 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
On Kent's white cliff, sits king Caratacus,
Mongst long-haired, glast-stained, captains. Leanness is,
In all their looks, and cast down Caradoc's face.
A dread long night, them seems, to live; were sweet
Short death! for other, earlier, tiding brought:
The army is cast away, with Antethrigus!
Mongst long-haired, glast-stained, captains. Leanness is,
In all their looks, and cast down Caradoc's face.
A dread long night, them seems, to live; were sweet
Short death! for other, earlier, tiding brought:
The army is cast away, with Antethrigus!
He duke, when Thames Caratacus overpassed,
Continued, with his power, nigh that ford head,
Two days: but Aulus, levied from that place;
Had marched and pitched again, towards Verulamion.
Now when had Aulus tidings, through his scouts;
That minished is, by much, the island host,
He certain Gauls sent out, men of his trust;
Which should make semblant, come to Britons' camp,
Of treacherous mind, to Rome-wards and the legate;
Feigning Rome's yoke, (this ignominy, and servitude!)
All Gauls, alike, would shake from off their necks.
Continued, with his power, nigh that ford head,
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Had marched and pitched again, towards Verulamion.
Now when had Aulus tidings, through his scouts;
That minished is, by much, the island host,
He certain Gauls sent out, men of his trust;
Which should make semblant, come to Britons' camp,
Of treacherous mind, to Rome-wards and the legate;
Feigning Rome's yoke, (this ignominy, and servitude!)
All Gauls, alike, would shake from off their necks.
Lo, led those Gauls, before duke Antethrigus;
Who sits, like a grim boar, with woad-stained face:
Unto whom few lords, at new light of the gods,
Be come to council: and the hero gives
Ear, to those Gauls' lewd tale; as that, the morrow
Ill-starred day is for Romans, day wherein,
Defeated twice of Gauls, her consuls slain,
Perished great Roman armies; day, when fame
Is, (those affirm,) lie drunken Rome's great gods!
Who sits, like a grim boar, with woad-stained face:
Unto whom few lords, at new light of the gods,
Be come to council: and the hero gives
Ear, to those Gauls' lewd tale; as that, the morrow
Ill-starred day is for Romans, day wherein,
Defeated twice of Gauls, her consuls slain,
Perished great Roman armies; day, when fame
Is, (those affirm,) lie drunken Rome's great gods!
Wherefore, when Romans shall much dread to fight,
Britons provoke them forth. Gauls then, would pass
To them, from the two wings. Of Antethrigus,
Persuade those the high heart, to Britain's loss!
He, then, the Roman-Gauls dismissed, with gifts.
Britons provoke them forth. Gauls then, would pass
To them, from the two wings. Of Antethrigus,
Persuade those the high heart, to Britain's loss!
He, then, the Roman-Gauls dismissed, with gifts.
His spies returned, the same day, those, to Aulus,
Relate; how Thames Caratacus had o'erpassed,
With part of Britons' host. They few caterfs,
This side found; and them leads another duke.
Relate; how Thames Caratacus had o'erpassed,
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This side found; and them leads another duke.
| The Dawn in Britain | |