To keep our great saint George's feast withal:
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe

quake.

3. Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is

besieg'd;

The English army is grown weak and faint:
The earl of Salisbury craveth supply
And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,
Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.

Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry

sworn;

Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,
Or bring him in obedience to your 'yoke.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave,
To go about my preparation.

[Exit.

Glo. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I

can,

To view the artillery and munition;

And then I will proclaim young Henry king...

1

[Exit.

Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young

king is,

Being ordain'd his special governor;

And for his safety there I'll best devise. (Exit!

Win. Each hath his place and function to

attend:

I am left out; for me nothing remains.
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;
The king from Eltham I intend to send,
And sit at chiefest stern of publick weal.

[Exit. Scene closes.

1

1

SCENE II.

France. Before Orleans.

Enter CHARLES, with his forces; ALENÇON, REIGNIRR, and Others.

Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the

heavens,

So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late, did he shine upon the English side;
Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.
What towns of any moment, but we have?
At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;
Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale

ghosts,

Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.
Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat
bull-beeves:

Either they must be dieted, like mules,
And have their provender ty'd to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.
Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly

here?

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none, but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
And he may well in, fretting spend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on
them.

Now for the honour of the forlorn French:
Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
When he sees me go back one foot, or fly.

[Exeunt.

1

Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat.

Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others.

Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have

Dogs! cowards! dastards! -- I would ne'er have fled,

But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Alen. Froisard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses,
It sendeth forth to skirmish.

One to ten!

Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose They had such courage and audacity?

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

brain'd slaves,

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the

siege.

Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on; Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone, Alen. Be it so.

Enter the BASTARD of Orleans,

Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

1

Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to

us.

Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer

appall'd;

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring,
Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,

And drive the English forth the bounds of

France.

The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,
Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome;
What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.
Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
For they are certain and infallible.

Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bast.) But first to

try her skill,

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern; -
By this means shall we sound what skill she

hath,

[retires.

Enter LA PUCELLE, BASTARD of Orleans,

and others.

Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these won

d'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:
In private will I talk with thee apart; -
Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

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,
God's mother deigned to appear to me;
And, in a vision full of majesty,
Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
And free my country from calamity:
Her aid she promis'd, and assur'd success:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
And, whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infus'd on me,
That beauty am I blest with, which you may see.
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
And I will answer unpremeditated:
My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st,
And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
Resolve on this: Thou shalt be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high

terms;

Only this proof I'll of thy valour make, -
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me;
And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd

sword, Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side; The which, at Touraine in saint Catharine's

churchyard,

Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.

Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no

woman.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [They fight.