The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 179

TALBOT. Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy, By whose approach the regions of Artois, Wallon, 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.

BEDFORD. Coward of France, how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fort.i.tude, To join with witches and the help of h.e.l.l!

BURGUNDY. Traitors have never other company.

But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure?

TALBOT. A maid, they say.

BEDFORD. A maid! and be so martial!

BURGUNDY. Pray G.o.d she prove not masculine ere long, If underneath the standard of the French She carry armour as she hath begun.

TALBOT. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits: G.o.d is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.

BEDFORD. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee.

TALBOT. 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.

BEDFORD. Agreed; I'll to yond corner.

BURGUNDY. And I to this.

TALBOT. 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 and cry 'Saint George!

a Talbot!']

SENTINEL. Arm! arm! The enemy doth make a.s.sault.

The French leap o'er the walls in their s.h.i.+rts.

Enter, several ways, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, ALENCON, REIGNIER, half ready and half unready

ALENCON. How now, my lords? What, all unready so?

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Unready! Ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well.

REIGNIER. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber doors.

ALENCON. Of all exploits since first I follow'd arms Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous or desperate than this.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I think this Talbot be a fiend of h.e.l.l.

REIGNIER. If not of h.e.l.l, the heavens, sure, favour him ALENCON. Here cometh Charles; I marvel how he sped.

Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Tut! holy Joan was his defensive guard.

CHARLES. 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?

PUCELLE. 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.

CHARLES. Duke of Alencon, this was your default That, being captain of the watch to-night, Did look no better to that weighty charge.

ALENCON. Had all your quarters been as safely kept As that whereof I had the government, We had not been thus shamefully surpris'd.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Mine was secure.

REIGNIER. And so was mine, my lord.

CHARLES. And, for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter and mine own precinct I was employ'd in pa.s.sing to and fro About relieving of the sentinels.

Then how or which way should they first break in?

PUCELLE. 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 s.h.i.+ft 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

SOLDIER. 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 2.

ORLEANS. Within the town

Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a CAPTAIN, and others

BEDFORD. 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]

TALBOT. 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 happened 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 b.l.o.o.d.y ma.s.sacre, I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace, His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc, Nor any of his false confederates.

BEDFORD. '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.

BURGUNDY. 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

MESSENGER. 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?

TALBOT. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him?

MESSENGER. The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe To visit her poor castle where she lies, That she may boast she hath beheld the man Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

BURGUNDY. Is it even so? Nay, then I see our wars Will turn into a peaceful comic sport, When ladies crave to be encount'red with.

You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.

TALBOT. 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?

BEDFORD. No, truly; 'tis more than manners will; And I have heard it said unbidden guests Are often welcomest when they are gone.

TALBOT. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.

Come hither, Captain. [Whispers] You perceive my mind?

CAPTAIN. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. Exeunt

SCENE 3.

AUVERGNE. The Castle

Enter the COUNTESS and her PORTER

COUNTESS. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.

PORTER. Madam, I will.

COUNTESS. 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, And his achievements of no less account.