Joan of Arc Part 17

That name decides thy fate.

XAINT. Far distant yet.

JOAN. Alas! and Valancour?

VAL. Here by thy side!

JOAN. How goes the fight with thine?

VAL. All is reversed!

A thousand furies arm the English bands, While ours, so late extravagantly brave, Appear irresolute, and struck with dread!

JOAN. (_aside,_) They falter for my sin. The righteous One, In wakened wrath, has turned away his face, Since 'gainst conviction's voice I weakly yielded.

VAL. Clouds have obscured the sun, and veiled the sky.

The omen is an evil one!

XAINT. To whom?

What greater fury rent the vaulted sky At Orlean's fight, or Patay's gallant field?

Let him his sentence read in signs who wills; Brave men no omen fear but lukewarm hearts.

VAL. That ill-timed taunt thou shalt repent ere long.

I'll lead where few shall dare to follow.

JOAN. Cease!

Waste not the time in words! renew the attack!

These guard our rear--Xaintrailles must lead with me.

VAL. Shall I then be forgot? E'en on this field Must I receive fresh proof of hate?

JOAN. Forbear!

Love is not ours, but hate thee, Valancour!

Oh! wrong me not so sorely.

VAL. No matter, Loved or despised I will be first in danger!

And if I meet with death I'll welcome him, As sent from thee.

[_Exit._

JOAN. We must not lose such friend, Nor let his gallant bearing shame ourselves!

XAINT. None here dispute thy wish: lead on!

[_Exeunt._

_Enter DU NOIS_, &c. &c.

DU N. She's lost If but a single step she venture further.

Tenfold the force the enemy a.s.sembles.

A rescue!

[_Exit DU NOIS._

_Enter VALANCOUR._

VAL. To the trench! Mark well the signal;-- Let the enemy approach--then retreat-- The gates that ope to us will close to her.

_Enter WIDOW._

WID. Back! ye proceed no further!

VAL. Who art thou?

WID. One who will be obeyed!

VAL. What chains your feet?

Pa.s.s on!

WID. Ye pa.s.s not here, unless ye force A pa.s.sage through my heart.

VAL. Then take thy fate.

So perish all h.e.l.l's crew! Forward! secure her!

WID. And thou art come at last, O lovely death!

And I shall die as died my lord, my boys, By b.l.o.o.d.y sword! there's joy in that. Strength fails, Yet must I see her.

_Enter JOAN_, &c.

Stay!

JOAN. Thou on this field!

Release thy hold! one moment lost we lose A friend!

WID. A foe! tool of a baser villain!

He seeks thy death. A weary way I've sped To gain thy speech, and now life ebbs so fast-- See! they have pierced my side--that scarce the tale-- Richemont has sold thy life, and Valancour-- I told thee, if we met---- [_Dies._

JOAN. Man, man abandons me, Not Heaven! we are betrayed, but not by thee!

And see! the beauteous bow his hand hath bent, And token made of peace, where mercy sits To smile away despair. My spirit's free, And my heart beats as formerly 'twas wont.

Forward, ye brave! Remember Orlean's walls, And let us pluck, if not the conqueror's crown, A wreath to deck the grave our land shall hallow.

For the last time, Xaintrailles, wilt follow me?

XAINT. Wherever thou shalt lead--be it to death!

[_Exeunt._

_Enter ENGLISH OFFICERS and SOLDIERS._

Make prisoner of the maid! touch not her life Unless compelled. Ne'er quail and look aghast!

She waves no consecrated banner now!

See Valancour retreats!--now hem her round.

[_Exeunt._

_Enter XAINTRAILLES and JOAN._