Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; Enter LA PUCELLE. Here, here she comes: thee; -I'll have a bout with Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: thee; 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 chástise this high-minded strumpet. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come: I must go victual Orleans forthwith. O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. 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, [A short Alarum. 6 The superstition of those times taught that he who could draw a witch's blood was free from her power. Hark, countrymen ? either renew the fight, As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. [Alarum. Another Skirmish. It will not be :-Retire into your trenches: In spite of us, or aught that we could do. The shame hereof will make me hide my head. SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, 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, Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and joy, When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. After this golden day of victory. [Flourish. Exeunt. ACT II. 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.7 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 Burgundy,- As fitting best to quittance their deceit, Bed. Coward of France!-how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure? Bed. A maid! and be so martial! Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere long; If underneath the standard of the French, She carry armour, as she hath begun. Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits: 7 The same as guard-room. God is our fortress; in whose conquering name, Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. 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 [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, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unready. 8 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 enterprize More venturous, or desperate than this. Bast. I think, this Talbot be a fiend of hell. & Undressed. |