The hall he enter❜d.

King of France! I come

"From Orleans, speedy and effectual aid

"Demanding for her gallant garrison,

"Faithful to thee, tho' thinn'd in many a fight, "And wither'd now by want. Thee it beseems, "For ever anxious for thy people's weal,

"To succour the brave men whose honests breasts "Bulwark thy throne."

He said, and from the hall

With upright step departing, in amaze

At his so bold deportment left the court.
The King exclaim'd, "But little need to send
"Quick succour to this gallant garrison,

"If to the English half so firm a front

་་

They bear in battle!".

"In the field, my liege,"

Dunois replied," yon Knight has served thee well.

"Him have I seen the foremost of the fight,

"That wheresoe'er he turn'd, the affrighted foe "Let fall their palsied arms with powerless stroke, "Desperate of safety. I do marvel much

"That he is here: Orleans must be hard press'd "To send the bravest of her garrison

"On such commission."

Swift the Maid exclaim'd,

"I tell thee, Chief, that there the English wolves "Shall never pour their yells of victory!

"The will of God defends those fated walls,

"And resting in full faith on that high will,

"I mock their efforts. But the night draws on;

"Retire we to repose. To morrow's sun,

66

Breaking the darkness of the sepulchre,

"Shall on that armour gleam, thro' many an age "Kept holy and inviolate by time."

She said, and, rising from the board, retired.

Meantime the herald's brazen voice proclaim'd Coming solemnity, and far and wide

Spread the strange tidings. Every labour ceased;
The ploughman from the unfinish'd furrow hastes;
The armourer's anvil beats no more the din
Of future slaughter. Thro' the thronging streets
The buz of asking wonder hums along.

On to St. Catharine's sacred fane they go;
The holy fathers with the imaged cross
Leading the long procession. Next, as one
Suppliant for mercy to the King of Kings,
And grateful for the benefits of Heaven,
The Monarch pass'd; and by his side the Maid,
Her lovely limbs robed in a snow-white vest;
Wistless that every eye on her was fix'd,

With stately step she moved: her labouring soul
To high thoughts elevate; and gazing round
With the wild eye, that of the circling throng
And of the visible world unseeing, saw
The shapes of holy phantasy. By her
The warrior Son of Orleans strode along

Preeminent. He, nerving his young frame
With manly exercise, had scaled the cliff,
And dashing in the torrent's foaming flood,
Stemm'd with broad breast its fury; so his form,
Sinewy and firm, and fit for loftiest deeds,
Tower'd high amid the throng effeminate;
No dainty bath had from his hardy limbs
Effaced the hauberk's honourable marks;
His helmet bore of hostile steel the dints
Many and deep; upon his pictured shield
A Lion vainly struggled in the toils,
Whilst by his side the cub with pious rage,
His young mane floating to the desart air,
Rends the fallen huntsman. Tremouille him behind,

The worthless favourite of the slothful Prince,
Stalk'd arrogant, in shining armour clasp'd,
Emboss'd with gold and gems of richest hue,
Gaudily graceful, by no hostile blade

Defaced, and rusted by no hostile blood;
Trimly accoutred court habiliments,

Gay lady-dazzling armour, fit to adorn
In dangerless manœuvres some review,
The mockery of murder! follow'd him
The train of courtiers, summer-flies that sport
In the sun-beam of favour, insects sprung
From the court dung-hill, greedy blood-suckers,
The foul corruption-gender'd swarm of state.

As o'er some flowery field the busy bees Pour their deep music, pleasant melody

To the tired traveller, under some old oak Stretch'd in the checquer'd shade; or as the sound Of many waters down the far-off steep

Dash'd with loud uproar, rose the murmur round
Of admiration. Every gazing eye

Dwelt on the mission'd Maid; of all beside,
The long procession and the gorgeous train,

Tho' glittering they with gold and sparkling gems,
And their rich plumes high waving to the air,

Heedless.