And enginery to batter that huge pile,
Dismiss'd a troop, and round the Tournelles led The host beleaguering. There they pitch their tents, And plant their engines for the morrow's war, 669 Then to their meal, and o'er the cheerful bowl Recount the tale of danger; soon to rest
Betaking them, for now the night drew on.
Now was the noon of night, and all was still,
Save where the sentinel paced on his rounds
Humming a broken song. Along the camp
High flames the frequent fire. The Frenchmen there,
On the bare earth extended, rest their limbs 5
Fatigued, their spears lay by them, and the shield
Pillow'd the helmed head: secure they slept,
And busy in their dreams they fought again
The fight of yesterday.
But not to her, most wretched, came thy aid,
Soother of sorrows, Sleep! no more her pulse,
Amid the battle's tumult throbbing fast,
Allow'd no pause for thought. With clasp'd hands now
And with fix'd eyes she sat, and in her mind
The spectres of the days departed rose,
A melancholy train! Upon the gale
The raven's croak was heard; she started then,
And passing through the camp with hasty step
She sought the field of blood.
Nor ever clearer welkin canopied
Chaldea, while the watchful shepherd's eye
Survey'd the host of heaven, and mark'd them rise Successive, and successively decay,
Lost in the stream of light, as lesser springs
Amid Euphrates' current. The high wall
Cast a deep shadow, and the Maiden's feet
Stumbled o'er carcasses and broken arms;
And sometimes did she hear the heavy groan
Of one yet struggling in the pangs of death.
She reach'd the spot where Theodore was slain 30
Before Fort London's gate; but vainly there
Sought she the youth, on every clay-cold face
Gazing with such a look as though she fear'd
The thing she sought. And much she marvell'd then,
For there the victim of his vengeful arm,
And close beside where he himself had fallen,
Known by the buckler's blazon'd heraldry,
Salisbury lay dead. So as the Virgin stood
Looking around the plain, she mark'd a man
Pass slowly on, as burthen'd. Him to aid
She sped, and soon with unencumber'd speed
O'ertaking, thus bespake him: "Dost thou bear
Some slaughter'd friend? or is it one whose wounds
Leave yet a hope of life? oh! if he lives,
I will with earnest prayer petition heaven
To shed its healing on him!"
And as she spake stretch'd forth her careful hands
To ease the burthen. "Warrior!" he replied,
"Thanks for thy proffer'd aid: but he hath ceased
To suffer, and my strength may well suffice
To bear him hence for burial. Fare thee well!
The night is far advanced; thou to the camp
Return it fits not darkling thus to stray."
"Conrade!" the Maid exclaim'd, for well she knew His voice...With that she fell upon his neck 55 And cried," my Theodore!... But wherefore thus Through the dead midnight dost thou bear his corse?"
"Peace, Maiden!" Conrade cried, "collect thy soul!
He is but gone before thee to that world
Whither thou soon must follow! Yestermorn, 60
Ere yet from Orleans to the war we went,
He pour'd his tale of sorrow on mine ear.
Lo, Conrade, where she moves! beloved Maid!
Devoted for the realm of France she goes,
Abandoning for this the joys of life,
Yea.. life itself! Yet on my heart her words
Vibrate. If she must perish in the war,
I will not live to bear the thought that I
Perhaps might have preserved her. I will go
In secret to protect her. If I fall,..
And trust me I have little love of life,..
Do thou in secret bear me from the field,
Lest haply I might meet her wandering eye
A mangled corpse. She must not know my fate.
Do this last act of friendship, and in the stream 75
Cast me,.. she then may think of Theodore
Without a pang." Maiden, I vow'd with him
To take our place in battle by thy side,
And make thy safety our peculiar care.
And now I hoped thou hadst not seen him fall." 80
Saying thus he laid the body on the ground.
With steady eye the wretched Maiden view'd
That life-left tenement: his batter'd arms
Were with the night-dews damp; his brown hair clung
Gore-clotted in the wound, and one loose lock
85
Play'do'er his cheek's black paleness. "Gallant youth!"
She cried, "I would to God the hour were come
When I might meet thee in the bowers of bliss!
No, Theodore! the sport of winds and waves
Thy body shall not float adown the stream!
Bear him with me to Orleans, there to rest
In holy ground, where priests may say their prayers And hymn the requiem to his parted soul.
So will not Elinor in bitterness
Lament that no dear friend to her dead child 95
Their mournful burthen, and along the plain
Pass with slow footsteps to the city gate.
The obedient centinel, knowing Conrade's voice,
Admits them at that hour, and on they go,
Till in the neighbouring abbey's porch arrived
They rest the lifeless load.
The awaken'd porter turns the heavy door.
To him the Virgin! "Father, from the slain
On yonder field, a dear-loved friend we bring 105
Hither for Christian sepulture: chant ye
The requiem to his soul: to-morrow eve
I will return, and in the narrow house
Will see him laid to rest." The father knew
The Prophetess, and humbly bow'd assent.
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