Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Essayed to pierce those arms that even the power
Of Time was weak to injure: she the while
Thro' many a wound beheld her foeman's blood
Ooze fast. "Yet save thee Warrior!" cried the Maid,
"Me canst thou not destroy: be timely wise,
"And live!" He answered not, but lifting high
His weapon, drove with fierce and forceful arm
Full on the Virgin's helm: fire from her eyes
Flash'd with the stroke: one step she back recoiled,
Then in his breast plunged deep the sword of Death.

Him falling Talbot saw. On the next foe,

With rage and anguish wild, the Warrior turn'd;

His ill-directed weapon to the earth

Drove down the unwounded Frank: he lifts the sword

And thro' his all-in-vain imploring hands

Cleaves the poor suppliant. On that dreadful day
The sword of Talbot,* clogg'd with hostile gore,

*This inscription was upon the sword of Talbot.-" Sum "Talboti pro vincere inimicos suos." A sword with bad

Made good its yaunt. Amid the heaps his arm
Had slain, the Chieftain stood and swayed around
His furious strokes: nor ceased he from the fight,
Tho' now discomfited the English troops

Fled fast, all panic-struck and spiritless;
And mingling with the routed, Fastolffe fled,
Fastolffe, all fierce * and haughty as he was,

Latin upon it, but good steel within it, says Fuller.

It was probably not uncommon to bear a motto upon the sword. Lope de Vega describes that of Aguila as bearing inlaid in gold, a verse of the psalms. It was, he says,

Mas famosa que fue de hombre cenida,

Para ocasiones del honor guardada,

Y en ultima defensa de la vida,
Y desde cuya guarnicion dorada
Hasta la punta la canal brunida
Tenia escrito de David un verso.
Nielado de oro en el azero terso.

Jerusalen Conquistada.

* In the original letters published by Mr. Fenn, Fastolffe appears in a very unfavourable light. Henry Windsor writes thus of him," hit is not unknown that cruelle and vengible

False to his former fame; for he beheld
The Maiden rushing onward, and such fear
Ran thro' his frame, as thrills the African,
When, grateful solace in the sultry hour,
He rises on the buoyant billow's breast,
If then his eye behold the monster shark
Gape eager to devour.

But Talbot now

A moment paused, for bending thitherwards
He mark'd a warrior, such as well might ask

he hath byn ever, and for the most part with aute pite and mercy. I can no more, but vade et corripe eum, for truly he cannot bryng about his matiers in this word (world), for the word is not for him. I suppose it wolnot chaunge yett be likelenes, but i beseche you sir help not to amend hym onely, but every other man yf ye kno any mo mysse disposed."

The order of the Garter was taken from Fastolffe for his conduct at Patay. He suffered a more material loss in the money he expended in the service of the state. In 1455, 4083. 15. 7. were due to him for costs and charges during his services in France, "whereof the sayd Fastolff hath had nouther payement nor assignation." So he complains.

"His utmost force. Of strong and stately port The onward foeman moved, and bore on high A battle-axe, in many a field of blood

Known by the English Chieftain. Over heaps

Of slaughtered, strode the Frank, and bade the troops Retire from the bold Earl: then Conrade spake. "Vain is thy valour Talbot! look around,

See where thy squadrons fly! but thou shalt lose "No glory, by their cowardice subdued, "Performing well thyself the soldier's part."

"And let them fly !" the indignant Earl exclaimed, "And let them fly! but bear thou witness, Chief! "That guiltless of this day's disgrace, I fall. "But Frenchman! Talbot will not tamely fall, "Or unrevenged."

So saying, for the war

He stood prepared: nor now with heedless rage
The Champions fought, for either knew full well
His foeman's prowess: now they aim the blow

Insidious, with quick change then drive the steel
Fierce on the side exposed. The unfaithful arms

Yield to the strong-driven edge; the blood streams down
Their battered mails. With swift eye Conrade marked
The lifted buckler, and beneath impell'd

His battle-axe; that instant on his helm

The sword of Talbot fell, and with the blow Shivered. "Yet yield thee Englishman !" exclaimed The generous Frank-" vain is this bloody strife: "Me shouldst thou conquer, little would my death "Avail thee, weak and wounded!"

"Long enough

"Talbot has lived," replied the sullen Chief:
"His hour is come; yet shalt not thou survive

"To glory in his fall!" So, as he spake,

He lifted from the ground a massy spear,

And rushed again to battle.

Now more fierce

The conflict raged, for careless of himself,

And desperate, Talbot fought. Collected still

« AnteriorContinuar »