The Dawn in Britain :: :: University of Virginia Library

Unto each his portion; sheep's flesh in the broth,
Seethed chine of boar, and loaves, in bascads white.
The Master, eats, of that Armoric ship,
With them, in the king's hall and audience.
And, after meat, he tells, asked leave to speak;
How, to Gaul's shore, arrived new Roman army!

He saw Rome's legions ordered at sea strand,
In battle ray. He saw Caligula Cæsar;
With whom stood that Icenian Bericos,
King, whom expulsed his people; and Red Adminius,
Fugitive, which base son is to king Cunobelin.
The madding Roman emperor, then, commanded;
That sound loud clarions, onset of the legions,
And shout, to battle, soldiers; and with arms,
Of Rome, they smite sea-billows, insolent:
And sith, they gather cockles, longs the strand,
Spoils of Isle Britain! Then, Caligula, Cæsar,
Was rowed, in gilded barge, of hundred oars,
In triple ranks, some little from the land;
Where, standing on the poop, he cast in chains,
And cried; I bind thee captive, sea, to Rome!
And bade his lictors, smite salt waves, with rods.

In gold and purple, then, upstanding, clothed,
In all their audience, he oration made;
Lauding his legions, now victorious, arms;
Exceeding all before them. Sith, his steed,
Caligula, (having temple-priests ordained,
That should burn incense to his godhead!) steed,
Which wont him bear, a god, o'er land and seas;
He, emperor, aha! a Roman Consul made.

Mad Gaius turned, with dread of all, to shore;
That steed's proud crest, with whelky pearls, behanged:
And men, in his imperial name, with store,
Ride post; to consecrate, unto Rome's chief gods.
Wherefore, of all men, now is scorned, fell Cæsar:
And who, allies, marched with him, mock Rome's nan
And there be, mongst his captains, which conspire
Caligula's death. Moreo'er, left certain cohorts,
Mad Cæsar, in that place; he them commanded,
To build, in memory of his great conquest,
Unto all succeeding ages, tower, whose walls,
Framed, to similitude of high sieging engine,
Standing on neck of the vast ocean-stream,
Should threaten still sea-waves! And he, who Cæsar,
Now, Husband-of-the-moon! himself proclaims,
Wills, that new star thereon, to ships, should flame.

He Britain deems, another world subdued;
Because that Island's princes, fugitives;
In Rome, submit them. Is Caligula he,
Who, erewhile, bridged a sea-gulf, with strong argines;
And guised, like blue sea-god, thereover, rode,
In four-horsed chariot: and his soldiers bade,
Thrust down Rome's togate rabble, in salt billows!

The Duffreynt princes, silent, sit, good space;
Because none first would speak. All dread great Rome,
Which mastering now the arms of the whole world.
Whilst yet they sit, drinking brown dulcet mead;
Duneda's scouts come in, with word from Severn,
Silures marched; with whom joined neighbour tribes,
In arms; whose hostile spears them seemed a wood.
The king sends runners, then, to his allies,
Stout Durotriges, dwellers by sea-waves;
And Dobuni, bordering nigh great Severn flood;
To join, with him, gainst swart Silures' threat.
And day, and place, he sets where all should meet.
Then part Dumnonian lords, in shrill, bright, chariots.

The people of Dorset.

The people of Gloucestershire.