"Full was his eye," exclaim'd the Bastard Son Of Orleans, "yet it beam'd benevolence. "I never yet saw love so dignified ! "There lived not one his vassal, but adored "The good the gallant Chief. Amid his halls High blazed the hospitable hearth, the pilgrim "Of other countries, seeing his high towers, "Rejoiced, for he had often heard of Orleans. "He lives, my brother! bound in the hard chain "He lives most wretched." The big tear roll'd down The Warriors cheeks. "But he shall live, Dunois," Exclaim'd the Mission'd Maid, "but he shall live "To hear good tidings; hear of liberty, "Of his own liberty, by his brother's arm "Atchiev'd in hard fought battle. He shall live * The Maid declared upon her trial, that God loved the Duke of Orleans, and that she had received more revelations "And send thee better fortune than old Bertram ! "Such as I was when on the fatal plain "Of Azincour I met them." "Wert thou then "A sharer in that dreadful day's defeat?" Exclaim'd the Bastard, "didst thou know the chief "Of Orleans?" "Know him!" the old veteran cried, "I saw him ere the bloody fight began Riding from rank to rank, his beaver up, "The long lance quivering in his mighty grasp. "Full was his eye and fierce, yet beaming still "So mild in peace, such was his manly brow; "Full was his eye," exclaim'd the Bastard Son "There lived not one his vassal, but adored "The good the gallant Chief. Amid his halls The big tear roll'd down The Warriors cheeks. "But he shall live, Dunois," "Of his own liberty, by his brother's arm *The Maid declared upon her trial, that God loved the Duke of Orleans, and that she had received more revelations "Shall heighten all his joys, and his grey hairs "Go to the grave in peace." "I would fain live "To see that day," replied their aged host, "How would my heart leap once more to behold "The gallant generous chieftain! I fought by him "When all the hopes of victory were lost, "And down his batter'd arms the blood stream'd fast "From many a wound. like wolves they hemm'd us in "Fierce in unhoped for conquest: all around "Our dead and dying countrymen lay heap'd; "Yet still he strove;-I wondered at his valour ! "There was not one who on that fatal day Fought bravelier." "Fatal was that day to France," concerning him, than any person living, except the King. Rapin. Orleans during his long captivity "had learnt to court the fair ladies of England in their native strains," among the Harleian M.S.S. is a collection of "love poems, roundels and songs,"composed by the French Prince during his confrement. |