Oh, come! Let my example challenge thee To n.o.ble self-denial! Let's at once Cast off the needless ornaments of life!

Thy courtiers metamorphose into soldiers; Thy gold trans.m.u.te to iron; all thou hast, With resolute daring, venture for thy crown!

Peril and want we will partic.i.p.ate!

Let us bestride the war-horse, and expose Our tender person to the fiery glow Of the hot sun, take for our canopy The clouds above, and make the stones our pillow.

The rudest warrior, when he sees his king Bear hardship and privation like the meanest Will patiently endure his own hard lot!

CHARLES (laughing).

Ay! now is realized an ancient word Of prophesy, once uttered by a nun Of Clairmont, in prophetic mood, who said, That through a woman's aid I o'er my foes Should triumph, and achieve my father's crown.

Far off I sought her in the English camp; I strove to reconcile a mother's heart; Here stands the heroine--my guide to Rheims!

My Agnes! I shall triumph through thy love!

SOREL.

Thou'lt triumph through the valiant swords of friends.

CHARLES.

And from my foes' dissensions much I hope For sure intelligence hath reached mine ear, That 'twixt these English lords and Burgundy Things do not stand precisely as they did; Hence to the duke I have despatched La Hire, To try if he can lead my angry va.s.sal Back to his ancient loyalty and faith: Each moment now I look for his return.

DUCHATEL (at the window).

A knight e'en now dismounteth in the court.

CHARLES.

A welcome messenger! We soon shall learn Whether we're doomed to conquer or to yield.

SCENE V.

The same. LA HIRE.

CHARLES (meeting him).

Hope bringest thou, or not? Be brief, La Hire, Out with thy tidings! What must we expect?

LA HIRE.

Expect naught, sire, save from thine own good sword.

CHARLES.

The haughty duke will not be reconciled!

Speak! How did he receive my emba.s.sy?

LA HIRE.

His first and unconditional demand, Ere he consent to listen to thine errand, Is that Duchatel be delivered up, Whom he doth name the murderer of his sire.

CHARLES.

This base condition we reject with scorn!

LA HIRE.

Then be the league dissolved ere it commence!

CHARLES.

Hast thou thereon, as I commanded thee, Challenged the duke to meet him in fair fight On Montereau's bridge, whereon his father fell?

LA HIRE.

Before him on the ground I flung thy glove, And said: "Thou wouldst forget thy majesty, And like a knight do battle for thy realm."

He scornfully rejoined "He needed not To fight for that which he possessed already, But if thou wert so eager for the fray, Before the walls of Orleans thou wouldst find him, Whither he purposed going on the morrow;"

Thereon he laughing turned his back upon me.

CHARLES.

Say, did not justice raise her sacred voice, Within the precincts of my parliament?

LA HIRE.

The rage of party, sire, hath silenced her.

An edict of the parliament declares Thee and thy race excluded from the throne.

DUNOIS.

These upstart burghers' haughty insolence!

CHARLES.

Hast thou attempted with my mother aught?

LA HIRE.

With her?

CHARLES.

Ay! How did she demean herself?

LA HIRE (after a few moments' reflection).

I chanced to step within St. Denis' walls Precisely at the royal coronation.

The crowds were dressed as for a festival; Triumphal arches rose in every street Through which the English monarch was to pa.s.s.

The way was strewed with flowers, and with huzzas, As France some brilliant conquest had achieved, The people thronged around the royal car.

SOREL.

They could huzza--huzza, while trampling thus Upon a gracious sovereign's loving heart!

LA HIRE.

I saw young Harry Lancaster--the boy-- On good St. Lewis' regal chair enthroned; On either side his haughty uncles stood, Bedford and Gloucester, and before him kneeled, To render homage for his lands, Duke Philip.

CHARLES.

Oh, peer dishonored! Oh, unworthy cousin!

LA HIRE.

The child was timid, and his footing lost As up the steps he mounted towards the throne.

An evil omen! murmured forth the crowd, And scornful laughter burst on every side.

Then forward stepped Queen Isabel--thy mother, And--but it angers me to utter it!

CHARLES.

Say on.

LA HIRE.

Within her arms she clasped the boy, And herself placed him on thy father's throne.