The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

Cant. IX FAERIE QVEENE 193
45
49
It Troynouant is hight, that with the waues At last by fatall course they driuen were
Of wealthy Thamis washed is along, Into an Island spatious and brode,
Vpon whose stubborne neck, whereat he raues The furthest North, that did to them appeare
Withronngrage,andsorehimselfedoes throng, Which after rest they seeking far abrode,
That all men feare to tempt his billowes strong, Found it the fittest soyle for their abode,
She fastned hath her foot, which standes so hy, Fruitfull of all things fit for liuing foode,
That it a wonder of the world is song But wholy wast, and void of peoples trode,
In forreme landes, and all which passen by, Saue an huge nation of the Geaunts broode,
Beholding it from far, do thmke it threates the That fed on liuing flesh,and druncke mens vitall
skye
blood
46
50
The Trokn Brule did first that Citie found, Whom he through wearie wars and labours long,
And Hygate made the meare thereof by West, Subdewd with losse of many Britons bold
And Ouert gate by North that is the bound In which the great Goemagoof strong
Toward the land, two nuers bound the rest Corweus, and Coulin of Debon old
So huge a scope at first him seemed best, Were ouerthrowne, and layd on th'earth full
To be the compasse of his kingdomes seat cold,
So huge a mmd could not in lesser rest, Which quaked vnder their so hideous masse,
Ne m small meares containe his glory great, A famous history to be enrold
That Albion had conquered first by warlike feat In euerlasting moniments of brasse,
That all the antique Worthies merits far did
47
passe
Ah fairest Lady knight, (said ParideU)
51
Pardon I pray my heedlesse ouersight, His worke great Troynouant, his worke is eke
Who had forgot, that whilome I heard tell Faire Lincolne, both renowmed far away,
From aged Mnemon, for my wits bene light That who from East to West will endlong
Indeed he said (if I remember right,) seeke,
That of the antique Troian stocke, there grew Cannot two fairer Cities find this day,
Another plant, that raught to wondrous hight, Except Cleopolis so heard I say
And far abroad his mighty branches threw, Old Mnemon Therefore Sir, I greet you well
Into the vtmost Angle of the world he knew Your countrey kin, and you entirely pray
Of pardon for the strife, which late befell
48
Betwixt vs both vnknowne So ended Paridell
For that same Brute,whom much he did aduaunce
In all his speach, was Sylutus his sonne,
52
Whom hauing slaine, through luckles arrowes But all the while, that he these speaches spent,
glaunce
Vpon his lips hong faire Dame Hellenore,
He fled for feare of that he had misdonne, With vigilant regard, and dew attent,
Or else for shame, so fowle reproch to shonne, Fashioning worlds of fancies euermore
And with him led to sea an youthly trayne, In her fraile wit, that now her quite forlore
Where wearie wandnng they long time did The whiles vnwares away her wondnng eye,
wonne,
And greedy eares her weake hart from her
And many fortunes prou'd in th' Ocean mayne, bore
And great aduentures found, that now were Which he perceiumg, euer pnuily
long to sayne
In speaking, many false belgardes at her let fly
SPENSER
53
So long these knights discoursed diuersly,
Of straunge affaires, and noble hardiment,
Which they had past with mickle reopardy,
That now the humid night was farforth spent,
And heauenly lampes were halfendeale ybrent
Which th'old man seeing well, who too long thought
Euery discourse and euery argument,
Which by the houres he measured, besought
Them go to rest So all vnto their bowres were brought
H