Henry VI, Pt. 1
Act II, Scene 2
Orléans. Within the town.
John, Duke of Bedford
Bedford Master, circa 1420
- Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, a Captain, and others,
- their Drums beating a dead march.
Duke of Bedford
1 - 3- The day begins to break, and night is fled,
- Whose pitchy mantle over-veil’d the earth.
- Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.
- Retreat.
Lord Talbot
4 - 21- Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,
- And here advance it in the market-place,
- The middle centure of this cursed town.
- 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 happened in revenge of him,
- Within their chiefest temple I’ll erect
- A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr’d;
- Upon the which, that every one may read,
- Shall be engrav’d the sack of Orléans,
- The treacherous manner of his mournful death,
- And what a terror he had been to France.
- But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,
- I muse we met not with the Dauphin’s grace,
- His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Aire,
- Nor any of his false confederates.
Duke of Bedford
22 - 25- ’Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began,
- Rous’d on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
- They did amongst the troops of armed men
- Leap o’er the walls for refuge in the field.
Duke of Burgundy
26 - 33- Myself, as far as I could well discern
- For smoke and dusky vapors of the night,
- Am sure I scar’d the Dauphin and his trull,
- When arm in arm 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,
- We’ll follow them with all the power we have.
- Enter Messenger of the Countess.
Messenger of the Countess
34 - 36- All hail, my lords! Which of this princely train
- Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts
- So much applauded through the realm of France?
Lord Talbot
37- Here is the Talbot, who would speak with him?
Messenger of the Countess
38 - 43- 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 report.
Duke of Burgundy
44 - 47- Is it even so? Nay, then I see our wars
- Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,
- When ladies crave to be encount’red with.
- You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Lord Talbot
48 - 53- Ne’er trust me then; for when a world of men
- Could not prevail with all their oratory,
- Yet hath a woman’s kindness overrul’d;
- And therefore tell her I return great thanks,
- And in submission will attend on her.
- Will not your honors bear me company?
Duke of Bedford
54 - 56- No, truly, ’tis more than manners will;
- And I have heard it said, unbidden guests
- Are often welcomest when they are gone.
Lord Talbot
57 - 60- Well then, alone (since there’s no remedy)
- I mean to prove this lady’s courtesy.
- Come hither, captain.
- Whispers.
- You perceive my mind?
Captain
61- I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.
- Exeunt.
Banner design for the Duke of Burgundy
Charles Hamilton Smith, Emma Hamilton Smith, 19th century