And whiles the honourable captain there Som. York set him on, York should have sent Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace ex- Swearing that you withhold his levied host, Som. York lies; he might have sent and had the I owe him little duty, and less love; And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by sending. Hath now entrapp'd the noble-minded Talbot : Som. Come, go; I will despatch the horsemen Within six hours they will be at his aid. 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 in you. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The English Camp, near Bordeaux. Enter TALBOT and JOHN his Son. Tal. O young John Talbot! I did send for thee, To tutor thee in stratagems of war; That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd, When sapless age, and weak unable limbs, Should bring thy father to his drooping chair. But,-O malignant and ill boding stars!Now thou art come unto a feast of death,3 A terrible and unavoided danger : Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse; And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape By sudden flight: come, dally not, begone. John. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son? And shall I fly? O, if you love my mother, Dishonour not her honourable name, To make a bastard, and a slave of me: The world will say-He is not Talbot's blood, That basely fled, when noble Talbot stood." Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain. John. He, that flies so, will ne'er return again. Tal. If we both stay, we both are sure to die. John. Then let me stay; and, father, do you fly: Your loss is great, so your regards should be ; My worth unknown, no loss is known in me. Upon my death the French can little boast; In yours they will, in you all hopes are lost." Flight cannot stain the honour you have won; But mine it will, that no exploit have done : You fled for vantage every one will swear; But, if I bow, they'll say it was for fear. There is no hope that ever I will stay, If, the first hour, I shrink, and run away. Here, on my knee, I beg mortality, Rather than life preserv'd with infamy. Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? 1 Protracting his resistance by the advantage of a strong post. 2 Emulation here signifies envious rivalry, not struggle for superior excellence. 3 To a field where death will be feasted with slaughter. 4 Unavoided for unavoidable. 5 For what reason this scene is written in rhyme (says Dr. Johnson) I cannot guess. If Shakspeare had not in other plays mingled his rhymes and blank verses Tal. Upon my blessing I command thee go. John. Yes, your renowned name: Shall flight abuse it? Tal. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain. John. You cannot witness for me, being slain, If death be so apparent, then both fly. Tal. And leave my followers here, to fight, and die ? My age was never tainted with such shame. No more can I be sever'd from your side, Tal. Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, [Exeunt. SCENE VI. A Field of Battle. Alarum: Excursions, wherein TALBOT's Son is hemmed about, and TALBOT rescues him. Tal. Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight: The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, I John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son: The life, thou gav'st me first, was lost and done; Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate, To my determin'd' time thou gav'st new date. Tal. When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire, It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire From thee, my boy; and had the maidenhood To hazard all our lives in one small boat. in the same manner, I should have suspected that this dialogue had been part of some other poem, which was never finished, and that being loath to throw his labour away, he inserted it here.' Mr. Boswell remarks that it was a practice common to all Shakspeare's contemporaries. 6 Your care of your own safety. 7 Determined here must signify prescribed, limited, appointed; and not ended, as Steevens and Malone concur in explaining it. John could not be meant to say that his time of life was actually ended. My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame: | Alarums. Exeunt Soldiers and Servant, leaving John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me sinart, [heart:1 These words of yours draw life-blood from my On that advantage, bought with such a shame (To save a paltry life, and slay bright fame,) Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly, The coward horse, that bears me, fall and die: And, like2 me to the peasant boys of France; To be shame's scorn, and subject of mischance! Surely, by all the glory you have won, An if I fly, I am not Talbot's son: Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot ;3 If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot. Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,4 Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet: If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side; [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Another Part of the same. Alarum: Excursions. Enter TALBOT wounded, supported by a Servant. Tal. Where is my other life?-mine own is gone ; O, where's young Talbot?-where is valiant John?- borne ! Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to scorn," Anon, from thy insulting tyranny, o Talbots, winged through the lither sky, Poor boy! he smiles, methinks; as who should say- Emma : Are there not poisons, racks, and flames, and swords, That Emma thus must die by Henry's words?' 2 i. e. compare me, reduce me to a level by comparison. 3 See note on King Richard II. Act i. Sc. 1. 5 Triumphant death, though thy presence is made more terrible, on account of the stain of dying in captivity, yet young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee. 6 Watching me with tenderness in my fall.' That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps death his court: and there the antic sits Scoffing his state, and grinning at his pomp.' 8 Lither is flexible, pliant, yielding. the two Bodies. Enter CHARLES, ALENGON, BURGUNDY, Bastard, LA PUCELLE, and Forces. Char. Had York and Somerset brought rescue in, We should have found a bloody day of this. Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's, ragingwood,9 Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood! Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble knight: See, where he lies inhersed in the arms Bas. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones Enter SIR WILLIAM LUCY, attended, a French Herald preceding. But tell me whom thou seek'st? Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field, Valiant Lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury? Created, for his rare success in arms, Great earl of Washford, 13 Waterford, and Valence; Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield, Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton, Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Sheffield, The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; Knight of the noble order of Saint George, Worthy Saint Michael, and the Golden Fleece; Great mareschal to Henry the Sixth, Of all his wars within the realm of France? The Turk, that two and fifty kingdoms hath, Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchman's only scourge, Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis? wood is certainly here furiously raging. 10 A giglot is a wanton wench. A minx, gigle (or giglet,) flirt, callet, or gixie,' says Cotgrave. 11 We have a similar expression in the First Part of Jeronimo, 1605 : Meet, Don Andrea! yes, in the battle's bowels.' 12 Lucy's message implied that he knew who had obtained the victory: therefore Hanmer reads : Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's tent.' 13 Wexford, in Ireland, was anciently called Weys ford. In Crompton's Mansion of Magnanimitie, 1599, it is written as here, Washford. This long list of titles is from the epitaph formerly existant on Lord Talbot's tomb at Rouen. It is to be found in the work above cited, with one other, Lord Lovetoft of Worsop,' which would not easily fall into the verse. It concludes as here, and adds, who died in the battle of Burdeaux, 1453.' It would amaze' the proudest of you all. Puc. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost, They would but stink, and putrefy the air. I'll bear them hence: thou wilt. pope, The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac ? Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is this,They humbly sue unto your excellence, To have a godly peace concluded of, Between the realms of England and of France. K. Hen. How doth your grace affect their motion? Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only means To stop effusion of our Christian blood, And 'stablish quietness on every side. K. Hen. Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought, It was both impious and unnatural, That such immanity3 and bloody_strife Should reign among professors of one faith. Glo. Beside, my lord the sooner to effect, And fitter is my study and my books, Exe. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd, If once he come to be a cardinal, He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown. Have been consider'd and debated on. As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts, K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contract, Bear her this jewel, [To the Amb.] pledge of my affection. And so, my lord protector, see them guarded, [Exeunt KING HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, For clothing me in these grave ornaments Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure. Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I trow, Or be inferior to the proudest peer. Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive. That, neither in birth, or for authority, The bishop will be overborne by thee: I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee, Or sack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt. SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou. Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENGON, LA PUCELLE, and Forces, marching. Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our 'Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And keep not back your powers in dalliance. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices! Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee speak. Mess. The English army, that divided was Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is; But we will presently provide for them. Bur. I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear. Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most ac curs'd: Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine; nate! Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortu[Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Before Angiers. Alarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE. Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly. K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts; 1 To amaze is to dismay, to throw into consternation. A citie amazed or astonied with feare. Urbs lymphata horroribus.' Baret. 2 A word is wanting to complete the metre, which Hanmer thus supplied : But from their ashes, Dauphin, shall be rear'd.' 8 Immanity (immanitas, Lat.) outrageousness, cruelty, excess. Beount. A belluine kind of immunity never raged so amongst men.' Howell's Letters, iii. 15. 4 The king was, however, twenty-four years old. 5 The poet has here forgot himself. In the first act. Gloster says: And ye choice spirits that admonish me, advancement. It appears that he would imply that Winchester obtained his hat only just before his present entry. He in fact obtained it in the fifth year of Henry's reign. 6 Periapts were certain written charms worn about the person as preservatives from disease and danger. Of these the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. See Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft, 1584, p. 213, &c. 7 The monarch of the north was Zimimar, one of the four principal devils invoked by witches. The north I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat.' was supposed to be the particular habitation of bad And it is strange that Exeter should not know of his spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north. Out of the powerful regions' under earth, you suit. [They hang their heads. No hope to have redress ?-My body shall Pay recompense, if will grant my [They shake their heads. Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice, Entreat you to your wonted furtherance? Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all, Before that England give the French the foil. [They depart. See! they forsake me. Now the time is come, That France must vail3 her lofty-plumed crest, And let her head fall into England's lap. My ancient incantations are too weak, And hell too strong for me to buckle with: Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. [Exit. Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly. York. Damsel of France, I think I have you fast; Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms, And try if they can gain your liberty.A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace! See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, As if, with Circe, she would change my shape. Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be. York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; No shape but his can please your dainty eye. Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds! York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy thee! tongue. Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the [Exeunt. stake. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in LADY O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; I kiss these fingers [Kisses her hand.] for eternal peace: Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee. Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd. [She turns away as going. So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes." 1 Warburton thought that we should read legions here, the same mistake having occurred before in this play. 2 Where for whereas, a common substitution in old writers; whereas is also sometimes used for where. 3 To vail is to lower. See note on Merchant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1. 4 To ban is to curse. 5 This comparison, made between things sufficiently unlike (Johnson observes,) is intended to express the softness and delicacy of Lady Margaret's beauty, which delighted, but did not dazzle: which was bright, but gave no pain by its lustre. Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak: Suff. How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay? Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? Suff. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife: Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. were best leave him, for he will not hear. Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling care.s Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me. Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing. Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter. And peace established between these realms. [Aside. Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure? Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much: Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal. Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight, And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside. Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French: And then I need not crave his courtesy. [Aside. Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a causeMar. Tush: women have been captivate ere now. [Aside. Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Suff. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose Your bondage happy, to be made a queen? Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is mor●vile, Than is a slave in base servility; For princes should be free. Suff And so shall you, And set a precious crown upon thy head, Suff. His love. What? Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Suff. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am To woo so fair a dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice myself. How say you, madam; are you so content? Mar. An if my father please, I am content. 6 Do not represent thyself so weak.' To disable was to dispraise, or impeach. 7 The meaning of rough here is not very evident. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads crouch. 8 A cooling card was most probably a card so deci. sive as to cool the courage of the adversary. Meta. phorically, something to damp or overwhelm the hopes of an expectant. 9 i. e. an awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed. 'It is sport to see a bold fellow out of countenance, for that puts his face into a most shrunken and wooden posture.' 10 i. e. love, Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours, | Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; forth: And, madam, at your father's castle walls [Troops come forward. Suff. To me. Suffolk, what remedy? Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: [Exit from the Walls. Suff. And here I will expect thy coming. Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories: Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suff. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child. Fit to be made companion with a king: To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, Suff. That is her ransom, I deliver her; grace Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name, As deputy unto that gracious king, [Aside. Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith. Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [Going. No princely commendation to my king? Mv Such commendations as become a maid, [Kisses her. Mar. That for thyself:-I will not so presume, To send such peevish2 tokens to a king. [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suff. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk, stay; 1 To face is to carry a false appearance, to play the hypocrite. Hence the name of one of Ben Jonson's characters in The Alchymist. 2 i. e. silly, foolish. 3 Mad has been shown by Steevens to have been occasionally used for wild, in which sense we must take it here; if we do not, with others, suspect it an error of the press for And or Her. D There Minotaurs, and ugly treasons, lurk. York. Bring forth that sorceress, condemn'd to Enter LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a Shepherd. Have I sought every country far and near, I did beget her, all the parish knows : War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fye, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle!" Puc. Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, The morn that I was wedded to her mother.Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl. Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Of thy nativity! I would the milk Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Exit. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have con- Not one begotten of a shepherd swain Chaste and immaculate in very thought; |