What towns of any moment, but we have? 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, Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: Now for the honour of the forlorn French :-- Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide; He fighteth as one weary of his life. Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, For none but Samsons, and Goliases, It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! (1) i. e. The prey for which they are hungry. Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair- And hunger will enforce them to be more eager : Alen. Be it so. Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news for him. Char. Bastard2 of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer3 appall'd; Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence? Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, And drive the English forth the bounds of France. 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. (1) A gimmal is a piece of jointed work, where one piece moves within another; here it is taken at large for an engine. (2) This was not in former times a term of reproach. (3) Countenance. 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; My wit untrain❜d in any kind of art. Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd terms; Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- (1) Be firmly persuaded of it, And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Puc. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Char. Then come o'God's name, I fear no woman. Puo. 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 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. Now am I like that proud insulting ship, How may Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters,2 were like thee. Bright star of Venus; fall'n down on the earth, 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 immortaliz'd. Char. Presently we'll try :-Come, let's away about it: No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. [Exe. 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.3. 3 Where be these warders, that they wait not here? (1) Expect prosperity after misfortune. (2) Meaning the four daughters of Philip, mentioned in Acts xxi. 9. (3) Theft. |