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 art thou come unto a feast of death',

A terrible and unavoided danger:

Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse;

And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape

Where is John Talbot:--Pause, and take thy breath;
I gave thee life, and rescu'd thee from death.
John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son:
The life, thou gav'st me first, was lost and done;
5 'Till with thy warlike sword, despight of fate,
To my determin'd time thou gav'st new date.
Tal. When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword
struck fire,

By sudden flight: come, dally not, begone.

John. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son? 10 Of bold-fac'd victory. Then leaden age,

And shall I ffy? 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.

It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire
Quicken'd with youthful spleen, and warlikerage,
Beat down Alençon, Orleans, Burgundy,
And from the pride of Gallia rescu'd thee.
The ireful bastard Orleans that drew blood

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:

15 From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
Of thy first fight-I soon encountered;
And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed
Some of his bastard blood; and, in disgrace,
Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, base,

Your loss is great, so your regard 2 should be; 20 And mis-begotten blood I spill of thine,

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.

Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine,
Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:-
Here, purposing the bastard to destroy,
Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care;
25 Art not thou weary, John? How dost thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry?
Fly, to revenge my death, when I am dead;
The help of one stands me in little stead.

Tal. Shall allthy mother's hopes lie in one tomb?
John. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's
womb.
Tal. U
Upon my blessing my blessing I command thee go.
John. To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.
Tal. Part of thy father may be sav'd in thee.
John. No part of him, but will be shame in me.
Tat. Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not
lose it.

John. Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight
Tal. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from

that stain.

30 Oh, too much folly is it, well I wot,

To hazard all our lives in one small boat.
If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:

By me they nothing gain, and if I stay,
35 'Tis but the short'ning of my life one day:
In thee thy mother dies, our household's name,
Mydeath's revenge, thyyouth, and England'sfame:
All these, and more, we hazard by thy stay;

All these are sav'd, if thou wilt fly away. [smart,
[abuse it? 40 John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me
These words of yours draw life-blood from my
heart:
Oh what advantage, bought with such a shame,
To save a paltry life, and slay bright fame!
[die? 45 Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,

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
My age was never taintedwith such shame. [blame
John. And shall my youth be guilty of such
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.

SCENE VI.

[Exeunt.

Alarum:excursions, wherein Talbot's son is hemm'd about, and Talbot rescues him.

Tal. Saint George, and victory! fight, soldiers, The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, [fight: And left us to the rage of France's sword.

The coward horse, that bears me, fall and die!
And like me to the peasant boys of France;
To be shame's scorn, and subject of mischance!
Surely, by all the glory you have won,

50 And if I fly, I am not Talbot's son:
Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;
If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot.
Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,
Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:
55 If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side.
And, commendable prov'd, let's die in pride.

To a field where death will be feasted with slaughter. 2 Meaning, your care of your own safety. *ie. make me like, or reduce me to a level with, the peasant boys, &c.

Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity1!
Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee:-
When he perceiv'd me shrink, and on my knee,
His bloody sword he brandish'd over me,
And, like a hungry lion, did commence
Rough deeds of rage, and stern impatience:
But when my angry guardant stood alone,
Tend'ring my ruin, and assail'd of none,
Dizzy-ey'd fury and great rage of heart,
Suddenly made him from my side to start
Into the clust'ring battle of the French:
And in that sea of blood my boy did drench
His over-mounting spirit; and there dy'd
My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.
Enter John Talbot, borne.

Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your son is
borne!
[scorn,

Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to

wood 1,

SCENE I.

Continues near Bourdeaux.

Enter Charles, Alençon, Burgundy, Bastard, and
Joan la Pucelle.

125

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, Waterford, and Valence;
Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield,

Char. HAD York and Somerset brought 30 Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of Alton,

rescue in, We should have found a bloody day of this. Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's raging

Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood! 35 Great Marshall to Henry the sixth,

Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, lord Furnival of Shef-
The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; [field,
Knight of the noble order of Saint George,
Worthy saint Michael, and the golden flecce;

Pucel. Once I encounter'd him, and thus I said,

Thou maiden youth, be vanquish'd by a maid:
But-with a proud, majestical, high scorn-

He answer'd thus, Young Talbot was not born

To be the pillage of a giglot' wench :

So, rushing in the bowels of the French,

He left me proudly, as unworthy fight. [knight:
Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble

Of all his wars within the realm of France?
Pucel. Here is a silly stately style, indeed!
The Turk, that two-and-fifty kingdoms hath,
Writes not so tedious a style as this.-
40 Him, that thou magnify'st with all these titles,
Stinking, and fly-blown, lies here at our feet.
Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchman's only

scourge,

Sce, where he lies inhersed in the arms

Your kingdom's om's terror and black Nemesis?

Of the most bloody nurser of his harms. [asunder; 45 Oh, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd,

Bast. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's wonder.

Char. Oh, no; forbear: for that which we have During the life, let us not wrong it dead. [fled Enter Sir William Lucy.

Lucy. Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know

Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.

That I, in rage, might shoot them at your faces!
Oh, that I could but call these dead to life,
It were enough to fright the realm of France:
Were but his picture left among you here,
50 It would amaze the proudest of you all.
Give me their bodies; that I may bear them hence,
And give them burial, as beseems their worth.
Pucel. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost,
He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.

Char. On what submissive issive message art thou sent?
Lucy. Submission, Dauphin? 'tis a mere French 55 For God's sake, let him have 'em; to keep them

word;

We English warriors wot not what it means.
I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta'en,
And to survey the bodies of the dead.

They would but stink, and putrefy the air. [here,
Char. Go, take their bodies hence.

Char. Forprisoners asks't thou? hell our prison is. 60 A phænix, that shall make all France afeard. [wilt. But tell me whom thou seek'st.

Lucy. I'll bear

Them hence: but from their ashes shall be rear'd

Char. So we be rid of them, do with him what thou

2 i. e. watching me with tenderness in my fall.

1i.e. stained and dishonoured with captivity. * Lither is flexible or yielding. Raging-wood signifies raging mad. Giglot is a wanton, or a strumpet.

And now to Paris, in this conquering vein;
All will be ours, now bloody Talbot's slain.

SCENE II.
England.

[Exeunt.

Enter King Henry, Gloster, and Exeter.

K. Henry. Have you perus'd the letters from the

The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac? [pope,

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King, and train.

Win. Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive
The sum of money, which I promised
5 Should be deliver'd to his holiness
For clothing me in these brave ornaments.
Legate. Iwill attend upon your lordship'sle
sleisure.
Win. Now Winchester will not submit, I I trow,
Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is this, - 10 Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,

They humbly sue unto your excellence,
To have a godly peace concluded of,

Between the realms of England and of France.

K. Henry. 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.Henry. Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought,
It was both impious and unnatural,
That such immanity' and bloody strife
Should reign among professors of one faith.
Glo. Beside, my lord, -the sooner to effect,
And surer bind, this knot of amity, -
The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles,
A man of great authority in France,-
Proffers his only daughter to your grace
In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.

K. Henry. Marriage? uncle, alas! my years are

15

30

That, nor in birth, nor 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.

SCENE III.

France.

[Exeunt.

Enter Dauphin, Burgundy, Alençon, and Joan la
Pucelle.

Dau. These news, my lords, may cheer our

drooping spirits: "Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And turn again unto the warlike French. [France, Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of

25 And keep not back your powers in dalliance. Pucel. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a Scout.

And fitter is my study and my books, [young; 30 And happiness to his accomplices!

Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.

Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,

So let them have their answers every one.

I shall be well content with any choice

Scout. Success unto our valiant general,
[speak.
Dau. What tidings send our scouts? I prythee,
Scout. The English army, that divided was
Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;
And means to give you battle presently.

But we will presently provide for thein.

Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal. 35 Dau. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

Ere. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd,
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree!
Then, I perceive, that will be verify'd,
Henry the fifth did sometime prophesy,
If once he come to be a cardinal,
He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.
K.Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits
Have been consider'd and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable :
And, therefore, are we certainly resolv'd
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which, by my lord of Winchester, we mean
Shall be transported presently to France.
Glo. And for the profferof mylord your master,-
I have inform'd his highness so at large,
As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
He doth intend she shall be England's queen.
K. Henry. In argument and proof of which
contract,

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there;
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.
Pucel. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:--
40 Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.
Dau. Then on, my lords; and France be for-

15

50

tunate!

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

55 This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd n'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the field.
[They walk, and speak not.

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.-
And so, my lord protector, see them guarded,
And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd, 60/

1i. e. barbarity, savageness. 2 Periapts were charms sewed up and worn about the neck as preservatives from disease or danger. Of these, the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. 3 The north was always supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north.

Oh, hold me not with silence over-long!.
Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,

In earnest of a future benefit;

So you do condescend to help me now.

[They hing their heads.

No hope to have redress? - My body shall
Pay recompence, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak;
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself';

5 Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confoundsthe tongue, and makes the senses rough.
Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk, - if thy name be so,-

10 What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Intreat 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, 15
That France must vail 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, thyglory droopeth to the dust. [Erit. 20
Excursions. Pucelle and York fight hand to hand.

Suf. How can'st 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?

Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd:
She is a woman; therefore to be won.
[Asite.
Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no?
Suf. Fond man! reinember, that thou hast a

wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. I were best to leave him, for he will not hear. [card. Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling 25 Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet Iwould that youwould answer me. Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing.

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. [be. Pucel. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not York. Oh, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; 30 Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.

No shape but his can please your dainty eye. [thee!
Pucel. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and
And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

Suf. Yet so my fancy may be satisfy'd,
And peace established between these realıms.
But there remains a scruple in that too:
For though her father be the king of Naples,

York. Fell, banning' hag! enchantress, hold thy 35 Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor,

tongue.
Pucel. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while.
York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the
stake.
[Exeunt.
Alarum. Enter Suffolk, leading in lady Margaret. 40 Madam, I have a secret to reveal.
Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
Gazes on her.

And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside.
Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?
Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much :
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.-
[knight,

Oh fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;
For I will touch thee but with reverent hands.
I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.
Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a
The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art. [king,

Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:
So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her he wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.

[She is going.

Oh, stay!-I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,

Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a
And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside.
Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.
Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;
45 And then I need not crave his courtesy, [Aside.
Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause-
Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere
[Aside.

now.

Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so ?

50 Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose Your bondage happy to be made a queen?

Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile, Than is a slave in base servility;

55 For princes should be free.

Suf. And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;

60 To put a golden scepter in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

To ban is to curse. * Do not represent thyself so weak. To disable the judgement of another

was, in our author's age, the same as to destroy its credit or authority,

awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

i. e. foolish.

'i. c. an

Suf. Then call our captains, and our colours, 10 A virgin, and his servant, say to him. [rected.

Sound. Enter Reignier on the Walls. Suf. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. 15 Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

Mar. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.
Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend, 30
give thee answer of thy just demand.

Suf. And here I will expect thy coming.
Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below.
Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories, 35
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a
child,

Fit to be made companion with a king:

What answer makes your grace unto my suit? 40 Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with thee!

Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name, 50 York. This argues what her kind of life hath been;

Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

Suf. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly

[Aside.

Because this is in traffic of a king:
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd:
So, farewell, Reignier! Set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

1i. e. childish. i. e. wild or uncultivated. avarice in this passage, but simply m

3 i. e. untimely.

means a miserable creature.

004