"Here with rude mockery and with insolence "Receiv'd. Bear witness, chieftains! that the French, "Free from blood-guiltiness, shall meet the war."

"And who art thou ?" cried Suffolk, and his eye Grew fierce and wrath-inflam'd: "What fool art thou,

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Who at this woman's bidding comest to brave

"The host of England? thou shalt have thy meed!" Then turning to the sentinel he cried,

"Prepare a stake! and let the men of Orleans,

"And let this woman who believes her name

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May privilege her apostle, see the fire

"Consume him. Build the stake! for by my God

"He shall be kalender'd of this new faith

"First martyr."

As he spake, a sudden flush

Came o'er the herald's cheek, and his heart beat

With quicker action; but the sudden flush,
Alarmed Nature's impulse, faded soon

To such a steady hue as spake the soul

Roused up with all its powers, and unsubdued,
And glorying in endurance. Through the camp,
Soon as the tidings spread, a shout arose,

A hideous shout, more savage than the howl
Of midnight wolves; and round the Frank they throng'd,
To gaze upon their victim. He pass'd on ;
And as they led him to the appointed place
Look'd round, as tho' forgetful of himself,

And cried aloud,- "Oh! woe it is to think

"So many men shall never see the sun

"Go down! ye English mothers, mourn ye now!
"Daughters of England, weep! for hard of heart
"Still your mad leaders urge the impious war,
"And for their folly and their wickedness,

"Your sons, your husbands, by the sword must fall.
"Long-suffering is the Lord, and slow to wrath,
"But heavy are his judgments!"

He who spake

Was young and comely; had his cheek been pale
With dread, and had his eye look'd fearfully,

Sure he had won compassion; but the blood

Gave now a livelier meaning to his cheek,
As with a prophet's look and prophet's voice
He raised his ominous warning: they who heard
Wonder'd, and they who rear'd the stake urged on
With half-unwilling hands their slacken'd toil,
And doubted what might follow.

Not unseen

Rear'd they the stake, and piled around the wood;
In sight of Orleans and the Maiden's host,

Had Suffolk's arrogant fierceness bade the work
Of death be done. The Maiden's host beheld;
At once in eager wrath they raised the loud

And general clamour, "Lead us to the foe!"

"Not upon us, O GOD!" the Maid exclaim'd,

"Not upon us cry out the innocent blood!"

And bade the signal sound. In the English camp
The clarion and the trumpet's blare was heard,
In haste they seize their arms, in haste they form,
Some by bold words seeking to hide their fear

Even from themselves, some silently in prayer,

For much their hearts misgave them.

Of Suffolk swell'd within him. "Speed your work!" Exclaim'd the savage earl; "kindle the pile

"That France may see the fire, and in defeat "Feel aggravated shame!"

And now they bound

The herald to the stake: he cried aloud,

And fix'd his eye on Suffolk," Let not him
"Who girdeth on his harness boast himself
"As he that puts it off! they come! they come!

"God and the Maid!"

The host of France approach'd,

And Suffolk eagerly beheld the fire

Draw near the pile; sudden a fearful shout

Toward Orleans turn'd his eye, and thence he saw

A mailed man upon a mailed steed

Come thundering on.

As when Chederles comes

To aid the Moslem on his deathless steed,
Swaying his sword with such resistless arm,
Such mightiest force, as he had newly quaff'd
The hidden waters of eternal youth,

Till with the copious draught of life and strength
Inebriate; such, so fierce, so terrible,

Came Conrade thro' the camp. Aright, aleft,
The affrighted foemen scatter from his spear;
Onward he drives, and now the circling throng
Fly from the stake, and now he checks his course,
And cuts the herald's bonds, and bids him live,

And arm, and fight, and conquer.

"Haste thee hence

"To Orleans," cried the warrior. "Tell the chiefs "There is confusion in the English camp.

"Bid them come forth." On Conrade's steed the youth Leapt up, and hasten'd onward. He the while

Turn'd to the war.

Like two conflicting clouds,

Pregnant with thunder, rush'd the hostile hosts.