The Angels of Mons - The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War by Arthur Machen
page 14 of 39 (35%)
page 14 of 39 (35%)
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as he did so that the King's ammunition cost money and was not lightly
to be wasted in drilling funny patterns into dead Germans. For as the Latin scholar uttered his invocation he felt something between a shudder and an electric shock pass through his body. The roar of the battle died down in his ears to a gentle murmur; instead of it, he says, he heard a great voice and a shout louder than a thunder-peal crying, "Array, array, array!" His heart grew hot as a burning coal, it grew cold as ice within him, as it seemed to him that a tumult of voices answered to his summons. He heard, or seemed to hear, thousands shouting: "St. George! St. George!" "Ha! messire; ha! sweet Saint, grant us good deliverance!" "St. George for merry England!" "Harow! Harow! Monseigneur St. George, succour us." "Ha! St. George! Ha! St. George! a long bow and a strong bow." "Heaven's Knight, aid us!" And as the soldier heard these voices he saw before him, beyond the trench, a long line of shapes, with a shining about them. They were like men who drew the bow, and with another shout their cloud of arrows flew singing and tingling through the air towards the German hosts. |
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