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no better to that weighty charge。 ALENCON。 Had all your quarters been
as safely kept As that whereof I had the government； We had not been thus
shamefully surpris'd。 BASTARD。 Mine was secure。 REIGNIER。 And so
was mine； my lord。 CHARLES。 And； for myself； most part of all this night；
Within her quarter and mine own precinct I was employ'd in passing to
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King Henry VI； Part 1
and fro About relieving of the sentinels。 Then how or which way should
they first break in？ PUCELLE。 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 dispers'd； And lay new platforms to
endamage them。
Alarum。 Enter an ENGLISH SOLDIER； crying 'A Talbot！ A Talbot！'
They fly； leaving their clothes behind
SOLDIER。 I'll be so bold to take what they have left。 The cry of
Talbot serves me for a sword； For I have loaden me with many spoils；
Using no other weapon but his name。 Exit
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King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 2。
ORLEANS。 Within the town
Enter TALBOT； BEDFORD； BURGUNDY； a CAPTAIN； and others
BEDFORD。 The day begins to break； and night is fled Whose pitchy
mantle over…veil'd the earth。 Here sound retreat and cease our hot pursuit。
＇Retreat sounded＇ TALBOT。 Bring forth the body of old Salisbury And
here advance it in the market…place； The middle centre of this cursed town。
Now have I paid my vow unto his soul； For every drop of blood was
drawn from him There hath at least five Frenchmen died to…night。 And that
hereafter ages may behold What ruin happened in revenge of him； Within
their chiefest temple I'll erect A tomb； wherein his corpse shall be interr'd；
Upon the which； that every one may read； Shall be engrav'd the sack of
Orleans； The treacherous manner of his mournful death； And what a terror
he had been to France。 But； lords； in all our bloody massacre； I muse we
met not with the Dauphin's grace； His new…come champion； virtuous Joan
of Arc； Nor any of his false confederates。 BEDFORD。 'Tis thought； Lord
Talbot； when the fight began； Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy
beds； They did amongst the troops of armed men Leap o'er the walls for
refuge in the field。 BURGUNDY。 Myself； as far as I could well discern
For smoke and dusky vapours of the night； Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin
and his trull； When arm in arm they both came swiftly running； Like to a
pair of loving turtle…doves That could not live asunder day or night。 After
that things are set in order here； We'll follow them with all the power we
have。 Enter a MESSENGER
MESSENGER。 All hail； my lords！ Which of this princely train Call
ye the warlike Talbot； for his acts So much applauded through the realm of
France？ TALBOT。 Here is the Talbot； who would speak with him？
MESSENGER。 The virtuous lady； Countess of Auvergne； With modesty
admiring thy renown； By me entreats； great lord； thou wouldst vouchsafe
To visit her poor castle where she lies； That she may boast she hath beheld
the man Whose glory fills the world with loud report。 BURGUNDY。 Is it
even so？ Nay； then I see our wars Will turn into a peaceful comic sport；
When ladies crave to be encount'red with。 You may not； my lord； despise
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her gentle suit。 TALBOT。 Ne'er trust me then； for when a world of men
Could not prevail with all their oratory； Yet hath a woman's kindness
overrul'd； And therefore tell her I return great thanks And in submission
will attend on her。 Will not your honours bear me company？ BEDFORD。
No； truly； 'tis more than manners will； And I have heard it said unbidden
guests Are often welcomest when they are gone。 TALBOT。 Well then；
alone； since there's no remedy； I mean to prove this lady's courtesy。 Come
hither； Captain。 ＇Whispers＇ You perceive my mind？ CAPTAIN。 I do； my
lord； and mean accordingly。 Exeunt
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King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 3。
AUVERGNE。 The Castle
Enter the COUNTESS and her PORTER
COUNTESS。 Porter； remember what I gave in charge； And when you
have done so； bring the keys to me。 PORTER。 Madam； I will。
COUNTESS。 The plot is laid； if all things fall out right； I shall as famous
be by this exploit。 As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death。 Great is the
rumour of this dreadful knight； And his achievements of no less account。
Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears To give their censure of
these rare reports。
Enter MESSENGER and TALBOT。
MESSENGER。 Madam； according as your ladyship desir'd； By
message crav'd； so is Lord Talbot come。 COUNTESS。 And he is welcome。
What！ is this the man？ MESSENGER。 Madam； it is。 COUNTESS。 Is this
the scourge of France？ Is this Talbot； so much fear'd abroad That with his
name the mothers still their babes？ I see report is fabulous and false。 I
thought I should have seen some Hercules； A second Hector； for his grim
aspect And large proportion of his strong…knit limbs。 Alas； this is a child； a
silly dwarf！ It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp Should strike such
terror to his enemies。 TALBOT。 Madam； I have been bold to trouble you；
But since your ladyship is not at leisure； I'll sort some other time to visit
you。 ＇Going＇ COUNTESS。 What means he now？ Go ask him whither he
goes。 MESSENGER。 Stay； my Lord Talbot； for my lady craves To know
the cause of your abrupt departure。 TALBOT。 Marry； for that she's in a
wrong belief； I go to certify her Talbot's here。
Re…enter PORTER With keys
COUNTESS。 If thou be he； then art thou prisoner。 TALBOT。 Prisoner！
To whom？ COUNTESS。 To me； blood…thirsty lord And for that cause I
train'd thee to my house。 Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me； For
in my gallery thy picture hangs； But now the substance shall endure the
like And I will chain these legs and arms of thine That hast by tyranny
these many years Wasted our country； slain our c