To hurl at the beholders of my shame.
My grisly47 countenance made others fly:
None durst come near for fear of sudden48 death.
In iron walls they deemed me not secure:
So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread,
That they supposed I could rend bars of steel,
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant52.
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot53 I had,
That walked about me every minute while54:
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
Enter the Boy [who passes over the stage and exits] with a linstock [lit and burning]
SALISBURY I grieve to hear what torments you endured,
But we will be revenged sufficiently.
Now it is supper-time in Orleans:
Here, through this grate, I count each one
And view the Frenchmen how they fortify:
Let us look in: the sight will much delight thee:
Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glasdale,
Let me have your express64 opinions
They look through the grate
Where is best place to make our batt'ry65 next.
GARGRAVE I think, at the north gate, for there stands lords.
GLASDALE And I, here, at the bulwark67 of the bridge.
TALBOT For aught68 I see, this city must be famished,
Or with light skirmishes enfeebled69.
Here they shoot [within] and Salisbury [and Gargrave] fall down
SALISBURY O Lord have mercy on us, wretched sinners!
GARGRAVE O Lord have mercy on me, woeful man!
TALBOT What chance72 is this that suddenly hath crossed us?
Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst, speak:
How far'st thou, mirror74 of all martial men?
One of thy eyes and thy cheek's side struck off?
Accursed tower! Accursed fatal76 hand
That hath contrived this woeful tragedy.
In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame:
Henry the Fifth he first trained to the wars:
Whilst any trump80 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.
The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants86 mercy at thy hands.
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
Speak unto Talbot: nay, look up to him.
Bear hence his body: I will help to bury it.
[Exit one with Gargrave's body]
Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort:
Thou shalt not die whiles--
He beckons with his hand and smiles on me:
As93 who should say 'When I am dead and gone,
Remember to avenge me on the French.'
Plantagenet, I will; and like thee, Nero,
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn96:
Wretched shall France be only in97 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 the noise?
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head100.
The dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle joined,
A holy prophetess new risen up,
Is come with a great power103 to raise the siege.
Here Salisbury lifteth himself up and groans
TALBOT Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan!
It irks105 his heart he cannot be revenged.
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you.
Puzzel or pucelle, dolphin107 or dogfish,
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,
And make a quagmire of your mingled109 brains.
Convey me110 Salisbury into his tent,
And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare.
Alarum. Exeunt
[Act 1 Scene 5]
running scene 4 continues
Here an alarum again, and Talbot pursueth the Dauphin, and driveth him: then enter Joan la Pucelle, driving Englishmen before her, [and
Exeunt]. Then enter Talbot
TALBOT Where is my strength, my valour, and my force?
Our English troops retire, I cannot stay2 them:
A woman clad in armour chaseth them.
Enter [Joan la] Pucelle
Here, here she comes. I'll have a bout4 with thee:
Devil or devil's dam5, I'll conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on thee -- thou art a witch6 --
And straightway give thy soul to him7 thou serv'st.
PUCELLE Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace thee.
Here they fight
TALBOT Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage10
And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder.
But I will chastise this high-minded12 strumpet.
They fight again
PUCELLE Talbot, farewell: thy hour is not yet come:
I must go victual14 Orleans forthwith.
A short alarum: then [the French] enter the town with soldiers
O'ertake me if thou canst: I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men:
Help Salisbury to make his testament17:
This day is ours, as many more shall be.
Exit
TALBOT 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 Hannibal21,
Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists22:
So bees with smoke and doves with noisome23 stench
Are from their hives and houses driven away.
They called us, for our fierceness, English dogs:
A short alarum
Now, like to whelps26, we crying run away.
Hark, countrymen: either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat28;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead29:
Sheep run not half so treacherous30 from the wolf,
Or horse or oxen from the leopard,
As you fly from your oft-subdued32 slaves.
Alarum. Here another skirmish
It will not be33: retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto34 Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge35.
Pucelle is entered into Orleans,
In spite of us or aught that we could do.
O would38 I were to die with Salisbury!
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
Exit Talbot
Alarum: retreat: flourish
[Act 1 Scene 6]
running scene 4 continues
Enter on the walls, [Joan la] Pucelle, Charles [the Dauphin], Reignier, Alencon and Soldiers [with colours]
PUCELLE Advance1 our waving colours on the walls:
Rescued is Orleans from the English.
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath performed her word.
CHARLES Divinest creature, Astraea4's daughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success?
Thy promises are like Adonis' garden6
That one day bloomed and fruitful were the next.
France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!
Recovered is the town of Orleans:
More blessed hap10 did ne'er befall our state.
REIGNIER Why ring not out the bells aloud 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
.
ALENCON All France will be replete with mirth and joy,
When they shall hear how we have played the men16.
CHARLES 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won:
For which I will divide my crown with her,
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall in procession sing her endless praise.
A statelier pyramid to her I'll rear
Than Rhodope's of Memphis'22 ever was.
In memory of her, when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
Than the rich-jewelled coffer of Darius25,
Transported shall be at high26 festivals
Before the kings and queens of France.
No longer on Saint Denis28 will we cry,
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
Come in, and let us banquet royally,
After this golden day of victory.
Flourish. Exeunt
Act 2 Scene 1
running scene 5
Enter [above] a [French] Sergeant of a band with two Sentinels
SERGEANT Sirs, take your places and be vigilant:
If any noise or soldier you perceive
Near to the walls, by some apparent3 sign
Let us have knowledge at the court of guard4.
FIRST SENTINEL Sergeant, you shall.
[Exit Sergeant]
Thus are poor servitors5,
When others sleep upon their quiet beds,
Constrained7 to watch in darkness, rain and cold.
Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, [and soldiers], with scaling-ladders, their drums beating a dead march
TALBOT Lord Regent, and redoubted8 Burgundy,
By whose approach9 the regions of Artois,
Wallon10, and Picardy are friends to us:
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure11,
Having all day caroused and banqueted:
Embrace we then this opportunity,
As fitting best to quittance14 their deceit,
Contrived by art and baleful15 sorcery.
BEDFORD Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame16,
Despairing of his own arm's fortitude17,
To join with witches and the help of hell.
BURGUNDY Traitors have never other company.
But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure?
TALBOT A maid, they say.
BEDFORD A maid? And be so martial?
BURGUNDY Pray God she prove not masculine23 ere long,
If underneath the standard24 of the French
She carry armour25 as she hath begun.
TALBOT Well, let them practise and converse26 with spirits.
God is our fortress, in whose conquering name
Let us resolve to scale their flinty28 bulwarks.
BEDFORD Ascend, brave Talbot, we will follow thee.
TALBOT Not all together: better far, I guess,
That we do make our entrance several31 ways:
That, if it chance the one of us do fail,
The other yet may rise against their force.
BEDFORD Agreed: I'll to yond34 corner.
BURGUNDY And I to this.
TALBOT 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.
SENTINELS Arm! Arm! The enemy doth make assault!
[English soldiers, having scaled the walls] cry: 'Saint George,' 'A Talbot.'
The French leap o'er the walls in their shirts. Enter several ways [the] Bastard [of Orleans], Alencon [and] Reignier, half ready, and half unready
ALENCON How now, my lords? What, all unready so?
BASTARD Unready? Ay, and glad we scaped so well.
REIGNIER 'Twas time, I trow43, to wake and leave our beds,
Hearing alarums at our chamber doors.
ALENCON Of all exploits since first I followed arms,
Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise
More venturous or desperate47 than this.
BASTARD I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell.
REIGNIER If not of hell, the heavens sure favour him.
ALENCON Here cometh Charles: I marvel how he sped50.
Enter Charles and Joan [la Pucelle]
BASTARD Tut, holy51 Joan was his defensive guard.
CHARLES Is this thy cunning52, thou deceitful dame?
Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal53,
Make us partakers of a little gain,
That now our loss might be ten times so much?
PUCELLE Wherefore is Charles impatient56 with his friend?
At all times will you have my power alike57?
Sleeping or waking must I still prevail58,
Or will you blame and lay the fault on me?
Improvident60 soldiers, had your watch been good,
This sudden mischief never could have fall'n61.
CHARLES Duke of Alencon, this was your default62,
That, being captain of the watch tonight,
Did look no better to that weighty charge64.
ALENCON Had all your quarters been as safely kept65
As that whereof I had the government66,
We had not been thus shamefully surprised67.
BASTARD Mine was secure.
REIGNIER And so was mine, my lord.
CHARLES And for myself, most part of all this night,
Within her quarter and mine own precinct71
I was employed in passing72 to and fro,
About relieving of the sentinels73.
Then how or which way should they first break in?
PUCELLE Question, my lords, no further of the case,
How or which way: 'tis sure they found some place
But77 weakly guarded, where the breach was made:
And now there rests78 no other shift but this:
To gather our soldiers, scattered and dispersed,
And lay new platforms to endamage them80.
Alarum. Enter an [English] Soldier, crying 'A Talbot! A Talbot!' [The French] fly, leaving their clothes behind
SOLDIER 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 spoils83,
Using no other weapon but his name.
Exit
[Act 2 Scene 2]
running scene 5 continues
Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, [a Captain, and others]
BEDFORD The day begins to break, and night is fled,
Whose pitchy2 mantle over-veiled the earth.
Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit.
Retreat [sounded]
TALBOT Bring forth the body of old Salisbury,
And here advance5 it in the market-place,
The middle centre of this cursed town.
Now have I paid my vow7 unto his soul:
For every drop of blood was drawn from him,
There hath at least five Frenchmen died tonight.
And that hereafter ages may behold
What ruin11 happened in revenge of him,
Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interred:
Upon the which, that everyone may read,
Shall be engraved the sack of Orleans,
The treacherous manner of his mournful16 death,
And what a terror he had been to France.
But, lords, in all our bloody massacre,
I muse19 we met not with the dauphin's grace,
His new-come champion, virtuous20 Joan of Arc,
Nor any of his false confederates.
BEDFORD 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began,
Roused 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. br />
BURGUNDY Myself, as far as I could well discern
For smoke and dusky vapours of the night,
Am sure I scared the dauphin and his trull28,
When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,
Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves30
That could not live asunder day or night.
After that things are set in order here,
We'll follow them with all the power33 we have.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER 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?
TALBOT Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him?
MESSENGER The virtuous lady, Countess of Auvergne,
With modesty admiring thy renown,
By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe40
To visit her poor castle where she lies41,
That she may boast she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report43.
BURGUNDY Is it even so? Nay, then I see our wars
Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport45,
When ladies crave to be encountered with46.
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle47 suit.
TALBOT Ne'er trust me then: for when a world48 of men
Could not prevail with all their oratory49,
Yet hath a woman's kindness overruled50:
And therefore tell her I return great thanks,
And in submission will attend on52 her.
Will not your honours bear me company?
BEDFORD No, truly, 'tis more than manners will:
And I have heard it said, unbidden55 guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.
TALBOT Well then, alone, since there's no remedy57,
I mean to prove58 this lady's courtesy.
Come hither, captain.
You perceive my mind60?
Whispers
CAPTAIN I do, my lord, and mean61 accordingly.
Exeunt
[Act 2 Scene 3]