FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. King Henry the Sixth. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Duke of Gloster, uncle to the king, and protector. Duke of Bedford, uncle to the king, and regent of France. Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, great uncle to Henry Beaufort, great uncle to the king, bishop of || Lord Talbot, afterwards earl of Shrewsbury. Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. Mortimer's keeper, and a lawyer. Sir John Fastolfe. Sir William Lucy. Sir William Glansdale. Sir Thomas Gargrave. Mayor of London. Woodville, lieut. of the Tower. Vernon, of the white rose, or York faction. An old shepherd, father to Joan la Pucelle. ried to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, lords, warders of the Tower, heralds, officers, soldiers, messengers, and several attendants, both on the English and French. Scene, partly in England, and partly in France. ACT I. SCENE I-Westminster Abbey. Dead march. Corpse of King Henry the Fifth discovered, lying in state; attended on by the Dukes of Bedford, Gloster, and Exeter; the Earl of Warwick, the Bishop of Winchester, Heralds, &c. Bedford. HUNG be the heavens with black,1 yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: And death's dishonourable victory We with our ståtely presence glorify, Like captives bound to a triumphant car. What! shall we curse the planets of mishap, (1) Alluding to our ancient stage-practice when a tragedy was to be acted VOL. II. And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, More than God, or religious churchmen, may. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou 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' moist eyes babes shall suck, (2) There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. (3) Nurse was anciently so spelt. A far more glorious star thy soul will make, Than Julius Cæsar, or bright Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Speak softly or the loss of those great towns Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France :Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.--Away with these disgraceful wailing robes! Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, To weep their intermissive miseries.2 Enter another Messenger. No leisure had he to enrank his men; A base Walloon, to win the dauphin's grace, 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, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd. 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. my Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay : 2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, mischance, France is revolted from the English quite; Exe. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forward- An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. My gracious lords,-to add to your Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse, thrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord, Retiring from the siege of Orleans, Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, By three and twenty thousand of the French Was round encompassed and set upon : (1) Her, i. e. England's. Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. sworn; Either to quell the dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave, [Exit. about my preparation. go Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, To view the artillery and munition; Το [Exit. And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Ex. [Exit. Scene closes. SCENE II-France. Before Orleans. Enter Charles, with his forces; Alençon, Reignier, and others. Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens, (2) i. e. Their miscries which have had only a short intermission. |