Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works
Page 80
Whilst of the god-like Brute the storie thus I sing.
When long-renowned Troy lay spent in hostile fire,
And aged Priams pompe did with her flames expire,
Aeneas (taking thence Ascanius, his young sonne, 321
And his most reverent sire, the grave Anchises, wonne
From sholes of slaughtering Greeks) set out from Simois shores;
And through the Tirrhene Sea, by strength of toyling ores,
Raught Italie at last: where, King Latinus lent 325
Safe harbor for his ships, with wrackfull tempests rent:
When, in the Latine Court, Lavinia young and faire
(Her fathers onely child, and kingdoms onely heire)
Upon the Trojan Lord her liking stronglie plac’t,
And languisht in the fiers that her faire breast imbrac’t: 330
But, Tumus (at that time) the proud Rutulian King,
A suter to the maid, Aeneas malicing,
By force of armes attempts, his rivall to extrude:
But, by the Teucrian power courageouslie subdu’d,
Bright Cythereas sonne the Latine crowne obtain’d; 335
And dying, in his stead his sonne Ascanius raign’d.
Next, Silvius him succeeds, begetting Brute againe:
Who in his mothers wombe whilst yet he did remaine,
The oracles gave out, that next borne Brute should bee
His parents onelie death: which soone they liv’d to see. 340
For, in his painfull birth his mother did depart;
And ere his fifteenth yeere, in hunting of a hart,
He with a lucklesse shaft his haplesse father slew:
For which, out of his throne, their King the Latines threw.
Who, wandring in the world, to Greece at last doth get. 345
Where, whilst he liv’d unknowne, and oft with want beset,
He of the race of Troy a remnant hapt to find,
There by the Grecians held; which (having still in mind
Their tedious tenne yeeres warre, and famous heroes slaine)
In slaverie with them still those Trojans did detaine:
Which Pyrrhus thither brought (and did with hate pursue, 351
To wreake Achilles death, at Troy whom Paris slew)
There, by Pandrasus kept, in sad and servile awe.
Who, when they knew young Brute, and that brave shape they saw, 354
They humbly him desire, that he a meane would bee,
From those imperious Greeks, his countrymen to free.
Hee, finding out a rare and sprightly youth, to fit
His humour every way, for courage, power, and wit,
Assaracus (who, though that by his sire he were
A Prince amongst the Greeks, yet held the Trojans deere; 360
Descended of their stock upon the mothers side:
For which, he by the Greeks his birth-right was deni’d)
Impatient of his wrongs, with him brave Brute arose,
And of the Trojan youth courageous captaines chose,
Raysd earth-quakes with their drummes, the ruffling ensignes reare; 365
And, gathering young and old that rightlie Trojan were,
Up to the mountaines march, through straits and forrests strong:
Where, taking-in the townes, pretended to belong
Unto that Grecian Lord, some forces there they put:
Within whose safer walls their wives and children shut, 370
Into the fields they drew, for libertie to stand.
Which when Pandrasus heard, he sent his strict command
To levie all the power he presentlie could make:
So, to their strengths of warre the Trojans them betake.
But whilst the Grecian guides (not knowing how or where 375
The Teucrians were entrencht, or what their forces were) —
In foule disordred troupes yet straggled, as secure,
This loosness to their spoyle the Trojans did allure,
Who fiercely them assail’d: where stanchlesse furie rap’t
The Grecians in so fast, that scarcely one escap’t: 380
Yea, proud Pandrasus flight, himselfe could hardlie free.
Who, when he saw his force thus frustrated to bee,
And by his present losse, his passed error found
(As by a later warre to cure a former wound)
Doth reinforce his power to make a second fight. 385
When they whose better wits had over-matcht his might,
Loth what they got to lose, as politiquelie cast
His armies to intrap, in getting to them fast
Antigonus as friend, and Anaclet his pheere
(Surpriz’d in the last fight) by gifts who hired were
Into the Grecian campe th’insuing night to goe 391
And faine they were stolne forth, to their allies to show
How they might have the spoile of all the Trojan pride;
And gaining them beleefe, the credulous Grecians guide 394
Into th’ambushment neere, that secretlie was laid:
So to the Trojans hands the Grecians were betraid;
Pandrasus selfe surpriz’d; his crown who to redeeme
(Which scarcely worth their wrong the Trojan race esteeme)
Their slaverie long sustain’d did willinglie release:
And (for a lasting league of amitie and peace) 400
Bright Innogen, his child, for wife to Brutus gave,
And furnisht them a fleete, with all things they could crave
To set them out to sea. Who lanching, at the last
They on Lergecia light, an ile; and ere they past,
Unto a temple built to great Diana there, 405
The noble Brutus went; wise Trivia to enquire,
To shew them where the stock of ancient Troy to place.
The goddesse, that both knew and lov’d the Trojan race,
Reveal’d to him in dreames, that furthest to the west,
He should discrie the Ile of Albion, highlie blest; 410
With giants latelie stor’d; their numbers now decaid:
By vanquishing the rest, his hopes should there he staid:
Where, from the stock of Troy, those puissant Kings should rise,
Whose conquests from the west, the world should scant suffice.
Thus answer’d; great with hope, to sea they put againe, 415
And safelie under saile, the howres doe entertaine
With sights of sundrie shores, which they from farre discrie:
And viewing with delight th’Azarian mountaines hie,
One walking on the deck, unto his friend would say
(As I have heard some tell) So goodly Ida lay. 420
Thus talking mongst themselves, they sun-burnt Africk keepe
Upon the lee-ward still, and (sulking up the deepe)
For Mauritania make: where putting-in, they find
A remnant (yet reserv’d) of th’ancient Dardan kind,
By brave Antenor brought from out the Greekish spoiles 425
(O long-renowned Troy! Of thee, and of thy toyles,
What country had not heard?) which, to their Generali, then
Great Corineus had, the strong’st of mortall men:
To whom (with joyfull harts) Dianas will they show.
Who easlie beeing wonne along with them to goe,
They altogether put into the watry plaine: 431
Oft-times with pyrats, oft with monsters of the maine
Distressed in their way; whom hope forbids to feare.
Those pillars first they passe which Joves great sonne did reare.
And cuffing those sterne waves which like huge mountaines roule 435
(Full joy in every part possessing every soule)
In Aquitane at last the (lion race arrive.
Whom strongly to repulse when as those recreants strive,
They (anchoring there at first but to refresh their fleet,
Yet saw
those savage men so rudely them to greet)
Unshipt their warlike youth, advauncing to the shore. 441
The dwellers, which perceiv’d such danger at the dore,
Their King Groffarius get to raise his powerfull force:
Who, mustring up an host of mingled foote and horse,
Upon the Trojans set; when suddainly began 445
A fierce and dangerous fight: where Corineus ran
With slaughter through the thick-set squadrons of the foes;
And with his armed axe laid on such deadlie blowes,
That heapes of livelesse trunks each passage stopt up quite.
Groffarius having lost the honour of the fight, 450
Repaires his ruin’d powers; not so to give them breath:
When they, which must be free’d by conquest or by death,
And, conquering them before, hop’t now to doe no lesse
(The like in courage still) stand for the like successe,
Then sterne and deadlie warre put-on his horridst shape; 455
And wounds appear’d so wide, as if the grave did gape
To swallow both at once; which strove as both should fall,
When they with slaughter seem’d to be encircled all:
Where Turon (of the rest) Brutes sisters valiant sonne
(By whose approved deeds that day was chiefly wonne) 460
Sixe hundred slue out-right through his peculiar strength:
By multitudes of men yet over-prest at length.
His nobler uncle there, to his immortall name,
The citie Turon built, and well endow’d the same.
For Albion sayling then, th’arrived quicklie heere
(O! never in this world men halfe so joyful were 466
With shoutes heard up to heaven, when they beheld the land)
And in this verie place where Totnesse now doth stand,
First set their gods of Troy, kissing the blessed shore;
Then, forraging this ile, long promisd them before,
Amongst the ragged cleeves those monstrous giants sought: 471
Who (of their dreadfull kind) t’appall the Trojans, brought
Great Gogmagog, an oake that by the roots could teare:
So mightie were (that time) the men who lived there:
But, for the use of armes he did not understand 475
(Except some rock or tree, that comming next to hand
Hee raz’d out of the earth to execute his rage)
Hee challenge makes for strength, and offereth there his gage.
Which, Corin taketh up, to answer by and by,
Upon this sonne of earth his utmost power to try. 480
All, doubtful to which part the victorie would goe,
Upon that loftie place at Plimmouth call’d the Hoe,
Those mightie wrastlers met; with many an irefull looke
Who threatned, as the one hold of the other tooke:
But, grapled, glowing fire shines in their sparkling eyes. 485
And, whilst at length of arme one from the other lyes,
Their lusty sinewes swell like cables, as they strive:
Their feet such trampling make, as though they forc’t to drive
A thunder out of earth; which stagger’d with the weight: 489
Thus eithers utmost force urg’d to the greatest height.
Whilst one upon his hip the other seekes to lift,
And th’adverse (by a turne) doth from his cunning shift,
Their short-fetcht troubled breath a hollow noise doth make,
Like bellowes of a forge. Then Corin up doth take
The giant twixt the grayns; and, voyding of his hould
(Before his combrous feet he well recover could) 496
Pitcht head-long from the hill; as when a man doth throw
An axtree, that with sleight delivered from the toe
Rootes up the yeelding earth: so that his violent fall,
Strooke Neptune with such strength, as shouldred him withall; 500
That where the monstrous waves like mountaines late did stand,
They leap’t out of the place, and left the bared sand
To gaze upon wide heaven: so great a blowe it gave.
For which, the conquering Brute, on Corineus brave
This home of land bestow’d, and markt it with his name; 505
Of Corin, Cornwall call’d, to his immortall fame.
Cleere Dert delivering thus the famous Brutes arrive,
Inflam’d with her report, the stragling rivelets strive
So highlie her to raise, that Ting (whose banks were blest
By her beloved nymph deere Leman) which addrest
And fullie with her selfe determined before 511
To sing the Danish spoyles committed on her shore,
When hither from the east they came in mightie swarmes,
Nor could their native earth containe their numerous armes, 514
Their surcrease grew so great, as forced them at last
To seeke another soyle (as bees doe when they cast)
And by their impious pride how hard she was bested,
When all the country swam with blood of Saxons shed:
This river (as I said) which had determin’d long
The deluge of the Danes exactlie to have song, 520
It utterlie neglects; and studying how to doe
The Dert those high respects belonging her unto,
Inviteth goodlie Ex, who from her ful-fed spring
Her little Barlee hath, and Dunsbrook her to bring
From Exmore: when she yet hath scarcely found her course, 525
Then Creddy commeth in, and Forto, which inforce
Her faster to her fall; as Ken her closelie clips,
And on her easterne side sweet Leman gentlie slips
Into her widened banks, her soveraigne to assist 529
As Columb winnes for Ex, cleere Wever and the Clist,
Contributing their streames their mistress fame to raise.
As all assist the Ex, so Ex consumeth these;
Like some unthriftie youth, depending on the court,
To winne an idle name, that keepes a needless port;
And raising his old rent, exacts his farmers store 535
The land-lord to enrich, the tenants wondrous poore:
Who having lent him theirs, he then consumes his owne,
That with most vaine expense upon the Prince is throwne:
So these, the lesser brooks unto the greater pay;
The greater, they againe spend all upon the sea; 540
As, Otrey (that her name doth of the otters take,
Abounding in her banks) and Ax, their utmost make
To ayde stout Dert, that dar’d Brutes storie to revive.
For, when the Saxon first the Britans forth did drive,
Some up into the hills themselves o’re Severne shut:
Upon this point of land, for refuge others put, 546
To that brave race of Brute still fortunate. For where
Great Brute first disembarqu’t his wandring Trojans, there
His ofspring (after long expulst the inner land,
When they the Saxon power no longer could withstand) 550
Found refuge in their flight; where Ax and Otrey first
Gave these poore soules to drinke, opprest with grievous thirst.
Heere I’le unyoke awhile, and turne my steeds to meat:
The land growes large and wide: my teame begins to sweat.
POLY-OLBION: THE SECOND SONG
The Argument
The Muse from Marshwood way commands,
Along the sbore through Chesills sands:
Where, ouertoyld, her heate to coole,
Shee bathes her in the pleasant Poole:
Thence, ouer-land againe doth scowre,
To fetch in Froome, and bring downe Stowre;
Falls with New-forrest, as she sings
The wanton Wood-Nymphes reuellings.
Chaunts Beuis of South-hamptons praise,
Shee Southward with her actiue flight
Is wafted to the Ile of Wight,
To see the rutte the Sea-gods keepe:
There swaggering in the Solent deepe.
Thence Hampshire-ward her way shee bends;
And visiting her Forrest friends,
Neere Salsbury her rest doth take:
Which shee her second pause doth make.
MARCH strongly forth my Muse, whilst yet the temperataire
Inuites vs, easely on to hasten our repair.
Thou powerfull God of flames (in verse diuinely great)
Touch my invention so with thy true genuine heate,
That high and noble things I slightly may not tell,
Nor light and idle toyes my lines may vainly swell;
But as my subiect serues, so hie or lowe to straine,
And to the varying earth so sute my varying vainc,
That Nature in my worke thou maist thy power avow:
That as thou first found’st Art, and didst her rules allow;
So I, to thine owne selfe that gladlie neere would bee,
May herein doe the best, in imitating thee:
As thou hast heere a hill, a vale there, there a flood,
A mead here, there a heath, and now and then a wood,
These things so in my Song I naturally may showe;
Now, as the Mountaine hie; then, as the Valley lowe:
Heere, fruitfull as the Mead, there as the Heath be bare;
Then, as the gloomie wood, I may be rough; though rare.
Through the Dorsetian fields that lie in open view,
My progresie I againe must seriouslie pursue,
From Marshwoods fruitfull Vale my iourney on to make:
(As Phoebus getting vp out of the Easterne lake,
Refresht with ease and sleepe, is to his labour prest;
Euen so the labouring Muse, heere baited with this rest.)
Whereas the little Lim along doth easelie creepe,
And Car, that comming downe vnto the troubled Deepe,
Brings on the neighbouring Bert, whose batning mellowed banke,
From all the British soyles, for Hempe most hugely ranke
Doth beare away the best; to Bert-port which hath gain’d
That praise from euery place, and worthilie obtain’d
Our cordage from herstore, and cables should be made,
Of any in that kind most fit for Marine trade:
Not seuer’d from the shore, aloft where Chesill lifts
Her ridged snake-like sands, in wrecks and smouldring drifts,
Which by the South-wind raysd, are heav’d on little hills:
Whose valleys with his flowes when foming Neptune fills,