The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 184

Enter CHARLES, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, ALENCON, LA PUCELLE, and forces

PUCELLE. Dismay not, Princes, at this accident, Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered.

Care is no cure, but rather corrosive, For things that are not to be remedied.

Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while And like a peac.o.c.k sweep along his tail; We'll pull his plumes and take away his train, If Dauphin and the rest will be but rul'd.

CHARLES. We have guided by thee hitherto, And of thy cunning had no diffidence; One sudden foil shall never breed distrust b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Search out thy wit for secret policies, And we will make thee famous through the world.

ALENCON. We'll set thy statue in some holy place, And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint.

Employ thee, then, sweet virgin, for our good.

PUCELLE. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise: By fair persuasions, mix'd with sug'red words, We will entice the Duke of Burgundy To leave the Talbot and to follow us.

CHARLES. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, France were no place for Henry's warriors; Nor should that nation boast it so with us, But be extirped from our provinces.

ALENCON. For ever should they be expuls'd from France, And not have tide of an earldom here.

PUCELLE. Your honours shall perceive how I will work To bring this matter to the wished end.

[Drum sounds afar off]

Hark! by the sound of drum you may perceive Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.

Here sound an English march. Enter, and pa.s.s over at a distance, TALBOT and his forces

There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread, And all the troops of English after him.

French march. Enter the DUKE OF BURGUNDY and his forces

Now in the rearward comes the Duke and his.

Fortune in favour makes him lag behind.

Summon a parley; we will talk with him.

[Trumpets sound a parley]

CHARLES. A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!

BURGUNDY. Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?

PUCELLE. The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.

BURGUNDY. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence.

CHARLES. Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with thy words.

PUCELLE. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France!

Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.

BURGUNDY. Speak on; but be not over-tedious.

PUCELLE. Look on thy country, look on fertile France, And see the cities and the towns defac'd By wasting ruin of the cruel foe; As looks the mother on her lowly babe When death doth close his tender dying eyes, See, see the pining malady of France; Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Which thou thyself hast given her woeful breast.

O, turn thy edged sword another way; Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help!

One drop of blood drawn from thy country's bosom Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore.

Return thee therefore with a flood of tears, And wash away thy country's stained spots.

BURGUNDY. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent.

PUCELLE. Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.

Who join'st thou with but with a lordly nation That will not trust thee but for profit's sake?

When Talbot hath set footing once in France, And fas.h.i.+on'd thee that instrument of ill, Who then but English Henry will be lord, And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?

Call we to mind-and mark but this for proof: Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?

And was he not in England prisoner?

But when they heard he was thine enemy They set him free without his ransom paid, In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.

See then, thou fight'st against thy countrymen, And join'st with them will be thy slaughtermen.

Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord; Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.

BURGUNDY. I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers Have batt'red me like roaring cannon-shot And made me almost yield upon my knees.

Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace.

My forces and my power of men are yours; So, farewell, Talbot; I'll no longer trust thee.

PUCELLE. Done like a Frenchman- [Aside] turn and turn again.

CHARLES. Welcome, brave Duke! Thy friends.h.i.+p makes us fresh.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. And doth beget new courage in our b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

ALENCON. Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this, And doth deserve a coronet of gold.

CHARLES. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers, And seek how we may prejudice the foe. Exeunt

SCENE 4.

Paris. The palace

Enter the KING, GLOUCESTER, WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, EXETER, VERNON, Ba.s.sET, and others. To them, with his soldiers, TALBOT

TALBOT. My gracious Prince, and honourable peers, Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have awhile given truce unto my wars To do my duty to my sovereign; In sign whereof, this arm that hath reclaim'd To your obedience fifty fortresses, Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem, Lets fall his sword before your Highness' feet, And with submissive loyalty of heart Ascribes the glory of his conquest got First to my G.o.d and next unto your Grace. [Kneels]

KING HENRY. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester, That hath so long been resident in France?

GLOUCESTER. Yes, if it please your Majesty, my liege.

KING HENRY. Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!

When I was young, as yet I am not old, I do remember how my father said A stouter champion never handled sword.

Long since we were resolved of your truth, Your faithful service, and your toil in war; Yet never have you tasted our reward, Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks, Because till now we never saw your face.

Therefore stand up; and for these good deserts We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury; And in our coronation take your place.

Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but VERNON and Ba.s.sET VERNON. Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea, Disgracing of these colours that I wear In honour of my n.o.ble Lord of York Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spak'st?

Ba.s.sET. Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy tongue Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.

VERNON. Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.

Ba.s.sET. Why, what is he? As good a man as York!

VERNON. Hark ye: not so. In witness, take ye that.

[Strikes him]

Ba.s.sET. Villain, thou knowest the law of arms is such That whoso draws a sword 'tis present death, Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.

But I'll unto his Majesty and crave I may have liberty to venge this wrong; When thou shalt see I'll meet thee to thy cost.

VERNON. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. Exeunt

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ACT IV. SCENE 1.

Park. The palace

Enter the KING, GLOUCESTER, WINCHESTER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WARWICK, TALBOT, EXETER, the GOVERNOR OF PARIS, and others

GLOUCESTER. Lord Bishop, set the crown upon his head.

WINCHESTER. G.o.d save King Henry, of that name the Sixth!

GLOUCESTER. Now, Governor of Paris, take your oath [GOVERNOR kneels]

That you elect no other king but him, Esteem none friends but such as are his friends, And none your foes but such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state.

This shall ye do, so help you righteous G.o.d!

Exeunt GOVERNOR and his train