The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _France. Before Orleans_.
_Sound a Flourish. Enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER, _marching with Drum and Soldiers_. _Char._ Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens [aab001] So in the earth, to this day is not known: Late did he shine upon the English side; Now we are victors; upon us he smiles. What towns of any moment but we have? ·aab005· At pleasure here we lie near Orleans; Otherwhiles the famish’d English, like pale ghosts, [aab007] Faintly besiege us one hour in a month. _Alen._ They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves: Either they must be dieted like mules ·aab010· And have their provender tied to their mouths [aab011] Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice. _Reig._ Let’s raise the siege: why live we idly here? [aab013] Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: Remaineth none but mad-brain’d Salisbury; ·aab015· And he may well in fretting spend his gall, Nor men nor money hath he to make war. _Char._ Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them. Now for the honour of the forlorn French! [aab019] Him I forgive my death that killeth me ·aab020· When he sees me go back one foot or fly. [_Exeunt_. [aab021] _Here Alarum; they are beaten back by the English with great loss. Re-enter_ CHARLES, ALENÇON, _and_ REIGNIER. _Char._ Who ever saw the like? what men have I! Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne’er have fled, But that they left me ’midst my enemies.
_Char._ Go, call her in. [_Exit Bastard._] But first, to try her skill, [aab060] 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. [aab063] _Re-enter the_ BASTARD of Orleans, _with_ JOAN LA PUCELLE. _Reig._ Fair maid, is’t thou wilt do these wondrous feats? [aab064] _Puc._ Reignier, is’t thou that thinkest to beguile me? ·aab065· Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind; 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. ·aab070· _Reig._ She takes upon her bravely at first dash. _Puc._ 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 [aab074] To shine on my contemptible estate: ·aab075· 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 ·aab080· 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 ·aab085· That beauty am I bless’d with which you see. [aab086] 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. [aab090] Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate, If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
_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, ·aab095· And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Otherwise I renounce all confidence. [aab097] _Puc._ I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword, Deck’d with five flower-de-luces on each side; [aab099] The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine’s churchyard, [aab100] Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth. [aab101] _Char._ Then come, o’ God’s name; I fear no woman. [aab102] _Puc._ And while I live, I’ll ne’er fly from a man. [aab103] [_Here they fight, and Joan La Pucelle overcomes._ _Char._ Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. ·aab105· _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 subdued. Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so, ·aab110· Let me thy servant and not sovereign be: ’Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus. [aab112] _Puc._ I must not yield to any rites of love, [aab113] For my profession’s sacred from above: When I have chased all thy foes from hence, ·aab115· Then will I think upon a recompense.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.