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one stroke. Hence grew the general wrack and massacre. Enclosed were they with their enemies. A base Walloon, to win the Dauphins grace, Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back, Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face. BEDFORD. Is Talbot slain? Then I will slay myself, For living idly
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here, in pomp and ease, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foemen is betrayd. MESSENGER. O no, he lives, but is took prisoner, And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford; Most of the rest slaughterd or took likewise. BEDFORD. His ransom there is none but I shall pay. Ill hale the Dauphin headlong from his
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throne; His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords Ill change for one of ours. Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make To keep our great Saint Georges feast withal. Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.
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MESSENGER. So you had need; for Orleans is besiegd The English army is grown weak and faint; The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. [_He exits._] EXETER. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to
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your yoke. BEDFORD. I do remember it, and here take my leave To go about my preparation. [_Exit._] GLOUCESTER. Ill to the Tower with all the haste I can To view th artillery and munition; And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [_Exit._] EXETER. To Eltham will I, where the young King is, Being ordaind his special governor; And
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for his safety there Ill best devise. [_Exit._] WINCHESTER. Each hath his place and function to attend. I am left out; for me nothing remains. But long I will not be Jack out of office. The King from Eltham I intend to steal, And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [_Exeunt._] SCENE II. France. Before Orleans Sound a Flourish.
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Enter Charles, Alenon and Reignier, marching with Drum and Soldiers. CHARLES. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens So in the earth, to this day is not known. Late did he shine upon the English side; Now we are victors; upon us he smiles. What towns of any moment but we have? At pleasure here we lie near
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Orleans, Otherwhiles the famishd English, like pale ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. ALENON. They want their porridge and their fat bull beeves. Either they must be dieted like mules And have their provender tied to their mouths, Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. REIGNIER. Lets raise the siege. Why live we idly here? Talbot
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is taken, whom we wont to fear. Remaineth none but mad-braind Salisbury, And he may well in fretting spend his gall; Nor men nor money hath he to make war. CHARLES. Sound, sound alarum! We will rush on them. Now for the honour of the forlorn French! Him I forgive my death that killeth me When he sees me go
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back one foot or fly. [_Exeunt._] Here alarum; they are beaten back by the English, with great loss. Re-enter Charles, Alenon and Reignier. CHARLES. Who ever saw the like? What men have I! Dogs, cowards, dastards! I would neer have fled But that they left me midst my enemies. REIGNIER. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; He fighteth as one weary
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of his life. The other lords, like lions wanting food, Do rush upon us as their hungry prey. ALENON. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands bred During the time Edward the Third did reign. More truly now may this be verified; For none but Samsons and Goliases It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
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Lean raw-bond rascals! Who would eer suppose They had such courage and audacity? CHARLES. Lets leave this town; for they are hare-braind slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager. Of old I know them; rather with their teeth The walls theyll tear down than forsake the siege. REIGNIER. I think by some odd gimmers or device Their
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arms are set like clocks, still to strike on; Else neer could they hold out so as they do. By my consent, well even let them alone. ALENON. Be it so. Enter the Bastard of Orleans. BASTARD. Wheres the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him. CHARLES. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. BASTARD. Methinks your looks are sad,
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your cheer appalld. Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Be not dismayd, for succour is at hand. A holy maid hither with me I bring, Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven Ordained is to raise this tedious siege And drive the English forth the bounds of France. The spirit of deep prophecy she hath, Exceeding the
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nine sibyls of old Rome. Whats past and whats to come she can descry. Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, For they are certain and unfallible. CHARLES. Go, call her in. [_Exit Bastard._] But first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place; Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern. By this
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means shall we sound what skill she hath. Re-enter the Bastard of Orleans, with Joan la Pucelle. REIGNIER. Fair maid, is t thou wilt do these wondrous feats? PUCELLE. Reignier is t thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind; I know thee well, though never seen before. Be not amazed, theres nothing hid
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from me. In private will I talk with thee apart. Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. REIGNIER. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. PUCELLE. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherds daughter, My wit untraind in any kind of art. Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased To shine on my contemptible estate. Lo,
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whilst I waited on my tender lambs, And to suns parching heat displayd my cheeks, Gods mother deigned to appear to me, And in a vision full of majesty Willd me to leave my base vocation And free my country from calamity. Her aid she promised and assured success. In complete glory she reveald herself; And, whereas I was black
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and swart before, With those clear rays which she infused on me That beauty am I blest with which you may see. Ask me what question thou canst possible, And I will answer unpremeditated. My courage try by combat, if thou darst, And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex. Resolve on this; thou shalt be fortunate If thou
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receive me for thy warlike mate. CHARLES. Thou hast astonishd me with thy high terms. Only this proof Ill of thy valour make: In single combat thou shalt buckle with me, And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Otherwise I renounce all confidence. PUCELLE. I am prepared. Here is my keen-edgd sword, Deckd with five flower-de-luces on each side,
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The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharines churchyard, Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. CHARLES. Then come, o Gods name; I fear no woman. PUCELLE. And while I live, Ill neer fly from a man. [_Here they fight, and Joan la Pucelle overcomes._] CHARLES. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon, And fightest with
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the sword of Deborah. PUCELLE. Christs Mother helps me, else I were too weak. CHARLES. Whoeer helps thee, tis thou that must help me. Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued. Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, Let me thy servant and not sovereign be. Tis the French Dauphin sueth to
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thee thus. PUCELLE. I must not yield to any rites of love, For my professions sacred from above. When I have chased all thy foes from hence, Then will I think upon a recompense. CHARLES. Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. REIGNIER. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. ALENON. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;
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Else neer could he so long protract his speech. REIGNIER. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? ALENON. He may mean more than we poor men do know. These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. REIGNIER. My lord, where are you? What devise you on? Shall we give over Orleans, or no? PUCELLE. Why, no, I say.
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Distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. CHARLES. What she says Ill confirm. Well fight it out. PUCELLE. Assignd am I to be the English scourge. This night the siege assuredly Ill raise. Expect Saint Martins summer, halcyons days, Since I have entered into these wars. Glory is like a circle in the water, Which
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never ceaseth to enlarge itself Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought. With Henrys death the English circle ends; Dispersed are the glories it included. Now am I like that proud insulting ship Which Caesar and his fortune bare at once. CHARLES. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? Thou with an eagle art inspired then. Helen, the mother of
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great Constantine, Nor yet Saint Philips daughters, were like thee. Bright star of Venus, falln down on the earth, How may I reverently worship thee enough? ALENON. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. REIGNIER. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours; Drive them from Orleans and be immortalized. CHARLES. Presently well try. Come, lets away
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about it. No prophet will I trust if she prove false. [_Exeunt._] SCENE III. London. Before the Tower. Enter the Duke of Gloucester with his Servingmen in blue coats. GLOUCESTER. I am come to survey the Tower this day. Since Henrys death, I fear, there is conveyance. Where be these warders that they wait not here? Open the gates; tis
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Gloucester that calls. FIRST WARDER. [_Within_.] Whos there that knocks so imperiously? FIRST SERVINGMAN. It is the noble Duke of Gloucester. SECOND WARDER. [_Within_.] Whoeer he be, you may not be let in. FIRST SERVINGMAN. Villains, answer you so the Lord Protector? FIRST WARDER. [_Within_.] The Lord protect him, so we answer him. We do no otherwise than we are
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willd. GLOUCESTER. Who willed you? Or whose will stands but mine? Theres none Protector of the realm but I. Break up the gates, Ill be your warrantize. Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms? [_Gloucesters men rush at the Tower gates, and Woodville, the Lieutenant, speaks within._] WOODVILLE. What noise is this? What traitors have we here? GLOUCESTER. Lieutenant,
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is it you whose voice I hear? Open the gates; heres Gloucester that would enter. WOODVILLE. Have patience, noble Duke; I may not open; The Cardinal of Winchester forbids. From him I have express commandment That thou nor none of thine shall be let in. GLOUCESTER. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him fore me? Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate Whom Henry, our
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late sovereign, neer could brook? Thou art no friend to God or to the King. Open the gates, or Ill shut thee out shortly. SERVINGMEN. Open the gates unto the Lord Protector, Or well burst them open, if that you come not quickly. Enter to the Protector at the Tower gates Winchester and his men in tawny coats. WINCHESTER. How
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now, ambitious Humphrey! What means this? GLOUCESTER. Peeld priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? WINCHESTER. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not Protector, of the King or realm. GLOUCESTER. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator, Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord; Thou that givst whores indulgences to sin: Ill canvass thee in thy broad cardinals
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hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence. WINCHESTER. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a foot. This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. GLOUCESTER. I will not slay thee, but Ill drive thee back. Thy scarlet robes, as a childs bearing-cloth, Ill use to carry thee out of this
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place. WINCHESTER. Do what thou darst, I beard thee to thy face. GLOUCESTER. What, am I dared and bearded to my face? Draw, men, for all this privileged place. Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard; I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly. Under my feet Ill stamp thy cardinals hat; In spite of Pope
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or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks Ill drag thee up and down. WINCHESTER. Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the Pope. GLOUCESTER. Winchester goose, I cry, a rope, a rope! Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay? Thee Ill chase hence, thou wolf in sheeps array. Out, tawny coats! Out, scarlet hypocrite! Here Gloucesters men
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beat out the Cardinals men, and enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of London and his Officers. MAYOR. Fie, lords, that you, being supreme magistrates, Thus contumeliously should break the peace! GLOUCESTER. Peace, Mayor! Thou knowst little of my wrongs. Heres Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Hath here distraind the Tower to his use. WINCHESTER. Heres Gloucester, a
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foe to citizens, One that still motions war and never peace, Oercharging your free purses with large fines; That seeks to overthrow religion, Because he is Protector of the realm, And would have armour here out of the Tower, To crown himself king and suppress the Prince. GLOUCESTER. I will not answer thee with words, but blows. [_Here they skirmish
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again._] MAYOR. Nought rests for me in this tumultuous strife But to make open proclamation. Come, officer, as loud as eer thou canst, cry. OFFICER. All manner of men assembled here in arms this day against Gods peace and the Kings, we charge and command you, in his Highness name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear,
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handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. GLOUCESTER. Cardinal, Ill be no breaker of the law; But we shall meet and break our minds at large. WINCHESTER. Gloucester, we will meet, to thy cost, be sure; Thy heart-blood I will have for this days work. MAYOR. Ill call for clubs, if you will not
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away. This Cardinals more haughty than the devil. GLOUCESTER. Mayor, farewell. Thou dost but what thou mayst. WINCHESTER. Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head, For I intend to have it ere long. [_Exeunt, severally, Gloucester and Winchester with their Servingmen._] MAYOR. See the coast cleard, and then we will depart. Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear! I myself fight
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not once in forty year. [_Exeunt._] SCENE IV. Orleans. Enter, on the walls, a Master Gunner and his Boy. MASTER GUNNER. Sirrah, thou knowst how Orleans is besieged, And how the English have the suburbs won. BOY. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howeer unfortunate I missd my aim. MASTER GUNNER. But now thou shalt not. Be
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thou ruled by me. Chief master-gunner am I of this town; Something I must do to procure me grace. The Princes espials have informed me How the English, in the suburbs close intrenchd, Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars In yonder tower, to overpeer the city, And thence discover how with most advantage They may vex us with
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shot or with assault. To intercept this inconvenience, A piece of ordnance gainst it I have placed And even these three days have I watchd, If I could see them. Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer. If thou spyst any, run and bring me word; And thou shalt find me at the Governors. [_Exit._] BOY. Father,
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I warrant you; take you no care; Ill never trouble you if I may spy them. [_Exit._] Enter, on the turrets, Salisbury and Talbot, Sir William Glansdale, Sir Thomas Gargrave and others. SALISBURY. Talbot, my life, my joy, again returnd! How wert thou handled, being prisoner? Or by what means gotst thou to be releasd? Discourse, I prithee, on this
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turrets top. TALBOT. The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner Calld the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles; For him was I exchanged and ransomed. But with a baser man of arms by far Once in contempt they would have barterd me, Which I disdaining scornd, and craved death Rather than I would be so vile-esteemd. In fine, redeemd I was
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as I desired. But O, the treacherous Fastolf wounds my heart, Whom with my bare fists I would execute If I now had him brought into my power. SALISBURY. Yet tellst thou not how thou wert entertaind. TALBOT. With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts. In open market-place produced they me To be a public spectacle to all. Here, said
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they, is the terror of the French, The scarecrow that affrights our children so. Then broke I from the officers that led me, And with my nails diggd stones out of the ground To hurl at the beholders of my shame. My grisly countenance made others fly; None durst come near for fear of sudden death. In iron walls they
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deemd me not secure; So great fear of my name mongst them were spread That they supposed I could rend bars of steel And spurn in pieces posts of adamant. Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had, That walkd about me every minute while; And if I did but stir out of my bed, Ready they were to shoot
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me to the heart. Enter the Boy with a linstock. SALISBURY. I grieve to hear what torments you endured, But we will be revenged sufficiently. Now it is supper-time in Orleans. Here, through this grate, I count each one And view the Frenchmen how they fortify. Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee. Sir Thomas Gargrave and
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Sir William Glansdale, Let me have your express opinions Where is best place to make our battery next. GARGRAVE. I think, at the north gate, for there stand lords. GLANSDALE. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. TALBOT. For aught I see, this city must be famishd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. Here they shoot, and Salisbury and
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Gargrave fall down. SALISBURY. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! GARGRAVE. O Lord, have mercy on me, woeful man! TALBOT. What chance is this that suddenly hath crossd us? Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak! How farst thou, mirror of all martial men? One of thy eyes and thy cheeks side struck off! Accursed tower, accursed
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fatal hand That hath contrived this woeful tragedy! In thirteen battles Salisbury oercame; Henry the Fifth he first traind to the wars; Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up, His sword did neer leave striking in the field. Yet livst thou, Salisbury? Though thy speech doth fail, One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace. The
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sun with one eye vieweth all the world. Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive, If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands! Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life? Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him. Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it. [_Exeunt some with the body of Gargrave._] Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this
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comfort, Thou shalt not die whiles He beckons with his hand and smiles on me, As who should say When I am dead and gone, Remember to avenge me on the French. Plantagenet, I will; and, like thee, Nero, Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn. Wretched shall France be only in thy name. [_Here an alarum, and it
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thunders and lightens._] What stir is this? What tumults in the heavens? Whence cometh this alarum and the noise? Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER. My lord, my lord, the French have gatherd head. The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle joind, A holy prophetess new risen up, Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [_Here Salisbury lifteth himself
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up and groans._] TALBOT. Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan; It irks his heart he cannot be revenged. Frenchmen, Ill be a Salisbury to you. Pucelle or puzel, dolphin or dogfish, Your hearts Ill stamp out with my horses heels And make a quagmire of your mingled brains. Convey we Salisbury into his tent, And then well try what
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these dastard Frenchmen dare. [_Alarum. Exeunt._] SCENE V. Before Orleans. Here an alarum again, and Talbot pursueth the Dauphin and driveth him; then enter Joan la Pucelle, driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them. Then re-enter Talbot. TALBOT. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them. A woman clad in
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armour chaseth them. Enter La Pucelle. Here, here she comes. Ill have a bout with thee; Devil or devils dam, Ill conjure thee. Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch, And straightway give thy soul to him thou servst. PUCELLE. Come, come, tis only I that must disgrace thee. [_Here they fight._] TALBOT. Heavens, can you suffer
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hell so to prevail? My breast Ill burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. [_They fight again._] PUCELLE. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come. I must go victual Orleans forthwith. [_A short alarum. Then enter the town with soldiers._] Oertake me, if thou canst.
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I scorn thy strength. Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men; Help Salisbury to make his testament. This day is ours, as many more shall be. [_Exit._] TALBOT. My thoughts are whirled like a potters wheel; I know not where I am, nor what I do. A witch by fear, not force, like Hannibal, Drives back our troops and conquers
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as she lists. So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench Are from their hives and houses driven away. They calld us for our fierceness, English dogs; Now like to whelps we crying run away. [_A short alarum._] Hark, countrymen, either renew the fight, Or tear the lions out of Englands coat; Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions
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stead. Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf, Or horse or oxen from the leopard, As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. [_Alarum. Here another skirmish._] It will not be! Retire into your trenches. You all consented unto Salisburys death, For none would strike a stroke in his revenge. Pucelle is enterd into Orleans, In spite of us
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or aught that we could do. O, would I were to die with Salisbury! The shame hereof will make me hide my head. [_Exit Talbot. Alarum; retreat._] SCENE VI. Orleans. Flourish. Enter on the walls La Pucelle, Charles, Reignier, Alenon and Soldiers. PUCELLE. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescued is Orleans from the English. Thus Joan la Pucelle
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hath performd her word. CHARLES. Divinest creature, Astraeas daughter, How shall I honour thee for this success? Thy promises are like Adonis gardens That one day bloomd and fruitful were the next. France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess! Recoverd is the town of Orleans. More blessed hap did neer befall our state. REIGNIER. Why ring not bells aloud throughout the
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town? Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires And feast and banquet in the open streets To celebrate the joy that God hath given us. ALENON. All France will be replete with mirth and joy When they shall hear how we have playd the men. CHARLES. Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won; For which I will divide
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my crown with her, And all the priests and friars in my realm Shall in procession sing her endless praise. A statelier pyramis to her Ill rear Than Rhodopes of Memphis ever was; In memory of her when she is dead, Her ashes, in an urn more precious Than the rich-jeweld coffer of Darius, Transported shall be at high festivals
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Before the kings and queens of France. No longer on Saint Denis will we cry, But Joan la Pucelle shall be Frances saint. Come in, and let us banquet royally After this golden day of victory. [_Flourish. Exeunt._] ACT II SCENE I. Before Orleans. Enter a Sergeant of a band, with two Sentinels. SERGEANT. Sirs, take your places and be
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vigilant. If any noise or soldier you perceive Near to the walls, by some apparent sign Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. FIRST SENTINEL. Sergeant, you shall. [_Exit Sergeant._] Thus are poor servitors, When others sleep upon their quiet beds, Constraind to watch in darkness, rain, and cold. Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, and forces, with scaling-ladders. TALBOT.
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Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy, By whose approach the regions of Artois, Walloon and Picardy are friends to us, This happy night the Frenchmen are secure, Having all day caroused and banqueted. Embrace we then this opportunity, As fitting best to quittance their deceit Contrivd by art and baleful sorcery. BEDFORD. Coward of France, how much he wrongs his fame,
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Despairing of his own arms fortitude, To join with witches and the help of hell! BURGUNDY. Traitors have never other company. But whats that Pucelle whom they term so pure? TALBOT. A maid, they say. BEDFORD. A maid! And be so martial! BURGUNDY. Pray God she prove not masculine ere long, If underneath the standard of the French She carry
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armour as she hath begun. TALBOT. Well, let them practice and converse with spirits. God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. BEDFORD. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. TALBOT. Not all together. Better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways, That if it chance the one
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of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force. BEDFORD. Agreed. Ill to yond corner. BURGUNDY. And I to this. TALBOT. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury, for thee, and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appear How much in duty I am bound to both. SENTINEL. Arm! Arm!
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The enemy doth make assault! [_Cry: St George, A Talbot!_] The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter several ways the Bastard of Orleans, Alenon and Reignier, half ready and half unready. ALENON. How now, my lords? What, all unready so? BASTARD. Unready! Ay, and glad we scapd so well. REIGNIER. Twas time, I trow, to wake and
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leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors. ALENON. Of all exploits since first I followd arms Neer heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous or desperate than this. BASTARD. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell. REIGNIER. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. ALENON. Here cometh Charles. I marvel how he sped. Enter
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Charles and La Pucelle. BASTARD. Tut, holy Joan was his defensive guard. CHARLES. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame? Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal, Make us partakers of a little gain, That now our loss might be ten times so much? PUCELLE. Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend? At all times will you have my
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power alike? Sleeping or waking, must I still prevail, Or will you blame and lay the fault on me? Improvident soldiers, had your watch been good, This sudden mischief never could have falln. CHARLES. Duke of Alenon, this was your default, That, being captain of the watch tonight, Did look no better to that weighty charge. ALENON. Had all your
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quarters been as safely kept As that whereof I had the government, We had not been thus shamefully surprised. BASTARD. Mine was secure. REIGNIER. And so was mine, my lord. CHARLES. And for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter and mine own precinct I was employd in passing to and fro About relieving of the sentinels.
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Then how or which way should they first break in? PUCELLE. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How or which way; tis sure they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made. And now there rests no other shift but this: To gather our soldiers, scattered and dispersed, And lay new platforms to endamage them.
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Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying A Talbot! A Talbot! They fly, leaving their clothes behind. SOLDIER. Ill be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [_Exit._] SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town. Enter Talbot,
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Bedford, Burgundy, a Captain and others. BEDFORD. The day begins to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veild the earth. Here sound retreat and cease our hot pursuit. [_Retreat sounded._] TALBOT. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury, And here advance it in the market-place, The middle centre of this cursed town. Dead March. Enter with the body
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of Salisbury. Now have I paid my vow unto his soul; For every drop of blood was drawn from him There hath at least five Frenchmen died tonight. And that hereafter ages may behold What ruin happend in revenge of him, Within their chiefest temple Ill erect A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interrd; Upon the which, that everyone
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may read, Shall be engraved the sack of Orleans, The treacherous manner of his mournful death And what a terror he had been to France. [_Exit Funeral._] But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, I muse we met not with the Dauphins grace, His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc, Nor any of his false confederates. BEDFORD. Tis thought, Lord
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Talbot, when the fight began, Rousd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, They did amongst the troops of armed men Leap oer the walls for refuge in the field. BURGUNDY. Myself, as far as I could well discern For smoke and dusky vapors of the night, Am sure I scared the Dauphin and his trull, When arm in arm
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they both came swiftly running, Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, Well follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER. All hail, my lords! Which of this princely train Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts So much
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applauded through the realm of France? TALBOT. Here is the Talbot. Who would speak with him? MESSENGER. The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe To visit her poor castle where she lies, That she may boast she hath beheld the man Whose glory fills the world with loud
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report. BURGUNDY. Is it even so? Nay, then I see our wars Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport, When ladies crave to be encounterd with. You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit. TALBOT. Neer trust me then; for when a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Yet hath a womans kindness over-ruled. And
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therefore tell her I return great thanks, And in submission will attend on her. Will not your honours bear me company? BEDFORD. No, truly, it is more than manners will; And I have heard it said, unbidden guests Are often welcomest when they are gone. TALBOT. Well then, alone, since theres no remedy, I mean to prove this ladys courtesy.
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Come hither, Captain. [_Whispers_.] You perceive my mind? CAPTAIN. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. [_Exeunt._] SCENE III. Auvergne. The Countesss castle. Enter the Countess and her Porter. COUNTESS. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And when you have done so, bring the keys to me. PORTER. Madam, I will. [_Exit._] COUNTESS. The plot is laid. If all
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things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus death. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, And his achievements of no less account. Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and Talbot. MESSENGER. Madam, according as your ladyship
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desired, By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come. COUNTESS. And he is welcome. What, is this the man? MESSENGER. Madam, it is. COUNTESS. Is this the scourge of France? Is this the Talbot, so much feard abroad That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see report is fabulous and false. I thought I should have seen
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some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspect, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf! It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp Should strike such terror to his enemies. TALBOT. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you; But since your ladyship is not at leisure, Ill sort some other
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time to visit you. COUNTESS. What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes. MESSENGER. Stay, my Lord Talbot, for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. TALBOT. Marry, for that shes in a wrong belief, I go to certify her Talbots here. Enter Porter with keys. COUNTESS. If thou be he, then art thou
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prisoner. TALBOT. Prisoner! To whom? COUNTESS. To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I traind thee to my house. Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me, For in my gallery thy picture hangs. But now the substance shall endure the like, And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, That hast by tyranny these many
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years Wasted our country, slain our citizens, And sent our sons and husbands captivate. TALBOT. Ha, ha, ha! COUNTESS. Laughest thou, wretch? Thy mirth shall turn to moan. TALBOT. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond To think that you have aught but Talbots shadow Whereon to practice your severity. COUNTESS. Why, art not thou the man? TALBOT. I
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am indeed. COUNTESS. Then have I substance too. TALBOT. No, no, I am but shadow of myself. You are deceived, my substance is not here; For what you see is but the smallest part And least proportion of humanity. I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, It is of such a spacious lofty pitch Your roof were not
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sufficient to contain t. COUNTESS. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce; He will be here, and yet he is not here. How can these contrarieties agree? TALBOT. That will I show you presently. Winds his horn. Drums strike up; a peal of ordnance. Enter Soldiers. How say you, madam? Are you now persuaded That Talbot is but shadow
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of himself? These are his substance, sinews, arms and strength, With which he yoketh your rebellious necks, Razeth your cities and subverts your towns, And in a moment makes them desolate. COUNTESS. Victorious Talbot, pardon my abuse. I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited, And more than may be gatherd by thy shape. Let my presumption not
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provoke thy wrath, For I am sorry that with reverence I did not entertain thee as thou art. TALBOT. Be not dismayd, fair lady, nor misconster The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done hath not offended me; Nor other satisfaction do I crave But only, with your patience, that
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we may Taste of your wine and see what cates you have, For soldiers stomachs always serve them well. COUNTESS. With all my heart, and think me honoured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [_Exeunt._] SCENE IV. London. The Temple Garden. Enter the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and Warwick; Richard Plantagenet, Vernon and another Lawyer. PLANTAGENET. Great
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