And see the cities and the towns defaced 49 Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help. One drop of blood drawn from thy country's bosom Should grieve thee more than streams of for eign gore: Return thee therefore with a flood of tears, And wash away thy country's stained spots. Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee, 60 Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny. Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe? 69-73. Throughout this play the Poet takes great liberties with the order of events, shuffling them back and forth without much regard to their actual succession. The duke of Orleans, who had been taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and retained as such in England ever since, was not released till November, 1440, which was more than five years after the defection of Burgundy from the English cause. The long captivity of Orleans was partly owing to the duke of Burgundy, there being an old grudge between the two families; Burgundy still persuading the English to demand a larger ransom than Orleans was able to pay. Now the former sought the enlargement of his rival, and, to secure his friendship, paid the ransom, and effected a marriage of him with his niece, Mary of Cleves. England, however, would not release Orleans till he bound himself to return at the end of a year, unless he could induce the French king to a final peace; and engaged at the same time to pay back the money on the signing of the treaty or the return of the captive. The duke being for some time excluded from the French court through the intrigues of favorites, the time for his return was prolonged; till at last, in 1444, he brought about an armistice for two years, and there the matter seems to have ended.-H. Ν. Η. 70 And was he not in England prisoner? men. Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord; Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms. Bur. I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot, So farewell, Talbot; I 'll no longer trust thee. Puc. [Aside] Done like a Frenchman: turn, and turn again! Char. Welcome, brave duke; thy friendship makes us fresh. Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. Enter the King, Gloucester, Bishop of Winchester, Tal. My gracious prince, and honorable peers, To your obedience fifty fortresses, 85. "Done like a Frenchman: turn, and turn again"; "the inconstancy of the French was always a subject of satire. I have read a dissertation to prove that the index of the wind upon our steeples was made in form of a cock to ridicule the French for their frequent changes" (Johnson).-H. N. Η. Twelve cities and seven walled towns of strength, Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem, 10 First to my God and next unto your grace. [Kneels King. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester, We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury; 18. "I do remember”; “Henry was but nine months old when his father died, and never even saw him" (Malone).-H. N. Η. 26. Talbot was not made earl of Shrewsbury till 1442, more than ten years after the crowning of Henry at Paris. And the honor was not conferred at Paris, but at London. The matter is thus stated by Holinshed: "About this season John, the valiant lord Talbot, for his approved prowesse and wisdome, as well in England as in France, both in peace and warre so well tried, was created earle of Shrewsburie, and with a companie of three thousand men sent againe into Normandie, for the better defense of the same."-H. Ν. Η. [Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but Vernon and Basset. Ver. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea, spakest? Bas. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honor as he is. 30 [Strikes him. Bas. Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is such That whoso draws a sword, 'tis present death, Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood. But I 'll unto his majesty, and crave 40 I may have liberty to venge this wrong; When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost. Ver. Well, miscreant, I 'll be there as soon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. [Exeunt. 38. "the law of arms is such"; "By the ancient law before the Conquest, fighting in the king's palace, or before the king's judges, was punished with death. And by Statute 33, Henry VIII, malicious striking in the king's palace, whereby blood is drawn, is punishable by perpetual imprisonment and fine at the king's pleasure and also with loss of the offender's right hand."-Blackstone, |