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

By that defection of Segontorix,
Is weakened the resistance of blue Britons.
Wherefore, when druids, which read the starry hours,
Proclaim, is mid of night, with long loud chant;
Britons remove, and leave their burning fires.

March the caterfs, and come down to Thames' ford,
The chariots, as Caratacus imposed,
Station in the main stream, to break, above,
The water's force. They, by the full moon passed,
Britons, from thence, ascend to lofty woods.

Where lodged; come eftsoon kings, to the warlord,
To council: heard, then, read of Moelmabon,
And of Duneda and divine Manannan,
And Dumnoveros; king Caratacus,
Who, in his mind, it studied, beforehand,
(They say, the like intended Togodumnos!)

Concluded, to divide his battle-carts,
(Are they three thousand, with him, scythed warchariots,)
Into four courses. Two should vex the Romans,
Each other day; whilst pasture twain their steeds.

To Beichiad, (who base son to king Cunobelin,
Born in his age,) he gives the first to rule.
Stout Rutupiæn Heroidel, most expert
Rector of war-carts, o'er the next, he set.
The king commits, to Brentyn, his third course:
(Was this young lord, a kinsman of the queen.)
To Fythiol he, by read of Antethrigus,
Assigned, (of all East-men, that fight in chariots,)
The fourth course. Much them charged king Caradoc,
(According to that word of dead Cunobelin;)
From every vantage ground, kill and cut-off;
Harry the marching trains, and hem their horse,
From corn and daily pasture of the grass:
Nor Romans suffer, night-time, to take rest;
But still outwear, with new and new alarms.

Foreriders now arrive, of Ordovices,
Known by a blazoned hammer in their shields.
Their host, horse, archery and thick spears, approach;
And Kynan, war-renowned, their king, them leads.

With kings and captains, mounts Caratacus,
In battle-carts, to meet him, in the path.