Robert Southey

“ It fell, and pierced his mail, and thro' the plate
Beneath drove fierce, and in his heart's-blood plunged.
Lo! as he struck the strength of Talbot came:
Full on his treacherous helm he smote: it burst,
And the stern Earl against his fenceless head 605
Drives with strong arm the murderous sword. She saw—
She knew—she could not save—her Theodore.
Conrade beheld, and from his vanquish'd foe
Strode terrible in vengeance. Front to front
They stood, and each for the death-blow prepar'd 610
His angry might. ”

“ He hung, and seized the spear; then in himself
Collected stood, and calm. Nor the English Knight
Remain'd unweapon'd: to have sped so ill,
Indignant, from behind he snatch'd a lance 305
And hurl'd with fiercer fury. Conrade lifts
The ponderous buckler. Thro' three iron folds
Pierced the keen point, there, innocent of ill
Unharming hung. He with forceful grasp,
Plucking the javelin forth, with mightier arm, 310
Launch'd on his foe. With wary bend, the foe
Shrunk from the flying death ”

“ But to the battle! in the clang of arms,
We win forgetfulness."
Then from the bank
He sprung, and helm'd his head. The Maid arose, 480
Bidding awhile adieu to milder thoughts.
On to the fort they speed, whose name recall'd
England's proud capital to the English host,
Now half subdued, anticipating death,
And vainly wishing they from her white clifts 485
Had never spread the sail. Cold terror creeps
Thro' every vein: already they turn back
Their eager eyes to meditate the flight,
Tho' Talbot there presided, with their Chief,
The gallant Salisbury.
"Soldiers fam'd in arms!" ”

“ Thro' the long opening, shower his winged deaths.
Loire's waves diverted fill'd the deep-dug moat 25
Circling the pile, a bulwark vast, as what
Round their disheartened camp and stranded ships
The Greeks uprear'd, a common sepulchre
Of thousands slaughter'd, and the doom'd death-place
Of many a Chief, when Priam's patriot son 30
Rush'd in his wrath and scattered their pale tribes.
But cowering now amid their sheltering forts
Tremble the English host. Their leaders care
In anxious vigilance prepares to ward
Assault expected. ”

“ Or from the battlements the death-tipt spear
Hurl fierce. Nor from the strong arm only launch'd
The javelin fled, but driven by the strained force
Of the balista, [1] in one carcass spent
Stay'd not; thro' arms and men it makes its way, 125
And leaving death behind, still holds its course
By many a death unclogg'd. With rapid march
Right onward they advanced, and soon the shafts,
Impell'd by that strong stroke beyond the host
Wasting their force, fell harmless. Now they reach'd 130
Where by the bayle's [2] embattled wall in arms
The Knights of England stood. ”

“ In the attack of fortresses, as the range of the machines then in use did not exceed the distance of four stadia, the besiegers did not carry on their approaches by means of trenches, but began their operations above ground, with the attack of the bayle or lists, where many feats of chivalry were performed by the Knights and men at arms, who considered the assault of that work as particularly belonging to them, the weight of their armour preventing them from scaling the walls. ”

“ Fell full. It shiver'd, and the Frenchman held
A pointless truncheon. Where the Bastard fought
The spear of Poynings, thro' his plated mail
Pierced, and against the iron fence beneath [6]
Blunted its point. Again he speeds the spear; 160
At once Dunois on his broad buckler bears
The unharming stroke, and aims with better fate
His javelin. Thro' his sword-arm did it pierce
Maugre the mail. Hot from the streaming wound
Again the weapon fell, and in his breast 165
Even thro' the hauberk drove. ”

“ As this part was attacked by the Knights and men at arms, it was also defended by those of the same rank in the place, whence many single combats were fought here. This was at the first investing of the place. ”

“ The French troops attack and capture the forts of St. Loup and St. John. Attack of Fort London. Salisbury encounters the Maid. Event of that encounter. The Tournelles surrounded by the French, who dispatch a troop to Orleans for provisions, and encamp before it for the night. ”

“ Dismiss'd a troop, and round the Tournelles led 635
The host beleagering. There they pitch their tents,
And plant their engines for the morrow's war,
Then to their meal, and o'er the chearful bowl,
Recount the tale of danger; soon to rest
Betaking them, for now the night drew on. 640
↑
Line 122. Neque enim. solis excussa lacertis
Lancea, sed tenso balistæ turbine rapta,
Haud unum contenta latus transire, quiescit;
Sed pandens perque arma viam, perque ossa, relicta
Lucan. III.Morte fugit: superest telo post vulnera cursus. ”