Page:Henry VI Part 1 (1918) Yale.djvu/66

54

Bed. O! let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason!

Joan. What will you do, good grey-beard? break a lance,

And run a tilt at death within a chair?

Tal. Foul fiend of France, and hag of all despite,

Encompass'd with thy lustful paramours!

Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age

And twit with cowardice a man half dead?

Damsel, I'll have a bout with you again,

Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.

Joan. Are you so hot, sir? Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace;

If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.

They [i.e., Talbot, &c.,] whisper together in counsel.

God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker?

Tal. Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field?

Joan. Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,

To try if that our own be ours or no.

Tal. I speak not to that railing Hecate,

But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest;

Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?

Alen. Signior, no.

Tal. Signior, hang! base muleters of France!

Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls,

And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.

Joan. Away, captains! let's get us from the walls;

For Talbot means no goodness, by his looks.

God be wi' you, my lord! we came but to tell you

 50 good grey-beard; cf. n.

52 of all despite: most despicable

64 Hecate: goddess of witchcraft, witch

68 muleters: muleteers 