2

The first booke of Cant. I

Of Faerie knights and fayreſt Tanaquill,
Whom that moſt noble Briton Prince ſo long
Sought through the world, and ſuffered ſo much ill,
That I muſt rue his vndeſerued wrong:
O helpe thou my weake wit, and ſharpen my dull tong.

And thou moſt dreaded impe of higheſt Ioue,
Faire Venus ſonne, that with thy cruell dart
At that good knight ſo cunningly didſt roue,
That glorious fire it kindled in his hart,
Lay now thy deadly Heben bowe apart,
And with thy mother mylde come to mine ayde:
Come both, and with you bring triumphant Mart,
In loues and gentle iollities arraid,
After his murdrous ſpoyles and bloudie rage allayd.

And with them eke, O Goddeſſe heauenly bright,
Mirrour of grace and Maiestie diuine,
Great Ladie of the greateſt Isle, whose light
Like Phæbus lampe throughout the world doth ſhine,
Shed thy faire beames into mine feeble eyne,
And raife my thoughtes too humble and too vile,
To thinke of that true glorious type of thine,
The argument of mine afflicted ſtile:
The which to heare, vouchſafe, O deareſt dread a while.

CANT.

3

Canto I.

The Patrone of true Holinesſe,
Foule Errour doth defeate:
Hypocrifſe him to entrappe,
Doth to his home entreate.

A
Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine,
Ycladd in mightie armes and filuer ſhielde,
Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine,
The cruell markes of many' a bloody ſielde;
Yet armes till that time did he neuer wield:
His angry ſteede did chide his foming bitt,
As much diſdayning to the curbe to yield:
Full iolly knight he ſeemd, and faire did ſitt,
As one for knightly giuſts and fierce encounters ſitt.

And on his breſt a bloodie Croſſe he bore,
The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,
For whose ſweere ſake that glorious badge he wore,
And dead as liuing euer him ador'd:
Vpon his ſhield the like was also ſcor'd,
For ſoueraine hope, which in his helpe he had:
Right faithfull true he was in deede and word,
But of his cheere did ſeeme too ſolemne ſad;
Yet nothing did he dread, but euer was ydrad.

Vpon a great aduenture he was bond,
That greateſt Gloriana to him gaue,
That greateſt Glorious Queene of Faery lond,
To winne him worſhippe, and her grace to haue,

A 3

Which

4 The first Booke of Cant. I.

Which of all earthly things he most did craue;
And euer as he rode his hart did earne,
To proue his puissance in battell braue
Vpon his foe, and his new force to learne;
Vpon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne.

A louely Ladie rode him faire befide,
Vpon a lowly Affe more white then snow,
Yet she much whiter, but the fame did hide
Vnder a vele, that wimpled was full low,
And ouer all a blacke stole shee did throw,
As one that inly mourn'd: so was she sad,
And heauie fate vpon her palfrey flow:
Seemed in heart some hidden care she had,
And by her in a line a milkewhite lambe she lad.

So pure and innocent, as that fame lambe,
She was in life and euery vertuous lore,
And by descent from Royall lynage came
Of ancient Kinges and Queenes, that had of yore
Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore,
And all the world in their subjection held,
Till that infernall feend with foule vprore
Forwafted all their land, and them expeld:
Whom to auenge, she had this Knight from far cöpeld.

Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag,
That lafie seemd in being euer laft,
Or wearied with bearing of her bag
Of needments at his backe. Thus as they paft,
The day with cloudes was suddeine ouercaft,
And angry Ioue an hideous storme of raine
Did poure into his Lemans lap so faft,
That euerie wight to shrowd it did conſtrain,
And this faire couple eke to shroud theſelues were fain.

Enforſt

5

Cant. I. the Faery Queene.

Enforſt to ſeeke some couert nigh at hand,
A ſhadie groue not farr away they ſpide,
That promiſt ayde the tempeſt to withstand:
Whofe loftie trees yclad with ſommers pride,
Did ſpred so broad, that heauens light did hide,
Not perceable with power of any ſtarr:
And all within were pathes and alleies wide,
With footing worne, and leading inward farr:
Faire harbour that them ſeemes, so in they entred ar.

And foorth they pafſe, with pleafure forward led,
Ioying to heare the birdes ſweete harmony,
Which therein ſhrouded from the tempeſt dred,
Seemd in their ſong to ſcorne the cruell sky.
Much can they praisè the trees so ſtraight and hy,
The ſayling Pine, the Cedar proud and tall,
The vine-propp Elme, the Poplar neuer dry,
The builder Oake, ſole king of forreſts all,
The Aſpine good for ſtaues, the Cypreſſe funerall.

The Laurell, meed of mightie Conquerours
And Poets ſage, the Fitre that weepeth ſtill,
The Willow worne of forlorne Paramours,
The Eugh obedient to the benders will,
The Birch for thaftes, the Sallow for the mill,
The Mirrhe ſweete bleeding in the bitter wound,
The warlike Beech, the Aſh for nothing ill,
The fruitfull Oliue, and the Platane round,
The caruer Holme, the Maple ſeeldom inward ſound.

Led with delight, they thus beguile the way,
Vntill the bluſtring ſtorme is ouerblowne;
When weening to returne, whence they did ſtray,
They cannot finde that path, which firſt was ſhowne,

A 4

But

6

The first Booke of Cant. I.

But wander too and fro in waies vnknowne,
Furtheſt from end then, when they neereſt weene,
That makes the doubt, their wits be not their owne:
So many pathes, so many turnings ſeene,
That which of them to take, in diuerſe doubt they been.

At laſt reſoluing forward ſtill to fare,
Till that ſome end they finde or in or out,
That path they take, that beaten ſeemd moſt bare,
And like to lead the labyrinth about;
Which when by traſt they hunted had throughout,
At length it brought them to a hollowe caue,
Amid the thickeſt woods. The Champion ſtout
Eſtſoones diſmounted from his courſer braue,
And to the Dwarſe a while his needleſſe ſpere he gaue.

Be well aware, quoth then that Ladie milde,
Leaſt ſuddaine miſchieſe ye too rath prouoke:
The danger hid, the place vnknowne and wilde,
Breedes dreadfull doubts: Oſt fire is without ſmoke,
And perill without ſhow: therefore your hardy ſtroke
Sir knight with-hold, till further tryall made.
Ah Ladie (fayd he) ſhame were to reuoke,
The forward footing for an hidden ſhade: (wade)
Vertue giues her ſelfe light, through darkeneſſe for to

Yea but (quoth ſhe) the perill of this place
I better wot then you, though nowe too late,
To wifh you backe returne with foule diſgrace,
Yet wifedome warnes, whileſt foot is in the gate,
To ſtay the ſteppe, ere forced to retrate.
This is the wandring wood, this Errours den,
A monſter vile, whom God and man does hate:
Therefore I read beware. Fly fly (quoth then
The ſearefull Dwarſe:) this is no place for liuing men.

But

7

Cant. I. the Faëry Queene

But full of fire and greedy hardiment,
The youthfull knight could not for ought be ſtaide,
But forth vnto the darkſom hole he went,
And looked in: his gliftring armor made
A little glooming light, much like a ſhade,
By which he ſaw the vgly monſter plaine,
Halſe like a ſerpent horribly diſplaide,
But th'other halſe did womans ſhape retaine,
Moſt lothſom, filthie, foule, and full of vile diſdaine.

And as the lay vpon the durtie ground,
Her huge long taile her den all ouerſpred,
Yet was in knots and many boughtes vpwound,
Pointed with mortall ſting. Of her there bred,
A thouſand yong ones, which the dayly fed,
Sucking vpon her poſſuous dugs, each one
Of ſundrie ſhapes, yet all ill ſauored:
Soone as that vncouth light vpon them ſhone,
Into her mouth they crept, and ſuddain all were gone.

Their dam vpſtart, out of her den eſſraide,
And rufhed forth, hurling her hideous taile
About her curled head, whose folds diſplaid
Were ſtretcht now forth at length without entraile.
She lookt about, and ſeeing one in mayle
Armed to point, ſought backe to turne againe;
For light ſhe hated as the deadly bale,
Ay wont in desert darknes to remaine,
Where plain none might her ſee, nor ſhe ſee any plaine.

Which when the valiant Elſe percei'u'd, he lept
As Lyon fierce vpon the flying pray,
And with his trenchand blade her boldly kept
From turning backe, and forced her to ſtay:

A 5

There,

The first Booke of
Cant. I.

Therewithenrag’d, she loudly gan to bray,
And turning fierce, her speckled taile aduaunft,
Threatning her angrie sting,him to difmay:
Who nought aghaft, his mightie hand enhaunft:
The stroke down fro her head vnto her shoulder glaunft

Much daunted with that dint, her fence was dazd,
Yet kindling rage her selfe she gathered round,
And all atonce her beaftly bodie raizd
With doubled forces high aboue the ground:
Tho wrapping vp her wrethed fterne arownd,
Lept fierce vpon his shield,and her huge traine
All suddenly about his body wound,
That hand or foot to stirr he stroue in vaine:
God helpe the man so wrapt in Errours endleſſe traine.

His Lady ſad to ſee his ſore conſtraint,
Cride out, Now now Sir knight, ſhew what ye bee
Add faith vnto your force, and be not faint:
Strangle her, els ſhe ſure will ſtrangle thee.
That when he heard, in great perplexitie,
His gall did grate for griefe and high diſdaine,
And knitting all his force got one hand free,
Wherewith he grypt her gorge with ſo great paine,
That ſoone to loose her wicked bands did her coſtraine.

Therewith she spewd out of her filthie maw
A cloud of poyſon horrible and blacke,
Full of great lumps of ſlesh and gobbets raw,
Which ſtunck so vildly, that it forſt him ſlacke,
His graſping hold, and ſtom her turne him backe:
Her vomit full of bookes and papers was,
With loathly frogs and toades, which eyes did lacke,
And creeping ſought way in the weedy gras:
Her filthie parbreake all the place defiled has.

As

9

Cant. I.
the Faery Queene

As when old father Nilus gins to ſwell
With timely pride aboue the Aegyptian vale,
His fattie waues doe fertile ſlime outwell,
And ouerflow each plaine and lowly dale:
But when his later ebbe gins t'auale,
Huge heapes of mudd he leaues, wherein there breed
Ten thouand kindes of creatures partly male
And partly femall of his fruitful ſeed;
Such vgly monſtrous ſhapes eſſwher may no man reed.

The fame so ſore annoyed has the knight,
That welnigh choked with the deadly stinke,
His forces faile, ne can no lenger fight.
Whole ſorage when the ſeend perceiud to ſhrinke,
She poured forth out of her heliſh stinke
Her fruitfull curſed spawne of serpents ſmall,
Deformed monſters, fowle, and blacke as inke,
Which ſwarming all about his legs did crall,
And him encombred ſore, but could not hurt at all.

As gentle Shepheard in ſweete euentide,
When ruddy Phebus gins to welke in weſt,
High on an hill, his flocke to vewen wide,
Markes which doe byte their haſty ſupper beſt,
A cloud of cumbrous gnattes doe him moleſt,
All ſtriuing to inſixe their feeble ſtringes,
That from their noyance he no where can reſt,
But with his clowniſh hands their tender wings,
He bruſheth ofſt, and oft doth mar their murmurings.

Thus ill beſtedd, and ſearefull more of ſhame,
Then of the certeine perill he ſtood in,
Halſe ſurious vnto his foe he came,
Reſolud in minde all suddenly to win,

C

10

The first Booke of

Cant. I.

Or soone to lose, before he once would lin;
And stroke at her with more then manly force,
That from her body full of filthie sin
He aft her hatefull heade without remorfe;
A streame of cole black blood forth gufted fro her corfe

Her scattred brood, soone as their Parent deare
They saw so rudely falling to the ground,
Groning full deadly all with troublous feare,
Gathred them selfe lues about her body round,
Weening their wonted entrance to haue found
At her wide mouth: but being there with stood
They flocked all about her bleeding wound,
And fucked vp their dying mothers bloud,
Making her death their life, and eke her hurt their good.

That detestable fight him much amazde,
To see th'vnkindly Impes of heauen accurft,
Deuoure their dam; on whom while so he gazd,
Hauing all fatifhde their bloudy thurft,
Their bellies fwolne he saw with fulneſſe burſt,
And bowels guſhing forth: well worthy end
Of ſuch as drunke her life, the which them nurſt;
Now needeth him no lenger labour ſpend, (contend.
His foes haue ſaine them ſelues, with whom he ſhould

His Lady ſeeing all, that chaunſt, from farre
Approcht in haſt to greet his victorie,
And ſaide, Faire knight, borne vnder happie ſtarre,
Who ſee your vanquifht foes before you lye:
Well worthie be you of that Armory,
Wherein ye haue great glory wonne this day,
And proou'd your ſtrength on a ſtrong enimie,
Your firſt aduenture: many ſuch I pray,
And henceforth euer wifh, that like ſucceed it may.

Then

11

Cant. I.

the Faery Queene.

Then mounted he vpon his Steede againe,
And with the Lady backward ſought to wend;
That path he kept, which beaten was moſt plaine,
Ne euer would to any byway bend,
But ſtill did follow one vnto the end,
The which at laſt out of the wood them brought.
So forward on his way (with God to frend)
He paſſed forth, and new aduenture ſought,
Long way he traueiled, before he heard of ought.

At length they chaunſt to meet vpon the way
An aged Sire, in long blacke weedes yclad,
His ſeete all bare, his beard all hoarie gray,
And by his belt his booke he hanging had;
Sober he ſeemde, and very fagely ſad,
And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent,
Simple in ſhew, and voide of malice bad,
And all the way he prayed as he went,
And often knockt his breſt, as one that did repent.

He faire the knight saluted, louting low,
Who faire him quited, as that courteous was:
And after asked him, if he did know
Of ſtraunge aduentures, which abroad did pas.
Ah my deare Sonne (quoth he) how ſhould, alas,
Silly old man, that liues in hidden cell,
Bidding his beades all day for his trefpas,
Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell?
With holy father fits not with ſuch thinges to mell.

But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell,
And homebred deuil ye'deſire to heare,
Of a ſtraunge man I can you tidings tell,
That waſteth all this countrie farre and neare.

Of

12

The first Booke of Cant. I.

Of such (faide he) I chiefly doe inquere,
And shall thee well rewarde to few the place,
In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare:
For to all knighthood it is foule difgrace,
That such a curled creature liues so long a space.

Far hence (quoth he) in waftfull wilderneffe
His dwelling is, by which no liuing wight
May euer paffe, but thorough great diftreffe.
Now (faide the Ladie) draweth toward night,
And well I wore, that of your later fight
Ye all forwearied be: for what so strong,
But wanting reft will also want of might?
The Sunne that meaures heauen all day long,
At night doth baite his fteedes the Ocean waues emong.

Then with the Sunne take Sir, your timely reft,
And with new day new worke at once begin:
Vntroubled night they say giues counfell beſt.
Right well Sir knight ye haue aduised bin,
Quoth then that aged man; the way to win
Is wifely to aduife: now day is ſpent;
Therefore with me ye may take vp your In
For this fame night. The knight was well content:
So with that godly father to his home they went.

A little lowly Hermitage it was,
Downe in a dale, hard by a forest ſide,
Far from resort of people, that did pas
In trauell to and froe: a little wyde
There was an holy chappell edifyde,
Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to ſay
His holy thinges each morne and euentyde:
Thereby a chriſtall ſtreame did gently play,
Which from a ſacred fountaine welled forth alway.

Arriued

13

Cant. I. the Faery Queene.

Arriued there the little houſe they fill,
Ne looke for entertainement, where none was:
Reſt is their reaſt, and all thinges at their will;
The noblenſt mind the beſt contentment has.
With faire diſcourse the euening so they pas:
For that olde man of pleafing wordes had ſtore,
And well could file his tongue as ſmooth as glas,
He told of Saintes and Popes, and euermore
He ſtrowd an Aue-Mary after and before.

The drouping Night thus creepeth on them faſt,
And the sad humor loading their eye liddes,
As meſſenger of Morpheus on them caſt
Sweet ſloſbring deaw, the which to ſleep them biddes:
Vnto their lodgings then his gueſtes he riddes:
Where when all drownd in deadly ſleepe he findes,
He to his ſtudie goes, and there amiddes
His magick bookes and artes of ſundrie kindes,
He ſeekes out mighty charmes, to trouble ſleepy minds.

Then chooſing out few words moſt horrible,
(Let none them read) thereof did verſes frame,
With which and other ſpelles like terrible,
He bad awake blacke Plutoes grieſly Dame,
And curſed heuen, and ſpake reprochful ſhame
Of higheſt God, the Lord of life and light,
A bold bad man, that dar'd to call by name
Great Gorgon, prince of darknes and dead night,
At which Cocytus quakes and Styx is put to flight.

And forth he cald out of deepe darknes dredd
Legions of Sprights, the which like little flyes
Fluttring about his euerdamned hedd,
A waite whereto their ſeruice he applyes,

To

14 The first booke of the

Cant. I.

To aide his friendes, or fray his enimies:
Of thofe he chose out two, the faleft twoo,
And fitteft for to forge true-feeming lyes;
The one of them he gaue a meffage too,
The other by him ſelfe ſtaide other worke to doo.

He making ſpeedy way through ſperſed ayre,
And through the world of waters wide and deepe,
To *Morpheus* house doth haſtily repaire.
Amid the bowels of the earth full ſteepe,
And low, where dawning day doth neuer peepe,
His dwelling is; there *Tethys* his wet bed
Doth euer waſh, and *Cynthia* ſtill doth ſteepe
In filuer deaw his euer drouping hed,
Whiles ſad Night ouer him her mătle black doth ſpred.

Whofe double gates he findeth locked ſaſt,
The one faire fram'd of burniſht Yuory,
The other all with ſiluer ouercaſt;
And wakeful dogges before them farre doelye,
Watching to baniſh Care their enimy,
Who oft is wont to trouble gentle Sleepe.
By them the Sprite doth paffe in quietly,
And vnto *Morpheus* comes, whom drowned deepe
In drowſe ſit he findes: of nothing he takes keepe.

And more, to lulle him in his ſlumber ſoft,
A trickling ſtreame from high rock tumbling downe
And euery drizling raine vpon the loft,
Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the ſowne
Of ſwarming Bees, did caſt him in a ſwowne:
No other noyſe, nor peoples troublous cryes,
As ſtill are wont t'annoy the walled towne,
Might there be heard: but careleſſe Quiet lyes,
Wrapt in eternall ſilence farre from enimyes.

The

15

Cant. I. the Faëry Queene:

The Meſſenger approaching to him ſpake,
But his waſte wordes retournd to him in vaine:
So found he ſlept, that nought mought him awake.
Then rudely he him thruſt, and puſht with paine,
Whereat he gan to ſtretch: but he againe
Shooke him ſo hard, that forced him to ſpeake.
As one then in a dreame, whose dryer braine
Is toſt with troubled ſighes and fancies weake,
He mumbled ſoft, but would not all his ſilence breake.

The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake,
And threatned vnto him the dreaded name
*Of Hecate*: whereat he gan to quake,
And lifting vp his lompiſh head, with blame
Halſe angrie asked him, for what he came.
Hether (quoth he) me *Archimago* ſent,
He that the ſtubborne Sprites can wifely tame,
He bids thee to him ſend for his intent
*A fit falſe dreame, that can delude the ſleepers ſent.*

The God obayde, and calling forth ſtraight way
A diuerſe dreame out of his prifon darke,
Deliuered it to him, and downe did lay
His heauie head, deuoide of careful carke,
Whofe ſences all were ſtraight benumbd and ſtarke.
He backe returning by the Yuorie dore,
Remounted vp as light as chearefull Larke,
And on his little winges the dreame he bore,
In haſt vnto his Lord, where he him left afore.

Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes,
Had made a Lady of that other Spright,
And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes
So liuely and so like in all mens ſight,

B

That

16

The first Booke of

Cant. I.

That weaker fence it could haue rauisht quight:
The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt,
Was nigh beguiled with so goodly fight:
Her all in white he clad, and ouer it
Cauft a black stole, moft like to seeme for Vna fit.

Now when that ydle dreame was to him brought,
Vnto that Elfin knight he bad him fly,
Where he flept foundly void of euil thought,
And with falfe shewes abuse his fantasy,
In for as he him schooled priuily:
And that new creature borne without her dew,
Full of the makers guyle with vsage fly
He taught to imitate that Lady trew,
Whose semblance the did carrie vnder feigned hew.

Thus well infructed, to their worke they haſte,
And comming where the knight in flomber lay,
The one vpon his hardie head him plaſte,
And made him dreame of loues and luſt full play,
That nigh his manly hart did melt away,
Bathed in wanton blis and wicked ioy:
Then seemed him his Lady by him lay,
And to him playnd, how that falſe winged boy, (toy)
Her chaſte hart had subdewd, to learne Dame pleatures

And ſhe her ſelfe of beautie ſoueraigne Queene,
Fayre Venus ſeemde vnto his bed to bring
Her, whom he waking euermore did weene,
To bee the chaſteſt flowre, that aye did ſpring
On earthly braunch, the daughter of a king,
Now a loose Leman to vile ſeruice bound:
And eke the Graces ſeemed all to ſing,
Hymen is Hymen, dauncing all around,
Whyſt ſrefſheſt Flora her with Yuic girlond crownd:

Is

17

Cant. I.

the Faery Queene:

In this great paſſion of vnwonted luſt,
Or wonted ſeare of doing ought amis,
He ſtarteth vp, as ſeeming to miſtruſt,
Some ſecret ill, or hidden foe of his:
Lo there before his face his Ladie is,
Vnder blacke ſtole hyding her bayted hooke,
And as halſe bluſhing offred him to kis,
With gentle blandiſhment and louely looke,
Moſt like that virgin true, which for her knight him took

All cleane diſmayd to ſee ſo vncouth ſight,
And halſe enraged at her ſhameleſſe guife,
He thought haue ſlaine her in his ſierce deſpight,
But haſtie heat tempring with ſufferance wife,
He ſtayde his hand, and gan himſelſe aduife
To proue his ſenſe, and tempt her faigned truth.
Wringing her hands in wemens pitteous wife,
Tho can the weepe, to ſtirre vp gentle ruth,
Both for her noble blood, and for her tender youth.

And ſayd, Ah Sir, my liege Lord and my loue,
Shall I accuſe the hidden cruell fate,
And mightie cauſes wrought in heauen aboue,
Or the blind God, that doth me thus amate,
For hoped loue to winne me certaine hate ?
Yet thus perſorce he bids me do, or die.
Die is my dew: yet rew my wretched ſtate
You, whom my hard auenging deſtinie
Hath made iudge of my life or death indifferently.

Your owne deare ſake forſt me at first to leaue
My Fathers kingdom, There ſhe ſtopt with teares;
Her ſwollen hart her ſpeech ſeemd to bereaue,
And then againe begonne, My weaker yeares

B 2

Captiu'd

18

The first Booke of

Cant. I.

Captiu'd to fortune and frayle worldly feares
Fly to your fayth for succour and fure ayde:
Let me not die in languor and long teares.
Why Dame (quoth he) what hath ye thus difmayd?
What frayes ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayd?

Loue of your felfe, fhe faide, and deare conſtraint
Lets me not fleepe, but waſte the wearie night
In ſecret anguifh and vnpittied plaint,
Whiles you in careleſſe fleepe are drowned quight.
Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight
Sulſpect her truth: yet ſince no vntruth he knew,
Her fawning loue with foule diſdaineſull ſpight
He would not ſhend, but ſaid, Deare dame I rcw,
That for my ſake vnknowne ſuch grieſe vnto you grew.

Aſſure your ſelfe, it fell not all to ground;
For all ſo deare as life is to my hart,
I deeme your loue, and hold me to you bound;
Ne let vaine feares procure your needleſſe ſmarts,
Where cauſe is none, but to your reſt depart.
Not all content, yet ſeemd ſhe to appeaſe
Her mourneſſull plaintes, beguiled of her art,
And ſed with words, that could not chouſe but pleaſe,
So flyding ſoftly forth, ſhe turnd as to her eafe.

Long after lay he mufing at her mood,
Much grieu'd to thinke that gentle Dame ſo light,
For whoſe defence he was to ſhed his blood.
At laſt dull wearines of former fight
Hauing yrockt a fleepe his irtkeſome ſpright,
That troublous dreame gan freshly toſe his braine,
With bowres, and beds, and ladies deare delight:
But when he ſaw his labour all was vaine,
With that misformed ſpright he backe returnd againe.

Cant.

Cant. II.

the Faerie Queene.

19

Cant. II.

The guileſſull great Enchaunter parts.
The Redcroſſe Knight from Truth:
Into whoſe ſteps faire falſhood ſteps,
And workes him woſefull ruth.

By this the Northerne wagoner had fet
His ſeuenfold teme behind the ſtedſaft ſtarre,
That was in Ocean waues yet neuer wet,
Bur firme is fixt, and ſendeth light from farre
To al, that in the wide deepe wandring arre:
And cheareſſull Chaunticlere with his note ſhrill
Had warned once, that *Phoebus* fiery carre,
In haſt was climbing vp the Eaſterne hill,
Full enuious that night ſo long his roome did fill.

When thoſe accurſed meſſengers of hell,
That feigning dreame, and that faire-forged Spright
Came to their wicked maifter, and gan tel
Their booteleſſe paines, and ill ſucceeding night:
Who all in rage to ſee his ſkilſſull might
Deluded ſo, gan threaten helliſh paime
And ſad *Proſerpines* wrath, them to affright.
But when he ſaw his threatning was but vaine,
He caſt about, and ſearcht his baleful bokes againe.

Eſt ſoones he tooke that miſcreated faire,
And that false other Spright, on whom he ſpred
A ſeeming body of the ſubtile aire,
Like a young Squire, in loues and luſty hed

B 3

His

The first Booke of

Cant. II.

20

His wanton daies that euer loosely led,
Without regard of armes and dreaded fight:
Thofe twoo he tooke, and in a secrete bed,
Couered with darkenes and misdeeming night,
Them both together laid, to ioy in vaine delight.

Forthwith he runnes with feigned faithfull haft
Vnto his guest, who after troublous fights
And dreames gan now to take more found repaft,
Whom suddenly he wakes with fearful frights,
As one aghaft with feends or damned sprights,
And to him cals, Rife rife vnhappy Swaine,
That here wex old in fleepe, whiles wicked wights
Haue knit themselues in Venus thameful chaine;
Come see, where your false Lady doth her honor staine.

All in amaze he suddenly vp start
With sword in hand, and with the old man went;
Who soone him brought into a secret part,
Where that false couple were full closely ment
In wanton luft and leud enbracement:
Which when he saw, he burnt with gealous fire,
The eie of reafon was with rage yblent,
And would haue flaine them in his furious ire,
But hardly was reftreined of that aged fire.

Retourning to his bed in torment great,
And bitter anguish of his guilty fight,
He could not reft, but did his stout heart eat,
And waft his inward gall with deepe defpight,
Yrkesome of life, and too long lingring night.
At laft faire Hesperus in highest skie
Had spent his låpe, and brought forth dawning light,
Then vp he rose, and clad him haftily;
The dwarfe him brought his steed: so both away do fly.

Now

Cant. II. the Faerie Queene.

2I

Now when the rofy fingtred Morning faire,
Weary of aged Tithones saffron bed,
Had spred her purple robe through deawy aire,
And the high hils Titan discouered,
The royall virgin fhooke of droufy hed,
And riling forth out of her baser bowre,
Lookt for her knight, who far away was fled,
And for her dwarfe, that wont to wait each howre;
Then gan she wail and weepe, to see that woeful stowre.

And after him she rode with so much speede,
As her flowe beaft could make; but all in vaine:
For him so far had borne his light-foot steede,
Pricked with wrath and fiery fierce disdaine,
That him to follow was but fruitleffe paine;
Yet she her weary limbes would neuer reft,
But euery hil and dale, each wood and plaine
Did fearch, fore grieued in her gentle breft,
He so vngently left her, whome she loued beft.

But subtill Archimago when his guefts
He saw diuided into double parts,
And Vna wandring in woods and forrefts,
Th'end of his drift, he prais'd his diuelifh arts,
That had such might ouer true meaning harts:
Yet refts not so, but other meanes doth make,
How he may worke vnto her further smarts:
For her he hated as the hiffing snake,
And in her many troubles did moft pleafure take.

He then deuifed himsselfe how to difguife;
For by his mighty ſcience he could take
As many formes and ſhapes in feeming wife,
As euer Proteus to himsselfe could make:

B 4

Sometime

The first Booke of

Cant. II.

Sometime a fowle, sometime a fish in lake,
Now like a foxe, now like a dragon fell,
That of himfelfe he ofte for feare would quake,
And oft would flie away. O who can tell
The hidden powre of herbes, and might of Magick spel?

But now seemde beſt, the perſon to put on
Of that good knight, his late beguiled gueſt:
In mighty armes he was yclad anon:
And filuer ſhield, vpon his coward breſt
A bloody croſſe, and on his craven creſt
A bounch of heares discolourd diuerſely:
Full iolly knight he seemde, and wel addreſſt,
And when he ſate vppon his courser free,
Saint George himſelfe ye would haue deemed him to be.

But he the knight, whole ſemblaunt he did beare,
The true Saint George was wandred far away,
Still flying from his thoughts and gealous feare;
Will was his guide, and grieſe led him aſtray.
At laſt him chaunſt to meete vpon the way
A faithleſſe Sarazin all armde to point,
In whole great ſhield was writ with letters gay
Sans ſoy: full large of limbe and euery ioint
He was, and cared not for God or man a point,

He had a faire companion of his way,
A goodly Lady clad in ſcarlot red,
Purſled with gold and pearle of rich affay,
And like a Perſian mitre on her hed
Shee wore, with crowns and owches garniſhed,
The which her lauifh louers to her gaue,
Her wanton palfrey all was ouerſpred
With tinfell trappings, wouen like a waue,
Whole bridlerung with golden bels and boſſes braue.

With

Cant. II. the Faerie Queene.

With faire diſport and courting dalliaunce
She intertainde her louer all the way:
But when ſhe ſaw the knight his ſpeare aduaunce,
Shee ſoone left of her mirth and wanton play,
And bad her knight addreſſe him to the fray:
His foe was nigh at hand. He prickte with pride
And hope to winne his Ladies hearte that day.
Forth ſpurred ſaſt: adowne his courſers ſide
The red bloud trickling ſtaind the way, as he did ride.

The knight of the Redcroſſe when him he ſpide,
Spurring so hote with rage diſpiteous,
Gan fairely couch his ſpeare, and towards ride:
Soone meete they both, both ſell and furious,
That daunted with their forces hideous,
Theit ſteeds doe ſtagger, and amazed ſtand,
And eke themſelues too rudely rigorous,
Aſtonied with the ſtroke of their owne hand,
Doe backe rebutte, and ech to other yealdeth land.

As when two rams ſtird with ambitious pride,
Fight for the rule of the rich ſleeced flocke,
Their horned fronts so fierce on either ſide,
Doe meete, that with the terror of the ſhocke.
Aſtonied both, ſtands ſenceleſſe as a blocke.
Forgetfull of the hanging victory:
So ſtood the ſet twaine, vnmoued as a rocke,
Both ſtaring fierce, and holding idely,
The broken reliques of their former cruelty.

The Sarazin ſore daunted with the buffe
Snatcheth his ſword, and fiercely to him flies;
Who well it wards, and quyteth cuff with cuff:
Each others equall puiffaunce enuies,

And

24 The first Booke of Cant. II.

And through their iron fides with cruelties
Does seeke to perce: repining courage yields
No foote to foe. The flashing fier flies
As from a forge out of their burning fields,
And streams of purple bloud new dies the verdant fields.

Curse on that Croffe(qd. then the Sarazin)
That keepes thy body from the bitter fitt;
Dead long ygoe I wote thou haddeft bin,
Had not that charme from thee forwarned it:
But yet I warne thee now affured fitt,
And hide thy head. Therewith vpon his creft
With rigor so outrageous he smitt,
That a large share it hewd out of the rest, (bleft,
And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely

Who thereat wondrous wroth, the sleeping spark
Of native vertue gan eftsoones reuiue,
And at his haughty helmet making mark,
So hugely STroke, that it the steele did riue,
And cleft his head. He tumbling downe aliue,
With bloudy mouth his mother earth did kis,
Greeting his graue: his grudging ghast did striue
With the fraile flesh; at last it flitted is,
Whether the soules doe fly of men, that liue amis.

The Lady when she saw her champion fall,
Like the old ruines of a broken towre,
Staid not to waile his woefull funerall,
But from him fled away with all her powre;
Who after her as haftily gan scowre,
Bidding the dwarfe with him to bring away
The Sarazins shield, signe of the conqueroure,
Her soone he ouertooke, and bad to stay,
For present caufe was none of dread her to difmay.

Shee

Cant. II: the Faerie Queene.

Shee turning backe with ruefull countenaunce,
Cride, Mercy mercy Sir vouchsafe to show
On silly Dame, subiect to hard mifchaunce,
And to your mighty wil, Her humbleſe low,
In so ritch weedes and feeming glorious ſhow,
Did much emmoue his ſtout heroicke heart,
And ſaid, Deare dame, your ſuddein ouerthrow
Much rueth me; but now put ſeare apart,
And tel, both who ye be, and who that tooke your part.

Melting in teares, then gan shee thus lament;
The wreched woman, whom vnhappy howre
Hath now made thrill to your commandement,
Before that angry heauens lift to lowre,
And fortune falſe betraide me to thy powre,
Was, (O what now aualeth that I was?)
Borne the sole daughter of an Emperour,
He that the wide Weſt vnder his rule has,
And high hath ſet his throne, where Tiberis doth pas.

He in the firſt flowre of my fresheſt age,
Betrothed me vnto the onely haire
Of a moſt mighty king, moſt rich and ſage;
Was neuer Prince ſo faithfull and ſo faire,
Was neuer Prince ſo meeke and debonaire;
But ere my hoped day of ſpouſall ſhone,
My deareſt Lord fell from high honors ſtaire,
Into the hands of hys accuſed ſone,
And cruelly was ſlaine, that ſhall I euer mone.

His bleſſed body ſpoild of liuely breath,
Was afterward, I know not how, conuaid
And from me hid: of whole moſt innocent death
When tidings came to me vnhappy maid,

O how

26 The first Booke of

Cant. II.

O how great sorrow my sad foulea faid,
Then forth I went his woefull corfe to find,
And many yeares throughout the world I straid,
A virgin widow, whose deepe wounded mind
With loue, long time did languith as the striken hind,

At laft it chaunced this proud *Saražin*,
To meete me wandring, who perforce me led
With him away, but yet could neuer win
The Fort, that Ladies hold in foueraigne dread.
There lies he now with foule dishonor dead,
Who whiles he liude, was called proud *Sans foy*,
The eldeſt of three brethren, all three bred
Of one bad fire, whose youngeſt is *Sans foy*,
And twixt them both was born the bloudy bold *Sansloy*.

In this sad plight, friendleſſe, vnfortunate,
Now miſerable I *Fideſſa* dwell,
Crauing of you in pitty of my ſtate,
To doe none ill, if pleafe ye not doe well.
He in great paſſion al this while did dwell,
More buſying his quicke eies, her face to view,
Then his dull eares, to heare what ſhee did tell,
And ſaid, faire Lady hart of flint would rew
The vndeſerued woes and ſorrowes, which ye ſhew.

Henceforth in ſafe affuraunce may ye reſt,
Hauing both found a new friend you to aid,
And loft an old ſoe, that did you moleſt:
Better new friend then an old ſoe is ſaid.
With chaunge of chear the ſeeming ſimple maid
Let fal her eien, as ſhameſaſt to the earth,
And yeelding ſoft, in that ſhe nought gain ſaid,
So forth they rode, he ſeining ſeemely merth,
And ſhee coy lookes: ſo dainty they ſay maketh derth.

Long

27

Cant. II. the Faery Queene.

Long time they thus together traueiled,
Til weary of their way, they came at laſt,
Where grew two goodly trees, that faire did ſprea
Their armes abroad, with gray moſſe ouercaſt,
And their greene leaues trembling with euery blaſt,
Made a calme ſhadowe far in compaſſe round:
The fearefull Shepheard often there aghaſt
Under them neuer ſat, ne wont there found
His mery oaten pipe, but ſhund th'vnlucky ground.

But this good knight ſoone as he them can ſpie,
For the coole ſhade him thither haſtly got:
For golden *Phoebus* now that mounted hie,
From ſiery wheeles of his faire chariot
Hurled his beame ſo ſcorching cruell hot,
That liuing creature mote it not abide;
And his new Lady it endured not.
There they alight, in hope themſelues to hide
From the fierce heat, and reſt their weary limbs a tide,

Faire ſeemely pleafaunce each to other makes,
With goodly purpoſes there as they ſit:
And in his falſed fancy he her takes
To be the faireſt wight, that liued yit,
Which to expreſſe, he bends his gentle wit,
And thinking of thoſe braunches greene to frame
A girland for her dainty forehead fit,
He pluckt a bough; out of whoſe rifte there came
Smal drops of gory bloud, that trickled down the fame.

Therewith a piteous yelling voice was heard,
Crying, O ſpare with guilty hands to teare
My tender ſides in this rough rynd embard,
But fly, ah fly far hence away, for ſeare

Leaſt

28

The first Booke of

Cant. II.

Leaft to you hap, that happened to me heare,
And to this wretched Lady, my deare loue,
O too deare loue, loue bought with death too deare.
Aftond he stood, and vp his heare did houe,
And with that fuddein horror could no member moue,

At laft whenas the dreadfull paſſion
Was ouerpaſſ, and manhood well awake,
Yet mufing at the ſtraunge occafion,
And doubting much his ſence, he thus beſpake;
What voice of damned Ghoſt from Limbo lake,
Or guilefull ſpright wandring in empty aire,
Both which fraile men doe oftentimes miſtake,
Sends to my doubtful eares theſe ſpeaches, rare,
And tuefull plants, me bidding guiltlesſe blood to ſpare?

Then groning deep, Nor damned Ghoſt, (qd. he,)
Nor guileful ſprite to thee theſe words doth ſpeake,
But once a man Fradubio, now a tree,
Wretched man, wretched tree; whose nature weake
A cruell witch her curled will to wreake,
Hath thus transſormd, and plaſt in open plaines,
Where Boreas doth blow full bitter bleake,
And ſcorching Sunne does dry my ſecret vaines:
For though a tree I ſeme, yet cold & heat me paines,

Say on Fradubio then, or man, or tree,
Qd. then the knight, by whose miſchieuous arts
Art thou miſhaped thus, as now I ſee?
He oft finds med'cine, who his griefe imparts;
But double griefs afflict concealing harts,
As raging flames who ſtriueth to ſuppreſſe.
The author then (said he) of all my ſmarts,
Is one Dueſſa a falſe ſorcereſſe,
That many errat knights hath broight to wretchedneſſe.

Cant. II.

the Faëry Queene.

In prime of youthly yeares, when corage hott
The fire of loue and ioy of cheualree
First kindled in my breſt, it was my lott
To loue this gentle Lady, whome ye ſee,
Now not a Lady, but a ſeeming tree;
With whome as once I rode accompanyde,
Me chaunced of a knight encountréd bee,
That had a like faire Lady by his ſyde,
Lyke a faire Lady, but did fowle Dueſſa hyde.

Whofe forged beauty he did take in hand,
All other Dames to haue exceeded ſare;
I n defence of mine did likewife ſtand,
Mine, that did then ſhine as the Morning ſtarre:
So both to batteill ſierce arraunged arre,
In which his harder fortune was to fall
Vnder my ſpeare: ſuch is the dye of warré:
His Lady left as a prife martiall,
Did yield her comely person, to be at my call.

So doubly lou'd of ladies vnlike faire,
Th'one ſeeming ſuch, the other ſuch indeede,
One day in doubt I caſt for to compare,
Whether in beauties glorie did exceede;
A Rofy girland was the victors meede;
Both ſeemde to win, and both ſeemde won to bee,
So hard the diſcord was to be agreeede.
Fraliſſa was as faire, as faire inore bee,
And euer falſe Dueſſa ſeemde as faire as ſhee.

The wicked witch now ſeeing all this while
The doubtfull ballaunce equally to ſway,
What not by right, the caſt to win by guile,
And by her helſiſh ſcience raiſd ſtreight way

A foggy

The first Booke of

Cant. II.

A foggy mist, that ouercast the day,
And a dull blast, that breathing on her face,
Dimmed her former beauties shining ray,
And with foule vgly forme did her disgrace:
Then was she fayre alone, when none was faire in place.

Then cride she out, fye, fye, deformed wight,
Whose borrowed beautie now appeareth plaine
To haue before bewitched all mens fight;
O leaue her soone, or let her soone be blaine.
Her loathly visage viewing with disdaine,
Eftsoones I thought her such, as she me told,
And would haue kild her; but with faigned paine,
The false witch did my wrath full hand with-hold:
So left her, where she now is turnd to treen mould.

Then forth I tooke Dueſſa for my Dame,
And in the witch vnweeting ioyd long time,
Ne euer wift, but that she was the fame,
Till on a day (that day is euerie Prime,
When Witches wont do penance for their crime)
I chaunſt to see her in her proper hew,
Bathing her ſelfe in origane and thyme:
A filthy foule old woman I did vew,
That euer to haue toucht her, I did deadly rew.

Her neather parties miſſhapen, monſtruous,
Were hidd in water, that I could not see,
But they did ſeeme more foule and hideous,
Then womans ſhape man would beleeue to bee.
Then forth from her moſt beaſtly companie
I gan refraine, in minde to flipp away,
Soone as appearde ſafe opportunitie:
For danger great, if not affurd decay
I saw before mine eyes, if I were knowne to stray.

The

the Faëry Queene.

The diueliſh hag by chauges of my cheare
Perceiu'd my thought, and drownd in ſleepie night,
With wicked herbes and oyntments did beſmeare
My body all, through charmes and magicke might,
That all my ſenſes were bereaued quight:
Then brought she me into this deſert waſte,
And by my wretched louers ſide me pight,
Where now encloſd in wooden wals full ſaſte,
Banisht from liuing wights, our wearie daies we waſte.

But how long time, ſaid then the Elfin knight,
Are you in this misformed hous to dwell ?
We may not chaunge (quoth he) this euill plight,
Till we be bathed in a liuing well;
That is the terme preſcribed by the ſpell.
O how, ſayd he, mote I that well out ſind,
That may reſtore you to your wonted well?
Time and ſuſſiſed fates to former kynd
Shall vs reſtore, none eſſe from hence may vs vnbynd.

The false Dueſſa, now Fideſſa hight,
Heard how in vaine Fradubio did lament,
And knew well all was true. But the good knight
Full of ſad ſeare and ghaftly dreriment,
When all this ſpeech the liuing tree had ſpent,
The bleeding bough did thriuſt into the ground,
That from the blood he might be innocent,
And with fresh clay did cloſe the wooden wound:
Then turning to his Lady, dead with ſeare her ſownd.

Her ſeeming dead he ſownd with ſeigned ſeare,
As all vnweeting of that well she knew,
And paynd him ſelſe with bufſe care to reare
Her out of careleſſe ſwowne. Her eylids blew

C

And

32 The firſt Booke of

Cant. III.

And dimmed fight with pale and deadly hew
At last she vp gan lift: with trembling cheare
Her vp he tooke, too ſimple and too trew,
And oft her kift. At length all paffed feare,
He fet her on her ſteede, and forward forth did beare.

Cant. III.

Forfaken Truth long seekes her loue,
And makes the Lyon mylde,
yres blind Deuotions mart, & fals
Ma In hand of leachour vylde.

Nought is there vnder heau'ns wide hollowneſſe,
That moues more deare compassion of mind,
Then beautie brought t'vnworthie wretchedneſſe
Through enuies ſnares or fortunes freakes vnkind:
I, whether lately through her brightne blynd,
Or through alleageance and faſt fealty,
Which I do owe vnto all womankynd,
Feele my hart perſt with ſo great agony,
When ſuch I ſee, that all for pitty I could dy.

And now it is empaffioned so deepe,
For faireſt Vnaes ſake, of whom I ſing,
That my frayle eies theſe lines with teares do ſteede,
To thinke how ſhe through guyleſull handeling
Though true as touch, though daughter of a king,
Though faire as euer liuing wight was ſayre,
Though nor in word nor deede ill meriting,
Is from her knight diuorced in deſpayre
And her dew loues deryu'd to that vile witches ſhayre.

Yet

33

Cant. III. the Faerie Queene.

Yet ſhe moſt faithfull Ladie all this while
Forſaken, woſull, ſolitarie mayd
Far from all peoples preace, as in exile,
In wilderneſſe and waſtfull deferts ſtrayd,
To ſeeke her knight; who ſubtily betrayd (wrought
Through that late viſion, which th'Enchaunter
Had her abandond. She of nought affrayd,
Through woods and waſtnes wide him daily ſought;
Yet wiſhed tydinges none of him vnao her brought.

One day nigh wearie of the yrkeſome way,
From her vnhaftie beaſt ſhe did alight,
And on the graſſe her dainty limbs did lay
In ſecrete ſhadow, far from all mens fight:
From her ſayre head her fillet ſhe vndight,
And layd her ſtole aſide. Her angels face
As the great eye of heauen ſhyned bright,
And made a ſunſhine in the ſhady place;
Did neuer mortall eye behold ſuch heauenly grace.

It fortuned out of the thickeſt wood
A ramping Lyon ruiſhed ſuddeinly,
Hunting full greedy after ſaluage blood;
Soone as the royall virgin he did ſpy,
With gaping mouth at her ran greedily,
To haue atonce deuourd her tender corſe:
But to the pray when as he drew more ny,
His bloody rage aſwaged with remorſe,
And with the fight amazd, ſorgat his ſurious forſe.

In ſtead thereof he kift her wearie feet,
And lickt her lilly hands with fawning tong,
As he her wronged innocence did weet.
O how can beautie maiſter the moſt ſtrong,

C 2

And

34

The first Booke of Cant. III.

And simple truth subdue auenging wrong?
Whose yielded pryde and proud submission,
Still dreading death, when she had marked long,
Her hart gan melt in great compassion,
And drizzling teares did shed for pure affection.

The Lyon Lord of euerie beaſt in field
Quoth she, his princely puifſance doth abate,
And mightie proud to humble weake does yield,
Forgetfull of the hungry rage, which late
Him prickt, in pit tie of my ſad eſtate :
But he my Lyon, and my noble Lord
How does he find in cruell hart to hate
Her that him lou'd, and euer moſt adord,
As the God of my life ? why hath he me abhord ?

Redounding teares did choke th'end of her plaint,
Which softly ecchoed from the neighbour wood;
And ſad to ſee her ſorrowfull conſtraint
The kingly beaſt, vpon her gazing ſtood;
With pittie calmd, downe fell his angry mood.
At laſt in close hart ſhutting vp her payne,
Aroſe the virgin borne of heauenly brood,
And to her ſnowy Palfrey got agayne,
To ſeeke her ſtrayed Champion, if she might attayne.

The Lyon would not leaue her deſolate,
But with her went along, as a ſtrong gard
Of her chaſt perſon, and a ſaythfull mate
Of her ſad troubles and misfortunes hard :
Still when he ſlept, he kept both watch and ward,
And when the wakt, he wayted diligent,
With humble ſeruice to her will prepare:
From her ſayre eyes he tooke commandement,
And euer by her lookes conceiued her intent.

Long

Cant. III. the Faery Queene.

35

Long she thus traueiled through deferts wyde,
By which she thought her wandring knight shold pas,
Yet neuer shew of liuing wight eſpyde;
Till that at length she found the troden gras,
In which the traſt of peoples footing was,
Under the steepe foot of a mountaine hore;
The fame she followes, till at last she has
A damzell eſpyde flow footing her before,
That on her shoulders ſad a pot of water bore.

To whom approaching she to her gan call,
To weet, if dwelling place were nigh at hand;
But the rude wench her anſwerd nought at all,
She could not heare, nor eſpeake, nor vnderſtand;
Till seeing by her ſide the Lyon ſtand,
With ſuddeine ſeare her pitcher downe ſhe threw,
And ſled away: for neuer in that land
Face of ſayre Lady she before did vew,
And that dredd Lyons looke her caſt in deadly hew.

Full faſt she fled, ne euer lookt behynd,
As if her life vpon the wager lay,
And home she came, whereas her mother blynd
Sate in eternall night: nought could she ſay,
But ſuddeine catching hold did her difmay
With quaking hands, and other ſignes of ſeare:
Who full of ghaſtly fright and cold affray,
Gan shut the dore. By this arriued there
Dame Vna, weary Dame, and entrance did requere.

Which when none yielded, her vnruly Page
With his rude clawes the wicket open rent,
And let her in; where of his cruell rage
Nigh dead with ſeare, and faint aſtoniſhment,

C 3

She

236

The second Booke of
Cant.III.

In his strong armes he stily him embrast,
Who him gainstriuing, nought at all preuaild:
For all his power was vttterly defast,
And furious fitts at earft quite weren quaild:
Of he re'nforft, and oft his forces fayld,
Yetyield he would not, nor his rancor flack,
Then him to ground he caft, and rudely hayld,
And both his hands faft bound behind his backe,
And both his feet in fetters to an yron rack.

With hundred yron chaines he did him bind,
And hundred knots that did him fore conftraine:
Yet his great yron teeth he still did grind,
And grimly gnafh, threatening reuenge in vaine:
His burning eyen, whom bloody ftrakes did ftaine,
Stared full wide, and threw forth ſparkes of fyre,
And more for ranck deſpight, then for great paine,
Shakt his long locks, colourd like copper-wyre,
And bit his tawny beard to ſhew his raging yre.

Thus whenas *Guyon Furer* had captiud,
Turning about he saw that wretched Squyre,
Whom that mad man of life nigh late depriud,
Lying on ground, all foild with blood and myre:
Whom whenas he perceiued to reſpyre,
He gan to comfort, and his woundes to drefſe.
Being at laft recured, he gan inquyre,
What hard miſhap him brought to ſuch diſtreſſe,
And made that caytives thrall, the thrall of wretched-

(neſſe,

With hart then throbbing, and with watry eyes,
Fayre Sir (qd.he) what man can ſhun the hap,
That hidden lyes vnwares him to ſurpyſe
Miſfortune waites aduantage to entrap

The

Cant. II II. the Faerie Queene.

237

The man moſt wary in her whelming lap.
So me weake wretch, of many weakeſt wretch,
Vnweeting, and vnware of ſuch miſhap,
She brought to miſchieſe through her guilful trech,
Where this fame wicked villein did me wadding ketch.

It was a faithleſſe Squire, that was the ſourſe
Of all my ſorrow, and of these ſad teares,
With whom from tender dug of commune ſourſe,
Attonce I was vpbrought, and eft when yeares
More rype vs reaſon lent to choſe our Peares,
Our ſelues in league of vowed loue wee knitt:
In which we long time without gealous ſeares,
Or faultie thoughts contynewd, as was ſitt;
And for my part I vow, diſſlembled not a whitt.

It was my fortune, commune to that age,
To loue a Lady ſayre of great degree,
The which was borne of noble parentage,
And fet in higheſt ſeat of dignitee,
Yet ſeemd no leſſe to loue, then loued to bee:
Long I her ſeru'd, and found her faithfull ſtill,
Ne euer thing could cauſe vs diſagree:
Loue that two harts makes one, makes eke one will:
Each ſtroue to pleafe, and others pleafure to fulfill.

My friend, hight *Philemon*, I did partake,
Of all my loue and all my pruuitie;
Who greatly ioyous ſeemed for my ſake,
And gratious to that Lady, as to mee,
Ne euer wight, that mote ſo welcome bee,
As he to her, withouten blott or blame,
Ne euer thing, that ſhe could thinke or ſee,
But vnto him ſhe would impart the fame:
O wretched man, that would abuſe ſo gentle Dame.

As

The second Booke of
Cant. IIII.

238

At last such grace I found, and meanes I wrought,
That I that Lady to my Spouse had wonne;
Accord of friendes, consent of Parents fought,
Affyaunce made, my happinesse begonne,
There wanted nought but few rites to be donne,
Which marriage make; that day too farre did seeme:
Moft ioyous man, on whom the Shining Sunne,
Did shew his face, my selfe I did efteeme,
And that my falser friend did no lesse ioyous deeme,

But ear that wifhed day his beame disclof'd,
He either enuying my toward good,
Or of him selfe to treason ill dispoſd
One day vnto me came in friendly mood,
And told for ſecret how he vnderstood
That Lady whom I had to me affynd,
Had both diſtaind her honorable blood,
And eke the faith, which ſhe to me did bynd;
And therfore wifht me ſtay, till I more truth ſhould ſynd.

The gnawing anguifh and sharp gelofy,
Which his ſad ſpeach infixed in my breſt,
Ranckled ſo ſore, and ſeftred inwardly,
That my engreeued mind could find no reſt,
Till that the truth thereof I did out wreſt,
And him beſought by that ſame ſacred band
Betwixt vs both, to counſell me the beſt,
He then with ſolemne oath and plighted hand
Aſſurd, ere long the truth to let me vnderſtand.

Ere long with like againe he boorded mee,
Saying, he now had boulted all the ſloure,
And that it was a groome of baſe degree,
Which of my loue was partener Paramoure:

Who

the Faery Queene.

239

Cant. IIII.

Who vſed in a darkeſome inner bowre
Her oft to meete: which better to approue,
He promiſed to bring me at that howre,
When I ſhould ſee, that would me nearer moue,
And drie me to withdraw my blind abuſed loue,

This graceleſſe man for furtherance of his guile,
Did court the handmayd of my Lady deare,
Who glad t'emboſome his affection vile,
Did all ſhe might, more pleasing to appeare.
One day to worke her to his will more neare,
He woo'd her thus: *Pryene* (ſo ſhe hight)
What great deſpight doth fortune to thee beare,
Thus lowly to abaſe thy beautie bright,
That it ſhould not deface all others leſſer light?

But if ſhe had her leaſt helpe to theelent,
T'adorne thy forme according thy deſart,
Their blazing pride thou wouldeſt ſoone haue blent,
And ſtaynd their prayſes with thy leaſt good part;
Ne ſhould faire *Claribell* with all her art,
Though ſhe thy Lady be, approch thee neare:
For proofe thereof, this euening, as thou art,
Aray thy ſelfe in her moſt gorgeous geare,
That I may more delight in thy embracement deare.

The Mayde proud through praisè, & mad through loue
Him hearknèd to, and ſoone her ſelfe arayd,
The whiles to me the treachour did remoue
His craftie engin, and as he had ſayd,
Me leading, in a ſecret corner layd,
The ſad ſpectatour of my Tragedie;
Where left, he went, and his owne falſe part playd,
Diſguſed like that groome of baſe degree,
Whom he had ſeign'd th'abuſer of my loue to bee.

Q

Eſt

240 The second Booke of Cant. II II.

Eftsoones he came vnto th'appointed place,
And with him brought Pryene, rich arayd,
In Claribellaes clothes. Her proper face
I not descerned in that darke some shade,
But weend it was my loue, with whom he playd,
Al God, what horrour and tormenting grieſe
My hart, my hands, mine eyes, and all affayd:
Me liefer were ten thouſand deathes prieſe,
Then wounde of gcalous worme, and thame of ſuch re-

I home retourning, fraught with fowle deſpight,
And chawing vengeaunce all the way I went,
Soone as my loathed loue appear in fight,
With wrathfull hand I flew her innocent;
That after ſoone I dearely did lament:
For when the cauſe of that outrageous deede
Demaunded, I made plaine and euident,
Her faultie Handmayd, which that bale did breede,
Conſeſt, how Philemon her wrought to chaunge her
(weede)

Which when I heard, with horrible affright
And helliſh fury all enragd, I ſought
Vpon my ſelſe that vengeable deſpight
To puniſh: yet it better firſt I thought,
To wreake my wrath on him, that firſt it wrought.
To Philemon, talle faytour Philemcn
I caſt to pay, that I ſo dearely bought,
Of deadly drugs I gaue him drinke anon,
And waſht away his guilt with guilty potion.

Thus heaping crime on crime, and grieſe on grieſe,
To loffe of loue adioyning loffe of friend,
I meant to purge both with a third miſchieſe,
And in my woes beginner it to end:

That

241

Cant. I II II. the Faerie Queene.

That was Pryene; ſhe did firſt offend,
She laſt should ſmart: with which cruell intent,
When I at her my murdrous blade did bend,
She fled away with ghaſtly dreriment,
And I pourſewing my ſell purpose, after went.

Feare gaue her winges, and rage enforſt my flight;
Through woods and plaines ſo long I did her chace,
Till this mad man, whom your viſtorious might
Hath now ſaſt bound, me met in middle ſpace,
As I her, ſo he me pourſewd apace,
And ſhortly ouertooke: I breathing yre,
Sore chauffed at my ſtay in ſuch a cace,
And with my heat kindled his cruell ſyre;
Which kindled once, his mother did more rage inſpyre.

Betwixt them both, they haue me doen to dye,
Through wounds, & ſtrokes, & stubborne handeling,
That death were better, then ſuch agony,
As grieſe and fury vnto me did bring;
Of which in me yet ſtickes the mortall ſting,
That during life will neuer be appeaſd.
When he thus ended had his ſorrowing,
Said Guyon, Squyre, ſore haue ye beene diſeafe;
But all your hurts may ſoon through tèperance be eafe.

Then gan the Palmer thus, moſt wretched man,
That to affections does the bridle lend;
In their beginning they are weake and wane,
But ſoone through liſt rance growe to ſearefull end;
Whiles they are weake betimes with them contend:
For when they once to perſect ſtrength do grow,
Strong warres they make, and cruell batardy bend
Gaift fortt of Reaſon, it to ouerthrow:
(low. Wrath, geloſy, grieſe, loue this Squyre haue laide thus

Wrath,

Q 2

The second Booke of Cant. III.

242

Wrath, gealofie, griefe, loue do thus expell:
Wrath is a fire, and gealofie a weede,
Griefe is a flood, and loue a monster fell,
The fire of sparkes, the weede of little feede,
The flood of drops, the Monster filth did breede;
But sparkes, feed, drops, and filth do thus delays;
The sparkes soone quench, the springing feed outweed
The drops dry vp, and filth wipe cleane away:
So shall wrath, gealofy, griefe, loue die and decay.

Vnlucky Squire (faide Guyon) fith thou haft
Falne into mischiefe through intemperaunce,
Henceforth take heede of that thou now haft paft,
And guyde thy waies with warie gouernaunce,
Leaft worſe betide thee by ſome later chaunce.
But read how art thou nam'd, and of what kin.
Phaon I hight (quoth he) and do aduaunce
Mine aunceſtry from famous Coradin,
Who firſt to rayſe our houſe to honour did begin.

Thus as he ſpake, lo far away they ſpyde
A varlet ronning towardes haſtily,
Whof flying ſeet so ſaft their way applyde,
That round about a cloud of duſt did fly,
Which mingled all with ſweate, did dim his eye.
He ſoone approched, panting, breathleſſe, whot,
And all ſo ſoyld, that none could him deſcry;
His countenaunce was bold, and bathed not
For Guyons lookes, but ſcornefull eyglaunce at him ſhot.

Behind his backe he bore a braſen ſhield,
On which was drawen faire, in colours fit,
A ſaming fire in midſt of bloody field,
And round about the wreath this word was writ,

Burnt

Cant. IIII. the Faëry Queene.

243

Burnt I doe burne. Right well befeemed it,
To be the ſhield of ſome redoubted knight;
And in his hand two dartes exceeding ſlit,
And deadly ſharp he held, whoſe heads were dight
In poyſon and in blood, of malice and deſpight.

When he in preſence came, to Guyon firſt
He boldly ſpake, Sir knight, if knight thou bee,
Abandon this forestalled place at erſt,
For ſeare of further harme, I counſell thee,
Or bide the chaunce at thine owne ieopardee.
The knight at his great boldneſſe wondered,
And though he ſcornd his ydle vanitee,
Yet mildly him to purpose anſwered;
For not to grow of nought he it coniectured.

Varlet, this place moſt dew to me I deeme,
Yielded by him, that held it forcibly. (Seeme
But whence ſhold come that harme, which thou doſt
To threat to him, that mindes his chaunce t'abye?
Perdy (layd he) here comes, and is hard by
A knight of wondrous powre, and great affay,
That neuer yet encomtred enemy,
But did him deadly daunt, or ſowle diſmay;
Ne thou for better hope, if thou his preſence ſtay.

How hight he then (layd Guyon) and from whence?
Pyrrhochles is his name, renowned farre
For his bold feates and hardy confidence,
Full oft approud in many a cruell warre,
The brother of Cymochles, both which arre
The ſonnes of old Acrates and Deſpight,
Acrates ſonne of Phlegeton and Iarre;
But Phlegeton is ſonne of Herebus and Night;
But Herebus ſonne of Aeternitie is hight.

Q 3

So

244

So from immortall race he does proceede,
That mortall hands may not withstand his might,
Drad for his derring doe, and bloody deed;
For all in blood and spoile is his delight.
His am I Atin, his in wrong and right,
That matter make for him to worke vpon,
And stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight.
Fly therefore, fly this fearfull stead anon,
Leaft thy foolhardize worke thy fad confusion.

His be that care, whom moft it doth concerne.
(Sayd he) but whether with such hafty flight
Art thou now bownd ? for well mote I dicerne
Great caufe, that carries thee fo swifte and light.
My Lord (qd. he) me ſent, and ſtreight behight
To ſeeke Occafion, where fo the bee:
For he is all diſpoſd to bloody fight;
And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltée;
Hard is his hap, that firſt fals in his ieopardee.

Mad man (said then the Palmer) that does ſeeke
Occafion to wrath, and cauſe of strife;
Shee comes vnſought, and ſhonned followes eke,
Happy, who can abstaine, when Rancor rife
Kindles Reuenge, and threats his rufky knife;
Woe neuer wants, where euery cauſe is caught,
And rath Occafion makes vnquiet life.
Then loe, wher bound the fits, who thou haſt ſought,
Said Guyon, let that meſſage to thy Lord be brought.

That when the varlett heard and saw, ſtreight way
He wexed wondrous wroth, and said, Vile knight,
That knights & knighthood doeſt with ſhame vp-
And ſhewſt th'entable of thy childiſe might, (bray,
With

the Faery Queene.

Cant. V.

With ſilly weake old woman that did fight.
Great glory and gay spoile ſure haſt thou gott,
And ſtoutly prou'd thy puiffaunce here in fight;
That ſhall Pirrhochles well requite, I wott,
And with thy blood abolifh ſo reprochfull blott.

With that one of his thrillant darts he threw,
Headed with yre and vengeable deſpight;
The quiuering ſteele his aymed end wel knew,
And to his breſt it ſelfe intended right:
But he was wary, and ere it empight
In the meant marke, aduaunſt his ſhield atweene,
On which it ſeizing, no way enter might,
But backe rebownding, left the forckhead keene;
Eſtſoones he fled away, and might no where be ſeene.

Cant. V.

Pyrphochles does with Guyon fight,
And Furors chayne vntyes,
Who him ſore Wounds, whiles Atin to
Gymochles for ayd flyes.

WH
Ho euer doth to temperaunce apply
His ſtedfaſt life, and all his actions frame,
Traut me, ſhal find no greater eniſy,
Then ſtubborne perturbation, to the ſame;
To which right wel the wife doe giue that name,
For it the goodly peace of ſtaied mindeſ
Does ouerthrow, and troublous warre proclame:
His owne woes author, who ſo bound it findes,
As did Pirrhochles, and it wilfully vnbindes.

245

Q4

After

246

The second Booke of

Cant. V.

After that varlets flight, it was not long,
Ere on the plaine faft pricking Guyon spide
One in bright armes embatteiled full strong,
That as the Sunny beames doe glaunce and glide
Vpon the trembling waue, so shined bright,
And round about him threw forth sparkling fire,
That seemd him to enflame on euery side:
His feed was bloody red, and fomed yre,
When with the maiftring spur he did him roughly fire,

Approching nigh, he neuer staid to greete,
Ne chaffar words, prowd corage to prouoke,
But prickt so fiers, that vnderneath his feete
The smouldring duft did rownd about him smoke,
Both horfe and man nigh able for to choke;
And fayrly couching his steeleheaded speare,
Him firft saluted with a sturdy stroke:
It booted nought Sir Guyon comming neare
To thincke, such hideous puiffaunce on foot to beare.

But lightly shunned it, and paſſing by,
With his bright blade did ſmite at him so fell,
That the sharpe steele arriuing forcibly
On his broad shield, bitt not, but glaubning ſell
On his horſe necke before the quilked ſell,
And from the head the body ſ Fundred quight.
So him diſmounted low, he did compell
On foot with him to matchen equall fight;
The truncked beaſt faſt bleeding, did him fowly dight,

Sore bruzed with the fall, he flow vproſe,
And all enraged, thus him loudly ſhent;
Disſeall knight, whose coward corage choſe
To wreaſe it ſelſe on beaſt all innocent,

And

Cant. V.

the Faery Queene

247

And ſhund the marke, at which it ſhould be ment,
Therby thine armes ſeem ſtrong, but manhood ſrayl:
So haſt thou oft with guile thine honor blent;
But little may ſuch guile thee now awayl,
If wanted force and fortune doe me not much ſayl.

With that he drew his flaming ſword, and strooke
At him so fiercely, that the vpper marge
Of his ſeuenfolded shield away it tooke,
And glauncing on his helmet, made a large
And open gaf therein: were not his targe,
That broke the violence of his intent,
The weary ſowle from thence it diſcharge,
Natheleſſe so ſore a buff to him it lent,
That made him reele, and to his breſt his beuer bent.

Exceeding wroth was Guyon at that blow,
And much afhamd, that ſtroke of liuing arme
Should him diſmay, and make him ſtoup so low,
Though otherwife it did him little harme:
Tho hurling high his yron braced arme,
He ſmote so manly on his shoulder plate,
That all his left ſide it did quite disarme;
Yet there the steele ſtayd not, but inly bate
Deepe in his ſlesh, and opened wide a red floodgate.

Deadly dismayd, with horror of that dint
*Pyrrhocbles* was, and griecued eke entyre;
Yet nathemore did it his fury ſtint,
But added flame vnto his former fire,
That welnigh molt his hart in raging yre;
Ne thenceforth his approued skill, to ward,
Or ſtrike, or hurtle rownd in warlike gyre,
Remembred he, ne car'd for his ſaufgard,
But rudely rag'd, and like a cruel tygre far'd.

He

248

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Cant. V.

He hewd, and laft, and foynd, and thondred blowes,
And euery way did feeke into his life,
Ne plate, ne male could ward ſo mighty throwes,
But yeilded paffage to his cruell knife.
But *Guyon*, in the heat of all his ſtrife,
Was wary wife, and closely did awayt
Auaintage, whileſt his foe did rage moſt rife;
Sometimes a thwart, sometimes he ſtrok him ſtrayt,
And falſed oft his blowes, t'llude him with ſuch bayt.

Like as a Lyon, whose imperiall powre
A prowd rebellious Vnicorne defyes,
T'auoide the rath affault and wrathfull ſtowre
O his fiers foe, him to a tree applyes,
And when him ronning in full courſe he ſpyes,
He flips aſide; the whiles that furious beaſt
His precious horne, ſought of his enimye
Strikes in the ſtocke, ne thence can be releaſt,
But to the mighty vicer yields a bounteous ſeaſt.

With ſuch faire ſleight him *Guyon* often ſayd,
Till at the laſt all breathleſſe, weary, faint
Him ſpying, with fresh onſett he affayld,
And kindling new his corage ſeeming quicint,
Strooke him ſo hugely, that through grear conſtraint
He made him ſtoup perſorce vnto his knee,
And doe vnwilling worſhip to the Saint,
That on his ſhield depainted he did ſee,
Such homage till that inſtant neuer learned hee.

Whom *Guyon* ſeeing ſtoup, pourſewed ſaſt
The preſent offer of faire victory,
And ſoone his dreadfull blade about he caſt,
Wherewith he ſmote his haughty creſt ſo hye,
That

Cant. V. the Faery Queene. 249

That ſtreight on grownd made him full low to lye;
Then on his breſt his vicer foote he thrutſ,
With that he cryde, Mercy, doe me not dye;
Ne deeme thy force by fortunes doome vnjuſt,
That hath (maugre her ſpight) thus low me laid in duſt.

Eſtſoones his cruel hand. Sir *Guyon* ſtayd,
Tempring the paffion with aduizement flow,
And maiſtring might on enimy diſmayd;
For th'equall die of warre he well did know;
Then to him ſaid, Liue and alleagaunce owe,
To him, that giues thee life, and liberty,
And henceforth by this daies enſample trow,
That haſtly wroth, and heedleſſe hazardry
Doe breede repentaunce late, and laſting infamy.

So vp he let him rife, who with grim looke
And count'nounce ſterne vpſtanding, gan to grind
His grated teeth for great diſdeigne, and ſhooke
His ſandy locke, long hanging downe behind,
Knotted in blood and duſt, for grieſe of mind,
That he in ods of armes was conquered;
Yet in himſelfe ſome comfort he did find,
That him ſo noble knight had mayſtered.
Whole bounty more then might, yet both he wodered.

Which *Guyon* marking ſaid, Be nought agrieu'd,
Sir knight, that thus ye now ſubdewed farre:
Was neuer man, who moſt conquſtes atchieu'd,
But ſometimes had the worſe, and loft by warre,
Yet ſhortly gaynd, that loffe exceeded farre:
Loſſe is no ſhame, nor to bee leſſe then ſoe,
But to bee leſſer, then himſelſe, doth marre
Both loofers lott, and victours prayſe alſoe.
Vaine others ouerthrowes, who ſelſe doth ouerthrow.

Fly,

The second Booke of

Cant. V.

250

Fly, O *Pyrrhochles*, fly the dreadfull warre,
That in thy selfe thy leffer partes doe moue,
Outrageous anger, and woe working iarre,
Direfull impatience, and hartmurdring loue;
Thofe, thofe thy foes, thofe warriours far remoue,
Which thee to endleſſe bale captiued lead.
But ſith in might thou didſt my mercy proue,
Of courtesie to mee the cauſe aread,
That thee againſt me drew with ſo impetuous dread.

Dreadleſſe (faid he) that ſhall I ſoone declare:
It was complaind, that thou hadſt done great tort
Vnto an aged woman, poore and bare,
And thralled her in chaines with ſtrong effort,
Voide of all ſuccour and needfull comfort:
That ill beſeemes thee, ſuch as I thee ſee,
To worke ſuch ſhame. Therefore I thee exhort,
To chaunge thy will, and ſet occasion free,
And to her captiue ſonne yield his firſt libertree.

Thereat Sir *Guyon* ſmylde, And is that all
(Said he) that thee ſo fore diſpleafed hath?
Great mercy ſure, for to enlarge a thrill,
Whofe freedom ſhall thee turne to greateſt ſcath.
Nath'leſſe now quench thy whort embayling wrath:
Loe there they bee, to thee I yield them free.
Thereat he wondrous glad, out of the path
Did lightly leape, where he them bound did ſee,
And gan to breake the bands of their captiuitee.

Soone as *Occafion* felt her ſelfe vntyde,
Before her ſonne could well aſſoyled bee,
She to her vſe returnd, and ſtreight defyde
Both *Guyon* and *Pyrrhochles*: th'one (faid hec)

Bycauſe

the Faery Queene.

251

Cant. V.

Bycauſe he wonne; the other becauſe hee
Was wonne: So matter did ſhe make of nought,
To ſtirre vp ſtrife, and garre them diſagree:
But ſoone as *Furor* was enlargd, ſhe ſought
To kindle his quencht ſyre, & thouſad cauſes wrought.

It was not long, ere ſhe inflam'd him ſo,
That he would algates with *Pyrrhochles* fight,
And his redeemer chaleng'd for his foe,
Because he had not well mainteind his right,
But yielded had to that fame ſtraunger knight:
Now gan *Pyrrhochles* wex as wood, as hee,
And him affronted with impatient might:
So both together ſiers engraſped bee,
Whyles *Guyon* ſtāding by, their vncouth ſtrife does ſee.

Him all that while *Occafion* did prouoke
Against *Pyrrhochles*, and new matter fram'd
Vpon the old, him ſtirring to bee wroke
Of his late wronges, in which ſhe oft him blam'd,
For suffering ſuch abuſe, as knighthood ſham'd,
And him diſhabled quyte. But he was wife,
Ne would with vaine occafions be inflam'd;
Yet others ſhe more vrgent did deuife:
Yet nothing could him to impatience entife.

Their fell contention ſtill increaſed more,
And more thereby increaſed *Furors* might,
That he his foe has hurt, and wounded ſore,
And him in blood and durt deformed quight.
His mother eke, more to augment his ſpight,
Now brought to him a flaming ſyer brond,
Which ſhe in *Stygian* lake, ay burning bright
Had kindled: that ſhe gaue into his hond,
That armd with ſire, more hardly he mote him with ſtod

Tho

252

The second Booke of

Cant. V.

Tho gan that villein wex so fiers and strong,
That nothing might suftaine his furious forſe;
He caſt him downe to ground, and all along
Drew him through durt and myre without remorſe,
And fowly battered his comely corſe,
That Guyon much diſdeign'd so loathly fight.
At laſt he was compeld to cry perſorſe,
Help, O Sir Guyon, helpe moſt noble knight,
To ridd a wretched man from hands of helliſh wight.

The knight was greatly moued at his playnt,
And gan him dight to ſuccour his diſtreſſe,
Till that the Palmer, by his graue reſtraynt,
Him ſtayd from yielding pitifull redreſſe;
And ſaid, Deare ſonne, thy cauſeleſſe ruth repreſſe,
Ne let thy ſout hart melt in pitty vayne:
He that his ſorow ſought through wilſuſneſſe,
And his ſoe fettred would releaſe agayne,

Deſerues to taſte his follies ſruit, repented payne.

Guyon obayd, So him away he drew
From needleſſe trouble of renewing fight
Already ſought, his voyage to pourſew.
But raiſh Pyrrhochles varlett, Atin hight,
When late he ſaw his Lord in heauie plight,
Vader Sir Guyons puiffaunt ſtroke to fall,
Him deeming dead, as then he ſeem'd in fight,
Fledd ſaſt away, to tell his funerall

Vnto his brother, whom Cymochles men did call.

He was a man of rare redoubted might,
Famous throughout the world for warlike prayſe,
And glorious spoiles, purchaſt in perilous fight:
Full many doughtie knights he in his dayes

Had

Cant. V.

the Faerie Queene.

253

Had doen to death, ſubdewde in equall ſrayes,
Whose carкаſes, for terour of his name,
Of fowles and beaſtes he made the piteous prayes,
And hong their conquerd armes for more defame
Ongallow trees, in honour of his deareſt Dame.

His deareſt Dame is that Enchauntereſſe,
The vyle Acrasſa, that with vaine delightes,
And ydle pleaſures in her Bowre of Bliffe,
Does charme her louers, and the feeble ſprightes
Can call out of the bodies of fraile wightes:
Whom then he does traſforme to moſtrous hewes,
And horribly miſhapes with vgly ſightes,
Captiu'd eternally in yron mewes,
And darkſom dens, where Titan his face neuer ſhewes,

There Atin ſownd Cymochles ſoiournimg,
To ſerue his Lemans loue: for he by kynd,
Was giuen all to luſt and loose liuing,
When euer his ſiers handes he free mote ſynd:
And now he has pourd out his ydle mynd
In daintie delices, and lauith ioyes,
Hauing his warlike weapons caſt behynd,
And flowes in pleaſures, and vaine pleaſing toyes,
Mingled emongſt loose Ladies and laſciuious boyes.

And ouer him, art ſtryuing to compayre,
With nature, did an Arber greene diſpred,
Framed of wanton Yuie, flouring ſayre,
Through which the fragrant Eglantine did ſpred
His prickling armes, entrayld with roſes red,
Which daintie odours round about them threw,
And all within with flowres was garniſhed,
That when myld Zephyrus emongſt them blew,
Did breath out bounteous ſmels, & painted colors ſhew

And

The second Booke of

Cant. V.

254

And faſt beſide, there trickled ſoftly downe
A gentle ſtreame, whoſe murmuring waue did play
Emongſt the pumy ſtones, and made a ſowne,
To lull him ſoft a ſleepe, that by it lay;
The wearie Traueiler, wandring that way,
Therein did often quench his thrifty heat,
And then by it his wearie limbes diſplay,
Whiles creeping ſlomber made him to forget
His former payne, and wypt away his toil ſom I weat.

And on the other ſyde a pleafaunt groue
Was ſhott vp high, full of the ſtately tree,
That dedicated is t'Olympick Ioue,
And to his ſonne Alcides, whenas hee
In Netmus gayned goodly victoree;
Therein the mery birdes of euery ſorte
Chaunted alowd their chearefull harmonee:
And made emongſt them ſelues a ſweete comfort,
That quickned the dull ſpright with muſicall comfort.

There he him found all careleſly diſplaid,
In ſecrete ſhadow from the ſunny ray,
On a ſweet bed of lillies ſoftly laid,
Amidſt a flock of Damzelles ſrefh and gay,
That rownd about him diſſolute did play
Their wanton follies, and light meriment;
Euery of which did loosely diſaray
Her vpper partes of meet habiliments,
And ſhewd them naked, deckt with many ornamen.

And euery of them ſtroue, with moſt delights,
Him to aggrate, and greateſt pleafures ſhew;
Some framd faire lookes, glancing like euening lights
Others ſweet wordes, dropping like honny dew;
Some

Cant. V. the Faëry Queene.

55

Some bathed kiffes, and did ſoft embrew
The ſugred licour through his melting lips:
One boaftes her beautie, and does yield to vew
Her dainty limbes aboue her tender hips;
Another her out boaftes, and all for tryall ſtrips.

He, like an Adder, lurking in the weedes,
His wandring thought in deepe deſire does ſteepe,
And his frayle eye with ſpoyle of beauty feedes;
Sometimes he falſely faines himſelſe to ſleepe,
Whiles through their lids his wanton eies do peepe,
To ſteale a ſnatch of amorous conceipt,
Whereby close fire into his heart does creepe :
So, he them deceiues, deceiud in his decept,
Made dronke with drugs of deare voluptuous receipt.

Attin arriving there, when him he ſpyde,
I hus in ſtill waues of deepe delight to wade,
Fiercely approching, to him lowdly cryde,
Cymochles; oh no, but Cymochles ſhade,
In which that manly perſon late did fade,
What is become of great Acrates ſonne?
Or where hath he hong vp his mortall blade,
That hath so many haughty conqueſts wonne?
Is all his force forlorne, and all his glory donne?

Then pricking him with his ſharp-pointed dart,
He faide; vp, vp, thou womaniſh weake knight,
That here in Ladies lap entombed art,
Vnmindfull of thy praiſe and proweſt might,
And weetleſſe eke of lately wrought deſight,
Whiles Iad Pyrrhochles lies on ſenceleſſe ground,
And groneth out his vtmoſt grudging ſpright,
Through many a ſtroke, & many a ſtreaming wound,
Calling thy help in vaine, that here in ioyes art dround.

R

Sudeinly

256

The second Booke of

Cant. VI.

Suddeinly out of his delightfull dreame
The man awoke, and would haue questiond more;
But he would not endure that wofull theame
For to dilate at large, but vrged fore
With percing wordes, and pittifull implore,
Him hafty to arife. As one affright
With hellifh feends, or *Furies* mad vprore,
He then vprofe, infland with fell despight,
And called for his armes; for he would algates fight.

They bene ybrought; he quickly does him dight,
And lightly mounted, paffeth on his way,
Ne Ladies loues, ne sweete entreaties might
Appeafe his heat, or haftie paffage stay,
For he has vowd, to-beene auengd that day,
(That day it selfe him seemed all too long :)
On him, that did *Pyrrhochles* deare difmay :
So proudly pricketh on his courfer strong,
And *Atin* ay him pricks with spurs of fhame & wrong.

Cant. VI.

Guyon is of immodeſt Merth,
led into loose defyre,
Fights with Cymochles, whiles his bro-
ther burnes in furious fyre.

A
Harder leſſon, to learne Continence
In ioyous pleafure, then in grieuous paine:
For ſweetneſſe doth allure the weaker ſence
So strongly, that vneathes it can refraine

From

Cant. VI.
the Faerie Queene.

257

From that, which feeble nature couets faine;
But griefe and wrath, that be her enemies,
And foes of life, ſhe better can abſtaine;
Yet vertue vauntes in both her viftories,
And *Guyon* in them all ſhewes goodly mayſteries.

Whom bold *Cymochles* traueiling to finde,
With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him
The wrath, which *Atin* kindled in his mind,
Came to a riuer, by whole vtmoſt brim
Wayting to paffe, he ſaw whereas did ſwim
A long the ſhore, as ſwift as glaunce of eye,
A little Gondelay, bedecked trim
With boughes and arbours wouen cunningly,
That like a little forreſt seemed outwardly.

And therein fate a Lady fresh and fayre,
Making sweete folace to her ſelfe alone;
Sometimes ſhe ſong, as lowd as larke in ayre,
Sometimes ſhe laught, as merry as Pope Ione,
Yet was there not with her eſſe any one,
That to her might moue cauſe of meriment:
Matter of merth enough, though there were none
She could deuife, and thouſand waies inuent,
To feede her foolish humour, and vaine iolliment.

Which when far of *Cymochles* heard, and ſaw,
He lowldly cald to ſuch, as were abord,
The little barke vnto the ſhore to draw,
And him to ferry ouer that deepe ford:
The merry mariner vnto his word
Soone hearkned, and her painted bote ſtreightway
Turnd to the ſhore, where that fame warlike Lord.
She in recei'd ; but *Atin* by no way
She would admit, albe the knight her much did pray.

R 2

Eſt.

The second Booke of

Cant. VI.

Eftsoones her shallow ship away did slide,
More swift, then shallow sheres the liquid skye,
Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide,
Or winged canuas with the wind to fly,
Onely the turnd a pin, and by and by
It cut away vpon the yielding waue,
Ne cared the her course for to apply :
For it was taught the way, which she would haue,
And both from rocks and flats it selfe could wifely faue.

And all the way, the wanton Damfell found
New merth, her paſſenger to entertaine:
For she in pleafaunt purpose did abound,
And greatly ioyed merry tales to faine,
Of which a ſtore-house did with her remaine,
Yet seemed, nothing well they her became;
For all her wordes she drownd with laughter vaine,
And wanted grace in vtt'ring of the ſame,
That turned all her pleaſaunce to a scoffing game.

And other whiles vaine toyes she would deuize,
As her fantaſticke wit did moſt delight,
Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize
With gaudy girlonds, or fresh flowrets dight
About her necke, or rings of rufhes plight;
Sometimes to do him laugh, she would affay
To laugh at shaking off the leaues light,
Or to behold the water worke, and play
About her little frigot, therein making way.

Her light behauiour, and loose dalliaunce
Gaue wondrous great contentment to the knight,
That of his way he had no ſouenaunce,
Nor care of vow'd reuenge, and cruell fight,

But

Cant. VI.

the Faery Queene.

259

But to weake wench did yield his martiall might.
So eafie was to quench his flamed minde
With one ſweete drop of ſenſuall delight.
So eafie is, t'appeaſe the ſtormy winde
Of malice in the calme of pleaſaunt womankind.

Diuerſe diſcourſes in their way they ſpent,
Mongſt which Cymochles of her queſtioned,
Both what ſhe was, and what that vſage ment,
Which in her cott ſhe daily practized.
Vaine man (ſaide ſhe) that wouldeſt be reckoned
A ſtraunger in thy home, and ignoraunt
Of Phædria (for ſo my name is red)
Of Phædria, thine owne fellow ſeruaunt;
For thou to ſerue Acrasia thy ſelfe doeſt vaunt.

In this wide Inland ſea, that hight by name
The Idle lake, my wandring ship I row,
That knowes her port, and thether ſayles by ayme,
Ne care, ne ſeare I, how the wind do blow,
Or whether ſwift I wend, or whether flow :
Both flow and ſwift a like do ſerue my tourne,
Ne ſwelling Neptune, ne lowd thundring Ioue
Can chaunge my cheare, or make me euer mourne;
My little boat can safely paſſe this perilous bourne.

Whiles thus ſhe talked, and whiles thus ſhe toyd,
They were far paſt the paſſage, which he ſpake,
And come vnto an Island, waſte and voyd,
That floted in the midſt of that great lake,
There her ſmall Gondelay her port did make,
And that gay payre iſſewing on the ſhore
Disburdned her. Their way they forward take
Into the land, that lay them faire before,
(Store. Whofe pleaſaunce ſhe him ſhewd, and plentifull great

R 3

It

260 The second Booke of

Cant. VI.

It was a chosen plott of fertile land,
Emongst wide waues fett, like a little neft,
As if it had by Natures cunning hand,
Bene choycely picked out from all the reft,
And laid forth for en sample of the beft:
No dainty flowre or herbe, that growes on grownd,
No arborett with painted blossomes dreft,
And smelling sweete, but there it might be fownd
To bud out faire, & throwe her sweete smels al arownd.

No tree, whose braunches did not braely springs,
No braunch, whereon a fine bird did not flite;
No bird, but did her thrill notes sweetely fling,
No fong but did containe a louely ditt:
Trees, braunches, birds, and fongs were framed flit,
For to allure fraile mind to careleſſe eafe.
Careleſſe the man foone woxe, and his weake witt
Was ouercome of thing, that did him pleafe;
So pleafed, did his wrathfull purpofe faire appeafe.

Thus when ſhee had his eyes and fences fed
With falſe delights, and ſild with pleafures vayn,
Into a flady dale ſhe soft him led,
And laid him downe vpon a graſſy playn;
And her ſweete ſelfe without dread, or diſdayn,
She fett befide, laying his head diſarmd
In her loose lap, it softly to ſuſtayn,
Where ſoone he flumbred fearing not be harmd,
The whils with a loue lay ſhe thus him ſweetly charmd.

Behold, O man, that toileſome paines doeſt take
The flowrs, the fields, and all that pleafaunt growes,
How they them ſelues doe thine enſample make;
Whiles nothing enuious nature them forth throwes
Out

Cant. VI. the Faëry Queene:

261

Out of her fruitfull lap; how noman knowes,
They ſpring, they bud, they bloſſome freth and faire,
And decke the world with their rich pōpous ſhowes;
Yet no man for them taketh paines or care,
Yet no man to them can his carefull paines compare.

The lilly, Lady of the flowring field,
The flowre deluce, her louely Paramoure,
Bid thee to them thy fruitleſſe labors yield,
And foone leaue off this toylſome weary ſtoure;
Loe loe how braue ſhe decks her bounteous boure,
With ſilkin curtens and gold couerletts,
Therein to ſhrowd her ſumptuous Belamoure,
Yet nether ſpinnes nor cards, ne cares nor fretts,
But to her mother Nature all her care ſhe letts.

Why then doeſt thou, O man, that of them all
Art Lord, and eke of nature Soueraine,
Wilfully make thy ſelfe a wretched thrall,
And waſte thy ioyous howres in needeleſſe paine,
Seeking for daunger and aduentures vaine?
What bootes it al to haue, and nothing vſe?
Who ſhall him rew, that ſwimming in the maine,
Will die for thrift, and water doth reſufe?
Refuse ſuch fruitleſſe toile, and preſent pleafures chufe.

By this ſhe had him lulled faſt a ſleepe,
That of no wordly thing he care did take;
Then ſhe with liquors ſtrong his eies did ſleepe,
That nothing ſhould him haſtily awake:
So ſhe him leſte, and did her ſelfe betake
Vnto her boat again, with which ſhe cleſte
The ſlouthfull wave of that great grieſy lake;
Soone ſhee that Iſland far behind her leſte,
(wefte,
And now is come to that fame place, where firſt ſhe

R 4.

By

The second Booke of

Cant. VI.

262

By this time was the worthy Guyon brought
Vnto the other side of that wide strond,
Where she was rowing, and for paflage fought:
Him needed not long call, shee foone to hond
Her ferry brought, where him she byding fond,
With his sad guide; him selfe she tooke a boord,
But the Blacke Palmer suffred still to stond,
Ne would for price, or prayers once affoord,
To ferry that old man ouer the perlous foord.

Guyon was loath to leaue his guide behind,
Yet being entred, might not backe retyre;
For the flitt barke, obaying to her mind,
Forth launched quickly, as she did desire,
Ne gaue him leaue to bid that aged fire
Adieu, but nimbly ran her wonted courfe
Through the dull billowes thicke as troubled mire,
Whom nether wind out of their feat could forfe,
Nor timely tides did driue out of their fluggish fourfe,

And by the way, as was her wonted guize,
Her mery fitt shee freshly gan to reare,
And did of ioy and iollity deuize,
Her ſelfe to cheriſh, and her gueſt to cheare:
The knight was courteous, and did not forbeare
Her honeſt merth and pleafaunce to partake;
But when he ſaw her toy, and gibe, and geare,
And paſſe the bonds of modeſt merimake,
Her dallaunce he deſpisd, and follies did forſake.

Yet ſhe ſtill followed her former ſtyle,
And ſaid, and did all thar mote him delight,
Till they arriued in that pleafaunt Ile,
Where ſleeping late ſhe leſte her other knight.

But

Cant. VI.

the Faery Queene

263

But whenas Guyon of that land had fight,
He wift him ſelfe amiffe, and angry ſaid;
Ah Dame, perdy ye haue not doen me right,
Thus to miſlead mee, whiles I you obaid:
Melitle needed from my right way to haue ſtraid.

Faire Sir (qd. ſhe) be not diſpleaſd at all;
Who fares on ſea, may not commaund his way,
Ne wind and weather at his pleaſure call:
The ſea is wide, and eaſy for to ſtray;
The wind vnſtable, and doth neuer ſtay.
But here a while ye may in ſafety reſt,
Till ſeafon ſerue new paſſage to affay;
Better ſafe port, then be in ſeas diſtreft.
Therewith ſhe laught, and did her earneſt end in ieſt.

But he halfe diſcontent, mote natheleſſe
Him ſelfe appeaſe, and iſſewd forth on ſhore:
The ioyes whereof, and happy ſuitfulneſſe,
Such as he ſaw, ſhe gan him lay before,
And all though pleafaunt, yet ſhe made much more:
The fields did laugh, the flowres did freſhly ſpring,
The trees did bud, and early bloſſomes bore,
And all the quire of birds did ſweetly ſing,
And told that gardins pleaſures in their caroling.

And ſhe more ſweete, then any bird on bough,
Would oftentimes emongſt them beare a part,
And ſtriuie to paſſe (as ſhe could well enough)
Their native muſicke by her skilſul art:
So did ſhe all, that might his conſtant hart
Withdraw from thought of warlike enterprize,
And drowne in diffolute delights apart,
Where noife of armes, or vew of martiall guize
Might not reuiue deſire of knightly exercize.

But

264

The second Booke of

Cant. VI;

But he was wife, and wary of her will,
And euer held his hand vpon his hart:
Yet would not seeme so rude, and chewed ill,
As to despife so curteous feeming part,
That gentle Lady did to him impart,
But fairly tempring fond desire subdewd,
And euer her desired to depart.
She lift not heare, but her disports pourſewd,
And euer bad him stay, till time the tide renewd.

And now by this, Cymochles howre was ſpent,
That he awoke out of his ydle dreme,
And shaking off his drowſy dreriment,
Gan him auize, howe ill did him beſeme,
In ſlouthfull ſleepe his molten hart to ſteme,
And quench the brond of his conceiued yre.
Tho vp he ſtarted, ſtird with ſhame extreme,
Ne ſtaied for his Damſell to inquire,
But marched to the Strond, their paſſage to require.

And in the way he with Sir *Guyon* mett,
Accompanyde with *Phedria* the faire,
Eſtſoones he gan to rage, and inly frett,
Crying, Let be that Lady debonaire,
Thou recreaunt knight, and ſoone thy ſelfe prepaire
To batteile, if thou meane her loue to gayn:
Loe, loe already, how the fowles in aire
Doe ſlocke, awaiting ſhortly to obtayn
Thy carcas for their pray, the guerdon of thy payn.

And therewith all he fierſtly at him flew,
And with importune outrage him affayld;
Who ſoone prepared to field, his ſword forth drew,
And him with equall valew counteruayld:

Their

Cant. VI.

the Faëry Queene.

265

Their mightie ſtrokes their habereions diſmayld,
And naked made each others manly ſpalles.
The mortall ſteele deſpiteouſly entayld
Deepe in their ſlesh, quite through the yron walles.
That a large purple ſtream adown their giambeux falles.

Cymochles, that had neuer mett before,
So puiffant foe, with enuious deſpight
His prowd prefumed force increaſed more,
Diſdeigning to bee held so long in fight;
Sir *Guyon* grudging not so much his might,
As thofe vnknIGHTly raylinges, which he ſpoke,
With wrathfull fire his corage kindled bright,
Thereof deuifing ſhortly to be broke,
And doubling all his powres, redoubled euery ſtroke.

Both of them high attonce their hands enhaunſt,
And both attonce their huge blowes down did ſway:
Cymochles ſword on *Guyons* ſhield yglaunſt,
And there of nigh one quarter ſheard away;
But *Guyons* angry blade ſo ſiers did play
On th'others helmet, which as *Titan* ſhone,
That quite it cloue his plumed creſt in tway,
And bared all his head vnto the bone;
Wherewith aftonſiſt, ſtill he ſtood, as ſenceleſſe ſtone.

Still as he ſtood, fayre *Phedria*, that beheld
That deadly daunger, ſoone atweene them ran;
And at their feet their ſelfe moſt humbly ſeld,
Crying with pitteous voyce, and count'nance wan;
Ah well away, moſt noble Lords, how can
Your cruell eyes endure ſo pitteous fight,
To ſhed your liues on ground? wo worth the man,
That firſt did teach the curſed ſteele to bight
In his owne ſleſh, and make way to the liuing ſpright.

If

266

The second Booke of

Cant.VI.

Ifeuer loue of Lady did empierce
Your yron breftes, or pittie could find place,
Withhold your bloody handes from battaill fierce,
And fith for me ye fight, to me this grace
Both yield, to stay your deadly ftryfe a space.
They stayd a while: and forth the gan proceed:
Moft wretched woman, and of wicked race,
That am the authour of this hainous deed, (breed,
And caufe of death betweene two doughtie knights do

But if for me ye fight, or me will ferue,
Not this rude kynd of battaill, nor theſe armes
Are meet, the which doe men in bale to ſterue,
And doolefull ſorrow heape with deadly harmes:
Such cruell game my ſcarmoges diſarmes:
Another warre, and other weapons I
Doe loue, where loue does giue his ſweet Alarmes,
Without blood ſhed, and where the enmy
Does yield vnto his foe a pleasaunt victory.

Debatefull ſtrife, and cruell enmity
The famous name of knighthood fowly ſhend;
But louely peace, and gentle amity,
And in Amours the paſſing howres to ſpend,
The mightie martiall handes doe moft commend;
Of loue they euer greater glory bore,
Then of their armes: *Mars is Cupidoes* ſrend,
And is for *Venus* loues renowned more,
Then all his wars and ſpoiles, the which he did of yore.

Therewith the ſweetly ſmyld. They though full bent,
To proue extremities of bloody fight,
Yet at her ſpeach their rages gan relent,
And call me the ſea of their tempeſtuous ſpight,
Such

267

Cant.VI.

the Faery Queene.

Such powre haue pleafing wordes: ſuch is the might
Of courteous clemency in gentle hart.
Now after all was ceaſt, the Faery knight
Befought that Damzell ſuffer him depart,
Andyield him ready paſſage to that other part.

She no leſſe glad, then he deſirous was
Of his departure thence; for of her ioy
And vaine delight ſhe ſaw he light did pas,
A foe of folly and immodest toy,
Still ſolemne ſad, or ſtill diſdainfull coy,
Delighting all in armes and cruell warre,
That her ſweet peace and pleatures did annoy,
Troubled with terour and vnquiet iarre,
That ſhe well pleafed was thence to amoue him farre.

Tho him ſhe brought abord, and her ſwift bote
Forthwith directed to that further ſtrand;
The which on the dull waues did lightly flote
And ſoone arriu'd on the ſhallow ſand,
Where gladsome *Guyon* ſalied forth to land,
And to that Damſell thankes gaue for reward.
Vpon that ſhore he ſpyed *Athin* ſtand,
Thereby his maiſter left, when late he far'd
In *Phedrias* ſlitt barck ouer that perlous ſhard.

Well could he him remember, ſith of late
He with *Pyrrohochies* ſharp debatement made;
Streight gan he him reuyle, and bitter rate,
As Shepheards curre, that in darke eueninges ſhade
Hath traſted forth ſome ſaluage beaſtes trade;
Vile Mifcreaunt (ſaid he) whether doſt thou ſlye
The ſhame and death, which will thee ſoone inuade?
What coward hand ſhall doe thee next to dye,
That art thus ſowly fledd from famous enmy?

With

The second Booke of
Cant. VI.

268

With that he stily shooke his steelhead dart:
But sober Guyon, hearing him so rayle,
Though somewhat moued in his mightie hart,
Yet with strong reafon maistred paſſion fraile,
And paſſed fayrely forth. He turning taile,
Backe to the strond retyrd, and there still ſtayd,
AWaiting paſſage, which him late did faile;
The whiles Cymochles with that wanton mayd
The haſty heat of his auowd reuenge delayd

Whyleſt there the varlet ſtood, he ſaw from farre
An armed knight, that towardes him ſaſt ran,
He ran on foot, as if in luckleſſe warre
His forlorne ſteed from him the victour wan:
He ſeemed breatherleſſe, hartleſſe, ſaint, and wan,
And all his armour ſprinckled was with blood,
And ſoyld with durtie gore, that no man can
Differne the hew thereof. He neuer ſtood,
But bent his haſtie courſe towardes the ydle flood,

The varlett ſaw, when to the flood he came,
How without ſtop or ſtay he fierſly lept,
And deepe him ſelſe beducked in the fame,
That in the lake his loftie creft was ſtept,
Ne of his ſafetie ſeemed care he kept,
But with his raging armes he rudely ſaſht,
The waues about, and all his armour ſwept,
That all the blood and filth away was waſht,
Yet ſtill he bet the water, and the billowes daſht.

Atin drew nigh, to weet, what it mote bee;
For much he wondred at that vncouth fight;
Whom ſhould he, but his own deare Lord, there ſee,
His owne deare Lord *Pyrrhochles*, in ſad plight,
Ready

the Faerie Queene.

269

Cant. VI:

Ready to drowne him ſelſe for ſell deſpight.
Harrow now out, and well away, he cryde,
What diſmall day hath lent but this his curſed light,
To ſee my Lord so deadly damnifyde
*Pyrrhochles*, O *Pyrrhochles*, what is thee betyde?

I burne, I burne, I burne, then lowd he cryde,
O how I burne with implacable ſyre,
Yet nought can quench mine inly flaming ſyre,
Nor ſea of licour cold, nor lake of myre,
Nothing but death can doe me to reſpyre.
Ah be it (ſaid he) from *Pyrrhochles* farre
After purſewing death once to requyre,
Or think, that ought the ſe puiffant hands may marre
Death is for wretches borne vn der vnhappy ſtarre.

Perdye, then is it ſitt for me (ſaid he)
That am, I weene, moſt wretched man aliue,
Burning in flames, yet no flames can I ſee,
And dying dayly, dayly yet reuiue:
O Atin, helpe to me ſaſt death to giue.
The varlet at his plaint was grieued so ſore,
That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue,
And his owne health remembring now no more,
Did follow that enſample, which he blam'd afore,

Into the lake he lept, his Lord to ayd,
(So Loue the dread of daunger doth deſpife)
And of him catching hold him ſtrongly ſtayd
From drowning. But more happy he, then wíſe
Of that ſeas nature did him not auíſe.
The waues thereof ſo flow and fluggiſh were,
Engroſt with mud, which did them fowle agríſe,
That euery weighty thing they did vpbeare,
Ne ought mote euere ſinck downe to the bottom there.

Whyles

270

The second Booke of Cant. VI.

Whiles thus they struggled in that ydle wae,
And ftroue in vaine, the one him felfe to drowne,
The other both from drowning for to faue,
Lo, to that shore one in an auncient gowne,
Whofe hoary locks great grauitie did crowne,
Holding in hand a goodly arming word,
By fortune came, ledd with the troublous fowne:
Where drenched deepe he fownd in that dull ford
The careful ſeruaunt, ftryuing with his raging Lord.

Him Atin spying, knew right well of yore,
And lowdly cald, Help helpe, O Archimage,
To ſaue my Lord, in wretched plight forlore;
Helpe with thy hand, or with thy counſell ſage:
Weake handes, but counſell is moſt strong in age.
Him when the old man, ſaw he woundred ſore,
To ſee Pyrrhochles there ſo rudely rage:
Yet ſithens helpe, he ſaw, he needed more
Then pitty, he in haſt approched to the ſhore.

And cald, *Pyrrhochles*, what is this, I ſee?
What helliſh fury hath at earſt thee hent?
Furious euer I thee knew to bee,
Yet neuer in this ſtraunge aſtoniſhment.
These flames, these flames (he cryde) do me torment.
What flames (qd. he) when I thee preſent ſee,
In daunger rather to be drent, then brent?
Harrow, the flames, which me confume (ſaid hee)
Ne can be quencht, within my ſecret bowelles bee,

That curſed man, that cruel ſeend of hell,
*Furor*, oh *Furor* hath me thus bedight:
His deadly woundes within my liers ſwell,
And his whott fyre burnes in mine entralles bright,
Kindled

Cant. VII. the Faëry Queene. 27 i

Kindled through his infernall brond of ſpight,
Sith late with him I batteill vaine would boſte,
That now I weene loues dreaded thunder light
Does ſcorch not halſe ſo ſore, nor damned ghofte
In flaming Phlegeton does not ſo ſelly roſte.

Which when as Archimago heard, his grieſe
He knew right well, and him attonce diſarmd:
Then ſearcht his ſecret woundes, and made a prieſe
Of euery place, that was with bruzing harmd,
Or with the hidden fier inly warmd.
Which doen, he balmes and herbes thereto applyde,
And euermore with mightie ſpels them charmd,
That in ſhort ſpace he has them qualifyde,
And him reſtor'd to helth, that would haue algates dyde.

Cant. VII.

Guyon findes Mamon in a delue,
funning his threasure hore :
Is by him tempted, & led downe,
To ſee his ſecrete ſtore.

AS Pilot well expert in perilous wae,
That to a ſted fast tarre his courſe hath bent,
When foggy miſtes, or cloudy tempeſts haue
The faithfull light of that faire lampe yblent,
And couer'd heauen with hideous dreriment,
Vpon his card and compas firmes his eye,
The mayſters of his long experiment,
And to them does the ſteddy helme apply,
Bidding his winged veſſell fairely forward fly.

S

So

The second Booke of

Cant. VII.

So Guyon having lost his truſtie guyde,
Late left beyond that Ydle lake, proceeds
Yet on his way, of none accompanyde;
And euermore himſelfe with comfort feedes,
Of his owne vertues, and praeſ-worthie deedes.
So long he yode, yet no aduenture found,
Which fame of her ſhrill trompet worthy reedes:
For ſtill he traueild through wide waſtfull ground,
That nought but desert wilderneſſe ſhewed all around.

At laſt he came vnto a gloomy glade,
Couer'd with boughes & ſhrubs from heauens light,
Whereas he ſitting found in ſecret ſhade
An vncouth, ſaluage, and vnciule wight,
Of grieſly hew, and ſowle ill ſauour'd ſight;
His ſace with ſmoke was tand & eies were bleard
His head and beard with ſout were ill bedight,
His cole-blacke hands did ſeeme to haue ben ſeard
In ſmythes fire-ſpitting forge, and nayles like claws ap-
(peard.

His yron cote all ouergrowne with ruſt,
Was vnderneath enueloped with gold,
W hofe gliftring gloſſe darkned with filthy duſt,
Well yet appeared, to haue beene of old
A worke of rich entayle, and curious mould,
Wouen with antickes and wyld ymagery:
And in his lap a maffe of coyne he told,
And turned vpſide downe, to ſeede his eye
And couetous desire with his huge threaſury.

And round about him lay on euery ſide
Great heapes of gold, that neuer could be ſpent:
Of which ſome were rude owre, not puriſide
Of Malcibers deuouring element;

Some

the Faerie Queene.

Cant. VII.

Some others were new driuen, and diſtent
Into great Ingowes, and to wedges ſquare;
Some in round plates withouten moniment:
But moſt were ſtampt, and in their metal bare
The antique ſhapes of kings and keſars ſtraung & rare.

Soone as he Guyon ſaw, in great affright
And haſte he roſe, for to remoue aſide
Thoſe pretious hils from ſtraungers enuious ſight,
And downe them poured through an hole full wide,
Into the hollow earth, them there to hide,
But Guyon lightly to him leaping, ſtayd
His hand, that trembled, as one terrifyde;
And though him ſelfe were at the ſight diſmayd,
Yet him perſorce reſtraynd, and to him doubtfull ſayd.

What art thou man, (if man at all thou art)
That here in defert haſt thine habitaunce,
And theſe rich hils of welth doeſt hide apart
From the worldes eye, and from her right vſaunce?
Thereat with ſtaring eyes fixed askaunce,
In great diſdaine, he anſwerd, Hardy Elſe,
That dareſt vew my diſeſull countenaunce,
I read thee rafh, and heedleſſe of thy ſelfe,
To trouble my ſtill ſeate, and heapes of pretious pelfe.

God of the world and worldlings I me call,
Great Mammon, greateſt god below the skye,
That of my plenty poure out vnto all,
And vnto none my graces do enuye:
Riches, renowme, and principality,
Honour, eſtate, and all this worldes good,
For which men ſwinck and ſweat inceſſantly,
From me do flow into an ample flood,
And in the hollow earth haue their eternall brood.

S 2

Where

274

Wherefore if me thou deigne to serve and few,
At thy commaund to all these mountaines bee;
Or if to thy great mind, or greedy vew
All these may not suffise, there shall to thee
Ten times so much be nombred francke and free.
Mammon (said he) thy godheads vaunt is vaine,
And idle offers of thy golden fee;
To them, that couet such eye-glutting gaine,
Proffer thy giftes, and fitter feruaunts entertaine.

Me ill befits, that in derdoing armes,
And honours suit my vowed daies do spend,
Vnto thy bounteous baytes, and pleafing charmes,
With which weake men thou witcheft, to attend:
Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend,
And low abafe the high heroicke ſpright,
That ioyes for crownes and kingdoms to contend;
Faire ſhields, gay ſteedes, bright armes be my delight:
Thoſe be the riches fit for an aduenturous knight.

Vaine glorious Elſe (faide he) doeſt not thou weet,
That money can thy wantes at will ſupply?
Sheilds, ſteeds, and armes, and all things for thee meet
It can purvay in twinckling of an eye;
And crownes and kingdoms to thee multiply.
Do not I kings create, and throw the crowne
Sometimes to him, that low in duſt doth ly?
And him that raignd, into his rowme thrust downe,
And whom I luſt, do heape with glory and renowne?

All otherwife (faide he) I riches read,
And deeme them roote of all diſquietneſſe;
Firſt got with guile, and then preferu'd with dread,
And after ſpent with pride and lauithneſſe,

Leauing

the Faery Queene.

Cant. VII.

Leauing behind them grieſe and heauineſſe.
Infinite miſchefes of them doe arize,
Strife, and debate, bloodſhed, and bitterneſſe,
Outrageous wrong, and helliſh couetize,
That noble heart in great diſhonour doth deſpize.

Ne thine be kingdoms, ne the ſcepters thine;
But realmes and rulers thou doeſt both confound,
And loyall truth to treaſon doeſt incline;
Witneſſe the guiltleſſe blood pourd oft on ground,
The crowned often ſlaine, the ſlayer ground,
The ſacred Diademe in peeces rent,
And purple robe gored with many a wound;
Caſſles ſurprizd, great cities ſackt and brent:
So mak'st thou kings, & gayneſt wrongfull gouernmet.

Long were to tell the troublous ſtormes, that toſſe
The priuate ſtate, and make the life vnſweet:
Who ſwelling ſayles in Caſpian ſea doth croſſe,
And in frayle wood on Adrian gulf doth fleet,
Doth not, I weene, so many euils meet.
Then Mammon wexing wroth, And why then, ſayd,
Are mortall men so fond and vndiſcreet,
So euill thing to ſeeke vnto their ayd,
And hauing not complaine, and hauing it vpbrayd?

Indeede (quoth he) through fowle intemperaunce,
Frayle men are oft captiu'd to couetife:
But would they thinke, with how ſmall allowaunce
Untroubled Nature doth her ſelfe ſuffise,
Such ſuperfluities they would deſpife,
Which with ſad cares empeach our native ioyes :
At the well head the pureſt ſtreames arife:
But mucky filth his braunching armes annoyes,
And with vncomely weedes the gentle waue accloyes.

S 3

275

The

276 The second Booke of

Cant. VII.

The antique world, in his first flowring youth,
Fownd no defect in his Creators grace,
But with glad thankes, and vnreproued truth,
The guifts of soueraine bounty did embrace:
Like Angels life was then mens happy cace;
But later ages pride, like corn-fed fleed,
Abus'd her plenty, and fat swolne encreace
To all licentious luft, and gan exceed

The meaſure of her meane, and naturall first need.

Then gan a curſed hand the quiet wombe
Of his great Grandmother with ſteele to wound,
And the hid treaſures in her ſacred tombe,
With Sacriledge to dig. Therein he fownd
Fountaines of gold and filuer to abownd,
Of which the matter of his huge deſire
And pompous pride eſt ſoones he did compownd;
Then auarice gan through his veines inſpire
His greedy flames; and kindled life-deuouring fire.

Sonne (said he then) lett be thy bitter ſcorne,
And leaue the rudeneſſe of that antique age
To them, that liu'd therin in ſtate forlorne;
Thou that doſt liue in later times, muſt wage
Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage.
If then thee lift my offred grace to vle,
Take what thou pleafe of all this ſurplusage;
If thee lift not, leaue haue thou to refuse:
But thing refused, doe not afterward accufe.

Me lift not (said the Elſin knight) receaue
Thing offred, till I know it well be gott,
Ne wote I, but thou didſt theſe goods bereaue
From rightſull owner by vnrighteouſ lott,

Or

Cant. VII. the Faëry Queene:

277.

Or that bloodguiltneſſe or guile them blott.
Perdy (qd. he) yet neuer eie did vew,
Ne tong did tell, ne hand theſe handled not,
But ſafe I haue them kept in ſecret mew,

From heuens fight, and powre of al which the pourſew.

What ſecret place (qd. he) can safely hold
So huge a maffe, and hide from heauens eie?
Or where haſt thou thy wonne, that ſomuch gold
Thou canſt preferue from wrong and robbery?
Come thou (qd. he.) and ſee. So by and by.
Through that thick couert he him led, and fownd
A darkeſome way, which no man could deſ cry,
That deep defcended through the hollow grownd,
And was with dread and horror compaſſed arownd.

At length they came into a larger ſpace,
That ſtretcht it ſelſe into an ample playne,
Through which a beaten broad high way did trace;
That ſtreight did lead to *Plutoes* grieſtly rayne:
By that wayes ſide, there ſate internall Payne,
And aſt beſide him ſat tumultuous Strife:
The one in hand an yron whip did ſtrayne,
The other brandiſhed a bloody knife,
And both did gnarh their teeth, & both did threten life.

On thother ſide in one confort there ſate,
Cruell Reuenge, and rancorous Despight,
Difloyall Treafon, and hart-burning Hate,
But gnawing Gealofy out of their ſight
Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bight,
And trembl'ng Feare ſtill to and fro did fly,
And found no place, wher ſafe he ſhroud him might,
Lamenting Sorrow did in darknes lye.

And thame his vgly face did hide from liuing eye.

S 4

And

278

The second Booke of

Cant. VII.

And ouer them sad horror with grim hew,
Did alwaies fore, beating his yron wings;
And after him Owles and Night-rauens flew,
The hatefull meffengers of heavy things,
Of death and dolor telling sad tidings;
Whiles sad Celeno, sitting on a clifte,
A song of bale and bitter sorrow flugs,
That hart of flint a fonder could haue rifte:
Which hauing ended, after him the flyeth swifte.

All theſe before the gates of Plut o lay,
By whom they paſſing, ſpake vnto them nought.
But th'Elſin knight with wonder all the way
Did feed his eyes, and ſild his inner thought.
At laſt him to a little dore he brought,
That to the gate of Hell, which gaped wide,
Was next adioyning, ne them parted nought:
Betwtxt them both was but a little ſtride,
That did the houſe of Richeſſe from hellmouth diuide.

Before the dore fat ſelſe-consuming Care,
Day and night keeping wary watch and ward,
For ſeare leaſt Force or Fraud ſhould vnaware
Breake in, and ſpoile the treaſure there in gard:
Ne would he ſuffer Sleepe once thether-ward
Approch, albe his drowſy den were next;
For next to death is Sleepe to be compard:
Therefore his houſe is vnto his annext;
Here Sleep, ther Richeſſe, & Helgate the both betwext.

So foone as Mammon there arriud, the dore
To him did open, and affoorded way;
Him followed eke Sir Guyon euermore,
Ne darkeneſſe him, ne daunger might diſmay.

Soone

Cant. VII.

the Faëry Queene

279

Soone as he entred was, the dore ſtreight way
Did ſhutt, and from behind it forth there lept
An vgly ſeend, more fowle then diſmall day,
The which with monſtrous ſtalke behind him ſtept,
And euer as he went, dew watch vpon him kept.

Well hoped hee, ere long that hardy gueſt,
If euer couetous hand, or luſtfull eye,
Or lips he layd on thing, that likte him beſt,
Or euer sleepe his cieſtrings did vntye,
Should be his pray. And therefore ſtill on hye
He ouer him did hold his cruell clawes,
Threatning with greedy gripe to doe him dye,
And rend in peeces with his rauenous pawes,
If euer he tranſgreſt the fatall Stygian lawes.

That houſes forme within was rude and ſtrong,
Lyke an huge caue, hewne out of rocky clifte,
From whole rough vaut the ragged breaches hong,
Emboſt with maffy gold of glorious guifte,
And with rich metall loaded euery rifte,
That heauy ruine they did ſeeme to threat;
And ouer them Arachne high did lifte
Her cunning web, and ſpred her ſubtile nett,
(Lett. Enwrapped in fowle smoke and clouds more black then

Both roofe, and floore, and walls were all of gold,
But ouergrowne with duſt and old decay,
And hid in darkenes, that none could behold
The hew thereof: for vew of cherefull day
Did neuer in that houſe it ſelſe display,
But a faint ſhadow of vncertein light;
Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away:
Or as the Moone cloathed with slowdy night,
Does ſlew to him, that walkes in ſeare and ſad affright.

In

280

The second Book of Cant. VII.

In all that rowme was nothing to be seene,
But huge great yron chefts and coffers strong,
All bard with double bends, that none could weene.
 Them to efforce by violence or wrong:
On euery side they placed were along.
But all the grownd with sculs was scattered,
And dead mens bones, w hich round about were flög,
Whof liues, it seemed, whilome there were shed,
And their vile carcases now left vnburied.

They forward paffe, ne Guyon yet spoke word,
Till that they came vnto an yron dore,
Which to them opened of his owne accord,
And shewd of richesse such exceeding store,
As eie of man did neuer see before,
Ne euer could within one place be sownd,
Though all the wealth, which is, or was of yore,
Could gathered be through all the world arownd,
And that aboue were added to that vnder grownd.

The charge thereof vnto a couetous Spright
Commaunded was, who thereby did attend,
And warily awaited day and night,
From other couetous feends it to defend,
Who it to rob and ranfacke did intend.
Then Hammon turning to that warriour, said;
Loe here the worldes blis, loe here the end,
To which al men doe ayme, rich to be made:
Such grace now to be happy, is before thee laid.

Certes (fayd he) I n'll thine offred grace,
Ne to be made so happy doe intend:
Another blis before mine eyes I place,
Another happines, another end.

To

281

Cant. VII.

the Faëry Queene.

To them, that lift, theſe bafe regardes I lend:
But I in armes, and in atchicuements braue,
Do rather chooſe my flitting houres to ſpend,
And to be Lord of thoſe, that riches haue,
Then them to haue my ſelfe, and be their ſeruile ſclauë.

Thereat the ſeend his gnafing teeth did grate,
And grieu'd, ſo long to lacke his greedie pray;
For well he weened, that ſo glorious bayte
Would tempt his gueſt, to take thereof affay:
Had he ſo doen, he had him ſnatcht away,
More light then Culuer in the Faulcons ſift.
Eternall God, thee ſaue from ſuch decay.
But whenas Mammon ſaw his purpofe miſt,
Him to entrap vnwares another way he wift.

Thence forward he him Iedd, and ſhortly brought
Vnto another rowme, whose dore forthright,
To him did open, as it had beene taught:
Therein an hundred raunges weren pight,
And hundred fournaces all burning bright;
By euery fournace many ſeendes did byde,
Deformed creatures, horrible in fight,
And euery ſeend his bufſe paines applyde,
To melt the golden metall, ready to be tryde.

One with great bellowes gathered filling ayre,
And with forſt wind the fewell did inflame;
Another did the dying bronds repayre
With dying tongs, and ſprinckled ofte the fame
With liquid waues, ſiers Vulcans rage to tame,
Who mayſtring them, renewd his former heat;
Some ſcund the droſſe, that from the metall came.
Some ſtird the molten owre with ladles great;
And euery one did ſwincke, and euery one did ſweat.

But

282

But when an earthly wight they preſent ſaw,
Gliftring in armes and battailous aray,
From their whot work they did themſelues withdraw
To wonder at the fight: for till that day,
They neuer creature ſaw, that cam that way.
Their ſtaring eyes ſparckling with ſeruent ſyre,
And vgly ſhapes did nigh the man diſmay,
That were it not for ſhame, he would retyre,
Till that him thus beſpake their ſoueraine Lord & ſyre,

Behold, thou Faeries ſonne, with mortall eye,
That liuing eye before did neuer ſee:
The thing, that thou didſt craue so earneſtly,
To weet, whence all the wealth late ſhewd by mee,
Proceeded, lo now is reueald to thee.
Here is the fountaine of the worldes good:
Now therefore, if thou wilt enriched bee,
Auife thee well, and chaunge thy wilfull mood,
Leaſt thou perhaps hereafter with, and be withſtood.

Suffile it then, thou Money God (qd. hee)
That all thine ydle offers I refuse,
All that I need I haue; what needeth mee
To couet more, then] I haue cauſe to vſe?
With ſuch vaine ſhewes thy worldlinges vyle abuſe
But giue me leaue to follow mine emprife,
Mammon was much diſpleaſd, yet no'te he chuſe,
But beare the rigour of his bold meſprife,
And thence him forward ledd, him further to entile.

He brought him through a darkſom narrow ſtrayt,
To a broad gate, all built of beaten gold:
The gate was open, but therein did wayt
A ſturdie villein, ſtryding ſtiffe and bold,

As

CantV.II. the Faery Queene. 283

As if the highest God defy he would;
In his right hand an yron club he held,
And he himſelfe was all of yron mould,
Yet had both life and ſence, and well could weld
That curſed weapon, when his cruell foes he queld.

Diſdayne he called was, and did diſdayne
To beſo cald, and who ſo did him call:
Sterne was his looke, and full of ſtomacke vayne,
His portaunce terrible, and ſtature tall,
Far paſſing th' height of men terreftrially;
Like an huge Gyant of the *Titans* race,
That made him ſcorne all creatures great and ſmall,
And with his pride all others powre deface: (place)
More ſitt emongſt black ſiendes, then men to haue his

Soone as thate glitterand armes he did eſpye,
That with their brightneſſe made that darknes light,
His harmeſull club he gan to hurtle hye,
And threaten batteill to the Faery knight;
Who likewife gan himſelſe to batteill dight,
Till Mammon did his haſty hand withhold,
And counſeld him abſtaine from perilous fight:
For nothing might abaſh the villein bold,
Nemortall ſteele emperce his miſcreated mould.

So hauing him with reaſon pacifyde,
And the fiers Carle commaunding to forbeare,
He brought him in. The rowme was large and wyde,
As it ſome Gyeld or ſolemne Temple weare:
Many great golden pillours did vpbear e
The maffy roofs, and riches huge ſuſtayne,
And euery pillour decked was full deare
With crownes and Diademes, & titles vaine, (rayne)
Which mortall Princes wore, whiles they on earth did

A

284 The second Booke of

Cant. VII.

A route of people there assembled were,
Of every sort and nation vnder skye,
Which with great vprore preaced to draw nere
To th' upper part, where was aduaunced hye
A stately s fi ege of soueraine maiestye,
And thereon satt a woman gorgeous-gay,
And richly cladd in robes of royaltye,
That neuer earthly Prince in such aray
His glory did enhance and pompous pryde display.

Her face right wondrous faire did seeme to bee,
That her broad beauties beam great brightness threw
Through the dim shade, that all men might it see:
Yet was not that fame her owne native hew,
But wrought by art and counterfetted shew,
Thereby more louers vnto her to call;
Nath' leffe moft heuenly faire in deed and vew
She by creation was, till she did fall,
(all,
The ceforth she fought for helps to cloke her crimewith-

There as in gliftring glory she did sitt,
She held a great gold chaine ylincked well,
W hofe vpper end to higheft heuen was knitt,
And lower part did reach to loweft Hell,
And all that preace did rownd about her swell,
To catchen hold of that long chaine, thereby
To climbe aloft, and others to excell:
That was Ambitien, rafh desire to fty,
And euery linck thereof a step of dignity.

Some thought to raife themfelues to high degree,
By riches and vnrighteous reward,
Some by close shouldring, some by flatteree;
Others through friendes, others for bafe regards;

And

Cant. VII: the Faerie Queene.

285

And all by wrong waies for themfelues prepare.
Thofe that were vp themfelues, kept others low,
Thofe that were low themfelues, held others hard,
Neuffred them to ryfe or greater grow,
But euery one did striue his fellow downe to throw.

Which whenas *Guyon* law, he gan inquire,
What meant that preace about that Ladies throne,
And what she was that did so high a spyre,
Him *Mammon* answered, That goodly one,
Whom all that folke with such contention,
Doe flock about, my deare my daughter is,
Honour and dignitie from her alone,
Derived are, and all this worldes blis
For which ye men doe striue: few gett, but many mis.

And fayre Philotime she rightly hight,
The faireft wight that wonneth vnder skye,
But that this darksome neather world her light
Doth dim with horror and deformity,
Worthie of heuen and hye felicitie,
From whence the gods haue her for enuy thrust:
But fith thou haft found fauour in mine eye,
Thy fouse I will her make, if that thou luft,
That she may thee aduance for works and merits iuft.

Gramercy Mammom (said the gentle knight)
For so great grace and offred high eftate,
But I, that am fraile felfh and earthly wight,
Vnworthy match for such immortall mate,
My felfe well wote, and mine vnequall fate,
And were I not, yet is my trouth yplight,
And loue auowd to other Lady late,
That to remoue the fame I haue no might:
To change loue cauſeleſſe is reproch to warlike knight

Mammon

286

Mammon emmoued was with inward wrath;
Yet forcing it to fayne,him forth thence ledd
Through grieſtly ſhadowes by a beaten path,
Into a gardin goodly garniſhed
With hearbs & fruits,whoſe kinds mote not be redd,
Not ſuch, as earth out of her fruitfull woomb
Throwes forth to men ſweet and well ſavored,
But direfull deadly black both leafe and bloom,
Fitt to adorne the dead and deck the drery toombe.

There mournfull Cypreſſe grew in greateſt ſtore,
And trees of bitter Gall, and Heben ſad,
Dead ſleeping Poppy, and black Hellebore,
Cold Cologuintida, and Tetra mad,
Mortall Samnitis, and Cicuta bad,
Which with th'vniuſt Atheniens made to dy
Wife Socrates, who thereof quaffing glad
Pourd out his life,and laſt Philofophy
To the fayre Critias his deareſt Belamy.

The Gardin of Proserpina this hight,
And in the midſt thereof a filuer ſeat,
With a thick Arber goodly ouerdight,
In which ſhe often vid from open heat
Her ſelſe to ſhroud,and pleaſures to entreat,
Next thereunto did grow a goodly tree,
With braunches broad diſpredd and body great,
Clothed with leaues, that none the wood mote ſee
And loaden all with fruit as thick as it might bee.

Their fruit were golden apples gliftring bright,
That goodly was their glory to behold,
On earth like neuer grew, ne liuing wight
Like euer ſaw, but they from hence were ſold;

For

the Faerie Queene.

Cant. VIII.

For thoſe, which Hercules with conquelt bold
Got from great Atlas daughters, hence began,
And planted there, did bring forth fruit of gold
And thoſe, with which the Eubean young man wan
Swift Atalanta, when through craft he her out ran.

Here alſo ſprong that goodly golden fruit,
With which Acontius got his louer trew,
Whom he had long time ſought with fruitiſſe ſuit:
Here eke that famous golden Apple grew,
The which emongeſt the Gods falſe Ate threw :
For which th' Idean Ladies diſagreed,
Till partiall Paris dempt it Venus dew,
And had of her, fayre Helen for his meed,
That many noble Greekes and Troians made to bleed.

The warlike Elſe, much wondred at this tree,
So fayre and great, that ſhadowed all the ground,
And his broad braunches, laden with rich ſee,
Did ſtretch themſelues without the vmoſt bound
Of this great gardin, compaſt with a mound,
Which ouer-hanging, they themſelues did ſteepe,
In a blacke flood which flow'd about it round,
That is the riuer of Cocytus deepe,
In which full many ſoules do endleſſe wayle and weepe,

Which to behold, he clomb vp to the bancke,
And looking downe, ſaw many damned wightes,
In thoſe ſad waues, which direfull deadly ſtancke,
Plonged continually of cruell Sprightes,
That with their piteous crye, and yelling ſhrightes,
They made the further ſhore refounden wide:
Emongt the reſt of thoſe fame ruefull ſightes,
One curſed creature, he by chaunce eſpide,
That drenched lay full deepe, vnder the Garden ſide.

T

287

Deep

288

The second Booke of

Cant. VIII.

Deepe was he drenched to the vpmoft chin,
Yet gaped still as coueting to drinke,
Of the cold liquour which he waded in,
And stretching forth his hand, did often thinke
To reach the fruit which grew vpon the brincke:
But both the fruit from hand, and flood from mouth
Did fly abacke, and made him vainely ſwincke:
The whiles he ſteru'd with hunger, and with drouth
He daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.

The knight him feeing labour so in vaine,
Askt who he was, and what he ment thereby:
Who groning deepe, thus anſwerd him againe;
Moſt curſed of all creatures vnder skye,
Lo *Tantalus*, I here tormented lye :
Of whom high *Ioue* wont whylome feaſted bee,
Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:
But if that thou be ſuch, as I theee ſee,
Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.

Nay, nay, thou greedy *Tantalus* (quoth he)
Abide the fortune of thy preſent fate,
And vnto all that liue in high degree,
Enſample be of mind more temperate,
To teach them how to vſe their preſent ſtate.
Then gan the curſed wretch alowd to cry,
Accuſing higheſt *Ioue* and gods ingrate,
And eke blaſpheming heauen bitterly,
As auθour of vniuſtice, there to let him dye.

He lookt a little further, and eſpyde
Another wretch, whose carcas deepe was drent
Within the riuer, which the fame did hyde:
But both his handses moſt filthy ſeculent,

Above

Cant. VIII.

the Faerie Queene.

289

Aboue the water were on high extent,
And faynd to waſh them ſelues inceſſantly,
Yet nothing cleaner were for ſuch intent,
But rather fowler ſeemed to the eye,
So loſt his labour vaine, and ydle induſtry.

The knight him calling, asked who he was,
Who lifting vp his head, him anſwerd thus:
I *Pilate* am the falſeſt Iudge, alas,
And moſt vniuſt that by vnrighteous
And wicked doome to Iewes deſpiteous,
Deliuered vp the Lord of life to dye,
And did acqueite a murdrer ſelonous,
The whiles my handses I waſht in purity,
The whiles my ſoule was ſoyld with fowle iniquity.

Infinite moe, tormented in like paine
He there beheld, too long here to be told :
Ne *Mammon* would there let him long remayne,
For terrouer of the tortures manifold,
In which the damned ſoules he did behold,
But roughly him beſpake. Thou ſeaſeſull ſoole
Why takeſt not of that fame ſruite of gold,
Ne ſitteſt downe on that fame ſiluer ſtoole,
To reſt thy weary perſon, in the ſhadow coole.

All which he did, to do him deadly fall,
In frayle intemperaunce through ſinfull bayt,
To which if he inclyned had at all,
That dreadfull ſeend, which did behinde him wayt,
Would him haue rent in thouſand peeces ſtrayt:
But he was wary wife in all his way,
And well perceiued his deceptſull ſleight,
Ne ſuſſred luſt his ſafety to betray;
Sogoodly did beguile the Guyler of his pray.

T 2

And

290 The second Booke of

Cant. VIII.

And now he has so long remained theare,
That vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan,
For want of food,and sleepe, which two vpbeare,
Like mightie pillours, this frayle life of man,
That none without the fame enduren can.
For now three dayes of men were full outwrought,
Since he this hardy enterprize began:
For thy great Mammon fayrely he be sought,
Into the world to guyde him backe, as he him brought.

The God, though loth, yet was conſtraynd to obay,
For lenger time, then that, no liuing wight
Below the earth, might ſuffred be to fly:
So backe againe, him brought to liuing light.
But all so soone as his enfeebled ſpright,
Gan fucke this vitall ayre into his breſt,
As ouercome with too exceeding might,
The life did flit away out of her neſt,
And all his ſences were with deadly fit oppreſt.

## Cant. VIII.

Sir Guyon layd in ſwowne is by
Acrates ſonnes deſpoyld,

Whom Arthure soone hath reskewed
And Paynim brethren ſoyld.

And is there care in heauen ? and is their loue
In heauenly ſpirits to these creatures bace,
That may compassion of their euilles moue ?
There is: else much more wretched were the cace

Of

291 the Faëry Queene.

292

Of men then beaſt. But O th' exceeding grace
Of highest God, that loues his creatures so,
And all his workes with mercy doth embrace,
That bleſſed Angels, he ſends to and fro,
To ſerue to wicked man, to ſerue his wicked foe.

How oft do they, their filuer bowers leaue,
To come to ſuccour vs, that ſuccour want,
How oft do they with golden pineons, cleaue
The flitting skyes, like flying Purſuiuant,
Against fowle ſeendes to ayd vs militant:
They for vs fight, they watch and dewly ward,
And their bright Squadrons round about vs plant,
And all for loue, and nothing for reward:
O why should heuenly God to men haue ſuch regard.

During the while, that Guyon did abide
In Mamons houſe, the Palmer, whom whyleare
That wanton Mayd of paſſage had denide,
By further ſearch had paſſage found elsewhere,
And being on his way, approched neare,
Where Guyon lay in traunce, when ſuddeinly
He heard a voyce, that called lowd and cleare,
Come hether, come hether, O come haſtily,
That all the fields reſounded with the ruefull cry.

The Palmer lent his eare vnto the noyce,
To weet, who called so importunely:
Againe he heard a more efforced voyce,
That bad him come in hafte. He by and by
His feeble feet direſted to the cry;
Which to that ſhady delue him brought at laſt,
Where Mammon earſt did ſunne his threaſury:
There the good Guyon he found ſlumbring ſaſt
In ſenceles dreames; which fight at firſt him ſore aghaſt.

T 3

Befide

292

Beside his head there fatt a faire young man,
Of wondtous beauty, and of fresh left yeares,
Whof tender bud to bloffome new began,
And florith faire aboue his equall peares;
His snowy front curled with golden heares,
Like Phœbus face adornd with funny rayes,
Diuinely ſhone, and two ſharpe winged theares,
Decked with diuerſe plumes, like painted layes,
Were fixed at his backe, to cut his ayery wayes.

Like as Cupido on Idean hill,
When hauing laid his cruell bow away,
And mortall arrowes, wherewith he doth fill
The world with murdrous spoiles and bloody pray,
With his faire mother he him dights to play,
And with his goodly lifters, Graces three;
The Goddeſſe pleafed with his wanton play,
Suffers her ſelfe through sleepe beguild to bee,
The whiles the other Ladies mind theyr mery glee.

Whom when the Palmer ſaw, abafth he was
Through fear and wonder, that he nought could ſay,
Till him the childe beſpoke, Long lackt, alas,
Hath bene thy faithfull aide in hard affay,
Whiles deadly fit thy pupill doth difmay;
Behold this heavy fight, thou reuerend Sire,
But dread of death and dolor doe away;
For life ere long ſhall to her home retire,
And he that breathleſſe ſeems, that corage bold reſpire,

The charge, which God doth vnto me arrett,
Of his deare safety, I to thee commend;
Yet will I not forgoe, ne yet forgett
The care thereof, my ſelfe vnto the end,

But

Cant. VIII.
the Faery Queene.

293

But euermore him ſuccour, and defend
Againſt his foe and mine: watch thou I pray;
For euill is at hand him to offend.
So hauing ſaid, eftsoones he gan display
His painted nimble wings, and vanifht quite away.

The Palmer ſecing his leſte empty place,
And his flow eies beguiled of their fight,
Woxe ſore affraid, and ſtanding ſtill a ſpace,
Gaz'd after him, as fowle eſcapt by flight;
At laſt him turning to his charge behight,
With trembling hand his troubled pulſe gan try,
Where finding life not yet diſlodged quight,
He much reioyſt, and courd it tenderly,
As chicken newly hatcht, from dreaded deſtiny.

At laſt he ſpide, where towards him did pace
Two Paynim knights, al armd as bright as skie;
And them beſide an aged Sire did trace,
And far before a light-foote Page did ſlie,
That breathed ſtrife and troublous enmities;
Thofe were the two ſonnes of Acrates old,
Who meeting earſt with Archimage ſlie,
Foreby that idle ſtrond, of him were told,
That he, which earſt them combatted, was Guyon bold.

Which to auenge on him they dearily vowd,
Where euerm that on ground they mote him find;
False Archimage prouokte their corage prowd,
And ſtryful Amin in their stubborne mind
Coles of contention and whot vengeaunce tind.
Now bene they come, whereas the Palmer late,
Keeping that ſlombred corſe to him affind;
Well knew they both his perſon, ſith of late
With him in bloody armes they rafhly did debate.

T 4

Whom

294 The second Booke of

Cant.VIII.

Whom when Pyrochles saw, inflam'd with rage,
That fire he fowl bespake, Thou dotard vile,
That with thy bruteneſſe ſhendſt thy comely age,
Abandon ſoone, I read, the caytiue ſpoile
Of that fame outcaſt carcas, that ere while
Made it ſelſe famous through falſe trechery,
And crowd the soward creſt with knightly ſtiler,
Loe where he now inglorious doth lye,
To prooue he liu'd il, that did thus fowly dye.

To whom the Palmer fearleſſe anſwered,
Certes, Sir knight, ye bene too much to blame,
Thus for to blott the honor of the dead,
And with fowle cowardize his carcas ſhame,
Whofe liuing handes immortalizd his name,
Vile is the vengeaunce on the aſhes cold,
And enuy bafe, to barke at ſleeping fame:
Was neuer wight, that treaſon of him told;
Your ſelf his prowefle prou'd & found him fiers & bold.

Then ſayd Cymochles, Palmer, thou döſt dote,
Ne canſt of prowefle, ne of knighthood deeme,
Saue as thou ſeeſt or hearſt. But well I wote,
That of his puiffaunce tryall made extreeme;
Yet gold al is not, that doth golden ſeeme,
Ne all good knights, that ſhake well ſpeare & ſhield:
The worth of all men by their end eſteeme,
And then dew præife, or dew reproch them yield;
Bad therefore I him deeme, that thus lies dead on field.

Good or bad, gan his brother fiers reply.
What doe I recke, ſith that he dide entire?
Or what doth his bad death now ſatiffy,
The greedy hunger of reuenging yre,

Sith

Cant. VIII. the Faëry Queene

295

Sith wrathfull hand wrought not her owne desire?
Yet ſince ho way is leſte to wreake my ſpight,
I will him reaue of armes, the victors hire,
And of that ſhield, more worthy of good knight;
For why ſhould a dead dog be deckt in armour bright?

Fayr Sir, faid then the Palmer ſuppliaunt,
For knighthoods loue, doe not ſo fowle a deed,
Ne blame your honor with ſo ſhamefull vaunt
Of vile reuenge. To ſpoile the dead of weed
Is sacrilege, and doth all ſinnes exceed;
But leaue theſe relicks of his liuing might,
To decke his herce, and trap his tomblacke ſteed.
What herce or ſteed (faid he) ſhould he haue dight,
But be entombed in the rauen or the kight?

With that, rude hand vpon his ſhield he laid,
And th'other brother gan his vnlace,
Both fiercely bent to haue him diſaraid;
Till that they spyde, where towards them did pace
An armed knight, of bold and bounteous grace,
Whofe ſquire bore after him an heben launce,
And couerd ſhield. Well kend him ſo far ſpace
Th'enchaunter by his armes and amenaunce,
When vnder him he saw his Lybian ſteed to praunce.

And to thofe brethren ſayd, Rife rife byliue,
And vnto batteil doe your ſelues addreſſe;
For yonder comes the proweſt knight aliue,
Prince Arthur, flowre of grace and nobileſſe,
That hath to Paynim knights wrought gret diſtreſſe,
And thouſand Sar'zins fowly donne to dye.
That word ſo deepe did in their harts imprefſſe,
That both eſtſoones vpſtarted furiouſly,
And gan them ſelues prepare to batteill greedily.

But

The second Book of

Cant. VIII;

But fiers Pyrrochles, lacking his owne sword,
The want thereof now greatly gan to plaine,
And Archimage besought, him that afford,
Which he had brought for Braggadochio vaine.
So would I (said th'enchaunter) glad and faine
Beteeme to you this sword, you to defend,
Or ought that els your honor might maintaine,
But that this weapons powre I well haue kend,
To be contrary to the worke, which ye intend.

For that fame knights owne sword this is of yore,
Which *Merlin* made by his almightie art,
For that his nourfling, when he knighthoodfwore,
Therewith to doen his foes eternall smart.
The metall firſt he mixt with *Medewart*,
That no enchaunment from his dint might faue,
Then it in flames of *Aetna* wrought apart,
And ſeuen times dipped in the bitter wae
Of helliſh *Styx*, which hidden vertue to it gaue.

The vertue is, that nether steele, nor ſtone
The stroke thereof from entraunce may defend,
Ne euer may be vsed by his ſone,
Ne forſt his rightful owner to offend,
Ne euer will it breake, ne euer bend.
Wherefore *Mordure* it rightfully is hight.
In vaine therefore, *Pyrrochles*, I should I lend
The fame to thee, againſt his lord to fight;
For ſure yt would deceiue thy labor, and thy might

Fooliſh old man, said then the Pagan wroth,
That weeneſt words or charms may force withſtond:
Soone (halt thou ſee, and then beleeue for troth,
That I can carue with this inchaunted brond

His

Cant. VII. 1.

the Faëry Queene.

His Lords owne ſlesh. Therewith out of his hond
That vertuous ſteele he rudely ſnatcht away,
And *Guyons* ſhield about his wreft he bond;
So ready dight, ſierce battaile to affay,
And match his brother proud in battailous aray.

By this that ſtraunger knight in prefence came,
And goodly falued them; who nought againe
Him anſWERed, as courteſe became,
But with ſterne lookes, and ſtomachous diſdaine,
Gaue ſignes of grudge and diſcontentment vaine:
Then turning to the Palmer, he gan ſpy
Where at his feet, with ſorrowfull demayne
And deadly hew, an armed corſe did lye,
In whose dead face he redd great magnanimity.

Sayd he then to the Palmer, Reuerend ſyre,
What great misfortune hath beidd this knighte
Or did his life her fatall date expyre,
Or did he fall by treaſon, or by fight?
How euer, ſure I rew his pitteous plight.
Not one, nor other, ſayd the Palmer graue,
Hath him befalne, but cloudes of deadly nighte.
A while his heavy eylids couer'd haue,
And all his ſences drowned in deep ſenceleſſe wae.

Which, thoſe fame foes, that stand hereby,
Making aduauntage, to reuenge their ſpight,
Would him diſarme, and treaten ſhamefully,
Vaworthie vſage of redoubted knight.
But you, faire Sir, whoſe honourable ſight
Doth promife hope of helpe, and timely grace,
Mote I be ſeech to ſuccour his ſad plight,
And by your powre proteſt his feeble cace.
First prays e of knighthood is, fowle outrage to deface.

Palmer

298

Palmer, (said he) no knight so rude, I weene,
As to doen outrage to a sleeping gholt:
Ne was there euer noble corage feene,
That in aduauntage would his puiffaunce boft:
Honour is leaft, where oddes appeareth moft.
May bee, that better reafon will aswage,
The rafh reuengers heat. Words well dispoft
Haue secrete powre, t'appeafe inflamed rage:
If not, leaue vnto me thy knights laft patronage.

Tho turning to thofe brethren, thus befpoke,
Ye warlike payre, whose valorous great might
It seemes, iuſt wronges to vengeaunce doe prouoke,
To wreake your wrath on this dead feeming knight,
Mote ought allay the ſtorme of your deſpight,
And fettle patience in ſo furious heat?
Not to debate the chalenge of your right,
But for this carkas pardon I entreat,
Whom fortune hath already laid in loweſt ſeat.

To whom Cymochles ſaid, For what art thou,
That mak'ſt thy ſelfe his dayes-man, to prolong
The vengeaunce preſt? Or who ſhall let me now,
On this vile body from to wreak my wrong,
And make his carkas as the outcaſt dong?
Why ſhould not that dead carrion ſatifye
The guilt, which if he liued had thus long,
His life for dew reuenge ſhould deare abye?
The trefpas ſtill doth liue, albee the perſon dye.

Indeed, then ſaid the Prince, the euill donne
Dyes not, when breath the body firſt doth leaue,
But from the grandſyre to the Nephewes ſonne,
And all his ſeede the curſe doth often cleaue,

Till

Cant. VIIIL the Faerie Queene. 299

Till vengeaunce vtterly the guilt bereaue:
So ſtreightely God doth iudge. But gentle knight,
That doth againſt the dead his hand vpreare,
His honour ſtaines with rancour and deſpight,
And great diſparament makes to his former might.

Pyrrhochles gan reply the ſecond tyme,
And to him ſaid, Now felon ſure I read,
How that thou art partaker of his cryme:
Therefore by Termagaunt thou ſhalt be dead.
With that his hand, more ſad then lomp of lead,
Vplifting high, he weened with Morddure,
His owne good ſword Morddure, to cleaue his head.
The faithfull ſteele ſuch treaſon no'uld endure,
But ſwaruing from the marke, his Lordes life did affure.

Yet was the force so furious and so ſell,
That horſe and man it made to reele aſyde;
Nath'leſſe the Prince would not forſake his ſell:
For well of yore he learned had to ryde,
But full of anger fierſly to him cryde;
Fals ſtraitour miſcreaunt, thou broken haſt
The law of armes, to ſtrike foe vndefide.
But thou thy treaſons fruit, I hope, ſhalt taſte
Right ſowre, & ſeele the law, the which thou haſt deſaſt

With that his balefull ſpeare, he fiercely bent
Againſt the Pagons breſt, and therewith thought
His curſed life out of her lodg haue rent:
But ere the point arriued, where it ought,
That ſeuen fold ſhield, which he from Guyon brought
He caſt between toward the bitter ſtownd: (wrought
Through all that ſe foldes the ſteelehead paſſage
And through his ſhoulder perſt; wherwith to grouſd
He groueling ſell, all gored in his guſhing wound.

Which

300 The second Booke of

Cant. VIII.

Which when his brother saw, fraught with great griefe
And wrath, he to him leaped furiously,
And fowly faide, By Mahoune, cursed thiefe,
That direfull stroke thou dearely shalt aby.
Then hurling vp his harmefull blade on hy,
Smote him so hugely on his haughtie creft,
That from his faddle forced him to fly:
Els mot it needes downe to his manly breft
Haue cleft his head in twaine, and life thence dispoſſeſt

Now was the Prince in daungerous diſtreſſe,
Wanting his ſword, when he on foot ſhould fight:
His ſingle ſpeare could doe him ſmall redreſſe,
Againſt two foes of ſo exceeding might,
The leaſt of which was match for any knight:
And now the other, whom he earſt did daunt,
Had reard him ſelfe againe to cruel fight,
Three times more furious, and more puiffaunt,
Vnmindfull of his wound, of his fate ignoraunt.

So both attonce him charge on either ſyde,
With hideous ſtrokes, and importable powre,
That forced him his ground to trauerſe wyde,
And wiserly watch to ward that deadly ſtowre:
For in his ſhield, as thicke as ſtormie ſhowre,
Their ſtrokes did raine, yet did he neuer quaile,
Ne backward ſhrinke, but as a ſtedſaft towre,
Whom foe with doubly battry doth affaile, (uaile,
Them on her bulwarke beares, and bids them nought a-

So ſtoutly he withſtood their ſtrong affay,
Till that at laſt, when he aduantage ſpyde,
His poynant ſpeare he thrust with puiffant ſway
At proud Cymochles, whiles his ſhield was wyde,
That

Cant. VII. II.

the Faerie Queene.

301

That through his thigh the mortall ſteele did gryde:
He ſwaruing with the force, within his fleſh
Did breake the launce, and let the head abyde:
Out of the wound the redblood flowed freſh,
That vnderneath his feete ſoone made a purple pleſh.

Horribly then he gan to rage, and rayle,
Curling his Gods, and him ſelfe damning deepe:
Als when his brother ſaw the redblood rayle
Adowne ſo faſt, and all his armour ſteepe,
For very felneſſe lowd he gan to weepe,
And ſaid, Caytiue, curſe on thy cruell hond,
That twife hath ſpedd, yet ſhall it not thee keepe
From the third brunt of this my fatall brond: (ſtond.
Lo where the dreadfull Death behynd thy backe doth

With that he ſtrooke, and thother ſtrooke withall,
That nothing ſeemd mote beare ſo moſtrous might:
The one vpon his couered ſhield did fall,
And glauncing downe would not his owner byre:
But thother did vpon his troncheon ſmyte,
Which hewing quite a ſunder, further way
It made, and on his hacqueton did lyte,
The which diuiding with importune ſway,
It ſeizd in his right ſide, and there the dint did ſtay.

Wyde was the wound, and a large lukewarme ſlood,
Red as the Rose, thence guſhed grieuouſly,
That when the Paynym ſpyde the ſtreaming blood,
Gave him great hart, and hope of victory.
On thother ſide, in huge perplexity,
The Prince now ſtood, hauing his weapon broke;
Nought could he hurt, but ſtill at warde did ly:
Yet with his troncheon he ſo rudely ſtroke
Cymochles twife, that twife him forſt his foote reuoke.

Whom

302 The second Booke of Cant. VIII.

Whom when the Palmer saw in such diftresse,
Sir *Guyons* sword he lightly to him raught,
And said, fayre Sonne, great god thy right had bleffe,
To vse that word so well, as he it ought.
Glad was the knight, & with fresh courage fraught,
When as againe he armed felt his hond;
Then like a Lyon, which hath long time fraught
His robbed whelpes and at the last them fond
Emongst the hepeheard fwaynes, then wexeth wood &
(yond.

So fierce he laid about him, and dealt blowes
On either side, that neither mayle could hold,
Ne shield defend the thunder of his throwes:
Now to *Pyrrhochles* many strokes he told;
Eft to *Cymochles* twife so many fold:
Then backe againe turning his bufse hond,
Them both at once compeld with courage bold,
To yield wide way to his hart-thrilling brond;
And though they both ftood stiffe, yet could not both
(with STOFTEND,

As faluage Bull, whom two fierce maities bayt,
When rancour doth with rage him once engore,
Forgets with wary warde them to awayt,
But with his dreadfull hornes them driues afore,
Or flings aloft or treads downe in the flore,
Breathing out wrath, and bellowing difdaine,
That all the foreft quakes to heare him rore:
So rag'd Prince *Arthur* twixt his foemen twaine,
That neither could his mightie puiffaunce fultaine.

But euer at *Pyrrhochles* when he smitt,
Who *Guyons* shield caft euer him before.
Whereon the Faery Queenes pourtraict was writ,
His hand relented, and the stroke forbore,
And

Cant. VIII. the Faery Queene. 303

And his deare hart the picture gan adore,
Which oft the Paynim sau'd from deadly stowre.
But him henceforth the fame can faue no more;
For now arruied is his fatall howre,
That no'te auoyded be by earthly skill or powre.

For when *Cymochles* saw the fowle reproch,
Which them appeached, prickt with guiltie fhame,
And inward griefe, he fiercely gan approach,
Refou'd to put away that loathly blame,
Or dye with honour and desert of fame;
And on the haubergh stroke the Prince so fore,
That quite disparted all the linked frame,
And pierced to the skin, but bit not thore,
Yet made him twife to reele, that neuer moou'd afore.

Whereat renfierft with wrath and sharp regret,
He stroke so hugely with his borowd blade,
That it empieft the Pagans burganet,
And cleauing the hard steele, did deepe inuade
Into his head, and cruell paflage made (ground,
Quite through his brayne. He tombling downe on
Breathe out his ghoft, which to th'infernall shade
Faft flying, there eternall torment found,
For all the finnes, wherewith his lewd life did abound.

Which when his german saw, the stony feare,
Ran to his hart, and all his fence difmayd,
Ne thenceforth life ne corage did appeare,
But as a man, whom hellifh feendes haue frayd,
Long trembling fthil he ftoode: at last thus fayd,
Traytour what haft thou doen ? how euer may
Thy curled hand so cruelly haue fwayd
Againft that knight: Morrow and well away,
After lo wicked deede why liu'ft thou lenger day?

With

V

304 The second Booke of

Cant. VIII.

With that all desperate as loathing light,
And with reuenge defyring soone to dye,
Assembling all his force and vtnofft might,
With his owne ſwerd he fierce at him did flye,
And ſtrooke, and foynd, and laſht outrageouſly,
Withouten reaſon or regard. We'll knew
The Prince, with pacience and ſufferaunce fly
So haſty heat soone cooled to ſubdew :
Tho when this breathleſſe woxe, that batteil gan renew.

As when a windy tempeſt bloweth hye,
That nothing may withstand his ſtormy ſtowre,
The clowdes, as things affrayd, before him flye,
But all ſo soone as his outrageous powre
Is layd, they fiercely then begin to ſhowre,
And as in ſcorne of his ſpent ſtormy ſpight,
Now all atonce their malice forth do pourre;
So did Sir *Guyon* beare himſelfe in fight,
And ſuffred rafh *Pyrrhochles* wafte his ydle might.

At laſt when as the Sarazin perceiu'd,
How that ſtraunge ſword reſuſd, to ſerue his neede,
But when he ſtroke moſt ſtrong, the dint deceiu'd,
He ſlong it from him, and deuoyd of dreed,
Vpon him lightly leaping without heed,
Twixt his two mighty armes engraſped ſaſt,
Thinking to ouerthrowe and downe him tred:
But him in ſtrength and skill the Prince ſurpaſt,
And through his nimble ſleight did vnder him down caſt

Nought booted it the Paynim then to ſtrue;
For as a Bittur in the Eagles clawe,
That may not hope by flight to ſcape aliume,
Still waytes for death with dread and trembling aw,
So

305

Cant. VIII.

the Faerie Queene.

So he now ſubieſt to the victours law,
Did not once moue, nor vpward caſt his eye,
For vile diſdaine and rancour, which did gnaw
His hart in twaine with ſad melancholy,
As one that loathed life, and yet deſpyſd to dye.

But full of princely bounty and great mind,
The Conquerour nought cared him to ſlay,
But caſting wronges and all reuenge behind,
More glory thought to giue life, then decay,
And ſayd, Paynim, this is thy diſmall day;
Yet if thou wilt renounce thy miſcreaunce,
And my trew liegeman yield thy ſelfe for ay,
Life will I graunt thee for thy valiaunce,
And all thy wronges will wipe out of my ſouenaunce.

Foole (ſayd the Pagan) I thy gift deſye,
But vſe thy fortune, as it doth befall,
And ſay, that I not ouercome doe dye,
But in deſpight of life, for death doe call.
Wroth was the Prince, and ſory yet withall,
That he ſo wilfully reſuſed grace;
Yet ſith his ſate ſo cruelly did fall,
His ſhining Helmet he gan ſoone vnlace,
And left his headleſſe body bleeding all the place.

By this Sir *Guyon* from his traunce awakt,
Life hauing mayſtered her ſenceleſſe foe;
And looking vp, when as his ſhield he lakt,
And ſword ſaw not, he wexed wondrous woe:
But when the Palmer, whom he long ygoe
Had loft, he by him ſpyde, right glad he grew,
And ſaide, Deare ſir, whom wandring to and fro
I long haue lackt, I ioy thy face to vew;
Firme is thy faith, whom daunger neuer fro me drew.

V 2

Bust

306 The second Booke of Cant. VIIII.

But read, what w'icked hand hath robbed mee
Of my good fword and flield? The Palmer glad,
With so fresh hew vprying him to see,
Him anſwered; fayre ſonne, be no whit ſad
For want of weapons, they ſhall ſoone be had.
So gan he to diſcourſe the whole debate,
Which that ſtraunge knight for him ſuſtained had,
And thofe two Sarazins confounded late,
Whoſe carcaſes on ground were horribly proſtrate.

Which when he heard, and saw the tokens trew,
His hart with great affection was embayd,
And to the Prince with bowing reuerence dew,
As to the Patrone of his life, thus ſayd;
My Lord, my liege, by whoſe moſt gratious ayd
I liue this day, and ſee my foes ſubdewd,
What may ſuffiſe, to be for meede repayd
Of so great graces, as ye haue me ſhewd,
But to be euer bound

To whom the Infant thus, Fayre Sir, what need
Good turnes be counted, as a ſeruile bond,
To bind their dooers, to receiue their meed?
Are not all knightes by oath bound, to withſtond
Oppreſſours powre by armes and puiflant hond?
Suffiſe, that I haue done my dew in place.
So goodly purpose they together fond,
Of kindneſſe and of courteous aggrace;
The whiles falſe Archimage and Atin ſled apace.

Cant.

307 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX.

Cant. IX.

The house of Temperance, in which
doth ſober Alma dwell,
Befieſd of many foes, whom ſtraunger
knights to flight compell.

O F all Gods workes, which doe this world adorne,
There is no one more faire and excellent,
Then is m ans body both for powre and forme,
Whiles it is kept in ſober gouernment;
But none then it, more fowle and incedent,
Diftempred through miſrule and paſſions bace:
It growes a Monster, and incontinent
Doth looke his dignity and native grace.
Behold, who lift, both one and other in this place.

After the Paynim brethren conquer'd were,
The Briton Prince recou'ring his ſtolne ſword,
And Guyon his loft ſhield, they both yfere
Forth paſled on their way in fayre accord,
Till him the Prince with gentle court did bord;
Sir knight, mote I of you this court'ſy read,
To weet why on your ſhield so goodly ſcord
Beare ye the picture of that Ladies head?
Full liuely is the ſemblaunt, though the ſubſtance dead.

Fayre Sir (fayd he) if in that picture dead
Such life ye read, and vertue in vaine ſhew,
What mote ye weene, if the trew liuely-head
Of that moſt glorious viſage ye did vew?

V 3

But

308 The second Booke of

Cant. IX.

But yf the beauty of her mind ye knew,
That is her bounty, and imperiall powre,
Thoufand times fairer then her mortal hew,
O how great wonder would your thoughts deuoure,
And infinite desire into your ſpirite ponre.

Shee is the mighty Queene of Faëry,
Whose faire retrait I in my ſhield doe beare;
Shee is the flowre of grace and chafity,
Throughout the world renownede far and neare,
My liefe, my liege, my Soueraine, my deare,
Whose glory ſhineth as the morning ſtarre,
And with her light the earth enlumines cleare;
Far reach her mercies, and her praises ſarre,
As well in ſtate of peace, as puiffaunce in warre.

Thrifé happy man, (said then the Briton knight)
Whom gracious lott, and thy great valiaunce
Haue made thee ſoldier of that Princesſe bright,
Which with her bounty and glad countenaunce
Doth bleſſe her ſeruaunts, and them high aduaunce,
How may ſtraunge knight hope euer to aspire,
By faithfull ſeruice, and meete amenaunce,
Vnto ſuch bliffe ? ſufficient were that hire
For loſſe of thouſand liues, to die at her desire.

Said Guyon, Noble Lord, what meed so great,
Or grace of earthly Prince so ſoueraine,
But by your wondrous worth add warlike feat
Ye well may hope, and eafely attaine?
But were your will, her ſold to entertaine,
And numbred be mongſt knights of Maydenhed,
Great guerdon, well I wot, ſhould you remaine,
And in her fauor high bee reckoned,
As Arthogall, and Sophy now bcene honored.

Certes

Cant. I. X. the Faëry Queene.

319

Certes (then said the Prince) I God auow,
That ſith I armes and knighthood firſt did plight,
My whole desire hath beene, and yet is now,
To ferue that Queene with al my powre and might.
Seuen times the Sunne with his lamp-burning light,
Hath walkte about the world, and I no leſſe,
Sith of that Goddeſſe I haue ſought the fight,
Yet no where can her find : ſuch happineſſe
Heuen doth to me enuy, and fortune fauourleſſe.

Fortune, the foe of famous cheuifaunce
Seldome (said Guyon) yields to vertue aide,
But in her way throwes miſchieſe and miſchaunce,
Whereby her courſe is ſtopt, and paſſage ſtand.
But you, faire Sir, be not herewith diſmaid,
But conſtant keepe the way, in which ye ſtand;
Which were it not, that I am els delaid
With hard adventure, which I haue in hand,
I labour would to guide you through al Fary land.

Gramercy Sir (said he) but mote I wote,
What ſtraunge aduenture doe ye now purſew?
Perhaps my ſuccour, or aduizement meete
Mote ſtead you much your purpofe to ſubdew.
Then gan Sir Guyon all the ſtory ſhew
Offalle Acrasia, and her wicked wiles,
Which to auenge, the Palmer him forth drew
From Faëry court. So talked they, the whiles
They waſted had much way, and meaſurd many miles.

And now faire Phœbus gan decline in hafte
His weary wagon to the Weſterne vale,
Whenas they ipide a goodly caſtle, plafte
Foreby a river in a pleafaunt dale,

V 4

Which

310 The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

Which choosing for that euenings hospitale,
They thether marcht: but when they came in fight,
And from their fweaty Courfers did auale,
They found the gates faft barred long ere night,
And euery loup faft lockt, as fearing foes despight.

Which when they saw, they weened fowle reproch
W as to them doen, their entraunce to forſtall,
Till that the Squire gan nigher to approch,
And wind his horne vnder the caſtle wall,
That with the noife it ſhooke; as it would fall.
Eſtſoones forth looked from the higheſt spire
The watch, and lowd vnto the knights did call,
To weete, what they ſo rudely did require.
Who gently anſwered, They entraunce did deſire.

Fly fly, good knights, (said he) fly faſt away
If that your liues yeloue, as meete ye ſhould;
Fly faſt, and faue your ſelues from neare decay,
Here may ye not haue entraunce, though we would:
We would and would againe, if that we could;
But thouſand enemies about vs raue,
And with long ſiege vs in this caſtle hould:
Seuen yeares this wize they vs beſieged haue, (ſaue,
And many good knights ſlaine, that haue vs ſought to

Thus as he ſpoke, loe with outragious cry
A thouſand villeins rownd about them ſwarmd
Out of the rockes and caues adioyning nye,
Vile caitiue wretches, ragged, rude, deſormd,
All threaning death, all in ſtraunge manner armd,
Some with vnweldy clubs, ſome with long ſpeares,
Some ruſty knifes, ſome ſtaues in fier ſwarmd.
Sterne was their looke, like wild amazed ſteares,
Staring with hollow eies, and ſtiffe vſpstanding heares.

Fierfly

Cant. IX. the Faery Queene.

311

Fierſly at firſt thoſe knights they did affayle,
And droue them to recoile: but when againe
They gaue freſh charge, their forces gan to fayle,
Vnhable their encounter to ſuſtaine;
For with ſuch puſſaunce and impetuous maine
Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly,
Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine
A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye,
With greedy pace forth rufhing from the foreſt nye.

A while they fled, but ſoone retournd againe
With greater fury, then before was ſownd;
And euermore their cruell Captaine
Sought with his raskall routs t'enclofe them rownd,
And ouerrone to tread them to the grownd. (blades)
But ſoone the knights with their bright-burning
Broke their rude troupes, and orders did confownd,
Hewing and flashing at their idle ſhades; (fades)
For though they bodies ſeem, yet ſubſtaunce from them

As when a ſwarme of Gnats at euentide
Out of the ſennes of Allan doe arise,
Their murmuring ſmall trompetts ſownden wide,
Whiles in the aire their cluſtring army flies,
That as a cloud doth ſeeme to dim the skies;
Ne man nor beaſt may reſt, or take repaſt,
For their ſharpe wounds, and noyous iniuries,
Till the ſierce Northerne wind with bluſtring blaſt
Doth blow them quite away, and in the Ocean caſt.

Thus when they had that troublous rout diſperſt,
Vnto the caſtle gate they come againe,
And entraunce crau'd, which was denied erſt.
Now when report of that their perlous paine,

And

312 The second Booke of

Cant. I. X.

And combrous conflict, which they did suftaine,
Came to the Ladies eare, which there did dwell,
Shee forth iffewed with a goodly traine
Of Squires and Ladies equipaged well,
And entertained them right fairely, as befell.

Alma she called was, a virgin bright;
That had not yet felt Cupides wanton rage,
Yer was shee wooed of many a gentle knight,
And many a Lord of noble parentage,
That fought with her to lincke in marriage:
For shee was faire, as faire mote euer bee,
And in the flowre now of her freshest age,
Yet full of grace and goodly modestee,
That euen heuen reioyced her sweete face to see.

In robe of lilly white she was arayd,
That from her shoulder to her heele downe raught,
The traine whereof loose far behind her strayd,
Braunched with gold & perle, moft richly wrought,
And borne of two faire Damfels, which were taught
That seruice well. Her yellow golden heare
Was trimly wouen, and in trefles wrought,
Ne other tire she on her head did weare,
But crowd with a garland of sweete Rosiere.

Goodly shee entertaind those noble knights,
And brought them vp into her caſtle hall;
Where gentle court and gracious delight
Shee to them made, with mildneſſe virginall,
Shewing her ſelſe both wife and liberall:
Then when they reſted had a ſeason dew,
They her beſought of ſaunour ſpeciall,
Of that faire Caſtle to affoſard them vew:
Shee graunted, & them leading forth, the fame did ſlew.

First

Cant. IX. the Faery Queene.

313

First she him led vp to the Caſtle wall,
That was so high, as foe might not it clime,
And all so faire, and ſenſible withall,
Not built of bricke, ne yet of ſtone and lime,
But of thing like to that AEGYPTIAN ſlime,
Whereof king Nine whilome built Babell towre,
But O great pitty, that no lenger a time
So goodly workemanship should not endure:
Soone it muſt turne to earth; no earthly thing is ſure.

The frame thereof ſeemd partly circulare,
And part triangulare, O worke diuine;
Thofe two the firſt and laſt proportions are,
The one imperſect, mortall, ſoeminine;
Th'other immortall, perſect, maſculine,
And twixt them both a quadrate was the baſe,
Proportioned equally by ſeuen and nine;
Nine was the circle ſett in heauens place,
All which compaſted made a goodly Dyapafe.

Therein two gates were placed ſeemly well:
The one before, by which all in did pas,
Did th'other far in workmanship excell;
For not of wood, nor of enduring bras,
But of more worthy ſubſtance fram'd it was;
Doubly diſparted, it did locke and cloſe,
That when it locked, none might thorough pas,
And when it opened, no man might it cloſe,
Still open to their friendes, and cloſed to their foes.

Of hewen ſtone the porch was ſayrely wrought,
Stone more of valew, and more ſmooth and fine,
Then Iett or Marble far from Ireland brought;
Ouer the which was caſt a wandring vine,

Enchaced

314

The second Booke of Cant. IX.

Enchaced with a wanton yuie twine.
And ouer it a fayre Portcullis hong,
Which to the gate directly did incline,
With comely compaffe,and compature strong,
Nether vnseemely short, nor yet exceeding long.

Within the Barbican a Porter fate,
Day and night duely keeping watch and ward,
Nor wight,nor word mote paffe out of the gate,
But in good order,and with dew regard;
Vtterers of secrets he from thence debard,
Bablers of folly, andrazers of cryme.
His larumbell might lowd and wyde be hard,
When caufe requyrd, but neuer out of time;
Early and late it rong, at euening and at prime.

And rownd about the porch on euery fyde.
Twife fixteene warders fatt,all armed bright,
In gliftring steele, and strongly fortifyde:
Tally yeomen feemed they,and of great might,
And were enraunged ready, fit for fight,
By them as Alma paffed with her gueftes,
They did obey faunce,as befeemed right,
And then againe retourned to their restes:
The Porter eke to her did lout with humble geftes.

Thence the them brought into a stately Hall,
Wherein were many tables fayre difpred,
And ready dight with drapets feftiuallyl,
Againft the viaundes should be miniftred.
At th'upper end there fate,yclad in red
Downe to the ground,a comely personage,
That in his hand a white rod menaged,
He Steward was,hight Diet; rype of age,
And in demeanure sober,and in counfell fage.

And

315

Cant iX. the Faery Queene.

And through the Hall there walked to and fro
A jolly yeoman,Marshall of the fame,
Whofe name was Appetite, he did beftow
Both gueſtes and meate,when euer in they came,
And knew them how to order without blame,
As him the Steward badd. They both attone
Did dewty to their Lady,as became;
Who paſſing by,forth ledd her gueſtes anone
Into the kitchin rowme,ne ſpard for niceneſſe none.

It was a vaut ybuilt for great diſpence,
With many raunges reard along the wall;
And one great chimney,whofe long tonnell thence,
The ſmoke forth threw. And in the midſt of all
There placed was a caudron wide and tall,
Vpon a mightie fornace,burning whott,
More whott, then Aetn',or flaming Mongiball:
For day and night it brent, ne ceafed not,
So long as any thing it in the caudron gott.

But to delay the heat, leaſt by miſchaunce
It might breake out,and fet the whole on fyre,
There added was by goodly ordinaunce,
An huge great payre of bellowes,which did ſlyre
Continually,and cooling breath inſpyre.
About the Caudron many Cookes accoyld,
With hookes and ladles,as need did requyre;
The whyles the viaundes in the veſſell boyld
They did about their buſineſſe sweat, and forely toyld.

The maſter Cooke was cald Conception,
A carefull man, and full of comely guyſe:
The kitchin clerke,that hight Digestion,
Did order all th' Achates in ſeemely wife,

And

316 The second Booke of

Cant. IX.

And set them forth, as well he could deuife.
The rest had feuerall offices affynd,
Some to remoue the ſcum, as it did rife,
Others to beare the fame away did mynd;
And others it to vſe according to his kynd.

But all the liquour, which was fowle and waſte,
Not good nor feruiceable elles for ought,
They in another great rownd veſſell plaſte,
Till by a conduit pipe it thence were brought:
And all the rest, that noyous was, and nought,
By ſecret wayes, that none might it eſpy,
Was close conuaid, and to the backgate brought,
That cleped was *Port Esquiline*, whereby
It was auoided quite, and throwne out priuily.

Which goodly order, and great workmans skill
Whenas thofe knightes beheld, with rare delight,
And gazing wonder they their mindes did fill;
For neuer had they ſeene ſo ſtraunge a fight.
Thence backe againe faire *Alma* led them right,
And ſoone into a goodly Parlour brought,
That was with royall arras richly dight,
In which was nothing pourtrahed, nor wrought,
Not wrought, nor pourtrahed, but eafie to be thought.

And in the midſt thereof vpon the floure,
A louely beuy of faire Ladies fate,
Courted of many a jolly Paramoure,
The which them did in modeſt wife amate,
And eachone ſought his Lady to aggrate:
And eke emongſt them little *Cupid* playd
His wanton ſportes, being retourned late
From his fierce warres, and hauing from him layd
His cruel bow, wherewith he thouſands hath diſmayd.

Diuerſe

Cant. IX: the Faerie Queene.

217

Diuerſe delights they ſownd them ſelues to pleafe;
Some ſong in ſweet confort, ſome laught for ioy,
Some plaid with ſtrawes, ſome ydly ſatt at eafe,
But other ſome could not abide to toy,
All pleafaunce was to them grieſe and annoy:
This froſd, that ſaund, the third for ſhame did bluſh,
Another ſeemed enuious, or coy,
Another in her teeth did gnaw a ruff:

But at theſe ſtraungers preſence euery one did huff.

Soone as the gracious *Alma* came in place,
They all attonce out of their ſeates aroſe,
And to her homage made, with humble grace:
Whom when the knights beheld, they gan diſpofe
Themselues to court, and each a damzell choſe:
The Prince by chaunce did on a Lady light,
That was right faire a d ſrefh as moring roſe,
But ſomwhat ſad, and ſolemne eke in fight,

As if ſome penſiue thought coſiraind her gentle ſpright

In a long purple pall, whoſe skirt with gold,
Was fretted all about, ſhe was arayd;
And in her hand a Poplar braunch did hold:
To whom the prince in courteous maner ſayd,
Gentle Madame, why beene ye thus diſmayd,
And your faire beautie doe with ſadnes ſpill?
Lies any, that you hath thus ill apayd?

Or doen your loue, or doen you lack your will?
What euermee the cauſe, it ſure beſeemes you ill.

Fayre Sir, ſaid ſhe halſe in diſdaine full wife,
How is it, that this word in me ye blame,
And in your ſelſe doe not the fame aduie.
Him ill beſeemes, anothers fault to name,

That

318

The second Booke of Cant. I. X.

That may vnwares bee blotted with the fame:
Penſiue I yceld I am, and ſad in mind,
Through great deſire of glory and of fame;
Ne ought I weene are ye therein behynd,
That haue three years ſought one, yet no where can her

The Prince was inly moued at her ſpeach,
Well weesting trew, what ſhe had raſhly told,
Yet with faire ſemblaunt ſought to hyde the breach,
Which chaunge of colour did pertorce vnfold,
Now ſeeming ſlaming whott, now ſtony cold.
Tho turning ſoft aſide, he did inquyre
What wight ſhe was, that Poplar braunch did hold:
It anſwered was, her name was *Pray* /deſire,
That by well doing ſought to honour to aſpyre.

The whyles, the *Faery* knight did entertaine
Another Damſell of that gentle crew,
That was right fayre, and modeſt of demayne,
But that too oft ſhe chaung'd her native hew:
Straunge was her tyre, and all her garment blew,
Cloſe rownd about her tuckt with many a plight:
Vpon her ſift the bird, which ſhonneth vew
And keepes in couerts cloſe from living wight,
Did ſitt, as yet aſhamd, how rude *Pan* did her dight.

So long as *Guyon* with her commoned,
Vnto the growd ſhe caſt her modeſt eye,
And euer and anone with roſy red
The bathfull blood her snowy cheekes did dye,
That her became, as poliſht yuory,
Which cunning Crafteſman hand hath ouerlayd
With fayre vermilion or pure laſtery
Great wonder had the knight, to ſee the mayd
So ſtraungely paſſioned, and to her gently ſad.

Fayre

319

Cant. I. X. the Faery Queene.

Fayre Damzell, ſeemeth, by your troubled cleare,
That either me too bold ye weene, this wife
You to moleſt, or other ill to ſeare
That in the ſecret of your hart cloſe lyes,
From whence it doth, as cloud from ſea aryſe.
If it be I, of pardon I you pray;
But if ought else that I mote not deuyſe,
I will, if please you it diſcure, aſſay,
To eafe you of that ill, ſo wifely as I may.

She anſwerd nought, but more abaſht for ſhame,
Held downe her head, the whiles her louely face,
The flashing blood with bluſhing did inflame,
And the ſtrong paſſion mard her modeſt grace,
That *Guyon* meruayld at her vncouth cace;
Till *Alma* him beſpake, why wonder yee
Faire Sir at that, which ye ſo much embrace ?
She is the fountaine of your modeſtee;
You ſhameaſt are, but *Shameaſtnes* it ſelfe is ſhee.

Thereat the Elſe did bluſh in priuite,
And turnd his face away; but ſhe the fame
Diſſembled faire, and ſaynd to ouerſee.
Thus they awhile with court and goodly game,
Themselues did ſolace each one with his Dame,
Till that great Lady thence away them ſought,
To vew her Caſtles other wondrous frame.
Vp to a ſtately Turret ſhe them brought,
Aſcending by ten ſteps of Alablaſter wrought.

That Turrets frame moſt admirable was,
Like higheſt heauen compaſſed around,
And lifted high aboue this earthly maffe,
Which it ſuruewd, as hils doen lower ground;

X

But

320

The second Booke of

Cant. IX.

But not on ground mote like to this be found,
Not that, which antique Cadmus whylome built
In Thebes, which Alexander did confound;
Nor that proud towre of Troy, though richly guile,
From which young Hector's blood by cruell Greekes was
(spilt.

The roofe hereof was arched ouer head,
And deckt with flowers and herbars daintily;
Two goodly Beacons, fet in watches stead,
Therein gaue light, and flamd continually:
For they of liuing fire moft subtilly,
Were made, and fet in filuer sockets bright,
Couer'd with lids deuiz'd of substance fly,
That readily they fhut and open might.
O who can tell the prayſes of that makers might?

Ne can I tell, ne can I ſtay to tell
This parts great workemanship,& wondrous powre,
That all this other worldes worke doth excell,
And likeſt is vnto that heauenly towre,
That God hath built for his owne bleſſed bowre.
Therein were diuers rowmes, and diuers ſtages,
But three the chiefeſt, and of greateſt powre,
In which there dwelt three honorable ſages,
The wifeft men, I weene, that liued in their ages,

Not he, whom Greece, the Nourſe of all good arts,
By Phæbus doome, the wifef thought aliuie,
Might be compar'd to this by many parts :
Nor that ſage Pyliar lyre, which did ſuruiue
Three ages, ſuch as mortall men contriuie,
By whoſe aduife old Priams cittie ſell,
With theſe in praiſe of polliſies mote ſtriuie.
Theſe three in theſe three rowmes did ſondry dwell,
And counſelled faire Alma, how to gouerne well.

The

321

the Faerie Queene.

Cant. I X.

The firſt of them could things to come foreſee;
The next could of thinges preſent beſt aduize;
The third things paſt could keepe in memoree,
So that no time, nor reaſon could arize,
But that the fame could one of theſe comprize.
For thy the firſt did in the forepart ſit,
That nought mote hinder his quicke preiudize:
He had a ſharpe foreſlight, and working wit;
That neuer idle was, ne once would reſt a whit.

His chamber was diſpainted all with in,
With ſondry colours, in the which were writ
Infinite ſhapes of thinges diſperſed thin;
Some ſuch as in the world were neuer yit,
Ne can deuized be of mortall wit;
Some daily ſeene, and knowen by their names,
Such as in idle ſantasies doe ſlit:
Infernall Hags, Centaurs, ſeendes, Hippodames,
Apes, Lyons, Aegles, Owles, fooles, louers, children,
(Dames.

And all the chamber filled was with flyes,
Which buzzed all about, and made ſuch found,
That they encombred all mens eares and eyes,
Like many ſwarmes of Bees affembled round,
After their hiues with honny do abound:
All thatſe were idle thoughtes and ſantasies,
Deuices, dreames, opinions vnfound,
Shewes, viſions, ſooth-ſayes, and propheſies;
And all that fained is, as leafings, tales, and lies.

Emongſt them all ſate he, which wonned there,
That hight Phantasies by his nature trew,
A man of yeares yet freeh, as mote appere,
Of ſwarth complexion, and of crabbed hew,

X 2

That

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Cant. I. X.

That him full of melancholy did shew;
Bent hollow beetle browes, sharpe staring eyes,
That mad or foolish seemd: one by his vew
Mote deeme him borne with ill disposed skyes,
When oblique Saturne fate in the house of agonyes.

Whom Alma hauing shewed to her guestes,
Thence brought the to the second rowme, whole wals
Were painted faire with memorable geftes,
Of famous Wifards, and with pieturals
Of Magiftrates, of courts, of tribunals,
Of commen wealthes, of states, of pollicy,
Of lawes, of judgementes, and of decretals;
All artes, all ſcience, all Philosophy,
And all that in the world was ay thought wittily.

Of thofe that rowme was full, and them among
There fate a man of ripe and perſect age,
Who did them meditate all his life long,
That through continuall practice and ſtage,
He now was growne right wife, and wondrous ſage.
Great pleſure had thofe ſtraunger knightes, to ſee
His goodly reafon, and gtaue perſonage,
That his diſciples both deſyrd to bee;
But Alma thence the led to th'hindmost rowme of three.

That chamber feemed ruinous and old,
And therefore was remoued far behind,
Yet were the wals, that did the fame vphold,
Right firme & ſtrong, though ſomwhat they declin'd;
And therein fat an old oldman, halfe blind,
And all decrepit in his feeble corſe,
Yet liuely vigour reſted in his mind,
And recompenſt him with a better ſcorſe:
Weake body well is chang'd for minds redoubled forſe.

This

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Cant. I. X.

the Faëry Queene.

This man of infinite remembraunce was,
And things foregone through many ages held,
Which he recorded ſtill, as they did pas,
Ne ſuſſred them to perſih through long eld,
As all things els, the which this world doth weld,
But laid them vp in his immortall ſcrine,
Where they for euer incorrupted dweld :
The warres he well remembred of king Nine,
Of old Abaracus, and Inachus diuine.

The yeares of Neſtor nothing were ſo his,
Neyet Mathufalem though longeſt liu'd;
For he remembred both their infancis:
N wonder then, if that he were depri'u'd
Of native ſtrength now, that he them ſuruiu'd.
His chamber all was hangd about with rolls,
And old records from auncient times deriud,
Some made in books, ſome in lòg parchment ſrolls,
That were all worm-eaten, and full of canker holes.

Amidſt them all he in a chaire was ſett,
Toſſing and turning them withouten end;
But for he was vnhaſle them to ſett,
A little boy did on him ſtill attend,
To reach, when euer he for ought did ſend;
And oft when thinges were loſt, or laid amis,
That boy them ſought, and vnto him did lend.
Therefore he Anamneſtes cleped is,
And that old man Eumneſtes, by their propertis.

The knightes there entring, did him reuerence dew
And wondred at his endleſſe exerciſe,
Then as they gan his Library to vew,
And antique Regeſters for to auife,

X 3

There

324 The second Booke of Cant. I. X.

There chaunced to the Princes hand to rize,
An auncient booke, hight Briton monuments,
That of this lands firft conqueft did deuize,
And old diuision into Regiments,
Till it reduced was to one mans gouernements.

Sir Guyon chaunft eke on another booke,
That hight, Antiquitee of Faery lond,
In which whenas he greedily did looke,
Th'offpring of Elues and Faryes there he fond,
As it deliuered was from hond to hond:
Whereat they burning both with feruent fire,
Their countreys auncestry to vnderstond,
Crau'd leaue of Alma, and that aged fire,
To read thofe bookes; who gladly graunted their defire.

Cant.

Cant. I. X. the Faery Queene:

325

Cant. X.

A chronicle of Briton kings,
From Brute to Others rayne.
And rolls of Elfin Emperours,
Till time of Gloriane.

W Hnow ſhall giue vnto me words and found,
Equall vnto this haughty enterprise ?
Or who ſhall lend me wings, with which fro ground,
My lowly verse may loftily arife,
And lift it ſelfe vnto the highest skies?
More ample ſpirit, then hetherto was wount,
Here needes me, whiles the famous aunceſtryes
Of my moſt dreaded Soueraigne I recount,
By which all earthly Princes ſhe doth far ſurmount.

Nevnder Sunne, that thines so wide and faire,
Whence all that liues, does borrow life and light,
Liues ought, that to her linage may compaire,
Which though from earth it be deriued right,
Yet doth it ſelfe stretch forth to heuens hight,
And all the world with wonder ouerpred;
Alabor huge, exceeding far my might:
How ſhall fraile pen, with ſeare disparaged,
Conceiue ſuch ſoueraigne glory, and great bountyhed?

Argument worthy of Maconian quill,
Or rather worthy of great Phcebus rote,
Whereon the ruines of great Offa hill,
And triumphes of Phlegrcan Ioue he wrote,

X 4

That

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Cant. X.

That all the Gods admird his lofty note,
But if some relih of that heuenly lay
His learned daughters would to me report,
To decke my fong withhall, I would aflay,
Thy name, O foueraine Queene, to blazon far away.

Thy name O foueraine Queene, thy realme and race,
From this renowned Prince deriued arre,
Whom mightily vpheld that royall mace,
Which now thou bear'st, to thee defcended farre
From mighty kings and conquerours in warre,
Thy fathers and thy great Grandfathers of gold,
Whofe noble deeds aboue the Northern starre
Immortall fame for euer hath enrold;
As in that old mans booke they were in order told.

The land, which warlike Britons now poſſeſſe,
And therein haue their mighty empire rayſd,
In antique times was faluage wilderneſſe,
Vnpeopled, vnmannurd, vnproud, vnprayſd,
Ne was it Island then, ne was it payſd
Amid the Ocean waues, ne was it ſought
Of merchaunts farre, for profits therein prayſd,
But was all defolate, and of ſome thought
By ſea to haue bene ſto the Celticke mayn-land brought.

Ne did it then deferue a name to haue,
Till that the venturous Mariner that way
Learning his ſhip from thofe white rocks to ſaue,
Which all along the Southerne ſea-coaſt lay,
Threatning vnheedy wrecke and raſh decay,
For ſafety that fame his ſea-marke made,
And namd it Albion. But later day
Finding in it ſit ports for ſifhers trade,
Gan more the fame frequent, and further to inuade.

But

327

Cant. X. the Faery Queene.

But far in land a faluage nation dwelt,
Of hideous Giaunts, and halfe beaſtly men,
That neuer taſted grace, nor goodnes ſelt,
But like wild beaſtes lurking in loaſh ſome den,
And flying ſaſt as Roebucke through the fen,
All naked without ſhame, or care of cold,
By hunting and by spoiling liueden;
Of ſtature huge, and eke of corage bold,
That ſonnes of men amazd their ſterneſſe to behold.

But whence they ſprong, or how they were begott,
Vneath is to aſſure, vneath to wene
That monſtrous error, which doth ſome aſſott,
That Diocleſians fifty daughters ſhene
Into this land by chaunce haue driven bene,
Where companing with ſeends and filthy Sprights
Through vaine ilſuion of their luſt vnclene,
They brought forth Geaunts & ſuch dreadful wights,
As far exceeded men in their immeaſur'd mights.

They held this land, and with their filthineſſe
Polluted this fame gentle ſoyle long time:
That their owne mother loath'd their beaſtlineſſe,
And gan abhorre her broods vnkindly crime,
All were they borne of her owne netive ſlime;
Vntil that Brutus anciently deriu'd
From roiall ſtocke of old Aſſaracs line,
Driuen by fatall error, here arriu'd,
And them of their vniuſt poſſession depriu'd.

But ere he had eſtablished his throne,
And ſpred his empire to the vmoſt ſhore,
He fought great batteils with his faluage ſone;
In which he them defeated euermore,

And

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The second Booke of

Cant. X:

And many Giaunts left on groning flore,
That well can witnes yet vnto this day
The westerne Hogh, besprinclod with the gore
Of mighty Goëmot, whome in ftoutfray
Corineus conquered, and cruelly did flay.

And eke that ample Pitt, yet far renownd,
For the large leape, which Debon did compell
Coulin to make, being eight lugs of grownd;
Into the which retourning backe, he fell,
But thofe three monstrons ftones doe moft excell
Which that huge fonne of hideous Albion,
Whofe father Hercules in Fraunce did quell,
Great Godmer threw, in fierce contention,
At bold Canutus; but of him was flaine anon.

In meed of theſe great conqueſts by them gott,
Corineus had that Prouince vtmoft weſt,
To him affigned for his worthy lott,
Which of his name and memorable geſt
He called Cornwaile, yet ſo called beſt:
And Debons ſhayre was, that is Deuonſhyre:
But Canute had his portion from the reſt,
The which he cald Canutium, for his hyre;
Now Cantium, which Kent we comenly inquyre.

Thus Brute this Realme vnto his rule subdewd,
And reigned long in great felicity,
Lou'd of his freends, and of his foes eſchewd,
He left three ſonnes, his famous progeny,
Borne of fayre Inogene of Italy;
Mongſt whom he parred his imperiall ſtate,
And Locrine left chieſe Lord of Britany.
At laſt ripe age bad him ſurrender late
His life, and long good fortune vnto finall fate.

Locrine

329

Cant. X.

the Faëry Queene.

Locrine was left the ſoueraine Lord of all;
But *Albanæt* had all the Northerne part,
Which of him ſelbe *Albania* he did call;
And *Camber* did poffeſſe the Westerne quare,
Which *Seuerne* now from *Logris* doth depart:
And each his portion peaceably enioyd,
Newas there outward breach, nor grudge in hart,
That once their quiet government annoyd,
But each his paynes to others profit ſtill employd.

Vntill a nation ſtraung, with vifage ſwart,
And corage ſ fierce, that all men did affray,
Which through the world the ſwarmd in euery part,
And ouerflow'd all countries far away,
Like Noyes great flood, with their importune ſway,
This land inuaded with like violence,
And did them ſelues through all the North display:
Vntill that Locrine for his Realmes defence,
Did head againſt them make, and ſtrong munificence.

He them encountréd, a confuſed rout,
Foreby the Riuer, that whylome was hight
The ancient *Abus*, where with courage ſtout
He them defeated in viftorious ſight,
And chaſte ſo ſerely after ſeare ſull flight,
That forſt their Chieſetain, for his ſafeties ſake,
(Their Chieſetain *Humber* named was aright.)
Vnto the mighty ſtreame him to betake,
Where he an end of batteill, and of life did make.

The king retourned proud of viftory,
And infolent wox through vnwonted eafe,
That ſhortly he forſor the ieopardy,
Which in his land he lately did appeaſe,

And

33°

The second Booke of

Cant. X.

And fell to vaine voluptuous diseafe:
He lou'd faire Ladie Estrild, leudly lou'd,
Whose wanton pleafures him too much did please,
That quite his hart from Guendolene remou'd,
Fröh Guendolene his wife, though alwaies faithful prou'd.

The noble daughter of Corineus
Would not endure to bee so vile disdaind,
But gathering force, and corage valorous,
Encountred him in batteill well ordaind,
In which him vanquifht she to fly conſtraind:
But ſhe ſo faſt purſewd, that him ſhe tooke,
And threw in bands, where he till death remaind
Als his faire Leman, flying through a brooke,
She ouerheat, nought moued with her piteous looke,

But both her ſelfe, and eke her daughter deare,
Begotten by her kingly Paramoure,
The faire Sabrina almoſt dead with ſeare,
She there attached, far from all ſuccoure;
The one ſhe flew vpon the preſent floure,
But the ſad virgin innocent of all,
Adowne the rolling riuer ſhe did poure,
Which of her name now Seuerne men do call:
Such was the end, that to diſploy all loue did fall.

Then for her ſonne, which ſhe to Locrin bore,
Madan was young, vnmeet the rule to ſway,
In her owne hand the crowne ſhe kept in ſtore,
Till ryper yeares he raught, and ſtronger ſtay:
During which time her powre ſhe did diſplay
Through all this realm e, the glory of her ſex,
And firſt taught men a woman to obay:
But when her ſonne to mans eſtate did wex,
She it ſurrendred, ne her ſelfe would lenger vex.

The

33°

Cant. X.

the Faëry Queene.

The Madan raignd, vnworthie of his race:
For with all ſhame that ſacred throne he ſild:
Next Memprife, as vnworthy of that place,
In which being conſorted with Manild,
For thirſt of ſingle kingdom him he kild.
But Ebranck ſalued both their infamies
With noble deedes, and warreyd on Brunchild
In Henruct, where yet of his vicſories
Braue moniments remaine, which yet that land enuies.

An happy man in his firſt dayes he was,
And happy father of faire progeny:
For all ſo many weekes, as the yeare has,
Somany children he did multiply;
Of which were twentie ſonnes, which did apply,
Their mindeſ to prayſe, and cheualrous deſyre:
Thofe germans did ſubdew all Germany,
Of whom it hight, but in the end their Syre
With foule repulſe from Fraunce was forced to retyre,

Which blott his ſonne ſucceeding in his ſeat,
The ſecond Brute, the ſecond both in name,
And eke in ſemblaunce of his puiffaunce great,
Right well recur'd, and did away that blame
With recompence of euerlaſting ſame.
He with his vicſour ſword firſt opened,
The bowels of wide Fraunce, a forlorne Dame,
And taught her firſt how to be conquered; (ked.)
Since which, with ſondrie ſpoiles ſhe hath bene ranſac-

Let Scaldis tell, and let tell Hania,
And let the marſh of Eftham bruges tell,
What colour were their waters that ſame day,
And all the moore twixt Eluerſham and Dell,

With

332

The second Booke of Cant. X.

With blood of Henalois, which therein fell.
How oft that day did fad Brunchildis see
The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell
That not he mote seeme to bee.

But

His fonne king Leill by fathers labour long,
Enioyd an heritage of lafting peace,
And built Cairleill, and built Cairleon ftrong.
Next Huddibras his realme did not encreafe,
But taught the land from wearie wars to ceafe.
Whofe footsteps Bladud following, in artes
Exceld at Athens all the learned preace,
From whéce he brought them to theſe faluage parts
And with ſweet ſcience mollifide their ftubborne harts.

Enfample of his wondrous faculty,
Behold the boyling Bathes at Cairbadon,
Which teeth with ſecret fire eternally,
And in their entrailles, full of quick Brimſton,
Nourifh the flames, which they are warmd vpon,
That to her people wealth they forth do well,
And health to euery forreyne nation:
Yet he at laft contending to excell
The reach of men, through flight into fond miſchief fell.

Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raynd,
But had no illue male him to ſucceed,
But three faire daughters, which were well vtraind,
In all that ſeemed fit for kingly ſeed:
Mongſt whom his realme he equally decreed
To haue diuided. Tho when feeble age
Nigh to his vmoſt date he ſaw proceed,
He cald his daughters; and with ſpeeches ſage
Inquyrd, which of them moſt did loue her parentage.

The

333

Cant. X: the Faerie Queene.

The eldeſt Gonorill gan to proteſt,
That ſhe much more then her owne life him lou'd:
And Regan greater loue to him proteſt,
Then all the world, when euer it were proou'd;
But Cordell ſaid ſhe lou'd him, as behoou'd:
Whofe ſimple anſwere, wanting colours fayre
To paint it forth, him to diſpleaſaunce moou'd,
That in his crown he counted her no hayre, (ſhayre.
But twixt the other twain his kingdom whole did

So wedded th'one to Maglan king of Scottes,
And thother to the king of Cambria,
And twixt them ſhayrd his realme by equall lottes:
But without dowre the wife Cordelia,
Was ſent to Aggannip of Celtica
Their aged Syre, thus eafed of his crowne,
A priuate life ledd in Albania,
With Gonorill, long had in great renowne, (downe.
That nought him grieu'd to beene from rule depofed

But true it is that when the oyle is ſpent,
The light goes out, and weeke is throwne away;
So when he had reſiand his regiment,
His daughter gan deſpife his drouping day,
And wearie wax of his continuall ſtay.
Tho to his daughter Regan he repayrd,
Who him at firſt well ſved euery way;
But when of his departure ſhe deſpayrd,
Her bountie ſhe abated, and his cheare empayrd.

The wretched man gan then auife to late,
That loue is not, where moſt it is proteſt,
Too truely tryde in his extremeſt ſtate,
At laſt reſolu'd likewiſe to proue the reſt,

He

The second Booke of

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334

He to Cordelia him selfe addreſt,
Who with entyre affection him receau'd,
As for her Syre and king her ſeemed beſt;
And after all au army ſtrong the leau'd,
To war on thoſe, which him had of his realme bereau'd

So to his crowne ſhe him reſtord againe,
In which he dyde, made ripe for death by eld,
And after wild, it ſhould to her remaine:
Who peaceably the ſame long time did weld:
And all mens harts in dew obedience held:
Till that her ſifters children, woxen ſtrong,
Through proud ambition againſt her rebeld,
And ouercommen kept in prifon long,
Till weary of that wretched life, her ſelfe the hong.

Then gan the bloody brethren both to raine:
But fierce Cundah gan ſhortly to enuy
His brother Morgan, prickt with proud diſdaine,
To haue a pere in part of ſouerainty,
And kindling coles of cruell enmity,
Raſſd warre, and him in batteill ouerthrew:
Whence as he to thoſe woody hilles did fly,
Which hight of him Glamorgan, there him ſlew:
Then did he raigne alone, when he none equall knew.

His ſonne Riuall his dead rowme did ſupply,
In whose ſad time blood did from heauen rayne:
Next great Gurguſtus, then faire Cæcily,
In conſtant peace their kingdomes did contayne,
After whom Lago, and Kinmarke did rayne,
And Gorbogud, till far in yeares he grew:
Then his Ambitious ſonnes vnto them twayne,
Arraught the rule, and from their father drew,
Stout Ferrex and ſterne Porrex him in prifon threw.

But

the Faery Queene.

335

Cant. X.

But O, the greedy thirst of royall crowne,
That knowes no kinred, nor regardes no right,
Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe;
Who vnto him affembling forreigne might,
Made warre on him, and fell him ſelfe in fight:
Whofe death t'auenge, his mother mercileſſe,
Moſt mercileſſe of women, Wyden hight,
Her other ſonne faſt ſleeping did oppreſſe,
And with moſt cruell hand him murdred pittileſſe.

Here ended Brutus ſacred progeny,
Which had ſeuen hundred yeares this ſcepter borne,
With high renowme, and great felicity;
The noble braunch from th'antique ſtocke was torne
Through diſcord, and the roiall throne forlorne:
Thenceforth this Realme was into ſactions rent,
Whileſt each of Brutus boafsted to be borne,
That in the end was left no moniment
Of Brutus, nor of Britons glorie auncient.

Then vp aroſe a man of matchleſſe might,
And wondrous wit to menage high affayres,
Who ſtird with pitty of the ſtrefled plight
Of this ſad realme, cut into ſondry ſhayres
By ſuch, as claymd theſelues Brutes rightfull hayres,
Gathered the Princes of the people looſe,
To taken counſell of their common cares;
Who with his wifedom won, him ſtreight did chooſe
Their king, and ſwore him fealty to win or looſe.

Then made he head againſt his enimies,
And Ymner flew, of Logris miſcreate;
Then Ruſdec and proud Stater, both allyes,
This of Albany newly nominate,

Y

And

336 The second Booke of

Cant. X.

And that of Cambry king confirmed late,
He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce;
Whole countries he reduſd to quiet ſtate,
And ſhortly brought to ciuile gouernaunce,
Now one, which earſt were many, made through vari-
(aunce,

Then made he ſacred lawes, which ſome men ſay
Were vato him reueald in vifion,
By which he freed the Traueilers high way,
The Churches part, and Ploughmans portion,
Reſtraining ſtealth, and ſtrong extortion;
The gratious Numa of great Britany:
For till his dayes, the chieſe dominion
By ſtrength was wielded without pollicy;
Therefore he firſt wore crowne of gold for dignity.

Domwallo dyde (for what may liue for ay?)
And left two ſonnes, of peareleſſe prowelſe both;
That ſacked Rome too dearely did affay,
The recompence of their peruired oth,
And ranſackt Greece wel tryde, whé they were wroth;
Besides ſubieſted France, and Germany,
Which yet their praiſes ſpeake, all be they loth,
And inly tremble at the memory
Of Brennus and Belinus, kinges of Britany.

Next them did Gurgiunt, great Belinus ſonne
In rule ſucceede, and eke in fathers praiſe;
He Eafterland ſubdewd, and Denmarke wonne,
And of them both did ſoy and tribute raiſe,
The which was dew in his dead fathers daies:
He alſo gaue to fugitiues of Spayne,
Whom he at ſea found wandring from their waies,
A ſeate in Ireland ſafely to remayne,
Which they ſhould hold of him, as ſubieſt to Britayne.

After

Cant. X. the Faerie Queene.

337

After him reaigned Guitheline his hayre,
The iuſteſt man and treweſt in his daies;
Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre,
A woman worthy of immortall praiſe,
Which for this Realme found many goodly layes,
And wholeſome Statutes to her husband brought:
Her many deemd to haue beene of the Fayes,
As was Aegerie, that Numa thought:

Thofe yet of her be Mertia lawes both nam'd & thought:

Her ſonne Sifillus after her did rayne,
And then Kimarus, and then Danius;
Next whom Morindus did the crowne ſuſtayne,
Who, had he not with wrath outrageous,
And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous
And mightie deedes, ſhould matched haue the beſt:
As well in that fame field victorious
Againſt the forreine Morands he expreſſt;
Yet liues his memorie, though carcas sleepe in reſt.

Fine ſonnes he left begotten of one wife,
All which ſucceſſuely by turnes did rayne;
Firſt Gorboman a man of vertuous life;
Next Archigald, who for his proud diſdayne,
Depoſed was from princedome ſouerayne,
And pitteous Elidure put in his ſted;
Who ſhortly it to him reſtord agayne,
Till by his death he it recouered;

But Peridure and Vigent him diſthronized.

In wretched prifon long he did remaine,
Till they outraigned had their vtmoſt date;
And then therein reſeized was againe,
And ruled long with honorable ſtate,

Y 2

Till

338

The second Booke of

Cant. X.

Till he surrendered Realme and life to fate.
Then all the fonnes of these fiue brethren raynd
By dew succeſſe, and all their Nephewes late,
Euen thrife eleuen deſcents the crowne retaynd,
Till aged *Hely* by dew heritage it gaynd.

He had two ſonnes, whole eldeſt called *Lud*
Left of his life moſt famous memory,
And endleſſe moniments of his great good:
The ruin'd wals he did reædifye
Of *Troynouant*, gainſt force of enimy,
And built that gate, which of his name is hight,
By which he lyes entombed ſolemnly;*
He left two ſonnes, too young to rule aright,
*Androgeus* and *Tenantius*, pietures of his might.

Whilſt they were young, *Cafsibalane* their Eme
Was by the people choſen in their ſted,
Who on him tooke the roiall Diademe,
And goodly well long time it gouerned,
Till the prowde *Romanes* him diſquieted,
And warlike *Cæfar*, tempted with the name
Of this ſweet Ifland, neuer conquered,
And enuying the Britons blazed fame,
(O hideous hunger of dominion) hether came.

Yet twife they were repulſed backe againe,
And twife renforſt, backe to their ſhips to fly,
The whiles with blood they all the ſhore did ſtaine,
And the gray *Ocean* into purple dy:
Ne had they footing found at laſt perdie,
Had not *Androgeus*, false to native ſoyle,
And enuious of Vncles ſoueraintie,
Betrayd his countrey vn to forreine ſpoyle:
Nought els, buttreaſon, from the firſt this land did ſoyle

So

Cant. X.

the Faëry Queene.

339

So by him *Cæfar* got the victory,
Through great bloodſhed, and many a ſad affay,
In which him ſelſe was charged heauily
Of hardy *Nennius*, whom he yet did ſlay,
But loft his ſword, yet to be ſeene this day.
Thenceforth this land was tributarie made
T'ambitious *Rome*, and did their rule obay,
Till *Arthur* all that reckoning defrayd;
Yet oft the Briton kings againſt them ſtrongly ſwayd.

Next him *Tenantius* raignd, then *Kimbeline*,
What time th'eternall Lord in ſleshly ſlime
Enwombed was, from wretched *Adams* line
To purge away the guilt of ſinfull crime:
O ioyous memorie of happy time,
That heauenly grace ſo plenteouſly diſplayd;
(O too high ditty for my ſimple rime.)
Soone after this the *Romanes* him warrayd;
For that their tribute he reſuſd to let be payd.

Good *Claudius*, that next was Emperour,
An army brought, and with him batteile fought,
In which the king was by a Treachetour
Diſguſed ſlaine, ere any thereof thought:
Yet ceaſed not the bloody fight for ought;
For *Aruirage* his brothers place ſupplyde,
Both in his armes, and crowne, and by that draught
Did driue the *Romanes* to the weaker ſyde,
That they to peace agreed. So all was pacifyde.

Was neuer king more highly magniſide,
Nor dredd of *Romanes*, then was *Aruirage*,
For which the Emperour to him allide
His daughter *Genuij's* in marriage:

Y 3

Yet

340

The second Booke of

Cant. X.

Yet shortly he renounſt the vaſtallage
Of Rome againe, who hether haſtly ſent
Vespasian, that with great ſpoile and rage
Forwaſted all, till Genuiſſa gent

Perſuaded him to ceaſſe, and her-lord to relent.

He dide; and him ſucceeded Marius,
Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity.
Then Coyll, and after him good Lucius,
That firſt receiued Chriſtianity,
The ſacred pledge of Chriſtes Euangely:
Yet true it is, that long before that day
Hither came Iofeph of Arimathy,
Who brought with him the holy grayle, (they ſay)
And preacht the truth, but ſince it greatly did decay.

This good king ſhortly without iſſew dide,
Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew,
That did her ſelfe in ſondry parts diuide,
And with her powre her owne ſelfe ouerthrew,
Whileſt Romanes daily did the weake ſubdew:
Which feeing ſtout Bunduca, vp aroſe,
And taking armes, the Britons to her drew;
With whom ſhe marched ſtreight againſt her ſoes,
And them vnwares befides the Seuerne did encloſe.

There ſhe with them a cruell batteill tryde,
Not with ſo good ſucceſſe, as ſhe deſeru'd;
By reaſon that the Captaines on her ſyde,
Corrupted by Paulinus, from her ſweru'd:
Yet ſuch, as were through former flight preferu'd,
Gathering againe, her Hoſt ſhe did renew,
And with fresh corage on the victor ſeru'd:
But being all defeated, ſaue a ſew,

Rather then fly, or be captiu'd, her ſelfe ſhe flew.

O famous

Cant. X.

the Faery Queene:

341

Of famous moniment of womens prayſe,
Matchable either to Semiramis,
Whom antique hiftory ſo high doth rayſe,
Or to Hypsiphil', or to Thomiris:

Her Hoſt two hundred thouſand numbred is;
Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might,
Triumphed oft againſt her enemis;
And yet though ouercome in hapleſſe fight,

Shee triumphed on death, in enemies deſpight.

Her reliques Fulgent hauing gathered,
Fought with Seuerus, and him ouerthrew;
Yet in the chace was ſlaine of them, that fled:
So made them victors, whome he did ſubdew.
Then gan Carauſius tirannize anew,
And gainſt the Romanes bent their proper powre,
But him Alleſtus treacherouſly ſlew,
And tooke on him the robe of Emperoure:

Nath'leſſe the fame enioyed but ſhort happy howre:

For Aſclepiodate him ouercame,
And left inglorious on the vanquiſht playne,
Without or robe, or rag, to hide his ſhame.
Then afterwards he in his ſtead did raigne;
But ſhortly was by Coyll in batteill ſlain e:
Who after long debate, ſince Lucies tyme,
Was of the Britons firſt crowd Soucraine:
Then gan this Realme renew her paſſed prime:

He of his name Coylcheſter built of ſtone and lime.

Which when the Romanes heard, they hether ſene
Conſtantius, a man of mickle might,
With whome king Coyll made an agreement,
And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright.

Y 4

Faire

342 The second Booke of

Cant. X.

Fayre Helena, the fairest living wight;
Who in all godly thewes, and goodly prae,
Did far excell, but was most famous hight
For skil in Musicke of all in her daies,
Afwell in curious instruments as cunning laies.

Of whom he did great Conflantine begett,
Who afterward was Emperour of Rome;
To which whiles absent he his mind did sett,
Oblaius here lept into his roome,
And it vflurped by vnrighteous doome:
But he his title iustifide by might,
Slaying Traherne, and hauing ouercome
The Romane legion in dreadfull fight :
So fettled he his kingdome, and confirmd his right,

But wanting yflew male, his daughter deare,
He gaue in wedlocke to Maximian,
And him with her made of his kingdome heyre,
Who soone by meanes thereof the Empire wan,
Till murdred by the freends of Gratian,
Then gan the Hunnes and Piets inuade this land,
During the raigne of Maximian;
Who dying left none heire them to withstand.
But that they ouerran all parts with easy hand.

The weary Britons, whose war-hable youth
Was by Maximian lately ledd away,
With wretched miseryes, and woefull ruth,
Were to those Pagans made an open pray,
And daily spectacle of sad decay:
Whome Romane warres, which now fowr hundred
And more had wafted, could no whit dismay;
Til by conment of Commons and of Peares,
They crowd the secod Conflantine with ioyous teares,
Who

343

Cant. X. the Faery Queene.

Who hauing oft in batteill vanquifhed
Thofe fynde full Piets, and fwarming Easterlings,
Long time in peace his realme eftablishe,
Yet oft annoyd with fondry bordragings.
Of neighbour Scots, and forrein Scatterlings,
With which the world did in thofe dayes abound:
Which to outbarre, with painefull pyonings
From sea to sea he heapt a mighty mound,
Which from Alcluid to Panwelt did that border bownd.

Three fonnes he dying left, allynder age;
By meanes whereof, their vncle Vortigere
Vflurpt the crowne, during their pupillage;
Which th'Infants tutors gathering to feare,
Them closely into Armorick did beare:
For dread of whom, and for thofe Piets annoyes,
He lent to Germany, ſtraunge aid to reare,
From whence eftloones arriu'd here three hoyes
Of Saxons, whom he for his safety imployes.

Two brethren were their Capitayns, which hight
Hengift and Horfus, well approu'd in warre,
And both of them men of renowned might;
Who making vantage of their ciuile iarre,
And of thofe forreyners, which came from farre,
Grew great, and got large portions of land,
That in the Realme ere long they stronger arre,
Then they which fought at firſt their helping hand,
And Vortiger haue forſt the kingdome to aband.

But by the helpe of Vortimere his fonne,
He is againe vnto his rule reſtord,
And Hengist ſeeming ſad, for that was donne,
Receiu'd is to grace and new accord,

Through

344

The second Book of

Cant. X.

Through his faire daughters face, & flattring word,
Soone after which, three hundred Lords he flew
Of British blood, all sitting at his bord;
Whofe dolefull moniments who lift to rew,
Th'eternall marks of treason may at Stonheng vew.

By this the fonnes of Conftantine, which fled,
Ambroſe and Vicher did ripe yeares attayne,
And here arriuing, ſtrongly challenged
The crowne, which Vortiger did long detayne:
Who flying from his guilt, by them was ſlayne,
And Hengift eke foone brought to ſham eſſull death.
Thenceforth Aurelius peaceably did rayne,
Till that through poyſon ſtopped was his breath;
So now ento mbed lies at Stoneheng by the heath.

After him Vther, which Pendragon hight,
Succeeding There abruptly it did end,
Without full point, or other Cefure right,
As if the reſt ſome wicked hand did rend,
Or th'Author ſelfe could not at leaſt attend
To ſinifh it: that ſo vntimely breach
The Prince him ſelfe halſe ſeemed to offend,
Yet ſecret pleafure did offence empeach,
And wonder of antiquity long ſtopt his ſpeach.

At laſt quite rauiſht with delight, to heare
The royall Oſpring of his native land,
Cryde out, Deare countrey, O how dearely deare
Ought thy remembraunce, and perpetual band
Be to thy ſoſter Childe, that from thy hand
Did commun breath and nouriture receaue?
How brutiſh is it not to vnderſtand,
How much to her we owe, that all vs gaue,
That gaue vnto vs all, what euer good we haue.

But

345

Cant. X.

the Faery Queene.

But Guyon all this while his booke did read,
Ne yet has ended: for it was a great
And ample volume, that doth far exceed
My leaſure, ſo long leaues here to repeat:
It told, how firſt Prometheus did create
A man, of many parts from beaſts deryu'd,
And then ſtole fire from heuen, to animate
His worke, for which he was by Ioue deoryu'd
Of life him ſelf, and hart-ſtrings of an Aegle ryu'd.

That man ſo made, he called Elſe, to weet
Quick, the firſt author of all Elſin kynd:
Who wandring through the world with wearie ſeet,
Did in the gardins of Adonis ſynd
A goodly creature, whom he deemd in mynd
To be no earthy' wight, but either Spright,
Or Angell, th'authour of all woman kynd;
Therefore a Fay he her according hight,
Of whom all Faryes ſpring, & fetch their lignage right.

Of theſe a mighty people ſhortly grew,
And puſſant kinges, which all the world warrayd,
And to them ſelues all Nations did ſubdew:
The firſt and eldeſt, which that ſcepter ſwayd,
Was Elſin, him all India obayd,
And all that now America men call:
Next him was noble Elſinan, who laid
Cleopolis ſ Foundation firſt of all:
But Elſiline encloſd it with a golden wall.

His ſonne was, Elſinell, who ouercame
The wicked Gobbelines in bloody field:
But Elſant was of moſt renowned fame,
Who all of Chriſtall did Panthea build:

Then

346

The second Booke of Cant. X.

Then *Elfar*, who two brethren gyauntes kild,
The one of which had two heads,th'other three:
Then *Elfinor*, who was in magick skild;
He built by art vpon the glafly See (bee.
A bridge of bras,whose found heues thunder seem'd to

He left three fonnes,the which in order raynd,
And all their Offspring,in their dew deſcents,
Euen ſeuen hundred Princes,which maintaynd
With mightie deedes their ſondry gouernments;
That were too long their infinite contents
Here to record, ne much materiall:
Yet ſhould they be moſt famous moniments,
And braue enſample,both of martiall,
And ciuil rule to kinges and ſtates imperiall.

After all theſe *Elfieleos* did rayne,
The wife *Elfieleos* in great Maieſtie,
Who mightily that ſcepter did ſuſtayne,
And with rich ſpoyles and famous vſtorie,
Did high aduaunce the crowne of *Faery*:
He left two ſonnes, of which faire *Elferon*
The eldest brother did vn timely dy;
W hofe empty place the mightie *Oberon*
Doubly ſupplide, in ſpouſall,and dominion.

Great was his power and glorie ouer all,
Which him before, that ſacred ſeare did ſiſl,
That yet remaines his wide memoriall:
He dying left the faireſt *Tanaquill*,
Him to ſucceede therein, by his laſt will:
Fairer and nobler liueth none this howre,
Ne like in grace, ne like in learned skill;
Therefore they *Glorian* call that glorious flowre,
Long mayſt thou *Glorian* liue, in glory & great powre.

Beguyld

347

Cant. XI. the Faery Queene.

Beguyld thus with delight of nouelties,
And naturall desire of countryes ſtate,
So long they redd in thofe antiquities,
That how the time was fled, they quite forgate,
Till gentle *Alma* ſeeing it ſo late,
Perſorce their ſtudies broke, and them befought
To thinke, how ſupper did them long awaite.
So haſle vn willing from their bookes them brought,
And ſayrely feaſted, as ſo noble knightes ſhe ought.

Cant XI

The enimies of Temperaunce
befege her dwelling place:
Prince Arthure them repelles, and ſowle
Maleger doth deſace.

W
Hat warre ſo cruel, or what ſiege ſo ſore,
As that, which ſtrong affections doe apply
A gainſt the forte of reaſon euermore,
To bring the ſowle into captiuity:
Their force is fiercer through infirmity
Of the fraile ſleſh, relenting to their rage,
And exerciſe moſt bitter tyranny
Vpon the partes, brought into their bondage:
No wretchedneſſe is like to ſinfull vellenage.

But in a body which doth freely yeeld
His partes to reaſons rule obedient,
And letteth her that ought the ſcepter weeld,
All happy peace and goodly government

Is

348

The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

Is setled there in sure establiſhment,
There Alma like a virgin Queene moſt bright,
Doth florish in all beautit excellent:
And to her gueſtes doth bounteous banket dight,
Attemped goodly well for health and for delight.

Early before the Morne with cremofin ray,
The windowes of bright heauen opened had,
Through which into the world the dawning day
Might looke, that maketh euery creature glad,
Vproſe Sir *Guyon*, in bright armour clad,
And to his purpofd iourny him prepar'd:
With him the Palmer eke in habit ſad,
Him ſelfe addreſt to that aduenture hard:
So to the riuers ſyde they both together far'd.

Where them awaited ready at the ford
The Ferriman, as *Alma* had behight,
With his well rigged bote: They goe abord,
And he eſttoones gan launch his barke forthright.
Ere long they rowed were quite out of fight,
And faſt the land behynd them fled away.
But let them pas, whiles winde and wether right
Doe ſerue their turnes: here I a while muſt stay,
To ſee a cruell fight doen by the prince this day.

For all ſo ſoon, as *Guyon* thence was gon
Vpon his voyage with his truſtie guyde,
That wicked band of villeins fresh begon
That caſtle to aſſaile on euery ſide,
And lay ſtrong ſiege about it far and wyde.
So huge and infinite their numbers were,
That all the land they vnder them did hyde;
So fowle and vgly, that exceeding ſeaſe
Their viſages impreſt, when they approched neare.

Then

349

the Faerie Queene.

Cant. XI.

Them in twelue troupes their Captein did diſpart,
And round about in fitſte ſteades did place,
Where each might beſt offend his proper part,
And his contrary obieſt moſt deſace,
As euery one ſeem'd meeteſt in that cace,
Seuen of the ſame againſt the Caſtle gate,
In ſtrong entrenchments he did cloſely place,
Which with inſe ſaunt force and endleſſe hate,
They battred day and night, and entraunce did awate.

The other fine, ſiue ſondry wayes he fett,
Againſt the ſiue great Bulwarkes of that pyle,
And vnto each a Bulwarke did arrett,
T'affayle with open force or hidden guyle,
In hope thereof to win victorious spoile.
They all that charge did feruently apply,
With greedie malice and importune toyle,
And planted there their huge artillery,
With which they dayly made moſt dreadfull battery.

The firſt troupe was a monſtrous rablement
Of ſowle miſſhapen wightes, of which ſome were
Headed like Owles, with beckes vncomely bent,
Others like Dogs, others like Gryphons dreare,
And ſome had wings, and ſome had clawes to teare,
And euery one of them had Lynces eyes,
And euery one did bow and arrowes beare:
All thofe were lawleſſe luſtes, corrupt enuyes,
And couetous aſpectſ, all cruel enimyes.

Thofe ſame againſt the bulwarke of the *Sight*
Did lay ſtrong ſiege, and battaſous aſſault,
Ne once did yield it reſpitt day nor night,
But ſoon as *Titan* gan his head exault.

And

350 The second Booke of Cant. XI.

And soone againe as he his light withhault,
Their wicked engins they againſt it bent:
That is each thing, by which the eyes may fault,
But two then all more huge and violent,
Beautie, and money they againſt that Bulwarke lent.

The ſecond Bulwarke was the *Hearing* ſence,
Gainſt which the ſecond troupe aſſignment makes,
Deformed creatures, in ſtraunge difference,
Some hauing heads like Harts, ſome like to Snakes,
Some like wilde Bores late rouzd out of the brakes,
Slaunderous reproches, and fowle infamies,
Leaſinges, backbytinges, and vaineglorious crakes,
Bad counſels, prayſes, and falſe flatteries,
All thofe againſt that ſort did bend their batteries.

Likewise that fame third Fort, that is the *Smell*
Of that third troupe was cruelly aſſayd:
Whofe hideous ſhapes were like to ſeendes of hell,
Some like to houndes, ſome like to Apes, diſmayd,
Some like to Puttockes, all in plumes arayd:
All ſhap't according their conditions,
For by thofe vgly formes weren pourtrayd,
Fooliſh delights and ſond abuſions,
Which doe that ſence beſiege with light illuſions.

And that fourth band which cruell battry bent,
Againſt the fourth Bulwarke, that is the *Tаше,
WAs as the reſt a gryſe rablement,
Some mouth'd like greedy Oyſtriges, ſome ſaſte
Like loathly Toades, ſome ſaſhioned in the waſte
Like ſwine, for ſo deſormd is luxury,
Surfeat, miſdiet, and vnthriftie waſte,
Vaine ſeaſtes, and ydle ſuperfluity:
All thofe this ſences Fort aſſayle inceſſantly.

But

Cant. XI. the Faëry Queene.

But the ſiſt troupe moſt horrible of hew,
And ſerce of ſorce, is dreadfull to report:
For ſome like Snailes, ſome did like spyders ſhew,
And ſome like vgly Vrchins thick and ſhort:
Cruelly they aſſayed that ſiſt Fort,
Armed with dartes of ſenſuall delight,
With ſtinges of carnall luſt, and ſtrong eſort
Of feeling pleaſures, with which day and night
Againſt that ſame ſiſt bulwarke they continued ſight.

Thus theſe twelue troupes with dreadfull puſſaunce
Againſt that Caſtle restleſſe ſiege did lay,
And euermore their hideous Ordinaunce
Vpon the Bulwarkes cruelly did play,
That now it gan to threaten neare decay.
And euermore their wicked Capitayn
Prouoked them the breaches to aſſay,
Somtimes with threats, ſomtimes with hope of gayn,
Which by the ranſack of that peece they ſhould attayn.

On th'other ſyde, th'aſſieged Caſtles ward
Their ſtedſaſt ſtonds did mightily maintaine,
And many bold repulſe, and many hard
Atchieuement wrought with perill and with payne,
That goodly frame from ruine to ſuſtaine:
And thofe two brethren Gyauntes did defend
The walles ſo ſtoutly with their ſturdie mayne,
That neuer entraunce any durſt pretend,
But they to direfull death their groning ghoſts did ſend.

The noble Virgin, Ladie of the Place,
Was much diſmayed with that dreadful ſight:
For neuer was ſhe in ſo euill cace,
Till that the Prince ſeeing her woſull plight,

Z

Gan

351

352

The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

Gan her recomfort from so sad affright,
Offring his feruice, and his deareft life
For her defence, againft that Carle to fight,
Which was their chiefe and th'authouf of that ſtrife:
She him remercied as the Patrone of her life.

Eftoones himſelfe in glitterand armes he dight,
And his well proued weapons to him hent;
So taking courteous conge he behight,
Thofe gates to be vnbar'd, and forth he went.
Fayre mote he thee, the proweſt and moſt gent,
That euer brandiſhed bright ſteele on hye:
Whom ſoone as that vnruſy rablement,
With his gay Squyre iſſewing did eſpye,
They reard a moſt outrageous dreadfull yelling cry.

And therewithall attonce at him let fly
Their fluttering arrowes, thicke as flakes of ſnow,
And round about him flocke impetuouſly,
Like a great water flood, that tombling low
From the high mountaines, threatens to ouerflow
With ſudden fury all the fertile playne,
And the ſad husbandmans long hope doth throw,
A downe the ſtreame and all his vowes make vayne,
Nor bounds nor banks his headlong ruine may ſuſtayne.

Vpon his ſhield their heaped hayle he bore,
And with his ſword disperſt the raskall flockes,
Which fled a ſonder, and him fell before,
As withered leaues drop from their dryed ſtockes,
Whe the wroth Western wind does reaue their locks;
And vnder neath him his courageous ſteed,
The fierce *Spumador* trode them downe like docks,
The fierce *Spumador* borne of heauenly ſeed:
Such as *Laomedon* of Phæbus race did breed

Which

353

Cant. XI.

the Faerie Queene.

Which ſuddeine horrour and confused cry,
When as their Capteine heard, in haſte he yode,
The caufe to weet, and fault to remedy,
Vpon a Tygre ſwift and fierce he rode,
That as the winde ran vnderneath his lode,
Whiles his long legs nigh raught vnto the ground,
Full large he was of limbe, and shoulders brode,
But of ſuch ſubtile ſubſtance and vnſound,
That like a ghosſ he ſeem'd, whoſe graue-clothes were
vnbound.

And in his hand a bended bow was ſeene,
And many arrowes vnder his right ſide,
All deadly daungerous, all cruell keene,
Headed with flint, and fethers bloody dide,
Such as the *Indians* in their quiuers hide,
Thofe could he well direſt and ſtreight as line,
And bid them ſtrike the marke, which he had eyde,
Ne was their ſalue ne was their medicine,
That mote recure their wounds: so inly they did tine.

As pale and wan as aſhes was his looke,
His body leane and meagre as a rake,
And skin all wither'd like a dryed rooke,
Thereto as cold and drery as a Snake,
That ſeemd to tremble euermore, and quake:
All in a canuaſ thin he was bedight,
And girded with a belt of twiſted brake,
Vpon his head he wore an Helmet ſlight,
Made of a dead mans skull, that ſeemd a ghaſtly fight.

Maleger was his name, and after him,
There follow'd faſt at hand two wicked Hags,
With hoary lockes all loose, and viſage grim;
Their ſeet vnſhod, their bodies wrapt in rags,

Z 2

And

354

The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

And both as swift on foot, as chafed Stags,
And yet the one her other legge had lame,
Which with a staffe, all full of little Snags
She did support, and Impotence her name :
But th'other was Impatience, arm'd with raging flame.

Soone as the Cartle from far the Prince efpye,
Glifstring in armes and warlike ornament,
His Beaft he felly prickt on either fyde,
And his mischieuous bow full readie bent,
With which at him a cruell fhaft he ſent:
But he was warie, and it warded well
Vpon his ffield, that it no further went,
But to the ground the idle quarrell ſell:
Then he another and another did expell.

Which to preuent, the Prince his mortall ſpeare
Soone to him raught, and fierce at him did ride,
To be auenged of that ſhot whyleare :
But he was not so hardy to abide
That bitter ſtownd, but turning quicke afide
His light-foot beaſt, ſled ſaſt away for ſeare:
Whom to pourſue, the Infant after hide,
So ſaſt as his good Courser could him beare,
But labour loft it was, to weene approch him neare.

For as the winged wind his Tigre ſled,
That vew of eye could ſcarſe him ouertake,
Ne ſcarſe his feet on ground were ſeene to tred;
Through hils and dales he ſpeedy way did make,
Ne hedge ne ditch his readie paſſage brake,
And in his flight the villein turn'd his face,
(As wonts the Tartar by the Cæſpian lake,
When as the Rufſian him in fight does chace)
Vnto his Tygres taile, and ſhot at him apace.

Apace

355

Cant. XI.

the Faëry Queene.

Apace he ſhot, and yet he ſled apace,
Still as the greedy knight nigh to him drew,
And oftentimes he would relent his pace,
That him his foe more fiercely should pourſew:
But when his vncouth manner he did vew,
He gan auize to follow him no more,
But keepe his standing, and his ſhaftes eſchew,
Vntill he quite had ſpent his perlous ſtore,
And then affayle him fresh, ere he could ſhift for more.

But that lame Hag, still as abroad he ſtrew
His wicked arrowes, gathered them againe,
And to him brought fresh batteill to renew :
Which he eſpying, caſt her to reſtraine
From yielding ſuccour to that curſed Swaine,
And her attaching, thought her hands to tye;
But soone as him diſmounted on the plaine,
That other Hag did far away eſpye
Binding her ſifter, ſhe to him ran haſtily.

And catching hold of him, as downe he lent,
Him backeward ouerthrew, and downe him ſtayd
With their rude handles and gryefly graplement,
Till that the villein comming to their ayd,
Vpon him ſell, and lode vpon him layd;
Full lide wanted, but he had him ſlaine,
And of the battell balefull end had made,
Had not his gentle Squire beheld his paine,
And commen to his reskew, ere his bitter bane.

So greatest and moſt glorious thing on ground
May often need the helpe of weaker hand;
So feeble is man ſtate, and life vnſound,
That in affuraunce it may neuer ſtand,

Z 3

Till

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The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

Till it diffouled be from earthly band,
Proofe be thou Prince, the proweſt man alyue,
And nobleft borne of all in Britom land,
Yet theſe fierce Fortune did ſo nearly diuie,
That had not grace theſe bleſt, thou ſhouſeſt not reuiuе.

The Squyre arriuing, fiercely in his armes
Snatcht firſt the one, and then the other Iade,
His chiefeſt letts and authors of his harmes,
And them perſorce withheld with threatned blade,
Leaſt that his Lord they ſhould behinde inuade;
The whiles the Prince prickt with reprochſul ſhame,
As one awakte out of long ſlombring ſhade,
Reuiuyng thought of glory and of fame,
United all his powres to purge him ſelfe from blame.

Like as a fire, the which in hollow care
Hath long bene vnderkept, and down ſuppreſſ,
With murmurous diſdayne doth inly raue,
And grudge, in ſo ſtreight prifon to be preſſ,
At laſt breakes forth with furious inſeſt,
And ſtrues to mount vnto his native ſeats,
All that did earſt it hinder and moleſt,
Yt now deuoures with flames and ſcorching heat,
And carries into ſmoake with rage and horror gteat.

So mightely the Briton Prince him rouzd
Out of his holde, and broke his caytiue bands,
And as a Beare whom angry curres haue touzd,
Hauing off-ſhakt them, and eſcapt their hands,
Becomes more fell, and all that him withſtands
Treads down and ouerthrowes. Now had the Carle
Alighted from his Tigre, and his hands
Diſcharged of his bow and deadly quar'le,
To ſeize vpon his foe flatt lying on the marle.

Which

357

Cant. XI.

the Faery Queene:

Which now him turnd to diſauantage deare,
For neither can he fly, nor other harme,
But truſt vnto his ſtrength and manhood meare,
Sith now he is far from his monſtrous ſwarme,
And of his weapons did him ſelfe diſarme.
The knight yet wrothfull for his late diſgrace,
Fiercely aduaunſt his valorous right arme,
And him ſo ſore ſmott with his yron mace,
That groueling to the ground he fell, and ſild his place.

Welweened hee, that field was then his owne,
And all his labor brought to happy end,
When ſuddein vp the villeine ouerthrowne,
Out of his ſwowne aroſe, fresh to contend,
And gan him ſelfe to ſecond battaill bend,
As hurt he had not beene. Thereby there lay
An huge great ſtone, which ſtood vpon one end,
And had not bene remoued many a day;
Some land-marke ſeemd to bee, or ſigne of ſundry way.

The fame he snatcht, and with exceeding ſway
Threw at his foe, who was right well aware
To thonne the engin of his meant decay;
It booted not to thinke that throw to beare,
But grownd he gaue, and lightly lept areare:
Eſte fierce retourning, as a ſaul on fayre
That once hath failed of her ſouſe full neare,
Remounts againe into the open ayre,
And vnto better fortune doth her ſelfe prepayre.

So braue retourning, with his brandiſht blade,
Heto the Carle him ſelfe agayn addreſſ,
And ſtrooke at him ſo ſternely, that he made
An open paſſage through his riuen breſt,

Z 4

That

358

The second Booke of

Cant. XI.

That halfe the stcele behind his backe did reft;
Which drawing backe, he looked euer more
When the hart blood should guish out of his cheft,
Or his dead corfe should fall vpon the flore;
But his dead corfe vpon the flore fell nathemore.

Ne drop of blood appeared fled to bee,
All were the wownd so wide and wonderous,
That through his carcas one might playnly see:
Halfe in amaze with horror hideous,
And halfe in rage, to be deluded thus,
Again through both the fides he strooke him quight,
That made his spright to grone full piteous:
Yet nathemore forth fled his groning spright,
But freshly as at firſt, prepare himselfe to fight.

Thereat he ſmitten was with great affright,
And trembling terror did his hart apall,
Ne wift he, what to thinke of that ſame fight,
Ne what to ſay, ne what to doe at all;
He doubted, leaſt it were ſome magicall
Illuſion, that did beguile his ſenſe,
Or wandring ghoſt, that wanted funerall,
Or aery ſpirite vnder false pretence,
Or helliſh ſeend rayſd vp through diueliſh ſcience.

His wonder far exceeded reaſons reach,
That he began to doubt his dazeled fight,
And oft of error did him ſelſe appeach:
Fleſh without blood, a perſon without ſpright,
Wounds without hurt, a body without might,
That could doe harme, yet could not harmed bee,
That could not die, yet ſeend a mortall wight,
That was moſt ſtrong in moſt infirmitee;
Like did he neuer heare, like did he neuer ſee.

A while

359

Cant. XI.

the Faery Queene.

A while he ſtood in this aftonifhment,
Yet would he not for all his great diſmay
Gine ouer to effect his firſt intent,
And th'vtnoſt meanes of victory affay,
Or th'vtnoſt yſlew of his owne decay.
His owne good ſword Mordure, that neuer ſayld
At need, till now, he lightly threw away,
And his bright ſhield, that nought him now auayld,
And with his naked hands him forcibly affayld.

Twixt his two mighty armes him vp he ſnatcht,
And cruſht his carcas so againſt his breſt,
That the diſdainfull ſowle he thence diſpatcht,
And th'ydle breath all vtherly expreſt:
Tho when he felt him dead, adowne he keſt
The lumpiſh corſe vnto the ſenceleſſe grownd,
Adowne he keſt it with so puiffant wreſt,
That backe againe it did aloſte rebownd,
And gaue againſt his mother earth a gronefull ſownd.

As when *Ioues* harn eſſe-bearing Bird from hye
Stoupes at a flying heron with proud diſdayne,
The ſtone-dead quarrey falls so forcibly,
That yt rebownds againſt the lowly playne,
A ſecond fall redoubling backe agayne.
Then thought the Prince all peril ſure was paſt,
And that he victor onely did remayne;
No ſooner thought, then that the Carle as paſt
Gan heap huge ſtrokes on him, as ere he down was caſt.

Nigh his wits end then woxe th'amazed knight,
And thought his labor loft and trauell vayne,
Againſt his lifeleſſe ſhadow so to fight:
Yet life he ſaw, and felt his mighty mayne,

That

360

The second Booke of
Cant. XI.

That whiles he marueild ſtill, did ſtill him payne:
For thy he gan ſome other wayes aduize,
How to take life from that dead-liuing ſwayne,
Whom ſtill he marked freshly to arize
From th'earth,& from her womb new ſpirits to reprice.

He then remembred well, that had bene ſayd,
How th'Earth his mother was, and firſt him bore,
Shee eke ſo often, as his life decayd,
Did life with ſury to him reſtore,
And reyſd him vp much ſtronger then before,
Sofoone as he vnto her wombe did fall;
Therefore to grownd he would him caſt no more,
Ne him committ to graue terreſtriall,
But beare him farre from hope of ſuccour vſuall.

Tho vp he caught him twixt his puiffant hands,
And hauing ſcruzd out of his carrion corſe
The lothfull life, now ſoofd from ſinfull bands,
Vpon his ſhoulders carried him perforſe
Aboue three ſurlongs, taking his full course,
Vntill he came vnto a ſtanding lake;
Him thereinto he threw without remorſe,
Ne ſtird, till hope of life did him forſake;
So end of that Carles dayes, and his owne paynes did

Which when thofe wicked Hags from far did ſpye,
Like two mad dogs they ran about the lands,
And th'one of them with dreadfull yelling crye,
Throwing away her broken chaines and bands,
And hauing quencht her burning fier brands,
Hediong her ſelte did caſt into that lake;
But Impotence with her owne wilfull hands,
One of Malegers curſed darts did take,
Soryu'd her trembling hart, and wicked end did make.

Thus

361

Cant. XI. the Faëry Queene.

Thus now alone he conquerour remaines;
Tho cumming to his Squyre, that kept his ſeed,
Thought to haue mounted, but his feeble vaines
Him ſaſd thereto, and ſerued not his need,
Through ſoſe of blood, which from his wounds did
That he began to faint, and life decay:
But his good Squyre him helping vp with ſpeed,
With ſtedſaſt hand vpon his horſe did ſtay,
And led him to the Caſtle by the beaten way.

Where many Groomes and Squyres ready were,
To take him from his ſeed full tenderly,
And eke the ſayreſt Alma mett him there
With balme and wine and costly ſpicery,
To comfort him in his infirmity;
Eſteſoones ſhee cauſd him vp to be conuayd,
And of his armes deſpoyled caſily,
In ſumptuons bed ſhee made him to be layd,
And al the while his woüds were dresſiing, by him ſtayd

Cant.

362

The second Booke of
Cant. XII.

Cant. XII.

Gwyon through Palmers gouernaunce,
through paſſing perilles great,
Doth ouerthrow the Bowre of blis,
and Aeraſy defeat.

Now winnes this goodly frame of Temperaunce
Fayrely to rife, and her adorned hed
To pricke of highe prayſe forth to aduaunce,
Formerly grounded, and faſt ſetteled
On firme foundation of true bountyhed;
And this braue knight, that for this vertue ſcientes,
Now comes to point of that fame perilous ſted,
Where Pleasure dwelles in ſenſuall delights,
Mongſt thouſand dægers, & ten thouſad Magick mights.

Two dayes now in that ſea he ſayled has,
Ne euer land beheld, ne liuing wight,
Ne ought ſaue perill, till as he did pas:
Tho when appeared the third Morrow bright,
Vpon the waues to ſpred her trembling light,
An hideous roring far away they heard,
That all their ſences filled with affright,
And ſtreight they ſaw the raging ſurges reard
Vp to the skyes, that them of drowning made affeard.

Said then the Boteman, Palmer ſtere aright,
And keepe an euen course, for yonder way
We needes muſt pas(God doe vs well acquight)
That isthe Gulſe of Grcedineſſe, they ſay,

That

363

Cant. XII. the Faëry Queene.

That deepe engorgeth all this worldes pray:
Which hauing ſwallowd vp excejſiuelly,
He ſoone in vomit vp againe doth lay,
And belcheth forth his ſuperſluity,
That all the ſeas for ſeare did ſeeme away to fly.

On thother ſyde an hideous Rock is pight,
Of mightie Magnes ſtone, whose craggie clift
Depending from on high, dreadfull to ſight,
Ouer the waues his rugged armes doth lift,
And threatneth downe to throw his ragged riſt,
On whoſo cometh nigh; yet nigh it drawes
All paſſengers, that none from it can shift:
For whiles they fly that Gulfes deuouring iawes,
They on this Rock are rent, and ſunck in helples wawes.

Forward they paſſe, and ſtrongly he them rowes,
Vntill they nigh vnto that Gulſe aryue,
Where ſtreame more violent and greedy growes:
Then he with all his puifaunce doth ſtryue
To ſtrike his oares, and mightily doth dryue,
The hollow veſſell through the threatfull waue,
Which gaping wide, to ſwallow them alyue,
In th'huge abyſſe of his engulfing graue,
Doth reore at them in vaine, and with great terour raue,

They paſſing by, that grifely mouth did ſee,
Sucking the ſeas into his entralles deepe,
That ſeemd more horrible then hell to bee,
Or that darke dreadfull hole of Tartare ſteepe,
Through which the damned ghoffs doen often creep
Backe to the world, bad liuers to torment:
But nought that ſalles into this direfull deepe,
Ne that approcheth nigh the wyde DESCENT,
May baſe retourne, but is condemned to be drent.

On

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The *second* Booke of

Cant. XII.

On thother fide, they saw that perilous Rocke,
Threatning it selfe on them to ruinate,
On whose sharp cliftes the ribs of vessels broke,
And shuiered ships, which had beene wrecked late,
Yet stuck, with carcales exanimate
Of such, as hauing all their substance spent
In wanton ioyes, and luftes intemperate,
Did afterwardes make shipwrack violent,
Both of their life, and fame for euer fowly blent.

For thy this hight The Rock of vile Reproch,
A daungerous and detestable place,
To which nor fifth nor fowle did once approch,
But yelling Meawes, with Seagulles hoars and bace,
And Cormoyraunts, with birds of rauenous race,
Which still fat weiting on that waft full clift,
For spoile of wretches, whose vnhappy cace,
After loft credit and confumed thrift,
At laft them driuen hath to this despairefull drift,

The Palmer seeing them in safetie paft,
Thus faide, behold th'enfamples in our fightes,
Of luftfull luxurie and thriftleſſe waft:
What now is left of miſerable wightes,
Which ſpent their looſer daies in leud delightes,
But ſhame and ſad reproch, here to be red,
By theſe rent reliques, ſpeaking their ill plightes?
Let all that liue, hereby be counſelled,
To ſhunne Rock of Reproch and it as death to dread,

So forth they rowed, and that *Ferryman*
With his ſtiffe oares did brufh the sea so strong,
That the hoare waters from his frigot ran,
And the light bubles daunted all along,

Whiles

Cant. XII.

the Faerie Queene.

365

Whiles the salt brine out of the billowes ſprong.
At laft far off they many Iſlandes ſpy,
On euery ſide floating the floodees emong:
Then ſaid the knight, Lo I the land deſcry,
Therefore old Syre thy course doe thereunto apply.

That may not bee, ſaid then the *Ferryman*
Leaft wee vnweeting hap to be fordonne:
For thofe fame Iſlands, ſeeming now and than,
Are not firme land, nor any certein wonne,
But ſtragling plots, which to and fro doe ronne
In the wide waters: therefore are they hight
The *wandring Iſlands*. Therefore doe them ſhonne;
For they haue ofte drawne many a wandring wight
Into moſt deadly daunger and diſtrefſed plight.

Yet well they ſeeme to him, that farre doth vew,
Both faire and fruitfull, and the grownd diſpred,
With graffy greene of delectable hew,
And the tall trees with leanes appareled,
Are deckt with blossoms dyde in white and red,
That mote the paſſengers thereto allure;
But whoſeuer once hath faſtened
His foot thereon, may neuer it recure,
But wandreth euer more vncertein and vnſure.

As th'Isle of Delos whylome men report
Amid th'Aegean sea long time did ſtray,
Ne made for shipping any certeine port,
Till that Latona traueiling that way,
Flying from Iunoes wrath and hard affay,
Of her fayre twins was there deliuered,
Which afterwards did rule the night and day;
Thenceforth it firmly was eſtablished,
And for Apolloes temple highly her ried.

They

366

They to him hearken, as befeemeth meete,
And paffe on forward: so their way does ly,
That one of thofe fame Islands, which doe fleet
In the wide sea, they needes muft paffen by,
Which beemeth so sweet and pleasaunt to the eye,
That it would tempt a man to touchen there:
Vpon the banck they sitting did espy
A daintie damfell, dresſing of her heare,
By whom a little skippet floting did appeare.

She them espying, loud to them can call,
Bidding them nigher draw vnto the shore;
For she had cauſe to bufſe them withall;
And therewith lowdly laught: But nathemore
Would they once turne, but kept on as afore
Which when she ſaw, she left her locke vndight,
And running to her boat withouten ore,
From the departing land it launched light,
And after them did driue with all her power and might.

Whom ouertaking, ſhe in merry fort
 Them gan to bord, and purpofe diuerſly,
 Now faining dalliaunce and wanton ſport,
 Now throwing forth lewd wordes immodestly,
 Till that the Palmer gan full bitterly
 Her to rebuke, for being loose and light:
 Which not abiding, but more ſcornfully
 Scoffing at him, that did her iuſtly wite,
 She turnd her bote about, and from them rowed quite.

That was the wanton Phædria, which late
Did ferry him ouer the Idle lake:
Whom nought regarding, they kept on their gate,
And all her vaine allurements did forſake,

When

Cant. XII. the Faery Queene.

367

When them the wary Boteman thus beſpake;
Here now behoueth vs well to auyſe,
And of our ſafety good heede to take;
For here before a perlous paſſage lyes,
Where many Mermayds haunt, making ſalſe melodieſ.

But by the way, there is a great Quicksand,
And a whirlepoole of hidden ieopardy,
Therefore, Sir Palmer, keepe an euen hand;
For twixt them both the narrow way doth ly.
Scarſe had he ſaide, when hard at hand they ſpy
That quickſand nigh with water couered;
But by the checked waue they did deſcry
It plaine, and by the ſea diſcoloured:
It called was the quickeſand of Vnthriftyhed.

They paſſing by, a goodly Ship did ſee,
Laden from far with precious merchandize,
And brauely furniſhed, as ſhip might bee,
Which through great diſauenture, or melprize,
Her ſelfe had ronne into that hazardize;
Whofe mariners and merchants with much toyle,
Labour'd in vaine, to haue recur'd their prize,
And the rich wares to ſaue from pitteous ſpoyle,
But neither toyle nor trauell might her backe recoyle.

On th'other ſide they ſee that perilous Poole,
That called was the Whirlepoole of decay,
In which full many had with hapleſſe doole
Beene ſuncke, of whom no memorie did ſtay:
Whofe circled waters rapt with whirling ſway,
Like to a reſtleſſe wheele, ſtill ronning round,
Did couet, as they paſſed by that way,
To draw their bote within the vtmoſt bound
Of his wide Labyrinth, and then to haue them dround.

A a

But

368

The second Booke of

Cant. XII.

But th'earneſt Boteman strongly forth did stretch
His brawnie armes, and all his bodie ſtraine,
That th'vrtmoſt ſandy breach they ſhortly fetch,
Whiles the dredd daunger does behind remaine,
Suddeine they ſee from midſt of all the Maine,
The ſurging waters like a mountaine rife,
And the great ſea puſt vp with proud diſdaine,
To ſwell aboue the meaſure of his guile,
As threatening to deuoure all, that his powre deſpife,

The waues come rolling, and the billowes rore
Outragiouſly, as they enraged were,
Or wrathfull *Neptune* did them driue before
His whirling charet, for exceeding ſeare:
For not one puffe of winde there did appeare,
That all the three thereat woxe much affrayd,
Vnweeting, what ſuch horrour ſtraunge did reare.
Eſtoones they ſaw an hideous hoaſt arrayd,
Of huge Sea monſters, ſuch as liuing ſence diſmayd,

Moſt vgly ſhapes, and horrible aſpecſts,
Such as Dame Nature ſelfe more ſeare to ſee,
Or ſhame, that euer ſhould ſo ſowle deſeſts
From her moſt cunning hand eſcaped bee;
All dreadfull pourtraiſts of deſormitee:
Spring-headed *Hydres*, and ſea-ſhouldring Whales,
Great whirlpooles, which all ſiſhes make to ſlee,
Bright Scolopendraes, arm'd with filuer ſcales,
Mighty *Monoceros*, with immeaſured tayles.

The dreadfull Fisſh, that hath deferu'd the name
Of Death, and like him lookes in dreadfull hew,
The grieſtly Waſſerman, that makes his game
The flying ſhips with ſwiftnes to purſew,

The

369

Cant. XII. the Faerie Queene.

The horrible Sea-ſatyre, that doth ſhow
His ſearefull ſace in time of greateſt ſtorme,
Huge Ziſſius, whom Mariners eſchew
No leſſe, then rockes, ( as trauellers informe, )
And greedy *Rosmarines* with viſages deforme.

All theſe, and thouſand thouſands many more,
And more deformed Monſters thouſand fold,
With dreadfull noſe, and hollow rombling rore,
Came rufſing in the ſomy waues enrold,
Which ſeem'd to fly for ſeare, them to behold:
Ne wonder, if theſe did the knight appall;
For all that here on earth we dreadfull hold,
Be but as bugs to ſearen babes withall,
Compared to the creatures in the ſeaſ entrall.

Feare nought, then ſaide the Palmer well auiz'd;
For theſe ſame Monſters are not theſe in deed,
But are into theſe ſearefull ſhapes diſguiz'd
By that ſame wicked witch, to worke vs dreed,
And draw from on this iourney to proceed.
Tho lifting vp his vertuous ſtaffe on hye,
He ſmote the ſea, which calmed was with ſpeed,
And all that dreadfull Armie ſaſt gan flye
Into great *Tethys* boſome, where they hidden lye.

Quit from that danger, forth their courſe they kept,
And as they went, they heard a rueſull cry
Of one, that wayld and pittifully wept,
That through the ſea the refounding plaints did fly:
At laſt they in an Inſland did eſpy
A ſeemely Maiden, ſitting by the ſhore,
That with great ſorrow and ſad agony,
Seemed ſome great misfortune to deplore,
And lowd to them for ſuccour called euermore.

Aa 2

Which

370

Which Guyon hearing, streight his Palmer bad,
To stere the bote towards that dolefull Mayd,
That he might know, and eafe her sorrow fad;
Who him auizing better, to him fayd;
Faire Sir, be not displeafd if diſobayd:
For ill it were to hearken to her cry;
For the is inly nothing ill apayd,
But onely womanifh fine forgery,

Your flubborne hart t'affect with fraile infirmity.

To which when ſhe your courage hath inclind
Through foolish pitty, then her guilefull bayt
She will embosome deeper in your mind,
And for your ruine at the laft awayt.

The Knight was ruled, and the Boteman ſtrayt
Held on his course with ſtayed ſtedfaſtneſſe,
Ne euer ſhroncke, ne euer ſought to bayt
His tyred armes for toyleſome wearinſſe,

But with his oares didſweepe the watry wilderneſſe.

And now they nigh approched to the ſted,
Where as thofe Mermayds dwelt: it was a ſtill

And calm Bay, on th'one ſide ſheltered
With the brode ſhadow of an hoarie hill,
On th'other ſide an high rocke tourėd ſtill,

That twixt them both a pleafaunt port they made,
And did like an halſe Theatre fulfill:

There thofe ſiue ſifters had continuall trade,

And vſd to bath themſelues in that deceptſt full shade.

They were faire Ladies, till they fondly ſtriu'd

With th'Heliconian maides for mayſtery;
Of whom they ouer-comen, were depriu'd
Of their proud beautitie, and th'one moyity

Transform'd

371

Cant. XII. the Faery Queene.

Transform'd to fish, for their bold furquedry,
But th'upper halſe their hew retayned ſtill,
And their ſweet skill in wonted melody;

Which euer after they abuſd to ill,

Tallure weake traueillers, whom gotten they did kill.

So now to Guyon, as he paffed by,
Their pleafaunt tunes they ſweetly thus applyde,

O thou fayre ſonne of gentle Faery,

That art in mightie armes moſt magnifyde

Aboue all knights, that euer batteill tryde,

O turne thy rudder hetherward a while:

Here may thy ſtorme-bett veſſell ſafely ryde;

This is the Port of reſt from troublous toyle,

The worldes ſweet In, frō paine & wearisome turmoyle.

With that the rolling ſea refounding ſoft,

In his big bafe them fitly anſwered,

And on the rocke the waues breaking aloft,

A ſolemne Meane vnto them meaſured,

The whiles ſweet Zephyrus lowd whiteſed

His treble, a ſtraunge kinde of harmony;

Which Guyons ſenſes softly tickeled,

That he the boteman bad row easily,

And let him heare ſome part of their rare melody.

But him the Palmer from that vanity,

With temperate aduice diſcounſelled,

That they it paſt, and ſhortly gan deſ cry

The land, to which their course they leucled;

When ſuddeinly a groſſe fog ouer ſpred

With his dull vapour all that desert has,

And heauens chearefull face enueloped,

That all things one, and one as nothing was,

And this great Vniorſe ſeemd one confuſed mas.

A a 3

Thereat

372 The second Booke of

Cant. XII.

Thereat they greatly were dismayd, ne wift
How to direct theyr way in darkenes wide,
But feard to wander in that wastefull mift,
For tombling into miſchione vnepide.
Worſe is the daunger hidden, then deſcride,
Suddeinly an innumerable flight
Of harmeſull fowles about them fluttering, cride,
And with their wicked wings them ofte did ſmight,
And fore annoyed, groping in that grieſly night.

Euen all the nation of vnfortunate
And fatall birds about them flocked were,
Such as by nature men abhorre and hate,
The ill-faſte Owle, deaths dreadfull meſſengere,
The hoars Night-rauen, trump of dolefull drere,
The lether-winged Batt, dayes enimy,
The rueſull Strich, ſtill waiting on the bere,
The whifter ſhrill, that who ſo heares, doth dy,
The helliſh Harpyes, prophets of ſad deſtiny.

All thofe, and all that els does horror breed,
About them flew, and ſild their ſayles with ſeare:
Yet ſtayd they not, but forward did proceed,
Whiles th'one did row, and th'other ſtify ſteare;
Till that at laſt the weather gan to cleare,
And the faire land it ſelſe did playnly ſheow.
Said then the Palmer Lo where does appeare
The ſacred foile, where all our perills grow;
Therfore, Sir knight, your ready arms about you throw.

He hearkned, and his armes about him tooke,
The whiles the nimble bote ſo well her ſped,
That with her crooked keele the land the ſtrooke,
Then forth the noble Guyon ſallied,

And

Cant. XII. the Faëry Queene.

373

And his ſage Palmer, that him governed;
But th'other by his bote behind did ſtay.
They marched ſayly forth, of nought ydred,
Both firmly arm'd for euery hard affay,
With conſtancy and care, gainſt daunger and diſmay.

Ere long they heard an hideous bellowing
Of many beaſts, that roard outrageouſly,
As if that hungers poynt, or Venus ſting
Had them enraged with ſell ſurquedry;
Yet nought they ſeard, but paſt on hardly,
Vntill they came in vew of thofe wilde beaſts:
Who all atonce, gaping full greedily,
And rearing ferceſly their vpſtaring creſts,
Ran towards, to deuoure thole vnexpected gueſts.

But ſoone as they approcht with deadly threat,
The Palmer ouer them his ſtaſſe vpheld,
His mighty ſtaſſe, that could all charmes defeat
Eſteſoones their ſtubborne corages were queld,
And high aduaunced creſts downe meekely ſeld,
Inſtead of fraying, they them ſelues did ſeare,
And trembled, as them paſſing they beheld:
Such wondrous powre did in that ſtaſſe appeare,
All monſters to ſubdew to him, that did it beare.

Of that fame wood it fram'd was cunningly,
Of which Caduceus whilome was made,
Caduceus the rod of Mercury,
With which he wonts the Stygian realmes inuade,
Through ghaſtly horror, and eternall ſhade;
Th'infernall ſeends with it he can affwage,
And Orcus tame, whome nothing can perſuade,
And rule the Furyes, when they moſt doe rage:
Such vertue in his ſtaſſe had eke this Palmer ſage.

Aa 4

Thence

374 The second Booke of

Cant. XII.

Thence pafling forth, they shortly doe arryue,
Whereas the Bowre of *Bliffe* was situate;
A place pickt out by choyce of beſt alyue,
That natures worke by art can imitate:
In which what euer in this worldly ſtate
Is ſweete, and pleafing vnto liuing ſenſe,
Or that may daynteſt fantafy aggrate,
Was poured forth with plentifull diſpence,
And made there to abound with lauifh affluence.

Goodly it was encloſed rownd about,
Aſwell their entred gueſtes to keep within,
As thofe vnruly beaſts to hold without;
Yet was the ſence thereof but weake and thin;
Nought ſeard theyr force, that fortilage to win,
But wifedomes powre, and temperaunces might,
By which the migteſt things eſforced bin:
And eke the gate was wrought of ſubſtaunce light,
Rather for pleafure, then for battery or fight.

Yt framed was of precious yuory,
That ſeemd a worke of admirable witt;
And therein all the famous hiftory
Of Iſon and Medea was ywritt;
Her mighty charmes, her ſurious louing flitt,
His goodly conquelt of the golden ſleece,
His falſed fayth, and loue too lightly flitt,
The wondred Argo, which in venturous peece
Firſt through the Euxine ſeas bore all the flowr of Greece.

Ye might haue ſeene the frothy billowes fry
Under the ſhip, as thorough them ſhe went,
That ſeemd the waues were into yuory,
Or yuory into the waues were ſent;

And

Cant. XII. the Faery Queene.

375

And otherwhere the ſnowy ſubſtaunce ſprent
With vermell, like the boyes blood therein ſhed,
A piteous ſpectacle did repreſent,
And otherwhiles with gold beſprinkeled;
Yt ſeemd thenchaunted flame, which did Creuſa wed.

All this, and more might in that goodly gate.
Be red; that euer open ſtood to all,
Which thether came: but in the Porch their ſate
A comely perſonage of ſtature tall,
And ſemblaunce pleafing, more then naturall,
That traueilers to him ſeemd to entize;
His looſer garment to the ground did fall,
And flew about his heeles in wanton wize,
Not fit for ſpeedy pace, or manly exercize.

They in that place him *Genius* did call:
Not that celeſtiall powre, to whom the care
Of life, and generation of all
That liues, perteines in charge particulare,
Who wondrous things concerning our welfare,
And ſtraunge phantomes doth lett vs ofte for ſee,
And ofte of ſecret ill bids vs beware:
That is our ſelfe, whom though we doe not ſee,
Yet each doth in him ſelfe it well perceiue to bee.

Therefore a God him ſage Antiquity
Did wifely make, and good *Agdiftes* call:
But this fame was to that quite contrary,
The foe of life, that good enuyes to all,
That ſecretly doth vs procure to fall,
Through guilefull ſemblants, which he makes vs ſee.
He oft his Gardin had the gouernall,
And Pleaſures porter was deuizd to bee,
Holding a ſtaſſe in hand for more formalitee

With

376

The second Book of

Cant. XII:

With diuerse flowres he daintily was deckt,
And strowed rownd about, and by his fide
A mighty Mazer bowle of wine was lett,
As if it had to him bene sacrifide;
Wherewith all new-come guests he gratyfide:
So did he eke Sir *Guyon* pafling by:
But he his ydle curtesie defide,
And ouerthrew his bowle difdainfully, (fly)
And broke his ftaffe, with which he charmed femblants

Thus being entred, they behold arownd
A large and spacious plaine, on euery fide
Strowed with pleafauns, whose fayre graffy grownd
Mantled with greene, and goodly beautifide
With all the ornaments of *Florae* pride,
Wherewith her mother Art, as halfe in ſcorne
Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride
Did decke her, and too lauifhly adorne, (morne)
When forth from virgin bowre ſhe comes in th'early

Therewith the Heauens alwayes louiall,
Lookte on them louely, ſtill in ſtedfaſt ſtate,
Ne ſuffred ſtorme nor froſt on them to fall,
Their tender buds or leaues to violate,
Nor ſcorching heat, nor cold intemperate
T'affliet the creatures, which therein did dwell,
But the milde ayre with ſeafon moderate
Gently atrempred, and diſpoſd ſo well,
That ſtill it breathed forth ſweet ſpirit & holeſom ſmell,

More ſweet and holeſome, then the pleafaunt hill
Of *Rhodope*, on which the Nimphe, that bore
A gyant babe, her ſelfe for griefe did kill:
Or the Theſſalian *Tempe*, where of yore

Faire

Cant. XII.

the Faery Queene.

377

Fayre Daphne Phæbus hart with loue did gore;
Or Ida, where the Gods lou'd to repayre,
When euer they their heauely bowres forlore;
Or ſweet Parnassè, the haunt of Mufes fayre;
Or Eden ſelfe, if caught with Eden mote compayre.

Much wondred *Guyon* at the fayre aſpect
Of that ſweet place, yet ſuffred no delight
To ſincke into his ſence, nor mind affect,
But paſſed forth, and lookt ſtill forward right,
Brydling his will, and mayſtering his might:
Till that he came vnto another gate,
No gate, but like one, being goodly diſt;
With bowes and braunches, which did broad diſtate
Their clasping armes, in wanton wreathings intricate.

So ſaſhioned a Porch with rare deuice,
Acht ouer head with an embracing vine,
Whose bounches hanging downe, ſeemd to entice
All paſſers by, to taſte their luſhious wine,
And did them ſelues into their hands incline,
As freely offering to be gathered:
Some deepe empurpled as the *Hyacint*,
Some as the Rubine, laughing ſweetely ſed,
Some like faire Emeraudes, not yet well ripened.

And them amongſt, ſome were of burniſht gold,
So made by art, to beautify the reſt,
Which did them ſelues emongſt the leaues enfold,
As lurking from the vew of couetous gueſt,
That the weake boughes, with ſo rich load oppreſt,
Did bow adowne, as ouerburdened.
Vnder that Porch a comely dame did reſt,
Clad in fayre weedes, but fowle diſordered,
And garments loose, that ſeemd vnmeet for womanhed.

In

378

In her left hand a Cup of gold she held,
And with her right the riper fruit did reach,
Whose fappy liquor, that with fulneſſe ſweld,
Into her cup she ſcruzd, with daintie breach
Of her fine fingers, without fowle empeach,
That so faire winepresse made the wine more ſweet:
Thereof she vſd to giue to drinke to each,
Whom paſſing by she happened to meet:
It was her guife, all Straungers goodly so to greet.

So she to Guyon offred it to taſt,
Who taking it out of her tender hond,
The cup to ground did violently caſt,
That all in peeces it was broken fond,
And with the liquor ſtained all the lond:
Whereat Exceſſe exceedingly was wroth,
Yet no'te the fame amend, ne yet withſtond,
But ſuffered him to paſſe, all were ſhe loth;
Who nought regarding her diſpleaſure, forward goth.

There the moſt daintie Paradife on ground,
It ſelfe doth offer to his ſober eye,
In which all pleaures plenteouſly abownd,
And none does others happineſſe enuye:
The painted flowres, the trees vſhooting hye,
The dales for ſhade, the hilles for breathing ſpace,
The trembling groues, the chriſtall running by;
And that, which all faire workes doth moſt aggrace,
The art, which all that wrought, appeared in no place.

One would haue thought, (so cunningly, the rude
And ſcorned parties were mingled with the fine,)
That nature had for wantoneſſe enſude
Art, and that Art at nature did repine;

So

Cant. XII. the Faery Queene.

379

So ſtriuing each other to vndermine,
Each did the others worke more beautifyſ:
So diſſring both in willes, agreed in fine:
So all agreed through ſweete diuerſity,
This Gardin to adorne with all variety.

And in the midſt of all, a fountaine ſtood,
Oſricheſt ſubſtance, that on earth might bee,
So pure and ſhiny, that the ſiluer flood
Through euery channell running one might ſee;
Moſt goodly it with curious ymageree
Was ouerwrought, and ſhapes of naked boyes,
Of which ſome ſeemd with liuelly iollitee,
To fly about, playing their wanton toyes,
Why ſleft others did them ſelues embay in liquid ioyes,

And ouer all, of pureſt gold was ſpred,
A trayle of yuie in his native hew:
For the rich metall was so coloured,
That wight, who did not well auil'd it vew.
Would ſurely deeme it to bee yuie trew:
Low his laſciuious armes adown did creepe,
That them ſelues dipping in the ſiluer dew,
Their fleecy flowres they fearefully did ſteepe,
Which drops of Chriſtall ſeemd for wantones to weep.

Infinit streames continually did well
Out of this fountaine, ſweer and faire to ſee,
The which into an ample lauer ſell,
And ſhortly grew to so great quantitie,
That like a little lake it ſeemd to bee;
Whose depth exceeded not three cubits hight,
That through the waues one might the bottom ſee,
All pa'u'd beneath with Iaſpar ſhining bright,
That ſeemd the fountaine in that ſea did ſayle vpright.

And

380

The second Booke of

Cant. XII.

And all the margent round about was sett,
With fhady Laurell trees, thence to defend
The funny beames, which on the billowes bett,
And thofe which therein bathed, mote offend:
As Guyon hapned by the fame to wend,
Two naked Damzelles he therein espyde,
Which therein bathing, seemed to contend,
And wrestle wantonly, ne car'd to hyde,
Their dainty partes from vew of any, which them eyd.

Sometimes the one would lift the other quight
Aboue the waters, and then downe againe
Her plong, as ouer mayſtered by might,
Where both awhile would couered remaine,
And each the other from to rife reſtraine,
The whiles their snowy limbes, as through a vele,
So through the chriftall waues appeared plaine:
Then ſuſdeinly both would themſelues vnhele,
And th'amarous ſweet ſpoiles to greedy eyes reuele.

As that faire Starre, the meſſenger of morne,
His deawy face out of the sea doth reare:
Or as the Cyprian goddeſſe, newly borne
Of th'Oceans fruitfull froth, did firſt appeare:
Such seemed they, and ſo their yellow heare
Chriftalline humor dropped downe apace.
Whom ſuch when Guyon ſaw, he drew him neare,
And ſomewhat gan relent his earneſt pace,
His ſtubborne breſt gan ſecret pleasaunce to embrace.

The wanton Maidens him espying, ſtood
Gazing a while at his vnwonted guife;
Then th'one her ſelfe low ducked in the flood,
Abaſſht, that her a ſtraunger did avife:

But

Cant. XII.

the Faerie Queene.

381

But thother rather higher did arife,
And her two lilly paps aloft displayd,
And all, that might his melting hart entyſe
To her delights, the vnto him bewrayd:
There reſt hidd vnderneath, him more deſirous made.

With that, the other likewife vp aſoſe,
And her faire lockes, which formerly were bownd
Vp in one knott, the low adowne did loſe:
Which flowing long and thick, her cloth'd arownd,
And th'yuorie in golden mantle gownd:
So that faire ſpectacle from him was reſt,
Yet that, which reſt it, no leſſe faire was ſownd:
So hidd in lockes and waues from lookers theft,
Nought but her louely face the for his looking left.

Withall the laughed, and the bluſht withall,
That bluſhing to her laughter gaue more grace,
And laughter to her bluſhing, as did fall:
Now when they espyde the knight to ſlacke his pace,
Them to behold, and in his ſparkling face
The ſecrete ſignes of kindled luſt appeare,
Their wanton meriments they did encreace,
And to him beckned, to approach more neare, (reare,
And ſhewd him many ſights, that corage cold could

On which when gazing him the Palmer ſaw,
He much rebukt thofe wandring eyes of his,
And counſeld well, him forward thence did draw.
Now are they come nigh to the Bewre of blis
Of her fond ſauorites ſo nam'd amis:
When thus the Palmer, Now Sir, well auife;
For here the end of all our traneill is:
Here wonnes Acrasia, whom we muſt ſurprife,
Els the will flip away, and all our drift despife.

Eftſoones

382

Eftfoones they heard a most melodious found,
Of all that mote delight a daintie eare,
Such as atonce might not on liuing ground,
Saue in this Paradife, be heard elsewhere:
Right hard it was, for wight, which did it heare,
To read, what manner muſicke that mote bee:
For all that pleafing is to liuing eare,
Was there conſorted in one harmonee,
Birdes, voices, inſtruments, windes, waters, all agree.

The ioyous birdes ſhrouded in chearefull ſhade,
Their notes vnto the voice attempred ſweet,
Th'Angelicall ſoft trembling voyces made
To th'inſtruments diuine reſpondence meet:
The filuer ſounding inſtruments did meet
With the bafe murmure of the waters fall:
The waters fall with difference diſcreet,
Now ſoft, now loud, vnto the wind did call:
The gentle warbling wind low anſwered to all.

There, whence that Muſick ſeemed heard to bee,
Was the faire Witch her ſelfe now ſolacing,
With a new Louer, whom through ſorce eere
And witchcraft, ſhe from farre did thether bring:
There ſhe had him now laid a ſlumbering,
In ſecret ſhade, after long wanton ioyes:
Whilſt round about them pleafauntly did ſing
Many faire Ladies, and laſciuious boyes,
That euer mixt their ſong with light licentious toyes.

And all that while, right ouer him ſhe hong,
With her falſe eyes ſaſt fixed in his fight,
As ſeeking medicine, whence ſhe was ſtong,
Or greedily depaſturing delight:

And

Cant. XII. the Faery Queene.

383

And oft inclining downe with kiffes light,
For feare of waking him, his lips bedewd,
And through his humid eyes did ſucke his ſpright,
Quite molten into luſt and pleafure lewd;
Wherewith ſhe ſighed ſoft, as if his caſe ſhe rewd.

The whiles ſome one did chaunt this louely lay;
Ah ſee, who ſo ſayre thing doeſt faire to ſee,
In ſpringing flowre the image of thy day;
Ah ſee the Virgin Roſe, how ſweetly ſhee
Doth firſt peepe ſoorth with baſſ full modeſt ee,
That fairer ſeemes, the leſſe ye ſee her may;
Lo ſee ſoone after, how more bold and free
Her bared boſome ſhe doth broad diſplay;
Lo ſee ſoone after, how ſhe fades, and falls away.

So paffeth, in the paſſing of a day,
Of mortall life the leafe, the bud, the flowre,
Ne more doth florish after firſt decay,
That earſt was ſought to deck both bed and bowre,
Of many a Lady', and many a Paramowre:
Gather therefore the Roſe, whileſt yet is prime,
For ſoone comes age, that will her pride deſlowre:
Gather the Roſe of loue, whileſt yet is time,
Whileſt louing thou mayſt loued be with equall crime.

He ceaſt, and then gan all the quire of birdes
Their diuerſe notes t'attune vnto his lay,
As in approuaunce of his pleafing wordes.
The conſtant payre heard all, that he did ſay,
Yet ſwarued not, but kept their forward way,
Through many couert groues, and thickets cloſe,
In which they creeping did at laſt diſplay
Thot wanton Lady, with her louer loſe,
Whose ſleepie head ſhe in her lap did ſoft diſpoſe.

B b

Vpon

384 The second Booke of

Cant. XII.

Vpon a bed of Roses she was layd,
As faint through heat, or dight to pleasant fin,
And was arayd, or rather difarayd,
All in a uele of filke and filuer thin,
That hid no whit her alablafter skin,
But rather shewd more white, if more might bee:
More subtile web Arachne cannot spin,
Nor the fine nets, which oft we wouen see
Of scorched deaw, do not in th'ayre more lightly flee.

Her snowy breft was bare to ready spoyle.
Of hungry eies, which n'ote therewith be fild,
And yet through languour of her late sweet toyle,
Few drops, more cleare then Ne&Tar, forth diffild,
That like pure Orient perles adowne it trild,
And her faire eyes sweet fmyling in delight,
Moyftened their fierie beames, with which the thrild
Fraile harts, yet quenched not; like ſtarry light
Which sparkling on the silent waues, does seeme more
(bright.

The young man sleeping by her, seemd to be
Some goodly ſwayne of honorable place,
That certes it great pitty was to ſee
Him his nobility ſo fowle deface;
A sweet regard, and amiable grace,
Mixed with manly ſterneſſe did appeare
Yet sleeping, in his well proportion'd face,
And on his tender lips the downy heare
Did now but freshly ſpring, and ſilken blossoms beare.

His warlike Armes, the ydle instruments
Of sleeping praeſe, were hong vpon a tree,
And his braue ſhield, full of old moniments,
Was fowly ra'ſt, that none the ſignes might ſee,

Ne

Cant. XII. the Faerie Queene.

385

Ne for them, ne for honour cared hee,
Ne ought, that did to his aduauncement tend,
But in lewd loues, and waſtfull luxurce,
His dayes, his goods, his bodie he did ſpend:
O horrible enchantment, that him ſo did blend.

The noble Elfe, and carefull Palmer drew
So nigh them, minding nought, but luſtfull game,
That ſudde in forth they on them rufit, and threw
A subtile net, which only for that fame
The skilfull Palmer formally did frame,
So held them vnder faſt, the whiles the reſt
Fled all away for ſeare of fowler ſhame.
The faire Enchauntreſſe, ſo vnwares oppreſt,
Tryde all her arts, & all her fleights, thence out to wreſt.

And eke her louer ſtroue: but all in vaine;
For that fame net ſo cunningly was wound,
That neither guile, nor force might it diſtraine.
They tooke them both, & both them strongly bound
In captiue bandes, which there they readie found:
But her in chaines of adamant he tyde;
For nothing eſſe might keepe her ſafe and found;
But Verdant (so he hight) he soone vntyde,
And counſell ſage in ſeed thereof to him applyde,

But all thofe pleafaunt bowres and Pallace braue,
Guyon broke downe, with rigour pittileſſe;
Ne ought their goodly workmanship might ſaue
Them from the tempeſt of his wrathfulneſſe,
But that their bliffe he turn'd to balefulneſſe:
Their groues he ſeld, their gardins did deface,
Their arbers ſpoyle, their Cabinets ſuppreſſe,
Their banket houſes burne, their buildings race,
And of the fayreſt late, now made the fowleft place.

B b 2

Then

386

Then led they her away, and eke that knight
They with them led, both sorrowfull and sad:
The way they came, the same retourn'd they right,
Till they arriued, where they lately had
Charm'd thofe wild-beafts, that rag'd with furie mad.
Which now awaking, fierce at them gan fly,
As in their miftresse reskew, whom they lad;
But them the Palmer soone did pacify. (did ly,
Then Guyon askt, what meant thofe beafts, which there

Sayd he, thefe feeming beafts are men indeed,
Whom this Enchauntresse hath transformed thus,
Whylome her louers, which her luftes did feed,
Now turned into figures hideous,
According to their mindes like monſtruous.
Sad end (quoth he) of life intemperate,
And mournefull meed of ioyes delicious:
But Palmer, if it mote thee ſo aggrate,
Let them returned be vnto their former ſtate.

Streight way he with his vertuous ſtaffe them ſtrooke,
And ſtreight of beaſtes they comely men became;
Yet being men they did vnmanly looke,
And ſtared ghaſtly, ſome for inward ſhame,
And ſome for wrath, to ſee their captiue Dame:
But one aboue the reſt in ſpeciall,
That had an hog beene late, hight Grylle by name,
Repyned greatly, and did him miſcall,
That had from hoggilſt forme him brought to naturall.

Saide Guyon, See the mind of beaſtly man,
That hath ſo soone forgot the excellence
Of his creation, when he life began,
That now he chooſeh, with vile difference,

To

387

Cant. XI I. the Faery Queene.

To be a beaſt, and lacke intelligence.
To whom the Palmer thus, The donghill kinde
Delightes in filth and fowle incontinence:
Let Gryll be Gryll, and haue his hoggilſt minde;
But let vs hence depart, whileſt wether ſerues & winde.

Bb 3

Cant.

The thirde Booke
of the Faerie Queene.

Contayning

The Legend of Britomartis.

OR

*Of Chastity.*

IT falls me here to write of Chastity,
The fayre vertue, far aboute the reft;
For which what needes me fetch from Faery
Forreine en samples, it to haue expreſt?
Sith it is ſhrined in my Soucraines breſt,
And formd so liuely in each perſect part,
That to all Ladies, which haue it proſeſt,
Neede but behold the pourtraiet of her hart,
If pourtrayd it might bee by any liuing art.

But liuing art may not leaſt part exprcſſe,
Nor life reſembling pencill it can paynt,
All were it *Zeuxis* or *Praxiteles*:
His dædale hand would ſaile, and greatly faynt,

Bb 4

And

390

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

And her perfections with his error taynt:
Ne Poets witt, that paſſeth Painter farre
In pieturing the parts of beauty daynt,
So hard a worke man ſhip adu enture darre,
For fear through wāt of words her excellence to marre.

How then ſhall I, Apprentice of the skill,
That whilome in diuineſt wits did rayne,
Prefume so high to ſtretch mine humble quill?
Yet now my lucke leſſe lott doth me conſtrayne
Hereto perſorce. But O dredd Souerayne
Thus far forth pardon, ſith that choicelt witt
Cannot your glorious pouſtraict figure playne,
That I in colour ſhowes may ſhadow it,
And antique praisſe vnto preſent perſons ſitt.

But if in liuing colours, and right hew,
Thy ſelſe thou couet to ſee pietured,
Who can it doe more liuely, or more trew,
Then that ſweete verſe, with Neſtar ſprinckeled,
In which a gracious ſeruaunt pietured
His Cynthia, his heauens ſayreſt light?
That with his melting ſweternes rauiſhed,
And with the wonder of her beames bright,
My ſences lulled are in ſlomber of delight.

But let that fame delitious Poet lend
A little leaue vnto a rauſticke Mufe
To ſing his miſtreſſe prayſe, and let him mend,
If ought amis her liking may abufe :
Ne let his ſayreſt Cynthia ſerefuſe,
In mirrours more then one her ſelſe to ſee,
But either Gloriana let her chufe,
Or in Belpabe fas ſhioned to bee :
In th'one her rule, in th'other her rare chaſtitee.

Cant.

Cant. I.

the Faëry Queene.

391

Cant. I.

Guyon encomtreth Britomart,
Fayre Florimell is chaced:
Dueſſaes traines and Materaſſaes
champions are defaced.

T
He famous Briton Prince and Faëry knight,
After long wayes and perilous paines endur'd,
Hauing their weary limbes to perſect plight
Reſtord, and ſory wounds right well recur'd,
Of the faire Almzi greatly were procur'd,
To make there lenger ſoiourne and abode;
But when thereto they might not be allur'd,
From ſeeking prauſe, and deeds of armes abrode,
They courteous conge tooke, and forth together yode.

But the captiuet Acrasia he ſent,
Because of traueill long, a nigher way,
With a ſtrong gard, all reskew to preuent,
And her to Faëry court ſafe to conuay,
That her for witnes of his hard affay,
Vnto his Faëry Queene he might preſent:
But he him ſelſe betooke another way,
To make more triall of his hardiment,
And ſeeke aduentures, as he with Prince Arthure went.

Long ſo they traueiled through waſtefull wayes,
Where daungers dwelt, and perils moſt did wonne,
To hunt for glory and renowmed prayſe;
Full many Countriees they did ouerronne,

From

392

The third Book of
Cant. I.

From the vprifing to the fetting Sunne,
And many hard aduentures did atchieue;
Of all the which they honour euer wonne,
Seeking the weake oppreſſed to relieue,
And to recouer right for luch, as wrong did grieue.

At laſt as through an open plaine they yode,
They ſpide a knight, that towards pricked fayre,
And him befide an aged Squire there rode,
That ſeemd to couch vnder his ſhield three ſquare,
As if that age badd him that burden ſpare,
And yield it thofe, that ſtouter could it wield:
He them eſpying, gan him ſelfe prepare,
And on his arme addreſſe his goody ſhield
That bore a Lion paſſant in a golden field.

Which ſeeing good Sir *Guyon*, deare beſought
The Prince of grace, to let him ronne that turne.
He graunted: then the Faery quickly raught
His poynant ſpeare, and ſharply gan to ſpurne
His fomy ſteed, whoſe fiery ſeete did burne
The verdant gras, as he thereon did tread;
Ne did the other backe his ſoote returne,
But ſtercely forward came withouten dread,
And bent his dreadful ſpeare againſt the others head.

They beene ymett, and both theyr points arriu'd,
But *Guyon* drone ſo furious and fell,
That ſeemd both ſhield and plate it would haue riu'd;
Natheleſſe it bore his foe not from his ſell,
Rut made him ſtagger, as he were not well:
But *Guyon* ſelfe, ere well he was aware,
Nigh a ſpeares length behind his crouper ſell,
Yet in his fall ſo well him ſelfe he bare,
That miſchicuous miſchaunce his life & limbs did ſpare.

Great

Cant. I.
the Faëry Queene.

393

Great ſhame and ſorrow of that fall he tooke;
For neuer yet, ſith warlike armes he bore,
And ſhuiering ſpeare in bloody field firſt ſooke,
He fownd him ſelfe diſhonored ſo fore.
Aghentleft knight, that euer armor bore,
Let not the grieue diſmounted to haue beene,
And brought to grownd, that neuer waſt before;
For not thy fault, but ſecreſt powre vnſeene, (greene.
That ſpeare enchaunted was, which layd thee on the

But weened ſt thou, what wight thee ouerthrew,
Much greater grieſe and ſhamefuller regrett
For thy hard fortune then thou wouldſt renew,
That of a ſingle damzell thou wert mett
On equall plaine, and there ſo hard beſett;
Euen the famous *Britomart* it was,
Whom ſtraunge aduentre did from *Britayne* ſett,
To ſeeke her louer (loue far ſought alas.)
Whose image ſhe had ſeene in *Venus* looking glas.

Full of diſdaine ſull wrath, he ſierce vproſe,
For to reuenge that ſowle reprochefull ſhame,
And ſnatching his bright ſword began to cloſe
With her on foot, and ſtoutly forward came;
Dye rather would he, then endure that fame.
Which when his Palmer ſaw, he gan to ſeare
His toward perill and vntoward blame,
Which by that new rencounter he ſhould reare:
For death ſate on the point of that enchaunted ſpeare.

And haſting towards him gan fayre perſwade,
Not to prouoke misfortune, nor to weene
His ſpeares default to mend with cruell blade;
For by his mightie Science he had ſeene

The

394

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

The secrete vertue of that weapon keene,
That mortall puiffaunce mote not withstond:
Nothing on earth mote alwaies happy beene.
Great hazard were it, and aduenture fond,
To loosee long gotten honour with one euill hond.

By such good meanes he him disconfellied,
From prosecuting his reuenging rage;
And eke the Prince like treaty handled,
His wrathfull will with reason to afwage,
And laid the blame, not to his carriage,
But to his starting feed, that fwaru'd afyde,
And to the ill purueyaunce of his page,
That had his furnitures not firmly tyde:
So is his angry corage fayrly pacifye.

Thus reconcilement was betweene them knitt,
Through goodly temperaunce, and affection chafte,
And either vowd with all their power and witt,
To let not others honour be defafte,
Offriend or foe, who euer it embafte,
Ne armes to beare againft the others fyde:
In which accord the Prince was also plafte,
And with that golden chaine of concord tyde.

So goodly all agreed, they forth yfere did ryde,

O goodly vſage of thofe antique tymes,
In which the ſword was ſeruaunt vnto right;
When not for malice and contentious crymes,
But all for prayſe, and proofe of manly might,
The martiall brood accuſtomed to fight:
Then honour was the meed of victory,
And yet the vanquifhed had no deſpight:
Let later age that noble vſe enuy,
Vyle rancor to avoid, and cruel ſurquedry.

Long

395

Cant. I.

the Faery Queene.

Long they thus traeiled in friendly wife,
Through countreyes wafte, and eke well edifye,
Seeking aduentures hard, to exercife
Their puiffaunce, whylome full dernely tryde:
At length they came into a foreſt wyde,
Whole hideous horror and ſad trembling ſownd
Full grieſly ſeemd: Therein they long did ryde,
Yet tract of liuing creature none they ſownd,

Saue Beares, Lyons, & Buls, which romed them arownd.

All suddenly out of the thickeſt brush,
Vpon a milkwhite Palfrey all alone,
A goodly Lady did foreby them rufh,
Whole ſace did ſeeme as cleare as Chriftall ſtone,
And eke through ſeare as white as whales bone:
Her garments all were wrought of beaten gold,
And all her ſeed with tinfell trappings ſhone,
Which ſledd so faſt, that nothing mote him hold,
And ſcarſe them leaſure gaue, her paffing to behold.

Still as the ſledd, her eye ſhe backward threw,
As fearing euill, that pourſewd her ſaſt;
And her faire yellow locks behind her flew,
Loofely diſperſt with puff of euery blaſt:
All as a blazing ſtarre doth farre outcaſt
His hearie beames, and flaming lockes diſpredd,
At fight whereof the people ſtand aghaſt:
But the ſage wifard telles, as he has redd,
That it importunes death and dolefull drery hedd.

So as they gazed after her a whyle,
Lo where a grieſly ſoſter forth did rufh
Breathing out beaſtly luſt her to deſyle:
His tyreling Iade he fierſly forth did pufh,

Through

396

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

Through thick and thin, both ouer banck and bush
In hope her to attaine by hooke or crooke,
That from his gory fydes the blood did guft;
Large were his limbes, and terrible his looke,
And in his clownish hand a sharp bore speare he hooke.

Which outrage when thofe gentle knights did fee,
Full of great enuy and fell gealofy,
They stayd not to auife, who firft should bee,
But all spurd after faft, as they mote fly,
To reskew her from fhame full villany.
The Prince and Guyon equally byliue
Her ſelfe put fewd, in hope to win thereby
Moft goodly meede, the faireſt Dame aliue:
But after the foule folter Timias did striue.

The whiles faire Britomart, whoſe constant mind,
Would not ſo lightly follow beauties chace,
Ne reckt of Ladies Loue, did stay behynd,
And them awayt ed there a certaine ſpace,
To weet if they would turne backe to that place:
But when ſhe saw them gone, ſhe forward went,
As lay her iourny, through that perlous Pace,
With ſtedfaſt corage and ſtout hardiment;
Ne euil thing ſhe feard, ne euill thing ſhe ment.

At laſt as nigh out of the wood ſhe came,
A stately Caſtle far away ſhe spyde,
To which her ſteps directly ſhe did frame,
That Caſtle was moſt goodly edifyde,
And plaſte for pleasure nigh that forreſt fyde:
But faire before the gate a spatious playne,
Mantled with greene, it ſelfe did ſpredden wyde,
On which ſhe saw ſix knights, that did darrayne
Fiers battaill againſt one, with cruel might and mayne.

Mainely

Cant. I.

the Faerie Queene.

397

Mainely they all attonce vpon him laid,
And ſore beſet on euery ſide arownd,
That nigh he breathleſſe grew, yet nought diſmaid,
Ne euer to them yielded foot of grownd
All had he loft much blood through many a wownd,
But ſtoutly dealt his blowes, and euery way
To which he turned in his wrath full ſtownd,
Made them recoile, and fly from dredd decay,
That none of all the fix before, him durſt affay.

Like daſtard Curres, that hauing at a bay
The ſaluage beaſt emboſt in wearie chace,
Dare not aduenture on the ſtubborne pray,
Ne byte before, but rome from place to place,
To get a ſnatch, when turned is his face.
In ſuch diſtreſſe and doubt ſull icopardy,
When Britomart him ſaw, ſhe ran apace
Vnto his reskew, and with earneſt cry,
Badd thofe fame ſixe forbeare that ſingle enimy.

But to her cry they lift nor lenden eare,
Ne ought the more their mightie strokes ſurceaſſe,
But gathering him rownd about more neare,
Their diſeſull rancour rather did encreaſſe;
Till that ſhe rufing through the thickeſt preaſſe,
Perſorce diſparted their compaſſed gyre,
And ſoone compeld to hearken vnto peace:
Tho gan ſhe myldly of them to inquyre
The cauſe of their diſſention and outrageous yre.

Where to that ſingle knight did anſwere frame;
Thesefix would me enforce by oddes of might,
To chaunge my lieſe, and loue another Dame,
That death me lieſer were, then ſuch deſpight,

So

398

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

So vno wrong to yield my wrefted right:
For I loue one, the trueft one on grownd,
Ne lift me chaunge; the th'Errant damzell hight,
For whose deare fake full many a bitter stownd,
I haue endurd, and tafted many a bloody wownd.

Certes (said she) then beene ye fixe to blame,
To weene your wrong by force to iustify:
For knight to leaue his Lady were great shame,
That faithfull is, and better were to dy.
All loffe is leffe, and leffe the infamy,
Then loffe of loue to him, that loues but one;
Ne may loue be compeld by maistery;
For soone as maistery comes, sweet loue anone
Taketh his nimble winges, and soone away is gone.

Then spake one of thofe fix, There dwelleth here
Within this caſtle wall a Lady fayre,
Whofe ſoueraine beautie hath no liuing pere,
Thereto ſo bounteous and ſo debonayre,
That neuer any mote with her compayre.
She hath ordain'd this law, which we approue,
That euery knight, which doth this way repayre,
In caſe he haue no Lady, nor no loue,
Shall doe vnto her ſeruice neuer to remoue.

But if he haue a Lady or a Loue,
Then muſt he her forgoe with fowle defame,
Or els with vs by dint of ſword approue,
That the ſhe is fairer, then our faireſt Dame,
As did this knight, before ye hether came.
Perdy (said Britomart) the choife is hard:
But what reward had he, that ouercame?
He should aduaunced bee to high regard,
(Said they) and haue our Ladies loue for his reward.

There-

399

Cant. I. The Faëry Queene.

Therefore a read Sir, if thou haue a loue.
Loue haue I ſure, (quoth she) but Lady none;
Yet will I not fro mine owne loue remoue,
Ne to your Lady will I ſeruice done,
(lone,
But wreake your wronges wrought to this knight a-
And proue his cauſe. With that her mortall ſpeare
She mightily auentred towards one,
And downe him ſmot, ere well aware he weare,
Then to the next she rode, & downe the next did beare.

Ne did ſhe ſtay, till three on ground ſhe layd,
That none of them himſelfe could reare againe;
The fourth was by that other knight diſmayd,
All were he wearie of his former paine,
That now there do but two of ſix remaine;
Which two did yield, before ſhe did them ſmight.
Ah (fayd the then) now may ye all ſee plaine,
That truth is ſtrong, and trew loue moſt of might,
That for his truſty ſeruaunts doth ſo ſtrongly fight,

Too well we ſee, (faide they) and proue too well
Our faulty weakenes, and your matchleſſe might:
For thy, faire Sir, yours be the Damozell,
Which by her owne law to your lot doth light,
And we your liegemen faith vnto you plight.
So vnderneath her feet their ſwords they ſhard,
And after her beſought, well as they might,
To enter in, and reape the dew teward:
She graunted, and then in they all together far'd.

Long were it to describe the goodly frame,
And ſtately port of Caſtle toyeons,
(For so that Caſtle hight by commun name)
Where they were entertain'd with courteous

Cc

And

400 The second Booke of

Cant. I.

And comely glee of many gratious
Faire Ladies, and of many a gentle knight,
Who through a Chamber long and spacious,
Eftsoones them brought vnto their Ladies fight,
That of them cieeped was the *Lady of delight*.

But for to tell the sumptuous aray
Of that great chamber, should be labour loft:
For liuing wit, I weene, cannot display
The roiall riches and exceeding coft,
Of euery pillour and of euery poft;
Which all of pureft bullion framed were,
And with great perles and pretious stones emboft,
That the bright glifter of their beames cleare
Did fparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare.

These ftranger knights through paffing, forth were led
Into an inner rowme, whole royaltee
And rich purueyance might vneath be red;
Mote Princes place be feeme so deckt to bee.
Which ftately manner when as they did fee,
The image of ſuperfluous riotize,
Exceeding much the ſtate of meane degree,
They greatly wondred, whence ſo ſumpteous guize
Might be maintaynd, and each gan diuerſely deuize.

The wals were round about appareiled
With costly clothes of *Arras* and of *Toure*,
In which with cunning hand was pourtrahed
The loue of *Venus* and her Paramoure,
The fayre *Adonis*, turned to a flowre,
A worke of rare deuice, and wondrous wit.
Firſt did it ſhow the bitter balefull ſtowre,
Which her affayd with many a ſeruent fit,
When firſt her tender hart was with his beautie ſmit.

Then

Cant. I.
the Faerie Queene.

401

Then with what fleights and fweet allurements ſhe
Entyft the Boy, as well that art ſhe knew,
And wooed him her Paramoure to bee;
Now making girlonds of each flowre that grew,
To crowne his golden lockes with honour dew;
Now leading him into a ſecret fhade
From his Beauperes, and from bright heauens vew,
Where him to ſleepe ſhe gently would perſwade,
Or bathe him in a fountaine by ſome couert glade.

And whilft he ſlept, ſhe ouer him would ſpred
Her mantle, colour'd like the ſtarry skyes,
And her ſoft arme lay vnderneath his hed,
And with ambroſiall kiffes bathe his eyes;
And whilft he bath'd, with her two crafty ſpyes,
She ſecrety would ſearch each daintie lim,
And throw into the well ſweet Rosemaryes,
And fragrant violets, and Paunces trim,
And euer with ſweet Nectar ſhe did ſprinkle him.

So did ſhe ſteale his heedeleſſe hart away,
And ioyd his loue in ſecret vnſpyde.
But for ſhe ſaw him bent to cruell play,
To hunt the ſalnage beaſt in forreſt wyde,
Dreadfull of daunger, that mote him betyde,
She oft and oft aduiz'd him to refraine
From chafe of greater beaſtes, whoſe brutiſh pryde
Mote breede him ſcath vnwares: but all in vaine;
For who can ſhun the chance, that deſt'ny doth ordaine?

Lo, where beyond he lyeth languifhing,
Deadly engored of a great wilde Bore,
And by his ſide the Goddeſſe groueling
Makes for him endleſſe mone, and euermore

Cc 2

With

402
The third Booke of
Cant. I.

With her soft garment wipes away the gore,
Which staynes his snowy skin with hatefull hew;
But when she saw no helpe might him restore,
Him to a dainty flowre the did transfew,
Which in that cloth was wrought, as if it liuly grew,

So was that chamber clad in goodly wize,
And rownd about it many beds were dight,
As whylome was the antique worldes guize,
Some for vntimely eafe, some for delight,
As pleafed them to vfe, that vfe it might:
And all was full of Damzels, and of Squyres,
Dauncing and reueling both day and night,
And swimming deepe in fenfuall defyres,
And Cupid ſtill emongeſt them kindled luſt full fyres,

And all the while ſweet Muficke did diuide
Her loofer notes with Lydian harmony;
And all the while ſweet birdes thereto applide
Their daintie layes and dulcet melody,
Ay caroling of loue and iollity,
That wonder was to heare their trim confort. (eye,
Which when thoſe knights beheld, with ſcornefull
They ſdeigned ſuch laſciuious diſport,

And loath'd the loofe demeanure of that wanton ſort.

Thence they were brought to that great Ladies vew,
Whom they found sitting on a ſumptuous bed,
That gliftr'd all with gold and glorious ſhew,
As the proud Perſian Queenes accuſomed:
She ſeem'd a woman of great bountihed,
And of rare beautie, ſauing that askaunce
Her wanton eyes, ill ſignes of womanhed,
Did roll too highly, and too often glaunce,
Without regard of grace, or comely amenaunce.

Long

Cant. I.
the Faery Queene.

402

Long worke it were, and needleſe to deuize
Their goodlv entertainement and great glee:
She cauſed them be led in courteous wize
Into a bowre, diſarmed for to be,
And cheared well with wine and ſpiceree:
The Redcroſſe Knight was ſoone diſarmed there,
But the braue Mayd would not diſarmed bee,
But onely vented vp her vmbriere,

And ſo did let her goodly viſage to appere.

As when fayre Cynthia, in darke ſome night,
Is in a noyous cloud enueloped,
Where ſhe may finde the ſubſtance thin and light,
Breakes forth her filuer beames, and her bright hed
Diſcouers to the world diſcomſtined,
Of the poore traueiler, that went aſtray,
With thouſand bleſſings ſhe is heried;
Such was the beautie and the ſhining ray,
With which fayre Britomart gaue light vnto the day.

And eke thoſe ſix, which lately with her ſought,
Now were diſarmd, and did them ſelues preſent
Vnto her vew, and company vnſought;
For they all ſeemed courteous and gent,
And all ſixe brethren, bórne of one parent,
Which had them traynd in all ciuillTEE,
And goodly taught to tilt and turnament;
Now were they liegmen to this Ladie free,
And her knights ſeruice ought, to hold of her in ſee.

The first of them by name Gardante hight,
A iolly perſon, and of comely vew;
The ſecond was Parlante, a bold knight,
And next to him Iocante did enſew;

Cc 3

Bafeiante

404

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

Basciante did him selfe most courteous fteew;
But fierce Bacchante feemd too fell and keene;
And yett in armes Noctante greater grew:
All were faire knights, and goodly well befene,
But to faire Britemart they all but shadowes beene.

For fhee was full of amiable grace,
And manly terror mixed therewithall,
That as the one ftrird vp affections bace,
So th'other did mens rafh desires apall,
And hold them backe, that would in error fall;
As hee, that hath espide a vermeill Rose,
To which Sharpe thornes and breres the way forstall,
Dare not for dread his hardy hand expose,
But wifhing it far off, his ydle wifh doth lobe.

Whom when the Lady faw so faire a wight.
All ignorant of her contrary fex,
(For fhee her weend a fefh and lufty knight)
Shee greatly gan enamoured to wex,
And with vaine thoughts her falſed fancy vex:
Her fickle hart conceiued haſty fyre,
Like ſparkes of fire, that fall in ſclender flex,
That ſhortly brent into extreme defyre,
And ransfackt all her veines with paſſion entyre.

Eſtoones ſhee grew to great impatience
And into termes of open outrage bruſt,
That plaine diſcouered her incontinence,
Ne reckt ſhee, who her meaning did miftruſt;
For ſhe was giuen all to fefhly luſt,
And poured forth in ſenſuall delight,
That all regard of ſhame ſhe had diſcufft,
And meet reſpect of honor putt to flight:
So ſhameleſſe beauty ſoone becomes a loathly fight.

Faire

Cant. I. the Faery Queene.

405

Faire Ladies, that to loue captiued arre,
And chafte desires doe nourifh in your mind,
Let not her fault your fwee te affections marre,
Ne blott the bounty of all womankind;
'Mongſt thousands good one wanton Dame to find:
Emongſt the Roſes grow ſome wicked weeds;
For this was not to loue, but luſt inclind;
For loue does alwaies bring forth bounteous deeds,
And in each gentle hart desire of honor breeds.

Nought ſo of loue this looſer Dame did skill,
But as a cole to kindle fefhly flame,
Giuing the bridle to her wanton will,
And treading vnder foote her honest name:
Such loue is hate, and ſuch desire is ſhame.
Still did ſhe roue at her with crafty glaunce
Of her falſe eies, that at her hart did ayme,
And told her meaning in her countenaunce;
But Britomart diſſembled it with ignoraunce.

Supper was ſhortly dight and downe they fatt,
Where they were ſerued with all ſumptuous fare,
Whiles fruitfull Ceres, and Lyaus fatt
Pourd out their plenty, without ſpight or ſpare:
Nought wanted there, that dainty was and rare;
And aye the cups their bancks did ouerflow,
And aye betweene the cups, ſhe did prepare
Way to her loue, and ſecret darts did throw;
But Britomart would not ſuch guilfull meſlage know.

So when they flaked had the ſeruent heat
Of appetite with meates of euery ſort,
The Lady did faire Britomart entreat,
Her to diſarme, and with delightfull ſport

Cc 4

To

406

The third Booke of

Cant. I.

To loose her warlike limbs and strong effort,
But when shee mote not thereunto be wonne,
(For shee her sexe vnder that straunge purport
Did vse to hide, and plaine apparaunce fhonne:)
In playner wife to tell her grieuaynce she begonne.

And all attonce discouered her defire
With fighes, and fobs, and plaints, & piteous griefe.
The outward sparkes of her inburning fire;
Which ſpent in vaine, at laſt she told her briefe,
That but if she did lend her ſhort reliefe,
And doe her comfort, ſhe more algates dye.
But the chaſte damzell, that had neuer prieſe
Of ſuch malengine and fine forgerye,
Did easely beleeue her ſtrong extremitye.

Full easily was for her to haue belieſe,
Who by ſelf-feeling of her feeble ſexe,
And by long triall of the inward griefe,
Wherewith imperious loue her hart did vexe,
Could iudge what paines doe louing harts perplexe.
Who meanes no guile, be guiled ſooneſt ſhall,
And to faire ſemblaunce doth light faith annexe;
The bird, that knowes not the falſe fowlers call,
Into his hidden nett full easily doth fall.

For thy ſhe would not in difcourteiſe wife,
Scorne the faire offer of good will proteſt;
For great rebuke it is, loue to deſpife,
Or rudely ſdeigne a gentle harts requeſt;
But with faire countenaunce, as beſeemed beſt,
Her entertaynd; nath'leſſe ſhee inly deemd
Her loue too light, to wooe a wandring gueſt:
Which ſhe miſconſtruing, thereby eſſeemd (ſteemd,
That from like inward fire that outward ſmoke had
Therewith

407

Cant. I.
the Faery Queene.

Therewith a while ſhe her ſlit fancy ſedd,
Till ſhe mote winne fit time for her defire,
But yet her wound ſtill inward freshly bledd,
And through her bones the falſe inſtilled ſire
Did ſpred it ſelfe, and venime close inſpire.
Tho were the tables taken all away,
And euery knight, and euery gentle Squire
Gan choose his dame with Baſcimano gay,
With whom he ment to make his ſport & courtly play.

Some ſell to daunce, ſome ſel to hazardry,
Some to make loue, ſome to make meryment,
As diuerſe witts to diuerſe things apply;
And all the while faire Malecaſta bent
Her crafty engins to her close intent.
By this th'eternall lampes, wherewith high Ioue
Doth light the lower world, were halſe ſpent,
And the moiſt daughters of huge Atlas ſtroue
Into the Ocean deepe to driue their weary droue.

High time it ſeemed then for euerie wight
Them to betake vnto their kindly reſt;
Eſteſoones long waxen torches weren light,
Vnto their bowres to guyden euery gueſt:
Tho when the Britoneſſe ſaw all the reſt
Auoided quite, ſhe gan her ſelfe deſpoile,
And ſafe committ to her ſoft ſethered neſt,
Wher through long watch, & late daies weary toile,
She foundly ſlept, & carefull thoughts did quite aſſoile.

Now whenas all the world in ſilence deepe
Yſhrowded was, and euery mortall wight
Was drowned in the depth of deadly ſleep,
Faire Malecaſta, whose engrieued ſpright

Could

408

The third Booke of

Cant. II.

Could find no rest in such perplexed plight,
Lightly aroſe out of her wearie bed,
And vnder the blacke vele of guilty Night,
Her with a ſcarlott mantle couſed,
That was with gold and Ermines faire enuelped.

Then panting ſoſte, and trembling euery ioynt,
Her fearfull ſeete towards the bowre ſhe mou'd.
Where ſhe for ſecret purpose did appoynt
To lodge the warlike maide vnwifely lou'd,
And to her bed approching, firſt ſhe proou'd,
Whether ſhe ſlept or wak'te, with her ſoſte hand
She ſoftely felt, if any member mou'd,
And lent her weary eare to vndeſtand,
If any puffe of breath, or ſigne ofſence ſhee ſond.

Which whenas none ſhe ſond, with eaſy ſhifte,
For ſeare leaſt her vnwaſes ſhe ſhould abrayd,
Th'embroderd quilt ſhe lightly vp did lifte,
And by her ſide her ſelſe ſhe ſoftely layd,
Of euery ſinſt fingers touch affrayd;
Ne any noife ſhe made, ne word ſhe ſpake.
But inly ſigh'd. At laſt the royall Mayd
Out of her quiet ſlomber did awake,
And chaunghd her weary ſide, the better eaſe to take.

Where feeling one cloſe couched by her ſide,
She lightly lept out of her filed bedd,
And to her weapon ran, in minde to gride
The loathed leachour. But the Dame halſe dedd
Through ſuddein ſeare and ghaſtly drerihedd,
Did ſhrieke alowd, that through the hous itrong,
And the whole family therewith adredd,
Raſhly out of their rouzed couches ſprong,
And to the troubled chamber all in armes did throng.

And

Cant. I.

the Faery Queene.

409

And thoſe ſixe knights that ladies Champions,
And eke the Redcroſſe koight ran to the ſtownd,
Halſe armd and halſe vnarmd, with them attons:
Where when confuſedly they came, they ſownd.
Their lady lying on the ſenceleſſe grownd;
On thother ſide, they ſaw the warlike Mayd
Al in her ſnow-white ſmocke, with locks vnbownd,
Threatning the point of her auenging blaed,
That with ſo troublous terror they were all diſmayd.

About their Ladye firſt they flockt arownd,
Whom hauing laid in comfortable couch,
Shortly they reard out of her ſroſen ſwownd;
And afterwardes they gan with ſowle reproch
To ſirre vp ſtrife, and troublous contecke broch:
But by enſample of the laſt dayes ſoſſe,
None of them raſhly durſt to her approach,
Ne in ſo glorious ſpoile them ſelues emboſſe,
Her ſuccourd eke the Champion of the bloody Croſſe.

But one of thoſe ſixe knights, Gardante hight,
Drew out a deadly bow and arrow keene,
Which forth he ſent with ſelonous deſpight,
And ſell intent againſt the virgin ſheene:
The mortall ſteele ſtayd not, till it was ſeene
To gore her ſide, yet was the wound not deepe,
But lightly raſed her ſoft ſilken skin,
That drops of purple blood thereout did weepe,
Which did her lilly ſmock with ſtaines of vermeil ſteep.

Where with enrag'd, ſhe ſiercely at them flew,
And with her ſlaming ſword about her layd,
That non of them ſoule miſchieſe could eſchew,
But with her dreadfull strokes were all diſmayd:

Here,

410

The third Booke of

Cant. II.

Here, there, and euery where about her fwayd
Her wrathfull steele, that none mote it abye;
And eke the Redcrosſe knight gaue her good ayd,
Ay ioyning foot to foot, and ſyde to ſyde,
That in ſhort ſpace their foes they haue quite terrifyde.

Tho whenas all were put to ſhamefull flight,
The noble Britomartis her arayd,
And her bright armes about her body dight:
For nothing would ſhe lenger there be ſtayd,
Where ſo loose life, and ſo vngentle trade
Was vſd of knighcs and Ladies ſeeming gent:
So earely ere the groſſe Earthes gryeſy ſhade,
Was all diſperſt out of the firmament,
They tooke their ſteeds, & forth vpō their iouney went

Cant. II.

The Redcrosſe knight to Britomart
describeth Artegall:

The wondrous myrrhour, by which ſhe
in loue with him did fall.

H
Ere haue I caufe in men iuſt blame to find,
That in their proper prae too partiall bee,
And not indifferent to woman kind,
To whom no ſhare in armes and cheualree,
They doe impart, ne maken memorce
Of their braue geſtes and prowſe martiaall;
Scarſe doe they ſpare to one or two or three,
Rowme in their writtes; yet the fame writing ſmall
Does all their deedes deface, and dims their glories all,
But

Cant. II.

the Faëry Queene.

411

But by record of antique times I finde,
That wemen wont in warres to beare moſt ſway,
And to all great exploites them ſelues inclind:
Of which they ſtill the girlond bore away,
Till enuious Men fearing their rules decay,
Gan Coyne ſtreight lawes to curb their liberty,
Yet ſith they warlike armes haue laide away,
They haue exceld in artes and pollicy,
That now we foolish men that prayſe gin eke t'enuy.

Of warlike puiffaunce in ages ſpent,
Be thou faire Britomart, whose prayſe I wryte,
But of all wisedom bee thou precedent,
Of ſoueraine Queene, whose prayſe I would endyte,
Endite I would as dewtie doth excyte;
But ah my rymes to rude and rugged arre,
When in ſo high an obieſt they doe lyte,
And ſtruiuing, fit to make, I feare doe marre:
Thy ſelfe thy prayſes tell, and make them knowen farre.

She trauailing with Guyon by the way,
Of ſondry thinges faire purpofe gan to find,
T'abridg their iouney long, and lingring day,
Mongſt which it fell into that Fairies mind,
To aske this Briton Maid, what vncouth wind,
Brought her into thoſe partes, and what inqueſt
Made her diſſlemble her diſguſed kind:
Faire Lady ſhe him ſeemd, like Lady dreſt,
But faireſt knight aliue, when armed was her breſt.

Thereat ſhe ſighing ſoſtly, had no powre
To ſpeake a while, ne ready anſwere make,
But with hart-thrilling throbs and bitter ſtowre,
As if ſhe had a ſener ſitt, did quake,

And

412

The third Booke of

Cant. II.

And euery daintie limbe with horrour shake,
And euer and anone the rosy red,
Flasht through her face, as it had beene a flake
Of lightning, through bright heuen fulmined;
At laft the passion paft she thus him anfwered.

Faire Sir, I let you weete, that from the howre
I taken was from nourſes tender pap,
I haue beene trained vp in warlike ſtowre,
To toſlen ſpeare and ſhield, and to affrap
The watlike ryder to his moſt miſhap;
Sithence I loathed haue my life to lead,
As Ladies wont, in pleafures wanton lap,
To finger the fine needle and nyce thread,
Me leuer were with point of ſoemans ſpeare be dead.

All my delight on deedes of armes is ſett,
To hunt out perilles and aduentures hard,
By ſea, by land, where ſo they may be mett,
Onely for honour and for high regard,
Without respect of richeſſe or reward.
For ſuch intent into theſe partes I came,
Withouten compaſſe, or withouten card,
Far fro my native ſoyle, that is by name
The greater *Brytayne*, here to ſeeke for praeſe and fame.

Fame blazed hath, that here in Faery lond
Doe many famous knightes and Ladies wonne,
And many ſtraunge aduentures to bee fond,
Of which great worth and worſhip may be wonne;
Which to proue, I this voyage haue begonne.
But mote I weet of you, right courteous knight,
Tydings of one, that hath vnto me donne
Late ſoule diſhonour and reprochfull ſpight,
The which I ſeeke to wreaſke, and *Arthegall* he hight.

The

413

Cant. II:

the Faerie Queene.

The word gone out, the backe againe would call,
As her repenting ſo to haue miſlayd,
But that he it vptaking ere the fall,
Her ſhortly anſwered; Faire martiaſl Mayd
Certes ye miſauifed beene, t'vpbrayd,
A gentle knight with ſo vnknightly blame:
For weet ye well of all, that euer playd
At tilt or tourney, or like warlike game,
The noble *Arthegall* hath euer borne the name.

For thy great wonder were it, iſ ſuch ſhame
Should euer enter in his bounteous thought,
Or euer doe, that mote deferuen blame:
The noble corage neuer weeneth ought,
That may vnworthy of it ſelſe be thought.
Therefore, faire Damzell, be ye well aware,
Leaſt that too farre ye haue your ſorrow ſought.
You and your countrey both I will welfare,
And honour both, for each of other worthy are.

The royall Maid woxe inſly wondrous glad,
To heare her Loue ſo highly magnifyde,
And ioyd that euer ſhe affixed had,
Her hart on knight ſo goodly glorifyde,
How euer finely ſhe it ſaind to hyde:
The louing mother, that nine monethes did beare,
In the deare cloſett of her paineſull ſyde,
Her tender babe, it ſeeing ſaſe appeare,
Doth not ſo much reioyce, as ſhe reioyced theare.

But to occasion him to further talke,
To feed her humor with his pleafing ſtyle,
Her lift in ſtryfull termes with him to balke,
And thus replyde, How euer, Sir, ye ſyle

Your

414

The third Booke of

Cant. II.

Your courteous tongue, his prayes to compyle,
It ill befiemes a knight of gentle sort,
Such as ye haue him boafteſ, to beguyle
A ſimple maide, and worke ſo hainous tort,
In ſhame of knighthood, as I largely can report.

Let bee therefore my vengeaunce to diffwade,
And read, where I that faytour falſe may find.
Ah, but if reaſon faire might you perſwade,
To ſlake your wrath, and mollify your mind,
(Said he) perhaps ye ſhould it better find:
For hardie thing it is, to weene by might,
That man to hard conditions to bind,
Or euer hope to match in equall fight,
Whofe prowefle paragone ſaw neuer liuing wight.

Ne ſoothlich is it eafie for to read,
Where now on earth, or how he may be fownd;
For he ne wonneth in one certeine ſtead,
But reſtleſſe walketh all the world arownd,
Ay doing thinges, that to his fame redownd,
Defending Ladies caufe, and Orphans right,
Where ſo he heares, that any doth confownd
Them comfortleſſe, through tyranny or might;
So is his ſoueraine honour raide to heuens hight.

His feeling wordes her feeble ſence much pleafed,
And ſofly ſunck into her molten hart;
Hart that is inly hurt, is greatly eafed
With hope of thing, that may allegge his ſmart,
For pleafing wordes are like to Magick art,
That doth the charmed Snake in ſlomber lay:
Such ſecrete eafe felt gentle Britomart,
Yet lift the fame efforce with ſaund gaineſay;
So diſchord ofte in Muſick makes the ſweeter lay.

And

415

Cant. II.

the Faery Queene.

And ſayd, Sir knight, theſe ydle termes forbeare,
And ſich it is vneath to finde his haunt,
Tell me ſome markes, by which he may appeare,
If chaunce I him encounter parauaunt;
For perdy one ſhall other ſlay, or daunt: (what ſtedd,
What ſhape, what ſhield, what armes, what ſteed,
And what ſo eſſe his perſon moſt may vaunt ?
All which the Redcroſſe knight to point aredd,
And him in euerie part before her ſashioned.

Yet him in euerie part before ſhe knew,
How euer lift her now her knowledge fayne,
Sith him whylome in Brytayne ſhe did vew,
To her reuealed in a mirrhour playne,
Whereof did grow her firſt engraſſed payne,
Whofe root and ſtalke ſo bitter yet did taſte,
That but the fruit more ſweetnes did contayne,
Her wretched dayes in dolour ſhe mote waſte,
And yield the pray of loue to lothſome death at laſt.

By ſtraunge occafion ſhe did him behold,
And much more ſtraungely gan to loue his fight,
As it in bookes hath written beene of old.
In Deheubarth that now South-wales is hight,
What time king Ryence raign'd, and deale'd right,
The great Magitien Merlin had deuiz'd,
By his deepe ſcience, and hell-dreaded might,
A looking glaſſe, right wondrouſly aguiz'd,
Whofe vertues through the wyde worlde ſoone were
(folemniz'd.)

It vertue had, to ſhow in perſect fight,
What euer thing was in the world contaynd,
Betwixt the loweſt earth and heuens hight,
So that it to the looker appertaynd;

D d

What

416

The third Booke of

Cant. II.

What euer foe had wrought, or friend had faynd,
Therein discovered was, ne ought mote pas,
Ne ought in secret from the fame remaynd;
For thy it round and hollow shaped was,
Like to the world it selfe, and seemd a world of glas.

Who wonders not, that reades so wonderous worke:
Bnt who does wonder, that has red the Towre,
Wherein th' Aegyptian Phao long did lurke
From all mens vew, that none might her discoure,
Yet the might all men vew out of her bowre?
Great Ptolomæe it for his lemans fake
Ybuilded all of glasse, by Magicke powre,
And also it impregnable did make;
Yet when his loue was false, he with a peaze it brake.

Such was the glassy globe that Merlin made,
And gaue vnto king Ryence for his gard,
That neuer foes his kingdome might inuade,
But he it knew at home before he hard
Tydings thereof, and so them still debar'd.
It was a famous Preſent for a Prince,
And worthy worke of infinite reward,
That treaſons could bewray and foes conuince;
Happy this Realme, had it remayned euer ſince.

One day it fortuned, fayre Britomart
Into her fathers cloſet to repayre;
For nothing he from her referu'd apart,
Being his onely daughter and his hayre:
Where when ſhe had eſpyde that mirrhour fayre,
Her ſelfe awhile therein ſhe vewd in vaine;
Tho her auizing of the vertues rare,
Which thereof ſpoken were, ſhe gan againe
Her to bethinke of, that mote to her ſelfe pertaine.

But

417

Cant. II. the Faerie Queene.

But as it falleth, in the gentleft harts
Imperious Loue hath higheſt fet his throne,
And tyrannizeth in the bitter ſmarts
Of them, that to him buxome are and prone:
So thought this Mayd (as maydens vſe to done)
Whom fortune for her husband would allot,
Not that ſhe luſted after any one;
For the was pure from blame of ſinfull blot,
Yet wift her life at laſt muſt lincke in that fame knot.

Eſtloones there was preſented to her eye
A comely knight, all arm'd in complete wize,
Through whose bright ventayle lifted vp on hye
His manly face, that did his foes agrize,
And frends to termes of gentle truce entize,
Lookt foorth, as Phæbus face out of the eaſt,
Betwixt two ſhady mountaynes doth arize;
Portly his perſon was, and much increaſt
Through his Heroicke grace, and honorable geſt.

His creſt was couered with a couchant Hownd,
And all his armour ſeemd of antique mould,
But wondrous maſſy and affured ſownd,
And round about yfretted all with gold,
In which there written was with cyphres old,
Achilles armes, which Arthogall did win.
And on his ſhield enueloped ſeuenfold
He bore a crowned little Ermilin,
That deckt the azure field with her fayre pouldred skin.

The Damzell well did vew his Perſonage,
And liked well, ne further faſtned not,
But went her way; ne her vn guilty age
Did weene, vn wares, that her vn lucky lot

Dd 2

Lay

418 The third Booke of

Cant. II.

Lay hidden in the bottome of the pot,
Of hurt vnwind most daunger doth redound:
But the falſe Archer, which that arrow ſhot
So flyly, that ſhe did not feele the wound,
Did ſmyle full smoothly at her weetleſſe woſull ſtound.

Thenceforth the fether in her lofty creft,
Ruffed of loue, gan lowly to auaile,
And her prowd portaunce, and her princely geſt,
With which ſhe earſt tryumphed, now did quail:
Sad, ſolemne, ſowre, and full of fancies fraile
She woxe; yet wift ſhe nether how, nor why,
She wift not, filly Mayd, what ſhe did aile,
Yet wift, ſhe was not well at eafe perdy,
Yet thought it was not loue, but ſome melancholy.

So ſoone as Night had with her pallid hew
Deſaſte the beautie of the ſhyning skye,
And reſt from men the worldes deſired vew,
She with her Nourſe adowne to ſleepe did lye;
But ſleepe full far away from her did fly:
In ſtead thereof ſad ſighes, and ſorrowes deepe
Kept watch and ward about her warily,
That nought ſhe did but wayle, and often ſleepe
Her daity couch with teares, which cloſely ſhe did
(weepe.)

And if that any drop of ſlombring reſt
Did chaunce to ſtill into her weary ſpright,
When feeble nature felt her ſelfe oppreſt,
Streight way with dreames, and with ſantaſtick ſight
Of dreadfull things the fame was put to flight,
That oft out of her bed ſhe did aftart,
As one with vew of ghaſtly ſeends affright:
Tho gan ſhe to renew her former ſmart,
And thinke of that ſayre viſage, written in her hart.

One

Cant. II. the Faery Queene.

419

One night, when ſhe was toſt with ſuch vnreſt,
Her aged Nourſe, whose ſname was Glauſe hight,
Feeling her leape out of her loathed neſt,
Bctwixt her feeble armes her quickly keight,
And downe againe her in her warme bed dight,
Ah my deare daughter, ah my deareſt dread,
What vncouth ſit (ſayd ſhe) what euill plight
Hath thee oppreſt, and with ſad drearyhead
Chaunged thy liguely cheare, & liuing made thee dead?

For not of nought theſe ſuddein ghaſtly ſeares
All night afflict thy naturall repoſe,
And all the day, when as thine equall peares
Their ſit diſports with faire delight doe choſe,
Thou in dull corners doeſt thy ſelſe incloſe,
Ne taſteſt Princes pleaſures, ne doeſt ſpred
Abroad thy freſh youths ſayreſt flowre, but loſe
Both leaſe and ſruite, both too vntimely ſhed,
As one in wilfull bale for euer buried.

The time, that mortall men their weary cares
Do lay away, and all wilde beaſtes do reſt,
And every riuer eke his courſe forbeares,
Then doth this wicked euill thee inſeſt,
And riue with thousand throbs thy thrilled breſt;
Like an huge Aetn' of deepe engulfed gryſe,
Sorrow is heaped in thy hollow ched,
Whence foorth it breakes in ſighes and anguifh ryſe,
As smoke and ſulphure mingled with confuſed ſtryſe.

Ayme, how much I ſeare, leaſt loue it bee,
But if that loue it be, as ſure I read
By knowen ſignes and paſſions, which I ſee,
Be it worthy of thy race and royall ſead,

Dd 3

Then

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The third Booke of

Cant. II.

Then I auow by this moſt ſacred head
Of my deare ſoſter childe, to eafe thy griefe,
And win thy will: Therefore away doe dread,
For death nor daunger from thy dew relieſe
Shall me debarre. tell me therefore my lieſeſt lieſe.

So hauing ſayd, her twixt her armes twaine
Shee ſtreightely ſtraynd, and colled tenderly,
And euery trembling ioynt, and euery vaine
Shee ſoftly felt, and rubbed buſily,
To doe the ſrozen cold away to fly,
And her faire deawy eies with kiffes deare
Shee ofte did bathe, and ofte againe did dry;
And euer her importund, not to ſeare
To let the ſecret of her hart to her appeare.

The Damzell pauzd, and then thus fearfully;
Ah Nurſe, what needeth thee to eke my paine?
Is not enough, that I alone doe dye,
But it muſt doubled bee with death of twaine?
For nought for me, but death there doth remaine.
O daughter deare (faid ſhe) deſpeire no whit,
For neuer ſore, but might a ſalue obtaine:
That blinded God, which hath ye blindly ſmit,
Another arrow hath your louers hart to hit.

But mine is not (quoth ſhe) like other wownd;
For which no reaſon can ſinde remedy.
Was neuer ſuch, but mote the like be ſownd,
(Said ſhe) and though no reaſon may apply
Salue to your ſore, yet loue can higher flye,
Then reaſons reach, and ofſt hath wonders donne.
But neither God of loue, nor God of skye
Can doe (faid ſhe) that, which cannot be donne.
Things ofte impoſsible (quoth ſhe) ſeeme ere begonne.

Theſe

Cant. II.

the Faëry Queene.

421

These iſſe wordes (faid ſhe) doe nought afwage
My ſtabborne ſmart, but more annoiaunce breed,
For no no vſuall ſire, no vſuall rage
Yt is, O Nourſe, which on my life doth ſeed,
And ſucks the blood, which trō my hart doth bleed,
But ſince thy faithfull zele lets me not hyde
My crime, (if crime it be) I will it reed.
Nor Prince, nor pere it is, whose loue hath gryde
My feeble breſt of late, and launched this wound wyde.

Norman it is, nor other liuing wight;
For then ſome hope I might vnto me draw,
But th'only ſhade and ſemblant of a knight,
Whofe ſhape or perſon yet I neuer ſaw,
Hath me ſubieſted to loues cruell law :
The ſame one day, as me misfortune led,
I in my fathers wondrous mirrhour ſaw,
And pleafed with that ſeeming goodly hed,
Vnwares the hidden hooke with baite I ſwallowed.

Sithens it hath inſixed ſafter hold
Within my bleeding bowells, and ſo ſore
Now ranckleth in this ſame fraile ſleſhly mould,
That all mine entrailes flow with poſſuous gore,
And th'vleer groweth daily more and more;
Ne can my ronning ſore ſinde remedee,
Other then my hard fortune to deplore,
And languifh as the leafe ſaln from the tree,
Till death make one end of my daies and miſeree.

Daughter (faid ſhe) what neech ye be diſmayd,
Or why make ye ſuch Monſter of your minde?
Of much more vncouth thing I was affrayd,
Of filthy luſt, contrary vnto kinde:

D d 4

But

422 The third Booke of

Cant. II.

But this affection nothing straunge I finde,
For who with reason can you aye reprpuse,
To loue the femblaunt pleasing moft your minde,
And yield your heart, whence ye cannot remoue?
No guilt in you, but in the tyranny of loue.

Not so th' *Arabian Myrrhe* did sett her mynd,
Not so did *Biblis* spend her pining hart,
But lou'd their native flesh against al kynd,
And to their purpose vsed wicked art:
Yet playd *Paſphæa* a more monstrous part,
That lou'd a Bul, and learnt a beaſt to bee;
Such famefull lufts who loaths not, which depart
From course of nature and of modeſtce?

Swete loue such lewdnes bands from his faire copanee,

But thine my Deare (welfare thy heart my deare)
Though straunge beginning had, yet fixed is
On one, that worthy may perhaps appeare,
And certes seemes beſtowed not amis:
Ioy thereof haue thou and eternall blis.
With that vpleaning on her elbow weake,
Her alablaſter breſt the soft did kis,
Which all that while ſhee felt to pant and quake,
As it an Earth-quake were, at laſt she thus beſpake.

Beldame, your words doe worke me little eafe;
For though my loue be not ſo lewdly bent,
As thofe ye blame, yet may it nought appeaſe
My raging ſmart, ne ought my flame relent,
But rather doth my helpeleſſe grieſe augment.
For they, how euer famefull and vnkinde,
Yet did poſſeſſe their horrible intent:
Short end of ſorowes they thereby did finde; (minde.
So was their fortune good, though wicked were their

But

Cant. II. the Faëry Queene:

423

But wick'd fortune mine, though minde be good,
Can haue no end, nor hope of my desire,
But feed on ſhadowes, whiles I die for food,
And like a ſhadow wexe, whiles with entire
Affection, I doe languish and expire.
I fonder, then *Cephisus* foolish chyld,
Who hauing vewed in a fountaine there
His face, was with the loue thereof beguyld,
I fonder loue a shade, the body far exyld.

Nought like (quoth ſhee) for that fame wretched boy
Was of him ſelfe the ydle Paramoure;
Both loue and louer, without hope of ioy,
For which he faded to a watry flowre,
But better fortune thine, and better howre,
Which lou'd the ſhadow of a warlike knight;
No ſhadow, but a body hath in powre:
That body, whereforeuer that it light,
May learned be by cyphers, or by Magicke might.

But if thou may with reaſon yet repreſſe
The growing euill, ere it ſtrength haue gott,
And thee abandond wholy doe poſſeſſe,
Again it strongly ſtriume, and yield thee not,
Til thou in open fielde adowne be ſmott.
But if the passion may after thy fraile might,
So that needs loue or death muſt bee thy lott,
Then I auow to thee, by wrong or right
To compas thy desire, and find that loued knight.

Her chearefull words much cheard the feeble ſpright
Of the ſicke virgin, that her downe ſhe layd
In her warme bed to ſleepe, if that ſhe might
And the old-woman carefully displayd

The

424

The third Booke of Cant. II

The clothes about her round with busy ayd,
So that at latt a little creeping sleepe
Surprisd her fence: Shee therewith well apayd,
The dronken lamp down in the oyl did sleepe,
And fett her by to watch, and fett her by to weepe.

Earely the morrow next, before that day
His ioyous face did to the world reuele,
They both vproſe, and tooke their ready way
Vnto the Church, their priers to appele,
With great deuotion, and with little zel e:
For the faire Damzel from the holy herſe
Her loue-ficke hart to other thoughts did ſteale;
And that old Dame ſaid many an idle verſe,
Out of her daughters hart fond ſancies to reuerſe.

Retourned home, the royall Infant ſell
Into her former fiſt; for why no powre,
Nor guidaunce of her ſelfe in her did dwell.
But th'aged Nourſe her calling to her bowre,
Had gathered Rew, and Sauine, and the flowre
Of Campbora, and Calamint, and Dill,
All which ſhe in a earthen Pot did poure,
And to the brim with Colt wood did it fill,
And many drops of milk and blood through it did ſpill.

Then taking thrifſe three heares from of her head,
Then trebly breaded in a threefold lace,
And round about the Pots mouth, boüſ the thread,
And after hauing whispered a ſpace
Certain ſad words, with hollow voice and bace,
Shee to the virgin ſayd, thrifſe ſayd ſhe itt,
Come daughter come, come; ſpit vpon my face,
Spitt thrifſe vpon me, thrifſe vpon me ſpitt;
Th'vacuen nomber for this buſines is moſt ſitt.

That

425

Cant. III. the Faury Queene.

That ſayd, her rownd about ſhe from her turnd,
She turned her contrary to the Sunne,
Thrifſe ſhe her turnd contrary, and returnd,
All contrary, for ſhe the right did ſhunne,
And euer what ſhe did, was ſtreight vndonne.
So thought ſhe to vndoe her daughters loue:
But loue, that is in gentle breſt begonne,
No ydle charmes so lightly may remoue,
That well can witneſſe, who by tryall it does proue.

Ne ought it mote the noble Mayd auayle,
Ne ſlake the fury of her cruell flame,
But that ſhee ſtill did wafte, and ſtill did wayle,
That through long languour, & hart-burning brame
She shortly like a pyned ghoſt became,
Which long hath waited by the Stygian ſtrond,
That when old Glauce ſaw, for ſeare leaſt blame
Of her miſcarriage ſhould in her be ſond,
She wift not how t'amend, nor how it to withſtond.

Cant. III.

Merlin bewrayes to Britomart,
The ſtate of Arthegall.
And ſhews the famous Progeny
Which from them ſpringen shall.

M Oſt ſacred ſyre, that burneſt mightily
In liuing breſts, ykindled firſt aboue,
Emongſt th'eternall ſpheres and lamping sky,
And thence pourd into men, which men call Loue,
Not

426

The third Booke of

Cant. III:

Not that fame, which doth bafe affections moue
In brutilh mindes, and filthy luft inflame,
But that sweete ſtr, that doth true beautie loue,
And choſeth vertue for his deareſt Dame.

Whence ſpring all noble deedes and neuer dying fame:

Well did Antiquity a God thee deeme,
That ouer mortall mindes haſt ſo great might,
To order them, as beſt to thee doth ſeeme,
And all their actions to direſt aright;

The fatall purpose of diuine forelight,
Thou doelt effect in deſtined deſcents,

Through deepe impreſſion of thy ſecret might,
And ſtirredt vp th'Heroes high intents,

Which the late world admyres for wödrous monimëts

But thy dredd dartes in none doe triumph more,
Ne brauer proofe in any, of thy powre

Shew'dt thou, then in this royall Maid of yore,
Making her ſeeke an vnknowne Paramoure,

From the worlds end, through many a bitter ſtowre:
From whose two loynes thou afterwardes did rayſe
Moſt famous fruites of matrimoniall bowre, (prayſe,
Which through the earth haue ſpredd their liuing

That fame in tromp of gold eternally displayes.

Begin then, O my deareſt ſacred Dame,
Daughter of Phæbus and of Memorye,
That doſeſt ennoble with immortall name
The warlike Worthies, from antiquitye,
In thy great volume of Eternitye:

Begin, O Clio, and recount from hence

My glorious Soueraines goodly aunceſtrye,
Till that by dew degrees and long proteſſe,

Thou haue it lastly brought vnto her Excellence.

Full

427

Cant. III.

the Faëry Queene.

Full many wayes within her troubled mind,
Old Glance caſt, to cure this Ladies griefe:

Full many waies ſhe ſought, but none could find,
Nor herbes, nor charmes, nor counsel that is chieſe,
And choifeſt med'cine for ſick harts relieſe:

For thy great care ſhe tooke, and greater ſeare,
Leaſt that it ſhould her turne to fowle repriſe,
And ſore reproch, when ſo her father deare

Should of his deareſt daughters hard miſfortune heare.

At laſt ſhe her auide, that he, which made
That mirrhour, wherein the ſicke Damofell

Soltraungely viewed her ſtraunge louers ſhade,
To weet, the learned Merlin, well could tell,

Vnder what coaſt of heauen the man did dwell,
And by what means his loue might beſt be wrought:

For though beyond the Africk Iſmael,
Or th'Indian Peru he were, ſhe thought

Him forth through infinite endeouer to haue ſought.

Forthwith them ſelues diſguſing both in ſtraunge
And bafe atyre, that none might them bewray,
To Maridunum, that is now by chaunge

Of name Cayr-Merdin call, they tooke their way:
There the wife Merlin whylome wont (they ſay)

To make his wonne, low vnderneath the ground,
In a deepe delue, farre from the vew of day,

That of no liuing wight he mote be found,

When ſo he coſſeld with his ſprights encópalt round.

And if thou euer happen that fame way

To traueill, go to ſee that dreadfull place:

It is an hideous hollow caue (they ſay)

Vnder a Rock that lyes a little space

From

428

The third Booke of
Cant. III.

From the swift *Barry*, tombling downe apace,
Emongft the woody hilles of *Dyneuowre*:
But dare thou not, I charge, in any cace,
To enter into that fame balefull *Bowre*,
(uowre.
For feare the cruell Feendes should thee vnwares de-

But standing high aloft, low lay thine eare,
And there fuch ghaftly noyfe of yron chaines,
And braſen Caudron's thou ſhalt rombling heare,
Which thouſand ſprights with long enduring paines
Doe toſſe, that it will ſton thy feeble braines,
And oftentimes great grones, & grieuous ſtownds,
When too huge toile and labour them conſtraines:
And oftentimes loud ſtrokes, and ringing ſowndes
From vnder that deepe Rock moſt horribly rebowndes.

The cauſe ſome ſay is this: A little whyle
Before that *Merlin* dyde, he did intend,
A braſen wall in compas to compyle
About *Cairmardin*, and did it commend
Vnto theſe Sprights, to bring to perſect end.
During which worke the Lady of the Lake,
Whom long he lou'd, for him in haſt did ſend,
Who thereby forſt his workemen to forſake,
Them bownd till his retourne, their labour not to ſake.

In the meane time through that falſe Ladies traine,
He was ſurprifd, and buried vnder beare,
Ne euer to his worke returnd againe:
Nath'leſſe thoſe ſeendes may not their work forbeare,
So greatly his commandement they ſeare,
But there doe toyle and traueile day and night,
Vntill that braſen wall they vp doe reare:
For *Merlin* had in Magick more inſight,
Then euer him before or after liuing wight.

For

429

Cant. III. the Faerie Queene.

For he by wordes could call out of the sky
Both Sunne and Moone, and make them him obay:
The Land to ſea, and ſea to maineland dry,
And darkſom night he eke could turne to day:
Huge hoſtes of men he could alone diſmay,
And hoſtes of men of meaneſt thinges could frame,
When ſo him lift his enimies to fray:
That to this day for terror of his fame,
The ſeendes do quake, whoſe any him to them does name.

And ſooth, men ſay that he was not the ſonne
Of mortall Syre, or other liuing wight,
But wondrously begotten, and begonne
By falſe illuſion of a guilefull Spright,
On a faire Lady Nonne, that whilome hight
*Matilda*, daughter to *Pubidius*,
Who was the Lord of *Mathraual* by right,
And cooſen vnto king *Ambroſius*:
Whence he indued was with skill ſo merueilous.

They here aruiving, ſtaid a while without,
Ne durſt aduenture rathly in to wend,
But of their firſt intent gan make new dout
For dread of daunger, which it might portend:
Vntill the hardy Mayd (with loue to ſrend)
Firſt entering, the dreadfull Mage there ſownd
Deepe buſied bout worke of wondrous end,
And writing ſtraunge characters in the grownd,
With which the ſtubborne ſeendes he to his ſeruice
(bownd.

He nought was moued at their entraunce bold:
For of their comming well he wift afore,
Yet lift them bid their buſineſſe to vnfold,
As if ought in this world in ſecrete ſtore

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Were from him hidden, or vnknowne of yore,
Then *Glauce* thus, let not it thee offend,
That we thus rashly through thy darksoming dore,
Vnwares haue preft: for either fatall end,
Or other mightie caufe vs two did hether send.

He bad tell on; And then she thus began. (light,
Now haue three Moones with borrow'd brothers
Thrife shined faire, and thrife seem'd dim and wan,
Sith a fore euill, which this virgin bright
Tormenteth, and doth plonge in dolefull plight,
First rooting tooke; but what thing it more bee,
Or whence it sprong, I can not read aright:
But this I read, that but if remedee,
Thou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see.

Therewith th'Enchaunter softly gan to smyle
At her smooth speeches, weeting inly well,
That she to him diffembled womanith guyle,
And to her faid, Beldame, by that ye tell,
More neede of leach-crafte hath your Damozell,
Then of my skill: who helpe may haue elsewhere,
In vaine seekes wonders out of Magick spell,
Th'old womá wox half blanck, thofe words to heare;
And yet was loth to let her purpose plaine appeare.

And to him faid, Yf any leaches skill,
Or other learned meanes could haue redrest
This my deare daughters deepe engraffed ill,
Certes I should be loth thee to moleft:
But this fad euill, which doth her infest,
Doth course of naturall caufe farre exceed,
And houſed is within her hollow breſt,
That either ſeemes ſome curſed witches deed,
Or euill ſpright, that in her doth ſuch torment breed.

The

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the Faëry Queene.

The wifard could no lenger beare her bord,
But bruſting forth in laughter, to her ſayd,
*Glauce*, what needes this colourable word,
To cloke the caufe, that hath it ſelfe bewrayd?
Neye ſayre *Britomartis*, thus arayd,
More hidden are, then Sunne in cloudy vele;
Whom thy good fortune, hauing fate obayd,
Hath hether brought, for succour to appele:
The which the powres to thee are pleafed to reuele.

The doubtfull Mayd, ſeeing her ſelfe deſcryde,
Was all abafht, and her pure yuory
Into a cleare Carnation ſuddeine dyde;
As ſayre *Aurora* rysing haſtily,
Doth by her bluſhing tell, that the did lye
All night in old *Tithonus* ſroſen bed,
Whereof ſhe ſeemes aſhamed inwardly.
But her olde Nourſe was nought diſhartened,
But vauntage made of that, which *Merlin* had ared.

And ſayd, Sith then thou knoweſt all our grieſe,
(For what doeſt not thou knowe?) of grace I pray,
Pitty our playnt, and yield vs meet reliefſe.
With that the Prophet ſtill awhile did stay,
And then his ſpirite thus gan foorth diſplay;
Moſt noble Virgin, that by fatall lore
Haſt learn'd to loue, let no whit thee diſmay
The hard beginne, that meetes thee in the dore,
And with ſharpe fits thy tender hart oppreſſeth ſore.

For ſo muſt all things excellent begin,
And eke enrooted deepe muſt be that Tree,
Whofe big embodied braunches ſhall not lin;
Till they to heuens hight forth ſtretched bee.

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The third Booke of Cant. III.

For from thy wombe a famous Progence
Shall spring, out of the auncient *Troian* blood,
Which shall reuiue the sleeping memoree
Of those fame antique Peres, the heuens brood,
Which *Greeke* & *Afian* riuers stayned with their blood,

Renowmed kings, and sacred Emperours,
Thy fruitfull Ofspring, shall from thee defcend;
Braue Captaines, and moft mighty warriours,
That shall their conquefts through all lands extend,
And their decayed kingdomes shall amend:
The feeble Britons, broken with long warre,
They shall vpreare, and mightily defend
Against their forren foe, that commes from farre,
Till vnuerfall peace compound all ciuill iarre.

It was not, *Britomart*, thy wandring eye,
Glauncing vnwares in charmed looking glas,
But the streight courfe of heuently deftiny,
Led with eternall prouidence, that has
Guyded thy glaunce, to bring his will to pas :
Ne is thy fate, ne is thy fortune ill,
To loue the proweft knight, that euer was.
Therefore submit thy wayes vnto his will,
And doe by all dew meanes thy deftiny fulfill.

But read (*faide Glaunce*) thou Magitian
What meanes shall the out seeke, or what waies take?
How shall the know, how shall the finde the man?
Or what needes her to toyle, fith fates can make
Way for them ſelues, their purpose to pertake?
Then *Merlin* thus, Indeede the fates are firme,
And may not ſhrinck, though all the world do ſake:
Yet ought mens good endeouurs them confirme,
And guyde the heauenly cauſes to their conſtant terme.
The

433

Cant. III. the Faerie Queene.

The man whom heauens haue ordaynd to bee
The ſpouse of Britomart, is Arthegall:
He wonneth in the land of Fayeree,
Yet is no *Fary* borne, ne ſib at all
To Elfes, but ſprong of ſeed terreftriall,
And whylome by falſe Faries ſtolne away,
Whyles yet in infant cradle he did crall;
Ne other to him ſelfe is knowne this day,
But that he by an Elſe was gotten of a *Fay*.

But ſooth he is the ſonne of Gorlois,
And brother vnto Cador Corniſh king,
And for his warlike ſeates renowned is,
From where the day out of the ſea doth ſpring,
Vntill the closure of the Euening.
From thence, him firmly bound with faithfull band,
To this his native ſoyle thou backe ſhalt bring,
Strongly to ayde his countrey, to withſtand
The powre of forreine Paynims, which invade thy land.

Great ayd thereto his mighty puiffaunce,
And dreaded name shall giue in that ſad day:
Where alſo proofe of thy prow valiaunce
Thou then ſhalt make, t'increafe thy louers pray.
Long time ye both in armes ſhall beare great ſway,
Till thy wombes burden thee from them do call,
And his laſt fate him from thee take away,
Too rathe cut off by praeſiſe criminall,
Of ſecrete foes, that him ſhall make in miſchieſe fall.

With thee yet ſhall he leaue for memory

Of his late puiffaunce, his ymage dead,
That liuing him in all aſtiuity
To thee ſhall represent. He from the head

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Of his coolen *Conftantius* without dread
Shall take the crowne, that was his fathers right,
And therewith crowne himſelfe in th'others stead:
Then ſhall he iſſew forth with dreadfull might,
Againſt his Saxon foes in bloody field to fight.

Like as a Lyon, that in drowſe caue
Hath long time ſlept, himſelfe ſo ſhall he ſhake,
And comming forth, ſhall ſpred his banner braue
Ouer the troubled South, that it ſhall make
The warlike *Mertians* for ſeare to quake:
Thrife ſhall he fight with them, and twife ſhall win,
But the third time ſhall fayre accordaunce make:
And if he then with victorie can lin,
He ſhall his dayes with peace bring to his earthly In.

His ſonne, hight *Fortipore*, ſhall him ſucceede
In kingdome, but not in felicity;
Yet ſhall he long time warre with happy ſpeed,
And with great honour many batteills try:
But at the laſt to th'importunity
Of ſroward fortune ſhall be forſt to yield.
But his ſonne *Malgo* ſhall full mightily
Auenge his fathers loſſe, with ſpeare and ſhield,
And his proud foes diſcomſit in vijtorious field,

Behold the man, and tell me *Britomart*,
If ay more goodly creature thou didſt ſee;
How like a Gyaunt in each manly part
Beares he himſelfe with portly maietſee,
That one of th'old *Heroes* ſeemes to bee:
He the fix Islands, comprouinciall
In auncient times vnto great Britainee,
Shall to the fame reduce, and to him call
Their ſondry kings to doe their homage ſeuerall.

All

the Faery Queene.

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Cant. II.

All which his ſonne *Careticus* awhile
Shall well defend, and *Saxons* powre ſuppreſſe,
Vntill a ſtraunger king from vnknowne ſoyle
Arriuing, him with multitude oppreſſe;
Great *Gormond*, hauing with hugemightineſſe
Ireland ſubdewd, and therein fixt his throne,
Like a ſwift Otter, ſell through emptineſſe,
Shall ouerſwim the sea with many one
Of his Norueyſes, to aſſiſt the Britons ſone.

He in his ſurie all ſhall ouerronne,
And holy Church with faithleſſe handes deſace,
That thy ſad people vtterly fordonne,
Shall to the vtmoſt mountains fly apace:
Was neuer ſo great waſte in any place,
Nor ſo ſowle outrage doen by liuing men:
For all thy Citties they ſhall ſacke and race,
And the greene graſſe, that groweth, they ſhall bren,
That euen the wilde beaſt ſhall dy in ſtarued den.

Whiles thus thy Britons doe in laaguour pine,
Proud *Etheldred* ſhall from the North arife,
Seruing th'ambitious will of *Augustine*,
And paſſing *Dee* with hardy enterprife,
Shall baſe repulſe the valiaunt *Brockwell* twife,
And *Bangor* with maſſacred Martyrs ſill;
But the third time ſhall rew his ſoolhardiſe:
For *Cadwan* pittying his peoples ill,
Shall ſtoutly him defeat, and thouſand *Saxons* kill.

But after him, *Cadwallin* mightily
On his ſonne *Edwin* all those wrongs ſhall wreaſe,
Ne ſhall auaile the wicked ſorcery
Of ſalſe *Pellite*, his purpoſes to breake,

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