King Henry VI, Part 1 | Page 5

may this be verified;?For none but Samsons and Goliases?It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!?Lean raw-bon'd rascals! Who would e'er suppose?They had such courage and audacity??CHARLES. Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves,?And hunger will enforce them to be more eager.?Of old I know them; rather with their teeth?The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.?REIGNIER. I think by some odd gimmers or device?Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;?Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.?By my consent, we'll even let them alone.?ALENCON. Be it so.
Enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS
BASTARD. Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him. CHARLES. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.?BASTARD. Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer 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 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.
Re-enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS with
JOAN LA PUCELLE
REIGNIER. Fair maid, is 't thou wilt do these wondrous feats? PUCELLE. Reignier, is 't thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;?I know thee well, though never seen before.?Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me.?In private will I talk with thee apart.?Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.?REIGNIER. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.?PUCELLE. 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 pleas'd?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 promis'd and assur'd success.?In complete glory she reveal'd herself;?And whereas I was black and swart before,?With those clear rays which she infus'd 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 dar'st,?And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.?Resolve on this: thou shalt be fortunate?If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.?CHARLES. 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;?And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;?Otherwise I renounce all confidence.?PUCELLE. I am prepar'd; here is my keen-edg'd sword,?Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side,?The which at Touraine, in Saint Katherine's churchyard, Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.?CHARLES. Then come, o' God's name; I fear no woman.?PUCELLE. And while I live I'll ne'er fly from a man.
[Here they fight and JOAN LA PUCELLE overcomes] CHARLES. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon,?And fightest with the sword of Deborah.?PUCELLE. 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 subdu'd.?Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,?Let me thy servant and not sovereign be.?'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.?PUCELLE. 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.?REIGNIER. My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.?ALENCON. Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;?Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.?REIGNIER. Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean??ALENCON. He may mean more than we poor men do know;?These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.?REIGNIER. My lord, where are you? What devise you on??Shall we give o'er Orleans, or no??PUCELLE. 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.?PUCELLE. Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.?This night the siege assuredly I'll raise.?Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days,?Since I have entered into these wars.?Glory is like a circle