Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 3

Auvergne. The Countess's castle.

  1. [Enter the Countess and her Porter.]
  2. Countess of Auvergne
  3. 752 Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
  4. 753 And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.
  5. Porter
  6. 754 Madam, I will.
  7. [Exit.]
  8. Countess of Auvergne
  9. 755 The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,
  10. 756 I shall as famous be by this exploit
  11. 757 As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.
  12. 758 Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight,
  13. 759 And his achievements of no less account:
  14. 760 Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,
  15. 761 To give their censure of these rare reports.
  16. [Enter Messenger and Talbot.]
  17. Messenger
  18. 762 Madam,
  19. 763 according as your ladyship desired,
  20. 764 By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come.
  21. Countess of Auvergne
  22. 765 And he is welcome. What! is this the man?
  23. Messenger
  24. 766 Madam, it is.
  25. Countess of Auvergne
  26. 767 Is this the scourge of France?
  27. 768 Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad
  28. 769 That with his name the mothers still their babes?
  29. 770 I see report is fabulous and false:
  30. 771 I thought I should have seen some Hercules,
  31. 772 A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
  32. 773 And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
  33. 774 Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!
  34. 775 It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp
  35. 776 Should strike such terror to his enemies.
  36. Lord Talbot
  37. 777 Madam, I have been bold to trouble you;
  38. 778 But since your ladyship is not at leisure,
  39. 779 I 'll sort some other time to visit you.
  40. Countess of Auvergne
  41. 780 What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes.
  42. Messenger
  43. 781 Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves
  44. 782 To know the cause of your abrupt departure.
  45. Lord Talbot
  46. 783 Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief,
  47. 784 I go to certify her Talbot's here.
  48. [Re-enter Porter with keys.]
  49. Countess of Auvergne
  50. 785 If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.
  51. Lord Talbot
  52. 786 Prisoner! to whom?
  53. Countess of Auvergne
  54. 787 To me, blood-thirsty lord;
  55. 788 And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.
  56. 789 Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
  57. 790 For in my gallery thy picture hangs:
  58. 791 But now the substance shall endure the like,
  59. 792 And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
  60. 793 That hast by tyranny these many years
  61. 794 Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
  62. 795 And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
  63. Lord Talbot
  64. 796 Ha, ha, ha!
  65. Countess of Auvergne
  66. 797 Laughest thou, wretch? Thy mirth shall turn to moan.
  67. Lord Talbot
  68. 798 I laugh to see your ladyship so fond
  69. 799 To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow
  70. 800 Whereon to practice your severity.
  71. Countess of Auvergne
  72. 801 Why, art not thou the man?
  73. Lord Talbot
  74. 802 I am indeed.
  75. Countess of Auvergne
  76. 803 Then have I substance too.
  77. Lord Talbot
  78. 804 No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
  79. 805 You are deceived, my substance is not here;
  80. 806 For what you see is but the smallest part
  81. 807 And least proportion of humanity:
  82. 808 I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
  83. 809 It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
  84. 810 Your roof were not sufficient to contain 't.
  85. Countess of Auvergne
  86. 811 This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;
  87. 812 He will be here, and yet he is not here:
  88. 813 How can these contrarieties agree?
  89. Lord Talbot
  90. 814 That will I show you presently.
  91. [Winds his horn. Drums strike up: a peal of ordnance. Enter Soldiers.]
  92. Lord Talbot
  93. 815 How say you, madam? are you now persuaded
  94. 816 That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
  95. 817 These are his substance, sinews, arms and strength,
  96. 818 With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
  97. 819 Razeth your cities and subverts your towns,
  98. 820 And in a moment makes them desolate.
  99. Countess of Auvergne
  100. 821 Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
  101. 822 I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited,
  102. 823 And more than may be gather'd by thy shape.
  103. 824 Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
  104. 825 For I am sorry that with reverence
  105. 826 I did not entertain thee as thou art.
  106. Lord Talbot
  107. 827 Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue
  108. 828 The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
  109. 829 The outward composition of his body.
  110. 830 What you have done hath not offended me;
  111. 831 Nor other satisfaction do I crave,
  112. 832 But only, with your patience, that we may
  113. 833 Taste of your wine and see what cates you have;
  114. 834 For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.
  115. Countess of Auvergne
  116. 835 With all my heart, and think me honored
  117. 836 To feast so great a warrior in my house.
  118. [Exeunt.]