-mort? Roan 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 young Henry, with his nobles, lies.
Burg. WhatwillslordTalbot,pleaseth Burgundy.

20

Pucel. The princely Charles of France, thy countryman. [marching hence. Burg. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am Dau. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with [France! Pucel. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of Stay, let thy humble hand-maid speak to thee. Burg. Speak on; but be not over-tedious. Pucel. Look on thy country, look on fertile

thy words.

Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget 25 And see the cities and the towns defac'd [France,

The noble duke of Bedford, late deceas'd,

But see his exequies fulfill'd in Roan:

A braver soldier never couched lance,

A gentler heart did never sway in court:

But kings, and mightiest potentates, must die; 30
For that's the end of human misery. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The same. The Plain near the City. Enter the Dauphin, Bastard, Alençon, and Joan la Pucelle.

Pucel. Dismay not, princes, at this accident,

Nor grieve that Roan is so recovered:
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,
For things that are not to be remedy'd.
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.

Dau. 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,

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 woeful breast!
Oh, turn thy edged sword another way;
Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help!
Onedropofblood, drawnfromthycountry'sbosom,
35 Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign
Return thee, therefore, with a flood oftears, [gore;
And wash away thy country's stained spots!

Burg. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her
Or nature makes me suddenly relent. [words,
40 Pucel. Besides, all French and France exclaims
Doubting thy birth and law-ful progeny. [on thee,
Whom join'st thou with, but with a lordly nation,
That will not trust thee, but for profit's sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,

And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint; 50 And was he not in England prisoner?

Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.

45 And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill,
Who then, but English Henry, will be lord,
And thou be thrust out, like a fugitive ?
Callweto mind, and mark but this, for proof;-
Was not the duke of Orleans thy foe?

Pucel. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan

devise:

But, when they heard he was thine enemy,
They set him free, without his ransom paid,
In spite of Burgundy, and all his friends.

By fair persuasions, mix'd with sugar'd words,

See then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen,

We will entice the duke of Burgundy

To leave the Talbot, and to follow us.

Dau. 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,

55 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.
Burg. I am vanquish'd; these haughtywords of
Have batter'd melike roaring cannon-shot, [hers

But be extirped from our provinces. [France, 60 And made me almost yield upon my knees.

Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd2 from

And not have title of an earldom here. [work,

Pucel. Your honours shall perceive how I will

Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen!
And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace:
My forces and my power of men are yours;

To extirp is to root out.

2 i. e. expelled,

So,

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I do remember how my father said,
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolved of your truth,
Your faithful service, and your toil in war;

So, farewell, Talbot; I'll no longer trust thee.
Pucel. Done like a Frenchman; turn, and turn
again1!
[us fresh.
Dau. Welcome, braveduke!thyfriendship makes makes
Bast. And doth beget newcourage in our breasts. 5 Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Alen. Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part inthis,
And doth deserve a coronet of gold. [powers;
Dau. Now let us on, my lords, and join our
And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Paris. An Apartment in the Palace.

Enter King Henry, Gloster, Vernon, Basset, &c.
To them Talbot, with Soldiers.

Or been reguerdon'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;
10 And in our coronation take your place.

[Exeunt King, Glo. Tal.

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, -

and honourable 15 Dar'st thoumaintain the formerwordsthouspak'st?

Tal. My gracious prince,
Hearing of your arrival in this realm, [peers,-
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,
Beside 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. Henry. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Gloster,
That hath so long been resident in France?

Bas. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Against my lord, the duke of Somerset.

Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is. 20 Bas. Why, what is he? as good a man as York. Ver. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye that. [Strikes him. Bas. Villain, thou know'st, the law of arins

is such,

25 That, who so draws a sword', 'tis present death;
Or else this blow should broach thydearest blood.
But I'll unto his majesty, and crave
I may have liberty to venge this wrong;
When thou shalt see, I'll met thee to thy cost.
Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you;
And, after, meet you sooner than you would.
[Exeunt.

Glo. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.
K. Henry. Welcome, brave captain, and victo-30

rious lord!

When I was young, (as yet I am not old,)

SCENE I.

Paris. A Room of State.

ACT IV.

Enter King Henry, Gloster, Winchester, York, 40
Suffolk, Somerset, Warwick, Talbot, Exeter,
and Governor of Paris.

Glo.

LORD bishop, set the crown upon his head.
God save king Henry,

the sixth!

that naine

Glo. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,-
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 pretend
Malicious practices against his state:
This shall ye do, so help you righteous God!
Enter Sir John Fastolfe.

Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from
To haste unto your coronation,
[Calais,
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 Pataie',

45 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 away;
In which assault we lost twelve hundred men;
50 Myself, and divers gentlemen beside,
Were there surpriz'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.

55 Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous,
And ill beseeming any common man;

Dr. Johnson on this passage observes, that the inconstancy of the French was always the subject of satire; and adds, that he has read a dissertation written to prove that the index of the wind upon our steeples was made in form of a cock, to ridicule the French for their frequent changes. 2 i. e rewarded. This was the badge of a rose, and not an officer's scarf. i. e. in the court, or in the presence-chamber. 'i. e. design, or intend. Poictiers has been used by some of the editors; but this gross blunder must be probably imputed to the players or transeribers; for the battle of Poictiers was fought in the year 1357, the 31st of king Edward III. and the scene now lies in the 7th year of the reign of king Henry VI. viz. 1428. The action of which Shakspeare is now speaking, happened (according to Holnshed) "neere unto a village in Beausse called Patate," whichwe should read insteadof Poictiers. "From this battell (adds the same historian) departed without anie stroke stricken, Sir John Fastolfe, the ame yeere by his valiantlesse elected into the order of the garter. But for doubt of misdealing at Lais brunt, the duke of Bedford tooke from him the image of St. George and his garter," &c.

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 haughty1 courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes.
He then, that is not furnished 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. Henry. Stain to thy countrymen! thou
hear'st thy doom:

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. What means his grace, that he hath
chang'd his style?

No more, but plain and bluntly,-To the king?
[Reading.

as your oppre oppression feeds upon,

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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,
10 Upbraided me about the rose I wear;
Saying, the sanguine colour of the leaves
Did represent my master's blushing cheeks,
When stubbornly he did repugn' the truth,
About a certain question in the law,

15 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.

20 Ver. 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,
25 Pronouncing-that the paleness of this flower
Bewray'd the faintness of my master's heart.
York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be left?
Som. Your private grudge, my lord of York, will
Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it. [out,
30 K. Henry. Good Lord! what madness rules

in brain-sick men;

Hath he forgot, he is his sovereign?
Or doth this churlish superscription
Pretend some alteration in good will?
What'shere? I have, upon especialcause, [Reads.
Mov'd with compassion of my country's wreck,
Together with the pitiful complaints
Of such
Forsaken your pernicious faction,
[France.
And join'd with Charles, the rightful king of
O monstrous treachery! Can this be so;
That in alliance, amity, and oaths, [guile? 35
There should be found such false dissembling
K. Henry. What! doth my uncle Burgundy.
revolt?
[foe.
Glo. He doth, my lord; and is become your
K. Henry. Is that the worst, this letter doth 40 York. There is my pledge; acceptit, Somerset.
contain?

Glo. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.
K. Henry. 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
prevented,

I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd.

When, for so slight and frivolous a cause,
Such factious emulations shall arise!-
Good cousins both, of York and Somerset,
Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.

York. Let this dissention first be try'd 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.

Ver. 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!
45 Presumptuous vassals! are you not asham'd,
With this immodest clamorous outrage
To trouble and disturb the king and us?
And you, my lords,-methinks, you do not well,
To bear with their perverse objections;

K. Henry. Then gather strength, and march 50 Much less, to take occasion from their mouths unto him straight:

Let him perceive, how ill we brook his treason;
And what offence it is, to flout his friends.

To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves;
Let me persuade you take a better course.
Exe. It grieves his highness; Good my lords,
be friends.
[combatants:

Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still, You maybehold confusion of your foes. [Exit Tal. 55 K. Henry. Come hither, you that would be

Enter Vernon, and Basset.

Ver. 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. Henry. Be patient, lords, and give them leave
to speak.-

Say, gentlemen, What makes you thus exclaim?

2

i.e. high. To pretend seems to be here used in its Latin sense, i. e. to hold out, i. e. resist. Beside,

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:
60 If they perceive dissention in our looks,
And that within ourselves we disagree,
How will their grudging stomachs be provok'd
To wilful disobedience, and rebel?

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King Henry's peers, and chief nobility,

Enter General aloft. English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth, Servant in arms to Harry king of England; And thus he would, Open your city gates,

Destroy'd themselves, and lost the realmof France 5 Be humbled to us; call my sovereign yours,

My tender years; and let us not forego

That for a trifle, which was bought with blood! Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife.

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O, think upon the conquest of my father,

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,10 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 forsake the offer of their love.

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

Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,

15 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 fortify'd,

And strong enough to issue out and fight:
20 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;

Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot ;

And no way canst thou turn thee for redress,

And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors, 25

Go chearfully together, and digest

But death doth front thee with apparent spoil, And pale destruction meets thee in the face.

d

Your angry choler on your enemies.

Ten thousand French have ta'en the sacrament,

Ourself, my lord protector, and the rest,

2

To rive their dangerous s artillery

After some respite, will return to Calais;

Upon no christian soul but English Talbot.

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From thence to England; where I hope ere long 30 Lo! there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant man,

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War. My lord of York, I promise you, the king 35 Finish the process of his sandy hour,

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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, 40 Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul; And mine shall ring thy dire departure out. [Exit from the walls.

Tal. He fables not, I hear the enemy ;Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their 450, negligent and heedless discipline! [wings.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: 50 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,

55 And they shall find dear deer of us, my friends.God, and saint George! Talbot, and England's

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Enter a Messenger meeting York, who enters wi.h
a trumpet, and many soldiers.
York. Are not the speedy scouts return'd again,

To due is to endue, to deck, to grace. • A rascal deer

00

That

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SCENE IV.
Another part of France.

Enter Somerset, with his Army.

Som. It is too late: I cannot send them now:

5 This expedition was by York and Talbot
Too rashly plotted; all our general force
Might with the sally of the very town
Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot
Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour

15

York set him on to fight, and die in shame,
That, Talbot dead, great York might bear thename.
Capt. 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?

York. A plague upon that villain Somerset; 10 By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure: 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. Enter Sir William Lucy. Lucy. Thouprincelyleader of our English strength, Never so needful on the earth of France, Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot; Who 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 ho-25

nour.

heart

York. O God! that Somerset-who in proud
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. O, send some succour to the distress'd lord!

Lucy. Whither, my lord? from bought and
sold lord Talbot;

20 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
The levied succours that shall lend him aid,

30 While he, renowned noble gentleman,
Yields up his life unto a world of odds:
Orleans the Bastard, Charles, and Burgundy,
Alençon, Reignier, compass him about,
And Talbot perisheth by your default. [him aid.

York. He dies, we lose; I break my warlike 35 Som. York set him on, York should have sent

word:

We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get;
All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.

Lucy. Then, God take mercy on brave Talbot's
soul!

Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace exclains;
Swearing, that you withhold his levied host,
Collected for this expedition.
[the horse;

Som. York lies; he might have sent, and had

[since, 40 I owe him little duty, and less love;

And on his son young John; whom, two hours
I met in travel towards 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, 45 Never to England shall he bear his life;

And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by sending
Lucy. The fraud of England, not the force of
France,

Hath now entrapt the noble-minded Talbot.

To bid his young son welcome to his grave?

But dies, betray'd to fortune by your strife.

Away! vexation almost stops my breath,

Som. Come, go; I will dispatch the horsemen

That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death. - Within six hours they will be at his aid. [straight:

Lucy, farewell: no more my fortune can,

But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.

50

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Lucy. Too late comes rescue; he is ta'en, or slain: For fly he could not, if he would have fled; And fly would Talbot never, though he might. Som. If he be dead, brave Talbot then adieu! Lucy. His fame lives in the world, his shame

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.

in you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.
A Field of Battle near Bourdeaux.
Enter Talbot, and his Son.
Tal. O young John Talbot! I did send for thee,

1i. e. I am let down, I am lowered. 2 i. e. environed, encircled. 'i. e. protracting his resistance by the advantage of a strong post. In this line, emulation signifies merely rivalry, not struggle for superior excellence.

55

[Exeunt. 60 To tutor thee in stratagems of war;

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