quickly. Reg. My lord, where are you? what devise Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Shall we give over Orleans, or no? [you on? 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 St. 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. Heler, 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. [honours; Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our 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. 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: Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook? 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; Enter WINCHESTER, attended by a Train of Servants in tawny Coats. Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey? what means this? [be shut out? Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to 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. [a foot; Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. [back: Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee 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. [face?Glo. What, am I dar'd, and bearded to my 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; In spite of pope or dignities of church, Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down. Win. Gloster, thou'lt answer this before the my wrongs: Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king, Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use. One that still motions war, and never peace, Win. Here's Gloster too, a foe to citizens; O'ercharging your free purses with large fines; That seeks to overthrow religion, And would have armour here out of the Tower. Because he is protector of the realm; To crown himself king, and suppress the prince. Glo. I will not answer thee with words, but blows. [Here they skirmish again. May. Nought rests for me, in this tumultuous But to make open proclamation:-- [strife, 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 pair 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: May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will Now it is supper-time in Orleans: depart. [bear! Here, through this grate, I can count every one, Good God! that nobles should such stomachs 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; A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word; [Exit. Glan. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. Foraught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. [Shot from the Town. SALISBURY and SIR THO. GARGRAVE jall. Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners, Gar. O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man Speak, Salisbury: at least, if thou canst speak; One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace: He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; Tal. The duke of Bedford hath a prisoner, Called-the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles; For him I was exchang'd and ransomed. But with a baser man of arms by far, [me: Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death Rather than I would be so vile esteem'd. In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd. [heart! But, O the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my 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 enter-The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,——[taunts, A holy prophetess, new risen up, tain'd. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious Here, said they, is the terror of the French, To hurl at the beholders of my shame. That they suppos'd, I could rend bars of steel, Ready they were to shoot me to the heart. Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you en Mess. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd head; Is come with a great power to raise the siege. It irks his heart, he cannot be revenged.- men dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies. SCENE V. The same. Before one of the Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the Dau phin, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my force? But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. [dured; Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them: A woman clad in armour chaseth them. Enter LA PUCELLE. Here, here she comes :-I'll have a bout with serv'st. 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, of 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, Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must dis- Transported shall be at high festivals grace thee. [They fight. Before the kings and queens of France. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? No longer on Saint Dennis will we cry, My breast I'll burst with straining of mycourage, But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint. And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, Come in, and let us banquet royally, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. After this golden day of victory. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet I must go victual Orleans forthwith. O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength, Go, go, cheer up thy hungry starved men; Help Salisbury to make his testament: This day is ours, as many more shall be. [come: [PUCELLE enters the Town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am, nor what I do : Are from their hives, and houses, driven away. [Alarum. Another Skirmish. In spite of us, or aught that we could do. SCENE VI. The same. Puc. Advance our waving colours on the [Flourish. Exeunt. Art Second. SCENE I. The same. Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant; If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign, Let us have knowledge at the court of guard. 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit Sergeant.] Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold. Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with Scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead March. Tal. Lord regent,-and redoubted Burgun- By whose approach, the regions of Artois, Bed. Coward of France !-how much he Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, Bur. Traitors have never other company.- Bed. Rescu'd is Orleans from the English wolves:-If underneath the standard of the French, She carry armour as she hath begun. [spirits: How shall I honour thee for this success? France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess! More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires, won; For which, I will divide my crown with her : Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with God is our fortress; in whose conquering name Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. Tal. Not all together: better far I guess, Bur. Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right YF The French leap over the Walls in their shirts. What ruin happen'd in revenge of him so? Alen. How now, my lords? what, all unready Hearing alarums at our chamber doors. Ne'er heard I of a warlike enterprise him. Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. At all times will you have my power alike? This sudden mischief never could have fall'n. Char. Duke of Alencon, this was your default; As that whereof I had the government, Within her quarter, and mine own precinct, case. And now there rests no other shift but this, Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left. [Exit. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; Bed. 'Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, Enter a Messenger. Mess. All hail, my lords! which of this princely Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts [train So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him? With modesty admiring thy renown, [safe Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars of men Could not prevail with all their oratory, And in submissio. will attend on her.- Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remedy, Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. SCENE III. Auvergne. Court of the Castle. And, when you have done so, bring the keys to I Port. Madam, I will. [Exit. [right, Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out And his achievements of no less account: Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears, According as your ladyship desir'd, noured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt. Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the Taste of your wine, and see whatcates you have; Mess. Madam, it is. [man? For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. Count. Is this the scourge of France? Count. With all my heart: and think me hoIs this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad, That with his name the mothers still their I see report is fabulous and false : [babes? I thought I should have seen some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspect, 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: Count. What means he now ?-Go ask him, Re-enter Porter, with keys. Count. If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. But now the substance shall endure the like; I am indeed. I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce; Fie will be here, and yet he is not here: Tal. That will I show you presently. He winds a Horn. Drums heard; then a peal of Ord- With which he yoketh your rebellious necks; Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: [strue Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor miscon- SCENE IV. London. The Temple Garden. Enter the EARLS OF SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK; RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer. Plan. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means this silence? Dare no man answer in a case of truth? Suff. Within the Temple hall we were too loud: The garden here is more convenient. Plan. Then say at once, if I maintain'd the Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error? War. Between two hawks, which flies the [case, Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the I pluck this pale and maiden blossom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose side. Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it off; Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, |