Alen. Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this, And doth deserve a coronet of gold. Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers; And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [Exeunt SCENE IV. Paris. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, and other Lords, VERNON, BASSET, &c. To them TALBOT, and some of his Officers. Tal. My gracious prince,-and honourable peers,Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have a while given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaim'd Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, K. Hen. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Gloster, K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain, and victorious lord! When I was young, (as yet I am not old,) I do remember how my father said, And in our coronation take your place. [Exeunt King HENRY, GLO. TAL. and Nobles. Ver. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea, Disgracing of these colours that I wear In honour of my noble lord of York, Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spak'st? The envious barking of your saucy tongue [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 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. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The same. A Room of State. Enter King Glo. LORD bishop, set the crown upon his head. [Governor kneels. That you elect no other king but him: This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! [Exeunt Gov. and his Train. Enter Sir JOHN FASTOLFE. Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais, To haste unto your coronation, A letter was deliver'd to my hands, Writ to your grace from the duke of Burgundy. [4] I believe the line should be written as it is in the folio: That, who so draws a sword,— that is, with a menace in the court or in the presence chamber [5] To pretend is to design, to intend. JOHNSON. STEEVENS. VOL. IV. 13 To tear the garter from thy craven's leg, [plucking it off (Which I have done) because unworthily Thou wast installed in that high degree. Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest: When but in all I was six thousand strong, Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, K. Hen. Stain to thy countrymen ! thou hear'st thy doom: Be packing therefore, thou that wast a knight; Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death. [Exit FASTOLFE. -And now, my lord protector, view the letter Sent from our uncle duke of Burgundy. Glo. What means his grace, that he hath chang'd his style? [Viewing the superscription. No more but, plain and bluntly,-To the king. Hath he forgot, he is his sovereign ? Or doth this churlish superscription That is, thy mean, dastardly leg. WHALLEY. Pretend some alteration in good will ?8 What's here?—I have, upon especial cause,[Reads. Together with the pitiful complaints Of such as your oppression feeds upon,— Forsaken your pernicious faction, And join'd with Charles the rightful king of France. There should be found such false dissembling guile ? foe. K. Hen. Is that the worst this letter doth contain ? K. Hen. Why then, lord Talbot there shall talk with him, And give him chastisement for this abuse : -My lord, how say you? are you not content? Tal. Content, my liege? Yes; but that I am prevented, I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd. K. Hen. Then gather strength, and march unto him straight : Let him perceive, how ill we brook his treason; Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still, Enter VERNON and BASSET. [Exit. Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign! Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the combat too! York. This is my servant; Hear him, noble prince ! Som. And this is mine; Sweet Henry, favour him! K. Hen. Be patient, lords, and give them leave to speak. -Say, gentlemen, What makes you thus exclaim? And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom? Ver. With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong. Bas. And I with him; for he hath done me wrong. K. Hen. What is that wrong whereof you both complain? First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Bas. Crossing the sea from England into France, This fellow here, with envious carping tongue, [8] To pretend seems to be here used in its Latin sense, that is, to stretch forward. It may mean, however, as in other places, to design. hold out, to STEEV. Upbraided me about the rose I wear; Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord : Yet know, my lord, I was provok'd by him; York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be left? Som. Your private grudge, my lord of York, will out, Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it. K. Hen. Good Lord! what madness rules in brain-sick men; When, for so slight and frivolous a cause, -Good cousins both, of York and Somerset, York. Let this dissension first be tried by fight, York. There is my pledge; accept it, Somerset. |