Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, vol 2 | Page 6

of a
sceptered ass; and she accomplished it. She persuaded him to disobey the King in the
interest of the nation, and to be reconciled to Count Richemont and welcome him. That
was statesmanship; and of the highest and soundest sort. Whatever thing men call great,
look for it in Joan of Arc, and there you will find it.
In the early morning, June 17th, the scouts reported the approach of Talbot and Fastolfe
with Fastolfe's succoring force. Then the drums beat to arms; and we set forth to meet the
English, leaving Richemont and his troops behind to watch the castle of Beaugency and
keep its garrison at home. By and by we came in sight of the enemy. Fastolfe had tried to
convince Talbot that it would be wisest to retreat and not risk a battle with Joan at this
time, but distribute the new levies among the English strongholds of the Loire, thus
securing them against capture; then be patient and wait--wait for more levies from Paris;
let Joan exhaust her army with fruitless daily skirmishing; then at the right time fall upon
her in resistless mass and annihilate her. He was a wise old experienced general, was
Fastolfe. But that fierce Talbot would hear of no delay. He was in a rage over the
punishment which the Maid had inflicted upon him at Orleans and since, and he swore by
God and Saint George that he would have it out with her if he had to fight her all alone.
So Fastolfe yielded, though he said they were now risking the loss of everything which
the English had gained by so many years' work and so many hard knocks.
The enemy had taken up a strong position, and were waiting, in order of battle, with their
archers to the front and a stockade before them.
Night was coming on. A messenger came from the English with a rude defiance and an
offer of battle. But Joan's dignity was not ruffled, her bearing was not discomposed. She
said to the herald:
"Go back and say it is too late to meet to-night; but to-morrow, please God and our Lady,
we will come to close quarters."
The night fell dark and rainy. It was that sort of light steady rain which falls so softly and
brings to one's spirit such serenity and peace. About ten o'clock D'Alen‡on, the Bastard
of Orleans, La Hire, Pothon of Saintrailles, and two or three other generals came to our
headquarters tent, and sat down to discuss matters with Joan. Some thought it was a pity
that Joan had declined battle, some thought not. Then Pothon asked her why she had
declined it. She said:
"There was more than one reason. These English are ours--they cannot get away from us.
Wherefore there is no need to take risks, as at other times. The day was far spent. It is
good to have much time and the fair light of day when one's force is in a weakened
state--nine hundred of us yonder keeping the bridge of Meung under the Marshal de Rais,
fifteen hundred with the Constable of France keeping the bridge and watching the castle
of Beaugency."
Dunois said:
"I grieve for this decision, Excellency, but it cannot be helped. And the case will be the
same the morrow, as to that."

Joan was walking up and down just then. She laughed her affectionate, comrady laugh,
and stopping before that old war-tiger she put her small hand above his head and touched
one of his plumes, saying:
"Now tell me, wise man, which feather is it that I touch?"
"In sooth, Excellency, that I cannot."
"Name of God, Bastard, Bastard! you cannot tell me this small thing, yet are bold to
name a large one--telling us what is in the stomach of the unborn morrow: that we shall
not have those men. Now it is my thought that they will be with us."
That made a stir. All wanted to know why she thought that. But La Hire took the word
and said:
"Let be. If she thinks it, that is enough. It will happen."
Then Pothon of Santrailles said:
"There were other reasons for declining battle, according to the saying of your
Excellency?"
"Yes. One was that we being weak and the day far gone, the battle might not be decisive.
When it is fought it must be decisive. And it shall be."
"God grant it, and amen. There were still other reasons?"
"One other--yes." She hesitated a moment, then said: "This was not the day. To-morrow
is the day. It is so written."
They were going to assail her with eager questionings, but she put up her hand and
prevented them. Then she said:
"It will be the most noble and