In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,

  My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame:

  All these and more we hazard by thy stay;

  All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.

  JOHN    The sword of Orléans hath not made me smart42:

  These words of yours draw life-blood from my heart.

  On that advantage44, bought with such a shame,

  To save a paltry life and slay bright fame,

  Before young Talbot from old Talbot fly,

  The47 coward horse that bears me fall and die:

  And like48 me to the peasant boys of France,

  To be shame’s scorn and subject of mischance49.

  Surely, by all the glory you have won,

  An if I fly, I am not Talbot’s son.

  Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot52:

  If son to Talbot, die at Talbot’s foot.

  TALBOT    Then follow thou thy desp’rate sire of Crete,

  Thou Icarus55: thy life to me is sweet:

  If thou wilt fight, fight by thy father’s side,

  And commendable proved, let’s die in pride57.

  Exeunt

  [Act 4 Scene 7]

  running scene 17 continues

  Alarum. Excursions. Enter old Talbot led [by a Servant]

  TALBOT    Where is my other life? Mine own is gone.

  O, where’s young Talbot? Where is valiant John?

  Triumphant death, smeared with captivity3,

  Young Talbot’s valour makes me smile at thee.

  When he perceived me shrink and on my knee,

  His bloody sword he brandished over me,

  And like a hungry lion did commence

  Rough deeds of rage and stern impatience8:

  But when my angry guardant9 stood alone,

  Tend’ring my ruin and assailed of10 none,

  Dizzy-eyed11 fury and great rage of heart

  Suddenly made him from my side to start

  Into the clust’ring13 battle of the French:

  And in that sea of blood my boy did drench14

  His over-mounting15 spirit, and there died,

  My Icarus, my blossom, in his pride.

  SERVANT    O my dear lord, lo17 where your son is borne.

  Enter [Soldiers] with [the body of] John Talbot borne

  TALBOT    Thou antic18 death, which laugh’st us here to scorn,

  Anon19, from thy insulting tyranny,

  Couplèd in bonds of perpetuity,

  Two Talbots, wingèd through the lither21 sky,

  In thy despite shall scape mortality22.

  To John

  O thou whose wounds become hard-favoured23 death,

  Speak to thy father ere thou yield thy breath.

  Brave25 death by speaking, whether he will or no:

  Imagine him a Frenchman and thy foe.

  Poor boy, he smiles, methinks, as who27 should say,

  ‘Had death been French, then death had died today.’

  Come, come, and lay him in his father’s arms:

  My spirit can no longer bear these harms.

  Soldiers, adieu: I have what I would have,

  Now my old arms are young John Talbot’s grave.

  Dies

  Enter Charles, Alençon, Burgundy, Bastard [of Orléans] and [Joan la] Pucelle

  CHARLES    Had York and Somerset brought rescue in,

  We should have found a bloody day of this.

  BASTARD    How the young whelp of Talbot’s, raging wood35,

  Did flesh his puny36 sword in Frenchmen’s blood.

  PUCELLE    Once I encountered him, and thus I said:

  ‘Thou maiden38 youth, be vanquished by a maid.’

  But with a proud majestical high scorn,

  He answered thus: ‘Young Talbot was not born

  To be the pillage41 of a giglot wench’:

  So rushing in the bowels42 of the French,

  He left me proudly, as unworthy fight.

  BURGUNDY    Doubtless he would have made a noble knight:

  See where he lies inhearsèd45 in the arms

  Of the most bloody nurser of his harms46.

  BASTARD    Hew them to pieces, hack their bones asunder

  Whose life was England’s glory, Gallia’s wonder48.

  CHARLES O    no, forbear: for that which we have fled49

  During the life, let us not wrong it dead.

  Enter Lucy [with a French herald]

  LUCY    Herald, conduct me to the dauphin’s tent,

  To know who hath obtained the glory of the day.

  CHARLES    On what submissive message53 art thou sent?

  LUCY    Submission, dauphin? ’Tis a mere54 French word:

  We English warriors wot55 not what it means.

  I come to know what prisoners thou hast ta’en

  And to survey57 the bodies of the dead.

  CHARLES    For prisoners ask’st thou? Hell our prison is.

  But tell me whom thou seek’st?

  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 Washford, 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 Marshal to Henry the Sixth

  Of all his wars within the realm of France?71

  PUCELLE    Here is a silly stately style72 indeed:

  The Turk73, 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 fly-blown76 lies here at our feet.

  LUCY    Is Talbot slain, the Frenchmen’s only scourge,

  Your kingdom’s terror and black Nemesis78?

  O were mine eyeballs 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 amaze84 the proudest of you all.

  Give me their bodies, that I may bear them hence

  And give them burial as beseems86 their worth.

  PUCELLE    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 phoenix93 that shall make all France afeard.

  CHARLES    So94 we be rid of them, do with them what thou wilt.

  And now to Paris in this conquering vein:

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

  Exeunt

  Act 5 Scene 1

  running scene 18

  Sennet. Enter King [Henry VI], Gloucester, and Exeter [attended]

  KING HENRY VI    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 unto4 your excellence

  To have a godly peace concluded of5

  Between the realms of England and of France.

  KING HENRY VI    How doth your grace affect their motion7?

  GLOUCESTER    Well, my good lord, and as the only means

  To stop effusion of our Christian blood

  And stablish10 quietness on every side.

  KING HENRY VI    Ay, marry, uncle, for I always thought

  It was both impious and unnatural

  That such immanity13 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 knit17 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 VI    Marriage, uncle? Alas, my years are young21:

  And fitter is my study and my books

  Than wanton23 dalliance with a paramour.

  Yet call th’ambassadors, and as you please,

  So let them have their answers every one:

  Exit Attendant

  I shall be well content with any choice

  Tends to God’s glory and my country’s weal27.

  Enter Winchester [in Cardinal’s habit], and three Ambassadors [one a Papal legate]

  Aside

  EXETER    What, is my lord of Winchester installed,

  And called unto a cardinal’s degree29?

  Then I perceive that will be verified30

  Henry the Fifth did sometime31 prophesy:

  ‘If once he come to be a cardinal,

  He’ll make his cap33 co-equal with the crown.’

  KING HENRY VI    My lords ambassadors, your several34 suits

  Have been considered and debated on:

  Your purpose is both good and reasonable:

  And therefore are we certainly resolved

  To draw38 conditions of a friendly peace,

  Which by my lord of Winchester we mean

  Shall be transported presently40 to France.

  To Armagnac ambassador

  GLOUCESTER    And for the proffer of my lord your master,

  I have informed his highness so at large42

  As43 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 VI    In argument46 and proof of which contract,

  Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.

  And so, my Lord Protector, see them guarded

  And safely brought to Dover, wherein shipped49

  Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

  Exeunt [all but Winchester and Legate]

  WINCHESTER    Stay, my lord legate, you shall first receive

  The sum of money which I promisèd

  Should be delivered to his holiness

  For clothing me in these grave ornaments54.

  LEGATE    I will attend upon your lordship’s leisure.

  [Exit]

  WINCHESTER    Now Winchester will not submit, I trow56,

  Or be inferior to the proudest peer:

  Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive

  That neither 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 mutiny62.

  Exit

  Act 5 Scene 2

  running scene 19

  Enter Charles, Burgundy, Alençon, Bastard [of Orléans], Reignier and Joan [la Pucelle]

  CHARLES    These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:

  ’Tis said the stout2 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 dalliance5.

  PUCELLE    Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us,

  Else ruin combat with7 their palaces.

  Enter Scout

  SCOUT    Success unto our valiant general,

  And happiness to his accomplices9.

  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 provide15 for them.

  BURGUNDY    I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:

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

  PUCELLE    Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.

  Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine:

  Let Henry fret and all the world repine20.

  CHARLES    Then on, my lords, and France be fortunate!

  Exeunt

  [Act 5 Scene 3]

  running scene 19 continues

  Alarum. Excursions. Enter Joan la Pucelle

  PUCELLE    The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

  Now help, ye charming spells and periapts2,

  And ye choice spirits that admonish3 me,

  And give me signs of future accidents4.

  Thunder

  You speedy helpers, that are substitutes5

  Under the lordly monarch of the north6,

  Appear, and aid me in this enterprise.

  Enter Fiends

  This speedy and quick8 appearance argues proof

  Of your accustomed diligence to me.

  Now, ye familiar spirits10 that are culled

  Out of the powerful regions under earth,

  Help me this once, that France may get the field12.

  They walk, and speak not

  O hold me not with silence over-long:

  Where I was wont14 to feed you with my blood,

  I’ll lop a member15 off and give it you

  In earnest16 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 recompense19, if you will grant my suit.

  They shake their heads

  Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice

  Entreat you to your wonted furtherance21?

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

  Before that England give the French the foil23.

  They depart

  See, they forsake me! Now the time is come

  That France must vail her lofty-plumèd crest25

  And let her head fall into England’s lap.

  My ancient27 incantations are too weak,

  And hell too strong for me to buckle28 with:

  Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

  Exit

  Excursions. Burgundy and York fight hand to hand. [The] French fly [leaving Joan la Pucelle in York’s power]

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK    Damsel of France, I think I have you fast30:

  Unchain your spirits now with spelling31 charms

  And try if they can gain your liberty.

  A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace33!

  See how the ugly witch doth bend her brows34,

  As if with Circe35 she would change my shape!

  PUCELLE    Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK    O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper37 man:

  No shape but his can please your dainty38 eye.

  PUCELLE    A plaguing mischief39 light on Charles and thee,

  And may ye both be suddenly surprised

  By bloody hands, in41 sleeping on your beds!

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK    Fell banning hag42, enchantress, hold thy tongue.

  PUCELLE    I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

  RICHARD DUKE OF YORK    Curse, miscreant44, when thou com’st to the stake.

  Exeunt

  Alarum. Enter Suffolk with Margaret in his hand

  SUFFOLK    Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

  Gazes on her

  O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly:

  For I will touch thee but with reverent hands:

  I kiss these fingers for48 eternal peace,

  And lay them gently on thy tender side49.

  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 allotted55 to be ta’en by me:

  So doth the swan her downy cygnets save56,

  Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings:

  Yet if this servile usage58 once offend,

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

  She is going

  Aside

  O stay!— I have no power to let her pass;

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

  As plays the sun upon the glassy62 streams,