Henry VI (Parts I, II and III) (Signet Classics)

  KING HENRY VI Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear'st thy doom45:

  Be packing46, therefore, thou that wast a knight:

  Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death.

  [Exit Falstaff]

  And now, my Lord Protector, view the letter

  Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.

  GLOUCESTER What means his grace, that he hath changed his style50?

  No more but51 plain and bluntly 'To the king'?

  Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?

  Or doth this churlish superscription53

  Pretend54 some alteration in good will?

  Reads

  What's here? -- 'I have upon especial cause,

  Moved with compassion of my country's wrack56,

  Together with the pitiful complaints

  Of such as your oppression feeds upon,

  Forsaken your pernicious59 faction

  And joined with Charles, the rightful King of France.'

  O monstrous treachery! Can this be so?

  That in alliance, amity and oaths,

  There should be found such false dissembling guile?

  KING HENRY VI What? Doth my uncle Burgundy revolt64?

  GLOUCESTER He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.

  KING HENRY VI Is that the worst this letter doth contain?

  GLOUCESTER It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.

  KING HENRY VI Why then Lord Talbot there shall talk with him

  And give him chastisement69 for this abuse.

  How say you, my lord? Are you not content?

  TALBOT Content, my liege? Yes: but that I am prevented71,

  I should have begged I might have been employed.

  KING HENRY VI Then gather strength and march unto him straight73:

  Let him perceive how ill we brook74 his treason

  And what offence it is to flout75 his friends.

  TALBOT I go, my lord, in heart desiring still76

  You may behold confusion77 of your foes.

  [Exit]

  Enter Vernon and Basset

  VERNON Grant me the combat78, gracious sovereign.

  BASSET And me, my lord, grant me the combat too.

  Pointing to Vernon

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK This is my servant80: hear him, noble prince.

  Pointing to Basset

  SOMERSET And this is mine, sweet Henry, favour him.

  KING HENRY VI Be patient, lords, and give them leave to speak.

  Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim83,

  And wherefore crave you combat, or with whom?

  VERNON With him, my lord, for he hath done me wrong.

  BASSET And I with him, for he hath done me wrong.

  KING HENRY VI What is that wrong whereof you both complain?

  First let me know, and then I'll answer you.

  BASSET Crossing the sea from England into France,

  This fellow here with envious90 carping tongue,

  Upbraided me about the rose I wear,

  Saying the sanguine colour of the leaves92

  Did represent my master's blushing cheeks,

  When stubbornly he did repugn94 the truth

  About a certain question in the law95

  Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him:

  With other vile and ignominious terms:

  In confutation of which rude98 reproach

  And in defence of my lord's worthiness,

  I crave the benefit100 of law of arms.

  VERNON And that is my petition101, noble lord:

  For though he seem with forged quaint conceit102

  To set a gloss upon103 his bold intent,

  Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him,

  And he first took exceptions at105 this badge,

  Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower

  Bewrayed the faintness107 of my master's heart.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK Will not this malice, Somerset, be left?

  SOMERSET Your private grudge, my lord of York, will out,

  Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it.

  KING HENRY VI Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick111 men,

  When for so slight and frivolous a cause

  Such factious emulations113 shall arise?

  Good cousins114 both of York and Somerset,

  Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK Let this dissension first be tried by fight,

  And then your highness shall command a peace.

  SOMERSET The quarrel toucheth118 none but us alone:

  Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK There is my pledge120: accept it, Somerset.

  VERNON Nay, let it rest121 where it began at first.

  BASSET Confirm it so, mine honourable lord.

  GLOUCESTER Confirm it so? Confounded123 be your strife,

  And perish ye with your audacious prate124:

  Presumptuous vassals125, are you not ashamed

  With this immodest126 clamorous outrage

  To trouble and disturb the king and us?

  And you, my lords, methinks you do not well

  To bear with their perverse objections129:

  Much less to take occasion130 from their mouths

  To raise a mutiny131 betwixt yourselves.

  Let me persuade you take a better course.

  EXETER It grieves his highness: good my lords, be friends.

  KING HENRY VI Come hither, you that would be combatants:

  Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favour,

  Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.

  And you, my lords, remember where we are:

  In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:

  If they perceive dissension in our looks

  And that within ourselves140 we disagree,

  How will their grudging stomachs141 be provoked

  To wilful disobedience, and rebel142!

  Beside, what infamy will there arise,

  When foreign princes shall be certified144,

  That for a toy, a thing of no regard145,

  King Henry's peers and chief nobility

  Destroyed themselves, and lost the realm of France!

  O, think upon the conquest of my father,

  My tender years, and let us not forgo149

  That for a trifle that150 was bought with blood.

  Let me be umpire in this doubtful151 strife:

  Putting on a red rose

  I see no reason, if I wear this rose,

  That any one should therefore be suspicious153

  I more incline to154 Somerset than York:

  Both are my kinsmen, and I love them both.

  As well they may156 upbraid me with my crown,

  Because, forsooth157, the King of Scots is crowned.

  But your discretions158 better can persuade

  Than I am able to instruct or teach:

  And therefore, as we hither came in peace,

  So let us still continue peace and love.

  Cousin of York, we institute162 your grace

  To be our regent in these parts163 of France:

  And good my lord of Somerset, unite

  Your troops of horsemen with his bands of foot165,

  And like true subjects, sons of your progenitors166,

  Go cheerfully together and digest167

  Your angry choler168 on your enemies.

  Ourself, my Lord Protector and the rest,

  After some respite170, will return to Calais;

  From thence to England, where I hope ere long

  To be presented, by your victories,

  With Charles, Alencon and that traitorous rout173.

  Exeunt all but York, Warwick, Exeter [and] Vernon. Flourish

  WARWICK My lord of York, I promise you, the king

  Prettily175, methought, did play the orator.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK And so he did: but yet I like it not,

  In
that he wears the badge of Somerset.

  WARWICK Tush, that was but his fancy178, blame him not:

  I dare presume, sweet prince, he thought no harm.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK An if I wist180 he did-- but let it rest:

  Other affairs must now be managed.

  Exeunt [all but] Exeter

  EXETER Well didst thou, Richard, to suppress thy voice:

  For had the passions183 of thy heart burst out,

  I fear we should have seen deciphered184 there

  More rancorous spite, more furious raging broils,

  Than yet can be imagined or supposed:

  But howsoe'er, no simple187 man that sees

  This jarring discord of nobility,

  This shouldering189 of each other in the court,

  This factious bandying of their favourites190,

  But that it doth presage some ill event191.

  'Tis much192 when sceptres are in children's hands:

  But more, when envy breeds unkind193 division,

  There comes the ruin, there begins confusion194.

  Exit

  [Act 4 Scene 2]

  running scene 14

  Enter Talbot, with Trump and Drum before Bordeaux

  TALBOT Go to the gates of Bordeaux, trumpeter:

  Summon their general unto the wall.

  [Trumpet] sounds. Enter General aloft

  English John Talbot, captains, calls you forth,

  Servant in arms to Harry King of England,

  And thus he would5: open your city gates,

  Be humble to us, call my sovereign yours,

  And do him homage as obedient subjects,

  And I'll withdraw me and my bloody8 power.

  But if you frown upon this proffered peace,

  You tempt the fury of my three attendants,

  Lean famine, quartering11 steel, and climbing fire,

  Who in a moment even12 with the earth

  Shall lay your stately and air-braving13 towers,

  If you forsake14 the offer of their love.

  GENERAL Thou ominous and fearful owl of death15,

  Our nation's terror and their bloody scourge,

  The period17 of thy tyranny approacheth.

  On us thou canst not enter but by death:

  For I protest we are well fortified

  And strong enough to issue out20 and fight.

  If thou retire, the dauphin well appointed21

  Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee.

  On either hand thee there are squadrons pitched23,

  To wall24 thee from the liberty of flight;

  And no way canst thou turn thee for redress25,

  But death doth front thee with apparent spoil26,

  And pale27 destruction meets thee in the face:

  Ten thousand French have ta'en the sacrament28

  To rive29 their dangerous artillery

  Upon no Christian soul but English Talbot:

  Lo, there thou stand'st, a breathing valiant man

  Of an invincible unconquered spirit:

  This is the latest33 glory of thy praise

  That I thy enemy due34 thee withal:

  For ere the glass35 that now begins to run

  Finish the process of his sandy hour,

  These eyes that see thee now well coloured37

  Shall see thee withered, bloody, pale and dead.

  Drum afar off

  Hark, hark, the dauphin's drum, a warning bell39,

  Sings heavy40 music to thy timorous soul,

  And mine shall ring thy dire departure41 out.

  Exit

  TALBOT He fables42 not: I hear the enemy:

  Out, some light horsemen, and peruse their wings43.

  O negligent and heedless discipline44,

  How are we parked and bounded in a pale45?

  A little herd of England's timorous deer,

  Mazed with a yelping kennel of French curs47.

  If we be English deer, be then in blood48,

  Not rascal-like to fall down with a pinch49,

  But rather, moody-mad50: and desperate stags

  Turn on the bloody hounds with heads of steel51

  And make the cowards stand aloof at bay52:

  Sell every man his life as dear as mine,

  And they shall find dear54 deer of us, my friends.

  God and Saint George, Talbot and England's right,

  Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight!

  [Exeunt]

  [Act 4 Scene 3]

  running scene 15

  Enter a Messenger that meets York. Enter York with Trumpet and many Soldiers

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK Are not the speedy scouts returned again,

  That dogged2 the mighty army of the dauphin?

  MESSENGER They are returned, my lord, and give it out3

  That he is marched to Bordeaux with his power

  To fight with Talbot: as he marched along,

  By your espials6 were discovered

  Two mightier troops than that the dauphin led,

  Which joined with him and made their march for Bordeaux.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK A plague upon that villain Somerset,

  That thus delays my promised supply

  Of horsemen, that were levied for this siege.

  Renowned Talbot doth expect my aid,

  And I am louted13 by a traitor villain,

  And cannot help the noble chevalier:

  God comfort him in this necessity15:

  If he miscarry16, farewell wars in France.

  Enter another messenger [Sir William Lucy]

  LUCY Thou princely leader of our English strength,

  Never so needful18 on the earth of France,

  Spur to the rescue of the noble Talbot,

  Who now is girdled with a waist20 of iron

  And hemmed about with grim destruction:

  To Bordeaux, warlike duke, to Bordeaux, York,

  Else farewell Talbot, France, and England's honour.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK O God, that Somerset, who in proud heart

  Doth stop my cornets25, were in Talbot's place,

  So should we save a valiant gentleman

  By forfeiting a traitor and a coward:

  Mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep,

  That thus we die, while remiss29 traitors sleep.

  LUCY O, send some succour to the distressed30 lord.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK He dies, we lose: I break my warlike word:

  We mourn, France smiles: we lose, they daily get,

  All 'long of33 this vile traitor Somerset.

  LUCY Then God take mercy on brave Talbot's soul,

  And on his son young John, who two hours since

  I met in travel toward his warlike father:

  This seven years did not Talbot see his son,

  And now they meet where both their lives are done.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK Alas, what joy shall noble Talbot have

  To bid his young son welcome to his grave?

  Away, vexation41 almost stops my breath,

  That sundered friends42 greet in the hour of death.

  Lucy, farewell: no more my fortune can43,

  But curse the cause44 I cannot aid the man.

  Maine, Blois, Poitiers, and Tours are won away,

  'Long all46 of Somerset and his delay.

  Exeunt [all but Lucy]

  LUCY Thus, while the vulture of sedition47

  Feeds in the bosom of such great commanders,

  Sleeping neglection49 doth betray to loss

  The conquest of our scarce-cold50 conqueror,

  That ever-living man of memory51,

  Henry the Fifth: whiles they each other cross52,

  Lives, honours, lauds53, and all hurry to loss.

  [Exit]

  [Act 4 Scene 4]

  running scene 16

  Enter Somerset with his army, [a Captain of Talbot's with him]

  SOMERSET It is too late, I cannot send them no
w:

  This expedition2 was by York and Talbot

  Too rashly plotted. All our general force

  Might with a sally of the very town4

  Be buckled with5: the over-daring Talbot

  Hath sullied all his gloss6 of former honour

  By this unheedful7, desperate, wild adventure:

  York set him on to fight and die in shame,

  That, Talbot dead, great York might bear the name.

  CAPTAIN Here is Sir William Lucy, who with me

  Set from our o'ermatched11 forces forth for aid.

  [Enter Sir William Lucy]

  SOMERSET How now, Sir William, whither were you sent?

  LUCY Whither, my lord? From bought and sold13 Lord Talbot,

  Who, ringed about with bold adversity,

  Cries out for noble York and Somerset,

  To beat assailing death from his weak legions16:

  And whiles the honourable captain there

  Drops bloody sweat from his war-wearied limbs,

  And, in advantage ling'ring19, looks for rescue,

  You, his false hopes, the trust20 of England's honour,

  Keep off aloof with worthless emulation21:

  Let not your private discord22 keep away

  The levied succours23 that should lend him aid,

  While he, renowned noble gentleman,

  Yields up his life unto a world of25 odds.

  Orleans the Bastard, Charles, Burgundy,

  Alencon, Reignier, compass him about27,

  And Talbot perisheth by your default28.

  SOMERSET York set him on29: York should have sent him aid.

  LUCY And York as fast upon your grace exclaims,

  Swearing that you withhold his levied host31,

  Collected for this expedition.

  SOMERSET York lies: he might have sent33 and had the horse:

  I owe him little duty, and less love,

  And take foul scorn35 to fawn on him by sending.

  LUCY The fraud of England, not the force of France,

  Hath now entrapped the noble-minded Talbot:

  Never to England shall he bear his life,

  But dies betrayed to fortune by your strife.

  SOMERSET Come, go: I will dispatch the horsemen straight:

  Within six hours they will be at his aid.