FOOTNOTES:

Cant. XI.Marinells former wound is heald,he comes to Proteus hall,Where Thames doth the Medway wedd,and feasts the Sea-gods all.

Cant. XI.

Marinells former wound is heald,he comes to Proteus hall,Where Thames doth the Medway wedd,and feasts the Sea-gods all.

Marinells former wound is heald,

he comes to Proteus hall,

Where Thames doth the Medway wedd,

and feasts the Sea-gods all.

Bvt ah for pittie that I haue thus longiLeft a fayre Ladie languishing in payne:Now well away[198], that I haue doen such wrong,To let faireFlorimellin bands remayne,In bands of loue, and in sad thraldomes chayne;From which vnlesse some heauenly powre her freeBy miracle, not yet appearing playne,She lenger yet is like captiu’d to bee:That euen to thinke thereof, it inly pitties mee.Here neede you to remember, how erewhileiiVnlouelyProteus, missing to his mindThat Virgins loue to win by wit or wile,Her threw into a dongeon[199]deepe and blind,And there in chaynes her cruelly did bind,In hope thereby her to his bent to draw:For when as neither gifts nor graces kindHer constant mind could moue at all he saw,He thought her to compell by crueltie and awe.Deepe in the bottome of an huge great rockeiiiThe dongeon was, in which her bound he left,That neither yron barres, nor brasen lockeDid neede to gard from force, or secret theftOf all her louers, which would her haue reft.For wall’d it was with waues, which rag’d and ror’dAs they the cliffe in peeces would haue cleft;Besides ten thousand monsters foule abhor’dDid waite about it, gaping griesly all begor’d.And in the midst thereof did horror dwell,ivAnd darkenesse dredd, that neuer viewed day,Like to the balefull house of lowest hell,In which oldStyxher aged bones alway,OldStyxthe Grandame[200]of the Gods, doth lay.There did this lucklesse mayd seuen[201]months abide,Ne euer euening saw, ne mornings ray,Ne euer from the day the night descride,But thought it all one night, that did no houres diuide.And all this was for loue ofMarinell,vWho her despysd (ah who would her despyse?)And wemens loue did from his hart expell,And all those ioyes that weake mankind entyse.Nathlesse his pride full dearely he did pryse;For of a womans hand it was ywroke,That of the wound he yet in languor lyes,Ne can be cured of that cruell strokeWhichBritomarthim gaue, when he did her prouoke.Yet farre and neare the Nymph his mother sought,viAnd many salues did to his sore applie,And many herbes did vse. But when as noughtShe saw could ease his rankling maladie,At last toTryphonshe for helpe did hie,(ThisTryphonis the seagods surgeon hight)Whom she besought to find some remedie:And for his paines a whistle him behightThat of a fishes shell was wrought with rare delight.So well that Leach did hearke[202]to her request,viiAnd did so well employ his carefull paine,That in short space his hurts he had redrest,And him restor’d to healthfull state againe:In which he long time after did remaineThere with the Nymph his mother, like her thrall;Who sore against his will did him retaine,For feare of perill, which to him mote fall,Through his too ventrous prowesse proued ouer all.It fortun’d then, a solemne feast was thereviiiTo all the Sea-gods and their fruitfull seede,In honour of the spousalls, which then wereBetwixt theMedwayand theThamesagreed.Long had theThames(as we in records reed)Before that day her wooed to his bed;But the proud Nymph would for no worldly meed,Nor no entreatie to his loue be led;Till now at last relenting, she to him was wed.So both agreed, that this their bridale feastixShould for the Gods inProteushouse be made;To which they all repayr’d, both most and least,Aswell which in the mightie Ocean trade,As that in riuers swim, or brookes doe wade.All which not if an hundred tongues to tell,And hundred mouthes, and voice of brasse I had,And endlesse memorie, that mote excell,In order as they came, could I recount them well.Helpe therefore, O thou sacred imp ofIoue,xThe noursling of DameMemoriehis deare,To whom those rolles, layd vp in heauen aboue,And records of antiquitie appeare,To which no wit of man may comen neare;Helpe me to tell the names of all those floods,And all those Nymphes, which then assembled wereTo that great banquet of the watry Gods,And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid abodes.First came greatNeptunewith his threeforkt mace,xiThat rules the Seas, and makes them rise or fall;His dewy lockes did drop with brine apace,Vnder his Diademe imperiall:And by his side his Queene with coronall,FaireAmphitrite, most diuinely faire,Whose yuorie shoulders weren couered all,As with a robe, with her owne siluer haire,And deckt with pearles, which th’Indian seas for her prepaire.These marched farre afore the other crew;xiiAnd all the way before them as they went,Tritonhis trompet[203]shrill before them blew,For goodly triumph and great iollyment,That made the rockes to roare, as they were rent.And after them the royall issue came,Which of them sprung by lineall descent:First the Sea-gods, which to themselues doe clameThe powre to rule the billowes, and the waues to tame.Phorcys, the father of that fatall brood,xiiiBy whom those old Heroes wonne such fame;AndGlaucus, that wise southsayes[204]vnderstood;And tragickeInoessonne, the which becameA God of seas through his mad mothers blame,Now hightPalemon, and is saylers frend;GreatBrontes, andAstræus, that did shameHimselfe with incest of his kin vnkend;And hugeOrion, that doth tempests still portend.The richCteatus, andEurytuslong;xivNeleusandPeliaslouely brethren both;MightieChrysaor, andCaïcusstrong;Eurypulus, that calmes the waters wroth;And faireEuphœmus, that vpon them gothAs on the ground, without dismay or dread:FierceEryx, andAlebiusthat know’thThe waters depth, and doth their bottome tread;And sadAsopus, comely with his hoarie head.There also some most famous founders werexvOf puissant Nations, which the world possest;Yet sonnes ofNeptune, now assembled here:AncientOgyges, euen th’auncientest,AndInachusrenowmd aboue the rest;Phœnix, andAon, andPelasgusold,GreatBelus,Phœax, andAgenorbest;And mightieAlbion, father of the boldAnd warlike people, which theBritaineIslands hold.ForAlbionthe sonne ofNeptunewas,xviWho for the proofe of his great puissance,Out of hisAlbiondid on dry-foot pasInto oldGall, that now is cleepedFrance,To fight withHercules, that did aduanceTo vanquish all the world with matchlesse might,And there his mortall part by great mischanceWas slaine: but that which is th’immortall sprightLiues still: and to this feast withNeptunesseed was dight.But what doe I their names seeke to reherse,xviiWhich all the world haue with their issue fild?How can they all in this so narrow verseContayned be, and in small compasse hild?Let them record them, that are better skild,And know the moniments of passed times[205]:Onely what needeth, shall be here fulfild,T’expresse some part of that great equipage,Which from greatNeptunedo deriue their parentage.Next came the agedOcean, and his Dame,xviiiOldTethys, th’oldest two of all the rest,For all the rest of those two parents came,Which afterward both sea and land possest:Of all whichNereusth’eldest, and the best,Did first proceed, then which none more vpright,Ne more sincere in word and deed profest;Most voide of guile, most free from fowle despight,Doing him selfe, and teaching others to doe right.Thereto he was expert in prophecies,xixAnd could the ledden of the Gods vnfold,Through which, whenParisbrought his famous priseThe faire Tindarid lasse, he him fortold,That her allGreecewith many a champion boldShould fetch againe, and finally destroyProudPriamstowne. So wise isNereusold,And so well skild; nathlesse he takes great ioyOft-times amongst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy.And after him the famous riuers came,xxWhich doe the earth enrich and beautifie:The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame;Long Rhodanus, whose sourse springs from the skie;Faire Ister, flowing from the mountaines hie;Diuine Scamander, purpled yet with bloodOf Greekes and Troians, which therein did die;Pactolus glistring with his golden flood,And Tygris fierce, whose streames of none may be withstood.Great Ganges, and immortall Euphrates,xxiDeepe Indus, and Mæander intricate,Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides,Swift Rhene, and Alpheus still immaculate:Ooraxes,[206]feared for greatCyrusfate;Tybris, renowmed for the Romaines fame,Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late;And that huge Riuer, which doth beare his nameOf warlike Amazons, which doe possesse the same.Ioy on those warlike women, which so longxxiiCan from all men so rich a kingdome hold;And shame on you, O men, which boast your strongAnd valiant hearts, in thoughts lesse hard and bold,Yet quaile in conquest of that land of gold.But this to you, O Britons, most pertaines,To whom the right hereof it selfe hath sold;The which for sparing litle cost or paines,Loose so immortall glory, and so endlesse gaines.Then was there heard a most celestiall sound,xxiiiOf dainty musicke, which did next ensewBefore the spouse: that wasArioncrownd;Who playing on his harpe, vnto him drewThe eares and hearts of all that goodly crew,That euen yet the Dolphin, which him boreThrough the Ægæan[207]seas from Pirates vew,Stood still by him astonisht at his lore,And all the raging seas for ioy forgot to rore.So went he playing on the watery plaine,xxivSoone after whom the louely Bridegroome came,The noble Thamis, with all his goodly traine,But him before there went, as best became,[208]His auncient parents, namely th’auncient Thame.But much more aged was his wife then he,The Ouze, whom men doe Isis rightly name;Full weake and crooked creature seemed shee,And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way could see.Therefore on either side she was sustainedxxvOf two smal grooms, which by their names were hightTheChurne, andCharwell, two small streames, which painedThem selues her footing to direct aright,Which fayled oft through faint and feeble plight:ButThamewas stronger, and of better stay;Yet seem’d full aged by his outward sight,With head all hoary, and his beard all gray,Deawed with siluer drops, that trickled downe alway.And eke he somewhat seem’d to stoupe aforexxviWith bowed backe, by reason of the lode,And auncient heauy burden, which he boreOf that faire City, wherein make abode[209]So many learned impes, that shoote abrode,And with their braunches spred all Britany,No lesse then do her elder sisters broode.Ioy to you both, ye double noursery[210]Of Arts, but Oxford thine dothThamemost glorify.But he their sonne full fresh and iolly was,xxviiAll decked in a robe of watchet hew,On which the waues, glittering like Christall glas,So cunningly enwouen were, that fewCould weenen, whether they were false or trew.And on his head like to a CoronetHe wore, that seemed strange to common vew,In which were many towres and castels set,That it encompast round as with a golden fret.Like as the mother of the Gods, they say,xxviiiIn her great iron charet wonts to ride,When toIouespallace she doth take her way:OldCybele, arayd with pompous pride,Wearing a Diademe embattild wideWith hundred turrets, like a Turribant.With such an one was Thamis beautifide;That was to weet the famous Troynouant,In which her kingdomes throne is chiefly resiant.And round about him many a pretty PagexxixAttended duely, ready to obay;All little Riuers, which owe vassallageTo him, as to their Lord, and tribute pay:The chaulky Kenet, and the Thetis gray,The morish Cole, and the soft sliding Breane,The wanton Lee, that oft doth loose his way,And the still Darent, in whose waters cleaneTen thousand fishes play, and decke his pleasant streame.Then came his neighbour flouds, which nigh him dwell,xxxAnd water all the English soile throughout;They all on him this day attended well;And with meet seruice waited him about;Ne none[211]disdained low to him to lout:No not the stately Seuerne grudg’d at all,Ne storming Humber, though he looked stout;But both him honor’d as their principall,And let their swelling waters low before him fall.There was the speedy Tamar, which deuidesxxxiThe Cornish and the Deuonish confines;Through both whose borders swiftly downe it glides,And meeting Plim, to Plimmouth thence declines:And Dart, nigh chockt[212]with sands of tinny mines.But Auon marched in more stately path,Proud of his Adamants, with which he shinesAnd glisters wide, as als’ of wondrous Bath,And Bristow faire, which on his waues he builded hath.And there came Stoure with terrible aspect,xxxiiBearing his sixe deformed heads on hye,That doth his course through Blandford plains direct,And washeth Winborne meades in season drye.Next him went Wylibourne with passage slye,That of his wylinesse his name doth take,And of him selfe doth name the shire thereby:And Mole, that like a nousling Mole doth makeHis way still vnder ground, till Thamis he ouertake.Then came the Rother, decked all with woodsxxxiiiLike a wood God, and flowing fast to Rhy:And Sture, that parteth with his pleasant floodsThe Easterne Saxons from the Southerne ny,And Clare, and Harwitch both doth beautify:Him follow’d Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall,And with him brought a present ioyfullyOf his owne fish vnto their festiuall,Whose like none else could shew, the which they Ruffins call.Next these the plenteous Ouse came far from land,xxxivBy many a city, and by many a towne,And many riuers taking vnder handInto his waters, as he passeth downe,The Cle, the Were, the Grant[213], the Sture, the Rowne.Thence doth by Huntingdon and Cambridge flit,My mother Cambridge, whom as with a CrowneHe doth adorne, and is adorn’d of itWith many a gentle Muse, and many a learned wit.And after him the fatall Welland went,xxxvThat if old sawes proue true (which God forbid)Shall drowne all Holland with his excrement,And shall see Stamford, though now homely hid,Then shine in learning, more then euer didCambridge or Oxford, Englands goodly beames.And next to him the Nene[214]downe softly slid;And bounteous Trent, that in him selfe enseamesBoth thirty sorts of fish, and thirty sundry streames.Next these came Tyne, along whose stony banckexxxviThat Romaine Monarch built a brasen wall,Which mote the feebled Britons strongly flanckeAgainst the Picts, that swarmed ouer all,Which yet thereof Gualseuer they doe call:And Twede the limit betwixt Logris landAnd Albany: And Eden though but small,Yet often stainde with bloud of many a bandOf Scots and English both, that tyned on his strand.Then came those sixe sad brethren, like forlorne,xxxviiThat whilome were (as antique fathers tell)Sixe valiant Knights, of one faire Nymphe yborne,Which did in noble deedes of armes excell,And wonned there, where now Yorke people dwell;Still Vre, swift Werfe, and Oze the most of might,High Swale, vnquiet Nide, and troublous Skell;All whom a Scythian king, that Humber hight,Slew cruelly, and in the riuer drowned quight.But past not long, ereBrutuswarlicke[215]sonnexxxviiiLocrinusthem aueng’d, and the same date,Which the proud Humber vnto them had donne,By equall dome[216]repayd on his owne pate:For in the selfe same riuer, where he lateHad drenched them, he drowned him againe;And nam’d the riuer of his wretched fate;Whose bad condition yet it doth retaine,Oft tossed with his stormes, which therein still remaine.These after, came the stony shallow Lone,xxxixThat to old Loncaster his name doth lend;And following Dee, which Britons long ygoneDid call diuine, that doth by Chester tend;And Conway which out of his streame doth sendPlenty of pearles to decke his dames withall,And Lindus that his pikes doth most commend,Of which the auncient Lincolne men doe call;All these together marched towardProteushall.Ne thence the Irishe Riuers absent were,xlSith no lesse famous then the rest they bee,And ioyne in neighbourhood of kingdome nere,Why should they not likewise in loue agree,And ioy likewise this solemne day to see?[217]They saw it all, and present were in place;Though I them all according their degree,Cannot recount, nor tell their hidden race,Nor read the saluage cuntreis, thorough which they pace.There was the Liffy rolling downe the lea,xliThe sandy Slane, the stony Aubrian,The spacious Shenan spreading like a sea,The pleasant Boyne, the fishy fruitfull Ban,Swift Awniduff, which of the English manIs cal’de Blacke water, and the Liffar deep,Sad Trowis, that once his people ouerran,Strong Allo[218]tombling from Slewlogher steep,And Mulla[219]mine, whose waues I whilom taught to weep.And there the three renowmed brethren were,xliiWhich that great GyantBlomiusbegot,Of the faire NimphRheusawandring there.One day, as she to shunne the season whot,[220]Vnder Slewbloome in shady groue was got,This Gyant found her, and by force deflowr’d,Whereof conceiuing, she in time forth broughtThese three faire sons, which being thence forth powrdIn three great riuers ran, and many countreis scowrd.The first, the gentle Shure that making wayxliiiBy sweet Clonmell, adornes rich Waterford;The next, the stubborne Newre, whose waters grayBy faire Kilkenny and Rosseponte boord,The third, the goodly Barow, which doth hoordGreat heapes of Salmons in his deepe bosome:All which long sundred, doe at last accordTo ioyne in one, ere to the sea they come,So flowing all from one, all one at last become.There also was the wide embayed Mayre,xlivThe pleasaunt Bandon crownd with many a wood,The spreading Lee, that like an Island fayreEncloseth Corke with his deuided[221]flood;And balefull Oure, late staind with English blood:With many more, whose names no tongue can tell.All which that day in order seemly goodDid on the Thamis attend, and waited wellTo doe their duefull seruice, as to them befell.Then came the Bride, the louely[222]Meduacame,xlvClad in a vesture of vnknowen geare,And vncouth fashion, yet her well became;That seem’d like siluer, sprinckled here and theareWith glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare,And wau’d vpon, like water Chamelot,To hide the metall, which yet euery whereBewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot,It was no mortall worke, that seem’d and yet was not.Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flowxlviVnto her waste, with flowres bescattered,The which ambrosiall odours forth did throwTo all about, and all her shoulders spredAs a new spring; and likewise on her hedA Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore,From vnder which the deawy humour shed,Did tricle downe her haire, like to the horeCongealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore.On her two pretty handmaides did attend,xlviiOne cald theTheise, the other cald theCrane;Which on her waited, things amisse to mend,And both behind vpheld her spredding traine;Vnder the which, her feet appeared plaine,Her siluer feet, faire washt against this day:And her before there paced Pages twaine,Both clad in colours like, and like array,TheDouneand eke theFrith, both which prepard her way.And after these the Sea Nymphs marched all,xlviiiAll goodly damzels, deckt with long greene haire,Whom of their sireNereidesmen call,All which the Oceans daughter to him bareThe gray eydeDoris: all which fifty are;All which she there on her attending had.SwiftProto, mildeEucrate,Thetisfaire,SoftSpio, sweeteEudore[223],Saosad,LightDoto, wantonGlauce, andGaleneglad.White handEunica, proudDynamene,xlixIoyousThalia, goodlyAmphitrite,LouelyPasithee, kindeEulimene,Light footeCymothoe, and sweeteMelite,FairestPherusa,Phaolilly white,WondredAgaue,Poris, andNesæa,WithEratothat doth in loue delite,AndPanopæ, and wiseProtomedæa,And snowy neckdDoris, and milkewhiteGalathæa.SpeedyHippothoe, and chasteActea,lLargeLisianassa, andPronæasage,Euagore, and lightPontoporea,And she, that with her least word can asswageThe surging seas, when they do sorest rage,Cymodoce, and stoutAutonoe,AndNeso, andEionewell in age,And seeming still to smile,Glauconome,And she that hight of many heastesPolynome.FreshAlimeda, deckt with girlond greene;liHyponeo, with salt bedewed wrests:Laomedia, like the christall sheene;Liagore, much praisd for wise behests;AndPsamathe, for her brode snowy brests;Cymo,Eupompe, andThemisteiust;And she that vertue loues and vice detestsEuarna, andMenippetrue in trust,AndNemertealearned well to rule her lust.All these the daughters of oldNereuswere,liiWhich haue the sea in charge to them assinde,To rule his tides, and surges to vprere,To bring forth stormes, or fast them to vpbinde,[224]And sailers saue from wreckes of wrathfull winde.And yet besides three thousand more there wereOf th’Oceans seede, but[225]IouesandPhœbuskinde;The which in floods and fountaines doe appere,And all mankinde do nourish with their waters clere.The which, more eath it were for mortall wight,liiiTo tell the sands, or count the starres on hye,Or ought more hard, then thinke to reckon right.But well I wote, that these which I descry,Were present at this great solemnity:And there amongst the rest, the mother wasOf luckelesseMarinellCymodoce.Which, for my Muse her selfe now tyred has,Vnto an other Canto I will ouerpas.

Bvt ah for pittie that I haue thus longi

Left a fayre Ladie languishing in payne:

Now well away[198], that I haue doen such wrong,

To let faireFlorimellin bands remayne,

In bands of loue, and in sad thraldomes chayne;

From which vnlesse some heauenly powre her free

By miracle, not yet appearing playne,

She lenger yet is like captiu’d to bee:

That euen to thinke thereof, it inly pitties mee.

Here neede you to remember, how erewhileiiVnlouelyProteus, missing to his mindThat Virgins loue to win by wit or wile,Her threw into a dongeon[199]deepe and blind,And there in chaynes her cruelly did bind,In hope thereby her to his bent to draw:For when as neither gifts nor graces kindHer constant mind could moue at all he saw,He thought her to compell by crueltie and awe.

Here neede you to remember, how erewhileii

VnlouelyProteus, missing to his mind

That Virgins loue to win by wit or wile,

Her threw into a dongeon[199]deepe and blind,

And there in chaynes her cruelly did bind,

In hope thereby her to his bent to draw:

For when as neither gifts nor graces kind

Her constant mind could moue at all he saw,

He thought her to compell by crueltie and awe.

Deepe in the bottome of an huge great rockeiiiThe dongeon was, in which her bound he left,That neither yron barres, nor brasen lockeDid neede to gard from force, or secret theftOf all her louers, which would her haue reft.For wall’d it was with waues, which rag’d and ror’dAs they the cliffe in peeces would haue cleft;Besides ten thousand monsters foule abhor’dDid waite about it, gaping griesly all begor’d.

Deepe in the bottome of an huge great rockeiii

The dongeon was, in which her bound he left,

That neither yron barres, nor brasen locke

Did neede to gard from force, or secret theft

Of all her louers, which would her haue reft.

For wall’d it was with waues, which rag’d and ror’d

As they the cliffe in peeces would haue cleft;

Besides ten thousand monsters foule abhor’d

Did waite about it, gaping griesly all begor’d.

And in the midst thereof did horror dwell,ivAnd darkenesse dredd, that neuer viewed day,Like to the balefull house of lowest hell,In which oldStyxher aged bones alway,OldStyxthe Grandame[200]of the Gods, doth lay.There did this lucklesse mayd seuen[201]months abide,Ne euer euening saw, ne mornings ray,Ne euer from the day the night descride,But thought it all one night, that did no houres diuide.

And in the midst thereof did horror dwell,iv

And darkenesse dredd, that neuer viewed day,

Like to the balefull house of lowest hell,

In which oldStyxher aged bones alway,

OldStyxthe Grandame[200]of the Gods, doth lay.

There did this lucklesse mayd seuen[201]months abide,

Ne euer euening saw, ne mornings ray,

Ne euer from the day the night descride,

But thought it all one night, that did no houres diuide.

And all this was for loue ofMarinell,vWho her despysd (ah who would her despyse?)And wemens loue did from his hart expell,And all those ioyes that weake mankind entyse.Nathlesse his pride full dearely he did pryse;For of a womans hand it was ywroke,That of the wound he yet in languor lyes,Ne can be cured of that cruell strokeWhichBritomarthim gaue, when he did her prouoke.

And all this was for loue ofMarinell,v

Who her despysd (ah who would her despyse?)

And wemens loue did from his hart expell,

And all those ioyes that weake mankind entyse.

Nathlesse his pride full dearely he did pryse;

For of a womans hand it was ywroke,

That of the wound he yet in languor lyes,

Ne can be cured of that cruell stroke

WhichBritomarthim gaue, when he did her prouoke.

Yet farre and neare the Nymph his mother sought,viAnd many salues did to his sore applie,And many herbes did vse. But when as noughtShe saw could ease his rankling maladie,At last toTryphonshe for helpe did hie,(ThisTryphonis the seagods surgeon hight)Whom she besought to find some remedie:And for his paines a whistle him behightThat of a fishes shell was wrought with rare delight.

Yet farre and neare the Nymph his mother sought,vi

And many salues did to his sore applie,

And many herbes did vse. But when as nought

She saw could ease his rankling maladie,

At last toTryphonshe for helpe did hie,

(ThisTryphonis the seagods surgeon hight)

Whom she besought to find some remedie:

And for his paines a whistle him behight

That of a fishes shell was wrought with rare delight.

So well that Leach did hearke[202]to her request,viiAnd did so well employ his carefull paine,That in short space his hurts he had redrest,And him restor’d to healthfull state againe:In which he long time after did remaineThere with the Nymph his mother, like her thrall;Who sore against his will did him retaine,For feare of perill, which to him mote fall,Through his too ventrous prowesse proued ouer all.

So well that Leach did hearke[202]to her request,vii

And did so well employ his carefull paine,

That in short space his hurts he had redrest,

And him restor’d to healthfull state againe:

In which he long time after did remaine

There with the Nymph his mother, like her thrall;

Who sore against his will did him retaine,

For feare of perill, which to him mote fall,

Through his too ventrous prowesse proued ouer all.

It fortun’d then, a solemne feast was thereviiiTo all the Sea-gods and their fruitfull seede,In honour of the spousalls, which then wereBetwixt theMedwayand theThamesagreed.Long had theThames(as we in records reed)Before that day her wooed to his bed;But the proud Nymph would for no worldly meed,Nor no entreatie to his loue be led;Till now at last relenting, she to him was wed.

It fortun’d then, a solemne feast was thereviii

To all the Sea-gods and their fruitfull seede,

In honour of the spousalls, which then were

Betwixt theMedwayand theThamesagreed.

Long had theThames(as we in records reed)

Before that day her wooed to his bed;

But the proud Nymph would for no worldly meed,

Nor no entreatie to his loue be led;

Till now at last relenting, she to him was wed.

So both agreed, that this their bridale feastixShould for the Gods inProteushouse be made;To which they all repayr’d, both most and least,Aswell which in the mightie Ocean trade,As that in riuers swim, or brookes doe wade.All which not if an hundred tongues to tell,And hundred mouthes, and voice of brasse I had,And endlesse memorie, that mote excell,In order as they came, could I recount them well.

So both agreed, that this their bridale feastix

Should for the Gods inProteushouse be made;

To which they all repayr’d, both most and least,

Aswell which in the mightie Ocean trade,

As that in riuers swim, or brookes doe wade.

All which not if an hundred tongues to tell,

And hundred mouthes, and voice of brasse I had,

And endlesse memorie, that mote excell,

In order as they came, could I recount them well.

Helpe therefore, O thou sacred imp ofIoue,xThe noursling of DameMemoriehis deare,To whom those rolles, layd vp in heauen aboue,And records of antiquitie appeare,To which no wit of man may comen neare;Helpe me to tell the names of all those floods,And all those Nymphes, which then assembled wereTo that great banquet of the watry Gods,And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid abodes.

Helpe therefore, O thou sacred imp ofIoue,x

The noursling of DameMemoriehis deare,

To whom those rolles, layd vp in heauen aboue,

And records of antiquitie appeare,

To which no wit of man may comen neare;

Helpe me to tell the names of all those floods,

And all those Nymphes, which then assembled were

To that great banquet of the watry Gods,

And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid abodes.

First came greatNeptunewith his threeforkt mace,xiThat rules the Seas, and makes them rise or fall;His dewy lockes did drop with brine apace,Vnder his Diademe imperiall:And by his side his Queene with coronall,FaireAmphitrite, most diuinely faire,Whose yuorie shoulders weren couered all,As with a robe, with her owne siluer haire,And deckt with pearles, which th’Indian seas for her prepaire.

First came greatNeptunewith his threeforkt mace,xi

That rules the Seas, and makes them rise or fall;

His dewy lockes did drop with brine apace,

Vnder his Diademe imperiall:

And by his side his Queene with coronall,

FaireAmphitrite, most diuinely faire,

Whose yuorie shoulders weren couered all,

As with a robe, with her owne siluer haire,

And deckt with pearles, which th’Indian seas for her prepaire.

These marched farre afore the other crew;xiiAnd all the way before them as they went,Tritonhis trompet[203]shrill before them blew,For goodly triumph and great iollyment,That made the rockes to roare, as they were rent.And after them the royall issue came,Which of them sprung by lineall descent:First the Sea-gods, which to themselues doe clameThe powre to rule the billowes, and the waues to tame.

These marched farre afore the other crew;xii

And all the way before them as they went,

Tritonhis trompet[203]shrill before them blew,

For goodly triumph and great iollyment,

That made the rockes to roare, as they were rent.

And after them the royall issue came,

Which of them sprung by lineall descent:

First the Sea-gods, which to themselues doe clame

The powre to rule the billowes, and the waues to tame.

Phorcys, the father of that fatall brood,xiiiBy whom those old Heroes wonne such fame;AndGlaucus, that wise southsayes[204]vnderstood;And tragickeInoessonne, the which becameA God of seas through his mad mothers blame,Now hightPalemon, and is saylers frend;GreatBrontes, andAstræus, that did shameHimselfe with incest of his kin vnkend;And hugeOrion, that doth tempests still portend.

Phorcys, the father of that fatall brood,xiii

By whom those old Heroes wonne such fame;

AndGlaucus, that wise southsayes[204]vnderstood;

And tragickeInoessonne, the which became

A God of seas through his mad mothers blame,

Now hightPalemon, and is saylers frend;

GreatBrontes, andAstræus, that did shame

Himselfe with incest of his kin vnkend;

And hugeOrion, that doth tempests still portend.

The richCteatus, andEurytuslong;xivNeleusandPeliaslouely brethren both;MightieChrysaor, andCaïcusstrong;Eurypulus, that calmes the waters wroth;And faireEuphœmus, that vpon them gothAs on the ground, without dismay or dread:FierceEryx, andAlebiusthat know’thThe waters depth, and doth their bottome tread;And sadAsopus, comely with his hoarie head.

The richCteatus, andEurytuslong;xiv

NeleusandPeliaslouely brethren both;

MightieChrysaor, andCaïcusstrong;

Eurypulus, that calmes the waters wroth;

And faireEuphœmus, that vpon them goth

As on the ground, without dismay or dread:

FierceEryx, andAlebiusthat know’th

The waters depth, and doth their bottome tread;

And sadAsopus, comely with his hoarie head.

There also some most famous founders werexvOf puissant Nations, which the world possest;Yet sonnes ofNeptune, now assembled here:AncientOgyges, euen th’auncientest,AndInachusrenowmd aboue the rest;Phœnix, andAon, andPelasgusold,GreatBelus,Phœax, andAgenorbest;And mightieAlbion, father of the boldAnd warlike people, which theBritaineIslands hold.

There also some most famous founders werexv

Of puissant Nations, which the world possest;

Yet sonnes ofNeptune, now assembled here:

AncientOgyges, euen th’auncientest,

AndInachusrenowmd aboue the rest;

Phœnix, andAon, andPelasgusold,

GreatBelus,Phœax, andAgenorbest;

And mightieAlbion, father of the bold

And warlike people, which theBritaineIslands hold.

ForAlbionthe sonne ofNeptunewas,xviWho for the proofe of his great puissance,Out of hisAlbiondid on dry-foot pasInto oldGall, that now is cleepedFrance,To fight withHercules, that did aduanceTo vanquish all the world with matchlesse might,And there his mortall part by great mischanceWas slaine: but that which is th’immortall sprightLiues still: and to this feast withNeptunesseed was dight.

ForAlbionthe sonne ofNeptunewas,xvi

Who for the proofe of his great puissance,

Out of hisAlbiondid on dry-foot pas

Into oldGall, that now is cleepedFrance,

To fight withHercules, that did aduance

To vanquish all the world with matchlesse might,

And there his mortall part by great mischance

Was slaine: but that which is th’immortall spright

Liues still: and to this feast withNeptunesseed was dight.

But what doe I their names seeke to reherse,xviiWhich all the world haue with their issue fild?How can they all in this so narrow verseContayned be, and in small compasse hild?Let them record them, that are better skild,And know the moniments of passed times[205]:Onely what needeth, shall be here fulfild,T’expresse some part of that great equipage,Which from greatNeptunedo deriue their parentage.

But what doe I their names seeke to reherse,xvii

Which all the world haue with their issue fild?

How can they all in this so narrow verse

Contayned be, and in small compasse hild?

Let them record them, that are better skild,

And know the moniments of passed times[205]:

Onely what needeth, shall be here fulfild,

T’expresse some part of that great equipage,

Which from greatNeptunedo deriue their parentage.

Next came the agedOcean, and his Dame,xviiiOldTethys, th’oldest two of all the rest,For all the rest of those two parents came,Which afterward both sea and land possest:Of all whichNereusth’eldest, and the best,Did first proceed, then which none more vpright,Ne more sincere in word and deed profest;Most voide of guile, most free from fowle despight,Doing him selfe, and teaching others to doe right.

Next came the agedOcean, and his Dame,xviii

OldTethys, th’oldest two of all the rest,

For all the rest of those two parents came,

Which afterward both sea and land possest:

Of all whichNereusth’eldest, and the best,

Did first proceed, then which none more vpright,

Ne more sincere in word and deed profest;

Most voide of guile, most free from fowle despight,

Doing him selfe, and teaching others to doe right.

Thereto he was expert in prophecies,xixAnd could the ledden of the Gods vnfold,Through which, whenParisbrought his famous priseThe faire Tindarid lasse, he him fortold,That her allGreecewith many a champion boldShould fetch againe, and finally destroyProudPriamstowne. So wise isNereusold,And so well skild; nathlesse he takes great ioyOft-times amongst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy.

Thereto he was expert in prophecies,xix

And could the ledden of the Gods vnfold,

Through which, whenParisbrought his famous prise

The faire Tindarid lasse, he him fortold,

That her allGreecewith many a champion bold

Should fetch againe, and finally destroy

ProudPriamstowne. So wise isNereusold,

And so well skild; nathlesse he takes great ioy

Oft-times amongst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy.

And after him the famous riuers came,xxWhich doe the earth enrich and beautifie:The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame;Long Rhodanus, whose sourse springs from the skie;Faire Ister, flowing from the mountaines hie;Diuine Scamander, purpled yet with bloodOf Greekes and Troians, which therein did die;Pactolus glistring with his golden flood,And Tygris fierce, whose streames of none may be withstood.

And after him the famous riuers came,xx

Which doe the earth enrich and beautifie:

The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame;

Long Rhodanus, whose sourse springs from the skie;

Faire Ister, flowing from the mountaines hie;

Diuine Scamander, purpled yet with blood

Of Greekes and Troians, which therein did die;

Pactolus glistring with his golden flood,

And Tygris fierce, whose streames of none may be withstood.

Great Ganges, and immortall Euphrates,xxiDeepe Indus, and Mæander intricate,Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides,Swift Rhene, and Alpheus still immaculate:Ooraxes,[206]feared for greatCyrusfate;Tybris, renowmed for the Romaines fame,Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late;And that huge Riuer, which doth beare his nameOf warlike Amazons, which doe possesse the same.

Great Ganges, and immortall Euphrates,xxi

Deepe Indus, and Mæander intricate,

Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides,

Swift Rhene, and Alpheus still immaculate:

Ooraxes,[206]feared for greatCyrusfate;

Tybris, renowmed for the Romaines fame,

Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late;

And that huge Riuer, which doth beare his name

Of warlike Amazons, which doe possesse the same.

Ioy on those warlike women, which so longxxiiCan from all men so rich a kingdome hold;And shame on you, O men, which boast your strongAnd valiant hearts, in thoughts lesse hard and bold,Yet quaile in conquest of that land of gold.But this to you, O Britons, most pertaines,To whom the right hereof it selfe hath sold;The which for sparing litle cost or paines,Loose so immortall glory, and so endlesse gaines.

Ioy on those warlike women, which so longxxii

Can from all men so rich a kingdome hold;

And shame on you, O men, which boast your strong

And valiant hearts, in thoughts lesse hard and bold,

Yet quaile in conquest of that land of gold.

But this to you, O Britons, most pertaines,

To whom the right hereof it selfe hath sold;

The which for sparing litle cost or paines,

Loose so immortall glory, and so endlesse gaines.

Then was there heard a most celestiall sound,xxiiiOf dainty musicke, which did next ensewBefore the spouse: that wasArioncrownd;Who playing on his harpe, vnto him drewThe eares and hearts of all that goodly crew,That euen yet the Dolphin, which him boreThrough the Ægæan[207]seas from Pirates vew,Stood still by him astonisht at his lore,And all the raging seas for ioy forgot to rore.

Then was there heard a most celestiall sound,xxiii

Of dainty musicke, which did next ensew

Before the spouse: that wasArioncrownd;

Who playing on his harpe, vnto him drew

The eares and hearts of all that goodly crew,

That euen yet the Dolphin, which him bore

Through the Ægæan[207]seas from Pirates vew,

Stood still by him astonisht at his lore,

And all the raging seas for ioy forgot to rore.

So went he playing on the watery plaine,xxivSoone after whom the louely Bridegroome came,The noble Thamis, with all his goodly traine,But him before there went, as best became,[208]His auncient parents, namely th’auncient Thame.But much more aged was his wife then he,The Ouze, whom men doe Isis rightly name;Full weake and crooked creature seemed shee,And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way could see.

So went he playing on the watery plaine,xxiv

Soone after whom the louely Bridegroome came,

The noble Thamis, with all his goodly traine,

But him before there went, as best became,[208]

His auncient parents, namely th’auncient Thame.

But much more aged was his wife then he,

The Ouze, whom men doe Isis rightly name;

Full weake and crooked creature seemed shee,

And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way could see.

Therefore on either side she was sustainedxxvOf two smal grooms, which by their names were hightTheChurne, andCharwell, two small streames, which painedThem selues her footing to direct aright,Which fayled oft through faint and feeble plight:ButThamewas stronger, and of better stay;Yet seem’d full aged by his outward sight,With head all hoary, and his beard all gray,Deawed with siluer drops, that trickled downe alway.

Therefore on either side she was sustainedxxv

Of two smal grooms, which by their names were hight

TheChurne, andCharwell, two small streames, which pained

Them selues her footing to direct aright,

Which fayled oft through faint and feeble plight:

ButThamewas stronger, and of better stay;

Yet seem’d full aged by his outward sight,

With head all hoary, and his beard all gray,

Deawed with siluer drops, that trickled downe alway.

And eke he somewhat seem’d to stoupe aforexxviWith bowed backe, by reason of the lode,And auncient heauy burden, which he boreOf that faire City, wherein make abode[209]So many learned impes, that shoote abrode,And with their braunches spred all Britany,No lesse then do her elder sisters broode.Ioy to you both, ye double noursery[210]Of Arts, but Oxford thine dothThamemost glorify.

And eke he somewhat seem’d to stoupe aforexxvi

With bowed backe, by reason of the lode,

And auncient heauy burden, which he bore

Of that faire City, wherein make abode[209]

So many learned impes, that shoote abrode,

And with their braunches spred all Britany,

No lesse then do her elder sisters broode.

Ioy to you both, ye double noursery[210]

Of Arts, but Oxford thine dothThamemost glorify.

But he their sonne full fresh and iolly was,xxviiAll decked in a robe of watchet hew,On which the waues, glittering like Christall glas,So cunningly enwouen were, that fewCould weenen, whether they were false or trew.And on his head like to a CoronetHe wore, that seemed strange to common vew,In which were many towres and castels set,That it encompast round as with a golden fret.

But he their sonne full fresh and iolly was,xxvii

All decked in a robe of watchet hew,

On which the waues, glittering like Christall glas,

So cunningly enwouen were, that few

Could weenen, whether they were false or trew.

And on his head like to a Coronet

He wore, that seemed strange to common vew,

In which were many towres and castels set,

That it encompast round as with a golden fret.

Like as the mother of the Gods, they say,xxviiiIn her great iron charet wonts to ride,When toIouespallace she doth take her way:OldCybele, arayd with pompous pride,Wearing a Diademe embattild wideWith hundred turrets, like a Turribant.With such an one was Thamis beautifide;That was to weet the famous Troynouant,In which her kingdomes throne is chiefly resiant.

Like as the mother of the Gods, they say,xxviii

In her great iron charet wonts to ride,

When toIouespallace she doth take her way:

OldCybele, arayd with pompous pride,

Wearing a Diademe embattild wide

With hundred turrets, like a Turribant.

With such an one was Thamis beautifide;

That was to weet the famous Troynouant,

In which her kingdomes throne is chiefly resiant.

And round about him many a pretty PagexxixAttended duely, ready to obay;All little Riuers, which owe vassallageTo him, as to their Lord, and tribute pay:The chaulky Kenet, and the Thetis gray,The morish Cole, and the soft sliding Breane,The wanton Lee, that oft doth loose his way,And the still Darent, in whose waters cleaneTen thousand fishes play, and decke his pleasant streame.

And round about him many a pretty Pagexxix

Attended duely, ready to obay;

All little Riuers, which owe vassallage

To him, as to their Lord, and tribute pay:

The chaulky Kenet, and the Thetis gray,

The morish Cole, and the soft sliding Breane,

The wanton Lee, that oft doth loose his way,

And the still Darent, in whose waters cleane

Ten thousand fishes play, and decke his pleasant streame.

Then came his neighbour flouds, which nigh him dwell,xxxAnd water all the English soile throughout;They all on him this day attended well;And with meet seruice waited him about;Ne none[211]disdained low to him to lout:No not the stately Seuerne grudg’d at all,Ne storming Humber, though he looked stout;But both him honor’d as their principall,And let their swelling waters low before him fall.

Then came his neighbour flouds, which nigh him dwell,xxx

And water all the English soile throughout;

They all on him this day attended well;

And with meet seruice waited him about;

Ne none[211]disdained low to him to lout:

No not the stately Seuerne grudg’d at all,

Ne storming Humber, though he looked stout;

But both him honor’d as their principall,

And let their swelling waters low before him fall.

There was the speedy Tamar, which deuidesxxxiThe Cornish and the Deuonish confines;Through both whose borders swiftly downe it glides,And meeting Plim, to Plimmouth thence declines:And Dart, nigh chockt[212]with sands of tinny mines.But Auon marched in more stately path,Proud of his Adamants, with which he shinesAnd glisters wide, as als’ of wondrous Bath,And Bristow faire, which on his waues he builded hath.

There was the speedy Tamar, which deuidesxxxi

The Cornish and the Deuonish confines;

Through both whose borders swiftly downe it glides,

And meeting Plim, to Plimmouth thence declines:

And Dart, nigh chockt[212]with sands of tinny mines.

But Auon marched in more stately path,

Proud of his Adamants, with which he shines

And glisters wide, as als’ of wondrous Bath,

And Bristow faire, which on his waues he builded hath.

And there came Stoure with terrible aspect,xxxiiBearing his sixe deformed heads on hye,That doth his course through Blandford plains direct,And washeth Winborne meades in season drye.Next him went Wylibourne with passage slye,That of his wylinesse his name doth take,And of him selfe doth name the shire thereby:And Mole, that like a nousling Mole doth makeHis way still vnder ground, till Thamis he ouertake.

And there came Stoure with terrible aspect,xxxii

Bearing his sixe deformed heads on hye,

That doth his course through Blandford plains direct,

And washeth Winborne meades in season drye.

Next him went Wylibourne with passage slye,

That of his wylinesse his name doth take,

And of him selfe doth name the shire thereby:

And Mole, that like a nousling Mole doth make

His way still vnder ground, till Thamis he ouertake.

Then came the Rother, decked all with woodsxxxiiiLike a wood God, and flowing fast to Rhy:And Sture, that parteth with his pleasant floodsThe Easterne Saxons from the Southerne ny,And Clare, and Harwitch both doth beautify:Him follow’d Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall,And with him brought a present ioyfullyOf his owne fish vnto their festiuall,Whose like none else could shew, the which they Ruffins call.

Then came the Rother, decked all with woodsxxxiii

Like a wood God, and flowing fast to Rhy:

And Sture, that parteth with his pleasant floods

The Easterne Saxons from the Southerne ny,

And Clare, and Harwitch both doth beautify:

Him follow’d Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall,

And with him brought a present ioyfully

Of his owne fish vnto their festiuall,

Whose like none else could shew, the which they Ruffins call.

Next these the plenteous Ouse came far from land,xxxivBy many a city, and by many a towne,And many riuers taking vnder handInto his waters, as he passeth downe,The Cle, the Were, the Grant[213], the Sture, the Rowne.Thence doth by Huntingdon and Cambridge flit,My mother Cambridge, whom as with a CrowneHe doth adorne, and is adorn’d of itWith many a gentle Muse, and many a learned wit.

Next these the plenteous Ouse came far from land,xxxiv

By many a city, and by many a towne,

And many riuers taking vnder hand

Into his waters, as he passeth downe,

The Cle, the Were, the Grant[213], the Sture, the Rowne.

Thence doth by Huntingdon and Cambridge flit,

My mother Cambridge, whom as with a Crowne

He doth adorne, and is adorn’d of it

With many a gentle Muse, and many a learned wit.

And after him the fatall Welland went,xxxvThat if old sawes proue true (which God forbid)Shall drowne all Holland with his excrement,And shall see Stamford, though now homely hid,Then shine in learning, more then euer didCambridge or Oxford, Englands goodly beames.And next to him the Nene[214]downe softly slid;And bounteous Trent, that in him selfe enseamesBoth thirty sorts of fish, and thirty sundry streames.

And after him the fatall Welland went,xxxv

That if old sawes proue true (which God forbid)

Shall drowne all Holland with his excrement,

And shall see Stamford, though now homely hid,

Then shine in learning, more then euer did

Cambridge or Oxford, Englands goodly beames.

And next to him the Nene[214]downe softly slid;

And bounteous Trent, that in him selfe enseames

Both thirty sorts of fish, and thirty sundry streames.

Next these came Tyne, along whose stony banckexxxviThat Romaine Monarch built a brasen wall,Which mote the feebled Britons strongly flanckeAgainst the Picts, that swarmed ouer all,Which yet thereof Gualseuer they doe call:And Twede the limit betwixt Logris landAnd Albany: And Eden though but small,Yet often stainde with bloud of many a bandOf Scots and English both, that tyned on his strand.

Next these came Tyne, along whose stony banckexxxvi

That Romaine Monarch built a brasen wall,

Which mote the feebled Britons strongly flancke

Against the Picts, that swarmed ouer all,

Which yet thereof Gualseuer they doe call:

And Twede the limit betwixt Logris land

And Albany: And Eden though but small,

Yet often stainde with bloud of many a band

Of Scots and English both, that tyned on his strand.

Then came those sixe sad brethren, like forlorne,xxxviiThat whilome were (as antique fathers tell)Sixe valiant Knights, of one faire Nymphe yborne,Which did in noble deedes of armes excell,And wonned there, where now Yorke people dwell;Still Vre, swift Werfe, and Oze the most of might,High Swale, vnquiet Nide, and troublous Skell;All whom a Scythian king, that Humber hight,Slew cruelly, and in the riuer drowned quight.

Then came those sixe sad brethren, like forlorne,xxxvii

That whilome were (as antique fathers tell)

Sixe valiant Knights, of one faire Nymphe yborne,

Which did in noble deedes of armes excell,

And wonned there, where now Yorke people dwell;

Still Vre, swift Werfe, and Oze the most of might,

High Swale, vnquiet Nide, and troublous Skell;

All whom a Scythian king, that Humber hight,

Slew cruelly, and in the riuer drowned quight.

But past not long, ereBrutuswarlicke[215]sonnexxxviiiLocrinusthem aueng’d, and the same date,Which the proud Humber vnto them had donne,By equall dome[216]repayd on his owne pate:For in the selfe same riuer, where he lateHad drenched them, he drowned him againe;And nam’d the riuer of his wretched fate;Whose bad condition yet it doth retaine,Oft tossed with his stormes, which therein still remaine.

But past not long, ereBrutuswarlicke[215]sonnexxxviii

Locrinusthem aueng’d, and the same date,

Which the proud Humber vnto them had donne,

By equall dome[216]repayd on his owne pate:

For in the selfe same riuer, where he late

Had drenched them, he drowned him againe;

And nam’d the riuer of his wretched fate;

Whose bad condition yet it doth retaine,

Oft tossed with his stormes, which therein still remaine.

These after, came the stony shallow Lone,xxxixThat to old Loncaster his name doth lend;And following Dee, which Britons long ygoneDid call diuine, that doth by Chester tend;And Conway which out of his streame doth sendPlenty of pearles to decke his dames withall,And Lindus that his pikes doth most commend,Of which the auncient Lincolne men doe call;All these together marched towardProteushall.

These after, came the stony shallow Lone,xxxix

That to old Loncaster his name doth lend;

And following Dee, which Britons long ygone

Did call diuine, that doth by Chester tend;

And Conway which out of his streame doth send

Plenty of pearles to decke his dames withall,

And Lindus that his pikes doth most commend,

Of which the auncient Lincolne men doe call;

All these together marched towardProteushall.

Ne thence the Irishe Riuers absent were,xlSith no lesse famous then the rest they bee,And ioyne in neighbourhood of kingdome nere,Why should they not likewise in loue agree,And ioy likewise this solemne day to see?[217]They saw it all, and present were in place;Though I them all according their degree,Cannot recount, nor tell their hidden race,Nor read the saluage cuntreis, thorough which they pace.

Ne thence the Irishe Riuers absent were,xl

Sith no lesse famous then the rest they bee,

And ioyne in neighbourhood of kingdome nere,

Why should they not likewise in loue agree,

And ioy likewise this solemne day to see?[217]

They saw it all, and present were in place;

Though I them all according their degree,

Cannot recount, nor tell their hidden race,

Nor read the saluage cuntreis, thorough which they pace.

There was the Liffy rolling downe the lea,xliThe sandy Slane, the stony Aubrian,The spacious Shenan spreading like a sea,The pleasant Boyne, the fishy fruitfull Ban,Swift Awniduff, which of the English manIs cal’de Blacke water, and the Liffar deep,Sad Trowis, that once his people ouerran,Strong Allo[218]tombling from Slewlogher steep,And Mulla[219]mine, whose waues I whilom taught to weep.

There was the Liffy rolling downe the lea,xli

The sandy Slane, the stony Aubrian,

The spacious Shenan spreading like a sea,

The pleasant Boyne, the fishy fruitfull Ban,

Swift Awniduff, which of the English man

Is cal’de Blacke water, and the Liffar deep,

Sad Trowis, that once his people ouerran,

Strong Allo[218]tombling from Slewlogher steep,

And Mulla[219]mine, whose waues I whilom taught to weep.

And there the three renowmed brethren were,xliiWhich that great GyantBlomiusbegot,Of the faire NimphRheusawandring there.One day, as she to shunne the season whot,[220]Vnder Slewbloome in shady groue was got,This Gyant found her, and by force deflowr’d,Whereof conceiuing, she in time forth broughtThese three faire sons, which being thence forth powrdIn three great riuers ran, and many countreis scowrd.

And there the three renowmed brethren were,xlii

Which that great GyantBlomiusbegot,

Of the faire NimphRheusawandring there.

One day, as she to shunne the season whot,[220]

Vnder Slewbloome in shady groue was got,

This Gyant found her, and by force deflowr’d,

Whereof conceiuing, she in time forth brought

These three faire sons, which being thence forth powrd

In three great riuers ran, and many countreis scowrd.

The first, the gentle Shure that making wayxliiiBy sweet Clonmell, adornes rich Waterford;The next, the stubborne Newre, whose waters grayBy faire Kilkenny and Rosseponte boord,The third, the goodly Barow, which doth hoordGreat heapes of Salmons in his deepe bosome:All which long sundred, doe at last accordTo ioyne in one, ere to the sea they come,So flowing all from one, all one at last become.

The first, the gentle Shure that making wayxliii

By sweet Clonmell, adornes rich Waterford;

The next, the stubborne Newre, whose waters gray

By faire Kilkenny and Rosseponte boord,

The third, the goodly Barow, which doth hoord

Great heapes of Salmons in his deepe bosome:

All which long sundred, doe at last accord

To ioyne in one, ere to the sea they come,

So flowing all from one, all one at last become.

There also was the wide embayed Mayre,xlivThe pleasaunt Bandon crownd with many a wood,The spreading Lee, that like an Island fayreEncloseth Corke with his deuided[221]flood;And balefull Oure, late staind with English blood:With many more, whose names no tongue can tell.All which that day in order seemly goodDid on the Thamis attend, and waited wellTo doe their duefull seruice, as to them befell.

There also was the wide embayed Mayre,xliv

The pleasaunt Bandon crownd with many a wood,

The spreading Lee, that like an Island fayre

Encloseth Corke with his deuided[221]flood;

And balefull Oure, late staind with English blood:

With many more, whose names no tongue can tell.

All which that day in order seemly good

Did on the Thamis attend, and waited well

To doe their duefull seruice, as to them befell.

Then came the Bride, the louely[222]Meduacame,xlvClad in a vesture of vnknowen geare,And vncouth fashion, yet her well became;That seem’d like siluer, sprinckled here and theareWith glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare,And wau’d vpon, like water Chamelot,To hide the metall, which yet euery whereBewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot,It was no mortall worke, that seem’d and yet was not.

Then came the Bride, the louely[222]Meduacame,xlv

Clad in a vesture of vnknowen geare,

And vncouth fashion, yet her well became;

That seem’d like siluer, sprinckled here and theare

With glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare,

And wau’d vpon, like water Chamelot,

To hide the metall, which yet euery where

Bewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot,

It was no mortall worke, that seem’d and yet was not.

Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flowxlviVnto her waste, with flowres bescattered,The which ambrosiall odours forth did throwTo all about, and all her shoulders spredAs a new spring; and likewise on her hedA Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore,From vnder which the deawy humour shed,Did tricle downe her haire, like to the horeCongealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore.

Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flowxlvi

Vnto her waste, with flowres bescattered,

The which ambrosiall odours forth did throw

To all about, and all her shoulders spred

As a new spring; and likewise on her hed

A Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore,

From vnder which the deawy humour shed,

Did tricle downe her haire, like to the hore

Congealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore.

On her two pretty handmaides did attend,xlviiOne cald theTheise, the other cald theCrane;Which on her waited, things amisse to mend,And both behind vpheld her spredding traine;Vnder the which, her feet appeared plaine,Her siluer feet, faire washt against this day:And her before there paced Pages twaine,Both clad in colours like, and like array,TheDouneand eke theFrith, both which prepard her way.

On her two pretty handmaides did attend,xlvii

One cald theTheise, the other cald theCrane;

Which on her waited, things amisse to mend,

And both behind vpheld her spredding traine;

Vnder the which, her feet appeared plaine,

Her siluer feet, faire washt against this day:

And her before there paced Pages twaine,

Both clad in colours like, and like array,

TheDouneand eke theFrith, both which prepard her way.

And after these the Sea Nymphs marched all,xlviiiAll goodly damzels, deckt with long greene haire,Whom of their sireNereidesmen call,All which the Oceans daughter to him bareThe gray eydeDoris: all which fifty are;All which she there on her attending had.SwiftProto, mildeEucrate,Thetisfaire,SoftSpio, sweeteEudore[223],Saosad,LightDoto, wantonGlauce, andGaleneglad.

And after these the Sea Nymphs marched all,xlviii

All goodly damzels, deckt with long greene haire,

Whom of their sireNereidesmen call,

All which the Oceans daughter to him bare

The gray eydeDoris: all which fifty are;

All which she there on her attending had.

SwiftProto, mildeEucrate,Thetisfaire,

SoftSpio, sweeteEudore[223],Saosad,

LightDoto, wantonGlauce, andGaleneglad.

White handEunica, proudDynamene,xlixIoyousThalia, goodlyAmphitrite,LouelyPasithee, kindeEulimene,Light footeCymothoe, and sweeteMelite,FairestPherusa,Phaolilly white,WondredAgaue,Poris, andNesæa,WithEratothat doth in loue delite,AndPanopæ, and wiseProtomedæa,And snowy neckdDoris, and milkewhiteGalathæa.

White handEunica, proudDynamene,xlix

IoyousThalia, goodlyAmphitrite,

LouelyPasithee, kindeEulimene,

Light footeCymothoe, and sweeteMelite,

FairestPherusa,Phaolilly white,

WondredAgaue,Poris, andNesæa,

WithEratothat doth in loue delite,

AndPanopæ, and wiseProtomedæa,

And snowy neckdDoris, and milkewhiteGalathæa.

SpeedyHippothoe, and chasteActea,lLargeLisianassa, andPronæasage,Euagore, and lightPontoporea,And she, that with her least word can asswageThe surging seas, when they do sorest rage,Cymodoce, and stoutAutonoe,AndNeso, andEionewell in age,And seeming still to smile,Glauconome,And she that hight of many heastesPolynome.

SpeedyHippothoe, and chasteActea,l

LargeLisianassa, andPronæasage,

Euagore, and lightPontoporea,

And she, that with her least word can asswage

The surging seas, when they do sorest rage,

Cymodoce, and stoutAutonoe,

AndNeso, andEionewell in age,

And seeming still to smile,Glauconome,

And she that hight of many heastesPolynome.

FreshAlimeda, deckt with girlond greene;liHyponeo, with salt bedewed wrests:Laomedia, like the christall sheene;Liagore, much praisd for wise behests;AndPsamathe, for her brode snowy brests;Cymo,Eupompe, andThemisteiust;And she that vertue loues and vice detestsEuarna, andMenippetrue in trust,AndNemertealearned well to rule her lust.

FreshAlimeda, deckt with girlond greene;li

Hyponeo, with salt bedewed wrests:

Laomedia, like the christall sheene;

Liagore, much praisd for wise behests;

AndPsamathe, for her brode snowy brests;

Cymo,Eupompe, andThemisteiust;

And she that vertue loues and vice detests

Euarna, andMenippetrue in trust,

AndNemertealearned well to rule her lust.

All these the daughters of oldNereuswere,liiWhich haue the sea in charge to them assinde,To rule his tides, and surges to vprere,To bring forth stormes, or fast them to vpbinde,[224]And sailers saue from wreckes of wrathfull winde.And yet besides three thousand more there wereOf th’Oceans seede, but[225]IouesandPhœbuskinde;The which in floods and fountaines doe appere,And all mankinde do nourish with their waters clere.

All these the daughters of oldNereuswere,lii

Which haue the sea in charge to them assinde,

To rule his tides, and surges to vprere,

To bring forth stormes, or fast them to vpbinde,[224]

And sailers saue from wreckes of wrathfull winde.

And yet besides three thousand more there were

Of th’Oceans seede, but[225]IouesandPhœbuskinde;

The which in floods and fountaines doe appere,

And all mankinde do nourish with their waters clere.

The which, more eath it were for mortall wight,liiiTo tell the sands, or count the starres on hye,Or ought more hard, then thinke to reckon right.But well I wote, that these which I descry,Were present at this great solemnity:And there amongst the rest, the mother wasOf luckelesseMarinellCymodoce.Which, for my Muse her selfe now tyred has,Vnto an other Canto I will ouerpas.

The which, more eath it were for mortall wight,liii

To tell the sands, or count the starres on hye,

Or ought more hard, then thinke to reckon right.

But well I wote, that these which I descry,

Were present at this great solemnity:

And there amongst the rest, the mother was

Of luckelesseMarinellCymodoce.

Which, for my Muse her selfe now tyred has,

Vnto an other Canto I will ouerpas.

FOOTNOTES:[198]i 3 weal-away1609[199]ii 4 dungeon1609 passim[200]iv 5 Gramdame1596[201]6 seuen] three1596(Malone 616),1609[202]vii 1 harke1609[203]xii 3 trumpet1609[204]xiii 3 soothsayes1609[205]xvii 6 times] ageTodd.But cf.II ii 7. II ii 42&c.[206]xxi 5 Oraxes1609[207]xxiii 7 Agæan1596,1609[208]xxiv 4 became;1596[209]xxvi 4 make-abode1609[210]8 noursery,1599,1609[211]xxx 5 none] one1609[212]xxxi 5 choakt1609[213]xxxiv 5 Guant1596,1609:corr. Child[214]xxxv 7Nene1596,1609[215]xxxviii 1 warlike1609[216]4 doome1609[217]xl 5 see.1596[218]xli 8Allo1596,1609[219]9Mulla1596,1609[220]xlii 4 hot.1609 passim[221]xliv 4 diuided1609 passim[222]xlv 1 louely] louing1609[223]xlviii 8Endore1596,1609:corr. Child

[198]i 3 weal-away1609

[199]ii 4 dungeon1609 passim

[200]iv 5 Gramdame1596

[201]6 seuen] three1596(Malone 616),1609

[202]vii 1 harke1609

[203]xii 3 trumpet1609

[204]xiii 3 soothsayes1609

[205]xvii 6 times] ageTodd.But cf.II ii 7. II ii 42&c.

[206]xxi 5 Oraxes1609

[207]xxiii 7 Agæan1596,1609

[208]xxiv 4 became;1596

[209]xxvi 4 make-abode1609

[210]8 noursery,1599,1609

[211]xxx 5 none] one1609

[212]xxxi 5 choakt1609

[213]xxxiv 5 Guant1596,1609:corr. Child

[214]xxxv 7Nene1596,1609

[215]xxxviii 1 warlike1609

[216]4 doome1609

[217]xl 5 see.1596

[218]xli 8Allo1596,1609

[219]9Mulla1596,1609

[220]xlii 4 hot.1609 passim

[221]xliv 4 diuided1609 passim

[222]xlv 1 louely] louing1609

[223]xlviii 8Endore1596,1609:corr. Child

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