Shakespeare's First Folio Part 345

Mes. My gracious Lords, to adde to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew King Henries hea.r.s.e, I must informe you of a dismall fight, Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot, and the French

Win. What? wherein Talbot ouercame, is't so?

3.Mes. O no: wherein Lord Talbot was o'rethrown: The circ.u.mstance Ile tell you more at large.

The tenth of August last, this dreadfull Lord, Retyring from the Siege of Orleance, Hauing full scarce six thousand in his troupe, By three and twentie thousand of the French Was round incompa.s.sed, and set vpon: No leysure had he to enranke his men.

He wanted Pikes to set before his Archers: In stead whereof, sharpe Stakes pluckt out of Hedges They pitched in the ground confusedly, To keepe the Hors.e.m.e.n off, from breaking in.

More then three houres the fight continued: Where valiant Talbot, aboue humane thought, Enacted wonders with his Sword and Lance.

Hundreds he sent to h.e.l.l, and none durst stand him: Here, there, and euery where enrag'd, he slew.

The French exclaym'd, the Deuill was in Armes, All the whole Army stood agaz'd on him.

His Souldiers spying his vndaunted Spirit, A Talbot, a Talbot, cry'd out amaine, And rusht into the Bowels of the Battaile.

Here had the Conquest fully been seal'd vp, If Sir Iohn Falstaffe had not play'd the Coward.

He being in the Vauward, plac't behinde, With purpose to relieue and follow them, Cowardly fled, not hauing struck one stroake.

Hence grew the generall wrack and ma.s.sacre: Enclosed were they with their Enemies.

A base Wallon, to win the Dolphins grace, Thrust Talbot with a Speare into the Back, Whom all France, with their chiefe a.s.sembled strength, Durst not presume to looke once in the face

Bedf. Is Talbot slaine then? I will slay my selfe, For liuing idly here, in pompe and ease, Whil'st such a worthy Leader, wanting ayd, Vnto his dastard foe-men is betray'd

3.Mess. O no, he liues, but is tooke Prisoner, And Lord Scales with him, and Lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or tooke likewise

Bedf. His Ransome there is none but I shall pay.

Ile hale the Dolphin headlong from his Throne, His Crowne shall be the Ransome of my friend: Foure of their Lords Ile change for one of ours.

Farwell my Masters, to my Taske will I, Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, To keepe our great Saint Georges Feast withall.

Ten thousand Souldiers with me I will take, Whose b.l.o.o.d.y deeds shall make all Europe quake

3.Mess. So you had need, for Orleance is besieg'd, The English Army is growne weake and faint: The Earle of Salisbury craueth supply, And hardly keepes his men from mutinie, Since they so few, watch such a mult.i.tude

Exe. Remember Lords your Oathes to Henry sworne: Eyther to quell the Dolphin vtterly, Or bring him in obedience to your yoake

Bedf. I doe remember it, and here take my leaue, To goe about my preparation.

Exit Bedford.

Glost. Ile to the Tower with all the hast I can, To view th' Artillerie and Munition, And then I will proclayme young Henry King.

Exit Gloster.

Exe. To Eltam will I, where the young King is, Being ordayn'd his speciall Gouernor, And for his safetie there Ile best deuise.

Enter.

Winch. Each hath his Place and Function to attend: I am left out; for me nothing remaines: But long I will not be Iack out of Office.

The King from Eltam I intend to send, And sit at chiefest Sterne of publique Weale.

Enter.

Sound a Flourish.

Enter Charles, Alanson, and Reigneir, marching with Drum and Souldiers.

Charles. Mars his true mouing, euen as in the Heauens, So in the Earth, to this day is not knowne.

Late did he s.h.i.+ne vpon the English side: Now we are Victors, vpon vs he smiles.

What Townes of any moment, but we haue?

At pleasure here we lye, neere Orleance: Otherwhiles, the famisht English, like pale Ghosts, Faintly besiege vs one houre in a moneth

Alan. They want their Porredge, & their fat Bul Beeues: Eyther they must be dyeted like Mules, And haue their Prouender ty'd to their mouthes, Or pitteous they will looke, like drowned Mice

Reigneir. Let's rayse the Siege: why liue we idly here?

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to feare: Remayneth none but mad-brayn'd Salisbury, And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Nor men nor Money hath he to make Warre

Charles. Sound, sound Alarum, we will rush on them.

Now for the honour of the forlorne French: Him I forgiue my death, that killeth me, When he sees me goe back one foot, or flye.

Exeunt.

Here Alarum, they are beaten back by the English, with great losse.

Enter Charles, Alanson, and Reigneir.

Charles. Who euer saw the like? what men haue I?

Dogges, Cowards, Dastards: I would ne're haue fled, But that they left me 'midst my Enemies

Reigneir. Salisbury is a desperate Homicide, He fighteth as one weary of his life: The other Lords, like Lyons wanting foode, Doe rush vpon vs as their hungry prey

Alanson. Froysard, a Countreyman of ours, records, England all Oliuers and Rowlands breed, During the time Edward the third did raigne: More truly now may this be verified; For none but Samsons and Golia.s.ses It sendeth forth to skirmish: one to tenne?

Leane raw-bon'd Rascals, who would e'er suppose, They had such courage and audacitie?

Charles. Let's leaue this Towne, For they are hayre-brayn'd Slaues, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: Of old I know them; rather with their Teeth The Walls they'le teare downe, then forsake the Siege

Reigneir. I thinke by some odde Gimmors or Deuice Their Armes are set, like Clocks, still to strike on; Else ne're could they hold out so as they doe: By my consent, wee'le euen let them alone

Alanson. Be it so.

Enter the b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Orleance.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Where's the Prince Dolphin? I haue newes for him

Dolph. b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Orleance, thrice welcome to vs

Bast. Me thinks your looks are sad, your chear appal'd.

Hath the late ouerthrow wrought this offence?

Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: A holy Maid hither with me I bring, Which by a Vision sent to her from Heauen, Ordayned is to rayse this tedious Siege, And driue the English forth the bounds of France: The spirit of deepe Prophecie she hath, Exceeding the nine Sibyls of old Rome: What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.

Speake, shall I call her in? beleeue my words, For they are certaine, and vnfallible

Dolph. Goe call her in: but first, to try her skill, Reignier stand thou as Dolphin in my place; Question her prowdly, let thy Lookes be sterne, By this meanes shall we sound what skill she hath.

Enter Ioane Puzel.

Reigneir. Faire Maid, is't thou wilt doe these wondrous feats?

Puzel. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?

Where is the Dolphin? Come, come from behinde, I know thee well, though neuer seene before.

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me; In priuate will I talke with thee apart: Stand back you Lords, and giue vs leaue a while

Reigneir. She takes vpon her brauely at first dash

Puzel. Dolphin, I am by birth a Shepheards Daughter, My wit vntrayn'd in any kind of Art: Heauen and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd To s.h.i.+ne on my contemptible estate.