The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
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 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Swift scythe-carts, those of the third course, which Caradoc
Sent out, to waste before the legions' march;
Yestreen, together, squadroned, by fresh streams,
Where sprouts much tender herb. At morning red,
Beichiad, like Belin, for his shining locks,
Upleapt, in glittering arms, in battle-cart:
And he commands, instincted of a god,
All hastily drive, to ford of Thames, their chariots.
Standing, in war-cart, with aparted feet,
Bowed bodies, o'er their reins, and intent looks;
Behold, of Britain's Isle, the noblest youth,
That manage steeds, and incite, with loud shout!
Steeds that, from plashéd gore, were, lately, washed,
And dust, in the clear brook. On the yoke-beams,
Diffused are their long weld -stained gracious manes.
Sent out, to waste before the legions' march;
Yestreen, together, squadroned, by fresh streams,
126
Beichiad, like Belin, for his shining locks,
Upleapt, in glittering arms, in battle-cart:
And he commands, instincted of a god,
All hastily drive, to ford of Thames, their chariots.
Standing, in war-cart, with aparted feet,
Bowed bodies, o'er their reins, and intent looks;
Behold, of Britain's Isle, the noblest youth,
That manage steeds, and incite, with loud shout!
Steeds that, from plashéd gore, were, lately, washed,
And dust, in the clear brook. On the yoke-beams,
Diffused are their long weld -stained gracious manes.
In every cart, ride two companion-warriors:
And each hath, o'er his warlike shoulders, cast,
Some goodly weed of shining needle-work.
Might seem the young men drave, (so each pair vies
In course, in glittering arms,) to joyous feast!
Yet nigher viewed, bear war-bruised shields the most;
Nor few have hurts: seen fretted are their carts;
And draw them, oft, unlike, and leany steeds.
Nor, (were they numbered,) more than an half-part,
Of them rest, o'er whom captains set king Caradoc!
And each hath, o'er his warlike shoulders, cast,
Some goodly weed of shining needle-work.
Might seem the young men drave, (so each pair vies
In course, in glittering arms,) to joyous feast!
Yet nigher viewed, bear war-bruised shields the most;
Nor few have hurts: seen fretted are their carts;
And draw them, oft, unlike, and leany steeds.
Nor, (were they numbered,) more than an half-part,
Of them rest, o'er whom captains set king Caradoc!
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Now were they ridden, with jumping wheels, few leagues;
When, seeing much powderous cloud, before the sun,
They, drawn the supple reins up to their breasts,
Halt. Riders, leapt-down, fix their scythes and hooks,
Of glittering bronze. Shouts Beichiad, from his chariot;
Few words. Then put on all, with ivory whips!
When, seeing much powderous cloud, before the sun,
They, drawn the supple reins up to their breasts,
Halt. Riders, leapt-down, fix their scythes and hooks,
Of glittering bronze. Shouts Beichiad, from his chariot;
Few words. Then put on all, with ivory whips!
Now those approaching; with some fugitives meet;
Of whom, they require tidings. Camulus, then,
New force infused, in their young valorous breasts;
And adds new wind, to their well-pastured steeds;
So that, like tempest-driven waves, they rush,
In full career. Uneath, their shrill swift chariots,
Seem touch the mother-bosom of the ground.
Like hawks, they stoop, on thick pursuing Romans.
Outrunning, to the yokes, on their cart-beams,
They hurl down darts; or lightly leapt to ground,
Fighting on foot, they fall, on blood-stained soldiers.
Of whom, they require tidings. Camulus, then,
New force infused, in their young valorous breasts;
And adds new wind, to their well-pastured steeds;
So that, like tempest-driven waves, they rush,
In full career. Uneath, their shrill swift chariots,
Seem touch the mother-bosom of the ground.
Like hawks, they stoop, on thick pursuing Romans.
Outrunning, to the yokes, on their cart-beams,
They hurl down darts; or lightly leapt to ground,
Fighting on foot, they fall, on blood-stained soldiers.
But seeing new cloud arrive of Britons' chariots,
With iron glittering tires and naves of bronze;
Bade sound, recall, duke Aulus! Halt his light
Armed, from pursuing; heavy legions halt.
Yet only, of part, was that commandment heard;
For immeanse din, to heaven, of battle-noise.
With iron glittering tires and naves of bronze;
Bade sound, recall, duke Aulus! Halt his light
Armed, from pursuing; heavy legions halt.
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For immeanse din, to heaven, of battle-noise.
Great Antethrigus, captain of the Britons,
This seen, assayed, with new grave voice, of warhorns!
To call again, reorder his caterfs.
But they, like wind-cast shocks, in Autumn field,
Lie dead: and scattered, like leaves blowen forth,
And without shields, the rest fly fugitive.
This seen, assayed, with new grave voice, of warhorns!
To call again, reorder his caterfs.
But they, like wind-cast shocks, in Autumn field,
Lie dead: and scattered, like leaves blowen forth,
And without shields, the rest fly fugitive.
He, duke of the woad-stained, on his war-gods;
Which found, at need, no saviours, loud complains.
Dies any, and he were clad in adamant,
Whom Calad smites, his violent renowned glaive;
Which cleaves, in desperate hand, both iron and bronze,
Nor Calad swerved, which now a Roman knight
Slew, and in men's dumb seeing, which shrink, for dread,
Severing the brutish head, clave his steed's nape.
Hurt now by javelin's shot, his own war-steed
Sinks: lights the Icenian duke. In his war-rage,
Roars Antethrigus, like wild bull in forest!
Which found, at need, no saviours, loud complains.
Dies any, and he were clad in adamant,
Whom Calad smites, his violent renowned glaive;
Which cleaves, in desperate hand, both iron and bronze,
Nor Calad swerved, which now a Roman knight
Slew, and in men's dumb seeing, which shrink, for dread,
Severing the brutish head, clave his steed's nape.
Hurt now by javelin's shot, his own war-steed
Sinks: lights the Icenian duke. In his war-rage,
Roars Antethrigus, like wild bull in forest!
In field, is fallen the flower of Briton warriors:
Around great Antethrigus, fall his peers.
For when Gauls' horsemen knew, that he, it was,
(Whom would those fence; whose head, unhelmed, for heat,
Some blossomed bush seems of the island furze!)
Who to-day Britons leads; all hurl their javelins,
Greedy to reave his life. With thick pressed shields,
Those rush, then, in to take the prince, alive.
Around great Antethrigus, fall his peers.
For when Gauls' horsemen knew, that he, it was,
(Whom would those fence; whose head, unhelmed, for heat,
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Who to-day Britons leads; all hurl their javelins,
Greedy to reave his life. With thick pressed shields,
Those rush, then, in to take the prince, alive.
But seen, from far, his peril, valorous Kynan
Hath, Hammeraxe: and he, though hurt himself;
And lost much of his Ordovices' folk;
With strong extreme effort, of men and scythe-carts,
On gods loud calling! bet back Gauls and soldiers.
Kynan adjures him, hardly snatcht, from death,
Mount hastily in chariot, with him, save his life;
And give not so great vaunt, of war-king's death,
To Romans. Hardly yields duke Antethrigus;
For, erewhiles, these strong lords, in Britons' wars,
Twixt East and West March, had been enemies!
Hath, Hammeraxe: and he, though hurt himself;
And lost much of his Ordovices' folk;
With strong extreme effort, of men and scythe-carts,
On gods loud calling! bet back Gauls and soldiers.
Kynan adjures him, hardly snatcht, from death,
Mount hastily in chariot, with him, save his life;
And give not so great vaunt, of war-king's death,
To Romans. Hardly yields duke Antethrigus;
For, erewhiles, these strong lords, in Britons' wars,
Twixt East and West March, had been enemies!
| The Dawn in Britain | |