READ STUDY GUIDE: Act 1, Scenes iv-viii |
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Act I, Scene vii
| [Here an alarum again: and Talbot pursueth theDauphin, and driveth him: then enter Joan La Pucelle,driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them:then re-enter Talbot.] |
| TALBOT.: |
| Where is my strength, my valor, and my force? |
| Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them: |
| A woman clad in armour chaseth them. |
| [Re-enter La Pucelle.] |
| Here, here she comes. I 'll have a bout with thee; |
| Devil or devil's dam, I 'll conjure thee: |
| Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch, |
| And straightway give thy soul to him thou servest. |
| PUCELLE.: |
| Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace thee. |
| [Here they fight.] |
| TALBOT.: |
| Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? |
| My breast I 'll burst with straining of my courage, |
| And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, |
| But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. |
| [They fight again.] |
| PUCELLE.: |
| Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come: |
| I must go victual Orleans forthwith. |
| [A short alarum: then enter the town with soldiers.] |
| O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. |
| Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men; |
| Help Salisbury to make his testament: |
| This day is ours, as many more shall be. |
| [Exit.] |
| TALBOT.: |
| My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; |
| I know not where I am, nor what I do; |
| A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal, |
| Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists. |
| So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench |
| Are from their hives and houses driven away. |
| They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs; |
| Now, like to whelps, we crying run away. |
| [A short alarum.] |
| Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, |
| Or tear the lions out of England's coat; |
| Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead: |
| Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf, |
| Or horse or oxen from the leopard, |
| As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. |
| [Alarum. Here another skirmish.] |
| It will not be: retire into your trenches: |
| You all consented unto Salisbury's death, |
| For none would strike a stroke in his revenge. |
| Pucelle is ent'red into Orleans, |
| In spite of us or aught that we could do. |
| O, would I were to die with Salisbury! |
| The shame hereof will make me hide my head. |
| [Exit Talbot. Alarum; retreat; flourish.] |
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