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.

Mess.

Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves
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.
Prisoner! to whom?

To me, bloodthirsty lord ;

Tal.
Count.
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.

Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to

moan.

Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond

To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow

Whereon to practise your severity.

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
You are deceived, 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 't.

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;

He will be here, and yet he is not here :

How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal.

That will I show you presently.

[Winds his horn.

of ordnance.

Drums heard, and a peal

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.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake

The outward composition of his body.

What you have done hath not offended me;

Nor other satisfaction do I crave,

But only, with your patience, that we may

Taste of your wine and see what cates you have ;
For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.

Count. With all my heart, and think me honoured
To feast so great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Plains near Orleans.

Enter CHARLES, DUNOIS, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and

Рис.

Forces.

Dismay not, princes, at this accident.
Care is no cure, but rather corrosive,

For things that are not to be remedied.
Let frantic Talbot triumph for a while,
And like a peacock sweep along his tail:
We'll pull his plumes, and take away his train,
If Dauphin and the rest will be but ruled.

Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto

And of thy cunning had no diffidence;
One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

Dun. Search out thy wit for secret policies,
And we will make thee famous through the world.
Alen. We'll set thy statue in some holy place,
And have thee reverenc'd like a blessed saint;
Employ thee, then, sweet virgin, for our good.
Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise;
By fair persuasions, mix'd with sugar'd words,
We will entice the Duke of Burgundy

To leave the Talbot and to follow us.

Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, France were no place for Henry's warriors.

Nor should that nation boast it so with us.

But be extirped from our provinces.

Alen. For ever should they be expuls'd from France, And not have title of an earldom here.

Puc. Your honour shall perceive how I will work,

To bring this matter to the wished end.
Hark! by the sound of drum you may perceive
Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward.

[Drums heard.

[An English March is heard at a distance. There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread ; And all the troops of English after him.

[A French March is heard.

Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his;
Fortune, in favour makes him lag behind.
Summon a parley, we will talk with him.

[A parley sounded.

Char.

Bur.

Puc.

Enter the DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

A parley with the Duke of Burgundy.
Who craves a parley with the Burgundy?
The princely Charles of France, thy countryman.

Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching

hence.

Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with thy words.

Puc.

Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France !

Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee.

Bur.

Speak on; but be not over-tedious.

Puc. Look on thy country, look on fertile France, And see the cities and the towns defac'd

By wasting ruin of the cruel foe!

As looks the mother on her lovely babe,
When death doth close his tender dying eyes,
See, see, the pining malady of France;

Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds,
Which thou thyself hast given her woeful breast!
O, turn thy edged sword another way;

Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help !
One drop of blood, drawn from thy country's bosom,
Should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore.
Return thee, therefore, with a flood of tears,
And wash away thy country's stained spots!

Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent.

Puc. Besides all French and France exclaim on thee, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny.

Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly nation,
That will not trust thee but for profit's sake?
When Talbot hath set footing once in France,
And fashion'd thee that instrument of ill,
Who then, but English Harry, will be lord,
And thou be thrust out like a fugitive?
Call we to mind,—and mark but this, for proof :-
Was not the Duke of Orleans thy foe?
And was he not in England prisoner?
But, when they heard he was thine enemy,
They set him free, without his ransom paid,
In spite of Burgundy and all his friends.
See, then! thou fight'st against thy countrymen,
And join'st with them will be thy slaughtermen.
Come, come, return; return, thou wandering lord ;
Charles and the rest will take thee in their arms.

Bur. I am vanquish'd; these haughty words of hers
Have batter'd me, like roaring cannon-shot,
And made me almost yield upon my knees.
Forgive me, country, and sweet countrymen !
And, lords, accept this hearty kind embrace :
My forces and my power of men are yours;
So, farewell, Talbot: I'll no longer trust thee.

Char. Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us

Dun.

Alen.

fresh.

And doth beget new courage in our breasts.

Pucelle hath bravely play'd her part in this,

And doth deserve a coronet of gold.

Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers; And seek how we may prejudice the foe.

Enter Messenger with letter for CHARLES.

Char. These news, my lord, may cheer our drooping spirits:

'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them if they turn to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter another Messenger.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts ? I prithee speak.

Mess.

The English army, that divided was

Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;

And means to give you battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is; But we will presently provide for them.

Puc.

Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd :—
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine ;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char.

Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate!

[Exeunt.