Tal.
O young John Talbot! I did send for thee,
To tutor thee in stratagems of war;
That Talbot's name might be in thee reviv'd,
When sapless age, and weak unable limbs,
Should bring thy father to his drooping chair.

But,—O malignant and ill-boding stars!—
Now thou art come unto a feast of death,
A terrible and unavoided danger:
Therefore, dear boy, mount on my swiftest horse;
And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape
By sudden flight: come, dally not, be gone.

Son.
Is my name Talbot? and am I your son?
And shall I fly? O, if you love my mother,
Dishonour not her honourable name,
To make a bastard, and a slave of me:
The world will say—He is not Talbot's blood,
That basely fled, when noble Talbot stood.

Tal.
Fly, to revenge my death, if I be slain.

Son.
He, that flies so, will ne'er return again.

Tal.
If we both stay, we both are sure to die.

Son.
Then, let me stay; and, father, do you fly:
Your loss is great, so your regard should be;
My worth unknown, no loss is known in me.
Upon my death the French can little boast;
In yours they will, in you all hopes are lost.
Flight cannot stain the honour you have won;
But mine it will, that no exploit have done:
You fled for vantage, every one will swear;
But, if I bow, they'll say—it was for fear.
There is no hope that ever I will stay,
If, the first hour, I shrink, and run away.
Here, on my knee, I beg mortality,
Rather than life, preserv'd with infamy.

Tal.
Shall all thy mother's hopes lie in one tomb?

Son.
Ay, rather than I'll shame my mother's womb.

Tal.
Upon my blessing I command thee go.

Son.
To fight I will, but not to fly the foe.

Tal.
Part of thy father may be sav'd in thee.

Son.
No part of him, but will be shame in me.

Tal.
Thou never hadst renown, nor canst not lose it.

Son.
Yes, your renowned name; Shall flight abuse it?

Tal.
Thy father's charge shall clear thee from that stain.

Son.
You cannot witness for me, being slain.
If death be so apparent, then both fly.

Tal.
And leave my followers here, to fight, and die?
My age was never tainted with such shame.

Son.
And shall my youth be guilty of such blame?
No more can I be sever'd from your side,
Than can yourself yourself in twain divide:
Stay, go, do what you will, the like do I;
For live I will not, if my father die.

Tal.
Then here I take my leave of thee, fair son, [embracing him.
Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon.
Come, side by side together live and die;
And soul with soul from France to heaven fly. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section