| ACT IV SCENE VI | A field of battle. | |
| [
Alarum: excursions, wherein JOHN TALBOT is
hemmed about, and TALBOT rescues him
] |
| TALBOT | Saint George and victory! fight, soldiers, fight. |
| The regent hath with Talbot broke his word |
| And left us to the rage of France his sword. |
| Where is John Talbot? Pause, and take thy breath; |
| I gave thee life and rescued thee from death. | 5 |
| JOHN TALBOT | O, twice my father, twice am I thy son! |
| The life thou gavest me first was lost and done, |
| Till with thy warlike sword, despite of late, |
| To my determined time thou gavest new date. |
| TALBOT | When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire, | 10 |
| It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire |
| Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age, |
| Quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage, |
| Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy, |
| And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee. | 15 |
| The ireful bastard Orleans, that drew blood |
| From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood |
| Of thy first fight, I soon encountered, |
| And interchanging blows I quickly shed |
| Some of his bastard blood; and in disgrace | 20 |
| Bespoke him thus; 'Contaminated, base |
| And misbegotten blood I spill of thine, |
| Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine |
| Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:' |
| Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy, | 25 |
| Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care, |
| Art thou not weary, John? how dost thou fare? |
| Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly, |
| Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry? |
| Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead: | 30 |
| The help of one stands me in little stead. |
| O, too much folly is it, well I wot, |
| To hazard all our lives in one small boat! |
| If I to-day die not with Frenchmen's rage, |
| To-morrow I shall die with mickle age: | 35 |
| By me they nothing gain an if I stay; |
| 'Tis but the shortening of my life one day: |
| In thee thy mother dies, our household's name, |
| My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame: |
| All these and more we hazard by thy stay; | 40 |
| All these are saved if thou wilt fly away. |
| JOHN TALBOT | The sword of Orleans hath not made me smart; |
| These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart: |
| On that advantage, bought with such a shame, |
| To save a paltry life and slay bright fame, | 45 |
| Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly, |
| The coward horse that bears me fail and die! |
| And like me to the peasant boys of France, |
| To be shame's scorn and subject of mischance! |
| Surely, by all the glory you have won, | 50 |
| An if I fly, I am not Talbot's son: |
| Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot; |
| If son to Talbot, die at Talbot's foot. |
| TALBOT | Then follow thou thy desperate sire of Crete, |
| Thou Icarus; thy life to me is sweet: | 55 |
| If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side; |
| And, commendable proved, let's die in pride. |
| [Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)