(8)

FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY VI.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

King Henry the Sixth.

Vernon, of the white rose, or York faction. Drike of Gloster, uncle to the king, and protector. Basset, of the red rose, or Lancaster faction. Duke of Bedford, uncle to the king and regent Charles, dauphin, and afterwards king of France of France.

Reignier, duke of Anjou, and titular king of Naples. Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, great uncle to Duke of Burgundy.

Duke of Alençon. the king:

Governor of Paris.

Bastard of Orleans. Henry Beaufort, great uncle to the king, bishop of Master-gunner of Orleans, and his son. Winchester, and afterwards cardinal.

General of the French forces in Bourdeaux. John Beaufort, earl of Somerset; afterwards duke. A French Sergeant. A Porter. Richard Plantagenet, eldest son of Richard, late An old shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle.

earl of Cambridge; afterwards duke of York. Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury.

Margaret, daughter lo Reignier; afterwards mar Earl of Suffolk.

ried to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. Lord Talbot, afterwards earl of Shrewsbury.

Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. John Talbot, his son.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, lords, warders Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. Mortimer's keeper and a lawyer.

of the Tower, heralds, officers, soldiers, mesSir John Fastolle. Sir William Lucy.

sengers, and several attendants, both on the Sir William Glansdale. Sir Thomas Gargrave.

English and French. Mayor of London. Woodville, lieut. of the Tower. Scene, partly in England, and partly in France.

a

ACT I.

That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?

Or shall we think the subtle-witted French SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey. Dead march. Conj"rers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him,

Corpse of King Henry the Fifth discovered, By magic verses' have contriv'd his end ? lying in state ; attended on by the Dukes of Win. He was a king blessed of the King of kings. Bedford, Gloster, and Exeter; the earl of War- Unto the

French the dreadful judgment-day wick, the Bishop of Winchester, Heralds, fc. So dreadful will not be, as was his sight.

The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:
Bedford.

The church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Glo. The church! where is it? Had not church HUNG be the heavens with black, yield day to

men pray'd, night!

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: Comets, importing change of times and states, None do you like but an effeminate prince, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;

Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe. And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art proThat have consented unto Henry's death!

tector; Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!

And lookest to command the prince and realm. England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,

Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. More than God, or religious churchmen, may. Virtue he had, deserving to command :

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh;
His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou goʻst,
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; Except it be to pray against thy foes.
Ulis sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire, Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,

in peace!
COThan mid-dav sun, fierce bent against their faces. Let's to the altar :-Heralds, wait on us:
What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech : Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms;
He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered.

Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Ere. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not Posterity, await for wretched years, in blood ?

When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck, Henry is dead, and never shall revive:

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, Upon a wooden coffin we attend;

And none but women lest to wail the dead. And death's dishonourable victory

Henry the Fifth! thy ghost I invocate; We with our stately presence glorify,

Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! Like captives bound to a triumphant car.

Combat with adverse planets in the heavens ! What! shall we curse the planets of mishap,

(2) There was a notion long prevalent, that life (1) Aluding to our ancient stage-practice when mirbt be taken away by metrical charms. a tragedy was to be acted.

(3) Nurse was anciently so spelt.

VOL. II.

A far more glorious star thy soul will make, No leisure had he to enrank his men;
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright

He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
Enter a Messenger.

Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges,

They pitched in the ground confusedly, Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! To keep the horseinen off from breaking in. Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

More than three hours the fight continued ; Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture:

Where valiant Talbot, above human thought, Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans,

Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him: Bed. What say'st thou man, before dead Henry's Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: corse ?

The French exclaim'd, The devil was in arms :
Speak softly: or the loss of those great towns All the whole arıny stood agaz'd on him :
Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death.

His soldiers, spring his undaunted spirit,
Glo. Is Paris lost ? is Rouen yielded up? A Talbot ! a Talbot! cried out amain,
If Henry were recalled to life again,

And rush'd into the bowels of the battle. These news would cause him once more yield the Here had the conquest fully been seald up, ghost.

If sir John Fastolle had not play'd the coward; Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was He being in the vaward (plac'd behind, us'd ?

With purpose to relieve and follow them,) Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Among the soldiers this is muttered.

Hence grew the reneral wreck and massacre ; That here you maintain several factions ;

Enclosed were they with their enemies :
And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, A base Walloon, to win the dauphin's grace,
You are disputing of your generals.

Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back;
One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost;

Whom all France, with their chief assembled Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;

strength, A third man thinks, without expense at all,

Durst not presunie to look once in the face.
By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
Awake, awake, English nobility!

For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: Wnilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd.
of England's coat one hall is cut away.

3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral,

And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford. These tidings would call forth her flowing tides.' Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise.

Bed. Me they concer; regent I am of France :- Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay:
Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France. I'll hale the dauphin cadlong from his throne,
Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;
Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.
To weep their intermissive wiseries.?

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Enter another Messenger.

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:

Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, mischance, France is revolted from the English quite;

Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Except some petty towns of no import :

3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;

The English army is grown weak and faint : The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd;

The carl of Salisbury craveth supply, Reigneir, duke of Anjou, doth take his part;

And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, The duke of Alençon Rieth to his side.

Since thev, so few, watch such a multitude. Exe. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him !

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry 0, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

sworn; Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats: Either to quell the dauphin utterly, Bedford, if thou be slack, l'll fight it out.

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. 'Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my fðrward- To go about my preparation.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, ness ?

(Erit. An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,

Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, Wherewith already France is over-run.

To view the artillery and munition :

And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Ex. Enter a third Messenger.

Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, 3 Mess. My gracious lords,—to add to your Being ordain'd his special governor ; laments,

And for his safety there I'll best devise. (Erit. Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse, Win. Each haih his place and function to attend: I must inform you of a dismal fight,

I am lest out out; for me nothing remains.
Betwist the stout lord Talbot and the French. But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so? The king from Eltham I intend to send,
3 Mess. O no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er- And sit at chiefest stern of publick weal.
thrown:

[Erit. Scene closes. The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. SCENE II.-France. Before Orleans. Enter The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord, Charles, with his forces ; Alençon, Reigneir, Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

and others. Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, Char. Mars his truc moving, even as in the By three and twenty thousand of the French

heavens, Was round encompassed and set upon:

(2) ise. Their miseries which have had only a (1) Her, 6. 6. England's.'

short intermission.

So in the earth, to this day is not known:

Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard. ] But, first, Late did he shine upon the English side;

to try her skill, Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.

Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place : What towns of any moment, but we have ? Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern:At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;

By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, ''ke pale ghosts,

(Retires. Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Aleñ. They want their porridge, and their fat Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans and others. bull-beeves;

Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous Either they must be dieted like mules,

feats? And have their provender tied to their mouths, Puc Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile Or piteous they will look like drowned mice.

me?Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly Where is the dauphin ?--come, come from behind; here?

I know thee well, though never seen before.
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me:
Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; In private will I talk with thee apart:-
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while, Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.

Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on Puc. Dauphin, l' am by birth a shepherd's them.

daughter, Now for the honour of the forlorn French:- My wit untraind in any kind of art. Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,

Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. [Ere. To shine on my contemptible estate: Alarums; excursions; afterwards a retreat.

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

Re- And to sun's parching heat display'd my'eheeks, enter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and others.

God's mother deigned to appear to me;
Char. Whoever saw the like? what men have I ?- And, in a vision full of majesty,
Dogs! cowards ! dastards !- I would ne’er have fled, Willd me to leave my base vocation,
But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

And free my country from calamity:
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; Her aid she promised, and assured success:
He fighteth as one weary of his life.

In complete glory she reveal'd hersell;
The other lords, like lions wanting food,

And, whereas I was black and swart before, Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

With those clear rays which she infus'd on me, Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see. England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,

Ask me what question thou canst possible,
During the time Edward the third did reign. And I will answer unpremeditated :
More truly now may this be verified;

My courage try by coinbat, if thou dar'st,
For none but Samsons and Goliases,

And thou shall find that I exceed my sex. It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Resolve on this :- Thou shalt be fortunate, Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. They had such courage and audacity?

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

terms;
brain'd slaves,

Only this proof' I'll of thy valour make,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: In single combat thou shalt buckle with me;
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege. Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals? or device, Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword,
Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side;
Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's
By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

church-yard, Alen. Be it so.

Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth.

Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear nowoman. Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news

[They fight. for him.

Char. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an amazon, Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too appallid;

weak. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Char. Whoe'er helps thoe, 'tis thou that must Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:

help me: A holy maid hither with me I bring,

Impatiently I burn with thy desire;
Which, hy a vision sent to her from heaven, My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd.
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,

Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be;
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

'Tis the French dauphin sueth to thee thus. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:

Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. For my profession's sacred from above: Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, When I have chased all thy foes from hence, For they are certain and unfallible.

Then will I think upon a recompense. (1) . e. The prey for which they are hungry. (3) This was not in former times a term of reone piece moves within another; here it is taken (4) Countenance. at large for an engine.

(5) Be firmly persuaded of it.

where proach.