Who then can striue with strong necessitie That holds the world in his still chaunging state Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie Whē houre of death is come let none aske whence nor why The lenger life I wote the greater sin The greater sin the greater punishment All those great battels which thou boasts to win Through strife and blood-shed and auengement Now praysd hereafter deare thou shalt repent For life must life and blood must blood repay Is not enough thy euill life forespent For he that once hath missed the right way The further he doth goe the further he doth stray Then doe no further goe no further stray But herely downe and to thy rest betake Th' ill to preuent that life ensewen may For what hath life that may it loued make And giues not rather cause it to forsake Feare sicknesse age losse labour sorrow strife Payne hunger cold that makes the hart to quake And euer fickle fortune rageth rife All which and thousands mo do make a loathsome life Thou wretched man of death hast greatest need If in true ballaunce thou wilt weigh thy state For neuer knight that dared warlike deed More luckless dissauentures did amate Witnes the dungeon deepe wherein of late Thy life shutt vp for death so oft did call And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date Yet death then would the like mishaps forestall Into the which heareafter thou maist happen fall Why then doest thou O man of sin desire To draw thy dayes forth to their last degree Is not the measure of thy sinfull hire High heaped vp with huge 〈◊〉 Against the day of wrath to burden thee Is not enough that to this Lady mild Thou falsest hast thy faith with periuree And sold thy selfe to serue Duessa vild With whom in al abuse thou hast thy selfe defild Is not he iust that all this doth behold From highest heuen and beares an equall eie Shall he thy sins vp in his knowledge fold And guilty be of thine impietie Is not his lawe Let euery sinner die Die shall all flesh what then must needs be donne Is it not better to doe willinglie Then linger till the glas be all out ronne Death is the end of woes die soone O faries sonne The knight was much enmoued with his speach That as a swords poynt through his 〈◊〉 did perse And in his conscience made a secrete breach Well knowing 〈◊〉 all that he did reherse And to his fresh remembraunce did reuerse The vgly vew of his deformed crimes That all his manly powres it did disperse As he were charmed with inchaunted rimes That oftentimes he quakt and fainted oftentimes In which amazement when the Miscreaunt Perceiued him to wauer weake and fraile Whiles trembling horror did his conscience daunt And hellish anguish did his soule assaile To driue him to despaire and quite to quaile Hee shewd him painted in a table plaine The damned ghosts that doe in torments waile And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paine With fire and brimstone which for euer shall remaine The sight whereof so throughly him dismaid That nought but death before his eies he saw And euer burning wrath before him laid By righteous sentence of th' Almighties law Then gan the villein him to ouercraw And brought vnto him swords ropes poison fire And all that might him to perdition draw And bad him choose what death he would desire For death was dew to him that had prouokt Gods ire But whenas none of them he saw him take He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene And gaue it him in hand his hand did quake And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene And troubled blood through his pale face was seene To come and goe with tidings from the heart As it a ronning messenger had beene At last resolu'd to worke his finall smart He lifted vp his hand that backe againe did start Which whenas Vna heard through euery vaine The crudled cold ran to her well of life As in a swowne but so one reliu'd againe Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife And threw it to the ground enraged rife And to him said Fie fie faint hearted knight What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife Is this the battaile which thou vauntst to fight With that fire-mouthed Dragon horrible and bright Come come away fraile feeble fleshly wight Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart Ne diuelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright In heauenly mercies hast thou not a part Why shouldst thou then despeire that chosen art Where iustice growes there grows eke greter grace The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart And that accurst hand-writing doth deface Arise Sir knight arise and leaue this cursed place So vp he rose and thence amounted streight VVhich when the carle beheld and saw his guest VVould safe depart for all his subtile sleight He chose an halter from among the rest And with it hong him selfe vnbid vnblest But death he could not worke himselfe thereby For thousand times he so him selfe had drest Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die Till he should die his last that is eternally Cant. X. Her faithfull knight faire Vna brings To house of Holinesse Where he is taught repentaunce and The way to heuenly blesse What man is he that boasts of fleshly might And vaine assuraunce of mortality Which all so soone as it doth come to fight Against spirituall foes yields by and by Or from the fielde most cowardly doth fly Ne let the man ascribe it to his skill That thorough grace hath gained victory If any strength we haue it is to ill But all the good is Gods both power and eke will By that which lately hapned Vna saw That this her knight was feeble and too faint And all his sinewes woxen weake and raw Through long enprisonment and hard constraint Which he endured in his late restraint That yet he was vnfitt for bloody fight Therefore to cherish him with diets daint She cast to bring him where he chearen might Till he recouered had his late decayed plight There was an auncient house not far away Renowmd throughout the world for sacred lore And pure vnspotted life so well they say It gouernd was and guided euermore Through wisedome of a matrone graue and hore Whose onely ioy was to relieue the needes Of wretched soules and helpe the helpelesse pore All night she spent in bidding of her bedes And all the day in doing good and godly deedes Dame Caelia men did her call as thought From heauen to come or thether to arise The mother of three daughters well vpbrought In goodly thewes and godly exercise The eldest two most sober chast and wise Fidelia and Speranza virgins were Though spousd yet wanting wedlocks solemnize But faire Charissa to a louely fere Was lincked and by him had many pledges dere Arriued there the dore they find fast lockt For it was warely watched night and day For feare of many foes but when they
requyre Or think that ought those puissant hands may marre Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappy starre Perdye then is it fitt for me said he That am I weene most wretched man aliue Burning in flames yet no flames can I see And dying dayly dayly yet reuiue O Atin helpe to me last death to giue The varlet at his plaint was grieued so sore That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue And his owne health remembring now no more Did follow that ensample which he blam'd afore Into the lake he lept his Lord to ayd So Loue the dread of daunger doth despise And of him catching hold him strongly stayd From drowning But more happy he then wise Of that seas nature did him not auise The waues thereof so slow and sluggish were Engrost with mud which did them fowle agrise That euery weighty thing they did vpbeare Ne ought mote euer sinck downe to the bottom there Whiles thus they strugled in that ydle waue And stroue in vaine the one him selfe to drowne The other both from drowning for to saue Lo to that shore one in an auncient gowne Whose hoary locks great grauitie did crowne Holding in hand a goodly arming sword By fortune came ledd with the troublous sowne Where drenched deepe he fownd in that dull ford The carefull seruaunt stryuing with his raging Lord. Him Atin spying knew right well of yore And lowdly cald Help helpe O Archimage To saue my Lord in wretched plight forlore Helpe with thy hand or with thy counsell sage Weake handes but counsell is most strong in age Him when the old man saw he woundred sore To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage Yet sithens helpe he saw he needed more Then pitty he in hast approched to the shore And cald Pyrrhochles what is this I see What hellish fury hath at earst thee hent Furious euer I thee knew to bee Yet neuer in this straunge astonishment These flames these flames he cryde do me torment What flames qd he when I thee present see In daunger rather to be drent then brent Harrow the flames which me consume said hee Ne can be quencht within my secret bowelles bee That cursed man that cruel feend of hell Furor oh Furor hath me thus bedight His deadly woundes within my liuers swell And his whott fyre burnes in mine entralles bright Kindled through his infernall brond of spight Sith late with him I batteill vaine would boste That now I weene Ioues dreaded thunder light Does scorch not halfe so sore nor damned ghoste In flaming Phlegeton does not so felly roste Which when as Archimago heard his griefe He knew right well and him attonce disarmd Then searcht his secret woundes and made a priefe Of euery place that was with bruzing harmd Or with the hidden fier inly warmd Which doen he balmes and herbes thereto applyde And euermore with mightie spels them charmd That in short space he has them qualifyde And him restor'd to helth that would haue algates dyde Cant. VII Guyon findes Mamon in a delue sunning his threasure hore Is by him tempted led downe To see his secrete store AS Pilot well expert in perilous waue That to a stedfast starre his course hath bent When foggy mistes or cloudy tempests haue The faithfull light of that faire lampe yblent And couer'd heauen with hideous dreriment Vpon his card and compas firmes his eye The maysters of his long experiment And to them does the steddy helme apply Bidding his winged vessell fairely forward fly So Guyon hauing lost his trustie guyde Late left beyond that Ydle lake proceedes Yet on his way of none accompanyde And euermore himselfe with comfort feedes Of his owne vertues and praise-worthie deedes So long he yode yet no aduenture found Which fame of her shrill trompet worthy reedes For still he traueild through wide wastfull ground That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around At last he came vnto a gloomy glade Couer'd with boughes shrubs from heauens light Whereas he sitting found in secret shade An vncouth saluage and vnciuile wight Of griesly hew and fowle ill fauour'd sight His face with smoke was tand eies were bleard His head and beard with sout were ill bedight His cole-blacke hands did seeme to haue ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge and nayles like clawes appeard His yron cote all ouergrowne with rust Was vnderneath enueloped with gold Whose glistring glosse darkned with filthy dust Well yet appeared to haue beene of old A worke of rich entayle and curious mould Wouen with antickes and wyld ymagery And in his lap a masse of coyne he told And turned vpside downe to feede his eye And couetous desire with his huge threasury And round about him lay on euery side Great heapes of gold that neuer could be spent Of which some were rude owre not purifide Of Malcibers deuouring element Some others were new driuen and distent Into great Ingowes and to wedges square Some in round plates withouten moniment But most were stampt and in their metal bare The antique shapes of kings and 〈◊〉 straung rare Soone as he Guyon saw in great affright And haste he rose for to remoue aside Those pretious hils from straungers enuious sight And downe them poured through an hole full wide Into the hollow earth them there to hide But Guyon lightly to him leaping stayd His hand that trembled as one terrifyde And though him selfe were at the sight dismayd Yet him perforce restraynd and to him doubtfull sayd What art thou man if man at all thou art That here in desert hast thine habitaunce And these rich hils of welth doest hide apart From the worldes eye and from her right vsaunce Thereat with staring eyes fixed askaunce In great disdaine he answerd Hardy Elfe That darest vew my direfull countenaunce I read thee rash and heedlesse of thy selfe To trouble my still seate and heapes of pretious pelfe God of the world and worldlings I me call Great Mammon greatest god below the skye That of my plenty poure out vnto all And vnto none my graces do enuye Riches renowme and principality Honour estate and all this worldes good For which men swinck and sweat incessantly Fro me do flow into an ample flood And in the hollow earth haue their eternall brood Wherefore if me thou deigne to serue and 〈◊〉 At thy commaund lo all these mountaines bee Or if to thy great mind or greedy vew All these may not suffise there shall to thee Ten times so much be nombred francke and free Mammon said he thy godheads vaunt is vaine And idle offers of thy golden fee To them that couet such eye-glutting gaine Proffer thy giftes and fitter seruaunts entertaine Me ill besits that in derdoing armes And honours suit my vowed daies do spend Vnto thy bounteous baytes and pleasing charmes With which weake men thou witchest to attend Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend And low abase the high heroicke spright That ioyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend Faire
and deare The sea vnto him voluntary brings That shortly he a great Lord did appeare As was in all the lond of Faery or else wheare Thereto he was a doughty dreaded knight Tryde often to the scath of many Deare That none in equall armes him matchen might The which his mother seeing gan to feare Least his too haughtie hardines might reare Some hard mishap in hazard of his life For thy she oft him counseld to forbeare The bloody batteill and to stirre vp strife But after all his warre to rest his wearie knife And for his more assuraunce she inquir'd One day of Proteus by his mighty spell For Proteus was with prophecy inspir'd Her deare sonnes destiny to her to tell And the sad end of her sweet Marinell Who through foresight of his eternall skill Bad her from womankind to keepe him well For of a woman he should haue much ill A virgin straunge and stout him should dismay or kill For thy she gaue him warning euery day The loue of women not to entertaine A lesson too too hard for liuing clay From loue in course of nature to refraine Yet he his mothers lore did well retaine And euer from fayre Ladies loue did fly Yet many Ladies fayre did oft complaine That they for loue of him would algates dy Dy who so list for him he was loues enimy But ah who can deceiue his destiny Or weene by warning to auoyd his fate That when he sleepes in most security And safest seemes him soonest doth amate And findeth dew effect or soone or late So feeble is the powre of fleshy arme His mother bad him wemens loue to hate For she of womans force did feare no harme So weening to haue arm'd him she did quite disarme This was that woman this 〈◊〉 deadly wownd That Proteus prophecide should him dismay The wich his mother vainely did expownd To be hart-wown ding loue which should assay To bring her sonne vnto his last decay So ticle be the tetmes of mortall state And full of subtile so phismes which doe play With double sences and with false debate T approue the vnknowen purpose of eternall fate Too trew the famous Marinell it fownd Who through late triall on that wealthy Strond Inglorious now lies in sencelesse swownd Through heauy stroke of Britomartis hond Which when his mother deare did vnderstond And heauy tidings heard whereas she playd Amongst her watry sisters by a pond Gathering sweete daffadillyes to haue made Gay girlonds from the Sun their forheads fayr to shade Eftesoones both flowres and girlonds far away Shee flong and her faire deawy locks yrent To sorrow huge she turnd her former play And gameson merth to grieuous dreriment Shee threw her selfe downe on the Continent Ne word did speake but lay as in aswownd Whiles al her sisters did for her lament With yelling outcries and with 〈◊〉 sowne And euery one did teare her gitlond from her crowne Soone as shee vp out of her deadly fitt Arose shee bad her charett to be brought And all her sisters that with her did sitt Bad eke attonce their charetts to be sought Tho full of bitter griefe and pensife thought She to her wagon clombe clombe all the rest And forth together went with sorow fraught The waues obedient to theyr beheast Them yielded ready passage and their rage surceast Great Neptune stoode amazed at their sight Whiles on his broad rownd backe they softly slid And eke him selfe mournd at their mournfull plight Yet wist not what their wailing ment yet did For great compassion of their sorow bid His mighty waters to them buxome bee Estesoones the roaring billowes still abid And all the griesly Monstes of the See Stood gaping at their gate and wondred them to see A teme of Dolphins raunged in aray Drew the smooth charett of sad Cymoent They were all taught by Triton to obay To the long raynes at her commaundement As swifte as swallowes on the waues they went That their brode flaggy finnes no fome did reare Ne bubling rowndell they behinde them sent The rest of other fishes drawen weare Which with 〈◊〉 finny oars the swelling sea did sheare Soone as they bene arriu'd vpon the brim Of the Rich strond their charets they forlore And let their temed fishes softly swim Along the margent of the fomy shore Least they their finnes should bruze and surbate sore Their tender feete vpon the stony grownd And comming to the place where all in gore And cruddy blood enwallowed they fownd The lucklesse Marinell lying in deadly swownd His mother swowned thrise and the third time Could scarce recouered bee out of her paine Had she not beene 〈◊〉 of mortall slime Shee should not then haue bene relyu'd againe But soone as life recouered had the raine Shee made so piteous mone and deare wayment That the hard rocks could scarse from tears refraine And all her sister Nymphes with one consent Supplide her sobbing breaches with sad complement Deare image of my selfe she sayd that is The wretched 〈◊〉 of wretched mother borne Is this thine high aduauncement O is this Th' immortall name with which thee yet vnborne Thy Gransire Nereus promist to adorne Now lyest thou of life and honor refte Now lyest thou a lumpe of earth forlorne Ne of thy late life memory is lefte Ne can thy irreuocable desteny bee wefte Fond Proteus father of false prophecis And they more fond that credit to thee giue Not this the worke of womans hand ywis That so deepe wound through these deare members driue I feared loue but they that loue doe liue But they that dye doe nether loue nor hate Nath'lesse to thee thy folly I forgiue And to myselfe and to accursed fate The guilt I doe ascribe deare wisedom bought too late O what auailes it of immortall seed To beene ybredd and neuer borne to dye Farre better I it deeme to die with speed Then waste in woe and waylfull miserye Who dyes the vtmost dolor doth abye But who that liues is lefte to waile his losse So life is losse and death felicity Sad life worse then glad death and greater crosse To see frends graue thē dead the graue self to engrosse But if the heauens did his dayes enuie And my short blis maligne yet mote they well Thus much afford me ere that he did die That the dim eies of my deare Marinell I mote haue closed and him bed farewell Sith other offices for mother meet They would not graunt Yett maulgre them farewell my sweetest sweet Farewell my sweetest sonne till we againe may meet Thus when they all had sorowed their fill They softly gan to search his griesly wownd And that they might him handle more at will They him disarmd and spredding on the grownd Their watcher mantles frindgd with siluer rownd They softly wipt away the gelly blood From th'orifice which hauing well vpbownd They pourd in soueraine balme and Nectar good Good both for erthly med'cine and for heuenly food Tho when the lilly handed Liagore
thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart Thy sad tong cannot tell more heauy plight Then that I seele and harbour in mine hart Who hath endur'd the whole can beare ech 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 Iflesse then that I feare more fauour I haue found Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare The subtile traines of Archimago old The wanton loues of false Fidessa fayre Bought with the blood of vanquisht Paynim bold The wretched payre transformd to 〈◊〉 mould The house of Pryde and 〈◊〉 round about The combat which he with Sansioy did hould The lucklesse conflict with the Gyaunt 〈◊〉 Wherein captiu'd of life or 〈◊〉 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 Iay For greater loue the greater is the losse Was neuer Lady loued dearer day Then she did loue the knight of the Redorosse For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse At last when feruent sorrow 〈◊〉 was She vp arose resoluing him to find Aliue or dead and forward forth 〈◊〉 pas All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd And euer more in constant carefull mind She fedd her wound with fresh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Long tost with stormes and bet with 〈◊〉 wind High ouer hills and lowe adowne the dale She wandred many a wood and measurd many a vale At last she 〈◊〉 by good 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 A goodly knight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the way Together with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His glitterand armour shined far away Like glauncing light of 〈◊〉 brightest 〈◊〉 From top to toe no place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That deadly 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athwart his brest a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That shind like twinkling stars with stones most pretious And in the midst thereof one pretious stone Of wondrous worth and 〈◊〉 of wondrous mights Shapt like a Ladies head exceeding shone Like Hesperus 〈◊〉 the lesser lights And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong In yuory sheath 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 slights Whose hilts were burnisht gold and handle strong Of mother perle and buckled with a golden tong His haughtie Helmet horrid all with gold Both glorious 〈◊〉 and great terrour bredd For all the crest a Dragon did enfold With greedie pawes and ouer all did spredd His golden winges his dreadfull hideous hedd Close couched on the beuer seemd to throw From flaming mouth bright sparckles fiery redd That suddeine 〈◊〉 to faint hartes did show And scaly 〈◊〉 was stretcht adowne his back full low Vpon the top of all his loftie crest A 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diuersly With 〈◊〉 pearle and gold full richly drest Did shake and seemd to daunce for iollity Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye On top of greene Selinis all alone With blossoms braue bedecked 〈◊〉 Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do 〈◊〉 euery one At euerie little breath that vnder heauen is blowne His warlike shield all closely couer'd was Ne might of 〈◊〉 all eye be euer seene Not made of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of enduring bras Such earth 〈◊〉 soone consumed beene But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene It framed was one massy 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 faynt As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint No magicke arts hereof had any might Nor bloody 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 seene 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 Faery 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 harmeful head thrise 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 bitt Who vnder him did amble as the aire And chaust that any on his backe should sitt The yron rowels into frothy fome he bi tt When as this knight nigh to the Lady drew With louely court he gan her entertaine But when he heard her aunswers 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 humor fitting purpose faine To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray Wherewith enmoud these bleeding words she gan to say What worlds delight or ioy of liuing speach Can hart so plungd in sea of sorrowes deep And heaped with so huge misfortunes reach The carefull cold beginneth for to creep And in my heart his yron arrow steep Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keep Then rip vp griefe where it may not auaile My last left comfort is my woes to weepe and waile Ah Lady deare qd then the gentle knight Well may I ween your grief is wondrous great For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat But woefull Lady let me you intrete For to vnfold the anguish of your hart Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete And counsell mitigates the greatest smart Found neuer help who neuer would his hurts impart O but qd she great griefe will not be tould And can more easily be thought then said Right so qd he but he that neuer would Could neuer will to might giues greatest aid But griefe qd she does greater grow displaid If then it find not helpe and breeds despaire Despaire breeds not qd he where faith is 〈◊〉 No faith so fast qd she but flesh does paire Flesh may empaire qd he but reason can repaire His goodly reason and well guided speach So deepe did settle in her gracious thought That her perswaded to disclose the breach Which loue and fortune in
to haue slaine But wist and wary was that noble Pere And lightly leaping from so monstrous maine Did fayre auoide the violence him nere It booted nought to thinke such thunderbolts to beare Ne shame he thought to shonne so hideous might The ydle stroke enforcing furious way Missing the marke of his misaymed sight Did fall to ground and with his heauy 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 〈◊〉 did like an erthquake show As when almightie Ioue 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 fiers threeforked engin making way Both loftie towres and highest trees hath rent And all that might his angry passage stay And shooting in the earth castes vp a mount of clay His boystrous club so buried in the grownd He could not rearen vp againe so light But that the knight him at aduantage fownd And whiles he stroue his combred clubbe to quight Out of the earth with blade all burning bright He smott of his left arme which like a block Did fall to ground depriu'd of natiue might Large streames of blood out of the truncked stock Forth gushed like fresh water streame from riuen rocke Dismayed with so desperate deadly wound And eke impatient of vnwonted payne He lowdly brayd with beastly yelling sownd That all the fieldes rebellowed againe As great a noyse as when in Cymbrian plaine An heard of Bulles whom kindly rage doth sting Doe for the milky mothers want complaine And fill the fieldes with troublous bellowing The neighbor woods arownd 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 blood of late Came ramping forth with proud 〈◊〉 gate And threatned all his heades like flaming brandes But him the Squire made quickly to retrate Encountring fiers with single sword in hand And twixt him and his Lord did like a bulwarke stand The proud Duessa full of wrathfull spight And fiers disdaine to be affronted so Enforst her purple beast with all her might That stop out of the way to ouerthroe Scorning the let of so vnequall foe But nathemore would that corageous swayne To her yeeld passage gainst his Lord to goe But with outrageous strokes did him restraine And with his body bard the way atwixt them twaine Then tooke the angrie witch her golden cup Which still she bore replete with magick artes Death and despeyre did many thereof sup And secret poyson through their inner partes Th' eternall bale of heauie wounded harts Which after charmes and some enchauntments said She lightly sprinkled on his weaker partes Therewith his sturdie corage soone was quayd And all his sences were with suddein dread dismayd So downe he fell before the 〈◊〉 beast Who on his neck his bloody clawes did seize That life nigh crusht out of his panting brest No powre he had to stirre nor will to 〈◊〉 That when the carefull knight gan well auise He lightly left the foe with whom he fought And to the beast gan turne his enterprise For wondrous anguish in his hart it wrought To see his loued Squyre into such thraldom brought And high aduauncing his blood-thirstie blade Stroke one of those deformed heades so sore That of his puissaunce proud ensample made His monstrous scalpe downe to his teeth it tore And that misformed shape misshaped more A sea of blood gusht from the gaping wownd That her gay garments staynd with filthy gore And ouerflowed all the field arownd That ouer shoes in blood he waded on the grownd There at he rored for excecding paine That to haue heard great horror would haue bred And scourging th' emptie ayre with his long trayne Through great impatience of his grieued hed His gorgeous ryder from her loftie sted Would haue cast downe and trodd in durty myre Had not the Gyaunt soone her succoured Who all enrag'd with smartand frantick yre Came hurtling in full fiers and forst the knight retyre The force which wont in two to be disperst In one alone left hand he now vnites Which is through rage more strong then both were erst With which his hideous club aloft he dites And at his foe with furious rigor smites That strongest Oake might seeme to ouerthrow The stroke vpon his shield so heauie lites That to the ground it doubleth him full low What mortall wight could euer beareso monstrous blow And in his fall his shield that couered was Did loose his vele by chaunce and open flew The light whereof that heuens light did pas Such blazing brightnesse through the ayer threw That eye mote not the same endure to vew Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye He downe let fall his arme and foft withdrew His weapon huge that heaued was on hye For to haue slain the man that on the ground did lye And eke the fruitfull-headed beast amazd At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield Became stark blind and all his sences dazd That downe he tumbled on the durtie field And seemd himselfe as conquered to yield Whom when his maistresse proud perceiu'd to fall Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld Vnto the Gyaunt lowdly she gan call O helpe Orgoglio helpe or els we perish all At her so pitteous cry was much amo ou'd Her champion stout and for to ayde his frend Againe his wonted angry weapon proou'd But all in vaine for he has redd his end In that bright shield and all their forces spend Them selues in vaine for since that glauncing sight He hath no poure to hurt nor to defend As where th' Almighties lightning brond does light It dimmes the dazed eyen and daunts the sences quight Whom when the Prince to batteill new addrest And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see His sparkling blade about his head he blest And smote off quite his right leg by the knee That downe he tombled as an aged tree High growing on the top of rocky clift Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be The mightie trunck halfe rent with ragged rift Doth roll adowne the rocks and fall with fearefull drift Or as a Castle reared high and round By subtile engins and malitious slight Is vndermined from the lowest ground And her foundation forst and feebled quight At last downe falles and with her heaped hight Herhastie ruine does more heauie make And yields it selfe vnto the victours might Such was this Gyaunts fall that seemd to shake The stedfast globe of earth as it for feare did quake The knight then lightly leaping to the pray With mortall steele him smot againe so sore That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay All wallowd in his owne fowle bloody gore Which flowed from
his wounds in wondrous store But soone as breath out of her brest did pas That huge great body which the Gyaunt bore Was vanisht quite and of that monstrous mas Was nothing left but like an emptie blader was Whose grieuous fall when false Duessa spyde Her golden cup she cast vnto the ground And crowned mitre rudely threw asyde Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound That she could not endure that dolefull stound But leauing all behind her fled away The light-foot Squyre her quickly turnd around And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay So brought vnto his Lord as his deserued pray The roiall Virgin which beheld from farre In pensiue plight and sad perplexitie The whole atchieuement of this doubtfull warre Came running fast to greet his victorie With sôber gladnesse and myld modestie And with sweet ioyous cheare him thus bespake Fayre braunch of noblesse flowre of chevalrie That with your worth the world amazed make How shall I quite the paynes ye suffer for my sake And you fresh budd of vertue springing fast Whom these sad eyes saw nigh vnto deaths dore What hath poore Virgin for such perill past Where with you to reward Accept therefore My simple selfe and seruice euermore And he that high does sit and all things see With equall eye their merites to restore Behold what ye this day haue done for mee And what I cannot quite requite with vsuree But sith the heauens and your faire handeling Haue made you master of the field this day Your fortune maister eke with gouerning And well begonne end all so well I pray Ne let that wicked woman scape away For she it is that did my Lord bethrall My dearest Lord and deepe in dongeon lay Where he his better dayes hath wasted all O heare how piteous he to you for ayd does call Forthwith he gaue in charge vnto his Squyre That scarlot whore to keepen carefully Whyles he himselfe with greedie great desyre 〈◊〉 the Castle entred forcibly Where liuing creature none he did espye Then gan he lowdly through the house to call But no man car'd to answere to his crye There raignd a solemne silence ouer all Nor voice was heard nor wight was seene in bowre or hall At last with creeping crooked pace forth came An old old man with beard as white as snow That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame And guyde his wearie gate both too and fro For his eye sight him fayled long ygo And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore The which vnused rust did ouergrow Those were the keyes of euery inner dore But he could not them vse but kept them still in store But very vncouth sight was to behold How he did fashion his vntoward pace For as he forward mooud his footing old So backward still was turnd his wrincled face Vnlike to men who euer as they trace Both feet and face one way are wont to lead This was the auncient keeper of that place And foster father of the Gyaunt dead His name Ignaro did his nature right aread His reuerend heares and holy grauitee The knight much honord as beseemed well And gently askt where all the people bee Which in that stately building wont to dwell Who answerd him full soft he could not tell Againe he askt where that same knight was layd Whom great 〈◊〉 with his puissaunce fell Had made his 〈◊〉 thrall againe he sayde He could not tell ne euer other answere made Then asked he which way he in might pas He could not tell againe he answered Thereat the courteous knight displeased was And said Old syre it seemes thou hast not red How ill it sits with that same siluer hed In vaine to mocke or mockt in vaine to bee But if thou be as thou art pourtrahed With natures pen in ages graue degree Aread in grauer wise what I demaund of thee His answere likewise was he could not tell Whose sencelesse speach and doted ignorance When as the noble Prince had marked well He ghest his nature by his countenance And calmd his wrath with goodly temperance Then to him stepping from his arme did reach Those keyes and made himselfe free enterance Each dore he opened without any breach There was no barre to stop nor foe him to empeach There all within full rich arayd he found With royall arras and resplendent gold And did with store of euery thing abound That greatest Princes presence might behold But all the floore too filthy to be told With blood of guiltlesse babes and innocents trew Which there were slaine as sheepe out of the fold Defiled was that dreadfull was to vew And sacred ashes ouer it was strowed new And there beside of marble stone was built An Altare caru'd with cunning ymagery On which trew Christians blood was often spilt And holy Martyres often doen to dye With cruell malice and strong tyranny Whose blessed sprites from vnderneath the stone To God for vengeance cryde continually And with great griefe were often heard to grone That hardest heart would bleede to heare their piteous mone Through euery rowme he sought and euerie bowr But no where could he find that wofull thrall At last he came vnto an yron doore That fast was lockt but key found not at all Emongst that bounch to open it withall But in the same a little grate was pight Through which he sent his voyce and lowd did call With all his powre to weet if liuing wight Were housed therewithin whom he enlargen might Therewith an hollow dreary murmuring voyce These pitteous plaintes and dolours did resound O who is that which bringes me happy choyce Of death that here lye dying euery stound Yet liue perforce in balefull darkenesse bound For now three Moones haue chāged thrice their hew And haue beene thrice hid vnderneath the ground Since I the heauens chearefull face did vew O welcome thou that doest of death bring tydings trew Which whē that Champion heard with percing point Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore And trembling horrour ran through euery ioynt For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore Which shaking off he rent that yron dore With furious force and indignation fell Where entred in his foot could find no flore But all a deepe descent as darke as hell That breathed euer forth a filthie banefull smell But nether darkenesse fowle nor filthy bands Nor noyous smell his purpose could withhold Entire affection hateth nicer hands But that with constant zele and corage bold After long paines and labors manifold He found the meanes that Prisoner vp to reare Whose feeble thighes vnhable to vphold His pined corse him scarse to light could beare A ruefull spectacle of death and ghastly drere His sad dull eies deepe sunck in hollow pits Could not endure th'vnwonted sunne to view His bare thin cheekes for want of better bits And empty sides deceiued of their dew Could make a stony hart his hap to rew His rawbone armes whose mighty brawned bowrs Were wont
speach Could his blood frosen hart emboldened bee But through his boldnes rather feare did reach Yett forst at last he made through silēce suddein breach And am I now in safetie sure quoth he From him that would haue forced me to dye And is the point of death now turnd fro mee That I may tell this haplesse history Feare nought quoth he no daunger now is nye Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace Said he the which with this vnlucky eye I late beheld and had not greater grace Me reft from it had bene partaker of the place I lately chaunst Would I had neuer chaunst With a fayre knight to keepen companee Sir Terwin hight that well himselfe aduaunst In all affayres and was both bold and free But not so happy as mote happy bee He lou'd as was his lot a Lady gent That him againe lou'd in the least degree For she was proud and of too high intent And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament From whom retourning sad and comfortlesse As on the way together we did fare We met that villen God from him me blesse That cursed wight from whom I scapt whyleare A man of hell that calls himselfe Despayre Who first vs greets and after fayre areedes Of tydinges straunge and of aduentures rare So creeping close as Snake in hidden weedes Inquireth of our states and of our knightly deedes Which when he knew and felt our feeble harts Embost with bale and bitter byting griefe Which loue had launched with his deadly darts With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe He pluckt from vs all hope of dew reliefe That earst vs held in loue of lingring life Then hopelesse hartlesse gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs dye to stint all further strife To me he lent this rope to him a rusty knife With which sad instrument of hasty death That wofull louer loathing lenger light A wyde way made to let forth liuing breath But I more fearefull or more lucky wight Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight Fledd fast away halfe dead with dying feare Ne yet assur'd of life by you Sir knight Whose like infirmity like chaunce may beare But God you neuer let his charmed speaches heare How may a man said he with idle speach Be wonne to spoyle the Castle of his health I wote quoth he whom tryall late did teach That like would not for all this worldes wealth His subtile tong like dropping honny mealt'h Into the heart and searcheth euery vaine That ere one be aware by secret stealth His powre is reft and weaknes doth remaine O neuer Sir desire to try his guilefull traine Certes sayd he hence shall I neuer rest Till I that treachours art haue heard and tryde And you Sir knight whose name mote I request Of grace do me vnto his cabin guyde I that hight Treuisan quoth he will ryde Against my liking backe to doe you grace But nor for gold nor glee will I abyde By you when ye arriue in that same place For 〈◊〉 had I die then see his deadly face Ere long they come where that same wicked wight His dwelling has low in an hollow caue Far vnderneath a craggy clifty plight Darke dolefull dreary like a greedy graue That still for carrion carcases doth craue On top whereof ay dwelt the ghastly Owle Shrieking his balefull note which euer draue Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle Aud all about it wandring ghostes did wayle howle And all about old stockes and stubs of trees Whereon nor fruite nor leafe was euer seene Did hang vpon the ragged rocky knees On which had many wretches hanged beene Whose carcases were scattred on the greene And throwne about the clifts Arriued there That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene Would faine haue fled ne durst approchen neare But th' other forst him staye and comforted in feare That darkesome caue they enter where they find That cursed man low sitting on the ground Musing full sadly in his sullein mind His griesie lockes long growen and vnbound Disordred hong about his shoulders round And hid his face through which his hollow eyne Lookt deadly dull and stared as astound His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine Were shronke into his iawes as he did neuer dyne His garment nought but many ragged clouts With thornes together pind and patched was The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts And him beside there lay vpon the gras A dreary corse whose life away did pas All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood That from his wound yet welled fresh alas In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood And made an open passage for the gushing flood Which piteous spectacle approuing trew The wofull tale that Trevisan had told When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold Him to auenge before his blood were cold And to the villein sayd Thou damned wight The authour of this fact we here behold What iustice can but iudge against thee right With thine owne blood to price his blood here shed in sight What franticke fit quoth he hath thus distraught Thee foolish man so rash a doome to giue What iustice euer other iudgement taught But he should dye who merites not to liue None els to death this man despayring driue But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death Is then vniust to each his dew to giue Or let him dye that loatheth liuing breath Or let him die at ease that liueth here vneath Who trauailes by the wearie wandring way To come vnto his wished home in haste And meetes a flood that doth his passage stay Is not great grace to helpe him ouer past Or free his feet that in the myresticke fast Most enuious man that grieues at neighbours good And fond that ioyest in the woe thou hast Why wilt not let him passe that long hath stood Vpon the bancke yet wilt thy selfe not pas the flood He there does now enioy eternall rest And happy ease which thou doest want and craue And further from it daily wanderest What if some little payne the passage haue That makes frayle flesh to feare the bitter waue Is not short payne well borne that bringes long ease And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue Sleepe after toyle port after stormie seas Ease after warre death after life does greatly pleafe The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit And sayd The terme of life limited Ne may a man prolong nor shorten it The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted Nor leaue his stand vntill his Captaine bed Who life did limit by almightie doome Quoth he knowes best the termes established And he that points the Centonell his roome Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome Is not his deed what euer thing is donne In heauen and earth did not he all create To die againe all ends that was begonne Their times in his eternall booke of fate Are written sure and haue their certein date
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