Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

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by Edmund Spenser


  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.

  XII

  In meed of these great conquests by them gott, 100

  Corineus had that province utmost west

  To him assigned for his worthy lott,

  Which of his name and memorable gest

  He called Cornwaile, yet so called best:

  And Debons shayre was that is Devonshyre: 105

  But Canute had his portion from the rest,

  The which he cald Canutium, for his hyre;

  Now Cantium, which Kent we comenly inquyre.

  XIII

  Thus Brute this realme unto his rule subdewd,

  And raigned long in great felicity, 110

  Lov’d of his freends, and of his foes eschewd.

  He left three sonnes, his famous progeny,

  Borne of fayre Inogene of Italy;

  Mongst whom he parted his imperiall state,

  And Locrine left chiefe lord of Britany. 115

  At last ripe age bad him surrender late

  His life, and long good fortune, unto finall fate.

  XIV

  Locrine was left the soveraine lord of all;

  But Albanact had all the northerne part,

  Which of him selfe Albania he did call; 120

  And Camber did possesse the westerne quart,

  Which Severne now from Logris doth depart:

  And each his portion peaceably enjoyd,

  Ne was there outward breach, nor grudge in hart,

  That once their quiet government annoyd, 125

  But each his paynes to others profit still employd.

  XV

  Untill a nation straung, with visage swart

  And corage fierce, that all men did affray,

  Which through the world then swarmd in every part,

  And overflow’d all countries far away, 130

  Like Noyes great flood, with their importune sway,

  This land invaded with like violence,

  And did themselves through all the north display:

  Untill that Locrine, for his realmes defence,

  Did head against them make, and strong munificence. 135

  XVI

  He them encountred, a confused rout,

  Foreby the river, that whylome was hight

  The ancient Abus, where with courage stout

  He them defeated in victorious fight,

  And chaste so fiercely after fearefull flight, 140

  That forst their chiefetain, for his safeties sake,

  (Their chiefetain Humber named was aright,)

  Unto the mighty streame him to betake,

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

  XVII

  The king retourned proud of victory, 145

  And insolent wox through unwonted ease,

  That shortly he forgot the jeopardy,

  Which in his land he lately did appease,

  And fell to vaine voluptuous disease:

  He lov’d faire Ladie Estrild, leudly lov’d, 150

  Whose wanton pleasures him too much did please,

  That quite his hart from Guendolene remov’d,

  From Guendolene his wife, though alwaies faithful prov’d.

  XVIII

  The noble daughter of Corineus

  Would not endure to bee so vile disdaind, 155

  But, gathering force and corage valorous,

  Encountred him in batteill 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: 160

  Als his faire leman, flying through a brooke,

  She overhent, nought moved with her piteous looke.

  XIX

  But both her selfe, and eke her daughter deare,

  Begotten by her kingly paramoure,

  The faire Sabrina, almost dead with feare, 165

  She there attached, far from all succoure;

  The one she slew in that impatient stoure,

  But the sad virgin, innocent of all,

  Adowne the rolling river she did poure,

  Which of her name now Severne men do call: 170

  Such was the end that to disloyall love did fall.

  XX

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

  Madan, was young, unmeet the rule to sway,

  In her owne hand the crowne she kept in store,

  Till ryper yeares he raught, and stronger stay: 175

  During which time her powre she did display

  Through all this realme, the glory 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. 180

  XXI

  Tho Madan raignd, unworthie of his race:

  For with all shame that sacred throne he fild:

  Next Memprise, as unworthy of that place,

  In which being consorted with Manild,

  For thirst of single kingdom him he kild. 185

  But Ebranck salved both their infamies

  With noble deedes, and warreyd on Brunchild

  In Henault, where yet of his victories

  Brave moniments remaine, which yet that land envies.

  XXII

  An happy man in his first dayes he was, 190

  And happy 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 mindes to prayse and chevalrous desyre: 195

  Those germans did subdew all Germany,

  Of whom it hight; but in the end their syre

  With foule repulse from Fraunce was forced to retyre.

  XXIII

  Which blott his sonne succeeding in his seat,

  The second Brute, the second both in name 200

  And eke in semblaunce of his puissaunce great,

  Right well recur’d, and did away that blame

  With recompence of everlasting fame.

  He with his victour sword first opened

  The bowels of wide Fraunce, a forlorne dame, 205

  And taught her first how to be conquered;

  Since which, with sondrie spoiles she hath bene ransacked.

  XXIV

  Let Scaldis tell, and let tell Hania,

  And let the marsh of Esthambruges tell,

  What colour were their waters that same day, 210

  And all the moore twixt Elversham and Dell,

  With blood 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, 215

  But rather y scuith gogh, signe of sad crueltee.

  XXV

  His sonne, King Leill, by fathers labour long,

  Enjoyd an heritage of lasting peace,

  And built Cairleill, and built Cairleon strong.

  Next Huddibras his realme did not encrease, 220

  But taught the land from wearie wars to cease.

  Whose footsteps Bladud following, in artes

  Exceld at Athens all the learned preace,

  From whence he brought them to these salvage parts,

  And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts. 225

  XXVI

  Ensample of his wondrous faculty,

  Behold the boyling bathes at Cairbadon,

  Which seeth with secret fire eternally,

  And in their entrailles, full of quick brimston,

  Nourish the flames which they are warmd upon, 230

  That to their people wealth they forth do well,

  And
health to every forreyne nation:

  Yet he at last, contending to excell

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

  XXVII

  Next him King Leyr in happie peace long raynd, 235

  But had no issue male him to succeed,

  But three faire daughters, which were well uptraind

  In all that seemed fitt for kingly seed:

  Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed

  To have divided. Tho, when feeble age 240

  Nigh to his utmost date he saw proceed,

  He cald his daughters, and with speeches sage

  Inquyrd, which of them most did love her parentage.

  XXVIII

  The eldest Gonorill gan to protest,

  That she much more then her owne life him lov’d; 245

  And Regan greater love to him profest

  Then all the world, when ever it were proov’d;

  But Cordeill said she lov’d him as behoov’d:

  Whose simple answere, wanting colours fayre

  To paint it forth, him to displeasaunce moov’d, 250

  That in his crown he counted her no hayre,

  But twixt the other twain his kingdom whole did shayre.

  XXIX

  So wedded th’ one to Maglan, king of Scottes,

  And thother to the king of Cambria,

  And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lottes: 255

  But without dowre the wise Cordelia

  Was sent to aggannip of Celtica.

  Their aged syre, thus eased of his crowne,

  A private life ledd in Albania,

  With Gonorill, long had in great renowne, 260

  That nought him griev’d to beene from rule deposed downe.

  XXX

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

  The light goes out, and weeke is throwne away;

  So when he had resignd his regiment,

  His daughter gan despise his drouping day, 265

  And wearie wax of his continuall stay.

  Tho to his daughter Regan he repayrd,

  Who him at first well used every way;

  But when of his departure she despayrd,

  Her bountie she abated, and his cheare empayrd. 270

  XXXI

  The wretched man gan then avise to late,

  That love is not, where most it is profest;

  Too truely tryde in his extremest state.

  At last, resolv’d likewise to prove the rest,

  He to Cordelia him selfe addrest, 275

  Who with entyre affection him receav’d,

  As for her syre and king her seemed best;

  And after all an army strong she leav’d,

  To war on those which him had of his realme bereav’d.

  XXXII

  So to his crowne she him restord againe, 280

  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, 285

  Through proud ambition against her rebeld,

  And overcommen kept in prison long,

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

  XXXIII

  Then gan the bloody brethren both to raine:

  But fierce Cundah gan shortly to envy 290

  His brother Morgan, prickt with proud disdaine,

  To have a pere in part of soverainty;

  And kindling coles of cruell enmity,

  Raisd warre, and him in batteill overthrew:

  Whence as he to those woody hilles did fly, 295

  Which hight of him Glamorgan, there him slew:

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

  XXXIV

  His sonne Rivall’ his dead rowme did supply,

  In whose sad time blood did from heaven rayne:

  Next great Gurgustus, then faire Cæcily, 300

  In constant peace their kingdomes did contayne:

  After whom Lago and Kinmarke did rayne,

  And Gorbogud, till far in yeares he grew:

  Then his ambitious sonnes unto them twayne

  Arraught the rule, and from their father drew: 305

  Stout Ferrex and sterne Porrex him in prison threw.

  XXXV

  But O! the greedy thirst of royall crowne,

  That knowes no kinred, nor regardes no right,

  Stird Porrex up to put his brother downe;

  Who, unto him assembling forreigne might, 310

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

  Whose death t’ avenge, his mother mercilesse,

  Most mercilesse of women, Wyden hight,

  Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse,

  And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse. 315

  XXXVI

  Here ended Brutus sacred progeny,

  Which had seven hundred yeares this scepter borne,

  With high renowme and great felicity:

  The noble braunch from th’ antique stocke was torne

  Through discord, and the roiall throne forlorne: 320

  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 glorie auncient.

  XXXVII

  Then up arose a man of matchlesse might, 325

  And wondrous wit to menage high affayres,

  Who, stird with pitty of the stressed plight

  Of this sad realme, cut into sondry shayres

  By such as claymd themselves Brutes right-full hayres,

  Gathered the princes of the people loose, 330

  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.

  XXXVIII

  Then made he head against his enimies,

  And Ymner slew, of Logris miscreate; 335

  Then Ruddoc and proud Stater, both allyes,

  This of Albany newly nominate,

  And that of Cambry king confirmed late,

  He overthrew through his owne valiaunce;

  Whose countries he redus’d to quiet state, 340

  And shortly brought to civile governaunce,

  Now one, which earst were many made through variaunce.

  XXXIX

  Then made he sacred lawes, which some men say

  Were unto him reveald in vision,

  By which he freed the traveilers high way, 345

  The churches part, and ploughmans portion,

  Restraining stealth and strong extortion;

  The gratious Numa of Great Britany:

  For, till his dayes, the chiefe dominion

  By strength was wielded without pollicy; 350

  Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignity.

  XL

  Donwallo dyde (for what may live for ay?)

  And left two sonnes, of pearelesse prowesse both,

  That sacked Rome too dearely did assay,

  The recompence of their perjured oth, 355

  And ransackt Greece wel tryde, when they were wroth;

  Besides subjected France and Germany,

  Which yet their praises speake, all be they loth,

  And inly tremble at the memory

  Of Brennus and Belinus, kinges of Britany. 360

  XLI

  Next them did Gurgunt, great Belinus sonne,

  In rule succeede, and eke in fathers praise:

  He Easterland subdewd, and Denmarke wonne,

  And of them both did foy and tribute raise,

  The which was dew in his dead fathers daies: 365

  He also gave to fugitives of Spayne,

  Whom he at sea found wandring from their waies,

  A se
ate in Ireland safely to remayne,

  Which they should hold of him, as subject to Britayne.

  XLII

  After him raigned Guitheline his hayre, 370

  The justest man and trewest in his daies,

  Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre,

  A woman worthy of immortall praise,

  Which for this realme found many goodly layes,

  And wholesome statutes to her husband brought: 375

  Her many deemd to have beene of the Fayes,

  As was Aegerie, that Numa tought:

  Those yet of her be Mertian lawes both nam’d and thought.

  XLIII

  Her sonne Sisillus after her did rayne,

  And then Kimarus, and then Danius; 380

  Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustayne,

  Who, had he not with wrath outrageous

  And cruell rancour dim’d his valorous

  And mightie deedes, should matched have the best:

  As well in that same field victorious 385

  Against the forreine Morands he exprest:

  Yet lives his memorie, though carcas sleepe in rest.

  XLIV

  Five sonnes he left begotten of one wife,

  All which successively by turnes did rayne;

  First Gorboman, a man of vertuous life; 390

  Next Archigald, who, for his proud disdayne,

  Deposed was from princedome soverayne,

  And pitteous Elidure put in his sted;

  Who shortly it to him restord agayne,

  Till by his death he it recovered; 395

  But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized.

  XLV

  In wretched prison long he did remaine,

  Till they outraigned had their utmost date,

  And then therein reseized was againe,

  And ruled long with honorable state, 400

  Till he surrendred realme and life to fate.

  Then all the sonnes of these five brethren raynd

  By dew successe, and all their nephewes late;

  Even thrise eleven descents the crowne retaynd,

  Till aged Hely by dew heritage it gaynd. 405

  XLVI

  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 reædifye

  Of Troynovant, gainst force of enimy, 410

  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.

  XLVII

  Whilst they were young, Cassibalane their eme 415

  Was by the people chosen in their sted,

  Who on him tooke the roiall diademe,

  And goodly well long time it governed;

  Till the prowde Romanes him disquieted,

  And warlike Cæsar, tempted with the name 420

  Of this sweet island, never conquered,

 

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