Series 1 > Grameid: an heroic poem descriptive of the campaign of Viscount Dundee in 1689, and other pieces

19
400-422] SCOTI GRAMEIDOS LIB. I.
Cum prius incerto steterat victoria fato,
Una acies trepido vertit vestigia gressu,
Alteraque hostilem sequitur cum murmure turmam.
Desuper at lapsae jacuere per arva secures,
Loricaeque ocreaeque et duro hastilia ferro
Spiculaque in variis atque arma inventa figuris,
Terrent jam stupidi trepidantia pectora vulgi,
Tristia venturis praebentque oracula bellis.
Haec mala nec dubiis licuit praenoscere signis,
Nam Pater Omnipotens stupidum prope terruit orbem
Fulgure, et insano rapidum procul impete fulmen
Torsit, et ardentes disjecit ab aethere flam mas;
Et micuere faces, totoque sonantia coelo
Disjecere altas templorum fulmina turres;
Arsit et ignivomi sidus ferale cometae
Crinitam et gelidas caudam perrexit ad arctos,
Portendens terris civilia bella Britannis.
Phoebus et obscura nitidum ferrugine coelum
Texit, et horrendis noctis se immiscuit umbris,
Opposituque suo fratrem lugubris opacat
Phoebe1 soror, nigrumque abdit lita sanguine vultum,
Et stupuere, acie obtusa acies, vaga sidera coeli,
Horruit aetemas mundusque instare tenebras.
at first seemed uncertain. Then one line turns in rapid flight, the
other follows the enemy with clamour, and, falling from above,
axes, shields, greaves, iron-pointed spears, darts, and armour of
varied shapes bestrew the ground, and terrify the timid breasts of
the dull peasant, giving sad omen of the wars to come.
Nor are there only doubtful signs of coming evil, for God Him¬
self terrifies the earth with lightning and thunderbolt, and glowing
flame from Heaven. Towers of churches are struck down, and
the deadly comet 2 blazes in the sky with tail streaming towards
the chilly North, portending civil wars in British land. Phoebus
also plunges the sky in darkness, and wraps the day in night. The
moon, too, casts her brother into mournful shadow, and besmeared
in blood hides a darkened face. The wandering stars of heaven,
a confused band, are stupified, and the world trembles as she
1 Final e in ‘ Phoebe ’ should be long.
2 The comet of 1680 excited great interest throughout Europe. Its splendour
and swiftness were very remarkable. Halley’s comet of 1682 soon followed.
The eclipses of the time made much impression, and are frequently referred to.