Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy cost, be thou

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious

taunts.

sure:

In open market-place produc'd they me,
To be a public spectacle to all;

The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers that led me;
And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground,
To hurl at the beholders of my shame.

Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work. 5 Here, said they, is the terror of the French,

Mayor. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away: This cardinal is more haughty than the devil. Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou may'st.

Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; 10 My grisly countenance made others fly;

For I intend to have it, ere long. [Exeunt.
Mayor. See the coast clear'd, and then we will

depart.

GoodGod! that nobles should such stomachs bear!

None durst come near, for fear of sudden death.
In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
So great fear of myname 'mongst themwas spread,
That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel,

I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. 15 And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:

SCENE IV.
Orleans in France.

Enter the Master-Gunner of Orleans, and his Boy.
M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is
besieg'd;
And how the English have the suburbs won.
Boy. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,
Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

20

Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
That walk'd about me every minute while;
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
Enter the Boy, with a linstock.

Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you en-
dur'd;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou 25 Here, through this grate, I can count every one,

rul'd by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.

The prince's 'spials' have informed me,

And view the Frenchmen how they fortify;

How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd, 30 Where is best place to make our battery next.

yonder towe to over-peer the city;

And thence discover, how, with most advantage,
They may vex us, with shot, or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,

A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd;"
And fully even these three days have I watch'd,
If I could see them: Now, boy, do thou watch;
For I can stay no longer.

If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's. [Exit.
Boy. Father, I warrant you; take you no care;
I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.
Enter the Lords Sulisbury and Talbot, with Sir W.

Glan. And I here, at the bulwark of the bridge.
Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,

35 Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.

[Shot from the town. Salisbury and Sir Tho. Gargrave fall down.

Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!

40 Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woeful man!
Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath
cross'd us

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak;
How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men?

Glansdale and Sir Tho. Gargrave, on the turrets. 45 Oneof thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off!Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!

How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
Or by what means gott'st thou to be releas'd?
Discourse, I pry'thee, on this turret's top.

Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
Called the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles;
For him was I exchang'd and ransoined.
But with a baser man of arms by far,
Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me:
Which I, I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death
Rather than I would be so pill'd 'desteemed.
In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
But, oh! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my
heart!

Whom with my bare fists I would execute,
If I now had him brought into my power.

Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert en-
tertain'd.

Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand,
That hath contriv'd this woeful tragedy!
In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;
Henry the fifth he first train'd to the wars:
50 Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,
His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field.-
Yet liv'st thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth

fail,

One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace:
55 The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.-
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!-
Bear hence his body, I will help to bury it.-
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
60 Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.
Salisbury, chear thy spirit with this comfort;
Thou shalt not die, whiles

He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me;

Espials are spies. 2 Wont, i. e, were accustomed. So pill'd, means so pillaged, so stripp'd of honours.

As

As who should say, When I am dead and gone,
Remember to avenge me on the French.-
Plantagenet, I will; and, Nero-like,
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
Wretched shall France be only in my name.

[Here an alarum, and it thunders and lightens.

What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens?
Whence cometh this alarum and this noise?

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,

5 Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists:
So beeswithsmoke, anddoveswithnoisomestench,
Are from their hives, and houses, driven away.
They call'd us, for our fierceness, English dogs;
Now, like their whelps, we crying run away.
[A short alarum.

Enter a Messenger.
Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have 10
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.

Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,

[Here Salisbury lifteth himself up, and groans. 15 Or horse, or oxen, from the leopard,
Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth

As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.[Alarum. Here another skirmish.

It will not be:-Retire into your trenches: You all consented unto Salisbury's death, 20 For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans, In spight of us, or aught that we could do. O, would I were to die with Salisbury! The shame hereof will make me hide my head. [Exit Talbot. [Alarum, retreat, flourish.

[Alarum. Exeunt, bearing out the bodies. 25
SCENE V.

Here an alarum again; and Talbot pursueth the
Dauphin, and driveth him: then enter Joan la
Pucelle, driving Englishmen before her. Then
enter Talbot.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my

force?

Here, here she comes: - I'll have a boutwith thee;
Devil, or devil's dam, I'll.conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on thee', thou art a witch,
Andstraightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st.

SCENE VI.

Enter on the walls, Pucelle, Dauphin, Reignier,
Alençon, and Soldiers.

30 Pucelle.Advanceourwavingcoloursonthewalls;
Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:-
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word.
Dau. Divinestcreature, bright Astræa'sdaughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success?

35 Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens,
That one day bloom'd, and fruittul 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.

Pucel.Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace 40 Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout

thee.

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.

[They fight. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. 45 Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and

Pucel. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet I must go victual Orleans forthwith. [come: [A short alarum. Then enters the town with soldiers.

O'ertake me if thou canst; Iscorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starved men;
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
This day is ours, as many more shall be.

[Exit Pucelle.

joy,

When theyshall hear how we have play'd themen.
Dau. Tis Joan, not we, bywhom the day is won;
For which, I will divide my crown with her:
50. And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall, in procession, sing her endless praise.
A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear,
Than Rhodope's3, or Memphis', ever was:
In memory of her, when she is dead,

Mr. Tollet says, Pussel means a dirty wench or a drab, from puzza, i. e. malus fœtor, says Minshew. In a translation from Stephens's Apology for Herodotus, in 1607, p. 98, we read," Some filthy queans, especially our puzzles of Paris, use this other theft." 2 The superstition of those times taught, that he that could draw the witch's blood, was free from her power. 3 Rhodopè was a famous strumpet, who acquired great riches by her trade. The least but most finished of the Egyptian pyramids was built by her. She is said afterwards to have married Psammetichus, king of Egypt.

Nn3

Her

Near to the walls, by some apparent sign,

The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Enter

Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. 20 several ways, Bastard, Alençon, Reignier, half

Cent. Serjeant, you shall. [Exit Serjeant.] Thus

ready, and half unready.

are poor servitors

(When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold.

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

Enter Talbot, Bedford, and Burgundy, with scaling 25 Hearing alarums at our chamber doors. [our beds,

ladders; their drums beating a dead march.
Tal. Lord regent and redoubted Burgundy, -

By whose approach, the regions of Artois,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day carous'd and banqueted:
Embrace we then this opportunity;

Alen. Of all exploits, since first I follow'd arms,
Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprize
More venturous, or desperate, than this.

Bast. I think, this Talbot is a fiend of hell. 30 Reig. If not of hell, theheavens, sure, favour him. Alen. Here cometh Charles; I marvel how he soed.

As fitting best to quittance their deceit,

Enter Charles, and Pucelle.

Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery.

his fame,

Bast. Tut! holy Joan was his defensive guard. Bed. Coward of France!--how much he wrongs 35 Char. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame?

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? 40 Tal. A maid, they say.

Bed. A maid! and be so martial!

Bur. Pray God, she provenot masculineerelong;
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.

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?

Pucel. Wherefore is Charles impatient with
his friend?

At all times will you have my power alike?
Sleeping, or waking, must I still prevail,
Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?-
Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,

45 This sudden mischief never could have fall'n.

Char. Duke of Alençon, this was your default;
That, being captain of the watch to-night,
Did look no better to that weighty charge.
Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept,

Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. 50 As that whereof I had the government,
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,

Bed. Agreed; I'll to yon corner.

Bur. And I to this.

[grave.

Tul. And here will Talbot mount, or make his Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right

We had not been thus shamefully surpriz'd.
Bast. Mine was secure.

Reign. And so was mine, my lord.

Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night,

55 Within her quarter, and mine own precinct,
I was employ'd in passing to and fro,
About relieving of the centinels:

Then how, or which way, should they first break in?

• When Alexander the Great took the city of Gaza, the metropolis of Syria, amidst the spoils and wealth of Darius treasured up there, he found an exceeding rich and beautiful little chest or casket, and asked those about him what they thought fittest to be laid up in it. When they had severally delivered their opinions, he told them, he esteemed nothing so worthy to be preserved in it as Homer's 2 Unready was the current word in those times for undress'd.

Iliad.

Pucel.

Pucel. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How, or which way: 'tis sure they found some

part

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 a Soldier crying, A Talbot! A
Talbot! they fly, leaving their clothes behind.

Whose glory fills the world with loud report.
Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars
Will turn into 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-rul'd:

Sol. I'll be so bold to take what they have lett. 10 And therefore tell her, I return great thanks; The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name.

SCENE II.

The same.

[Exit.

And in subınission will attend on her.-
Will not your honours bear me company?
Bed. No, truly; that is more than manners will':
And I have heard it said,-Unbidden guests
15 Are often welcomest when they are gone.

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.

Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, &c. 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. 20 Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly.

[Retreat.

Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury;
And here advance it in the market-place,
The middle centre of this cursed town.
Now have I pay'd my vow unto his soul ;-
For every drop of blood was drawn from him,
There hath at least five Frenchmen dy'dto-night,
And, that hereafter ages may behold
What ruin happen'd in revenge of him,
Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd:
Upon the which, that every one may read,
Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans;
The treacherous manner of his mournful death,
And what a terror he had been to France.
But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,
I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace;
His new come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc;
Nor any of his false confederates. [began,

25

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

The Countess of Auvergne's 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 me.
Port. Madam, I will.
[Exit.
Count. The plot is laid: ifall things fall out right,

30 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,

35 To give their censure of these rare reports.
Enter Messenger, and Talbot.
Mess, Madam, accordingasyourladyshipdesir'd,
By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come.
Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man?

Bed. "Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight 40 Mess. Madam, it is.

Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
They did, amongst the troops of armed men,
Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern,
For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night)
Am sure, I scar'd the Dauphin, and his trull;
When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,
Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves,
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.

Count. [asmusing] Is this the scourge of France?
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 :

45 I thought, I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf:
It cannot be, this weak and wrizled shrimp

50 Should strike such terror to his enemies.

Enter a Messenger.
Mess. All hail, my lords! Which of this princely
Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts [train
So much applauded through the realm of France? 55
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 60
To visit her poor castle where she lies;

That she may boast, she hath beheld the man

Tal. Madam, I have been boldto 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.
Tal. Prisoner! to whom?

* This alludes to a popular tradition, that the French women, to affray their children, would tell them, that the TALBOT cometh. See also the end of Scene iii. Act II.

Nn4

Count.

Count. To me, blood-thirsty lord;
And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.
Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
For in iny 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.

Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

Suf. Within the Temple-hall we were too loud;
The garden here is more convenient.
[truth;
Plant. Then say at once, if I maintain'd the
5 Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
I never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.
Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then
[er pitch,
War. Betweentwo hawks, which flies the high-
Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth,
Betweentwoblades, which bearsthebettertemper,
Between two horses, which doth bear him best,
15 Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye,
I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judgment:
But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

[turn to moan. 10
Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall
Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond',
To think that you have ought but Talbot'sshadow,
Whereon to practise your severity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal. I am, indeed.

Count. Then have I substance too.

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
You are deceiv'd, 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 it.

between us.

Plant. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance:

20 The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,

That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.

Count. This is a riddling merchantforthenonce; 25 Plant. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loth

He will be here, and yet he is not here:
How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I shew you presently.
Windshishorn;drums strike up: apeal of ordnance.

Enter Soldiers.

to speak,

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:
Let him, that is a true-born gentleman,
And stands upon the honour of his birth,
30 If he suppose that I have pleaded truth,
From off this briar pluck a white rose with me.
Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no flatterer,
But dare maintain the party of the truth,

Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded,
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These archis substance, sinews, arms, andstrength,
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.

35 War. I love no colours 4; and, without all colour
Of base insinuating flattery,
I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet.
Suf. I pluck this red rose, with young Somerset;
And say withal, I think he held the right.

Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; 40 Ver. Stay, lords, and gentlemen; and pluck

For I am sorry, that with reverence

no more,

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue

'Till you conclude-that he, upon whose side The fewest roses are cropt from the tree,

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake

Shall yield the other in the right opinion.

The outward composition of his body.

What you have done, hath not offended me :
Nor other satisfaction do I crave,

45 Som. Good master Vernon, it is well objecteds;
If I have fewest, I subscribe in silence.
Plant. And I.

Ver. Then for the truth and plainness of the case,
I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here,

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. 50 Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt.

Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off; Lest, bleeding, you do paint the white rose red, And fall on my side so against your will.

Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed,

SCENE IV.

London. The Temple Garden.

Enter the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and Warwick; 55 Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt,
Richard Plantagenet, Vernon, and another Lawyer.

Plant. Great lords and gentlemen, what means

1

this silence?

And keep me on the side where still I am.
Som. Well, well, come on: Who else?
Law. Unless my study and my books be false,

1 i. e. so foolish. The term merchant, which was, and now is, frequently applied to the lowest sort of dealers, seems anciently to have been used on familiar occasions in contradistinction to gentleman; signifying, that the person shewed by his behaviour he was a low fellow. The word chap, i. e. chapman, a word of the same import with merchant, in its less respectable sense, is still in common use, particularly in Staffordshire, and the adjoining counties, as a cominon denomination for any person of whom they mean to speak with freedom or disrespect. 3 The rose (as the fables say) was the symbol of silence, and consecrated by Cupid to Harpocrates, to conceal the lewd pranks of his mother. Colours is here used ambiguously for tints and deceits.