O! whither shall we fly from this reproach?

Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats. Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.

Bed. Gloucester, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness?

An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,

Wherewith already France is overrun.

Enter another Messenger.

100

Third Mess. My gracious lords, to add to your laments, Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse, I must inform you of a dismal fight

Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French.

105

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is 't so? Third Mess. O, no! wherein Lord Talbot was o'erthrown:

The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
The tenth of August last this dreadful lord,
Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,
By three-and-twenty thousand of the French
Was round encompassed and set upon.

108

112

116

No leisure had he to enrank his men;
He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck'd out of hedges
They pitched in the ground confusedly,
To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.
More than three hours the fight continued;
Where valiant Talbot above human thought
Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.
Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him;

110, 111 Cf. n.

112 full scarce: scarce full, not quite

120

110 dreadful: redoubtable 116 wanted pikes; cf. n.

Here, there, and everywhere, enrag'd he flew:
The French exclaim'd the devil was in arms;
All the whole army stood agaz’d on him.
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,-plac'd behind,
With purpose to relieve and follow them,-
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wrack and massacre;
Enclosed were they with their enemies.

124

128

132

136

140

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.
Bed. 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.

Third Mess. 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.

144

Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: 148 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:

152

Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,

Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. 156 Third Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd;

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.

160

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn, Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take my leave, To go about my preparation.

164

Exit Bedford. Glo. 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.

168

Exit Gloucester.

Exe. 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.

Win. Each hath his place and function to at

tend:

173

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.

162 your oaths; cf. n. 163 quell: destroy
177 at chiefest stern: in supreme control

176 Exit.

170 Eltham; cf. n.

Scene Two

[France. Before Orleans]

Sound a Flourish.

Enter Charles, Alençon, and Reignier, marching with Drum and Soldiers.

Char. 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.

8

Alen. They want their porridge and their fat bullbeeves:

Either they must be dieted like mules

And have their provender tied to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

12

Reig. 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.

16

Char. 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.

20

Exeunt.

Here Alarum; they are beaten back by the English,

with great loss.

Scene Two S. d. Flourish: trumpet blast

1 Mars his true moving: Mars' exact movement; cf. n.

7 Otherwhiles: at times

17 Nor: neither

14 wont: were wont 18 alarum: call to arms

Enter Charles, Alençon, and Reignier.

Char. 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.

Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life:
The other lords, like lions wanting food,

24

Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

28

Alen. 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

32

It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity?

36

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are harebrain'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. 40
Reig. I think, by some odd gimmors or device,
Their arms are set like clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.
Alen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

44

Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

28 hungry: stimulating hunger

30 Olivers and Rowlands: knights like the best who followed Char 33 Goliases: Goliaths (Golias is the Latin form) 42 still: continually

lemagne

41 gimmors: mechanical joints