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[Dead March. Enter the Funeral of KING HENRY the] [p]Fifth, attended on by Dukes of BEDFORD, Regent of [p]France; GLOUCESTER, Protector; and EXETER, Earl of [p]WARWICK, the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, Heralds, &c]
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Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night!
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Comets, importing change of times and states,
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Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky,
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And with them scourge the bad revolting stars
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That have consented unto Henry's death!
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King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long!
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England ne'er lost a king of so much worth.
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England ne'er had a king until his time.
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Virtue he had, deserving to command:
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His brandish'd sword did blind men with his beams:
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His arms spread wider than a dragon's wings;
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His sparking eyes, replete with wrathful fire,
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More dazzled and drove back his enemies
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Than mid-day sun fierce bent against their faces.
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What should I say? his deeds exceed all speech:
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He ne'er lift up his hand but conquered.
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We mourn in black: why mourn we not in blood?
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Henry is dead and never shall revive:
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Upon a wooden coffin we attend,
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And death's dishonourable victory
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We with our stately presence glorify,
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Like captives bound to a triumphant car.
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What! shall we curse the planets of mishap
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That plotted thus our glory's overthrow?
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Or shall we think the subtle-witted French
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Conjurers and sorcerers, that afraid of him
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By magic verses have contrived his end?
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He was a king bless'd of the King of kings.
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Unto the French the dreadful judgement-day
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So dreadful will not be as was his sight.
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The battles of the Lord of hosts he fought:
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The church's prayers made him so prosperous.
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The church! where is it? Had not churchmen pray'd,
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His thread of life had not so soon decay'd:
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None do you like but an effeminate prince,
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Whom, like a school-boy, you may over-awe.
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Gloucester, whate'er we like, thou art protector
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And lookest to command the prince and realm.
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Thy wife is proud; she holdeth thee in awe,
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More than God or religious churchmen may.
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Name not religion, for thou lovest the flesh,
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And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st
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Except it be to pray against thy foes.
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Cease, cease these jars and rest your minds in peace:
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Let's to the altar: heralds, wait on us:
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Instead of gold, we'll offer up our arms:
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Since arms avail not now that Henry's dead.
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Posterity, await for wretched years,
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When at their mothers' moist eyes babes shall suck,
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Our isle be made a nourish of salt tears,
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And none but women left to wail the dead.
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Henry the Fifth, thy ghost I invocate:
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Prosper this realm, keep it from civil broils,
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Combat with adverse planets in the heavens!
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A far more glorious star thy soul will make
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Than Julius Caesar or bright—
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My honourable lords, health to you all!
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Sad tidings bring I to you out of France,
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Of loss, of slaughter and discomfiture:
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Guienne, Champagne, Rheims, Orleans,
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Paris, Guysors, Poictiers, are all quite lost.
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What say'st thou, man, before dead Henry's corse?
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Speak softly, or the loss of those great towns
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Will make him burst his lead and rise from death.
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Is Paris lost? is Rouen yielded up?
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If Henry were recall'd to life again,
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These news would cause him once more yield the ghost.
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How were they lost? what treachery was used?
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No treachery; but want of men and money.
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Amongst the soldiers this is muttered,
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That here you maintain several factions,
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And whilst a field should be dispatch'd and fought,
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You are disputing of your generals:
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One would have lingering wars with little cost;
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Another would fly swift, but wanteth wings;
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A third thinks, without expense at all,
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By guileful fair words peace may be obtain'd.
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Awake, awake, English nobility!
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Let not sloth dim your horrors new-begot:
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Cropp'd are the flower-de-luces in your arms;
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Of England's coat one half is cut away.
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Were our tears wanting to this funeral,
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These tidings would call forth their flowing tides.
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Me they concern; Regent I am of France.
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Give me my steeled coat. I'll fight for France.
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Away with these disgraceful wailing robes!
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Wounds will I lend the French instead of eyes,
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To weep their intermissive miseries.
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[Enter to them another Messenger]
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Lords, view these letters full of bad mischance.
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France is revolted from the English quite,
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Except some petty towns of no import:
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The Dauphin Charles is crowned king of Rheims;
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The Bastard of Orleans with him is join'd;
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Reignier, Duke of Anjou, doth take his part;
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The Duke of Alencon flieth to his side.
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The Dauphin crowned king! all fly to him!
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O, whither shall we fly from this reproach?
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We will not fly, but to our enemies' throats.
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Bedford, if thou be slack, I'll fight it out.
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Gloucester, why doubt'st thou of my forwardness?
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An army have I muster'd in my thoughts,
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Wherewith already France is overrun.
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[Enter another Messenger]
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My gracious lords, to add to your laments,
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Wherewith you now bedew King Henry's hearse,
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I must inform you of a dismal fight
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Betwixt the stout Lord Talbot and the French.
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What! wherein Talbot overcame? is't so?
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O, no; wherein Lord Talbot was o'erthrown:
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The circumstance I'll tell you more at large.
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The tenth of August last this dreadful lord,
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Retiring from the siege of Orleans,
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Having full scarce six thousand in his troop.
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By three and twenty thousand of the French
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Was round encompassed and set upon.
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No leisure had he to enrank his men;
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He wanted pikes to set before his archers;
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Instead whereof sharp stakes pluck'd out of hedges
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They pitched in the ground confusedly,
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To keep the horsemen off from breaking in.
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More than three hours the fight continued;
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Where valiant Talbot above human thought
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Enacted wonders with his sword and lance:
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Hundreds he sent to hell, and none durst stand him;
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Here, there, and every where, enraged he flew:
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The French exclaim'd, the devil was in arms;
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All the whole army stood agazed on him:
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His soldiers spying his undaunted spirit
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A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain
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And rush'd into the bowels of the battle.
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Here had the conquest fully been seal'd up,
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If Sir John Fastolfe had not play'd the coward:
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He, being in the vaward, placed behind
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With purpose to relieve and follow them,
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Cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.
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Hence grew the general wreck and massacre;
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Enclosed were they with their enemies:
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A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin's grace,
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Thrust Talbot with a spear into the back,
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Whom all France with their chief assembled strength
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Durst not presume to look once in the face.
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Is Talbot slain? then I will slay myself,
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For living idly here in pomp and ease,
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Whilst such a worthy leader, wanting aid,
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Unto his dastard foemen is betray'd.
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O no, he lives; but is took prisoner,
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And Lord Scales with him and Lord Hungerford:
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Most of the rest slaughter'd or took likewise.
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His ransom there is none but I shall pay:
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I'll hale the Dauphin headlong from his throne:
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His crown shall be the ransom of my friend;
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Four of their lords I'll change for one of ours.
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Farewell, my masters; to my task will I;
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Bonfires in France forthwith I am to make,
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To keep our great Saint George's feast withal:
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Ten thousand soldiers with me I will take,
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Whose bloody deeds shall make all Europe quake.
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So you had need; for Orleans is besieged;
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The English army is grown weak and faint:
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The Earl of Salisbury craveth supply,
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And hardly keeps his men from mutiny,
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Since they, so few, watch such a multitude.
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Remember, lords, your oaths to Henry sworn,
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Either to quell the Dauphin utterly,
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Or bring him in obedience to your yoke.
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I do remember it; and here take my leave,
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To go about my preparation.
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I'll to the Tower with all the haste I can,
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To view the artillery and munition;
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And then I will proclaim young Henry king.
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To Eltham will I, where the young king is,
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Being ordain'd his special governor,
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And for his safety there I'll best devise.
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Each hath his place and function to attend:
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I am left out; for me nothing remains.
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But long I will not be Jack out of office:
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The king from Eltham I intend to steal
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And sit at chiefest stern of public weal.
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France. Before Orleans.
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[Sound a flourish. Enter CHARLES, ALENCON, and] [p]REIGNIER, marching with drum and Soldiers]
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Charles, King of France.
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Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens
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So in the earth, to this day is not known:
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Late did he shine upon the English side;
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Now we are victors; upon us he smiles.
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What towns of any moment but we have?
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At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;
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Otherwhiles the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,
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Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.
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They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:
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Either they must be dieted like mules
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And have their provender tied to their mouths
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Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.
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Let's raise the siege: why live we idly here?
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Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
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Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
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And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
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Nor men nor money hath he to make war.
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Charles, King of France.
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Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them.
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Now for the honour of the forlorn French!
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Him I forgive my death that killeth me
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When he sees me go back one foot or fly.
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[Here alarum; they are beaten back by the English]
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with great loss. Re-enter CHARLES, ALENCON, and REIGNIER]
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Charles, King of France.
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Who ever saw the like? what men have I!
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Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled,
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But that they left me 'midst my enemies.
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Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
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He fighteth as one weary of his life.
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The other lords, like lions wanting food,
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Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.
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Froissart, a countryman of ours, records,
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England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
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During the time Edward the Third did reign.
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More truly now may this be verified;
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For none but Samsons and Goliases
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It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
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Lean, raw-boned rascals! who would e'er suppose
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They had such courage and audacity?
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Charles, King of France.
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Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves,
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And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
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Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
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The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.
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I think, by some odd gimmors or device
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Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on;
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Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
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By my consent, we'll even let them alone.
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[Enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS]
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Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.
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Charles, King of France.
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Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.
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Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd:
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Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
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Be not dismay'd, for succor is at hand:
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A holy maid hither with me I bring,
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Which by a vision sent to her from heaven
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Ordained is to raise this tedious siege
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And drive the English forth the bounds of France.
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The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,
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Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:
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What's past and what's to come she can descry.
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Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
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For they are certain and unfallible.
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Charles, King of France.
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[Exit BASTARD OF ORLEANS]
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But first, to try her skill,
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Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
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Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:
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By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.
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[Re-enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS, with JOAN LA PUCELLE]
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Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these wondrous feats?
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Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?
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Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;
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I know thee well, though never seen before.
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Be not amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
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In private will I talk with thee apart.
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Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.
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She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
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Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter,
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My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
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Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased
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To shine on my contemptible estate:
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Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
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And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
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God's mother deigned to appear to me
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And in a vision full of majesty
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Will'd me to leave my base vocation
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And free my country from calamity:
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Her aid she promised and assured success:
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In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
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And, whereas I was black and swart before,
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With those clear rays which she infused on me
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That beauty am I bless'd with which you see.
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Ask me what question thou canst possible,
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And I will answer unpremeditated:
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My courage try by combat, if thou darest,
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And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
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Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate,
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If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
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Charles, King of France.
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Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms:
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Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,
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In single combat thou shalt buckle with me,
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And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
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Otherwise I renounce all confidence.
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I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword,
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Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side;
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The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's
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Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.
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Charles, King of France.
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Then come, o' God's name; I fear no woman.
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And while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man.
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[Here they fight, and JOAN LA PUCELLE overcomes]
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Charles, King of France.
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Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon
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And fightest with the sword of Deborah.
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Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak.
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Charles, King of France.
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Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me:
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Impatiently I burn with thy desire;
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My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.
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Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
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Let me thy servant and not sovereign be:
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'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.
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I must not yield to any rites of love,
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For my profession's sacred from above:
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When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
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Then will I think upon a recompense.
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Charles, King of France.
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Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.
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My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.
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Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;
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Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.
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Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?
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He may mean more than we poor men do know:
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These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
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My lord, where are you? what devise you on?
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Shall we give over Orleans, or no?
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Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants!
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Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.
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Charles, King of France.
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What she says I'll confirm: we'll fight it out.
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Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.
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This night the siege assuredly I'll raise:
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Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days,
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Since I have entered into these wars.
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Glory is like a circle in the water,
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Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself
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Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought.
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With Henry's death the English circle ends;
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Dispersed are the glories it included.
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Now am I like that proud insulting ship
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Which Caesar and his fortune bare at once.
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Charles, King of France.
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Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
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Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
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Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
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Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, were like thee.
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Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
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How may I reverently worship thee enough?
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Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.
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Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;
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Drive them from Orleans and be immortalized.
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Charles, King of France.
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Presently we'll try: come, let's away about it:
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No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.
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London. Before the Tower.
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[Enter GLOUCESTER, with his Serving-men in blue coats]
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I am come to survey the Tower this day:
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Since Henry's death, I fear, there is conveyance.
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Where be these warders, that they wait not here?
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Open the gates; 'tis Gloucester that calls.
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[Within]Who's there that knocks so imperiously?
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It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.
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[Within]Whoe'er he be, you may not be let in.
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Villains, answer you so the lord protector?
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[Within]The Lord protect him! so we answer him:
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We do no otherwise than we are will'd.
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Who willed you? or whose will stands but mine?
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There's none protector of the realm but I.
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Break up the gates, I'll be your warrantize.
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Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
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[Gloucester's men rush at the Tower Gates, and]
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WOODVILE the Lieutenant speaks within]
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What noise is this? what traitors have we here?
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Lieutenant, is it you whose voice I hear?
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Open the gates; here's Gloucester that would enter.
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Have patience, noble duke; I may not open;
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The Cardinal of Winchester forbids:
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From him I have express commandment
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That thou nor none of thine shall be let in.
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Faint-hearted Woodvile, prizest him 'fore me?
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Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,
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Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne'er could brook?
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Thou art no friend to God or to the king:
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Open the gates, or I'll shut thee out shortly.
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Open the gates unto the lord protector,
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Or we'll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
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[Enter to the Protector at the Tower Gates BISHOP]
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OF WINCHESTER and his men in tawny coats]
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How now, ambitious Humphry! what means this?
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Peel'd priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?
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I do, thou most usurping proditor,
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And not protector, of the king or realm.
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Stand back, thou manifest conspirator,
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Thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord;
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Thou that givest whores indulgences to sin:
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I'll canvass thee in thy broad cardinal's hat,
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If thou proceed in this thy insolence.
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Nay, stand thou back, I will not budge a foot:
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This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
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To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
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I will not slay thee, but I'll drive thee back:
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Thy scarlet robes as a child's bearing-cloth
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I'll use to carry thee out of this place.
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Do what thou darest; I beard thee to thy face.
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What! am I dared and bearded to my face?
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Draw, men, for all this privileged place;
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Blue coats to tawny coats. Priest, beware your beard,
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I mean to tug it and to cuff you soundly:
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Under my feet I stamp thy cardinal's hat:
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In spite of pope or dignities of church,
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Here by the cheeks I'll drag thee up and down.
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Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the pope.
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Winchester goose, I cry, a rope! a rope!
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Now beat them hence; why do you let them stay?
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Thee I'll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep's array.
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Out, tawny coats! out, scarlet hypocrite!
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[Here GLOUCESTER's men beat out BISHOP OF]
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WINCHESTER's men, and enter in the hurly-
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burly the Mayor of London and his Officers]
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Fie, lords! that you, being supreme magistrates,
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Thus contumeliously should break the peace!
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Peace, mayor! thou know'st little of my wrongs:
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Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king,
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Hath here distrain'd the Tower to his use.
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Here's Gloucester, a foe to citizens,
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One that still motions war and never peace,
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O'ercharging your free purses with large fines,
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That seeks to overthrow religion,
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Because he is protector of the realm,
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And would have armour here out of the Tower,
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To crown himself king and suppress the prince.
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I will not answer thee with words, but blows.
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[Here they skirmish again]
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Lord Mayor of London.
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Naught rests for me in this tumultuous strife
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But to make open proclamation:
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Come, officer; as loud as e'er thou canst,
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All manner of men assembled here in arms this day
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against God's peace and the king's, we charge and
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command you, in his highness' name, to repair to
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your several dwelling-places; and not to wear,
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handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger,
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henceforward, upon pain of death.
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Cardinal, I'll be no breaker of the law:
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But we shall meet, and break our minds at large.
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Gloucester, we will meet; to thy cost, be sure:
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Thy heart-blood I will have for this day's work.
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Lord Mayor of London.
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I'll call for clubs, if you will not away.
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This cardinal's more haughty than the devil.
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Mayor, farewell: thou dost but what thou mayst.
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Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head;
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For I intend to have it ere long.
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[Exeunt, severally, GLOUCESTER and BISHOP OF]
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WINCHESTER with their Serving-men]
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Lord Mayor of London.
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See the coast clear'd, and then we will depart.
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Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
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I myself fight not once in forty year.
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[Enter, on the walls, a Master Gunner and his Boy]
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Sirrah, thou know'st how Orleans is besieged,
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And how the English have the suburbs won.
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Father, I know; and oft have shot at them,
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Howe'er unfortunate I miss'd my aim.
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But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me:
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Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
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Something I must do to procure me grace.
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The prince's espials have informed me
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How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,
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Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
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In yonder tower, to overpeer the city,
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And thence discover how with most advantage
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They may vex us with shot, or with assault.
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To intercept this inconvenience,
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A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have placed;
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And even these three days have I watch'd,
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Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
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If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;
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And thou shalt find me at the governor's.
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Father, I warrant you; take you no care;
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I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them.
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[Enter, on the turrets, SALISBURY and TALBOT,]
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GLANSDALE, GARGRAVE, and others]
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Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd!
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How wert thou handled being prisoner?
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Or by what means got'st thou to be released?
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Discourse, I prithee, on this turret's top.
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Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
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The Duke of Bedford had a prisoner
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Call'd the brave Lord Ponton de Santrailles;
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For him was I exchanged and ransomed.
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But with a baser man of arms by far
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Once in contempt they would have barter'd me:
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Which I, disdaining, scorn'd; and craved death,
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Rather than I would be so vile esteem'd.
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In fine, redeem'd I was as I desired.
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But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart,
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Whom with my bare fists I would execute,
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If I now had him brought into my power.
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Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert entertain'd.
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Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
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With scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts.
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In open market-place produced they me,
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To be a public spectacle to all:
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Here, said they, is the terror of the French,
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The scarecrow that affrights our children so.
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Then broke I from the officers that led me,
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And with my nails digg'd stones out of the ground,
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To hurl at the beholders of my shame:
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My grisly countenance made others fly;
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None durst come near for fear of sudden death.
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In iron walls they deem'd me not secure;
64
So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread,
65
That they supposed I could rend bars of steel,
66
And spurn in pieces posts of adamant:
67
Wherefore a guard of chosen shot I had,
68
That walked about me every minute-while;
69
And if I did but stir out of my bed,
70
Ready they were to shoot me to the heart.
71
[Enter the Boy with a linstock]
73
I grieve to hear what torments you endured,
74
But we will be revenged sufficiently
75
Now it is supper-time in Orleans:
76
Here, through this grate, I count each one
77
and view the Frenchmen how they fortify:
78
Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee.
79
Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale,
80
Let me have your express opinions
81
Where is best place to make our battery next.
83
I think, at the north gate; for there stand lords.
84
Sir William Glansdale.
85
And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge.
86
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
87
For aught I see, this city must be famish'd,
88
Or with light skirmishes enfeebled.
89
[Here they shoot. SALISBURY and GARGRAVE fall]
91
O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners!
93
O Lord, have mercy on me, woful man!
94
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
95
What chance is this that suddenly hath cross'd us?
96
Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak:
97
How farest thou, mirror of all martial men?
98
One of thy eyes and thy cheek's side struck off!
99
Accursed tower! accursed fatal hand
100
That hath contrived this woful tragedy!
101
In thirteen battles Salisbury o'ercame;
102
Henry the Fifth he first train'd to the wars;
103
Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up,
104
His sword did ne'er leave striking in the field.
105
Yet livest thou, Salisbury? though thy speech doth fail,
106
One eye thou hast, to look to heaven for grace:
107
The sun with one eye vieweth all the world.
108
Heaven, be thou gracious to none alive,
109
If Salisbury wants mercy at thy hands!
110
Bear hence his body; I will help to bury it.
111
Sir Thomas Gargrave, hast thou any life?
112
Speak unto Talbot; nay, look up to him.
113
Salisbury, cheer thy spirit with this comfort;
114
Thou shalt not die whiles—
115
He beckons with his hand and smiles on me.
116
As who should say 'When I am dead and gone,
117
Remember to avenge me on the French.'
118
Plantagenet, I will; and like thee, Nero,
119
Play on the lute, beholding the towns burn:
120
Wretched shall France be only in my name.
121
[Here an alarum, and it thunders and lightens]
122
What stir is this? what tumult's in the heavens?
123
Whence cometh this alarum and the noise?
126
My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head:
127
The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,
128
A holy prophetess new risen up,
129
Is come with a great power to raise the siege.
130
[Here SALISBURY lifteth himself up and groans]
131
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
132
Hear, hear how dying Salisbury doth groan!
133
It irks his heart he cannot be revenged.
134
Frenchmen, I'll be a Salisbury to you:
135
Pucelle or puzzel, dolphin or dogfish,
136
Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels,
137
And make a quagmire of your mingled brains.
138
Convey me Salisbury into his tent,
139
And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen dare.
2
[Here an alarum again: and TALBOT pursueth the] [p]DAUPHIN, and driveth him: then enter JOAN LA [p]PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her, and exit [p]after them then re-enter TALBOT]
3
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
4
Where is my strength, my valour, and my force?
5
Our English troops retire, I cannot stay them:
6
A woman clad in armour chaseth them.
7
[Re-enter JOAN LA PUCELLE]
8
Here, here she comes. I'll have a bout with thee;
9
Devil or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee:
10
Blood will I draw on thee, thou art a witch,
11
And straightway give thy soul to him thou servest.
13
Come, come, 'tis only I that must disgrace thee.
15
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
16
Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail?
17
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage
18
And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder.
19
But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet.
22
Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come:
23
I must go victual Orleans forthwith.
24
[A short alarum; then enter the town with soldiers]
25
O'ertake me, if thou canst; I scorn thy strength.
26
Go, go, cheer up thy hungry-starved men;
27
Help Salisbury to make his testament:
28
This day is ours, as many more shall be.
30
Lord Talbot/Earl of Shrewsbury.
31
My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel;
32
I know not where I am, nor what I do;
33
A witch, by fear, not force, like Hannibal,
34
Drives back our troops and conquers as she lists:
35
So bees with smoke and doves with noisome stench
36
Are from their hives and houses driven away.
37
They call'd us for our fierceness English dogs;
38
Now, like to whelps, we crying run away.
40
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight,
41
Or tear the lions out of England's coat;
42
Renounce your soil, give sheep in lions' stead:
43
Sheep run not half so treacherous from the wolf,
44
Or horse or oxen from the leopard,
45
As you fly from your oft-subdued slaves.
46
[Alarum. Here another skirmish]
47
It will not be: retire into your trenches:
48
You all consented unto Salisbury's death,
49
For none would strike a stroke in his revenge.
50
Pucelle is enter'd into Orleans,
51
In spite of us or aught that we could do.
52
O, would I were to die with Salisbury!
53
The shame hereof will make me hide my head.
54
[Exit TALBOT. Alarum; retreat; flourish]
2
[Enter, on the walls, JOAN LA PUCELLE, CHARLES,] [p]REIGNIER, ALENCON, and Soldiers]
4
Advance our waving colours on the walls;
5
Rescued is Orleans from the English
6
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath perform'd her word.
7
Charles, King of France.
8
Divinest creature, Astraea's daughter,
9
How shall I honour thee for this success?
10
Thy promises are like Adonis' gardens
11
That one day bloom'd and fruitful were the next.
12
France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!
13
Recover'd is the town of Orleans:
14
More blessed hap did ne'er befall our state.
16
Why ring not out the bells aloud throughout the town?
17
Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires
18
And feast and banquet in the open streets,
19
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.
21
All France will be replete with mirth and joy,
22
When they shall hear how we have play'd the men.
23
Charles, King of France.
24
'Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;
25
For which I will divide my crown with her,
26
And all the priests and friars in my realm
27
Shall in procession sing her endless praise.
28
A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear
29
Than Rhodope's or Memphis' ever was:
30
In memory of her when she is dead,
31
Her ashes, in an urn more precious
32
Than the rich-jewel'd of Darius,
33
Transported shall be at high festivals
34
Before the kings and queens of France.
35
No longer on Saint Denis will we cry,
36
But Joan la Pucelle shall be France's saint.
37
Come in, and let us banquet royally,
38
After this golden day of victory.
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