The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE IV. _Orleans_.
_Enter, on the walls, a_ Master Gunner _and his_ Boy. _M. Gun._ Sirrah, thou know’st how Orleans is besieged, [aad001] And how the English have the suburbs won. _Boy._ Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Howe’er unfortunate I miss’d my aim. _M. Gun._ But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me: ·aad005· Chief master-gunner am I of this town; Something I must do to procure me grace. The prince’s espials have informed me [aad008] How the English, in the suburbs close intrench’d, [aad009] Wont through a secret grate of iron bars [aad010] In yonder tower to overpeer the city And thence discover how with most advantage They may vex us with shot or with assault. To intercept this inconvenience, A piece of ordnance ’gainst it I have placed; ·aad015· And even these three days have I watch’d, [aad016] If I could see them. Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer. [aad018] If thou spy’st any, run and bring me word; And thou shalt find me at the governor’s. [_Exit._ ·aad020· _Boy._ Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I’ll never trouble you, if I may spy them. [_Exit._ [aad022] _Enter, on the turrets, the_ LORDS SALISBURY _and_ TALBOT, SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE, SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE, _and others_. _Sal._ Talbot, my life, my joy, again return’d! [aad023] How wert thou handled being prisoner? Or by what means got’st thou to be released? [aad025] Discourse, I prithee, on this turret’s top.
_Enter the_ Boy _with a linstock_. _Sal._ I grieve to hear what torments you endured, But we will be revenged sufficiently. Now it is supper-time in Orleans: Here, through this grate, I count each one [aad060] And view the Frenchmen how they fortify: Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee. Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale, Let me have your express opinions Where is best place to make our battery next. [aad065] _Gar._ I think, at the north gate; for there stand lords. [aad066] _Glan._ And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. _Tal._ For aught I see, this city must be famish’d, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. [aad069] [_Here they shoot. Salisbury and Gargrave fall._ _Sal._ O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! ·aad070· _Gar._ O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man!
_Enter a_ Messenger. _Mess._ My lord, my lord, the French have gather’d head: ·aad100· The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join’d, [aad101] A holy prophetess new risen up, Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [_Here Salisbury lifteth himself up and groans._ _Tal._ Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan! It irks his heart he cannot be revenged. ·aad105· Frenchmen, I’ll be a Salisbury to you: Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish, [aad107] Your hearts I’ll stamp out with my horse’s heels, And make a quagmire of your mingled brains. Convey me Salisbury into his tent, [aad110] And then we’ll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare. [aad111] [_Alarum. Exeunt._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.