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Act 5, Scene 3
Henry VI, Part 1 Translation Act 5, Scene 4
Enter YORK, WARWICK, and others
YORK
Bring forth that sorceress condemn'd to burn.
YORK
Bring forward the witch that has been condemned to burn.
Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a Shepherd
SHEPHERD
Ah, Joan, this kills thy father's heart outright! Have I sought every country far and near, And, now it is my chance to find thee out, Must I behold thy timeless cruel death? Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with thee!
SHEPHERD
Ah, Joan, this kills your father! I have searched every region hoping to find you and now that I have, I must watch your early, cruel death? Ah, Joan, my sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with you!
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!I am descended of a gentler blood:Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
You weak miserable creature! Lowly inferior villain! I come from a nobler bloodline. You aren't my father or my friend.
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SHEPHERD
Out, out! My lords, an please you, 'tis not so; I did beget her, all the parish knows: Her mother liveth yet, can testify She was the first fruit of my bachelorship.
SHEPHERD
No, no! My lords, if it's all right with you, it's not true. I am her father, all of the locals know that. Her mother still lives and she can prove that Joan was the first fruit of my youth.
WARWICK
Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?
WARWICK
How awkward! Will you deny where you come from?
YORK
This argues what her kind of life hath been,Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.
YORK
This demonstrates what kind of life she led—wicked and wretched and so her death is a fitting end.
SHEPHERD
Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle! God knows thou art a collop of my flesh; And for thy sake have I shed many a tear: Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan.
SHEPHERD
How could you be so stubborn, Joan! God knows that you are a part of my body and I have cried so much for your sake. Don't deny me, I beg you, gentle Joan.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man,Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Leave me, peasant! You have bribed this man to bring my noble birth into question.
SHEPHERD
'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest The morn that I was wedded to her mother. Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl. Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Of thy nativity! I would the milk Thy mother gave thee when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee! Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab? O, burn her, burn her! hanging is too good.
SHEPHERD
It's true that I gave a gold coin to the priest that morning when I married her mother. Kneel down and take my blessing, my good girl. Won't you kneel? Then I curse the moment you were born! I wish the milk your mother gave you when you sucked her breasts had been rat poison, for your sake! Or I wish that some hungry wolf had eaten you, while you took care of my lambs in the field. Do you deny your father, cursed whore? She deserves to burn, hanging is too kind a punishment!
Exit
YORK
Take her away; for she hath lived too long,To fill the world with vicious qualities.
YORK
Take her away, she has already lived too long and filled the world with horrible things.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd: Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, But issued from the progeny of kings; Virtuous and holy; chosen from above, By inspiration of celestial grace, To work exceeding miracles on earth. I never had to do with wicked spirits: But you, that are polluted with your lusts, Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents, Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices, Because you want the grace that others have, You judge it straight a thing impossible To compass wonders but by help of devils. No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath been A virgin from her tender infancy, Chaste and immaculate in very thought; Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effused, Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
First, let me tell you who you have damned here. Not someone who was conceived by a shepherd, but a successor of kings, virtuous and holy, chosen from the heavens by intervention of heavenly grace to make exceptional miracles happen on earth. I had nothing to do with wicked spirits. But you, that are corrupted by your desires, stained with the guiltless blood of innocent people, false and contaminated with a thousand sins, you have decided that it's an entirely impossible thing for miracles to happen unless they are done with the help of devils. No, wickedly created! Joan of Arc has been a virgin ever since she was a young girl, she's been virtuous and spotless as her virginal blood did so savagely pour out. She will scream for revenge at the gates of heaven!
YORK
Ay, ay: away with her to execution!
YORK
Yes, yes, take her away to her execution!
WARWICK
And hark ye, sirs; because she is a maid, Spare for no faggots, let there be enow: Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, That so her torture may be shortened.
WARWICK
And pay attention, sirs. Don't spare the bundles of wood because she is a maid. Let there be enough of it. Put barrels of pitch on the stake so that her torture can be shortened.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts? Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity, That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Will nothing change your unforgiving hearts? Then, Joan, reveal your weakness, that legally guarantees my freedom. I am pregnant, you bloody murderers! Although you drag me to a violent death, don't murder the fruit in my belly.
YORK
Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child!
YORK
Oh heaven forbid! A holy girl pregnant?!
WARWICK
The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought:Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
WARWICK
It's the greatest miracle that I've ever seen. How does all your strict morality come to this?
YORK
She and the Dauphin have been juggling:I did imagine what would be her refuge.
YORK
She and the Dauphin have been having sex. I thought this would be her last resource.
WARWICK
Well, go to; we'll have no bastards live;Especially since Charles must father it.
WARWICK
Well, we'll have no bastards here, especially since Charles should be the father to it.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
You are deceived; my child is none of his:It was Alencon that enjoy'd my love.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
That's not true, my child isn't his. Alencon enjoyed my love.
YORK
Alencon! that notorious Machiavel!It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
YORK
Alencon! He is a well-known schemer! It dies, even if it had a thousand lives.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
O, give me leave, I have deluded you:'Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named,But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Oh, let me go, I have lied to you! It wasn't Charles or the duke I named, but Reignier, the king of Naples that seduced me.
WARWICK
A married man! that's most intolerable.
WARWICK
He's a married man! That's unacceptable.
YORK
Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well,There were so many, whom she may accuse.
YORK
Well, look at this girl! I think she doesn't know exactly who to accuse because she's slept with so many men.
WARWICK
It's sign she hath been liberal and free.
WARWICK
It's a sign that she has been loose and promiscuous.
YORK
And yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee:Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.
YORK
And yet she is a pure virgin. Whore, your words damn your child and you. Don't beg any longer, there's no use.
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse: May never glorious sun reflex his beams Upon the country where you make abode; But darkness and the gloomy shade of death Environ you, till mischief and despair Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves!
JOAN LA PUCELLE
Then take me away. I leave my curse with you! May the glorious sun never shine its rays on the country where you decide to stay. Darkness and the gloomy shadow of death will surround you until mischief and despair forces you to break your necks or hang yourselves!
Exit, guarded
YORK
Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes,Thou foul accursed minister of hell!
YORK
I hope you break into pieces and are burned to ashes, you false and cursed servant of hell!
Enter CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER, attended
WINCHESTER
Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king. For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implored a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin and his train Approacheth, to confer about some matter.
WINCHESTER
Lord regent, I welcome your excellence with letters of authority to act from the king. For now, the states of Christendom, moved with pity out of this excessively violent chaos, have begged for a general peace between our nation and the ambitious French. And here come the Dauphin and his company to discuss this issue.
YORK
Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered? O Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France.
YORK
Is all our labor turned into this? After so many of our men, so many captains, gentlemen and soldiers have been killed in this battle and sacrificed their bodies for the good of their country, should we settle it all with an unmanly peace? Haven't we lost most of our towns which our ancestors gained through treason, falsehood and treachery? Oh, Warwick, Warwick! With grief, I predict the absolute loss of France.
WARWICK
Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace,It shall be with such strict and severe covenantsAs little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
WARWICK
Be patient, York. If we settle a peace, it will be with strict and harsh terms of agreement in which the Frenchmen will gain very little.
Enter CHARLES, ALENCON, BASTARD OF ORLEANS, REIGNIER, and others
CHARLES
Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be.
CHARLES
Lords of England, we heard that it has been agreed that a peaceful treaty will be reached in France, so we have come here in person to find out the conditions of this union.
YORK
Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokesThe hollow passage of my poison'd voice,By sight of these our baleful enemies.
YORK
Winchester, you speak, because the boiling anger began to choke the hollow passage of my poisoned voice, as soon as I saw our deadly enemies.
WINCHESTER
Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: That, in regard King Henry gives consent, Of mere compassion and of lenity, To ease your country of distressful war, And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace, You shall become true liegemen to his crown: And Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear To pay him tribute, submit thyself, Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him, And still enjoy thy regal dignity.
WINCHESTER
The decree says this, listen up Charles and your men: That King Henry agreed, out of pure compassion and mercifulness, to let your country be relieved after the stressful war and will allow you to breathe in the smell of a productive peace. You shall become faithful loyal followers to his crown. And Charles, you will swear to pay him homage and submit yourself, and you will be named as a representative of the king under him, and still maintain your royal status.
ALENCON
Must he be then as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? This proffer is absurd and reasonless.
ALENCON
Must he only be a shadow of himself? Should he put a crown on his head and yet have no greater authority than any private citizen? This offer is absurd and makes no sense.
CHARLES
'Tis known already that I am possess'd With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenced for their lawful king: Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Detract so much from that prerogative, As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole? No, lord ambassador, I'll rather keep That which I have than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all.
CHARLES
It's known that I am already in charge of more than half of the French territories and there I am respected as their rightful king. Should I, in the remaining undefeated territories, deny my own rightful place and instead be called merely the king's representative to the whole country? No, lord ambassador, I'd like to keep what I have, rather than desire more and lose everything in the process.
YORK
Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league, And, now the matter grows to compromise, Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison? Either accept the title thou usurp'st, Of benefit proceeding from our king And not of any challenge of desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.
YORK
Insulting Charles! Have you intervened in some secret way, have you tried to create a union and now that we are trying to reach a compromise, do you pull back and hold up the title you're being offered the one you currently hold? Either accept the title out of generosity from our king and don't talk about value, or we will destroy you with our unending wars.
REIGNIER
My lord, you do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract: If once it be neglected, ten to one We shall not find like opportunity.
REIGNIER
My lord, you are very stubborn to debate the terms of this contract. If it is underestimated, we won't present another such opportunity, that's for sure.
ALENCON
To say the truth, it is your policy To save your subjects from such massacre And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility; And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves.
ALENCON
To tell you the truth, it is your desire to to save your people from such massacre and cruel killings, which we have seen daily in our hatred, that makes you accept this offer of peace. Although you'll break it when it suits you.
WARWICK
How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand?
WARWICK
What do you say, Charles? Are you happy with our terms of agreement?
CHARLES
It shall;Only reserved, you claim no interestIn any of our towns of garrison.
CHARLES
I am, with the only exception that you will claim no interest in any of our military towns.
YORK
Then swear allegiance to his majesty, As thou art knight, never to disobey Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England. So, now dismiss your army when ye please: Hang up your ensign, let your drums be still, For here we entertain a solemn peace.
YORK
Then, since you are a knight, swear loyalty to his majesty, never to disobey or rebel against the English crown. This is applicable to both yourself and your men. So, now send away your army when you wish, hang up your flags, let your drums be silent. Because we have here achieved a serious peace.
Exeunt
