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King Henry VI, Part 1: Act 1 Scene 5

Scene V The same.

[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]

TALBOT

Where is my strength, my valour, and my force?

Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them:

A woman clad in armour chaseth them.

[Re-enter JOAN 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.

JOAN LA 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]

JOAN LA 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 enter'd 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]