rich Toys that charm deluded Eyes They rather choose to tame their Thirst than have All the Supplies their Feaverish Drought can crave Desires for Freedom first make humble Suit And modestly demand th' unlawful Fruit. But when set loose they know not where to stay But lawless thro' the World's Dominions stray So subterranean Vapours that contain'd In some close Cavern are with Ease restrain'd When once releas'd ungovernable grow And prove fierce Storms that no Resistance know Th' unhappy Man slave to his wild Desire By feeding it foments the raging Fire His Gains augment his unextinguish'd Thirst With Plenty Poor and with Abundance Curst But greater Minds that can themselves subdue Preserve their Peace and still their Joys renew They never by a Vile or Impious Course Protect their Wealth from rising Tempests force They face the Storm and stand its fiercest Shocks Bold as the Winds unshaken as the Rocks No Tempest that invades th' ambitious Breast Can the calm Region of their Mind molest So Winds that Rivulets disturb will play In harmless Breezes on the wider Sea Sour Discontent that quarrels with our Fate May give fresh smart but not the old abate Envenom'd with its Sting each harmless loss Grows wondrous sharp and proves a deadly cross Th' uneasie Passion 's disingenious Wit The Ill reveals but hides the Benefit It makes a Toy press with prodigious weight And swells a Molehill to a Mountain's height So melancholy Men lie down and groan Prest with the burden of themselves alone Crusht with Phantastick Mountains they despair Their Heads are grown vast Globes too big to bear A little Spark becomes a raging Flame And each weak Blast a Storm too fierce to tame So peevish is the quarrelsome Disease No prosp'rous Fortune can procure it Ease Their Breasts are ne'er from inbred Tempests free Restless as Winds and troubled as the Sea The Pleasure now they seek would bring Content But when enjoy'd 't was somewhat else they meant Some absent Happiness they still pursue Dislike the present Good and long for New The Man now thinks he sees his Bliss and flies With greedy Arms to grasp the gaudy Prize But then enquiring what his Hopes have won Vain Man he finds the cheating Shadow gone Oft does the fair Illusion by him stand But when pursu'd gives back and mocks his hand Sometimes he sees the beck'ning Phantome here That when he follows does elsewhere appear The Wretch though Tantalized and always crost Yet still pursues though still that Labour 's lost The God-like Arthur with such pious words Divine Instruction and Delight affords And while his Language with a Heav'nly Flame Thus warm'd our Breasts to Odar's Camp we came Where to the Neustrian King the Prince addrest Who all the highest Signs of Love exprest The Royal Exile he embrac'd with Tears And by these tender words himself endears King Uter's Fall your loss and Albion's Fate Wound me with Grief too mighty to relate Long to Misfortunes and great Wrongs inur'd I pity those that have like Ills endur'd You are a Stranger here but not your Name Your early Worth is told aloud by Fame Arthur's preserv'd to be the Saxons dread And Rear opprest Britannia's drooping Head While you are safe Britannia must revive And Uter still in Valiant Arthur live While you survive King Octa's Fears remain And Albion hopes to break her pond'rous Chain Heroes are for Heroick Deeds design'd And noble Work attends a noble Mind Mean time while here your Choice is to reside No Succours no Supplies shall be deny'd And if your Britons banish'd from their home Drawn by their Prince's Fame shall hither come Briton and Neustrian shall like Treatment find I 'll be to both without Distinction kind And when mild Days shall your Return invite My Arms shall Aid you to assert your Right The Prince reply'd Divine Compassion melts your Royal Breast And makes your Bounty flow on all distrest Like Heav'n you Succours to th' Afflicted grant Comfort their Sorrows and supply their Want You Crush Oppressors to th' Opprest are kind Such generous Deeds reveal a God-like Mind O'er Uter's House the Saxon Power prevails And sad Britannia her dire Fate bewails The World 's supream Director so ordains Hence in my Soul no murmuring Passion reigns Pleas'd or Contented still I meet my Fate Would not be Impious though Unfortunate Your generous Offer of Protection here With such engaging Language such an Air As Love and Friendship seek out to Endear Perswade that here my Refuge is design'd Till Albion grows more Just and Heav'n more Kind Here your Example shall my Mind prepare For all the high Concerns of Peace and War Till Albion call us back I 'll here remain And in your Service shall grow fit to Reign Here in the Camp the pious Briton staid To whom the Neustrian Chiefs great Honour paid For his high Merit could not be conceal'd His Valiant Deeds the Hero soon reveal'd Loud Fame his God-like Virtues did proclaim And either Camp resounds with Arthur's Name He still the Posts of highest Danger sought And Death and Vict'ry follow'd where he fought When he advanc'd the Goths unnumber'd Swarms Fled from the Terrour of his fatal Arms. Like Love and Wonder Camp and Court express That did the Hero this the Saint confess His Sword still won fresh Laurels in the Field And to his Virtues ev'n Court Vices yield And 't is more easie to reduce a Fort Or win a Battel then reform a Court. He the fixt Mounds of trembling Europe stood And still repell'd the Goths impetuous Flood When he appear'd their Men tho' fierce and bold Grow Chill with Fear as when at home with Cold. Thro' the admiring World his Fame was spread The Christians Joy and barb'rous Nations Dread Where gagg'd with Ice the Waves no longer roar But with stiff Arms embrace the silent Shore Where naked Hills in frozen Armour stand Where raging Sirius Fries the thirsty Land And rich Pactolus rolls his golden Sand Thither his Triumphs and Illustrious Name His generous Deeds and loud Applauses came His wondrous Virtues wondrous Love engage That reach'd Perfection long before his Age. Odar embrac'd him as an Angel sent To guard his Throne and threaten'd Fall prevent He own'd his bright Example did support Th' esteem of Virtue in the Neustrian Court Their Peace at home proceeded from his Care And from his Courage their Success in War When we our hopes of sinking Albion lost Made by Divine Command the Neustrian Coast The Gothick Arms that Kingdom had o'errun Surpriz'd their Forts and fairest Cities won All Banks born down so high the Deluge rose Before King Odar could its Course oppose 'T was then the young Deliverer Arthur came To drive the Goths and win Immortal Fame He soon reduc'd the Cities and restor'd A peaceful Country to its peaceful Lord. Mean time the British Knights opprest at home Drawn by his Fame to find a Leader come So thick they Land our Troops were numerous
their hast Tear up tall Pines and lay the Forrest wast Some to the Ocean with like Speed resort And in loud Tempests on the Billows sport Embroil the Coasts and in wild Outrages Turn up to Heav'n the Bottom of the Seas But husht at Thor's Command they all obey And to their ancient Prisons haste away To him thus Lucifer great Prince on thee Fate has bestow'd the Empire of the Sea All there concern'd invoke thy Deity The Merchants pray to thee to fill their Sails Enrich thy Priests and purchase Prosperous Gales I too thy Suppliant ask thy Powerful Aid A Haughty Prince designing to invade My Faithful Subject Octa and beguile Me of my Hopes of fair Britannia's Isle Sails with a Numerous Fleet with Men and Arms And Octa trembles at his Proud Alarms Let him in Furious Hurricanes be tost Be sunk or wreckt or on the Ocean lost Beat him at least from his intended Coast. Make him thy Vengeance feel thy Power regard And be what e're thou askest thy Reward Great Prince then Thor reply'd Who rul'st the Realms of Hell with Soveraign Sway Whom all th' Infernal Thrones and Pow'rs obey I own Obedience to thy high Command Who putt'st this Scepter first into my Hand Thou led'st in Heav'n our bright Battalions on And bravely did'st attempt th' Almighty's Throne I saw thy mighty Deeds and kept my Post Close by thee till that Glorious Day was lost Thy faded Splendor and illustrious Scars From Ghasty Wounds receiv'd in those just Wars I view with Reverence 't is true subdu'd Headlong we fell from Heav'n's high Tow'r's pursu'd With Whirlwinds and loud Thunder down to Hell And Storms of Fire beat on us as we fell Yet after that thou led'st us to invade This Globous World which we our Conquest made And my Election Patroniz'd by thee This great Command and Province fell to me That said by him their heavy Gates unbar'd That loud on mighty Iron Hinges jarr'd Out ratling Eurus and loud Boreas fly And with Outrageous Tempests fill the Sky They bend their Course strait to the British Coast And on those Seas lay out their Anger most Their Furious Wings the swelling Surges beat And rouse Old Ocean from his Peaceful Seat The raging Seas in high ridg'd Mountains rise And cast their angry Foam against the Skies Then gape so deep that Day Light Hell invades And shoots grey Dawning thro' th' affrighted Shades Low bellying Clouds soon intercept the Light And o'er the Britons spread a Noon Day Night Exploded Thunder tears th' Embowel'd Sky And Sulphurous Flames a dismal Day supply The Dire Convulsions for a certain Space Distorted Nature wresting from its Place This Globe set to the Sun 's more oblique View And wrench'd the Poles some Leagues yet more askew Horrour Confusion Uproar Strife and Fear In all their wild amazing Shapes appear Mean time old Chaos joyful at the Sight Look'd and smil'd horrible on older Night Hoping that Nature their grand Foe would crack With universal Ruin and her Wreck Would give them all their lost Dominions back The Sailor's Clamour and enormous Cries The Crack of Masts mix'd with the outrageous Noise Of Storms and Thunder rending all the Air Form the last Scene of Horror and Despair When the Just Arthur fill'd with Grief and Dread And Pale Confusion deeply sigh'd and said O righteous Heaven why hast thou rang'd this Day Against me all thy Terrors in Array Arm'd in thy Cause thy Temples to restore And give that Aid thy sacred Priests implore If thou such fierce Destruction dost dispence To punish some unpardon'd old Offence On me let all thy Fiery Darts be spent Let not my Crime involve the innocent Whelm o'er my guilty Head these raging Seas And let this Sacrifice thy Wrath appease But let the British Youth return in Peace That said his Ship unmasted without Guide Driv'n by the Winds and Seas impetuous Tyde The Sight of all the scatter'd Navy lost Strikes on the Quicksand of an unknown Coast. Mean time bright Uriel Heav'n's high Favourite Left the Celestial Palaces of Light Sent by supream Command and down he flies Let by a Golden Sun-beam thro' the Skies Meekness divine serene and Heav'nly Grace And fresh immortal Youth shone on his Face Godlike his Form his Looks so charming mild That where he came all ravish'd Nature smil'd He strait alights on lofty Gobeum's Head That wonder'd at the Heav'n about it shed From the bright Cherubim who touch'd his Lyre Fam'd for his Sweetness in the Heav'nly Quire Th' enchanted Winds straightway their Fury laid Grew wondrous still and strict Attention paid Aerial Demons that by Twilight stray Sport in loud Thunder and in Tempest play Spread their brown Wings and fly in Clouds away The Day returns the Heav'ns no longer scowl And fierce Sea-Monsters charm'd forget to howl The Winds retreat and leave the peaceful Waves To rest their Wings and sleep in Lapland Caves Soft Zephirs only stay to fan the Woods And play in gentle Gales along the Floods The Ocean smiles to see the Tempest fled New lays his Waves and smooths his ruffl'd Bed All things thus husht great Arthur gave Command To quit their Ship stuck in the barren Sand And in their Boats to make the Neighb'ring Land They spy a Creek not far a Peaceful Seat Where flying Waves by furious Tempest beat Find from the fierce Pursuit a safe Retreat Free from th' outrageous Clamours of the Deep They rest secure and unmolested sleep Stretcht smooth beneath the shady Trees and Rocks That guard them from the VVinds impetuous Shocks Here smaller Vessels may securely ride And all th' Assaults of angry Sorms deride Here they arriv'd and Heav'n they first ador'd That gave the Aid their earnest Cries implor'd That sav'd them from the Winds VVaves Rocks and Storms Deaths of so many and such hideous Forms Then for their parted Friends with humble Prayer They ask Heav'n's Pity and indulgent Care Now Arthur from the Rock views far and wide The Seas beneath if thence might be descry'd The Friends he lately lost but views in vain No Friend appears on all the Desart Main Return'd he thus began Too dark th' Eternal's ways are too profound For the most sharp created Wit to sound Clouds black as those that rise the sacred Fence Of his high Throne surround his Providence Whose walks are trackless and on every hand About her paths shades and thick Darkness stand Her ways are so perplext so wide her steps Such turns and windings and such frightful leaps Such Gulphs and interposing Rocks appear There such Ascents such dreadful Downfalls here That Reason strait affrighted stops her pace Is soon thrown off and quits th' unequal Chase. Th' Almighty's Councils are so high and steep Immense unbounded without bottom deep Angels amaz'd from their high Thrones of Bliss Trembling look down on this profound Abyss Sometimes he seems to thwart his own intent Stop and defeat his long design'd event Yet which way e're he
give And all in Arms their conquering Prince receive Dispos'd in glorious Ranks each Order shines And all the way the bright Militia Lines On 's Chariot Wheels the thronging Cherubs hang With whose loud Shouts the Heav'n's high Arches rang Thus did he to th' Eternal's Palace ride The Guards stood to their Arms on either Side Entring he took his Place and Brightly shone On the Right Hand of his great Father's Throne Where he shall our great Intercessor stay Till the last Summons to the Judgment Day He ceas'd and Hoel in his Arms embrac'd His God-like Friend and cry'd I 'm highly grac'd With this Divine Discourse what Thanks to you Illustrious Prince what Thanks to Heav'n are due Blest Peace came rolling on the raging Waves And your late Wreck me and my Kingdom saves Kind Heav'n for me hath call'd forth Joy and Light From those fierce Storms and that outrageous Night That forc'd your Vessels on th' Armoric Shore Your Loss I mourn but Heav'n's Designs adore Long have I stray'd in gloomy Darkness lost Deep Gulphs thick Woods and trackless Mountains crost In endless Mazes and in endless Night Without a Glimpse of Day or Ray of Light The Gates of Light thrown open you display The first reviving Beams of Heav'nly Day Which darts across the Shades in shining Streaks And on my Mind in tender Dawning breaks How much I wish to see this Light Divine Rise to its Noon and in full splendor shine You 've open'd Heav'n's Eternal Springs whence flow Those sacred Rivulets which you bestow On the parch'd Region of this barren Breast Now with pure Streams of living Waters blest I drink them in with Joy but thirst for more And for this thankful still more Aid implore He ceas'd the Prince who to oblige him strove Thus spake all Seasons offer'd I 'll with Joy improve To give more Light and kindle greater Love My Toil and Sufferings when review'd will please Caus'd by the stormy Winds and angry Seas If I can thus assist your Heav'nly Course Thro' gloomy Night thick Mists and Tempests force Thro' all the Snares of Hell till you attain Th' Eternal Haven where blest Spirits Reign Now to the Foot of Heav'n's steep Precipice Ready to plunge into the deep Abyss The Red-fac'd Sun had roll'd the sinking Day Shooting along the Plains a level Ray. The loving Turtle to his Airy Nest Flies with his moaning Mate to Coe and rest The timorous Hare steals from the Brakes to Feed And from the Yoke the lab'ring Ox is freed With strutting Teats the Herds come lowing home And Beasts of Prey o'er Hills and Forrests Roam And now the Princes that had pass'd the Day In various talk to Conda came to stay Till the appearance of the Morning Ray. Prince Arthur BOOK III. NOW the Victorious Sun the Night invades Chasing from Hill to Hill the flying Shades Up rose the Princes and were soon prepar'd To take their Way attended with their Guard In the same Chariot friendly they abide And feeding grateful Conversation ride The British Captains and th' Armorick Train On either Side their generous Coursers rein They past not far when Hoel thus addrest With pleasing Looks his Pious British Guest Your losty Subject now brave Prince resume How shall your Lord from Heav'n to Judgment come What follows what precedes the general Doom The Briton then began Before the Son of God appears on high Prodigious Signs are seen thro' all the Sky New lighted Comets shake their Fiery Hair Or trail their flaming Trains along the Air. Vast Circling Flakes of Fire the World amaze And intermixt prodigious Meteors blaze The Sky shines terrible with Lightning's Flame And Thunder shakes the universal Frame Th' impetuous roar o'erturns Heav'n's lofty Towers And starry Fragments fall in burning Showers Rent Clouds pour Seas of raging Sulphur down Whose livid Flames th' extinguish'd Sun-beams drown Cross the red Air the flaming Torrents fly Gushing from all the fiery Springs on high The melting Orbs and Firmaments conspire To make up one Tempestuous Sea of Fire The glowing Sphears dissolve with Heat and all In mighty Floods of liquid Crystal fall The lofty Digues gape wide that stood around And from the dark Abyss did Nature bound Chaos came pouring thro' the hideous Crack And Nature's Ruins and th' amazing Wreck Of burning Worlds by floating on his Waves Scarce its high Mounds th' Empyreal Region saves Heav'n's spacious Balls are on each other hurl'd Ruin with Ruin crush'd and World o'erturn'd with World Confusion Noise and Horrour fill the Air The Earth loud Cries Distraction and Despair Fierce Storms of raging Vapours that aspire Mixt with hot Steams from subterranean Fire That Lakes of Sulphur burning all beneath That kindled Naphtha and hot Metals Breath The Earth's grip'd Bowels with Convulsions rack And with loud Noise their trembling Prisons crack Imprison'd Thunder roars for wider room Proclaiming loud the World's approaching Doom The Globe distorted burst disjoynted rent Gives to the burning Exhalations Vent Thro' gaping Clefts the flaming Tempest flies And Hurricanes of Fire confound the Skies Great Cities Mountains Rocks and shatter'd Hills Vast abrupt Tracks of Land and sinking Isles Sap'd by the Flame that underneath destroys Fall down with mighty Cracks and dreadful Noise Prodigious Ruin filling all the Caves And dashing high the subterranean Waves Aetna Vesuvius and the fiery kind Their Flames within blown up with stormy Wind With dire Concussions and loud roar complain Of deadly Gripes and fierce consuming pain The lab'ring Mounts Belch drossy Vomit out And throw their melted Bowels round about Broad Sheets of Flame Pillars of Pitchy Smoak And glowing Stones the Airy Region choak Down their scorcht Sides metallic Torrents flow And form a dismal flaming Sea below The fiery Deluge rolls along the Ground Dreadful for Colour horrible for Sound Huge Stones and vast unmelted Cakes of Oar The thick unweildy Tyde encumber more Horrour in Triumph smear'd with Smoak and Blood Rides cross the Ridge of the Tremendous Flood It burns new Channels riding o'er the Plain And turns o'er Cities with its pond'rous Train Down to the Deep it rolls its massy Waves Outroars the Ocean and its Waters braves Plung'd in the Seas it unextinguish'd lies And o'er the Waves the glowing Wedges rise Th' affrighted Seas the burning Horrour fly And the bare Shores beneath the Deluge Fry Into the Air th' exhaling Ocean goes Where Waters slept a Lake of Sulphur glows All the hot Seeds and hidden Stores of Fire From subterranean Prisons freed conspire With their bright Arms to lay all Nature wast And to the general Conflagration hast A fiery Chaos Reigns with lawless Power And unresisted Flames the World devour These Signs first giv'n amidst the Starry Shears With all the Pomp of Heav'n the Judge appears Before his Chariot Wheels that roll on high Whirlwinds and Clouds discharging Thunder fly And curling Lightnings run along the Sky Immortal Thrones pour'd out from Heav'n's bright Gates Dominions Powers Seraphic
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
in the Sinner's Arms. It now no more can please awaken'd Eyes Stript of stoln Beauties and the fair Disguise Of promis'd Good it does it's self disclose Its hideous Shape and ghastly Visage shows Th' affrighted sinner seeing faign would fly Th' Embraces of such foul Deformity He would forget their past Endearments now And from the Monster strives in hast to go But 't will not be those Friends on Earth must dwell For ever sad Companions too in Hell This fiery Gulph was as their just reward For Lucifer and his black Host prepar'd Where now the Fiends once fairest Sons of Light Lye plung'd in Flame chain'd in Eternal Night These wretched Minds once pure and free from Stain In the brightest Palaces of Heav'n did Reign Array'd with dazling Brightness there they dwelt Blest with their great Creator's sight and felt The beaming Influx breaking from his Face And shar'd the Pleasures of that Blissful Place Till with the task of blest Obedience tir'd They to th' Eternal's Sacred Throne aspir'd Incens'd with such ambitious Aims their Lord Strikes thro' the Rebels with his flaming Sword Headlong he casts them from the Seats above No longer now the Creatures of his Love Flaming and Thunder-struck the Traytors fell And sunk down to the fiery Jaws of Hell As when strong rising Flames Resistance find Beat downwards by a fierce impetuous Wind. The liquid Pyramids with labour bend Their tops and sink still struggling to ascend So did these Beings of a Heav'nly Race Fall from the Regions of their Native Place Still working up they sunk in Pain and Toil For downwards thrown their Natures still recoil So difficult's an Angel's Fall and thus Sinking's to them what rising is to us But who has Strength t' oppose th' Almighty's Hand Who can against his deadly Terrours stand He with a single Word an angry Frown Subdu'd this Host and cast them headlong down Confounded and amaz'd they sink and all Heav'n's Plagues and Wrath pursu'd them in their Fall Here they must lie far from the Coasts of Bliss Chain'd in the Dungeons of the dark Abyss Where now they feel what Guilt 's Demerits are Weltring in Fire and tortur'd with Despair How much they curse the sad Exchange black Night And endless Death for Heav'nly Ioy and Light Sunk deep in liquid Fire they list their Eyes Red both with Heat and Anguish to the Skies Then rave aloud to think what Joys they 've lost To think how dear their bold Rebellion cost Nor is the Change of these two Dwellings such So great but they themselves are chang'd as much See how deform'd they are to what before Stript of the Glory that in Heav'n they wore How much they look too like their guilty State How foul and how unlike themselves of late Such fatal Changes one bold Crime can make Heav'n's lost nay more left for a burning Lake Man's Crime th' Infernal Gates did open lay And rais'd and pav'd a broad and easie Way Leading a-cross the Gulph from Earth to Hell Where now lost Men with impious Spirits dwell A Way that 's throng'd with mighty Crowds of those That for Delight and Ease this Passage chose In Sports and Mirth they journey on and find All the Delights that please a Vicious Mind The Way 's so wondrous smooth so prone and broad They rather fall than travel down this Road. But how surprizing is their Journey 's End To what dire Seats does this smooth Passage tend Down to th' Infernal Gulph they sporting glide Born on enchanting Pleasures wanton Tyde A sad Exchange they meet outrageous Seas Of Sulphurous Fire for Luxury and Ease In Darkness chain'd on flaming Billows tost Too late they find themselves for ever lost Hopeless they rave and Curse the easie Way That did their Feet to these sad Realms betray Hither the damn'd the final Sentence past With Cherubs bright revenging Swords are chas'd Pursu'd with everlasting Wrath they take Their woful Refuge in the burning Lake Transfixt on unextinguish'd Fire they ly Burn without Wast without expiring dy Those Agonies those Terrours here they know That from a self-revenging Conscience flow Grip'd with the sad Remembrance of their Sin They feel the Stygian Viper gnaw within With deadly Stings th' Almighty wounds their Hearts And in their Breasts sticks deep his Fiery Darts Along their Veins tempestuous Vengeance rolls Pouring Despair and Horrour on their Souls Who can with everlasting Burnings dwell And bear the Guilt and Punishment of Hell What Strength or Courage can support the Load Of Wrath inflicted by th' Almighty God Hear how the Damn'd devour'd with Plagues begin To Curse aloud their Judge Themselves their Sin Transported with their Anguish Grief and Shame They gnash their Teeth and bite the raging Flame Then sunk in deep Despair such Sighs they breath Such dismal Groans that but to hear is Death A secret Fire their Breasts like Aetna feed And like that too do their own Thunder breed Their Hellish Nature it s own punishment Is a worse Plague than Furies can invent Their Lusts like Vultures tear their inward parts And never-ceasing Torments rend their Hearts Their vicious Appetites not yet destroy'd Still crave the Pleasures they on Earth enjoy'd Though those are gone the fierce untam'd Desire Remains and burns worse than their Lake of Fire But what 's the most afflicting Plague of Hell With all these Woes they must for ever dwell For Ever fatal State for Ever who Can bear the Doom of Everlasting Wo What deadly Pangs what fierce Convulsions rend Their Breasts who know their Pains shall never end How the despairing Damn'd cry out is this The place we chose instead of Heav'nly Bliss Is this black Prison these tormenting Chains This Lake of Fire and these Eternal Pains The dismal Recompence our Crimes afford And must we thus curst tortur'd and abhor'd In these consuming Flames these Torments ly To all the Ages of Eternity Curst be the fatal Crimes that we obey'd That stole our Hearts and have our Lives betray'd Curst be the transient false Delights that shew'd The Charms that we so greedily pursu'd Till down the steepy Precipice we fell Into this deep Abyss of Death and Hell Curst be the treacherous Joys that leave us now Doom'd to Despair lost in Eternal Wo. He ended Hoel highly pleas'd exprest The grateful Sense that fill'd his joyful Breast Methinks he cry'd I view th' Infernal Caves And see the damn'd float on the raging Waves In the dire Lake where flaming Brimstone rolls And hear the dismal Groans of tortur'd Souls Then looking up I see the Blest above Dissolv'd in Raptures of Eternal Love I seem to view their bright triumphant Throngs And hear their Harps and sweet Harmonious Songs Then he the Briton various questions asks Who with great Joy performs the pious Tasks He teaches sacred Myst'ries yet behind And stamps the Christian Image on his Mind Prince Arthur BOOK IV. IN such divine Discourse on things sublime The Royal Pair with Pleasure
Masts bend more With Britons Breath than with the Winds before The joyful Britons and their Friends debark And near the Shore a spacious Camp they mark The pious Prince at a fair Castle staid That Malgo the Dimetian Lord obey'd Now her brown Wings the silent Night displays Light sprinkled o'er with Cynthia's silver Rays Silence and Darkness all to Rest invite And sleep's soft Chains make fast the Gates of Light Prince Arthur sleeps by Summons from on high From trembling Joynts his active Spirits fly To the round Palace of th' Immortal Soul And thro' the Rooms and dark Apartments roll The busie Crowd fills all the labouring Brain Bright Fancy's Work-house where close Cells contain Of Forms and Images an endless Train Which thither thro' the waking Senses glide And in fair Mem'ry's Magazine abide Compos'd of these light Scenes and Shows appear That still employ the restless Theater Divinely mov'd the Airy Figures take Their several Ranks and this bright Vision make Prince Arthur on a verdant Eminence Conversing with King Uter stood from whence He views with wondring Eyes great Lords and States Crown'd Heads Victorious Princes Potentates Heros and Heroines a glorious Train That in long Order fill'd the subject Plain Prince Arthur on the Royal Scene intent Demands what this August Assembly meant For what end thither come and who they were That at th' Illustrious Congress did appear King Uter then reply'd Know pious Son That after various bloody Battels won You Beauteous Ethelina shall espouse The fairest Branch of all King Octa's house A Christian Princess of a Pagan Line Whose Virtues equal with her Beauty shine You shall Triumphant mount the British Throne Which has not yet so great a Monarch known Swell not with Pride th' Imperial Seat you gain Brings envy'd Honour but unenvy'd Pain Your People rule with equal Laws and know You 're happy when you make your Subjects so Let them a Good Indulgent Father find Be mercifully Just severely Kind Let your bright Virtues Imitators draw Glorious Examples have more Force then Law Seek not an uncontroll'd and lawless Sway Subjects from Love but Slaves from Fear obey And whom the People fear they quickly hate Which Passions in their Prince the like Create Hence mutual Jealousies and deep Designs Hence strong Distrust the mould'ring State disjoyns Diffusing good on all Mankind you 'll show You imitate Heav'n's Government below The Benefactor will most Honour bring And the Deliverer's greater than the King Believe no Foreign hostile Power can move Your Throne supported by your Subjects Love The bright Assembly that surrounds the Hill And with their Numbers all the Vally fill Are Albion's Hero's who in future days Their own and Albion's Name to Heav'n shall raise The Regal Orders that the rest outshine With glittering Crowns are the Imperial Line That after you on Albion's Throne shall sit Their Names in Fate 's Eternal Volumes writ The Kings that in the foremost Rank appear Who frowning and unpleasant Aspects were Whose waning Crowns with faded Lustre shine Shall after you succeed first Constantine Conanus and the rest of British Line These look not with their Native Splendour bright But dimly shine with delegated Light Heroick Deeds by great Forefathers done Cast all their Glory on them not their own To narrow Bounds their scanty Empire shrinks And Britons Grandeur with their Virtue sinks At last their Crimes offended Heav'n provoke To Crush their Nation with the Saxon Yoke Here Arthur sigh'd that his degenerate Race Should with inglorious Deeds their Stock debase When Uter cry'd Observe the Saxon Line Where mighty Kings the British Rank outshine Crowns on their Heads and Scepters in their Hand All great in War and born for high Command Their Arms the British Empire shall Assail And aided by the Britons Crimes prevail This mighty Nation quickly shall believe The Christians God and Heav'nly Light receive That 's Ethelbert the first of Saxon Race That shall pure Faith and Truth Divine embrace He shall destroy in their own Temples Flames Their sensless Gods of barb'rous Northern Names In vain their Priests on helpless Idols call They and their Groves by the same Axes fall Fragments of broken Altars and the spoil Of ruin'd Gods fill all th' applauding Isle All shall adore the great mysterious King And of his Cross the glorious Triumphs sing The Spring of Life gilded with Heav'nly Beams Purge guilty Minds with pure Baptismal Streams From hence the Light shall break that shall dispell The Pagan Shades that on the Saxons dwell Proud Lucifer subdu'd flies in despair With all th' Infernal Powers about the Air That with their broad extended Wings retreat To seek a safe and unmolested Seat To fix on Scythian Hills their gloomy Throne Or on the Sands fry'd by the burning Zone As when the Storks prepare to change their Clime The long-neck'd Nation in the Air sublime Wheeling and towring up in Circles fly And with their cackling Cries disturb the Sky In lingring Clouds they hang and Leisure give For all their feather'd People to arrive To th' Airy Rendezvous all hast away And their known Leaders noisy Call obey Then thro' the Heav'ns their trackless Flight they take And for new Worlds their present Seats forsake So here the Fiends assembled in the Air Quit Albion's Soil and to wild Lands repair Remark that Prince that in the midst appears Seven bright imperial Diadems he wears That 's the great Egbert whose heroick Might Shall the dismember'd Island reunite His Arms shall give him universal Sway And all the Saxons shall his Power obey See there the great Northumberian Monarch stands Edwine his Name that all the Isle commands A happy Prince if his good Angel's Art Diverts the Mercian Ruffian 's bloody Dart. Saxons and Britons shall obey his Arms Himself the lovely Ethelburga Charms Her beauteous Eyes the mighty Monarch fire Her Words his Soul with Christian Flames inspire Blest Ethelburga of unrival'd Worth That plants Religion in the barren North. See Alfred there all shall his Praises sing A pious Souldier and an humble King Hero and Bard able in lofty Verse His own great Deeds and Triumphs to reherse Obey'd by all his unresisted Arms Shall to their Coasts repel the Danish Swarms Into the Seas swept by his potent Hand Those Northern Locusts leave th' afflicted Land The People his wife Laws shall cultivate Form their rude Minds and smooth th' unpolish'd State Upon the Verdant Plain where Isis Streams Hast to th' Embraces of her Sister Thames This mighty Prince shall a fam'd Empire Found Where Learning sits with branching Laurels Crown'd Where sacred Arts with all their Letter'd Train In lofty Schools shall unmolested Reign Banish'd from Greece and Rome no safe Retreat They 'll find till setled in this Peaceful Seat Ages to come this Seat will Oxford name Of which no Time or Place shall bound the Fame Remotest Nations shall her Wonders know Far as Great Britain's potent Navies go Learning her Native growth
shall Strangers fetch And taught by her their own rude Countries teach Th' admiring World shall Albion then adore Revere her Armies but her Learning more As when the Wisdom of th' Eternal Mind Rude Chaos labour'd and the Mass refin'd The scatter'd Rays that wander'd in the Air Did to the Sun 's capacious Orb repair The shining Colonies pour'd thick around Here fixt and did a glorious Empire Found So here the broken Beams of glimmering Arts Assembling all their Light from distant parts To make bright Oxford's Luminary stay That o'er the World shall spread Celestial Day Remark Elfeda there a Martial Dame That by her Arms shall win Immortal Fame At last the Princes of the Saxon Line From Heav'nly Love and Purity decline Their Christian Virtues and pure Zeal abate And with them sickens their decaying State With Christian Names their Pagan Crimes they keep And deaf to Heav'n's loud Threats securely sleep Till the fierce Dane sent by supream Command A vengeful Scourge does on their Borders Land The Saxon's Guardian Angels call'd away Leave them to hostile Arms an easie Prey Thus Heav'n afflicts a Land when Impious grown And from their Throne pulls haughty Monarchs down This dreadful Curse shall by relenting Heav'n Be soon from sad Britannia's Empire driv'n The Cruel slothful Dane shall soon decline To make way for a nobler Norman Line That Prince observe that moves with so much Grace Is the great William of the Norman Race A mighty Prince a Leader Brave and Wise Whose towring Fame shall soar above the Skies Heav'n does for him Britannia's Crown design From which great Stock shall branch a numerous Line Of mighty Princes that shall Rule this Isle Enriching it with Conquer'd Nations Spoil The Valiant second Henry see him there What Majesty does in his Looks appear Through wild Hibernia he shall force his way And add four Kingdoms to the British Sway. Brave Richard see who from the sacred Coast Shall drive the Barb'rous Unbelieving Host. In Gaul this Monarch's Arms shall be renown'd Dreaded in Battel and with Conquest Crown'd Long time in Peace his Crown might be enjoy'd Could he the Arrow at Chaluz avoid Now Son your Eye to that brave Warriour turn Whose Beams so much the Norman Line adorn How great a Presence what a Port he bears How much a mighty Conq'rour he appears That Prince is Edward whose Victorious Arms Iudea save from Pagan Foes Alarms How he returns thro' the Trinacrian Isle Thro' high Parthenope's delicious Soil Thro' loud Applauses of admiring Rome Reeking in hostile Blood triumphant home The beauteous Person next that Monarch seen Is Eleonora his Illustrious Queen In Storms she 's with him on the Ocean tost To seek out horrid War on Asia's Coast. Midst barbarous Arms his Wife Adviser Friend She his prodigious Labours shall attend And when her Lord so Heav'n permits shall feel Within his Veins the Murd'rer's poison'd Steel She to the spreading Plague her Lips applies And gives that Ease which Asia's Balm denies Invading Death her healing Kisses charm And with new Life the sinking Monarch warm No other Prince that in this Age shall reign Shall equal Honour to brave Edward's Gain But great Adolphus of th' Illustrious Race Of Heros which the House of Nassau Grace This mighty Prince shall gain th' Imperial Sway And wide Germania shall his Laws obey The God-like Virtues and Heroick Fire That shall the brave Nassovian House inspire Shall make Adolphus shine in this high Sphear Preluding to the great Deliverer The pious William yonder he 's in Sight In whom Nassovian Blood and ours unite There war-like Edward stands that with his Host Shall cross the Ocean to the Gallick Coast. Where he his Conquering Ensigns shall display And make the haughty Franks his Laws obey There Queen Philippa shines th' Albanians Dread Worthy of Britain's Crown and Edward's Bed While Forraign Kingdoms Edward's Arms subdue Hers thro' the North the vanquish'd Seats pursue See the Black Prince in Armour by her side Proud Gallia's Terrour and fair Albion's Pride What Triumphs wait him in Pictavian Fields What never-fading Laurels Croissy yields That Henry mark the glorious Conquerour That Gallia shall reduce by Albion's Power Immortal Prince if Arms can make thee so For thee in Norman Fields what Laurels grow How great he 'll seem his Arms distain'd with Blood Chasing the Franks o'er Sein's affrighted Flood At Agencourt what Wonders shall be done What Towns of Force what Battels shall be won Before in Triumph he ascends their Throne Our Blood the Royal Channel now regains Deriv'd thro' Tudor our brave Offspring's Veins Which with the Norman joyn'd the Confluent Tide As long as that of Time shall downward glide From their Embrace to rule Britannia springs A glorious Race of Queens and potent Kings See the first Tudor that ascends the Throne After the glorious Field at Bosworth won The Scepter he shall sway with great Applause And Rule the Isle with Wise and Equal Laws Young Edward there Albion's Delight appears Learn'd Pious Manly Wise above his years Then Liberty in all her lovely Charms Shall sit secure from Tyranny's Alarms Religion purg'd from Rome's Adulterous Stain Shall in her pure and Native Splendor Reign No greater Mind to Albion's Crown succeeds Rever'd for Brave and lov'd for Pious Deeds Blest Albion if kind Heav'n would long permit So great a Monarch on thy Throne to sit But oh how short Delights attend him here Such Heav'nly Guests are shown and disappear Dear both to Earth and Heav'n he 'll soon remove His Throne from hence to Reign in Bliss above With what Complaints with what despairing Cries Shall sad Britannia Mourn his Obsequies There see the bright Elizabetha rise Inlightning with her Rays the British Skies Th' Indulgent Parent of her People she Loves Feeds and Guards Britannia's Family Heav'n's and her People's Rights she shall protect And for Britannia's Ease her own neglect Her Sons she shall embrace with pious Care And from her Coasts send back th' Iberian War Blest times when she that wears th' Imperial Crown Regards her Peoples Safety as her own Intently now on that great Monarch gaze So much distinguish'd by his brighter Rays This is the Man the brave Nassovian whom I nam'd the great Deliverer to come Succeeding Prophets under your great Name This our great Offspring shall aloud proclaim Rais'd from a noble Branch of Tudor's Line From Thamisis transplanted to the Rhine Amaz'd Posterity will scarce believe The wond'rous Deeds this Hero shall atchieve The European World by Rome and Gaul opprest By his long-wish'd-for Arms shall be releast He 'll far outshine his own Heroick Race Europe's Protectors who shall Tyrants chase And Monsters vanquish with Herculean Toil And rescue from their bloody Jaws their Spoil The beardless Hero's first victorious Arms Shall free his Country from the Gauls Alarms As he advances Seas of Gallick Blood Shall with red Streams swell Mosa's wondring Flood Their slaughter'd Ranks shall lie along the Rhine
generous Beast Project aloof their Darts against his Breast Thus Cerdick stood nor dar'd the boldest Knight Advance to undertake a closer Fight They cast their Darts at distance and from far Shower on his Brazen Shield a ratling War With their loud Cries the ambient Air they rend And raging all their missive Weapons spend Mean time around King Cerdick's Jav'lins flew And Arthurs Men with vast Destruction slew Cadwan he kill'd whose Arms great Fame had won And Vortiger great Ganumara's Son Then Vogan fell and Ottocar who trace Their high Descent from Hoel's ancient Race Great Numbers dy'd where the chaf'd Saxon flew And with his Sword cut his wide Passage thro' So when a generous Bull for Clowns Delight Stands with his Line restrain'd prepar'd for Fight Hearing the Youths loud Clamours and the Rage Of barking Mastives eager to engage He snuffs the Air and paws the trembling Ground Views all the Ring and proudly walks it round Defiance lowring on his brinded Brows Around disdainful Looks the grisly Warriour throws His haughty Head inclin'd with easie Scorn Th' invading Foe high in the Air is born Tost from the Combatant's victorious Horn. Rais'd to the Clouds the sprawling Mastives fly And add new Monsters to th' affrighted Sky The clam'rous Youth to aid each other call On their broad Backs to break their Fav'rite's fall Some stretcht out on the Field lie dead and some Dragging their Entrails on run howling Home But if at last on all Sides he 's engag'd By fresh and fiercer Foes strait all enrag'd He flies about some with his Horns He gores Some strikes and mov'd with Indignation roars With Disproportion'd Numbers prest at length He breaks his Chain collecting all his Strength Then Dogs and Masters scar'd promiscuous fly And fal'n in Heaps the pale Spectators ly He walks in Triumph nods his conquering Head And proudly views the Spoils about him spread Hyalca fell a Lord of Neustrian Birth Struggling with Death he bites the hostile Earth Rivollan dies the brave Armorican Who swifter than a driving Tempest ran Mador not daring Cerdick to engage Fled from his Post to scape the Conquerors Rage Cerdick pursu'd him close exclaiming loud And to o'ertake him breaks th' opposing Crowd As when a Lyon on the Mountains spies A well grown Stag his furious Bristles rise And yawning horribly with Hunger prest Away he flies to tear the trembling Beast He leaps upon him with his dreadful Paws And buries in his Sides his fearful Jaws So raging Cerdick flew faln Mador dies And everlasting Night shuts up his Eyes Ludvalla from the high Silurian Hills Eldubert slew Poel Edella kills Chelrick Adarc Tudor pierc'd Alwy thro' Oswoll Pricarden Oven Kensey slew Bladoc kills Athelmar in single Fight Of goodly Stature and a valiant Knight Edwin gave Vortimer his fatal Wound Who from his Steed fell headlong to the Ground Lovellines Blood the great Barnulfa spills Kentwin Rodollan Pricel Ussa kills Now equal Ruin rag'd on either Side And Vict'ry mutual Favours did divide Flowing and Ebbing with an equal Tide With like Success by turns the doubtful Field The Victors and the vanquish'd win and yield Such was the bloody Labour of the Day And in such even Scales their Fortune lay Now certain Fame had reach'd Prince Arthur's Ear That his lov'd Macor dy'd by Cerdick's Spear No Tydings more his Fury could provoke Or strike into his Breast a deeper Stroke His Looks reveal'd his Wound and Grief and Rage His conquering Arms in deep Revenge engage With his refulgent Sword he hew'd his way Like grass mown down the slaughter'd Saxons lay His Stroaks are all as sure as those of Fate And Death and Vict'ry on his Progress wait His Arms the Field with vast Destruction clear Wide Lanes made by his Sword and spatious Voids appear Thro' their thick Ranks the raging Tempest flies And fearful Ruin all around him lies In vain his fatal Javelin never flew Ebissa Edgar Ethelburg he slew And Ethelwoll who fled the Conquerors Sight But the swift Dart o'er took him in his Flight His deadly Spear at Kenfred was design'd Who stooping down the hissing Death declin'd Then at the Conq'rour's Feet he prostrate falls And in sad Accents for Compassion calls Spare God-like Briton and let Kenfred live Me to my Father and my Children give Treasures immense of Silver and of Gold My Iron Chests and buried Coffers hold These Riches from the Sun so long conceal'd Shall to discharge my Ransome be reveal'd Mine's but a single Life if that be spar'd It cant the Progress of your Arms retard On this does not depend your Empire 's Fate Nor can my Life or Death affect your State He said to whom the British Prince reply'd The Silver and the Gold your Cellars hide You to your Sons and Daughters must bequeath Expect your self the present Stroke of Death That said he took his Helmet by the Crest And drawing back his Head into his Breast Up to the Hilts he plung'd his fatal Sword And from the Wound a crimson River pour'd Colmar hard by Odin's and Frea's Priest Distinguish'd by his Dress from all the rest And by the Garland round his Temples known In glitt'ring Arms and splendid Garments shone Up flew his Heels while from the Field he fled Nazaleod set his Foot upon his Head And stroke into the Ground quite thro' his Breast His pointed Spear and his rich Spoils possest Then Arthur with his Spear pierc'd Rufa thro' Then Osmor Seward Ethellar he flew Osa Beorno Kendred Ediswall Penda Kenelmar Osbert Ethelbal Pale Oswald fled the Conq'rour to prevent But thro' his Back the swifter Javelin went His flaming Sword did ne'er in vain descend But sure Destruction did its Sway attend The reeking Conquerour in Triumph reign'd Glutted with Slaughter and with Blood distain'd Th' unnumber'd Dead that round the Briton lay More then their living Troops obstruct his way To reach their Men that from his Fury fled He climbs their slaughter'd piles and scales the Dead Sometimes the Saxons with new Fury burn And rallying Squadrons to the War return They pour around the Prince their numerous Swarms And strive to crush him with unequal Arms. As when Tempestuous Storms o'erspread the Skies In whose dark Bowels in born Thunder lies The watry Vapours numberless conspire To smother and oppress th' imprison'd Fire Which thus collected gathers greater Force Breaks out in Flames and with impetuous Course From the Cloud 's gaping Womb in Light'nings flies Flashing in ruddy Streaks along the Skies So Arthur's flaming Sword cuts thro' the Cloud Around him spread and rends th' opposing Crowd With daz'ling Arms he flies upon the Foe Flashes amidst the throngs and terribly Thunders thro' Authum and Alfrid with fresh Troops sustain Their stagg'ring Squadrons and the War maintain To these Prince Arthur wing'd with Fury flew And first stout Alfrid with his Spear he slew Thro the left Groin the Weapon made its Way And stretcht along the Ground the bleeding Saxon lay At
Authum's Crest he dealt a furious Stroke The Saxon totter'd at th' amazing Shock And fell upon his Knee and while he pray'd And for his Life would many Things have said His sever'd Head off from his Shoulder flies And bounded on the Field his Body lies At a great Distance quivering on the Ground And Streams of Blood spring from his ghastly Wound As when the Summers Soultry Heats draw forth Th' exhaling Moisture from the thirsty Earth When scorching Rays the gaping Plains have fry'd And from their Banks contracted Streams subside If then a Fire invades a spaeious Wood Where Ancient Oaks have long securely stood The conquering Flames advance with lawless Power And with contagious Heat the Trees devour The spreading Burning lays the Forrest waste And sooty Spoils lie smoaking where it past So Arthur with resistless Rage around Destroys and loads with slaughter'd Heaps the Ground Next did the Prince at bold Edburga aim Who from the fertile Banks of Abum came Prince Unna's Son to vast Possessions born Broad Flowers of Gold his shining Coat adorn The piercing Steel deep in his Bosom sunk And Life's pure Stream at the warm Fountain drunk His Arms did next valiant Titullan meet Who fell and quiver'd at the Conquerour's Feet Osrick and beauteous Hengist next appear The first his Fauchion slew the last his Spear Next stout Eldanor did his Fate provoke And off his Head flew at a single Stroke And next he threw at Labert as he fled The Weapon struck him as he turn'd his Head In Gore and Brains the glitt'ring Javelin reeks And from his Veins a Purple Torrent breaks Mean time King Cerdic did around destroy And with thick Deaths his massy Fauchion cloy Him from afar the British Hero spies And wing'd with Fury to assault him flies Cerdic mean time undaunted did appear And forward step'd shaking his dreadful Spear Like one of Anak's mighty Sons he stalk'd Or some tall Oak that after Orpheus walk'd Fixt like a vast Colossus by his Weight He stood expecting his approaching Fate Lowring like rising Tempests from a far He rages and invites th' advanc'ing War Now the Britannic Hero did appear Within the Reach of his prodigious Spear King Cerdic curst and by his Gods defy'd The Briton and aloud to Odin cry'd The glitt'ring Arms by this gay Robber worn Great Odin soon thy Temple shall adorn Assist great Founder of our State the Dart I cast and guide it to his impious Heart Then from his vig'rous Arm his massy Spear Projected sung and hiss'd along the Air. Off from the temper'd Shield the Weapon flew Wounded Glendoran and Alantor flew Then his long Spear the pious Briton cast Th' impetuous Steel thro' all the Thickness past Of Brazen Plates rowl'd Linnen tough Bulls Hide And entring deep did in his Groin abide The fainting Saxon fell upon his Knees Pain'd with his ghastly Wound and trembling fees The Conquering Prince advancing to asswage By striking off his Head his veng'ful Rage Here the brave Lothar that had Wonders done And by his Arms Immortal Praises won For thro' the Host the loud Applauses rung Of mighty Deeds atchiev'd by one so young Transported with his pious Care to bring Assistance to his Uncle and his King Spur'd his hot Courser on and forwards prest Off'ring to Arthur's Arms his valiant Breast He bravely undertook th' unequal Foe To ward from Cerdic's Head the fatal Blow Then his long Spear he threw with Manly Force But Arthur's Buckler stop'd th' impetuous Course Th' applauding Saxons gave a Shout to see The Noble Youth 's excessive Bravery But to his Prince's Aid in vain he flies Who by his former Wound expiring lies And everlasting Sleep shuts up his Eyes But then the British Hero's Javelin fled At Lothar but it pierc'd his Courser's Head Rais'd in the Air upright the gen'rous Beast Gather'd his shiv'ring Feet up to his Breast Then springing strook them out and stagg'ring round Fell head-long with his Rider to the Ground A mighty Groan the dying Courser fetcht And on the Ground a breathless Carcass stretcht And here Immortal Elda shall my Verse Thy unexampled Deed of Love reherse Love which will universal Wonder raise And scarcely find Belief in future Days For whilst the British Hero step'd with Speed To take off with his Fauchion Lothar's Head Who with his Steed opprest and wounded lies Fair Elda rush'd between and thus she cries Before your fatal Sword takes Lothar's Life Victorious Prince hear his unhappy Wife Faln on her Knees she did her Helm unlace And shew'd the charming Beauties of her Face The blooming Looks of Spring and lovely Red Of opening Roses on her Cheeks were spread Her Eyes that sparkled like the Stars above Appear'd both th' Armory and Throne of Love Where thousands of alluring Graces wait And mingling Charms form Love's triumphal State Bright Ethelina her and all excell'd She the next Place in Beauty's Empire held Nor did her Looks less Admiration move While mild Confusion Sorrow Fear and Love With Beauteous Conflict for the Vict'ry strove A Shower of Tears flow'd down her lovely Face Which from her Grief receiv'd yet sweeter Grace At the great Conq'rour's feet she threw her Charms And lifting up to Heav'n her snowy Arms Aloud she spoke a wretched Woman's Prayer Great Briton here and my dear Lothar spare Since first his Bride within his Arms I lay Scarce two full Golden Months are stoln away Which in Love's Calendar scarce make a Day With Prayers and Tears and tender Words I strove And all th' ingaging Arts of mournful Love To keep him from the Dangers of the Field And when th' obdurate Man refus'd to yield About him my despairing Arms I flung And on his Neck o'erwhelm'd with Grief I hung I then conjur'd him to avoid with Care Your fatal Arms so much renown'd in War Away he goes and as he said adieu He touch'd my Life and my stretcht Heart-strings drew For still I fear'd that the heroic Fire And thirst of Fame that did his Soul inspire Would make him think no Dangers were too great Till rushing on your Arms he urg'd his Fate My conscious Fears this sad Event presag'd If e'er with you in Combate he engag'd Therefore in Arms I did my Limbs disguise And undertook this dang'rous Enterprize That if he rashly sought so great a Foe I might between him and your fatal Blow My Bosom interpose and in my Heart To save his dearer Life receive the Dart. Or if Occasion were to intercede As now I do and for his Safety plead I pray by all that is to Mortals dear By all the Gods that you and we revere Let this sad Object your Compassion move Regard his Valour and regard my Love Oh! Let his hapless Fate your Soul incline Pity his glooming Youth or pity mine Oh melt beneath divine Compassion's Charms Let not your Breast be harder then your Arms. Save his dear Life he of his Noble Line The only Branch remains as I of mine Christians
see this fatal Hour I live And thee and all that 's dear in Life survive Oh how I wish Life's tedious Journey done The empty Name remains the thing is gone But sure I shall not long thy Absence mourn I 'll hast to thee thou 'lt not to me return My hoary Head with Sorrow to the Grave Makes hast the best Repose my Troubles crave Thrice happy Wife remov'd from us below You have no share in this sad Scene of Woe My ill presaging Fears are now fulfill'd I started in my Sleep and cry'd my Son is kill'd I knew too well warm Blood and youthful Age Eager with Fame and fier'd with Martial Rage His Arms in greatest Danger would engage I pray'd and oft conjur'd him to beware Not rashly to provoke unequal War He promis'd me while on his Neck I wept But oh how ill has he his Promise kept I can't reproach the pious Arthur's Name Nor on his Friendship sworn reflect the Blame If by divine unchangeable Decree Untimely Fate Macor attended thee T' is best that thou art fal'n with such Applause Asserting Albion's and the Christian Cause But why do my Complaints thus endless grow And why thus tedious my loquacious Woe Why from new Laurels should I thus detain These valiant Troops to hear my Sighs in vain Go Britons to your Prince at your Return Tell him I live but only live to mourn I groan beneath the heaviest Load of Grief And spend in Tears my sad Remains of Life May Heav'n his Arms with greater Triumph bless Great as his Vertues let him meet Success Mean time must we this last kind Office pay And Macor's Body to the Dome convey Where his illustrious Fathers lie interr'd Who reign'd by Subjects lov'd by Neighbours fear'd Soon as the Sun had with his early Ray Depos'd the Shades and re-enthron'd the Day The pious Britons their slain Friends inter And on their Graves new Honours do confer Some with their Spades and with sharp Axes wound The groaning Earth and casting up the Ground They form deep Vaults and subterranean Caves Then fill up with their Dead the gaping Graves Some cast up hilly heaps and Mounts of Sand That for their Tombs and Monuments might stand And to th' admiring Britons might declare In future Ages what their Fathers were Some Stones erect of a prodigious Size That bear the Hero's Glory to the Skies Mean time the Saxons bear away their Dead Whose putrid Heaps the bloody Field o'erspread Inumerable Piles they raise on high Which kindled fill with Smoak and flames the Sky With uncouth Cries around the Fires they mourn Where vulgar Dead in Heaps promiscuous Burn. The Lords and Officers of high Command They send attended with a warlike Band Each to his City there to be interr'd Where greater funeral Pomp might be conferr'd But fair Augusta chiefly flow'd with Tears Where Grief in all her mournful Looks appears Distracted with ungovernable Woe Into the Streets in Crowds the Matrons flow Confusion in their Looks and wild Despair They wring their Hands and tear their flowing Hair Parents on Children Wives on Husbands call Sons mourn their Fathers Maids their Lovers fall For their dear Brothers Sisters Tears are spent Servants their Masters Friends their Friends lament All mingle Tears their Cries together flow And form a hideous Harmony of Woe Pale Consternation sate on every Face They fear'd the Prince would soon invest the Place They oft reproach'd their Monarch's Breach of Word That had expos'd them to the Conquerour's Sword They wish'd that this destructive War might cease And Ethelina be the Bond of Peace Octa's Affairs in this ill State appear Such was their publick Grief and such their Fear Mean time the Briton joyful Sports ordain'd For the great Vict'ry by their Arms obtain'd For Horsemanship the Britons always fam'd To run a Course his generous Gifts inflam'd Desire both of the Prize and loud Applause The British Youth to mount their Coursers draws A neighbouring Hill ascending high but slow Survey'd the Valleys with his lofty Brow Upon the flowry Top a spacious Down Extended lay which shady Woods did crown The grassy Plains and rising Groves appear Like a rich furnish'd native Theater Where Sylvan Scenes their verdant Pomp display And charming Prospects to the Eye convey Soon as the Sun had with his Rosy Light From the cold Air dispell'd the dewy Night The British Hero with a numerous Train Directs his Steps to this delightful Plain Where high amidst his Friends he takes his Place VVho swarm'd around to view the noble Race Britons Armoricans and Neustrians stood Mingled below the foremost of the Crowd Stood Eddelin in all his Youthful Pride His Purple Boots were of Iberian Hide VVhich fast with Golden Buttons held and grac'd VVith Silver Spurs his comely Legs embrac'd A flaming Ruban of Sydonian Dy In a close Knot his curling Locks did ty VVhich playing on his Shoulders flew behind Danc'd in the Air and sported with the VVind Close to his well shap'd VVast he wore his Coat Of Silk and Silver by his Mother wrought A Cap of Crimson did his Head equip And as he walk'd he slash'd his breaded VVhip His swarthy Groom his generous Courser leads That scarcely marks the Ground so light he treads Swift as a Dove pursu'd or Mountain Hind His nimbler Feet could overtake the VVind Leave flying Darts and swifter storms behind Illustrious Blood he Boasts with equal Pride Transmitted to his Veins on either side The Mother Mare was of Eborac Race The Sire Augusta's Merchants brought from Thrace His inward Fire thro' his wide Nostrils flies And noble Ardor sparkles in his Eyes His well turn'd Limbs did Admiration move Where Strength and Beauty for the Conquest strove His matchless Speed the Prize did ever gain From all the Rival Coursers of the Plain Next Blanadoc upon the Plain advanc'd And led behind his fiery Courser pranc'd Lightly equip'd and ready for the Race He marches to the Base with Manly Grace The gazing Crowd admire his comely Steed Nobly descended from the famous Breed That on the Mauritanian Mountains feed And fam'd for Swiftness in the Dusty Course Of wondrous Beauty and of wondrous Force And next to him the gay Lanvallo came Eager to win the Prize and raise his Name His dapled Courser to the Base advanc'd And neighing wantonly along the Champain danc'd His high Descent he did from Draco trace The swiftest Courser of th' Iberian Race A Race so famous for their speedy Feet Eurus himself was not esteem'd more fleet So swift they run that vulgar Fame declares The Western Winds impregnated the Mares Next the fierce Tudor comes into the Field That did to none for Art or Courage yield A Velvet Bonnet on his Head and drest For Lightness in a thin embroider'd Vest. Thirsty of Honour to the Base he flies And with his greedy Wishes grasps the Prize His well-train'd Courser was admir'd for Speed Sprung from Calabrian mixt with British Breed Light'ning flew from his Eyes