Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (80 page)
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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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 extirpèd from our provinces.
France were no place for Henry’s warriors,
Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
But be extirpèd from our provinces.
ALENÇON
For ever should they be expulsed from France
And not have title of an earldom here.
And not have title of an earldom here.
JOAN
Your honours shall perceive how I will work
To bring this matter to the wished end.
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.
Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.
Here sound an English march
There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread,
And all the troops of English after him.
And all the troops of English after him.
Here sound a French march
Now in the rearward comes the Duke and his;
Fortune in favour makes him lag behind.
Summon a parley. We will talk with him.
Fortune in favour makes him lag behind.
Summon a parley. We will talk with him.
Trumpets sound a
parley
CHARLES ⌈
calling
⌉
calling
⌉
A parley with the Duke of Burgundy.
⌈
Enter the Duke of Burgundy
⌉
BURGUNDY
Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?
JOAN
The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.
BURGUNDY
What sayst thou, Charles?—for I am marching hence.
CHARLES
Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with thy words.
JOAN
Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France,
Stay. Let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.
Stay. Let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.
BURGUNDY
Speak on, but be not over-tedious.
JOAN
Look on thy country, look on fertile France,
And see the cities and the towns defaced
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.
And see the cities and the towns defaced
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 ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
Either she hath bewitched me with her words,
Or nature makes me suddenly relent.
Or nature makes me suddenly relent.
JOAN
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 fashioned 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 Orléans 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.
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 fashioned 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 Orléans 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 ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
I am vanquished. These haughty words of hers
Have battered me like roaring cannon-shot
And made me almost yield upon my knees.
(
To the others
) 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.
Have battered me like roaring cannon-shot
And made me almost yield upon my knees.
(
To the others
) 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.
JOAN
Done like a Frenchman—⌈
aside
⌉ turn and turn again.
aside
⌉ turn and turn again.
CHARLES
Welcome, brave Duke. Thy friendship makes us fresh.
BASTARD
And doth beget new courage in our breasts.
ALENÇON
Pucelle hath bravely played her part in this,
And doth deserve a coronet of gold.
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
3.8And seek how we may prejudice the foe.
Exeunt
⌈
Flourish
.⌉
Enter King Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, the Bishop of Winchester, the Duke of Exeter; Richard Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and Vernon
⌈
with white roses
⌉
; the Earl of Suffolk, the Duke of Somerset, and Basset
⌈
with red roses
⌉
. To them, with his soldiers, enter Lord Talbot
TALBOT
My gracious prince and honourable peers,
Hearing of your arrival in this realm
I have a while given truce unto my wars
To do my duty to my sovereign;
In sign whereof, this arm that hath reclaimed
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 God, and next unto your grace.
Hearing of your arrival in this realm
I have a while given truce unto my wars
To do my duty to my sovereign;
In sign whereof, this arm that hath reclaimed
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 God, and next unto your grace.
⌈
He kneels
⌉
KING HENRY
Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester,
That hath so long been resident in France?
That hath so long been resident in France?
GLOUCESTER
Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.
KING HENRY
(to Talbot)
(to Talbot)
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 resolvèd of your truth,
Your faithful service and your toil in war,
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been reguerdoned with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face.
Therefore stand up,
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 resolvèd of your truth,
Your faithful service and your toil in war,
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been reguerdoned with so much as thanks,
Because till now we never saw your face.
Therefore stand up,
Talbot rises
and for these good deserts
We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronation take your place.
And in our coronation take your place.
Sennet. Exeunt all but Vernon and Basset
VERNON
Now sir, to you that were so hot at sea,
Disgracing of these colours that I wear
In honour of my noble lord of York,
Dar’st thou maintain the former words thou spak’st?
Disgracing of these colours that I wear
In honour of my noble lord of York,
Dar’st thou maintain the former words thou spak’st?
BASSET
Yes, sir, as well as you dare patronage
The envious barking of your saucy tongue
Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.
The envious barking of your saucy tongue
Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.
VERNON
Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.
BASSET
Why, what is he?—as good a man as York.
VERNON
Hark ye, not so. In witness, take ye that.
Vernon strikes him
BASSET
Villain, thou know‘st 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.
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.
And after meet you sooner than you would.
Exeunt
4.1⌈
Flourish.
⌉
Enter King Henry, the Duke of Gloucester, the Bishop of Winchester, the Duke of Exeter,; Richard Duke of York, and the Earl of Warwick with white roses; the Earl of Suffolk and the Duke of Somerset with red roses; Lord Talbot, and the Governor of Paris
GLOUCESTER
Lord Bishop, set the crown upon his head.
WINCHESTER
God save King Henry, of that name the sixth I
Winchester crowns the King
GLOUCESTER
Now, Governor of Paris, take your oath
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 God.
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 God.
Enter Sir John Fastolf with a letter
FASTOLF
My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais
To haste unto your coronation
A letter was delivered to my hands,
To haste unto your coronation
A letter was delivered to my hands,
⌈
He presents the letters
⌉
Writ to your grace from th’ Duke of Burgundy.
TALBOT
Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee!
I vowed, base knight, when I did meet thee next,
To tear the Garter from thy craven’s leg,
I vowed, base knight, when I did meet thee next,
To tear the Garter from thy craven’s leg,
He tears it off
Which I have done because unworthily
Thou wast installèd in that high degree.—
Pardon me, princely Henry and the rest.
This dastard at the battle of Patay
When but in all I was six thousand strong,
And that the French were almost ten to one,
Before we met, or that a stroke was given,
Like to a trusty squire did run away;
In which assault we lost twelve hundred men.
Myself and divers gentlemen beside
Were there surprised and taken prisoners.
Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss,
Or whether that such cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood: yea or no?
Thou wast installèd in that high degree.—
Pardon me, princely Henry and the rest.
This dastard at the battle of Patay
When but in all I was six thousand strong,
And that the French were almost ten to one,
Before we met, or that a stroke was given,
Like to a trusty squire did run away;
In which assault we lost twelve hundred men.
Myself and divers gentlemen beside
Were there surprised and taken prisoners.
Then judge, great lords, if I have done amiss,
Or whether that such cowards ought to wear
This ornament of knighthood: yea or no?
GLOUCESTER
To say the truth, this fact was infamous
And ill beseeming any common man,
Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
And ill beseeming any common man,
Much more a knight, a captain and a leader.
TALBOT
When first this order was ordained, my lords,
Knights of the Garter were of noble birth,
Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes.
He then that is not furnished in this sort
Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,
Profaning this most honourable order,
And should—if I were worthy to be judge—
Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain
That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
Knights of the Garter were of noble birth,
Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage,
Such as were grown to credit by the wars;
Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress,
But always resolute in most extremes.
He then that is not furnished in this sort
Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight,
Profaning this most honourable order,
And should—if I were worthy to be judge—
Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain
That doth presume to boast of gentle blood.
KING HENRY (
to Fastolf
)
to Fastolf
)
Stain to thy countrymen, thou hear’st thy doom.
Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight.
Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death.
Be packing, therefore, thou that wast a knight.
Henceforth we banish thee on pain of death.
Exit Fastolf
And now, my Lord Protector, view the letter
Sent from our uncle, Duke of Burgundy.
Sent from our uncle, Duke of Burgundy.
GLOUCESTER
What means his grace that he hath changed his
style?
No more but plain and bluntly ‘To the King’?
Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?
Or doth this churlish superscription
Pretend some alteration in good will?
What’s here? ‘I have upon especial cause,
Moved with compassion of my country’s wrack
Together with the pitiful complaints
Of such as your oppression feeds upon,
Forsaken your pernicious faction
And joined with Charles, the rightful King of France.’
O monstrous treachery! Can this be so?
That in alliance, amity, and oaths
There should be found such false dissembling guile?
style?
No more but plain and bluntly ‘To the King’?
Hath he forgot he is his sovereign?
Or doth this churlish superscription
Pretend some alteration in good will?
What’s here? ‘I have upon especial cause,
Moved with compassion of my country’s wrack
Together with the pitiful complaints
Of such as your oppression feeds upon,
Forsaken your pernicious faction
And joined with Charles, the rightful King of France.’
O monstrous treachery! Can this be so?
That in alliance, amity, and oaths
There should be found such false dissembling guile?
KING HENRY
What? Doth my uncle Burgundy revolt?
GLOUCESTER
He doth, my lord, and is become your foe.
KING HENRY
Is that the worst this letter doth contain?
GLOUCESTER
It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes.
KING HENRY
Why then, Lord Talbot there shall talk with him
And give him chastisement for this abuse.
(
To Talbot
) How say you, my lord? Are you not
content?
And give him chastisement for this abuse.
(
To Talbot
) How say you, my lord? Are you not
content?
TALBOT
Content, my liege? Yes. But that I am prevented,
I should have begged I might have been employed.
I should have begged I might have been employed.
KING HENRY
Then gather strength and march unto him straight.
Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason,
And what offence it is to flout his friends.
Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason,
And what offence it is to flout his friends.
TALBOT
I go, my lord, in heart desiring still
You may behold confusion of your foes.
Exit
You may behold confusion of your foes.
Exit
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
5.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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