SCENE III.

Within the walls of Orleans.

Alarum. Enter a Soldier crying, a Talbot! a Talbot! the French fly, leaving their cloaths behind.

Sol. I'll be fo bold to take what they have left:
The cry of Talbot ferves me for a fword,
For I have loaden me with many spoils,

Ufing no other weapon but his name.

Enter Talbot, Bedford, and Burgundy.

[Exit.

Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled,
Whofe pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth.

Here found retreat, and ceafe our hot pursuit. [Retreat.
Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,
And here advance it in the market-place,
The middle centre of this curfed town.
Now have I pay'd my vow unto his foul.
For ev'ry drop of blood was drawn from him,
There have at least five Frenchmen dy'd to-night.
And that hereafter ages may behold
What ruin happen'd in revenge of him,
Within the chiefeft temple I'll erect

A tomb, wherein his corps fhall be interr'd:.
Upon the which, that every one may read,
Shall be engrav'd the fack of Orleans,

The treach'rous manner of his mournful death,
And what a terror he had been to France.
But, Lords, in all our bloody maffacre,

I muse we met not with the Dauphin's Grace,
His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc,
of his falfe confederates,

Nor any

Bed. 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began, Rous'd on the fudden from their drowfie beds, They did amongst the troops of armed men Leap o'er the walls, for refuge in the field.

Bur.

Bur. My felf, as far as I could well difcern
For fmoak and dufty vapours of the night,
Am fure I fcar'd the Dauphin and his trull;
When arm in arm they both came fwiftly running,
Like to a pair of loving Turtle Doves,
That could not live afunder day or night.
After that things are fet in order here,

We'll follow them with all the pow'r we have.
Enter a Messenger.

Meff. 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 ?
Me. The virtuous Lady, Countefs of Auvergne,
With modefty admiring thy renown,

By me intreats, great Lord, thou would'ft vouchsafe
To vifit her poor caftle where the lyes;

That she may boaft fhe hath beheld the man
Whofe glory fills the world with loud report.
Bur. Is it ev'n fo? nay, then I fee our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comick fport,

When Ladies crave to be encounter'd with.
You can't, my Lord, defpife her gentle fuit.

Tal. 7'Nay, truft me there: for when a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory,

Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd:
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks,
And in fubmiffion will attend on her.

Will not your honours bear me company?

Bed. No truly, that is more than manners will;
And I have heard it faid, unbidden guests
Are often welcomeft when they are gone.
Tal. Well then, alone, fince there's no remedy,

I mean to prove this Lady's courtefie.

Come hither, captain; you perceive my mind. [Whispers. Capt. I do, my Lord, and mean accordingly. [Exeunt.

7 Ne'er truft me then :

SCENE

SCENE IV.

The Countess of Auvergne's Caftle.

Enter the Countess and her Porter.

Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge,

And when you've done fo, bring the keys to me.

Port. Madam, I will.

[Exit.

Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,

I fhall as famous be by this exploit,

As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.

Great is the rumour of this dreadful Knight,
And his atchievements of no lefs account:
Fain would mine eyes be witnefs with mine ears,
To give their cenfure of these rare reports.

Enter Meffenger and Talbot.

Melf. Madam, according as your Ladyship
By meffage crav'd, fo is Lord Talbot come.
Count. And he is welcome; what? is this the man?
Meff. Madam, it is.

Count. Is this the fcourge of France?

Is this the Talbot fo much fear'd abroad,

That with his name the mothers ftill their babes?

I fee report is fabulous and falfe.

I thought I fhould have seen some Hercules,

A fecond Hector, for his grim afpect,

And large proportion of his ftrong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a filly dwarf:

It cannot be, this weak and 'wrizled Shrimp
Should strike fuch terror in his enemies.

Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you:
But fince your Ladyfhip is not at leifure,

I'll fort fome other time to vifit you.

Count. What means he now? Go ask whither he goes.

8 writhled

Mel

Mel. Stay, my Lord Talbot, for my Lady craves
To know the caufe of your abrupt departure.
Tal. Marry, for that fhe's in a wrong belief,
I go to certifie her, Talbot's here.

Enter Porter with keys.

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prifoner.
Tal. Pris'ner? to whom?

Count. To me, blood-thirsty Lord:

And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.
Long time thy fhadow hath been thrall to me,
For in my gallery thy picture hangs :

But now the fubftance fhall endure the like,
And I will chain thefe legs and arms of thine,
That haft by tyranny these many years
Wafted our country, flain our citizens,
And fent our fons and husbands captivate.
Tal. Ha, ha, ha.

[to moan.

fhall turn

Count. Laugheft thou, wretch? thy mirth
Tal. I laugh to fee your Ladyfhip fo fond,
To think that you have ought but Talbot's fhadow
Whereon to practise your severity.

Count. Why? art not thou the man?

Tal. I am indeed.

Count. Then have I fubftance too.

Tal. No, no, I am but fhadow of my felf: You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here; For what you fee is but the smallest

And leaft proportion of humanity:

part

I tell you, Madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of fuch a fpacious lofty pitch,

Your roof were not fufficient to contain it.

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce, He will be here, and yet he is not here:

How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I fhew you prefently.

Winds his born, drums ftrike up, a peal of Ordnance:
Enter Soldiers.

How fay you, Madam? are you now perfuaded
That Talbot is but fhadow of himself?

These are his fubftance, finews, arms and ftrength,
With which he yoaketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities and fubverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them defolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot, pardon my abufe;
I find thou art no lefs than fame hath bruited,
And more than may be gather'd by thy fhape.
Let my prefumption not provoke thy wrath,
For I am forry that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal. Be not difmay'd, fair Lady, nor misconstrue The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake

The outward compofition of his body.

What you have done hath not offended me:
Nor other fatisfaction do I crave,

But only with your patience that we may

Taste of your wine, and fee what cates you have,
For foldiers ftomachs always ferve them well.

Count. With all my heart, and think me honoured
To feaft fo great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt.

Changes to London, in the Temple garden.

Enter Richard Plantagenet, Warwick, Somerfet, Suffolk, Vernon, and others.

Plan. Great

'Reat Lords and gentlemen, what means this filence?

Dare no man anfwer in a case of truth?

Suf.