us heart transfix, the traitor!

SOLDIER.
Lord Fastolfe gallantly opposes him.
Now they dismount--they combat man to man
Our people and the troops of Burgundy.

ISABEL.
Behold'st thou not the Dauphin? See'st thou not
The royal wave?

SOLDIER.
A cloud of dust
Shrouds everything. I can distinguish naught.

JOHANNA.
Had he my eyes, or stood I there aloft,
The smallest speck would not elude my gaze!
The wild fowl I can number on the wing,
And mark the falcon in his towering flight.

SOLDIER.
There is a fearful tumult near the trench;
The chiefs, it seems, the nobles, combat there.

ISABEL.
Still doth our banner wave?

SOLDIER.
It proudly floats.

JOHANNA.
Could I look through the loopholes of the wall,
I with my lance the battle would control.

SOLDIER.
Alas! What do I see? Our general's
Surrounded by the foe!

ISABEL (points the dagger at JOHANNA).
Die, wretch!

SOLDIER (quickly).
He's free!
The gallant Fastolfe in the rear attacks
The enemy--he breaks their serried ranks.

ISABEL (withdrawing the dagger).
There spoke thy angel!

SOLDIER.
Victory! They fly.

ISABEL.
Who fly?

SOLDIER.
The French and the Burgundians fly;
The field is covered o'er with fugitives.

JOHANNA.
My God! Thou wilt not thus abandon me!

SOLDIER.
Yonder they lead a sorely wounded knight;
The people rush to aid him--he's a prince.

ISABEL.
One of our country, or a son of France?

SOLDIER.
They loose his helmet--it is Count Dunois.

JOHANNA (seizes her fetters with convulsive violence).
And I am nothing but a fettered woman!

SOLDIER.
Look yonder! Who the azure mantle wears
Bordered with gold?

JOHANNA.
That is my lord, the king.

SOLDIER.
His horse is restive, plunges, rears and falls--
He struggles hard to extricate himself.

[JOHANNA accompanies these words with passionate movements.

Our troops are pressing on in full career,
They near him, reach him--they surround him now.

JOHANNA.
Oh, have the heavens above no angels more!

ISABEL (laughing scornfully).
Now is the time, deliverer--now deliver!

JOHANNA (throws herself upon her knees, and prays with passionate
violence).
Hear me, O God, in my extremity!
In fervent supplication up to Thee,
Up to thy heaven above I send my soul.
The fragile texture of a spider's web,
As a ship's cable, thou canst render strong;
Easy it is to thine omnipotence