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Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd.(45)

In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.

But, O, the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart!
Whom with my bare fists I would execute,

If I now had him brought into my power.

Sal. Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert entertain'd.
Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts.
In open market-place produc'd 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 was spread,
That they suppos'd 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.

Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.

Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

Here, through this secret grate, I count each one,"
And view the Frenchmen how they fortify:

(46)

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.

Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there stand lords.

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge.

Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,

Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.

[Shot from the town. Salisbury and Sir Thomas Gargrave fall.

Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!

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Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man!

Tal. 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! accursèd fatal hand

That hath contriv'd this woful tragedy!

In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;

eye

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 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!-
Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it.-
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to 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, Nero-like, (47)
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
Wretched shall France be only in my name.(48)

[Thunder heard; afterwards an alarum.

What stir is this? what tumult's in the heavens ?

Whence cometh this alarum and this(49) noise?

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. 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.

[Salisbury lifts himself up and groans.

Tal. Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan!

It irks his heart he cannot be reveng'd.—

Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you :

Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish,

Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,
And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.—
Convey me Salisbury into his tent :

Then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare.(50)

[Exeunt, bearing out the bodies.

SCENE V. Before one of the gates of Orleans.

Alarums. Skirmishings. Enter TALBOT, pursuing the Dauphin, drives him in, and exit: then enter LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her, and exit after them: then re-enter TALBOT.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;

A woman clad in armour chaseth them.

Here, here she comes.

Re-enter LA PUCELLE.

I'll have a bout with thee;

Devil or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:

Blood will I draw on thee,-thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st.

Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace thee.

[They fight.

Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.

[They fight again.

Puc. [retiring] Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:

I must go victual Orleans forthwith.

O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.

Go, go cheer up thy hunger-starved men ;(51)

Help Salisbury to make his testament:

This day is ours, as many more shall be.

[La Pucelle enters the town with Soldiers.

Tal. My thoughts are whirlèd like a potter's wheel;

I know not where I am, nor what I do:

A witch by fear, not force, like Hannibal,

[A short alarum.

Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists:
So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench,
Are from their hives and houses driven away.
They call'd us, for our fierceness, English dogs;
Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,(5
Or horse or oxen from the leopard,

As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.

(52)

[Alarum. Another skirmish.

It will not be :-retire into your trenches :
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.-
Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,

In spite of us or aught that we could do.

O, would I were to die with Salisbury!

The shame hereof will make me hide my head.

[Alarum; retreat. Exeunt Talbot and Forces.

Flourish. Enter, on the walls, LA PUCELLE, CHARLES, the Bastard of Orleans, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers.

Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescu'd is Orleans from the English :

Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word.
Char. Divinest creature, Astræa's daughter,(53)
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.

Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout the town ?(55) Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires,

And feast and banquet in the open streets,

To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and joy,

When they shall hear how we have play'd the men.

Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;

For which I will divide my crown with her;
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall in procession sing her endless praise.
A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear
Than Rhodope's of Memphis (56) ever was:
In memory of her when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
Than the rich-jewell'd coffer of Darius,
Transported shall be at high festivals
Ever before the kings and queens of France."
No longer on Saint Denis will we cry,
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
Come in, and let us banquet royally,

After this golden day of victory.

(57)

[Flourish. Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. France. Before Orleans.

Enter, to the gate, a French Sergeant and two Sentinels.

Serg. 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.

First Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus

are poor servitors—

When others sleep upon their quiet beds

Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold.

Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with scalingladders, their drums beating a dead march.

Tal. Lord regent, and redoubted Burgundy,—

By whose approach the regions of Artois,
Walloon, and Picardy are friends to us,-

This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,

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