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

Great is the assembling, armed, to Axiberg strand,
Of warlike nation of the Northern gods;
Where every kin known by their painted targe.
Now is the morn, when ethling Heremod,

To his young men, before him marched, should ride.
With him ride, Fridia and his brother, Brennus.
Aella, who old, shall follow them in wains.

Clear is the heaven, when now the sun upmounts.
With fiery steeds and favourable omens.
Tearful leave-taking then of Hildegond;
Deprived, in one day, of her children both.
And when they sever from her lips and breast,
She would she were some little hovering bird;
Then might she overflit their daily march.

To Ashberg all at length arrive; where formed
Had holy gods the first man and first wife.
And, lo, there, ethlings sit in parliament,
Under wide beechen boughs, by Rhine; where stone
Smokes, altar of the god alwitty Woden:
King Aella marvels, who grown old in wars,
Beholding so great host of Mannus' sons!
And how come youth of hostile kins, in arms:
To march with Brennus and duke Heremod.
All kings salute each other; and joined hands,
Swear on that antique altar of the god,
Father-of-battles, truth, at home, abroad,
Keep in these wars. To visit round the camps,
Kings, ethlings, lords, in companies, then, outride.
And ethling Heremod names records of tribes,

In this great weapon-show, known by their shields,
Unto loved Fridia and his brother Brennus.
Here Yscaewonen booths, there Herminones:
Yond, (big with destiny of the Gothic name,)
Lodge Ingawonen, many lignages.
And, daily, other warlike swarms arrive,
Men of like hew and speech and countenance.
Are these then children of the Northern gods.