And for his fafety 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 fit at chiefest itern of public weal. [Exito

SCENE II. Before Orleans in France. Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER, marching

with a Drum and Soldiers. 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 fide ; 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 familh'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 tyd to their mouths, Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

Reig. Let's raise the fiege; 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. Sou d, found, alarum ; we will rush on

them.
Now for the honour of the forlorn French:-
Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
B 3

When

When he fees me go back on foot, or fly, [Exeunt. [Here Alarum, they are beaten back by the English,

with great loss. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER,

Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have 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 hunger prey.

Alen. Froisard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowland's bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign,
More truly now may this be verified ;
For none but Sampions, and Goliaises,
It fendeth forth to skirinih. One to ten !
Lerin 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 iceth The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the liege.

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

Alen. Be it fo.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Baft. Where's the prince Dauphin: I have news for him.

Dau.

1

Dau. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.
Baft. Methinks, your looks are fad, 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 liege,
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? Believę my words,
For they are certain and infallible.

Dau. Go, call her in: But firit, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place : Question her proudly, let thy looks be itern; By this means shall we found what tkill the hath.

Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE.
Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wond.

rous feats?
Pucel. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to be

guile meio
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 dah.
Pucel. Dauphin, I am by birth a fhepherd's

daughter,
My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd

Ta

|

my

To shine on my contemptible estate:
Lo, whilft 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 á vifion full of majesty,
Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
And frèe my country from calamity!
Her aid the promis'd, and assur'd success:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself ;
And, whereas I was black and fwart before,
With those clear

rays

which shie infus'd on me, That beauty am I bleft with, which

you

fee. Ask me what question thou canit possible, And I will answer unpremeditated : My courage try by combat, if thou dar'ft, And thou shalt find that I exceed sex. Resolve on this: Thou shalt be fortunate, If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. Dau. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high

terms: Only this proof Pll of thy valour make--In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; And, if thou vanquilheft, thy words are true; Otherwise, I renounce all confidence. Pucel. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd

fword, Deck'd with fine Aeur-de-luces on each side; Thewhich, at Touraine in faint Katharine's church.

yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth,

Dau. Then come o'God's name, I fear nowoman. Pucel. And, while I live, I'll never fly no man. [Here they fight, and JOAN LA PUCELLE overcomes. Dou. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon,

And

And fightest with the sword of Deborah.
Pucel. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too

weak. Dau. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must

help me: Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once fubdu'd, Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, Let me thy servant, and not fovereign be; ?Tis the French dauphin fueth to thee thus.

Pucel. 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 recompence. Dau. Mean time, look gracious on thy proftratę

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? whạr devise you Shall we give over Orleans or no? [on?

Pucel. Why, no, I say, distruitful recreants ! Fight 'till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Dau. What the fays, I'll confirm ; we'll fight

it out. Pucel. Allign'd I am to be the English scourge, This night the fiege assuredly I'll raise :