The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of ArcSue, Eugène
General
The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of Arc
Sue, Eugène
Biographical fiction; Christian fiction; Christian women saints -- Fiction; Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 -- Fiction
"Daughter of God, you are a saint!" cried a young woman with exaltation
at the act of charity that she had just witnessed, and throwing herself
upon her knees before the warrior maid at the moment that the latter was
about to leap upon her horse she added: "I beseech you, deign to touch
my ring!" saying which she raised her hand up to Joan. "Blessed by you,
I shall preserve the jewel as a sacred relic."
"I am no saint," answered the warrior maid with an ingenuous smile. "As
for your ring, touch it yourself. You are no doubt a good and worthy
woman; your touch will be as good as mine."[61]
So saying, Joan remounted her horse, to be saluted anew by the
acclamations of the throng; even the most hardened soldiers were touched
by the sentiments of pity that she had displayed towards an unarmed
enemy. So far from taxing her with weakness, they admired the goodness
of her heart and her generosity.
Master John frantically cheered his countrywoman, and the cries of "Good
luck, Joan!" "Good luck to the liberator of Orleans!" resounded like the
roll of thunder. Almost carried off its feet by the crowding mass of
people, Joan's horse finally arrived with its inspired rider before the
house of Master James Boucher. Standing at the threshold of his door
with his wife and his daughter Madeleine near him, Master James Boucher
awaited his young guest, and led her, together with the councilmen and
captains, into a large hall where a sumptuous supper was prepared for
the brilliant train. Timid and reserved, the Maid said to Master
Boucher:
"I thank you, sir, but I shall not take supper. If your daughter will be
kind enough to show me to the room where I am to sleep, and to help me
take off my armor, I would be grateful to her. All I wish, sir, is a
little bread moistened in water and wine--that is all I shall need; I
shall immediately go to sleep. I wish to be awakened at early morning,
to inspect the entrenchments with Master John the cannonier."[62]
According to her wishes, the Maid retired, Master Boucher's daughter
Madeleine showing her to her room. At first seized with fear of the
inspired Maid, Madeleine was soon so completely captivated by her
sweetness and the affability of her words, that she naïvely offered to
share her room during her sojourn in Orleans. Joan accepted the offer
with gladness, happy at finding a companion that pleased her so well
Madeleine gently helped her to disarm and brought her her refection.
Just before lying down to sleep Joan said to her:
"Now that I have met you and your parents, Madeleine, I feel all the
happier that God has sent me to deliver the good town of Orleans."[63]
The Maid knelt down at the head of her bed, did her devotions for the
night, invoked her two patron saints, implored them with a sigh to
bestow their blessings upon her mother, her father and her brothers, and
was soon plunged in peaceful sleep, while Madeleine long remained awake,
contemplating the sweet heroine in silent admiration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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