| 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, | 5 |
| | 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 tonight. | 10 |
| | 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 corpse shall be interr'd: | |
| | Upon the which, that every one may read, | 15 |
| | 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, | 20 |
| | 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 armed men | 25 |
| | 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, | 30 |
| | 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 | 35 |
| | 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, | 40 |
| | 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 | 45 |
| | Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport, | |
| | 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, | 50 |
| | Yet hath a woman's kindness over-ruled: | |
| | 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: | 55 |
| | 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. | 60 |
| | Whispers | |
| | You perceive my mind? | |
| Captain | I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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