 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Legions, confirmed their ranks, with brazen clarions,
All give, at once, new onset. They fall on,
Like winter waves. Long-shielded Trinobants,
Which erst advanced; must yield first ground to Flavius!
Yet fighting, foot by foot. Nigh whom, (Marunus,
Their duke, being hurt now of a Roman javelin,)
Shrink valiant bands, of merchant Troynovant.
All give, at once, new onset. They fall on,
Like winter waves. Long-shielded Trinobants,
Which erst advanced; must yield first ground to Flavius!
Yet fighting, foot by foot. Nigh whom, (Marunus,
Their duke, being hurt now of a Roman javelin,)
Shrink valiant bands, of merchant Troynovant.
Then, were caterfs o'erborne of Durotriges;
Seen, sudden, valorous Golam plumb from chariot!
An hurled huge engine-stone brast all his chest.
At his steeds' feet he fell, and lay full still;
Forgetful of his people and Moridunion.
Pendol, his friend, a prince of fenny march,
At Pedred's stream, leapt down, before the enemies,
In the field's midst, from swift scythe-cart; who sought,
With rapt effort, to save the hero's corse;
Fell, shield and body, pierced, of Roman darts.
Seen, sudden, valorous Golam plumb from chariot!
An hurled huge engine-stone brast all his chest.
At his steeds' feet he fell, and lay full still;
Forgetful of his people and Moridunion.
Pendol, his friend, a prince of fenny march,
At Pedred's stream, leapt down, before the enemies,
In the field's midst, from swift scythe-cart; who sought,
With rapt effort, to save the hero's corse;
Fell, shield and body, pierced, of Roman darts.
203
Among the island kings, seed of the gods,
That, breathing in their living breasts, infuse
New force; out of the battle were withdrawn,
Awhile, some ones, to fresh their sweating steeds,
And bind their wounds. The sire Caratacus
Yet rides, sublime; and seems the battle-god.
He everywhere doth comfort, with main voice,
The Britons' woad-stained breasts, gainst harnessed soldiers.
And, with him, Gorran guides the royal team.
That, breathing in their living breasts, infuse
New force; out of the battle were withdrawn,
Awhile, some ones, to fresh their sweating steeds,
And bind their wounds. The sire Caratacus
Yet rides, sublime; and seems the battle-god.
He everywhere doth comfort, with main voice,
The Britons' woad-stained breasts, gainst harnessed soldiers.
And, with him, Gorran guides the royal team.
Returned Venutios, to the king Velaunos,
Restores the battles of the Northern powers.
But, whilst his raging wheels, in warlike field,
Reap living swathe; is noised, young Fythiol fell,
In further part; and with that valorous duke,
Of East-men, are cut-off both men and chariots.
An hundred, thither, ready scythe-carts leads
Caratacus, then: but o'er the island gods,
Gin now prevail the mightier gods of Rome!
Restores the battles of the Northern powers.
But, whilst his raging wheels, in warlike field,
Reap living swathe; is noised, young Fythiol fell,
In further part; and with that valorous duke,
Of East-men, are cut-off both men and chariots.
An hundred, thither, ready scythe-carts leads
Caratacus, then: but o'er the island gods,
Gin now prevail the mightier gods of Rome!
| The Dawn in Britain | |