The Maid of Orleans

SCENE XII

The same, without JOHANNA.

ISABEL (after a long pause)

 
   How was it? Did I dream? Where is she gone?
   How did she break these ponderous iron chains?
   A world could not have made me credit it,
   If I had not beheld it with these eyes.
 

SOLDIER (from the tower)

 
   How? Hath she wings? Hath the wind borne her down?
 

ISABEL

 
   Is she below?
 

SOLDIER

 
           She strides amidst the fight:
   Her course outspeeds my sight – now she is here —
   Now there – I see her everywhere at once!
   – She separates the troops – all yield to her:
   The scattered French collect – they form anew!
   – Alas! what do I see! Our people cast
   Their weapons to the ground, our banners sink —
 

ISABEL

 
   What? Will she snatch from us the victory?
 

SOLDIER

 
   She presses forward, right towards the king.
   She reaches him – she bears him from the fight —
   Lord Fastolfe falls – the general is taken!
 

ISABEL

 
   I'll hear no more! Come down!
 

SOLDIER

 
   Fly, queen! you will be taken by surprise.
   Armed soldiers are advancing tow'rds the tower.
 

[He comes down.

ISABEL (drawing her sword)

 
   Then fight, ye cowards!
 

SCENE XIII

LA HIRE with soldiers. At his entrance the people of the QUEEN lay down their arms.

LA HIRE (approaching her respectfully)

 
                Queen, submit yourself —
   Your knights have yielded – to resist is vain!
   – Accept my proffered services. Command
   Where you would be conducted.
 

ISABEL

 
                   Every place
   The same, where I encounter not the Dauphin.
 

[She resigns her sword, and follows him with the soldiers.

 
      The Scene changes to the battle-field.
 

SCENE XIV

Soldiers with flying banners occupy the background. Before them the KING and the DUKE OF BURGUNDY appear, bearing JOHANNA in their arms; she is mortally wounded, and apparently lifeless. They advance slowly to the front of the stage. AGNES SOREL rushes in.

SOREL (throwing herself on the bosom of the KING)

 
   You're free – you live – I have you back again!
 

KING

 
   Yes, I am free – I am so at this price!
 

[Pointing to JOHANNA.

SOREL

 
   Johanna! God! she's dying!
 

BURGUNDY

 
                  She is gone
   An angel passeth hence! See, how she lies,
   Easy and tranquil, like a sleeping child!
   The peace of heaven around her features plays,
   The breath of life no longer heaves her breast,
   But vital warmth still lingers in her hand.
 

KING

 
   She's gone! She never will awaken more,
   Her eye will gaze no more on earthly things.
   She soars on high, a spirit glorified,
   She seeth not our grief, our penitence.
 

SOREL

 
   Her eyes unclose – she lives!
 

BURGUNDY (in astonishment)

 
                  Can she return
   Back from the grave, triumphant e'en o'er death?
   She riseth up! She standeth!
 

JOHANNA (standing up, and looking round)

 
                   Where am I?
 

BURGUNDY

 
   With thine own people, maiden – with thy friends!
 

KING

 
   Supported by thy friend, and by thy king.
 

JOHANNA (after looking at him fixedly for some time)

 
   No! I am not a sorceress! Indeed
   I am not one.
 

KING

 
           Thou'rt holy, as an angel;
   A cloud of error dimmed our mental sight.
 

JOHANNA (gazing round her with a joyful smile)

 
   And am I really, then, among my friends,
   And am no more rejected and despised?
   They curse me not – kindly they look on me!
   – Yes, all around me now seems clear again!
   That is my king! – the banners these of France!
   My banner I behold not – where is it?
   Without my banner I dare not appear;
   To me it was confided by my Lord,
   And I before his throne must lay it down;
   I there may show it, for I bore it truly.
 

KING (averting his face)

 
   Give her the banner!
 

[It is given to her. She stands quite unsupported, the banner in her hand. The heaven is illumined by a rosy light.

JOHANNA

 
   See you the rainbow yonder in the air?
   Its golden portals heaven doth wide unfold,
   Amid the angel choir she radiant stands,
   The eternal Son she claspeth to her breast,
   Her arms she stretcheth forth to me in love.
   How is it with me? Light clouds bear me up —
   My ponderous mail becomes a winged robe;
   I mount – I fly – back rolls the dwindling earth —
   Brief is the sorrow – endless is the joy!
 

[Her banner falls and she sinks lifeless on the ground.

All remain for some time in speechless sorrow. Upon a signal from the KING, all the banners are gently placed over her, so that she is entirely concealed by them.