Cap. Cowardly knight! Ill fortune follow thee. [Exit. LA Retreat: Excursions. Enter, from the town, La PUCELLE, ALENÇON, CHARLES, &c., and exeunt, flying. Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when Heaven please ; For I have seen our enemies' overthrow. What is the trust or strength of foolish man? They, that of late were daring with their scoffs, Are glad and fain by flight to save themselves. [Dies, and is carried off in his chair.1 Alarum: Enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and others. Yet, Heavens have glory for this victory! Bur. Warlike and martial Talbot, Burgundy Enshrines thee in his heart; and there erects Thy noble deeds, as valor's monument. Tal. Thanks, gentle duke. But where is Pucelle now? I think her old familiar is asleep. Now where's the Bastard's braves, and Charles his gleeks ? 2 3 What, all amort? Rouen hangs her head for grief, Now will we take some order in the town, Placing therein some expert officers; And then depart to Paris, to the king; For there young Harry, with his nobles, lies. Bur. What wills lord Talbot, pleaseth Burgundy. Tal. But yet, before we go, let's not forget The noble duke of Bedford, late deceased, But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen. 1 The duke of Bedford died at Rouen in September, 1435, but not in any action before that town. 3 i. e. cast down, or dispirited. A braver soldier never couched lance, A gentler heart did never sway in court: But kings and mightiest potentates must die ; [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. The Plains near the City. Enter CHARLES, the Bastard, ALENÇON, LA PUCELLE, and Forces. Puc. Dismay not, princes, at this accident, Char. We have been guided by thee hitherto, Bast. Search out thy wit for secret policies, Puc. Then thus it must be; this doth Joan devise: By fair persuasions, mixed with sugared words, We will entice the duke of Burgundy To leave the Talbot, and to follow us. Char. Ay, marry, sweeting, if we could do that, France were no place for Henry's warriors; Nor should that nation boast it so with us, But be extirped from our provinces. Alen. Forever should they be expulsed from France, And not have title to an earldom here. Puc. Your honors shall perceive how I will work, To bring this matter to the wished end. [Drums heard. Hark! by the sound of drum, you may perceive An English March. Enter, and pass over at a distance, TALBOT and his Forces. There goes the Talbot with his colors spread; A French March. Enter the Duke of Burgundy and Now, in the rearward, comes the duke, and his; Summon a parley; we will talk with him. [A parley sounded. Char. A parley with the duke of Burgundy. Bur. Who craves a parley with the Burgundy? Puc. The princely Charles of France, thy country man. Bur. What say'st thou, Charles? for I am marching hence. Char. Speak, Pucelle; and enchant him with thy words. Puc. Brave Burgundy, undoubted hope of France! Stay, let thy humble handmaid speak to thee. Bur. Speak on; but be not over-tedious. Puc. Look on thy country, look on fertile France, And see the cities and the towns defaced By wasting ruin of the cruel foe ! As looks the mother on her lowly babe, Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help! Bur. Either she hath bewitched me with her words, Or nature makes me suddenly relent. Puc. Besides, all French and France exclaims on thee, Doubting thy birth and lawful progeny Who join'st thou with, but with a lordly nation, Call we to mind,-and mark but this, for proof;- Puc. Done like a Frenchman, turn, and turn again! Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. Alen. Pucelle hath bravely played her part in this, And doth deserve a coronet of gold. Char. Now let us on, my lords, and join our powers; And seek how we may prejudice the foe. [Exeunt. 1 Another mistake. The duke was not liberated till after Burgundy's decline to the French interest; which did not happen, by the way, till some years after the execution of La Pucelle; nor was that during the regency of York, but of Bedford. SCENE IV. Paris. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, GLOSTER, and other Lords, VERNON, BASSET, &c. To them TALBOT, and some of his Officers. Tal. My gracious prince, and honorable peers,— Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have a while given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign; In sign whereof, this arm-that hath reclaimed Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet; K. Hen. Is this the lord Talbot, uncle Gloster,1 Glo. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege. I do remember how my father said,2 And in our coronation take your place. [Exeunt KING HENRY, GLOSTER, Talbot, and Nobles. 1 Hanmer supplied the apparent deficiency in this line, by reading:"Is this the famed lord Talbot," &c. 2 Malone remarks that "Henry was but nine months old when his father died." |