The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  LUCY

  But where’s the great Alcides of the field,

  Valiant Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury,

  Created for his rare success in arms

  Great Earl of Wexford, Waterford, and Valence,

  Lord Talbot of Goodrich and Urchinfield,

  Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton,

  Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Sheffield,

  The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge,

  Knight of the noble order of Saint George,

  Worthy Saint Michael and the Golden Fleece,

  Great Maréchal to Henry the Sixth

  Of all his wars within the realm of France?

  JOAN

  Here’s a silly, stately style indeed.

  The Turk, that two-and-fifty kingdoms hath,

  Writes not so tedious a style as this.

  Him that thou magnifi’st with all these titles

  Stinking and flyblown lies here at our feet.

  LUCY

  Is Talbot slain, the Frenchmen’s only scourge,

  Your kingdom’s terror and black Nemesis?

  O, were mine eye-balls into bullets turned,

  That I in rage might shoot them at your faces!

  O, that I could but call these dead to life!—

  It were enough to fright the realm of France.

  Were but his picture left amongst you here

  It would amaze the proudest of you all.

  Give me their bodies, that I may bear them hence

  And give them burial as beseems their worth.

  JOAN (to Charles)

  I think this upstart is old Talbot’s ghost,

  He speaks with such a proud commanding spirit.

  For God’s sake let him have them. To keep them here

  They would but stink and putrefy the air.

  CHARLES Go, take their bodies hence.

  LUCY

  I’ll bear them hence, but from their ashes shall be

  reared

  A phoenix that shall make all France afeard.

  CHARLES

  So we be rid of them, do with them what thou wilt.

  ⌈Exeunt Lucy and herald with the bodies⌉

  And now to Paris in this conquering vein.

  All will be ours, now bloody Talbot’s slain. Exeunt

  5.1 Sennet. Enter King Henry, the Dukes of Gloucester and Exeter, ⌈and others⌉

  KING HENRY (to Gloucester)

  Have you perused the letters from the Pope,

  The Emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac?

  GLOUCESTER

  I have, my lord, and their intent is this:

  They humbly sue unto your excellence

  To have a godly peace concluded of

  Between the realms of England and of France.

  KING HENRY

  How doth your grace affect their motion?

  GLOUCESTER

  Well, my good lord, and as the only means

  To stop effusion of our Christian blood

  And ’stablish quietness on every side.

  KING HENRY

  Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought

  It was both impious and unnatural

  That such immanity and bloody strife

  Should reign among professors of one faith.

  GLOUCESTER

  Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect

  And surer bind this knot of amity,

  The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles—

  A man of great authority in France—

  Proffers his only daughter to your grace

  In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.

  KING HENRY

  Marriage, uncle? Alas, my years are young,

  And fitter is my study and my books

  Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.

  Yet call th’ambassadors, ⌈Exit one or more⌉

  and as you please,

  So let them have their answers every one.

  I shall be well content with any choice

  Tends to God’s glory and my country’s weal.

  Enter the Bishop of Winchester, now in cardinal’s habit, and three ambassadors, one a Papal Legate

  EXETER (aside)

  What, is my lord of Winchester installed

  And called unto a cardinal’s degree?

  Then I perceive that will be verified

  Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy:

  ‘If once he come to be a cardinal,

  He’ll make his cap co-equal with the crown.’

  KING HENRY

  My lords ambassadors, your several suits

  Have been considered and debated on.

  Your purpose is both good and reasonable,

  And therefore are we certainly resolved

  To draw conditions of a friendly peace,

  Which by my lord of Winchester we mean

  Shall be transported presently to France.

  GLOUCESTER ⌈to ambassadors⌉

  And for the proffer of my lord your master,

  I have informed his highness so at large

  As, liking of the lady’s virtuous gifts,

  Her beauty, and the value of her dower,

  He doth intend she shall be England’s queen.

  KING HENRY ⌈to ambassadors⌉

  In argument and proof of which contract

  Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.

  (To Gloucester) And so, my lord Protector, see them

  guarded

  And safely brought to Dover, wherein shipped,

  Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

  Exeunt ⌈severally⌉ all but Winchester and ⌈Legate⌉

  WINCHESTER

  Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive

  The sum of money which I promised

  Should be delivered to his holiness

  For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

  LEGATE

  I will attend upon your lordship’s leisure. ⌈Exit⌉

  WINCHESTER

  Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,

  Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

  Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive

  That nor in birth or for authority

  The Bishop will be overborne by thee.

  I’ll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,

  Or sack this country with a mutiny. ⌈Exit⌉

  5.2 Enter Charles the Dauphin ⌈reading a letter⌉, the Dukes of Burgundy and Alençon, the Bastard of Orléans, René Duke of Anjou, and ⌉oan la Pucelle

  CHARLES

  These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits.

  ‘Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt

  And turn again unto the warlike French.

  ALENÇON

  Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

  And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

  JOAN

  Peace be amongst them if they turn to us;

  Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

  Enter a Scout

  SCOUT

  Success unto our valiant general,

  And happiness to his accomplices.

  CHARLES

  What tidings send our scouts? I prithee speak.

  SCOUT

  The English army, that divided was

  Into two parties, is now conjoined in one,

  And means to give you battle presently.

  CHARLES

  Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

  But we will presently provide for them.

  BURGUNDY

  I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there.

  ⌈JOAN⌉

  Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

  Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.

  Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;

  Let Henry fret and all the world repine.

  CHARLES

  Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate! Exeunt
/>   5.3 Alarum. Excursions. Enter Joan la Pucelle

  JOAN

  The Regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

  Now help, ye charming spells and periapts,

  And ye choice spirits that admonish me

  And give me signs of future accidents.

  Thunder

  You speedy helpers, that are substitutes

  Under the lordly monarch of the north,

  Appear, and aid me in this enterprise.

  Enter Fiends

  This speed and quick appearance argues proof

  Of your accustomed diligence to me.

  Now, ye familiar spirits that are culled

  Out of the powerful regions under earth,

  Help me this once, that France may get the field.

  They walk and speak not

  O, hold me not with silence overlong!

  Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,

  I’ll lop a member off and give it you

  In earnest of a further benefit,

  So you do condescend to help me now.

  They hang their heads

  No hope to have redress? My body shall

  Pay recompense if you will grant my suit.

  They shake their heads

  Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice

  Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?

  Then take my soul—my body, soul, and all—

  Before that England give the French the foil.

  They depart

  See, they forsake me. Now the time is come

  That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest

  And let her head fall into England’s lap.

  My ancient incantations are too weak,

  And hell too strong for me to buckle with.

  Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. Exit

  5.4 Excursions. The Dukes of Burgundy and York fight hand to hand. The French fly. Joan la Pucelle is taken

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK

  Damsel of France, I think I have you fast.

  Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,

  And try if they can gain your liberty.

  A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace!

  ⌈To his soldiers⌉ See how the ugly witch doth bend her

  brows, 5

  As if with Circe she would change my shape.

  JOAN

  Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK

  O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man.

  No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

  JOAN

  A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee,

  And may ye both be suddenly surprised

  By bloody hands in sleeping on your beds!

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK

  Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue.

  JOAN

  I prithee give me leave to curse awhile.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK

  Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

  Exeunt

  5.5 Alarum. Enter the Earl of Suffolk with Margaret in his hand

  SUFFOLK

  Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

  He gazes on her

  O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly,

  For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,

  And lay them gently on thy tender side.

  I kiss these fingers for eternal peace.

  Who art thou? Say, that I may honour thee.

  MARGARET

  Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,

  The King of Naples, whosoe’er thou art.

  SUFFOLK

  An earl I am, and Suffolk am I called.

  Be not offended, nature’s miracle,

  Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me.

  So doth the swan his downy cygnets save,

  Keeping them prisoner underneath his wings.

  Yet if this servile usage once offend,

  Go, and be free again, as Suffolk’s friend.

  She is going

  O stay! (Aside) I have no power to let her pass.

  My hand would free her, but my heart says no.

  As plays the sun upon the glassy stream,

  Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

  So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.

  Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak.

  I’ll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.

  Fie, de la Pole, disable not thyself!

  Hast not a tongue? Is she not here to hear?

  Wilt thou be daunted at a woman’s sight?

  Ay, beauty’s princely majesty is such

  Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.

  MARGARET

  Say, Earl of Suffolk—if thy name be so—

  What ransom must I pay before I pass?

  For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit

  Before thou make a trial of her love?

  MARGARET

  Why speak’st thou not? What ransom must I pay?

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed;

  She is a woman, therefore to be won.

  MARGARET

  Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea or no?

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;

  Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

  MARGARET (aside)

  I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  There all is marred; there lies a cooling card.

  MARGARET (aside)

  He talks at random; sure the man is mad.

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  And yet a dispensation may be had.

  MARGARET

  And yet I would that you would answer me.

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  I’ll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?

  Why, for my king—tush, that’s a wooden thing.

  MARGARET (aside)

  He talks of wood. It is some carpenter.

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,

  And peace established between these realms.

  But there remains a scruple in that too,

  For though her father be the King of Naples,

  Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,

  And our nobility will scorn the match.

  MARGARET

  Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?

  SUFFOLK (aside)

  It shall be so, disdain they ne’er so much.

  Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.

  (To Margaret) Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

  MARGARET (aside)

  What though I be enthralled, he seems a knight

  And will not any way dishonour me.

  SUFFOLK

  Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

  MARGARET (aside)

  Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French,

  And then I need not crave his courtesy.

  SUFFOLK

  Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause.

  MARGARET (aside)

  Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

  SUFFOLK Lady, wherefore talk you so?

  MARGARET

  I cry you mercy, ’tis but quid for quo.

  SUFFOLK

  Say, gentle Princess, would you not suppose

  Your bondage happy to be made a queen?

  MARGARET

  To be a queen in bondage is more vile

  Than is a slave in base servility,

  For princes should be free.

  SUFFOLK

  And so shall you,

  If happy England’s royal king be free.

  MARGARET

  Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

  SUFFOLK

  I’ll undertake to make thee Henry’s queen,

  To put a golden
sceptre in thy hand,

  And set a precious crown upon thy head,

  If thou wilt condescend to be my—

  MARGARET What?

  SUFFOLK His love.

  MARGARET

  I am unworthy to be Henry’s wife.

  SUFFOLK

  No, gentle madam, I unworthy am

  To woo so fair a dame to be his wife

  (Aside) And have no portion in the choice myself.—

  How say you, madam; are ye so content?

  MARGARET

  An if my father please, I am content.

  SUFFOLK

  Then call our captains and our colours forth,

  ⌈Enter captains, colours, and trumpeters⌉

  And, madam, at your father’s castle walls

  We’ll crave a parley to confer with him.

  Sound a parley. Enter René Duke of Anjou on the walls

  See, Rene, see thy daughter prisoner.

  RENÉ

  To whom ?

  SUFFOLK To me.

  RENÉ Suffolk, what remedy?

  I am a soldier, and unapt to weep

  Or to exclaim on fortune’s fickleness.

  SUFFOLK

  Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord.

  Assent, and for thy honour give consent

  Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king,

  Whom I with pain have wooed and won thereto;

  And this her easy-held imprisonment

  Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.

  RENÉ

  Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

  SUFFOLK Fair Margaret knows

  That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.

  RENÉ

  Upon thy princely warrant I descend

  To give thee answer of thy just demand.

  SUFFOLK

  And here I will expect thy coming. ⌈Exit Rene above⌉

  Trumpets sound. Enter René

  RENE

  Welcome, brave Earl, into our territories.

  Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

  SUFFOLK

  Thanks, René, happy for so sweet a child,

  Fit to be made companion with a king.

  What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

  RENÉ

  Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth

  To be the princely bride of such a lord,

  Upon condition I may quietly

  Enjoy mine own, the countries Maine and Anjou,

  Free from oppression or the stroke of war,