Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury; Alarums; excursions; afterwards a retreat. [Exeunt. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others. Alen. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records, It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten! Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair-brain'd slaves, And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do. Enter the Bastard of Orleans Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin, I have news for him. Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. A holy maid hither with me I bring, And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome; 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. 1 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: Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while. Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, Will'd me to leave my base vocation, 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; 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 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 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. When I have chased all thy foes from hence, 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 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. This night the siege assuredly I'll raise: Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days, Glory is like a circle in the water, Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. Now am I like that proud insulting ship, 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. [Exeunt SCENE III.-London. Hill before the Tower. Enter, at the gates, the Duke of GLOSTER, with his Servingmen, 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. |