Dismay not, princes, at this accident,
Nor grieve that Rouen is so recovered.
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,
For things that are not to be remedied.
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while
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.
My lords, Talbot is trapped in Bordeaux with few soldiers. He's cut off from reinforcements.
Talbot's stuck in Bordeaux with barely any army. He's surrounded.
scout Talbot bordreaux trapped reinforcement
We have been guided by thee hitherto,
And of thy cunning had no diffidence.
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust
Talbot is trapped in Bordeaux. Help must come or he'll be lost.
Talbot's surrounded. No help, he's dead.
trapped Bordeaux no help death
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 blessed saint.
Employ thee then, sweet virgin, for our good.
He's been besieged. The French have surrounded him. Without help, he'll fall.
He's surrounded. The French got him locked down.
besieged trapped French help fall
Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise:
By fair persuasions mix’d with sugar’d words
We will entice the Duke of Burgundy
To leave the Talbot and to follow us.
I am ready to face death. I have lived gloriously and will die the same.
I'm ready. I've lived well, I'll die well.
ready death glorious die
Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that,
France were no place for Henry’s warriors;
Nor should that nation boast it so with us,
But be extirped from our provinces.
ALENÇON.
For ever should they be expulsed from France,
And not have title of an earldom here.
Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, France wbefore no place for Henry’s warriors; Nor should that nation boast it so with us, But be extirped from our provinces. ALENÇON. For ever should they be expulsed from France, And not have title of an earldom hbefore.
ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, france wbefore no place for henry’s warriors; nor should that nation boast it so with us, but be extirped from our provinces. alençon. for ever should they be expulsed from france, and not 've title of an earldom hbefore.
ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, france were
Your honours shall perceive how I will work
To bring this matter to the wished end.
Your honours will perceive how I will work To bring this matter to the wished end.
your honours 'll perceive how i 'll work to bring this matter to wished end.
your honours shall perceive how i will work to bring
Joan's manipulation of Burgundy is Shakespeare's portrait of rhetoric as a weapon. She doesn't threaten or force — she appeals to patriotism, national pride, and self-interest. First she makes him feel guilty ('you're wounding France'). Then she makes him feel used ('the English will discard you'). By the time she finishes, Burgundy doesn't just agree — he embraces France with gratitude. The scene shows how a skilled speaker can achieve what an army cannot. Joan wins a crucial military advantage through language alone.
A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!
A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!
A parley with the Duke of Burgundy!
a parley with the duke of burgundy!
Conflicted and vulnerable. He's been allied with the English, but his heart is French. Joan targets exactly that conflict. By the end, he yields not because he's convinced of the logic but because the emotional and national pressure is overwhelming. His aside 'Done like a Frenchman: turn and turn again' shows he knows his own volatility — and chooses it anyway.
Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?
Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?
Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?
who craves a parley with the burgundy?
The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.
The princely Charles of France, your countryman.
The princely Charles of France, your countryman.
the princely charles of france, your countryman.
Burgundy's instant defection reveals the weakness of the English position in France. Without native support, the English are occupiers, not rulers. Burgundy was never truly English — he was always potentially French. Joan just had to remind him. The scene teaches a cold political lesson: loyalty based on temporary advantage is no loyalty at all. Burgundy's flip-flop (which he himself acknowledges) shows why the English will eventually be driven from France. They have military power but no legitimate claim to the hearts of French lords.
What say’st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence.
What say’st you, Charles? for I am marching hence.
what say’st you, charles? for i am marching hence.
what say’st thou, charles? for i am marching hence.
Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with thy words.
Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with your words.
Speak, Pucelle, and enchant him with your words.
speak, pucelle, and enchant him with your words.
Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France,
Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.
Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France, Stay, let your humble handmaid speak to you.
brave burgundy, undoubted hope of france, stay, let your humble handmaid speak to you.
brave burgundy, undoubted hope of france, stay, let thy humble
Speak on, but be not over-tedious.
Speak on, but be not over-tedious.
Speak on, but be not over-tedious.
speak on, but be not over-tedious.
Look on thy country, look on fertile France,
And see the cities and the towns defaced
By wasting ruin of the cruel foe.
As looks the mother on her lowly babe
When death doth close his tender dying eyes,
See, see the pining malady of France;
Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds,
Which thou thyself hast given her woeful breast.
O, turn thy edged sword another way;
Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help.
One drop of blood drawn from thy country’s bosom
Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore.
Return thee therefore with a flood of tears,
And wash away thy country’s stained spots.
Look on your country, look on fertile France, And see the cities and the towns defaced By wasting ruin of the cruel foe. As looks the mother on her lowly babe When death does close his tender dying eyes, See, see the pining malady of France; Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Which you yourself have given her woeful breast. O, turn your edged sword another way; Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help. One drop of blood drawn from your country’s bosom Should grieve you more than streams of foreign gore. Return you thbeforefore with a flood of tears, And wash away your country’s stained spots.
look on your country, look on fertile france, and see cities and towns defaced by wasting ruin of cruel foe. as looks mother on her lowly babe when death does close his tender dying eyes, see, see pining malady of france; behold wounds, most unnatural wounds, which you yourself 've given her woeful breast. o, turn your edged sword another way; strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help. one drop of blood drawn from your country’s bosom should grieve you more than streams of foreign gore. return you thbeforefore with a flood of tears, and wash away your country’s stained spots.
look on thy country, look on fertile france, and see
Either she hath bewitch’d me with her words,
Or nature makes me suddenly relent.
Either she has bewitch’d me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent.
either she has bewitch’d me with her words, or nature makes me suddenly relent.
either she hath bewitch’d me with her words, or nature
Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee,
Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.
Who join’st thou with but with a lordly nation
That will not trust thee but for profit’s sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
And fashion’d thee that instrument of ill,
Who then but English Henry will be lord,
And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?
Call we to mind, and mark but this for proof:
Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?
And was he not in England prisoner?
But when they heard he was thine enemy,
They set him free without his ransom paid,
In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.
See then, thou fight’st against thy countrymen,
And join’st with them will be thy slaughtermen.
Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord;
Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.
Besides, all French and France exclaims on you, Doubting your birth and lawful progeny. Who join’st you with but with a lordly nation That will not trust you but for profit’s sake? When Talbot has set footing once in France, And fashion’d you that instrument of ill, Who then but English Henry will be lord, And you be thrust out like a fugitive? Call we to mind, and mark but this for proof: Was not the Duke of Orleans your foe? And was he not in England prisoner? But when they heard he was yours enemy, They set him free wiyout his ransom paid, In spite of Burgundy and all his friends. See then, you fight’st against your countrymen, And join’st with them will be your slaughtermen. Come, come, return; return, you wandering lord; Charles and the rest will take you in their arms.
besides, all french and france exclaims on you, doubting your birth and lawful progeny. who join’st you with but with a lordly nation that 'll not trust you but for profit’s sake? when talbot has set footing once in france, and fashion’d you that instrument of ill, who then but english henry 'll be lord, and you be thrust out like a fugitive? call we to mind, and mark but this for proof: was not duke of orleans your foe? and was he not in england prisoner? but when they heard he was yours enemy, they set him free wiyout his ransom paid, in spite of burgundy and all his friends. see then, you fight’st against your countrymen, and join’st with them 'll be your slaughtermen. come, come, return; return, you wandering lord; charles and rest 'll take you in their arms.
besides, all french and france exclaims on thee, doubting thy
I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers
Have batter’d me like roaring cannon-shot,
And made me almost yield upon my knees.
Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen!
And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace.
My forces and my power of men are yours.
So, farewell, Talbot; I’ll no longer trust thee.
I am vanquished; these haughty words of hers Have batter’d me like roaring cannon-shot, And made me almost yield upon my knees. Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen! And, lords, accept this hearey kind embrace. My forces and my power of men are yours. So, farewell, Talbot; I’ll no longer trust you.
i am vanquished; these haughty words of hers 've batter’d me like roaring cannon-shot, and made me almost yield upon my knees. forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen! and, lords, accept this hearey kind embrace. my forces and my power of men are yours. so, farewell, talbot; i’ll no longer trust you.
i am vanquished; these haughty words of hers have batter’d
Welcome, brave Duke! Thy friendship makes us fresh.
Welcome, brave Duke! Thy friendship makes us fresh.
welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh.
welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh.
And doth beget new courage in our breasts.
ALENÇON.
Pucelle hath bravely play’d her part in this,
And doth deserve a coronet of gold.
And does beget new courage in our breasts. ALENÇON. Pucelle has bravely play’d her pare in this, And does deserve a coronet of gold.
and does beget new courage in our breasts. alençon. pucelle has bravely play’d her pare in this, and does deserve a coronet of gold.
and doth beget new courage in our breasts. alençon. pucelle
Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers,
And seek how we may prejudice the foe.
Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers, And seek how we may prejudice the foe.
now let us on, my lords, and join our powers, and seek how we may prejudice foe.
now let us on, my lords, and join our powers,
The Reckoning
This scene is Joan's masterpiece of manipulation. She doesn't fight Burgundy — she seduces him with language. The entire English position in France depends on Burgundy's loyalty, and Joan removes that pillar with words. Burgundy's capitulation is less about Joan's arguments than about his susceptibility to them — he's already wavering. What's devastating is that he knows he's being manipulated and yields anyway ('Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, / Or nature makes me suddenly relent'). He chooses to be betrayed because the alternative — admitting his English alliance was wrong — is worse. Joan wins.
If this happened today…
A military alliance partner is wavering. The opposing side sends an envoy to appeal to patriotism, national pride, and shared culture. The envoy doesn't threaten — they appeal to the conscience. 'Your own people think you're a traitor for siding with foreign powers. Why are you fighting your own countrymen for profit?' The partner knows it's manipulation. They know they're being played. But they switch sides anyway because the emotional and political pressure is too great to resist.