Enter Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words, SCENE II. France. Before Orleans. CHARLES, with his Forces; ALENCON, REIGNIER, and others. 1 Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens, So in the earth, to this day is not known: Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bullbeeves: Either they must be dieted like mules, here? Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: 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; Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager : Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news 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. 1 You are as ignorant in the true movings of my 3 These were two of the most famous in the list of Charlemagne's twelve peers; and their exploits are the theme of the old romances. From the equally doughty and unheard of exploits of these champions, arose the saying of Giving a Rowland for an Oliver, for giving a erson as good as he brings. Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] But, first to try her skill, Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place: [Retires. 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; Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high yard, Out of a great 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 figh.. 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. 4 By gimmals, gimbols, gimmers, or gimowes, any kind of device or machinery producing motion was meant. Baret has the gime or hinge of a door." 5 Bastard was not in former times a title of reproach. 6 Cheer in this instance means heart or courage, as in the expression 'be of good cheer.' 7 Warburton says that, 'there were no nine sybils of Rome, it is a mistake for the nine Sibylline Oracles brought to one of the Tarquins. But the poet followed the popular books of his day, which say that the ten sybils were women that had the spirit of prophecy (eau merating them) and that they prophesied of Christ' 8 i. e. be convinced of it. Char. Mean tine, look gracious on thy prostrate Servants rush at the Tower Gates. Enter, to the thrall. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge. Char. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?3 Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours; Drive them from Or.eans, 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 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, villains? I 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.- 1 i. e. expect prosperity after misfortune, like fair weather at Martlemas, after winter has begun. 2 This is a favourite image with poets. 3 Mahomet had a dove which he used to feed with wheat out of his ear; which dove when it was hungry, lighted on Mahomet's shoulder, and thrust its bill in to find its breakfast, Mahomet persuading the rude and simple Arabians that it was the Holy Ghost.' Raleigh's Hist. of the World, part i. c. vi. 4 Meaning the four daughters of Philip mentioned in Acts, xxi. 9. 5 Conveyance anciently signified any kind of furtive knavery, or privy stealing. 6 To break up was the same as to break open. 7 It appears that the attendants upon ecclesiastical courts, and a bishop's servants, were then, as now, disdinguished by clothing of a sombre colour. L.e. bald, alluding to his shaven crown. 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: Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore me? Arrogant Winchester? that haughty prelate, 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? 8 Glo. Piel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out? Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor," Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot; This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain, Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back: 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. 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, thou'lt answer this before the pope. Glo. Winchester goose, 12 I cry-a rope! a rope! Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array. Now beat them hence: Why do you let them stay? Out, tawny coats!-out scarlet'' hypocrite! Here a great Tumult. In the midst of it, Enter the Mayor of London, 14 and Officers. May. Fye, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates, Thus contumeliously should break the peace! wrongs : 9 Traitor. 10 The public stews in Southwark were under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Winchester. Upton had seen the office book of the court leet, in which was entered the fees paid by, and the customs and regulations of these brothels. 11 To canvas was 'to toss in a sieve; a punishment (says Cotgrave) inflicted on such as commit gross ab surdities.' 12 A Winchester goose was a particular stage of the disease contracted in the stews, hence Gloucester bestows the epithet on the bishop in derision and scorn. 13 In King Henry VIII. the earl of Surrey, with a similar allusion to Cardinal Wolsey's habit, calls him scarlet sin.' 14 It appears from Pennant's London that this mayor was John Coventry, an opulent mercer, from whom the present earl of Coventry is descended. 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 strife, But to make open proclamation:Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou can'st. 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 sure: Thy heart-blood I will have, for this day's work. Win. Abominable Gloster! guard thy head; For I intend to have it, ere long. [Exeunt. May. See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart. Good God! that nobles should such stomachs2 bear! I myself fight not once in forty year. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. France. Before Orleans. Enter, on the Walls, the Master Gunner and his Son. M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd: And how the English have the suburbs won. M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou rul'd by me: Chief master-gunner am I of this town; How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd, A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd; [Exit. If thou spy'st any, run and bring we word; Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! 1 Malone erroneously thinks the mayor cries out for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves. The practice of calling out Clubs! clubs! to call out the London apprentices upon the occasion of any affray in the streets, has been before explained, see As You Like It, Act v. Sc. 2. 2 Stomach is pride, a haughty spirit of resentment 3 Favour. 4 Spies. Vide note on Hamlet, Act iii. Sc. 1. Or by what means gott'st thou to be releas'd? Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, In Sal. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert enter tain'd. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious To be a public spectacle to all; Here, said they, is the terror of the French," But we will be reveng'd sufficiently. Where is best place to make our battery next. 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 THO. GARGRAVE fall. 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; One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace: 8 Camden says, in his Remaines, that the French scarce knew the use of great ordnance till the siege of The old copy reads went; the emendation is Mr. Mans in 1455, when a breach was made in the walls of Tyrwhitt's 6 The old copy reads 'pil'd esteem'd.' that town by the English, under the conduct of this earl of Salisbury; and that he was the first English gentle 7This man [Talbot] was to the French people al man that was slain by a cannon ball. Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort; He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; [Thunder heard; afterwards an Alarum. Mes. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd head: The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,- Is come with a great power to raise the siege. dare. [Exeunt, bearing out the bodies. SCENE V. The same. Before one of the Gates. Dauphin, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and my Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them: Enter LA PUCELLE. Sheep run not half so timorous4 from the wolf, [Alarum. Another Skirmish. In spite of us, or aught that we could do. SCENE VI. The same. Enter, on the Walls, Puc. Advance our waving colours on the walls; Char. Divinest creature, bright Astrea's daughter, More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state. To celebrate the joy that God hath given us. Alen. All France will be replete with mirth and When they shall hear how we have play'd the men. Here, here she comes :-I'll have a bout with A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear, thee; thee. Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come: [PUCELLE enters the Town, with Soldiers. Tal. My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am, nor what I do : 1 Puzzel means a dirty wench or a drab, from puzza, i. e. malus foetor,' says Minsheu. 2 The superstition of those times taught that he who could draw a witch's blood was free from her power. 3 Alluding to Hannibal's stratagem to escape, by fixing bundles of lighted twigs on the horns of oxen, recorded by Livy, lib. xxij. c. xvj. 4 Old copy treacherous. Corrected by Pope. 5 Wolves. Thus the second folio, the first omits that word, and the epithet bright prefixed to Astrea in the next line but one. Malone follows the reading of the first folio, and contends that by a licentious pronunciation a syllable was added, thus Engleish, Asterea. B Than Rhodope's, of Memphis, ever was:" But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Enter to the Gates, a French Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant: (When others sleep upon their quiet beds) Tal. Lord Regent,-and redoubted Burgundy,- 6 The Adonis horti were nothing but portable earthen Than Rhodophe's or Memphis ever was.' Rhodope, or Rhodopis, a celebrated courtezan, who was a slave in the same service with Esop, at Samos. 9 In what price the noble poems of Homer were holden by Alexander the Great, insomuch that everio night they were layd under his pillow, and by day were carried in the rich jewel coffer of Darius, lately before vanquished by him.' Puttenham's Arte of English Poesie, 1589. 9 The same as guard-room. Embrace we then this opportunity; As fitting best to quittance their deceit, Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery. How, or which way: 'tis sure, they found some place But weakly guarded, where the breach was made, Bed. Coward of France ?-how much he wrongs And now there rests no other shift but this, his fame, Despairing of his own arm's fortitude, To join with witches, and the help of hell. A maid! and be so martial! Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with God is our fortress; in whose conquering name, Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow thee. Bur. And I to this. Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave. Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right [The English scale the Walls, crying St. George! The French leap over the Walls in their shirts. Enter, several ways, BASTARD, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, half ready, and half unready. Alen. How now, my lords? what all unready1 so? Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so well. Reig. 'Twas time, I trow, to wake and leave our beds, Hearing alarums at our chamber doors. To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English Soldier, crying a Tal bot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their Clothes behind. Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have left, The cry of Talbot serves me for a sword; For I have loaden me with many spoils, Using no other weapon but his name. [Exit. SCENE II. Orleans. Within the Town. Enter TALBOT, BEDFord, Burgundy, a Captain, and others. Bed. The day begins to break, and night is fled, Whose pitchy mantle over-veil'd the earth. Here sound retreat, and cease our hot pursuit. [Retreat sounded. Tal. Bring forth the body of old Salisbury; And here advance it in the market-place, The middle centre of this cursed town.Now have I paid my vow unto his soul; For every drop of blood was drawn from him, There hath at least five Frenchmen died to-night. And, that hereafter ages may behold What ruin happen'd in revenge of him, Within their chiefest temple I'll erect A tomb, wherein his corpse shall be interr'd: Upon the which, that every one may read, Shall be engrav'd the sack of Orleans; The treacherous manner of his mournful death, And what a terror he had been to France. But, lords, in all our bloody massacre, I muse, we met not with the Dauphin's grace; Bed. "Tis thought, Lord Talbot, when the fight Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, Alen. Of all exploits, since first I follow'd arms, Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field. Never heard I of a warlike enterprise Bast. I think, this Talbot be a fiend of hell. Alen. Here cometh Charles; I marvel how he Enter CHARLES and LA PUCELLE. That now our loss might be ten times so much? friend? At all times will you have my power alike? Alen. Had all your quarters been as safely kept, Then how, or which way, should they first break in? 1 Unready is undressed. 2 Plans, schemes. Bur. Myself (as far as I could well discern, For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night) Am sure I scar'd the Dauphin, and his trull; When arm in arm they both came swiftly running, Like to a pair of loving turtle-doves, That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Enter a Messenger. Mess. All hail, my lords! which of this princely Call train ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him? Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of Auvergne, With modesty admiring thy renown, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see our wars |