Glo. Piel'd priest,* dost thou command me to be shut out?

Win. I do, thou most usurping proditor,t And not protector of the king or realm.

Glo. Stand back, thou manifest conspirator; Thou, that contriv'dst to murder our dead lord; Thou, that giv'st whores indulgences to sin: I'll canvast thee in thy broad cardinal's hat, If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Win. Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot;

This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel if thou wilt.

Glo. I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee

back:

Thus contumeliously should break the peace!
Glo. Peace, mayor; thou know'st little of
[king,
Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor
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,

M. Gun. Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieg'd;

And how the English have the suburbs won. Son. Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,

Howe'er, unfortunate, I miss'd my aim.
M. Gun. But now thou shalt not. Be thou
rul'd by me:

Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do, to procure me grace:‡
The prince's espials have informed me,
How the English, in the suburbs close in-
trench'd,

Wont, through a secret gate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city; [tage,
And thence discover, how, with most advan-
They may vex us, with shot, or with, assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have plac'd;
And fully even these three days have I watch'd,
IfI could see them. Now, boy, do thou watch,
For I can stay no longer.

If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.

[Erit.

Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care;

I'll never trouble you, if 1 may spy them. Enter, in an upper Chamber of a Tower, the Lords SALISBURY and TALBOT, Sir WILLIAM GLANSDALE, Sir THOMAS GARGRAVE, and others.

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 tumul-
tuous strife,

But to make open proclamation:-
Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst.
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.

Alluding to his shaven crown. + Traitor. 1 Sift.
A strumpet. An allusion to the Bishop's habit.

Discourse, I pr'ythee, on this turret's top.
Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner,
Called-the brave lord Ponton de Santrailles;
For him I was exchang'd and ransomed.
But with a baser man of arms by far, fine:
Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd
Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death
Rather than I would be so pil'd esteemed.||
In fine, redeem'd I was as I desir'd. [heart!
But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my
If I now had him brought into my power.
Whom with my bare fists I would execute,

Sul. Yet tell'st thou not, how thou wert en-
tertain'd.

Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts.

In open market-place produc'd they me,
To be a public spectacle to all;
Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
The scare-crow that affrights our children so.
Then broke I from the officers that led me;
And with my nails digg'd stones out of the
ground,

* That is, for peace-officers armed with clubs or staves.
+ Pride.
↑ Favour.
Spies
So stripped of honours.

To hurl at the beholders of my shame.
My grisly countenance made others fly;
None durst come near for fear of sudden
death.

In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
So great fear of my name 'mongst them was
spread,

That they suppos'd, 1 could rend bars of steel,
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
That walk'd about me every minute-while;
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
Sul. I grieve to hear what torments you
endur'd;

But we will be reveng'd sufficiently.
Now it is supper-time in Orleans: [one,
Here, through this grate, I can count every
And view the Frenchmen how they fortify;
Let us look in, the sight will much delight
thee.-
[dale,
Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glans-
Let me have your express opinions,
Where is best place to make our battery next.
Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there
stand lords.

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; How far'st thou, mirror of all martial men? One of thy eyes, and thy cheek's side struck

off!

up,

vens?

Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [SALISBURY groans.

Tul. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth

groan!

It irks his heart, he cannot be reveng'd.-
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you :-
Pucelle or puzzel,* dolphin or dogfish,
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's
heels,

And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.—
Convey me Salisbury into his tent,
And then we'll try what these dastardly
Frenchmen dare.

[Exeunt, beuring out the Bodies.

SCENE V.-The same-Before one of the Gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PECELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT.

Tal. Where is my strength, my valour, and
my force?

Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them;
A woman, clad in armour, chaseth them.
Enter LA PUCELLE.
Here, here she comes:—
thee;

-I'll have a bout with

Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:
Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
And straightway give thy soul to him thou
serv'st.

Puc. Come, come, 'tis only I that must dis-
grace thee;
[They fight.
[age,

Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to pre

vail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courAnd from my shoulders crack my arms asunder,

But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Puc. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet

come:

I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
Go, go, cheer up thy hunger-starved men;
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
This day is ours, as many more shall be.

[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: A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal, Drives back our troops, and conquers, as she [stench,

lists:

So bees with smoke, and doves with noisome Are from their hives, and houses, driven away. They call'd us, for our fierceness, English

dogs;

Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
[A short Alarum.
Hark, countrymen? either renew the fight,
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lion's stead:
Sheep run not half so timorous from the wolf,
Or horse, or oxen, from the leopard,
As you fly from your oft subdued slaves.

[Alarum. Another Skirmish.
It will not be:-Retire into your trenches:
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.-
Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,

In spite of us, or aught that we could do.
O, would I were to die with Salisbury!

the town?

Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires,
And feast and banquet in the open streets,
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.
Alen. All France will be replete with mirth
and joy,
[men.
When they shall hear how we have play'd the
Char. "Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is
won;

For which, I will divide my crown with her :
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall, in procession, sing her endless praise.
A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear,
Than Rhodope's, or Memphis', ever was:
In memory of her, when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
Than the rich-jewel'd coffer of Darius,
Transported shall be at high festivals
Before the kings and queens of France.
No longer on Saint Dennis will we cry,
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
Come in; and let us banquet royally,
After this golden day of victory.

ACT II.

[Flourish. Exeunt.

SCENE I.-The same.

Enter to the Gates, a French SERGEANT, and two SENTINELS.

Serg. Sirs, take your places, and be vigilant: If any noise, or soldier, you perceive, Near to the walls, by some apparent sign, Let us have knowledge at the court of guard.* 1 Sent. Sergeant, you shall. [Exit SERGEANT.] Thus are poor servitors (When others sleep upon their quiet beds,) Constrain'd to watch in darkness, rain, and cold.

Enter TALBOT, BEDFORD, BURGUNDY, and Forces, with scaling Ladders; their Drums beating a dead march.

Tal. Lord regent,-and redoubted Burgundy,

By whose approach, the regions of Artois,
Walloon, and Picardy, are friends to us,-
This happy night the Frenchmen are secure,
Having all day carous'd and banquetted:
Embrace we then this opportunity;
As fitting best to quittance their deceit,
Contriv'd by art, and baleful sorcery.

Bed. Coward of France!-how much he
wrongs his fame,

The same as guard-room.

To join with witches, and the help of hell. Bur. Traitors have never other company.But what's that Pucelle, whom they term so pure?

Tal. A maid, they say.

Bed. A maid! and be so martial!

Bur. Pray God, she prove not masculine ere long;

If underneath the standard of the French,
She carry armour, as she hath begun.

Tal. Well, let them practise and converse with spirits:

God is our fortress; in whose conquering name, Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks.

Bed. Ascend, brave Talbot; we will follow

thee.

That we do make our entrance several ways;
Tal. Not all together: better far, I guess,
That, if it chance the one of us do fail,
The other yet may rise against their force.
Bed. Agreed; I'll to yon corner.

Bur. And I to this.

Tal. And here will Talbot mount, or make his grave.

Now, Salisbury! for thee, and for the right
Of English Henry, shall this night appear
How much in duty I am bound to both.

[The English scale the Walls, crying St. George! a Talbot! and all enter by the Town. Sent. [Within.] Arm, arm! the enemy doth make assault!

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 un-
ready so?

Bast. Unready? ay, and glad we 'scap'd so

well.

We had not been thus shamefully surpriz'd. Bust. Mine was secure.

Reig. And so was mine, my lord.

Char. And, for myself, most part of all this night,

Within her quarter, and mine own precinct,
I was employ'd in passing to and fro,
About relieving of the sentinels:

Then how, or which way, should they first break in?

case,

Puc. Question, my lords, no further of the [place How, or which way; 'tis sure, they found some But weakly guarded, where the breach was made.

And now there rests no other shift but this,To gather our soldiers, scatter'd and dispers'd, And lay new platforms to endamage them. Alarum. Enter an English SOLDIER, crying, a Talbot! a Talbot! They fly, leaving their Clothes behind.

Sold. I'll be so bold to take what they have

left.

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-
And, that hereafter ages may behold [night.
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;
His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc;
Nor any of his false confederates.

Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began,

Rous'd on the sudden from their drowsy beds, They did, amongst the troops of armed men, Leap o'er the walls for refuge in the field.

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 runLike to a pair of loving turtle-doves,[ning, 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.

Tal. Here is the Talbot; who would speak with him?

Mess. The virtuous lady, countess of AuWith modesty admiring thy renown, [vergne, By me entreats, good lord, thou wouldst vouchsafe

To visit her poor castle where she lies;*
That she may boast, she hath beheld the man
Whose glory fills the world with loud report.

Bur. Is it even so? Nay, then, I see, our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.-
You may not, my lord, despise her gentle suit.
Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world

of men

Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness over-ruled:-
And therefore tell her, I return great thanks;
And in submission will attend on her.-
Will not your honours bear me company?

Bed. No, truly; it is more than manners will: And I have heard it said,-Unbidden guests Are often welcomest when they are gone.

Tal. Well then, alone, since there's no remeI mean to prove this lady's courtesy. [dy, Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive my mind.

Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Auvergne.-Court of the Castle. Enter the COUNTESS and her PORTER. Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; [to me. And, when you have done so, bring the keys Port. Madam, I will. [Exit.

[right,

Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out I shall as famous be by this exploit, As Scythian Thomyris by Cyrus' death. Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight, And his achievements of no less account: Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine

ears,

To give their censuret of these rare reports.
Enter MESSENGER and TALBOT.
Mess. Madam,

According as your ladyship desir'd,
My message crav'd, so is lord Talbot come.
Count. And he is welcome. What is this
the man?

Mess. Madam, it is.

craves

shall turn to moan.

[dow,

Tal. No, no, I am but shadow of myself: You are deceiv'd, my substance is not here; For what you see, is but the smallest part And least proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch,
Your roof were not sufficient to contain it.
Count. This is a riddling merchant for the

nonce;t

strength,

and

With which he yoketh your rebellious necks; Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns, And in a moment makes them desolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse: I find, thou art no less than fame hath bruited, And more than may be gather'd by thy shape. Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath; For I am sorry, that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tul. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconThe mind of Talbot, as you did mistake [strue The outward composition of his body. What you have done, hath not offended me: No other satisfaction do I crave,

But only (with your patience,) that we may Taste of your wine, and see what cates you have;

For soldiers' stomachs always serve them well. Count. With all my heart: and think me honoured

To feast so great a warrior in my house.

[Exeunt.

Plan. Then say at once, If I maintain'd the truth;

Or, else, was wrangling Somerset in the error?
Suff. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law;
And, therefore, frame the law unto my will.
And never yet could frame my will to it;
Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then
between us.

War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch, [mouth, Between two dogs, which hath the deeper Between two blades, which bears the better temper, [best,

eye,

Between two girls, which hath the merriest
Between two horses, which doth bear him
[ment:
But in these nice sharp quillets of the law,
I have, perhaps, some shallow spirit of judge-
Good faith, I am no wiser than a daw.

Plan. Tut, tut, here is a mannerly forbear

ance:

The truth appears so naked on my side,
That any purblind eye may find it out.

Som. And on my side it is so well apparell'd,
So clear, so shining, and so evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Plan. Since you are tongue-ty'd, and so loath

to speak,

Let him, that is a true-born gentleman,
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts:
And stands upon the honour of his birth,
If he suppose that I have pleaded truth,
From off this brier pluck a white rose with me.

Som. Let him that is no coward, nor no flatBut dare maintain the party of the truth,

Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with me.
Of base insinuating flattery,
War. I love no colours; and, without all
[colour

I pluck this white rose, with Plantagenet. Suff. I pluck this red rose, with young Somerset ;

no more,

And say withal, I think he held the right.
Ver. Stay, lords, and gentlemen: and pluck
Till you conclude that he, upon whose side
The fewest roses are cropp'd from the tree,
Shall yield the other in the right opinion.

Som. Good master Vernon, it is well objectIf I have fewest, I subscribe in silence. [ed;‡ Plan. And I.

Ver. Then, for the truth and plainness of the case,

I pluck this pale, and maiden blossom here, Giving my verdict on the white rose side.

Som. Prick not your finger as you pluck it

Lest, bleeding, you do paint the white rose red, off; And fall on my side so against your will.

Ver. If I, my lord, for my opinion bleed, Opinion shall be surgeon to my hurt, And keep me on the side where still I am. Som. Well, well, come on: Who else? Law. Unless my study and my books be false, The argument you held, was wrong in you; In sign whereof, I pluck a white rose too. [To SOMERSET. Plan. Now, Somerset, where is your argu

ment?