Char.
Mars his true moving^{5 note}, even as in the heavens,

So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late did he shine upon the English side:
Now we are victors upon us he smiles.
What towns of any moment, but we have?
At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;
Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,
Faintly besiege 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 tyed to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

Reig.
Let's raise the siege; 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 spend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.

Char.
Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on them.
Now for the honour of the forlorn French:—
Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. [Exeunt. Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and Others.

Char.
Who ever saw 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 desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,

Do rush upon us as their hungry prey^{6 note}

Alen.
Froissard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred^{7 note}

Char.
Let's leave this town; for they are hairbrain'd slaves,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager^{8 note}

Reig.
I think, by some odd gimmals^{9 note}

Their arms are set, like clocks^{1 note}

Alen.
Be it so. Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

Bast.
Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Char.
Bastard of Orleans^{2 note}

Bast.
Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd^{3 note}

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 daughter,
My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
Heaven and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd
To shine on my contemptible estate^{6 note}

:
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^{7 note}
,
Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
And free my country from calamity:
Her aid she promis'd, and assur'd success:
In cómplete 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 may see^{8 note}.
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^{9 note}

: 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^{1 note}

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^{3 note}

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^{4 note}, 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^{5 note}

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^{6 note}
.

Char.
Was Mahomet inspired with a dove^{7 note}?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters^{8 note}, were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough^{9 note}

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. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section