their rigour they releast Ne once to breath a while their angers tempest ceast Thus long they trac'd and trauerst to and fro And tryde all waies how each mote entrance make Into the life of his malignant foe They hew'd their helmes and plates asunder brake As they had potshares bene for nought mote slake Their greedy vengeaunces but goary blood That at the last like to a purple lake Of bloudy gore congeal'd about them stood Which from their riuen sides forth gushed like a flood At length it chaunst that both their hands on hie At once did heaue with all their powre and might Thinking the vtmost of their force to trie And proue the finall fortune of the fight But Calidore that was more quicke of sight And nimbler handed then his enemie Preuented him before his stroke could light And on the helmet smote him formerlie That made him stoupe to ground with meeke humilitie And ere he could recouer foot againe He following that faire aduantage fast His stroke redoubled with such might and maine That him vpon the ground he groueling cast And leaping to him light would haue vnlast His Helme to make vnto his vengeance way Who seeing in what daunger he was plast Cryde out Ah mercie Sir doe me not slay But saue my life which lot before your foot doth lay With that his mortall hand a while he stayd And hauing somewhat calm'd his wrathfull heat With goodly patience thus he to him sayd And is the boast of that proud Ladies threat That menaced me from the field to beat Now brought to this By this now may ye learne Strangers no more so rudely to intreat But put away proud looke and vsage sterne The which shal nought to you but foule dishonor yearne For nothing is more blamefull to a knight That court'sie doth as well as armes professe How euer strong and fortunate in fight Then the reproch of pride and cruelnesse In vaine he seeketh others to suppresse Who hath not learnd him selfe first to subdew All flesh is frayle and full of ficklenesse Subiect to fortunes chance still chaunging new What haps to day to me to morrow may to you Who will not mercie vnto others shew How can he mercy euer hope to haue To pay each with his owne is right and dew Yet since ye mercie now doe need to craue I will it graunt your hopelesse life to saue With these conditions which I will propound First that ye better shall your selfe behaue Vnto all errant knights whereso on ground Next that ye Ladies ayde in euery stead and stound The wretched man that all this while did dwell In dread of death his heasts did gladly heare And promist to performe his precept well And whatsoeuer else he would requere So suffring him to rise he made him sweare By his owne sword and by the crosse thereon To take Briana for his louing fere Withouten dowre or composition But to release his former foule condition All which accepting and with faithfull oth Bynding himselfe most firmely to obay He vp arose how euer liefe or loth And swore to him true fealtie for aye Then forth he cald from sorrowfull dismay The sad Briana which all this beheld Who comming forth yet full of late affray Sir Calidore vpcheard and to her teld All this accord to which he Crudor had compeld Whereof she now more glad then sory earst All ouercome with infinite affect For his exceeding courtesie that pearst Her stubborne hart with inward deepe effect Before his feet her selfe she did proiect And him adoring as her liues deare Lord With all due thankes and dutifull respect Her selfe acknowledg'd bound for that accord By which he had to her both life and loue restord So all returning to the Castle glad Most ioyfully she them did entertaine Where goodly glee and feast to them she made To shew her thankefull mind and meaning faine By all the meanes she mote it best explaine And after all vnto Sir Calidore She freely gaue that Castle for his paine And her selfe bound to him for euermore So wondrously now chaung'd from that she was afore But Calidore himselfe would not retaine Nor land nor fee for hyre of his good deede But gaue them streight vnto that Squire againe Whom from her Seneschall he lately freed And to his damzell as their rightfull meed For recompence of all their former wrong There he remaind with them right well agreed Till of his wounds he wexed hole and strong And then to his first quest he passed forth along Cant. II. Calidore sees young Tristram slay A proud discourteous knight He makes him Squire and of him learnes his state and present plight WHat vertue is so fitting for a knight Or for a Ladie whom a knight should loue As Curtesie to beare themselues aright To all of each degree as doth behoue For whether they be placed high aboue Or low beneath yet ought they well to know Their good that none them rightly may reproue Of rudenesse for not yeelding what they owe Great skill it is such duties timely to bestow Thereto great helpe dame Nature selfe doth lend For some so goodly gratious are by kind That euery action doth them much commend And in the eyes of men great liking find Which others that haue greater skill in mind Though they enforce themselues cannot attaine For euerie thing to which one is inclin'd Doth best become and greatest grace doth gaine Yet praise likewise deserue good thewes enforst with paine That well in courteous Calidore appeares Whose euery act and deed that he did say Was like enchantment that through both the eyes And both the eares did steale the hart away He now againe is on his former way To follow his first quest when as he spyde A tall young man from thence not farre away Fighting on foot as well he him descryde Against an armed knight that did on horsebacke ryde And them beside a Ladie faire he saw Standing alone on foot in foule array To whom himselfe he hastily did draw To weet the cause of so vncomely fray And to depart them if so be he may But ere he came in place that youth had kild That armed knight that low on ground he lay Which when he saw his hart was inly child With great amazement his thought with wonder fild Him stedfastly he markt and saw to bee A goodly youth of amiable grace Yet but a slender slip that scarse did see Yet seuenteene yeares but tall and faire of face That sure he deem'd him borne of noble race All in a woodmans iacket he was clad Of lincolne greene belayd with siluer lace And on his head an hood with aglets sprad And by his side his hunters horne he hanging had Buskins he wore of costliest cordwayne Pinckt vpon gold and paled part per part As then the guize was for each gentle swayne In his right hand he held a trembling dart Whose fellow he before had sent apart And in his left he held a sharpe
For she is wearie of the toilesome way And also nigh consumed is the lingring day A stately Pallace built of squared bricke Which cunningly was without morter laid Whose wals were high but nothing strong nor thick And golden foile all ouer them displaid That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid High lifted vp were many loftie towres And goodly galleries farre ouer laid Full of faire windowes and delightfull bowres And on the top a Diall told the timely howres It was a goodly heape for to behould And spake the praises of the workmans wit But full great pittie that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sit For on a sandie hill that still did flit And fall away it mounted was full hie That euery breath of heauen shaked it And all the hinder parts that few could spie Were ruinous and old but painted cunningly Arriued there they passed in forth right For still to all the gates stood open wide Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight Cald Maluenù who entrance none denide Thence to the hall which was on euery side With rich array and costly arras dight Infinite sorts of people did abide There waiting long to win the wished sight Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright By them they passe all gazing on them round And to the Presence mount whose glorious vew Their frayle amazed senses did confound In liuing Princes court none euer knew Such endlesse richesse and so sumptuous shew Ne Persia selfe the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw And there a noble crew Of Lordes and Ladies stood on euery side Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide High aboue all a cloth of State was spred And a rich throne as bright as sunny day On which there sate most braue embellished With royall robes and gorgeous array A mayden Queene that shone as Titans ray In glistring gold and peerelesse pretious stone Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne As enuying her selfe that too exceeding shone Exceeding shone like Phoebus fairest childe That did presume his fathers firie wayne And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine And rapt with whirling wheeles inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne but fairely for to shyne So proud she shyned in her Princely state Looking to heauen for earth she did disdayne And sitting high for lowly she did hate Lo vnderneath her scornefull feete was layne A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright Wherein her face she often vewed fayne And in her selfe-lou'd semblance tooke delight For she was wondrous faire as any liuing wight Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell Yet did she thinke her pearelesse wroth to pas That parentage with pride so did she swell And thundring Ioue that high in heauen doth dwell And wield the world she claymed for her syre Or if that any else did Ioue excell For to the highest she did still aspyre Or if ought higher were then that did it desyre And proud Lucifera men did her call That made her selfe Queene and crownd to be Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all Ne heritage of natiue soueraintie But did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie Vpon the scepter which she now did hold Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes but pollicie And strong aduizement of six wisards old That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold Soone as the Elfing knight in presence came And false Duessa seeming Lady faire A gentle Husher Vanitie by name Made rowme and passage for them did prepaire So goodly brought them to the lowest staire Of her high throne where they on humble knee Making obeyssance did the cause declare Why they were come her royall state to see To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee With loftie eyes halfe loth to looke so low She thanked them in her disdainefull wise Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show Of Princesse worthy scarse them bad arise Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deuise Themselues to setten forth to straungers sight Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise Some prancke their ruffes and others trimly dight Their gay attire each others greater pride does spight Goodly they all that knight do entertaine Right glad with him to haue increast their crew But to Duess ' each one himselfe did paine All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew For in that court whylome her well they knew Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd That to strange knight no better countenance allowd Suddein vpriseth from her stately place The royall Dame and for her coche doth call All hurtlen forth and she with Princely pace As faire Aurora in her purple pall Out of the East the dawning day doth call So forth she comes her brightnesse brode doth blaze The heapes of people thronging in the hall Do ride each other vpon her to gaze Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eyes amaze So forth she comes and to her coche does clyme Adorned all with gold and girlonds gay That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime And stroue to match in royall rich array Great Iunoes golden chaire the which they say The Gods stand gazing on when she does ride To Ioues high house through heauens bras-paued way Drawne of faire Pecocks that excell in pride And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts With like conditions to their kinds applyde Of which the first that all the rest did guyde Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin Vpon a slouthfull Asse he chose to ryde Arayd in habit blacke and amis thin Like to an holy Monck the seruice to begin And in his hand his Portesse still he bare That much was worne but therein little red For of deuotion he had little care Still drownd in sleepe and most of his dayes ded Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hed To looken whether it were night or day May seeme the wayne was very euill led When such an one had guiding of the way That knew not whether right he went or else astray From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne And greatly shunned manly exercise For euery worke he chalenged essoyne For contemplation sake yet otherwise His life he led in lawlesse riotise By which he grew to grieuous malady For in his lustlesse limbs through euill guise A shaking feuer raignd continually Such one was Idlenesse first of this company And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony Deformed creature on a filthie swyne His belly
did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd And thrise he her reviu'd with busie paine At last when life recouer'd had the raine And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie With foltring tong and trembling euery vaine Tell on quoth she the wofull Tragedie The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight And thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight Then that I feele and harbour in mine hart Who hath endur'd the whole can beare each part If death it be it is not the first wound That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart Begin and end the bitter balefull stound If lesse then that I feare more fauour I haue found Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare The subtill traines of Archimago old The wanton loues of false Fidessa faire Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold The wretched payre transform'd to treen mould The house of Pride and perils round about The combat which he with Sansioy did hould The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout Wherein captiu'd of life or death he stood in doubt She heard with patience all vnto the end And stroue to maister sorrowfull assay Which greater grew the more she did contend And almost rent her tender hart in tway And loue fresh coles vnto her fire did lay For greater loue the greater is the losse Was neuer Ladie loued dearer day Then she did loue the knight of the Redcrosse For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse At last when feruent sorrow slaked was She vp arose resoluing him to find A liue or dead and forward forth doth pas All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd And euermore in constant care full mind She fed her wound with fresh renewed bale Long tost with stormes and bet with bitter wind High ouer hils and low adowne the dale She wandred many a wood and measurd many a vale At last she chaunced by good hap to meet A goodly knight faire marching by the way Together with his Squire arayed meet His glitterand armour shined farre away Like glauncing light of Phoebus brightest ray From top to toe no place appeared bare That deadly dint of steele endanger may Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware That shynd like twinkling stars with stons most pretious rare And in the midst thereof one pretious stone Of wondrous worth and eke of wondrous mights Shapt like a Ladies head exceeding shone Like Hesperus emongst the lesser lights And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong In yuory sheath ycaru'd with curious slights Whose hilts were burnisht gold and handle strong Of mother pearle and buckled with a golden tong His haughtie helmet horrid all with gold Both glorious brightnesse and great terrour bred For all the crest a Dragon did enfold With greedie pawes and ouer all did spred His golden wings his dreadfull hideous hed Close couched on the beuer seem'd to throw From flaming mouth bright sparkles fierie red That suddeine horror to faint harts did show And scaly tayle was stretcht adowne his backe full low Vpon the top of all his loftie crest A bunch of haires discolourd diuersly With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest Did shake and seem'd to daunce for iollity Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye On top of greene Selinis all alone With blossomes braue bedecked daintily Whos 's tender locks do tremble euery one At euery little breath that vnder heauen is blowne His warlike shield all closely couer'd was Ne might of mortall eye be euer seene Not made of steele nor of enduring bras Such earthlymettals soone consumed bene But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene It framed was one massie entire mould Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene That point of speare it neuer percen could Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would The same to wight he neuer wont disclose But when as monsters huge he would dismay Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes Or when the flying heauens he would affray For so exceeding shone his glistring ray That Phoebus golden face it did attaint As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay And siluer Cynthia wexed pale and faint As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint No magicke arts hereof had any might Nor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call But all that was not such as seemd in sight Before that shield did fade and suddeine fall And when him list the raskall routes appall Men into stones therewith he could transmew And stones to dust and dust to nought at all And when him list the prouder lookes subdew He would them gazing blind or turne to other hew Ne let it seeme that credence this exceedes For he that made the same was knowne right well To haue done much more admirable deedes It Merlin was which whylome did excell All liuing wightes in might of magicke spell Both shield and sword and armour all he wrought For this young Prince when first to armes he fell But when he dyde the Faerie Queene it brought To Faerie lond where yet it may be seene if sought A gentle youth his dearely loued Squire His speare of heben wood behind him bare Whose harmefull head thrice heated in the fire Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square A goodly person and could menage faire His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit Who vnder him did trample as the aire And chauft that any on his backe should sit The yron rowels into frothy some he bit When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew With louely court he gan her entertaine But when he heard her answeres loth he knew Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine Which to allay and calme her storming paine Faire feeling words he wisely gan display And for her humour fitting purpose faine To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray Wherewith emmou'd these bleeding words she gan to say What worlds delight or ioy of lining speach Can heart so plung'd in sea of sorrowes deepe And heaped with so huge misfortunes reach The carefull cold beginneth for to creepe And in my heart his yron arrow steepe Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe Then rip vp griefe where it may not auaile My last left comfort is my woes to weepe and waile Ah Ladie deare quoth then the gentle knight Well may I weene your griefe is wondrous great For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat But wofull Ladie let me you intrete For to vnfold the anguish of your hart Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete And counsell mittigates the greatest smart Found neuer helpe who neuer would his hurts impart O but quoth she great griefe will not be tould And can more easily be thought then said Right so quoth he but he that neuer would Could neuer will to might giues greatest
aid But griefe quoth she does greater grow displaid If then it find not helpe and breedes despaire Despaire breedes not quoth he where faith is staid No faith so fast quoth she but flesh does paire Flesh may empaire quoth he but reason can repaire His goodly reason and well guided speach So deepe did settle in her gratious thought That her perswaded to disclose the breach Which loue and fortune in her heart had wrought And said faire Sir I hope good hap hath brought You to inquire the secrets of my griefe Or that your wisedome will direct my thought Or that your prowesse can me yield reliefe Then heare the storie sad which I shall tell you briefe The forlorne Maiden whom your eyes haue seene The laughing stocke of fortunes mockeries Am th' only daughter of a King and Queene Whose parents deare whilest equall destinies Did runne about and their felicities The fauourable heauens did not enuy Did spread their rule through all the territories Which Phison and Euphrates floweth by And Gebons golden waues doe wash continually At last by subtill sleights she him betraid Vnto his foe a Gyant huge and tall Who him disarmed dissolute dismaid Vnwares surprised and with mightie mall The monster mercilesse him made to fall Whose fall did neuer foe before behold And now in darkesome dungeon wretched thrall Remedilesse for aie he doth him hold This is my cause of griefe more great then may be told Ere she had ended all she gan to faint But he her comforted and faire bespake Certes Madame ye haue great cause of plaint That stoutest heart I weene could cause to quake But be of cheare and comfort to you take For till I haue acquit your captiue knight Assure your selfe I will you not forsake His chearefull words reuiu'd her chearelesse spright So forth they went the Dwarfe them guiding euer right Cant. VIII Faire virgin to redeeme her deare brings Arthur to the fight Who slayes that Gyant wounds the beast and strips Duessa quight AY me how many perils doe enfold The righteous man to make him daily fall Were not that heauenly grace doth him vphold And stedfast truth acquite him out of all Her loue is firme her care continuall So oft as he through his owne foolish pride Or weaknesse is to sinfull bands made thrall Else should this Redcrosse knight in bands haue dyde For whose deliuerāce she this Prince doth thither guide They sadly traueild thus vntill they came Nigh to a castle builded strong and hie Then cryde the Dwarfe lo yonder is the same In which my Lord my liege doth lucklesse lie Thrall to that Gyants hatefull tyrannie Therefore deare Sir your mightie powres assay The noble knight alighted by and by From loftie steede and bad the Ladie stay To see what end of fight should him befall that day So with the Squire th'admirer of his might He marched forth towards that castle wall Whose gates he found fast shut ne lining wight To ward the same nor answere commers call Then tooke that Squire an home of bugle small Which hong adowne his side in twisted gold And tassels gay Wyde wonders ouer all Of that same hornes great vertues weren told Which had approued bene in vses manifold Was neuer wight that heard that shrilling sound But trembling feare did feele in euery vaine Three miles it might be easie heard around And Ecchoes three answerd it selfe againe No false enchauntment nor deceiptfull traine Might once abide the terror of that blast But presently was voide and wholly vaine No gate so strong no locke so firme and fast But with that percing noise flew open quite or brast The same before the Geants gate he blew That all the castle quaked from the ground And euery dore of freewill open flew The Gyant selfe dismaied with that sownd Where he with his Duessa dalliance fownd In hast came rushing forth from inner bowre With staring countenance sterne as one astownd And staggering steps to weet what suddein stowre Had wrought that horror strange and dar'd his dreaded powre And after him the proud Duessa came High mounted on her many headed beast And euery head with fyrie tongue did flame And euery head was crowned on his creast And bloudie mouthed with late cruell feast That when the knight beheld his mightie shild Vpon his manly arme he soone addrest And at him fiercely flew with courage fild And eger greedinesse through euery member thrild Therewith the Gyant buckled him to fight Inflam'd with scornefull wrath and high disdaine And lifting vp his dreadfull club on hight All arm'd with ragged snubbes and knottie graine Him thought at first encounter to haue slaine But wise and warie was that noble Pere And lightly leaping from so monstrous maine Did faire auoide the violence him nere It booted nought to thinke such thunderbolts to beare Ne shame he thought to shunne so hideous might The idle stroke enforcing furious way Missing the marke of his misaymed sight Did fall to ground and with his heauie sway So deepely dinted in the driuen clay That three yardes deepe a furrow vp did throw The sad earth wounded with so sore assay Did grone full grieuous vnderneath the blow And trembling with strange feare did like an earthquake show As when almightie loue in wrathfull mood To wreake the guilt of mortall sins is bent Hurles forth his thundring dart with deadly food Enrold in flames and smouldring dreriment Through riuen cloudes and molten firmament The fierce threeforked engin making way Both loftie towres and highest trees hath rent And all that might his angrie passage stay And shooting in the earth casts vp a mount of clay His boystrous club so buried in the ground He could not rearen vp againe so light But that the knight him at auantage found And whiles he stroue his combred clubbe to quight Out of the earth with blade all burning bright He smote off his left arme which like a blocke Did fall to ground depriu'd of natiue might Large streames of bloud out of the truncked stocke Forth gushed like fresh water streame from riuen rocke Dismaied with so desperate deadly wound And eke impatient of vnwonted paine He loudly brayd with beastly yelling sound That all the fields rebellowed againe As great a noyse as when in Cymbrian plaine An heard of Bulles whom kindly rage doth sting Do for the milkie mothers want complaine And fill the fields with troublous bellowing The neighbour woods around with hollow murmuring That when his deare Duessa heard and saw The euill stownd that daungerd her estate Vnto his aide she hastily did draw Her dreadfull beast who swolne with bloud of late Came ramping forth with proud presumpteous gate And threatned all his heads like flaming brands But him the Squire made quickly to retrate Encountring fierce with single sword in hand And twixt him and his Lord did like a bulwarke stand The proud Duessa full of wrathfull spight And fierce disdaine to be affronted so Enforst her purple beast with all her
death with many a bloudie word Toung hates to tell the rest that eye to see abhord Therewith amoued from his sober mood And liues he yet said he that wrought this act And doen the heauens afford him vitall food He liues quoth he and boasteth of the fact Ne yet hath any knight his courage crackt Where may that treachour then said he be found Or by what meanes may I his footing tract That shall I shew said he as sure as hound The strickē Deare doth chalenge by the bleeding wound He staid not lenger talke but with fierce ire And zealous hast away is quickly gone To seeke that knight where him that craftie Squire Supposd to be They do arriue anone Where sate a gentle Lady all alone With garments rent and haire discheueled Wringing her hands and making piteous mone Her swollen eyes were much disfigured And her faire face with teares was fowly blubbered The knight approching nigh thus to her said Faire Ladie through foule sorrow ill bedight Great pittie is to see you thus dismaid And marre the blossome of your beautie bright For thy appease your griefe and heauie plight And tell the cause of your conceiued paine For if he liue that hath you doen despight He shall you doe due recompence againe Or else his wrong with greater puissance maintaine Which when she heard as in despightfull wise She wilfully her sorrow did augment And offred hope of comfort did despise Her golden lockes most cruelly she rent And scratcht her face with ghastly dreriment Ne would she speake ne see ne yet be seene But hid her visage and her head downe bent Either for grieuous shame or for great teene As if her hart with sorrow had transfixed beene Till her that Squire bespake Madame my liefe For Gods deare loue be not so wilfull bent But doe vouchsafe now to receiue reliefe The which good fortune doth to you present For what bootes it to weepe and to wayment When ill is chaunst but doth the ill increase And the weake mind with double woe torment When she her Squire heard speake she gan appease Her voluntarie paine and feele some secret ease Eftsoone she said Ah gentle trustie Squire What comfort can I wofull wretch conceaue Or why should euer I henceforth desire To see faire heauens face and life not leaue Sith that false Traytour did my honour reaue False traytour certes said the Faerie knight I read the man that euer would deceaue A gentle Ladie or her wrong through might Death were too little paine for such a foule despight But now faire Ladie comfort to you make And read who hath ye wrought this shamefull plight That short reuenge the man may ouertake Where so he be and soone vpon him light Certes said she I wote not how he hight But vnder him a gray steede did he wield Whose sides with dapled circles weren dight Vpright he rode and in his siluer shield He bore a bloudie Crosse that quartred all the field Now by my head said Guyon much I muse How that same knight should do so foule amis Or euer gentle Damzell so abuse For may I boldly say he surely is A right good knight and true of word ywis I present was and can it witnesse well When armes he swore and streight did enterpris Th' aduenture of the Errant damozell In which he hath great glorie wonne as I heare tell Nathlesse he shortly shall againe be tryde And fairely quite him of th' imputed blame Else be ye sure he dearely shall abyde Or make you good amendment for the same All wrongs haue mends but no amends of shame Now therefore Ladie rise out of your paine And see the saluing of your blotted name Full loth she seemd thereto but yet did faine For she was inly glad her purpose so to gaine Her purpose was not such as she did faine Ne yet her person such as it was seene But vnder simple shew and semblant plaine Lurckt false Duessa secretly vnseene As a chast Virgin that had wronged beene So had false Archimago her disguisd To cloke her guile with sorrow and sad teene And eke himselfe had craftily deuisd To be her Squire and do her seruice well aguisd Her late forlorne and naked he had found Where she did wander in waste wildernesse Lurking in rockes and caues farre vnder ground And with greene mode cou'ring her nakednesse To hide her shame and loathly filthinesse Sith her Prince Arthur of proud ornaments And borrow'd beautie spoyld Her nathelesse Th' enchaunter finding fit for his intents Did thus reuest and deckt with due habiliments For all he did was to deceiue good knights And draw them from pursuit of praise and fame To slug in slouth and sensuall delights And end their daies with irrenowmed shame And now exceeding griefe him ouercame To see the Redcrosse thus aduaunced hye Therefore this craftie engine he did frame Against his praise to stirre vp enmitye Ofsuch as vertues like mote vnto him allye So now he Guyon guides an vncouth way Through woods mountaines till they came at last Into a pleasant dale that lowly lay Betwixt two hils whose high heads ouerplast The valley did with coole shade ouercast Through midst thereof a little riuer rold By which there sate a knight with helme vnlast Himselfe refreshing with the liquid cold After his trauell long and labours manifold Loe yonder he cryde Archimage alowd That wrought the shamefull fast which I did shew And now he doth himselfe in secret shrowd To flie the vengeance for his outrage dew But vaine for ye shall dearely do him rew So God ye speed and send you good successe Which we farre off will here abide to vew So they him left inflam'd with wrathfulnesse That streight against that knight his speare he did addresse Who seeing him from farre so fierce to pricke His warlike armes about him gan embrace And in the rest his readie speare did sticke Tho when as still he saw him towards pace He gan rencounter him in equall race They bene ymet both readie to affrap When suddenly that warrriour gan abace His threatned speare as if some new mishap Had him betidde or hidden daunger did entrap And cryde Mercie Sir knight and mercie Lord For mine offence and heedlesse hardiment That had almost committed crime abhord And with reprochfull shame mine honour shent Whiles cursed steele against that badge I bent The sacred badge of my Redeemers death Which on your shield is set for ornament But his fierce foe his steede could stay vneath Who prickt with courage kene did cruell battell breath But when he heard him speake streight way he knew His error and himselfe inclyning sayd Ah deare Sir Guyon well becommeth you But me behoueth rather to vpbrayd Whose hastie hand so farre from reason strayd That almost it did haynous violence On that faire image of that heauenly Mayd That decks and armes your shield with faire defence Your court'sie takes on you anothers due offence So bene they both attone
Gan smyle on them that rather ought to weepe As carelesse of his woe or innocent Of that was doen that ruth emperced deepe In that knights heart and wordes with bitter teares did steepe Ah lucklesse babe borne vnder cruell starre And in dead parents balefull ashes bred Full litle weenest thou what sorrowes are Left thee for portion of thy liuelihed Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered As budding braunch rent from the natiue tree And throwen forth till it be withered Such is the state of men thus enter wee Into this life with woe and end with miseree Then soft himselfe inclyning on his knee Downe to that well did in the water weene So loue does loath disdainfull nicitee His guiltie hands from bloudie gore to cleene He washt them oft and oft yet nought they beene For all his washing cleaner Still he stroue Yet still the litle hands were bloudie seene The which him into great amaz'ment droue And into diuerse doubt his wauering wonder cloue He wist not whether blot of foule offence Might not be purgd with water nor with bath Or that high God in lieu of innocence Imprinted had that token of his wrath To shew how sore bloudguiltinesse he hat'th Or that the charme and venim which they druncke Their bloud with secret filth infected hath Being diffused through the senselesse truncke That through the great contagion direfull deadly stunck Whom thus at gaze the Palmer gan to bord With goodly reason and thus faire bespake Ye bene right hard amated gratious Lord And of your ignorance great maruell make Whiles cause not well conceiued ye mistake But know that secret vertues are infusd In euery fountaine and in euery lake Which who hath skill them rightly to haue chusd To proofe of passing wonders hath full often vsd Of those some were so from their sourse indewd By great Dame Nature from whose fruitfull pap Their welheads spring and are with moisture deawd Which feedes each liuing plant with liquid sap And filles with flowres faire Floraes painted lap But other some by gift of later grace Or by good prayers or by other hap Had vertue pourd into their waters bace And thenceforth were renowmd sought from place to place Such is this well wrought by occasion straunge Which to her Nymph befell Vpon a day As she the woods with bow and shafts did raunge The hartlesse Hind and Robucke to dismay Dan Faunus chaunst to meet her by the way And kindling fire at her faire burning eye Inflamed was to follow beauties chace And chaced her that fast from him did fly As Hind from her so she fled from her enimy At last when fayling breath began to faint And saw no meanes to scape of shame affrayd She set her downe to weepe for sore constraint And to Diana calling lowd for ayde Her deare besought to let her dye a mayd The goddesse heard and suddeine where she sate Welling out streames of teares and quite dismayd With stony feare of that rude rustick mate Transformd her to a stone from stedfast virgins state Lo now she is that stone from those two heads As from two weeping eyes fresh streames do flow Yet cold through feare and old conceiued dreads And yet the stone her semblance seâ—mes to show Shapt like a maid that such ye may her know And yet her vertues in her water byde For it is chast and pure as purest snow Ne lets her waues with any filth he dyde But euer like her selfe vnstained hath beene tryde From thence it comes that this babes bloudy hand May not be clensd with water of this well Ne certes Sir striue you it to withstand But let them still be bloudy as befell That they his mothers innocence may tell As she bequeathd in her last testament That as a sacred Symbole it may dwell In her sonnes flesh to minde reuengement And be for all chast Dames an endlesse moniment He hearkned to his reason and the childe Vptaking to the Palmer gaue to beare But his sad fathers armes with blond defilde An heauie load himselfe did lightly reare And turning to that place in which whyleare He left his loftie steed with golden sell And goodly gorgeous barbes him found not theare By other accident that earst befell He is conuaide but how or where here fits not tell Which when Sir Guyon saw all were he wroth Yet algates mote he soft himselfe appease And fairely fare on foot how euer loth His double burden did him sore disease So long they traueiled with litle ease Till that at last they to a Castle came Built on a rocke adioyning to the seas It was an auncient worke of antique fame And wondrous strong by nature and by skilfull frame Therein three sisters dwelt of sundry sort The children of one sire by mothers three Who dying whylome did diuide this fort To them by equall shares in equall fee But strifull minde and diuerse qualitee Drew them in parts and each made others foe Still did they striue and dayly disagree The eldest did against the youngest goe And both against the middest meant to worken woe Where when the knight arriu'd he was right well Receiu'd as knight of so much worth became Of second sister who did far excell The other two Medina was her name A sober sad and comely curteous Dame Who rich arayd and yet in modest guize In goodly garments that her well became Faire marching forth in honorable wize Him at the threshold met and well did enterprize She led him vp into a goodly bowre And comely courted with meet modestie Ne in her speach ne in her hauiour Was lightnesse seene or looser vanitie But gratious womanhood and grauitie Aboue the reason of her youthly yeares Her golden lockes she roundly did vptye In breaded tramels that no looser heares Did out of order stray about her daintie eares Whilest she her selfe thus busily did frame Seemely to entertaine her new-come guest Newes hereof to her other sisters came Who all this while were at their wanton rest Accourting each her friend with lauish fest They were two knights of perelesse puissance And famous far abroad for warlike gest Which to these Ladies loue did countenaunce And to his mistresse each himselfe stroue to aduaunce He that made loue vnto the eldest Dame Was hight Sir Huddibras an hardy man Yet not so good of deedes as great of name Which he by many rash aduentures wan Since errant armes to sew he first began More huge in strength then wise in workes he was And reason with foole-hardize ouer ran Sterne melancholy did his courage pas And was for terrour more all armd in shyning bras But he that lou'd the youngest was Sans-loy He that faire Vna late fowle outraged The most vnruly and the boldest boy That euer warlike weapons menaged And to all lawlesse lust encouraged Through strong opinion of his matchlesse might Ne ought he car'd whom he endamaged By tortious wrong or whom bereau'd of right He now this Ladies champion
did fade What is become of great Acrates sonne Or where hath he hong vp his mortall blade That hath so many haughtie conquests wonne Is all his force forlorne and all his glory donne Then pricking him with his sharpe-pointed dart He said vp vp thou womanish weake knight That here in Ladies lap entombed art Vnmindfull of thy praise and prowest might And weetlesse eke of lately wrought despight Whiles sad Pyrrhochles lies on senselesse ground And groneth out his vtmost grudging spright Through many a stroke many a streaming wound Calling thy helpe in vaine that here in ioyes art dround Suddeinly out of his delightfull dreame The man awoke and would haue questiond more But he would not endure that wofull theame For to dilate at large but vrged sore With percing words and pittifull implore Him hastie to arise As one affright With hellish feends or Furies mad vprore He then vprose inflam'd with fell despight And called for his armes for he would algates fight They bene ybrought he quickly does him dight And lightly mounted passeth on his way Ne Ladies loues ne sweete entreaties might Appease his heat or hastie passage stay For he has vowd to beene aueng'd that day That day it selfe him seemed all too long On him that did Pyrrhochles deare dismay So proudly pricketh on his courser strong And Atin aie him pricks with spurs of shame wrong Cant. VI. Guyon is of immodest Merth led into loose desire Fights with Cymochles whiles his brother burnes infurious fire A Harder lesson to learne Continence In ioyous pleasure then in grieuous paine For sweetnesse doth allure the weaker sence So strongly that vneathes it can refraine From that which feeble nature couets faine But griefe and wrath that be her enemies And foes of life she better can restraine Yet vertue vauntes in both their victories And Guyon in them all shewes goodly maisteries Whom bold Cymochles trauelling to find With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him The wrath which Atin kindled in his mind Came to a riuer by whose vtmost brim Wayting to passe he saw whereas did swim A long the shore as swift as glaunce of eye A litle Gondelay bedecked trim With boughes and arbours wouen cunningly That like a litle forrest seemed outwardly And therein sate a Ladie fresh and faire Making sweet solace to her selfe alone Sometimes she sung as loud as larke in aire Sometimes she laught that nigh her breth was gone Yet was there not with her else any one That might to her moue cause of meriment Matter of merth enough though there were none She could deuise and thousand waies inuent To feede her foolish humour and vaine iolliment Which when farre off Cymochles heard and saw He loudly cald to such as were a bord The little barke vnto the shore to draw And him to ferrie ouer that deepe ford The merry marriner vnto his word Soone hearkned and her painted bote streightway Turnd to the shore where that same warlike Lord She in receiu'd but Atin by no way She would admit albe the knight her much did pray Eftsoones her shallow ship away did slide More swift then swallow sheres the liquid skie Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide Or winged canuas with the wind to flie Only she turn'd a pin and by and by It cut away vpon the yielding waue Ne cared she her course for to apply For it was taught the way which she would haue And both from rocks and flats it selfe could wisely saue And all the way the wanton Damzell found New merth her passenger to entertaine For she in pleasant purpose did abound And greatly ioyed merry tales to faine Of which a store-house did with her remaine Yet seemed nothing well they her became For all her words she drownd with laughter vaine And wanted grace in vtt'ring of the same That turned all her pleasance to a scoffing game And other whiles vaine toyes she would deuize As her fantasticke wit did most delight Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize With gaudie girlonds or fresh flowrets dight About her necke or rings of rushes plight Sometimes to doe him laugh she would assay To laugh at shaking of the leaues light Or to behold the water worke and play About her litle frigot therein making way Her light behauiour and loose dalliaunce Gaue wondrous great contentment to the knight That of his way he had no souenaunce Nor care of vow'd reuenge and cruell fight But to weake wench did yeeld his martiall might So easie was to quench his flamed mind With one sweet drop of sensuall delight So easie is t' appease the stormie wind Of malice in the calme of pleasant womankind Diuerse discourses in their way they spent Mongst which Cymochles of her questioned Both what she was and what that vsage ment Which in her cot she daily practised Vaine man said she that wouldest be reckoned A straunger in thy home and ignoraunt Of Phaedria for so my name is red Of Phaedria thine owne fellow seruaunt For thou to serue Acrasia thy selfe doest vaunt In this wide Inland sea that hight by name The Idle lake my wandring ship I row That knowes her port and thither sailes by ayme Ne care ne feare I how the wind do blow Or whether swift I wend or whether slow Both slow and swift a like do serue my tourne Ne swelling Neptune ne loud thundring Ioue Can chaunge my cheare or make me euer mourne My litle boat can safely passe this perilous bourne Whiles thus she talked and whiles thus she toyd They were farre past the passage which he spake And come vnto an Island waste and voyd That floted in the midst of that great lake There her small Gondelay her port did make And that gay paire issuing on the shore Disburdued her Their way they forward take Into the land that lay them faire before Whose pleasaunce she him shew'd and plentifull great store It was a chosen plot of fertile land Emongst wide waues set like a litle nest As if it had by Natures cunning hand Bene choisely picked out from all the rest And laid forth for ensample of the best No daintie flowre or herbe that growes on ground No arboret with painted blossomes drest And smelling sweet but there it might be found To bud out faire and her sweet smels throw all around No tree whose braunches did not brauely spring No braunch whereon a fine bird did not sit No bird but did her shrill notes sweetly sing No song but did containe a louely dit Trees braunches birds and songs were framed fit For to allure fraile mind to carelesse ease Carelesse the man soone woxe and his weake wit Was ouercome of thing that did him please So pleased did his wrathfull purpose faire appease Thus when she had his eyes and senses fed With false delights and fild with pleasures vaine Into a shadie dale she soft him led And laid him downe vpon a grassie plaine And her sweet selfe without dread or disdaine She set
Cookes accoyld With hookes and ladles as need did require The whiles the viandes in the vessell boyld They did about their businesse sweat and sorely toyld The maister Cooke was cald Concoction A carefull man and full of comely guise The kitchin Clerke that hight Digestion Did order all th'Achates in seemely wise And set them forth as well he could deuise The rest had seuerall offices assind Some to remoue the scum as it did rise Others to beare the same away did mind And others it to vse according to his kind But all the liquour which was fowle and wast Not good nor seruiceable else for ought They in another great round vessell plast Till by a conduit pipe it thence were brought And all the rest that noyous was and nought By secret wayes that none might it espy Was close conuaid and to the back-gate brought That cleped was Port Esquiline whereby It was auoided quite and throwne out priuily Which goodly order and great workmans skill When as those knights beheld with rare delight And gazing wonder they their minds did fill For neuer had they seene so straunge a sight Thence backe againe faire Alma led them right And soone into a goodly Parlour brought That was with royall arras richly dight In which was nothing pourtrahed nor wrought Not wrought nor pourtrahed but easie to be thought And in the midst thereof vpon the floure A louely beuy of faire Ladies sate Courted of many a iolly Paramoure The which them did in modest wise amate And each one sought his Lady to aggrate And eke emongst them litle Cupid playd His wanton sports being returned late From his fierce warres and hauing from him layd His cruell bow wherewith he thousands hath dismayd Diuerse delights they found them selues to please Some song in sweet consort some laught for ioy Some plaid with strawes some idly sat at ease But other some could not abide to toy All pleasaunce was to them griefe and annoy This fround that faund the third for shame did blush Another seemed enuious or coy Another in her teeth did gnaw a rush But at these straungers presence euery one did hush Soone as the gracious Alma came in place They all attonce out of their seates arose And to her homage made with humble grace Whom when the knights beheld they gan dispose Themselues to court and each a Damsell chose The Prince by chaunce did on a Lady light That was right faire and fresh as morning rose But somwhat sad and solemne eke in sight As if some pensiue thought cōstraind her gentle spright In a long purple pall whose skirt with gold Was fretted all about she was arayd And in her hand a Poplar braunch did hold To whom the Prince in curteous manner said Gentle Madame why beene ye thus dismaid And your faire beautie do with sadnesse spill Liues any that you hath thus ill apaid Or doen your loue or doen you lacke your will What euer be the cause it sure beseemes you ill Faire Sir said she halfe in disdainefull wise How is it that this word in me ye blame And in your selfe do not the same aduise Him ill beseemes anothers fault to name That may vnwares be blotted with the same Pensiue I yeeld I am and sad in mind Through great desire of glory and of fame Ne ought I weene are ye therein behind That haue twelue moneths sought one yet no where can her find The Prince was inly moued at her speach Well weeting trew what she had rashly told Yet with faire samblaunt sought to hide the breach Which chaunge of colour did perforce vnfold Now seeming flaming whot now stony cold Tho turning soft aside he did inquire What wight she was that Poplar braunch did hold It answered was her name was Prays-desire That by well doing sought to honour to aspire The whiles the Faerie knight did entertaine Another Damsell of that gentle crew That was right faire and modest of demaine But that too oft she chaung'd her natiue hew Straunge was her tyre and all her garment blew Close round about her tuckt with many a plight Vpon her fist the bird which shonneth vew And keepes in couerts close from liuing wight Did sit as yet ashamd how rude Pan did her dight So long as Guyon with her commoned Vnto the ground she cast her modest eye And euer and anone with rosie red The bashfull bloud her snowy cheekes did dye That her became as polisht yuory Which cunning Craftesman hand hath ouerlayd With faire vermilion or pure lastery Great wonder had the knight to see the mayd So straungely passioned and to her gently sayd Faire Damzell seemeth by your troubled cheare That either me too bold ye weene this wise You to molest or other ill to feare That in the secret of your hart close lyes From whence it doth as cloud from sea arise If it be I of pardon I you pray But if ought else that I mote not deuise I will if please you it discure assay To ease you of that ill so wisely as I may She answerd nought but more abasht for shame Held downe her head the whiles her louely face The flashing bloud with blushing did inflame And the strong passion mard her modest grace That Guyon meruayld at her vncouth cace Till Alma him bespake why wonder yee Faire Sir at that which ye so much embrace She is the fountaine of your modestee You shamefast are but Shamefastnesse it selfe is shee Thereat the Elfe did blush in priuitee And turnd his face away but she the same Dissembled faire and faynd to ouersee Thus they awhile with court and goodly game Themselues did solace each one with his Dame Till that great Ladie thence away them sought To vew her castles other wondrous frame Vp to a stately Turret she them brought Ascending by ten steps of Alablaster wrought That Turrets frame most admirable was Like highest heauen compassed around And lifted high aboue this earthly masse Which it suruew'd as hils doen lower ground But not on Ground mote like to this be found Not that which antique Cadmus whylome built In Thebes which Alexander did confound Nor that proud towre of Troy though richly guilt From which young Hectors bloud by cruell Greekes was spilt The roofe hereof was arched ouer head And deckt with flowers and herbars daintily Two goodly Beacons set in watches stead Therein gaue light and flam'd continually For they of liuing fire most subtilly Were made and set in siluer sockets bright Couer'd with lids deuiz'd of substance sly That readily they shut and open might O who can tell the prayses of that makers might Ne can I tell ne can I stay to tell This parts great workmanship wondrous powre That all this other worlds worke doth excell And likest is vnto that heauenly towre That God hath built for his owne blessed bowre Therein were diuerse roomes and diuerse stages But three the chiefest and of greatest powre In which there dwelt three honorable sages The
swaynes which sat Keeping their fleecie flockes as they were hyred She sweetly heard complaine both how and what Her sonne had to them doen yet she did smile thereat But when in none of all these she him got She gan auize where else he mote him hyde At last she her bethought that she had not Yet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde In which full many louely Nymphes abyde Mongst whom might be that he did closely lye Or that the loue of some of them him tyde For thy she thither cast her course t' apply To search the secret haunts of Dianes company Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came Whereas she found the Goddesse with her crew After late chace of their embrewed game Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew Some of them washing with the liquid dew From off their dainty limbes the dustie sweat And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew Others lay shaded from the scorching heat The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great She hauing hong vpon a bough on high Her bow and painted quiuer had vnlaste Her siluer buskins from her nimble thigh And her lancke loynes vngirt and brests vnbraste After her heat the breathing cold to taste Her golden lockes that late in tresses bright Embreaded were for hindring of her haste Now loose about her shoulders hong vndight And were with sweet Ambrosia all be sprinckled light Soone as she Venus saw behind her backe She was asham'd to be so loose surprized And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels flacke That had nother thereof before auized But suffred her so carelesly disguized Be ouertaken Soone her garments loose Vpgath'ring in her bosome she comprized Well as she might and to the Goddesse rose Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose Goodly she gan faire Cytherea greet And shortly asked her what cause her brought Into that wildernesse for her vnmeet From her sweete bowres and beds with pleasures fraught That suddein change she strange aduenture thought To whom halfe weeping she thus answered That she her dearest sonne Cupido sought Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled That she repented sore to haue him angered Thereat Diana gan to smile in scorne Of her vaine plaint and to her scoffing sayd Great pittie sure that ye be so forlorne Of your gay sonne that giues ye so good ayd To your disports ill mote ye bene apayd But she was more engrieued and replide Faire sister ill beseemes it to vpbrayd A dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride The like that mine may be your paine another tide As you in woods and wanton wildernesse Your glory set to chace the saluage beasts So my delight is all in ioyfulnesse In beds in bowres in banckets and in feasts And ill becomes you with your loftie creasts To scorne the ioy that Ioue is glad to seeke We both are bound to follow heauens beheasts And tend our charges with obeisance meeke Spare gentle sister with reproch my paine to eeke And tell me if that ye my sonne haue heard To lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize Or keepe their cabins much I am affeard Least he like one of them him selfe disguize And turne his arrowes to their exercize So may he long himselfe full easie hide For he is faire and fresh in face and guize As any Nymph let not it be enuyde So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde But Phoebe therewith sore was angered And sharply said Goe Dame goe seeke your boy Where you him lately left in Mars his bed He comes not here we scorne his foolish ioy Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy But if I catch him in this company By Stygian lake I vow whose sad annoy The Gods doe dread he dearely shall abye I le clip his wanton wings that he no more shall fly Whom when as Venus saw so sore displeased She inly sory was and gan relent What she had said so her she soone appeased With sugred words and gentle blandishment From which a fountaine from her sweet lips went And welled goodly forth that in short space She was well pleasd and forth her damzels sent Through all the woods to search from place to place If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace To search the God of loue her Nymphes she sent Throughout the wandring forrest euery where And after them her selfe eke with her went To seeke the fugitiue both farre and nere So long they sought till they arriued were In that same shadie couert whereas lay Faire Crysogone in slombry traunce whilere Who in her sleepe a wondrous thing to say Vnwares had borne two babes as faire as springing day Vnwares she them conceiu'd vnwares she bore She bore withouten paine that she conceiued Withouten pleasure ne her need implore Lucinaes aide which when they both perceiued They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued And gazing each on other nought bespake At last they both agreed her seeming grieued Out of her heauy swowne not to awake But from her louing side the tender babes to take Vp they them tooke each one a babe vptooke And with them carried to be fostered Dame Phoebe to a Nymph her babe betooke To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed And of her selfe her name Belphoebe red But Venus hers hence farre away conuayd To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed And in her litle loues stead which was strayd Her Amoretta cald to comfort her dismayd She brought her to her ioyous Paradize Where most she wonnes whē she on earth does dwel So faire a place as Nature can deuize Whether in Paphos or Cytheron hill Or it in Gnidus be I wote not well But well I wote by tryall that this same All other pleasant places doth excell And called is by her lost louers name The Gardin of Adonis farre renowmd by fame In that same Gardin all the goodly flowres Wherewith dame Nature doth her beautifie And decks the girlonds of her paramoures Are fetcht there is the first seminarie Of all things that are borne to liue and die According to their kindes Long worke it were Here to account the endlesse pregenie Of all the weedes that bud and blossome there But so much as doth need must needs be counted here It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old And girt in with two walles on either side The one of yron the other of bright gold That none might thorough breake nor ouer-stride And double gates it had which opened wide By which both in and out men moten pas Th' one faire and fresh the other old and dride Old Genius the porter of them was Old Genius the which a double nature has He letteth in he letteth out to wend All that to come into the world desire A thousand thousand naked babes attend About him day and night which doe require That he with fleshly weedes would them attire Such as him list such as eternall fate Ordained hath he clothes with sinfull mire And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state
his fained kindnesse did detest So firmely she had sealed vp her brest Sometimes he boasted that a God he hight But she a mortall creature loued best Then he would make himselfe a mortall wight But then she said she lou'd none but a Faerie knight Then like a Faerie knight himselfe he drest For euery shape on him he could endew Then like a king he was to her exprest And offred kingdomes vnto her in vew To be his Leman and his Ladie trew But when all this he nothing saw preuaile With harder meanes he cast her to subdew And with sharpe threates her often did assaile So thinking for to make her stubborne courage quaile To dreadfull shapes he did himselfe transforme Now like a Gyant now like to a feend Then like a Centaure then like to a storme Raging within the waues thereby he weend Her will to win vnto his wished end But when with feare nor fauour nor with all He else could doe he saw himselfe esteemd Downe in a Dongeon deepe he let her fall And threatned there to make her his eternall thrall Eternall thraldome was to her more liefe Then losse of chastitie or chaunge of loue Die had she rather in tormenting griefe Then any should of falsenesse her reproue Or loosenesse that she lightly did remoue Most vertuous virgin glory be thy meed And crowne of heauenly praise with Saints aboue Where most sweet hymmes of this thy famous deed Are still emongst them song that far my rymes exceed Fit song of Angels caroled to bee But yet what so my feeble Muse can frame Shall be t' aduance thy goodly chastitee And to enroll thy memorable name In th' heart of euery honourable Dame That they thy vertuous deedes may imitate And be partakers of thy endlesse fame It yrkes me leaue thee in this wofull state To tell of Satyrane where I him left of late Who hauing ended with that Squire of Dames A long discourse of his aduentures vaine The which himselfe then Ladies more defames And finding not th' Hyena to be slaine With that same Squire returned backe againe To his first way And as they forward went They spyde a knight faire pricking on the plaine As if he were on some aduenture bent And in his port appeared manly hardiment Sir Satyrane him towards did addresse To weet what wight he was and what his quest And comming nigh eftsoones he gan to gesse Both by the burning hart which on his brest He bare and by the colours in his crest That Paridell it was Tho to him yode And him saluting as beseemed best Gan first inquire of tydings farre abrode And afterwardes on what aduenture now he rode Who thereto answering said The tydings bad Which now in Faerie court all men do tell Which turned hath great mirth to mourning sad Is the late ruine of proud Marinell And suddein parture of faire Florimell To find him forth and after her are gone All the braue knights that doen in armes excell To sauegard her ywandred all alone Emongst the rest my lot vnworthy is to be one Ah gentle knight said then Sir Satyrane Thy labour all is lost I greatly dread That hast a thanklesse seruice on thee ta'ne And offrest sacrifice vnto the dead For dead I surely doubt thou maist aread Henceforth for euer Florimell to be That all the noble knights of Maydenhead Which her ador'd may sore repent with me And all faire Ladies may for euer sory be Which words when Paridell had heard his hew Gan greatly chaunge and seem'd dismayd to bee Then said Faire Sir how may I weene it trew That ye doe tell in such vncertaintee Or speake ye of report or did ye see Iust cause of dread that makes ye doubt so sore For perdie else how mote it euer bee That euer hand should dare for to engore Her noble bloud the heauens such crueltie abhore These eyes did see that they will euer rew T' haue seene quoth he when as a monstrous beast The Palfrey whereon she did trauell slew And of his bowels made his bloudie feast Which speaking token sheweth at the least Her certaine losse if not her sure decay Besides that more suspition encreast I found her golden girdle cast astray Distaynd with durt and bloud as relique of the pray Aye me said Paridell the signes be sad And but God turne the same to good soothsay That Ladies safetie is sore to be drad Yet will I not forsake my forward way Till triall doe more certaine truth bewray Faire Sir quoth he well may it you succeed Ne long shall Satyrane behind you stay But to the rest which in this Quest proceed My labour adde and be partaker of their speed Ye noble knights said then the Squire of Dames Well may ye speed in so praiseworthy paine But sith the Sunne now ginnes to slake his beames In deawy vapours of the westerne maine And lose the teme out of his weary waine More not mislike you also to abate Your zealous hast till morrow next againe Both light of heauen and strength of men relate Which if ye please to yonder castle turne your gate That counsell pleased well so all yfere Forth marched to a Castle them before â—here soone arriuing they restrained were Of readie entrance which ought euermore To errant knights be commun wondrous sore Thereat displeasd they were till that young Squire Gan them informe the cause why that same dore Was shut to all which lodging did desire The which to let you weet will further time require Cant. IX Malbecco will no straunge knights host For pecuish gealosie Paridell giusts with Britomart Both shew their auncestrie REdoubted knights and honorable Dames To whom I leuell all my labours end Right sore I feare least with vnworthy blames This odious argument my rimes should shend Or ought your goodly patience offend Whiles of a wanton Lady I do write Which with her loose incontinence doth blend The shyning glory of your soueraigne light And knighthood fowle defaced by a faithlesse knight But neuer let th'ensample of the bad Offend the good for good by paragone Of euill may more notably be rad As white seemes fairer macht with blacke attone Ne all are shamed by the fault of one For lo in heauen whereas all goodnesse is Emongst the Angels a whole legione Of wicked Sprights did fall from happy blis What wonder then if one of women all did mis Then listen Lordings if ye list to weet The cause why Satyrane and Paridell Mote not be entertaynd as seemed meet Into that Castle as that Squire does tell Therein a cancred crabbed Carle does dwell That has no skill of Court nor courtesie Ne cares what men say of him ill or well For all his dayes he drownes in priuitie Yet has full large to liue and spend at libertie But all his mind is set on mucky pelfe To hoord vp heapes of euill gotten masse For which he others wrongs and wreckes himselfe Yet is he lincked to a louely lasse Whose
to despaire did turne Misdeeming sure that her those flames did burne And therefore gan aduize with her old Squire Who her deare nourslings losse no lesse did mourne Thence to depart for further aide t' enquire Where let them wend at will whilest here I doe respire A Vision vpon this conceipt of the Faery Queene ME thought I saw the graue where Laura lay Within that Temple where the vestall flame Was wont to burne and passing by that way To see that buried dust of liuing fame Whose tombe faire loue and fairer vertue kept All suddenly I saw the Faery Queene At whose approch the soule of Petrarke wept And from thenceforth those graces were not seene For they this Queene attended in whose steed Obliuion laid him downe on Lauras herse Hereat the hardest stones were seene to bleed And grones of buried ghostes the heauens did perse Where Homers spright did tremble all for griefe And curst th' accesse of that celestiall theife Another of the same THe prayse of meaner wits this worke like profit brings As doth the Cuckoes song delight when Philumena sings If thou hast formed right true vertues face herein Vertue her selfe can best discerne to whom they written bin If thou hast beautie praysd let her sole lookes diuine Iudge if ought therein be amis and mend it by her eine If Chastitie want ought or Temperance her dew Behold her Princely mind aright and write thy Queene anew Meane while she shall perceiue how farre her vertues sore Aboue the reach of all that liue or such as wrote of yore And thereby will excuse and fauour thy good will Whose vertue can not be exprest but by an Angels quill Of me no lines are lou'd nor letters are of price Of all which speake our English tongue but those of thy deuice W.R. To the learned Shepheard COllyn I see by thy new taken taske some sacred fury hath enricht thy braynes That leades thy muse in haughtie verse to maske and loath the layes that longs to lowly swaynes That lifts thy notes from Shepheardes vnto kings So like the liuely Larke that mounting sings Thy louely Rosolinde seemes now forlorne and all thy gentle flockes forgotten quight Thy chaunged hart now holdes thy pypes in scorne those prety pypes that did thy mates delight Those trustie mates that loued thee so well VVhom thou gau'st mirth as they gaue thee the bell Yet as thou earst with thy sweet roundelayes didst stirre to glee our laddes in homely bowers So moughtst thou now in these refyned layes delight the dainty eares of higher powers And so mought they in their deepe skanning skill Alow and grace our Collyns flowing quill And fare befall that Faerie Queene of thine in whose faire eyes loue linckt with vertue sits Enfusing by those bewties fiers deuine Such high conceites into thy humble wits As raised hath poore pastors oaten reede From rusticke tunes to chaunt heroique deedes So mought thy Redcrosse knight with happy hand victorious be in that faire Hands right VVhich thou doest vaile in Type of Faery land Elyzas blessed field that Albion hight That shieldes her friends and warres her mightie foes Yet still with people peace and plentie flowes But iolly Shepheard though with pleasing style thou feast the humour of the Courtly traine Let not conceipt thy setled sence beguile ne daunted be through enuy or disdaine Subiect thy dome to her Empyring spright From whence thy Muse and all the world takes light Hobynoll THE SECOND PART OF THE FAERIE QVEENE Containing THE FOVRTH FIFTH AND SIXTH BOOKES By Ed. Spenser ANCHORA SPEI Imprinted at London for VVilliam Ponsonby 1596. THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE Containing The Legend of CAMBEL and TELAMOND OR OF FRIENDSHIP THe rugged forhead that with graue foresight Welds kingdomes causes affaires of state My looser rimes I wote doth sharply wite For praising loue as I haue done of late And magnifying louers deare debate By which fraile youth is oft to follie led Through false allurement of that pleasing baite That better were in vertues discipled Then with vaine poemes weeds to haue their fancies fed Such ones ill iudge of loue that cannot loue Ne in their frosen hearts feele kindly flame For thy they ought not thing vnknowne reproue Ne naturall affection faultlesse blame For fault of few that haue abusd the same For it of honor and all vertue is The roote and brings forth glorious flowres of fame That crowne true louers with immortall blis The meed of them that loue and do not liue amisse Which who so list looke backe to former ages And call to count the things that then were donne Shall find that all the workes of those wise sages And braue exploits which great Heroes wonne In loue were either ended or begunne Witnesse the father of Philosophie Which to his Critias shaded oft from sunne Of loue full manie lessons did apply The which these Stoicke censours cannot well deny To such therefore I do not sing at all But to that sacred Saint my soueraigne Queene In whose chast breast all bountie naturall And treasures of true loue enlocked beene Boue all her sexe that euer yet was seene To her I sing of loue that loueth best And best is lou'd of all aliue I weene To her this song most fitly is addrest The Queene of loue Prince of peace frō heauen blest Which that she may the better deigne to heare Do thou dred infant Venus dearling doue From her high spirit chase imperious feare And vse of awfull Maiestie remoue In sted thereof with drops of melting loue Deawd with ambrosiall kisses by thee gotten From thy sweete smyling mother from aboue Sprinckle her heart and haughtie courage soften That she may hearke to loue and reade this lesson often Cant. I. Fayre Britomart saues Amoret Duessa discord breedes Twixt Scudamour and Blandamour Their fight and warlike deedes OF louers sad calamities of old Full many piteous stories doe remaine But none more piteous euer was ytold Then that of Amorets hart-binding chaine And this of Florimels vnworthie paine The deare compassion of whose bitter fit My softened heart so sorely doth constraine That I with teares full oft doe pittie it And oftentimes doe wish it neuer had bene writ For from the time that Scudamour her bought In perilous fight she neuer ioyed day A perilous fight when he with force her brought From twentie Knights that did him all assay Yet fairely well he did them all dismay And with great glorie both the shield of loue And eke the Ladie selfe he brought away Whom hauing wedded as did him behoue A new vnknowen mischiefe did from him remoue For that same vile Enchauntour Busyran The very selfe same day that she was wedded Amidst the bridale feast whilest euery man Surcharg'd with wine were heedlesse and ill hedded All bent to mirth before the bride was bedded Brought in that mask of loue which late was showen And there the Ladie ill of friends bestedded By way of sport as oft
Paridel resynd Nathlesse he forth did march well as he might And made good semblance to his companie Dissembling his disease and euill plight Till that ere long they chaunced to espie Two other knights that towards them did ply With speedie course as bent to charge them new Whom when as Blandamour approching nie Perceiu'd to be such as they seemd in vew He was full wo and gan his former griefe renew For th' one of them he perfectly descride To be Sir Scudamour by that he bore The God of loue with wings displayed wide Whom mortally he hated euermore Both for his worth that all men did adore And eke because his loue he wonne by right Which when he thought it grieued him full sore That through the bruses of his former fight He now vnable was to wreake his old despight For thy he thus to Paridel bespake Faire Sir offriendship let me now you pray That as I late aduentured for your sake The hurts whereof me now from battell stay Ye will me now with like good turne repay And iustifie my cause on yonder knight Ah Sir said Paridel do not dismay Your selfe for this my selfe will for you fight As ye haue done for me the left hand rubs the right With that he put his spurres vnto his steed With speare in rest and toward him did fare Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed But Scudamour was shortly well aware Of his approch and gan him selfe prepare Him to receiue with entertainment meete So furiously they met that either bare The other downe vnder their horses feete That what of them became themselues did scarsly weete As when two billowes in the Irish sowndes Forcibly driuen with contrarie tydes Do meete together each abacke rebowndes With roaring rage and dashing on all sides That filleth all the sea with some diuydes The doubtfull current into diuers wayes So fell those two in spight of both their prydes But Scudamour himselfe did soone vprayse And mounting light his foe for lying long vpbrayes Who rolled on an heape lay still in swound All carelesse of his taunt and bitter rayle Till that the rest him seeing lie on ground Ran hastily to weete what did him ayle Where finding that the breath gan him to fayle With busie care they stroue him to awake And doft his helmet and vndid his mayle So much they did that at the last they brake His slomber yet so mazed that he nothing spake Which when as Blandamour beheld he sayd False faitour Scudamour that hast by slight And foule aduantage this good Knight dismayd A Knight much better then thy selfe behight Well falles it thee that I am not in plight This day to wreake the dammage by thee donne Such is thy wont that still when any Knight Is weakned then thou doest him ouerronne So hast thou to thy selfe false honour often wonne He little answer'd but in manly heart His mightie indignation did forbeare Which was not yet so secret but some part Thereof did in his frouning face appeare Like as a gloomie cloud the which doth beare An hideous storme is by the Northerne blast Quite ouerblowne yet doth not passe so cleare But that it all the skie doth ouercast With darknes dred and threatens all the world to wast Ah gentle knight then false Duessa sayd Why do ye striue for Ladies loue so sore Whose chiefe desire is loue and friendly aid Mongst gentle Knights to nourish euermore Ne be ye wroth Sir Scudamour therefore That she your loue list loue another knight Ne do your selfe dislike a whit the more For Loue is free and led with selfe delight Ne will enforced be with maisterdome or might So false Duessa but vile Ate thus Both foolish knights I can but laugh at both That striue and storme with stirre outrageous For her that each of you alike doth loth And loues another with whom now she goth In louely wise and sleepes and sports and playes Whilest both you here with many a cursed oth Sweare she is yours and stirre vp bloudie frayes To win a willow bough whilest other weares the bayes Vile hag sayd Scudamour why dost thou lye And falsly seekst a vertuous wight to shame Fond knight sayd she the thing that with this eye I saw why should I doubt to tell the same Then tell quoth Blandamour and feare no blame Tell what thou saw'st maulgre who so it heares I saw quoth she a stranger knight whose name I wote not well but in his shield he beares That well I wote the heads of many broken speares I saw him haue your Amoret at will I saw him kisse I saw him her embrace I saw him sleepe with her all night his fill All manie nights and manie by in place That present were to testifie the case Which when as Scudamour did heare his heart Was thrild with inward griefe as when in chace The Parthian strikes a stag with shiuering dart The beast astonisht stands in middest of his smart So stood Sir Scudamour when this he heard Ne word he had to speake for great dismay But lookt on Glauce grim who woxe afeard Of outrage for the words which she heard say Albee vntrue she wist them by assay But Blandamour whenas he did espie His chaunge of cheere that anguish did bewray He woxe full blithe as he had got thereby And gan thereat to triumph without victorie Lo recreant sayd he the fruitlesse end Of thy vaine boast and spoile of loue misgotten Whereby the name of knight-hood thou dost shend And all true louers with dishonor blotten All things not rooted well will soone be rotten Fy fy false knight then false Duessa cryde Vnworthy life that loue with guile hast gotten Be thou where euer thou do go or ryde Loathed of ladies all and of all knights defyde But Scudamour for passing great despight Staid not to answer scarcely did refraine But that in all those knights and ladies sight He for reuenge had guiltlesse Glauce slaine But being past he thus began amaine False traitour squire false squire of falsest knight Why doth mine hand from thine auenge abstaine Whose Lord hath done my loue this soule despight Why do I not it wreake on thee now in my might Discourteous disloyall Britomart Vntrue to God and vnto man vniust What vengeance due can equall thy desart That hast with shamefull spot of sinfull lust Defil'd the pledge committed to thy trust Let vgly shame and endlesse infamy Colour thy name with foule reproaches rust Yet thou false Squire his fault shalt deare aby And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply The aged Dame him seeing so enraged Was dead with feare nathlesse as neede required His flaming furie sought to haue assuaged With sober words that sufferance desired Till time the tryall of her truth expyred And euermore sought Britomart to cleare But he the more with furious rage was fyred And thrise his hand to kill her did vpreare And thrise he drew it backe so did at last forbeare Cant. II.
As if their soules they would attonce haue rent Out of their brests that streames of bloud did rayle Adowne as if their springs of life were spent That all the ground with purple bloud was sprent And all their armours staynd with bloudie gore Yet scarcely once to breath would they relent So mortall was their malice and so sore Become of fayned friendship which they vow'd afore And that which is for Ladies most besitting To stint all strife and foster friendly peace Was from those Dames so farre and so vnfitting As that in stead of praying them surcease They did much more their cruelty encrease Bidding them fight for honour of their loue And rather die then Ladies cause release With which vaine termes so much they did thē moue That both resolu'd the last extremities to proue There they I weene would fight vntill this day Had not a Squire euen he the Squire of Dames By great aduenture trauelled that way Who seeing both bent to so bloudy games And both of old well knowing by their names Drew nigh to weete the cause of their debate And first laide on those Ladies thousand blames That did not fseke t' appease their deadly hate But gazed on their harmes not pittying their estate And then those Knights he humbly did beseech To stay their hands till he a while had spoken Who lookt a little vp at that his speech Yet would not let their battell so be broken Both greedie fiers on other to be wroken Yet he to them so earnestly did call And them coniur'd by some well knowen token That they at last their wrothfull hands let fall Content to heare him speake and glad to rest withall First he desir'd their cause of strife to see They said it was for loue of Florimell Ah gentle knights quoth he how may that bee And she so farre astray as none can tell Fond Squire full angry then sayd Paridell Seest not the Ladie there before thy face He looked backe and her aduizing well Weend as he said by that her outward grace That fayrest Florimell was present there in place Glad man was he to see that ioyous sight For none aliue but ioy'd in Florimell And lowly to her lowting thus behight Fayrest of faire that fairenesse doest excell This happie day I haue to greete you well In which you safe I see whom thousand late Misdoubted lost through mischiefe that befell Long may you liue in health and happie state She litle answer'd him but lightly did aggrate Then turning to those Knights he gan a new And you Sir Blandamour and Paridell That for this Ladie present in your vew Haue rays'd this cruell warre and outrage fell Certes me seemes bene not aduised well But rather ought in friendship for her sake To ioyne your force their forces to repell That seeke perforce her from you both to take And of your gotten spoyle their owne triumph to make Thereat Sir Blandamour with countenance sterne All full of wrath thus fiercely him bespake A read thou Squire that I the man may learne That dare fro me thinke Florimell to take Not one quoth he but many doe partake Herein as thus It lately so befell That Satyran a girdle did vptake Well knowne to appertaine to Florimell Which for her sake he wore as him beseemed well But when as she her selfe was lost and gone Full many knights that loued her like deare Thereat did greatly grudge that he alone That lost faire Ladies ornament should weare And gan therefore close spight to him to beare Which he to shun and stop vile enuies sting Hath lately caus'd to be proclaim'd each where A solemne feast with publike turneying To which all knights with them their Ladies are to bring And of them all she that is fayrest found Shall haue that golden girdle for reward And of those Knights who is most stout on ground Shall to that fairest Ladie be prefard Since therefore she her selfe is now your ward To you that ornament of hers pertaines Against all those that chalenge it to gard And saue her honour with your ventrous paines That shall you win more glory then ye here find gaines When they the reason of his words had hard They gan abate the rancour of their rage And with their honours and their loues regard The furious flames of malice to asswage Tho each to other did his faith engage Like faithfull friends thenceforth to ioyne in one With all their force and battell strong to wage Gainst all those knights as their professed fone That chaleng'd ought in Florimell saue they alone So well accorded forth they rode together In friendly sort that lasted but a while And of all old dislikes they made faire weather Yet all was forg'd and spred with golden foyle That vnder it hidde hate and hollow guyle Ne certes can that friendship long endure How euer gay and goodly be the style That doth ill cause or euill end enure For vertue is the band that bindeth harts most sure Thus as they marched all in close disguise Of fayned loue they chaunst to ouertake Two knights that lincked rode in louely wise As if they secret counsels did partake And each not farre behinde him had his make To weete two Ladies of most goodly hew That twixt themselues did gentle purpose make Vnmindfull both of that discordfull crew The which with speedie pace did after them pursew Who as they now approched nigh at hand Deeming them doughtie as they did apeare They sent that Squire afore to vnderstand What mote they be who viewing them more neare Returned readie newes that those same weare Two of the prowest Knights in Faery lond And those two Ladies their two louers deare Couragious Cambell and stout Triamond With Canacee and Cambine linckt in louely bond Whylome as antique stories tellen vs Those two were foes the fellonest on ground And battell made the dreddest daungerous That euer shrilling trumpet did resound Though now their acts be no where to be found As that renowmed Poet them compyled With warlike numbers and Heroicke sound Dan Chaucer well of English vndefyled On Fames eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled But wicked Time that all good thoughts doth waste And workes of noblest wits to nought out weare That famous moniment hath quite defaste And robd the world of threasure endlesse deare The which mote haue enriched all vs heare O cursed Eld the cankerworme of writs How may these rimes so rude as doth appeare Hope to endure sith workes of heauenly wits Are quite deuourd and brought to nought by little bits Then pardon O most sacred happie spirit That I thy labours lost may thus reuiue And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit That none durst euer whilest thou wast aliue And being dead in vaine yet many striue Ne dare I like but through infusion sweete Of thine owne spirit which doth in me surviue I follow here the footing of thy feete That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete Cambelloes
course contained And all the world in state vnmoued stands As their Almightie maker first ordained And bound them with inuiolable bands Else would the waters ouerflow the lands And fire deuoure the ayre and hell them quight But that she holds them with her blessed hands She is the nourse of pleasure and delight And vnto Venus grace the gate doth open right By her I entring halfe dismayed was But she in gentle wise me entertayned And twixt her selfe and loue did let me pas But Hatred would my entrance haue restrayned And with his club me threatned to haue brayned Had not the Ladie with her powrefull speach Him from his wicked will vneath refrayned And th' other eke his malice did empeach Till I was throughly past the perill of his reach Into the inmost Temple thus I came Which fuming all with frankensence I found And odours rising from the altars flame Vpon an hundred marble pillors round The roose vp high was reared from the ground All deckt with crownes chaynes and girlands gay And thousand pretious gifts worth many a pound The which sad louers for their vowes did pay And all the ground was strow'd with flowres as fresh as may An hundred Altars round about were set All flaming with their sacrifices fire That with the steme thereof die Temple swet Which rould in clouds to heauen did aspire And in them bore true louers vowes entire And eke an hundred brasen caudrons bright To bath in ioy and amorous desire Euery of which was to a damzell hight For all the Priests were damzels in soft linnen dight Right in the midst the Goddesse selfe did stand Vpon an altar of some costly masse Whose substance was vneath to vnderstand For neither pretious stone nor durefull brasse Nor shining gold nor mouldring clay it was But much more rare and pretious to esteeme Pure in aspect and like to christall glasse Yet glasse was not if one did rightly deeme But being faire and brickle likest glasse did seeme But it in shape and beautie did excell All other Idoles which the heathen adore Farre passing that which by surpassing skill Phidias did make in Paphos Isle of yore With which that wretched Greeke that life forlore Did fall in loue yet this much fairer shined But couered with a slender veile afore And both her feete and legs together twyned Were with a snake whose head tail were fast cōbyned The cause why she was couered with a vele Was hard to know for that her Priests the same From peoples knowledge labour'd to concele But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame Nor any blemish which the worke mote blame But for they say she hath both kinds in one Both male and female both vnder one name She syre and mother is her selfe alone Begets and eke conceiues ne needeth other none And all about her necke and shoulders flew A flocke of litle loues and sports and ioyes With nimble wings of gold and purple hew Whose shapes seem'd not like to terrestriall boyes But like to Angels playing heauenly toyes The whilest their eldest brother was away Cupid their eldest brother he enioyes The wide kingdome of loue with Lordly sway And to his law compels all creatures to obay And all about her altar scattered lay Great sorts of louers piteously complayning Some of their losse some of their loues delay Some of their pride some paragons disdayning Some fearing fraud some fraudulently fayning As euery one had cause of good or ill Amongst the rest some one through loues constrayning Tormented sore could not containe it still But thus brake forth that all the temple it did fill Great Venus Queene of beautie and of grace The ioy of Gods and men that vnder skie Doest fayrest shine and most adorne thy place That with thy smyling looke doest pacifie The raging seas and makst the stormes to flie Thee goddesse thee the winds the clouds doe feare And when thou spredst thy mantle forth on hie The waters play and pleasant lands appeare And heauens laugh al the world shews ioyous cheare Then doth the daedale earth throw forth to thee Out of her fruitfull lap aboundant flowres And then all liuing wights soone as they see The spring breake forth out of his lusty bowres They all doe learne to play the Paramours First doe the merry birds thy prety pages Priuily pricked with thy lustfull powres Chirpe loud to thee out of their leauy cages And thee their mother call to coole their kindly rages Then doe the saluage beasts begin to play Their pleasant friskes and loath their wanted food The Lyons rore the Tygres loudly bray The raging Buls rebellow through the wood And breaking forth dare tempt the deepest flood To come where thou doest draw them with desire So all things else that nourish vitall blood Soone as with fury thou doest them inspire In generation seeke to quench their inward fire So all the world by thee at first was made And dayly yet thou doest the same repayre Ne ought on earth that merry is and glad Ne ought on earth that louely is and fayre But thou the same for pleasure didst prepayre Thou art the root of all that ioyous is Great God of men and women queene of th' ayre Mother of laughter and welspring of blisse O graunt that of my loue at last I may not misse So did he say but I with murmure soft That none might heare the sorrow of my hart Yet inly groning deepe and sighing oft Besought her to graunt ease vnto my smart And to my wound her gratious help impart Whilest thus I spake behold with happy eye I spyde where at the Idoles feet apart A beuie of fayre damzels close did lye Wayting when as the Antheme should be sung on hye The first of them did seeme of ryper yeares And grauer countenance then all the rest Yet all the rest were eke her equall peares Yet vnto her obayed all the best Her name was VVomanhood that she exprest By her sad semblant and demeanure wyse For stedfast still her eyes did fixed rest Ne rov'd at randon after gazers guyse Whose luring baytes oftimes doe heedlesse harts entyse And next to her sate goodly Shamefastnesse Ne euer durst her eyes from ground vpreare Ne euer once did looke vp from her desse As if some blame of euill she did feare That in her cheekes made roses oft appeare And her against sweet Cherefulnesse was placed Whose eyes like twinkling stars in euening cleare Were deckt with smyles that all sad humors chaced And darted forth delights the which her goodly graced And next to her sate sober Modestie Holding her hand vpon her gentle hart And her against sate comely Curtesie That vnto euery person knew her part And her before was seated ouerthwart Soft Silence and submisse Obedience Both linckt together neuer to dispart Both gifts of God not gotten but from thence Both girlonds of his Saints against their foes offence Thus sate they all a round in seemely rate And in
hee Bursting forth teares like springs out of a banke That euer I this dismall day did see Full farre was I from thinking such a pranke Yet litle losse it were and mickle thanke If I should graunt that I haue doen the same That I mote drinke the cup whereof she dranke But that I should die guiltie of the blame The which another did who now is fled with shame Who was it then sayd Artegall that wrought And why doe it declare vnto me trew A knight said he if knight he may be thought That did his hand in Ladies bloud embrew And for no cause but as I shall you shew This day as I in solace sate hereby With a fayre loue whose losse I now do rew There came this knight hauing in companie This lucklesse Ladie which now here doth headlesse lie He whether mine seem'd fayrer in his eye Or that he wexed weary of his owne Would change with me but I did it denye So did the Ladies both as may be knowne But he whose spirit was with pride vpblowne Would not so rest contented with his right But hauing from his courser her downe throwne Fro me rest mine away by lawlesse might And on his steed her set to beare her out of sight Which when his Ladie saw she follow'd fast And on him catching hold gan loud to crie Not so to leaue her nor away to cast But rather of his hand besought to die With that his sword he drew all wrathfully And at one stroke cropt off her head with scorne In that same place whereas it now doth lie So he my loue away with him hath borne And left me here both his mine owne loue to morne Aread sayd he which way then did he make And by what markes may he be knowne againe To hope quoth he him soone to ouertake That hence so long departed is but vaine But yet he pricked ouer yonder plaine And as I marked bore vpon his shield By which it's easie him to know againe A broken sword within a bloodie field Expressing well his nature which the same did wield No sooner sayd but streight he after sent His yron page who him pursew'd so light As that it seem'd aboue the ground he went For he was swift as swallow in her flight And strong as Eyon in his Lordly might It was not long before he ouertooke Sir Sanglier so cleeped was that Knight Whom at the first he ghessed by his looke And by the other markes which of his shield he tooke He bad him stay and backe with him retire Who full of scorne to be commaunded so The Lady to alight did est require Whilest he reformed that vnciuill so And streight at him with all his force did go Who mou'd no more therewith then when a rocke Is lightly stricken with some stones throw But to him leaping lent him such a knocke That on the ground he layd him like a sencelesse blocke But ere he could him selfe recure againe Him in his iron paw he seized had That when he wak't out of his warelesse paine He found him selfe vnwist so ill bestad That lim he could not wag Thence he him lad bound like a beast appointed to the stall The sight whereof the Lady sore adrad And fain'd to fly for feare of being thrall But he her quickly stayd and forst to wend withall When to the place they came where Artegall By that same carefull Squire did then abide He gently gan him to demaund of all That did betwixt him and that Squire betide Who with sterne countenance and indignant pride Did aunswer that of all he guiltlesse stood And his accuser thereuppon defide For neither he did shed that Ladies bloud Nor tooke away his loue but his owne proper good Well did the Squire perceiue him selfe too weake To aunswere his defiaunce in the field And rather chose his challenge off to breake Then to approue his right with speare and shield And rather guilty chose him selfe to yield But Artegall by signes perceiuing plaine That he it was not which that Lady kild But that strange Knight the fairer loue to gaine Did cast about by sleight the truth thereout to straine And sayd now sure this doubtfull causes right Can hardly but by Sacrament be tride Or else by ordele or by blooddy fight That ill perhaps mote fall to either side But if ye please that I your cause decide Perhaps I may all further quarrell end So ye will sweare my iudgement to abide Thereto they both did franckly condiscend And to his doome with listfull eares did both attend Sith then sayd he ye both the dead deny And both the liuing Lady claime your right Let both the dead and liuing equally Deuided be betwixt you here in sight And each of either take his share aright But looke who does dissent from this my read He for a twelue moneths day shall in despight Beare for his penaunce that same Ladies head To witnesse to the world that she by him is dead Well pleased with that doome was Sangliere And offred streight the Lady to be slaine But that same Squire to whom she was more dere When as he saw she should be cut in twaine Did yield she rather should with him remaine Aliue then to him selfe be shared dead And rather then his loue should suffer paine He chose with shame to beare that Ladies head True loue despiseth shame when life is cald in dread Whom when so willing Artegall perceaued Not so thou Squire he sayd but thine I deeme The liuing Lady which from thee he reaued For worthy thou of her doest rightly seeme And you Sir Knight that loue so light esteeme As that ye would for little leaue the same Take here your owne that doth you best beseeme And with it beare the burden of defame Your owne dead Ladies head to tell abrode your shame But Sangliere disdained much his doome And sternly gan repine at his beheast Ne would for ought obay as did become To beare that Ladies head before his breast Vntill that Talus had his pride represt And forced him maulgre it vp to reare Who when he saw it bootelesse to resist He tooke it vp and thence with him did beare As rated Spaniell takes his burden vp for feare Much did that Squire Sir Artegall adore For his great iustice held in high regard And as his Squire him offred euermore To serue for want of other meete reward And wend with him on his adueuture hard But he thereto would by no meanes consent But leauing him forth on his iourney far'd Ne wight with him but onely Talus went They two enough t' encounter an whole Regiment Cant. II. Artegall heares of Florimell Does with the Pagan fight Him slaies drownes Lady Momera Does race her castle quight NOught is more honorable to a knight Ne better doth beseeme braue cheualry Then to defend the feeble in their right And wrong redresse in such as wend awry Whilome those great Heroes got thereby Their greatest glory
most comely wize Who though desirous rather to rest mute Then termes to entertaine of common guize Yet rather then she kindnesse would despize She would her selfe displease so him requite Then gan the other further to deuize Of things abrode as next to hand did light And many things demaund to which she answer'd light For little lust had she to talke of ought Or ought to heare that mote delightfull bee Her minde was whole possessed of one thought That gaue none other place Which when as hee By outward signes as well he might did see He list no lenger to vse lothfull speach But her besought to take it well in gree Sith shady dampe had dimd the heauens reach To lodge with him that night vnles good cause empeach The Championesse now seeing night at dore Was glad to yeeld vnto his good request And with him went without gaine-saying more Not farre away but little wide by West His dwelling was to which he him addrest Where soone arriuing they receiued were In seemely wise as them beseemed best For he their host them goodly well did cheare And talk't of pleasant things the night away to weare Thus passing th' euening well till time of rest Then Britomart vnto a bowre was brought Where groomes awayted her to haue vndrest But she ne would vndressed be for ought Ne doffe her armes though he her much besought For she had vow'd she sayd not to forgo Those warlike weedes till she reuenge had wrought Of a late wrong vppon a mortall foe Which she would sure performe betide her wele or wo. Which when their Host perceiu'd right discontent In minde he grew for feare least by that art He should his purpose misse which close he ment Yet taking leaue of her he did depart There all that night remained Britomart Restlesse recomfortlesse with heart deepe grieued Not suffering the least twinckling sleepe to start Into her eye which th' heart mote haue relieued But if the least appear'd her eyes she streight reprieued Ye guilty eyes sayd she the which with guyle My heart at first betrayd will ye betray My life now to for which a little whyle Ye will not watch false watches wellaway I wote when ye did watch both night and day Vnto your losse and now needes will ye sleepe Now ye haue made my heart to wake alway Now will ye sleepe ah wake and rather weepe To thinke of your nights want that should yee waking keepe Thus did she watch and weare the weary night In waylfull plaints that none was to appease Now walking soft now sitting still vpright As sundry chaunge her seemed best to ease Ne lesse did Talus suffer sleepe to seaze His eye-lids sad but watcht continually Lying without her dore in great disease Like to a Spaniell wayting carefully Least any should betray his Lady treacherously What time the natiue Belman of the night The bird that warned Peter of his fall First rings his siluer Bell t' each sleepy wight That should their mindes vp to deuotion call She heard a wondrous noise below the hall All sodainely the bed where she should lie By a false trap was let adowne to fall Into a lower roome and by and by The lost was raysd againe that no man could it spie With sight whereof she was dismayd right sore Perceiuing well the treason which was ment Yet stirred not at all for doubt of more But kept her place with courage confident Wayting what would ensue of that euent It was not long before she heard the sound of armed men comming with close intent Towards her chamber at which dreadfull stound She quickly caught her sword shield about her bound With that there came vnto her chamber dore Two Knights all arm'd ready for to fight And after them full many other more A raskall rout with weapons rudely dight Whom soone as Talus spide by glims of night He started vp there where on ground he lay And in his hand his thresher ready keight They seeing that let driue at him streight way And round about him preace in riotous aray But soone as he began to lay about With his rude yron flaile they gan to flie Both armed Knights and eke vnarmed rout Yet Talus after them apace did plie Where euer in the darke he could them spie That here and there like scattred sheepe they lay Then backe returning where his Dame did lie He to her told the story of that fray And all that treason there intended did bewray Wherewith though wondrous wroth and inly burning To be auenged for so fowle a deede Yet being forst to abide the daies returning She there remain'd but with right wary heede Least any more such practise should proceede Now mote ye know that which to Britomart Vnknowen was whence all this did proceede And for what cause so great mischieuous smart Was ment to her that neuer euill ment in hart The goodman of this house was Dolon hight A man of subtill wit and wicked minde That whilome in his youth had bene a Knight And armes had borne but little good could finde And much lesse honour by that warlike kinde Of life for he was nothing valorous But with slie shiftes and wiles did vnderminde All noble Knights which were aduenturous And many brought to shame by treason treacherous He had three sonnes all three like fathers sonnes Like treacherous like full of fraud and guile Of all that on this earthly compasse wonnes The eldest of the which was slaine erewhile By Artegall through his owne guilty wile His name was Guizor whose vntimely fate For to auenge full many treasons vile His father Dolon had deuiz'd of late With these his wicked sons and shewd his cankred hate For sure he weend that this his present guest Was Artegall by many tokens plaine But chiefly by that yron page he ghest Which still was wont with Artegall remaine And therefore ment him surely to haue slaine But by Gods grace and her good heedinesse She was preserued from their traytrous traine Thus she all night wore out in watchfulnesse Ne suffred slothfull sleepe her eyelids to oppresse The morrow next so soone as dawning houre Discouered had the light to liuing eye She forth yssew'd out of her loathed bowre With full intent t' auenge that villany On that vilde man and all his family And comming down to seeke them where they wond Nor sire nor sonnes nor any could she spie Each rowme she sought but them all empty fond They all were fled for feare but whether nether kond She saw it vaine to make there lenger stay But tooke her steede and thereon mounting light Gan her addresse vnto her former way She had not rid the mountenance of a flight But that she saw there present in her sight Those two false brethren on that perillous Bridge On which Pollente with Artegall did fight Streight was the passage like a ploughed ridge That if two met the one mote needes fall ouer the lidge There they did thinke
vndertane to Gloriane But left his loue albe her strong request Faire Britomart in languor and vnrest And rode him selfe vppon his first intent Ne day nor night did euer idly rest Ne wight but onely Talus with him went The true guide of his way and vertuous gouernment So trauelling he chaunst far off to heed A Damzell flying on a palfrey fast Before two Knights that after her did speed With all their powre and her full fiercely chast In hope to haue her ouerhent at last Yet fled she fast and both them farre outwent Carried with wings of feare like fowle aghast With locks all loose and rayment all to rent And euer as she rode her eye was backeward bent Soone after these he saw another Knight That after those two former rode apace With speare in rest and prickt with all his might So ran they all as they had bene at bace They being chased that did others chase At length he saw the hindmost ouertake One of those two and force him turne his face How euer loth he were his way to slake Yet mote he algates now abide and answere make But th' other still pursu'd the fearefull Mayd Who still from him as fast away did flie Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd Till that at length she did before her spie Sir Artegall to whom she streight did hie With gladfull hast in hope of him to get Succour against her greedy enimy Who seeing her approch gan forward set To saue her from her feare and him from force to let But he like hound full greedy of his pray Being impatient of impediment Continu'd still his course and by the way Thought with his speare him quight haue ouerwent So both together ylike felly bent Like fiercely met But Artegall was stronger And better skild in Tilt and Turnament And bore him quite out of his saddle longer Then two speares length So mischiefe ouermatcht the wronger And in his fall misfortune hm mistooke For on his head vnhappily he pight That his owne waight his necke asunder broke And left there dead Meane while the other Knight Defeated had the other faytour quight And all his bowels in his body brast Whom leauing there in that dispiteous plight He ran still on thinking to follow fast His other fellow Pagan which before him past In stead of whom finding there ready prest Sir Artegall without discretion He at him ran with ready speare in rest Who seeing him come still so fiercely on Against him made againe So both anon Together met and strongly either strooke And broke their speares yet neither has forgon His horses backe yet to and fro long shooke And tottred like two towres which through a tempest quooke But when againe they had recouered sence They drew their swords in mind to make amends For what their speares had fayld of their pretence Which when the Damzell who those deadly ends Of both her foes had seene and now her frends For her beginning a more fearefull fray She to them runnes in hast and her haire rends Crying to them their cruell hands to stay Vntill they both doe heare what she to them will say They stayd their hands when she thus gan to speake Ah gentle Knights what meane ye thus vnwise Vpon your selues anothers wrong to wreake I am the wrong'd whom ye did enterprise Both to redresse and both redrest likewise Witnesse the Paynims both whom ye may see There dead on ground What doe ye then deuise Of more reuenge if more then I am shee Which was the roote of all end your reuenge on mee Whom when they heard so say they lookt about To weete if it were true as she had told Where when they saw their foes dead out of doubt Eftsoones they gan their wrothfull hands to hold And Ventailes reare each other to behold Tho when as Artegall did Arthure vew So faire a creature and so wondrous bold He much admired both his heart and hew And touched with intire affection nigh him drew Saying sir Knight of pardon I you pray That all vnweeting haue you wrong'd thus sore Suffring my hand against my heart to stray Which if ye please forgiue I will therefore Yeeld for amends my selfe yours euermore Or what so penaunce shall by you be red To whom the Prince Certes me needeth more To craue the same whom errour so misled As that I did mistake the liuing for the ded But sith ye please that both our blames shall die Amends may for the trespasse soone be made Since neither is endamadg'd much thereby So can they both them selues full eath perswade To faire accordaunce and both faults to shade Either embracing other louingly And swearing faith to either on his blade Neuer thenceforth to nourish enmity But either others cause to maintaine mutually Then Artegall gan of the Prince enquire What were those knights which there on groūd were layd And had receiu'd their follies worthy hire And for what cause they chased so that Mayd Certes I wote not well the Prince then sayd But by aduenture found them faring so As by the way vnweetingly I strayd And lo the Damzell selfe whence all did grow Of whom we may at will the whole occasion know Then they that Damzell called to then nie And asked her what were those two her fone From whom she earst so fast away did flie And what was she her selfe so woe begone And for what cause pursu'd of them attone To whom she thus Then wote ye well that I Doe serue a Queene that not far hence doth wone A Princesse of great powre and maiestie Famous through all the world and honor'd far and nie Her name Mercilla most men vse to call That is a mayden Queene of high renowne For her great bounty knowen ouer all And soueraine grace with which her royall crowne She doth support and strongly beateth downe The malice of her foes which her enuy And at her happinesse do fret and frowne Yet she her selfe the more doth magnify And euen to her foes her mercies multiply Mongst many which maligne her happy state There is a mighty man which wonnes here by That with most fell despight and deadly hate Seekes to subuert her Crowne and dignity And all his powre doth thereunto apply And her good Knights of which so braue a band Serues her as any Princesse vnder sky He either spoiles if they against him stand Or to his part allures and bribeth vnder hand Ne him sufficeth all the wrong and ill Which he vnto her people does each day But that he seekes by traytrous traines to spill Her person and her sacred selfe to slay That ô ye heauens defend and turne away From her vnto the miscreant him selfe That neither hath religion nor fay But makes his God of his vngodly pelfe And Idols serues so let his Idols serue the Elfe To all which cruell tyranny they say He is prouokt and stird vp day and night By his bad wife that hight Adicia Who
counsels him through confidence of might To breake all bonds of law and rules of right For she her selfe professeth mortall foe To Iustice and against her still doth fight Working to all that loue her deadly woe And making all her Knights and people to doe so Which my liege Lady seeing thought it best With that his wife in friendly wise to deale For stint of strife and stablishment of rest Both to her selfe and to her common weale And all forepast displeasures to repeale So me in message vnto her she sent To treat with her by way of enterdeale Of finall peace and faire attonement Which might concluded be by mutuall consent All times haue wont safe passage to afford To messengers that come for causes iust But this proude Dame disdayning all accord Not onely into bitter termes forth brust Reuiling me and rayling as she Iust But lastly to make proofe of vtmost shame Me like a dog she out of dores did thrust Miscalling me by many a bitter name That neuer did her ill ne once deserued blame And lastly that no shame might wanting be When I was gone soone after me she sent These two false Knights whom there ye lying see To be by them dishonoured and shent But thankt be God and your good hardiment They haue the price of their owne folly payd So said this Damzell that hight Samient And to those knights for their so noble ayd Her selfe most gratefull shew'd heaped thanks repayd But they now hauing throughly heard and seene Al those great wrongs the which that mayd complained To haue bene done against her Lady Queene By that proud dame which her so much disdained Were moued much thereat and twixt them fained With all their force to worke auengement strong Vppon the Souldanselfe which it mayntained And on his Lady th' author of that wrong And vppon all those Knights that did to her belong But thinking best by counterfet disguise To their deseigne to make the easier way They did this complot twixt them selues deuise First that sir Artegall should him array Like one of those two Knights which dead there lay And then that Damzell the sad Samient Should as his purchast prize with him conuay Vnto the Souldans court her to present Vnto his scornefull Lady that for her had sent So as they had deuiz'd sir Artegall Him clad in th'armour of a Pagan knight And taking with him as his vanquisht thrall That Damzell led her to the Souldans right Where soone as his proud wife of her had sight Forth of her window as she looking lay She weened streight it was her Paynim Knight Which brought that Damzell as his purchast pray And sent to him a Page that mote direct his way Who bringing them to their appointed place Offred his seruice to disarme the Knight But he refusing him to let vnlace For doubt to be discouered by his sight Kept himselfe still in his straunge armour dight Soone after whom the Prince arriued there And sending to the Souldan in despight A bold defyance did of him requere That Damzell whom he held as wrongfull prisonere Wherewith the Souldan all with furie fraught Swearing and banning most blasphemously Commaunded straight his armour to be brought And mounting straight vpon a charret hye With yron wheeles and hookes arm'd dreadfully And drawne of cruell steedes which he had fed With flesh of men whom through fell tyranny He slaughtred had and ere they were halfe ded Their bodies to his beasts for prouender did spred So forth he came all in a cote of plate Burnisht with bloudie rust whiles on the greene The Briton Prince him readie did awayte In glistering armes right goodly well beseene That shone as bright as doth the heauen sheene And by his stirrup Talus did attend Playing his pages part as he had beene Before directed by his Lord to th' end He should his flale to finall execution bend Thus goe they both together to their geare With like fierce minds but meanings different For the proud Souldan with presumpteous cheare And countenance sublime and insolent Sought onely slaughter and auengement But the braue Prince for honour and for right Gainst tortious powre and lawlesse regiment In the behalfe of wronged weake did fight More in his causes truth he trusted then in might Like to the Thracian Tyrant who they say Vnto his horses gaue his guests for meat Till he himselfe was made their greedie pray And torne in peeces by Alcides great So thought the Souldan in his follies threat Either the Prince in peeces to haue torne With his sharpe wheeles in his first rages heat Or vnder his fierce horses feet haue borne And trampled downe in dust his thoughts disdained scorne But the bold child that perill well espying If he too rashly to his charet drew Gaue way vnto his horses speedie flying And their resistlesse rigour did eschew Yet as he passed by the Pagan threw A shiuering dart with so impetuous force That had he not it shun'd with heedfull vew It had himselfe transfixed or his horse Or made them both one masse withouten more remorse Oft drew the Prince vnto his charret nigh In hope some stroke to fasten on him neare But he was mounted in his seat so high And his wingfooted coursers him did beare So fast away that ere his readie speare He could aduance he farre was gone and past Yet still he him did follow euery where And followed was of him likewise full fast So long as in his steedes the flaming breath did last Againe the Pagan threw another dart Of which he had with him abundant store On euery side of his embatteld cart And of all other weapons lesse or more Which warlike vses had deuiz'd of yore The wicked shaft guyded through th' ayrie wyde By some bad spirit that it to mischiefe bore Stayd not till through his curat it did glyde And made a griesly wound in his enriuen side Much was he grieued with that haplesse throe That opened had the welspring of his blood But much the more that to his hatefull foe He mote not come to wreake his wrathfull mood That made him raue like to a Lyon wood Which being wounded of the huntsmans hand Can not come neare him in the couert wood Where he with boughes hath built his shady stand And fenst himselfe about with many a flaming brand Still when he sought t'approch vnto him ny His charret wheeles about him whirled round And made him backe againe as fast to fly And eke his steedes like to an hungry hound That hunting after game hath carrion found So cruelly did him pursew and chace That his good steed all were he much renound For noble courage and for hardie race Durst not endure their sight but fled from place to place Thus long they trast and trauerst to and fro Seeking by euery way to make some breach Yet could the Prince not nigh vnto him goe That one sure stroke he might vnto him reach Whereby his strengthes assay
so strong No loue so lasting then that may endure long Witnesse may Burbon be whom all the bands Which may a Knight assure had surely bound Vntill the loue of Lordship and of lands Made him become most faithlesse and vnsound And witnesse be Gerioneo found Who for like cause faire Belge did oppresse And right and wrong most cruelly confound And so be now Grantorto who no lesse Then all the rest burst out to all outragiousnesse Gainst whom Sir Artegall long hauing since Taken in hand th'exploit being theretoo Appointed by that mightie Faerie Prince Great Gloriane that Tyrant to fordoo Through other great aduentures hethertoo Had it forslackt But now time drawing ny To him assynd her high beheast to doo To the sea shore he gan his way apply To weete if shipping readie he mote there descry Tho when they came to the sea coast they found A ship all readie as good fortune fell To put to sea with whom they did compound To passe them ouer where them list to tell The winde and weather serued them so well That in one day they with the coast did fall Whereas they readie found them to repell Great hostes of men in order martiall Which them forbad to land and footing did forstall But nathemore would they from land refraine But when as nigh vnto the shore they drew That foot of man might sound the bottome plaine Talus into the sea did forth issew Though darts from shore stones they at him threw And wading through the waues with stedfast sway Maugre the might of all those troupes in vew Did win the shore whence he them chast away And made to fly like doues whom the Eagle doth affray The whyles Sir Artegall with that old knight Did forth descend there being none them neare And forward marched to a towne in sight By this came tydings to the Tyrants eare By those which earst did fly away for feare Of their arriuall wherewith troubled sore He all his forces streight to him did reare And forth issuing with his scouts afore Meant them to haue incountred ere they left the shore But ere he marched farre he with them met And fiercely charged them with all his force But Talus sternely did vpon them set And brusht and battred them without remorse That on the ground he left full many a corse Ne any able was him to withstand But he them ouerthrew both man and horse That they lay scattred ouer all the land As thicke as doth the seede after the sowers hand Till Artegall him seeing so to rage Willd him to stay and signe of truce did make To which all harkning did a while asswage Their forces furie and their terror slake Till he an Herauld cald and to him spake Willing him wend vnto the Tyrant streight And tell him that not for such slaughters sake He thether came but for to trie the right Of fayre Irenaes cause with him in single fight And willed him for to reclayme with speed His scattred people ere they all were slaine And time and place conuenient to areed In which they two the combat might darraine Which message when Grantorto heard full fayne And glad he was the slaughter so to stay And pointed for the combat twixt them twayne The morrow next ne gaue him longer day So sounded the retraite and drew his folke away That night Sir Artegall did cause his tent There to be pitched on the open plaine For he had giuen streight commaundement That none should dare him once to entertaine Which none durst breake though many would right faine For fayre Irena whom they loued deare But yet old Sergis did so well him paine That from close friends that dar'd not to appeare He all things did puruay which for them needfull weare The morrow next that was the dismall day Appointed for Irenas death before So soone as it did to the world display His chearefull face and light to men restore The heauy Mayd to whom none tydings bore Of Artegals arryuall her to free Lookt vp with eyes full sad and hart full sore Weening her lifes last howre then neare to bee Sith no redemption nigh she did nor heare nor see Then vp she rose and on her selfe did dight Most squalid garments fit for such a day And with dull countenance and with doleful spright She forth was brought in sorrowfull dismay For to receiue the doome of her decay But comming to the place and finding there Sir Artegall in battailous array Wayting his foe it did her dead hart cheare And new life to her lent in midst of deadly feare Like as a tender Rose in open plaine That with vntimely drought nigh withered was And hung the head soone as few drops of raine Thereon distill and deaw her daintie face Gins to looke vp and with fresh wonted grace Dispreds the glorie of her leaues gay Such was Irenas countenance such her case When Artegall she saw in that array There wayting for the Tyrant till it was farre day Who came at length with proud presumpteous gate Into the field as if he fearelesse were All armed in a cote of yron plate Of great defence to ward the deadly feare And on his head a steele cap he did weare Of colour rustie browne but sure and strong And in his hand an huge Polaxe did beare Whose steale was yron studded but not long With which he wont to fight to iustifie his wrong Of stature huge and hideous he was Like to a Giant for his monstrous hight And did in strength most sorts of men surpas Ne euer any found his match in might Thereto he had great skill in single fight His face was vgly and his countenance sterne That could haue frayd one with the very sight And gaped like a gulfe when he did gerne That whether man or monster one could scarse discerne Soone as he did within the listes appeare With dreadfull looke he Artegall beheld As if he would haue daunted him with feare And grinning griesly did against him weld His deadly weapon which in hand he held But th'Elfin swayne that oft had seene like fight Was with his ghastly count'nance nothing queld But gan him streight to buckle to the fight And cast his shield about to be in readie plight The trompets sound and they together goe With dreadfull terror and with fell intent And their huge strokes full daungerously bestow To doe most dammage where as most they ment But with such force and furie violent The tyrant thundred his thicke blowes so fast That through the yron walles their way they rent And euen to the vitall parts they past Ne ought could them endure but all they cleft or brast Which cruell outrage when as Artegall Did well auize thenceforth with warie heed He shund his strokes where euer they did fall And way did giue vnto their gracelesse speed As when a skilfull Marriner doth reed A storme approching that doth perill threat He will not bide the daunger of such dread But strikes
coloured disguize But Calidore with all good courtesie Fain'd her to frolicke and to put away The pensiue fit of her melancholie And that old Knight by all meanes did assay To make them both as merry as he may So they the euening past till time of rest When Calidore in seemly good array Vnto his bowre was brought and there vndrest Did sleepe all night through weary trauell of his quest But faire Priscilla so that Lady hight Would to no bed nor take no kindely sleepe But by her wounded loue did watch all night And all the night for bitter anguish weepe And with her teares his wounds did wash and steepe So well she washt them and so well she wacht him That of the deadly swound in which full deepe He drenched was she at the length dispacht him And droue away the stound which mortally attacht him The morrow next when day gan to vplooke He also gan vplooke with drery eye Like one that out of deadly dreame awooke Where when he saw his faire Priscilla by He deepely sigh'd and groaned inwardly To thinke of this ill state in which she stood To which she for his sake had weetingly Now brought her selfe and blam'd her noble blood For first next after life he tendered her good Which she perceiuing did with plenteous teares His care more then her owne compassionate Forgetfull of her owne to minde his feares So both conspiring gan to intimate Each others griefe with zeale affectionate And twixt them twaine with equall care to cast How to saue hole her hazarded estate For which the onely helpe now left them last Seem'd to be Calidore all other helpes were past Him they did deeme as sure to them he seemed A courteous Knight and full of faithfull trust Therefore to him their cause they best esteemed Whole to commit and to his dealing iust Earely so soone as Titans beames forth brust Through the thicke clouds in which they steeped lay All night in darkenesse duld with yron rust Calidore rising vp as fresh as day Gan freshly him addresse vnto his former way But first him seemed fit that wounded Knight To visite after this nights perillous passe And to salute him if he were in plight And eke that Lady his faire louely lasse There he him found much better then he was And moued speach to him of things of course The anguish of his paine to ouerpasse Mongst which he namely did to him discourse Of former daies mishap his sorrowes wicked sourse Of which occasion Aldine taking hold Gan breake to him the fortunes of his loue And all his disaduentures to vnfold That Calidore it dearly deepe did moue In th' end his kyndly courtesie to proue He him by all the bands of loue besought And as it mote a faithfull friend behoue To safeconduct his loue and not for ought To leaue till to her fathers house he had her brought Sir Calidore his faith thereto did plight It to performe so after little stay That she her selfe had to the iourney dight He passed forth with her in faire array Fearelesse who ought did thinke or ought did say Sith his own thought he knew most cleare from wite So as they past together on their way He can deuize this counter-cast of slight To giue faire colour to that Ladies cause in sight Streight to the carkasse of that Knight he went The cause of all this euill who was slaine The day before by iust auengement Of noble Tristram where it did remaine There he the necke thereof did cut in twaine And tooke with him the head the signe of shame So forth he passed thorough that daies paine Till to that Ladies fathers house he came Most pensiue man through feare what of his childe became There he arriuing boldly did present The fearefull Lady to her father deare Most perfect pure and guiltlesse innocent Of blame as he did on his Knighthood sweare Since first he saw her and did free from feare Of a discourteous Knight who her had reft And by outragious force away did beare Witnesse thereof he shew'd his head there left And wretched life forlorne for vengement of his theft Most ioyfull man her sire was her to see And heare th' aduenture of her late mischaunce And thousand thankes to Calidore for fee Of his large paines in her deliueraunce Did yeeld Ne lesse the Lady did aduaunce Thus hauing her restored trustily As he had vow'd some small continuaunce He there did make and then most carefully Vnto his first exploite he did him selfe apply So as he was pursuing of his quest He chaunst to come whereas a iolly Knight In couert shade him selfe did safely rest To solace with his Lady in delight His warlike armes he had from him vndight For that him selfe he thought from daunger free And far from enuious eyes that mote him spight And eke the Lady was full faire to see And courteous withall becomming her degree To whom Sir Calidore approaching nye Ere they were well aware of liuing wight Them much abasht but more him selfe thereby That he so rudely did vppon them light And troubled had their quiet loues delight Yet since it was his fortune not his fault Him selfe thereof he labour'd to acquite And pardon crau'd for his so rash default That he gainst courtesie so fowly did default With which his gentle words and goodly wit He soone allayd that Knights conceiu'd displeasure That he besought him downe by him to sit That they mote treat of things abrode at leasure And of aduentures which had in his measure Of so long waies to him befallen late So downe he sate and with delightfull pleasure His long aduentures gan to him relate Which he endured had through daungerous debate Of which whilest they discoursed both together The faire Serena so his Lady hight Allur'd with myldnesse of the gentle wether And pleasaunce of the place the which was dight With diuers flowres distinct with rare delight Wandred about the fields as liking led Her wauering lust after her wandring sight To make a garland to adorne her hed Without suspect of ill or daungers hidden dred All sodainely out of the forrest nere The Blatant Beast forth rushing vnaware Caught her thus loosely wandring here and there And in his wide great mouth away her bare Crying aloud in vaine to shew her sad misfare Vnto the Knights and calling oft for ayde Who with the horrour of her haplesse care Hastily starting vp like men dismayde Ran after fast to reskue the distressed mayde The Beast with their pursuit incited more Into the wood was bearing her apace For to haue spoyled her when Calidore Who was more light of foote and swift in chace Him ouertooke in middest of his race And fiercely charging him with all his might Forst to forgoe his pray there in the place And to betake him selfe to fearefull flight For he durst not abide with Calidore to fight Who nathelesse when he the Lady saw There left on ground though in full euill
wynd And by good fortune the plaine champion wonne Where looking all about where he mote fynd Some place of succour to content his mynd At length he heard vnder the forrests syde A voice that seemed of some woman kynd Which to her selfe lamenting loudly cryde And oft complayn'd of fate and fortune oft defyde To whom approching when as she perceiued A stranger wight in place her plaint she stayd As if she doubted to haue bene deceiued Or loth to let her sorrowes be bewrayd Whom when as Calepine saw so dismayd He to her drew and with faire blandishment Her chearing vp thus gently to her sayd What be you wofull Dame which thus lament And for what cause declare so mote ye not repent To whom she thus what need me Sir to tell That which your selfe haue earst ared so right A wofull dame ye haue me termed well So much more wofull as my wofull plight Cannot redressed be by liuing wight Nathlesse quoth he if need doe not you bynd Doe it disclose to ease your grieued spright Oftimes it haps that sorrowes of the mynd Find remedie vnsought which seeking cannot fynd Then thus began the lamentable Dame Sith then ye needs will know the griefe I hoord I am th' vnfortunate Matilde by name The wife of bold Sir Bruin who is Lord Of all this land late conquer'd by his sword From a great Gyant called Cormoraunt Whom he did ouerthrow by yonder foord And in three battailes did so deadly daunt That he dare not returne for all his daily vaunt So is my Lord now seiz'd of all the land As in his fee with peaceable estate And quietly doth hold it in his hand Ne any dares with him for it debate But to these happie fortunes cruell fate Hath ioyn'd one euill which doth ouerthow All these our ioyes and all our blisse abate And like in time to further ill to grow And all this land with endlesse losse to ouerflow For th' heauens enuying our prosperitie Haue not vouchsaft to graunt vnto vs twaine The gladfull blessing of posteritie Which we might see after our selues remaine In th'heritage of our vnhappie paine So that for want of heires it to defend All is in time like to returne againe To that foule feend who dayly doth attend To leape into the same after our liues end But most my Lord is grieued herewithall And makes exceeding mone when he does thinke That all this land vnto his foe shall fall For which he long in vaine did sweat and swinke That now the same he greatly doth forthinke Yet was it sayd there should to him a sonne Be gotten not begotten which should drinke And dry vp all the water which doth ronne In the next brooke by whō that feend shold be fordonne Well hop't he then when this was propheside That from his sides some noble chyld should rize The which through fame should farre be magnifide And this proud gyant should with braue emprize Quite ouerthrow who now ginnes to despize The good Sir Bruin growing farre in yeares Who thinkes from me his sorrow all doth rize Lo this my cause of griefe to you appeares For which I thus doe mourne and poure forth ceaselesse teares Which when he heard he inly touched was With tender ruth for her vnworthy griefe And when he had deuized of her case He gan in mind conceiue a fit reliefe For all her paine if please her make the priefe And hauing cheared her thus said faire Dame In euils counsell is the comfort chiefe Which though I be not wise enough to frame Yet as I well it meane vouchsafe it without blame If that the cause of this your languishment Be lacke of children to supply your place Low how good fortune doth to you present This litle babe of sweete and louely face And spotlesse spirit in which ye may enchace What euer formes ye list thereto apply Being now soft and fit them to embrace Whether ye list him traine in cheualry Or noursle vp in lore of learn'd Philosophy And certes it hath oftentimes bene seene That of the like whose linage was vnknowne More braue and noble knights haue raysed beene As their victorious deedes haue often showen Being with fame through many Nations blowen Then those which haue bene dandled in the lap Therefore some thought that those braue imps were sowen Here by the Gods and fed with heauenly sap That made them grow so high t' all honorable hap The Ladie hearkning to his sensefull speach Found nothing that he said vnmeet nor geason Hauing oft seene it tryde as he did teach Therefore inclyning to his goodly reason Agreeing well both with the place and season She gladly did of that same babe accept As of her owne by liuerey and seisin And hauing ouer it a litle wept She bore it thence and euer as her owne it kept Right glad was Calepine to be so rid Of his young charge whereof he skilled nought Ne she lesse glad for she so wisely did And with her husband vnder hand so wrought That when that infant vnto him she brought She made him thinke it surely was his owne And it in goodly thewes so well vpbrought That it became a famous knight well knowne And did right noble deedes the which elswhere are showne But Calepine now being left alone Vnder the greenewoods side in sorie plight Withouten armes or steede to ride vpon Or house to hide his head from heauens spight Albe that Dame by all the meanes she might Him oft desired home with her to wend And offred him his courtesie to requite Both horse and armes and what so else to lend Yet he them all refusd though thankt her as a frend And for exceeding griefe which inly grew That he his loue so lucklesse now had lost On the cold ground maugre himselfe he threw For fell despight to be so sorely crost And there all night himselfe in anguish tost Vowing that neuer he in bed againe His limbes would rest ne lig in ease embost Till that his Ladies sight he mote attaine Or vnderstand that she in safetie did remaine Cant. V. The saluage serues Matilda well till she Prince Arthure fynd Who her together with his Squyre with th'Hermit leaues behynd O What an easie thing is to descry The gentle bloud how euer it bewrapt In sad misfortunes foule deformity And wretched sorrowes which haue often hapt For howsoeuer it may grow mis-shapt Like this wyld man being vndisciplynd That to all vertue it may seeme vnapt Yet will it shew some sparkes of gentle mynd And at the last breake forth in his owne proper kynd That plainely may in this wyld man be red Who though he were still in this desert wood Mongst saluage beasts both rudely borne and bred Ne euer saw faire guize ne learned good Yet shewd some token of his gentle blood By gentle vsage of that wretched Dame For certes he was borne of noble blood How euer by hard hap he hether came As ye may know when time