284
JOAN OF ARC.
Struck forceful: swift the erring arrow sped
Guiltless of blood, for lightly o'er the court 440
Bounded the warrior Virgin. Glacidas
Levelled his bow again; the fated shaft
Fled true, and difficultly thro' the mail
Pierced to her neck, and tinged its point with blood.
"She bleeds! she bleeds!" exulting cried the Chief; 445
"The Sorceress bleeds! nor all her hellish arts
Can charm my arrows from their destined course."
Ill-fated Man! in vain with murderous hand
Placing thy feathered quarrel in its groove,
Dream'st thou of JOAN subdued! She from her neck 450
Plucking the shaft unterrified, exclaim'd,
"This is a favour! Frenchmen, let us on!
Escape they cannot from the hand of God!"
Guiltless of blood, for lightly o'er the court 440
Bounded the warrior Virgin. Glacidas
Levelled his bow again; the fated shaft
Fled true, and difficultly thro' the mail
Pierced to her neck, and tinged its point with blood.
"She bleeds! she bleeds!" exulting cried the Chief; 445
"The Sorceress bleeds! nor all her hellish arts
Can charm my arrows from their destined course."
Ill-fated Man! in vain with murderous hand
Placing thy feathered quarrel in its groove,
Dream'st thou of JOAN subdued! She from her neck 450
Plucking the shaft unterrified, exclaim'd,
"This is a favour! Frenchmen, let us on!
Escape they cannot from the hand of God!"
But Conrade, rolling round his angry eyes,
Beheld the English Chieftain as he aim'd 455
Again the bow; with rapid step he strode;
Nor did not Glacidas the Frank perceive;
Beheld the English Chieftain as he aim'd 455
Again the bow; with rapid step he strode;
Nor did not Glacidas the Frank perceive;
At
