FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. MALONE supposes this portion of Henry VI. to have been written in 1589; but doubts, with Theobald, whether the three plays comprised under the title of Henry VI. were actually composed by Shakspeare. Dr. Johnson however maintains, that they exhibit “no marks of spuriousness," and that they " are declared to be genuine by the voice of Shakspeare himself. The transactions of the piece are scattered through a period of thirty years, and introduced with little regard to historical accuracy. Lord Talbot who is killed at the end of the fourth act, did not in reality fall until July 13, 1453; and the second part of Henry VI. opens with the king's marriage, which was solemnized in the year 1445, or eight years before Talbot's death. In the same part, Dame Eleanor Cobham is introduced to insult Queen Margaret; though her penance and banishment for sorcery happened three years before that princess arrived in England. ------These deviations from the page of history are of little consequence to the mere lover of dramatic literature, as they neither weaken the gratification, nor diminish the effect of the scenic narrative. Poetry appeals to the passions, and imagination, like a true magician, lends her most powerful spells to excite or subdue them. But there are many to whom the great events of history are known only through the fascinating medium of a play or a romance; and it is frequently difficult, if not disagreeable to efface, in after life, the distorted impressions which they leave upon the memory. When viewed in the sober simplicity of historic truth, a favourite hero often loses much of his glitter, and a detested villain some portion of his turpitude. It is therefore of no little consequence to examine the materials of a dramatic fabric, to separate truth from fiction, and to shew "the age and body of the time, his form and pressure:" because, in lauding the productions of Shakspeare (particularly those historical pieces upon which he exercised such masterly talents,) it has been the fashion to represent them not only as morally entertaining, but also as politically instructive; an attribute with which, examination shows, it is dangerous to invest them. KING HENRY THE SIXTH. DRAMATIS PERSONE. DUKE OF GLOSTER, Uncle to the King, and DUKE OF BEDFORD, Uncle to the King, and THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset; after- RICHARD PLANTAGENET, eldest son of Richard, EARL OF WARWICK.-EARL OF SALISBURY.- LORD TALBOT, afterwards Earl of Shrews- JOHN TALBOT, his Son. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. VERNON, of the White Rose, or York Faction. BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Fac- CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King of REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular King DUKE OF BURGUNDY.-DUKE OF ALENÇON. A FRENCH SERGEANT.-A PORTER. OLD SHEPHERD, Father to Joan la MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier; after- JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE.-SIR THOMAS GAR-Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, GRAVE. MAYOR OF LONDON. WOODVILLE, Lieutenant of the Tower. 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. ACT I. SCENE I-Westminster Abbey. Dead merch. Corpse of King HENRY the Fifth 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! Comets, importing change of times and states, Virtue he had, deserving to command: His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings; What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech: Exe. We mourn in black; Why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Unto the French the dreadful judgment day His thread of life had not so soon decay'd : 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 1 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 :- Enter a MESSENGER. Another would fly swift but wanteth wings; 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 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; The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all y to him? O whither shall we fly from this reproach! throats: Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. An army have I muster'd in my thoughts Enter a third MESSENGER. 3 Mess. My gracious lords,-to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew King hearse, Henry's I must inform you of a dismal fight, so? 3 Mess. O no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er thrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large Mess. My honourable lords, health to you He wanted pikes to set before his archers; all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, 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 want of men money. Among the soldiers this is muttered,That here you maintain several factions; and Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of hedges, They pitched in the ground confusedly, him; Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he slew: And whilst a field should be despatch'd and Hence grew the general wreck and massacre ; fought, Enclosed were they with their enemies : A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, One would have ling'ring wars, with little cost; Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back; You are disputing of your generals. • There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms. f Nurse was anciently so spelt. Her, i e. England's. I. e. Their miseries which have had only a thert intermission. Whom all France, with their chief assembled | Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face. Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, For living idly here, in pomp and ease, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foe-man is betray'd. 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: I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords I'll change for one of our's. Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The English army is grown weak and faint: ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, here ? Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear : Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war. Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on them. Now for the honour of the forlorn French :- [Exeunt. others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have 1? Dogs! cowards! dastards;-I would ne'er have fled, But that they left me midst my enemies. Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; Alen. Froissard, a countryman of our's, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands + bred, They had such courage and audacity? Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hairbrain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more ea ger: Of old I know them; rather with their teeth The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege. Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Enter the BASTARD of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news for him. Char. Bastard § of Orleans, thrice welcome to Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? And drive the English forth the bounds of The spirit of deep prophecy she bath, descry. Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, For they are certain and infallible. can Char. Go, call her in: [Exit BASTARD.] But, first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern :By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. [Retires. Eater LA PUCELLE, BASTARD of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these won d'rous feats ? Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter, My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd Deck'd with five four-de-luces on each side; The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's church-yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no woman. man. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [They fight. Char. Stay, stay thy hands thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak. Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me : Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd. Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove ? * Reig. Woman, do what thou can'st to save our honours; Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come let's away about it: No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-London.-Hill before the Tower. Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Serving-men, in blue coats. Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance. -Where be these warders, that they wait not here ? Open the gates: Gloster it is that calls. [SERVANTS knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so imperiously? 1 Serv. It is the noble Duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him: We do no otherwise than we are will'd. but mine? There's none protector of the realm, but I.— SERVANTS rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I hear? Open the gates: here's Gloster that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience noble duke. I may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy pros-From him I have express commandment, trate thrall. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. mean? Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do know: These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you on? Shall we give over Orleans or no? Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight it out. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. Be firmly persuaded of it. + Expect prosperity after misfortune. That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in. Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Harry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? Thou art no friend to God or to the king: Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; [quickly. Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Enter WINCHESTER, Attended by a Train of Servants in tawny Coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means this? Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? |