Open Source Shakespeare

History of Henry VI, Part I

Act IV

Scene 1. Paris. A hall of state.

Scene 2. Before Bourdeaux.

Scene 3. Plains in Gascony.

Scene 4. Other plains in Gascony.

Scene 5. The English camp near Bourdeaux.

Scene 6. A field of battle.

Scene 7. Another part of the field.

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Act IV, Scene 1

Paris. A hall of state.

       

[Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, BISHOP OF] [p]WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, [p]TALBOT, EXETER, the Governor, of Paris, and others]

  • Duke of Gloucester. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head.
  • Winchester. God save King Henry, of that name the sixth! 1760
  • Duke of Gloucester. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,
    That you elect no other king but him;
    Esteem none friends but such as are his friends,
    And none your foes but such as shall pretend
    Malicious practises against his state: 1765
    This shall ye do, so help you righteous God!

[Enter FASTOLFE]

  • Sir John Fastolfe. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais,
    To haste unto your coronation,
    A letter was deliver'd to my hands, 1770
    Writ to your grace from the Duke of Burgundy.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee!
    I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next,
    To tear the garter from thy craven's leg,
    [Plucking it off] 1775
    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 1780
    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 1785
    Were there surprised 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.
  • Duke of Gloucester. To say the truth, this fact was infamous 1790
    And ill beseeming any common man,
    Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords,
    Knights of the garter were of noble birth,
    Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, 1795
    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, 1800
    Profaning this most honourable order,
    And should, if I were worthy to be judge,
    Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain
    That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
  • Henry VI. Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear'st thy doom! 1805
    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. 1810
  • Duke of Gloucester. What means his grace, that he hath changed his style?
    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? 1815
    What's here?
    [Reads]
    'I have, upon especial cause,
    Moved with compassion of my country's wreck,
    Together with the pitiful complaints 1820
    Of such as your oppression feeds upon,
    Forsaken your pernicious faction
    And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of France.'
    O monstrous treachery! can this be so,
    That in alliance, amity and oaths, 1825
    There should be found such false dissembling guile?
  • Henry VI. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?
  • Duke of Gloucester. He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.
  • Henry VI. Is that the worst this letter doth contain?
  • Duke of Gloucester. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes. 1830
  • Henry VI. Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him
    And give him chastisement for this abuse.
    How say you, my lord? are you not content?
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Content, my liege! yes, but that I am prevented,
    I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd. 1835
  • Henry VI. Then gather strength and march unto him straight:
    Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason
    And what offence it is to flout his friends.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. I go, my lord, in heart desiring still
    You may behold confusion of your foes. 1840

[Exit]

[Enter VERNON and BASSET]

  • Vernon. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign.
  • Basset. And me, my lord, grant me the combat too.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). This is my servant: hear him, noble prince. 1845
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. And this is mine: sweet Henry, favour him.
  • Henry VI. Be patient, lords; and give them leave to speak.
    Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim?
    And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom?
  • Vernon. With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong. 1850
  • Basset. And I with him; for he hath done me wrong.
  • Henry VI. What is that wrong whereof you both complain?
    First let me know, and then I'll answer you.
  • Basset. Crossing the sea from England into France,
    This fellow here, with envious carping tongue, 1855
    Upbraided me about the rose I wear;
    Saying, the sanguine colour of the leaves
    Did represent my master's blushing cheeks,
    When stubbornly he did repugn the truth
    About a certain question in the law 1860
    Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him;
    With other vile and ignominious terms:
    In confutation of which rude reproach
    And in defence of my lord's worthiness,
    I crave the benefit of law of arms. 1865
  • Vernon. And that is my petition, noble lord:
    For though he seem with forged quaint conceit
    To set a gloss upon his bold intent,
    Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him;
    And he first took exceptions at this badge, 1870
    Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower
    Bewray'd the faintness of my master's heart.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Will not this malice, Somerset, be left?
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. Your private grudge, my Lord of York, will out,
    Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it. 1875
  • Henry VI. Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick men,
    When for so slight and frivolous a cause
    Such factious emulations shall arise!
    Good cousins both, of York and Somerset,
    Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace. 1880
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Let this dissension first be tried by fight,
    And then your highness shall command a peace.
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone;
    Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). There is my pledge; accept it, Somerset. 1885
  • Vernon. Nay, let it rest where it began at first.
  • Basset. Confirm it so, mine honourable lord.
  • Duke of Gloucester. Confirm it so! Confounded be your strife!
    And perish ye, with your audacious prate!
    Presumptuous vassals, are you not ashamed 1890
    With this immodest clamorous outrage
    To trouble and disturb the king and us?
    And you, my lords, methinks you do not well
    To bear with their perverse objections;
    Much less to take occasion from their mouths 1895
    To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves:
    Let me persuade you take a better course.
  • Duke of Exeter. It grieves his highness: good my lords, be friends.
  • Henry VI. Come hither, you that would be combatants:
    Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour, 1900
    Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.
    And you, my lords, remember where we are,
    In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:
    If they perceive dissension in our looks
    And that within ourselves we disagree, 1905
    How will their grudging stomachs be provoked
    To wilful disobedience, and rebel!
    Beside, what infamy will there arise,
    When foreign princes shall be certified
    That for a toy, a thing of no regard, 1910
    King Henry's peers and chief nobility
    Destroy'd themselves, and lost the realm of France!
    O, think upon the conquest of my father,
    My tender years, and let us not forego
    That for a trifle that was bought with blood 1915
    Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife.
    I see no reason, if I wear this rose,
    [Putting on a red rose]
    That any one should therefore be suspicious
    I more incline to Somerset than York: 1920
    Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both:
    As well they may upbraid me with my crown,
    Because, forsooth, the king of Scots is crown'd.
    But your discretions better can persuade
    Than I am able to instruct or teach: 1925
    And therefore, as we hither came in peace,
    So let us still continue peace and love.
    Cousin of York, we institute your grace
    To be our regent in these parts of France:
    And, good my Lord of Somerset, unite 1930
    Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot;
    And, like true subjects, sons of your progenitors,
    Go cheerfully together and digest.
    Your angry choler on your enemies.
    Ourself, my lord protector and the rest 1935
    After some respite will return to Calais;
    From thence to England; where I hope ere long
    To be presented, by your victories,
    With Charles, Alencon and that traitorous rout.
    [Flourish. Exeunt all but YORK, WARWICK, EXETER] 1940
    and VERNON]
  • Earl of Warwick. My Lord of York, I promise you, the king
    Prettily, methought, did play the orator.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). And so he did; but yet I like it not,
    In that he wears the badge of Somerset. 1945
  • Earl of Warwick. Tush, that was but his fancy, blame him not;
    I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). An if I wist he did,—but let it rest;
    Other affairs must now be managed.

[Exeunt all but EXETER]

  • Duke of Exeter. Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress thy voice;
    For, had the passions of thy heart burst out,
    I fear we should have seen decipher'd there
    More rancorous spite, more furious raging broils,
    Than yet can be imagined or supposed. 1955
    But howsoe'er, no simple man that sees
    This jarring discord of nobility,
    This shouldering of each other in the court,
    This factious bandying of their favourites,
    But that it doth presage some ill event. 1960
    'Tis much when sceptres are in children's hands;
    But more when envy breeds unkind division;
    There comes the rain, there begins confusion.

[Exit]


       

Act IV, Scene 2

Before Bourdeaux.

       

[Enter TALBOT, with trump and drum]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter:
    Summon their general unto the wall.
    [Trumpet sounds. Enter General and others, aloft]
    English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth,
    Servant in arms to Harry King of England; 1970
    And thus he would: Open your city gates;
    Be humble to us; call my sovereign yours,
    And do him homage as obedient subjects;
    And I'll withdraw me and my bloody power:
    But, if you frown upon this proffer'd peace, 1975
    You tempt the fury of my three attendants,
    Lean famine, quartering steel, and climbing fire;
    Who in a moment even with the earth
    Shall lay your stately and air-braving towers,
    If you forsake the offer of their love. 1980
  • General. Thou ominous and fearful owl of death,
    Our nation's terror and their bloody scourge!
    The period of thy tyranny approacheth.
    On us thou canst not enter but by death;
    For, I protest, we are well fortified 1985
    And strong enough to issue out and fight:
    If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,
    Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee:
    On either hand thee there are squadrons pitch'd,
    To wall thee from the liberty of flight; 1990
    And no way canst thou turn thee for redress,
    But death doth front thee with apparent spoil
    And pale destruction meets thee in the face.
    Ten thousand French have ta'en the sacrament
    To rive their dangerous artillery 1995
    Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot.
    Lo, there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant man,
    Of an invincible unconquer'd spirit!
    This is the latest glory of thy praise
    That I, thy enemy, due thee withal; 2000
    For ere the glass, that now begins to run,
    Finish the process of his sandy hour,
    These eyes, that see thee now well coloured,
    Shall see thee wither'd, bloody, pale and dead.
    [Drum afar off] 2005
    Hark! hark! the Dauphin's drum, a warning bell,
    Sings heavy music to thy timorous soul;
    And mine shall ring thy dire departure out.

[Exeunt General, &c]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. He fables not; I hear the enemy: 2010
    Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their wings.
    O, negligent and heedless discipline!
    How are we park'd and bounded in a pale,
    A little herd of England's timorous deer,
    Mazed with a yelping kennel of French curs! 2015
    If we be English deer, be then in blood;
    Not rascal-like, to fall down with a pinch,
    But rather, moody-mad and desperate stags,
    Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of steel
    And make the cowards stand aloof at bay: 2020
    Sell every man his life as dear as mine,
    And they shall find dear deer of us, my friends.
    God and Saint George, Talbot and England's right,
    Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight!

[Exeunt]


       

Act IV, Scene 3

Plains in Gascony.

       

[Enter a Messenger that meets YORK. Enter YORK] [p]with trumpet and many Soldiers]

  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Are not the speedy scouts return'd again,
    That dogg'd the mighty army of the Dauphin?
  • Messenger. They are return'd, my lord, and give it out 2030
    That he is march'd to Bourdeaux with his power,
    To fight with Talbot: as he march'd along,
    By your espials were discovered
    Two mightier troops than that the Dauphin led,
    Which join'd with him and made their march for Bourdeaux. 2035
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). A plague upon that villain Somerset,
    That thus delays my promised supply
    Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege!
    Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid,
    And I am lowted by a traitor villain 2040
    And cannot help the noble chevalier:
    God comfort him in this necessity!
    If he miscarry, farewell wars in France.

[Enter Sir William LUCY]

  • Sir William Lucy. Thou princely leader of our English strength, 2045
    Never so needful on the earth of France,
    Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,
    Who now is girdled with a waist of iron
    And hemm'd about with grim destruction:
    To Bourdeaux, warlike duke! to Bourdeaux, York! 2050
    Else, farewell Talbot, France, and England's honour.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart
    Doth stop my cornets, were in Talbot's place!
    So should we save a valiant gentleman
    By forfeiting a traitor and a coward. 2055
    Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep,
    That thus we die, while remiss traitors sleep.
  • Sir William Lucy. O, send some succor to the distress'd lord!
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). He dies, we lose; I break my warlike word;
    We mourn, France smiles; we lose, they daily get; 2060
    All 'long of this vile traitor Somerset.
  • Sir William Lucy. Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul;
    And on his son young John, who two hours since
    I met in travel toward his warlike father!
    This seven years did not Talbot see his son; 2065
    And now they meet where both their lives are done.
  • Richard Plantagenet (Duke of Gloucester). Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have
    To bid his young son welcome to his grave?
    Away! vexation almost stops my breath,
    That sunder'd friends greet in the hour of death. 2070
    Lucy, farewell; no more my fortune can,
    But curse the cause I cannot aid the man.
    Maine, Blois, Poictiers, and Tours, are won away,
    'Long all of Somerset and his delay.

[Exit, with his soldiers]

  • Sir William Lucy. Thus, while the vulture of sedition
    Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,
    Sleeping neglection doth betray to loss
    The conquest of our scarce cold conqueror,
    That ever living man of memory, 2080
    Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross,
    Lives, honours, lands and all hurry to loss.

[Exit]


       

Act IV, Scene 4

Other plains in Gascony.

       

[Enter SOMERSET, with his army; a Captain of] [p]TALBOT's with him]

  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. It is too late; I cannot send them now:
    This expedition was by York and Talbot
    Too rashly plotted: all our general force
    Might with a sally of the very town
    Be buckled with: the over-daring Talbot 2090
    Hath sullied all his gloss of former honour
    By this unheedful, desperate, wild adventure:
    York set him on to fight and die in shame,
    That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name.
  • Captain. Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me 2095
    Set from our o'ermatch'd forces forth for aid.

[Enter Sir William LUCY]

  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. How now, Sir William! whither were you sent?
  • Sir William Lucy. Whither, my lord? from bought and sold Lord Talbot;
    Who, ring'd about with bold adversity, 2100
    Cries out for noble York and Somerset,
    To beat assailing death from his weak legions:
    And whiles the honourable captain there
    Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,
    And, in advantage lingering, looks for rescue, 2105
    You, his false hopes, the trust of England's honour,
    Keep off aloof with worthless emulation.
    Let not your private discord keep away
    The levied succors that should lend him aid,
    While he, renowned noble gentleman, 2110
    Yields up his life unto a world of odds:
    Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,
    Alencon, Reignier, compass him about,
    And Talbot perisheth by your default.
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. York set him on; York should have sent him aid. 2115
  • Sir William Lucy. And York as fast upon your grace exclaims;
    Swearing that you withhold his levied host,
    Collected for this expedition.
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. York lies; he might have sent and had the horse;
    I owe him little duty, and less love; 2120
    And take foul scorn to fawn on him by sending.
  • Sir William Lucy. The fraud of England, not the force of France,
    Hath now entrapp'd the noble-minded Talbot:
    Never to England shall he bear his life;
    But dies, betray'd to fortune by your strife. 2125
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. Come, go; I will dispatch the horsemen straight:
    Within six hours they will be at his aid.
  • Sir William Lucy. Too late comes rescue: he is ta'en or slain;
    For fly he could not, if he would have fled;
    And fly would Talbot never, though he might. 2130
  • Duke/Earl of Somerset. If he be dead, brave Talbot, then adieu!
  • Sir William Lucy. His fame lives in the world, his shame in you.

[Exeunt]


       

Act IV, Scene 5

The English camp near Bourdeaux.

       

[Enter TALBOT and JOHN his son]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. O young John Talbot! I did send for thee 2135
    To tutor thee in stratagems of war,
    That Talbot's name might be in thee revived
    When sapless age and weak unable limbs
    Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.
    But, O malignant and ill-boding stars! 2140
    Now thou art 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, be gone. 2145
  • John Talbot. Is my name Talbot? and am I your son?
    And shall I fly? 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, 2150
    That basely fled when noble Talbot stood.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain.
  • John Talbot. He that flies so will ne'er return again.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. If we both stay, we both are sure to die.
  • John Talbot. Then let me stay; and, father, do you fly: 2155
    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; 2160
    But mine it will, that no exploit have done:
    You fled for vantage, everyone 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. 2165
    Here on my knee I beg mortality,
    Rather than life preserved with infamy.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb?
  • John Talbot. Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Upon my blessing, I command thee go. 2170
  • John Talbot. To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Part of thy father may be saved in thee.
  • John Talbot. No part of him but will be shame in me.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not lose it.
  • John Talbot. Yes, your renowned name: shall flight abuse it? 2175
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain.
  • John Talbot. You cannot witness for me, being slain.
    If death be so apparent, then both fly.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. And leave my followers here to fight and die?
    My age was never tainted with such shame. 2180
  • John Talbot. And shall my youth be guilty of such blame?
    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. 2185
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. 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]


       

Act IV, Scene 6

A field of battle.

       

[Alarum: excursions, wherein JOHN TALBOT is] [p]hemmed about, and TALBOT rescues him]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight.
    The regent hath with Talbot broke his word
    And left us to the rage of France his sword. 2195
    Where is John Talbot? Pause, and take thy breath;
    I gave thee life and rescued thee from death.
  • John Talbot. O, twice my father, twice am I thy son!
    The life thou gavest me first was lost and done,
    Till with thy warlike sword, despite of late, 2200
    To my determined time thou gavest new date.
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire,
    It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire
    Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,
    Quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage, 2205
    Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy,
    And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee.
    The ireful bastard Orleans, that drew blood
    From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
    Of thy first fight, I soon encountered, 2210
    And interchanging blows I quickly shed
    Some of his bastard blood; and in disgrace
    Bespoke him thus; 'Contaminated, base
    And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,
    Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine 2215
    Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:'
    Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,
    Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care,
    Art thou not weary, John? how dost thou fare?
    Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly, 2220
    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.
    O, too much folly is it, well I wot,
    To hazard all our lives in one small boat! 2225
    If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
    To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:
    By me they nothing gain an if I stay;
    'Tis but the shortening of my life one day:
    In thee thy mother dies, our household's name, 2230
    My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame:
    All these and more we hazard by thy stay;
    All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.
  • John Talbot. The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart;
    These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart: 2235
    On that advantage, bought with such a shame,
    To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,
    Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,
    The coward horse that bears me fail and die!
    And like me to the peasant boys of France, 2240
    To be shame's scorn and subject of mischance!
    Surely, by all the glory you have won,
    An 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. 2245
  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,
    Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:
    If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side;
    And, commendable proved, let's die in pride.

[Exeunt]


       

Act IV, Scene 7

Another part of the field.

       

[Alarum: excursions. Enter TALBOT led by a Servant]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Where is my other life? mine own is gone;
    O, where's young Talbot? where is valiant John?
    Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity,
    Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee: 2255
    When he perceived 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, 2260
    Tendering my ruin and assail'd of none,
    Dizzy-eyed fury and great rage of heart
    Suddenly made him from my side to start
    Into the clustering battle of the French;
    And in that sea of blood my boy did drench 2265
    His over-mounting spirit, and there died,
    My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.
  • Servant. O, my dear lord, lo, where your son is borne!

[Enter Soldiers, with the body of JOHN TALBOT]

  • Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us here to scorn, 2270
    Anon, from thy insulting tyranny,
    Coupled in bonds of perpetuity,
    Two Talbots, winged through the lither sky,
    In thy despite shall 'scape mortality.
    O, thou, whose wounds become hard-favour'd death, 2275
    Speak to thy father ere thou yield thy breath!
    Brave death by speaking, whether he will or no;
    Imagine him a Frenchman and thy foe.
    Poor boy! he smiles, methinks, as who should say,
    Had death been French, then death had died to-day. 2280
    Come, come and lay him in his father's arms:
    My spirit can no longer bear these harms.
    Soldiers, adieu! I have what I would have,
    Now my old arms are young John Talbot's grave.
    [Dies] 2285
    [Enter CHARLES, ALENCON, BURGUNDY, BASTARD OF]
    ORLEANS, JOAN LA PUCELLE, and forces]
  • Charles, King of France. Had York and Somerset brought rescue in,
    We should have found a bloody day of this.
  • Bastard of Orleans. How the young whelp of Talbot's, raging-wood, 2290
    Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's blood!
  • Joan la Pucelle. Once I encounter'd him, and thus I said:
    'Thou maiden youth, be vanquish'd by a maid:'
    But, with a proud majestical high scorn,
    He answer'd thus: 'Young Talbot was not born 2295
    To be the pillage of a giglot wench:'
    So, rushing in the bowels of the French,
    He left me proudly, as unworthy fight.
  • Duke of Burgundy. Doubtless he would have made a noble knight;
    See, where he lies inhearsed in the arms 2300
    Of the most bloody nurser of his harms!
  • Bastard of Orleans. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones asunder
    Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's wonder.
  • Charles, King of France. O, no, forbear! for that which we have fled
    During the life, let us not wrong it dead. 2305
    [Enter Sir William LUCY, attended; Herald of the]
    French preceding]
  • Sir William Lucy. Herald, conduct me to the Dauphin's tent,
    To know who hath obtained the glory of the day.
  • Charles, King of France. On what submissive message art thou sent? 2310
  • Sir William Lucy. Submission, Dauphin! 'tis a mere French 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.
  • Charles, King of France. For prisoners ask'st thou? hell our prison is. 2315
    But tell me whom thou seek'st.
  • Sir William Lucy. But where's 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; 2320
    Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield,
    Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton,
    Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Sheffield,
    The thrice-victorious Lord of Falconbridge;
    Knight of the noble order of Saint George, 2325
    Worthy Saint Michael and the Golden Fleece;
    Great marshal to Henry the Sixth
    Of all his wars within the realm of France?
  • Joan la Pucelle. Here is a silly stately style indeed!
    The Turk, that two and fifty kingdoms hath, 2330
    Writes not so tedious a style as this.
    Him that thou magnifiest with all these titles
    Stinking and fly-blown lies here at our feet.
  • Sir William Lucy. Is Talbot slain, the Frenchmen's only scourge,
    Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis? 2335
    O, were mine eyeballs into bullets turn'd,
    That I in rage might shoot them at your faces!
    O, that I could but call these dead to life!
    It were enough to fright the realm of France:
    Were but his picture left amongst you here, 2340
    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.
  • Joan la Pucelle. I think this upstart is old Talbot's ghost,
    He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit. 2345
    For God's sake let him have 'em; to keep them here,
    They would but stink, and putrefy the air.
  • Charles, King of France. Go, take their bodies hence.
  • Sir William Lucy. I'll bear them hence; but from their ashes shall be rear'd
    A phoenix that shall make all France afeard. 2350
  • Charles, King of France. So we be rid of them, do with 'em what thou wilt.
    And now to Paris, in this conquering vein:
    All will be ours, now bloody Talbot's slain.

[Exeunt]