Robert Southey

“ Included, they in Orleans groan'd beneath 430
All ills accumulate. The shatter'd roofs
Gave to the midnight dews free passage there.
And ever and anon with hideous crash
Some house fell; starting from his scanty rest
The wearied soldier. Thro' the streets were seen 435
The frequent fire, and heaps of dead, in haste
Piled up and steaming to infected Heaven. ”

“ The imbecillity of Charles was so great that he could not appear in public, so that the Queen and Burgundy swore for him.Rapin. ↑ Line 408. The besiegers received succours in the very beginning of the siege; but the Earl of Salisbury, who considered this enterprize as a decisive action for the King his master, and his own reputation, omitted nothing to deprive the besieged of that advantage. He run up round the city sixty forts. How great soever this work might be, nothing could divert him from it, since the success of the siege entirely depended upon it. ”

“ The bellowing cannon's, and the soldier's shout,
The female's shriek—the affrighted infant's cry:
The groan of death.—Discord of dreadful sounds 400
That jarr'd the soul!
Nor while the encircling foe
Leager'd the walls of Orleans, idly slept
Our friends. For winning down the Loire its way
The frequent vessel with provision fraught,
And men, and all the artillery of death, 405
Cheer'd us with welcome succour. At the bridge
These safely stranded mock'd the foeman's force.
This to prevent, Salisbury their watchful chief, [6]
Prepares the amazing work. ”

“ Gather ye to the supper of your God,
That ye may eat the flesh of mighty men,
Of Captains, and of Kings! Then shall be peace 480
When—Author of all ills that flesh endures,
Oppression, in the bottomless abyss
Shall fall to rise no more! ”

“ The forest of Orleans contains even now fourteen thousand acres of various kinds of wood. ↑ Line 129. "To succeed in the siege of Orleans, the English first secured the neighbouring places, which might otherwise have annoyed the besiegers. The months of August and September were spent in this work. During that space they took Mehun, Bangenci, Gergeau, Clery, Sully, Jenville, and some other small towns, and at last appeared before Orleans on the 12th of October." ”

“ The troops under the command of JOAN and Dunois march towards Orleans. They meet with one of the female outcasts from that City. Her history previous to taking refuge there. Preparations for the ensuing siege. Encampment of the besiegers. Their progress, and the subsequent distresses of Orleans. ”

“ Well-order'd, enter'd. "One night more in peace 300
"England shall rest," he cried, "ere yet the storm
"Bursts on her guilty head! then their proud vaunts
"Forgotten or remember'd to their shame,
"Vainly her chiefs shall curse the hour, when first
"They pitch'd their tents round Orleans."
"Of that siege," 310
The Maid of Arc replied, "gladly I hear
"The detail. Isabel proceed; for soon
"Destin'd to rescue that devoted town,
"All that has chanced, the ills she has endur'd,
"I listen, sorrowing for the past, and feel 315
"High satisfaction at the saviour power
"To me commission'd." ”