Repays with wealth immense the searchers toil; And the fam'd cavern, from whose mouth the voice Of Fate oft speaks in thunder, or compell'd With mystic rites, and spells of dreadful pow'r, The regions of the gloomy dead give up Their dreadful secrets, had Cornubia pass'd, Of Sture encamp'd, and Locrine's rapid march. By kindred race allied, by friendship more; Straight gives command, and with converted ensigns The host moves onward, with impetuous course. And now Ebrancus to the right his station Okey Hole. Fixes against the stream, which winding flows By sacred Glastonbury, and the isle Of fabled Avalon, and seeks the sea. Hymner, Vigenius, Elidaucus, plant Their banners on the left, where its dark shade The forest spreads." The middle space the bands By Danius, Lago, and Molmutius led; And those which under brave Rudaucus came; Andragius, Urianus, and the strength Of Brennus, fam'd for many an hardy deed, Possess'd. With these in arms the marshal'd pow'rs Of Capis, Ænus, and Bleduno join. Catellus, and Gerontius, Leoline By Pallas lov'd, the prudent and the brave. And young Sisilius, whose well-practis'd limbs. And huge Gorbodion, fam'd for brutal strength, Selwood. His sole delight, to cruel deeds inur'd. Maglaunus, Peridurus: one on foot Shakes in the foremost rank his mighty spear, Raise the high rampart. In the trench profound, And Elidaucus, gay with golden arms. And now Loëgria's embassy approach'd Where Leoline held watch. The chief, who saw The heralds' holy ensigns, and the troop Few and unarm'd, springs from the mound, and bids Unbar the massy gates; then mildly thus: "Whoe'er ye be, that thus in friendly guisé Approach our lines, by holy heralds led; Fearless advance, and freely speak your purpose. Rushing with frantic rage to mutual slaughter, From kingly Locrine, whose paternal eye Grieving beholds the ills which threat his people. Then lead us to Belinus, and convene Cornubia's heroes, that th' assembled council May learn our monarch's worth, and war no more To impious fury urge our kindred swords." He ended. Leoline thus answer'd glad. "Whate'er thy message, be it peace or war, We know, and we respect the sacred laws Which heav'n prescribes the nations. Of safe conduct, And all observance meet, proceed secure. If peace thou bring'st, most welcome: for we draw The sword of justice, not of wild ambition.” So saying, on he march'd: Loëgria's heroes Pursue his steps. The great Belinus now Summons the leaders. His capacious tent Receives the warlike train. High-thron'd o'er all Appears their injur'd queen, and by her side Her blooming son. In royal state she sate; For since Persephone's relentless power To her, his daughter, and her youthful Madan, His people vow'd their homage. Next the throne Belinus stood: the rest in order round. Loëgria's chiefs advance: Mempricius thus With studied speech the purpos'd fraud pursues. And thou great queen, before whose awful throne Upon whose nod the fates of empire wait, |