At once Dunois on his broad buckler bears

The unharming stroke, and aims with better fate His javelin. Thro' his sword-arm did it pierce Maugre the mail. Hot from the streaming wound Again the weapon fell, and in his breast

Even thro' the hauberk drove.

But there the war

Raged fiercest where the martial Maiden moved
The minister of wrath; for thither throng'd
The bravest champions of the adverse host.
And on her either side two warriors stood
Of unmatch'd prowess, still with eager eye
Shielding her form, and aiming at her foes
Their deadly weapons, of themselves the while
Little regarding. One was that bold man
Who bade defiance to the English Chiefs.
Firmly he stood, untir'd and undismay'd, ·
Tho' on his burgonet the frequent spear
Drove fierce, and on his arm the buckler hung
Heavy, thick-bristled with the hostile shafts,

Even like the porcupine when in his rage
Rous'd, he collects within him all his force,

Himself a quiver. And of loftier port

On the other hand towered Conrade. Firmly fenced,

A jazerent of double mail he wore,

Beneath whose weight one but of common strength

Had sunk. Untir'd the conflict he endur'd,
Wielding a battle-axe ponderous and keen,

That gave no second stroke; for where it fell,
Not the strong buckler nor the plated mail
Might save, nor crested casque. On Molyn's head,
As at the Maid he aimed his javelin,

Forceful it fell, and shiver'd with the blow

The iron helm, and to his brain-pan drove
The fragments. At their comrades death amaz'd,
And for a moment fearful shrunk the foes.

That instant Conrade, with an * active bound,

* The nature of this barrier has been explained in a previous note. The possibility of leaping upon it is exemplified in the following adventure, characteristic enough of the period

Sprung on the battlements; there firm he stood,
Guarding ascent. The warrior Maid of Arc,
And he the partner of that battle's fame,

in which it happened (1370) to merit preservation.

"At that time there was done an extraordinary feat of arms by a Scotch Knight, named Sir John Assueton, being one of those men of arms of Scotland, who had now entered King Edward's pay. This man left his rank with his spear in his hand, his Page riding behind him, and went towards the barriers of Noyon, where he alighted, saying, "here hold my horse, and stir not from hence;" and so he came to the barriers. There were there at that time Sir John de Roye, and Sir Lancelot de Lorris with ten or twelve more, who all wondered what this Knight designed to do. He for his part being close at the barriers said unto them, "Gentlemen, I am come hither to visit you, and because I see you will not come forth of your barriers to me, I will come in to you, if I may, and prove my Knighthood against you. Win me if you can.” And with that he leaped over the bars, and began to lay about him like a lion, he at them and they at him; so that he alone fought thus against them all for near the space of an hour, and hurt several of them. And all the while those of the town beheld with much delight from the walls and their garret windows his great activity, strength and courage; but they offered not to do him any hurt, as they might very easily have done, if they had been minded to cast stones or darts at

Followed, and soon the exulting cry of France

Along the lists was heard, as waved aloft
The holy banner. Gladdisdale beheld,
And hasting from his well-defended post,.
Sped to the fiercer conflict. To the Maid
He strode, on her resolved to wreak his rage,
With her to end the war. Nor did not JOAN
Areed his purpose: lifting up her shield.

Prepar'd she stood, and pois'd her sparkling spear.
The English Chief came on; he raised his mace,

him but the French Knights charged them to the contrary, saying "how they should let them alone to deal with him." When matters had continued thus about an hour, the Scotch Page came to the barriers with his master's horse in his hand, and said in his language, "Sir, pray come away, it is high time for you to leave off now: for the Army is marched off out of sight." The Knight heard his man, and then gave two or three terrible strokes about him to clear the way, and so, armed as he was, he leaped back again over the barriers and mounted his horse, having not received any hurt; and turning to the Frenchmen, said " Adieu Sirs! I thank you for my diversion." And with that he rode after his man upon the spur towards the Army. Joshua Barnes..

With circling force, the iron weight + swung high
As Gladdisdale with his collected might
Drove the full blow. The man of lowly line

+ Le massue est un bâton gros comme le bras, ayant à l'un de ses bouts une forte courroie pour tenir l'arme et l' empêcher de glisser, et à l'autre trois chaînons de fer, auxquels pend un boulet pesant huit livres. Il n'y a pas d' homme aujourd'hui capable de manier une telle arme.

Le Grand.

The arms of the Medici family ❝ are romantically referred to Averardo de Medici, a commander under Charlemagne, who for his valour in destroying the gigantic plunderer Mugello, by whom the surrounding country was laid waste, was honoured with the privilege of bearing for his arms six palle or balls, as characteristic of the iron balls that hung from the mace of his fierce antagonist, the impressson of which remained on his shield.

Roscoe.

Scudery enumerates the mace among the instruments of war, in a passage whose concluding line may vie with any bathos of Sir Richard Blackmore.

La confusément frappent de toutes parts

Pierres, piques, espieux, masses, flêches et dards,
Lances et javelots, sabres et marteaux d'armes,

Dangereuses instruments des guerrieres alarmes.

Alaric.