Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive, He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn: [Thunder heard; afterwards an Alarum. What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens? Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have 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. [Salisbury groans. Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan! It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd.- Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies. SCENE V. The same. Before one of the Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving ENGLISHMEN before her. enter TALBOT. Then Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; A woman, clad in armour, chaseth them. B Enter LA PUCELLE. Here, here she comes: -I'll have a bout with thee; Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch, Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come : 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, Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists: [A short Alarum. [Alarum. Another Skirmish. It will not be :-Retire into your trenches: 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. [Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt Talbot and his Forces, &c. SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.- More blessed hap did ne'er befal 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, When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. Char. '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 pyramis to her I'll rear, Than Rhodope's, or Memphis', ever was: In memory of her, when she is dead, Her ashes, in an urn more precious Than the rich jewel'd coffer of Darius, Transported shall be at high festivals, Before the kings and queens of France. No longer on saint Dennis 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. SCENE I. The same. Enter, to the Gates, a French Sergeant, and two Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant : 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Serg.] 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 Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. [fame, 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: 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. 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. 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. |