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Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens;
One that still motions war, and never peace,
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines;
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is protector of the realm;
And would have armour here out of the Tower,
To crown himself king, and suppress the prince.

Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
[Here they skirmish again.

May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous
strife,
But to make open proclamation :-
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou can'st.

Off. 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:

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by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do, to procure me grace :
The prince's espials have inform'd me,
How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;
And thence discover how, with most advantage,
They may vex us, with shot, or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,

A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd;
And fully even these three days have I watch'd,
If I could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch,
For I can stay no longer.

If thou spy'st any, run and bring we word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

[Exit:

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care:
I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.

Enter, in an upper Chamber of a Tower, the LORDS
SALISBURY and TALBOT, SIR WILLIAM
GLANSDALE, SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE, and

others.

Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!

How wert thou handled, being prisoner?

1 Malone erroneously thinks the mayor cries out for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves. The practice of calling out Clubs! clubs! to call out the London apprentices upon the occasion of any affray in the streets, has been before explained, see As You Like It,

Act v. Sc. 2.

Or by what means gott'st thou to be releas'd?
Discourse, I pr'ythee, on this turret's top.

Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
Called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles;
For him I was exchang'd and ransomed.
But with a baser man of arms by far,
Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me.
Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death
Rather than I would be so vile esteem'd.
In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart
Whom with my bare fists I would execute,
If I now had him brought into my power.

Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert enter
tain'd.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious

taunts.

In open market-place produc'd they me,
public spectacle to all;

To be a

Here, said they, is the terror of the French,"
The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers that led me;
And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground
To hurl at the beholders of my shame.
My grisly countenance made others fly;
None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread,
That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel,
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
That walk'd about me every minute-while;
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.

Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd:
But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
Now it is supper-time in Orleans:
Here, through this grate, I can count every one,
And view the Frenchmen how they fortify;
Let us look in, the sight will much delight thee.-
Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale
Let me have your express opinions,
Where is best place to make our battery next.

Gar. I think, at the north gate, for there stand
lords.

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.

[Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and SIR
THO. GARGRAVE fall.

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;
How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men?
One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off!
Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand,
That hath contriv'd this woeful tragedy !
In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;
Henry the Fifth he first train'd to the wars;
Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,
His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field.-
Yet liv'st thou, Salisbury" though thy speech doth

fail,

One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace:
The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.-
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!-
Bear hence his body, I will help to bury it.-
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.

very scourge and a daily terror, insomuch that as his
person was fearful and terrible to his adversaries pre-
sent, so his name and fame was spiteful and dreadful to
the common people absent; insomuch that women in
France, to feare their yong children, would crye the
Talbot cometh. Hall's Chronicle.

2 Stomach is pride, a haughty spirit of resentment 3 Favour. 4 Spies. Vide note on Hamlet, Act iii. Sc. 1. 5 The old copy reads went; the emendation is Mr. Mans in 1455, when a breach was made in the walls of

8 Camden says, in his Remaines, that the French scarce knew the use of great ordnance till the siege of

Tyrwhitt's

6 The old copy reads 'pil'd esteem'd.'

that town by the English, under the conduct of this earl of Salisbury; and that he was the first English gentle

This man [Talbot] was to the French people a man that was slain by a cannon ball.

Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort;
Thou shalt not die, whiles-

He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me;
As who should say, When I am dead and gone,
Remember to avenge me on the French.-
Plantagenet, I will; and like thee, Nero,
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
Wretched shall France be only in my name.

[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.

Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,
Or horse, or oxen, from the leopard,
As you fly from your oft-subdued siaves.

[Alarum. Another Skirmish.

It will not be:-Retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.-
Pucelle is entered into Orleans,
In spite of us, or aught that we could do.
O, would I were to die with Salisbury!
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
[Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and
his Forces, &c.

Mes. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls,

head: The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,A holy prophetess, new risen up,

Is come with a great power to raise the siege.

[SALISBURY groans.

Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan!
It irks his heart, he cannot be revenged.-
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you :-
Pucelle or puzzel,1 dolphin or dogfish,
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,
And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.-
Convey me Salisbury into his tent,

And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen
dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the bodies.
SCENE V. The same. Before one of the Gates.

Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the
Dauphin, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA
PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then
enter TALBOT.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my

force?
Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them:
A woman, clad in armour, chaseth them.
Enter LA PUCELLE.

Here, here she comes.

thee;

PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENGON, 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 Astrea's daughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success?
Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens,
That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.-
France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!-
Recover'd is the town of Orleans:

More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state.
Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout the

town?

Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires,
And feast and banquet in the open streets,
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and

joy,
When they shall hear how we have play'd the men.
Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;
For which, I will divide my crown with her:
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall, in procession, her endless praise.

I'll have a bout with A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear,

Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st.
Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace
[They fight.

thee.

Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage,
And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder,
And I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.

Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:
I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hungry, starved men;
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
This day is ours, as many more shall be.

[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:
A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal,
Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists:
So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench,
Are from their hives, and houses, driven away.
They call'd us, for our fierceness, English dogs;
Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.

[A short Alarum.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:

1 Puzzel means a dirty wench or a drab, 'from puzza, i. e. malus foetor,' says Minsheu.

2 The superstition of those times taught that he who could draw a witch's blood was free from her power.

3 Alluding to Hannibal's stratagem to escape, by fixing bundles of lighted twigs on the horns of oxen, recorded by Livy, lib. xxij. c. xvj.

4 Old copy treacherous. Corrected by Pope.

5 Wolves. Thus the second folio, the first omits that word, and the epithet bright prefixed to Astrea in the next line but one. Malone follows the reading of the first folio, and contends that by a licentious pronunciation a syllable was added, thus Engleish, Asterea.

B

Than Rhodope's, of Memphis, ever was:"
In memory of her, when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
Than the rich-jewel'd coffer of Darius,
Transported shall be at high festivals
Before the kings and queens of France.
No longer on Saint Dennis will we cry,

But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
Come in; and let us banquet royally,

After this golden day of victory. [Flourish. Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. The same. Enter to the Gates, a French
Sergeant, and Two Sentinels.

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.9
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,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,-
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day carous'd and banqueted:

6 The Adonis horti were nothing but portable earthen
pots, with some lettuce or fennel growing in them.
7 The old copy reads :-

Than Rhodophe's or Memphis ever was.' Rhodope, or Rhodopis, a celebrated courtezan, who was a slave in the same service with Esop, at Samos. 8 'In what price the noble poems of Homer were holden by Alexander the Great, insomuch that everie night they were layd under his pillow, and by day were carried in the rich jewel coffer of Darius, lately before vanquished by him. Puttenham's Arte of English Poesie, 1589.

9 The same as guard-room.

Embrace we then this opportunity; As fitting best to quittance their deceit, Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery.

How, or which way: 'tis sure, they found some

place

But weakly guarded, where the breach was made,

Bed. Coward of France?-how much he wrongs And now there rests no other shift but this,

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 atmour 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. 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.

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.
Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make
assault!

The French leap over the Walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENGON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unrealy.

Alen. How now, my lord what all unready1 so? Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well. Reig. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds,

Hearing alarums at our chamber doors.

To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying a Tal bot! a Talbot! They fty, leaving their Clothes behind.

Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left, The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the Town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a Captain, and

others.

Bed. The day begins to break, and night is filed, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. 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,3 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,

Alen. Of all exploits, since first I follow'd arms, Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

Never heard I of a warlike enterprise

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?
Sleeping, or waking, must I still prevail,

Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?-
Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,

This sudden mischief never could have fall'n.

Char. Duke of Alençon, this was your default; That, being captain of the watch to-night,

Did look no better to that weighty charge.

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;4
That she may boast she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.
Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars
Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,

When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.

Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit. As that whereof I had the government,

We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd,

Bast. Mine was secure.

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?

Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the case,

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 overrul'd:-
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her.-
Will not your honours bear me company?
Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will:
And I have heard it said, Unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.

1 Unready is undressed. 2 Plans, schemes.

3 Wonder.

4 i. e. where she dwells

Tul. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy,
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] - You perceive
my mind.

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 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 censure1 of these rare reports.
Enter Messenger and TALBOт.

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 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,
A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf:

It cannot be, this weak and writhled3 shrimp
Should strike such terror to his enemies.

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.

Mess. Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves
Io 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,
Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
And sent our sons and husbands captivate.4

Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

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,
Whereon to practise your severity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?

Tal.

I am indeed.

Count. Then have I substance too.
Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:

1 i. e. judgment, opinion.

You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here;
For what you see, is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity:
I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient 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 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,
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength,
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks;
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.

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 misconstrue
The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.
What you have done, hath not offended me :
No other satisfaction do I crave,
But only (with your patience) that we may
Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have;
For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.

Count. With all my heart: and think me honoured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. London. The Temple Garden. Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer.

Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means

this silence?

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

Suff. Within the Temple hall we were too loud: The garden here is more convenient.

Plan. Then say at once, if I maintain'd the truth;
Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?"
Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;

And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.

Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then be

tween us.

War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher

pitch,
Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,
Between two blades, which bears the better temper,
Between two horses, which doth bear him best, 10
Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye,
I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judgment:
But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance:
The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Plan. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath to
speak,

In dumb significants11 proclaim your thoughts:

tinction to gentleman; signifying that the person showed 7 Bruited is reported, loudly announced.

2 Dryden has transplanted this idea into his Don Se- by his behaviour he was a low fellow. bastian :-

'Nor shall Sebastian's formidable name

Be longer used, to lull the crying babe."

8 We should read a lawyer. This lawyer was pro bably Roger Nevyle, who was afterwards hanged. See W. Wyrcester, p. 478.

3 Writhled for wrinkled.

4 Thus in Solyman and Persida :

'If not destroy'd and bound and captivate, If captivate, then forced from holy faith."

5 i. e. foolish, silly, weak.

9 Johnson observes that 'there is apparently a want of opposition between the two questions here, but there is no reason to suspect that the text is corrupt.

10 i. e. regulate his motions most adroitly. We stil. say that a horse carries himself well.

6 This is a riddling merchant for the nonce. The term merchant, which was, and even now is, frequently applied to the lowest kind of dealers, seems anciently to have been used on these familiar occasions in contradis-token.

11 Dumb significants, which Malone would have changed to significance, is nothing more than signs or

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