The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (208 page)

Who join'st thou with but with a lordly nation

That will not trust thee but for profit's sake?

When Talbot hath set footing once in France,

And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill,

Who then but English Henry will be lord,

And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?

Call we to mind, and mark but this for proof,

Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?

And was he not in England prisoner?

But when they heard he was thine enemy,

They set him free without his ransom paid,

In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.

See, then, thou fight'st against thy countrymen

And join'st with them will be thy slaughtermen.

Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord;

Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.

Besides, all of France and the French cry out against you,

doubting your birth and legitimacy.

Who are you allied to but a haughty nation,

who will only use you for their own profit?

When Talbot has got a foothold here in France,

using you to achieve that evil end,

who but English Henry will rule?

You will be thrown out like a fugitive.

Let's remember–just think of this–

wasn't the Duke of Orleans your enemy?

And wasn't he prisoner in England?

But when they heard he was your enemy

they set him free without asking for a ransom,

to spite Burgundy and his allies.

So you see, you are fighting your own countrymen,

and on the side of those who would like to kill you.

Come, come, come back; come back, you wandering lord.

Charles and the others will welcome you.

BURGUNDY.

I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers

Have batt'red me like roaring cannon-shot,

And made me almost yield upon my knees.

Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen,

And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace:

My forces and my power of men are yours:

So, farewell, Talbot; I 'll no longer trust thee.

I have been beaten; these proud words of hers

have battered me like shot from a cannon,

and made me surrender, almost down on my knees.

Forgive me, my country, and sweet countrymen,

and lords, except this happy sincere embrace:

my men and I are at your service:

so, farewell, Talbot; I shall no longer trust you.

PUCELLE.

[Aside] Done like a Frenchman: turn and turn

again!

[Aside] Done like a Frenchman: always changing sides!

CHARLES.

Welcome, brave duke; thy friendship makes us

fresh.

Welcome, brave Duke; your friendship rejuvenates us.

BASTARD.

And doth beget new courage in our breasts.

You've put new courage into our hearts.

ALENCON.

Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this,

And doth deserve a coronet of gold.

Pucelle has done her part well in this,

and deserves a golden crown.

CHARLES.

Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers,

And seek how we may prejudice the foe.

Now let's go on, my lords, and join our forces,

and see what harm we can do our enemies.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter the King, Gloucester, Bishop of Winchester, York,

Suffolk, Somerset, Warwick, Exeter:  Vernon, Basset, and

others. To them with his soldiers, Talbot.]

TALBOT.

My gracious Prince, and honourable peers,

Hearing of your arrival in this realm,

I have awhile given truce unto my wars,

To do my duty to my sovereign:

In sign whereof, this arm, that hath reclaim'd

To your obedience fifty fortresses,

Twelve cities and seven walled towns of strength,

Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,

Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet,

And with submissive loyalty of heart

Ascribes the glory of his conquest got

First to my God and next unto your grace. [Kneels.]

My gracious Prince, and honourable peers,

hearing of your arrival in this country,

I have suspended my military activities for a while,

to pay my respects to my Monarch:

as a symbol of this, this arm, that has captured

for your Highness fifty fortresses,

twelve cities and seven strong walled towns,

as well as five hundred noble prisoners,

lays his sword at the feet of your Highness,

and with a humble loyal heart

attributes the glory of his victories

firstly to God, and next to your Grace.

KING.

Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester,

That hath so long been resident in France?

Uncle Gloucester, is this the Lord Talbot,

who has been living in France for so long?

GLOUCESTER.

Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege.

It is, my lord.

KING.

Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!

When I was young, as yet I am not old,

I do remember how my father said

A stouter champion never handled sword.

Long since we were resolved of your truth,

Your faithful service and your toil in war;

Yet never have you tasted our reward,

Or been reguerdon'd with so much as thanks,

Because till now we never saw your face:

Therefore, stand up:  and for these good deserts,

We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;

And in our coronation take your place.

Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!

When I was young–I'm still not old–

I can remember my father saying

that no braver man ever handled a sword.

For a long time I have known of your loyalty,

your faithful service and your military efforts;

but you have never been rewarded by me,

or even received my thanks in compensation,

because until now I had never met you:

so, stand up: for all your good efforts,

I declare you the Earl of Shrewsbury;

you shall take your place at my coronation.

[Sennet. Flourish. Exeunt all but Vernon and Basset.]

VERNON.

Now, sir, to you, that were so hot at sea,

Disgracing of these colors that I wear

In honor of my noble Lord of York:--

Dar'st thou maintain the former words thou spakest?

Now, sir, you who were so brave on board ship,

insulting these colours that I wear

in honour of my noble Lord of York:

do you stick by what you said before?

BASSET.

Yes, sir; as well as you dare patronage

The envious barking of your saucy tongue

Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.

Yes sir, just as much as you carry on

with your cheeky insults against

my lord the Duke of Somerset.

VERNON.

Sirrah, thy lord I honor as he is.

Sir, I honour your lord for what he is.

BASSET.

Why, what is he? as good a man as York.

Why, what is he? He's as good a man as York.

VERNON.

Hark ye; not so:  in witness, take ye that.

You listen, that's not true: to show you that, take that.

[Strikes him.]

BASSET.

Villain, thou know'st the law of arms is such

That whoso draws a sword, 'tis present death,

Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.

But I 'll unto his majesty, and crave

I may have liberty to venge this wrong;

When thou shalt see I 'll meet thee to thy cost.

Villain, you know that military law is such

that whoever draws a sword will be executed at once,

or otherwise your blood would be spilt in return for this blow.

But I shall go to his Majesty, and beg him

to give me permission to take my revenge for this insult;

then you'll see I will fight you to your cost.

VERNON.

Well, miscreant, I 'll be there as soon as you;

And, after, meet you sooner than you would.

Well, you scoundrel, I'll get there at the same time as you;

and after that I'll be more willing to fight a duel than you.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter the King, Gloucester, Bishop of Winchester, York,

Suffolk, Somerset, Warwick, Talbot, Exeter, the Governor