Whom all France, with her chiefaffembled ftrength,
Durft not prefume to look once in the face.
Bed. Is Talbot flain? then I will flay myself,
For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Whilft fuch a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his daftard foe-men is betray'd.

3 Mef. O no, he lives; but is took prifoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford: Most of the rest flaughter'd, or took, likewise.

Bed. His ranfom there is none but I fhall pay : I'll hale the dauphin headlong from his throne; His crown fhall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.Farewell, my mafters; to my task will I; Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, To keep our great faint George's feaft withal; Ten thoufand foldiers with me I will take, Whofe bloody deeds fhall make all Europe quake,

3 Me. So you had need; for Orleans is befieg'd; The English army is grown weak and faint: The earl of Salisbury craveth supply; And hardly keeps his men from mutiny, Since they, fo few, watch fuch a multitude. Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry Either to quell the dauphin utterly,

[fworn;

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.
Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave,

To go about my preparation.

Exit.

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

To view the artillery and munition;

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.

[Exit.

Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his fpecial governor;

And

[Exit.

And for his fafety there I'll best devife.
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 fend,
And fit at chiefest stern of public weal.

SCENE II. Before Orleans in France.

[Exit.

Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER, marching with a Drum and Soldiers.

Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens,

یا

So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late did he fhine upon the English fide;
Now we are victors, upon us he fmiles.
What towns of any moment, but we have?
At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;
Other whiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,
Faintly befiege 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 ty'd to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.
Reig. Let's raife 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 fpend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
Char. Soud, found, alarum; we will ruth 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 lofs.

Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER. Char. Who ever faw 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 defperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life,
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rufh upon us as their hunger prey.

Alen. Froifard, 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 Goliaffes,
It fendeth forth to fkirmish. One to ten!
Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose
They had fuch courage and audacity?

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

brain'd flaves,

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 forfake the fiege.

Reig. I think, by fome odd gimmals or device,
Their arms are fet, like clocks, till to ftrike on;
Elfe they could ne'er hold out fo, 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.

Dau. Baftard 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 fuccour is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring,
Which, by a vision fent to her from heaven,
Ordained is to raise this tedious fiege,

་་

And drive the English forth the bounds of France
The fpirit of deep prophecy the hath,
Exceeding the nine fibyls of old Rome;
What's past, and what's to come the can defcry.
Speak, fhall I call her in? Believe my words,
For they are certain and infallible.

Dau. Go, call her in; But first, to try her skill,
Reignier, ftand thou as dauphin in my place:
Queftion her proudly, let thy looks be ftern;
By this means fhall we found what kill the hath.
Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE.

Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do thefe wondrous feats?

Pucel. Reignier, is't thou that thinkeft to beguile me?

Where is the dauphin?--come, come from behind;
I know thee well, though never feen 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 firft dash.
Pucel. 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

Τα

To fhine on my contemptible eftate:

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

And to fun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
God's mother deigned to appear to me ;
And, in a vifion full of majesty,

Will'd me to leave my bafe vocation,
And free my country from calamity
Her aid the promis'd, and affur'd fuccefs:
In complete glory the reveal'd herself;
And, whereas I was black and fwart before,
With thofe clear rays which the infus'd on me,
That beauty am I bleft with, which you fee.
Afk me what question thou canft poffible,
And I will anfwer unpremeditated:
My courage try by combat, if thou dar'ft,
And thou fhalt find that I exceed my fex.
Refolve on this: Thou shalt be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
Dau. Thou haft aftonifh'd me with thy high

terms:

Only this proof I'll of thy valour make-
In fingle combat thou shalt buckle with me;
And, if thou vanquifheft, thy words are true;
Otherwife, I renounce all confidence.

Pucel. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword,

Deck'd with fine fleur-de-luces on each side; The which, at Touraine in faint Katharine's churchyard,

Out of a deal of old iron I chofe forth.

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

And