Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts

								


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  JOAN OF ARC:


A PLAY IN FIVE ACTS.


BY MRS. J. A. SARGANT.


LONDON:
JOSEPH RICKERBY, SHERBOURN LANE,
KING WILLIAM STREET, CITY.


1840.

  LONDON:
PRINTED BY JOSEPH RICKERBY,
SHERBOURN LANE.

TO THE QUEEN DOWAGER.

MADAM,
When I first requested permission to dedicate this humble effort to
your Majesty, I felt--a feeling I confess which I had no right to
indulge--that I should be much disappointed if you were pleased to
refuse me; but now that you have graciously condescended to honour me by
granting it, a fear of the unworthiness of my offering diminishes the
gratification I should otherwise experience, and makes me almost envious
of talents which might better have justified your patronage. Let others,
however, excel me as much as they may in those endowments which are
supposed to constitute genius, I have at least the comfort of reflecting
that none can excel me in dutiful affection to your Royal Person, in
profound reverence for your character, and in respectful admiration of
those virtues which have long endeared you to all British hearts, and
will remain a monument of your goodness when you shall have exchanged
time for eternity.
More than this I dare not say, lest it should be imputed to a want of
delicacy: less than this I will not say, certain that it would be
considered as an omission of duty.



                        I remain,

                                  With the highest respect,

                                        Madam,

                            Your Majesty's most dutiful, most humble,

                                  And most devoted Servant,



                                                      J. A. SARGANT.

PREFACE.

In laying this Play before the public some apology is perhaps due.
Sensible that it cannot compete with many of the productions of the
present day, the author yet pleads for such exemption only from severe
criticism, as true humility, and a respect for the opinions of an
enlightened and intellectual age, may entitle her to. She has not aimed
at any display of originality, nor has she been deceived by a
presumptuous estimation of her powers, to attempt that which she may not
have more ability than leisure and opportunity to accomplish. Unlike
those who write for amusement, or by profession, or in the consciousness
of their talents, to gain for themselves competence or fame, her pen is
exercised only to soothe anxiety, to refresh exhausted energy, and to
vary the monotony of seclusion. She would not, however, be thought
indifferent to the praise or censure of her contemporaries. Far from it.