The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
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 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
To Caradoc, marching are, with king Velaunos,
The Northern powers, in aid now of South Britons.
Long was their tarrying; chiefly, and that by cause
Of Cartismandua, who, Brigantine queen,
Infamed is, for disloyalty to Venutios,
Her noble spouse; lot-chosen of their gods,
Next to Velaunos, captain, in these wars.
The Northern powers, in aid now of South Britons.
Long was their tarrying; chiefly, and that by cause
Of Cartismandua, who, Brigantine queen,
Infamed is, for disloyalty to Venutios,
Her noble spouse; lot-chosen of their gods,
Next to Velaunos, captain, in these wars.
Her sire, great warrior-king, was Cunobal,
Of the blue-shield Brigantes; but Venutios,
Though a king's son, was of a subject tribe.
Yet he all noble youth, in Cunobal's hall,
Did far, in every warlike skill, excell.
Wherefore that king, young valiant prince Venutios,
Advanced, to stand, by him, in battle-chariot;
And bear the royal shield, before his face.
Of the blue-shield Brigantes; but Venutios,
Though a king's son, was of a subject tribe.
Yet he all noble youth, in Cunobal's hall,
Did far, in every warlike skill, excell.
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Advanced, to stand, by him, in battle-chariot;
And bear the royal shield, before his face.
Ere well his beard was sprung, this prince's breast
Was seen, with glorious scars, in his lord's wars,
Adorned, like magic signs, which in their flesh;
With pen of ivory imbrued with woad, prick druids.
Last, token of his love and high regard,
His daughter gave king Cunobal, to his squire.
But she more fair, bright Cartismandua,
Than good, usurped, deceased her glorious sire,
All sovereignty; even his leadership in this war.
Was seen, with glorious scars, in his lord's wars,
Adorned, like magic signs, which in their flesh;
With pen of ivory imbrued with woad, prick druids.
Last, token of his love and high regard,
His daughter gave king Cunobal, to his squire.
But she more fair, bright Cartismandua,
Than good, usurped, deceased her glorious sire,
All sovereignty; even his leadership in this war.
In these late days, when coming heard of Claudius,
She, whelmed, on her fair head, had star-bright morion,
Like goddess sheen; and fenced with scaly brass,
Her froward chest, upleapt, in emailled war-cart:
Like as some serpent, which in tawny brakes,
Pastured of cankered herbs, her slough offcast,
Now, in the sun, displays her glittering boughts.
She, whelmed, on her fair head, had star-bright morion,
Like goddess sheen; and fenced with scaly brass,
Her froward chest, upleapt, in emailled war-cart:
Like as some serpent, which in tawny brakes,
Pastured of cankered herbs, her slough offcast,
Now, in the sun, displays her glittering boughts.
And by her beauty, enflamed, the younger sort;
Then followed her much pomp, of noble youth,
To Roman warfare, on shrill wheels of war-carts.
Nor wonder, when feel even relent old wights,
At Cartismandua's view, their frozen hearts.
With silver gingling bits, and barded steeds,
Her people shouting; from king Cunobal's dune,
Isurium, then the royal pomp holds forth.
Then followed her much pomp, of noble youth,
To Roman warfare, on shrill wheels of war-carts.
Nor wonder, when feel even relent old wights,
At Cartismandua's view, their frozen hearts.
With silver gingling bits, and barded steeds,
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Isurium, then the royal pomp holds forth.
The same eve, marched Velaunos, with caterfs,
From hill, whence triple fires have flamed five nights;
Appointed place, where lords of the North March,
Assembled their caterfs: with mighty sound
Of trumps and shout, they wend, and noise of chariots.
From hill, whence triple fires have flamed five nights;
Appointed place, where lords of the North March,
Assembled their caterfs: with mighty sound
Of trumps and shout, they wend, and noise of chariots.
Are the Brigantine ensigns diverse shapes
Of beasts and birds. parisii first remove;
And ride their war-wont lords, in iron scythe-carts.
Round the Fair-havens, are this nation's seats;
Whereto, is fame, arrived their sires, in ships:
Like to the people of Samoth, they from Gaul's
Mainland o'erfared; but in a later age.
Of beasts and birds. parisii first remove;
And ride their war-wont lords, in iron scythe-carts.
Round the Fair-havens, are this nation's seats;
Whereto, is fame, arrived their sires, in ships:
Like to the people of Samoth, they from Gaul's
Mainland o'erfared; but in a later age.
Next them Novantæ march; whose border is
Nith's shining stream. By kinships, then, armed throngs,
Segantians; little statured are whose steeds.
From wide Segeia's flood, these take their name.
Voluntii follow, woad-stained naked warriors;
Save of some hanging goat's hide, from their napes;
Which they, shield from the cold, turn to the wind;
And, for an harness, serves them in the wars.
Nith's shining stream. By kinships, then, armed throngs,
Segantians; little statured are whose steeds.
From wide Segeia's flood, these take their name.
Voluntii follow, woad-stained naked warriors;
Save of some hanging goat's hide, from their napes;
Which they, shield from the cold, turn to the wind;
And, for an harness, serves them in the wars.
Next them, Selgovians, hunters, whose quaint speech,
To few, is couth. Clubbed staves and herdmen's slings,
Bear these; and spears, with rattling knops of brass,
To affray their enemies. Fence they on their heads,
Have all, of red-stained great upbounden glibs.
And delved pits are their bowers, in the waste heaths;
And caves, in cliffs. Their young men, the ureox
Hunt, on wild hills, and slay, with stedfast heart,
For meat. Then, of the lordships of Velaunos,
Men march; and of Venutios, glast-stained host,
Following, thick spears and ensigns, their lord's chariots.
Beside whom, yet another power doth pass;
Whom leads stout Hælion, a young comely prince.
Are these Dumnonian tribesfolk, of North March;
Kin to Dumnonian dwellers in Duffreynt.
Their warlike bands come glittering, with long spears.
They hurl-stones bear, in bosoms of their shields.
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Bear these; and spears, with rattling knops of brass,
To affray their enemies. Fence they on their heads,
Have all, of red-stained great upbounden glibs.
And delved pits are their bowers, in the waste heaths;
And caves, in cliffs. Their young men, the ureox
Hunt, on wild hills, and slay, with stedfast heart,
For meat. Then, of the lordships of Velaunos,
Men march; and of Venutios, glast-stained host,
Following, thick spears and ensigns, their lord's chariots.
Beside whom, yet another power doth pass;
Whom leads stout Hælion, a young comely prince.
Are these Dumnonian tribesfolk, of North March;
Kin to Dumnonian dwellers in Duffreynt.
Their warlike bands come glittering, with long spears.
They hurl-stones bear, in bosoms of their shields.
Warlord Velaunos, as they neighbours ride,
Hath prayed the, now grey-headed, lord Venutios,
Master of war, to mount, with him, in war-cart.
Venutios numbers, (passing with swift wheels,
Before this host,) of peoples of the North,
Fifty, upon the fingers of his palms,
Caterfs of foot-folk; are five hundred spears,
In every one. Follows-on, great trimarch,
Of the North parts, five squadrons; and, in each,
Eight score of steeds. And lords, in their own marches,
Are all who on them sit. Two hinds, afoot,
Hath every lord, each leading a third horse.
Hath prayed the, now grey-headed, lord Venutios,
Master of war, to mount, with him, in war-cart.
Venutios numbers, (passing with swift wheels,
Before this host,) of peoples of the North,
Fifty, upon the fingers of his palms,
Caterfs of foot-folk; are five hundred spears,
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Of the North parts, five squadrons; and, in each,
Eight score of steeds. And lords, in their own marches,
Are all who on them sit. Two hinds, afoot,
Hath every lord, each leading a third horse.
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