His soldiers spying his undaunted spirit A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.
Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up, If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward:
He, being in the vaward, placed behind With purpose to relieve and follow them, Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;Enclosed were they with their enemies:
A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back, Whom all France with their chief assembled strength Durst not presume to look once in the face. BEDFORD Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself, For living idly here in pomp and ease, Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd. Messenger O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And Lord Scales with him and Lord Hungerford:
Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise. BEDFORD His ransom there is none but I shall pay:
I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne:
His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.
Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Messenger So you had need; for Orleans is besieged;The English army is grown weak and faint:
The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply, And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, so few, watch such a multitude. EXETER Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. BEDFORD I do remember it; and here take my leave, To go about my preparation.
Exit GLOUCESTER I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can, To view the artillery and munition;And then I will proclaim young Henry king.
Exit EXETER To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his special governor, And for his safety there I'll best devise.
Exit BISHOP OF WINCHESTER Each hath his place and function to attend:
I am left out; for me nothing remains.
But long I will not be Jack out of office:
The king from Eltham I intend to steal And sit at chiefest stern of public weal.
Exeunt SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. Sound a flourish. Enter CHARLES, ALENCON, and REIGNIER, marching with drum and Soldiers CHARLES Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late did he shine upon the English side;
Now we are victors; upon us he smiles.
What towns of any moment but we have?
At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;
Otherwhiles the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. ALENCON They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:
Either they must be dieted like mules And have their provender tied to their mouths Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. REIGNIER Let's raise the siege: why live we idly here?
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Nor men nor money hath he to make war. CHARLES Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them.
Now for the honour of the forlorn French!
Him I forgive my death that killeth me When he sees me go back one foot or fly.
Exeunt Here alarum; they are beaten back by the English with great loss.
Re-enter CHARLES, ALENCON, and REIGNIER CHARLES Who ever saw the like? what men have I!
Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled, But that they left me 'midst my enemies. REIGNIER Salisbury is a desperate homicide;He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food, Do rush upon us as their hungry prey. ALENCON Froissart, a countryman of ours, records, England all Olivers and Rowlands bred, During the time Edward the Third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Samsons and Goliases It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
Lean, raw-boned rascals! who would e'er suppose They had such courage and audacity? CHARLES Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege. REIGNIER I think, by some odd gimmors or device Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on;Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we'll even let them alone. ALENCON Be it so.
Enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS BASTARD OF ORLEANS Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him. CHARLES Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. BASTARD OF ORLEANS Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd:
Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
Be not dismay'd, for succor is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring, Which by a vision sent to her from heaven Ordained is to raise this tedious siege And drive the English forth the bounds of France.
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath, Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:
What's past and what's to come she can descry.
Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, For they are certain and unfallible. CHARLES Go, call her in.
Exit BASTARD OF ORLEANS
But first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:
By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.
Re-enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, with JOAN LA PUCELLE REIGNIER Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats? JOAN LA PUCELLE Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?
Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;I know thee well, though never seen before.
Be not amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
In private will I talk with thee apart.
Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. REIGNIER She takes upon her bravely at first dash. JOAN LA PUCELLE Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter, My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased To shine on my contemptible estate: