arena! combat for the crown, Thy royal heritage! With knightly sword Thy lady's honor and thy realm defend—    And hast thou with hot valor snatched the crown From streams of hostile blood,—then is the time, And it would well become thee as a prince, Love's myrtle chaplet round thy brows to wreathe. CHARLES (to a PAGE, who enters). What is the matter? PAGE. Senators from Orleans Entreat an audience, sire. CHARLES. Conduct them hither!       [PAGE retires. Doubtless they succor need; what can I do, Myself all-succorless! 

  

       SCENE III.     

       The same. Three SENATORS. CHARLES. Welcome, my trusty citizens of Orleans! What tidings bring ye from my faithful town? Doth she continue with her wonted zeal Still bravely to withstand the leaguering foe? SENATOR. Ah, sire! the city's peril is extreme; And giant ruin, waxing hour by hour, Still onward strides. The bulwarks are destroyed—    The foe at each assault advantage gains; Bare of defenders are the city walls, For with rash valor forth our soldiers rush, While few, alas! return to view their homes, And famine's scourge impendeth o'er the town. In this extremity the noble Count Of Rochepierre, commander of the town, Hath made a compact with the enemy, According to old custom, to yield up, On the twelfth day, the city to the foe, Unless, meanwhile, before the town appear A host of magnitude to raise the siege.        [DUNOIS manifests the strongest indignation. CHARLES. The interval is brief. SENATOR. We hither come, Attended by a hostile retinue, To implore thee, sire, to pity thy poor town, And to send succor ere the appointed day, When, if still unrelieved, she must surrender. DUNOIS. And could Saintrailles consent to give his voice To such a shameful compact? SENATOR.                   Never, sir! Long as the hero lived, none dared to breathe A single word of treaty or surrender. DUNOIS. He then is dead? SENATOR. The noble hero fell, His monarch's cause defending on our walls. CHARLES. What! Saintrailles dead! Oh, in that single man A host is foundered!        [A Knight enters and speaks apart with DUNOIS, who starts with surprise. DUNOIS. That too! CHARLES. Well? What is it? DUNOIS. Count Douglass sendeth here. The Scottish troops Revolt, and threaten to retire at once. Unless their full arrears are paid to-day. CHARLES. Duchatel! DUCHATEL (shrugs his 

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