Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er have fled, Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, For none but Samsons, and Goliasses, It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose 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 Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device, Enter the Bastard of ORLEANS. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news for him. Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer ap pall'd? Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand: Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome; What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. For they are certain and unfallible. Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] But, first, to try her skill, 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? Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd 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 free my country from calamity: My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, Char. Thou hast astonished me with thy high terms; 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 Katharine's church-yard, Out of a 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 man. [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, 'tis thou that must help me: Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd. Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be; Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do know: These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. Reig. My lord, where are you? what devise you on? Shall we give over Orleans, or no? Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Char. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight it out. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once. Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our ho nours; Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz’d. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away about it: No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-London. Hill before the Tower, Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Serving-men, in blue Coats. Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.— Where be these warders, that they wait not here ? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls. [Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so im periously? 1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Gloster. 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in. 1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him : |