"That ye may eat the flesh of mighty men, "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 "So by this warrior found. Him I had known "Nor did I feel so pressing the hard hand "Of this enough," said Conrade; "Holy Maid! "One duty yet awaits, me to perform. "Orleans her envoy sent me, to demand "Ere I do banish me from human kind, "That I re-enter Orleans, and announce "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. JOAN OF ARC. THE SIXTH BOOK. THE night was calm, and many a moving cloud Cheer'd with the song, the rustics had beheld The day go No down upon their merriment: song of Peace now echoed on its banks, There tents were pitch'd, and there the sentinel, Slow pacing on his sullen rounds, beheld The frequent corse roll down the tainted stream. Conrade with wider sweep pursued his way, Shunning the camp, now hush'd in sleep and still. And now no sound was heard save of the Loire, Murmuring along. The noise of coming feet Alarm'd him; nearer drew the fearful sound That instant rising o'er a broken cloud The moon-beams shone, where two with force combined Prest on a single foe; he, warding still Their swords, retreated in the unequal fight, As he would make the city. Conrade shook "Whence art thou?" cried the warrior; " on what "charge "Commission'd!" "Is it not the voice of Conrade ?" Francis exclaim'd; "and dost thou bring to us 66 Tidings of speedy aid? Oh! had it come "A few hours earlier! Isabel is gone!" 66 Nay, she is safe," cried Conrade; "her I found "When wilder'd in the forest, and consign'd "To the protection of the holy Maid, "The delegate of Heaven. One evening more "There is no food in Orleans," he replied, "Scarce a meal more! the assembled chiefs resolved, "If thou shouldst bring no tidings of near aid, "To cut their way to safety, or by death "Prevent the pang of famine. One they sought "Who venturous in the English camp should spy "Where safest they might rush upon the foe. "The perilous task I chose, then desperate "Of happiness." |