Specimens of the British Poets

year, by an accidental hurt on his leg, which he received in stepping out of a carriage, and which

music, Dr. Burney compares him to Jack, in the "Tale of a Tub."

His death was occasioned, in his seventy-second produced an incurable mortification.

OPENING SCENE OF "CARACTACUS."

AULUS DIDIUS, with Romans; VELLINUS and ELIDURUS, sons of the British Queen CARTISMANDUA.

Au. Did. THIS is the secret centre of the isle : Here, Romans, pause, and let the eye of wonder Gaze on the solemn scene; behold yon oak, How stern he frowns, and with his broad brown arms Chills the pale plain beneath him: mark yon altar, The dark stream brawling round its rugged base, These cliffs, these yawning caverns, this wide circus, Skirted with unhewn stone: they awe my soul, As if the very genius of the place

Himself appear'd, and with terrific tread
Stalk'd through his drear domain. And yet, my
friends,

(If shapes like his be but the fancy's coinage)
Surely there is a hidden power, that reigns
'Mid the lone majesty of untamed nature,
Controlling sober reason; tell me else,
Why do these haunts of barb'rous superstition
O'ercome me thus? I scorn them, yet they awe me.
Call forth the British princes: in this gloom
I mean to school them to our enterprise.
Enter VELLINUS and ELIDURUS.
Ye pledges dear of Cartismandua's faith,
Approach and to mine uninstructed ear
Explain this scene of horror.

Mine eye descries a distant range of caves,

Delved in the ridges of the craggy steep; And this way still another.

On the left

Elid.
Reside the sages skill'd in nature's lore:

The changeful universe, its numbers, powers,
Studious they measure, save when meditation
Gives place to holy rites: then in the grove
Each hath his rank and function. Yonder grots
Are tenanted by Bards, who nightly thence,
Robed in their flowing vests of innocent white,
Descend, with harps that glitter to the moon,
Hymning immortal strains. The spirits of air,
Of earth, of water, nay of Heaven itself,
Do listen to their lay; and oft, 'tis said,
In visible shapes dance they a magic round

To the high minstrelsy.-Now, if thine eye Be sated with the view, haste to thy ships, And ply thine oars; for, if the Druids learn This bold intrusion, thou wilt find it hard To foil their fury.

Aul. Did.

Prince, I did not moor
My light-arm'd shallops on this dangerous strand
To soothe a fruitless curiosity;

Who, when our veterans put his troops to flight,
I come in quest of proud Caractacus ;
Found refuge here.

Elid.
If here the monarch rests,
Presumptuous chief! thou might'st as well assay
To pluck him from yon stars: Earth's ample range
Contains no surer refuge: underneath
The soil we tread, a hundred secret paths,
Scoop'd through the living rock in winding maze,
Lead to as many caverns, dark, and deep:
In which the hoary sages act their rites
Mysterious, rites of such strange potency,
As, done in open day, would dim the sun,
Though throned in noontide brightness. In such
He may for life lie hid.

Aul. Did.

We know the task Most difficult, yet has thy royal mother Furnish'd the means.

Elid.

[dens

My mother, say'st thou, Roman! Aul. Did. In proof of that firm faith she leads

Ye lead his credulous step? there will we seize him, Its high behests; which if assenting found,
Bear him to Rome, the substitute for you,

And give you back to freedom.
Vel.
If the Druids-
Aul. Did. If they, or he, prevent this artifice,
Then force must take its way: then flaming brands,
And biting axes, wielded by our soldiers,
Must level these thick shades, and so unlodge
The lurking savage.

Elid.
Aul. Did. Princes, her ev'ry trunk shall on

Gods, shall Mona perish?

the ground

Stretch its gigantic length; unless, ere dawn,
Ye lure this untamed lion to our toils.
Go then, and prosper; I shall to the ships,
And there expect his coming. Youths, remember,
He must to Rome to grace great Cæsar's triumph:
Cæsar and fate demand him at your hand.
[Exeunt AULUS DIDIUS and Romans.

FROM THE SAME.

Caractacus among the Druids, where he is to be consecrated one of their number.

CARACTACUS; EVELINA, daughter of CARACTACUS; and

CHORUS.

These hands around thy chosen limbs shall wrap
The vest of sanctity; while at the act,
Yon white-robed Bards, sweeping their solemn
harps,

Shall lift their choral warblings to the skies,
And call the gods to witness. Meanwhile, prince,
Bethink thee well, if ought on this vain earth
Still holds too firm an union with thy soul,
Estranging it from peace.
I had a queen :

Car.
Bear with my weakness, Druid! this tough breast
Must heave a sigh, for she is unrevenged.
And can I taste true peace, she unrevenged?
So chaste, so loved a queen? Ah, Evelina!
Hang not thus weeping on the feeble arm
That could not save thy mother.
Evel.
To hang thus
Softens the pang of grief; and the sweet thought,
That a fond father still supports his child,
Sheds, on my pensive mind, such soothing balm,
As doth the blessing of these pious seers,
When most they wish our welfare. Would to Heaven
A daughter's presence could as much avail,
To ease her father's woes, as his doth mine!
Car. Ever most gentle ! come unto my bosom:
Dear pattern of the precious prize I lost,

Car. THIS holy place, methinks, doth this night Lost, so inglorious lost :-my friends, these eyes

wear

More than its wonted gloom: Druid, these groves
Have caught the dismal colouring of my soul,
Changing their dark dun garbs to very sable,
In pity to their guest. Hail, hallow'd oaks !
Hail, British born! who, last of British race,
Hold your primeval rights by Nature's charter ;
Not at the nod of Cæsar. Happy foresters,
Ye wave your bold heads in the liberal air;
Nor ask, for privilege, a pretor's edict.
Ye, with your tough and intertwisted roots,
Grasp the firm rocks ye sprung from; and, erect
In knotty hardihood, still proudly spread
Your leafy banners 'gainst the tyrannous north,
Who, Roman like, assails you. Tell me, Druid,
Is it not better to be such as these,
Than be the thing I am?

Chor.

To be the thing,
Eternal Wisdom wills, is ever best.

Car. But I am lost to that predestined use
Eternal Wisdom will'd, and fitly therefore
May wish a change of being. I was born
A king; and Heaven, who bade these warrior oaks
Lift their green shields against the fiery sun,
To fence their subject plain, did mean that I
Should, with as firm an arm, protect my people
Against the pestilent glare of Rome's ambition.
I fail'd; and how I fail'd, thou know'st too well :
So does the babbling world: and therefore, Druid,
I would be any thing save what I am.

Chor. See, to thy wish, the holy rites prepared,
Which, if Heaven frowns not, consecrate thee Druid:
See to the altar's base the victims led,

Did see her torn from my defenceless camp;
Whilst I, hemm'd round by squadrons, could not
save her:

My boy, still nearer to the darling pledge,
Beheld her shrieking in the ruffian's arm;
Beheld, and fled.

Evel.
Ah! sir, forbear to wound
My brother's fame; he fled, but to recal
His scatter'd forces to pursue and save her.
Car. Daughter, he fled. Now, by yon gracious

I know him valiant ; and not doubt he fell
'Mid slaughter'd thousands of the haughty foe,
Victim to filial love. Arviragus!

Thou hadst no sister near the bloody field,
Whose sorrowing search, led by yon orb of night,
Might find thy body, wash with tears thy wounds,
And wipe them with her hair.

Chor.
Peace, virgin, peace :
Nor thou, sad prince, reply; whate'er he is,
Be he a captive, fugitive, or corse,
He is what Heaven ordain'd: these holy groves
Permit no exclamation 'gainst Heaven's will
To violate their echoes : Patience here,
Her meek hands folded on her modest breast,
In mute submission lifts th' adoring eye,
Even to the storm that wrecks her.

Evel.

Holy Druid, If ought my erring tongue has said pollutes From whose free gushing blood ourself shall read This sacred place, I from my soul abjure it,

And will these lips bar with eternal silence,
Rather than speak a word, or act a deed
Unmeet for thy sage daughters; blessing first

This hallow'd hour, that takes me from the world
And joins me to their sober sisterhood.

Strike all your strings symphonious; wake a strain
May penetrate, may purge, may purify,
His yet unhallow'd bosom; call ye hither
The airy tribe, that on yon mountain dwell,
Even on majestic Snowdon: they, who never

Chor. 'Tis wisely said. See, prince, this prudent Deign visit mortal men, save on some cause

maid,

Now, while the ruddy flame of sparkling youth Glows on her beauteous cheek, can quit the world Without a sigh, whilst thou

Car. Would save my queen From a base ravisher; would wish to plunge This falchion in his breast, and so avenge

Insulted royalty. Oh, holy men!

Ye are the sons of piety and peace ;
Ye never felt the sharp vindictive spur,
That goads the injured warrior; the hot tide,
That flushes crimson on the conscious cheek
Of him who burns for glory; else indeed
Ye much would pity me: would curse the fate
That coops me here inactive in your groves,
Robs me of hope, tells me this trusty steel
Must never cleave one Roman helm again;
Never avenge my queen, nor free my country.
Chor. "Tis Heaven's high will-

Car. "Tis Heaven's high will, that these poor aged eyes Shall never more behold that virtuous woman, To whom my youth was constant; 'twas Heaven's To take her from me at that very hour, [will When best her love might soothe me; that black hour,

I know it, reverend fathers!

(May memory ever rase it from her records,)

When all my squadrons fled, and left their king
Old and defenceless him, who nine whole years
Had taught them how to conquer: yes, my friends,
For nine whole years against the sons of rapine
I led my veterans, oft to victory,

Never till then to shame. Bear with me, Druid;
I've done begin the rites.

Chor. Oh, would to Heaven A frame of mind more fitted to these rites Possess'd thee, prince! that Resignation meek, That dove-eyed Peace, handmaid of Sanctity, Approach'd this altar with thee: 'stead of these, See I not gaunt Revenge, ensanguined Slaughter, And mad Ambition, clinging to thy soul, Eager to snatch thee back to their domain, Back to a vain and miserable world; Whose misery, and vanity, though tried,

Thou still hold'st dearer than these solemn shades,

Where Quiet reigns with Virtue? try we yet
What holiness can do! for much it can:
Much is the potency of pious prayer:
And much the sacred influence convey'd
By sage mysterious office: when the soul,
Snatch'd by the power of music from her cell
Of fleshly thraldom, feels herself upborne
On plumes of ecstacy, and boldly springs,
'Mid swelling harmonies and pealing hymns,
Up to the porch of Heaven. Strike, then, ye
Bards!

Of highest import, but, sublimely shrined
On its hoar top in domes of crystalline ice,
Hold converse with those spirits, that possess
The skies' pure sapphire, nearest Heaven itself.

ODE.

Mona on Snowdon calls:
Hear, thou king of mountains, hear;
Hark, she speaks from all her strings;
Hark, her loudest echo rings;
King of mountains, bend thine ear:
Send thy spirits, send them soon,
Now, when midnight and the moon
Meet upon thy front of snow:

See, their gold and ebon rod,
Where the sober sisters nod,
And greet in whispers sage and slow.
Snowdon, mark! 'tis magic's hour;
Now the mutter'd spell hath power;
Power to rend thy ribs of rock,

And burst thy base with thunder's shock:
But to thee no ruder spell

Shall Mona use, than those that dwell
In music's secret cells, and lie
Steep'd in the stream of harmony.
Snowdon has heard the strain:
Hark, amid the wond'ring grove
Other harpings answer clear,
Other voices meet our ear,
Pinions flutter, shadows move,
Busy murmurs hum around,
Rustling vestments brush the ground;
Round, and round, and round they go,
Through the twilight, through the shade,
Mount the oak's majestic head,
And gild the tufted misletoe.
Cease, ye glittering race of light,
Close your wings, and check your flight:
Here, arranged in order due,
Spread your robes of saffron hue;
For lo, with more than mortal fire,
Mighty Mador smites the lyre;
Hark, he sweeps the master-strings;
Listen all-

Chor. Break off; asullen smoke involves the
The central oak doth shake; I hear the sound
Of steps profane; Caractacus, retire ;
Bear hence the victims; Mona is polluted.

Semich. Father, as we did watch the eastern We spied and instant seized two stranger you' Who, in the bottom of a shadowy dell, Held earnest converse: Britons do they ser And of Brigantian race.

Chor.

Haste, drag them hi

FROM THE SAME.

Vellinus, the treacherous brother of Elidurus, having fled to the Romans, Elidurus is sentenced to die-Evelina pleads for his life.

Chorus, EVELINA, ELIDURUS, and Bard.

Chor. True, thou must die. Elid. I pray ye then on your best mercy, fathers, It may be speedy. I would fain be dead, If this be life. Yet I must doubt even that: For falsehood of this strange stupendous sort Sets firm-eyed reason on a gaze, mistrusting, That what she sees in palpable plain form,

Chor. WHAT may his flight portend? Say, Evelina, The stars in yon blue arch, these woods, these How came this youth to 'scape?

Evel. And that to tell Will fix much blame on my impatient folly : For, ere your hallow'd lips had given permission, I flew with eager haste to bear my father News of his son's return. Inflamed with that, Think how a sister's zealous breast must glow! Your looks give mild assent. I glow'd indeed With the dear tale, and sped me in his ear To pour the precious tidings: but my tongue Scarce named Arviragus, ere the false stranger (As I bethink me since) with stealthy pace Fled to the cavern's mouth.

When he had all to ask and all to fear,
Touching my brother's valour. Hitherto
His safety only, which but little moved him,
Had reach'd his ears: but when my tongue unfolded
The story of his bravery and his peril,

Oh how the tears coursed plenteous down his cheeks!
How did he lift unto the Heavens his hands
In speechless transport! Yet he soon bethought him
Of Rome's invasion, and with fiery glance
Survey'd the cavern round; then snatch'd his spear,
And menaced to pursue the flying traitor :
But I with prayers (oh pardon, if they err'd)
Withheld his step, for to the left the youth
Had wing'd his way, where the thick underwood
Afforded sure retreat. Besides, if found,
Was age a match for youth?

Chor.
Maiden, enough:
Better perchance for us, if he were captive;
But in the justice of their cause, and Heaven,
Do Mona's sons confide.

caverns,

Are all mere tricks of cozenage, nothing real,
The vision of a vision. If he 's fled,
I ought to hate this brother.
Chor.
Yet thou dost not.
Elid. But when astonishment will give me leave,
Perchance I shall.-And yet he is my brother,
And he was virtuous once. Yes, ye vile Romans,
Yes, I must die, before my thirsty sword
Drinks one rich drop of vengeance. Yet, ye robbers,
Yet will I curse you with my dying lips:
'Twas you that stole away my brother's virtue.
Chor. Now then prepare to die.

Elid.

I am prepared. Yet, since I cannot now (what most I wish'd) By manly prowess guard this lovely maid; Permit that on your holiest earth I kneel, And pour one fervent prayer for her protection. Allow me this, for though you think me false, The gods will hear me.

And he shall fight for thee, and for his country.
Youth, thank us with thy deeds. The time is short,
And now with reverence take our high lustration;
Thrice do we sprinkle thee with day-break dew
Shook from the may-thorn blossom; twice and
thrice

Touch we thy forehead with our holy wand:
Now thou art fully purged. Now rise restored
To virtue and to us. Hence then, my son,
Hie thee, to yonder altar, where our Bards
Shall arm thee duly both with helm and sword
For warlike enterprise.

FROM THE SAME.

Nay, swear not, youth.

Fled!

To the Romans fled;

Yes, thou hast cause to tremble. Elid.

Ah, Vellinus!

Does thus our love, does thus our friendship end!
Vas I thy brother, youth, and hast thou left me!
es; and how left me, cruel as thou art,
The victim of thy crimes!

Behold we burst on your infernal rites,
And bid you pause. Instant restore our soldiers,
Nor hope that superstition's ruthless step
Shall wade in Roman gore. Ye savage men,
Did not our laws give license to all faiths,
We would o'erturn your altars, headlong heave
These shapeless symbols of your barbarous gods,
And let the golden sun into your caves.

Chor. Servant of Cæsar, has thine impious tongue Spent the black venom of its blasphemy? It has. Then take our curses on thine head, Even his fell curses, who doth reign in Mona, Vicegerent of those gods thy pride insults.

Who seem'st the master-mover in this business, Aul. Did. Bold priest, I scorn thy curses, and Say, dost thou read less terror on my brow, thyself. Than when thou met'st me in the fields of war Soldiers, go search the caves, and free the prisoners. Heading my nations? No! my free-born soul

Take heed, ye seize Caractacus alive.

Arrest yon youth; load him with heaviest irons, He shall to Cæsar answer for his crime.

Elid. I stand prepared to triumph in my crime. Aul. Did. 'Tis well, proud boy-Look to the beauteous maid, [To the Soldiers.

That tranced in grief, bends o'er yon bleeding corse,
Respect her sorrows.

Evel.
Hence, ye barbarous men !
Ye shall not take him welt'ring thus in blood,
To show at Rome, what British virtue was.
Avaunt! the breathless body that ye touch
Was once Arviragus!

Aul. Did.

We reverence the dead. Chor.

Fear us not, princess;

Would too to Heaven,

Has scorn still left to sparkle through these eyes, And frown defiance on thee.—Is it thus !

[Seeing his son's bo'x

Then I'm indeed a captive. Mighty gods! My soul, my soul submits: patient it bears The pond'rous load of grief ye heap upon it. Yes, it will grovel in this shatter'd breast, And be the sad tame thing, it ought to be, Coop'd in a servile body.

Aul. Did. Droop not, king. When Claudius, the great master of the world. Shall hear the noble story of thy valour, His pity

Car.

Can a Roman pity, soldier! And if he can, gods! must a Briton bear it! Arviragus, my bold, my breathless boy, Thou hast escaped such pity; thou art free. Here in high Mona shall thy noble limbs Rest in a noble grave; posterity

Shall to thy tomb with annual reverence bring Sepulchral stones, and pile them to the clouds; Whilst mine

Aul. Did. The morn doth hasten our departur Prepare thee, king, to go: a fav'ring gale Now swells our sails.

Dost thou deny a moment for a father
To shed a few warm tears o'er his dead son !
I tell thee, chief, this act might claim a life,
To do it duly; even a longer life,
Than sorrow ever suffer'd. Cruel man!
And thou deniest me moments. Be it so.
I know you Romans weep not for your childre
Ye triumph o'er your tears, and think it valeur
I triumph in my tears. Yes, best-loved boy,
Yes, I can weep, can fall upon thy corse,
And I can tear my hairs, these few grey hairs,
The only honours war and age hath left me.
Ah son! thou mightst have ruled o'ermany catie..
As did thy royal ancestry: but I,
Rash that I was, ne'er knew the golden curb
Discretion hangs on bravery: else perchance
These men, that fasten fetters on thy father.
Had sued to him for peace, and claim'd his frie
ship.

Aul. Did. But thou wast still implacable to Ro And scorn'd her friendship.

Car. (starting up from the body.) Soldier, 1

arms,

Had neighing steeds to whirl my iron cars,
Had wealth, dominion. Dost thou wonder, Re
I fought to save them? What if Cresar aims,
To lord it universal o'er the world,
Shall the world tamely crouch at Cæsar's footst

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Specimens of the British Poets: With Biographical and Critical Notices, and ...