Speeches (Lines) for Reignier in "History of Henry VI, Part I"

Duke of Alencon. They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:
Either they must be dieted like mules
And have their provender tied to their mouths
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

Reignier. Let's raise the siege: why live we idly here?
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
Nor men nor money hath he to make war.

Charles, King of France. Who ever saw the like? what men have I!
Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled,
But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

Reignier. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Charles, King of France. Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.

Reignier. I think, by some odd gimmors or device
Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we'll even let them alone.

Charles, King of France. Go, call her in.
[Exit BASTARD OF ORLEANS]
But first, to try her skill,
Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:
By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.

Reignier. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats?

Joan la Pucelle. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?
Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;
I know thee well, though never seen before.
Be not amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
In private will I talk with thee apart.
Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.

Reignier. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

Charles, King of France. Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

Reignier. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

Duke of Alencon. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;
Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

Reignier. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?

Duke of Alencon. He may mean more than we poor men do know:
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.

Reignier. My lord, where are you? what devise you on?
Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

Duke of Alencon. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

Reignier. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;
Drive them from Orleans and be immortalized.

Charles, King of France. Divinest creature, Astraea's daughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success?
Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens
That one day bloom'd and fruitful were the next.
France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!
Recover'd is the town of Orleans:
More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state.

Reignier. Why ring not out the bells aloud throughout the town?
Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires
And feast and banquet in the open streets,
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

Bastard of Orleans. Unready! ay, and glad we 'scaped so well.

Reignier. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds,
Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors.

Bastard of Orleans. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell.

Reignier. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him.

Bastard of Orleans. Mine was secure.

Reignier. And so was mine, my lord.

Bastard of Orleans. Here enter'd Pucelle and her practisants;
Now she is there, how will she specify
Where is the best and safest passage in?

Reignier. By thrusting out a torch from yonder tower;
Which, once discern'd, shows that her meaning is,
No way to that, for weakness, which she enter'd.
[Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE on the top, thrusting out a]
torch burning]

Charles, King of France. Now shine it like a comet of revenge,
A prophet to the fall of all our foes!

Reignier. Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends;
Enter, and cry 'The Dauphin!' presently,
And then do execution on the watch.

Earl of Suffolk. Then call our captains and our colours forth.
And, madam, at your father's castle walls
We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.
[A parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER on the walls]
See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

Reignier. To whom?

Earl of Suffolk. To me.

Reignier. Suffolk, what remedy?
I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Earl of Suffolk. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, and for thy honour give consent,
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.

Reignier. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

Earl of Suffolk. Fair Margaret knows
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

Reignier. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
To give thee answer of thy just demand.

Earl of Suffolk. And here I will expect thy coming.

Reignier. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

Earl of Suffolk. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

Reignier. Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
To be the princely bride of such a lord;
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Earl of Suffolk. That is her ransom; I deliver her;
And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

Reignier. And I again, in Henry's royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

Earl of Suffolk. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
Because this is in traffic of a king.
[Aside]
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemnized.
So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

Reignier. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of 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.

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.