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Poems original and translated

By John Herman Merivale ... A new and corrected edition with some additional pieces

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SEVENTH CENTURY.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

SEVENTH CENTURY.

Another age succeeds, unmark'd in rolls of fame;
But wider yet, and yet more wide, extends the English name:
Wales, Cornwall, Cumberland, the Britons still possess'd;
The monarchs of the Heptarchy divided all the rest.
At Bampton Cynegils a mighty victory gains,
And thus confirms his sovereignty o'er beauteous Devon's plains;
While Ethelfrid, near Chester, the prince of Powis quells,
Tho' Bangor's holy monks assist with candles and with bells.

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Cadwallon still retains the hope which never fails
In noble minds, of better days, and more auspicious gales;
In league with furious Penda, the Mercian king, allied,
Invades Northumberland, and thrice with royal blood is dyed;
At length by Oswald slain; whom Penda shortly paid
At Oswestry; himself to fall by Oswy's vengeful blade.
Near Leeds the blow was struck which set the nations free
From tyrant yoke, and saved our church from heathen cruelty.