Continuation of The Complete works of William Shakespeare (King Henry VI, Part 1)

Continuation of The Complete works of William Shakespeare (King Henry VI, Part 1)

Winchester: He was a king bless'd of the king of Kings; unto the French the dreadful will not be, as was his sight. The battles of the Lord of Hosts he fought: The Church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Gloucester: The Church! Where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd, his thread of life had not so soon decay'd. None do you like but an effeminate prince, whom, like a schoolboy, you may overawe.

Winchester: Gloucester, whate'er we like, thou art protector and lookest to command the prince and realm. Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe, more than God or religious churchmen may.

Gloucester: Name not religion, for thou lov'st the flesh; and ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, except it be to pray against the foes.

Bedford: 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' moist eyes babes shall suck, our ishe be made a marish of salt tears, and none but women left to wail the dead. Henry the fifth! thy ghost I invocate: prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils! Combat with adverse planets in the heavens! Afar more glorious star the soul will make than Julius Caesar or bright - 

Enter a Messenger

Messenger: My honourable Lords, health to you all. Sad tidings bring to you our of France, of loss, of slaughter and discomifiture: Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans, Paris, Guysors, Poicters, are all quiet lost.

Bedford: What say'st thou, man! before dead Henry's corse. Speak softly or the loss of those great towns will make him burst his lead and rise from death.

Gloucester: Is Paris lost? Is Rouen yielded up? If Henry were recall'd to life again, these news would cause him once more yield the ghost.

Exeter: How were they lost? What treachery was us'd? 

Messenger: No treachery, but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered that here you maintain several factions; and, whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought, you are disputing of your generals. One would have lingering wars with little cost; another would fly swift, but wanteth wings; a third man thinks, without expense at all, by guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd. Awake, awake, English nobility! Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot: cropp'd are flower-de-luces in your arms; of England's coat one half is cut away.

Exeter: Were our tears wanting to this funeral, these tidings would call forth their flowing tides.

Bedford: Me they concern; regent I am if France. Give me my steeled coat I'll fight for France. Away with these disgraceful wailing robes! Wounds will I lens the French, instead of eyes, to weep their intermissive miseries.

To be continued tomorrow...