William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (74 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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RENÉ ⌈
to Alençon and Bastard
⌉
to Alençon and Bastard
⌉
She takes upon her bravely, at first dash.
JOAN
Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd’s daughter,
My wit untrained in any kind of art.
Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased
To shine on my contemptible estate.
Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
And to sun’s parching heat displayed my cheeks,
God’s mother deigned to appear to me,
And in a vision, full of majesty,
Willed me to leave my base vocation
And free my country from calamity.
Her aid she promised, and assured success.
In complete glory she revealed herself—
And whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infused on me
That beauty am I blest 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 be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
My wit untrained in any kind of art.
Heaven and our Lady gracious hath it pleased
To shine on my contemptible estate.
Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
And to sun’s parching heat displayed my cheeks,
God’s mother deigned to appear to me,
And in a vision, full of majesty,
Willed me to leave my base vocation
And free my country from calamity.
Her aid she promised, and assured success.
In complete glory she revealed herself—
And whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infused on me
That beauty am I blest 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 be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.
CHARLES
Thou hast astonished me with thy high terms.
Only this proof I’ll of thy valour make:
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me.
An if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.
Only this proof I’ll of thy valour make:
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me.
An if thou vanquishest, thy words are true;
Otherwise, I renounce all confidence.
JOAN
I am prepared. Here is my keen-edged sword,
Decked 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.
Decked 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 a God’s name. I fear no woman.
JOAN
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.
And fightest with the sword of Deborah.
JOAN
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 subdued.
Excellent Pucelle if thy name be so,
Let me thy servant, and not sovereign be.
’Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.
Impatiently I burn with thy desire.
My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued.
Excellent Pucelle if thy name be so,
Let me thy servant, and not sovereign be.
’Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.
JOAN
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.
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.
RENÉ ⌈
to the other lords apart
⌉
to the other lords apart
⌉
My lord, methinks, is very long in talk.
ALENÇON
Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock,
Else ne’er could he so long protract his speech.
Else ne’er could he so long protract his speech.
RENÉ
Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean?
ALENÇON
He may mean more than we poor men do know.
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues.
RENÉ (
to Charles
)
to Charles
)
My lord, where are you? What devise you on?
Shall we give o’er Orléans, or no?
Shall we give o’er Orléans, or no?
JOAN
Why, no, I say. Distrustful recreants,
Fight till the last gasp; I’ll be your guard.
Fight till the last gasp; I’ll be your guard.
CHARLES
What she says, I’ll confirm. We’ll fight it out.
JOAN
Assigned am I to be the English scourge.
This night the siege assuredly I’ll raise.
Expect Saint Martin’s summer, halcyon’s 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 naught.
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 bore at once.
This night the siege assuredly I’ll raise.
Expect Saint Martin’s summer, halcyon’s 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 naught.
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 bore at once.
CHARLES
Was Mohammed inspired with a dove?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet Saint Philip’s daughters were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough?
Thou with an eagle art inspired then.
Helen, the mother of great Constantine,
Nor yet Saint Philip’s daughters were like thee.
Bright star of Venus, fall’n down on the earth,
How may I reverently worship thee enough?
ALENÇON
Leave off delays, and let us raise the siege.
RENÉ
Woman, do what thou canst to save our honours.
Drive them from Orléans, and be immortalized.
Drive them from Orléans, and be immortalized.
CHARLES
Presently we’ll try. Come, let’s away about it.
No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.
Exeunt
1.4No prophet will I trust, if she prove false.
Exeunt
Enter the Duke of Gloucester, with his Servingmen 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?
Since Henry’s death, I fear there is conveyance.
Where be these warders, that they wait not here?
⌈
A Servingman
⌉
knocketh on the gates
Open the gates: ’tis Gloucester that calls.
FIRST WARDER ⌈
within
the
Tower
⌉
within
the
Tower
⌉
Who’s there that knocketh so imperiously?
GLOUCESTER’S FIRST MAN
It is the noble Duke of Gloucester.
SECOND WARDER ⌈
within the Tower
⌉
within the Tower
⌉
Whoe’er he be, you may not be let in.
GLOUCESTER’S FIRST MAN
Villains, answer you so the Lord Protector?
FIRST WARDER ⌈
within the Tower
⌉
within the Tower
⌉
The Lord protect him, so we answer him.
We do no otherwise than we are willed.
We do no otherwise than we are willed.
GLOUCESTER
Who willèd you? Or whose will stands, but mine?
There’s none Protector of the realm but I.
(
To Servingmen
) Break up the gates. I’ll be your
warrantize.
Shall I be flouted thus by dunghill grooms?
There’s none Protector of the realm but I.
(
To Servingmen
) 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
WOODVILLE ⌈
within
the
Tower
⌉
within
the
Tower
⌉
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.
Open the gates! Here’s Gloucester, that would enter.
WOODVILLE ⌈
within the Tower
⌉
within the Tower
⌉
Have patience, noble duke: I may not open.
My lord of Winchester forbids.
From him I have express commandëment
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.
My lord of Winchester forbids.
From him I have express commandëment
That thou, nor none of thine, shall be let in.
GLOUCESTER
Faint-hearted Woodville! Prizest him fore
me
?—
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne’er could brook?
Thou art no friend to God or to the King.
Open the gates, or I’ll shut thee out shortly.
me
?—
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate,
Whom Henry, our late sovereign, ne’er could brook?
Thou art no friend to God or to the King.
Open the gates, or I’ll shut thee out shortly.
SERVINGMEN
Open the gates unto the Lord Protector,
Or we’ll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
Or we’ll burst them open, if that you come not quickly.
Enter, to the Lord Protector at the Tower gates, the Bishop of Winchester and his men in tawny coats
WINCHESTER
How now, ambitious vizier! What means this?
GLOUCESTER
Peeled priest, dost thou command me to be shut out?
WINCHESTER
I do, thou most usurping proditor,
And not ‘Protector’, of the King or realm.
And not ‘Protector’, of the King or realm.
GLOUCESTER
Stand back, thou manifest conspirator.
Thou that contrived’st to murder our dead lord,
Thou that giv’st whores indulgences to sin,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence—
Thou that contrived’st to murder our dead lord,
Thou that giv’st whores indulgences to sin,
If thou proceed in this thy insolence—
WINCHESTER
Nay, stand thou back! I will not budge a foot.
This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
This be Damascus, be thou cursed Cain,
To slay thy brother Abel, if thou wilt.
GLOUCESTER
I will not slay thee, but I’ll drive thee back.
Thy purple robes, as a child’s bearing-cloth,
I’ll use to carry thee out of this place.
Thy purple robes, as a child’s bearing-cloth,
I’ll use to carry thee out of this place.
WINCHESTER
Do what thou dar’st, I beard thee to thy face.
GLOUCESTER
What, am I dared and bearded to my face?
Draw, men, for all this privileged place.
Draw, men, for all this privileged place.
All draw their swords
Blue coats to tawny coats!—Priest, beware your
beard.
I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly.
Under my feet I’ll stamp thy bishop’s mitre.
In spite of Pope, or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I’ll drag thee up and down.
beard.
I mean to tug it, and to cuff you soundly.
Under my feet I’ll stamp thy bishop’s mitre.
In spite of Pope, or dignities of church,
Here by the cheeks I’ll drag thee up and down.
WINCHESTER
Gloucester, thou wilt answer this before the Pope.
GLOUCESTER
Winchester goose! I cry, ‘A rope, a rope!’
(To his Servingmen)
Now beat them hence. Why do you let them stay?
(To Winchester)
Thee I’ll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep’s array.
Out, tawny coats! Out, cloaked hypocrite!
Here Gloucester’s men beat out the Bishop’s men.
Enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of London and
his Officers
(To his Servingmen)
Now beat them hence. Why do you let them stay?
(To Winchester)
Thee I’ll chase hence, thou wolf in sheep’s array.
Out, tawny coats! Out, cloaked hypocrite!
Here Gloucester’s men beat out the Bishop’s men.
Enter in the hurly-burly the Mayor of London and
his Officers
MAYOR
Fie, lords!—that you, being supreme magistrates,
Thus contumeliously should break the peace.
Thus contumeliously should break the peace.
GLOUCESTER
Peace, mayor, thou know’st little of my wrongs.
Here’s Beaufort—that regards nor God nor king-
Hath here distrained the Tower to his use.
Here’s Beaufort—that regards nor God nor king-
Hath here distrained the Tower to his use.
WINCHESTER (
to Mayor
)
to Mayor
)
Here’s Gloucester—a foe to citizens,
One that still motions war, and never peace,
O’ercharging your free purses with large fines—
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is Protector of the realm,
And would have armour here out of the Tower
To crown himself king and suppress the Prince.
One that still motions war, and never peace,
O’ercharging your free purses with large fines—
That seeks to overthrow religion,
Because he is Protector of the realm,
And would have armour here out of the Tower
To crown himself king and suppress the Prince.
GLOUCESTER
I will not answer thee with words but blows.
Here the factions skirmish again
MAYOR
Naught rests for me, in this tumultuous strife,
But to make open proclamation.
Come, officer, as loud as e’er thou canst, cry.
But to make open proclamation.
Come, officer, as loud as e’er thou canst, cry.
OFFICER All manner of men, assembled here in arms this day against God’s peace and the King’s, we charge and command you in his highness’ name to repair to your several dwelling places, and not to wear, handle, or use any sword, weapon, or dagger henceforward, upon pain of death.
The skirmishes cease
GLOUCESTER
Bishop, I’ll be no breaker of the law.
But we shall meet and break our minds at large.
But we shall meet and break our minds at large.
WINCHESTER
Gloucester, we’ll meet to thy cost, be sure.
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day’s work.
Thy heart-blood I will have for this day’s work.
MAYOR
I’ll call for clubs, if you will not away.
(Aside) This bishop is more haughty than the devil.
(Aside) This bishop is more haughty than the devil.
GLOUCESTER
Mayor, farewell. Thou dost but what thou mayst.
WINCHESTER
Abominable Gloucester, guard thy head,
For I intend to have it ere long.
For I intend to have it ere long.
Exeunt both factions severally
MAYOR (
to Officers)
to Officers)
See the coast cleared, and then we will depart.—
Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
I myself fight not once in forty year.
Good God, these nobles should such stomachs bear!
I myself fight not once in forty year.
Exeunt
1.5Enter the Master Gunner of Orleans with his Boy
MASTER GUNNER
Sirrah, thou know’st how Orléans is besieged,
And how the English have the suburbs won.
And how the English have the suburbs won.
BOY
Father, I know, and oft have shot at them;
Howe’er, unfortunate, I missed my aim.
Howe’er, unfortunate, I missed my aim.
MASTER GUNNER
But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me.
Chief Master Gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.
The Prince’s spials have informed me
How the English, in the suburbs close entrenched,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city,
And thence discover how with most advantage
They may vex us with shot or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance ‘gainst it I have placed,
And even these three days have I watched, if I could
see them.
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
If thou spy’st any, run and bring me word,
And thou shalt find me at the governor’s.
Chief Master Gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.
The Prince’s spials have informed me
How the English, in the suburbs close entrenched,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city,
And thence discover how with most advantage
They may vex us with shot or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance ‘gainst it I have placed,
And even these three days have I watched, if I could
see them.
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
If thou spy’st any, run and bring me word,
And thou shalt find me at the governor’s.
BOY
Father, I warrant you, take you no care—
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