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Henry VI, Part 1 (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Scoena Secunda.
Enter Pucell disguis'd, with foure Souldiors with
Sacks vpon their backs.
Pucell. These are the Citie Gates, the Gates of Roan,
1425Through which our Pollicy must make a breach.
Take heed, be wary how you place your words,
Talke like the vulgar sort of Market men,
That come to gather Money for their Corne.
If we haue entrance, as I hope we shall,
1430And that we finde the slouthfull Watch but weake,
Ile by a signe giue notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dolphin may encounter them.
Souldier. Our Sacks shall be a meane to sack the City,
And we be Lords and Rulers ouer Roan,
1435Therefore wee'le knock.
Knock.
Watch. Che la.
Pucell. Peasauns la pouure gens de Fraunce,
Poore Market folkes that come to sell their Corne.
Watch. Enter, goe in, the Market Bell is rung.
1440 Pucell. Now Roan, Ile shake thy Bulwarkes to the
ground.
Exeunt.
Enter Charles, Bastard, Alanson.
Charles. Saint Dennis blesse this happy Stratageme,
And once againe wee'le sleepe secure in Roan.
1445 Bastard. Here entred Pucell, and her Practisants:
Now she is there, how will she specifie?
Here is the best and safest passage in.
Reig. By thrusting out a Torch from yonder Tower,
Which once discern'd, shewes that her meaning is,
1450No way to that (for weaknesse) which she entred.
Enter Pucell on the top, thrusting out a
Torch burning.
Pucell. Behold, this is the happy Wedding Torch,
That ioyneth Roan vnto her Countreymen,
1455But burning fatall to the Talbonites.
Bastard. See Noble Charles the Beacon of our friend,
The burning Torch in yonder Turret stands.
Charles. Now shine it like a Commet of Reuenge,
A Prophet to the fall of all our Foes.
1460 Reig. Deferre no time, delayes haue dangerous ends,
Enter and cry, the Dolphin, presently,
And then doe execution on the Watch.
Alarum.
An Alarum. Talbot in an Excursion.
Talb. France, thou shalt rue this Treason with thy teares,
1465If Talbot but suruiue thy Trecherie.
Pucell that Witch, that damned Sorceresse,
Hath wrought this Hellish Mischiefe vnawares,
That hardly we escap't the Pride of France.
Exit.
An Alarum: Excursions. Bedford brought
1470
in sicke in a Chayre.
Enter Talbot and Burgonie without: within, Pucell,
Charles, Bastard, and Reigneir on the Walls.
Pucell. God morrow Gallants, want ye Corn for Bread?
I thinke the Duke of Burgonie will fast,
1475Before hee'le buy againe at such a rate.
'Twas full of Darnell: doe you like the taste?
Burg. Scoffe on vile Fiend, and shamelesse Curtizan,
I trust ere long to choake thee with thine owne,
And make thee curse the Haruest of that Corne.
1480 Charles. Your Grace may starue (perhaps) before that
time.
Bedf. Oh let no words, but deedes, reuenge this Trea-
son.
Pucell. What will you doe, good gray-beard?
1485Breake a Launce, and runne a-Tilt at Death,
Within a Chayre.
Talb. Foule Fiend of France, and Hag of all despight,
Incompass'd with thy lustfull Paramours,
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant Age,
1490And twit with Cowardise a man halfe dead?
Damsell, Ile haue a bowt with you againe,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
Pucell. Are ye so hot, Sir: yet Pucell hold thy peace,
If Talbot doe but Thunder, Raine will follow.
1495
They whisper together in counsell.
God speed the Parliament: who shall be the Speaker?
Talb. Dare yee come forth, and meet vs in the field?
Pucell. Belike your Lordship takes vs then for fooles,
To try if that our owne be ours, or no.
1500 Talb. I speake not to that rayling Hecate,
But vnto thee Alanson, and the rest.
Will ye, like Souldiors, come and fight it out?
Alans. Seignior no.
Talb. Seignior hang: base Muleters of France,
1505Like Pesant foot-Boyes doe they keepe the Walls,
And dare not take vp Armes, like Gentlemen.
Pucell. Away Captaines, let's get vs from the Walls,
For Talbot meanes no goodnesse by his Lookes.
God b'uy my Lord, we came but to tell you
1510That wee are here.
Exeunt from the Walls.
Talb. And there will we be too, ere it be long,
Or else reproach be Talbots greatest fame.
Vow Burgonie, by honor of thy House,
Prickt on by publike Wrongs sustain'd in France,
1515Either to get the Towne againe, or dye.
And I, as sure as English Henry liues,
And as his Father here was Conqueror;
As sure as in this late betrayed Towne,
Great Cordelions Heart was buryed;
1520So sure I sweare, to get the Towne, or dye.
Burg. My Vowes are equall partners with thy
Vowes.
Talb. But ere we goe, regard this dying Prince,
The valiant Duke of Bedford: Come my Lord,
1525We will bestow you in some better place,
Fitter for sicknesse, and for crasie age.
Bedf. Lord Talbot, doe not so dishonour me:
Here will I sit, before the Walls of Roan,
And will be partner of your weale or woe.
1530 Burg. Couragious Bedford, let vs now perswade you.
Bedf. Not to be gone from hence: for once I read,
That stout Pendragon, in his Litter sick,
Came to the field, and vanquished his foes.
Me thinkes I should reuiue the Souldiors hearts,
1535Because I euer found them as my selfe.
Talb. Vndaunted spirit in a dying breast,
Then be it so: Heauens keepe old Bedford safe.
And now no more adoe, braue Burgonie,
But gather we our Forces out of hand,
1540And set vpon our boasting Enemie.
Exit.
An Alarum: Excursions. Enter Sir Iohn
Falstaffe, and a Captaine.
Capt. Whither away Sir Iohn Falstaffe, in such haste?
Falst. Whither away? to saue my selfe by flight,
1545We are like to haue the ouerthrow againe.
Capt. What? will you flye, and leaue Lord Talbot?
Falst. I, all the Talbots in the World, to saue my life.
Exit.
Capt. Cowardly Knight, ill fortune follow thee.
1550
Exit.
Retreat. Excursions. Pucell, Alanson, and
Charles flye.
Bedf. Now quiet Soule, depart when Heauen please,
For I haue seene our Enemies ouerthrow.
1555What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They that of late were daring with their scoffes,
Are glad and faine by flight to saue themselues.
Bedford dyes, and is carryed in by two in his Chaire.
An Alarum. Enter Talbot, Burgonie, and
1560
the rest.
Talb. Lost, and recouered in a day againe,
This is a double Honor, Burgonie:
Yet Heauens haue glory for this Victorie.
Burg. Warlike and Martiall Talbot, Burgonie
1565Inshrines thee in his heart, and there erects
Thy noble Deeds, as Valors Monuments.
Talb. Thanks gentle Duke: but where is Pucel now?
I thinke her old Familiar is asleepe.
Now where's the Bastards braues, and Charles his glikes?
1570What all amort? Roan hangs her head for griefe,
That such a valiant Company are fled.
Now will we take some order in the Towne,
Placing therein some expert Officers,
And then depart to Paris, to the King,
1575For there young Henry with his Nobles lye.
Burg. What wills Lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgonie.
Talb. But yet before we goe, let's not forget
The Noble Duke of Bedford, late deceas'd,
But see his Exequies fulfill'd in Roan.
1580A brauer Souldier neuer couched Launce,
A gentler Heart did neuer sway in Court.
But Kings and mightiest Potentates must die,
For that's the end of humane miserie.
Exeunt.