stius, then fair Sisillius
4 In constant peace their kingdoms did contain,

contain > hold; control

5 After whom Jago, and Kinmarcus did reign,
6 And Gorboduc, till far in years he grew:

Gorboduc > (The story of Gorboduc and his sons is the subject of the
first English tragedy, _Gorboduc_, acted in 1561, and printed in
1565 by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville, i.e. Lord Buckhurst,
to whom one of Spenser's dedicatory sonnets is addressed: see
I:588 ff.)

7 Till his ambitious sons to them twain

them twain > the two of them

8 Arraught the rule, and from their father drew:

Arraught > Arreached, obtained, got into possession of
from > [it from]
drew > withdrew

9 Stout Ferrex and stern Porrex him in prison threw.

Stout > Bold; arrogant; fierce
stern > fierce, merciless

210.35

But {o^}, the greedy thirst of royall crowne,
2 That knowes no kinred, nor regardes no right,
Stird _Porrex_ vp to put his brother downe;
4 Who vnto him assembling forreine might,
Made warre on him, and fell him selfe in fight:
6 Whose death t'auenge, his mother mercilesse,
Most mercilesse of women, _Wyden_ hight,
8 Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse,
And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse.

1 But O the greedy thirst of royal crown

of > for

2 (That knows no kindred, nor regards no right),
3 Stirred Porrex up to put his brother down;
4 Who, to him assembling foreign might,
5 Made war on him, and fell himself in fight:
6 Whose death to avenge, his mother merciless,
7 Most merciless of women, Widen hight,

hight > named, called

8 Her other son fast sleeping did oppress,

oppress > take by surprise (cf. 107.0:2)

9 And with most cruel hand him murdered pitiless.

210.36

Here ended _Brutus_ sacred progenie,
2 Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne,
With high renowme, and great +felicitie;+
4 The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne
Through discord, and the royall throne forlorne:
6 Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent,
Whilest each of _Brutus_ boasted to be borne,
8 That in the end was left no moniment
Of _Brutus_, nor of Britons glory auncient.

3 felicitie; > felicitie? _1596_

1 Here ended Brutus' sacred progeny,

sacred > {An epithet of royalty; also, here, specifically because
Brutus's lineage could be traced back to Aeneas (whose father,
Anchis