Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

by Michael Drayton

  Yet for our Country still, stout Mountaines let vs stand.

  Here, euery neighbouring Hill held vp a willing hand,

  As freely to applaud what Stipperston decreed:

  And Hockstow when she heard the Mountaines thus proceed,

  With ecchoes from her Woods, her in ward ioyes exprest,

  To heare that Hill she lov’d, which likewise lov’d her best,

  Should in the right of Wales, his neighbouring Mountaines stirre,

  So to aduance that place which might them both preferre;

  That she from open shouts could scarce her selfe refraine.

  When soone those other Rils to Seuerne which retaine,

  And’t ended not on Teame, thus of themselues do showe

  The seruice that to her they absolutely owe.

  First Camlet commeth in, a Mountgomerian mayde,

  Her source in Seuerns bankes that safely hauing layd,

  Mele, her great Mistris next at Shrewsbury doth meet,

  To see with what a grace she that faire towne doth greet;

  Into what sundry gyres her wondered selfe she throwes,

  And oft in-Iles the shore, as wantonly she flowes;

  Of it, oft taking leaue, oft turnes, it to imbrace;

  As though she onely were enamored of that place,

  Her fore-intended course determined to leaue,

  And to that most lov’d Towne eternally to cleaue:

  With much ado at length, yet bidding it adue,

  Her iourney towards the Sea doth seriously pursue.

  Where, as along the shores she prosperously doth sweepe,

  Smali Marbrooke maketh-in, to her inticing Deepe.

  And as she lends her eye to Bruge’s loftie sight,

  That Forest-Nymph milde Morffe doth kindly her inuite

  To see within her shade what pastime she could make:

  Where she, of Shropshire; I my leaue of Seuerne take.

  POLY-OLBION: THE NINTH SONG

  The Argument

  The Muse heere Merioneth vaunts,

  And her proud Mountaines highly chaunts.

  The Hills and Brooks, to brauery bent,

  Stand for precedence from Descent:

  The Riuers for them shewing there

  The wonders of their Pimblemere.

  Proud Snowdon gloriously proceeds

  With Cambria’s natiue Princes deeds.

  The Muse then through Carnarvan makes,

  And Mon (now Anglesey) awakes

  To tell her ancient Druides guise,

  And manner of their Sacrifice.

  Her Rillets shee together calls;

  Then back for Flint and Denbigh falls.

  OF all the Cambrian Shires their heads that beare so hie,

  And farth’st survay their soyles with an ambitious eye,

  Mervinia for her Hills, as for their matchlesse crowds,

  The necrest that are said to kisse the wandring clowds,

  Especiall Audience craues, offended with the throng,

  That shee of all the rest neglected was so long:

  Alleaging for her selfe; When through the Saxons pride,

  The God-like race of Brute to Severns setting side

  Were cruelly inforc’t, her Mountaines did relieue

  Those, whom deuouring warre else euery-where did grieue.

  And when all Wales beside (by Fortune or by might)

  Vnto her ancient foe resign’d her ancient right,

  A constant Mayden still shee onely did remaine,

  The last her genuine lawes which stoutly did retaine.

  And as each one is prays’d for her peculiar things;

  So onely shee is rich, in Mountaines, Meres, and Springs,

  And holds her selfe as great in her superfluous wast,

  As others by their Townes, and fruitfull tillage grac’t.

  And therefore, to recount her Riuers, from their Lins,

  Abbridging all delayes, Mervinia thus begins;

  Though Dovy, which doth far her neighboring Floods surmount

  (Whose course, for hers alone Mountgomery doth account)

  Hath Angell for her owne, and Keriog she doth cleere,

  With Towin, Gwedall then, and Dulas, all as deere,

  Those tributary streames she is maintain’d withall:

  Yet, boldly may I say, her rising and her fall

  My Country calleth hers, with many another Brooke,

  That with their crystall eyes on the Vergiuian looke.

  To Dovy next, of which Desunny sea-ward driues,

  Lingorrill goes alone: but plentious Avon striues

  The first to be at Sea; and faster her to hie,

  Cleere Kessilgum comes in, with Hergum by and by.

  So Derry, Moothy drawes, and Moothy calleth Caine,

  Which in one channell meet, in going to the Maine,

  As to their vtmost power to lend her all their aydes:

  So Atro by the arme Lanbeder kindly leads.

  And Velenrid the like, obseruing th’others lawe,

  Calls Cunnell; shee againe, faire Drurid forth doth draw,

  That from their mother Earth, the rough Mervinia, pay

  Their mixed plentious Springs, vnto the lesser Bay

  Of those two noble armes into the Land that beare,

  Which through Gwinethia be so famous euery where,

  On my Carnarvan side by nature made my Mound,

  As Dovy doth diuide the Cardiganian ground.

  The pearly Conwayes head, as that of holy Dee,

  Renowned Riuers both, their rising haue in mee:

  So, Lauern and the Lue, themselues that head-long throwe

  Into the spacious Lake, where Dee vnmixt doth flowe.

  Trowerrin takes his streame, here from a natiue Lin;

  Which, out of Pimblemere when Dee him selfe doth win,

  Along with him his Lord full curteously doth glide:

  So Rudock riseth heere, and Cletor that doe guide

  Him in his rugged path, and make his greatnes way,

  Their Dee into the bounds of Denbigh to convay.

  The loftie Hills, this while attentiuely that stood,

  As to survey the course of euery seuerall Flood,

  Sent forth such ecchoing shoutes (which euery way so shrill,

  With the reverberate sound the spacious ayre did fill)

  That they were easely heard through the Vergiuian Maine

  To Neptunes inward Court; and beating there, constraine

  That mightie God of Sea t’awake: who full of dread,

  Thrice threw his three-forkt Mace about his griesly head,

  And thrice aboue the Rocks his fore-head rays’d to see

  Amongst the high-topt Hills what tumult it should bee.

  So that with very sweat Cadoridrie did drop,

  And mighty Raran shooke his proud sky-kissing top,

  Amongst the furious rout whom madnes did enrage;

  Vntill the Mountaine Nymphs, the tumult to asswage,

  Vpon a modest signe of silence to the throng,

  Consorting thus, in prayse of their Mervinia, song;

  Thrice famous Saxon King, on whom Time nere shall pray,

  O Edgar! who compeldst our Ludwall hence to pay

  Three hundred Wolues a yeere for trybute vnto thee:

  And for that tribute payd, as famous may’st thou bee,

  O conquer’d British King, by whom was first destroy’d

  The multitude of Wolues, that long this Land annoy’d;

  Regardlesse of their rape, that now our harmlesse Flocks,

  Securely heere may sit vpon the aged Rocks;

  Or wandring from their walks, and straggling here and there

  Amongst the scattred Cleeues, the Lambe needs neuer feare;

  But from the threatning storme to saue it selfe may creepe

  Into that darksome Caue where once his foe did keepe:

  That now the clambring Goat all day which hauing fed,

  And c
lyming vp to see the sunne goe downe to bed,

  Is not at all in doubt her little Kid to lose,

  Which grazing in the Vale, secure and safe she knowes.

  Where, from these lofty hills which spacious heauen doe threat,

  Yet of as equall height, as thick by nature set,

  We ralke how wecare stor’d, or what wee greatly need,

  Or how our flocks doe fare, and how our heards doe feed,

  When else the hanging Rocks, and Vallyes dark and deepe,

  The Sommers longest day would vs from meeting keepe.

  Yee Cambrian Shepheards then, who these our Mountaines please,

  And yee our fellow Nymphs, yee light Oreades,

  Saint Hellens wondrous way, and Herberts let vs goe,

  And our diuided Rocks with admiration showe.

  Not meaning there to end, but speaking as they were,

  A suddaine fearefull noyse surprised euery eare.

  The water-Nymphs (not farre) Lin-Teged that frequent,

  With browes besmeat’d with ooze, their locks with dewe besprent,

  Inhabiting the Lake, in sedgy bowres belowe,

  Their inward grounded griefe that onely sought to showe

  Against the Mountaine kind, which much on them did take

  Aboue their watry brood, thus proudly them bespake;

  Tell vs, ye haughtie Hills, why vainly thus you threat,

  Esteeming vs so meane, compar’d to you so great.

  To make you know your selues, you this must vnderstand,

  That our great Maker layd the surface of the Land,

  As levell as the Lake vntill the generall Flood,

  When ouer all so long the troubled waters stood:

  Which, hurried with the blasts from angry heauen that blew,

  Vpon huge massy heapes the loosened grauell threw:

  From hence we would yee knew, your first beginning came.

  Which, since, in tract of time, your selues did Mountaines name.

  So that the earth, by you (to check her mirthfull cheere)

  May alwaies see (from heauen) those plagues that poured were

  Vpon the former world; as t’were by scarres to showe

  That still shee must remaine disfigur’d with the blowe:

  And by th’infectious slime that doomefull Deluge left,

  Nature herselfe hath since of puritie beene ;

  And by the seeds corrupt, the life of mortall man

  Was shortned. With these plagues yee Mountaines first began.

  But, ceasing you to shame; What Mountaine is there found

  In all your monstrous kind (seeke yee the Iland round)

  That truly of him selfe such wonders can report

  As can this spacious Lin, the place of our resort?

  That when Dee in his course faine in her lap would lie,

  Commixtion with her store, his streame shee doth deny,

  By his complexion prou’d, as he through her doth glide.

  Her wealth againe from his, she likewise doth divide:

  Those White-fish that in her doe wondrously abound,

  Are neuer seene in him; nor are his Salmons found

  At any time in her: but as shee him disdaines;

  So hee againe, from her, as wilfully abstaines.

  Downe from the neighboring Hills, those plentious Springs that fall,

  Nor Land-floods after raine, her neuer mouse at all.

  And as in Sommers heat, so alwaies is she one,

  Resembling that great Lake which seemes to care for none:

  And with sterne Eolus blasts, like Thetis waxing ranke,

  Shee onely ouer-swells the surface of her bank.

  But, whilst the Nymphs report these wonders of their Lake,

  Their further cause of speech the mightie Snowdon brake;

  Least, if their watry kind should suffred be too long,

  The licence that they tooke, might doe the Mountaines wrong.

  For quickly he had found that straitned poynt of Land,

  Into the Irish Sea which puts his powrefull hand,

  Puft with their watry praise, grew insolently proud,

  And needs would haue his Rills for Riuers be allow’d:

  Short Darent, neer’st vnto the vtmost poynt of all

  That th’Ile of Gelin greets, and Bardsey in her fall;

  And next to her, the Sawe, the Gir, the Er, the May,

  Must Riuers be at least, should all the world gaine-say:

  And those, whereas the Land lyes East-ward, amply wide,

  That goodly Conway grace vpon the other side,

  Borne neere vpon her banks, each from her proper Lin,

  Soone from their Mothers out, soone with their Mistris in.

  As Ledder, her Allie, and neighbour Legwy; then

  Goes Purloyd, Castell next, with Giffin, that agen

  Obserue faire Conway’s course: and though their race be short,

  Yet they their Soueraigne Flood inrich with their resort.

  And Snowdon, more then this, his proper Mere did note

  ( Still Delos like, wherein a wandring Ile doth floate)

  Was peremptory growne vpon his higher ground;

  That Poole, in which (besides) the one-eyed fish are found,

  As of her wonder proud, did with the Floods partake.

  So, when great Snowdon saw, a Faction they would make

  Against his generall kind; both parties to appease,

  Hee purposeth to sing their natiue Princes praise.

  For Snowdony, a Hill, imperiall in his seat,

  Is from his mighty foote, vnto his head so great,

  That were his Wales distrest, or of his helpe had need,

  Hee all her Flocks and Heards for many months could feed.

  Therefore to doe some-thing were worthy of his name,

  Both tending to his strength, and to the Britans fame,

  His Country to content, a signall hauing made,

  By this Oration thinks both Parties to perswade:

  Whilst heere this generall Ile, the ancient Britans ow’d,

  Their valiant deeds before by Severn haue been show’d:

  But, since our furious Foe, these powrefull Saxon swarmes

  (As mercilesse in spoyle, as well approu’d in Armes)

  Heere called to our ayde, Loëgria vs berest,

  Those poore and scatter’d few of Brutes high linage left,

  For succour hither came; where that vnmixed race

  Remaines vnto this day, yet owners of this place:

  Of whom no Flood nor Hill peculiarly hath song.

  These, then, shall be my Theame: least Time too much should wrong

  Such Princes as were ours, since seuer’d we haue been;

  And as themselues, their fame be limited between

  The Severne and our Sea, long pent within this place,

  Till with the tearme of Welsh, the English now embase

  The nobler Britains name, that welneere was destroy’d

  With Pestilence and Warre, which this great Ile annoy’d;

  Cadwallader that draue to the Armorick shore:

  To which, drad Conan, Lord of Denbigh, long before,

  His Countrymen from henceauspiciously convay’d:

  Whose noble feates in warre, and neuer-fayling ay’d,

  Got Maximus (at length) the victorie in Gaul,

  Vpon the Roman powers. Where, after Gratians fall,

  Armorica to them the valiant Victor gaue:

  Where Conan, their great Lord, as full of courage, draue

  The Celts out of their seats, and did their roome supply

  With people still from hence; which of our Colony

  Was little Britaine call’d. Where that distressed King,

  Cadwallader, himselfe awhile recomforting

  With hope of Alans ayde (which there did him detaine)

  Forewarned was in Dreames, that of the Britans raigne

  A sempiternall end the angry Powers decreed,

>   A Recluse life in Rome inioyning him to lead.

  The King resigning all, his sonne young Edwall left

  With Alan: who, much grieu’d the Prince should be bereft

  Of Britains ancient right, rigg’d his vnconquer’d Fleet;

  And as the Generalls then, for such an Army ,

  His Nephew Iuor chose, and Hiner for his pheere;

  Two most vndaunted spirits. These valiant Britans were

  The first who West-Sex wonne. But by the ling’ring warre,

  When they those Saxons found t’haue succour still from farre,

  They tooke them to their friends on Severns setting shore:

  Where finding Edwall dead, they purpos’d to restore

  His sonne young Rodorick, whom the Saxon powers pursu’d:

  But hee, who at his home heere scorn’d to be subdu’d,

  With Aldred (that on Wales his strong invasion brought)

  Garthmalack, and Pencoyd (those famous battailes) fought,

  That North and South-wales sing, on the West-Sexians wonne.

  Scarce this victorious taske his bloodied sword had done,

  But at MountCarno met the Mercians, and with wounds

  Made Ethelbald to feele his trespasse on our bounds;

  Prevail’d against the Pict, before our force that flew;

  And in a valiant fight their King Dalargan slew.

  Nor Conan’s courage lesse, nor lesse prevail’d in ought

  Renowned Rodoricks heire, who with the English fought

  The Herefordian Field; as Ruthblands red with gore:

  Who, to transfer the warre from this his natiue shore,

  Marcht through the Mercian Townes with his reuengefull blade;

  And on the English there such mighty hauock made,

  That Offa (when he saw his Countries goe to wrack)

  From bick’ring with his folke, to keepe vs Britains back,

  Cast vp that mighty Mound of eighty miles in length,

  A thwart from Sea to Sea. Which of the Mercians strength

  A witnesse though it stand, and Offa’s name doe beare,

  Our courage was the cause why first he cut it there:

  As that most dreadful day at Gauelford can tell,

  Where vnder eithers sword so many thousands fell

  With intermixed blood, that neither knew their owne;

  Nor which went Victor thence, vnto this day is knowne.

  Nor Kettles conflict then, lesse martiall courage show’d,

  Where valiant Mervin met the Mercians, and bestow’d

  His nobler British blood on Burthreds recreant flight.

  As Rodorick his great sonne, his father following right,

  Bare not the Saxons scornes, his Britans to out-braue;

  At Gwythen, but againe to Burthred battell gaue;