The Maid of Orleans: A Tragedy

LOUISON, MARGOT, CLAUDE MARIE, ETIENNE, BERTRAND.

Margot. Saw you our sister?

Claude Marie. She in golden armor, Who with the banner walked before the king?

Margot. It was Johanna. It was she, our sister!

Louison. She recognized us not! She did not feel That we, her sisters, were so near to her. She looked upon the ground, and seemed so pale, And trembled so beneath her banner's weight When I beheld her, I could not rejoice.

Margot. So now, arrayed in splendor and in pomp, I have beheld our sister--who in dreams Would ever have imagined or conceived, When on our native hills she drove the flock, That we should see her in such majesty?

Louison. Our father's dream is realized, that we In Rheims before our sister should bow down. That is the church, which in his dream he saw And each particular is now fulfilled. But images of woe he also saw! Alas! I'm grieved to see her raised so high!

Bertrand. Why stand we idly here? Let's to the church To view the coronation!

Margot. Yes! perchance We there may meet our sister; let us go!

Louison. We have beheld her. Let us now return Back to our village.

Margot. How? Ere we with her Have interchanged a word?

Louison. She doth belong To us no longer; she with princes stands And monarchs. Who are we, that we should seek With foolish vanity to near her state? She was a stranger while she dwelt with us!

Margot. Will she despise, and treat us with contempt?

Bertrand. The king himself is not ashamed of us, He kindly greets the meanest of the crowd. How high soever she may be exalted, The king is raised still higher!

[Trumpets and kettle-drums are heard from the church.

Claude Marie. Let's to the church!

[They hasten to the background, where they are lost among the crowd.