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Bed. Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
For living idly here, in pomp and ease,
Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
Unto his dastard foe-men is betray'd.

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3 Mess. O no, he lives; but is took prisoner, And lord Scales with him, and lord Hungerford: Most of the rest slaughter'd, or took, likewise. Bed. His ransom there is none but I shall pay: I'll hale the dauphin headlong from his throne, His crown shall be the ransom of my friend; Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.Farewel, my masters; to my task will I; Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make, To keep our great saint George's feast withal: Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take, Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake. 3 Mess. So you had need; for Orleans is besieg'd; The English army is grown weak and faint:

The earl of Salisbury craveth supply;

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And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,

Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.

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Exe. Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn;

Either to quell the dauphin utterly,

Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.

Bed. I do remember it; and here take leave,

Το go about my preparation.

[Exit.

Glo. I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can,

To view the artillery and munition;

And then I will proclaim young Henry king. [Exit,

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Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is, Being ordain'd his special governor;

And for his safety there I'll best devise.

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[Exit.

Win. Each hath his place and function to attend : I am left out; for me nothing remains. But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office; The king from Eltham I intend to send, And sit at chiefest stern of public weal.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

Before Orleans in France. Enter Charles, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER, marching with a Drum and Soldiers.

Char. Mars his true moving, even as in the

heavens,

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?
At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;

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Otherwhiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts, Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

Alen. They want their porridge, and their fat bullbeeves:

Either they must be dieted, like mules,

And have their provender ty'd to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly here?
Talbot

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Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
Remaineth none, but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
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 :

Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
When he sees me go back one foot, or fly.

[Exeunt.

[Here Alarum, they are beaten back by the English, with great Loss.

Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER.

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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.
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hunger prey.

Alen. Froisard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
During the time Edward the third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;

For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses,

It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!

Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity ?

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Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair

brain'd slaves,

And

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.

Reig. I think, by some odd gimmals or device,
Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;
Else they could ne'er hold out so, as they do.
By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.

Alen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans.

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Bast. Where's the prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

Dau. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

Bast. 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,

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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 infallible.

Dau. Go, call her in: 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. 249

Enter

Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE.

Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats ?

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Pucel. 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.
Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
Pucel. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daugh-
ter,

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 blest with, which you see.
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
And I will answer unpremeditated:

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260

My

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