Chapter 25 act four

First Paris.palace hall Enter KING HENRY, Gloucester, Exeter, York, Suffolk, Somerset, the Bishop of Winchester, Warwick, Talbot, the Mayor of Paris, and others. My Lord Bishop of Gloucester, crown the King. Winchester God bless my King Henry VI! Come, Gloucester, Mayor of Paris, and take your oath. (The mayor kneels) You must swear that you will never support anyone else as king except His Majesty Henry VI; whoever supports him is your friend, and whoever conspires to betray his regime is your enemy.You must keep your vows, and God will bless you. (Exit the mayor and his entourage.) Enter John Forstoff.

My Majesty Faustoff, on my way from Callais to your coronation, I received a letter from the Duke of Burgundy. Talbot, you and Burgundy, two shameless fellows!I have sworn, vile knight, that if I should touch you, I would tear the sash of your knighthood from your coward's leg. (Tears off its ribbon.) As you are unworthy of such a noble title, I strip it off.Your Majesty, my lords, please forgive me for being reckless, just because of this coward, when we started the battle in Patai, our army had only 6,000 people, and the French army was ten times larger than ours. This guy disappeared without a trace.In this battle we lost twelve hundred men, and myself and several other generals were attacked and taken prisoner.My lords, please judge whether I should do this, whether a coward like him is worthy of wearing a knight's ribbon.

To tell the truth, Gloucester, this kind of behavior is disgraceful even if it comes from an ordinary commoner, let alone he is a knight and an officer leading a team. My lords, Talbot, when this system was first established, the knights who wore the ribbons were noble, brave and upright men, they were all experienced, accomplished, and heroic, and they were brave in the face of danger. Meticulous, in the midst of extreme hardship, go forward bravely.If someone lacks this quality and sneaks into the ranks of knights, this kind of person is stealing fame and desecrating the noble title of knights. In my opinion, we should treat such people like a villager pretending to be a son of a family. strip him of his title.

King Henry, you scoundrel of the English, let us judge you!We will revoke your title of knight and deport you from the country. If you dare to stay, you will be killed. (Exit Forstov) Lord Protector, please read now the letter from the Duke of Burgundy. Gloucester (seeing the address at the beginning of the letter) How has the format of this letter been changed, and what is the duke's intention?The letter began with an abrupt sentence: "To the King of England", without a word of obedience. Did he forget that he wrote the letter to the king as a subject?Does this rude address mean that he has the opposite meaning?Ah, what did he write? (Read letter) "Since my country has been devastated, and your cruelty has aroused the people's resentment, I decide to sever all ties with your evil forces, and submit to Charles, my legitimate king of France." Ah, the inhuman traitor!There is such a thing!The vows of eternal love at that time were all hypocrisy!

King Henry what!Is Burgundy reversed? Gloucester is against you, my lord, he is your enemy. Could there be anything worse in King Henry's letter? Gloucester is gone, my lord, and that's all he's said. As King Henry is so, we send Lord Talbot against him, and question him for capriciousness.General, what's your opinion? Would you like to go? Talbot will go, my lord!If it wasn't for the king's decree, I would also ask the king for the commission. KING HENRY Then gather your men and go forth to denounce it.You go here this time to let him know what he should be guilty of betraying the court and betraying his friends.

Talbot I will go, sire, I hope this expedition, as before, will kill the enemy like a wolf. (Down.) Enter Fannon and Bassett. Your Majesty Vannon, please allow me to fight a duel. Your Majesty Bassett, please allow me to fight too. This man York is my servant, my lord, hear what he has to say. This man Somerset is my servant, my lord, please do me favor. KING HENRY Wait, gentlemen, Let them tell what it is.Tell me, gentlemen, what is the cause of your quarrel?Why do you demand a duel?With whom? Vannon fights him, my lord, because he has offended me. Bassett I'll fight him because he offended me.

King Henry Both of you said you were offended, what is the reason?You tell me first, and then I will judge for you. Bassett When we sailed from England to France, this man mocked this rose I wore with his bitter tongue.He said the red petals were like my master's flushed cheeks, for my master and the Duke of York had quarreled over a theoretical point of law, and my master had been flushed with anger.He also said many vicious and harsh words.In order to refute his shameless slander and defend the dignity of my master, I request the right to use the sword. Fannon, I also came here to request the right to use the sword, Your Majesty.Although he talked sweetly and tried to shirk responsibility, he was the one who provoked me first.It was he who first reproached me for wearing the white flower, which, he said, revealed my master's cowardice in its pale color.

York Somerset, can't your grudge against me be reconciled? Somerset, my lord of York, do you not hate me to the bone?Although you are good at hiding it, you will eventually expose it. KING HENRY My lord, what fools are fools enough, To make such a fuss over trifles!My good cousins, York and Somerset, please calm down and be kind! York first asked them to settle the dispute with a duel, and then asked His Majesty to order a reconciliation. Somerset This quarrel is a private matter between us, let us settle it ourselves. Well York, here is my token of challenge, Somerset, accept my challenge.

No, Fannon, whoever asks for a duel first, will let him do it. Bassett asks your consent to this, my honorable master. Gloucester agrees to it!Shut your bickering mouth!Die with your big tongue!Aren't you ashamed of your courtiers who usurped your duties, making such a noise that the king and the ministers can't be quiet?My lords, I disapprove of your indulgence of your retainers, and it would be even more unseemly for you to start a row after listening to their instigation.I advise you not to do so. The matter of Exeter has disturbed the king, my lords, make peace. Here comes King Henry, you two duelists, if you wish to have my favour, hereafter obey my decree, And this quarrel, and its cause, Never again shall be mentioned.My gentlemen, I beg you not to forget our circumstances.We are in France, and we are surrounded by a capricious and changing people.If they read our words and know that we are not in harmony, their rebellious will will be blazing, and they will even start a rebellion!And the lords of all countries, if they hear that the British ministers are fighting each other for trivial matters, so that we lose our territory in France, they will laugh at it!Alas, I hope you will remember that it is not easy for the ancestors to start a business, and that I am still in my prime. Don't treat the foundation acquired by the ancestors' blood and sweat as a trifling matter.Let me handle this meaningless dispute fairly for you.For example, I wear this rose. (Puts on a red rose.) I have no reason to look at any one, so it may be supposed that I favor Somerset over York.Both of you are from the royal family, and you and I are close relatives of flesh and blood.Just like I wear a crown here, you cannot say that I am doing something wrong just because the King of Scotland also wears a crown.But I think you are all sensible people, you don't need my persuasion, you will realize it yourself.Since we came in harmony, let us continue to be in harmony.Cousin York, I appoint you as my successor Minister in charge of French affairs.My lord Somerset, I have sent you to lead the cavalry to assist his infantry in the Lawlands.I hope you will serve the country faithfully and carry forward the virtues of the ancestors.In particular, you must eliminate old grudges and work together. If you still have anger, vent it on the enemy.After a short rest, the Duke Protector, the ministers and I will return to the country via Kalai.I hope you will soon capture Charles, Alençon, and the other traitors alive, and offer them to me as captives. (Trumpets play coloratura. Exit except York, Warwick, Exeter, and Fannon.)

Warwick, Duke of York, Your Majesty's speech is full of love. What York said is indeed good, but why he wears Somerset's mark, I don't know why. Hua Lekexi, it was just by chance, don't mind, I don't think he has any malicious intentions. York If I know what he means—forget it, let’s not talk about it, we have other things to take care of. (Exit all except Exeter.) Exeter Richard, it's fine if you don't go on; if you pour out your heart, I'm afraid there are many deep hatreds hidden in it that are unexpected.In any case, any ordinary person can also see that relatives and nobles have different opinions, exclude each other, and connive their cronies to make troubles, and there will always be catastrophes in the future.Now that the young lord is in power, the hearts of the people are already in panic. Coupled with the fact that the ministers are fighting for power and forming cliques, I think the situation of disintegration is inevitable. (Down.)

Before the second Bordeaux city Enter Talbot with the troops. Trumpeter Talbot, go to the gates of Bordeaux, and summon their commander to answer. The trumpet blows the signal for talks.The French commander and others went up to the top of the city. Generals Talbot, it is Talbot, Commander of His Majesty King Henry, who addresses you now.I command you: Open your gates, bow your heads before us, recognize our King of England as your king, and pay him homage.If you comply with everything, I will withdraw my troops; if you reject these terms of peace, you will anger my three servants: hunger, sword and fire, which can tear down your deep ditch in a few seconds. High forts were razed to the ground. Commander, you vicious owl that presages death, you are the plague of our country!Your days of wreaking havoc on us are almost over.If you want to attack our city, you can only kill yourself.Not only are our defenses strong, but we also have a strong force to go out of the city to fight you.Even if you want to retreat, it will be difficult to escape, because our crown prince, who knows things like a god, has already set up an ambush, waiting for you to fall into the trap.There are our troops in all directions, like a net, ready to capture you.You are in catastrophe, dying in front of your eyes, and you will not be spared no matter what.10,000 French troops have sworn at communion that their heavy artillery fire will not hit any other Christians but you, the Englishman Talbot.Look, standing there at this moment, you are still a valiant, high-spirited, and invincible hero!But this word of praise is what I, as your enemy, bestow on you for the last time, because the hourglass that has started to run now, before it completes an hour’s journey, the rosy complexion I see will change. It became a shriveled, bloody, pale corpse. (War drums in the distance) Listen, listen!This is the drum of the Dauphin of France, a wake-up call to your cowardly soul. When my drum sounds, it will be your death knell. (Exit the Commander-in-Chief of France and the rest.) Talbot He is not lying, I have heard the enemy's actions.Send some cavalry out to scout the situation on the enemy's two flanks.Ouch, we miscalculated!We were surrounded like a small herd of English reindeer frightened by a pack of barking French dogs.Even if we were the elk of England, we should be a strong deer, not vulnerable like a thin elk; we should turn our heads and face the hounds like a buck forced to fight , Touch them with sharp antlers, so that the timid hounds dare not attack.My friends, as long as you are as willing as I am, the enemy will have to pay a heavy price even if he takes our herd of deer.God and St. George, Talbot and the rights of England, in this vile struggle, raise our flag higher! (same below.) Field 3 Gascany Plain Enter York with his troops.A messenger came to see. Have the scouts sent by York to follow the army led by the Dauphin of France come back? Messenger, they have returned, and according to their report, the Dauphin of France has led his army to Bordeaux to fight Talbot.While they were advancing, our scouts saw two more powerful parties joining them, and marching together towards Bordeaux. York Damned Somerset, whose cavalry I have enlisted to support Talbot, and have made an agreement with Talbot, why is he so late!The venerable Talbot is longing for my aid, but I have been misled by the traitor from giving timely assistance to our noble general.In his distress, may God give him comfort!If he lost the battle, the war in France would be over. Enter William Lucy. Lucy, the supreme commander of our British army, at this unprecedented critical moment, please quickly send troops to rescue General Talbot!It was as if he was tightly bound by an iron hoop, and he was trapped in a sinister destruction.Go to Bordeaux, brave duke!go quickly!Otherwise, the honor of Talbot, France, and England is all gone. Lord York, I wish I could take Talbot's place with this domineering and disobedient Somerset!In that way, a coward and a traitor can be removed, and a brave general can be preserved.Now it's the good people who sacrificed their lives, and the wicked ones lying down. It really made me angry and exchanged tears. Lu Xi, hurry up and send troops to support the general who is surrounded by enemies! York He dies, we fail; I break the soldier's promise; we mourn, France smiles; Lucy so pleads with God to have mercy on brave Talbot's soul, and to have mercy on his youngest son John!I met little Talbot two hours ago, on his way to his father.Their father and son have been separated for seven years, and they don't want to meet again today, but they will die together. York wondered what joy Talbot's lofty bosom could have had when he went to the grave with his son the moment he saw him?When a long-lost friend reunited at the moment of death, my heart was filled with worries, and I couldn't help sobbing in my throat.Farewell, Lucy, don't expect me to do anything, I'm helpless, there's nothing I can do.Maine, Broja, Boyadie, and Tour fell successively, all because of Somerset's procrastination, because of his absurdity. (Leads soldiers to exit.) Lucy When the rebellious vultures were pecking at the general's chest, someone was lying on his back, indifferent.King Henry V, who won the hearts of the people, his bones are not yet cold, but the inheritance he has earned will be ruined gently.The generals quarreled and lost lives, honors and lands. (Down.) Game 4 Gascany Another Plain Enter Somerset with his troops.The next officer of Talbot's men followed him. It's too late Somerset, I can't send my troops now.This time York and Talbot's marching plan was too reckless. We used the main force to attack the city, and we were in danger of being surrounded.The overjoyed Talbo, this time he ventured ahead lightly, casting a shadow over his past glorious achievements.York encouraged him to fight with ulterior motives, and he hoped that Talbot would be defeated and die, so that he could enjoy the fame alone. Here comes the officer Sir William Lucy, both of us sent for help when our troops were badly oppressed. Enter William Lucy. What's the matter with Somerset, Sir William!where do you come from? Lucy asked me where I come from, my lord?I'm from General Talbot, who's been tricked.Surrounded by mighty foes, he appeals to the lords of York and Somerset, to help his weakened army repel the assaults of death.When this loyal general was bleeding and sweating, defending his position and waiting for help, you were sent by the country, but you failed his trust. Because of some boring disputes, you stood still and stood by.Please don't detain the reinforcements who should be recruited because of personal grievances, and sit back and watch the famous general lose his life under the situation of disparity.Now the bastard of Orléans, Charles, Burgundy, Alençon, and Rainier surround him on all sides, and Talbot is dying, all because of your failure to keep an appointment. Somerset York urged him to go, and York should send troops to his aid. Lucy Yorke will sneer at you, too, and he will swear that you have delayed the men he raised especially for this campaign. Somerset Then he's lying, why doesn't he just send the cavalry?I have no obligation to him, let alone any affection; I do not disdain to send troops to please him. Lucy's loyal and righteous Talbot was not trapped in the hands of the French army, but in the intrigues of the English.He must not return to England alive. His life was ruined by your internal strife. Somerset Well, go, I will send my cavalry at once, and I shall be there in six hours. It was too late for Lucy to rescue the soldiers. If he had not been captured, he would have died in battle; even if he wanted to escape, he would not be able to escape, but even if he could escape, he would never escape. Somerset In case he dies, then, brave Talbot, may you be with God! Lucy's name will live forever, and you must be blamed for his downfall. (same below.) Scene 5 British camp near Bordeaux Enter Talbot and his son John. Talbot Alas, young John!I summoned you here because I wanted you to stay by my side and learn some strategies. From now on, when I am old and weak, I will retreat to the forest, and I hope you can restore my family reputation.O ominous star!Who would have expected that you would arrive here at a time when the situation is dangerous and your life is at stake.It's not too late now, my dear boy, get on my fast horse, and I'll show you how to get out of the siege.Come, don't delay, go, go. John is my last name Talbot?Am I your son?Tell me to run away?Oh, if you love my mother, don't make me a bastard, a slave, to tarnish her innocent name!Because everyone in the world would say that this man must not be Talbot's own blood. His noble father is still fighting hard, so why did he escape in embarrassment? Flee, Talbot, and avenge me if I be killed. John was in such a situation alone, if he was willing to escape, he would not be able to bear the responsibility of revenge at all. Talbot If we don't both go, we're both going to die. JOHN Then let me stay; father, there is no time for you to go.You are in danger to the country, and your life and death are very important; if I die, it will not be a loss, because I have not yet become famous.The French do not exaggerate their feat by killing me; if you are unlucky, they will boast, and all our hopes will be in vain.Your name of Gai Shixun will not be tarnished just because of a single retreat; I haven't achieved an inch of merit, if I leave the position, it will become a huge stain.If you retreat, everyone will understand that it is out of strategic requirements; if I retreat a step, everyone will definitely call me cowardly.If I run from danger the first time I encounter it, I can no longer be expected to stick it out.I kneel here and ask the heavens, I only want to die, and I will never be ashamed and shameless, and just live on. Talbot Let all your mother's relatives perish? Well, John, it would be better to be like this than to shame her after death, and Jiuquan will hold her grudges. Talbot I bless you, and I order you to escape. John told me to fight, I would; told me to run for my life, I couldn't. Talbot You live, and your father is partly saved through you. John's name is not enough to last forever, it can only leave a bad reputation for thousands of years. Talbot, you haven't established a rank yet, so you won't lose your reputation. John Yes, since you have achieved great fame, what's the point of retreating once? Talbot, you escaped because of your father's order, and they can't be harsh on you. John But you have died for your country, who will prove the reason for me?Since death is imminent, my father and son shall flee together. Talbot Shall I leave my men to fight to the death?I've lived my age, and I've never done such a shameful thing. John Shall I, a young lad, be ashamed?Whatever the case may be, I will never leave your side, any more than you can cut yourself in two.Whether you stay or leave, I will do whatever you want; if you dedicate yourself to serving the country, I will never linger on. Talbot Farewell, then, my dear son.Whether you were born on a certain day or not, this afternoon is the day you were appointed.Well, shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm, we live and die together; in this land of France, the souls of our father and son will fly to heaven together. (same below.) sixth battlefield The horn sounded, the two armies were at war, Talbo's son was surrounded by enemies, and Talbo went to help. Talbot Saint George bless us with victory!Kill, soldiers, kill!The minister in charge, he missed my appointment, and the rescue was not available, so we had to fight bravely to resist the ferocious guns and swords of the French.where is my son johnAh, take a break and catch your breath.I gave you your life, and I delivered you from death. John Oh, you are my father again, and I am your son again.The life you gave me for the first time has been lost. Thanks to your brave sword, you can save the situation and give me the day of rebirth. Talbot I saw you cut off the dauphin's fringe with your sword, and your valiant presence warmed your old father's heart, and made me determined to win at last.With a youthful fire in my aged breast, I drove back the captive chieftains of Alençon and Burgundy, and rescued you from the elite troops of France.The wicked bastard of Orléans hath slain you for your youth; then I wrestled with him, and made the bastard bleed.I scolded him in a contemptuous tone: "Lawful bastard, how can the filthy blood that flows from your body compare with my son's pure blood!" I tried my best to save you, and I also wanted to take this opportunity to cut off that bastard.My beloved son, tell me, are you weary?How are you?You have shown your skills, you are worthy of being the son of the general, now you can leave the position.Go away, after I die, you will avenge me.It would do me no good to leave one more helper here.It would be foolish to put the whole life on a small boat to fight against the wind and waves.I'm old, and if I don't die at the hands of the French today, I won't have much time to live.The French will gain no advantage from my stay here, at most they will save me a day or two from my life.But you are different from me. In you rest your mother's will, our family's reputation, the burden of revenge for me, your own youth, and the prestige of England.If you stay, all this will be lost; if you go, all this will be preserved. The sword of John Orleans did not surprise me.What you said made my heart bleed.For the sake of that little advantage, I sold my shame; for the sake of saving a humble life, I destroyed my reputation; if I do such a thing, I will make my cowardly horse stumble and die before I can move!Compare me to a village boy in France, subject me to all disgrace, slander, and misery!With a father like you, if I run away, I'm not worthy to be Talbot's son.Don't mention the word escape again, it is useless.I am Talbot's son, and I must die at Talbot's feet. In this case, Talbot, follow the example of Icarus and follow closely beside his father Daedalus⑩.You are my most beloved son, let us stay close together, fight together, show our nobility, and give our lives with honor. (same below.) Another place on the battlefield of the seventh battle The horn sounded, and the two armies fought.Talbot was wounded and was helped by a servant. Talbot Where is my other life?My own life is over.Ah, where's little Talbot?Where is the gallant John?O victorious death, I was bloody and wounded, and I was about to fall into your hands, but my son's heroics made me smile at you.My son John saw that I was too weak, so he swung his blood-stained sword to cover me, and his vigorous and majestic appearance made the enemy invincible.When he stood alone in front of me and nursed my wounds, he was so angry that his eyes were about to burst, he suddenly rushed from my side to the place where the French army was most concentrated, and bathed in the enemy's blood sea with incomparable power In this, my Icarus, the essence of my life, was thus honorably sacrificed. All the soldiers are on the body of little Talbot. Servant My dear master, behold, they have brought your son. Talbot, you grimacing death, don't laugh at me with sarcasm, my father and son will soon be free from your oppression, free from your cage, put on wings, fly to the soft sky, never again No more suffering in this world.O my son, you died of your wounds and valiantly, say a word to your father, before you cease to breathe!One word from you is enough to show your contempt for Death; I want you to regard Death as a Frenchman, as your enemy.Poor boy, he smiled, and he seemed to say: "If Death is really a Frenchman, Death is dead today." Do me a favor and put him in his father's arms, I'm in a trance , I can't hold it anymore.Soldiers, I bid you farewell!I am satisfied that I can use my old man's arms as the grave of my beloved son. (die.) There were bursts of drums and horns.Exit the soldier and servant, leaving behind the bodies of Talbot and his son.Enter Charles, Alençon, Burgundy, Bastard of Orleans, and Joan of Arc with an army. Charlie If York and Somerset had sent reinforcements in time, this bloody battle would have been bloody enough today. Bastard That little Talbot bastard is mad, he's testing the edge of his sword with French blood. Joan of Arc, I met him once, and I said to him: "You young man, you are defeated by a girl." But he answered me with arrogance and disdain: "I was born a man, how can I fight with you, a prodigal woman?" !” After finishing speaking, he rushed to the heart of our army, and left me arrogantly, as if I was not worth his attention. Burgundy has his bravery, and it is not difficult for him to become a noble knight.Look, he is now lying in the arms of his old man. His brutality was taught by that bloodthirsty old man. The bastards, when they were alive, were the glory of England, but the disaster of our France, and now they are dead, I will chop them into meat paste. Charlie can't!Since they were feared by us in life, we should not spoil them after death. William Lucy was guided by the French army herald, led his entourage and waited. Herald of Lucy, lead me to the prince's tent, I want to know who belongs to today's glory. Charlie Who sent you to deliver the surrender? Why does Lucy surrender, Prince!Only you in France have this word, we British soldiers don't know what it means.I came to see you to investigate who was captured by you, and to see the bodies of our fallen soldiers. Charlie, do you want to inquire about the captive?You can only go to hell to find them.Just tell me who you want to inquire about. Lucy, let me tell you, what I want to inquire about is the No. 1 hero on the battlefield today, that is, the heroic General Talbot. Due to his outstanding military exploits, he has been promoted to the Earl of Solusbury, Falconbridge, who was also Lord Vashford and Valence, who was also Lord Goodley and Ochinfield, who was also Lord Brakmi, who was also Lord Alton, who was also Lord Winfield, who was also Lord Sheffield, and who was also three times linked Lord, add the titles of St. George, St. Michael and Knight of the Golden Fleece, and actually give Henry VI the command of the British Army Generalissimo in France - where is this general? Joan of Arc is such a string of muttering titles!The Turkish Khan, who occupies fifty-two countries, does not have such trivial titles.The man whom you denote by so many titles is now lying at our feet, reeking of fly bites. Lucy Oh, that General Talbot, who was so powerful in France and was the whip to punish the French, is he killed?If I could turn my eyeballs into bullets, I'd shoot them in your faces in my wrath!I wish I could bring his father and son back from the dead, as long as there are his father and son, you can make the whole country tremble!No, the mere need to hang his picture here is enough to make the proudest of you shudder.Return the corpses of his father and son to me, and I will transport them back to the native land for a proper burial. Joan of Arc must have the ghost of old Talbot attached to him. Hearing him speak, he speaks in a very loud tone.For God's sake, give him the body, it will only stink and foul the air if left here. Forget it, Charlie, take the body away. Lucy, I want to transport them away.When I cremate them, a phoenix will grow from their ashes, and you will have no peace in all France. Charlie, as long as you take them away, you can do whatever you want.Now, taking advantage of this victory, we will go straight to Paris in one go.Talbot is dead, we can do whatever we want. (same below.)