FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   >>  
him fixedly, and looks up to heaven; then taking his hand she retires. ACT V. A wild wood: charcoal-burners' huts in the distance. It is quite dark; violent thunder and lightning; firing heard at intervals. SCENE I. CHARCOAL-BURNER and his WIFE. CHARCOAL-BURNER. This is a fearful storm, the heavens seem As if they would vent themselves in streams of fire; So thick the darkness which usurps the day, That one might see the stars. The angry winds Bluster and howl like spirits loosed from hell. The firm earth trembles, and the aged elms Groaning, bow down their venerable tops. Yet this terrific tumult, o'er our heads, Which teacheth gentleness to savage beasts, So that they seek the shelter of their caves, Appeaseth not the bloody strife of men-- Amidst the raging of the wind and storm At intervals is heard the cannon's roar; So near the hostile armaments approach, The wood alone doth part them; any hour May see them mingle in the shock of battle. WIFE. May God protect us then! Our enemies, Not long ago, were vanquished and dispersed. How comes it that they trouble us again? CHARCOAL-BURNER. Because they now no longer fear the king, Since that the maid turned out to be a witch At Rheims, the devil aideth us no longer, And things have gone against us. WIFE. Who comes here? SCENE II. RAIMOND and JOHANNA enter. RAIMOND. See! here are cottages; in them at least We may find shelter from the raging storm. You are not able longer to endure it. Three days already you have wandered on, Shunning the eye of man--wild herbs and root Your only nourishment. Come, enter in. These are kind-hearted cottagers. [The storm subsides; the air grows bright and clear. CHARCOAL-BURNER. You seem To need refreshment and repose--you're welcome To what our humble roof can offer you! WIFE. What has a tender maid to do with arms? Yet truly! these are rude and troublous times When even women don the coat of mail! The queen herself, proud Isabel, 'tis said, Appears in armor in the hostile camp; And a young maid, a shepherd's lowly daughter, Has led the armies of our lord the king. CHARCOAL-BURNER. What sayest thou? Enter the hut, and bring A goblet of refreshment for the damsel. [She enters the hut. RAIMOND (to JOHANNA). All men, you see, are not so cruel; here E'en in the wilderness are gentle hearts. Cheer up! th
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   >>  



Top keywords:

CHARCOAL

 

BURNER

 
RAIMOND
 

longer

 

raging

 

shelter

 

hostile

 

refreshment

 

intervals

 
JOHANNA

cottagers

 
subsides
 
hearted
 
nourishment
 
cottages
 

aideth

 

things

 

bright

 

Shunning

 

wandered


endure

 

armies

 

sayest

 

daughter

 

Appears

 

shepherd

 

goblet

 

wilderness

 
gentle
 

hearts


damsel

 

enters

 

tender

 

repose

 
humble
 
Isabel
 

troublous

 
enemies
 
usurps
 

darkness


streams
 
trembles
 

Groaning

 

Bluster

 

spirits

 

loosed

 

retires

 

charcoal

 

burners

 

fixedly