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

Now of wide-springing dawn, dim twilight is.
When erst might know a man his brother's face;
Order them Britons: who then oak-leaf crowned,
First leaping from thick wood, tumultuous spears,
Assail banks, (yester cast,) of legions' castra.

But suddenly issuing, from all ports, at once,
With clamour, Roman soldiers! their light armed
With the stout thousands of Icenian youth,
Contend; sith heavy cohorts. The wide plain
Seems shrink, under their tread; and shine with gleam
Of confused arms: it saw, from heaven, high gods,
As harvest field, which wallowed is of wind.

Then sharded soldiers beat back naked Britons.
And must, for all then his heroic force,
Young Cathigern withdraw foot. Britons betake,
Being many slain, them backward to thick wood,
Headlong; and find new breathing space. But when,
From his mid-course, dismounts sun's flame, East warriors
Fall out, on Romans, journeying to new camps:

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And who them smote before, Britons now slay,
In their long trains. Who erewhile them pursued;
Now, they pursuing, redden their blue hands;
And stain this foster mould, with Roman blood.