Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal, [A short alarum. Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, [Alarum. Another skirmish. It will not be :-Retire into your trenches: For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.- In spite 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. The same. [Alarum. Retreat, Exeunt TALBOT and his Forces, &c. SCENE VI. Enter, on the walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIG- Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.- 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 feast 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, Vol. VI. F When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. [Flourish. Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-The same. Enter to the Gate, a French Ser geant, and two Centinels. 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 Cent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds,) [6] Rhodope was a famous strumpet, who acquired great riches by her trade. The least but most finished of the Egyptian pyramids (says Pliny, in the 36th Book of his Natural History, ch. xii.) was built by her. She is said afterwards to have married P sammetichus, king of Egypt. Dr. Johnson thinks that the Dauphin means to call Joan of Arc a strumpet, all the while he is making this loud praise of her. STEEVENS. [7] When Alexander the Great took the city of Gaza, the metropolis of Syria, amidst the other 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 Iliad. THEOBALD. Having all day carous'd and banqueted : 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? 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, 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 fiinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave.Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appear 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. Cent. [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.3 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. [8] Unready was the current word in those times for undressed. JOHNSON, 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? Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?- Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, Reig. And so was mine, my lord. Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter, and mine own precinct, I was employ'd in passing to and fro, About relieving of the sentinels: Then how, or which way, should they first break in? Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying, a Talbot! a Sol. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. [9] Platforms-That is, plans, schemes. STEEVENS. [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; s; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began, 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, After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. Mes. 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? Mes. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, |