Impatiently I burn with thy desire;

I Ward. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so we My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd.

answer him: Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,

We do not otherwise than we are will'd. Let me thy servant, and not sov’reign, be:

Glo. Who willèd you? or whose will stands but 'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

mine? Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love,

There 's none protector of the realm but I. For my profession 's sacred, from above:

Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize: When I have chased all thy foes from hence,

Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms? Then will I think upon a recompense.

[GLOSTER's serving-men rush at the Tower Char. Mean time look gracious on thy prostrate

gates. thrall.

Wood. [Within.] What noise is this? what trai. Reig. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

tors have we here? Alen. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her Glo. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear? smock;

Open the gates; here's Gloster that would enter. Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech. Wood. [Within.] Ilave patience, noble duke; I Reig. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no

may not open; mean?

The cardinal of Winchester forbids: Alen. He may mean more than we poor men do From him I have express commandment, know:

That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in. These women

are shrewd tempters with their Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore tongues.

me, Reig: My lord, where are you? what devise you Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate, Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

[on: Whom Henry, our late sov'reign, ne'er could brook? Puc. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants ! Thou art no friend to God, or to the king : Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. Char. What she says, I'll confirm: we'll fight it I Serv. Open the gates unto the lord protector; out.

Or we'll burst then open, if that you come not Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.

quickly. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise :

(GLOSTER's serving-men rush again at the Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days,

Tower gates. Since I have entered into these wars.

Enter WINCHESTER, attended by Servants in tawney coats. Glory is like a circle in the water, Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey! what Till by broad spreading, it disperse to naught.

means this? With Henry's death the English circle ends;

Glo. Peeld priest, dost thou command me to be

shut out? Dispersed are the glories it included. Now am I like that proud insulting ship,

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.

And not protector, of the king or realm. Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?

Glo. Siand back, thou manifest conspirator, Thou with an eagle art inspired, then.

Thou that contriv’dst to murder our dead lord; Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

Thou that givist whores indulgences to sin : Nor yet St Philip's daughters, were like thee.

I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth,

If thou proceed in this thy insolence. How may I reverently worship thee enough?

Win. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge a Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

This be Damascus, be thou cursèd Cain, [foot: Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. honours;

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz’d.

Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth Char. Presently we'll try:---come, let's away

I'll use to carry thee out of this place. about it:

Win. Do what thou dar'st; I'll beard thee to thy

face. No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.

[Exeunt.

Glo. What! am I dar'd, and bearded to my Draw, men, for all this privileged place; [face?

Blue coats to tawney coats. —Priest, beware your SCENE III.---LONDON. Before the Gates of the

beard ; Tower,

I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly: Enter the DUKE OF GLOSTER, with his serving-men, in blaue

Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat;

In spite of pope or dignities of church, Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day:

Here by the cheeks I 'll drag thee up and down. Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.

Win. Gloster, thou ’lt answer this before the pope. Where be these warders, that they wait not here?

Glo. Winchester goose! I cry-a rope! a rope! Open the gates; 'tis Gloster that calls.

Now beat them hence, why do you let them stay?

Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array:

[Servants knock. i Ward. [Within.] Who's there that knocks so

Out, tawney coats !--out, scarlet hypocrite! imperiously?

Here Gloster and his serving-men attack the other party: I Sery. It is the noble duke of Gloster.

and enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of London and 2 Ward. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may not

his officers. be let in.

May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magisI Serv. Villains, answer you so the lord protector?

trates,

coats.

FIRST PART OF KING HENRY VI.

SCENE IV.]

sure :

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care;
Glo. Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.

wrongs:
Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,

Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the LORDS SALIS

BURY and TALBOT; SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE, SIR THOMAS
Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.

GARGRAVE, and others.
Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens;

Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!
One that still motions war, and never peace,

How wert thou handled, being prisoner?
O'ercharging your free purses with large fines;

Or by what means got'st thou to be releas'd?
That seeks to overthrow religion,

Discourse, I pr’ythee, on this turret’s top.
Because he is protector of the realm;

Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
And would have armour, here, out of the Tower, Called the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles;
To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. For him I was exchang'd and ransomèd.
Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but But with a baser man of arms by far,
blows.

[Here they skirmish again. Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me:
May. Naught rests for me, in this tumultuous Which I, disdaining, scorn’d; and craved death,
strise,

Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd.
But to make open proclamation :-

In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd.
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.

But, O, the treacherous Fastolfe wounds

my

heart! Off [Reads.]

Whom with my bare fists I would execute,
"All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day, If I now had him brought into my power.

against God's peace, and the king's, we charge and com- Sal. Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert enter-
mand you, in his highness' name, to repair to your several
dwelling-places; and not to wear, handle, or use, any

tain'd.
sword, weapon, or dagger, henceforward, upon pain of Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious
death."

taunts.
Glo. Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law: In open market-place produc'd they me,
But we shall meet, and break our minds at large. To be a public spectacle to all:
Win. Gloster, we'll meet, to thy dear cost, be Here, said they, is the terror of the French,

The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work. Then broke I from the officers that led me,
Alay. I'll call for clubs, if you will not away:-

And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground,
This cardinal's more haughty than the devil. To hurl at the beholders of my shame:
Glo. Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou My grisly countenance made others fly;
mayst.

None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head;

In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
For I intend to have it, ere long.

So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, [Exeunt, severally, GLOSTER and WIN- That they suppos'd I could rend bars of steel,

CHESTER, with their serving-men. Ind spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
depart.-

That walk'd about me every minute-while;
Good God! these nobles should such stomachs And if I did but stir out of my bed,
bear!

Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
I myself fight not once in forty year. [Excunt. Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you endur'd;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
SCENE IV.-FRANCE, Before ORLEANS. Now it is supper-time in Orleans:

Here, through this grate, I can count every one,
Enter, on the walls, the Master-Gunner and his Son. And view the Frenchimen how they fortify:
M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee. —
besieg'd,

Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale,
And how the English have the suburbs won. Let me have your express opinions,

Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them, Where is best place to make our battery next.
Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my

aim.

Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there stand M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd

lords. by me:

Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Chief master-gunner am I of this town;

Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,
Something I must do to procure me grace.

Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.
The prince's espials have informed me

[Shot from the town. SALISBURY and SIR How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,

Tho. GARGRAVE fall.
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars

Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city;

Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man! And thence discover, how, with most advantage, Tal. What chance is this, that suddenly hath They may vex us with shot, or with assault.

cross'd us?
To intercept this inconvenience,

Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak:
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac’d; How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men?
And even these three days have I watch'd, if I One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off!-
Could see them,

Accursed tower! accursèd fatal hand,
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer. That hath contriv'd this woful tragedy!
If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;

In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

Henry the fifth he first train'd to the wars;
(Exit. Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,

His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field. — Help Salisbury to make his testament: Yet liv'st thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth This day is ours, as many more shall be. fail,

(LA PUCELLE enters the town, with Soldiers. One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace: Tal. My thoughts are whirlèd like a potter's The sun with one eye vieweth all the world. - I know not where I am, nor what I do: (wheel; Heaven, thou gracious to none alive,

A witch by fear, not force, like Hannibal, If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!

Drives back our troops, and conquers as she lists: Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it. - So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome stench, Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?

Are from their hives and houses driven away.
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.-

They call'd us, for our fierceness, English dogs;
Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort; Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
Thou shalt not die, whiles-

(A short alarum.
He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me, Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
As who should say, “When I am dead and gone, Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Remember to avenge me on the French."-

Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
Plantagenet, I will; and like thee, Nero,

Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf, Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:

Or horse or oxen from the léopard, Wretched shall France be only in my name.

As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves. [Thunder heard; aflerwards an alarum.

[Alarum. Another skirmish.
What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens? It will not be :-retire into your trenches:
Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise? You all consented unto Salisbury's death,

For none would strike a stroke in his revenge. —
Enter a Messenger.

Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,
Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd In spite of us or aught that we could do.
head:

O, would I were to die with Salisbury ! The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,

The shame hereof will make me hide my head. A holy prophetess, new risen up, —

[Alarum. Retreat. Exeunt TALBOT Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [SALISBURY lifts himself up and groans.

and his forces, &c.
Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan!
It irks his heart he cannot be reveng'd. –

SCENE VI.--The Same.
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you :-
Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish,

Flourish. Enter, on the walls, LA PUCELLE, CHARLES,
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,

REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers. And make a quagmire of your mingled brains. —

Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Convey me Salisbury into his tent,

Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves :And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen

Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. dare. [Exeunt, bearing out ihe bodies. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astræa's daughter,

How shall I honour thee for this success? SCENE V.--ORLEANS. Before one of the Gates.

Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens,

That one day bloom'd, and fruitful were the next.
Alarum.

Skirmishings. Enter Talbot, pursuing t!! France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!
Dauphin: drives him in, and exit: then enter LA
PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her, and exit after

Recover'd is the town of Orleans: them. Then re-enter Talbot.

More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my

Reig. Why ring not out the bells throughout the force?

town? Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them; Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, A woman clad in armour chaseth them.

And feast and banquet in the open streets, Here, here she comes. —

To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and joy,
Re-enter La PUCELLE.

When they shall hear how we have play'd the men.
I'll have a bout with thee; Char. 'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;
Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:

For which I will divide my crown with her ;
Blood will I draw on thee,—thou art a witch, - And all the priests and friars in my realm
And straightway give thy soul to him thou serv'st. Shall in procession sing her endless praise.
Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear,
thee.

[They fight. Than Rhodope's, of Memphis, ever was:
Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? In memory of her when she is dead,
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, Her ashes, in an urn more precious
And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, Than the rich-jewel'd coffer of Darius,
But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Transported shall be at high festivals

[They fight again. Before the kings and queens of France. Puc. [Retiring.) Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not No longer on Saint Dennis will we cr yet come:

But Joan la Pucelle shall be France I must go victual Orleans forthwith.

Come in, and let us banquet ro O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength. After this golden day of victor Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starvèd men;

a

men

His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc, Mess. Madam, it is.
Nor any of his false confederates.

Count.

Is this the scourge of France?
Bedo 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad,
began,

That with his name the mothers still their babcs?
Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, I see report is fabulous and false :
They did, amongst the troops of armed men, I thought I should have seen some Hercules,
Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

A second Hector, for his grim aspect,
Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
For smoke and dusky vapours of the night)

Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!
Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin and his trull,

It cannot be, this weak and writhled shrimp When arm in arm they both came swiftly running, Should strike such terror to bis enemies. Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves,

Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you ; That could not live asunder, day or night.

But since your ladyship is not at leisure, After that things are set in order here,

I'll sort some other time to visit you. [Going We'll follow them with all the power we have. Count. What means he now ? - Go ask him,

whither he goes. Enter a Messenger. Mess. All hail, my lords! Which of this princely To know the cause of your abrupt departure.

Mess. Stay, my lord Talbot ; for my lady craves train

Tal. Marry, for that she's in a wrong belief,
Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts

I go to certify her Talbot's here.
So much applauded through the realm of France ?
Tal. Here is the Talbot : who would speak with

Re-enter Porter, with keys.
him?

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.
Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, Tal. Prisoner! to whom?
With modesty admiring thy renown,

Count.

To me, blood-thirsty lord ;
By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe And for that cause I train'd thee to my house.
To visit her poor castle where she lies,

Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
That she may boast she hath beheld the man For in my gallery thy picture hangs :
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

But now the substance shall endure the like,
Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
Will turn unto a peaceful comic sport,

That hast by tyranny, these many years, When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.-

Wasted our country, slain our citizens, You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit. And sent our sons and husbands captivate. Tal. Ne'er trust me, then ; for when a world of Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

Count. Laughest thou, wretch ? thy mirth shall Could not prevail with all their oratory,

turn to moan. Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd :

Tal. I laugh to see your ladyship so fond, And therefore tell her I return great thanks,

To think that you have aught but Talbot's shadow, And in submission will attend on her.—

Whereon to practise your severity. Will not your honours bear me company?

Count. Why, art not thou the man? Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will : Tal.

I am indeed. And I have heard it said, unbidden guests

Count. Then have I substance too. Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself : Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, You are deceivid, my substance is not here; I mean to prove this lady's courtesy:

For what you see, is but the smallest part Come hither, captain. [Whispers.] You perceive And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Capt. I do, my lord, and mean accordingly. It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,

(Exeunt. Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.

Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce; SCENE III.-AUVERGNE. Court of the Castle.

He will be here, and yet he is not here :

How can these contrarieties agree?
Enter the COUNTESS and her Porter.

Tal. That will I show you presently.
Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge ;
And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.

He winds a horn. Drums strike up; then a peal of ord

[Exit. Port. Madam, I will.

The gates being forced, enter Soldiers. Count. The plot is laid : if all things fall out

How say you, madam? are you now persuaded,

That Talbot is but shadow of himself? right, I shall as famous be by this exploit,

These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death.

With which he yoketh your rebellious necks, Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,

Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns, And his achievements of no less account :

And in a moment makes them desolate. Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears,

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse : To give their censure of these rare reports.

I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited,

And more than may be gather'd by thy shape.
Enter Messenger and TALBOT.

Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath;
Mess. Madam, according as your ladyship desir'd For I am sorry, that with reverence
By message crav’d, so is lord Talbot come.

I did not entertain thee as thou art,
Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue
man?

The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake

my mind.

nance.