Abandoning their comrades to the sword,
A daring band, resolved to bide the siege
In desperate valour. Fast against the walls
The battering-ram drove fierce; the enginery
Ply'd at the ramparts fast; the catapults

Drove there their dreadful darts; the war-wolfs there
Hurl'd their huge stones; and, thro' the kindled sky,
The engines showered their * sheets of liquid fire.

"Feel ye not, Comrades, how the ramparts shake "Beneath the ponderous ram's unceasing stroke?”

When the Black Prince attacked the Castle of Romorantin "there was slain hard by him an English Esquire named Jacob Bernard, whereat the Prince was so displeased, that he took his most solemn oath, and sware by his father's soul not to leave the siege, till he had the Castle and all within at his mercy. Then the assault was renewed much hotter than ever, till at last the Prince saw there was no likelihood of prevailing that way. Wherefore presently he gave order to raise certain engines, wherewith they cast combustible matter enflamed after the manner of wild fire into the Base court

Cried one, a venturous Englishman.

"Our foes,

"In woman-like compassion, have dismissed

"A powerful escort, weakening thus themselves,

"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, "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,

so fast and in such quantities, that at last the whole court seemed to be one huge fire. Whereupon the excessive heat prevailed so, that it took hold of the roof of a great tower, which was covered with reed, and so began to spread over all the castle. Now therefore when these valiant captains within saw, that of necessity they must either submit entirely to the Prince's courtesy, or perish by the most merciless of elements, they all together came down and yielded themselves absolutely to his grace.

Joshua Barnes.

"Either to conquer, or, at least, to die

"A soldier's death."

"Nay nay-not so,” replied

One of less daring valor. "Tho' they point

"Their engines here, our archers not in vain

"Speed their death-doing shafts. Let the strong walls. "First by the foe be won; 'twill then be time

"To meet them in the battle man to man,

"When these shall fail us."

Scarcely had he spoke

When full upon his breast a ponderous stone
Fell fierce impell'd, and drove him to the earth,
All shattered. Horror the spectators seiz'd,

For as the dreadful weapon shivered him,

His blood besprinkled round, and they beheld
His mangled lungs lie quivering!

"Such the fate

"Of those who trust them to their walls defence." Again exclaim'd the soldier: "thus they fall,

"Betrayed by their own fears. Courage alone

*Can save us."

Nor to draw them from the fort

Now needed eloquence; with one accord
They bade him lead to battle. Forth they rush'd
Impetuous. With such fury o'er the plain.
Swoln by the autumnal tempest, Vega rolls
His rapid waters, when the gathered storm,
On the black hills of Cambria bursting, swells
The tide of desolation.

Then the Maid

Spake to the son of Orleans, "Let our troops "Fall back, so shall the English in pursuit "Leave this strong fortress, thus an easy prey." Time was not for long counsel. From the court, Obedient to Dunois, a band of Franks

Retreat, as at the irruption of their foes

Disheartened; they, with shouts and loud uproar, Rush to their fancied conquest: JOAN, the while Placing a small but gallant garrison,

Bade them secure the gates then forth she rush'd,

With such fierce onset charging on their rear,
That terror smote the English, and they wish'd
Again that they might hide them in their walls
Rashly abandoned, for now wheeling round
The son of Orleans fought. All captainless,
Ill-marshall'd, ill-directed, in vain rage,
They waste their furious efforts, falling fast
Before the Maid's good falchion and the sword
Of Conrade loud was heard the mingled sound
Of arms and men; the earth, that trampled late
By multitudes, gave to the passing wind

Its dusty clouds, now reek'd with their hot gore.

High on the fort's far summit Talbot mark'd
The fight, and call'd impatient for his arms,
Eager to rush to war; and scarce withheld,

For now,

disheartened and discomfited,

The troops fled fearful.

On the bridge there stood

A strong-built tower, commanding o'er the Loire.