The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-19
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From the irving Literary Gazette.
JOAN OF ARC.


BY HUGH LATMER ELDEEDIcE.
Hard by the forests of Lorraine, in France,
There lived a young and gentle shepherdess
Who watched her hocks thro' summcrsun and heat
And when the cold and wintry days would come.
she'd sit beside her mothers spinning wheel
And listen, with childish joy, to hear
Ofiegends weird, and tales of elves and fays.
Filled with this mystic lore her youthful mind
Beheld fantastic beings all around
Her lonely cottage, meath the church walls shade
And in the fairy-haunted wood near by,
Beneath the branches of a spreading beech,
She sang with wood nymphs in their choral songs
And decked with flowers sweet their sylvan home
Amid these wild and legendary scenes
Her strange, mysterious childhood passed away,
And when the troops of England swept through
France
To rob the rightful ruler of his throne,
She grew to womanhood. While sound of arms
Broke DER the hills of France she often heard
Her country's cry for succor and for aid
She wept at thought of cruel war, then prayed
That He who led the Israelites of old
Would send a Gideon or Judith bold
To break the letters of the British yoke
And drive her peoples foemen from their land
But she little thought that she would wave
The banner of the French and lead their troops
Through the Red Sea of human blood and gore
To reach the peaceful Canaan which they sought.
Within her garden on a summer day,
A bright and dazzling light around her shone,
And while the Auttering of wings was heard
This heavenly mandate fell upon her ears:
Go Jennie, to succor the King of France,
And thou shalt place him on his lawful throne
60 to NJ de Baudrcourt the Captain
OF the loyal vaueouleurs, and he'll guide
Thee to the royal chamber ofthe King.
And good St Catharine and Marguerite
VIII ever be thy constant comforters.
Thus spake st. Michael the messenger
OF savage battle and carnage wild.
The maiden saw her destiny revealed
And fain would hasten from herpeaceful home
To execute the dread command; but then
Her weeping mother begged that she would stay
And be her staff in her declining years
Then her father rude, yet kind and honest,
Vowed that before he'd let his daughter 60,
He'd drown her with his hands. Another still
Arose-a young and handsome yillager,
with whom she oft had played in girlhood days
And claimed that she had sworn 10 be his oride.
Father mother, lover urged her to remain
Celestial fingers beckonel her to go.
one She must obey And within her breast
she fought iercer fight than e'er she waged
Upon the bloody battle fields Of France
But duty conquered and with eager haste
She went to NJ de Baudricourt and said
Il frsm the Lord have come 10 bring thee word
To fix no day for battle with the foe
For In Mid Lent the Lord will succor thee.
And when she had arrived Of Vaucoulcurs
She was equipped with horse and sword and men
To enter On her journey Wild and rough
she sealed the hills and swan the rivers deep,
While her wondering followers all feared
That she who led their ranks with such skin
Could be none other than an evil witch;
Bat at each town she drove away their iearS
By haIting at the altar to hear mass
and saving to the doubling ones around
.God guides me in my way Il Is for this
That was born; my guardian brother
Who dwells within the walls Of Paradise
l. showing me the path am 70 tread
she marched Cor many weary days and nights
Then came within the Court Of Charles the VII
Where fifty torches cast their brilliant light
T-pon three hundred noble lords and knights;
And falling down before the monarch feet
she clasaed his knees ami said ;-''Geuilc panphin
Ny name is Jehanne Ia Pucelle-
The King Of Heaven sends you word by me,
THAT Rheims viii see You consecrated King
Aud none shall drive you from yous lawful throne
Her mission finished ST tho Conn, on she
Went to orleans, held by the British troops;
And like dauniless Amazon she fought
UntiI the English aed before her sword
And len the French the yictors Of the day,
But she did not play eonquerors part
And trample en- her vanquished foe but with
4 fearful eye and tender heart she knecled
beside the dying Engli>hmen and PFaTed
Fight after fight she won; on, on she marched,
AMI led her men through battles Wild and fierce.
rntil She saw King Charles upon the throne.
Her cody mission she had nobly closed
she had delivered orleans iron the toe,
And then had seen the dauphin erowneSla Al Rheims
The hsuehty English conquered by girl
Humiliation and disgrace more deep
Than cruel British malice e0Gld endure.
And nanght but the blood of the guiluess Joan
Gould elut their vengeance and their savage hate.
- through the streets in murderers cart
she rode before the bayouet and lance
Then hravely stepped upon the seaiiold high
And bowed before the stake. Within her hand
She tightly clasped the sacred erucltA.
A mitre on her brow was placed which bore
an accusation false as it WAS vile;
a hereto relapGsd. Apostaie low.
While in the blaze the sainted woman stood.
Ten thousand people wept one inhulnan
soldier threw a fagos on the fire,
Then fell unconscious at the martyrs feet
lie saw a dove Ey from the burning pgre
AMI wing its way 10 heaven as Joan died
Wes,e-n ia. Colage. Mares 6. 1851.