Bas. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer 1

appall'd.

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?

Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:

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.
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,

Exceeding the nine sibyls 2 of old Rome :

What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.
Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
For they are certain and unfallible.

Charles. 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.

Enter LA PUCElle, bastard of ORLEANS, and others. Rei. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wondrous feats ?

Pu. Reignier, is 't thou that thinkest to beguile me?

Where is the Dauphin ?—come, come from behind;

1 Countenance.

2 Meaning, probably, the nine sibylline books brought to one of the Tarquins.

I know thee well, though never seen before.
Be not amazed; there's nothing hid from me:
In private will I talk with thee apart.

Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
Rei. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Pu. 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 pleased
To shine on my contemptible estate.

Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,

And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
God's mother deigned to appear to me;
And, in a vision full of majesty,

Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
And free my country from calamity :
Her aid she promised, and assured success:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
And, whereas I was black and swart before,

With those clear rays which she infused on me,
That beauty am I bless'd with, which you may see.
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
And I will answer unpremeditated:

My courage try by combat, if thou darest,
And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
Resolve on this; 1-thou shalt be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

Charles. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high

terms:

Be firmly persuaded of this.

Only this proof I'll of thy valor make ;-
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me;
And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.

Pu. I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword,
Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side;
The which, at Touraine, in saint Katharine's church-
yard,

Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.

Charles. Then come, o' God's name; I fear no

woman.

Pu. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man. [they fight. Charles, Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Ama

zon,

And fightest with the sword of Deborah.

Pu. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too

weak.

Charles. Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me :

Impatiently I burn with thy desire;

My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.
Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,

Let me thy servant, and not sovereign be.
"Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.
Pu. I must not yield to any rites of love;
For my profession's sacred from above.
When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
Then will I think upon a recompense.

Charles. Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

Rei. 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.

Rei. 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.

Rei. My lord, where are you? what devise you on ?

Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

Pu. Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard. Charles. What she says, I'll confirm; we'll fight

it out.

Pu. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.
This night the siege assuredly I'll raise :
Expect saint Martin's summer,1 halcyon days,
Since I have entered into these wars.
Glory is like a circle in the water,
Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to naught.
With Henry's death the English circle ends;
Dispersed are the glories it included.

Now am I like that proud insulting ship,

1 Expect prosperity after misfortune, like fair weather after winter has begun.

Which Cæsar and his fortune bare at once.

Charles. Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,

Nor yet saint Philip's daughters,1 were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fallen down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough?

Alen. Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege. Rei. Woman, do what thou canst to save our honors:

Drive them from Orleans, and be immortalised. Charles. 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.

Glos. I am come to survey the Tower this day : Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.2 Where be these warders, that they wait not here? Open the gates; Gloster it is that calls.

[Servants knock. 1 War. [within.] Who is there that knocks So imperiously?

1 Meaning the four daughters of Philip, mentioned Acts xxi. 9.

2 Theft.