And in fubmiflion will attend on her. Will not your honours bear me company? Bed. No, truly, that is more than manners will; And I have heard it said, unbidden guests. Are often welcomeft when they are gone. Tal. Well then, alone, fince there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, Captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive my mind. Capt. I do, my Lord, and mean accordingly. [Exeunt The Countess of Auvergne's Cafte Enter the Countess, and her Porter. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And when you've done fo, bring the keys to me. Port. Madam, I will. [ExitoCount. The plot is laid. If all things fall out right, I fhall as famous be by this exploit As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour* of this dreadful knight, Fain would mine eyes be witnefs with mine ears, Enter Mellenger and Talbot. Meff Madam, according as your Ladyfhip By meffage crav'd, fo is Lord Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man? Meff. Madam, it is. Count. as mufing.] Is this the fcourge of France? Is this the Talbot fo much fear'd abroad That with his name the mothers ftill their babes? I thought I fhould have seen fome Hercules;. * Reputation. And large proportion of his ftrong-knit limbs. It cannot be, this weak and writhled fhrimp Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you; Count. What means he now? Go ask him, whither he goes. Me. Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my Lady craves To know the caufe of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that fhe's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her Talbot's here. Enter Porter with keys. Gount. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. To me, blood-thirsty Lord; And for that caufe I train'd thee to my houfer But now the fubftance fhall endure the like, Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth fhall turn to moan. Tal. I laugh to fee your Ladyfhip fo fond, To think that you have aught but Talbot's fhadow Whereon to practise your severity. Count. Why, art not thou the man? Tal. I am, indeed. Count. Then have I fubftance too. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself; You are deceiv'd, my fubftance is not here; For what you fee, is but the fmallest part And leaft proportion of humanity. I tell you, Madam, were the whole frame here, It is of fuch a fpacious lofty pitch, Your roof were not fufficient to contain it. Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce, He will be here, and yet he is not here; How can these contrarieties agree? Winds his horn; drums strike up; a peal of ordi· nance. Enter Soldiers. How fay you, Madam? are you now perfuaded These are his fubftance, finews, arms and ftrength, Count. Victorious Talbot, pardon my abuse; I did not entertain thee as thou art, Tal. Be not difmay'd, fair Lady; nor mifconftrue What you have done, hath not offended me, But only with your patience that we may Taste of your wine, and fee what cates you have; For foldiers' ftomachs always ferve them well. Count. With all my heart, and think me honoured To feaft fo great a warrior in my houfe. [Exeunt. SCENE V.. Changes to London, in the Temple Garden. Eater Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, Somerset, Suffolk, and others. Plan. Great Lords and gentlemen, what means this filence? Dare no man answer in a cafe of truth? Suf. Within the Temple-hall we were too loud,» The garden here is more convenient. Plan. Then fay at once if I maintain'd the truth; 3. And was not wrangling Somerset in th' error? Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law; I never yet could frame my will to it, And therefore frame the law unto my will. Som. Judge you, my Lord of Warwick, then be tween us. War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch, Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth, Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance. Som. And on my fide it is fo well apparell'd, So clear, fo fhining, and fo evident, That it will glimmer thro' a blind man's eye. In dumb fignificants proclaim your thoughts. War. I love no colours; and without all colour Of base infinuating flattery, I pluck this white rofe with Plantagenet. Suf I pluck this red rofe with young Somerfet, And fay, withal, I think he held the right. Ver. Stay, Lords and gentlemen, and pluck no more, ill you conclude, that he, upon whose side The feweft roses are crop'd from the tree, Shall yield the other in the right opinion. Som. Good Mafter Vernon, it is well objected; If I have feweft, I fubfcribe in filence. Plan. And I. Ver. Then for the truth and plainnefs of the cafe, I pluck this pale and maiden bloffom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose fide. Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off,. Left, bleeding, you do paint the white rofe red; And fall on my fide fo against your will. Ver. If I, my Lord, for my opinion bleed, Lawyer. Unleis my study and my books be false, The argument you held was wrong in you; [To Somerfet. In fign whereof I pluck a white rose too. Plan. Now, Somerfet, where is your argument? Som. Here in my fcabbard, meditating that Shall dye your white rofe to a bloody red. Plan. Mean time your cheeks do counterfeit our For pale they look with fear, as witnefling [rofes;. The truth on our fide. Som. No, Plantagenet, 'Tis not for fear, but anger, that thy cheeks That fhall maintain what I have faid is true, · Plan. Now by this maiden bloffom in my hand, I fcorn thee and thy fathion *, peevish boy. Suf. Turn not thy fcorns this way, Plantagenet. Plan. Proud Pool, I will; and fcorn both him and thee. Theobald reads, "thy faction;" to which reads ing the author of the Revifal affents. |