The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-31 00:00:00

"It was afterwards quoted es a miracle, we know not
wherefore, unless from the vulgar love of exaggeration,
that Jeanne took the nearest way to the scene of con-
flict. It is true that the streets were perplexed and
winding, and never before traversed by her. But the
uproar increased so fearfully with every move of her ad-
vance, that it was in no degree wonderful she made
direct to the scene of action. This was the Porte
Regiart."

" Ail the new French confidence could not sustain the

troops of La Hire and Poton against the repeated
shocks of Talbot. In vain also did the townspeople en-
deavour with shouts, and the discharge of a few ill-
directed cannons, to arrest the pursuit that followed. So
rapid and energetic was it that the probability was, very
few would return to the city with tidings, when Jeanne
rushed from the Porte Regcart, followed by an incredible
multitude of the armed populace of Orleana.
"In galloping towards the Porte Regnart she en-
cauntered some soldiery hurrying along with the shat-
tered body of a young knight. It was the first time she
had seen human blood shed—the human form so hide-
ously marred—and she checked her horse with sudden
horror, as if some monstrous snake bad risen on her
path. Her black hair deepened in hue with the glossy
damp that burst upon it, w bile with white and quivering
lips she exclaimed, Is it French blood? Are these
mangled I'mhs French? Oh, blood of France, well
shalt thou be avenged!' And her mood charging into
one of wrathful indignation, and rending her sword from
the scabbard, she continued, Ho, there, all men to
arms! Vengeance for the blood of France!'
" The noise of the skirmish and the alarum-bell of a
neighbouring church had already attracted a great num-
ber of the citizens and populace to the Porte Regnart.
But they were without leaders, and appalled with the
flight and discomfiture of the chivalry outside the walls.
The instant, however, it was known that the martial
prophetess was approaching the field—when she was seen
rushing past with the speed of a thunderbolt, and her
sword flashing over her head like the lightning that ac-
cotepanies it—an embodiment as it were of the tempest
—one universal cry of Vengeance!' echoed hers, one
universal rush of onset followed in her wake. And
thus she cause from the Porte Regnart, meeting the
yelling fugitives of La Hire, and full in sight of them
and their pursuers. The immediate effect pro3uced
might well indeed be ascribed to magic. The pursuers
halted with a dead shock, many being unhorsed by the
violent reversion of their own speed; lances dropped
from nerveless hands: the mighty Talbot himself paused
in amazement!

The filitives meanwhile whirled their steeds round.
La Hire and Poton, who were galloping breathlessly
with the rest, turned at equal speed to meet their adver-
saries. A knight of St. John of Jerusalem, who fought
on the French side, lay on the ground between the two
parties, unhorsed by the lance of Talbot; and an English
quire was busied, according to the warlike custom in
those days, in unlacing the knight's helmet to complete
his master's work, by striking off his head. But, the
squire himself suddenly rolled to earth beneath the
tramp of Jeanne d'Are's steed, and the knight, started
upon his feet in all his weight of arms! This seemingly
supernatural event completed the consternation of the
English soldiers. Talbot was left completely alone, by
a broad spec.?, on the field, and his troops retreated in
huddling masses to the fortifications of St. Laurent.
Nothing was left to Talbot himself but to retire, or re•
main to be surrounded by his enemies; and with a shout
of ft antic rage, and setting his lance as if ho meant to run
amuck among his own fear-struck host, he set his horse
to its Speed, and entered the bastille of St. Laurent with
thel sat of his late valiant sortie.

"' Oh, by the tree of God, Jeanne, thou art a better
brothor-in-arms than any that never wore a jupor!'
exclaimed La Hire. 'I do believe in thee—thou art
both Oliver and Roland!'"

Her spirited conduct on the battle•field is thus again
set forth in anoth(l. place :
" And what, I pray thee, is the Constable?' said De
Richetnont, in an offended and haughty tone. ' I
claim the ordonnacce of this battle by right of my Etatf
of clime, and neither man nor woman shall rend it
from me!'

" • Order the battle who will, I will win it, and now is
the moment!' said Jeanne, with a glittering look of in-
spiration; and pushing on her charger,
.she rode to the
front of the line of battle so as to be istinctly seen by
all the masses rtthe •army. Then unsheathing her
sword and raising its p,Jlished blade to the extent of
her arm over her head until it glared in the sun like
a sharp tlanac, she pronounced a very brief but inspiring
harangue • Scldiers!—Frenchmen!' she exclaimed,

behoid this sun! Ere it nets, we shall redeem France.
Charge with me, and this field is ours! God who made
life, death too; therefore fear it Lot, lie is
with ye, end those who perish are only those Ru has
summoned to eternal life! Remember ycur king, your
wives, your children, yourselves, and Orleans, and charge
with ice and clear the field!'

A tQrritic shout of joy responded, and the instant
the tnaiU's standard began to advance, the whole host
poured impetuously afar it; leaders and soldiers wore
alike sciad wiAi frantic eLthwiasm, and Talbot him-
sf,lf was atuoz-d at the fury of the attack which assailed
his front."

Contrasted with this, let us observe Joan listening
to the soul-subduing music of the mins'aeless:—
" But the girl of Domremy did not require so much
to delight her; she who had shaped the harmonies of a
celestial choir out of the remote murmurs of the winds
amidst a forest, or the casual chaunt of a wandering
friar. NcrertLeless there was that in the music, trained
and inspired by her who had been 11u6:ine de Troye,
winch went by some deep sympathy into the inmost