Maid of Orleans - Friedrich Schiller

Excerpt from Maid of Orleans: Translated, With an Introduction, Appendix, and Notes, by Major-General Maxwell
On turning to the drama it will be perceived that Schiller has in several essential particulars departed from the lines of historic fact as traced in the Appendix to this volume. He has presented to the world a far too favour able picture of the weak and frivolous, if not positively base and pusillanimous, Charles the Seventh. He repte sents that prince as a chivalrous and noble character, and places in his mouth sentiments of a generous and lofty tone. Then again he portrays Joan as a fierce combatant, delighting in personal con ict and sanguinary scenes of battle; whereas history records that, though insensible to fear, and at all times urgent for the vigorous prosecution of the war, she was yet by disposition gentle; shrank from scenes of blood; and lamented the horrors and sufferings inseparable from war. He likewise represents her as having gained a victory over the English and Burgundians prior to her earliest interview with Charles; and he makes that victory the cause and occasion of her first introduction to him. But this point is perhaps not so material as some of his other divergences from history.
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