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

From thence, not twenty leagues, stands walled Caer Ebroc;
Where keeps Venutios, now, his warlike court:
Whom fearing Vellocatus, lest he march,
To loose out of their hand Caratacus;
His fell thought whispers he, unto the queen!
Wherefore, so soon as they might hear, again,
The people's drunken stir still, in the street;
They Caradoc thrust, without or drink or meat,
Anew forth, chained, unto the night; and bound,
With him, his lords: and, in what covered carts,
They now arrived, again, men them, by force,
Shut in. Shall Vellocatus them, with chariots,
And household armed, string champions of the queen,
Convey forth, to the Romans' duke Ostorius!

They part: cries after, the injurious queen,
Come forth, before her porch; See they mad Caradoc
Keep well; they keep him low and scant his diet;

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Lest, journeying, he break forth, to some excess!
In that she spake, slided the harlot's foot;
In dreary slime, spilth of men's murdered blood!

That great voice of the king, as by the street,
They pass, covers hoarse voice of trumpet's throat;
That seems to blow the vigil of the god.
They, come without the gate, their impious voyage
Pursue forth, under stars, and without pause;
Hoping thus to outgo the king Venutios.
Day dawned; awhile, they rest. All that sun, sith,
Taking fresh beasts, whereso they find, by force,
Those speed, till eve; they journey, yet, that night.

Last, almost spent, they win to mountain hold,
In march of the mid-Britons; whose bleak cliffs
Like some vast chamber, in moon's hoary light.
Strait is the gate, betwixt two justling rocks,
Whereas their beasts and wains may hardly pass;
A fastness of such strength, that might few warriors
Maintain it, gainst an army. Vellocatus,
Here now secure, will wait Rome's duke Ostorius;
Unto whom he sent, with utmost speed of horse.

Now, in that night, (abhorred of men and gods!)
Wherein the witch-queen hath delivered bound,
Great Caradoc, unto felon Vellocatus;

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Were many, in Cunobal's town, keeping the feast,
Of king Venutios' part. Were those, for late
They arrived, not slain. Then leapt some of them down,
From the dune wall; which fleeing, by dim paths;
Stint not their running, all night, on towards Ebroc.

Lo, those, at hour, when gin the leafy woods,
To ring, with sweet consent of the small birds;
Draw nigh some forest hold, whereas abide
Four brethren, woodwards; which, gainst lawless wights,
That border keep, for king Venutios.
Heard the men's words, betwixt their panting breaths;
(Those left, to rest,) twain of the brethren ran.
From nigh hill-brow, the land-cry raise, anon,
That other twain. O'er wood, o'er field, speeds forth
Then tiding grave, to hamlets, village steads;
And gather warriors soon to king Venutios!

Ere noon, are those two brethren nighing fast,
Unto Caer Ebroc! where already bands
Assemble armed. Those halting now, from race;
Where, mongst tall warriors, harnessed, stands Venutios;
One of the brethren, that assays erst speak,
Reels, falls, for brast his valorous heart, a corse!

The king bade crown him, that lies dead, with bough,

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Ere he were cold, of sacred yew. Heard then
His germain's tale; lifting his royal palms,
He prays the Sun all-seeing, far-shooting god;
With arrow of death, smite felon Vellocatus;
And give, that might he save Caratacus!

Now issue first foot-bands, from Ebroc walls.
By way that to Isurium leads, those hold:
(Shall king Venutios follow on, ere eve;
With all his horse, and speeding chariots.)
March Ebroc's host, with blowing trumps; and grows,
From league to league. Night-time, to them, Venutios
Arrives. But brought more certain word, at dawn,
Is, how, with wains, went forth king Vellocatus;
(And bounden, in them, lies Caratacus!)
From Caer Isurium, with strong guard of horse.

Now York.