“Scarce half a league from the city walls,

Lo! swooping down like a fiery blast—

Armed to the teeth, and hot with wrath—

Rank after rank spurring quickly past—

The avengers came of Jacques Enguerrande,

And I felt that his child was safe at last!

“She knew their leader—she shrieked his name—

He halted—I told you what garb I wore,

They thought me a rebel; the little one

With oaths and blows from my arms they tore,