206
JOAN OF ARC.
To the rude conflict, now inspir'd by Heaven,
Flashing her flamy falchion thro' the troops, 265
That like the thunderbolt, where'er it fell,
Scattered the trembling ranks. Nor plated shield,
Nor the strong hauberk, nor the crested casque,
Stay that descending sword. Dreadful she moved,
Like as the Angel of the Lord went forth 270
And smote his army, when the Assyrian King,
Haughty of Hamath and Sepharvaim fallen,
Blasphem'd the God of Israel.
Yet the fight
Hung doubtful, where exampling hardiest deeds,
Salisbury mow'd down the foe, and Fastolffe strove, 275
And in the hottest doings of the war
Towered Talbot. He, remembering the past day
When from his name the affrighted sons of France
Fled trembling, all astonish'd at their force
And wontless valour, rages round the field 280
Dreadful in fury; yet in every man
Meeting a foe fearless, and in the faith
Flashing her flamy falchion thro' the troops, 265
That like the thunderbolt, where'er it fell,
Scattered the trembling ranks. Nor plated shield,
Nor the strong hauberk, nor the crested casque,
Stay that descending sword. Dreadful she moved,
Like as the Angel of the Lord went forth 270
And smote his army, when the Assyrian King,
Haughty of Hamath and Sepharvaim fallen,
Blasphem'd the God of Israel.
Yet the fight
Hung doubtful, where exampling hardiest deeds,
Salisbury mow'd down the foe, and Fastolffe strove, 275
And in the hottest doings of the war
Towered Talbot. He, remembering the past day
When from his name the affrighted sons of France
Fled trembling, all astonish'd at their force
And wontless valour, rages round the field 280
Dreadful in fury; yet in every man
Meeting a foe fearless, and in the faith
Of
