Becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age, Puc. Are you so hot, sir?-Yet, Pucelle, hold thy peace; If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow. [TALBOT and the rest consult together. God speed the parliament! who shall be the speaker? Tal. Dare ye come forth and meet us in the field? Puc. Belike your lordship takes us then for fools, To try if that our own be ours or no. Tal. I speak not to that railing Hecaté, But unto thee, Alençon, and the rest; Will ye, like soldiers, come and fight it out? Tal. Signior, hang!-base muleteers of France! Puc. Away, captains! let's get us from the walls; Or else reproach be Talbot's greatest fame!— And I,-as sure as English Henry lives, Bur. My vows are equal partners with thy vows. Bed. Lord Talbot, do not so dishonour me: And will be partner of your weal or woe. Bur. Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you. That stout Pendragon, in his litter, sick Came to the field, and vanquished his foes: Tal. Undaunted spirit in a dying breast! Then be it so:-heavens keep old Bedford safe!- But gather we our forces out of hand, And set upon our boasting enemy. [Exeunt into the Town, BUR., TAL., and Forces, leaving BED. and others. Alarum: excursions. Enter SIR JOHN FASTOLFE, and a Captain. Cap. Whither away, Sir John Fastolfe, in such haste? Fast. Whither away! to save myself by flight: We are like to have the overthrow again. Cap. What! will you fly, and leave Lord Talbot? All the Talbots in the world, to save my life. [Exit into the Town. Retreat: excursions. Re-enter, from the Town, LA PUCELLE, Bed. Now, quiet soul, depart when heaven please, [Dies, and is carried off in his chair. Alarum. Re-enter TALBOT, BURGUNDY, and others. Tal. Lost and recover'd in a day again! This is a double honour, Burgundy: 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 valour's monuments. 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? What, all a-mort? Rouen hangs her head for grief That such a valiant company are fled. 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 lie. Bur. What wills Lord Talbot pleaseth Burgundy. The noble Duke of Bedford, late deceas'd, But see his exequies fulfill'd in Rouen : SCENE III.-The Plains near Rouen. [Exeunt. 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, 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. For ever should they be expuls'd from France, And not have title of an earldom here. Puc. Your honours 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 Their powers are marching unto Paris-ward. An English March. Enter, and pass over at a distance, There goes the Talbot, with his colours spread, A French March. Enter the DUKE OF BURGUNDY and his Forces. Now in the rearward comes the duke and his: [A parley sounded. Char. A parley with the Duke of Burgundy! 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 defac'd By wasting ruin of the cruel foe! As looks the mother on her lovely babe When death doth close his tender dying eyes, Behold the wounds, the most unnatural wounds, Strike those that hurt, and hurt not those that help! And wash away thy country's stained spots. Bur. Either she hath bewitch'd 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 And join'st with them will be thy slaughter-men. Puc. Done like a Frenchman,-turn, and turn again! Char. Welcome, brave duke! thy friendship makes us fresh. Bast. And doth beget new courage in our breasts. 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. 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 honourable peers,—— Hearing of your arrival in this realm, I have awhile given truce unto my wars, To do my duty to my sovereign: In sign whereof, this arm,-that hath reclaim'd To your obedience fifty fortresses, Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength, Lets fall his sword before your highness' feet, Ascribes the glory of his conquest got First to my God and next unto your grace. K. Hen. Is this the Lord Talbot, uncle Gloster, That hath so long been resident in France? Glo. Yes, if it please your majesty, my liege. K. Hen. Welcome, brave captain and victorious lord! When I was young,- -as yet I am not old,— I do remember how my father said A stouter champion never handled sword. |