These are the city gates, the gates of Rouen,
Through which our policy must make a breach.
Take heed, be wary how you place your words;
Talk like the vulgar sort of market men
That come to gather money for their corn.
If we have entrance, as I hope we shall,
And that we find the slothful watch but weak,
I’ll by a sign give notice to our friends,
That Charles the Dauphin may encounter them.
These are the city gates of Rouen, which our clever plan must break through. Be careful how you speak. Talk like ordinary market farmers who come to sell their grain. If we get inside, as I hope we will, and we see that the guards are sleeping and weak, I'll signal our friends with a sign so that Charles the Dauphin can attack.
These are Rouen's gates and we need to trick our way through. Be careful what you say—talk like market farmers trying to sell grain. If we get in and the guards aren't paying attention, I'll send a signal to Charles so he can launch the attack.
these are rouen's gates talk like farmers selling grain if we get in i'll signal charles to attack
Our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city,
And we be lords and rulers over Rouen;
Therefore we’ll knock. [_Knocks._]
Our bags will be the way to capture the city, and we will be lords and rulers over Rouen; therefore we'll knock.
Our sacks will help us take the city, and then we'll rule Rouen; so let's knock on that door.
our bags get us in we'll own rouen let's knock
[_Within_.] _Qui est la?_
[_Within_.] Who is there?
[_Within_.] Who's out there?
[within] who is it?
_Paysans, la pauvres gens de France:_
Poor market folks that come to sell their corn.
Peasants, the poor common people of France: humble market folk who've come to sell their grain.
Just peasants, poor ordinary French folks. We're simple farmers here to sell our grain at the market.
just poor farmers here to sell grain nothing sus 🌾
Now, Rouen, I’ll shake thy bulwarks to the ground.
Rouen, I'll shake your walls down.
Rouen's falling.
rouen ur walls are coming down
Saint Denis bless this happy stratagem,
And once again we’ll sleep secure in Rouen.
May Saint Denis bless this clever plan, and may we once again sleep safely in Rouen.
May Saint Denis bless this brilliant plan, and let us finally get some peace and safety in Rouen.
saint denis bless this plan we'll sleep safe in rouen again
Here enter’d Pucelle and her practisants;
Now she is there, how will she specify
Here is the best and safest passage in?
Pucelle and her followers have entered; now that she is in the city, how will she signal which is the best and safest passage in?
So Pucelle and her crew got inside; now that she's in the city, how is she going to show us the best way in?
pucelle's in how will she signal the best route?
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.
By shining a torch from that tower, which when we see it will reveal her meaning: there is no weak way to that place—the path she entered through is the safest.
She'll stick a torch out from that tower, and once we spot it we'll know what she means: the way with no weak point is the route she used.
torch signal from the tower shows the safest entry the way she came through
Behold, this is the happy wedding torch
That joineth Rouen unto her countrymen,
But burning fatal to the Talbonites.
This fire joins Rouen back to France—but it's fatal to Talbot and his men.
Fire's burning Talbot out.
happy wedding torch Rouen countrymen burning fatal Talbots
See, noble Charles, the beacon of our friend;
The burning torch, in yonder turret stands.
Look, noble Charles, the beacon of our friend; the burning torch stands in that tower.
Look, Charles, there's our signal from our ally; the burning torch is standing right there in that tower.
charles look our friend's torch burning in the tower
Now shine it like a comet of revenge,
A prophet to the fall of all our foes!
Now it shines like a comet of vengeance, a sign foretelling the downfall of all our enemies!
It's shining like a comet of revenge out there, announcing the doom of everyone who stands against us!
shining like a comet predicting our victory
Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends;
Do not delay; delays lead to dangerous outcomes.
Don't waste any time; waiting around leads to bad things.
no delays waiting is dangerous
And then do execution on the watch.
And then carry out an attack on the guards.
And then we get rid of the guards.
then kill the guards
An alarum. Enter Talbot in an excursion.
An alarm sounds. Talbot enters in a violent assault.
A loud alarm rings. Talbot charges in attacking.
alarm sounds talbot attacks
Joan's disguise strategy mirrors her approach throughout the play: she wins through psychology and deception, not through martial prowess. By dressing soldiers as farmers and speaking French, she exploits the assumption that trade continues even in war. The gates open because commerce is expected — and then the signal is sent. The scene shows her as a military tactician equal to Talbot, not a supernatural being. The fact that she can be driven from the walls shows she's human and vulnerable, but her initial success proves she's formidable.
The English war machine — aggressive, insulting, relentless. He's furious at being outmaneuvered but maintains dignity. He swears oaths to retake the city and keeps them. He's a professional soldier, not a political player like Richard or Gloucester.
France, thou shalt rue this treason with thy tears,
If Talbot but survive thy treachery.
Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress,
Hath wrought this hellish mischief unawares,
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
France, you will regret this betrayal with tears if Talbot merely survives your treachery. Pucelle, that witch, that damned sorceress, has brought about this evil mischief secretly, so that we barely escaped from the force of France.
France, you're going to cry over this betrayal if Talbot lives through what you've done to him. Pucelle—that witch, that cursed sorcerer—has cooked up this evil scheme behind the scenes, and we just barely got out of there alive.
you'll regret this betrayal if talbot survives pucelle cursed us we barely escaped
An alarum. Excursions. Bedford, brought in sick in a chair. Enter
Talbot and Burgundy without: within, La Pucelle, Charles, Bastard,
Alençon, and Reignier on the walls.
An alarm sounds and fighting breaks out. Bedford is carried in on a chair, ill. Talbot and Burgundy enter from outside; meanwhile, Pucelle, Charles, the Bastard, Alençon, and Reignier appear on the city walls above.
An alarm goes off and fighting starts everywhere. Bedford gets carried in on a chair because he's really sick. Talbot and Burgundy come in from outside while Pucelle and the others show up on the city walls.
alarm - fighting starts bedford carried in sick talbot burgundy arrive pucelle and others on walls
Good morrow, gallants! Want ye corn for bread?
I think the Duke of Burgundy will fast
Before he’ll buy again at such a rate.
’Twas full of darnel. Do you like the taste?
Want to buy corn? The Duke of Burgundy might be hungry—but not at this price! Too much darnel spoiled your last batch. How'd you like the taste?
Buy more corn? Burgundy can't afford it. And it's full of weeds anyway.
gallants corn bread Duke Burgundy fast buy rate darnel taste
Scoff on, vile fiend and shameless courtezan!
I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own,
And make thee curse the harvest of that corn.
Stop mocking us, you shameless woman! I'll choke you with your own schemes and make you regret this.
Shut up, witch. I'm gonna make you pay for this.
scoff vile fiend shame courtezan choke harvest corn
Your Grace may starve, perhaps, before that time.
You might be dying of hunger long before that day arrives, Your Grace.
Your Grace might end up starving before then.
your grace might starve before then
Dying but still fighting. He refuses to leave the field, citing the precedent of King Pendragon. He's the embodiment of old military honor — you don't flee when you're needed. He gets his reward: he sees victory before he dies.
O, let no words, but deeds, revenge this treason!
Oh, let deeds, not words, take revenge for this treason!
Oh, we don't need words—let's get revenge for this betrayal through action!
no more words time for revenge let's act
What will you do, good graybeard? Break a lance
And run a tilt at Death within a chair?
What will you do, old man? Joust on horseback in that chair and fight Death himself?
You're too old to fight, grandfather.
hot old graybeard lance tilt Death chair
Foul fiend of France and hag of all despite,
Encompass’d with thy lustful paramours,
Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age
And twit with cowardice a man half dead?
Damsel, I’ll have a bout with you again,
Or else let Talbot perish with this shame.
Foul fiend of France and hag of all malice, surrounded by your lustful lovers, does it become you to mock his worthy age and jeer at a man half dead for being a coward? Lady, I will fight you again, or let Talbot die in shame.
You filthy monster from France, you spiteful witch, surrounded by all your lovers—how dare you make fun of an old man's courage and jeer at someone who's dying? Lady, I'm coming at you again, or my name is ruined forever.
vile witch of france surrounded by lovers stop mocking an old man i'll fight you or die trying
Are ye so hot? Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace;
If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
You're angry. But if Talbot even grumbles, you'll all run like frightened mice.
Talbot scares you more than I do.
hot Talbot thunder rain
God speed the Parliament! Who shall be the Speaker?
May Parliament proceed well! Who will be the Speaker?
Hope Parliament goes well! So who's going to be the Speaker?
good luck with parliament who's speaking
Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field?
Do you dare to come out and meet us in battle?
Do you have the guts to come out and fight us?
dare you fight us in the field
Belike your lordship takes us then for fools,
To try if that our own be ours or no.
Do you think we're fools, testing whether your city is even yours anymore?
What, you need to test if you still own your own city?
belike lordship fools try own
I speak not to that railing Hecate,
But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest;
Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out?
ALENÇON.
Seignieur, no.
I do not speak to that loudmouthed Hecate, but to you, Alençon, and the rest: will you, like soldiers, come out and fight it out? ALENÇON. My lord, no.
I'm not even talking to that loud-mouthed Hecate over there; I'm talking to you, Alençon, and everyone else: will you come out like real soldiers and fight us? ALENÇON. No way, sir.
i'm talking to you alençon not that loud mouth will you fight? alençon: nope
Seignieur, hang! Base muleteers of France!
Like peasant foot-boys do they keep the walls,
And dare not take up arms like gentlemen.
Sir, go to hell! Base pack drivers of France! Like peasant servants they hold the walls, and they don't dare take up arms like gentlemen.
Sir, forget it! You French are nothing but common mule-handlers! You're holding those walls like peasant servants, and you're too scared to fight like real men.
cowards! just mule handlers scared to fight like men
Away, captains! Let’s get us from the walls,
For Talbot means no goodness by his looks.
Goodbye, my lord; we came but to tell you
That we are here.
Captains, let's go! Talbot looks ready to fight. Goodbye, my lord—we just came to say hello.
Talbot's coming. Time to go. We were just visiting.
away captains walls Talbot means goodness goodbye tell you
And there will we be too, ere it be long,
Or else reproach be Talbot’s greatest fame!
Vow, Burgundy, by honour of thy house,
Prick’d on by public wrongs sustain’d in France,
Either to get the town again or die.
And I, as sure as English Henry lives,
And as his father here was conqueror,
As sure as in this late-betrayed town
Great Coeur-de-lion’s heart was buried,
So sure I swear to get the town or die.
We will be there soon, or shame will be Talbot's greatest fame! I vow, Burgundy, by the honor of your house, driven by public wrongs suffered in France, either to take the town again or die. And I swear as certainly as English Henry lives, and as his father was conqueror here, as certainly as in this recently betrayed town great Coeur-de-Lion's heart was buried, so certainly I swear to take the town or die.
We'll get there soon, or Talbot's name will be ruined forever! I swear to you, Burgundy, on your family's honor—driven by all the wrongs we've suffered here in France—either we take back that town or we die trying. And I swear by English Henry and his father who conquered here, and by great Coeur-de-Lion whose heart lies buried in this betrayed town, I will get that town back or die in the attempt.
we'll be there soon or i'm shamed forever by henry's honor by coeur-de-lion's grave we take rouen or die
My vows are equal partners with thy vows.
My oath is as sacred as yours.
My vow is good as any oath.
vows equal partners
But, ere we go, regard this dying prince,
The valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord,
We will bestow you in some better place,
Fitter for sickness and for crazy age.
But before we go, notice this dying prince, the valiant Duke of Bedford. Come, my lord, we will put you in a better place, more fitting for sickness and for advanced age.
But wait, before we leave, look at this dying prince—the brave Duke of Bedford. Come on, my lord, let's get you somewhere more comfortable, somewhere suitable for someone who's sick and getting old.
bedford's dying let's move him somewhere more comfortable
Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me.
Here will I sit before the walls of Rouen,
And will be partner of your weal or woe.
Lord Talbot, do not dishonor me in that way. Here I will sit before the walls of Rouen, and I will be a partner in your good fortune or misfortune.
Lord Talbot, don't do that to me. I'm staying here to sit before Rouen's walls, and I'll share whatever happens—good or bad.
don't dishonor me i'm staying with you through thick and thin
Bedford's death is unusual in Shakespeare: it's not a tragedy but a fulfillment. He's dying and knows it, so he makes a conscious choice to stay on the battlefield and witness the victory he's fought for. His presence at the walls isn't heroic in the traditional sense — it's almost meditative. He gets to see Rouen retaken and then dies satisfied. Talbot honors him with an epitaph that treats death not as an enemy but as a natural end to human struggle. Bedford's death is the scene's emotional weight: everything else is military noise, but Bedford's final moment is profound.
Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you.
Brave Bedford, let us convince you now.
Brave Bedford, hear us out on this.
listen to us bedford
Not to be gone from hence; for once I read
That stout Pendragon in his litter sick
Came to the field and vanquished his foes.
Methinks I should revive the soldiers’ hearts,
Because I ever found them as myself.
Not to leave here; for I once read that mighty Pendragon, even in his sickbed litter, came to the field and conquered his enemies. It seems to me I should lift the soldiers' spirits, because I have always found them to be like myself.
I shouldn't leave; I once read that Pendragon, even while sick and carried on a litter, came to the battlefield and defeated his enemies. I think my presence here will inspire the soldiers, since they've always looked up to me like I was one of them.
i'm staying pendragon fought sick i'll inspire the troops
Undaunted spirit in a dying breast!
Then be it so. Heavens keep old Bedford safe!
And now no more ado, brave Burgundy,
But gather we our forces out of hand
And set upon our boasting enemy.
An unafraid spirit in a dying body! Then so be it. May heavens protect old Bedford! And now without further delay, brave Burgundy, let us gather our forces immediately and attack our bragging enemy.
That's incredible courage in someone who's dying! All right then, may heaven protect old Bedford! Now Burgundy, no more talking—let's get our forces together right now and go attack these braggarts.
amazing courage may heaven protect bedford now let's attack
An alarum. Excursions. Enter Sir John Fastolf and a Captain.
An alarm sounds and fighting breaks out. Sir John Fastolf and a Captain enter.
An alarm goes off with fierce fighting. Sir John Fastolf and a Captain come in.
alarm fastolf and a captain arrive
Whither away, Sir John Fastolf, in such haste?
Where are you going, Sir John Fastolf, in such a hurry?
Where are you rushing off to, Sir John Fastolf?
where you going fastolf? in such a hurry?
Whither away? To save myself by flight.
We are like to have the overthrow again.
Where am I going? To save myself by running away. We are likely to be defeated again.
Where? I'm getting out of here to save myself. We're going to lose this battle too.
running away we're gonna lose again
What! Will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot?
What! Will you flee and abandon Lord Talbot?
What! Are you really going to run away and leave Lord Talbot behind?
you're leaving talbot? coward!
Ay,
All the Talbots in the world, to save my life.
Yes, I would abandon all the Talbots in the world to save my life.
Yes, I'd abandon Talbot and every Talbot in the world to save my own skin.
yes even all the talbots to save myself
Cowardly knight, ill fortune follow thee!
Cowardly knight, may bad luck follow you!
You cowardly knight, may you be forever cursed with bad luck!
coward may you suffer forever
Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please,
For I have seen our enemies’ overthrow.
What is the trust or strength of foolish man?
They that of late were daring with their scoffs
Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves.
Now, peaceful spirit, depart when heaven wills, for I have seen our enemies defeated. What is the value or strength of foolish people? Those who were recently bold with their mockery are now happy to save themselves by running away.
Now go in peace, soul, whenever heaven calls you, because I've seen our enemies defeated. What good are trust or strength in human beings? These guys who were just now laughing and mocking us are thrilled to just run away and save their own skins.
i've seen them defeated what good is human strength? they ran away like cowards
An alarum. Enter Talbot, Burgundy and the rest.
An alarm sounds. Talbot, Burgundy, and the others enter.
An alarm goes off. Talbot, Burgundy, and the rest come in.
alarm talbot and burgundy arrive
Lost, and recover’d in a day again!
This is a double honour, Burgundy.
Yet heavens have glory for this victory!
Lost and recovered in a single day again! This is twice the honor, Burgundy. Yet heavens receive glory for this victory!
We lost it and got it back in just one day! That's twice the victory for us, Burgundy. Heaven deserves the glory for this win!
lost it today got it back today double victory
Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy
Enshrines thee in his heart, and there erects
Thy noble deeds as valour’s monuments.
Talbot, you are both warlike and noble. I Burgundy hold you in my heart and raise your brave deeds as monuments to your valor.
Talbot, you're a true warrior. I'll keep your heroic deeds in my heart as proof of your courage and honor.
youre a true warrior i honor your deeds memory of valor
Thanks, gentle Duke. But where is Pucelle now?
I think her old familiar is asleep.
Now where’s the Bastard’s braves, and Charles his gleeks?
What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief
That such a valiant company are fled.
Now will we take some order in the town,
Placing therein some expert officers,
And then depart to Paris to the King,
For there young Henry with his nobles lie.
Thanks, gentle Duke. But where is Pucelle now? I think her demon companion is asleep. Where are the Bastard's warriors and Charles's jesters? What, all dejected? Rouen hangs her head in grief that such a brave company has fled. Now we will establish order in the town, placing expert officers there, and then go to Paris to the King, for there young Henry lies with his nobles.
Thanks, Duke. But where is Pucelle now? I think her demon friend has fallen asleep. Where did the Bastard's soldiers go? And Charles's jokers? They all look dead inside. Rouen herself is grieving because such a brave army has run away. Now let's set up a government in the city, put good officers in charge, and then head to Paris where King Henry and his nobles are waiting.
where's pucelle? her demon's asleep all her soldiers fled rouen's grieving let's set up order then to the king
What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy.
Whatever Talbot wants, I'll do.
Whatever Talbot says.
wills Talbot pleaseth Burgundy
But yet, before we go, let’s not forget
The noble Duke of Bedford late deceased,
But see his exequies fulfill’d in Rouen.
A braver soldier never couched lance,
A gentler heart did never sway in court;
But kings and mightiest potentates must die,
For that’s the end of human misery.
But before we go, let us not forget the noble Duke of Bedford who recently died, but see his funeral rites completed in Rouen. A braver soldier never wielded a spear, and a gentler heart never ruled in court; but kings and mightiest rulers must die, for that is the end of human suffering.
But hold on, before we leave, we can't forget the Duke of Bedford who just died. Let's make sure his funeral happens properly here in Rouen. He was the bravest soldier with a spear you ever saw, and no one kinder ever ruled a court; but kings and mighty rulers still have to die, and that's how all our suffering finally ends.
bedford's dead let's honor him in rouen bravest soldier kindest heart but all must die
The Reckoning
This scene is pure military theater — a shift from court politics to battlefield action. It shows Joan at her most cunning and dangerous: she's not a mystical warrior-saint here, she's a tactical genius. Her disguise stratagem works perfectly. But the scene's emotional weight comes from Bedford's death: a dying old soldier gets to see victory one last time before he dies. The battle tests loyalty (Bedford refuses to leave), courage (Talbot fights on), and cowardice (Fastolf flees). By the end, the city changes hands again, but at the cost of Bedford's life. The military advantage is now in motion, but England has lost one of its greatest generals.
If this happened today…
A military base is infiltrated by enemy soldiers disguised as contractors. They signal reinforcements, the base is nearly overrun. An old general, terminally ill, insists on staying in his command center during the battle. He watches his forces retake the base and dies satisfied. A junior officer abandons his post to save himself. The old general's final act is to order the base secured and a memorial for the fallen.