«Lo these the walls of Chinon, this the abode Of Charles our monarch. Here in revelry Hle of his armies vanquish'd, his fair towns Subdued, hears careless and prolongs the dance. And little marvel I that to the cares
Of empire still he turns the unwilling ear, For loss on loss, defeat upon defeat,
His strong holds taken, and his bravest Chiefs Or dead or captured, and the hopes of youth All blasted, have subdued the royal mind, Undisciplined in Fortitude's stern school. So may thy voice arouse his sleeping virtues!»>
Devious the Damsel turn'd. Through Chinon's gates The Son of Orleans press'd with rapid step, Seeking the King. Him from the public view Hle found secluded with his blameless Queen, And his partaker of the unlawful bed, The lofty-minded Agnes.
« Son of Orleans!»> So as he entered cried the haughty Fair, Thou art well come to witness the disgrace, The weak, unmanly, base despondency
Of this thy Sovereign Liege. He will retreat
To distant Dauphiny, 52 and fly the war! Go then, unworthy of thy rank! retreat To distant Dauphiny, and fly the war, Recreant from battle; I will not partake
A fugitive's fate; when thou hast lost thy crown Thou hast lost Agnes.-Dost not blush, Dunois! To bleed in combat for a Prince like this, Fit only, like the Merovingian race On a May morning deck'd with flowers, lis gay-bedizen'd car, and ride abroad And make the multitude a holiday.
Go, Charles-and hide thee in a woman's garb,
And these long locks will not disgrace thee then!» 54
Nay, Agnes!» Charles replied, & reproach me not,
I have enough of sorrow. Look around, See this fair country ravaged by the foe, My strong holds taken, and my bravest Chiefs Fall'n in the field, or captives far away. Dead is the Douglas; cold thy gallant heart, Illustrious Buchan! ye from Scotland's hills, Not mindless of your old ally distress'd, Rush'd to his succour : in his cause ye fought, For him ye perish'd. Rash, impetuous Narbonne! Thy mangled corse waves to the winds of Heaven. 55 Cold, Graville, is thy sinewy arm in death; Fall'n is Ventadaur; silent in the grave Rambouillet sleeps: Bretagne's unfaithful chief Leagues with my foes, and Richemont, 56 or in arms Defies my weak control, or from my side,
A friend more dreaded than the enemy, Drives bests servants with the assassin sword. my Soon must the towers of Orleans fall!-But now
Stood Charles. « At one of meaner estimation I should have smiled, Dunois. Thy well-known worth, The loyalty of all thy noble house,
Compel me even to this, a most strange tale, To lend a serious ear. A woman sent From Heaven, the saviour of this wasted realm, One whom it were not possible to hear, And disbelieve! Dunois, ill now bescems Aught wild and hazardous; the throne of France Totters upon destruction. Is my person Known to this woman?»>
<< If then she knows me not, abide thou here, And hither, by a speedy messenger, Summon the Maiden. On the throne meantime, I the while mingling with the Menial throng, Some courtier shall be seated. If the Maid Be by the spirit of God indeed inspired, That holy spirit will gift her with the power To pierce deception. But if strange of mind Enthusiast fancy fire her wilder'd brain, She to obscurity again, thus proved, May guiltlessly retire. Our English foes Might well exult to see the sons of France Led by a frenzied female.» 57 So he said; And, with a faith half-faltering at the proof, Dunois dispatched a messenger, to seck Beside the banks of Vienne, the Mission'd Maid.
The courtiers heard. The astonish'd King exclaimed, « This is indeed the agency of Heaven! llard, Maiden, were I of belief,» he cried,
« Did I not now, with full and confirm'd faith, Thee the redeemer of this ravaged realm
Believe. Not doubting therefore the strange will Of all-wise Providence, delay I now
Instant to marsha! the brave sons of France Beneath thy banners; but to satisfy
Those who at distance from this most clear proof May hear and disbelieve, or yield at best A cold assent,-these fully to confirm And more to manifest thy holy power, Forthwith with all due speed I shall convene The Doctors of Theology, 60 wise men And skilful in the mysteries of Heaven. By these thy mission studied and approved, As needs it must, their sanction to all minds Shall bring conviction, and the firm belief Lead on thy favour'd troops to mightiest deeds, Surpassing human credibility.»
The Doctors met, from cloister gloom recluse, Or from the haunts luxurious of abode Episcopal, they met, and sought the place Of judgment, in the ancient church assign'd. The floor with many a monumental stone Was spread, and brass-ensculptured effigy Of holy abbots honour'd in their day,
Now to the grave gone down. The branching arms Of many a ponderous pillar met aloft,
Wreath'd on the roof emboss'd. Through storied panes Of high arch'd windows came the tinctured light. Pure water in a font beneath reflects The many-colour'd rays; around that font The fathers stand, and there with rites ordain'd And signs symbolic strew the hallowing salt, Wherewith the limpid water, thus imbued, So taught the church, became a spell approv'd Against the fiends of Satan's fallen crew: A licens'd spell of mightier potency Than e'er the hell-hags taught in Thessaly; Or they who sitting on the rifled grave,
By the blue tomb-fire's lurid light dim seen,
Share with the Gouls their banquet.
This perform'd, The Maid is summon'd. Round the holy vase Mark'd with the mystic tonsure and enrobed In sacred vests, a venerable train,
They stand. The delegated Maid obeys
Their summons. As she came, a loveliest blush O'er her fair cheek suffus'd, such as became One mindful still of maiden modesty,
Though of her own worth conscious. Through the aisle The cold wind moaning, as it pass'd along Waved her dark flowing locks. Before the train In reverent silence waiting their sage will, With half-averted eye she stood composed. So have I seen the simple snow-drop rise Amid the russet leaves that hide the earth In early spring, so seen it gently bend In modest loveliness alone amid The waste of winter.
By the Maiden's side The Son of Orleans stood, prepared to vouch That when on Charles the Maiden's eye had fix'd, As led by power miraculous, no fraud, Nor juggling artifice of secret sign Dissembled inspiration. As he stood Steadily viewing the mysterious rites, Thus to the attentive Maid the Arch-Priest spake Severe.
« Woman, if any fiend of hell Lurk in thy bosom, so to prompt the vaunt Of inspiration, and to mock the power Of God and holy Church, thus by the virtue Of water hallowed in the name of God That damned spirit adjure I to depart From his possessed prey.»
Slowly he spake, And sprinkled water on the virgin's face: Indignant at the unworthy charge, the Maid Felt her cheek flush; but soon the transient glow Fading, she answer'd meek.
« Most holy Sires, Ye reverend Fathers of the Christian church, Most catholic! I stand before here you A poor weak woman; of the grace vouchsafed, How far unworthy, conscious: yet though mean, Innocent of fraud, and chosen by high Heaven The minister of aid. Strange voices heard, The dark and shadowing visions of the night, Aud feelings which I may not dare to doubt, These portents make me conscious of the God Within me; he who gifted my purged eye To know the Monarch mid the menial throng, Unseen before. Thus much it boots to say. The life of simple virgin ill deserves To call your minds from studies wise and deep, Not to be fathom'd by the weaker sense Of man profane.»>
«Thou speakest,» said the Priest,
« Of dark and shadowing visions of the night. Canst thou remember, Maid, what vision first Seem'd more than Fancy's shaping. From such tale, Minutely told with accurate circumstance,
Best judgment might be formed. >>
<< Amid the mountain valleys I had driven My father's flock. The eve was drawing on,
When by a sudden storm surprised, I sought A chapel's neighbouring shelter; ruined now, But I remember when its vesper bell Was heard among the hills, a pleasant sound, That made me pause upon my homeward road, Awakening in me comfortable thoughts Of holiness. The unsparing soldiery
Had sack'd the hamlet near, and none was left Duly at sacred seasons to attend
Saint Agnes' chapel. In the desolate pile I drove my flock, with no irreverent thoughts, Nor mindless that the place on which I trod Was holy ground. It was a fearful night! Devoutly to the virgin Saint I pray'd,
Then heap'd the wither'd leaves which autumn winds Had drifted in, and laid me down upon them, And sure I think I slept. But so it was
That, in the dead of night, Saint Agnes stood 62 Before mine eyes, such and so beautiful As when, amid the house of wickedness,
The Power whom with such fervent love she served Veil'd her with glory. And she seem'd to point To the moss-grown altar, and the crucifix
Half hid by weeds and grass ;..,. and then I thought I could have wither'd armies with a look, For from the present Saint such divine power I felt infused..... T was but a dream perhaps. And yet methought that when a louder peal Burst o'er the roof, and all was left again Utterly dark, the bodily sense was clear And accurate in every circumstance
<< Brethren, ye The woman's tale. Beseems us now to ask Whether of holy Church a duteous child Before our court appears, so not unlike Heaven might vouchsafe its gracious miracle; Or silly heretic, whose erring thoughts, Monstrous and vain, perchance might stray beyond All reason, and conceit strange dreams and signs Impossible. Say, woman, from thy youth Hast thou, as rightly mother Church demands, Confess'd to holy Priest each secret sin,
That, by the vouchsafed to him from Heaven, He might absolve thee?»
<< Father, she replied, <<The forms of worship in mine earlier years Wak'd my young mind to artificial awe,
And made me fear my God. Warm with the glow Of health and exercise, whene'er I pass'd The threshold of the house of prayer, I felt A cold damp chill me; I beheld the flame That with a pale and feeble glimmering Dimm'd the noon-light; I heard the solemn mass, And with strange feelings and mysterious dread Telling my beads, gave to the mystic prayers Devoutest meaning. Often when I saw The pictur'd flames writhe round a penanced soul, Have I retired, and knelt before the cross, And wept for grace, and trembled, and believed A GoD of Terrors. But in riper years, When as my soul grew strong in solitude, I saw the eternal energy pervade
The boundless range of nature, with the sun
Pour life and radiance from his flamy path, And on the lowliest flowret of the field The kindly dew-drops shed. And then I felt That HE who form'd this goodly frame of things Must needs be good, and with a FATHER'S name I call'd on HIM, and from burthen'd heart my Pour'd out the yearnings of unmingled love. Methinks it is not strange then, that I fled The house of prayer, and made the lonely grove My temple, at the foot of some old oak Watching the little tribes that had their world Within its mossy bark; or laid me down Beside the rivulet whose murmuring
Was silence to my soul, 63 and mark'd the swarm Whose light-edged shadows on the bedded sand Mirror'd their mazy sports; the insect hum, The flow of waters, and the song of birds Making a holy music to mine ear: Oh! was it strange, if for such scenes as these, Such deep devoutness, such intense delight Of quiet adoration, I forsook
The house of worship? strange that when I felt How God had made my Spirit quick to feel And love whate'er was beautiful and good, And from aught evil and deform'd to shrink Even as with instinct; father! was it strange That in my heart I had no thought of sin And did not need forgiveness?»>
As she spake The Doctors stood astonish'd, and some while They listen'd still in wonder. But at length A Priest replied,
« Woman, thou seemst to scorn The ordinances of our holy Church; And, if I rightly understand thy words, Thou sayst that Solitude and Nature taught Thy feelings of religion, and that now Masses and absolution and the use Of mystic wafer, are to thee unknown. How then could Nature teach thee true religion, Deprived of these? Nature can teach to sin, But 't is the Priest alone can teach remorse, Can bid St Peter the ope of Heaven, gates And from the penal fires of purgatory Absolve the soul. Could Nature teach thee this? Or tell thee that St Peter holds the keys,
And that his successor's unbounded power Extends o'er either world? Although thy life Of sin were free, if of this holy truth Ignorant, thy soul in liquid flames must rue
Than ever rung along the high-arch'd roofs Of man:... yet never from the bending vine Pluck'd I its ripen'd clusters thanklessly, Or of that God unmindful, who bestow'd The bloodless banquet. Ye have told me, Sirs, That Nature only teaches man to sin!
If it be sin to seek the wounded lamb,
To bind its wounds, and bathe them with my tears, This is what Nature taught! No, Fathers! no, It is not Nature that can teach to sin: Nature is all Benevolence, all Love,
All Beauty! In the greenwood's quiet shade There is no vice that to the indignant cheek Bids the red current rush; no misery there; No wretched mother, who with pallid face And famine-fall'n, hangs o'er her hungry babes, With such a look, so wan, so woe-begone, As shall one day, with damning eloquence, Against the mighty plead!... Nature teach sin! O blasphemy against the Holy One, Who made us in the image of Himself, Who made us all for happiness and love, Infinite happiness, infinite love, Partakers of his own eternity.>>
Solemn and slow the reverend Priest replied,— « Much, woman, do I doubt that all-wise Heaven Would thus vouchsafe its gracious miracles On one fore-doom'd to misery; for so doom'd Is that deluded one, who, of the mass Unheeding, and the Church's saving power, Deems nature sinless. Therefore, mark me well, Brethren, I would this woman try propose The holy ordeal. Let her, bound and stript, Lest haply in her clothes should be conceal'd Some holy relic so profaned, be cast
In the deep pond; there if she float, no doubt Some fiend upholds, but if she instant sink, Sure sign is that that Providence displays ller free from witchcraft. This done, let her walk Blinded and bare o'er ploughshares heated red, And o'er these past, her naked arm plunge deep In scalding water. If from these she pass Unhurt, to holy father of the church, Most blessed Pope, we then refer the cause For judgment: and this Chief, the Son of Orleans, Who comes to vouch the royal person known By her miraculous power, shall pass with her
«Grace of God!» exclaim'd
The astonish'd Bastard; « plunge me in the pool! O'er red-hot ploughshares make me dance to please Your dotard fancies! Fathers of the church, Where is your gravity? what! elder-like Would ye this fairer than Susannah eye' Ye call for ordeals; and I too demand The noblest ordeal, on the English host By victory to approve the mission sent From favouring Heaven. To the Pope refer
For judgment! Know ye not that France even now Stands tottering on destruction?>>
With a strange look, the mission'd Maid exclaim'd, « The sword of God is here! the grave shall speak To manifest me!»>
A pale blue flame rose from the trophied tomb Beside her and within that house of death A clash of arms was heard, as though below The shrouded warrior shook his mailed limbs.
<< Hear ye?» the Damsel cried; « these are the arms Which shall flash terror o'er the hostile host. These, in the presence of our Lord the King, And of the assembled people, I will take Here from the sepulchre, where many an age, Incorruptible, they have lain conceal'd, For me preserved, the delegate of Heaven >>
Nay, I will see the monarch,» he replied,
«And he shall hear my tidings; duty-urged,
I have for many a long league hasten'd on, And will not be repell'd.» Then with strong armi Removing him who barr'd his onward way, The hall he enter'd.
«King of France! From Orleans, speedy and effectual aid Demanding for her gallant garrison, Faithful to thee, though 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 the 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, «yon Knight has served thee well. Him have I seen the foremost of the fight, Wielding so fearfully his death-red axe, That wheresoe'er he turn'd, the affrighted 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, To send the bravest of her garrison
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,
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 throug And of the visible world unseeing, saw The shapes of holy fantasy. By her The warrior Son of Orleans strode along Preeminent. He, nerving his young frame With manly exercise, had scaled the cliff, And dashing in the torrent's foaming flood, Stemm'd with broad breast its fury; so his form, Sinewy and firm, and 'fit for loftiest deeds, Tower'd high amid the throng effeminate; No dainty bath had from his hardy limbs Effaced the hauberk's honourable marks; 64 His helmet bore of hostile steel the dints Many and deep; upon his pictured shield A Lion vainly struggled in the toils, Whilst by his side the cub with pious rage, His young mane floating to the desert air, Rends the fallen huntsman. Tremouille him behind, The worthless favourite of the slothful Prince, Stalk'd arrogant, in shining armour clasp'd, Emboss'd with gold and gems of richest hue, Gaudily graceful, by no hostile blade Defaced, and rusted by no hostile blood; Trimly accoutred court habiliments, Gay lady-dazzling armour, fit to adorn In dangerless manoeuvres some review, The mockery of murder! follow'd him The train of courtiers, summer-flies that sport In the sun-beam of favour, insects sprung From the court dunghill, greedy blood-suckers, The foul corruption-gender'd swarm of state.
As o'er some flowery field the busy bees Pour their deep music, pleasant melody To the tired traveller, under some old oak Stretch'd in the checquer'd shade; or as the sound Of many waters down the far off steep Dash'd with loud uproar, rose the murmur round Of admiration. Every gazing eye Dwelt on the mission'd Maid; of all beside, The long procession and the gorgeous train,
Though glittering they with gold and sparkling gems, And their rich plumes high waving to the air, Heedless.
The consecrated dome they reach, Rear'd to St Catharine's holy memory. Her tale the altar told; when Maximin, His raised lip kindled with a savage smile, In such deep fury bade the tenter'd wheel Tear her life piecemeal, that the very face Of the hard executioner relax'd
With horror; calm she heard, no drop of blood Forsook her cheek, her steady eye was turn'd Heaven-ward, and Hope and meekest Piety Beam'd in that patient look. Nor vain her trust, For lo! the Angel of the Lord descends And crumbles with his fiery touch the wheel! One glance of holy triumph Catharine cast, Then bow'd her to the sword of martyrdom, 65
Her eye averting from the storied woe, The delegated Damsel knelt and pour'd To Heaven the earnest prayer.
A trophied tomb Close to the altar rear'd its ancient bulk. Two pointless javelins and a broken sword, Time-mouldering now, proclaim'd some warrior slept The sleep of death beneath. A massy stone And rude-ensculptured effigy o'erlaid The sepulchre. In silent wonderment The expectant multitude with eager eye Gaze, listening as the mattock's heavy stroke Invades the tomb's repose: the heavy stroke Sounds hollow; over the high-vaulted roof Roll the repeated echoes: soon the day Dawns on the grave's long night, the slant sun-beam Beams on the inshrined arms, the crested helm, The baldrick's strength, the shield, the sacred sword. A sound of awe-repress'd astonishment Rose from the crowd. The delegated Maid Over her robes the hallowed breast-plate threw, Self-fitted to her form; on her helm'd head The white plumes nod, majestically slow; She lifts the buckler and the sacred sword, 66 Gleaming portentous light.
Raise the loud shout of transport. «God of Heaven,» The Maid exclaimed, «Father all merciful!
Devoted to whose holy will, I wield
The sword of vengeance, go before our host! All-just avenger of the innocent,
Be thou our Champion! God of Love, preserve Those whom po lust of glory leads to arms.»
She ceased, and with an eager hush the crowd Still listen'd; a brief while throughout the dome Deep silence dwelt; then with a sudden burst Devout and full, they rais'd the choral hymn, «Thee, Lord, we praise, our God!» the throng without Catch the strange tidings, join the hymn of joy, And thundering transport peals along the heavens.
As through the parting crowd the Virgin pass'd, He who from Orleans on the yesternight Demanded succour, clasp'd with warmth her hand, And with a bosom-thrilling voice exclaim'd,
« Ill-omen'd Maid! victim of thine own worth,
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