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. Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer ap pall'd; Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? 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. What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] But, first, to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place: Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous 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 Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, Will'd me to leave my base vocation, My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; Puc. 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 Catherine's churchyard, 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 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; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu'd. Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be; 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 protraet his speech. Reig. Shall we disturb him, since be 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. Glory is like a circle in the water, Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. Thou with an eagle art inspired then. Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, were like thee. ours; 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. SCENE III-London. Hill before the Tower. Enter at the gates, the Duke of Gloster, with his Serving Men, in blue coats. Glo. 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; Gloster it is that calls. [Servants knock. 1 Ward. [Within.] Who's 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, villains? 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 the realm, but I.- 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 traitors 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 commandement, Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? 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 Humphrey? what means this? Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, And not protector of the king or realm. Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot; This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, 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, I'll use, to carry thee out of this place. Win. Do what thou dar'st; I beard thee to thy face. Glo. What? am I dar'd, 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. |