Henry VI, Part 1 (Modern)

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2.0.2192 Sound a Flourish.193 Enter Charles [the Dauphin, the Duke of] Alencon, and Reignier [Duke of Anjou], marching 194 with Drum[mer] and Soldiers.
2.1195Charles
 Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens,
2.2196So in the earth, to this day is not known.
2.3197Late did he shine upon the English side;
2.4198Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.
2.5199What towns of any moment but we have?
2.6200At pleasure here we lie near Orléans
2.7201Otherwhiles, the famished English, like pale ghosts,
2.8202Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.
2.9203Alencon
 They want their porridge and their fat bull beeves.
2.10204Either they must be dieted like mules,
2.11205And have their provender tied to their mouths,
2.12206Or piteous they will look, like drownèd mice.
2.13207Reignier
 Let's raise the siege. Why live we idly here?
2.14208Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear.
2.15209Remaineth none but mad-brained Salisbury,
2.16210And he may well in fretting spend his gall:
2.17211Nor men nor money hath he to make war.
2.18212Charles
 Sound, sound alarum. We will rush on them.
2.19213Now for the honor of the forlorn French,
2.20214Him I forgive my death that killeth me
2.21215When he sees me go back one foot, or flee. 
2.21.1 Exeunt.
Here alarum. They [the French] are beaten back by the217 English, with great loss.218 Enter Charles [the Dauphin, the Duke of] Alencon, and Reignier [Duke of Anjou].
2.22219Charles
 Who ever saw the like? What men have I?
2.23220Dogs, cowards, dastards. I would ne'er have fled,
2.24221But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
2.25222Reignier
 Salisbury is a desperate homicide.
2.26223He fighteth as one weary of his life.
2.27224The other lords, like lions wanting food,
2.28225Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.
2.29226Alencon
 Froissart, a countryman of ours, records
2.30227England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
2.31228During the time Edward the Third did reign.
2.32229More truly now may this be verified,
2.33230For none but Samsons and Goliasses
2.34231It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten?
2.35232Lean raw-boned rascals, who would e'er suppose
2.36233They had such courage and audacity?
2.37234Charles
 Let's leave this town, 235for they are hare-brained slaves,
2.38236And hunger will enforce them to be more eager.
2.39237Of old I know them: rather with their teeth
2.40238The walls they'll tear down, than forsake the siege.
2.41239Reignier
 I think by some odd gimmers or device
2.42240Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on,
2.43241Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
2.44242By my consent we'll even let them alone.
2.45243Alencon
 Be it so.
2.45.1244 Enter the Bastard of Orléans.
2.46245Bastard
 Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news 246for him.
2.47247Charles
 Bastard of Orléans, thrice welcome to us.
2.48248Bastard
 Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appalled.
2.49249Hath the late overthrow wrought this offense?
2.50250Be not dismayed, for succor is at hand.
2.51251A holy maid hither with me I bring,
2.52252Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,
2.53253Ordainèd is to raise this tedious siege
2.54254And drive the English forth the bounds of France.
2.55255The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,
2.56256Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome.
2.57257What's past and what's to come she can descry.
2.58258Speak: shall I call her in? Believe my words,
2.59259For they are certain, and unfallible.
2.60260Charles
 Go call her in.
2.60.1[Exit Bastard.] 
 Go call her in.  But first, to try her skill.
2.62261Reignier stand thou as Dauphin in my place.
2.63262Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern.
2.64263By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.
2.64.1264 Enter [the Bastard of Orléans with] Joan [la] Pucelle [bearing sword.]
2.65265Reignier
  [As Charles.] Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these 266wondrous feats?
2.66267Pucelle
 Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?
2.67268Where is the Dauphin? [To Charles.] Come, come from behind.
2.68269I know thee well, though never seen before.
2.69270Be not amazed. There's nothing hid from me.
2.70271In private will I talk with thee apart.
2.71272Stand back you lords, and give us leave a while.
2.71.1 [Reignier, Alencon, and Bastard stand apart.] 
2.72273Reignier
2.72.1 [To Alencon and Bastard.] She takes upon her bravely, at first dash.
2.73274Pucelle
 Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter.
2.74275My wit untrained in any kind of art.
2.75276Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased
2.76277To shine on my contemptible estate.
2.77278Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
2.78279And to sun's parching heat displayed my cheeks,
2.79280God's mother deignèd to appear to me,
2.80281And in a vision, full of majesty,
2.81282Willed me to leave my base vocation
2.82283And free my country from calamity.
2.83284Her aid she promised, and assured success.
2.84285In complete glory she revealed herself;
2.85286And whereas I was black and swart before,
2.86287With those clear rays which she infused on me
2.87288That beauty am I blest with, which you may see.
2.88289Ask me what question thou canst possible,
2.89290And I will answer unpremeditated.
2.90291My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st,
2.91292And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
2.92293Resolve on this: thou shalt be fortunate,
2.93294If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
2.94295Charles
 Thou hast astonished me with thy high terms.
2.95296Only this proof I'll of thy valor make:
2.96297In single combat thou shalt buckle with me.
2.97298And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
2.98299Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.
2.99300Pucelle
 I am prepared. Here is my keen-edged sword,
2.100301Decked with five flower-de-luces on each side;
2.101302The which at Touraine, in Saint Katherine's churchyard,
2.102303Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.
2.103304Charles
 Then come a God's name, I fear no woman.
2.104305Pucelle
 And while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man.
2.104.1306 Here they fight, and Joan [la] Pucelle overcomes.
2.105307Charles
 Stay, stay thy hands. Thou art an Amazon,
2.106308And fightest with the sword of Deborah.
2.107309Pucelle
 Christ's mother helps me, else I were too 310weak.
2.108311Charles
 Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me.
2.109312Impatiently I burn with thy desire.
2.110313My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.
2.111314Excellent Pucelle if thy name be so,
2.112315Let me thy servant, and not sovereign be.
2.113316'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.
2.114317Pucelle
 I must not yield to any rights of love,
2.115318For my profession's sacred from above.
2.116319When I have chasèd all thy foes from hence,
2.117320Then will I think upon a recompense.
2.118321Charles
 Meantime, look gracious on thy prostrate 322thrall.
2.119323Reignier
  [To the other lords apart.] My Lord methinks is very long in talk.
2.120324Alencon
 Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock,
2.121325Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.
2.122326Reignier
 Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no 327mean?
2.123328Alencon
 He may mean more then we poor men do know.
2.124329These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
2.125330Reignier
  [To Charles.] My Lord, where are you? What devise you on?
2.126331Shall we give o'er Orléans, or no?
2.127332Pucelle
 Why, no, I say. Distrustful recreants,
2.128333Fight till the last gasp; I'll be your guard.
2.129334Charles
 What she says, I'll confirm. We'll fight 335it out.
2.130336Pucelle
 Assigned am I to be the English scourge.
2.131337This night the siege assurèdly I'll raise.
2.132338Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon's days,
2.133339Since I have enterèd into these wars.
2.134340Glory is like a circle in the water,
2.135341Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself
2.136342Till, by broad spreading, it disperse to naught.
2.137343With Henry's death, the English circle ends.
2.138344Dispersèd are the glories it included.
2.139345Now am I like that proud insulting ship
2.140346Which Caesar and his fortune bore at once.
2.141347Charles
 Was Muhammed inspirèd with a dove?
2.142348Thou with an eagle art inspirèd then.
2.143349Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
2.144350Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters were like thee.
2.145351Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
2.146352How may I reverently worship thee enough?
2.147353Alencon
 Leave off delays, and let us raise the 354siege.
2.148355Reignier
 Woman, do what thou canst to save our honors.
2.149356Drive them from Orléans, and be immortalized.
2.150357Charles
 Presently we'll try. Come, let's away about it.
2.151358No prophet will I trust, if she prove false. 
2.151.1
  Exeunt.
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Henry VI, Part 1 (Modern)
