The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
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 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Thence Cantion's noble youth, in vestures white,
Them bring forth, on their way, with pomp of chariots;
Wherein his mastery every one would show,
On rushing wheels, in gentle Embla's view:
So she is fair, like goddess heavenly bright.
Now, at Durovern-on-Stour, they bridle draw,
Old city of Cloten and of gentle Esla.
Where grassy mound, to-day, their tomb, is seen.
Next sun, they, tardy, arrive at Verulamion:
And find, the warlike sire Cunobelin,
Hath, long, lain bedrid, sick, in heavy age.
Them bring forth, on their way, with pomp of chariots;
Wherein his mastery every one would show,
124
So she is fair, like goddess heavenly bright.
Now, at Durovern-on-Stour, they bridle draw,
Old city of Cloten and of gentle Esla.
Where grassy mound, to-day, their tomb, is seen.
Next sun, they, tardy, arrive at Verulamion:
And find, the warlike sire Cunobelin,
Hath, long, lain bedrid, sick, in heavy age.
Being falsely noised, of late, the great king's death;
Were stirs and tumults, mongst all subject tribes,
Whose kings are, namely, of old hostile house,
Of Commius; whence, with power of Catuvelaunians,
Was, from Caer Verulam, yester, issued forth,
With rushing chariots, royal Togodumnos.
Were stirs and tumults, mongst all subject tribes,
Whose kings are, namely, of old hostile house,
Of Commius; whence, with power of Catuvelaunians,
Was, from Caer Verulam, yester, issued forth,
With rushing chariots, royal Togodumnos.
Kevin and Iddon, with Caratacus;
(Returned now home, from Roman embassage,)
Enter before the king, that, on his bed,
On pillows, sits upstayed. The sire, they greet;
And, kneeling, kissed his father, Caradoc.
Then they rehearse, at large, their ill success;
And namely that proud answer of the Senate!
(Returned now home, from Roman embassage,)
Enter before the king, that, on his bed,
On pillows, sits upstayed. The sire, they greet;
And, kneeling, kissed his father, Caradoc.
Then they rehearse, at large, their ill success;
And namely that proud answer of the Senate!
And, after this, restores Caratacus
His signet royal, unto king Cunobelin;
And shows, with troubled voice, Adminius' death.
This Tuscan urn, which halting Kevin bears,
Under his cloak, his cinders doth enclose.
Lo, wounden, on the lid, his tawny locks,
Cut-off, in Rome. The warlike, agéd, sire,
Moaned, at that sight; and, trembling, on his bed,
Fell back, dismayed. Was longtime Red Adminius,
His only son; for Guenthia, royal spouse,
Was barren certain years. Recovering breath,
The sire him bowed, those yore-loved yellow locks,
As, yet, sheen head were of his little son!
Once more, to kiss. Sate up then king Cunobelin,
And, in his palsied hands, that urn receiving,
Pronounced, devout, the lord of royal Verulam,
(To witness, called his Catuvelaunian gods!)
A father's last forgiveness of all wrongs.
His signet royal, unto king Cunobelin;
And shows, with troubled voice, Adminius' death.
This Tuscan urn, which halting Kevin bears,
125
Lo, wounden, on the lid, his tawny locks,
Cut-off, in Rome. The warlike, agéd, sire,
Moaned, at that sight; and, trembling, on his bed,
Fell back, dismayed. Was longtime Red Adminius,
His only son; for Guenthia, royal spouse,
Was barren certain years. Recovering breath,
The sire him bowed, those yore-loved yellow locks,
As, yet, sheen head were of his little son!
Once more, to kiss. Sate up then king Cunobelin,
And, in his palsied hands, that urn receiving,
Pronounced, devout, the lord of royal Verulam,
(To witness, called his Catuvelaunian gods!)
A father's last forgiveness of all wrongs.
He sent, then, for chief Catuvelaunian druid,
Mempricios; who, come in, before Cunobelin,
Clad in blue amice, like the Summer heaven;
With groans, the king commands him sacrifice,
At morrow's eve, for dead Adminius,
Swart beves, one for each year of his son's age;
And be there, supplication, in Ver's mead;
Where all should eat, to memory of the dead.
Mempricios; who, come in, before Cunobelin,
Clad in blue amice, like the Summer heaven;
With groans, the king commands him sacrifice,
At morrow's eve, for dead Adminius,
Swart beves, one for each year of his son's age;
And be there, supplication, in Ver's mead;
Where all should eat, to memory of the dead.
Companions of Cunobelin, in old wars,
Of Catuvelaunians, with their neighbour tribes,
Then commune, with the king, Kevin and Iddon.
They tell; how, longtime sojourning, in great Roma,
They might not come, to Cæsar's audience.
Last menaced them the consuls; and their threat
Is, Rome will send her legions into Britain!
Of Catuvelaunians, with their neighbour tribes,
Then commune, with the king, Kevin and Iddon.
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They might not come, to Cæsar's audience.
Last menaced them the consuls; and their threat
Is, Rome will send her legions into Britain!
And how much sickness was, in Rome; in days,
When they arrived, of the hot summer star:
And taken, with a fever, was Adminius.
And, in what night he passed; they, nigh his house,
Heard sounding women's cries, in a dim street,
In Britons' tongue: whither, they, running, found,
Women, of their own speech; that wept, beset,
Of Roman young men, in their wantonness.
And how them Caradoc succoured; whose strong hand
Slew one or twain, to ground; wherefore denounced
The consuls, they should part, anon, from Rome.
When they arrived, of the hot summer star:
And taken, with a fever, was Adminius.
And, in what night he passed; they, nigh his house,
Heard sounding women's cries, in a dim street,
In Britons' tongue: whither, they, running, found,
Women, of their own speech; that wept, beset,
Of Roman young men, in their wantonness.
And how them Caradoc succoured; whose strong hand
Slew one or twain, to ground; wherefore denounced
The consuls, they should part, anon, from Rome.
And, newly, was come forth, from Cæsar's palace,
That noble Briton virgin, which was saved.
And how she washed and salved, they tell, and bound,
Prince Caradoc's wound. Moreover they record
Words of Adminius, how, that dying son,
Message of peace, to king Cunobelin,
His father, sent. They, also, Dumnoveros,
Found, well affectioned, towards this royal house.
That noble Briton virgin, which was saved.
And how she washed and salved, they tell, and bound,
Prince Caradoc's wound. Moreover they record
Words of Adminius, how, that dying son,
Message of peace, to king Cunobelin,
His father, sent. They, also, Dumnoveros,
Found, well affectioned, towards this royal house.
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