Reg. My lord, where are you? what devise Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Shall we give over Orleans, or no? [you on? Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight it out.

May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

depart.

[bear! 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 Glans-
Let me have your express opinions, [dale,
Where is best place to make our battery next.
Gar. I think, at the north gate, for there stand
lords.

Good God! that nobles should such stomachs
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.

M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou

rul'd by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do, to procure me grace:
The prince's espials have informed 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 me 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 GLANS-
DALE, SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE, and Others.
Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!
How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
Or by what means gott'st thou to be releas'd?
Discourse, I pr'ythee, on this turret's top.

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

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

Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners,

Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful 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
Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand, [off!-
That hath contriv'd this woful 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.
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 stiris this? What tumult's in the heavens?
Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise?
Enter a Messenger.

Tal. The duke of Bedford hath 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, [me: Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd 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. [heart! But, O the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my 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-The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,——[taunts, A holy prophetess, new risen up,

tain'd.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious
In open market place produc'd they me,
To be a publick spectacle to all;

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 gristly 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 en

Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd head;

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, 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 French-

men dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies. SCENE V. The same. Before one of the Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the Dau

phin, 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?

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. [dured; Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them:

A woman clad in armour chaseth them.

Enter LA PUCELLE.

Here, here she comes :-I'll have a bout with
Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: [thee;
Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou

serv'st.

And all the priests and friars in my realm Shall, in procession, sing her endless praise. A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear, 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, Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must dis- Transported shall be at high festivals grace thee. [They fight. Before the kings and queens of France. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? No longer on Saint Dennis will we cry, My breast I'll burst with straining of mycourage, But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint. And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, Come in, and let us banquet royally, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. After this golden day of victory. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet 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.

[come:

[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 lion's stead:
Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,
Or horse, or oxen, from the leopard,
As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.

[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 enter'd 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, dec.

SCENE VI. The same.
Enter, on the walls, PUCELLE, Charles, Reignier,
ALENCON, and Soldiers.

Puc. Advance our waving colours on the
walls:

[Flourish. Exeunt.

Art Second.

SCENE I. The same.

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 Burgun-
dy,-

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

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
Tul. A maid they say.
[pure?

Bed.
A maid! and be so martial
Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere
long;

Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:-If underneath the standard of the French,
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word.
Char. Divinest creature, bright Astrea's
daughter,

She carry armour as she hath begun. [spirits:

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,
[men.
When they shall hear how we have play'd the
Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is

won;

For which, I will divide my crown with her :

Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with 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!

YF

The French leap over the Walls in their shirts. What ruin happen'd in revenge of him
Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENCON, REIG- Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
NIER, half ready, and half unready.
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,

so?

Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready
[well.
Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd 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
[sped.
Alen. Here cometh Charles; I marvel how he

him.

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 Alencon, this was your default;
That, being captain of the watch to-night,
Did look no better to that weighty charge.
Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept,

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 employed in passing to and fro,
About relieving of the sentinels:
[in?
Then how, or which way, should they first break
Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the
[place
How, or which way; 'tis sure they found some
But weakly guarded, where the breach was
made,

case.

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 Tal-
bot! a Talbot! They fly, 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.

Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled,
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
And, that hereafter ages may behold [night.

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 dusty vapours of the night)
Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin, and his trulĺ;
When arm in arm they both came swiftly run-
Like a pair of loving turtle-doves, Ining,
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 Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts [train So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak

with him?

With modesty admiring thy renown,
Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne,

[safe
By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouch-
That she may boast she hath beheld the man
To visit her poor castle where she lies;
Whose glory fills the world with loud report,

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars
Will turn unto a peaceful comick sport,
When ladies crave to be encountered with.-
You 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,
Yet hath a woman's kindness overrul'd:-
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;

And in submissio. 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.
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
Come hither, captain.[Whispers.]-You perceive
my mind.

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;
[me.

And, when you have done so, bring the keys to

I

Port. Madam, I will.

[Exit.

[right,

Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out
shall as famous be by this exploit,
Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,
As Scythian Thomoris by Cyrus' death.

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.
Mess. Madam,

According as your ladyship desir'd,
By message crav'd, so is Lord Talbot come.

noured

To feast so great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt.

Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the Taste of your wine, and see whatcates you have; Mess. Madam, it is. [man? For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. Count. Is this the scourge of France? Count. With all my heart: and think me hoIs this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their I see report is fabulous and false : [babes? 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 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.

Count. What means he now ?-Go ask him,
whither he goes.
[craves
Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady
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,
Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
Tal. Ha, ha, ha!
[turn to moan.
Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall
Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond,
To think that you have aught but Talbot's sha-
Whereon to practise your severity. [dow,
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:
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;

Fie 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 Ord-
nance. 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.

[strue

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor miscon-
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

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?
Suff. '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
between us.
[higher pitch,

War. Between two hawks, which flies the
Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,
Between two blades, which bears the better

[case,

Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off;
Lest, bleeding, you do paint the white rose red,
And fall on my side so against your will.

Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed,
Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt,
And keep me on the side where still I am.
Som. Well, well, come on: Who else?
Law. Unless my study and my books be false,