Page:The parochial history of Cornwall.djvu/367

Rh out horror and amazement of the passengers; which tremendous place gave occasion to a British bard to describe the same in verses, mentioned by Camden in his Britannia, viz.

Est locus Abrini sinuoso littore ponti, Rupe situs media, refluus quem circuit æstus Fulminat hic latè turrito vertice, castrum, Nomine Tindagium veteres dixere Corini.

Thus Englished by Mr. Carew, p. 286, Lord Dunstanville's edition:

There is a place within the winding shore of Severne sea, On midst of rock, about whose foot the tides turnkeeping, play; A towry topped castle here, which blazeth over all, Which Corineus' ancient brood Tindagell Castle call.

However, I think, the meaning of the author is rather thus in English prose: "There is a place in the intricate windings of the Severn sea, situate in the middle of a rock, which the waves or billows of the sea compass or flow about, a towering top of a castle, shining or blazing abroad far and near, which the old or ancient Cornish call Dundagell."

Of this place Joseph of Exeter, a priest of that Cathedral, that went with King Richard I. into the Holy Land, and described the wars thereof, in his poem called Antiochesis, written at Antioch 500 years past; a person excellently skilled in the Greek and Latin tongues (who after his return from the Holy Land, was made Archbishop of Bourdeaux (see Hooker and Isaac), hath these words (thus Englished) of Dundagell.

From this blest place immortal Arthur sprung, Whose wondrous deeds shall be forever sung, Sweet music to the ear, sweet honey to the tongue. Look back, turn o'er the great records of fame, Proud Alexander boasts a mighty name, The Roman annals Cæsar's actions load, And conquered monsters rais'd Alcides to a god. But neither shrubs above tall pines appear, Nor Phœbus ever fears a rival star;