But those three monstrous stones do most excel
Which that huge son of hideous Albion,
Whose father Hercules in France did quell,
Great Godmer, threw in fierce contention
At bold Canutus, but of him was slain anon.1

In meed of these great conquests by them got,
Corineus had that Province utmost west,
To him assignèd for his worthy lot,
Which of his name and memorable gest
He called Cornwall, yet so called best :
And Debon's share was that is Devonshire:
But Canute had his portion from the rest,
The which he called Canutium, for his hire,
Now Cantium, which Kent we commonly inquire.2

Thus Brut this Realm unto his rule subdued,
And reigned long in great felicity,

Loved of his friends, and of his foes eschewed:
He left three sons, his famous progeny,
Born of fair Imogene of Italy;

Mongst whom he parted his imperial state,
And Locrine left chief Lord of Brittany.
At last ripe age bade him surrender late
His life, and long good fortune, unto final fate.

Locrine was left the soverain Lord of all:
But Albanact had all the Northern part,
Which of himself Albania he did call;

And Camber did possess the Western quart,3
Which Severn now from Logris doth depart :4
And each his portion peaceably enjoyed,

Ne was there outward breach, nor grudge in heart,
That once their quiet government annoyed;
But each his pains to others' profit still employed.
Book II. Canto X

AN ADVENTURE IN FAERIE-LAND.

The famous Briton Prince and Faery Knight,5 After long ways and perilous pains endured, Having their weary limbs to perfect plight Restored, and sorry wounds right well recured, Of the fair Alma greatly were procured

1 This legend is told by the chronicler Holinshed (died 1580). 3 District, i.e. Wales.

2 Call.

4 Separate. 5 Prince Arthur and Sir Guyon.

To make there longer sojourn and abode ;
But, when thereto they might not be allured

From seeking praise and deeds of arms abroad,

They courteous congè1 took, and forth together yode.2...

ways,

Long so they travelled through wasteful
Where dangers dwelt, and perils most did won,
To hunt for glory and renowmèd praise.
Full many countries they did overron,*
From the uprising to the setting sun,
And many hard adventures did achieve;
Of all the which they honour ever won,
Seeking the weak oppressed to relieve,

3

And to recover right for such as wrong did grieve. . . .

Long they thus travellèd in friendly wise, Through countries waste, and eke well edified, Seeking adventures hard to exercise

Their puissance, whilom full dernly tried.

At length they came into a forest wide,

Whose hideous horror and sad trembling sound

Full griesly seemed: Therein they long did ride,

Yet tract of living creature none they found,

Save bears, lions, and bulls, which roamed them around.

All suddenly, out of the thickest brush,

Upon a milkwhite palfrey all alone,

A goodly Lady did foreby? them rush,

Whose face did seem as clear as crystal stone,
And eke, through fear, as white as whalès-bone :
Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold,
And all her steed with tinsel trappings shone;
Which fled so fast that nothing mote him hold,
And scarce them leisure gave her passing to behold.

Still as she fled her eye she backward threw,
As fearing evil that pursued her fast;
And her fair yellow locks behind her flew,
Loosely dispersed with puff of every blast :
All as a blazing star doth far outcast
His hairy beams and flaming locks dispread,
At sight whereof the people stand aghast ;
But the sage wizard tells, as he has read,

That it importunes death and doleful drearihead.9

1 Leave.

2 Went.

3 Dwell.

4 Over-run.

5 Strength.

So, as they gazèd after her a while,

Lo! where a griesly forster1 forth did rush,...
His tireling jade2 he fiercely forth did push
Through thick and thin, both over bank and bush,
In hope her to attain by hook or crook,

That from his gory sides the blood did gush.
Large were his limbs, and terrible his look,

And in his clownish hand a sharp boar-spear he shook.

Which outrage when those gentle Knights did see, Full of great envy and fell jealousy,

They stayed not to avise who first should be,
But all spurred after, fast as they mote fly,

To rescue her from shameful villany.

Book III. Canto I.

BRITOMART, AND MERLIN'S MAGIC GLobe.

Such was the glassy Globe that Merlin made,
And gave unto King Ryence for his guard,
That never foes his kingdom might invade,
But he it knew at home before he hard3
Tidings thereof, and so them still debarred.
It was a famous Present for a Prince,
And worthy work of infinite reward,

4

That treasons could bewray, and foes convince :
Happy this Realm, had it remainèd ever since!

One day it fortunèd fair Britomart 5

Into her father's closet to repair;

For nothing he from her reserved apart,
Being his only daughter and his heir;

Where when she had espied that mirrour fair,
Herself awhile therein she viewed in vain :

Tho, her avising of the virtues rare
Which thereof spoken were, she gan again
Her to bethink of that mote" to herself pertain.

But, as it falleth, in the gentlest hearts Imperious Love hath highest set his throne, And tyrannizeth in the bitter smarts

Of them that to him buxom are and prone :9

5 Daughter of King Ryence.

8 Heard.

6 Then.

4 Betray, disclose. 7 Might.

So thought this Maid (as maidens use to done)1
Whom fortune for her husband would allot :
Not that she lusted after any one,

For she was pure from blame of sinful blot;

Yet wist her life at last must link in that same knot.
Eftsoons there was presented to her eye

A comely Knight, all armed in complete wise,
Through whose bright ventayle,2 lifted up on high,
His manly face, that did his foes agrise,3
And friends to terms of gentle truce entice,
Looked forth, as Phoebus' face out of the east
Betwixt two shady mountains doth arise :
Portly his person was, and much increased
Through his heroic grace and honorable gest. 4

His crest was covered with a couchant hound,
And all his armour seemed of antique mould,
But wondrous massy and assured sound,
And round about yfretted all with gold,
In which there written was, with cyphers old,
Achilles' arms, which Artegall did win:
And on his shield enveloped sevenfold

He bore a crownèd little ermelin,5

That decked the azure field with her fair pouldred skin.

The Damsel well did view his personage

And liked well, ne further fastened not,
But went her way; ne her unguilty age
Did ween, unwares, that her unlucky lot
Lay hidden in the bottom of the pot.

Of hurt unwist most danger doth redound;
But the false Archer, which that arrow shot
So slily that she did not feel the wound,

Did smile full smoothly at her witless woful stound.9

Thenceforth the feather in her lofty crest,
Ruffèd 10 of love, gan lowly to avail; i1

And her proud portance and her princely gest,12
With which she erst triumphèd, now did quail :
Sad, solemn, sour, and full of fancies frail,
She wox; 13 yet wist she neither how, nor why.
She wist not, silly Maid, what she did ail,
Yet wist she was not well at ease, perdy ;
Yet thought it was not love, but some melancholy.
2 The front of the helmet.

1 Are used to do.

.14

4 Gesture, bearing. 5 Ermine. 6 Powdered, spotted.

8 Unknown.

9 Ignorant woful pain.

10 Ruffled.

8 Terrify.

7 Suspect. 11 Droop.

So, as they gazed after her a while,

...

Lo! where a griesly forster1 forth did rush, . .
His tireling jade2 he fiercely forth did push
Through thick and thin, both over bank and bush,
In hope her to attain by hook or crook,
That from his gory sides the blood did gush.
Large were his limbs, and terrible his look,

And in his clownish hand a sharp boar-spear he shook.

Which outrage when those gentle Knights did see, Full of great envy and fell jealousy,

They stayed not to avise who first should be,
But all spurred after, fast as they mote fly,

To rescue her from shameful villany.

Book III. Canto I.

BRITOMART, AND MERLIN'S MAGIC GLOBE.

Such was the glassy Globe that Merlin made,
And gave unto King Ryence for his guard,
That never foes his kingdom might invade,
But he it knew at home before he hard3
Tidings thereof, and so them still debarred.
It was a famous Present for a Prince,

And worthy work of infinite reward,

4

That treasons could bewray, and foes convince :
Happy this Realm, had it remainèd ever since!

One day it fortunèd fair Britomart5

Into her father's closet to repair;

For nothing he from her reserved apart,

Being his only daughter and his heir;

Where when she had espied that mirrour fair,
Herself awhile therein she viewed in vain :

Tho, her avising of the virtues rare
Which thereof spoken were, she gan again
Her to bethink of that mote' to herself pertain.

But, as it falleth, in the gentlest hearts Imperious Love hath highest set his throne, And tyrannizeth in the bitter smarts

Of them that to him buxom are and prone :9

5 Daughter of King Ryence.

8 Heard.

6 Then.

4 Betray, disclose. 7 Might.