Deform'd her beauteous features. Yet with her

The lawless idol of the Monarch's heart,

Mary, obedient to her husband's will,

Dwelt peaceful, from the proudly-generous mind Of Agnes winning friendship. Soon the Maid Lov'd the mild Queen, and sojourning with her, Expects the solemn summons.

Thro' the realm

Meantime the King's convoking voice was heard, And from their palaces and monasteries

Swarm'd forth the Doctors, men acute and deep,

Grown grey in study; Priests and Bishops haste

To Chinon teachers wise and with high names,

:

Seraphic, Subtile, or Irrefragable,

By their admiring pupils dignified.

The Doctors met, from cloister gloom recluse, Or from the haunts luxurious of the abode Episcopal, they met, and sought the place Of judgement. Very ancient was the dome,

The floor with many a monumental stone
O'erspread, and brass-ensculptur'd effigy

Of holy abbots honour'd in their day,

Now to the grave gone down. The branching arms Of many a ponderous pillar met aloft,

Wreath'd on the roof emboss'd. The windows gleam'd
Awful and dim their many-colour'd light,

Thro' the rich robes of Eremites and Saints,
Trees, mountains, castles, ships, sun, moon, and stars,
Splendid confusion! the pure wave beneath

Reflects and trembles in the purpling beam.

On the altar burns that mystic lamp whose flame
May not be quenched.

Circling round the vase

They bow the knee, uttering the half-heard prayer;

Mysterious power communicating thus

To the hallowed water, deem'd a mightier spell
O'er the fierce fiends of Satan's fallen crew,
Than e'er the hell-hags taught in Thessaly,
Or they who sitting on the rifled grave,

Dim seen by the blue tomb-fires lurid light,

Partake the Vampire's banquet.

This perform'd,

The Maid is summon'd. Round the holy vase

Mark'd with the mystic tonsure and enrob'd

In sacred vests, a venerable train,

They stand. The delegated Maid obeys

Their summons. As she came, a loveliest blush

O'er her fair cheek suffus'd, such as became
One mindful still of maiden modesty,

Tho' of her own worth conscious. Thro' the aisle
The cold wind moaning as it pass'd along

Waved her dark flowing locks. Before the train
In reverend silence waiting their sage will,
With half-averted eye she stood compos'd.
So have I seen the simple snow-drop rise
Amid the russet leaves that hide the earth

In early spring, so seen its gentle bend
Of modest loveliness amid the waste
Of desolation.

By the maiden's side

The Son of Orleans stood, prepar'd to vouch

That when on Charles the Maiden's eye had fix'd,
As led by power miraculous, no fraud,

No juggling artifice of secret sign
Diffembled inspiration. As he stood

Steadily viewing the mysterious rites,

Thus to the attentive Maid the Arch-Priest spake Severe.

"Woman, if any fiend of hell

"Lurk in thy bosom, so to prompt the vaunt "Of inspiration, and to mock the power

"Of God and holy church, thus by the virtue "Of water hallowed in the name of God

"That damned spirit adjure I to depart

"From his possessed prey.

Slowly he spake

And sprinkled water on the virgin's face :
Indignant at the unworthy charge the Maid.

Felt her cheek flush, but soon, the transient glow

Fading, she answer'd meek.

"Most holy Sires,

"Ye reverend Fathers of the Christian church,

"Most catholic! before your view I stand

Of the grace vouchsafed,

' A poor weak woman. Of the

"How far unworthy, conscious: yet tho' mean, "Guiltless of fraud, and chosen by highest heaven "The minister of aid. Strange voices heard, "The dark and shadowing visions of the night, "And feelings that I may not dare to doubt, "These portents make me conscious of the God "Within me; he who gifted my purged eye "To know the Monarch 'mid the menial throng, "Unseen before. Thus much it boots to say. "The life of simple virgin ill deserves

"To call your minds from studies wise and deep, "Not to be fathom'd by the weaker sense

"Of man profane."

"Thou speakest," said the Priest,

"Of dark and shadowing visions of the night.