King Arthur An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books. By Richard Blackmore. To which is Annexed, An Index, Explaining the Names of Countrys, Citys, and Rivers, &c |
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 | King Arthur |  |
The Fall of Kingdoms is by him decreed,
And from his Will Events of War proceed.
He strikes Amazement thro a Camp, and then
Shrubs on the Hills appear like Armed Men.
A Flight of Birds, or else a murm'ring Breeze
Shaking the tops of neighb'ring Mulb'ry Trees,
When Consternation has prepar'd the Far,
Like mighty Hosts upon their March appear,
Or rapid Torrents which from Mountains gush,
Or raging Armys that to battel rush.
They think the Earth, so fear perswades them, feels
Steeds trampling Hoofs, and brazen Chariot Wheels.
When none pursue th'affrighted Cohorts fly,
Fear finds them Wings, that found the Enemy.
Against themselves he can their Swords employ,
And by their mutual Wounds an Host destroy.
He can their stoutest Chiefs and Legions scare,
With clouds in Warriours shape, and Steeds of Air,
With glaring Meteors, and Fantastic War.
A slight mistake can valiant Troops defeat,
Or groundless Fame oblige them to retreat.
He can his Stars his glitt'ring Host above
Draw out in bright Array, and make them move
In radiant Lines of War to Charge the Foe,
And on them deadly Influence to throw.
All his Arm'd Elements in Battel stand
Eager t'engage, and Fight at his Command.
His Airy Troops, Winds, Rain, and Snow, and Hail,
Heav'ns signal giv'n, the trembling Foe assail.
He by a thousand ways can make appear
How weak Man's Power, how vain his Counsels are.
He can of Insects raise a mighty Host
That shall invade his Foes best guarded Coast.
These wing'd Battalions muster in the Sky,
And rang'd in Battel round his Standard fly.
Raw Vapours he can List, Corruption Arm,
And raise from every Hedge a war-like swarm.
With Worms and Flys he can Commissions trust,
And for new Levys can impress the Dust.
He can of Frogs a croaking Army form,
That shall their Bulwarks Scale, their Castles Storm,
That through their Cedar Palaces shall stalk,
And thro' their Rooms of State in Triumph walk.
All these the Lord of Nature can employ,
And by their force his haughty Foes annoy.
But this he need not do, unless to show
How many ways he can destroy the Foe.
For he th'Angelio Armys can Command
Who to observe his nod, Obsequious stand,
Arm'd with Celestial Swords all bright and keen,
As that which o'er Jerusalem was seen,
When in the Air the fierce Destroyer stood
Reeking in Slaughter, and distain'd with Blood.
These on the Foe, when the high Order's giv'n,
Can draw down all th'Artillery of Heav'n.
They such destructive Weapons can Employ
As in a moment will Great Hosts destroy.
Believe that Heav'n engages on your Side,
Will aid your Arms and humble Gallia's Pride.
Believe your Swords drawn in the Almighty's Cause,
Will Conquest Win, and meet a loud Applause.
And from his Will Events of War proceed.
He strikes Amazement thro a Camp, and then
Shrubs on the Hills appear like Armed Men.
A Flight of Birds, or else a murm'ring Breeze
Shaking the tops of neighb'ring Mulb'ry Trees,
When Consternation has prepar'd the Far,
Like mighty Hosts upon their March appear,
Or rapid Torrents which from Mountains gush,
Or raging Armys that to battel rush.
They think the Earth, so fear perswades them, feels
Steeds trampling Hoofs, and brazen Chariot Wheels.
When none pursue th'affrighted Cohorts fly,
Fear finds them Wings, that found the Enemy.
Against themselves he can their Swords employ,
And by their mutual Wounds an Host destroy.
He can their stoutest Chiefs and Legions scare,
With clouds in Warriours shape, and Steeds of Air,
With glaring Meteors, and Fantastic War.
249
Or groundless Fame oblige them to retreat.
He can his Stars his glitt'ring Host above
Draw out in bright Array, and make them move
In radiant Lines of War to Charge the Foe,
And on them deadly Influence to throw.
All his Arm'd Elements in Battel stand
Eager t'engage, and Fight at his Command.
His Airy Troops, Winds, Rain, and Snow, and Hail,
Heav'ns signal giv'n, the trembling Foe assail.
He by a thousand ways can make appear
How weak Man's Power, how vain his Counsels are.
He can of Insects raise a mighty Host
That shall invade his Foes best guarded Coast.
These wing'd Battalions muster in the Sky,
And rang'd in Battel round his Standard fly.
Raw Vapours he can List, Corruption Arm,
And raise from every Hedge a war-like swarm.
With Worms and Flys he can Commissions trust,
And for new Levys can impress the Dust.
He can of Frogs a croaking Army form,
That shall their Bulwarks Scale, their Castles Storm,
That through their Cedar Palaces shall stalk,
And thro' their Rooms of State in Triumph walk.
All these the Lord of Nature can employ,
And by their force his haughty Foes annoy.
But this he need not do, unless to show
How many ways he can destroy the Foe.
For he th'Angelio Armys can Command
Who to observe his nod, Obsequious stand,
250
As that which o'er Jerusalem was seen,
When in the Air the fierce Destroyer stood
Reeking in Slaughter, and distain'd with Blood.
These on the Foe, when the high Order's giv'n,
Can draw down all th'Artillery of Heav'n.
They such destructive Weapons can Employ
As in a moment will Great Hosts destroy.
Believe that Heav'n engages on your Side,
Will aid your Arms and humble Gallia's Pride.
Believe your Swords drawn in the Almighty's Cause,
Will Conquest Win, and meet a loud Applause.
| King Arthur | |