William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (136 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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KING EDWARD
He shall be welcome. That’s the thing we crave.
Enter Jean King of France, the Dauphin, the
Duc de Lorraine, the King of Bohemia, young
Prince Philippe and soldiers
KING OF FRANCE
Edward, know that Jean, the true King of France,
Musing thou shouldst encroach upon his land
And, in thy tyrannous proceeding, slay
His faithful subjects and subvert his towns,
Spits in thy face, and, in this manner following,
Upbraids thee with thine arrogant intrusion.
First, I condemn thee for a fugitive,
A thievish pirate and a needy mate,
One that hath either no abiding-place
Or else, inhabiting some barren soil,
Where neither herb or fruitful grain is had,
Dost altogether live by pilfering.
Next, insomuch thou hast infringed thy faith,
Broke league and solemn covenant made with me,
I hold thee for a false, pernicious wretch.
And last of all, although I scorn to cope
With one so much inferior to myself,
Yet in respect thy thirst is all for gold,
Thy labour rather to be feared than loved,
To satisfy thy lust, in either part,
Here am I come and with me have I brought
Exceeding store of treasure, pearl and coin.
Leave, therefore, now to persecute the weak,
And armed ent‘ring conflict with the armed,
Let it be seen, ’mongst other petty thefts,
How thou canst win this pillage manfully.
Musing thou shouldst encroach upon his land
And, in thy tyrannous proceeding, slay
His faithful subjects and subvert his towns,
Spits in thy face, and, in this manner following,
Upbraids thee with thine arrogant intrusion.
First, I condemn thee for a fugitive,
A thievish pirate and a needy mate,
One that hath either no abiding-place
Or else, inhabiting some barren soil,
Where neither herb or fruitful grain is had,
Dost altogether live by pilfering.
Next, insomuch thou hast infringed thy faith,
Broke league and solemn covenant made with me,
I hold thee for a false, pernicious wretch.
And last of all, although I scorn to cope
With one so much inferior to myself,
Yet in respect thy thirst is all for gold,
Thy labour rather to be feared than loved,
To satisfy thy lust, in either part,
Here am I come and with me have I brought
Exceeding store of treasure, pearl and coin.
Leave, therefore, now to persecute the weak,
And armed ent‘ring conflict with the armed,
Let it be seen, ’mongst other petty thefts,
How thou canst win this pillage manfully.
KING EDWARD
If gall or wormwood have a pleasant taste,
Then is thy salutation honey sweet.
But as the one hath no such property,
So is the other most satirical.
Yet wot how I regard thy worthless taunts.
If thou have uttered them to soil my fame,
Or dim the reputation of my birth,
Know that thy wolvish barking cannot hurt.
If slyly to insinuate with the world,
And with a strumpet’s artificial lime
To paint thy vicious and deformed cause,
Be well assured the counterfeit will fade,
And in the end thy foul defects be seen.
But if thou didst it to provoke me on,
As who should say I were but timorous,
Or, coldly negligent, did need a spur,
Bethink thyself how slack I was at sea,
How, since my landing, I have won no towns,
Entered no further but upon the coast,
And there have ever since securely slept.
But if I have been otherwise employed,
Imagine, Valois, whether I intend
To skirmish, not for pillage, but for the crown
Which thou dost wear and that I vow to have,
Or one of us shall fall into his grave.
Then is thy salutation honey sweet.
But as the one hath no such property,
So is the other most satirical.
Yet wot how I regard thy worthless taunts.
If thou have uttered them to soil my fame,
Or dim the reputation of my birth,
Know that thy wolvish barking cannot hurt.
If slyly to insinuate with the world,
And with a strumpet’s artificial lime
To paint thy vicious and deformed cause,
Be well assured the counterfeit will fade,
And in the end thy foul defects be seen.
But if thou didst it to provoke me on,
As who should say I were but timorous,
Or, coldly negligent, did need a spur,
Bethink thyself how slack I was at sea,
How, since my landing, I have won no towns,
Entered no further but upon the coast,
And there have ever since securely slept.
But if I have been otherwise employed,
Imagine, Valois, whether I intend
To skirmish, not for pillage, but for the crown
Which thou dost wear and that I vow to have,
Or one of us shall fall into his grave.
PRINCE OF WALES
Look not for cross invectives at our hands,
Or railing execrations of despite.
Let creeping serpents hid in hollow banks
Sting with their tongues; we have remorseless swords,
And they shall plead for us and our affairs.
Yet thus much briefly, by my father’s leave,
As all the immodest poison of thy throat
Is scandalous and most notorious lies,
And our pretended quarrel is truly just,
So end the battle when we meet today:
May either of us prosper and prevail
Or, luckless cursed, receive eternal shame.
Or railing execrations of despite.
Let creeping serpents hid in hollow banks
Sting with their tongues; we have remorseless swords,
And they shall plead for us and our affairs.
Yet thus much briefly, by my father’s leave,
As all the immodest poison of thy throat
Is scandalous and most notorious lies,
And our pretended quarrel is truly just,
So end the battle when we meet today:
May either of us prosper and prevail
Or, luckless cursed, receive eternal shame.
KING EDWARD
That needs no further question, and I know
His conscience witnesseth it is my right.
Therefore, Valois, say: wilt thou yet resign
Before the sickle’s thrust into the corn,
Or that enkindled fury turn to flame?
His conscience witnesseth it is my right.
Therefore, Valois, say: wilt thou yet resign
Before the sickle’s thrust into the corn,
Or that enkindled fury turn to flame?
KING OF FRANCE
Edward, I know what right thou hast in France,
And ere I basely will resign my crown
This champaign field shall be a pool of blood,
And all our prospect as a slaughterhouse.
And ere I basely will resign my crown
This champaign field shall be a pool of blood,
And all our prospect as a slaughterhouse.
PRINCE OF WALES
Ay, that approves thee, tyrant, what thou art.
No father, king, or shepherd of thy realm,
But one that tears her entrails with thy hands
And, like a thirsty tiger, suck’st her blood.
No father, king, or shepherd of thy realm,
But one that tears her entrails with thy hands
And, like a thirsty tiger, suck’st her blood.
AUDLEY
You peers of France, why do you follow him
That is so prodigal to spend your lives?
That is so prodigal to spend your lives?
DAUPHIN
Whom should they follow, aged impotent,
But he that is their true-born sovereign?
But he that is their true-born sovereign?
KING EDWARD
Upbraid’st thou him because within his face
Time hath engraved deep characters of age?
Know that these grave scholars of experience,
Like stiff-grown oaks, will stand immovable
When whirlwind quickly turns up younger trees.
Time hath engraved deep characters of age?
Know that these grave scholars of experience,
Like stiff-grown oaks, will stand immovable
When whirlwind quickly turns up younger trees.
EARL OF DERBY (
to the King of France
)
to the King of France
)
Was ever any of thy father’s house
King but thyself before this present time?
(
To the French generally
) Edward’s great lineage by the
mother’s side
Five hundred years hath held the sceptre up.
Judge then, conspirators, by this descent
Which is the true-born sovereign—this, or that.
King but thyself before this present time?
(
To the French generally
) Edward’s great lineage by the
mother’s side
Five hundred years hath held the sceptre up.
Judge then, conspirators, by this descent
Which is the true-born sovereign—this, or that.
PRINCE PHILIPPE (
to the King of France
)
to the King of France
)
Father, range your battles. Prate no more.
These English fain would spend the time in words
That, night approaching, they might scape unfought.
These English fain would spend the time in words
That, night approaching, they might scape unfought.
KING OF FRANCE
Lords and my loving subjects, now’s the time
That your intended force must bide the touch.
Therefore, my friends, consider this in brief.
He that you fight for is your natural king;
He against whom you fight a foreigner.
He that you fight for rules in clemency,
And reigns you with a mild and gentle bit;
He against whom you fight, if he prevail,
Will straight enthrone himself in tyranny,
Make slaves of you and with a heavy hand
Curtail and curb your sweetest liberty.
Then, to protect your country and your King,
Let but the haughty courage of your hearts
Answer the number of your able hands,
And we shall quickly chase these fugitives.
For what’s this Edward but a belly-god,
A tender and lascivious wantonness,
That th‘other day was almost dead for love?
And what, I pray you, is his goodly guard?
Such as, but scant them of their chines of beef,
And take away their downy feather beds,
And presently they are as resty-stiff
As ’twere a many overridden jades.
Then, Frenchmen, scorn that such should be your lords,
And rather bind ye them in captive bands.
That your intended force must bide the touch.
Therefore, my friends, consider this in brief.
He that you fight for is your natural king;
He against whom you fight a foreigner.
He that you fight for rules in clemency,
And reigns you with a mild and gentle bit;
He against whom you fight, if he prevail,
Will straight enthrone himself in tyranny,
Make slaves of you and with a heavy hand
Curtail and curb your sweetest liberty.
Then, to protect your country and your King,
Let but the haughty courage of your hearts
Answer the number of your able hands,
And we shall quickly chase these fugitives.
For what’s this Edward but a belly-god,
A tender and lascivious wantonness,
That th‘other day was almost dead for love?
And what, I pray you, is his goodly guard?
Such as, but scant them of their chines of beef,
And take away their downy feather beds,
And presently they are as resty-stiff
As ’twere a many overridden jades.
Then, Frenchmen, scorn that such should be your lords,
And rather bind ye them in captive bands.
ALL THE FRENCH
Vive le roil
God save King Jean of Francel
God save King Jean of Francel
KING OF FRANCE
Now, on this plain of Crécy, spread yourselves.
And, Edward, when thou dar’st, begin the fight!
And, Edward, when thou dar’st, begin the fight!
Exit with the French
KING EDWARD (
calling after
)
calling after
)
We presently will meet thee, Jean of France!
(
To the English
) And, English lords, let us resolve the day
Either to clear us of that scandalous crime
Or be entombed in our innocence.
(
To the Prince of Wales
) And, Ned, because this battle is the first
That ever yet thou fought’st in pitched field,
As ancient custom is of martialists
To dub thee with the type of chivalry,
In solemn manner we will give thee arms.
Come, therefore, heralds; orderly bring forth
A strong attirement for the Prince my son.
(
To the English
) And, English lords, let us resolve the day
Either to clear us of that scandalous crime
Or be entombed in our innocence.
(
To the Prince of Wales
) And, Ned, because this battle is the first
That ever yet thou fought’st in pitched field,
As ancient custom is of martialists
To dub thee with the type of chivalry,
In solemn manner we will give thee arms.
Come, therefore, heralds; orderly bring forth
A strong attirement for the Prince my son.
Enter four heralds bringing in a coat armour, a helmet, a lance and a shield
Edward Plantagenet, in the name of God,
As with this armour I impale thy breast
So be thy noble, unrelenting heart
Walled in with flint of matchless fortitude
That never base affections enter there.
As with this armour I impale thy breast
So be thy noble, unrelenting heart
Walled in with flint of matchless fortitude
That never base affections enter there.
⌈
The Prince of Wales is invested in armour
⌉
Fight and be valiant; conquer where thou com’st.
(
To Derby, Audley and Artois
) Now follow, lords, and do him honour too.
(
To Derby, Audley and Artois
) Now follow, lords, and do him honour too.
EARL OF DERBY
Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
As I do set this helmet on thy head
Wherewith the chamber of thy brain is fenced,
So may thy temples with Bellona’s hand
Be still adorned with laurel victory.
As I do set this helmet on thy head
Wherewith the chamber of thy brain is fenced,
So may thy temples with Bellona’s hand
Be still adorned with laurel victory.
⌈
The helmet is placed on the Prince of Wales
⌉
Fight and be valiant; conquer where thou com’st.
AUDLEY
Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
Receive this lance into thy manly hand.
Use it in fashion of a brazen pen
To draw forth bloody stratagems in France,
And print thy valiant deeds in honour’s book.
Receive this lance into thy manly hand.
Use it in fashion of a brazen pen
To draw forth bloody stratagems in France,
And print thy valiant deeds in honour’s book.
⌈
The lance is given to the Prince of Wales
⌉
Fight and be valiant; vanquish where thou com’st.
COMTE D’ARTOIS
Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales,
Hold, take this target; wear it on thy arm.
And may the view thereof, like Perseus’ shield,
Astonish and transform thy gazing foes
To senseless images of meagre death.
Hold, take this target; wear it on thy arm.
And may the view thereof, like Perseus’ shield,
Astonish and transform thy gazing foes
To senseless images of meagre death.
⌈
The shield is given to the Prince of Wales
⌉
Fight and be valiant; conquer where thou com’st.
KING EDWARD
Now wants there naught but knighthood, which deferred
We leave till thou hast won it in the field.
We leave till thou hast won it in the field.
PRINCE OF WALES
My gracious father and ye forward peers,
This honour you have done me animates
And cheers my green, yet scarce-appearing, strength
With comfortable, good-presaging signs,
No otherwise than did old Jacob’s words
Whenas he breathed his blessings on his sons.
These hallowed gifts of yours, when I profane
Or use them not to glory of my God
To patronage the fatherless and poor,
Or for the benefit of England’s peace,
Be numb my joints, wax feeble both mine arms,
Wither my heart that, like a sapless tree,
I may remain the map of infamy.
This honour you have done me animates
And cheers my green, yet scarce-appearing, strength
With comfortable, good-presaging signs,
No otherwise than did old Jacob’s words
Whenas he breathed his blessings on his sons.
These hallowed gifts of yours, when I profane
Or use them not to glory of my God
To patronage the fatherless and poor,
Or for the benefit of England’s peace,
Be numb my joints, wax feeble both mine arms,
Wither my heart that, like a sapless tree,
I may remain the map of infamy.
KING EDWARD
Then thus our steeled battles shall be ranged.
(
To the Prince of Wales
) The leading of the vanguard, Ned, is thine,
To dignify whose lusty spirit the more
We temper it with Audley’s gravity,
That courage and experience, joined in one,
Your manège may be second unto none.
(
To all
) For the main battles I will guide myself,
And Derby in the rearward march behind,
That orderly disposed and set in ’ray
Let us to horse, and God grant us the day!
(
To the Prince of Wales
) The leading of the vanguard, Ned, is thine,
To dignify whose lusty spirit the more
We temper it with Audley’s gravity,
That courage and experience, joined in one,
Your manège may be second unto none.
(
To all
) For the main battles I will guide myself,
And Derby in the rearward march behind,
That orderly disposed and set in ’ray
Let us to horse, and God grant us the day!
Exeunt
Sc. 7Alarum. Enter and exit a many Frenchmen flying. Chasing after them, enter and exit Edward Prince of Wales running. Then enter Jean King of France and the Due de Lorraine
KING OF FRANCE
O Lorraine, say: what mean our men to fly?
Our number is far greater than our foes.
Our number is far greater than our foes.
DUC DE LORRAINE
The garrison of Genoese, my lord,
That came from Paris, weary with their march,
Grudging to be so suddenly employed,
No sooner in the forefront took their place,
But straight retiring, so dismayed the rest
As likewise they betook themselves to flight,
In which, for haste to make a safe escape,
More in the clustering throng are pressed to death
Than by the enemy a thousandfold.
That came from Paris, weary with their march,
Grudging to be so suddenly employed,
No sooner in the forefront took their place,
But straight retiring, so dismayed the rest
As likewise they betook themselves to flight,
In which, for haste to make a safe escape,
More in the clustering throng are pressed to death
Than by the enemy a thousandfold.
KING OF FRANCE
O, hapless fortune! Let us yet assay
If we can counsel some of them to stay.
If we can counsel some of them to stay.
Exeunt
Sc. 8Enter King Edward and Lord Audley
KING EDWARD
Lord Audley, whiles our son is in the chase,
Withdraw our powers unto this little hill,
And here a season let us breathe ourselves.
Withdraw our powers unto this little hill,
And here a season let us breathe ourselves.
AUDLEY I will, my lord. Exit
Sound retreat within
KING EDWARD
Just-dooming heaven, whose secret providence
To our gross judgement is inscrutable,
How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works
That hast, this day, given way unto the right,
And made the wicked stumble at themselves?
To our gross judgement is inscrutable,
How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works
That hast, this day, given way unto the right,
And made the wicked stumble at themselves?
Enter the Comte d’Artois
COMTE D’ARTOIS
Rescue, King Edward! Rescue for thy son!
KING EDWARD
Rescue, Artois? What, is he prisoner,
Or fell by violence beside his horse?
Or fell by violence beside his horse?
COMTE D’ARTOIS
Neither, my lord, but narrowly beset
With turning Frenchmen, whom he did pursue,
As ’tis impossible that he should scape
Except your highness presently descend.
With turning Frenchmen, whom he did pursue,
As ’tis impossible that he should scape
Except your highness presently descend.
KING EDWARD
Tut, let him fight. We gave him arms today,
And he is labouring for a knighthood, man!
And he is labouring for a knighthood, man!
Enter the Earl of Derby
EARL OF DERBY
The Prince, my lord, the Prince! O, succour him!
He’s close encompassed with a world of odds.
He’s close encompassed with a world of odds.
KING EDWARD
Then will he win a world of honour too
If he by valour can redeem him thence.
If not, what remedy? We have more sons
Than one to comfort our declining age.
If he by valour can redeem him thence.
If not, what remedy? We have more sons
Than one to comfort our declining age.
Enter Lord Audley
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