Before we met or that a stroke was given,
Like to a trusty squire did run away:

In which assault we lost twelve hundred men;
Myself and divers gentlemen beside

Were there surprised and taken prisoners.
Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss;
Or whether that such cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood, yea or no.
Glou. To say the truth, this fact was infamous 30
And ill beseeming any common man,

Much more a knight, a captain and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, Knights of the garter were of noble birth, Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, Such as were grown to credit by the wars; Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress, But always resolute in most extremes. He then that is not furnish'd in this sort Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight, Profaning this most honorable order, And should, if I were worthy to be judge, Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain That doth presume to boast of gentle blood. King. Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear'st thy doom!

40

Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight:
Henceforth we banish thee, on pain of death.

[Exit Fastolfe. And now, my lord protector, view the letter Sent from our uncle Duke of Burgundy.

38. "most," utmost.-C. H. H

Glou. What means his grace, that he hath changed his style?

50

No more but, plain and bluntly, "To the king!'
Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?
Or doth this churlish superscription

Pretend some alteration in good will?
What's here? [Reads] 'I have, upon especial

cause,

Moved with compassion of my country's wreck,
Together with the pitiful complaints

Of such as your oppression feeds upon,
Forsaken your pernicious faction,

And join'd with Charles, the rightful King of
France.'

O monstrous treachery! can this be so,

That in alliance, amity and oaths,

60

There should be found such false dissembling guile?

King. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt? Glou. He doth, my lord, and is become your foe. King. Is that the worst this letter doth contain? Glou. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes. King. Why, then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him,,

And give him chastisement for this abuse.

How say you, my lord? are you not content? 70 Tal. Content, my liege! yes, but that I am prevented,

54. “pretend” here bears the literal sense of hold out; not the same as that explained in the note to line 6 of this scene.-H. N. H. 71. "prevented," anticipated.-C. H. H.

I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd.

King. Then gather strength, and march unto him straight:

Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason,
And what offence it is to flout his friends.

Tal. I go, my lord, in heart desiring still
You may behold confusion of your foes.

Enter Vernon and Basset.

[Exit.

Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign. Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the combat too. York. This is my servant: hear him, noble

prince.

80

Som. And this is mine: sweet Henry, favor him. King. Be patient, lords; and give them leave to speak.

Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim? And wherefore crave you combat? or with whom?

Ver. With him, my lord; for he hath done me wrong.

Bas. And I with him; for he hath done me wrong. King. What is that wrong whereof you both complain?

First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Bas. Crossing the sea from England into France, This fellow here, with envious carping tongue,

78. “combat,” i. e. the right of single combat, for which, in the precincts of the court, the king's permission had to be obtained.— C. H. H.

KING HENRY VI

Roses make
symbol / split.

ct IV. Sc. i.

Upbraided me about the rose I wear; Saying, the sanguine color of the leaves Did represent my master's blushing cheeks, When stubbornly he did repugn the truth About a certain question in the law Argued betwixt the Duke of York and him; With other vile and ignominious terms: In confutation of which rude reproach, And in defense of my lord's worthiness, I crave the benefit of law of arms. Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord:

91

100

For though he seem with forged quaint conceit
To set a gloss upon his bold intent,

Yet know, my lord, I was provoked by him; And he first took exceptions at this badge, Pronouncing that the paleness of this flower Bewray'd the faintness of my master's heart. York. Will not this malice, Somerset, be left? Som. Your private grudge, my Lord of York, will out,

Though ne'er so cunningly you smother it. 110 King. Good Lord, what madness rules in brainsick

men,

When for so slight and frivolous a cause Such factious emulations shall arise! Good cousins both, of York and Somerset, Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace. York. Let this dissension first be tried by fight, And then your highness shall command a peace. Som. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; 102. "forged quaint conceit," ingenious fabrication.-C. H. H.

Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

119

York. There is my pledge; accept it, Somerset.
Ver. Nay, let it rest where it began at first.
Bas. Confirm it so, mine honorable lord.
Glou. Confirm it so! Confounded be your strife!
And perish ye, with your audacious prate!
Presumptuous vassals, are you not ashamed
With this immodest clamorous outrage
To trouble and disturb the king and us?
And you, my lords, methinks you do not well
To bear with their perverse objections;

Much less to take occasion from their mouths
To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves:

129

Let me persuade you take a better course. Exe. It grieves his highness: good my lords, be friends.

140

King. Come hither, you that would be combatants:
Henceforth I charge you, as you love our favor,
Quite to forget this quarrel and the cause.
And you, my lords, remember where we are;
In France, amongst a fickle wavering nation:
If they perceive dissension in our looks
And that within ourselves we disagree,
How will their grudging stomachs be provoked
To willful disobedience, and rebel!
Beside, what infamy will there arise,
When foreign princes shall be certified
That for a toy, a thing of no regard,
King Henry's peers and chief nobility
Destroy'd themselves, and lost the realm of
France

141. "stomachs,” spirits.-C. H. H.