grew so terrible She strait contracts her vast dilated Size And through Hell's dusky Void she upward flies As when rich Towns great Cost and Art employ In Fire-works to express their publick Joy For some great Vict'ry won by Land or Sea Or on some Prince's Coronation Day The flaming Rockets hizzing fly by Night And fill the Sky with unknown Noise and Light The Sphears amaz'd stand or move slowly on And wonder how the Day returns so soon And what new Stars rise brighter than their own So does the Fiend her Snakes all hissing rise Through the thick haggair'd Air and as she flies Leaves tracks of Light cast from her fiery Eyes And now arriv'd on the grey Coasts of Day Direct to Hoel's Court she takes her way Where she alighted when the Sun had hurl'd His glorious Orb hence to the other World 'T was then when all things look'd as if old Night Had Nature crush'd and seiz'd her ancient Right Whilst Silence Shades and Lights around create Sad solemn Pomp t' express her Death-like state Winds and wild Beasts lye in their Dens at rest Nor these the Woods nor those the Seas molest The sleeping Vultures drop their prey the Dove Ceases her Cooing and forgets to love The Jocond Fairies Dance their silent round And with dark Circles mark the trampled ground Tartarean Forms Skim o're the Mountains Heads Or lightly sweep along the dewy Meads Ghosts leave their Tombs hid Murders to reveal Or Treasures which themselves did once conceal Visions through th' Air and careless Phantoms stray Or round Mens troubled Heads while sleeping play The Fury Alman's Reverend Shape assumes Odin's High Priest and so to Hoel comes For the Priest's Form is fittest to engage Princes in Blood and move destructive Rage Thus chang'd the Fiend such is her Craft appears And thus began just Hoel all those years I liv'd I did with studious Care employ How best I might the Christian Crew destroy I thy great Soul in this blest Cause engag'd Inspir'd with Heats Divine not yet asswag'd I quit Elysian Pleasures to impart What does with greater Joy extend my Heart And will do thine Arthur Curst be that Name Designing Empire and Illustrious Fame Embark'd with Arms fair Albion to invade But by just Heav'n is thy cheap Captive made Pursu'd with Thunder and in Tempests tost At last he 's Shipwreckt on this happy Coast. With his sad Friends he wanders up and down Naked perplext deserted and undone But yet just Heav'n Decrees him greater Harm But saves that Glory for your Zealous Arm. To take his Life must be your Pious Care And with the Gods divided Honour share Thus you their En'my and your own remove Secure your Peace and please the Pow'rs above To Christians this can be no Injury That call for Torments and are pleas'd to Dye They all seem fond to wear the Martyr's Crown And meet the Flames with greater of their own No Rights no Rules of Justice you invade For Ruin's their Profession Death their Trade Go then and grace the Briton that comes on To meet you and receive the Martyr's Crown Remove this Pillar of their Church and all The unsupported Roof will crack and fall Take this Defender of their Faith away The passive Rabble tamely will Obey Their Lives in Sport you may at leisure take They quickly fall that no Resistance make The Gods into your Hands have cast your Foe To take his Life will please Heav'n him and you That said she breath'd her Soul into his Breast And her wild Fury all his Veins possest Infernal Flames Rage in his poison'd Blood And his swoln Heart Boils with th' impetuous Flood The Fiend her Shape of thicken'd Air dissolves And disappears Hoel surpriz'd revolves The welcome message in his Mind and strait Commands his Lords and Guards should on him wait On the first Shooting of the tender Day So eager did he seem to seise the Prey Now was the Eastern Sky-dy'd Purple spread For fair Aurora's Radiant Feet to tread She mounts serene and with mild dawning Light Smiles on the lowring dusky Face of Night That to Victorious Day yields up her Seat Whilst her black Forces silently Retreat As when a Lyon at the dawn of Day Rous'd with fierce Hunger up to Hunt his Prey Stretches his Limbs out Yawns and tries his Paws And for sure Death prepares his cruel Jaws He stands and rolls about his Angry Eyes Lashing his Sides to make his Fury rise Then Scowrs the Hills Ranges the Forrests o're And Thunders thro the Desart with his hideous Roar The Winds all husht sit trembling on the Trees And scarcely Whisper out a gentle Breeze Wolves dare not Howl but grinning softly creep And Leopards stretcht out feign themselves asleep Th' affrighted Herds close in their Covert lye And to escape his Rage with Terrour dye Thus Hoel with infernal Rage possest With fierce desire speeds to the bloody Feast A deadly Storm does on his Forehead lowr Himself his Rage Arthur his Hopes devour Breathing out Death he march'd but at mid-day He stands by Heav'n arrested in his way The Air serene a black thick Cloud appear'd And as it hover'd o're their Heads were heard Celestial Flutes and Harps divinely Strung With Hymns and Hallelujahs Set and Sung By the best Masters of the Quire above With Bliss transported and inspir'd with Love Whilst Hoel and his Friends pleas'd and amaz'd Listen'd and on the Scene descending gaz'd The broken Cloud pours out pure Floods of Light Show'rs of Celestial Rays transcendent bright And Storms of Splendor dazling Mortal Sight Th' illustrious Tempest does on Hoel beat Who falls astonish'd headlong from his Seat Confounded with unsufferable Day Groveling in Glory on the shining Way And with bright Ruin overwhelm'd he lay 'T was then a soft still Heav'nly Voice that broke From out the Cloud to trembling Hoel spoke 'Gainst me what Fury did thy Arms Engage What mov'd thee with inexorable Rage Vain Man to persecute my Saints and Me In vain thou seek'st to baffle Heav'n's Decree Vain is thy Force and impotent thy Hate Too weak thy Arms to stem the Tyde of Fate The Torrent bears thy saint Resistance down Retire or in Eternal Ruin Drown Then Hoel thus O tell me who thou art Great Spirit and thy Will to me impart Tell me if Errour has my Feet misled What safer Paths I may hereafter tread The Voice reply'd I am the Christians God whom you pursue Go meet my Servant Arthur he shall shew At large what thou hast to believe what do The Scene here disappear'd his Lords come round And rais'd reviving Hoel from the Ground Who marches on the British Prince to find And Act not what himself but Heav'n design'd With anxious Thoughts the Vision he revolves And to Obey Heav'n's high Command resolves Whilst to his Lords the Vision he relates They find themselves advanc'd to Conda's Gates Arthur mean time to whom great Raphael's word Unshaken Hopes and Courage did afford Proceeded
light On their curst Heads that should again invite Victorious Kings with Forreign Arms to bless Their Native Country and their Wrongs redress They 'll readily assist your Cause and fight To do to injur'd States and Princes Right But still they keep what by their Arms is won Great Monarchs conquer for themselves alone They want a fair Pretente to seize the Prey They come as Friends but will as Masters stay Thus Albion far'd may Heav'n her Sons restrain From splitting on this fatal Rock again In vain we strove to break the servile Yoke Our impotent Attempts new Wrongs provoke At last no greater Evils left to fear We took fresh Hope and Courage from Despair Fury from Ruin sprung rag'd in our Veins And Death 's seem'd lighter than the Saxon Chains Each free-born Briton thought the Choice more brave To die their Victim than to live their Slave We that could ne'er the Tyrant's Yoke endure Boyl with Revenge now Slaves to Forreign Power King Uter's Breast swells with distracting Rage Whose wounded Soul no Language could asswage Asham'd his Country's Freedom to out-live He takes the Councils Grief and Fury give His Knights together call'd attentive wait While Uter sits on his high Chair of State His troubled Looks reveal'd his inward Wound And Storms of Fury on his Forehead frown'd Who thus began you see what Tides of wo What angry Seas o'er all your Country flow Th' insulting Saxon claims our Land and draws From greater power the Justice of his Cause Thro' all our Towns our Foes triumphant ride Wearing their awful Title by their side They shed your Blood and helpless Maids deflower Exhaust your Treasure and your Land devour A faithless Nation that no Rule of Right Reveres as Sacred but superiour Might We oft our Fate in bloody Fields have try'd But Heav'n has Vict'ry to our Arms deny'd Egyptian Plagues lay wast our ruin'd Land No Moses here holds his controlling Wand Humbly invok'd Heav'n will perhaps relent And of its fierce accustom'd wrath repent Perhaps the Saxons Crimes with louder Cries For greater Vengeance importune the Skies Let us howe'er make one strong Effort more Our Country's Peace and Freedom to restore We 'll take the Field 't will gain us greater Fame To perish there then here with Grief and Shame My British Heart can't brook th' Inglorious Chain I 'll fall with Honour or with Honour reign Tumultuous Passions Wrath Revenge and Shame Invade our Breasts and our gall'd Souls inflame Strait with one Voice we all for Arms declare And every Breast already feels the War Resolv'd to make the vanquish'd Saxons fly Or in the just and brave Attempt to dy With Fury urg'd we part from Uter's sight Resolv'd for Freedom and our Native Right Thro' all the Towns we spread the loud Alarm And animated all our Men to Arm To vindicate their ravish'd Country's cause To banish Forraign Gods and Forraign Laws 'T is strange how soon the Britons Blood was fir'd What Life and Hope their drooping Hearts inspir'd They saw fair Liberty extended ly The Saxon Whips and Torments lying by They view her squallid Face exhausted Veins And beauteous Limbs eat in with rusty Chains They heard her mournful Groans and piercing Cries Her interrupted Sobs and dying Sighs They saw from gaping Wounds the gushing Blood Enrich the Pavement with a noble Flood While Pity Mercy Hope in Sorrow drown'd To finish the sad Scene stood weeping round The Britons rave resolving her defence And vow her Rescue at their Blood 's expence In Albion this fair Emp'ress still obey'd An uncontested Scepter ever sway'd As Universal Soul she Life diffus'd And Warmth to all the heaving Mass infus'd She ever gave to all true Britons Hearts More Vigour than their own warm Blood imparts 'T is quick'ning Liberty that gives us Breath Her Absence more than that of Life is Death Such love to Liberty the Britons show Such were her Charms and may they still be so May never Briton ceasing to be Brave Submit his Neck content to be a Slave May those be doubly curst that would betray Their Country's Freedom to a Forraign Sway. Our Men enrag'd in numerous Bodies meet Arm Arm was heard the Cry in every Street The Ploughman hastens to a nobler Toil Unyokes his Ox and leaves untill'd the Soil Abandons all his Hopes and rustick Care Lays down his Goad and shakes the warlike Spear The Tradesman quits his Shop and takes the Field And makes his thirst of Gain to thirst of Honour yield Arm'd Tenants crowd about their Valiant Lords And full of Courage wave their threat'ning Swords Near Sorbiodunum's stately Walls a Town For Strength and Beauty of the first Renown Whose spacious Plains rich Seas of waving Corn And lowing Herds and woolly Flocks adorn Our Universal Rendezvous was set Where all our Squadrons and Battalions met Mean time the Cautious Saxon was alarm'd And to dispel the gathering Tempest arm'd Octa the famous Hengist's Son a bold And warlike Prince did then the Scepter hold Hengist that did the first our Land invade And brought to Albion his destructive Aid The Fifth from mighty Odin whose great Name Had tir'd the flaggy Wings of weary Fame The Stock from which a Race Illustrious springs Of numerous Hero's and Victorious Kings That founded Empires and that living led Their Conquering Armies and their God when dead They soon the Hills by their long Marches gain And with their Troops o'erspread the spacious Plain We with their hasty March alarm'd prepare To guard our Camp and wait th' approaching War Our Parties now in rude Rencounters try'd Their Courage still th' advantage on our side Th' advancing Host at last appear'd in sight But Toil and wearing Day defer'd the Fight Now Night advancing draws her Sable Train Along the Air and Shades th' Etherial Plain King Uter with his Lords in Council sate Things of th' important Juncture to debate Where Measures were concerted to oppose With warlike Arts and Force th' impending Foes Their Provinces the great Commanders share And from the Council to their Posts repair Where they their Troops dispose and Orders give How the Invading Saxon to receive Encampt we lay on advantageous Ground With strong Entrenchments and high Works around Our chearful Troops great Joy and Courage show And from the Works defy the powerful Foe All things dispos'd with Military Care We wait in Arms th' approach of Day and War Now did the Morn disclose her smiling Ray And from the East let forth th' important Day To bloody Labour all things did invite And sounding Trumpets Martial Heat excite Heav'n's starry Roof resounds with warlike Noise With Horses Thunder and their Riders Voice The Saxons and the Britons stand prepar'd Those to Attack and these their Posts to Guard King Octa leads his numerous Army on And at their Head in dazling Armour shone Drawn on the Right our rang'd Battalions stood Our Left a River Guards the Rear a Wood. Octa here makes his warlike Columns halt
oft Victorious as they fought Fierce Alpine Allobrogs with slaughter fed In Snows and everlasting Winter bred Men of stupendous Bulk pamper'd and cloy'd With Blood of Nations which their Arms destroy'd Arm'd with broad flaming Swords and mighty Spears Their Caps were Wolves their Coats rough Skins of Bears Who stretcht on Beds did n'er their Limbs repose But from the naked ground still vig'rous rose Of Aspect terrible their squallid Face Thick matted Beards with bristly Terrour grace None e'er escap'd that did their Arms provoke They Mow whole Squadrons with a single stroke This monstrous Kind of Men did Fame invent And Arthur's Troops so dreadful represent To raise the Britons Hearts before deprest And strike a Terrour thro' the Saxon's Breast With Joy transported all for Arms declare And all the Accoutrements of War prepare The Shepherds on the Hills forsake their Flocks And leave their brouzing Goats upon the Rocks Instead of Crooks that did their Flocks command Long warlike Spears they brandish in their Hand The British Youth their Courage rais'd rejoyce To see the Banners fly and hear the Trumpet 's Voice The Farmers leave the Hopes their Field afford To reap fresh Laurels with their Conquering Sword The noise of War does from the Hills rebound And midst the Miners Eccho's under ground Who straight alarm'd at nobler Labour Sweat And into Swords their glowing Metal beat Their Forges Anvils and wide Bellows breath Are all employ'd in various kinds of Death Some shape the Halbert and broad Fauchion's Blade And Darts by some and Arrows Heads are made Some forming Battle-Axes heave the Sledge Some into Shields strike out a flaming Wedge To fashion Helmets some the Hammer ply Some labour Pieces for the Leg and Thigh With Lances arm'd some their hot Coursers rein And to the War Curvet along the Plain Some with their clenching Gauntlets grasp the Shield Shake their long Spears and rush into the Field Across their Shoulders some their Quivers hung Their Arrows trim'd and Bows for Death new strung As when black Clouds dark'ning the Summer Sky Loaded with Crystal Tempests slowly fly Th' Artillery discharg'd with mighty Sound Th' exploded Hailstones leap upon the ground Thunder amidst the Woods and from the Hills rebound So with the Britons all the Region swarms So thick their Troops so loud the noise of Arms. The groaning Earth complains and trembling feels The trampling Hoofs and Chariots fervid Wheels In order now Celestial Muse declare What Troops and who those ancient Britons were Who for their Country's Liberty combin'd And their Brigades with Arthur's Forces joyn'd From Time's dark Prisons set the Hero's free And may their glorious Names Immortal be First warlike Cadwall the Dimetians Head His Forces from the neighbouring Region led Their Troops advance from the bleak Northern Shore On which the Hybernian Sea's loud Billows roar And where Octopitarum thro' the Waves Wedging his Way the opposing Ocean braves Fair Maridunum pours her Squadrons forth Where the fam'd Sorc'rer Merlin had his Birth They came who dwelt round high Plinlimmon's Sides Where Stuccia flows and swift Turobius glides King Meridoe the Oordovican leads Down from the British Alps whose snowy Heads Imaus like stand towring in the Air And midst the Stars eternal Winter bear And from the Soil lav'd by Conovius Flood And Menai's Banks where then Segontium stood Great Numbers swarm'd from Mona's noble Isle Deform'd for Aspect but of fertile Soil Where once in shady Groves erected stood The Druids Altars stain'd with humane Blood The Troops their March from Mediolanum take From Helen's Way and the Tegeian Lake Thro' which fair Deva's Streams so swiftly pass They uncorrupted shun th' impure Embrace Here the sublime Mervinian Mountains rise And with sharp-pointed Tops transfix the Skies Next Morogan the bold Silures brought None for their Country's Freedom better fought They bravely Valens and his Troops withstood And dy'd Sabrina's Streams with Roman Blood With like Success Veranius they defeat And forc'd his vanquish'd Eagles to retreat This cause as much their Courage did provoke To free their Country from the Saxon Yoke They take in hast their Swords and Bucklers down And march to meet the Prince from every Town From all the Cities on the verdant side Of Nidus and on Loghor's Crystal Tyde They march from Bovium and the neighboring Shore Thick as the Waves that there insulting roar Down from the Hilly Lands the Britons came Which now th' Inhabitants Brechinia name Where the black Mount stands lofty in the Air And forky Peak since call'd great Arthur's Chair They march from Bulleum Haga and the Lake Where when broad Sheets of Ice dissolving crack The ratling Noise rebounds from Neighb'ring Hills And with loud Thunder all the Region fills From Ariconium and the flowry Space VVhich wanton Vaga's winding Arms embrace Where Lugus his transparent Bosom spreads And where Liddenus murmurs thro' the Meads Where thick Hesperian Woods with Apples crown'd Of golden Hue enrich the Fields around Which the most generous British Wine produce Ausonia scarce affords a nobler Juice They leave the Fields fam'd for the purest Corn And the rich Plains that Wooly Flocks adorn Which bless the Farmer with a nobler Fleece Than what Apulia boasts or fertile Greece They leave the golden Vale and happy Ground Which Dorus laves and lofty Woods surround The warlike Youth from Venta came and those That Muno's Flood and Isca's Streams inclose With those that round the Oazy Moor are bred And near the Golden Rocks refulgent Head Out from her Gates her Youth fair Isca pours Crown'd with gilt Spires rich Domes and lofty Towers Where Golden Roofs and checker'd Floors abound Deep Vaults and spacious Chambers under ground A stately Theater the Town o'erlooks And noble Works convey the neighb'ring Brooks By Conquering Romans built that far from home They might enjoy the Sports and Pomp of Rome Such was the ample City's ancient Fame Now worn by time it scarce preserves its Name Those from Gobanium march a Town that stood On Isca's and Gevini's confluent Flood In cheerful Troops the stout Cornavians came From the rich Soil we now Salopia name From either side of fair Sabrina's Tyde Whose silver Streams the fruitful Land divide From Usocona end the Towns that lay On the fam'd Roman Military way From Uriconium yet a Noble Town And old Rutunium then of good Renown Galbut their Leader at their Head appears A lovely Youth and Wise above his Years Descended from a Noble ancient Race Of Heros who the British Annals grace He by Forefathers Beams Illustrious shone Great by their Deeds but greater by his own Zeal for his Country and the British Cause The generous Youth to glorious Danger draws For this he crost the Ocean to implore Prince Arthur's Arms their Freedom to restore The Prince embrac'd him as his Fav'rite Friend And did his Zeal and Vigilance commend He staid the dear Companion of his Toil Both on the Seas and on th' Armorick Soil And when
Words and potent Verse Th' infernal Charms all Nature did affright The waning Moon straight sickned at the Sight The Hill with Horror trembled and around With howling Wolves the neighb'ring Woods resound Then Storms of Rain ensue swift Lightnings fly And dreadful Thunderclaps torment the Sky Spectres and Ghosts break from their hollow Tomb And glaring round the Necromancer come All Hell was mov'd the Powers drawn from their Seats Arise while Merlin his dire words repeats Whom with his Charms he labours to engage Against the Britons and excites their Rage His powerful Arts incline them to employ United force their Army to destroy But Hell and all its Friends vain Rage express And Curse in vain when Heav'n desires to Bless Merlin his impious Ceremonies done Returns to Octa with the rising Sun Before the Saxon Lords he stood prepar'd To Curse their Foes and merit his Reward When the Magician's Breast an unknown Fire Laps'd from above did suddenly inspire A warmth Divine his Spirits did invade And once a Sorcerer a Prophet made The Heav'nly Fury Merlin did constrain To Bless whom he to Curse design'd in vain How Beautiful the Briton's Tents appear What goodly Heads his Tabernacles Rear As the rich Vales they spread their verdant Pride Or flowry Gardens by the Rivers side As shady Aloes in th' Arabian Woods Or lofty Cedars planted by the Floods Indulgent Heav'n upon the Briton pours Prolifick Dews and sweet refreshing Showers His Seed shall flourish midst surrounding Streams Blest with mild Air and pure reviving Beams His Prince's Glory shall his People's Love And Neighbour Monarchs Fear and Envy move He like a fearless Unicorn shall stand Sure of his strength and all the Fields command Those hostile Nations who oppose his Power He with resistless Fury shall devour He 'll break their crashing Bones his Bow he 'll bend And thro' their Flesh his piercing Arrows send He couches like a Lyon on the Sand Like a vast Lyon in a Desart Land Stretching his fearful Limbs at Ease he lies What Creature dares provoke him to arise Bless him and be of happy Men the first Curse him and thou thy self shalt be accurst He ceas'd King Octa tho incens'd supprest His Trouble and Displeasure in his Breast And to the Sorcerer thus himself addrest By solemn Execrations to devote The Britons to Destruction you were sought But you this impious Nation chuse to Bless And all your Words presage their Arms success Withdraw a second time perhaps you 'll find The Gods by your Enchantments more inclin'd Perhaps some Errour might at first displease A second Essay will the Powers appease The Sorcerer a second time retreats And all his potent Charms with Care repeats He added ev'ry poisonous Juice and Spell He knew had force to shake the Realms of Hell Merlin his impious Rites perform'd returns And acted by Satanick Fury burns All Hell within shook the Magician's Breast But by a Power Divine straight dispossest Th' affrighted Demons fled and in their stead A pure Celestial Spirit did succeed Transports Divine his lab'ring Soul engage And thus he spake mov'd with Prophetick Rage In vain with Divination we assail The Christian Arms where all Enchantments fail Our Curses by the powerful Breath of Heav'n Back on our Heads with fatal Force are driv'n Those God has blest no Guards nor Bulwarks need Nor can their Arms whom he has curst succeed Unchangeably he 's on his Purpose bent Nor do's he like unstable Man repent The Christian Army will prevail that said Observing Octa's Fury rise he fled The King incens'd cry'd curst Magician fly Spite of thy Charms and thee shall Victory And Triumph on the Saxon Arms attend Against such Troops what Signs can ill portend Thy impious Tongue Propitious Heav'n belies And for the Britons forges Prophecies Thy self of British Blood the British Cause Stronger than Wrongs or ev'n Religion draws So oft poor Slaves who to a neighbr'ing State Fly for Protection from a Tyrants Hate If he does War against those Neighbours wage And with his Arms upon their Frontiers rage Joy at th' Oppressor's Conquests and Success Against their own Protector 's they express Octa at this Defeat with Fury burn'd And to his Army with his Lords return'd Amidst his Troops he rode and thus he spoke His Voice high rais'd their Courage to provoke Saxons you now to certain Conquest go To glean the Reliques of a ruin'd Foe The Gods do loudly for your cause declare And call you but to finish their own War Think on the Deeds by your great Nation done The Towns they took their glorious Battels won And the Rich Countries by their Arms o'er run From this fair Island shall the Britons chase From these sweet Fields great Odin's warlike Race From these sweet Fields for which our Leaders fought Which with the noblest Saxon Blood were bought Shall we with ignominious Flight retreat O'er the rough Main to seek some milder Seat Or shall we back to our cold Region go To hide in Caves and dwell in Hills of Snow Can my victorious Friends the Britons dread Who from your conquering Arms so oft have fled A vanquish'd Nation by an Exile led Appear like Saxons add this Conquest more To all th' immortal Laurels won before Thus you 'll the Grounds of lasting Empire lay And still the Briton shall your Laws obey Vain with Success at Sea they draw their Swords And for Dominion strive with us their Lords Let now your Arms chastise their wanton Pride And then in unmolested Peace abide He said and brandish'd high his threatning Launce And springing forward bids his Men advance Now from the Hills th' embattel'd Saxon Swarms And covers all the Plain with hostile Arms. As when the great Commanders Orders give To quit the straight Dominions of their Hive The Bees pour out a numerous Colony From their sweet Cells the busie Youth on high Wheel in the Air and darken all the Sky While brazen Pans charm and compose their Heat In some tall neighb'ring Tree they fix their Seat Thither th' unnumber'd Vulgar straight resort And clustring Crowds surround their Monarch's Court. So thick the Saxons on the Field appear Following their Leader with an endless Rear The gloomy Throngs look terrible from far Disclosing slow the horrid Face of War The thick Battalions move in dreadful Form As lowring Clouds advance before a Storm So when the Sea grown black the hazy Sky And rising Winds foretel a Tempest nigh Th' experienc'd Mariners with hasty care Furl their spread Sails and for a Storm prepare Straight in the black Horizon to the Skies The dusky Billows threat'ning Heads arise Th' unnumber'd Troops upon each others throng And with a gloomy Aspect march along Advancing they their boundless Front extend O'er all the Main and fearful Wreck portend The Saxon Host thus in its March appears And where it came thick Groves of bristling Spears Broad Iron Backs and Breast-plates brazen Shields Mail-Coats and burnish'd Helms o'erspread the