Henry VI, Part I by William Shakespeare
Act 2 - Scene 3
Auvergne. The COUNTESS’s castle.
Countess of Auvergne : Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
[p]And when you have done so,
bring the keys to me.
Porter : Madam, I will.
Countess of Auvergne : The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,
[p]I shall as famous
be by this exploit
[p]As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.
[p]Great is
the rumor of this dreadful knight,
[p]And his achievements of no less
account:
[p]Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,
[p]To give
their censure of these rare reports.
Messenger : Madam,
[p]According as your ladyship desired,
[p]By message craved, so
is Lord Talbot come.
Countess of Auvergne : And he is welcome. What! is this the man?
Messenger : Madam, it is.
Countess of Auvergne : Is this the scourge of France?
[p]Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd
abroad
[p]That with his name the mothers still their babes?
[p]I see
report is fabulous and false:
[p]I thought I should have seen some
Hercules,
[p]A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
[p]And large
proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
[p]Alas, this is a child, a silly
dwarf!
[p]It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp
[p]Should strike
such terror to his enemies.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Madam, I have been bold to trouble you;
[p]But since your ladyship is
not at leisure,
[p]I'll sort some other time to visit you.
Countess of Auvergne : What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes.
Messenger : Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves
[p]To know the cause of your
abrupt departure.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief,
[p]I go to certify her
Talbot's here.
Countess of Auvergne : If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Prisoner! to whom?
Countess of Auvergne : To me, blood-thirsty lord;
[p]And for that cause I trained thee to my
house.
[p]Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
[p]For in my
gallery thy picture hangs:
[p]But now the substance shall endure the
like,
[p]And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
[p]That hast
by tyranny these many years
[p]Wasted our country, slain our
citizens
[p]And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Ha, ha, ha!
Countess of Auvergne : Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : I laugh to see your ladyship so fond
[p]To think that you have aught
but Talbot's shadow
[p]Whereon to practise your severity.
Countess of Auvergne : Why, art not thou the man?
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : I am indeed.
Countess of Auvergne : Then have I substance too.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
[p]You are deceived, my substance
is not here;
[p]For what you see is but the smallest part
[p]And least
proportion of humanity:
[p]I tell you, madam, were the whole frame
here,
[p]It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
[p]Your roof were not
sufficient to contain't.
Countess of Auvergne : This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;
[p]He will be here, and yet
he is not here:
[p]How can these contrarieties agree?
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : That will I show you presently.
[p][Winds his horn. Drums strike up: a
peal of]
[p]ordnance. Enter soldiers]
[p]How say you, madam? are you
now persuaded
[p]That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
[p]These are
his substance, sinews, arms and strength,
[p]With which he yoketh your
rebellious necks,
[p]Razeth your cities and subverts your towns
[p]And
in a moment makes them desolate.
Countess of Auvergne : Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
[p]I find thou art no less than
fame hath bruited
[p]And more than may be gather'd by thy
shape.
[p]Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
[p]For I am sorry
that with reverence
[p]I did not entertain thee as thou art.
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury : Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue
[p]The mind of Talbot, as
you did mistake
[p]The outward composition of his body.
[p]What you
have done hath not offended me;
[p]Nor other satisfaction do I
crave,
[p]But only, with your patience, that we may
[p]Taste of your
wine and see what cates you have;
[p]For soldiers' stomachs always
serve them well.
Countess of Auvergne : With all my heart, and think me honoured
[p]To feast so great a
warrior in my house.
Previous: Act 2 - Scene 2
Next: Act 2 - Scene 4
