The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens [sic] and Reed, with glossarial notes, his life, and a critique on his genius & writings by N. Rowe

care;

Art not thou weary, John? How dost thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
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.
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 short'ning of my life one day:
In thee thy mother dies, our household's name,
My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's
fame:

All these, and more, we hazard by thy stay;
All these are sav'd, if thou wilt fly away.

John. The sword of Orleans hath not made
me smart,
[heart:
These words of yours draw life-blood from my
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, fall and die:
And like me to the peasant boys of France;
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.

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,

Speak to thy father, ere thou yield thy breath:
Brave death by speaking, whether he will, or

no;

say

Imagine him a Frenchman, and thy foe.-
Poor boy! he smiles, methinks; as who should
[to-day.
Had death been French, then death had died
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
[Dies.
grave.

Alarums. Exeunt Soldiers and Servant, leaving
the two Bodies. Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON,
BURGUNDY, BASTARD, LA PUCELLE, and
Forces.

Char. Had York and Somerset brought res-
cue in,

We should have found a bloody day of this.
Bast. How the young whelp of Talbot's,
raging-wood,t
[blood!
Did flesh his puny sword in Frenchmen's
Puc. 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
To be the pillage of a giglott wench:

So, rushing in the bowels of the French,
He left me proudly as unworthy fight.

Bur. Doubtless, he would have made a noble
knight:

Tal. Then follow thou thy desperate sire of See, where he lies inhersed in the arms

Crete,

Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:
If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side;
And, commendable prov'd, let's die in pride.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.-Another part of the same. Alarum: Excursions. Enter TALBOT wounded, supported by a SERVANT.

Tal. Where is my other life?-mine_own_is
[John?-
gone;-
O, where's young Talbot? where is valiant
Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity!+
Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee:
When he perceiv'd 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,
Tend'ring my ruin, and assail'd of none,
Dizzy-ey'd fury, and great rage of heart,
Suddenly made him from my side to start
Into the clust'ring battle of the French:
And in that sea of blood my boy did drench
His overmounting spirit; and there died
My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

Enter Soldiers, bearing the Body of JOHN
TALBOT.

Serv. O my dear lord! lo, where your son is

borne !

Tal. Thou antic death, which laugh'st us
here to scorn,

Like me, reduce me to a level with.

+ Death stained and dishonoured with captivity.
"Watching me with tenderness in my fall."

Of the most bloody nurser of his harms.
Bast. Hew them to pieces, hack their bones
asunder;
[der.
Whose life was England's glory, Gallia's won-
Char. O, no; forbear: for that which we
have fled

During the life, let us not wrong it dead.
Enter Sir WILLIAM LUCY, attended; a French
Herald preceding.

Lucy. Herald,
Conduct me to the Dauphin's tent; to know
Who hath obtain'd the glory of the day.
Char. On what submissive message art thou

sent?

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.

Char. For prisoners ask'st thou? hell our
prison is.

But tell me whom thou seek'st.

Lucy. Where is the great Alcides of the field,
Valiant lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury ?
Created, for his rare success in arms, [lence;
Great earl of Washford, Waterford, and Va-
Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchingfield,
Alton,
[Sheffield,
Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of
Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, lord Furnival of
The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge;
Knight of the noble order of Saint George,
Worthy saint Michael, and the golden fleece;

* Flexible, yielding. + Raving mad. + Wanton.

Great mareschal to Henry the sixth,

Of all his wars within the realm of France?
Puc. Here is a silly stately style indeed!
The Turk, that two and fifty kingdoms hath,
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.
Lucy. Is Talbot slain; the Frenchmen's only

Scourge,

Your kingdom's terror and black Nemesis?
Q, were mine eye-balls 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 among you here,
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. Puc. I think, this upstart is old Talbot's ghost,

He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.

For God's sake, let him have 'em; to keep them here,

They would but stink, and putrify the air.
Char. Go, take their bodies hence.
Lucy. I'll bear them hence:

But from their ashes shall be rear'd
A phoenix that shall make all France afeard.
Char. 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.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-London.-A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, and EXETER. K. Hen. Have you perus'd the letters from the pope,

The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac?

Glo.

I shall be well content with any choice, Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal.

Enter a LEGATE, and two AMBASSADORS, with WINCHESTER, in a Cardinal's Habit.

Exe. What is my lord of Winchester in-
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree!
stall'd,
Then, I perceive, that will be verified,
Henry the fifth did sometime prophesy,-
He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.
If once he come to be a cardinal,
K. Hen. My lords ambassadors, your seve-
ral suits

Have been consider'd and debated on.
Your purpose is both good and reasonable:
And, therefore, are we certainly resolv'd
To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
Which, by my lord of Winchester, we mean
Shall be transported presently to France.

Glo. And for the proffer of my lord your
I have inform'd his highness so at large,
master,-
Her beauty, and the value of her dower,-
As-liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
He doth intend she shall be England's queen.
K. Hen. In argument and proof of which
contract,

Bear her this jewel, [To the AMB.] pledge of my affection.

And safely brought to Dover; where, inAnd so, my lord protector, see them guarded, shipp'd,

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and AMBASSADORS

Win. Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive

The sum of money, which I promised
Should be deliver'd to his holiness
For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's lei-

sure.

Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I have, my lord; and their intent is Or be inferior to the proudest peer. [trow, Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,

this,

They humbly sue unto your excellence,
To have a godly peace concluded of,
Between the realms of England and of France.
K. Hen. How doth your grace affect their

motion?

Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only

means

To stop effusion of our Christian blood,
And 'stablish quietness on every side.
K. Hen. Ay, marry, uncle; for I always
thought,

It was both impious and unnatural,
That such immanity+ and bloody strife
Should reign among professors of one faith.
Glo. Beside, my lord,-the sooner to effect,
And surer bind, this knot of amity,-
The earl of Armagnac-near knit to Charles,
A man of great authority in France,-
Proffers his only daughter to your grace
In marriage, with a large and sumptuous
dowry.

K. Hen. Marriage, uncle! alas! my years are young;

And fitter is my study and my books,
Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet, call the ambassadors; and, as you

please,

So let them have their answers every one:

That, neither in birth, or for authority,
The bishop will be overborne by thee:
I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-France.-Plains in Anjou.
Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, LA
PUCELLE, and Forces marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our
drooping spirits:

"Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt,
And turn again unto the warlike French.
Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of
France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.
Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn

to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a MESSENGER.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, Sirs, the warn-
ing is;

But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there;
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.
Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most ac-
curs'd:-
[thine;
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.
Char. Then on, my lords; And France be
fortunate!
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same.-Before Angiers.
Alarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE.
Puc. The regent conquers, and the French-
men fly.-

Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts;*
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents!

[Thunder.

You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north,t
Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!

Enter Fiends.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the

field. [They walk about, and speak not.
O, hold me not with silence over-long!
Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a further benefit;
So you do condescend to help me now.-
[They hang their heads.
No hope to have redress?-My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
[They shuke their heads.
Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.
[They depart.

York. Fell, banning* hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue.

Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a
while.

York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest
to the stake.
[Exeunt.
Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Lady
MARGARET.

soner.

Suff. Be what thou wilt, thou art my pri[Gazes on her. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; For I will touch thee but with reverent hands, And lay them gently on thy tender side. I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand.] for eternal peace:

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.
Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to
a king,

The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.
Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.
Be not offended, nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

no.

[She turns away as going.
O, stay!-I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak :
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself;t
Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy pris-

oner?

Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses
rough.

Mar. Say earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be

Suff. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy

suit,

What ransom must I pay before I pass?
See! they forsake me. Now the time is come,For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.
That France must vail; her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:
Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.
[Exit.

Alurums. Enter French and English, fighting.
LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand.
LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.
York. Damsel of France, I think, I have
you fast:

Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.-
A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.
Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst
not be.

York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper

man;

No shape but his can please your dainty eye.
Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles,

and thee!

And may you both be suddenly surpris'd
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

* Charms sowed up.

The north was supposed to be the particular habitation
of bad spirits.
Lower.

Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside.
Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom

must I pay?

Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be
woo'd:

She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside.
Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or

no?

Suff. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

[Aside.

Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear.

Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is
mad.

Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet I would that you would an-

swer me.

Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing.+

To ban 18 to curse.

+"Do not represent thyself so weak."

↑ An awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

Mur. He talks of wood: It is some car

penter.

Suff. Yet so my fancy may be satisfied, And peace established between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that too: For though her father be the king of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor, And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside. Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?

Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:

Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside. Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mur. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

[Aside.

Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Suff. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am To woo so fair a dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice myself. How say you, madam; are you so content? Mar. An if my father please, I am content. Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours forth:

And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. [Troops come forward.

A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the

Walls.

Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend, To give thee answer of thy just demand. [Exit, from the Walls. Suff. And here I will expect thy coming.

Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories;

Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suff. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,

Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little
worth,

To be the princely bride of such a lord;
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou,
Free from oppression, or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.
Suff. That is her ransom, I deliver her;
And those two counties, I will undertake,
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.
Suff. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly
Because this is in traffic of a king : [thanks,
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case. [Aside.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd;
So, farewell, Reignier! Set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, king Henry, were he

here.

Margaret;

No princely commendations to my king?
Mar. Such commendations as become a maid,
A virgin, and his servant say to him.

Suff. Words sweetly plac'd and modestly directed.

But, madam, I must trouble you again,-
No loving token to his majesty ?

Mur. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted heart,

Never yet taint with love, I send the king.
Suff. And this withal.
[Kisses her.
Mar. That for thyself;-I will not so presume,
To send such peevish tokens to a king.

[Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suff. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk, stay;

Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth ;

Suff. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter pri- There Minotaurs, and ugly treasons, lurk.

soner.

Reig. To whom?

Suff. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a sol 'ier; and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, (and for thy honour give consent,)
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Suff. Fair Margaret knows,

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount;
Mad, natural graces that extinguish art;
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's
feet,

Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with won[Exit.

der.

Enter LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a SHEPHERD. | Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity;

Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart
outright!

Have I sought every country far and near,
And, now it is my chance to find thee out,
Must I behold thy timeless* cruel death?
Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with
thee!

Puc. Decrepit miser!+ base ignoble wretch!
I am descended of a gentler blood;
Thou art no father, nor no friend, of mine.
Shep. Out, out!-My lords, an please you,

'tis not so;

I did beget her, all the parish knows:
Her mother liveth yet, can testify,
She was the first fruit of my bachelorship.
War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy paren-
tage?

York. This argues what her kind of life hath been;

Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fie, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle!!

God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh;
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:
Deny me not, I pr'ythee, gentle Joan.

Puc. Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man,

Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.

Shep. "Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, The morn that I was wedded to her mother. Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl.

Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time
Of thy nativity! I would, the milk [breast,
Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck dst her
Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake!
Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field,
I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee!
Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?
O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good.
[Exit.
York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too
To fill the world with vicious qualities. [long,
Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have
condemn'd:

Not me begotten of a shepherd swain,
But issu'd from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous, and holy; chosen from above,
By inspiration of celestial grace,
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits:
But you, that are polluted with your lusts,
Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,--
Because you want the grace that others have,
Yon judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders, but by help of devils.
No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath been
A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought;
Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effus'd,
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
York. Ay, ay;-away with her to execution.
War. And hark ye, Sirs; because she is a
maid,

Spare for no fagots, let there be enough:
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That so her torture may be shortened.
Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting
hearts?-

That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.-
I am with child, ye bloody homicides:
Murder not then the fruit within my womb,
Although ye hale me to a violent death.
York. Now heaven forfend! the holy maid
with child?

War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye
wrought:

Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
York. She and the Dauphin have been jug-
gling:
I did imagine what would be her refuge.

War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards
Epecially, since Charles must father it. [live;
Puc. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of
[his;
It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love.
York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel!
It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you;
"Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke Í
nam'd,

But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd.
War. A married man! that's most intolerable.
York. Why, here's a girl! I think, she knows

not well,

There were so many, whom she may accuse. War. It's sign, she hath been fiberal and

free.

York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin [thee: Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.

Puc. Then lead me hence;-with whom I leave my curse:

May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode !
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you; till mischief, and despair,
Drive you to break your necks, or hang your-
selves!
[Exit, guarded.
York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to
Thou foul accursed minister of hell! [ashes,

Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, attended.
Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence
With letters of commission from the king.
For know, my lords, the states of Christendom,
Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils,
Have earnestly implor'd a general peace
Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French;
And here at hand the Dauphin, and his train,
Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown, And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood, and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered?— O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France.

War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a

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The dramatic works of William Shakspeare, from the text of Johnson, Stevens ...