The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
 | XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
The sun was westing, on the strangers' lodge;
When Dylan, herdman, kindles fire, with flint:
Then drive a bleating ram in, his hird-sons.
Their father, drawn, from sheath, broad skene of bronze;
Carves the lamb's gorge, that yields rife, gurgling blood.
His young men dress the flesh; which dredged, with salt,
And flour, on the live coals, on spits, they roast.
With basket then of bread, they set, the best,
On cleanly burdock leaves, before their guests.
When Dylan, herdman, kindles fire, with flint:
Then drive a bleating ram in, his hird-sons.
Their father, drawn, from sheath, broad skene of bronze;
Carves the lamb's gorge, that yields rife, gurgling blood.
218
And flour, on the live coals, on spits, they roast.
With basket then of bread, they set, the best,
On cleanly burdock leaves, before their guests.
Give thanks the brethren, naming the Lord Christ,
And stretcht their right hands forth, they take and eat.
Dylan brings smooth milk bowls, when they have supped,
Mingled with the sweet labour of wild bees:
Then asks of them, their land and parentage?
And stretcht their right hands forth, they take and eat.
Dylan brings smooth milk bowls, when they have supped,
Mingled with the sweet labour of wild bees:
Then asks of them, their land and parentage?
Dylan sith watchfires shows them, on nigh hill,
Saying, is dune of his lord Amathon:
So wends, wrapped in his pilch, ere middle night,
To lay him down, amongst his folded flocks.
But ere bright daystar beckons from the East,
That herdman rose, so took his knotty staff;
And sallies the next way, to Amathon's dune;
Tiding, to bring his lord, of shipwrecked wights.
Saying, is dune of his lord Amathon:
So wends, wrapped in his pilch, ere middle night,
To lay him down, amongst his folded flocks.
But ere bright daystar beckons from the East,
That herdman rose, so took his knotty staff;
And sallies the next way, to Amathon's dune;
Tiding, to bring his lord, of shipwrecked wights.
The sun was risen, an hour, o'er hills of Britain.
When three, by the saints' bower, ruddy young men,
Clad in fresh lawn, and leaning on bright spears,
Stand; mighty of limb, and wearing broidered saies.
The men are noble youth of Amathon's dune;
Whom sends that sire, with honour, to convey
Men shipwrecked, from far coasts, to be his guests.
When three, by the saints' bower, ruddy young men,
Clad in fresh lawn, and leaning on bright spears,
Stand; mighty of limb, and wearing broidered saies.
The men are noble youth of Amathon's dune;
Whom sends that sire, with honour, to convey
Men shipwrecked, from far coasts, to be his guests.
219
The saints perceive their words, through mouth of Pistos:
And they it deeming will of Christ, with Joseph,
Them follow forth. But Dylan's sons took up,
And bear, on their strong shoulders, the guests' stuff,
Before them, to hill-brink; where, for them, wait,
Lo, ox-wains, which lord Amathon now hath sent.
Pass on, before them, those young lords, in chariot.
And they it deeming will of Christ, with Joseph,
Them follow forth. But Dylan's sons took up,
And bear, on their strong shoulders, the guests' stuff,
Before them, to hill-brink; where, for them, wait,
Lo, ox-wains, which lord Amathon now hath sent.
Pass on, before them, those young lords, in chariot.
| The Dawn in Britain | |