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
Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves, [running,
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.

That with his name the mothers still their
I see report is fabulous and false : [babes?
I thought. I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspéct,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!
It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp
Should strike such terror to his enemies. [you:
Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble
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.
[craves
Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady
[with him? To know the cause of your abrupt departure.
Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief,
go to certify her Talbot's here.

Mess. All hail, my lords! Which of this
princely train

Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts
So much applauded through the realm of
France?

Tal. Here is the Talbot: who would speak
Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Au-I
With modesty admiring thy renown, [vergne,
By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouch-
[safe
To visit her poor castle where she lies,
That she may boast she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.
Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport, [wars
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me, then; for when a world
Could not prevail with all their oratory, [of men
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd:
And therefore tell her I return great thanks,
And in submission will attend on her.
Will not your honours bear me company? [will:
Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners
And I have heard it said, unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal. Well then, alone, (since there's no
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. [remedy,)
Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] You per-
ceive my mind."

Capt. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Auvergne. Court of the Castle.
Enter the Countess and her Porter.
Count. Porter, remember what I gave in
charge;
[to me.
And when you have done so, bring the keys
Port. Madam, I will.
[Exit.

Count. The plot is laid if all things fall
I shall as famous be by this exploit, out right,
As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no less account : [ears,
Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine
To give their censure of these rare reports.
Enter Messenger and Talbot.
Mess. Madam, according as your ladyship
desir'd,

By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come.
Count. And he is welcome. What is this
Mess. Madam, it is.
[the man?
Count. Is this the scourge of France?
Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad,

Re-enter Porter, with keys.

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

To me, blood-thirsty lord;
And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.
Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
For in my gallery thy picture hangs :
But now the substance shall endure the like,
And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
That hast by tyranny, these many years,
Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
Tal Ha, ha, ha! [shall turn to moan.
Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth
Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond,
To think that you have aught but Talbot's
Whereon to practise your severity. [shadow,
Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal.
I am, indeed.
Count. Then have I substance too.
Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here;
For what you see, is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.

Count. This is a riddling merchant_for the
He will be here, and yet he is not here: [nonce;
How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I show you presently. He winds a horn. Drums heard: then a peal of ordnance. The gates being forced, enter

Soldiers.

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded;
That Talbot is but shadow of himself? [strength,
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot ! pardon my abuse:
I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited,
And more than may be gather'd by thy shape.
Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; -
For I am sorry, that with reverence
I did not entertain thee as thou art. [construe
Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor mis-

SCENE IV.-London. The Temple Garden.
Enter the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and

Warwick; Richard Plantagenet, Vernon,
and another Lawyer.

Plan. Great lords and gentlemen, what
means this silence?

Dare no man answer in a case of truth? [loud;
Suf. Within the Temple hall we were too
The garden here is more convenient. [truth;

Ver. Stay, lords and gentlemen, and pluck

no more,

Till you conclude, that he, upon whose side
The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree,
Shall yield the other in the right opinion.

Som. Good master Vernon, it is well ob-
If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence. [jected:
Plan. And I.
[the case,

Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of
I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,
| Giving my verdict on the white rose side. [off,
Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it
Lest, bleeding, you do paint the white rose
And fall on my side so, against your will. [red,
Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed,
Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt,
And keep me on the side where still I am.
Som. Well, wel, come on: who else?
Law. [To Somerset.] Unless my study and

my books be false,

The argument you held, was wrong in you;
In sign whereof, pluck a white rose too.
Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argu-
ment?

[that
Som. Here, in my scabbard; meditating
Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red.
Plan. Meantime, your cheeks do counterfeit

Som.

our roses;

Plan. Then say at once, if I maintain'd the Or else was wrangling Somerset in the error? Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law, And never yet could frame my will to it; And, therefore, frame the law unto my will. Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then, For pale they look with fear, as witnessing between us. [higher pitch; The truth on our side. War. Between two hawks, which flies the No, Plantagenet, Between two dogs, which hath the deeper 'Tis not for fear, but anger, that thy cheeks mouth; [temper; Blush for pure shame to counterfeit our roses, Between two blades, which bears the better And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error. Between two horses, which doth bear him Plan. Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset ? best; [eye;- Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet? Between two girls, which hath the merriest Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judg-| his truth; [hood.

Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident, [eye.
That it will glimmer through a blind man's
Plan. Since you are tongue-tied, and so
loth to speak,

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:
Let him that is a true-born gentleman,
And stands upon the honour of his birth,
If he suppose that I have pleaded truth,
From off this briar pluck a white rose with me.
Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no
flatterer,

But dare maintain the party of the truth,
Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.
War. I love no colours; and, without all
Of base insinuating flattery,

[colour

I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet.
Suf. I pluck this red rose with young Som-
erset ;

And say withal, I think he held the right.

Whiles thy consuming canker eats his false-
Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my

bleeding roses,

That shall maintain what I have said is true,
Where false Plantagenet dare not be seen.
Plan. Now, by this maiden blossom in my
hand,

Was not thy father, Richard earl of Cambridge,

Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer. [spent,
These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is
Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent: [grief;
Weak shoulders, overborne with burd'ning
And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine
That droops his sapless branches to the ground:
Yet are these feet, whose strengthless stay is
Unable to support this lump of clay, [numb,
Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,

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.
Plan. My father was attached, not attainted;
Condemn'd to die for treason, but no traitor;
And that I'll prove on better men than Som-As witting I no other comfort have.

erset,

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.
Som. Ay, thou shalt find us ready for thee
still;

wear.

And know us, by these colours, for thy foes;
For these my friends, in spite of thee, shall
[rose,
Plan. And, by my soul, this pale and angry
As cognizance 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.
Suf. Go forward, and be choked with thy
ambition!

And so, farewell, until I meet thee next. [Exit.
Som. Have with thee, Poole.-Farewell,
ambitious Richard.

;

[Exit.
Plan. How I am brav'd, and must perforce
endure it!
[your house,
War. This blot, that they object against
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.
Meantime, 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,
Shall send, between the red rose and the white,
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 wlil I wear the
Law. And so will I.
[same.

Plant. Thanks, gentle sir.
Come, let us four to dinner: I dare say
This quarrel will drink blood another day.

[Exeunt.
SCENE V.-London. A Room in the Tower.
Enter Mortimer, brought in a chair by two
Keepers.

Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying
Let dying Mortimer here rest himself. [age,
Even like a man new halèd from the rack,
So fare my limbs with long imprisonment;
And these gray locks, the pursuivants of
Nestor-like aged, in an age of care, [death,

But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?
1 Keep. Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will

come :

We sent unto the Temple, to his chamber;
And answer was return'd, that he will come.

Mor. Enough: my soul shall then be satisfied.
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;
And even since then hath Richard been ob-
Depriv'd of honour and inheritance.. [scur'd,
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.

1 Keep. My lord, your loving nephew now
is come.
[he come?
Mor. Richard Plantagenet, my friend? is
Plan. Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly us'd,
Your nephew, late despised Richard, comes.

Mor. Direct mine arms I may embrace his
And in his bosom spend my latter gasp: [neck,
O, tell me when my lips do touch his cheeks,
That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.
And now declare, sweet stem from York's
great stock,
[pis'd?
Why didst thou say of late thou wert des-
Plan. First, lean thine aged back against

mine arm;

[me:

And, in that ease, I'll tell thee my disease.
This day, in argument upon a case,
Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and
Among which terms he us'd a 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.
Mor. That cause, fair nephew, that im-

Which giveth many wounds, when one will
Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good;
Only, give order for my funeral:
To give me hearing what I shall reply.
And so, farewell; and fair be all thy hopes, If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse,
And prosperous be thy life in peace and war! As he will have me, how am I so poor?
[Dies. Or how haps it, I seek not to advance
part-Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling?
And for dissension, who preferreth peace

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
But one imperious in another's throne? [pray,
Glo. Am I not protector, saucy priest?
Win. And am not I a prelate of the church?
Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps,
And useth it to patronage his theft.
Win. Unreverent Gloster !
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 overborne.
Som. Methinks my lord should be religious,
And know the office that belongs to such.
War. Methinks his lordship should be
It fitteth not a prelate so to plead. [humbler;
Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so

near.

Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth. 2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute. [Skirmish again.

Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish And set this unaccustom'd fight aside. [broil, 3 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be

a man

Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,
Inferior to none but to his majesty:
And, ere that we will suffer such a prince,
So kind a father of the commonweal,.
To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate,
We, and our wives, and children, all will fight,
And have our bodies slaughter'd by thy foes.
1 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails
Shall pitch a field, when we are dead.

Glo.

[Skirmish again.
Stay, stay, I say!
And, if you love me, as you say you do,
Let me persuade you to forbear a while. [soul!

K. Hen. O, how this discord doth afflict my Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold My sighs and tears, and will not once relent? Who should be pitiful, if you be not? War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of Or who should study to prefer a peace, Is not his grace protector to the king? [that? If holy churchinen take delight in broils? Plan. [Aside] Plantagenet, I see, must War. Yield, my lord protector ;-yield, hold his tongue. Winchester ;

[should;

Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you Except you mean, with obstinate repulse,
Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?" To slay your sov'reign and destroy the realm.
Else would I have a fling at Winchester. You see what mischief, and what murder too,
Hath been enacted through your enmity;
Then, be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.
Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compassion on the king commands me
stoop:

K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster, and of Win-
chester,

The special watchmen of our English weal,
I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
To join your hearts in love and amity.
O, 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,
Civil dissension is a viperous worm,
That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.-
[A noise within; "Down with the tawny
What tumult's this?
[coats!'
War.
An uproar, I dare warrant,
Begun through malice of the bishop's men.
[A noise again within; Stones! Stones!"
Enter the Mayor of London, attended.
May. O, my good lords, and virtuous Henry,
Pity the city of London, pity us!

[out:

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,
That many have their giddy brains knock'd
Our windows are broke down in every street,
And we, for fear, compell'd to shut our shops.
Enter, skirmishing, the serving-men of Gloster
and Winchester, with bloody pates.
K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to
ourself,

[peace.-

Or I would see his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get the privilege of me.

[duke

hollow heart.

See here, my friends, and loving countrymen ; This token serveth for a flag of truce, Betwixt ourselves, and all our followers: To hold your slaught'ring hands, and keep the So help me God, as I dissemble not! Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. 1 Serv. Nay, if we be

Win. [Aside.] So help me God, as I intend it not!