The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 176

Enter the b.a.s.t.a.r.d OF ORLEANS

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

CHARLES. b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. 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 sibyls 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.

CHARLES. Go, call her in. [Exit b.a.s.t.a.r.d]

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.

Re-enter the b.a.s.t.a.r.d OF ORLEANS with JOAN LA PUCELLE

REIGNIER. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wondrous feats?

PUCELLE. 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 awhile.

REIGNIER. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

PUCELLE. 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 s.h.i.+ne on my contemptible estate.

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, G.o.d'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 promis'd and a.s.sur'd success.

In complete 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.

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 s.e.x.

Resolve on this: thou shalt be fortunate If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

CHARLES. 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.

PUCELLE. I am prepar'd; here is my keen-edg'd sword, Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side, The which at Touraine, in Saint Katherine's churchyard, Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.

CHARLES. Then come, o' G.o.d's name; I fear no woman.

PUCELLE. And while I live I'll ne'er fly from a man.

[Here they fight and JOAN LA PUCELLE overcomes]

CHARLES. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah.

PUCELLE. Christ's Mother helps me, else I were too weak.

CHARLES. 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.

PUCELLE. 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.

CHARLES. Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

REIGNIER. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

ALENCON. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock; Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

REIGNIER. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?

ALENCON. He may mean more than we poor men do know; These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.

REIGNIER. My lord, where are you? What devise you on?

Shall we give o'er Orleans, or no?

PUCELLE. Why, no, I say; distrustful recreants!

Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.

CHARLES. What she says I'll confirm; we'll fight it out.

PUCELLE. a.s.sign'd am I to be the English scourge.

This night the siege a.s.suredly 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 s.h.i.+p Which Caesar and his fortune bare at once.

CHARLES. 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 wors.h.i.+p thee enough?

ALENCON. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

REIGNIER. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours; Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz'd.

CHARLES. Presently we'll try. Come, let's away about it.

No prophet will I trust if she prove false. Exeunt

SCENE 3.

London. Before the Tower gates

Enter the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, with his serving-men in blue coats

GLOUCESTER. I am come to survey the Tower this day; Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.

Where be these warders that they wait not here?

Open the gates; 'tis Gloucester that calls.

FIRST WARDER. [Within] Who's there that knocks so imperiously?

FIRST SERVING-MAN. It is the n.o.ble Duke of Gloucester.

SECOND WARDER. [Within] Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.

FIRST SERVING-MAN. Villains, answer you so the Lord Protector?

FIRST WARDER. [Within] The Lord protect him! so we answer him.

We do no otherwise than we are will'd.

GLOUCESTER. 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?

[GLOUCESTER'S men rush at the Tower gates, and WOODVILLE the Lieutenant speaks within]

WOODVILLE. [Within] What noise is this? What traitors have we here?

GLOUCESTER. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?

Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter.

WOODVILLE. [Within] Have patience, n.o.ble 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.

GLOUCESTER. 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 G.o.d or to the King.