As who should say, When I am dead and gone, Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn: [Thunder heard; afterwards an Alarum. What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens? Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise? Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head: The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,A holy prophetess, new risen up, Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [SALISBURY groans. Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan! It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd. Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you: Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.Convey me Salisbury into his tent, And then we'll try what dastard Frenchmen dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies. SCENE V. Before one of the Gates of Orleans. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the Dauphin, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; Enter LA PUCELLE. I'll have a bout with Here, here she comes: thee; Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch, thee. Tal. My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come : I must go victual Orleans forthwith. O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. This day is ours, as many more shall be. [PUCELLE enters the Town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel: I know not where I am, nor what I do : As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. It will not be: [Alarum. Another Skirmish, Retire into your trenches: You all consented unto Salisbury's death, For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.- In spite of us, or aught that we could do. head. SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. : Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves: Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astræa's daughter, How shall I honour thee for this success? Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.— France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!Recover'd is the town of Orleans: More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout the town? Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. Her ashes, in an urn more precious [Flourish. Exeunt. ACT THE SECOND, SCENE I. The same. Enter to the Gates, a French Sergeant, and Two Sentinels. Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant : If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign, Let us have knowledge at the court of guard'. 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead march. Tal. Lord regent,—and redoubted Burgundy, By whose approach, the regions of Artois, 2 The same as guard-room. Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us, Bed. Coward of France!-how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure? Bed. A maid! and be so martial! Bur. Pray heaven, 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, Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right [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! |