But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began, Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. Mess. All hail, my lords! which of this princely train ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts Call So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him? Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of men 11 where she lies;] i. e. where she dwells. Malane. Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, captain. [whispers]-You perceive my mind. Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Auvergne. Court of the Castle. Enter the Countess and her Porter. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And, when you have done so, bring the keys to me. Port. Madam, I will. 1 [Exit. Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit, As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and TALBOT. Mess. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man? Mess. Madam, it is. Count. Is this the scourge of France? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see, report is fabulous and false: I thought, I should have seen some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspéct, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp 2 their censure] i. e. their opinion. So, in King Richard III: "And give your censures in this weighty business." Steevens. 3 That with his name the mothers still their babes?] Dryden has transplanted this idea into his Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: "Nor shall Sebastian's formidable name "Be longer us'd, to lull the crying babe." Steevens. Should strike such terror to his enemies. Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: But, since your ladyship is not at leisure, I'll sort some other time to visit you. Count. What means he now?-Go ask him, whither he goes. Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves Re-enter Porter, with Keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. But now the substance shall endure the like; Wasted our country, slain our citizens, Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan. Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond," To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, ser Count. Why, art not thou the man? Tal. Count. Then have I substance too. I am, indeed. 4 — writhled —] i. e. wrinkled. The word is used by SpenSir Thomas Hanmer reads-wrizled, which has been fol lowed in subsequent editions. Malone. The instance from Spenser, is the following: "Her writhled skin, as rough as maple rind." Again, in Marston's fourth Satire: 5 6 "Cold, writhled eld, his lives wet almost spent." Steevens. captivate.] So, in Soliman and Perseda: If not destroy'd and bound, and captivate, "If captivate, then forc'd from holy faith." Steevens. so fond,] i. e. so foolish. So, in King Henry IV, P. II: “Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence." Steevens. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Your roof were not sufficient to contain it. Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce; & He will be here, and yet he is not here: How can these contrarieties agree? Tal. That will I show you presently. Lady He winds a Horn. Drums heard; then a Peal of Ordnance. The Gates being forced, enter Soldiers. How say you, madam? are you now persuaded, These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I did not entertain thee as thou art. Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done, hath not offended me: No other satisfaction do I crave, 7 - I am but shadow of myself:] So, in King Henry VIII: "I am the shadow of poor Buckingham." Steevens. This is a riddling merchant &c.] So, in Romeo and Juliet: See a note on this passage, Act II, sc. iv. Steevens. 9 That will I show you presently.] The deficient foot in this line may properly be supplied, by reading: That, madam, will I show you presently. Steevens. bruited,] To bruit is to proclaim with noise, to announce loudly. So, in Macbeth: " one of greatest note "Seems bruited." Steevens. But only (with your patience) that we may Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt. Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer." Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means this silence? Dare no man answer in a case of truth? Suf. Within the Temple hall we were too loud; Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain'd the truth; And, therefore, frame the law unto my will. Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then between us. War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch, Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth, Between two blades, which bears the better temper, Between two horses, which doth bear him best,4 Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye, I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judgment: But in these nice sharp quillets of the law, Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw. 2 and another Lawyer.] Read-a lawyer. This lawyer was probably Roger Nevyle, who was afterward hanged. See W. Wyrcester, p. 478. Ritson. 3 Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?] So all the editions. There is apparently a want of opposition between the two questions. I once read: Or else was wrangling Somerset i' th' right? Johnson. Sir T. Hanmer would read: 4 bear him best,] i. e. regulate his motions most adroitly. So, in Romeo and Juliet: "He bears him like a portly gentleman." Steevens. |