Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 6

A field of battle.

  1. [Alarum: excursions, wherein Talbot's Son is hemmed about, and Talbot rescues him.]
  2. Lord Talbot
  3. 1993 Saint George and victory; fight, soldiers, fight:
  4. 1994 The regent hath with Talbot broke his word,
  5. 1995 And left us to the rage of France his sword.
  6. 1996 Where is John Talbot? Pause, and take thy breath;
  7. 1997 I gave thee life and rescued thee from death.
  8. John Talbot
  9. 1998 O, twice my father, twice am I thy son!
  10. 1999 The life thou gavest me first was lost and done,
  11. 2000 Till with thy warlike sword, despite of fate,
  12. 2001 To my determined time thou gavest new date.
  13. Lord Talbot
  14. 2002 When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire,
  15. 2003 It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire
  16. 2004 Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,
  17. 2005 Quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage,
  18. 2006 Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy,
  19. 2007 And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee.
  20. 2008 The ireful bastard Orleans, that drew blood
  21. 2009 From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
  22. 2010 Of thy first fight, I soon encountered,
  23. 2011 And interchanging blows I quickly shed
  24. 2012 Some of his bastard blood; and in disgrace
  25. 2013 Bespoke him thus; 'Contaminated base
  26. 2014 And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,
  27. 2015 Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine,
  28. 2016 Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:'
  29. 2017 Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,
  30. 2018 Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care,
  31. 2019 Art thou not weary, John? how dost thou fare?
  32. 2020 Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
  33. 2021 Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry?
  34. 2022 Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead:
  35. 2023 The help of one stands me in little stead.
  36. 2024 O, too much folly is it, well I wot,
  37. 2025 To hazard all our lives in one small boat!
  38. 2026 If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage,
  39. 2027 To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:
  40. 2028 By me they nothing gain an if I stay;
  41. 2029 'Tis but the short'ning of my life one day:
  42. 2030 In thee thy mother dies, our household's name,
  43. 2031 My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame:
  44. 2032 All these and more we hazard by thy stay;
  45. 2033 All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.
  46. John Talbot
  47. 2034 The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart;
  48. 2035 These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart:
  49. 2036 On that advantage, bought with such a shame,
  50. 2037 To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,
  51. 2038 Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,
  52. 2039 The coward horse that bears me fall and die!
  53. 2040 And like me to the peasant boys of France,
  54. 2041 To be shame's scorn and subject of mischance!
  55. 2042 Surely, by all the glory you have won,
  56. 2043 An if I fly, I am not Talbot's son;
  57. 2044 Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot;
  58. 2045 If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot.
  59. Lord Talbot
  60. 2046 Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete,
  61. 2047 Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet:
  62. 2048 If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side;
  63. 2049 And, commendable proved, let 's die in pride.
  64. [Exeunt.]