 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Bladyn, then, chants; how, sister to the queen,
The lady Havisa, wedded Ligorix,
Lord of Armoric Curiosolitans.
Gainst Allorix fighting, then, Aulercan king,
Ligorix, in sally, from gates of his town,
Fell. At day's glooming, Havisa, the young queen,
Groped forth, to save his body. Stripped of harness,
She, ah! Ligorix, in the high-starred, ghastful, night;
Found, mongst slain corses, fallen all him around.
Was none there, with her, but a little maid.
The lady Havisa, wedded Ligorix,
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Gainst Allorix fighting, then, Aulercan king,
Ligorix, in sally, from gates of his town,
Fell. At day's glooming, Havisa, the young queen,
Groped forth, to save his body. Stripped of harness,
She, ah! Ligorix, in the high-starred, ghastful, night;
Found, mongst slain corses, fallen all him around.
Was none there, with her, but a little maid.
Then, long, they, on her back, great poise, assayed,
To hoise; such power hath love! Aulercans' watch,
Heard stir, in field, which waited nigh the walls:
And flew a roving arrow, out of the night,
Of bow drawn at adventure; and Havisa it pierced!
She fell: were the swan-feathers wet, alas,
With her heart's blood; and fled that little maid.
Lay Havisa a corse, beside king Ligorix' corse:
Where Allorix found them, both, at morning light.
To hoise; such power hath love! Aulercans' watch,
Heard stir, in field, which waited nigh the walls:
And flew a roving arrow, out of the night,
Of bow drawn at adventure; and Havisa it pierced!
She fell: were the swan-feathers wet, alas,
With her heart's blood; and fled that little maid.
Lay Havisa a corse, beside king Ligorix' corse:
Where Allorix found them, both, at morning light.
Next eve, when taken was Ligorix' burning dune,
Leapt, from amidst red flames, down, from high walls,
With Havisa's babe, her nurse! She, ah, bruised to death,
Lay still; and murmuring, soon, from her hurt flesh,
Her spirit flitted forth: from whose dead arms,
It rude Aulercan warrior taking up;
(That, from the woman's lips, heard, ere she passed,
Was this indeed the babe of Ligorix,
Wrapped in fine lawn, with precious needlework;)
Looking for meed, should help his needy life,
Bare to the royal booth of Allorix.
Leapt, from amidst red flames, down, from high walls,
With Havisa's babe, her nurse! She, ah, bruised to death,
Lay still; and murmuring, soon, from her hurt flesh,
Her spirit flitted forth: from whose dead arms,
It rude Aulercan warrior taking up;
(That, from the woman's lips, heard, ere she passed,
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Wrapped in fine lawn, with precious needlework;)
Looking for meed, should help his needy life,
Bare to the royal booth of Allorix.
Unto whom, that innocent offspring, cast her arms,
Of his slain foe! and smiled the weeping child.
Then he, moved in his spirit, received the babe;
And, childless man, it cherished for his own,
And Esla named. Was Ligorix, in his youth,
His peer, sometime, among those princes' sons,
Clothed in white lawn, and dight with torques of gold,
Which learned the chanted discipline of pale druids,
At Genabon, in great dim Carnutian wood;
Which sacred is. A man may enter, there;
And eat of all wild fruits, before the gods;
But blood he shall not shed, of beast or bird.
Of his slain foe! and smiled the weeping child.
Then he, moved in his spirit, received the babe;
And, childless man, it cherished for his own,
And Esla named. Was Ligorix, in his youth,
His peer, sometime, among those princes' sons,
Clothed in white lawn, and dight with torques of gold,
Which learned the chanted discipline of pale druids,
At Genabon, in great dim Carnutian wood;
Which sacred is. A man may enter, there;
And eat of all wild fruits, before the gods;
But blood he shall not shed, of beast or bird.
Sith, wedded a new wife, king Allorix;
Unto him is born a daughter, the third year.
Thereafter being a nun deceased, in Sena;
When sacred lots were cast, of Gaul's chief druids,
Was taken that only child of Allorix:
Who, moved, by a father's pity, in her stead,
Supposed sweet Esla; and shorn were her bright locks.
But to deliver her, with joy and honour;
Conspired, had even the high immortal gods!
Now, on her father's knees, hath Allorix' child,
Slain the moon-goddess, with far-flying arrow!
Unto him is born a daughter, the third year.
Thereafter being a nun deceased, in Sena;
When sacred lots were cast, of Gaul's chief druids,
Was taken that only child of Allorix:
Who, moved, by a father's pity, in her stead,
Supposed sweet Esla; and shorn were her bright locks.
But to deliver her, with joy and honour;
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Now, on her father's knees, hath Allorix' child,
Slain the moon-goddess, with far-flying arrow!
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