Henry VI, Part I by William Shakespeare
Act 2 - Scene 2
Orleans. Within the town.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,
[p]And here advance it in the
market-place,
[p]The middle centre of this cursed town.
[p]Now have I
paid my vow unto his soul;
[p]For every drop of blood was drawn from
him,
[p]There hath at least five Frenchmen died tonight.
[p]And that
hereafter ages may behold
[p]What ruin happen'd in revenge of
him,
[p]Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
[p]A tomb, wherein his
corpse shall be interr'd:
[p]Upon the which, that every one may
read,
[p]Shall be engraved the sack of Orleans,
[p]The treacherous
manner of his mournful death
[p]And what a terror he had been to
France.
[p]But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,
[p]I muse we met
not with the Dauphin's grace,
[p]His new-come champion, virtuous Joan
of Arc,
[p]Nor any of his false confederates.
Messenger : All hail, my lords! which of this princely train
[p]Call ye the
warlike Talbot, for his acts
[p]So much applauded through the realm of
France?
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him?
Messenger : The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne,
[p]With modesty admiring thy
renown,
[p]By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe
[p]To
visit her poor castle where she lies,
[p]That she may boast she hath
beheld the man
[p]Whose glory fills the world with loud report.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Ne'er trust me then; for when a world of men
[p]Could not prevail with
all their oratory,
[p]Yet hath a woman's kindness over-ruled:
[p]And
therefore tell her I return great thanks,
[p]And in submission will
attend on her.
[p]Will not your honours bear me company?
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Well then, alone, since there's no remedy,
[p]I mean to prove this
lady's courtesy.
[p]Come hither, captain.
[p][Whispers]
[p]You
perceive my mind?
Captain : I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.
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Next: Act 2 - Scene 3



