King Henry the Fifth Part 15

And so, fare thee well: Thou never shalt hear herald any more.

[_Exit with Attendants, U.E.L.H._

_K. Hen._ Now, soldiers, march away:-- And how thou pleasest, Heaven, dispose the day!(K)

_Trumpet March._

[_Exeunt L.H._

[Footnote IV.17: _The king himself is rode to view their battle._]

The king is reported to have dismounted before the battle commenced, and to have fought on foot.]

[Footnote IV.18: _----on the vigil feast his friends_,] i.e., the evening before the festival.]

[Footnote IV.19: _----with advantages_,] Old men, notwithstanding the natural forgetfulness of age, shall remember _their feats of this day_, and remember to tell them _with advantage_. Age is commonly boastful, and inclined to magnify past acts and past times. --JOHNSON.]

[Footnote IV.20: _From this day to the ending_] It may be observed that we are apt to promise to ourselves a more lasting memory than the changing state of human things admits. This prediction is not verified; the feast of Crispin pa.s.ses by without any mention of Agincourt. Late events obliterate the former: the civil wars have left in this nation scarcely any tradition of more ancient history. --JOHNSON.]

[Footnote IV.21: _----gentle his condition:_] This day shall advance him to the rank of a gentleman.

King Henry V. inhibited any person but such as had a right by inheritance, or grant, to a.s.sume coats of arms, except those who fought with him at the battle of Agincourt; and, I think, these last were allowed the chief seats of honour at all feasts and publick meetings. --TOLLET.]

[Footnote IV.22: _----bravely in their battles set._] Bravely, for gallantly.]

[Footnote IV.23: _Bid them achieve me,_] i.e., gain, or obtain me.]

[Footnote IV.24: _----warriors for the +working-day+:_] We are soldiers but coa.r.s.ely dressed; we have not on our holiday apparel.]

[Footnote IV.25: _----our +guilt+_] i.e., golden show, superficial gilding. The word is obsolete.]

SCENE IV.--ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE.

_Alarums. Enter DAUPHIN, ORLEANS, BOURBON, CONSTABLE, RAMBURES, and Others, hastily, and in confusion, L.H._

_Dau._ (C.) All is confounded, all!

Reproach and everlasting shame Sits mocking in our plumes.

[_Alarums, L._

_Con._ Why, all our ranks are broke.

_Dau._ O perdurable shame![26]--let's stab ourselves.

Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for?

_Orl._ (L.C.) Is this the king we sent to for his ransom?

_Dau._ Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame!

Let us die in honor: Once more back again.

_Con._ (C.) Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now!

Let us in heaps go offer up our lives Unto these English, or else die with fame.

_Dau._ (R.C.) We are enough, yet living in the field, To smother up the English in our throngs, If any order might be thought upon.

_Con._ The devil take order now! I'll to the throng: Let life be short; else shame will be too long.

_Alarums._

[_Exeunt L.H._

[Footnote IV.26: _O +perdurable+ shame!_] _Perdurable_ is lasting.]

SCENE V.--THE FIELD OF AGINCOURT AFTER THE BATTLE.

[_The bodies of the DUKE OF YORK(L) and EARL OF SUFFOLK are borne across the stage by soldiers._

_Trumpets sound._

_Enter KING HENRY with a part of the English forces; WARWICK, BEDFORD, GLOSTER, EXETER, and others, L.H._

_K. Hen._ (C.) I was not angry since I came to France, Until this instant.--Take a trumpet, herald; Ride thou unto the hors.e.m.e.n on yon hill:(M) If they will fight with us, bid them come down, Or void the field;[27] they do offend our sight: If they'll do neither, we will come to them; And make them skirr away, as swift as stones Enforced from the old a.s.syrian slings.

Go, and tell them so.

[_Exit HERALD with Trumpeter, R.H._

_Exe._ The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.

_K. Hen._ Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour, I saw him down; thrice up again and fighting; From helmet to the spur, all blood he was.

_Exe._ In which array, (brave soldier), did he lie, Larding the plain; and by his b.l.o.o.d.y side, (Yoke fellow to his honour-owing wounds), The n.o.ble Earl of Suffolk also lay.

Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over, Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteep'd, And takes him by the hand; kisses the gashes, That bloodily did yarn upon his face; And cries aloud:--_Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk!

My soul shall thine keep company to heaven: Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast; As in this glorious and well foughten field, We keep together in our chivalry!_ Upon these words I came, and cheer'd him up: He smil'd me in the face, raught me his hand,[28]

And with a feeble gripe, says,--_Dear, my lord, Commend my service to my sovereign._ So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm, and kiss'd his lips; And so espous'd to death, with blood he seal'd A testament of n.o.ble-ending love.

The pretty and sweet manner of it forc'd Those waters from me, which I would have stopp'd; But I had not so much of man in me, But all my mother came into mine eyes, And gave me up to tears.

[_Re-enter ENGLISH HERALD and Trumpeter, R.H._

_K. Hen._ I blame you not: For, hearing this, I must perforce compound With mistful eyes, or they will issue too.

[_Trumpet without, R._

_Exe._ Here comes the herald of the French, my liege.