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-boading stars!
Now art thou come unto a feast of death,
A terrible and unavoided danger.
Therefore, dear boy, mount on thy swiftest horse,
And I'll direct thee how thou shalt escape
By sudden flight. Come dally not, be gone.

John.
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.

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

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

John.
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, ev'ry 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 lye in one tomb?

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

Tal.
Upon my blessing I command thee go.

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

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

John.
No part of him but will be shame in me.

Tal.
Thou never hadst renown, and canst not lose it.

John.
Yes, your renowned name; shall flight abuse it?

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

John.
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.

John.
And shall my youth be guilty of such blame?
No more can I be sever'd from your side,
Than can your self, your self 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,
Born to eclipse thy life this afternoon:
Come, side by side together live and die,
And soul with soul from France to heav'n shall fly. [Exeunt. Alarum: excursions, wherein Talbot's son is hemm'd about, and Talbot rescues him.

Tal.
St. George, and victory! fight soldiers, fight:

The Regent hath with Talbot broke his word,
And left us to the rage of France's sword.
Where is John Talbot? pause, and take thy breath,
I gave thee life, and rescu'd thee from death.

John.
O twice my father, twice am I thy son:
The life thou gav'st me first was lost and done,
'Till with thy warlike sword, despight of fate,
To my determin'd time thou gav'st new date.

Tal.
When from the Dauphin's crest thy sword struck fire,
It warm'd thy father's heart with proud desire
Of bold-fac'd victory. Then, leaden age
Quicken'd with youthful spleen and warlike rage,
Beat down Alanson, Orleans, Burgundy,
And from the pride of Gallia rescu'd thee.
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; then in disgrace
Bespoke him thus: Contaminated, base,
And mis-begotten 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,
Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father's care,
Art not thou weary, John? how dost thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battel, boy, and fly?
Now thou art seal'd the son of chivalry?
Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead;
The help of one stands me in little stead.
Oh 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.
By me they nothing gain; and if I stay,
'Tis but the shortning of my life one day.
In thee thy mother dies, our houshold's name,
My death's revenge, thy youth, and England's fame:
All these and more we hazard by thy stay;
All these are sav'd if thou wilt fly away.

John.
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,
Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,
The coward horse that bears me, fall 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,
And 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.

Tal.
Then follow thou thy desp'rate Sire of Creet,
Thou Icarus, thy life to me is sweet:
If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father's side,
And commendable prov'd, let's die in pride. [Exeunt.

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