Act III, Scene v

[An alarum: excursions.] [Bedford, brought in sick in a chair. Enter Talbot and Burgundywithout: within La Pucelle, Charles, Bastard, Alencon, andReignier, on the walls.]

PUCELLE.:

Good morrow, gallants! want ye corn for bread?

I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast

Before he 'll buy again at such a rate:

'Twas full of darnel: do you like the taste?

BURGUNDY.:

Scoff on, vile fiend and shameless courtezan!

I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own,

And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.

CHARLES.:

Your Grace may starve perhaps before that time.

BEDFORD.:

O, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason!

PUCELLE.:

What will you do, good graybeard? break a lance,

And run a tilt at death within a chair?

TALBOT.:

Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite,

Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours!

Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age,

And twit with cowardice a man half dead?

Damsel, I 'll have a bout with you again,

Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.

PUCELLE.:

Are ye so hot? yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace;

If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.

[The English party whisper together in council. ]

God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker?

TALBOT.:

Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field?

PUCELLE.:

Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,

To try if that our own be ours or no.

TALBOT.:

I speak not to that railing Hecate,

But unto thee, Alencon, and the rest;

Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?

ALENCON.:

Signior, no.

TALBOT.:

Signior, hang! base muleters of France!

Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls,

And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.

PUCELLE.:

Away, captains! let 's get us from the walls;

For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.

God be wi' you, my lord! we came but to tell you

That we are here.

[Exeunt from the walls.]

TALBOT.:

And there will we be too, ere it be long,

Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame!

Vow, Burgundy, by honor of thy house,

Prick'd on by public wrongs sustain'd in France,

Either to get the town again or die:

And I, as sure as English Henry lives,

And as his father here was conqueror,

As sure as in this late-betrayed town

Great Coeur-de-lion's heart was buried,

So sure I swear to get the town or die.

BURGUNDY.:

My vows are equal partners with thy vows.

TALBOT.:

But, ere we go, regard this dying prince,

The valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord,

We will bestow you in some better place,

Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.

BEDFORD.:

Lord Talbot, do not so dishonor me:

Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,

And will be partner of your weal or woe.

BURGUNDY.:

Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you.

BEDFORD.:

Not to be gone from hence; for once I read

That stout Pendragon in his litter sick

Came to the field and vanquished his foes.

Methinks I should revive the soldiers' hearts,

Because I ever found them as myself.

TALBOT.:

Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!

Then be it so: heavens keep old Bedford safe!

And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,

But gather we our forces out of hand

And set upon our boasting enemy.

[Exeunt all but Bedford and Attendants.]

[An alarum: excursions. Enter Sir John Fastolfeand a Captain.]

CAPTAIN.:

Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such haste?

FASTOLFE.:

Whither away! to save myself by flight:

We are like to have the overthrow again.

CAPTAIN.:

What! Will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot?

FASTOLFE.:

Aye,

All the Talbots in the world, to save my life.

[Exit.]

CAPTAIN.:

Cowardly knight! ill fortune follow thee!

[Exit.]

[Retreat: excursions. La Pucelle, Alencon, and Charles fly.]

BEDFORD.:

Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please,

For I have seen our enemies' overthrow.

What is the trust or strength of foolish man?

They that of late were daring with their scoffs

Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.

[Bedford dies, and is carried in by two in his chair.]