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, Now thou art come unto a feast of death1, To make a bastard, and a slave of me: Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain. 1 To a field where death will be feasted with slaughter. 2 Unavoided for unavoidable. 3 For what reason this scene is written in rhyme (says Dr. Johnson) I cannot guess. If Shakspeare had not in other plays mingled his rhymes and blank verses in the same manner, 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. 4 Your care of your own safety. Upon my death the French can little boast; Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? 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. John. And shall my youth be guilty of such blame? No more can I be sever'd from your side, Than can yourself yourself in twain divide: Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I; For live I will not, if my father die. Tal. Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon. Come, side by side together live and die; And soul with soul from France to heaven fly. [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, And left us to the rage of France his sword. Where is John Talbot?-pause, and take thy breath; gave thee life, and rescu'd thee from death. I John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son: It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine, 1 Determined here must signify prescribed, limited, appointed; and not ended, as Steevens and Malone concur in explaining it. John could not be meant to say that his time of life was actually ended. Thus in King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3 : Riv. It is concluded he shall be protector. Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:- Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care; To hazard all our lives in one small boat. John.The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart, 2 Prior has borrowed this thought in his Henry and Emma:'Are there not poisons, racks, and flames, and swords, That Emma thus must die by Henry's words?' And in the Third Part of King Henry VI. we have:— Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words.' 3 i. e. compare me, reduce me to a level by comparison. So in King Henry IV. Part II. When the prince broke thy head for liking his father to a singing man,' &c. Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot1; Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete5, 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 ;- Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee:- 4 See note on King Richard II. Act i. Sc. 1, p. 11. 'What a peevish fool was that of Crete.' And again: 'I Dædalus, my poor boy, Icarus.' 1 Triumphant death, though thy presence is made more terrible, on account of the stain of dying in captivity, yet young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee. 2 Watching me with tenderness in my fall.' Thus in the Second Part of King Henry VI. : 'I tender so the safety of my liege.' |