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Scene V.—: The Same. Before one of the Gates. - William Shakespeare, The First Part of King Henry the Sixth [1623]

Edition used:

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare), ed. with a glossary by W.J. Craig M.A. (Oxford University Press, 1916).

Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare)

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Scene V.—

The Same. Before one of the Gates.

Alarum. Skirmishings. EnterTalbot,pursuing theDauphin;drives him in, and exit: then enterJoan la Pucelle,driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them. Then re-enterTalbot.

Tal.

Where is my strength, my valour, and my force?

Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;

A woman clad in armour chaseth them.

Re-enterJoan la Pucelle.

Here, here she comes. I’ll have a bout with thee:

Devil, or devil’s dam, I’ll conjure thee:

Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,

And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv’st.

Joan.

Come, come; ’tis only I that must disgrace thee.

[They fight.

Tal.

Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?

My breast I’ll 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.

Joan.

Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:

I must go victual Orleans forthwith.

[A short alarum; thenla Pucelleenters the town with Soldiers.

O’ertake me if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.

Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starved men;

Help Salisbury to make his testament:

This day is ours, as many more shall be.

[Exit.

Tal.

My thoughts are whirled like a potter’s 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 as she lists:

So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench,

Are from their hives and houses driven away.

They call’d 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 England’s coat;

Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions’ 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. Another skirmish.

It will not be: retire into your trenches:

You all consented unto Salisbury’s death,

For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.

Pucelle is entered into Orleans

In spite of us or aught that we could do.

O! would I were to die with Salisbury.

The shame hereof will make me hide my head.

[Alarum. Retreat. ExeuntTalbotand his Forces, &c.