The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

have their eyes; and then they will endure | May cease their hatred; and this dear conjunction handling, which before would not abide looking on. Plant neighbourhood and Christian-like accord K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time, and In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance a hot summer; and so I will catch the fly, your His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair cousin, in the latter end, and she must be blind too. All. Amen! [France. Bur. As love is, my lord, before it loves. K. Hen. Now, welcome, Kate:-and bear me witness all,

K. Hen. It is so: and you may, some of you, thank love for my blindness; who cannot see many a fair French city, for one fair French maid, that stands in my way.

Fr. King. Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively, the cities turned into a maid for they are all girdled with maiden walls, that war hath never entered.

K. Hen. Shall Kate be my wife?
Fr. King. So please you.

K. Hen. I am content; so the maiden cities you talk of, may wait on her: so the maid, that stood in the way of my wish, shall show me the way to my will.

Fr. King. We have consented to all terms of K., Hen. Is't so, my lords of England? [reason. West. The king hath granted every article: His daughter, first; and then, in sequel, all, According to their firm proposed natures.

Exe. Only, he hath not yet subscribed this:Where your majesty demands,-That the king of France, having any occasion to write for matter of grant, shall name your highness in this form, and with this addition, in French.-Notre tres cher filz Henry roy d'Angleterre, heretier de France; and thus in Latin,-Præclarissimus filius noster Henricus, rex Angliæ, et hæres Francia. [nied, Fr. King. Nor this I have not, brother, so deBut your request shall make me let it pass.

K. Hen. I pray you then, in love and dear Let that one article rank with the rest: [alliance, And, thereupon, give me your daughter.

Fr. King. Take her, fair sou? and from her
blood raise up

Issue to me: that the contending kingdoms
Of France and England, whose very shores look
With envy of each other's happiness, [pale

That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.

[flourish.

Q. Isa. God, the best maker of all marriages, Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one' As man and wife, being two, are one in love, So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal, That never may ill office or fell jealousy, Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage, Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms, To make divorce of their incorporate league ; That English may as French, French Englishmen, Receive each other!-God speak this Amen! All. Amen! [which day,

K. Hen. Prepare we for our marriage:-on My lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath, And all the peers, for surety of our leagues.— Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me; And may our oaths well kept and prosperous bo! [exeunt.

Enter Chorus.

Thus far, with rough, and all unable pen,
Our bending author hath pursu'd the story;
In little room confining mighty men, [glory.
Mangling by starts the full course of their
Small time, but in that small, most greatly liv'd

This star of England; fortune made his sword;
By which the world's best garden he achiev'd,
And of it left his son imperial lord,
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd king

Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing, [bleed :

That they lost France, and made his England Which oft our stage has shown; and, for their sake, In your fair minds let this acceptance take.

[ert

KING HENRY VI.

PART I.

King Henry VI.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

Duke of Gloster, Uncle to the King, and Protector.
Duke of Bedford, Uncle to the King, and Regent of France.
Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, Great Uncle to the King.
Henry Beaufort, Great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Win-
chester, and afterwards cardinal.

John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset; afterwards Duke,
Richard Plantagenet, eldest son of Richard, late Earl of
Cambridge; afterwards Duke of York.

Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury.

Earl of Suffolk.

Lord Talbot, afterwards Earl of Shrewsbury.
John Talbot, his son.

Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.

Mortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer.

Sir John Fastolfe. Sir William Lucy.

Sir William Glansdale. Sir Thomas Gargrave.

Mayor of London. Woodville, Lieut. of the Tower.

Vernon, of the White Rose, or York Faction.
Basset, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Faction.
Charles, Dauphin, and afterwards King of France,
Reignier, Duke of Anjou, and titular King of Naples.
Duke of Burgundy. Duke of Alencon.
Governor of Paris. Bastard of Orleans.
Master-gunner of Orleans, and his Son.
General of the French Forces in Bourdeaux.
A French Sergeant. A Porter.

An old Shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle.
Margaret, Daughter to Reignier; afterwards married to
King Henry. Countess of Auvergne.

Joan La Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc.
Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the
Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and seve-
ral Attendants, both on the English and French

SCENE:-partly in England, and partly in France.

SCENE I. WESTMINSTER-ABBEY.

АСТ І.

Dead March. Corpse of King Henry the Fifth
discovered, lying in state; attended on by the
Dukes of Bedford, Gloster, and Exeter; the
Earl of Warwick, the Bishop of Winchester,
Heralds, &c.

Bed. HUNG be the heavens with black, yield
day to night!

Comets, importing change of times and states,
Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;
And with them scourge the bad revolting stars,
That have consented unto Henry's death!
Henry the fifth, too famous to live long!
England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time.
Virtue he had, deserving to command; [beams;
His brandish'd sword did blind men with his
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies
Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces.
What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech:
He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered.

Ere. We mourn in black; why mourn we not
Henry is dead, and never shall revive: [in blood?
Upon a wooden coffin we attend ;
And death's dishonourable victory
Wo with our stately presence glorify,

Like captives bound to a triumphant car.
What! shall we curse the planets of mishap,
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?
Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,
By magic verses have contriv'd his end? [kings.
Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of
Unto the French the dreadful judgment day
So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.
The battles of the Lord of Hosts he fought:
The church's prayers made him so prosperous.
Glo. The church! where is it? Had not
churchmen pray'd,

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd:
None do you like but an effeminate prince,
Whom, like a school-boy, you may overawe.

Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro

Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms;
Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.-
Posterity, await for wretched years,
[suck;

When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall
Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears,
Aud none but women left to wail the dead.
Henry the fifth! thy ghost I invocate;
Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils!
Combat with adverse planets in the heavens!
A far more glorious star thy soul will make,
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright-

Enter a Messenger.

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'er-
thrown:

The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord,
Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,
By three and twenty thousand of the French
Was round encompassed and set upon :
No leisure had he to enrank his men ;

Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! He wanted pikes to set before his archers;

Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,
Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture:
Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans,
Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.
Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead
Henry's corse?

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, [ghost.
These news would cause him once more yield the
Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was
us'd?
[money.
Mess. No treachery; but want of men and
Among the soldiers this is muttered,-
That here you maintain several factions;
And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and
You are disputing of your generals. [fought,
One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost;
Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;
A third man thinks, without expense at all,
By guileful fair words peace may be obtain❜d.
Awake, awake, English nobility!

Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot:
Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms;
Of England's coat one half is cut away.

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. [mischance,
2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad
France is revolted from the English quite;
Except some petty towns of no import:
The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;
The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd;
Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part;
The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. [him!
Ere. The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to
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 forward-
An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, [ness?
Wherewith already France is over-run.
Enter a third Messenger.
3 Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your
laments,
[hearse,-
Wherewith you
now bedew king Henry's

Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of
They pitched in the ground confusedly, [hedges,
To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.
More than three hours the fight continued;
Where valiant Talbot, above human thought,
Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.
Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand
him;

Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew:
The French exclaim'd,- The devil was in arms;
All the whole army stood agaz'd on him:
His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,
A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain,
And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.
Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up,
If sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward;
He, being in the vaward, (plac'd behind,
With purpose to relieve and follow them,)
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
Enclosed were they with their enemies:
A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace,
Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back;
Whom all France, with their chief assembled
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-men is betray'd,

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. His ransome there is none but I shall pay :
I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne,
His crown shall be the ransome of my friend;
Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.-
Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,
To keep our great saint George's feast withal
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.
3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is be-
sieg'd;

The English army is grown weak and faint:
The earl of Salisbury craveth supply,
And hardly keeps his men from mutiny.
Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry
Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, [sworn
Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, To go about my preparation. Lerit

[exit. Scene closes. SCENE II. FRANCE. BEFORE ORLEANS. Enter Charles, with his Forces; Alencon, Reignier, and others. [heavens, Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the So in the earth, to this day is not known: Late did he shine upon the English side; Now we are victors, upon us he smiles. What towns of any moment, but we have? At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans; Other whiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, 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,
Or piteous they will look like drowned mice.

Reig. Let's raise the siege; why live we idly
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: [here?
Remaineth none, but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
Char. Sound, sound alarum: we will rush on
them.

Now for the honour of the forlorn French :-
Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. [excunt.
Alarums; excursions; afterw. is a retreat. Re-
enter Charles, Alençon, 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.

Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.
Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses,
It sendeth forth to skirmish.
Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity?
Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair-
brain'd slaves,

One to ten!

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: 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 grimmals or device, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. By my consent, we'll e en let them alone.

Alen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd;

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring,
Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,
And drive the English forth the bounds of France.
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,
Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:
What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.
Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
For they are certain and unfallible.

Char. Go, call her in: [exit Bastard.] But,

first, to try her skill,

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern :By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.

[retires. Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous feats ? [guile me?Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beWhere is the Dauphin?-come, come, from behind; I 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 ;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 My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. [daughter, Heaven, and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd To shine on my contemptible estate: Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, And the sun's parching heat displayed my cheeks, God's mother deigned to appear to me; And, in a vision full of majesty, Will'd me to leave my base vocation, And free my country from calamity : Her aid she promis'd, and assur'd success : In complete glory she reveal'd herself; And, whereas I was black and swart before, With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see. Ask me what question thou canst possible, And I will answer unpremeditated : My courage try by combat if thou dar'st, And thou shalt find, that I exceed my sex. Resolve on this: Thou shalt be fortunate, If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. [termus: Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high Only this proof I'll of thy valour make, In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

[sword,

Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'a Deck'd with five flower-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. [woman. Char. Then come o'God's name, 1 fear no

Pac. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [they fight.

man.

Char. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an
Amazon,

And fightest with the sword of Deborah. [weak.
Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too
Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must
Impatiently I burn with thy desire; [help me:
My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd.
Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
Let me thy servant, and not sovereign be;
'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

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. Mean time, look gracious on thy prostrate 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? [do know: Alen. He may mean more than we poor men These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. [you on? Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. [out. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight it Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : Expect saint Martin's summer, halcyon days, Since I have entered into these wars. Glory is like a circle in the water, Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. With Henry's death, the English circle ends; Dispersed are the glories it included. Now am I like that proud insulting ship, Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once. Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? Thou with an eagle art inspired then. Helen, the mother of great Constantine, Nor yet saint Philip's daughters, were like thee. Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the carth, How may I reverently worship thee enough?

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;

Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try :-come, let's away about it:

No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [ex.

SCENE III. 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 knock. I Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks ro imperiously?

1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, we may [lains?

not let him in.

1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, vil1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine?

There's none protector of the realm, but I.—
Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize :
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
Servants rush at the Tower gates. Enter, to the
gates, Woodville, the Lieutenant.

Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what

The cardinal of Winchester forbids: From him I have express commandment, That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in. [me? Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore | Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could Thou art no friend to God, or to the king: [brook Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.

1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

Enter Winchester, attended by a train of Servants in tawny coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what
means this?
[be shut out?
Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to
Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,

And not protector the king, or realm.

Glo. Stand back, hou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord; Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin : I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence. [a foot; Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

[back:

Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my Draw, men, for all this privileged place; [beard; Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware your

[Gloster and his men attack the Bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; In spite of pope, or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. [rope!

Glo. Winchester goose, I cry-a rope! Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?[ray.Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's ar Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet hypocrite!

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