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That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd,
When sapless age, and weak unable limbs,
Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.
But,-O malignant and ill-boding stars!-
Now art thou come unto a feast of death',
A terrible and unavoided danger:
Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse;
And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape
By sudden flight: come, dally not, begone.
John. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son
And shall I ffy? O! if you love my mother,
Dishonour not her honourable name,
To make a bastard, and a slave of me:
The world will say-He is not Talbot's blood,
That basely fled, when noble Talbot stood.

2

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

Tal. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb?
John. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's

womb.

5

Where is John Talbot--Pause, and take thy breath;
I gave thee life, and rescu'd thee from death.

John. O twice my father! twice am I thy son:
The life, thou gav'st me first, was lost and done;
Till with thy warlike sword, despight of fate,
To my determin'd time thou gav'st new date.
Tal. When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword
struck fire,

It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire
10 Of bold-fac'd victory. Then leaden age,
Quicken'd with youthful spleen, and warlike rage,
Beat down Alençon, Orleans, Burgundy,
And from the pride of Gallia rescu'd thee.
The ireful bastard Orleans-that drew blood
15 From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
Of thy first fight--I soon encountered;
And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed
Some of his bastard blood; and, in disgrace,
Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, base,
And mis-begotten blood I spill of thine,
Mean and right poor; for that pure blood of mine,
Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave bɔy:—
Here, purposing the bastard to destroy,
Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care;
25 Art not thou weary, John? How dost thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry?
Fly, to revenge my death, when I am dead;
The help of one stands me in little stead.
30Oh, too much folly is it, well I wot,

20

To hazard all our lives in one small boat.
If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:
By me they nothing gain, and if I stay,
35"Tis but the short'ning of my life one day:
In thee thy mother dies, our household's name,
Mydeath's revenge,thyyouth, and England'sfame:
All these, and more, we hazard by thy stay;
All these are sav'd, if thou wilt fly away. [smart,
John. The sword of Orleans hath not made me
These words of yours draw life-blood from my

Tal. Upon my blessing I command thee go.
John. To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.
Tal. Part of thy father may be sav'd in thee.
John. No part of him, but will be shame in me.
Tal. Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not
lose it.
[abuse it 40
John. Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight
Tal. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from
that stain.

John. You cannot witness for me, being slain.
If death be so apparent, then both fly.

[die? 45

Tal. And leave my followers here to fight and
My age was never taintedwith such shame.[blame
John. And shall my youth be guilty of such
No more can I be sever'd from your side,
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 leave of thee, fair son,
Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon.
Come, side by side together live and die;
And soul with soul from France to heaven fly.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.
Alarum:excursions, wherein Talbot's son is hemm'd
about, and Talbot rescues him.
Tal. Saint George, and victory! fight, soldiers,
The regent hath with Talbot broke his word, [fight:
And left us to the rage of France's sword.

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50 And if I fly, I am not Talbot's son:

Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;
If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot.
Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,
Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:

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

160

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

Tal. Where is my other life?- -mine own is

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2

To a field where death will be feasted with slaughter. Meaning, your care of your own safety. *Le. make me like, or reduce me to a level with, the peasant boys, &c. 002

Triumphant

Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity!
Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee:-
When he perceiv'd me shrink, and on my knee,
His bloody sword he brandish'd over me,
And, like a hungry lion, did commence
Rough deeds of rage, and stern impatience:
But when my angry guardant stood alone,
Tend'ring my ruin, and assail'd of none,
Dizzy-ey'd fury and great rage of heart,
Suddenly made him from my side to start
Into the clust'ring battle of the French:
And in that sea of blood my boy did drench
His over-mounting spirit; and there dy'd
My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

2

Enter John Talbot, borne.

Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your son is
borne!
[scorn,
Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to

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SCENE I.

Continues near Bourdeaux.

ACT

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wood *,

[25]

30

Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood! 35
Pucel. Once I encounter'd him, and thus I said,
Thou maiden youth, be canquish'd by a maid:
But-with a proud, majestical, high scorn-
He answer'd thus; Young Talbot was not born-
To be the pillage of a giglot' wench:
So, rushing in the bowels of the French,
He left me proudly, as unworthy fight. [knight:
Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble
See, where he lies inhersed in the arms

V.

Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field,
Valiant lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury?
Created for his rare success in arms,

Great earl of Washford, Waterford, and Valence;
Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield,
Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of Alton,
Lord Cromwell ofWingfield, lord Furnival of Shef-
The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; [field,
Knight of the noble order of Saint George,
Worthy saint Michael, and the golden fleece;
Great Marshall to Henry the sixth,

Of all his wars within the realm of France?

Pucel. Here is a silly stately style, indeed!
The Turk, that two-and-fifty kingdoms hath,
Writes not so tedious a style as this.-

40 Him, that thou magnify'st with all these titles,
Stinking, and fly-blown, lies here at our feet.
Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchman's only
Scourge,

Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis?

Of the most bloody nurser of his harms. [asunder; 45 Oh, were mine eye-balls into bullets turn'd,
Bast. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones
Whose 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.

Enter Sir William Lucy.

[fled

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

Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.

Char. On what submissive message art thou sent?

That I, in rage, might shoot them at your faces!
Oh, that I could but call these dead to life,
It were enough to fright the realm of France:
Were but his picture left among you here,
50 It would amaze the proudest of you all.
Give me their bodies; that I may bear them hence,
And give them burial, as beseems their worth.
Pucel. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost,
He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.

Lucy. Submission, Dauphin? 'tis a mere French 55 For God's sake, let him have 'em; to keep them

word;

We English warriors wot not what it means.

I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta'en,

And to survey the bodies of the dead.

Char. For prisoners asks't thou? hell our prison is. 60

But tell me whom thou seek'st.

1i.e. stained and dishonoured with captivity.

They would but stink, and putrefy the air. [here,
Char. Go, take their bodies hence.

Lucy. I'll bear

Them hence: but from their ashes shall be rear'd
A phoenix, that shall make all France afeard. [wilt.
Char.So we be rid of them,do with him what thou

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

3

Lither is flexible or yielding. Raging-wood signifies raging mad. Giglot is a wanton, or a strumpet.

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Enter King Henry, Gloster, and Exeter.
K. Henry. Have you perus'd the letters from the
The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac? [pope,
Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is this,
They humbly sue unto your excellence,
To have a godly peace concluded of,
Between the realms of England and of France.
K. Henry. How doth your grace affect their
motion?

Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only means
To stop effusion of our Christian blood,
And stablish quietness on every side.

K.Henry.Ay,marry, uncle; for I always thought,
It was both impious and unnatural,
That such immanity' and bloody strife
Should reign among professors of one faith.

Glo. Beside, my lord,-the sooner to effect,
And surer 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 sumptuous dowry.
K. Henry. Marriage? uncle, alas! my years are
And fitter is my study and my books, [young;
Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,
So let them have their answers every one.
I shall be well content with any choice
Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.
Enter a Legate, and two Ambassadors; with Win-
chester as Cardinal.

Ere. What! is my lord of Winchester install'd,
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree!

Then, I perceive, that will be verify'd,

Henry the fifth did sometime prophesy,

If once he come to be a cardinal,

He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.
K.Hen. My lords ambassadors, your several suits
Have been consider'd and debated on.
Your purpose is both good and reasonable:
And, therefore, are we certainly resolv'd
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which, by my lord of Winchester, we mean
Shall be transported presently to France.

Glo. And for the profferof mylord your master,-
I have inform'd his highness so at farge,
As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
He doth intend she shall be England's queen.
K. Henry. In argument and proof of which
contract,

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King, and train. Win.Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive The sum of money, which I promised

5 Should be deliver'd to his holiness

10

(15)

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For clothing me in these brave ornaments.
Legate. Iwill attend upon your lordship's leisure.
Win. Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,
Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,
That, nor in birth, nor for authority,

The bishop will be overborne by thee:
I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

France.

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

Dau. These news, my lords, may cheer our
drooping spirits:

'Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, And turn again unto the warlike French. [France, Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of 25 And keep not back your powers in dalliance. Pucel. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us; Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

30

35

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45

Enter a Scout.

Scout. Success unto our valiant general,
And happiness to his accomplices!

[speak. Dau. What tidings send our scouts? 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 sudden, sirs, the warning is;
But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there;
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.
Pucel. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:--
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.
Dau. Then on, my lords; and France be for-
[Exeunt.

tunate!

SCENE IV.

Alarum: excursions. Enter Joan la Pucelle.
Pucel. The regent conquers,and the Frenchmen
Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts'; [fly.--
And ye choice spirits, that admonish me,

50 And give me signs of future accidents! [Thunder.
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north',
Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!
Enter Fiends.

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

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.-
And so, my lord protector, see them guarded,
And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd,(60)

1i. e. barbarity, savageness. Periapts were charms sewed up and worn about the neck as preservatives from disease or danger. Of these, the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious. The north was always supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton assembles the rebel angels in the north.

Q03

Oh,

Oh, hold me not with silence over-long!
Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a future benefit;
So you do condescend to help me now.-

[They hung their heads.
No hope to have redress-My body shall
Pay recompence, if you will grant my suit.
[They shake their heads.
Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Intreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.
[They depart.

5

So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak;
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself';
Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confoundsthe tongue, and makes the senses rough.
Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be so,-
10 What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

See! they forsake me. Now the time is come, 15
That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:-
Now, France,thyglory droopeth to the dust.[Exit. 20
Excursions. Pucelle and York fight hand to hand.

25

Pucelle is taken. The French fly.
York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast:
Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.-
A goodly prize! fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.[be.]
Pucel. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not
York. Oh, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; 30
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.[thee!
Pucel. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and
And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!
York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy 35
tongue.

Suf.How can'st thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar.Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? Suf. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside.
Mar. I were best to leave him, for he will not
hear.

[card.
Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling
Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet Iwould that youwould answer me.
Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing*.

Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.
Suf. Yet so my fancy may be satisfy'd,
And peace established between these realms.
But there remains a scruple in that too:
For though her father be the king of Naples,
Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside.
Mur. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?
Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.
Madam, I have a secret to reveal. [knight,
Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a
And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside.
Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.
Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;
43 And then I need not crave his courtesy. [Aside.
Suf.Sweet madam,give me hearing in a cause—
Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere
[Aside.

Pucel. Ipr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while.
York.Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the
stake.
[Exeunt.
Alarum. Enter Suffolk, leading in ludy Margaret. 40
Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
[Gazes on her.
Oh fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;
For I will touch thee but with reverent hands.
I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou say, that I may honour thee.
Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a
The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art. [king,
Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.
Be not offended, nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:
So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.
[She is going.
Oh, stay!--I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

50

now.

Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so?
Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.
Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy to be made a queen?
Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile,
Than is a slave in base servility;

55 For princes should be free.

Suf. And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;

60 To put a golden scepter in thy hand,
And set a precious crown upon thy head,

To ban is to curse. 'Do not represent thyself so weak. To disable the judgement of another was, in our author's age, the same as to destroy its credit or authority,

awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

i. e. foolish.

4i. c. an

If thou wilt condescend to be my

Mar. What?

Suf. His love.

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy ain
To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How say you, madam; are you so content?
Mar. An if my father please, I am content.
Suf. Then call our captains, and our colours,
forth:

And, madam, at your father's castle walls
We'll crave a parley to confer with him.

Sound. Enter Reignier on the Walls.

Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, king Henry, were he here. Mar. Farewell, my lord! Good wishes, praise, and prayers,

5 Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [She is going. Suf. Farewell, sweet madam! But hark you, Margaret;

No princely commendations to my king?

Mar. Such commendations as become a maid,
10 A virgin, and his servant, say to him. [rected.
Suf. Words sweetly plac'd, and modestly di-
But, madam, I must trouble you again,—
No loving token to his majesty?

[heart, Mar. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted

Suf. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. 15 Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

Reig. To whom?

Suf. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier; and unapt to weep,

Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, (and, for thy honour, give consent)
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Suf. Fair Margaret knows,
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.
Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend,
To give thee answer of thy just demand.

Suf. And this withal.
[Kisses her.
Mar. That for thyself;-I will not so presume,
To send such peevish 'tokens to a king.

[Exeunt Reignier and Margaret.
20 Suf. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk,
Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; [stay,
There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
25 Mad', natural graces that extinguish art;
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet,
Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with wonder.
[Exit.

30

[Exit from the walls.
Suf. And here I will expect thy coming.
Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below.
Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories, 35
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a
child,

Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little
To be the princely bride of such a lord; [worth,
Upon condition I may quietly

Enjoy mine own, the countries Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppression, or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Suf. That is her ransom, I deliver her;
And those two countries, I will undertake,
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name,

As deputy unto that gracious king,-
Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.
Suf. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly

thanks,

[Aside.

Because this is in traffic of a king:
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd:
So, farewell, Reignier! Set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

1i. e. childish. 2i. e. wild or uncultivated.

40

45

50

55

SCENE V.

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[right!

Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart out-
Have I sought every country far and near,
And now it is my chance to find thee out,
Must I behold thy timeless 'cruel death?
Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with thee!
Pucel. Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!

I am descended of a gentler blood!

Thou art no father, nor no friend of mine.
Shep. Out, out!My lords, an please you,
'tis not so;

I did beget her, all the parish knows;
Her mother liveth yet, can testify

She was the first fruit of my batchelorship.
War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?
York.This argues what her kind of life hath been;
Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.

Shep. Fie, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle'!
God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh;
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:
Deny me not, I pr'ythee, gentle Joan. [this man
Pucel. Peasant, avaunt!-You have suborn'd
Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.

Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest,
The morn that I was wedded to her mother.-
60 Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl.
Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time

3

1i. e. untimely. 4 Miser has no relation to avarice in this passage, but simply means a miserable creature. A vulgar corruption of obstinate.

004

Of

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