Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works

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Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works Page 145

by Michael Drayton


  He next vpon a Glow-worme light,

  (You must suppose it now was night),

  Which for her hinder part was bright,

  He tooke to be a Deuill. 220

  And furiously doth her assaile

  For carrying fier in her taile

  He thrasht her rough coat with his flayle,

  The mad King fear’d no euill.

  O quoth the Gloworme hold thy hand,

  Thou puisant King of Fayrie land,

  Thy mighty stroaks who may withstand,

  Hould, or of life despaire I:

  Together then her selfe doth roule,

  And tumbling downe into a hole, 230

  She seem’d as black as any Cole,

  Which vext away the Fayrie.

  From thence he ran into a Hiue,

  Amongst the Bees he letteth driue

  And downe their Coombes begins to riue,

  All likely to haue spoyled:

  Which with their Waxe his face besmeard,

  And with their Honey daub’d his Beard

  It would haue made a man afeard,

  To see how he was moyled. 240

  A new Aduenture him betides,

  He mett an Ant, which he bestrides,

  And post thereon away he rides,

  Which with his haste doth stumble;

  And came full ouer on her snowte,

  Her heels so threw the dirt about,

  For she by no meanes could get out,

  But ouer him doth tumble.

  And being in this piteous case,

  And all be-slurried head and face, 250

  On runs he in this Wild-goose chase

  As here, and there, he rambles

  Halfe blinde, against a molehill hit,

  And for a Mountaine taking it,

  For all he was out of his wit,

  Yet to the top he scrambles.

  And being gotten to the top,

  Yet there himselfe he could not stop,

  But downe on th’ other side doth chop,

  And to the foot came rumbling: 260

  So that the Grubs therein that bred,

  Hearing such turmoyle ouer head,

  Thought surely they had all bin dead,

  So fearefull was the Iumbling.

  And falling downe into a Lake,

  Which him vp to the neck doth take,

  His fury somewhat it doth slake,

  He calleth for a Ferry;

  Where you may some recouery note,

  What was his Club he made his Boate, 270

  And in his Oaken Cup doth float,

  As safe as in a Wherry.

  Men talke of the Aduentures strange,

  Of Don Quishott, and of their change

  Through which he Armed oft did range,

  Of Sancha Panchas trauell:

  But should a man tell euery thing,

  Done by this franticke Fayrie king.

  And them in lofty numbers sing

  It well his wits might grauell. 280

  Scarse set on shore, but therewithall,

  He meeteth Pucke, which most men call

  Hobgoblin, and on him doth fall,

  With words from frenzy spoken;

  Hoh, hoh, quoth Hob, God saue thy grace,

  Who drest thee in this pitteous case,

  He thus that spoild my soueraignes face,

  I would his necke were broken.

  This Puck seemes but a dreaming dolt,

  Still walking like a ragged Colt, 290

  And oft out of a Bush doth bolt,

  Of purpose to deceiue vs.

  And leading vs makes vs to stray,

  Long Winters nights out of the way,

  And when we stick in mire and clay,

  Hob doth with laughter leaue vs.

  Deare Puck (quoth he) my wife is gone

  As ere thou lou’st King Oberon,

  Let euery thing but this alone

  With vengeance, and pursue her; 300

  Bring her to me aliue or dead,

  Or that vilde thief, Pigwiggins head,

  That villaine hath defil’d my bed

  He to this folly drew her.

  Quoth Puck, My Liege Ile neuer lin,

  But I will thorough thicke and thinne,

  Vntill at length I bring her in,

  My dearest Lord nere doubt it:

  Thorough Brake, thorough Brier,

  Thorough Muck, thorough Mier, 310

  Thorough Water, thorough Fier,

  And thus goes Puck about it.

  This thing Nimphidia ouer hard

  That on this mad King had a guard

  Not doubting of a great reward,

  For first this businesse broching;

  And through the ayre away doth goe

  Swift as an Arrow from the Bowe,

  To let her Soueraigne Mab to know,

  What perill was approaching. 320

  The Queene bound with Loues powerfulst charme

  Sate with Pigwiggen arme in arme,

  Her Merry Maydes that thought no harme,

  About the roome were skipping:

  A Humble-Bee their Minstrell, playde

  Vpon his Hoboy; eu’ry Mayde

  Fit for this Reuells was arayde,

  The Hornepype neatly tripping.

  In comes Nimphidia, and doth crie,

  My Soueraigne for your safety flie, 330

  For there is danger but too nie,

  I posted to forewarne you:

  The King hath sent Hobgoblin out,

  To seeke you all the Fields about,

  And of your safety you may doubt,

  If he but once discerne you.

  When like an vprore in a Towne,

  Before them euery thing went downe,

  Some tore a Ruffe, and some a Gowne,

  Gainst one another iustling: 340

  They flewe about like Chaffe i’ th winde,

  For hast some left their Maskes behinde;

  Some could not stay their Gloues to finde,

  There neuer was such bustling.

  Forth ranne they by a secret way,

  Into a brake that neere them lay;

  Yet much they doubted there to stay,

  Lest Hob should hap to find them:

  He had a sharpe and piercing sight,

  All one to him the day and night, 350

  And therefore were resolu’d by flight,

  To leave this place behind them.

  At length one chanc’d to find a Nut,

  In th’ end of which a hole was cut,

  Which lay vpon a Hazell roote,

  There scatt’red by a Squirill:

  Which out the kernell gotten had;

  When quoth this Fay deare Queene be glad,

  Let Oberon be ne’r so mad,

  Ile set you safe from perill. 360

  Come all into this Nut (quoth she)

  Come closely in be rul’d by me,

  Each one may here a chuser be,

  For roome yee need not wrastle:

  Nor neede yee be together heapt;

  So one by one therein they crept,

  And lying downe they soundly slept,

  And safe as in a Castle.

  Nimphidia that this while doth watch,

  Perceiu’d if Puck the Queene should catch 370

  That he should be her ouer-match,

  Of which she well bethought her;

  Found it must be some powerfull Charme,

  The Queene against him that must arme,

  Or surely he would doe her harme,

  For throughly he had sought her.

  And listning if she ought could heare,

  That her might hinder, or might feare:

  But finding still the coast was cleare,

  Nor creature had discride her; 380

  Each circumstance and hauing scand,

  She came thereby to vnderstand,

  Puck would be with them out of hand

  When to her Charmes she hide her:
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  And first her Ferne seede doth bestowe,

  The kernell of the Missletowe:

  And here and there as Puck should goe,

  With terrour to affright him:

  She Night-shade strawes to work him ill,

  Therewith her Veruayne and her Dill, 390

  That hindreth Witches of their will,

  Of purpose to dispight him.

  Then sprinkles she the iuice of Rue,

  That groweth vnderneath the Yeu:

  With nine drops of the midnight dewe,

  From Lunarie distilling:

  The Molewarps braine mixt therewithall;

  And with the same the Pismyres gall,

  For she in nothing short would fall;

  The Fayrie was so willing. 400

  Then thrice vnder a Bryer doth creepe,

  Which at both ends was rooted deepe,

  And ouer it three times shee leepe;

  Her Magicke much auayling:

  Then on Proserpyna doth call,

  And so vpon her spell doth fall,

  Which here to you repeate I shall,

  Not in one tittle fayling.

  By the croking of the Frogge;

  By the howling of the Dogge; 410

  By the crying of the Hogge,

  Against the storme arising;

  By the Euening Curphewe bell;

  By the dolefull dying knell,

  O let this my direfull Spell,

  Hob, hinder thy surprising.

  By the Mandrakes dreadfull groanes;

  By the Lubricans sad moans;

  By the noyse of dead mens bones,

  In Charnell houses ratling: 420

  By the hissing of the Snake,

  The rustling of the fire-Drake,

  I charge thee thou this place forsake,

  Nor of Queene Mab be pratling.

  By the Whirlwindes hollow sound,

  By the Thunders dreadfull stound,

  Yells of Spirits vnder ground,

  I chardge thee not to feare vs:

  By the Shreech-owles dismall note,

  By the Blacke Night-Rauens throate, 430

  I charge thee Hob to teare thy Coate

  With thornes if thou come neere vs,

  Her Spell thus spoke she stept aside,

  And in a Chincke her selfe doth hide,

  To see there of what would betyde,

  For shee doth onely minde him:

  When presently shee Puck espies,

  And well she markt his gloating eyes,

  How vnder euery leafe he spies,

  In seeking still to finde them. 440

  But once the Circle got within,

  The Charmes to worke doe straight begin,

  And he was caught as in a Gin;

  For as he thus was busie,

  A paine he in his Head-peece feeles,

  Against a stubbed Tree he reeles,

  And vp went poore Hobgoblins heeles,

  Alas his braine was dizzie.

  At length vpon his feete he gets,

  Hobgoblin fumes, Hobgoblin frets, 450

  And as againe he forward sets,

  And through the Bushes scrambles;

  A Stump doth trip him in his pace,

  Down comes poore Hob vpon his face,

  And lamentably tore his case,

  Amongst the Bryers and Brambles.

  A plague vpon Queene Mab, quoth hee,

  And all her Maydes where ere they be,

  I thinke the Deuill guided me,

  To seeke her so prouoked. 460

  Where stumbling at a piece of Wood,

  He fell into a dich of mudd,

  Where to the very Chin he stood,

  In danger to be choked.

  Now worse than e’re he was before:

  Poore Puck doth yell, poore Puck doth rore;

  That wak’d Queene Mab who doubted sore

  Some Treason had been wrought her:

  Vntill Nimphidia told the Queene

  What she had done, what she had seene, 470

  Who then had well-neere crack’d her spleene

  With very extreame laughter.

  But leaue we Hob to clamber out:

  Queene Mab and all her Fayrie rout,

  And come againe to haue about

  With Oberon yet madding:

  And with Pigwiggen now distrought,

  Who much was troubled in his thought,

  That he so long the Queene had sought,

  And through the Fields was gadding. 480

  And as he runnes he still doth crie,

  King Oberon I thee defie,

  And dare thee here in Armes to trie,

  For my deare Ladies honour:

  For that she is a Queene right good,

  In whose defence Ile shed my blood,

  And that thou in this iealous mood

  Hast lay’d this slander on her.

  And quickly Armes him for the Field,

  A little Cockle-shell his Shield, 490

  Which he could very brauely wield:

  Yet could it not be pierced:

  His Speare a Bent both stiffe and strong,

  And well-neere of two Inches long;

  The Pyle was of a Horse-flyes tongue,

  Whose sharpnesse nought reuersed.

  And puts him on a coate of Male,

  Which was of a Fishes scale,

  That when his Foe should him assaile,

  No poynt should be preuayling: 500

  His Rapier was a Hornets sting,

  It was a very dangerous thing:

  For if he chanc’d to hurt the King,

  It would be long in healing.

  His Helmet was a Bettles head,

  Most horrible and full of dread,

  That able was to strike one dead,

  Yet did it well become him:

  And for a plume, a horses hayre,

  Which being tossed with the ayre, 510

  Had force to strike his Foe with feare,

  And turne his weapon from him.

  Himselfe he on an Earewig set,

  Yet scarce he on his back could get,

  So oft and high he did coruet,

  Ere he himselfe could settle:

  He made him turne, and stop, and bound,

  To gallop, and to trot the Round,

  He scarce could stand on any ground,

  He was so full of mettle. 520

  When soone he met with Tomalin,

  One that a valiant Knight had bin,

  And to King Oberon of kin;

  Quoth he thou manly Fayrie:

  Tell Oberon I come prepar’d,

  Then bid him stand vpon his Guard;

  This hand his basenesse shall reward,

  Let him be ne’r so wary.

  Say to him thus, that I defie,

  His slanders, and his infamie, 530

  And as a mortall enemie,

  Doe publickly proclaime him:

  Withall, that if I had mine owne,

  He should not weare the Fayrie Crowne,

  But with a vengeance should come downe:

  Nor we a King should name him.

  This Tomalin could not abide,

  To heare his Soueraigne vilefide:

  But to the Fayrie Court him hide;

  Full furiously he posted, 540

  With eu’ry thing Pigwiggen sayd:

  How title to the Crowne he layd,

  And in what Armes he was aray’d,

  As how himselfe he boasted.

  Twixt head and foot, from point to point,

  He told th’arming of each ioint,

  In every piece, how neate, and quaint,

  For Tomalin could doe it:

  How fayre he sat, how sure he rid,

  As of the courser he bestrid, 550

  How Mannag’d, and how well he did;

  The King which listened to it,

  Quoth he, goe Tomalin with speede,

  Prouide me Armes, prouide my Steed,

  And e
uery thing that I shall neede,

  By thee I will be guided;

  To strait account, call thou thy witt,

  See there be wanting not a whitt,

  In euery thing see thou me fitt,

  Just as my foes prouided. 560

  Soone flewe this newes through Fayrie land

  Which gaue Queene Mab to vnderstand,

  The combate that was then in hand,

  Betwixt those men so mighty:

  Which greatly she began to rew,

  Perceuing that all Fayrie knew,

  The first occasion from her grew,

  Of these affaires so weighty.

  Wherefore attended with her maides,

  Through fogs, and mists, and dampes she wades, 570

  To Proserpine the Queene of shades

  To treat, that it would please her,

  The cause into her hands to take,

  For ancient loue and friendships sake,

  And soone therof an end to make,

  Which of much care would ease her.

  A While, there let we Mab alone,

  And come we to King Oberon,

  Who arm’d to meete his foe is gone,

  For Proud Pigwiggen crying: 580

  Who sought the Fayrie King as fast,

  And had so well his iourneyes cast,

  That he arriued at the last,

  His puisant foe espying:

  Stout Tomalin came with the King,

  Tom Thum doth on Pigwiggen bring,

  That perfect were in euery thing,

  To single fights belonging:

  And therefore they themselues ingage,

  To see them exercise their rage, 590

  With faire and comely equipage,

  Not one the other wronging.

  So like in armes, these champions were,

  As they had bin, a very paire,

  So that a man would almost sweare,

  That either, had bin either;

  Their furious steedes began to naye

  That they were heard a mighty way,

  Their staues vpon their rests they lay;

  Yet e’r they flew together, 600

  Their Seconds minister an oath,

  Which was indifferent to them both,

  That on their Knightly faith, and troth,

  No magicke them supplyed;

  And sought them that they had no charmes,

  Wherewith to worke each others harmes,

  But came with simple open armes,

  To haue their causes tryed.

  Together furiously they ran,

  That to the ground came horse and man, 610

  The blood out of their Helmets span,

  So sharpe were their incounters;

  And though they to the earth were throwne,

  Yet quickly they regain’d their owne,

  Such nimblenesse was neuer showne,

  They were two Gallant Mounters.

  When in a second Course againe,

  They forward came with might and mayne,

  Yet which had better of the twaine,

  The Seconds could not iudge yet; 620

  Their shields were into pieces cleft,

  Their helmets from their heads were reft,

 

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