How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men? [Shouts heard; afterwards an alarum. What stir is this? what tumult in the heavens ? Mess. Enter a Messenger. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd head: The Dauphin, with one Joan La Pucelle join'd,— A holy prophetess, new risen up,— Is come with a great power to raise the siege. Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan ! It irks his heart he cannot be reveng'd.- Then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare. SCENE III. Before the Gates of Orleans. [Exeunt. Shouts of Victory. Enter PUCELLE, Charles, Reignier, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. Рис. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescued from the English is Orleans :— Thus Joan La Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright 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,— France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess !- 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 shall be replete with mirth and joy, Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won: [They enter the town. ACT III SCENE I. Before the Gates of Orleans. Night. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces with scaling-ladders. Tal. Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy,— By whose approach, the regions of Artois, 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 pure? Tal. Bed. Bur. A maid, they say. A maid and be so martial! 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, The other yet may rise against their force. Bur. I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Sent. [The English scale the walls. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault ! [The French rush through the gates, pursued by the English. Enter TALBOT, Bedford, BURGUNDY, a Captain, and others. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury, Now have I paid my vow unto his soul; For every drop of blood was drawn from him A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd: The treacherous manner of his mournful death I muse we met not with the Dauphin's grace, His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc, Bed. 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began, Roused on the sudden from their drowsy beds, They did amongst the troops of armed men Bur. After that things are set in order here, 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 ? Tal. Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him? Mess. 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. Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport, When ladies crave to be encounter'd 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 over-ruled: And therefore tell her I return great thanks, And in submission will attend on her. Will not your honours bear me company? Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] You perceive my mind? Capt. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. Count. SCENE II.-Hall in the Countess's Castle. Enter the COUNTESS and her Porter. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And when you have done so, bring the keys to me. Madam, I will. Port. [Exeunt. 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 : Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, Mess. Enter Messenger and TALBOT. According as your ladyship desired, By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come. [Exit. 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 |