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. 171 [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 : 180 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, Reig. Let's raise the siege; Why live we idly here? Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: 191 Char. Sound, sound, alarum; we will rush on them. Now for the honour of the forlorn French : [Exeunt. Him I forgive my death, that killeth me, When he sees me go back one foot, or fly. [Here Alarum, they are beaten back by the English, with great Loss. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, and REIGNIER. 201 Char. Who ever saw the like? what men have I Alen. Froisard, a countryman of ours, records, For none but Sampsons, and Goliasses, Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would e'er suppose 210 Char. Let's leave this town; for they are hair. brain'd slaves, And. And hunger will enforce them to be more eager: Alen. Be it so. Enter the Bastard of Orleans. 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, 239 And drive the English forth the bounds of France. Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome; Dau. Go, call her in: But first, to try her skill, Enter Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats ? 241 Pucel. Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me? Where is the dauphin ?-come, come from behind; Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile. My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleas'd Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs, And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks, 250 260 My My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st, Dau. 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; 271 Pucel. I am prepar'd: here is my keen-edg'd sword, Deck'd with fine fleur-de-luces on each side; The which, at Touraine in saint Katharine's church. yard, Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth. Dau. Then come o'God's name, I fear no woman. Pucel. And, while I live, I'll never fly no man. 289 [Here they fight, and JOAN LA PUCELLE overcomes, Dau. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. Pucel. Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak. Dau. 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. Pucel. I must not yield to any rites of love, 290 When |