Versos English Michael Drayton Stanza 212

English poem

Stanza 212

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When as their Souldiers to eschew the sack, Gainst their owne Battell bearing in their flight, By their owne French are strongly beaten back: Lest they their Ranks, should haue disord'red quight, So that those men at Armes goe all to wrack Twixt their owne friends, and those with whom they fight, Wherein disorder and destruction seem'd To striue, which should the powerfullest be deem'd.

[Stanza 213: Called of some Guiscard the Daulphine of Aragon.]

And whilst the Daulphine of Auerney cryes, Stay men at Armes, let Fortune doe her worst, And let that Villaine from the field that flyes By Babes yet to be borne, be euer curst: All vnder heauen that we can hope for, lyes On this dayes battell, let me be the first That turn'd yee back vpon your desperate Foes, To saue our Honours, though our lyues we lose.