Sir knight these ydle termes forbeare And sith 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 shape what 〈◊〉 what armes what steed what stedd And what so else his person most may vaunt All which the Redcrosse knight to point aredd And him in euerie part before her fashioned Yet him in euerie part before she knew How euer list 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 engraffed payne Whose 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 occasion she did him behold And much more straungely gan to loue his sight As it in bookes hath written beene of old In Deheubarth that now South-wales is hight What time king Ryence raign'd and dealed right The great Magitien Merlin had deuiz'd By his deepe science and hell-dreaded might A looking glasse right wondrously aguiz'd Whose vertues through the wyde worlde soone were solemniz'd It vertue had to shew in perfect sight What euer thing was in the world contaynd Betwixt the lowest earth and heuens hight So that it to the looker appertaynd What euer foe had wrought or frend had faynd Therein discouered was ne ought mote pas Ne ought in secret from the same 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 〈◊〉 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 she might all men vew out of her bowre Great Ptolomaee it for his lemans sake 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 reseru'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 〈◊〉 to her selfe pertaine But as it falleth in the gentlest harts Imperious Loue hath highest set 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 she was pure from blame of sinfull blot Yet wist her life at last must lincke in that same knot Eftsoones 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 Phoebus face out of the 〈◊〉 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 assured 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 litle 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 〈◊〉 age Did weene vnwares that her vnlucky lot Lay hidden in the 〈◊〉 of the pot Of hurt vnwist most daunger doth redound But the false Archer which that arrow shot So slyly that she did not feele the wound Did smyle full smoothly at her weetlesse wofull stound Thenceforth the fether in her lofty crest Ruffed of loue gan lowly to auaile And her prowd portaunce and her princely gest With which she earst tryumphed now did quaile Sad solemne sowre and full of fancies fraile She woxe yet wist she nether how nor why She wist not silly Mayd what she did aile Yet wist she was not well at ease perdy Yet thought it was not loue but some melancholy So soone as Night had with her pallid hew Defaste the beautie of the shyning skye And reft 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 steepe Her dainty couch with teares which closely she did 〈◊〉 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 fantastick sight Of dreadfull things the same was put to flight That oft out of her bed she did astart As one with vew of ghastly feends affright Tho gan she to renew her former smart And thinke of that fayre visage written in her hart One night when she was tost with such vnrest Her aged Nourse whose name was Glauce hight Feeling her leape out of her loathed nest Betwixt 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 fit sayd she what euill plight Hath thee opprest and with sad dreary head Chaunged thy liuely cheare liuing made thee dead For not of nought these suddein ghastly feares All night afflict thy naturall repose And all the day when as thine equall peares Their fit disports with faire delight doe chose Thou in dull corners doest thy selfe inclose Ne tastest Princes pleasures ne doest spred Abroad thy fresh youths fayrest flowre but lose Both leafe and fruite 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 euery riuer eke his course forbeares Then doth this wicked euill thee infest And riue with thousand throbs thy thrilled brest Like an huge Aetn ' of deepe engulfed gryefe Sorrow is heaped in thy hollow chest Whence foorth it breakes in sighes and anguish ryfe As smoke and sulphure mingled with confufed stryfe Ay me how much I feare least loue it bee But if that loue it be as sure I read By knowen
Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire But told it flames and hidden it does glow I will reuele what ye so much desire Ah Loue lay down thy bow that whiles I may 〈◊〉 It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares When corage first does creepe in manly chest Then first that cole of kindly heat appeares To kindle loue in euery liuing brest But me had warnd old Cleons wise behest Those creeping flames by reason to subdew Before their rage grew to so great vnrest As miserable louers vse to rew Which still wex old in woe whiles wo stil wexeth new That ydle name of loue and louers life As losse of time and vertues enimy I euer scormd and ioyd to 〈◊〉 strife In middest of their mournfull Tragedy Ay wont to laugh when them I heard to cry And blow the fire which them to ashes brent Their God himselfe grieud at my libertie Shott many a dart at me with fiers intent But I them warded all with wary gouernment But all in vaine no fort can be so strong 〈◊〉 brest can armed be so sownd But will at last be wonne with battrie long Or vnawares at disauantage fownd Nothing is sure that growes on earthly grownd And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might And boastes in beauties chaine not to bebownd Doth soonest fall in disauentrous fight And yeeldes his caytiue neck to victours most despight Ensample make of him your haplesse ioy And of my selfe now mated as ye see Whose prouder vaunt that proud auenging boy Did soone pluck downe and curbd my libertee For on a day prickt forth with iollitee Of looser life and heat of hardiment Raunging the forest wide on courser free The fields the floods the heauens with one consent Did seeme to laugh at me and fauour mine intent For wearied with my sportes I did alight From loftie steed and downe to sleepe me layd The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight And pillow was my helmett fayre displayd Whiles euery sence the humour sweet embayd And slombring soft my hart did steale away Me seemed by my side a royall Mayd Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay So fayre a creature yet saw neuer sunny day Most goodly glee and louely blandishment She to me made and badd me loue her deare For dearely sure her loue was to me bent As when iust time expired should appeare But whether dreames delude or true it were Was neuer hart so rauisht with delight Ne liuing man like wordes did euer heare As she to me deliuered all that night And at her parting said She Queene of Faries hight When I awoke and found her place deuoyd And nought but pressed gras where she had lyen I sorrowed all so much as earst I ioyd And washed all her place with watry eyen From that day forth I lou'd that face diuyne From that day forth I cast in carefull mynd To seeke her out with labor and long tyne And neuer vowd to rest till her I fynd Nyne monethes I seek in vain yet ni'll that vow vnbynd Thus as he spake his visage wexed pale And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray Yett still he stroue to cloke his inward bale And hide the smoke that did his fire display Till gentle Vna thus to him gan say O happy Queene of Faries that hast fownd Mongst many one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour and thy foes confownd True Loues are oftē sown but seldom grow on grownd Thine O then said the gentle Redcrosse knight Next to that Ladies loue shal be the place O fayrest virgin full of heauenly light Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race Was firmest fixt in myne extremest case And you my Lord the Patrone of my life Of that great Queene may well gaine worthie grace For onely worthie you through prowes priefe Yf liuing man mote worthie be to be her liefe So 〈◊〉 discoursing of their loues The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues With fresh desire his voyage to pursew Al 's Vna earnd her traue ill to renew Then those two knights fast frendship for to bynd And loue establish each to other trew Gaue goodly gifts the signes of gratefull mynd And eke as pledges firme right hands together ioynd Prince 〈◊〉 gaue a boxe of Diamond sure Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure Of wondrous worth and vertue excellent That any wownd could heale incontinent Which to requite the Redcrosse knight him gaue A booke wherein this Saueours testament Was writt with golden letters rich and braue A worke of wondrous grace and hable soules to saue Thus beene they parted Arthur on his way To seeke his loue and th' other for to fight With 〈◊〉 foe that all her realme did pray But she now weighing the decayed plight And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight Would not a while her forward course pursew Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight Till he recouered had his former hew For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew So as they traueild lo they gan espy An armed knight towards them gallop fast That seemed from some feared foe to fly Or other griesly thing that him aghast Still as he fledd his eye was backward cast As if his feare still followed him behynd Al 's flew his steed as he his bandes had brast And with his winged heeles did tread the wynd As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kynd Nigh as he drew they might perceiue his head To bee vnarmd and curld vncombed heares Vpstaring stiffe dismaid with vncouth dread Nor drop of blood in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe and to increase his feares In fowle reproch of knighthoodes fayre degree About his neck an hempen rope he weares That with his glistring armes does ill agree But he of rope or armes has now no memoree The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast To weet what mister wight was so dismayd There him he findes all sencelesse and aghast That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd Till he these wordes to him deliuer might Sir knight aread who hath ye thus arayd And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight For neuer knight I saw in such misseeming plight He answerd nought at all but adding new Feare to his first amazment staring wyde With stony eyes and hartlesse hollow hew Astonisht stood as one that had aspyde Infernall furies with their chaines vntyde Him yett againe and yett againe bespake The gentle knight who nought to him replyde But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake For Gods deare loue Sir knight doe me not stay For loe he comes he comes fast after mee Est looking back would faine haue runne away But he him forst to stay and tellen free The secrete cause of his perplexitie Yet nathemore by his bold hartie
speach Could his blood frosen hart emboldened bee But through his boldnes rather feare did reach Yett forst at last he made through silēce suddein breach And am I now in safetie sure quoth he From him that would haue forced me to dye And is the point of death now turnd fro mee That I may tell this haplesse history Feare nought quoth he no daunger now is nye Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace Said he the which with this vnlucky eye I late beheld and had not greater grace Me reft from it had bene partaker of the place I lately chaunst Would I had neuer chaunst With a fayre knight to keepen companee Sir Terwin hight that well himselfe aduaunst In all affayres and was both bold and free But not so happy as mote happy bee He lou'd as was his lot a Lady gent That him againe lou'd in the least degree For she was proud and of too high intent And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament From whom retourning sad and comfortlesse As on the way together we did fare We met that villen God from him me blesse That cursed wight from whom I scapt whyleare A man of hell that calls himselfe Despayre Who first vs greets and after fayre areedes Of tydinges straunge and of aduentures rare So creeping close as Snake in hidden weedes Inquireth of our states and of our knightly deedes Which when he knew and felt our feeble harts Embost with bale and bitter byting griefe Which loue had launched with his deadly darts With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe He pluckt from vs all hope of dew reliefe That earst vs held in loue of lingring life Then hopelesse hartlesse gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs dye to stint all further strife To me he lent this rope to him a rusty knife With which sad instrument of hasty death That wofull louer loathing lenger light A wyde way made to let forth liuing breath But I more fearefull or more lucky wight Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight Fledd fast away halfe dead with dying feare Ne yet assur'd of life by you Sir knight Whose like infirmity like chaunce may beare But God you neuer let his charmed speaches heare How may a man said he with idle speach Be wonne to spoyle the Castle of his health I wote quoth he whom tryall late did teach That like would not for all this worldes wealth His subtile tong like dropping honny mealt'h Into the heart and searcheth euery vaine That ere one be aware by secret stealth His powre is reft and weaknes doth remaine O neuer Sir desire to try his guilefull traine Certes sayd he hence shall I neuer rest Till I that treachours art haue heard and tryde And you Sir knight whose name mote I request Of grace do me vnto his cabin guyde I that hight Treuisan quoth he will ryde Against my liking backe to doe you grace But nor for gold nor glee will I abyde By you when ye arriue in that same place For 〈◊〉 had I die then see his deadly face Ere long they come where that same wicked wight His dwelling has low in an hollow caue Far vnderneath a craggy clifty plight Darke dolefull dreary like a greedy graue That still for carrion carcases doth craue On top whereof ay dwelt the ghastly Owle Shrieking his balefull note which euer draue Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle Aud all about it wandring ghostes did wayle howle And all about old stockes and stubs of trees Whereon nor fruite nor leafe was euer seene Did hang vpon the ragged rocky knees On which had many wretches hanged beene Whose carcases were scattred on the greene And throwne about the clifts Arriued there That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene Would faine haue fled ne durst approchen neare But th' other forst him staye and comforted in feare That darkesome caue they enter where they find That cursed man low sitting on the ground Musing full sadly in his sullein mind His griesie lockes long growen and vnbound Disordred hong about his shoulders round And hid his face through which his hollow eyne Lookt deadly dull and stared as astound His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine Were shronke into his iawes as he did neuer dyne His garment nought but many ragged clouts With thornes together pind and patched was The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts And him beside there lay vpon the gras A dreary corse whose life away did pas All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood That from his wound yet welled fresh alas In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood And made an open passage for the gushing flood Which piteous spectacle approuing trew The wofull tale that Trevisan had told When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold Him to auenge before his blood were cold And to the villein sayd Thou damned wight The authour of this fact we here behold What iustice can but iudge against thee right With thine owne blood to price his blood here shed in sight What franticke fit quoth he hath thus distraught Thee foolish man so rash a doome to giue What iustice euer other iudgement taught But he should dye who merites not to liue None els to death this man despayring driue But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death Is then vniust to each his dew to giue Or let him dye that loatheth liuing breath Or let him die at ease that liueth here vneath Who trauailes by the wearie wandring way To come vnto his wished home in haste And meetes a flood that doth his passage stay Is not great grace to helpe him ouer past Or free his feet that in the myresticke fast Most enuious man that grieues at neighbours good And fond that ioyest in the woe thou hast Why wilt not let him passe that long hath stood Vpon the bancke yet wilt thy selfe not pas the flood He there does now enioy eternall rest And happy ease which thou doest want and craue And further from it daily wanderest What if some little payne the passage haue That makes frayle flesh to feare the bitter waue Is not short payne well borne that bringes long ease And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue Sleepe after toyle port after stormie seas Ease after warre death after life does greatly pleafe The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit And sayd The terme of life limited Ne may a man prolong nor shorten it The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted Nor leaue his stand vntill his Captaine bed Who life did limit by almightie doome Quoth he knowes best the termes established And he that points the Centonell his roome Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome Is not his deed what euer thing is donne In heauen and earth did not he all create To die againe all ends that was begonne Their times in his eternall booke of fate Are written sure and haue their certein date
knockt The Porter opened vnto them streight way He was an aged syre all hory gray With lookes full lowly cast and gate full slow Wont on a staffe his feeble steps to stay Hight Humiltá They passe in stouping low For streight narrow was the way which he did shew Each goodly thing is hardest to begin But entred in a spatious court they see Both plaine and pleasaunt to be walked in VVhere them does meete a francklin faire and free And entertaines with comely courteous glee His name was Zele that him right well became For in his speaches and behaueour hee Did labour liuely to expresse the same And gladly did them guide till to the Hall they came There fayrely them receiues a gentle Squyre Of myld demeanure and rare courtesee Right cleanly clad in comely sad attyre In word and deede that shewd great modestee And knew his good to all of each degree Hight Reuerence He them with speaches meet Does faire entreat no courting nicetee But simple trew and eke vnfained sweet As might become a Squyre so great persons to greet And afterwardes them to his Dame he leades That aged Dame the Lady of the place Who all this while was busy at her beades Which doen she vp arose with seemely grace And toward them full matronely did pace Where when that fairest Vna she beheld Whom well she knew to spring from heuenly race Her heart with ioy vnwonted inly sweld As feeling wondrous comfort in her weaker eld And her embracing said O happy earth Whereon thy innocent feet doe euer tread Most vertuous virgin borne of heuenly berth That to redeeme thy woefull parents head From tyrans rage and euer-dying dread Hast wandred through the world now long a day Yett ceassest not thy weary soles to lead What grace hath thee now hether brought this way Or doen thy feeble feet vnweeting hether stray Straunge thing it is an errant knight to see Here in this place or any other wight That hether turnes his steps So few there bee That chose the narrow path or seeke the right All keepe the broad high way and take delight With many rather for to goe astray And be partakers of their euill plight Then with a few to walke the rightest way O foolish men why hast ye to your owne decay Thy selfe to see and tyred limbes to rest O matrone sage quoth she I hether came And this good knight his way with me addrest Ledd with thy prayses and broad-blazed fame That vp to heuen is blowne The auncient Dame Him goodly greeted in her modest guyse And enterteynd them both as best became With all the court'sies that she could deuyse Ne wanted ought to shew her bounteous or wise Thus as they gan of sondrie thinges deuise Loe two most goodly virgins came in place Ylinked arme 〈◊〉 arme in louely wise With countenance demure and modest grace They numbred euen steps and equall pace Of which the eldest that Fidelia hight Like sunny beames threw from her Christall face That could haue dazd the rash beholders sight And round about her head did shine like heuens light She was araied all in lilly white And in her right hand bore a cup of gold With wine and water fild vp to the hight In which a Serpent did himselfe enfold That horrour made to all that did behold But she no whitt did chaunge her constant mood And in her other hand she fast did hold A booke that was both signd and seald with blood Wherin darke things were writt hard to be vnderstood Her younger Sister that Speranza hight Was clad in blew that her beseemed well Not all so chearefull seemed she of sight As was her sister whether dread did dwell Or anguish in her hart is hard to tell Vpon her arme a siluer anchor lay Whereon she leaned ener as befell And euer vp to heuen as she did pray Her stedfast eyes were bent ne swarued other way They seeing Vna towardes her gan wend Who them encounters with like courtesee Many kind speeches they betweene them spend And greatly ioy each other for to see Then to the knight with shamefast modestie They turne them selues at Vnaes meeke request And him salute with well beseeming glee Who faire them quites as him beseemed best And goodly gan discourse of many a noble gest Then Vna thus But she your sister deare The deare Charissa where is she become Or wants she health or busie is elswhere Ah no said they but forth she may not come For she of late is lightned of her wombe And hath encreast the world with one sonne more That her to see should be but troublesome Indeed quoth she that should be trouble sore But thankt be God and her encrease so euermore Then saide the aged Coelia Deare dame And you good Sir I wote that of youre toyle And labors long through which ye he ther came Ye both forwearied be therefore a whyle I read you rest and to your bowres recoyle Then called she a Groome that forth him ledd Into a goodly lodge and gan despoile Of puissant armes and laid in easie bedd His name was meeke Obedience rightfully aredd Now when their wearie limbes with kindly rest And bodies were refresht with dew repast Fayre Vna gan Fidelia fayre request To haue her knight into her schoolehous plaste That of her heauenly learning he might taste And heare the wisedom of her wordes diuine She graunted and that knight so much agraste That she him taught celestiall discipline And opened his dull eyes that light mote in them shine And that her sacred Booke with blood ywritt That none could reade except she did them teach She vnto him disclosed euery whitt And heauenly documents thereout did preach That weaker witt of man could neuer reach Of God of grace of iustice of free will That wonder was to heare her goodly speach For she was hable with her wordes to kill And rayse againe to life the hart that she did thrill And when she list poure out her larger spright She would commaund the hasty Sunne to stay Or backward turne his course from heuen's hight Sometimes great hostes of men she could dismay And eke huge mountaines from their natiue seat She would commaund themselues to beare away And throw in raging sea with roaring threat Almightie God her gaue such powre and puissaunce great The faithfull knight now grew in litle space By hearing her and by her sisters lore To such perfection of all heuenly grace That wretched world he gan for to abhore And mortall life gan loath as thing forlore Greeud with remembrance of his wicked wayes And prickt with anguish of his sinnes so sore That he desirde to end his wretched dayes So much the dart of sinfull guilt the soule dismayes But wise Speranza gaue him comfort sweet And taught him how to take assured hold Vpon her siluer anchor as was meet Els had his sinnes so great and manifold Made him forget all that Fidelia told In
haughty enterprise Or who shall lend me wings with which frō ground My lowly verse may loftily arise And lift it selfe vnto the highest skyes 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 Ne vnder Sunne that shines 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 ouerspred A labor huge exceeding far my might How shall fraile pen with feare disparaged Conceiue such soueraine glory and great bountyhed Argument worthy of Moeonian quill Or rather worthy of great Phoebus rote Whereon the ruines of great Ossa hill And triumphes of Phlegraean Ioue he wrote That all the Gods admird his lofty note But if some relish of that heuenly lay His learned daughters would to me report To decke my song withall I would assay Thy name O soueraine Queene to blazon far away Thy name O soueraine Queene thy realme and race From this renowmed Prince deriued arre Whom mightily vpheld that royall mace Which now thou bear'st to thee descended farre From mighty kings and conquerours in warre Thy fathers and thy great Grandfathers of gold Whose 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 saluage 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 desolate and of some thought By sea to haue bene frō the Celticke mayn-land brought Ne did it then deserue a name to haue Till that the venturous Mariner that way Learning his ship from those white rocks to saue Which all along the Southerne sea-coast lay Threatning vnheedy wrecke and rash decay For safety that same his sea-marke made And namd it Albion But later day Finding in it fit ports for fishers trade Gan more the same frequent and further to inuade But far in land a saluage nation dwelt Of hideous Giaunts and halfe beastly men That neuer tasted grace nor goodnes felt But like wild beastes lurking in loathsome den And flying fast 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 driuen bene Where companing with feends and filthy Sprights Through vaine illusion of their lust vnclene They brought forth Geaunts such dreadful wights As far exceeded men in their immeasurd mights They held this land and with their filthinesse Polluted this same gentle soyle long time That their owne mother loathd their beastlinesse And gan abhorre her broods vnkindly crime All were they borne of her owne 〈◊〉 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 vtmost shore He fought great batteils with his saluage fone In which he them defeated euermore And many 〈◊〉 left on groning 〈◊〉 That well can witnes yet vnto this day The westerne Hogh besprincled with the gore Of mighty Goemot whome in stout fray Corineus conquered and cruelly did slay And eke that ample Pitt yet far renownd For the large leape which Debon did compell 〈◊〉 to make being eight lugs of grownd Into the which retourning backe he fell But those three monstrons stones doe most excell Which that huge sonne of hideous Albion Whose father Hercules in Fraunce did quell Great Codmer threw in fierce contention At bold Canutus but of him was slaine anon In meed of these great conquests by them gott Corineus had that Prouince vtmost west To him assigned for his worthy lott Which of his name and memorable gest He called Gornwaile yet so called best And Debons shayre was that is Deuonshyre But 〈◊〉 had his portion from the rest The which he cald Ganutium for his hyre Now Gantium which Kent we comenly inquyre Thus Brute this Realme vnto his rule subdewd And raigned long in great felicity Lou'd of his freends and of his foes eschewd He left three sonnes his famous progeny Borne of fayre 〈◊〉 of Italy Mongst whom he 〈◊〉 his imperiall state And Locrine left chiefe Lord of Britany At last ripe age bad him surrender late His life and long good fortune vnto finall fate Locrine was left the soueraine Lord of all But Albanact had all the Northerne part Which of him selfe Albania he did call And Camber did possesse the Westerne quart Which 〈◊〉 now from Logris doth depart And each his portion peaceably enioyd Ne was there outward breach nor grudge in hart That once their quiet gouernment annoyd But each his paynes to others profit still employd Vntill a nation straung with visage swart And corage 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 themselues through all the North display Vntill that 〈◊〉 for his Realmes defence Did head against them make and strong munificence He them encountred a confused rout Foreby the Riuer that whylome was hight The ancient Abus where with courage stout He them defeated in victorious fight And chaste so fiercely after fearefull flight That forst their Chiefetain for his safeties sake Their Chiefetain Humber named was aright Vnto the mighty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to betake Where he an end of batteill and of life did make The king retourned proud of victory And insolent wox through vnwonted case That shortly he forgot the ieopardy Which in his land he lately did appease And fell to vaine voluptuous disease He lou'd 〈◊〉 Ladie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lou'd Whose wanton pleasures him too much did please That quite his hart from Guendolene remou'd Frō 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 vanquisht she to fly constraind But she so fast pursewd that him she tooke And threw in bands where he till death remaind Al 's his faire Leman flying through a brooke She ouerhent 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
had her distrest So sore and with foule outrages opprest With that great chaine wherewith not long ygoe He bound that pitteous Lady prisoner now relest Himselfe she bound more worthy to be so And captiue with her led to wretchednesse and wo. Returning back those goodly rowmes which erst He saw so rich and royally arayd Now vanisht vtterly and cleane subuerst He found and all their glory quite decayd That sight of such a chaunge him much dismayd Thenceforth descending to that perlous Porch Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd And quenched quite like a consumed torch That erst all entrers wont so cruelly to scorch At last she came vnto the place where late She left Sir Scudamour in great distresse Twixt dolour and despight halfe desperate Of his loues succour of his owne redresse And of the hardie Britomarts successe There on the cold earth him now thrown she found In wilfull anguish and dead heauinesse And to him cald whose voices knowen sound Soone as he heard himself he reared light from ground There did he see that most on earth him ioyd His dearest loue the comfort of his dayes Whose too long absence him had sore annoyd And wearied his life with dull delayes Straight he vp started from the loath ed layes And to her ran with hasty egernesse Like as a Deare that greedily embayes In the coole soile after long thirstinesse Which he in chace endured hath now nigh breathlesse Lightly he clipt her twixt his armes twaine And streightly did embrace her body bright Her body late the prison of sad paine Now the sweet lodge of loue and deare delight But she faire Lady ouercommen quight Of huge affection did in pleasure melt And in sweete rauishment pourd out her spright No word they spake nor earthly thing they felt But like two senceles stocks in long embracemēt dwelt Had ye them seene ye would haue surely thought That they had beene that faire Hermaphrodite Which that rich Romane of white marble wrought And in his costly Bath causd to bee site So seemd those two as growne together quite That Britomart halfe enuying their blesse Was much empassiond in her gentle sprite And to her selfe oft wisht like happinesse In vaine she wisht that fate n'ould let her yet possesse Thus doe those louers with sweet counteruayle Each other of loues bitter fruit despoile But now my teme begins to faint and fayle All woxen weary of their iournall toyle Therefore I will their sweatie yokes assoyle At this same furrowes end till a new day And ye faire Swayns after your long turmoyle Now cease your worke and at your pleasure play Now cease your worke to morrow is an holy day FINIS A Letter of the Authors expounding his whole intention in the course of this worke which for that it giueth great light to the Reader for the better vnderstanding is hereunto annexed To the Right noble and Valorous Sir Walter Raleigh knight Lo. Wardein of the Stanneryes and her Maiesties liefetenaunt of the County of Cornewayll SIr knowing how doubtfully all Allegories may be construed and this booke of mine which I haue entituled the Faery Queene being a continued Allegory or darke conceit I haue thought good aswell for auoyding of gealous opinions and miscōstructions as also for your better light in reading therof being so by you cōmanded to discouer vnto you the general intention meaning which in the whole course thereof I haue fashioned without expressing of any particular purposes or by accidents therein occasioned The generall end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline Which for that I conceiued shoulde be most plausible and pleasing being coloured with an historicall fiction the which the most part of men delight to read rather for variety of matter then for profite of the exsample I chose the historye of king Arthure as most fitte for the excellency of his person being made famous by many mens former workes and also furthest from the daunger of enuy and suspition of present time In which I haue followed all the antique Poets historicall first Homere who in the Persons of Agamemnon and Vlysses hath ensampled a good gouernour and a vertuous man the one in his Ilias the other in his Odysseis then Virgil whose like intention was to doe in the person of Aeneas after him Ariosto comprised them both in his Orlando and lately Tasso disseuered them againe and formed both parts in two persons namely that part which they in Philosophy call Ethice or vertues of a priuate man coloured in his Rinaldo The other named Politice in his Godfredo By ensample of which excellente Poets I labour to pourtraict in Arthure before he was king the image of a braue knight perfected in the twelue priuate morall vertues as Aristotle hath deuised the which is the purpose of these first twelue bookes which if I finde to be well accepted I may be perhaps encoraged to frame the other part of polliticke vertues in his person after that hee came to be king To some I know this Methode will seeme displeasaunt which had rather haue good discipline deliuered plainly in way of precepts or sermoned at large as they vse then thus clowdily enwrapped in All goricall deuises But such me seeme should be satisfide with the vse of these dayes seeing all things accounted by their showes and nothing esteemed of that is not delightfull and pleasing to commune sence For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato for that the one in the exquisite depth of his iudgement formed a Commune welth such as it should be but the other in the person of Cyrus and the Persians fashioned a gouernement such as might best be So much more profitable and gratious is doctrine by ensample then by rule So haue I laboured to doe in the person of Arthure whome I conceiue after his long education by Timon to whom he was by Merlin deliuered to be brought vp so soone as he was borne of the Lady Igrayne to haue seene in a dream or vision the Faery Queen with whose excellent beauty rauished he awaking resolued to seeke her out and so being by Merlin armed and by Timon throughly instructed he went to seeke her forth in Faerye land In that Faery Queene I meane glory in my generall intention but in my particular I conceiue the most excellent and glorious person of our soueraine the Queene and her kingdome in Faery land And yet in some places el I doe otherwise shadow her For considering she beareth two persons the one of a most royall Queene or Empresse the other of a most vertuous and beautifull Lady this latter part in some places I doe ezpresse in Belphoebe fashioning her name according to your owne excellent conceipt of Cynthia Phaebe and Cynthia being both names of Diana So in the person of Prince Arthure I sette forth magnificence in particular which vertue for that according to Aristotle and the rest it is the
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 siluer sounding instruments did meet With the base 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 sorceree And witchcraft she from farre did thether bring There she had him now laid a slombering In secret shade after long wanton ioyes Whilst round about them pleasauntly 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 fast fixed in his sight As seeking medicine whence she was stong Or greedily depasturing delight And oft inclining downe with kisses light For feare of waking him his lips bedewd And through his humid eyes did sucke his spright Quite molten into lust and pleasure lewd Wherewith she sighed soft as if his case she rewd The whiles some one did chaunt this louely lay Ah see who so fayre thing doest faine to see In springing flowre the image of thy day Ah see the Virgin Rose how sweetly shee Doth first peepe foorth with bashfull modestee That fairer seemes the lesse ye see her may Lo see 〈◊〉 after how more bold and free Her bared bosome she doth broad display Lo see soone after how she fades and falls away So passeth 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 deflowre 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 pleasing 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 Vpon a bed of Roses she was layd As faint through heat or dight to pleasant sin And was arayd or rather disarayd All in a uele of silke and siluer thin That hid no whit her alablaster skin But rather shewd more white if more might bee More subtile web Arachne cannot spin Not the fine nets which oft we wouen see Of scorched deaw do not in th' ayre more lightly flee Her snowy brest 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 Nectar forth distild That like pure Orient perles adowne it trild And her faire eyes sweet smyling in delight Moystened their fierie beames with which she thrild Fraile harts yet quenched not like starry light Which sparckling 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 proportiond 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 praise were hong vpon a tree And his braue shield full of old moniments Was fowly ra'st that none the signes might see Ne for them ne for honour cared hee Ne ought that did to his aduauncement tend But in lewd loues and wastfull luxuree 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 〈◊〉 game That suddein forth they on them rusht and threw A subtile net which only for that same The skilfull Palmer formally did frame So held them vnder fast the whiles the rest Fled all away for feare of fowler shame The faire Enchauntresse so vnwares opprest Tryde all her arts all her sleights thence out to wrest And eke her louer stroue but all in vaine For that same 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 else might keepe her safe and sound But Verdant so he hight he soone vntyde And counsell sage in steed thereof to him applyde But all those pleasaunt 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 blisse he turn'd to balefulnesse Their groues he feld 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 fowlest place Then led they her away and cke 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 those wild-beasts that rag'd with furie mad Which now awaking fierce at them gan fly As in their mistresse reskew whom they lad But them the Palmer soone did pacify Then Guyon askt what meant those beastes which there didly Sayd he these seeming beasts are men indeed Whom this Enchauntresse hath transformed thus Whylome her louers which her lustes 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 hoggish 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 chooseth with vile difference 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 hoggish minde But let vs hence depart whilest wether serues winde The thirde Booke of the Faerie Queene Contayning The Legend of Britomartis OR
Of Chastity IT falls me here to write of Chastity The fayrest vertue far aboue the rest For which what needes me fetch from Faery Forreine ensamples it to haue exprest Sith it is shrined in my Soueraines brest And formd so liuely in each perfect part That to all Ladies which haue it profest Neede but behold the pourtraict of her hart If pourtrayd it might bee by any liuing 〈◊〉 But liuing art may not least part expresse Nor life-resembling pencill it can paynt All were it Zeuxis or Praxitcles His daedale hand would faile and greatly faynt And her perfections with his error taynt Ne Poets witt that passeth Painter farre In picturing the parts of beauty daynt So hard a workemanship aduenture 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 Presume so high to stretch mine humble quill Yet now my luckelesse lott doth me constrayne Hereto perforce But O dredd Souerayne Thus far forth pardon sith that choicest witt Cannot your glorious pourtraict figure playne That I in colourd showes may shadow itt And antique praises vnto present persons fitt But if in liuing colours and right hew Thy selfe thou couet to see pictured Who can it doe more liuely or more trew Then that sweete verse with Nectar sprinckeled In which a gracious seruaunt pictured His Cynthia his heauens fayrest light That with his melting sweetnes rauished And with the wonder of her beames bright My sences lulled are in slomber of delight But let that same delitious Poet lend A little leaue vnto a rusticke Muse To sing his mistresse prayse and let him mend If ought amis her liking may abuse Ne let his fayrest Cynthia refuse In mirrours more then one her selfe to see But either Glorian a let her chuse Or in Belphoebe fashioned to bee In th' one her rule in th' other her rare chastitee Cant. I. Guyon encountreth Britomart Fayre Florimell is chaced Duessaes traines and Materastaes champions are defaced THe famous Briton Prince and Faery knight After long wayes and perilous paines endur'd Hauing their weary limbes to perfect plight Restord and sory wounds right well recur'd Of the faire Alma greatly were procur'd To make there lenger soiourne and abode But when thereto they might not be allur'd From seeking praise and deeds of armes abrode They courteous conge tooke and forth together yode But the captiu'd Acrasia he sent Because of traueill long a nigher way With a strong gard all reskew to preuent And her to Faery court safe to conuay That her for witnes of his hard assay Vnto his Faery Queene he might present But he him selfe 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 Countreyes they did ouerronne From the vprising to the setting 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 such as wrong did 〈◊〉 At last as through an open plaine they 〈◊〉 They spide a knight that towards pricked fayre And him beside 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 those that stouter could it wield He them espying gan him selfe prepare And on his arme addresse his goodly 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 feete did burne The verdant gras as he thereon did tread Ne did the other backe his foote returne But fiercely forward came withouten dread And bent his dreadful speare against the others head They beene ymett and both theyr points arriu'd But Guyon droue 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 〈◊〉 length behind his crouper fell Yet in his fall so well him selfe he bare That mischieuous mischaūce his 〈◊〉 limbs did spare Great shame and sorrow of that fall he tooke For neuer yet sith warlike armes he bore And shiuering speare in bloody field first shooke He fownd him selfe dishonored so sore Ah gentlest 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 secret powre vnseene That speare enchaunted was which layd thee on the greene But weenedst thou what wight thee ouerthrew Much greater griefe 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 aduentnre did from Britayne fett To seeke her louer loue far sought alas Whose image shee had seene in Venus looking glas Full of disdainefull wrath he fierce vprose For to reuenge that fowle 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 same Which when his Palmer saw he gan to feare 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 secrete vertue of that weapon keene That mortall puissaunce mote not withstond Nothing on earth mote alwaies happy beene Great hazard were it and aduenture fond To loose long gotten honour with one euill hond By such good meanes he him discounselled From prosecuting his reuenging rage And eke the Prince like treaty handeled His wrathfull will with reason to aswage And laid the blame not to his carriage But to his starting steed that swaru'd asyde And to the ill purueyaunce of his page That had his furnitures not firmely tyde So is his angry corage fayrly pacifyde Thus reconcilement was betweene them knitt Through goodly temperaunce and affection chaste And either vowd with all their power and witt To let not others honour be defaste Offriend or foe who euer it embaste Ne armes to beare against the others syde In which accord the Prince was also plaste And with that golden chaine of concord tyde So goodly all agreed they forth yfere did ryde O goodly vsage of those 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