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Of mighty Goëmot, whom in stout fray
Corineus conquerèd, and cruelly did slay.

XI.

And eke that ample Pit, yet far renown'd
For the large leap which Debon did compel
Coulin to make, being eight lugs of ground,
Into the which returning back he fell:

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.

XII.

In meed of these great conquests by them got,
Corinëus had that province utmost west
To him assigned 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.

XIII.

Thus Brute this realm unto his rule subdued,

And reigned long in great felicity,

Loved of his friends, and of his foes eschew'd:
He left three sons, his famous progeny,
Born of fair Inogen of Italy;

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

XIV.

Locrine was left the sovereign lord of all;
But Albanact had all the northern part,
Which of himself Albania he did call;
And Camber did possess the western quart,
Which Severn now from Logris doth depart:
And each his portion peaceably enjoy'd,

Ne was there outward breach, nor grudge in heart,
That once their quiet government annoy'd;
But each his pains to others' profit still employ'd.

XV.

Until a nation strange, with visage swart
And courage fierce that all men did affray,

Which through the world then swarm'd in every part, And overflow'd all countries far away,

Like Noyé's great flood, with their impórtune sway,

This land invaded with like violence,

And did themselves through all the north display:
Until that Locrine, for his realm's defence,

Did head against them make and strong munificence.

XVI.

He them encount'red, a confusèd rout,

Foreby the river that whylóme was hight
The ancient Abus, where with courage stout
He them defeated in victorious fight,

And chased so fiercely after fearful flight,
That forced their chieftain, for his safety's sake
(Their chieftain Humber namèd was aright),
Unto the mighty stream him to betake,
Where he an end of battle and of life did make.

XVII.

The king returned proud of victory

And insolent woxe through unwonted ease,

That shortly he forgot the jeopardy,
Which in his land he lately did appease,
And fell to vain voluptuous disease:

He loved fair Lady Estrild, lewdly loved,
Whose wanton pleasures him too much did please,
That quite his heart from Guendolene removed,
From Guendolene his wife, though always faithful proved.

XVIII.

The noble daughter of Corinëus

Would not endure to be so vile disdain'd,
But, gathering force and courage valorous,
Encount'red him in battle well ordain'd,
In which him vanquish'd she to fly constrain'd:
But she so fast pursued, that him she took
And threw in bands, where he till death remain'd;
Als his fair leman flying through a brook

She overhent, nought movèd with her piteous look.

XIX.

But both herself, and eke her daughter dear
Begotten by her kingly paramour,

The fair Sabrina, almost dead with fear,
She there attacked, far from all succour :
The one she slew in that impatient stoure,
But the sad virgin innocent of all
Adown the rolling river she did pour,

Which of her name now Severn men do call:
Such was the end that to disloyal love did fall.

XX.

Then for her son, which she to Locrine bore,
Madan was young, unmeet the rule to sway,
In her own hand the crown she kept in store,
Till riper years he raught and stronger stay:

During which time her power she did display
Through all this realm the glory of her sex,
And first taught men a woman to obey:
But, when her son to man's estate did wex,
She it surrend❜red, ne herself would longer vex.

XXI.

Tho Madan reign'd unworthy of his race;
For with all shame that sacred throne he fill'd.
Next Memprise, as unworthy of that place,
In which being consorted with Manild,
For thirst of single kingdom him he kill'd.
But Ebranck salvèd both their infamies
With noble deeds, and warrèd on Brunchild
In Henault, where yet of his victories

Brave monuments remain which yet that land envies.

XXII.

An happy man in his first days he was,

And happy father of fair progeny:
For all so many weeks, as the year has,
So many children he did multiply;

Of which were twenty sons, which did apply
Their minds to praise and chivalrous desire:
Those germans did subdue all Germany,
Of whom it hight, but in the end their sire
With foul repulse from France was forced to retire.

XXIII.

Which blot his son succeeding in his seat,
The second Brute, the second both in name
And eke in semblance of his puissance great,
Right well recured, and did away that blame
With recompense of everlasting fame:
He with his victor sword first opened

The bowels of wide France, a forlorn dame,

And taught her first how to be conquerèd;

Since which, with sundry spoils she hath been ransacked.

XXIV.

Let Scaldis tell, and let tell Hania,

And let the marsh of Esthambruges tell,
What colour were their waters that same day
And all the moor twixt Elversham and Dell,
With blood of Henalois which therein fell.
How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see
The green shield dyed in dolorous vermeil?
That not scuith guiridh1 it mote seem to be,
But rather y scuith gogh, sign of sad cruelty.

XXV.

His son, king Leill, by father's labour long,
Enjoy'd an heritage of lasting peace,
And built Cairleill, and built Cairleon strong.
Next Hudibras his realm did not encrease,
But taught the land from weary wars to cease.
Whose footsteps Bladud following, in arts
Excell'd at Athens all the learned preace,

From whence he brought them to these savage parts,
And with sweet science mollified their stubborn hearts.

XXVI.

Ensample of his wondrous faculty,

Behold the boiling baths at Cairbadon,
Which seethe with secret fire eternally,
And in their entrails, full of quick brimstone,
Nourish the flames which they are warm'd upon,
That to their people wealth they forth do well,

And health to every foreign nation :

Yet he at last, contending to excel

The reach of men, through flight into fond mischief fell.

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