imately prosecuted under the old title of Act I. Scene 1.

The nominal first act opens with the little court of Charles at Chinon.
Here all is verging towards a state of desperation. Finances exhausted,
troops threatening to disband, and a deputation from Orleans to inform
the king that the town had agreed to surrender, if, within fourteen
days, effectual succour was not sent to relieve it. Charles answers in
despair:--

"Can I by stamping with my feet
Raise armies from the ground? Can I
Pour granaries from this bare and naked palm?
Rend me in pieces! Tear me out this heart,
And coin it for gold! Blood have I for you,
But silver have I none, nor corn, nor soldiers."

Agnes Sorel enters with a casket of jewels in her hand. Although she has
always refused to accept of the king any more costly present than a rare
flower, or an early fruit, she now comes to devote all her wealth and
possessions to his service. But her aid affords him little more than a
noble proof of her love and generosity: it can effect nothing to the
restoration of his shattered fortunes. He dismisses the deputies from
Orleans with permission to make the best terms they can for themselves.
Dunois, the bastard of Orleans, who has eloquently protested against
this desponding desertion, as he deems it, of his own cause, quits the
king in anger. Sorel dispatches La Hire after him to persuade him to
return. La Hire re-enters.

"_Sorel_. You come alone, you bring him not with you.
_[then observing him more closely._
La Hire! What is it? What means this kindled look?
Alas! Some new misfortune.

_La Hire_. Misfortunes
Are overblown--'tis sunshine, lady, sunshine!

_Sorel_. What is it?--I entreat--

_La Hire to the King_. Call back the embassy,
The deputies from Orleans!

_Charles_. Why? What is this?

_La Hire_. Haste! call them back! Thy fortunes change,
A battle has been fought, and thine the victory.

_Sorel_. Victory! Oh, heavenly music!

_Charles_. La Hire,
Some fabulous report has cheated you.
Victory! I believe no more in victories.

_La Hire_. You will believe--in greater wonders still
Here comes the archbishop, and with him Dunois.

And with them comes also a knight, who relates how this victory has been
won by the sudden appearance of an armed virgin, who scatt