As looks the mother on her lovely babe (100) Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help! Bur. [aside] Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaim on thee, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny. Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly nation, Call we to mind,—and mark but this for proof,- Bur. [aside] I'm vanquished; these haughty words of hers Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot, And made me almost yield upon my knees.- Puc. Done like a Frenchman,-[Aside] turn, and turn Char. Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh. Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. And doth deserve a coronet of gold. Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers; And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Paris. A room in the palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, EXETER, VERNON, BASSET, &c. To them TALBOT and some of his Officers. Tal. My gracious prince,-and honourable peers, Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have awhile given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaim'd To your obedience fifty fortresses, Twelve cities, and seven wallèd towns of strength, Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet, First to my God, and next unto your grace. [Kneeling. K. Hen. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloster, (101) That hath so long been resident in France? Glo. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege. K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord! I do remember how my father said VOL. V. E And in our coronation take your place. [Flourish. Exeunt all except Vernon and Basset. Ver. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea, Disgracing of these colours that I wear In honour of my noble Lord of York, Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spak'st? Ver. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is. [Strikes him. I may have liberty to venge this wrong; When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost. Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. Paris. A room of state in the palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, EXETER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WINCHESTER, WARWICK, TALBOT, the Governor of Paris, and others. Glo. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head. [Governor kneels. That you elect no other king but him; Malicious practices against his state: This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! [Exeunt Governor and his Train. Enter Sir JOHN FASTOLFE. Fast. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais, To haste unto your coronation, A letter was deliver'd to my hands, Writ to your grace from the Duke of Burgundy. [Presenting it. Tal. Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee! I vow'd, base knight, when I did meet thee next, To tear the garter from thy craven's leg,-102) [Plucks it off. Thou wast installed in that high degree.- (103) When but in all I was six thousand strong, Glo. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, Knights of the Garter were of noble birth, Such as were grown to credit by the wars; Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain That doth presume to boast of gentle blood. K. Hen. Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear'st thy doom! Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight: Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death. [Exit Fastolfe. And now, my lord protector, (105) view the letter Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy. Glo. What means his grace, that he hath chang'd his style? [Viewing the superscription. No more but, plain and bluntly, "To the King"? Hath he forgot he is his sovereign? Or doth this churlish superscription Pretend some alteration in good will ?(106) What's here?-[Reads] "I have, upon especial cause,- Together with the pitiful complaints Of such as your oppression feeds upon,— Forsaken your pernicious faction, And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of France." That in alliance, amity, and oaths, There should be found such false dissembling guile? K. Hen. Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him, And give him chastisement for this abuse. My lord, how say you ?(107) are you not content? Tal. Content, my liege! yes, but that I'm prevented, I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd. K. Hen. Then gather strength, and march unto him. Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason, Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still Enter VERNON and BASSET. Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign! [Exit. |