6

Scythèd chariots swiftly hew their way

Through the lines unheeding:

Helmed knights in all their war array

Their chargers boldly speeding.

'Scythe, nor spear, nor dart, nor glitt'ring sword,

The bold marauders vanquished;

But the arm of God, the mighty Lord,

'Weep for your dead, oh, women, weep as rain,

Nor stay the wild emotion;

For you ne'er shall see your pagan men

Come sailing o'er the ocean.

'Stark and stiff they stay upon the plain With faces upturned lying ;

Curse nor caress shall never again

Come from the lips of the dying.

'Weep, weep, oh ye women, weep for aye, Though the western wind is blowing Over the sea this dawn of sweet day,

No white sail shall be showing.'

1 The Britons applied to the Saxons constantly, the epithets dog,'' barbarian,' &c.

Thus sang the thankful Uther, giving God

The praise; while the legionaries raised the

sod,

And reverent laid beneath their own dear dead.
Then marched they on to London; thither led
As prisoners Eosa and Octa, who stirred
The Saxons with great confidence; whose word
Brought hosts of fresh invaders. News of raid,
And ravage, and rapine was quickly laid
Before the king that Caledonians were
For ever lawless, plundering; void of fear,
Undisciplined. Then Uther with much care
Quelled the contumely; punished the pillager,
And straightway made strict laws of equity
To govern his dominions steadily;

And forcibly their prompt obedience brought
That all might live in harmony throughout.

And mild-eyed Peace proclaimed her gentle

sway

All over Britain; and mingled with the Bay
Meek olive-branches decked each warrior's

head,

And o'er his brow an ambient glamour shed.

A sheen more honoured; of nobler sort,

Than all the laurels that can grace a court :
For kings, proud Conquest is most glorious art ;
For subjects, Peace doth play the better part.

PART III

THE BANQUET

AND when the Ides of March drew near, the king Would have a royal banquet; issuing

Invites to his nobles; and all the fair

Of Britain's daughters Uther summoned there,
And bade he graciously each high-born guest
To grace his court, do honour to his feast.
Being the festival of Easter-tide

King Uther thought to honour it; beside
'Twas his desire to meet his subjects face
To face; gain their esteem, give royal grace;
And thus by mutual affections bind
The Ruled, and Ruler in harmonious mind.

The king arrayed in royal robes and crown,
Covered with glory; justly-earned renown,

In great solemnity, and pomp, and state
The Church's festival did celebrate.

From every city fair the nobles came
To greet the conqueror with loud acclaim:
All gentle blood of Britain now essayed

To show him honour. Many a beauteous maid
All bright with gems, in rich apparel tired,
To royal grace would gladly have aspired.

The royal banquet set 'neath silken tent,
Was costly, rich; on scale magnificent :
On silver vessels of beauteous design
Were delicacies served, and dishes fine :
In glistening wine-cups of pure gold did shine
The red, or amber juice of choicest wine.

And silken couches from Damascus' loom

Were ranged in Roman style all through the

room:

For simplicity of the Briton's home

Was changed for luxuries of conquering Rome— And costly tables of sweet-smelling wood, Brought from Eastern groves, vied with the food In yielding delicate odour. While breath

Of fresh spring-flowers, woven with green heath,

Delicious fragrance shed throughout the air,
And made a multiple of perfumes there.
The whole was blended with harmonious sound;
For melting music swept the space around:
Thus cultured art enhanced th' enraptured sight,
And every sense was steeped in sweet delight:

And all the stateliest in the land were there;
Long trains of lovely women; and every fair
Was led by noble knight of high renown,
And braves, and beauties in one phalanx shone.

Of all the glittering galaxy none saw,

The equal of the lady of Gorlois : '

I

Of queenly mien, of loveliest form, and eyes
Like gems set in translucent skies.

And all the beauty of the court was dimmed
By fair Igerna: to Uther's eyes she seemed
To stand a peerless pearl; a diamond divine;
Beyond all price, and fitted most to shine

1 This name I take to be Gallic, and have consequently given it the modern French pronunciation as in Dunois. The pronunciation of old French is as entirely lost to the French of the present day, as Old English is to us, therefore only the modern style can be safely given.