Artois, Wallon and Picardy are friends to us, This happy night the Frenchmen are secure, Having all day caroused and banqueted: Embrace we then this opportunity As fitting best to quittance their deceit Contrived by art and baleful sorcery. Coward of France! how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches and the help of hell! Traitors have never other company. But what's that Pucelle whom they term so pure? A maid, they say. A maid! and be so martial! Pray God she prove not masculine ere long, If underneath the standard of the French She carry armour as she hath begun. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits: God is our fortress, in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. 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. Agreed: I'll to yond corner. And I to this. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury, for thee, and for the right Of English Henry, shall this night appear How much in duty I am bound to both. Arm! arm! the enemy doth make assault! How now, my lords! what, all unready so? Unready! ay, and glad we 'scaped so well. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber-doors. Of all exploits since first I follow'd arms, Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise More venturous or desperate than this. I think this Talbot be a fiend of hell. If not of hell, the heavens, sure, favour him. Here cometh Charles: I marvel how he sped. Tut, holy Joan was his defensive guard. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame? Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal, Make us partakers of a little gain, That now our loss might be ten times so much? Wherefore is Charles impatient with his friend! At all times will you have my power alike? Sleeping or waking must I still prevail, Or will you blame and lay the fault on me? Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good, This sudden mischief never could have fall'n. Duke of Alencon, this was your default, That, being captain of the watch to-night, Did look no better to that weighty charge. Had all your quarters been as safely kept As that whereof I had the government, We had not been