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That she may boast, she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our

wars

Will turn unto a peaceful comick sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.

You may not, my Lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world

of men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd: -
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her,
Will not your Honours hear me company?
Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will:

And I have heard it said,

-

Unbidden guests

Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, Captain. [Whispers.] - You perceive my mind.

Capt. I do, my Lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Auvergne. Court of the Castle.

Enter the Countess and her Porter.

Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge;

And, when you have done so, bring the keys

to me.

Port. Madam, I will.

[Exit. Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall ont

right,

I shall as famous be by this exploit,
As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the mour of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no less account:
Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,
To give their censure of these rare reports.

Enter Messenger and TALBOT.

Mess. Madam,

According as your Ladyship desir'd,
By message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come.

Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the

Mess. Madam, it is.

man ?

Count. Is this the scourge of France?
Is this the Talbot, so much scar'd abroad,
That with his name the mothers still their babes?
I see, report is fabulous and false:

I thought, I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspéct,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf:
It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp
Should strike such terror to his enemies.

Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you:
But, since your Ladyship is not at leisure,
I'll sort some other time to visit you.

Count. What means he now? Go ask him, whither he goes. Mess. Stay, my Lord Talhot; for my Lady

craves

To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her, Talbot's here.

L

Re-enter Porter, with keys.

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Tal. Prisoner! to whom?

Count. To me, blood-thirsty Lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house. Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me. For in my gallery thy picture hangs: But now the substance shall endure the like; And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, That hast by tyranny, these many years, Wasted our country, slain our citizens, And sent our sons and husbands captivate. Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall

turn to moan.

Tal. I laugh to see your Ladyship só fond, To think that you have aught but Talbots

shadow,

Whereon to practice your severity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal. I am indeed.

Count. Then have I substance too.

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here; For what you see, is but the smallest part And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, Madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the

nonce;

He will be here, and yet he is not here:
How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I show you presently.

He winds a horn. Drums heard; then a peal of ordnance. The gates being forced, enter Sokliers.

How say you, Madam? are you now persuaded,
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and

strength,
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks;
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I find, thou art no less than fame hath braited, And more than may be gather'd by thy shape. Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; For I am sorry, that with reverence I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair Lady; nov mis

construe

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.
What you have done, hath not offended me:
No other satisfaction do I crave,
But only (with your patience,,) that we may
Taste of your wine, and see what cates you

have;

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. Count. With all my heart; and think me

honoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

London. The Temple Garden.

Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD, PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer,

Plan. Great Lords, and Gentlemen, what

1

means this silence?

Dare no man answer in a case of truth?

Suf. Within the Temple hall we were too

loud;

The garden here is more convenient.

Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain'd the

truth;

Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And never yet could frame my will to it;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.
Som, Judge you, my Lord of Warwick, then

between us.

War. Between two hawks, which flies the

higher pitch, Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth, Between two blades, which bears the better

temper,

Between two horses, which doth bear him best, Between two girls, which hath the merriest eye, I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judge

ment:

But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbearance :

The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

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