Act 2, Scene 3: Auvergne. The COUNTESS's castle

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 AUVERGNE

    Then have I substance too.

TALBOT

    No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
    You are deceived, 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't.
    COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE

    This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;
    He will be here, and yet he is not here:
    How can these contrarieties agree?

TALBOT

    That will I show you presently.

    Winds his horn. Drums strike up: a peal of ordnance. Enter soldiers
    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.
    COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE

    Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:
    I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited
    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.

TALBOT

    Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue
    The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake
    The outward composition of his body.
    What you have done hath not offended me;
    Nor 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.
    COUNTESS

OF AUVERGNE

    With all my heart, and think me honoured
    To feast so great a warrior in my house.

    Exeunt