That as like Blanchard, Gaucour dares his power, Like Blanchard, he can brave his cruelty, 380 "Never did I hear A shout so universal as ensued Of approbation. The assembled host As with one voice pour'd forth their loyalty, 384 And struck their sounding shields; and walls and towers, Echoed the loud uproar. The herald went. The work of war began. A fearful scene," 388 Cried Isabel. "The iron storm of death Nor while the encircling foe Leager'd the walls of Orleans, idly slept : 396 399 Our friends for winning down the Loire its way 405 At equal distance, sixty forts protect The English lines. But chief where in the town The six great avenues meet in the midst, Six castles there he rear'd impregnable, With deep-dug moats and bridges drawn aloft, 410 And point destruction. It were long to tell And tedious, how in many a bold assault 415 425 Possess'd the Tournelles, and the embattled tower The frequent fire, and heaps of dead, in haste 439 Pours down, and crowded in unwholesome vaults Or tear their garments to bind up his wounds: 445 "Now came the worst of ills, for Famine came : The provident hand deals out its scanty dole, Yielding so little a supply to life As but protracted death. The loathliest food Hunted with eager eye and dainty deem'd, 450 Hating a rival's look, the husband hides His miserable meal; the famish'd babe Clings closely to his dying mother's breast; 455 And.. horrible to tell!.. where, thrown aside, There lay unburied in the open streets Huge heaps of carcasses, the soldier stands Eager to mark the carrion crow for food. 4.59 "O peaceful scenes of childhood! pleasant fields! Haunts of mine infancy, where I have stray'd Of hunger, dwelt on you and on my home! 470 "And be they curst!" Conrade exclaim'd, his dark eye flashing rage; "And be they curst! O groves and woodland shades, How blest indeed were you, if the iron rod 474 Should one day from Oppression's hand be wrench'd 480 Then shall be peace." "And now, lest all should perish," she pursued, The women and the infirm must from the town Go forth and seek their fate. I will not now Recall the moment, when on my poor Francis 485 I wandered reckless where, till wearied out, And cold at heart, I laid me down to die; 490 And loved, for all loved Conrade who had known him; Nor did I feel so pressing the hard hand Of want in Orleans, ere he parted thence "Of this enough," said Conrade; Holy Maid! One duty yet awaits me to perform. Orleans her envoy sent me, to demand Aid from her idle sovereign. Willingly Did I achieve the hazardous enterprize, For rumour had already made me fear The ill that hath fallen on me. It remains, 500 Ere I do banish me from human kind, That I re-enter Orleans, and announce 505 Thy march. 'Tis night, and hark! how dead a silence! Fit hour to tread so perilous a path ! So saying, Conrade from the tent went forth. |