And whiles the honourable captain there Som. York set him on, York should have sent Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace ex- Swearing that you withhold his levied host, Som. York lies; he might have sent and had the I owe him little duty, and less love; And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by sending. Hath now entrapp'd the noble-minded Talbot : Within six hours they will be at his aid. Lucy. Too late comes rescue; he is ta'en, or slain; For fly he could not, if he would have fled; And fly would Talbot never, though he might. Som. If he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu! Lucy. His fame lives in the world, his shame in you. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The English Camp, near Bordeaux. Enter TALBOT and JOHN his Son. Tal. O young John Talbot! I did send for thee, To tutor thee in stratagems of war; That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd, When sapless age, and weak unable limbs, Should bring thy father to his drooping chair. But, O malignant and ill boding stars!Now thou art come unto a feast of death," A terrible and unavoided danger : Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse; And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape By sudden flight: come, dally not, begone. John. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son? And shall I fly? O, if you love my mother, Dishonour not her honourable name, To make a bastard, and a slave of me: The world will say-He is not Talbot's blood, That basely fled, when noble Talbot stood. Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain. John. He, that flies so, will ne'er return again. Tal. If we both stay, we both are sure to die. John. Then let me stay; and, father, do you fly: Your loss is great, so your regard should be; My worth unknown, no loss is known in me. Upon my death the French can little boast; In yours they will, in you all hopes are lost." Flight cannot stain the honour you have won; But mine it will, that no exploit have done : You fled for vantage every one will swear; But, if I bow, they'll say it was for fear." There is no hope that ever I will stay, If, the first hour, I shrink, and run away. Here, on my knee, I beg mortality, Rather than life preserv'd with infamy. Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? 1 Protracting his resistance by the advantage of a strong post. 2 Emulation here signifies envious rivalry, not ruggle for superior excellence. 3 To a field where death will be feasted with elaughter. 4 Unavoided for unavoidable. 5 For what reason this scene is written in rhyme (eaye Dr. Johnson) I cannot guess. If Shakspeare had not in other plays mingled his rhymes and blank verses John. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb. Tal. Upon my blessing I command thee go. John. Yes, your renowned name: Shall flight abuse it? Tal. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain. John. You cannot witness for me, being slain, If death be so apparent, then both fly. Tal. And leave my followers here, to fight, and die ? My age was never tainted with such shame. No more can I be sever'd from your side, Tal. Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, [Exeunt. SCENE VI. A Field of Battle. Alarum: Excursions, wherein TALBOT's Son is hemmed about, and TALBOT rescues him. Tal. Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight: The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son: It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire From thee, my boy; and had the maidenhood To hazard all our lives in one small boat. in the same manner, I should have suspected that this dialogue had been part of some other poem, which was never finished, and that being loath to throw his labour away, he inserted it here.' Mr. Boswell remarks that it was a practice common to all Shakspeare's contemporaries. 6 Your care of your own safety. 7 Determined here must signify prescribed, limited, appointed; and not ended, as Steevens and Malone concur in explaining it. John could not be meant to sav that his time of life was actually ended. 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 sinart, [heart:1 Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot; 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 ; O, where's young Talbot ?-where is valiant John? borne ! Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to scorn," Anon, from thy insulting tyranny, o Talbots, winged through the lither sky, Emma: Are there not poisons, racks, and flames, and swords, That Emma thus must die by Henry's words?' 21. e. compare me, reduce me to a level by parison. 3 See note on King Richard II. Act i. Sc. 1. the two Bodies. Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, BURGUNDY, Bastard, LA PUCELLE, and Forces. Char, Had York and Somerset brought rescue m, We should have found a bloody day of this. Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's, ragingwood,9 Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood! Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a nobie knight: See, where he lies inhersed in the arms Bas. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones Enter SIR WILLIAM LUCY, attended, a French Herald preceding. We English warriors wot not what it means. 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, Valiant Lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury? Created, for his rare success in arms, Great earl of Washford,13 Waterford, and Valence; Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield, Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton, Sheffield, The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; Knight of the noble order of Saint George, Worthy Saint Michael, and the Golden Fleece; Great mareschal to Henry the Sixth, 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. 10 A giglot is a wanton wench. A minx, gigle (or com-giglet, flirt, callet, or gixie,' says Cotgrave. 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. 6Watching me with tenderness in my fall.' That rounds the mortal temples of a king 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 wrin 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 Worsep,' which would not easily fall into the verse. It concludes as here, and adds,' who died in the battle of Burdeaux, 1453. It would avaze the proudest of you all. Pue. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost, They would but stink, and putrefy the air. And now to Paris, in this conquering vein; [Exeunt. ACT V. K. Hen. Have you perus'd the letters from the pope, The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac ? Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is this, K. Hen. How doth your grace affect their motion? 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, Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our 'Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, K. Hen. Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought, And keep not back your powers in dalliance. It was both impious and unnatural, That such immanity3 and bloody strife Glo. Beside, my lord-the sooner to effect, And surer bind, this knot of amity, The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles, In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry. And fitter is my study and my books, Ere. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd, Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,- If once he come to be a cardinal, He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown. Have been consider'd and debated on. Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces! Enter a Messenger. Mess. Success unto our valiant general, Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee speak. Mess. The English army, that divided was 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 ac- Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. nate! Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortu [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Before Angiers. Ala rums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE. Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly. K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts ; Your purpose is both good and reasonable: I have inform'd his highness so at large, 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. Bunt. A belluine kind of immunity never raged so amongst men.' Howell's Letters, i. 15. 4 The king was, however, twenty-four years ok. 5 The poet has here forgot himself. In the first act Gloster says: And ye choice spirits that admonish me, 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 Witcheraft, 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, [They hang their heads. Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak: Suff. How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit, Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? Suff. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife: Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear. Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling care.a Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice, thee! tongue. Pur. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. Yak, Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the [Exeunt. stake. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in LADY MARGARET. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; 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. 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 "ave no pain by its lustre. Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. [Aside. Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a [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 cause— Mar. Tush: women have been captivate ere now. [Aside. quo. Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Suff And so shall you, Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me? To put a golden sceptre in thy hand, And set a precious crown upon thy head, Suff. His love. What? Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. 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 deci sive 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 pooden posture.' 10 i. e. love. Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours, forth: And, madam, at your father's castle walls [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, Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: [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: Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name, [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 virgi nd his servant, say to him. Suff. W sweetly plac'd and modestly directed. But madam, 1 most trouble you again— No 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 e. silly, foolish. 3 Mad has been shown by Steevens to have been oc casionally 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 Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; 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 : 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. 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, Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd; Not one begotten of a shepherd swain Chaste and immaculate in very thought; |