| ACT II SCENE II | 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, | 5 |
| 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 tonight. |
| And that hereafter ages may behold | 10 |
| What ruin happen'd 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 engraved the sack of Orleans, | 15 |
| 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, | 20 |
| Nor any of his false confederates. |
| BEDFORD | 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight began, |
| Roused 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. | 25 |
| BURGUNDY | Myself, as far as I could well discern |
| For smoke and dusky vapours of the night, |
| Am sure I scared the Dauphin and his trull, |
| When arm in arm they both came swiftly running, |
| Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves | 30 |
| 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 | 35 |
| 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 | 40 |
| 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 unto a peaceful comic sport, | 45 |
| When ladies crave to be encounter'd with. |
| You may not, my lord, despise 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 over-ruled: | 50 |
| 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; it is more than manners will: |
| And I have heard it said, unbidden guests | 55 |
| 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? | 60 |
| Captain | I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. |
| [Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)