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Modern English
Sirs, take your places and be vigilant: If any noise or soldier you perceive Near to the walls, by some apparent sign Let us have knowledge at the court of guard.
Gentlemen, take your positions and stay alert: If you hear any noise or see any soldiers Near the walls, let us know at the guardhouse.
Sergeant, you shall.
Sergeant, you will have it.
Thus are poor servitors, When others sleep upon their quiet beds, Constrain’d to watch in darkness, rain and cold.
These are the poor servants, While others sleep peacefully in their beds, Are forced to stay awake in the dark, rain, and cold.
Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy, By whose approach the regions of Artois, Wallon and Picardy are friends to us, This happy night the Frenchmen are secure, Having all day caroused and banqueted: Embrace we then this opportunity As fitting best to quittance their deceit Contrived by art and baleful sorcery.
Lord Regent, and respected Burgundy, Through whose arrival the lands of Artois, Wallon, and Picardy are now our allies, This fortunate night, the French are vulnerable, Having spent all day drinking and feasting: Let’s seize this chance, As the best way to repay their trickery, Made through magic and dark sorcery.
Coward of France! how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm’s fortitude, To join with witches and the help of hell!
Cowardly France! how much it tarnishes its honor, Giving up on its own strength and courage, By relying on witches and the powers of hell!
Traitors have never other company. But what’s that Pucelle whom they term so pure?
Traitors always have such company. But who is that Pucelle they call so pure?
A maid, they say.
They say she’s a virgin.
A maid! and be so martial!
A virgin! And yet she fights so fiercely!
Pray God she prove not masculine ere long, If underneath the standard of the French She carry armour as she hath begun.
God, I hope she doesn’t turn out to be a man, If under the French flag, She starts wearing armor like she already has.
Well, let them practise and converse with spirits: God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.
Well, let them practice their magic and talk to spirits: God is our stronghold, in whose name we fight, Let’s make up our minds to climb their tough walls.
Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee.
Climb up, brave Talbot; we’ll follow you.
Not all together: better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways; That, if it chance the one of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force.
Not all together: better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways; That, if it chance the one of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force.
Agreed: I’ll to yond corner.
Agreed: I’ll to yond corner.
And I to this.
And I to this.
And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury, for thee, and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appear How much in duty I am bound to both.
And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury, for you, and for the right Of English Henry, this night will show How much in duty I’m bound to both.
Arm! arm! the enemy doth make assault!
Arm! arm! the enemy’s attacking!
How now, my lords! what, all unready so?
What’s happening, my lords? Why are we all unprepared?
Unready! ay, and glad we ’scaped so well.
Unprepared! Yes, and we’re just glad we made it out okay.
’Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors.
It was about time, I think, to wake up and leave our beds, After hearing alarms at our doors.
Of all exploits since first I follow’d arms, Ne’er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous or desperate than this.
Of all the things I’ve done in war, I’ve never heard of a military action More daring or desperate than this.
I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell.
I think this Talbot must be a demon from hell.
If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him.
If he’s not from hell, then surely the heavens are on his side.
Here cometh Charles: I marvel how he sped.
Here comes Charles: I wonder how he did.
Tut, holy Joan was his defensive guard.
Ah, Joan the holy was his protection.
Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame? Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal, Make us partakers of a little gain, That now our loss might be ten times so much?
Is this your trick, you deceitful woman? Did you, at first, make us think we gained a little, Just so that now we would lose ten times as much?
Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend! At all times will you have my power alike? Sleeping or waking must I still prevail, Or will you blame and lay the fault on me? Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good, This sudden mischief never could have fall’n.
Why is Charles angry with his ally? Should I always have the same power over you? Do I have to win all the time, whether I’m awake or asleep, Or will you blame me for everything? Foolish soldiers! If your watch had been done properly, This disaster would never have happened.
Duke of Alencon, this was your default, That, being captain of the watch to-night, Did look no better to that weighty charge.
Duke of Alencon, this is your fault, You were in charge of the watch tonight, And you didn’t do your duty well enough.
Had all your quarters been as safely kept As that whereof I had the government, We had not been thus shamefully surprised.
If all of our posts had been as safe as mine was, We wouldn’t have been caught in this disgraceful surprise.
Mine was secure.
Mine was safe.
And so was mine, my lord.
And so was mine, my lord.
And, for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter and mine own precinct I was employ’d in passing to and fro, About relieving of the sentinels: Then how or which way should they first break in?
As for myself, most of this night, I was busy going back and forth between her area and mine, Helping the sentries: So how could they have attacked us first?
Question, my lords, no further of the case, How or which way: ’tis sure they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made. And now there rests no other shift but this; To gather our soldiers, scatter’d and dispersed, And lay new platforms to endamage them.
Don’t ask, my lords, about how or where it happened, It’s clear they found a place that wasn’t guarded well, And broke in there. Now we have no choice but to gather our scattered soldiers, And set up new defenses to fight them off.
I’ll be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name.
I’ll be bold and take what they’ve left behind. The shout of "Talbot" is my weapon; I’ve loaded myself with their spoils, Using nothing but his name as a sword.