William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (79 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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KING HENRY
Stoop then, and set your knee against my foot.
Richard kneels
And in reguerdon of that duty done,
I gird thee with the valiant sword of York.
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet,
And rise created princely Duke of York.
I gird thee with the valiant sword of York.
Rise, Richard, like a true Plantagenet,
And rise created princely Duke of York.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK (
rising
)
rising
)
And so thrive Richard, as thy foes may fall;
And as my duty springs, so perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty.
And as my duty springs, so perish they
That grudge one thought against your majesty.
ALL BUT RICHARD AND SOMERSET
Welcome, high prince, the mighty Duke of York!
SOMERSET (
aside
)
aside
)
Perish, base prince, ignoble Duke of York!
GLOUCESTER
Now will it best avail your majesty
To cross the seas and to be crowned in France.
The presence of a king engenders love
Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends,
As it disanimates his enemies.
To cross the seas and to be crowned in France.
The presence of a king engenders love
Amongst his subjects and his loyal friends,
As it disanimates his enemies.
KING HENRY
When Gloucester says the word, King Henry goes,
For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.
For friendly counsel cuts off many foes.
GLOUCESTER
Your ships already are in readiness.
Sennet. Exeunt all but Exeter
EXETER
Ay, we may march in England or in France,
Not seeing what is likely to ensue.
This late dissension grown betwixt the peers
Burns under feigned ashes of forged love,
And will at last break out into a flame.
As festered members rot but by degree
Till bones and flesh and sinews fall away,
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal prophecy
Which, in the time of Henry named the Fifth,
Was in the mouth of every sucking babe:
That ‘Henry born at Monmouth should win all,
And Henry born at Windsor should lose all’—
Which is so plain that Exeter doth wish
His days may finish, ere that hapless time.
Exit
3.2Not seeing what is likely to ensue.
This late dissension grown betwixt the peers
Burns under feigned ashes of forged love,
And will at last break out into a flame.
As festered members rot but by degree
Till bones and flesh and sinews fall away,
So will this base and envious discord breed.
And now I fear that fatal prophecy
Which, in the time of Henry named the Fifth,
Was in the mouth of every sucking babe:
That ‘Henry born at Monmouth should win all,
And Henry born at Windsor should lose all’—
Which is so plain that Exeter doth wish
His days may finish, ere that hapless time.
Exit
Enter Joan la Pucelle, disguised, with four French Soldiers with sacks upon their backs
JOAN
These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen,
Through which our policy must make a breach.
Take heed. Be wary how you place your words.
Talk like the vulgar sort of market men
That come to gather money for their corn.
If we have entrance, as I hope we shall,
And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
I’ll by a sign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.
Through which our policy must make a breach.
Take heed. Be wary how you place your words.
Talk like the vulgar sort of market men
That come to gather money for their corn.
If we have entrance, as I hope we shall,
And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
I’ll by a sign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.
A SOLDIER
Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,
And we be lords and rulers over Rouen.
Therefore we’ll knock.
And we be lords and rulers over Rouen.
Therefore we’ll knock.
They knock
WATCH (
within
)
within
)
Qui là?
JOAN
Paysans, la pauvre gens de France:
Paysans, la pauvre gens de France:
Poor market folks that come to sell their corn.
WATCH (
opening the gates
)
opening the gates
)
Enter, go in. The market bell is rung.
JOAN
(aside)
(aside)
Now, Rouen, I’ll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.
Exeunt
Enter Charles the Dauphin, the Bastard of Orléans,
⌈
the Duke of Alençon, René Duke of Anjou, and French soldier
⌉
CHARLES
Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem,
And once again we’ll sleep secure in Rouen.
And once again we’ll sleep secure in Rouen.
BASTARD
Here entered Pucelle and her practisants.
Now she is there, how will she specify
‘Here is the best and safest passage in’?
Now she is there, how will she specify
‘Here is the best and safest passage in’?
RENE
By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower—
Which, once discerned, shows that her meaning is:
No way to that, for weakness, which she entered.
Which, once discerned, shows that her meaning is:
No way to that, for weakness, which she entered.
Enter Joan la Pucelle on the top, thrusting out a torch burning
JOAN
Behold, this is the happy wedding torch
That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,
But burning fatal to the Talbonites.
That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,
But burning fatal to the Talbonites.
BASTARD
See, noble Charles, the beacon of our friend.
The burning torch in yonder turret stands.
The burning torch in yonder turret stands.
CHARLES
Now shine it like a comet of revenge,
A prophet to the fall of all our foes!
A prophet to the fall of all our foes!
RENE
Defer no time; delays have dangerous ends.
Enter and cry, ‘The Dauphin!’, presently,
And then do execution on the watch.
Alarum. Exeunt
3.4Enter and cry, ‘The Dauphin!’, presently,
And then do execution on the watch.
Alarum. Exeunt
An alarum. Enter Lord Talbot in an excursion
TALBOT
France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears,
If Talbot but survive thy treachery.
Pucelle, that witch, that damnèd sorceress,
Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
Exit
3.5If Talbot but survive thy treachery.
Pucelle, that witch, that damnèd sorceress,
Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
Exit
An alarum. Excursions. The Duke of Bedford brought in sick, in a chair. Enter Lord Talbot and the Duke of Burgundy, without, within, Joan la Pucelle, Charles the Dauphin, the Bastard of Orléans,
⌈
the Duke of Alençon, and René Duke of Anjou
⌉
on the walls
JOAN
Good morrow gallants. Want ye corn for bread?
I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast
Before he’ll buy again at such a rate.
‘Twas full of darnel. Do you like the taste?
I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast
Before he’ll buy again at such a rate.
‘Twas full of darnel. Do you like the taste?
BURGUNDY
Scoff on, vile fiend and shameless courtesan.
I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own,
And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.
I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own,
And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.
CHARLES
Your grace may starve, perhaps, before that time.
BEDFORD
O let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason.
JOAN
What will you do, good graybeard? Break a lance
And run a-tilt at death within a chair?
And run a-tilt at death within a chair?
TALBOT
Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite,
Encompassed with thy lustful paramours,
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age
And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
Damsel, I’ll have a bout with you again,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
Encompassed with thy lustful paramours,
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age
And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
Damsel, I’ll have a bout with you again,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
JOAN
Are ye so hot, sir?—Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace.
If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
The English whisper together in counsel
God speed the parliament; who shall be the Speaker?
TALBOT
Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field?
JOAN
Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,
To try if that our own be ours or no.
To try if that our own be ours or no.
TALBOT
I speak not to that railing Hecate
But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest.
Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?
But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest.
Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?
ALENÇON
Seignieur, no.
TALBOT Seignieur, hang! Base muleteers of France, Like peasant footboys do they keep the walls And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.
JOAN
Away, captains, let’s get us from the walls,
For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.
Goodbye, my lord. We came but to tell you
That we are here.
Exeunt French from the walls
For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.
Goodbye, my lord. We came but to tell you
That we are here.
Exeunt French from the walls
TALBOT
And there will we be, too, ere it be long,
Or else reproach be Talbot’s greatest fame.
Vow Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
Pricked on by public wrongs sustained in France,
Either to get the town again or die.
And I—as sure as English Henry lives,
And as his father here was conqueror;
As sure as in this late betrayed town
Great Cceur-de-lion’s heart was burièd—
So sure I swear to get the town or die.
Or else reproach be Talbot’s greatest fame.
Vow Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
Pricked on by public wrongs sustained in France,
Either to get the town again or die.
And I—as sure as English Henry lives,
And as his father here was conqueror;
As sure as in this late betrayed town
Great Cceur-de-lion’s heart was burièd—
So sure I swear to get the town or die.
BURGUNDY
My vows are equal partners with thy vows.
TALBOT
But ere we go, regard this dying prince,
The valiant Duke of Bedford. (
To Bedford)
Come, my
lord,
We will bestow you in some better place,
Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.
The valiant Duke of Bedford. (
To Bedford)
Come, my
lord,
We will bestow you in some better place,
Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.
BEDFORD
Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me.
Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,
And will be partner of your weal or woe.
Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,
And will be partner of your weal or woe.
BURGUNDY
Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you.
BEDFORD
Not to be gone from hence; for once I read
That stout Pendragon, in his litter sick,
Came to the field and vanquishèd his foes.
Methinks I should revive the soldiers’ hearts,
Because I ever found them as myself.
That stout Pendragon, in his litter sick,
Came to the field and vanquishèd his foes.
Methinks I should revive the soldiers’ hearts,
Because I ever found them as myself.
TALBOT
Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!
Then be it so; heavens keep old Bedford safe.
And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand,
And set upon our boasting enemy.
Then be it so; heavens keep old Bedford safe.
And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand,
And set upon our boasting enemy.
Exit with Burgundy
An alarum. Excursions. Enter Sir John Fastolf and a
Captain
An alarum. Excursions. Enter Sir John Fastolf and a
Captain
CAPTAIN
Whither away, Sir John Fastolf, in such haste?
FASTOLF
Whither away? To save myself by flight.
We are like to have the overthrow again.
We are like to have the overthrow again.
CAPTAIN
What, will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot?
FASTOLF
Ay, all the Talbots in the world, to save my life. Exit
CAPTAIN
Cowardly knight, ill fortune follow thee!
Exit
Exit
Retreat. Excursions. Joan, Alençon, and Charles fly
BEDFORD
Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please,
For I have seen our enemies’ overthrow.
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They that of late were daring with their scoffs
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.
For I have seen our enemies’ overthrow.
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They that of late were daring with their scoffs
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.
Bedford dies, and is carried in by two in his chair
An alarum. Enter Lord Talbot, the Duke of Burgundy, and the rest of the English soldiers
TALBOT
Lost and recovered in a day again!
This is a double honour, Burgundy;
Yet heavens have glory for this victory!
This is a double honour, Burgundy;
Yet heavens have glory for this victory!
BURGUNDY
Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
Enshrines thee in his heart, and there erects
Thy noble deeds as valour’s monuments.
Enshrines thee in his heart, and there erects
Thy noble deeds as valour’s monuments.
TALBOT
Thanks, gentle Duke. But where is Pucelle now?
I think her old familiar is asleep.
Now where’s the Bastard’s braves, and Charles his
gleeks?
What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief
That such a valiant company are fled.
Now will we take some order in the town,
Placing therein some expert officers,
And then depart to Paris, to the King,
For there young Henry with his nobles lie.
I think her old familiar is asleep.
Now where’s the Bastard’s braves, and Charles his
gleeks?
What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief
That such a valiant company are fled.
Now will we take some order in the town,
Placing therein some expert officers,
And then depart to Paris, to the King,
For there young Henry with his nobles lie.
BURGUNDY
What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy.
TALBOT
But yet, before we go, let’s not forget
The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,
But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen.
A braver soldier never couched lance;
A gentler heart did never sway in court.
But kings and mightiest potentates must die,
For that’s the end of human misery. Exeunt
3.7The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,
But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen.
A braver soldier never couched lance;
A gentler heart did never sway in court.
But kings and mightiest potentates must die,
For that’s the end of human misery. Exeunt
Enter Charles the Dauphin, the Bastard of Orléans, the Duke of Alençon, Joan la Pucelle,
⌈
and French soldiers
⌉
JOAN
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 peacock sweep along his tail;
We’ll pull his plumes and take away his train,
If Dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.
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 peacock sweep along his tail;
We’ll pull his plumes and take away his train,
If Dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.
CHARLES
We have been guided by thee hitherto,
And of thy cunning had no diffidence.
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.
And of thy cunning had no diffidence.
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.
BASTARD (
to Joan
)
to Joan
)
Search out thy wit for secret policies,
And we will make thee famous through the world.
And we will make thee famous through the world.
ALENÇON (
to Joan
)
to Joan
)
We’ll set thy statue in some holy place
And have thee reverenced like a blessed saint.
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.
And have thee reverenced like a blessed saint.
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.
JOAN
Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:
By fair persuasions mixed with sugared words
We will entice the Duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot and to follow us. 20
By fair persuasions mixed with sugared words
We will entice the Duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot and to follow us. 20
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