KING HENRY VI. PART 1. 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, EARL OF WARWICK, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c. Bed. Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, Glos. England ne'er had a king, until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command. His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams: His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings: His sparkling eyes, replete with wrathful fire, Exe. We mourn in black: why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive: Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings. The church's prayers made him so prosperous. Glos. The church! where is it? Had not church men pray'd, His thread of life had not so soon decay'd. There was a notion long prevalent that life might be destroyed by metrical charms. Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro tector, And lookest to command the prince and realm. Glos. Name not religion, for thou lovest the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou goest, Except it be to pray against thy foes. Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace. Let's to the altar. Heralds, wait on us :— Instead of gold, we 'll offer up our arms; Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead. Posterity, await for wretched years, When at their mothers' moisten'd eyes babes shall suck; Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears, Enter MESSENGER. Mes. My honorable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, 1 Nurse. Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture: Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans, Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse? Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns If Henry were recall'd to life again, These news would cause him once more yield the ghost. Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was used? Mes. No treachery; but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered ;— That here you maintain several factions; One would have lingering wars, with little cost; Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, These tidings would call forth her 1 flowing tides. i. e. England's. : 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.1 Enter another MESSENGER. 2 Mes. 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; The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd; Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part; The duke of Alençon flieth to his side. Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him! O, whither shall we fly from this reproach? Glos. 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 forward- An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Enter a third MESSENGER. 3 Mes. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Their miseries, which have lately had a short intermission. |