His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Glo. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: None do you like but an effeminate prince, Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro. tector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. * There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us :- Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck; Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, And none but women left to wail the dead.— Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse? Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns If Henry were recall'd to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Ere. How were they lost? what treachery was us'd? Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals. Nurse was anciently so spelt. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; . Ere. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, These tidings would call forth her flowing tides*. Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France:— Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.-Away with these disgraceful wailing robes! Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, To weep their intermissive miseries t. Enter another Messenger. 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad mischance, France is revolted from the English quite; The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; Exe. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! O, whither shall we Ay from this reproach? Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness? An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, *Her, i. e. England's. i. e. Their miseries which have had only a short intermission. Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. My gracious lords,—to add to your la ments, Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,I must inform you of a dismal fight, Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so? 3 Mess. 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, He wanted pikes to set before his archers; A base Walloon, to win the dauphin's grace, Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face. 3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford : Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Bed. His ransome there is none but I shall And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, sworn; Either to quell the dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, To go about my preparation. [Exit. Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, To view the artillery and munition; And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Erit. Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his special governor; And for his safety there I'll best devise. [Exit. |