All the whole army stood agaz'd on him. Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face. Bed. Is Talbot slain? then, I will slay myself, For living idly here in pomp and ease, 3 Mess. O, no! he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. 7 If sir John FASTOLFE-] Mis-spelt Falstaffe in the old copies, but not of course intended for the humorous knight, who figures in "Henry IV." parts i. and ii., and who died in " Henry V." The text relates to the historical sir John Fastolfe, who, as Fuller complains (Worthies, 1662, p. 253), had been misrepresented on the stage, as "a Thrasonical puff," when in fact he was "as valiant as any of his age." However, Hall and Holinshed assert that he was degraded for cowardice, although subsequently, "upon good reason alleged in his defence, restored to his honours." He being in the VAWARD, plac'd behind With purpose to relieve and follow them,] The "vaward" is the advanced body of the army, (see Vol. ii. p. 447,) and this passage has been hitherto thought a contradiction, inasmuch as the "vaward" could not be "behind." But the meaning of Shakespeare seems to be, that what was usually the "vaward" of the army had in this instance purposely been "plac'd behind,” in order to "relieve and follow" the rest. Sir John Fastolfe, perhaps, ordinarily led the "vaward;" but in this case, he and his troops, for some reason, had been placed by Talbot in the rear. This explanation seems to remove a difficulty felt and expressed by most of the commentators. Monck Mason, to reconcile the matter, supposed that the army was attacked in the rear; and observes, "When an army is attacked in the rear, the can becomes the rear in its turn." There seems no occasion for any conjecture of the kind. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay. And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. I do remember it; and here take my leave, Το go about my preparation. [Exit. Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, To view th' artillery and munition; And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit. Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, [Earit. Being ordain'd his special governor; And for his safety there I'll best devise. Win. Each hath his place and function to attend: I am left out; for me nothing remains. But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office: [Exit". Exit.] The stage-direction in modern editions has been "Exit. Scene closes ;" but in the folio, 1623, it is merely "Exit." It may be doubted whether the curtains, separating the audience from the stage, were again drawn together, or whether “the funeral of Henry the Fifth" made its exit, as it had "entered" in the beginning of the scene. SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. Flourish. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens, So in the earth, to this day is not known1o. Late did he shine upon the English side; Now we are victors, upon us he smiles. What towns of any moment but we have? At pleasure here we lie near Orleans; Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bullbeeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, And have their provender tied to their mouths, Reig. Let's raise the siege. Why live we idly here? Char. Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them. Now, for the honour of the forlorn French! Him I forgive my death, that killeth me, When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. [Exeunt. Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat'. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have I!— 10 to this day is not known.] So Nash, (says Steevens,) in one of the prefaces before his "Have with You to Saffron Walden," 1596: "You are as ignorant in the true movings of my muse, as the astronomers are in the true morings of Mars, which to this day they could never attain to." 1 Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat.] The stage-direction in the folio is, "Here Alarum : they are beaten back by the English with great loss.” Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er have fled, Alen. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair-brain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals, or device, Alen. Be it so. Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him. Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer appall❜d : 2 I think, by some odd GIMMALS or device, Their arms are set like clocks-] A" gimmal," or gimmor, as it is spelt in the folio, 1623, is a piece of machinery, which in the text is supposed to strike, like the figures in connexion with clocks, which of old struck the hours. The etymology has been disputed; but possibly it is from the Latin gemellus, and properly signifies a device, composed of double parts corresponding with each other. This is the derivation given by Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Char. Go, call her in. [Exit Bastard.] But first, to Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : Enter LA PUCELLE, Bastard of Orleans, and Others. Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile Where is the Dauphin ?-Come, come from behind; Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd Lo! whilst I waited on my tender lambs, |
