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And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed
Some of his bastard blood; and, in disgrace,
Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, base,
And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,
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;

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.
O, 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, an if I stay,
Tis but the short'ning of my life one day:
In thee thy mother dies, our household's name,
My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's
fame:

All these, and more, we hazard by thy stay;
All these are sav'd, if thou wilt fly away.

John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart, [heart: These words of yours draw life-blood from my On that advantage, bought with such a shame, (To save a paltry life, and slay bright fame,) Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly, 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, An 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.

Anon, from thy insulting tyranny,
Coupled in bonds of perpetuity,
Two Talbots, winged through the lither* sky,
In thy despite, shall 'scape mortality.-
O thou whose wounds become hard-favour'd
death,

Speak to thy father, ere thou yield thy breath:
Brave death by speaking, whether he will, or

no;

say

Imagine him a Frenchman, and thy foe.Poor boy! he smiles, methinks; as who should [to-day. Had death been French, then death had died Come, come, and lay him in his father's arms; My spirit can no longer bear these harms. Soldiers, adieu! I have what I would have, Now my old arms are young John Talbot's grave. [Dies.

Alarums. Exeunt Soldiers and Servant, leaving the two Bodies. Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, BURGUNDY, BASTARD, LA PUCELLE, and Forces.

Char. Had York and Somerset brought rescue in,

We should have found a bloody day of this. Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's, raging-wood,t [blood! Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's Puc. 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 giglott wench:

So, rushing in the bowels of the French,
He left me proudly as unworthy fight.

Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble
knight:

Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of See, where he lies inhersed in the arms

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;-
[John?-
O, where's young Talbot? where is valiant
Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity!t
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 overmounting spirit; and there died
My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

Enter Soldiers, bearing the Body of JOHN
TALBOT.

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

borne !

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

Like me, reduce me to a level with.

+ Death stained and dishonoured with captivity. "Watching me with tenderness in my fall."

Of the most bloody nurser of his harms.
Bast. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones

asunder; [der. Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's wonChar. O, no; forbear: for that which we have fled

During the life, let us not wrong it dead.
Enter Sir WILLIAM LUCY, attended; a French
Herald preceding.

Conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know
Lucy. Herald,
Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.
Char. On what submissive message art thou
sent?

Lucy. Submission, Dauphin? 'tis a mere
French 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.

Char. For prisoners ask'st thou? hell our prison is.

But tell me whom thou seek'st.

Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field, Valiant lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury? Created, for his rare success in arms, [lence; Great earl of Washford, Waterford, and VaLord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchingfield, Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of [Sheffield,

Alton,

The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, lord Furnival of Knight of the noble order of Saint George, Worthy saint Michael, and the golden fleece;

* Flexible, yielding. + Raving mad. ↑ Wanton.

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

scourge,

Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis?
O, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd,
That I, in rage, might shoot them at your
faces!

O, 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,
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. Puc. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost,

He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.

For God's sake, let him have 'em; to keep them here,

They would but stink, and putrify the air.
Char. Go, take their bodies hence.
Lucy. I'll bear them hence:

But from their ashes shall be rear'd
A phoenix that shall make all France afeard.
Char. So we be rid of them, do with 'em

what thou wilt.

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

ACT V.

SCENE I.-London.-A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, and ExETER. K. Hen. Have you perus'd the letters from the pope,

The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac?

|

I shall be well content with any choice, Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal. Enter a LEGATE, and two AMBASSADORS, with WINCHESTER, in a Cardinal's Habit.

Exe. What! is my lord of Winchester inAnd call'd unto a cardinal's degree! stall'd, Then, I perceive, that will be verified, Henry the fifth did sometime prophesy,He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown. If once he come to be a cardinal, K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your seveHave been consider'd and debated on. ral suits 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 proffer of my lord your I have inform'd his highness so at large, master,Her beauty, and the value of her dower,As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts, He doth intend she shall be England's queen. K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contract,

Bear her this jewel, [To the AMB.] pledge of my affection.

And safely brought to Dover; where, inAnd so, my lord protector, see them guarded, shipp'd,

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and AMBASSADORS

Win. Stay, my lord legate; you shall first

receive

The sum of money, which I promised
Should be deliver'd to his holiness
For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's lei-

sure.

Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

this,

They humbly sue unto your excellence,
To have a godly peace concluded of,
Between the realms of England and of France.
K. Hen. 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. Hen. 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. Hen. Marriage, uncle! alas! my years are young;

And fitter is my study and my books,
Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet, call the ambassadors; and, as you

please,

So let them have their answers every one:

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Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I [trow, Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,

That, neither in birth, or 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. [Exeunt.

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Char. Somewhat too sudden, Sirs, the warning is;

But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear. Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:[thine; Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortunate! [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same.-Before Angiers. Glarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCElle. Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

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Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts;*
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents!

[Thunder.

You speedy helpers, that are substitutes Under the lordly monarch of the north,t Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!

Enter Fiends.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'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 about, and speak not.
O, 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 further benefit;
So you do condescend to help me now.-
[They hang their heads.
No hope to have redress?-My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
[They shake their heads.
Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat 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,
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, thy glory droopeth to the dust.
[Exit.

Alurums. Enter French and English, fighting.
LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand.
LA 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.
Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst
not be.

York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper

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soner.

Suff. Be what thou wilt, thou art my pri[Gazes on her. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; For I will touch thee but with reverent hands, And lay them gently on thy tender side. I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand.] for eternal peace:

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee. Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a king,

The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Suff. 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 wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

no.

[She turns away as going. O, stay!-I have no power to let her pass; My hand would free her, but my heart saysAs plays the sun upon the glassy streams, So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes. Twinkling another counterfeited beam, 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;t Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy pris

oner?

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Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear.

Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would an

swer me.

Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing.t

To ban is to curse.

+"Do not represent thyself so weak."

↑ An awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

Mur. He talks of wood: It is some car

penter.

Suff. Yet so my fancy may be satisfied, And peace established between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that too: For though her father be the king of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor, And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside. Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?

Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:

Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside. Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mur. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

[Aside.

Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a

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Suff. His love.

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Suff. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am To woo so fair a dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice myself. How say you, madam; are you so content? Mar. An if my father please, I am content. Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours forth:

And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. [Troops come forward.

A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the

Walls.

Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend, To give thee answer of thy just demand. [Exit, from the Walls. Suff. And here I will expect thy coming.

Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories;

Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suff. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,

Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little
worth,

To be the princely bride of such a lord;
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou,
Free from oppression, or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.
Suf. That is her ransom, I deliver her;
And those two counties, I will undertake,
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.
Suff. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly
Because this is in traffic of a king: [thanks,
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case. [Aside.
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.

Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, king Henry, were he

here.

Mar. Farewell, my lord! Good wishes, praise,

and prayers,

Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [Going. Suff. Farewell, sweet madam! But hark you, Margaret;

No princely commendations to my king? Mar. Such commendations as become a maid, A virgin, and his servant say to him.

Suff. Words sweetly plac'd and modestly directed.

But, madam, I must trouble you again,—
No loving token to his majesty?

Mur. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted heart,

Never yet taint with love, I send the king. Suff. And this withal. [Kisses her. Mar. That for thyself;-I will not so presume, To send such peevish tokens to a king. [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suff. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk, stay;

Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth;

Suff. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter pri- There Minotaurs, and ugly treasons, lurk.

soner.

Reig. To whom?

Suff. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a sol 'ier; and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, (and for thy honour give consent,)
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Suff. Fair Margaret knows,

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face,t or feign.

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Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise: Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount; Mad, natural graces that extinguish art; Repeat their semblance often on the seas, That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet,

Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with won

der.

[Exil.

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Enter LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a SHEPHERD. | Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity;

Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart
outright!

Have I sought every country far and near,
And, now it is my chance to find thee out,
Must I behold thy timeless* cruel death?
Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with
thee!

'tis not so;

Puc. Decrepit miser !t base ignoble wretch! I am descended of a gentler blood; Thou art no father, nor no friend, of mine. Shep. Out, out!-My lords, an please you, I did beget her, all the parish knows: Her mother liveth yet, can testify, She was the first fruit of my bachelorship. War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?

York. This argues what her kind of life hath been; Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fie, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle!

God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh;
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:
Deny me not, I pr'ythee, gentle Joan.

Puc. Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd
this man,

Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.

Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, The morn that I was wedded to her mother. Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl.

Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time
Of thy nativity! I would, the milk [breast,
Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck dst her
Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake!
Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field,
I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee!
Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?
O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good.
[Exit.

York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too To fill the world with vicious qualities. [long, Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd:

Not me begotten of a shepherd swain,
But issu'd from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous, and holy; chosen from above,
By inspiration of celestial grace,
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits:
But you, that are polluted with your lusts,
Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,--
Because you want the grace that others have,
Yon judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders, but by help of devils.
No, misconceived!§ Joan of Arc hath been
A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought;
Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effus'd,
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
York. Ay, ay;-away with her to execution.
War. And hark ye, Sirs; because she is a
maid,

Spare for no fagots, let there be enough:
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That so her torture may be shortened.

Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting
hearts?-

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That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.— I am with child, ye bloody homicides: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death.

York. Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child?

War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought:

Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
York. She and the Dauphin have been jug-
I did imagine what would be her refuge.
gling:

War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards Epecially, since Charles must father it. [live; Puc. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love. [his; York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.

Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; "Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I

nam'd,

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York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin

pure.

Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and [thee: Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.

Puc. Then lead me hence;-with whom I leave my curse:

May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode !
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you; till mischief, and despair,
Drive you to break your necks, or hang your-
selves!
[Exit, guarded.
York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to
Thou foul accursed minister of hell!

[ashes,

Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, attended. Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king. For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implor'd a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin, and his train, Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown, And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood, and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered?— O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France.

War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace,

It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, BASTARD, REIGNIER, and others.

Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, [France, That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in

* Compassion

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