Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A28298
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Prince Arthur an heroick poem in ten books / by Richard Blackmore ...
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Blackmore, Richard, Sir, d. 1729.
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1695
(1695)
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Wing B3080; ESTC R23258
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151,284
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320
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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
Youth whose Breast a strong desire Of Fame and Martial Glory did inspire Eager of War he the Danmonians led And shone in splendid Armour at their Head His coming Joy to all the Britons gives And in his Arms the Prince his Friend receives To whom to be endear'd he always strove By all expressions of Respect and Love The Valiant Youth he did with Honours grace To his high Merit due and noble Race Macor mean time Prince Arthur did adore None serv'd his Cause or sought his Favour more Tracar and Ormes in the Camp arrive Whose Presence to the rest fresh Courage give Their Wisdom was by Fame aloud proclaim'd The Britons none with greater Honour nam'd Both fit about a Monarch to abide To aid his Counsels and the State to guide None more admir'd for clear unerring Sense For Piercing Sight and charming Eloquence Great Spirits both but of a different Mould Ormes impetuous Turbulent and Bold But Tracar was compos'd sedate and cool His Passions subject to a stricter Rule Ormes was haughty inaccessible And knew his Riches and his Sense too well Tracar was courteous easie of Access Of great Humanity and mild Address Ormes was therefore honour'd not desir'd Tracar belov'd and equally admir'd Ormes would still advance unbounded Power Tracar his Country's Liberty secure Tracar had Letters Ormes Native Fire Both had by Birth what Labour can't acquire Arthur to neither Rival Wit inclines But us'd them both to serve his wise Designs Such Love the Britons to the Prince exprest Who when he found his Numbers thus encreast Advanc'd his Ensigns and to Isca came Where the Silures dwelt the chief for Fame Hither fresh Squadrons to the Prince resort Which from that time is call'd great Arthur's Court Five times the Sun had his Diurnal Race Compleated when from this delightful place The pious Prince his Ensigns mov'd and came To Glevum seated on Sabrina's Stream Decamping hence his arm'd Battalions gain Prince Arthur at their Head the fertile Plain By easie Marches where Gallena stood Which Thamisis laves with its noble Flood Thus stood the Britons after his Defeat Octa with Grief did to his Coasts Retreat As when by chance a Royal Eagle spies From some high Mountains Top amidst the Skies A flight of Swans obscuring all the Air Swift as the Lightning which he 's said to bear Upon the Prey his Airy Flight he takes And with sharp Pounces vast Destruction makes Some fall struck dead some wounded slowly fly While Snowy Clouds of Feathers fill the Sky Those that the fierce Invader's Strokes survive With all the speed Fear to their Wings can give To their belov'd Cayster's Banks return And in their reedy Seats their Wounds and Losses mourn So far'd the Saxons and their shatter'd Fleet Octa forthwith Commands his Lords to meet In Council where they in long order sate T' advise what best might save their threaten'd State Cissa first spoke an able Counsellour Let us assemble all our present power And straight advance the Britons to Attack Who to our Arms can small Resistance make Sore with their Wounds and weary with their Toil They tempt the Saxons to an easie Spoil Boldly fall on before their Troops are eas'd With Food and Rest and with Recruits increas'd Your Wisdom thus and Courage will appear Who tho defeated have not learn'd to fear The Foe surpriz'd must to your Mercy yield Or to their Ships Retreating quit the Field He ceas'd then Osred who had always won By his wise Counsel great Applause begun Our late Defeat has too much Terrour strook Thro' all our Troops too much our Empire shook And too much flesh'd the Foe to let me joyn In this Advice my Counsels more incline To draw into the Field our utmost Power From all the Saxon States and to secure Our Empire let us labour to perswade The Pict and Scotish King to give us Aid The Cause and Interest is the same of all They and their Gods if we are crush'd must fall Our Arms united in a numerous Host We may before of certain Conquest boast The trembling Foe unable to withstand Such mighty Armies will forsake the Land But if supported with vain hopes they stay They fall into our hands an easie Prey Pascentius next a wise Nestorian head Whose Looks and Words profound Attention bred Thus spoke -- 't is true our Troops while thus dismay'd And of Prince Arthur's Fame and Arms afraid From present Action justly may disswade Seeking the Foe we too great Danger run Embolden'd by his Victory lately won And thus far Osred's Thoughts and mine you see Conspire as in the rest they disagree If with our utmost Force we meet our Foes To too much hazard we our State expose Th' uncertain Game of War they little know That Stake an Empire on a single Throw While we delay to gather all our Force And to the Picts and Scots shall have recourse Prince Arthur will advance and mightier grow Like rolling Balls that gather up the Snow Or Rivers taking Streams in as they flow The Britons led by ancient Prophecies Expect that near this time a Prince shall rise Heroick Wise a mighty Conqueror That all their lost Dominions shall restore And o'er the World extend their Naval Power Something like this our Augurs seem to fear From Prodigies and Signs that oft appear Those hopes they all of Arthur now express Drawn by his Fame abroad and late Success While this Belief tho' false the Briton warms He grows less fearful of the Saxon Arms. He 'll be more bold in Fight while thus inspir'd And with such Zeal and Expectation fir'd Intoxicated thus Men Wonders do And by bold Deeds make their vain Fancies true He therefore serves King Octa that creates An Understanding first between the States An Embassy may to the Prince be sent To treat how Blood and ruin to prevent They may propose the Kingdom to divide And offer Octa's Daughter for his Bride Fair Ethelina whose perverted Mind To Christian Worship is too much inclin'd He ceas'd and his Advice did chiefly please And of the Council most declar'd for Peace The Lords dispers'd King Octa unresolv'd Long in his Mind his troubled Thoughts revolv'd With strong contending Tydes of Passion prest Now War he looks on now on Peace as best Long he appear'd on Osred's Counsel bent And to the Neighb'ring Saxon Princes sent That all the strong Necessity might know Of joyning Arms against the Common Foe At the same time an Embassy he sends To make the Pict and Scotish King his Friends That of their powerful Aid he might not fail If Arthur and his Britons should prevail But when he heard that Arthur had as far As Glevum's Walls advanc'd the threatning War Observing that the Saxons were dismaid And not yet strengthen'd by his Neighbours Aid He now declar'd it was his setled Sense A Treaty with the Briton to Commence Then Orators he sent without delay Who to the Britons Camp direct their way Titullan Selred and