King Henry VI - Part 1 - Act 1 Scene 5

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King Henry the Sixth - Part 1

The Same. Before one of the Gates.

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King Henry VI - Part 1 - Act 1 Scene 6 >>

The Same. Before one of the Gates.

Alarum. Skirmishings. Enter TALBOT, pursuing the DAUPHIN; drives him in, and exit: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them. Then re-enter TALBOT.

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-enter JOAN 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; then LA PUCELLE enters 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. Exeunt TALBOT and his Forces, &c.

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