 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
The second day; was noised, in Belin's plain,
Deceased, in his home journey, king Cunobelin.
Died weary, in hís long wayfare, the hoar sire,
(To whom not given was, of his island-gods,
To lead blue Britons, in their Roman war!)
And lapped in hairy hide, of a black steer.
(They sacrificed unto gods of underworld,)
His faithful servants now, to Verulam, bear;
With loud and long lament, the royal corse.
Return the royal sons, on fleetest steeds,
Caradoc and, king now, warlord Togodumnos.
Deceased, in his home journey, king Cunobelin.
Died weary, in hís long wayfare, the hoar sire,
(To whom not given was, of his island-gods,
To lead blue Britons, in their Roman war!)
And lapped in hairy hide, of a black steer.
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His faithful servants now, to Verulam, bear;
With loud and long lament, the royal corse.
Return the royal sons, on fleetest steeds,
Caradoc and, king now, warlord Togodumnos.
But when that funeral pomp, to Verulam gates,
Arrives; forbid, were burned the warlord dead,
His people's druids: lest mount the sire's great spirit,
From earth, unmindful of invading legions!
They bury will Cunobelin, with his spear;
Seated on royal throne, in vaulted walls;
His swift team, by him, and a royal chariot.
Nor made should funeral games be, for Cunobelin,
Time of the Roman war: which ended, bards
With loud lays, should contend, to praise the sire.
Arrives; forbid, were burned the warlord dead,
His people's druids: lest mount the sire's great spirit,
From earth, unmindful of invading legions!
They bury will Cunobelin, with his spear;
Seated on royal throne, in vaulted walls;
His swift team, by him, and a royal chariot.
Nor made should funeral games be, for Cunobelin,
Time of the Roman war: which ended, bards
With loud lays, should contend, to praise the sire.
| The Dawn in Britain | |