Act I. Scene
V.
Scene V. The Same. Before one of the Gates.
Alarum. Skirmishings. Enter TALBOT, pur-
suing the DAUPHIN; drives him in, and exit:
then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving
Englishmen before her, and exit after them.
Then re-enter TALBOT.
Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and
my force?
Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;
A woman clad in armour chaseth them
Re-enter JOAN LA PUCELLE.
Here, here she comes. I'll have a bout with thee:
Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st.
Joan. Come, come; 'tis only I that must
disgrace thee. [They fight.
Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to pre-
vail?
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage,
And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder,
But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.
[They fight again.
Joan. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet
come:
I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
[A short alarum; then enter the town
with Soldiers.
O'ertake me if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starved men;
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
This day is ours, as many more shall be. [Exit.
Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's
wheel;
I know not where I am, nor what I do:
A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal,
Drives back our troops and conquers as she
lists:
So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome
stench,
Are from their hives and houses driven away.
They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs;
Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
[A short alarum.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf,
Or horse or oxen from the leopard,
As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.
[Alarum. Another skirmish.
It will not be: retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.
Pucelle is entered into Orleans
In spite of us or aught that we could do.
O! would I were to die with Salisbury.
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
[Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT
and his Forces, &c.
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