A Description of the Battle in Fight

¹

Some with sharp swords—to tell, O most accursed!—²
Were above half into their³ bodies thrust,
From whence fresh streams of blood run all along⁴
Unto the hilts, and there lay clodded on.
Some, their legs dangling⁵ by the nervous strings,                       5
And shoulders cut, hung loose like flying wings.
Heads here were cleft in pieces,⁶ brains lay⁷ mashed,
And all their faces into slices hashed.
Brains only in the pia mater thin,
Did⁸ quivering lie⁹ within that little skin,                                    10
Their skulls all broke and into pieces burst,
By horses hooves and chariot wheels were crushed.¹⁰
Others, their heads did lie¹¹ on their own laps,
And some again, half cut, lay¹² on their paps,
Whose tongues out of their mouths were thrust¹³ at length.   15
For why?¹⁴ The strings were¹⁵ cut that gave them strength.
Their eyes did¹⁶ stare; their lids were open wide,¹⁷
For the small nerves were shrunk on every side.¹⁸
In¹⁹ some again, those glassy balls hung²⁰ by
Small slender strings, as chains to tie the eye.                            20
Those²¹ strings, when broke, eyes fall, which²² trundling round
Until²³ the film is²⁴ broke upon the ground.
In death, their teeth strong set, their lips left²⁵ bare,
Which grinning seem’d²⁶ as if they angry were.
Their hair²⁷ upon their eyes in clodded gore                              25
So wildly spread, as ne’er it did before.²⁸
With frowns their foreheads did in²⁹ furrows lie,
As graves their foes to bury when they die.
Their spongy lungs heaved up³⁰ through pangs of death,
With pain and difficulty fetched short breath.                           30
Some grasping hard, their hands through pain provoked,
Because³¹ the rattling phlegm their throats had choked;³²
Their bodies now bowed³³ up, then down did³⁴ fall,
For want of strength to make them stand withall.
Some staggering on their legs did³⁵ feebly stand,                      35
Or leaning on their sword with either hand,
Where on the pummel did³⁶ their breast rely,
More grieved they could not³⁷ fight, than for to die.
Their hollow eyes sunk deep into their brains,³⁸
And hard-fetched groans did from each heartstring strain.³⁹ 40
Their knees pulled up to keep their bowels in,⁴⁰
But all too little through their blood doth swim;⁴¹
Guts did,⁴² like sausages, their bodies twine,
Or like the spreading plant, or wreathing vine.
Their restless heads, not knowing how to lie,                             45
Through grievous pains did⁴³ quickly wish to die;
Rolling from off their back upon their belly,
Did tumble⁴⁴ in their blood as thick as jelly.
And gasping lay⁴⁵ with short breaths and constraint,
With cold sweat drops upon their faces faint.                            50
Heaving their dull pale eyeballs, up did⁴⁶ look,
As if through pain, not hate, the world forsook.
Some chilly cold, as in shiv’ring⁴⁷ agues, are;
Some burning hot, as in high fevers were;
Some spewing⁴⁸ blood from stomachs that are sick;                55
Through parching heats their tongues to’th’roofs⁴⁹ did⁵⁰ stick.
Their bodies with loud groans their souls called⁵¹ back,
While smarting wounds did set them on the rack,
And on their arms their faces lay across,
As if in death they were ashamed of loss.                                    60
Some dying lay, like flame⁵² whose oil is spent,
Or fire that’s smothered out and⁵³ wanteth vent,
And some did⁵⁴ fall like strong and hardy oaks
Which are hewn down⁵⁵ with fierce and cruel strokes,
Their limbs chopped small, as wood for fire to burn,               65
Or carved, or chipped out for joiner’s turn.
Some underneath their horses’ bellies flung;
Some by the heels in their own stirrups hung.
Others their heads and neck lay⁵⁶ all awry,
And⁵⁷ on their horses’ manes, as pillows, lie.                             70
Some in a careless garb lay⁵⁸ on the ground,
As life despised, since honor in death’s⁵⁹ found.
Some called for Death, and some did⁶⁰ Life desire;
Some cared not; some did burials⁶¹ require;
Some beat their breasts as if they’d done some ill;⁶²                 75
Some burned with hot revenge their foes to kill;⁶³
Some lay as if to hear the trumpet sound,
And others did lie⁶⁴ sprawling on the ground;
Some wished their death’s revenge upon their foe,
Others⁶⁵ with dying eyes their friends not know;                      80
Some their parents, children cried to⁶⁶ see;
Others wished life, some difference to agree.
But lovers, with a soft and panting heart,
Did wish their mistress, at their last⁶⁷ depart,
To shut their eyes, their gaping⁶⁸ wounds to close,                    85
Whose dying spirits⁶⁹ to their mistress goes.
Foes’ hands into each others wounds thrust wide,
As if their hearts they’d⁷⁰ pull out from each side;
Some⁷¹ friends, in dear embracements, closely⁷² twined,
By their affections⁷³ strong in death were⁷⁴ joined;                  90
Some wished to live, yet longed⁷⁵ for death through pain;
Others died⁷⁶ grieving that their foe’s not slain;
Some did⁷⁷ repent what they so rash had⁷⁸ done,
And wished⁷⁹ the battle were to be begun;
Some gently sinking, by a⁸⁰ fainting fall,                                      95
Yield quietly to Death when he did⁸¹ call;
Some drunk with death not able were⁸² to stand,
But⁸³ reeling fell,⁸⁴ struck down by Death’s cold hand;
Some lingered⁸⁵ long, as lovers when they⁸⁶ must
Part; some did⁸⁷ willing yield to fate their dust,                          100
And sweetly lay⁸⁸ as if asleep at⁸⁹ night;
Some stern, as if new battles they would⁹⁰ fight;
Some softly murmuring, like a bubbling stream,
Did⁹¹ sweetly smile in death, as in a dream.
Their⁹² souls with soft-breathed sighs to heav’n did fly,⁹³        105
To live with th’gods⁹⁴ above the starry sky.
Thus several noises through the air did⁹⁵ ring,
And several postures Death to men did⁹⁶ bring:
Where some did⁹⁷ die outrageous⁹⁸ in despair,
Others so gentle as without all⁹⁹ fear.                                           110
With heaps of bodies, hills up high were grown,¹⁰⁰
Where hair as grass, and teeth as seed were sown.¹⁰¹
Their heads¹⁰² and heels, horsemen together lay,
Smothered to death which could not get away.
Their arms lay hacked, and all were thrown about,                  115
And targets full of holes, that kept death out.
Their flags flying¹⁰³ like moving woods did show,
On whose tops various colors seemed¹⁰⁴ to grow,
As if flow’rs from high trees had sprouted out,¹⁰⁵
Or in the open air were strewed about;¹⁰⁶                                   120
Now all were fallen, and into pieces torn,¹⁰⁷
Their mottos razed that¹⁰⁸ did their sides adorn;
Some did like¹⁰⁹ winding sheets their bearers shroud,
Which was an honour fit to make Death proud.
Some were¹¹⁰ like virgins, which their eyes cast¹¹¹ low            125
Through shamefastness, although no fault they¹¹² know,
Nor guilty are,¹¹³ but overcome with strength,
Not by their own consent, but¹¹⁴ forced at length,
For courage, like to chastity,¹¹⁵ we find
Is forced to lay down arms, though ’gainst its¹¹⁶ mind.             130
Here gauntlets, corslets, gorgets, saddles thrown,¹¹⁷
Flags, pikes, drums, guns, bullets, all o’er strown,¹¹⁸
And plumes¹¹⁹ of feathers which waved with the wind,
And proudly tossed, like to some haughty mind,
Like to¹²⁰ prosperity when overborne,                                         135
Now humbly lay, and were in pieces torn.¹²¹
Horses, which proudly pranced¹²² when backed they¹²³ were
By men of courage, never knowing fear,
Now overpowered lay¹²⁴ by strong assault,
And lost by force; ’twas¹²⁵ not their courage fault,                    140
For they on Death’s dull face could boldly stare,
Since life should hate, if not¹²⁶ victorious were.
Dead horses lay on¹²⁷ backs, their heels up flung;
Their eyes were sunk, heads¹²⁸ turned; their jaws down hung.
Their thick curled manes, which grew down to the ground,  145
Or by their masters¹²⁹ in fine ribbons bound,
Were¹³⁰ torn half off, or singed by fire from guns,
Or snarled in knots or clods that¹³¹ backward runs.
Their nostrils wide, from whence thick smoke outwent,
Which vapor from their hot stout hearts was¹³² sent,             150
Their sleek bright hair o’th’skin¹³³ like coats of mail,
Their courage fierce, that nothing could them¹³⁴ quail,
All in death lay;¹³⁵ by Fortune they were cast,
And Nature to new forms went¹³⁶ on in haste,
For neither beauty, strength, nor¹³⁷ nimble feet                       155
Can¹³⁸ serve in death; all beasts alike there meet.
Thus horse and man in several postures¹³⁹ lies,
With several pains; in several places dies.
When horses die, they know no reason why,
But¹⁴⁰ men do venture life for vainglory.                                   160
Smoke from their blood¹⁴¹ into red clouds did rise,
Which flashed like lightning in all living eyes;¹⁴²
Their groans into the middle region went,
And echoes did¹⁴³ the air like thunder rent;
From sighs, winds rarified¹⁴⁴ such gusts did blow,                  165
As if ascended¹⁴⁵ from the shades below.
Men strive¹⁴⁶ to die, to make their names to live,
When gods no certainty to fame¹⁴⁷ will give.

1. the Battle in Fight] the Fight. 1664; the Fight. 1668
2. —to tell, O most accursed!—] to tell, O most accurst, 1653; (to tell, O most accurst!) 1668
3. their] the 1653
4. run all along] along did run 1664, 1668
5. dangling] hang dangling 1653
6. Heads here were cleft in pieces,] Here heads are cleft in two parts, 1653
7. lay] lye 1653
8. Did] Which 1653
9. lie] lyes 1653
10. were crushed.] to dust. 1653
11. heads did lie] owne heads lyes 1653
12. lay] lyes 1653
13. Whose tongues out of their mouths were thrust] Whose Tongues out of their mouthes are thrust 1653; Some thrust their Tongues out of their Mouths 1664, 1668
14. why?] why, 1653, 1668
15. were] are 1653
16. did] do 1653
17. their lids were open wide,] the lids wide open set, 1653
18. For the small nerves were shrunk on every side.] The little Nerves being shrunk, they cannot shut. 1653
19. In] And 1653
20. hung] hangs 1653
21. Those] W^ch 1664, 1668
22. eyes fall, which] the Eyes fell 1664, 1668
23. Until] And then 1664, 1668
24. is] was 1664, 1668
25. left] were 1664, 1668
26. seem’d] seems, 1653
27. hair] Hairs 1653
28. So wildly spread, as ne’er it did before.] Or wildly spreads, as not in life they wore; 1653
29. did in] in deep 1653
30. Their spongy lungs heaved up] Heaving up spongy lungs 1653
31. Because] For why, 1653
32. had choked;] do choak. 1653
33. now bowed] bowing 1653
34. did] they 1653
35. did] do 1653
36. did] doth 1653
37. could not] cannot 1653
38. brains,] Brain, 1664, 1668
39. did from each heartstring strain.] from every heart-string strains. 1653
40. to keep their bowels in,] lest th’Bowels out should come, 1664; lest th’Bowels out should come; 1668
41. doth swim] they Swom; 1664; they swom. 1668
42. Guts did,] And Guts 1653
43. did] do 1653
44. Did tumble] Tumbling 1653
45. lay] lye 1653
46. Heaving their dull pale eyeballs, up did] Then heaving up their dull, pale eye-balls, 1653
47. in shiv’ring] shivering 1653; Shivering 1664
48. Some spewing] Spewing of 1653
49. heats their tongues to’th’roofs] Heat their Tongue to th’Roof 1664; heat their Tongue to th’Roof 1668
50. did] do 1653
51. Their bodies with loud groans their souls called] With loud groans, bodies call’d their soules 1653
52. lay, like flame] like a flame, 1653
53. that’s smothered out and] smother’d out which 1653
54. did] do 1653
55. are hewn down] hewn down are 1653
56. neck lay] Necks being 1664, 1668
57. And] Did 1664, 1668
58. lay] lye 1653
59. As life despised, since honor in death’s] Despis’d Life, since in Death is Honour 1664, 1668
60. called for Death, and some did] for death do call, some 1653
61. cared not; some did burials] care not, others burial 1653
62. if they’d done some ill;] evill they had done, 1653
63. Some burned with hot revenge their foes to kill;] Others in fiery hot revenge do burn. 1653
64. did lie] lay, as 1653
65. Others] Some did 1664; Some did, 1668
66. their parents, children cried to] would their Parents, some their Children 1664, 1668
67. last] Sad 1664; sad 1668
68. their gaping] and 1653
69. dying spirits] Dying Spirit 1664; dying-spirit, 1669
70. they’d] would 1653
71. Some] VVhere 1653
72. closely] are close 1653
73. affections] affection 1653
74. were] they are 1653
75. longed] long 1653
76. died] dye 1653
77. Some did] Or else 1653
78. had] have 1653
79. wished] wish 1653
80. by a] so by 1653
81. Yield quietly to Death when he did] And quietly do yeeld, when Death them 1653
82. were] are 1653
83. But] And 1653
84. fell,] fall, 1653
85. lingered] lingring 1653
86. they] part 1653
87. Part; some did] Others, as 1653
88. lay] lies, 1653
89. at] in 1653
90. they would] were to 1653
91. Did] Yet 1653
92. Their] Whole 1653
93. heav’n did fly,] heaven flye, 1653; Heaven did fly, 1668
94. th’gods] gods 1653
95. did] do 1653
96. did] doth 1653
97. did] do 1653
98. outrageous] Outragions 1664. The 1664 Errata list corrects this turned letter to “outragious”; the correction is also carried forward into 1668.
99. without all] appears no 1653
100. With heaps of bodies, hills up high were grown,] With heaps of bodies, hills up high are growne, 1653; High Hills with Heaps of Bodies there were Grown, 1664; High Hills, with heaps of Bodies, there were grown; 1668
101. Where hair as grass, and teeth as seed were sown.] Where haire as grasse, and teeth, as seed are sown: 1653; And Hair as Grass, and Teeth as Seed were Sown; 1664; And Hair, as Grass; and Teeth, as Seed, were sown. 1668
102. heads] head, 1653
103. flying] which first 1664, 1668
104. On whose tops various colors seemed] Various colours seem’d on their tops 1653
105. flow’rs from high trees had sprouted out,] flowers had sprouted from trees high, 1653
106. in the open air were strewed about;] strew’d about, did in the clouds so lye. 1653
107. Now all were fallen, and into pieces torn,] Now all are fallen, and into peeces torn, 1653; VVere now all fall’n and into Pieces torn, 1664; Were now all faln, and into pieces torn, 1668
108. that] which 1664, 1668
109. Some did like] Yet some as 1653
110. Some were] Some 1653
111. which their eyes cast] that cast their eyes down 1653
112. although no fault they] though they no fault did 1664, 1668
113. are,] were; 1664, 1668
114. Not by their own consent, but] Though not consenting, yet is 1653
115. For courage, like to chastity,] As Chastity, so courage forc’d 1653
116. Is forced to lay down arms, though ’gainst its] To lay down Arms though sore against their 1653
117. Here gauntlets, corslets, gorgets, saddles thrown,] Gauntlets and Corslets, Saddles lay here and there, 1664; Gauntlets and Corslets, Saddles, lay here and there; 1668
118. bullets, all o’er strown,] were scatter’d every where, 1664; were scatter’d every where; 1668
119. And plumes] Plumes 1653
120. Like to] Just like 1664, 1668
121. lay, and were in pieces torn.] lyes, where they are trodden on. 1653
122. which proudly pranced] praunce proudly, 1653
123. backed they] they backed 1653
124. Now overpowered lay] If they are over-powred 1653
125. force; ’twas] strength, was 1653
126. should hate, if not] they Hate, lest they 1664; they hate, lest they 1668
127. lay on] lye on 1653; lay on th’ 1664, 1668
128. Their eyes were sunk, heads] Eyes sunke, their heads lye 1653
129. masters] Master 1653
130. Were] Was 1653
131. knots or clods that] a Knot which 1664, a Knot, which 1668
132. vapor from their hot stout hearts was] from their hot stout hearts that vapour 1653
133. o’th’skin] on skin 1653
134. Their courage fierce, that nothing could them] And their feirce Courage which could nothing 1664; And their fierce Courage, which could nothing 1668
135. in death lay;] lay in Death, 1664; lay in Death: 1668
136. went] goes 1653
137. nor] or 1653
138. Can] Could 1653
139. Thus horse and man in several postures] In severall postures, horse and men thus 1653
140. But] VVhere 1653
141. blood] bloods 1653
142. all living eyes;] the livings eyes, 1653
143. And echoes did] Ecchoes in 1653
144. From sighs, winds rarified] Winds rarified, sighs 1653
145. ascended] they ’scended 1664, 1668
146. strive] strives 1653
147. no certainty to fame] to Fame, no Certainty 1668