286
JOAN OF ARC.
The vanquish'd English fly towards the gate,
Seeking the inner court,[1] as hoping there
Again to dare the siege, and with their friends
Find present refuge. Ah! mistaken men! 480
The vanquish'd have no friends! defeated thus,
Prest by pursuit, in vain with eager voice
They call their comrades in the suppliant tones
Of pity now, now in the indignant phrase
Of fruitless anger: they indeed within 485
Fast from the ramparts on the victor troops
Hurl their keen javelins,—but the gate is barr'd—
The huge portcullis down!
Then terror seiz'd
Their hopeless hearts: some, furious in despair,
Turn on their foes; fear-palsied, some await 490
The coming death; some drop the useless sword
And cry for mercy.
Seeking the inner court,[1] as hoping there
Again to dare the siege, and with their friends
Find present refuge. Ah! mistaken men! 480
The vanquish'd have no friends! defeated thus,
Prest by pursuit, in vain with eager voice
They call their comrades in the suppliant tones
Of pity now, now in the indignant phrase
Of fruitless anger: they indeed within 485
Fast from the ramparts on the victor troops
Hurl their keen javelins,—but the gate is barr'd—
The huge portcullis down!
Then terror seiz'd
Their hopeless hearts: some, furious in despair,
Turn on their foes; fear-palsied, some await 490
The coming death; some drop the useless sword
And cry for mercy.
Then
- ↑ Line 478. On entering the outer gate, the next part that presented itself was the outer ballium, or bailey, separated from the inner ballium by a strong embattled wall and towered gate.
