Minor Poems of Michael Drayton Part 16

And first encountring with a waspe, He in his armes the Fly doth claspe As though his breath he forth would graspe, Him for Pigwiggen taking: Where is my wife thou Rogue, quoth he, _Pigwiggen_, she is come to thee, Restore her, or thou dy'st by me, Whereat the poore waspe quaking,

Cryes, _Oberon_, great _Fayrie_ King, Content thee I am no such thing, 210 I am a Waspe behold my sting, At which the _Fayrie_ started: When soone away the Waspe doth goe, Poore wretch was neuer frighted so, He thought his wings were much to slow, O'rioyd, they so were parted.

He next vpon a Glow-worme light, (You must suppose it now was night), Which for her hinder part was bright, He tooke to be a Deuill. 220 And furiously doth her a.s.saile For carrying fier in her taile He thrasht her rough coat with his flayle, The mad King fear'd no euill.

O quoth the _Gloworme_ hold thy hand, Thou puisant King of _Fayrie_ land, Thy mighty stroaks who may withstand, Hould, or of life despaire I: Together then her selfe doth roule, And tumbling downe into a hole, 230 She seem'd as black as any Cole, Which vext away the _Fayrie_.

From thence he ran into a Hiue, Amongst the Bees he letteth driue And downe their Coombes begins to riue, All likely to haue spoyled: Which with their Waxe his face besmeard, And with their Honey daub'd his Beard It would haue made a man afeard, To see how he was moyled. 240

A new Aduenture him betides, He mett an Ant, which he bestrides, And post thereon away he rides, Which with his haste doth stumble; And came full ouer on her snowte, Her heels so threw the dirt about, For she by no meanes could get out, But ouer him doth tumble.

And being in this piteous case, And all be-slurried head and face, 250 On runs he in this Wild-goose chase As here, and there, he rambles Halfe blinde, against a molehill hit, And for a Mountaine taking it, For all he was out of his wit, Yet to the top he scrambles.

And being gotten to the top, Yet there himselfe he could not stop, But downe on th' other side doth chop, And to the foot came rumbling: 260 So that the Grubs therein that bred, Hearing such turmoyle ouer head, Thought surely they had all bin dead, So fearefull was the Iumbling.

And falling downe into a Lake, Which him vp to the neck doth take, His fury somewhat it doth slake, He calleth for a Ferry; Where you may some recouery note, What was his Club he made his Boate, 270 And in his Oaken Cup doth float, As safe as in a Wherry.

Men talke of the Aduentures strange, Of _Don Quishott_, and of their change Through which he Armed oft did range, Of _Sancha Panchas_ trauell: But should a man tell euery thing, Done by this franticke _Fayrie_ king.

And them in lofty numbers sing It well his wits might grauell. 280

Sca.r.s.e set on sh.o.r.e, but therewithall, He meeteth _Pucke_, which most men call _Hobgoblin_, and on him doth fall, With words from frenzy spoken; Hoh, hoh, quoth _Hob_, G.o.d saue thy grace, Who drest thee in this pitteous case, He thus that spoild my soueraignes face, I would his necke were broken.

This _Puck_ seemes but a dreaming dolt, Still walking like a ragged Colt, 290 And oft out of a Bush doth bolt, Of purpose to deceiue vs.

And leading vs makes vs to stray, Long Winters nights out of the way, And when we stick in mire and clay, _Hob_ doth with laughter leaue vs.

Deare _Puck_ (quoth he) my wife is gone As ere thou lou'st King _Oberon_, Let euery thing but this alone With vengeance, and pursue her; 300 Bring her to me aliue or dead, Or that vilde thief, _Pigwiggins_ head, That villaine hath defil'd my bed He to this folly drew her.

Quoth _Puck_, My Liege Ile neuer lin, But I will thorough thicke and thinne, Vntill at length I bring her in, My dearest Lord nere doubt it: Thorough Brake, thorough Brier, Thorough Muck, thorough Mier, 310 Thorough Water, thorough Fier, And thus goes _Puck_ about it.

This thing Nimphidia ouer hard That on this mad King had a guard Not doubting of a great reward, For first this businesse broching; And through the ayre away doth goe Swift as an Arrow from the Bowe, To let her Soueraigne _Mab_ to know, What perill was approaching. 320

The Queene bound with Loues powerfulst charme Sate with _Pigwiggen_ arme in arme, Her Merry Maydes that thought no harme, About the roome were skipping: A Humble-Bee their Minstrell, playde Vpon his Hoboy; eu'ry Mayde Fit for this Reuells was arayde, The Hornepype neatly tripping.

In comes _Nimphidia_, and doth crie, My Soueraigne for your safety flie, 330 For there is danger but too nie, I posted to forewarne you: The King hath sent _Hobgoblin_ out, To seeke you all the Fields about, And of your safety you may doubt, If he but once discerne you.

When like an vprore in a Towne, Before them euery thing went downe, Some tore a Ruffe, and some a Gowne, Gainst one another iustling: 340 They flewe about like Chaffe i' th winde, For hast some left their Maskes behinde; Some could not stay their Gloues to finde, There neuer was such bustling.

Forth ranne they by a secret way, Into a brake that neere them lay; Yet much they doubted there to stay, Lest _Hob_ should hap to find them: He had a sharpe and piercing sight, All one to him the day and night, 350 And therefore were resolu'd by flight, To leave this place behind them.

At length one chanc'd to find a Nut, In th' end of which a hole was cut, Which lay vpon a Hazell roote, There scatt'red by a Squirill: Which out the kernell gotten had; When quoth this _Fay_ deare Queene be glad, Let _Oberon_ be ne'r so mad, Ile set you safe from perill. 360

Come all into this Nut (quoth she) Come closely in be rul'd by me, Each one may here a chuser be, For roome yee need not wrastle: Nor neede yee be together heapt; So one by one therein they crept, And lying downe they soundly slept, And safe as in a Castle.

_Nimphidia_ that this while doth watch, Perceiu'd if _Puck_ the Queene should catch 370 That he should be her ouer-match, Of which she well bethought her; Found it must be some powerfull Charme, The Queene against him that must arme, Or surely he would doe her harme, For throughly he had sought her.

And listning if she ought could heare, That her might hinder, or might feare: But finding still the coast was cleare, Nor creature had discride her; 380 Each circ.u.mstance and hauing scand, She came thereby to vnderstand, _Puck_ would be with them out of hand When to her Charmes she hide her:

And first her Ferne seede doth bestowe, The kernell of the Missletowe: And here and there as _Puck_ should goe, With terrour to affright him: She Night-shade strawes to work him ill, Therewith her Veruayne and her Dill, 390 That hindreth Witches of their will, Of purpose to dispight him.

Then sprinkles she the iuice of Rue, That groweth vnderneath the Yeu: With nine drops of the midnight dewe, From Lunarie distilling: The Molewarps braine mixt therewithall; And with the same the Pismyres gall, For she in nothing short would fall; The _Fayrie_ was so willing. 400

Then thrice vnder a Bryer doth creepe, Which at both ends was rooted deepe, And ouer it three times shee leepe; Her Magicke much auayling: Then on _Proserpyna_ doth call, And so vpon her spell doth fall, Which here to you repeate I shall, Not in one t.i.ttle fayling.

By the croking of the Frogge; By the howling of the Dogge; 410 By the crying of the Hogge, Against the storme arising; By the Euening Curphewe bell; By the dolefull dying knell, O let this my direfull Spell, _Hob_, hinder thy surprising.

By the Mandrakes dreadfull groanes; By the Lubricans sad moans; By the noyse of dead mens bones, In Charnell houses ratling: 420 By the hissing of the Snake, The rustling of the fire-Drake, I charge thee thou this place forsake, Nor of Queene _Mab_ be pratling.

By the Whirlwindes hollow sound, By the Thunders dreadfull stound, Yells of Spirits vnder ground, I chardge thee not to feare vs: By the Shreech-owles dismall note, By the Blacke Night-Rauens throate, 430 I charge thee _Hob_ to teare thy Coate With thornes if thou come neere vs,

Her Spell thus spoke she stept aside, And in a Chincke her selfe doth hide, To see there of what would betyde, For shee doth onely minde him: When presently shee _Puck_ espies, And well she markt his gloating eyes, How vnder euery leafe he spies, In seeking still to finde them. 440

But once the Circle got within, The Charmes to worke doe straight begin, And he was caught as in a Gin; For as he thus was busie, A paine he in his Head-peece feeles, Against a stubbed Tree he reeles, And vp went poore _Hobgoblins_ heeles, Alas his braine was dizzie.

At length vpon his feete he gets, _Hobgoblin_ fumes, _Hobgoblin_ frets, 450 And as againe he forward sets, And through the Bushes scrambles; A Stump doth trip him in his pace, Down comes poore _Hob_ vpon his face, And lamentably tore his case, Amongst the Bryers and Brambles.

A plague vpon Queene _Mab_, quoth hee, And all her Maydes where ere they be, I thinke the Deuill guided me, To seeke her so prouoked. 460 Where stumbling at a piece of Wood, He fell into a dich of mudd, Where to the very Chin he stood, In danger to be choked.

Now worse than e're he was before: Poore _Puck_ doth yell, poore _Puck_ doth rore; That wak'd Queene _Mab_ who doubted sore Some Treason had been wrought her: Vntill _Nimphidia_ told the Queene What she had done, what she had seene, 470 Who then had well-neere crack'd her spleene With very extreame laughter.

But leaue we _Hob_ to clamber out: Queene _Mab_ and all her _Fayrie_ rout, And come againe to haue about With _Oberon_ yet madding: And with _Pigwiggen_ now distrought, Who much was troubled in his thought, That he so long the Queene had sought, And through the Fields was gadding. 480

And as he runnes he still doth crie, King _Oberon_ I thee defie, And dare thee here in Armes to trie, For my deare Ladies honour: For that she is a Queene right good, In whose defence Ile shed my blood, And that thou in this iealous mood Hast lay'd this slander on her.

And quickly Armes him for the Field, A little c.o.c.kle-sh.e.l.l his s.h.i.+eld, 490 Which he could very brauely wield: Yet could it not be pierced: His Speare a Bent both stiffe and strong, And well-neere of two Inches long; The Pyle was of a Horse-flyes tongue, Whose sharpnesse nought reuersed.

And puts him on a coate of Male, Which was of a Fishes scale, That when his Foe should him a.s.saile, No poynt should be preuayling: 500 His Rapier was a Hornets sting, It was a very dangerous thing: For if he chanc'd to hurt the King, It would be long in healing.

His Helmet was a Bettles head, Most horrible and full of dread, That able was to strike one dead, Yet did it well become him: And for a plume, a horses hayre, Which being tossed with the ayre, 510 Had force to strike his Foe with feare, And turne his weapon from him.

Himselfe he on an Earewig set, Yet scarce he on his back could get, So oft and high he did coruet, Ere he himselfe could settle: He made him turne, and stop, and bound, To gallop, and to trot the Round, He scarce could stand on any ground, He was so full of mettle. 520

When soone he met with _Tomalin_, One that a valiant Knight had bin, And to King _Oberon_ of kin; Quoth he thou manly _Fayrie_: Tell _Oberon_ I come prepar'd, Then bid him stand vpon his Guard; This hand his basenesse shall reward, Let him be ne'r so wary.

Say to him thus, that I defie, His slanders, and his infamie, 530 And as a mortall enemie, Doe publickly proclaime him: Withall, that if I had mine owne, He should not weare the _Fayrie_ Crowne, But with a vengeance should come downe: Nor we a King should name him.

This _Tomalin_ could not abide, To heare his Soueraigne vilefide: But to the _Fayrie_ Court him hide; Full furiously he posted, 540 With eu'ry thing _Pigwiggen_ sayd: How t.i.tle to the Crowne he layd, And in what Armes he was aray'd, As how himselfe he boasted.

Twixt head and foot, from point to point, He told th'arming of each ioint, In every piece, how neate, and quaint, For _Tomalin_ could doe it: How fayre he sat, how sure he rid, As of the courser he bestrid, 550 How Mannag'd, and how well he did; The King which listened to it,

Quoth he, goe _Tomalin_ with speede, Prouide me Armes, prouide my Steed, And euery thing that I shall neede, By thee I will be guided; To strait account, call thou thy witt, See there be wanting not a whitt, In euery thing see thou me fitt, Just as my foes prouided. 560

Soone flewe this newes through _Fayrie_ land Which gaue Queene _Mab_ to vnderstand, The combate that was then in hand, Betwixt those men so mighty: Which greatly she began to rew, Perceuing that all _Fayrie_ knew, The first occasion from her grew, Of these affaires so weighty.

Wherefore attended with her maides, Through fogs, and mists, and dampes she wades, 570 To _Proserpine_ the Queene of shades To treat, that it would please her, The cause into her hands to take, For ancient loue and friends.h.i.+ps sake, And soone therof an end to make, Which of much care would ease her.

A While, there let we _Mab_ alone, And come we to King _Oberon_, Who arm'd to meete his foe is gone, For Proud _Pigwiggen_ crying: 580 Who sought the _Fayrie_ King as fast, And had so well his iourneyes cast, That he arriued at the last, His puisant foe espying:

Stout _Tomalin_ came with the King, _Tom Thum_ doth on _Pigwiggen_ bring, That perfect were in euery thing, To single fights belonging: And therefore they themselues ingage, To see them exercise their rage, 590 With faire and comely equipage, Not one the other wronging.