l60 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



tators have been attraéled, and what burfts of ap- 

 plaufe excited, by the heroifm of Euftace Saint- 

 PierrCj in the Siege of Cahiis ! The death of Joan 

 cf Arc would produce efFeéts ftiil more povverful, if 

 a man of genius had the courage to efface the ridi- 

 cule which has been lavifhed on that refpedable 

 and unfortunate young woman, to whofe name 

 Greece would have confecrated altar upon altar. 



T will deliver my thoughts on the fubjeâ:, in a 

 few words, if, perhaps, it may incite fome virtuous 

 man to undertake it. I could wifh, then, without 

 departing from the truth of Hiftory, to have her 

 reprefented, at the moment when (lie is honoured 

 with the favour of her Sovereign, the acclamations 

 of the army, and at the very pinnacle of glory, de- 

 liberating on her return to an obfcure hamlet, 

 there to refume the employments of a fimple fliep- 

 herdefs, unnoticed and unknown. Soliciied after- 

 wards by Dunois, flie determines to brave new 

 dangers in the fervice of her country. At laft, 

 made prifoner in an engagement, fhe falls into the 

 hands of the Englilh. Interrogated by inhuman 

 judges, among whom are the Bilhops of her own 

 Nation, the fimplicity and innocence of her replies 

 render her triumphant over the iniidioiis queftions 

 of her enemies. She is adjudged by them to per- 

 petual imprifonment. I would have a reprefenta- 

 tion of the dungeon in which (lie is doomed to pafs 



the 



