Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/33

 But when he told of those fierce sons of guilt That o'er this earth which God had fram'd so fair Spread desolation, and its wood-crown'd hills Make echo to the merciless war dog's howl; And how himself from such foul savagery Had scarce escap'd with life, then his stretch'd arm Seem'd, as it wielded the resistless sword Of Vengeance: in his eager eye the soul Was eloquent; warm glow'd his manly cheek; And beat against his side the indignant heart.

"Meantime autumnal gales had swept the grove, And to the cold blast now the sullen oak Spread his unfoliag'd arms; the cloud-clad sky Frown'd o'er the drear and melancholy scene. At length the snows fell fast, and drifting deep Choak'd up the road; yet felt not Theodore One tedious hour of all the live-long day. Oh! he would sit and mark the driving storm, Whilst o'er the high-heap'd hearth, of a bad world "And