Page 206 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Scene VI IT

Flourish. Enter on the walls Pucelle, [Charles the] Dauphin, Reignier,
Alençon, and Soldiers [with colours, below].

PUCELLE

Advance our waving colours on the walls;
Rescued is Orléans from the English.
Thus Joan la Pucelle hath performed her word.

CHARLES

Divinest creature, Astraea’s daughter,
How shall I honour thee for this success? [5]
Thy promises are like Adonis’ gardens
That one day bloomed and fruitful were the next. -
France, triumph in thy glorious prophetess!
Recovered is the town of Orléans;
More blessed hap did ne’er befall our state. [10]

[Exit Pucelle.]

REIGNIER

Why ring not bells aloud throughout the town?
Dauphin, command the citizens make bonfires
And feast and banquet in the open streets
To celebrate the joy that God hath given us.

ALENÇON

All French will be replete with mirth and joy [15]
When they shall hear how we have played the men.

CHARLES

’Tis Joan, not we, by whom the day is won;
For which I will divide my crown with her,
And all the priests and friars in my realm
Shall in procession sing her endless praise. [20]
A statelier pyramis to her I’ll rear
Than Rhodope’s of Memphis ever was.
In memory of her, when she is dead,
Her ashes, in an urn more precious