PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING HENRY THE SIXTH. Duke of Gloster, Uncle to the King, and Protector. Duke of Bedford, Uncle to the King, and Regent of France. THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great Uncle to the King. HENRY BEAUFORT, great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal. JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset, afterwards Duke. Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury. Earl of Suffolk. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. Mortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer. SIR JOHN FASTOLFE. SIR WILLIAM LUCY. SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE. SIR THOMAS Gargrave. CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King of France. REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular King of Naples. An old Shepherd, Father to Joan la Pucelle. MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier; afterwards married to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several Attend. ants both on the English and French. SCENE, partly in England, and partly in France. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I. Westminster Abbey. Dead March. 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, fc. Bedford. HUNG be the heavens with black, yield day to Comets, importing change of times and states, Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. His brandished sword did blind men with his beams; He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered. Exe. We mourn in black; why mourn we not in blood? And death's dishonorable victory (629) Conjurers and sorcerers, that, afraid of him, Win. He was a king blessed of the King of kings. prayed, Had not churchmen His thread of life had not so soon decayed. Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector; Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace! Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.- When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck; Enter a Messenger. Mess. My honorable lords, health to you all! Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse? If Henry were recalled to life again, Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money Among the soldiers this is muttered, That here you maintain several factions; And, whilst a field should be despatched and fought, One would have lingering wars, with little cost; Let not sloth dim your honors, new begot. Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, 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; Except some petty towns of no import; The dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims; Exe. The dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats; Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness? An army have I mustered in my thoughts, Wherewith already France is overrun. Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,I must inform you cf a dismal fight, Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so? |