BOOK THE FIFTH.
179
Cried Isabel. "The iron storm of death
Clash'd in the sky. From the strong engines hurl'd 395
Huge rocks with tempest force convuls'd the air.
Then was there heard at once the clang of arms,
The bellowing cannon's, and the soldier's shout,
The female's shriek—the affrighted infant's cry:
The groan of death.—Discord of dreadful sounds 400
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, 405
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,[1]
Clash'd in the sky. From the strong engines hurl'd 395
Huge rocks with tempest force convuls'd the air.
Then was there heard at once the clang of arms,
The bellowing cannon's, and the soldier's shout,
The female's shriek—the affrighted infant's cry:
The groan of death.—Discord of dreadful sounds 400
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, 405
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,[1]
"Prepares
- ↑ Line 408. The besiegers received succours in the very beginning of the siege; but the Earl of Salisbury, who considered this enterprize as a decisive action for the King his master, and his own reputation, omitted nothing to deprive the besieged of that advantage. He run up round the city sixty forts. How great soever this work might be, nothing could divert him from it, since the success of the siege entirely depended upon it. In vain would he have
pursued
