Flourish. Enter the King, Gloucester, Winchester,
Exeter; York, Warwick, and Vernon, with white roses;
Somerset, Suffolk, and Basset, with red roses.
To them, with his Soldiers, Talbot. TALBOT
My gracious prince and honorable peers,
Hearing of your arrival in this realm,
I have awhile given truce unto my wars
To do my duty to my sovereign;
In sign whereof, this arm, that hath reclaimed 5
To your obedience fifty fortresses,
Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength,
Besides five hundred prisoners of esteem,
Lets fall his sword before your Highness’ feet,
And with submissive loyalty of heart 10
Ascribes the glory of his conquest got
First to my God, and next unto your Grace. He kneels. | Unaware of the cloak and dagger stuff going on behind his back, Talbot
is back with the English lords and the king, now in France. He greets
the king, noting along the way that he's reclaimed fifty fortresses,
twelve cities, and seven walled towns, not to mention five hundred
esteemed prisoners. Not bad. He tells the king he's loyal and that he gives credit for all this first to God, then to the king. |
KING HENRY
Is this the Lord Talbot, Uncle Gloucester,
That hath so long been resident in France? GLOUCESTER
Yes, if it please your Majesty, my liege. 15 KING HENRY
Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord.
When I was young—as yet I am not old—
I do remember how my father said
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolvèd of your truth, 20
Your faithful service, and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward
Or been reguerdoned with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face.
Therefore stand up; and for these good deserts 25
We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronation take your place. Talbot rises.
Sennet. Flourish. All except
Vernon and Basset exit. | The king is pleased to meet him and recalls how his father used to
praise Talbot. He praises Talbot himself, then makes him Earl of
Shrewsbury. |
VERNON
Now, sir, to you that were so hot at sea,
Disgracing of these colors that I wear
In honor of my noble Lord of York, 30
Dar’st thou maintain the former words thou spak’st? BASSET
Yes, sir, as well as you dare patronage
The envious barking of your saucy tongue
Against my lord the Duke of Somerset. VERNON
Sirrah, thy lord I honor as he is. 35 BASSET
Why, what is he? As good a man as York. VERNON
Hark you, not so; in witness, take you that.
Strikes him. BASSET
Villain, thou knowest the law of arms is such
That whoso draws a sword ’tis present death,
Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood. 40
But I’ll unto his Majesty, and crave
I may have liberty to venge this wrong,
When thou shalt see I’ll meet thee to thy cost.
He exits. VERNON
Well, miscreant, I’ll be there as soon as you,
And after meet you sooner than you would. 45
He exits. | Meanwhile, the friends of York and Somerset are still quarrelling. The
scene ends with an argument between Vernon and Basset about them. |