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 hairbrain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager : 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? 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. Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] But, first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place : * 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. Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, i'st thou wilt do these wond'rous feats? Puc. Reignier, i'st thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the dauphin ?—come, come from behind; Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms; Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- * Be firmly persuaded of it. 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 churchyard, 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. Mean time, look gracious on thy prostrate 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: 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. ; Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise : Expect Saint Martin's summer*, halcyon days, Since I have entered into these wars. Glory is like a circle in the water, 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 enough? 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: 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 conveyancet. * Expect prosperity after misfortune. + Meaning the four daughters of Philip, mentioned in Acts xxi. 9. VOL. VI. Theft. 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 ? 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.— 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 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 commandment, Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, 1 Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly. Break open. 1 |