THE OAK. 



43 



the powerful Welch Chieftain, and the firm adherent 

 of the English Insurgents, ascended this tree, and 

 from its lofty branches, then most probably in the 

 full pride of their vigour, reconnoitred the state of 

 the field : when finding that the King was in great 

 force, and that the Earl of Northumberland had not 

 joined his son Henry, he descended from his leafy 

 observatory, with the prudent resolution of declining 

 the combat, and retreated with his followers to Os- 

 westry. This caution seems scarcely in character 

 with the fierce and heedless courage of 



•* The irregular and wild Glendower," 



whose martial daring is well pourtrayed by our 

 great dramatic poet, in Hotspur's account of his 

 combat with *' the noble Mortimer ; " of whom he 

 says : 



To prove that true. 



Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds, 



Those mouthed wounds, which valiantly he took, 



When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank. 



In single opposition, hand to hand. 



He did confound the best part of an hour 



In changing hardiment with great Glendower. 



Three times they breathed, and three times did they drink. 



Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood ; 



Who then, affrighted with their bloody looks. 



Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds, 



And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank, 



Blood-stained with the valiant combatants." 



King H ENRY IV, 1st Part. Act 1. sc. 3. 



