Best pleas'd to Glory in variety In Vortiger her Compositions were Adorn'd with Graces and a Soul of War In on-sets fierce as Courage can express Quickn'd by Virtue and its own Excess But Albianus youthful heates less sway Whose sage Resolves still guide brave Honors way Though in their Execution Lightnings fly Too slow to keep his fierce Darts company While he with Warlike Vortiger Revolves The Martial Conduct of their high Resolves Fates swift Decree which does even time surprise And oft prevents the Councels of the wise Unlook'd for Tidings to these Princes speeds Nor shall Favonius thy great Name and Deeds Be less Renown'd though to the pride of fate Thou didst Inglorious Deeds of it relate Who does so variously Decrees dispence That Fortune seemes the sport of Providence Swift had he Run through Plains and Pathless woods And almost breathless swam Thames silver floods To scape pursuers Like the Hart that tries Most uncouth Tracts when from the Chace he flies Thus he arrives unto these Heroes sight His Vesture pierc'd with Piles as oft in fight He did such glorious markes Receive from foes Nor did his flight his safety less expose Passing through showers of Piles Romes Legion threw Whom as these Princes did with wonder view Unto their anxious thoughts a Respite take Before their Souls could give them leave to speak Too sadly Judging that he now did come T' express some fatal Loss by Powers of Rome To whom Favonius panting did express Great is the Cause Fam'd Princes my access Does now surprise you nor can fate decree A peril I 'l not joy my Destiny If in Bouduca's cause my death it give Though fame now tell I flying her Foes live Heav'n witness and you Stars who late did see Romes stoutest Eagles by my Conduct flye Thrice e'r the Sun did his Meridian gain But I speak Conquest past Alass in vain Since great Bonduca's high Concern and aid Requir'd this dang'rous flight I now have made Of whom I Crav'd that mighty trust to bear Unto you Princes which your Warlike Care Must soon imploy But happy had I fell By Gaules and Romans e'r these Tydings tell Or from my Lips an Accent witness be Of this most famous Queens Calamity Whose Armes though Warlike Martianns led Then whom no Brittish Chief gave Rome more dread In vain their Legions fought R'enforc'd from Gaul Who soon alass her Person may enthral Witness this day when with its early dawn I saw our num'rous Foes 'bout London drawn Who did like thickest Woods at distance show While gentle Thames in fear did seem to flow His Stream beset and every Pass possest Which Londons danger sadly have increast O! think brave Princes what must be the Fate Of this Black Day or What may Night compleat Approaching now If in her dismal houres Our Foes assault this City with their Powers And thus its Queen and Glories should possess To grace Rome's Triumph and Gaules hop'd success Whil'st but to Heaven and to your Warlike Power Onely remaines their safeties to Restore Thus he Relates But Who can judge the fire That did these Hero's noble hearts inspire To aid this beaut'ous Queen whose Person they Fear with her Kingdom may become a Prey And to Favonius make this brave Reply 'T is time to Fight if Martianus fly And thou so great a Cheife inforc'd to come Thus to relate success of Gaul and Rome But while the name of Brittain shall endure With its choice Deeds Fame shall thy worth secure Since for Bonduca's cause thou yield'st to live That we her Armes distress'd relief might give Then Albianus does on him bestow A stately Vest and Richest Armour too While Vortiger presents him with a Steed Swift as the Wind stout as the North did breed Next Arthur's Son does his choice Captains call Corinus Torringer Androgeus all Fam'd in his Syres great Camp for Wonders done And glory now to serve his Warlike Son But Vortiger who thought each minute slow Time now does wing until he fights this Foe Commands his Warlike Cheifs a March to speed Of his brave Powers Whom most approv'd did Lead Clarinus Troylus with Darander prais'd For Deeds in War Fame with Renown had blaz'd These soon Campaign a Num'rous Warlike Power Of Troops and Chariots guided by the Flower Of Brittish-Nobles in which glorious Sphear The Princes like Auspicious Stars appear And now their Armies March shrill Trumpets sound That Ecchoe o'r th' Horizons utmost bound Which being done they lead their Martial way And view great London the succeeding day The End of the First Canto The Second Canto FAme soon prepar'd her num'rous tongues and eyes To blaze this March the Worlds industrious spies Who for her Glory Mighty Deeds proclaime Nor is there Humane wonder exceeds fame With Men She lives yet to Mankind unknown Though all Her Voices from his Breath are blown Sometimes as loud as Vulgar Clamors speaks As soon from Whispers busie Rumors makes Various in Tongue as Mankind is in thought Whose Secrets to her bold dispose are brought Watches she sets on Kings and Peoples Deeds Nor blushes when inlarg'd their Acts she spreads Falsehood and Truth she mingles in a breath And claimes Prerogative o'r Time and Death A mighty Prodigy her self creates And by her Power as soon annihilates The Worlds Deceiver and its glory too Vertue can Raise and it depress as low Too pronely Evil whence she beares the name Of that far-spreading mischief Men call Fame Thus does my Muse in this her story find Fames highest Glories with fates evils joyn'd While fate Bonduca's Vertues did oppose In Gaule and Romes success her mighty Foes By Warlike Ennius and Alvatrix led Who round great London had their Ensignes spread Whose furious Expedition thither came As it surpriz'd the hasty flight of Fame Having Martianus Powers enforc'd to flight As he their Legions over-power'd did fight Until his stoutest numbers breathless lye T' oppose the Course of this stern Enemy And thus through Lanes of dead had led their pow'rs Resolv'd t' assault great London when nights houres Should Midnight Count and to both Poles extend Her Sable Curtain whose dark throne attend Stars that like Ushers move to light her way While in the East as if too early day Had now surpriz'd her or the Mornings Sphear By Phoebus into flames converted were In which he 'd rise to threaten this bold Night When there prodigiously apear'd to sight Vast Armies moving on the smooth-fac'd-Skye Where flaming-Darts did seem from Foes to fly And brandisht Spears against Spears Fight maintain But What 's Heavens Sign Can Warring Powers restrain Dr furious Mens Ambition All things dare Who Heaven too distant think for them to fear Dr that the strong had right enough to take What could not be defended by the weak Which mighty evil Antient Mankind saw Before they had acknowledg'd Rule or Law But what the stronger to the weak would give When every Man to Man a Foe did live Till their Disorder'd
bright Whose shining seates the antient Royal Race Of Brittish Kings in their past glories grace Which as this presence with due wonder saw A Cloud-like Curtain did before it draw As oft the setting-Suns bright face does wear Made by his Art of some such matter here Then shapes of Heroes represents to view The Queen from her late dreadful vision knew To be of that sterne Nations mighty Race Succeeding time did Saxon Monarchs place Whose Visage look'd as if compos'd they were Of Natures Roughest Elements for War Each in a Martial Cassock clad of blew The Armes of Nobles blaze or Princes shew While Warlike Hengist with a brandish't Spear And furious Horsa foremost do appear Those fatal Brothers first trod Brittish shore To lead through Seas of blood fierce Saxon power Next these passe Scepter'd Kings of this high line With Alfred must in story ever shine For all such virtues Subjects Reverence draw And gave this Isle first English Name and Law Who no less fam'd in War his mighty state The Conquer'd Trophies of fierce Danes does wait Whose bloody onsets this Isle long withstood Before they Raign'd or mix'd with Native blood And here Great Edmund who vast Battels fought With Danish Knute are to sole Combat brought As this day Story enterpriz'd does fame Where Severne Banks are wash'd by his rough stream But pardon Reader if my Muse hence spare To fing these Nations long divided War Or how from Blood and Arms their Kings did raign Which must thy toyles and tears together gain While with this wondrous vision I descend To Royal Edward Saxon Kings does end Nature Divinely Issue did deny Since few succeeding match'd his Piety And briefly from this Artists deeds relate How Norman Kings possest this mighty State Since their first William Rul'd by Conquests claim And left its Throne at once rough Laws and Fame On whom attending here those Heroes stand First serv'd his Arms and planted in this Land Whence so much of our Noble Blood since streams And speaks the honor of their Acts and Names Next to Great William Rufus does appear Who dy'd his Successor without an Heir While Henry younger does usurp the Throne And Robert to both elder sadly shown His eyes put out by that ambitious Fate Made Henry younger seise his Royal state Who clouded thus his hands to heaven does spread T' invoke their crimes should thence be punished Nor did remain a Male Prince of his Line Leaving his Crown in beaut'ous Maud to shine Whose glorious love Plantagenet inthron'd Whom France at such dear cost of Arms renown'd Descending thence their eyes were entertain'd With all of that high Lineage here since raign'd Of which the first unhappy Prince was John If evil Kings from Subjects hate are known And here with troubled looks he seems to view Those first bold Charters Englands Freedom shew Which to this day supremest Law has stood But speaks that Ages Crime since got with blood Near whom the mighty Barons sternly wait Who made his Power by Arms legitimate From which black Vail too late Rebellion springs And Treason seems but now past Acts of Kings His Son succeeding Lion-like next sought To rend that knotty toyl forc'd Law had brought But finds his Subjects made too boldly free E'r to resign their ill-got Liberty Three Edwards then inthrone this Royal Race The first of which both Peace and warre did grace Whose valour Impious Saracons did rue And hardy Scots save his ne'r Conquest knew But soon alass in his luxurious Son Declin'd that glory did his Armes renown Until his Grandson did revive his Fame And in France trophy'd a like Edwards Name And had his mighty First-born next him reign'd What Empire might not Brittish Armes have gain'd Whose like not Greece or Rome Produc'd in warre And had of all been greatest Conquerer But he a Princely Son less happy left In his youths flower of Crown and Life bereft When Lancasters bold Line possest his Throne And rais'd a Royal warre so bloody known Of whom Fifth Henry is most glorious seen Who conquer'd France and its fair Heir made Queen Leaving that Realms possession to his Son Whose zeal to heaven lost there what he had won And here with heavenly looks as Angels shew That humane Figures represent to view Beholds that cruel hand and bloody stroke His Life too good for mortal Rule had took Next whom in dismal Images are shown Such Princes fell in warre each Line to crown VVhile Lancasters the fatal Red Rose bear And Yorks the white not guiltless though right Heir Which Vision pass'd a joyfull glorious sight Presents here objects vary'd with delight Where Marriage Rites each Royal Lineage joyn And Lancasters high Blood with Yorks does shine In that fair Princess fam'd fourth Edward left His young unhappy Males of life bereft Whose tender Glories their fierce Unckle seiz'd And from a false Protector King was rais'd Thus was Great Tenders mighty Reign here seen Espous'd a Soveraign in Yorks Heiress Queen VVhile Ages warre to love does Trophies yield Who crowns in this great Bride His Bosworth Field No less in Peace his Conduct sage appears Whence Kings too oft indulge their Thrones high cares Whose active Prudence swayes each Royal State That crave his wise allowance to be Great Some he more near endears unto his Crown In his fair Princely Daughters-Matches known Who court his Blood to give their Crowns wise Kings And all Great Brittain since one Scepter brings Next here 's display'd his wondrous Treasures sight That speaks his Royal Thrift and Monarchs might Though some this Avarice call not Princely Care Whilst he too much his Subjects griev'd to spare From which high Juncture that eight Henry springs VVho had in one soul many mighty Kings Though his great Copy bears some marks of ill Since Law he made less Powerful than his will And here his several Queens too sadly known His frailer Loves advanc'd unto his Throne In mourning Vails this profound Bard does show VVho from their Fates is call'd Loves Tyrant too To whom succeeds a Son in years though young That reign'd small time as his fierce Rule was long Wise before man and as for men too good Dy'd Flower of Princes in an early Bud. Next whom appears his elder Sisters Raign Whose zeal our Stories more than Rule complain Which pious Crime her Subjects did deplore Since Faith her guilty made of cruel power Shewing that zeal when it too furious grows Promotes not Faith but 'gainst it raises Foes And as her Fathers Consorts deaths did leave A Curse his Lawless bed must thence receive His great begotten issueless were seen Ending his Lyneage in a Virgin-Queen Though more in Soul than Nature could convey Teaching Men Rule and Women to obey And had she not been guilty of that stroke Her fair allyanc'd blood so spotless took Her virgin Robes had been far brighter wore And she the wonder dy'd of Soveraign power While Heaven that scarcely could her loss repair Preserv'd for
Fame None Lives so Great as Mighty Arthur's Name Whose Noble Deeds to Wonder did Compleat All Virtues which in Best of Princes meet Though Sage Historians Griev'd they cannot know How much this Isle does to his Virtues owe But small Remaines of his Past Acts Relate Charging the rest on Guilty Time and Fate Or else to Fame whose Rolls his Glories fill Have left his Praise above their search and skill Victorious Rome that Brittain had Compell'd To own Her Rule from Him fear'd what she held Proving his Armes her Greatness Ballanc'd more Than all the World she had oppos'd before Many the Battels were Fame tells he Fought Unequal Number'd yet his Foes still sought Till Fate his Life unto Death's Pow'r betrayes And Brittaines Mourn the wonder of their Dayes To all the Glories of so great a Name He left a Son Heir to his Worth and Fame A Happiness not in all Monarchs known Who worthless oft succeed a Virt'ous Throne And like the Vulgar Issue of Mankind Beget their Mighty Race unlike in Mind Whence such vast Structures they for Empire lay In their less Glor'ous Successors decay And as it were too much for Mortal State Seldome are seen ' like Prosperous and Great While here for Brittain's Glory Heaven does give A Son in whom his Fathers Virtues Live Fam'd Albianus in whose Mighty Soul Met all the Glories of Great Arthur's Rule In War Approv'd and in his Councels Wise Steps by which Princes best to Thrones do Rise VVho o'r the West of Brittains Fertile soile His Fathers Sword Preserv'd and his brave Toyle Did then extend his Empire while the rest By other Famous Princes was Possest With him three Monarchs fertile Brittain own'd The East of which had fair Bonduca Crown'd While Royal Vortigers the North does Bound Where Scots Repining till their fruitless Ground From Mighty Britttish Kings Time long Deriv'd Their High Descents who best Examples Liv'd Of Royal Greatness nor did thirst of Power Which in Ambitious Princes men deplore Their Scepters happy Concord Dis-unite Who held it Impious to Invade a Right Espousing here one mutual Peace or War Which must their Councels and their Conducts share Oh happy Rule where Monarchs thus maintain Their Peoples Rights and like just Neighbors Reign Whose Power to Subjects from their Laws was known Like Heavens Prerogative from order shown That in their several Sphaeres they seem'd to move With Harmony resembling those Above With these Bonduca Reign'd whose Matchless Story Fame must for ever speak with highest Glory Perfect in Virtue with best Prudence Joyn'd That from her Soul her State did Greatness find Nor did her Beauties less Perfection show That Nature summ'd in her what she could do Whose Graces through the World scarce fame had spread But greatest Princes did their Courtships speed Ambitious of Alliance with her Crown Or in her Beauties to Espouse a Throne Whose Bright Attractions with her Virtues joyn'd To highest wonder ev'n her Foes inclin'd Wishing above all Conquest they might gain Her Loves Dominion as their noblest Reign While for her State she takes assiduous care How to prevent the sad effects of War Which but too lately this Rich Isle did waste And to the Princes does wise Counsels haste Now Albianus Court the Scene must be For this so high Concern of Brittany VVith whom the Sages of each Crown did meet This deep Affair most Prudently to Treat VVhere Vortiger with Royal Glory came A Prince so early made the Pride of Fame That Natures Master-piece in him alone Had been Compleated if to Fame unknown VVere Albianus Praise which gives her Story From both these wonder and yet equal Glory Their Persons like two Plants the early Spring With best Perfection did to Ripeness bring Comely as Youth and Beauty met could show And no less Great in Princely Virtues too The outward Complements Perform'd of State They deep Intregues of Wars Rough Power Debate The High Concern of Crownes whence Kings receive Their Noblest safety nor can Monarchs live Mighty in Name whom Mars does not Renown And Subjects from their Armes Protection own Who soon will Judge they Scepters weakly sway Except their Martial Power their Foes obey Which Glorious End these Princes did Pursue Joyning the greatness of their Councels now While thus to Vortiger Albianus speaks Plac'd in due State Oh dearest Prince what makes Foes thus Conspire or can Heaven think it good War longer should consume our Countryes blood What do'st Import Great Battels to have wonn Gainst Scots alass who Fight us for the Sun Inforc'd by Nature and their Colder soile To Sacrifice themselves to Wars fierce Toil. Or that more Lustful Power of Rome we see Wasted though long our Fatal Enemy While its Bold Consul Ennius now yields T'Encamp in utmost Kent and Quit close Fields If like a Tiger forc'd unto a Den With Rage Recruited he dares Prey agen What else does meane that Num'rous Warlike Power From Gaules now Landing on our Kentish shore How will Bonduca's Soul these Tydings hear If her Rich Province Kent they seize by War And her most Glorious City London be The next Attempt of their bold Tyranny Can Martianus with our Armes oppose The Romans joyn'd with our fierce Gallick Foes Who like an Island plac'd in th' Oceans way May break strong Billowes but not stop a Sea To which great Vortiger does thus Reply Wee 'l soon Martianus with our Ayds supply And make it more our Glory still to Fight Romes Power Assisted with a Borrow'd might Five dreadful Ages Brittains Armes have stood Its Bold Attempts with dear expence of Blood Since Mighty Julius first her Eagles led Though here but hover'd when the World they spread As that great Soul of Honor Blush'd to see His Armes did it subdue e'r Brittany And more its Mistress Proud Rome Conquer'd too Made next his Slave that first the World made so Dares then despised Ennius hope to Live And this Isle Lawes from Roman Conquest Give Or with his Armes here Glory to Maintain The smallest Relicks Caesars Sword did gain What though Alvatrix with his Gaules dos joyn T' Assist their Eagles our Prov'd Armes decline Effeminate Creatures form'd by Clothes and Words But soon will Fly the Language of our Swords Or does Alvatrix hope thus to Improve His late Addresses for Bonduca's Love Or thinks her Virtues e'r can shaken be Though Rome to him should Pander Victory But we delay our Active Armes too long Time calls our warlike troops in Camps should throng With our Arm'd Chariots that will Mow their way Through boldest Legions Rome dares here Array Thus Vortiger with great and sprightly Grace With this brave Prince does Wars design embrace So fierce Achilles added to the Flame Of Greeks Incens'd when to their Camp he came Nor did the Virtues in these Princes met Which Nature did with highest care compleat More her Delight than her vast Treasure show Who does on Mankind Graces so bestow That her Perfections still must different be
Safety did dispose Men to submit to Governments they chose Whose Rulers soon taught them they sought in vain To curb themselves and not their power restrain Who Nation against Nation could oppose Uniting Mankind to be stronger Foes Thus Gaul and Rome this Islands Conquest sought Whom now to London their success had brought Which by their Powers this night must be opprest In the most usual hour of Humane Rest When to indulge the dayes preceding care The tender Husbands their soft Wives endear While Cynthia did her palest Visage weare As if the Queen concern'd sh 'ad shin'd in fear And for her stately City like to be The saddest Scene of Infelicity Nor in great London many eyes had slept Till Foes Assaulted such bold Guards it kept And with a Bloody entrance seiz'd each Port As none knew where 't was safest to resort Or like to Men whom hideous Dreames awake Think all at first but fancies rude mistake And in Amazement hurry here and there Till nobler Sence does overcome their Fear Then as from Sleep surprized Trojans rose Boldly to Combat their successful Foes So here the Brittains are enrag'd to Fight And soon out-doe the Stories of that Night What Heart can Judge or Tongue the rage express That they oppose against their Foes success Least all that 's dear be made Romes lustful Prey Or Gauls far more libidinous than they Sometimes their Consorts Loves inspire their Armes Or else their Virgin-Daughters beauteous Charms The Wonder of the World and Natures Race Which in their Sex this Isle does chiefly grace Then with what Armes this hasty time supplies They find the thickest of their Enemies Where some on naked Breasts their Darts receive Others want Arms that wound for wound might give Yet still their num'rous Powers so assail As Fortune fears this Vertue may prevail While boldest Troops of Romans now retire And Gauls had well-nigh spent their onset Fire But as the Sea that rallies Wave on Wave Till through some noble Fence its Billows rave And then insults upon some glorious Plain Next made the Conquest of the dreadful Main Thus are the Brittains overwhelm'd with power In this so boyst'rous and surprizing houre While now of Fortune all they seem'd to crave Is that their Armes their beaut'ous Queen may save To whose reliefe the worthi'st lead the rest Before her Guards by num'rous Foes opprest Which to effect convenient stations take Resolv'd their Bodies shall her Bulwarks make Highly did Ennius his fierce Powers Conjure To make their furious On-sets more secure Letting them know how they 'l oblige Great Rome To see this City and her Queen o'rcome While with his Gaules Alvatrix does Conspire To act Hostilities by Rage and Fire Hoping these terrors will Bonduca shake Or else by force her long'd enjoyment take What hearts bùt Brittains thus assail'd by Foes Could them and such extremities oppose Who scorn'd all these their Valour should defeat Daring in ' midst of Flames their Foes to meet And in the dismal Ruines of this Flame Speaks antient hate of Gauls to Brittains Name Whose more Heroick Manners did deride The Formes and Dress of their Effeminate Pride And now the Queen from her Pavilion rose Allarum'd by these dreadful Acts of Foes And with a deep Concern does hear the Cries Of her lamented Subjects miseries Like some distrustful Shepheard that does view A Troop of Wolves his harmless Flock pursue And their distressed Lives cannot relieve Except some more than Mortal aid it give To Heaven her Prayers devoutly does address Imploring Stars to frown on their success Hoping they hold no Councel to destroy This City Peopled from Renowned Troy But if it must like that to Ashes turne Then She does beg it may be made her Urn And not in her the Blood of Brute inthral To guild the Triumphs of proud Rome or Gaul And next reflects on Natures fonder care VVhich made her thus Illustrious Great and Fair VVishing She saw with far less beaming eyes Than did Alvatrix fatally surprise Or that her Cheeks did in pale furrows lie VVhich stain'd the Glories of the Evening-Skie Least this great City more unhappy be From the bright Charmes of her Sov'raignity Thus she laments and what is her despair Since now to live is made her saddest fear Discerning well Alvatrix raging will Nor knows she how far Ennius may act ill VVho covertly Bonduca did decree The Prize and Garland of his Victory But from Alvatrix artfully does hide The mock he means to all his rage and pride And thus cajoles him Thou Great Prince of Gauls Yet more than Monarch since Romes power thee calls Her honour'd Armes associate to subdue Brittain with her and more Bonduca too Whose tender heart will force her to resign All that thy burning wishes can design If but now challeng'd while our Armes we see Thus ready to compleat bold Victory Though it must lessen Cleopatra's fame While Rome dates triumph from this Womans Name Whose beauties had but great Augustus seen His mighty Soul had with thee Captive been To which Alvatrix eagerly consents In hopes to Crown his furious Loves Intents Like some fierce Beast that does his Rage allay With expectation of his long'd-for Prey And thus a Summons to Bonduca speed That now was mounted on her graceful Steed And with her Glorious Presence vigor Charmes Into her fainting Brittains Hearts and Armes VVho from her Eyes no Mournful drops must see That but now stream'd for their Calamity Like beaming Morn that had dispell'd Nights tears Her injur'd brightness with more lustre wears Then a bold Herauld from great Ennius comes VVhose dreadful Badge declar'd him to be Romes And to the Queens bright Presence had access VVho in these tearms his Message does express Great Queen of Brittain Know that I am come To bid thee yield unto the Power of Rome Least this Fam'd City by a Raging Flame Consume to Ashes with thy ruin'd Name VVhile Pity makes Great Ennius so far thine As he could wish he might his Armes decline And by a gentle Truce soon make thee know Thou yield'st to Conquer such a Mighty Foe VVho does that value for thy Vertue own That his success he 'd with Loves Triumph Crown This he delivers while a brave disdain Adds to Bonduca's Cheeks a Noble stain As Virgin-Honor kindles at the Name Of some unwelcome and inglorious Flame And to this bold Demand makes this return Rather let me and this Lov'd-City burn And like another Carthage fall to dust If by Romes Power Heaven has decreed it must Than e'r Bonduca so degenerate prove As fear shall fright her Soul to welcome Love If that the Consul covertly intends Or fierce Alvatrix with his rage contends But whensoe'r my Nuptials I bestow I 'l not Court Rome to take a Husband-foe Or by that tye unite my self to Gaul VVhose antient hate would Brittain more inthral What though this fury does assault me now Yet your great Master may have more to do VVhile Arthur's Son and
And that the Cause their hearts may more excite Tells them Revenge and Love does bid him fight Whence fond Bonduca shall repent disdain If by their Armes they Conquest this day gain Nor did the ill of their Intentions fright These from imploring heav'n to ayd their might Whose ear the ambitious by design abuse And call that Providence which first they chuse Thus superstitious hopes their Priests express Who from above unlicens'd speak success Which proves how bold with heaven such dare to be That for their ends will arm Divinity Loud had the Gauls their Clamours upwards sent While soothsaying Romans had their eyes intent On Ravens Vultures and such birds of prey As follow Armies for a bloody day One sees an Eagle stoop that soar'd as high As the expanded airy Regions lie Seeming to Court his figure which was spread In that rich Ensign by the Consul led This their Diviners soon conclude must be A happy Omen of their victory As Nature oft from things of meanest sence Confounds mans vainer search of Providence And thus encourag'd think each minute slow Untill they fight their warlike British foe Whose fierce Battalion Romes confronting stands Resolv'd to act their mighty Chiefs Commands The End of the Third Canto The Fourth Canto LOud did the various Instruments of warre The dreadful time of Battel now declare Musick the brave delight and oft inspires The tim'rous hearts and ears with Martial fires Thus British Trumpets and Romes Cornets sound Their piercing Clamours Ecchoes did rebound Which distant hills and sounding valleys take Mounting the furious noise to skies they make Then forlorn hopes their dreadful onsets speed VVhich for the Princes did Darander lead A. hardy Chief whose Prowess bore a Name In Arthus Camp so much renown'd by Fame As fierce a Leader had Romes Consul chose His daring onset boldly to oppose Hoping success would on his side begin Since valour's ne'r too late that last must win Quick as a thought incounter now these Foes Or burst on each as kindled clouds dispose Their swiftest lightnings when the North or East Send forth their flames to combate with the West Then do their more important bodies move Hoping this Prowess nobly to improve Though from the first Incounters judg to pay The dearest cost of a victorious day And thus the Princes forces swiftly lead Where Roman Pow'rs their dreadful Eagles spread While from their Standards their great figures show With fair Bonduca's Scepter'd Image too O'r whom a glor'ous Canopy is plac'd Like guilded Clouds with morning beams are grac'd To whose bright Figure All devotion pay As Stars are courted for a prosp'rous day By whom within this Standards mighty Frame Are lively imag'd such past Kings did fame Each Royal Lin'age with their Battels fought Since first Dominion Trojan Brute here sought And here the Romans to their dread behold Victor'ous Battels Brittains fought of old With their great Chiefs and warlike Consuls slain That Ages toyl'd in blood this Isle to gain Thus fam'd Cassivellans stern Power does stand Confronting Romes Great Julius high Command And as their Bodies joyn here singly fight Whence Caesar and his Power submit to Flight Then Theomantius Cunoblin the Bold With Coelus story'd are Kings dearly sold Their Brittain Conquests more my Muse could name But these enough denote this Isles past Fame This great Device a Sable Field display'd In which a monstrous Dragon's breathless lay'd Who through his Jaws had gloomy poysons sent Like blasts that Aetna's fiery Bowels vent Next whose vast bulk did gasping Gyants lye Great as our Antient Stories History Their beamy Spears couch'd by each owners side Whence crimson streams the burthen'd earth had dy'd O'r whom in Triumph mighty George does shew Whose Prowess these and that huge Serpent slew Though hence our Copies faintly now express Some glor'ous Reliques of this fam'd success While from our Crown his day receives a Name The high and sacred Record of his fame Which tells enough his Deeds were great and more Than e'r had Brittish Blood renown'd before Opposing this from a vast Banners height Was seen Romes then known Caesars Martial sight His Portraiture in Purple stately plac'd With all past Trophies that Great Name had grac'd These vast Triumphant Char'ots stately drew And Conquer'd Kings but their rich Lackeys shew While Rome her Superstitions to express Figures Divinely Altars in their Dress Before which Eastern Monarchs prostrate lye Forc'd to adore this bold Divinity Their choicer Incense spent as common smoak And in their Gems now shackl'd mourn their yoke Here dext'rous Parthians yield their wounding Bows Born with their Quivers in triumphant Shows There Gauls and Germans quit their mighty Swords While Brittish Armes fight these Imperial Lords From which high Signals these fierce Battels joyn With all the spacious wings that each confine Who as rough waves now one another force Which tydes and winds opposing fight their course Like matchless Rivals Brittains Chiefs contend Which shall most Foes to death by Prowess send And from their Princely Leaders Patterns take How each may more renown'd their valours make With fierce Darander bold Carinus vyes With Torringer Clarinus bravely tryes How to repress their death-despising Foe As far does Troylus and Androgeus go Then Vortiger through wings of mighty Horse Conducts his Troops a bold victorious course Where fierce Alvatrix did his Gauls array And like to lightning force their speedy way Which soon the Gallick onset heat had tam'd Which makes their Passion more than valour fam'd Whos 's first Assaults than Manhood more express And but resisted Women force not less On these the Brittains constant virtues gain That Wars encreasing fury still maintain As if for Mars alone their Tempers were Whose highest dangers can't impress their fear With like success Martianus put to flight The other wing where hardy Romans fight As for his late defeat they now must pay The Expiations of this Bloody Day But Romes vast Body yet unshaken stands Ribb'd by prov'd Legions and Triarian Bands That oft had taught the worlds stern Pow'rs to fly Or else had dar'd them foot to foot to dye Hence darken'd was the Air by Mists of Pyles While clouds of Arrows shew the Brittains Toyles VVhich Roman Targets loaded now did beat As they in Helmets did their Jav'lins wear Soon Albianus had this Body fought And in the thickest dangers Ennius sought Who in a well-form'd Posture does receive The wounds and terrors which his on-sets give As a tall Oak with shiver'd limbs does stand Towring his head against the winds Command 'Till his strong bulk more powerful blasts do cleave And Avenues for their rough passage leave Thus rooted seems this Body whose bold fight The Consuls lofty Conduct does incite Hoping by these to save his mighty fall And each Centurions furious aid does call Recounting how their Julius Caesar stood The Nervian Armes when Rome had spent more blood As ev'n its Nation in that day were lost Hoping this will as
in this Pow'r Of Brittish Nobles and their Youth 's choice Flow'r That dare not hope to stand by Arms this Field But to our wishes must Bonduca yield Yet e'r her Eyes lament or Heart deplores The groans of dying Foes from our stern Pow'rs Unto the streightn'd Princes Truce let 's give If they without her love will yield to live Thus from the Consul is a Herauld sent To speak their high demands and fierce intent While yet Alvatrix does not think to prove The Consul Rival in Bonduca's love Or that he led his Roman Eagles now To conquer Brittains and remain his Foe But Loves ambition oft receives a Fate As well as those of Empire or of State This Herauld to the Queen and Princes come Speaks his bold Message from the Chief of Rome VVhich now the Queen with deep affliction hears Though less her life then love creates her fears And first does let the Princes boldly know That his great Master by Romes Gods does vow He 'll not the fortune of this day survive Should it Rome solely Brittish Empire give Who more than thirst of Rule makes Love his Cause Whose great Prerogative admits no Laws Though he the first of Romans yields to be That e'r broke Truce with noble Enemy For which of Heav'n and Rome does pardon crave And on these tearms if they yet Peace will have They and this Isle unconquer'd shall remain And for his triumph but the Queen will gain Nor by this Summons does he more demand Than what his pow'rful Legions can command When in this streight his Force and conduct must Send the Great Princes with their Pow'rs to dust Yet for the Queens fair sake vouchsafes to treat Before their Arms his dreadful onsets meet And Wars stern horrors her soft Soul affright Or she his Love would save should fall in fight But who can judge the high concern and flame Incens'd these Hero's when from Ennius came This bold demand so late their conquer'd Foe And no less treach'rously a Lover now Then is Alvatrix while the Queens bright beams Had kindled in their hearts Loves mighty flames Then to this Herauld Arthur's Son does speak Let not Romes Consul ever hope to make Us Brittish Princes so desertless live That he Bonduca Laws of Love shall give Or that they can a brave success despair Who with Truce-breaking Gauls and Romans war Nor would they lose the glory of this Fight To die or conquer in the Queens fair sight Whose heart unshaken their fierce Pow'rs withstood When London felt their flames stream'd with blood Yet slighted then Alvatrix rage and love And can she less 'gainst faithless Ennius prove More had this Prince express'd but Vortiger Whose Martial courage Fate her self did fear This Herauld bids withdraw in high disdain While Love and Empire thus at stake remain And next the Princes willing to deceive The Queens sad fears in this short respite give Her heart brave comforts while her weeping eyes Pay for their safeties Heav'n a sacrifice Then of these Forrest shades selects the view Of VVillows and Loves mournful Embleme Yew Neglecting Elmes embrac'd with am'rous Vines Which Nature for pleas'd Lovers objects twines And ev'n the Princes but kind Foes now calls Who thus surpriz'd withstand Romes Force and Gauls While with their safety she could these defie And their unconquer'd Virgin Lover die No less concern'd in this surprising hour The Princes had dispos'd their Martial Power VVith such wise conduct that the wing of Fate Did more her self than them precipitate And here the weapon'd Woodmen duely place Eager to make on Foes their nobler chace More joy'd to hear the trumpets Martial sounds Than all the Musick of their Horns and Hounds Then Roman Cornets Brittish Trumpets vye Whose vig'rous clamours seem to wound the skye VVhile Martial Odes the trusty Bowmen sing Compos'd by Brute their antient warlike King But e'r these Powers their fierce Incounters make Thus Ennius does unto Alvatrix speak Great Prince of Gaul if we this day o'rcome T will Brittish Empire yet restore to Rome And grace her Triumphs with Bouduca too VVhose love my heart conceal'd from thee till now While I Romes Consul blush to ownn slame That does with thine a Râ—vals wishes claim But as thou art Romes mighty Ally know I 'll to thy Love as glorious means allow This Battail won thy Sword and mine shall try Which for Bonduca's sake must yield to dye To whom Alvatrix had I Empire claim'd Of this Great Isle so long Romes Arms has fam'd Or did thy Rods and Axes envy'd see Born as thy Cons'lar State and Dignity I could not with such Fate surpriz'd have been As now to hear thou lov'st the Brittish Queen For whose enjoyment I such dangers fought Unvallew'd whil'st in her o'rpriz'd I sought Nor shall the honour of my blood decline This glor'ous offer 'twixt thy Sword and mine If heav'n decrees we this dayes fate survive To enter Lists shall Loves sole conquest give Till when I 'll like a Prince ally'd to Rome Assist her Eagles Brittains to o'rcome Though as thy Rival will attempt to be The Queens Possessor first from victory Before these Pow'rs their dreadful fury joyn The Roman Augurs who success divine From various Birds the airs vast Regions fly Or victims with auspicious omens dye Declare how they with horror did behold An offer'd Heifers blood turn'd black and cold Her bleeding Entrails panting in their view And how in ominous Flocks the Ravens flew Besides they had Portentous Records took From Great Cumean Sybil's wondrous Book Who in Prophetick fury did declare Romans should fatally with Brittains warr When they their Legions in that place array In which Great Caesar's Hart late stood at Bay And by a Brittish Queen pursu'd should fall Hence they the Consul warn and Prince of Gaul But Love whose Power even Fate her self defies Bids the bold Consul slight these destinies Calling their Rites some Cowards pious care That Rome first taught from Birds and Beasts to fear Then gives the Battel signal whence darts fly Thick as when stormes descending cloud the sky While Brittish Arrows these out-wing in flight And level ranks of Legions as they light Whose Pow'rs more numerous spare these heaps dead And with enlarged wings make dreadful speed Circling the Brittish Force and Princes round Their warlike ranks and valour to confound But with a fury more enforc'd oppose The Mart'al Pow'rs the beaut'ous Queen inclose While as she sees a Brittain fall or bleed Wishes the Dart had pierc'd her in his stead And here Great Ennius with his Romans breaks Through num'rous Ranks till he a prospect takes Of her bright visage while her Eyes dart beams That to his love and valor adds more flames No less Alvatrix danger does despice Leading his Gauls to Mars a sacrifice Invoking him this dayes success to crown That from his Arms his love may have renown And here through fierce Daranders Troops they break As Lanes through Woods the
first invoke and to his Priestess come Rever'd by Gauls and no less fear'd by Rome Who in a Grove that shades this spacious Shore No Axe'r hewd this God did long implore Attending on his Fane of Laurel here With Bowry Altars green throughut the year Hither this Priestess Delphick charms had brought Where she Prodig'ous Divinations taught And as some tell here residence did keep Within a Cave her eyes un-clos'd by sleep On whom now Gauls and Romans mournful wait For sacred Comforts or their future fate Carry'ng their Chiefs upon their Purple Beers Where Altars reek'd with blood of un-yok'd Steers While from her Caves-mouth dores unbolted flew Where they through wond'rous Grates this Priestess view Her hair dishevel'd and her visage fierce As when she Fates sad Errands did rehearse Who thus begins In vain these Rites you use Nor does Apollo in my soul infuse An inspiration Rome can gladly hear Or Gaul with Brittains fatally shall warre For as Romes Empire Gaul has vanquish'd held So here some Ages hence shall be beheld A Brittish King to wear a Gallick Crown Passing through glor'ous Conquests to that Throne In whose great Name five Royal Henries meet By valour shall this matchless work compleat No more inquire since Pow'rs above ordain No victims here shall ever more be slain While their high Rites Apollo to renown Commands this Grove for Piles you streight cut down Then all those various forms that Proteus knew Here represents with shapes more wond'rous too As soon a Lyon turns or salvage Bear Or furious Tyger seems her young does fear Then on a wave a Crocodile does weep Which done a Mermaid sings that charms the deep With num'rous Monsters shown that sport the Flood Some ne'r by Mortal seen or understood Next tùrns a flame that lightning represents A Comet then speaks Heav'ns more fierce intents With subterranean flames like those men tell Shall be th' eternal Element of Hell And here to show her mighty Pow'rs command She takes a Throne on which attending stand Spirits of Earth and Air her charms obey That with a thought out-fly the Suns swift way Her Cave then rends and out unseen she flies On backs of winds charm'd with rough gales to rise While she through highest Regions wings the Air And thus 't is said to Delphos did repair Which fatal wonder having deeply weigh'd Conclude this Priestess words must be obey'd And thus this Grove hew down with restless toyles Fitting the choicest for vast Fun'ral Pyles Here Elms long marry'd to the lusty Vine Fall to the Earth and last embraces twine With Ash and Firr that doe so quickly flame And Pines bold Navigators chiefly fame As thick fall Willows mournful Lovers shew The Fun'ral Cypress and the dismal Yew With Palms th' Olimpicks prize and spreading Oak And Cedars Monarch-like the rest o'r-look Then wreaths of Cypress on their heads they wear Lictors supporting the dead Consuls Bier On which the Heralds Art had nobly blaz'd His high Descent e'r Antient Rome was rais'd With Rods and Axes born display the state Of Romes Republick first made Consulate No less by wond'rous art and cost does shine His Imag'd Predecessors warlike Line Having by these Mater'als vastly made A Pile on which his Corps in Purple's lay'd By sacred Flammins gumm'd and 'nointed o'r Cover'd with Robes in Romes past Triumphs wore Who in their Priestly Vestures myter'd stand To flame this Pile each with a hollow'd Brand And having in loud Hymns his valour prais'd This glorious Fuel's from their hands first blaz'd Where flames ascend as if they would aspire Above the place of Elemental fire Unquench'd dissolving clouds streams downwards pour And thus this Pile's beheld from Brittains Shoar Which be'ng consum'd an Eagle with seel'd eyes These Priests let wing and feign to heav'n he flyes Their pious Embleme that his soul was there On nimbler wings than this swift Bird did bear Thus Man indulgent to a holy cheat Makes Reason on Faiths trifling grandeur wait Forgetting Nature in deaths homely Tire In hope her Act does breath not life expire His glor'ous Corps now with this Pile consum'd In Urns Deaths narrow Clossets 't is intomb'd Saving Death labour that has here assign'd Contracted Mansions for all humane kind But Gauls who diff'rent Celebration taught In sacred Rites and Obsequies now brought Their Great Alvatrix on a stately Hearse Singing in mournful strains his Fun'ral verse The Muses from their Priests besought inspir'd In mystick Grecian words Gauls then admir'd Blessing the Fuel must to ashes bring This Princely Corps they place it in a Ring Circl'd with Vines whose Juice their Country fames And Orange-trees sweet Odors give these flames On which to appease the immortal Pow'rs They sprinkle morning tears distill'd from flowers And now from Custom a curst Stepdame made When by her rigid duties heav'ns are pay'd A grievous zeal the mournful Gauls incites To mingle horrors with these Fun'ral Rites Who here without remorse do fill vast Biers With living Bodies must dye by these fires As Friends and Servants held in life most dear Lest he in th' other world should need their care And heresoft Beauties his past flames did mourn In am'rous glory with his ashes burn Supposing Souls in th' other world scarce find Delightful rest Loves objects left behind While from this flaming tomb their skrieks and cries Through air and clouds pierce to the Starry skies That in their orbs lament man should create A means to death by them not made his fate But oh vain man when Superstitions fool Whose bold deceits impose on heav'n a rule And by Faiths Homicides her Martyrs stakes Whose dust for thriving Altars best seed makes And now the Gauls and Romans vastly raise High Tow'rs of earth where their Chief's Piles did blaze Like mountain-Monuments times hand defie Should it attempt to rase their Memory Which done in scatter'd Troops this vanquish'd hoast As some great Flock had Guides and Pastors lost Disorder'd wander to their native homes Bearing sad Reliques of Gauls loss and Romes Thus Brittain's freed from these her mighty Foes That with five Ages Blood she did oppose Till Fortune who deny'd her Arms success Blush'd longer to resist her happiness And now my Muse to London gladly wings Her Scene of Joyes while Conquest thither brings The Princes trophy'd from this vanquish'd Foe But more renown'd since by their valours too The Beauteous Queen 's preserv'd from whose bright charms Love claim'd to act some wonders by their Arms. Where by a glorious respite they receive Cure to their wounds this bloody War did give Which she to expedite omits no care Giving for balm to each a Lovers Tear While her great Court this tripple Greatness joyns In such magnifick Pomp and Order shines As there my Muse a glad Attendance payes And Theams of Glory to her Verse conveys Though here she seems like unexperienc'd eyes That come to view fam'd Curiosities But know not which excel above the rest And so think all