church-yard,

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.
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 recompence.

Char. Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her

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 honors; 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 conveyance.' • Expect prosperity after misfortune.

1 Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in Acts, xxi. 9. 2 Theft.

[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.

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.— Break 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?

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?

Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate,
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.

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a Train of Ser vants, in tawny Coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what means this?

Glo. Piel'd priest,' dost thou command me to be shut out?

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor," And not protector of the king or realm.

Glo. Stand back: thou manifest conspirator; Thou that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord: Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin: I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot. This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth, I'll use, to carry thee out of this place.

Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face. Glo. What? am I dar'd, and bearded to my face!Draw, men, for all this privileged place; Blue-coats to tawny-coats. Priest, beware your beard,

[GLOSTER and his men attack the Bishop. I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat; Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. In spite of pope or dignities of church,

Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the pope. Glo. Winchester goose, I cry—a rope! a rope!Now beat them hence: Why do you let them stay?Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array. Out, tawny coats!-out, scarlet' hypocrite! Alluding to his shaven crown. • Traitor. • A strumpet. 'An allusion to the Bishop's habit

Mayor of London, and Officers.

May. Fye, lords! that you, being supreme ma

gistrates,

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!
Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of my

wrongs:

Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; One that still motions war, and never peace, O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; That seeks to overthrow religion, Because he is protector of the realm: And would have armor here out of the Tower, To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,

blows.

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. May. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away :This cardinal is more haughty than the devil. Glo. Mayor, farewell; thou dost but what thou mayst.

Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it ere long.

[Exeunt. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart.

Good God! that nobles should such stomachs bear!
I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt.
SCENE IV. France. Before Orleans.
Enter on the Walls, the Master-Gunner, and his Son.
M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is
besieged;

And how the English have the suburbs won.
Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,
Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.

M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do, to procure me grace:
The prince's espials' have informed 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 placed;
And fully even these three 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. [Exit.
Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care;
I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.

That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves.
Pride.
1 Spies.

SALISBURY and TALBOT, SIR WILLIAM GLANS-
DALE, SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE, and others.
Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!
How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
Discourse, I pr'ythee, on this turret's top.
Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd?

Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
Called the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles ;
For him I was exchanged and ransomed.
But with a baser man of arms by far,

Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me:
Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death
Rather than I would be so piled esteem'd.
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 entertain'd.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious

taunts.

In open market-place produced they me,
To be a public spectacle to all:
Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers 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;
So great 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 revenged sufficiently.
Now is it 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. I think, at the north gate; for there stand
lords.

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.

[Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and Šir THOMAS GARGRAVE fall. Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woeful man! Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath

cross'd us?

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak;
How 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 woeful 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,

One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace:
The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.-

a So stripped of honors.

Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
If Salisbury wants 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,
Remember to avenge me on the French.-
Plantagenet, I will; and Nero-like,

Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
Wretched shall France be only in my name.
[Thunder heard; afterwards an Alarum.
What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens?
Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise?

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have ga-
ther'd head:

The dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,-
A holy prophetess, new risen up,—
Is come with a great power to raise the siege.
[SALISBURY groans.
Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan!
It irks his heart, he cannot be revenged.
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you:-
Pucelle or puzzel,' dolphin or dogfish,
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,
And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.
Convey me Salisbury into his tent,
And then we'll try what dastard Frenchmen dare.

[Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies.

SCENE V.-Before one of the Gates of Orleans. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valor, and my

force?

Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; A woman, clad in armor, chaseth them.

Enter La PUCELLE.

Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel;

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:!
So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench,
Are from their hives, and houses, driven away.
They called 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 lions' 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.

[Alarum. Another Skirmish.
It will not be:-Retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.-
Pucelle is entered into Orleans,

In spite of us, or aught that we could do.
O, would I were to die with Salisbury!
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
[Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT and his
Forces, &c.

SCENE VI.-The same.
Enter on the Walls, PUCELLE, CHARLES, REIG-
NIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers.

Puc. Advance our waving colors on the walls;

Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:—
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word.

Char. Divinest creature, bright Astræa's daughter,
How shall I honor 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. Why ring not out the bells throughout the
town?

Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires,
And feast and banquet in the open streets,

thee;

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
[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, gu, 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.

3 Dirty wench.

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

Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and

joy,

When they shall hear how we have play'd the men.

Char. "Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won; For which, I will divide my crown with her: And all 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 shall be at high festivals Before the kings and queens of France. No longer on saint Denis 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. Exeunt.

His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc; Nor any of his false confederates.

Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began,

Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds,
They did, amongst the troops of 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 vapors 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 pair 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.

Mess. 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 is the Talbot; who would speak with

him?

Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne,
With modesty admiring thy renown,
By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe
To visit her poor castle where she lies;

That she may boast she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.—
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of

men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd:-
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her.-
Will not your honors bear me company?

Bed. No, truly, it is more than manners will:
And I have heard it said,-Unbidden guests
Are often welcomest when they are gone.
Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy,
I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.
Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive
my mind.

Capt. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Auvergne. Court of the Castle. Enter the COUNTESS and her Porter.

Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge;
And, when you have done so, bring the keys to me.
Port. Madam, I will.
[Exit.
Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right,
I shall as famous be by this exploit,
As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no less account:

Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,
To give their censure of these rare reports.
Enter Messenger and TALBOT.

I thought, I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspéct,
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a silly dwarf:

It cannot be, this weak and writhled' shrimp
Should strike such terror to his enemies.

Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you:
But, since your ladyship is not at leisure,
I'll sort some other time to visit you.

Count. What means he now?-Go, ask him whither he goes.

Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief, I go to certify her, Talbot's here.

Re-enter Porter, with Keys.

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. Tal. Prisoner! to whom?

Count.

To me, blood-thirsty lord; And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.

Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
But now the substance shall endure the like;
For in my gallery thy picture hangs:
And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
That hast by tyranny, these many years,
Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
And sent our sons and husbands captivate.
Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

Count. Laughest thou, wretch? thy mirth shall

turn to moan.

Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond," To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, Whereon to practise your severity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal.
I am indeed.
Count. Then have I substance too.
Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself:
You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here;
For what you see, is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,

He will be here, and yet he is not here:
Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce,
How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I show you presently.
He winds a Horn. Drums heard; then a Peal of
Ordnance. The Gates being forced, enter Soldiers.
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
How say you, madam? are you now persuaded,

These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns, With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,

And in a moment makes them desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited," And more than may be gather'd by thy shape. Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; For I am sorry, that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done hath not offended me: No other satisfaction do I crave, But only (with your patience) that we may Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have; For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well.