Char. Go, call her in. [Exit Bastard.] But first, to try Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : [Retires. Enter LA PUCELLE, Bastard of Orleans, and Others. Reig. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wond'rous feats? Puc. Reignier, is 't thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind; I know thee well, though never seen before. Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter, My wit untrain❜d in any kind of art. Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd To shine on my contemptible estate: Lo! whilst I waited on my tender lambs, And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, Will'd me to leave my base vocation, And, whereas I was black and swart before, Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms. Only this proof I'll of thy valour make : Puc. I am prepar'd. Here is my keen-edg'd sword, The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's church-yard, Char. Then, come o' God's name: I fear no woman. [They fight. Char. Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak. Char. Whoe'er helps thee, 't is thou that must help me. Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued. Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be: Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love, Char. Mean time look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock, Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? Puc. Why, no, I say: distrustful recreants! Char. What she says, I'll confirm: we 'll fight it out. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought. Now am I like that proud insulting ship, . How may I reverently worship thee enough? Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours. Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz❜d. Char. Presently we 'll try. SCENE III. London. Tower Hill. Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; [Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who's there, that knocks so impe riously? 1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Villains, answer you so the lord protector? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him: We do no otherwise than we are will'd. Glo. Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine? There's none protector of the realm but I. GLOSTER'S Men rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the gates, Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here? Glo. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear? Open the gates! here's Gloster that would enter. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke; I may not open; The cardinal of Winchester forbids: From him I have express commandement, That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in. Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector, Enter WINCHESTER, attended by Servants in tawney Coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey! what means this? Glo. Pill'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not protector, of the king or realm. Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator, Win. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a foot: To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back. Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth I'll use to carry thee out of this place. Win. Do what thou dar'st; I'll beard thee to thy face. Draw, men, for all this privileged place; Blue coats to tawney coats. Priest, beware your beard; [GLOSTER and his Men attack the Bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly. Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. -- a rope! a rope! Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay? Here GLOSTER's Men beat out the Cardinal's Men, and enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of London and his Officers. May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates, Glo. Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my wrongs. Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; Because he is protector of the realm; And would have armour, here, out of the Tower, [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife, Come, officer: as loud as e'er thou canst cry. Off. All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, |