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Book 2. Canto X

A chronicle of Briton kings,

from Brute to Vthers rayne.

And rolles of Elfin Emperours,

till time of Gloriane.

W Ho now shall giue vnto me words and sound,

Equall vnto this haughtie enterprise?

Or who shall lend me wings, with which from ground

Lowly verse may loftily arise,

And lift it selfe vnto the highest skies?

More ample spirit, then hitherto was wount,

Here needes me, whiles the famous auncestries

Of my most dreaded Soueraigne I recount,

By which all earthly Princes she doth farre surmount.

Ne vnder Sunne, that shines so wide and faire,

Whence all that liues, does borrow life and light,

Liues ought, that to her linage may compaire,

Which though from earth it be deriued right,

Yet doth it selfe stretch forth to heauens hight,

And all the world with wonder ouerspred;

A labour huge, exceeding farre my might:

How shall fraile pen, with feare disparaged,

Conceiue such soueraine glory, and great bountihed?

Argument worthy of "Moeonian" quill,

Or rather worthy of great "Phoebus" rote,

Whereon the ruines of great "Ossa" hill,

And triumphes of "Phlegran Ioue" he wrote,

That all the Gods admird his loftie note.

But if some relish of that heauenly lay

His learned daughters would to me report,

To decke my song withall, I would assay,

Thy name, ô: soueraine Queene, to blazon farre away.

Thy name

As in that old mans booke they were in order told.

The land, which warlike Britons now possesse,

And therein haue their mightie empire raysd,

In antique times was saluage wildernesse,

Vnpeopled, vnmanurd, vnprou'd, vnpraysd,

Ne was it Island then, ne was it paysd

Amid the "Ocean" waues, ne was it sought

Of marchants farre, for profits therein praysd,

But was all desolate, and of some thought

By sea to haue bene fr the "Celticke" mayn-land brought.

Ne did it then deserue a name to haue,

Till that the venturous Mariner that way

Learning his ship from those white rocks to saue,

Which all along the Southerne sea-coast lay,

Threatning vnheedie wrecke and rash decay,

For safeties sake that same his sea-marke made,

And named it "Albion". But later day

Finding in it fit ports for fishers trade,

Gan more the same frequent, and further to inuade.

But farre in land a saluage nation dwelt,

Of hideous Giants, and halfe beastly men,

That neuer tasted grace, nor goodnesse felt,

But like wild beasts lurking in loathsome den,

And flying fast as Roebucke through the fen,

All naked without shame, or care of cold,

By hunting and by spoiling liued then;

Of stature huge, and eke of courage bold,

That sonnes of men amazd their sternnesse to behold.

But whence they sprong, or how they were begot,

Vneath is to assure; vneath to wene

That monstrous error, which doth some assot,

That "Dioclesians" fiftie daughters shene

Into this land by chaunce haue driuen bene,

Where companing with feends and filthy Sprights,

Through vaine illusion of their lust vnclene,

They brought forth Giants and such dreadfull wights,

As farre exceeded men in their immeasurd mights.

They held this land, and with their filthinesse

Polluted this same gentle soyle long time:

That their owne mother loathd their beastlinesse,

And gan abhorre her broods vnkindly crime,

All were they borne of her owne natiue slime,

Vntill that "Brutus" anciently deriu'd

From royall stocke of old "Assaracs" line,

Driuen by fatall error, here arriu'd,

And them of their vniust possession depriu'd.

But ere he had established his throne,

And spred his empire to the vtmost shore,

He fought great battels with his saluage fone;

In which he them defeated euermore,

And many Giants left on groning flore;

That well can witnesse yet vnto this day

The westerne Hogh, besprincled with the gore

Of mightie "Gemot", whom in stout fray

"Corineus" conquered, and cruelly did slay.

And eke that ample Pit, yet farre renownd,

For the large leape, which "Debon" did compell

"Coulin" to make, being eight lugs of grownd;

Into the which returning backe, he fell:

But those three monstrous stones doe most excell

Which that huge sonne of hideous "Albion",

Whose father "Hercules" in Fraunce did quell,

Great "Godmer" threw, in fierce contention,

At bold "Canutus"; but of him was slaine anon.

In meed of these great conquests by them got,

"Corineus" had that Prouince vtmost west,

To him assigned for his worthy lot,

Which of his name and memorable gest

He called "Cornewaile", yet so called best:

And "Debons" shayre was, that is "Deuonshyre":

But "Canute" had his portion from the rest,

The which he cald "Canutium", for his hyre;

Now "Cantium", which Kent we commenly inquire.

Thus "Brute" this Realme vnto his rule subdewd,

And raigned long in great felicitie,

Lou'd of his friends, and of his foes eschewd,

He left three sonnes, his famous progeny,

Borne of faire "Inogene" of "Italy";

Mongst whom he parted his imperiall state,

And "Locrine" left chiefe Lord of "Britany".

At last ripe age bad him surrender late

His life, and long good fortune vnto finall fate.

"Locrine" was left the soueraine Lord of all;

But "Albanact" had all the Northrene part,

Which of himselfe "Albania" he did call;

And "Camber" did possesse the Westerne quart,

Which "Seuerne" now from "Logris" doth depart:

And each his portion peaceably enioyd,

Ne was there outward breach, nor grudge in hart,

That once their quiet gouernment annoyd,

But each his paines to others profit still employd.

Vntill a nation straung, with visage swart,

And courage fierce, that all men did affray,

Which through the world th swarmd in euery part,

And ouerflow'd all countries farre away,

Like "Noyes" great flood, with their importune sway,

This land inuaded with like violence,

And did themselues through all the North display:

Vntill that "Locrine" for his Realmes defence,

Did head against them make, and strong munificence.

He them encountred, a confused rout,

Foreby the Riuer, that whylome was hight

The auncient "Abus", where with courage stout

He them defeated in victorious fight,

And chaste so fiercely after fearfull flight,

That forst their Chieftaine, for his safeties sake,

(Their Chieftaine "Humber" named was aright)

Vnto the mightie streame him to betake,

Where he an end of battell, and of life did make.

The king returned proud of victorie,

And insolent wox through vnwonted ease,

That shortly he forgot the ieopardie,

Which in his land he lately did appease,

And fell to vaine voluptuous disease:

He lou'd faire Ladie "Estrild", lewdly lou'd,

Whose wanton pleasures him too much did please.

That quite his hart from "Guendolene" remou'd,

Fr "Guendolene" his wife, though alwaies faithfull prou'd.

The noble daughter of "Corineus"

Would not endure to be so vile disdaind,

But gathering force, and courage valorous,

Encountred him in battell well ordaind,

In which him vanquisht she to fly constraind:

But she so fast pursewd, that him she tooke,

And threw in bands, where he till death remaind;

Als his faire Leman, flying through a brooke,

She ouerhent, nought moued with her piteous looke.

But both her selfe, and eke her daughter deare,

Begotten by her kingly Paramoure,

The faire "Sabrina" almost dead with feare,

She there attached, farre from all succoure;

The one she slew in that impatient stoure,

But the sad virgin innocent of all,

Adowne the rolling riuer she did poure,

Which of her name now "Seuerne" men do call:

Such was the end, that to disloyall loue did fall.

Then for her sonne, which she to "Locrin" bore,

"Madan" was young, vnmeet the rule of sway,

In her owne hande the crowne she kept in store,

Till ryper yeares he raught, and stronger stay:

During which time her powre she did display

Through all this realme, the glorie of her sex,

And first taught men a woman to obay:

But when her sonne to mans estate did wex,

She it surrendred, ne her selfe would lenger vex.

Tho "Madan" raignd, vnworthie of his race:

For with all shame that sacred throne he fild:

Next "Memprise", as vnworthy of that place,

In which being consorted with "Manild",

For thirst of single kingdome him he kild.

But "Ebranck" salued both their infamies

With noble deedes, and warreyd on "Brunchild"

In "Henault", where yet of his victories

Braue moniments remaine, which yet that land enuies.

An happie man in his first dayes he was,

And happie father of faire progeny:

For all so many weekes as the yeare has,

So many children he did multiply;

Of which were twentie sonnes, which did apply,

Their minds to praise, and cheualrous desire:

Those germans did subdew all Germany,

Of whom it hight; but in the end their Sire

With foule repulse from Fraunce was forced to retire.

Which blot his sonne succeeding in his seat,

The second "Brute", the second both in name,

And eke in semblance of his puissance great,

Right well recur'd, and did away that blame

With recompence of euerlasting fame.

He with his victour sword first opened,

The bowels of wide Fraunce, a forlorne Dame,

And taught her first how to be conquered;

Since which, with sundrie spoiles she hath beene ransacked.

Let "Scaldis" tell, and let tell "Hania",

And let the marsh of "Estham bruges" tell,

What colour were their waters that same day,

And all the moore twixt "Eluersham" and "Dell",

With bloud of "Henalois", which therein fell.

How oft that day did sad "Brunchildis" see

The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell?

That not "Scuith guiridh" it mote seeme to bee

But rather "y Scuith gogh", signe of sad crueltee.

His sonne king "Leill" by fathers labour long,

Enioyd an heritage of lasting peace,

And built "Cairleill", and built "Cairleon" strong.

Next "Huddibras" his realme did not encrease,

But taught the land from wearie warres to cease.

Whose footsteps "Bladud" following in arts

Exceld at "Athens" all the learned preace,

From whence he brought them to these saluage parts,

And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts.

Ensample of his wondrous faculty,

Behold the boyling Bathes at "Cairbadon",

Which seeth with secret fire eternally,

And in their entrails, full of quicke Brimston,

Nourish the flames, which they are warm'd vpon,

That to their people wealth they forth do well,

And health to euery forreine nation:

Yet he at last contending to excell

The reach of men, through flight into fond mischief fell.

Next him king "Leyr" in happie peace long raind,

But had no issue male him to succeed,

But three faire daughters, which were well vptraind,

In all that seemed fit for kingly seed:

Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed

To have diuided. Tho when feeble age

Nigh to his vtmost date he saw proceed,

He cald his daughters; and with speeches sage

Inquyrd, which of them most did loue her parentage.

The eldest "Gonorill" gan to protest,

That she much more then her owne life him lou'd:

And "Regan" greater loue to him profest,

Then all the world, when euer it were proou'd;

But "Cordeill" said she lou'd him, as behoou'd:

Whose simple answere, wanting colours faire

To paint it forth, him to displeasance moou'd,

That in his crowne he counted her no haire,

But twixt the other twaine his kingdome whole did shaire.

So wedded th'one to "Maglan" king of Scots,

And th'other to the king of "Cambria",

And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lots:

But without dowre the wise "Cordelia"

Was sent to "Aganip" of "Celtica".

Their aged Syre, thus eased of his crowne,

A priuate life led in "Albania",

With "Gonorill", long had in great renowne,

That nought him grieu'd to bene from rule deposed downe.

But true it is, that when the oyle is spent,

The light goes out, and weeke is throwne away;

So when he had resigned his regiment,

His daughter gan despise his drouping day,

And wearie waxe of his continuall stay.

Tho to his daughter "Rigan" he repayrd,

Who him at first well vsed euery way;

But when of his departure she despayrd,

Her bountie she abated, and his cheare empayrd.

The wretched man gan then auise too late,

That loue is not, where most it is profest,

Too truely tryde in his extreamest state;

At last resolu'd likewise to proue the rest,

He to "Cordelia" him selfe addrest,

Who with entire affection him receau'd,

As for her Syre and king her seemed best;

And after all an army strong she leau'd,

To war on those, which him had of his realme bereau'd.

So to his crowne she him restor'd againe,

In which he dyde, made ripe for death by eld,

And after wild, it should to her remaine:

Who peaceably the same long time did weld:

And all mens harts in dew obedience held:

Till that her sisters children, woxen strong

Through proud ambition, against her rebeld,

And ouercommen kept in prison long,

Till wearie of that wretched life, her selfe she hong.

Then gan the bloudie brethren both to raine:

But fierce "Cundah" gan shortly to enuie

His brother "Morgan", prickt with proud disdaine,

To haue a pere in part of soueraintie,

And kindling coles of cruell enmitie,

Raisd warre, and him in battell ouerthrew:

Whence as he to those woodie hils did flie,

Which hight of him "Glamorgan", there him slew:

Then did he raigne alone, when he none equall knew.

His sonne "Riuallo" his dead roome did supply,

In whose sad time bloud did from heauen raine:

Next great "Gurgustus", then faire "Ccily"

In constant peace their kingdomes did containe,

After whom "Lago", and "Kinmarke" did raine,

And "Gorbogud", till farre in yeares he grew:

Then his ambitious sonnes vnto them twaine

Arraught the rule, and from their father drew,

Stout "Ferrex" and sterne "Porrex" him in prison threw.

But

Who vnto him assembling forreine might,

Made warre on him, and fell him selfe in fight:

Whose death t'auenge, his mother mercilesse,

Most mercilesse of women, "VVyden" hight,

Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse,

And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse.

Here ended "Brutus" sacred progenie,

Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne,

With high renowme, and great felicitie?

The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne

Through discord, and the royall throne forlorne:

Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent,

Whilest each of "Brutus" boasted to be borne,

That in the end was left no moniment

Of "Brutus", nor of Britons glory auncient.

Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might,

And wondrous wit to menage high affaires,

Who stird with pitty of the stressed plight

Of this sad Realme, cut into sundry shaires

By such, as claymd themselues "Brutes" rightfull haires,

Gathered the Princes of the people loose,

To taken counsell of their common cares;

Who with his wisedom won, him streight did choose

Their king, and swore him fealty to win or loose.

Then made he head against his enimies,

And "Ymner" slew, or "Logris" miscreate;

Then "Ruddoc" and proud "Stater", both allyes,

This of "Albanie" newly nominate,

And that of "Cambry" king confirmed late,

He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce;

Whose countreis he redus'd to quiet state,

And shortly brought to ciuill gouernaunce,

Now one, which earst were many, made through variaunce.

Then made he sacred lawes, which some men say

Were vnto him reueald in vision,

By which he freed the Traueilers high way,

The Churches part, and Ploughmans portion,

Restraining stealth, and strong extortion;

The gracious "Numa" of great "Britanie":

For till his dayes, the chiefe dominion

By strength was wielded without pollicie;

Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignitie.

"Donwallo" dyde (for what may liue for ay?)

And left two sonnes, of pearelesse prowesse both;

That sacked "Rome" too dearely did assay,

The recompence of their periured oth,

And ransackt "Greece" well tryde, wh they were wroth;

Besides subiected "Fraunce", and "Germany",

Which yet their prayses speake, all be they loth,

And inly tremble at the memory

Of "Brennus" and "Bellinus", kings of Britany.

Next them did "Gurgunt", great "Bellinus" sonne

In rule succeede, and eke in fathers prayse;

He Easterland subdewd, and Danmarke wonne,

And of them both did foy and tribute raise,

The which was dew in his dead fathers dayes:

He also gaue to fugitiues of "Spayne",

Whom he at sea found wandring from their wayes,

A seate in "Ireland" safely to remayne,

Which they should hold of him, as subiect to "Britayne".

After him raigned "Guitheline" his hayre,

The iustest man and trewest in his dayes,

Who had to wife Dame "Mertia" the fayre,

A woman worthy of immortall prayse,

Which for this Realme found many goodly layes,

And wholesome Statutes to her husband brought;

Her many deemd to haue beene of the "Fayes",

As was "Aegerie", that "Numa" tought;

Those yet of her be "Merti" lawes both nam'd

Next whom "Morindus" did the crowne sustaine,

Who, had he not with wrath outrageous,

And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous

And mightie deeds, should matched haue the best:

As well in that same field victorious

Against the forreine "Morands" he exprest;

Yet liues his memorie, though carcas sleepe in rest.

Fiue sonnes he left begotten of one wife,

All which successiuely by turnes did raine;

First "Gorboman" a man of vertuous life;

Next "Archigald", who for his proud disdaine,

Deposed was from Princedome soueraine,

And pitteous "Elidure" put in his sted;

Who shortly it to him restord againe,

Till by his death he it recouered;

But "Peridure" and "Vigent" him disthronized.

In wretched prison long he did remaine,

Till they outraigned had their vtmost date,

And then therein reseized was againe,

And ruled long with honorable state,

Till he surrendred Realme and life to fate.

Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd

By dew successe, and all their Nephewes late,

Euen thrise eleuen descents the crowne retaynd,

Till aged "Hely" by dew heritage it gaynd.

He had two sonnes, whose eldest called "Lud"

Left of his life most famous memory,

And endlesse moniments of his great good:

The ruin'd wals he did redifye

Of "Troynouant", gainst force of enimy,

And built that gate, which of his name is hight,

By which he lyes entombed solemnly.

He left two sonnes, too young to rule aright,

"Androgeus" and "Tenantius", pictures of his might.

Whilst they were young, "Cassibalane" their Eme

Was by the people chosen in their sted,

Who on him tooke the royall Diademe,

And goodly well long time it gouerned,

Till the prowd "Romanes" him disquieted,

And warlike "Caesar", tempted with the name

Of this sweet Island, neuer conquered,

And enuying the Britons blazed fame,

(O hideous hunger of dominion) hither came.

Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe,

And twise renforst, backe to their ships to fly,

The whiles with bloud they all the shore did staine,

And the gray "Ocean" into purple dy:

Ne had they footing found at last perdie,

Had not "Androgeus", false to natiue soyle,

And enuious of Vncles soueraintie,

Betrayd his contrey vnto forreine spoyle:

Nought else, but treason, from the first this ld did foyle.

So by him "Caesar" got the victory,

Through great bloudshed, and many a sad assay,

In which him selfe was charged heauily

Of hardy "Nennius", whom he yet did slay,

But lost his sword, yet to be seene this day.

Thenceforth this land was tributarie made

T'ambitious "Rome", and did their rule obay,

Till "Arthur" all that reckoning did defray;

Yet oft the Briton kings against them strongly swayd.

Next him "Tenantius" raigned, then "Kimbeline",

What time th'eternall Lord in fleshly slime

Enwombed was, from wretched "Adams" line

To purge away the guilt of sinfull crime:

O ioyous memorie of happy time,

That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd;

(O too high ditty for my simple rime.)

Soone after this the "Romanes" him warrayd;

For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd.

Good "Claudius", that next was Emperour,

An army brought, and with him battell fought,

In which the king was by a Treachetour

Disguised slaine, ere any ther thought:

Yet ceased not the bloudy fight for ought;

For "Aruirage" his brothers place supplide,

Both in his armes, and crowne, and by that draught

Did driue the "Romanes" to the weaker side,

That they to peace agreed. So all was pacifide.

Was neuer king more highly magnifide,

Nor dred of "Romanes", then was "Aruirage",

For which the Emperour to him allide

His daughter "Genuiss"' in marriage:

Yet shortly he renounst the vassalage

Of "Rome" againe, who hither hastly sent

"Vespasian", that with great spoile and rage

Forwasted all, till "Genuissa" gent

Perswaded him to ceasse, and her Lord to relent.

He dyde; and him succeeded "Marius",

Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity,

Then "Coyll", and after him good "Lucius",

That first receiued Christianitie,

The sacred pledge of Christes Euangely;

Yet true it is, that long before that day

Hither came "Ioseph" of "Arimathy",

Who brought with him the holy grayle, (they say)

And preacht the truth, but since it greatly did decay.

This good king shortly without issew dide,

Wher great trouble in the kingdome grew,

That did her selfe in sundry parts diuide,

And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew,

Whilest "Romanes" dayly did the weake subdew:

Which seeing stout "Bunduca", vp arose,

And taking armes, the "Britons" to her drew;

With whom she marched streight against her foes,

And them vnwares besides the "Seuerne" did enclose.

There she with them a cruell battell tride,

Not with so good successe, as she deseru'd;

By reason that the Captaines on her side,

Corrupted by "Paulinus", from her sweru'd:

Yet such, as were through former flight preseru'd,

Gathering againe, her Host she did renew,

And with fresh courage on the victour seru'd:

But being all defeated, saue a few,

Rather then fly, or be captiu'd her selfe she slew.

O famous moniment of womens prayse,

Matchable either to "Semiramis",

Whom antique history so high doth raise,

Or to "Hypsiphil"' or to "Thomiris":

Her Host two hundred thousand numbred is;

Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might,

Triumphed oft against her enimis;

And yet though ouercome in haplesse fight,

She triumphed on death, in enemies despight.

Her reliques "Fulgent" hauing gathered,

Fought with "Seuerus", and him ouerthrew;

Yet in the chace was slaine of them, that fled:

So made them victours, whom he did subdew.

Then gan "Carausius" tirannize anew,

And gainst the "Romanes" bent their proper powre,

But him "Allectus" treacherously slew,

And took on him the robe of Emperoure:

Nath'lesse the same enioyed but short happy howre:

For "Asclepiodate" him ouercame,

And left inglorious on the vanquisht playne,

Without or robe, or rag, to hide his shame.

Then afterwards he in his stead did rayne;

But shortly was by "Coyll" in battell slaine:

Who after long debate, since "Lucies" time,

Was of the "Britons" first crownd Soueraine:

Then gan this Realme renewe her passed prime:

He of his name "Coylchester" built of stone and lime.

Which when the "Romanes" heard, they hither sent

"Constantius", a man of mickle might,

With whom king "Coyll" made an agreement,

And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright,

Faire "Helena", the fairest liuing wight;

Who in all godly thewes, and goodly prayse

Did far excell, but was most famous hight

For skill in Musicke of all in her dayes,

Aswell in curious instruments, as cunning layes.

Of whom he did great "Constantine" beget,

Who afterward was Emperour of "Rome";

To which whiles absent he his mind did set,

"Octauius" here lept into his roome,

And it vsurped by vnrighteous doome:

But he his title iustifide by might,

Slaying "Traherne", and hauing ouercome

The "Romane" legion in dreadfull fight:

So settled he his kingdome, and confirmd his right.

But wanting issew male, his daughter deare

He gaue in wedlocke to "Maximian",

And him with her made of his kingdome heyre,

Who soone by meanes ther the Empire wan,

Till murdred by the friends of "Gratian";

Then gan the Hunnes and Picts inuade this land,

During the raigne of "Maximinian";

Who dying left none heire them to withstand,

But that they ouerran all parts with easie hand.

The weary "Britons", whose war-hable youth

Was by "Maximian" lately led away,

With wretched miseries, and woefull ruth,

Were to those Pagans made an open pray,

And dayly spectacle of sad decay:

Whom "Romane" warres, which now foure hundred yeares,

And more had wasted, could no whit dismay;

Till by consent of Commons and of Peares,

They crownd the second "Constantine" with ioyous teares,

Who hauing oft in battell vanquished

Those spoilefull Picts, and swarming Easterlings,

Long time in peace his Realme established,

Yet oft annoyd with sundry bordragings

Of neighbour Scots, and forrein Scatterlings,

With which the world did in those dayes abound:

Which to outbarre, with painefull pyonings

From sea to sea he heapt a mightie mound,

Which from "Alcluid" to "Panwelt" did that border bound.

Three sonnes he dying left, all vnder age;

By meanes wher, their vncle "Vortigere"

Vsurpt the crowne, during their pupillage;

Which th'Infants tutors gathering to feare,

Them closely into "Armorick" did beare:

For dread of whom, and for those Picts annoyes,

He sent to "Germanie", straunge aid to reare,

From whence eftsoones arriued here three hoyes

Of "Saxons", whom he for his safetie imployes.

Two brethren were their Capitains, which hight

"Hengist" and "Horsus", well approu'd in warre,

And both of them men of renowmed might;

Who making vantage of their ciuill iarre,

And of those forreiners, which came from farre,

Grew great, and got large portions of land,

That in the Realme ere long they stronger arre,

Then they which sought at first their helping hand,

And "Vortiger" enforst the kingdome to aband.

But by the helpe of "Vortimere" his sonne,

He is againe vnto his rule restord,

And "Hengist" seeming sad, for that was donne,

Receiued is to grace and new accord,

Through his faire daughters face,

Soone after which, three hundred Lordes he slew

Of British bloud, all sitting at his bord;

Whose dolefull moniments who list to rew,

Th'eternall markes of treason may at "Stonheng" vew.

By this the sonnes of "Constantine", which fled,

"Ambrose" and "Vther" did ripe years attaine,

And here arriuing, strongly challenged

The crowne, which "Vortiger" did long detaine:

Who flying from his guilt, by them was slaine,

And "Hengist" eke soone brought to shamefull death.

Thenceforth "Aurelius" peaceably did rayne,

Till that through poyson stopped was his breath;

So now entombed lyes at Stoneheng by the heath.

After him "Vther", which "Pendragon" hight,

Succeding There abruptly it did end,

Without full point, or other Cesure right,

As if the rest some wicked hand did rend,

Or th'Authour selfe could not at least attend

To finish it: that so vntimely breach

The Prince him selfe halfe seemeth to offend,

Yet secret pleasure did offence empeach,

And wonder of antiquitie long stopt his speach.

At last quite rauisht with delight, to heare

The royall Ofspring of his natiue land,

Cryde out, Deare countrey, ô: how dearely deare

Ought thy remembraunce, and perpetuall band

Be to thy foster Childe, that from thy hand

Did commun breath and nouriture receaue?

How brutish is it not to vnderstand,

How much to her we owe, that all vs gaue,

That gaue vnto vs all, what euer good we haue.

But "Guyon" all this while his booke did read,

Ne yet has ended: for it was a great

And ample volume, that doth far excead

My leasure, so long leaues here to repeat:

It told, how first "Prometheus" did create

A man, of many partes from beasts deriued,

And then stole fire from heauen, to animate

His worke, for which he was by "Ioue" depriued

Of life him selfe, and hart-strings of an gle riued.

That man so made, he called "Elfe", to weet

Quick, the first authour of all Elfin kind:

Who wandring through the world with wearie feet,

Did in the gardins of "Adonis" find

A goodly creature, whom he deemd in mind

To be no earthly wight, but either Spright,

Or Angell, th'authour of all woman kind;

Therefore a "Fay" he her according hight,

Of whom all "Faeryes" spring, and fetch their lignage right.

Of these a mightie people shortly grew,

And puissaunt kings, which all the world warrayd,

And to them selues all Nations did subdew:

The first and eldest, which that scepter swayd,

Was "Elfin"; him all "India" obayd,

And all that now "America" men call:

Next him was noble "Elfinan", who layd

"Cleopolis" foundation first of all:

But "Elfiline" enclosd it with a golden wall.

His sonne was "Elfinell", who ouercame

The wicked "Gobbelines" in bloudy field:

But "Elfant" was of most renowmed fame,

Who all of Christall did "Panthea" build:

Then "Elfar", who two brethren gyants kild,

The one of which had two heads, th'other three:

Then "Elfinor", who was in Magick skild;

He built by art vpon the glassy See

A bridge of bras, whose sound heaus thunder seem'd to bee.

He left three sonnes, the which in order raynd,

And all their Ofspring, in their dew descents,

Euen seuen hundred Princes, which maintaynd

With mightie deedes their sundry gouernments;

That were too long their infinite contents

Here to record, ne much materiall:

Yet should they be most famous moniments,

And braue ensample, both of martiall,

And ciuill rule to kings and states imperiall.

After all these "Elficleos" did rayne,

The wise "Elficleos" in great Maiestie,

Who mightily that scepter did sustayne,

And with rich spoiles and famous victorie,

Did high aduaunce the crowne of "Faery":

He left two sonnes, of which faire "Elferon"

The eldest brother did vntimely dy;

Whose emptie place the mightie "Oberon"

Doubly supplide, in spousall, and dominion.

Great was his power and glorie ouer all,

Which him before, that sacred seate did fill,

That yet remaines his wide memoriall:

He dying left the fairest "Tanaquill",

Him to succeede therein, by his last will:

Fairer and nobler liueth none this howre,

Ne like in grace, ne like in learned skill;

Therefore they "Glorian" call that glorious flowre,

Long mayst thou "Glorian" liue, in glory and great powre.

Beguild thus with delight of nouelties,

And naturall desire of countreys state,

So long they red in those antiquities,

That how the time was fled, they quite forgate,

Till gentle "Alma" seeing it so late,

Perforce their studies broke, and them besought

To thinke, how supper did them long awaite.

So halfe vnwilling from their bookes them brought,

And fairely feasted, as so noble knights she ought.
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