So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench 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: [Alarum. Another skirmish. It will not be :-retire into your trenches: In spite of us or aught that we could do. head! [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and Forces, &c. Flourish. Enter, on the Walls, LA PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescu'd is Orleans from the English: Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, Astræa'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.- Recover'd is the town of Orleans: More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Reig. Why ring not out the bells aloud 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 For which I will divide my crown with her; In memory of her when she is dead, [Flourish. Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-Before Orleans. Enter to the Gate a French Sergeant and two Sentinels. Serg. Sirs, take your places and be vigilant : If noise or any 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, 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 fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches and the help of hell. Bur. Traitors have never other company.— wrongs his But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure? 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. 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 the Town. Sent. 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 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. Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. 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? 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. Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit As Scythian Tomyris 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. Mess. Madam, it is. Count. [Exit. What! is this the man? 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. It cannot be this weak and writhled 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. [Going. Count. What means he now?-Go ask him 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. But now the substance shall endure the like; And sent our sons and husbands captivate. 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? Count. Then have I substance too. I am indeed. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: 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 't. 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 How say you, madam? are you now persuaded These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: |