The Dawn in Britain by Charles M. Doughty |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
 | XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
 | The Dawn in Britain |  |
Loosed, in first moon of the returning year;
Again, hath valorous Kowain; whose swift keels
Passed, wind-borne forth by Durotriges' coast.
Night-time sith sailing on, by sound of Vectis,
In feeble moonshine, he espied new navy,
Of Rome, lie riding, under Belges' shore:
And being the most prows void of outshipped soldiers;
Kowain some fires; (cast, in their hollow boards,
Pots, full of flaming pitch:) other, wherein,
Were few fleet-rowers, in the blind night, 'scaped forth.
Again, hath valorous Kowain; whose swift keels
Passed, wind-borne forth by Durotriges' coast.
Night-time sith sailing on, by sound of Vectis,
164
Of Rome, lie riding, under Belges' shore:
And being the most prows void of outshipped soldiers;
Kowain some fires; (cast, in their hollow boards,
Pots, full of flaming pitch:) other, wherein,
Were few fleet-rowers, in the blind night, 'scaped forth.
Thence, steering, under Cantion's brant white cliffs;
They, in each haven and road, burn Roman ships.
But sith the wind increased; and were they cast,
In weathers black and rough, out of their course;
And, driven from land, still borne forth towards the North.
They, in each haven and road, burn Roman ships.
But sith the wind increased; and were they cast,
In weathers black and rough, out of their course;
And, driven from land, still borne forth towards the North.
The third day, they make fair Brigantine haven,
Of Aban. And, behold! how at waves' brinks,
Parisii already assemble: who their dukes,
In war-carts; the stout people, in a caterf.
For their sea-watch, which station on cliff-head,
Had, now an hour past, shouted o'er their fields;
Sails seen! Then, Are approaching pirate keels!
Of Aban. And, behold! how at waves' brinks,
Parisii already assemble: who their dukes,
In war-carts; the stout people, in a caterf.
For their sea-watch, which station on cliff-head,
Had, now an hour past, shouted o'er their fields;
Sails seen! Then, Are approaching pirate keels!
But when men mark, high-builded those war-prows,
Whose tackling and broad sails of Briton fashion;
And, hang longs their high boards, Dumnonian shields;
And valorous Kowain is, who them thence hails;
And Labraid, pilot of Duneda's navy:
They gladly shouting, bid that prince, descend,
With his: and all cry Welcome to their strand!
Whose tackling and broad sails of Briton fashion;
And, hang longs their high boards, Dumnonian shields;
And valorous Kowain is, who them thence hails;
165
They gladly shouting, bid that prince, descend,
With his: and all cry Welcome to their strand!
Then every charioteer, some high-born guest,
Uptakes: who simple footman, leads forth rowers
Or warriors, to nigh mead-hall of Volisios,
In Petuaria; of this Brigantine march,
Lord and high magistrate; where then, eftsoons, all
Arrive. And, after meat and mead, that lord
Hath promised aid; when war renews king Caradoc,
Of hundred scythe-wheel battle-chariots:
And curmi, and bread he sends, to Kowain's ships.
Uptakes: who simple footman, leads forth rowers
Or warriors, to nigh mead-hall of Volisios,
In Petuaria; of this Brigantine march,
Lord and high magistrate; where then, eftsoons, all
Arrive. And, after meat and mead, that lord
Hath promised aid; when war renews king Caradoc,
Of hundred scythe-wheel battle-chariots:
And curmi, and bread he sends, to Kowain's ships.
| The Dawn in Britain | |