Act IV, Scene vi
|
| |
[Alarum: excursions, wherein Talbot's Son is hemmedabout, and Talbot rescues him.]
| |
|
|
| | TALBOT.: | |
| | 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 rescued thee from death. | |
|
|
| | JOHN.: | |
| | O, twice my father, twice am I thy son! | |
| | The life thou gavest me first was lost and done, | |
| | Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate, | |
| | To my determined time thou gavest new date. | |
|
|
| | TALBOT.: | |
| | When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire, | |
| | It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire | |
| | Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age, | |
| | Quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage, | |
| | Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy, | |
| | And from the pride of Gallia rescued 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 saved 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. | |
|
|
| | TALBOT.: | |
| | 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 proved, let 's die in pride. | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
Master the AP English Language exam in just five days with AP Power Packs.
More...
|
|
|
 |
101 Shakespeare is your one-stop college course companion.
More...
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
