Of these a mightie people shortly grew, lxxii And puissaunt kings, which all the world warrayd, And to them selues all Nations did subdew: The first and eldest, which that scepter swayd, Was _Elfin_; him all _India_ obayd, And all that now _America_ men call: Next him was noble _Elfinan_, who layd _Cleopolis_ foundation first of all: But _Elfiline_ enclosd it with a golden wall. His sonne was _Elfinell_, who ouercame lxxiii The wicked _Gobbelines_ in bloudy field: But _Elfant_ was of most renowmed fame, Who all of Christall did _Panthea_ build: Then _Elfar_, who two brethren gyants kild, The one of which had two heads, th’other three: Then _Elfinor_, who was in Magick skild; He built by art vpon the glassy See A bridge of bras, whose sound heauens thunder seem’d to bee. He left three sonnes, the which in order raynd, lxiv And all their Ofspring, in their dew descents, Euen seuen hundred Princes, which maintaynd With mightie deedes their sundry gouernments; That were too long their infinite contents Here to record, ne much materiall: Yet should they be most famous moniments, And braue ensample, both of martiall, And ciuill rule to kings and states imperiall. After all these _Elficleos_ did rayne, lxxv The wise _Elficleos_ in great Maiestie, Who mightily that scepter did sustayne, And with rich spoiles and famous victorie, Did high aduaunce the crowne of _Faery_: He left two sonnes, of which faire _Elferon_ The eldest brother did vntimely dy; Whose emptie place the mightie _Oberon_ Doubly supplide, in spousall, and dominion. Great was his power and glorie ouer all, lxxvi Which him before, that sacred seate did fill, That yet remaines his wide memoriall: He dying left the fairest _Tanaquill_, Him to succeede therein, by his last will: Fairer and nobler liueth none this howre, Ne like in grace, ne like in learned skill; Therefore they _Glorian_ call that glorious flowre, Long mayst thou _Glorian_ liue, in glory and great powre. Beguild thus with delight of nouelties, lxxvii And naturall desire of countreys state, So long they red in those antiquities, That how the time was fled, they quite forgate, Till gentle _Alma_ seeing it so late, Perforce their studies broke, and them besought To thinke, how supper did them long awaite. So halfe vnwilling from their bookes them brought, And fairely feasted, as so noble knights she ought. FOOTNOTES: [760] lx 2 lond. _1596_ [761] 3 looke; _1596_, _1609_ [762] iv 3 Whom _1590_, _1596_: _corr. F. E._ [763] 6 and thy great _1590_: _corr. F. E._