Perhaps, and no unlikely thought, And in his pocket bring it home. And now, perhaps, is hunting sheep, Who's yon, that, near the waterfall, Which thunders down with headlong force, Beneath the moon yet shining fair, As careless as if nothing were, Sits upright on a feeding horse? Unto his horse, there feeding free, He seems, I think, the rein to give; 'Tis Johnny! Johnny! as I live! And that's the very pony, too! She looks again-her arms are up— And Johnny burrs, and laughs aloud; I cannot tell; but, while he laughs, She pats the pony, where or when You hardly can perceive his joy. Oh! Johnny, never mind the doctor; The pony, Betty, and the boy Wind slowly through the woody dale; Long time lay Susan lost in thought, "Alas! what has become of them? These fears can never be endured: I'll to the wood"-the word scarce said, Did Susan rise up from her bed, As if by magic cured. Away she goes up hill and down, And to the wood at length is come; She spies her friends, she shouts a greeting; As ever was in Christendom. And while they all were travelling home, Now Johnny all night long had heard And thus to Betty's question he William Wordsworth. L THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT. The battle of Agincourt took place on the 25th October, 1415, between Henry V., King of England, and the forces of the French king. Henry was proceeding northwards to Calais in order to secure the safety of his army, which was much reduced and weakened by sickness and fatigue. He was still exposed to great and imminent danger from the enemy, who had also. passed the Somme, and threw themselves full in his way for the purpose of preventing his retreat. After he had passed the small river of Ternois at Blangi, he was surprised to observe from the heights the whole French army drawn up in the plains of Agincourt; and so posted that it was impossible for him to proceed on his march without coming to an engagement. Nothing in appearance could be more unequal than the battle, upon which his safety and all his fortunes now depended. The English army was little more than half the number which had disembarked at Harfleur, and they laboured under every discouragement and necessity. The enemy was four times more numerous, was headed by the Dauphin and all the princes of the blood; and was plentifully supplied with provisions of every kind. Henry's situation was exactly similar to that of Edward III. at Cressy, and that of the Black Prince at Poictiers; and the memory of these great events, inspiring the English with courage, made them hope for a like deliverance from their present difficulties. The king likewise observed the same prudent conduct which had been followed by these great commanders. He drew up his army on a narrow ground between two woods, which guarded cach flank, and patiently expected, in that posture, the attack of the enemy. Had the French constable been able either to reason justly upon the present circumstances of the two armies or to profit by past experience, he would have declined a combat, and waited till necessity, obliging the English to advance, had made them relinquish the advantages of their situation. But the impetuous valour of the nobility, and the vain confidence in superior numbers, brought on this fatal action, which proved the source of infinite calamities to their country. The French archers on horseback, and their men-atarms, crowded in their ranks, advanced upon the English archers, who had fixed palisades in their front to break the impression of the enemy; and who safely plied them from behind that defence with a shower of arrows that nothing could resist. The clayey soil, moistened by some rain which had lately fallen, proved another obstacle to the force of the French cavalry. The wounded men and horses discomposed their ranks. The narrow compass in which they were pent, hindered them from recovering any order. The whole army was a scene of confusion, terror, and dismay; and Henry, perceiving his advantage, ordered the English archers, who were light and not encumbered, to advance upon the enemy, and seize the moment of victory. They fell with their battle-axes upon the French, who, in their present posture, were incapable either of flying or of making defence. They hewed them in pieces without resistance; and being seconded by the men-at-arms, who also pushed on against the enemy, they covered the field with the killed, wounded, dismounted, and overthrown. After all appearance of opposition was over, the English had leisure to make prisoners'; and, having advanced with constant success to the open plain, they there saw the remains of the French rear-guard, which still maintained the appearance of a line of battle. At the same time they heard an alarm from behind. |