before that awful name Which, in
the depth of hell itself, is fear'd. She--she a saint! she
sent from God! No, in a cursed spot--our magic tree Where
devils from of yore their Sabbath keep--Has all this been
contrived; there did she sell Her soul to the eternal Fiend,
to be With brief vain-glory honour'd in this world. Bid her
stretch forth her arm, and ye will see The punctures by
which hell has mark'd its own.

_Burgundy_. Horrible! Yet must the father be believed Who
thus against his own child testifies.

_Dunois_. No, no, the madman shall not be believed Who in
his own child vilifies himself.

_Sorel to Johanna_. O speak! break this disastrous
silence! we Believe in _thee_. We have firm trust in thee.
One word from thy own mouth, one only word, Shall be enough.
But speak! Denounce, confound This hideous accusation. Do
but say That thou art innocent, and we believe it.

[_Johanna remains motionless. Agnes
Sorel steps back with horror._

_La Hire_. She is amazed! Astonishment and terror Have
closed her mouth. Before such hellish charge Must purity
itself recoil with fright.

[_Approaches her._

Take courage! Be thyself! The innocent Have their own proper
language, and their look Is lightning to consume foul
calumny. In noble scorn, arouse thyself--look up--Confound
with shame this most unworthy doubt, Which wrongs thy sacred
virtue.

[_Johanna remains motionless. La Hire steps
back. The general horror increases._

_Dunois_. What scares the people? What dismays the king?
Oh, she is innocent! I pledge myself, I pledge for her my
honour as a prince. Here do I throw my gauntlet down. Who
dares To slander her with guilt?

[_A violent peal of thunder is heard. All
start back terrified._

_Thibaut_. God answers! God, Who thunders from above.
Pronounce thyself, Child of perdition, guiltless, if thou
dar'st--

[_A second peal of thunder is heard. The
people fly on all sides._

_Burgundy_. God shield us! What an awful signal!

_Du Chatel_. Come, come, my sovereign, let us f