The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy Part 25

JOHANNA.

What art thou, double-tongued, deceitful being, Who wouldst bewilder and appal me? Speak!

By what authority dost thou presume To greet me with fallacious oracles?

[The BLACK KNIGHT is about to depart, she steps in his way.

No, thou shalt speak, or perish by my hand!

[She endeavors to strike him.

BLACK KNIGHT (touches her with his hand, she remains motionless).

Slay what is mortal!

[Darkness, thunder and lightning. The KNIGHT sinks into the earth.

JOHANNA (stands at first in amazement, but soon recovers herself).

'Twas nothing living. 'Twas a base delusion, An instrument of h.e.l.l, a juggling fiend, Uprisen hither from the fiery pool To shake and terrify my steadfast heart.

Wielding the sword of G.o.d, whom should I fear!

I will triumphantly achieve my work.

My courage should not waver, should not fail Were h.e.l.l itself to champion me to fight!

[She is about to depart.

SCENE X.

LIONEL, JOHANNA.

LIONEL.

Accursed one, prepare thee for the fight!

Not both of us shall quit this field alive.

Thou hast destroyed the bravest of our host The n.o.ble Talbot hath his mighty soul Breathed forth upon my bosom. I'll avenge The hero, or partic.i.p.ate his doom.

And wouldst thou know who brings thee glory now, Whether he live or die,--I'm Lionel, The sole survivor of the English chiefs, And still unconquered is this valiant arm.

[He rushes upon her; after a short combat she strikes the sword out of his hand.

Perfidious fortune!

[He wrestles with her. JOHANNA seizes him by the crest and tears open his helmet; his face is thus exposed; at the same time she draws her sword with her right hand.

JOHANNA.

Suffer, what thou soughtest!

The Virgin sacrifices thee through me!

[At this moment she gazes in his face. His aspect softens her, she remains motionless and slowly lets her arm sink.

LIONEL.

Why linger, why withhold the stroke of death?

My glory thou hast taken--take my life!

I want no mercy, I am in thy power.

[She makes him a sign with her hand to fly.

How! shall I fly and owe my life to thee?

No, I would rather die.

JOHANNA (with averted face).

I will not know That ever thou didst owe thy life to me.

LIONEL.

I hate alike thee and thy proffered gift.

I want no mercy--kill thine enemy Who loathes and would have slain thee.

JOHANNA.

Slay me, then, And fly!

LIONEL.

Ha! What is this?

JOHANNA (hiding her face).

Woe's me!

LIONEL (approaching her).

'Tis said Thou killest all the English whom thy sword Subdues in battle--why spare me alone?

JOHANNA (raises her sword with a rapid movement as if to strike him, but lets it fall quickly when she gazes on his face).

Oh, Holy Virgin!

LIONEL.

Wherefore namest thou The Holy Virgin? she knows naught of thee; Heaven hath no part in thee.

JOHANNA (in the greatest anxiety).

What have I done?

Alas! I've broke my vow!

[She wrings her hands in despair.

LIONEL (looks at her with sympathy and approaches her).

Unhappy maid!

I pity thee! Thy sorrow touches me; Thou hast shown mercy unto me alone, My hatred yielded unto sympathy!

Who art thou, and whence comest thou?

JOHANNA.

Away!

LIONEL.

Thy youth, thy beauty, move my soul to pity!

Thy look sinks in my heart. I fain would save thee!

How may I do so? tell me. Come! oh, come!