and right That matter make for him to worke vpon And stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight Fly therefore fly this fearfull stead anon Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion His be that care whom most it doth concerne Sayd he but whether with such hasty flight Art thou now bownd for well mote I discerne Great cause that carries thee so swifte and light My Lord qd he me sent and streight behight To seeke Occasion where so she bee For he is all disposd to bloody fight And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltee Hard is his hap that first fals in his ieopardee Mad man said then the Palmer that does seeke Occasion to wrath and cause of strife Shee comes vnsought and shonned followes eke Happy who can abstaine when Rancor rife Kindles Reuenge and threats his rusty knife Woe neuer wants where euery cause is caught And rash Occasion makes vnquiet life Then loe wher bound she sits whō thou hast sought Said Guyon let that message to thy Lord be brought That when the varlett heard and saw streight way He wexed wondrous wroth and said Vile knight That knights knighthood doest with shame vpbray And shewst th'ensāple of thy childishe might With silly weake old woman that did fight Great glory and gay spoile sure hast thou gott And stoutly prou'd thy puissaunce here in sight That shall Pyrrhochles well requite I wott And with thy blood abolish so reprochfull blott With that one of his thrillant darts he threw Headed with yre and vengeable despight The quiuering steele his aymed end wel knew And to his brest it selfe intended right But he was wary and ere it empight In the meant marke aduaunst his shield atweene On which it seizing no way enter might But backe rebownding left the forckhead keene Estsoones he fled away and might no where be seene Cant. V. Pyrrhochles does with Guyon fight And Furors chayne vntyes Who him sore wounds whiles Atin to Gymochles for ayd flyes WHo euer doth to temperaunce apply His stedfast life and all his actions frame Trust me shal find no greater enimy Then stubborne perturbation to the same To which right wel the wise doe giue that name For it the goodly peace of staied mindes Does ouerthrow and troublous warre proclame His owne woes author who so bound it findes As did Pirrhocles and it wilfully vnbindes After that varlets flight it was not long Ere on the plaine fast pricking Guyon spide One in bright armes embatteiled full strong That as the Sunny beames doe glaunce and glide Vpon the trembling waue so shined bright And round about him threw forth sparkling fire That seemd him to enflame on euery side His steed was bloody red and fomed yre When with the maistring spur he did him roughly stire Approching nigh he neuer staid to greete Ne chaffar words prowd corage to prouoke But prickt so fiers that vnderneath his feete The smouldring dust did rownd about him smoke Both horse and man nigh able for to choke And fayrly couching his steeleheaded speare Him first saluted with a sturdy stroke It booted nought Sir Guyon comming neare To thincke such hideous puissaunce on foot to beare But lightly shunned it and passing by With his bright blade did smite at him so fell That the sharpe steele arriuing forcibly On his broad shield bi tt not but glaun cingfell On his horse necke before the quilred sell And from the head the body sundred quight So him dismounted low he did compell On foot with him to matchen equall fight The truncked beast fast bleeding did him fowly dight Sore bruzed with the fall he slow vprose And all enraged thus him loudly shent Disle all knight whose coward corage chose To wreake it selfe on beast all innnocent And shund the marke at which it should be ment Therby thine armes seem strong but manhood frayl So hast thou ost with guile thine honor blent But litle may such guile thee now auayl If wonted force and fortune doe me not much fayl With that he drew his flaming sword and strooke At him so fiercely that the vpper marge Of his seuenfolded shield away it tooke And glauncing on his helmet made a large And open gash therein were not his targe That broke the violence of his intent The weary sowle from thence it would discharge Nathelesse so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reele and to his brest his beuer bent Exceeding wroth was Guyon at that blow And much ashamd that stroke of liuing arme Should him dismay and make him stoup so low Though otherwise it did him litle harme Tho hurling high his yron braced arme He smote so manly on his shoulder plate That all his left side it did quite disarme Yet there the steele stayd not but inly bate Deepe in his flesh and opened wide a red floodgate Deadly dismayd with horror of that dint Pyrrhochles was and grieued eke entyre Yet nathemore did it his fury stint But added flame vnto his former fire That welnigh molt his hart in raging yre Ne thenceforth his approued skill to ward Or strike or hurtle rownd in warlike gyre Remembred he ne car'd for his saufgard But rudely rag'd and like a cruel tygre far'd He hewd and lasht and foynd and thondred blowes And euery way did seeke into his life Ne plate ne male could ward so mighty throwes But yeilded passage to his cruell knife But Guyon in the heat of all his strife Was wary wise and closely did awayt Auauntage whilest his foe did rage most rife Sometimes a thwart sometimes he strook him strayt And falsed oft his blowes t'illude him with such bayt Like as a Lyon whose imperiall powre A prowd rebellious Vnicorne defyes T' auoide the rash assault and wrathfull stowre Of his fiers foe him to a tree applyes And when him ronning in full course he spyes He slips aside the whiles that furious beast His precious horne sought of his enimye Strikes in the stocke ne thence can be releast But to the mighty victor yields a bounteous feast With such faire sleight him Guyon often fayld Till at the last all breathlesse weary faint Him spying with fresh onsett he assayld And kindling new his corage seeming queint Strooke him so hugely that through grear constraint He made him stoup perforce vnto his knee And doe vnwilling worship to the Saint That on his shield depainted he did see Such homage till that instant neuer learned hee Whom Guyon seeing stoup poursewed fast The present offer of faire victory And soone his dreadfull blade about he cast Wherewith he smote his haughty crest so hye That streight on grownd made him full low to lye Then on his brest his victor foote he thrust With that he cryde Mercy doe me not dye Ne deeme thy force by fortunes doome vniust That hath maugre her spight thus low me laid in dust Eftsoones his cruel hand Sir Guyon stayd Tempring the passion with aduizement slow And maistring might on enimy dismayd For th'equall die of
brightnesse they dismaid High lifted vp were many loftie towres And goodly galleries far ouer laid Full of faire windowes and delightful 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 witt But full great pittie that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sitt For on a sandie hill that still did flitt And fall away it mounted was full hie That euery breath of heauen shaked itt And all the hinder partes 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 sortes 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 sumpteous shew Ne Persia selfe the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw And there a noble crew Of Lords and Ladies stood on euery side Which with their presence fayre 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 perelesse 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 fayrest childe That did presume his fathers fyrie wayne And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne Proud of such glory and aduancement vayne While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen He leaues the welkin way most beaten playne And rapt with whirling wheeles inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne but fayrely 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 vnder neath 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 worth to pas That parentage with pride so did she swell And thundring Iove 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 a 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 Realme with lawes but pollicie And strong aduizement of six wisards old That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came And false Duessa seeming Lady fayre A gentle Husher Vanitie by name Made rowme and passage for them did prepaire So goodly brought them to the lowest stayre Of her high throne where they on humble knee Making obeysaunce did the cause declare Why they were come her roiall state to see To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee With loftie eyes halfe loth to looke so lowe She thancked them in her disdainefull wise Ne other grace vouchsafed them to showe 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 heare in courtly guise Some prancke their ruffes and others trimly dight Their gay attyre each others greater pride does spight Goodly they all that knight doe entertayne Right glad with him to haue increast their crew But to Duess each one himselfe did payne All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew For in that court whylome her well they knew Yet the stout Faery 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 roiall 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 brightnes brode doth 〈◊〉 The heapes of people thronging in the hall Doe ride each other vpon her to gaze Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eies 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 roiall rich array Great 〈◊〉 golden chayre the which they say The Gods stand gazing on when she does ride To Ioues high hous through heauens bras paued way Drawne of fayre Pecocks that excell in pride And full of 〈◊〉 eyes their tayles dispredden wide But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde Taught to obay their bestiall be heasts With like conditions to their kindes 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 redd For of deuotion he had little care Still drownd in sleepe and most of his daies dedd Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hedd To looken whether it were night or day May seeme the wayne was very euill ledd 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 〈◊〉 And greatly shunned manly exercise From 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continually 〈◊〉 one was Idlenesse first of this company And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony Deformed creature on a filthie swyne His belly was vpblowne with luxury And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne With which he swallowd vp excessiue feast For want whereof poore people oft did pyne And all the way most like a brutish beast He spued vp
secrete store Were from him hidden or vnknowne of yore Then Glauce thus let not it thee offend That we thus rashly through thy darksom dore Vnwares haue prest for either fatall end Or other mightie cause vs two did hether send He bad tell on And then she thus began Now haue three Moones with borrowd brothers light Thrise shined faire and thrise seemd dim and wan Sith a sore euill which this virgin bright Tormenteth and doth plonge in dolefull plight First rooting tooke but what thing it mote bee Or whence it sprong I can not read aright But this I read that but if remedee Thou her afford full shortly I her dead shall see Therewith th' Enchaunter softly gan to smyle At her smooth speeches weeting inly well That she to him dissembled 〈◊〉 guyle And to her said Beldame by that ye tell More neede ofleach-crafte hath your Damozell Then of my skill who helpe may haue elswhere In vaine seekes wonders out of Magick spell Th' old womā wox half blanck those words to heare And yet was loth to let her purpose plaine appeare And to him said Yf any leaches skill Or other learned meanes could haue redrest This my deare daughters deepe engraffed ill Certes I should be loth thee to molest But this sad euill which doth her infest Doth course of naturall cause farre exceed And housed is within her hollow brest That either seemes some cursed witches deed Or euill spright that in her doth such torment breed The wisard could no lenger beare her bord But brusting forth in laughter to her sayd Glauce what needes this colourable word To cloke the cause that hath it selfe bewrayd Ne ye fayre Britomartis thus arayd More hidden are then Sunne in cloudy vele Whom thy good fortune hauing fate obayd Hath hether brought for succour to appele The which the powres to thee are pleased to reuele The doubtfull Mayd seeing her selfe descryde Was all abasht and her pure yuory Into a cleare Carnation suddeine dyde As fayre Aurora rysing hastily Doth by her blushing tell that she did lye All night in old Tithonus frosen bed Whereof she seemes ashamed inwardly But her olde Nourse was nought dishartened But vauntage made of that which Merlin had ared And sayd Sith then thou knowest all our griefe For what doest not thou knowe of grace I pray Pitty our playnt and yield vs meet reliefe With that the Prophet still awhile did stay And then his spirite thus gan foorth display Most noble Virgin that by fatall lore Hast learn'd to loue let no whit thee dismay The hard beginne that meetes thee in the dore And with sharpe fits thy tender hart oppresseth sore For so must all things excellent begin And eke enrooted deepe must be that Tree Whose big embodied braunches shall not lin Till they to heuens hight forth stretched bee For from thy wombe a famous Progenee Shall spring out of the auncient Troian blood Which shall reuiue the sleeping memoree Of those same antique Peres the heuens brood Which Greeke Asian riuers stayned with their blood Renowmed kings and sacred Emperours Thy fruitfull Ofspring shall from thee descend Braue Captaines and most mighty warriours That shall their conquests through all lands extend And their decayed kingdomes shall amend The feeble Britons broken with long warre They shall vpreare and mightily defend Against their forren foe that commes from farre Till vniuersall peace compound all ciuill iarre It was not Britomart thy wandring eye Glauncing vnwares in charmed looking glas But the streight course of heuenly destiny Led with eternall prouidence that has Guyded thy glaunce to bring his will to pas Ne is thy fate ne is thy fortune ill To louc the prowest knight that euer was Therefore submit thy wayes vnto his will And doe by all'dew meanes thy destiny fulfill But read saide Glauce thou Magitian What meanes shall she out seeke or what waies take How shall she know how shall she finde the man Or what needes her to toyle sith fates can make Way for themselues their purpose to pertake Then Merlin thus Indeede the fates are firme And may not shrinck though all the world do 〈◊〉 Yet ought mens good endeuours them confirme And guyde the heauenly causes to their constant terme The man whom heauens haue ordaynd to bee The spouse of Britomart is Arthegall He wonneth in the land of Fayeree Yet is no Fary borne ne sib at all To Elfes but sprong of seed terrestriall And whylome by false Faries stolne away Whyles yet in infant cradle he did crall Ne other to himselfe is knowne this day But that he by an Elfe was gotten of a Fay. But sooth he is the sonne of Gorlois And brother vnto Cador Cornish king And for his warlike feates renowmed is From where the day out of the sea doth spring Vntill the closure of the Euening From thence him firmely bound with faithfull band To this his natiue soyle thou backe shalt bring Strongly to ayde his countrey to withstand The powre of forreine Paynims which invade thy land Great ayd thereto his mighty puissaunce And dreaded name shall giue in that sad day Where also proofe of thy prow valiaunce Thou then shalt make t' increase thy louers pray Long time ye both in armes shall beare great sway Till thy wombes burden thee from them do call And his last fate him from thee take away Too rathe cut off by practise criminall Of secrete foes that him shall make in mischiefe fall With thee yet shall he leaue for memory Of his late puissaunce his ymage dead That liuing him in all actiuity To thee shall represent He from the head Of his coosen Constantius without dread Shall take the crowne that was his fathers right And therewith crowne himselfe in th 'others stead Then shall he issew forth with dreadfull might Against his Saxon foes in bloody field to fight Like as a Lyon that in drowsie caue Hath long time slept himselfe so shall he shake And comming forth shall spred his banner braue Ouer the troubled South that it shall make The warlike Mertians for feare to quake Thrise shall he fight with them and twise shall win But the third time shall fayre accordaunce make And if he then with victorie can lin He shall his dayes with peace bring to his earthly In. His sonne hight Vortipore shall him succeede In kingdome but not in felicity Yet shall he long time warre with happy speed And with great honour many batteills try But at the last to th importunity Of froward fortune shall be forst to yield But his sonne Malgo shall full mightily Auenge his fathers losse with speare and shield And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field Behold the man and tell me Britomart If ay more goodly creature thou didst see How like a Gyaunt in each manly part Beares he himselfe with portly maiestee That one of th' old Heroes seemes to bee He the six Islands comprouinciall In auncient times vnto great Britainee Shall to the same
of late destroy His eldest brother burning all with rage He to him lept and that same enuious gage Of victors glory from him snacht away But th'Elfin knight which ought that warlike wage Disdaind to loose the meed he wonne in fray And him rencountring fierce reskewd the noble pray Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne And clash their shields and shake their swerds on hy That with their sturre they troubled all the traine Till that great Queene vpon eternall paine Of high displeasure that ensewen might Commaunded them their fury to refraine And if that either to that shield had right In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight Ah dearest Dame qd then the Paynim bold Pardon the error of enraged wight Whome great griefe made forgett the raines to hold Of reasons rule to see this recreaunt knight No knight but treachour full of false despight And shameful treason who through guile hath slayn The prowest knight that euer field did fight Euen stout Sans foy O who can then refrayn Whose shield he beares renuerst the more to heap disdayn And to augment the glorie of his guile His dearest loue the faire Fidessa loe Is there possessed of the traytour vile Who reapes the haruest sowen by his foe Sowen in bloodie field and bought with woe That brothers hand shall dearely well requight So be O Queene you equall fauour showe Him litle answerd th' angry Elfin knight He neuer meant with words but swords to plead his right But threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledg His cause in combat the next day to try So been they parted both with harts on edg To be aueng'd each on his enimy That night they pas in ioy and iollity Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall For Steward was 〈◊〉 Gluttony That of his plenty poured forth to all Which doen the Chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call Now whenas darkesome night had all displayd Her coleblacke curtein ouer brightest skye The warlike youthes on dayntie couches layd Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye To muse on meanes of hoped victory But whenas Morpheus had with leaden mace Arrested all that courtly company Vprose Duessa from her resting place And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace Whom broad awake she findes in troublous fitt Forecasting how his foe he might annoy And him amoues with speaches seeming fitt Ah deare Sansioy next dearest to Sansfoy Cause of my new griefe cause of new ioy Ioyous to see his ymage in mine eye And greeud to thinke how foe did him destroy That was the flowre of grace and cheualrye Lo his 〈◊〉 to thy secret faith I flye With gentle wordes he can her fayrely greet And bad say on the secrete of her hart Then sighing soft I learne that litle sweet Oft tempred is quoth she with muchell smart For since my brest was launcht with 〈◊〉 dart Of deare Sanfoy I neuer ioyed howre But in eternall woes my weaker hatt Haue wasted louing him with all my powre And for his sake haue felt full many an heauie 〈◊〉 At last when perils all I weened past And hop'd to reape the crop of all my care Into new woes vnweeting I was cast By this false faytor who vnworthie ware His worthie shield whom he with guilefull 〈◊〉 Entrapped slew and brought to shamefull graue Me silly maid away with him he bare And euer since hath kept in darksom caue For that I would not yeeld that to Sansfoy I gaue 〈◊〉 since faire Sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd And to my loathed life now shewes some light Vnder your beames I will me safely shrowd From dreaded storme of his disdainfull spight To you th' inheritance belonges by right Of brothers prayse to you eke longes his loue Let not his loue let not his restlesse spright Be vnreueng'd that calles to you aboue From wandring Stygian shores where it doth endlesse moue Thereto said he faire Dame be nought dismaid For sorrowes past their griefe is with them gone Ne yet of present perill be affraid For needlesse feare did neuer vantage none And helplesse hap it booteth not to mone Dead is Sansfoy his vitall paines are past Though greeued ghost for vengeance deep do grone He liues that shall him pay his dewties last And guiltie Elfin blood shall sacrifice in hast O But I feare the fickle freakes quoth shee Of fortune false and oddes of armes in field Why dame quoth he what oddes can euer bee Where both doe fight alike to win or yield Yea but quoth she he beares a charmed shield And eke enchaunted armes that none can perce Ne none can wound the man that does them wield Charmd or enchaunted answerd he then ferce I no whitt reck ne you the like need to reherce But faire Fidessa sithens fortunes guile Or enimies powre hath now captiued you Returne from whence ye came and rest a while Till morrow next that I the Elfe subdew And with Sansfoyes dead dowry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ay me that is a double death she said With proud foes sight my sorrow to renew Where euer yet I be my secrete aide Shall follow you So passing forth she him obaid Cant V. The faithfull knight in equall field subdewes his faithlesse foe Whom false Duessa saues and for his cure to hell does goe THe noble hart that harbours vertuous thought And is with childe of glorious great intent Can neuer rest vntill it forth haue brought Th' eternall brood of glorie excellent Such restlesse passion did all night torment The flaming corage of that Faery knight Deuizing how that doughtie turnament With greatest honour he atchieuen might Still did he wake and still did watch for dawning light At last the golden Orientall gate Of greatest heauen gan to open fayre And Phoebus fresh as brydegrome to his mate Came dauncing forth shaking his deawie hayre And hurls his glistring beams through gloomy ayre Which whē the wakeful Elfe perceiud streight way He started vp and did him selfe prepayre In sunbright armes and battailous array For with that Pagan proud he combatt will that day And forth he comes into the commune hall Where earely waite him many a gazing eye To weet what end to straunger knights may fall There many Minstrales maken melody To driue away the dull melancholy And many Bardes that to the trembling chord Can tune their timely voices cunningly And many Chroniclers that can record Old loues and warres for Ladies doen by many a Lord. Soone after comes the cruell Sarazin In wouen maile all armed warily And sternly lookes at him who not a pin Does care for looke of liuing creatures eye They bring them wines of Greece and Araby And daintie spices fetcht from furthest Ynd To kindle heat of corage priuily And in the wine a solemne oth they bynd T' obserue the facred lawes of armes that are assynd At last forth comes that far renowmed Queene With royall pomp and princely maiestie She is ybrought vnto a paled greene
And placed vnder stately canapee The warlike feates of both thofe knights to see On th' other side in all mens open vew Duessa placed is and on a tree Sansfoy his shield is hangd with bloody hew Both those the lawrell girlonds to the victor dew A shrilling trompett sownded from on hye And vnto battaill bad them selues addresse Their shining shieldes about their wrestes they tye And burning blades about their heades doe blesse The instruments of wrath and heauinesse With greedy force each other doth assayle And strike so fiercely that they doe impresse Deepe dinted furrowes in the battred mayle The yron walles to ward their blowes are weak fraile The Sarazin was stout and wondrous strong And heaped blowes like 〈◊〉 hammers 〈◊〉 For after blood and vengeance he did long The knight was fiers and full of youthly heat And doubled strokes like dreaded thunders threat For all for praise and honour he did fight Both stricken stryke and beaten both doe beat That from their shields forth flyeth firie light And hewen helmets deepe shew marks of eithers might So th' one for wrong the other striues for right As when a Gryfon seized of his pray A Dragon fiers encountreth in his flight Through widest ayre making his ydle way That would his rightfull rauine rend away With hideous horror both together smight And souce so sorc that they the heauens affray The wise Southsayer seeing so sad sight Th' amazed vulgartelles of warres and mortall fight So th'onc for wrong the other striues for right And each to deadly shame would driue his foe The cruell steele so greedily doth bight In tender flesh that streames of blood down flow With which the armes that earst so bright did show Into a pure vermillion now are dyde Great ruth in all the gazers harts did grow Seeing the gored woundes to gape so wyde That victory they dare not wish to either side At last the Paynim chaunst 〈◊〉 cast his eye His suddein eye flaming with wrathfull fyre Vpon his brothers shield which hong thereby There with redoubled was his raging yre And said Ah wretched sonne of wofull syre Doest thou sit wayling by blacke Stygian lake Whylest here thy shield is hangd for victors hyre And sluggish german doest thy forces slake To after-send his foe that him may ouertake Goe caytiue Elfe him quickly ouertake And soone redeeme from his long wandring woe Goe guiltie ghost to him my message make That I his shield haue quit from dying foe Therewith vpon his crest he stroke him so That twise he reeled readie twise to fall End of the doubtfull battaile deemed tho The lookers on and lowd to him gan call The false Duessa Thine the shield and I and all Soone as the Faerie heard his Ladie speake Out of his swowning dreame he gan awake And quickning faith that earst was woxen weake The creeping deadly cold away did shake Tho mou'd with wrath and shame and Ladies sake Of all attonce he cast auengd to be And with so ' exceeding furie at him strake That forced him to stoupe vpon his knee Had he not stouped so he should haue clouen bee And to him said Goe now proud Miscreant Thy selfe thy message do to german deare Alone he wandring thee too long doth want Goe say his foe thy shield with his doth beare Therewith his heauie 〈◊〉 he high gan reare Him to haue slaine when lo a darkesome clowd Vpon him fell he no where doth appeare But 〈◊〉 is The 〈◊〉 him calls 〈◊〉 But answer none receiues the darknes him does shrowd In haste Duessa from her place arose And to him running sayd O prowest knight That euer Ladie to her loue did chose Let now abate the terrour of your might And quench the flame of furious despight And bloodie vengeance lo th' infernall powres Couering your foe with cloud of deadly night Haue borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres The conquest yours I yours the shield and glory yours Not all so satisfide with greedy eye He sought all round about his thristy blade To bathe in blood of faithlesse enimy Who all that while lay hid in secret shade He standes amazed how he thence should fade At last the trumpets Triumph sound on hie And running Heralds humble homage made Greeting him goodly with new victorie And to him brought the shield the cause of enmitie Wherewith he goeth to that soueraine Queene And falling her before on lowly knee To her makes present of his seruice seene Which she accepts with thankes and goodly gree Greatly aduauncing his gay cheualree So marcheth home and by her takes the knight Whom all the people followe with great glee Shouting and clapping all their hands on hight That all the ayre it fils and flyes to heauen bright Home is he brought and layd in sumptuous bed Where many skilfull leaches him abide To salue his hurts that yet still freshly bled In wine and oyle they wash his woundes wide And softly gan embalme on euerie side And all the while most heauenly melody About the bed sweet musicke did diuide Him to beguile of griefe and agony And all the while Duessa wept full bitterly As when a wearie traueiler that strayes By muddy shore of broad seuen-mouthed Nile Vnweeting of the perillous wandring wayes Doth meete a cruell craftie Crocodile Which in false griefe hyding his harmefull guile Doth weepe full sore and sheddeth tender teares The foolish man that pitties all this while His mournefull plight is swallowd vp vnwares Forgetfull of his owne that mindes an others cares So wept Duessa vntill euentyde That shyning lampes in Ioues high house were light Then forth she rose 〈◊〉 lenger would abide But comes vnto the place where th'Hethen knight In slombring swownd nigh voyd of vitall spright Lay couer'd with inchaunted cloud all day Whom when she found as she him left in plight To wayle his wofull case she would not stay But to the Easterne coast of heauen makes speedy way Where griesly Night with visage deadly sad That Phoebus chearefull face durst neuer vew And in a foule blacke pitchy mantle clad She findes forth comming from her darksome mew Where she all day did hide her hated hew Before the dore her yron charet stood Already harnessed for iourney new And coleblacke steedes yborne of hellish brood That on their rusty bits did champ as they were wood Who when she saw Duessa sunny bright Adornd with gold and iewels shining cleare She greatly grew amazed at the sight And th'vnacquainted light began to feare For neuer did such brightnes there appeare And would haue backe retyred to her caue Vntill the witches speach she gan to heare Saying yet O thou dreaded Dame I craue Abyde till I haue told the message which I haue She stayd and foorth Duessa gan proceede O thou most auncient Grandmother of all More old then Ioue whom thou at first didst breede Or that great house of Gods caelestiall Which wast begot in Daemogorgons hall And sawst the secrets of the world
rain When Ioue auizd that could the dead reviue And fates expired could renew again Of endlesse life he might him not depriue But vnto hell did thrust him downe aliue With flashing thunderbolty wounded sore Where long remaining he did alwaies striue Him selfe with salues to health for to restore And slake the heauenly sire that raged euermore There auncient Night arriuing did alight From her nigh weary wayne and in her armes To AEsculapius brought the wounded knight Whome hauing softly disaraid of armes Tho gan to him discouer all his harmes Beseeching him with prayer and with praise If either salues or oyles or herbes or charmes A for donne wight from dore of death mote raise He would at her request prolong her nephews daies Ah Dame qd he thou temptest me in vaine To dare the thing which daily yet I rew And the old cause of my continued paine With like attempt to like end to renew Is not enough that thrust from heauen dew Here endlesse penaunce for one fault I pay But that redoubled crime with vengeaunce new Thou biddest me to eeke Can Night defray The wrath of thundring Ioue that rules both night and day Not so qd she but sith that heauens king From hope of heauen hath thee excluded quight Why fearest thou that canst not hope for thing And fearest not that more thee hurten might Now in the powre of euerlasting Night Goe to then O thou far renouned sonne Of great Apollo shew thy famous might In medicine that els hath to thee wonne Great pains and greater praise both neuer to be donne Her words preuaild And then the learned leach His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay And all things els the which his art did teach Which hauing seene from thence arose away The mother of dredd darkenesse and let stay Aueugles sonne there in the leaches cure And backe retourning tooke her wonted way To ronne her timely race whilst Phoebus pure In westerne waues his weary wagon did recure The false Duessa leauing noyous Night Returnd to stately pallace of Dame Pryde Where when she came she found the Faery knight Departed thence albee his woundes wyde Not throughly heald vnready were to ryde Good cause he had to hasten thence away For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spyde Where in a dungeon deepe huge nombers lay Of caytiue wretched thralls that wayled night and day A ruefull sight as could be seene with eie Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie How mortgaging their liues to Couetise Through wastfull Pride and wanton Riotise They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt with Wrath and Enuyes false surmise Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse Where they should liue in wo dye in wretchednesse There was that great proud king of Babylon That would 〈◊〉 all nations to adore And him as onely God to call vpon Till through celestiall doome thrown out of dore Into an Oxe he was transformd of yore There also was king Croesus that enhaunst His hart too high through his great richesse store And proud Antiochus the which aduaunst His cursed hand gainst God and on his altares daunst And them long time before great Nimrod was That first the world with sword and fire warrayd And after him old Ninus far did pas In princely pomp of all the world obayd There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder all yet aboue all in pride That name of natiue syre did fowle vpbrayd And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide All these together in one heape were throwne Like carkases of beastes in butchers stall And in another corner wide were strowne The Antique ruins of the Romanes fall Great Romulus the Grandsyre of them all Proud Tarquin and too lordly Lentulus Stout Scipio and stubborne Hanniball Ambitious Sylla and sterne Marius High Caesar great Pompey and fiers Antonius Amongst these mightie men were wemen mixt Proud wemen vaine forgetfull of their yoke The bold Semiramis whose sides transfixt With sonnes own blade her fowle reproches spoke Fayre Sthenoboea that herselfe did choke With wilfull chord for wanting of her will High minded Cleopatra that with stroke Of Aspes sting herselfe did stoutly kill And thousands moe the like that did that dongeon fill Besides the endlesse routes of wretched thralles Which thether were assembled day by day From all the world after their wofull falles Through wicked 〈◊〉 and wasted welthes decay But most of all which in the Dongeon lay Fell from high Princes courtes or Ladies bowres Where they in ydle pomp or wanton play Consumed had their goods and thriftlesse howres And lastly thrown themselues into these heauy stowres Whose case whenas the carefull Dwarfe had tould And made ensample of their mournfull sight Vnto his maister he no lenger would There dwell in perill of like painefull plight But earely rose and ere that dawning light Discouered had the world to heauen wyde He by a priuy Posterne tooke his flight That of no enuious eyes he mote be spyde For doubtlesse death ensewed if any him descryde Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way For many corses like a great Lay-stall Of murdred men which therein strowed lay Without remorse or decent funerall Which al through that great Princesse pride did fall And came to shamefull end And them besyde Forth ryding vnderneath the castell wall A Donghill of dead carcases he spyde The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pryde Can. VI. From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace fayre Una is releast Whom saluage nation does adore and learnes her wise beheast AS when a ship that flyes fayre vnder sayle An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares That lay in waite her 〈◊〉 for to 〈◊〉 waile The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past and yet it doubt ne dares To ioy at his foolhappie ouersight So doubly is distrest twixt ioy and cares The dreadlesse corage of this Elfin knight Hauing escapt so sad ensamples in his sight Yet sad he was that his too hastie speed The fayre Duess ' had forst him leaue behind And yet more sad that Vna his deare dreed Her truth had staynd with treason so vnkind Yet cryme in her could neuer creature find But for his loue and for her own selfe sake She wandred had from one to other Ynd Him for to seeke ne euer would forsake Till her vnwares the fiers Sansloy did ouertake Who after Archimagoes fowle defeat Led her away into a forest wilde And turning wrathfull fyre to lustfull 〈◊〉 With beastly sin thought her to haue defilde And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde Yet first he cast by treatie and by traynes Her to persuade that stubborne fort to yilde For greater conquest of hard loue he gaynes That workes it to his will then he that it constraines With fawning wordes he courted her a while And looking louely and oft sighing sore Her constant hart did tempt with diuerse
owne cote he would cut and it distribute glad The fourth appointed by his office was Poore prisoners to relieue with gratious ayd And captiues to redeeme with price of bras From Turkes and Sarazins which them had stayd And though they faulty were yet well he wayd That God to vs forgiueth euery howre Much more then that why they in bands were layd And he that harrowd hell with heauie stowre The faulty soules from thence brought to his heauenly bowre The fift had charge sick persons to attend And comfort those in point of death which lay For them most needeth comfort in the end When sin and hell and death doe most dismay The feeble soule departing hence away All is but lost that liuing we bestow If not well ended at our dying day O man haue mind of that last bitter throw For as the tree does fall so lyes it euer low The sixt had charge of them now being dead In seemely sort their corses to engraue And deck with dainty flowres their brydall bed That to their heauenly spouse both sweet and braue They might appeare when he their soules shall saue The wondrous workmanship of Gods owne mould Whose face he made all beastes to feare and gaue All in his hand euen dead we honour should Ah dearest God me graunt I dead be not defould The seuenth now after death and buriall done Had charge the tender Orphans of the dead And wydowes ayd least they should be vndone In face of iudgement he their right would plead Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread In their defence nor would for gold or fee Be wonne their rightfull causes downe to tread And when they stood in most necessitee He did supply their want and gaue them euer free There when the Elfin knight arriued was The first and chiefest of the seuen whose care Was guests to welcome towardes him did pas Where seeing Mercie that his steps vpbare And alwaies led to her with reuerence rare He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse And seemely welcome for her did prepare For of their order she was Patronesse Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse There she awhile him stayes him selfe to rest That to the rest more hable he might bee During which time in euery good behest And godly worke of Almes and charitee Shee him instructed with great 〈◊〉 Shortly therein so perfect he became That from the first vnto the last degree His mortall life he learned had to frame In holy righteousnesse without rebuke or blame Thence forward by that painfull way they pas Forth to an hill that was both steepe and hy On top whereof a sacred chappell was And eke a litle Hermitage thereby Wherein an aged holy man did lie That day and night said his deuotion Ne other worldly busines did apply His name was heuenly Contemplation Of God and goodnes was his meditation Great grace that old man to him giuen had For God he often saw from heauens hight All were his earthly eien both blunt and bad And through great age had lost their kindly sight Yet wondrous quick and persaunt was his spright As Eagles eie that can behold the Sunne That hill they scale with all their powre and might That his 〈◊〉 thighes nigh 〈◊〉 and fordonne Gan faile but by her helpe the top at last he wonne There they doe finde that godly aged Sire With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed As hoary frost with spangles doth attire The mossy braunches of an Oke halfe ded Each bone might through his body well be red And euery sinew seene through his long fast For nought he car'd his carcas long vnfed His mind was full of spirituall repast And pyn'd his flesh to keepe his body low and chast Who when these two approching he aspide At their first presence grew agrieued sore That forst him lay his heuenly thoughts aside And had he not that Dame respected more Whom highly he did reuerence and adore He would not once haue moued for the knight They him saluted standing far afore Who well them greeting humbly did requight And asked to what end they clomb that redious hight What end qd she should cause vs take such paine But that same end which euery liuing wight Should make his marke high heauen to attaine Is not from hence the way that leadeth right To that most glorious house that glistreth bright With burning starres and euerliuing fire Where of the keies are to thy hand behight By wise Fidelia shee doth thee require To shew it to this knight according his desire Thrise happy man said then the father graue Whose staggering steps thy steady hand doth lead And shewes the way his sinfull soule to saue Who better can the way to heauen aread Then thou thy selfe that was both borne and bred In heuenly throne where thousand Angels shine Thou do est the praiers of the righteous sead Present before the maiesty diuine And his auenging wrath to clemency incline Yet since thou bidst thy pleasure shal be donne Then come thou man of earth and see the way That neuer yet was seene of Faries sonne That neuer leads the traueiler astray But after labors long and sad delay Bring them to ioyous rest and endlesse blis But first thou must a season fast and pray Till from her bands the spright assoiled is And haue her strength recur'd from fraile infirmitis That done he leads him to the highest Mount Such one as that same mighty man of God That blood-red billowes like a walled front On either side disparted with his rod Till that his army dry-foot through them yod Dwelt forty daies vpon where writt in stone VVith bloody letters by the hand of God The bitter doome of death and balefull mone He did receiue whiles flashing fire about him shone Or like that sacred hill whose head full hie Adornd with fruitfull Oliues all arownd Is as it were for endlesse memory Of that deare Lord who oft thereon was fownd For euer with a flowring girlond crownd Or like that pleasaunt Mount that is foray Through famous 〈◊〉 verse each where renownd On which the thrife three learned Ladies play Their heuenly notes and make full many a louely lay From 〈◊〉 far off he vnto him did shew A litle path that was both steepe and long Which to a goodly Citty led his vew Whose wals and towres were builded high strong Of perle and 〈◊〉 stone that earthly tong Cannot describe nor wit of man can tell Too high a ditty for my simple song The Citty of the greate king hight it well Wherein eternall peace and happinesse doth dwell As he thereon stood gazing he might see The blessed Angels to and fro descend From highest heuen in gladsome companee And with great ioy into that Citty wend As commonly as frend does with his frend Whereat he wondred much and gan enquere What stately building durst so high extend Her lofty towres vnto the starry sphere And what vnknowen nation there empeopled
were Faire knight qd he 〈◊〉 that is The new Hierusalem that God has built For those to dwell in that are chosen his His chosen people purg'd from sinful guilt With piteous blood which cruelly was spilt On cursed tree of that vnspotted lam That for the sinnes of al the world was kilt Now are they Saints all in that Citty sam More dear vnto their God then yoūglings to their dam. Till now said then the knight I weened well That great Cleopolis where I haue beene In which that fairest Fary Queene doth dwell The fairest Citty was that might be seene And that bright towre all built of christall clene Panthea seemd the brightest thing that was But now by proofe all otherwise I weene For this great Citty that does far surpas And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre of glas Most trew then said the holy aged man Yet is Gleopolis for earthly fame The fairest peece that eie beholden can And well beseemes all knights of noble name That couett in th' immortall booke of fame To be eternized that same to haunt And doen their seruice to that soueraigne Dame That glory does to them for guerdon graunt For she is heuenly borne and heauen may iustly vaunt And thou faire ymp sprong out from English race How euer now accompted Elfins sonne Well worthy doest thy seruice for her grace To aide a virgin desolate foredonne But when thou famous victory hast wonne And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield Thenceforth the suitt of earthly conquest shonne And wash thy hands from guilt of bloody field For blood can nought but sin wars but sorrows yield Then seek this path that I to thee presage Which after all to heauen shall thee send Then peaceably thy painefull pilgrimage To yonder same Hierusalem doe bend Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end For thou emongst those Saints whom thou doest see Shalt be a Saint and thine owne nations frend And Patrone thou Saint George shalt called bee Saint George of mery England the signe of victoree Vnworthy wretch qd he of so great grace How dare I thinke such glory to attaine These that haue it attaynd were in like cace As wretched men and liued in like paine But deeds of armes must I at last be faine And Ladies loue to leaue so dearely bought What need of armes where peace doth ay remaine Said he and bitter battailes all ate fought As for loose loues they' are vaine vanish into nought O let me not quoth he then turne againe Backe to the world whose ioyes so fruitlesse are But let me heare for aie in peace remaine Or streight way on that last long voiage fare That nothing may my present hope empare That may not be said he ne maist thou yitt Forgoe that royal maides bequeathed care Who did her cause into thy hand committ Till from her cursed foe thou haue her freely quitt Then shall I soone qd he so God me grace Abett that virgins cause disconsolate And shortly back returne vnto this place To walke this way in Pilgrims poore estate But now aread old father why of late Didst thou behight me borne of English blood Whom all a Faeries sonne doen nominate That word shall I said he auouchen good Sith to thee is vnknowne the cradle of thy brood For well I wote thou springst from ancient race Of Saxon kinges that haue with mightie hand And many bloody battailes fought in 〈◊〉 High reard their royall throne in Britans land And vanquisht them vnable to withstand From thence a Faery thee 〈◊〉 reft There as thou slepst in tender swadling band And her base Elfin brood there for thee left Such men do Chaungelings call so chaungd by Faeries theft Thence she thee brought into this Faery lond And in an heaped furrow did thee hyde Where thee a Ploughman all vnweeting fond As he his toylesome teme that way did guyde And btought thee vp 〈◊〉 ploughmans state to byde Whereof Georgos he thee gaue to name Till prickt with courage and thy forces pryde To Fary court thou cam'st to seeke for fame And proue thy puissaunt armes as seemes thee best became O holy Sire quoth he how shall I quight The many fauours I with thee haue fownd That hast my name and nation redd aright And taught the way that does to heauen bownd This saide adowne he looked to the grownd To haue returnd but dazed were his eyne Through passing brightnes which did quite cōfound His feeble sence and too exceeding shyne So darke are earthly thinges compard to things diuine At last whenas himselfe he gan to fynd To Vna back he cast him to retyre Who him awaited still with pensiue mynd Great thankes and goodly meed to that good syre He thens departing gaue for his paynes hyre So came to Vna who him ioyd to see And after litle rest gan him desyre Of her aduenture myndfull for to bee So leaue they take of Coelia and her daughters three Cant XI The knight with that old Dragon fights two dayes incessantly The third him ouerthrowes and gayns most glorious victory HIgh time now gan it wex for Vna fayre To thinke of those her captiue Parents deare And their for wasted kingdom to repayre Whereto whenas they now approched neare With hartie wordes her knight she gan to cheare And in her modest maner thus bespake Deare knight as deare as euer knight was deare That all these sorrowes suffer for my sake High heuen behold the tedious toyle ye for me take Now are we come vnto my natiue soyle And to the place where all our perilles dwell Here hauntes that feend and does his dayly spoyle Therefore henceforth bee it your keeping well And euer ready for your foeman fell The sparke of noble corage now awake And striue your excellent selfe to excell That shall ye euermore renowmed make Aboue all knights on earth that batteill vndertake With that they heard a roaring hideous sownd That all the ayre with terror filled wyde And seemd vneath to shake the stedfast ground Eftsoones that dreadfull Dragon they espyde Where stretcht he lay vpon the sunny side Of a great hill himselfe like a great hill But all so soone as he from far descryde Those glistring armes that heuen with light did fill He rousd himselfe full blyth and hastned them vntill Then badd the knight this Lady yede aloof And to an hill her selfe withdraw asyde From whence she might behold that battailles proof And ēke be safe from daunger far descryde She him obayd and turnd a litle wyde Now O thou sacred Muse most learned Dame Fayre ympe of Phoebus and his aged bryde The Nourse of time and euerlasting fame That warlike handes ennoblest with immortall name O gently come into my feeble brest Come gently but not with that mightie rage Wherewith the martiall troupes thou doest infest And hartes of great Heroës doest enrage That nought their kindled corage may aswage Soone as thy dreadfull trompe begins to sownd
syde a pleasaunt groue Was shott vp high full of the stately tree That dedicated is t' Olympick Ioue And to his sonne Alcides whenas hee In Netmus gayned goodly victoree Therein the mery birdes of euery sorte Chaunted alowd their chearefull 〈◊〉 And made emongst them felues a sweete consort That quickned the dull spright with musicall comfort There he him found all carelesly displaid In secrete shadow from the sunny ray On a sweet bed of lillies softly laid Amidst a flock of Damzelles fresh and gay That rownd about him dissolute did play Their wanton follies and light meriment Euery of which did loosely disaray Her vpper partes of meet habiliments And shewd them naked deckt with many or naments And euery of them stroue with most delights Him to aggrate and greatest pleasures shew Some framd faire lookes glancing like euening lights Others sweet wordes dropping like honny dew Some bathed kisses and did soft embrew The sugred licour through his melting lips One boastes her beautie and does yield to vew Her dainty limbes aboue her tender hips Another her out boastes and all for try all strips He like an Adder lurking in the weedes His wandring thought in deepe desire does steepe And his frayle eye with spoyle of beauty feedes Sometimes he falsely faines himselfe to sleepe Whiles through their lids his wanton eies do peepe To steale a snatch of amorous conceipt Whereby close fire into his heart does creepe So he them deceiues deceiud in his deceipt Made dronke with drugs of deare voluptuous receipt Attin arriuing there when him he spyde Thus in still waues of deepe delight to wade Fiercely approching to him lowdly cryde Cymochles oh no but Cymochles shade In which that manly person late did fade What is become of great Acrates sonne Or where hath he hong vp his mortall blade That hath so many haughty conquests wonne Is all his force forlorne and all his glory donne Then pricking him with his sharp pointed dart He saide 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 sencelesse ground And groneth out his vtmost grudging spright Through many a stroke many a streaming wound Calling thy help in vaine that here in ioyes art dround Suddeinly out of his delightfull dreame The man a woke and would haue questiond more But he would not endure that wofull theame For to dilate at large but vrged sore With percing wordes and pittifull implore Him hasty to arise As one affright With hellish feends or Furies mad vprore He then vprose inflamd with fell despight And called for his armes for he would algates fight They beney brought 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 auengd 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 Attin ay him pricks with spurs of shame wrong Cant. VI. Guyon is of immodest Merth led into loose desyre Fights with Cymochles whiles his bro ther burnes in furious fyre AHarder 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 abstaine Yet vertue vauntes in both her victories And Guyon in them all shewes goodly maysteries Whom bold Cymochles traueiling to finde With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him The wrath which Atin kindled in his mind Came to a riuer by 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 Lady fresh and fayre Making sweete solace to herselfe alone Sometimes she song as lowd as larke in ayre Sometimes she laught as merry as Pope Ione Yet was there not with her else any one That to her might moue cause of meriment Matter of merth enough though there were none She could deuife and thousand waies inuent To feede her foolish humour and vaine iolliment Which when far of Cymochles heard and saw He lowdly cald to such as were abord The little barke vnto the shore to draw And him to ferry ouer that deepe ford The merry mariner vnto his word Soone hearkned and her painted bote streightway Turnd to the shore where that 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 〈◊〉 sheres the liquid skye Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide Or winged canuas with the wind to fly Onely she turnd 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 Damsell found New merth her passenger to entertaine For she in pleasaunt purpose did abound And greatly ioyed merry tales to faine Of which a store-house did with her remaine Yet seemed nothing well they her became For all her wordes she drownd with laughter vaine And wanted grace in vtt'ring of the same That turned all her pleasaunce to ascoffing game And other whiles vaine toyes she would deuize As her fantasticke wit did most delight Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize With gaudy girlonds or fresh flowrets dight About her necke or rings of rushes plight Sometimes to do him laugh she would assay To laugh at shaking off the leaues light Or to behold the water worke and play About her little frigot therein making way Her light behauiour and loose dalliaunce Gaue wondrous great contentment to the knight That of his way he had no souenaunce Nor care of vow'd reuenge and cruell fight But to weake wench did yield his martiall might So easie was to quench his flamed minde With one sweete drop of sensuall delight So easie is t' appease the stormy winde Of malice in the calme of pleasaunt womankind Diuerse discourses in their way they spent Mongst which Cymochles of her questioned Both what she was and what that vsage ment Which in her cott she daily practized Vaine man saide she that wouldest be reckoned A straunger in thy home and ignoraunt Of 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 thether sayles by ayme Ne care ne feare I how the wind do blow Or whether swift I wend or
stedfast hand vpon his horse did stay And led him to the Castle by the beaten way Where many Groomes and Squyres ready were To take him from his steed full tenderly And eke the fayrest Alma mett him there With balme and wine and costly spicery To comfort him in his infirmity Eftesoones shee causd him vp to be conuayd And of his armes despoyled easily In sumptuons bed shee made him to be layd And al the while his woūds were dressing by him stayd Cant. XII Guyon through Palmers gouernaunce through passing perilles great Doth ouerthrow the Bowre of blis and Acrasy defeat NOw ginnes this goodly frame of Temperaunce Fayrely to rise and her adorned hed To pricke of highest prayse forth to aduaunce Formerly grounded and fast setteled On firme foundation of true bountyhed And this braue knight that for this vertue fightes Now comes to point of that same perilous sted Where Pleasure dwelles in sensuall delights Mongst thousand dagers ten thousād Magick mights Two dayes now in that sea he sayled has Ne euer land beheld ne liuing wight Ne ought saue perill still as he did pas Tho when appeared the third Morrow bright Vpon the waues to spred her trembling light An hideous roring far away they heard That all their sences filled with affright And streight they saw the raging surges reard Vp to the skyes that them of drowning made affeard Said then the Boteman Palmer stere aright And keepe an euen course for yonder way We needes must pas God doe vs well acquight That is the Gulfe of Greedinesse they say That deepe engorgeth all this worldes pray Which hauing swallowd vp excessiuely He soone in vomit vp againe doth lay And belcheth forth his superfluity That all the seas for feare did seeme away to fly On thother syde an hideous Rock is pight Of mightie Magnes stone whose craggie clift Depending from on high dreadfull to sight Ouer the waues his rugged armes doth lift And threatneth downe to throw his ragged rift On whoso cometh nigh yet nigh it drawes All passengers that none from it can shift For whiles they fly that Gulfes deuouring iawes They on this Rock are rent and sunck in helples wawes Forward they passe and strongly he them rowes Vntill they nigh vnto that Gulfe arryue Where streame more violent and greedy growes Then he with all his puisaunce doth stryue To strike his oares and mightily doth dryue The hollow vessell through the threatfull waue Which gaping wide to swallow them alyue In th'huge abysse of his engulfing graue Doth rore at them in vaine and with great terrour raue They passing by that grisely mouth did see Sucking the seas into his entralles deepe That seemd more horrible then hell to bee Or that darke dreadfull hole of Tartare steepe Through which the damned ghosts doen often creep Backe to the world bad liuers to torment But nought that falles into this direfull deepe Ne that approcheth nigh the wyde descent May backe retourne but is condemned to be drent On thother side they saw that perilous Rocke Threatning it selfe on them to ruinate On whose sharp cliftes the ribs of vessels broke And shiuered ships which had beene wrecked late Yet stuck with carcases exanimate Of such as hauing all their substance spent In wanton ioyes and lustes intemperate Did after wardes make shipwrack violent Both of their life and fame for euer fowly blent For thy this hight The Rock of vile Reproch A daungerous and detestable place To which nor fish nor fowle did once approch But yelling Meawes with Seagulles hoars and bace And Cormoyraunts with birds of rauenous race Which still sat weiting on that wastfull clift For spoile of wretches whose vnhappy cace After lost credit and consumed thrift At last them driuen hath to this despairefull drift The Palmer seeing them in safetie past Thus saide behold th'ensamples in our sightes Of lustfull luxurie and thriftlesse wast What now is left of miserable wightes Which spent their looser daies in leud delightes But shame and sad reproch here to be red By these rent reliques speaking their ill plightes Let all that liue hereby be counselled To shunne Rock of Reproch and it as death to dread So forth they rowed and that Ferryman With his stiffe oares did brush the sea so strong That the hoare waters from his frigotran And the light bubles daunced all along Whiles the salt brine out of the billowes sprong At last far off they many Islandes spy On euery side floting the floodes emong Then said the knight Lo I the land descry Therefore old Syre thy course doe thereunto apply That may not bee said then the Ferryman Least wee vnweeting hap to be fordonne For those same Islands seeming now and than Are not firme land nor any certein wonne But stragling plots which to and fro doe ronne In the wide waters therefore are they hight The wandring Islands Therefore doe them shonne For they haue ofte drawne many a wandring wight Into most deadly daunger and distressed plight Yet well they seeme to him that farre doth vew Both faire and fruitfull and the grownd dispred With grassy greene of delectable hew And the tall trees with leaues appareled Are deckt with blossoms dyde in white and red That mote the passengers thereto allure But whosoeuer once hath fastened His foot thereon may neuer it recure But wandreth euer more vncertein and vnsure As th' Isle of Delos whylome men report Amid th' 〈◊〉 sea long time did stray Ne made for shipping any certeine port Till that Latona traueiling that way Flying from Iunoes wrath and hard assay Of her fayre twins was there deliuered Which afterwards did rule the night and day Thenceforth it firmely was established And for Apolloes temple highly her ried They to him hearken as beseemeth meete And passe on forward so their way does ly That one of those same Islands which doe fleet In the wide sea they needes must passen by Which seemd so sweet and pleasaunt to the eye That it would tempt a man to touchen there Vpon the banck they sitting did espy A daintie damsell dressing of her heare By whom a little skippet floting did appeare She them espying loud to them can call Bidding them nigher draw vnto the shore For she had cause to busie them withall And therewith lowdly laught But nathemore Would they once turne but kept on as afore Which when she saw she left her lockes vndight And running to her boat wihtouten ore From the departing land it launched light And after them did driue with all her power and might Whom ouertaking she in merry sort Them gan to bord and purpose diuersly Now faining dalliaunce and wanton sport Now throwing forth lewd wordes immodestly Till that the Palmer gan full bitterly Her to rebuke for being loose and light Which not abiding but more scornfully Scoffing at him that did her iustly wite She turnd her bote about and from them rowed quite That was the wanton Phoedria which late Did ferry him ouer the
quayld Her vp betwixt his rugged hands he reard And with his frory lips full softly kist Whiles the cold ysickles from his rough beard Dropped adowne vpon her yuory brest Yet he him selfe so busily addrest That her out of astonishment he wrought And out of that same fishers filthy nest Remouing her into his charet brought And there with many gentle termes her faire besought But that old leachour which with bold assault That beautie durst presume to violate He cast to punish for his hainous fault Then tooke he him yet trembling sith of late And tyde behind his charet to aggrate The virgin whom he had abusde so sore So drag'd him through the waues in scornfull state And after cast him vp vpon the shore But Florimell with him vnto his bowre he bore His bowre is in the bottom of the maine Vnder a mightie rocke gainst which doe raue The roring billowes in their proud disdaine That with the angry working of the waue Therein is eaten out an hollow caue That seemes rough Masons hand with engines keene Had long while laboured it to engraue There was his wonne ne 〈◊〉 wight was seene Saue one old Nymph high 〈◊〉 to keepe it cleane Thether he brought the sory Florimell And entertained her the best he might And Panope her entertaind eke well As an immortall mote a mortall wight To winne her liking vnto his delight With flattering wordes he sweetly wooed her And offered faire guiftes t' allure her sight But she both offers and the offerer Despysde and all the sawning of the flatterer Dayly he tempted her with this or that And neuer suffred her to be at rest But euermore she him refused flat And all his fained kindnes 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 him selfe a mortall wight But then she said she lou'd none but a Faery knight Then like a 〈◊〉 knight him selfe he drest For euery shape on him he could endew Then like a king he was to her exprest And offred kingdoms vnto her in vew To be his Leman and his Lady trew But when all this he nothing saw preuaile With harder meanes he cast her to subdew And with sharpe threates her often did assayle So thinking for to make her stubborne corage quayle To dreadfull shapes he did him selfe transforme Now like a Gyaunt 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 eend But when with feare nor fauour nor with all He els could doe he saw him selfe 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 Dye had she rather in tormenting griefe Then any should of falsenesse her reproue Or loosenes that she lightly did remoue Most vertuous virgin glory be thy meed And crowne of heauenly prayse with Saintes 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 Shal 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 Yt yrkes me leaue thee in this wofull state To tell of Satyrane where I him left of late Who hauing ended with that Squyre of Dames A long discourse of his aduentures vayne The which himselfe then Ladies more defames And finding not th' Hyena to be slayne With that same Squyre retourned back agayne To his first way And as they forward went They spyde a knight fayre pricking on the playne As if he were on some aduenture bent And in his port appeared manly hardiment Sir Satyrane him towardes 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 tydinges farre abrode And afterwardes on what aduenture now he rode Who thereto answering said The tydinges bad Which now in Faery court all men doe 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 knightes that doen in armes excell To sauegard her ywandred all alone Emongst the rest my lott 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 bee That all the noble knights of Maydenhead Which her ador'd may sore repent with mee And all faire Ladies may for euer sory bee Which wordes when Paridell had heard his hew Gan greatly chaung and seemd dismaid to bee Then said Fayre Sir how may I weene it 〈◊〉 That ye doe tell in such vncerteintee Or speake ye of report or did ye see Iust cause of dread that makes ye doubt so sore For perdie elles how mote it euer bee That euer hand should dare for to engore Her noble blood the heuens such crueltie abhore These eyes did see that they will euer rew To haue seene quoth he when as a monstrous beast The Palfrey whereon she did trauell slew And of his bowels made his bloody feast Which speaking token sheweth at the least Her certeine losse if not her sure decay Besides that more suspicion encreast I found her golden girdle cast astray Distaynd with durt and blood as relique of the pray Ay me said Pauidell the 〈◊〉 be sadd And but God turne the same to good sooth say That Ladies safetie is sore to be dradd Yet will I not forsake my forward way Till triall doe more certeine truth bewray Faire Sir qd he well may it you succed 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 Squyre of Dames Well may yee speede in so praise worthy payne But sith the Sunne now ginnes to slake his beames In deawy vapours of the westerne mayne And lose the teme out of his weary wayne Mote not mislike you also to abate Your zealous hast till morrow next againe Both light of heuen 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 Where soone arryuing they restrained were Of ready entraunce which ought euermore To errant knights