"Of Charles our monarch. Here in revelry "He 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

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Undisciplined in Fortitude's stern school.

"So may thy voice arouse his sleeping virtues!"

The mission'd Maid reply'd, "Go thou, Dunois, "Announce my mission to the royal ear.

"I on the river's winding banks the while

"Would roam, collecting for the enterprize

"My thoughts, tho' firm, yet troubled. Who essays "Atchievements of great import will perforce

"Feel the heart heave; and in my breast I feel "Such perturbation."

On the banks of Vienne

Devious the Damsel turn'd.

Thro' Chinon's gates

The Son of Orleans press'd with rapid step,

Seeking the King. Him from the public view
He 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, 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.-Do'st 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, to mount "His 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 !"

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.
"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, or in arms "Defies my weak control, or from my side,

"A friend more dreaded than the enemy,

"Drives my best servants with the assassin sword. "Soon must the towers of Orleans fall!-But now "These sad thoughts boot not. Welcome to our court, "Dunois! We yet can give the friendly feast, "And from the heavy cares of empire win "One hospitable day of merriment."

The Chief replied, "So may thy future years "Pass from misfortune free, as all these ills "Shall vanish like a vision of the night! “To thee and France I come the messenger "Of aid from Heaven. The delegated Maid "With me, whom all-wise Providence decrees "The Saviour of the realm;—a holy Maid, "Bearing strange promise of miraculous things, "One whom it were not possible to hear

"And disbelieve."

Astonish'd by his speech

Stood Charles.

"At one of meaner estimation

3

"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 beseems

Ought wild and hazardous; the throne of France "Totters upon destruction. Is my person

"Known to this woman ?".

"She has lived retired,"

The Bastard answer'd, "ignorant of courts, "And little heeding, till the spirit of God

"Roused her to this great work."

To him the King,

"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,