Religion
Struggle of the Britons Against the Barbarians
From Ecclesiastical Sonnets
Rise!--they have risen: of brave Aneurin ask
How they have scourged old foes, perfidious friends:
The Spirit of Caractacus descends
Upon the Patriots, animates their task;
Amazement runs before the towering casque
Of Arthur, bearing through the stormy field
The Virgin sculptured on his Christian shield:--
Stretched in the sunny light of victory bask
The Host that followed Urien as he strode
O'er heaps of slain;--from Cambrian wood and moss
Druids descend, auxiliars of the Cross;
Bards, nursed on blue Plinlimmon's still abode,
Rush on the fight, to harps preferring swords,
And everlasting deeds to burning words!
Cite this poem
MLA
Wordsworth, William. “Struggle of the Britons Against the Barbarians.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/437/.
Chicago
Wordsworth, William. “Struggle of the Britons Against the Barbarians.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/437/.
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