FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Vernon, of the white rose, or York faction. Reignier,duke of Anjou,and titular king of Naples. Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, great uncle to Duke of Burgundy Duke of Alençon. the king Governor of Paris. Bastard of Orleans. Winchester, and afterwards cardinal. General of the French forces in Bourdeaux. earl of Cambridge; afterwards duke of York. Margaret, daughter to Reignier ; afterwards mar. Earl of Suffolk. ried to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. Lord Talbot, afterwards earl of Shrewsbury. Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. John Talbot, his son. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, lords, warders Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. of the Tower, heralds, officers, soldiers, mesMortimer's keeper, and a lawyer. sengers, and several attendants, both on the Sir John Fastolfe. Sir William Lucy. English and French. ACT I. That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? Or shall we think the subtle-witted French Corpse of King Henry, the Fifth discovered, By magic verses2 have contriv'd his end? Win. He was a king blessed of the King of kings. 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 church- His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: tector; Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. More than God, or religious churchmen, may. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; in peace! When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, Our isle be made a nourish3 of salt tears, And none but women left to wail the dead.--- Henry the Fifth! thy ghost I invocate; Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! (2) There was a notion long prevalent, that lite (1) Aluding to our ancient stage-practice when || might be taken away by metrical charmos a tragedy was to be acter (3) Nurse was anciently so spelt. OF 19 FEB 2: VOL. II. A far more glorious star thy soul will make, No leisure had he to enrank his men ; He wanted pikes to set before his archers; Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges, They pitched in the ground confusedly, Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. Sad tidings bring 1 to you out of France, More than three hours the fight continued; Of loss, of slaughter, and disconfiture : Where valiant Talbot, above human thought, Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans, Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him Bed. What say’st thou, man, before dead Henry's Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: corse ? The French exclaim'd, The devil was in arms; Speak softly: or the loss of those great towns All the whole army stood agaz'd on him: Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit, Glo. Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up? A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain, If Henry were recall'd to life again, And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. These news would cause him once more yield the Here had the conquest fully been seald up, ghost. If sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward; Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was He being in the vaward (plac'd behind, us'd? With purpose to relieve and follow them,) Mess. No treachery ; but want of men and money. Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Among the soldiers this is muttered, Hence grew the general wreck and massacre; That here you maintain several factions ; And, whilsi a field should be despatch'd and fought, A base Walloon, to win the dauphin's grace, Enclosed were they with their enemies : You are disputing of your generals. Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back; One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Whom all France, with their chief assembled Another would fly swift but wanteth wings; strength, For living idly here, in pomp and ease, 3 dless. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford : These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France : Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay : Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France. I'll hale the dauphin headlong from his throne, Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours. To weep their intermissive miseries.2 Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad || Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, To keep our great Saint George's feast withal: mischance, France is revolted from the English quite; Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; Except some petty towns of no import : The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; The earl of Salisbury craveth supply, The English army is grown weak and faint : And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry Exe. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! sworn; Either to quell the dauphin utterly, Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, [Exit. ness? Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, To view the artillery and munition; Wherewith already France is over-run. And then I will proclaim young Henry king. (Ex. Enter a third Messenger. Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, 3 Mess. My gracious lords,—to add to your And for his safety there I'll best devise. Being ordain'd his special governor; laments, [Erit. Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse, Win. Each hath his place and function to attend : I must inform you of a disrnal fight, I am left out; for me nothing remains. Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office; Win. What! wberein Talbot overcame? ist so ? | The king from Eltham I intend to send, 3 Mess. O, no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er-|| And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. thrown: (Erit. Scene closes. The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. SCENE 11.-France. Before Orleans. Enter The toth of August last, this dreadful lord, Charles, with his forces; Alençon, Reignier, Retiring from the siege of Orleans, and others. Paving full scarce six thousand in his troop, Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the By three and twenty thousand of the French heavens, Was round encompassed and set upon : (2) i. e. Their miseries which have had only & (1) Her, i e, England's. short intermission. So in the earth, to this day is not known : Char. Go, call her in: (Exit Bastard.) But, first, Late did he shine upon the English side; to try her skill, Now we are victors, upon us he smiles. Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place : What towns of any moment, but we have? Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern :At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans; By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, (Retires. Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others. bull-beeres: Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous Either they must be dieted like mules, feats? And have their provender tied to their mouths, Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. me?-Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly Where is the dauphin?--come, come from behind ; here? I know thee well, though never seen before. Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; In private will I talk with thee apart:And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war. Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's them. daughter, Now for the honour of the forlorn French : My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. Him I forgive my death, that killeth me, Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. (Exe. To shine on my contemptible estate : Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, Alarums ; excursions; afterwards a retreat. Re- And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, enter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and others. God's mother deigned to appear to me; Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; Her aid she promis'd, and assur'd success : In complete glory she reveal'd herself; The other lords, like lions wanting food, And, whereas I was black and swart before, Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.? With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, | That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see. England all Olivers and Rowlands bred, Ask me what question thou canst possible, During the time Edward the third did reign. And I will answer unpremeditated : More truly now may this be verified; My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, For none but Samsons, and Goliases, And thou shali find that I exceed my sex. It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! Resolve on this :5 Thou shalt be fortunate, Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. They had such courage and audacity? Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair terms; brain'd slaves, Only this proof I'll of thy valour make, Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, church-yard, Alen. Be it so. Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear nowoman. Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news [They fight. for him. Char. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an amazon, Char. Bastard3 of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. | And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheeri Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too appallid; weak. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand : help me: A boly maid hither with me I bring, Impatiently I burn with thy desire; Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, 'Tis the French dauphin sueth to thee thus. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome : Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. For my profession's sacred from above: Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, When I have chased all thy foes from hence, For they are certain and unfallible. Then will I think upon a recompense. (1) i. e. The prey for which they are hungry. (3) This was not in former times a term of re (2) A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where proach. one piece moves within another; here it is taken (4) Countenance. • at large for an engine. (5) Be firmly persuaded of it. Char. Mean time, look gracious on thy prostrateji Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? thrall. Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Wood, I Within.) Have patience, noble duke: Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her I may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do me? know : Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, These women are shrewd tempters with their|| Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could tongues. brook? Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you Thou art no friend to God, or to the king : on? Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. Shall we give over Orleans, or no? 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. quickly. Char. What she says, I'll conốirm; we'll fight Enter Winchester, attended by a train of servants, it out. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. in tawny-coats. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days, means this? Since I have entered into these wars. Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be Glory is like a circle in the water, shut out? Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,6 Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. And not protector of the king, or realm. With Henry's death, the English circle ends; Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator Dispersed are the glories it included. Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord"; Now am I like that proud insulting ship, Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin : Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a Helen, the mother of great Constantine, foot; Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, 2 were like thee. This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. How may I reverently worship thee enough?. Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back : Alen. Leave off' delays, and let us raise the siege.Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth, Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our|| I'll use, to carry thee out of this place. honours; Win. Do what thou darst; I beard thee to thy Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. face. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my about it: face? No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. (Exe. Draw, men, for all this privileged place; SCENE III.-London. Hiù before the Tower. Blue-coats to tawny.coats. Priest, beware your Enter, at the gates, the Duke of Gloster, with beard ; his serving-men, in blue coats. (Gloster and his men attack the bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly : Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; || Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.3_|| In spite of pope or dignities of church, Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls. Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. (Servants knock. Glo. Winchester goose, 9 I cry-a rope! a rope!1 Ward. (Within.) Who is there that knocks so|| Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay?imperiously? Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.-1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster. Out, tawney-coats !-out, scarlet9 hypocrite! 2 Ward. (Within.) Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in Here a great tumull. In the midst of it, enter 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? the Mayor of London, and officers. 1 Ward. (Within.) The Lord protect him! so May. Fie, lords ! that you, being supreme mawe answer him : gistrates, We do no otherwise than we are willid. Thus contumeliously should break the peace! Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands but Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my mine? wrongs : There's none protector of the realm, but I. - Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize : Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use. Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms? Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; Servants rush at the T'oroer gates. Enter, to the one that still motions war, and never peace, gates, Woodville, the lieutenant. O’ercharging your free purses with large fines; Wood. (Within.) What noise is this? what trai | That seeks to overthrow religion, tors have we here? (3) Theft. (4) Break open. (1) Expect prosperity after misfortune. (5) Alluding to his shaven crown. (6) Traitor. (2) Meaning the four daughters of Philip, men (8) A strumpet tioned in Acts xxi. 9. 19) An allusion to the bishop's habit. (7) Sift. sure: Because he is protector of the realm; Which I, disdaining, scom'd; and craved death, (Here they skirmish again. Whom with my bare fists I would execute, May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous If I now had him brought into my power. strise, Sal. Yet tellist thou not, how thou wert enterBut to make open proclamation tain'd. Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. Off. Au manner of men, assembled here in arms In open market-place produc'd they me, this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' name, To be a public spectacle to all; to repair to your several dwelling-places ; and Here, said they, is the terror of the French, not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon || Then broke I from the officers that led me; The scare-crow that affrights our children so. or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground, Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law : To burl at the beholders of my shame. But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. My grisly countenance made others fly; Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be None durst come near for fear of sudden death. In iron walls they deem'd me not secure; Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, May. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away : That they suppos’d, I could rend bars of steel, This cardinal is more haughty than the devil. And spurn in pieces posts of adamant : Glo. Mayor, farewell : thou dost but what thou Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had, may'st. That walk'd about me every minute-while ; Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; And if I did but stir out of my bed, For I intend to have it, ere long (Exeunt. || Ready they were to shoot me to the heart. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd, depart. But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. Good God! that nobles should such stomachs2 bear! Now it is supper-time in Orleans : I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. Here, through this grate, I can count every one, SCENE IV.-France. Before Orleans. Enter|| And view the Frenchmen how they fortify; on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. Let us look in, the sight will much delight thee.-- Sir Thomas Gargrave, and sir William Glansdale, M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is Let me have your express opinions, besieg'd; Where is best place to make our battery next. And how the English have the suburbs won. Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there stand Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, lords. Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim. Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruld T'al. For aught I see, this city must be famishd, by me: Or with slight skirmishes enfeebled. Chief master-gunner am I of this town; [Shot from the town. Salisbury and Sir Something I must do, to procure me grace :3 Thomas Gargrave fal. The prince's espials have inform'd me, Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd, Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man! Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath In yonder tower, to overpeer the city; cross'd us? And thence discover, how, with most advantage, Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak; They may vex us, with shot, or with assault. How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men? To intercept this inconvenience, One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck offA piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand, And fully even these three days have I watch'd, That bath contriv'd this woful tragedy! If I could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch, In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame; For I can stay no longer. Henry the Fifth he first train'd to the wars; If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up, And thou shalt find me at the governor's. (Exit. His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; Yet liv'st thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. fail, One Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the Lords The sun with one eye vieweth all the world. eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace: Salisbury and Talbot, Sir William Glansdale, Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive, Sir Thomas Gargrave, and others. If Salisbury want mercy at thy hands ! Sal . Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it. How wert thou handled, being prisoner? Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life? Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd? Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him. Discourse, I proythee, on this turret's top. Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort ; Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Thou shalt not die, whilesCalled the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles; He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; For him I was exchang'd and ransomed. As who should say, When I am dend and gone, But with a baser man of arms by far, Remember to avenge me on the French.Odce, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: Plantagenet, I will; and Nero-like, (1) That is, for peace-officers armed with club (2) Pride. (3) Favour. (4) Spies. Or staves. (5) So stripped of honours. |