Volume I Part 8 (1/2)
”It is this, then, that has changed you; it was this that made you thoughtful and not as you were before. I see it now. Why did you not tell us about it?”
”It was not permitted. It is permitted now, and soon I shall tell all.
But only you, now. It must remain a secret for a few days still.”
”Has none seen that white shadow before but me?”
”No one. It has fallen upon me before when you and others were present, but none could see it. To-day it has been otherwise, and I was told why; but it will not be visible again to any.”
”It was a sign to me, then?and a sign with a meaning of some kind?”
”Yes, but I may not speak of that.”
”Strange?that that dazzling light could rest upon an object before one's eyes and not be visible.”
”With it comes speech, also. Several saints come, attended by myriads of angels, and they speak to me; I hear their voices, but others do not.
They are very dear to me?my Voices; that is what I call them to myself.”
”Joan, what do they tell you?”
”All manner of things?about France, I mean.”
”What things have they been used to tell you?”
She sighed, and said:
”Disasters?only disasters, and misfortunes, and humiliation. There was naught else to foretell.”
”They spoke of them to you beforehand?” ”Yes. So that I knew what was going to happen before it happened. It made me grave?as you saw. It could not be otherwise. But always there was a word of hope, too. More than that: France was to be rescued, and made great and free again. But how and by whom?that was not told. Not until to-day.” As she said those last words a sudden deep glow shone in her eyes, which I was to see there many times in after-days when the bugles sounded the charge and learn to call it the battle-light. Her breast heaved, and the color rose in her face. ”But to-day I know. G.o.d has chosen the meanest of His creatures for this work; and by His command, and in His protection, and by His strength, not mine, I am to lead His armies, and win back France, and set the crown upon the head of His servant that is Dauphin and shall be King.”
I was amazed, and said:
”You, Joan? You, a child, lead armies?”
”Yes. For one little moment or two the thought crushed me; for it is as you say?I am only a child; a child and ignorant?ignorant of everything that pertains to war, and not fitted for the rough life of camps and the companions.h.i.+p of soldiers. But those weak moments pa.s.sed; they will not come again. I am enlisted, I will not turn back, G.o.d helping me, till the English grip is loosed from the throat of France. My Voices have never told me lies, they have not lied to-day. They say I am to go to Robert de Baudricourt, governor of Vaucouleurs, and he will give me men-at-arms for escort and send me to the King. A year from now a blow will be struck which will be the beginning of the end, and the end will follow swiftly.”
”Where will it be struck?”
”My Voices have not said; nor what will happen this present year, before it is struck. It is appointed me to strike it, that is all I know; and follow it with others, sharp and swift, undoing in ten weeks England's long years of costly labor, and setting the crown upon the Dauphin's head?for such is G.o.d's will; my Voices have said it, and shall I doubt it? No; it will be as they have said, for they say only that which is true.”
These were tremendous sayings. They were impossibilities to my reason, but to my heart they rang true; and so, while my reason doubted, my heart believed?believed, and held fast to the belief from that day.
Presently I said:
”Joan, I believe the things which you have said, and now I am glad that I am to march with you to the great wars?that is, if it is with you I am to march when I go.”
She looked surprised, and said:
”It is true that you will be with me when I go to the wars, but how did you know?”
”I shall march with you, and so also will Jean and Pierre, but not Jacques.”