ty, to death, is also impossible. She was as truthful as she
was brave and wise. But was she partially insane? It is certain that mad
people do hear voices which are not real, and believe that they come to
them from without. But these mad voices say mad things. Now, Joan's
Voices never said anything but what was wise beyond her own wisdom, and
right and true. She governed almost all her actions by their advice.
When she disobeyed 'her counsel,' as she called it, the result was evil,
and once, as we shall see, was ruinous. Again, Joan was not only
healthy, but wonderfully strong, ready, and nimble. In all her converse
with princes and priests and warriors, she spoke and acted like one born
in their own rank. In mind, as in body, she was a marvel, none such has
ever been known. It is impossible, then, to say that she was mad.

In the whole history of the world, as far as we know it, there is only
one example like that of Joan of Arc. Mad folk hear voices; starved
nuns, living always with their thoughts bent on heaven, women of feeble
body, accustomed to faints and to fits, have heard voices and seen
visions. Some of them have been very good women; none have been strong,
good riders, skilled in arms, able to march all day long with little
food, and to draw the arrow from their own wound and mount horse and
charge again, like Joan of Arc. Only one great man, strong, brave, wise,
and healthy, has been attended by a Voice, which taught him what to do,
or rather what _not_ to do. That man was Socrates, the most hardy
soldier, the most unwearied in the march, and the wisest man of Greece.
Socrates was put to death for this Voice of his, on the charge of
'bringing in new gods.' Joan of Arc died for her Voices, because her
enemies argued that she was no saint, but a witch! These two, the old
philosopher and the untaught peasant girl of nineteen, stand alone in
the endless generations of men, alone in goodness, wisdom, courage,
strength, combined with a mysterious and fatal gift. More than this it
is now forbidden to us to know. But, when we remember that such a being
as Joan of Arc has only appeared once since time began, and _that_ once
just when France seemed lost beyond all hope, we need not wonder at
those who say that France was saved by no common good fortune and happy
chance, but by the will of Heaven.[6]

In one respect, Joan's conduct after these Voices and visions began, was
perhaps, as regarded herself, unfortunate. Sh