Orleans. Within the Town.
 Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, a CAPTAIN, and English SOLDIERS.

Bedford	The day begins to break, and night is fled,
	Whose pitchy mantle overveiled 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 cursd 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
	What ruin happened in revenge of him,
	Within their chiefest temple I'll erect
	A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interred,
	Upon the which, that everyone may read,
	Shall be engraved 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,
	Roused on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
	They did amongst the troops of armd 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 scared 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 unto a peaceful comic sport,
	When ladies crave to be encountered 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 overruled;
	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
	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.
