按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shall be the ransom of my friend； Four of their lords I'll change for one of
ours。 Farewell； my masters； to my task will I； Bonfires in France forthwith
I am to make To keep our great Saint George's feast withal。 Ten thousand
soldiers with me I will take； Whose bloody deeds shall make an Europe
quake。 THIRD MESSENGER。 So you had need； for Orleans is besieg'd；
The English army is grown weak and faint； The Earl of Salisbury craveth
supply And hardly keeps his men from mutiny； Since they； so few； watch
such a multitude。 EXETER。 Remember； lords； your oaths to Henry sworn；
Either to quell the Dauphin utterly； Or bring him in obedience to your
yoke。 BEDFORD。 I do remember it； and here take my leave To go about
my preparation。 Exit GLOUCESTER。 I'll to the Tower with all the haste I
can To view th' artillery and munition； And then I will proclaim young
Henry king。 Exit EXETER。 To Eltham will I； where the young King is；
Being ordain'd his special governor； And for his safety there I'll best
devise。 Exit WINCHESTER。 ＇Aside＇ Each hath his place and function to
attend： I am left out； for me nothing remains。 But long I will not be Jack
7
… Page 8…
King Henry VI； Part 1
out of office。 The King from Eltham I intend to steal； And sit at chiefest
stern of public weal。 Exeunt
8
… Page 9…
King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 2。
France。 Before Orleans
Sound a flourish。 Enter CHARLES THE DAUPHIN； ALENCON；
and REIGNIER； marching with drum and soldiers
CHARLES。 Mars his true moving； even as in the heavens So in the
earth； to this day is not known。 Late did he shine upon the English side；
Now we are victors； upon us he smiles。 What towns of any moment but we
have？ At pleasure here we lie near Orleans； Otherwhiles the famish'd
English； like pale ghosts； Faintly besiege us one hour in a month。
ALENCON。 They want their porridge and their fat bull beeves。 Either
they must be dieted like mules And have their provender tied to their
mouths； Or piteous they will look； like drowned mice。 REIGNIER。 Let's
raise the siege。 Why live we idly here？ Talbot is taken； whom we wont to
fear； Remaineth none but mad…brain'd Salisbury； And he may well in
fretting spend his gall Nor men nor money hath he to make war。
CHARLES。 Sound； sound alarum； we will rush on them。 Now for the
honour of the forlorn French！ Him I forgive my death that killeth me；
When he sees me go back one foot or flee。 Exeunt
Here alarum。 They are beaten hack by the English； with great loss。
Re…enter CHARLES； ALENCON； and REIGNIER
CHARLES。 Who ever saw the like？ What men have I！ Dogs！
cowards！ dastards！ I would ne'er have fled But that they left me midst my
enemies。 REIGNIER。 Salisbury is a desperate homicide； He fighteth as
one weary of his life。 The other lords； like lions wanting food； Do rush
upon us as their hungry prey。 ALENCON。 Froissart； a countryman of ours；
records England all Olivers and Rowlands bred During the time Edward
the Third did reign。 More truly now may this be verified； For none but
Samsons and Goliases It sendeth forth to skirmish。 One to ten！ Lean raw…
bon'd rascals！ Who would e'er suppose They had such courage and
audacity？ CHARLES。 Let's leave this town； for they are hare…brain'd
slaves； And hunger will enforce them to be more eager。 Of old I know
them； rather with their teeth The walls they'll tear down than forsake the
siege。 REIGNIER。 I think by some odd gimmers or device Their arms are
9
… Page 10…
King Henry VI； Part 1
set； like clocks； still to strike on； Else ne'er could they hold out so as they
do。 By my consent； we'll even let them alone。 ALENCON。 Be it so。
Enter the BASTARD OF ORLEANS
BASTARD。 Where's the Prince Dauphin？ I have news for him。
CHARLES。 Bastard of Orleans； thrice welcome to us。 BASTARD。
Methinks your looks are sad； your cheer appall'd。 Hath the late overthrow
wrought this offence？ Be not dismay'd； for succour is at hand。 A holy maid
hither with me I bring； Which； by a vision sent to her from heaven；
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
10
… Page 11…
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 t