Drayton, Poly-olbion (1613)
| Reference | ORIGINAL | MODERNISED |
|---|---|---|
| The praise of Plymouth (p6, First Song) | The christning of that Bay, which beares her nobler name. Vpon the British coast, what ship yet euer came That not of Plymouth heares, where those braue Nauies lie, From Canons thundring throats, that all the world defie? Which, to inualue spoile, when th’English list to draw, Haue checkt Iberias pride, and held her oft in awe: Oft furnishing our Dames, with Indies rar’st deuices, And lent vs gold, and pearle, rich silks, and daintie spices. | The christening of that bay which bears her noble name. Upon the British coast, what ship has ever come that has not heard of Plymouth, where those brave navies lie, with cannons’ thundering throats that defy all the world? Which, when the English choose to seek valuable plunder, have checked Spain’s pride and often held her in awe, often furnishing our ladies with the Indies’ rarest treasures, and lending us gold and pearls, rich silks, and delicate spices. |
| But Tamer takes the place, and all attend her here, A faithfull bound to both; and two that be so neare For likelinefs of soile, and quantitie they hold, Before the Roman came; whose people were of old Knowne by one generall name, vpon this point that dwell, All other of this Isle in wrastling that excell: | But the Tamer takes precedence, and all pay attention to her here, a faithful boundary to both; and two counties that are so similar in the nature of their soil and the territory they hold. Before the Romans came, whose people were of old known by one general name, upon this peninsula that dwell, surpassing all others of this isle in wrestling: | |
| The words of Art in wrestling (ibid) | With collars be they yokt, to proue the arme at length, Like Bulls set head to head, with meere delyuer strength: Or by the girdles graspt, they practise with the hip, The forward, backward, falx, the mare, the turne, the trip, When stript into their shirts, each other they inuade Within a spacious ring, by the beholders made, | With collars they are yoked, to test arm strength at length, like bulls set head to head, with pure delivering strength; or grasped by the girdles, they practise with the hip – the forward, backward, falx, the mare, the turn, the trip. When stripped to their shirts, they attack each other within a spacious ring made by the spectators, |
| Reference | Original Text | Modern British English |
|---|---|---|
| The description of the wrastling betwixt Corineus and Gogmagog (p12, First Song) | All, doubtful to which part the victorie would goe, Vpon that loftie place at Plimmouth call’d the Hoe, Those mightie Wrastlers met; with many an irefull looke Who threatned, as the one hold of the other tooke: But, grasped, glowing fire shines in their sparkling eyes, And, whilst at length of arme one from the other lyes, Their lustie sinewes swell like cables, as they striue: Their feet such trampling make, as though they forc’t to driue A thunder out of earth; which stagger’d with the weight: Thus, eithers vtmost force vrg’d to the greatest height. | Everyone was uncertain which way the victory would go, upon that lofty place at Plymouth called the Hoe. Those mighty wrestlers met, exchanging many an angry look, each threatening the other as they took hold. But once they grappled, glowing fire shone in their sparkling eyes, and whilst they held each other at arm’s length, their powerful muscles swelled like ship’s cables as they strained. Their feet made such a trampling that it seemed they were forcing thunder from the earth, which staggered under their weight. Thus each wrestler’s utmost strength was pushed to its greatest height. |
| Whilst one vpon his hip the other seekes to lift, And th’aduerse (by a turne) doth from his cunning shift, Their short-fetcht troubled breath a hollow noise doth make, Like bellowes of a Forge. Then Corin vp doth take The Giant twixt the grayns; and, voyding of his hould (Before his combrous feet he well recouer could) Pitcht head-long from the hill: as when a man doth throw An Axetree, that with sleight deliuerd from the toe Rootes vp the yeelding earth: so that his violent fall, Strooke Neptune with such strength, as shouldred him withall; | Whilst one tried to lift the other upon his hip, his opponent cleverly shifted away with a skilful turn. Their short, laboured breathing made a hollow sound like the bellows of a forge. Then Corin seized the Giant between the legs and, catching him off balance before he could properly recover his footing, hurled him headlong from the hill. It was like when a man throws an axle, delivered with such skill from his toe that it tears up the yielding earth. His violent fall struck Neptune with such force that it knocked him sideways. | |
| That where the monstrous waues like Mountaines late did stand, They leapt out of the place, and left the bared sand To gaze vpon wide heauen: so great a blowe it gaue. For which, the conquering Brute, on Corineus braue This horne of land bestow’d, and markt it with his name; So Of Corin, Cornwall call’d, to his immortall fame. | Where the monstrous waves had stood like mountains, they leapt from their place and left the bare sand exposed to gaze upon the wide heavens – so tremendous was the blow. For this victory, the conquering Brutus awarded this horn of land to brave Corineus and marked it with his name. So from Corin came Cornwall, called thus for his immortal fame. |
POLY-OLBION. Or A Chorographicall Deſcription of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Foreſts , and other Parts of this renowned Iſle of Great Britaine, Withintermixture of the moſt Remarquable Stories, Antiquities, Wonders, Rarityes, Pleaſures, and Commedities of the ſame; Digefted in a Poem. By MICHAEL DRAYTON, Eſq. With a Table added, for direction to thoſe occurrences of Story and Antiquitie, whereunto the Courſe of the Volume easily leades not. LONDON. Printed by H. L. for Mathew Lownes: I. Browne : I. Helme, and & I. Busbie. 1613.
