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The king, thy sovereign, is not quite exempt To hold your slaughtering hands, and keep the From envious malice of thy swelling heart.

peace.

Win. Gloster, I do defy thee.-Lord's, vouch-Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife.
To give me hearing what I shall reply. [safe
If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse,
As he will have me, How am I so poor?
Or how haps it, I seek not to advance
Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling:
And for dissention, Who preferreth peace
More than I do,-except I be provok’d?
No, my good lords, it is not that offends;
Is it not that, that hath incens'd the duke:
It is, because no one should sway but he;
No one, but he, should be about the king;
And that engenders thunder in his breast,
And makes him roar these accusations forth.
But he shall know, I am as good→→
Glo. As good?

1 Serv. Nay, if we be
[teeth.
Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our
2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute.
[Skirmish again.

Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish And set this unaccustom'd* fight aside. [broil, 1 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a

Thou bastard of my grandfather!—

Win. Ay, lordly Sir; For what are you, I
But one imperious in another's throne! [pray,
Glo. Am I not the protector, saucy priest?
Win. And am I not a prelate of the church?
Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keeps,
And useth it to patronage his theft.
Win. Unreverent Gloster!

Glo. Thou art reverent

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
Win. This Rome shall remedy.

War. Roam thither then.

Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne.
Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious,
And know the office that belongs to such.
War. Methinks, his lordship should be hum-
It fitteth not a prelate so to plead. [bler;
Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so

near.

War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what ofthat? Is not his grace protector to the king?

Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his
tongue;

Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you should;
Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?
Else would I have a fling at Winchester.

[Aside. K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster, and of Winchester,

The special watchmen of our English weal;
I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
To join your hearts in love and amity.
O, what a scandal is it to our crown,
That two such noble peers as ye, should jar!
Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell,
Civil dissention is a viperous worm,
That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.
[A noise within; Down with the tawny coats!
What tumult's this?

War. An uproar, I dare warrant,
Begun through malice of the bishop's men.

[A noise again; Stones! Stones!
Enter the MAYOR of London, attended.
May. O, my good lords,—and virtuous Hen-
Pity the city of London, pity us! [ry,
The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men,
Forbidden late to carry any weapon,
Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble-stones;
And, banding themselves in contrary parts,
Do pelt so fast at one another's pate,
That many have their giddy brains knock'd

[out:

Our windows are broke down in every street,
And we, for fear, compell'd to shut our shops.
Enter, skirmishing, the Retainers of GLOSTER
and WINCHESTER, with bloody pates.
K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to
ourself,

man

Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,
Inferior to none, but his majesty:

And ere that we will suffer such a prince,
So kind a father of the commonweal,
To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate,t
We, and our wives, and children, all will fight,
And have our bodies slaughter'd by thy foes.
2 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails
Shall pitch a field, when we are dead.
[Skirmish again.

Glo. Stay, stay, I say!

And, if you love me, as you say you do,
Let me persuade you to forbear a while.

K. Hen. O, how this discord doth afflict my
soul!-

Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold
My sighs and tears, and will not once relent?
Who should be pitiful, if you be not?
Or who should study to prefer a peace,
If holy churchmen take delight in broils?

War. My lord protector, yield ;-yield Win-
chester ;-

Except you mean, with obstinate repulse,
To slay your sovereign, and destroy the realm.
You see what mischief, and what murder too,
Hath been enacted through your enmity;
Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.
Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compassion on the king commands me

stoop;

Or, I would see his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get that privilege of me.

War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the
Hath banish'd moody discontented fury, [duke
As by his smoothed brows it doth appear:
Why look you still so stern, and tragical?

Glo. Here, Winchester, I offer thee my hand.
K. Hen. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard
you preach,

That malice was a great and grievous sin;
And will not you maintain the thing you teach,
But prove a chief offender in the same?

War. Sweet king!-The bishop hath a kindly
gird.

For shame, my lord of Winchester ! relent;
What, shall a child instruct you what to do?
Win. Well, duke of Gloster, I will yield to

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3 Serv. And I will see what physic the ta-
vern affords.
[Exeunt SERVANTS,
MAYOR, &c.
War. Accept this scroll, most gracious
sovereign;

Which in the right of Richard Plantagenet,
We do exhibit to your majesty.

Glo. Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick;-for,
sweet prince,

An if your grace mark every circumstance,
You have great reason to do Richard right:
Especially, for those occasions

At Eltham-place I told your majesty.

Through which our policy must make a breach:
Take heed, be wary how you place your

words;

Talk like the vulgar sort of market-men,
That come to gather money for their corn.
If we have entrance, (as, I hope, we shall,)
And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
I'll by a sign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter
them.

1 Sold. Our sacks shall be a mean to sack
the city,

And we be lords and rulers over Roüen;

K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were Therefore we'll knock.
of force:

Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is,
That Richard be restored to his blood.

War. Let Richard be restored to his bloood;
So shall his father's wrongs be recompens'd.
Win. As will the rest, so willeth Win-
chester.

K. Hen. If Richard will be true, not that|
But all the whole inheritance I give, [alone,
That doth belong unto the house of York,
From whence you spring by lineal descent.

Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience,
And humble service, till the point of death.

K. Hen. Stoop then, and set your knee a-
gainst my foot;

And, in reguerdon* of that duty done,
Igirt thee with the valiant sword of York:
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet;
And rise created princely duke of York.

Plan. And so thrive Richard, as thy foes
may fall!

And as my duty springs so perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty!
All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty duke

of York!

Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of
York!
[Aside.

Glo. Now will it best avail your majesty,
To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France:
The presence of a king engenders love
Amongst his subjects, and his loyal friends;
As it disanimates his enemies.

K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king
Henry goes;

For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.
Glo. Your ships already are in readiness.
[Exeunt all but EXETER.

Eze. Ay, we may march in England, or in
Not seeing what is likely to ensue: [France,
This late dissention, grown betwixt the peers,
Burns under feigned ashes of forg'd love,
And will at last break out into a flame:
As fester'd members rot but by degrees,
Till bones, and flesh, and sinews, fall away,
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal prophecy,
Which, in the time of Henry, nam'd the fifth,
Was in the mouth of every sucking babe,-
That Henry, born of Monmouth, should win

all;

And Henry, born at Windsor, should lose all:
Which is so plain, that Exeter doth wish
His days may finish ere that hapless time.

[Exit.

SCENE II.—France.-Before Roüen. Enter LA PUCELLE disguised, and SOLDIERS dressed like Countrymen, with Sacks upon their Backs.

Puc. These are the city gates, the gates of
Roüen,

* Recompense.

[Knocks

Guard. [Within.] Qui est là?
Puc. Paisans, pauvres gens de France:
Poor market-folks, that come to sell their

corn.

rung.

Guard. Enter, go in; the market-bell is [Opens the Gates. Puc. Now Roiien, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.

[PUCELLE, &c. enter the City.

Enter CHARLES, BASTARD of Orleans, ALENÇON, and Forces.

Char. Saint Dennis bless this happy strata-
gem!

And once again we'll sleep secure in Roiien.
Bast. Here enter'd Pucelle, and her prac-

tisants ;*

Now she is there, how will she specify
Where is the best and safest passage in?

Alen. By thrusting out a torch from yonder

tower;

Which, once discern'd, shows, that her mean-
No way to that, for weakness, which she
ing is,-
[enter'd.

Enter LA PUCELLE on a Battlement: holding
out a Torch burning.

Puc. Behold, this is the happy wedding
torch,

That joineth Roüen unto her countrymen:
But burning fatal to the Talbotites.

Bast. See, noble Charles! the beacon of our
friend,

The burning torch in yonder turret stands.
Char. Now shine it like a comet of revenge,
A prophet to the fall of all our foes!

Alen. Defer no time, Delays have dangerous
ends;

Enter, and cry-The Dauphin!-presently,

And then do execution on the watch.

[They enter.

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Before he'll buy again at such a rate :
'Twas full of darnel; Do you like the taste?
Bur. Scoff on, vile fiend, and shameless cour-

tezan!

I trust, ere long, to choke thee with thine own,
And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.
Char. Your grace may starve, perhaps, be-
fore that time.

Bed. O let no words, but deeds, revenge this
treason!

Puc. What will you do, good grey-beard?
break a lance,

And run a tilt at death within a chair?

Tal. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all

despite,

Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours!
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age,
And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
Damsel, I'll have a bout with you again,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.

Puc. Are you so hot, Sir?-Yet, Pucelle,
hold thy peace;

If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.— [TALBOT, and the rest, consult together. God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker?

Tal. Dare ye come forth, and meet us in the

field?

Puc. Belike, your lordship takes us then for fools,

To try if that our own be ours, or no.

Tal. I speak not to that railing Hecate,
But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest;
Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?
Alen. Signior, no.

Tal. Signior, hang!-base muleteers of

France!

Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls,
And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.
Puc. Captains, away: let's get us from the
walls;

For Talbot means no goodness, by his looks.-
God be wi'you, my lord! we came, Sir, but to
tell you

That we are here.

Tal. And there will we be too, ere it be long,
[Exeunt La PUCELLE, &c from the Walls.
Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame !-
Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
(Prick'd on by public wrongs, sustain'd in
France,)

Either to get the town again, or die:
And I,-as sure as English Henry lives,
And as his father here was conqueror;
As sure as in this late betrayed town.
Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buried;
So sure I swear, to get the town, or die.
Bur. My vows are equal partners with thy

VOWS.

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And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand,
And set upon our boasting enemy.
[Exeunt BURGUNDY, TALBOT, and Forces,
leaving BEDFORD, and others.

Alarums; Excursions. Enter Sir JOHN FAS
TOLFE, and a CAPTAIN.

Cap. Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in
such haste?

Fast. Whither away? to save myself by flight;

We are like to have the overthrow again.

Cap. What! will you fly, and leave lord
Talbot?

Fast. Ay,

All the Talbots in the world to save my life.

[Exit. Cap. Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee !

[Exit.

Retreat: Excursions. Enter from the Town,
LA PUCELLE, ALENÇON, CHALRES, &c. and
Exeunt, flying.

Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven

For I have seen our enemies' overthrow.
please;
They, that of late were daring with their scoffs,
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[Dies, and is carried off in his Chair.

Alarum: Enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and others.
Tal. Lost, and recover'd in a day again!
This is a double honour, Burgundy:
Yet, heavens have glory for this victory!

Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
Enshrines thee in his heart; and there erects
Thy noble deeds, as valour's monument.

Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is
Pucelle now?

I think, her old familiar is asleep :
Now where's the Bastard's braves, and
Charles his gleeks ?*

That such a valiant company are fled.
What, all a-mort?t Roüen hangs her head
for grief,
Now will we take some order‡ in the town,
Placing therein some expert officers;
And then depart to Paris, to the king;
For there young Harry, with his nobles, lies.
Bur. What wills lord Talbot, pleaseth Bur-
gundy.

Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget
The noble duke of Bedford, late deceas'd,
But see his exequies§ fulfill'd in Roüen;
A braver soldier never couched lance,

A gentler heart did never sway in court:
But kings and mightiest potentates must die ;
For that's the end of human misery. [Exeunt.

-The Plains near

SCENE III-The same.

the City.
Enter CHARLES, the BASTARD, ALENÇON, LA
PUCELLE, and Forces.

Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident,
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,
Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered:
For things that are not to be remedied.
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while,
We'll pull his plumes, and take away his train,
And like a peacock sweep along his tail;
If Dauphin, and the rest, will be but rul'd.
* Scoffs.
†Quite dispirited.
Make some necessary dispositions. Funeral rites

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Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny, [tion, And of thy cunning had no diffidence ; One sudden foil shall never breed distrust. Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, And we will make thee famous through the world.

Alen. We'll set thy statute in some holy place, And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint; Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good. Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:

By fair persuasions, mix'd with sugar'd words,
We will entice the duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot, and to follow us.
Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do
that,

France were no place for Henry's warriors;
Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
But be extirped* from our provinces.

Alen. Forever should they be expuls'dt from France,

And not have title to an earldom here.

Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly na-
That will not trust thee, but for profit's sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill,
Who then, but English Henry, will be lord,
And thou be thrust out, like a fugitive?
Call we to mind,-and mark but this, for
proof ;-

Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?
And was he not in England prisoner?
But, when they heard he was thine enemy,
They set him free, without his ransom paid,
In spite of Burgundy, and all his friends.
See then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen,
And join'st with them will be thy slaughter-
men,
[lord;

Come, come, return; return, thou wand'ring
Charles, and the rest, will take thee in their

arms.

Bur. Iam vanquish'd; these haughty* words

of hers

Puc. Your honours shall perceive how I will Have batter'd me like roaring cannon shot, work,

To bring this matter to the wished end.

[Drums heard. Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward. An English March. Enter, and pass over at a distance, TALBOT and his Forces.

There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread; And all the troops of English after him.

A French March. Enter the duke of BURGUNDY and Forces.

Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his;

Fortune, in favour, make him lag behind. Summon a parley, we will talk with him. [A Parley sounded. Char. A parley with the duke of Burgundy. Bur. Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?

Puc. The princely Charles of France, thy

countryman.

Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence.

Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with thy words.

Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France!

Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.
Bur. Speak on; but be not over-tedious.
Puc. Look on thy country, look on fertile
France,

And see the cities and the towns defac'd
By wasting ruin of the cruel foe!
As looks the mother on her lowly babe,
When death doth close his tender dying eyes,
See, see, the pining malady of France;
Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds,
Which thou thyself hast given her woful breast!
0, turn thy edged sword another way; [help!
Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that
One drop of blood, drawn from thy country's
bosom,
[gore;
Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign
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
claims on thee,

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And made me almost yield upon my knees.— Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen! And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace: My forces and my power of men are yours ;— So, farewell, Talbot; I'll no longer trust thee. Puc. 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.

Alen. Pucelle hath bravely played 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
To your obedience fifty fortresses, [strength,
Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of
Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,-
Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet;
And, with submissive loyalty of heart,
Ascribes the glory of his conquest got,
First to my God, and next unto your grace.
K. Hen. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Glos-

ter,

That hath so long been resident in France? Glo, Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege. K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain, and vic

torious lord!

When I was young, (as yet I am not old,)
I do remember how my father said,
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolved of your truth,
Your faithful service, and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
ex-Or been reguerdon‡ with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face:

*Elevated. Confirmed in opinion. Rewarded.

Therefore, stand up; and, for these good de

serts,

We here create you earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronatiou take your place.

[Exeunt King HENRY, GLOSTER, TALBOT,
and Nobles.

Ver. Now, Sir, to you, that were so hot at Disgracing of these colours, that I wear [sea, In honour of my noble lord of York,— Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spak'st?

Bas. Yes, Sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Against my lord the duke of Somerset.

Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.

Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill beseeming any common man ; Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my

lords,

Knights of the garter were of noble birth;
Valiant, and virtuous, full of haughty* courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes.†
He then, that is not furnish'd in this sort,
Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,
Profaning this most honourable order;
And should (if I were worthy to be judge,)
Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain

Bas. Why, what is he? as good a man as That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
York.

Ver. Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye that. [Strikes him. Bas. Villain, thou know'st, the law of arms is such,

That, who so draws a sword, 'tis present death; Or else this blow should broach thy dearest But I'll unto his majesty, and crave, [blood. 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 HENRY, GLOSTER, Exeter, York, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WINCHESTER, WARWICK, TALBOT, the GOVRENOR of Paris, and others.

Glo. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his

head.

Win. God save king Henry, of that name the sixth!

Glo. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,
[GOVERNOR kneels.

That you elect no other king but him:
Esteem none friends, but such as are his friends;
And none of your foes,but such as shall pretend*
Malicious practices against his state:
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
To haste unto your coronation, [Calais,
A letter was deliver'd to my hands,
Writ to your grace from the duke of Burgundy.
Tal. Shame to the duke of Burgundy, and
thee!

[next, I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee To tear the garter from thy craven'st leg, [Plucking it off. (Which I have done) because unworthily Thou wast installed in that high degree.Pardon me, princely Henry, and the rest: This dastard, at the battle of Patay, When but in all I was six thousand strong, And that the French were almost ten to one,Before we met, or that a stroke was given, Like to a trusty squire, did run away; In which assault we lost twelve hundred men ; Myself, and divers gentlemen beside, Were there surpris'd, and taken prisoners. Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss; Or whether that such cowards ought to wear This ornament of knighthood, yea, or no.

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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 Pretend‡ some alteration in good will? What's here?-I have, upon especial cause,[Reads.

Mov'd with compassion of my country's wreck, Together with the pitiful complaints Of such as your oppression feeds upon,― Forsaken your pernicious faction, [France. And join'd with Charles, the rightful king of O monstrous treachery! Can this be so; That in aliance, amity, and oaths, [guile? There should be found such false dissembling K. Hen. What! doth my uncle Burgundy

revolt?

Glo. He doth, my lord; and is become your foe.

K. Hen. Is that the worst, this letter doth contain ?

Glo. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.

K. Hen. Why then, lord Talbot there shall talk with him,

And give him chastisement for this abuse:My lord, how say you? are not you content? Tal. Content, my liege? Yes; but that I am

prevented,

[ploy'd. I should have begg'd I might have been emK. Hen. Then gather strength, and march

unto him straight: [son; Let him perceive, how ill we brook his treaAnd what offence it is, to flout his friends.

Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still, You may behold confusion of your foes [Exit.

Enter VERNON and BASSET.

Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign!

Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the com

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