MARGOT.
Thou doubtest still!
Thou wilt thyself behold her!
BERTRAND.
See, they come!
SCENE VI.
Musicians, with flutes and hautboys, open the procession. Children follow, dressed in white, with branches in their hands; behind them two heralds. Then a procession of halberdiers, followed by magistrates in their robes. Then two marshals with their staves; the DUKE of BURGUNDY, bearing the sword; DUNOIS with the sceptre, other n.o.bles with the regalia; others with sacrificial offerings.
Behind these, KNIGHTS with the ornaments of their order; choristers with incense; two BISHOPS with the ampulla; the ARCHBISHOP with the crucifix. JOHANNA follows, with her banner, she walks with downcast head and wavering steps; her sisters, on beholding her, express their astonishment and joy. Behind her comes the KING under a canopy, supported by four barons; courtiers follow, soldiers conclude the procession; as soon as it has entered the church the music ceases.
SCENE VII.
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.
SCENE VIII.
THIBAUT enters, clad in black. RAIMOND follows him, and tries to hold him back.
RAIMOND.
Stay, father Thibaut! Do not join the crowds!
Here, at this joyous festival you meet None but the happy, whom your grief offends.
Come! Let us quit the town with hasty steps.
THIBAUT.
Hast thou beheld my child? My wretched child?
Didst thou observe her?
RAIMMOND.
I entreat you, fly!
THIBAUT.
Didst mark her tottering and uncertain steps, Her countenance, so pallid and disturbed?
She feels her dreadful state; the hour is come To save my child, and I will not neglect it.
[He is about to retire.
RAIMOND.
What would you do?