Читать книгу Joan of Arc: In her own words - Joan of Arc - Страница 7

February, 1429

WHEN I CAME TO VAUCOULEURS I knew Robert de Baudricourt, though I had never seen him before. The voice told me that it was he.

And I told him that I must go into France.

HER WORDS TO ROBERT DE BAUDRICOURT

The Kingdom of France is not the Dauphin’s but my Lord’s. But my Lord wills that the Dauphin shall be made King and have the Kingdom in custody. The Dauphin shall be King despite his enemies, and I shall lead him to his anointing.

Twice he refused and rejected me.

AT HER LODGING TO JEAN DE METZ

I am come to this town, which is the King’s, to ask Robert de Baudricourt to take me of send me to the King.

And he heeds neither me nor my words. Nevertheless, I must be with the King before mid-Lent, though I wear my legs to the knees on the road. For there is none in this world—neither kings, nor dukes, nor the King of Scotland’s daughter, nor any other—who can restore the Kingdom of France. Nor is there any succour for it but from me.

Far rather would I sit and sew beside my poor mother, for this thing is not of my condition. But I must go, and I must do this thing, because my Lord will have it so.

Rather now than tomorrow, and tomorrow than the day after!

And the third time he received me and gave me men.

The voice had told me that so it would come to pass.