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• The First Part of King Henry the Sixth: Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Scene I.—: Westminster Abbey.
• Scene II.—: France. Before Orleans.
• Scene III.—: London. Before the Tower.
• Scene IV.—: France. Before Orleans.
• Scene V.—: The Same. Before One of the Gates.
• Scene VI.—: The Same.
• Act II.
• Scene I.—: Before Orleans.
• Scene II.—: Orleans. Within the Town.
• Scene III.—: Auvergne. Court of the Castle.
• Scene IV.—: London. the Temple Garden.
• Scene V.—: London. a Room In the Tower.
• Act III.
• Scene I.—: London. the Parliament House.
• Scene II.—: France. Before Roan.
• Scene III.—: The Plains Near Roan.
• Scene IV.—: Paris. a Room In the Palace.
• Act IV.
• Scene I.—: Paris. a Room of State.
• Scene II.—: Before Bourdeaux.
• Scene III.—: Plains In Gascony.
• Scene IV.—: Other Plains In Gascony.
• Scene V.—: The English Camp Near Bourdeaux.
• Scene VI.—: A Field of Battle.
• Scene VII.—: Another Part of the Field.
• Act V.
• Scene I.—: London. a Room In the Palace.
• Scene II.—: France. Plains In Anjou.
• Scene III.—: France. Before Angiers.
• Scene IV.—: Camp of Theduke of York,in Anjou.
• Scene V.—: London. a Room In the Palace.

Scene II.—

Orleans. Within the Town.

EnterTalbot, Bedford, Burgundy,a Captain, and Others.

Bed.

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.

Tal.

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 happen’d in revenge of him,

Within their chiefest temple I’ll erect

A tomb wherein his corse 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.

Bed.

’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.

Bur.

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.

Mess.

All hail, my lords! Which of this princely train

Call ye the war-like Talbot, for his acts

So much applauded through the realm of France?

Tal.

Here is the Talbot: who would speak with him?

Mess.

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.

Bur.

Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars

Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,

When ladies crave to be encounter’d with.

You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.

Tal.

Ne’er trust me then; for when a world of men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,

Yet hath a woman’s kindness over-rul’d:

And therefore tell her I return great thanks,

And in submission will attend on her.

Will not your honours bear me company?

Bed.

No, truly; it is more than manners will;

And I have heard it said, unbidden guests

Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal.

Well then, alone,—since there’s no remedy,—

I mean to prove this lady’s courtesy.

Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] You perceive my mind.

Capt.

I do, my lord, and mean accordingly.

[Exeunt.