The Faerie Queene

by The Faerie Queen(Lit)

  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&etilde; 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,

  Frõ 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 w
hen 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 Cæcily

  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 ô:, the greedy thirst of royall crowne,

  That knowes no kinred, nor regardes no right,

  Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe;

  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&etilde; 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 Mertiã lawes both nam'd & thought.

  Her sonne Sisillus after her did rayne,

  And then Kimarus, and then Danius;

  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 th
e 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 reædifye

  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,