The cry SCENE II. Orleans. Within the Town. [Exit. 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; What ruin happen'd in revenge of him, A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd: The treacherous manner of his mournful death, 8 Enter an English Soldier, crying, a Talbot! a Talbot!] And afterwards: "The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword." Here a popular tradition, exclusive of any chronicle-evidence, "Thus hath king Richard's son perform'd his vow, "Unto his father's ever-living soul." Steevens? But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, 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? 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 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-rul'd:- Will not your honours bear me company? 1 where she lies;] i. e. where she dwells. Malone. 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. [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 mc. Port. Madam, I will. [F.xit. 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, Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, To give their censure of these rare reports. Enter Messenger and TALBOT. Mess. Madam, According as your ladyship desir'd, By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come. Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man? Mess. Madam, it is. Count. Is this the scourge of France? Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their babes?3 I see, report is fabulous and false: I thought, I should have seen some Hercules, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp 2 ·their censure —] i. e. their opinion. So, in King Richard III: "And give your censures in this weighty business." Steevens. 3 That with his name the mothers still their babes?] Dryden has transplanted this idea into his Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: "Nor shall Sebastian's formidable name "Be longer us'd, to lull the crying babe." Steevens. Should strike such terror to his enemies. 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 Re-enter Porter, with Keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Count. But now the substance shall endure the like; Wasted our country, slain our citizens, Tal. Ha, ha, ha! 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, Count. Why, art not thou the man? Count. Then have I substance too. I am, indeed. 4 writhled- i. e. wrinkled. The word is used by Spen ser. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads-wrizled, which has been followed in subsequent editions. Malone. The instance from Spenser, is the following: "Her writhled skin, as,rough as maple rind." Again, in Marston's fourth Satire: "Cold, writhled eld, his lives wet almost spent." Steevens. captivate.] So, in Soliman and Perseda: "If not destroy'd and bound, and captivate, "If captivate, then forc'd from holy faith." Steevens. so fond,] i, e. so foolish. So, in King Henry IV, P. II: "Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence," Steevens. Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Your roof were not sufficient to contain it. 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." He winds a Horn, Drums heard; then a Peal of Ord- These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: 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: 7 - I am but shadow of myself:] So, in King Henry VIII: "I am the shadow of poor Buckingham." Steevens. 8 This is a riddling merchant &c.] So, in Romeo and Juliet: "What saucy merchant was this?" See a note on this passage, Act II, sc. iv. Steevens. 9 That will I show you presently.] The deficient foot in this line may properly be supplied, by reading: 1 That, madam, will I show you presently. Steevens. bruited,] To bruit is to proclaim with noise, to announce loudly. So, in Macbeth: one of greatest note "Seems bruited." |