 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Early in the battle, had a roving arrow
Attained the flesh of great Caratacus.
Sped of Numidic bow, it upward glanced
Had from courbe brow of the white royal chariot.
Gored the lord's thigh; him, like a snake, it bit,
With poisoned fang, under his mailéd harness.
King Caradoc had that hauberk of Manannan,
Woeworth! left uphanged, in Caer Verulam;
Where was it fallen a prey, these days, to Romans:
(And which, being sent to Rome, that same year, shown
Was, in the triumph of returnéd Claudius!)
Attained the flesh of great Caratacus.
Sped of Numidic bow, it upward glanced
Had from courbe brow of the white royal chariot.
Gored the lord's thigh; him, like a snake, it bit,
204
King Caradoc had that hauberk of Manannan,
Woeworth! left uphanged, in Caer Verulam;
Where was it fallen a prey, these days, to Romans:
(And which, being sent to Rome, that same year, shown
Was, in the triumph of returnéd Claudius!)
But, privily, drawn the shaft, forth, had Venutios;
And bound, with precious salve; (which, in an horn,
He bare aye to the wars,) the throbbing sore.
Would not the supreme lord, for this, forsake
The field; but, longtime, hid his rankling grief.
And seemed his chariot the sun's burning cart,
(Illustrious lamp, to all succeeding ages,
Hail glory of Britain, great Caratacus!)
And bound, with precious salve; (which, in an horn,
He bare aye to the wars,) the throbbing sore.
Would not the supreme lord, for this, forsake
The field; but, longtime, hid his rankling grief.
And seemed his chariot the sun's burning cart,
(Illustrious lamp, to all succeeding ages,
Hail glory of Britain, great Caratacus!)
Yet, covertly, under bands, the hero bleeds.
Corrupting, then, the venim, all his veins,
Creeps, little and little, in his heart, a frost.
Sighs Caradoc, feeling now decay his force:
Sighs to his gods, he now for-weary is.
And languishing, on this tardy Summer sun,
Looks, pales; and eftsoons faints his living force.
Issued his golden whip, and fall the reins,
From his high hands; which Gorran, by him, caught.
Sinks, sunlike, Caradoc, in his battle-cart!
Corrupting, then, the venim, all his veins,
Creeps, little and little, in his heart, a frost.
Sighs Caradoc, feeling now decay his force:
Sighs to his gods, he now for-weary is.
And languishing, on this tardy Summer sun,
Looks, pales; and eftsoons faints his living force.
Issued his golden whip, and fall the reins,
From his high hands; which Gorran, by him, caught.
Sinks, sunlike, Caradoc, in his battle-cart!
205
Gorran, his right embracing him, afraid
The sire should fall, out of his jumping chariot,
Him pains, with left hand, rule the royal steeds.
But, is not his, that pulse, which wont them guide;
Nor their lord's martial voice, that cheers, that chides;
Whence, looking backwark, they, a moment, stand!
Stoopt their broad croups, then, they forewent the wind;
Turning from battle, bearing their lord home:
They break back, towards tower-gate of Camulodunum.
The sire should fall, out of his jumping chariot,
Him pains, with left hand, rule the royal steeds.
But, is not his, that pulse, which wont them guide;
Nor their lord's martial voice, that cheers, that chides;
Whence, looking backwark, they, a moment, stand!
Stoopt their broad croups, then, they forewent the wind;
Turning from battle, bearing their lord home:
They break back, towards tower-gate of Camulodunum.
Thwarts to the royal scythe-cart, king Venutios.
And Ergund, erst, in field, he called, by name;
Known by the homicide gleam of his broad glaive,
His immense stature and his towréd targe.
Running, in three bands, Ergund and his warriors,
With inclined shields; beat back their bleeding spears,
Nigh harnessed Romans, and tall Gauls, allies.
And Ergund, erst, in field, he called, by name;
Known by the homicide gleam of his broad glaive,
His immense stature and his towréd targe.
Running, in three bands, Ergund and his warriors,
With inclined shields; beat back their bleeding spears,
Nigh harnessed Romans, and tall Gauls, allies.
At Caradoc's weary voice; uneath whose steeds
Were stayed, Gorran and Kowain him uplifted,
Bear to Venutios' cart. His helm, unlaced,
With dragon-crest, doth hastily on king Venutios:
Then Kowain, shield, which Gorran bare, embraced.
Those giving Gorran charge, speed to the walls,
With Caradoc, couched in iron Brigantine chariot;
They both upleap, in the lord's winged white scythe-cart!
Were stayed, Gorran and Kowain him uplifted,
Bear to Venutios' cart. His helm, unlaced,
With dragon-crest, doth hastily on king Venutios:
Then Kowain, shield, which Gorran bare, embraced.
Those giving Gorran charge, speed to the walls,
206
They both upleap, in the lord's winged white scythe-cart!
| The Dawn in Britain | |