the most approv'd in these brave Rites Such as great Arthur in his Life did Fame For Glorious Tournments and Wars daring Flame Of whom Albianus does Darander take With stout Androgeus Lists did famous make And bold Clarinus expert as the rest With twenty Knights on each side skill'd the best To whom great Vortiger his Chiefs does add Corynus Troylus Torringer all glad Their Launces with their Martial Prince to weild Whom Foes could ne'r resist when Fought in Field Who for their Judges fam'd Martianus chuse With brave Favonius could to wonder use Their Armes in Turn'ments and from Rome had won Trophies their Valours highly did Renown And from the Queen had Garlands to bestow With Silver Shields must happy Victors show That here most dext'rously their Launces guide And best command their furious Steeds bold Pride From whom the Signal Given on Coursers meet Might challenge Windes to match their speedy Feet While from their Hoofes the Ground does seem to shake As it did now an Earthquakes Ague take And in these Glorious Pastimes here to show How much their Prowess against Foes could doe Their mighty Launces though tough Limbs of Oake Are with their onsets into shivers broke Rebounding from their Armed Breasts so high As if they did from Battering Engins fly Which these upon their Steeds unmov'd abide Might level Towers Assaults of War defy'd While these great Princes that submitted here Their Lives and Loves to Fates regardless care Had slightest Armours with design put on Their Launces Pierce and in their Bodies run From whence blood issues out with so much haste As now their lives must but few minutes last That even their souls were taking wing to sly To Deaths Pale seates frail Natures Ignomy And thus fall from their Steeds imbru'd in Gore While all here Present doe from Heaven Implore Their hopeless Lives which how shall Brittains mourn Or Gaules and Romanes hence despair returne But more than all the beauteous Queen opprest With griefe and Love each storming now her Breast A while wants Power to lift to Heaven her eyes Or speak with Tears her tender hearts surprize Then calls for help from such best skill'd in Cure But finds their Arts cannot her Fears secure And even Heaven blames that Love allow'd such charmes Should be no Medicine to heal their harmes Yet as Loves Cordials layes her lips to theirs Mingling of kisses with the Balme of Tears While such deep simpathy her heart does feel As thence her tender life begins to steal Whose Rose and Lilly Cheeks now turn to pale That even her beauties shine but through deaths vaile Her Pulse scarce beating Natures utmost strife While Virgin-Palmes her Temples Chafe for life A midst whose Armes she 's in a Chariot laid And gently towards her Court is thus convey'd Next whom the Princes are in Litters borne This glorious Presence sad Attendants mourn Invoking Heaven with Teares and loudest Griefe To yield their Lives in these extreames Reliefe Yet more then their deep Cures the Queens despair That in her breast the wounds of Love did bear In this distress some Sages present move They should Merlinus skill before all prove Who had such wondrous Cures for Brittains wrought By Remedies no Art save his e'r taught To whom all yield and make Merlinus know What high concernes require his Presence now While Queen and Princes mournfully they bear To Beds of ease scarce breathing lifes last ayre The End of the Fifth Canto The Sixth Canto BEfore these Tydings to Merlinus speed His swifter Science knew the fatal need Of Queen and Princes who in Natures Book For all events did most Assiduous look Nor could her Causes and Effects create The World a Providence or Mankind Fate But as her aptest Schollar him had taught Which other Mortals as vain Empericks sought Who no less weighs her humble ease and power In every tender Hearb and smiling Flower Then in those prouder Blessings she conveys From Sun or Stars stupend'ous course and Rayes And now Merlinus at the Court appears The Queen and Princes dangers fill'd with cares Who but in his deep skill their hope repose Since Fate their lives so dreadful did oppose Where he beholds the beauteous Ladies Mourn As if to Statues Niob like they 'd turne Or that the Queens soft life so farr were fled His Art must now recall her from the Dead While with their Prayers and Blessings he arrives Unto her Presence viewing how life strives For weak Possession in that beaut'ous frame Death as his fairest Captive hopes to claim Next feels her Pulse with all his subtle Art But finds its strength retyr'd to ayde the Heart Which as Loves Region has a right to be The last surrender'd to Deaths Victory Then takes a Cordial made of purest Gold No man before did Potable behold With Dewes infus'd the Diamond Rocks distil And Pearles rich Soul extracted by his skill To these an Essence adds more precious too Chymists th' Elixar call but since none show That would this work in costly Limbecks breed And coldly live their Arts vain Fires to feed While of this Liquor whose least drop might be Valu'd above all Indian-Treasury Through the Queens Lips conveys a gentle draught Whence Life even fled away is back soon brought And now her Pulse begins lifes March to beate While Death's pale Flags her Rosie Cheeks defeat And next does open Windowes of her Eyes That seem like Stars new kindled in the skies Merlinus joy'd his Cordial thus succeeds To th' wounded Princes next his Person speeds Griev'd that he could not all at once supply And weeps to see in what extreames they lie Then takes a Balme of this Elixar made Which to their griefs with tender hand convey'd Their drooping hearts to wonder does restore And shows their wounds must not have Mortal power Nor had the Sun two dayes bright Circles shin'd But their great Lives their Pristine vigours find Which more to Joy the Queen as speedy mends And all but Loves soft wounds from his Cure ends Whence common Artists that make life endure A tedious Diet and loath'd Physicks Cure Wonder'd Disease so soon surpriz'd should be By his sublimer skill and remedy And now that rumor swiftly might convey Through Brittain Joyes for this most happy day The Princes visit the most beaut'ous Queen Who for their sakes had thus afflicted been And at her feet with tears now prostate lie Imploring pardon they design'd to dye Since she their lives esteem'd at that high price As to resign her own Deaths Sacrifice Grieving that Love should so much oblige Fate And from her wounds their sins recriminate Who for Loves sake chose death themselves to give That she more happy by their falls might live To whom with gracious words she thus replyes Belov'd of Men and Joy of Brittish Eyes Who ne'r like this shall Register an hour Though their bright Records mention Roman Power Defeated by your Prowess and Gaul brought To rue that time when you
raging winds do make Next force Favonius Bodies to retreat Whose Conduct did their dreadful Powers defeat When Londons Glories with its Beauteous Queen Might else a Triumph for this Foe have been And for her Royal Guard this day commands The trusty'st of the Britains warlike Bands Now full of wounds and forc'd to quit his Horse Fights thus distress'd her Foes prevailing Force What Soul inspir'd with numbers can reherse This Battels terrors but must weep his verse Though Fame lest too much blood her Records stain Kindly forgets the sum of Hero 's slain No less distress'd the Princes had assayl'd All dangers till their matchless Arms prevail'd Which now holds Fate at such a glorious bay As her black Scepters Pow'r she fears this day Thus these great Cheifs with Forces swiftly speed To aid the Queen in such a dang'rous need While for her sake they mingle griefs and tears As oyl to valours flames from Loves soft fears And here Fame layes the most Heroick Scene That e'r twixt mighty Chiefs before had been Where these great Foes in Love and Empire try Single by Arms to ravish victory Thus Albianus does encounter here With Ennius Glory of Romes Arms and War While warlike Vortiger assaileth now Alvatrix who as bravely fought him too Then does the worlds choice blood that warms their veins Profusely die the Earth with crimson stains Which as their Valours Epitaph some say Leaves on this soil a sanguine Dye this day Sprightly the Charges were Albianus gave This Roman Cheif and his returns so brave That all the Prowess summ'd of Antient Name Scarce does in Story second mention claim In wounds they equal fought as Fate would guide Their Courage now 'twixt them not to decide Or had delight such Hero's still to see In Love and Empire thus at Enmity While to supply the wonder of their Arms Their Steeds now sympathize their Valours charms That with their furious mouths each grasping tear And to the ground their mighty Riders bear Whence Albianus briskly takes his seet And both these warlike Foes on foot now meet Guiding their Spears a dext'rous bloody strife Till this Great Hero's takes the Consuls life Who death did so far respite to express Since here my fall is by thy Arms success Heroick Brittain let Bonduca know Thy valour 's fit to win her virtue too But Vortiger whose courage had taught Fate Like a bold Handmaid on his Armes to wait Praecipitates her black decrees this day As he does singly fierce Alvatrix slay While to the wonder of all future deeds Forcing his Spear his Foe to death so speeds That piercing through strong ribs of Steel his breast Its fury seem'd unwillingly to rest Whose soul enrag'd by death a flight did take Like some fierce wind a dying blast does make Leaving the air disturbless felt before The dreadful Rage of Its Tempestuous power Thus fell these mighty Chiefs midst heaps of slain While all the state their breathless mem'ries gain Serves but as Pendants to the pride of Fame That wears life's Jewels to adorne her Name Now as their deaths were to their Armies known Which soon Fames Trump had in Elogiums blown Each Militant in vigour does impair And sanguine Roman cheeks grow pale with fear While Martianus who in Kent besieg'd Romes Power and Gauls until by Truce releiv'd Had there from faithful Spies allarums took How these by Arms Wars sacred Laws had broke And he with eager toyls so speeds his way That he the Princes brave extremes this day Arrives to ayd and next their valours fame Give to his own a matchless Victors Name Some veterane Legions that disdain'd to fly In warlike order by death marshall'd lye When greater numbers cast their Arms away And for their lives loud supplications pay Charging the sin and faithless breach of Truce Upon their Chiefs whose high commands excuse Their fierce attempts who but Wars Laws obey In fighting Foes when such do lead their way But if they can a mercy now implore Call heav'n to witness that they 'll never more Molest the Britains but returning home Will live in just Precincts of Gaul and Rome While the fair Queen that had with tears beheld The bloody issue of this dreadful field Passes Romes conquer'd Hoast on her bold Steed And thus expresses having stay'd his speed Most warlike Britains since your Arms have won This Battel that our stories must renown Which as your mighty Princes here did lead Their valours so admir'd with yours succeed That by their single Arms you saw this day How Ennius and Alvatrix breathless lay A losse so great proud Rome can ne'r repair Or Gaul find Prince dares hence with Britains warre But to their supplyant Legions let us yield Mercy may yet more dignifie this field While the less guilty you from death reprieve And such Foes most subdue you grant shall live This Speech the Britains bloody rage restrains And from the Princes such complyance gains That they to Gaul and Romes remaining Hoast Admit a Convoy to the Kentish Coast. Whence they 'r embark'd bound for the Gallick shore Vowing by war t' invade this Isse no more While to this grace the Princes leave dispence Their Chiefs dead Corps with them to bear from hence That Ennius and Alvatrix may receive Such Fun'ral Rites as Gauls and Romans give Which being done to London guide their way Soone full of Joyes for this victorious day The end of the third Canto The Fourth Canto POwer the lov'd Child of Greatness born from toils Of virtue or fond Fortunes prosp'rous smiles Yet men in each vicissitude may find No long entails of Rule in humane kind Thus Infant Empire first has rising state Then glor'ous Mediums next a final fate Whence fierce Ambiton storms the world to have But space on Earth to make their wider Grave And Rome that did by Arms so proudly claim The World to bear from her a vanquish'd Name No more possesses of that mighty head Than Trophies from her Epitaphs are read While Noble Britains first shook oft her yoak Before the warring World their Fetters broke Which from this glor'ous President was taught To conquer Roman Armes its thraldome brought Whose bold Remains to Gaul now wafted o'r Thence with repinings view the British Shoar Where they perceive their mighty Camps to shroud Their heads like mountains half hid in a cloud And next behold the fertile Woods and Plains Their Colonies and Cities proud Remains With Aquae-ducts made wondrous for delight And Baths could ease and heal wounds got in Fight Recounting their past Ages bloody toyl Since mighty Julius did invade this Isle Whence now instead of Triumph they return Their Consuls fatal loss with tears to mourn No less the Gauls Alvatrix death bewail'd Pitty'ng his love and valour so prevail'd That he by Arms on British ground shall fall And more incense their antient hate of Gaul But e'r these Corps dead in the Bed of Fame Have Fun'ral Rites Apollo's sacred Name They
Honors Cause permits these tears More than a Lover loves his Soul endeares Then Albianus this fam'd Captain takes To his embrace and thus obliging speaks Thou Father of our Armes and more than all Honor does most renown'd in Mortals call Repine not 't is thy glorious fate to be With Fortune thus at virtuous enmity Or think past Trophies thou from Rome hast got While Brittain bears a name can be forgot My Warlike Sire Great Arthur ost did name Martianus with his Chiefes of Noblest same Telling what acts were by thy valour done In all those famous Battels he had won And to his Son thou shalt be still as dear While I thy Counsels and thy Dangers share Hoping to see thy Armes Romes yet subdue And to thy aged Garlands add more new Till then repine not thou hast lost a Field Alass thou didst but to more numbers yield Which Great Bonduca will her self confess Charging fate onely with thy ill success While for her sake our force shall soon contend Who did with aid Favonius to her send By whose great Prowess Rome and Gaul declin'd Their dreadful Onsets against London joyn'd And more a Comfort in thy Heart impress That these must fight us now or yield success Unto our Armes which in Bonduca's Cause Must out-doe wonder and to Rome give Lawes No less Martianus Vortiger endears Calling his Conduct Soul of Brittish Wars And next recounts those mighty deeds h 'ad done When late from Scots and Picts they Battels won Then Martianus with this grace o'rcome Feeles noble Passion gives his speech no room But to express a glorious wish to dye If his life may promote their victory And now the Princes view his harrass'd force Which had through roughest dangers fought their course His stately Ensignes with fierce Arrowes tore As scarce a mark remain'd of what they bore Then in their Battel these embody'd are Where their great Chief a high Command does bear Resolv'd their Valours shall set London free With its fair Queen from Roman Tyranny Soon had the wary Ennius perceiv'd This City by Favonius was releiv'd And that thus near the Princes Battels drew Highly resolv'd to assail their Powers too He therefore swiftly had his Army drawn By dreadful Bodies in this spacious Lawn The Brittain Forces for their Station took And thus with furious eyes on each now look Glad were the Brittish Heroes to perceive The time was come their Foes would Battel give Whose Valours did occasion so embrace As if their Souls were wing'd in Honors Race While thus to Royal Vortiger does speak Great Albianus May we happy make This day Lov'd Prince in which we see Romes power Spread their Battallions here this welcome hour That Courts our Armes such Honor to atcheive As may this antient City now relieve If Heaven to Brittain glory does decree We shall Bonduca aid successfully And teach her foes the Guilt of their bold sin Who thought their force enough her soul to win How has her virtues these unshaken stood When Ennius forc'd his way by Flames and Blood And fierce Alvatrix did that dread improve Threatning to Crown by force his burning love But e'r that Gaul shall boast so fair a Prize Let us resolve to fall her Sacrifice And dye this Plain with Blood if that can be A meritorious cause of Victory Then sprightly Vortiger at this darts beams That spoke the vigour of his Martial Flames Which at Bonduca's Name his breast inspires As lightning breakes from Clouds imbosom'd fires And thus to Albianus does express I 'l welcome Death if fate denyes success Nor shall my Soul be in this Body borne A living Witness and this Island mourn This day if lost 't is just that Princes fall When their sad Countrey keeps its funeral Nor shall Bonduca's vertues e'r reprove My valour to want merit for her Love Since in her cause if I make Death my own My end shall then add Glory to my Throne Then Arthur's Son a Supreme station takes Whence to his Militants and Cheifs thus speaks Fellows in Armes the wish'd for time is come To end this Islands long-made-War with Rome And needless 't were to tell you of the cause Since Rome and Gaul by th' Sword would give us laws Or thence infer how your rich Countrey may With Wives and Daughters soon become their prey This were from fear to bid you now to fight When Native Valour does enough excite Our Brittish blood which though 't is bred so near The Northern Pole was ne'r yet chill'd by fear Let Romans then their Oratories spend To raise their duller Legions to contend Enough we see the Foes that we must fight And not from words our hearts to Armes invite At this loud shouts of Joy do fill the Plain Which shake the Earth where Roman Powers Campain The usual Custom of this Martial-Isle When they embrace Wars most renowned toyl No less the Consul Ennius does take care To make this day the Glory of his VVar His force with Romes best Conduct now array'd That oft had Monarchs their great Captives made Then in Magnan'mous words the use of Rome T'incite their Militants to overcome He thus begins Lov'd Souldiers if that we Deserve by arms the worlds Sov'ráignity Since our Renowned City Deify'd Her Scepter'd Romulus for deeds atchiev'd By glorious Arms whose Capitol yet stands Fill'd with our Trophies won from Conquer'd Lands Where Mars is Templ'd with his fellow Gods Pleas'd to convert our Swords into their Rods And next to their Divinity allow The Earths Dominion to our vertue due Let not this day then our fam'd power beguile That oft has harrass'd this so potent Isle Though Nature joyn'd with Mighty Neptunes hand To sever't from the world Romes wide Command Yet could not our Renowned Julius stay Who sought on t Conquest wheresoe'r it lay And by our prowess ages since maintain'd The Noble Relicks here his valour gain'd We have the Legions still from him were nam'd The Tenth most lov'd with all the rest as fam'd They were but Romans then as we are now If we their virtues but inherit too How will the world our warlike Eagles dread If still this Isle remains unconquered When to our shames it shall recorded be One dayes Pharsalia forc'd Romes liberty Nor are their Conducts worthy of our fears Though Albianus joyns with Vortigers Infants in Arms while I their Fathers fought And thence great triumphs to our Empire brought You saw to us Martianus Powers gave way Think that a sign of a more signal day Since he the aged Captain of their Hoast Has prov'd how dear our Conflicts with him cost While London that our fierce assaults withstood Will then be yours without expence of blood And with its riches pay your Martial toyls Yielding their matchless Queen to grace our spoyls Thus speaks great Ennius while the Prince of Gaul Does on his Chiefs with furious vigour call Letting them know what honor will accrue To Rome and Gaul if Britains they subdue