Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

the beleagured city. But its huge clocks had successively knelled three hours after midnight, and all continued still and silent as the grave.

"At length, and when he began to think the attack would be deferred till day-break, and joyfully recollected that there would be then light enough to descry the Band Sinister across the Fleurde-lis of Orleans, he thought he heard in the city a huniming murmur, like that of disturbed bees mustering for the defence of their hives. He listened the noise continued; but it was of a character so undistinguished by any peculiar or precise sound, that it might be the murmur of a wind arising among the boughs of a distant grove, or perhaps some stream swollen by the late rain, which was discharging itself into the sluggish Maes with more than usual sound. Quentin was prevented by these considerations from instantly giving the alarm, which, if done carelessly, would have been a heavy offence. But, when the noise rose louder, and seemed pouring at the same time towards his own post, and towards the suburb, he deemed it his duty to fall back as silently as possible, and call his uncle, who commanded the small body of Archers destined to his support. All were on their feet in a moment, and with as little noise as possible. In less than a second, Lord Crawford was at their head, and, dispatching an archer to alarm the King and his household, drew back his little party to some distance behind their watch-fire, that they might not be seen by its light. The rushing sound, which had approached them more nearly, seemed suddenly to have ceased; but they still heard distinctly the more distant heavy tread of a large body of men approaching the suburb.

[ocr errors]

The lazy Burgundians are asleep on their post,' whispered Crawford; make for the suburb, Cunningham, and awaken the stupid oxen.'

"Keep well to the rear as you go,' said Durward; if ever I heard the tread of mortal men, there is a strong body interposed between us and the suburb.'

"Well said, Quentin, my dainty callant,' said Crawford; 'thou art a soldier beyond thy years. They only make halt till the others come forward. I would I had some knowledge where they are!'

I will creep forward, my lord,' said Quentin, and endeavour to bring you information.'

Do so, my bonny chield; thou hast sharp ears and eyes, and good will-but take heed-I would not lose thee for two and a plack.'

Quentin, with his harquebuss ready prepared, stole forward, through ground which he had reconnoitered carefully in the twilight of the preceding evening, until he was not only certain that he was in the neighbourhood of a very large body of men, who were standing fast betwixt the King's quarters and the suburbs,

but also that there was a detached party of smaller number in advance, and very close to him. They seemed to whisper together, as if uncertain what to do next. At last, the steps of two or three Enfans perdus, detached from that smaller party, approached him so near as twice a pike's length. Seeing it impossible to retreat undiscovered, Quentin called out aloud, Qui vive?' and was answered by Vive Li-Li-ege-c'est-à-dire,' (added he who spoke, correcting himself,) Vive la France !-Quentin instantly fired his harquebuss a man groaned and fell, and he himself, under the instant but vague discharge of a number of pieces, the fire of which ran in a disorderly manner alongst the column, and shewed it to be very numerous, hastened back to the main guard." Vol. III. p. 328.

[ocr errors]

"The arrival of the King, only attended by Le Balafré and Quentin, and half a score of archers, restored confidence. Hymbercourt, Crevecœur, and others of the Burgundian leaders, whose names were then the praise and dread of war, rushed devotedly into the conflict; and, while some hastened to bring up more distant troops, to whom the panic had not extended, others threw themselves into the tumult, re-animated the instinct of discipline, and while the Duke toiled in the front like an ordinary man-atarms, brought their men by degrees into array, and dismayed the assailants by the use of their artillery. The conduct of Louis, on the other hand, was that of a calm, collected, sagacious leader, who neither sought nor avoided danger, but shewed so much selfpossession and sagacity, that the Burgundian leaders readily obeyed the orders which he issued.

"The scene was now become in the utmost degree animated and horrible. On the left the suburb, after a fierce contest, had been set on fire, and a wide and dreadful conflagration did-not prevent the burning ruins from being still disputed. On the cen

tre, the French troops, though pressed by immense odds, kept up so close and constant a fire, that the little pleasure-house shone bright with the glancing flashes, as if surrounded with a martyr's crown of flames. On the left, the battle swayed backwards and forwards with varied success, as fresh reinforcements poured out of the town, or were brought forward from the rear of the Burgundian host; and the strife continued with unremitting fury for three mortal hours, which at length brought the dawn, so much desired by the besiegers. The enemy, at this period, seemed to be slacking their efforts upon the right and in the centre, and several discharges of cannon were heard from the Lust-haus.

[ocr errors]

"Go,' said the King, to Le Balafré and Quentin, the instant his ear had caught the sound; they have got up the sakers and falconets-the Lust-haus is safe, blessed be the Holy Virgin !— Tell Dunois to move this way, but rather nearer the city, with all our men-at-arms, excepting what he may leave for the defence of

the house, and cut in between those thick-headed Liegeois on the right and the city, from which they are supplied with recruits.'

"The uncle and nephew galloped off to Dunois and Crawford, who, tired of their defensive war, joyfully obeyed the summons, and, filing out at the head of a gallant body of about two hundred French gentlemen, besides squires, and the greater part of the archers, marched across the field, trampling down the wounded, till they gained the flank of the large body of Liegeois, by whom the right of the Burgundians had been so fiercely assailed. creasing day-light discovered that the enemy were continuing to pour out from the city, either for the purpose of continuing the battle on that point, or of bringing safely off the forces who were already engaged." Vol. III. p. 335.

The in

ART. XI. A Collection of Poems, chiefly Manuscript, and from living Authors. Edited for the Benefit of a Friend, by Joanna Baillie. 8vo. pp. 374. Longman & Co. 1823. It is hardly fair to criticize a collection of poems published by a Lady for the Benefit of a Friend, and we are ready on such occasions to waive our privilege, and leave the unenlightened public, to their own lucubrations. But our present duty is not to censure but to commend, and we have great pleasure in introducing the reader to this curious and agreeable medley. A work which comprises the names of Scott, Campbell, Southey, Wordsworth, Crabb, Rogers, Bowles, and Milman, may be expected to contain pieces of no common merit; while the minor poets among whom the Editor maintains a conspicuous station, will be flattered at seeing their labours in such exalted company. We transcribe by way of specimen, the contributions of Southey and Campbell.

"The Cataract of Lodore, described in Rhymes for the
Nursery, by one of the Lake Poets.

"How does the water come down at Lodore ?

"Here it comes sparkling,
And there it lies darkling ;
Here smoking and frothing,
Its tumult and wrath in,
It hastens along, conflicting strong;
Now striking and raging,

As if a war waging,

Its caverns and rocks among

"Rising and leaping,
Sinking and creeping,
Swelling and flinging,

Showering and springing,
Eddying and whisking,
Spouting and frisking,

Turning and twisting

Around and around,

Collecting, disjecting

With endless rebound:

Smiting and fighting,

A sight to delight in,

Confounding, astounding,

Dizzying and deafening the ear with its sound.

"Receding and speeding,
And shocking and rocking,
And darting and parting,
And threading and spreading,
And whizzing and hissing,
And dripping and skipping,
And whitening and brightening,
And quivering and shivering,
And hitting and splitting,
And shining and twining,

And rattling and battling,
And shaking and quaking,
And pouring and roaring,
And waving and raving,
And tossing and crossing,
And flowing and growing
And running and stunning,
And hurrying and skurrying,
And glittering and frittering,
And gathering and feathering,
And dinning and spinning,
And foaming and roaming,
And dropping and hopping,
And working and jerking,
And guggling and struggling,
And heaving and cleaving,
And thundering and floundering,

And falling and brawling and sprawling,
And driving and riving and striving,

And sprinkling and twinkling and wrinkling,
And sounding and bounding and rounding,
And bubbling and troubling and doubling,
Dividing and gliding and sliding,

And grumbling and rumbling and tumbling,
And clattering and battering and shattering,

And gleaming and streaming and steaming and beaming, And rushing and flushing and brushing and gushing, And flapping and rapping and clapping and slapping, And curling and whirling and purling and twirling, Retreating and beating and meeting and sheeting, Delaying and straying and playing and spraying, Advancing and prancing and glancing and dancing, Recoiling, turmoiling and toiling and boiling,

And thumping and flumping and bumping and jumping,
And dashing and flashing and splashing and clashing,
And so never ending, but always descending,

Sounds and motions for ever and ever are blending,
All at once and all o'er, with a mighty uproar,

And this way the water comes down at Lodore." P. 280.

"To the Rainbow,

"Triumphant arch! that fill'st the sky
When storms prepare to part,

I ask not proud philosophy

To teach me what thou art :

"Still seem, as to my childhood's sight,
A midway station given,

For happy spirits to alight

Betwixt the earth and heaven.

"Can all that optics teach unfold
Thy form to please me so,
As when I dreamt of gems and gold
Hid in thy radiant bow?

"When science from creation's face
Enchantment's veil withdraws,
What lovely visions yield their place
To cold material laws!

"And yet, fair bow! no fabling dreams,
But words of the Most High,

Have told why first thy robe of beams
Was woven in the sky.

"When o'er the green undeluged earth
Heaven's covenant thou did'st shine,
How came the world's grey fathers forth
To watch thy sacred sign!

"And when its yellow lustre smil'd
O'er mountains yet untrod,
Each mother held aloft her child
To bless the bow of God.

« ZurückWeiter »