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• The First Part of King Henry the Sixth: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Westminster Abbey.
• Scene II.—: France. Before Orleans.
• Scene III.—: London. Before the Tower.
• Scene IV.—: France. Before Orleans.
• Scene V.—: The Same. Before One of the Gates.
• Scene VI.—: The Same.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Before Orleans.
• Scene II.—: Orleans. Within the Town.
• Scene III.—: Auvergne. Court of the Castle.
• Scene IV.—: London. the Temple Garden.
• Scene V.—: London. a Room In the Tower.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: London. the Parliament House.
• Scene II.—: France. Before Roan.
• Scene III.—: The Plains Near Roan.
• Scene IV.—: Paris. a Room In the Palace.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Paris. a Room of State.
• Scene II.—: Before Bourdeaux.
• Scene III.—: Plains In Gascony.
• Scene IV.—: Other Plains In Gascony.
• Scene V.—: The English Camp Near Bourdeaux.
• Scene VI.—: A Field of Battle.
• Scene VII.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene II.—: France. Plains In Anjou.
• Scene III.—: France. Before Angiers.
• Scene IV.—: Camp of Theduke of York,in Anjou.
• Scene V.—: London. a Room In the Palace.

Scene VI.—

A Field of Battle.

Alarum: Excursions, whereinTalbot’sSon is hemmed about, andTalbotrescues him.

Tal.

Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight!

The regent hath with Talbot broke his word,

And left us to the rage of France his sword.

Where is John Talbot? Pause, and take thy breath:

I gave thee life and rescu’d thee from death.

John.

O! twice my father, twice am I thy son:

The life thou gav’st me first was lost and done,

Till with thy war-like sword, despite of fate,

To my determin’d time thou gav’st new date.

Tal.

When from the Dauphin’s crest thy sword struck fire,

It warm’d thy father’s heart with proud desire

Of bold-fac’d victory. Then leaden age,

Quicken’d with youthful spleen and war-like rage,

Beat down Alençon, Orleans, Burgundy,

And from the pride of Gallia rescu’d thee.

The ireful bastard Orleans,—that drew blood

From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood

Of thy first fight,—I soon encountered

And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed

Some of his bastard blood; and, in disgrace,

Bespoke him thus, ‘Contaminated, base,

And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,

Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine

Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:’

Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,

Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father’s care,

Art thou not weary, John? How dost thou fare?

Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,

Now thou art seal’d the son of chivalry?

Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead;

The help of one stands me in little stead.

O! too much folly is it, well I wot,

To hazard all our lives in one small boat.

If I to-day die not with Frenchmen’s rage,

To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:

By me they nothing gain an if I stay;

’Tis but the short’ning of my life one day.

In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,

My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame.

All these and more we hazard by thy stay;

All these are sav’d if thou wilt fly away.

John.

The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart;

These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart.

On that advantage, bought with such a shame,

To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,

Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,

The coward horse that bears me fall and die!

And like me to the peasant boys of France,

To be shame’s scorn and subject of mischance!

Surely, by all the glory you have won,

An if I fly, I am not Talbot’s son:

Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;

If son to Talbot, die at Talbot’s foot.

Tal.

Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,

Thou Icarus. Thy life to me is sweet:

If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father’s side,

And, commendable prov’d, let’s die in pride.

[Exeunt.