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Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

"The Survey of Cornwall And an epistle concerning the excellencies of the English tongue"


My last proofe is grounded on this, that where the most part of the
shire is seuered into inclosures, you cannot easily make choyce to
stand in any one of them, aboue a quarter of a mile distance from
some dwelling house.
After the names, language, and number thus perused, the Cornish
peoples disposition & quality of mind and body, as well ancient
as present, and then their degrees and recreations, succeed to be
surueyed. The first Inhabitants, or Aborigenes, as the Paynims held,
resembled those whom our stories affirme Brute to haue found here at
his landing, huge of body, rough of liuing, & sauage of conditions,
whome an old Poet desciphered in certaine verses, which I receiued of
my particular kind friend, and generally well-deseruing Countreyman
M. Camden, now Clarentieulx, which he since hath published.
--Titanibus ilia,
Sed paucis famulosa domus, quibus vda ferarum
Terga dabant vestes, cruor haustus, pocula trunci:
Antra lares, dumeta thoros, caenacula rupes,
Praeda cibos, raptus venerem, spectacula caedes,
Imperium vires, animos furor, impetus arma,
Mortem pugna, sepulchra rubus, monstrisque gemebat
Monticolis tellus, sed eorum plurima tractus,
Pars erat Occidui, terror maiorque premebat,
Te furor extremum Zephiri Cornubia limen.


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