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

Sith brought in Belges' scouts, new word, to Romans;
How Britons are of flocking youth r'inforced:
The sun shines on their hundred barbare ensigns.
With bruit those come up of vast Winter shore;
Which beaten is of long wave-brinks' infinite foot.

Commands Ostorius, dig then his camps' fosse,
With walls downright, deep twenty feet. Are Britons
Hardy and adventurous, to assail night castra.
But blotted was, gainst eve, day's cheerful light;
And from dark mouth of heaven, vast thunder roars:
Sharp hail, with lightnings, falls from grovelling clouds.
And wipe desire of battle, from all hearts,
Britons and Romans, now their angry gods:
These, under skins, those harbour in wet woods.

But Belges' spies, which were, at dawn, went forth,
Being come again, at mid of day, renounce,
How glast-stained Britons were of new disperst:
Whose beasts, by freshet flood, the night-time past,
(Thus confess wounded captives, whom they brought,

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At the spear's point,) were borne away and lost.
That water wide is out, by field and forest!

Romans, sent scouts before them, then marched forth;
And way hold, through Mid-Britain, towards the North;
Whence aid flowed erewhile to Caratacus:
And Romans having need of beasts and corn;
Their foragers waste wide field round, and steads burn,
Of Britons which lurk fugitive in thick woods.

Receives Ostorius secret embassage,
In this, from Cartismandua, imploring aid;
Fearing her foes should fall, on her, at once:
The queen submit her promises, unto Cæsar!