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 |  |
Mean time the Briton with his reeking Blade
Had his swift passage to the Quarter made,
Where Arbel's Sword destroy'd, and strew'd around
With Riders and their Steeds th'encumber'd ground
As when a Lyon from a Mountain's side
Has in the Vale a lowing Herd descry'd,
He stands, and turns his furious Eyes about,
The strongest, sowrest Bull to single out,
One worthy of his Rage, by all the Herd
Obey'd as Lord, and by each Rival fear'd:
Then having fixt his choice aloud he roars,
Proclaims the War, and to the Combate scowrs.
So Arthur keeping Arbel in his Eye,
Did to the sight with dreadful fury sly.
The Gaul observ'd the Monarch from afar,
And for the Combate did himself prepare.
High on his Steed the might Warriour sate,
Proud of his Strength, and fearless of his Fate.
Like a great Pine o'ershadowing all the Wood,
Or ancient Poplar reering by the Flood
His lofty head, the towring Pagan stood.
Well-pleas'd to undertake the noble Fight
He did aloud to Arms the King invite.
Who on his fiery Steed advancing near,
Projected thro' the Air his pondrous Spear.
The Frank to make his weapon's message vain
Stoop'd down, and lay upon his Courser's Main.
Th'eluded Weapon o'er his Shoulder flew,
And at great distance Caumont's Courser slew.
Then did the Frank employing all his Strength
Discharge his Spear of formidable Length,
Hissing along the Air, the Weapon went,
But in the Hero's Shield its fury spent.
His second Spear the Pious Briton threw
Which like a flash of Lightning swiftly flew.
The wheeling Frank could not the Steel evade
Which thro' his Shield and Thigh its passage made;
Whence deep it sunk within the Courser's Chest,
And fixt the Rider to the wounded Beast.
From both their sever'd veins the reeking Blood
Gush'd out, and mingled in one Common Flood.
Then down they fell and prest the slipp'ry plain,
The Rider wounded, and the Courser slain.
The King with martial Ardor to the ground
Leap'd from his Steed to give the fatal wound.
His dreadful Fauchion glittering in his hand
He o'er the vanquish'd Frank did threatning stand.
The Frank in Anguish, Horrour, and Despair,
Did on the high rais'd Weapon wildly stare.
Then thus the Pious Prince bespoke the Gaul,
Think on thy Barb'rous Deeds, remember all
The Fatherless and Widdows thou hast made,
And Christian Martyrs to the Flames convey'd.
What numbers has thy single hand destroy'd?
What numbers more the Troops by thee Employ'd?
These Impious Deeds thou bloody Instrument
Of Clotar's Cruelty at last Repent.
Had his swift passage to the Quarter made,
Where Arbel's Sword destroy'd, and strew'd around
With Riders and their Steeds th'encumber'd ground
As when a Lyon from a Mountain's side
Has in the Vale a lowing Herd descry'd,
He stands, and turns his furious Eyes about,
The strongest, sowrest Bull to single out,
One worthy of his Rage, by all the Herd
Obey'd as Lord, and by each Rival fear'd:
Then having fixt his choice aloud he roars,
Proclaims the War, and to the Combate scowrs.
So Arthur keeping Arbel in his Eye,
Did to the sight with dreadful fury sly.
The Gaul observ'd the Monarch from afar,
And for the Combate did himself prepare.
High on his Steed the might Warriour sate,
Proud of his Strength, and fearless of his Fate.
Like a great Pine o'ershadowing all the Wood,
Or ancient Poplar reering by the Flood
His lofty head, the towring Pagan stood.
Well-pleas'd to undertake the noble Fight
He did aloud to Arms the King invite.
282
Projected thro' the Air his pondrous Spear.
The Frank to make his weapon's message vain
Stoop'd down, and lay upon his Courser's Main.
Th'eluded Weapon o'er his Shoulder flew,
And at great distance Caumont's Courser slew.
Then did the Frank employing all his Strength
Discharge his Spear of formidable Length,
Hissing along the Air, the Weapon went,
But in the Hero's Shield its fury spent.
His second Spear the Pious Briton threw
Which like a flash of Lightning swiftly flew.
The wheeling Frank could not the Steel evade
Which thro' his Shield and Thigh its passage made;
Whence deep it sunk within the Courser's Chest,
And fixt the Rider to the wounded Beast.
From both their sever'd veins the reeking Blood
Gush'd out, and mingled in one Common Flood.
Then down they fell and prest the slipp'ry plain,
The Rider wounded, and the Courser slain.
The King with martial Ardor to the ground
Leap'd from his Steed to give the fatal wound.
His dreadful Fauchion glittering in his hand
He o'er the vanquish'd Frank did threatning stand.
The Frank in Anguish, Horrour, and Despair,
Did on the high rais'd Weapon wildly stare.
Then thus the Pious Prince bespoke the Gaul,
Think on thy Barb'rous Deeds, remember all
The Fatherless and Widdows thou hast made,
And Christian Martyrs to the Flames convey'd.
283
What numbers more the Troops by thee Employ'd?
These Impious Deeds thou bloody Instrument
Of Clotar's Cruelty at last Repent.
| King Arthur | |