FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   >>  
e pelting storm hath spent its rage, And, beaming peacefully, the sun declines. CHARCOAL-BURNER. I fancy, as you travel thus in arms, You seek the army of the king. Take heed! Not far remote the English are encamped, Their troops are roaming idly through the wood. RAIMOND. Alas for us! how then can we escape? CHARCOAL-BURNER. Stay here till from the town my boy returns. He shall conduct you safe by secret paths. You need not fear-we know each hidden way. RAIMOND (to JOHANNA). Put off your helmet and your coat-of-mail, They will not now protect you, but betray. [JOHANNA shakes her head. CHARCOAL-BURNER. The maid seems very sad--hush! who comes here? SCENE III. CHARCOAL-BURNER'S WIFE comes out of the hut with a bowl. A Boy. WIFE. It is our boy whom we expected back. [To JOHANNA. Drink, noble maiden! may God bless it to you! CHARCOAL-BURNER (to his son). Art come, Anet? What news? [The boy looks at JOHANNA, who is just raising the bowl to her lips; he recognizes her, steps forward, and snatches it from her. BOY. Oh, mother! mother! Whom do you entertain? This is the witch Of Orleans! CHARCOAL-BURNER (and his WIFE). God be gracious to our souls! [They cross themselves and fly. SCENE IV. RAIMOND, JOHANNA. JOHANNA (calmly and gently) Thou seest, I am followed by the curse, And all fly from me. Do thou leave me, too; Seek safety for thyself. RAIMOND. I leave thee! now Alas, who then would bear thee company? JOHANNA. I am not unaccompanied. Thou hast Heard the loud thunder rolling o'er my head-- My destiny conducts me. Do not fear; Without my seeking I shall reach the goal. RAIMOND. And whither wouldst thou go? Here stand our foes, Who have against thee bloody vengeance sworn-- There stand our people who have banished thee. JOHANNA. Naught will befall me but what heaven ordains. RAIMOND. Who will provide thee food? and who protect thee From savage beasts, and still more savage men? Who cherish thee in sickness and in grief? JOHANNA. I know all roots and healing herbs; my sheep Taught me to know the poisonous from the wholesome. I understand the movements of the stars, And the clouds' flight; I also hear the sound Of hidden springs. Man hath not many wants, And nature richly ministers to life. RAIMOND (seizing her hand). Wilt thou not look within? Oh, wilt thou not Repent thy sin
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   >>  



Top keywords:

JOHANNA

 

RAIMOND

 
CHARCOAL
 

BURNER

 

savage

 

hidden

 

protect

 

mother

 

wouldst

 
calmly

gently

 
unaccompanied
 
company
 
thunder
 
rolling
 

destiny

 

seeking

 

safety

 

thyself

 

conducts


Without

 

Naught

 

springs

 

flight

 

understand

 

wholesome

 

movements

 

clouds

 
nature
 

Repent


ministers

 

richly

 

seizing

 

poisonous

 
Taught
 
befall
 

heaven

 
ordains
 
banished
 

people


bloody
 
vengeance
 

provide

 

healing

 

sickness

 

cherish

 

beasts

 

escape

 

troops

 

roaming