it a second Empier ground And thirdly when their broodie Race that Isle did ouer-store Amongst the Islands Hebâ—edes they seeke out dwellings more These Irish sometime Spanish Scotts of wheÌ„ce our now Scotts bée Within the Isles of Albion thus whil'st Brutaines disagrée Did seate themselues and nestle too amongst the Mountaine groundes What tyme a Scythian people Pichtes did seaze the middle bounds Twixt them and vs and these did proue to Brutaine double wounds The Penthland people and the Scottes alying friendly liue Untill the Pichtes by Brittish wyles contrary cause did giue Then from their Captaines fell the Scottes and chuse to them a King And Fergus out of Ireland did the Chaire of Marble bring In which instal'd the first Scotch King in Albion so he wrought That Pichtes Scottes then vp in Armes were to attonement brought Three valiant people thus at once in Albion Empier hold Brutes Scottes and Pichtes the latter twaine lesse ciuell but as bold The Pichtes were fearce and Scythian like much like the Irish now The Scottes were then couragious both nor them I disallow That wright they fead on humaine flesh for so it may be well Like of these men their bloudie mynds their natiue Stories tell But to our Brittish busines now to shewe what there befell Not how the tri-partited Rule vnto his quartarne Rayne Donwallo after fortie yeres did Monarchize againe Not what precedent Kings in Fraunce and Denmarke did obtaine Speake I. From Porrex fortie Kings in scilence shall remaine Saue only valiant Brennus and his brother Belyne thay Unpraised for their warres and workes shall not escape away CHAP. XVI THese Brothers thristing amplier Raynes did martially contend Till Brenn his force was not of force his brothers to defend To Norway sayles he where he got an Armie and a Prize The Prince of Norwaies Daughter whom he winneth in this wise The King of Denmarke stood with him vntill the States decréede That both should plead before their Prince and better Pleador spéede And when the Norgane Prince and Peeres were seated for their strife The King of Danes beginning first thus pleaded for a wife Not yet a King King Phillips Sonne w t none but Kings would cope His reason was inferiour strife of glorie giues no hope I am a King and graunt the Prize in question worthy me But grudge that my Compettitor a banisht man should be Doe graunt him what he hath for-gon and neuermore shall git Yet were he but a Demi-king to challenge me vnfit Dunwallos yonger Sonne that hath his Brother to his Foe And worthely his trecheries haue well deserued foe And yet audatious that he is he blusheth not to heare The troth of his vntroth nor yet an héere Repulse doth feare Would she for whom I must contend were not to me the same She is or he that stands with me a man of better fame But since in this vnequall Plea I must my selfe imbace Knowe Norwaies that my pleaded cause concernes your publique cace It is the King of Denmarke doth your Prince his daughter craue And note it is no little thing with vs Allie to haue By League or Leigure Danske can fence or front you friend or foe Our Neighborhood doth fit to both your wel-fare or your woe Combyne therefore in néedfull League our néere conioyned States I may your good nought lesse can he that thus with me debates He is a Bruton if Exile allowe we call him so And farre from ayding you that knowes himselfe not to bestoe Admit he were receiued home what Empier doth he sway A sorrie Islands Moyetie and farre from hence away Her Dowrie is your Diedeme what Ioynter can he make Not any giue not then to him from whom ye cannot take And Lady She for whom they stroue was present well I wot My loue doth claime a greater debt then so to be forgot I wish myne Opposite his want that Armes might giue the right It is not dread but doom'd sweete wench that thus with tongue I fight Proude Bruton frouning so on Brenn disclaime in her my dewe Els thou repyning shalt repent doe make thy choyse a newe At least amend thyne Error and myne Enuie shall haue end I néede not force so weake a Foe seeke thou so strong a frend Norwaies concent and Lady be no Conter-mande to this Discent not Brenn conclude her myne els my Conclusion is If not for worth by force perforce to winne her from you all Yea though our banisht Cops-mate could his Brittish Succours call The King of Danes concluded thus and after scylence shorte The Brutaine Heros vailed and did answer in this sorte Most gracious Norgane Péeres you heare the ouer-tearming taunts Of this Appelant that himselfe and Scepter ouer-vaunts It lesser gréeueth he should grudge that I with him co-riue Then this so parramptorie speach in youx dispight to wiue It gréeues in troth not for my selfe but for he beardeth you And seemes disdainfull of your ayde that doth so proudly owe. How captiously he derogates from me and myne estate And arrogates vnto himselfe to bring me so in hate How daintely his eyes endure so base and Obiects vewe How despretly doth he conclude and threatneth me and you Well barke he byte he bragges nor blowes shall dare me to defend A Challenge where so braue a Prize stands for the Wagers end Nor thinke vainglorious that thou art me lesser then a King Or greater then by suite or sworde to prize so rare a thing Upbrayd me not with banishment nor Belyns quarrell touch Nor yet my Petite Signorie nor more then troth by much These present Nobles knowe the cause for which I hether come Not as an Exile but for ayde and they assure me some Then knowe the cause is honest when their Honors giue supplyes As capable are they of troth as thou art apt for lyes My Brothers Kingdome seemes forsooth an Ouer-match to myne My Kingdome Cutlake therefore is an Under-match to thyne Nay giue and so I hope ye will the Prize to me and than Let Cutlake with his Crowne of Danske vn-crowne me if he can Then he disabling me to make a Ioynter happelie With Denmarke such a Ioynters want if wanting should supplie But neither haue I such a lacke nor hold I such a loue As that her Dowrie not in quest before her selfe doth moue He harpeth as himself would haue that maketh loue his Staile Els would he sewe in milder sorte and sewing feare to faile For Lady see your Louers Plea your loue sayth he is debt And if not words nor worthines then Armor shall you get Braue words and fit to feare not feede a courted Ladies vayne But say he cannot owe in print but Soldiour-like and playne Nor I in sooth more loues my heart then can my tongue explayne Conclude we therefore Soldiour-like and let a Combate yeeld Unto the hardier of vs twayne the honor of the feeld If not then if my Lords so please or she thereto agree Although thou should'st
swéete and pretie mouth that laughed on her lippes And brings him backe to Cybels bed Her heart reuiued skips Reuiuing life where reckned death had wrought repentant teares The father fronted with a guile at length the damsell beares The infant vnto Oson towne and in her Ladies name Intreats Melissus daughters twaine to nourish vp the same Up to mountaine beare they him and in a secret Caue A mountaine Goat did giue him milke and so his life they saue His Nourses sounding Simbals once to drowne the Infants crie A manie Bées the Muses birdes into the Caue did flie Where making Honnie Saturnes sonne did long time liue thereby CHAP. III. IT doth remain of Iupiter as bow but then a lad From Epire to Pelasgis him the Lordes Epyrotes had To fetch their pledge Lycaon hild when time of truse had end Lycaon faining to consent that did not so intend Next day as though hee woulde dismisse the Legates with estate Did make to them a solemne feast when hauing slaine of late His noble pledge he brings his limmes and setteth them before His Countrimen to feed vpon in saused dishes store The Strangers and his Subiects too abhorring such a sight Sit gazing ech in others face bereft of speech and sprite Untill that lustie Iupiter a Stripling to behold Did take the limbes dismembred so and with a courage bold Did shew them through Pelasgis stréetes declaring by the way The murder of their blooddie king which did so much dismay The Citizens that euen they detesting such vnright Did rise in armes against their king where youthfull Ioue did fight So valiantlie that by his force Lyacon tooke his flight And after did by Roberies by blood and Rapines liue For which to him a Wooluish shape the Poets aptlie giue IN Fpyre and Pelasgis thus Ioue first his honour wonne But greater things vntouched are by this same Worthie donne And partlie in the monstrous warre that Titan and his Crue Did hold with Saturne when by search of Issues males he knewe The which his brother had aliue against their Couenant made When Tâ—tan Uictor fast in hold was vanquisht Saturne laid Together with his wife and friends where sorrow much they past Till Iupiter did vnderstand his parentage at last He therefore landing toke in Create with well prouided men And slewe his vncle Titan and the Giant Tiphan then With most part of the Titanoies and sets his father free By meanes whereof they reconcile and wel a while agree NOt brooking then Apollos fault in that he entertaind The Remnant of the Titanoies that after warres remainde Apollo was by Iupiter inforced for to flie His kingdome Paphos and to liue exilde in Thessalie Where loue but chieflie penurie constrained him to kéepe Untill he was restored home the king Admetus shéepe And for his Sonne disdainfullie enuied Ioue his praise Ioue was the same Phisitions death that dead to life could raise Whose fame grewe thus As Asculap an heardsman did espie That did with easie fight inforce a Basalique to flie Albeit naturally that beast doth murther with the eie Apollos sonne perceauing him with Garland on his head Imagins as it was in déed some hearbe such vertue bred And for a profe he caused him to cast the wreath away When strait the beast her onelie eies the sillie man did slay Then Asculap him selfe did take the wreath and puts it on And by that meanes he ouercame the Basalique anon In hearbs that déeper force is hid then Science may containe I finde said he an hearb by hearb into his mouth did straine That lay for dead an hearb at last reuiuing him again Henceforth meÌ„ thought him more theÌ„ man when by his wondrous skil He rendred life to many like so winning great good will But as he waxed famous thus he famous waxed proud Disdaining all yea Ioue him selfe for Peere he disaloud Untill that Saturns angrie sonne reuenged it by death Correcting iustly each abuse as Rector on the Earth THe Sonnes renound thus added grace vnto the Fathers name But shadowes wait on substances and enuie followes fame Euen Saturne pompous Saturne ridde by Iupiter of Foes And feare of Titan did renewe his superstitious woes As touching former Oracle and hastis sommons sent Throughout his Realme to muster men in purpose to preuent By death of Ioue his destenie The men of Create repinde To put on armour to his ill whom they had found so kind But will they nill they so they must for so their king assignâ— And Saturne with his armed troupes into Arcadia went Where Iupiter forewarned of his fathers ill intent Intreated peace to him denide so that perforce he must Defend him from his froward Sier or rather foe vniust There might yee see king Saturne fight like to a Lion wood Whilst Iupiter did beare his blowes and spares his fathers blood and him that foo-like would him sley he friendlie did defend Desiring Saturne to retire till wordes were to no end The wilfull man pursuing blood Ioue ceaseth to persuade And rushing in amongst his foes so hot a skirmishâ—made That euerie blow sets blood on broch and so in little space Euen he who late he did intreate is followed now in chace By Arcas and his companie for Ioue refraind the flight Because against his countrimen hée had no will to fight Whilst lucklesse Saturn did escape by flight and fortune then And wandred long in vnquoth Seas depriude of wealth and men Uictorious Iupiter was crownde with glorie king of Create And Saturne now ariude at Troy for succour did intreate Ganymaedes king Trois sonne was sent in Saturns aid A worthie knight and valiant warre to Iupiter he made But hée and his were chased back euen to their Citie walles For who so stood with Iupiter by Iupiter he falles And there the Troyan Paragon Ganymides was taine Twixt whom and Iupiter thencefoorth sound friendship did remaine Then Saturne did the second time to Seas with shame retire And neuer after durst by warre against his sonne conspire But sayling into lower Realmes in Italie did dwell And hereof it is said his sonne did chase him into hell MEane while lesse ioyous of his fame then ielous of his freakes Her wrong Quéene Iuno on the Truls of Iupiter she wreakes Which was the cause that all too late he purposing returne To rescue Danae in whose loue he amorouslie did burne Was cast by stormes into the Seas that foorthwith tooke the name of him whom for his Piracies Ioue vanquisht in the same Yee might haue seene AEgaeon there with wreakfull wroth inflamâ— At sight of Ioue at whose decay he long in vaine had aimd And how that Ioue had now the worst and in a trise againe The Gyant with his twise thrée Barkes in hassard to be taine The Centaures shew them valerous so did Ixeon stout and braue Ganymaedes did deale his balefull dole about But when couragious Iupiter had beaten to the ground AEgaeon and in selfesame Chaines wherein he often bound The
from other ransome free And Theseus with Hippolite at Athens landing takes And Hercules to Calidon a Desmalâ— vsage makes THere did King Oeneus bounteously receaue so great a Guest Where scarcely had he any time from pâ—ssed toiles to rest But that proud Achelous sent Ambassidors to knowe If that King Oeneus on him his daughter would bestowe If not to threaten wreakfull warres which much abasht the King Till Hercules who then was come about the selfe same thing For loue to Deianira both Compettitors did bring Expelled feare by offring aide to backe him from the Foe By meanes whereof vnsatisfide away the Legats goe The Tyrant Achelous then with all Epirus force inuades the bounds of Calidon and spoile without remorse But Hercules he leading forth his Armie got the day And well was he amongst his Foes that fastest ran away They their King with hard escape inmure them selues at length within a Castle néere the Sea a Hold of wondrous strength The Thaebans then as resolute to spoile both Foe and Fort Did burne his Foes forsaken shippes left riding in the Porte And with a fewe beset the Holde When Achelous he so slender watch about the walles of Enemies did see He scorned that so weake a siedge should pen him vp so straight He hauing ten for one of them did issue out the Gate against the Greekes that willinglie his comming did awaite Espying Hercules he cride lo yond same diuell is he that droue vs out of Calidon who so of mine he be that slaieth him shall be inritcht with great rewards by me But he that made sâ—ch offers large did offer them in vaine For when his men sawe Hercules approching them amaine With fierie eies and angrie lookes and dreadful Club insist They thought it needles to assaile and booteles to resiste And euery man retired back into the holde againe Where many daies attemting slight they cowardly remaine From warre at length they fell to wiles There lay vpon the shoare a broken Hoy that had not brookt the Seas of long before The Mast they boring full of holes in euerie hole did sticke a burning Torch and lancht it out in night when cloudes were thick No sooner was the firie keele a floot vpon the waues And that the Greekes espied it but ech man rashlie craues the viewing of so strange a sight Their Captaine that did smell the presupposed Stratagem did rainge his armie well And marching neere the guilefull light did finde ambushments there That playing on aduantage thus preuented though appeare Occasion hapning Hercules would not admit the same But tooke them as he found them now and fights it out by aime When Achelous he behild his guild by guile to faile Well might he chafe be harder chaunce his courage might not quaile For looke how fierce and boistrouslie a chafed Bull doth fight So Acheleus lustilie on either side did smite And by his only prowse then a manie knights were slaine Whilst Hercules with like successe his Opposits did paine And now by chance amidst the brunt the valiant Woers twaine doe single and togethers tug and as two Lions strong ech one desiring others blood did hold a Combate long king Achelous minding her for whom began that broile To conquere where he did contend annexed hope to toyle Alcmenas Sonne remembring to whose cause he did defend Euen hers on whom his being and his verie soule depend So chargd his Contrarie with knocks and vsed his Club so well That vanquished though valerous king Achelous fell Thepirotes when they saw their king a Captiue led away Their hearts were doone and Hercules subdude them ere day And Achelous in exile did end his latter dayes And all AEtolia was fild with Hercules his praise To whom the king did giue to Wife faire Deâ—anira she the pleasing prise of that his prowse and dearelie earned Fee Who after of her owne decay and his the meane should be The Centaure Nessus was the man that made her erre so much Of which her error but his sinne the circumstance is such CHAP. VIII WHen ouer deepe Euenus Foord the passage did not fit This Giaunt of a Stature tall did offer helpe to it And Hercules forgetting him for at the Centaures Fray The same vnslaine but not vnskard escaped then away Did pray him to the farther shoare with Deianir to wade And so he did whilst Hercules this side the Riuer staid Whom Iunos Breed on further bankes his Passenger had set Then lust and long conceiued grudge to foule reuenge did whet Not Deianira coulde auoid a Rape or little lesse Or Hercules disioynd by Foord giue aide to her distresse One while contrarie to himself full humbly he intreates Anon like Hercules indeede he did commaund with threats But first nor latter might preuaile for Nessus hald her thence I may not follow nor in slight is Centaure thy defence said Hercules His deeds approue his latter saying true For letting she a fatall Shaft the Rauisher he slue And though the arrow galled him euen at the verie heart Yet for a while he did indure the not induring smart And hauing brought his trembling Rape into a vallie said See Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made Yet is my death lesse griefe to me then that thou shouldst bestow thy selfe on such a changing Churle as Hercules I know sweet Wench I know he doth preferre contrarie Loues to thee Wherefore my graue the lesse my griefe in this thy good shall be Take this he gaue a folded cloth and to the bane therein he mixed somewhat of his blood this same quoth he shall win To thee again thy Husbands loue when he shall it estrange For out of doubt I know it I he takes delight in change When thou suspectast such a wrong doe boyle a shirt with this No sooner shall he weare the same herein such vertue is but that his nouell Loue will change and fall whence he did flie Meane while doe not the vnction touch least so the vertue die In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Ladie claspe And hild her so as Hawke a Pray vntill his latest gaspe Then leauing him a liuelesse Coarse mistrusting nought his drift Shée meaning simply tooke with her the Traitours poisoned gift And Hercules by this had past the Riuer deep and wide Who Deianira first imbrast drew from the Centaures side the fatall Shaft that should the death of braue Achilles proue In Phoebus Church by Paris hand for Polixenas loue THE Centaure left vntoombed there Hée Shée and all their trainâ— are come to Lerna whom the king did noblie entertaine There had he from the common teares the cruell hauock made by Lernan Hydra whom in Fenne not armies durst inuade His vâ—per parts had humane forme his nether Serpentine The whole was monstrous yet his wit more moÌ„strous but most fine For wit is monstrous when the same from vertue doth decline Such were his subtill arguments and still supplies therein That he by often losse of
quoth Mars and Phoebus sayd by water A Riuer-shadowing trée I climb'd out slipt my Sword I slidd By feete I hung stand with my Sword my head in water hidd Maile Femaile neither hanging Sword drowning I abidâ— Thus Cacus howsoeuer things from likelihoodes discent in birth life death the Gods are first the middell and Euent And not what they can doe they will but what they will they can And that they doe or doe it not behoues not vs to skan And saying so and kissing to her tale she thus began CHAP. XI I Speake not of the Argiue Nimph that had the ielious Syer To whom shut vp in brasen Tower Ioue passage had for hyer Not of Europa Semele or Maia will I dwell Not of your Foe his bastardie or Laedas rape I tell Not of King Ceus Daughters fault or other freake of Ioue speake I saue of th Arcadian Nunne with whom he thus did roue Calysto was as faire a Mayde as faire as one might bée Her father King Lycaon flead Ioue chaunced her to see And seeing liked liking lou'd and louing made it knowne To her swéete Lasse for fathers losse that maketh then her mone Take patience wench sayd Iupiter with thée shall all be well Thy fathers déeds haue their deserts but thou in peace shalt dwell I am his Uictor but thy selfe art Uictoresse of me Doe graunt me loue my zeale is more than fatherlie to thee The restlesse cloudes that mantling ride vpon the racking Skie The scouring windes that sightlesse in the sounding aire doe flie The thriftie Earth that bringeth out and broodeth vp her breed The shifting Seas whose swelling waues on shrinking shores do féede Shall fall and faile ere I be false Lycaons Impe to thee Of heartie Loue this kisse he kist an happie hansell be But haplesse termes are these quoth she vnfitting to a Thrall Yet in respect of that I feele I heare them not at all A friend ah friendlesse name I Friend it being as it is A friend I say much more a foe and more and worse then this The sonne of Saturne should and shall that speed and hearing misse Doe rid ah rid mine eyes of teares and set my heart at rest By taking life not making Loue the former likes me best Or if that poore Calistos life shall lengthen to her woe Graunt that among Dianas Nunnes a votarie I goe For neither fits it now to loue or euer shall it so What viewed Iupiter this while not pleasing to his sight Or what vnuiewed did he gesse not adding to delight Not excellent but exquisite was all to minde and eye Saue she the hansell of this loue did him of Loue denie It greenes that Natures Paragon in Cloister not in Court Should loose the beautie of her youth and he thereby his sport But constant in her chast pretence he graunts that would gain-say And seated in Religion now with Phaebe did she stay Blame Iupiter of other Loues of this doe set him cléere It was his first and first is firme and toucheth verie neere He did forgoe but not forget Calysto in hir Cell When setting higher thoughts apart the Frithes did please him well He takes his Quiuer and his Bow and where she hunts hunts he And sacrificed to his eyes that day he did her see About the Quarrie Chase and Toyles Dogs Bowes the Stand and al he vseth double diligence so often did befall Not onely sight of her his Saint he got but also talk Whilst thus for his Calistos loue he haunted Phaebees walke But sight and talke accrew to loue the substance must be had And for to bring his drifte about he virgin-like is clad His nonage kept his Beard froÌ„ bloome no Wench more fair then he Whom at her Nunnarie a Nun Diana takes to bee And with his Sisters brotherly doe gesse him to agrée Thus faines Lycaons Conquerer a Maid to winne a Maid His hands too wooll and Arras worke and womans Chares he laid That not so much as by the tongue the Boy-wench was bewraid Yet thought is frée he sees and smiles and longs perhaps for more No maruell for that Sister-hood had goodlie Ladies store Scarce one for birth and beautie to was there vnworthie him Yet chieflie to Calistos vaine he formed life and limme And Sister-like they single oft and chat of manie things But that Calâ—sto mindeth loue no likelihood he wrings So Ioue not once durst mention Ioue and force was sinne and shame But loue is hardie Thus it hapt by long pursute of game She wearie resteth in the Thicks where sitting all alone He seeing her is resolute or now to end his mone Or for so sweete a bodies vse to leaue his soule in loue And Nymph-like sits him by the Nymph that tooke him for no man And after 〈◊〉 with néerer signes of Loues assaut began He feeleth oft her Iuorie breasts nor maketh coy to kisse Yet all was well a Maiden to a Maiden might doe this Than ticks he vp her tucked Frocke nor did Calysto blush Or thinke abuse he tickles to no blab she thinks the Bush. Thus whilest she thinks her sister Nunne to be a merrie Lasse The Wanton did disclose himself and told her who he was Away the Uirgin would haue sled whom he withhild by force Thy loue sweet Nymph hath vrg'd this shift wel worthie thy remorse he said nor scorne with uâ—e a King to ioyne thy selfe a Queene Or doe but Loue and I will liue in Phaebees Celles vnseen And there in beds in bushes heere my Fainings fit so well we may enioy what Loue enioynes and none our scapes shall tell She would not loue he could not leaue she wrangleth and he wooeth She would resist he did persist and sport denied dooeth That done which could not be vndone what booteth discoÌ„tent As God be pleasd as not be easd away Calysto went To Cloyster Iupiter to Court nor much she did repent Untill her growing wombe disclos'd an ante-cedent fault Then in the Chapter house she told of Iupiters assault Diana and her virgens all admyring that escape Did gird at her maligning Ioue for such his subtell Rape And who more ready to controule then Athalanta was Whome shortly Meleager brought vnto the selfe same pas The Lady Abisse did discharge Calysto from her Cell And silly Nymph she great with child some otherwhere must dwell Pelasgis it was Iupiters and he her cause of blame The King her father in exile her selfe in this defame What then remain'd euen secracie to hyde her selfe from shame Kéepe close quoth she from world yee woods mine error Ioue his crime And setling there in simple Caue did waite her childing tyme. At length was hairie Arcas borne no sooner cold he goe But that his wildnes esked to his wretched Mothers woe No beast so strong that he would shunne and man he neuer sawe Nor yet his vexed mother cold from fearcenes him withdrawe Seauen yeres the Daughter of a King she liued thus in Caue Not wanting griefe
but wanting all that poorest wretches haue And worst of all her sauage sonne whose manners did agrée Unto his birth-place howerly threates his mothers death to be And angrie once pursued her so long from place to place That euen into the Cittie gates he followed her in chase The people when they did behold so fayre a Nimph in flight A Baer-like Arcas in pursute for being naked quite His skinne was swart and hairie they did wonder at the sight And some that would his passage stop he rudely casteth downe And spares no spoyle vntill the sight was noysed through the towne Then out came Iupiter in Armes whome when Calysto knewe Helpe Ioue she cryde for loe thy sonne his mother doth pursue He knewe his Leiman at the first and ioyed of her sight Then kisse they when the Sauage boy by force did leaue to fight Calysto liued Lady-like yea Iunos Ryuall now And Arcas nobly mannaged such vertues him indowe That Ioue consenting him for King Pelasgis did Allowe A Sonne well worthy such a Syer and for his prowes and fame Pelasgis then of Arcas tooke Arcadia to name BUt rather might these Ladies fayre by any pleasant taile Or daseling toye of masshing loue swéet Consorts to preuaile Disswade outragious Cacus from vnpatientnes of mynde Who in his greatest tyrannies did chiefest pleasures finde He sleas the harmles Passengers from eldest soule to childe He burnes and spoyles the neighbour parts and women he defild And to his Caue Troponius Caue did bring the spoyles he gaynes In which except to do more harme he secretly remaynes Whilst none did passe that did repasse vnspoyled or vnkild None knowing how all Italie with feare thereof was fild But lo and helpe when Hercules had slaughtered out-right Tenne Giants of Cremona Kings and put th-eleauenth to flight From thence the Worthy did ariue with his victorious band At King Euanders Cittie that by Auentin did stand Amongst a many ritcher Spoyles though none to him so rare He brought a sort of Spanish kyne Euander taking care Because the like misfortune oft had hapned there before Least Hercules should loose his Kyne of which he made such store Gaue counsell that within the walles they might be kept all night And better to approue his words with teares he did resight The murthers theftes and cruelties without compassion maide Upon his Subiects and their goods by whome could not be said But that the gods for so they gesse for sinne them so inuade I am resolu'd quoth Hercules where gods doe vengeance craue It is not strong or fensiue walles that any thing can saue My Kyne shall therefore graese abroade if mortall man it be Then know a Tyrant is my Taske his blood the Taskers fée The Cattell graesing then abroade as was his vse alwaies The Gyant left his cruell Denne to seeke his cursed praies The Moone not wanting of her light the Kyne he did espye And knowing them he also knewe his feared Foe was nye And fâ—r much better feare had bene then mallice at that tide But hardly shunneth pollicie what destinies prouide He might haue lurkt a while in Denne but of a péeuish spight Eight of the Kine with fastned cords by pollicie and might â—e dragged backward by their tailes into his diuelish Nest Then stopping vp the subtill hole did lay him downe to rest Now Hercules the rather prickt by king Euanders talke Into the fieldes to sée his Kine by prime of day did walke Where missing eight he could not gesse which waie they should be gon A many therefore had in charge to search them out anon The Searchers following euery signe great store of footings found Discending from Mount Auentine into the lower ground But for the footings did discend and not ascend they thought of no such cunning as in deed in Auentine was wrought Alcaeus Grand-sonne searching long the Thefts he could not finde Was much disquieted in him selfe and angrie in his minde And chasing when he should depart he twise or thrise did shake A Tree that grue on Auentâ—ne which â—ooted vp did make So large a vent that one might view the hollowe Caue belowe And Cacus with his Leash of wiues they were disclosed so Whome when the Greeke espied there O gracelesse King he said Whose Tyrannies haue made the Realmes of Hespera afraid Whose cruelties haue bene the cause of all the lesse thou hast What moueth thee in Italie to prosecute such waste Thinkst thou whom neither mightie Realmes nor royal Gards of meÌ„ Could late defend now to escape inclosed thus in Den The iust reuengement of the Goddes no no the Heauens wée sée Haue brought to light a wretch so lewd euen by a senceles Tree And since that neither wealth nor want to goodnes may thée win A greeuous death condignly shall cut off thy grounded sinne To it did Cacus aunswer thus doest thou pursue me still Who onely art the chiefest cause of these my doings ill Not suffring me to liue the rest of my vnhappie daies Among the fruitlesse rocks a wretch in miserie alwaies Cease further prate said Hercules in troth it gréeueth much To see a King in this Distresse but since thy life is such As nather in aduersitie nor prosperous estate Thou canst afford one iot of good I purpose to rebate Thy wicked dayes by worthy death prepare therefore to dye When Cacus sawe he must perforce so harde a combate trye He by inchanted flames againe endeuored to flye But Hercules deluded once by that deuise before Had learned now for being so deceaued any more And casting feare a side did leape into the flaming Caue And so by Arte did conquer Arte. The Gyant then to saue Him selfe did take his Axe in hand where Hercules and he Couragiously bestirre themselues vntill they did agrée To trye it out in open ayer So dolefull was their fight That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting frend But Hercules had victorie and Cacus had his end CHAP. XII FOr Gyants of Cremona flayne and Cacus ridded so The Latine Princes prayse on him and presents did bestoe Where Rome is now Pallantia then EuaÌ„der he did frame A Temple and to Hercules did dedicate the same And he intreated thereunto in Italie did stay To honour whome did Princes come from farre and euery waye King Faunus had affaiers abroad when from Laurentum came His wife Marica Facua some this louely Quéene do name From liking did she fall in loue with Hercules and he More ready to haue made demaunde then like to disagrée Conceauing her by circumstance so cuppled by contract That had King Faunus neuer liu'd Latinus had not lackt Yet home came Faunus fathering his late Coriuals act But whether gotten lawfully or thus in loue forbod Latinus Brute his Gran-dams Syer was sonne vnto a God WHilst that in loue of this same Quéene and lawde of all besides The vanquisher of Vulcans sonne in Italy abydes Of Calabries
so long we shall on triffles stay Sayd Caesar and with such his words did so inflame his men That with lesse patience did they liue then linger battell then The Romaines bid the Baâ—e and then did cruell Warre begin And little wanted that the Brutes the better did not win But Caesar so foresawe Supplies and Succors here and theare Perswading this disswading that controuling flight and feare That after many Romaines slayne the Brutons tooke their flight To Southerne Shoores whereas to proofe Cassiuelan did fight With oft Erruptions out of Woods vntill the traytrous Knight The Earle of London yéeldes his Charge and Cittie to the Foe Through which disloyall presedent did other Citties foe And then with hard-won Tribute hence the Conquerour did goe BUt he that wonne in euery Warre at Rome in ciuell Robe Was stab'd to death no certentie is vnderneath the Globe The good are enuied of the bad and glorie findes disdayne And people are in constancie as Aprill is in rayne Whereof amidst our serious penne this Fable intertayne An Asse an Old-man and a Boye did through a Cittie passe And whil'st the wanton boye did ride the old-man led the Asse See yonder doting foole sayd Folke that crauleth scarce for age Doth set the boye vpon his Asse and makes himselfe his Page Anon the blamed Boy alightes and lets the Old-man ride And as the old-man did before the boy the Asse did gide But passing so the people then did much the old-man blame And told him Churâ—e thy limbes be tough y e Boy should ride for shame The fault thus found both man and boy did backe the Asse and ride Then that the Asse was ouer-charg'd each man that met them cride Now both a-light and goe on foote and leade the emptie Beast But then the people laugh and say that one might ride at least With it they both did vndershore the Asse on either side But then the wondring people did that witles pranke deride The old-man seeing by no waies he could the people please Not blameles then did driue the Asse and drowne him in the Seas Thus whil'st we be it will not be that any pleaseth all Els had bin wanting worthely the noble Caesars fall CHAP. XVIII AVgustus quayling Antonie was Emperour alone In whose vn-foed Monarchie our commoÌ„ health was knowne The Brooser of the Serpents head the Womans promis'd Seede The Second in the Trinitie the Foode our soules to feede The Uine the Light the Doore the Way the Shepheard of vs all Whose Manhood ioyn'd to Deitie did Raunsome vs from thrall That was and is and euermore will be the same to his That sléepes to none that wake to him that turnes our Curse to blisse Whom yet vnseene the Patriarkes sawe the Prophets haue fortold Th'apostles preacht the Saincts addore and Martiers doe behold The same Augustus Emperour in Palastine was borne Amongst his owne and yet his owne bid crosse their Blisse in skorne Bi-formed Ianus then in Mewe so would this Prince of peace That Caesars Edict euery where should Mars his enuie ceace THen raigned here King Cymbelin King Theomantius sonne Next him Guiderius that with-held the Tribute Caesar wonne The Romaines that in our respect neglected Misia Spayne Armenia Fraunce and Siria then Recusants of their Rayne Not by their Captaines but himself the Emperour of Rome Into relapsed Brutaine with imperiall Ensignes come Then hotter then the Punick Warres to Romaines did begin And Claudius looseth valiantly all that the Brutons win But Romish Hamo from whose death Southhampton had that name In Brittish Armes salutes the King and slewe by gyle the same Duke Aruiragus vsing then the Armor of the King Maintayned fight and wonne the field ere Brutons knewe the thing This hardie Knight his Brother slayne was Crowned in his place And with his winnings also wonne the Emperour to grace Who sending for his Daughter faire Genissa so did ende The Warres in Wedding and away did Claudius Caesar wende But Aruiragus after this reuolted and to stay The hauocke made of Romaines here came succors euery day His Quéene Genissa childing dyed when his Reuolt she knewe And Voada deuorsed late became his Quéene of newe Then he that at Ierusalem the fatall siege begonne Was sent from Rome and warring here the wonted Tribute wonne And through his gentle Uictorie bound Aruiragus still A friend to Caesar whom the King adopted heire by will I here omit the dismall Warre in the Isle of Nona made Against the Romaines whom the Priestes the Drudes inuade With banning words and women with their hayre vntrussed stand With brands of fier in furious wise about their desperat band The King deceased Voada and her two Daughters they Abused by the Romaine Lords doe hotter warres assay THe noble Scot King Corbred he confeddrats with the King of Pichtes and they and Brittish Péeres to field their Armies bring To ayde the Quéene of Brutes that like the Amazonian Dame That beating downe the bloodie Greekes in Priams succour came Had pight her Iauelen at her feete when entred in among The fearce Confedrates thus she spake amidst the scylent throng My state and sexe not hand or hart most valiant friends withhild Me wretched Cause of your repaier by wicked Romaines ild From that reuenge which I doe wish and ye haue cause to worke In which suppose not Voada in female feares to lorke For loe my selfe vnlike my selfe and these same Ladies faire In Armor not to shrinke an ynch where hottest doings are Euen we doe dare to bid the Bace and you your selues shall see Your selues to come behinde in Armes the Romaines too that bee Such Conquerors and valiantly can womenkind oppresse Shall knowe that Brittish women can their Romish wrongs redresse Then arme ye with like courages as Ladies shall present Whom ye nor wounds nor death the praise of Onset shall preuent Nor enuie that our Martiall rage excéedes your manly ire For by how much more we endewer so much more we desire Reuenge on those in whose default we are vnhallowed thus Whil'st they forget themselues for men or to be borne of vs. Ye yéeld them Tribute and from vs their Legions haue their pay Thus were to much but more then thus the haughtie Tyrants sway That I am Quéene from being wrong'd doth nothing me protect Their Rapes against my Daughters both I also might obiect They Maydes deflower they Wiues enforce and vse their willes in all And yet we liue deferring fight inferring so our fall But valiant Brutons ventrous Scottes and warlike Pichtes I erre Exhorting whom I should dehorte your fearcenes to deferre Lesse courage more considerat would make your Foes to quake My hart hath ioy'd to see your hands the Romaine Standards take But when as force and Fortune fayld that you with téeth should sight And in the faces of their Foes your women in dispight Should fling their sucking Babes I hild such valentnes but vaine Inforced flight it is no shame such Flyers fight againe Well here
inferre consuming warre The Brutons vnder Rome secure as men that did relye On others were disabled now by Martiall meanes to trye The fame of fight but Captaineles confusedly they deale And giue a wretched instant of an headles Common-weale And whom so many Romaine Péeres Grand-Captaines of such might Of whom Nine Emperours themselues in persons here did sight Could hardly foyle were fronted now euen of a barbrous Foe And at the poynt a wondrous chaunge their Countrie to forgoe Such fruite hath ease such pollicie did serue the Romaines turne Who wayning Martiall mynds themselues the quietler here soiurne The Brutons thus dispoyâ—d of Aâ—mes and courage in effect Of Prince of Captaines and aduise their busines to direct Dispatch their Legate to the Land Deminatiue in name To Brutaine where the Legate thus his Ambassie did frame The back-slide of our helples friends the down-fall of our state Our lacke of Prince of people and our wealth not now as late The sauage dealing of our Foes consuming ours and vs Is cause right mightie King that we approach thy present thus Not for we are in blood allyed or that whil'st Fortune smil'd Your Auncestors had rule from vs not for the Dames defil'd At Cullin who withstanding lust for it did loose their liues That els to Conon and his Knights had liued noble wiues We are imboldned in our suite though all of these might moue But for our former Wants O King and for thyne owne behoue Great Brutaine doth submit it selfe thy Subiect if thou please Or els dispose it at thy will prouided we haue ease Against such foes as would not saue our liues to haue our Land Whom to conclude except thou helpe we neuer may withstand The King Aldroen pittying much the Cause of his Allies Arm'd thence his brother Constantine a Captaine stout and wise He chacing hence the Scottes and Pichtes with glorie wore the Crowne And through his vertue stayed vp a Kingdome sinking downe WIthin a while did Vortiger the Duke of Cornwalle rayne When Constans sonne of Constantine he traytrously had slayne The Scottes did ruffle then a-new nor did the King affye In Brutons for they hated him and reason had they why And Saxon Fléetes from Germanie in Armor here ariue Through whose support y e King in warres against the Scottes did thriue The Foe by Hengest foyled thus he and his Brother git The chiefest credit with the King but fewe gainsaying it Necessitie of Soldiours here so well for them did fit And Hengests Daughter intertayn'd King Vortiger so well That to misliking of his wife and liking her he fell And sotted thus in forren loue did wed the Saxon Wench Which wrought vnto the Saxons weale but to the Brutes offence For whatsoere the Quéene did aske the King would not denye Untill his Subiects rann to Armes and made the Saxons flye And putting downe the Father then did set vp Vortimer Who poysoned by his Stepdame they restored Vortiger With this condition that he should no Saxons intertayne But Hengest hearing from the Quéene that Vortimer was slayne And Vortiger his Sonne-in-lawe re-kinged did resayle With Saxon forces though with fraude not force he did preuayle For thus by pollicie he did the Brutons circumuent He craued Parlie as a man that were to quietnes bent The place appoynted Parlants him in simple meaning meet Farre from their Armie all vnarm'd whom Saxon Traytors greet With deadly wounds by hidden kniues and held the King with them Confounding so the Brittish Oste. Nor cease they to contemne Both Christian rightes and ciuell Rule subuerting either twaine And what they would of Vortiger through fearfull threats they gaine And plant themselues in Southfolke Kent and elswhere at their will And ruffling runne throughout the Land oppressing Brutons still The King and Brutons flead to Wales and Feend-got Marlyn theare Bewrayed more then I beléeue or credit seemes to beare As shewing how the Castell worke rear'd dayly fell by night By shaking of two Dragons great that vnderneath it fight With other wonders tedious if not trothles to resight Aurelius Ambrose brother to King Constans murdred late From either Bruton hauing ayde wonne so the Kingly state And ere that Hengest or his sonne stout Octa he subdew'd First to reuenge his Brothers death he Vortiger pursew'd In vaine the Welsh wild Mountaines fence the flyer from his Foe Or Gerneth Castell when as flames throughout the buildings goe In midst whereof the wretched King did end his daies in woe THe Brutons thus had peace a-while till Vortigerus Sonne And Guillamour the Irish King in newe Conflicts begonne Whom whil'st that Vter valiantly in Wales to wracke did bring His brother Ambrose did decease and Vter then was King What Vter did by Marlyns Arte in compassing his will Upon the Wife of Garolus transfigured by skill Into the likenes of her Lord on whom he got a sonne Renowmed Arthur or to name the Acts by Vter donne Were much and néedles onely note he was a valiant Prince But such as was his noble Sonne was not before or since Yet blazing Arthur as haue some I might be ouer-seene He was Uictorious making one amongst the Worthiest méene But with his pardon if I vouch his world of Kingdomes wonne I am no Poet and for lacke of pardone were vndone His Scottish Irish Almaine French and Saxone Battelles got Yéeld fame sufficient these seeme true the rest I credite not But Brutone is my taske and to my taske I will retier Twelue tymes the Saxone Princes here against him did conspier And Arthur in twelue Battelles great went Uanquishor away Howbeit Saxone forces still amongst the Brutons stay This King to intertaine discourse and so to vnderstand What Accedents in after-tymes should happen in this Land He with the Brittish Prophet then of Sequelles fell in hand Of Syx long after Kings the man not borne of humaine seede Did Prophesie and many things that came to passe in déede Now Arthur chiefe of Cheualrie had set his Crowne at stay And to his Nephewe Mordred did commit thereof the sway When with his Knights the wonder of the world for Martiall déedes Beyond the Seas in forren fights he luckely procéedes Till faithlesse Mordred calde him backe that forward goes with fame For at his Uncles Dyademe he traytrously did ame Twise Arthur wonne of him the field and thirdly slewe his Foe When deadly wounded he himselfe victorious dyed foe INterred then with publique playnts and issules ensewes A drouping of the Brittish state the Saxon still subdewes Howbeit worthie Kings succéeded but Destinie withsâ—ood The aunciant Scepter to inure in Bruts succéeding blood Unlou'd Careticus was he that lost the Goale at length Whenceforth in vayne to winne their losse y e Brutons vse their strength Yea God that as it pleaseth him doth place or dispossesse When foes nor foyles nor any force their courage might suppresse Séem'd partiall in the Saxon Cause and with a Plague did crosse The Brutons that had els at least
rebated from their losse For Cadwane and Cadwallyne and Cadwallader the last But not the least for valarous of Brittish Princes past Brought out of Wales such knightly Warres as made their foes agast The Plague worse spoyler then y e Warres left Cambre almost waste Which to auoyde the remnant Brutes into their Shippes did haste Cadwallader in leauing thus his natiue Shore he fixt His eyes from whence his bodie should and with his sighes he mixt His royall teares which giuing place he speaketh thus betwixt Swéete Brutaine for I yet must vse that sweete and ceasing name Adewe thy King bids thee adewe whose flight no weapons frame But God cōmaunds his Wroth cōmaunds all counter-maund is vaine Els for thy loue to dye in thée were life to thy Remaine Thus tymes haue turnes thus Fortune still is flying to and fro What was not is what is shall cease some come and others goe So Brutaine thou of Nation and of name endewrest chaunge Now balking vs whom thou hast bread and brooking people straunge Yet if I shoote not past myne aime a world of tyme from me Parte of our blood in highest pompe shall Englands glorie be And chiefly when vnto a First succeedes a second She. But leauing spéeches ominous Cadwallader is woe That seeing death determines griefe he dyes not on his foe Ah Fortune faileth mightie Ones and meaner doth aduaunce The mightest Empier Rome hath chaunge then Brutaine brooke thy chaunce Let it suffice thou wert before and after Rome in fame And to indure what God intends were sinne to coumpt a shame Nor vaunt ye Saxons of our flight but if ye néedes will vaunt Then vaunt of this that God displac'd whom you could neuer daunt This said y e teares contrould his tongue sayles wrought land frō sight When saue a Remnant small the Isle was rid of Brutons quight THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND CHAP. XX. THE Brutons thus departed hence Seauen Kingdomes here begonne Where diuersly in diuers broyles the Saxons lost and wonne King Edell and King Adelbright in Diria ioyntly rayne In loyall concorde during life these Kingly friends remayne When Adelbright should leaue his life to Edell thus he saies By those same bonds of happie loue that held vs friends alwaies By our by-parted Crowne of which the Moyetie is myne By God to whom my Soule must passe and so in tyme may thyne I pray thée nay I Coniure thée to nourish as thyne owne Thy Néece my Daughter Argentile till she to age be growne And then as thou receiuest it resigne to her my Throne A promise had for this Bequest the Testator he dyes But all that Edell vndertooke he afterward denyes Yet well he fosters for a tyme the Damsell that was growne The fayrest Lady vnder heauen whose beautie being knowne A many Princes seeke her loue but none might her obtaine For grippell Edell to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine By chaunce one Curan sonne vnto a Prince in Danske did sée The Mayde with whom he fell in loue as much as one might bée Unhappie Youth what should he doe his Sainct was kept in Mewe Nor he nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe One while in Malancholy fits he pynes himselfe away Anon he thought by force of Armes to winne her if he may And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay At length the high Controller Loue whom none may disobay Imbased him from Lordlynes vnto a Kitchin Drudge That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge Accesse so had to see and speake he did his loue bewray And telles his bearth her aunswer was she husbandles would stay Meane while the King did beate his braines his bootie to achiue Not caring what became of her so he by her might thriue At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue And which was working to his wish he did obserue with ioye How Curan whom he thought a Drudge scapt many an amorous toy◠The King perceiuing such his vayne promotes his Uassall still Least that the bacenesse of the man should let perhaps his will Assured therefore of his loue but not suspecting who The Louer was the King himselfe in his behalfe did owe. The Lady resolute from loue vnkindly takes that hée Should barre the Noble and vnto so base a Match agrée And therefore shifting out of doores departed thence by stealth Preferring pouertie before a daungerous life in wealth When Curan heard of her escape the anguish in his harte Was more then much and after her from Court he did departe Forgetfull of himselfe his bearth his Countrie friends and all And onely mynding whom he mist the Foundresse of his thrall Nor meanes he after to frequent or Court or stately Townes But sollitarilie to liue amongst the Countrie grownes A brace of yeres he liued thus well pleased so to liue And Shepheard-like to féede a Flocke himselfe did wholly giue So wasting loue by worke and want grewe almost to the Waene But then began a second Loue the worser of the twaene A Coūtrie wēch a Neatheards Mayd where Curan kept his Shéepe Did féede her Droue and now on her was all the Shepheards kéepe He borrowed on the working daies his holly Russets oft And of the Bacons fat to make his Startups blacke and soft And least his Tarbox should offend he left it at the Folde Swéete Growte or Whigge his Bottle had as much as it might holde A Shéeue of bread as browne as Nut and Chéese as white as Snowe And Wyldings or the Seasons fruite he did in Skrippe bestowe And whil'st his py-bald Curre did sléepe and Shéep-hooke lay him by On hollowe Quilles of oten Strawe he pyped melodie But when he spyed her his Sainct he wipte his greasie Shooes And clear'd the driuell from his beard and thus the Shepheard owes I haue swéete Wench a péece of Chéese as good as tooth may chawe And bread and Wyldings souling well and therewithall did drawe His Lardrie and in eating see you Crumpled Ewe quoth hée Did twinne this fall and twinne should'st thou if I might tupp with thée Thou art to eluish faith thou art to eluish and to coye Am I I pray thée beggerlie that such a Flocke enioye I wis I am not yet that thou doest hold me in disdaine Is brimme abroade and made a gibe to all that kéepe this Plaine There be as quaint at least that thinke themselues as quaint that craue The Match which thou I wot not why mayst but mislik'st to haue How wouldst thou match for well I wot thou art a female I I knowe not her that willingly with Mayden-head would dye The Plowmans labour hath no end and he a Churle will proue The Craftsman hath more worke in hand then fitteth vnto loue The Marchant traffaquing abroade suspects his wife at home A Youth will play the Wanton and an old-man proue a Mome Then choose a Shepheard