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 |  |
Then did King Arthur let his Captains know
That he the Horse would Lead and Charge the Foe,
Commanding that the Foot with utmost speed
Should onward march to share the glorious Deed.
That he the Horse would Lead and Charge the Foe,
Commanding that the Foot with utmost speed
Should onward march to share the glorious Deed.
Great Arthur with Heroic Ardor warm'd
His Weapons took and for the Battel Arm'd.
Round his strong Legs he made his Pieces fast
With Silver Studds, and Golden Buttons grac'd.
Then did he lace his polish'd Helmet on
Which with distinguish'd wondrous brightness shone.
A noble Plume did his high Crest adorn,
Fair as the Morning Star, or as the Morn.
A Purple Searf, like mild Aurora's pride,
Enrich'd with Golden Taslels grac'd his Side.
Next, like the Moon at full, his spacious Shield
Blaz'd on his Arm and dazled all the Field.
As Forges full of melted Oar by night
Appear at distance to the Travellers sight,
Where brawny Smith besmear'd with Smoke and Sweat.
For Ships of War unweildy Anchors beat.
So did the Warriour's Burnish'd Buckler glow,
And such fierce Light did from the Metal flow.
His mighty Fauchion which of all the Field,
Two of the strongest Chiefs could scarcely weild,
Whose fatal Edge so many Heros felt,
Hung down suspended in his glorious Belt.
Then his long Spear he took which in his hand
When firmly grip'd shook like an Osier wand.
As when a Cyclops with his pondrous Sledge
On the hard Anvil strikes a flaming Wedge,
When he designs the malleable mass
Shall into some Capacious Caldron pass,
The fiery Dust at every blow that flys
And glaring Light vex the Spectator's Eyes.
The Briton's Arms shone thus excessive bright,
Darted keen Glances and uneasy Light,
And tho' his Glory pleas'd, it pain'd the Sight.
While thus the Monarch Arm'd, his noble Steed
Sprung from Britannic mixt with Thracian Breed,
Praunc'd in the Negro's hand, and tost around
His generous Foam that Whiten'd all the ground.
In his hot Mouth he champt the Golden Bit,
And paw'd the Vally with his thund'ring Feet.
The King advanc'd, and in his Martial Heat
Mounting the Steed, and leaping cross the Seat
Such was the clanking of his Arms as made,
By the surprize his starting Friends affraid.
The fiery Beast Impatient of the Rein,
Curveted, Bounc'd, and Bounded o'er the Plain.
The Eagle scarcely flew so swift and strong,
When she to Heav'n, as ancient Poets sung,
From Ætna's Caves, and Vulcan's fiery Store
Hot Thunderbolts, and vengeful Light'ning bore.
Thus the swift Courser past, and thro' the Air
Did on his back the glorious Tempest bear.
His Weapons took and for the Battel Arm'd.
Round his strong Legs he made his Pieces fast
With Silver Studds, and Golden Buttons grac'd.
Then did he lace his polish'd Helmet on
Which with distinguish'd wondrous brightness shone.
A noble Plume did his high Crest adorn,
Fair as the Morning Star, or as the Morn.
264
Enrich'd with Golden Taslels grac'd his Side.
Next, like the Moon at full, his spacious Shield
Blaz'd on his Arm and dazled all the Field.
As Forges full of melted Oar by night
Appear at distance to the Travellers sight,
Where brawny Smith besmear'd with Smoke and Sweat.
For Ships of War unweildy Anchors beat.
So did the Warriour's Burnish'd Buckler glow,
And such fierce Light did from the Metal flow.
His mighty Fauchion which of all the Field,
Two of the strongest Chiefs could scarcely weild,
Whose fatal Edge so many Heros felt,
Hung down suspended in his glorious Belt.
Then his long Spear he took which in his hand
When firmly grip'd shook like an Osier wand.
As when a Cyclops with his pondrous Sledge
On the hard Anvil strikes a flaming Wedge,
When he designs the malleable mass
Shall into some Capacious Caldron pass,
The fiery Dust at every blow that flys
And glaring Light vex the Spectator's Eyes.
The Briton's Arms shone thus excessive bright,
Darted keen Glances and uneasy Light,
And tho' his Glory pleas'd, it pain'd the Sight.
While thus the Monarch Arm'd, his noble Steed
Sprung from Britannic mixt with Thracian Breed,
Praunc'd in the Negro's hand, and tost around
His generous Foam that Whiten'd all the ground.
265
And paw'd the Vally with his thund'ring Feet.
The King advanc'd, and in his Martial Heat
Mounting the Steed, and leaping cross the Seat
Such was the clanking of his Arms as made,
By the surprize his starting Friends affraid.
The fiery Beast Impatient of the Rein,
Curveted, Bounc'd, and Bounded o'er the Plain.
The Eagle scarcely flew so swift and strong,
When she to Heav'n, as ancient Poets sung,
From Ætna's Caves, and Vulcan's fiery Store
Hot Thunderbolts, and vengeful Light'ning bore.
Thus the swift Courser past, and thro' the Air
Did on his back the glorious Tempest bear.
| King Arthur | |