The Maid of Orleans

LA HIRE

Calamity
Hath spent itself; sunshine is now returned.

SOREL

What is it? I implore you.

LA HIRE (to the KING)

Summon back
The delegates from Orleans.

CHARLES

Why? What is it?

LA HIRE

Summon them back! Thy fortune is reversed.
A battle has been fought, and thou hast conquered.

SOREL

Conquered! Oh, heavenly music of that word!

CHARLES

La Hire! A fabulous report deceives thee;
Conquered! In conquest I believe no more.

LA HIRE

Still greater wonders thou wilt soon believe.
Here cometh the archbishop. To thine arms
He leadeth back Dunois.

SOREL

O beauteous flower
Of victory, which doth the heavenly fruits
Of peace and reconcilement bear at once!

SCENE IX

The same, ARCHBISHOP of RHEIMS, DUNOIS, DUCHATEL, with RAOUL, a Knight in armor.

ARCHBISHOP (leading DUNOIS to the KING, and joining their hands).

Princes, embrace! Let rage and discord cease, Since Heaven itself hath for our cause declared.

    [DUNOIS embraces the KING.

CHARLES

Relieve my wonder and perplexity.
What may this solemn earnestness portend?
Whence this unlooked-for change of fortune?

ARCHBISHOP (leads the KNIGHT forward, and presents him to the KING)

Speak!

RAOUL

We had assembled sixteen regiments
Of Lotharingian troops to join your host;
And Baudricourt, a knight of Vaucouleurs,
Was our commander. Having gained the heights
By Vermanton, we wound our downward way
Into the valley watered by the Yonne.
There, in the plain before us, lay the foe,
And when we turned, arms glittered in our rear.
We saw ourselves surrounded by two hosts,
And could not hope for conquest or for flight.
Then sank the bravest heart, and in despair
We all prepared to lay our weapons down.
The leaders with each other anxiously
Sought counsel and found none; when to our eyes
A spectacle of wonder showed itself.
For suddenly from forth the thickets' depths
A maiden, on her head a polished helm,
Like a war-goddess, issued; terrible
Yet lovely was her aspect, and her hair
In dusky ringlets round her shoulders fell.
A heavenly radiance shone around the height;
When she upraised her voice and thus addressed us:
"Why be dismayed, brave Frenchmen? On the foe!