The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy Part 5

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, a.s.sist 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 s.n.a.t.c.h 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 n.o.bly 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 t.i.tle 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 n.o.ble self-denial! Let's at once Cast off the needless ornaments of life!

Thy courtiers metamorphose into soldiers; Thy gold trans.m.u.te to iron; all thou hast, With resolute daring, venture for thy crown!

Peril and want we will partic.i.p.ate!

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 hards.h.i.+p 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 va.s.sal 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?