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
fell Deserting Heav'n to serve the Cause of Hell This Fatal Conquest o'er fall'n Adam gain'd A mighty Empire Lucifer maintain'd Till the blest Prince of Peace Heav'n's Lord and Heir By Pity 's Tears and charming Mercy 's Prayer Drawn down from Heav'n freed lost Mankind and broke The Pow'r of Hell and Sin 's Tyrannick Yoke He makes Proud Lucifer his Host disband And wrests the Scepter from th' Usurper's Hand The Prince of Darkness owns the Conquerour And yields his Empire to a mightier Pow'r From Idols and their Priests the Nations freed Celestial Light and Truth Divine succeed Religion large Dominions soon obtain'd And daily Conquests and fresh Laurels gain'd To Albion's Shore she early pass'd the Main And brought along her bright Etherial Train From thence she chas'd Infernal Shades away And o'er the Isle diffus'd a Heav'nly Day The Prince of Hell at her Appearance flies Spoil'd of his Altars and his Votaries Confin'd to Barb'rous Northern Lands he staid Till the fierce Saxon Albion did invade Victorious Octa who his Shrines ador'd Rebuilt his Altars and his Groves restor'd Long abdicated Gods make Albion mourn At theirs and their devouring Priests Return Th' Arch-Traytor's Rage hence against Arthur rose And all th' Infernal Pow'rs his Arms oppose Conscious should he his glorious End acquire And force th' intruding Pagan to retire Theirs with the Saxon Empire must expire They must again forsake fair Albion's Land And leave Divine Religion to Command Scarce had they left the happy Neustrian Coast Born with a Prosperous Gale scarce had they lost The Tops of Spires and rising Points of Land When Lucifer that did observing stand On the high Southern Promontory's Head Of Vecta's Isle the Seas beneath him spread With sharp Angelick Ken views far and wide And soon Prince Arthur's hateful Fleet descry'd The Heav'ns serenely smil'd and every Sail Fill'd its wide Bosom with th' indulgent Gale Mercy Deliverance Pity Hope displaid Their Silver Wings and glad Attendance paid Sung on the Shrowds or with the Streamers plaid Rage flash'd like Lightning from th' Apostate's Eyes And Envy swell'd him to the vastest Size Then thus he to himself Was not to me in the fam'd Wars of Heav'n The chief Command of all the Forces giv'n Sent by Confederate Potentates to wage Unheard of War and all Heav'n's Pow'r engage When I to end with Honour the Campaign Drew my bright Troops out on th' Etherial Plain And push'd on that great last decisive Day With God-like Vigour for th' Imperial Sway. In Lustre chief in Danger and Command Did I Proud Michael's Veteran Troops withstand Michael than whom a Braver Combatant For Skill and Strength the Foe could never vaunt 'Gainst fresh Battalions still pour'd on I stood Smeer'd with Celestial Dust and Seraphs Blood Had not our Mould been Aether Pure and Fine Labour'd with Care anneel'd with Skill Divine The Blows of mighty Cherubs Death had cloy'd Unpeopled Heav'n and the Bright Race destroy'd With Michael pain'd with ghastly Wounds at length I clos'd and grasp'd him with Immortal Strength And down Heav'n's Precipice had headlong hurl'd The great Arch-Angel to th' Infernal World Had not swift Uriel trembling at the Sight That fill'd all Heav'n with Horrour and dire Fright Rush'd in to save him from unequal Fight Their stagg'ring Army shrunk and we had won The Throne we fought for but th' Almighty's Son Brought strong Recruits to reinforce their Host And win back what their General Michael lost ' Tho' overmatcht did I not firmly stand The chiefest Mark of his Revenging Hand Did I from Posts of greatest Danger run Or once his bright Triumphal Chariot shun Did I once shrink when Showers of poyson'd Darts Dipt in Eternal Wrath shot thro' our Hearts When massy Rocks of Heav'nly Chrystal flew Which the strong Arms of mighty Seraphs threw Did I not run and timely Help afford Where Storms of Fire and loudest Thunder roar'd T is true o'er-born with Force at last I fell But got Immortal Fame tho' with it Hell Scarce was I vanquish'd and o'erthrown but late By Power Almighty and Eternal Fate Since that chief Lord and Prince of Hell I 've reign'd And from the Foe his new-made World have gain'd And long maintain'd the Conquests I had won Now much lost back to his Almighty Son But faithful Octa has once more restor'd This happy Isle to me its ancient Lord. Have I been thus for great Atchievements fam'd My Deeds throughout all Heav'n and Hell proclaim'd And shall this British despicable Wight Me and my Priests force to a second Flight Rifle my Temples and in Triumph bear Thro' shouting Throngs the Spoils high in the Air Who then to me will Hymns of Praise return Who on my Altars Odorous Incense burn If I chastise not this vain Briton's Pride That does insulting on the Ocean ride If I secure not my new conquer'd Seat And all his wild ambitious Arms defeat This having said to Heav'n he mounts upright And to the Northern Pole directs his Flight All fir'd with Rage and full of anxious Care With his swift Wings he cuts the yielding Air. As when the Sun pours from his Orb of Light A glorious Deluge on the Face of Night His Golden Rays shot from the Rosy East Reach in a Moment the remotest West And smiling on the Mountains Heads are seen Th' immense Expansion past that lies between The Prince of Darkness now once Prince of Light With equal Swiftness takes his Airy Flight And the vast Interval of Seas and Isles Wild Desarts spacious Forrests snowy Hills Past in a Moment does on Fioel Light Of Lapland Alpes chief for amazing Height Where Thor resides who heretofore by Lot The Sovereign Rule o'er Winds and Tempests got Here in strong Prisons bound with heavy Chains His howling savage Subjects he restrains And in Eternal Din and Uproar reigns In close Apartments round his desart Court Fierce Pris'ners are confin'd of different Sort. Here Boundless Stores and Treasures Infinite Of Vapours Steams and Exhalations fit T' engender Winds or Snow or Hail or Rain In Subterranean Magazins remain Here new fledg'd Winds young yelping Monsters try Their Wings and sporting round their Prisons fly Here whistling East-winds prove their shriller Notes Here the hoarse South-winds strain their hollow Throats Boreas the fiercest and most turbulent Of the mad Race raves in his Dungeon pent At th' Adamantine Door vast Hills are thrown And abrupt Rocks of Ice pil'd sevenfold on Capricious Whirlwinds of more Force than Sound In everlasting Eddys turning round Grow Giddy Furious and Extravagant And strive to break from their close Den's restraint When Thor unlocks their Prisons out they fly A lawless Rout and with their Hellish Cry Out-howl the hideous Monsters of the Seas Or savage Roarings of the Wilderness Some range the Flats and Scour the Champain Land Or roll in tott'ring heaps the Desart Sand. Some to the lofty Woods direct their Course And with an uncontroul'd impetuous Force O'erturn opposing Structures in
Skies And swiftly passing through the Starry Sphears Before the Throne he in his place appears The Cherub's gone and with him Arthur's fears Who to his Lords returns and to their Heart Courage and Joy his Words and Looks impart His God-like Language does their Fears abate And with fresh hopes their troubl'd Breasts dilate Mean time th' Infernal Thrones and Powers resort At their great Monarch's Summons to his Court Where they in Council meet and there debate Important matters high Designs of State Their Prince with Pride extended mounts his Throne Of polish'd Gold whence horrid splendor shone And mingl'd with the Shades tremendous Light More dreadful thus as Fires that Flame by Night In sad Magnificence and dismal State He sits and round th' Infernal Orders sate Then Lucifer began Immortal Potentates Illustrious Lords The British Youth 's ambitious aim affords A weighty subject for your high debate Who seeks the ruin of your Pow'r and State You all have heard how with a mighty Force Embark'd he strait for Albion steer'd his Course King Octa to attack our Votary And make our Priests from our new Altars fly I watch'd and aided by the Power of Thor I shew'd the Miscreant another Shore His Fleet beat back and haughty purpose croft He wanders Shipwreckt on th' Armoric Coast. Where faithful Hoel does the Scepter hold Mighty in Arms and in our Service bold Spirits Divine high Peers of Hell suggest By what sure Plagues he may be more distrest His Ruin finish'd and his Sect opprest That said a Fury crawls from out her Cell The bloodiest Minister of Death and Hell A monstrous Shape a foul and hideous sight That did all Hell with her dire looks affright Huge full gorg'd Snakes on her lean Shoulders hung And Death's dark Courts with their loud hissing rung Her Teeth and Claws were Iron and her Breath Like Subterranean Damps gave present Death Flames worse then Hells shot from her bloody Eyes And Fire and Sword Eternally she Cries No certain Shape no Feature regular No Limbs distinct in th' odious Fiend appear Her squallid bloated Belly did arise Swoln with black Gore to a prodigious Size Distended vastly by a mighty Flood Of slaughter'd Saints and constant Martyrs Blood Part stood out prominent but part fell down And in a swagging heap lay wallowing on the ground A Monster so deform'd so fierce as this It self a Hell ne're saw the dark Abyss Horrour till now the ugliest Shape esteem'd So much out-done a harmless Figure seem'd Envy and Hate and Malice blush'd to see Themselves Eclips'd by such Deformity Her Feaverish Thirst drinks down a Sea of Blood Not of the Impious but the Just and Good 'Gainst whom she burns with unextinguish'd Rage Nor can th' exhausted World her Wrath asswage Then thus the Fury Persecution spake I mighty Prince of Hell will undertake This glorious Work I quickly will inspire Hoel with my ungovernable Fire Without remorse he shall my Will Obey And crush this Briton now his easie Prey Nero by me rais'd his Illustrious Name And Dioclesian got Immortal Fame I their rude inbred Cruelty refin'd And stampt my perfect Image on their Mind My flames all Love's course mixture did destroy And purg'd off soft Compassion's base alloy I form'd and disciplin'd their untaught Hate And rais'd their fierceness to a perfect State Where shame and all reflecting Sense is lost And Hell can't purer strains of Malice boast Inexorable they all Cries withstood Ravish'd with Slaughter and regal'd with Blood Hard marble Rocks might with more ease relent And Fire and Plague learn sooner to repent Then Christian Kings my Fury entertain'd And taught by me in Blood and Slaughter reign'd With pious Rage and fierce destructive Zeal I first inspir'd their Minds and did reveal The mystery how deep Revenge to take And slay the Servants for the Master's sake How bloody Wrath might with Devotion joyn And sacred Zeal with Cruelty combine By me the unknown way they understood T' attone the Christians God with Christian Blood By me they shook off Fear 's and Love's Restraints And on God's Altars burnt his slaughter'd Saints I made them call that all remorse might cease Murder Compassion Desolation Peace Whilst my Infernal Heats their Breasts inspir'd To the vile Sect their own mad Zeal acquir'd Wider Destruction and more fatal Harms Then all your Scythian or your Gothick Arms. And Rome proud Rome her self must owe to me Her present State and future Dignity The greatest Genius this I e're could find And to receive my Image best inclin'd I will her Mind inspire and to her Heart Immortal hate to Abel's Race impart These Breasts she empties with her Infant Jaws I File her Teeth and Shape her tender Claws I Nurse her on the horrid Alps high Tops And feed her hunger with Cerberean Sops Dipt in Tartarean Gall and Hemlock Juice That in her Veins will noble Blood produce Fierce Tygers Dragons Wolves about her stay They grin and snap and bite and snarling play I to her Jaws throw Infants newly Born She sucks their Blood and by her Teeth are torn Their tender Limbs while I rejoyce to see Such noble proofs of growing Cruelty To her wide Breast and vast capacious Soul I often Torrents of black Poyson rowl She drinks the livid Flood and through her Veins Mad Fury runs and wild Distraction reigns I 'll lead her from the Rocks her strength full grown Fix her high Seat in the Imperial Town And give her Scarlet and a threefold Crown No Blood will then her mighty Thirst asswage No Ravage cloy her Antichristian Rage Her Mitred Sons that never can relent From the great Cain shall prove their high Descent Their Deeds of strange Infernal Cruelty Shall shew their Race worthy of Him and me Lay-Bigots I with time and labour wrought Some inward Grudgings still against me fought 'T was hard to raise their hate to a degree From struggling Nature and all Pity free But these Church-Zealots of a truer breed Are form'd with Ease and scarce my Labour need Their forward Genius without teaching grows And all my hopes and ev'n my wish out-does How often shall thy glorious Sons O Rome With Martyrs Flames inlighten Christendom How often shall they to deride their God Lift up in Prayer their Hands all full of Blood The wasted World shall feel their loud Alarms Their blest Massacres and their hallow'd Arms. As if their high intent were to Efface All Footsteps left of Abel's hateful Race Bloody Tribunals Rapine Fire and Sword And Desolation dayly Sport afford Mankind they shall with such dire Plagues attack As will their Church a holy Desart make Such is my Zeal to serve th' infernal State And shall this British Prince escape my Hate Forbid it Hell and here she made a pause The Lords in Council gave a loud applause The Prince of Darkness leaping from his place Did in his Arms his darling Fiend Embrace Her Anger then rose higher and all Hell Uneasie seem'd she
grew so terrible She strait contracts her vast dilated Size And through Hell's dusky Void she upward flies As when rich Towns great Cost and Art employ In Fire-works to express their publick Joy For some great Vict'ry won by Land or Sea Or on some Prince's Coronation Day The flaming Rockets hizzing fly by Night And fill the Sky with unknown Noise and Light The Sphears amaz'd stand or move slowly on And wonder how the Day returns so soon And what new Stars rise brighter than their own So does the Fiend her Snakes all hissing rise Through the thick haggair'd Air and as she flies Leaves tracks of Light cast from her fiery Eyes And now arriv'd on the grey Coasts of Day Direct to Hoel's Court she takes her way Where she alighted when the Sun had hurl'd His glorious Orb hence to the other World 'T was then when all things look'd as if old Night Had Nature crush'd and seiz'd her ancient Right Whilst Silence Shades and Lights around create Sad solemn Pomp t' express her Death-like state Winds and wild Beasts lye in their Dens at rest Nor these the Woods nor those the Seas molest The sleeping Vultures drop their prey the Dove Ceases her Cooing and forgets to love The Jocond Fairies Dance their silent round And with dark Circles mark the trampled ground Tartarean Forms Skim o're the Mountains Heads Or lightly sweep along the dewy Meads Ghosts leave their Tombs hid Murders to reveal Or Treasures which themselves did once conceal Visions through th' Air and careless Phantoms stray Or round Mens troubled Heads while sleeping play The Fury Alman's Reverend Shape assumes Odin's High Priest and so to Hoel comes For the Priest's Form is fittest to engage Princes in Blood and move destructive Rage Thus chang'd the Fiend such is her Craft appears And thus began just Hoel all those years I liv'd I did with studious Care employ How best I might the Christian Crew destroy I thy great Soul in this blest Cause engag'd Inspir'd with Heats Divine not yet asswag'd I quit Elysian Pleasures to impart What does with greater Joy extend my Heart And will do thine Arthur Curst be that Name Designing Empire and Illustrious Fame Embark'd with Arms fair Albion to invade But by just Heav'n is thy cheap Captive made Pursu'd with Thunder and in Tempests tost At last he 's Shipwreckt on this happy Coast. With his sad Friends he wanders up and down Naked perplext deserted and undone But yet just Heav'n Decrees him greater Harm But saves that Glory for your Zealous Arm. To take his Life must be your Pious Care And with the Gods divided Honour share Thus you their En'my and your own remove Secure your Peace and please the Pow'rs above To Christians this can be no Injury That call for Torments and are pleas'd to Dye They all seem fond to wear the Martyr's Crown And meet the Flames with greater of their own No Rights no Rules of Justice you invade For Ruin's their Profession Death their Trade Go then and grace the Briton that comes on To meet you and receive the Martyr's Crown Remove this Pillar of their Church and all The unsupported Roof will crack and fall Take this Defender of their Faith away The passive Rabble tamely will Obey Their Lives in Sport you may at leisure take They quickly fall that no Resistance make The Gods into your Hands have cast your Foe To take his Life will please Heav'n him and you That said she breath'd her Soul into his Breast And her wild Fury all his Veins possest Infernal Flames Rage in his poison'd Blood And his swoln Heart Boils with th' impetuous Flood The Fiend her Shape of thicken'd Air dissolves And disappears Hoel surpriz'd revolves The welcome message in his Mind and strait Commands his Lords and Guards should on him wait On the first Shooting of the tender Day So eager did he seem to seise the Prey Now was the Eastern Sky-dy'd Purple spread For fair Aurora's Radiant Feet to tread She mounts serene and with mild dawning Light Smiles on the lowring dusky Face of Night That to Victorious Day yields up her Seat Whilst her black Forces silently Retreat As when a Lyon at the dawn of Day Rous'd with fierce Hunger up to Hunt his Prey Stretches his Limbs out Yawns and tries his Paws And for sure Death prepares his cruel Jaws He stands and rolls about his Angry Eyes Lashing his Sides to make his Fury rise Then Scowrs the Hills Ranges the Forrests o're And Thunders thro the Desart with his hideous Roar The Winds all husht sit trembling on the Trees And scarcely Whisper out a gentle Breeze Wolves dare not Howl but grinning softly creep And Leopards stretcht out feign themselves asleep Th' affrighted Herds close in their Covert lye And to escape his Rage with Terrour dye Thus Hoel with infernal Rage possest With fierce desire speeds to the bloody Feast A deadly Storm does on his Forehead lowr Himself his Rage Arthur his Hopes devour Breathing out Death he march'd but at mid-day He stands by Heav'n arrested in his way The Air serene a black thick Cloud appear'd And as it hover'd o're their Heads were heard Celestial Flutes and Harps divinely Strung With Hymns and Hallelujahs Set and Sung By the best Masters of the Quire above With Bliss transported and inspir'd with Love Whilst Hoel and his Friends pleas'd and amaz'd Listen'd and on the Scene descending gaz'd The broken Cloud pours out pure Floods of Light Show'rs of Celestial Rays transcendent bright And Storms of Splendor dazling Mortal Sight Th' illustrious Tempest does on Hoel beat Who falls astonish'd headlong from his Seat Confounded with unsufferable Day Groveling in Glory on the shining Way And with bright Ruin overwhelm'd he lay 'T was then a soft still Heav'nly Voice that broke From out the Cloud to trembling Hoel spoke 'Gainst me what Fury did thy Arms Engage What mov'd thee with inexorable Rage Vain Man to persecute my Saints and Me In vain thou seek'st to baffle Heav'n's Decree Vain is thy Force and impotent thy Hate Too weak thy Arms to stem the Tyde of Fate The Torrent bears thy saint Resistance down Retire or in Eternal Ruin Drown Then Hoel thus O tell me who thou art Great Spirit and thy Will to me impart Tell me if Errour has my Feet misled What safer Paths I may hereafter tread The Voice reply'd I am the Christians God whom you pursue Go meet my Servant Arthur he shall shew At large what thou hast to believe what do The Scene here disappear'd his Lords come round And rais'd reviving Hoel from the Ground Who marches on the British Prince to find And Act not what himself but Heav'n design'd With anxious Thoughts the Vision he revolves And to Obey Heav'n's high Command resolves Whilst to his Lords the Vision he relates They find themselves advanc'd to Conda's Gates Arthur mean time to whom great Raphael's word Unshaken Hopes and Courage did afford Proceeded
Race The Father straight assented Mercy smil'd To see the Serpent of his Prey beguil'd Justice well pleas'd accepts the offer'd Price And Heav'n's aton'd by its own Sacrifice The Heav'n's with loud rebounding Shouts did ring And the glad Angels in new Anthems sing The Intercessor and mysterious King The rolling Years their Circles fill apace And well-breath'd Time runs its appointed Race Till it brought on the Hour when all should see The Son make good to Man his blest Decree That our expected Hope might be enjoy'd Divinity appears with Man alloy'd His Native Glory darts destructive Light And bright Oppression pours on Mortal's Sight He therefore draws a humane Veil between That temper'd Lustre might not Kill when seen Here two Extreams of distance infinite In one ineffable mysterious Knot unite God lives conceal'd within a Mould of Clay And does in Dust himself and 's Glory lay He that in all th' expanded Skies wants room Lies now encompass'd with a Virgins Womb. Immensity is wrapt in Swadling Bands The Prince by whom the World 's wide Fabrick stands Supported in his Mother's Arms we see And vast Eternity begins to be He leaves his Starry Seat and glitt'ring Crown And lays his dazling Robes of Glory down Then in an humble travelling Dress is seen Seeking as unknown Strangers do an Inn. Lord of the World to whom proud Monarchs owe Their Crowns and Scepters he that does bestow Honours and Wealth profusely on the Great Can't for his own Repose find out a Seat But must from Men to kinder Beasts Retreat No other Court receives the new-born King That to debase himself did choose to bring No other Pomp but naked Innocence Nothing for Ornament or for Defence He that the Wants of all the World supplies Himself oppress'd with Pain and Hunger Cries He Man's Assistance asks in vain to whom For Aid and Comfort all th' afflicted come Angels that did the Royal Stranger know The greatest Signs of Joy and Triumph show The Out-guards of their Camp saw marching round Celestial Splendor rising from the Ground And gave th' alarm the shining Squadrons fly To th' Out-lines and the Frontiers of the Sky To see the wond'rous Mediator Born Whom they Adore though stupid Hebrews Scorn Some with spread Wings shoot swiftly thro' the Air And to the Shepherds first the Tydings bear That a great Shepherd was at Beth'lem Born Whose Deeds and Triumphs should that Name Adorn Tho' Angels Sing obdurate Men are mute Nor will their Saviour and their King Salute Yet some few famous Sages come from far Conducted by a brigter Morning Star Left all the Wealth and Wonders of the East To see a greater Sun rise in the West To find the Prince to Herod they resort For where should Kings be found but in a Court But the directing Star that led their Way Stands still and points down with a streaming Ray To a mean Stable where the Stranger lay Where they with humble Adoration View The Infant Intercessor known to few Whom they present with Odoriferous Gums Choice Spices and Arabia's rich Perfumes The Sun of Righteousness begins to rise And Streaks with radiant Lines the Purple Skies Here did he from his healing Wings display The tender dawn of Everlasting Day Pale Terror through the Courts of Darkness flew And Hell 's sad Regions doubled Sorrow shew Th' Infernal Spirits wandring in the Air As Thunder-struck in Anger and Despair With Shreeks and hideous Yellings fly the Sight And the keen Horrour of the Heav'nly Light Like obscene Birds of Night they hast away And shun in Clefts and Caves the Rising Day The Prince of Darkness now begins to fear The Dissolution of his Empire 's near Th' ambiguous Oracles with Fear struck Dumb Proclaim'd by Silence the Messiah come Troubled and Sad th' Infernal Counsel sate Thoughful how best t' avert th' impending Fate Various Projections deep Designs were laid How best the dreaded Foe they might invade They first the Fury Jealousie dispatch To Herod's Court that might Occasion watch To kindle strong Suspicions in his Breast That th' Infant from him should his Scepter wrest She did so well perform her Hellish Part Herod soon yielded to her subtle Art For while the Sages leave their Eastern home And to admire the wondrous Infant come Herod afraid his ravish'd Crown to loose The Royal Infant 's hated Life pursues What to pale Tyrants dreadful won't appear When Love and Innocence can move their Fear 'T is true A King he is whose Empire 's vast Extent Shall pass all Bounds and last when Time is spent Submissive Monarchs shall their Scepters lay Before his Feet and his Just Laws Obey Kingdoms opprest shall his strong Aids invoke And thrust their Necks beneath his gentle Yoke The Roman Eagles shall the Conqueror own And Caesar Court him to Ascend his Throne Admir'd by all he shall in Triumph go Where fruitful Nile or fam'd Hydaspes flow Uncheckt by Africk Heats or Scythian Snow Nations invited by his Fame shall come More than e'er made their Court to Conquering Rome In splendid Embassies to sue for Peace And Worlds unknown his Empire shall increase The Earth shall banish'd Justice now regain And Love and Truth attend the happy Reign Soft Peace and Joy the chearful Earth shall Crown And Savage Beasts shall lay their Fierceness down The Lyon Wolf and Lamb no more their Prey And little Infants shall Promiscuous play The years in Golden Harness smiling pass And keeping beauteous Order run their Race Nor shall his Kingdom cease or Subjects dye For when Time finds its empty Channel dry And all its disappearing Streams shall Sleep Lost and engulph'd in vast Duration's Deep Then shall this King his full Dominion gain And in Eternal Peace and Triumph Reign But 't is not Worldly Empire he design'd His Scepter is his Grace his Throne the Mind Kings unmolested may their Scepters sway And Peaceful Subjects without Strife obey They may unrivall'd and unenvy'd reign And all their Pomp and Regal State maintain The great Redeemer has his Court unseen And reigns in Light and Heavenly Love within But from the false Usurper's Cruelty Officious Angels warn their Prince to fly He and his happy Parents leave their Home And all to Egypt's safer Border's come Egypt tho' for its Monsters famous grown Is now by trech'rous Palestine out-done For here they find a more secure Abode Egypt once Iacob sav'd and now his God The wandring God returns the Tyrant dead To rich Iudea's Soil from whence he fled Where he begins his Kingdom to assert And his mirac'lous Virtue to exert The Blind receiv'd their Sight their Feet the Lame And the Dumb spake to celebrate his Fame Loud Storms and Winds were husht at his Command And fierce wild Beasts did tame and harmless stand The wondring Dead arise and hasty come Obsequious to his Call from out their Tomb. VVith fresh-created Fish and Loaves he fed Th' admiring Crowd that lay around him spread To the Decrepit he new
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
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
wise Theocles For this Negotiation chieflly please Heldured of the Embassy was one Osrick and Thedred noble Ormar's Son Arriving at the Prince's Camp they found The British Youth in Crowds disperst around For then with various Sports and manly Play The Britons solemniz'd th' auspicious Day Of Arthur's Birth o'er all the Fields they spred To different Games by different Passions led Here Chariots raising Clouds of Dust appear And run with smoaking Wheels their swift Career Here the robust Danmonian Nation swarms Hurling their massy Balls with vig'rous Arms. Here the Dobunians to advance their Fame Toil at their Country's old laborious Game Long Ashen Staves across their Shoulders lie Then sway'd with both their Hands strike thro the Sky A mounting Orb of Thongs or well sow'd Hide While at due distance rang'd on th' other Side The Foe inclining stands to wait its Fall And with like Force strike Back the bounding Ball. Incircled Wrestlers here their Manhood try And with loud Shouts that rend the lab'ring Sky The standing Ring proclaims the Victory Some to a Cudgel prize their Fellows dare Who strait spring out to meet the wooden War They brandish in the Air their threat'ning Staves Their Hands a woven Guard of Osier saves In which they fix their Hazel Weapon's End Thus arm'd the nimble Combatants contend For Conquest giving and receiving Blows And down their Heads a crimson River flows Here flowry Garlands their proud Temples crown Whose airy Feet the Race had newly won Such were the Britons Sports as thro' the Throng The Saxon Orators pass'd slow along Who strait were to th' August Pavilion led Where Arthur sate his Lords around him spread To whom Edburga thus The Saxon King whose ardent wishes are To save Britannia from Destructive War Who rather seeks t' enjoy the Fruits of Peace Then by his Arms his Empire to encrease Makes such Advances for these glorious Ends As may the Britons make his lasting Friends The Saxons and the Britons shall command Their equal Shares of the divided Land Such Barrier shall be fixt as shall secure The Britons jealous of the Saxon Power To give Britannia Peace we condescend To yield up what our Arms can well defend Such steps King Octa makes for Peace beside That both may yet with closer Bonds be ty'd Bright Octa's chief Delight Shall be the Link the Nations to unite This so much envy'd Favorite of Fame Whom all with Love and Admiration name Octa consents shall be your beauteous Bride To you already in her Faith Ally'd These Measures all Contentions may adjust Friendship confirm and fix a mutual Trust. But if rejected Octa does declare He 's guiltless of the dire effects of War Upon the Christians Head will rest the Guilt Of all the Blood that by the Sword is spilt The Prince reply'd Affairs of that Importance to the State Require our thoughtful Care and calm Debate The two Proposals by King Octa made For lasting Friendship shall be duly weigh'd Twice had the Sun broke from the Purple East Twice was he seen dilated in the West When Arthur seated on his Chair of State Thus spake the Saxons with Attention wait An honourable Peace my Thoughts prefer To all the Triumphs of a Bloody War I and my Britons those just Terms approve King Octa makes t' establish Peace and Love To spare each Nation 's Blood and save the Isle From Desolation and destructive Spoil Indulgent Heav'n is to both Nations kind That has your King to peaceful Thoughts inclin'd Ten Lords of Saxon ten of British Blood May meet at Spina near Cunetio's Flood T' adjust the Limits of each Nation 's Power And Barriers fix that may their Peace secure You for an Interview the place will name Where I may see the beauteous Saxon Dame He ceas'd and all the Audience pour'd around To this assented with a murmuring Sound A sudden Joy did in their Eyes appear While smiling Peace triumph'd o'er vanquish'd War Mean time the Infernal Monarch wings his Flight To the White Hills whence his Angelick Sight Might all the Fields and subject plains survey Where in their Camp the hateful Britons lay While with malicious Eyes around he view'd The Christian Army fill'd with Joy he stood With Rage dilated and with Envy blown Like glowing Aetna on Plinlimon thrown Flashes of Fire from his red Eyeballs flow'd Like Lightning breaking from a lowring Cloud So when a Toad squat on a Border spies The Gardner passing by his bloodshot Eyes With Spite and Rage inflam'd dart Fire around The verdant Walks and on the flowry Ground The bloated Vermin loathsome Poison spits And swoln and bursting with his Malice sits So the faln Angel sate and thus begun Am I and all th' infernal Powers outdone And must this Briton still pursue his Course And thus elude my Arts and all my Force What Christian Towns and States have I destroy'd Forc'd by my Power or by my Arts decoy'd How few remaining Christian Regions are Where no deep Marks of my Revenge appear What glorious Ruin did my Romans spread O'er Asia's Christians I the Lombards led And furious Huns to rich Ausonia's Soil And fill'd the Land with Blood and Christian Spoil My Maxamin's and Nero's mighty Names What Desolation by devouring Flames What Slaughter by the Sword these Heros made With what Success did they the Saints invade And if the Fame be true that spreads in Hell In Gaul a Prince shall arise that shall excel All these and more in Blood and Spoil delight And all Hell's Furies to his Aid invite Let that great Prince arise and may his Birth Be honour'd with Convulsions of the Earth Eclipses Comets Meteors Lightnings Storms Murders and Monsters of tremendous Forms Not are there Triumphs of my Power alone Much weaker Spirits have great Conquests won Spirits of Lower Order small renown In Hell of little Figure scarcely known Inferiour subaltern Divinities Could often their just Fury to appease To wreck their Rage and honest Malice cloy Whole Armies of this hateful Sect destroy First tempt th' ungrateful Murmurers to Rebel And then with Plagues and Darts invisible With Fire and Earthquakes lay all wast disseize Their God and ruin all his Votaries And shall this Briton all my Force defy And introduce his banish'd Deity High States of Hell ye mighty Gods below In your August Assemblies who will Bow Who Acclamations make when I appear Who dread my Power my Greatness who revere If still this Briton shall resist my Power And all my Arts eluded rest secure But if by irresistable Deceree Pronounc'd by Fate and unchang'd Destiny Arthur at last must mount the British Throne Beat down our Altars and erect his own At least new hardships shall obstruct his Way And my Revenge his Triumphs shall delay That said he Flew his Snakie Wings display'd Down to his Palace midst th' Infernal Shade From all their gloomy Regions to his Court At his Command th' Infernal Lords resort To whom their Monarch from his glowing
and noxious Vapours there Megaera flies the bright Archangel's Sword The Plague was staid and Health and Life restor'd Then to the room swift Raphael Wings his way Where Arthur still devoutly prostrate lay To whom the Seraph thus Heav'n by the Britons daring Crimes incens'd Almighty Wrath severely has dispenc'd Your unprotected Camp it did expose To the dire Rage of your Infernal Foes Who by Divine Permission soon o'erspread Your guilty Camp with putrid Heaps of Dead Th' Angelick Guards return'd to Heaven complain'd That your flagitious Troops you n'er restrain'd Your Captains boldly VVhoredoms Riots Rapes Commit and yet each Criminal escapes Thus you avow the Ills by others done And their unpunish'd Guilt becomes your own Had your Vindictive Arm been first employ'd Heav'n's had not thus your guilty Troops destroy'd But now th' Eternal yielding to your Prayer Has sent me from his Throne with speedy Care To stay the Plague and make the Fiend retreat That spreads the Poison to her Stygian Seat Heav'n's now appeas'd may ne'er the Britons dare By their Revolting to renew the War The Seraph disappear'd and Arthur rais'd Upon his Feet th' Eternal Goodness prais'd Prince Arthur BOOK VII THE Prince of Hell that on the Mountain staid And with Infernal Joy around survey'd The Camp where Death did in sad Triumph reign With wide Destruction covering all the Plain Thus to himself At last I have prevail'd Against this Sect tho other Arts have fail'd Their Troops half ruin'd with the Plague afford An easie Conquest for King Octa's Sword I 'll break the Peace although advanc'd so far And finish their Destruction by new War Arthur prepare against the Saxon Arms 'T is time enough for Ethelina's Charms Heros delay'd and disappointed prize The Crown that got too cheaply they despise Pleasures the farther off the greater seem And Toil and Danger best preserve Esteem That service I will do by taking care To give fresh Fuel to th' expiring War That said he leaves the Crystal Plains of Light And to th' Infernal Regions takes his Flight There stands a Rock dash'd with the breaking Wave Of troubled Styx where was a gloomy Cave Flowing with Gore the fierce Bellona dwells And bound with Adamantine Fetters Yells Around stand Heaps of mosly Sculls and Bones Whence issue loud Laments and dreadful Groans Torn Limbs and mangled Bodies are her Food Her Drink whole Bowls of Wormwood Gall and Blood Long curling Snakes her Head with Horrour crown And on he rsquallid Back hang lolling down This gripes a bloody Dart the other Hand Grasps of Infernal Fire a flaming Brand. Treason and Usurpation near ally'd Haughty Ambition and elated Pride And Cruelty with bloody Garlands crown'd Rapine and Desolation stand around With these Injustice Violence Rage remain And ghastly Famine with her meagre Train This Savage Rout to Gallia now resort Drawn by the Fame of proud Versallia's Court. There these Attendants on their Master wait And with their odious Forms compose his horrid State To this wild Den now did th' Apostate fly Resolving all Bellona's Aid to try At his Approach the Monsters cease their Din And bow at distance with a dreadful Grin The Stygian Prince the Fury soon unchains Strait double Rage boils in her swelling Veins Then thus he spoke to Octa's Palace fly Attended with persidious Treachery And various Discord let thy Arts perswade That Prince the ruin'd Britons to invade Go raise new Tumults and dissolve the Peace For this high Task Bellona I release Charg'd with these dire Commands she flies away To the Superiour Regions blest with Day Near Peak's aspiring Mount and spacious Wood And the green Banks of Dovus Crystal Flood A wide-mouth'd Den th' admiring Traveller sees With thorny Shrubs o'er-spread and shady Trees That downward goes unfathomably deep Beneath the subterranean Vaults that keep Imprison'd Damps and Winds tumultuous Store And the low Caves where falling Waters roar It passes thro' the Bowels of the Earth And the rich Beds where Metals have their Birth Till it reveals the gloomy Mouth of Hell Bellona freed from her infernal Cell Thro' this dire Gulph ascends with hasty Flight And soon emerges in the Fields of Light The Air grew dark the Rocks and Mountains struck With Horrour at the Fury's Presence shook The Sphears disorder'd roll the starting Sun Springs from the Heav'nly Course he us'd to run The Moon all drown'd in Blood and blazing Stars Portended Tumults and destructive Wars Straight to King Octa's Court the Fury comes And Octa's Mother's Shape assumes Then thus she spoke From blest Elysian Gardens I descend To teach thee how to gain a glorious End Of all thy Labours and thy warlike Toil And fix thy Empire o'er the British Isle Heav'n has decreed that here thy Race shall reign And therefore has the hateful Britons slain With a destructive Plague and poison'd Darts Shot from above into their impious Hearts Not half their Troops survive make hast my Son Their Ruine to compleat by Heav'n begun Run then to Triumph hast to certain Spoil And chase the cursed Nation from the Isle You see how much your League the Gods offend Let not their Enemy be Octa's Friend They must not be to us by Blood ally'd Nor Ethelina be a Briton's Bride That said a spotted Viper from her Head She to his Bosom secretly convey'd The poisonous Vermin with infernal Art Glides thro' his Breast and twines about his Heart The secret Poison wanders thro' his Veins And warlike Fury o'er his Spirits reigns Hence straight-way to the Picts and Scottish Court The Fury and her hellish Train resort Where they to bloody Wars sound loud Alarms And make the barb'rous Nations fly to Arms. Mean time the Saxon Monarch raving flew About the Court and soon together drew The chiefest Lords and thus himself exprest It was resolv'd to give the Britons Rest The Land between the Nations to divide And that the Princess should be Arthur's Bride But Heav'n against his Treaty does declare And singly with the Britons wages War In vain we offer what they can't enjoy We spare the Men Heav'n labours to destroy Avenging Gods from their high Regions came Arm'd with bright Swords of keen Etherial Flame And fatal Darts of pointed Lightnings made And with sure Death the British Camp invade Their trembling Reliques fall our certain Prey Heav'n sounds th' Alarm and we must Heav'n obey Tho we by Sea their Power could not withstand Our Gods more potent are then theirs by Land Th' unfinish'd Conquest we may soon compleat Or from this Isle oblige them to retreat This fair occasion let our Arms improve To fix our Power and all our Fears remove He ceas'd and all his Captains War desir'd And sprang into the Field with Martial Heat inspir'd Straight Orders are dispacht for all to Arm And thro' the Cities sounds the loud Alarm The tremb'ling Husbandman his Toil forbears Fells his tall Ash and shapes long Staves for Spears Some sighing o'er their Anvils forge
Words and potent Verse Th' infernal Charms all Nature did affright The waning Moon straight sickned at the Sight The Hill with Horror trembled and around With howling Wolves the neighb'ring Woods resound Then Storms of Rain ensue swift Lightnings fly And dreadful Thunderclaps torment the Sky Spectres and Ghosts break from their hollow Tomb And glaring round the Necromancer come All Hell was mov'd the Powers drawn from their Seats Arise while Merlin his dire words repeats Whom with his Charms he labours to engage Against the Britons and excites their Rage His powerful Arts incline them to employ United force their Army to destroy But Hell and all its Friends vain Rage express And Curse in vain when Heav'n desires to Bless Merlin his impious Ceremonies done Returns to Octa with the rising Sun Before the Saxon Lords he stood prepar'd To Curse their Foes and merit his Reward When the Magician's Breast an unknown Fire Laps'd from above did suddenly inspire A warmth Divine his Spirits did invade And once a Sorcerer a Prophet made The Heav'nly Fury Merlin did constrain To Bless whom he to Curse design'd in vain How Beautiful the Briton's Tents appear What goodly Heads his Tabernacles Rear As the rich Vales they spread their verdant Pride Or flowry Gardens by the Rivers side As shady Aloes in th' Arabian Woods Or lofty Cedars planted by the Floods Indulgent Heav'n upon the Briton pours Prolifick Dews and sweet refreshing Showers His Seed shall flourish midst surrounding Streams Blest with mild Air and pure reviving Beams His Prince's Glory shall his People's Love And Neighbour Monarchs Fear and Envy move He like a fearless Unicorn shall stand Sure of his strength and all the Fields command Those hostile Nations who oppose his Power He with resistless Fury shall devour He 'll break their crashing Bones his Bow he 'll bend And thro' their Flesh his piercing Arrows send He couches like a Lyon on the Sand Like a vast Lyon in a Desart Land Stretching his fearful Limbs at Ease he lies What Creature dares provoke him to arise Bless him and be of happy Men the first Curse him and thou thy self shalt be accurst He ceas'd King Octa tho incens'd supprest His Trouble and Displeasure in his Breast And to the Sorcerer thus himself addrest By solemn Execrations to devote The Britons to Destruction you were sought But you this impious Nation chuse to Bless And all your Words presage their Arms success Withdraw a second time perhaps you 'll find The Gods by your Enchantments more inclin'd Perhaps some Errour might at first displease A second Essay will the Powers appease The Sorcerer a second time retreats And all his potent Charms with Care repeats He added ev'ry poisonous Juice and Spell He knew had force to shake the Realms of Hell Merlin his impious Rites perform'd returns And acted by Satanick Fury burns All Hell within shook the Magician's Breast But by a Power Divine straight dispossest Th' affrighted Demons fled and in their stead A pure Celestial Spirit did succeed Transports Divine his lab'ring Soul engage And thus he spake mov'd with Prophetick Rage In vain with Divination we assail The Christian Arms where all Enchantments fail Our Curses by the powerful Breath of Heav'n Back on our Heads with fatal Force are driv'n Those God has blest no Guards nor Bulwarks need Nor can their Arms whom he has curst succeed Unchangeably he 's on his Purpose bent Nor do's he like unstable Man repent The Christian Army will prevail that said Observing Octa's Fury rise he fled The King incens'd cry'd curst Magician fly Spite of thy Charms and thee shall Victory And Triumph on the Saxon Arms attend Against such Troops what Signs can ill portend Thy impious Tongue Propitious Heav'n belies And for the Britons forges Prophecies Thy self of British Blood the British Cause Stronger than Wrongs or ev'n Religion draws So oft poor Slaves who to a neighbr'ing State Fly for Protection from a Tyrants Hate If he does War against those Neighbours wage And with his Arms upon their Frontiers rage Joy at th' Oppressor's Conquests and Success Against their own Protector 's they express Octa at this Defeat with Fury burn'd And to his Army with his Lords return'd Amidst his Troops he rode and thus he spoke His Voice high rais'd their Courage to provoke Saxons you now to certain Conquest go To glean the Reliques of a ruin'd Foe The Gods do loudly for your cause declare And call you but to finish their own War Think on the Deeds by your great Nation done The Towns they took their glorious Battels won And the Rich Countries by their Arms o'er run From this fair Island shall the Britons chase From these sweet Fields great Odin's warlike Race From these sweet Fields for which our Leaders fought Which with the noblest Saxon Blood were bought Shall we with ignominious Flight retreat O'er the rough Main to seek some milder Seat Or shall we back to our cold Region go To hide in Caves and dwell in Hills of Snow Can my victorious Friends the Britons dread Who from your conquering Arms so oft have fled A vanquish'd Nation by an Exile led Appear like Saxons add this Conquest more To all th' immortal Laurels won before Thus you 'll the Grounds of lasting Empire lay And still the Briton shall your Laws obey Vain with Success at Sea they draw their Swords And for Dominion strive with us their Lords Let now your Arms chastise their wanton Pride And then in unmolested Peace abide He said and brandish'd high his threatning Launce And springing forward bids his Men advance Now from the Hills th' embattel'd Saxon Swarms And covers all the Plain with hostile Arms. As when the great Commanders Orders give To quit the straight Dominions of their Hive The Bees pour out a numerous Colony From their sweet Cells the busie Youth on high Wheel in the Air and darken all the Sky While brazen Pans charm and compose their Heat In some tall neighb'ring Tree they fix their Seat Thither th' unnumber'd Vulgar straight resort And clustring Crowds surround their Monarch's Court. So thick the Saxons on the Field appear Following their Leader with an endless Rear The gloomy Throngs look terrible from far Disclosing slow the horrid Face of War The thick Battalions move in dreadful Form As lowring Clouds advance before a Storm So when the Sea grown black the hazy Sky And rising Winds foretel a Tempest nigh Th' experienc'd Mariners with hasty care Furl their spread Sails and for a Storm prepare Straight in the black Horizon to the Skies The dusky Billows threat'ning Heads arise Th' unnumber'd Troops upon each others throng And with a gloomy Aspect march along Advancing they their boundless Front extend O'er all the Main and fearful Wreck portend The Saxon Host thus in its March appears And where it came thick Groves of bristling Spears Broad Iron Backs and Breast-plates brazen Shields Mail-Coats and burnish'd Helms o'erspread the
Crimson Beds where Monarchs did repose Unnumber'd Camels laden and opprest With all th' Luxury of the wanton East Beneath the Booty groan'd along the Road Themselves a Prey as was their precious Load Here ran gilt Chariots drawn by generous Steeds Such as the noble Soil of Asia breeds Here Royal Captives and chain'd Lords appear And vulgar Slaves prest with an endless Reer Here the great Constantine of British Race O'er Tyber's Bridge does fierce Maxentius chase With Roman Blood the swelling Rivers dy'd And Helms and Shields roll down the Crimsom Tyde Spears broken Armour Men and Coursers slain The Streams encumber and the Flood detain Great Constantine in glitt'ring Armour shines And pressing on breaks thro' the Roman Lines Maxentius Hopes are blasted in the Bloom He flies and opens wide the Gates of Rome To the Victorious Christian and his God Where for a while he made his blest abode Prince Arthur BOOK VIII THus in resplendent Arms Prince Arthur shines Darting bright Terrour thro' the Saxon Lines All at his fearful Presence were amaz'd And on the glorious Foe with Wonder gaz'd Confusion seiz'd them and a chilling Damp Went to their Hearts thro' all the trembling Camp And now the vaulted Sky rings with the Noise Of Souldiers Shoutings and shrill Trumpets Voice The British Prince waving his flaming Blade The Saxon's strong Battalions did invade First Baldred fell a bold and daring Knight That rushing forward did his Fate invite The Javelin thro' his Shield of treble Hide And Coat of Mail pierc'd deep into his Side Eska the second Triumph did afford His Head strook off by Arthur's conquering Sword Next groveling on the Ground great Ina lies And the brave Orla of stupendous Size Whose Clubs like that Alcides us'd to weild Laid whole Brigades on Heaps upon the Field Neither their Arms nor Stature nor Descent From mighty Osca could their Fate prevent As Pharo boasted loud and threatn'd Death The Javelin pierc'd his Throat and stop'd his Breath Kinullar next the conquering Prince withstood A valiant Captain and of noble Blood Resisted by his Shield the Saxon's Spear Flew off and pass'd obliquely thro' the Air. Here on the Prince Cissa exclaiming loud Rush'd in and pres'd him with a numerous Crowd Thick showers of Javelins with a mighty Sound Like Storms of Hail from his bright Shield rebound The Prince enrag'd caught up his Spear in hast Which he at Cissa with such Fury cast It pierc'd his famous Buckler's seventh Fold And his Rich Coat dawb'd thick with pond'rous Gold Then deep between the Paps the Weapon went And its last Force in his warm Bosom spent Flat on his Face the Bleeding Saxon lies And rat'ling in his Throat stretcht out and dies Mollo rush'd in and with his hand did wrest The bloody Weapon from his Brother's Breast And boldly to attack the Prince advanc'd But from his shield th' unprosperous Weapon glanc'd The Prince's spear thro' Mollo's Shield of Brass Thro' His Habergion and his Breast did pass Mollo of Sense bereav'd fell to the Ground And spew'd black Blood both for his Mouth and Wound Striving th' invading Hero to repel Alcinor Peda and Darontes fell Three Men of wondrous Strength and warlike Fame Who from the farthest Snows of Scythia came Descended all from Otha's noble Line Whose glorious Deeds in Saxon Records shine He was victorious Odin's constant Friend And all his Toils and Conquests did attend Then Cerdic with his Troops the Prince withstands Sustain'd by Sebert and th' East Saxon Bands Now these now those the British Prince attack And press on every side to force him back As when two adverse Hurricanes arise Must'ring their stormy Forces in the Skies Of equal Fury and of equal Force Against each other bend their rapid Course The Clouds their Lines extend in black Array And Front to Front a fearful War display Exploded Flames against each other fly And fiery Arches Vault th' inlighten'd Sky Conflicting Billows against Billows dash Thunder 'gainst Thunder roars Lightnings 'gainst Lightnings flash Nor Flames nor Winds nor Waves nor Clouds will yield But equal strength maintains a doubtful Field Britons and Saxons thus in Battel strove And neither from their Ground the Foe remove Then Valiant Cadwal threat'ning from afar High in his Chariot plung'd into the War His strong extended Arm his Javelin flung Cutting the Air the hissing Weapon sung Falling on Kingills Shield it pierc'd the Hide Of treble Fold and enter'd deep his Side Fainting and stagg'ring Kingill backwards reel'd Then fell with sounding Arms upon the Field Gasping he lay and from his ghastly Wound His Crimson Life ebb'd out upon the Ground And next his fatal Shaft at Bertac flew With mighty Force and pierc'd his Breastplate thro' The secret Springs of Life the pointed Dart. Broke open and transfixt his generous Heart His Wound from gaping Channels inward bled And on his Shoulder hung his lolling Head He fell and Shivering gasp'd his latest Breath And fainting sunk into the Arms of Death A noble Youth worthy of milder Fate But Death's blind Stroaks distinguish not the great At last the Saxon Troops in Throngs surround The valiant King Thus far with Conquest crown'd Thick Showers of Darts from every Side invade And in his Shield a bristling Harvest staid Th' undaunted Hero long their Force sustain'd And held at Bay th' unequal War maintain'd Like a chaf'd Boar that in a sheltring Wood The clam'rous Dogs surround King Cadwall stood A noble Rage did in his Breast arise And Streaks of Fire break from his burning Eyes So when by Night th' Islandian Ocean roars And rolls its angry Waters to the Shores Flashes of Light and fiery Lustre glance From raging Waves that in bright Troops advance With his refulgent Sword the Warriour flew Upon the Crowd and cut his Passage thro' Soga and Kenrick from the Hilly Land Where Sorbiodunum's lofty Castles stand Two constant Friends whom Fate could not divide Together by the Britons Weapon dy'd Then Redburg Alfry and Theodrick fell Striving in vain the Victor to repell Great Numbers more he slew whose vulgar Name To those in after Ages never came As a high Rock which the vast Ocean laves Expos'd to stormy Winds and raging Waves On its fixt Base unshaken does defy Th' united Fury of the Seas and Sky So ' midst surrounding Foes brave Cadwall stood About him flow'd a Sea of Hostile Blood He slew Rovennar with his mighty Sword And Saradan a great west Saxon Lord. Valiant Elmunor to his Country dear And Osith dy'd by his projected Spear Octa enrag'd to see the numerous Spoils Round Cadwall spread sprung thro' the thronging Files Rushing with Fury on and threatning high He thus aloud did to the Briton cry Cadwall on me let all your Force be spent Hither be all your pointed Javelins sent Here see a Foe that will your Pride abate Or in the glorious Combate meet his Fate At this his massy Spear with Vigour sent Thro' valiant Cadwalls shining Buckler went
glad Throng Arthur's loud Praises sings Let Arthur live the Towns and Fields resound Let Arthur live the ecchoing Hills rebound The Evening thus in Mirth and Triumph past The Britons to their Rest retir'd at last Mean time four Lords arriv'd from Tollo crave Audience of Octa which the Saxon gave To hear their Embassy in regal State High on his Throne the Saxon Monarch sate Duncan the cheif broke Silence thus we bring This Message from the great Albanian King He is advanc'd to give that powerful Aid Which by his Orator's King Octa pray'd A valiant Host obeying his Command Whose conquering Swords no force could yet withstand Who laid the Caledonian Forrest wast And from their Forts the fierce Meatian chas'd Halts on a Plain three Leagues remov'd from hence Ready t' engage their Arms in your Defence But then our Leader prays that when you come The Britons all subdu'd in Triumph home Fair Ethelina may be then his own The bright Reward that shall his Labours crown If to these happy Nuptialls you incline He 'll straight with yours his valiant Forces joyn Let not the Saxons doubt great Tollo's Arms Will free your Kingdom from the Foes Alarms He said forthwith Octa in counsel sate A matter so important to debate When Osred thus began Great Exigencies of our State perswade That we comply with this Proposal made We are compell'd by hard Affairs to court Th' Albanian Arms our Kingdom to support You know too well how much the Saxons Host Is weaken'd by the Numbers we have lost When matchless Arthur did our Troops invade What Havock his victorious Progress made What wide Destruction in our Army rag'd Where'er his fatal Weapons were engag'd Our frighted Troops when he advances fly Swift as the Clouds the Winds chace thro' the Sky But valiant Tollo rivals Arthur's Fame Equal their Courage and their Strength the same Against the Briton He 'll the Field maintain And on his Buckler his vast Strokes sustain No stronger Champion travers'd yet the Field To him or none the British Prince must yield Kind Heav'n has sent a Man so great and Brave From Arthur's Arms our threatn'd State to save I would not then his just Desire withstand But let him know you grant him his Demand This Grant to such a Prince we must allow Was always fit but necessary now He ceas'd and next Pascentius silence broke And wisely thus th' attentive Peers bespoke I once advis'd that to preserve the State We should strict Friendship with Prince Arthur make That we Britannia should between us share And with the Princess Nuptials end the War The Terms propos'd the British Hero please And all things seem'd to promise lasting Peace But when we were inform'd the British Host Had half their Force by raging Sickness lost Thinking we might with Ease the Foe defeat VVe from the Terms our selves propos'd retreat I wish that Rupture May not Heav'n provoke To bring our Necks beneath the British Yoke With all our Force the Britons we assail But Arthur's unresisted Arms prevail How great a Loss the Saxons undergo Our bleeding Wounds and endless Funerals show What Hero can be found to guard our State Against Prince Arthur's Arms and prosp'rous Fate True Tollo's Deeds give him a warlike Name But much inferiour to the Briton's Fame If we confiding in th' Albanian's Sword Fresh Triumphs to the Briton should afford Who after shall controuling Bounds oppose To the victorious Progress of our Foes Who then against the Torrent can contend And from th' o'erflowing Flood our Towns defend We shall in vain our former Conquests boast The Saxon sinks and all Britannia's lost All things well weigh'd Prince Arthur looks to me As one supported by divine Decree To Empire rais'd by unchang'd Destiny If so in vain all our Attempts are made In vain we build our Hopes on Tollo's Aid We shall oppose inevitable Fate And in our Ruin learn our Fault too late I would Prince Arthur's Temper sound and strive Once more the former Treaty to revive This way we may controul the Conquerors ' Arms And Arthur bind by Ethelina's Charms This way perhaps you 'll stem the rapid Tyde And gain a Conquest to your Arms deny'd Pascentius ceas'd Crida with Choler burn'd And with an Air disturb'd these Words return'd We all well know Pascentius Tongue was made Smooth soft and fluent fitted to perswade For courtly Arts and fine Intreagues of State No Saxon Genius can Pascentius mate All to his Eloquence at home must yield As he to all for Courage in the Field Men of the Cabinet take no Delight In bloody War they are too wise to fight The Briton's Strength and Arthur's Arms I find Strike fiercely on a Prudent timerous Mind A brave Heroick Spirit can't despair That minds the Turns and doubtful Chance of War Joyn'd by the Pict and Albanian Horse We'er much superiour to the British Force Tollo and Mordred both for Arms are fam'd Whose Deeds with greater Wonder are proclaim'd We too have Heros left that dare engage The Briton's Arm and can sustain his Rage My self will meet him in the Field and stand Unmov'd against the Fury of his Hand Shall we at last a conquer'd Nation fear And long inur'd to Victory despair Let not our vile Submission stain our Name And lessen thro' the World the Saxon Fame No let the King with Tollo's Prayer comply Our Forces joyn'd must make the Britons fly He ceas'd the Councel murmur'd their Applause And pleas'd with this Advice King Octa rose He straight dispatch'd th' Albanian Orators By whom the valiant Tollo he assures That he the Britons by his Aid subdu'd Shall Ethelina wed for whom he sued Withall he added that Affairs requir'd Their Troops should joyn before the Truce expir'd His Oratours return'd to Tollo bring The pleasing Answer of the Saxon King Tollo transported with excessive Joy Believes no Rival could his Hopes destroy As if the Battel were already won He thinks the Beauteous Princess is his own Glitt'ring in Arms like a refulgent Star He leads his Scotish Nation to the War A Nation fierce and haughty by Success Which Albion's Northern Soil did then posess For a rude cruel People bred to Spoil To Blood and Rapine from th' Hibernian Isle Did in this Age infest th' Albanian Coast And landed there at last their barb'rous Host. Scots they were call'd from their wild Island 's Name For Scotia and Hibernia were the same Here their new Seats the prosperous Pyrates fix And their course Blood with the old Britons mix These their Albanian Seats new Scotia stile Leaving Hibernia to their native Isle The Calidonian Britons dispossest And by a hard tirannick Yoke opprest Did these Hibernian Scotish Lords obey And felt the Curses of a forraign Sway. This Nation then obey'd King Tollo's Laws And now in Arms asserts the Saxon Cause The mighty Donald of the Northern Isles Of Visage fierce and dreadful with the Spoils Of grisly Bears and of the foaming Boar
Which hideous Pride he o'er his Shoulders wore Marches his vig'rous Troops into the Field Whose thundring Swords themselves could only weild By their rough Captains led they left the land Where once the old Meatians did command And where the Walls from Sea to Sea extend By Romans built their Province to defend Stupendous Bulwarks whose unnumber'd Towers Repel'd th' Incursions of the Northern Powers But when proud Rome was weak and feeble grown Th' insulting Foe broke the high Fences down Now Ruins show where the chief Fabrick stood Between wide Tinna's and Itunna's Flood The Youth from all the Towns that did obey In ancient times the mild Normantian Sway. Such as possest th' Elgovian Seats and those Who till'd the Land where silver Devia flows Who on the wild and bleaky Shore reside Insulted by the rough Hibernian Tide To aid the Saxon from their Country came By Dongal led a Lord of Martial Fame Those where Verdera rears her lofty Towers And Glotta's Tide into the Ocean pours And where th' Orestian Princes heretofore And Attacottian Lords the Scepter bore Those where the Otadenian Cities stood Between Alanus and fair Vedra's Flood They march from Castralata and the Shore Where wide Boderia's noisy Billows roar Then those from Vindolana and the Land Where Aelians Bridge and high Cilurnum stand Mackbeth a great Commander of the North And rocky Highlands draws his Nation forth Loose Mantles o'er their brawny Shoulders flung With careless Pride beneath their midleg hung Cerulean Bonnets on their Heads they wore And for their Arms broad Swords and Targets bore The Youth pour'd out from fair Victoria's Gates From Orrea and the old Gadenian Seats And from the spacious Caledonian Wood And where Cebinus rolls his rapid Flood These Troops were by the fierce Congellar led Of Malcol's Royal Stock the famous Head Who first from wild Ierne wasted o'er His barb'rous Engines to th' Albanian Shore Those from the Vicomagians Cities came From high Banatia and from ancient Tame And they who dwelt on either verdant Bank Of Longo's Stream and those that Itys drank With those that stretcht along the western Coast To whom the old Creonian Towns were lost Where high Epidium midst th' Hibernian Waves Protrudes his Head and all their Monsters braves Those from the Towns along the flowry Side Of Northern Tinna and fair Tava's Tide Where once the happy Venicontes dwelt Before the forraign Conquerours Yoke was felt There was a northern Nation fierce and bold On whose dy'd Bodies fearful to behold Wild Beasts inscrib'd and ravenous Birds were born Which their vast Limbs did dreadfully adorn So fierce they seem'd as ready to devour The naked Limbs that the wild Monsters bore Their Hieroglyphick Armies stain'd and smear'd With various Colours and strange Forms appear'd In Pageant Armour and in painted State Like Troops of Heralds who on Triumphs wait This Nation Picts were call'd who wafted o'er From Scandinavia and the bleaky Shore Of Southern Scythia did these Seas infest And with their Fleets the British Coast molest Their Pyracy's by Sea and Thefts by Land Th' exhausted Britons did in vain withstand No more of Rome's declining Power afraid They did the weak defenceless Isle invade Th' affrighted Briton from the Shore retreats And leaves the Conquerour his abandon'd Seats Their King at Pleasure this fierce Nation made And Mordred now th' imperial Scepter sway'd He to King Tollo by his Queen ally'd And now by closer Bonds of Interest ty'd Commands his Men to take their Shield and Launce And with the Scotish Army to advance They march'd who then possest the Hilly Land Which th' ancient Carnonatian did command From Ricine and the frozen Hebudes Lav'd by the loud Deucaledonian Seas From all the Towns whence their victorious Sword Forc'd the Carenian Prince the rightful Lord. Where the wild Hiperborean Ocean raves And on the Rocks breaks his tempestuous Waves They came who then the Mertian Cities fill'd And held the Lands that once the Logian till'd They left the Soil where swift Tuesis flows Where Grampius stands in everlasting Snows Which like the fam'd Riphean Hills appears And with his Head divides the neighb'ring Spheres From all the Land where Loxa's Current flows Which Vara's and Tuesis streams inclose Where once the bold Decantians did reside And from their Hills the Power of Rome defy'd These with the Saxon Troops their Arms unite Who so well reinforc'd prepare for Fight VVhile wounded in his Tent King Octa staid King Tollo as their Leader all obey'd Prince Arthur BOOK X. AUrora's Beams now on the Mountains smil'd And adverse Clouds with Purple Edgings gild Boyling with Martial Rage King Tollo stands And his high Chariot and his Steeds demands Steeds whiter than the purest Alpine Snows And fleeter than the Gales that Boreas blows He triumph'd when his noble Breed appear'd Their Harness thick with Gold and Silver smear'd When he their thundring Neighings heard and saw Their wanton Hoofs the trembling Valley paw The Grooms and Charioteers about him stand Reining the snorting Coursers in their Hand Stroking their Backs they their hot Spirits sooth'd And their high Manes with Combs and Spunges smooth'd Tollo mean time puts on his mighty Arms And all the Field resounds with loud Alarms Each Army does for Bloody Toil prepare And draw their Troops out to renew the War The thund'ring Coursers shake the trampled Ground And warlike Clamours from the Hills rebound Across the Plain the rapid Chariots fly And with thick Clouds of Dust annoy the Sky An Iron Harvest on the Field appears Of Launces burnish'd Shields and bristling Spears Throng'd Heads in long embattl'd Ranks dispos'd The lowring Front of horrid War disclos'd First furious Tollo springs out from the Lines And on the Plain in radiant Armour shines His polish'd Helm opprest the dazled Sight And shone on high like a huge Globe of Light The Golden Shield his mighty Arm did bear Hung like a blazing Meteor in the Air. His Coat of Mail was on his Shoulders cast And Golden Pieces his vast Thighs encas'd The Pieces round his Legs Gold Buttons ty'd And his broad sword hung dreadful by his side Which when drawn out like a destructive Flame Of Light'ning from the ample Scabbard came In such illustrious Arms King Tollo shone And thought no Strength superiour to his own Then shaking in his Hand his massy Spear He cry'd aloud that all his Threats might hear This Spear ne'er yet deceiv'd its Master's Hand Nor could the bravest Knight its Force withstand Witness Albodian and great Locrine slain In single Combates on th' Albanian Plain Witness ye Caledonian Princes you Whom with vast spoil on Tava's Banks I slew Now by this faithful spear shall Arthur dy If his just Fears perswade him not to fly T' Augusta's Gates I 'll bring his sever'd Head And in his spoils fair Ethelina wed Thus Tollo boasts thus did his Fury rise And streaks of Fire flash'd from his raging Eyes So when a tawny Lyon
encas'd Thro' Bones and Brains the furious Javelin pass'd And his left Eye from out its Circle struck On the sharp Point a ghastly Prospect stuck Then Ethelrick a stout west Saxon Lord And Ida fell by his victorious Sword The first his Head down to his Shoulders cleft Fell to the Ground of Breath and sense bereft The heavy Blade falling with oblique Sway Half thro' the other's Neck did make its way The Head half sever'd on his Shoulders hung And from the Wound a bloody Torrent sprung Rolling in Gore upon the Field he lay Wildly he star'd and groan'd his life away As when a mighty Tempest from the East The Sea assail'd and on the Billows prest By Heav'n's Command that Iacob's Fav'rite Race Might Pharaoh's Arms escape and safely pass Th' astonish'd Ocean did its Force obey Open'd his watry Files and clear'd the pathless way The Waves retreated and erected stood As fear and wonder had benum'd the Flood Then Front to Front they kept their Line unmov'd And those that crowd behind they backwards shov'd Like a long Ridge of Crystal Hills they rose And the low Wonders of the deep disclose So valiant Arthur prest upon the Foe And so their Troops retir'd and let the Conqueror thro Now he advanc'd to Tollo's foremost Band Where mighty Fingal and Dolavian stand Both which he slew next valiant Duncan falls While he in vain for Help on Tollo calls And now on every side the Saxon Host Began to fly and yield the Battel lost Only King Tollo with enormous Rage Breaks thro' the Troops Prince Arthur to engage Mean time the Prince of Hell stood full of Care And fear'd th' Event of this unequal War To save the Saxon Squadrons which remain Whereof such Numbers lay already slain And to prevent Tollo's impending Fate Whose Arms the British Hero's could not mate The conquering Britons fierce pursuit to stay And once more Arthur's Triumphs to Delay By Heav'n's Permission causes to arise A dreadful Tempest in the troubled Skies The blustring Powers and Demons of the Air Straight at his Summons to their Prince repair To whom thus Lucifer Aerial Powers who my Commands obey And in these Regions own my soveraign Sway Know I intend to end this bloody Strife To part the Hosts and guard King Tollo's Life Go hasten then each to his known Employ And let your loudest Storms the Heav'ns annoy Swift as your own projected Lightnings fly And in a Moment trouble all the Sky The dusky Fiends obedient fly away Some fetch up misty Stores to choak the Day Some Pitchy Clouds of Stygian Fleeces made And in their Bowels Trains of Brimstone laid Some ram in Seeds of unripe Thunder some With mighty Hailstones charge their hollow Womb. Some fetch strong Winds which on their Wings may bear The heavy Tempest lab'ring thro' the Air. O'erspreading mists th' extinguish'd sunbeams drown Dark Clouds o'er all the Black Horrizon frown And hang their deep Hydropick Bellies down Hoarse Thunder rolls and Murm'ring try's its Voice Preluding to the Tempest 's dreadful Noise Infernal Torches now the Fiends apply And light the fiery Seeds that hidden lie The Heav'n's wide Frame outrageous Thunder shocks Loud as the mighty Crack of falling Rocks The Cloudy Machines burst amidst the Skies And from their yawning Wounds exploded Lightning flies Confusion fills the Air Fire Rain and Hail Now mingle Tempests now by Turns prevail No more the Britons and the Saxons strove For that below yields to the War above The conquering Britons to the Camp return Their Loss in theirs the vanquish'd Saxons mourn So when a summer Cloud the Sky o'erspreads The Bees that wander o'er the flowry Meads Or to the Tops of lofty Mountains climb To fetch the yellow spoils of od'rous Thyme Forsake their Toil and lab'ring thro' the Air To their known Hives with hasty Flight repair All to their Cells returning from abroad Depose their luscious Dew and strutting Thighs unload Perplext and sad the Saxon Troops appear And horribly they curst Prince Arthur's spear They saw no Saxon could his Arm withstand And doubt Deliverance from King Tollo's Hand When half of this uneasie Night was spent To all the great Commanders Octa sent To bring them quickly to his royal Tent. And first the Summons they to Tollo bear Who to equip himself did straight prepare A Wolf grin'd horribly upon his Head And o'er his brawny Back a Leopard's Hide was spread He girds his mighty Fauchion to his side Which hung across his Thigh with fearful Pride Frowning and on the great Affair Intent He straight to Octa's high Pavilion went Next Mordred halting with his Wound and lame And by his massy spear supported came A Beaver's Skin upon his Head he wore And a fierce Tyger's his wide shoulders bore A silver Belt illustrious to behold Held his broad sword adorn'd with studs of Gold Then Ella rose newly laid down to Rest And button'd on his rich embroider'd Vest. O'er which a pompous scarlet Cloak he threw Fasten'd with Golden Clasps and lin'd with costly Blue Then putting on his mighty sword in Hast Tho lame he to the Counsel sternly past Then valiant Amades and Chuline went With wife Pascentius to their Monarch's Tent Follow'd by Osred Sebert and the rest Of their chief Lords who great Concern exprest And now th' august Assembly fill'd apace Where all the Leaders took their proper Place Then their Attention Octa did demand And leaning on his Scepter with his Hand He thus began Princes you see the Field To the victorious Britons still we yield By Sea and Land we 've felt their fatal Arms And all our Realm trembles at their Alarms Our Heaps of Dead the Field with Horrour crown And Seas of Saxon Blood the Valley drown All Albion's Isle resounds with dying Groans White with her Rocks but whiter with our Bones Prince Arthur's Sword the Field with Ruin spreads Like Storms which from the Trees dishonour'd Heads Their shady Leaves and spreading Branches tear Cover the Ground and leave the Forrest bare On us th' offended Gods severely frown But on the British Arms look smiling down VVhile we oppose the rapid Tide of Fate VVe think to stop what we precipitate And learn our Errour at too dear a Rate He said the Saxon Chiefs who found their Host Feeble and sunk by frequent Battels lost Thinking their Arms unable to oppose The rapid Course of their victorious Foes Upon Pascentius straightway cast their Eyes As one above the rest accounted wise And who the King to Peace did still advise Pascentius then began Octa the Counsel which at first I gave From Arthur's Arms our threaten'd State to save VVhat since has happen'd shows was just and right For who can meet the British Prince in Fight Our sinking State and hard Affairs demand A Remedy of Force and near at Hand He that in such a Storm would safely steer Must have a Head that 's steady cool and clear ' The lab'ring ship on all sides feels dire