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
from the side Of some high Lybian Mountain has descry'd A spotted Leopard or a foaming Boar To rouse his Courage he begins to roar He shakes his hideous Sides his Bristles rise And fiercely round he rowls his fiery Eyes Again he roars his Paws the Mountains tear A fearful Preface to th' ensuing War High in his Chariot Tollo then advanc'd And from his Arms amazing Lustre glanc'd A Martial Ardour sparkled in his Eyes And hot with Choler he the Foe defies So when the Spring 's warm Breath and chearing Ray Calls from his Cave th' awaken'd Snake that lay Folded to Rest while Winter Snows conceal'd The Mountains Heads and Frosts the Lakes congeal'd The sloughy Spoils from his sleek Back depos'd And the gay Pride of his new Skin disclos'd He views himself with Youthful Beauties crown'd Elated casts his haughty Eyes around And rolls his speckled spires along the Ground Fresh Colours dy his Sides and thro' his Veins Turgid with Life reviving Vigour reigns The sprightly Beast unfolds upon the Plain The glossy Honours of his Summer Train His Crest erected high and forky Tongue Shot out he hisses bounds and leaps along Such Life and Vigour valiant Tollo shows Marching with eager Haste to meet his Foes And now the British Host advanc'd in sight With chearful Looks and eager of the Fight Prince Arthur in refulgent Arms appear'd High in the midst the Saxons saw and fear'd As when a Merchant richly laden spies A lowring storm far in th' Horizon rise A deadly Fear o'er all his Vitals reigns And his chill Blood hangs curdled in his Veins He furls his sails and fits his ship to bear The dreadful Hurricane ascending thro' the Air. Now both th' embattled Hosts advancing near King Tollo shakes his long outrageous Spear And crying out and threatning from afar In his swift Chariot flew amidst the War His rapid Wheels cut thro' the thickest Files With fearful Ruine and prodigious Spoils Hapless Vodinar first his Arm did feel And in his Breast receiv'd the pointed steel Next Byron on the Sand expiring lies Orpes flies to his Aid and with him dies Kentwin Morosten Caradoc he slew And with his Javelin pierc'd stout Mervin thro' Then you brave Youths Risan and Tudor fell Who did in strength and martial skill excel His fatal spear transfixt bold Arnon's sides And from his Neck his Sword the Head divides As Udas fled the hissing Dart he sent Enter'd his Back and thro' his Navel went He fell and on the Dust sad to behold His Bowels issuing from his Belly roll'd Runo's right Knee his Javelin did invade And in the Bone the glitt'ring Weapon staid Strong Runo fell and as he wildly star'd And many moving Words in hast prepar'd To beg his Life th' insulting Conquerour flew And with his Spear pierc'd his pale Body thro' Groaning he lay and fetcht long double Sighs While in thick Mists Death swims upon his Eyes Next Leoline King Cadwall's Son he kill'd A beauteous Youth and not in War unskill'd His Head the Fauchion to the Shoulders cleft And on the Dust his groveling Body left Ouenar felt within a sudden Dread And turning round his Chariot would have fled When his long Spear the fierce Albanian threw Which crasht the Bones and thro' the Temples flew Headlong Ouenar fell and on the Ground Lay welt'ring in his Blood pour'd from his Wound His fatal Weapons vast Destruction made And where he pass'd the slain in Heaps were laid So when a Flood from th' Hyperborean Hills Rolls thund'ring down and all the Valley fills Where the high Snows dissolv'd by Summer Beams In one vast Deluge joyn their various Streams The roaring Tide with its impetuous Course O'erflows the Banks and with resistless Force Sweeps Houses Harvest Herds and Flocks away Nor can the loftiest Mounds its Progress stay With equal Rage with such impetuous Hast Great Tollo thro' the thick Battalions past The rapid Wheels of his swift Chariot burn And in their Course the throng'd Brigades o'erturn O'er scatter'd Arms bright Helms broad Shields of Brass And broken Spears his raging Axles pass O'er Heaps of Dead the furious Warrior flies And fills with Dust and ratling Noise the Skies The squallid Field a Crimson Torrent choaks And mingled Dust and Blood oppress his Chariot's spoakes The trembling Ground th' outrageous Coursers tear And snoring brow their Foam into the Air. Their fervid Nostrils breath out Clouds of Smoke And Flames of Fire from their hot Eyeballs broke With furious Hoofs o'er slaughter'd Heaps they fly And dash up Bloody Rain amidst the Sky Reeking in sweat and smear'd with Dust and Gore They spurn the Sand and thro' the Battel roar Then valiant Malgo with a fresh Brigade Advanc'd the mighty Warriour to invade While from another Part his Warlike Band Bothan led up and made a noble Stand. Now Showers of Darts and feather'd Arrows fly At Tollo's Breast that darken'd all the Sky When valiant Marodan approaching near With all his Strength casts his impetuous Spear It pass'd the Buckler's Plates and folded Hide And thro' his Armour slightly raz'd his Side Tollo incens'd collecting all his Might Broke thro' their Ranks and put the Foe to Flight Now dire Destruction reigns amidsts their Files And all the Field was spread with warlike Spoils So when Battavian Harpooniers assail With their sharp Launces some prodigious Whale That like a floating Mountain lies at Ease Vastly extended on the frozen Seas When the Leviathan begins to feel Within his wounded side the bearded steel And looking round sees all the ambient Flood Deeply distain'd with its old Monarch's Blood Straight all enrag'd he throws himself about And thro' the Air does Crimson Rivers spout Swift as a storm he does the Foe assail VVith his expanded Fins and hideous Tail Some Barks are crush'd as with a falling Rock And some o'erturn'd sink with the dreadful Shock The rest ply all their Oars and frighted row Thro' Fields of Ice to shun th' unequal Foe Canvallo then brought up a stronger Force Whom Galbut joyn'd to stop th' Albanian's Course The fainting Britons these fresh Troops protect And with their Arms great Tollo's Triumphs checkt And now their thick Brigades were close engag'd And thro' the bloody Field Destruction rag'd Now Man to Man stood close and Spear to Spear Helms mixt with Helms and Shields with Shields appear Arrows aloft in feather'd Tempests fly Darts hiss at Darts encountring in the Sky A dreadful Noise distracting all the Air Came from the hoarce Cerberean Throat of War While Arms on Arms Bucklers on Bucklers ring Swords clash with Swords and flying Javelins sing Some threaten loud while some for Quarter cry And some insult while some in Torment dy As when a Torrent down some Mountain's Side To the low Valleys rolls its rapid Tide Where mighty Stones and rocky Fragments high Within the rude unfashion'd Channels ly O'er abrupt Tracks its Course the Deluge bends And roaring down with mighty Falls descends Prodigious Noise
Detaching Horsa to begin th' Assault Whose chosen Troops a furious Onset make With no less Brav'ry ours sustain'd th' Attack They mount our Works and our high Ramparts Scale And with projected Fires our Men Assail Our Troops unbroken stout Resistance make And always forc'd th' Invading Saxon back As when a Mold repels th' Invading Seas Protects the Ships and gives the Harbour Peace The foaming Tempest on high Billows rides And Storms with watty Troops it 's lofty Sides Th' unshaken Structure all their Fury braves And stops the Current of th' Insulting Waves The angry Seas break on th' Opposing Shore And beaten back with Indignation roar No less unmov'd our Valiant Britons stood Against the Insults of the Saxon Flood Fresh Bodies still pour'd on their loss supply But still Repuls'd they from our Trenches fly Enrag'd about our Lines King Octa flew To find where best he might th' Assault renew To see what place lay most expos'd and where Our Troops did on the Works but thin appear As when a Wolf pinch'd by Nocturnal Cold And Hunger-starv'd scours round the lofty Fold He licks his rabid Jaws and seems possest Already of his Prey and bloody Feast He offers oft to enter while the Lambs Affrighted tremble round their bleating Dams So Octa thirsts for Blood and scouring round Surveys our Lines and well observes the Ground Now with fresh Rage his Troops our Walls ascend Which we with Showers of Darts and Stones defend What Shouts what noise of Arms the Air confound What Ruin what slain Heaps deform the ground The Earth grows slippery all distain'd with Blood Which fills the Ditches with a Crimson Flood The Dead make Bulwarks which the living Climb That in the Air rise like our Walls sublime O'erpower'd and weaken'd by the Men they lost And Faint with Toil the Britons quit their Post. Thrice the Invading Saxon forc'd our Lines And to their Arms thrice Victory inclines The Valiant Uter that had still withstood Their fiercest Troops all smear'd with Dust and Blood Who still to Posts of greatest danger flew And with unerring Arms their Squadrons slew Who spread fresh Life and Vigour where he came And in our Breasts renew'd the Martial Flame For where we saw his shining Arms appear Our Men reviv'd and straight forgot to fear Observing his disorder'd Troops retir'd His boiling Soul distracting Passion fir'd He spurs his furious Steed and Thundring thro' The thickest Ranks of the Victorious Foe Stay foolish Britons stay he cries from far Save yet your Country and renew the War Come follow me your King I 'll lead you on And chase the Saxons from the Posts they 've won The Britons Hearts were touch'd with generous shame Love to their Country and to Martial Fame With noble Ardor does their Souls inflame Their Leaders Rally all the Troops that fled And Charge the Foe King Uter at their Head With unresisted Fury they Attack The Saxon Troops resolv'd to force them back Now what Destruction what wide Ruin reign What heaps of slaughter'd Saxons load the Plain Now arm'd with hissing Death thick Arrows flew And outstretcht Arms as fatal Iavelins threw Then what vast Havock did the Sword employ What Troops did Uter's single Hand destroy What sever'd Limbs lay scatter'd on the ground What Streams of Blood gush from each ghastly wound What Shields and Spears in the red Deluge drown'd Here first brave Arthur did his Courage prove His Age then fitter for the Field of Love God-like his Face and God-like was his Mind To virtuous Deeds and warlike Games inclin'd The Down-of-Manhood on his Face appears And blooming Beauty grac'd his youthful years Yet wise and manly far beyond his Age His early Deeds the Hero did presage Till now the Woods and Forrests were his Joy Where he the Savage Kind strove to destroy That did the Herds and bleating Flocks annoy He chas'd the Fox the ravenous Wolf and Bear His Country's Pest dy'd by his fatal Spear The People blest him as a Saviour sent And thought kind Heav'n some great Deliv'rer meant He ne'er before had brac'd the Helmet on Nor in the Field in polish'd Armour shone His Sword had ne'er been stain'd with humane Gore Nor had he grip'd the Shield or Gauntlet wore His Country's Cause and Military Fame Invite the Youth to chase a nobler Game No more his thoughts his rural Sports pursue Tyrants and savage Men he 'll now subdue For warlike Toil he leaves the gameful Wood And flesht his Courage first in Saxon Blood The greatest Captains the brave Youth esteem'd He fought like Mars though Mercury he seem'd Like some fair Cherub or the Beamy God He wav'd his flaming Sword and thro' their Squadrons rode His youthful Veins Heroick Ardor fir'd And more than humane Force his Breast inspir'd For the great Deeds his fatal Arms archiev'd Were by th' amaz'd Spectators scarce believ'd At last amidst the Foe advanc'd too far Alone he long sustain'd th' unequal War Surrounding Throngs the fainting Youth opprest And Showers of Death flew pointed at his Breast His weary Arm supports his Shield with Pain And his bruis'd Armour Streams of Blood distain Here the young Hero had been crush'd and all Our Hopes and Joy had perish'd in his Fall Had not brave Malgo a Dimetian Chief Forc'd the thick Foes and flown to his Relief Then when the warlike Youth was most distrest And Elfrick's Sword was falling on his Crest With dreadful Sway Malgo its Fury broke And on his Shield receiv'd the mighty Stroke The Prince thus guarded from the fatal Blow Bold Malgo's Spear transfixt th' audacious Foe Groveling in Death he murmur'd on the Ground And pour'd his Life out from his gaping Wound Here Vortipor advancing did attack Their plying Troops and forc'd the Saxon back While Octa's wavering Men began to yield And to pursuing Uter quit the Field As when a Lyon that with Fury ran To seise by Night some weary Caravan That lay encampt on an Arabian wild Repuls'd by Fires and of his Prey beguil'd With hideous Roar he raves at his Defeat Oft stands looks back and makes a sour Retreat King Octa's Soul like Indignation fir'd That raving with his vanquish'd Men retir'd But oh how soon was this serener Day By Clouds and rising Tempests chas'd away How short a space could we our Conquest boast How soon were all our Hopes of Freedom lost Won by the potent Charms of Saxon Gold Carvil his Prince and Native Country sold. He in Indulgent Uter's Bosom lay And did the Secrets of his Breast betray He on his Conduct and his Faith rely'd In Peace and War alike his treacherous Guide He held the most important Trusts of State Nor could his Treasons Uter's Love abate Unhappy Prince that still his Foes believ'd Only by Ruin to be undeceiv'd To Friends ingrate his Foes be entertain'd Thus lost the one but not the other gain'd Wisely undone he knew his Friends too late By his own Prudence manag'd to his Fate Our Prayers and
Britons had remain'd By adverse Winds within their Port detain'd Boreas that had his Blasts profusely blown His Storms all spent and bleaky Treasures gone With tir'd and flaggy Pinions now retreats To fetch Recruits from wild Laplandian Seats Auster does next with milder Blasts prevail And for the Britons blows a prosperous Gale Now each rough Hero of the Ocean stands On the high Deck giving Austere Commands Prince Arthur to Embark approach'd the Shore Where the reposing Seas no longer Roar But at his Feet obsequious Billows lay As Conscious of the Power they must Obey Then their broad Backs subsiding they submit Proud to sustain their future Monarch's Fleet. The lofty Ships on rolling Billows bound The Waves in soft Embraces clinging round As when the Trojans in the Mantuan Song From Africk Sands to Latium sail'd along Old Ocean rose up from his rocky Throne A Crystal Scepter and a reedy Crown His Power confest his dewy Head he reer'd Above the Flood and smiling on the Waves appear'd New gather'd Banks of Quicksands he remov'd And kindly thro' the Deep the Navy shov'd So the calm Ocean seem'd with equal care On its pleas'd Waves the British Fleet to bear Huge rolling Porpoisses spout Seas away And friendly Dolphins round the Squadrons play The floating Castles dance upon the Tide And on its foaming Ridge Triumphant ride In glorious Lines the painted Squadrons move As if the Poets Gods laps'd from above In gilded Clouds were dancing on the Seas In Masquerade with the green Deities Twice the great Ruler of the Day had hurl'd His flaming Orb around th' enlighten'd World When at the early Dawning of the Day The Navies in each others Prospect lay The Saxon Squadrons cover all the Main And with their Prows divide the liquid Plain Plying to Windward Arthur's Men prepare Their Navy to receive th' advancing War Down on their Feet King Octa bravely bore Whose long-wing'd Navy strercht from Shore to Shore Both Fleets in Lines of War stood cross the Deep And ready to Engage just Order keep They hoist their bloody Flags on either side And Death her Jaws does for her Feast provide Now the shrill Trumpets sprightly Voice and all The Harmony of War to Combate call The Saxon Sailors with a hideous Cry Affright the Deep and rend the Eachoing Sky The barb'rous Yellings and outrageous Sound From Rock to Rock and Shore to Shore rebound A furious Fight between the Fleets began And bold Selingbert first Attacks their Van. Now bearded Darts and fatal Javelins fly And Balls of Fire hiss throgh th' inlightned Sky Each on his Foe missive Destruction pours And Death receives and gives in feather'd Showers Thus milder Fate at distance sparing slew Till to a closer Fight Selingbert flew And on his Foe his massy Grapples threw Which clenching fast their pond'rous griping Claws The rude Embrace both Ships together draws The Saxons flew on Board with furious Arms And on the Decks appear in numerous swarms Vogan enrag'd did fatal Wounds dispence With lavish Hand and made a brave Defence With Battle-Axes Swords unweildy Crows They clear the Decks of the insulting Foes Beat down with ghastly Wounds some gaspingly Others their Arms cast down for Mercy cry Into the Waves some their pale Bodies throw And fly from Death above to Death below Down the Ships sides Torrents of Saxon Blood With unknown Crimson Dye th' astonish'd Flood Upon the Decks that slaughter'd Heaps deform Enrag'd Selingbert pours a second Storm Which like a Summers Shower soon disappear'd By Valiant Vogan and his Britons clear'd Selingbert thus defeated boils with Rage But forc'd at last his Ship to disengage He bears away and quits th' unequal Fight Providing for his safety by his Flight Octa mean time his Men for Fight prepares And fiercely down on Arthur's Squadron bears The spacious sides of his high Ship consum'd Whole Forrests and whole Mountains Spoils entomb'd It self a Fleet across the Billows stood Engross'd the Winds and press'd the labouring Flood The lofty gilded Palace shone from far Presenting to the Foe a glorious War Bold Octa and the Valiant Arthur meet Which strook a vast Concern thro' either Fleet. On this important Action seem'd to wait The British Hero's and Britannia's Fate Both sides with Shouts their fatal Weapons fling And wing'd with Death thick Showers of Arrows sing Unerring Darts in hissing Tempest fly And carry swift Destruction thro' the Sky Ships rush to Battle with enormous Shocks As Towers with Towers encounter'd Rocks with Rocks So in the Northern Seas when Storms arise High Rocks of Snow and sailing Hills of Ice Against each other with a mighty Crash Driv'n by the Winds in rude Rencounter dash The Sea afflicted foams the Waves on high Toss'd by the batt'ring Islands lave the Sky The Crystal Towers break with a fearful Crack And on the Billows spread their foaming Wreck Vast Sheets of rocky Ice and broken Isles Oppress the lab'ring Ocean with their Spoils On both sides now they call forth all their Rage Resolv'd in closer Combat to engage Then Death and Slaughter in sad Triumph reign'd And Seas of Blood the slipp'ry Decks distain'd Some the Pale Dead into the Ocean heave Some in the Ships low Caves the wounded leave Prodigious Numbers fell on either Side Thin on the Decks they look'd but thick upon the Tide For neither Chief e'er met a greater Foe Both wondrous Skill and wondrous Courage show While Vict'ry poising equal Hope and Fear With doubtful Wings hung hov'ring in the Air. The wise Prince Arthur whilst on Shore equips Their use till then unknown a sort of Ships That since the Deeds of that Important Day Among lost Arts in deep Olivion lay Till Captains that in after Ages liv'd The long forgotten Stratagem reviv'd Bitumen Sulphur and Vulcanian Spoils From lab'ring Mountains and from unctious Soils Naptha and Pitch with Skill and Labour wrought With hidden Stores of Flame the Vessel fraught Like rolling Clouds where Lightning's Seeds remain Their swelling Wounds a fiery Birth contain Arthur so strange a Ship to Octa sent With such Infernal Treasures in it pent Which with its grappling Engines fixt and fir'd The bold Commander to his Friends retir'd The Fire with unextinguish'd Rage consumes The Subterranean Wealth the Ship intombs Vast sheets of Flame and Pitchy Clouds arise And burning Vomit spouts against the Skies Tempests of Fire th' astonish'd Heav'ns annoy Fierce as those Storms that from their Clouds destroy As Aetna from its glowing Roots was torn And by its own wild Hurricanes was born From its old Seat to float upon the Waves With Vulcan's Magazins and Cyclop's smoaking Caves The burning Plague adher'd to Octa's side And the scorcht Ribs the hot Contagion fry'd The spreading Mischief's growth no Force restrains The Plague resisted more severely Reigns To the tall Masts the raging Flame aspires And neighbour sits to Heav'n's contiguous Fires Octa at last his flaming Ship forsakes And in stout Horsa's Vessel Refuge takes Here he once more his
the Fight To Safety and to Fame the way I 'll show See here it lies across the thickest Foe He said and straight amidst the Troops he flew Osher the first he met the first he slew He pierc'd his Belly thro' the yielding Shield And out his Bowels gush'd upon the Field To aid his Friend constant Eballan flies But wounded by the Briton with him dies Then while Bertham's Offspring stands Poising a pondrous Stone in both his Hands The mighty Fragment of a craggy Rock And aim'd at Macor's Head a deadly Stroke Thro' his pierc'd Side the Javelin made its Way And buried in his bleeding Liver lay Then you brave Youths Egbert and Alopas Both noble Branches of great Horsa's Race Their Age the same the same their youthful Charms Fell in the British Fields by Macor's Arms. This 'twixt the Ribs receiv'd the fatal Dart Where transverse Bounds the Breast and Belly part Lopt from the Shoulder with a fearful Wound T' other 's Right Arm lay quivering on the Ground Now the Danmonians who began to run Seeing the Wonders by their Leader done With Shame and generous Indignation burn And to the War with doubled Rage return Then Macor let his Spear at Redwall fly In his bright Chariot passing swiftly by It pass'd his Shield and went into his Reins A Purple Flood springs from his wounded Veins And mixt with Dust the fervid Wheels detains Projected headlong on the Ground he lay Fetch'd a deep Groan and gasp'd his Life away With like Success his Men no more afraid Of Saxon Arms their thickest Files invade So when dissolv'd by Summer Rays the Snow Do's down the Sides of Alpine Mountains flow Below the several Rills and Currents joyn And different Streams in one great Flood combine Then do's the Deluge rear its foaming Head O'er-flow the Banks and o'er the Meadows spread No lofty Mounds arrest th' insulting Tide But o'er the flowry Vale the Waves triumphant ride So the Danmonian scatter'd Troops unite And with associate Arms revive the Fight Here to restrain Macor's victorious Course Bartha oppos'd a fresh collected Force From his strong Arm his singing Javelin flew And passing thro' his Neck Guitardan slew He hurl'd his Ball of Iron at the Head Of stout Gomallador and struck him dead His Helm in Pieces flew his Bones were crash'd And from his Scull his Blood and Brains were dash'd Macor incens'd advances to the Fight And pray'd to Heav'n to guide his Weapon right Nor did he pray in vain th' unerring Dart Transfixt his Breast and sunk into his Heart Strong Bartha fell the Blood his Armour stains And shivering Death crept cold along his Veins But to revenge so great a Captain 's Fall Lothar aloud does on his Saxons call First Lodoic he slew who stood the Shock Of War before unshaken as a Rock Strong Mandubrace of whom the Britons tell Such mighty Deeds by the brave Saxon fell Beauteous Codunan the Silurians Pride And warlike Hanomer together dy'd Their Leaders brave alike alike enrag'd The Britons and the Saxon close engag'd An obstinate and bloody Fight maintain And Heaps of Dead ly thick upon the Plain Dark Clouds of Dust thro' th' airy Region fly And warlike Noise bounds from the vaulted Sky Helms mixt with Helms and Arms with Arms unite Their bright Reflexion to oppress the Sight Now Man at Man Squadrons at Squadrons rush And Files at Files with Spears protended push Swords clash with Swords Bucklers on Bucklers bray And thro' the Field a horrid Din convey Slaughter and Death in dreadful Pomp appear And Brains and Gore the slippery Field besmear So when two adverse Tides their Waves advance With equal Fury and with equal Chance The foaming Forces doubtful Fight maintain Where both by Turns loose what by Turns they gain On this Side now retreats the vanquish'd Tide And on its back th' insulting Billows ride Rallying its roaring Troops with swift Career It soon returns and reassumes the VVar. The Conquerour before is forc'd to yield And rolling back its Waves deserts the Field Alternate Conquest and alternate Flight Between the Foes prolong a doubtful Fight So thick the Troops so fast and close were prest The wedg'd Batalions standing Breast to Breast They scarce have space their Hands or Arms to move But like contending Waves each other shove Here Macor urges presses and invades Here Lothur stops him with his strong Brigades Equal in Arms in Beauty and in Age But not allow'd each other to engage On both the valiant Youths a different Fate From a far greater Foe does shortly wait King Cerdick then advanc'd exclaiming loud And with his rapid Chariot cuts the Crowd And to the Troops that stopt his way he cry'd Open to right and left your Ranks divide Macor and I this Contest will decide Nor did the Saxon Troops his Will oppose But open and an Ample Space disclose Then leaping to the Ground his pondrous Oak Pointed with polish'd Steel he threatning shook At such a Sight th' amaz'd Danmonians start And their chill Blood congeal'd about their Heart Macor undaunted traverses the Ground And at the Saxon aims a fatal Wound Then thro' the Air his Spear projected flew And from its Sheath his slaming Sword he drew The Buckler's Brims the glancing Weapons raz'd And flying off on the right Shoulder graz'd Then Cerdick's Javelin pois'd and aim'd with Care Flew from his Arm and hissing cut the Air. Who cry'd out as it went go swiftly fly And the hard Metal of his Armour try While Cerdick thus insults th' impetuous Oak Thro' Buckler Coat of Mail and Cuirass broke And pierc'd his Breast where the deep Springs abide Whence Life leaps out upon its circ'ling Tide The Vital Streams thro' his bruis'd Armour spout While he in vain wrests the warm Weapon out After the parting Dart together crowd From the wide Wound his Soul and Life and Blood He fell his Arms upon his Armour rung And Death in cold Embraces round him clung Thus fell the brave Danmonian who had slain Such Numbers pil'd on Heaps upon the Plain His Friends with Sighs and Tears upon a Sheild Bear his pale Corps off from the bloody Field Cerdick his Weapon warm with Macor's Blood Advanc'd with Fury not to be withstood With his drawn Sword he does the Foe invade And midst their Ranks prodigious Havock made The Britons all enrag'd at Macor's Fall With Showers of Darts the raging Saxon gaul On every Side the Monarch they assail With thick Brigades but cannot yet prevail As when a mighty Stag that long had stood The unmolested Monarch of the Wood Safe in its Coverts and protecting Shade Against the Foe that would his Peace invade If at an ancient Oak he stands at last At Bay by furious Dogs too closely chas'd Fearless he looks and to his clam'rous Foes Does his thick Grove of Native Arms oppose The Dogs with distant Cries infest the Ears And from a far the Huntsmen cast their Spears None daring to approach the