The Maid of Orleans Act 5 Scene 5 by Friedrich Schiller Lyrics
QUEEN ISABEL, with soldiers, appears in the background.
ISABEL (behind the scene)
This is the way toward the English camp!
RAIMOND
Alas! the foe!
[The soldiers advance, and perceiving JOBANNA fall back in terror.]
ISABEL
What now obstructs the march?
SOLDIERS
May God protect us!
ISABEL
Do ye see a spirit?
How! Are ye soldiers! Ye are cowards all!
[She presses forward, but starts back on beholding the MAIDEN.
What do I see!]
[She collects herself quickly and approaches her.
Submit thyself! Thou art]
My prisoner!
JOHANNA
I am.
[RAIMOND flies in despair.]
ISABEL (to the soldiers)
Lay her in chains!
[The soldiers timidly approach the MAIDEN;
she extends her arms and is chained.]
Is this the mighty, the terrific one,
Who chased your warriors like a flock of lambs,
Who, powerless now, cannot protect herself?
Doth she work miracles with credulous fools,
And lose her influence when she meets a man?
[To the MAIDEN.]
Why didst thou leave the army? Where's Dunois,
Thy knight and thy protector.
JOHANNA
I am banished.
[ISABEL, stepping back astonished.]
ISABEL
What say'st thou? Thou art banished? By the Dauphin?
JOHANNA
Inquire no further! I am in thy power,
Decide my fate.
ISABEL
Banished, because thou hast
Snatched him from ruin, placed upon his brow
The crown at Rheims, and made him King of France?
Banished! Therein I recognize my son!
—Conduct her to the camp, and let the host
Behold the phantom before whom they trembled!
She a magician? Her sole magic lies
In your delusion and your cowardice!
She is a fool who sacrificed herself
To save her king, and reapeth for her pains
A king's reward. Bear her to Lionel.
The fortune of the French! send him bound;
I'll follow anon.
JOHANNA
To Lionel?
Slay me at once, ere send me unto him.
ISABEL (to the soldiers)
Obey your orders, soldiers! Bear her hence.
[Exit.]
ISABEL (behind the scene)
This is the way toward the English camp!
RAIMOND
Alas! the foe!
[The soldiers advance, and perceiving JOBANNA fall back in terror.]
ISABEL
What now obstructs the march?
SOLDIERS
May God protect us!
ISABEL
Do ye see a spirit?
How! Are ye soldiers! Ye are cowards all!
[She presses forward, but starts back on beholding the MAIDEN.
What do I see!]
[She collects herself quickly and approaches her.
Submit thyself! Thou art]
My prisoner!
JOHANNA
I am.
[RAIMOND flies in despair.]
ISABEL (to the soldiers)
Lay her in chains!
[The soldiers timidly approach the MAIDEN;
she extends her arms and is chained.]
Is this the mighty, the terrific one,
Who chased your warriors like a flock of lambs,
Who, powerless now, cannot protect herself?
Doth she work miracles with credulous fools,
And lose her influence when she meets a man?
[To the MAIDEN.]
Why didst thou leave the army? Where's Dunois,
Thy knight and thy protector.
JOHANNA
I am banished.
[ISABEL, stepping back astonished.]
ISABEL
What say'st thou? Thou art banished? By the Dauphin?
JOHANNA
Inquire no further! I am in thy power,
Decide my fate.
ISABEL
Banished, because thou hast
Snatched him from ruin, placed upon his brow
The crown at Rheims, and made him King of France?
Banished! Therein I recognize my son!
—Conduct her to the camp, and let the host
Behold the phantom before whom they trembled!
She a magician? Her sole magic lies
In your delusion and your cowardice!
She is a fool who sacrificed herself
To save her king, and reapeth for her pains
A king's reward. Bear her to Lionel.
The fortune of the French! send him bound;
I'll follow anon.
JOHANNA
To Lionel?
Slay me at once, ere send me unto him.
ISABEL (to the soldiers)
Obey your orders, soldiers! Bear her hence.
[Exit.]