THE ARCHBISHOP [_kneeling to her_] The princes of the Church praise thee, because thou hast redeemed the faith their wordlinesses have dragged through the mire. WARWICK [_kneeling to her_] The cunning counsellors praise thee, because thou hast cut the knots in which they have tied their own souls. DE STOGUMBER [_kneeling to her_] The foolish old men on their deathbeds praise thee, because their sins against thee are turned into blessings. THE INQUISITOR [_kneeling to her_] The judges in the blindness and bondage of the law praise thee, because thou hast vindicated the vision and the freedom of the living soul. THE SOLDIER [_kneeling to her_] The wicked out of hell praise thee, because thou hast shewn them that the fire that is not quenched is a holy fire. THE EXECUTIONER [_kneeling to her_] The tormentors and executioners praise thee, because thou hast shewn that their hands are guiltless of the death of the soul. CHARLES [_kneeling to her_] The unpretending praise thee, because thou hast taken upon thyself the heroic burdens that are too heavy for them. JOAN. Woe unto me when all men praise me! I bid you remember that I am a saint, and that saints can work miracles. And now tell me: shall I rise from the dead, and come back to you a living woman? _A sudden darkness blots out the walls of the room as they all spring to their feet in consternation. Only the figures and the bed remain visible._ JOAN. What! Must I burn again? Are none of you ready to receive me? CAUCHON. The heretic is always better dead. And mortal eyes cannot distinguish the saint from the heretic. Spare them. [_He goes out as he came_]. DUNOIS. Forgive us, Joan: we are not yet good enough for you. I shall go back to my bed. [_He also goes_]. WARWICK. We sincerely regret our little mistake; but political necessities, though occasionally erroneous, are still imperative; so if you will be good enough to excuse me—[_He steals discreetly away_]. THE ARCHBISHOP. Your return would not make me the man you once thought me. The utmost I can say is that though I dare not bless you, I hope I may one day enter into your blessedness. Meanwhile, however—[_He goes_]. THE INQUISITOR. I who am of the dead, testified that day that you were innocent. But I do not see how The Inquisition could possibly be dispensed with under existing circumstances. Therefore—[_He goes_]. DE STOGUMBER. Oh, do not come back: you must not come back. I must die in peace. Give us peace in our time, O Lord! [_He goes_]. THE GENTLEMAN. The possibility of your resurrection was not contemplated in the recent proceedings for your canonization. I must return to Rome for fresh instructions. [_He bows formally, and withdraws_]. THE EXECUTIONER. As a master in my profession I have to consider its interest. And, after all, my first duty is to my wife and children. I must have time to think over this. [_He goes_].