Act 2. Scene III

SCENE III. Auvergne. The COUNTESS's castle.

Enter the COUNTESS and her Porter
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.

Porter
Madam, I will.

Exit

COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,
I shall as famous be by this exploit
As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the rumor 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

Messenger
Madam,
According as your ladyship desired,
By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come.
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
And he is welcome. What! is this the man?

Messenger
Madam, it is.
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
Is this the scourge of France?
Is this the Talbot, so much fear'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 aspect,
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.

TALBOT
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.
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes.

Messenger
Stay, my Lord Talbot; for my lady craves
To know the cause of your abrupt departure.

TALBOT
Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief,
I go to certify her Talbot's here.

Re-enter Porter with keys

COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.

TALBOT
Prisoner! to whom?
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
To me, blood-thirsty lord;
And for that cause I trained 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.

TALBOT
Ha, ha, ha!
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall turn to moan.

TALBOT
I laugh to see your ladyship so fond
To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow
Whereon to practise your severity.
COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE
Why, art not thou the man?

TALBOT
I am indeed.
COUNTESS

OF