Hath been enacted through your enmity; War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the duke Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand. That malice was a great and grievous sin: War. Sweet king!-The bishop hath a kindly gird.1 For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent Win. So help me God, as I intend it not! [Aside. K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind duke of Gloster, How joyful am I made by this contract!— Away, my masters! trouble us no more; But join in friendship, as your lords have done. 1 Serv. Content; I'll to the surgeon's. 2 Serv. And so will I. 3 Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern affords. [Exeunt Servants, Mayor, &c. War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sovereign; Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet We do exhibit to your majesty. Glo. Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick: for, sweet prince, An if your grace mark every circumstance, At Eltham-place I told your majesty. Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of York [Aside, Glo. Now it will best avail your majesty, To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France: The presence of a king engenders love Amongst his subjects, and his loyal friends; As it disanimates his enemies. K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king Henry goes; For friendly counsel cuts off many foes. Not seeing what is likely to ensue: [Exit. Enter SCENE II.-France. Before Rouen. La Pucelle disguised, and Soldiers dressed like countrymen, with sacks upon their backs. Puc. These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen, Guard. [Within.] Qui est là ? K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of Poor market-folks, that come to sell their corn. force: Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is, War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; Win. As will the rest, so willeth Winchester. K. Hen. If Richard will be true, not that alone, But all the whole inheritance I give, That doth belong unto the house of York, From whence you spring by lineal descent. Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience, And humble service, till the point of death. K. Hen. Stoop then, and set your knee against my foot; And, in reguerdon of that duty done, I girt thee with the valiant sword of York: Plan. And so thrive Richard, as thy foes may fall! And as my duty springs, so perish they That grudge one thought against your majesty! (1) Feels an emotion of kind remorse. Guard. Enter, go in; the market-bell is rung. [Opens the gates. Puc. Now, Rouen, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground. [Pucelle, &c. enter the city. Enter Charles, Bastard of Orleans, Alençon, and forces. Char. Saint Dennis bless this happy stratagem And once again we'll sleep secure in Rouen. Bast. Here enter'd Pucelle, and her practisants;" Now she is there, how will she specify Where is the best and safest passage in? Alen. By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower, Which, once discern'd, shows, that her mearing is, No way to that, for weakness, which she enter❜d. Enter La Pucelle on a battlement: holding out a torch burning. Puc. Behold, this is the happy wedding torch, That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen: But burning fatal to the Talbotites. Bast. See, noble Charles! the beacon of our friend, The burning torch in yonder turret stands. () Confederates in stratagems. Char. Now shine it like a comet of revenge, A prophet to the fall of all our foes! Alen. Defer no time, Delays have dangerous ends; Enter, and cry-The Dauphin;-presently, Tal. France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears, If Talbot but survive thy treachery. Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress, Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares, That hardly we escap'd the pride' of France. [Exeunt to the town. Alarum: Excursions. Enter from the town, Bedford, brought in sick, in a chair, with Talbot, Burgundy, and the English forces. Then, enter on the walls, La Pucelle, Charles, Bastard, Alençon, and others. you. Bed. Not to be gone from hence: for once I read Tal. Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!- Puc. Good morrow, gallants! want ye corn for And now no more ado, brave Burgundy, bread? I think, the duke of Burgundy will fast Before he'll buy again at such a rate: Bur. Scoff on, vile fiend, and shameless court ezan. I trust, ere long, to choke thee with thine own, Bed. 9, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason! Puc. What will you do, good grey-beard? break a lance, And run a tilt at death within a chair? Tal. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite, Encor pass'd with thy lustful paramours! Becomes it thee to taunt his vauant age, And twit with cowardice a man half dead? Dameel, I'll have a bout with you again, Or else let Talbot perish with unis shame. Puc. Are you so hot, sir?-Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace; If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.[Talbot, and the rest, consult together. God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker? Tal. Dare ye come forth, and meet us in the field? Puc. Belike, your lordship takes us then for fools, To try if that our own be ours, or no. Tal. I speak not to that railing Hecaté, Tal. Signior, hang!-base muleteers of France! Puc. Captains, away: let's get us from the walls: For Talbot means no goodness, by his looks.God be wi' you my lord! we came, sir, but to tell you that we are here. But gather we our forces out of hand, [Exeunt Burgundy, Talbot, and forces, leat Retreat: Excursions. Enter from the town, La Pucelle, Alençon, Charles, &c.; and exeunt flying. Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please; For I have seen our enemies' overthrow. What is the trust or strength of foolish man? They, that of late were daring with their scoffs, Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves. [Dies, and is carried off in his chair Alarum: Enter Talbot, Burgundy, and others. Tal. Lost, and recover'd in a day again! This is a double honour, Burgundy: Yet, heavens have glory for this victory! Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy Enshrines thee in his heart; and there erects Thy noble deeds, as valour's monument. Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pu celle now? I think her old familiar is asleep: What, all a-mort?3 Rouen hangs her head for grief, Bur. What wills lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgundy (4) Make some necessary dispositions. (5) Funeral rites. A braver soldier never couched lance, [Exeunt. SCENE. III.-The same. The plains near the Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident, Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help ' Return thee, therefore, with a flood of tears, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaims Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny. Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot, And not have title to an earldom here. [Drums heard. There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread; A French march. Enter the Duke of Burgundy and forces. Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am ing hence. SCENE IV.-Paris. A room in the palace. of his officers. Tal. My gracious prince,-and honourable peers, Hearing of your arrival in this realm, have awhile given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: march-In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaim'd To your obedience fifty fortresses, Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France! As looks the mother on her lowly babe, Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, ur grace. K. Hen. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Gloster, When I was young, (as yet I am not old,) I do remember how my father said, A stouter champion never handled sword. (3) Elevated. Long since we were resolved' of your truth, Or been reguerdon'd' with so much as thanks, [Exeunt King Henry, Gloster, Talbot, and 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,Dar'st thou maintain the former words thousa st? 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. 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 arms is such, That, who so draws a sword, 'tis present death; Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood. But I'll unto his majesty, and crave I may have liberty to venge this wrong; When thou shalt see, I'll meet thee to thy cost. Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I-The same. A room of state. Enter King Henry, Gloster, Exeter, York, Suffolk, Somerset, Winchester, Warwick, Talbot, the Governor of Paris, and others. Glo. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head. Win. God save king Henry, of that name the Sixth! Were there surpris'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. Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill beseeming any common man ; 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 haughty 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 furnish'd 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. Hen. Stain to thy countrymen' thou hear's thy doom: Be packing therefore, thou that was a knight; And now, my lord protector, view the letter [Reads. Mov'd with compassion of my country's wreck, Of such as your oppression feeds upon,- And join'd with Charles, the rightful king of France. O monstrous treachery! Can this be so; That in alliance, amity, and oaths, Glo. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath-There should be found such false dissembling guile? [Governor kneels. That you elect no other king but him: Esteem none friends, but such as are his friends; Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from To haste unto your coronation, Writ to your grace from the duke of Burgundy. [Plucking it off. (Which I have done) because unworthily Confirmed in opinion. (2) Rewarded. K. Hen. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt? And give him chastisement for this abuse:- I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd. him straight: Ver. With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong. Bas. And with him; for he hath done me wrong. K. Hen. What is that wrong whereof you both complain? First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord: Yet know, my lord, I was provok'd by him; York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be left? Som. Your private grudge, my lord of York, will out, Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it. K. Hen. Good Lord! what madness rules in brain-sick men; When, for so slight and frivolous a cause, York. Let this dissension first be tried by fight, K. Hen. Come hither, you that would be com batants: Henceforth, I charge you, as you love our favour, My tender years; and let us not forego [Putting on a red rose Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot;- Your angry choler on your enemies. War. My lord of York, I promise you, the king Prettily, methought, did play the orator. York. And so he did; but yet I like it not, In that he wears the badge of Somerset. War. Tush! that was but his fancy, blame him not, I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm York. And, if I wist, he did,-But let it rest; Other affairs must now be managed. [Exeunt York, Warwick, and Vernon Exe. Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress thy voice: For, had the passions of thy heart burst out, This should'ring of each other in the court, 'Tis much,' when sceptres are in children's hands: But more, when envy4 breeds unkind' division; There comes the ruin, there begins confusion. [Ex. SCENE II.-France. Before Bourdeaux. En ter Talbot, with his forces. Tal. Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter Summon their general unto the wall. Trumpet sounds a parley. Enter, on the walls the General of the French forces, and others. English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth, Servant in arms to Harry king of England; And thus he would,-Open your city gates, Be humble to us; call my sovereign yours, 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, 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." Gen. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death, |