Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/33

But when he told of those fierce sons of guilt
That o'er this earth which God had fram'd so fair
Spread desolation, and its wood-crown'd hills
Make echo to the merciless war dog's howl;
And how himself from such foul savagery 275
Had scarce escap'd with life, then his stretch'd arm
Seem'd, as it wielded the resistless sword
Of Vengeance: in his eager eye the soul
Was eloquent; warm glow'd his manly cheek;
And beat against his side the indignant heart.280

"Meantime autumnal gales had swept the grove,
And to the cold blast now the sullen oak
Spread his unfoliag'd arms; the cloud-clad sky
Frown'd o'er the drear and melancholy scene.
At length the snows fell fast, and drifting deep285
Choak'd up the road; yet felt not Theodore
One tedious hour of all the live-long day.
Oh! he would sit and mark the driving storm,
Whilst o'er the high-heap'd hearth, of a bad world

"And