The Maid of Orleans (play)

SCENE I.

THIBAUT D'ARC. His Three Daughters. Three young Shepherds,

their Suitors.

THIBAUT.

Ay, my good neighbors! we at least to-day

Are Frenchmen still, free citizens and lords

Of the old soil which our forefathers tilled.

Who knows whom we to-morrow must obey?

For England her triumphal banner waves

From every wall: the blooming fields of France

Are trampled down beneath her chargers' hoofs;

Paris hath yielded to her conquering arms,

And with the ancient crown of Dagobert

Adorns the scion of a foreign race.

Our king's descendant, disinherited,

Must steal in secret through his own domain;

While his first peer and nearest relative

Contends against him in the hostile ranks;

Ay, his unnatural mother leads them on.

Around us towns and peaceful hamlets burn.

Near and more near the devastating fire

Rolls toward these vales, which yet repose in peace.

Therefore, good neighbors, I have now resolved,

While God still grants us safety, to provide

For my three daughters; for 'midst war's alarms

Women require protection, and true love

Hath power to render lighter every load.

[To the first Shepherd.

Come, Etienne! You seek my Margot's hand.

Fields lying side by side and loving hearts

Promise a happy union!

[To the second.

Claude! You're silent,

And my Louison looks upon the ground?

How, shall I separate two loving hearts

Because you have no wealth to offer me?

Who now has wealth? Our barns and homes afford

Spoil to the foe, and fuel to the fires.

In times like these a husband's faithful breast

Affords the only shelter from the storm.

LOUISON.

My father!

CLAUDE MARIE.

My Louison!

LOUISON (embracing JOHANNA).

My dear sister!

THIBAUT.

I give to each a yard, a stall and herd,

And also thirty acres; and as God

Gave me his blessing, so I give you mine!

MARGOT (embracing JOHANNA).

Gladden our father-follow our example!

Let this day see three unions ratified!

THIBAUT.

Now go; make all things ready; for the morn

Shall see the wedding. Let our village friends

Be all assembled for the festival.

[The two couples retire arm in arm.