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More than three hours the fight continuèd,
Where valiant Talbot above human thought
Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.
Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him;
Here, there, and everywhere, enraged he slew.
The French exclaimed the devil was in arms:
All the whole army stood agazed on him. (1.1.120–126)
It’s a pattern in Shakespeare’s plays that we hear about the main hero, usually from a minor character, before we meet him or her onstage. Such is the case with Lord Talbot, whom we first hear about when a messenger interrupts Henry V’s funeral to announce that the great general has been captured by the French in Orléans. In these lines, the messenger recounts the story of how Talbot valiantly fended the French off for three hours. The messenger’s description is the stuff of legends. Indeed, they could just as well apply to any of the great heroes of the Trojan War as they do to this honorable English knight. These lines introduce the audience to Talbot, showcasing him as a fierce and valiant warrior who gives the English a fighting chance against the rebellious French.
No, no, I am but shadow of myself.
You are deceived; my substance is not here.
For what you see is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity.
I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch
Your roof were not sufficient to contain ’t. (2.3.50–56)
Talbot addresses these lines to Countess Auvergne, who has just announced her deceit: she has invited him to her home under the pretense of wanting to honor such a great warrior, but she has in fact set a trap to imprison him. But Talbot has anticipated her ruse, and he responds to the Countess with these riddling words. His point here is that a man like him achieves greatness in war not on his own, but through the collective action of the army of which he is but one part. Talbot may well be seen as the man who stands symbolically for the army as a whole, but as a symbol he is but a “shadow.” The real “substance” of the legend known as “Talbot” is constituted by the soldiers who collectively make up his army. This riddle, which emphasizes strength in unity, ultimately points to the fact that Talbot’s soldiers are standing outside, ready to rescue him.
My gracious prince and honorable 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 reclaimed
To your obedience fifty fortresses,
Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength,
Besides 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. (3.8.1–12)
When Henry arrives in France for his official coronation, Talbot breaks off from fighting and takes the time to honor his king with a visit. These lines represent Talbot’s formal self-presentation before the king. His language has a refined elegance better suited to the royal court than the battlefield, demonstrating Talbot’s ability to move seamlessly between registers based on context. It’s also notable that much of this speech consists of a formal boast in which he tells the king how many achievements he’s made. But Talbot doesn’t make this boast for the purpose of self-aggrandizement. Rather, everything he says and does is in the service of his God and his king. Once again, Talbot shows himself to be the very image of a chivalrous knight.
