Here on my knee I beg mortality, Rather than life preserved with infamy. TALBOT Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb? JOHN TALBOT Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb. TALBOT Upon my blessing, I command thee go. JOHN TALBOT To fight I will, but not to fly the foe. TALBOT Part of thy father may be saved in thee. JOHN TALBOT No part of him but will be shame in me. TALBOT Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not lose it. JOHN TALBOT Yes, your renowned name: shall flight abuse it? TALBOT Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain. JOHN TALBOT You cannot witness for me, being slain.
If death be so apparent, then both fly. TALBOT And leave my followers here to fight and die?
My age was never tainted with such shame. JOHN TALBOT And shall my youth be guilty of such blame?
No more can I be sever'd from your side, Than can yourself yourself in twain divide:
Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I;For live I will not, if my father die. TALBOT Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon.
Come, side by side together live and die.
And soul with soul from France to heaven fly.
Exeunt SCENE VI. A field of battle. Alarum: excursions, wherein JOHN TALBOT is hemmed about, 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 TALBOT 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 late, 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 shortening 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 TALBOT 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 fail 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.
Exeunt SCENE VII. Another part of the field. Alarum: excursions. Enter TALBOT led by a Servant TALBOT Where is my other life? mine own is gone;O, where's young Talbot? where is valiant John?
Triumphant death, smear'd with captivity, Young Talbot's valour makes me smile at thee: