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

Spies, with the legions, have renounced to Aulus,
(Unto whom, by covert night, traitorous Vigantios
Is passed!) that Britons lodged, in yonder forest.
Sith, was, by counsel of the same Vigantios,
That Romans marched forth, to assail Calleva.

Buried their slain, in the next sun, have Romans:
But Britons' dead lie out yet, in day's heat,
(And over them another dew is passed,)

A ravens' feast of swollen carcases.
Erst when are Roman legions journeyed forth,
Send mourning Britons back to slaughter-field;
Where, ah, on swollen bodies, hopping rife,
In fen of rotten blood of men and steeds,
Flock the corpse-fowl, that beat, mongst broken carts,
Their filthy wings, on dead brows of blue warriors,
Despoiled of ornaments and of seemly weed!
They labouring, till murk night, opened long dykes,
Bury, with pious hands, the woad-stained dead.
Sith washed, at a brook-side, from funerals,
Tending pure hands, to heaven, Britons curse Romans!