The Maid of Orleans

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The Maid of Orleans
Жанр: зарубежная драматургиязарубежная классиказарубежная старинная литературапьесы и драматургиялитература 18 векасерьезное чтениепьесы, драматургия
Язык: Английский
Год издания: 2017
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SCENE III
The same. Three SENATORS.
CHARLES Welcome, my trusty citizens of Orleans! What tidings bring ye from my faithful town? Doth she continue with her wonted zeal Still bravely to withstand the leaguering foe?SENATOR Ah, sire! the city's peril is extreme; And giant ruin, waxing hour by hour, Still onward strides. The bulwarks are destroyed — The foe at each assault advantage gains; Bare of defenders are the city walls, For with rash valor forth our soldiers rush, While few, alas! return to view their homes, And famine's scourge impendeth o'er the town. In this extremity the noble Count Of Rochepierre, commander of the town, Hath made a compact with the enemy, According to old custom, to yield up, On the twelfth day, the city to the foe, Unless, meanwhile, before the town appear A host of magnitude to raise the siege.[DUNOIS manifests the strongest indignation.CHARLES The interval is brief.SENATOR We hither come, Attended by a hostile retinue, To implore thee, sire, to pity thy poor town, And to send succor ere the appointed day, When, if still unrelieved, she must surrender.DUNOIS And could Saintrailles consent to give his voice To such a shameful compact?SENATOR Never, sir! Long as the hero lived, none dared to breathe A single word of treaty or surrender.DUNOIS He then is dead?SENATOR The noble hero fell, His monarch's cause defending on our walls.CHARLES What! Saintrailles dead! Oh, in that single man A host is foundered![A Knight enters and speaks apart with DUNOIS, who starts with surprise.DUNOIS That too!CHARLES Well? What is it?DUNOIS Count Douglass sendeth here. The Scottish troops Revolt, and threaten to retire at once. Unless their full arrears are paid to-day.CHARLES Duchatel!DUCHATEL (shrugs his shoulders) Sire! I know not what to counsel.CHARLES Pledge, promise all, even unto half my realm.DUCHATEL 'Tis vain! They have been fed with hope too often.CHARLES They are the finest troops of all my hosts! They must not now, not now abandon me!SENATOR (throwing himself at the KING'S feet) Oh, king, assist us! Think of our distress!CHARLES (in despair) How! Can I summon armies from the earth? Or grow a cornfield on my open palm? Rend me in pieces! Pluck my bleeding heart Forth from my breast, and coin it 'stead of gold! I've blood for you, but neither gold nor troops.[He sees SOREL approach, and hastens towards her with outstretched arms.SCENE IV
The same. AGNES SOREL, a casket in her hand.
CHARLES My Agnes! Oh, my love! My dearest life! Thou comest here to snatch me from despair! Refuge I take within thy loving arms! Possessing thee I feel that nothing is lost.SOREL My king, beloved![looking round with an anxious, inquiring gaze.Dunois! Say, is it true, Duchatel?DUCHATEL 'Tis, alas!SOREL So great the need? No treasure left? The soldiers will disband?DUCHATEL Alas! It is too true!SOREL (giving him the casket) Here-here is gold, Here too are jewels! Melt my silver down! Sell, pledge my castles – on my fair domains In Provence – treasure raise, turn all to gold, Appease the troops! No time to be lost![She urges him to depart.CHARLES Well now, Dunois! Duchatel! Do ye still Account me poor, when I possess the crown Of womankind? She's nobly born as I; The royal blood of Valois not more pure; The most exalted throne she would adorn — Yet she rejects it with disdain, and claims No other title than to be my love. No gift more costly will she e'er receive Than early flower in winter, or rare fruit! No sacrifice on my part she permits, Yet sacrificeth all she had to me! With generous spirit she doth venture all Her wealth and fortune in my sinking bark.DUNOIS Ay, she is mad indeed, my king, as thou; She throws her all into a burning house, And draweth water in the leaky vessel Of the Danaides. Thee she will not save, And in thy ruin but involve herself.SOREL Believe him not! Full many a time he hath Perilled his life for thee, and now, forsooth, Chafeth because I risk my worthless gold! How? Have I freely sacrificed to thee What is esteemed far more than gold and pearls, And shall I now hold back the gifts of fortune? Oh, come! Let my example challenge thee To noble self-denial! Let's at once Cast off the needless ornaments of life! Thy courtiers metamorphose into soldiers; Thy gold transmute to iron; all thou hast, With resolute daring, venture for thy crown! Peril and want we will participate! Let us bestride the war-horse, and expose Our tender person to the fiery glow Of the hot sun, take for our canopy The clouds above, and make the stones our pillow. The rudest warrior, when he sees his king Bear hardship and privation like the meanest Will patiently endure his own hard lot!CHARLES (laughing) Ay! now is realized an ancient word Of prophesy, once uttered by a nun Of Clairmont, in prophetic mood, who said, That through a woman's aid I o'er my foes Should triumph, and achieve my father's crown. Far off I sought her in the English camp; I strove to reconcile a mother's heart; Here stands the heroine – my guide to Rheims! My Agnes! I shall triumph through thy love!SOREL Thou'lt triumph through the valiant swords of friends.CHARLES And from my foes' dissensions much I hope For sure intelligence hath reached mine ear, That 'twixt these English lords and Burgundy Things do not stand precisely as they did; Hence to the duke I have despatched La Hire, To try if he can lead my angry vassal Back to his ancient loyalty and faith: Each moment now I look for his return.DUCHATEL (at the window) A knight e'en now dismounteth in the court.CHARLES A welcome messenger! We soon shall learn Whether we're doomed to conquer or to yield.SCENE V
The same. LA HIRE.
CHARLES (meeting him) Hope bringest thou, or not? Be brief, La Hire, Out with thy tidings! What must we expect?LA HIRE Expect naught, sire, save from thine own good sword.CHARLES The haughty duke will not be reconciled! Speak! How did he receive my embassy?LA HIRE His first and unconditional demand, Ere he consent to listen to thine errand, Is that Duchatel be delivered up, Whom he doth name the murderer of his sire.CHARLES This base condition we reject with scorn!LA HIRE Then be the league dissolved ere it commence!CHARLES Hast thou thereon, as I commanded thee, Challenged the duke to meet him in fair fight On Montereau's bridge, whereon his father fell?LA HIRE Before him on the ground I flung thy glove, And said: "Thou wouldst forget thy majesty, And like a knight do battle for thy realm." He scornfully rejoined "He needed not To fight for that which he possessed already, But if thou wert so eager for the fray, Before the walls of Orleans thou wouldst find him, Whither he purposed going on the morrow;" Thereon he laughing turned his back upon me.CHARLES Say, did not justice raise her sacred voice, Within the precincts of my parliament?LA HIRE The rage of party, sire, hath silenced her. An edict of the parliament declares Thee and thy race excluded from the throne.DUNOIS These upstart burghers' haughty insolence!CHARLES Hast thou attempted with my mother aught?LA HIRE With her?CHARLES Ay! How did she demean herself?LA HIRE (after a few moments' reflection) I chanced to step within St. Denis' walls Precisely at the royal coronation. The crowds were dressed as for a festival; Triumphal arches rose in every street Through which the English monarch was to pass. The way was strewed with flowers, and with huzzas, As France some brilliant conquest had achieved, The people thronged around the royal car.SOREL They could huzza – huzza, while trampling thus Upon a gracious sovereign's loving heart!LA HIRE I saw young Harry Lancaster – the boy — On good St. Lewis' regal chair enthroned; On either side his haughty uncles stood, Bedford and Gloucester, and before him kneeled, To render homage for his lands, Duke Philip.CHARLES Oh, peer dishonored! Oh, unworthy cousin!LA HIRE The child was timid, and his footing lost As up the steps he mounted towards the throne. An evil omen! murmured forth the crowd, And scornful laughter burst on every side. Then forward stepped Queen Isabel – thy mother, And – but it angers me to utter it!CHARLES Say on.LA HIRE Within her arms she clasped the boy, And herself placed him on thy father's throne.CHARLES Oh, mother! mother!LA HIRE E'en the murderous bands Of the Burgundians, at this spectacle, Evinced some tokens of indignant shame. The queen perceived it, and addressed the crowds, Exclaiming with loud voice: "Be grateful, Frenchmen, That I engraft upon a sickly stock A healthy scion, and redeem you from The misbegotten son of a mad sire!"[The KING hides his face; AGNES hastens towards him and clasps him in her arms; all the bystanders express aversion and horror.DUNOIS She-wolf of France! Rage-breathing Megara!CHARLES (after a pause, to the SENATORS) Yourselves have heard the posture of affairs. Delay no longer, back return to Orleans, And bear this message to my faithful town; I do absolve my subjects from their oath, Their own best interests let them now consult, And yield them to the Duke of Burgundy; 'Yclept the Good, he need must prove humane.DUNOIS What say'st thou, sire? Thou wilt abandon Orleans!SENATOR (kneels down) My king! Abandon not thy faithful town! Consign her not to England's harsh control. She is a precious jewel in the crown, And none hath more inviolate faith maintained Towards the kings, thy royal ancestors.DUNOIS Have we been routed? Is it lawful, sire, To leave the English masters of the field, Without a single stroke to save the town? And thinkest thou, with careless breath, forsooth, Ere blood hath flowed, rashly to give away The fairest city from the heart of France?CHARLES Blood hath been poured forth freely, and in vain The hand of heaven is visibly against me; In every battle is my host o'erthrown, I am rejected of my parliament, My capital, my people, hail me foe, Those of my blood, – my nearest relatives, — Forsake me and betray – and my own mother Doth nurture at her breast the hostile brood. Beyond the Loire we will retire, and yield To the o'ermastering hand of destiny Which sideth with the English.SOREL God forbid That we in weak despair should quit this realm! This utterance came not from thy heart, my king, Thy noble heart, which hath been sorely riven By the fell deed of thy unnatural mother, Thou'lt be thyself again, right valiantly Thou'lt battle with thine adverse destiny, Which doth oppose thee with relentless ire.CHARLES (lost in gloomy thought) Is it not true? A dark and ominous doom Impendeth o'er the heaven-abandoned house Of Valois – there preside the avenging powers, To whom a mother's crime unbarred the way. For thirty years my sire in madness raved; Already have three elder brothers been Mowed down by death; 'tis the decree of heaven, The house of the Sixth Charles is doomed to fall.SOREL In thee 'twill rise with renovated life! Oh, in thyself have faith! – believe me, king, Not vainly hath a gracious destiny Redeemed thee from the ruin of thy house, And by thy brethren's death exalted thee, The youngest born, to an unlooked-for throne Heaven in thy gentle spirit hath prepared The leech to remedy the thousand ills By party rage inflicted on the land. The flames of civil discord thou wilt quench, And my heart tells me thou'lt establish peace, And found anew the monarchy of France.CHARLES Not I! The rude and storm-vexed times require A pilot formed by nature to command. A peaceful nation I could render happy A wild, rebellious people not subdue. I never with the sword could open hearts Against me closed in hatred's cold reserve.SOREL The people's eye is dimmed, an error blinds them, But this delusion will not long endure; The day is not far distant when the love Deep rooted in the bosom of the French, Towards their native monarch, will revive, Together with the ancient jealousy, Which forms a barrier 'twixt the hostile nations. The haughty foe precipitates his doom. Hence, with rash haste abandon not the field, With dauntless front contest each foot of ground, As thine own heart defend the town of Orleans! Let every boat be sunk beneath the wave, Each bridge be burned, sooner than carry thee Across the Loire, the boundary of thy realm, The Stygian flood, o'er which there's no return.CHARLES What could be done I have done. I have offered, In single fight, to combat for the crown. I was refused. In vain my people bleed, In vain my towns are levelled with the dust. Shall I, like that unnatural mother, see My child in pieces severed with the sword? No; I forego my claim, that it may live.DUNOIS How, sire! Is this fit language for a king? Is a crown thus renounced? Thy meanest subject, For his opinion's sake, his hate and love, Sets property and life upon a cast; When civil war hangs out her bloody flag, Each private end is drowned in party zeal. The husbandman forsakes his plough, the wife Neglects her distaff; children, and old men, Don the rude garb of war; the citizen Consigns his town to the devouring flames, The peasant burns the produce of his fields; And all to injure or advantage thee, And to achieve the purpose of his heart. Men show no mercy, and they wish for none, When they at honor's call maintain the fight, Or for their idols or their gods contend. A truce to such effeminate pity, then, Which is not suited to a monarch's breast. Thou didst not heedlessly provoke the war; As it commenced, so let it spend its fury. It is the law of destiny that nations Should for their monarchs immolate themselves. We Frenchmen recognize this sacred law, Nor would annul it. Base, indeed, the nation That for its honor ventures not its all.CHARLES (to the SENATORS) You've heard my last resolve; expect no other. May God protect you! I can do no more.DUNOIS As thou dost turn thy back upon thy realm, So may the God of battle aye avert His visage from thee. Thou forsak'st thyself, So I forsake thee. Not the power combined Of England and rebellious Burgundy, Thy own mean spirit hurls thee from the throne. Born heroes ever were the kings of France; Thou wert a craven, even from thy birth.[To the SENATORS. The king abandons you. But I will throw Myself into your town – my father's town — And 'neath its ruins find a soldier's grave.[He is about to depart. AGNES SOREL detains him.SOREL (to the KING) Oh, let him not depart in anger from thee! Harsh words his lips have uttered, but his heart Is true as gold. 'Tis he, himself, my king, Who loves thee, and hath often bled for thee. Dunois, confess, the heat of noble wrath Made thee forget thyself; and oh, do thou Forgive a faithful friend's o'erhasty speech! Come, let me quickly reconcile your hearts, Ere anger bursteth forth in quenchless flame.[DUNOIS looks fixedly at the KING, and appears to await an answer.CHARLES Our way lies over the Loire. Duchatel, See all our equipage embarked.DUNOIS (quickly to SOREL) Farewell.[He turns quickly round, and goes out. The SENATORS follow.SOREL (wringing her hands in despair) Oh, if he goes, we are forsaken quite! Follow, La Hire! Oh, seek to soften him![LA HIRE goes out.SCENE VI
CHARLES, SOREL, DUCHATEL.
CHARLES Is, then, the sceptre such a peerless treasure? Is it so hard to loose it from our grasp? Believe me, 'tis more galling to endure The domineering rule of these proud vassals. To be dependent on their will and pleasure Is, to a noble heart, more bitter far Than to submit to fate.[To DUCHATEL, who still lingers. Duchatel, go, And do what I commanded.DUCHATEL (throws himself at the KING'S feet) Oh, my king!CHARLES No more! Thou'st heard my absolute resolve!DUCHATEL Sire, with the Duke of Burgundy make peace! 'Tis the sole outlet from destruction left!CHARLES Thou giv'st this counsel, and thy blood alone Can ratify this peace.DUCHATEL Here is my head. I oft have risked it for thee in the fight, And with a joyful spirit I, for thee, Would lay it down upon the block of death. Conciliate the duke! Deliver me To the full measure of his wrath, and let My flowing blood appease the ancient hate.CHARLES (looks at him for some time in silence, and with deep emotion) Can it be true? Am I, then, sunk so low, That even friends, who read my inmost heart, Point out for my escape the path of shame? Yes, now I recognize my abject fall. My honor is no more confided in.DUCHATEL Reflect —CHARLES Be silent, and incense me not! Had I ten realms, on which to turn my back, With my friend's life I would not purchase them. Do what I have commanded. Hence, and see My equipage embarked.DUCHATEL 'Twill speedily Be done.[He stands up and retires. AGNES SOREL weeps passionately.SCENE VII
The royal palace at Chinon.
CHARLES, AGNES SOREL.
CHARLES (seizing the hand of AGNES) My Agnes, be not sorrowful! Beyond the Loire we still shall find a France; We are departing to a happier land, Where laughs a milder, an unclouded sky, And gales more genial blow; we there shall meet More gentle manners; song abideth there, And love and life in richer beauty bloom.SOREL Oh, must I contemplate this day of woe! The king must roam in banishment! the son Depart, an exile from his father's house, And turn his back upon his childhood's home! Oh, pleasant, happy land that we forsake, Ne'er shall we tread thee joyously again.SCENE VIII
LA HIRE returns, CHARLES, SOREL.
SOREL You come alone? You do not bring him back?[Observing him more closely. La Hire! What news? What does that look announce? Some new calamity?LA HIRE Calamity Hath spent itself; sunshine is now returned.SOREL What is it? I implore you.LA HIRE (to the KING) Summon back The delegates from Orleans.CHARLES Why? What is it?LA HIRE Summon them back! Thy fortune is reversed. A battle has been fought, and thou hast conquered.SOREL Conquered! Oh, heavenly music of that word!CHARLES La Hire! A fabulous report deceives thee; Conquered! In conquest I believe no more.LA HIRE Still greater wonders thou wilt soon believe. Here cometh the archbishop. To thine arms He leadeth back Dunois.SOREL O beauteous flower Of victory, which doth the heavenly fruits Of peace and reconcilement bear at once!SCENE IX
The same, ARCHBISHOP of RHEIMS, DUNOIS, DUCHATEL, with RAOUL, a Knight in armor.
ARCHBISHOP (leading DUNOIS to the KING, and joining their hands).
Princes, embrace! Let rage and discord cease, Since Heaven itself hath for our cause declared.
[DUNOIS embraces the KING.CHARLES Relieve my wonder and perplexity. What may this solemn earnestness portend? Whence this unlooked-for change of fortune?ARCHBISHOP (leads the KNIGHT forward, and presents him to the KING) Speak!RAOUL We had assembled sixteen regiments Of Lotharingian troops to join your host; And Baudricourt, a knight of Vaucouleurs, Was our commander. Having gained the heights By Vermanton, we wound our downward way Into the valley watered by the Yonne. There, in the plain before us, lay the foe, And when we turned, arms glittered in our rear. We saw ourselves surrounded by two hosts, And could not hope for conquest or for flight. Then sank the bravest heart, and in despair We all prepared to lay our weapons down. The leaders with each other anxiously Sought counsel and found none; when to our eyes A spectacle of wonder showed itself. For suddenly from forth the thickets' depths A maiden, on her head a polished helm, Like a war-goddess, issued; terrible Yet lovely was her aspect, and her hair In dusky ringlets round her shoulders fell. A heavenly radiance shone around the height; When she upraised her voice and thus addressed us: "Why be dismayed, brave Frenchmen? On the foe! Were they more numerous than the ocean sands, God and the holy maiden lead you on!" Then quickly from the standard-bearer's hand She snatched the banner, and before our troop With valiant bearing strode the wondrous maid. Silent with awe, scarce knowing what we did, The banner and the maiden we pursue, And fired with ardor, rush upon the foe, Who, much amazed, stand motionless and view The miracle with fixed and wondering gaze. Then, as if seized by terror sent from God, They suddenly betake themselves to flight, And casting arms and armor to the ground, Disperse in wild disorder o'er the field. No leader's call, no signal now avails; Senseless from terror, without looking back, Horses and men plunge headlong in the stream, Where they without resistance are despatched. It was a slaughter rather than a fight! Two thousand of the foe bestrewed the field, Not reckoning numbers swallowed by the flood, While of our company not one was slain.CHARLES 'Tis strange, by heaven! most wonderful and strange!SOREL A maiden worked this miracle, you say? Whence did she come? Who is she?RAOUL Who she is She will reveal to no one but the king! She calls herself a seer and prophetess Ordained by God, and promises to raise The siege of Orleans ere the moon shall change. The people credit her, and thirst for war. The host she follows – she'll be here anon.[The ringing of bells is heard, together with the clang of arms. Hark to the din! The pealing of the bells! 'Tis she! The people greet God's messenger.CHARLES (to DUCHATEL) Conduct her thither.[To the ARCHBISHOP. What should I believe? A maiden brings me conquest even now, When naught can save me but a hand divine! This is not in the common course of things. And dare I here believe a miracle?MANY VOICES (behind the scene) Hail to the maiden! – the deliverer!CHARLES She comes! Dunois, now occupy my place! We will make trial of this wondrous maid. Is she indeed inspired and sent by God She will be able to discern the king.[DUNOIS seats himself; the KING stands at his right hand, AGNES SOREL near him; the ARCHBISHOP and the others opposite; so that the intermediate space remains vacant.SCENE X
The same. JOHANNA, accompanied by the councillors and many knights, who occupy the background of the scene; she advances with noble bearing, and slowly surveys the company.
DUNOIS (after a long and solemn pause) Art thou the wondrous maiden —JOHANNA (interrupts him, regarding him with dignity) Bastard of Orleans, thou wilt tempt thy God! This place abandon, which becomes thee not! To this more mighty one the maid is sent.[With a firm step she approaches the KING, bows one knee before him, and, rising immediately, steps back. All present express their astonishment, DUNOIS forsakes his seat, which is occupied by the KING.CHARLES Maiden, thou ne'er hast seen my face before. Whence hast thou then this knowledge?JOHANNA Thee I saw When none beside, save God in heaven, beheld thee.[She approaches the KING, and speaks mysteriously. Bethink thee, Dauphin, in the bygone night, When all around lay buried in deep sleep, Thou from thy couch didst rise and offer up An earnest prayer to God. Let these retire And I will name the subject of thy prayer.CHARLES What! to Heaven confided need not be From men concealed. Disclose to me my prayer, And I shall doubt no more that God inspires thee.JOHANNA Three prayers thou offeredst, Dauphin; listen now Whether I name them to thee! Thou didst pray That if there were appended to this crown Unjust possession, or if heavy guilt, Not yet atoned for, from thy father's times, Occasioned this most lamentable war, God would accept thee as a sacrifice, Have mercy on thy people, and pour forth Upon thy head the chalice of his wrath.CHARLES (steps back with awe) Who art thou, mighty one? Whence comest thou?[All express their astonishment.JOHANNA To God thou offeredst this second prayer: That if it were his will and high decree To take away the sceptre from thy race, And from thee to withdraw whate'er thy sires, The monarchs of this kingdom, once possessed, He in his mercy would preserve to thee Three priceless treasures – a contented heart, Thy friend's affection, and thine Agnes' love.[The KING conceals his face: the spectators express their astonishment. After a pause. Thy third petition shall I name to thee?CHARLES Enough; I credit thee! This doth surpass Mere human knowledge: thou art sent by God!ARCHBISHOP Who art thou, wonderful and holy maid? What favored region bore thee? What blest pair, Beloved of Heaven, may claim thee as their child?JOHANNA Most reverend father, I am named Johanna, I am a shepherd's lowly daughter, born In Dom Remi, a village of my king. Included in the diocese of Toul, And from a child I kept my father's sheep. And much and frequently I heard them tell Of the strange islanders, who o'er the sea Had come to make us slaves, and on us force A foreign lord, who loveth not the people; How the great city, Paris, they had seized, And had usurped dominion o'er the realm. Then earnestly God's Mother I implored To save us from the shame of foreign chains, And to preserve to us our lawful king. Not distant from my native village stands An ancient image of the Virgin blest, To which the pious pilgrims oft repaired; Hard by a holy oak, of blessed power, Standeth, far-famed through wonders manifold. Beneath the oak's broad shade I loved to sit Tending my flock – my heart still drew me there. And if by chance among the desert hills A lambkin strayed, 'twas shown me in a dream, When in the shadow of this oak I slept. And once, when through the night beneath this tree In pious adoration I had sat, Resisting sleep, the Holy One appeared, Bearing a sword and banner, otherwise Clad like a shepherdess, and thus she spake: "'Tis I; arise, Johanna! leave thy flock, The Lord appoints thee to another task! Receive this banner! Gird thee with this sword! Therewith exterminate my people's foes; Conduct to Rheims thy royal master's son, And crown him with the kingly diadem!" And I made answer: "How may I presume To undertake such deeds, a tender maid, Unpractised in the dreadful art of war!" And she replied: "A maiden pure and chaste Achieves whate'er on earth is glorious If she to earthly love ne'er yields her heart. Look upon me! a virgin, like thyself; I to the Christ, the Lord divine, gave birth, And am myself divine!" Mine eyelids then She touched, and when I upward turned my amaze, Heaven's wide expanse was filled with angel-boys, Who bore white lilies in their hands, while tones Of sweetest music floated through the air. And thus on three successive nights appeared The Holy One, and cried, – "Arise, Johanna! The Lord appoints thee to another task!" And when the third night she revealed herself, Wrathful she seemed, and chiding spake these words: "Obedience, woman's duty here on earth; Severe endurance is her heavy doom; She must be purified through discipline; Who serveth here, is glorified above!" While thus she spake, she let her shepherd garb Fail from her, and as Queen of Heaven stood forth Enshrined in radiant light, while golden clouds Upbore her slowly to the realms of bliss.[All are moved; AGNES SOREL weeping, hides her face on the bosom of the KING.ARCHBISHOP (after a long pause) Before divine credentials such as these Each doubt of earthly prudence must subside, Her deeds attest the truth of what she speaks, For God alone such wonders can achieve.DUNOIS I credit not her wonders, but her eyes Which beam with innocence and purity.CHARLES Am I, a sinner, worthy of such favor? Infallible, All-searching eye, thou seest Mine inmost heart, my deep humility!JOHANNA Humility shines brightly in the skies; Thou art abased, hence God exalteth thee.CHARLES Shall I indeed withstand mine enemies?JOHANNA France I will lay submissive at thy feet!CHARLES And Orleans, say'st thou, will not be surrendered?JOHANNA The Loire shall sooner roll its waters back.CHARLES Shall I in triumph enter into Rheims?JOHANNA I through ten thousand foes will lead you there.[The knights make a noise with their lances and shields, and evince signs of courage.DUNOIS Appoint the maiden to command the host! We follow blindly whereso'er she leads! The Holy One's prophetic eye shall guide, And this brave sword from danger shall protect her!LA HIRE A universe in arms we will not fear, If she, the mighty one, precede our troops. The God of battle walketh by her side; Let her conduct us on to victory![The knights clang their arms and step forward.CHARLES Yes, holy maiden, do thou lead mine host; My chiefs and warriors shall submit to thee. This sword of matchless temper, proved in war, Sent back in anger by the Constable, Hath found a hand more worthy. Prophetess, Do thou receive it, and henceforward be —JOHANNA No, noble Dauphin! conquest to my liege Is not accorded through this instrument Of earthly might. I know another sword Wherewith I am to conquer, which to thee, I, as the Spirit taught, will indicate; Let it be hither brought.CHARLES Name it, Johanna.JOHANNA Send to the ancient town of Fierbois; There in Saint Catherine's churchyard is a vault Where lie in heaps the spoils of bygone war. Among them is the sword which I must use. It by three golden lilies may be known, Upon the blade impressed. Let it be brought For thou, my liege, shalt conquer through this sword.CHARLES Perform what she commands.JOHANNA And a white banner, Edged with a purple border, let me bear. Upon this banner let the Queen of Heaven Be pictured with the beauteous Jesus child Floating in glory o'er this earthly ball. For so the Holy Mother showed it me.CHARLES So be it as thou sayest.JOHANNA (to the ARCHBISHOP) Reverend bishop; Lay on my head thy consecrated hands! Pronounce a blessing, Father, on thy child![She kneels down.ARCHBISHOP Not blessings to receive, but to dispense Art thou appointed. Go, with power divine! But we are sinners all and most unworthy.[She rises: a PAGE enters.PAGE A herald from the English generals.JOHANNA Let him appear, for he is sent by God![The KING motions to the PAGE, who retires.