Or by what means got'ft thou to be releas'd? TAL. The duke of Bedford had a prifoner, Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: But, O! the treacherous Faftolfe wounds my heart! If I now had him brought into my power. SAL. Yet tell'ft thou not, how thou wert entertain'd TAL. With fcoffs, and fcorns, and contumelious taunts. In open market-place produc'd they me, To be a publick spectacle to all; Here, faid they, is the terror of the French, The fcare-crow that affrights our children fo. My grifly countenance made others fly; None durft come near, for fear of fudden death. So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, Ready they were to fhoot me to the heart. SAL. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd; But we will be reveng'd fufficiently. Here, through this grate, I can count every one, Let us look in, the fight will much delight thee.- Where is beft place to make our battery next. GAR. I think, at the north gate; for there ftand lords, GLAN. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. TAL. For aught I fee, this city must be famifh'd, Or with light fkirmishes enfeebled. [Shot from the town. SALISBURY and Sir THO, GARGRAVE fall. SAL. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched finners! How far'ft thou, mirror of all martial men? That hath contriv'd this woful tragedy! eye Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him. He beckons with his hand, and fmiles on me; Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn: [Thunder beard; afterwards an alarum. What ftir is this? What tumult's in the heavens? Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise? MESS. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,- [head: A holy prophetess, new rifen up,— Is come with a great power to raise the fiege. [SALISBURY groans. TAL. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan! Your hearts I'll ftamp out with my horfe's heels, Convey me Salisbury into his tent, And then we'll try what these daftard Frenchmen dare, [Exeunt bearing out the bodies. SCENE V. The fame. Before one of the gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT purfueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in; then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. TAL. Where is my ftrength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them ; Enter LA PUCELLE. Here, here fhe comes:I'll have a bout with thee; Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch, And straightway give thy foul to him thou ferv'ft. [They fight. TAL. Heavens, can you fuffer hell so to prevail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my fhoulders crack my arms afunder, But I will chástise this high-minded strumpet. Puc, Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come: O'ertake me, if thou can'ft; I fcorn thy ftrength. This day is ours, as many more shall be. [PUCELLE enters the town, with Soldiers. TAL. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am, nor what I do : A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal, [Afbort alarum. Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, Or horfe, or oxen, from the leopard, [Alarum. Another skirmish. It will not be :-Retire into your trenches: In fpite of us, or aught that we could do. O, would I were to die with Salisbury! The fhame hereof will make me hide my head. [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and his forces, &c. SCENE VI. The fame. Enter, on the walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and foldiers. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Refcu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. CHAR. Divineft creature, bright Aftræa's daughter, How fhall I honour thee for this fuccefs? Thy promifes are like Adonis' gardens, That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.— Recover'd is the town of Orleans: More bleffed hap did ne'er befall our state. REIG. Why ring not out the bells throughout the town? Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, And feaft and banquet in the open streets, To celebrate the joy that God hath given us. ALEN. All France will be replete with mirth and joy, When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. CHAR, 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won; For which, I will divide my crown with her : |