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  • Title: Henry VI, Part 1 (Modern)
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    Author: William Shakespeare
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    Henry VI, Part 1 (Modern)

    Enter [Joan la] Pucelle disguised, with four [French] Soldiers with sacks upon their backs.
    Pucelle
    These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen,
    1425Through 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,
    1430And 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.
    Soldier
    Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,
    And we be lords and rulers over Rouen.
    1435Therefore we'll knock.
    [They] knock.
    Qui là.
    Pucelle
    Paysans, la pauvre gens de France:
    Poor market folks that come to sell their corn.
    Enter, go in, the market bell is rung.
    1440Pucelle
    Now, Rouen, I'll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.
    Exeunt.
    Enter Charles [the Dauphin, the] Bastard [of Orléans, the Duke of] Alencon, [Reignier Duke of Anjou, and French Soldiers.]
    Charles
    Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem,
    And once again we'll sleep secure in Rouen.
    1445Bastard
    Here entered Pucelle and her practisants.
    Now she is there, how will she specify
    "Here is the best and safest passage in"?
    Reignier
    By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower;
    Which, once discerned, shows that her meaning is:
    1450No way to that, for weakness, which she entered.
    Enter [Joan la] Pucelle on the top, thrusting out a torch burning.
    Pucelle
    Behold, this is the happy wedding torch
    That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,
    1455But burning fatal 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 comet of revenge.
    A prophet to the fall of all our foes.
    1460Reignier
    Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends.
    Enter 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,
    1465If 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 1470in 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 Alencon], and Reignier [Duke of Anjou] on the walls.
    Pucelle
    Good morrow gallants. Want ye corn for bread?
    I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast
    1475Before 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.
    1480Charles
    Your grace may starve, perhaps, before that time.
    Bedford
    O let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason.
    Pucelle
    What will you do, good grey-beard? 1485Break a lance
    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
    1490And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
    Damsel, I'll have a bout with you again,
    Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
    Pucelle
    Are ye so hot, sir? Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace.
    If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
    1495 They [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?
    Pucelle
    Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,
    To try if that our own be ours or no.
    1500Talbot
    I speak not to that railing Hecate,
    But unto thee, Alencon, and the rest.
    Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?
    Alencon
    Seigneur, no.
    Talbot
    Seigneur, hang. Base muleteers of France,
    1505Like peasant footboys do they keep the walls
    And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.
    Pucelle
    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
    1510That 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 honor of thy house,
    Pricked on by public wrongs sustained in France,
    1515Either 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 betrayèd town,
    Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buryèd,
    1520So 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,
    1525We will bestow you in some better place,
    Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.
    Bedford
    Lord Talbot, do not so dishonor me.
    Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,
    And will be partner of your weal or woe.
    1530Burgundy
    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,
    1535Because I ever found them as myself.
    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,
    1540And set upon our boasting enemy.
    Exit [with Burgundy].
    An Alarum. Excursions. Enter Sir John Falstaff, and a Captain.
    Captain
    Whither away, Sir John Falstaff, in such haste?
    Falstaff
    Whither away? To save myself by flight.
    1545We are like to have the overthrow again.
    Captain
    What, will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot?
    Falstaff
    Aye, all the Talbots in the world, to save my life.
    Captain
    Cowardly knight, ill fortune follow thee.
    Retreat. Excursions. [Joan la] Pucelle, Alencon, and Charles fly.
    Bedford
    Now quiet soul, depart when heaven please,
    For I have seen our enemy's overthrow.
    1555What 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 1560the rest [of the English Soldiers].
    Lost and recovered in a day again.
    This is a double honor, Burgundy;
    Yet heavens have glory for this victory.
    Burgundy
    Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
    1565Enshrines thee in his heart, and there erects
    Thy noble deeds as valor's monuments.
    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?
    1570What 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,
    1575For there young Henry with his nobles lie.
    Burgundy
    What wills lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy.
    But yet, before we go, let's not forget
    The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,
    But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen.
    1580A braver soldier never couchèd 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.