And all the priests and friars in my realm After this golden day of victory. 20 30 [Flourish. Exeunt. Act Second. Scene I. Before Orleans. Enter a Sergeant of a band, with two Sentinels. Serg. Sirs, take your places and be vigilant : Near to the walls, by some apparent sign Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. First Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus are poor servitors, When others sleep upon their quiet beds, Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, and forces, with scalingladders, their drums beating a dead march. Tal. Lord Regent, and redoubted Burgundy, ΙΟ Contrived by art and baleful sorcery. 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! Bur. Traitors have never other company. But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure? Tal. A maid, they say. Bed. A maid! and be so martial! 21 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: That we do make our entrance several ways; Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. 30 Sent. Arm! arm! the enemy doth make assault ! [Cry: St George,' 'A Talbot.' Enter, The French leap over the walls in their shirts. Alen. How now, my lords! what, all unready so? More venturous or desperate than this. Bast. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell. Reig. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. Enter Charles and La Pucelle. Char. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame ? 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? At all times will you have my power alike? 40 50 Sleeping or waking must I still prevail, Or will you blame and lay the fault on me? Did look no better to that weighty charge. Reig. And so was mine, my lord. Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night, I was employ'd in passing to and fro, 60 70 Then how or which way should they first break in? Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the case, How or which way: 'tis sure they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made. And now there rests no other shift but this; To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispersed, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying 'A Talbot! a Talbot!' They fly, leaving their clothes behind. |