Elate of heart and eager for the fight, With clamours ominous of victory.
Thus urging on, one from the adverse host Advanced to meet them: they his garb of peace Knew, and they halted as the herald spake His bidding to the chieftains. "Sirs!" he cried,
"I bear defiance to you from the Earl William of Suffolk. Here on this fit ground, He wills to give you battle, power to power, So please you, on the morrow."
We will join battle then," replied Dunois, "And God befriend the right!" Then on the herald A robe rich-furr'd and broider'd he bestow'd, A costly guerdon. Through the army spread The unwelcome tidings of delay; possess'd With agitating hopes they felt the hours Pass heavily; but soon the night wain'd on, And the loud trumpets' blare from broken sleep Roused them; a second time the thrilling blast Bade them be arm'd, and at the third long sound They ranged them in their ranks. From man to man With pious haste hurried the confessors To shrive them, lest with souls all unprepared They to their death might go. Dunois meantime Rode through the host, the shield of dignity Before him borne, and in his hand he held The white wand of command. The open helm Disclosed that eye which temper'd the strong lines Of steady valour, to obedient awe
Winning the will's assent. To some he spake Of late-earn'd glory; others, new to war,
He bade bethink them of the feats achieved When Talbot, recreant to his former fame, Fled from beleaguer'd Orleans. Was there one Whom he had known in battle? by the hand Him did he take, and bid him on that day Summon his wonted courage, and once more Support his chief and comrade.
Who caught his eye, or from the chieftain's lips Heard his own name! joy more inspiriting
Fills not the Persian's soul, when sure he deems 210 That Mithra hears propitiously his prayer,
And o'er the scattered cloud of morning pours A brighter ray responsive.
Partook due food, this their last meal belike
Receiving with such thoughtful doubts as make 215 The soul, impatient of uncertainty,
Rush eager to the event; being thus prepared, Upon the grass the soldiers laid themselves, Each in his station, waiting there the sound Of onset, that in undiminish'd strength Strong, they might meet the battle; silent some Pondering the chances of the coming day, Some whiling with a careless gaiety
The fearful pause of action.
In such array and high in confident hope
Await the signal; whilst with other thoughts, And ominous awe, once more the invading host Prepare them in the field of fight to meet The Prophetess. Collected in himself
Appear'd the might of Talbot. Through the ranks
He stalks, reminds them of their former fame, 231 Their native land, their homes, the friends they loved, All the rewards of this day's victory.
But awe had fill'd the English, and they struck Faintly their shields; for they who had beheld 235 The hallowed banner with celestial light Irradiate, and the mission'd Maiden's deeds, Felt their hearts sink within them, at the thought Of her near vengeance; and the tale they told Roused such a tumult in the new-come troops, 240 As fitted them for fear. The aged Earl Beheld their drooping valour, and his brow, Wrinkled with thought, bewray'd his inward doubts: Still he was firm, though all might fly, resolved That Talbot should retrieve his old renown, And end his life with glory. Yet some hope Inspired the veteran, as across the plain Casting his eye, he mark'd the embattled strength Of thousands; archers of unequalled skill, Brigans and pikemen, from whose lifted points 250 A fearful radiance flash'd, and young esquires, And high-born warriors, bright in blazon'd arms.
Nor few, nor fameless were the English chiefs. In many a field victorious, he was there, The garter'd Fastolffe; Hungerford, and Scales, Men who had seen the hostile squadrons fly Before the arms of England; Suffolk there, The haughty chieftain tower'd; blest had he fallen Ere yet a courtly minion he was mark'd By public hatred, and the murderer's guilt! There too the son of Talbot, young
Heir of a noble race and mighty name : At many a tilt and tournament had he Approved his skill and prowess; confident In strength, and jealous of his future fame, His heart beat high for battle. Such array Of marshall'd numbers fought not on the field Of Cressy, nor at Poictiers; nor such force Led Henry to the fight of Agincourt When thousands fell before him.
The host of France. It was a goodly sight To see the embattled pomp, as with the step Of stateliness the barded steeds came on,. To see the pennons rolling their long waves Before the gale, and banners broad and bright 275 Tossing their blazonry, and high-plumed chiefs Vidames and Seneschalls and Chastellains, Gay with their bucklers' gorgeous heraldry, And silken surcoats to the mid-day sun Glittering.
And now the knights of France dismount, For not to brutal strength they deem'd it right To trust their fame and their dear country's weal; Rather to manly courage, and the glow Of honourable thoughts, such as inspire Ennobling energy. Unhorsed, unspurr'd, Their javelins shorten'd to a wieldy length, They to the foe advanced. The Maid alone, Conspicuous on a coal-black courser, meets The war. They moved to battle with such sound As rushes o'er the vaulted firmament,
When from his seat, on the utmost verge of heaven
That overhangs the void, the Sire of Winds, Hræsvelger starting, rears his giant bulk, And from his eagle pinions shakes the storm.
High on her stately steed the martial Maid 295 Rode foremost of the war; her burnish'd arms Shone like the brook that o'er its pebbled course Runs glittering gayly to the noon-tide sun. The foaming courser, of her guiding hand Impatient, smote the earth, and toss'd his mane, And rear'd aloft with many a froward bound, Then answered to the rein with such a step, As, in submission, he were proud to show His spirit unsubdued. Slow on the air
Waved the white plumes that shadow'd o'er her helm. Even such, so fair, so terrible in arms,
An English knight, who eager for renown Late left his peaceful mansion, mark'd the Maid. Her power miraculous and portentous deeds He from the troops had heard incredulous, And scoff'd their easy fears, and vow'd that he, Proving the magic of this dreaded girl In equal battle, would dissolve the spell,
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