Having all day carous'd and banqueted : 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. Bur. Traitors have never other company. But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure? Tal. A maid, they say. 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, Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. That we do make our entrance several ways; Bur. And I to this. 3 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 How much in duty I am bound to both. [The English scale the walls, crying, St. George! a Talbot! and all enter by the town. Cent. [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 unready so? 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, Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprize More venturous, or desperate than this. [8] Unready was the current word in those times for undressed. JOHNSON. 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? Or will you blame and lay the fault on me ?- Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, 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 ? Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying, a Talbot! a Sol. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. Using no other weapon but his name. [9] Platforms-That is, plans, schemes. STEEVENS. [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, I muse, 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, They did, amongst the troops of armed men, Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field. Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, That could not live asunder day nor night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. Mes. 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? Mes. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.- Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd:- Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive my mind. Cap. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. SCENE III. [Exeunt. 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. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, And his achievements of no less account : Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and TALBOT. Mes. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come. [1] That is, where she dwells. MALONE. Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man? Mes. Madam, it is. Count. Is this the scourge of France ? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see, report is fabulous and false : I thought, I should have seen some Hercules, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp' 4 Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: But, since your ladyship is not at leisure, I'll sort some other time to visit you. Count. What means he now ?-Go ask him, whither he goes. Mes. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, 1 go to certify her, Talbot's here. Re-enter Porter, with keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house. But now the substance shall endure the like; Wasted our country, slain our citizens, Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan. Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond,' To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, Count. Why, art not thou the man? Tal. I am indeed. Count. Then have I substance too. [2] Writhled-That is, wrinkled. The word is used by Spenser. MALONE. [3] That is, so foolish. STEEVENS. |