King Henry VI. France. King: Henry Beanfort, Great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal. of Cambridge; afterwards Duke of York. Woodville, Lieut. of the Tower. to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. Joan la Pucelle, commonly called Joan of Arc. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several Attendants, both on the English and French. SCENE, partly in England, and partly in France. SCENE 1. WESTMINSTER-ABBEY. Dead March. Corpse of King, Henry the Fifth dis covered, lying in State ; attended on by the Dukes of BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; the EARL of WARWICK, the Bishop of WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c. Bed. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to Comets, importing change of times and states, (night! Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky; And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, That have consented unto Henry's death! Henry the fifth, too famous to live long! England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time, Virtue he had, deserving to command: His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; His sparkling eyes replete with wrathful fire, More dazzled and drove back his enemies, Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces. What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech : He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquer'd. Ere. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in Henry is dead, and never shall revive: [blood? Upon a wooden coffin we attend; And death's dishonourable victory We with our stately presence glorify, Like captives bound to a triumphant car. What! shall we corse the planets of mishap, That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? Or shall we think the subtle-witted French Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him, By inagic verses have contriv'd his end ? Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. Unto the French the dreadful judginent day So dreadful will not be, as was his sight. The battles of the Lord of Hosts he fought: The church's prayers made him so prosperons. Glo. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen His thread of life had not so soon decay'd: Lpray'd, None do you like but an effeminate prince, Whom, like a school-boy, you may overawe. Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector; And lookest to command the prince, and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, More than God, or religious churchmen, may. Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us : Jostead of gold, we'll offer up our arms; Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck; Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, And none but women left to wail the dead. Henry the fifth! thy ghost I invocate; Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils ! Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! A far more glorious star thy soul will make, Than Julius Cæsar, or bright Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I lo you out of France, of loss, of slaughter, and disconfiture: Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost. Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse? Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death. Glo. Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up? If Henry were recall’d to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was us’d? Mess. No treachery; but wanl of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, You are disputing of your generals. One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Another would fly swift, but wanleth wings; A third man thinks, without expense at all, By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Awake, awake, English nobility! Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms ; Of England's coat one half is cut away. Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France :Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! Wounds I will lend tbe French, instead of eyes, To weep their intermissive miseries. Enter another Messenger. 2 Mess. Lords, view these letlers, full of bad misFrance is revolted from the English quite ; [ebance, Except some petty towns of no import : The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; |