La Pucelle the Maid of Orleans Author:Voltaire Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CANTO III Description of the Palace of Folly — Combat near Orleans Agnes disguises herself in Joan's armour in order to rejoin her lover — She is taken prison... more »er by the English and her modesty is put to great straits. 'T is not enough in courage to abound, Or view with eye serene the battle's rage. Men fit to lead a world of troops are found In every climate, and in every age. For in due turn each nation hath its share Of horrid war, and Death's terrific dance In equal portion. Nor doth aught declare Britons out-done by the bold sons of France; Nor is Iberia less than Germany: Each has been beat and each shall beaten be! Great Conde was o'ercome by brave Turenne; And haughty Villars yielded to Eugene Variant: Great Condi was overcome by brave Turenne; And conquered Crequi, conquered once again. And conquered Cr6qui, conquered once again. Played double or quits with Eugene, with success. Whilst he, who for King Stanislas drew forth His warlike bands, the Quixote of the North, Whose valour seemed quite pure of human stain; Did he not see, in depths of far Ukraine, At Pultava, his laurels brought to naught By a poor rival quite beneath his thought. Variant: By a poor rival quite beneath his thought, The vulgar herd to astonish and deceive, Here is a certain method, by your leave! A god-like character at once to find. And still to pass for humble and resigned: — For instance take that case in Holy writ, Of cunning Jethro's son-in-law of wit! Who once for king and more than king was ta'en By those good folk who came of Jethro's strain, Whose scanty wits much faith had rendered blind; He said that God, revealing His behind, Had taught him all His holy law, whereby, He and his nephews were perpetually In sanctioned idleness to be maintained; All cases of importance h...« less