Page:Henry VI Part 1 (1918) Yale.djvu/18

6

Here, there, and everywhere, enrag'd he flew:

The French exclaim'd the devil was in arms;

All the whole army stood agaz'd on him.

His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,

A Talbot! A Talbot! cried out amain,

And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.

Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up,

If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward.

He, being in the vaward,—plac'd behind,

With purpose to relieve and follow them,—

Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.

Hence grew the general wrack and massacre;

Enclosed were they with their enemies.

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace,

Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back;

Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength,

Durst not presume to look once in the face.

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,

For living idly here in pomp and ease

Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,

Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd.

Third Mess. O no! he lives; but is took prisoner,

And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford:

Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise.

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay:

I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne;

His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;

Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;

Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,

To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:

 124 flew; cf. n.

126 agaz'd on: astounded at

131 Sir John Fastolfe; cf. n.

132 vaward,—plac'd behind; cf. n.

136 with: by

148 Cf. n.

154 Saint George's feast; cf. n.

withal: therewith 