The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy Part 37

DUNOIS.

Why are ye sorely pressed? Why doth the foe Again exalt himself? all was achieved;-- France was triumphant--war was at an end;-- The savior you have banished; you henceforth May save yourselves; I'll not again behold The camp wherein the maid abideth not.

DUCHATEL.

Think better of it, prince! Dismiss us not With such an answer!

DUNOIS.

Silence, Duchatel!

You're hateful to me; I'll hear naught from you; You were the first who doubted of her truth.

ARCHBISHOP.

Who had not wavered on that fatal day, And been bewildered, when so many signs Bore evidence against her! We were stunned, Our hearts were crushed beneath the sudden blow.

--Who in that hour of dread could weigh the proofs?

Our calmer judgment now returns to us, We see the maid as when she walked with us, Nor have we any fault to charge her with.

We are perplexed--we fear that we have done A grievous wrong. The king is penitent, The duke remorseful, comfortless La Hire, And every heart doth shroud itself in woe.

DUNOIS.

She a deluder? If celestial truth Would clothe herself in a corporeal form, She needs must choose the features of the maiden.

If purity of heart, faith, innocence, Dwell anywhere on earth, upon her lips And in her eyes' clear depths they find their home.

ARCHBISHOP.

May the Almighty, through a miracle, Shed light upon this awful mystery, Which baffles human insight. Howsoe'er This sad perplexity may be resolved, One of two grievous sins we have committed!

Either in fight we have availed ourselves Of h.e.l.lish arms, or banished hence a saint!

And both call down upon this wretched land The vengeance and the punishment of heaven.

SCENE VIII.

The same, a n.o.bLEMAN, afterwards RAIMOND.

n.o.bLEMAN.

A shepherd youth inquires after your highness, He urgently entreats an interview, He says he cometh from the maiden----

DUNOIS.

Haste!

Conduct him hither! He doth come from her!

[The n.o.bLEMAN opens the door to RAIMOND, DUNOIS hastens to meet him.

Where is she? Where is the maid?

RAIMOND.

Hail! n.o.ble prince!

And blessed am I that I find with you This holy man, the s.h.i.+eld of the oppressed, The father of the poor and dest.i.tute!

DUNOIS.

Where is the maiden?

ARCHBISHOP.

Speak, my son, inform us!

RAIMOND.

She is not, sir, a wicked sorceress!

To G.o.d and all his saints I make appeal.

An error blinds the people. You've cast forth G.o.d's messenger, you've banished innocence!

DUNOIS.

Where is she?

RAIMOND.

I accompanied her flight Towards the woods of Ardennes; there she hath Revealed to me her spirit's inmost depths.

In torture I'll expire, and will resign My hopes of everlasting happiness, If she's not guiltless, sir, of every sin!

DUNOIS.

The sun in heaven is not more pure than she!

Where is she? Speak!

RAIMOND.

If G.o.d hath turned your hearts, Oh hasten, I entreat you--rescue her She is a prisoner in the English camp.

DUNOIS.

A prisoner say you?

ARCHBISHOP.

Poor unfortunate!

RAIMOND.

There in the forest as we sought for shelter, We were encountered by Queen Isabel, Who seized and sent her to the English host.

Oh, from a cruel death deliver her Who hath full many a time delivered you!

DUNOIS.

Sound an alarm! to arms! up! beat the drums.

Forth to the field! Let France appear in arms!

The crown and the palladium are at stake!

Our honor is in pledge! risk blood and life!

She must be rescued ere the day is done!

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

A watch-tower--an opening above. JOHANNA and LIONEL.

FASTOLFE (entering hastily).

The people can no longer be restrained.

With fury they demand the maiden's death.

In vain your opposition. Let her die And throw her head down from the battlements!