Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; And would have armour here out of the Tower, But to make open proclamation :- Offi. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, against God's peace and the king's, we charge and command you, in his highness' | name, to repair to your several dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; Good God! that nobles should such stomachs bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-France, Before Orleans. Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. M. Gun, Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd; And how the English have the suburbs won. Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim. If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; [Exit. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the Lords Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Whom with my bare fists I would execute, Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert en- Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contume- In open market-place produc'd they me, Here, said they, is the terror of the French, To hurl at the beholders of my shame. That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel, M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou Ready they were to shoot me to the heart. rul'd by me: Chief master-gunner am I of this town; A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd ; Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you en- But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. Where is best place to make our battery next. Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be fa- SCENE V.-The same. Before one of the gates. mish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. Shot from the Town. Salisbury and Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woeful man! Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath cross'd us? Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak; One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace: He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; [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. It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd.- Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, I must go victual Orleans forthwith. [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 : stench, Are from their hives, and houses, driven away. In spite of us, or aught that we could do. And then we'll try what these dastard French-The shame hereof will make me hide my head. men dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the bodies. Alarum. Retreat. Excunt Talbot and his forces, &c. SCENE VI.-The same. Enter, on the walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENCON, 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? next. France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!- Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, For which, I will divide my crown with her: [Flourish. Exeunt. 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, Bed. Coward of France!-how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, 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, 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. Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways; That, if it chance the one of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force. Bed. Agreed; I'll to yon corner. Bur. And I to this. Tul. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right [The English scale the walls, crying Sent. Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault! The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, Bastard, ALENCON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready so? Bast. Unready?ay, and glad we 'scap'd se well. Reig. "Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave | Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. 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. 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? At all times will you have my power alike? Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, Reig. And so was mine, my lord. Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter, and mine own precinct, Then how, or which way, should they first break in? Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How, or which way; 'tis sure, they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made. And now there rests no other shift but this,To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying, a Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their clothes behind. Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; And here advance it in the market-place, The middle centre of this cursed town.Now have I paid my vow unto his soul; For every drop of blood was drawn from him, There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-night. And, that hereafter ages may behold What ruin happen'd in revenge of him, Within their chiefest temple I'll erect A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr❜d: Upon the which, that every one may read, Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, And what a terror he had been to France. But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc; Nor any of his false confederates. 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, For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night,) Am sure, I scar'd the Dauphin, and his trull; When arm in arm they both came swiftly running, Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves, That could not live asunder day or night. | 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 him? Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe To visit her poor castle where she lies;' Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will : And I have heard it said,-Unbidden guests Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-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 Mess. Madam, it is. Count. Is this the scourge of France? I thought, I should have seen some Hercules, It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp whither he goes. Mess. 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, I go to certify her, Talbot's here. Re-enter Porter, with keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Tal. Prisoner! to whom? Count. To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house. Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me, For in my gallery thy picture hangs : But now the substance shall endure the like; And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, That hast by tyranny, these many years, Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond, To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, Whereon to practise your severity. Count. Why, art not thou the man? Count. Then have I substance too. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, He will be here, and yet he is not here: Tal. That will I show you presently. He winds a horn. Drums heard; then a peal of ordnance. The gates being forced, enter Soldiers. How say you, madam? are you now persuaded, With which he yoketh your rebellious necks; Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I find, thou art no less than fame hath bruited, And more than may be gather'd by thy shape. Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; For I am sorry, that with reverence I did not entertain thee as thou art. Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor mis |