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J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
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SCENE II. The French Camp. Enter Dauphin, Orleans, Rambures, and Others.

Orl.
The sun doth gild our armour: up, my lords!

Dau.
Montez à cheval:—My horse! valet! lacquay! ha!

Orl.
O brave spirit!

Dau.
Via!—les eaux et la terre8 note!

Orl.
Rien puis? l'air et le feu!

Dau.
Ciel! cousin Orleans. Enter Constable.
Now, my lord Constable!

Con.
Hark, how our steeds for present service neigh.

Dau.
Mount them, and make incision in their hides,
That their hot blood may spin in English eyes,
And doubt them with superfluous courage9 note: Ha!

Ram.
What, will you have them weep our horses' blood?
How shall we then behold their natural tears?
Enter a Messenger.

Mess.
The English are embattled, you French peers.

Con.
To horse, you gallant princes! straight to horse!
Do but behold yon poor and starved band,

-- 537 --


And your fair show shall suck away their souls;
Leaving them but the shales and husks of men10 note.
There is not work enough for all our hands;
Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins,
To give each naked curtle-ax a stain,
That our French gallants shall to-day draw out,
And sheath for lack of sport: let us but blow on them,
The vapour of our valour will o'erturn them.
'Tis positive against all exceptions, lords,
That our superfluous lackeys, and our peasants,
Who in unnecessary action swarm
About our squares of battle, were enow
To purge this field of such a hilding foe,
Though we, upon this mountain's basis by
Took stand for idle speculation:
But that our honours must not. What's to say?
A very little little let us do,
And all is done. Then, let the trumpets sound
The tucket-sonnance1 note, and the note to mount:
For our approach shall so much dare the field,
That England shall couch down in fear, and yield. Enter Grandpré.

Grand.
Why do you stay so long, my lords of France?
Yond' island carrions, desperate of their bones,
Ill-favour'dly become the morning field:
Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose,
And our air shakes them passing scornfully.
Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggar'd host,
And faintly through a rusty beaver peeps.
The horsemen sit like fixed candlesticks,

-- 538 --


With torch-staves in their hand; and their poor jades
Lob down their heads, dropping the hides and hips,
The gum down-roping from their pale-dead eyes,
And in their pale dull mouths the gimmal bit2 note
Lies foul with chew'd grass, still and motionless;
And their executors, the knavish crows,
Fly o'er them, all impatient for their hour.
Description cannot suit itself in words,
To demonstrate the life of such a battle,
In life so lifeless as it shows itself.

Con.
They have said their prayers, and they stay for death.

Dau.
Shall we go send them dinners, and fresh suits,
And give their fasting horses provender,
And after fight with them?

Con.
I stay but for my guard. On, to the field!
I will the banner from a trumpet take,
And use it for my haste. Come, come, away!
The sun is high, and we outwear the day.
[Exeunt.
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J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
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