I'll sort some other time to visit you. Count. What means he now ?—Go ask him whither he goes. Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. I Tal. Marry, for that she 's in a wrong belief, go to certify her Talbot's here. Re-enter Porter, with keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. But now thy substance shall endure the like; Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan. Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond, To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, Count. Why, art not thou the man? Tal. I am, indeed. I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Your roof were not sufficient to contain it. Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce ; He will be here, and yet he is not here: Tal. That will I show you presently. He winds a hern. Drums heard; then a Peal of These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I did not entertain thee as thou art. Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconster The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done hath not offended me : But only (with your patience) that we may Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have; Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-London. The Temple Garden. Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer. Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means this silence? Dare no man answer in a case of truth? Suf. Within the Temple hall we were too loud; The garden here is more convenient. Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain the truth; Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error? Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law; And never yet could frame my will to it; And, therefore, frame the law unto my will. Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then be tween us. War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch, Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance: Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd, So clear, so shining, and so evident, That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye. In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts: And stands upon the honour of his birth, If he suppose that I have pleaded truth, From off this brier pluck a white rose with me. But dare maintain the party of the truth, Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me. a War. I love no colours; and, without all colour Of base insinuating flattery, I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet. B Colours—here used ambiguously for deceits. Suf. I pluck this red rose, with young Somerset ; And say withal, I think he held the right. Ver. Stay, lords and gentlemen; and pluck no more, Till you conclude that he upon whose side Som. Good master Vernon, it is well objected;* Plan. And I. Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the case, I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose side. Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off; Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Law. Unless my study and my books be false, The argument you held was wrong in you; [To Soa, In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too. Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argument? Shall die your white rose in a bloody red. Plan. Meantime, your cheeks do counterfeit roses; For pale they look with fear, as witnessing Som. No, Plantagenet, 'T is not for fear, but anger,—that thy cheeks Blush for pure shame, to counterfeit our roses; And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error. our Objected. The word is not here used in the ordinary seuso of opposed, but in its less common meaning of proposed--sug gested. Plan. Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset ? Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet? Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain his truth; Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood. Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleeding roses, That shall maintain what I have said is true, Plan. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand, I scorn thee and thy fashion, peevish boy. Suf. Turn not thy scorns this way, Plantagenet. Plan. Proud Poole, I will; and scorn both him and thee. Suf. 1 ll turn my part thereof into thy throat. His grandfather was Lionel duke of Clarence, Som. By Him that made me, I'll maintain my words On any plot of ground in Christendom : Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cambridge, a Plan. My father was attached, not attainted; ° Exempt—excluded. ' b Partahcr confederate. |