Having all day carous'd and banqueted : Bed. 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! Bur. Traitors have never other company. But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure? Bed. A maid! and be so martial! Bur. Pray God she prove not masculine ere long; If underneath the standard of the French She carry armour, as she hath begun. Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits: God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. That we do make our entrance several ways; Bur. And(58) I to this. Tal. 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. [The English scale the walls, crying "St. George! a Talbot!" and all enter the town. Sent. Arm! arm! the enemy doth make assault! The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, the Bastard of Orleans, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER, half ready and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords! what, all unready so? Bast. Unready! ay, and glad we scap'd so well. Reig. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors. Alen. Of all exploits since first I follow'd arms, Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous or desperate than this. Bast. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell. Reig. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. Char. 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? Puc. Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend? Char. Duke of Alençon, this was your default, Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd. Bast. Mine was secure. Reig. And so was mine, my lord. Char. 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 ? Alarums. Enter an English Soldier, crying "A Talbot! a Talbot !" Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a Captain, and others. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury, A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd: The treacherous manner of his mournful death, I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace, His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc, Nor any of his false confederates. Bed. 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began, Bur. Myself-as far as I could well discern That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. Mess. All hail, my lords! Which of this princely train Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts. So much applauded through the realm of France ? Tal. Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him? With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe That she may boast she hath beheld the man Whose glory fills the world with loud report. Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport, When ladies crave to be encounter'd with. You mayn't, my lord, despise her gentle suit. Tal. Ne'er trust me, then; for when a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd :- Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will : And I have heard it said, unbidden guests Are often welcomest when they are gone. Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] You perceive my mind? Capt. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Auvergne. Court of the Castle. Enter the Countess and her Porter. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And when you've done so, bring the keys to me. Port. Madam, I will. Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, And his achievements of no less account: Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and TALBOT. Mess. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is Lord Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. Mess. Madam, it is. Count. [Exit. What! is this the man? Is this the scourge of France? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see report is fabulous and false: I thought I should have seen some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspéct And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. It cannot be, this weak and writhlèd shrimp Should strike such terror to his enemies. Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you; But since your ladyship is not at leisure, I'll sort some other time to visit you. [Going. Count. What means he now ?—Go ask him whither he goes. Mess. Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her Talbot's here. Re-enter Porter with keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house. |