Can you suggest to us one goodreason why an angel
of God should give you such shameless advice?
Warwick turns on his heel, and goes out through the
courtyard.
Dare you pretend, afterwhat you have said, that you
are in a state of grace? You are within a few shortmoments of that
doom.
Warwick comes in through the arched doorway on the
judges side,followed by his page.
He is actingas deputy for the Chief Inquisitor into
the evil of heresy inFrance. She imputes to the Church the error and folly
ofcommanding the impossible. The execution is not in our hands, my lord; but itis
desirable that we should witness the end.
But the pit is open at her feet; and forgood or
evil we cannot turn her from it. I cannot but admire suchdevotion; but I dare not go
so far myself. All these are at the inner end of the hall. You are within a few
shortmoments of that doom.
They look at one another for a moment with
unconcealed hostility. That does not seem to me to be consistent; but ofcourse I
agree with your lordship. All these are at the inner end of the hall. Warwick comes
in through the arched doorway on the judges side,followed by his page.
But theBishop said I was not to be
tortured.
Twelve will, believe me, be quite enough for
yourpurpose.
You must sign a solemn recantation of your
heresy.
Do you suggest that I am under diabolical
influence?
Besides, I cannot bear to be hurt; and if you hurt
me I will sayanything you like to stop the pain. Only the Bishop andthe Inquisitor
are left in the court. I am determined that the womanshall have a fair
hearing.
What does she know of theChurch and the
Law?
Nay: I am no shepherd lass, though I have helped
with thesheep like anyone else.
I am determined that the womanshall have a fair
hearing. And now we do cast thee out, segregate thee, and abandonthee to the secular
power. The Church is not subject to political necessity,my lord.
Anger is a bad counsellor: cast out anger. Joan is
taken away through the courtyard. Of course I did; and not for the first time
either.
The matter is notwholly omitted from the twelve
articles. The Inquisitor smiles patiently, and bows.
The simplicity of a darkened mind is no betterthan
the simplicity of a beast. They lead her to theprisoners stool, and place themselves
behind it after taking offher chain.
Do youaccept the instruction of the Church?