Part 410 (1/2)

CHARLES.

Maiden, thou ne'er hast seen my face before.

Whence hast thou then this knowledge?

JOHANNA.

Thee I saw When none beside, save G.o.d in heaven, beheld thee.

[She approaches the KING, and speaks mysteriously.

Bethink thee, Dauphin, in the bygone night, When all around lay buried in deep sleep, Thou from thy couch didst rise and offer up An earnest prayer to G.o.d. Let these retire And I will name the subject of thy prayer.

CHARLES.

What! to Heaven confided need not be From men concealed. Disclose to me my prayer, And I shall doubt no more that G.o.d inspires thee.

JOHANNA.

Three prayers thou offeredst, Dauphin; listen now Whether I name them to thee! Thou didst pray That if there were appended to this crown Unjust possession, or if heavy guilt, Not yet atoned for, from thy father's times, Occasioned this most lamentable war, G.o.d would accept thee as a sacrifice, Have mercy on thy people, and pour forth Upon thy head the chalice of his wrath.

CHARLES (steps back with awe).

Who art thou, mighty one? Whence comest thou?

[All express their astonishment.

JOHANNA.

To G.o.d thou offeredst this second prayer: That if it were his will and high decree To take away the sceptre from thy race, And from thee to withdraw whate'er thy sires, The monarchs of this kingdom, once possessed, He in his mercy would preserve to thee Three priceless treasures--a contented heart, Thy friend's affection, and thine Agnes' love.

[The KING conceals his face: the spectators express their astonishment. After a pause.

Thy third pet.i.tion shall I name to thee?

CHARLES.

Enough; I credit thee! This doth surpa.s.s Mere human knowledge: thou art sent by G.o.d!

ARCHBISHOP.

Who art thou, wonderful and holy maid?

What favored region bore thee? What blest pair, Beloved of Heaven, may claim thee as their child?

JOHANNA.

Most reverend father, I am named Johanna, I am a shepherd's lowly daughter, born In Dom Remi, a village of my king.

Included in the diocese of Toul, And from a child I kept my father's sheep.

And much and frequently I heard them tell Of the strange islanders, who o'er the sea Had come to make us slaves, and on us force A foreign lord, who loveth not the people; How the great city, Paris, they had seized, And had usurped dominion o'er the realm.

Then earnestly G.o.d's Mother I implored To save us from the shame of foreign chains, And to preserve to us our lawful king.

Not distant from my native village stands An ancient image of the Virgin blest, To which the pious pilgrims oft repaired; Hard by a holy oak, of blessed power, Standeth, far-famed through wonders manifold.

Beneath the oak's broad shade I loved to sit Tending my flock--my heart still drew me there.

And if by chance among the desert hills A lambkin strayed, 'twas shown me in a dream, When in the shadow of this oak I slept.

And once, when through the night beneath this tree In pious adoration I had sat, Resisting sleep, the Holy One appeared, Bearing a sword and banner, otherwise Clad like a shepherdess, and thus she spake: ”'Tis I; arise, Johanna! leave thy flock, The Lord appoints thee to another task!

Receive this banner! Gird thee with this sword!

Therewith exterminate my people's foes; Conduct to Rheims thy royal master's son, And crown him with the kingly diadem!”

And I made answer: ”How may I presume To undertake such deeds, a tender maid, Unpractised in the dreadful art of war!”

And she replied: ”A maiden pure and chaste Achieves whate'er on earth is glorious If she to earthly love ne'er yields her heart.