University of Virginia Library

Thus, when the Picts or Romans came in sight,
The Britons rushed like torrents to the fight;
Their chariot wheels with sharpest weapons hung,
And from each car were darts and arrows flung;
Death marked the way where'er the chariots turned,
And round each chief the bloody battle burned:
But if the artful cohorts gained the field,
The Britons made the woods their nightly shield,
And when the Romans thought the battle won,
They found, next morn, the conflict scarce begun.
Thus Britons fought,—by Boadicea led,
And on the slain the wolves and eagles fed.