"For yet our rulers will pursue the war, Then terror seized The troops and late repentance: and they thought Famish'd at Roan, sat on the clouds of night, The hour of vengeance.* Reseraverat antrum Tartareus Rector pallens, utque arma nefanda Nor the English Chiefs Heard their loud murmurs heedless: counselling They met despondent. Suffolk, now their Chief, Since conquered by the arm of Theodore Fell Salisbury, thus began. 66 "It now were vain Lightly of this our more than mortal foe, "To speak contemptuous. She has vanquish'd us, "Aided by Hell's leagued powers, nor ought avails "Man unassisted 'gainst the powers of * Hell Annibalis sævi Manes, captique Syphacis, Prælia Thapsiaci, et Latios videre furores. Supplementum Lucani. Lib. iii. I am not conscious of having imitated these lines; but I would not lose the opportunity of quoting so fine a passage from Thomas May, an author to whom I owe some obligations, and who is not remembered as his merits deserve. *To some, says Speed, it may appear more honourable to our nation, that they were not to be expelled by a human power, but by a divine, extraordinarily revealing itself. "To dare the conflict: were it best remain "Waiting the doubtful aid of Burgundy, He ceas'd, and with a sigh Struggling with pride that heav'd his gloomy breast, Talbot replied-" Our council little boots; "For by their numbers now made bold * in fear "The soldiers will not fight, they will not heed "Our vain resolves, heart-withered by the spells "Of this accursed Sorceress soon will come "The expected host from England: even now "Perchance the tall bark scuds across the deep "That bears my son: young Talbot comes-he comes * Nec pavidum murmur; consensu audacia crevit, Tantaque turba metu poenarum solvit ad omni. Sup. Lucani. "To find his sire disgraced! but soon mine arm, 66 By vengeance nerved, and shame of such defeat, Shall, from the crest-fallen courage of yon witch, Regain its antient glory. Near the coast "Best is it to retreat, and there expect "The coming succour." Thus the warrior spake. Joy ran thro' all the * troops, as tho' retreat They issue forth, favoured by the deep clouds Of distant England, and, now wise too late, That led them from her shores: some in faint hope *In Rymer's Foedera are two proclamations, one contra Capitaneos et Soldarios tergiversantes, incantationibus Puellæ terrificatos;" the other, "de fugitivis ab exercitu quos tcrriculamenta Puellæ exanimaverant, arestandis." Talbot went musing on his blasted fame And meditating vengeance, In the walls Of Orleans, tho' her habitants with joy Of many a heavy ill and bitter loss Mindful, such mingled sentiments they felt As one from shipwreck saved, the first warm glow Of transport past, who contemplates himself, Preserved alone, a solitary wretch, Possessed of life indeed, but reft of all That makes man love to live. The Chieftains shared The social bowl, glad of the town relieved, And communing of that miraculous Maid, Ronsard remarks, Rien n'est meilleur pour l' homme soulager Apres le mal, que le boire et manger. Franciade. |