A Metrical History of England Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin |
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 | A Metrical History of England |  |
When Britons “first at Heaven's command,
Arose,” by chronicles we're told,
They wore no cov'ring, thro' the land,
But Paint to guard their bodies from the cold.
Arose,” by chronicles we're told,
They wore no cov'ring, thro' the land,
But Paint to guard their bodies from the cold.
18
The Celtic beaux, of frame robust,
With Celtic belles, almost as stout,
Thro' wind, and rain, and sun, and dust,
Thus only, kept the weather out:
With Celtic belles, almost as stout,
Thro' wind, and rain, and sun, and dust,
Thus only, kept the weather out:
'Till men grew sick of paint, and cou'dn't bear it,
Some of the ladies (I believe) still wear it:
Some of the ladies (I believe) still wear it:
Not that the ancient warriors of our Isle
Wou'd fly their colours;—no—the sturdy elves,
(Spite of the critic's pun-detecting smile)
Beheld their colours fly, and not themselves.
Wou'd fly their colours;—no—the sturdy elves,
(Spite of the critic's pun-detecting smile)
Beheld their colours fly, and not themselves.
Folks who were rich were painted mortal fine,
With fish, and fowl, and suns, and moons, and beasts;
And those best painted oftenest ask to dine,
And burn fat prisoners at Druid-feasts.
With fish, and fowl, and suns, and moons, and beasts;
And those best painted oftenest ask to dine,
And burn fat prisoners at Druid-feasts.
Those who were poor, or very much in debt,
For oil and turpentine, Historians say,
Were merely white washed, 'tis a custom yet,
Much in observance at this very day.
For oil and turpentine, Historians say,
Were merely white washed, 'tis a custom yet,
Much in observance at this very day.
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Then too, as now, ladies, when least attired,
For what they did not wear, were most admired.
For what they did not wear, were most admired.
“Yet ev'n these charms from insult to protect,
“Some club-arm'd Warrior stood, terrific, nigh,
“With uncouth forms, and shapeless monsters deck'd,
“Who thus implored his mistress, with a sigh:
“Some club-arm'd Warrior stood, terrific, nigh,
“With uncouth forms, and shapeless monsters deck'd,
“Who thus implored his mistress, with a sigh:
(Observe, that, when these rough-hewn rhymes they sung,
The ancient Britons were but very young.)
The ancient Britons were but very young.)
| A Metrical History of England | |