Albions England A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England |
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| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
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CHAP. IIII.
Albions England |  |
CHAP. IIII.
Qveene
Iuno, not a little wroth against her husbands crime,
By whome shee was a Cockqueane made, did therefore at the time
In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bring her fruit to light,
Three nights and daies inchaunt her throwes: and of a Diuelish spight)
Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith she went:
Till Galinthis, vnwitching her, did Iunos spels preuent.
Howbeit cankered Iuno, still pursuing her intent,
Two poysoned Serpents, got by charmes, into the chamber brought
Where Hercules in cradle lay, and thinking to haue wrought
A Tragedie, did let them loose: who smelling out their pray,
Skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfesame cradle lay:
But Hercules, as Children vse with little whelpes to play,
Did dallie childishly with them, and no whit did dismay:
Vntill at last his tender flesh did feele their smarting stings,
And then displeasd, betwixt his hands the Snakes to death he wrings.
By whome shee was a Cockqueane made, did therefore at the time
In which Alcmena cride for helpe to bring her fruit to light,
Three nights and daies inchaunt her throwes: and of a Diuelish spight)
Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith she went:
Till Galinthis, vnwitching her, did Iunos spels preuent.
Howbeit cankered Iuno, still pursuing her intent,
Two poysoned Serpents, got by charmes, into the chamber brought
Where Hercules in cradle lay, and thinking to haue wrought
A Tragedie, did let them loose: who smelling out their pray,
Skaerd Hercules his brother that in selfesame cradle lay:
But Hercules, as Children vse with little whelpes to play,
Did dallie childishly with them, and no whit did dismay:
Vntill at last his tender flesh did feele their smarting stings,
And then displeasd, betwixt his hands the Snakes to death he wrings.
Amphitrio and the Thebanes all of this same wonder tell:
And, yeeres permitting, Hercules did with Euristeus dwell.
This King, by spitefull Iunos meanes, did set him taske on taske,
But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske.
Yea, yet a Lad, for Actiuenes the world did lack his like,
To Wrestle, Ride, Run, Cast, or Shoote, to Swim, to Shift, or Strike,
As witnes (his inuention first) those solemne actiue Plaies,
That were on Mount Olympus tride, where he had prick and praise.
For which his Nouell, and himselfe (in those not hauing Peeres)
The Græcians by th' Olimpides kept reckning of their yeeres.
King
Atlas daughters in the Isles of Hespera did holde
And, yeeres permitting, Hercules did with Euristeus dwell.
This King, by spitefull Iunos meanes, did set him taske on taske,
But Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske.
12
To Wrestle, Ride, Run, Cast, or Shoote, to Swim, to Shift, or Strike,
As witnes (his inuention first) those solemne actiue Plaies,
That were on Mount Olympus tride, where he had prick and praise.
For which his Nouell, and himselfe (in those not hauing Peeres)
The Græcians by th' Olimpides kept reckning of their yeeres.
A many Sheepe: and Poets faine their fleeces were of Golde:
(For rarenes then of Sheepe of Woollin figures so they faine)
Euristeus pricks his Puple on this nouile Prize to gaine.
The Greekes applie their sweating Oares, and sailing doe persist
Vntill they reach the wished shoare: where ready to resist
Their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd,
Whose grim aspects at first approch made Hercules afraid.
Now buckle they, and boysterous bloes they giue and take among:
A cruell fight: But Hercules had victorie ere long.
The Giant slaine, Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand:
An harder taske had Hercules then pausing now to stand,
Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight, both lay about them round,
Philoctes held the harder fight by keeping higher ground.
The Sonne of Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd,
Did faine to faint: the other thought that he in deed had quaild,
And left th' aduantage of his ground, and fiercely smites his Foe:
But Hercules, whose policie was to contriue it so,
Renewing fight most eagerly, so strikes and strikes againe,
That to endure the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine.
Who yeelding to his Victors will, did finde in him such grace,
As Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place.
Hesperides, the goodly Nimphs, their Keepers chaunce lament:
But Hercules did comfort them, and cure their discontent:
And shipping then of Rammes & Ewes a parcell thence he went.
13
In coasting back by new-built Troy, he saw a monefull sort
Of people, clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port.
He musing much, and striking Saile, did boldly aske wherefore
They made such dole: Laomedon, then standing on the Shoare,
Did tell the cause: the cause was thus Laomedon ere than
To reare the stately wals of Troy (a costly worke) began,
And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begunne,
Of Neptuns and of Phœbus Priests (the Gods of Sea and Sunne)
He borrowed money, promising repaiment of the same
By certaine time which thereunto he did expresly name.
The walles are built, the time is come, the Priests their money craue,
Laomedon forsweares the debt, and naughtie language gaue.
Forthwith the Sea (the Diuell then did many wonders showe)
Began to swell, and much of Troy with violence ouerflowe:
And thereupon the swealtie Sunne (the wastfull Sea retierd)
So vehemently did shine vpon the Oosie plashes myerd,
That thereof noisome vapours rose, and of those vapours spread
Such plagues, as scarce the liuing might giue buriall to the dead.
Repentant then, their wretched king, to diuell-god Delphos goes
Whereat the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause such woes:
And how the Gods of Sun and Seas, offended, do require
Each month a Virgin, to appease a seaish Monsters ire.
Wherefore to saue their common weale, the Troians did agree,
One Virgin, as her Lot did light, should pay that monthly fee.
Now after many murdred Maids (for monthly at one day,
The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray)
The lot fell to Hesione the daughter of the King,
Whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the Troians bring.
Of people, clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port.
He musing much, and striking Saile, did boldly aske wherefore
They made such dole: Laomedon, then standing on the Shoare,
Did tell the cause: the cause was thus Laomedon ere than
To reare the stately wals of Troy (a costly worke) began,
And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begunne,
Of Neptuns and of Phœbus Priests (the Gods of Sea and Sunne)
He borrowed money, promising repaiment of the same
By certaine time which thereunto he did expresly name.
The walles are built, the time is come, the Priests their money craue,
Laomedon forsweares the debt, and naughtie language gaue.
Forthwith the Sea (the Diuell then did many wonders showe)
Began to swell, and much of Troy with violence ouerflowe:
And thereupon the swealtie Sunne (the wastfull Sea retierd)
So vehemently did shine vpon the Oosie plashes myerd,
That thereof noisome vapours rose, and of those vapours spread
Such plagues, as scarce the liuing might giue buriall to the dead.
Repentant then, their wretched king, to diuell-god Delphos goes
Whereat the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause such woes:
And how the Gods of Sun and Seas, offended, do require
Each month a Virgin, to appease a seaish Monsters ire.
Wherefore to saue their common weale, the Troians did agree,
One Virgin, as her Lot did light, should pay that monthly fee.
Now after many murdred Maids (for monthly at one day,
The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray)
The lot fell to Hesione the daughter of the King,
Whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the Troians bring.
When Hercules thus vnderstood the hard occasion why
The guiltles Lady should haue died, he purposing to trie
His valiantnesse, (for what was it that Hercules would flie?)
Did aske the King what gift should grow to him that should both free
His Daughter and his kingdome of that bloody monthly fee.
The king (whom now a doubted hope of profered helpe made glad)
Made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had.
Braue Hercules, whose ventrous heart did onely hunt for fame,
Accepts th' assumpsit, and prepares the fiend-like fish to tame.
The guiltles Lady should haue died, he purposing to trie
His valiantnesse, (for what was it that Hercules would flie?)
Did aske the King what gift should grow to him that should both free
14
The king (whom now a doubted hope of profered helpe made glad)
Made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had.
Braue Hercules, whose ventrous heart did onely hunt for fame,
Accepts th' assumpsit, and prepares the fiend-like fish to tame.
Anone the dreadfull Diuell driues the Sea before his brest,
And spitting mightie waues abroad, disgorgde from monstrous chest,
Lifts vp his vgly head aboue the troubled waues to catch
The trembling Lady, for which pray his yawning iawes did watch.
But he, whose strength exceeded sense, with yron Club in fist,
Did bootlesse long with brusing waight the boistrous Whale resist.
The greater strokes, the fiercer was the monsters awlesse fight:
So that the Greekes and Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight.
Still Hercules did lay on load, and held the fight so long,
That in the end the Sea retird, and left the fish among
The bared sands: and so for want of water, not of strength,
Good fortune honours Hercules with victorie at length.
And spitting mightie waues abroad, disgorgde from monstrous chest,
Lifts vp his vgly head aboue the troubled waues to catch
The trembling Lady, for which pray his yawning iawes did watch.
But he, whose strength exceeded sense, with yron Club in fist,
Did bootlesse long with brusing waight the boistrous Whale resist.
The greater strokes, the fiercer was the monsters awlesse fight:
So that the Greekes and Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight.
Still Hercules did lay on load, and held the fight so long,
That in the end the Sea retird, and left the fish among
The bared sands: and so for want of water, not of strength,
Good fortune honours Hercules with victorie at length.
Now when the King, his Troyans, and the Grecians had behild
The substance of the vgly shape, euen dreadfull being kild,
They bring the Champion to the towne with triumphs, gifts, & praise:
And who but be belou'd in Troy, whiles that in Troy he stayes?
Alone the King (a man no doubt predestinate to ill)
Obseruing how his Subiects bore to Hercules good will,
And fearing least their loue to him might turne himselfe to hate,
And seeing now himselfe and land in prosperous estate,
Vnfriendly did exclude his friend from out his City strong,
Whilest with his Greekes he hunts abroad, mistrustlesse of such wrong
And when the Champion and his men did from their sport returne,
Not onely did gain-say in Troy that longer they soiourne,
But also (impudent in guiles) withheld the Corsers twaine,
Which Hercules so dearly wonne, in hazard to be slayne.
The substance of the vgly shape, euen dreadfull being kild,
They bring the Champion to the towne with triumphs, gifts, & praise:
And who but be belou'd in Troy, whiles that in Troy he stayes?
Alone the King (a man no doubt predestinate to ill)
Obseruing how his Subiects bore to Hercules good will,
And fearing least their loue to him might turne himselfe to hate,
And seeing now himselfe and land in prosperous estate,
Vnfriendly did exclude his friend from out his City strong,
Whilest with his Greekes he hunts abroad, mistrustlesse of such wrong
And when the Champion and his men did from their sport returne,
Not onely did gain-say in Troy that longer they soiourne,
But also (impudent in guiles) withheld the Corsers twaine,
Which Hercules so dearly wonne, in hazard to be slayne.
Alemenas Sonne abashed then to finde so lewd a meede,
In liue of well deserued loue was chollerick indeed:
And made a vow (if life gaue leaue) he would such vengeance take
On Troy, that euen the stones thereof for dread of him should quake,
And that the liuing Troyans then should say, and iustly say,
That they were happie whom the plague and Monster made away.
And threatning so the trothlesse King did leaue the hated Port,
And shortly did ariue at Thæbes, and feasts in Creons Court.
15
And made a vow (if life gaue leaue) he would such vengeance take
On Troy, that euen the stones thereof for dread of him should quake,
And that the liuing Troyans then should say, and iustly say,
That they were happie whom the plague and Monster made away.
And threatning so the trothlesse King did leaue the hated Port,
And shortly did ariue at Thæbes, and feasts in Creons Court.
Thence brought he war and wrack to Troy, and in his armie Kings:
And by the way Larnessus walles vnto the ground he flings,
And setteth Tenedos on fire, whose fearefull flames espide,
Gaue Sommons vnto carelesse Troy for worser to prouide.
Before the Greekes had reached Troy, the Troyans by the way
Did bid them battaile: many men on either part decay.
The sounding armours crack with blowes, whilest piercing arrows flie,
This lyeth dead, that same is maimde, and more at point to die.
Heads, armes, and armour flie about, and bodies swimme in blood,
And fresh supplies did fall with them on whom they fighting stood.
But Hercules, aboue the rest, bestird himselfe so well,
That still before his balefull Club by Shocks the Troyans fell.
Who fainting now, seeke to retire into their fensiue towne:
Where Hercules their Porter was, and rudely knocks them downe.
And by the way Larnessus walles vnto the ground he flings,
And setteth Tenedos on fire, whose fearefull flames espide,
Gaue Sommons vnto carelesse Troy for worser to prouide.
Before the Greekes had reached Troy, the Troyans by the way
Did bid them battaile: many men on either part decay.
The sounding armours crack with blowes, whilest piercing arrows flie,
This lyeth dead, that same is maimde, and more at point to die.
Heads, armes, and armour flie about, and bodies swimme in blood,
And fresh supplies did fall with them on whom they fighting stood.
But Hercules, aboue the rest, bestird himselfe so well,
That still before his balefull Club by Shocks the Troyans fell.
Who fainting now, seeke to retire into their fensiue towne:
Where Hercules their Porter was, and rudely knocks them downe.
Thus wonne he Troy, and sacked Troy, and Chanels flowed blood,
Nor did he breath whilest any part of all the Citie stood,
Saue stately Ileon. In the same a many Ladies weare,
Whose piteous teares wrought Hercules that onely place to spare,
As for the false Laomedon he secretly was fled
And valiant Pyramus his sonne to Greece was captiue led.
Nor did he breath whilest any part of all the Citie stood,
Saue stately Ileon. In the same a many Ladies weare,
Whose piteous teares wrought Hercules that onely place to spare,
As for the false Laomedon he secretly was fled
And valiant Pyramus his sonne to Greece was captiue led.
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CHAP. IIII.
Albions England | |