false shewes abuse his fantasy In sort as he him schooled priuily And that new creature borne without her dew Full of the makers guile with vsage fly He taught to imitate that Lady trew Whose semblance she did carrie vnder feigned hew Thus well instructed to their worke they hast And comming where the knight in slomber lay The one vpon his hardy head him plast And made him dreame of loues and lustfull 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 Her chast hart had subdewd to learne Dame pleasures toy And she her selfe of beautie soueraigne Queene Faire Venus seemde vnto his bed to bring Her whom he waking euermore did weene To be the chastest flowre that ay 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 ιο̃ Hymen dauncing all around Whilst freshest Flora her Yuie girlond crownd In this great passion of vnwonted lust Or wonted feare of doing ought amis He started vp as seeming to mistrust Some secret ill or hidden foe of his Lo there before his face his Lady is Vnder blake stole hyding her bayted hooke And as halfe 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 halfe enraged at her shamelesse guise He thought haue slaine her in his fierce despight But hasty heat tempring with sufferance wise He stayde his hand and gan himselfe aduise To proue his sense and tempt her faigned truth Wringing her hands in wemens pitteous wise Tho can she weepe to stirre vp gentle ruth Both for her noble bloud and for her tender youth And said 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 perforce 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 kingdome There she stopt with teares Her swollen hart her speach seemd to bereaue And then againe begun My weaker yeares Captiu'd to fortune and frayle worldly feares Fly to your faith for succour and sure ayde Let me not dye in languor and long teares Why Dame quoth he what hath ye thus dismayd What frayes ye that were wont to comfort me affrayd Loue of your selfe she said and deare constraint Le ts me not sleepe but wast the wearie night In secret anguish and vnpittied plaint Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight Suspect her truth yet since no' vntruth he knew Her fawning loue with foule disdainefull spight He would not shend but said Deare dame I rew That for my sake vnknowne such griefe 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 smart Where cause is none but to your rest depart Not all content yet seemd she to appease Her mournefull plaintes beguiled of her art And fed with words that could not chuse but please So slyding softly forth she turnd as to her ease Long after lay he musing 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 wearinesse of former fight Hauing yrockt a sleepe his irkesome spright That troublous dreame gan freshly tosse 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. II. The guilefull great Enchaunter parts The Redcrosse Knight from Truth Into whose stead faire falshood steps And workes him wofull ruth BY this the Northerne wagoner had set His seuenfold teme behind the stedfast starre That was in Ocean waues yet neuer wet But firme is fixt and sendeth light from farre To all that in the wide deepe wandring arre And chearefull 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 maister and gan tell Their bootelesse paines and ill succeeding night Who all in rage to see his skilfull might Deluded so gan threaten hellish paine And sad Proserpines wrath them to affright But when he saw his threatning was but vaine He cast about and searcht his balefull bookes againe Eftsoones 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 His wanton dayes that euer loosely led Without regard of armes and dreaded fight Those two he tooke and in a secret bed Couered with darknesse and misdeeming night Them both together laid to ioy in vaine delight Forthwith he runnes with feigned faithfull hast Vnto his guest who after troublous sights And dreames gan now to take more sound repast Whom suddenly he wakes with fearefull frights As one aghast with feends or damned sprights And to him cals Rise rise vnhappy Swaine That here wex old in sleepe whiles wicked wights Haue knit themselues in Venus shamefull chaine Come see where your false Lady doth her honour 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 lust and lewd embracement Which when he saw he burnt with gealous fire The eye of reason was with rage yblent And would haue slaine them in his furious ire But hardly was restreined of that aged sire Returning to his bed in torment great And bitter anguish of his guiltie sight He could not rest but did his stout heart eat And wast his inward gall with deepe despight Yrkesome of life and too long lingring night At last faire Hesperus in highest skie Had spent his lampe brought forth dawning light Then vp he rose and clad him hastily The Dwarfe him brought his steed so both away do fly Now when the rosy-fingred 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 shooke off drowsy-hed And rising forth out of her baser bowre Lookt for her knight who far away was fled And for her Dwarfe that wont to wait each houre Then gan she waile weepe to see that woefull stowre And after him
rash Syre began to rend His haire and hastie tongue that did offend Tho gathering vp the relicks of his smart By Dianes meanes who was Hippolyts frend Them brought to Aesculape that by his art Did heale them all againe and ioyned euery part Such wondrous science in mans wit to raine When Ioue auizd that could the dead reuiue And fates expired could renew againe Of endlesse life he might him not depriue But vnto hell did thrust him downe aliue With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore Where long remaining he did alwaies striue Himselfe with salues to health for to restore And slake the heauenly fire that raged euermore There auncient Night arriuing did alight From her high wearie waine and in her armes To Aesculapius brought the wounded knight Whom hauing softly disarayd of armes Tho gan to him discouer all his harmes Beseeching him with prayer and with praise If either salues or oyles or herbes or charmes A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise He would at her request prolong her nephews daies Ah Dame quoth he thou temptest me in vaine To dare the thing which daily yet I rew And the old cause of my continued paine With like attempt to like end to renew Is not enough that thrust from heauen dew Here endlesse penance for one fault I pay But that redoubled crime with vengeance new Thou biddest me to eeke Can Night defray The wrath of thundring Ioue that rules both night and day Not so quoth she but sith that heauens king From hope of heauen hath thee excluded quight Why fearest thou that canst not hope for thing And fearest not that more thee hurten might Now in the powre of euerlasting Night Goe to then ô thou farre renowmed sonne Of great Apollo shew thy famous might In medicine that else hath to thee wonne Great paines greater praise both neuer to be donne Her words preuaild And then the learned leach His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay And all things else the which his art did teach Which hauing seene from thence arose away The mother of dread darknesse and let stay Aueugles sonne there in the leaches cure And backe returning tooke her wonted way To runne her timely race whilst Phoebus pure In westerne waues his wearie wagon did recure The false Duessa leauing noyous Night Returnd to stately pallace of dame Pride Where when she came she found the Faery knight Departed thence albe his woundes wide Not throughly heald vnreadie were to ride Good cause he had to hasten thence away For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spide Where in a dongeon deepe huge numbers lay Of caytiue wretched thrals that wayled night and day A ruefull sight as could be seene with eie Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie How mortgaging their liues to Couetise Through wastfull Pride and wanton Riotise They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt with VVrath and Enuies false surmise Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse Where they should liue in woe die in wretchednesse There was that great proud king of Babylon That would compell all nations to adore And him as onely God to call vpon Till through celestiall doome throwne out of dore Into an Oxe he was transform'd of yore There also was king Craesus that enhaunst His heart too high through his great riches store And proud Antiochus the which aduaunst His cursed hand gainst God and on his altars daunst And them long time before great Nimrod was That first the world with sword and fire warrayd And after him old Ninus farre did pas In princely pompe of all the world obayd There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder all yet aboue all in pride That name of natiue syre did fowle vpbrayd And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide All these together in one heape were throwne Like carkases of beasts in butchers stall And in another corner wide were strowne The antique ruines of the Romaines fall Great Romulus the Grandsyre of them all Proud Tarquin and too lordly Lentulus Stout Scipio and stubborne Hanniball Ambitious Sylla and sterne Marius High Caesar great Pompey and fierce Antonius Amongst these mighty men were wemen mixt Proud wemen vaine forgetfull of their yoke The bold Semiramis whose sides transfixt With sonnes owne blade her fowle reproches spoke Faire Sthenoboea that her selfe did choke With wilfull cord for wanting of her will High minded Cleopatra that with stroke Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill And thousands moe the like that did that dongeon fill Besides the endlesse routs of wretched thralles Which thither were assembled day by day From all the world after their wofull falles Through wicked pride and wasted wealthes decay But most of all which in the Dongeon lay Fell from high Princes courts or Ladies bowres Where they in idle pompe or wanton play Consumed had their goods and thriftlesse howres And lastly throwne themselues into these heauy stowres Whose case when as the carefull Dwarfe had tould And made ensample of their mournefull sight Vnto his maister he no lenger would There dwell in perill of like painefull plight But early rose and ere that dawning light Discouered had the world to heauen wyde He by a priuie Posterne tooke his flight That of no enuious eyes he mote be spyde For doubtlesse death ensewd if any him descryde Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way For many corses like a great Lay-stall Of murdred men which therein strowed lay Without remorse or decent funerall Which all through that great Princesse pride did fall And came to shamefull end And them beside Forth ryding vnderneath the castell wall A donghill of dead carkases he spide The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pride Cant. VI. From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace fayre Vna is releast Whom saluage nation does adore and learnes her wise beheast AS when a ship that flyes faire vnder saile An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past and yet it doubt ne dares To ioy at his foole-happie ouersight So doubly is distrest twixt ioy and cares The dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight Hauing escapt so sad ensamples in his sight Yet sad he was that his too hastie speed The faire Duess ' had forst him leaue behind And yet more sad that Vna his deare dreed Her truth had staind with treason so vnkind Yet crime in her could neuer creature find But for his loue and for her owne selfe sake She wandred had from one to other Ynd Him for to seeke ne euer would forsake Till her vnwares the fierce Sansloy did ouertake Who after Archimagoes fowle defeat Led her away into a forrest wilde And turning wrathfull fire to lustfull heat With beastly sin thought her to haue defilde And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde Yet first he cast by
that same fatall read That warned him of womens loue beware Which being ment of mortall creatures sead For loue of Nymphes she thought she need not care But promist him what euer wight she weare That she her loue to him would shortly gaine So he her told but soone as she did heare That Florimell it was which wrought his paine She gan a fresh to chafe and grieue in euery vaine Yet since she saw the streight extremitie In which his life vnluckily was layd It was no time to scan the prophecie Whether old Proteus true or false had sayd That his decay should happen by a mayd It 's late in death of daunger to aduize Or loue forbid him that is life denayd But rather gan in troubled mind deuize How she that Ladies libertie might enterprize To Proteus selfe to sew she thought it vaine Who was the root and worker of her woe Nor vnto any meaner to complaine But vnto great king Neptune selfe did goe And on her knee before him falling lowe Made humble suit vnto his Maiestie To graunt to her her sonnes life which his foe A cruell Tyrant had presumpteouslie By wicked doome condemn'd a wretched death to die To whom God Neptune softly smyling thus Daughter me seemes of double wrong ye plaine Gainst one that hath both wronged you and vs For death t'adward I ween'd did appertaine To none but to the seas sole Soueraine Read therefore who it is which this hath wrought And for what cause the truth discouer plaine For neuer wight so euill did or thought But would some rightfull cause pretend though rightly nought To whom she answerd Then it is by name Proteus that hath ordayn'd my sonne to die For that a waist the which by fortune came Vpon your seas he claym'd as propertie And yet nor his nor his in equitie But yours the waift by high prerogatiue Therefore I humbly craue your Maiestie It to repleuie and my sonne repriue So shall you by one gift saue all vs three aliue He graunted it and streight his warrant made Vnder the Sea-gods seale autenticall Commaunding Proteus straight t' enlarge the mayd Which wandring on his seas imperiall He lately tooke and sithence kept as thrall Which she receiuing with meete thankefulnesse Departed straight to Proteus therewithall Who reading it with inward loathfulnesse Was grieued to restore the pledge he did possesse Yet durst he not the warrant to withstand But vnto her deliuered Florimell Whom she receiuing by the lilly hand Admyr'd her beautie much as she mote well For she all liuing creatures did excell And was right ioyous that she gotten had So faire a wife for her sonne Marinell So home with her she streight the virgin lad And shewed her to him then being sore bestad Who soone as he beheld that angels face Adorn'd with all diuine perfection His cheared heart eftsoones away gan chace Sad death reuiued with her sweet inspection And feeble spirit inly felt refection As withered weed through cruell winters tine That feeles the warmth of sunny beames reflection Liftes vp his head that did before decline And gins to spread his leafe before the faire sunshine Right so himselfe did Marinell vpreare When he in place his dearest loue did spy And though his limbs could not his bodie beare Ne former strength returne so suddenly Yet chearefull signes he shewed outwardly Ne lesse was she in secret hart affected But that she masked it with modestie For feare she should of lightnesse be detected Which to another place I leaue to be perfected THE FIFTH BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE Contayning THE LEGEND OF ARTEGALL OR OF IVSTICE SO oft as I with state of present time The image of the antique world compare When as mans age was in his freshest prime And the first blossome of faire vertue bare Such oddes I finde twixt those and these which are As that through long continuance of his course Me seemes die world is runne quite out of square From the first point of his appointed sourse And being once amisse growes daily wourse and wourse For from the golden age that first was named It 's now at earst become a stonie one And men themselues the which at first were framed Of earthly mould and form'd of flesh and bone Are now transformed into hardest stone Such as behind their backs so backward bred Were throwne by Pyrrha and Deucalione And if then those may any worse be red They into that ere long will be degendered Let none then blame me if in discipline Of vertue and of ciuill vses lore I doe not forme them to the common line Of present dayes which are corrupted sore But to the antique vse which was of yore When good was onely for it selfe desyred And all men sought their owne and none no more When Iustice was not for most meed outhyred But simple Truth did rayne and was of all admyred For that which all men then did vertue call Is now cald vice and that which vice was hight Is now hight vertue and so vs'd of all Right now is wrong and wrong that was is right As all things else in time are chaunged quight Ne wonder for the heauens reuolution Is wandred farre from where it first was pight And so doe make contrarie constitution Of all this lower world toward his dissolution For who so list into the heauens looke And search the courses of the rowling spheares Shall find that from the point where they first tooke Their setting forth in these few thousand yeares They all are wandred much that plaine appeares For that same golden fleecy Ram which bore Phrixus and Helle from their stepdames feares Hath now forgot where he was plast of yore And shouldred hath the Bull which fayre Europa bore And eke the Bull hath with his bow-bent horne So hardly butted those two twinnes of Ioue That they haue crusht the Crab and quite him borne Into the great Nemoean lions groue So now all range and doe at randon roue Out of their proper places farre away And all this world with them amisse doe moue And all his creatures from their course astray Till they arriue at their last ruinous decay Ne is that same great glorious lampe of light That doth enlumine all these lesser fyres In better case ne keepes his course more right But is miscaried with the other Spheres For since the terme of fourteene hundred yeres That learned Ptolomaee his hight did take He is declyned from that marke of theirs Nigh thirtie minutes to the Southerne lake That makes me feare in time he will vs quite forsake And if to those Aegyptian wisards old Which in Star-read were wont haue best insight Faith may be giuen it is by them told That since the time they first tooke the Sunnes hight Foure times his place he shifted hath in sight And twice hath risen where he now doth West And wested twice where he ought rise aright But mostis Mars amisse of all the rest And next to him old Saturne
brother did ellope streight way Who taking her from me his owne loue left astray She seeing then her selfe forsaken so Through dolorous despaire which she conceyued Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw Thinking to haue her griefe by death bereaued But see how much her purpose was deccaued Whilest thus amidst the billowes beating of her Twixt life and death long to and fro she weaued She chaunst vnwares to light vppon this coffer Which to her in that daunger hope of life did offer The wretched mayd that earst desir'd to die When as the paine of death she tasted had And but halfe seene his vgly visnomie Gan to repent that she had beene so mad For any death to chaunge life though most bad And catching hold of this Sea-beaten chest The lucky Pylot of her passage sad After long tossing in the seas distrest Her weary barke at last vppon mine Isle did rest Where I by chaunce then wandring on the shore Did her espy and through my good endeuour From dreadfull mouth of death which threatned sore Her to haue swallow'd vp did helpe to saue her She then in recompence of that great fauour Which I on her bestowed bestowed on me The portion of that good which Fortune gaue her Together with her selfe in dowry free Both goodly portions but of both the better she Yet in this coffer which she with her brought Great threasure sithence we did finde contained Which as our owne we tooke and so it thought But this same other Damzell since hath fained That to her selfe that threasure appertained And that she did transport the same by sea To bring it to her husband new ordained But suffred cruell shipwracke by the way But whether it be so or no I can not say But whether it indeede be so or no This doe I say that what so good or ill Or God or Fortune vnto me did throw Not wronging any other by my will I hold mine owne and so will hold it still And though my land he first did winne away And then my loue though now it little skill Yet my good lucke he shall not likewise pray But I will it defend whilst euer that I may So hauing sayd the younger did ensew Full true it is what so about our land My brother here declared hath to you But not for it this ods twixt vs doth stand But for this threasure throwne vppon his strand Which well I proue as shall appeare by triall To be this maides with whom I fastned hand Known by good markes and perfect good espiall Therefore it ought be rendred her without deniall When they thus ended had the Knight began Certes your strife were easie to accord Would ye remit it to some righteous man Vnto your selfe said they we giue our word To bide what iudgement ye shall vs afford Then for assuraunce to my doome to stand Vnder my foote let each lay downe his sword And then you shall my sentence vnderstand So each of them layd downe his sword out of his hand Then Artegall thus to the younger sayd Now tell me Amidas if that ye may Your brothers land the which the sea hath layd Vnto your part and pluckt from his away By what good right doe you withhold this day What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea it to my share did lay Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme Then turning to the elder thus he sayd Now Bracidas let this likewise be showne Your brothers threasure which from him is strayd Being the dowry of his wife well knowne By what right doe you claime to beyour owne What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea hath it vnto me throwne Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme For equall right in equall things doth stand For what the mighty Sea hath once possest And plucked quite from all possessors hand Whether by rage of waues that neuer rest Or else by wracke that wretches hath distrest He may dispose by his imperiall might As thing at randon left to whom he list So Amidas the land was yours first hight And so the threasure yours is Bracidas by right When he his sentence thus pronounced had Both Amidas and Philtra were displeased But Bracidas and Lucy were right glad And on the threasure by that iudgement seased So was their discord by this doome appeased And each one had his right Then Artegall When as their sharpe contention he had ceased Departed on his way as did befall To follow his old quest the which him forth did call So as he trauelled vppon the way He chaunst to come where happily he spide A rout of many people farre away To whom his course he hastily applide To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide To whom when he approched neare in sight An vncouth sight he plainely then descride To be a troupe of women warlike dight With weapons in their hands as ready for to fight And in the midst of them he saw a Knight With both his hands behinde him pinnoed hard And round about his necke an halter tight As ready for the gallow tree prepard His face was couered and his head was bar'd That who he was vneath was to descry And with full heauy heart with them he far'd Grieu'd to the soule and groning inwardly That he of womens hands so base a death should dy But they like tyrants mercilesse the more Reioyced at his miserable case And him reuiled and reproched sore With bitter taunts and termes of vile disgrace Now when as Artegall arriu'd in place Did aske what cause brought that man to decay They round about him gan to swarme apace Meaning on him their cruell hands to lay And to haue wrought vnwares some villanous assay But he was soone aware of their ill minde And drawing backe deceiued their intent Yet though him selfe did shame on womankinde His mighty hand to shend he Talus sent To wrecke on them their follies hardyment Who with few sowces of his yron flale Dispersed all their troupe incontinent And sent them home to tell a piteous tale Of their vaine prowesse turned to their proper bale But that same wretched man ordaynd to die They left behind them glad to be so quit Him Talus tooke out of perplexitie And horrour of fowle death for Knight vnfit Who more then losse of life ydreaded it And him restoring vnto liuing light So brought vnto his Lord where he did sit Beholding all that womanish weake fight Whom soone as he beheld he knew and thus behight Sir Turpine haplesse man what make you here Or haue you lost your selfe and your discretion That euer in this wretched case ye were Or haue ye yeelded you to proude oppression Of womens powre that boast of mens subiection Or else what other deadly dismall day Is falne on you by
time the warlike Amazon Whose wandring fancie after lust did raunge Gan cast a secret liking to this captiue straunge Which long concealing in her couert brest She chaw'd the cud of louers carefull plight Yet could it not so thoroughly digest Being fast fixed in her wounded spright But it tormented her both day and night Yet would she not thereto yeeld free accord To serue the lowly vassall of her might And of her seruant make her souerayne Lord So great her pride that she such basenesse much abhord So much the greater still her anguish grew Through stubborne handling of her loue-sicke hart And still the more she stroue it to subdew The more she still augmented her owne smart And wyder made the wound of th'hidden dart At last when long she struggled had in vaine She gan to stoupe and her proud mind conuert To meeke obeysance of loues mightie raine And him entreat for grace that had procur'd her paine Vnto her selfe in secret she did call Her nearest handmayd whom she most did trust And to her said Clarinda whom of all I trust a liue sith I thee fostred first Now is the time that I vntimely must Thereof make tryall in my greatest need It is so hapned that the heauens vniust Spighting my happie freedome haue agreed To thrall my looser life or my last bale to breed With that she turn'd her head as halfe abashed To hide the blush which in her visage rose And through her eyes like sudden lightning flashed Decking her cheeke with a vermilion rose But soone she did her countenance compose And to her turning thus began againe This griefes deepe wound I would to thee disclose Thereto compelled through hart-murdring paine But dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine Ah my deare dread said then the faithfull Mayd Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold That many hath with dread of death dismayd And dare euen deathes most dreadfull face behold Say on my souerayne Ladie and be bold Doth not your handmayds life at your foot lie Therewith much comforted she gan vnfold The cause of her conceiued maladie As one that would confesse yet faine would it denie Clarin sayd she thou seest yond Fayry Knight Whom not my valour but his owne braue mind Subiected hath to my vnequall might What right is it that he should thraldome find For lending life to me a wretch vnkind That for such good him recompence with ill Therefore I cast how I may him vnbind And by his freedome get his free goodwill Yet so as bound to me he may continue still bound vnto me but not with such hard bands Of strong compulsion and streight violence As now in miserable state he stands But with sweet loue and sure beneuolence Voide of malitious mind or foule offence To which if thou canst win him any way Without discouerie of my thoughts pretence Both goodly meede of him it purchase may And eke with gratefull seruice me right well apay Which that thou mayst the better bring to pas Loe here this ring which shall thy warrant bee And token true to old Eumenias From time to time when thou it best shalt see That in and out thou mayst haue passage free Goe now Clarinda well thy wits aduise And all thy forces gather vnto thee Armies of louely lookes and speeches wise With which thou canst euen Ioue himselfe to loue entise The trustie Mayd conceiuing her intent Did with sure promise of her good indeuour Giue her great comfort and some harts content So from her parting she thenceforth did labour By all the meanes she might to curry fauour With th'Elfin Knight her Ladies best beloued With daily shew of courteous kind behauiour Euen at the markewhite of his hart she roued And with wide glauncing words one day she thus him proued Vnhappie Knight vpon whose hopelesse state Fortune enuying good hath felly frowned And cruell heauens haue heapt an heauy fate I rew that thus thy better dayes are drowned In sad despaire and all thy senses swowned In stupid sorow sith thy iuster merit Might else haue with felicitie bene crowned Looke vp at last and wake thy dulled spirit To thinke how this long death thou mightest disinherit Much did he maruell at her vncouth speach Whose hidden drift he could not well perceiue And gan to doubt least she him sought t'appeach Of treason or some guilefull traine did weaue Through which she might his wretched life bereaue Both which to barre he with this answere met her Faire Damzell that with ruth as I perceaue Of my mishaps art mou'd to wish me better For such your kind regard I can but rest your detter Yet weet ye well that to a courage great It is no lesse beseeming well to beare The storme of fortunes frowne or heauens threat Then in the sunshine of her countenance cleare Timely to ioy and carrie comely cheare For though this cloud haue now me ouercast Yet doe I not of better times despeyre And though vnlike they should for euer last Yet in my truthes assurance I rest fixed fast But what so stonie mind she then replyde But if in his owne powre occasion lay Would to his hope a windowe open wyde And to his fortunes helpe make readie way Vnworthy sure quoth he of better day That will not take the offer of good hope And eke pursew if he attaine it may Which speaches she applying to the scope Of her intent this further purpose to him shope Then why doest not thou ill aduized man Make meanes to win thy libertie forlorne And try if thou by faire entreatie can Moue Radigund who though she still haue worne Her dayes in warre yet weet thou was not borne Of Beares and Tygres nor so saluage mynded As that albe all loue of men she scorne She yet forgets that she of men was kynded And sooth oft seene that proudest harts base loue hath blynded Certes Clarinda not of cancred will Sayd he nor obstinate disdainefull mind I haue forbore this duetie to fulfill For well I may this weene by that I fynd That she a Queene and come of Princely kynd Both worthie is for to be sewd vnto Chiefely by him whose life her law doth bynd And eke of powre her owne doome to vndo And al 's of princely grace to be inclyn'd thereto But want of meanes hath bene mine onely let From seeking fauour where it doth abound Which if I might by your good office get I to your selfe should rest for euer bound And readie to deserue what grace I found She feeling him thus bite vpon the bayt Yet doubting least his hold was but vnsound And not well fastened would not strike him strayt But drew him on with hope fit leasure to awayt But foolish Mayd whyles heedlesse of the hooke She thus oft times was beating off and on Through slipperie footing fell into the brooke And there was caught to her confusion For seeking thus to salue the Amazon She wounded was with her deceipts owne
was vp-blowne with luxury And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne With which he swallowd vp excessiue feast For want whereof poore people oft did pyne And all the way most like a brutish beast He spued vp his gorge that all did him deteast In greene vine leaues he was right fitly clad For other clothes he could not weare for heat And on his head an yuie girland had From vnder which fast trickled downe the sweat Still as he rode he somewhat still did eat And in his hand did beare a bouzing can Of which he supt so oft that on his seat His dronken corse he scarse vpholden can In shape and life more like a monster then a man Vnfit he was for any worldly thing And eke vnhable once to stirre or go Not meet to be of counsell to a king Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so That from his friend he seldome knew his so Full of diseases was his carcas blew And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow Which by misdiet daily greater grew Such one was Gluttony the second of that crew And next to him rode lustfull Lechery Vpon a bearded Goat whose rugged haire And whally eyes the signe of gelosy Was like the person selfe whom he did beare Who rough and blacke and filthy did appeare Vnseemely man to please faire Ladies eye Yet he of Ladies oft was loued deare When fairer faces were bid standen by O who does know the bent of womens fantasy In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire Which vnderneath did hide his filthinesse And in his hand a burning hart he bare Full of vaine follies and new fanglenesse For he was false and fraught with sicklenesse And learned had to loue with secret lookes And well could daunce and sing with ruefulnesse And fortunes tell and read in louing bookes And thousand other wayes to bait his fleshly hookes Inconstant man that loued all he saw And lusted after all that he did loue Ne would his looser life be tide to law But ioyd weake wemens hearts to tempt and proue If from their loyall loues he might them moue Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paine Of that fowle euill which all men reproue That rots the marrow and consumes the braine Such one was Lecherie the third of all this traine And greedy Auarice by him did ride Vpon a Camell loaden all with gold Two iron coffers hong on either side With precious mettall full as they might hold And in his lap an heape of coine he told For of his wicked pelfe his God he made And vnto hell him selfe for money sold Accursed vsurie was all his trade And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide His life was nigh vnto deaths doore yplast And thred-bare cote and cobled shoes he ware Ne scarse good morsell all his life did tast But both from backe and belly still did spare To fill his bags and richesse to compare Yet chylde ne kinsman liuing had he none To leaue them to but thorough daily care To get and nightly feare to lose his owne He led a wretched life vnto him selfe vnknowne Most wretched wight whom nothing might suffise Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store Whose need had end but no end couetise Whose wealth was want whose plēty made him pore Who had enough yet wished euer more A vile disease and eke in foote and hand A grieuous gout tormented him full sore That well he could not touch nor go nor stand Such one was Auarice the fourth of this faire band And next to him malicious Enuie rode Vpon a rauenous wolfe and still did chaw Betweene his cankred teeth a venemous tode That all the poison ran about his chaw But inwardly he chawed his owne maw At neighbours wealth that made him euer sad For death it was when any good he saw And wept that cause of weeping none he had But when he heard of harme he wexed wondrous glad All in a kirtle of discolourd say He clothed was ypainted full of eyes And in his bosome secretly there lay An hatefull Snake the which his taile vptyes In many folds and mortall sting implyes Still as he rode he gnasht his teeth to see Those heapes of gold with griple Couetyse And grudged at the great felicitie Of proud Lucifera and his owne companie He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds And him no lesse that any like did vse And who with gracious bread the hungry feeds His almes for want of faith he doth accuse So euery good to bad he doth abuse And eke the verse of famous Poets witt He does backebite and spightfull poison spues From leprous mouth on all that euer writt Such one vile Enuie was that first in row did sitt And him beside rides fierce reuenging VVrath Vpon a Lion loth for to be led And in his hand a burning brond he hath The which he brandisheth about his hed His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red And stared sterne on all that him beheld As ashes pale of hew and seeming ded And on his dagger still his hand he held Trembling through hasty rage whē choler in him sweld His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood Which he had spilt and all to rags yrent Through vnaduized rashnesse woxen wood For of his hands he had no gouernement Ne car'd for bloud in his auengement But when the furious fit was ouerpast His cruell facts he often would repent Yet wilfull man he neuer would forecast How many mischieues should ensue his heedlesse hast Full many mischiefes follow cruell VVrath Abhorred bloudshed and tumultuous strife Vnmanly murder and vnthrifty scath Bitter despight with rancours rusty knife And fretting griefe the enemy of life All these and many euils moe haunt ire The swelling Splene and Frenzy raging rife The shaking Palsey and Saint Fraunces fire Such one was VVrath the last of this vngodly tire And after all vpon the wagon beame Rode Sathan with a smarting whip in hand With which he forward lasht the laesie teme So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand Huge routs of people did about them band Showting for ioy and still before their way A foggy mist had couered all the land And vnderneath their feet all scattered lay Dead sculs bones of men whose life had gone astray So forth they marchen in this goodly sort To take the solace of the open aire And in fresh flowring fields themselues to sport Emongst the rest rode that false Lady faire The fowle Duessa next vnto the chaire Of proud Lucifera as one of the traine But that good knight would not so nigh repaire Him selfe estraunging from their ioyaunce vaine Whose fellowship seemd far vnfit for warlike swaine So hauing solaced themselues a space With pleasaunce of the breathing fields yfed They backe returned to the Princely Place Whereas an errant knight in armes ycled And heathnish shield wherein with letters red Was writ Sans
gronings often tore Her guiltlesse garments and her golden heare For pitty of his paine and anguish sore Yet all with patience wisely she did beare or well she wist his crime could else be neuer cleare Whom thus recouer'd by wise Patience And trew Repentance they to Vna brought Who ioyous of his cured conscience Him dearely kist and fairely eke besought Himselfe to chearish and consuming thought To put away out of his carefull brest By this Charissa late in child-bed brought Was woxen strong and left her fruitfull nest To her faire Vna brought this vnacquainted guest He was a woman in her freshest age Of wondrous beauty and of bountie rare With goodly grace and comely personage That was on earth not easie to compare Full of great loue but Cupids wanton snare As hell she hated chast in worke and will Her necke and breasts were euer open bare That ay thereof her babes might sucke their fill The rest was all in yellow robes arayed still A multitude of babes about her hong Playing their sports that ioyd her to behold Whom still she fed whiles they were weake young But thrust them forth still as they wexed old And on her head she wore a tyre of gold Adornd with gemmes and owches wondrous faire Whose passing price vneath was to be told And by her side there sate a gentle paire Of turtle doues she sitting in an yuorie chaire The knight and Vna entring faire her greet And bid her ioy of that her happie brood Who them requites with court'sies seeming meet And entertaines with friendly chearefull mood Then Vna her besought to be so good As in her vertuous rules to schoole her knight Now after all his torment well withstood In that sad house of Penaunce where his spright Had past the paines of hell and long enduring night She was right ioyous of her iust request And taking by the hand that Faeries sonne Gan him instruct in euery good behest Of loue and righteousnesse and well to donne And wrath and hatred warely to shonne That drew on men Gods hatred and his wrath And many soules in dolours had fordonne In which when him she well instructed hath From thence to heauen she teacheth him the ready path Wherein his weaker wandring steps to guide An auncient matrone she to her does call Whose sober lookes her wisedome well descride Her name was Mercie well knowne ouer all To be both gratious and eke liberall To whom the carefull charge of him she gaue To lead aright that he should neuer fall In all his wayes through this wide worldes waue That Mercy in the end his righteous soule might saue The godly Matrone by the hand him beares Forth from her presence by a narrow way Scattred with bushy thornes and ragged breares Which still before him she remou'd away That nothing might his ready passage stay And euer when his feet encombred were Organ to shrinke or from the right to stray She held him fast and firmely did vpbeare As carefull Nourse her child from falling oft does reare Eftsoones vnto an holy Hospitall That was fore by the way she did him bring In which seuen Bead-men that had vowed all Their life to seruice of high heauens king Did spend their dayes in doing godly thing There gates to all were open euermore That by the wearie way were traueiling And one sate wayting euer them before To call in-commers by that needy were and pore The first of them that eldest was and best Of all the house had charge and gouernement As Guardian and Steward of the rest His office was to giue entertainement And lodging vnto all that came and went Not vnto such as could him feast againe And double quite for that he on them spent But such as want of harbour did constraine Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine The second was as Almner of the place His office was the hungry for to feed And thristy giue to drinke a worke of grace He feard not once him selfe to be in need Ne car'd to hoord for those whom he did breede The grace of God he layd vp still in store Which as a stocke he left vnto his seede He had enough what need him care for more And had he lesse yet some he would giue to the pore The third had of their wardrobe custodie In which were not rich tyres nor garments gay The plumes of pride and wings of vanitie But clothes meet to keepe keene could away And naked nature seemely to aray With which bare wretched wights he dayly clad The images of God in earthly clay And if that no spare cloths to giue he had His owne coate he would cut and it distribute glad The fourth appointed by his office was Poore prisoners to relieue with gratious ayd And captiues to redeeme with price of bras From Turkes and Sarazins which them had stayd And though they faultie were yet well he wayd That God to vs forgiueth euery howre Much more then that why they in bands were layd And he that harrowd hell with heauie stowre The faultie soules from thence brought to his heauenly bowre The fift had charge sicke persons to attend And comfort those in point of death which lay For them most needeth comfort in the end When sin and hell and death do most dismay The feeble soule departing hence away All is but lost that liuing we bestow If not well ended at our dying day O man haue mind of that last bitter throw For as the tree does fall so lyes it euer low The sixt had charge of them now being dead In seemely sort their corses to engraue And deck with dainty flowres their bridall bed That to their heauenly spouse both sweet and braue They might appeare when he their soules shall saue The wondrous workemanship of Gods owne mould Whose face he made all beasts to feare and gaue All in his hand euen dead we honour should Ah dearest God me graunt I dead be not defould The seuenth now after death and buriall done Had charge the tender Orphans of the dead And widowes ayd least they should be vndone In face of iudgement he their right would plead Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread In their defence nor would for gold or fee Be wonne their rightfull causes downe to tread And when they stood in most necessitee He did supply their want and gaue them euer free There when the Elfin knight arriued was The first and chiefest of the seuen whose care Was guests to welcome towardes him did pas Where seeing Mercie that his steps vp bare And alwayes led to her with reuerence rare He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse And seemely welcome for her did prepare For of their order she was Patronesse Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse There she awhile him stayes him selfe to rest That to the rest more able he might bee During which time in euery good behest And godly worke of Almes and charitee She him instructed with
when the cause of that outrageous deede Demaunded I made plaine and euident Her faultie Handmayd which that bale did breede Confest how Philemon her wrought to chaunge her weede Which when I heard with horrible affright And hellish fury all enragd I sought Vpon my selfe that vengeable despight To punish yet it better first I thought To wreake my wrath on him that first it wrought To Philemon false faytour Philemon I cast to pay that I so dearely bought Of deadly drugs I gaue him drinke anon And washt away his guilt with guiltie potion Thus heaping crime on crime and griefe on griefe To losse of loue adioyning losse of frend I meant to purge both with a third mischiefe And in my woes beginner it to end 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 pursewing my fell purpose after went Feare gaue her wings and rage enforst my flight Through woods and plaines so long I did her chace Till this mad man whom your victorious might Hath now fast bound me met in middle space As I her so he me pursewd apace And shortly ouertooke I breathing yre Sore chauffed at my stay in such a cace And with my heat kindled his cruell fyre 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 griefe and furie 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 Squire sore haue ye beene diseasd But all your hurts may soone through tēperance be easd Then gan the Palmer thus most wretched man That to affections does the bridle lend In their beginning they are weake and wan But soone through suff'rance grow to fearefull end Whiles they are weake betimes with them contend For when they once to perfect strength do grow Strong warres they make and cruell battry bend Gainst fort of Reason it to ouerthrow Wrath gelosie griefe loue this Squire haue layd thus low Wrath gealosie griefe loue do thus expell Wrath is a fire and gealosie a weede Griefe is a flood and loue a monster fell The fire of sparkes the weede of little seede The flood of drops the Monster filth did breede But sparks seed drops and filth do thus delay The sparks soone quench the springing seed outweed The drops dry vp and filth wipe cleane away So shall wrath gealosie griefe loue dye and decay Vnlucky Squire said Guyon sith thou hast Falne vnto mischiefe through intemperaunce Henceforth take heede of that thou now hast past And guide thy wayes with warie gouernaunce Least worse betide thee by some later chaunce But read how art thou nam'd and of what kin Phedon 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 running towards hastily Whose flying feet so fast 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 bashed 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 flaming fire in midst of bloudy field And round about the wreath this word was writ Burnt I do burne Right well beseemed it To be the shield of some redoubted knight And in his hand two darts exceeding flit And deadly sharpe he held whose heads were dight In poyson and in bloud of malice and despight When he in presence came to Guyon first He boldly spake Sir knight if knight thou bee Abandon this fore stalled place at erst For feare of further harme I counsell thee Or bide the chaunce at thine owne ieoperdie The knight at his great boldnesse wondered And though he scornd his idle vanitie 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 But whēce should come that harme which thou doest seeme To threat to him that minds his chaunce t'abye Perdy said he here comes and is hard by A knight of wondrous powre and great assay That neuer yet encountred enemy But did him deadly daunt or fowle dismay Ne thou for better hope if thou his presence stay How hight he then said Guyon and from whence Pyrrhochles is his name renowmed farre For his bold feats and hardy confidence Full oft approu'd 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 So from immortall race he does proceede That mortall hands may not withstand his might Drad for his derring do and bloudy deed For all in bloud 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 fearefull stead anon Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion His be that care whom most it doth concerne Said he but whither with such hasty flight Art thou now bound for well mote I discerne Great cause that carries thee so swift and light My Lord quoth he me sent and streight behight To seeke Occasion where so she bee For he is all disposd to bloudy fight And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltie Hard is his hap that first fals in his ieopardie Madman said then the Palmer that does seeke Occasion to wrath and cause of strife She comes vnsought and shonned followes eke Happy who can abstaine when Rancour rife Kindles Reuenge and threats his rusty knife Woe neuer wants where euery cause is caught And rash Occasion makes vnquiet life Then loe where bound she fits whō thou hast sought Said Guyon let that message to thy Lord be brought That when the varlet heard and saw streight way He wexed wondrous wroth and said Vile knight That knights knighthood doest with shame vpbray And shewst th'enfāple of thy childish migbt With silly weake old woman thus to fight Great glory and gay spoile sure hast thou got And stoutly prou'd thy puissaunce here in sight That shall Pyrrhochles well requite I wot And with thy bloud abolish so reprochfull blot With that one of his thrillant darts he threw Headed with ire and vengeable despight The quiuering steele his aymed end well knew And to his brest it selfe intended right But he was warie and ere it empight In the meant marke aduaunst his shield atweene On which it seizing
sister was fayre Canacee That was the learnedst Ladie in her dayes Well seene in euerie science that mote bee And euery secret worke of natures wayes In wittie riddles and in wise soothsayes In power of herbes and tunes of beasts and burds And that augmented all her other prayse She modest was in all her deedes and words And wondrous chast of life yet lou'd of Knights Lords Full many Lords and many Knights her loued Yet she to none of them her liking lent Ne euer was with fond affection moued But rul'd her thoughts with goodly gouernement For dread of blame and honours blemishment And eke vnto her lookes a law she made That none of them once out of order went But like to warie Centonels well stayd Still watcht on euery side of secret foes affrayd So much die more as she refusd to loue So much the more she loued was and sought That oftentimes vnquiet strife did moue Amongst her louers and great quarrels wrought That oft for her in bloudie armes they fought Which whenas Cambell that was stout and wise Perceiu'd would breede great mischiefe he bethought How to preuent the perill that mote rise And turne both him and her to honour in this wise One day when all that troupe of warlike wooers Assembled were to weet whose she should bee All mightie men and dreadfull derring dooers The harder it to make them well agree Amongst them all this end he did decree That of them all which loue to her did make They by consent should chose the stoutest three That with himselfe should combat for her sake And of them all the victour should his sister take Bold was the chalenge as himselfe was bold And courage full of haughtie hardiment Approued oft in perils manifold Which he atchieu'd to his great ornament But yet his sisters skill vnto him lent Most confidence and hope of happie speed Conceiued by a ring which she him sent That mongst the manie vertues which we reed Had power to staunch al wounds that mortally did bleed Well was that rings great vertue knowen to all That dread thereof and his redoubted might Did all that youthly rout so much appall That none of them durst vndertake the fight More wise they weend to make of loue delight Then life to hazard for faire Ladies looke And yet vncertaine by such outward sight Though for her sake they all that perill tooke Whether she would them loue or in her liking brooke Amongst those knights there were three brethren bold Three bolder brethren neuer were yborne Borne of one mother in one happie mold Borne at one burden in one happie morne Thrise happie mother and thrise happie morne That bore three such three such not to be fond Her name was Agape whose children werne All three as one the first hight Priamond The second Dyamond the youngest Triamond Stout Priamond but not so strong to strike Strong Diamond but not so stout a knight But Triamond was stout and strong alike On horsebacke vsed Triamond to fight And Priamond on foote had more delight But horse and foote knew Diamond to wield With curtaxe vsed Diamond to smite And Triamond to handle speare and shield But speare and curtaxe both vsd Priamond in field These three did loue each other dearely well And with so firme affection were allyde As if but one soule in them all did dwell Which did her powre into three parts diuyde Like three faire branches budding farre and wide That from one roote deriu'd their vitall sap And like that roote that doth her life diuide Their mother was and had full blessed hap These three so noble babes to bring forth at one clap Their mother was a Fay and had the skill Of secret things and all the powres of nature Which she by art could vse vnto her will And to her seruice bind each liuing creature Through secret vnderstanding of their feature Thereto she was right faire when so her face She list discouer and of goodly stature But she as Fayes are wont in priuie place Did spend her dayes and lov'd in forests wyld to space There on a day a noble youthly knight Seeking aduentures in the saluage wood Did by great fortune get of her the sight As she sate carelesse by a cristall flood Combing her golden lockes as seemd her good And vnawares vpon her laying hold That stroue in vaine him long to haue withstood Oppressed her and there as it is told Got these three louely babes that prov'd three chāpions bold Which she with her long fostred in that wood Till that to ripenesse of mans state they grew Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood They loued armes and knighthood did ensew Seeking aduentures where they anie knew Which when their mother saw she gan to dout Their safetie least by searching daungers new And rash prouoking perils all about Their days mote be abridged through their corage stout Therefore desirous th' end of all their dayes To know and them t' enlarge with long extent By wondrous skill and many hidden wayes To the three fatall sisters house she went Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went Downe in the bottome of the deepe Abysse Where Demogorgon in dull darknesse pent Farre from the view of Gods and heauens blis The hideous Chaos keepes their dreadfull dwelling is There she them found all sitting round about The direfull distaffe standing in the mid And with vnwearied fingers drawing out The lines of life from liuing knowledge hid Sad Clotho held the rocke the whiles the thrid By griesly Lachesis was spun with paine That cruell Atropos eftsoones vndid With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine Most wretched men whose dayes depend on thrids so vaine She them saluting there by them sate still Beholding how the thrids of life they span And when at last she had beheld her fill Trembling in heart and looking pale and wan Her cause of comming she to tell began To whom fierce Atropos Bold Fay that durst Come see the secret of the life of man Well worthie thou to be of Ioue accurst And eke thy childrens thrids to be a sunder burst Whereat she sore affrayd yet her besought To graunt her boone and rigour to abate That she might see her childrēs thrids forth brought And know the measure of their vtmost date To them ordained by eternall fate Which Clotho graunting shewed her the same That when she saw it did her much amate To see their thrids so thin as spiders frame And eke so short that seemd their ends out shortly came She then began them humbly to intreate To draw them longer out and better twine That so their liues might be prolonged late But Lachesis thereat gan to repine And sayd fond dame that deem'st of things diuine As of humane that they may altred bee And chaung'd at pleasure for those impes of thine Not so for what the Fates do once decree Not all the gods can chaunge nor Ioue him self can free Then since quoth
would inquire And leauing home to roiall court I sought Where I did sell my selfe for yearely hire And in the Princes gardin daily wrought There I beheld such vainenesse as I neuer thought With sight whereof soone cloyd and long deluded With idle hopes which them doe entertaine After I had ten yeares my selfe excluded From natiue home and spent my youth in vaine I gan my follies to my selfe to plaine And this sweet peace whose lacke did then appeare Tho backe returning to my sheepe againe I from thenceforth haue learn'd to loue more deare This lowly quiet life which I inherite here Whylest thus he talkt the knight with greedy eare Hong still vpon his melting mouth attent Whose sensefull words empierst his hart so neare That he was rapt with double rauishment Both of his speach that wrought him great content And also of the obiect of his vew On which his hungry eye was alwayes bent That twixt his pleasing tongue and her faire hew He lost himselfe and like one halfe entraunced grew Yet to occasion meanes to worke his mind And to insinuate his harts desire He thus replyde Now surely syre I find That all this worlds gay showes which we admire Be but vaine shadowes to this safe retyre Of life which here in lowlinesse ye lead Fearelesse of foes or fortunes wrackfull yre Which tosseth states and vnder foot doth tread The mightie ones affrayd of euery chaunges dread That euen I which daily doe behold The glorie of the great mongst whom I won And now haue prou'd what happinesse ye hold In this small plot of your dominion Now loath great Lordship and ambition And wish th' heauens so much had graced mee As graunt me liue in like condition Or that my fortunes might transposed bee From pitch of higher place vnto this low degree In vaine said then old Meliboe doe men The heauens of their fortunes fault accuse Sith they know best what is the best for them For they to each such fortune doe diffuse As they doe know each can most aptly vse For not that which men couet most is best Nor that thing worst which men do most refuse But fittest is that all contented rest With that they hold each hath his fortune in his brest It is the mynd that maketh good or ill That maketh wretch or happie rich or poore For some that hath abundance at his will Hath not enough but wants in greatest store And other that hath litle askes no more But in that litle is both rich and wise For wisedome is most riches fooles therefore They are which fortunes doe by vowes deuize Sith each vnto himselfe his life may fortunize Since then in each mans self said Calidore It is to fashion his owne lyfes estate Giue leaue awhyle good father in this shore To rest my barcke which hath bene beaten late With stormes of fortune and tempestuous fate In seas of troubles and of toylesome paine That whether quite from them for to retrate I shall resolue or backe to turne againe I may here with your selfe some small repose obtaine Not that the burden of so bold a guest Shall chargefull be or chaunge to you at all For your meane food shall be my daily feast And this your cabin both my bowre and hall Besides for recompence hereof I shall You well reward and golden guerdon giue That may perhaps you better much withall And in this quiet make you safer liue So forth he drew much gold and toward him it driue But the good man nought tempted with the offer Of his rich mould did thrust it farre away And thus bespake Sir knight your bounteous proffer Be farre fro me to whom ye ill display That mucky masse the cause of mens decay That mote empaire my peace with daungers dread But if ye algates couet to assay This simple sort of life that shepheards lead Be it your owne our rudenesse to your selfe aread So there that night Sir Calidore did dwell And long while after whilest him list remaine Dayly beholding the faire Pastorell And feeding on the bayt of his owne bane During which time he did her entertaine With all kind courtesies he could inuent And euery day her companie to gaine When to the field she went he with her went So for to quench his fire he did it more augment But she that neuer had acquainted beene With such queint vsage fit for Queenes and Kings Ne euer had such knightly seruice seene But being bred vnder base shepheards wings Had euer learn'd to loue the lowly things Did litle whit regard his courteous guize But cared more for Colins carolings Then all that he could doe or euer deuize His layes his loues his lookes she did them all despize Which Calidore perceiuing thought it best To chaunge the manner of his loftie looke And doffing his bright armes himselfe addrest In shepheards weed and in his hand he tooke In stead of steelehead speare a shepheards hooke That who had seene him then would haue bethought On Phrygian Paris by Plexippus brooke When he the loue of fayre Benone sought What time the golden apple was vnto him brought So being clad vnto the fields he went With the faire Pastorella euery day And kept her sheepe with diligent attent Watching to driue the rauenous Wolfe away The whylest at pleasure she mote sport and play And euery euening helping them to fold And otherwhiles for need he did assay In his strong hand their rugged teats to hold And out of them to presse the milke loue so much could Which seeing Coridon who her likewise Long time had lou'd and hop'd her loue to gaine He much was troubled at that straungers guize And many gealous thoughts conceiu'd in vaine That this of all his labour and long paine Should reap the haruest ere it ripened were That made him scoule and pout and oft complaine Of Pastorell to all the shepheards there That she did loue a stranger swayne then him more dere And euer when he came in companie Where Calidore was present he would loure And byte his lip and euen for gealousie Was readie oft his owne hart to deuoure Impatient of any paramoure Who on the other side did seeme so farre From malicing or grudging his good houre That all he could he graced him with her Ne euer shewed signe of rancour or of iarre And oft when Coridon vnto her brought Or litle sparrowes stolen from their nest Or wanton squirrels in the woods farre sought Or other daintie thing for her addrest He would commend his guift and make the best Yet she no whit his presents did regard Ne him could find to fancie in her brest This newcome shepheard had his market mard Old loue is litle worth when new is more prefard One day when as the shepheard swaynes together Were met to make their sports and merrie glee As they are wont in faire sunshynie weather The whiles their flockes in shadowes shrouded bee They fell to daunce then did they all agree That
rayling and foule reuilement But still prouokt her sonne to wreake her wrong But nathelesse he did her still torment And catching hold of her vngratious tong Thereon an yron lock did fasten firme and strong Then when as vse of speach was from her reft With her two crooked handes she signes did make And beckned him the last helpe she had left But he that last left helpe away did take And both her hands fast bound vnto a stake That she note stirre Then gan her sonne to flie Full fast away and did her quite forsake But Guyon after him in haste did hie And soone him ouertooke in sad perplexitie In his strong armes he stiffely him embraste Who him gainstriuing nought at all preuaild For all his power was vtterly defaste And furious fits at earst quite weren quaild Oft he re'nforst and oft his forces fayld Yet yield he would not nor his rancour slacke Then him to ground he cast and rudely hayld And both his hands fast bound behind his backe And both his feet in fetters to an yron racke With hundred yron chaines he did him bind And hundred knots that did him sore constraine Yet his great yron teeth he still did grind And grimly gnash threatning reuenge in vaine His burning eyen whom bloudie strakes did staine Stared full wide and threw forth sparkes of fire And more for ranck despight then for great paine Shakt his long lockes colourd like copper-wire And bit his tawny beard to shew his raging ire Thus when as Guyon Furor had captiu'd Turning about he saw that wretched Squire Whom that mad man of life nigh late depriu'd Lying on ground all soild with bloud and mire Whom when as he perceiued to respire He gan to comfort and his wounds to dresse Being at last recured he gan inquire What hard mishap him brought to such distresse And made that caitiues thral the thral of wretchednesse With hart then throbbing and with watry eyes Faire Sir quoth he what man can shun the hap That hidden lyes vnwares him to surpryse Misfortune waites aduantage to entrap The man most warie in her whelming lap So me weake wretch of many weakest one Vnweeting and vnware of such mishap She brought to mischiefe through occasion Where this same wicked villein did me light vpon 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 nourse Attonce I was vpbrought and eft when yeares More rype vs reason lent to chose our Peares Our selues in league of vowed loue we knit In which we long time without gealous feares Or faultie thoughts continewd as was fit And for my part I vow dissembled not a whit Is was my fortune commune to that age To loue a Ladie faire of great degree The which was borne of noble parentage And set 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 please and others pleasure to fulfill My friend hight Philemon I did partake Of all my loue and all my priuitie Who greatly ioyous seemed for my sake And gratious to that Ladie as to mee Ne euer wight that mote so welcome bee As he to her withouten blot or blame Ne euer thing that she could thinke or see But vnto him she would impart the same O wretched man that would abuse so gentle Dame At last such grace I found and meanes I wrought That I that Ladie to my spouse had wonne Accord of friends consent of parents sought Affiance made my happinesse begonne There wanted nought but few rites to be donne Which mariage make that day too farre did seeme Most ioyous man on whom the shining Sunne Did shew his face my selfe I did esteeme And that my falser friend did no lesse ioyous deeme But ere that wished day his beame disclosd He either enuying my toward good Or of himselfe to treason ill disposd One day vnto me came in friendly mood And told for secret how he vnderstood That Ladie whom I had to me assynd Had both distaind her honorable blood And eke the faith which she to me did bynd And therfore wisht me stay till I more truth should fynd The gnawing anguish and sharpe gelosy Which his sad speech infixed in my brest Ranckled so sore and festred inwardly That my engreeued mind could find no rest Till that the truth thereof I did outwrest And him besought by that same sacred band Betwixt vs both to counsell me the best He then with solemne oath and plighted hand Assur'd ere long the truth to let me vnderstand Ere long with like againe he boorded mee Saying he now had boulted all the floure And that it was a groome of base degree Which of my loue was partner Paramoure Who vsed in a darkesome inner bowre Her oft to meet which better to approue He promised to bring me at that howre When I should see that would me nearer moue And driue 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 thee lent 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 Maidē proud through prayse and mad through loue Him hearkned 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 Disguised like that groome of base degree Whom he had feignd th' abuser of my loue to bee Eftsoones he came vnto th' appointed place And with him brought Priene rich arayd In Claribellaes clothes Her proper face I not descerned in that darkesome shade But weend it was my loue with whom he playd Ah God what horrour and tormenting griefe My hart my hands mine eyes and all assayd Me liefer were ten thousand deathes priefe Then wound of gealous worme and shame of such repriefe I home returning fraught with fowle despight And chawing vengeance all the way I went Soone as my loathed loue appeard in sight With wrathfull hand I slew her innocent That after soone I dearely did lament For