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Whom all France, with their chief assembled | Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and

strength,

Durst not presume to look once in the face.

Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foe-man is betray'd.

3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford:

Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise.
Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall
pay:

I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne,
His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;
Four of their lords I'll change for one

our's.

of

Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,
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 be-
sieg'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.

[Erit.

Glo. I'll to the Tower, with all the baste I can,

To view the artillery and munition;

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.

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others.

Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have 17

Dogs! cowards! dastards,

fled,

would ne'er have

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. Froissard, a countryman of our's, re
cords,

England all Olivers and Rowlands+ bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;

For none but Samsons and Goliasses,
It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er sup
pose

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 ea

ger:

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 de-
vice,

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.

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 BASTARD.] 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 bath. [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;

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 :

1. e. The prey for which they are hungry. These were two of the most famous in Charlemagne's list of peers.

A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one piece moves within another; here it is taken at large for an engine.

This was not in former times a term of reproach.
Countenance.
Shakspeare mistakes the nine Sibylline books, for

[Exeuntaire Sybils.

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 ou 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 bless'd with, which you see.
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
And I will answer unpremeditated:
My courage try by combat, if thou darʼst,
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 Alour-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.

man.

Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [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.
Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
Let me thy servant, and not sovereigu be;
'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love,
For my profession's sacred from above:
When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
Then will I think upon a recompense.
Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy pros.

trate thrall.

Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock:

Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no

mean?

Alen. He may mean more than we poor men

do know:

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Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,
Till by broad spreading, it disperse to nought,
With Henry's death, the English circle ends;
Dispersed are the glories it included.
Now am I like that proud insulting ship,
Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.

Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove ?*
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, † were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enongh?

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

Reig. Woman, do what thou can'st to save our honours;

Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come let's away

about it:

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SCENE IH.-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 imperiously?

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?

I Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we answer him:

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.
Glo. Who will'd you? or whose will stands

but mine?

There's none protector of the realm, but I.-
Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize :
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?

SERVANTS rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the Gates, WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant. Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what traitors have we here?

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you, whose voice I bear?

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 commandment,
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him

'fore me?

Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Harry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook ?

Thou art no friend to God or to the king: Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; [quickly. Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Enter WINCHESTER, Attended by a Train of Servants in tawny Coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphry? what means this?

Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?

Mahomet persuaded his followers that a dove which he had taught wheu hungry to light upon his shoulder, and thrust its bill into his mouth, was the Holy Ghost!] + Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in Acts xxi. 9. 1 Theft. Break open. Alluding to his shaven crown.

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,*
And not protector of the king or realm.

Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator;
Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord;
Thou that giv'st whores + indulgences to sin :
I'll canvas thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge
a foot;

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
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 beard thee to
thy face.

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M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans
And how the English have the suburbs won.
is besieg'd;
Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at
them,

Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.
M. Gun. But now thou shalt not.
ruld by me :

Glo. What am I dar'd, and bearded to my Chief master-gunner am I of this town ;

face?

Draw, men, for all this privileged place ;
Blue-coats to tawny-coats.

your beard ;

Priest, beware

[GLOSTER and his Men attack the Bishop.
I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly:
Under my feet I stamp thy cardiual's hat ;
In spite of pope or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the

pope.

rope!

Glo. Winchester goose, § I cry-a rope! a [stay?Now beat them hence. Why do you let them Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's

array.

Out, tawny coats !-oat, scarlet || hypocrite !
Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it,
Enter the MAYOR of London, and Officers.
May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme
magistrates,

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!
Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of
my wrongs:

Here's Beaufort that regards nor God nor king,
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster too a foe to citizens:
One that still motions war, and never peace,
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines;
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is protector of the realm;
And would have armour here out of the Tower
To crown himself king, aud suppress the prince.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but
blows. [Here they skirmish again.
May. Nought rest for me, in this tumultuous
strife,

But to make open proclamation :-
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

Be thou

Something I must do, to procure ine grace : t
The prince's espials t have informed me,
How the English, in the suburbs close in
Wont, through a secret gate of iron bars
trench'd,

In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;
And thence discover how, with most advan-
tage,

They may vex us, with shot or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,

And fully even these three days have I watch'd,
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd;
If I could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch,
If thou spy'st any run and bring me word;
For I can stay no longer.
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

care;

[Exit.

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no
I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.
Enter, in an upper Chamber of a Tower,
the Lords SALISBURY and TALBOT, Sir
WILLIAM GLANSDALE, Sir THOMAS GAR-
GRAVE, and others.

Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again retur.'d ?
How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd?
Discourse, I pr'ythee on this turret's top.

[me

Tal. The duke of Bedford bad a prisoner,
Called the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles;
For him I was exchang'd and ransomed.
But with a baser man of arms by far,
Once, in contempt, they would have batter 'd
Which I, disdaining, scorn'd: and craved death
Rather than I would be so pil'd esteemed.
In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
But oh ! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart:
Whom with my bare fists I would execute,
If I now had him brought into my power.
Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert en-
tertain'd.

Off. All manner of men assembled here in
arms this day, against God's peace and the
king's, we charge and command you, in his
highness' name, to repair to your several
dwelling places; and not to wear, handle, In open market-place produc'd they me,
or use any sword, weapon, or dagger, hence-To be a public spectacle to all;
forward, upon pain of death.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contume-
lious taunts.

Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
The scare-scrow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers that led me;

Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law : But we shall meet, and break our minds at And with my nails digg'd stones out of the large.

ground,

Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear coast | To hurt at the beholders of my shame.

be sure:

Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work.
May. I'll call for clubs, ¶ if you will not

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Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you | SCENE V.-The same.-Before one of the

endur'd ;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
Now it is supper time in Orleans:

Here, through this grate, I can count every
one,

And view the Frenchmen how they fortify;
Let us look in, the sight will much delight
thee.-

Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William

dale,

Gates.

Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and
my force?

Glans-Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;
A woman clad in armour, chaseth them.

Let me have your express opinions,
Where is best place to make our battery next.
Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there
stand lords.

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the
bridge.

Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,

Or with light skirmishes enfeebled,

[Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and Sir THO. GARGRAVE fall.

Sal. O Lord have mercy on us, wretched sinners!

Gar. O Lord have mercy on me, woeful

man!

Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath

cross'd us ?

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak;
How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men?
One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck

off!

Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand,
That have contriv'd this woeful tragedy!
In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercaine;
Henry the fifth he first train'd to the wars;
Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck
up,

His sword did ne'er leave striking in the

field.

Yet liv'st thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth fail,

One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for

grace:

The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.-
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!-
Bear hence his body, I will help to bury it,-
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.
Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort;
Thou shalt not die, whiles--

He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me ;
As who should say, When I am dead and gone,
Remember to avenge me on the French.-
Plantagenet, I will; and Nero-like,

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come :

I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starved men ;
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
This day is our's, as many more shall be.

[PUCELLE enters the Town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel;

know not where I am, nor what I do : A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal, Drives back our troops, and conquers, as she

lists:

So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench,

Are from their hives and houses driven away.
They call'd us, for our fierceness English
dogs;

Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
[A short Alarum.
Hark, countrymen ! either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lion's stead :
Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,
Or horse, or oxen, from the leopard,

As you fly from your oft subdued slaves.

[Alarum. Another Skirmish,
It will not be :-Retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.---
Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,

Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
Wretched shall France be only in my name.
[Thunder heard; afterwards an Alarum.
What stir is this? What tumult's in the hea-In spite of us, or aught that we could do.

vens ?

Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise ?

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have
gathered head:

The Dauphin with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,-
A holy prophetess, new risen up,-
is come with a great power to raise the siege.
[SALISBURY groans.
Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth
groan!

It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd.-
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you :-
Pucelle or puzzeł, dolphin or dogfish,

Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's
heels,

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And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.-Thy
Convey me Salisbury into his tent,

And then we'll try what these dastardly French-
men dare.

[Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies.

A dirty wench.

next.

The superstition of those times taught, that he who could draw a witch's blood was free from her power.

France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess !
Recover'd is the town of Orleans:
More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state.
Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout
the town?

Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires,
And feast and banquet in the open streets,
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.
Alen. All France will be replete with mirth
and joy,

When they shall hear how we have play'd the

men.

Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day

is won;

For which, I will divide my crown with her :
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall, in procession, sing her endless praise.
A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear,
Than Rhodope's, or Memphis', ever was :
In memory of her, when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
Than the rich-jewell'd coffer of Darius t
Transported shall be at high festivals
Before the kings and queens of France.
No longer on St. Dennis will we cry,
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
Come in; and let us banquet royally,
After this golden day of victory.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

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Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and
Forces, with scaling Ladders; their Drums
beating a dead march.

Tal. Lord regent, and redoubted Burgundy,
By whose approach, the regions of Artois,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,
This happy night, the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day carous'd and banquetted:
Embrace we then this opportunity;
As fitting best to quittance their deceit,
Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery.

Bed. Coward of France !-how much
wrongs his fame,

Despairing of his own arm's fortitude,
To join with witches, and the help of hell.
Bur. Traitors have never other company.-

he

But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so

pure?

Tal. A maid, they say.

Bed. A maid! and be so martial!

guess,

Tal. Not all together: better far,
That we do make our entrance several ways;
That, if it chance the one of us do fail,
The other yet may rise against their force.
Bed. Agreed: I'll to yon corner.
Bur. And I to this.

Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make
his grave.-

Now Salisbury! for thee, and for the right
Of English Henry, shall this night appear
How much in duty I am bound to both.

[The English scale the Walls, crying S
George! a Talbot! and all enter by the
Town.

Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth
make assault !

The French leap over the Walls in their
Shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD,
ALENÇON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half
unready.

Alen. How now, my lords? what, all un-
ready so?

Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well.

Reig. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave

our beds,

Hearing alarums at our chamber doors.

Alen. Of all exploits, since first I follow'd arms,

Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprize

More venturous, or desperate than this.
Bast. I think, this Talbot be a fiend of

hell.

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Char. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful
dame ?

Make us partakers of a little gain,
Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal

That now our loss might be ten times so much?
Puc. Wherefore is Charles impatient with

his friend?

At all times will you have my power alike?
Sleeping or waking must I still prevail,
Or will you blame and lay the fault on me ?-
Improvident soldiers ! had your watch been
good,

This sudden mischief never could have fall'n.
Char. Duke of Alençon, this was your de-
fault;

That, being captain of the watch to-night,
Did look no better to that weighty charge.
Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely
kept,

As that whereof I had the government,

We had not been thus shamefully surpriz'd.
Bast. Mine was secure.

Reig. And so was mine, my lord.

Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night,

Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere was employ'd in passing to and fro,

Within her quarter, and mine own precinct,

long;

If underneath the standard of the French,
She carry armour, as she hath begun.

Tal. Well, let them practise and converse

with spirits,

God is our fortress; in whose conquering name,
Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.
Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow

thee.

Rhodope, a famous strumpet, built one of the pyramids from the profits of her trade. When Alex ander took Gaza, he found an exceeding rich and beau ful casket, in which he ordered to be placed a copy of Homer's Iliad. The same as guard room."

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