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The indignant Chief, "away! nor think to scare "With girlish phantasies the English host

"That scorns your bravest warriors. Hie thee hence,

"Insolent Herald! tell this frantic girl,

"This courtly minion, to avoid my wrath,

"For if she dares the war, I will not stain

"My good-blood-rusted sword-but she shall meet

"The mockery of the camp !"

66 Nay, scare her not ;"

Replied their Chief, "go tell this Maid of Orleans,
"That Salisbury longs to meet her in the fight.
"Nor let her fear that rude and iron chains

"Shall gall her tender limbs; for I myself

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No more," the Frank exclaimed, as to his cheek

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"And timely warning, came I to your camp,

"Here with rude mockery and stern insolence

"Received. Bear witness Chieftains! that the French,

"Free from blood-guiltiness, shall meet the war."

"And who art thou?" cried Suffolk, and his eye Grew fierce and wrath-inflamed, "what fool art thou "That at this woman's bidding comest to brave "The host of England? thou shalt have thy meed!" Then turning to the centinel he cried

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Prepare the stake! and let the men of Orleans,

"And let this woman who believes her name

"May privilege her apostle, see the fire

* Reasons for burning a Trumpeter.

"The letter she sent to Suffolk was received with scorn, and the trumpeter that brought it commanded to be burnt, against the Law of Nations, saith a French + Author, but erroneously, for his coming was not warranted by the authority of any lawfull Prince, but from a private Maid, how highly soever self-pretended, who had neither estate to keep, nor commission to send a trumpeter.

Fuller's Profane State.

+ De Serres.

"Consume him.

Build the stake! for by my God

"He shall be kalendered of this new faith

"First martyr."

As he spake a sudden flush

Came o'er the Herald's cheek, and his heart beat

With quicker action; but the sudden flush,
Alarmed Nature's impulse, faded soon

To such a steady hue as spake the soul
Rous'd up with all its powers, and unsubdued,
And glorying in endurance. Thro' the camp
Soon as the tidings spread, a shout arose,

A hideous shout, more savage than the howl
Of midnight wolves; and round the Frank they throng'd,
To gaze upon their victim. He pass'd on,
And as they led him to the appointed place
Look'd round, as tho' forgetful of himself,
And cried aloud, "Oh! I am sad to think
"So many men shall never see the sun

"Go down! ye English mothers mourn ye now,

"Daughters of England weep! for hard of heart

"Still your

mad leaders urge the impious war,

"And for their folly and their wickedness,

"Your sons, your husbands, by the sword must fall.

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Long-suffering is the Lord, and slow to wrath, "But heavy are his judgements !"

He who spake

Was young and comely; had his cheek been pale
With dread, and had his eye look'd fearfully,
Sure he had won compassion; but the blood
Gave now a livelier meaning to his cheek,
As with a prophet's look and prophet's voice
He spake the ominous words: and they who heard
Wonder'd, and they who rear'd the stake urged on
With half-unwilling hands their slacken'd toil,
And doubted what might follow.

Not unseen

Rear'd they the stake, and piled around the wood;
In sight of Orleans and the Maiden's host,

* De Serres says, "the Trumpeter was ready to be burnt in the sight of the besieged."

Had Suffolk's arrogant fierceness bade the work
Of death be done. The Maiden's host beheld,
At once in eager wrath they rais'd the loud
And general clamour, "lead us to the foe!"
"Not upon us O GOD!" the Maid exclaim'd,
"Not upon us cry out the innocent blood!"
And bade the signal sound. In the English camp
The clarion and the trumpet's blare was heard,
In haste they seize their arms, in haste they form,
Some by bold words seeking to hide their fear
Even from themselves, some silently in prayer,
For much their hearts misgave them.

Of Suffolk swell'd within him.

But the rage

Speed your work!"

Exclaim'd the savage Earl, "kindle the pile "That France may see the fire, and in defeat "Feel aggravated shame!"

And now they bound

The Herald to the stake: he cried aloud,
And fix'd his eye on Suffolk, "let not him

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