352
JOAN OF ARC.
He the Delight of human-kind misnamed; 710
Cæsars and Soldans, Emperors and Kings;
Here they were all, all who for glory fought,
Here in the Court of Glory, reaping now
The meed they merited.
As gazing round
The Virgin mark'd the miserable train, 715
A deep and hollow voice from one went forth;
"Thou who art come to view our punishment,
Maiden of Orleans! hither turn thine eyes,
For I am he whose bloody victories
Thy power hath rendered vain. Lo! I am here, 720
The hero conqueror of Azincour,
Henry of England!—wretched that I am!
I might have reigned in happiness and peace,
Cæsars and Soldans, Emperors and Kings;
Here they were all, all who for glory fought,
Here in the Court of Glory, reaping now
The meed they merited.
As gazing round
The Virgin mark'd the miserable train, 715
A deep and hollow voice from one went forth;
"Thou who art come to view our punishment,
Maiden of Orleans! hither turn thine eyes,
For I am he whose bloody victories
Thy power hath rendered vain. Lo! I am here, 720
The hero conqueror of Azincour,
Henry of England!—wretched that I am!
I might have reigned in happiness and peace,
"My
siege was intermitted four days: to rouse their fears, prisoners, to the number of five hundred, or more were crucified daily before the walls; till space, Josephus says, was wanting for the crosses, and crosses for the captives."
From the Bampton Lectures of Ralph Churton.
If any of my readers should enquire why Titus Vespasian, the Delight of Mankind, is placed in such a situation.—I answer, for "his generous clemency, that inseparable attendant on true heroism!
