324
JOAN OF ARC.
Sob round the sufferer—wet his cheek with tears,
And all he loved in life embitters death!
And all he loved in life embitters death!
"Such, Maiden, are the pangs that wait the hour 200
Of calmest dissolution! yet weak man
Dares, in his timid piety, to live;
And veiling Fear in Superstition's garb,
He calls it—Resignation!
"Coward wretch!
Fond Coward, thus to make his Reason war 205
Against his Reason! insect as he is,
This sport of Chance! this being of a Day
Whose whole existence the next cloud may blast!
Believes himself the care of heavenly powers,
That God regards Man! miserable Man! 210
And preaching thus of Power and Providence,
Will crush the reptile that may cross his path!
Of calmest dissolution! yet weak man
Dares, in his timid piety, to live;
And veiling Fear in Superstition's garb,
He calls it—Resignation!
"Coward wretch!
Fond Coward, thus to make his Reason war 205
Against his Reason! insect as he is,
This sport of Chance! this being of a Day
Whose whole existence the next cloud may blast!
Believes himself the care of heavenly powers,
That God regards Man! miserable Man! 210
And preaching thus of Power and Providence,
Will crush the reptile that may cross his path!
"Fool that thou art! the Being that permits
Existence, gives to man the worthless boon:
Existence, gives to man the worthless boon:
"A
