So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe In golden palaces, as it becomes. REIGNIER I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here. MARGARET Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.
Going SUFFOLK Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;No princely commendations to my king? MARGARET Such commendations as becomes a maid, A virgin and his servant, say to him. SUFFOLK Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
But madam, I must trouble you again;
No loving token to his majesty? MARGARET Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the king. SUFFOLK And this withal.
Kisses her MARGARET That for thyself: I will not so presume To send such peevish tokens to a king.
Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET SUFFOLK O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth;There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount, And natural graces that extinguish art;Repeat their semblance often on the seas, That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry's feet, Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.
Exit SCENE IV. Camp of the YORK in Anjou. Enter YORK, WARWICK, and others YORK Bring forth that sorceress condemn'd to burn.
Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a Shepherd Shepherd Ah, Joan, this kills thy father's heart outright!
Have I sought every country far and near, And, now it is my chance to find thee out, Must I behold thy timeless cruel death?
Ah, Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I'll die with thee! JOAN LA PUCELLE Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!
I am descended of a gentler blood:
Thou art no father nor no friend of mine. Shepherd Out, out! My lords, an please you, 'tis not so;I did beget her, all the parish knows:
Her mother liveth yet, can testify She was the first fruit of my bachelorship. WARWICK Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? YORK This argues what her kind of life hath been, Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shepherd Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle!
God knows thou art a collop of my flesh;
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:
Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan. JOAN LA PUCELLE Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shepherd 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest The morn that I was wedded to her mother.
Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl.
Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Of thy nativity! I would the milk Thy mother gave thee when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake!
Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee!
Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?
O, burn her, burn her! hanging is too good.
Exit YORK Take her away; for she hath lived too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. JOAN LA PUCELLE First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd:
Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, But issued from the progeny of kings;Virtuous and holy; chosen from above, By inspiration of celestial grace, To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits:
But you, that are polluted with your lusts, Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents, Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices, Because you want the grace that others have, You judge it straight a thing impossible To compass wonders but by help of devils.
No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath been A virgin from her tender infancy, Chaste and immaculate in very thought;Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effused, Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven. YORK Ay, ay: away with her to execution! WARWICK And hark ye, sirs; because she is a maid, Spare for no faggots, let there be enow:
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, That so her torture may be shortened. JOAN LA PUCELLE Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?
Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity, That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.
I am with child, ye bloody homicides:
Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death. YORK Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child! WARWICK The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought:
Is all your strict preciseness come to this? YORK She and the Dauphin have been juggling:
I did imagine what would be her refuge. WARWICK Well, go to; we'll have no bastards live;Especially since Charles must father it. JOAN LA PUCELLE You are deceived; my child is none of his:
It was Alencon that enjoy'd my love. YORK Alencon! that notorious Machiavel!
It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. JOAN LA PUCELLE O, give me leave, I have deluded you:
'Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. WARWICK A married man! that's most intolerable. YORK Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well, There were so many, whom she may accuse. WARWICK It's sign she hath been liberal and free. YORK And yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee:
Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. JOAN LA PUCELLE Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse:
May never glorious sun reflex his beams Upon the country where you make abode;But darkness and the gloomy shade of death Environ you, till mischief and despair Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves!
Exit, guarded YORK Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes, Thou foul accursed minister of hell!
Enter CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER, attended CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king.
For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implored a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French;And here at hand the Dauphin and his train Approacheth, to confer about some matter. YORK Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?