Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats :Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness? An army have I muster'd in my thoughts, Wherewith already France is overrun. Enter a third Messenger. Third Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse, I must inform you of a dismal fight Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French. Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame ? is't so? Third Mess. O, no; wherein Lord Talbot was o'erthrown: The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord, Having full scarce six thousand in his troop, To keep the horsemen off from breaking in. Enclosed were they with their enemies: A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, Whom all France, with their chief assembled strength, Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd. Third Mess. O, no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay : Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Third Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The English army is grown weak and faint: The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply, And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. Bed. I do remember 't;12) and here take my leave, To go about my preparation. [Exit. Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the haste I can, To view th' artillery and munition; And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit. Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his special governor; And for his safety there I'll best devise. [Exit. Win. Each hath his place and function to attend : I am left out; for me nothing remains. But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office : The king from Eltham I intend to steal, And sit at chiefest stern of public weal.(18) [Exit. Scene closes. SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. Flourish. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others. Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens, The whiles the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, Alen. They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, And have their provender tied to their mouths, Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. Reig. Let's raise the siege: why lie we idly here ?(15) Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Nor men nor money hath he to make war. Char. Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them. Now for the honour of the fórlorn(16) French! Him I forgive my death that killeth me When he sees me go back one foot or flee.(17) [Exeunt. Alarums; excursions; afterwards a retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others. Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have I!— Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er have fled, But that they left me midst my enemies. Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; He fighteth as one weary of his life. Do rush upon us as their hungry prey. Alen. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands bred(18) During the time Edward the Third did reign. For none but Samsons and Goliases It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose They had such courage and audacity? Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them be(19) more eager: Of old I know them; rather with their teeth on; ;(20) Reig. I think, by some odd gimmers or device, Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Bast. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd: Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: A holy maid hither with me I bring, Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, Ordainèd is to raise this tedious siege, And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome: What's past and what's to come she can descry. For they are certain and unfallible. Char. Go, call her in. [Exit Bastard.] But first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern: By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. [Retires. Re-enter the Bastard of Orleans, with LA PUCELLE. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats? Puc. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me ?Where is the Dauphin ?-Come, come from behind; I know thee well, though never seen before. Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Heaven and our Lady gracious(21) hath it pleas'd Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, Will'd me to leave my base vocation, (22) Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms: Only this proof I'll of thy valour make, In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, Char. Then come, o' God's name; I fear(25) no woman. [They fight. |