BRITANNIA

BOOK V

THE ARGUMENT
ALBANUS is excited by the Guardian of the Island, to make an excursion into the interiour
country, along with EUGENIUS the Athenian Leader, in order to discover the disposition
and circumstances of the enemy. Finding his proposal acceptable both to him, and
BRUTUS, to whom he imparts it, the two young men set out, with a body of followers
prepared to defend them from any sudden attack. In the mean time, the Giants, apprised by
AZRAEL of their purpose, send VORTIGER with a party, in order to bring them prisoners to
GERONTES. The youths proceed in their journey; but taking a different rout from that of
VORTIGER, they obtain a full view of the fortress, and situation of the enemy; and conclude
from both, that they will not accept terms of accommodation. In their return, they are
betrayed by VORTIGER into an ambush, from which they are rescued by a bold action of
ALBANUS, who kills one of the party; and the camp being alarmed, his companions retire
disappointed.

PARENT of men divine, alike renown'd

In arts and arms—on ocean's wide extent,
As o'er the peopled earth BRITANNIA,hail !
Glad, to thy native regions I return,

From climes now first explored by fancy's eye.

On thy loved hills I breathe the thymy gale
Elate, while rapt imagination strays
From shade to shade, delighted in her range,
With forms still seen with transport!—Thou whose hand
Indulgent, spread before the Muse's eye
New scenes, and braced her timid wing to soar
High o'er the verge of nature!—Power sublime,
Deign now to join her humbler walk; inform
Her thought; and bid the lyre's resounding frame
Swell to its themes responsive; for She pours
Far other notes, than He whose magic hand
Call'd music from the tremulous chords, that held
The forest wondering; bade Meander's stream
Convey, when Lydia's melting fair intranced,
And yielding, caught the sound. Inspired by Thee,
The Goddess, recent from th' oblivious wave,
With plumes unsullied, now resumes her song.
ONE day th' imperial Chief had now consign'd
To rest. The second morn advancing, fringed
The clouds with crimson, and refulgent gold,
That veil'd her radiance; ---when, ere yet the host
Resumed their arms, the Guardian of the Isle
Framed in her thought, the plan that best avail'd
To crown her sons with conquest. Hence she view'd
The throng, in silence wrapt, and pondering long
What Chief to honour with the first command,
They turn'd; and plunging in the forest's shade,
Amid th' incircling woods were lost to view.
WHILE thus great Brutus, and the Trojan Chiefs
Prepared for every fate ; the Fiend of hell,
Fraught with his sovereign's mandate, unappall'd
Soar'd on th' aerial void. He pass'd the gulph
Formless and void, that heard not the command;
LET THERE BE LIGHT ! Then headlong down the steep
He shot; where Ocean's unfrequented wave
Roars on the verge of Night: Anon he scaled
Fuego's icy mountains, and the heights
Of Cordilleras, winter's drear abode:
Thence, to the simple race that ranged the vales
Beneath, he seem'd some monster of the deep,
Raised by the parent sun, to scourge the land;
Or dragon wing’d, that from his flaming hair
Shakes desolation. At the gloomy shrine
Of Vitzlipultzi, joyous, from afar
He snuff'd the scent of blood; and, rising high
O'er isles that feel the penetrating beam
Of Cancer in his rage, he touch'd the shore
Of Afric, rapid in his flight; nor staid
To mark the Lybian desarts, or thy scenes,
Morocco, tho' beloved, where groans the land
Beneath a tyrant's scourge: but high in hope
To reach the goal, he sought Hispania's coast;
And borne along the Pyrenean heights
On wings afar display'd, the fated Isle
Met his glad sight, and nearer, as he came,
The camp fair-opening, and the warriour throng.
PLEASED with his prosp'rous voyage, the Demon cast
His eyes around, and saw th' embattled host
All ranged in order, on the ground opposed
To the wild woodland but no trace remain'd
Of ships that bore them to the coast. At once
His thought divined their plan: he dewed them fix’d
As fate, to conquer, or in fight to fall.
AS when a fox, who sees the well-earn'd prize
Torn from his grasp, and lodged beyond his gripe,
In some secure recess, around it steals
With cautious tread, inspecting with keen eye
Each chink, and marking apertures that give
The prey to sight, and wake the distant hope
To repossess it ;---,--Azrael thus explored
All parts around with penetrating glance,
In vain. The Leader's care had guarded all
From fraud, or bold assault. The Demon stood
Foil'd, yet observant, and resolved to bear
Tidings of high import, what time he sought
Gerontes, and his horrid miles. With morn,
He saw Albanus and his friend approach
The Chief, and learnt what heav'n's great Lord inspired.
Nor more the Spirit stay'd in doubtful pause;
But sought confirm'd the mansions of the foe.
ARRIVED, he wish'd to meet th' assembled Peers,
In some familiar shape, and hence assumed
Thine aspect, Gerion, of Gerontes sprung.
Him, as his sire, inured to deeds of death,
The King commission'd, with a ruthless band
To waste Hibernia's fields. A scanty space
Elapsed, he seem'd return'd, and knew what rage
Would fire the Monarch's breast. Yet, thus in form,
The Fiend now sought Gerontes' gloomy dome.
Strong, as the trunk of some deep-rooted oak,
To sight he look'd, with ragged hair, and eyes
That match'd the lion's, or hyæna's glare:
An iron mace he swung, and in his walk
O'erpass'd with ample steps a length of soil.
He leapt the fence. The savage crew retired
To give him entrance; while with dauntless heart,
As one in haste, he strode in silence on.
LONG, in the spacious woodland's gloomy range,
A lordly bull, the monarch of the waste,
Had held supreme dominion. Round him grazed
In peace, while uproar was abroad, a train
Of lowing heifers, and a numerous race
Obsequious to his lead while from his roar,
When heard remote, and from the spreading horns
O'ershading his broad front, and to the foe
Portending instant fate, when seen at hand,
The savage tenants of the desart fled
O'eraw'd. Ev'n in his walk, the Giants shunn'd
To meet this sovereign of the wild, untamed,
In native fierceness. Him Romerus seized,
And pushing backwards, while he held his horns
With might superiour, stretch'd him on the soil:
Then to his dire companions show'd the corse,
All round him grimly smiling, as a prize.
SOON at the festal board, the savage Chiefs
Convened, where now the victim lay prepared
To sate their appetite: A lawless band!
Recounting various, as they gorged their prey,
What deeds each powerful arm atchiev'd in fight,
Clamorous, and dissonant. Romerus sole,
Reclined in sullen majesty, beheld
The rout indignant; for untaught to boast
Of deeds, tho' great to meet the mightiest foe,
He heard the war of words with just disdain.
THUS sat Gerontes with his fierce compeers;
When, breaking sudden on the noisy crew,
Bold Gerion came in sight! Amazement seized
On all, but ire inflamed the Monarch's soul.
As when a lion, whose assiduous care
Has rear'd his brood, and from his seat expell'd
The pair, amid the wilderness to raise
Some distant empire, sees the young invade
Once more his solitary den:--what rage
He feels, was thine, Gerontes!— ‘Whence!' the sire
Exclaim'd impetuous;—but the Demon broke
Quick on his words.—'Avails not now, to tell
‘What cause recall'd me, from my purposed course,
‘To other regions. Arm, ye mighty Powers!
‘Know, foes of face more formidable far,
‘Than e'er ye met in fight, favour'd of Jove,
‘Who hither brought them, cased in shining mail,
‘And as it seems, in all prepar'd for war,
‘Darken the shore in myriads. Bent they look
‘On death, or conquest; for no ships appear
‘To bear them from the coast; their hands have spread
‘O'er these the rage of fire, their care no more.
‘UNSEEN I scaped their fury, and conceal'd
‘By night's involving shade, explored their camp.
‘I learnt that Brutus leads th' embattled host,
‘Of Trojan lineage, whose dire race the voice
‘Prophetic, dooms the conquerors of the land.
‘
BUT hear, ye Champions, what imports your weal
‘To be imparted.—Ere I left their host,
‘To their consenting Prince, two warriours spoke
‘A purpose fix'd ; to search the woodland's depth,
‘And of the natives' aspect, and their force,
‘To bring intelligence. Of us their Prince
‘Is warn'd, howe'er advised. I heard him grant
‘Consent. I saw him, with his hand, direct
‘Their onward course, pointing the path that led
‘To this lone fortress, tho' by woods inclosed.
‘JUDGE then, ye sons of Neptune, what befits
‘The season, whether in one line to rush
‘Impetuous on their host, inferiour far
‘To ours in might, tho’ clad in shining arms,
‘And strong in numbers; or by stealth to seize
‘The Chiefs, already, if I judge aright,
‘Advancing with a chosen band, to marl
‘Our state, but not to fight, while uncompell’d
‘By fraud, or force. - For me, this heart impels
‘My hand to deeds of death. Speak then your wish;
‘I come to act whate’er the time requires.’
THIS said, surprise, with horror not unmix’d,
Held mute th’assembled Chiefs. On him they gazed,
And on each other, unresolved. But soon
Thy breast, Gerontes, felt its native rage.
‘TALK’ST thou of stealth?’ the furious monarch cried,
‘To Us this language? Shall this feeble race
‘Of earth, whom nature pours in heaps abroad
‘To serve her mightier sons, shall they affright
‘Our godlike tribes, or dire predictions strike
‘Dread to one champion? – No! – Unown’d by Jove,
‘The strength to conquer, when we rush to war,
‘Lies in our native prowess. Hence, ye Chiefs!
‘A scene of slaughter calls you. Let us pour
‘At once to battle. – Gods! What dire amaze
‘Must strike those pigmy legions, when they view
‘Our wasteful hands confounding all their might,
‘And spreading ruin on them! This old arm,
‘I deem, will scatter o’er the bloody field
‘Their mangled carcases; and our great Sire
‘Behold, well-pleased, their reliques on the waves.’
RAFGFUL he said, and brandished in his grasp
The oak’s rude mass; the shagged spoils, that clad
His broad-spread chest, hung horrid as he moved;
And sparkles from his rolling eye-balls shot,
Appalling every heart. – Nor less inflamed,
Around him maddomg throng’d the Giant powers,
Shaking their matted locks, and by their cries
Announcing horrid joy. –And now had death
Sated his thirst with blood, and, as his prey,
Received the youths, now hanging on the verge,
Of fate, unheedful; but a sage revered,
And deem’d their wisest, Vortiger, opposed
The Monarch’s dire resolves. Deep-versed in guile,
To wisdom unallied, that mocks her form
In folly’s gaze, he wish’d not to contend
In fight with heroes: but insidious schemes,
That oft o’ermatch’d the prudence of the wise,
His subtle thought devised. Tho’ rage possess’d
His breast, he held in in his heart conceal’d;
And, though of savage aspect, yet maintain’d
A calm demeanour. As he rose, in act
To speak, the noise subsiding to a calm,
This counsel in a gentler voice he gave.
‘JUDGE not, great Ruler of our glorious line,
‘That less I dread the war, or less desire
‘To crush those strangers, who presume to tread
‘These shores in arms unlicensed; that I speak
‘Of temp’rate deeds. But sober thought directs,
‘Tho’ pride becomes a monarch, when outbraved,
‘To know what hosts we meet in fight; what force
‘They boast, and what their implements of war,
‘Their numbers, and their purpose. All remain
‘Yet undiscover’d. Chiefs like ours in size,
‘May lead their bands; and if they match in strength
‘Our force, their arms must give superiour power.
‘Or grant them all, in stature, as in might
‘Surpass’d by us: yet what, ye warriours, say,
‘Avail to javelins, and destructive swords,
‘Like those the Albians wield, frames as our won,
‘Though braces with strength, defenceless? – Ills like these
‘’Tis wise to obviate; and the time presebts
‘Means of proportion’d force. Amid their mates,
‘The pair who now direct a select troop,
‘Stand high in honour. Seize we then the yoiths,
‘By guile or fierce assault, with their rash band.
‘One, as by chance escaped, may be return’d
‘To tell the others’ fate: and bring their prince
‘To talk of mercy, though defiance now
‘Lowers on his front. From leaders thus secured,
‘Such circumstance will rise, such facts as strike
‘Conviction to the heart; and thus inform’d,
‘We judge impartial what our state demands.
‘Meanwhile let Gerion, whose wise conduct claims
‘Our praise, awake Androgeus to the war.
‘Bid him exhort that ruler, to convey
‘His war-like Albians from their hills. The tribe,
‘At his command, will count our foes their own.
‘Else, in resentment of remembere’d wrongs,
‘They, with th’invaders leagued, may point the means,
‘Great as we are, to sink us, and destroy.’
As when the deep’s black bosom, vex’d with storms,
Tumultuous swells, and dashing on the rock
In thunder, wastes its force; when now the winds
Subside, tho’ calm’d, yet heaves with gathering waves,
That menace future uproar; - such dread calm
Reign’d o’er the savage throng. Their silence spoke
Assent, o’eraw’d, not pleased; for reason here
Scarce held more empire, than amid the wild
She owns o’er wolves half-famished, when the lambs
Lie bleating in their sight. Nor stay’d the Fiend
Command; but left th’assembled Peers, resolved
To bring to fight Androgeus, with his bands.
NOT sooner on the ground Gerontes dash’d
His mace indignant, growling as with rage
Suppress’d; than Vortiger assumed the charge.
Selecting from the crowa ruthless crew,
He train’d, and form’d them to the work assign’d.
WHERE sloping to the stream, the bank declined,
Betwixt the forest, and the swelling tide,
The path lay open to the shore; its sides,
Broider’d with grass, and intermingling flowers,
Thy gifts, great nature smiled; not far a cave
Scoop’d out, the work of years; capacious, deep,
And dark, inclosed a mighty space, ordain’d
To hold the victims, or in perilous hour
The younger offspring, with the female train,
Secure from harm. – The giant here disposed
His troops in secret; and enjoin’d to wait,
Ere yet they launch’d, in open sight reveal’d,
His signal to come forth. The band, thus placed,
He moved to lure the strangers to the snare.
MEANWHILE, the Trojans, choosing for their track
A path frequented less, though shaded o’er
With trees, approach’d the fortress, unperceived
Of all within. At first, a distant noise,
Like Niagara’s torrent, hard afar
By those who tread Canadian wilds, assail’d
Their ears. Anon, the river and the fort,
Rear’d rudely on its bank, stood half disclosed,
And glimmering thro’ the wood. Eugenius mark’d
Heedful the prospect, check’d his forward mates
In their mid course; and thus address’d the throng.
‘FRIENDS, know we seek not these forlorn abodes,
‘To spread the rage of battle, but to scan
‘What claims observance, with discerning eyes;
‘And chief, to view the people, and their deeds,
‘Their ramparts, manners, implements of war;
‘From these to judge what conduct best befits
‘Our state; to join in league, or rise win arms.
‘Here then, ye warriours, rest secure from harm;
‘While I with Alban pierce the forest’s bound,
‘Bent on advent’rous acts. Assail’d; - our shout,
‘Or yours, should danger press, will soon unite
‘Our hands. Meanwhile be cautious, and conceal’d.’
HE said. – The troop retiring, sought the shade,
All but Albanus: he with pleasure join’d
Th’Athenian prince, and onward held his way.
Now, near the forest’d utmost bound arrived,
Scenes yet unknown arose; unlike whate’er
Had met their sight; not void of art, tho’ wild,
And of extensive range. A mighty space,
Fenced with a rampart, and encircling fosse,
They first beheld. Domes of capacious frame,
And height unequall’d. fill’d the fence within.
Rough hides, the spoils of many a slaughter’d foe;
Wolves, foxes, boars, and prey of gentler kind,
O’erspread the roods, and form’d theitr sole defence
From showers rude rushing, or inclement skies.
What framed their sides, the rampart held unseen.
‘TWAS now the welcome hour, when spent with toil,
The savage people in their homes partook
The feast, and stretch’d on earth, supinely dosed,
Till eve recall’d them to the work of death,
With hearts unsated, and destructive hand.
Hence, nought annoy’d the warrious in their search:
For now the noise subsiding to a calm,
The youths approach’d, tho’ yet with wary step,
And mark’d with prying eyes what rose in view.
AROUND the fortress, spread a spacious field,
Clear’d of its wood; but o’er its smooth expanse,
No swelling ridge, or furrows, tho’ defaced,
Announc’d old culture, or the ploughman’s song;
Nor rose, nor violet dropping balmy dew,
O’erspread the plain; but bones, and smoking gore
Reveal’d a barbarous rout. Confusedly thrown
In heaps, the spoils of beasts, their constant dread,
Lay scatter’d loosely o’er the region: - here
A carcase half devour’d, and there a head,
With tusks still grinning, and extended jaws.
SILENT and unobserved, the warriour chiefs
Explored the fence at hand. The rampart’s height,
Not without wonder seen, a while engaged
Their thoughts; the fosse of wide extent, and depth
Immense, they measured with their sight, and judged
From all, what people fill’d the space within.
No part half-finish’d, or decay’d, exposed
Access to strong assault, save where the stream
Form’d for the void behind, a watery mound:
For thence they dreaded less th’ approach of foes,
That, ravenous, held their nightly walk around,
In quest of prey; or drom invading hosts,
A sudden onset. Such the works appear’d.
WHEN now the pair had left unsought no path,
Nor covert unexplored; th’ Athenian Prince
Bespoke Albanus, as he eyes the domes
With heed, that lined the river’s farther side,
Unmindful of return. ‘Friend,’ thus he said,
‘We tempt our fate, while ling’ring, on the verge
‘Of ruin, if descried from yonder towers;
‘Nought but the foes within remain unseen:
‘And these, the spoils profusely cast abroad,
‘Proclaim a savage people, yet unskill’d
‘In arts, though high in stature, and of force
‘Unmatch’d. The sun, already far declined,
‘Recalls us to the host. While yet he spoke,
He turn’d, and with his young companion pass’d
The plain with speed; then plunging in the wood,
Held forwards to his friends an open way.
MEANWHILE the Giant’s train amid the cace
Lay screen’d: himself along the wider path
Moved, looking round; but thence descried no arms,
Nor hostile clamour met his ear. He strode
Still onward, and approach’d the woodland’s verge:
When lo! the host of Brutus, spreading far
O’er the wide prospect, now exposed to view
Stood full in sight; and in amazement held
His senses lock’d a moment! Blazing shields
He mark’d, and countless numbers, all employ’d,
As in a city raised by magic power,
In works of general use, or deeds of war;
Tents ranged in equal roes, where art display’d
Her skill; the helm far-beaming, and the mail
Turn’d to the sun’s broad orb; the gleam of swords
Waved as in triumph; - all announced a foe,
Prepared for battle, if opposed. The Chief
Shrunk back, while yet he eyed them, and escaped
Unknown, behind a spreading ash secure.
LONG, with a heedful eye, the savage scann’d
The throng before him; pondering on the means
To counteract their might: but while he mused,
The tread of feet behind him, and the sound
Of arms, assail’d his ear. At once he mark’d
The Trojan bands returning, and to these
Stood full disclosed! With wonder all beheld
Forms new to sight; and staid in speechless gaze.
As on fierce wolves, encroaching on his walk;
The surly mastiff glares, shaking his front
In ire, but dreading to assault the throng,
Growling he stands, and terrible, but sees
His foes advancing, and retires: thus stood
The giant terror-struck, and with slow steps;
Veiling beneath the semblance of disdain;
Or cold neglect, his flight; retreating, drew
The friends to follow, urged by keen desire.
ALBANUS first beheld him thro’ the wood
Yet dimly seen; and pointing, show’d the form,
As of some Godhead, to his mates. At first
They moved with reverence on, but soon discern’d
One of the giant race, and wish’d to seize
By arms, or dextrous art, th’expected prize,
Yet with no hostile or deceitful end.
Hence, when he view’d them with indignant eye,
Or threatening turn’d, the troop pursued his step
With hasty tread, or spreading in their course,
Essay’d to hold him, closed as in an orb.
In vain! He kept his path, till raising high
At last his hand, and shouting in a voice
That shook the wilderness afar; his mates
All rush’d to sight horrific from the cave,
Tossing their clubs aloft with deafening roar.
As when, on Zara’s rapid tide, that sweeps
Thy plains, Metamba, and the spicy vales
Of Kongo’s sunny clime; some vessel fraught
For commerce, toils against the eddying stream;
Just when the port of Salvador unfolds
A welcome refuge, seen with wishful eyes;
Known from the skiff that plies to reach the land,
The shark wild-flouncing, or the crocodile
Stretch wide their cavern’d throats to gorge the crowd,
Darkening the shores around: the crew aghast,
Hang on the edge of ruin, and collect
Their force to combat, or retire; - not less
The Trojans with surprize and dread beheld
The ruthless foes, in might superiour far:
They stopt, and meeting, as the wood gave scope,
In one compacted line, raised high their shields,
And shook their javelins, for defence prepared,
Not for assault. The cautious leaders check’d
Their fire, observant of the Monarch’s rule.
MEANWHILE, stern Vortiger impell’d his own
To deeds of death. – ‘Haste, let us seize the band
‘Entire, ere from their camp the numbers pour
‘To give them rescue. – Is your courage fled,
‘Ye warriours!’ (taunting thus, he call’d aloud
With scornful gesture;) ‘but of late so fierce
‘And violent, as it seem’d? Your shields are vain
‘To ward our weapons. – Yield, ere yet our hands
‘Scatter your limbs in air!’ – Shouting, he swung
An iron mass around him, and discharged
The ruin with tempestuous force. It held
Its course, and slanting on Albanus’ shield,
Obliquely, plough’d the soil. The youth incensed
Sprung forward, waving in his better hand,
A pointed javelin. As the bird of Jove
Prone-dropping from his height, to seize a fawn,
With whizzing wing, and keen eye darting flame,
He came. The weapon sung at once in air,
With force dismiss’d; but wary Vortiger
Recoiling shunn’d the death. Strong Urion’s breast
Receiv’d the point, that thro’ the wolf’s rough hides
Deep-piercing, reach’d the seat of breath. He reel’d,
Then staggering grasp’d his nearest mate, and writhed
His sinewy throat in death. So, mid the wood,
An oak, whose spreading boughs had mopck’d the wrage
Of many a tempest; when the thunder river
Its trunk, or whirlwinds tear it from the field,
Bows to the storm, and rolling from its height,
Shakes half the groaning forest in its fall.
AND now, his lance regain’d, the hardy pair
Explore a safe retreat; for yet the foe
Stood unsubdued, through wandering at a deed
So bold; and ready to collect their powers.
Hence to the camp the Trojans held their rout,
Not unmolested, tho’ th’ approaching night
And wood’s dark umbrage held the cohort screen’d.
Fierce, on their step enraged and yelling, rush’d
The giant with his tribe, unlicensed, fell,
And of restraint disdainful. Far around
Was heard their dreadful shout. The camp was roused;
The watchmen spread alarm; the prudent Chief,
Prescient of ill, had held a force prepared
To bring relief in peril’s last extreme.
Stern Camber took the lead, and raised his voice
In thunder o’er the echoing vales. ‘To arms!’
He cried, - and instant through the shade pursued
The sounds he heard, and forms, though dimly seen,
Of warriours dire in aspect. Vortiger
Beheld his fiercest in their mid career
Appall’d: They mark’s innumerable lights
pread o’er the camp, and stood like bears, subdued
By blows and hunger, to their masters rule.
AGAIN the Leader o’er his own resumed
Command; for in the crowd his single voice
At first was spent in air. He bade with speed
To seek their mates, and leave to better hours
The vengeance now delay’d. ‘With morn,’ he cried,
‘Gerontes and his powers shall sweep from earth
‘Yon tribes, though numerous as the flies that swarm
‘On carcases half-wasted, that bestrew
‘The paths that wind to yonder fort. But now,
‘’Tis fit we make retreat.’ He spoke, and sought
With hasty strides the woodland. Close behind,
Dismay’d, and humbled, his associates fled.
The Chiefs of Brutus join’d their native friends
With joyful hearts; and night o’erspread the scene: