1    Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens
2    So in the earth, to this day is not known:
3    Late did he shine upon the English side;
4    Now we are victors; upon us he smiles.
5    What towns of any moment but we have?
6    At pleasure here we lie near Orleans;
7    Otherwhiles the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,
8    Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

9    They want their porridge and their fat bull-beeves:
10   Either they must be dieted like mules
11   And have their provender tied to their mouths
12   Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.

13   Let's raise the siege: why live we idly here?
14   Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear:
15   Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
16   And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
17   Nor men nor money hath he to make war.

18   Sound, sound alarum! we will rush on them.
19   Now for the honour of the forlorn French!
20   Him I forgive my death that killeth me
21   When he sees me go back one foot or fly.

22   Who ever saw the like? what men have I!
23   Dogs! cowards! dastards! I would ne'er have fled,
24   But that they left me 'midst my enemies.

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

29   Froissart, a countryman of ours, records,
30   England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
31   During the time Edward the Third did reign.
32   More truly now may this be verified;
33   For none but Samsons and Goliases
34   It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
35   Lean, raw-boned rascals! who would e'er suppose
36   They had such courage and audacity?

37   Let's leave this town; for they are hare-brain'd slaves,
38   And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
39   Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
40   The walls they'll tear down than forsake the siege.

41   I think, by some odd gimmors or device
42   Their arms are set like clocks, stiff to strike on;
43   Else ne'er could they hold out so as they do.
44   By my consent, we'll even let them alone.

45   Be it so.

46   Where's the Prince Dauphin? I have news for him.

47   Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us.

48   Methinks your looks are sad, your cheer appall'd:
49   Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
50   Be not dismay'd, for succor is at hand:
51   A holy maid hither with me I bring,
52   Which by a vision sent to her from heaven
53   Ordained is to raise this tedious siege
54   And drive the English forth the bounds of France.
55   The spirit of deep prophecy she hath,
56   Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome:
57   What's past and what's to come she can descry.
58   Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
59   For they are certain and unfallible.

60   Go, call her in.
Exit BASTARD OF ORLEANS
61   But first, to try her skill,
62   Reignier, stand thou as Dauphin in my place:
63   Question her proudly; let thy looks be stern:
64   By this means shall we sound what skill she hath.

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

66   Reignier, is't thou that thinkest to beguile me?
67   Where is the Dauphin? Come, come from behind;
68   I know thee well, though never seen before.
69   Be not amazed, there's nothing hid from me:
70   In private will I talk with thee apart.
71   Stand back, you lords, and give us leave awhile.

72   She takes upon her bravely at first dash.

73   Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's daughter,
74   My wit untrain'd in any kind of art.
75   Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased
76   To shine on my contemptible estate:
77   Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
78   And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
79   God's mother deigned to appear to me
80   And in a vision full of majesty
81   Will'd me to leave my base vocation
82   And free my country from calamity:
83   Her aid she promised and assured success:
84   In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
85   And, whereas I was black and swart before,
86   With those clear rays which she infused on me
87   That beauty am I bless'd with which you see.
88   Ask me what question thou canst possible,
89   And I will answer unpremeditated:
90   My courage try by combat, if thou darest,
91   And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
92   Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate,
93   If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

94   Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high terms:
95   Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,
96   In single combat thou shalt buckle with me,
97   And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
98   Otherwise I renounce all confidence.

99   I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword,
100  Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side;
101  The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine's
102  churchyard,
103  Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.

104  Then come, o' God's name; I fear no woman.

105  And while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a man.

106  Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon
107  And fightest with the sword of Deborah.

108  Christ's mother helps me, else I were too weak.

109  Whoe'er helps thee, 'tis thou that must help me:
110  Impatiently I burn with thy desire;
111  My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.
112  Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,
113  Let me thy servant and not sovereign be:
114  'Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.

115  I must not yield to any rites of love,
116  For my profession's sacred from above:
117  When I have chased all thy foes from hence,
118  Then will I think upon a recompense.

119  Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall.

120  My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.

121  Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock;
122  Else ne'er could he so long protract his speech.

123  Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?

124  He may mean more than we poor men do know:
125  These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.

126  My lord, where are you? what devise you on?
127  Shall we give over Orleans, or no?

128  Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants!
129  Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.

130  What she says I'll confirm: we'll fight it out.

131  Assign'd am I to be the English scourge.
132  This night the siege assuredly I'll raise:
133  Expect Saint Martin's summer, halcyon days,
134  Since I have entered into these wars.
135  Glory is like a circle in the water,
136  Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself
137  Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought.
138  With Henry's death the English circle ends;
139  Dispersed are the glories it included.
140  Now am I like that proud insulting ship
141  Which Caesar and his fortune bare at once.

142  Was Mahomet inspired with a dove?
143  Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
144  Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
145  Nor yet Saint Philip's daughters, were like thee.
146  Bright star of Venus, fall'n down on the earth,
147  How may I reverently worship thee enough?

148  Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.

149  Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours;
150  Drive them from Orleans and be immortalized.

151  Presently we'll try: come, let's away about it:
152  No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.