b

None do

you like but an effeminate prince, A third man* thinks, without expense at all, Whom, like a schoolboy, you may over-awe. By guileful fair words, peace may be obtain'd. WIN. Gloster, whate'er we like, thou art pro- Awake, awake, English nobility! tector,

Let not sloth dim your honours, new-begot: And lookest to command the prince and realm. Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms; Thy wife is proud ; she holdeth thee in awe, Of England's coat one half is cut away. More than God, or religious churchmen may. Exe. Were our tears wanting to this funeral, Glo. Name not religion, for thou lov'st the These tidings would call forth her flowing tides. flesh,

BED. Me they concern ; regent I am of And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st,

France:Except it be to pray against thy foes.

Give me my steeled coat! I'll fight for France. BED. Cease, cease these jars, and• rest your Away with these disgraceful wailing robes ! minds in peace!

Wounds I will lend the French, instead of eyes, Let's to the altar:-heralds, wait on us :

To
weep

their intermissive miseries.
Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms,
Since arms avail not, now that Henry's dead.-

Enter a second Messenger.
Posterity, await for wretched years,
When at their mothers' moist* eyes, babes shall

2 Mess. Lords, view these letters, full of bad suck ;

mischance : Our isle be made a marish of salt tears,

France is revolted from the English quite, And none but women left to wail the dead.

Except some petty towns of no import : Henry the fifth ! thy ghost I invocate ;

The Dauphin Charles is crowned king in Rheims ; Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils !

- The bastard of Orleans with him is join'd ; Combat with adverse planets in the heavens !

Reignier,t duke of Anjou, doth take his part;
A far more glorious star thy soul will make,
Than Julius Cæsar, or bright ·

The duke of Alençon flieth to his side.
Exe. The Dauphin crowned king ! all fly to

him !
Enter a Messenger.

O, whither shall we fly from this reproach ?
Glo. We will not fly, but to our enemies'

throats : Mess. My honourable lords, health to you

all !

Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out. Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,

BED. Gloster, why doubt'st thou of my forOf loss, of slaughter, and discomfiture :

wardness ? Guienne, Champaigne, Rheims, Orleans,

An
army

have I muster'd in my thoughts, Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost. Wherewith already France is over-run. BED. What say'st thou, man !d before dead

Henry's corse
Speak softly, or the loss of those great towns

Enter a third Messenger.
Will make him burst his lead, and rise from death.

Glo. Is Paris lost ? is Rouen yielded up? 3 Mess. My gracious lords,—to add to your If Henry were recallid to life again, [ghost.

laments, These news would cause him once more yield the Wherewith you now bedew king Henry's hearse, Exe. How were they lost? what treachery was I must inform you of a dismal fight, us'd?

[money. Betwixt the stout lord Talbot and the French. Mess. No treachery; but want of men and Win. What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't Among the soldiers this is muttered,

[thrown: That here you maintain several factions ;

3 MESS. O, no ; wherein Lord Talbot was o'erAnd, whilst a field should be despatch'd and fought, The circumstance I'll tell you more at large. You are disputing of your generals.

The tenth of August last, this dreadful lord, One would have ling’ring wars, with little cost ; Retiring from the siege of Orleans, Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings ; Having full scarce six thousand in his troop,

C

a

а

him ;

:

b

By three and twenty thousand of the French Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.
Was round encompassed and set upon :

Exf. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry No leisure had he to enrank his men;

sworn ; He wanted pikes to set before his archers; Either to quell the Dauphin utterly, Instead whereof, sharp stakes, pluck'd out of Or bring him in obedience to your yoke. [leave, hedges,

BED. I do remember it; and here take my They pitched in the ground confusedly,

To
go
about my preparation.

Exit. To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.

Glo. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can, More than three hours the fight continued ; To view the artillery and munition ; Where valiant Talbot, above human thought, And then I will proclaim young Henry king. Enacted wonders with his sword and lance.

[Exit. Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king

is, Here, there, and every where, enrag'd he flew : Being ordain’d his special governor ; The French exclaim'd, the devil was in arms ; And for his safety there I'll best devise. [Erit. All the whole army stood agaz'd on him :

WIN. Each hath his place and function to His soldiers, spying his undaunted spirit,

attend : A Talbot! a Talbot ! cried out amain,

I am left out; for me nothing remains. And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.

But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office; Here had the conquest fully been seald up, The king from Eltham I intend to steal,!, If sir John Fastolfe + had not play'd the coward ; And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [Erit. He being in the vaward,(plac'd behind, With purpose to relieve and follow them,) Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Hence grew the general wreck and massacre ;

SCENE II.-France. Before Orleans. Enclosed were they with their enemies : A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace, Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back ;

Flourish. Enter CHARLES, with his Forces ; Whom all France, with their chief assembled

ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and others. strength, Durst not presume to look once in the face.

CHAR. Mars his true moving, even as in the BED. Is Talbot slain ? then I will slay myself,

heavens, For living idly here in pomp and ease,

So in the earth, to this day is not known : Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid, Late did he shine upon the English side, Unto his dastard foe-men is betray’d.

Now we are victors, upon us he smiles. 3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, What towns of any moment but we have ? And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford : At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans ; Most of the rest slaughter’d, or took, likewise. Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, BED. His ransom there is none but I shall

Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. pay :

ALEN. They want their porridge, and their fat I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne,

bull-beeves : His crown shall be the ransom of my friend ; Either they must be dieted like mules, Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours, And have their provender tied to their mouths, Farewell, my masters; to my task will I; Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,

Reig. Let's raise the siege ; why live we idly To keep our great saint George's feast withal :

here? Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear : Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury, 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is be- And he may well in fretting spend his gall, sieg’d;

Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
The English army

is
grown
weak and faint :

CHAR. Sound, sound alarum ! we will rush on The earl of Salisbury craveth supply,

them. And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,

Now for the honour of the forlorn French !

(*) Old text, slew.

(tj Old text, Falstoffe. * Vaward,-) Some editors, perhaps rightly, read rear-ward.

b Steal,- ) The folio has, send. Mason suggested, what is obvious enough, that steal was the poet's word; and Mr. Collier's annotator has made the same correction. VOL. 11.

289

c The forlorn French !] The sense of forlorn in this place, does not appear to have been understood, and Mr. Collier's annotator proposes to read forborne, instead. But the old word, meaning fore-lost, needs no change; the Dauphin apostrophises the honour of those French who had previously fallen.

Him I forgive my death, that killeth me, Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome;
When he sees me go back one foot or fly.

What's past, and what's to come, she can descry. [Exeunt. Speak, shall I call her in ? Believe my words,

For they are certain and unfallible. Alarums ; Excursions ; the French are beaten

CHAR. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] but, back by the English with great loss.

first, to try her skill,

Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place : Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, REIGNIER, and

Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern ;others. By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.

[Retires. CHAR. Who ever saw the like? what men

have I ! Dogs ! cowards ! dastards !—I would ne'er have fled,

Re-enter the Bastard of Orleans, with LA

PUCELLE.(3)
But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
REIG. Salisbury is a desperate homicide ;

REIG. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these He fighteth as one weary of his life.

wondrous feats ?

[me?The other lords, like lions wanting food,

Puc. Reignier, is’t thou that thinkest to beguile Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.

Where is the Dauphin ?—Come, come from beALEN. Froissart, a countryman of ours, records,

hind; England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,*

I know thee well, though never seen before. During the time Edward the third did reign.

Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me: More truly now may this be verified ;

In private will I talk with thee apart.For none but Samsons and Goliasses,

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten ! Lean raw-bon'd rascals ! who would e'er suppose

REIG. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's They had such courage and audacity?

daughter, Char. Let's leave this town ; for they are

My wit untrajn’d in any kind of art. hair-brain'd slaves,

Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleas'd And hunger will enforce them to be more eager :

To shine on my contemptible estate : Of old I know them ; rather with their teeth

Lo! whilst I waited on my tender lambs, The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the

And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, siege.

God's mother deigned to appear to me; Reig. I think, by some odd gimmers or device,

And, in a vision full of majesty, Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;

Will'd me to leave

my

base vocation, Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.

And free my country from calamity. By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

Her aid she promis’d, and assur'd success : ALEN. Be it 30.

In complete glory she reveal'd herself;

And, whereas I was black and swart before, Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

With those clear rays which she infus’d on me,

That beauty am I bless’d with, which you see. Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin ? I have Ask me what question thou canst possible, news for him.

[us. And I will answer unpremeditated : CHAR. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, Bast. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex. appallid;

Resolve o on this ;—thou shalt be fortunate, Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence ? If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand :

CHAR. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high A holy maid hither with me I bring,

terms ; Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, Only this proof I'll of thy valour make, Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,

In single combat thou shalt buckle with me; And drive the English forth the bounds of France. And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true ; The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

(*) Old text, breed.

“Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?'
b Which you see.] Thus the second folio; the first has eurer
uously," whiclı you may

ee.'
o Resolve on this ;] Be assured of it.

"

A To be more eager :) As Steerens suggested, thc preposition ought to be omitted. The saine redundancy is found in a gubsequent line,-

a

woman.

Puc. I am prepard: here is my keen-edg'd sword, CHAR. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove? (5) Deck'd with five* flower-de-luces on each side ; Thou with an eagle art inspired, then. The which, at Touraine, in saint Katherine's Helen, the mother of great Constantine, churchyard,

Nor yet saint Philip's daughters, were like thee. Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth, CHAR. Then come, o'God's name, I fear no How may I reverently worship thee enough?

[man. ALEN. Leave off delays, and let us raise the Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a

siege.

[honours ; [They fight, and LA PUCELLE overcomes. Reig. Woman, do what thou canst to save our CHAR. Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Drive them from Orleans, and be immortaliz’d. amazon,

CHAR. Presently we'll try :-come, let's away And fightest with the sword of Deborah.

about it;
Puc. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too No prophet will I trust, if she prove

false.
weak,
[help me :

[Exeunt.
CHAR. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must
Impatiently I burn with thy desire ;
My heart and hands thou hast at once subdu’d.

SCENE III.-London. Tower Hill. Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, Let me thy servant, and not sovereign, be; Enter, at the Gates, the DUKE of GLOUCESTER, 'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

with his Serving-men in blue coats. Puc. I must not yield to any rites of love,

Glo. I am come to survey the Tower this day; For my profession's sacred from above :

Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.bWhen I have chased all thy foes from hence, Then will I think upon a recompense.

Where be these warders, that they wait not here? CHAR. Mean time look gracious on thy pros

Open the gates, 't is Glosier that calls.

Servants knock. trate thrall. REIG. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

1 Ward. [Within.] Who's there that knocks

] ALEN. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her

so imperiously?

1 SERV. It is the noble duke of Gloster. smock, Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

2 WARD. [Within.] Whoe'er he be, you may

not be let in. REIG. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no

[tector?

1 Serv. Villains, answer you so the lord promean?

[do know : ALEN. He may mean more than we poor men

1 WARD. [Within.] The Lord protect him! so

we answer him: These women are shrewd tempters with their

We do not otherwise than we are will’d. tongues.

[you on? REIG. My lord, where are you? what devise

Glo. Who willed you ? or whose will stands

but mine?
Shall we give over Orleans, or no ?
Puc. Why, no,
I

There's none protector of the realm but I.-
distrustful recreants !

say, Fight till the last gasp, I will be your guard.

Break upd the gates, I'll be your warrantize :

Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms ? CHAR. What she I'll confirm ; we'll fight

says, it out. Puc. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.

GLOUCESTER's men rush at the Tower gates : and This night the siege assuredly I'll raise:

WOODVILLE, the Lieutenant, speaks within. Expect saint Martin's summer," halcyonf days, Wood. [Within.) What noise is this? what Since I have entered into these wars.

traitors have we here? Glory is like a circle in the water,

Glo. Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear ? Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

Open the gates; here's Gloster, that would enter. Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to nought. Wood. [Within.] Have patience, noble duke ; With Henry's death the English circle ends ;

I

may Dispersed are the glories it included.

The cardinal of Winchester forbids : Now am I like that proud insulting ship,

From him I have express commandement, Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.(4)

That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.

not open ;

Glo. Faint-hearted Woodville, prizest him 'fore Glo. Peeld priest, dost thou command me to me ?

be shut out ? Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor, Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could And not protector of the king or realm. brook ?

Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator ; Thou art no friend to God or to the king : Thou that contriv’dst to murder our dead lord ; Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly. Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin : 1 SERV. Open the gates unto the lord pro- I'll canvas o thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, tector ;

[quickly. If thou proceed in this thy insolence. Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not Win. Nay, stand thou back; I will not budge

a foot; Enter WINCHESTER, with his Serving-men in

This be Damascus," be thou cursed Cain, tawny coats.

To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt. [back :

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee Win. How now, ambitious Humphrey ! * what Thy scarlet robes, as a child's bearing-cloth, means this?

I'll use to carry thee out of this place.