Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 5

The same.

  1. [Here an alarum again: and Talbot pursueth the Dauphin, and driveth him: then enter Joan La Pucelle, driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them: then re-enter Talbot.]
  2. Lord Talbot
  3. 539 Where is my strength, my valor, and my force?
  4. 540 Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them:
  5. 541 A woman clad in armour chaseth them.
  6. [Re-enter La Pucelle.]
  7. Lord Talbot
  8. 542 Here, here she comes. I 'll have a bout with thee;
  9. 543 Devil or devil's dam, I 'll conjure thee:
  10. 544 Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
  11. 545 And straightway give thy soul to him thou servest.
  12. Joan la Pucelle
  13. 546 Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace thee.
  14. [Here they fight.]
  15. Lord Talbot
  16. 547 Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?
  17. 548 My breast I 'll burst with straining of my courage,
  18. 549 And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder,
  19. 550 But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.
  20. [They fight again.]
  21. Joan la Pucelle
  22. 551 Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:
  23. 552 I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
  24. [A short alarum: then enter the town with soldiers.]
  25. Joan la Pucelle
  26. 553 O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
  27. 554 Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men;
  28. 555 Help Salisbury to make his testament:
  29. 556 This day is ours, as many more shall be.
  30. [Exit.]
  31. Lord Talbot
  32. 557 My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel;
  33. 558 I know not where I am, nor what I do;
  34. 559 A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal,
  35. 560 Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists.
  36. 561 So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench
  37. 562 Are from their hives and houses driven away.
  38. 563 They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs;
  39. 564 Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
  40. [A short alarum.]
  41. Lord Talbot
  42. 565 Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
  43. 566 Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
  44. 567 Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
  45. 568 Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf,
  46. 569 Or horse or oxen from the leopard,
  47. 570 As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.
  48. [Alarum. Here another skirmish.]
  49. Lord Talbot
  50. 571 It will not be: retire into your trenches:
  51. 572 You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
  52. 573 For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.
  53. 574 Pucelle is ent'red into Orleans,
  54. 575 In spite of us or aught that we could do.
  55. 576 O, would I were to die with Salisbury!
  56. 577 The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
  57. [Exit Talbot. Alarum; retreat; flourish.]