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 tied 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 .
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
Char. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on

ena. 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. [Ere.

-Alarums; excursions; afterwards a retreat. Reenter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and others.

Char. Whoeversaw the like? whatmenhave I?— 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. Froissard, a countryman .ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
Puring the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Samsons, and Goliases,
It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
loan 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 gimmalso 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'lse'en let them alone.

./llen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news for him. Char. Bastardo 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 unfallible.

(1) i. e. The prey for which they are hungry.

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

Char. Go, call herin; [Erit 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 hath. [Retires.

Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others.

Reig. Fairmaid, is't thou wiltdothese 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: In private will Italk with thee apart:— Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. 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 bless'd with, which §. 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:5 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 makeIn 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 Katharine's church-yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then comeo'God's name, I fear nowoman. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'erfly 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 f 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 sovereign, 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.

(3) This was not in former times a term of re roach.

(4) Countenance.

(5) Be firmly persuaded of it.

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 Caesar 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 thesiege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst 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. [Eve.

SCENTE 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. [Williol 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. Answeryousothelord protector, villains? 1 Ward. [Within..] The |...} 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 IBreak 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? (1) Expect prosperity after misfortune, (2) V. the . daughters of Philip, mentioned in Acts xxi. 9.

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, That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in. Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, 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; Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.

Because he is protector of the realm;
And would have armour here out of the Tower,
To crown himself king, and suppress the prince.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
[Here they skirmish again.
JMay. No. rests for me, in this tumultuous
strife,
But to make open proclamation:-
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

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, or use, any sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of death. Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law:

But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. Win. Gloster, we'll meet; to thy dear cost, be

sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. ay. I'll call for clubs, if you will notaway:This cardinal is more haughty than the devil. Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou may'st. JWin. Atoll. Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it, ere long. [Ereunt. JMay. See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart.— Good God! hole should such stomachs2 bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt.

SCENTE IV.-France. Before Orleans. Enter on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son.

besieg"d;

And how oil, have the suburbs won.

Son. Father, I know; and ofthave shot at them, Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

JM. Gun. But now thoushalt not. Be thou rul’d

by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do, to procureme
The prince's espialso have inform'd me,
How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;
And thence discover, how, with most advantage,
They may vex us, with shot, or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd;
And fully even these |. days have I watch'd,
If I could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch,
For I can stay no longer.
If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's. [Erit.

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.

Enter, in an upper chamber %. tower, the Lords
Salisbury ...?Talbot, Sir William Glansdale,
Sir Thomas Gargrave, and others.
Sal Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'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.
Tal. The duke of Bedford had 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 barter'd me:

”* That is, for peace-officers armed with club

Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death,
Rather than I would be so pil'd esteem’d.s
In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
But, O! 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 enter-
tain'd.
Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious
taunts. l roduc’d
In open market-place produc’d they me,
To o public o to all;
Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the ers that led me;
And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground,
To hurl at the beholders of my shame.
My grisly countenance made others fly;
None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
Sogreat fear of my name 'mongst them was spread,
That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel,
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
That walk'd about me every minute-while;
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you 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 Glansdale,
Let me have your express opinions,
Where is best place to make our battery next.
Gar. o, at the north gate; for there stand

ords. Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with slight ão enfeebled. [Shot from the town. Salisbury and Sir Thomas Gargrave fall. Sal. OLord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man! Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath cross'd us?— i. Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak; ow 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 hath contriv'd this woful tragedy! In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame; 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

all,

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 want 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,

ber to avenge me on the FrenchPlantagenet, I will; and Nero-like,

Here, here she comes:—I'll have about with thee: Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: Blood will I draw on thee,” thou art a witch, “And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st. Puc. Come, come, ’tis only I that must disgrace thee. [They fight. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail: My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet 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 ours, as many more shall be: [Pucelle enters the town, with soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's heel :

I 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:
Sobees with smoke, and doves with noisomestench,
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.
larum. Another skirmish.
It will not be:—Retire into your trenches:

(1) Dirty wench.

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

You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.—
Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,
In spite of us, or aught that we could do.
Q, would I were to die with Salisbury:
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
[.Alarum. Retreat. Ereunt Talbot and his
Jorces, &c.

SCENE WI–The same. Enter, on the walls, Pucelle, Charles, Reignier, Alençon, and soldiers.

Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:– Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astraea's daughter, How shall I honour thee for this success? Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens, That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.— France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!— Recover'd is the town of Orleans: More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Reig. Whyring not out the bells throughout the town? Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, ofeast and banquet in the open streets, To celebrate the joy that God hath given us. .Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and

oy,

When o shall hear how we have play'd themen.

Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won; For which, I will divide my crown with her: Andall 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-jewel'd coffer of Darius, Transported o be at high festivals, Before the kings and queens of France. No longer on Saint 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. Ere.

ACT II.

SCENTE I-The same. Enter, to the gates, a "rench Sergeant, and two Sentinels.

Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant: If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign, Let us have knowledge at the court of guard.s

1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Serg.] Thus

are poor servitors

(When others sleep upon their quiet beds.) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold.

Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, and forces, with scaling-ladders; their drums beating a dead march.

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

(3) The same as guard-room.

Bed Coward of France!—how much he wrongs his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. #. Traitors have never other company.— But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure? Tal. A maid, they say. Bed. A maid? and be so martial? Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine erelong; If underneath the standard of the French, She c armour, as she hath Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with irits: God is our fortress; in whose conquering name, Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, braveTalbot; we will follow thee. Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess, 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

Bast. Tut! holy Joan was his defensive guard. Char. Is this thy cunning, thou deceitful dame? Didst thou at first, to flatter us withal, Make us partakers of a little gain, 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 default; 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 surpris'd. Bast. Mine was secure. Reig. And so was mine, my lord. Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night, Within her quarter, and mine own precinct,

(1) Undressed. (2) Plans, schemes.

I was employ'd in passing to and fro,

About relieving of the sentinels:

Then how, or which way, should they firstbreakin? Puc. Question, my lords, no rof the case,

How, or which way; 'tis sure, they found some

lace

But well, guarded, where the breach was made.

And now there rests no other shift but this,

Tof. our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd,

And lay new platforms” to endamage them.

JAlarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying, A Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their clothes behind.

Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [Exit.

SCENTE II.-Orleans. Within the town. Enter Talbot, Bedford, Burgundy, a Captain, and . others.

Bed. The day . to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; And here advance it in the market-place, The middle centre of this cursed town.— Now have I paid my vow unto his soul; For every drop of blood was drawn from him, There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-night. And, that hereafter ages may behold What ruin happen'd in revenge of him, Within their chiefest temple I'll erect A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd : Upon the which, that every one may read, Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, And what a terror he had been to France. But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, I muse,” we met not with §. dauphin's grace; His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc; Nor any of his false confederates. Bed, 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight

-

Rous’d on odden from their drowsy beds,
They did, amongst the troops Ji armed men,
Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern,
For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night.)
Am sure, I scar'd the dauphin, and his trull;
When arm in arm they both came swiftly running,
Like to a o: of loving turtle-doves,
That could not live asunder day or night.
After that things are set in order here,
We'll follow them with all the power we have.

Enter a Messenger. JMess. All hail, my lords! which of this princely

train Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here i. the Talbot; who would speak with him: JMess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou would'st vouchsafe o visit her poor castle where she lies;4 That she may boast, she hath beheld the man Whose glory fills the world with loud report. Bar. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars

. (3) Wonder. (4) i. e. Where she dwells.