My gracious Prince, and honourable peers,
Hearing of your arrival in this realm,
I have awhile given truce unto my wars
To do my duty to my sovereign;
In sign whereof, this arm, that hath reclaim’d
To your obedience fifty fortresses,
Twelve cities and seven walled towns of strength,
Beside five hundred prisoners of esteem,
Lets fall his sword before your Highness’ feet,
And with submissive loyalty of heart
Ascribes the glory of his conquest got
First to my God, and next unto your Grace. [_Kneels_.]
My gracious Prince and honored lords, hearing that you had arrived in this kingdom, I paused from my wars to do my duty to my sovereign. As proof, this arm—which has reclaimed fifty fortresses to your obedience, twelve cities, and seven walled strongholds, plus five hundred prisoners of rank—lays down its sword at your Majesty's feet. With submissive loyalty, I credit my victories first to God, then to your Grace.
I heard you arrived, so I stopped fighting to pay my respects. This arm won you fifty forts, a dozen cities, and five hundred enemy nobles. I lay my sword at your feet. God gave me the victories, then you gave me orders. That's all.
heard you came laid down my wars this sword won you fifty forts twelve cities five hundred captives god first you second
Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloucester,
That hath so long been resident in France?
Is this Lord Talbot, Uncle Gloucester—the one who has served so long in France?
Is this the famous Talbot who's been fighting in France all this time?
is this talbot residentin france
Yes, if it please your Majesty, my liege.
Yes, if it please your Majesty, my lord.
Yes, it is.
yes he is
Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord!
When I was young, as yet I am not old,
I do remember how my father said
A stouter champion never handled sword.
Long since we were resolved of your truth,
Your faithful service, and your toil in war;
Yet never have you tasted our reward,
Or been reguerdon’d with so much as thanks.
Because till now we never saw your face.
Therefore, stand up; and for these good deserts
We here create you Earl of Shrewsbury;
And in our coronation take your place.
Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord. When I was young—and I am not old now—I remember my father saying that no stronger soldier ever drew a sword. We have long known of your loyalty and service and your labor in war. Yet never have you tasted our reward or been thanked for your efforts, only because we never saw your face until now. Therefore, rise up. For these great deeds, we make you Earl of Shrewsbury. You will hold rank in our coronation ceremony.
Welcome, captain. My father told me you were the greatest soldier he ever knew. We've known about your loyalty and hard work all these years, but we've never thanked you because we never met you. Get up. I'm making you Earl of Shrewsbury. You'll have a place of honor at the coronation.
father said you strongest soldier ever we knew of you but never saw now make you earl of shrewsbury
This scene works through contrast. Talbot's moment of honor — finally recognized after years of thankless service — is completely overtaken by the resurgence of the factional conflict. Vernon and Basset can't even contain their quarrel during a ceremony honoring a national hero. The irony is sharp: Talbot is being honored for uniting and defending England; immediately after, English courtiers start fighting each other over roses. The scene shows how the factions have become more important to these men than national interest. Even at a moment of celebration, they choose conflict.
Now, sir, to you that were so hot at sea,
Disgracing of these colours that I wear
In honour of my noble Lord of York,
Dar’st thou maintain the former words thou spak’st?
Now, sir, you who were so bold at sea—who dishonored these colors I wear in honor of my lord York—dare you stand by what you said before?
You there—you disgraced my white rose for York at sea. Do you stand by what you said then?
you dishonored my white rose york do you stand what you said
Yes, sir, as well as you dare patronage
The envious barking of your saucy tongue
Against my lord the Duke of Somerset.
Then let us die together, son. At least we'll meet our end with honor.
Okay. We'll die together. That's honor.
die together son honor death
Sirrah, thy lord I honour as he is.
Sir, I honor your lord—as much as he deserves honor.
I respect your lord. For what he's worth.
your lord i honor as he deserves
Why, what is he? As good a man as York.
Why, what is he? Somerset is as good a man as York.
He's as good as York. Better, maybe.
somerset good as york maybe better
Hark ye; not so: in witness, take ye that.
Listen: that's not so. Take that to prove it.
Take that for your mouth.
that's wrong take this
Villain, thou knowest the law of arms is such
That whoso draws a sword, ’tis present death,
Or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood.
But I’ll unto his Majesty, and crave
I may have liberty to venge this wrong;
When thou shalt see I’ll meet thee to thy cost.
Villain, you know the law of arms: whoever draws a sword faces immediate death. Otherwise I would end you right here. But I'll go to the King and ask for combat. When we meet, I'll make you pay for this blow.
By the rules of arms, drawing a sword means death. If not, I'd kill you now. But I'll ask the King for a formal duel. Then we'll settle this.
draw sword means death but i'll ask the king for combat we'll settle this
Well, miscreant, I’ll be there as soon as you;
And, after, meet you sooner than you would.
Very well, miscreant. I'll be there. And I'll meet you sooner than you expect.
Fine. I'll be waiting. And I'll be ready before you are.
miscreant i'll be there sooner than you want
The Reckoning
This is a brief scene that shows two things: first, Talbot's triumph and reward (his only recognition for decades of service), and second, the inability of even this moment of glory to contain the factional conflict within the court. Vernon and Basset can't help but resume their fight. The roses have become more important than unity. Talbot's moment of honor is immediately overshadowed by the York-Somerset conflict reigniting.
If this happened today…
A distinguished general receives a prestigious honor at a ceremony. As everyone's leaving, two courtiers who picked opposite sides in a power struggle months ago get into an argument about who was right. It escalates into a physical challenge. The general's moment of recognition is immediately drowned out by the factional fighting that's tearing the government apart.