Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me, And sent our sons and husbands captivate. Tal. Ha, ha, ha! Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan. Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow Whereon to practise your severity. Count. Why, art not thou the man? Count. Then have I substance too. I am indeed. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Your roof were not sufficient to contain 't. Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce; He will be here, and yet he is not here: How can these contrarieties agree? Tal. That will I show you presently. (59) [He winds a horn. Drums strike up; then a peal of ordnance. The gates being forced, enter Soldiers. How say you, madam ? are you now persuaded That Talbot is but shadow of himself? These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: For I am sorry that with reverence I did not entertain thee as thou art. Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue" (60) The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done hath not offended me: Nor 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 honourèd 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 a Lawyer. Plan. Great lords and gentlemen, what means this silence? Dare no man answer in a case of truth? Suf. Within the Temple-hall we were too loud; The garden here is more convenient. Plan. Then say at once if I maintain'd the truth; Or else was wrangling Somerset in th' error ?(1) 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. Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth; Between two horses, which doth bear him best; Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance: 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-tied and so loth to speak, In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts: Let him that is a true-born gentleman, And stands upon the honour of his birth, From off this brier pluck a white rose with me. 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 me. War. I love no colours; and, without all colour Of base-insinuating flattery, I pluck this white rose with Plantagenet. Suf. I pluck this red rose with young Somerset ; 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, Som. Good Master Vernon, it is well objected: 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, Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Som. Well, well, come on: who else? Law. [to Som.] Unless my study and my books be false, The argument you held was wrong in you; In sign whereof I pluck a white rose too. Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argument? Som. Here in my scabbard; meditating that Shall dye your white rose in a bloody red. Plan. Meantime your cheeks do counterfeit our roses; For pale they look with fear, as witnessing The truth on our side. Som. No, Plantagenet, 'Tis not for fear; but anger 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? 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 bleeding rose," That shall maintain what I have said is true, Plan. Now, by this maiden blossom in my hand, I scorn thee and thy faction, (63) peevish boy. Suf. Turn not thy scorns this way, Plantagenet. (62) Plan. Proud Pole, I will; and scorn both him and thee. We grace the yeoman by conversing with him. War. Now, by God's will, thou wrong'st him, Somerset ; His grandfather was Lionel Duke of Clarence, Third son to the third Edward King of England: 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. Was not thy father, Richard Earl of Cambridge, Plan. My father was attached, not attainted; I'll note you in my book of memory, To scourge you for this apprehension : Som. Ah, thou shalt find us ready for thee still; Or flourish to the height of my degree. Suf. Go forward, and be chok'd with thy ambition! And so, farewell, until I meet thee next. [Exit. Som. Have with thee, Pole.-Farewell, ambitious Rich ard. [Exit. Plan. How I am brav'd, and must perforce endure it! Shall be wip'd(64) out in the next parliament, Call'd for the truce of Winchester and Gloster: I will not live to be accounted Warwick. Grown to this faction, in the Temple-garden, A thousand souls to death and deadly night. Plan. Good Master Vernon, I am bound to you, That you on my behalf would pluck a flower. Ver. In your behalf still will I wear the same. Plan. Thanks, gentle sir.(65) Come, let us four to dinner: I dare say This quarrel will drink blood another day. [Exeunt. |