Like captives bound to a triumphant car. Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. Unto the French the dreadful judgment day His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, More than God, or religious churchmen, may. 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. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us :- When at their mother's moist eyes babes shall suck; Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture: Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans, Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. Glo. Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up? If Henry were recall'd to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was us'd? Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is mutter'd, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Let not sloth dim your honours, new begot: Exe. 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. Enter another Messenger. 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad mischance, France is revolted from the English quite; Exe, The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! O, whither shall we fly 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, Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, 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, They pitched in the ground confusedly, him; Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward; 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. 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. [Exit. 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. [Erit. Win. Each hath his place and function to atI am left out for me nothing remains. [tend; But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;" The king from Eltham I intend to steal, And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [Exit. Scene closes. SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENCON, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens, So in the earth, to this day is not known: Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, And have their provender tied to their mouths, Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: Now for the honour of the forlorn French :- Alarums: Excursions: afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENCON, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have I?[fled, Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er have But that they left me 'midst my enemies. |