THE FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH ACT I. SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey. Dead March. Enter the Funeral of KING HENRY THE FIFTH attended on by the DUKES Of Bedford, GLOUCESTER, and EXETER; the EARL OF WARWICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c. BEDFORD. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, GLOUCESTER. England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command: His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces. 8 12 16 EXETER. We mourn in black: why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead and never shall revive. 20 Like captives bound to a triumphant car. 24 WINCHESTER. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. Unto the French the dreadful judgment-day So dreadful will not be as was his sight. 28 32 The church's prayers made him so prosperous. GLOUCESTER. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: WINCHESTER. 36 Gloucester, whate'er we like thou art protector, GLOUCESTER. flesh, 40 Name not religion, for thou lov'st the And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, BEDFORD. Cease, cease these jars and rest your minds in peace e! Let's to the altar: heralds, wait on us: Instead of gold we'll offer up our arms, Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, 44 48 52 56 Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER. My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, 60 BEDFORD. What sayst thou, man, before dead Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns If Henry were recall'd to life again 64 These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. EXETER. How were they lost? what treachery was us'd? MESSENGER. money. 68 No treachery; but want of men and Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought, 72 You are disputing of your generals. One would have lingering wars with little cost; By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot: 76 80 EXETER. Were our tears wanting to this funeral These tidings would call forth their flowing tides. BEDFORD. Me they concern; Regent I am of France. Give me my steeled coat: I'll fight for France. 84 888 Enter another Messenger. SECOND MESSENGER. of bad mischance. Lords, view these letters, full France is revolted from the English quite, The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; EXETER. him! 92 The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to 96 O! whither shall we fly from this reproach? GLOUCESTER. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats. Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. BEDFORD. Gloucester, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness ? An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Enter a third Messenger. 100 THIRD MESSENGER. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse, 104 I must inform you of a dismal fight Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French. WINCHESTER. is 't so? What! wherein Talbot overcame ? THIRD MESSENGER. O, no! wherein Lord Talbot was o'erthrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, 108 112 116 Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck'd out of hedges They pitched in the ground confusedly, 120 124 128 Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him; 132 136 A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, 140 BEDFORD. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, For living idly here in pomp and ease Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd. 144 THIRD MESSENGER. O no! he lives; but is took prisoner, And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford : friend; 149 BEDFORD. His ransom there is none but I shall pay : I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne; His crown shall be the ransom of my Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours. Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, To keep our great Saint George's feast withal: Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, 152 Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. 156 |