BOOK THE THIRD
97
Seeking the King. Him from the public view
He found secluded with his blameless Queen,
And her partaker of the unlawful bed,
The lofty-minded Agnes.[1]
"Son of Orleans!"
So as he enter'd cried the haughty fair,115
"Thou art well come to witness the disgrace,
The weak, unmanly, mean despondency
Of this thy Sovereign Liege. He will retreat
To distant Dauphine and fly the war!
Go then, unworthy of thy rank! retreat 120
To distant Dauphine, and fly the war,
N
"Recreant
- ↑ Line 114 Charles, in despair of collecting an army which should dare to approach the enemy's entrenchments, not only gave the city of Orleans for lost, but began to entertain a very dismal prospect with regard to the general state of his affairs. He saw that the country in which he had hitherto, with great difficulty, subsisted, would be laid entirely open to the invasion of a powerful and victorious enemy, and he already entertained thoughts of retiring with the remains of his forces into Languedoc and Dauphiny, and defending himself as long as possible in those remote provinces. But it was fortunate for this good Prince, that as he lay under the dominion of the fair, the women whom he consulted had the spirit. to support his sinking resolution in this desperate extremity. Mary of Anjou, his Queen, a Princess of great merit and prudence, vehemently opposed this measure, which she foresaw would discourage all his partizans, and serve as a general signal for deserting a Prince who seemed himself to despair of success: his mistress too, the fair Agnes Sorel, who lived in entire amity with the Queen, seconded all her remonstrances. Hume.
