Page 244 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

A braver soldier never couchèd lance,
A gentler heart did never sway in court. [135]
But kings and mightiest potentates must die,
For that’s the end of human misery.

Exeunt.

Scene III IT

Enter Charles, Bastard, Alençon, [la] Pucelle [and Forces].

PUCELLE

Dismay not, princes, at this accident,
Nor grieve that Rouen is so recoverèd:
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive
For things that are not to be remedied.
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while [5]
And like a peacock sweep along his tail;
We’ll pull his plumes and take away his train
If dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.

CHARLES

We have been guided by thee hitherto
And of thy cunning had no diffidence; [10]
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

BAST ARD

[to Pucelle]
Search out thy wit for secret policies,
And we will make thee famous through the world.

ALENÇON

We’ll set thy statue in some holy place
And have thee reverenced like a blessèd saint. [15]
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.

PUCELLE

Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:
By fair persuasions mixed with sugared words
We will entice the Duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot and to follow us. [20]