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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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Elsewhere brave Clovis did the Foe pursue,
And first his massy Spear at Ortan threw.
The temper'd Shield could not it's Force Arrest,
It pass'd the Plys and pierc'd the Warriour's Breast.
The secret Springs of Life the Weapon found,
And broke them open with a fatal Wound.
The Spear fixt in his Breast, some time he hung,
And with his left hand to the Saddle clung,
But with his Right held fast the Courser's Main
And thus a while his Body did sustain.
But Death unstrung his Nerves, and loos'd his hold,
Then in the Sand th'expiring Captain roll'd.
Then with his Battel Ax great Clovis flew
At Maronac, and cleft his Shoulder thro'.
Down on the Ground the Arm dis-joynted dropt,
As a great Limb falls from a Poplar lopt.

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Strait the dismember'd Frank, a fearful Sight,
Wheel'd off in vain to save his Life by Flight.
Warm streams flew out from every sever'd vein
And mukt with tracks of Blood the Dusty Plain.
Defrauded of his Strength the feeble Gaul
At last did headlong from his Courser fall.
Cold Death forbad his lab'ring Heart to beat,
And in his blood supprest the vital Heat.
Then Carobel who had advanc'd his name
By learned Arts, and Skill in Nature's Fame,
Bold too in Arms, and to the Camp inur'd,
Fell in Lutetia's fields by Clovis Sword:
Thro' Helm and Skull the Fauchion passage found,
Cleft thro' the Brain, and ruin'd with the Wound
The curious Imag'ry by Fancy wrought,
All Mem'ry's Cells, and all the Moulds of Thought.
Next Alloman lay dead, Lugdunum's Pride,
And beauteous Ormal stretcht out by his Side.