Enter, to the Gates, a French Sergeant and two Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant: 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Serg.] 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,- As fitting best to quittance their deceit, Bed. Coward of France!-how much he wrongs his Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. [fame, 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: 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 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, ALENCON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready 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. 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. 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?— We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd.' And so was mine, my lord. Reig. 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? Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying, A Talbot! 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 fled, [Retreat sounded. I muse, we met not with the dauphin's grace; Bed. "Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, 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? By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe That she may boast, she hath beheld the man When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.- Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of men Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, 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. Porter. Madam, I will. [Erit. 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. |