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 hath.
[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; 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 a-while.
Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daugh-
ter,

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 you 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: 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 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 come o'God's name, I fear no wo

man.

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 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.

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 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.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

LONDON. HILL BEFORE THE TOWER.

Enter, at the Gates, the Duke of Glo’ster, 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; it is Glo'ster that calls.

[Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who is there that knocks so

imperiously?

1 Serv. It is the noble duke of Glo'ster.

2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

1 Serv. Villains, answer you so the lord protector?

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.—
Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize:
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?