Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and Ambassadors.

Win. Stay, my lord legate; you shall first receive The sum of money, which I promised

Should be deliver'd to his holiness

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure. Win. Now, Winchester will not submit, I trow, Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive,
That, neither in birth, or for authority,

8

The bishop will be overborne by thee:

I'll either make thee stoop, and bend thy knee,

Or sack this country with a mutiny.

SCENE II.

France. Plains in Anjou.

[Exeunt.

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!

That, neither in birth,] I would read-for birth. That is, thou shalt not rule me, though thy birth is legitimate, and thy authority supreme. JOHNSON.

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-
tunate!
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The same. Before Angiers.

Alarums: Excursions. Enter LA PUCelle. Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen

fly.

[Thunder.

Now help, ye charming spells, and periapts;
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,'
Appear, and aid me in this enterprize!

·ye charming spells, and periapts;] Charms sowed up. Periapts were worn about the neck as preservatives from disease or danger. Of these, the first chapter of St. John's Gospel was deemed the most efficacious.

1

monarch of the north,] The north was always supposed

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Enter Fiends.

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

So

my blood,

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.

3

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 vail 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. [Exit.
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:

to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton, therefore, assembles the rebel angels in the north. JOHNSON.

3

2 Where] i. e. whereas.

vail her-lofty plumed crest,] i. e. lower it.

« AnteriorContinuar »