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Home > King Henry VI Part 1 > ACT II - SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town.

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ACT II - SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town.
Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a Captain, and others

BEDFORD
1    The day begins to break, and night is fled,
2    Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth.
3    Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.
Retreat sounded

TALBOT
4    Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,
5    And here advance it in the market-place,
6    The middle centre of this cursed town.
7    Now have I paid my vow unto his soul;
8    For every drop of blood was drawn from him,
9    There hath at least five Frenchmen died tonight.
10   And that hereafter ages may behold
11   What ruin happen'd in revenge of him,
12   Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
13   A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd:
14   Upon the which, that every one may read,
15   Shall be engraved the sack of Orleans,
16   The treacherous manner of his mournful death
17   And what a terror he had been to France.
18   But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,
19   I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace,
20   His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc,
21   Nor any of his false confederates.
BEDFORD
22   'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began,
23   Roused on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
24   They did amongst the troops of armed men
25   Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.
BURGUNDY
26   Myself, as far as I could well discern
27   For smoke and dusky vapours of the night,
28   Am sure I scared the Dauphin and his trull,
29   When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,
30   Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves
31   That could not live asunder day or night.
32   After that things are set in order here,
33   We'll follow them with all the power we have.
Enter a Messenger

Messenger
34   All hail, my lords! which of this princely train
35   Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts
36   So much applauded through the realm of France?
TALBOT
37   Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him?
Messenger
38   The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne,
39   With modesty admiring thy renown,
40   By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe
41   To visit her poor castle where she lies,
42   That she may boast she hath beheld the man
43   Whose glory fills the world with loud report.
BURGUNDY
44   Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars
45   Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,
46   When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.
47   You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
TALBOT
48   Ne'er trust me then; for when a world of men
49   Could not prevail with all their oratory,
50   Yet hath a woman's kindness over-ruled:
51   And therefore tell her I return great thanks,
52   And in submission will attend on her.
53   Will not your honours bear me company?
BEDFORD
54   No, truly; it is more than manners will:
55   And I have heard it said, unbidden guests
56   Are often welcomest when they are gone.
TALBOT
57   Well then, alone, since there's no remedy,
58   I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
59   Come hither, captain.
Whispers
60   You perceive my mind?
Captain
61   I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.
Exeunt

< (Previous) ACT II, SCENE IACT II, III (Next) >
Scene Index
ACT I
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI


  • ACT II
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V


  • ACT III
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT IV
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT V
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V

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