King Henry the fifth, too famous to live long! England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command: His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; faces. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Win. He was a king blest of the King of kings. Unto the Frer the dreadful judgment-day His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: tector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, More than God, or religious church-men, may. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thon go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Let's to the altar: Heralds, wait on us: - When at their mothers' moisten'd eyes babes Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, And none but women left to wail the dead. - Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils! Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, Henry's corse? man, before dead Speak softly; or the lofs of those great towns Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. Glo. Is Paris lost? is Roüen yielded up ? If Henry were recall'd to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was us'd? Mess. No treachery; but want of men, and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings; A third thinks, without expence at all, By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Awake, awake, English nobility! Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Of England's coat one half is cut away. Exe, Were our tears wanting to this funeral, These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. Bed, Me they concern; regent, I am France: of Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France. Enter another Messenger. 2. Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad France is revolted from the English quite; The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! O, whither shall we fly from this reproach? Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, ̈ Enter a third Messenger. 3. Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse, I must inform you of a dismal fight, Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't 3. Mess. O, no; wherein lord Talbot was The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, No leisure had he to enrank his men; He wanted pikes to set before his archers; Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges, They pitched in the ground confusedly, Enacted wonders with his sword and lance. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him; Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: Durst not presume to look once in the face. self, 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. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours. Farewel, my masters; to my task will I; |