The First Song

The sprightly Muse her wing displaies,
And the French Ilands first survaies;
Beares-vp with Neptune, and in glory
Transcends proud Cornwalls Promontorie;
There crownes Mount-Michaell, and discries
How all those Riuerets fall and rise;
Then takes in Tamer, as shee bounds
The Cornish and Deuonian grounds.
And whilst the Deuonshire-Nymphes relate
Their loues, their fortunes, and estate,
Dert vndertaketh to reviue
Our Brute, and sings his first arriue:
Then North-ward to the verge shee bends,
And her first Song at Ax shee ends.

OF Albions glorious Ile the Wonders whilst I write,
The sundry varying soyles, the pleasures infinite
(Where heate kills not the cold, nor cold expells the heat,
The calmes too mildly small, nor winds too roughly great,
Nor night doth hinder day, nor day the night doth wrong,
The Summer not too short, the Winter not too long)
What helpe shall I invoke to ayde my Muse the while?
Thou Genius of the place (this most renowned Ile)
Which liuedst long before the All-earth-drowning Flood,
Whilst yet the world did swarme with her Gigantick brood;
Goe thou before me still thy circling shores about,
And in this wandring Maze helpe to conduct me out:
Direct my course so right, as with thy hand to showe
Which way thy Forrests range, which way thy Riuers flowe;
Wise Genius, by thy helpe that so I may discry
How thy faire Mountaines stand, and how thy Vallyes lie;
From those cleere pearlie Cleeues which see the Mornings pride,
And check the surlie Impes of Neptune when they chide,
Vnto the big-swolne waues in the Iberian streame,
Where Titan still vnyokes his fiery-hoofed Teame,
And oft his flaming locks in lushious Nectar steepes,
When from Olympus top he plungeth in the Deepes:
That from th'Armorick sands, on surging Neptunes leas
Through the Hibernick Gulfe (those rough Vergiuian seas)
My verse with wings of skill may flie a loftie gate,
As Amphitrite clips this Iland Fortunate,
Till through the sleepy Maine to Thuly I haue gone,
And seene the frozen Iles, the cold Ducalidon,
Amongst whose Iron rockes grym Saturne yet remaines,
Bound in those gloomie Caues with Adamantine chaines.
Yee sacred Bards, that to your Harps melodious strings
Sung th'ancient Heroës deeds (the monuments of Kings)
And in your dreadfull verse ingrau'd the prophecies,
The aged worlds descents, and Genealogies;
If, as those Druides taught, which kept the British rites,
And dwelt in darksome Groues, there counsailing with sprites
(But their opinions faild, by error led awry,
As since cleere truth hath shew'd to their posteritie)
When these our soules by death our bodies doe forsake,
They instantlie againe doe other bodies take;
I could haue wisht your spirits redoubled in my breast,
To giue my verse applause, to times eternall rest.
Thus scarcelie said the Muse, but houering while she hung
Vpon the Celtick wastes, the Sea-Nymphes loudlie sung:
O euer-happie Iles, your heads so high that beare,
By Nature stronglie fenc't, which neuer need to feare
On Neptunes watry Realmes when Eolus raiseth warres,
And euery billow bounds, as though to quench the starres:
Faire Iersey first of these heere scattred in the Deepe,
Peculiarlie that boast'st thy double-horned sheepe:
Inferior nor to thee, thou Iernsey, brauelie crown'd
With rough-imbatteld rocks, whose venom-hating ground
The hardned Emerill hath, which thou abroad doost send:
Thou Ligon, her belov'd, and Serk, that doost attend
Her pleasure euerie howre; as Iethow, them at need,
With Phesants, fallow Deere, and Conies that doost feed:
Yee seauen small sister Iles, and Sorlings, which to see
The halfe-sunk sea-man ioyes, or whatsoe're you be,
From fruitfull Aurney, neere the ancient Celtick shore,
To Vshant and the Seames, whereas those Nunnes of yore
Gaue answers from their Caues, and tooke what shapes they please:
Ye happie Ilands set within the British Seas,
With shrill and iocund shouts, th'vnmeasur'd deepes awake,
And let the Gods of Sea their secret Bowres forsake,
Whilst our industrious Muse great Britaine forth shall bring,
Crown'd with those glorious wreathes that beautifie the Spring;
And whilst greene Thetis Nymphes, with many an amorous lay
Sing our Invention safe vnto her long-wisht Bay.
Vpon the vtmost end of Cornwalls furrowing beake,
Where Bresan from the Land the tilting waues doth breake;
The shore let her transcend, the Promont to discry,
And viewe about the Point th'vnnumbred Fowle that fly.
Some, rising like a storme from off the troubled sand,
Seeme in their houering flight to shadow all the land;
Some, sitting on the beach to prune their painted breasts,
As if both earth and aire they onelie did possesse.
Whence, climing to the Cleeues, her selfe she firmlie sets
The Bourns, the Brooks, the Becks, the Rills, the Riuilets,
Exactlie to deriue; receiuing in her way
That straightned tongue of Land, where, at Mount-Michaells Bay,
Rude Neptune cutting in, a cantle forth doth take;
And, on the other side, Hayles vaster mouth doth make
A Chersonese thereof, the corner clipping in:
Where to th'industrious Muse the Mount doth thus begin;
Before thou further passe, and leaue this setting shore,
Whose Townes vnto the Saints that liued heere of yore
(Their fasting, works, & pray'rs, remaining to our shames)
Were rear'd, and iustly call'd by their peculiar names,
The builders honour still; this due and let them haue,
As deigne to drop a teare vpon each holie Graue;
Whose charitie and zeale, in steed of knowledge stood:
For, surely in themselues they were right simply good.
If, credulous too much, thereby th'offended heauen
In their deuout intents, yet be their sinnes forgiuen.
Then from his rugged top the teares downe trickling fell;
And in his passion stirr'd, againe began to tell
Strange things, that in his daies times course had brought to pass,
That fortie miles now Sea, sometimes firme fore-land was;
And that a Forrest then, which now with him is Flood,
Whereof he first was call'd the H•are-Rock in the Wood;
Relating then how long this soile had laine forlorne,
As that her Genius now had almost her forsworne,
And of their ancient loue did vtterly repent,
Sith to destroy her selfe that fatall toole she lent
By which th'insatiate slaue her intrailes out doth draw,
That thrusts his gripple hand into her golden mawe;
And for his part doth wish, that it were in his power
To let the Ocean in, her wholly to deuoure.
Which, Hayle doth ouer-heare, and much doth blame his rage,
And told him (to his teeth) hee doated with his age.
For Hayle (a lustie Nymph, bent all to amorous play,
And hauing quicke recourse into the Seuerne Sea
With Neptunes Pages oft disporting in the Deepe;
One neuer touch't with care; but how her selfe to keepe
In excellent estate) doth thus againe intreate;
Muse, leaue the wayward Mount to hi• distempred heate,
Who nothing can produce but what doth taste of spight:
Ile shew thee things of ours most worthy thy delight.
Behold our Diamonds heere, as in the quarr's they stand,
By Nature neatly cut, as by a skilfull hand,
Who varieth them in formes, both curiouslie and oft;
Which for shee (wanting power) produceth them too soft,
That vertue which she could not liberallie impart,
Shee striueth to amend by her owne proper Art.
Besides, the Seaholme heere, that spreadeth all our shore,
The sick consuming man so powerfull to restore:
Whose roote th'Eringo is, the reines that doth inflame
So stronglie to performe the Cytheraan game,
That generally approou'd, both farre and neere is sought.
And our Main-Amber heere, and Burie• Trophy, thought
Much wrongd, not yet preferd for wonders with the rest.
But, the laborious Muse, vpon her iourney prest,
Thus vttereth to her selfe; To guide my course aright,
What Mound or steddie Mere is offered to my sight
Vpon this out-stretcht Arme, whilst sayling heere at ease,
Betwixt the Southern waste, and the Sabrinian seas,
I view those wanton Brookes, that waxing, still doe wane;
That scarcelie can conceiue, but brought to bed againe;
Scarce rising from the Spring (that is their naturall Mother)
To growe into a streame, but buried in another.
When Chore doth call her on, that wholly doth betake
Her selfe vnto the Loo; transform'd into a Lake,
Through that impatient loue shee had to entertaine
The lustfull Neptune oft; whom when his wracks restraine,
Impatient of the wrong, impetuouslie hee raues:
And in his ragefull flowe, the furious King of waues,
Breaks foming o're the Beach, whom nothing seemes to coole,
Till he haue wrought his will on that capacious Poole:
Where Menedge, by his Brookes, a Chersonese is cast,
Widening the slender shore to ease it in the wast;
A Promont iutting out into the dropping South,
That with his threatning cleeues in horrid Neptunes mouth,
Derides him and his power: nor cares how him he greets.
Next, Roseland (as his friend, the mightier Menedge) meets
Great Neptune when he swells, and rageth at the Rocks
(Set out into those seas) inforcing through his shocks
Those armes of Sea, that thrust into the tinny strand,
By their Meandred creeks indenting of that Land
Whose fame by euerie tongue is for her Myneralls hurld,
Neere from the mid-daies point, throughout the Westerne world.
Heere Vale, a liuelie flood, her nobler name that giues
To Flamouth; and by whom, it famous euer liues,
Whose entrance is from sea so intricatelie wound,
Her hauen angled so about her harbrous sound,
That in her quiet Bay a hundred ships may ride,
Yet not the tallest mast, be of the tall'st descri'd;
Her brauerie to this Nymph when neighbouring riuers told,
Her mind to them againe shee brieflie doth vnfold;
Let Camell, of her course, and curious windings boast,
In that her Greatness raignes sole Mistress of that coast
Twixt Tamer and that Bay, where Hayle poures forth her pride:
And let vs (nobler Nymphs) vpon the mid-daie side,
Be frolick with the best. Thou Foy, before vs all,
By thine owne named Towne made famous in thy fall,
As Low, amongst vs heere; a most delicious Brooke,
With all our sister Nymphes, that to the noone-sted looke,
Which glyding from the hills, vpon the tinny ore,
Betwixt your high-rear'd banks, resort to this our shore:
Lov'd streames, let vs exult, and thinke our selues no lesse
Then those vpon their side, the Setting that possesse.
Which, Camell ouer-heard: but what doth she respect
Their taunts, her proper course that loosely doth neglect?
As frantick, euer since her British Arthurs blood,
By Mordreds murtherous hand was mingled with her flood.
For, as that Riuer, best might boast that Conquerours breath,
So sadlie shee bemoanes his too vntimelie death;
Who, after twelue proud fields against the Saxon fought,
Yet back vnto her banks by fate was lastly brought:
As though no other place on Britaines spacious earth,
Were worthie of his end, but where he had his birth:
And carelesse euer since how shee her course doe steere,
This muttreth to her selfe, in wandring here and there;
Euen in the agedst face, where beautie once did dwell,
And nature (in the least) but seemed to excell,
Time cannot make such waste, but something wil appeare,
To shewe some little tract of delicacie there.
Or some religious worke, in building manie a day,
That this penurious age hath suffred to decay,
Some lim or modell, dragd out of the ruinous mass,
The richness will declare in glorie whilst it was:
But time vpon my waste committed hath such theft,
That it of Arthur heere scarce memorie hath left:
The Nine-ston'd Trophie thus whilst shee doth entertaine,
Proude Tamer swoopes along, with such a lustie traine
As fits so braue a flood two Countries that diuides:
So, to increase her strength, shee from her equall sides
Receiues their seuerall rills; and of the Cornish kind,
First, taketh Atre in: and her not much behind
Comes Kensey: after whom, cleere Enian in doth make,
In Tamers room thier bankes, their rest that scarcelie take.
Then Lyner, though the while aloofe shee seem'd to keepe,
Her Soueraigne when shee sees t'approach the surgefull deepe,
To beautifie her fall her plentious tribute brings.
This honours Tamer much: that shee whose plentious springs,
Those proud aspyring hills, Bromwelly and his frend
High Rowter, from their tops impartiallie commend,
And is by Carewes Muse, the riuer most renound,
Associate should her grace to the Deuonian ground.
Which in those other Brookes doth Emulation breed.
Of which, first Car comes crown'd, with oziar, segs and reed:
Then Lid creeps on along, and taking Thrushel, throwes
Her selfe amongst the rocks; and so incauern'd goes,
That of the blessed light (from other floods) debarr'd,
To bellowe vnder earth, she onelie can be heard,
As those that view her tract, seemes strangelie to affright:
So, Toouy straineth in; and Plym, that claimes by right
The christning of that Bay, which beares her nobler name.
Vpon the British coast, what ship yet euer came
That not of Plymouth heares, where those braue Nauies lie,
From Canons thundring throats, that all the world defie?
Which, to invasiue spoile, when th'English list to draw,
Haue checkt Iberias pride, and held her oft in awe:
Oft furnishing our Dames, with Indias rar'st deuices,
And lent vs gold, and pearle, rich silks, and daintie spices.
But Tamer takes the place, and all attend her here,
A faithfull bound to both; and two that be so neare
For likeliness of soile, and quantitie they hold,
Before the Roman came; whose people were of old
Knowne by one generall name, vpon this point that dwell,
All other of this Ile in wrastling that excell:
With collars be they yokt, to proue the arme at length,
Like Bulls set head to head, with meere delyuer strength:
Or by the girdles graspt, they practise with the hip,
The forward, backward, falx, the mare, the turne, the trip,
When stript into their shirts, each other they invade
Within a spacious ring, by the beholders made,
According to the law. Or when the Ball to throw,
And driue it to the Gole, in squadrons forth they goe:
And to auoid the troupes (their forces that fore-lay)
Through dikes and riuers make, in this robustious play;
By which, the toiles of warre most liuelie are exprest.
But Muse, may I demaund, Why these of all the rest
(As mightie Albyons eld'st) most actiue are and strong?
From Corin came it first, or from the vse so long?
Or that this fore-land lies furth'st out into his sight,
Which spreads his vigorous flames on euerie lesser light?
With th'vertue of his beames, this place that doth inspire:
Whose pregnant wombe prepar'd by his all-powerful fire,
Being purelie hot and moist, proiects that fruitfull seed,
Which stronglie doth beget, and doth as stronglie breed:
The weldisposed heauen heere proouing to the earth,
A Husband furthering fruite; a Midwife helping birth.
But whilst th'industrious Muse thus labours to relate
Those rillets that attend proud Tamer and her state,
A neighbourer of this Nymphes, as high in Fortunes grace,
And whence calme Tamer trippes, cleere Towridge in that place
Is poured from her spring; and seemes at first to flowe
That way which Tamer straines: but as she great doth growe
Remembreth to fore-see, what Riualls she should find
To interrupt her course: whose so vnsettled mind
Ock comming in perceiues, & thus doth her perswade;
Now Neptune shield (bright Nymph) thy beautie should be made
The obiect of her scorne, which (for thou canst not be
Vpon the Southern side so absolute as shee)
Will awe thee in thy course. Wherefore, faire flood recoile:
And where thou maist alone be soueraigne of the soile,
There exercise thy power, thy braueries and displaie:
Turne Towridge, let vs back to the Sabrinian sea;
Where Thetis handmaids still in that recoursefull deepe
With those rough Gods of Sea, continuall reuells keepe;
There maist thou liue admir'd, the mistress of the Lake.
Wise Ock shee doth obey, returning, and doth take
The Tawe: which from her fount forc't on with amorous gales,
And easely ambling downe through the Deuonian dales,
Brings with her Moule and Bray, her banks that gentlie bathe;
Which on her daintie breast, in many a siluer swathe
Shee beares vnto that Bay, where Barstable beholds,
How her beloued Tawe cleere Towridge there enfolds.
The confluence of these Brooks divulg'd in Dertmoore, bred
Distrust in her sad breast, that shee, so largelie spred,
And in this spacious Shire the neer'st the Center set
Of anie place of note; that these should brauelie get
The praise, from those that sprung out of her pearlie lap;
Which, nourisht and bred vp at her most plentious pap,
No sooner taught to dade, but from their Mother trip,
And in their speedie course, striue others to out-strip.
The Yalme, the Awne, the A•me, by spacious Dertmoore fed,
And in the Southern Sea, b•ing likewise brought to bed;
That these were not of power to publish her desert,
Much grieu'd the ancient Moore: which vnderstood by Dert
(From all the other floods that onely takes her name,
And as her eld'st (in right) the heire of all her fume)
To shew her nobler spirit it greatlie doth behoue.
Deare Mother, from your breast this feare (quoth she) remoue:
Defie their vtmost force: ther's not the proudest flood,
That falls betwixt the Mount and Exmore, shall make good
Her royaltie with mine, with me nor can compare:
I challenge any one, to answere me that dare.
That was, before them all, predestinate to meet
My Britaine-founding Brute, when with his puissant fleet
At Totnesse first he toucht? which shall renowne my streame
(Which now the enuious world doth slander for a dreame.)
Whose fatall flight from Greece, his fortunate arriue
In happy Albyon heere whilst stronglie I reuiue,
Deare Harburne at thy hands this credit let me win,
Quoth she, that as thou hast my faithfull hand-maid bin:
So now (my onelie Brooke) assist me with thy spring,
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,
And his most reuerent Sire, the graue 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
Safe harbor for his ships, with wrackfull tempests rent:
When, in the Latine Court, Lauinia young and faire
(Her Fathers onely child, and kingdoms onely heire)
Vpon the Troian Lord her liking stronglie plac't,
And languisht in the fiers that her faire breast imbrac't:
But, Turnus (at that time) the proud Rutulian King,
A suter to the maid, Aeneas malicing,
By force of Armes attempts, his riuall to extrude:
But, by the Teucrian power courageouslie subdu'd,
Bright Cythereas sonne the Latine crowne obtain'd;
And dying, in his stead his sonne Ascanius raign'd.
Next, Siluius him succeeds, begetting Brute againe:
Who in his Mothers wombe whilst yet he did remaine,
The Oracles gaue out, that next borne Brute should bee
His Parents onelie death: which soone they liv'd to see.
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.
Where, whilst he liv'd vnknowne, and oft with want beset,
He of the race of Troy a remnant hapt to find,
There by the Grecians held; which (hauing still in mind
Their tedious tenne yeeres warre, and famous Heroeë slaine)
In slauerie with them still those Troians did detaine:
Which Pyrrhus thither brought (and did with hate pursue,
To wreake Achilles death, at Troy whom Paris slew)
There, by Pandrasus kept, in sad and seruile awe.
Who, when they knew young Brute, & that braue shape they saw,
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 euery way, for courage, power, and wit,
Assaracus (who, though that by his Sire he were
A Prince amongst the Greeks, yet held the Troians deere;
Descended of their stock vpon the Mothers side:
For which, he by the Greeks his birth-right was deni'd)
Impatient of his wrongs, with him braue Brute arose,
And of the Troian youth courageous Captaines chose,
Raysd Earth-quakes with their Drummes, the ruffling Ensignes reare;
And, gathering young and old that rightlie Troian were,
Vp to the Mountaines march, through straits and forrests strong:
Where, taking-in the Townes, pretended to belong
Vnto that Grecian Lord, some forces there they put:
Within whose safer walls their wiues and children shut,
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 Troians them betake.
But whilst the Grecian Guides (not knowing how or where
The Teuerians were entrencht, or what their forces were)
In foule disordred troupes yet straggled, as secure,
This loosness to their spoyle the Troians did allure,
Who fiercely them assail'd: where stanchlesse furie rap't
The Grecians in so fast, that scarcely one escap't:
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.
When they whose better wits had ouer-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
And faine they were stolne forth, to their Allies to show
How they might haue the spoile of all the Troian pride;
And gaining them beleefe, the credulous Grecians guide
Into th'ambushment neere, that secretlie was laid:
So to the Troians hands the Grecians were betraid;
Pandrasus selfe surpriz'd; his Crown who to redeeme
(Which scarcely worth their wrong the Troian race esteeme)
Their slauerie long sustain'd did willinglie release:
And (for a lasting league of amitie and peace)
Bright Innogen, his child, for wife to Brutus gaue,
And furnisht them a fleete, with all things they could craue
To set them out to Sea. Who lanching, at the last
They on Lergecia light, an Ile; and, ere they past,
Vnto a Temple built to great Diana there,
The noble Brutus went; wise Triuia to enquire,
To shew them where the stock of ancient Troy to place.
The Goddesse, that both knew and lov'd the Troian race,
Reueal'd to him in dreames, that furthest to the West,
He should discrie the Ile of Albion, highlie blest;
With Giants latelie stor'd; their numbers now decaid:
By vanquishing the rest, his hopes should there be 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,
And safelie vnder 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, vnto his friend would say
As I haue heard some tell) So goodly Ida lay.
Thus talking mongst themselues, they sun-burnt Africk keepe
Vpon the lee-ward still, and (sulking vp the deep•)
For Mauritania make: where putting-in, they find
A remnant (yet reseru'd) of th'ancient Dardan kind,
By braue Antenor brought from out the Greekish spoiles
(O long-renowned Troy! Of thee, and of thy toyles,
What Country had not heard?) which, to their Generall, then
Great Corineus had, the strong'st of mortall men:
To whom (with ioyfull harts) Dianas will they show.
Who easlie beeing wonne along with them to goe,
They altogether put into the watry Plaine:
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 Ioues great sonne did reare.
And cuffing those sterne waues which like huge Mountaines roule
(Full ioy in euery part possessing euery soule)
In Aquitane at last the •l•on race arriue,
Whom strongly to repulse when as those recreants striue,
They (anchoring there at first but to refresh their fleet,
Yet saw those sauage men so rudely them to greet)
Vnshipt their warlike youth, aduauncing to the shore.
The Dwellers, which perceiu'd such danger at the dore,
Their King Groffarius get to raise his powerfull force:
Who, mustring vp an host of mingled foote and horse,
Vpon the Troians set; when suddainly began
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 liuelesse trunks each passage stopt vp quite.
Groffarius hauing lost the honour of the fight,
Repaires his ruin'd powers; not so to giue 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;
And wounds appear'd so wide, as if the Graue did gape
To swallow both at once; which stroue 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 approued deeds that day was chiefly wonne)
Sixe hundred slue out-right through his peculiar strength:
By multitudes of men yet ouer-prest at length.
His nobler Vncle there, to his immortall name,
The Citie Turon built, and well endow'd the same.
For Albion sayling then, th'arriued quicklie heere
(O! neuer in this world men halfe so ioyful were
With shoutes heard vp to heauen, when they beheld the Land)
And in this verie place where To•nesse now doth stand,
First set their Gods of Troy, kissing the blessed shore;
Then, forraging this Ile, long promisd them before,
Amongst the ragged Cleeues those monstrous Giants sought:
Who (of their dreadfull kind) t'appall the Troians, brought
Great Gogmagog, an Oake that by the roots could teare:
So mightie were (that time) the men who liued there:
But, for the vse of Armes he did not vnderstand
(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 vp, to answer by and by,
Vpon this sonne of Earth his vtmost power to try.
All, doubtful to which part the victorie would goe,
Vpon 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.
And, whilst at length of arme one from the other lyes,
Their lusty sinewes swell like cables, as they striue:
Their feet such trampling make, as though they forc't to driue
A thunder out of earth; which stagger'd with the weight:
Thus, eithers vtmost force vrg'd to the greatest height.
Whilst one vpon 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 vp doth take
The Giant twixt the grayns; and, voyding of his hould
(Before his combrous feet he well recouer could)
Pitcht head-long from the hill; as when a man doth throw
An Axtree, that with sleight deliuerd from the toe
Rootes vp the yeelding earth: so that his violent fall,
Strooke Neptune with such strength, as shouldred him withall;
That where the monstrous waues like Mountaines late did stand,
They leap't out of the place, and left the bared sand
To gaze vpon wide heauen: so great a blowe it gaue.
For which, the conquering Brute, on Corineus braue
This horne of land bestow'd, and markt it with his name;
Of Corin, Cornwall call'd, to his immortall fame.
Cleere Dert deliuering thus the famous Brutes arriue,
Inflam'd with her report, the stragling •iuelets striue
So highlie her to raise, that Ting (whose banks were blest
By her beloued Nymph deere Leman) which addrest
And fullie with her selfe determined before
To sing the Danish spoyles committed on her shore,
When hither from the East they came in mightie swarmes,
Nor could their natiue earth containe their numerous Armes,
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 Riuer (as I said) which had determin'd long
The Deluge of the Danes exactlie to haue song,
It vtterlie neglects; and studying how to doe
The Dert those high respects belonging her vnto,
Inuiteth 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,
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 Soueraigne to assist,
As Columb winnes for Ex, cleere Weuer and the Clist,
Contributing their streames their Mistress fame to raise.
As all assist the Ex, so Ex consumeth these;
Like some vnthriftie youth, depending on the Court,
To winne an idle name, that keepts a needless port;
And raising his old rent, exacts his Farmers store
The Land-lord to enrich, the Tenants wondrous poore:
Who hauing lent him theirs, he then consumes his owne,
That with most vaine expense vpon the Prince is throwne:
So these, the lesser Brooks vnto the greater pay;
The greater, they againe spend all vpon the Sea:
As, Otre• (that her name doth of the Otters take,
Abounding in her banks) and Ax, their vtmost make
(Tony de stout Dert, that dar'd Brutes storie to reuiue.
For, when the Saxon first the Britans forth did driue,
Some vp into the hills themselues o're Seuerne shut:
Vpon this point of land, for refuge others put,
To that braue race of Brute still fortunate. For where
Great Brute first disembarqu this wandring Trojans, there
His ofspring (after long expulst the Inner land,
When they the Saxon power no longer could withstand)
Found refuge in their •light; where Ax and Otrey first
Gaue these poore soules to drinke, opprest with grieuous thirst.
Heere I'le vnyoke awhile, and turne my steeds to meat:
The land growes large and wide: my Teame begins to sweat.