_Puc._ 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 pleased   [aab074] To shine on my contemptible estate:   ·aab075· 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   ·aab080· And free my country from calamity: Her aid she promised and assured success: In complete glory she reveal’d herself; And, whereas I was black and swart before, With those clear rays which she infused on me   ·aab085· That beauty am I bless’d with which you see.   [aab086] Ask me what question thou canst possible, And I will answer unpremeditated: My courage try by combat, if thou darest, And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.   [aab090] Resolve on this, thou shalt be fortunate, If thou receive me for thy warlike mate. _Char._ 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,   ·aab095· And if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Otherwise I renounce all confidence.   [aab097] _Puc._ I am prepared: here is my keen-edged sword, Deck’d with five flower-de-luces on each side;   [aab099] The which at Touraine, in Saint Katharine’s churchyard,   [aab100] Out of a great deal of old iron I chose forth.   [aab101] _Char._ Then come, o’ God’s name; I fear no woman.   [aab102] _Puc._ And while I live, I’ll ne’er fly from a man.   [aab103] [_Here they fight, and Joan La Pucelle overcomes._ _Char._ Stay, stay thy hands! thou art an Amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah.   ·aab105· _Puc._ Christ’s mother helps me, else I were too weak. _Char._ Whoe’er helps thee, ’tis thou that must help me: Impatiently I burn with thy desire; My heart and hands thou hast at once subdued. Excellent Pucelle, if thy name be so,   ·aab110· Let me thy servant and not sovereign be: ’Tis the French Dauphin sueth to thee thus.   [aab112] _Puc._ I must not yield to any rites of love,   [aab113] For my profession’s sacred from above: When I have chased all thy foes from hence,   ·aab115· Then will I think upon a recompense. _Char._ Meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. _Reig._ My lord, methinks, is very long in talk. _Alen._ Doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock; Else ne’er could he so long protract his speech.   ·aab120· _Reig._ Shall we disturb him, since he keeps no mean? _Alen._ He may mean more than we poor men do know: These women are shrewd tempters with their tongues. _Reig._ My lord, where are you? what devise you on? Shall we give over Orleans, or no?   [aab125] _Puc._ Why, no, I say, distrustful recreants! Fight till the last gasp; I will be your guard.   [aab127] _Char._ What she says I’ll confirm: we’ll fight it out.