The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 432

JOHANNA.

I am so, Now I again behold you, once again Your voices hear, whose fond, familiar tones Bring to my mind my dear paternal fields.

When on my native hills I drove my herd, Then I was happy as in paradise-- I ne'er can be so more, no, never more!

[She hides her face on LOUISON'S bosom. CLAUDE MARIE, ETIENNE, and BERTRAND appear, and remain timidly standing in the distance.

MARGOT.

Come, Bertrand! Claude Marie! come, Etienne!

Our sister is not proud: she is so gentle, And speaks so kindly,--more so than of yore, When in our village she abode with us.

[They draw near, and hold out their hands; JOHANNA gazes on them fixedly, and appears amazed.

JOHANNA.

Where am I? Tell me! Was it all a dream, A long, long dream? And am I now awake?

Am I away from Dom Remi? Is't so?

I fell asleep beneath the Druid tree, And I am now awake; and round me stand The kind, familiar forms? I only dreamed Of all these battles, kings, and deeds of war,-- They were but shadows which before me pa.s.sed; For dreams are always vivid 'neath that tree.

How did you come to Rheims? How came I here?

No, I have never quitted Dom Remi!

Confess it to me, and rejoice my heart.

LOUISON.

We are at Rheims. Thou hast not merely dreamed Of these great deeds--thou hast achieved them all.

Come to thyself, Johanna! Look around-- Thy splendid armor feel, of burnished gold!

[JOHANNA lays her hand upon her breast, recollects herself, and shrinks back.

BERTRAND.

Out of my hand thou didst receive this helm.

CLAUDE MARIE.

No wonder thou shouldst think it all a dream; For nothing in a dream could come to pa.s.s More wonderful than what thou hast achieved.

JOHANNA (quickly).

Come, let us fly! I will return with you Back to our village, to our father's bosom.

LOUISON.

Oh, come! Return with us!

JOHANNA.

The people here Exalt me far above what I deserve.

You have beheld me weak and like a child; You love me, but you do not wors.h.i.+p me.

MARGOT.

Thou wilt abandon this magnificence.

JOHANNA.

I will throw off the hated ornaments Which were a barrier 'twixt my heart and yours, And I will be a shepherdess again, And like a humble maiden I will serve you, And will with bitter penitence atone, That I above you vainly raised myself.

[Trumpets sound.

SCENE X.

The KING comes forth from the church. He is in the coronation robes. AGNES SOREL, ARCHBISHOP, BURGUNDY, DUNOIS, LA HIRE, DUCHATEL, KNIGHTS, COURTIERS, and PEOPLE.

Many voices shout repeatedly, while the KING advances,-- Long live the king! Long live King Charles the Seventh!

[The trumpets sound. Upon a signal from the KING, the HERALDS with their staves command silence.

KING.

Thanks, my good people! Thank you for your love!

The crown which G.o.d hath placed upon our brow Hath with our valiant swords been hardly won: With n.o.ble blood 'tis wetted; but henceforth The peaceful olive branch shall round it twine.

Let those who fought for us receive our thanks; Our pardon, those who joined the hostile ranks, For G.o.d hath shown us mercy in our need, And our first royal word shall now be, mercy!

PEOPLE.

Long live the king! Long live King Charles the good!

KING.

From G.o.d alone, the highest potentate, The monarchs of the French receive the crown; But visibly from his Almighty hand Have we received it.

[Turning to the MAIDEN.

Here stands the holy delegate of heaven, Who hath restored to you your rightful king, And rent the yoke of foreign tyranny.

Her name shall equal that of holy Denis, The guardian and protector of this realm, And to her fame an altar shall be reared.

PEOPLE.

Hail to the maiden, the deliverer!

[Trumpets.

KING (to JOHANNA).

If thou art born of woman, like ourselves, Name aught that can augment thy happiness.

But if thy fatherland is there above, If in this virgin form thou dost conceal The radiant glory of a heavenly nature, From our deluded sense remove the veil, And let us see thee in thy form of light As thou art seen in heaven, that in the dust We may bow down before thee.

[A general silence; every eye is fixed upon the MAIDEN.

JOHANNA (with a sudden cry).

G.o.d! my father!

SCENE XI.

THIBAUT comes forth from the crowd, and stands opposite to her.

Many voices exclaim,--

Her father!

THIBAUT.

Yes, her miserable father, Who did beget her, and whom G.o.d impels Now to accuse his daughter.