Upon her cheek, yet had the loveliest hues The gazer's eye; for wan the Maiden was, trie folkes, who had brought her up to keep their cattell. She, said with great boldnesse that she had a revelation how to succour the King, how he might be able to chase the English from Orleance, and after that to cause the King to be crowned at Rheims, and to put him fully and wholly in possession of his realme. "After she had delivered this to her father, mother, and their neighbours, she presumed to go to the Lord of Baudricourt, Provost of Vaucouleurs; she boldly delivered unto him, after an extraordinary manner, all these great mysteries, as much wished for of all men as not hoped for: especially comming from the mouth of a poore country maide, whom they might with more reason beleeve to be possessed of some melancholy humour, than divinely inspired; being the instrument of so many excellent remedies, in so desperat a season, after the vaine striving of so great and famous personages. At the first he mocked her and reproved her, but having heard her with more patience, and judging by her tem "I have heard "Of this your niece's malady," replied The Lord of Vaucouleur, "that she frequents "The loneliest haunts and deepest solitude, "Estranged from human kind and human cares "Who duly morn and eve for her soul's health perate discourse and modest countenance that she spoke not idely, in the end he resolves to present her to the King for his discharge. So she arrives at Chinon the sixt day of May, attired like a man. "She had a modest countenance, sweet, civill, and resolute; her discourse was temperate, reasonable and retired, her actions cold, shewing great chastity. Having spoken to the King or noblemen with whom she was to negociate, she presently retired to her lodging with an old woman that guided her, without vanity, affectation, babling or courtly lightnesse. These are the manners which the Original attributes to her." The translator Edward Grimeston calls her in the margin "Joane the Virgin, or rather Witch." So as Sir Robert ceas'd, the Maiden cried, "I am not mad. Possess'd indeed I am! The hand of God is strong upon my soul, "And I have wrestled vainly with the LORD, "And stubbornly I fear me. I can save "This country Sir! I can deliver France! "Yea-I must save this country! GoD is in me "I speak not, think not, feel not of myself. "He knew and sanctified me ere my birth, "HE to the nations hath ordained me, "And unto whom HE sends me, I must go, "And that which HE commands me, I must speak, "And that which HE shall will, I must perform, "Most fearless in the fullness of my faith "Because the Lord is with † me ! Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, ah, LORD GOD, behold I cannot speak, for At the first With pity or with scorn Dunois had heard The inspired Maid; but now he in his heart. In what was disbelieved and scoff'd at late As folly. "Damsel !" said the Chief, "methinks Haply of some ill spirit prompting thee. "To self destruction." "Doubt!" the maid exclaim'd, "It were as easy when I gaze around "On all this fair variety of things, "Green fields and tufted woods, and the blue depth I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, say not I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. Jeremiah, Chap. 1. "Of heaven, and yonder glorious sun, to doubt "To doubt God's goodness! there are feelings Chief "The call of God." They listened to the Maid, And they almost believed. Then spake Dunois, "Wilt thou go with me Maiden to the King "And there announce thy mission?" thus he said For thoughts of politic craftiness arose Within him, and his unconfirmed faith Determin'd to prompt action. She replied, "Therefore I sought the Lord of Vaucouleur, "That with such credence as prevents delay, "He to the King might send me. Now beseech you "Speed our departure." |