The last incident in the strange story of Joan of Arc remains to be
told. Ten years after her execution, to the amazement of all who knew
him, Charles VII suddenly shook off his idleness and blazed forth a wise
king, an energetic ruler. Probably in this, his better state of mind, he
thought with shame and sorrow of Joan of Arc. In the year 1456 he
ordered a fresh inquiry to be made. At this every one was examined who
had known or seen her at any period of her short life. The judgment
passed on her before was contradicted, and she was declared a good and
innocent woman. They would have given the whole world then to have had
her back and to have made amends to her for their foul injustice. But
the opinions of men no longer mattered to her. The twenty-five years
since she had been burnt at Rouen had been the first twenty-five of her
uncounted eternity of joy.
"The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful
men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away
from the evil to come."
* * * * *
XLV.
THE SONG OF WORK
MANY PHASES AND MANY EXAMPLES.
Music.
In every leaf and flower
The pulse of music beats,
And works the changes hour by hour,
In those divine retreats.
Alike in star and clod
One melody resides,
Which is the working will of God,
Beyond all power besides.
It is by angels heard,
By all of lower birth,
The silent music of the Word
Who works in heaven and earth.
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