The Reign of 2King Edward the Third

1.36Robert of Artois, banished though thou be

1.47From France, thy native country, yet with us

1.58Thou shalt retain as great a seigniory,

1.69For we create thee Earl of Richmond here.

1.710And now go forwards with our pedigree,

1.811Who next succeeded Philip le Beau?

Three sons of his, which all successively

1.1013Did sit upon their father's regal throne,

1.1114Yet died and left no issue of their loins.

But was my mother sister unto those?

She was, my lord, and only Isabel

1.1417Was all the daughters that this Philip had,

1.1518Whom afterward your father took to wife;

1.1619And from the fragrant garden of her womb

1.1720Your gracious self, the flower of Europe's hope,

1.1821Derivèd is inheritor to France.

1.1922But note the rancor of rebellious minds:

1.2023When thus the lineage of le Beau was out,

1.2124The French obscured your mother's privilege,

1.2225And though she were the next of blood, proclaimed

1.2326John of the house of Valois now their king.

1.2427The reason was, they say the realm of France,

1.2528Replete with princes of great parentage,

1.2629Ought not admit a governor to rule,

1.2730Except he be descended of the male;

1.2831And that's the special ground of their contempt,

1.2932Wherewith they study to exclude your grace.

But they shall find that forgèd ground of theirs

1.3134To be but dusty heaps of brittle sand.

Perhaps it will be thought a heinous thing

1.3336That I, a Frenchman, should discover this;

1.3437But heaven I call to record of my vows,

1.3538It is not hate nor any private wrong,

1.3639But love unto my country and the right

1.3740Provokes my tongue thus lavish in report.

1.3841You are the lineal watchman of our peace,

1.3942And John of Valois indirectly climbs.

1.4043What then should subjects but embrace their king?

1.4144Ah, wherein may our duty more be seen

1.4245Than striving to rebate a tyrant's pride,

1.4346And place the true shepherd of our commonwealth?

This counsel, Artois, like to fruitful showers,

1.4548Hath added growth unto my dignity;

1.4649And by the fiery vigor of thy words

1.4750Hot courage is engendered in my breast,

1.4851Which heretofore was racked in ignorance,

1.4952But now doth mount with golden wings of fame

1.5053And will approve fair Isabel's descent,

1.5154Able to yoke their stubborn necks with steel

1.5255That spurn against my sovereignty in France.

1.5456A messenger. -- Lord Audley, know from whence.

The Duke of Lorraine, having crossed the seas,

1.5759Entreats he may have conference with your highness.

Admit him, lords, that we may hear the news. --

1.5961Say, Duke of Lorraine, wherefore art thou come?

The most renownèd prince, King John of France,

1.6163Doth greet thee Edward, and by me commands

1.6264That for so much as by his liberal gift

1.6365The Guienne dukedom is entailed to thee,

1.6466Thou do him lowly homage for the same.

1.6567And for that purpose here I summon thee:

1.6668Repair to France within these forty days,

1.6769That there, according as the custom is,

1.6870Thou mayst be sworn true liegeman to our king;

1.6971Or else thy title in that province dies,

1.7072And he himself will repossess the place.

See how occasion laughs me in the face:

1.7274No sooner minded to prepare for France,

1.7375But straight I am invited, nay with threats,

1.7476Upon a penalty enjoined to come!

1.7577'Twere but a childish part to say him nay.

1.7678Lorraine, return this answer to thy lord:

1.7779I mean to visit him as he requests,

1.7880But how? Not servilely disposed to bend,

1.7981But like a conqueror to make him bow;

1.8082His lame unpolished shifts are come to light,

1.8183And truth hath pulled the vizard from his face

1.8284That set a gloss upon his arrogance.

1.8385Dare he command a fealty in me?

1.8486Tell him the crown that he usurps is mine,

1.8587And where he sets his foot he ought to kneel;

1.8688'Tis not a petty dukedom that I claim,

1.8789But all the whole dominions of the realm,

1.8890Which if with grudging he refuse to yield,

1.8991I'll take away those borrowed plumes of his

1.9092And send him naked to the wilderness.

Then, Edward, here in spite of all thy lords,

1.9294I do pronounce defiance to thy face.

Defiance, Frenchman? We rebound it back,

1.9496Even to the bottom of thy master's throat;

1.9597And be it spoke with reverence of the King,

1.9698My gracious father, and these other lords,

1.9799I hold thy message but as scurrilous,

1.98100And him that sent thee like the lazy drone

1.99101Crept up by stealth unto the eagle's nest,

1.100102From whence we'll shake him with so rough a storm

1.101103As others shall be warnèd by his harm.

Bid him leave off the lion's case he wears

1.103105Lest, meeting with the lion in the field,

1.104106He chance to tear him piecemeal for his pride.

The soundest counsel I can give his grace

1.106108Is to surrender ere he be constrained.

1.107109A voluntary mischief hath less scorn

1.108110Than when reproach with violence is born.

Degenerate traitor, viper to the place

1.110112Where thou wast fostered in thine infancy!

1.111113Bearst thou a part in this conspiracy?

[Drawing his sword.] Lorraine, behold the sharpness of this steel:

1.114116Fervent desire that sits against my heart

1.115117Is far more thorny-pricking than this blade,

1.116118That with the nightingale I shall be scarred

1.117119As oft as I dispose myself to rest

1.118120Until my colors be displayed in France.

1.119121This is thy final answer, so be gone.

It is not that, nor any English brave,

1.121123Afflicts me so, as doth his poisoned view:

1.122124That is most false, should most of all be true.

Now, Lord, our fleeting bark is under sail,

1.125126Our gage is thrown and war is soon begun,

1.126127But not so quickly brought unto an end.

1.128129But wherefore comes Sir William Montague?

1.129130How stands the league between the Scot and us?

Cracked and dissevered, my renownèd lord:

1.131132The treacherous king no sooner was informed

1.132133Of your withdrawing of your army back,

1.133134But straight, forgetting of his former oath,

1.134135He made invasion on the bordering towns:

1.135136Berwick is won, Newcastle spoiled and lost,

1.136137And now the tyrant hath begirt with siege

1.137138The castle of Roxborough, where enclosed

1.138139The Countess Salisbury is like to perish.

That is thy daughter, Warwick, is it not?

1.140141Whose husband hath in Brittany served so long

1.141142About the planting of Lord Mountford there?

It is, my lord.

Ignoble David, hast thou none to grieve

1.144145But silly ladies with thy threat'ning arms?

1.145146But I will make you shrink your snaily horns!

1.146147First therefore, Audley, this shall be thy charge:

1.147148Go levy footmen for our wars in France;

1.148149And, Ned, take muster of our men at arms,

1.149150In every shire elect a several band,

1.150151Let them be soldiers of a lusty spirit

1.151152Such as dread nothing but dishonor's blot.

1.153Be wary, therefore, since we do commence

154A famous war and with so mighty a nation.

1.154155Derby, be thou ambassador for us

1.155156Unto our father-in-law, the Earl of Hainault;

1.156157Make him acquainted with our enterprise,

1.157158And likewise will him with our own allies

1.158159That are in Flanders, to solicit too

1.159160The Emperor of Allemagne in our name.

1.160161Myself, whilst you are jointly thus employed,

1.161162Will, with these forces that I have at hand,

1.162163March and once more repulse the traitorous Scot.

1.163164But, sirs, be resolute, we shall have wars

1.164165On every side; and Ned, thou must begin

1.165166Now to forget thy study and thy books,

1.166167And ure thy shoulders to an armor's weight.

As cheerful sounding to my youthful spleen

1.168169This tumult is of war's increasing broils,

1.169170As at the coronation of a king

1.170171The joyful clamors of the people are

1.171172When Ave Caesar they pronounce aloud;

1.172173Within this school of honor I shall learn

1.173174Either to sacrifice my foes to death,

1.174175Or in a rightful quarrel spend my breath.

1.175176Then cheerfully forward each a several way,

1.176177In great affairs 'tis naught to use delay.

Alas, how much in vain my poor eyes gaze

2.3181For succor that my sovereign should send.

2.4182Ah, cousin Montague, I fear thou wants

2.5183The lively spirit sharply to solicit

2.6184With vehement suit the King in my behalf.

2.7185Thou dost not tell him what a grief it is

2.8186To be the scornful captive to a Scot,

2.9187Either to be wooed with broad untunèd oaths,

2.10188Or forced by rough insulting barbarism;

2.11189Thou dost not tell him, if he here prevail,

2.12190How much they will deride us in the North,

2.13191And, in their vile uncivil skipping jigs,

2.14192Bray forth their conquest and our overthrow,

2.15193Even in the barren, bleak and fruitless air.

2.17195I must withdraw: the everlasting foe

2.18196Comes to the wall; I'll closely step aside

2.19197And list their babble, blunt and full of pride.

My lord of Lorraine, to our brother of France

2.21199Commend us, as the man in Christendom

2.22200That we most reverence and entirely love.

2.23201Touching your embassage, return and say

2.24202That we with England will not enter parley,

2.25203Nor never make fair weather or take truce,

2.26204But burn their neighbor towns and so persist

2.27205With eager rods beyond their city York;

2.28206And never shall our bonny riders rest,

2.29207Nor rusting canker have the time to eat

2.30208Their light-borne snaffles, nor their nimble spurs,

2.31209Nor lay aside their jacks of gimmaled mail,

2.32210Nor hang their staves of grainèd Scottish ash

2.33211In peaceful wise upon their city walls,

2.34212Nor from their buttoned tawny leathern belts

2.35213Dismiss their biting whinyards, till your king

2.36214Cry out, 'Enough, spare England now for pity!'

2.37215Farewell, and tell him that you leave us here

2.38216Before this castle; say you came from us

2.39217Even when we had that yielded to our hands.

I take my leave and fairly will return

2.41219Your acceptable greeting to my king.

Now, Douglas, to our former task again,

2.44221For the division of this certain spoil.

My liege, I crave the lady and no more.

Nay, soft ye sir, first I must make my choice,

2.47224And first I do bespeak her for myself.

Why then, my liege, let me enjoy her jewels.

Those are her own, still liable to her,

2.50227And who inherits her hath those with all.

My liege, as we were pricking on the hills

2.53230To fetch in booty, marching hitherward

2.54231We might descry a mighty host of men,

2.55232The sun reflecting on the armor showed

2.56233A field of plate, a wood of picks advanced.

2.57234Bethink your highness speedily herein,

2.58235An easy march within four hours will bring

2.59236The hindmost rank unto this place, my liege.

Dislodge, dislodge, it is the King of England.

Jemmy, my man, saddle my bonny black.

Meanst thou to fight, Douglas? We are too weak.

I know it well, my liege, and therefore fly.

My lords of Scotland, will ye stay and drink?

She mocks at us, Douglas; I cannot endure it.

Say, good my lord, which is he must have the lady,

2.67244And which her jewels? I am sure, my lords,

2.68245Ye will not hence till you have shared the spoils.

She heard the messenger and heard our talk,

2.70247And now that comfort makes her scorn at us.

Arm, my good lord. Oh, we are all surprised!

After the French ambassador, my liege,

2.74251And tell him that you dare not ride to York,

2.75252Excuse it that your bonny horse is lame.

She heard that too, intolerable grief!

2.77254Woman, farewell. Although I do not stay --

'Tis not for fear -- and yet you run away.

2.80256O happy comfort, welcome to our house!

2.81257The confident and boist'rous boasting Scot,

2.82258That swore before my walls they would not back

2.83259For all the armèd power of this land,

2.84260With faceless fear that ever turns his back,

2.85261Turned hence again the blasting north-east wind

2.86262Upon the bare report and name of arms.

2.88264O summer's day, see where my cousin comes!

How fares my aunt? We are not Scots,

2.90266Why do you shut your gates against your friends?

Well may I give a welcome, cousin, to thee,

2.92268For thou com'st well to chase my foes from hence.

The King himself is come in person hither;

2.94270Dear aunt, descend and gratulate his highness.

How may I entertain his majesty,

2.96272To show my duty and his dignity?

What, are the stealing foxes fled and gone

2.100275Before we could uncouple at their heels?

They are, my liege, but with a cheerful cry

2.102277Hot hounds and hardy chase them at the heels.

This is the Countess, Warwick, is it not?

Even she, my liege, whose beauty tyrants' fear,

2.106281As a May blossom with pernicious winds,

2.107282Hath sullied, withered, overcast and done.

Hath she been fairer, Warwick, than she is?

My gracious king, fair is she not at all,

2.110285If that her self were by to stain herself,

2.111286As I have seen her when she was her self.

What strange enchantment lurked in those her eyes

2.113288When they excelled this excellence they have,

2.114289That now her dim decline hath power to draw

2.115290My subject eyes from piercing majesty

2.116291To gaze on her with doting admiration?

In duty lower than the ground I kneel,

2.118293And for my dull knees bow my feeling heart

2.119294To witness my obedience to your highness

2.120295With many millions of a subject's thanks,

2.121296For this your royal presence, whose approach

2.122297Hath driven war and danger from my gate.

Lady, stand up, I come to bring thee peace,

2.124299However thereby I have purchased war.

No war to you, my liege; the Scots are gone,

2.126301And gallop home toward Scotland with their hate.

[Aside(?)] Lest yielding here I pine in shameful love --

2.128303[To them] Come we'll pursue the Scots. Artois, away.

A little while my gracious sovereign stay,

2.130305And let the power of a mighty king

2.131306Honor our roof; my husband in the wars,

2.132307When he shall hear it, will triumph for joy.

2.133308Then, dear my liege, now niggard not thy state,

2.134309Being at the wall, enter our homely gate.

Pardon me, Countess, I will come no near,

2.136311I dreamed tonight of treason and I fear.

Far from this place let ugly treason lie.

[Aside] No farther off than her conspiring eye,

2.139314Which shoots infected poison in my heart

2.140315Beyond repulse of wit or cure of art;

2.141316Now in the sun alone it doth not lie

2.142317With light to take light from a mortal eye,

2.143318For here two day-stars that mine eyes would see

2.144319More than the sun steals mine own light from me;

2.145320Contemplative desire, desire to be

2.146321In contemplation that may master thee. --

2.147322[To them] Warwick, Artois, to horse and let's away.

What might I speak to make my sovereign stay?

[Aside] What needs a tongue to such a speaking eye

2.150325That more persuades then winning oratory?

Let not thy presence, like the April sun,

2.152327Flatter our earth and suddenly be done;

2.153328More happy do not make our outward wall

2.154329Than thou wilt grace our inner house withal.

2.155330Our house, my liege, is like a country swain

2.156331Whose habit rude and manners blunt and plain

2.157332Presageth nought, yet inly beautified

2.158333With bounty's riches and fair hidden pride:

2.159334For where the golden ore doth buried lie,

2.160335The ground undecked with nature's tapestry

2.161336Seems barren, sere, unfertile, fruitless, dry;

2.162337And where the upper turf of earth doth boast

2.163338His pride, perfumes, and particolored cost,

2.164339Delve there, and find this issue and their pride

2.165340To spring from ordure and corruption's side.

2.166341But to make up my all too long compare,

2.167342These ragged walls no testimony are

2.168343What is within, but like a cloak doth hide

2.169344From weather's waste the under-garnished pride;

2.170345More gracious than my terms can let thee be,

2.171346Entreat thyself to stay a while with me.

As wise as fair -- what fond fit can be heard

2.173348When wisdom keeps the gate as beauty's guard. -

2.174349Countess, albeit my business urgeth me,

2.175350It shall attend while I attend on thee.

2.176351Come on, my lords, here will I host tonight.

I might perceive his eye in her eye lost,

3.3353His ear to drink her sweet tongue's utterance,

3.4354And changing passions, like inconstant clouds

3.5355That rack upon the carriage of the winds,

3.6356Increase and die in his disturbèd cheeks.

3.7357Lo, when she blushed, even then did he look pale,

3.8358As if her cheeks by some enchanted power

3.9359Attracted had the cherry blood from his;

3.10360Anon, with reverent fear when she grew pale,

3.11361His cheeks put on their scarlet ornaments,

3.12362But no more like her oriental red

3.13363Than brick to coral, or live things to dead.

3.14364Why did he then thus counterfeit her looks?

3.15365If she did blush, 'twas tender modest shame,

3.16366Being in the sacred presence of a king;

3.17367If he did blush, 'twas red immodest shame

3.18368To vail his eyes amiss being a king;

3.19369If she looked pale, 'twas silly woman's fear

3.20370To bear herself in presence of a king;

3.21371If he looked pale, it was with guilty fear

3.22372To dote amiss being a mighty king.

3.23373Then Scottish wars, farewell; I fear 'twill prove

3.24374A ling'ring English siege of peevish love.

3.25375Here comes his highness walking all alone.

She is grown more fairer far since I came hither,

3.28378Her voice more silver every word than other,

3.29379Her wit more fluent; what a strange discourse

3.30380Unfolded she of David and his Scots!

3.31381'Even thus,' quoth she, 'he spake' -- and then spoke broad,

3.32382With epithets and accents of the Scot,

3.33383But somewhat better than the Scot could speak;

3.34384'And thus quoth she' -- and answered then herself,

3.35385For who could speak like her? But she herself

3.36386Breathes from the wall an angel's note from heaven

3.37387Of sweet defiance to her barbarous foes.

3.38388When she would talk of peace methinks her tongue

3.39389Commanded war to prison; when of war,

3.40390It wakened Caesar from his Roman grave

3.41391To hear war beautified by her discourse.

3.42392Wisdom is foolishness but in her tongue,

3.43393Beauty a slander but in her fair face,

3.44394There is no summer but in her cheerful looks,

3.45395Nor frosty winter but in her disdain.

3.46396I cannot blame the Scots that did besiege her

3.47397For she is all the treasure of our land;

3.48398But call them cowards that they ran away,

3.49399Having so rich and fair a cause to stay. --

3.50400Art thou there, Lod'wick? Give me ink and paper.

I will, my liege.

And bid the lords hold on their play at chess

3.53403For we will walk and meditate alone.

I will, my sovereign.

This fellow is well read in poetry,

3.56406And hath a lusty and persuasive spirit;

3.57407I will acquaint him with my passion,

3.58408Which he shall shadow with a veil of lawn

3.59409Through which the queen of beauty's queen shall see

3.60410Herself the ground of my infirmity.

3.62412Hast thou pen, ink and paper ready, Lodowick?

Ready, my liege.

Then in the summer arbor sit by me,

3.65415Make it our council house or cabinet;

3.66416Since green our thoughts, green be the conventicle

3.67417Where we will ease us by disburd'ning them.

3.68418Now, Lod'wick, invocate some golden muse

3.69419To bring thee hither an enchanted pen

3.70420That may for sighs set down true sighs indeed;

3.71421Talking of grief, to make thee ready groan,

3.72422And when thou writ'st of tears, encouch the word

3.73423Before and after with such sweet laments

3.74424That it may raise drops in a Tartar's eye,

3.75425And make a flint-heart Scythian pitiful --

3.76426For so much moving hath a poet's pen.

3.77427Then if thou be a poet, move thou so,

3.78428And be enrichèd by thy sovereign's love;

3.79429For if the touch of sweet concordant strings

3.80430Could force attendance in the ears of hell,

3.81431How much more shall the strains of poets' wit

3.82432Beguile and ravish soft and humane minds?

To whom, my lord, shall I direct my style?

To one that shames the fair and sots the wise;

3.85435Whose body is an abstract or a brief,

3.86436Contains each general virtue in the world.

3.87437Better than beautiful thou must begin,

3.88438Devise for fair a fairer word than fair,

3.89439And every ornament that thou wouldst praise

3.90440Fly it a pitch above the soar of praise.

3.91441For flattery fear thou not to be convicted,

3.92442For were thy admiration ten times more,

3.93443Ten times ten thousand more the worth exceeds

3.94444Of that thou art to praise thy praise's worth.

3.95445Begin -- I will to contemplate the while.

3.96446Forget not to set down how passionate,

3.97447How heart-sick and how full of languishment

3.98448Her beauty makes me.

Her beauty makes me. Write I to a woman?

What beauty else could triumph on me,

3.100451Or who but women do our love-lays greet?

3.101452What, thinkst thou I did bid thee praise a horse?

Of what condition or estate she is

3.103454'Twere requisite that I should know, my lord.

Of such estate, that hers is as a throne,

3.105456And my estate the footstool where she treads;

3.106457Then mayst thou judge what her condition is

3.107458By the proportion of her mightiness.

3.108459Write on, while I peruse her in my thoughts. --

3.109460Her voice to music or the nightingale?

3.110461To music every summer-leaping swain

3.111462Compares his sunburnt lover when she speaks;

3.112463And why should I speak of the nightingale?

3.113464The nightingale sings of adulterate wrong,

3.114465And that, compared, is too satirical,

3.115466For sin, though sin, would not be so esteemed,

3.116467But rather virtue sin, sin virtue deemed.

3.117468Her hair far softer than the silkworm's twist,

3.118469Like to a flattering glass doth make more fair

3.119470The yellow amber -- 'like a flattering glass'

3.120471Comes in too soon; for writing of her eyes,

3.121472I'll say that like a glass they catch the sun,

3.122473And thence the hot reflection doth rebound

3.123474Against my breast and burns my heart within.

3.124475Ah, what a world of descant makes my soul

3.125476Upon this voluntary ground of love!

3.126477Come, Lod'wick, hast thou turned thy ink to gold?

3.127478If not, write but in letters capital

3.128479My mistress' name and it will gild thy paper;

Read, lord, read,

3.129480Fill thou the empty hollows of mine ears

3.130481With the sweet hearing of thy poetry.

I have not to a period brought her praise.

Her praise is as my love, both infinite,

3.133484Which apprehend such violent extremes

3.134485That they disdain an ending period.

3.135486Her beauty hath no match but my affection,

3.136487Hers more than most, mine most, and more than more,

3.137488Hers more to praise than tell the sea by drops,

3.138489Nay, more than drop, the massy earth by sands,

3.139490And sand by sand, print them in memory;

3.140491Then wherefore talkst thou of a period

3.141492To that which craves unended admiration?

3.142493Read, let us hear.

'More fair and chaste than is the queen of shades' --

That line hath two faults, gross and palpable:

3.145496Compar'st thou her to the pale queen of night,

3.146497Who being set in dark seems therefore light?

3.147498What is she, when the sun lifts up his head,

3.148499But like a fading taper, dim and dead?

3.149500My love shall brave the eye of heaven at noon,

3.150501And, being unmasked, outshine the golden sun.

What is the other fault, my sovereign lord?

Read o'er the line again.

Read o'er the line again. 'More fair and chaste' --

I did not bid thee talk of chastity

3.154506To ransack so the treasure of her mind,

3.155507For I had rather have her chased than chaste.

3.156508Out with the moon line, I will none of it,

3.157509And let me have her likened to the sun:

3.158510Say she hath thrice more splendor than the sun,

3.159511That her perfections emulates the sun,

3.160512That she breeds sweets as plenteous as the sun,

3.161513That she doth thaw cold winter like the sun,

3.162514That she doth cheer fresh summer like the sun,

3.163515That she doth dazzle gazers like the sun,

3.164516And in this application to the sun

3.165517Bid her be free and general as the sun,

3.166518Who smiles upon the basest weed that grows

3.167519As lovingly as on the fragrant rose.

3.168520Let's see what follows that same moonlight line.

'More fair and chaste than is the queen of shades,

3.170522More bold in constancy' --

In constancy than who?

In constancy than who? 'Than Judith was.'

Oh, monstrous line! Put in the next a sword

3.173526And I shall woo her to cut off my head!

3.174527Blot, blot, good Lod'wick; let us hear the next.

There's all that yet is done.

I thank thee then thou hast done little ill,

3.177530But what is done is passing passing ill.

3.178531No, let the captain talk of boist'rous war,

3.179532The prisoner of immurèd dark constraint,

3.180533The sick man best sets down the pangs of death,

3.181534The man that starves the sweetness of a feast,

3.182535The frozen soul the benefit of fire,

3.183536And every grief his happy opposite;

3.184537Love cannot sound well but in lovers' tongues.

3.185538Give me the pen and paper, I will write.

3.187540But soft, here comes the treasurer of my spirit --

3.188541Lod'wick, thou knowst not how to draw a battle:

3.189542These wings, these flankers, and these squadrons

3.190543Argue in thee defective discipline;

3.191544Thou shouldst have placed this here, this other here.

Pardon my boldness, my thrice gracious lords,

3.193546Let my intrusion here be called my duty

3.194547That comes to see my sovereign how he fares.

Go, draw the same, I tell thee in what form.

I go.

Sorry I am to see my liege so sad;

3.199551What may thy subject do to drive from thee

3.200552Thy gloomy consort, sullen melancholy?

Ah, lady, I am blunt and cannot strew

3.202554The flowers of solace in a ground of shame;

3.203555Since I came hither, Countess, I am wronged.

Now God forbid that any in my house

3.205557Should think my sovereign wrong! Thrice gentle king,

3.206558Acquaint me with your cause of discontent.

How near then shall I be to remedy?

As near, my liege, as all my woman's power

3.209561Can pawn itself to buy thy remedy.

If thou speakst true, then have I my redress;

3.211563Engage thy power to redeem my joys,

3.212564And I am joyful, Countess, else I die.

I will, my liege.

I will, my liege. Swear, Countess, that thou wilt.

By heaven, I will.

Then take thyself a little way aside,

3.216569And tell thyself a king doth dote on thee,

3.217570Say that within thy power doth lie

3.218571To make him happy, and that thou hast sworn

3.219572To give him all the joy within thy power;

3.220573Do this and tell me when I shall be happy.

All this is done, my thrice dread sovereign:

3.222575That power of love that I have power to give

3.223576Thou hast with all devout obedience;

3.224577Employ me how thou wilt in proof thereof.

Thou hearst me say that I do dote on thee.

If on my beauty, take it if thou canst;

3.227580Though little, I do prize it ten times less.

3.228581If on my virtue, take it if thou canst;

3.229582For virtue's store by giving doth augment.

3.230583Be it on what it will that I can give,

3.231584And thou canst take away, inherit it.

It is thy beauty that I would enjoy.

Oh, were it painted I would wipe it off

3.234587And dispossess myself to give it thee;

3.235588But sovereign, it is soldered to my life,

3.236589Take one and both, for like an humble shadow

3.237590It haunts the sunshine of my summer's life.

But thou mayst leave it me to sport withal.

As easy may my intellectual soul

3.240593Be lent away and yet my body live,

3.241594As lend my body, palace to my soul,

3.242595Away from her and yet retain my soul.

3.243596My body is her bower, her court, her abbey,

3.244597And she an angel pure, divine, unspotted;

3.245598If I should leave her house, my lord, to thee,

3.246599I kill my poor soul and my poor soul me.

Didst thou not swear to give me what I would?

I did, my liege, so what you would, I could.

I wish no more of thee than thou mayst give,

3.250603Nor beg I do not but I rather buy --

3.251604That is, thy love, and for that love of thine

3.252605In rich exchange I tender to thee mine.

But that your lips were sacred, my lord,

3.254607You would prophane the holy name of love;

3.255608That love you offer me you cannot give,

3.256609For Caesar owes that tribute to his queen;

3.257610That love you beg of me I cannot give,

3.258611For Sarah owes that duty to her lord.

3.259612He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp

3.260613Shall die, my lord; and will your sacred self

3.261614Commit high treason against the king of heaven

3.262615To stamp his image in forbidden metal,

3.263616Forgetting your allegiance and your oath?

3.264617In violating marriage sacred law

3.265618You break a greater honor than yourself;

3.266619To be a king is of a younger house

3.267620Than to be married; your progenitor,

3.268621Sole reigning Adam on the universe,

3.269622By God was honored for a married man,

3.270623But not by him anointed for a king.

3.271624It is a penalty to break your statutes,

3.272625Though not enacted with your highness' hand;

3.273626How much more to infringe the holy act

3.274627Made by the mouth of God, sealed with His hand?

3.275628I know my sovereign in my husband's love,

3.276629Who now doth loyal service in his wars,

3.277630Doth but to try the wife of Salisbury,

3.278631Whether she will hear a wanton's tale or no;

3.279632Lest being therein guilty by my stay,

3.280633From that, not from my liege, I turn away.

Whether is her beauty by her words divine,

3.283635Or are her words sweet chaplains to her beauty?

3.284636Like as the wind doth beautify a sail,

3.285637And as a sail becomes the unseen wind,

3.286638So do her words her beauty, beauty words.

3.287639Oh, that I were a honey-gathering bee

3.288640To bear the comb of virtue from this flower,

3.289641And not a poison-sucking envious spider

3.290642To turn the juice I take to deadly venom.

3.291643Religion is austere and beauty gentle,

3.292644Too strict a guardian for so fair a ward.

3.293645Oh, that she were as is the air to me!

3.294646Why so she is, for when I would embrace her,

3.295647This do I, and catch nothing but myself;

3.296648I must enjoy her, for I cannot beat

3.297649With reason and reproof fond love away.

3.299651Here comes her father; I will work with him

3.300652To bear my colors in this field of love.

How is it that my sovereign is so sad?

3.302654May I with pardon know your highness' grief?

3.303655And that my old endeavor will remove it,

3.304656It shall not cumber long your majesty.

A kind and voluntary gift thou profferest,

3.306658That I was forward to have begged of thee.

3.307659But, O thou world, great nurse of flattery,

3.308660Why dost thou tip men's tongues with golden words

3.309661And peise their deeds with weight of heavy lead,

3.310662That fair performance cannot follow promise?

3.311663Oh, that a man might hold the heart's close book,

3.312664And choke the lavish tongue when it doth utter

3.313665The breath of falsehood not charactered there!

Far be it from the honor of my age

3.315667That I should owe bright gold and render lead;

3.316668Age is a cynic, not a flatterer.

3.317669I say again, that if I knew your grief

3.318670And that by me it may be lessenèd,

3.319671My proper harm should buy your highness' good.

These are the vulgar tenders of false men

3.321673That never pay the duty of their words.

3.322674Thou wilt not stick to swear what thou hast said,

3.323675But when thou knowest my grief's condition,

3.324676This rash disgorgèd vomit of thy word

3.325677Thou wilt eat up again and leave me helpless.

By heaven, I will not, though your majesty

3.327679Did bid me run upon your sword and die.

Say that my grief is no way medicinable

3.329681But by the loss and bruising of thine honor.

If nothing but that loss may vantage you,

3.331683I would account that loss my vantage too.

Thinkst that thou canst answer thy oath again?

I cannot, nor I would not if I could.

But if thou dost, what shall I say to thee?

What may be said to any perjured villain

3.336688That breaks the sacred warrant of an oath.

What wilt thou say to one that breaks an oath?

That he hath broke his faith with God and man,

3.339691And from them both stands excommunicate.

What office were it to suggest a man

3.341693To break a lawful and religious vow?

An office for the devil not for man.

That devil's office must thou do for me,

3.344696Or break thy oath or cancel all the bonds

3.345697Of love and duty 'twixt thyself and me.

3.346698And therefore, Warwick, if thou art thyself,

3.347699The lord and master of thy word and oath,

3.348700Go to thy daughter and in my behalf

3.349701Command her, woo her, win her any ways

3.350702To be my mistress and my secret love.

3.351703I will not stand to hear thee make reply --

3.352704Thy oath break hers or let thy sovereign die.

O doting king, O detestable office!

3.355706Well may I tempt myself to wrong myself

3.356707When he hath sworn me by the name of God

3.357708To break a vow made by the name of God.

3.358709What if I swear by this right hand of mine

3.359710To cut this right hand off? The better way

3.360711Were to prophane the idol than confound it.

3.361712But neither will I do; I'll keep mine oath,

3.362713And to my daughter make a recantation

3.363714Of all the virtue I have preached to her.

3.364715I'll say she must forget her husband Salisbury,

3.365716If she remember to embrace the King;

3.366717I'll say an oath may easily be broken,

3.367718But not so easily pardoned being broken;

3.368719I'll say it is true charity to love,

3.369720But not true love to be so charitable;

3.370721I'll say his greatness may bear out the shame,

3.371722But not his kingdom can buy out the sin;

3.372723I'll say it is my duty to persuade,

3.373724But not her honesty to give consent.

3.375726See where she comes; was never father had,

3.376727Against his child, an embassage so bad.

My lord and father, I have sought for you;

3.378729My mother and the peers importune you

3.379730To keep in presence of his majesty,

3.380731And do your best to make his highness merry.

[Aside] How shall I enter in this graceless errand?

3.382733I must not call her child, for where's the father

3.383734That will in such a suit seduce his child?

3.384735Then 'wife of Salisbury,' shall I so begin?

3.385736No, he's my friend, and where is found the friend

3.386737That will do friendship such endamagement? --

3.387738[To Countess] Neither my daughter, nor my dear friend's wife,

3.388739I am not Warwick as thou thinkst I am,

3.389740But an attorney from the court of hell,

3.390741That thus have housed my spirit in his form

3.391742To do a message to thee from the King:

3.392743The mighty King of England dotes on thee.

3.393744He that hath power to take away thy life,

3.394745Hath power to take thine honor, then consent

3.395746To pawn thine honor rather than thy life;

3.396747Honor is often lost and got again,

3.397748But life once gone hath no recovery.

3.398749The sun that withers hay doth nourish grass;

3.399750The King that would distain thee, will advance thee.

3.400751The poets write that great Achilles' spear

3.401752Could heal the wound it made: the moral is,

3.402753What mighty men misdo, they can amend.

3.403754The lion doth become his bloody jaws,

3.404755And grace his foragement by being mild

3.405756When vassal fear lies trembling at his feet;

3.406757The King will in his glory hide thy shame,

3.407758And those that gaze on him to find out thee

3.408759Will lose their eyesight looking in the sun.

3.409760What can one drop of poison harm the sea,

3.410761Whose hugy vastures can digest the ill

3.411762And make it lose his operation?

3.412763The King's great name will temper thy misdeeds,

3.413764And give the bitter potion of reproach

3.414765A sugared, sweet, and most delicious taste.

3.415766Besides it is no harm to do the thing

3.416767Which without shame could not be left undone.

3.417768Thus have I, in his majesty's behalf,

3.418769Apparelled sin in virtuous sentences,

3.419770And dwell upon thy answer in his suit.

Unnatural besiege! Woe me unhappy

3.421772To have escaped the danger of my foes

3.422773And to be ten times worse envired by friends!

3.423774Hath he no means to stain my honest blood,

3.424775But to corrupt the author of my blood

3.425776To be his scandalous and vile solicitor?

3.426777No marvel though the branches be then infected,

3.427778When poison hath encompassèd the root;

3.428779No marvel though the leprous infant die,

3.429780When the stern dame envenometh the dug.

3.430781Why then give sin a passport to offend

3.431782And youth the dangerous reign of liberty;

3.432783Blot out the strict forbidding of the law,

3.433784And cancel every canon that prescribes

3.434785A shame for shame, or penance for offence.

3.435786No, let me die, if his too boist'rous will

3.436787Will have it so, before I will consent

3.437788To be an actor in his graceless lust.

Why now thou speakst as I would have thee speak,

3.439790And mark how I unsay my words again:

3.440791An honorable grave is more esteemed

3.441792Than the polluted closet of a king.

3.442793The greater man, the greater is the thing,

3.443794Be it good or bad, that he shall undertake:

3.444795An unreputed mote, flying in the sun,

3.445796Presents a greater substance than it is;

3.446797The freshest summer's day doth soonest taint

3.447798The loathèd carrion that it seems to kiss;

3.448799Deep are the blows made with a mighty axe;

3.449800That sin doth ten times aggravate itself

3.450801That is committed in a holy place;

3.451802An evil deed done by authority

3.452803Is sin and subornation; deck an ape

3.453804In tissue, and the beauty of the robe

3.454805Adds but the greater scorn unto the beast.

3.455806A spacious field of reasons could I urge

3.456807Between his glory, daughter, and thy shame:

3.457808That poison shows worst in a golden cup,

3.458809Dark night seems darker by the lightning flash,

3.459810Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds,

3.460811And every glory that inclines to sin

3.461812The shame is treble, by the opposite.

3.462813So leave I with my blessing in thy bosom,

3.463814Which then convert to a most heavy curse

3.464815When thou convertst from honor's golden name

3.465816To the black faction of bed-blotting shame.

I'll follow thee, and when my mind turns so,

3.467818My body sink my soul in endless woe.

Thrice noble Audley, well encountered here.

4.3822How is it with our sovereign and his peers?

'Tis full a fortnight since I saw his highness,

4.5824What time he sent me forth to muster men,

4.6825Which I accordingly have done and bring them hither

4.7826In fair array before his majesty.

4.8827What news, my lord of Derby, from the emperor?

As good as we desire: the emperor

4.10829Hath yielded to his highness' friendly aid,

4.11830And makes our king lieutenant-general

4.12831In all his lands and large dominions.

4.13832Then via for the spacious bounds of France!

What, doth his highness leap to hear this news?

I have not yet found time to open them.

4.16835The King is in his closet malcontent,

4.17836For what, I know not, but he gave in charge

4.18837Till after dinner none should interrupt him.

4.19838The Countess Salisbury and her father Warwick,

4.20839Artois, and all, look underneath the brows.

Undoubtedly then something is amiss.

The trumpets sound -- the King is now abroad.

Here comes his highness.

Befall my sovereign all my sovereign's wish.

Ah, that thou wert a witch to make it so.

The emperor greeteth you.

Would it were the Countess.

And hath accorded to your highness' suit.

Thou liest, she hath not, but I would she had.

All love and duty to my lord the king.

Well, all but one is none -- what news with you?

I have, my liege, levied those horse and foot

4.35853According as your charge, and brought them hither.

Then let those foot trudge hence upon those horse,

4.37855According to our discharge and be gone. --

4.38856Derby, I'll look upon the Countess' mind anon.

The Countess' mind, my liege?

I mean the emperor -- leave me alone.

What's in his mind?

What's in his mind? Let's leave him to his humor.

Thus from the heart's abundance speaks the tongue:

4.44862'Countess' for 'emperor', and indeed why not?

4.45863She is as imperator over me, and I to her

4.46864Am as a kneeling vassal that observes

4.47865The pleasure or displeasure of her eye.

4.49867What says the more than Cleopatra's match

4.50868To Caesar now?

To Caesar now? That yet my liege ere night,

4.51870She will resolve your majesty.

What drum is this that thunders forth this march

4.54872To start the tender Cupid in my bosom?

4.55873Poor sheepskin, how it brawls with him that beateth it.

4.56874Go break the thund'ring parchment bottom out,

4.57875And I will teach it to conduct sweet lines

4.58876Unto the bosom of a heavenly nymph,

4.59877For I will use it as my writing paper,

4.60878And so reduce him from a scolding drum

4.61879To be the herald and dear counsel-bearer

4.62880Betwixt a goddess and a mighty king.

4.63881Go bid the drummer learn to touch the lute

4.64882Or hang him in the braces of his drum,

4.65883For now we think it an uncivil thing

4.66884To trouble heaven with such harsh resounds. Away. --

4.68885The quarrel that I have requires no arms

4.69886But these of mine, and these shall meet my foe

4.70887In a deep march of penetrable groans;

4.71888My eyes shall be my arrows, and my sighs

4.72889Shall serve me as the vantage of the wind

4.73890To whirl away my sweetest artillery.

4.74891Ah, but alas, she wins the sun of me,

4.75892For that is she herself, and thence it comes

4.76893That poets' term the wanton warrior blind.

4.77894But love hath eyes as judgement to his steps,

4.78895Till too much lovèd glory dazzles them. --

4.79896How now?

My liege, the drum that stroke the lusty march

4.82899Stands with Prince Edward, your thrice valiant son.

[Aside] I see the boy. Oh, how his mother's face

4.86902Modelled in his, corrects my strayed desire,

4.87903And rates my heart and chides my thievish eye,

4.88904Who being rich enough in seeing her

4.89905Yet seeks elsewhere, and basest theft is that

4.90906Which cannot cloak itself on poverty.

4.91907[To Prince Edward] Now boy, what news?

I have assembled, my dear lord and father,

4.93909The choicest buds of all our English blood

4.94910For our affairs to France, and here we come

4.95911To take direction from your majesty.

[Aside] Still do I see in him delineate

4.97913His mother's visage; those his eyes are hers,

4.98914Who looking wistly on me make me blush

4.99915For faults against themselves give evidence;

4.100916Lust is a fire, and men like lanthorns show

4.101917Light lust within themselves, even through themselves.

4.102918Away loose silks of wavering vanity!

4.103919Shall the large limit of fair Brittany

4.104920By me be overthrown, and shall I not

4.105921Master this little mansion of myself?

4.106922Give me an armor of eternal steel,

4.107923I go to conquer kings, and shall I not then

4.108924Subdue myself and be my enemies' friend?

4.109925It must not be. [To Prince Edward] Come boy, forward, advance.

4.110926Let's with our colors sweet the air of France.

My liege, the Countess, with a smiling cheer

4.113929Desires access unto your majesty.

[Aside] Why there it goes; that very smile of hers

4.115931Hath ransomed captive France and set the King,

4.116932The Dauphin and the peers at liberty. --

4.117933[To Prince Edward] Go, leave me Ned, and revel with thy friends.

4.119934Thy mother is but black, and thou like her

4.120935Dost put it in my mind how foul she is. --

4.121936Go fetch the Countess hither in thy hand,

4.123937And let her chase away these winter clouds,

4.124938For she gives beauty both to heaven and earth.

4.125939The sin is more to hack and hew poor men

4.126940Than to embrace in an unlawful bed

4.127941The register of all rarities

4.128942Since leathern Adam till this youngest hour.

4.130944Go Lod'wick, put thy hand into thy purse,

4.131945Play, spend, give, riot, waste, do what thou wilt,

4.132946So thou wilt hence a while and leave me here.

4.134947Now, my soul's playfellow, art thou come

4.135948To speak the more than heavenly word of 'yea'

4.136949To my objection in thy beauteous love?

My father on his blessing hath commanded --

That thou shalt yield to me.

Ay, dear my liege, your due.

And that, my dearest love, can be no less

4.141954Than right for right, and render love for love.

Than wrong for wrong, and endless hate for hate.

4.143956But sith I see your majesty so bent,

4.144957That my unwillingness, my husband's love,

4.145958Your high estate, nor no respect respected

4.146959Can be my help, but that your mightiness

4.147960Will overbear and awe these dear regards,

4.148961I bind my discontent to my content,

4.149962And what I would not, I'll compel I will,

4.150963Provided that yourself remove those lets

4.151964That stand between your highness' love and mine.

Name them, fair Countess, and by heaven, I will.

It is their lives that stand between our love

4.154967That I would have choked up, my sovereign.

Whose lives, my lady?

Whose lives, my lady? My thrice loving liege,

4.156970Your queen, and Salisbury, my wedded husband,

4.157971Who living have that title in our love

4.158972That we cannot bestow but by their death.

Thy opposition is beyond our law.

So is your desire. If the law

4.161975Can hinder you to execute the one,

4.162976Let it forbid you to attempt the other.

4.163977I cannot think you love me as you say

4.164978Unless you do make good what you have sworn.

No more: thy husband and the queen shall die.

4.166980Fairer thou art by far than Hero was,

4.167981Beardless Leander not so strong as I;

4.168982He swum an easy current for his love,

4.169983But I will through a Hellespont of blood

4.170984To arrive at Sestos where my Hero lies.

Nay, you'll do more, you'll make the river too

4.172986With their heart bloods that keep our love asunder,

4.173987Of which my husband and your wife are twain.

Thy beauty makes them guilty of their death,

4.175989And gives in evidence that they shall die,

4.176990Upon which verdict I, their judge, condemn them.

O perjured beauty, more corrupted judge!

4.178992When to the great Star Chamber o'er our heads

4.179993The universal sessions calls to 'count

4.180994This packing evil, we both shall tremble for it.

What says my fair love? Is she resolute?

Resolute to be dissolved, and therefore this:

4.183997Keep but thy word, great king, and I am thine.

4.184998Stand where thou dost, I'll part a little from thee,

4.185999And see how I will yield me to thy hands.

4.1861000Here by my side doth hang my wedding knives:

4.1871001Take thou the one, and with it kill thy queen,

4.1881002And learn by me to find her where she lies;

4.1891003And with this other, I'll dispatch my love,

4.1901004Which now lies fast asleep within my heart;

4.1911005When they are gone, then I'll consent to love.

4.1921006Stir not, lascivious king, to hinder me.

4.1931007My resolution is more nimbler far

4.1941008Than thy prevention can be in my rescue,

4.1951009And if thou stir, I strike; therefore stand still,

4.1961010And hear the choice that I will put thee to:

4.1971011Either swear to leave thy most unholy suit

4.1981012And never henceforth to solicit me,

4.1991013Or else, by heaven, this sharp-pointed knife

4.2001014Shall stain thy earth with that which thou wouldst stain,

4.2011015My poor chaste blood. Swear, Edward, swear,

4.2021016Or I will strike and die before thee here.

Even by that power I swear, that gives me now

4.2041018The power to be ashamèd of myself;

4.2051019I never mean to part my lips again

4.2061020In any words that tends to such a suit.

4.2071021Arise, true English lady, whom our isle

4.2081022May better boast of than ever Roman might

4.2091023Of her whose ransacked treasury hath tasked

4.2101024The vain endeavor of so many pens.

4.2111025Arise and be my fault thy honor's fame,

4.2121026Which after ages shall enrich thee with.

4.2131027I am awakèd from this idle dream. --

4.2141028Warwick, my son, Derby, Artois and Audley,

4.2151029Brave warriors all, where are you all this while?

4.2171031Warwick, I make thee Warden of the North;

4.2181032Thou, Prince of Wales, and Audley, straight to sea,

4.2191033Scour to Newhaven -- some there stay for me.

4.2201034Myself, Artois and Derby will through Flanders

4.2211035To greet our friends there and to crave their aid.

4.2221036This night will scarce suffice me to discover

4.2231037My folly's siege against a faithful lover,

4.2241038For ere the sun shall gild the eastern sky

4.2251039We'll wake him with our martial harmony.

5.31045Here, till our navy of a thousand sail

5.41046Have made a breakfast to our foe by sea,

5.51047Let us encamp to wait their happy speed.

5.61048Lorraine, what readiness is Edward in?

5.71049How hast thou heard that he provided is

5.81050Of martial furniture for this exploit?

To lay aside unnecessary soothing,

5.101052And not to spend the time in circumstance,

5.111053'Tis bruited for a certainty, my lord,

5.121054That he's exceeding strongly fortified;

5.131055His subjects flock as willingly to war

5.141056As if unto a triumph they were led.

England was wont to harbor malcontents,

5.161058Bloodthirsty and seditious Catilines,

5.171059Spendthrifts, and such as gape for nothing else

5.181060But changing and alteration of the state.

5.191061And is it possible 1062 that they are now

5.20So loyal in themselves?

All but the Scot, who solemnly protests,

5.221064As heretofore I have informed his grace,

5.231065Never to sheathe his sword or take a truce.

Ah, that's the anch'rage of some better hope.

5.251067But, on the other side, to think what friends

5.261068King Edward hath retained in Netherland

5.271069Among those ever-bibbing epicures --

5.281070Those frothy Dutchmen puffed with double beer,

5.291071That drink and swill in every place they come --

5.301072Doth not a little aggravate mine ire;

5.311073Besides we hear the emperor conjoins

5.321074And stalls him in his own authority.

5.331075But all the mightier that their number is,

5.341076The greater glory reaps the victory.

5.351077Some friends have we beside domestic power:

5.361078The stern Polonian, and the warlike Dane,

5.371079The King of Bohemia, and of Sicily

5.381080Are all become confederates with us,

5.391081And, as I think, are marching hither apace.

5.411082But soft, I hear the music of their drums,

5.421083By which I guess that their approach is near.

5.451088King John of France, as league and neighborhood

5.461089Requires when friends are any way distressed,

5.471090I come to aid thee with my country's force.

And from great Moscow, fearful to the Turk,

5.491092And lofty Poland, nurse of hardy men,

5.501093I bring these servitors to fight for thee,

5.511094Who willingly will venture in thy cause.

Welcome Bohemian King, and welcome all.

5.531096This your great kindness I will not forget;

5.541097Besides your plentiful rewards in crowns

5.551098That from our treasury ye shall receive,

5.561099There comes a hare-brained nation decked in pride,

5.571100The spoil of whom will be a treble gain.

5.581101And now my hope is full, my joy complete.

5.591102At sea we are as puissant as the force

5.601103Of Agamemnon in the haven of Troy;

5.611104By land, with Xerxes we compare of strength,

5.621105Whose soldiers drank up rivers in their thirst.

5.631106Then Bayard-like, blind, overweening Ned,

5.641107To reach at our imperial diadem

5.651108Is either to be swallowed of the waves

5.661109Or hacked a-pieces when thou com'st ashore.

Near to the coast I have descried, my lord,

5.691112As I was busy in my watchful charge,

5.701113The proud armada of King Edward's ships,

5.711114Which, at the first far off when I did ken,

5.721115Seemed as it were a grove of withered pines.

5.731116But, drawing near, their glorious bright aspect,

5.741117Their streaming ensigns wrought of colored silk,

5.751118Like to a meadow full of sundry flowers

5.761119Adorns the naked bosom of the earth;

5.771120Majestical the order of their course,

5.781121Figuring the hornèd circle of the moon;

5.791122And on the top gallant of the admiral,

5.801123And likewise all the handmaids of his train,

5.811124The arms of England and of France unite

5.821125Are quartered equally by herald's art.

5.831126Thus titely carried with a merry gale,

5.841127They plough the ocean hitherward amain.

Dare he already crop the fleur-de-lis?

5.861129I hope the honey being gathered thence,

5.871130He with the spider afterward approached,

5.881131Shall suck forth deadly venom from the leaves.

5.891132But where's our navy? How are they prepared

5.901133To wing themselves against this flight of ravens?

They, having knowledge brought them by the scouts,

5.921135Did break from anchor straight and, puffed with rage

5.931136No otherwise than were their sails with wind,

5.941137Made forth, as when the empty eagle flies

5.951138To satisfy his hungry griping maw.

There's for thy news, return unto thy bark;

5.971140And if thou scape the bloody stroke of war

5.981141And do survive the conflict, come again,

5.991142And let us hear the manner of the fight.

5.1011143Mean space, my lords, 'tis best we be dispersed

5.1021144To several places lest they chance to land.

5.1031145First you, my lord, with your Bohemian troops

5.1041146Shall pitch your battles on the lower hand;

5.1051147My eldest son, the Duke of Normandy,

5.1061148Together with this aid of Muscovites,

5.1071149Shall climb the higher ground another way;

5.1081150Here in the middle coast betwixt you both,

5.1091151Philip, my youngest boy, and I will lodge.

5.1101152So, lords, begone, and look unto your charge;

5.1111153You stand for France, an empire fair and large.

5.1131154Now tell me, Philip, what is thy conceit

5.1141155Touching the challenge that the English make?

I say, my lord, claim Edward what he can,

5.1161157And bring he ne'er so plain a pedigree,

5.1171158'Tis you are in possession of the crown,

5.1181159And that's the surest point of all the law.

5.1191160But were it not, yet ere he should prevail,

5.1201161I'll make a conduit of my dearest blood

5.1211162Or chase those straggling upstarts home again.

Well said, young Philip. Call for bread and wine,

5.1231164That we may cheer our stomachs with repast

5.1241165To look our foes more sternly in the face.

5.1261166Now is begun the heavy day at sea.

5.1271167Fight, Frenchmen, fight; be like the field of bears

5.1281168When they defend their younglings in their caves.

5.1291169Steer, angry Nemesis, the happy helm

5.1301170That with the sulphur battles of your rage

5.1311171The English fleet may be dispersed and sunk.

O father, how this echoing cannon shot,

5.1341173Like sweet harmony, digests my cates.

Now, boy, thou hearst what thund'ring terror 'tis

5.1361175To buckle for a kingdom's sovereignty.

5.1371176The earth with giddy trembling when it shakes,

5.1381177Or when the exhalations of the air

5.1391178Breaks in extremity of lightning flash,

5.1401179Affrights not more than kings when they dispose

5.1411180To show the rancor of their high-swoll'n hearts.

5.1431181Retreat is sounded; one side hath the worse.

5.1441182Oh, if it be the French, sweet Fortune turn,

5.1451183And in thy turning change the froward winds,

5.1461184That with advantage of a favoring sky

5.1471185Our men may vanquish and th'other fly.

5.1491187My heart misgives -- say, mirror of pale death,

5.1501188To whom belongs the honor of this day?

5.1511189Relate, I pray thee, if thy breath will serve,

5.1521190The sad discourse of this discomfiture.

I will, my lord.

5.1541192My gracious sovereign, France hath ta'en the foil,

5.1551193And boasting Edward triumphs with success.

5.1561194These iron-hearted navies,

5.1571195When last I was reporter to your grace,

5.1581196Both full of angry spleen, of hope and fear,

5.1591197Hasting to meet each other in the face,

5.1601198At last conjoined, and by their admiral,

5.1611199Our admiral encountered many shot.

5.1621200By this, the other, that beheld these twain

5.1631201Give earnest penny of a further wrack,

5.1641202Like fiery dragons took their haughty flight,

5.1651203And, likewise meeting, from their smoky wombs

5.1661204Sent many grim ambassadors of death.

5.1671205Then 'gan the day to turn to gloomy night,

5.1681206And darkness did as well enclose the quick

5.1691207As those that were but newly reft of life.

5.1701208No leisure served for friends to bid farewell,

5.1711209And if it had, the hideous noise was such

5.1721210As each to other seemèd deaf and dumb;

5.1731211Purple the sea, whose channel filled as fast

5.1741212With streaming gore that from the maimèd fell,

5.1751213As did her gushing moisture break into

5.1761214The crannied cleftures of the through-shot planks.

5.1771215Here flew a head dissevered from the trunk,

5.1781216There mangled arms and legs were tossed aloft,

5.1791217As when a whirlwind takes the summer dust

5.1801218And scatters it in middle of the air.

5.1811219Then might ye see the reeling vessels split,

5.1821220And tottering sink into the ruthless flood

5.1831221Until their lofty tops were seen no more.

5.1841222All shifts were tried both for defence and hurt,

5.1851223And now the effect of valor and of force,

5.1861224Of resolution and of cowardice,

5.1871225Were lively pictured; how the one for fame,

5.1881226The other by compulsion laid about.

5.1891227Much did the Nompareille, that brave ship,

5.1901228So did the black snake of Boulogne, than which

5.1911229A bonnier vessel never yet spread sail.

5.1921230But all in vain: both sun, the wind and tide

5.1931231Revolted all unto our foemen's side,

5.1941232That we perforce were fain to give them way,

5.1951233And they are landed. Thus my tale is done:

5.1961234We have untimely lost, and they have won.

Then rests there nothing but with present speed

5.1981236To join our several forces all in one

5.1991237And bid them battle ere they range too far.

5.2001238Come, gentle Philip, let us hence depart,

5.2011239This soldier's words have pierced thy father's heart.

Well met, my masters. How now, what's the news?

6.31243And wherefore are ye laden thus with stuff?

6.41244What, is it quarter day that you remove,

6.51245And carry bag and baggage too?

Quarter day, ay, and quartering day I fear.

6.71247Have ye not heard the news that flies abroad?

What news?

How the French navy is destroyed at sea,

6.101250And that the English army is arrived.

What then?

What then, quoth you? Why is't not time to fly,

6.131253When envy and destruction is so nigh?

Content thee, man; they are far enough from hence,

6.151255And will be met, I warrant ye, to their cost

6.161256Before they break so far into the realm.

Ay, so the grasshopper doth spend the time

6.181258In mirthful jollity till winter come,

6.191259And then too late he would redeem his time

6.201260When frozen cold hath nipped his careless head;

6.211261He that no sooner will provide a cloak

6.221262Than when he sees it doth begin to rain,

6.231263May peradventure, for his negligence,

6.241264Be throughly washed when he suspects it not.

6.251265We that have charge and such a train as this

6.261266Must look in time to look for them and us,

6.271267Lest when we would, we cannot be relieved.

Belike you then despair of ill success,

6.291269And think your country will be subjugate.

We cannot tell; 'tis good to fear the worst.

Yet rather fight than, like unnatural sons,

6.321272Forsake your loving parents in distress.

Tush, they that have already taken arms

6.341274Are many fearful millions in respect

6.351275Of that small handful of our enemies.

6.361276But 'tis a rightful quarrel must prevail:

6.371277Edward is son unto our late king's sister,

6.381278Where John Valois is three degrees removed.

Besides, there goes a prophecy abroad,

6.401280Published by one that was a friar once,

6.411281Whose oracles have many times proved true,

6.421282And now, he says, the time will shortly come

6.431283Whenas a lion rousèd in the west

6.441284Shall carry hence the fleur-de-lis of France.

6.451285These I can tell ye, and such like surmises

6.461286Strike many Frenchmen cold unto the heart.

Fly, countrymen and citizens of France!

6.491289Sweet flow'ring peace, the root of happy life,

6.501290Is quite abandoned and expulsed the land,

6.511291Instead of whom, ransack-constraining war

6.521292Sits like to ravens upon your houses' tops.

6.531293Slaughter and mischief walk within your streets

6.541294And unrestrained make havoc as they pass,

6.551295The form whereof even now myself beheld,

6.561296Upon this fair mountain whence I came:

6.571297For so far off as I directed mine eyes,

6.581298I might perceive five cities all on fire,

6.591299Cornfields and vineyards burning like an oven;

6.601300And as the leaking vapor in the wind

6.611301Turned but aside I likewise might discern

6.621302The poor inhabitants, escaped the flame,

6.631303Fall numberless upon the soldiers' pikes.

6.641304Three ways these dreadful ministers of wrath

6.651305Do tread the measures of their tragic march:

6.661306Upon the right hand comes the conquering king,

6.671307Upon the left his hot unbridled son,

6.681308And in the midst their nation's glittering host;

6.691309All which, though distant, yet conspire in one

6.701310To leave a desolation where they come.

6.711311Fly, therefore, citizens. If you be wise,

6.721312Seek out some habitation further off;

6.731313Here if you stay, your wives will be abused,

6.741314Your treasure shared before your weeping eyes.

6.751315Shelter yourselves for now the storm doth rise.

6.761316Away, away! Methinks I hear their drums.

6.771317Ah, wretched France, I greatly fear thy fall,

6.781318Thy glory shaketh like a tottering wall.

Where's the Frenchman by whose cunning guide

7.31322We found the shallow of this River Somme,

7.41323And had direction how to pass the sea?

Here, my good lord.

How art thou called? Tell me thy name.

Gobin de Grace, if please your excellence.

Then, Gobin, for the service thou hast done,

7.91328We here enlarge and give thee liberty;

7.101329And, for recompense beside this good,

7.111330Thou shalt receive five hundred marks in gold. --

7.121331I know not how we should have met our son,

7.131332Whom now in heart I wish I might behold.

Good news, my lord: the prince is hard at hand,

7.161335And with him comes Lord Audley and the rest,

7.171336Whom since our landing we could never meet.

Welcome, fair prince; how hast thou sped, my son,

7.201339Since thy arrival on the coast of France?

Successfully, I thank the gracious heavens.

7.221341Some of their strongest cities we have won,

7.231342As Barfleur, Lô, Crotoy and Carentan,

7.241343And others wasted, leaving at our heels

7.251344A wide apparent field and beaten path

7.261345For solitariness to progress in.

7.271346Yet those that would submit we kindly pardoned,

7.281347For who in scorn refused our proffered peace

7.291348Endured the penalty of sharp revenge.

Ah France, why shouldst thou be this obstinate

7.311350Against the kind embracement of thy friends?

7.321351How gently had we thought to touch thy breast

7.331352And set our foot upon thy tender mould,

7.341353But that in froward and disdainful pride

7.351354Thou, like a skittish and untamèd colt,

7.361355Dost start aside and strike us with thy heels.

7.371356But tell me Ned, in all thy warlike course,

7.381357Hast thou not seen the usurping King of France?

Yes, my good lord, and not two hours ago,

7.401359With full a hundred thousand fighting men

7.411360Upon the one side of the river's bank,

7.421361And on the other, both his multitudes.

7.431362I feared he would have cropped our smaller power,

7.441363But happily, perceiving your approach,

7.451364He hath withdrawn himself to Crécy plains,

7.461365Where, as it seemeth by his good array,

7.471366He means to bid us battle presently.

He shall be welcome -- that's the thing we crave.

Edward, know that John, the true King of France,

7.511371Musing thou shouldst encroach upon his land

7.521372And in thy tyrannous proceeding slay

7.531373His faithful subjects and subvert his towns,

7.541374Spits in thy face, and in this manner following

7.551375Upbraids thee with thine arrogant intrusion.

7.561376First, I condemn thee for a fugitive,

7.571377A thievish pirate, and a needy mate --

7.581378One that hath either no abiding place,

7.591379Or else, inhabiting some barren soil

7.601380Where neither herb or fruitful grain is had,

7.611381Dost altogether live by pilfering.

7.621382Next, insomuch thou hast infringed thy faith,

7.631383Broke league and solemn covenant made with me,

7.641384I hold thee for a false pernicious wretch.

7.651385And last of all, although I scorn to cope

7.661386With one so much inferior to myself,

7.671387Yet in respect thy thirst is all for gold,

7.681388Thy labor rather to be feared than loved,

7.691389To satisfy thy lust in either part

7.701390Here am I come, and with me have I brought

7.711391Exceeding store of treasure, pearl and coin.

7.721392Leave therefore now to persecute the weak,

7.731393And armèd ent'ring conflict with the armed,

7.741394Let it be seen 'mongst other petty thefts

7.751395How thou canst win this pillage manfully.

If gall or wormwood have a pleasant taste,

7.771397Then is thy salutation honey-sweet;

7.781398But as the one hath no such property,

7.791399So is the other most satirical.

7.801400Yet wot how I regard thy worthless taunts:

7.811401If thou have uttered them to foil my fame

7.821402Or dim the reputation of my birth,

7.831403Know that thy wolvish barking cannot hurt;

7.841404If slyly to insinuate with the world,

7.851405And with a strumpet's artificial line

7.861406To paint thy vicious and deformèd cause,

7.871407Be well assured the counterfeit will fade,

7.881408And in the end thy foul defects be seen.

7.891409But if thou didst it to provoke me on,

7.901410As who should say I were but timorous

7.911411Or, coldly negligent, did need a spur,

7.921412Bethink thyself how slack I was at sea.

7.931413Now since my landing I have won no towns,

7.941414Entered no further but upon the coast,

7.951415And there have ever since securely slept;

7.961416But if I have been otherwise employed,

7.971417Imagine, Valois, whether I intend

7.981418To skirmish not for pillage, but for the crown

7.991419Which thou dost wear, and that I vow to have,

7.1001420Or one of us shall fall into his grave.

Look not for cross invectives at our hands

7.1021422Or railing execrations of despite.

7.1031423Let creeping serpents hid in hollow banks

7.1041424Sting with their tongues; we have remorseless swords,

7.1051425And they shall plead for us and our affairs.

7.1061426Yet, thus much briefly, by my father's leave:

7.1071427As all the immodest poison of thy throat

7.1081428Is scandalous and most notorious lies,

7.1091429And our pretended quarrel is truly just,

7.1101430So end the battle when we meet today --

7.1111431May either of us prosper and prevail,

7.1121432Or luckless cursed, receive eternal shame.

That needs no further question, and I know

7.1141434His conscience witnesseth it is my right.

7.1151435Therefore Valois, say, wilt thou yet resign

7.1161436Before the sickle's thrust into the corn,

7.1171437Or that enkindled fury turn to flame?

Edward, I know what right thou hast in France,

7.1191439And, ere I basely will resign my crown,

7.1201440This champion field shall be a pool of blood

7.1211441And all our prospect as a slaughterhouse.

Ay, that approves thee, tyrant, what thou art:

7.1231443No father, king, or shepherd of thy realm,

7.1241444But one that tears her entrails with thy hands,

7.1251445And like a thirsty tiger suckst her blood.

You peers of France, why do you follow him

7.1271447That is so prodigal to spend your lives?

Whom should they follow, agèd impotent,

7.1291449But he that is their true-born sovereign?

Upbraidst thou him, because within his face

7.1311451Time hath engraved deep characters of age?

7.1321452Know that these grave scholars of experience,

7.1331453Like stiff-grown oaks, will stand immovable

7.1341454When whirlwind quickly turns up younger trees.

Was ever any of thy father's house

7.136King, 1456but thyself, before this present time?

7.1371457Edward's great lineage, by the mother's side,

7.1381458Five hundred years hath held the sceptre up;

7.1391459Judge then, conspirators, by this descent

7.1401460Which is the true-born sovereign, this or that.

Father, range your battles, prate no more;

7.1421462These English fain would spend the time in words

7.1431463That, night approaching, they might escape unfought.

Lords and my loving subjects, now's the time

7.1451465That your intended force must bide the touch.

7.1461466Therefore, my friends, consider this in brief:

7.1471467He that you fight for is your natural king,

7.1481468He against whom you fight a foreigner;

7.1491469He that you fight for rules in clemency

7.1501470And reins you with a mild and gentle bit,

7.1511471He against whom you fight, if he prevail

7.1521472Will straight enthrone himself in tyranny,

7.1531473Make slaves of you, and with a heavy hand

7.1541474Curtail and curb your sweetest liberty.

7.1551475Then to protect your country and your king,

7.1561476Let but the haughty courage of your hearts

7.1571477Answer the number of your able hands,

7.1581478And we shall quickly chase these fugitives.

7.1591479For what's this Edward but a belly-god,

7.1601480A tender and lascivious wantonness,

7.1611481That th'other day was almost dead for love?

7.1621482And what, I pray you, is his goodly guard?

7.1631483Such as, but scant them of their chines of beef

7.1641484And take away their downy featherbeds,

7.1651485And presently they are as resty-stiff

7.1661486As 'twere a many overridden jades.

7.1671487Then, Frenchmen, scorn that such should be your lords,

7.1681488And rather bind ye them in captive bands.

Vive le roi! God save King John of France!

Now on this plain of Crécy spread yourselves,

7.1711491And, Edward, when thou dar'st, begin the fight.

We presently will meet thee, John of France.

7.1741493And, English lords, let us resolve the day,

7.1751494Either to clear us of that scandalous crime,

7.1761495Or be entombèd in our innocence.

7.1771496And, Ned, because this battle is the first

7.1781497That ever yet thou fought'st in pitchèd field,

7.1791498As ancient custom is of martialists

7.1801499To dub thee with the type of chivalry,

7.1811500In solemn manner we will give thee arms.

7.1821501Come therefore, heralds: orderly bring forth

7.1831502A strong attirement for the Prince, my son.

7.1851505Edward Plantagenet, in the name of God,

7.1861506As with this armor I impall thy breast,

7.1871507So be thy noble unrelenting heart

7.1881508Walled in with flint of matchless fortitude,

7.1891509That never base affections enter there.

7.1901510Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com'st.

7.1911511Now follow, lords, and do him honor too.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,

7.1931513As I do set this helmet on thy head,

7.1941514Wherewith the chamber of this brain is fenced,

7.1951515So may thy temples with Bellona's hand

7.1961516Be still adorned with laurel victory.

7.1971517Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com'st.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,

7.1991519Receive this lance into thy manly hand,

7.2001520Use it in fashion of a brazen pen

7.2011521To draw forth bloody stratagems in France

7.2021522And print thy valiant deeds in honor's book.

7.2031523Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com'st.

Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,

7.2051525Hold, take this target, wear it on thy arm

7.2061526And may the view thereof, like Perseus' shield,

7.2071527Astonish and transform thy gazing foes

7.2081528To senseless images of meager death.

7.2091529Fight and be valiant, conquer where thou com'st.

Now wants there naught but knighthood, which deferred

7.2111531We leave till thou hast won it in the field.

My gracious father and ye forward peers,

7.2131533This honor you have done me animates

7.2141534And cheers my green, yet scarce appearing, strength

7.2151535With comfortable good-presaging signs,

7.2161536No otherwise than did old Jacob's words,

7.2171537Whenas he breathed his blessings on his sons.

7.2181538These hallowed gifts of yours when I prophane,

7.2191539Or use them not to glory of my God,

7.2201540To patronage the fatherless and poor,

7.2211541Or for the benefit of England's peace,

7.2221542Be numb my joints, wax feeble both mine arms,

7.2231543Wither my heart that, like a sapless tree,

7.2241544I may remain the map of infamy.

Then thus our steelèd battles shall be ranged:

7.2261546The leading of the vaward, Ned, is thine,

7.2271547To dignify whose lusty spirit the more

7.2281548We temper it with Audley's gravity,

7.2291549That, courage and experience joined in one,

7.2301550Your manage may be second unto none.

7.2311551For the main battles, I will guide myself,

7.2321552And Derby in the rearward march behind.

7.2331553That orderly disposed and set in 'ray,

7.2341554Let us to horse and God grant us the day.

Oh, Lorraine, say, what mean our men to fly?

8.31559Our number is far greater than our foes.

The garrison of Genoese, my lord,

8.51561That came from Paris, weary with their march,

8.61562Grudging to be suddenly employed,

8.71563No sooner in the forefront took their place

8.81564But straight retiring so dismayed the rest,

8.91565As likewise they betook themselves to flight;

8.101566In which, for haste to make a safe escape,

8.111567More in the clustering throng are pressed to death

8.121568Than by the enemy, a thousandfold.

O hapless fortune! Let us yet assay

8.141570If we can counsel some of them to stay.

Lord Audley, whiles our son is in the chase,

8.181573Withdraw our powers unto this little hill,

8.191574And here a season let us breathe ourselves.

I will, my lord.

Just-dooming heaven, whose secret providence

8.241577To our gross judgement is inscrutable,

8.251578How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works

8.261579That hast this day given way unto the right,

8.271580And made the wicked stumble at themselves.

Rescue, King Edward, rescue for thy son!

Rescue, Artois? What, is he prisoner?

8.311584Or by violence fell beside his horse?

Neither, my lord, but narrowly beset

8.331586With turning Frenchmen whom he did pursue,

8.341587As 'tis impossible that he should scape

8.351588Except your highness presently descend.

Tut, let him fight; we gave him arms today,

8.371590And he is laboring for a knighthood, man.

The Prince, my lord, the Prince! Oh, succor him!

8.401593He's close encompassed with a world of odds.

Then will he win a world of honor too,

8.421595If he by valor can redeem him thence;

8.431596If not, what remedy? We have more sons

8.441597Than one to comfort our declining age.

Renownèd Edward, give me leave, I pray,

8.471600To lead my soldiers where I may relieve

8.481601Your grace's son, in danger to be slain.

8.491602The snares of French, like emmets on a bank,

8.501603Muster about him whilst he, lion-like,

8.511604Entangled in the net of their assaults,

8.521605Franticly rends and bites the woven toil;

8.531606But all in vain, he cannot free himself.

Audley, content; I will not have a man,

8.551608On pain of death, sent forth to succor him.

8.561609This is the day, ordained by destiny,

8.571610To season his courage with those grievous thoughts,

8.581611That, if he breaketh out, Nestor's years on earth

8.591612Will make him savor still of this exploit.

Ah, but he shall not live to see those days.

Why then his epitaph is lasting praise.

Yet, good my lord, 'tis too much willfulness

8.631616To let his blood be spilt that may be saved.

Exclaim no more, for none of you can tell

8.651618Whether a borrowed aid will serve or no.

8.661619Perhaps he is already slain or ta'en;

8.671620And dare a falcon when she's in her flight,

8.681621And ever after she'll be haggard-like.

8.691622Let Edward be delivered by our hands

8.701623And still in danger he'll expect the like;

8.711624But if himself, himself redeem from thence,

8.721625He will have vanquished, cheerful, death and fear,

8.731626And ever after dread their force no more

8.741627Than if they were but babes or captive slaves.

O cruel father! Farewell Edward, then.

Farewell, sweet prince, the hope of chivalry.

Oh, would my life might ransom him from death.

But soft, methinks I hear

8.801632The dismal charge of trumpets' loud retreat.

8.811633All are not slain, I hope, that went with him,

8.821634Some will return with tidings, good or bad.

Oh, joyful sight -- victorious Edward lives!

Welcome, brave prince.

Welcome, brave prince. Welcome, Plantagenet.

First, having done my duty as beseemed,

8.881642Lords, I regreet you all with hearty thanks.

8.891643And now, behold, after my winter's toil,

8.901644My painful voyage on the boist'rous sea

8.911645Of war's devouring gulfs and steely rocks,

8.921646I bring my fraught unto the wishèd port,

8.931647My summer's hope, my travel's sweet reward.

8.941648And here with humble duty I present

8.951649This sacrifice, this first fruit of my sword,

8.961650Cropped and cut down even at the gate of death:

8.971651The King of Boheme, father, whom I slew,

8.981652Whose thousands had entrenched me round about,

8.991653And lay as thick upon my battered crest

8.1001654As on an anvil with their ponderous glaives.

8.1011655Yet marble courage still did underprop,

8.1021656And when my weary arms with often blows,

8.1031657Like the continual laboring woodman's axe

8.1041658That is enjoined to fell a load of oaks,

8.1051659Began to falter, straight I would recover

8.1061660My gifts you gave me and my zealous vow,

8.1071661And then new courage made me fresh again;

8.1081662That, in despite, I carved my passage forth

8.1091663And put the multitude to speedy flight.

8.1111664Lo, thus hath Edward's hand filled your request

8.1121665And done, I hope, the duty of a knight.

Ay, well thou hast deserved a knighthood, Ned.

8.1141667And therefore with thy sword, yet reeking warm

8.1151668With blood of those that fought to be thy bane,

8.1161669Arise, Prince Edward, trusty knight at arms.

8.1171670This day thou hast confounded me with joy

8.1181671And proved thyself fit heir unto a king.

Here is a note, my gracious lord, of those

8.1201673That in this conflict of our foes were slain:

8.1211674Eleven princes of esteem, fourscore barons,

8.1221675A hundred and twenty knights, and thirty thousand

8.1231676Common soldiers; and of our men, a thousand.

Our God be praised! Now, John of France, I hope

8.1251678Thou knowst King Edward for no wantonness,

8.1261679No love-sick cockney, nor his soldiers' jades.

8.1271680But which way is the fearful king escaped?

Towards Poitiers, noble father -- and his sons.

Ned, thou and Audley shall pursue them still,

8.1301683Myself and Derby will to Calais straight,

8.1311684And there begirt that haven town with siege.

8.1321685Now lies it on an upshot, therefore strike,

8.1331686And wistly follow whiles the game's on foot.

8.1341687What picture's this?

What picture's this? A pelican, my lord,

8.1351689Wounding her bosom with her crookèd beak,

8.1361690That so her nest of young ones might be fed

8.1371691With drops of blood that issue from her heart.

8.1381692The motto, Sic et vos: 'And so should you.'

My lord of Salisbury, since by your aid

9.31696Mine enemy, Sir Charles of Blois, is slain

9.41697And I again am quietly possessed

9.51698In Brittany's dukedom, know that I resolve,

9.61699For this kind furtherance of your king and you,

9.71700To swear allegiance to his majesty.

9.81701In sign whereof receive this coronet;

9.91702Bear it unto him, and withal mine oath

9.101703Never to be but Edward's faithful friend.

I take it, Mountford; thus I hope ere long

9.121705The whole dominions of the realm of France

9.131706Will be surrendered to his conquering hand.

9.151707Now, if I knew but safely how to pass,

9.161708I would at Calais gladly meet his grace,

9.171709Whither I am by letters certified

9.181710That he intends to have his host removed.

9.191711It shall be so, this policy will serve. --

9.201712Ho, who's within? Bring Villiers to me.

9.221714Villiers, thou knowst thou art my prisoner,

9.231715And that I might for ransom, if I would,

9.241716Require of thee a hundred thousand francs,

9.251717Or else retain and keep thee captive still.

9.261718But so it is, that for a smaller charge,

9.271719Thou mayst be quit and if thou wilt thyself.

9.281720And this it is: procure me but a passport

9.291721Of Charles the Duke of Normandy, that I,

9.301722Without restraint, may have recourse to Calais

9.311723Through all the countries where he hath to do --

9.321724Which thou mayst easily obtain, I think,

9.331725By reason I have often heard thee say

9.341726He and thou were students once together.

9.351727And then thou shalt be set at liberty.

9.361728How sayst thou? Wilt thou undertake to do it?

I will, my lord, but I must speak with him.

Why, so thou shalt. Take horse and post from hence.

9.391731Only, before thou go'st, swear by thy faith

9.401732That if thou canst not compass my desire

9.411733Thou wilt return my prisoner back again,

9.421734And that shall be sufficient warrant for me.

To that condition I agree, my lord,

9.441736And will unfeignedly perform the same.

Farewell, Villiers.

9.471738Thus once I mean to try a Frenchman's faith.

Since they refuse our proffered league, my lord,

10.31741And will not ope their gates and let us in,

10.41742We will entrench ourselves on every side

10.51743That neither victuals nor supply of men

10.61744May come to succor this accursèd town;

10.71745Famine shall combat where our swords are stopped.

The promised aid that made them stand aloof

10.101748Is now retired and gone another way;

10.111749It will repent them of their stubborn will. --

10.121750But what are these poor ragged slaves, my lord?

Ask what they are; it seems they come from 1752Calais.

You wretched patterns of despair and woe,

10.151754What are you, living men or gliding ghosts,

10.161755Crept from your graves to walk upon the earth?

No ghosts, my lord, but men that breathe a life

10.181757Far worse than is the quiet sleep of death.

10.191758We are distressèd poor inhabitants

10.201759That long have been diseasèd, sick and lame,

10.211760And now because we are not fit to serve,

10.221761The captain of the town hath thrust us forth

10.231762That so expense of victuals may be saved.

A charitable deed no doubt, and worthy praise!

10.251764But how do you imagine then to speed?

10.261765We are your enemies in such a case;

10.271766We can no less but put ye to the sword,

10.281767Since when we proffered truce, it was refused.

And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe,

10.301769As welcome death is unto us as life.

Poor silly men, much wronged and more distressed.

10.321771Go, Derby, go, and see they be relieved;

10.331772Command that victuals be appointed them

10.341773And give to every one five crowns a-piece.

10.361774The lion scorns to touch the yielding prey,

10.371775And Edward's sword must fresh itself in such

10.381776As wilful stubbornness hath made perverse.

10.401778Lord Percy, welcome. What's the news in England?

The Queen, my lord, comes here to your grace,

10.421780And from her highness and the lord vicegerent

10.431781I bring this happy tidings of success:

10.441782David of Scotland, lately up in arms,

10.451783Thinking belike he soonest should prevail,

10.461784Your highness being absent from the realm,

10.471785Is by the fruitful service of your peers --

10.481786And painful travail of the Queen herself

10.491787That, big with child, was every day in arms --

10.501788Vanquished, subdued, and taken prisoner.

Thanks, Percy, for thy news with all my heart.

10.521790What was he took him prisoner in the field?

A squire, my lord; John Copland is his name,

10.541792Who since entreated by her majesty,

10.551793Denies to make surrender of his prize

10.561794To any but unto your grace alone,

10.571795Whereat the Queen is grievously displeased.

Well then we'll have a pursuivant dispatched

10.591797To summon Copland hither out of hand,

10.601798And with him he shall bring his prisoner king.

The Queen's, my lord, herself by this at sea,

10.621800And purposeth as soon as wind will serve

10.631801To land at Calais, and to visit you.

She shall be welcome, and to wait her coming

10.651803I'll pitch my tent near to the sandy shore.

The burgesses of Calais, mighty king,

10.681806Have by a counsel willingly decreed

10.691807To yield the town and castle to your hands,

10.701808Upon condition it will please your grace

10.711809To grant them benefit of life and goods.

They will so? Then belike they may command,

10.731811Dispose, elect, and govern as they list.

10.741812No, sirrah, tell them since they did refuse

10.751813Our princely clemency at first proclaimed,

10.761814They shall not have it now although they would.

10.771815I will accept of naught but fire and sword,

10.781816Except, within these two days, six of them

10.791817That are the wealthiest merchants in the town

10.801818Come naked all but for their linen shirts,

10.811819With each a halter hanged about his neck,

10.821820And prostrate yield themselves upon their knees

10.831821To be afflicted, hanged, or what I please.

10.841822And so you may inform their masterships.

Why, this it is to trust a broken staff.

10.871824Had we not been persuaded John our king

10.881825Would with his army have relieved the town,

10.891826We had not stood upon defiance so.

10.901827But now 'tis past that no man can recall,

10.911828And better some do go to wrack than all.

I wonder, Villiers, thou shouldst importune me

11.31831For one that is our deadly enemy.

Not for his sake, my gracious lord, so much

11.51833Am I become an earnest advocate,

11.61834As that thereby my ransom will be quit.

Thy ransom, man? Why needst thou talk of that?

11.81836Art thou not free? And are not all occasions

11.91837That happen for advantage of our foes

11.101838To be accepted of, and stood upon?

No, good my lord, except the same be just;

11.121840For profit must with honor be commixed,

11.131841Or else our actions are but scandalous.

11.141842But letting pass these intricate objections,

11.151843Will't please your highness to subscribe or no?

Villiers, I will not nor I cannot do it.

11.171845Salisbury shall not have his will so much

11.181846To claim a passport how it pleaseth himself.

Why then I know the extremity, my lord:

11.201848I must return to prison whence I came.

Return! I hope thou wilt not.

11.221850What bird that hath escaped the fowler's gin

11.231851Will not beware how she's ensnared again?

11.241852Or what is he so senseless and secure

11.251853That, having hardly passed a dangerous gulf,

11.261854Will put himself in peril there again?

Ah, but it is mine oath, my gracious lord,

11.281856Which I in conscience may not violate,

11.291857Or else a kingdom should not draw me hence.

Thine oath! Why that doth bind thee to abide.

11.311859Hast thou not sworn obedience to thy prince?

In all things that uprightly he commands.

11.331861But either to persuade or threaten me

11.341862Not to perform the covenant of my word

11.351863Is lawless, and I need not to obey.

Why, is it lawful for a man to kill,

11.371865And not to break a promise with his foe?

To kill, my lord, when war is once proclaimed,

11.391867So that our quarrel be for wrongs received,

11.401868No doubt is lawfully permitted us;

11.411869But in an oath we must be well advised

11.421870How we do swear, and, when we once have sworn,

11.431871Not to infringe it though we die therefor.

11.441872Therefore, my lord, as willing I return

11.451873As if I were to fly to paradise.

Stay, my Villiers, thine honorable mind

11.471875Deserves to be eternally admired;

11.481876Thy suit shall be no longer thus deferred --

11.491877Give me the paper; I'll subscribe to it,

11.501878And wheretofore I loved thee as Villiers,

11.511879Hereafter I'll embrace thee as myself.

11.521880Stay, and be still in favor with thy lord.

I humbly thank your grace; I must dispatch

11.541882And send this passport first unto the earl,

11.551883And then I will attend your highness' pleasure.

Do so, Villiers; and, Charles, when he hath need,

11.571885Be such his soldiers, howsoever he speed.

Come, Charles, and arm thee: Edward is entrapped.

11.611888The Prince of Wales is fall'n into our hands,

11.621889And we have compassed him -- he cannot scape.

But will your highness fight today?

What else, my son? He's scarce eight thousand strong

11.651892And we are threescore thousand at the least.

I have a prophecy, my gracious lord,

11.671894Wherein is written what success is like

11.681895To happen us in this outrageous war.

11.691896It was delivered me at Crécy's field

11.701897By one that is an aged hermit there:

11.711898[Reads] 'When feathered fowl shall make thine army tremble,

11.721899And flintstones rise and break the battle 'ray,

11.731900Then think on him that doth not now dissemble,

11.741901For that shall be the hapless dreadful day;

11.751902Yet in the end thy foot thou shalt advance,

11.761903As far in England as thy foe in France.'

By this it seems we shall be fortunate.

11.781905For as it is impossible that stones

11.791906Should ever rise and break the battle 'ray,

11.801907Or airy fowl make men in arms to quake,

11.811908So is it like we shall not be subdued.

11.821909Or say this might be true, yet in the end,

11.831910Since he doth promise we shall drive him hence

11.841911And forage their country as they have done ours,

11.851912By this revenge that loss will seem the less.

11.861913But all are frivolous fancies, toys and dreams;

11.871914Once we are sure we have ensnared the son,

11.881915Catch we the father after how we can.

Audley, the arms of death embrace us round,

12.31918And comfort have we none save that to die

12.41919We pay sour earnest for a sweeter life.

12.51920At Crécy field our clouds of warlike smoke

12.61921Choked up those French mouths and dissevered them,

12.71922But now their multitudes of millions hide,

12.81923Masking as 'twere the beauteous burning sun,

12.91924Leaving no hope to us but sullen dark

12.101925And eyeless terror of all-ending night.

This sudden, mighty, and expedient head

12.121927That they have made, fair Prince, is wonderful.

12.131928Before us in the valley lies the King,

12.141929Vantaged with all that heaven and earth can yield,

12.151930His party stronger battled than our whole.

12.161931His son, the braving Duke of Normandy,

12.171932Hath trimmed the mountain on our right hand up

12.181933In shining plate, that now the aspiring hill

12.191934Shows like a silver quarry, or an orb

12.201935Aloft the which the banners, bannerets,

12.211936And new-replenished pendants cuff the air

12.221937And beat the winds, that for their gaudiness

12.231938Struggles to kiss them. On our left hand lies

12.241939Philip, the younger issue of the King,

12.251940Coting the other hill in such array

12.261941That all his gilded upright pikes do seem

12.271942Straight trees of gold; the pendants, leaves,

12.281943And their device of antique heraldry,

12.291944Quartered in colors seeming sundry fruits,

12.301945Makes it the orchard of the Hesperides.

12.311946Behind us too the hill doth bear his height,

12.321947For like a half-moon opening but one way,

12.331948It rounds us in -- there at our backs are lodged

12.341949The fatal crossbows, and the battle there

12.351950Is governed by the rough Chatillon.

12.361951Then thus it stands: the valley for our flight

12.371952The King binds in, the hills on either hand

12.381953Are proudly royalizèd by his sons,

12.391954And on the hill behind stands certain death

12.401955In pay and service with Chatillon.

Death's name is much more mighty than his deeds;

12.421957Thy parcelling this power hath made it more.

12.431958As many sands as these my hands can hold

12.441959Are but my handful of so many sands;

12.451960Then, all the world, and call it but a power,

12.461961Easily ta'en up and quickly thrown away.

12.471962But if I stand to count them sand by sand,

12.481963The number would confound my memory

12.491964And make a thousand millions of a task

12.501965Which briefly is no more indeed than one.

12.511966These quarters, squadrons, and these regiments,

12.521967Before, behind us, and on either hand,

12.531968Are but a power. When we name a man,

12.541969His hand, his foot, his head hath several strengths,

12.551970And being all but one self instant strength.

12.561971Why, all this many, Audley, is but one,

12.571972And we can call it all but one man's strength.

12.581973He that hath far to go, tells it by miles;

12.591974If he should tell the steps, it kills his heart.

12.601975The drops are infinite that make a flood,

12.611976And yet thou knowst we call it but a rain.

12.621977There is but one France, one King of France:

12.631978That France hath no more kings, and that same king

12.641979Hath but the puissant legion of one king;

12.651980And we have one. Then apprehend no odds,

12.661981For one to one is fair equality.

12.681983What tidings, messenger? Be plain and brief.

The King of France, my sovereign lord and master,

12.701985Greets by me his foe, the Prince of Wales.

12.711986If thou call forth a hundred men of name,

12.721987Of lords, knights, esquires and English gentlemen,

12.731988And with thyself and those kneel at his feet,

12.741989He straight will fold his bloody colors up

12.751990And ransom shall redeem lives forfeited.

12.761991If not, this day shall drink more English blood

12.771992Then e're was buried in our Breton earth.

12.781993What is the answer to his proffered mercy?

This heaven that covers France contains the mercy

12.801995That draws from me submissive orisons;

12.811996That such base breath should vanish from my lips

12.821997To urge the plea of mercy to a man

12.831998The Lord forbid. Return and tell thy king

12.841999My tongue is made of steel, and it shall beg

12.852000My mercy on his coward burgonet.

12.862001Tell him my colors are as red as his,

12.872002My men as bold, our English arms as strong:

12.882003Return him my defiance in his face.

I go.

What news with thee?

The Duke of Normandy, my lord and master,

12.942008Pitying thy youth is so engirt with peril,

12.952009By me hath sent a nimble-jointed jennet,

12.962010As swift as ever yet thou didst bestride,

12.972011And therewithal he counsels thee to fly,

12.982012Else death himself hath sworn that thou shalt die.

Back with the beast unto the beast that sent him!

12.1002014Tell him I cannot sit a coward's horse;

12.1012015Bid him today bestride the jade himself,

12.1022016For I will stain my horse quite o'er with blood

12.1032017And double gild my spurs, but I will catch him.

12.1042018So tell the cap'ring boy, and get thee gone.

Edward of Wales, Philip the second son

12.1082021To the most mighty Christian King of France,

12.1092022Seeing thy body's living date expired,

12.1102023All full of charity and Christian love,

12.1112024Commends this book full fraught with prayers

12.1122025To thy fair hand, and, for thy hour of life,

12.1132026Entreats thee that thou meditate therein

12.1142027And arm thy soul for her long journey towards.

12.1152028Thus have I done his bidding, and return.

Herald of Philip, greet thy lord from me.

12.1172030All good that he can send I can receive,

12.1182031But thinkst thou not the unadvisèd boy

12.1192032Hath wronged himself in thus far tend'ring me?

12.1202033Haply he cannot pray without the book,

12.1212034I think him no divine extemporal.

12.1222035Then render back this commonplace of prayer

12.1232036To do himself good in adversity.

12.1242037Besides, he knows not my sins' quality,

12.1252038And therefore knows no prayers for my avail.

12.1262039Ere night his prayer may be to pray to God

12.1272040To put it in my heart to hear his prayer --

12.1282041So tell the courtly wanton, and be gone.

I go.

How confident their strength and number makes them!

12.1322044Now, Audley, sound those silver wings of thine

12.1332045And let those milk-white messengers of time

12.1342046Show thy time's learning in this dangerous time.

12.1352047Thyself art busy and bit with many broils,

12.1362048And stratagems forepast with iron pens

12.1372049Are texted in thine honorable face.

12.1382050Thou art a married man in this distress,

12.1392051But danger woos me as a blushing maid:

12.1402052Teach me an answer to this perilous time.

To die is all as common as to live,

12.1422054The one in choice, the other holds in chase;

12.1432055For from the instant we begin to live

12.1442056We do pursue and hunt the time to die.

12.1452057First bud we, then we blow, and after seed,

12.1462058Then presently we fall, and as a shade

12.1472059Follows the body, so we follow death.

12.1482060If then we hunt for death, why do we fear it?

12.1492061If we fear it, why do we follow it?

12.1502062If we do fear, how can we shun it?

12.1512063If we do fear, with fear we do but aid

12.1522064The thing we fear to seize on us the sooner.

12.1532065If we fear not, then no resolvèd proffer

12.1542066Can overthrow the limit of our fate;

12.1552067For whether ripe or rotten, drop we shall,

12.1562068As we do draw the lottery of our doom.

Ah, good old man, a thousand thousand armors

12.1582070These words of thine have buckled on my back.

12.1592071Ah, what an idiot hast thou made of life

12.1602072To seek the thing it fears; and how disgraced

12.1612073The imperial victory of murd'ring death,

12.1622074Since all the lives his conquering arrows strike

12.1632075Seek him, and he not them, to shame his glory.

12.1642076I will not give a penny for a life,

12.1652077Nor half a halfpenny to shun grim death;

12.1662078Since for to live is but to seek to die,

12.1672079And dying but beginning of new life.

12.1682080Let come the hour when he that rules it will,

12.1692081To live or die I hold indifferent.

A sudden darkness hath defaced the sky,

13.32084The winds are crept into their caves for fear,

13.42085The leaves move not, the world is hushed and still,

13.52086The birds cease singing, and the wand'ring brooks

13.62087Murmur no wonted greeting to their shores;

13.72088Silence attends some wonder, and expecteth

13.82089That heaven should pronounce some prophecy.

13.92090Where or from whom proceeds this silence, Charles?

Our men with open mouths and staring eyes

13.112092Look on each other, as they did attend

13.122093Each other's words, and yet no creature speaks.

13.132094A tongue-tied fear hath made a midnight hour,

13.142095And speeches sleep through all the waking regions.

But now the pompous sun in all his pride

13.162097Looked through his golden coach upon the world,

13.172098And on a sudden hath he hid himself

13.182099That now the under earth is as a grave:

13.192100Dark, deadly, silent, and uncomfortable.

13.212101Hark, what a deadly outcry do I hear?

Here comes my brother, Philip.

Here comes my brother, Philip. All dismayed.

13.24What fearful words are those thy looks presage?

A flight, a flight!

Coward, what flight? Thou liest -- there needs no flight.

A flight!

Awake thy craven powers, and tell on

13.292108The substance of that very fear indeed

13.302109Which is so ghastly printed in thy face.

13.312110What is the matter?

What is the matter? A flight of ugly ravens

13.322112Do croak and hover o'er our soldiers' heads,

13.332113And keep in triangles and cornered squares

13.342114Right as our forces are embattled.

13.352115With their approach there came this sudden fog,

13.362116Which now hath hid the airy flower of heaven

13.372117And made at noon a night unnatural

13.382118Upon the quaking and dismayèd world.

13.392119In brief, our soldiers have let fall their arms

13.402120And stand like metamorphosed images,

13.412121Bloodless and pale, one gazing on another.

Ay, now I call to mind the prophecy,

13.432123But I must give no entrance to a fear.

13.442124Return and hearten up these yielding souls:

13.452125Tell them the ravens, seeing them in arms --

13.462126So many fair against a famished few --

13.472127Come but to dine upon their handiwork

13.482128And prey upon the carrion that they kill.

13.492129For when we see a horse laid down to die,

13.502130Although not dead, the ravenous birds

13.512131Sit watching the departure of his life;

13.522132Even so these ravens for the carcasses

13.532133Of those poor English that are marked to die

13.542134Hover about, and if they cry to us

13.552135'Tis but for meat that we must kill for them.

13.562136Away, and comfort up my soldiers,

13.572137And sound the trumpets, and at once dispatch

13.582138This little business of a silly fraud.

Behold, my liege, this knight and forty more,

13.622142Of whom the better part are slain and fled,

13.632143With all endeavor sought to break our ranks

13.642144And make their way to the encompassed Prince.

13.652145Dispose of him as please your majesty.

Go, and the next bough, soldier, that thou seest,

13.672147Disgrace it with his body presently;

13.682148For I do hold a tree in France too good,

13.692149To be the gallows of an English thief.

My lord of Normandy, I have your pass

13.712151And warrant for my safety through this land.

Villiers procured it for thee, did he not?

He did.

And it is current; thou shalt freely pass.

Ay, freely to the gallows to be hanged,

13.762156Without denial or impediment.

13.772157Away with him.

I hope your highness will not so disgrace me

13.792159And dash the virtue of my seal at arms.

13.802160He hath my never-broken name to show,

13.812161Charact'red with this princely hand of mine;

13.822162And rather let me leave to be a prince

13.832163Than break the stable verdict of a prince.

13.842164I do beseech you let him pass in quiet.

Thou and thy word lie both in my command.

13.862166What canst thou promise that I cannot break?

13.872167Which of these twain is greater infamy:

13.882168To disobey thy father or thy self?

13.892169Thy word, nor no man's, may exceed his power,

13.902170Nor that same man doth never break his word

13.912171That keeps it to the utmost of his power.

13.922172The breach of faith dwells in the soul's consent,

13.932173Which if thyself without consent do break

13.942174Thou art not chargèd with the breach of faith.

13.952175Go, hang him; for thy licence lies in me,

13.962176And my constraint stands the excuse for thee.

What, am I not a soldier in my word?

13.982178Then arms, adieu, and let them fight that list.

13.992179Shall I not give my girdle from my waist,

13.1002180But with a guardian I shall be controlled

13.1012181To say I may not give my things away?

13.1022182Upon my soul, had Edward Prince of Wales

13.1032183Engaged his word, writ down his noble hand

13.1042184For all your knights to pass his father's land,

13.1052185The royal King, to grace his warlike son,

13.1062186Would not alone safe conduct give to them,

13.1072187But with all bounty feasted them and theirs.

Dwellst thou on precedents? Then be it so.

13.1092189Say, Englishman, of what degree thou art.

An earl in England, though a prisoner here,

13.1112191And those that know me call me Salisbury.

Then, Salisbury, say whither thou art bound.

To Calais, where my liege, King Edward, is.

To Calais, Salisbury? Then to Calais pack,

13.1152195And bid the King prepare a noble grave

13.1162196To put his princely son, black Edward, in.

13.1172197And as thou travelst westward from this place,

13.1182198Some two leagues hence there is a lofty hill

13.1192199Whose top seems topless, for the embracing sky

13.1202200Doth hide his high head in her azure bosom;

13.1212201Upon whose tall top, when thy foot attains,

13.1222202Look back upon the humble vale beneath,

13.1232203Humble of late, but now made proud with arms,

13.1242204And thence behold the wretched Prince of Wales

13.1252205Hooped with a bond of iron round about.

13.1262206After which sight, to Calais spur amain

13.1272207And say the Prince was smothered and not slain;

13.1282208And tell the King this is not all his ill

13.1292209For I will greet him ere he thinks I will.

13.1302210Away, be gone! The smoke but of our shot

13.1312211Will choke our foes, though bullets hit them not.

How fares your grace? Are you not shot, my lord?

No, dear Artois, but choked with dust and smoke,

14.42215And stepped aside for breath and fresher air.

Breathe then, and to it again. The amazed French

14.62217Are quite distract with gazing on the crows,

14.72218And were our quivers full of shafts again

14.82219Your grace should see a glorious day of this.

14.92220O for more arrows, Lord; that's our want.

Courage, Artois; a fig for feathered shafts

14.112222When feathered fowls do bandy on our side!

14.122223What need we fight and sweat and keep a coil,

14.132224When railing crows outscold our adversaries?

14.142225Up, up, Artois! The ground itself is armed

14.152226With fire-containing flint; command our bows

14.162227To hurl away their pretty colored yew

14.172228And to it with stones. Away, Artois, away!

14.182229My soul doth prophecy we win the day.

Our multitudes are in themselves confounded,

14.222232Dismayèd, and distraught; swift-starting fear

14.232233Hath buzzed a cold dismay through all our army,

14.242234And every petty disadvantage prompts

14.252235The fear-possessèd abject soul to fly.

14.262236Myself, whose spirit is steel to their dull lead,

14.272237What with recalling of the prophecy,

14.282238And that our native stones from English arms

14.292239Rebel against us, find myself attainted

14.302240With strong surprise of weak and yielding fear.

Fly, father, fly! The French do kill the French:

14.332243Some that would stand let drive at some that fly.

14.342244Our drums strike nothing but discouragement,

14.352245Our trumpets sound dishonor and retire,

14.362246The spirit of fear that feareth naught but death

14.372247Cowardly works confusion on itself.

Pluck out your eyes, and see not this day's shame!

14.402250An arm hath beat an army: one poor David

14.412251Hath with a stone foiled twenty stout Goliaths;

14.422252Some twenty naked starvelings with small flints

14.432253Hath driven back a puissant host of men

14.442254Arrayed and fenced in all accomplements.

Mort Dieu! They quoit at us and kill us up.

14.462256No less than forty thousand wicked elders

14.472257Have forty lean slaves this day stoned to death.

Oh, that I were some other countryman!

14.492259This day hath set derision on the French

14.502260And all the world will blurt and scorn at us.

What, is there no hope left?

No hope but death to bury up our shame.

Make up once more with me! The twentieth part

14.542264Of those that live are men enow to quail

14.552265The feeble handful on the adverse part.

Then charge again; if heaven be not opposed

14.572267We cannot lose the day.

We cannot lose the day. On, away.

How fares my lord?

How fares my lord? Even as a man may do

14.612272That dines at such a bloody feast as this.

I hope, my lord, that is no mortal scar.

No matter if it be, the count is cast,

14.642275And in the worst ends but a mortal man.

14.652276Good friends, convey me to the princely Edward,

14.662277That in the crimson bravery of my blood

14.672278I may become him with saluting him;

14.682279I'll smile and tell him that this open scar

14.692280Doth end the harvest of his Audley's war.

Now John in France, and lately John of France,

15.32285Thy bloody ensigns are my captive colors,

15.42286And you, high vaunting Charles of Normandy,

15.52287That once today sent me a horse to fly,

15.62288Are now the subjects of my clemency.

15.72289Fie, lords, is't not a shame that English boys,

15.82290Whose early days are yet not worth a beard,

15.92291Should in the bosom of your kingdom thus,

15.102292One against twenty, beat you up together?

Thy fortune, not thy force, hath conquered us.

An argument that heaven aids the right.

15.142295See, see, Artois doth bring with him along

15.152296The late good counsel-giver to my soul.

15.162297Welcome, Artois, and welcome Philip too.

15.172298Who now, of you or I, have need to pray?

15.182299Now is the proverb verified in you:

15.192300Too bright a morning breeds a louring day.

15.212302But say, what grim discouragement comes here?

15.222303Alas, what thousand armèd men of France

15.232304Have writ that note of death in Audley's face?

15.242305Speak thou, that woost death with thy careless smile

15.252306And lookst so merrily upon thy grave

15.262307As if thou wert enamored on thine end:

15.272308What hungry sword hath so bereaved thy face