But we in it shall be remembered;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers :
For he, to-day, that sheds his blood with me,
Shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:

And gentlemen in England, now a-bed,

Shall think themselves accursed, they were not here;

And hold their manhoods cheap, while any speaks, That fought with us upon Saint Crispian's day.

KING HENRY V AND THE HERMIT OF DREUX

BY ROBERT SOUTHEY

HE past unquestioned through the camp,
Their heads the soldiers bent
In silent reverence, or begg'd

A blessing as he went;
And so the hermit past along,

And reach'd the royal tent.

King Henry sate in his tent alone,
The map before him lay,
Fresh conquests he was planning there

To grace the future day.

King Henry lifted up his eyes

The intruder to behold,

With reverence he the hermit saw,

For he was very old;

His look was gentle as a saint's,
And yet his eye was bold.

Repent thee, Henry, of the wrongs

That thou hast done this land;

O King, repent in time, for know
The judgment is at hand.

I have past forty years of peace
Beside the river Blaise,

But what a weight of woe hast thou
Laid on my latter days.

I used to see along the stream,
The white sail sailing down,
That wafted food in better times
To yonder peaceful town.
Henry! I never now behold

The white sail sailing down; Famine, disease, and death, and thou, Destroy that wretched town;

I used to hear the traveller's voice,
As here he past along;

Or maiden, as she loiter'd home,
Singing her even song.

I never hear the traveller's voice,
In fear he hastens by;

But I have heard the village maid
In vain for succour cry.

I used to see the youths row here,
And watch the dripping oar,
As pleasantly their viols' tones
Came softened to the shore.

King Henry, many a blacken'd corpse
I now see floating down!

Thou bloody man! repent in time,
And leave this leaguer'd town.

I shall go on, King Henry cried,
And conquer this good land:
Seest thou not, hermit, that the Lord
Has given it to my hand?

The hermit heard King Henry speak ;
And angrily look'd down;

His face was gentle, and for that
More solemn was his frown.

What, if no miracle from heaven
The murderer's arm control,

Think you for that the weight of blood
Lies lighter on his soul?

Thou conquerer King, repent in time,
Or dread the coming woe;
For, Henry, thou hast heard the threat,
And soon shalt feel the blow.

King Henry forced a careless smile,
As the hermit went his way;
But Henry soon remembered him,
Upon his dying day.

KING HENRY VI (1422–1461)

SELECTIONS FROM THE PLAY OF KING

HENRY VI.

PARTI

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ACT I. SCENE 2.

Scene between Reignier and Joan of Arc (La Pucelle).

REIGNIER. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond'rous feats ?

LA PUCELLE. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me ?

Where is the Dauphin ?—come, come from behind;
I know thee well, though never seen before.
Be not amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
In private will I talk with thee apart;

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
REIG. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's
daughter,

My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.

Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleased

To shine on my contemptible estate :

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, God's mother deigned to appear to me;

And, in a vision full of majesty,

Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
And free my country from calamity;
Her aid she promised, and assured success:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself;

And, whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infused on me,
That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see.
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
And I will answer unpremediated :

My courage try by combat, if thou darest,
And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
Resolve on this: Thou shalt be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
CHARLES. Thou hast astonished me with thy
high terms:

Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,-
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me:
And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

Puc. I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword,

Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side: The which at Touraine, in Saint Katherine churchyard,

Out of a deal of old iron, I chose forth.

CHARLES. Then come o' God's name, I fear

no woman.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man.

АСТ І.

(They fight.)

SCENE 3. Hill before the Tower. GLOSTER. I am come to survey the Tower this

day:

Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls.

(Servants knock).

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a train of Servants in tawny coats.

WIN. How now, ambitious Humphrey, what means this?

GLO. Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?

WIN. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not protector of the king or realm.

GLO. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contrivedst to murder our dead lord: I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,

If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

WIN. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot;

This be Damascus: be thou cursed Cain,

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

GLO. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:

Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing cloth,
I'll use to carry thee out of this place.

WIN. Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy face.

GLO. What? am I dared, and bearded to my face?

Draw, men, for all this privileged place;

Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard; (Gloster and his men attack the bishop.)

I mean to tug it, and cuff you soundly:
Under my feet, I stamp thy cardinal's hat;
In spite of pope or dignities of church,

Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
WIN. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the
Pope !