274
JOAN OF ARC.
Nor the Gallic host remit 250
Their eager efforts; some, the watry fence,
Beneath the tortoise roof'd, with engines apt
Drain painful; part, laden with wood, throw there
Their buoyant burdens, labouring so to gain
Firm footing: some the mangonels supply, 255
Or charging with huge stones the murdering sling,
Or petrary, or in the espringal
Fix the brass-winged arrows. Hoarse around
Rose the confused din of multitudes.
Their eager efforts; some, the watry fence,
Beneath the tortoise roof'd, with engines apt
Drain painful; part, laden with wood, throw there
Their buoyant burdens, labouring so to gain
Firm footing: some the mangonels supply, 255
Or charging with huge stones the murdering sling,
Or petrary, or in the espringal
Fix the brass-winged arrows. Hoarse around
Rose the confused din of multitudes.
Fearless along the ramparts Gargrave moved, 260
Cheering the English troops. The bow he bore;
The quiver rattled as he moved along.
He knew aright to aim the feather'd shafts,
Well-skill'd to pierce the mottled roebuck's side,
O'ertaken in his flight. Him, passing on, 265
From some huge engine driven, a ponderous stone
Crush'd: on his breast-plate falling, the vast force,
Shattered the bone, and with his mangled lungs
Cheering the English troops. The bow he bore;
The quiver rattled as he moved along.
He knew aright to aim the feather'd shafts,
Well-skill'd to pierce the mottled roebuck's side,
O'ertaken in his flight. Him, passing on, 265
From some huge engine driven, a ponderous stone
Crush'd: on his breast-plate falling, the vast force,
Shattered the bone, and with his mangled lungs
The
