Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,
That, neither in birth, or for authority,
The bishop will be overborne by thee:
I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-France. Plains in Anjou. Enter Charles, Burgundy, Alençon, La Pucelle, and forces, marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our

drooping spirits:

'Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of

France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee,

speak.

Mess. The English army, that divided was
Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one;
And means to give you battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd :Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine; Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char. Then on, my lords; and France be for[Exeunt.

tunate!

SCENE III.-The same. Before Angiers. Alarums: Excursions. Enter La Pucelle. Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.

Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts;1
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents!

You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north, 2
Appear, and aid me in this enterprise!

Enter Fiends.

[Thunder.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the field.
[They walk about, and speak not.

O, hold me not with silence over-long!

Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,

I'll lop a member off, and give it you,
In earnest of a further benefit;

So you do condescend to help me now.

[They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress? - My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.

[They depart.

See! they forsake me. Now the time is come,
That France must vail3 her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:
Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. [Ex.

(1) Charms sewed up.

(2) The north was supposed to be the particular

habitation of bad spirits. (3) Lower.

Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. La Pucelle and York fight hand to hand. La • Pucelle is taken. The French fly.

York. Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:
Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.-
A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.
Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.
York. O, Charles the dauphin is a proper man;

No shape but his can please your dainty eye.
Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and

thee!

And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell, banning1 hag! enchantress, hold thy

tongue.

Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the

stake.

[Exeunt.

Alarums. Enter Suffolk, leading in Lady Mar

garet.

Suff. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. [Gazes on her.

O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;
For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand.] for eternal

peace:

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a king,

The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,

(1) To ban is to curse.

Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,
Go, and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

[She turns away as going.

O, stay! I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself;
Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.
Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk, -if thy name be so,

What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Suff How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit,

Before thou make a trial of her love?

[Aside.

Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom

must I pay?

Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: [Aside.

She is a woman; therefore to be won.

Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? Suff. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

[Aside.

Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear. Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card. Mar. He talks at random; sure the man is mad. Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me. Suff. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing.2

(1) Do not represent thyself so weak.' (2) An awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter. Suff. Yet so my fancyl may be satisfied, And peace established between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that too: For though her father be the king of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor, And our nobility will scorn the match.

[Aside.

Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure? Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:

Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.

Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a

knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

[Aside.

Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy. [Aside. Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a causeMar. Tush! women have been captivate ere

now.

Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

[Aside.

Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Suff. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose

Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile,

Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

Suff.

And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
Suff. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;

To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,
And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my

Mar.

Suff. His love.

What?

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

Suff. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am

(1) Love.