And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come: I must go victual Orleans forthwith. [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: Are from their bives, and houses, driven away. As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. [Alarum. Another Skirmish. In spite of us, or aught that we can do. The shame hereof will make me hide my head. [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and his Forces, &c. SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENCON, and Soldiers. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astrea's daughter, How shall I honour thee for this success? That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next. France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess ?Recover'd is the town of Orleans: 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 joy, [men. When they shall hear how we have play'd the Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won; For which, I will divide my crown with her: ACT II. [Flourish. Exeunt. SCENE I. The same. Enter to the Gates, a French Sergeant, and two Sentinels. Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant : If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign, Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Constrain❜d to watch in darkness, rain, and cold. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with Scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead March. Tal. Lord regent,-and redoubted Burgun- By whose approach, the regions of Artois, Bed. Coward of France !-how much he Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, Tal. A maid, they say. Bed. A maid! and be so martial! Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere long; If underneath the standard of the French, 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. Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess, That we do make our entrance several ways; That, if it chance the one of us do fail, The other yet may rise against their force. Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right VOL. V. D How much in duty I am bound to both. [The English scale the Walls, crying, St. George! a Talbot! and all enter by the Town. Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault! The French leap over the Walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENCON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready so? Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well. Reig. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber doors. Alen. Of all exploits, since first I follow'd arms, Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous, or desperate than this. Bast. I think, this Talbot be a fiend of hell. Reig. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. Alen. Here cometh Charles; I marvel how he sped. Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. Bast. Tut! holy Joan was his defensive guard. Char. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame? Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal, Make us partakers of a little gain, That now our loss might be ten times so much? Puc. Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend? At all times will you have my power alike? Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?— Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good, This sudden mischief never could have fall'n. And so was mine, my lord. Bast. Mine was secure. Reig. Char. And, for myself, most part of all this Within her quarter, and mine own precinct, Then how, or which way, should they first break in ? Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How, or which way; 'tis sure, they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made, And now there rests no other shift but this,To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying a Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their Clothes behind. Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the Town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a Captain, and Others. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; And, that hereafter ages may behold A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd: |