My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame: | Alarums. Exeunt Soldiers and Servant, leaving John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot ;3 Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet: If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side; [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 ; the two Bodies. Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood! Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble See, where he lies inhersed in the arms Bas. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's wonder. Enter SIR WILLIAM LUCY, attended, a French Lucy. Herald, Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day. Char. On what submissive message art thou sent? word; We English warriors wot not what it means. O, where's young Talbot?-where is valiant John?-Conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know12 Enter Soldiers, bearing the Body of JOHN TALBOT. Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to Anon, from thy insulting tyranny, o Talbots, winged through the lither" sky, Poor boy! he smiles, methinks; as who should say- 1 Prior has borrowed this thought in his Henry and Emma: "Are there not poisons, racks, and flames, and swords, 3 See note on King Richard II. Act i. Sc. 1. 5 Triumphant death, though thy presence is made more terrible, on account of the stain of dying in cap. tivity, yet young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee. 6' Watching me with tenderness in my fall.' That rounds the mortal temples of a king Char. For prisoners ask'st thou? hell our pr son is. But tell me whom thou seek'st? Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field, The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; Of all his wars within the realm of France? The Turk, that two and fifty kingdoms hath, Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchman's only Scourge, Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis? wood is certainly here furiously raging. giglet,) flirt, callet, or gixie,' says Cotgrave. 11 We have a similar expression in the First Part of Jeronimo, 1605 : Meet, Don Andrea! yes, in the battle's bowels.' obtained the victory: therefore, Hanmer reads :12 Lucy's message implied that he knew who had 'Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's tent.' 13 Wexford, in Ireland, was anciently called Weys ford. In Crompton's Mansion of Magnanimitie, 1599, it is written as here, Washford. This long list of titles is from the epitaph formerly existant on Lord Talbot's tomb at Rouen. It is to be found in the work above cited, with one other, Lord Lovetoft of Worsop,' which would not easily fall into the verse. It concludes as here, and adds, who died in the battle of Burdeaux, 1453.' It would amaze' the proudest of you all. 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 putrefy the air. I'll bear them hence: thou wilt. pope, The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac ? Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is 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, The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles, In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry. K. Hen. Marriage, uncle! alas! my years are young;4 And fitter is my study and my books, Ere. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd, If once he come to be a cardinal, He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown. As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts, K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contract, Bear her this jewel, [To the Amb.] pledge of my affection. And so, my lord protector, see them guarded, [Exeunt KING HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, For clothing me in these grave ornaments Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure. "Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And keep not back your powers in dalliance. SCENE III. The same. Before Angiers. Ala- K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts ; Have been consider'd and debated on. master, I have inform'd his highness so at large, your 1 To amaze is to dismay, to throw into consternation. A citie amazed or astonied with feare. Urbs lymphata horroribus.' Baret. 2 A word is wanting to complete the metre, which Hanmer thus supplied : But from their ashes, Dauphin, shall be rear'd.' 3 Immanity (immanitas, Lat.) outrageousness, cruelty, excess. Biount. Á belluine kind of immanity never raged so amongst men.' Howell's Letters, iii. 15. 4 The king was, however, twenty-four years old. 5 The poet has here forgot himself. In the first act Gloster says: And ye choice spirits that admonish me, Enter Fiends. This speedy quick appearance argues proof advancement. It appears that he would imply that Winchester obtained his hat only just before his present entry. He in fact obtained it in the fifth year of Henry's reign. 6 Periapts were certain written charms worn about the person as preservatives from disease and danger. Of these the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. See Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft, 1584, p. 213, &c. 7 The monarch of the north was Zimimar, one of the four principal devils invoked by witches. The north I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat.' was supposed to be the particular habitation of bad And it is strange that Exeter should not know of his spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north. Out of the powerful regions' under earth, my blood, 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 vail3 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. Alarums. 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 man; No shape but his can please your dainty eye. Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds! York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy thee! tongue. peace: Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee. Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd. [She turns away as going. O, stay!-I have no power to let her pass; So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes. 1 Warburton thought that we should read legions here, the same mistake having occurred before in this play. 2 Where for whereas, a common substitution in old writers; whereas is also sometimes used for where. 3 To vail is to lower. See note on Merchant of Venice, Act i. Sc. 1. 4 To ban is to curse. 5 This comparison, made between things sufficiently unlike (Johnson observes,) is intended to express the softness and delicacy of Lady Margaret's beauty, which delighted, but did not dazzle: which was bright, but gave no pain by its lustre. Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak: Suff. How canst 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? 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 answer me. Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing? Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter. Suff. Yet so my fancy10 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, And our nobility will scorn the match. Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor, [Aside. Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure? Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much : Madam, I have a secret to reveal. Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a Ana will not any way dishonour me. knight, [Aside. Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. And then I need not crave his courtesy. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French: [Aside. Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a causeMar. Tush: women have been captivate ere now. [Aside. Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so ? Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Suff. 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; For princes should be free. Suff And so shall you, And set a precious crown upon thy head, Suff. His love. What? 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. 6 Do not represent thyself so weak.' To disable was to dispraise, or impeach. 7 The meaning of rough here is not very evident. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads crouch. 8 A cooling card was most probably a card so decisive as to cool the courage of the adversary. Meta phorically, something to damp or overwhelm the hopes of an expectant. 9 i. e. an awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed. It is sport to see a bold fellow out of countenance, for that puts his face into a most shrunken and wooden posture,' 10 i, e, love, Suff. Then call our captains, and our forth: And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley to confer with him. ; colours, | Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; [Troops come forward. A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the Walls. Suff See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. Reig. To whom? Suff. Reig. To me. Suffolk, what remedy? I am a soldier, 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, or feign. 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: To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, Suff. That is her ransom, I deliver her; 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 thanks, 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. [Aside. 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 commendation to my king? Mr Such commendations as become a maid, A virgu nd his servant, say to him. Suff. W sweetly plac'd and modestly directed. But madam, 1 st trouble you againNo loving token to his majesty? Mar. 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 peevish2 tokens to a king. [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suff. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk, stay; 1 To face is to carry a false appearance, to play the hypocrite. Hence the name of one of Ben Jonson's characters in The Alchymist. 2 i. e. silly, foolish. 3 Mad has been shown by Steevens to have been occasionally used for wild, in which sense we must take it here; if we do not, with others, suspect it an error of the press for And or Her. D SCENE IV. Camp of the Duke of York, in Anjou Enter YORK, WARWICK, and others. York. Bring forth that sorceress, condemn'd to burn. Enter LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a Shepherd. Shep. Ah, Joan! this kill thy father's heart outright! Have I sought every country far and near, not so; I did beget her, all the parish knows : Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fye, 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 Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Exit. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd; Not one begotten of a shepherd swain War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought; York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling; York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel!! Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. War. A married man! that's most intolerable. There were so many, whom she may accuse. Puc. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave May never glorious sun reflex his beams Thou foul accursed minister of hell! Enter CARDINAL BEAUFORT, attended. York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, 1 The character of Machiavel seems to have made so very deep an impression on the dramatic writers of this age, that he is many times introduced without regard to anachronism. 2 Compassion, pity. Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus. Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Char. "Tis known, already, that I am possess'd York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secro: means Used intercession to obtain a league; Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, And therefore take this compact of a truce, War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. It shall: Only reserv'd, you claim no interest In any of our towns of garrison. York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty ; [CHARLES, and the rest, give tokens of fealty. SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me : Suff. Tush! my good lord' this superficial tale ful. It is an epithet frequently bestowed on poisonous 4 Coronet is here used for crown. 5 Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king' 3 Baleful had anciently the same meaning as bane- Benefit is here a term of law. |