Potentates Crown'd Saints and Martyrs rang'd in glorious Rows Attend his Chariot and his State compose The dazling Pomp stretches across the Sky From utmost East to West and passing by The Heav'nly Orbs comes on descending flow Into the Airy Region here below O'er all the Sky Heav'n's mighty Army shines And here it halts in deep embartel'd Lines In bright Celestial Armour Clad they stand Their Swords of temper'd Flame drawn in their hand They mark a Camp of spacious Circuit out And cast up Crystal Ramparts round about On some fit Eminence they raise on high Their Lord 's August Pavilion in the Sky His bright sublime Tribunal here they place On which he sits with awful God-like Grace Such Flames of Fire wheeling in Clouds of Smoak Issue from thence as from Mount Sinai broke Array'd with Majesty and cloath'd with Light He Glory darts too fierce for Angels Sight In Hallelujahs they his Greatness sing And the shook Sphears with loud Hosannahs Ring Thus on the Throne the Saviour sits prepar'd To Judge the World to punish and reward And now th' unnumber'd Armies ready stand Grasping revenging Firebrands in their Hand And only wait their Leader's high Command The Signal giv'n a general Shout shall shake The Heav'n's around greater than Armies make Rushing to Battel or was heard in Rome When Conquering Caesar came in Triumph home Their furious Arms devouring Tempests throw On all the guilty trembling VVorld below They pour down mighty fiery Cataracts Flaming Bitumen and Sulphureous Lakes Red showers of fiery Arrows hissing fly And flashing Lightning flames around the Sky Fires from above combin'd with Fires below O'er all the Earth in ruddy Torrents flow Vengeance Divine wasts Nature's burning Store And drowns the Earth in Fire all drown'd in Guilt before The Heat dissolves the Fabrick of the World The broken parts fall down confusedly hurl'd Chaos restor'd does in wild Triumph reign And ruin'd Worlds his hideous Throne sustain Some great Archangel now springs forth on high And with the loudest Trumpet of the Sky Summons th' astonish'd gazing World to come To Judgment and the Universal Doom The dreadful Noise shakes Heav'n's Etherial Mounds And in loud Ecchoes from the Sphears rebounds In Ecchoes terrible and piercing Shrill That the low World with dire Amazement fill The guilty Fiends shreek out at these Alarms That in the Air fly thick in murmuring Swarms Their Prince himself trembles and dares not stay But spreads his broad dun Wings and shoots away They sink confounded to th' Infernal Deep Or into Clefts and hollow Mountains creep They find the fatal Hour's arriv'd at last That shall revenge their bold Rebellions past When to their Torments they shall be Restrain'd And lye beneath on flaming Billows chain'd VVhen Hell no more its Pris'ners shall release And Sin 's black Empire must for ever cease No less the dreadful Sound and awful Sight Confound proud Tyrants and their Guards affright What Horrour now distracts each guilty Soul In their sad Breasts what Storms of Vengeance roll How will they bear this dismal Scene of Wo Where will they stay secure or whither go Terrour Distraction Anguish fierce Despair Drink up their Vitals and their Heart-strings tear Ten Thousand poison'd Darts strike thro' their Reins And wound them with unsufferable Pains The Vulture bred within their Bowels gnaws And Conscience gripes them with her Harpys Claws Such Wounds such Stings such Pangs must now be born Of everlasting Death the sad Forlorn What strange Confusion in their Looks appears What wild Amazement Guilt and deadly Fears What howling Lamentation what dire Cries What doleful Shreeks and Yellings fill the Skies Besides the Trumpet shakes the trembling ground The startled Dead awaken at the Sound The Grave resigns its ancient Spoils and all Death 's Adamantine Prisons burst and fall The Souls that did their forc'd Departure mourn To the same Bodies with swift Flight return VVhose scatter'd Parts God calls together they To their appointed Meeting hast away The crowding Atoms re-unite apace All without tumult know and take their place Th' assembled Bones leap quick into their Frame And the warm Blood renews a brighter Flame The quicken'd Dust feels fresh and youthful Heats While its old Task the beating Heart repeats The Eyes enliven'd with new Vital Light Open admiting whence they had their sight The Veins too twine their bloody Arms around The Limbs and with red leaping Life abound Hard twisted Nerves new brace and faster bind The close knit Joynts no more to be disjoyn'd Strong new-spun Threds Immortal Muscles make That justly fixt their ancient Figure take Brisk Spirits take their upper Seats and dart Thro' their known Channels thence to every part The Men now draw their long forgotten Breath And striving break th' unweildy Chains of Death Victorious Life to every Grave resorts And rifles Death's unhospitable Courts It s Vigour thro' those dark Dominions spread From all their gloomy Mansions frees the Dead Now ripe Conceptions thro' the Earth abound And new sprung Men stand thick on all the ground The Sepulchers are quick and every Tomb Labours with Life and grows a fruitful Womb. But how the Dead are chang'd their Bodies more Unlike each other than their Souls before How monstrous foul the guilty Dead arise Each struck with Horrour from his Neighbour flies How much deform'd they look all stain'd with Sin Black and mis-shap'd without but more within Ugly and Fiend-like from their Graves they Crawl And on the ground like bloated Vermin sprawl And like them too their Bodies have their Birth From putred Damps and Vapours in the Earth So Serpents that entangled lay asleep From out their Beds disturb'd and waken'd creep They hiss and cast their fiery Eyes around And with their loathsom Bellies mark the ground For flight their poisonous Volumes they display And urg'd with Fear and Anguish hast away So this foul Brood are forc'd their Graves to leave And to the Ground their grov'ling Bellies cleave Earthy and Black confin'd so long to Night They dread the Horrours of the chearful Light Amazing change see some of these were they Whose Heads were Crown'd whose Hands did Scepters sway These did rich Purple and fine Linnen wear And every Meal fed on delicious Fare That hideous Thing that for a Covert seeks With hollow Eyes fal'n Jaws and ghastly Cheeks That monstrous Thing was once when kept with Care Proud of its Beauty and look'd wondrous Fair. Set off with all the Ornaments that please The Eye and pamper'd with Luxurious Ease But how the guilty Crowd wreckt with Despair With dismal Cries fill all the Ecchoing Air When they the Trumpet 's dreadful Summons hear And find the Universal Judgment near Back to their Graves the ugly Monsters fly And in those Coverts would for ever ly They call aloud for Death and wish they might Melt to thin Air be drown'd and lost in Night But when Blest Minds their Bodies meet no Pair Can look more Beautiful and charming Fair. The
Force appoints And with strong Nerves new-brac'd their wither'd Joynts His Breath oft cool'd fierce Feavers raging Flames And his sole VVord the deadly Poyson tames Round him in Crowds the sick and feeble throng The sick grow easie and the feeble strong Fresh healing Vertue he diffus'd around And dying Men rose leaping from the ground The Languishing reviv'd th' Afflicted cheer'd Took healthful Looks and smil'd when he appear'd Demons at his Command vext Men forsake And to th' Infernal Caves and burning Lake Their hasty Flight with piercing Screeches take Such Miracles did his high Office prove And Universal Admiration move Of all the chiefest was his wondrous Love He whom rebellious Men might justly fear In all his chosen Terrors would appear With Military Pomp and Trumpets Sound His shining Host of Cherubs pour'd around Arm'd with keen Lightning and the sharpest Sword That all his Magazins of Wrath afford To lay all Wast before him and Efface All Footsteps of Apostate Adam's Race He unexampl'd Love Attempts to win Man from the Curse of Death and Curse of Sin With Pity more than that of Mothers Hearts With Mercy 's Charms and Love's perswasive Arts. His high design was with his Heav'nly Light To chase away th' Impenetrable Night That cover'd this lost World and re-inspire Man's Frozen Breast with fresh Celestial Fire Th' Almighty's faded Image to repair That its bright Lines might shine distinct and fair To raise laps'd Minds to that high State of Love Of Light and Bliss the Blest enjoy above To pull all bold Usurping Passions down And settle Reason in its ancient Throne To break Sins heavy Chains its Slaves release And fix 'twixt Earth and Heav'n a lasting Peace The Jews amus'd with Worldly Empire's Charms Hoping some Monarch with Victorious Arms With Roman Pomp and Grandeur would arise The great Redeemer's humble State despise Inspir'd from Hell his Message they refuse Deride his Person and his Deeds accuse He that Supplies on all in want bestow'd Feasting with Miracles the hungry Crowd Finds from th' obdurate Hebrew no relief But with the Twelve Companions of his Grief He walk'd on his Eternal Purpose bent Scatt'ring his Heav'nly Gifts where'er he went Yet did unwelcom through their Regions stray From those ungrateful Cities thrust away Whence he had Devils and Diseases cast Him and his proffer'd Heav'n they from them chas'd At last his spotless Innocence traduc'd He stands before the Roman Throne accus'd On Caesar's King Pilate in Judgment sits Condemns him yet his Innocence acquits To please th' inexorable Jews he sheds Blood and Heav'n's dreadful Curses on their Heads That done he wash'd his guilty Hands in vain The Blood he spilt alone could Purge that Stain No Form of Cruelty his Foes omit They give sharp Stripes and on his Face they Spit Which now adoring Angels blush to see Not for its Splendor but Deformity To please united Cruelty and Scorn On 's wounded Head they fix a Crown of Thorn They dress him in a Purple Robe that gone His Blood with richer Purple dyes his own A Reed his Hand must for a Scepter sway Which with a Rod of Ir'n shall that Contempt repay They bow in Scorn before him whilst he sate A Pageant Prince the mockery of State What various Shapes of Cruelty are shewn Under and on his Cross he 's made to groan And yet he bears a heavier Load within The pressure of the World 's united Sin Stretcht on the cursed Tree his Body hangs Groaning its Life away in dying Pangs Forsaken both of Earth and Heav'n his Breath He wasted in the pains of lingring Death Whilst on his Soul the blackest Horrors dwell That feels the Pains without the Guilt of Hell The Barb'rous Hebrews for whose sake he dy'd Stand by and see their Sov'raign Crucify'd Without the slight Compassion of a Tear Scarce in the Crowd does one sad Face appear Their Insolence dares mock his dying Moans Sport with his Torments and deride his Groans Though solid Rocks touch'd with Compassion rent The more obdurate Jew does not relent For Man he Dies that Heav'n may be aton'd He dies the Universe afflicted groan'd Heav'n's Everlasting Frame shook with the Fright And the scar'd Sun shrunk back and hid his Light Thro' th' Earth's dark Vaults a shiv'ring Horror fled That whilst Convuls'd threw up th' awaken'd Dead Thin pallid Ghosts come sweeping o'er the Grass And howling Wolves Glare on them as they pass Hoarse Thunder Rolls in Subterranean Caves Chaos to hearken stills his Raging Waves Ev'n Hell gap'd horribly such was the fright And thro' the Chasm let thro' prodigious Night Night that extinguish'd the Meridian Ray And with its gloomy Deluge choak'd the Day Sad Moans were heard Shreeks Howlings Midnight Cries And Globes of Fire hung Blazing in the Skies A fierce Convulsion thro' the Temple went The Pillars trembled and the Veil was Rent The Heav'n's and Earth both suffer'd when he dy'd As Nature's Self were with him Crucify'd Down by their Sides the silent Angels laid Their Golden Harps and neither Sung nor play'd Their drooping Wings and Looks dejected show Sadness as much as those blest Realms can know Thrice the swift Sun his radiant Chariot drove O'er the blue Hills and out-stretch'd Plains above As oft the Moon had shot her paler Light In silver Threads thro' the brown Vest of Night When the Reviving Saviour leaves his Tomb And as new-born breaks from the Earth's dark Womb The Chains of Death shook off he from the Ground Do's with new Force Anteus like rebound He comes in Triumph from the Conquer'd Grave And this blest proof of Resurrection gave Oft to his mournful Friends their Lord appear'd And their sad Minds with Heav'nly Pleasures cheer'd He then the Plan of his wise Kingdom laid Who should submit and who should be obey'd To these he gave a Power to loose and bind And with fixt Bounds that Sacred Power confin'd He set the Rights his Subjects should enjoy Which Princes must Protect but not Annoy And by wise Laws fix all things that relate To the Support of his new founded State That done pursu'd by their admiring Eyes Born on a shining Cloud he did arise In Heav'nly Pomp Triumphant thro' the Skys The Clouds dividing in Obsequious Haste Smil'd yielded by his Glory as he had pass'd Great Michael Raphael and the rest that boast The chief Commands in the Celestial Host Great Princes Thrones and high Seraphick States With splendid Equipage pour'd from the Gates Sublime in high Celestial Chariots rode Far out of Heav'n to meet th' ascending God The Pow'rs and high Dominions with their Train Shone glorious bright on all th' Etherial Plain On a fair Hill that the wide Vale commands The numberless angelick Army stands Drawn up in shining Lines and Warlike Bands The Trumpets all salute him passing by And in the Air display'd the Banners fly And now arriv'd at Heav'n's Eternal Gate Attended with his long Triumphal State The blest Inhabitants due Honours
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
Britons had remain'd By adverse Winds within their Port detain'd Boreas that had his Blasts profusely blown His Storms all spent and bleaky Treasures gone With tir'd and flaggy Pinions now retreats To fetch Recruits from wild Laplandian Seats Auster does next with milder Blasts prevail And for the Britons blows a prosperous Gale Now each rough Hero of the Ocean stands On the high Deck giving Austere Commands Prince Arthur to Embark approach'd the Shore Where the reposing Seas no longer Roar But at his Feet obsequious Billows lay As Conscious of the Power they must Obey Then their broad Backs subsiding they submit Proud to sustain their future Monarch's Fleet. The lofty Ships on rolling Billows bound The Waves in soft Embraces clinging round As when the Trojans in the Mantuan Song From Africk Sands to Latium sail'd along Old Ocean rose up from his rocky Throne A Crystal Scepter and a reedy Crown His Power confest his dewy Head he reer'd Above the Flood and smiling on the Waves appear'd New gather'd Banks of Quicksands he remov'd And kindly thro' the Deep the Navy shov'd So the calm Ocean seem'd with equal care On its pleas'd Waves the British Fleet to bear Huge rolling Porpoisses spout Seas away And friendly Dolphins round the Squadrons play The floating Castles dance upon the Tide And on its foaming Ridge Triumphant ride In glorious Lines the painted Squadrons move As if the Poets Gods laps'd from above In gilded Clouds were dancing on the Seas In Masquerade with the green Deities Twice the great Ruler of the Day had hurl'd His flaming Orb around th' enlighten'd World When at the early Dawning of the Day The Navies in each others Prospect lay The Saxon Squadrons cover all the Main And with their Prows divide the liquid Plain Plying to Windward Arthur's Men prepare Their Navy to receive th' advancing War Down on their Feet King Octa bravely bore Whose long-wing'd Navy strercht from Shore to Shore Both Fleets in Lines of War stood cross the Deep And ready to Engage just Order keep They hoist their bloody Flags on either side And Death her Jaws does for her Feast provide Now the shrill Trumpets sprightly Voice and all The Harmony of War to Combate call The Saxon Sailors with a hideous Cry Affright the Deep and rend the Eachoing Sky The barb'rous Yellings and outrageous Sound From Rock to Rock and Shore to Shore rebound A furious Fight between the Fleets began And bold Selingbert first Attacks their Van. Now bearded Darts and fatal Javelins fly And Balls of Fire hiss throgh th' inlightned Sky Each on his Foe missive Destruction pours And Death receives and gives in feather'd Showers Thus milder Fate at distance sparing slew Till to a closer Fight Selingbert flew And on his Foe his massy Grapples threw Which clenching fast their pond'rous griping Claws The rude Embrace both Ships together draws The Saxons flew on Board with furious Arms And on the Decks appear in numerous swarms Vogan enrag'd did fatal Wounds dispence With lavish Hand and made a brave Defence With Battle-Axes Swords unweildy Crows They clear the Decks of the insulting Foes Beat down with ghastly Wounds some gaspingly Others their Arms cast down for Mercy cry Into the Waves some their pale Bodies throw And fly from Death above to Death below Down the Ships sides Torrents of Saxon Blood With unknown Crimson Dye th' astonish'd Flood Upon the Decks that slaughter'd Heaps deform Enrag'd Selingbert pours a second Storm Which like a Summers Shower soon disappear'd By Valiant Vogan and his Britons clear'd Selingbert thus defeated boils with Rage But forc'd at last his Ship to disengage He bears away and quits th' unequal Fight Providing for his safety by his Flight Octa mean time his Men for Fight prepares And fiercely down on Arthur's Squadron bears The spacious sides of his high Ship consum'd Whole Forrests and whole Mountains Spoils entomb'd It self a Fleet across the Billows stood Engross'd the Winds and press'd the labouring Flood The lofty gilded Palace shone from far Presenting to the Foe a glorious War Bold Octa and the Valiant Arthur meet Which strook a vast Concern thro' either Fleet. On this important Action seem'd to wait The British Hero's and Britannia's Fate Both sides with Shouts their fatal Weapons fling And wing'd with Death thick Showers of Arrows sing Unerring Darts in hissing Tempest fly And carry swift Destruction thro' the Sky Ships rush to Battle with enormous Shocks As Towers with Towers encounter'd Rocks with Rocks So in the Northern Seas when Storms arise High Rocks of Snow and sailing Hills of Ice Against each other with a mighty Crash Driv'n by the Winds in rude Rencounter dash The Sea afflicted foams the Waves on high Toss'd by the batt'ring Islands lave the Sky The Crystal Towers break with a fearful Crack And on the Billows spread their foaming Wreck Vast Sheets of rocky Ice and broken Isles Oppress the lab'ring Ocean with their Spoils On both sides now they call forth all their Rage Resolv'd in closer Combat to engage Then Death and Slaughter in sad Triumph reign'd And Seas of Blood the slipp'ry Decks distain'd Some the Pale Dead into the Ocean heave Some in the Ships low Caves the wounded leave Prodigious Numbers fell on either Side Thin on the Decks they look'd but thick upon the Tide For neither Chief e'er met a greater Foe Both wondrous Skill and wondrous Courage show While Vict'ry poising equal Hope and Fear With doubtful Wings hung hov'ring in the Air. The wise Prince Arthur whilst on Shore equips Their use till then unknown a sort of Ships That since the Deeds of that Important Day Among lost Arts in deep Olivion lay Till Captains that in after Ages liv'd The long forgotten Stratagem reviv'd Bitumen Sulphur and Vulcanian Spoils From lab'ring Mountains and from unctious Soils Naptha and Pitch with Skill and Labour wrought With hidden Stores of Flame the Vessel fraught Like rolling Clouds where Lightning's Seeds remain Their swelling Wounds a fiery Birth contain Arthur so strange a Ship to Octa sent With such Infernal Treasures in it pent Which with its grappling Engines fixt and fir'd The bold Commander to his Friends retir'd The Fire with unextinguish'd Rage consumes The Subterranean Wealth the Ship intombs Vast sheets of Flame and Pitchy Clouds arise And burning Vomit spouts against the Skies Tempests of Fire th' astonish'd Heav'ns annoy Fierce as those Storms that from their Clouds destroy As Aetna from its glowing Roots was torn And by its own wild Hurricanes was born From its old Seat to float upon the Waves With Vulcan's Magazins and Cyclop's smoaking Caves The burning Plague adher'd to Octa's side And the scorcht Ribs the hot Contagion fry'd The spreading Mischief's growth no Force restrains The Plague resisted more severely Reigns To the tall Masts the raging Flame aspires And neighbour sits to Heav'n's contiguous Fires Octa at last his flaming Ship forsakes And in stout Horsa's Vessel Refuge takes Here he once more his
repell'd A great Commander Brave and Fortunate That founded first the Western Saxon State Those seated on Halenus verdant Banks Draw out and Muster their Victorious Ranks They March from Tresantona's Crystal Flood From Venta's Downs and Regnum's spacious Wood. From rich Clusentum and fair Vecta's Isle From Briga and Segontium's fertile Soil On Sorbiodunum's Plains arm'd Youth appears With nodding Plumes and moving Groves of Spears The famous Captain who had chief Command That with his Prince came to invade the Land Was Lothar born on Belgick Mosa's Flood Whose noble Veins were fill'd with Royal Blood Him did fair Emme Cerdic's Sister bear And dying left him to her Brother's Care With all this Strength King Octa takes the Field Nor doubts but Arthur to his Arms must yield The Britons now a solemn Fast proclaim To mourn their Guilt and take th' attendant Shame To own the dreadful Plague their Crimes desert And by their Grief like Judgments to avert That Heav'n appeas'd from its relenting Hand May drop its Bolt and spare the threaten'd Land Sorrow untaught on every Face appear'd And only Sighs and sad Laments were heard They weep aloud and mourn their impious Fall And with united Prayers for Mercy call The prostrate Penitents for Pardon Cry And from Heav'n's Justice to its Pity fly To Grief and flowing Tears no Bounds are giv'n Th' Artillery alone that Conquers Heav'n Righteous Resolves fill every humble Mind And all in Vows of blest Obedience joyn'd The mournful Camp 's a Scene of pious Woe Where thro' their Eyes their Hearts dissolving flow Their loud and fervent Supplications rise Above the Clouds and penetrate the Skies Contending thus with Heav'n they weep and pray And strive to turn th' impending Storm away That charg'd with Vengeance o'er their Camp appear'd More Plagues they had deserv'd and therefore fear'd Prince Arthur that in Piety was chief And now chief mourner thus exprest his Grief Th' attentive Britons hear and hope Relief Of Wrath Divine what Vials have been pour'd And empty'd on our Heads that hath devour'd The guilty Britons and our Camp consum'd Where pil'd in Heaps the Dead the Dead entomb'd Th' Eternal's Sword around did widely wast And carried Death and Ruin where it past It reek'd in Blood and shone with Slaughter dy'd Red as the Crimson Sins that for its Vengeance cry'd This day we deprecate the Curse and all With wounded Souls for Heav'n's Compassion call To still the Storms of Wrath that on us beat And cause the fiery Torrent to retreat The God we Worship Jealous is and Pure His Wrath advances slow but reaches sure His threat'ning Arm does long extended stay But then descends with the more fearful Sway. Who then can his consuming Fire withstand Who bear the strokes of his Revenging Hand There 's hope your Prayers have found Success above And Heav'n aton'd will this fierce Plague remove May ne'er our impious Crimes his Arm provoke To end our Ruin by a second stroke He ceas'd His Men their sacred Vows renew And for Devotion to their Tents withdrew Where while Celestial Warmth their Breasts extend The Day in Prayers and Hymns of Praise they end Heav'n the Returning Penitents embrac'd And far away th' Infernal Legions chas'd Their Guardian Angels once more take their Post Drawn out in bright Array around their Host. Twice had the Sun with dawning Glories blest The World and call'd the Lab'rer from his rest As oft the Night her Sable Vesture set With pearly Dew ascends her Throne of Jet When certain Tydings Arthur's Camp alarm'd That Octa's Men against the Britons arm'd Believing that the Britons thus distrest By Saxon Arms might be with Ease opprest With Octa Leagues and Overtures of Peace When War shall offer more advantage cease The Tydings soon thro' all the Army ran Whence in their Minds tormenting Fears began They thought their weaken'd Troops could not oppose The fierce Attack of their insulting Foes The trouble spreads all their sad State bewail That those the Plague had spar'd the Sword should now assail The pious Prince with heavy Grief opprest To Heav'n thus vents the trouble of his Breast Thou that from dark Egyptian Prisons freed As Shepherds do their Flocks did'st Israel lead Who from between the Cherubs did'st display Thy Heav'nly Glories to direct their Way Whose mighty Arm extended did secure Their trembling Host pursu'd by Pharoah's Power Shine forth and with thy Beams dispel this Night Whose horrid Shades my lab'ring Soul affright Stir up thy Strength thy Foes and ours invade And bring thy shining Myriads to our Aid Thou God of Light reveal thy glorious Face Thy Rays will from the Sky this Tempest chase Thee all the unnumber'd Hosts of Heav'n obey Drawn in embattl'd Lines and bright Array Along th' Etherial Plains and here below Monarchs to thee precarious Empires owe. Prest by our Enemies to thee we fly How long wilt thou neglect thy People's Cry Bath'd in our Tears and pleas'd with Grief we moan Our solitary State for God is gone Our Foes around despise our Mournful State And on those Loads that press us heap more Weight Our Enemies enrag'd no Mounds between On us like rising Waves come roaring in Against the Reliques thy fierce Wrath has spar'd The Foe 's Inexorable Sword 's prepar'd On me with Scorn th' insulting Scoffers look As one whom Heav'n displeas'd has now forsook The Pagans make my Woes their sportful Theam Reproach thy Vot'ries and thy Name blaspheme Stir up thy Power thy glitt'ring Arms assume Bowing the Heav'ns to our Deliverance come As from th' aspiring Mountains rais'd around Ierusalem while it stood Protection found So let a Guard from thy bright Host detach'd T' encamp about our Army be dispatch'd Thou God of Truth arise let th' Heathen see Thy Wrath pursues perfidious Treachery While thus Prince Arthur Heav'ns Protection sought The God-like Raphael this kind Message brought Thy Prayer prevails O Prince be not dismay'd Th' Almighty's Arm is strecht out for your Aid Highly your Crimes Heav'n's Majesty displeas'd But your Repentance hath his Wrath appeas'd His People's Faults do but his Rod employ But his fierce Vengeance shall his Foes destroy Let not the Saxon's Numbers be their Pride You 're stronger far for God is on your Side Abundantly your Loss is thus Supply'd Arise and let the Britons Courage take Their Arms shall drive th' advancing Saxon back The Prince with Raphael's heav'nly Message cheer'd Octa's unequal Force no longer fear'd His chearful Looks the drooping Britons saw And thence reviving Warmth and Courage draw His God-like Language calms their troubled Minds And with its Charms reluctant Passions binds He to their frozen Veins new Life procures Dispels their Doubts and fainting Hopes assures The Britons that before did scarcely dare T' expect it now resolve to meet the War They now no more the Fears of Danger own While Heav'n assists and Arthur leads them on Mean time illboding Prodigies affright King Octa and disswade his Men from
from the side Of some high Lybian Mountain has descry'd A spotted Leopard or a foaming Boar To rouse his Courage he begins to roar He shakes his hideous Sides his Bristles rise And fiercely round he rowls his fiery Eyes Again he roars his Paws the Mountains tear A fearful Preface to th' ensuing War High in his Chariot Tollo then advanc'd And from his Arms amazing Lustre glanc'd A Martial Ardour sparkled in his Eyes And hot with Choler he the Foe defies So when the Spring 's warm Breath and chearing Ray Calls from his Cave th' awaken'd Snake that lay Folded to Rest while Winter Snows conceal'd The Mountains Heads and Frosts the Lakes congeal'd The sloughy Spoils from his sleek Back depos'd And the gay Pride of his new Skin disclos'd He views himself with Youthful Beauties crown'd Elated casts his haughty Eyes around And rolls his speckled spires along the Ground Fresh Colours dy his Sides and thro' his Veins Turgid with Life reviving Vigour reigns The sprightly Beast unfolds upon the Plain The glossy Honours of his Summer Train His Crest erected high and forky Tongue Shot out he hisses bounds and leaps along Such Life and Vigour valiant Tollo shows Marching with eager Haste to meet his Foes And now the British Host advanc'd in sight With chearful Looks and eager of the Fight Prince Arthur in refulgent Arms appear'd High in the midst the Saxons saw and fear'd As when a Merchant richly laden spies A lowring storm far in th' Horizon rise A deadly Fear o'er all his Vitals reigns And his chill Blood hangs curdled in his Veins He furls his sails and fits his ship to bear The dreadful Hurricane ascending thro' the Air. Now both th' embattled Hosts advancing near King Tollo shakes his long outrageous Spear And crying out and threatning from afar In his swift Chariot flew amidst the War His rapid Wheels cut thro' the thickest Files With fearful Ruine and prodigious Spoils Hapless Vodinar first his Arm did feel And in his Breast receiv'd the pointed steel Next Byron on the Sand expiring lies Orpes flies to his Aid and with him dies Kentwin Morosten Caradoc he slew And with his Javelin pierc'd stout Mervin thro' Then you brave Youths Risan and Tudor fell Who did in strength and martial skill excel His fatal spear transfixt bold Arnon's sides And from his Neck his Sword the Head divides As Udas fled the hissing Dart he sent Enter'd his Back and thro' his Navel went He fell and on the Dust sad to behold His Bowels issuing from his Belly roll'd Runo's right Knee his Javelin did invade And in the Bone the glitt'ring Weapon staid Strong Runo fell and as he wildly star'd And many moving Words in hast prepar'd To beg his Life th' insulting Conquerour flew And with his Spear pierc'd his pale Body thro' Groaning he lay and fetcht long double Sighs While in thick Mists Death swims upon his Eyes Next Leoline King Cadwall's Son he kill'd A beauteous Youth and not in War unskill'd His Head the Fauchion to the Shoulders cleft And on the Dust his groveling Body left Ouenar felt within a sudden Dread And turning round his Chariot would have fled When his long Spear the fierce Albanian threw Which crasht the Bones and thro' the Temples flew Headlong Ouenar fell and on the Ground Lay welt'ring in his Blood pour'd from his Wound His fatal Weapons vast Destruction made And where he pass'd the slain in Heaps were laid So when a Flood from th' Hyperborean Hills Rolls thund'ring down and all the Valley fills Where the high Snows dissolv'd by Summer Beams In one vast Deluge joyn their various Streams The roaring Tide with its impetuous Course O'erflows the Banks and with resistless Force Sweeps Houses Harvest Herds and Flocks away Nor can the loftiest Mounds its Progress stay With equal Rage with such impetuous Hast Great Tollo thro' the thick Battalions past The rapid Wheels of his swift Chariot burn And in their Course the throng'd Brigades o'erturn O'er scatter'd Arms bright Helms broad Shields of Brass And broken Spears his raging Axles pass O'er Heaps of Dead the furious Warrior flies And fills with Dust and ratling Noise the Skies The squallid Field a Crimson Torrent choaks And mingled Dust and Blood oppress his Chariot's spoakes The trembling Ground th' outrageous Coursers tear And snoring brow their Foam into the Air. Their fervid Nostrils breath out Clouds of Smoke And Flames of Fire from their hot Eyeballs broke With furious Hoofs o'er slaughter'd Heaps they fly And dash up Bloody Rain amidst the Sky Reeking in sweat and smear'd with Dust and Gore They spurn the Sand and thro' the Battel roar Then valiant Malgo with a fresh Brigade Advanc'd the mighty Warriour to invade While from another Part his Warlike Band Bothan led up and made a noble Stand. Now Showers of Darts and feather'd Arrows fly At Tollo's Breast that darken'd all the Sky When valiant Marodan approaching near With all his Strength casts his impetuous Spear It pass'd the Buckler's Plates and folded Hide And thro' his Armour slightly raz'd his Side Tollo incens'd collecting all his Might Broke thro' their Ranks and put the Foe to Flight Now dire Destruction reigns amidsts their Files And all the Field was spread with warlike Spoils So when Battavian Harpooniers assail With their sharp Launces some prodigious Whale That like a floating Mountain lies at Ease Vastly extended on the frozen Seas When the Leviathan begins to feel Within his wounded side the bearded steel And looking round sees all the ambient Flood Deeply distain'd with its old Monarch's Blood Straight all enrag'd he throws himself about And thro' the Air does Crimson Rivers spout Swift as a storm he does the Foe assail VVith his expanded Fins and hideous Tail Some Barks are crush'd as with a falling Rock And some o'erturn'd sink with the dreadful Shock The rest ply all their Oars and frighted row Thro' Fields of Ice to shun th' unequal Foe Canvallo then brought up a stronger Force Whom Galbut joyn'd to stop th' Albanian's Course The fainting Britons these fresh Troops protect And with their Arms great Tollo's Triumphs checkt And now their thick Brigades were close engag'd And thro' the bloody Field Destruction rag'd Now Man to Man stood close and Spear to Spear Helms mixt with Helms and Shields with Shields appear Arrows aloft in feather'd Tempests fly Darts hiss at Darts encountring in the Sky A dreadful Noise distracting all the Air Came from the hoarce Cerberean Throat of War While Arms on Arms Bucklers on Bucklers ring Swords clash with Swords and flying Javelins sing Some threaten loud while some for Quarter cry And some insult while some in Torment dy As when a Torrent down some Mountain's Side To the low Valleys rolls its rapid Tide Where mighty Stones and rocky Fragments high Within the rude unfashion'd Channels ly O'er abrupt Tracks its Course the Deluge bends And roaring down with mighty Falls descends Prodigious Noise
Voices rais'd they might each other hear Then Tollo cry'd aloud Till now distress'd without a Friend or Home In forraign Lands you did an Exile roam Here stop your Course your Soul mean time shall go A wandring Exile to the Shades below I 'll take off with this Sword your gasping Head And in your Spoils fair Ethelina wed Were you brave Hector or his braver Foe Or Godlike Hercules I 'd stand your Blow Did you advance with Thunder in your Hand Against your Bolts I would undaunted stand But such a mighty Foe I need not fear You bear not such a Shield nor such a Spear Oh! that bright Ethelina now stood by To see her Lover and my Rival dy Thus boastful Tollo did his Choler vent And thus in Air his empty Threats were spent The pious Prince enrag'd without Reply Shakes his long Spear and hastes to Victory As when a roaming Lyon from a far Sees a strong Bull stand threat'ning furious War Who flourishes his Horns looks sowrly round And hoarcely bellowing traverses the Ground For want of Foes he does the Wood provoke Runs his curl'd Head against the next tall Oak Wishing a nobler Object of his Stroke The Lyon fir'd regards him with Disdain And to insult him scowrs along the Plain So Arthur boyling with Heroic Rage Springs with a full Carrier King Tollo to engage Collected in himself th' Albanian stood Like some tall shady Pine it self a Wood Or a vast Cyclops wading thro' the Flood Then Tollo first Arthur advancing near With all his Force casts his long Ashen Spear Which Arthur on his temper'd Buckler took While with the vast concern the Britons shook Thro' the first Plate of Brass the Weapon went But in the next its dying Force was spent Then from his valiant Arm the Briton threw His Javelin singing thro' the Air it flew The yielding Buckler did its Force obey And thro' the Plates and Hide it made its Way Thro' the thin Joynts of Steel the Spear did fly And wounded as it past his mighty Thigh The Blood sprung thro' his Armour from the Wound And trickling down the Plate distain'd the Ground Then did King Tollo's second Weapon fly Which broke within the Buckler's second Ply The British Prince another Weapon threw Which Tollo stooping o'er his Shoulders flew And falling went so deep upon the Ground No Arm of Force to draw it out was found These Weapons spent to end the noble Fight The furious Warriours from their Steeds alight And as they nimbly leapt unto the Ground The most undaunted Chiefs that stood around So fearful was the Chinck their Armour made Started as Men surpriz'd and look'd afraid Then furious Strokes on either Side they deal The ecchoing Air rings with the dreadful Peal Pale with the vast Concern both Armies look And for their Champion's Life with Terrour shook So when two vig'rous Stags each of his Herd The haughty Lord thro' all the Forrest fear'd Resolv'd to try which must in Combate yield In all their Might advance across the Field They nod their lofty Heads and from a far Flourish their Horns preluding to the War The Combatants their threatning Head incline And with their clashing Horns in Battel joyn They rush to combate with amazing Strokes And their high Antlets meet with dreadful Shocks The mighty Sound runs ratling o'er the Hills And Eccho with the Fight the Valley fills Retiring oft the Warriours cease to push But then with fiercer Rage to Battel rush The trembling Herds at Distance gaze and stay To know the Conquerour whom they must obey No less concern'd Saxons and Britons stand To see the Victor who must both command Now Tollo backwards shrinks and panting stood Faint with his Labour and his Loss of Blood The British Prince enrag'd to see the Fight So far prolong'd collecting all his Might With double Fury on th' Albanian prest And his bright Sword high rais'd upon his Crest Descended with so horrible a Sway It stun'd the Foe and took his Sense away He dropt his Arms and giddy reel'd about The joyful Britons raise a mighty Shout Arthur on fire le ts not th' Advantage go But stepping forward with a back hand Blow Drawn with prodigious Strength from side to side Did his wide Throat and spouting Veins divide A crimson River gushing from the Wound Ran down his burnish'd Armour to the Ground Reeling and tott'ring for a While he stood And from his Stomack vomits clotted Blood Then down he fell the Field beneath and all The Saxon Army tremble at his Fall Groveling in Death and smear'd with Gore he lay And his dim Eyes scarcely admit the Day Rolling in Dust his wounded Body bled Away his Soul with Indignation fled Convuls'd and quivering for a while he fetcht A dreadful Groan and breathless out he stretcht As when a Whirlwind with outrageous Force O'erturns a lofty Oak that stops its Course Its Roots torn up the Tree's caught from the Ground And with the furious Eddy carried round Then falling from the Sky his stately Head And shady Limbs the groaning Hill o'erspread So by Prince Arthur's Arms King Tollo slain Fell down and lay extended on the Plain FINIS
happy Souls shoot swiftly thro' the Sky And to the Graves and Sepulchers they fly Where they their long forsaken Bodies greet Which like old Friends they with fresh Pleasure meet Bodies that seem they are so Pure and Bright All thicken'd Glory close compacted Light Purg'd and refin'd from all that 's course and gross As melted Gold throws off the baser Dross Smiling they rise such Charms so sweet a Grace They shew as dwell not on a Mortal Face These rising Stars their Heav'nly Beams display Bright Harbingers of Everlasting Day Such Beauties such mild Glories shall we see In the glad Spring of Immortality Yet these blest Sons of Light that Angel-like Would mortal Eyes with deadly Lustre strike Were those that once their Excellence disguis'd Liv'd here oppress'd and like their Lord despis'd Welcom to them this long expected Hour Safe by their Judge's Favour from his Power High Tides of Joy into their Bosoms run And Everlasting Life they feel begun This shall past Griefs in deep Oblivion drown Compleat their Triumphs and their Virtues Crown These in the Spring great Care and Toil bestow'd And water'd with their Tears the Seed they sow'd The Harvest now their happy Hours employs In reaping Pleasures and Immortal Joys Bright Cherubims descending thro' the Air To these blest Men with speedy Flight Repair Then to the gen'ral Doom aloft they fly And on their Wings convey them thro' the Sky In all the way encouraging their Charge Telling of all the Joys of Heav'n at large Plac'd in the Presence of their Lord they stand In their appointed Seats at his Right-hand VVhilst other Angels from the Deep of Hell Drive up the Fiends that in those Regions dwell VVith Swords of keenest Flame compelling some And dragging others to the gen'ral Doom In Anguish and Despair the yelling Fiends Curse Gnash and Bite th' Eternal Chain that binds So close and strait then turn their Heads away From the fierce Terrour of so bright a Day And impious Men in no less Horror fly To all the Shades and Coverts they descry Mountains and Rocks their fruitless Cries invite To fall and hide them from the Judge's Sight For rise they must and lose their vain Desire Caught up in Whirlwinds and in Storms of Fire Before the Judge the Pris'ners stand in Sight And take the Left-hand as the Just the Right Th' Eternal Books before the Judge are brought Where all Mens long forgotten Deeds are wrote And first are read the Vertues of the Just Their Zeal for Heav'n their Courage Hope and Trust. The Prayers the Tears the Alms themselves conceal'd Before applauding Angels are reveal'd The righteous Judge their Innocence declar'd Allots the glorious Kingdom he prepar'd For pure and holy Minds a blest Reward Their Guardian Angels at their Lord's Command Crown the glad Saints with an Officious Hand Who now in perfect Bliss their time employ Discoursing to promote their mutual Joy How first they left the pleasurable way Where wanton Streams of soft Delights convey Charm'd Souls that with the treach'rous Tyde must go To the dead Lake of Pain and endless VVo. How first they lik'd the dark and lonesom Road That leads to Bliss and the blest Minds Abode How when in Shades they mourn'd a Heav'nly Ray Darted a welcome tho imperfect Day How Vertue 's guidance they implor'd and gain'd And what blest Converse with her they maintain'd How thro' dark Paths she did their Feet conduct Correct the wanderers and the rest instruct How by her Aids they bore tempestuous Shocks Climb'd o'er opposing Hills and hanging Rocks Till they at length the Peaceful Realms did gain VVhere Joys Divine and endless Transports Reign How sweet and fair Crown'd Innocence appears No more tost on the VVaves of Hopes and Fears On mortal Face such Beauties never shone Like those of Virtue seated on her Throne Next this th' Apostate Angels are accus'd That open Force or secret Arts they us'd To set their Leader on th' Eternal's Throne Subvert Christ's Empire and advance their own That Man by them seduc'd did first Rebel Relinquish'd Heav'n and to their Party fell That they the curst Defection did support And new Born Men to new Rebellions Court That they with indefatigable Care Fresh Heats fomented and renew'd the War Whence Plagues and Desolation wide and vast And uncontroll'd Destruction laid all wast Hence Noah's universal Deluge came And hence the World lies now o'erwhelm'd in Flame For these black Crimes they 're sentenc'd to the pains Of fiercer Fire and doom'd to heavier Chains Next Cain's Rebellious Offspring are accus'd As Heav'n's inveterate Foes that long abus'd Goodness Divine whom Everlasting Love And Life Eternal had no Charms to move They would no reconciling Terms embrace Alike by Threats unchang'd or Acts of Grace They did with Wine and Noise the Method find To Calm a Conscious self-revenging Mind To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within Till they with Care and Pains grew bold in Sin For when the sacred Spirit did convey Into their Breasts a secret Heav'nly Ray That did where cherish'd soon bring on the Day With hasty Care they choak'd the new sprung Light Calling to Aid the Shades of Hell and Night Divine Compassion's Force they never felt Nor would in Flames of Love Eternal melt Their Hearts untouch'd did all Heav'n's strokes repel Temper'd and harden'd in the Forge of Hell No Overtures of Peace no Offers made Tho' of an endless Kingdom could perswade The unrelenting Rebels to lay down Their impious Arms to take a Heav'nly Crown They still asserted with their latest Breath Their fixt Confed'racy with Hell and Death 'T is on them charg'd that others too that fell Drawn by their Arts embark'd for Death and Hell They led them to the flowry Banks and show'd The flatt'ring Tide where smiling Pleasures flow'd Where the charm'd Voyagers did careless ride Bewitching Syren's singing on their side Till the false Flood betray'd them thither where It falls into the Gulph of black Despair Here secret Crimes are publish'd and his Name That lov'd the Sin but fear'd th' attendant Shame The sly Adulterer that til the late Approach of Night and silent Shades did wait For the Caresses of the Harlot's Fed And at the early dawn of Twilight fled Is here upbraided for his careful flight Of Mens whilst he contemn'd th' Almighty's sight Th' audacious Wretch that did Heav'n's Laws deride And all its Thunder and dire Threats defy'd That did cloy'd Nature to fresh Guilt excite Beyond her own ev'n Vicious Appetite Anti-Platonic that could pleasure take In naked Vice and sinn'd for sinning's sake That could abstracted from Enjoyment sport With Guilt and Vice ev'n in Idea court That did himself so much he lov'd the Fame The secret Triumphs of his Lusts proclaim Strives in the Crowd to hide his guilty Head Whilst his high Charge and black Indictment's read Th' astonish'd Wretch Sinks Trembles Dies to see Enrag'd Omnipotence and frowning Majesty Such deadly Torments on his Bowels feed