| Exhausted by a dangerous ride
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| Unperceived In coldest winter’s night
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| Through hostile territory
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| Danger all around
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| No place to hide
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| No shelter to be found
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| At last we see the mighty castle of Chinon
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| (We're) reaching finally the drawbridge to the court
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| Guards in arms observe
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| Every move we make
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| (Their) furtive glances follow us
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| Incessantly
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| As behind the wall
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| The glow of sunset light
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| A tiny evening bell
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| Heralds the nearing night
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| Escorted by some guards
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| We’re crossing through the yard
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| A festive roar
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| Is sounding from afar
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| Chants and laughter everywhere
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| Dissipated in the air
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| The festive mood dies down
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| As Jeanne enters the room of celebration
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| No noise is breaking the silence
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| While the virgin of Lorraine glides across through the room
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| Only the crackle of the fireplace is still audible
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| And anticipation fills the air
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| Instead of the Dauphin Charles, who observes the scene from amidst the crowd of
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| his courtiers, the Duke of Bourbon has taken his place on the throne to welcome
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| her
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| They prepared the deceit to find out if she is really guided by God
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| The tension grows with every step
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| The Duke requests her desire but instead of answering him
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| She turns away (without a single word)
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| Silently crossing the throne hall, her vivid eyes roaming the congregation —
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| her step full of purpose she approaches a group by the fire place gathered
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| around the Dauphin (to accomplish the deceit)
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| A whispered murmur rises in the room
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| A collective exclamation of amazement breaks the silence
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| As Jeanne finally kneels in front of the true king
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| Jeanne speaks to the Dauphin Charles:
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| «Noble Dauphin, only for you, and to bring you help, have I undertaken the long
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| journey hither. |
| Why do you deceive me? |
| No one else can take your place.
|
| God speaks to you through me. |
| It is his will that you, as the rightful heir to
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| the throne, become the anointed King of France. |
| God sent me to do this.
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| Let me drive the enemy from our country and lead you to Reims to your
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| consecration. |
| But first send me with an army to Orléans to end the siege of
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| that beleaguered city and clear the path to your coronation.»
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| Charles:
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| «Though I may trust your spoken word, Jeanne — the church must first examine
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| you.»
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| Board of Examiners in Poitiers:
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| «Liminate all doubts
|
| We need to know the truth
|
| If God’s your guiding hand
|
| Show us a miracle
|
| We need some proof
|
| Of your virginity
|
| That you’re the chosen one
|
| To free our suffering land
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| Tell us about
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| Your revelation
|
| To help us find out
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| If all you say is real
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| Why should almighty God
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| Need warriors in this war
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| Out on the battlefields
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| To gain our liberty»
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| Jeanne:
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| «The soldiers shall fight and God will give us our victory» |