The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
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 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
That remnant, lo, in their wide sieged-round walls,
(Which may, no more, a golden sun, behold,
In heaven,) sit armed, round house of Camulus. Much
Those commune, sad, in sheen moonlight; and watch,
Their devout eyes, that starry pomp, on high;
Wherein be mansions of their fathers' gods!
Beseeching those, remember Foster Britain,
After their deaths! Guitelnus spake of wars,
Of Tasciovant, and divine Eppilos,
In ancient days. Vain thing, quoth he, it were,
Old unweld wight, that may not handle, more,
His weapon, seek save, by unseemly flight,
Few days, (days void of honour,) of vile life.
(Which may, no more, a golden sun, behold,
In heaven,) sit armed, round house of Camulus. Much
Those commune, sad, in sheen moonlight; and watch,
Their devout eyes, that starry pomp, on high;
Wherein be mansions of their fathers' gods!
Beseeching those, remember Foster Britain,
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Of Tasciovant, and divine Eppilos,
In ancient days. Vain thing, quoth he, it were,
Old unweld wight, that may not handle, more,
His weapon, seek save, by unseemly flight,
Few days, (days void of honour,) of vile life.
His wise lips ceased to speak; for, even now, springs
Ambrosial sacred dawn, of the light-god.
And hearken, a far-off bray, ah, heavy note,
If any feared to die, of Roman clarion!
Ambrosial sacred dawn, of the light-god.
And hearken, a far-off bray, ah, heavy note,
If any feared to die, of Roman clarion!
Hark! Britons' watchmen cry, that come the legions!
All death-vowed, with Guitelnus, then uprose.
Their druids them lead, in Camulus' sacred court,
With solemn tread, his temple-house, thrice round.
Then, seeing, of all their deaths, the looked-for moment
Arrived is; puts hand, lo, Guitelnus, erst,
To eaves of the god's porch; and pluckt-down thatch!
The like do all: then, passed forth, in the street,
Men rent down spar and rafter. They sith heap
These round about them, in their temple-place.
All death-vowed, with Guitelnus, then uprose.
Their druids them lead, in Camulus' sacred court,
With solemn tread, his temple-house, thrice round.
Then, seeing, of all their deaths, the looked-for moment
Arrived is; puts hand, lo, Guitelnus, erst,
To eaves of the god's porch; and pluckt-down thatch!
The like do all: then, passed forth, in the street,
Men rent down spar and rafter. They sith heap
These round about them, in their temple-place.
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Utters already, in heaven's Eastern steep,
Born of vast night, new day, his teeming head!
Guitelnus stretched, towards that eternal god,
Amongst his citizens his two palms; loud prays,
Abate, lord, the flames' torment, and abridge
This fleshes anguish; ease our dying smart!
Be as a glaive, of hero's hand, pluckt forth,
From scabbard, the swift passing of our spirits;
And be exalted to the deathless gods!
Born of vast night, new day, his teeming head!
Guitelnus stretched, towards that eternal god,
Amongst his citizens his two palms; loud prays,
Abate, lord, the flames' torment, and abridge
This fleshes anguish; ease our dying smart!
Be as a glaive, of hero's hand, pluckt forth,
From scabbard, the swift passing of our spirits;
And be exalted to the deathless gods!
Kindred and friends, holding each-other's hands,
Embrace, for the last time, and kiss. Loud druids,
Intone, in this extremity, antique hymns;
Of virtue, against the eager edgéd pangs,
Of raging element, that shall on them seize!
Priests, from the altar, bear forth flaming brands!
All stedfast take: they fire then halm and wood!
Embrace, for the last time, and kiss. Loud druids,
Intone, in this extremity, antique hymns;
Of virtue, against the eager edgéd pangs,
Of raging element, that shall on them seize!
Priests, from the altar, bear forth flaming brands!
All stedfast take: they fire then halm and wood!
With furious high intent, those Britons' throats,
Shout, (from amidst their burning,) saviour gods!
Who fall down scorched, soon smother, in thick smoke:
Thus all those perish, with a constant heart!
Shout, (from amidst their burning,) saviour gods!
Who fall down scorched, soon smother, in thick smoke:
Thus all those perish, with a constant heart!
Dread, hungry-tongued, wild nimble-footed flame,
Roars of their torment. Soon the wattle-streets,
It raught. Of hill-set, leaguered, Camulodunum,
Surges vast balefire! on the morning wind,
With flakes of flame upblown, stench, falling ash.
Roars of their torment. Soon the wattle-streets,
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Surges vast balefire! on the morning wind,
With flakes of flame upblown, stench, falling ash.
Legions, in march, behold, amazed! Cries Claudius,
Long, gazing-on; Ha, Ilium doth burn!
Sound out the legate's clarions, that halt legions:
Then cease fleet-soldiers from their river part!
Long, gazing-on; Ha, Ilium doth burn!
Sound out the legate's clarions, that halt legions:
Then cease fleet-soldiers from their river part!
Noon was, when Cæsar sent forth certain knights,
With Gaulish horse. Passed undefenced dune gates,
Those circumspectly enter; and burned streets,
Behold; all cindered, full of smouldering heaps!
Wherein those spoils, long promised, lie consumed;
Which should have eased, and even enriched Rome's legions.
With Gaulish horse. Passed undefenced dune gates,
Those circumspectly enter; and burned streets,
Behold; all cindered, full of smouldering heaps!
Wherein those spoils, long promised, lie consumed;
Which should have eased, and even enriched Rome's legions.
| The Dawn in Britain | |