html.skin-theme-clientpref-night @media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os }Romes Consul thus, and Gauls fierce Prince array'd,
To act the Faithless Truce their Legate made;
Where Ambuscado's subt'ly they had drawn,
T'infest the Woods, and the adjoyning Lawn.
Where now the Princes, their bold Forces drew,
In heart all daring, though in numbers few;
Who disadvantag'd more, must now oppose,
The force and treach'ry of their num'rous Foes:
And thus does Ennius to Alvatrix speak,
The time is come, that Rome and Gaul shall take
A full revenge on Brittains Pow'r, and Pride,
That durst our Conquests with their Arms deride,
What though th'advantage breach of Truce obtains?
While ev'ry Monarch, ev'n as guilty Raigns;
Making their Leagues, wise respits, unto warr,
Till they in Pow'r, and Armes recruited are?
Nor will the World a prosperous Guilt condemne,
When Virtue does its bright Companion seem;
Who on success, like Sun-shine, cast their eyes,
Forgetting the Black Cloud did with it rise:
Nor is it more a Sin in War than State,
Disadvantageous Faith to violate;
Which Princes never meant should give them Law,
When onely feeble Faith their Power does awe.
See how our Leg'ons, compass in this Pow'r
Of Brittish Nobles, and their Youth's choice Flow'r;
That dare not hope to stand by Arms, this Field,
But to our wishes, must Bonduca yield;
Yet e'r her Eyes lament, or Heart deplores
The groans of dying Foes from our stern Pow'rs,
Unto the streightn'd Princes, Truce let's give,
If they without her love will yield to live.
Thus from the Consul is a Herauld sent,
To speak their high demands, and fierce intent;
While yet Alvatrix does not think to prove
The Consul Rival, in Bonduca's love.
Or that he led his Roman Eagles now
To conquer Brittains, and remain his Foe;
But Loves ambition oft receives a Fate,
As well as those of Empire, or of State.
This Herauld to the Queen, and Princes come,
Speaks his bold Message, from the Chief of Rome;
Which now the Queen with deep affliction hears,
Though less her life, then love, creates her fears,
And first does let the Princes boldly know,
That his great Master by Romes Gods does vow,
He'll not the fortune of this day survive,
Should it Rome solely Brittish Empire give.
Who more than thirst of Rule, makes Love his Cause,
Whose great Prerogative admits no Laws;
Though he, the first of Romans yields to be,
That e'r broke Truce with noble Enemy.
For which of Heav'n, and Rome does pardon crave,
And on these tearms, if they yet Peace will have;
They, and this Isle, unconquer'd shall remain,
And for his triumph, but the Queen will gain.
Nor by this Summons does he more demand;
Than what his pow'rful Legions can command;
When in this streight, his Force and conduct, must
Send the Great Princes with their Pow'rs to dust:
Yet for the Queens fair sake vouchsafes to treat,
Before their Arms his dreadful onsets meet;
And Wars stern horrors her soft Soul affright,
Or she (his Love would save,) should fall in fight.
But who can judge the high concern and flame,
Incens'd these Hero's, when from Ennius came
This bold demand? (so late their conquer'd Foe,
And no less treach'rously a Lover now;
Then is Alvatrix) while the Queens bright beams,
Had kindled in their hearts Loves mighty flames.
Then to this Herauld Arthur's Son does speak;
Let not Romes Consul ever hope to make
Us Brittish Princes so desertless live,
That he Bonduca Laws of Love shall give.
Or that they can a brave success despair,
Who with Truce-breaking Gauls, and Romans war;
Nor would they lose the glory of this Fight,
To die, or conquer, in the Queens fair sight.
Whose heart unshaken, their fierce Pow'rs withstood,
When London felt their flames, & stream'd with blood;
Yet slighted then Alvatrix rage, and love,
And can she less 'gainst faithless Ennius prove?
More had this Prince express'd, but Vortiger,
Whose Martial courage, Fate it self[errata 1] did fear;
This Herauld bids withdraw in high disdain,
While Love, and Empire thus at stake remain.
And next, the Princes willing to deceive
The Queens sad fears, in this short respite, give
Her heart brave comforts, while her weeping eyes
Pay for their safeties, Heav'n a sacrifice.
Then, of these Forrest shades, selects the view
Of Willows, and Loves mournful Embleme, Yew;
Neglecting Elmes, embrac'd with am'rous Vines,
Which Nature for pleas'd Lovers objects twines.
And ev'n the Princes, but kind Foes now calls,
Who thus surpriz'd, withstand Romes Force, and Gauls;
While with their safety she could these defie,
And their unconquer'd Virgin Lover die.
No less concern'd, in this surprising hour,
The Princes had dispos'd their Martial Power,
With such wise conduct, that the wing of Fate
Did more her self, than them, precipitate.
And here the weapon'd Woodmen duely place,
Eager to make on Foes their nobler chace;
More joy'd to hear the trumpets Martial sounds,
Than all the Musick of their Horns, and Hounds.
Then Roman Cornets Brittish Trumpets vye,
Whose vig'rous clamours seem to wound the skye;
While Martial Odes, the trusty Bowmen sing,
Compos'd by Brute, their antient warlike King.
But e'r these Powers their fierce Incounters make,
Thus Ennius does unto Alvatrix speak;
Great Prince of Gaul, if we this day o'rcome,
Twill Brittish Empire, yet restore to Rome:
And grace her Triumphs with Bonduca too,
Whose love my heart conceal'd from thee till now;
While I (Romes Consul) blush to own a flame,
That does with thine a ⟨Rivals⟩ wishes claim.
But as thou art Romes mighty Ally, know,
I'll to thy Love, as glorious means allow;
This Battail won, thy Sword and mine shall try,
Which for Bonduca's sake must yield to dye.
To whom Alvatrix, had I Empire claim'd
Of this Great Isle, so long Romes Arms has fam'd;
Or did thy Rods, and Axes envy'd see,
Born, as thy Cons'lar State, and Dignity.
I could not with such Fate surpriz'd have been,
As now to hear, thou lov'st the Brittish Queen;
For whose enjoyment I such dangers fought,
Unvallew'd, whil'st in her o'rpriz'd, I sought:
Nor shall the honour of my blood, decline
This glor'ous offer, 'twixt thy Sword and mine;
If heav'n decrees we this dayes fate survive,
To enter Lists, shall Loves sole conquest give.
Till when, I'll like a Prince ally'd to Rome,
Assist her Eagles, Brittains to o'rcome;
Though, as thy Rival, will attempt to be,
The Queens Possessor first from victory.
Before these Pow'rs their dreadful fury joyn,
The Roman Augurs, (who success divine;
From various Birds, the airs vast Regions fly,)
Or victims, with auspicious omens dye.
Declare, how they with horror did behold
An offer'd Heifers blood, turn'd black, and cold;
Her bleeding Entrails, panting in their view;
And how in ominous Flocks the Ravens flew.
Besides, they had Portentous Records took
From Great Cumean Sybil's wondrous Book;
Who in Prophetick fury did declare,
Romans should fatally with Brittains warr:
When they their Legions in that place array,
In which Great Cæsar's Hart late stood at Bay;
And by a Brittish Queen pursu'd should fall.
Hence they the Consul warn, and Prince of Gaul.
But Love, whose Power even Fate her self defies,
Bids the bold Consul slight these destinies;
Calling their Rites, some Cowards pious care,
That Rome first taught from Birds, and Beasts, to fear.
Then gives the Battel signal, whence darts fly
Thick, as when stormes descending cloud the sky;
While Brittish Arrows these out-wing in flight,
And level ranks of Legions, as they light.
Whose Pow'rs more numerous, spare these heaps, dead,
And with enlarged wings make dreadful speed;
Circling the Brittish Force, and Princes round,
Their warlike ranks, and valour to confound.
But with a fury more enforc'd, oppose
The Mart'al Pow'rs the beaut'ous Queen inclose;
While as she sees a Brittain fall, or bleed,
Wishes the Dart had pierc'd her in his stead.
And here Great Ennius with his Romans breaks
Through num'rous Ranks, till he a prospect takes
Of her bright visage, while her Eyes dart beams,
That to his love, and valor, add[errata 2] more flames.
No less Alvatrix danger does despice,
Leading his Gauls to Mars a sacrifice;
Invoking him, this dayes success to crown,
That from his Arms his love may have renown.
And here through fierce Daranders Troops they break,
As Lanes through Woods the raging winds do make;
Next force Favonius Bodies to retreat,
Whose Conduct did their dreadful Powers defeat,
When Londons Glories, with its Beauteous Queen,
Might else a Triumph for this Foe have been.
And for her Royal Guard, this day commands
The trusty'st of the Britains warlike Bands;
Now full of wounds, and forc'd to quit his Horse,
Fights thus distress'd, her Foes prevailing Force.
What Soul inspir'd with numbers can reherse
This Battels terrors, but must weep his verse?
Though Fame, lest too much blood her Records stain,
Kindly forgets the sum of Hero's slain.
No less distress'd the Princes had assayl'd
All dangers, till their matchless Arms prevail'd;
Which now holds Fate at such a glorious bay,
As her black Scepters Pow'r she fears this day.
Thus these great Cheifs, with Forces swiftly speed,
To aid the Queen in such a dang'rous need;
While for her sake they mingle griefs, and tears,
As oyl to valours flames, from Loves soft fears.
And here Fame layes the most Heroick Scene,
That e'r twixt mighty Chiefs, before had been;
Where these great Foes in Love, and Empire, try
Single by Arms, to ravish victory.
Thus Albianus does encounter here
With Ennius, (Glory of Romes Arms, and War)
While warlike Vortiger assaileth now
Alvatrix, who as bravely fought him too.
Then does the worlds choice blood, that warms their veins
Profusely die the Earth with crimson stains;
Which, (as their Valours Epitaph) some say,
Leaves on this soil, a sanguine Dye this day.
Sprightly the Charges were Albianus gave,
This Roman Cheif, and his returns so brave,
That all the Prowess summ'd of Antient Name,
Scarce does in Story second mention claim.
In wounds they equal fought, as Fate would guide
Their Courage now, 'twixt them not to decide;
Or had delight such Hero's still to see
In Love, and Empire, thus at Enmity.
While to supply the wonder of their Arms,
Their Steeds now sympathize their Valours charms;
That with their furious mouths; each grasping tear,
And to the ground their mighty Riders bear.
Whence Albianus briskly takes his feet,
And both these warlike Foes on foot now meet;
Guiding their Spears, a dext'rous bloody strife,
Till this Great Hero's takes the Consuls life.
Whom death[errata 3] did so far respite, to express;
Since here my fall is by thy Arms success,
Heroick Brittain, let Bonduca know,
Thy valour's fit to win her virtue too.
But Vortiger, whose courage had taught Fate,
Like a bold Handmaid, on his Armes to wait;
Praecipitates her black decrees this day,
As he does singly fierce Alvatrix slay.
While to the wonder of all future deeds,
Forcing his Spear, his Foe to death so speeds;
That piercing through strong ribs of Steel, his breast,
Its fury seem'd unwillingly, to rest,
Whose soul enrag'd by death, a flight did take,
Like some fierce wind, a dying blast does make.
Leaving the air disturbless, felt before
The dreadful Rage, of Its Tempestuous power.
Thus fell these mighty Chiefs midst heaps of slain,
While all the state their breathless mem'ries gain
Serves but as Pendants to the pride of Fame,
That wears life's Jewels, to adorne her Name.
Now as their deaths were to their Armies known,
Which soon Fames Trump had in Elogiums blown;
Each Militant in vigour does impair,
And sanguine Roman cheeks, grow pale with fear.
While Martianus, who in Kent besieg'd
Romes Power, and Gauls, until by Truce releiv'd;
Had there from faithful Spies allarums took,
How these by Arms Wars sacred Laws had broke.
And he with eager toyls, so speeds his way,
That he the Princes brave extremes, this day
Arrives to ayd, and next their valours fame,
Give to his own a matchless Victors Name.
Some veterane Legions, that disdain'd to fly
In warlike order, by death marshall'd lye;
When greater numbers cast their Arms away,
And for their lives loud supplications pay.
Charging the sin, and faithless breach of Truce,
Upon their Chiefs, whose high commands excuse
Their fierce attempts, who but Wars Laws obey,
In fighting Foes, when such do lead their way.
But if they can a mercy now implore,
Call heav'n to witness, that they'll never more
Molest the Britains, but returning home,
Will live in just Precincts of Gaul, and Rome.
While the fair Queen, that had with tears beheld
The bloody issue of this dreadful field;
Passes Romes conquer'd Hoast, on her bold Steed,
And thus expresses, (having stay'd his speed)
Most warlike Britains, since your Arms have won,
This Battel that our stories must renown,
Which, as your mighty Princes here did lead,
Their valours so admir'd with yours succeed;
That by their single Arms, you saw this day,
How Ennius, and Alvatrix breathless lay;
A losse so great, proud Rome can ne'r repair,
Or Gaul find Prince, dares hence with Britains warre.
But to their supplyant Legions let us yield;
Mercy may yet more dignifie this field;
While the less guilty you from death reprieve,
And such Foes most subdue, you grant shall live.
This Speech the Britains bloody rage restrains,
And from the Princes such complyance gains;
That they to Gaul, and Romes remaining Hoast,
Admit a Convoy to the Kentish Coast.
Whence they'r embark'd, bound for the Gallick shore.
Vowing by war t'invade this Isle no more;
While to this grace, the Princes leave dispence,
Their Chiefs dead Corps, with them to bear from hence:
That Ennius, and Alvatrix may receive,
Such Fun'ral Rites, as Gauls and Romans give;
Which being done, to London guide their way,
Soone full of Joyes, for this victorious day.
The end of the third Canto.