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 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! Sent. \Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault! The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, Bastarn, Alenjon, Reignier, halj ready, and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready so? Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well. Reig. T was 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 enterprise More venturous or desperate than this. Bast. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell. a Unready—undressed. 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? 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 emnloy'd in passing to and fro, About relieving of the sentinels: Then how, or which way, should they first break in ? a Platforms—plans. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying A Talbot! Using no other weapon but his name. SCENE II.—Orleans. [Exit Within the Town. Enter Talbot, Bedforn, Burgundy, a Captain, and others. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, [Retreat sounded. I muse we met not with the dauphin's grace, Bed. 'T is 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, 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 himT Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars When ladies crave to be encounter'd with. Yom may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit. Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Will not your honours bear me company? Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: Tal. Well, then, alone (since there 's no remedy) R Lies-dwells. Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive my mind. Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Ex. SCENE III.—Auvergne. Court of the Castle. Enter the CoOUNTESS 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, Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and Talbot. Mess. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. What is this the man? Mess. Madam, it is. Count. Is thls 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, A second Hector, for his grim aspect, It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: a Censure opinion. b Writhled-wrinkled. |