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Recapitulation of the subject.
If you have seen one half of
what
This chapter doth contain,
You must have seen much more, I wot,
Than e'er you'll see again.
We have heretofore seen that
the Britons of old, the first possessors of the soil, dwelt peaceably upon
the then undebateable land ; we have seen how the Romans came and drove them
back into the Highlands, and then drew ditches and walls across the country,
from sea to sea, as a warning against their further progress into the South
country ; we have seen those warriors retire from the island, after a four
hundred years' tenantry, and hie away to their own homes to look after
affairs there; we have seen the mighty Pendragon Arthur arise in kingly
glory, and keep court with Gwenhyvar within Carlisle city; we have seen the
Pink of Courtesy, Sir Gawain, wed the first bride that e'er, so far as we
know, was espoused nigh to the since most renowned altar of Gretna; we have
seen how these heroes passed away from the scene, and how the savage hordes
of the north, the
Dansker Sea Kings from the
vast waters, and the golden-headed Saxons from the east, usurped their
places in despite ; we have seen how the sons of Reged and Cumbria bared
brazen blades to the glitter of day, in a vain but honourable essay to
retain the lands of their fathers; but .how, after the misfare of Cattraeth,
they eschewed the victorious foe, and retired to Gwenedd and Mona; we have
seen William, the Norman, scare the Saxons and Danes from the land,-from
which they, the said Danes and Normans, had before scared the Britons, thus
suffering the persecution which they had put upon others; we have seen him
parcel out the kingdom to his haughty vassals in recompense for their
labours; we have seen some of these settle upon the Borders, nigh to
Hadrian's Work, and there increase in strength, wealth, and power, until
they became the terror of the crown that had planted them there; we have
seen fierce battles ycleped civil, debated in these parts, but more
especially by the margin of the western waters where our scene lies; we have
seen moss-troopers overrun the plains and the uplands, and commit herriment
on their neighbours, and we have seen wardens and other kings' servants
pursue, and hang, and slay; we have seen the spirit of love at last triumph
over, and banish away, the Demon of War from the banks of the Sark; wo have
seen the Fanes of Hymen arise on those spots where once stood the gloomy
Bastle-house of the mail-encased chief: we have seen eloping lovers course
over the Moss of Solway with their eyes open, yet without seeing one bit of
it, and get hastily wedded by weavers, and pedlars ; we have seen—we have
seen—we have seen—
Gentle reader:—if you have
seen all these things, methinks you have seen a great deal. |
