Part 434 (1/2)

DUCHATEL (returning).

Johanna d'Arc! uninjured from the town The king permits you to depart. The gates Stand open to you. Fear no injury,-- You are protected by the royal word.

Come follow me, Dunois! You cannot here Longer abide with honor. What an issue!

[He retires. DUNOIS recovers from his stupor, casts one look upon JOHANNA, and retires. She remains standing for a moment quite alone. At length RAIMOND appears; he regards her for a time with silent sorrow, and then approaching takes her hand.

RAIMOND.

Embrace this opportunity. The streets Are empty now. Your hand! I will conduct you.

[On perceiving him, she gives the first sign of consciousness.

She gazes on him fixedly, and looks up to heaven; then taking his hand she retires.

ACT V.

A wild wood: charcoal-burners' huts in the distance.

It is quite dark; violent thunder and lightning; firing heard at intervals.

SCENE I.

CHARCOAL-BURNER and his WIFE.

CHARCOAL-BURNER.

This is a fearful storm, the heavens seem As if they would vent themselves in streams of fire; So thick the darkness which usurps the day, That one might see the stars. The angry winds Bl.u.s.ter and howl like spirits loosed from h.e.l.l.

The firm earth trembles, and the aged elms Groaning, bow down their venerable tops.

Yet this terrific tumult, o'er our heads, Which teacheth gentleness to savage beasts, So that they seek the shelter of their caves, Appeaseth not the b.l.o.o.d.y strife of men-- Amidst the raging of the wind and storm At intervals is heard the cannon's roar; So near the hostile armaments approach, The wood alone doth part them; any hour May see them mingle in the shock of battle.

WIFE.

May G.o.d protect us then! Our enemies, Not long ago, were vanquished and dispersed.

How comes it that they trouble us again?

CHARCOAL-BURNER.

Because they now no longer fear the king, Since that the maid turned out to be a witch At Rheims, the devil aideth us no longer, And things have gone against us.

WIFE.

Who comes here?

SCENE II.

RAIMOND and JOHANNA enter.

RAIMOND.

See! here are cottages; in them at least We may find shelter from the raging storm.

You are not able longer to endure it.

Three days already you have wandered on, Shunning the eye of man--wild herbs and root Your only nourishment. Come, enter in.

These are kind-hearted cottagers.

[The storm subsides; the air grows bright and clear.