BOOK THE SECOND
71
Was won, and those who had escaped the carnage
Had yielded up their arms, it was most foul
On his defenceless prisoners to glut[1]540
The blunted sword of conquest. Girt around
I to their mercy had surrendered me,
When lo! I heard the dreadful groan of death—
Not as amid the fray, when man met man
And in fair combat gave the mortal blow;545
Here the poor captives, weaponless and bound
Saw their stern victors draw again the sword,
And groan'd and strove in vain to free their hands
And bade them think upon their plighted faith
And pray'd for mercy in the name of God550
In vain: Their King had bade them massacre,
And in their helpless prisoners' naked breasts
They drove the sword. Then I expected death
And at that moment death was terrible;
"For
- ↑ Line 540 A company of fugitives, headed by Robert de Bournonville, who had retired by times out of the battle, knowing the English camp was but weakly guarded, pillaged it during the engagement; in consequence of this alarm, Henry ordered the prisoners to be slain, except the most eminent.
