Page 266 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

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, despite of fate,
To my determined time thou gav’st new date.

T ALBOT

When from the dauphin’s crest thy sword struck fire, [10]
It warmed thy father’s heart with proud desire
Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,
Quickened with youthful spleen and warlike rage,
Beat down Alençon, Orléans, Burgundy,
And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee. [15]
The ireful Bastard Orléans, that drew blood
From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
Of thy first fight, I soon encounterèd
And, interchanging blows, I quickly shed
Some of his bastard blood, and in disgrace [20]
Bespoke him thus: ‘Contaminated, base,
And misbegotten 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, [25]
Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father’s care,
Art thou not weary, John? How dost thou fare?
Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
Now thou art sealed the son of chivalry?
Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead; [30]
The help of one stands me in little stead.
O, too much folly is it, well I wot,
To hazard all our lives in one small boat.
If I today die not with Frenchmen’s rage,
Tomorrow I shall die with mickle age. [35]
By me they nothing gain and, if I stay,
’Tis but the short’ning of my life one day.
In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,
My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame:
All these and more we hazard by thy stay; [40]
All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.

JOHN