How powerful the attacks that Satan makes
By sinful Nature aided! Dost thou think
It is an easy task from the fond breast

To root affection out? to burst the cords
Which grapple to society the heart

Of social man? to rouse the unwilling spirit,
That, rebel to devotion, faintly pours
The cold lip-worship of the wearying prayer?
To fear and tremble at Him, yet to love

A God of Terrors? Maid beloved of Heaven,
Come to this sacred trial! share with us

The day of penance and the night of prayer!
Humble thyself; feel thine own worthlessness,
A reptile worm, before thy birth condemn'd
To all the horrors of thy Maker's wrath,

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175

180

The lot of fallen mankind! Oh, hither come! 185 Humble thyself in ashes. So thy name

Shall live amid the blessed host of saints,

And unborn pilgrims at thy hallowed shrine
Pour forth their pious offerings."

"Hear me, father!"
Exclaim'd the awaken'd Maid. "Amid these tombs,
Cold as their clayey tenants, know, my heart 191
Must never grow to stone! Chill thou thyself,
And break thy midnight rest, and tell thy beads,
And labour through thy still repeated prayer;
Fear thou thy God of Terrors; spurn the gifts 195
He gave, and sepulchre thyself alive!

But far more valued is the vine that bends
Beneath its swelling clusters, than the dark
And joyless ivy, round the cloister's wall

Wreathing its barren arms. For me I know 200

That I have faithfully obey'd my call,

Confiding not in mine own strength, but His
Who sent me forth to suffer and to do

His will; and in that faith I shall appear
Before the just tribunal of that God

Whom grateful love has taught me to adore!"

205

Severe she spake, for sorrow in her heart Had wrought unwonted sternness. From the dome They pass'd in silence, when with hasty steps, Sent by the chiefs, a messenger they met, Who, in alarm, the mission'd Virgin sought, A bearer of ill tidings.

He said, "they ask thy counsel. Burgundy

210

Comes in the cause of England, and his troops 214 Scarce three leagues from the walls, a fearful power, Rest tented for the night."

"Say to the chiefs,

At morn I will be with them," she replied; "And to this urgency will give meantime My nightly thoughts."

So saying on she went In thoughtful silence. A brief while she mused, 220 Brief, but sufficing to excite her soul,

As with a power and impulse not its own,

To some great purpose. "Conrade!" then she said, "I pray thee meet me at the eastern gate With a swift steed prepared,.. for I must hence."

224

Her voice was calm, and Conrade through the gloom Saw not the flush that witness'd on her cheek

Inward emotion at some thought conceived.
She to her quarters hastily repair'd,

There with a light and unplumed casquetel

230

She helm'd her head; hung from her neck the shield,

And forth she went.

Her Conrade by the gate

Awaited. "May I, Maiden, ask unblamed
Whither this midnight journey? may I share

The peril?" cried the warrior.

"This, Conrade, must not be.

She rejoin'd, 235 Alone I go.

That impulse of the soul which comes from God But thou of this remain assured,

Sends me.

If aught that I must enterprize required

Associate firmness, thou shouldst be the man, 240 Best,.. last,.. and only friend!"

So up she sprung And left him. He beheld the warden close The gate, and listen'd to her courser's tramp, Till soon upon his ear the far-off sound

Fell faintly, and was lost.

Swift o'er the vale

Sped the good courser; eagerly the Maid

244

Gave the loose rein, and now her speed attain'd
The dark encampment. Through the sleeping ranks
Onward she past. The trampling of her steed
Or mingled with the soldier's busy dreams,
Or with vague terrors fill'd his startled sense,
Prompting a secret prayer.

So on she past

To where in loftier shade arose the tent
Of Burgundy: light leaping from her seat
She enter❜d.

250

On the earth the chieftain slept, 255

His mantle scarft around him; near him hung
His helmet and his shield, and at his side

Within hand-reach his sword. Profound he slept,
Nor heard the coming courser's sounding hoof, 259
Nor entering footstep. "Burgundy !" she cried,
"What, Burgundy! awake!" He started up
And saw the gleam of arms, and to his sword
Reach'd a quick hand. But what he now beheld
Thrill'd him, for full upon her face the lamp
Cast its deep glare, and in her solemn look
Was an unearthly meaning. Pale she was;
And in her eye a saintly lustre beam'd,
And that most calm and holiest confidence
That guilt knows never.
THE MAID OF ORLEANS!"

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Burgundy, thou seest

As she spake, a voice Exclaim'd, "Die, sorceress!" and a knight rush'd in, Whose name by her illustrated yet lives,

Franquet of Arras. With uplifted arm

Furious he came; her buckler broke the blow, 274
And forth she flash'd her sword, and with a stroke
Swift that no eye could ward it, and of strength
No mail might blunt, smote on his neck, his neck
Unfenced, for he in haste aroused had cast

An armet on; resistless there she smote,

And to the earth prone fell the headless trunk 280 Of Franquet.

Then on Burgundy she fix'd

Her eye severe. "Go, chief, and thank thy God That he with lighter judgements visits thee

Than fell on Sisera, or by Judith's hand

284

He wrought upon the Assyrian! Thank thy God,

That when his vengeance smote the invading sons Of England, equal though thou wert in guilt, Thee he has spar'd to work by penitence

And better deeds atonement."

Thus she spake, 290

Then issued forth, and bounding on her steed
Sped o'er the plain. Dark on the upland bank
The hedge-row trees distinct and colourless
Rose on the grey horizon, and the Loire
Form'd in its winding way islands of light
Amid the shadowy vale, when now she reach'd
The walls of Orleans.

From the eastern clouds

29.5

The sun came forth, as to the assembled chiefs
The Maiden pass'd. Her bending thitherwards
The Bastard met. "New perils threaten us," 300
new toils await us; Burgundy, ...

He said, 66

"Fear not for Burgundy !" the Maid replied, "Him will the Lord direct. Our earliest scouts Shall tell his homeward march. What of the troops Of England ?"

66

'They," the son of Orleans cried,

By darkness favour'd, fled; yet not by flight 306 Shall these invaders now escape the arm

Of retribution. Even now our troops,

By battle unfatigued, unsatisfied

With conquest, clamour to pursue the foe." 310

The delegated Damsel thus replied:

"So let them fly, Dunois! But other work Than that of battle, now must be perform'd.