VIII.

DRAYTON’S POLY-OLBION.――CORNWALL.

MICHAEL DRAYTON was born of a gentleman’s family in Warwickshire in the year 1563. His ancestors are said to have migrated from Drayton in Lancashire.

Michael exhibited a strong genius for poetry at an early age. He studied at Oxford, but without taking a degree. In 1588 he appears to have served in a military capacity; as he describes the glorious victory over the Invincible Armada, as seen by himself, from the shore near Dover. He died in 1631, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Mr. Drayton was a very voluminous writer of Poetry. We have from him――

Heroic Epistles after the model of Ovid. The Barons’ Wars in the Reign of Edward the Second. The Battle of Agincourt. The Shepherd’s Garland. Elegies. The Man in the Moon, the Owl, Odes, and various other small Poems.

But his greatest work is the Poly-Olbion, in twenty Cantos or Songs, of which the first is here given, with the Author’s Notes or Illustrations, as it contains a description of Cornwall, commencing with a Dialogue between St. Michael’s Mount and the Bar of Hayle, which must have passed immediately over Tredrea the Editor’s House.

The singular title of his great work is derived from the Greek Πόλυς many and also very; and Ολβιὸς happy; some neuter substantive understood, perhaps the Latin _Regnum_; and founded on one of the idle fancies current in the middle ages, which derived Albion (a name of this island) in some way or another from Ολβιὸς.

* * * * *

Michael Drayton commences his national poem with the western point of the Country, and his First Song is as follows:

THE ARGUMENT.

_The sprightly Muse her wing displays, And the French islands first surveys; Bears up with Neptune, and in glory Transcends proud Cornwal’s promontory; There crowns Mount-Michael, and descries How all those riverets fall and rise; Then takes in Tamer, as she bounds The Cornish and Devonian grounds. And whilst the Devonshire nymphs relate Their loves, their fortunes, and estate, Dert undertaketh to revive Our Brute, and sings his first arrive: Then northward to the verge she bends, And her first song at Ax she ends._

Of Albion’s glorious isle the wonders whilst I write, The sundry varying soils, the pleasures infinite, (Where heat kills not the cold, nor cold expells the heat, The calms too mildly small, nor winds too roughly great, Nor night doth hinder day, nor day the night doth wrong, The summer not too short, the winter not too long,) What help shall I invoke to aid my muse the while? Thou Genius of the place (this most renowned isle) Which lived’st long before the all-earth-drowning flood, Whilst yet the world did swarm with her gigantic brood, Go thou before me still thy circling shores about, And in this wand’ring maze help to conduct me out: Direct my course so right, as with thy hand to show Which way thy forests range, which way thy rivers flow; Wise Genius, by thy help that so I may descry How thy fair mountains stand, and how thy vallies lie; From those clear pearly cliffs which see the morning’s pride, And check the surly imps of Neptune when they chide, Unto the big-swoln waves in the[51] Iberian stream, Where Titan still unyokes his fiery-hoofed team, And oft his flaming locks in luscious nectar steeps, When from Olympus’ top he plungeth in the deeps: That from[52] th’ Armoric sands, on surging Neptune’s leas, Through the Hibernic gulf (those rough Vergivian seas) My verse with wings of skill may fly a lofty gait, As Amphitrite clips this island fortunate, Till through the sleepy main to[53] Thuly I have gone, And seen the frozen isles, the cold[54] Deucalidon, Amongst whose iron rocks grim Saturn yet remains, Bound in those gloomy caves with adamantine chains. Ye sacred[55] bards, that to your harps’ melodious strings Sung th’ ancient Heroes’ deeds (the monuments of Kings) And in your dreadul verse ingrav’d the prophecies, The aged world’s descents and genealogies; If, as those[56] Druids taught, which kept the British rites, And dwelt in darksome groves, there counselling with sprites (But their opinions fail’d, by error led awry, As since clear truth hath shew’d to their posterity) When these our souls by death our bodies do forsake, They instantly again do other bodies take; I could have wisht your spirits redoubled in my breast, To give my verse applause to time’s eternal rest. Thus scarcely said the Muse, but hovering while she hung Upon the[57] Celtic wastes, the sea-nymphs loudly sung: ‘O ever-happy isles, your heads so high that bear, ‘By nature strongly fenc’d, which never need to fear ‘On Neptune’s watry realms when Eölus raiseth wars, ‘And every billow bounds, as though to quench the stars: ‘Fair Jersey first of these here scatter’d in the deep, ‘Peculiarly that boasts thy double-horned sheep: ‘Inferior nor to thee, thou Guernsey, bravely crown’d ‘With rough-embattled rocks, whose venom-hating ground ‘The hard’ned emeril hath, which thou abroad dost send: ‘Thou Ligon her belov’d, and Serk, that doth attend ‘Her pleasure every hour; as Jethow, them at need, ‘With pheasants, fallow deer, and conies that dost feed: ‘Ye seven small sister isles, and Sorlings, which to see ‘The half-sunk sea-man joys; or whatsoe’er you be, ‘From fruitful Aurney, near the ancient Celtic shore, ‘To Ushant and the Seams, whereas those nuns of yore ‘Gave answers from their caves, and took what shapes they please: ‘Ye happy islands set within the British seas, ‘With shrill and jocund shouts, th’unmeasur’d deeps awake, ‘And let the Gods of sea their secret bowr’s forsake, ‘Whilst our industrious muse Great Britain forth shall bring, ‘Crown’d with those glorious wreaths that beautify the spring; ‘And whilst green Thetis’ nymphs, with many an amorous lay ‘Sing our invention safe unto her long-wisht bay.’ Upon the utmost end of Cornwal’s furrowing beak, Where[58] Bresan from the land the tilting waves doth break; The shore let her transcend, the[59] promont to descry, And view about the point th’ unnumbred fowl that fly; Some rising like a storm from off the troubled sand, Seem in their hov’ring flight to shadow all the land; Some sitting on the beach to prune their painted breasts, As if both earth and air they only did possess; Whence climbing to the cliffs, herself she firmly sets The bourns, the brooks, the becks, the rills, the rivulets, Exactly to derive; receiving in her way That streightned tongue of land, where at Mount-Michael’s bay, Rude Neptune cutting in, a cantle forth doth take; And on the other side, Hayle’s vaster mouth doth make A[60] chersonese thereof, the corner clipping in; Where to th’industrious Muse the Mount doth thus begin: ‘Before thou further pass, and leave this setting shore, ‘Whose towns unto the saints that lived here of yore ‘(Their fasting, works and pray’rs, remaining to our shames) ‘Were rear’d, and justly call’d by their peculiar names, ‘The builders honour still; this due and let them have, ‘As deign to drop a tear upon each holy grave; ‘Whose charity and zeal, instead of knowledge stood: ‘For surely in themselves they were right simply good. ‘If credulous too much, thereby th’ offended heaven, ‘In their devout intents yet be their sins forgiven.’ Then from his rugged top the tears down trickling fell; And in his passion stirr’d, again began to tell Strange things, that in his days time’s course had brought to pass: That forty miles now sea, sometimes firm fore-land was; And that a forest then, which now with him is flood, Whereof he first was call’d the Hoar-rock in the wood; Relating then how long this soil had laid forlorn, As that her Genius now had almost her forsworn, And of their ancient love did utterly repent, Sith to destroy herself that fatal tool she lent, To which th’ insatiate slave her intrails out doth draw, That thrusts his gripple hand into her golden maw; And for his part doth wish, that it were in his pow’r To let the ocean in, her wholly to devour. Which Hayle doth overhear, and much doth blame his rage; And told him (to his teeth) he doated with his age. For Hayle (a lusty nymph, bent all to amorous play, And having quick recourse into the Severn sea, With Neptune’s pages oft disporting in the deep; One never touch’d with care, but how herself to keep In excellent estate) doth thus again intreat; ‘Muse, leave the wayward Mount to his distemper’d heat, ‘Who nothing can produce but what doth taste of spight, ‘I’ll shew thee things of ours most worthy thy delight. ‘Behold our diamonds here, as in the quarrs they stand, ‘By nature neatly cut, as by a skilful hand, ‘Who varieth them in forms, both curiously and oft; ‘Which for she (wanting power) produceth them too soft, ‘That virtue which she could not liberally impart, ‘She striveth to amend by her own proper art. ‘Besides the sea-holm here, that spreadeth all our shore, ‘The sick-consuming man so powerful to restore, ‘Whose root th’ eringo is, the reins that doth inflame, ‘So strongly to perform the Cytheræan game, ‘That generally approv’d both far and near is sought; ‘And our Main-Amber here, and Burien trophy, thought ‘Much wrong’d, nor yet prefer’d for wonders with the rest.’ But the laborious muse, upon her journey prest, Thus uttereth to herself; ‘To guide my course aright, ‘What mound or steddy mere is offered to my sight, ‘Upon this out-strecht arm, whilst sailing here at ease, ‘Betwixt the southern waste, and the Sabrinian seas, ‘I view those wanton brooks, that waxing still do wane; ‘That scarcely can conceive, but brought to bed again; ‘Scarce rising from the spring, (that is their natural mother) ‘To grow into a stream, but buried in another.’ When Chore doth call her on, that wholly doth betake Herself unto the Loo; transform’d into a lake, Through that impatient love she had to entertain The lustful Neptune oft; whom when his wracks restrain, Impatient of the wrong, impetuously he raves: And in his rageful flow, the furious King of waves Breaks foaming o’er the beach, whom nothing seems to cool, Till he have wrought his will on that capacious pool: Where Menedge, by his brooks, a[61] chersonese is cast, Widening the slender shore to ease it in the waste; A promont jutting out into the dropping south, That with his threatning cliffs in horrid Neptune’s mouth, Derides him and his pow’r: nor cares how him he greets. Next Roseland (as his friend, the mightier Menedge) meets Great Neptune when he swells, and rageth at the rocks (Set out into those seas) inforcing through his shocks Those arms of sea that thrust into the tinny strand, By their meandred creeks indenting of that land, Whose fame by every tongue is for her minerals hurl’d, Near from the mid-day’s point, thro’ out the western world. Here Vale a lively flood, her nobler name that gives To[62] Falmouth; and by whom it famous ever lives, Whose entrance is from sea so intricately wound, Her haven angled so about her harb’rous sound, That in her quiet bay a hundred ships may ride, Yet not the tallest mast be of the tall’st descry’d; Her bravery to this nymph when neighbouring rivers told, Her mind to them again she briefly doth unfold: ‘Let[63] Camel of her course and curious windings boast, ‘In that her greatness reigns sole mistress of that coast ‘Twixt Tamer and that bay, where Hayle pours forth her pride, ‘And let us (nobler nymphs) upon the mid-day side ‘Be frolic with the best. Thou Foy, before us all, ‘By thine own named town made famous in thy fall, ‘As Low amongst us here; a most delicious brook, ‘With all our sister nymphs, that to the noonsted look, ‘Which gliding from the hills, upon the tinny ore, ‘Betwixt your high-rear’d banks, resort to this our shore; ‘Lov’d streams, let us exult, and think ourselves no less ‘Than those upon their side, the setting that possess.’ Which Camel over-heard: but what doth she respect Their taunts, her proper course that loosly doth neglect? As frantic, ever since her British Arthur’s blood, By Mordred’s murtherous hand was mingled with her flood. For as that river best might boast that conqueror’s breath, So sadly she bemoans his too untimely death; Who after twelve proud fields against the Saxon fought, Yet back unto her banks by fate was lastly brought: As though no other place on Britain’s spacious earth Were worthy of his end, but where he had his birth: And careless ever since how she her course doth steer, This mutt’reth to herself, in wand’ring here and there: ‘Even in the aged’st face, where beauty once did dwell, ‘And nature (in the least) but seemed to excell, ‘Time cannot make such waste, but something will appear, ‘To shew some little tract of delicacy there, ‘Or some religious work, in building many a day, ‘That this penurious age hath suffer’d to decay; ‘Some limb or model dragg’d out of the ruinous mass, ‘The richness will declare in glory whilst it was: ‘But time upon my waste committed hath such theft, ‘That it of Arthur here scarce memory hath left.’ The Nine-ston’d trophy thus whilst she doth entertain, Proud Tamer swoops along with such a lusty train, As fits so brave a flood, two countries that divides: So to increase her strength, she from her equal sides, Receives their several rills; and of the Cornish kind, First taketh Atre in; and her not much behind Comes Kensey: after whom, clear Enjan in doth make, In Tamer’s roomthier banks, their rest that scarcely take. Then Lyner, tho’ the while aloof she seem’d to keep, Her sovereign when she sees t’ approach the surgeful deep, To beautify her fall, her plenteous tribute brings; This honours Tamer much, that she whose plenteous springs Those proud aspiring hills, Bromwelly and his friend High Rowtor, from their tops impartially commend, And is by[64] Carew’s muse the river most renown’d, Associate should her grace to the Devonian ground, Which in those other brooks doth emulation breed. Of which, first Car comes crown’d with ozier, segs and reed: Then Lid creeps on along, and taking Thrushel, throws Herself amongst the rocks; and so incavern’d goes, That of the blessed light (from other floods) debarr’d, To bellow underneath she only can be heard, As those that view her tract, seems strangely to affright: So Toovy straineth in; and Plym, that claims by right. The christning of that bay, which bears her nobler name. Upon the British coast[65] what ship yet ever came That not of Plymouth hears, where those brave navies lie, From cannons thund’ring throats that all the world defy? Which to invasive spoil, when th’ English list to draw, Have check’d Iberia’s pride, and held her oft in awe. Oft furnishing our dames with India’s rar’st devices, And lent us gold, and pearl, rich silks, and dainty spices. But Tamer takes the place, and all attend her here, A faithful bound to both; and two that be so near For likeliness of soil, and quantity they hold, Before the Roman came; whose people were of old Known by one general name, upon this point that dwell, All other of this isle in wrestling that excell: With collars be they yok’d to prove the arm at length, Like bulls set head to head, with meer deliver strength; Or by the girdles graspt, they practise with the hip, The[66] forward, backward, falx, the mar, the turn, the trip, When stript into their shirts, each other they invade Within a spacious ring, by the beholders made, According to the law. Or when the ball to throw, And drive it to the goal, in squadrons forth they go; And to avoid the troops their forces that fore-lay, Through dikes and rivers make, in this robustious play; By which the toils of war most lively are exprest. But, Muse, may I demand, Why these of all the rest, (As mighty Albion’s eld’st) most active are and strong? From[67] Corin came it first, or from the use so long? Or that this fore-land lies farth’st out into his sight, Which spreads his vigorous flames on every lesser light? With th’ virtue of his beams, this place that doth inspire, Whose pregnant womb prepar’d by his all-powerful fire, Being purely hot and moist, projects that fruitful seed, Which strongly doth beget, and doth as strongly breed: The well-disposed heaven here proving to the earth A husband furthering fruit, a midwife helping birth. But whilst th’ industrious Muse thus labours to relate Those rillets that attend proud Tamer and her state, A neighbourer of this nymph’s, as high in fortune’s grace, And whence calm Tamer trips, clear Towridge in that place Is poured from the spring, and seems at first to flow That way which Tamer strains; but as she great doth grow, Rememb’reth to foresee what rivals she should find To interrupt her course; whose so unsettled mind Ock coming in perceives, and thus doth her perswade: ‘Now Neptune shield, bright nymph, thy beauty should be made ‘The object of her scorn, which (for thou can’st not be ‘Upon the southern side so absolute as she) ‘Will awe thee in thy course. Wherefore, fair flood, recoil, ‘And where thou may’st alone be sov’reign of the soil, ‘There exercise thy pow’r, thy braveries and display: ‘Turn, Towridge, let us back to the Sabrinian sea, ‘Where Thetis’ handmaids still, in that recourseful deep, ‘With those rough Gods of sea continual revels keep; ‘There may’st thou live admir’d, the mistress of the lake.’ Wise Ock she doth obey, returning, and doth take The Taw; which from her fount forc’d on with amorous gales, And eas’ly ambling down through the Devonian dales, Brings with her Moul and Bray, her banks that gently bathe; Which on her dainty breast, in many a silver swathe, She bears unto that bay where Barstaple beholds How her beloved Taw clear Towridge there enfolds. The confluence of these brooks divulg’d in Dertmoor, bred Distrust in her sad breast, that she so largely spread, And in this spacious shire the near’st the center set Of any place of note, that these should bravely get The praise from those that sprung out of her pearly lap: Which, nourish’d and bred up at her most plenteous pap, No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip, And in their speedy course strive others to outstrip. The Yalm, the Awn, the Aum, by spacious Dertmoor fed, And in the southern sea b’ing likewise brought to bed; That these were not of power to publish her desert, Much griev’d the ancient Moor; which understood by Dert (From all the other floods that only takes her name, And as her eld’st, in right the heir of all her fame) To shew her nobler spirit it greatly doth behove. ‘Dear mother, from your breast this fear (quoth she) remove; ‘Defy their utmost force; there’s not the proudest flood, ‘That falls betwixt the Mount and Exmore, shall make good ‘Her royalty with mine, with me nor can compare: ‘I challenge any one to answer me that dare; ‘That was, before them all, predestinate to meet ‘My Britain-founding Brute, when with his puissant fleet ‘At Totness first he touch’d; which shall renown my stream, ‘(Which now the envious world doth slander for a dream:) ‘Whose fatal flight from Greece, his fortunate arrive ‘In happy Albion here whilst strongly I revive, ‘Dear Harburn, at thy hands this credit let me win, ‘Quoth she, that as thou hast my faithful handmaid been, ‘So now, my only brook, assist me with thy spring, ‘Whilst of the godlike Brute the story thus I sing. ‘When long-renowned Troy lay spent in hostile fire, ‘And aged Priam’s pomp did with her flames expire, ‘Æneas (taking thence Ascanius, his young son, ‘And his most rev’rend sire, the grave Anchises, won ‘From shoals of slaughtering Greeks) set out from Simois’ shores, ‘And through the Tyrrhene sea, by strength of toiling oars, ‘Raught Italy at last; where King Latinus lent ‘Safe harbour for his ships, with wrackful tempests rent: ‘When in the Latin court, Lavinia young and fair, ‘Her father’s only child, and kingdom’s only heir, ‘Upon the Trojan Lord her liking strongly plac’d, ‘And languish’d in the fires that her fair breast embrac’d: ‘But Turnus (at that time) the proud Rutulian King, ‘A suitor to the maid, Æneas malicing, ‘By force of arms attempts his rival to extrude: ‘But by the Teucrian power courageously subdu’d, ‘Bright Cytheræa’s son the Latin crown obtain’d; ‘And dying, in his stead his son Ascanius reign’d. ‘Next Sylvius him succeeds, begetting Brute again: ‘Who in his mother’s womb whilst yet he did remain, ‘The oracles gave out, that next-born Brute should be ‘His parents’ only death: which soon they liv’d to see. ‘For, in his painful birth his mother did depart; ‘And ere his fifteenth year, in hunting of a hart, ‘He with a luckless shaft his hapless father slew: ‘For which, out of his throne their King the Latines threw. ‘Who wand’ring in the world, to Greece at last doth get, ‘Where whilst he liv’d unknown, and oft with want beset, ‘He of the race of Troy a remnant hapt to find, ‘There by the Grecians held; which (having still in mind ‘Their tedious ten years’ war, and famous heroes slain) ‘In slavery with them still those Trojans did detain; ‘Which Pyrrhus thither brought, and did with hate pursue, ‘To wreak Achilles’ death, at Troy whom Paris slew, ‘There by Pandrasus kept in sad and servile awe: ‘Who when they knew young Brute, and that brave shape they saw, ‘They humbly him desire, that he a mean would be, ‘From those imperious Greeks his countrymen to free. ‘He, finding out a rare and sprightly youth, to fit ‘His humour every way, for courage, power, and wit, ‘Assaracus, (who though that by his sire he were ‘A Prince among the Greeks, yet held the Trojans dear; ‘Descended of their stock upon the mother’s side, ‘For which he by the Greeks his birth-right was deny’d) ‘Impatient of his wrongs, with him brave Brute arose, ‘And of the Trojan youth courageous captains chose, ‘Rais’d earth-quakes with their drums, the ruffling ensigns rear, ‘And gath’ring young and old that rightly Trojan were, ‘Up to the mountains march, thro’ straits and forests strong: ‘Where taking-in the towns pretended to belong ‘Unto that[68] Grecian Lord, some forces there they put: ‘Within whose safer walls their wives and children shut, ‘Into the fields they drew, for liberty to stand. ‘Which when Pandrasus heard, he sent his strict command ‘To levy all the power he presently could make: ‘So to their strengths of war the Trojans them betake. ‘But whilst the Grecian guides (not knowing how or where ‘The Teucrians were intrench’d, or what their forces were) ‘In foul disorder’d troops yet straggled, as secure, ‘This loosenees to their spoil the Trojans did allure, ‘Who fiercely them assail’d: where staunchless fury rap’d ‘(The Grecians in so fast, that scarcely one escap’d; ‘Yea, proud Pandrasus’ flight himself could hardly free. ‘Who, when he saw his force thus frustrated to be, ‘And by his present loss his passed error found, ‘As by a later war to cure a former wound, ‘Doth reinforce his power, to make a second fight; ‘When they, whose better wits had over-matcht his might, ‘Loth what they got to lose, as politicly cast ‘His armies to intrap, in getting to them fast ‘Antigonus as friend, and Anaclet his peer ‘(Surpriz’d in the last fight) by gifts who hired were ‘Into the Grecian camp th’ insuing night to go, ‘And feign they were stol’n forth, to their allies to show ‘How they might have the spoil of all the Trojan pride; ‘And gaining them belief, the credulous Grecians guide ‘Into th’ ambushment near, that secretly was laid: ‘So to the Trojans hands the Grecians were betray’d; ‘Pandrasus self surpriz’d; his crown who to redeem ‘(Which scarcely worth their wrong the Trojan race esteem) ‘Their slavery long sustain’d did willingly release: ‘And (for a lasting league of amity and peace) ‘Bright Innogen, his child, for wife to Brutus gave, ‘(And furnisht them a fleet, with all things they could crave ‘To set them out to sea. Who launching at the last ‘They on Lergecia light, an isle; and, ere they past, ‘Unto a temple built to great Diana there, ‘The noble Brutus went; wise[69] Trivia to enquire, ‘To shew them where the stock of ancient Troy to place. ‘The Goddess, that both knew and lov’d the Trojan race, ‘Reveal’d to him in dreams, that farthest to the West, ‘He should descry the isle of Albion highly blest; ‘With giants lately stor’d; their numbers now decay’d: ‘By vanquishing the rest, his hopes should there be staid: ‘Where from the stock of Troy, those puissant Kings should rise, ‘Whose conquests from the West, the world should scant suffice. ‘Thus answer’d; great with hope, to sea they put again, ‘And safely under sail, the hours do entertain ‘With sights of sundry shores, which they from far descry: ‘And viewing with delight th’ Azarian mountains high, ‘One walking on the deck, unto his friend would say ‘(As I have heard some tell) so goodly Ida lay. ‘Thus talking ’mongst themselves, they sun-burnt Afric keep ‘Upon the leeward still and (sulking up the deep) ‘For Mauritania make: where putting-in, they find ‘A remnant (yet reserv’d) of th’ ancient Dardan kind, ‘By brave Antenor brought from out the Greekish spoils ‘(O long renowned Troy! of thee and of thy toils, ‘What country had not heard?) which to their General then ‘Great Corineus had, the strong’st of mortal men: ‘To whom (with joyful hearts) Diana’s will they show. ‘Who eas’ly being won along with them to go, ‘They all together put into the watry plain: ‘Oft times with pirates, oft with monsters of the main ‘Distressed in their way; whom hope forbids to fear. ‘Those Pillars first they pass which Jove’s great son did rear, ‘And cuffing those stern waves which like huge mountains roll ‘(Full joy in every part possessing every soul) ‘In Aquitain at last the Ilion race arrive; ‘Whom strongly to repulse when as those recreants strive, ‘They (anchoring there at first but to refresh their fleet, ‘Yet saw those savage men so rudely them to greet) ‘Unshipt their warlike youth, advancing to the shore. ‘The dwellers, which perceiv’d such danger at the door, ‘Their King Groffarius get to raise his powerful force: ‘Who must’ring up an host of mingled foot and horse, ‘Upon the Trojans set; when suddenly began ‘A fierce and dangerous fight; where Corineus ran ‘With slaughter thro’ the thick-set squadrons of the foes, ‘And with his armed ax laid on such deadly blows, ‘That heaps of lifeless trunks each passage stopt up quite. ‘Groffarius, having lost the honour of the fight, ‘Repairs his ruin’d powers; not so to give them breath: ‘When they, which must be freed by conquest or by death, ‘And conquering them before, hop’d now to do no less ‘(The like in courage still) stand for the like success. ‘Then stern and deadly war put on his horrid shape; ‘And wounds appear’d so wide, as if the grave did gape ‘To swallow both at once; which strove as both shall fall, ‘When they with slaughter seem’d to be encircled all: ‘Where Turon (of the rest) Brute’s sister’s valiant son ‘(By whose approved deeds that day was chiefly won) ‘Six hundred slew outright through his peculiar strength: ‘By multitudes of men yet over-prest at length, ‘His nobler uncle there, to his immortal name, ‘The city Turon built, and well endowed the same. ‘For Albion sailing then, th’ arrived quickly here ‘(O! never in this world men half so joyful were, ‘With shouts heard up to heaven, when they beheld the land!) ‘And in this very place where Totness now doth stand, ‘First set their Gods of Troy, kissing the blessed shore; ‘Then foraging this isle, long promis’d them before, ‘Amongst the ragged cliffs those monstrous giants fought, ‘Who (of their dreadful kind) t’ appall the Trojans brought, ‘Great Gogmagog, an oak that by the roots could tear: ‘So mighty were (that time) the men who lived there: ‘But, for the use of arms he did not understand ‘(Except from rock or tree, that coming next to hand ‘He raz’d out of the earth to execute his rage,) ‘He challenge makes for strength, and offereth there his gage. ‘Which Corin taketh up, to answer by and by, ‘Upon this son of earth his utmost power to try. ‘All doubtful to which part the victory would go, ‘Upon that lofty place at Plimmouth call’d the Hoe, ‘Those mighty wrestlers met;[70] with many an ireful look ‘Who threatned, as the one hold of the other took: ‘But, grappled, glowing fire shines in their sparkling eyes, ‘And, whilst at length of arm one from the other lies, ‘Their lusty sinews swell like cables, as they strive: ‘Their feet such trampling make, as tho’ they forc’d to drive ‘A thunder out of earth, which stagger’d with the weight: ‘Thus, either’s utmost force urg’d to the greatest height, ‘Whilst one upon his hip the other seeks to lift, ‘And th’ adverse (by a turn) doth from his cunning shift, ‘Their short-fetcht troubled breath a hollow noise doth make ‘Like bellows of a forge. Then Corin up doth take ‘The giant ’twixt the grains; and voiding of his hold ‘(Before his cumbrous feet he well recover could) ‘Pitcht headlong from the hill; as when a man doth throw ‘An axtree, that with slight deliver’d from the toe ‘Roots up the yielding earth; so that his violent fall ‘Strook Neptune with such strength, as shoulder’d him withal; ‘That where the monstrous waves like mountains late did stand, ‘They leapt out of the place, and left the bared sand ‘To gaze upon wide heaven: so great a blow it gave. ‘For which, the conquering Brute on Corineus brave ‘This horn of land bestow’d, and markt it with his name ‘Of Corin, Cornwal call’d to his immortal fame.’ Clear Dert delivering thus the famous Brute’s arrive, Inflam’d with her report, the straggling rivulets strive So highly her to raise, that Ting (whose banks were blest By her beloved nymph dear Leman) which addrest And fully with herself determined before To sing the Danish spoils committed on her shore, When hither from the east they came in mighty swarms, Nor could their native earth contain their numerous arms, Their surcrease grew so great, as forced them at last To seek another soil, as bees do when they cast; And by their impious pride how hard she was bested, When all the country swam with blood of Saxons shed: This river, as I said, which had determin’d long The Deluge of the Danes exactly to have song, It utterly neglects; and studying how to do The Dert those high respects belonging her unto, Inviteth goodly Ex, who from her full-fed spring Her little Barlee hath, and Dunsbrook her to bring From Exmore; when she hath scarcely found her course, Than Creddy cometh in, and Forto, which inforce Her faster to her fall; as Ken her closely clips, And on her eastern side sweet Leman gently slips Into her widen’d banks, her Sovereign to assist; As Columb wins for Ex clear Wever and the Clist, Contributing their streams their mistress’ fame to raise. As all assist the Ex, so Ex consumeth these; Like some unthrifty youth, depending on the court, To win an idle name, that keeps a needless port; And raising his old rent, exacts his farmers’ store The landlord to enrich, the tenants wond’rous poor: Who having lent him theirs, he then consumes his own, That with most vain expense upon the Prince is thrown: So these, the lesser brooks, unto the greater pay; The greater, they again spend all upon the sea: As, Otrey (that her name doth of the otters take, Abounding in her banks,) and Ax, their utmost make To aid stout Dert, that dar’d Brute’s story to revive. For when the Saxon first the Britons forth did drive, Some up into the hills themselves o’er Severn shut: Upon this point of land for refuge others put, To that brave race of Brute still fortunate. For where Great Brute first disembark’d his wand’ring Trojans, there His offspring (after long expulst the inner land, When they the Saxon power no longer could withstand) Found refuge in their flight; where Ax and Otrey first Gave these poor souls to drink, opprest with grievous thirst. Here I’ll unyoke awhile, and turn my steeds to meat: The land grows large and wide: my team begins to sweat.

NOTES.

_From which he first was call’d the Hoar-rock in the wood._

That the ocean (as in many other places of other countries) hath eaten up much of what was here once shore, is a common report, approved in the Cornish name of St. Michael’s mount; which is Careg Cowz in Clowz, i. e. the Hoar-rock in the wood.[71]

_And our Main-amber here, and Burien trophy_――――

Main-amber, i. e. Ambrose’s stone (not far from Pensans) so great, that many men’s united strength cannot remove it, yet with one finger you may wag it. The Burien trophy is 19 stones, circularly disposed, and, in the middle, one much exceeding the rest in greatness: by conjecture of most learned Camden, erected either under the Romans, or else by King Athelstan in his conquest of these parts.

_Were worthy of his end, but where he had his birth._

Near Camel about Camblan, was[72] Arthur slain by Mordred, and on the same shore, east from the river’s mouth, born in Tintagel castle. Gorlois Prince of Cornwal, at Uther-Pendragon’s coronation, solemnized in London, upon divers too kind passages and lascivious regards twixt the King and his wife Igerne, grew very jealous, in a rage left the court, committed his wife’s chastity to this castle’s safeguard; and to prevent the wasting of his country, (which upon this discontent was threatned) betook himself in other forts to martial preparation. Uther (his blood boiling in lust) upon advice of Ulfin Rhicaradoch, one of his Knights, by Ambrose Merlin’s magic personated like Gorlois, and Ulfin like one Jordan, servant to Gorlois, made such successful use of their imposture, that (the Prince in the mean time slain) Arthur was the same night begotten, and verified that[73] Νόθοι τε πολλοὶ γνησίων ἀμείνονες. altho’ Merlin by the rule of Hermes, or astrological direction, justified that he was conceived three hours after Gorlois’ death; by this shift answering the dangerous imputation of bastardy to the heir of a crown. For Uther taking Igern to wife, left Arthur his successor in the Kingdom. Here have you a Jupiter, an Alcmena, an Amphitryo, a Sosias, and a Mercury; nor wants there scarce any thing, but that truth-passing reports of Poetical bards have made the birth an Hercules.

_Known by one general name upon this point that dwell._

The name of Dumnonii, Damnonii, or Danmonii, in Solinus and Ptolemy, comprehended the people of Devonshire and Cornwal; whence the Lizard promontory is called Damnium in[74] Marcian Heracleotes; and William of Malmesbury, Florence of Worcester, Roger of Hoveden and others, stile Devonshire by name of Domnonia, perhaps all from Duff neint, i. e. low valleys in British; wherein are most habitations of the countrey, as judicious Camden teaches me.

_Or that this foreland lies furth’st out into his sight, Which spreads his vigorous flames_――――

Fuller report of the excellence in wrestling and nimbleness of body, wherewith this western people have been and are famous, you may find in Carew’s description of his country. But to give reason of the climate’s nature for this prerogative in them, I think as difficult as to shew why about the Magellanic streights they are so white, about the Cape de Buon Speranza so black,[75] yet both under the same tropic; why the Abyssins are but tawny moors, when as in the East-Indian isles, Zeilan and Malabar, they are very black, both in the same parallel; or why we that live in this Northern latitude, compared with the Southern, should not be like affected from like cause. I refer it no more to the Sun, than the special horsemanship in our Northern men, the nimble ability of the Irish, the fiery motions of the French, Italian jealousy, German liberty, Spanish puft-up vanity, or those different and perpetual carriages of state-government, Haste and Delay, which, as[76] inbred qualities, were remarkable in the two most martial people of Greece. The cause of Æthiopian blackness and curled hair was long since judiciously[77] fetcht from the disposition of soil, air, water, and singular operations of the heavens; with confutation of those which attribute it to the Sun’s distance. And I am resolved that every land hath its so singular self-nature, and individual habitude with celestial influence, that human knowledge, consisting most of all in universality, is not yet furnish’d with what is requisite to so particular discovery. But for the learning of this point in a special treatise Hippocrates, Ptolemy, Bodin, and others have copious disputes.

_Of Corin Cornwal call’d, to his immortal fame._

So, if you believe the tale of Corin and Gogmagog: but rather imagine the name of Cornwall from this promontory of the Land’s End, extending itself like a[78] horn, which in most tongues is Corn, or very near. Thus was a[79] promontory in Cyprus called Cerastes, and in the now Candy or Crete, and Gazaria (the old Taurica Chersonesus) another titled[80] Κρίου μέτωπον: and Brundusium in Italy had name from Brendon or[81] Brention, i. e. _a Hart’s-head_, in the Messapian tongue, for similitude of horns. But[82] Malmesbury thus: “They are called Cornwalshmen, because being seated in the western part of Britain, they lie overagainst a horn (a promontory) of Gaul.” The whole name is as if you should say Corn-wales; for hither in the Saxon conquest the British called Welsh (signifying the people rather than strangers, as the vulgar opinion wills) made transmigration: whereof an old[83] rhimer:

The vewe that wer of hom bileved, as in Cornwaile and Wailes, Brutons ner namore ycluped, ac Waleys ywis.

Such was the language of your fathers between three and four hundred years since.

[51] The western or Spanish ocean.

[52] Bretagny coasts.

[53] The farthest isle in the British ocean.

[54] The sea upon the north of Scotland.

[55] The old British poets.

[56] Priests among the ancient Britons.

[57] The French seas.

[58] A small island upon the very point of Cornwall.

[59] A hill lying out as an elbow of land into the sea.

[60] A place almost surrounded by the sea.

[61] A place almost surrounded by the sea.

[62] The bravery of Falmouth haven.

[63] This is also called Alan.

[64] A worthy gentleman who wrote the Description of Cornwall.

[65] The praise of Plymouth.

[66] Terms of art in wrestling.

[67] Our first great wrestler, arriving here with Brute.

[68] Assaracus.

[69] One of the titles of Diana.

[70] Description of the wrestling betwixt Corineus and Gogmagog.

[71] Carew de Scrip. Corn. lib. 2.

[72] Dictus hinc in Merlini vaticinio, Aper Cornubiæ.

[73] _Euripid. Andromach._ Bastards are often times better than legitimates.

[74] Τὸ δάμνιον ἅκρον.

[75] Ortelius theatro.

[76] Thucydid. α et passim de Athen. et Lacedæm. et de Thæbis, et Chalcide. Vide Columell. i. de re rustic, cap. 4.

[77] Onesicrit. ap. Strabon. lib. ιε.

[78] Cornugallia dicta est H. Huntingdonio, aliis.

[79] Strabo lib. ζ. and ι. Stephan. Melan. Plin. Georg. passim.

[80] Ram’s-head.

[81] Seleucus apud Stephan. Βρεντησ. and Suidas in Βρενδ.

[82] De gest. reg. 2. c. 6.

[83] Robertus Glocestrens.

APPENDIX.