134
JOAN OF ARC.
That was to him even as a daughter! Charles,
This holy tale would I tell, prophet-like,
And gazing on thee cry, "Thou art the man!"
This holy tale would I tell, prophet-like,
And gazing on thee cry, "Thou art the man!"
He said, and with a quick and troubled step
Retired. Astonish'd at his daring phrase, 200
The guests sat heedless of the minstrel's song,
Pondering the words mysterious. Soon the harp
Beguil'd their senses of anxiety.
Retired. Astonish'd at his daring phrase, 200
The guests sat heedless of the minstrel's song,
Pondering the words mysterious. Soon the harp
Beguil'd their senses of anxiety.
The court dispers'd: retiring from the hall,
Charles and the delegated damsel sought 205
The inner palace. There awaited them
The Queen: with her JOAN loved to pass the hours,
By various converse cheer'd; for she had won
The Virgin's heart by her mild melancholy,
The calm and duteous patience that deplor'd 210
A husband's cold half-love. To her she told
With what strange words the messenger from Orleans
Had rous'd uneasy wonder in her mind;
Charles and the delegated damsel sought 205
The inner palace. There awaited them
The Queen: with her JOAN loved to pass the hours,
By various converse cheer'd; for she had won
The Virgin's heart by her mild melancholy,
The calm and duteous patience that deplor'd 210
A husband's cold half-love. To her she told
With what strange words the messenger from Orleans
Had rous'd uneasy wonder in her mind;
For
