Thus, hoping to revive with gallant speech Cried mercy to his conqueror. Shall I speak And of that later hour of victory 515 520 524 When Clermont and the Bastard plied their spurs ? Shame! shame! that beaten boy is here in arms, And ye will fly before the fugitives,.. Fly from a woman! from a frantic girl! Who with her empty mummeries tries to blast 530 Aid of the Devil! Who is there among you False to his country,.. to his former fame, There came a heartless shout; then Talbot's cheek And gain the Tournelles, better fortified, Bravely thus he spake, Advising well, and Salisbury replied; 540 545 Rightly thou say'st. But, Talbot, could we reach The sorceress in the battle, one sure blow Might give us back, this hour, the mastery To meet the wench, for from the battlements 550 I have beheld her foremost in attack, Playing right valiantly the soldier's part. In her the enemy have their strength, with her 556 Thus communed they, And through the host the gladdening tidings ran, That they should seek the Tournelles. Then their hearts Gather'd new strength, placing on those strong walls Dependence; oh vain hope! for neither wall, 561 Nor moat, nor fort can save, if fear within Palsy the soldier's arm. Them issuing forth, As from the river's banks they pass'd along, 564 The Maid beheld. "Lo! Conrade!" she exclaim'd, "The foe advance to meet us.. look! they lower The bridge! and now they rush upon the troops:.. A gallant onset! Dost thou mark the mar 570 575 "He," the chief replied, "Wretched and prodigal of life, achieves The exploits of despair; a gallant youth, Widow'd like me of hope, and but for whom I had been seen among mankind no more. Maiden! with me thy comrade in the war, His arm is vow'd to heaven. Lo! where he stands Bearing the battle's brunt!" 580 Nor paused they now In farther converse, to the perilous fray Speeding, not unobserved; for Salisbury saw And call'd on Talbot. Six, the bravest knights And sworn with them, against the virgin's life 586 Address'd their course. She by the herald's side Now urged the war, when on her white-plumed helm The hostile falchion fell. On high she lifts That hallowed sword, which in the tomb for her Age after age, by miracle reserved, Had lain, which time itself could not corrode, 591 How then might shield, or breast-plate, or close mail The daring herald urged unequal fight; For like some oak that in its rooted strength 605 Shall with the short-lived lightning's splendor grace This thy death-day; for SLAUGHTER even now Stands o'er thy loom of life, and lifts his sword. 611 Upon her shield the martial Maid received An English warrior's blow, and in his side, Beneath the arm upraised, in prompt return Pierced him that instant Salisbury sped his sword, Which glancing from her helm fell on the folds 616 That arm'd her neck, and making there its way, Stain'd with her blood its edge. The herald saw, And turn'd from Talbot, heedless of himself, And lifting up his falchion, all his force Concenter'd. On the breast of Salisbury 620 It fell, and cleft his mail, and thro' the plate Beneath it drove, and in his heart's-blood plunged. Lo! as he struck the mighty Talbot came, And smote his helmet: slant the weapon fell; 625 The strings gave way, the helmet dropt, the Earl Repeated on that head disarm'd his blow: Too late to interpose the Maiden saw, And in that miserable moment knew Her Theodore. Him Conrade too had seen, 630 And from a foe whom he had beaten down Front to front Turn'd terrible in vengeance. 641 But now their troops all captainless confused, Fear seized the English. Not with more dismay When over wild Caffraria's wooded hills Echoes the lion's roar, the timid herd 645 Fly the death-boding sound. The forts they seek, The victors press, and mark their course with blood. But loud the trumpet of retreat resounds, 651 "Dunois !" the Maiden cried, "Form now around yon stronger pile the siege, There for the night encamping." So she said. 655 The chiefs to Orleans for their needful food, |