20

KING HENRY VI.

The French exclaimed, the devil was in arms;
All the whole army stood agazed on him.
His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,
A Talbot a Talbot! cried out amain,
And rushed into the bowels of the battle.
Here had the conquest fully been sealed up,
If Sir John Fastolfe had not played the coward.
He, being in the vaward placed behind

With purpose to relieve and follow them,
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wrack and massacre;
Enclosed were they with their enemies :

A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace,
Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back,

Whom all France with their chief assembled

strength

Durst not presume to look once in the face.

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself

For living idly here in pomp and ease
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foemen is betrayed.

Mess. O no, he lives, but is took prisoner,
And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford;
Most of the rest slaughtered or took likewise.

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay.

His crown shall be the ransom of my

friend;

Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.—
Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forth with I am to make,
To keep our great Saint George's feast withal.
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.
Mess. So you had need, for Orleans is besieged;
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.

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry

sworn,

Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Bed. I do remember't; 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 the artillery and munition;

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.

[Exit.

Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is,

Being ordained 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. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-France. Before Orleans.

Flourish.

Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIG

NIER, marching with drum and Soldiers.

Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the

heavens

So in the earth, to this day is not known.
Late did he shine upon the English side;
Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.
What towns of any moment but we have?
At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;
Otherwhiles the famished English, like pale ghosts,
Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

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 live we idly here?

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none but mad-brained 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 forlorn French!

Him I forgive my death that killeth me

When he sees me go back one foot or fly. [Exeunt. [Alarum; they are beaten back by the English with great loss.

Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER.

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.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Alen. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands bred

During the time Edward the Third did reign.

More truly now may this be verified ;

For none but Samsons and Goliases

It sendeth forth to skirmish.

One to ten!

Lean raw-boned rascals! who would e'er suppose They had such courage and audacity?

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are harebrained slaves,

And hunger will enforce them be more eager.
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.
Reig. I think, by some odd gimmers or device
Their arms are set like clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we 'll even let them alone.
Alen. Be it so.

Enter the BASTARD of Orleans.

Bast. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer

appalled.

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?

Be not dismayed, for succour is aí hand;

A holy maid hither with me I bring,

Which by a vision sent to her from heaven
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege

And drive the English forth the bounds of France.