The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Alarum. Enter an English SOLDIER, crying, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
a Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving
their Clothes behind.

Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have
left.

SCENE II.-Orleans.-Within the Town. Enter TALBOT, Bedford, BURGUNDY, a CAPTAIN, and others.

Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled,

Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth.
Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.
[Retreat sounded.
Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury;
And here advance it in the market-place,
The middle centre of this cursed town.-
Now have I paid my vow unto his soul!
For every drop of blood was drawn from him,
There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-
night.

And, that hereafter ages may behold
What ruin happen'd in revenge of him,
Within their chiefest temple I'll erect

A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd:
Upon the which, that every one may read,
Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans;
The treacherous manner of his mournful death,
And what a terror he had been to France.
But, lords, in all our bloody masacre,

I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace;
His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc;
Nor any of his false confederates.

Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began,

Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, They did, amongst the troops of armed men, Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night,) Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin and his trull; When arm in arm they both came swiftly runLike to a pair of loving turtle-doves, [ning, That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them wtih all the power we have.

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. All hail, my lords! which of this princely train

Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts
So

much applauded through the realm of
France ?

Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him?

Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne,

With modesty admiring thy renown,

By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe

To visit her poor castle where she lies; +
That she may boast, she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.-
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world

of men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet bath a woman's kindness over-ruled :-
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her.-
Will not your honours bear me company?
Bed. No, truly; it is more than mauners will:
And I have heard it said,-Unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You per ceive my mind.

Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Auvergne.-Court of the Castle.

Enter the COUNTESS and her PORTER. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge;

And, when you have done so, bring the keys

Count. Is this this the scourge of France ? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes ?

I see, report is fabulous and false :

I thought, I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspéct,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf :
It cannot be, this weak and writhled
Should strike such terror to his enemies.
Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble
you:

shrimp

But, since your ladyship is not at leisure,
I'll sort some other time to visit you.
Count. What means he now ?—Go ask him,
whither he goes.

Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady

craves

To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her Talbot's here.

Re-enter PORTER, with Keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Tal. Prisoner! to whom?

Count. To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house. Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me, For in my gallery thy picture hangs : But now the substance shall endure the like; And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, That hast by tyranny, these many years, Wasted our country, slain our citizens, And sent our sons and husbands captivate. Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

Count. Laughest thon, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan.

Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so foudi To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow,

Whereon to practise your severity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal. I am indeed.

Count. Then have I substance too.

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here; For what you see, is but the smallest part And least proportion of humanity:

Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no reme-I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,

dy,

• Woader.

t1.c. Where she dwells.

For opinion.

+ Wrinkled.

t Foolish.

It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.

And stands upon the honour of his birth, If he suppose that I have pleaded truth,

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.

nonce; ·

He will be here, and yet he is not here :
How can these contrarieties agree?
Tal. That will I show you presently.

He winds a Horn. Drums heard; then a Peal of Ordnance. The Gates being forced, enter Soldiers.

How say you, nıadam? are you now persuaded, That Talbot is but shadow of himself?

These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength,

With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
I find, thou art no less than fame hath bruited, †
And more than may be gather'd by thy shape.
Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
For I am sorry, that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.
What you have done, hath not offended me :
No other satisfaction do I crave,

But only (with your patience,) that we may Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have:

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. Count. With all my heart: and think me honoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt. SCENE IV.-London.-The Temple Garden. Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VerNON, and another LAWYER.

Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means this silence?

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no flatterer,

But dare maintain the party of the truth,
Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with ine
War. I love no colours; and, without all
colour

Of base insinuating flattery,

I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet:
Suff. I pluck this red rose, with young So-
merset ;

And say withal, I think he held the right.
Ver. Stay, lords, and gentlemen: and pluck

no more,

Till you conclude that he, upon whose side
The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree,
Shall yield the other in the right opinion.
Som. Good master Vernon, it is well ob-
jected; t

If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence.
Plan. And I.

Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the case,

I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,
Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off;

Lest bleeding, you do paint the white rose red, And fall on my side so against your will.

Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt, And keep me on the side where still I am. Som. Well, well, come on: Who else? Law. Unless my study and my books be false, The argument you held, was wrong in you; [To SOMERSET. In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too. Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argu. ment?

Som. Here, in my scabbard; meditating that, Shall die your white rose in a bloody red. Plan. Meantime, your cheeks do counterfeit

our roses;

For pale they look with fear, as witnessing

Suff. Within the temple hall we were too The truth on our side.

loud;

The garden here is more convenient.

Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain'd the truth;

Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Suff. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.

Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then between us.

War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch,

Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,

Between two blades, which bears the better temper,

Between two horses, which doth bear him best, ‡ Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye, I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judg

ment:

But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbear

ance:

The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Plan. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath
to speak,

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:
Let him, that is a true-born gentleman,

For a purpose. + Announced loudly, Le Regulate his motions most adroitly.

Som. No, Plantagenet,

'Tis not for fear; but auger,-that thy cheeks Blush for pure shame, to counterfeit our roses : And yet thy tongue will not confess thy error.

Plan. Hath not thy rose a canker, Somerset ? Som. Hath not thy rose a thorn, Plantagenet 1

Plan. Ay, sharp and piercing, to maintain

his truth;

Whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood.

Som. Well, I'll find friends to wear my bleed

I. e. Those who have no right to arms.

Plan. He bears him on the place's privilege, Or durst not, for his craven heart, say thus. Som. By him that made me, I'll maintain my words

On any plot of ground in Christendom:

Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent:
Weak shoulders, overborne with burd'ning
grief;

And pithless arms, like to a wither'd vine That droops his sapless branches to the ground:— Was not thy father, Richard, earl of Cam-Yet are these feet whose strengthless stay i bridge,

For treason executed in our late king's days?
And, by his treason, stand'st not thou attainted,
Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry?
His trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood;
And till thou be restor'd, thou art a yeoman.
Plan. My father was attached, not attainted;
Condemn'd to die for treason, but no traitor;
And that I'll prove on better men than Somer-
set,

Were growing time once ripen'd to my will.
For your partaker Poole, and you yourself,
I'll note you in my book of memory,
To scourge you for this apprehension :
Look to it well; and say you are well warn'd.
Som. Ay, thou shalt find us ready for thee
still:

And know us, by these colours, for thy foes;
For these my friends, in spite of thee, shall

wear.

Plan. And, by my soul, this pale and

rose,

angry

As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate,
Will I for ever, and my faction, wear;
Until it wither with me to the grave,
Or flourish to the height of my degree.
Suff. Go forward, and be chok'd with thy
ambition!

And so farewell, until I meet thee next.

[Exit. Som. Have with thee, Poole.-Farewell, ambitious Richard. [Exit.

Plan. How I am brav'd, and must perforce endure it !

War. This blot, that they object against your house,

Shall be wip'd out in the next parliament,
Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Gloster :
And, if thou be not then created York,
1 will not live to be accounted Warwick.
Meantime, in signal of my love to thee,
Against proud Somerset, and William Poole,
Will I upon thy party wear this rose:
And here I prophesy.-This brawl to-day,
Grown to this faction, in the Temple-garden,
Shall send between the red rose and

white,

the

A thousand souls to death and deadly night.
Plan. Good master Vernon, I am bound to

SCENE V.-The same-A Room in the Tower.

Enter MORTIMER, brought in a Chair by two
Keepers.

Mor. Kind keepers of my weak decaying
age,

Lt dying Mortimer here rest himself.-
Even like a man new baled from the rack,
So fare my limbs with long imprisonment :

And these grey locks, the pursuivants of death,
Nestor-like aged, in an age of care,
Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer ||

numb,

Unable to support this lump of clay,
Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,
As witting I no other comfort have.-
But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?
1 Keep. Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will

And, in that ease, I'll tell thee my disease. +
This day in argument upon a case,

Some words there grew 'twixt Somerset and

me:

Among which terms he used his lavish tongue,
And did upbraid me with my father's death;
Which obloquy set bars before my tongue,
Else with the like I had requited him:
Therefore, good uncle,--for my father's sake,
In honour of a true Plantagenet,
And for alliance' sake,-declare the cause
My father, earl of Cambridge, lost his head.
Mor. That cause, fair nephew, that impri-
son'd me,

And hath detain'd me, all my flow'ring youth,
Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine,
Was cursed instrument of his disease.

Plan. Discover more at large what cause that was;

For I am ignorant, and cannot guess.

Mor. I will; if that my fading breath

permit,

And death approach not ere my tale be done.
Henry the fourth, grandfather to this king,
Depos'd his nephew Richard; Edward's son,
The first-begotten, and the lawful heir
Of Edward king, the third of that descent:
During whose reign, the Percies of the north,
Finding his usurpation most unjust,

These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is Endeavour'd my advancement to the throne:

The reason mov'd these warlike lords to this, Was-for that (young king Richard thus re mov'd,

Leaving no heir begotten of his body,)

Lately-despised.

+ Uneasiness, discontent.

was the next by birth and parentage; For by my mother 1 derived am

From Lionel duke of Clarence, the third son
To king Edward the third, whereas he,
From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,
Being but fourth of that heroic line.
But mark; as, in this haughty great attempt,
They laboured to plant the rightful heir,
I lost my liberty, and they their lives.
Long after this, when Henry the fifth,
Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did reign,
Thy father, earl of Cambridge, then deriv'd
From famous Edmund Langley, duke of York,
Marrying my sister, that thy mother was,
Again, in pity of my hard distress,
Levied an army; weening to redeem,
And have install'd me in the diadem:
But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl,
And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,
In whom the title rested, were suppress'd.
Plan. Of which, my lord, your honour is the
last.

Mor. True; and thou seest that I no issue
have;

And that my fainting words do warrant death :
Thou art my heir; the rest, I wish thee gather:
But yet be wary in thy studious care.

Plan. Thy grave admonishments prevail with

me :

But yet, methinks, my father's execution
Was nothing less than bloody tyranny.

Mor. With silence, nephew, be thou politic;
Strong-fixed is the house of Lancaster,
And, like a mountain, not to be remov❜d.
But now thy uncle is removing hence ;

With written pamphlets studiously devis'd,
Humphrey of Gloster? if thou canst accuse,
Or aught intend'st to lay unto my charge,
Do it without invention suddenly;

As I with sudden and extemporal speech
Purpose to answer what thou canst object.
Glo. Presumptuous priest! this place com-
mands my patience,

Or thou should'st find thou hast dishonour'd me.
Think not, although in writing I preferr'd
The manner of thy vile outrageous crimes,
That therefore I have forg'd, or am not able
Verbatim to rehearse the method of my pen :
No, prelate; such is thy audacious wicked-
ness,

Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks,
As very infants prattle of thy pride.
Thou art a most pernicious usurer;
Froward by nature, enemy to peace;
Lascivious, wanton, more than well beseems
A man of thy profession, and degree;
And for thy treachery, What's more manifest ?
In that thou laid'st a trap to take my life,
As well at London bridge, as at the Tower?
Beside, I fear me, if thy thoughts were sifted,
The king thy sovereign, is not quite exempt
From envious malice of thy swelling heart.

Win. Gloster, I do defy thee.-Lords, vouch-
safe

To give me hearing what I shall reply.
If I were covetous, ambitious, or perverse,
As he will have me, how am I so poor?
Or how haps it, I seek not to advance
Or raise myself, but keep my wonted calling:
And for dissention, who preferreth peace

As princes do their courts, when they are More than I do, except I be provok'd?
cloy'd

With long continuance in a settled place.*
Plan. O uncle, 'would some part of my young
years

Might but redeem the passage of your age;
Mor. Thou dost then wrong me : as the
slaught'rer doth,

Which giveth many wounds, when one will kill.
Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good ;
Only, give order for my funeral ;

And so farewell and fair be all thy hopes !
And prosperous be thy life, in peace, and war!
[Dies.

Plan. And peace, no war, befall thy parting
soul !

In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage,
And like a hermit overpass'd thy days
Well, I will lock his counsel in my breast;
And what I do imagine, let that rest.—
Keepers, convey him hence; and I myself
Will see his burial better than his life.-

[Exeunt KEEPERS, bearing out MORTIMER.
Here dies the dusky torch of Mortimer,
Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort :-
And, for those wrongs, those bitter injuries,
Which Somerset hath offer'd to my house,
I doubt not, but with honour to redress:
And therefore haste I to the parliament;
Either to be restored to my blood,
Or make my ill the advantage of my good.

ACT III.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.-The same.-The Parliamenthouse.

Flourish. Enter King HENRY, EXETER, GLOSTER, WARWICK, SOMERSET, and SUFFOLK; the Bishop of WINCHESTER, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, and others. GLOSTER offers to put up a Bill; WINCHESTER snatches it, and tears it.

No, my good lords, it is not that offends;
It is not that, that hath incens'd the duke:
It is, because no one should sway but he;
No one, but he, should be about the king;
And that engenders thunder in his breast,
And makes him roar these accusations forth.
But he shall know, I am as good-
Glo. As good?

Thou bastard of my grandfather!

Win. Ay, loudly Sir; For what are you, I
pray,

But one imperious in another's throne ?
Glo. Am I not the protector, saucy priest?
Win. And am I not a prelate of the church?
Glo. Yes, as an outlaw in a castle keepɛ,
And useth it to patronage his theft.
Win. Unreverent Gloster!

Glo. Thou art reverent,

Touching thy spiritual function, not thy life.
Win. This Rome shall remedy.

War. Roam thither then.

Som. My lord, it were your duty to forbear.
War. Ay, see the bishop be not overborne.
Som. Methinks, my lord should be religious,
And know the office that belongs to such.
War. Methinks, his lordship should be hum-
bler;

It fitteth not a prelate so to plead.

Som. Yes, when his holy state is touch'd so

near.

War. State holy, or unhallow'd, what of
that?

Is not his grace protector to the king?
Plan. Plantagenet, I see, must hold his
tongue;

Lest it be said, Speak, sirrah, when you
should;

Must your bold verdict enter talk with lords?
Else would I have a fling at Winchester.

[Aside.

K. Hen. Uncles of Gloster and of Winches
ter,

The special watchmen of our English weal;
I would prevail, if prayers might prevail,
To join your hearts in love and amity.

Win. Com'st thou with deep premeditated O what a scandal is it to our crown,

lines,

That two such noble peers as ye should jar!
Believe me, lords, my tender years can tell,
Civil dissention is a viperous worm,

ry,

Pity the city of London, pity us!

The bishop and the duke of Gloster's men,
Forbidden late to carry any weapon,

Have fill'd their pockets full of pebble-stones;
And banding themselves in contrary parts,
Do pelt so fast at one another's pate,
That many have their giddy brains knock'd out:
Our windows are broke down in every street,
And we, for fear, compell'd to shut our shops.
Enter, skirmishing, the Retainers of GLOS-
TER, and WINCHESTER, with bloody pates.
K. Hen. We charge you, on allegiance to
ourself,

To hold your slaughtering hands, and keep the peace.

Pray, uncle Gloster, mitigate this strife. 1 Serv. Nay, if we be

Forbidden stones, we'll fall to it with our teeth. 2 Serv. Do what ye dare, we are as resolute. [Skirmish again. Glo. You of my household, leave this peevish proil,

And set this unaccustom'd * fight aside.

1 Serv. My lord, we know your grace to be a

man

Just and upright; and, for your royal birth,
Inferior to none but his majesty:

And ere that we will suffer such a prince,
So kind a father of the commonweal,
To be disgraced by an inkhorn mate, +
We, and our wives, and children, all will fight,
And have our bodies slaughter'd by thy foes.

2 Serv. Ay, and the very parings of our nails Shall pitch a field, when we are dead.

Glo. Stay, stay, I say!

[Skirmish again.

And if you love me, as you say you do,
Let me persuade you to forbear a while.

K. Hen. O how this discord doth afflict my soul!

Can you, my lord of Winchester, behold
My sighs and tears, and will not once relent?
Who should be pitiful, if you be not?
Or who should study to prefer a peace,
If holy churchmen take delight in broils?
War. My lord protector, yield;-yield, Win-
chester ;-

Except you mean, with obstinate repulse,
To slay your sovereign, and destroy the realm.
You see what mischief, and what murder too,
Hath been enacted through your enmity:
Then be at peace, except ye thirst for blood.
Win. He shall submit, or I will never yield.
Glo. Compassion on the king commands me

stoop;

Or, I would see his heart out, ere the priest
Should ever get that privilege of me.

War. Behold, my lord of Winchester, the duke

Hath banish'd moody discontented fury,
As by his smoothed brows it doth appear:
Why look you still so stern, and tragical?
Glo. Here, Winchester, 1 offer thee my hand.
K. Hen. Fie, uncle Beaufort! I have heard
you preach,

That malice was a great and grievous sin:
And will not you maintain the thing you teach,
But prove a chief offender in the same?
War. Sweet king 1-The bishop hath a kindly
gird. I

For shame, my lord of Winchester! relent; What, shall a child instruct you what to do? Win. Well, duke of Gloster, I will yield to thee;

Love for thy love, and hand for hand I give. Glo. Ay; but, I fear me, with a hollow heart.

See here, my friends, and loving countrymen ;
This token serveth for a flag of truce,
Betwixt ourselves and all our followers:
So help me God, as I dissemble not!
Win. So help me God, as I intend it not !

[Aside. K. Hen. O loving uncle, kind duke of Gloster,

How joyful am I made by this contract !-
Away, my masters! trouble us no more;
But join in friendship, as your lords have
done.

1 Serv. Content; I'll to the surgeon's.
2 Serv. And so will I.

3 Serv. And I will see what physic the tavern
affords.
[Exeunt SERVANTS,
MAYOR, &c.

War. Accept this scroll, most gracious sove-
reign;

Which, in the right of Richard Plantagenet,
We do exhibit to your majesty.

Glo. Well urg'd, my lord of Warwick :-for,
sweet prince,

An if your grace mark every circumstance,
You have great reason to do Richard right:
Especially, for those occasions

At Eltham-place I told your majesty.

K. Hen. And those occasions, uncle, were of force :

Therefore, my loving lords, our pleasure is,
That Richard be restored to bis blood.

War. Let Richard be restored to his blood; So shall his father's wrongs be recompens❜d. Win. As will the rest, so willeth Winchcз

ter.

K. Hen. If Richard will be true, not that alone,

But all the whole inheritance I give,
That doth belong unto the house of York,
From whence you spring by lineal descent.

Plan. Thy humble servant vows obedience,
And humble service, till the point of death.
K. Hen. Stoop then, and set your knee against
my foot;

And, in reguerdon of that duty done,

I girt thee with the valiant sword of York:
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet;
And rise created princely duke of York.
Plan. And so thrive Richard, as thy fʊes tnay
fall!

And as my duty springs so perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty!
All. Welcome, high prince, the mighty duke

of York!

Som. Perish, base prince, ignoble duke of York! [Aside.

Glo. Now will it best avail your majesty, To cross the seas, and to be crown'd in France: The presence of a king engenders love Amongst his subjects, and his loyal friends; As it disanimates his enemies.

K. Hen. When Gloster says the word, king
Henry goes;

For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.
Glo. Your ships already are in readiness.
[Exeunt all but EXETER.
Exe. Ay, we may march in England, or in
France,

Not seeing what is likely to ensue :
This late dissention, grown betwixt the peers,
Burns under feigned ashes of forg'd love,
And will at last break out into a flame :

As fester'd members rot but by degrees,
Till bones, and flesb, and sinews, fall away,
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal prophecy,

• Recompence.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Nide 9