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JOAN of ARC.

THE FOURTH BOOK.

The feast was spread, the sparkling bowl went round, And to the assembled court the minstrel harp'd

The song of other days. Sudden they heard

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Nay, I shall see the monarch," he replied, "And he shall hear my tidings; duty-urged, "For many a long league have I hasten'd on, "Not now to be repell'd." Then with strong arm Removing him who barr'd his onward way,

The hall he enters.

"King of France! I come

"From Orleans, speedy and effectual aid

"

Demanding for her gallant garrison,

"Faithful to thee, tho' thinn'd in many a fight,

"And wither'd now by want. Thee it beseems "For ever anxious for thy people's weal,

"To succour these brave men whose honest breasts

"Bulwark thy throne."

He said, and from the hall

With upright step departing, in amaze
At his so bold deportment left the court.
The King exclaim'd, "but little need to send
"Quick succour to this gallant garrison,

"If to the English half so firm a front

They bear in battle!"

"In the field my liege,"

Dunois replied, "that man has serv'd thee well. "Him have I seen the foremost of the fight,

"Wielding so fearfully his death-red axe,

"His eye so fury-fired, that the pale foe

"Let fall their palsied arms with powerless stroke, "Desperate of safety. I do marvel much

"That he is here: Orleans must be hard press'd "When one, the bravest of her garrison,

"Is thus commission'd."

Swift the Maid exclaim'd,

"I tell thee, Chief, that there the English wolves "Shall never pour their yells of victory!

“The will of God defends those fated walls,

"And resting in full faith on that high will,

"I mock their efforts. But the night draws on;

"Retire we to repose. To-morrow's sun,

"Breaking the darkness of the sepulchre,

"Shall on that armour gleam, thro' many an age "Kept holy and inviolate by time."

She said, and rising from the board, retired.

Meantime the herald's brazen voice proclaim'd

Coming solemnity, and far and wide

Spread the strange tidings. Every labour ceas'd;
The ploughman from the unfinish'd furrow hastes;
The armourer's anvil beats no more the din
Of future slaughter. Thro' the thronging streets
The buz of asking wonder hums along.

On to St. Catharine's sacred fane they go;
The holy fathers with the imaged cross
Leading the long procession. Next, as one
Suppliant for mercy to the King of Kings,
And grateful for the benefits of Heaven,
The Monarch pass'd; and by his side the Maid,
Her lovely limbs robed in a snow-white vest;
Wistless that every eye on her was fix'd,

With stately step she moved her labouring soul
To high thoughts elevate; and gazing round
With the wild eye, that of the circling throng
And of the visible world unseeing, saw
The shapes of holy phantasy. By her

The warrior Son of Orleans strode along

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