Classic Poem

Brutus took Ignogen and upon the ship led her.
They righted their sails, they raised their masts,
They wound up the sails; the wind stood at their will.
Sixteen times twenty ships took out from the haven,
And four ships, great ones, that were ground-laden
With the very best weapons that Brutus had then.
They hastened from the strand out of the Greek land;
They went out on the wide sea; the wild men were tamed.
Two days and two nights in the sea were they;
The next day they came sailing at evening to land.
That island was called Logice; no people were there,
Neither men nor women, but waste paths only.
Outlaws had robbed that land, and all the folk slain,
And so was it all waste and void of dwellings.
But so many wild beasts were there that it seemed a wonder to them,
And the Trojan men took after those deer,
And did with those wild things all of their will;
To the ships they carried as much as they would.
They found in that island a very strong city,
But tottering were the walls, waste were the halls.
A single temple they found there, made all out of marble stone,
A great one and glorious; the Worse did rule it.
Therein was a statue in woman's likeness,
Fair it was and very tall; in a heathenish name
Diana she was called; the devil did love her.
She was queen of all woodlands that waxed upon earth;
In the heathen laws she was held a great god.
To her would betake them the wonder-crafty men;
Of things that were to come she would inform them,
With tokens and with dreams when they were asleep.
At one time on that island there were folk dwelling,
Who gave worship to that image; the devil received it.
Brutus heard it said through his seamen,
Who were earlier in that island and knew of those laws;
Brutus took twelve wizards, who were of his wisest,
And a priest of his laws, which prevailed in heathen days;
That priest was called Gerion; he was high in the court.
He went to that place wherein stood Diana.
Brutus went into that temple, and the twelve with him,
And he let all his folk remain there outside.
A dish he bore in his hand, it was all of red gold;
Milk was in that dish, and some wine as well;
The milk was from a white hind that Brutus shot with his own hand.
He made at the altar a most fair fire;
Nine times that altar he circled for his needs;
He cried out to that lady; she was dear to his heart;
With gracious words he besought her power.
Often he kissed that altar with reverent looks;
He poured that milk in the fire with devout words;
" Lady Diana, dear Diana, mighty Diana, help me at need.
Teach me and guide me through thy wise skill
Whither I may betake me and guide my people,
To a pleasant land, where I may dwell.
And if that land I gain me, and my folk overrun it,
I will erect in thy name a noble temple,
And I will obey thee with reverent worship. "
Thus spoke Brutus.
Then he took the hide that came from that hind;
Before the altar he spread it, as if he would lie on a bed;
He kneeled there upon it, and then he lay down;
So he began to slumber and after to sleep.
Then it seemed in his dream, as he lay there asleep,
That his lady Diana beheld him tenderly
With winsome laughter; fair she did promise him,
And her hand she graciously laid on his head,
And thus she said to him, as he lay there asleep:
" Beyond France, in the west, thou shalt find a fair land;
That land is surrounded by the sea; therein shalt thou be happy.
There is fowl, there is fish; there dwell the fair deer;
There is wood, there is water; there is great wilderness.
Lovely is that land, fair springs abound there;
There dwell in that land very strong giants.
Albion is that land called, but it hath no people.
Thither shalt thou go, and a new Troy make there;
There shall of thy kindred kingly sons arise,
And thy illustrious kin shall wield this land,
Throughout the world be exalted; and thou be hale and sound. "