This is a double honour, Burgundy :- Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle now? I think, her old familiar is asleep: Now where's the Bastard's braves, andCharles his gleeks? Now will we take some order in the town, For there young Harry, with his nobles, lies. Bur. What wills lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgundy. The noble duke of Bedford, late deceas'd, SCENE III. [Exeunt.. The same. The Plains near the city. Enter CHARLES, the Bastard, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and Forces. Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident, Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered : Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto, Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, [6] That is, quite dispirited; a frequent Gallicism STEEV. VOL. V. 5* Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good. Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise : By fair persuasion, 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. 8 Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd from France, And not have title to an earldom here. Puc. Your honours shall perceive how I will 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; A French March. Enter the Duke of BURGUNDY and Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his ; 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, [8] To extirp is to root out. STEEV. Which thou thyself hast given her woeful breast! 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 foreign 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, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny. Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly nation, Call we to mind,-and mark but this, for proof ;- I See then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen, Puc. Done like a Frenchman ; turn, and turn again !2 Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. [9] A mistake: The Duke was not liberated till after Burgundy declined to the French interest; which did not happen, by the way, till some years after the execution of this very Joan la Pucelle; nor was that during the regency of York, but of Bedford." RITSON. M. MASON. Haughty-That is, elevated,high-spirited. I [2] The inconstancy of the French was always the subject of satire. have read a dissertation written 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. JOHNS. 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. Paris. SCENE IV. 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, Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet; A stouter champion never handled sword. [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? Bas. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue 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. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-The same. A Room of State. Enter King HENRY, Glo. LORD bishop, set the crown upon his head. 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. Tal. Shame to the duke of Burgundy, and thee ! I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next, (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. STEEV (5) To pretend is to design,to intend. JOHNS. |