KING HENRY VI.-PART I. Dead march. ACT I. SCENE I.-Westminster Abbey. Corpse of KING HENRY V. discovered, 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 night! And with them scourge the bad revolting stars, GLO. England ne'er had a king until his time. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams; 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 conquered. EXE. We mourn in black: Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: 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 curse the planets of mishap, That plotted thus our glory's overthrow? WIN. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. 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 prosperous. GLO. The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd;. None do you like but an effeminate prince, WIN. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector; GLO. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; BED. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace Let's to the altar-Heralds, wait on us: Instead of gold, we 'll offer up our armis; Since arms avail not, now that Henry 's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moisten'd eyes babes shall suck; Enter a Messenger. MESS. My honourable lords, health to you all! 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. That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: EXE. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, 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 will I lend the French, instead of eyes, To weep their intermissive miseries. Enter another Messenger. 2 MESS. Lords, view these letters, full of bad mischance: France is revolted from the English quite; Except some petty towns of no import: The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part; The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. EXE. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! O, whither shall we fly from this reproach? GLO. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats:Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. BED. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness? An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Wherewith already France is overrun. Enter a third Messenger. 3 MESS. My gracious lords,—to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,— I must inform you of a dismal fight Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. WIN. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is 't so? Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, He wanted pikes to set before his archers; To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him; Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back; Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength, BED. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, For living idly here, in pomp and ease, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, 3 MESS. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. BED. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: The earl of Salisbury craveth supply, And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. EXE. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Either to quell the dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. BED. I do remember it; and here take my leave, To go about my preparation. [Exit. GLO. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, To view the artillery and munition; And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit. EXE. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his special governor; [Exit. And for his safety there I'll best devise. WIN. Each hath his place and function to attend: [Exit. Scene closes. |