GORBODUC, a mythical king of Britain. He gave his king dom away during his lifetime to his sons, Ferrex and Porrex. The two quarrelled and the younger stabbed the elder. Their mother, loving the latter most, avenged his death by murdering the other, and the people, horrified at her act, revolted and slew both her and King Gorboduc. This legend was the subject of the earliest regular English tragedy written by Thomas Sackville, Lord Buck hurst and Thomas Norton in collaboration. Produced in 1561, it was first published very corruptly in 1565, and in better form as The Tragedy of Ferrex and Porrex in 15 7o.