Maid of Orleans | Page 2

to range among the
hills, And fears descending from the wild, free heath, To tarry 'neath
the lowly roofs of men, Where dwell the narrow cares of humble life.
From the deep vale, with silent wonder, oft I mark her, when, upon a
lofty hill Surrounded by her flock, erect she stands, With noble port,
and bends her earnest gaze Down on the small domains of earth. To me
She looketh then, as if from other times She came, foreboding things of
import high.
THIBAUT. 'Tis that precisely which displeases me! She shuns her
sisters' gay companionship; Seeks out the desert mountains, leaves her
couch Before the crowing of the morning cock, And in the dreadful
hour, when men are wont Confidingly to seek their fellow-men, She,
like the solitary bird, creeps forth, And in the fearful spirit-realm of
night, To yon crossway repairs, and there alone Holds secret commune
with the mountain wind. Wherefore this place precisely doth she
choose? Why hither always doth she drive her flock? For hours
together I have seen her sit In dreamy musing 'neath the Druid tree,
Which every happy creature shuns with awe. For 'tis not holy there; an

evil spirit Hath since the fearful pagan days of old Beneath its branches
fixed his dread abode. The oldest of our villagers relate Strange tales of
horror of the Druid tree; Mysterious voices of unearthly sound From its
unhallowed shade oft meet the ear. Myself, when in the gloomy
twilight hour My path once chanced to lead me near this tree, Beheld a
spectral figure sitting there, Which slowly from its long and ample robe
Stretched forth its withered hand, and beckoned me. But on I went with
speed, nor looked behind, And to the care of God consigned my soul.
RAIMOND (pointing to the image of the Virgin). Yon holy image of
the Virgin blest, Whose presence heavenly peace diffuseth round, Not
Satan's work, leadeth thy daughter here.
THIBAUT. No! not in vain hath it in fearful dreams And apparitions
strange revealed itself. For three successive nights I have beheld
Johanna sitting on the throne at Rheims, A sparkling diadem of seven
stars Upon her brow, the sceptre in her hand, From which three lilies
sprung, and I, her sire, With her two sisters, and the noble peers, The
earls, archbishops, and the king himself, Bowed down before her. In
my humble home How could this splendor enter my poor brain? Oh, 'tis
the prelude to some fearful fall! This warning dream, in pictured show,
reveals The vain and sinful longing of her heart. She looks with shame
upon her lowly birth. Because with richer beauty God hath graced Her
form, and dowered her with wondrous gifts Above the other maidens of
this vale, She in her heart indulges sinful pride, And pride it is through
which the angels fell, By which the fiend of hell seduces man.
RAIMOND. Who cherishes a purer, humbler mind Than doth thy pious
daughter? Does she not With cheerful spirit work her sisters' will? She
is more highly gifted far than they, Yet, like a servant maiden, it is she
Who silently performs the humblest tasks. Beneath her guiding hands
prosperity Attendeth still thy harvest and thy flocks; And around all she
does there ceaseless flows A blessing, rare and unaccountable.
THIBAUT. Ah truly! Unaccountable indeed! Sad horror at this blessing
seizes me! But now no more; henceforth I will be silent. Shall I accuse
my own beloved child? I can do naught but warn and pray for her. Yet
warn I must. Oh, shun the Druid tree! Stay not alone, and in the

midnight hour Break not the ground for roots, no drinks prepare, No
characters inscribe upon the sand! 'Tis easy to unlock the realm of
spirits; Listening each sound, beneath a film of earth They lay in wait,
ready to rush aloft. Stay not alone, for in the wilderness The prince of
darkness tempted e'en the Lord.

SCENE III.
THIBAUT, RAIMOND, JOHANNA. BERTRAND enters, a helmet in
his hand.
RAIMOND. Hush! here is Bertrand coming back from town; What
bears he in his hand?
BERTRAND. You look at me With wondering gaze; no doubt you are
surprised To see this martial helm!
THIBAUT. We are indeed! Come, tell us how you come by it? Why
bring This fearful omen to our peaceful vale?
[JOHANNA, who has remained indifferent during the two previous
scenes, becomes attentive, and steps nearer.
BERTRAND. I scarce can tell you how I came by it. I had procured
some tools at Vaucouleurs; A crowd was gathered in the market-place,
For fugitives were just arrived in haste From Orleans, bringing most
disastrous news. In tumult all the town together flocked, And as I
forced a passage through the crowds, A brown