SCENE III.

TALBOT, BURGUNDY, LIONEL.

TALBOT.

Heavens! What a woman!

LIONEL.

Now, brave generals, Your counsel! Shall we prosecute our flight, Or turn, and with a bold and sudden stroke Wipe out the foul dishonor of to-day?

BURGUNDY.

We are too weak, our soldiers are dispersed, The recent terror still unnerves the host.

TALBOT.

Blind terror, sudden impulse of a moment, Alone occasioned our disastrous rout.

This phantom of the terror-stricken brain, More closely viewed will vanish into air.

My counsel, therefore, is, at break of day, To lead the army back, across the stream, To meet the enemy.

BURGUNDY.

Consider well----

LIONEL.

Your pardon! Here is nothing to consider What we have lost we must at once retrieve, Or look to be eternally disgraced.

TALBOT.

It is resolved. To-morrow morn we fight, This dread-inspiring phantom to destroy, Which thus doth blind and terrify the host Let us in fight encounter this she-devil.

If she oppose her person to our sword, Trust me, she never will molest us more; If she avoid our stroke--and be a.s.sured She will not stand the hazard of a battle-- Then is the dire enchantment at an end?

LIONEL.

So be it! And to me, my general. leave This easy, bloodless combat, for I hope Alive to take this ghost, and in my arms, Before the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's eyes--her paramour-- To bear her over to the English camp, To be the sport and mockery of the host.

BURGUNDY.

Make not too sure.

TALBOT.

If she encounter me, I shall not give her such a soft embrace.

Come now, exhausted nature to restore Through gentle sleep. At daybreak we set forth.

[They go out.

SCENE IV.

JOHANNA with her banner, in a helmet and breastplate, otherwise attired as a woman. DUNOIS, LA HIRE, knights and soldiers appear above upon the rocky path, pa.s.s silently over, and appear immediately after on the scene.

JOHANNA (to the knights who surround her while the procession continues above).

The wall is scaled and we are in the camp!

Now fling aside the mantle of still night, Which hitherto hath veiled your silent march, And your dread presence to the foe proclaim.

By your loud battle-cry--G.o.d and the maiden!

ALL (exclaim aloud, amidst the loud clang of arms).

G.o.d and the maiden!

[Drums and trumpets.

SENTINELS (behind the scene).

The foe! The foe! The foe!

JOHANNA.

Ho! torches here. Hurl fire into the tents!

Let the devouring flames augment the horror, While threatening death doth compa.s.s them around!

[Soldiers hasten on, she is about to follow.

DUNOIS (holding her back).

Thy part thou hast accomplished now, Johanna!

Into the camp thou hast conducted us, The foe thou hast delivered in our hands, Now from the rush of war remain apart!

The b.l.o.o.d.y consummation leave to us.

LA HIRE.

Point out the path of conquest to the host; Before us, in pure hand, the banner bear.

But wield the fatal weapon not thyself; Tempt not the treacherous G.o.d of battle, for He rageth blindly, and he spareth not.

JOHANNA.

Who dares impede my progress? Who presume The spirit to control which guideth me?

Still must the arrow wing its destined flight!

Where danger is, there must Johanna be; Nor now, nor here, am I foredoomed to fall; Our monarch's royal brow I first must see Invested with the round of sovereignty.

No hostile power can rob me of my life, Till I've accomplished the commands of G.o.d.

[She goes out.

LA HIRE.

Come, let us follow after her, Dunois, And let our valiant bosoms be her shield!

[Exit.

SCENE V.

ENGLISH SOLDIERS hurry over the stage.

Afterwards TALBOT.

1 SOLDIER.

The maiden in the camp!

2 SOLDIER.

Impossible!