the Saxon and the British Fleet A dreadful day did on the Ocean meet By Arthur's side upon the Deck he stood Distain'd with scatter'd Brains and reeking Blood The Youth at danger unconcern'd appear'd And nothing but his Country's Suff'rings fear'd He leap'd out first on the Dimetian Strand And welcom'd Arthur to his Native Land Where taking leave he to his Country came To Head his Men and win yet greater Fame Devana sends brave Troops a noble Town For lofty Works and splendid Structures known Where once the Roman Conquerours did reside And envy'd not Italia's Wealth and Pride The bold Inhabitants on Deva's Bank And they who Danus and Merseia drank With those that had their Seats along the Soil Which Briny Riches gives with easie Toil Draw out and Muster on the Neighb'ring Plain Resolv'd the British Honour to regain Bothan their Captain was a Warlike Knight A brave Asserter of his Country's Right A noble but ungovernable Fire Such is the Hero's did his Breast inspire His honest Rage his Friends could scarcely Rule Hot for the Camp but not for Counsel Cool Fit to assist to pull a Tyrant down But not to please the Prince that mounts the Throne Impatient of Oppression still he stood His Country's Mounds against th' invading Flood Impetuous as a Tempest in its Course He not to Conduct trusted but to Force Unskill'd in Court Intreagues on which the wise And crafty Statesman as his strength relies He still expected that a loud Applause Should follow Brav'ry and a Righteous Cause His Country prais'd him no Britannick Lord Was as his People's Patron more ador'd And Now in Arms they throng about their Head None to the Prince such numerous Forces led The Coritanians that the Soil possest By fair Darventio's fruitful Waters blest And Repandunum where clear Trenta's Tide Do's into Dovo's silver Bosome glide Those near high Peak in heavenly Waters drown'd And in the Dale which craggy Rocks surround Their Zeal and Courage rais'd by loud Alarms Forsook their Seats and Fields and flew to Arms. These valiant Men that Fame and Freedom sought To join the Prince's Arms Canvallo brought Noble Canvallo who did with him bring The Majesty and Presence of a King Of lofty Stature and a graceful Air By 's own Sex fear'd and favour'd by the Fair. Th' Inglorious Pleasures of the wanton Court That drain'd his Wealth did not the Patriot hurt Fit for the Camp or Business of the State But soft Enjoyments Love to both abate Alarm'd with Publick Danger he arose Like a rous'd Lyon from his long Repose Arm'd and equip'd with gaeat Magnificence He mounts his fiery Turk bought at a vast Expence His princely Train and splendid Equipage Wher'ere he past the Eyes of all engag'd The Atrebatians From the happy Land Which then sublime Gallena did command Where winding Thamisis does bless the Soil The Wealth and Glory of the British Isle In War-like Bands advance to Arthur's Aid And rich Bertudor as their Head obey'd Who still against the Pagan Interest strove Rich in Possessions and his People's Love His happy Tenants and the Farmers round His Hospitable House still open found Each Week ten Oxen from the Stall he drew A hundred Sheep and forty Swine he slew Fat Venison Fowl and Fish an endless Store To feed his Guests his Servants and the Poor He to the Woods and Forrests was inclin'd To hunt the Fox and chase the flying Hind Pleas'd with his Friends and with his rural Sport He wisely shun'd the Dangers of the Court But for the Christian Cause and publick Peace He quits the Forrests and his Wealth and Ease His Helmet brac'd and on his Arm his Shield He march'd before his Troops into the Field And that my Verse may to his Name be just Of all the Lords Bertudor was the first That to the Camp his valiant Forces brought Tho' not inur'd to War and tho' remote The Durotriges from the western Coast Where the Britannick Ocean's Waves are tost Their Troops assembled for the Prince declare And march from all the Towns to meet the War From Dornavaria and the Seats that stand On Froma's Stream and wealthy Blackmoor Land From Vendogladia and the Tow'rs that rose On the fat Glebe where pleasant Stourus flows Sakil their Leader an Illustrious Peer Was to his Prince and to his Country dear He their Maecenas cheers the British Bards Learns them to Sing and then their Songs rewards So Heav'n to makes Men good does Grace bestow And then rewards them for their being so Him as their Head the Athenian Sons adore The Muses Fav'rite but the People's more To form great Men his Palace was the School His Life good Breeding's and good Nature's Rule To him the needy Men of Wit resort And find a Friend in an unletter'd Court The Poets Nation did Obsequious wait For the kind Dole divided at his Gate Laurus amidst the meagre Crowd appear'd An old revolted unbelieving Bard Who throng'd and shov'd and prest and would be heard Distinguish'd by his louder craving Tone So well to all the Muses Patrons known He did the Voice of modest Poets drown Sakil's high Roof the Muses Palace rung With endless Cries and endless Songs he sung To bless good Sakil Laurus would be first But Sakil's Prince and Sakil's God he curst Sakil without distinction threw his Bread Despis'd the Flatt'rer but the Poet fed His Sword the Muses great Defender draws T' assert Britannia's and Religion's Cause Orson their Head the bold Brigantes brings Subject of late to the North-Saxon Kings Now for their Liberty they boldly speak And thro' the Foe to joyn Prince Arthur break Osron's Example all the Region fir'd With noble Heats and Martial Thoughts inspir'd None in the Field did greater Courage show Whither he charg'd or else sustain'd the Foe Yet none more fit in Council to preside And in a Storm the lab'ring State to guide A mighty Genius of uncommon Mould As Caesar Eloquent as Caesar Bold He could th' unstable People's Tumults stop And a declining Kingdom underprop Matur'd by Age and business of the State The hoary Oracle in Council sate Where he the British Nestor was esteem'd And all his Language Inspiration seem'd This finish'd Statesman did the Prince perswade To pass the Seas the Saxon to invade And at his Landing quick Assistance brought And for his Country none more bravely fought The farthest Western Soil which with their Wave The British and Hibernian Oceans lave From Isca's Noble Stream far as the Shore Where round Bolerium's Head the Billows roar By the Danmonian Britons was possest And with King Cador's temperate Empire blest This war-like People at their King's Command Now take up Arms and muster thro' the Land The good King Cador worn with War and Age No longer does the Foe in Arms engage Macor his Son supply'd the Father's Place Whose Virtues equal'd his Illustrious Race To serve Prince Arthur and his righteous Cause His Sword the brave Danmonian Hero draws A beauteous
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
Ground 'T was then a wondrous Heav'nly Voice I heard The words were these but no blest Face appear'd 'Gainst me what Fury does thy Arms engage What moves thee with inexorable Rage Vain Man to persecute my Saints and me In vain thou striv'st to baffle Heav'n's Decree Vain is thy Force and Impotent thy Hate Too weak thy Arms to stem the Tide of Fate The Torrent bears thy faint Resistance down Retire or in Eternal Ruin drown I strait cry'd out O tell me who thou art Great Spirit and thy Will to me impart Tell me if Error has my Feet misled What safer Paths I may hereafter tread The Voice reply'd I am the Christians God whom you pursue Go find my Servant Arthur he shall shew At large what thou hast to believe what do Prince Arthur paus'd a while then Silence broke And friendly thus th' Armoric King bespoke Th' Eternal's Providence I must adore That has compell'd me to th' Armoric Shore That I might here serve such a glorious End And to the Christian Cause gain such a Friend Goodness Divine King Hoel does invite By Miracles t' enjoy Celestial Light Cast on your Coasts with Pleasure I will stay To aid and guide you in your Heav'nly way To whom th' Armoric Monarch thus Reply'd VVhile we to Nannetum together ride Instruct O Pious Prince my willing Mind It is a task your God has you design'd Unfold his Heav'nly Will and let me know What Worship to him what Belief I owe. To whom the Prince this favour must I ask Before I undertake the pious Task That you 'll dispatch your Servants to the Coast To seek my Friends out in the Tempest lost And if by chance cast on th' Armoric Shore They wander up and down distress'd and poor Your angry Subjects may not them annoy Nor with devouring Flames their Ships destroy This Friendship shewn I 'll with a cheerful Mind Attempt the Task by you and Heav'n enjoyn'd When the past Night did with her dusky Train Advance o'er shadowing all th' Aierial Plain A sudden Transport did my Soul engage And all my Limbs shook with the sacred Rage Straight caught up from the Body through the Skies To the third Heav'n my ravish'd Soul did rise Where Things ineffable I saw and heard Divine Instruction which my Mind prepar'd To aid you in your Heav'nly Way and shew What Worship to th' Eternal Mind is due Straight Hoel to the Shores his Servants sent Who might the Harms that Arthur fear'd prevent Who might the hapless Britons kindly treat And safe conduct them to his Royal Seat Such Love the King to Arthur's Friends exprest Who now prepar'd t' obey the King's Request Prince Arthur BOOK II. ATtentive Hoel's Eyes on Arthur's Face Were fixt who thus began with God-like grace Before th' unshaken Pillars of the Earth Were Reer'd before prolifick Nature's Birth Before the Register of Time begun Or Heav'n's bright Forces throng'd about the Sun Was a wild Void that no set Bounds restrain'd Where Silence Night and Desolation reign'd Where yet no glimmering track of Light appear'd No Discord yet or Harmony was heard From Ages past lay in th' Eternal's Mind A finish'd Model of a World design'd To be Erected by Almighty Hands VVhere now this Round Capacious Fabrick stands The deep Foundations laid in Heav'n they said A strange new World was making Fame soon spread The tydings through the Palaces of Bliss To see a work so wonderful as this Millions of Angels to Heav'n's Turrets fly And on the Crystal Terras of the Sky Stood in bright Throngs and on Creation gaz'd And at the Sight were ravish'd and amaz'd Almighty Vigour strove through all the Void And such prolifick Influence employ'd That ancient barren Night did pregnant grow And quicken'd with the World in Embrio The struggling Seeds of unshap'd Matter ly Contending in her Womb for Victory No Order Form or Parts distinct and clear Did in the Crude Conception yet appear Thick Darkness did the unripe Light Embrace That faintly glanc'd on Chaos shady Face The unfledg'd Fire has no bright Wings to rise But scarce distinguish'd with the Water lies It 's sprightly ruddy Youth not yet attain'd The glitt'ring Seeds Mother of Fire remain'd Like golden Sands thick scatter'd on the Shore Of the wild Deep and shone in burning Oar. In glowing Heaps the Stars lay dusky bright Rude and unpolish'd Balls of unwrought Light The Sphears pil'd up about their Poles were Furl'd Design'd the Swadling Bands of th' Infant World The Sky dispers'd lay in Etherial Oar And azure Veins betray'd th' Empyreal Store The watry Treasures in th' unfashion'd Birth Lay in the rough Embraces of the Earth But at the great Command will Thaw and throw The Dross off and like melted Metals flow Besides vast numbers of loose Atoms stray And in the restless Deep of Chaos play In dark Encounters they for Empire strive And gain what Chance and wild Confusion give Which joyntly here possess the Sov'raign Sway Pleas'd with those Subjects most that least Obey Order a banish'd Rebel flies the Place And Strife and Uproar fill the noisy Space Tumult and Misrule please at Chaos Court And everlasting Wars his Throne Support Troops arm'd with Heat have here a Battel won But Moist and Cold the Victor soon dethrone Here heavier Seeds rush on in numerous Swarms And crush their Lighter Foes with pond'rous Arms. The Lighter strait Command with equal Pride And on wild Whirlwinds in mad Triumph ride None long submits to a Superiour Power Each yields and in his turn is Conquerour If some grown mild from fierce Contention cease And with calm Neighbours court a separate Peace If Truce they make and in kind Leagues combine Their short Embraces some rude Shocks disjoyn Th' Eternal's Voice compos'd these Atoms jars And justling Elements intestine Wars He sets imprison'd Heat and Vigour free And suits and ranges Natures that agree He through the Mass a mighty Ferment spread And where it came mis-shap'd Confusion fled Dark Chaos now throws off his gloomy Face Puts on fresh Beauty and a Heav'nly Grace Th' Almighty spake and strait the Sprightly Light With lovely Looks broke from th' Abyss of Night On Golden Wings it mounts and in its way Its Smiles diffuse new Morn and unripe Day Aloft vast spreading Sheets of Ether rise Matter for Sphears and pure transparent Skies The Sky that for its Compass scarce finds room Spun thin and wove on Nature's finest Loom The new-born World in its soft Bosom wraps And all around its Starry Mantle laps The Sun 's vast Globe that till the Birth of Day All Rough and Cloudy in wild Chaos lay Well wrought and polish'd is advanc'd on high The vagrant Beams that stray'd about the Sky Now becken'd by Creating Power obey And the bright Forces hither hast away Then hov'ring on the Spungy Globe they wait And round their new appointed Mansion fate The thirsty Orb drinks in the liquid Beams And now but one vast Sea of Glory
grown And Arthur led an Army of his own Ten times the Sun had pass'd his oblique way By turns contracting and increasing Day Darting to either Pole a warmer Ray. And now the British Lords who though opprest The Western Region of their Isle possest Whither retreating they remain'd secure And from their Hills defy'd the Saxon Power Encourag'd by his war-like Fame invite The Valiant Arthur to assert his Right To make a bold Descent upon their Coast And win the Regions back that Uter lost Ten chosen Orators were straight dispatcht The chief whose charming Tongue was never matcht Was the great Tylon whose Immortal Worth Raises to Heav'n the Isle that gave him Birth A sacred Man a venerable Priest Who never spake and Admiration mist. Of Good and Kind he the just Standard seem'd Dear to the Best and by the worst esteem'd A generous Love diffus'd to Humane Kind Divine Compassion Mercy unconfin'd Still reign'd Triumphant in his God-like Mind Greatness and Modesty their Wars compose Between them here a perfect Friendship grows His Wit his Judgment Learning equal rise Divinely humble yet Divinely Wise. He seem'd Express on Heav'n's high Errand sent As Moses Meek as Aaron Eloquent Nectar Divine flows from his Heav'nly Tongue And on his Lips charming Perswasion hung When he the sacred Oracles reveal'd Our ravish'd Souls in blest Enchantments held Seem'd lost in Transports of Immortal Bliss No simple Man could ever speak like this Arm'd with Celestial Fire his sacred Darts Glide thro' our Breasts and melt our yielding Hearts So Southern Breezes and the Spring 's mild Ray Unbind the Glebe and thaw the Frozen Clay He triumph'd o'er our Souls and at his Will Bid this touch'd Passion rise and that be still Wolves Tygers grisly Lyons did admire As Poets feign Orpheus's melodious Lyre Charm'd with sweet Tylon's Voice a Kind more wild More fierce and savage grow divinely Mild. Lord of our Passions he with wondrous Art Can strike the secret movements of our Heart Release our Souls and make them soar above Wing'd with Divine Desires and Flames of Heav'nly Love He still convey'd sublime Seraphick Sense In unaffected Strains of Eloquence Easie and wonderful is all he says Does both Delight and Admiration raise His pious Soul did in sad Accents mourn Britannia's Chains and Pagan Gods return But hop'd kind Heav'n would free by Arthur's hand Of Barb'rous Laws and Gods th' afflicted Land With the great Tylon young Pollandor went Fam'd for his Valour and of high Descent With these wise Galbut and Mordennan joyn Whose Virtues vye with their Illustrious Line Valiant Giralden worn with War and Age Does in th' Important Embassy engage Gisan was added a Dobunian Knight Bold in the Senate and as Brave in Fight Hobar Mansellan Cadel Milo Skill'd In Arms and Eloquence the number fill'd Such Orators they chose fit to excite The Pious Arthur and his Arms invite Thus Tylon to the pious Prince addrest And found the passage open to his Breast Britannia crush'd beneath the Saxon Yoke Does with her mournful Prayer your Arms invoke Enslav'd by Forraign Power Distrest Undone She sues for Aid to you her Valiant Son And hopes for Succour from your Sword alone Octa all Right and ancient Law subverts And uncontroul'd Tyrannick Power asserts His Lawless Will grasps Arbitrary Sway And British Slaves without Reserve Obey The sacred Bounds and Lines which Right and Law Round all those just and happy Kingdoms draw Which from the Wast of Tyranny they gain Where Uproar Rage and wild Confusion reign These broken down Octa does open lay And throw the goodly Island up a Prey To Furies that in lawless Kingdoms stray Britannia by the Conquerour ravish'd first Then giv'n to Priests and Soldiers raging Lust Wretched Britannia sunk in deep Despair Beats her white Breasts and tears her golden Hair Dying with Anger Shame and Grief she lies And Floods of Tears gush from her beauteous Eyes Which swell the silver Tide of mournful Thames And grieve old Ocean with the troubled Srreams Hear pious Prince how to the Neustrian Shore Complaining Waves roll the sad Treasure o'er How murmuring Winds wast o'er Britannia's Sighs Can Arthur disregard his Countries Cries With words like these and such a moving Art As can't be told he touch'd the Prince's Heart With so much Life he spake sad Albion's Moans We thought we felt her smart and heard her Groans Nor did the pious Prince their Prayer oppose But soon resolv'd to ease Britannia's Woes To Odar he reveal'd his high Intent Who Ships and Men and Arms rejoycing lent Supplying all things our Descent requir'd And heaping Gifts more than our selves desir'd Our Ships prepared with chearful Zeal and Care We went on Board and soon embark'd the War Our Anchors weighed and Topsails loos'd a Gale Sprang up and swell'd the Womb of every Sail. Old Ocean pleas'd our bounding Vessels laves That with sharp Keels cut thro' the foaming Waves Th' astonish'd Saxons see and fear from far The long Succession of the Sailing War They spread thro' all the Isle the loud Alarm And trembling Octa hasts his Men to Arm. We Sail'd not long before the Sea ran high And gathering Clouds deform'd the lowring Sky The fearful Storm arose wherein we lost Th' extinguish'd Day and on the Billows tost We drove till forc'd upon th' Armoric Coast. He ceas'd and now the Shades of wearing Night Did the pleas'd Audience to their Rest invite Prince Arthur BOOK V. LOvely Aurora makes a mild Essay With glimm'ring Dawn to introduce the Day Her rosie Steps the Sun pursues and Spreads His smiling Glories on the Mountains Heads The Princes rose and Hoel thus exprest His friendly Passion to his Royal Guest Your Virtues shew you are by Heav'n design'd A great Deliv'rer of opprest Mankind You give to Realms with Wars molested Peace And from their Chains tormented Slaves release Fair Liberty's and blest Religion's Cause Reviving Hopes from your Protection draws Your prosp'rous Arms invading Plagues repel And monstrous Gods and monstrous Tyrants quell King Odar's Realm and mine you save in his You settle Peace and Truth divine in this And now compassion arms your valiant Hand To free from barbarous Rage your native Land To vanquish Pagan Darkness and display Immortal Light and pure Etherial Day My self will here abide and Succours lend O'er all the Realm Christ's Empire to extend Conan my Son shall on your Triumphs wait And when return'd your glorious Deeds relate I 'll now command that with incessant Care My Men assist your Losses to repair Then I 'll conduct you to the Druids Grove Which Men of heav'nly Contemplation love Where solemn Walks and awful shade invite Compos'd Devotion and Divine Delight Exclude the Sun's to let in purer Light There with your pious Conversation blest New Light will fill my Mind new Joy my Breast The Orders giv'n the Navy's Wants requir'd The Princes to the Druids Grove retired Where Arthur's Language did the King inspire With holy Transports
and Seraphick Fire Mean time th' Armoricans and Britons meet All Zealous to Equip the shatter'd Fleet. Part to the Groves and woody Hills repair And with loud Labour fill the ecchoing Air. Axes high rais'd by brawny Arms descend With mighty Sway and make the Forrest bend The Mountains murmur and the nodding Oakes Groan with their Wounds from thick redoubled Strokes The falling Trees desert the neighbouring Sky Where now the Clouds may unmolested fly A shady Harvest lies disperst around And lofty Ruin loads th' encumber'd Ground Part the hewn Trees draw down with wondrous Toil T' enrich the Ocean with the Mountains Spoil So fast they came and in such Order stood As Orpheus Lyre had call'd th' obsequious Wood From their fixt Seats to dance upon the Flood Part raise the Masts now to be shaken more With furious Winds then on their Hills before Part shape new Ribs and with industrious Care Ships broken Backs and ghastly Wounds repair Part their bruis'd Sides anoint with unctious Pitch Part the carv'd Sterns with Paint and Gold enrich Part Cables twist part smear'd with Smoak and Sweat With vast Cyclopian Strokes huge Anchors beat While thus the Britons did their Ships repair Th' Infernal Prince enrag'd and wreckt with Care Swift as exploded Lightning from the Skies A second time to Lapland Mountains flies Where the rough Monarch's noisy Palace stands Whose awful Nod the raging Winds commands To him thus Lucifer kind Prince to you A second time I for Assistance sue The cursed Prince that by your high Command Your furious Subjects drove on Hoel's Land Aided by Hoel does his Fleet repair Ready to Albion to transport the War Let adverse Winds blow on the troubled Main Retard their Project and their Ships detain Till Octa has prepar'd his warlike Fleet The proud Invader on the Seas to meet He ceas'd the Emperor of the Winds replies When you shall ask what rebel Power denies Your Realms you rule with uncontested Sway Your Post is to command mine to obey That said he calls his wandring Subjects home Eurus and Notus straight obedient come Last sluggish Auster to his Den with wet And flabby Wings does heavily retreat To whom their Prince let now your Labours cease Indulge your Wings be reconcil'd to Peace Close in your Darksome Prisons sleeping lie To gain more Breath to blow more Strength to fly Then down their howling Throats black Sops he threw Of Poppies and cold Nightshade made that grew On the dark Banks where Lethe's lazy Deep Does its black Stores and drousie Treasure keep Rolls its slow Flood and rocks the nodding Waves asleep The strong Enchantments quick Admission find And the wild Rout benumming Fetters bind They murmur in their Sleep and strive in vain To spurn away th' unweildy leaden Chain Then calling Boreas says fly Boreas fly Blow o'er the Lands and on the Billows lie Make hast and to th' Armoric Coast repair Be thine the spacious Empire of the Air. Unrivall'd unmolested Reign alone Till all thy Force is spent and all thy Breath is gone No Hostile windy Powers contest thy Reign And uncontroll'd Dominion of the Main Scarce had he ended when up Boreas springs And thro' the Air spreads out his furious Wings He o'er warm Climes diffuses Northern Spoils And the cold Treasures of the frozen Isles With blustring War he frights old Ocean's Court Buffets the Waves and raises Storms in Sport In vain th' impatient Britons spread their Sails Loud Boreas keeps them back with adverse Gales Proud Lucifer urg'd with his Rage and Spight Back to Britannia takes his airy Flight To find the Saxon Monarch and inspire His trembling Soul with fresh Infernal Fire And now the Night does her black Throne ascend And dusky Shades her silent State attend While pale-fac'd Cynthia with her starry Train Dart down their trembling Lustre on the Main The weary Lab'rers their stiff Limbs repose And Sleep's soft Hand their drowsie Eyelids close All Rest enjoy but Octa anxious lay Wakeful and longing for returning Day His dreadful Crimes affright his startled Soul And in his Breast black Tides of Horrour roll Dire Shapes and staring Ghosts pass threatning by And Streaks of Fire across th' Apartment fly He hears the Shreaks of those his bloody Hand Had murder'd or that dy'd by his Command He hears the Widdows Sighs and Orphans Moans Himself had made and tortur'd Pris'ners Groans The Grounds of pale Despair he sometimes draws From Arthur's Valour and his Righteous Cause Sometimes he fears his injur'd Subjects Rage Their vengeful Arms against him will engage Then starts and thinks he hears Prince Arthur's Fleet Is on the Coast proclaim'd in every Street Then Lucifer does Odin's Shape assume And with Stern Grace enters King Octa's Room His vig'rous Limbs had dazling Armour on And round his Head his polish'd Helmet shone His conquering Sword hung down with awful Grace And Scars of Honour seam'd his manly Face His warlike Hand grip'd his Vulcanian Shield With rare Devices pourtray'd on the Field With Martial State he strides along the Room And shakes at every Step his lofty Plume Advancing to the Bed where Octa lay He spake Son Octa from celestial Day From the blest Groves and mild Elysian Seats Thy Father Odin to thy Aid retreats To ease thy restless Mind of anxious Cares Support thy Hopes and dissipate thy Fears Stand thou unmov'd at Arthur's proud Alarms Conquest attends thine and thy Saxons Arms. He 'll sink beneath the Sea's insulting Wave Or Landing find on Shore a surer Grave Think on the Spoils and Trophies you have born And spreading Laurels on your Temples worn Let none that 's sprung from my Victorious Race At Danger shrink and my great Stock debase Go hast thy Royal Navy to prepare Let Ships with Ships encounter War with War On the wide Main th'Invader's Fleet oppose Better to meet than here expect your Foes Go Chase their scatter'd Navy o'er the Deep And thus in Peace thy envy'd Empire keep He ceas'd and with Majestick Pace retir'd And left King Octa with fresh Life inspir'd Who with the Sun arose resolv'd to meet With all his Naval Power Prince Arthur's Fleet. He gave Command the Captains straight resort To their tall Ships and leave the wanton Court A forward Zeal the busie Sailors shew Some mend old Ships and some Equip the new With flaming Reeds some their pitch'd Bellies fry Some hoist the Yards and Canvas Wings apply Some from its Cradle launch a rocking Hull Some at the Cables strain and howling pull Vast Anchors up some Stores and Arms entomb And stow with hidden War the Ship 's dark Womb. The Shores around and all the Oazy Soil Resound with Clamour and the Sailors Toil. Well Rigg'd and Mann'd the Ships from every Port To their appointed Rendezvous resort The Rivers disembogue besides their Flood Into the Seas a lofty painted Wood. And now the Moon had twice the silver Field Of her fair Orb with borrow'd Glory fill'd Since the uneasie