Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with Scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead March. Tal. Lord regent,-and redoubted Burgundy,— As fitting best to quittance their deceit, 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. 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, Bur. And 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 [The English scale the Walls, crying St. George! a Talbot! and all enter by the Town. Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault! 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 unready2 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, Never 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. 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? 2 Unready is undressed. Thus in Chapman's Monsieur D'Olive. 1606, 'You are not going to bed; I see you are not yet unready. A stage direction in The Two Maids of Moreclock, 1609, says 'Enter James unready, in his nightcap, garterless." So in Cotgrave, Deshabiller, to unclothe, make unreddie, put or take off clothes.' Vol. VI. That, being captain of the watch to-night, We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd. 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? 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 platforms3 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. 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; Plans, schemes. And here advance it in the market-place, The treacherous manner of his mournful death, I musel, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; Bed. "Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began, Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, 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? 1 Wonder. Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe To visit her poor castle where she lies2; That she may boast she hath beheld the man When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.- men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, 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 have done so, bring the keys to me. 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. 2 i. e. where she dwells. |