MONUMENTS, ЕГС. ЕІС. TOWER AND FOUNTAIN OF LA PUCELLE AT ROUEN. THE monument raised by the Orleanese to the memory of Jeanne d'Arc, serves as a perpetual memorial of her valour and glory, whereas those of which we are going to speak are only the records of her sufferings and misfortunes. Dragged from dungeon to dungeon, and delivered over to the ferocious inquisitors, brothers Martin and Pierre Cauchon, La Pucelle was at length incarcerated in a tower at Rouen, still standing. The building in question is situated near Bouvreuil Tower, and retains to the present time the name of Tour de la Pucelle-the Maiden's Tower. This edifice was formerly concealed by a row of houses; to the left of which is the gate of Bouvreuil Tower. Its aspect, although in the direction of the country, is sombre, and gives rise to melancholy reflections; the beams of day never pierce to the interior. The massive walls, desolate and sad witnesses of those barbarous feudal times of which they bear the stamp, would inspire a secret awe in the breast of those who might be ignorant that this asylum was the scene of the accumulated and dreadful sufferings of innocence and heroic virtue. Jeanne's cries re-echoed through those dismal vaultings; her tears were shed upon the inhospitable soil: it was there the captive lingered, perhaps within the iron cage; and beyond a doubt pined in a dungeon loaded with massive and galling fetters. In the year 1805, when digging in the garden of the monastery of the Maidens of the Holy Sacrament, the lower basement of this tower was discovered. Beneath the flooring of the chamber a well appeared, or else the back of the lower moat, wherein might be seen several links of chains almost entirely mouldered away with rust.* It was in the old market-place that Jeanne d'Arc suffered at the stake; but the precise spot where this scene of iniquity was transacted, was not in the square at present called the old market; being now known as the Marché aux Veaux, or market for calves; and it was on this account that the monument raised to the memory of La Pucelle was erected in that market. Upon the spot where the cross stood, which was built after the revisal of Jeanne's process, a fountain was constructed, surmounted by a statue of the murdered girl. The fountain in question was of very delicate workmanship, and consisted of three ranges of pillars, one above another, on a triangular base; the whole ornamented with arabesque and statues of saints, at the summit of which rose that of Jeanne d'Arc. The water issued from three spouts terminating with horses' heads. * See Annals of the year 1805, the month Floréal. This edifice, constructed at a period when the arts were reviving in France, (towards the commencement of the sixteenth century,) was light, while the figures, and the arabesque in particular, were in a beautiful chaste style. In 1755, this structure was replaced by another, consisting of a pedestal decorated with dolphins, upon which rests the statue of the heroine. This latter monument is far inferior in elegance to that previously described. The two last lines of the inscription upon this edifice run as follow: Flammarum victrix, isto rediviva tropao, MONUMENTS ERECTED AT ORLEANS. THE first monument, being a just homage too tardily manifested in honour of heroism and misfortune in 1458, was due to the piety and gratitude of Charles VII. It was erected on the ancient bridge leading to the city, and was taken down on account of the carpenters' work that became necessary at the period of its undergoing repairs in 1745. The Catholics have reproached the Protestants for having, in 1567, at the period of the second troubles, demolished the figures of this structure, with the exception of that of the king; but Du Haillan informs us that it was battered down by a cannon-ball, the blow being completely accidental. The monument was recast on the 9th of October, at the expense of the city, by one Hector Lescot, otherwise Jacquinot, and reinstated upon its former pedestal on the 15th of March, 1571. Every member of the several figures composing the group was produced separately, and it is thought that they were the second ever cast in France. From 1741 the whole was kept from public view, as the monument had fallen into complete neglect; but in 1771 the municipal officers caused it to be again reinstated; the charge devolving upon M. Desfriches, a distinguished artist in landscape painting. This monument was erected upon a stone pedestal, nine feet long by as many in height, and consisted of four figures in bronze, nearly of natural dimensions; and of a cross of the same metal. The Virgin was seated at the foot of the crucifix on a rock or calvary formed of lead, which united all the figures: upon her knees she supported the extended form of Jesus Christ; above the head of the Saviour, at some distance, a cushion supported the crown of thorns; to the right figured the statue of Charles VII., and to the left that of Jeanne d'Arc, both in the act of kneeling upon cushions which were added to the new monument. These two figures, whose hands were joined as in the act of prayer, were armed at all points, with the exception of their helmets, placed within a foot distance from each: that of the king was surmounted by a crown. A shield, bearing the arms of France, stood between the two, leaning against the rock, without any supporters, crown, or other ornament; and the lance of La Pucelle was stretched across the monument. This cele brated female was clad as a man, and only distinguishable by the cut of her hair, tied by a band of riband and falling below her waist. Behind the cross was represented a pelican nourishing her progeny with her blood; they were inclosed in a nest or basket which formerly crowned the crucifix, at the base of which was added a serpent holding an apple in its teeth. The pedestal was decorated by escutcheons and marble slabs, whereon were graven, in golden characters, the two inscriptions composed by Mr. Jacques Ducoudray, then mayor of Orleans. DU REGNE DE LOUIS XV. Ce Monument, érigé sur l'ancien Pont, Dite LA PUCELLE D'ORLEANS, A été rétabli dans sa première forme, Du vœu des Habitans, and par les soins de M. JACQUES DU COUDRAY, Maire L'An M.DCC.LXXI. The following inscription, on the opposite side, is remarkable for its noble simplicity : |