Invading at all points the startled foe,—
Now in dead silence, now with battle-cry,
In sunshine or 'mid shadows of the night.
So, from Caucasian cliff or Athos' peak,
Whence far away are seen cloud, land, and sea,
Eagles and vultures on extended wings
Cleave in their rapid flight the wastes immense,
Harry in fields of air the fluttered tribes,
In woods and meadows rend defenceless flocks,
And to dread summits of their mountain-home,
Blood-stained, bear off the torn and shrieking prey."
D'Aumale had already penetrated to the tents of Valois, the surprised besiegers giving way before him, when Bourbon, just landed from England, came on the field:—
"Then in the midst of them was Henry seen,
Flashing like lightning at the tempest's height.
To the front ranks he flies and leads them on,
Death in his hand, his glances thunderbolts;
As bravely followed, he retrieves the day,
And all the rallying chiefs around him throng."
The Leaguers are repulsed. D'Aumale, trying to rally them, is in danger, when an unexpected auxiliary appears. Discord, "the daughter of Hell," arrives in person on the scene, and dreading the loss of so devoted an adherent of herself, covers him with her shield, and withdraws him within the walls of Paris. She then flies to Mayenne, and addressing him as "Thou, bred under my eyes, formed under my laws," bids him be of good cheer. Creating a storm which checks the advance of the Royalists, she hurries on its wing to Rome, where she has an interview with another allegorical personage, Political Intrigue (la Politique), "daughter of Selfishness
