The Dawn in Britain :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ending that moon, they, to Caerwent, arrive.
Who lights, infirm, from wain, in rusty weed,
Worn, next his harness, but Caratacus!
Men joy, which see, returned their lord, alive,
From Roman field. Wan is his royal face.
Lo Caradoc, drooping, leans, on his spear-staff,
And Maglos' hand. They twain pass slowly forth,
With company and torches' light, in the lord's court;
For fallen, already, is Britain's Winter-night.

The people, in kíng's hall, rise up, reverent.
Uprose Moelmabon, heard the purblind king,
Is Caradoc, of Cunobelin, coming in!
And, heavily, from his high seat he descended.

To Caradoc, groped forth, on his aged feet;
The sire him, goodly greeting, both his cheeks,
Kissed; so asks of his health, and leads to sit,
In the high settle, with him: and commands,
Mix mead, bear ale anon, and set on meat.

But Nessa, white-armed queen of warlike men;
Who lately, in Roman war, of valorous sons,
Bereavéd was, (put hastily off mourning stole;)
Is, from king's hall, went forth, with maiden train;
To welcome in, that now arrived, queen Embla.
So leads, with loving words, her, by the hand;
Fordone, to women's bower, to sup, and rest.
Rest Embla! and god-like, rest, Caratacus!

Sith, every day, the warlord's strength reneweth;
And, in great mead-hall of king Moelmabon,
He sitting, of the Roman war communes.
And calls Silures' sire, in the long hours,
(That they, with some new thing, might light men's hearts;)
His bards; and tellers calls of evening tales.

Men number, on the fingers of their palms,
Lords fallen; who with the foot, who with the scythecarts;
And that trimarch, which came out of North parts.
How, first, of Briton kings, fell valorous Golam;

Mongst mingled mighty tread, of foot and horse:
Then that great lord, of all the Northern powers.
Riders of war-carts tumbled, rife, to grass,
In press o'erthrown of flying men and chariots.
Fallen, on his knees, was seen Segontorix:
Bellowing, like dying bull, he yet contended;
And Atrebats, protending long swart shields;
Made breastwork of their bodies still, gainst Romans.

Duke Iddon's steeds, being early pierced to death,
Their traces, sunder-smitten, of bright glaives;
Covering, with wicker shields, their woad-stained breasts,
Ten Catuvelaunian champions drew his chariot.
And, when one fell, another seized his room:
Whilst, beckoning, Iddon with his warlike hand,
(Midst immense din,) whereunto all obeyed,
Yet repulsed Romans! till, (irruption made,)
A legion's cohort, that duke's cart cut-off.
Fell hundred round, nor took they him alive;
For, in that moment, brast his mighty heart!

Some tell of Romans' towers, and the elephants;
And some of Erinn hounds, and bard Carvilios;
Who voice, in Britain, was of battle-gods.
And how fell Fythiol, from swift battle-cart.
And how huge Ergund, rushing, with long lance;

(That a young poplar seemed,) resistless, burst
The legions' ranks: and when hurt Beichiad was,
And his companion-fighter hurt to death,
Ravished their madding team the rattling chariot.
Tell other, how, heard generous prince Marunus,
His father's death; and Troynovant, unto Romans,
Submitted hath; no more recovers health.
Is word, he passed hath winter-seas, to Thorolf!

Moreo'er is told, of Ith, and men of Erinn.
Where Erinn's caterans rested, erst, in forest;
They invoked Neit. Brehons, law-speakers, then,
And culdees, gave Ith read; that ended was
Now that behoof, which called them o'er to Britain.
And answered Ith, by Dagda, god that rolls
Night's starry round; they would return to Erinn!

Long then their wayfare: is, in each wood-path,
Now venison their wild meat; and fishes oft,
Where rivers they mote pass. They, journeying thus;
Sun see go down, in swart sea-waves, at length.
And being, untó Caer Segont, thence arrived,
They pass to Mona; and lodge on a salt strand,
Manannan's guests; who gives them sheep and beves.

There Ith, and who kings with him and culdees,
Consult that oracle of old Samoth's god;
How windy sea-flood they, again, might pass?

Then, neath broad-rising gleam, of second morrow,
Was wonder seen! a thousand bascad boats,
Their former fleet, they left, on other strand,
(Power of blue watery gods, great Lîr and Nuth,
To whom, with vows, they prayed,) ride neath these cliffs!
Then softly breathed, in dead Carvilios' harp,
A wind; whence being laid dark spirits of tempest,
That army of caterans safely overpass!