Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/301

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BOOK THE EIGHTH.
289
In Heaven's most precious boon humanity, 530Their captain. From the war we may not spareThy valor long."She said: when Conrade castHis eyes around, and mark'd amid the courtFrom man to man where Francis rush'd along,Bidding them spare the vanquish'd. Him he hail'd. 535"The Maid hath bade me chuse a leader forthTo guard the captives: thou shalt be the man;For thou wilt guard them with due diligence,Yet not forgetting they are men, bereftOf all they love, and who may largely claim 540Thy pity."Nor meantime the garrisonCeas'd from the war; they, in the hour of need,Abandoning their comrades to the sword,A daring band, resolved to bide the siegeIn desperate valor. Fast against the walls 545The batteting-ram drove fierce: the engineryPly'd at the ramparts fast; the catapults

Drove

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