BOOK THE TENTH.
399
Insidious, with quick change then drive the steel
Fierce on the side expos'd. The unfaithful arms
Yield to the strong-driven edge; the blood streams down
Their batter'd mails. With swift eye Conrade mark'd 555
The lifted buckler, and beneath impell'd
His battle-axe; that instant on his helm
The sword of Talbot fell, and with the blow
Shiver'd. "Yet yield thee Englishman!" exclaim'd
The generous Frank———"vain is this bloody strife: 560
Me shouldst thou conquer, little would my death
Avail thee, weak and wounded!"
"Long enough
Talbot has lived," replied the sullen Chief:
"His hour is come; yet shalt not thou survive
To glory in his fall!" So, as he spake, 565
He lifted from the ground a massy spear,
And rush'd again to battle.
Now more fierce
The conflict raged, for careless of himself,
And desperate, Talbot fought. Collected still
Fierce on the side expos'd. The unfaithful arms
Yield to the strong-driven edge; the blood streams down
Their batter'd mails. With swift eye Conrade mark'd 555
The lifted buckler, and beneath impell'd
His battle-axe; that instant on his helm
The sword of Talbot fell, and with the blow
Shiver'd. "Yet yield thee Englishman!" exclaim'd
The generous Frank———"vain is this bloody strife: 560
Me shouldst thou conquer, little would my death
Avail thee, weak and wounded!"
"Long enough
Talbot has lived," replied the sullen Chief:
"His hour is come; yet shalt not thou survive
To glory in his fall!" So, as he spake, 565
He lifted from the ground a massy spear,
And rush'd again to battle.
Now more fierce
The conflict raged, for careless of himself,
And desperate, Talbot fought. Collected still
Was
