Part 416 (1/2)
It cannot be! How came she in the camp?
3 SOLDIER.
Why, through the air! The devil aided her!
4 AND 5 SOLDIERS.
Fly! fly! We are dead men!
TALBOT (enters).
They heed me not! They stay not at my call!
The sacred bands of discipline are loosed!
As h.e.l.l had poured her d.a.m.ned legions forth, A wild, distracting impulse whirls along, In one mad throng, the cowardly and brave.
I cannot rally e'en the smallest troop To form a bulwark gainst the hostile flood, Whose raging billows press into our camp!
Do I alone retain my sober senses, While all around in wild delirium rave?
To fly before these weak, degenerate Frenchmen Whom we in twenty battles have overthrown?
Who is she then--the irresistible-- The dread-inspiring G.o.ddess, who doth turn At once the tide of battle, and transform The lions bold a herd of timid deer?
A juggling minx, who plays the well-learned part Of heroine, thus to appal the brave?
A woman s.n.a.t.c.h from me all martial fame?
SOLDIER (rus.h.i.+ng in).
The maiden comes! Fly, general, fly! fly!
TALBOT (strikes him down).
Fly thou, thyself, to h.e.l.l! This sword shall pierce Who talks to me of fear, or coward flight!
[He goes out.
SCENE VI.
The prospect opens. The English camp is seen in flames.
Drums, flight, and pursuit. After a while MONTGOMERY enters.
MONTGOMERY (alone).
Where shall I flee? Foes all around and death! Lo! here The furious general, who with threatening sword, prevents Escape, and drives us back into the jaws of death.
The dreadful maiden there--the terrible--who like Devouring flame, destruction spreads; while all around Appears no bush wherein to hide--no sheltering cave!
Oh, would that o'er the sea I never had come here!
Me miserable--empty dreams deluded me-- Cheap glory to achieve on Gallia's martial fields.
And I am guided by malignant destiny Into this murderous flight. Oh, were I far, far hence.
Still in my peaceful home, on Severn's flowery banks, Where in my father's house, in sorrow and in tears, I left my mother and my fair young bride.
[JOHANNA appears in the distance.
Wo's me! What do I see! The dreadful form appears!
Arrayed in lurid light, she from the raging fire Issues, as from the jaws of h.e.l.l, a midnight ghost.
Where shall I go? where flee? Already from afar She seizes on me with her eye of fire, and flings Her fatal and unerring coil, whose magic folds With ever-tightening pressure, bind my feet and make Escape impossible! Howe'er my heart rebels, I am compelled to follow with my gaze that form Of dread!
[JOHANNA advances towards him some steps; and again remains standing.
She comes! I will not pa.s.sively await Her furious onset! Imploringly I'll clasp Her knees! I'll sue to her for life. She is a woman.