Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/171

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BOOK THE FIFTH.
159
The banner'd lillies. On their way they march, And dim in distance, soon the towers of Chinon Fade from the eye reverted. The third sun, 35Purpling the sky with his dilated light, Sunk westering; when embosom'd in the depth Of that vast forest, whose prodigious track[1] Shadows the hills and vales of Orleannois, They pitch their tents. The hum of occupation 40 Sounds ceaseless. Waving to the evening gale, The streamers wanton; and, ascending slow Beneath the foliage of the forest trees, With many a light hue tinged, the curling smoke Melts in the impurpled air: leaving her tent, 45The martial Maiden wander'd thro' the wood. There, by a streamlet, on its mossy bank Reclined, she saw a damsel: her long locks Engarlanded, and as she nearer came, The Virgin knew it for the willow weed. 50

Resting

  1. ↑ Line 38. The forest of Orleans contains even now fourteen thousand acres of various kinds of wood.
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