Agnes Sorel enters with a casket of jewels in her hand. Although she has always refused to accept of the king any more costly present than a rare flower, or an early fruit, she now comes to devote all her wealth and possessions to his service. But her aid affords him little more than a noble proof of her love and generosity: it can effect nothing to the restoration of his shattered fortunes. He dismisses the deputies from Orleans with permission to make the best terms they can for themselves. Dunois, the bastard of Orleans, who has eloquently protested against this desponding desertion, as he deems it, of his own cause, quits the king in anger. Sorel dispatches La Hire after him to persuade him to return. La Hire re-enters. "_Sorel_. You come alone, you bring him not with you. _[then observing him more closely._ La Hire! What is it? What means this kindled look? Alas! Some new misfortune. _La Hire_. Misfortunes Are overblown--'tis sunshine, lady, sunshine! _Sorel_. What is it?--I entreat-- _La Hire to the King_. Call back the embassy, The deputies from Orleans! _Charles_. Why? What is this? _La Hire_. Haste! call them back! Thy fortunes change, A battle has been fought, and thine the victory. _Sorel_. Victory! Oh, heavenly music! _Charles_. La Hire, Some fabulous report has cheated you. Victory! I believe no more in victories. _La Hire_. You will believe--in greater wonders still Here comes the archbishop, and with him Dunois. And with them comes also a knight, who relates how this victory has been won by the sudden appearance of an armed virgin, who scattered dismay and terror amongst their enemies. Shouts are heard from without, and Johanna enters. Here the course of history is followed in the account the maid gives of herself, and the proofs she affords of her divine mission. At the opening of the second act, we find that Orleans has been relieved by the inspired Johanna. Talbot and Lionel, the English leaders, attribute the late defeat to the Burgundians; the Duke of Burgundy retorts. These angry chiefs are on the point of separating, and terminating their alliance, when the queen-mother Isabeau enters, and reconciles them. But when Isabeau, who, from her unnatural hatred to her son Charles, and a certain coarseness of temper, is altogether a very disagreeable personage, offers, woman against woman, to lead her own party against Johanna, they all unite in bidding her return forthwith to Paris. The army, they say, is dispirited when it thinks it fights for _her_ cause--the cause of the mother against the son. Isabeau says:--