BOOK THE SEVENTH.
227
For the death-blow prepar'd. Alencon here,
And here the Bastard strode, and by the Maid 135
That daring man who to the English host
Then insolent of many a conquest gain'd,
Bore her bold bidding. A rude coat of mail
Unhosed, unhooded, as of lowly line
Arm'd him, tho' here amid the high-born chiefs 140
Præeminent for prowess. On his head[1]
A black plume shadowed the rude-featur'd helm.
Then was the war of men, when front to front[2]
They rear'd the hostile hand, for low the wall
Where the bold Frenchman's upward-driven spear, 145
Might pierce the foe. Then rang along the lists
The clash of battle. As Alencon moved
And here the Bastard strode, and by the Maid 135
That daring man who to the English host
Then insolent of many a conquest gain'd,
Bore her bold bidding. A rude coat of mail
Unhosed, unhooded, as of lowly line
Arm'd him, tho' here amid the high-born chiefs 140
Præeminent for prowess. On his head[1]
A black plume shadowed the rude-featur'd helm.
Then was the war of men, when front to front[2]
They rear'd the hostile hand, for low the wall
Where the bold Frenchman's upward-driven spear, 145
Might pierce the foe. Then rang along the lists
The clash of battle. As Alencon moved
On
- ↑ Line 141. In France only persons of a certain estate, called un fief de hauber, were permitted to wear a hauberk, which was the armor of a Knight. Esquires might only wear a simple coat of mail without the hood and hose. Had this aristocratic distinction consisted in the ornamental part of the arms alone, it would only have been ridiculous. In the enlightened and free States of Greece, every soldier was well provided with defensive arms. In Rome, a civic wreath was the reward of him who should save the life of a citizen. To use the words of Dr. Gillies, "the miserable peasants of modern Europe are exposed without defence as without remorse, by the ambition of men, whom the Greeks would have stiled tyrants."
- ↑ Line 143. The burgonet, which represented the shape of the head and features.
