The French leap over the Walls in their Shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENÇON, 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 enterprize 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. Alen. Here cometh Charles; I marvel, how he sped. Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. Bast. Tut! holy Joan was his defensive guard. 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? At all times will you have my power alike? Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, 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, Then how, or which way, should they first break in ? Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How, or which way; 'tis sure, they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made. And now there rests no other shift but this, To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying a Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their Clothes behind. Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [Exit. 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. 3 Plans, schemes. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, I muse 1 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, Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, 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 • Wonder. So much applauded through the realm of France ? Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him? Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe That she may boast she hath beheld the man Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars 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: 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. SCENE III. A [Exeunt. Auvergne. Court of the Castle. Enter the Countess and her Porter.. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And, when you have done so, bring the keys to me. VOL. VI. 5 Dwells. Port. Madam, I will. [Exit. Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit, As Scythian. Thomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, 6 Enter Messenger and TALBOT. Mess. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come. man? What! is this the . Is this the scourge of France? Mess. Madam, it is. Count. 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, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. 7 It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: 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. |