His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Unto the French the dreadful judgment day His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: And lookest to command the prince and realm, And ne'er throughout the year 1 church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Let's to the altar-Heralds, wait on us :- Enter a MESSENGER. Another would fly swift but wanteth wings; 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 The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all ty to him? O whither shall we fly from this reproach! Glo. We will not fly, but to our enerves" throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out 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, so? 3 Mess. O no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er thrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large Mess. My honourable lords, health to you He wanted pikes to set before his archers; all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, 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 muttered,- Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges, They pitched in the ground confusedly, him; Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: Aud whilst a field should be despatch'd and Hence grew the general wreck and massacre; fought, You are disputing of your generals. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. Nurse was anciently so spelt. Enclosed were they with their enemies : Whom all France, with their chief assembled | Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face. Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, For living idly here, in pomp and ease, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foe-man is betray'd. 3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord ford: others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have Dogs! cowards! dastards ;-I would ne'er have Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords I'll change for one of our's. Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The English army is grown weak and faint: Alen. Froissard, a countryman of our's, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands + bred, It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! They had such courage and audacity? Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hairbrain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more ea. ger: Of old I know them; rather with their teeth The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege. Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Enter the BASTARD of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news for him. Char. Bastard § of Orleans, thrice welcome to Enter LA PUCELLE, BASTARD of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous feats ? Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the Dauphin ?-come, come from be hind; know thee well, though never seen before. Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me : In private will I talk with thee apart : I. e. The prey for which they are hungry. These were two of the most famous in Charlemagne's list of peers.. A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one piece moves within another; here it is taken at large for an engine. This was not in former times a term of reproach. Shakspeare mistakes the nine Stuylline books, for nice Sybils. Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter, My wit untraiu'd in any kind of art. And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, Deck'd with five flour-de-luces on each side; The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's church-yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no woman. man. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [They fight. Char. Stay, stay thy hands thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak. Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me : Impatiently I buru with thy desire; My heart and bands thou hast at once subdu'd. Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, For my profession's sacred from above: When I have chased all thy foes from hence, Then will I think upon a recompense. Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy pros trate thrall. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock: Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do know: These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you on? Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Reig. Woman, do what thou cau'st to save our honours; Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try -Come let's anay about it: SCENE 111.-London.-Hill before the Tower. Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Serving-men, in blue coats. Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance. -Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates: Gloster it is that calls. [SERVANTS Anock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that kucks so imperiously? 1 Serv. It is the noble Duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! So we answer him: We do no otherwise than we are will'd. Glo. Who will'd you? or whose will stands but mine? There's none protector of the realm, but I.— SERVANTS rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I bear? Open the gates: here's Gloster that would enter. From him I have express commandment, 'fore me ? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Harry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook ? Glo. Winchester goose, I cry-a rope! a [stay?rope!Why do you let them Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's Now beat them hence. array. Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet || bypocrite! Thus contumeliously should break the peace! Here's Beaufort that regards nor God nor king, Win. Here's Gloster too a foe to citizens: To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Bat to make open proclamation :- KING HENRY VI. 469 May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Good God that nobles should such stomachs bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-France.-Before Orleans. and his SON. M. Gun. Sirrab, thou know'st how Orleans And how the English have the suburbs won. Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim. Be thou Chief master-gunner am I of this town; They may vex us, with shot or with assault. A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; [Exit. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd? [me Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, But ob! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart: tertain'd. Of. All manner of men assembled here in Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and coutume- Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall ineet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gioster, we'll meet; to thy dear coast be sure: The heart blood I will have, for this day's work. Alay. I'll call for clubs, ¶ if you will not away: This cardinal is more baughty than the devil. Gle. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou may'st. Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it ere long. • Traitor. [Exit. Here, said they, is the terror of the French, To hurl at the beholders of my shame. In iron walls they deem'd me not secure ; That they suppos'd I could rend bars of steel, The public stews were formerly licen-And if I did but stir out my bed, sed by the Bishop of Winchester, and their inmates ob- 1 Silt. Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you | SCENE V.-The same.-Before one of the endur'd ; But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. Here, through this grate, I can count every Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: them enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and Glans-Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; Let me have your express opinions, Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. [Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and Sir THO. GARGRAVE fall. Sal. O Lord have mercy on us, wretched sinners! Gar. O Lord have mercy on me, woeful man! Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath cross'd us?— Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak; ' off! Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand, That have contriv'd this woeful tragedy! grace: The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.- He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; Remember to avenge me on the French.- vens ? Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise? Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head: The Dauphin with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,A holy prophetess, new risen up, Is come with a great power to raise the siege. It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd.- Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, I must go victual Orleans forthwith. O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. [PUCELLE enters the Town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am, nor what I do : lists: So bees with smoke, and doves with Boisome stench, Are from their hives and houses driven away. They call'd us, for our fierceness English dogs; Now, like to whelps, we crying run away. [Alarum. Another Skirmish. In spite of us, or anght that we could do, O would I were to die with Salisbury! The shame hereof will make me hide my head. [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and his Forces, &c. And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.-Thy And then we'll try what these dastardly French- [Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies. A dirty wench. next. The superstition of those times tanght, that he who could draw a witch's blood was free from het power. |