ACT II SCENE III

King Henry VI, Part I

ACT II SCENE III	Auvergne. The COUNTESS’s castle.
[Enter the COUNTESS and her Porter]
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
	And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.
Porter	Madam, I will.
[Exit]
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,
	I shall as famous be by this exploit	5
	As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus’ death.
	Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight,
	And his achievements of no less account:
	Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,
	To give their censure of these rare reports.	10
[Enter Messenger and TALBOT]
Messenger	Madam,
	According as your ladyship desired,
	By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	And he is welcome. What! is this the man?
Messenger	Madam, it is.	15
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Is this the scourge of France?
	Is this the Talbot, so much fear’d abroad
	That with his name the mothers still their babes?
	I see report is fabulous and false:
	I thought I should have seen some Hercules,	20
	A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
	And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
	Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!
	It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp
	Should strike such terror to his enemies.	25
TALBOT	Madam, I have been bold to trouble you;
	But since your ladyship is not at leisure,
	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	30
	To know the cause of your abrupt departure.
TALBOT	Marry, for that she’s in a wrong belief,
	I go to certify her Talbot’s here.
[Re-enter Porter with keys]
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.
TALBOT	Prisoner! to whom?	35
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	To me, blood-thirsty lord;
	And for that cause I trained thee to my house.
	Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
	For in my gallery thy picture hangs:
	But now the substance shall endure the like,	40
	And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
	That hast by tyranny these many years
	Wasted our country, slain our citizens
	And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
TALBOT	Ha, ha, ha!	45
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan.
TALBOT	I laugh to see your ladyship so fond
	To think that you have aught but Talbot’s shadow
	Whereon to practise your severity.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Why, art not thou the man?	50
TALBOT	I am indeed.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Then have I substance too.
TALBOT	No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
	You are deceived, my substance is not here;
	For what you see is but the smallest part	55
	And least proportion of humanity:
	I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
	It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
	Your roof were not sufficient to contain’t.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;	60
	He will be here, and yet he is not here:
	How can these contrarieties agree?
TALBOT	That will I show you presently.
[ Winds his horn. Drums strike up: a peal of ordnance. Enter soldiers ]
	How say you, madam? are you now persuaded
	That Talbot is but shadow of himself?	65
	These are his substance, sinews, arms and strength,
	With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
	Razeth your cities and subverts your towns
	And in a moment makes them desolate.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:	70
	I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited
	And more than may be gather’d by thy shape.
	Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
	For I am sorry that with reverence
	I did not entertain thee as thou art.	75
TALBOT	Be not dismay’d, fair lady; nor misconstrue
	The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
	The outward composition of his body.
	What you have done hath not offended me;
	Nor other satisfaction do I crave,	80
	But only, with your patience, that we may
	Taste of your wine and see what cates you have;
	For soldiers’ stomachs always serve them well.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE	With all my heart, and think me honoured
	To feast so great a warrior in my house.	85
[Exeunt]

Continue to 1 Henry VI, Act 2, Scene 4