LESSON 43 BOADICEA
BOADICEA
When the British warrior queen,
Bleeding from the Roman rods,
Sought, with an indignant [1] mien [2] ,
Counsel [3] of her country's gods,
Sage [4] beneath a spreading oak
Sat the Druid [5] , hoary [6] chief;
Every burning word he spoke
Full of rage, and full of grief.
Princess! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, 'Tis because resentment [7] ties All the terrors of our tongues. Rome shall perish! Write that word In the blood that she has spilt; Perish, hopeless and abhorred [8] , Deep in ruin as in guilt. BOADICEA Rome, for empire far renowned, Tramples on a thousand states; Soon her pride shall kiss the ground. Hark! the Gaul is at her gates! Other Romans shall arise, Heedless of a soldier's name; Sounds, not arms, shall win the prize— Harmony [9] the path to fame. Then the progeny [10] that springs From the forests of our land, Armed with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. Regions Cæesar never knew Thy posterity [11] shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None invincible [12] as they.
Such the bard's [13] prophetic [14] words,
Pregnant [15] with celestial [16] fire,
Bending, as he swept the chords
Of his sweet but awful lyre [17] .
She, with all a monarch's pride,
Felt them in her bosom glow;
Rushed to battle, fought, and died;
Dying, hurled them at the foe.
Ruffians, pitiless as proud! Heaven awards the vengeance due; Empire is on us bestowed, Shame and ruin wait for you.
—WILLIAM COWPER
* * *
[1] indignant: Angry and scornful.
[2] mien: Appearance; bearing.
[3] counsel: Advice.
[4] sage: Wise.
[5] Druid: Priest and judge among the ancient Britons.
[6] hoary: White with age.
[7] resentment: Deep sense of injury.
[8] abhorred: Detested; avoided with horror.
[9] harmony: Agreement, particularly in music.
[10] progeny: Off-spring; children.
[11] posterity: Descendants.
[12] invincible: Unconquerable.
[13] bard: Celtic minstrel; poet.
[14] prophetic: Unfolding future events.
[15] pregnant: Full of.
[16] celestial: Heavenly.
[17] lyre: Harp.
