Exclaim no more, for none of you can tell

Whether a borrowed aid will serve or no.

Perhaps he is already slain or ta’en.

And dare a falcon when she’s in her flight,

And ever after she’ll be haggard-like.

Let Edward be delivered by our hands

And, still in danger, he’ll expect the like.

But if himself himself redeem from thence,

He will have vanquished, cheerful, death and fear,

And ever after dread their force no more

Than if they were but babes or captive slaves.

AUDLEY

O cruel father! Farewell Edward, then.

EARL OF DERBY

Farewell, sweet Prince, the hope of chivalry.

COMTE D’ARTOIS

O, would my life might ransom him from death!

Trumpets sound retreat within

KING EDWARD But soft—methinks I hear

The dismal charge of trumpets’ loud retreat.

All are not slain, I hope, that went with him.

Some will return with tidings, good or bad.

Enter Edward Prince of Wales in triumph, bearing in his hand his shivered lance. The body of the King of Bohemia is borne before, wrapped in the colours of Bohemia. The English run and embrace the Prince

AUDLEY

O, joyful sight! Victorious Edward lives!

EARL OF DERBY

Welcome, brave Prince.

KINC EDWARD

Welcome, Plantagenet.

The Prince kneels and kisses his father’s hand

PRINCE OF WALES

First, having done my duty as beseemed,

Lords, I regreet you all with hearty thanks.

And now behold after my winter’s toil

My painful voyage on the boist’rous sea

Of war’s devouring gulfs and steely rocks

I bring my freight unto the wished port,

My summer’s hope, my travail’s sweet reward.

(Pointing at Bohemia’s body) And here, with humble duty, I present

This sacrifice, this first fruit of my sword,

Cropped and cut down even at the gate of death:

The King of Bohême, father, whom I slew,

Whose thousands had entrenched me round about,

And lay as thick upon my battered crest

As on an anvil with their ponderous glaives.

Yet marble courage still did underprop,

And when my weary arms with often blows,

Like the continual labouring woodman’s axe

That is enjoined to fell a load of oaks,

Began to falter, straight I would recover

My gifts you gave me and my zealous vow,

And then new courage made me fresh again

That, in despite, I carved my passage forth,

And put the multitude to speedy flight.

Lo, thus hath Edward’s hand filled your request

And done, I hope, the duty of a knight.

His sword borne forth by a soldier

KING EDWARD

Ay, well thou hast deserved a knighthood, Ned,

He takes the sword

And therefore, with thy sword yet reeking warm

With blood of those that fought to be thy bane,

He knights the Prince

Arise Prince Edward, trusty knight-at-arms.

This day thou hast confounded me with joy

And proved thyself fit heir unto a king.

PRINCE OF WALES (rising, and then giving the King a paper)

Here is a note, my gracious lord, of those

That in this conflict of our foes were slain:

Eleven princes of esteem, fourscore barons,

A hundred and twenty knights, and thirty thousand

Common soldiers—and of our men, a thousand.

KING EDWARD

Our God be praised! Now, Jean of France, I hope

Thou know’st King Edward for no wantonness,

No love-sick cockney, nor his soldiers jades.

But which way is the fearful King escaped?

PRINCE OF WALES

Towards Poitiers, noble father, and his sons.

KING EDWARD

Ned, thou and Audley shall pursue them still.

Myself and Derby will to Calais straight,

And there begirt that haven town with siege.

Now lies it on an upshot: therefore, strike,

And wistly follow whiles the game’s on foot. Exeunt

Sc. 9 Enter the Comte de Montfort with a coronet in his hand and with him the Earl of Salisbury

COMTE DE MONTFORT

My lord of Salisbury, since by your aid

Mine enemy Sir Charles of Blois is slain,

And I again am quietly possessed

In Bretagne’s dukedom, know that I resolve,

For this kind furtherance of your king and you,

To swear allegiance to his majesty—

He offers Salisbury the coronet

In sign whereof receive this coronet.

Bear it unto him, and withal mine oath

Never to be but Edward’s faithful friend.

EARL OF SALISBURY (taking the coronet)

I take it, Montfort. Thus I hope ere long

The whole dominions of the realm of France

Will be surrendered to his conquering hand.

Exit Montfort

Now, if I knew but safely how to pass,

I would at Calais gladly meet his grace,

Whither I am by letters certified

That he intends to have his host removed.

It shall be so. This policy will serve.

(Calling) Ho, who’s within? Bring Villiers to me.

Enter Villiers

Villiers, thou know’st thou art my prisoner,

And that I might for ransom, if I would,

Require of thee a hundred thousand francs,

Or else retain and keep thee captive still.

But so it is that for a smaller charge

Thou mayst be quit, an if thou wilt thyself.

And this it is: procure me but a passport