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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
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King Henry VI； Part 1
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 in the water； Which never ceaseth to
enlarge itself Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought。 With Henry's
death the English circle ends； Dispersed are the glories it included。 Now
am I like that proud insulting ship Which Caesar and his fortune bare at
once。 CHARLES。 Was Mahomet inspired with a dove？ Thou with an eagle
art inspired then。 Helen； the mother of great Constantine； Nor yet Saint
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Philip's daughters were like thee。 Bright star of Venus； fall'n down on the
earth； How may I reverently worship thee enough？ ALENCON。 Leave off
delays； and let us raise the siege。 REIGNIER。 Woman； do what thou canst
to save our honours； Drive them from Orleans； and be immortaliz'd。
CHARLES。 Presently we'll try。 Come； let's away about it。 No prophet will
I trust if she prove false。 Exeunt
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King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 3。
London。 Before the Tower gates
Enter the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER； with his serving…men in blue
coats
GLOUCESTER。 I am come to survey the Tower this day； Since
Henry's death； I fear； there is conveyance。 Where be these warders that
they wait not here？ Open the gates； 'tis Gloucester that calls。 FIRST
WARDER。 ＇Within＇ Who's there that knocks so imperiously？ FIRST
SERVING…MAN。 It is the noble Duke of Gloucester。 SECOND WARDER。
＇Within＇ Whoe'er he be； you may not be let in。 FIRST SERVING…MAN。
Villains； answer you so the Lord Protector？ FIRST WARDER。 ＇Within＇
The Lord protect him！ so we answer him。 We do no otherwise than we are
will'd。 GLOUCESTER。 Who willed you； or whose will stands but mine？
There's none Protector of the realm but I。 Break up the gates； I'll be your
warrantize。 Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms？ ＇GLOUCESTER'S
men rush at the Tower gates； and WOODVILLE the Lieutenant speaks
within＇ WOODVILLE。 ＇Within＇ What noise is this？ What traitors have we
here？ GLOUCESTER。 Lieutenant； is it you whose voice I hear？ Open the
gates； here's Gloucester that would enter。 WOODVILLE。 ＇Within＇ Have
patience； noble Duke； I may not open； The Cardinal of Winchester forbids。
From him I have express commandment That thou nor none of thine shall
be let in。 GLOUCESTER。 Fain