Doth ftop my cornets--were in Talbot's place!
So fhould we fave a valiant gentleman,
By forfeiting a traitor, and a coward.
Mad ire, and wrathful fury, makes me weep,
That thus we die, while remifs traitors fleep.

Lucy. O, fend fome fuccour to the diftrefs'd lord! York. He dies, we lofe; I break my warlike word:

We mourn, France fmiles; we lofe, they daily get; All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.

Lucy. Then, God take mercy on brave Talbot's foul ! [fince, And on his fon young John; whom, two hours I met in travel towards his warlike father! This feven years did not Talbot fee his fon; And now they meet where both their lives are done. York. Alas! what joy fhall noble Talbot have, To bid his young fon welcome to his grave? Away! vexation almoft ftops my breath, That funder'd friends greet in the hour of death. Lucy, farewel: no more my fortune can, But curfe the caufe I cannot aid the man.→→ Maine, Blois, Poitiers, and Tours, are won away, 'Long all of Somerfet, and his delay.

Lucy. Thus, while the vulture of fedition Feeds in the bofom of fuch great commanders, Sleeping neglection doth betray to lofs The conqueft of our scarce-cold conqueror, That ever-living man of memory, Henry the fifth :--Whiles they each other cross, Lives, honours, lands, and all, hurry to lofs.

1 i. e. I am let down, I am lowered. finance by the advantage of a strong post. ftruggle for fuperior excellence.

Another part of France.

Enter Somerfet, with his Army.

Som. It is too late: I cannot fend them now: This expedition was by York and Talbot Too rafhly plotted; all our general force Might with the fally of the very town Be buckled with the over-daring Talbot Hath fullied all his glofs of former honour By this unheedful, defperate, wild adventure: York fet him on to fight, and die in fhame, That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name. Capt. Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me Set from our o'er-match'd forces forth for aid. Enter Sir William Lucy.

Som. How now, Sir William? whither were you fent ?

Lucy. Whither, my lord? from bought and fold lord Talbot;

Who, ring'd about 2 with bold adverfity,
Cries out for noble York and Somerset,
To beat affailing death from his weak legions.
And whiles the honourable captain there
Drops bloody fweat from his war-wearied limbs,
And, in advantage ling ring 3, looks for rescue,
You, his falfe hopes, the truft of England's honour,
Keep off aloof with worthless emulation 4.
Let not your private difcord keep away
The levied fuccours that shall lend him aid,
While he, renowned noble gentleman,
Yields up his life unto a world of odds:
Orleans the Baftard, Charles, and Burgundy,
Alencon, Reignier, compafs him about,
And Talbot perifheth by your default. [him aid.

Sum. York fet him on, York fhould have fent
Lucy. And York as faft upon your grace exclaims;
Swearing, that you withhold his levied hoft,
Collected for this expedition.
[the horse;

Som. York lies; he might have fent, and had
I owe him little duty, and lefs love;
And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by fending.
Lucy. The fraud of Engiand, not the force of
France,

Hath now entrapt the noble-minded Talbot.
Never to England shall he bear his life;
But dies, betray'd to fortune by your strife. [straight:
Som. Coine, go; I will difpatch the horsemen
Within fix hours they will be at his aid.

Lucy. Too late comes refcue; he is ta'en, or flain;
For fly he could not, if he would have filed;
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 fhame in [Exeunt

you.

That

That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd,
When faplefs age, and weak unable limbs,
Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.
But,-O malignant and ill-boding itars !--
Now art thou come unto a feast of death,
A terrible and unavoided danger:
Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swifteft horse:
And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape
By fudden flight: come, dally not, begone.

John. Is my name Talbot and am I your fon?
And thall I fly? O! if you love my mother,
Dishonour not her honourable name,
To make a bastard, and a flave of me;
The world will fay-He is not Talbot's blood,
That bafely fled, when noble Talbot itood.

Tal. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be flain. John. He that flies fo, will ne'er return again. Tal. If we both stay, we both are fure to die. John. Then, let me itay; and, father, do you fly Your lofs is great, so your regard 2 should be; My worth unknown, no lofs is known in me. Upon my death the French can little boaft; In yours they will, in you all hopes are loft. Flight cannot ftain the honour you have won; But mine it will, that no exploit have done : You fled for vantage, every one will fwear; But if I bow, they'll fay-it was for fear. There is no hope that ever I will stay, If, the first hour, 1 fhrink, and run away. Here, on my knee, I beg mortality, Rather than life preferv'd with infamy.

:

Tai. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? John. Av, rather than I'll thame my mother's

womb.

Tal. Upon my blefing I commend thee go.
Job. To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.
Tal. Part of thy father may be fav'd in thee.
John. No part of him, but will be shame in me.
Tal. Thou never hadft renown, nor can't not
lofe it.
Fabule it?
John. Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight
Tal. Thy father's charge thall clear thee from
that stain.

John. You cannot witnefs for me, being flain. If death be fo apparent, then both fiy.

[die Tal. And leave my followers here to fight and My age was never tainted with fuch shame. [blame? Jabe. And fhall my youth be guilty of fuch No more can I be fever'd from your fide, 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 lease of thee, fair fon,

Born to eclipfe thy life this afternoon.
Come, fide by fide together live and die ;
And foul with foul from France to heaven fly.

[Exeunt. SCENE VI. Alavum: excurfions, wherein Talbot's fan is bemm'd about, and Talbot refcues bim.

Tal. Saint George, and victory! fight, foldiers, The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, [fight: And left us to the rage of France's fword.

Where is John Talbot ?-Pause, and take thy breath;
I gave thee life, and refcu'd thee from death.
John. Otwice my father! twice am I thy fon
The life, thou gavit me firft, was loft and done;
'Till with thy warlike fword, defpight of fate,
To my determin'd time thou gav'it new date.

Tal. When from the Dauphin's creft thy fword ftruck fire,

:

It warm'd thy father's heart with proud defire
Of bold-fac'd victory. Then leaden age,
Quicken'd with youthful fpleen, and warlike rage,
Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy,
And from the pride of Gallia refcu'd thee.
The ireful baftard Orleans-that drew blood
From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
Of thy firft fight-I foon encountered;
And, interchanging blows, I quickly fhed
Some of his baftard blood; and, in difgrace,
Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, bafe,
And mi-begotten Blood I Spill of thine,
Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine,
Which thou did force from Talbot, my brave boy.
Here, purpofing the baftard to deftroy,
Came in strong refcue. Speak, thy father's care;
Art not thou weary, Jehn? How doft thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
Now thou art feal'd the fon of chivalry?
Fly, to revenge my death, when I am dead;
The help of one flands me in little ftcad.
Oh, too much folly is it, well I wot,
To hazard all our lives in one fmall boat.
If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
To-morrow 1 thall die with mickle age:
By me they nothing gain, an if I stay,
'Tis but the fhorching of my life one day:
In thee thy mother dies, our houthold's name,
My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame:
All thefe, and more, we hazard by thy ftay;
All thefe are fav'd, if thou wilt fly away. [fmart,

Jobn. The fword of Orleans hath not made me Thefe words of yours draw life-blood from my

heart:

Oh what advantage, bought with fuch a shame,
To fave a paltry life, and flay bright fame!
Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,
The coward horse, that bears me, fall and die!
And like 3 me to the pealant boys of France;
To be fhame's fcorn, and subject of mifchance!
Surely, by all the glory you have won,
An if 1 fly, I am not Talbot's fon :
Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;

If ton to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot.

Tal. Then follow thou thy defperate fire of Crete, Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:

If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's fide; And, commendable prov'd, let's die in pride. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Alarum: excurfions. Enter old Talbot, led by the French.

Tal. Where is my other life?mine own is gone:

O, where's young Talbot? where is valiant John?—

Triumphant

Triumphant death, fmear'd with captivity !
Young Talbot's valour makes me fmile at thee:
When he perceiv'd me thrink, and on my knee,
His bloody fword he brandifh'd over me,
And, like a hungry lion, did commence
Rough deeds of rage, and ftern impatience :
But when my angry guardant stood alone,
Tend'ring my ruin, and affail'd of none,
Dizzy-ey'd fury, and great rage of heart,
Suddenly made him from my fide to start
Into the cluft'ring battle of the French:
And in that fea of blood my boy did drench
His over-mounting fpirit; and there dy'd
My Icarus, my bloffom, in his pride.

2

Enter John Talbot, borne.

Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your fon is borne ! [fcorn,

Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'ft us here to

[Dies

SCENE I.

Continues near Bourdeaux.

Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field, Valiant ford Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury?

Char.

Joan la Pucelle.

rescue in,

We fhould have found a bloody day of this.

wood 4,

Did flesh his puny fword in Frenchmen's blood!

Pucel. Once I encounter'd him, and thus I faid, Thou maiden youth, be varquifh'd by a maid: But-with a proud, majestical, high fcornHe anfwer'd thus; Young Talbot was not bornTo be the pillage of a giglot 5 wench:

[knight:

So, ruthing in the bowels of the French,
He left me proudly, as unworthy fight.
Bur. Doubtlefs, he would have made a noble
Sce, where he lies inherfed in the arms
Of the most bloody nurfer of his harms. [afunder;
Baft. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones
Whole life was England's glory, Gallia's wonder.
Char. Oh, no; forbear: for that which we have
During the life, let us not wrong it dead. [fled

Enter Sir William Lucy.
Lucy. Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's
tent; to know

Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.
Char. On what fubmiffive meffage art thou fent?
Lucy. Submition, Dauphin 'tis a mere French
word;

We English warriors wot not what it means.
I come to know what prifoners thou haft ta'en,
And to furvey the bodies of the dead.

Worthy faint Michael, and the golden fleece;
Great marefhal to Henry the fixth,

Of all his wars within the realm of France ?

Facel. Here is a filly ftately ftile, indeed!
The Turk, that two-and-fifty kingdoms hath,
Writes not fo tedious a ftile as this..

Him, that thou magnify'it with all thefe titles,
Stinking, and fly-blown, lies here at our fect.

Lucy. Is Talbot flain; the Frenchman's only

fcourge,

Your kingdom's terror and black Nemefis?
Oh, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd,
That I, in rage, might foot them at your faces!
Oh, that I could but call thefe dead to Life!
It were enough to fright the realm of France :
Were but his picture left among you here,
It would amaze the proudeft of you all.
Give me their bodies; that I may bear them hence,
And give them burial, as befeems their worth.

Pacel. I think, this upftart is old Talbot's ghost, He speaks with fuch a proud commanding fpirit. For God's fake, let him have 'em ; to keep them here, They would bat ftink, and putrefy the air.

Char. Go, take their bodies hence.
Lucy. I'll bear

Them hence: but from their athes fhall be rear'd

1 i. e. ftained and difhonoured with captivity.

Clan So we be rid of them, do with him what thou

2i e. watching me with tenderness in my fall.

And

That fuch immanity and bloody ftrife
Should reign among profeffors of one faith.

Glo. Befide, my lord,-the fooner to effect,
And furer bind, this knot of amity,-
The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles,
A man of great authority in France,-
Proffers his only daughter to your grace
In marriage, with a large and fumptuous dowry.
K. Henry. Marriage? uncle, alas! my years are
And fitter is my ftudy and my books, [young;
Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet call the ambaifadors; and, as you please,
So let them have their anfwers every one:
I fhall be well content with any choice
Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.
Enter a Legate, and two Ambassadors; with Win-
chefter as Cardinal.

Exe. What is my lord of Winchester inftall'd, And call'd unto a cardinal's degree! Then, I perceive, that will be verify'd, Henry the fifth did fometime prophefy,If once be come to be a cardinal,

He'll make bis cap co-equal with the crown.

K. Henry. My lords ambafiadors, your feveral fuits Have been confider'd and debated on. Your purpose is both good and reasonable : And, therefore, are we certainly refolv'd To draw conditions of a friendly peace; Which, by my lord of Winchefter, we mean Shail be tranfported presently to France.

Glo. And for the proffer of my lord your mafter,--
I have inform'd his highnefs fo at large,
As--liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
He doth intend the fhall be England's queen.
K. Henry. In argument and proof of which
contract,

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.-
And fo, my lord protector, fee them guarded,
And fafely brought to Dover; where, inthipp'd,

Commit them to the fortune of the fea.

[Exeunt king, and train. Win. Stay, my lord legate; you fhall firft receive The fum of money, which I promited Should be deliver'd to his holiness

For clothing me in thefe grave ornaments.

Legate. I will attend upon your lordship's leifure. Win. Now Winchester will not fubmit, I trow, Or be inferior to the proudeft peer. Humphrey of Glofter, thou shalt well perceive, That, nor in birth, nor for authority, The bishop will be orborne by thee: I'll either make thee ftoop, and bend thy knee, Or fack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. France.

Enter Dauphin, Burgundy, Alencon, and Joan la Pucelle.

Dau. Thefe news, my lords, may cheer our drooping fpirits :

'Tis faid, the ftout Parifians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French. [France, Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Pucel. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Elfe, ruin combat with their palaces ! Enter a Scout.

Scout. Succefs unto our valiant general, And happinefs to his accomplices!

[speak.

Dau. What tidings fend our fcouts? I pr'ythee, Scout. The English army, that divided was Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one; And means to give you battle presently.

Dau. Somewhat too fudden, firs, the warning iss But we will prefently provide for them.

Bur. I truft, the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Pucel. Of all bafe pattions, fear is moft accurs'd: -Command the conquett, Charles, it thall be thine; Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. Dau. Then on, my lords; And France be for[Exeunt

tunate!

SCENE IV. Alarum: excurfions. Enter Joan la Pucelle. Pucel. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen Now help, ye charming fpells, and periapts 2; [fly.And ye choice fpirits, that admonish me, And give me figus of future accidents! [Thunder. You speedy helpers, that are fubfiitutes Under the lordly monarch of the north 3, Appear, and aid me in this enterprize! Enter Fiends.

This speedy and quick appearance argues proof of your accuftem'd diligence to me. Now, ye familiar fpirits, that are cull'd Out of the powerful regions under earth, Help me this once, that France may get the field. [They walk, and peak not.

Oh,