A Ballad of Orleans

1429

The fray began at the middle-gate,
Between the night and the day ;
Before the matin bell was rung
The foe was far away.
There was no knight in the land of France
Could gar that foe to flee,
Till up there rose a young maiden,
And drove them to the sea.

Sixty forts around Orleans town,
And sixty forts of stone !
Sixty forts at our gates last night —
To-day there is not one !

Talbot, Suffolk, and Pole are fled
Beyond the Loire, in fear —
Many a captain who would not drink,
Hath drunken deeply there —
Many a captain is fallen and drowned,
And many a knight is dead,
And many die in the misty dawn
While forts are burning red.

The blood ran off our spears all night
As the rain runs off the roofs —
God rest their souls that fell i' the fight
Among our horses' hoofs !
They came to rob us of our own
With sword and spear and lance,
They fell and clutched the stubborn earth,
And bit the dust of France !

We fought across the moonless dark
Against their unseen hands —
A knight came out of Paradise
And fought among our bands.
Fight on, O maiden knight of God,
Fight on and do not tire —
For lo ! the misty break o' the day
Sees all their forts on fire !

Sixty forts around Orleans town,
And sixty forts of stone !
Sixty forts at our gates last night —
To-day there is not one !