Retreat: Excursions. Enter, from the Town, La PUCELLE, ALENÇON, CHARLES, &c. and Exeunt, flying. Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please; For I have seen our enemies' overthrow. [Dies, and is carried off in his Chair. Alarum: Enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and Others. Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle now? I think, her old familiar is asleep: Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his gleeks? What, all a-mort? Roüen hangs her head for grief, That such a valiant company are fled. Now will we take some order in the town, Placing therein some expert officers; And then depart to Paris, to the king; For there young Harry, with his nobles, lies. Bur. What wills lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgundy. Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget The noble duke of Bedford, late deceas'd, 6 take some order-] i. e. make some necessary dispositions. But see his exequies fulfill'd in Roüen, SCENE III. The same. The Plains near the City. Enter CHARLES, the Bastard, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and Forces. Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident, Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, To leave the Talbot, and to follow us. Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, France were no place for Henry's warriors; Nor should that nation boast it so with us, But be extirped' from our provinces. Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd from France, And not have title to an earldom here. Puc. Your honours shall perceive how I will work, To bring this matter to the wished end. [Drums heard. Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward. An English March. Enter, and pass over at a distance, TALBOT and his Forces. There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread; A French March. Enter the Duke of BURGUNDY and Forces. Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his; Fortune, in favour, makes him lag behind. Summon a parley, we will talk with him. [A Parley sounded. Char. A parley with the duke of Burgundy. Bur. Who craves a parley with the Burgundy? Puc. The princely Charles of France, thy countryman. Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence. Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with thy words. Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France! Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee. Bur. Speak on; but be not over-tedious. Puc. Look on thy country, look on fertile France, And see the cities and the towns defac'd 7 But be extirped-] To extirp is to root out. expuls'd-] i. e. expelled. By wasting ruin of the cruel foe! As looks the mother on her lowly babe, Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help! Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaims on Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny. See then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen, 9 these haughty-] Haughty does not mean violent in this place, but elevated, high-spirited. Have batter'd me like roaring cannon-shot, Char. Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh. Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. Alen. Pucelle hath bravely plaied her part in this, And doth deserve a coronet of gold. Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers; And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Paris. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, GLOSTER, and other Lords, VERNON, BASSET, &c. To them TALBOT, and some of his Officers. Tal. My gracious prince, and honourable peers,Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have a while given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaim'd Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, 1 Done like a Frenchman; turn, and turn again!] The inconstancy of the French was always the subject of satire. I have read a dissertation written to prove that the index of the wind upon our steeples was made in form of a cock, to ridicule the French for their frequent changes. JOHNSON. |