The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (216 page)

[Alarum. Excursions. Enter La Pucelle.]

PUCELLE.

The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;

And ye choice spirits that admonish me,

And give me signs of future accidents. [Thunder]

You speedy helpers, that are substitutes

Under the lordly monarch of the north,

Appear and aid me in this enterprise.

[Enter Fiends.]

This speedy and quick appearance argues proof

Of your accustom'd diligence to me.

Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd

Out of the powerful regions under earth,

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[They walk and speak not.]

O, hold me not with silence over-long!

Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,

I 'll lop a member off and give it you

In earnest of a further benefit,

So you do condescend to help me now.

[They hang their heads.]

No hope to have redress? My body shall

Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.]

Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice

Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?

Then take my soul, my body, soul and all,

Before that England give the French the foil.

[They depart.]

See, they forsake me!  Now the time is come

That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest,

And let her head fall into England's lap.

My ancient incantations are too weak,

And hell too strong for me to buckle with:

Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

[Exit.]

[Excursions. Re-enter La Pucelle fighting hand to

hand with York: La Pucelle is taken. The French fly.]

The Regent has won and the Frenchmen are fleeing.

Now help, you enchanting spells and charms,

and you, great spirits who warn me

and give me indications of future events.

You speedy helpers, who are substitutes

for your

lord the devil,

appear, and help me in this enterprise.

Enter fiends.

The speed with which you appeared proves

that you are used to working for me.

Now, you familiar spirits, which come

from the powerful regions under the earth,

help me this one time, so that France can win the battle.

They walk, and do not speak.

Do not keep me in silence for too long:

where I used to offer you my blood,

I'll chop a limb off and give it to you

as a token of further payment

if you help me now.

They hang their heads.

Is there no hope of help? You can have my

body in payment if you grant my request.

They shake their heads.

Can't my body or a blood sacrifice

persuade you to give your usual assistance?

Then take my soul–my body, soul, all of me–

before the French triumph over the English.

They leave.

See, they are leaving me. Now the time has come

that France must lower her high plumed crest,

and let her head fall into England's lap.

My ancient spells are too weak,

and hell is too strong for me to force to my will.

Now, France, your glory has fallen to the dust.

YORK.

Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:

Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,

And try if they can gain your liberty.

A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!

See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,

As if with Circe she would change my shape!

Lady of France, I think I have you in my power:

unleash your spirits now with your spells,

and see if they can gain your freedom.

A good prize, suitable for the Devil's favour!

See how the ugly witch frowns,

as if she would like to change my shape, as Circe did!

PUCELLE.

Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.

You can't be changed to a worse shape.

YORK.

O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;

No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Oh, Charles the Dauphin is a good man;

only his shape can please your choosy eye!

PUCELLE.

A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!

And may ye both be suddenly surprised

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

May a horrible plague fall on Charles and you!

And may you both be suddenly surprised

by bloody hands, when you're asleep!

YORK.

Fell banning hag; enchantress, hold thy tongue!

You foul cursing hag; you witch, hold your tongue!

PUCELLE.

I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

Please, allow me to curse for a while.

YORK.

Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

You can curse, you criminal, when you are burnt at the stake.

[Exeunt.]

[Alarum. Enter Suffolk, with Margaret in his hand.]

SUFFOLK.

Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

[Gazes on her.]

O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly!

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands;

I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,

And lay them gently on thy tender side.

Who art thou? say, that I may honor thee.

Whoever you are, you are my prisoner.

Oh you great beauty, do not be afraid or try and run!

I will only touch you with worshipping hands;

I kiss your fingers wishing you eternal peace,

and lay them gently by your sweet side.

Who are you? Say, so I can worship you.

MARGARET.

Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,

The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Margaret is my name, and I am the daughter of the King,

the King of Naples, whoever you are.

SUFFOLK.

An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me.

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,

Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.

Yet, if this servile usage once offend,

Go and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

[She is going.]

O, stay!  I have no power to let her pass;

My hand would free her, but my heart says no.

As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,

Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.

Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:

I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.

Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;

Hast not a tongue? is she not here?

Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?

Aye, beauty's princely majesty is such,

Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

I am an earl, I am called Suffolk.

Don't be offended, miracle of nature;

I have been ordered to escort you.

This is how the swan protects its downy cygnets,

keeping them sheltered under its wings.

But, if my worshipful behaviour offends you,

go, and you can live freely as my friend.

Oh stay! I have no power to set her free.

My hand wants to free her, but my heart says no.

This gorgeous beauty seems to me to look

like the sun playing on a glassy stream,

twinkling with its reflection.

I should like to woo her, but I dare not speak.

I'll order pen and ink and write down what I'm thinking.

Come, de la Pole, don't put yourself down:

haven't you got a tongue? Isn't she here?

Will you be daunted by the sight of a woman?

Yes. The royal majesty of beauty is so great

that it defeats the tongue, and confuses the senses.

MARGARET.

Say, Earl of Suffolk,--if thy name be so--

What ransom must I pay before I pass?

For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

Tell me, Earl of Suffolk–if that's your name–

what ransom must I pay before I can go?

For I see that I am your prisoner.

SUFFOLK.

How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,

Before thou make a trial of her love?

How do know that she will refuse you,

before you offer her your love?

MARGARET.

Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Why won't you speak? What ransom must I pay?

SUFFOLK.

She's beautiful and therefore to be woo'd;

She is a woman, therefore to be won.

She's beautiful, and therefore should be wooed;

she is a woman, and therefore she can be won.

MARGARET.

Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.

Will you accept to ransom? Yes or no.

SUFFOLK.

Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

Stupid man, remember that you have a wife;

so how can Margaret be your lover?

MARGARET.

I were best leave him, for he will not hear.

I had better leave him, for he won't listen.

SUFFOLK.

There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

That spoils everything; that cools it all down.

MARGARET.

He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

He's talking randomly; I'm sure the man is mad.

SUFFOLK.

And yet a dispensation may be had.

And yet marriages can be dissolved.

MARGARET.

And yet I would that you would answer me.

And yet I should like you to answer me.

SUFFOLK.

I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?

Why, for my king; tush, that 's a wooden thing!

I'll win over this lady Margaret. Who for?

Why, for my king; pah, he's a wooden block!

MARGARET.

He talks of wood:  it is some carpenter.

He's talking of wood: he must be a carpenter.

SUFFOLK.

Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,

And peace established between these realms.

But there remains a scruple in that too;

For though her father be the King of Naples,

Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,

And our nobility will scorn the match.