The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY VI.

KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

VERNON, of the White Rose, or York Faction.
BASSET, of the Red Rose, or Lancaster Faction.
CHARLES, DAUPHIN, and afterwards King of France.
REIGNIER, Duke of Anjou, and titular King of
Naples.

DUKE OF BURGUNDY.-DUKE OF ALENÇON,
GOVERNOR OF PARIS.BASTARD OF ORLEANS.
MASTER-GUNNER OF ORLEANS, and his Son.
GENERAL OF THE FRENCH FORCES in Bourdeaux.
A FRENCH SERGEANT.-A PORTER.
AN OLD SHEPHERD, Father to Joan la Pucelle.
MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier; afterwards mar-
ried to King Henry.
COUNTESS OF AUVERGNE.

JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called, Joan of Arc.

Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several Attendants both on the English and French.

Scene, partly in England; and partly in France.

ACT I.

SCENE 1.-Westminster Abbey. Dead March.-Corpse of King HENRY THE FIFTH discovered, lying in State; attended on by the Dukes of BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; the Earl of WARWICK; the Bishop of WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c.

Bed. Hung be the heavens with black*, yield day to night!

Comets, importing change of times and states,
Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky;
And with them scourge the bad revolting stars,
That have consented unto Henry's death!
Henry the fifth, too famous to live long!
England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.

Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time.
Virtue he had, deserving to command:

His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams;
His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
His sparkling eyes replete with wrathful fire,
More dazzled and drove back his enemies,
Than mid-day sun, fierce bent against their faces.
What should I say? His deeds exceed all speech:
He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquer'd.
Ere. We mourn in black; why mourn we not in
blood;

Henry is dead, and never shall revive:
Upon a wooden coffin we attend;
And death's dishonourable victory
We with our stately presence glorify,
Like captives bound to a triumphant car.
What? Shall we curse the planets of mishap,
That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?
Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
Conjurers and sorcerers, that afraid of him,
By magic verses + have contrived his end?
Win. He was a king bless'd of the King of kings.
Unto the French the dreadful judgment day
So dreadful will not be, as was his sight,
The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:
The church's prayers made him so prosperous.

Alluding to our ancient stage-practice when a tragedy was to be acted.

There was a notion long prevalent, that life might be taken away by metrical charms.

Glo. The church! Where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd,

His thread of life had not so soon decay'd:
None do you like but an effeminate prince,
Whom, like a shool-boy, you may over-awe.

Win. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art protector;
And lookest to command the prince, and realm.
Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,
More than God, or religious churchmen may.

Glo. Name not religion, for thou lovest the flesh; And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st, Except it be to pray against thy foes.

Bed. Cease, cease these jars, and rest your minds in peace!

Let's to the altar:-Heralds, wait on us :—
Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms;
Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.-
Posterity, await for wretched years,
When at their mother's moist eyes babes shall
suck;

Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears,
And none but women left to wail the dead.-
Henry the fifth thy ghost I invocate;
Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils!
Combat with adverse planets in the heavens!
A far more glorious star thy soul will make,
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright--

Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. My honourable lords, health to you all! Sad tidings bring I to you out of France, Of loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture: Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.

Bed. What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse?

Speak softly; or the loss of those great towns
Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death.
Glo. Is Paris lost? Is Rouen yielded up?
If Henry were recall'd to life again,
These news would cause him once more yield the
ghost.

Exe. How were they lost? What treachery was used?

Mess. No treachery; but want of men and money. Among the soldiers this is muttered,

• Nurse was anciently so spelt.

That here you maintain several factions;
And, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought,
You are disputing of your generals.

One would have lingering wars, with little cost;
Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;
A third man thinks, without expence at all,
By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd.
Awake, awake, English nobility!

Let not sioth dim your honours, new-begot!
Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms;
Of England's coat one half is cut away.

Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral,
These tidings would call forth her flowing tides •.
Bed. Me they concern; regent I am of France :-
Give me my steeled coat, I'll fight for France.-
A
way with these disgraceful wailing robes!
Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes,
To weep their intermissive miseries +.

Enter another MESSENGER.

I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne,
His crown shall be the ransome of my friend;
Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.-
Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,
To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:
Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.
3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is be
sieged;

The English army is grown weak and faint:
The earl of Salisbury craveth supply,
And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,
Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.
Ere. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn;
Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,
Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.
Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave,
To go about my preparation.
[Exit.
Glo. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can,

2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad To view the artillery and munition;
mischance,

France is revolted from the English quite ;
Except some petty towns of no import:

The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims;
The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd;
Reignier, duke of Anjou, doth take his part;
The duke of Alençon flieth to his side.

Exe. The Dauphin crowned king! All fly to him!
O, whither shall we fly from this reproach?

Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats:-
Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.
Bed. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forward-

ness?

An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,
Wherewith already France is over-run.

Enter a third MESSENGER.

3 Mess. My gracious lords,-to add to your la

ments,

Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse,-
I must inforin you of a dismal fight,
Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French.

Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? Is't so?
3 Mess. O, no; wherein lord Talbot was o'er-
thrown:

The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord,
Retiring from the siege of Orleans,

Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,
By three and twenty thousand of the French
Was round encompassed and set upon :
No leisure had he to enrank his men ;
He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of
They pitched in the ground confusedly, [hedges,
To keep the horseman off from breaking in.
More than three hours the fight continued;
Where valiant Talbot, above human thought,
Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.
Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand
him;

Here, there, and every where, enraged he slew:
The French exclaim'd, the devil was in arms;
All the whole army stood agazed on him:
His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,
A Talbot! A Talbot! cried out amain,
And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.
Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up,
If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward;
He being in the vaward, (placed behind,
With purpose to relieve and follow them,)
Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
Enclosed were they with their enemies:
A base Walioon, to win the Dauphin's grace,
Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back;
Whom all France, with their chief assembled
strength,

Durst not presume to look once in the face.
Bed. Is Talbot slain? Then I will slay myself,
For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd.

3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner,
And lord Scales with hini, and lord Hungerford :
Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise.
Bed. His ransome there is none but I shall pay :

Her, i. e. England's.

[Eril.

And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit.
Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is,
Being ordain'd his special governor;
And for his safety there Pii best devise.
Win. Each hath his place and function to attend:
I am left out; for me nothing remains,
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;
The king from Eltham I intend to send,
And sit at chiefest stern of public weal.

[Exit.-Scene closes.

SCENE II.-France.-Before Orleans. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others.

Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the hea
vens,

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 tied to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned nice.
Reig. Let's raise the siege; why live we idly

here ?

Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none, but mad-bram'a 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 toot or fly. [Exeunt.
Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat.
Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others.
Char. Who ever saw the like? What men have
1?-

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 lite.
The other lords, like lious wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey ⚫.

Aten. Floisard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses,
It sendeth forth to skirinish. One to ten!
Lean raw-boned rascals! Who would e'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity?

Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

brain'd slaves,

And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege.
Reig. I think by some odd gimmals or device,
Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;

i. e. The prey for which they are hungry. A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one 2. e. Their miseries which have had only a piece moves within another; here it is taken at large for an engine.

short intermission.

Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do.
By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.
Alen. Be it so.

Enter the BASTARD of Orleans.

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

Char Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bust. 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 sybils 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 unfallible.

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 wonderous 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 amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
In private wil! I talk with thee apart;-
Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
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 pleased
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 promised, and assured success:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
And, whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infused on me,
That beanty 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 darest,
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 prepared: here is my keen-edged 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 woman. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. [They fight. Char. Stay, stay thy bands; thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Pue. Christ's mother helps nie, 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 subdued.
Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,

Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be;'
Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

This was not in former times a term of reproach. + Countenance.

Be firmly persuaded of it.

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: [tongues. These women are shrewd tempters with their 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 confirmn; 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 nonght. With Henry's death, the English circle ends; Dispersed are the glories it included. Now am I like that prond insulting ship, Which Cæsar and his fortunes 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 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 immortalized. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away

about it:

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.

1 Serv. Answer you so the lord protector, villans? 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 these 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 trai-
tors 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?

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

Expect prosperity after misfortune.

+ Meaning the four daughters of Philip, mentioned in Acts xxi. 9. i Theft.

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 Servants in tawny Coats.

Win. How now, ambitious Humphry ? What means this?

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

Win. 1 do, thou most usurping proditor †, And not protector of the king or realm.

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

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, [foot; 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 P'li use, to carry thee out of this place.

Win. Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy

face.

Glo. What? am I dared, 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;,
In spite of pope, or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
Win. Gloster, thon't 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!
Here a great Tumult.-In the midst of it, Enter the
MAYOR OF LONDON, and OFFICERS.

May. Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magis

trates,

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 armour here out of the Tower, 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 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

SCENE IV.-France.-Before Orleans Enter, on the Walls, the MASTER-GUNNER Gnd 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 ruled 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.

[Erit.

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care; I'll never trouble yon, if I may spy them. Enter, in an upper Chamber of a Tower, the Lords 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 ? Or by what means got'st thou to be released ? Discourse, I pr'ythee, on this tarret's top.

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 But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart! In fine, redeem'd I was as I desired. 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

tain'd.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumeliors In open market-place produced they me, (taunts, 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 supposed, 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 with 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 endured;
But we will be revenged sufficiently."
Now it is 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 Sir Thomas Gargrave jall. 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 farest thou, mirror of all martial men?
One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck off -
Accursed tower! Accursed fatal hand,
That hath contrived 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 livest 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.-
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?

ther'd head:

The Dauphin, with one Joan là Pucelle join'd,-
A holy prophetess, new risen up,-

Is come with a great power to raise the siege.
[Salisbury groans.
Tul. 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 dog-fish,
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 these dastard Frenchmen
[Exeunt, bearing out the Bodies.

dare.

SCENE V.-The Same.-Before one of the Gates. 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 valour, and my force?

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 thee;

Devil, or devil's Dam, I'll conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on theet, thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou servest.
Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace
thee.
[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 caust; I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, 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. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's I know not where I am, nor what I do': [wheel; 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 call'd 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 ih lions' stead:
Sheep run not half so timorous from the well,
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 consent'd unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge--
Pacelle is enter'd 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, REIGNIER, ALENÇON, and Soldiers.

Puck. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Rescued is Orleans from the English wolves:— Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word. Char. Divinest creature, bright Astra's daughter, How shall I honour 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,
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.
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-jewell'd coffer of Darius,
Transported shall be at high festivals
Before the kings and queens of France.
No longer on Saint Dennis 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.

ACT II.

SCENE 1.-The same.

Enter to the Gates, a FRENCH SERGEANT, and two SENTINELS.

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 Constrain'd to watch in darkness rain, and cold. (When others sleep upon their quiet beds.)

Enter TALBOT, BEDEORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead march.

Tal. Lord regent, and redoubted Burgundy,—
By whose approach, the regions of Aitois,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,-
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day caroused and banqueted:
As fitting best to quittance their deceit,
Embrace we then this opportunity;
Contrived by art, and baleful sorcery.
Bed. Coward of France!-How much he wrongs
his fame,

Despairing of his own arm's fortitude,
To join with witches, and the help of hell.
Bur. Traitors have never other company.-
But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure?
Tal. A maid, they say,

Bed. A maid, and be so martial!

Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere long; If underneath the standard of the French, She carry armour, as she hath begun.

The same as a guard-room.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: To which are Added His ...