"Echoed the loud uproar. The herald went.

"The work of war began."

Cried Isabel.

#

"A fearful scene,"

"The iron storm of death

"Clash'd in the sky; from the strong engines hurl'd

Huge rocks with tempest force convulsed the air; "Then was there heard at once the clang of arms, "The bellowing cannons, and the soldier's shout, "The female's shriek, the affrighted infant's cry,

"The

groan of death: discord of dreadful sounds "That jarr'd the soul!

"Nor while the encircling foe

"Leager'd the walls of Orleans, idly slept

"Our friends: for winning down the Loire its way "The frequent vessel with provision fraught,

"And men, and all the artillery of death,

"Cheer'd us with welcome succour. At the bridge "These safely stranded mock'd the foeman's force. "This to prevent, Salisbury their watchful chief "A mighty work prepares. Around our walls

"Encircling walls he builds, surrounding thus "The city. Firm'd with massiest buttresses, "At equal distance, sixty forts protect

"The pile. But chief where in the sieged town "The six great avenues meet in the midst, "Six castles there he rear'd impregnable, "With deep-dug moats and bridges drawn aloft, "Where over the strong gate suspended hung "The dread portcullis. Thence the gunner's eye "From his safe shelter could with ease survey "Intended sally, or approaching aid,

"And point destruction.

"It were long to tell

"And tedious, how with many a bold assault "The men of Orleans rush'd upon their foes; "How after difficult fight the enemy

"Possess'd the Tournelles, and the embattled tower "That shadows from the bridge the subject Loire ; "Tho' numbering now three thousand daring men, "Frequent and fierce the garrison repell'd

"Their far out-numbering foes. From every aid "Included, they in Orleans groan'd beneath "All ills accumulate. The shatter'd roofs "Gave to the dews of night free passage there, "And ever and anon the ponderous stone,

Ruining where'er it fell, with hideous crash

"Came like an earthquake, startling from his sleep "The affrighted soldier. From the brazen slings "The wild-fire balls shower'd thro' the midnight sky; "And often their huge engines cast among us "The dead and loathsome cattle of their camp, "As tho' our enemies, to their deadly league

Forcing the common air, would make us breathe "Poisonous pollution. Thro' the streets were seen "The frequent fire, and heaps of dead, in haste "Piled up and steaming to infected heaven. "For ever the incessant storm of death

"Pours down, and shrouded in unwholesome vaults

"The wretched females hide, not idle there,

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Wasting the hours in tears, but all employ'd,

"Or to provide the hungry soldier's meal, "Or tear their garments to bind up his wounds “A sad equality of wretchedness!

"Now came the worst of ills, for Famine came "The provident hand deals out its scanty dole, Yielding so little its supply to life

"As but protracted death. The loathliest food "Hunted with eager eye, and dainty deem'd;

"The dog is slain that at his master's feet

Howling with hunger lay; with jealous fear,

Hating a rival's look, the husband hides

"His miserable meal; the famish'd babe

Clings closely to his dying mother's breast; "And...horrible to tell!... where thrown aside "There lay unburied in the open streets

Huge heaps of carcases, the soldier stands

Eager to mark the carrion crow for food.

"O peaceful scenes of childhood! pleasant fields !

"Haunts of mine infancy, where I have stray'd

Tracing the brook along its winding way,

"Or pluck'd the primrose, or with giddy speed "Chased the gay butterfly from flower to flower! "O days in vain remember'd! how my soul, "Sick with calamity, and the sore ills "Of hunger, dwelt upon you !...quiet home! Thinking of you amid the waste of war,

"I could in bitterness have cursed the great "Who made me what I was! a helpless one, "Orphan'd, and wanting bread!"

"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 "Should one day from Oppression's hand be wrench'd "By everlasting Justice! Come that hour,

"When in the Sun the Angel of the Lord

“Shall stand and cry to all the fowls of heaven,

"Gather ye to the supper of your God,