Can bid St. Peter ope the gates of Heaven,

And from the penal fires of purgatory

470

Set the soul free. 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
It's error."

Went round.

Was silent.

Thus he spake; applauding looks
Nor dubious to reply the Maid

"Fathers of the holy Church,

If on these points abstruse a simple maid
Like me should err, impute not you the crime
To self-will'd reason, vaunting its own strength
Above eternal wisdom. True it is

475

480

That for long time I have not heard the sound
Of mass high-chaunted, nor with trembling lips 485
Partook the holy wafer: yet the birds
Who to the matin ray prelusive pour'd
Their joyous song, methought did warble forth
Sweeter thanksgiving to Religion's ear

In their wild melody of happiness,

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,

490

494

To bind its wounds, and bathe them with my tears,

This is what Nature taught! No, Fathers, no!
It is not Nature that doth lead to sin:
Nature is all benevolence, all love,

500

505

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-fallen hangs o'er her hungry babes,
With such a look, so wan, so woe-begone,
As shall one day, with damning eloquence,
Against the oppressor plead!... Nature teach sin !
Oh 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."

510

520

Solemn and slow the reverend Priest replied, 515
"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 propose this woman try
The holy ordeal. Let her, bound and search'd,
Lest haply in her clothes should be conceal'd
Some holy relic so profaned, be cast

In some deep pond; there if she float, no doubt
The fiend upholds, but if at once she sink,

It is a sign that Providence displays

Her free from witchcraft.

525

This done, let her walk

Blindfold and bare o'er ploughshares heated red, 530

And o'er these past her naked arm immerse
In scalding water. If from these she come
Unhurt, to holy father of the church,

534

Most blessed Pope, we then refer the cause
For judgement: and this Chief, the Son of Orleans,
Who comes to vouch the royal person known
By her miraculous power, shall pass with her
The sacred trial."

"Grace of God!" exclaim'd
The astonish'd Bastard; "plunge me in the pool,
O'er red-hot ploughshares make me skip to please
Your dotard fancies! Fathers of the church, 541
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 her mission sent

From favouring Heaven. To the Pope refer

545

For judgement! Know ye not that France even now Stands tottering on destruction!"

Starting then

With a wild look, the mission'd Maid exclaim'd, "The sword of God is here! the grave shall speak To manifest me!"

Even as she spake,

A pale blue flame rose from the trophied tomb 553
Beside her and within that house of death

A sound of arms was heard, as if below
A warrior buried in his armour, stirr'd.

555

"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,
They, incorruptible, have lain conceal'd,
For me reserved, the Delegate of Heaven."

Recovering from amaze, the Priest replied: "Thou art indeed the Delegate of Heaven! What thou hast said surely thou shalt perform. We ratify thy mission. Go in peace."

560

565

JOAN OF ARC.

THE FOURTH BOOK.

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

A song of other days.

Sudden they heard

The horn's loud blast.

"This is no time for cares;

Feast ye the messenger without!" cried Charles, 5 "Enough hath of the wearying day been given To the public weal."

Obedient to the King

The guard invites the way-worn messenger.

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

The hall he enter❜d.

"King of France! I come

From Orleans, speedy and effectual aid

Demanding for her gallant garrison,

Faithful to thee, though thinn'd in many a fight,

10

15

And now sore pressed by want. Rouse thou thyself,