Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/83

 Was won, and those who had escaped the carnage Had yielded up their arms, it was most foul On his defenceless prisoners to glut 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; 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 God 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