The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-02-23
VOL. XXXVIII.t
Joan Of Arc.
BY ID. C. WOoTON.


While nations weeping at thy throne,
Would fain send back sigh
To greet thy memory, fresh as dew
Upon the mountains airy crest,
And gather up trophy there
single one thy name to bless.
Though mans Inconsistency is rife,
And life is but hell where fame
Has bought the heart of those who live,
And hapy live to boast in vain;
Yet still gigantic minds W i'll view
The soul of man for what it is,
. Nor pass admirngly him by,
And only see that which he has.
Yet freedoms name will greet thee still.
With song as bright as Scotia's Bard,
And wreak her vengeance still on those
W no owe their greatness to thy sword;
Yes, owe tall they have they owe
To thee, the peasant lowiy born,
Who led The herd through weary days,
And talked with God at early morn.
Thy fame had gone abroad, JOAN,
Thy name the Emperor knew;
Thy heart pregnant with love
For country, fast ard true.
Thy menial garb stamped peasant there
Thy brow looked royalty,
Thy thoughts grasped God upon his throne,
Thy heart fidelity.
And thus all armored from on High,
Thy mission now we'll known
Thou took thy way to Chinon where
Thy sovereign. Charles, had flown:
Could emperor, such as he, thus stoop
To thy request for audience,
When Knights, and Earls, and lords, all claim
The honor of his preference?
"Go bid her back" the sovereign said,
To Domremy, her native home,
Where superstition awes the soul,
And bids them not abroad to roam;
But all uudaunted by his words,
She still pursued Divine behest
And urged him then, in Heavens name,
To grant but this her slight request.
Her face was fair to look upon,
Her cheek wore colors bright,
Her lips were fresh mountain dew,
Her eyes looked words of right:
She gained his presence; can it be
That beauty such thou possess,
2 Should fail to gain admttance where
An empressess' beauty's less.
He sat and wondered in his heart
II she, who then before him stood,
Was human, or an angel fair,
w no bore such stately attitude.
Her brown hair fell in ringets bright
Ar und her shoulders, fit for queen
His eyes looked eloquence and love,
His heart was strung for any theme.
And thus transfxed he sat and gazed,
Not daring now to speak word;
mighty awe had filled his soul
Of her, the peasant "Orleans maid!'
She did not bow before his throne,
As other subjects fain have done,
But s,Ood erect, with forehead bare,
And thus in accents sweet begun:
81 came not in the panoply
OF wars fierce din of strife;
But have the presence of my God
To guard in dangers rife;
ask not royal signet now
To grace my armor bright,
But only let thy sanction rest
Upon my plans OF right.
81 have heard voice of wailing,
/ have seen che crimson tide
As it issued from the gaping wounds
Of brothers, true and tricd
have seen the cities melt away
As frost upon the fertile plain
I've seen thy vineyards trampled down,
All crushed and cannot rise again.
Our glory is departing fast
nations tears cannot repress
The love of country in my heart,
Till time and all things else depart;
Yesi love for God and country
Demand from each O solemn VOW
To do or die Thy heart can feel,
Thy arm is strong the sword to WELD.
"But mine is heaven to obey,
And lead thy armies in the fray;
Wilt thou, my earthly sovereign, say
JOAN OF ARC shall lead the way7"
II grant thee all thy heart doth ask;
But fear thy skill for such a task
Has too much color in thy mind,
For maid so fair in sultry clime."
"Doubt not, my lord, 1 know full we'll
What fears possess thy mind
Thou thinkest Pm but peasa"t maid,
The meekest thou couldst fnd
But though my lot was lowly cast,
Iy heart is true and just
My soul thus freed will feel the right
And conquer then we must -
'Tis done! Her hand then grasped the rein
OF war steed white snow,
And too her garb seemed more of Heaven
And less of things below.
Could man in all his faneies bright
In dreams, awake where eer he be
Picture a being fit to love-
He'd turn from it and fly to thee !.
Thy sword was drawn for France that day
Thy life was now of consequence;
Thy steed was white, thy banner white.
Thy robes were white from preference:
And thus equipped in purity,
To Orleans now thee took thy way
With gallant troopers at thy side,
All eager for the battle fray.
As rolls the mighty tide of war
In elements above-around-
The lightnings in their ocean caves
Were not more fierce than her who found
God, the battlefield to sway
Yet still her spirit gentle was
Her soul was very purity,
And faith in God the only cause.
mighty army looms in sight,
The gates are barred beyond it, too;
The forts are manned with sturdy mon,
While horse and foot all in view.
She halts her column on the plain
She looks to Heaven for wisdom now.
10 lead her safe within the walls;-
But when, and where, she knows not how.
But battle to the death must be-
The foe in front must be dispersed
The gallant dead will strew the ground
Ii fate dema nd, then come the worst. -
The waves upon the briny deep,
Which scatter sprav or seamen bold,
Is sunk to no:hiogness by that
Which she hath done and men have told.
The storm may break in fury wild,
And lightuings play upon the deep,
And thunder rend the earth and sky,
And whirwinds DER the land may sweep;
Yet fercer still the deeds she done,
Upon that day fields around,
Where thousands of the valiant fell
Whose blood in pools stood on the ground.
But "FoRw =; still she gave command,
Still forward onward to the gate,
The foe then rallied once again
Alas for them twas all too late.
Her band of warriors, true steel
Had gained the gates of Orleans, where
band within had caught the sound
OF victory, upon the air.
And then the gates few open wide,
She passed within the city wall,
Whose battlements were rent with shot,
While assive arches reel and fall.
But all in van-his struggle wild;
His curses lost themsel yes in air
His soldiers fought like gallant men;
But doomed, alas 10 dark despair.
New courage strengthened frances arm
New life sprung up where all was dead,
New hopes, bright meteors,
Around her path their lustre shed