JOAN OF ARC. THE FIRST BOOK. THERE was high feasting held at Vaucouleur, The Bastard Orleans; and the festive hours, But not to share the hospitable board On what might profit France, and knew no hope, Despairing of his country, when he heard An old man and a maid awaited him In the castle hall. He knew the old man well, Approach'd, and after meet obeisance made, "Good my Lord, I come, "With a strange tale; I pray you pardon me "If it should seem impertinent, and like "An old man's weakness. But, in truth, this Maid "Hath with such boding thoughts impress'd my heart, "I think I could not longer sleep in peace "Denying what she sought. She saith that God "Bids her go drive the Englishmen from France!"Her parents mock at her and call her crazed, "And father Regnier says she is possess'd;.. "But I, who know that never thought of ill "Found entrance in her heart,.. for good my Lord, "From her first birth-day she hath been to me "As mine own child,.. and I am an old man, "And have seen many moon-struck in my time, "And some who were by evil spirits vex'd,.. "I, Sirs, do think that there is more in this... "And who can tell if, in these perilous times, "It should please God,..but hear the Maid yourselves, "For if, as I believe, this is of Heaven, "My silly speech doth wrong it." While he spake Curious they mark'd the Damsel. She appear'd The gazer's eye; for wan the Maiden was, Something that was not earthly. "I have heard "Of this your niece's malady," replied The Lord of Vaucouleur, "that she frequents "The loneliest haunts and deepest solitude, 66 Estranged from human kind and human cares “With loathing like to madness. It were best "To place her with some pious sisterhood, "Who, duly morn and eve for her soul's health "Soliciting Heaven, may likeliest remedy "The stricken mind, or frenzied or possess'd." So as Sir Robert ceased, the Maiden cried, "And stubbornly I fear me. I can save "And whither HE shall send me, I must go, "And whatso HE commands, that I must speak, |