Shakespeare's First Folio Part 349

Bur. Traitors haue neuer other company.

But what's that Puzell whom they tearme so pure?

Tal. A Maid, they say

Bed. A Maid? And be so martiall?

Bur. Pray G.o.d she proue not masculine ere long: If vnderneath the Standard of the French She carry Armour, as she hath begun

Tal. Well, let them practise and conuerse with spirits.

G.o.d is our Fortresse, in whose conquering name Let vs resolue to scale their flinty bulwarkes

Bed. Ascend braue Talbot, we will follow thee

Tal. Not altogether: Better farre I guesse, That we do make our entrance seuerall wayes: That if it chance the one of vs do faile, The other yet may rise against their force

Bed. Agreed; Ile to yond corner

Bur. And I to this

Tal. And heere will Talbot mount, or make his graue.

Now Salisbury, for thee and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appeare How much in duty, I am bound to both

Sent. Arme, arme, the enemy doth make a.s.sault.

Cry, S[aint]. George, A Talbot.

The French leape ore the walles in their s.h.i.+rts. Enter seuerall wayes, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, Alanson, Reignier, halfe ready, and halfe vnready.

Alan. How now my Lords? what all vnreadie so?

Bast. Vnready? I and glad we scap'd so well

Reig. 'Twas time (I trow) to wake and leaue our beds, Hearing Alarums at our Chamber doores

Alan. Of all exploits since first I follow'd Armes, Nere heard I of a warlike enterprize More venturous, or desperate then this

Bast. I thinke this Talbot be a Fiend of h.e.l.l

Reig. If not of h.e.l.l, the Heauens sure fauour him

Alans. Here commeth Charles, I maruell how he sped?

Enter Charles and Ioane.

Bast. Tut, holy Ioane was his defensiue Guard

Charl. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitfull Dame?

Didst thou at first, to flatter vs withall, Make vs partakers of a little gayne, That now our losse might be ten times so much?

Ioane. Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend?

At all times will you haue my Power alike?

Sleeping or waking, must I still preuayle, Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?

Improuident Souldiors, had your Watch been good, This sudden Mischiefe neuer could haue falne

Charl. Duke of Alanson, this was your default, That being Captaine of the Watch to Night, Did looke no better to that weightie Charge

Alans. Had all your Quarters been as safely kept, As that whereof I had the gouernment, We had not beene thus shamefully surpriz'd

Bast. Mine was secure

Reig. And so was mine, my Lord

Charl. And for my selfe, most part of all this Night Within her Quarter, and mine owne Precinct, I was imploy'd in pa.s.sing to and fro, About relieuing of the Centinels.

Then how, or which way, should they first breake in?

Ioane. Question (my Lords) no further of the case, How or which way; 'tis sure they found some place, But weakely guarded, where the breach was made: And now there rests no other s.h.i.+ft but this, To gather our Souldiors, scatter'd and disperc't, And lay new Platformes to endammage them.

Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter a Souldier, crying, a Talbot, a Talbot: they flye, leauing their Clothes behind.

Sould. Ile be so bold to take what they haue left: The Cry of Talbot serues me for a Sword, For I haue loaden me with many Spoyles, Vsing no other Weapon but his Name.

Enter.

Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundie.

Bedf. The Day begins to breake, and Night is fled, Whose pitchy Mantle ouer-vayl'd the Earth.

Here sound Retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.

Retreat.

Talb. Bring forth the Body of old Salisbury, And here aduance it in the Market-Place, The middle Centure of this cursed Towne.

Now haue I pay'd my Vow vnto his Soule: For euery drop of blood was drawne from him, There hath at least fiue Frenchmen dyed to night.

And that hereafter Ages may behold What ruine happened in reuenge of him, Within their chiefest Temple Ile erect A Tombe, wherein his Corps shall be interr'd: Vpon the which, that euery one may reade, Shall be engrau'd the sacke of Orleance, The trecherous manner of his mournefull death, And what a terror he had beene to France.

But Lords, in all our bloudy Ma.s.sacre, I muse we met not with the Dolphins Grace, His new-come Champion, vertuous Ioane of Acre, Nor any of his false Confederates

Bedf. 'Tis thought Lord Talbot, when the fight began, Rows'd on the sudden from their drowsie Beds, They did amongst the troupes of armed men, Leape o're the Walls for refuge in the field

Burg. My selfe, as farre as I could well discerne, For smoake, and duskie vapours of the night, Am sure I scar'd the Dolphin and his Trull, When Arme in Arme they both came swiftly running, Like to a payre of louing Turtle-Doues, That could not liue asunder day or night.

After that things are set in order here, Wee'le follow them with all the power we haue.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. All hayle, my Lords: which of this Princely trayne Call ye the Warlike Talbot, for his Acts So much applauded through the Realme of France?

Talb. Here is the Talbot, who would speak with him?

Mess. The vertuous Lady, Countesse of Ouergne, With modestie admiring thy Renowne, By me entreats (great Lord) thou would'st vouchsafe To visit her poore Castle where she lyes, That she may boast she hath beheld the man, Whose glory fills the World with lowd report

Burg. Is it euen so? Nay, then I see our Warres Will turne vnto a peacefull Comick sport, When Ladyes craue to be encountred with.

You may not (my Lord) despise her gentle suit

Talb. Ne're trust me then: for when a World of men Could not preuayle with all their Oratorie, Yet hath a Womans kindnesse ouer-rul'd: And therefore tell her, I returne great thankes, And in submission will attend on her.

Will not your Honors beare me company?

Bedf. No, truly, 'tis more then manners will: And I haue heard it sayd, Vnbidden Guests Are often welcommest when they are gone

Talb. Well then, alone (since there's no remedie) I meane to proue this Ladyes courtesie.