242
JOAN OF ARC.
Saw her white plumage stain'd with human blood!
Shudd'ring she saw, but soon her steady soul
Collected: on the banks she laid her down
Freely awhile respiring, for her breath 420
Quick panted from the fight: silent they lay,
For gratefully the cooling breezes bathed
Their throbbing temples.
It was now the noon:
The sun-beams on the gently-waving stream
Danced sparkling. Lost in thought the warrior lay, 425
And softening sadly his stern face, exclaim'd,
"Maiden of Arc! at such an hour as this,
Beneath the o'er-arching forest's checquer'd shade,
With that lost woman have I wandered on,
Talking of years of happiness to come! 430
Oh hours for ever fled! delightful dreams
Of the unsuspecting heart! I do believe
If Agnes on a worthier one had fix'd
Her love, that tho' mine aching heart had nurst
Its sorrows, I had never on her choice 435
Shudd'ring she saw, but soon her steady soul
Collected: on the banks she laid her down
Freely awhile respiring, for her breath 420
Quick panted from the fight: silent they lay,
For gratefully the cooling breezes bathed
Their throbbing temples.
It was now the noon:
The sun-beams on the gently-waving stream
Danced sparkling. Lost in thought the warrior lay, 425
And softening sadly his stern face, exclaim'd,
"Maiden of Arc! at such an hour as this,
Beneath the o'er-arching forest's checquer'd shade,
With that lost woman have I wandered on,
Talking of years of happiness to come! 430
Oh hours for ever fled! delightful dreams
Of the unsuspecting heart! I do believe
If Agnes on a worthier one had fix'd
Her love, that tho' mine aching heart had nurst
Its sorrows, I had never on her choice 435
Pour'd
