Henry VI, Part I by William Shakespeare
Act 5 - Scene 3
Before Angiers.
Joan la Pucelle : The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.
[p]Now help, ye charming
spells and periapts;
[p]And ye choice spirits that admonish me
[p]And
give me signs of future accidents.
[p][Thunder]
[p]You speedy helpers,
that are substitutes
[p]Under the lordly monarch of the
north,
[p]Appear and aid me in this enterprise.
[p][Enter
Fiends]
[p]This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
[p]Of your
accustom'd diligence to me.
[p]Now, ye familiar spirits, that are
cull'd
[p]Out of the powerful regions under earth,
[p]Help me this
once, that France may get the field.
[p][They walk, and speak
not]
[p]O, hold me not with silence over-long!
[p]Where I was wont to
feed you with my blood,
[p]I'll lop a member off and give it you
[p]In
earnest of further benefit,
[p]So you do condescend to help me
now.
[p][They hang their heads]
[p]No hope to have redress? My body
shall
[p]Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
[p][They shake
their heads]
[p]Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
[p]Entreat you to
your wonted furtherance?
[p]Then take my soul, my body, soul and
all,
[p]Before that England give the French the foil.
[p][They
depart]
[p]See, they forsake me! Now the time is come
[p]That France
must vail her lofty-plumed crest
[p]And let her head fall into
England's lap.
[p]My ancient incantations are too weak,
[p]And hell
too strong for me to buckle with:
[p]Now, France, thy glory droopeth
to the dust.
[p][Exit]
[p][Excursions. Re-enter JOAN LA PUCELLE
fighting hand]
[p]to hand with YORK. JOAN LA PUCELLE is taken.
The
[p]French fly]
Joan la Pucelle : Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.
Joan la Pucelle : A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!
[p]And may ye both be
suddenly surprised
[p]By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!
Joan la Pucelle : I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.
Reignier : To whom?
Reignier : Suffolk, what remedy?
[p]I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
[p]Or to
exclaim on fortune's fickleness.
Reignier : Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
Reignier : Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
[p]To give thee answer of thy
just demand.
Reignier : Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
[p]Command in Anjou what
your honour pleases.
Reignier : Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
[p]To be the princely
bride of such a lord;
[p]Upon condition I may quietly
[p]Enjoy mine
own, the country Maine and Anjou,
[p]Free from oppression or the
stroke of war,
[p]My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.
Reignier : And I again, in Henry's royal name,
[p]As deputy unto that gracious
king,
[p]Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.
Reignier : I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
[p]The Christian prince, King
Henry, were he here.
Previous: Act 5 - Scene 2
Next: Act 5 - Scene 4
