The Maid of Orleans, Friedrich Schiller [top novels to read txt] 📗

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Here in the heart of France, where his career
Of conquest ended, let his relics lie!
So far no hostile sword attained before.
A fitting tomb shall memorize his name;
His epitaph the spot whereon he fell.

FASTOLFE (yielding his sword).
I am your prisoner, sir.

CHARLES (returning his sword).
Not so! Rude war
Respects each pious office; you are free
To render the last honors to the dead,
Go now, Duchatel--still my Agnes trembles--
Hasten to snatch her from anxiety--
Bring her the tidings of our victory,
And usher her in triumph into Rheims!

[Exit DUCHATEL.


SCENE VIII.

The same. LA HIRE.

DUNOIS.
La Hire, where is the maiden?

LA HIRE.
That I ask
Of you; I left her fighting by your side.

DUNOIS.
I thought she was protected by your arm,
When I departed to assist the king.

BURGUNDY.
Not long ago I saw her banner wave
Amidst the thickest of the hostile ranks.

DUNOIS.
Alas! where is she? Evil I forebode?
Come, let us haste to rescue her. I fear
Her daring soul hath led her on too far;
Alone she combats in the midst of foes,
And without succor yieldeth to the crowd.

CHARLES.
Haste to her rescue!

LA HIRE.
Come!

BURGUNDY.
We follow all!

[Exit.

[They retire in haste. A deserted part of the
battle-field. In the distance are seen the towers
of Rheims illumined by the sun.


SCENE IX.

A KNIGHT in black armor, with closed visor. JOHANNA follows
him to the front of the stage, where he stops and awaits her.

JOHANNA.
Deluder! now I see thy stratagem!
Thou hast deceitfully, through seeming flight,
Allured me from the battle, doom and death
Averting thus from many a British head.
Destruction now doth overtake thyself.

BLACK KNIGHT.
Why dost thou follow after me and track
My steps with quenchless rage? I am not doomed
To perish by thy hand.

JOHANNA.
Deep in my soul
I hate thee as the night, which is thy color;
To blot thee out from the fair light of day
An irresistible desire impels me.
Who art thou? Raise thy visor. I had said
That thou wert Talbot had I not myself
Seen warlike Talbot in the battle fall.

BLACK KNIGHT.
Is the divining-spirit mute in thee?

JOHANNA.
His voice speaks loudly in my spirit's depth
The near approach of woe.

BLACK KNIGHT.
Johanna D'Arc!
Borne on the wings of conquest, thou hast reached
The gates of Rheims. Let thy achieved renown
Content thee. Fortune, like thy slave, till now
Hath followed thee; dismiss her, ere in wrath
She free herself; fidelity she hates;
She serveth none with constancy till death.

JOHANNA.
Why check me in the midst of my career?
Why bid me falter and forsake my work?
I will complete it and fulfil my vow!

BLACK KNIGHT.
Nothing can thee, thou mighty one, withstand,
In battle thou art aye invincible.
But henceforth shun the fight; attend my warning.

JOHANNA.
Not from my hand will I resign this sword
Till haughty England's prostrate in the dust.

BLACK KNIGHT.
Behold! there Rheims ariseth with its towers,
The goal and end of thy career. Thou seest
The lofty minster's sun-illumined dome;
Thou in triumphal pomp wouldst enter there,
Thy monarch crown, and ratify thy vow.
Enter not there! Return! Attend my warning!

JOHANNA.
What art thou, double-tongued, deceitful being,
Who wouldst bewilder and appal me? Speak!
By what authority dost thou presume
To greet me with fallacious oracles?

[The BLACK KNIGHT is about to depart, she steps in his way.

No, thou shalt speak, or perish by my hand!

[She endeavors to strike him.

BLACK KNIGHT (touches her with his hand, she remains motionless).
Slay what is mortal!

[Darkness, thunder and lightning. The KNIGHT sinks into the earth.

JOHANNA (stands at first in amazement, but soon recovers herself).
'Twas nothing living. 'Twas a base delusion,
An instrument of hell, a juggling fiend,
Uprisen hither from the fiery pool
To shake and terrify my steadfast heart.
Wielding the sword of God, whom should I fear!
I will triumphantly achieve my work.
My courage should not waver, should not fail
Were hell itself to champion me to fight!

[She is about to depart.


SCENE X.

LIONEL, JOHANNA.

LIONEL.
Accursed one, prepare thee for the fight!
Not both of us shall quit this field alive.
Thou hast destroyed the bravest of our host
The noble Talbot hath his mighty soul
Breathed forth upon my bosom. I'll avenge
The hero, or participate his doom.
And wouldst thou know who brings thee glory now,
Whether he live or die,--I'm Lionel,
The sole survivor of the English chiefs,
And still unconquered is this valiant arm.

[He rushes upon her; after a short combat she strikes
the sword out of his hand.

Perfidious fortune!

[He wrestles with her. JOHANNA seizes him by the crest
and tears open his helmet; his face is thus exposed;
at the same time she draws her sword with her right hand.

JOHANNA.
Suffer, what thou soughtest!
The Virgin sacrifices thee through me!

[At this moment she gazes in his face. His aspect
softens her, she remains motionless and slowly lets
her arm sink.

LIONEL.
Why linger, why withhold the stroke of death?
My glory thou hast taken--take my life!
I want no mercy, I am in thy power.

[She makes him a sign with her hand to fly.

How! shall I fly and owe my life to thee?
No, I would rather die.

JOHANNA (with averted face).
I will not know
That ever thou didst owe thy life to me.

LIONEL.
I hate alike thee and thy proffered gift.
I want no mercy--kill thine enemy
Who loathes and would have slain thee.

JOHANNA.
Slay me, then,
And fly!

LIONEL.
Ha! What is this?

JOHANNA (hiding her face).
Woe's me!

LIONEL (approaching her).
'Tis said
Thou killest all the English whom thy sword
Subdues in battle--why spare me alone?

JOHANNA (raises her sword with a rapid movement as if to strike him,
but lets it fall quickly when she gazes on his face).
Oh, Holy Virgin!

LIONEL.
Wherefore namest thou
The Holy Virgin? she knows naught of thee;
Heaven hath no part in thee.

JOHANNA (in the greatest anxiety).
What have I done?
Alas! I've broke my vow!

[She wrings her hands in despair.

LIONEL (looks at her with sympathy and approaches her).
Unhappy maid!
I pity thee! Thy sorrow touches me;
Thou hast shown mercy unto me alone,
My hatred yielded unto sympathy!
Who art thou, and whence comest thou?

JOHANNA.
Away!

LIONEL.
Thy youth, thy beauty, move my soul to pity!
Thy look sinks in my heart. I fain would save thee!
How may I do so? tell me. Come! oh, come!
Renounce this fearful league--throw down these arms!

JOHANNA.
I am unworthy now to carry them!

LIONEL.
Then throw them from thee--quick! come, follow me!

JOHANNA (with horror).
How! follow thee!

LIONEL.
Thou may'st be saved. Oh, come!
I will deliver thee, but linger not.
Strange sorrow for thy sake doth seize my heart,
Unspeakable desire to rescue thee----

[He seizes her arm.

JOHANNA.
The Bastard comes! 'Tis they! They seek for me!
If they should find thee----

LIONEL.
I'll defend thee, maid.

JOHANNA.
I die if thou shouldst perish by their hands!

LIONEL.
Am I then dear to thee?

JOHANNA.
Ye heavenly powers!

LIONEL.
Shall I again behold thee--hear from thee?

JOHANNA.
No! never!

LIONEL.
Thus this sword I seize in pledge
That I again behold thee!

[He snatches her sword.

JOHANNA.
Madman, hold!
Thou darest?

LIONEL.
Now I yield to force--again
I'll see thee!
[He retires.


SCENE XI.

JOHANNA, DUNOIS, LA HIRE.

LA HIRE.
It is she! The maiden lives!

DUNOIS.
Fear not, Johanna! friends are at thy side.

LA HIRE.
Is not that Lionel who yonder flies?

DUNOIS.
Let him escape! Maiden, the righteous cause
Hath triumphed now. Rheims opens wide its gates;
The joyous crowds pour forth to meet their king.

LA HIRE.
What ails thee, maiden? She grows pale--she sinks!

[JOHANNA grows dizzy, and is about to fall.

DUNOIS.
She's wounded--rend her breastplate--'tis her arm!
The wound is not severe.

LA HIRE.
Her blood doth flow.

JOHANNA.
Oh, that my life would stream forth with my blood!

[She lies senseless in LA HIRE'S arms.


ACT IV.

A hall adorned as for a festival; the columns are hung
with garlands; behind the scene flutes and hautboys.


SCENE I.

JOHANNA.

Hushed is the din of arms, war's storms subside,
Glad songs and dance succeed the bloody fray,
Through all the streets joy echoes far and wide,
Altar and church are decked in rich array,
Triumphal arches rise in vernal pride,
Wreathes round the columns wind their flowery way,
Wide Rheims cannot contain the mighty throng,
Which to joyous