THE AUTHORS INDUCTION.

When Sommer sweete, with all her pleasures past,

And leaues began, to leaue the shady tree,

The winter colde encreased on full fast,

And time of yeare to sadnes moued mee:

For moysty blastes, not halfe so mirthfull bee,

As sweete Aurora bringes in spring time fayre,

Our ioyes they dimme, as winter damps the ayre.

The nights began, to growe to lengthe apace,

Sir Phœbus to th’ Antarctique gan to fare:

From Libraes lance, to th’ Crab hee tooke his race

Beneth the lyne, to lende of light a share.

For then with vs the dayes more darkishe are,

More shorte, colde, moyste, and stormy cloudy clit,

For sadnes more then mirths or pleasures fit.

Deuising then, what bookes were best to reade,

Both for that time, and sentence graue also,

For conference of frende to stande in steade,

When I my faithfull frende was parted fro;

I gate mee strayght the Printers shops vnto,

To seeke some worke of price I suerly ment,

That might alone my carefull mynde content.[83]

Amongst the rest,[84] I found a booke so sad,

As tyme of yeare or sadnesse[85] coulde requier:

The Mirour namde, for Magistrates hee had,

So finely pende, as harte could well desire.

Which when I read, so set my heart on fire,

Eftsoones it mee constraynde to take the payne,

Not lefte with once,[86] to reade it once agayne.

And as agayne I vewde this worke with heede,

And marked playne each party paynt[87] his fall:

Mee thought in mynde, I sawe those men indeede,

Eke howe they came in order Princely[88] all;

Declaring well, this life is but a thrall,

Sith those on whom, for Fortunes giftes wee stare,

Ofte sooneste sinke, in greatest seas of care.

For some, perdy, were Kinges of highe estate,

And som were Dukes, and came of regall race:

Som Princes, Lordes, and Iudges greate that sate

In councell still, decreeing euery case.

Som other Knightes, that vices did imbrace,

Som Gentlemen, som poore exalted hye:

Yet euery one, had playde his tragedye.

A Mirour well it might[89] bee calde, a glasse

As cleare as any[90] cristall vnder Sun:

In each respecte, the Tragedies so passe,

Theyr names shall liue, that such a worke begun.

For why, with such Decorum is it don,

That Momus spight with[91] more then Argus eyes,

Can neuer watche, to keepe it from the wise.

Examples there, for all estates you finde,

For iudge (I say) what iustice hee shoulde vse:

The noble man, to beare a noble mynde,

And not him selfe ambitiously abuse.

The gentleman vngentlenes refuse,

The rich and poore, and eu’ry one may see,

Which way to loue, and liue in due[92] degree.

9.[93]

I wishe them often well to reade it than,

And marke the causes why those Princes fell:

But let mee ende my tale that I began.

When I had red these Tragedies full well,

And past the winter euenings[94] long to tell,

One night at last I thought to leaue this[95] vse,

To take som ease beefore I chaundge my muse.

10.

Wherefore away from reading I mee gate,

My heauy heade waxte dull for wante of reste:

I layde mee downe, the night was waxed late,

For lacke of sleepe myne eyes were sore oppreste:

Yet fancy still of all theire deathes increaste,

Mee thought my mynde from them I coulde not take,

So worthy wightes, as caused mee to wake.[96]

11.

At length appeared clad in purple blacke[97]

Sweete Somnus, rest which comforts eache aliue;

By ease of mynde, that weares away all wracke,

That noysome night, from wery witts doth driue,

Of labours long, the pleasures wee atcheiue.

Whereat I ioyde, sith after labours paste,[98]

I might enioye sweete Somnus sleepe at laste.[99]

12.

But hee by whom I thought my selfe at reste,

Reuiued all my fancyes fond before:

I more desirous humbly did requeste,

Him shew th’ vnhappy Albion Princes yore.[100]

For well I wist, that hee coulde tell mee more,

Sith vnto diuers, Somnus erste had tolde,

What thinges were done, in elder times of olde.

13.[101]

Then strayght hee foorth his seruante Morpheus calde,

On Higins here thou muste (quoth hee) attende;

The Britayne Peeres to bring (whom Fortune thralde)

From Lethian lake, and th’ auncient shapes them lende;

That they may shew why, howe, they tooke theire ende,

I will (quoth Morpheus) shewe him what they were;

And so mee thought, I sawe them strayght appeare.

14.

One after one, they came in straunge attire,

But some with woundes and bloude were so disguisde,

You scarsly coulde by reasons ayde aspire,

To know what warre such sondry deaths deuisde;

And seuerally those Princes were surprisde.

Of former state, these states gaue ample show

Which did relate their liues and ouerthrow.

15.

Of som the faces bolde and bodyes were[102]

Distaynde with woade, and turkishe beardes they had:

On th’ ouer lyppes mutchatoes long of heyre,

And wylde they seemde, as men dispayring mad.

Theire lookes might make a constant heart[103] full sad,

And yet I could not so forsake the vewe[104]

Nor[105] presence, ere theire myndes I likewise knewe.

16.

For Morpheus bade them each in order tell[106]

Their names and liues, their haps and haplesse dayes,

And by what meanes, from Fortunes wheele[107] they fell,

Which did them earst, vnto such honours rayse.

Wherewith the first not making moe delayes,

A noble Prince broade wounded brest[108] that bare

Drew neere, to tell the cause of all his care.

17.

Which when mee thought to speake hee might be bolde,[109]

Deepe from his breste hee threwe an vncouth[110] sounde:

I was amazde his gestures to beholde.

And bloud that freshly trickled from his wounde,

With Eccho so did halfe his wordes confounde,

That scarce a while the sence might playne appeare:

At last,[111] mee thought, hee spake as you shall heare.[112]

How King Albanact the Yongest Son of Brutus,[113] and First King of Albany (now called Scotland) was slayne by king Humber, the yeere before Christ, 1085.

Sith flattering Fortune sliely could beguile

Mee, first of Brytane Princes in this land:[114]

And yet at first on mee did sweetely smile,

Doe marke mee here,[115] that first in presence stand.

And when thou well my wounded corps hast scand,

Then shalt thou heare my hap to penne the same[116]

In stories calde Albanactæ by name.[117]

Lay feare[118] aside, let nothing thee amaze,

Ne haue despaire, ne scuse the want of time:[119]

Leaue of on mee with fearefull lookes to gaze,

Thy pen may serue for such a tale as myne.

First I will tell thee all[120] my fathers lyne,

Then hitherward why hee with Troians man’d,

His voyadge made, and founde this noble land.[121]

And last I minde to tell thee of my selfe,

My life and death, a Tragedy so true

As may approue your world is all but pelfe,

And pleasures sweete, whom sorows aye ensue.

Hereafter eke in order comes a crue,

Which can declare, of worldly pleasures vayne

The price wee all haue bought, with pinching[122] paine.[123]

When Troy was sackt, and brent, and could not stand,

Æneas fled from thence, Anchises sonne,

And came at length to King Latinus land:

Hee Turnus slew, Lauinia eke hee wonne.

After whose death, Ascanius next his sonne

Was crowned King, and Siluius, then his heire,

Espoused to a Latine Lady faire.[124]

By her had Siluius shortly issue eke,

A goodly Prynce, and Brutus was his name.

But what should I of his misfortune speake,

For hunting, as hee minded strike the game,

He shot[125] his father, that beyond it came.

The quarrell[126] glaunst, and through his tender side

It flewe where through the noble Siluius dyde.[127]

Lo thus by chaunce though princely Brutus slewe

His father Siluius, sore agaynst his will,

Which came to soone, as he his arrowe drewe

Though hee in chace the game, did minde to kill,

Yet was hee banisht from his countrey still,[128]

Commaunded neuer[129] to retourne no more,

Except he would his life to loose therefore.

On this, to Greece Lord Brutus tooke his way,

Where Troians were, by Græcians, captiues kept:

Helenus was by Pirrhus brought away

From death of Troians, whom their[130] friends bewept.

Yet hee in Greece this[131] while no busines slept,

But by his facts, and feates obtayn’d such fame,

Seauen thousand captiue Troians to him came.

Assaracus a noble Græcian eke,

Who by his mother came of Troian race,

Because he sawe himselfe in Greece to weake,[132]

Came vnto him to ayde him in this case,

For that his brother thought him to deface.[133]

Which was a Greeke by both his parents sides,

His Castells three the Troian Brutus guides.

While[134] hee to bee theyr Captayne was content,

And as[135] the Troians gathered to his band,

Ambassage to the[136] Græcian King he sent,

For to entreate they[137] might depart his land.

Which when King Pandrasus did vnderstand,

An army strayght he did therefore addresse,

On purpose all the Troians to suppresse.

10.

So as King[138] Pandrasus at Spartane towne

Thought them in deserts by, to circumuent,

The Troians with[139] three thowsand beate them downe,

Such fauoure loe, them[140] Lady Fortune lent.

By Mars his force, their rayes and ranckes hee rent,

And tooke Antigonus the brother of their King,[141]

With others moe, as captiues home to bring.

11.

The taken towne from which the King was fled,

Sir Brutus with sixe hundreth men did man,

Eche prisoner was vnto his keeper led

To keepe in towne, the noble Troians wan:

And into woods the Troiane gate him than[142]

Againe with his, hee kept him there by night

To quaile the Græcians if they came to fight.

12.

The King which cal’d to minde his former foile,

His flight, and brother deare by Troians take,[143]

The towne hee lost, where Brutus gaue[144] the spoile,

Hee thought not so the fielde and fight forsake,

But of his men a muster new to make,

And so againe for to besiege the towne

In hope reuenge, or winne his lost renowne.

13.

By night the ambushe,[145] that his purpose knew,

Came forth from woods, whereas they[146] waited by,

The Troians all th’ vnarmed Græcians slew,

Went through their campe, none could their force deny,

Vnto the tent where Pandrasus did ly,

Whereas Lord Brutus[147] tooke their King that night,

And sau’d his life as seem’d a worthy wight.

14.

This great exploite so wisely well atchiu’d,

The Troiane victour did a counsaile call,

Wherein might bee for their estate contriu’d,

By counsaile graue, the publique weale of all.

Now tell (quoth he) what raunsome aske wee shall?

Or what will you for our auaile deuise?

To which Mempricius answer’d, graue and wise.[148]

15.

“I cannot (Brutus[149]) but commend thine act[150]

In this, thou noble Captaine, worthy praise:

Which deemest well, it were an heynous fact,[151]

T’ abridge the Grecian king of vitall daies,

And that wee ought[152] by clemency to raise

Our fame to skie, not by a sauage guise,

Sith Gods and men both, cruelty despise.

16.

“The cause wee fought, was for the freedome all

Of Troians taken, wee haue freedome won,

Wee haue our purpose, and their king withall,

To whom of rigour nothing ought bee done:

Though hee the quarrel with vs first begon,

And though wee owe the fall of Troyes requite,

Yet let reuenge thereof from gods to lighte.

17.

“His subiects now bewaile[153] their proude pretence,

And weapons laide aside, for mercy crie:

They all confesse their plagues to come from thence,

Where first from faith of Gods they seemd to fly.

Their Nobles dare not come the case to try,

But euen for peace, with all their heartes, they sue,

And meekly graunt, whence all their mischiefes grewe.

18.

“The Princesse[154] fayre, his daughter, who surmounte

For vertues rare, for beautie braue, and grace,

Both Helen fine, of whom they made accountes,

And all the rest that come of Græcian race,

Shee for her father sues, bewailes his case,

Implores, desires thy grace, and gods aboue,

Whose woes may them and thee to mercy moue.[155]

19.

“Some Troians say hee should deposed bee

From kingdome quite, or else bee slaine hee should,

And wee here byde, eke this mislyketh me,

Nay rather while wee stay keepe him in hold,

Or let him pay a raunsome large of gold,

And hostage geue, and homage doe of right

To thee, that wonst the fielde by Martiall fight.[156]

20.

“For kingdomes sake a captiue king to kill,

As euill abroade as in his natiue lande,[157]

For vs in Greece to dwell were euen as ill,

The force of Greece we cannot still withstande.

Let vs therefore both cruelty abande,

And prudent seeke both gods and men to please:

So shall we finde good lucke at lande and seas.[158]

21.

“Or sith the Græcians will thee for to take

The noble Ladie Iunogen to wyfe,

If thou so please, let him her dowry make

Of golde, ships, siluer, corne, for our reliefe,

And other thinges, which are in Græcia ryfe.

That we so fraught may seeke some desert shore,

Where thou and thyne may raygne for euermore.[159]”

22.

This pleas’d both Brutus and the Troians all,

Who wil’d forthwith that Pandrasus the King,

Should reuerently be brought into the hall,

And present when they tolde him of this thing:

So griefe and sorowe great his heart did stinge,

He could not shewe by countenaunce or cheere

That he it lik’d, but spake as you shall heare.

23.

“Sith that the wrath of gods hath yeelded me,[160]

And eke my brother, captiues to your hands,

I am content to do as pleaseth yee,

You haue my realme, my lyfe, my goods and landes,[161]

I must be needes content as Fortune standes.

I gieue my daughter, gold, and siluer fine,

With what for dowry els you craue is myne.”

24.

To make my tale the shorter if I may,

This truce concluded was immediately:[162]

And all thinges else performed by a day,

The King restor’d that did in pryson lie.

The Troians parted from the shores, perdy,[163]

Did hoyse vp sayles, in two dayes and a night

Vpon the Ile of Lestrigons[164] they light.

25.

And leauing of their ships at roade, to land

They wandring went the countrey for to vew:

Loe there a desert city olde they fand,

And eke a temple (if reporte bee true)

Where in Dianas temple olde, the crew[165]

To[166] sacrifice their captaine counsaile gaue

For good successe, a seate and soyle to craue.[167]

26.

And he no whit misliking their aduice

Went forth, and did before the altar hold

In his right hand a cup to sacrifice,

And fild with[168] wine, and white hinds bloud scarce cold.

And then before her stature straight hee told

Deuoutly all his whole peticion there,

In sorte (they say) as is repeated heere.[169]

27.

“O goddesse great in groues that putst wilde boares in feareful feare,

And maist goe all the compasse pathes of euery ayrye sphere,

Eke of th’ infernall houses too, resolue the earthly rights,

And tell what countrey in to dwell thou giu’st vs Troian wights.

Assigne a certaine seate where I shall worship thee for aye,

And where repleat with virgins, I, erect thy temples maye.”

28.

When nine times hee had spoken this, and went

Foure times the altar rounde, and staide agen,

He powr’d the wine and bloud in hand hee hent

Into the fire. O witlesse cares of men,

Such folly meere, and blindnes great was then.

But if religion now biddes toyes farewell,

Embrace that’s good, the vice of times I tell.

29.

He layde him then downe by the altars side,

Vpon the white Hindes skin espred therefore:

It was the third houre of the night, a tyde

Of sweetest sleepe, hee gaue himselfe the more

To rest[170] perdy.[171] Then seemed him before

Diana chaste, the goddesse to appeare,

And spake to him these wordes that you shall heare.

30.

“O Brute, farre vnder Phœbus fall, beyonde of France that raigne,

An Iland in the Ocean is, with sea tis compast mayne,

An Iland in the Ocean is, where Giauntes erst[172] did dwell:

But now a desert place that’s fit, will serue thy people well.

To this direct thy race, for there shall bee thy seate for aye,

And to thy sonnes there shall bee built another stately Troye.

Here of thy progeny and stocke, shall mightie Kings descend,

And vnto them as subiect, all the world shall bow and bend.”

31.

On this hee woke, with ioyfull cheere, and told

The vision all, and oracle it[173] gaue:

So it reioyst their hearts a thowsande fold.

To ships they got, away the shores they draue,

And hoysing sailes, for happie windes they craue.

In thirty dayes their voyage so they dight,

That on the coast of Aphrica[174] they light.

32.

Then to Philænes altars they attayn’d,

(For so men call two hilles erected are

In Tumise land) two brethren ground that gain’d

For Carthage once, and went tis sayd too farre,

On Cyren ground for bounds, there buryed were.

Because they would not turne againe, but striue

With Cyren men, they buryed them aliue.

33.

From thence they sailed through the middle lake,

Betwene Europa fayre and Aphrica the drye:

With winde at will, the doubtfull race they take,

And sail’d to Tuscane shores, on Europe coast that lye.

Where at the last amongst the men they did descrye

Fowre banisht bandes of Troians in destresse

To sayle with them, which did themselues addresse.[175]

34.

Companions of Antenor in his flight,

But Corinœus was their captayne than,

For counsayle graue[176] a wise and worthy wight:

In warres the prayse of[177] valiantnesse he wan.

Lord Brutus liked well this noble man,

With him full oft confer of fates hee wold,

And vnto him the oracles hee told.[178]

35.

The Troians so in number now encreast,

Set on to sea and hoysed sayles to wynde.

To Hercules his pillers from the East

They cast by compasse ready way to finde:

Where through once past to Northward race they twinde,

To Pirene cleeues, tweene Spayne and France the bounde,

Reioycing neere the promist Ile so founde.[179]

36.

Eke[180] vnto Guyne in France they sayled thence,

Where[181] at the hauen of Loire they did arriue,

To vewe the countrey was their whole pretence

And victayles get, their souldiers to reuiue.[182]

Eke Corinœus lest the Galles should striue,

Led forth two hundreth of his warlike band,

To get prouision to the ships from land.

37.

But when the King Goffarius heard of this,

That Troians were arriued on his shore,

With Frenchmen and with Guynes their power and his,

Hee came to take the pray they gat before,

And when they met, they fought it both full sore,

Till Corinœus rusht into their band,

And caus’d them fly: they durst no longer stand.

38.

First might you there seene hearts of Frenchmen broke,

Two hundreth Troians gaue them all the foyle

At home, with oddes, they durst not byde the stroke,

Fewe Troians beate them in their natiue soyle.

Eke Corinœus followed in this broyle,

So fast vpon his foes before his men,

That they return’d and thought to spoyle him then.

39.

There hee alone against them all, and they

Against him one, with all their force did fight,

At last by chaunce his sword was flowne away,

By fortune on a battayle axe hee light,[183]

Which hee did driue about him with such might,

That some their hands, and some their armes did leese,

Some legges, of some the head from shoulders flees.

40.

As thus amongst them all hee fought with force

And fortune great, in daunger of his lyfe,

Lord Brutus[184] had on him therewith remorce,

Came with a troupe of men to ende the strife.

When Frenchmen saw the Troians force so rife,

They fled away, vnto their losse and payne;

In fight and flight nigh all their host was slayne.

41.

And in that broyle, saue Corinœus, none

Did fight so fearcely, as did Turnus then:

Sir Brutus[185] cosin with his sword alone

Did sley that time well nigh sixe hundreth men.

They founde him dead as they return’d agen,

Amongst the Frenchmen, wounded voyde of sence,

And bare his noble corps with honour thence[186].

42.

On this they bode awhile reuenge to yeelde,

And to interre the dead, and Turnus slaine,

They tooke a towne not far from place of fielde,

And built it strong, to vexe the Galles agayne.

The name they gaue it still doth yet remayne:

Sith there they buried Turnus, yet men call

It Tours, and name the folke Turones all.

43.

Which towne they left at last with Troians man’d,

When as their ships were storde with what they neede

Aboarde, they hoise vp sayles and left the land,

By ayding windes they cut the seas with speede.

At length the shyning Albion clyues[187] did feede

Their gazing eyes, by meanes whereof they fand

Our Totnes hauen, and tooke this promist land.

44.

The countrey seemed pleasaunt at the vewe,

And was by fewe[188] inhabited, as yet,

Saue[189] certaine Giauntes whom they did pursue,

Which straight to Caues in Mountaines did them get:

So fine were Woods, and Flouds, and Fountaines set,

So cleare the ayre, so temperate the clime,

They neuer saw the like before that time[190].

45.

And then this Ile that Albion had to name,

Lord Brutus caus’d it Britaine cal’d to bee,[191]

And eke the people Britans of the same,

As yet in auncient Recordes is to see.

To Corinœus gaue hee franke and free

The land of Cornwall, for his seruice don,

And for because from Giauntes hee it won.

46.

Then sith our Troiane flock came first from Troy,

The Chiefetaine[192] thought that duty did him binde,

As[193] Fortune thus had sau’d him from anoy,

The auncient towne againe to call to minde.

Hee builte new Troy, them Troian lawes assignde,

That so his race,[194] to his eternal fame,

Might keepe of Troy the euerlasting name[195].

47.

And setled there, in perfect peace and rest,

Deuoid of warre, of laboure, strife, or paine,

Then Iunogen the Queene his[196] ioyes increast,

A Prince shee bare, and after other twaine,

Was newer King of noble Impes[197] so faine,

Three sonnes which had so shortly here begat,[198]

Locrinus, Camber, last mee Albanact.

48.

Thus hauing wealth, and eke the world at will,

Nor wanting ought that might his minde content,

T’ increase his powre with wights of warlike skill

Was all his minde his purpose and intent.

Whereby if foes inuasion after ment,

The Britans might not feare of forraine lands,

But keepe by fight possessions in their hands.

49.

Eke[199] when his people once perceiu’d his minde,

(As what the Prince doth often most embrace,

To that the subiects all are straight inclinde,

And reuerence still in eche respect his grace)

They gat in warre such knowledge in short space,

That after they their force to try begon,

They car’d for nought by wit or wight not won.

50.

They got of giaunts mountaines whence they came,

And woods from whence they oft made wise, they would

Destroy and kill, when voyage out they frame,

Or shewde themselues in banding ouer bold:

Then straight the Britans, gladder then of gold,

Were ready still to fighte at euery call,

Till time they had extynct the monsters all.[200]

51.

Whereby the King had cause to take delight,

And might bee bolde the lesse to feare his foes:

Perdy[201] ech Prince may recke his enmies spight,

Thereafter as his force in fight hee knoes.

A princely heart the liberall gifts disclose.

He gaue to eche such guerdons for their facts,

As might them only mooue to noble acts.

52.

No labours great his subiects then refusde,

No trauayles that might like his regall minde:

But ech of them such exercise well vs’d,

Wherein was praise, or glory great to finde.

And to their liege bare faithfull hearts so kinde,

That what hee wild they all obeyd his hest,

Nought else was currant but y^e Kings request.

53.

What Prince aliue might more reioyce then hee?

Had faithfull men, so valiaunt, bold, and stout?

What pleasures more on earth could lightly bee

Then win an Ile, and liue deuoyde of doubt?

An Ile sayd I? nay nam’d the world throughout

Another world, sith sea doth it deuide

From all, that wants not all the world beside.

54.

What subiects eke more happy were then these?

Had such a King of such a noble heart,

And such a land enioyde and liu’d at ease,

Whereof ech man almost might chose his part?

No feare of foes, vnknowne was treason’s art,

No fayning friends, no fawning Gnatoes skill,

No Thrasoes brags, but bearing ech good will.

55.

But as ech sommer once receaues an ende,

And as no state can stable stande for aye,

As course of time doth cause thinges bowe and bend,

As euery pleasure hath hir ending daye,

As will can neuer passe the power of maye:

Euen so my father, happy dayes that spent,

Perceau’d he must by sicknesse last relent.

56.

As doth the shipman well foresee the storme,

And knowes what daunger lyes in Syrtes of sand:

Eke as the husbandman prouides beforne,

When hee perceaues the winter cold at hand:

Euen so the wise, that course of things haue scan’d,

Can well the end of sicknes great presage,

When it is ioyn’d with yeares of stooping age.

57.

His sonnes and Counsaile all assembled were:

For why hee sent for vs and them with speede.

Wee came in hast, this newes vs caused feare.[202]

Sith so hee sent, wee thought him sicke indeede.[203]

And when wee all approacht to him with heede,[204]

Too soone alas, his grace right sicke we found,

And him saluted as our duties bound.

58.

And casting of his woefull[205] eyes aside,

Not able well to mooue his painefull head,

As silent wee with teares his minde abide,

Hee wil’d himselfe bee reared in his bed.

Which done, with sight of vs his eyes hee fed,

Eke pawsing so a while for breath hee stayd,

At length to them and vs thus wise hee sayd.

59.

“No maruaile sure, though you herewith bee sad,

(You noble Britaines) for your Brutus’ sake.

Sith whilom mee your captaine stout you had,

That now my leaue and last farwell must take,

Thus nature willes mee once an ende to make,

And leaue you here behinde, which after mee

Shall die, as mee[206] departe before you see.

60.

“You wot wherefore I with the Græcians fought,

With dinte of sworde I made their force to fly:

Antenor’s friends on Tuscane shores I sought,

And did them[207] not my promist land deny,

By Martiall powre I made the Frenchmen fly,

Where you to saue I lost my faithfull frende,

For you, at Tours, my Turnus tooke his ende.

61.

“I neede not now recite what loue I bare,

My friendship you, I trust, haue found so well,

That none amongst you all which present are,

With teares doth not record the tale I tell.

Eke whom I found for vertues to excell,

To them I gaue the price thereof, as due

As they deseru’d, whose facts I found so true.

62.

“Now must I proue, if paines were wel bestow’d,

Or if I spent my gratefull gifts in vayne,

Or if these great good turns to you I ow’d,

And might not aske your loyall loues againe:

Which if I wist, what tongue could tell my paine?

I meane, if you vngratefull mindes doe beare,

What meaneth death to let mee linger here?

63.

“For if you shall abuse your Prince in this,

The gods on you for such an haynous fact

To take reuenge bee sure will neuer misse.

And then to late you shall[208] repent the act,

When all my Realme, and all your wealthes are sackt:

But if you shall, as you begon, proceede,

Of kingdomes fall or foes there is no dreede.

64.

“And to auoyde contention that may fall,

Because I wishe this Realme the Britans still,

Therefore I will declare before you all,

Sith you are come, my whole intent and will:

Which if you keepe, and wrest it not to ill,

There is no doubt but euermore with fame

You shall enioy the Britans Realme and name.

65.

“You see my sonnes, that after mee must raigne,

Whom you or this haue lik’d and counsail’d well.

You know what erst you wisht they should refraine,

Which way they might all vices vile expell,

Which way they might in vertues great excell.

Thus if you shall, when I am gone insue,

You shall discharge the trust repos’d in you.

66.

“Bee you their fathers, with your counsaile wise,

And you my children take them euen as mee,

Bee you their guides in what you can deuise,

And let their good instructions teach you three:

Bee faithfull all: as brethren ought agree:

For concord keeps a Realme in stable stay:

But discord brings all kingdomes to decay.

67.

“Recorde you this: to th’ eldest[209] sonne I giue

This Middle parte of Realme to holde his owne,

And to his heyres that after him shall liue:

Also to Camber, that his part bee knowne,

I giue that land that lyes welnigh oregrowne

With woodes, Northwest, and mountaines mighty hye,

By South whereof the Cornish sea doth lye.[210]

68.

“And vnto thee my yongest sonne, that art

Mine Albanact, I giue to thee likewise

As much to bee for thee and thine apart,

As North beyonde the arme of sea there lyes,

Of which loe heere a Mappe before your eyes.

Loe heere my sonnes my kingdome all you haue,

For which (remember) nought but this I craue:[211]

69.

“First, that you take these fathers graue for mee,

Imbrace their counsaile euen as it were mine:

Next, that betweene your selues you will agree,

And neuer one at others wealth repine,

See that yee bide still bounde with friendly line:

And last, my subiects with such loue retaine,

As long they may your subiects eke remayne.

70.

“Now faint,[212] I feele my breath begins to fayle,

My time is come, giue eche to mee your hand:

Farewell, farewell, to mourne will not preuayle,

I see with Knife where Atropos doth stand:

Farewell my friendes, my children and my land,

And farewell all my subiectes, farewell breath,

Farewell ten thowsand times, and welcome death.”

71.

And euen with that hee turnde himselfe asyde,

Vpyeelding, gasping gaue[213] away the ghost:

Then all with mourning voyce his seruantes cry’d,[214]

And all his subiectes eke, from least to most,

Lamenting fil’d with wayling plaintes[215] ech coast,

Perdy[216] the Britans, all as nature bent,[217]

Did for their King full dolefully lament.

72.

But what auayles, to striue against the tide,

Or else to driue[218] against the streame and winde?

What booteth it against the Cliues to ride,

Or else to worke against the course of kinde?

Sith Nature hath the ende of thinges assin’d,

There is no nay, wee must perforce depart,

Gainst dinte of death there is no ease by arte.[219]

73.

Thus raign’d that worthy King, that founde this land,

My father Brutus, of the Troian bloud,

And thus hee died when hee full well had man’d

This noble Realme with Britans fearce and good.

And so a while in stable state it stood,

Till wee deuided had this Realme in three,

And I to soone receiu’d my part to mee.

74.

Then straight through all the world gan Fame to fly,

A monster swifter none is vnder Sunne:

Encreasing as in waters wee descry

The circles small, of nothing that begunne,

Which at the length vnto such breadth doe come,

That of a drop, which from the skies doth fall,

The circles spread, and hyde the waters all:

75.

So fame in flight increaseth more and more:

For at the first she is not scarcely knowne,

But by and by she fleets[220] from shore to shore,

To cloudes from th’ earth her stature straight is growne:

There whatsoeuer by her trompe is blowne,

The sounde that both by sea and land out flies,

Reboundes againe, and verberates the skies.

76.

They say the earth, that first the Giauntes bred,

For anger that the gods did them dispatch,

Brought forth this sister, of those monsters dead,

Full lighte of foote, swifte winges the windes to catch;

Such monster erst did nature neuer hatch.

As many Plumes shee hath from top to toe,

So many eyes them vnderwatch, or moe.

77.

And tongues doe speake, so many eares doe harke,

By night tweene heauen she flies and earthly shade,

And shreaking, takes no quiet sleepe by darke:

On houses rowfes, on[221] towres as keeper made

Shee sits by day, and Cities threats t’ inuade:

And as she tells what things shee sees by vewe,

Shee rather shewes that’s fayned false, then true.

78.

She blazde abroade perdy a people small,[222]

Late[223] landed heere, and founde this pleasaunt Ile,

And how that now it was deuided all,

Made tripartite,[224] and might within a while

Bee won by force, by treason, fraud, or guile.

Wherefore she mooues her frendes to make assay

To win the price, and beare our pompe away.

79.

A thowsand things besides shee bruits and tells,

And makes the most of euery thing shee heares

Long time of vs shee talkes, and nothing els,

Eke what shee seeth abroade in haste shee beares,

With tatling toyes, and tickleth so their eares,

That needes they must to flattering fame assent,

Though afterwards they doe therefore lament.

80.

By East from hence a countrey large doth lye,

Hungaria eke of Hunnes it hath to name,

And hath Danubius’ floud on South it bye,

Deuiding quite from Austria the same.

From thence a king was named Humber came:

On coastes of Albany arriued hee,

In hope this king of Britan for to bee.[225]

81.

Which when by postes[226] of subiects I did heare

How enmies[227] were arriued on my shore,

I gathered all my souldiers voyde of feare,

And backe the Hunnes by force and might I bore.

But in this battaile was I hurt so sore,

That in the fielde of woundes I had I dide,

Where souldiers lost their noble prince and guide.[228]

82.

Such was my fate to venture on so bolde,

My rashnesse was the cause of all my woe:

Such is of all our glory vaine the holde,

So soone wee pompe and pleasures all forgoe,

So quickly are wee reft our kingdomes froe,

And such is all the cast of Fortune’s play,

When least wee thinke to cut vs quite away.

83.

I deem’d my selfe an heauenly happy wight,

When once I had my part to raigne within:

But see the chaunce what hap did after light,

Or I could scarce t’inioy my glee begin.

This Hunne did seeke from mee my realme to win,

And had his will: O flattering fortune, fye,

What meanest thou to make thy selfe so slye:[229]

84.

You worthy warriours learne by mee, beware,[230]

Let wisedome worke, lay rashnesse all aparte,

When as with enmies you encountred are,

You must endeuoure all your skilfull arte,

By witty wiles with force to make your marte.

Wit nought auayles late bought with care and cost,

To late it comes when life and all is lost.[231]

L’ENVOY[232].

Mvsing on these thinges I cal’d to my minde,

In historyes what I of Troia read,

And what of Brutus I in bookes did finde

Likewise I cast, and counted in my head.

I found that Albanact stoode mee in stead.

For why, Sicilians right this noble man

Calles Lestrygons, as they were named than.

Lestrygo was, perdy, Neptunus’ sonne,

To whom his father gaue that noble Ile:

And of his name the people there did wonne.

The writers false abus’d vs then long while,

Which set vs downe of Leogece an Ile,

So neere Italia strandes was placed than,

To which Lord Brutus came, that noble man.

Of Lestrygon that Ilande first tooke name,

As Albanact hath well recited heere.

But of king Humber see what nowe became,

Which after him next haplesse did appeare

With Armoure wet, as drencht hee lately were:

So downe his greaues the water tricklinges ran,

While he this wise his woefull tale began.

How Hvmber the king of Hunnes minding to conquer Britaine, was drowned in the arme of sea now called Humber, about the yeere before Christ, 1085.

Though yet no foraine Princes in this place

Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap,

Yet give mee leaue a while to pleade my case,

And shewe how I slipt out of Fortunes lap.

Perchaunce some other will eschewe the trap

Wherein I fell, and both themselues beware,

And also seeke the lesse their[233] countreyes care.

I am that Humber king of Hunnes, that came

To win this Ilande from the Britaynes fell:

Was drownde in Humber, where I left my name:

A iust reward for him that liu’d so well

At home, and yet thought others to expell

Both from theyr realme or right: well seru’d was I,

That by ambition thought to clime so hye.[234]

But I must blame report, the chiefest cause

Of my decaye: beware of rashe report:

Tis wisdome first to take a whyle a pause,

Before to dint of daungers you resort:

Least when you come in haste to scale the fort,

By rashe assault some engine shaft or fire

Dispatche you quite, or make you soone retire.

For vnto mee the rumours dayely flewe,

That here a noble Ilande might be wonne:

The king was dead: no warres the people knewe,

And eke themselues to stryue at home begon.

It were (quoth I) a noble acte well don

To win it then: and therewithall did make

Prouision good, this famous Ile to take.

A warlike regall campe prouided was,

And shippes, and vittayle, for my Hunnes and mee,

By sea to Britayne conquest for to passe,

If Gods thereto or heauenly starres agree.

At length wee came to shores of Albany,

And there to fight with Britaynes pitch’d our fielde,

In hope to make them flinche, flye, fall, or yeelde.

They met vs, long wee fearcely fought it out,

And doubtfull was the victours part of twaine:

Till with my Hunnes I rusht among the route,

And fought till that King Albanact was slayne.

Then they to yeelde or pardon craue were fayne,

And I with triumphes great receau’d the pray,

And marched forward, flesht with such a fraye.

I past an arme of sea, that would to God

I neuer had bin halfe so bold at fyrst,

I made, to beate myselfe withall, a rod,

When so without[235] theyr realme I venture durst,

But marke my tale, thou heard’st not yet the worst:

As sure I thought the rest to circumuent

By spyes before, they knewe my whole intent.

And or I wyst, when I was come to lande,

Not farre from shore two Princes were preparde,

Theyr scouts conueyed away my ships they fande,

And of my shipmens fleshe they nothing sparde.

To rescue which, as backe agyane I far’de,

The armyes twayne were at my heeles behinde,

So clos’d mee in, I wist no way to winde.

On th’ East Locrinus with an armie great,

By West was Cambre with an other band:

By North an arme of sea the shoares did beat,

Which compast mee and mine within their lande.

No way to scape was there but Water fande,

Which I must taste, or else the sworde of those

Which were to mee and mine full deadly foes.

10.

So when I sawe the best of all mine hoste

Beate downe with bats, shot, slayne, or forst to swimme,

Myselfe was fayne likewise to flye the coast,

And with the rest the waters entred in,

A simple shift for Princes to begin.

Yet farre I deem’d it better so to dye

Then at mine enmies foot an abiect lye.

11.

But when I thus had swam with hope to scape,

If I might wend the water waues to passe:

The Britannes that before my ships had gate

Gan watche mee, where amidst the surge I was.

Than with my boates they rowde to mee (alas)

And all they cryde keepe Humber, keepe theyr King,

That to our Prince wee may the traytour bring.

12.

So with my boats beset, poore Humber I

Wist no refuge, my weery armes did ake,

My breath was short, I had no powre to crye,

Or place to stande, whyle I my playnte might make.

The water colde made all my ioynts to shake,

My heart did beate with sorowe, griefe, and payne,

And downe my cheeks salt teares they gusht amayne.

13.

O must thou yeelde, and shall thy boats betraye

Thy selfe (quoth I) no mercy Britaynes haue:

O would to God I might escape away,

I wot not yet if pardon I may craue,

Although my deeds deserue no life to haue.

I will, I nill, death, bondage, beast am I,

In waters thus, in forayne soyle to dye.

14.

With that I clapt my quauering hands abroade,

And helde them vp to heauen, and thus I sayde:

O Gods that knowe the paynes that I haue bode,

And iust reuengement of my rashnes payde,

And of the death of Albanact betrayde

By mee and mine, I yeelde my life therefore,

Content to dye, and never greeue yee more.

15.

Then straight not opening of my handes, I bowde

My selfe, and set my head my armes betweene:

And downe I sprang with all the force I coulde,

So duckte, that neither head nor foote were seene,

And neuer sawe my foes agayne I weene:

There was I drownde: the Britaynes, to my fame,

Yet call that arme of sea by Humber’s name.[236]

16.

Take heede by mee, let my presumption serue,

And let my folly, fall, and rashnes, bee

A glasse wherein to see if thou do swerue,

Thou mayst thy selfe perceiue somwhat by mee,

Let neither trust, nor treason, trayne forth yee,

But bee content with thine estate, so shall

No wrath of God procure thy haplesse fall.

17.

If thou bee foraine, bide with in thy soyle

That God hath giuen to thee and thine to holde,

If thou oppression meane, beware the foyle,

Beare not thy selfe of thee or thine to bolde,

Or of the feates thy elders did of olde.

For God is iust, iniustice will not thriue:

Hee plagues the proude, preserues the good aliue.[237]

LENVOY.

Was not this drenched king well servde thinke you,

That could not byde at home content with his?

Now by his fall and his ambition vewe,

What good they get which gaze on Fortune’s blisse,

How soone their haps and hoped Ioyes they misse,

Wherefore the setled minde surmountes the rest,

The meane contented state of all is best.

The conquest wonne, and kingdome got, you see

The Albaynes all subdude to Humber’s crowne:

Yet straight againe the straunger drownde to bee,

To leese his conquest, kingdomes, and renowme.

Sith Fortune so sets vp and thirleth downe,

The setled minde content I counte is blest,

Reporting true the golden meane is best.

Loe how vaine glory causde him venter life,

By seas to sayle, by land in fielde to fighte,[238]

In peace at home abroade to fish for strife,

And here confesse how Sors had sowst him right.

But king Locrinus next apearde in sight.

A shaft hee bare in wounded bleeding brest,

And thus (mee thought) his fatall fall exprest.