Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

by Michael Drayton

The temper of his sword the (try’d Escalaboure)

  The bignes and the length of Rone, his noble Speare;

  With Pridwin his great Shield, and what the proofe could beare;

  His Baudrick how adorn’d with stones of wondrous price,

  The sacred Virgins shape lie bore for his deuice;

  These monuments of worth, the ancient Britans song.

  Now, doubting least these things might hold them but too long,

  His warres they tooke to taske; the Land then ouer-layd

  With those proud German powers: when, calling to his

  His kinsman Howell, brought from Britany the lesse,

  Their Armies they vnite, both swearing to suppresse

  The Saxon, heer that sought through conquest all to gaine.

  On whom he chanc’t to light at Lincolne: where the Plaine

  Each where from side to side lay scatter’d with the dead.

  And when the conquer’d Foe, that from the conflict ,

  Betooke them to the woods, hee neuer left them there

  Vntill the British earth he forc’t them to forsweare.

  And as his actions rose, so raise they still their veine,

  In words, whose weight best sute a sublimated straine

  They sung how he, him selfe at Badon bore that day,

  When at the glorious Gole his British Scepter lay:

  Two daies together how the battell stronglie stood:

  Pendragons worthie sonne who waded there in blood,

  Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand.

  And after (cald, the Pict, and Irish to withstand)

  How he, by force of Armes Albania ouer-ran,

  Pursuing of the Pict beyond Mount Calidon:

  There strongly shut them vp whom stoutly he subdu’d.

  How Gillamore againe to Ireland he pursu’d

  So oft as he presum’d the envious Pict to ayde:

  And hauing slaine the King, the Country waste hee laid.

  To Goth-land how againe this Conqueror maketh-forth

  With his so prosp’rous powers into the farthest North:

  Where, Island first he wonne, and Orkney after got.

  To Norway sayling next with his deere Nephew Lot,

  By deadlie dint of sword did Ricoll there defeat:

  And hauing plac’t the Prince on that Norwegian seat,

  How this courageous King did Denmarke then controle:

  That scarcelie there was found a Countrie to the Pole

  That dreaded not his deeds, too long that were to tell.

  And after these, in France th’adventures him befell

  At Paris, in the Lists, where he with Flollio fought;

  The Emperor Leons power to raise his Siege that brought.

  Then brauelie set they forth, in combat how these Knights

  On horseback and on foote perform’d their seuerall fights:

  As with what maruailous force each other they assaild,

  How mighty Flollio first, how Arthur then prevail’d;

  For best advantage how they trauersed their grounds,

  The horrid blowes they lent, the world-amazing wounds,

  Vntill the Tribune, tyr’d, sanke vnder Arthurs sword.

  Then sing they how hee first ordain’d the Circled-board,

  The Knights whose martiall deeds farre fam’d that Table-round;

  Which, truest in their loues; which, most in Armes renown’d:

  The Lawes, which long vp-held that Order, they report;

  The Pentecosts prepar’d at Carleon in his Court,

  That Tables ancient seate; her Temples and her Groues,

  Her Palaces, her Walks, Baths, Theaters, and Stoues:

  Her Academie, then, as likewise they prefer:

  Of Camilot they sing, and then of Winchester.

  The feasts that vnder-ground the Faërie did him make,

  And there how he enioyd the Lady of the Lake.

  Then told they, how him selfe great Arthur did advance,

  To meet (with his Allies) that puissant force in France,

  By Luctus thither led; those Armies that while-ere

  Affrighted all the world, by him strooke dead with feare:

  Th’report of his great Acts that ouer Europe ran,

  In that most famous Field he with the Emperor wan:

  As how great Rython’s selfe hee slew in his repaire,

  Who rauisht Howells Neece, young Hellena the faire;

  And for a Trophy brought the Giants coat away

  Made of the beards of Kings. Then brauelie chanted they

  The seuerall twelue pitcht Fields he with the Saxons fought:

  The certaine day and place to memorie they brought;

  Then by false Mordreds hand how last hee chanc’t to fall,

  The howre of his decease, his place of buriall.

  When out the English cry’d, to interrupt their Song:

  But they, which knew to this more matter must belong,

  Not out at all for that, nor any whit dismay’d,

  But to their well-tun’d Harps their fingers closelie laid:

  Twixteuery one of which they plac’t their Countries Crowd,

  And with courageous spirits thus boldly sang aloud;

  How Merlin by his skill, and Magiques wondrous might,

  From Ireland hither brought the Stonendge in a night:

  And for Carmardens sake, would faine haue brought to passe,

  About it to haue builta wall of solid Brasse:

  And set his Fiends to work vpon the mightie frame;

  Some to the Anvile: some, that still inforc’t the flame:

  But whilst it was in hand, by louing of an Elfe

  (For all his wondrous skill) was coosned by him selfe.

  For, walking with his Fay, her to the Rocke hee brought,

  In which hee oft before his Nigromancies wrought:

  And going in thereat his Magiques to haue showne,

  Shee stopt the Cauerns mouth with an inchanted stone:

  Whose cunning strongly crost, amaz’d whilst he did stand,

  Shee captiue him convay’d vnto the Fairie Land.

  Then, how the laboring spirits, to Rocks by fetters bound,

  With bellowes rumbling groanes, and hammers thundring sound,

  A fearefull horrid dinne still in the Earth doe keepe,

  Their Master to awake, suppos’d by them to sleepe;

  As at their work how still the grieued spirits repine,

  Tormented in the Fire, and tyred at the Mine.

  When now the British side scarce finished their Song,

  But th’English that repyn’d to be delay’d’so long,

  All quicklie at the hint, as with one free consent,

  Strooke vp at once and sung each to the Instrument;

  (Of sundry sorts that were, as the Musician likes)

  On which the practic’d hand with perfect’st fingring strikes,

  Whereby their height of skill might liueliest be exprest.

  The trembling Lute some touch, some straine the Violl best

  In sets which there were seene, the musick wondrous choice:

  Some likewise there affect the Gamba with the voice,

  To shew that England could varietie afford.

  Some that delight to touch the sterner wyerie Chord,

  The Cythron, the Pandore, and the Theorbo strike:

  The Gittern and the Kit the wandring Fidlers like.

  So were there some againe, in this their learned strife

  Loud Instruments that lov’d; the Cornet and the Phife,

  The Hoboy, Sagbut deepe, Recorder, and the Flute:

  Euen from the shrillest Shawme vnto the Cornamute.

  Some blowe the Bagpipe vp, that plaies the Country-round:

  The Taber and the Pipe, some take delight to sound.

  Of Germanie they sung the long and ancient fame,

  From whence their noble Sires the valiant Saxons came,

  Who sought by Se
a and Land Adventures farre and neere;

  And seizing at the last vpon the Britans heere,

  Surpriz’d the spacious Ile, which still for theirs they hold:

  As in that Countries praise how in those times of old,

  Tuisco, Gomers sonne, from vnbuilt Babell brought

  His people to that place, with most high knowledge fraught,

  And vnder wholsome Lawes establisht their aboad;

  Whom his Tudeski since haue honor’d as a God:

  Whose cleare creation made them absolute in all,

  Retaining till this time their pure Originall.

  And as they boast themselues the Nation most vnmixt,

  Their language as at first, their ancient customes fixt,

  The people of the world most hardie, wise and strong;

  So gloriously they show, that all the rest among

  The Saxons of her sorts the very noblest were:

  And of those crooked Skaines they vs’d in warre to beare,

  Which in their thundring tongue, the Germans, Handseax name,

  They Saxons first were call’d: whose farre extended fame

  For hardiness in warre, whom danger neuer fraid,

  Allur’d the Britans here to call them to their ayde:

  From whom they after reft Loëgria as their own,

  Brutes ofspring then too weake to keepe it beeing grown.

  This told: the Nymphs againe, in nimbler straines of wit,

  Next neatly come about, the Englishmen to quit

  Of that inglorious blot by Bastard William brought

  Vpon this conquered Ile: then which Fate neuer wrought

  A fitter meane (say they) great Germany to grace;

  To graft againe in one, two Remnants of her race:

  Vpon their seuerall waies, two seuerall times that went

  To forrage for themselues. The first of which shee sent

  To get their seat in Gaul: which on Nuestria light,

  And (in a famous warre the Frenchmen put to flight)

  Possest that fruitfull place, where onely from their name

  Call’d North-men (from the North of Germanie that came,

  Who thence expeld the Gaules, and did their roomes supply)

  This, first Nuestria nam’d, was then call’d Normandy.

  That by this meanes, the lesse (in conquering of the great)

  Be’ing drawne from their late home vnto this ampler seat,

  Resyding heere, resign’d what they before had wonne;

  That as the Conquerors blood, did to the conquered runne:

  So kindlie beeing mixt, and vp together growne,

  As seuered, they were hers; vnited, stil her owne.

  But these mysterious things desisting now to show

  (The secret works of heauen) to long Descents they goe:

  How Egelred (the Sire of Edward the last King

  Of th’English Saxon Line) by nobly marying

  With hardie Richards heire, the Norman Emma, bred

  Alliance in their bloods. Like Brooks that from one head

  Beare seuerall waies (as though to sundry Seas to hast)

  But by the varying soyle, int’one againe are cast:

  So chanced it in this the neernes of their blood.

  For when as Englands right in question after stood,

  Proud Harould, Goodwins heire, the Scepter hauing wonne

  From Edgar Etheling young, the outlaw’d Edwards sonne;

  The valiant Bastard this his onelie colour made,

  With his braue Norman powers this kingdome to invade.

  Which leauing, they proceed to Pedigrees againe,

  Their after-Kings to fetch from that old Saxon straine;

  From Margarit that was made the Scottish Malcoms Bride,

  Who to her Grandsire had courageous Ironside:

  Which out-law’d Edward left; whose wife to him did bring

  This Margarit Queene of Scots, and Edgar Etheling:

  That Margarit brought forth Maud; which gracious Macolme gaue

  To Henry Beuclarks bed (so Fate it pleas’d to haue)

  Who him a daughter brought; which heauen did strangely spare:

  And for the speciall loue he to the mother bare,

  Her Maude againe he nam’d, to th’Almain Emperor wed:

  Whose Dowager whilst shee liu’d (her puissant Caesar dead)

  She th’Earle of Aniou next to husband doth prefer.

  The second Henry then by him begot of her,

  Into the Saxon Line the Scepter thus doth bring.

  Then presently againe prepare themselues to sing

  The sundry foraine Fields the English-men had sought.

  Which when the Mountaines sawe (and not in vaine) they thought

  That if they still went on as thus they had begon,

  Then from the Cambrian Nymphs (sure) Lundy would be won.

  And therefore from their first they challeng’d them to flie;

  And (idly running on with vaine prolixitie)

  A larger subiect tooke then it was fit they should.

  But, whilst those would proceed, these threatning them to hold,

  Black-Mountaine for the loue he to his Country bare,

  As to the beautious Vske, his ioy and onely care

  (In whose defence t’appeare more sterne and full of dread)

  Put on a Helme of clowds vpon his rugged head.

  Mounchdeny doth the like for his beloued Tawe:

  Which quicklie all the rest by their example drawe:

  As Hatterell in the right of ancient Wales will stand.

  To these three Mountaines, first of the Erekinnian Band,

  The Monumethian Hills, like insolentand stout,

  On loftie tip-toes then began to looke about;

  That Skeridvaur at last (a Mountaine much in might,

  In hunting that had set his absolute delight)

  Caught vp his Country Hooke; nor cares for future harmes,

  But irefully enrag’d, would needs to open Armes:

  Which quicklie put Penvayle in such outrageous heat,

  That whilst for verie teene his hairelesse scalpe doth sweat,

  The Blorench looketh bigge vpon his bared crowne:

  And tall Tomberlow seemes so terribly to frowne,

  That where it was suppos’d with small adoe or none

  Th’event of this debate would easely haue beer known,

  Such strange tumultuous stirres vpon this strife ensue,

  As where all griefes should end, old sorrowes still renue:

  That Severne thus fore warn’d to looke vnto the worst

  (And findes the latter ill more dangerous then the first)

  The doome she should pronounce, yet for a while delay’d,

  Till these rebellious routs by iustice might be stay’d,

  A period that she put to my Discourse so long,

  To finish this debate the next ensuing Song.

  POLY-OLBION: THE FIFT SONG

  The Argument

  IN this song, Severne gives the doome

  What of her Lundy should become.

  And whilst the nimble Cambrian rills

  Daunce hy-day-gies amongst the hills,

  The Muse them to Carmarden brings; 5

  Where Merlins wondrous birth shee sings,

  From thence to Penbrooke shee doth make,

  To see how Milford state doth take:

  The scattered ilands there doth tell:

  And, visiting Saint Davids cell, 10

  Doth sport her all the shores along,

  Preparing the ensuing song.

  NOW Sabrine, as a Queene, miraculouslie faire,

  Is absolutelie plac’t in her emperiall chaire

  Of crystall richlie wrought, that gloriously did shine,

  Her grace becomming well, a creature so divine: 4

  And as her god-like selfe, so glorious was her throne,

  In which himselfe to sit great Neptune had been known;

  Whereon t
here were ingrav’d those nymphs the gods had woo’d,

  And every severall shape wherein for love he su’d;

  Each daughter, her estate and beautie, every sonne;

  What nations he had rul’d, what countries he had wonne. 10

  No fish in this wide waste but with exceeding cost

  Was there in antique worke most curiously imbost.

  She, in a watchet weed, with manie a curious wave,

  Which as a princelie gift great Amphitrite gave;

  Whose skirts were to the knee, with corall fring’d belowe 15

  To grace her goodly steppes. And where she meant to goe,

  The path was strew’d with pearle: which though they orient were,

  Yet scarce knowne from her feet, they were so wondrous cleere:

  To whom the mermaids hold her glasse, that she may see

  Before all other floods how farre her beauties bee: 20

  Who was by Nereus taught, the most profoundly wise

  That learned her the skill of hidden prophecies,

  By Thetis speciall care; as Chiron earst had done

  To that proud bane of Troy, her god-resembling sonne.

  For her wise censure now, whilst everie listning flood 25

  (When reason some-what coold their late distempred mood)

  Inclosed Severne in; before this mightie rout,

  Shee sitting well prepar’d, with countenance grave and stout,

  Like some great learned judge, to end a waightie cause, 29

  Well furnisht with the force of arguments and lawes,

  And everie speciall proofe that justlie may be brought;

  Now with a constant brow, a firme and setled thought,

  And at the point to give the last and finall doome:

  The people crowding neere within the pestred roome,

  A slowe, soft murmuring moves amongst the wondring throng, 35

  As though with open eares they would devoure his tongue:

  So Severne bare her selfe, and silence so she wanne,

  When to th’assembly thus shee seriouslie began;

  My neere and loved nymphs, good hap yee both betide: 39

  Well Britans have yee sung; you English, well repli’d:

  Which to succeeding times shall memorize your stories

  To either countries praise, as both your endlesse glories.

  And from your listning eares, sith vaine it were to hold

  What all-appointing heaven will plainlie shall be told,

  Both gladlie be you pleas’d: for thus the powers reveale, 45

  That when the Norman line in strength shall lastlie faile

  (Fate limiting the time) th’ancient Britan race

  Shall come againe to sit upon the soveraigne place.

  A branch sprung out of Brute, th’imperiall top shall get,