Poems on Several Occasions In Two Volumes. By Mr. Joseph Mitchell |
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THE Battle of Otterburn.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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THE Battle of Otterburn.
A Fragment.
By Hatred, Pride, and Love of Prey, inspir'd,
English and Scots the Victors Name desir'd.
Now These now Those in Arms triumphant stood,
Scorning to yield, and prodigal of Blood.
Oft did they Both, each other to oppose,
And hurt Themselves, make Truce with foreign Foes.
Reluctant, Each to any Terms would come,
And Neither kept an Union, long, at Home.
English and Scots the Victors Name desir'd.
Now These now Those in Arms triumphant stood,
Scorning to yield, and prodigal of Blood.
Oft did they Both, each other to oppose,
And hurt Themselves, make Truce with foreign Foes.
Reluctant, Each to any Terms would come,
And Neither kept an Union, long, at Home.
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But ne'er did mutual Rage more equal prove,
Than, when the Douglass and the Piercy strove.
With Native and Hereditary Flame,
Both burn'd for Glory, and aspir'd to Fame.
How gallant Both! what Wonders each atchiev'd!
The Vanquish'd triumph'd, and the Victor griev'd!
Than, when the Douglass and the Piercy strove.
With Native and Hereditary Flame,
Both burn'd for Glory, and aspir'd to Fame.
How gallant Both! what Wonders each atchiev'd!
The Vanquish'd triumph'd, and the Victor griev'd!
Sing, heav'nly Muse, how Otterburn was fought,
How great the Victory, and how dearly bought!
How great the Victory, and how dearly bought!
When second Robert, aged and decay'd,
Govern'd the Scots, were English Arms display'd
In Merse and Tyviot: slow and unprepar'd,
He saw the Wrong, nor to revenge it dar'd.
Like Him, unfit his Country's Rights t'assert,
Was John of Rothsay: But a braver Heart
Inspir'd Fife's Earl; who, secretly arose
With valiant Douglass to pursue the Foes;
And, more t'infest their most contiguous Land,
Disjoin'd their Forces, and their chief Command.
Fife's Earl, most num'rous, Westward took his Way,
And made Carlisle, and all around, his Prey.
The Douglass, crossing Tine, to Durham pass'd,
And, ere 'twas known, had laid the Country waste.
Govern'd the Scots, were English Arms display'd
In Merse and Tyviot: slow and unprepar'd,
He saw the Wrong, nor to revenge it dar'd.
Like Him, unfit his Country's Rights t'assert,
Was John of Rothsay: But a braver Heart
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With valiant Douglass to pursue the Foes;
And, more t'infest their most contiguous Land,
Disjoin'd their Forces, and their chief Command.
Fife's Earl, most num'rous, Westward took his Way,
And made Carlisle, and all around, his Prey.
The Douglass, crossing Tine, to Durham pass'd,
And, ere 'twas known, had laid the Country waste.
After a Course of expeditious Toil,
Backward He turn'd, with an unusual Spoil;
And, in his March, to heighten his Renown,
Resolv'd to ravage proud Newcastle Town.
But there Northumberland's old Earl was come,
To intercept his boasted Progress Home.
From York to Berwick, Men obey'd his Call,
And there agreed inglorious not to fall.
Flush'd with Success, the Douglass scorn'd their Might,
Boldly attack'd, and urg'd the Foe to fight.
Backward He turn'd, with an unusual Spoil;
And, in his March, to heighten his Renown,
Resolv'd to ravage proud Newcastle Town.
But there Northumberland's old Earl was come,
To intercept his boasted Progress Home.
From York to Berwick, Men obey'd his Call,
And there agreed inglorious not to fall.
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Boldly attack'd, and urg'd the Foe to fight.
Two Days, in Skirmish, were succesless lost,
When Hotspur Piercy, from his Father's Host,
A Challenge sent, with more than Mortal's Pride,
To the Scot's Chief, the Diff'rence to decide,
In single Combat: 'Twas receiv'd with Joy,
As, when together for the Fate of Troy,
The Godlike Hector and Achilles met,
Upon whose Heads whole Kingdoms might be bett.
When Hotspur Piercy, from his Father's Host,
A Challenge sent, with more than Mortal's Pride,
To the Scot's Chief, the Diff'rence to decide,
In single Combat: 'Twas receiv'd with Joy,
As, when together for the Fate of Troy,
The Godlike Hector and Achilles met,
Upon whose Heads whole Kingdoms might be bett.
Mounted on Steeds, the wond'rous Leaders rode;
Each look'd an Army, or a Demi-God!
Like two huge clashing Currents, they engag'd,
And, some time doubtful, hot Encounter wag'd;
'Till, in the Struggle, with superior Force,
Douglass bore Piercey, headlong from his Horse.
Rescu'd by English Friends, abash'd, he fled;
But vow'd to see his hated Rival dead.
“Douglass (he said) to Day has given me Pain,
“Yet hopes to carry home my Spear in vain.
Each look'd an Army, or a Demi-God!
Like two huge clashing Currents, they engag'd,
And, some time doubtful, hot Encounter wag'd;
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Douglass bore Piercey, headlong from his Horse.
Rescu'd by English Friends, abash'd, he fled;
But vow'd to see his hated Rival dead.
“Douglass (he said) to Day has given me Pain,
“Yet hopes to carry home my Spear in vain.
The Scotish Hero, joyous, left the Place;
But march'd with slow and meditated Pace:
Knowing the En'my's Numbers stronger grew,
To Otterburn he, cautiously, withdrew.
To Otterburn the future Scene of War,
Whose dreadful Fame shall flourish late, and far.
But march'd with slow and meditated Pace:
Knowing the En'my's Numbers stronger grew,
To Otterburn he, cautiously, withdrew.
To Otterburn the future Scene of War,
Whose dreadful Fame shall flourish late, and far.
There, pitching Tents, the Soldiers, long opprest
With various Travels and Fatigue, found Rest.
There, joining Counsels, Officers agreed,
To seek their social Forces out with Speed:
But Douglas, recollecting what was said
Of Hotspur's Threatning, wou'd not seem afraid.
“He comes ('twas nois'd) the vengeful Piercy comes!
“Display'd his Banners, sounding loud his Drums!
To Arms (the Douglas call'd) tho' few my Men,
What Coward Scot will turn his Back on Ten?
Remember Bannockburn, when they come on,
Nor lose the Glory that our Fathers won.
With various Travels and Fatigue, found Rest.
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To seek their social Forces out with Speed:
But Douglas, recollecting what was said
Of Hotspur's Threatning, wou'd not seem afraid.
“He comes ('twas nois'd) the vengeful Piercy comes!
“Display'd his Banners, sounding loud his Drums!
To Arms (the Douglas call'd) tho' few my Men,
What Coward Scot will turn his Back on Ten?
Remember Bannockburn, when they come on,
Nor lose the Glory that our Fathers won.
The Captains, tho' unwilling, now consent,
Jealous of Success, but on Glory bent.
Strengthning the Camp upon its weakest Side,
The Soldiers, scarce refresh'd, appear with Pride:
All vow'd to conquer, or with Honour fall,
True and obsequious to their Leader's Call.
Jealous of Success, but on Glory bent.
Strengthning the Camp upon its weakest Side,
The Soldiers, scarce refresh'd, appear with Pride:
All vow'd to conquer, or with Honour fall,
True and obsequious to their Leader's Call.
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'Twas in the Ev'ning of an August Day,
(Bright shone the Moon, and sweetly smelt the Hay,)
When twice Five Thousand English took the Field,
Of Vict'ry sure, or vowing not to yield.
Scornful, behind, they left a hostile Priest,
Their Number twice the Scotish Host, at least:
Encourag'd by the Brother Piercies, all
Bravely engage, and none inglorious fall.
(Bright shone the Moon, and sweetly smelt the Hay,)
When twice Five Thousand English took the Field,
Of Vict'ry sure, or vowing not to yield.
Scornful, behind, they left a hostile Priest,
Their Number twice the Scotish Host, at least:
Encourag'd by the Brother Piercies, all
Bravely engage, and none inglorious fall.
But while, at Entry of the Camp, the Fight
Prov'd hot and dubious, wheeling to the Right,
The Scotish Horsemen in appointed Rank,
Compass a Hill, and Charge the Foes in Flank.
Now Tumult reign'd, and many Lives were lost,
Prov'd hot and dubious, wheeling to the Right,
The Scotish Horsemen in appointed Rank,
Compass a Hill, and Charge the Foes in Flank.
Now Tumult reign'd, and many Lives were lost,
Desunt Cætera.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |