290
JOAN OF ARC.
Drove there their dreadful darts; the war-wolfs there
Hurl'd their huge stones; and, by the pavais fenced,
The Knights of France sped there their well-aim'd shafts. 550
Hurl'd their huge stones; and, by the pavais fenced,
The Knights of France sped there their well-aim'd shafts. 550
"Feel ye not, Comrades, how the ramparts shake
Beneath the ponderous ram's unceasing stroke?"
Cried one, a venturous Englishman. "Our foes,
In woman-like compassion, have dismissed
A powerful escort, weakening thus themselves, 555
And giving us fair hope, in equal field,
Of better fortune. Sorely here annoyed,
And slaughtered by their engines from afar,
We perish. Vainly does the soldier boast
Undaunted courage and the powerful arm, 560
If thus pent up; like some wild beast he falls,
Mark'd for the hunter's arrows: let us rush
And meet them in the battle, man to man,
Either to conquer, or, at least, to die
A soldier's death."
"Nay nay—not so," replied 565
Beneath the ponderous ram's unceasing stroke?"
Cried one, a venturous Englishman. "Our foes,
In woman-like compassion, have dismissed
A powerful escort, weakening thus themselves, 555
And giving us fair hope, in equal field,
Of better fortune. Sorely here annoyed,
And slaughtered by their engines from afar,
We perish. Vainly does the soldier boast
Undaunted courage and the powerful arm, 560
If thus pent up; like some wild beast he falls,
Mark'd for the hunter's arrows: let us rush
And meet them in the battle, man to man,
Either to conquer, or, at least, to die
A soldier's death."
"Nay nay—not so," replied 565
One
