CHORUS.
1st Song.
Ancient bards have sung
With lips dropping honey
And a sugar'd tongue,
Of our worthy knights:
How Brute[295] did giants tame,
And, by Isis' current,
A second Troy did frame:
A centre of delights.
Locrinus'[296] eldest son
Did drown the furious Hun,
But burnt himself with Elstred's love:
Leil,[297] rex pacificus;
Elud,[298] judicious,
Now heavenly bodies roll above.
Wise Bladud[299] founded hath
Both soul and body's bath,
Like Icarus he flew:
Now first Mulmutius[300] wears
A golden crown, whose heirs
More than half the world subdue.
2d Song.
Thou nurse of champions, O thou spring
Whence chivalry did flow!
Thou diamond of the world's great ring,
Thy glorious virtue show:
Thou many a lord hast bred,
In catalogue of fame read;
And still we have
As captives brave,
As ever Britons led.
Then dub a dub, dub.
The armies join, tantara.
Cassibelane with armour gay
And strongly couched lance,
His courser white turn'd into bay,
On carcases shall prance.
What a crimson stream the blade
Of Nennius' sword hath made!
Black Allia's day
And Cannæ's fray
Have for a third long stay'd.
Then dub a dub, dub.
The armies join, tantara.
FOOTNOTES:
[276] [Fiddle.]