BOOK THE SEVENTH.
249
The Maid beheld! "Lo! Conrade!" she exclaim'd,
"The foes advance to meet us—look! they lower
The bridge—and now they rush upon the troops:
A gallant onset! Dost thou mark that man 550
Who all the day has by our side endur'd
The hottest conflict? I did then behold
His force, and wonder: now his deeds of death
Make all the actions of the former fight
Seem as of no account: know'st thou the man? 555
There is not one amid the host of France,
Of fairer promise."
"He," the Chief replied,
"Wretched and prodigal of life atchieves
The exploits of Despair: a gallant youth
Widowed like me of Hope, and but for whom, 560
I had been seen among mankind no more.
Maiden! with me thy comrade in the war,
His arm is vowed to Heaven. Lo! where he stands
Bearing the battle's brunt in unmoved strength,
Firm as the mountain round whose misty head, 565
"The foes advance to meet us—look! they lower
The bridge—and now they rush upon the troops:
A gallant onset! Dost thou mark that man 550
Who all the day has by our side endur'd
The hottest conflict? I did then behold
His force, and wonder: now his deeds of death
Make all the actions of the former fight
Seem as of no account: know'st thou the man? 555
There is not one amid the host of France,
Of fairer promise."
"He," the Chief replied,
"Wretched and prodigal of life atchieves
The exploits of Despair: a gallant youth
Widowed like me of Hope, and but for whom, 560
I had been seen among mankind no more.
Maiden! with me thy comrade in the war,
His arm is vowed to Heaven. Lo! where he stands
Bearing the battle's brunt in unmoved strength,
Firm as the mountain round whose misty head, 565
"The
