Act 1 — SCENE VIII.
Reading edition
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.