To make a bastard, and a slave of me: Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain. Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? John. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb. Tal. Upon my blessing I command thee go. lose it. John. Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight abuse it? noble Talbot stood.] For what reason this scene is written in rhyme, I cannot guess. If Shakspeare had not in other plays mingled his rhymes and blank verses in the same manner, I should have suspected that this dialogue had been a part of some other poem which was never finished, and that being loath to throw his labour away, he inserted it here. JOHNSON. your regard-] Your care of your own safety. 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. John. And shall my youth be guilty of such blame? No more can I be sever'd from your side, Than can yourself yourself in twain divide : Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I ; For live I will not, if my father die. Tal. Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, Born to eclipse* thy life this afternoon. Come, side by side together live and die; And soul with soul from France to heaven fly. [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, John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son: The life, thou gav'st me first, was lost and done; fair son, Born to eclipse, &c.] A quibble, between son and sun. Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate, It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine, Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care; To my determin'd time-] i. e. ended. John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart, These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart: The coward horse, that bears me, fall and die! An if I fly, I am not Talbot's son: Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot; Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete, Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet: If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side; And, commendable prov'd, let's die in pride. [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? 6 On that advantage, bought with such a shame, (To save a paltry life, and slay bright fame,)] The sense isBefore young Talbot fly from his father, (in order to save his life while he destroys his character,) on, or for the sake of, the advantages you mention, namely, preserving our household's name, &c. may my coward horse drop down dead! MALONE. And like me to the peasant boys of France;] To like one to the peasants, is, to compare, to level by comparison. Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity! Enter Soldiers, bearing the Body of JOHN TALBOT. Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your son is borne ! Tal. Thou antick death,' which laugh'st us here to scorn, Anon, from thy insulting tyranny, Two Talbots, winged through the lither sky," - O thou whose wounds become hard-favoured death, Speak to thy father, ere thou yield thy breath: Brave death by speaking, whether he will, or no; Imagine him a Frenchman, and thy foe.— 8 Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity!] That is, death stained and dishonoured with captivity. JOHNSON. ? Tend'ring my ruin,] Watching me with tenderness in my fall. Thou antick death,] The fool, or antick of the play, made sport by mocking the graver personages. 2 yielding. winged through the lither sky,] Lither is flexible or |