The same, a NOBLEMAN, afterwards RAIMOND.

NOBLEMAN
A shepherd youth inquires after your highness,
He urgently entreats an interview,
He says he cometh from the maiden——

DUNOIS
                        Haste!
Conduct him hither! He doth come from her!

[The NOBLEMAN opens the door to RAIMOND, DUNOIS hastens to meet him.]

Where is she? Where is the maid?

RAIMOND
                        Hail! noble prince!
And blessed am I that I find with you
This holy man, the shield of the oppressed,
The father of the poor and destitute!

DUNOIS
Where is the maiden?

ARCHBISHOP
                Speak, my son, inform us!
RAIMOND
She is not, sir, a wicked sorceress!
To God and all his saints I make appeal.
An error blinds the people. You've cast forth
God's messenger, you've banished innocence!

DUNOIS
Where is she?

RAIMOND
                I accompanied her flight
Towards the woods of Ardennes; there she hath
Revealed to me her spirit's inmost depths.
In torture I'll expire, and will resign
My hopes of everlasting happiness,
If she's not guiltless, sir, of every sin!

DUNOIS
The sun in heaven is not more pure than she!
Where is she? Speak!

RAIMOND
                        If God hath turned your hearts,
Oh hasten, I entreat you—rescue her
She is a prisoner in the English camp.
DUNOIS
A prisoner say you?

ARCHBISHOP
                        Poor unfortunate!

RAIMOND
There in the forest as we sought for shelter,
We were encountered by Queen Isabel,
Who seized and sent her to the English host.
Oh, from a cruel death deliver her
Who hath full many a time delivered you!

DUNOIS
Sound an alarm! to arms! up! beat the drums.
Forth to the field! Let France appear in arms!
The crown and the palladium are at stake!
Our honor is in pledge! risk blood and life!
She must be rescued ere the day is done!

[Exit.]