The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
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 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Woe to a nation, when her dukes are fallen!
And word, concerning Beichiad, now, went forth,
Among the gods. He rector of war-chariots,
That seemed, in field, a bolt of thundering Taran,
May not long live. Broods pestilence, in the land,
As unquenched smouldering embers in an hearth.
And word, concerning Beichiad, now, went forth,
Among the gods. He rector of war-chariots,
That seemed, in field, a bolt of thundering Taran,
May not long live. Broods pestilence, in the land,
As unquenched smouldering embers in an hearth.
When, before Camulus' walls, were squadroned warcarts,
Put to the worse, and many overthrown;
Left fallen, in bloody field, at afternoon,
Was Beichiad, bleeding rife, from many wounds;
(Being, through the shoulder, stricken of a dart,)
Mongst broken carts; and buffeting their pierced steeds.
For none had marked, though he their duke, was hurt
Cunobelin's son, and his companion slain;
When scattered, in that plain, they scaped from death.
Put to the worse, and many overthrown;
Left fallen, in bloody field, at afternoon,
Was Beichiad, bleeding rife, from many wounds;
(Being, through the shoulder, stricken of a dart,)
Mongst broken carts; and buffeting their pierced steeds.
For none had marked, though he their duke, was hurt
Cunobelin's son, and his companion slain;
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Poor Briton wives, which night-time their dead sought,
In field, him found. Of those, four, in their arms,
Took Beichiad up; and in some thicket hid;
Where he them showed, beside the lower Colne.
And sith, in wicker bark, past Hiradoc's cliffs,
Which look o'er East-main, towards free forest Almaigne,
Hurt Beichiad, closely, was conveyed: and rowed
The prince, some wounded East-men fugitives.
In field, him found. Of those, four, in their arms,
Took Beichiad up; and in some thicket hid;
Where he them showed, beside the lower Colne.
And sith, in wicker bark, past Hiradoc's cliffs,
Which look o'er East-main, towards free forest Almaigne,
Hurt Beichiad, closely, was conveyed: and rowed
The prince, some wounded East-men fugitives.
Then Beichiad, one year's space, in Heligan's house,
Lay sick of his heart's sorrow, and strange disease:
(Heligan, unvanquished Coritavian prince,
His kinsman.) Drew then unseen mortal shaft,
Of envious demon, Belisama forth,
From his pined corse; and Camulus his wood rage,
In him, inspired. And wains, which Beichiad sought,
Old Heligan gave, and victual, arms and chariot;
And warriors' band, to march with him, in aid,
Of warlord Caradoc, who in far West March:
Now mid of Winter is, when these part forth.
Lay sick of his heart's sorrow, and strange disease:
(Heligan, unvanquished Coritavian prince,
His kinsman.) Drew then unseen mortal shaft,
Of envious demon, Belisama forth,
From his pined corse; and Camulus his wood rage,
In him, inspired. And wains, which Beichiad sought,
Old Heligan gave, and victual, arms and chariot;
And warriors' band, to march with him, in aid,
Of warlord Caradoc, who in far West March:
Now mid of Winter is, when these part forth.
Their ways the frozen streams, for fear of Romans,
By night: they lurk, by day, in Winter woods.
But, on the hero, falls new languishment,
When their shrill wheels, at length, passed over Avon.
Beichiad rends, lo, with furious hands, his harness;
He gapes, with wildered front, for living breath!
With lean uplifted looks, now stares distract;
Nor knows himself the prince, in this excess.
By night: they lurk, by day, in Winter woods.
But, on the hero, falls new languishment,
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Beichiad rends, lo, with furious hands, his harness;
He gapes, with wildered front, for living breath!
With lean uplifted looks, now stares distract;
Nor knows himself the prince, in this excess.
His warriors halted, they consult; To Caradoc,
The most then hold, march on. Journeying the rest,
As he is able, who now sick to death;
These bring him safely forth, towards forest place,
(In Dobuni March;) where his milk-brethren wonne.
The most then hold, march on. Journeying the rest,
As he is able, who now sick to death;
These bring him safely forth, towards forest place,
(In Dobuni March;) where his milk-brethren wonne.
| The Dawn in Britain | |