Sirrah, thou know’st how Orleans is besieged,
And how the English have the suburbs won.
Boy, you know how Orleans is currently surrounded and how the English have captured the outlying areas.
You know Orleans is under siege and the English have taken the suburbs, right?
orleans is surrounded english took the suburbs
Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,
Howe’er unfortunate I miss’d my aim.
Father, I know it. And I've often shot at them, even though I was unlucky and missed every time.
Yeah, I know. I've tried shooting at them before, but I haven't had any luck hitting them.
i know i tried shooting them but i always miss
But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me.
Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.
The Prince’s espials have informed me
How the English, in the suburbs close intrench’d,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city,
And thence discover how with most advantage
They may vex us with shot or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance ’gainst it I have placed
And even these three days have I watch’d,
If I could see them.
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
If thou spy’st any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the Governor’s.
But not anymore. Follow my instructions. I'm the chief gunner of this town, and I need to do something to earn myself a good reputation. The Prince's scouts have told me that the English, dug in deeply in the suburbs, used to look over into the city through a secret iron-barred window in that tower over there. From there they could see how best to attack us with cannons or by assault. To stop this problem, I've positioned a cannon to aim at it and I've been watching for three days trying to spot them. Now you keep watch because I can't stay any longer. If you see anyone, run and tell me. You'll find me at the Governor's house.
But you're not going to anymore. Listen to me. I'm the master gunner here, and I need to do something important. The Prince's scouts told me the English in the suburbs were sneaking looks into the city through a secret barred window up in that tower. They were figuring out where to attack us from. So I set up a cannon to cover that spot and I've been watching for three days. Now you watch for me because I have to go. If you see anybody up there, run and get me right away. I'll be at the Governor's place.
be my lookout watch that tower if you see someone run & tell me i'll be at the governor's
Father, I warrant you; take you no care;
I’ll never trouble you if I may spy them.
Father, I promise you. Don't worry. I'll never give you any trouble if I get to see them.
Don't worry, Dad. I promise I'll keep a good lookout and I won't mess up.
don't worry i got this
Thomas Gargrave and others.
Thomas Gargrave arrives with his companions.
Here comes Thomas Gargrave with some soldiers.
gargrave's here with soldiers
Salisbury enters only to die — but his silent gestures and single gasped prayer are among the scene's most affecting moments. He can't speak, but his hand signals communicate to Talbot what his voice cannot. Watch for how his death motivates Talbot for the rest of the play.
Talbot, my life, my joy, again return’d!
How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
Or by what means got’st thou to be releas’d?
Discourse, I prithee, on this turret’s top.
Talbot, my life, my joy, you've returned again! How did they treat you as a prisoner? Or how did you manage to get yourself released? Tell me the story, I beg you, here on top of this tower.
Talbot, my dearest friend, you're back! How did they treat you while you were a prisoner? How did you get out? Come on, tell me the whole story up here.
talbot you're back how'd you escape tell me everything
Talbot is the play's English military hero — his speech is formal, military, full of oaths and promises of vengeance. But watch for the tenderness in his scenes with Salisbury and later with his son: beneath the warrior rhetoric is a man who cares deeply about the people he fights alongside.
The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner
Call’d the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles;
For him was I exchanged and ransomed.
But with a baser man of arms by far
Once in contempt they would have barter’d me,
Which I disdaining scorn’d, and craved death
Rather than I would be so vile-esteem’d.
In fine, redeem’d I was as I desired.
But O, the treacherous Fastolf wounds my heart,
Whom with my bare fists I would execute
If I now had him brought into my power.
The Duke of Bedford had captured a prisoner called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles. I was traded and bought back in exchange for him. But one time they wanted to trade me for someone much less important, which I refused with disgust. I chose to die rather than be treated so shamefully. In the end, I was freed the way I wanted. But the traitor Fastolf wounds my heart. If I had him in my power right now, I'd beat him to death with my bare hands.
The Duke of Bedford had captured a high-ranking knight named Ponton de Santrailles, and they traded him for me so I could be released. But one time they tried to trade me for someone way below my rank, and I refused. I said I'd rather die than accept that humiliation. Eventually I got freed properly. But that traitor Fastolf—he breaks my heart. If I could get my hands on him, I'd kill him with my bare fists.
they traded me for a noble prisoner but once they tried to trade me for some nobody i refused i'd rather die than that shame fastolf betrayed me i'd kill him if i could
Yet tell’st thou not how thou wert entertain’d.
But you still haven't told me how they treated you.
But you haven't told me what they actually did to you.
how'd they treat you though
With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts.
In open market-place produced they me
To be a public spectacle to all.
Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
The scarecrow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers that led me,
And with my nails digg’d stones out of the ground
To hurl at the beholders of my shame.
My grisly countenance made others fly;
None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
In iron walls they deem’d me not secure;
So great fear of my name ’mongst them were spread
That they supposed I could rend bars of steel
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant.
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
That walk’d about me every minute while;
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
With insults, mockery, and shameful taunts. They brought me out into the public marketplace to display me as entertainment for everyone. 'Here,' they said, 'is the terror of the French, the scarecrow that frightens our children.' Then I broke free from the guards holding me and with my fingernails I dug rocks out of the ground to throw at the people who were watching my shame. My horrible face made others run away. No one dared come near me for fear I'd suddenly kill them. They didn't think regular prison walls could hold me safely. The fear of my name was so widespread among them that they believed I could tear through steel bars and shatter posts of the hardest stone. So they assigned me a special guard of skilled soldiers, and they watched over me every single moment. If I even got out of bed, they were ready to shoot me dead.
With insults, mockery, and humiliation. They paraded me out in the public square like I was a circus show. 'Look, here's the terror of France,' they said, 'the scarecrow that scares our kids.' I broke loose from the guards, dug up rocks with my hands, and threw them at the crowd watching me be humiliated. My fierce look was so scary that people ran away—nobody came near me or they thought I'd kill them. They didn't even trust normal walls to hold me. They were so terrified of me that they thought I could rip through steel and smash stone. So they assigned guards, elite soldiers, to watch me every minute of every day. If I even moved to get out of bed, they'd shoot me.
they humiliated me paraded me like a show i threw rocks at the crowd they were terrified thought i could rip steel apart kept elite guards on me 24/7
I grieve to hear what torments you endured,
But we will be revenged sufficiently.
Now it is supper-time in Orleans.
Here, through this grate, I count each one
And view the Frenchmen how they fortify.
Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee.
Sir Thomas Gargrave and Sir William Glansdale,
Let me have your express opinions
Where is best place to make our battery next.
I'm sorry to hear what suffering you went through, but we will get enough revenge. Right now it's supper time in Orleans. Here, through this barred window, I count each soldier and watch how the French are building their defenses. Let's look through—the sight will really please you. Sir Thomas Gargrave and Sir William Glansdale, give me your honest opinions about where we should set up our cannons next to attack them most effectively.
I hate that you had to go through all that, but we're going to make them pay. It's dinner time in Orleans right now. I can look through this window and count their soldiers and see how they're building up their defenses. Come look—you'll like what you see. Thomas and William, what do you think? Where should we aim our cannons for the next attack?
we'll get revenge i can see their defense through here look where should we attack next
Salisbury is shot by a boy through an iron grate — not in honorable single combat, not by a worthy enemy, but by a child's lucky aim through a window. This is Shakespeare making a point about the new kind of war. Talbot's heroism — his enormous personal courage, his ferocity in combat, his almost supernatural presence on the battlefield — is the heroism of an older world. Gunpowder doesn't care. The same anonymous technology that lets the French boy take down one of England's greatest commanders will eventually make the entire Talbot mythos obsolete. The scene uses Salisbury's ignoble death to quietly introduce the play's darkest theme: the world is changing, and the old warrior codes are being obsoleted.
I think, at the north gate, for there stand lords.
I think the north gate would be best, because there are nobles gathered there.
The north gate looks good to me—that's where all their important people are.
north gate that's where the nobles are
And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge.
And I suggest targeting the fortified stronghold that defends the bridge.
I'd go for the bridge fortification here.
the bridge fortification
For aught I see, this city must be famish’d,
Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.
Here they shoot, and Salisbury and Gargrave fall down.
As far as I can tell, this city must be starved into surrender or weakened by small attacks.
From what I can see, we've got two options: starve them out or wear them down with constant small attacks.
starve them out or keep hitting them
O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!
God, have mercy on us miserable sinners!
God help us, we poor sinners!
god help us
O Lord, have mercy on me, woeful man!
God, have mercy on me, miserable man!
God, I beg for your mercy!
god have mercy on me
What chance is this that suddenly hath cross’d us?
Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak!
How far’st thou, mirror of all martial men?
One of thy eyes and thy cheek’s side struck off!
Accursed tower, accursed fatal hand
That hath contrived this woeful tragedy!
In thirteen battles Salisbury o’ercame;
Henry the Fifth he first train’d to the wars;
Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,
His sword did ne’er leave striking in the field.
Yet liv’st thou, Salisbury? Though thy speech doth fail,
One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace.
The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.
Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it.
What disaster is this that has suddenly struck us? Speak, Salisbury—at least speak if you can! How are you, the greatest warrior I know? Half your face is gone—one eye and your cheek destroyed! Cursed tower, cursed hand that made this terrible tragedy! Salisbury won thirteen battles. Henry the Fifth trained him for war. While trumpets sounded and drums beat, his sword never stopped fighting. Yet you still live, Salisbury? Though you cannot speak, you have one eye to look to heaven for God's grace. The sun sees the whole world with just one eye. May heaven show no mercy to anyone alive if Salisbury doesn't get mercy from God! Sir Thomas Gargrave, are you alive? Look at me. Someone carry his body away. I'll help bury it.
What happened? Salisbury, can you hear me? Can you even speak? How are you, the greatest warrior alive? They got half your face! Your eye, your cheek—everything! Cursed tower, cursed gun that did this! Salisbury won thirteen battles. He trained under Henry V himself. Whenever there was war, his sword was always swinging. And you're still alive, Salisbury? You can't speak, but you've got one eye left to look to heaven. Even the sun only needs one eye to see everything. God, if anyone deserves mercy, it's Salisbury. Thomas, are you still alive? Look at me. Someone take him away. I'll help bury him properly.
salisbury half your face is gone an eye of a man who won battles how are you alive take him away i'll bury him
Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort,
Thou shalt not die whiles—
He beckons with his hand and smiles on me,
As who should say “When I am dead and gone,
Remember to avenge me on the French.”
Plantagenet, I will; and, like thee, Nero,
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn.
Wretched shall France be only in thy name.
Salisbury, take courage from what I tell you now. You will not die while— He gestures to me with his hand and smiles, as if to say: When I am dead and gone, remember to avenge me on the French. Plantagenet, I will do so. Like Nero, I will play music while watching towns burn. Wretched indeed shall France become in your name.
Salisbury, listen to this and be strong. You're not going to die— Look, he's signaling me with his hand and smiling, like he's saying: When I'm dead, get revenge on the French for me. Plantagenet, I swear I will. Like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, I'll make music while burning down France.
salisbury don't die he smiles tells me avenge him i will like nero burn france down wreck it all
What stir is this? What tumult’s in the heavens?
Whence cometh this alarum and the noise?
What commotion is this? What chaos is happening above? Where does this alarm and noise come from?
What's that noise? What's happening? Where's this alarm coming from?
whats happening? where's that sound? alarm where from?
My lord, my lord, the French have gather’d head.
The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join’d,
A holy prophetess new risen up,
Is come with a great power to raise the siege.
My lord, the French have brought together their army. The Dauphin, joined with Joan of Arc, a newly emerged holy prophetess, has arrived with a huge force to break the siege.
The French have rallied their forces. The Dauphin showed up with this holy woman, Joan of Arc—some new prophetess—and they've got a massive army coming to end the siege.
french gathered their army dauphin with joan of arc coming to break the siege
Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan;
It irks his heart he cannot be revenged.
Frenchmen, I’ll be a Salisbury to you.
Pucelle or puzel, dolphin or dogfish,
Your hearts I’ll stamp out with my horse’s heels
And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.
Convey we Salisbury into his tent,
And then we’ll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare.
Listen to dying Salisbury groaning. It troubles his heart that he can't get revenge. Frenchmen, I'll be like Salisbury to you. Whether you're Pucelle or a fake, Dauphin or some fool, I'll crush your hearts under my horse's hooves and turn your mixed brains into mud. Carry Salisbury into his tent, and then we'll test how brave these cowardly Frenchmen really are.
Hear that groaning? That's Salisbury dying, and it kills him he can't get revenge. Frenchmen, I'm going to make you pay like Salisbury would have. Joan or fake Joan, Dauphin or whatever—I'll crush you under my horse's hooves and mix your brains into the ground. Get Salisbury to his tent, and then let's find out how much courage these cowardly French actually have.
hear salisbury dying i'll crush you frenchmen under my horse's hooves let's see how brave you really are
The Reckoning
The scene's violence is sudden and mechanical — a boy pulls a trigger and one of England's great warriors is felled not in honorable combat but by a lucky shot through a grate. Talbot's elegy over the dying Salisbury is one of the play's most genuinely moving passages: the hero can only watch as his old commander groans and gestures, unable to speak. The arrival of news about Joan immediately turns grief into fury.
If this happened today…
A legendary general, just released from captivity, reunites with his old commander at the front. They're surveying the enemy position through an observation window when a sniper gets lucky. The commander goes down — one eye gone, barely conscious. The general can only hold him and talk at him, not sure if he can hear. Then someone runs in with intel that a new enemy weapon has appeared on the field. The general's grief becomes immediate rage.