Excerpt
SCENE I. THIBAUT D'ARC. His Three Daughters. Three young Shepherds,their Suitors.THIBAUT.Ay, my good neighbors! we at least to-dayAre Frenchmen still, free citizens and lordsOf the old soil which our forefathers tilled.Who knows whom we to-morrow must obey?For England her triumphal banner wavesFrom every wall: the blooming fields of FranceAre trampled down beneath her chargers' hoofs;Paris hath yielded to her conquering arms,And with the ancient crown of DagobertAdorns 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 relativeContends 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 fireRolls toward these vales, which yet repose in peace.Therefore, good neighbors, I have now resolved,While God still grants us safety, to provideFor my three daughters; for 'midst war's alarmsWomen require protection, and true loveHath 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 heartsPromise a happy union![To the second.Claude! You're silent,And my Louison looks upon the ground?How, shall I separate two loving heartsBecause you have no wealth to offer me?Who now has wealth? Our barns and homes affordSpoil to the foe, and fuel to the fires.In times like these a husband's faithful breastAffords 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 GodGave 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 mornShall see the wedding. Let our village friendsBe all assembled for the festival.[The two couples retire arm in arm. SCENE II. THIBAUT, RAIMOND, JOHANNA.THIBAUT.Thy sisters, Joan, will soon be happy brides;I see them gladly; they rejoice my age;But thou, my youngest, giv'st me grief and pain.RAIMOND.What is the matter? Why upbraid thy child?THIBAUT.Here is this noble youth, the flower and prideOf all our village; he hath fixed on theeHis fond affections, and for three long yearsHas wooed thee with respectful tenderness;But thou dost thrust him back with cold reserve.Nor is there one 'mong all our shepherd youthsWho e'er can win a gracious smile from thee.I see thee blooming in thy youthful prime;Thy spring it is, the joyous time of hope;Thy person, like a tender flower, hath nowDisclosed its beauty, but I vainly waitFor love's sweet blossom genially to blow,And ripen joyously to golden fruit!Oh, that must ever grieve me, and betraysSome sad deficiency in nature's work!The heart I like not which, severe and cold,Expands not in the genial years of youth....