Tal. Lord regent, and redoubted Burgundy, 8
By whose approach the regions of Artois,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day carous'd and banqueted: 12
Embrace we then this opportunity,
As fitting best to quittance their deceit
Contriv'd by art and baleful sorcery.
Bed. Coward of France! how much he wrongs his fame, 16
Despairing of his own arm's fortitude,
To join with witches and the help of hell!
Bur. Traitors have never other company.
But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure?
Tal. A maid, they say.
Bed.A maid, and be so martial! 21
Bur. Pray God she prove not masculine ere long;
If underneath the standard of the French
She carry armour, as she hath begun. 24
Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits;
God is our fortress, in whose conquering name
Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.
Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. 28
Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess,
That we do make our entrance several ways,
That if it chance the one of us do fail,
The other yet may rise against their force. 32
Bed. Agreed. I'll to yond corner.
Bur.And I to this.
Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave.
8 Burgundy; cf. n.
11 secure: unsuspecting
14 quittance: requite
25 practise: conspire
32 other: others
