And there the three renowmed brethren were, xlii Which that great Gyant _Blomius_ begot, Of the faire Nimph _Rheusa_ wandring there. One day, as she to shunne the season whot,[220] Vnder Slewbloome in shady groue was got, This Gyant found her, and by force deflowr’d, Whereof conceiuing, she in time forth brought These three faire sons, which being thence forth powrd In three great riuers ran, and many countreis scowrd. The first, the gentle Shure that making way xliii By sweet Clonmell, adornes rich Waterford; The next, the stubborne Newre, whose waters gray By faire Kilkenny and Rosseponte boord, The third, the goodly Barow, which doth hoord Great heapes of Salmons in his deepe bosome: All which long sundred, doe at last accord To ioyne in one, ere to the sea they come, So flowing all from one, all one at last become. There also was the wide embayed Mayre, xliv The pleasaunt Bandon crownd with many a wood, The spreading Lee, that like an Island fayre Encloseth Corke with his deuided[221] flood; And balefull Oure, late staind with English blood: With many more, whose names no tongue can tell. All which that day in order seemly good Did on the Thamis attend, and waited well To doe their duefull seruice, as to them befell. Then came the Bride, the louely[222] _Medua_ came, xlv Clad in a vesture of vnknowen geare, And vncouth fashion, yet her well became; That seem’d like siluer, sprinckled here and theare With glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare, And wau’d vpon, like water Chamelot, To hide the metall, which yet euery where Bewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot, It was no mortall worke, that seem’d and yet was not. Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flow xlvi Vnto her waste, with flowres bescattered, The which ambrosiall odours forth did throw To all about, and all her shoulders spred As a new spring; and likewise on her hed A Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore, From vnder which the deawy humour shed, Did tricle downe her haire, like to the hore Congealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore. On her two pretty handmaides did attend, xlvii One cald the _Theise_, the other cald the _Crane_; Which on her waited, things amisse to mend, And both behind vpheld her spredding traine; Vnder the which, her feet appeared plaine, Her siluer feet, faire washt against this day: And her before there paced Pages twaine, Both clad in colours like, and like array, The _Doune_ and eke the _Frith_, both which prepard her way.