King Arthur An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books. By Richard Blackmore. To which is Annexed, An Index, Explaining the Names of Countrys, Citys, and Rivers, &c |
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 | King Arthur |  |
While these great leaders so much Honour won,
Elsewhere like Wonders were by Lucius done.
First in his way by luckless Fortune stood,
Young Medolan of Trabor's noble Blood.
The Javelin thro' his Belly made it's way,
And in his wounded Entrails buried lay.
The Youth, so much he was to Arms inclin'd,
Left unenjoy'd his beauteous Bride behind;
He's now embrac'd by Death's unwelcom Arms,
And to another quits her Maiden Charms.
Brave Arcan burning with a Martial Flame,
To aid his wounded Brother swiftly came;
But felt the Briton's Steel within his Veins,
Which thro' his Armour pierc'd the Warriour's Reins.
Upon his Seat he could no longer stay
But fell, and cross his dying Brother lay.
Their mournful Friends look'd on, but were afraid,
So great the Peril was, to give them Aid.
So when a Lyon roaming o'er the Lawns,
Descrys the Thicket where her tender Fawns
The Doe as she believ'd did safely lay,
In do's he leap, and tear the panting Prey
The Doe at distance do's their Fate bewail,
But dares not come the Murd'rer to Assail.
While Valiant Lucius such destruction made,
Against the Chief advanc'd a strong Brigade;
And opening to the Right and Left, the Foes
On every side the Leader did enclose.
The noble Briton did himself defend,
While Clouds of Spears from every part they send.
The missive War upon his Buckler rung,
And showers of fruitless Deaths around him sung.
So when fierce Dogs and clam'rous Swains surround
A mighty Boar in neighb'ring Mountains found;
His Bristles high erected on his Back,
The raging Beast withstands the Foes attack:
He whets his dreadful Tusks, and from afar
He foams, and flourishes the Ivory War.
The cautious Huntsmen at a distance rage,
Cast all their Darts, but dare not close engage.
At last the Briton from an unknown Spear,
Receiv'd a painful Wound beneath the Ear.
The striving Blood did thro' his Armour spout
The Franks observing gave a mighty shout.
Thus wounded and opprest, the British Chief
Call'd to his Friends aloud to bring Relief.
It chanc'd that mighty Trelon then was near,
Who to his Squadron cry'd, the Voice I hear
Is Lucius, who encircled with the Foe,
Contends in vain to cut his passage thro'.
To bring him off we'll force the Gallic Ranks.
He said, and strait he spur'd his Courser's Flanks,
And shaking in his hand his glitt'ring Lance,
To Charge the Franks with Fury did advance.
The Franks disperst when Trelon first appear'd,
So much they all his famous Courage fear'd.
So when fierce Wolves have seiz'd a fainting Deer,
But newly wounded by the Huntsman's Spear.
With reeking Blood they feast their hungry Jaws,
And the warm Entrails pant beneath their Paws.
But if a Lyon comes, the awful Sight
Do's from their Prey the prowling Race affright.
Then his bright Spear with Fury cast betwixt
The Flank and Chest, great Tolna's Steed transfixt.
The generous Beast beneath the Rider fell:
Tolna th'invading Tempest to repel,
Springing with Vigour from the Courser's back,
Advanc'd on foot great Trelon to attack.
And that the Briton's Fury might be stay'd,
His Left Hand on the Courser's Reins he laid,
And held his flaming Fauchion in the Right,
Resolving thus he would maintain the Fight.
The Britons Steed that Swords and Spears disdain'd,
With Indignation foam'd to be restrain'd:
Trelon enrag'd, divided at a blow
His Arm, which dropt and let the Courser go.
The generous Steed finding the Rein releast,
Sprang forth, and struck stout Tolna in the Breast,
Who breathless fell, with endless Night opprest.
Elsewhere like Wonders were by Lucius done.
First in his way by luckless Fortune stood,
Young Medolan of Trabor's noble Blood.
The Javelin thro' his Belly made it's way,
And in his wounded Entrails buried lay.
The Youth, so much he was to Arms inclin'd,
Left unenjoy'd his beauteous Bride behind;
He's now embrac'd by Death's unwelcom Arms,
And to another quits her Maiden Charms.
Brave Arcan burning with a Martial Flame,
To aid his wounded Brother swiftly came;
But felt the Briton's Steel within his Veins,
Which thro' his Armour pierc'd the Warriour's Reins.
Upon his Seat he could no longer stay
But fell, and cross his dying Brother lay.
Their mournful Friends look'd on, but were afraid,
So great the Peril was, to give them Aid.
So when a Lyon roaming o'er the Lawns,
Descrys the Thicket where her tender Fawns
The Doe as she believ'd did safely lay,
In do's he leap, and tear the panting Prey
278
But dares not come the Murd'rer to Assail.
While Valiant Lucius such destruction made,
Against the Chief advanc'd a strong Brigade;
And opening to the Right and Left, the Foes
On every side the Leader did enclose.
The noble Briton did himself defend,
While Clouds of Spears from every part they send.
The missive War upon his Buckler rung,
And showers of fruitless Deaths around him sung.
So when fierce Dogs and clam'rous Swains surround
A mighty Boar in neighb'ring Mountains found;
His Bristles high erected on his Back,
The raging Beast withstands the Foes attack:
He whets his dreadful Tusks, and from afar
He foams, and flourishes the Ivory War.
The cautious Huntsmen at a distance rage,
Cast all their Darts, but dare not close engage.
At last the Briton from an unknown Spear,
Receiv'd a painful Wound beneath the Ear.
The striving Blood did thro' his Armour spout
The Franks observing gave a mighty shout.
Thus wounded and opprest, the British Chief
Call'd to his Friends aloud to bring Relief.
It chanc'd that mighty Trelon then was near,
Who to his Squadron cry'd, the Voice I hear
Is Lucius, who encircled with the Foe,
Contends in vain to cut his passage thro'.
To bring him off we'll force the Gallic Ranks.
He said, and strait he spur'd his Courser's Flanks,
279
To Charge the Franks with Fury did advance.
The Franks disperst when Trelon first appear'd,
So much they all his famous Courage fear'd.
So when fierce Wolves have seiz'd a fainting Deer,
But newly wounded by the Huntsman's Spear.
With reeking Blood they feast their hungry Jaws,
And the warm Entrails pant beneath their Paws.
But if a Lyon comes, the awful Sight
Do's from their Prey the prowling Race affright.
Then his bright Spear with Fury cast betwixt
The Flank and Chest, great Tolna's Steed transfixt.
The generous Beast beneath the Rider fell:
Tolna th'invading Tempest to repel,
Springing with Vigour from the Courser's back,
Advanc'd on foot great Trelon to attack.
And that the Briton's Fury might be stay'd,
His Left Hand on the Courser's Reins he laid,
And held his flaming Fauchion in the Right,
Resolving thus he would maintain the Fight.
The Britons Steed that Swords and Spears disdain'd,
With Indignation foam'd to be restrain'd:
Trelon enrag'd, divided at a blow
His Arm, which dropt and let the Courser go.
The generous Steed finding the Rein releast,
Sprang forth, and struck stout Tolna in the Breast,
Who breathless fell, with endless Night opprest.
| King Arthur | |