might That all my senses were bereaued quight Then brought she me into this desert waste And by my wretched louers side me pight Where now enclosd in wooden wals full faste Banisht from liuing wights our wearie dayes we waste But how long time said then the Elfin knight Are you in this misformed house to dwell We may not chaunge quoth he this euil plight Till we be bathed in a lining well That is the terme prescribed by the spell O how said he mote I that well out find That may restore you to your wonted well Time and suffised fates to former kynd Shall vs restore none else from hence may vs vnbynd The false Duessa now Fidessa hight Heard how in vaine Fradubio did lament And knew well all was true But the good knight Full of sad feare and ghastly dreriment When all this speech the liuing tree had spent The bleeding bough did thrust into the ground That from the bloud he might be innocent And with fresh clay did close the wooden wound Then turning to his Lady dead with feare her found Her seeming dead he found with feigned feare As all vnweeting of that well she knew And paynd himselfe with busie care to reare Her out of carelesse swowne Her eylids blew And dimmed sight with pale and deadly hew At last she vp gan lift with trembling cheare Her vp he tooke too simple and too trew And oft her kist At length all passed feare He set her on her steede and forward forth did beare Cant. III. Forsaken Truth long seekes her loue And makes the Lyon mylde Marres blind Deuotions mart and fals In hand of leachour vylde NOught is there vnder heau'ns wide hollownesse That moues more deare compassion of mind Then beautie brought t'vnworthy wretchednesse Through enuies snares or fortunes freakes vnkind I whether lately through her brightnesse blind Or through alleageance and fast fealtie Which I do owe vnto all woman kind Feele my heart perst with so great agonie When such I see that all for pittie I could die And now it is empassioned so deepe For fairest Vnaes sake of whom I sing That my fraile eyes these lines with teares do steepe To thinke how she through guilefull handeling Though true as touch though daughter of a king Though faire as euer liuing wight was faire Though nor in word nor deede ill meriting Is from her knight diuorced in despaire And her due loues deriu'd to that vile witches share Yet she most faithfull Ladie all this while Forsaken wofull solitarie mayd Farre from all peoples prease as in exile In wildernesse and wastfull deserts strayd To seeke her knight who subtilly betrayd Through that late vision which th' Enchaunter wrought Had her abandond She of nought affrayd Through woods and wastnesse wide him daily sought Yet wished tydings none of him vnto her brought One day nigh wearie of the yrkesome way From her vnhastie beast she did alight And on the grasse her daintie limbes did lay In secret shadow farre from all mens sight From her faire head her fillet she vndight And laid her stole aside Her angels face As the great eye of heauen shyned bright And made a sunshine in the shadie place Did neuer mortall eye behold such heauenly grace It fortuned out of the thickest wood A ramping Lyon rushed suddainly Hunting full greedie after saluage blood Soone as the royall virgin he did spy With gaping mouth at her ran greedily To haue attonce deuour'd her tender corse But to the pray when as he drew more ny His bloudie rage asswaged with remorse And with the sight amazd forgat his furious forse In stead thereof he kist her wearie feet And lickt her lilly hands with fawning tong As he her wronged innocence did weet O how can beautie maister the most strong And simple truth subdue auenging wrong Whose yeelded pride and proud submission Still dreading death when she had marked long Her hart gan melt in great compassion And drizling teares did shed for pure affection The Lyon Lord of euery beast in field Quoth she his princely puissance doth abate And mightie proud to humble weake does yield Forgetfull of the hungry rage which late Him prickt in pittie of my sad estate But he my Lyon and my noble Lord How does he find in cruell hart to hate Her that him lou'd and euer most adord As the God of my life why hath he me abhord Redounding teares did choke th' end of her plaint Which softly ecchoed from the neighbour wood And sad to see her sorrowfull constraint The kingly beast vpon her gazing stood With pittie calmd downe fell his angry mood At last in close hart shutting vp her paine Arose the virgin borne of heauenly brood And to her snowy Palfrey got againe To seeke her strayed Champion if she might attaine The Lyon would not leaue her desolate But with her went along as a strong gard Of her chast person and a faithfull mate Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard Still when she slept he kept both watch and ward And when she wakt he waited diligent With humble seruice to her will prepard From her faire eyes he tooke commaundement And euer by her lookes conceiued her intent Long she thus traueiled through deserts wyde By which she thought her wandring knight shold pas Yet neuer shew of liuing wight espyde Till that at length she found the troden gras In which the tract of peoples footing was Vnder the steepe foot of a mountaine hore The same she followes till at last she has A damzell spyde slow footing her before That on her shoulders sad a pot of water bore To Whom approching she to her gan call To weet if dwelling place were nigh at hand But the rude wench her answer'd nought at all She could not heare nor speake nor vnderstand Till seeing by her side the Lyon stand With suddaine feare her pitcher downe she threw And fled away for neuer in that land Face of faire Ladie she before did vew And that dread Lyons looke her cast in deadly hew Full fast she fled ne euer lookt behynd As if her life vpon the wager lay And home she came whereas her mother blynd Sate in eternall night nought could she say But suddaine catching hold did her dismay With quaking hands and other signes of feare Who full of ghastly fright and cold affray Gan shut the dore By this arriued there Dame Vna wearie Dame and entrance did requere Which when none yeelded her vnruly Page With his rude clawes the wicket open rent And let her in where of his cruell rage Nigh dead with feare and faint astonishment She found them both in darkesome corner pent Where that old woman day and night did pray Vpon her beades deuoutly penitent Nine hundred Pater nosters euery day And thrise nine hundred Aues she was wont to say And to augment her painefull pennance more Thrise euery weeke in ashes she did sit And next her wrinkled skin rough sackcloth wore And thrise three
she rode with so much speede As her slow beast could make but all in vaine For him so far had borne his light-foot steede Pricked with wrath and fiery fierce disdaine That him to follow was but fruitlesse paine Yet she her weary limbes would neuer rest But euery hill and dale each wood and plaine Did search sore grieued in her gentle brest He so vngently left her whom she louest best But subtill Archimago when his guests He saw diuided into double parts And Vna wandring in woods and forrests Th' end of his drift he praisd his diuelish arts That had such might ouer true meaning harts Yet rests not so but other meanes doth make How he may worke vnto her further smarts For her he hated as the hissing snake And in her many troubles did most pleasure take He then deuisde himselfe how to disguise For by his mightie science he could take As many formes and shapes in seeming wise As euer Proteus to himselfe could make Sometime a fowle sometime a fish in lake Now like a foxe now like a dragon fell That of himselfe he oft for feare would quake And oft would flie away O who can tell The hidden power of herbes and might of Magicke spell But now seemde best the person to put on Of that good knight his late beguiled guest In mighty armes he was yclad anon And siluer shield vpon his coward brest A bloudy crosse and on his crauen crest A bounch of haires discolourd diuersly Full iolly knight he seemde and well addrest And when he sate vpon his courser free Saint George himself ye would haue deemed him to be But he the knight whose semblaunt he did beare The true Saint George was wandred far away Still flying from his thoughts and gealous feare Will was his guide and griefe led him astray At last him chaunst to meete vpon the way A faithlesse Sarazin all arm'd to point In whose great shield was writ with letters gay Sans foy full large of limbe and euery ioint He was and cared not for God or man a point He had a faire companion of his way A goodly Lady clad in scarlot red Purfled with gold and pearle of rich assay And like a Persian mitre on her hed She wore with crownes and owches garnished The which her lauish louers to her gaue Her wanton palfrey all was ouerspred With tinsell trappings wouen like a waue Whose bridle rung with golden bels and bosses braue With faire disport and courting dalliaunce She intertainde her louer all the way But when she saw the knight his speare aduaunce She soone left off her mirth and wanton play And bad her knight addresse him to the fray His foe was nigh at hand He prickt with pride And hope to winne his Ladies heart that day Forth spurred fast adowne his coursers side The red bloud trickling staind the way as he did ride The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous Gan fairely couch his speare and towards ride Soone meete they both both fell and furious That daunted with their forces hideous Their steeds do stagger and amazed stand And eke themselues too rudely rigorous Astonied with the stroke of their owne hand Do backe rebut and each to other yeeldeth land As when two rams stird with ambitious pride Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flocke Their horned fronts so fierce on either side Do meete that with the terrour of the shocke Astonied both stand sencelesse as ablocke Forgetfull of the hanging victory So stood these twaine vnmoued as a rocke Both staring fierce and holding idely The broken reliques of their former cruelty The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffe Snatcheth his sword and fiercely to him flies Who well it wards and quyteth cuff with cuff Each others equall puissaunce enuies And through their iron sides with cruelties Does seeke to perce repining courage yields No foote to foe The flashing fier flies As from a forge out of their burning shields And streames of purple bloud new dies the verdāt fields Curse on that Crosse quoth then the Sarazin That keepes thy body from the bitter fit Dead long ygoe I wote thou haddest bin Had not that charme from thee forwarned it But yet I warne thee now assured sitt And hide thy head Therewith vpon his crest With rigour so outrageous he smitt That a large share it hewd out of the rest And glauncing downe his shield from blame him fairely blest Who thereat wondrous wroth the sleeping spark Of natiue vertue gan eftsoones reuiue And at his haughtie helmet making mark So hugely stroke that it the steele did riue And cleft his head He tumbling downe aliue With bloudy mouth his mother earth did kis Greeting his graue his grudging ghost did striue With the fraile flesh at last it flitted is Whither the soules do fly of men that liue amis The Lady when she saw her champion fall Like the old ruines of a broken towre Staid not to waile his woefull funerall But from him fled away with all her powre Who after her as hastily gan scowre Bidding the Dwarfe with him to bring away The Sarazins shield signe of the conqueroure Her soone he ouertooke and bad to stay For present cause was none of dread her to dismay She turning backe with ruefull countenaunce Cride Mercy mercy Sir vouchsafe to show On silly Dame subiect to hard mischaunce And to your mighty will Her humblesse low In so ritch weedes and seeming glorious show Did much emmoue his stout heroïcke heart And said Deare dame your suddein ouerthrow Much rueth me but now put feare apart And tell both who ye be and who that tooke your part Melting in teares then gan she thus lament The wretched woman whom vnhappy howre Hath now made thrall to your commandement Before that angry heauens lift to lowre And fortune false betraide me to your powre Was O what now auaileth that I was Borne the sole daughter of an Emperour He that the wide West vnder his rule has And high hath set his throne where Tiberis doth pas He in the first flowre of my freshest age Betrothed me vnto the onely haire Of a most mighty king most rich and sage Was neuer Prince so faithfull and so faire Was neuer Prince so meeke and debonaire But ere my hoped day of spousall shone My dearest Lord fell from high honours staire Into the hands of his accursed fone And cruelly was slaine that shall I euer mone His blessed body spoild of liuely breath Was afterward I know not how conuaid And fro me hid of whose most innocent death When tidings came to me vnhappy maid O how great sorrow my sad soule assaid Then forth I went his woefull corse to find And many yeares throughout the world I straid A virgin widow whose deepe wounded mind With loue long time did languish as the striken hind At last it chaunced this proud Sarazin To meete me wandring who perforce me led With him away but yet
soust in swelling Tethys saltish teare And long time hauing tand his tawney hide With blustring breath of heauen that none can bide And scorching flames of fierce Orions hound Soone as the port from farre he has espide His chearefull whistle merrily doth sound And Nereus crownes with cups his mates him pledg around Such ioy made Vna when her knight she found And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemd no lesse Then the glad marchant that does vew from ground His ship farre come from watrie wildernesse He hurles out vowes and Neptune oft doth blesse So forth they past and all the way they spent Discoursing of her dreadfull late distresse In which he askt her what the Lyon ment Who told her all that fell in iourney as she went They had not ridden farre when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat Full strongly armd and on a courser free That through his fiercenesse fomed all with swear And the sharpe yron did for anger eat When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side His looke was sterne and seemed still to threat Cruell reuenge which he in hart did hyde And on his shield Sans loy in bloudie lines was dyde When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre And saw the Red-crosse which the knight did beare He burnt in fire and gan eftsoones prepare Himselfe to battell with his couched speare Lo thwas that other and did faint through fea To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele But yet his Lady did so well him cheare That hope of new goodhap he gan to feele So bent his speare and spurnd his horse with yron heele But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce And full of wrath that with his sharp-head speare Through vainely crossed shield he quite did pierce And had his staggering steede not shrunke for feare Through shield and bodie eke he should him beare Yet so great was the puissance of his push That from his saddle quite he did him beare He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed He to him lept in mind to reaue his life And proudly said Lo there the worthie meed Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloudie knife Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife In peace may passen ouer Lethe lake When morning altars purgd with enemies life The blacke infernall Furies doen aslake Life from Sansfoy thou tookst Sansloy shall frō thee take Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace Till Vna cride O hold that heauie hand Deare Sir what euer that thou be in place Enough is that thy foe doth vanquisht stand Now at thy mercy Mercie not withstand For he is one the truest knight aliue Though conquered now he lie on lowly land And whilest him fortune fauourd faire did thriue In bloudie field therefore of life him not depriue Her piteous words might not abate his rage But rudely rending vp his helmet would Haue slaine him straight but when he sees his age And hoarie head of Archimago old His hastie hand he doth amazed hold And halfe ashamed wondred at the sight For the old man well knew he though vntold In charmes and magicke to haue wondrous might Ne euer wont in field ne in round lists to fight And said Why Archimago lucklesse syre What doe I see what hard mishap is this That hath thee hither brought to taste mineyre Or thine the fault or mine the error is In stead of foe to wound my friend amis He answered nought but in a traunce still lay And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his The cloud of death did sit Which doen away He left him lying so ne would no lenger stay But to the virgin comes who all this while Amased stands her selfe so mockt to see By him who has the guerdon of his guile For so misfeigning her true knight to bee Yet is she now in more perplexitie Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold From whom her booteth not at all to flie Who by her cleanly garment catching hold Her from her Palfrey pluckt her visage to behold But her fierce seruant full of kingly awe And high disdaine whenas his soueraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he sawe With gaping iawes full greedy at him came And ramping on his shield did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharpe rending clawes But he was stout and lust did now inflame His corage more that frō his griping pawes He hath his shield redeem'd and foorth his swerd he drawes O then too weake and feeble was the forse Of saluage beast his puissance to withstand For he was strong and of so mightie corse As euer wielded speare in warlike hand And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand And launcht his Lordly hart with death opprest He roar'd aloud whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will Her faithfull gard remou'd her hope dismaid Her selfe a yeelded pray to saue or spill He now Lord of the fied his pride to fill With foule reproches and disdainfull spight Her vildly entertaines and will or nill Beares her away vpon his courser light Her prayers nought preuaile his rage is more of might And all the way with great lamenting paine And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine And all the way she wets with flowing teares But he enrag'd with rancor nothing heares Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so But followes her farre off ne ought he feares To be partaker of her wandring woe More mild in beastly kind then that her beastly foe Cant. IIII To sinfull house of Pride Duessa guides the faithfull knight Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy doth chalenge him to fight YOung knight what euer that dost armes professe And through long labours huntest after fame Beware of fraud beware of ficklenesse In choice and change of thy deare loued Dame Least thou of her beleeue too lightly blame And rash misweening doe thy hart remoue For vnto knight there is no greater shame Then lightnesse and inconstancie in loue That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly proue Who after that he had faire Vna lorne Through light misdeeming of her loialtie And false Duessa in her sted had borne Called Fidess ' and so supposd to bee Long with her traueild till at last they see A goodly building brauely garnished The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee And towards it a broad high way that led All bare through peoples feet which thither traueiled Great troupes of people traueild thitherward Both day and night of each degree and place But few returned hauing scaped hard With balefull beggerie or foule disgrace Which euer after in most wretched case Like loathsome lazars by the hedges lay Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace
rash Syre began to rend His haire and hastie tongue that did offend Tho gathering vp the relicks of his smart By Dianes meanes who was Hippolyts frend Them brought to Aesculape that by his art Did heale them all againe and ioyned euery part Such wondrous science in mans wit to raine When Ioue auizd that could the dead reuiue And fates expired could renew againe Of endlesse life he might him not depriue But vnto hell did thrust him downe aliue With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore Where long remaining he did alwaies striue Himselfe with salues to health for to restore And slake the heauenly fire that raged euermore There auncient Night arriuing did alight From her high wearie waine and in her armes To Aesculapius brought the wounded knight Whom hauing softly disarayd of armes Tho gan to him discouer all his harmes Beseeching him with prayer and with praise If either salues or oyles or herbes or charmes A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise He would at her request prolong her nephews daies Ah Dame quoth he thou temptest me in vaine To dare the thing which daily yet I rew And the old cause of my continued paine With like attempt to like end to renew Is not enough that thrust from heauen dew Here endlesse penance for one fault I pay But that redoubled crime with vengeance new Thou biddest me to eeke Can Night defray The wrath of thundring Ioue that rules both night and day Not so quoth she but sith that heauens king From hope of heauen hath thee excluded quight Why fearest thou that canst not hope for thing And fearest not that more thee hurten might Now in the powre of euerlasting Night Goe to then ô thou farre renowmed sonne Of great Apollo shew thy famous might In medicine that else hath to thee wonne Great paines greater praise both neuer to be donne Her words preuaild And then the learned leach His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay And all things else the which his art did teach Which hauing seene from thence arose away The mother of dread darknesse and let stay Aueugles sonne there in the leaches cure And backe returning tooke her wonted way To runne her timely race whilst Phoebus pure In westerne waues his wearie wagon did recure The false Duessa leauing noyous Night Returnd to stately pallace of dame Pride Where when she came she found the Faery knight Departed thence albe his woundes wide Not throughly heald vnreadie were to ride Good cause he had to hasten thence away For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spide Where in a dongeon deepe huge numbers lay Of caytiue wretched thrals that wayled night and day A ruefull sight as could be seene with eie Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie How mortgaging their liues to Couetise Through wastfull Pride and wanton Riotise They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt with VVrath and Enuies false surmise Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse Where they should liue in woe die in wretchednesse There was that great proud king of Babylon That would compell all nations to adore And him as onely God to call vpon Till through celestiall doome throwne out of dore Into an Oxe he was transform'd of yore There also was king Craesus that enhaunst His heart too high through his great riches store And proud Antiochus the which aduaunst His cursed hand gainst God and on his altars daunst And them long time before great Nimrod was That first the world with sword and fire warrayd And after him old Ninus farre did pas In princely pompe of all the world obayd There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder all yet aboue all in pride That name of natiue syre did fowle vpbrayd And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide All these together in one heape were throwne Like carkases of beasts in butchers stall And in another corner wide were strowne The antique ruines of the Romaines fall Great Romulus the Grandsyre of them all Proud Tarquin and too lordly Lentulus Stout Scipio and stubborne Hanniball Ambitious Sylla and sterne Marius High Caesar great Pompey and fierce Antonius Amongst these mighty men were wemen mixt Proud wemen vaine forgetfull of their yoke The bold Semiramis whose sides transfixt With sonnes owne blade her fowle reproches spoke Faire Sthenoboea that her selfe did choke With wilfull cord for wanting of her will High minded Cleopatra that with stroke Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill And thousands moe the like that did that dongeon fill Besides the endlesse routs of wretched thralles Which thither were assembled day by day From all the world after their wofull falles Through wicked pride and wasted wealthes decay But most of all which in the Dongeon lay Fell from high Princes courts or Ladies bowres Where they in idle pompe or wanton play Consumed had their goods and thriftlesse howres And lastly throwne themselues into these heauy stowres Whose case when as the carefull Dwarfe had tould And made ensample of their mournefull sight Vnto his maister he no lenger would There dwell in perill of like painefull plight But early rose and ere that dawning light Discouered had the world to heauen wyde He by a priuie Posterne tooke his flight That of no enuious eyes he mote be spyde For doubtlesse death ensewd if any him descryde Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way For many corses like a great Lay-stall Of murdred men which therein strowed lay Without remorse or decent funerall Which all through that great Princesse pride did fall And came to shamefull end And them beside Forth ryding vnderneath the castell wall A donghill of dead carkases he spide The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pride Cant. VI. From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace fayre Vna is releast Whom saluage nation does adore and learnes her wise beheast AS when a ship that flyes faire vnder saile An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past and yet it doubt ne dares To ioy at his foole-happie ouersight So doubly is distrest twixt ioy and cares The dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight Hauing escapt so sad ensamples in his sight Yet sad he was that his too hastie speed The faire Duess ' had forst him leaue behind And yet more sad that Vna his deare dreed Her truth had staind with treason so vnkind Yet crime in her could neuer creature find But for his loue and for her owne selfe sake She wandred had from one to other Ynd Him for to seeke ne euer would forsake Till her vnwares the fierce Sansloy did ouertake Who after Archimagoes fowle defeat Led her away into a forrest wilde And turning wrathfull fire to lustfull heat With beastly sin thought her to haue defilde And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde Yet first he cast by
did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd And thrise he her reviu'd with busie paine At last when life recouer'd had the raine And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie With foltring tong and trembling euery vaine Tell on quoth she the wofull Tragedie The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight And thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight Then that I feele and harbour in mine hart Who hath endur'd the whole can beare each part If death it be it is not the first wound That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart Begin and end the bitter balefull stound If lesse then that I feare more fauour I haue found Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare The subtill traines of Archimago old The wanton loues of false Fidessa faire Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold The wretched payre transform'd to treen mould The house of Pride and perils round about The combat which he with Sansioy did hould The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout Wherein captiu'd of life or death he stood in doubt She heard with patience all vnto the end And stroue to maister sorrowfull assay Which greater grew the more she did contend And almost rent her tender hart in tway And loue fresh coles vnto her fire did lay For greater loue the greater is the losse Was neuer Ladie loued dearer day Then she did loue the knight of the Redcrosse For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse At last when feruent sorrow slaked was She vp arose resoluing him to find A liue or dead and forward forth doth pas All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd And euermore in constant care full mind She fed her wound with fresh renewed bale Long tost with stormes and bet with bitter wind High ouer hils and low adowne the dale She wandred many a wood and measurd many a vale At last she chaunced by good hap to meet A goodly knight faire marching by the way Together with his Squire arayed meet His glitterand armour shined farre away Like glauncing light of Phoebus brightest ray From top to toe no place appeared bare That deadly dint of steele endanger may Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware That shynd like twinkling stars with stons most pretious rare And in the midst thereof one pretious stone Of wondrous worth and eke of wondrous mights Shapt like a Ladies head exceeding shone Like Hesperus emongst the lesser lights And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong In yuory sheath ycaru'd with curious slights Whose hilts were burnisht gold and handle strong Of mother pearle and buckled with a golden tong His haughtie helmet horrid all with gold Both glorious brightnesse and great terrour bred For all the crest a Dragon did enfold With greedie pawes and ouer all did spred His golden wings his dreadfull hideous hed Close couched on the beuer seem'd to throw From flaming mouth bright sparkles fierie red That suddeine horror to faint harts did show And scaly tayle was stretcht adowne his backe full low Vpon the top of all his loftie crest A bunch of haires discolourd diuersly With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest Did shake and seem'd to daunce for iollity Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye On top of greene Selinis all alone With blossomes braue bedecked daintily Whos 's tender locks do tremble euery one At euery little breath that vnder heauen is blowne His warlike shield all closely couer'd was Ne might of mortall eye be euer seene Not made of steele nor of enduring bras Such earthlymettals soone consumed bene But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene It framed was one massie entire mould Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene That point of speare it neuer percen could Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would The same to wight he neuer wont disclose But when as monsters huge he would dismay Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes Or when the flying heauens he would affray For so exceeding shone his glistring ray That Phoebus golden face it did attaint As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay And siluer Cynthia wexed pale and faint As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint No magicke arts hereof had any might Nor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call But all that was not such as seemd in sight Before that shield did fade and suddeine fall And when him list the raskall routes appall Men into stones therewith he could transmew And stones to dust and dust to nought at all And when him list the prouder lookes subdew He would them gazing blind or turne to other hew Ne let it seeme that credence this exceedes For he that made the same was knowne right well To haue done much more admirable deedes It Merlin was which whylome did excell All liuing wightes in might of magicke spell Both shield and sword and armour all he wrought For this young Prince when first to armes he fell But when he dyde the Faerie Queene it brought To Faerie lond where yet it may be seene if sought A gentle youth his dearely loued Squire His speare of heben wood behind him bare Whose harmefull head thrice heated in the fire Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square A goodly person and could menage faire His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit Who vnder him did trample as the aire And chauft that any on his backe should sit The yron rowels into frothy some he bit When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew With louely court he gan her entertaine But when he heard her answeres loth he knew Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine Which to allay and calme her storming paine Faire feeling words he wisely gan display And for her humour fitting purpose faine To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray Wherewith emmou'd these bleeding words she gan to say What worlds delight or ioy of lining speach Can heart so plung'd in sea of sorrowes deepe And heaped with so huge misfortunes reach The carefull cold beginneth for to creepe And in my heart his yron arrow steepe Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe Then rip vp griefe where it may not auaile My last left comfort is my woes to weepe and waile Ah Ladie deare quoth then the gentle knight Well may I weene your griefe is wondrous great For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat But wofull Ladie let me you intrete For to vnfold the anguish of your hart Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete And counsell mittigates the greatest smart Found neuer helpe who neuer would his hurts impart O but quoth she great griefe will not be tould And can more easily be thought then said Right so quoth he but he that neuer would Could neuer will to might giues greatest
when iust time expired should appeare But whether dreames delude or true it were Was neuer hart so rauisht with delight Ne liuing man like words did euer heare As she to me deliuered all that night And at her parting said She Queene of Faeries hight When I awoke and found her place deuoyd And nought but pressed gras where she had lyen I sorrowed all so much as earst I ioyd And washed all her place with watry eyen From that day forth I lou'd that face diuine From that day forth I cast in carefull mind To seeke her out with labour and long tyne And neuer vow to rest till her I find Nine monethes I seeke in vaine yet ni'll that vow vnbind Thus as he spake his visage wexed pale And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray Yet still he stroue to cloke his inward bale And hide the smoke that did his fire display Till gentle Vna thus to him gan say O happy Queene of Faeries that hast found Mongst many one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour and thy foes confound True Loues are oftē sown but seldom grow on ground Thine O then said the gentle Redcrosse knight Next to that Ladies loue shal be the place O fairest virgin full of heauenly light Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case And you my Lord the Patrone of my life Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace For onely worthy you through prowes priefe Yf liuing man mote worthy be to be her liefe So diuersly discoursing of their loues The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues With fresh desire his voyage to pursew Al 's Vna earnd her traueill to renew Then those two knights fast friendship for to bynd And loue establish each to other trew Gaue goodly gifts the signes of gratefull mynd And eke the pledges firme right hands together ioynd Prince Arthur gaue a boxe of Diamond sure Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure Of wondrous worth and vertue excellent That any wound could heale incontinent Which to requite the Redcrosse knight him gaue A booke wherein his Saueours testament Was writ with golden letters rich and braue A worke of wondrous grace and able soules to saue Thus beene they parted Arthur on his way To seeke his loue and th' other for to fight With Vnaes foe that all her realme did pray But she now weighing the decayed plight And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight Would not a while her forward course pursew Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight Till he recouered had his former hew For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew So as they traueild lo they gan espy An armed knight towards them gallop fast That seemed from some feared foe to fly Or other griesly thing that him agast Still as he fled his eye was backward cast As if his feare still followed him behind Al 's flew his steed as he his bands had brast And with his winged heeles did tread the wind As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kind Nigh as he drew they might perceiue his head To be vnarmd and curld vncombed heares Vpstaring stiffe dismayd with vncouth dread Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe and to increase his feares In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree About his neck an hempen rope he weares That with his glistring armes does ill agree But he of rope or armes has now no memoree The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast To weet what mister wight was so dismayd There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd Till he these wordes to him deliuer might Sir knight aread who hath ye thus arayd And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight For neuer knight I saw in such misseeming plight He answerd nought at all but adding new Feare to his first amazment staring wide With stony eyes and hartlesse hollow hew Astonisht stood as one that had aspide Infernall furies with their chaines vntide Him yet againe and yet againe bespake The gentle knight who nought to him replide But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake For Gods deare loue Sir knight do me not stay For loe he comes he comes fast after mee Eft looking backe would faine haue runne away But he him forst to stay and tellen free The secret cause of his perplexitie Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach Yet forst at last he made through silence 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 faire knight to keepen companee Sir Terwin hight that well himselfe aduaunst In all affaires and was both bold and free But not so happie as mote happie bee He lou'd as was his lot a Ladie 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 returning 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 cals himselfe Despaire Who first vs greets and after faire areedes Of tydings strange 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 due reliefe That earst vs held in loue of lingring life Then hopelesse hartlesse gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs die to stint all further strife To me he lent this rope to him a rustie knife With which sad instrument of hastie death That wofull louer loathing lenger light A wide way made to let forth liuing breath But I more fearefull or more luckie wight Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight Fled fast away halfe dead with dying feare Ne yet assur'd of life by you Sir knight Whose like infirmitie like chaunce may beare But God you neuer let his charmed speeches heare How may a man said he with idle speach Be wonne to spoyle the Castle of his health I wote quoth he whom
triall late did teach That like would not for all this worldes wealth His subtill tongue like dropping honny mealt'h Into the hart and searcheth euery vaine That ere one be aware by secret stealth His powre is rest and weaknesse doth remaine O neuer Sir desire to try his guilefull traine Certes said he hence shall I neuer rest Till I that treachours art haue heard and tride And you Sir knight whose name mote I request Of grace do me vnto his cabin guide I that hight Treuisan quoth he will ride Against my liking backe to doe you grace But nor for gold nor glee will I abide By you when ye arriue in that same place For leuer 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 Farre vnderneath a craggie clift ypight Darke dolefull drearie like a greedie graue That still for carrion carcases doth craue On top whereof aye dwelt the ghastly Owle Shrieking his balefull note which euer draue Farre from that haunt all other chearefull fowle And all about it wandring ghostes did waile and howle And all about old stockes and stubs of trees Whereon nor fruit nor leafe was euer seene Did hang vpon the ragged rocky knees On which had many wretches hanged beene Whose carcases were scattered 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 stay 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 sulle in mind His griesie lockes long growen and vnbound Disordred hong about his shoulders round And hid his face through which his hollow eyne Look deadly dull and stared as astound His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine Where shronke into his iawes as he did neuer dine 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 drearie corse whose life away did pas All wallowd in his owne yet luke-warme blood That from his wound yet welled fresh alas In which a rustie knife fast fixed stood And made an open passage for the gushing flood Which piteous spectacle approuing trew The wofull tale that Treuisan had told When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold Him to auenge before his bloud were cold And to the villein said Thou damned wight The author of this fact we here behold What iustice can but iudge against thee right With thine owne bloud to price his bloud 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 die who merites not to liue None else to death this man despayring driue But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death Is then vniust to each his due to giue Or let him die that loatheth liniug breath Or let him die at ease that liueth here vneath Who trauels 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 myre sticke 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 banke yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood He there does now enioy eternall rest And happie ease which thou doest want and craue And further from it daily wanderest What if some litle paine the passage haue That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter waue Is not short paine well borne that brings 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 please The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit And said The terme of life is 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 certaine date 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 bloud-shed and auengement Now praysd hereafter deare thou shalt repent For life must life and bloud must bloud 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 do no further goe no further stray But here lie 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 Paine 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 ballance thou wilt weigh thy state For neuer knight that dared warlike deede More lucklesse disauentures did amate Witnesse the dongeon deepe wherein of late Thy life shut 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 hereafter thou maiest happen fall Why then doest thou ô 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 iniquitie Against the day of wrath to burden thee Is not enough that to this Ladie milde Thou falsed hast thy faith with periurie And sold thy selfe to serue Duessa vilde With whom in all abuse thou hast thy selfe defilde Is not he iust that all this doth behold From highest heauen and beares an equall eye Shall he thy sins vp in his knowledge fold And guiltie be of thine impietie Is not his law 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 glasse be all out ronne Death is the end of woes die soone O faeries sonne The knight was much enmoued with his speach That as a swords point
see and tyred limbs to rest O matrone sage quoth she I hither came And this good knight his way with me addrest Led with thy prayses and broad-blazed fame That vp to heauen is blowne The auncient Dame Him goodly greeted in her modest guise And entertaynd them both as best became With all the court'sies that she could deuise Ne wanted ought to shew her bounteous or wise Thus as they gan of sundry things deuise Loe two most goodly virgins came in place Ylinked arme in arme in louely wise With countenance demure and modest grace They numbred euen steps and equall pace Of which the eldest that Fidelia hight Like sunny beames threw from her Christall face That could haue dazd the rash beholders sight And round about her head did shine like heauens light She was araied all in lilly white And in her right hand bore a cup of gold With wine and water fild vp to the hight In which a Serpent did himselfe enfold That horrour made to all that did behold But she no whit did chaunge her constant mood And in her other hand she fast did hold A booke that was both signd and seald with blood Wherein darke things were writ hard to be vnderstood Her younger sister that Speranza hight Was clad in blew that her beseemed well Not all so chearefull seemed she of sight As was her sister whether dread did dwell Or anguish in her hart is hard to tell Vpon her arme a siluer anchor lay Whereon she leaned euer as befell And euer vp to heauen as she did pray Her stedfast eyes were bent ne swarued other way They seeing Vna towards her gan wend Who them encounters with like courtesie Many kind speeches they betwene them spend And greatly ioy each other well to see Then to the knight with shamefast modestie They turne themselues at Vnaes meeke request And him salute with well beseeming glee Who faire them quites as him beseemed best And goodly gan discourse of many a noble gest Then Vna thus But she your sister deare The deare Charissa where is she become Or wants she health or busie is elsewhere Ah no said they but forth she may not come For she of late is lightned of her wombe And hath encreast the world with one sonne more That her to see should be but troublesome Indeede quoth she that should be trouble sore But thankt be God and her encrease so euermore Then said the aged Coelia Deare dame And you good Sir I wote that of your toyle And labours long through which ye hither came Ye both forwearied be therefore a whyle I read you rest and to your bowres recoyle Then called she a Groome that forth him led Into a goodly lodge and gan despoile Of puissant armes and laid in easie bed His name was meeke Obedience rightfully ared Now when their wearie limbes with kindly rest And bodies were refresht with due repast Faire Vna gan Fidelia faire request To haue her knight into her schoolehouse plaste That of her heauenly learning he might taste And heare the wisedome of her words diuine She graunted and that knight so much agraste That she him taught celestiall discipline And opened his dull eyes that light mote in them shine And that her sacred Booke with bloudy writ That none could read except she did them teach She vnto him disclosed euery whit And heauenly documents thereout did preach That weaker wit of man could neuer reach Of God of grace of iustice of free will That wonder was to heare her goodly speach For she was able with her words to kill And raise againe to life the hart that she did thrill And when she list poure out her larger spright She would commaund the hastie Sunne to stay Or backward turne his course from heauens hight Sometimes great hostes of men she could dismay And eke huge mountaines from their natiue seat She would commaund themselues to beare away And throw in raging sea with roaring threat Almightie God her gaue such powre and puissance great The faithfull knight now grew in litle space By hearing her and by her sisters lore To such perfection of all heauenly grace That wretched world he gan for to abhore And mortall life gan loath as thing forlore Greeu'd with remembrance of his wicked wayes And prickt with anguish of his sinnes so sore That he desirde to end his wretched dayes So much the dart of sinfull guilt the soule dismayes But wise Speranza gaue him comfort sweet And taught him how to take assured hold Vpon her siluer anchor as was meet Else had his sinnes so great and manifold Made him forget all that Fidelia told In this distressed doubtfull agonie When him his dearest Vna did behold Disdeining life desiring leaue to die She found her selfe assayld with great perplexitie And came to Coelia to declare her smart Who well acquainted with that commune plight Which sinfull horror workes in wounded hart Her wisely comforted all that she might With goodly counsell and aduisement right And streightway sent with carefull diligence To fetch a Leach the which had great insight In that disease of grieued conscience And well could cure the same His name was Patience Who comming to that soule-diseased knight Could hardly him intreat to tell his griefe Which knowne and all that noyd his heauie spright Well searcht eftsoones he gan apply reliefe Of salues and med'cines which had passing priefe And thereto added words of wondrous might By which to ease he him recured briefe And much asswag'd the passion of his plight That he his paine endur'd as seeming now more light But yet the cause and root of all his ill Inward corruption and infected sin Not purg'd nor heald behind remained still And festring sore did rankle yet within Close creeping twixt the marrow and the skin Which to extirpe he laid him priuily Downe in a darkesome lowly place farre in Whereas he meant his corrosiues to apply And with streight diet tame his stubborne malady In ashes and sackcloth he did array His daintie corse proud humors to abate And dieted with fasting euery day The swelling of his wounds to mitigate And made him pray both earely and eke late And euer as superfluous flesh did rot Amendment readie still at hand did wayt To pluck it out with pincers firie whot That soone in him was left no one corrupted iot And bitter Penance with an yron whip Was wont him once to disple euery day And sharpe Remorse his hart did pricke and nip That drops of bloud thence like a well did play And sad Repentance vsed to embay His bodie in salt water smarting sore The filthy blots of sinne to wash away So in short space they did to health restore The man that would not liue but earst lay at deathes dore which his torment often was so great That like a Lyon he would cry and rore And rend his flesh and his owne synewes eat His owne deare Vna hearing euermore His ruefull shriekes and
gronings often tore Her guiltlesse garments and her golden heare For pitty of his paine and anguish sore Yet all with patience wisely she did beare or well she wist his crime could else be neuer cleare Whom thus recouer'd by wise Patience And trew Repentance they to Vna brought Who ioyous of his cured conscience Him dearely kist and fairely eke besought Himselfe to chearish and consuming thought To put away out of his carefull brest By this Charissa late in child-bed brought Was woxen strong and left her fruitfull nest To her faire Vna brought this vnacquainted guest He was a woman in her freshest age Of wondrous beauty and of bountie rare With goodly grace and comely personage That was on earth not easie to compare Full of great loue but Cupids wanton snare As hell she hated chast in worke and will Her necke and breasts were euer open bare That ay thereof her babes might sucke their fill The rest was all in yellow robes arayed still A multitude of babes about her hong Playing their sports that ioyd her to behold Whom still she fed whiles they were weake young But thrust them forth still as they wexed old And on her head she wore a tyre of gold Adornd with gemmes and owches wondrous faire Whose passing price vneath was to be told And by her side there sate a gentle paire Of turtle doues she sitting in an yuorie chaire The knight and Vna entring faire her greet And bid her ioy of that her happie brood Who them requites with court'sies seeming meet And entertaines with friendly chearefull mood Then Vna her besought to be so good As in her vertuous rules to schoole her knight Now after all his torment well withstood In that sad house of Penaunce where his spright Had past the paines of hell and long enduring night She was right ioyous of her iust request And taking by the hand that Faeries sonne Gan him instruct in euery good behest Of loue and righteousnesse and well to donne And wrath and hatred warely to shonne That drew on men Gods hatred and his wrath And many soules in dolours had fordonne In which when him she well instructed hath From thence to heauen she teacheth him the ready path Wherein his weaker wandring steps to guide An auncient matrone she to her does call Whose sober lookes her wisedome well descride Her name was Mercie well knowne ouer all To be both gratious and eke liberall To whom the carefull charge of him she gaue To lead aright that he should neuer fall In all his wayes through this wide worldes waue That Mercy in the end his righteous soule might saue The godly Matrone by the hand him beares Forth from her presence by a narrow way Scattred with bushy thornes and ragged breares Which still before him she remou'd away That nothing might his ready passage stay And euer when his feet encombred were Organ to shrinke or from the right to stray She held him fast and firmely did vpbeare As carefull Nourse her child from falling oft does reare Eftsoones vnto an holy Hospitall That was fore by the way she did him bring In which seuen Bead-men that had vowed all Their life to seruice of high heauens king Did spend their dayes in doing godly thing There gates to all were open euermore That by the wearie way were traueiling And one sate wayting euer them before To call in-commers by that needy were and pore The first of them that eldest was and best Of all the house had charge and gouernement As Guardian and Steward of the rest His office was to giue entertainement And lodging vnto all that came and went Not vnto such as could him feast againe And double quite for that he on them spent But such as want of harbour did constraine Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine The second was as Almner of the place His office was the hungry for to feed And thristy giue to drinke a worke of grace He feard not once him selfe to be in need Ne car'd to hoord for those whom he did breede The grace of God he layd vp still in store Which as a stocke he left vnto his seede He had enough what need him care for more And had he lesse yet some he would giue to the pore The third had of their wardrobe custodie In which were not rich tyres nor garments gay The plumes of pride and wings of vanitie But clothes meet to keepe keene could away And naked nature seemely to aray With which bare wretched wights he dayly clad The images of God in earthly clay And if that no spare cloths to giue he had His owne coate he would cut and it distribute glad The fourth appointed by his office was Poore prisoners to relieue with gratious ayd And captiues to redeeme with price of bras From Turkes and Sarazins which them had stayd And though they faultie were yet well he wayd That God to vs forgiueth euery howre Much more then that why they in bands were layd And he that harrowd hell with heauie stowre The faultie soules from thence brought to his heauenly bowre The fift had charge sicke persons to attend And comfort those in point of death which lay For them most needeth comfort in the end When sin and hell and death do most dismay The feeble soule departing hence away All is but lost that liuing we bestow If not well ended at our dying day O man haue mind of that last bitter throw For as the tree does fall so lyes it euer low The sixt had charge of them now being dead In seemely sort their corses to engraue And deck with dainty flowres their bridall bed That to their heauenly spouse both sweet and braue They might appeare when he their soules shall saue The wondrous workemanship of Gods owne mould Whose face he made all beasts to feare and gaue All in his hand euen dead we honour should Ah dearest God me graunt I dead be not defould The seuenth now after death and buriall done Had charge the tender Orphans of the dead And widowes ayd least they should be vndone In face of iudgement he their right would plead Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread In their defence nor would for gold or fee Be wonne their rightfull causes downe to tread And when they stood in most necessitee He did supply their want and gaue them euer free There when the Elfin knight arriued was The first and chiefest of the seuen whose care Was guests to welcome towardes him did pas Where seeing Mercie that his steps vp bare And alwayes led to her with reuerence rare He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse And seemely welcome for her did prepare For of their order she was Patronesse Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse There she awhile him stayes him selfe to rest That to the rest more able he might bee During which time in euery good behest And godly worke of Almes and charitee She him instructed with
and doen vpreare Their beuers bright each other for to greete Goodly comportance each to other beare And entertaine themselues with court'sies meet Then said the Redcrosse knight Now mote I weet Sir Guyon why with so fierce saliaunce And fell intent ye did at earst me meet For sith I know your goodly gouernaunce Great cause I weene you guided or some vncouth chaunce Certes said he well mote I shame to tell The fond encheason that me hither led A false infamous faitour late befell Me for to meet that seemed ill bested And playnd of grieuous outrage which he red A knight had wrought against a Ladie gent Which to auenge he to this place me led Where you he made the marke of his intent And now is fled foule shame him follow where he went So can he turne his earnest vnto game Through goodly handing and wise temperance By this his aged guide in presence came Who soone as on that knight his eye did glance Eft soones of him had perfect cognizance Sith him in Faerie court he late auizd And said faire sonne God giue you happie chance And that deare Crosse vpon your shield deuizd Wherewith aboue all knights ye goodly seeme aguizd Ioy may you haue and euerlasting fame Of late most hard atchieu'ment by you donne For which enrolled is your glorious name In heauenly Registers aboue the Sunne Where you a Saint with Saints your seat haue wonne But wretched we where ye haue left your marke Must now anew begin like race to runne God guide thee Guyon well to end thy warke And to the wished hauen bring thy weary barke Palmer him answered the Redcrosse knight His be the praise that this atchieu'ment wrought Who made my hand the organ of his might More then goodwill to me attribute nought For all I did I did but as I ought But you faire Sir whose pageant next ensewes Well mote yee thee as well can wish your thought That home ye may report these happie newes For well ye worthie bene for worth and gentle thewes So courteous conge both did giue and take With right hands plighted pledges of good will Then Guyon forward gan his voyage make With his blacke Palmer that him guided still Still he him guided ouer dale and hill And with his steedie staffe did point his way His race with reason and with words his will From foule intemperance he oft did stay And suffred not in wrath his hastie steps to stray In this faire wize they traueild long yfere Through many hard assayes which did betide Of which he honour still away did beare And spred his glorie through all countries wide At last as chaunst them by a forest side To passe for succour from the scorching ray They heard a ruefull voice that dearnly cride With percing shriekes and many a dolefull lay Which to attend a while their forward steps they stay But if that carelesse heauens quoth she despise The doome of iust reuenge and take delight To see sad pageants of mens miseries As bound by them to liue in liues despight Yet can they not warne death from wretched wight Come then come soone come sweetest death to mee And take away this long lent loathed light Sharpe be thy wounds but sweet the medicines bee That long captiued soules from wearie thraldome free But thou sweet Babe whom frowning froward fate Hath made sad witnesse of thy fathers fall Sith heauen thee deignes to hold in liuing state Long maist thou liue and better thriue withall Then to thy lucklesse parents did befall Liue thou and to thy mother dead attest That cleare she dide from blemish criminall Thy litle hands embrewd in bleeding brest Loe I for pledges leaue So giue me leaue to rest With that a deadly shrieke she forth did throw That through the wood reecchoed againe And after gaue a grone so deepe and low That seemd her tender heart was rent in twaine Or thrild with point of thorough piercing paine As gentle Hynd whose sides with cruell steele Through launched forth her bleeding life does raine Whiles the sad pang approching she does feele Brayes out her latest breath and vp her eyes doth seele Which when that warriour heard dismounting straict From his tall steed he rusht into the thicke And soone arriued where that sad pourtraict Of death and labour lay halfe dead halfe quicke In whose white alabaster brest did sticke A cruell knife that made a griesly wound From which forth gusht a streme of gorebloud thick That all her goodly garments staind around And into a deepe sanguine dide the grassie ground Pittifull spectacle of deadly smart Beside a bubbling fountaine low she lay Which she increased with her bleeding hart And the cleane waues with purple gold did ray Al 's in her lap a louely babe did play His cruell sport in stead of sorrow dew For in her streaming blood he did embay His litle hands and tender ioynts embrew Pitifull spectacle as euer eye did view Besides them both vpon the soiled gras The dead corse of an armed knight was spred Whose armour all with bloud besprinckled was His ruddie lips did smile and rosy red Did paint his chearefull cheekes yet being ded Seemd to haue beene a goodly personage Now in his freshest flowre of lustie hed Fit to inflame faire Lady with loues rage But that fiers fate did crop the blossome of his age Whom when the good Sir Guyon did behold His hart gan wexe as starke as marble stone And his fresh bloud did frieze with fearefull cold That all his senses seemd bereft attone At last his mightie ghost gan deepe to grone As Lyon grudging in his great disdaine Mournes inwardly and makes to himselfe mone Till ruth and fraile affection did constraine His stout courage to stoupe and shew his inward paine Out of her gored wound the cruell steele He lightly snatcht and did the floudgate stop With his faire garment then gan softly feele Her feeble pulse to proue if any drop Of liuing bloud yet in her veynes did hop Which when he felt to moue he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop So well he did her deadly wounds repaire That at the last she gan to breath out liuing aire Which he perceiuing greatly gan reioice And goodly counsell that for wounded hart Is meetest med'cine tempred with sweet voice Ay me deare Lady which the image art Of ruefull pitie and impatient smart What direfull chance armd with reuenging fate Or cursed hand hath plaid this cruell part Thus fowle to hasten your vntimely date Speake O deare Lady speake help neuer comes too late Therewith her dim eie-lids she vp gan reare On which the drery death did sit as sad As lump of lead and made darke clouds appeare But when as him all in bright armour clad Before her standing she espied had As one out of a deadly dreame affright She weakely started yet she nothing drad Streight downe againe her selfe in great despight She groueling threw to
ground as hating life and light The gentle knight her soone with carefull paine Vplifted light and softly did vphold Thrise he her reard and thrise she sunke againe Till he his armes about her sides gan fold And to her said Yet if the stony cold Haue not all seized on your frozen hart Let one word fall that may your griefe vnfold And tell the secret of your mortall smart He oft finds present helpe who does his griefe impart Then casting vp a deadly looke full low Shee sight from bottome of her wounded brest And after many bitter throbs did throw With lips full pale and foltring tongue opprest These words she breathed forth from riuen chest Leaue ah leaue off what euer wight thou bee To let a wearie wretch from her dew rest And trouble dying soules tranquilitee Take not away now got which none would giue to me Ah farre be it said he Deare dame fro mee To hinder soule from her desired rest Or hold sad life in long captiuitee For all I seeke is but to haue redrest The bitter pangs that doth your heart infest Tell then ô Lady tell what fatall priefe Hath with so huge misfortune you opprest That I may cast to compasse your reliefe Or die with you in sorrow and partake your griefe With feeble hands then stretched forth on hye As heauen accusing guiltie of her death And with dry drops congealed in her eye In these sad words she spent her vtmost breath Heare then ô man the sorrowes that vneath My tongue can tell so farre all sense they pas Loe this dead corpse that lies here vnderneath The gentlest knight that euer on greene gras Gay steed with spurs did pricke the good Sir Mortdant was Was ay the while that he is not so now My Lord my loue my deare Lord my deare loue So long as heauens iust with equall brow Vouchsafed to behold vs from aboue One day when him high courage did emmoue As wont ye knights to seeke aduentures wilde He pricked forth his puissant force to proue Me then he left enwombed of this child This lucklesse child whom thus ye see with bloud defild Him fortuned hard fortune ye may ghesse To come where vile Acrasia does wonne Acrasia a false enchaunteresse That many errant knights hath foule fordonne Within a wandring Island that doth ronne And stray in perilous gulfe her dwelling is Faire Sir if euer there ye trauell shonne The cursed land where many wend amis And know it by the name it hight the Bowre of blis Her blisse is all in pleasure and delight Wherewith she makes her louers drunken mad And then with words weedes of wondrous might On them she workes her will to vses bad My lifest Lord she thus beguiled had For he was flesh all flesh doth frailtie breed Whom when I heard to beene so ill bestad Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed And cast to seeke him forth through daunger and great dreed Now had faire Cynthia by euen tournes Full measured three quarters of her yeare And thrise three times had fild her crooked hornes When as my wombe her burdein would forbeare And bad me call Lucina to me neare Lucina came a manchild forth I brought The woods the Nymphes my bowres my midwiues weare Hard helpe at need So deare thee babe I bought Yet nought too deare I deemd while so my dear I sought Him so I sought and so at last I found Where him that witch had thralled to her will In chaines of lust and lewd desires ybound And so transformed from his former skill That me he knew not neither his owne ill Till through wise handling and faire gouernance I him recured to a better will Purged from drugs of foule intemperance Then meanes I gan deuise for his deliuerance Which when the vile Enchaunteresse perceiu'd How that my Lord from her I would repriue With cup thus charmd him parting she deceiu'd Sad verse giue death to him that death does giue And losse of loue to her that loues to liue So soone as Bacchus with the Nymphe does lincke So parted we and on our iourney driue Till comming to this well he stoupt to drincke The charme fulfild dead suddenly he downe did sincke Which when I wretch Not one word more she sayd But breaking off the end for want of breath And slyding soft as downe to sleepe her layd And ended all her woe in quiet death That seeing good Sir Guyon could vneath From teares abstaine for griefe his hart did grate And from so heauie sight his head did wreath Accusing fortune and too cruell fate Which plunged had faire Ladie in so wretched state Then turning to his Palmer said Old syre Behold the image of mortalitie And feeble nature cloth'd with fleshly tyre When raging passion with fierce tyrannie Robs reason of her due regalitie And makes it seruant to her basest part The strong it weakens with infirmitie And with bold furie armes the weakest hart The strong through pleasure soonest falles the weake through smart But temperance said he with golden squire Betwixt them both can measure out a meane Neither to melt in pleasures whot desire Nor fry in hartlesse griefe and dolefull teene Thrise happie man who fares them both atweene But sith this wretched woman ouercome Of anguish rather then of crime hath beene Reserue her cause to her eternall doome And in the meane vouchsafe her honorable toombe Palmer quoth he death is an euill doome To good and bad the common Inne of rest But after death the tryall is to come When best shall be to them that liued best But both alike when death hath both supprest Religious reuerence doth buriall teene Which who so wants wants so much of his rest For all so great shame after death I weene As selfe to dyen bad vnburied bad to beene So both agree their bodies to engraue The great earthes wombe they open to the sky And with sad Cypresse seemely it embraue Then couering with a clod their closed eye They lay therein those corses tenderly And bid them sleepe in euerlasting peace But ere they did their vtmost obsequy Sir Guyon more affection to increace Bynempt a sacred vow which none should aye releace The dead knights sword out of his sheath he drew With which he cut a locke of all their heare Which medling with their bloud and earth he threw Into the graue and gan deuoutly sweare Such and such euill Godon Guyon reare And worse and worse young Orphane be thy paine If I or thou dew vengeance doe forbeare Till guiltie bloud her guerdon doe obtaine So shedding many teares they closd the earth againe Cant. II. Babes bloudie hands may not be clensd the face of golden Meane Her sisters two Extremities striue her to banish cleane THus when Sir Guyon with his faithfull guide Had with due rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde The litle babe vp in his armes he hent Who with sweet pleasance and bold blandishment
Vnworthie of the commune breathed aire Why liuest thou dead dog a lenger day And doest not vnto death thy selfe prepaire Dye or thy selfe my captiue yield for ay Great fauour I thee graunt for aunswere thus to stay Hold ô deare Lord hold your dead-doing hand Then loud he cryde I am your humble thrall Ah wretch quoth he thy destinies withstand My wrathfull will and do for mercy call I giue thee life therefore prostrated fall And kisse my stirrup that thy homage bee The Miser threw him selfe as an Offall Streight at his foot in base humilitee And cleeped him his liege to hold of him in fee. So happy peace they made and faire accord Eftsoones this liege-man gan to wexe more bold And when he felt the folly of his Lord In his owne kind he gan him selfe vnfold For he was wylie witted and growne old In cunning sleights and practick knauery For that day forth he cast for to vphold His idle humour with fine flattery And blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity Trompart fit man for Braggadochio To serue at court in view of vaunting eye Vaine-glorious man when fluttring wind does blow In his light wings is lifted vp to skye The scorne of knighthood and trew cheualrye To thinke without desert of gentle deed And noble worth to be aduaunced hye Such prayse is shame but honour vertues meed Doth beare the fairest flowre in honorable seed So forth they pas a well consorted paire Till that at length with Archimage they meet Who seeing one that shone in armour faire On goodly courser thundring with his feet Eftsoones supposed him a person meet Of his reuenge to make the instrument For since the Redcrosse knight he earst did weet To beene with Guyon knit in one consent The ill which earst to him he now to Guyon ment And comming close to Trompart gan inquere Of him what mighty warriour that mote bee That rode in golden sell with single spere But wanted sword to wreake his enmitee He is a great aduenturer said he That hath his sword through hard assay forgone And now hath vowd till he auenged bee Of that despight neuer to wearen none That speare is him enough to doen a thousand grone Th' enchaunter greatly ioyed in the vaunt And weened well ere long his will to win And both his foen with equall foyle to daunt Tho to him louting lowly did begin To plaine of wrongs which had committed bin By Guyon and by that false Redcrosse knight Which two through treason and deceiptfull gin Had slaine Sir Mordant and his Lady bright That mote him honour win to wreake so foule despight Therewith all suddeinly he seemd enraged And threatned death with dreadfull countenaunce As if their liues had in his hand beene gaged And with stiffe force shaking his mortall launce To let him weet his doughtie valiaunce Thus said Old man great sure shal be thy meed If where those knights for feare of dew vengeaunce Do lurke thou certainly to me areed That I may wreake on them their hainous hatefull deed Certes my Lord said he that shall I soone And giue you eke good helpe to their decay But mote I wisely you aduise to doon Giue no ods to your foes but do puruay Your selfe of sword before that bloudy day For they be two the prowest knights on ground And oft approu'd in many hard assay And eke of surest steele that may be found Do arme your selfe against that day them to confound Dotard said he let be thy deepe aduise Seemes that through many yeares thy wits thee faile And that weake eld hath left thee nothing wise Else neuer should thy iudgement be so fraile To measure manhood by the sword or maile Is not enough foure quarters of a man Withouten sword or shield an host to quaile Thou little wotest what this right hand can Speake they which haue beheld the battailes which it wan The man was much abashed at his boast Yet well he wist that who so would contend With either of those knights on euen coast Should need of all his armes him to defend Yet feared least his boldnesse should offend When Braggadocchio said Once I did sweare When with one sword seuen knights I brought to end Thence forth in battell neuer sword to beare But it were that which noblest knight on earth doth weare Perdie Sir knight said then th' enchaunter bliue That shall I shortly purchase to your hond For now the best and noblest knight aliue Prince Arthur is that wonnes in Faerie lond He hath a sword that flames like burning brond The same by my aduise I vndertake Shall by to morrow by thy side be fond At which bold word that boaster gan to quake And wondred in his mind what mote that monster make He stayd not for more bidding but away Was suddein vanished out of his sight The Northerne wind his wings did broad display At his commaund and reared him vp light From off the earth to take his aerie flight They look about but no where could espie Tract of his foot then dead through great affright They both nigh were and each bad other flie Both fled attonce ne euer backe returned eie Till that they come vnto a forrest greene In which they shrowd thēselues from causelesse feare Yet feare them followes still where so they beene Each trembling leafe and whistling wind they heare As ghastly bug their haire on end does reare Yet both doe striue their fearfulnesse to faine At last they heard a horne that shrilled cleare Throughout the wood that ecchoed againe And made the forrest ring as it would riue in twaine Eft through the thicke they heard one rudely rush With noyse whereof he from his loftie steed Downe fell to ground and crept into a bush To hide his coward head from dying dreed But Trompart stoutly stayd to taken heed Of what might hap Eftsoone there stepped forth A goodly Ladie clad in hunters weed That seemd to be a woman of great worth And by her stately portance borne of heauenly birth Her face so faire as flesh it seemed not But heauenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew Cleare as the skie withouten blame or blot Through goodly mixture of complexions dew And in her cheekes the vermeill red did shew Like roses in a bed of lillies shed The which ambrosiall odours from them threw And gazers sense with double pleasure fed Hable to heale the sicke and to reuiue the ded In her faire eyes two liuing lamps did flame Kindled aboue at th'heauenly makers light And darted fyrie beames out of the same So passing persant and so wondrous bright That quite bereau'd the rash beholders sight In them the blinded god his lustfull fire To kindle oft assayd but had no might For with dredd Maiestie and awfull ire She broke his wanton darts and quenched base desire Her iuorie forhead full of bountie braue Like a broad table did it selfe dispred For Loue his loftie triumphes to engraue And write the battels of his great godhed
all his head vnto the bone Wherewith astonisht still he stood as senselesse stone Still as he stood faire Phaedria that beheld That deadly daunger soone atweene them ran And at their feet her selfe most humbly feld Crying with pitteous voice and count'nance wan Ah well away most noble Lords how can Your cruell eyes endure so pitteous sight To shed your liues on ground wo worth the man That first did teach the oursed steele to bight In his owne flesh and make way to the liuing spright If euer loue of Ladie did empierce Your yron brestes or pittie could find place Withhold your bloudie hands from battell fierce And sith for me ye fight to me this grace Both yeeld to stay your deadly strife a space They stayd a while and forth she gan proceed Most wretched woman and of wicked race That am the author of this hainous deed And cause of death betweene two doughtie knights doe breed But if for me ye fight or me will serue Not this rude kind of battell nor these armes Are meet the which doe men in bale to sterue And dolefull sorrow heape with deadly harmes Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes Another warre and other weapons I Doe loue where loue does giue his sweet alarmes Without bloudshed and where the enemy Does yeeld vnto his foe a pleasant victory Debatefull strife and cruell enmitie The famous name of knighthood fowly shent But louely peace and gentle amitie And in Amours the passing houres to spend The mightie martiall hands doe most commend Of loue they euer greater glory bore Then of their armes Mars is Cupidoes frend And is for Venus loues renowmed more Then all his wars and spoiles the which he did of yore Therewith she sweetly smyld They though full bent To proue extremities of bloudie fight Yet at her speach their rages gan relent And calme the sea of their tempestuous spight Such powre haue pleasing words such is the might Of courteous clemencie in gentle hart Now after all was ceast the Faery knight Besought that Damzell suffer him depart And yield him readie passage to that other part She no lesse glad then he desirous was Of his departure thence for of her ioy And vaine delight she saw he light did pas A foe of folly and immodest toy Still solemne sad or still disdainfull coy Delighting all in armes and cruell warre That her sweet peace and pleasures did annoy Troubled with terrour and vnquiet iarre That she well pleased was thence to amoue him farre Tho him she brought abord and her swift bote Forthwith directed to that further strand The which on the dull waues did lightly flote And soone arriued on the shallow sand Where gladsome Guyon salied forth to land And to that Damzell thankes gaue for reward Vpon that shore he spied Atin stand Thereby his maister left when late he far'd In Phadrias flit barke ouer that perlous shard Well could he him remember sith of late He with Pyrrhochles sharp debatement made Streight gan he him reuile and bitter rate As shepheards curre that in darke euenings shade Hath tracted forth some saluage beastes trade Vile Miscreant said he whither doest thou flie The shame and death which will thee soone inuade What coward hand shall doe thee next to die That art thus foully fled from famous enemie With that he stiffely shooke his steelehead dart But sober Guyon hearing him so raile Though somewhat moued in his mightie hart Yet with strong reason maistred passion fraile And passed fairely forth He turning taile Backe to the strond retyrd and there still stayd Awaiting passage which him late did faile The whiles Cymochles with that wanton mayd The hastie heat of his auowd reuenge delayd Whylest there the varlet stood he saw from farre An armed knight that towards him fast ran He ran on foot as if in lucklesse warre His forlorne steed from him the victourwan He seemed breathlesse hartlesse faint and wan And all his armour sprinckled was with bloud And soyld with durtie gore that no man can Discerne the hew thereof He neuer stood But bent his hastie course towards the idle flood The varlet saw when to the flood he came How without stop or stay he fiercely lept And deepe him selfe beduked in the same That in the lake his loftie crest was steept Ne of his safetie seemed care he kept But with his raging armes he rudely flasht The waues about and all his armour swept That all the bloud and filth away was washt Yet still he bet the water and the billowes dasht Atin drew nigh to weet what it mote bee For much he wondred at that vncouth sight Whom should he but his owne deare Lord there see His owne deare Lord Pyrrhochles in sad plight Readie to drowne himselfe for fell despight Harrow now out and well away he cryde What dismall day hath lent this cursed light To see my Lord so deadly damnifyde Pyrrhochles ô Pyrrhochles what is thee betyde I burne I burne I burne then loud he cryde O how I burne with implacable fire Yet nought can quench mine inly flaming syde Nor sea of licour cold nor lake of mire Nothing but death can doe me to respire Ah be it said he from Pyrrhochles farre After pursewing death once to require Or think that ought those puissant hands may marre Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappie starre Perdie then is it fit for me said he That am I weene most wretched man aliue But in flames yet no flames can I see And dying daily daily 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 happie 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 foule agrise That euery weightie thing they did vpbeare Ne ought mote euer sinke downe to the bottome there Whiles thus they strugled in that idle waue And stroue in vaine the one himselfe to drowne The other both from drowning for to saue Lo to that shore one in an auncient gowne Whose hoarie locks great grauitie did crowne Holding in hand a goodly arming sword By fortune came led with the troublous sowne Where drenched deepe he found in that dull ford The carefull seruant striuing with his raging Lord. Him Atin spying knew right well of yore And loudly cald Helpe helpe ô Archimage To saue my Lord in wretched plight forlore Helpe with thy hand or with thy counsell sage Weake hands but counsell is most strong in age Him when the old man saw he wondred sore To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage Yet sithens helpe he saw he needed more Then pittie he in hast
of euerlasting fame He with his victour sword first opened The bowels of wide Fraunce a forlorne Dame And taught her first how to be conquered Since which with sundrie spoiles she hath beene ransacked Let Scaldis tell and let tell Hania And let the marsh of Estham bruges tell What colour were their waters that same day And all the moore twixt Eluersham and Dell With bloud of Henalois which therein fell How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell That not Scuith guiridh it mote seeme to bee But rather y Scuith gogh signe of sad crueltee His sonne king Leill by fathers labour long Enioyd an heritage of lasting peace And built Cairleill and built Cairleon strong Next Huddibras his realme did not encrease But taught the land from wearie warres to cease Whose footsteps Bladud following in arts Exceld at Athens all the learned preace From whence he brought them to these saluage parts And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts Ensample of his wondrous faculty Behold the boyling Bathes at Cairbadon Which seeth with secret fire eternally And in their entrails full of quicke Brimston Nourish the flames which they are warm'd vpon That to her people wealth they forth do well And health to euery forreine nation Yet he at last contending to excell The reach of men through flight into fond mischief fell Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raind But had no issue male him to succeed But three faire daughters which were well vptraind In all that seemed sit for kingly seed Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed To haue diuided Tho when feeble age Nigh to his vtmost date he saw proceed He cald his daughters and with speeches sage Inquyrd which of them most did loue her parentage The eldest Gonorill gan to protest That she much more then her owne life him lou'd And Regan greater loue to him profest Then all the world when euer it were proou'd But Cordeill said she lou'd him as behoou'd Whose simple answere wanting colours faire To paint it forth him to displeasance moou'd That in his crowne he counted her no haire But twixt the other twaine his kingdome whole did shaire So wedded th' one to Maglan king of Scots And th' other to the king of Cambria And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lots But without dowre the wise Cordelia Was sent to Aganip of Celtica Their aged Syre thus cased of his crowne A priuate life led in Albania With Gonorill long had in great renowne That nought him grieu'd to bene from rule deposed downe But true it is that when the oyle is spent The light goes out and weeke is throwne away So when he had resignd his regiment His daughter gan despise his drouping day And wearie waxe of his continuall stay Tho to his daughter Rigan he repayrd Who him at first well vsed euery way But when of his departure she despayrd Her bountie she abated and his cheare empayrd The wretched man gan then auise too late That loue is not where most it is profest Too truely tryde in his extreamest state At last resolu'd likewise to proue the rest He to Cordelia him selfe addrest Who with entire affection him receau'd As for her Syre and king her seemed best And after all an army strong she leau'd To war on those which him had of his realme bereau'd So to his crowne she him restor'd againe In which he dyde made ripe for death by eld And after wild it should to her remaine Who peaceably the same long time did weld And all mens harts in dew obedience held Till that her sisters children woxen strong Through proud ambition against her rebeld And ouercommen kept in prison long Till wearie of that wretched life her selfe she hong Then gan the bloudie brethren both to raine But fierce Cundah gan shortly to enuie His brother Morgan prickt with proud disdaine To haue a pere in part of soueraintie And kindling coles of cruell enmitie Raisd warre and him in battell ouerthrew Whence as he to those woodie hils did flie Which hight of him Glamorgan there him slew Then did he raigne alone when he none equall knew His sonne Riuallo his dead roome did supply In whose sad time bloud did from heauen raine Next great Gurgustus then faire Caecily In constant peace their kingdomes did containe After whom Lago and Kinmarke did raine And Gorbogud till farre in yeares he grew Till his ambitious sonnes vnto them twaine Arraught the rule and from their father drew Stout Ferrex and sterne Porrex him in prison threw But ô the greedy thirst of royall crowne That knowes no kinred nor regardes no right Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe Who vnto him assembling forreine might Made warre on him and fell him selfe in fight Whose death t' auenge his mother mercilesse Most mercilesse of women VVyden hight Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse Here ended Brutus sacred progenie Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne With high renowme and great felicitie The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne Through discord and the royall throne forlorne Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent Whilest each of Brutus boasted to be borne That in the end was left no moniment Of Brutus nor of Britons glory auncient Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might And wondrous wit to menage high affaires Who stird vp pitty of the stressed plight Of this sad Realme cut into sundry shaires By such as claymd themselues Brutes rightfull haires Gathered the Princes of the people loose To taken counsell of their common cares Who with his wisedom won him streight did choose Their king and swore him fealty to win or loose Then made he head against his enimies And Ymner slew or Logris miscreate Then Ruddoc and proud Stater both allyes This of Albanie newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce Whos 's countreis he redus'd to quiet state And shortly brought to ciuill gouernaunce Now one which earst were many made through variaunce Then made he sacred lawes which some men say Were vnto him reueald in vision By which he freed the Traueilers high way The Churches part and Ploughmans portion Restraining stealth and strong extortion The gracious Numa of great Britanie For till his dayes the chiefe dominion By strength was wielded without pollicie Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignitie Donwallo dyde for what may liue for ay And left two sonnes of pearelesse prowesse both That sacked Rome too dearely did assay The recompence of their periured oth And ransackt Greece well tryde whē they were wroth Besides subiected Fraunce and Germany Which yet their prayses speake all be they loth And inly tremble at the memory Of Brennus and Bellinus kings of Britany Next them did Gurgunt great Bellinus sonne In rule succeede and eke in fathers prayse He Easterland subdewd and Danmarke
from midst of all the Maine The surging waters like a mountaine rise And the great sea puft vp with proud disdaine To swell aboue the measure of his guise As threatning to deuoure all that his powre despise The waues come rolling and the billowes rore Outragiously as they enraged were Or wrathfull Neptune did them driue before His whirling charet for exceeding feare For not one puffe of wind there did appeare That all the three thereat woxe much afrayd Vnweeting what such horrour straunge did reare Eftsoones they saw an hideous hoast arrayd Of huge Sea monsters such as liuing sence dismayd Most vgly shapes and horrible aspects Such as Dame Nature selfe mote feare to see Or shame that euer should so fowle defects From her most cunning hand escaped bee All dreadfull pourtraicts of deformitee Spring-headed Hydraes and sea-shouldring Whales Great whirlpools which all fishes make to flee Bright Scolopendraes arm'd with siluer scales Mighty Monoceros with immeasured tayles The dreadfull Fish that hath deseru'd the name Of Death and like him lookes in dreadfull hew The griefly Wasserman that makes his game The flying ships with swiftnesse to pursew The horrible Sea-satyre that doth shew His fearefull face in time of greatest storme Huge Ziffius whom Mariners eschew No lesse then rockes as trauellers informe And greedy Rosmarines with visages deforme All these and thousand thousands many more And more deformed Monsters thousand fold With dreadfull noise and hollow rombling rore Came rushing in the fomy waues enrold Which seem'd to fly for feare them to behold Ne wonder if these did the knight appall For all that here on earth we dreadfull hold Be but as bugs to fearen babes withall Compared to the creatures in the seas entrall Feare nought then said the Palmer well auiz'd For these same Monsters are not these in deed But are into these fearefull shapes disguiz'd By that same wicked witch to worke vs dreed And draw from on this iourney to proceede Tho lifting vp his vertuous staffe on hye He smote the sea which calmed was with speed And all that dreadfull Armie fast gan flye Into great Tethys bosome where they hidden lye Quit from that daunger forth their course they kept And as they went they heard a ruefull cry Of one that wayld and pittifull wept That through the sea the resounding plaints did fly At last they in an Island did espy A seemely Maiden sitting by the shore That with great sorrow and sad agony Seemed some great misfortune to deplore And lowd to them for succour called euermore Which Guyon hearing streight his Palmer bad To stere the boate towards that dolefull Mayd That he might know and ease her sorrow sad Who him auizing better to him sayd Faire Sir be not displeasd if disobayd For ill it were to hearken to her cry For she is inly nothing ill apayd But onely womanish fine forgery Your stubborne hart t' affect with fraile infirmity To which when she your courage hath inclind Through foolish pitty then her guilefull bayt She will embosome deeper in your mind And for your ruine at the last awayt The knight was ruled and the Boateman strayt Held on his course with stayed stedfastnesse Ne euer shruncke ne euer sought to bayt His tyred armes for toylesome wearinesse But with his oares did sweepe the watry wildernesse And now they nigh approched to the sted Where as those Mermayds dwelt it was a still And calmy bay on th' one side sheltered With the brode shadow of an hoarie hill On th' other side an high rocke toured still That twixt them both a peasaunt port they made And did like an halfe Theatre fulfill There those fiue sisters had continuall trade And vsd to bath themselues in that deceiptfull shade They were faire Ladies till they fondly striu'd With th' Heliconian maides for maistery Of whom they ouer-comen were depriu'd Of their proud beautie and th' one moyity Transform'd to fish for their bold surquedry But th'vpper halfe their hew retained still And their sweet skill in wonted melody Which euer after they abusd to ill T' allure weake trauellers whom gotten they did kill So now to Guyon as he passed by Their pleasaunt tunes they sweetly thus applide O thou faire sonne of gentle Faery Thou art in mighty armes most magnifide Aboue all knights that euer battell tride O turne thy rudder hither-ward a while Here may thy storme-bet vessell safely ride This is the Port of rest from troublous toyle The worlds sweet In from paine wearisome turmoyle With that the rolling sea resounding soft In his big base them sitly answered And on the rocke the waues breaking aloft A solemne Meane vnto them measured The whiles sweet Zephirus lowd whisteled His treble a straunge kinde of harmony Which Guyons senses softly tickeled That he the boateman bad row easily And let him heare some part of their rare melody But him the Palmer from that vanity With temperate aduice discounselled That they it past and shortly gan descry The land to which their course they leueled When suddeinly a grosse fog ouer spred With his dull vapour all that desert has And heauens chearefull face enueloped That all things one and one as nothing was And this great Vniuerse seemd one confused mas Thereat they greatly were dismayd ne wist How to direct their way in darkenesse wide But feard to wander in that wastfull mist For tombling into mischiefe vnespide Worse is the daunger hidden then descride Suddeinly an innumerable flight Of harmefull fowles about them fluttering cride And with their wicked wings them oft did smight And sore annoyed groping in that griesly night Euen all the nation of vnfortunate And fatall birds about them flocked were Such as by nature men abhorre and hate The ill-faste Owle deaths dreadfull messengere The hoars Night-rauen trump of dolefull drere The lether-winged Bat dayes enimy The ruefull Strich still waiting on the bere The Whistler shrill that who so heares doth dy The hellisn Harpies prophets of sad destiny All those and all that else does horrour breed About them flew and fild their sayles with feare Yet stayd they not but forward did proceed Whiles th' one did row and th' other stifly steare Till that at last the weather gan to cleare And the faire land it selfe did plainly show Said then the Palmer Lo where does appeare The sacred soile where all our perils grow Therefore Sirknight your ready armes about you throw He hearkned and his armes about him tooke The whiles the nimble boate so well her sped That with her crooked keele the land she strooke Then forth the noble Guyon sallied And his sage Palmer that him gouerned But th' other by his boate behind did stay They marched fairly forth of nought ydred Both firmely armd for euery hard assay With constancy and care gainst daunger and dismay Ere long they heard an hideous bellowing Of many beasts that roard outrageously As if that hungers point or Venus sting Had them enraged with fell surquedry
sith they warlike armes haue layd away They haue exceld in artes and pollicy That now we foolish men that prayse gin eker'enuy Of warlike puissaunce in ages spent Be thou faire Britomart whose prayse I write But of all wisedome be thou precedent Endite I would as dewtie doth excite But ah my rimes too rude and rugged arre When in so high an obiect they do lite And striuing fit to make I feare do marre Thy selfe thy prayses tell and make them knowen farre She trauelling with Guyon by the way Of sundry things faire purpose gan to find T'abridg their iourney long and lingring day Mongst which it fell into that Faeries mind To aske this Briton Mayd what vncouth wind Made her dissemble her disguised kind Faire Lady she him seemd like Lady drest But fairest knight aliue when armed washer brest Thereat she sighing softly had no powre To speake a while ne ready answere make But with hart-thrilling throbs and bitter stowre As if she had a feuer fit did quake And euery daintie limbe with horrour shake And euer and anone the rosy red Flasht through her face as it had beene a flake Oflightning through bright heauen fulmined At last the passion past she thus him answered Faire Sir I let you weete that from the howre I taken was from nourses tender pap I haue beene trained vp in warlike stowre To tossen speare and shield and to affrap The warlike ryder to his most mishap Sithence I loathed haue my life to lead As Ladies wont in pleasures wanton lap To finger the fine needle and nyce thread Me leuer were with point of foemans speare be dead All my delights deedes of armes is set To hunt out perils and aduentures hard By sea by land where so they may be met Onely for honour and for high regard Without respect of richesse or reward For such intent into these parts I came Withouten compasse or withouten card Far fro my natiue soyle that is by name The greater Britaine here to seeke for prayse and fame Fame blazed hath that here in Faery lond Do many famous Knightes and Ladies wonne And many straunge aduentures to be fond Of which great worth and worship may be wonne Which I to proue this voyage haue begonne But mote I weet of you right curteous knight Tydings of one that hath vnto me donne Late foule dishonour and reprochfull spight The which I seeke to wreake and Arthegall he hight The word gone out she backe againe would call As her repenting so to haue missayd But that he it vp-taking ere the fall Her shortly answered Faire martiall Mayd Certes ye misa uised beene t'vpbrayd A gentle knight with so vnknightly blame For weet ye well of all that euer playd At tilt or tourney or like warlike game The noble Arthegall hath euer borne the name For thy great wonder were it if such shame Should euer enter in his bounteous thought Or euer do that mote deseruen blame The noble courage neuer weeneth ought That may vnworthy of it selfe be thought Therefore faire Damzell be ye well aware Least that too farre ye haue your sorrow sought You and your countrey both I wish welfare And honour both for each of other worthy are The royall Mayd woxe inly wondrous glad To heare her Loue so highly magnifide And ioyd that euer she affixed had Her hart on knight so goodly glorifide How euer finely she it faind to hide The louing mother that nine monethes did beare In the deare closet of her paine full side Her tender babe it seeing safe appeare Doth not so much reioyce as she reioyced theare But to occasion him to further talke To feed her humour with his pleasing stile Her list in strifull termes with him to balke Aud thus replide How euer Sir ye file Your curteous tongue his prayses to compile It ill beseemes a knight of gentle sort Such as ye haue him boasted to beguile A simple mayd and worke so haynous tort In shame of knighthood as I largely can report Let be therefore my vengeaunce to disswade And read where I that faytour false may find Ah but if reason faire might you perswade To slake your wrath and mollifie your mind Said he perhaps ye should it better find For hardy thing it is to weene by might That man to hard conditions to bind Or euer hope to match in equall fight Whose prowesse paragon saw neuer liuing wight Ne soothlich is it easie for to read Where now on earth or how he may be found For he ne wonneth in one certaine stead But restlesse walketh all the world around Ay doing things that to his same redound Defending Ladies cause and Orphans right Where so he heares that any doth confound Them comfortlesse through tyranny or might So is his soueraine honour raisde to heavens hight His feeling words her feeble sence much pleased And softly sunck into her molten hart Hart that is inly hurt is greatly eased With hope of thing that may allegge his smart For pleasing words are like to Magick art That doth the charmed Snake in slomber lay Such secret ease felt gentle Britomart Yet list the same efforce with faind gainesay So dischord oft in Musick makes the sweeter lay And said Sir knight these idle termes forbeare And sith it is vneath to find his haunt Tell me some markes by which he may appeare If chaunce I him encounter parauant For perdie one shall other slay or daunt What shape what shield what armes what steed what sted And what so else his person most may vaunt All which the Redcrosse knight to point ared And him in euery part before her fashioned Yet him in euery part before she knew How euer list her now her knowledge faine Sith him whilome in Britaine she did vew To her reuealed in a mirrhour plaine Whereof did grow her first engraffed paine Whose root and stalke so bitter yet did tast That but the fruit more sweetnesse did containe Her wretched dayes in dolour she mote wast And yield the pray of loue to lothsome death at last By strange occasion she did him behold And much more strangely gan to loue his sight As it in bookes hath written bene of old In Deheubarth that now South-wales is hight What time king Ryence raign'd and dealed right The great Magitian Merlin had deuiz'd By his deepe science and hell-dreaded might A looking glasse right wondrously aguiz'd Whose vertues through the wyde world soone were solemniz'd It vertue had to shew in perfect sight What euer thing was in the world contaynd Betwixt the lowest earth and heauens hight So that it to the looker appertaynd What euer foe had wrought or frend had faynd Therein discouered was ne ought mote pas Ne ought in secret from the same remaynd For thy it round and hollow shaped was Like to the world it selfe and seem'd a world of glas Who wonders not that reades so wonderous worke But who does wonder that has red the Towre Wherein th' Aegyptian Phaeo long
was that woman this that deadly wound That Proteus prophecide should him dismay The which his mother vainely did expound To be hart-wounding loue which should assay To bring her sonne vnto his last decay So tickle be the termes of mortall state And full of subtile sophismes which do play With double senses and with false debate Tapproue the vnknowen purpose of eternall fate Too true the famous Marinell it fownd Who through late triall on that wealthy Strond Inglorious now lies in senselesse swownd Through heauy stroke of Britomartis hond Which when his mother deare did vnderstond And heauy tydings heard whereas she playd Amongst her watry sisters by a pond Gathering sweet daffadillyes to haue made Gay girlonds from the Sun their forheads faire to shade Eftsoones both flowres and girlonds farre away She flong and her faire deawy lockes yrent To sorrow huge she turnd her former play And gameson merth to grieuous dreriment She threw her selfe downe on the Continent Ne word did speake but lay as in a swowne Whiles all her sisters did for her lament With yelling outcries and with shrieking sowne And euery one did teare her girlond from her crowne Soone as she vp out of her deadly fit Arose she bad her charet to be brought And all her sisters that with her did sit Bad eke attonce their charets to be sought Tho full of bitter griefe and pensiue thought She to her wagon clombe clombe all the rest And forth together went with sorrow fraught The waues obedient to their beheast Them yielded readie passage and their rage surceast Great Neptune stood amazed at their sight Whiles on his broad round backe they softly slid And eke himselfe mournd at their mournfull plight Yet wist not what their wailing ment yet did For great compassion of their sorrow bid His mightie waters to them buxome bee Eftsoones the roaring billowes still abid And all the griefly Monsters of the See Stood gaping at their gate and wondred them to see A teme of Dolphins raunged in aray Drew the smooth charet of sad Cymoent They were all taught by Triton to obay To the long traines at her commaundement As swift as swallowes on the waues they went That their broad flaggie finnes no fome did reare Ne bubbling roundell they behind them sent The rest of other fishes drawen weare Which with their 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 feet vpon the stony ground And comming to the place where all in gore And cruddy bloud enwallowed they found The lucklesse Marinell lying in deadly swound His mother swowned thrise and the third time Could scarce recouered be out of her paine Had she not bene deuoyd of mortall slime She should not then haue bene reliu'd againe But soone as life recouered had the raine She made so piteous mone and deare wayment That the hard rocks could scarse from teares refraine And all her sister Nymphes with one consent Supplide her sobbing breaches with sad complement Deare image of my selfe she said that is The wretched sonne of wretched mother borne Is this thine high aduauncement ô is this Th' immortall name with which thee yet vnborne Thy Gransire Nereus promist to adorne Now lyest thou of life and honor reft Now lyest thou a lumpe of earth forlorne Ne of thy late life memory is left Ne can thy irreuocable destiny be weft 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 do liue But they that die doe neither loue nor hate Nath'lesse to thee thy folly I forgiue And to my selfe and to accursed fate The guilt I doe ascribe deare wisedome bought too late O what auailes it of immortall seed To beene ybred and neuer borne to die Farre better I it deeme to die with speed Then waste in woe and wailefull miserie Who dyes the vtmost dolour doth abye But who that liues is left to waile his losse So life is losse and death felicitie Sad life worse then glad death and greater crosse To see friends graue thē dead the graue selfe to engrosse But if the heauens did his dayes enuie And my short blisse maligne yet mote they well Thus much afford me ere that he did die That the dim eyes of my deare Marinell I mote haue closed and him bed farewell Sith other offices for mother meet They would not graunt Yet maulgre them farewell my sweetest sweet Farewell my sweetest sonne sith we no more shall meet Thus when they all had sorrowed their fill They softly gan to search his griesly wound And that they might him handle more at will They him disarm'd and spredding on the ground Their watchet mantles frindgd with siluer round They softly wipt away the gelly blood From th'orifice which hauing well vpbound They pourd in soueraine balme and Nectar good Good both for earthly med'cine and for heauenly food Tho when the lilly handed Liagore This Liagore whylome had learned skill In leaches craft by great Appolloes lore Sith her whylome vpon high Pindus hill He loued and at last her wombe did fill With heauenly seed whereof wise Paeon sprong Did feele his pulse she knew their staied still Some litle life his feeble sprites emong Which to his mother told despeire she from her flong Tho vp him taking in their tender hands They easily vnto her charet beare Her teme at her commaundement quiet stands Whiles they the corse into her wagon reare And strow with flowres the lamentable beare Then all the rest into their coches clim And through the brackish waues their passage sheare Vpon great Neptunes necke they softly swim And to her watry chamber swiftly carry him Deepe in the bottome of the sea her bowre Is built of hollow billowes heaped hye Like to thicke cloudes that threat a stormy showre And vauted all within like to the sky In which the Gods do dwell eternally There they him laid in easie couch well dight And sent in haste for Tryphon to apply Salues to his wounds and medicines of might For Tryphon of sea gods the soueraine leach is hight The whiles the Nymphes sit all about him round Lamenting his mishap and heauy plight And oft his mother vewing his wide wound Cursed the hand that did so deadly smight Her dearest sonne her dearest harts delight But none of all those curses ouertooke The warlike Maid th'ensample of that might But fairely well she thriu'd and well did brooke Her noble deeds ne her right course for ought forsooke Yet did false Archimage her still pursew To bring to passe his mischieuous intent Now that he had her singled from the crew Of courteous knights the Prince and Faery
remoue But whether willed or nilled friend or foe I me resolu'd the vtmost end to proue And rather then my loue abandon so Both sire and friends and all for euer to forgo Thenceforth I sought by secret meanes to worke Time to my will and from his wrathfull sight To hide th' intent which in my heart did lurke Till I thereto had all things ready dight So on a day vnweeting vnto wight I with that Squire agreede away to flit And in a priuy place betwixt vs hight Within a groue appointed him to meete To which I boldly came vpon my feeble feete But ah vnhappy houre me thither brought For in that place where I him thought to find There was I found contrary to my thought Of this accursed Carle of hellish kind The shame of men and plague of womankind Who trussing me as Eagle doth his pray Me hether brought with him as swift as wind Where yet vntouched till this present day I rest his wretched thrall the sad AEmylia Ah sad AEmylia then sayd Amoret Thy ruefull plight I pitty as mine owne But read to me by what deuise or wit Hast thou in all this time from him vnknowne Thine honor sau'd though into thraldome throwne Through helpe quoth she of this old woman here I haue so done as she to me hath showne For euer when he burnt in lustfull fire She in my stead supplide his bestiall desire Thus of their euils as they did discourse And each did other much bewaile and mone Loe where the villaine selfe their sorrowes sourse Came to the caue and rolling thence the stone Which wont to stop the mouth thereof that none Might issue forth came rudely rushing in And spredding ouer all the flore alone Gan dight him selfe vnto his wonted sinne Which ended then his bloudy banket should beginne Which when as fearefull Amoret perceiued She staid not the vtmost end thereof to try But like a ghastly Gelt whose wits are reaued Ran forth in hast with hideous outcry For horrour of his shamefull villany But after her full lightly he vprose And her pursu'd as fast as she did flie Full fast she flies and farre afore him goes Ne feeles the thorns and thickets pricke her tender toes Nor hedge nor ditch nor hill nor dale she staies But ouerleapes them all like Robucke light And through the thickest makes her nighest waies And euermore when with regardfull sight She looking backe espies that griesly wight Approching nigh she gins to mend her pace And makes her feare a spur to hast her flight More swift then Myrrh ' or Daphne in her race Or any of the Thracian Nimphes in saluage chase Long so she fled and so he follow'd long Ne liuing aide for her on earth appeares But if the heauens helpe to redresse her wrong Moued with pity of her plenteous teares It fortuned Belphebe with her peares The woody Nimphs and with that louely boy Was hunting then the Libbards and the Beares In these wild woods as was her wonted ioy To banish sloth that oft doth noble mindes annoy It so befell as oft it fals in chace That each of them from other sundred were And that same gentle Squire arriu'd in place Where this same cursed caytiue did appeare Pursuing that faire Lady full of feare And now he her quite ouertaken had And now he her away with him did beare Vnder his arme as seeming wondrous glad That by his grenning laughter mote farre off be rad With drery sight the gentle Squire espying Doth hast to crosse him by the nearest way Led with that wofull Ladies piteous crying And him assailes with all the might he may Yet will not he the louely spoile downe lay But with his craggy club in his right hand Defends him selfe and saues his gotten pray Yet had it bene right hard him to withstand But that he was full light and nimble on the land Thereto the villaine vsed craft in fight For euer when the Squire his iauelin shooke He held the Lady forth before him right And with her body as a buckler broke The puissance of his intended stroke And if it chaunst as needs it must in fight Whilest he on him was greedy to be wroke That any little blow on her did light Then would he laugh aloud and gather great delight Which subtill sleight did him encumber much And made him oft when he would strike forbeare For hardly could he come the carle to touch But that he her must hurt or hazard neare Yet he his hand so carefully did beare That at the last he did himselfe attaine And therein left the pike head of his speare A streame of coleblacke bloud thence gusht amaine That all her silken garments did with bloud bestaine With that he threw her rudely on the flore And laying both his hands vpon his glaue With dreadfull strokes let driue at him so sore That forst him flie abacke himselfe to saue Yet he therewith so felly still did raue That scarse the Squire his hand could once vpreare But for aduantage ground vnto him gaue Tracing and trauersing now here now there For bootlesse thing it was to think such blowes to beare Whilest thus in battell they embusied were Belphebe raunging in that forrest wide The hideous noise of their huge strokes did heare And drew thereto making her eare her guide Whom when that theefe approching nigh espide With bow in hand and arrowes ready bent He by his former combate would not bide But fled away with ghastly dreriment Well knowing her to be his deaths sole instrument Whom seeing flie she speedily poursewed With winged feete as nimble as the winde And euer in her bow she ready shewed The arrow to his deadly marke desynde As when Latonaes daughter cruell kynde In vengement of her mothers great disgrace With fell despight her cruell arrowes tynde Gainst wofull Niobes vnhappy race That all the gods did mone her miserable case So well she sped her and so far she ventred That ere vnto his hellish den he raught Euen as he ready was there to haue entred She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught That in the very dore him ouercaught And in his nape arriuing through it thrild His greedy throte therewith in two distraught That all his vitall spirites thereby spild And all his hairy brest with gory bloud was fild Whom when on ground she groueling saw to rowle She ran in hast his life to haue berest But ere she could him reach the sinfull sowle Hauing his carrion corse quite sencelesse left Was fled to hell surcharg'd with spoile and theft Yet ouer him she there long gazing stood And oft admir'd his monstrous shape and oft His mighty limbs whilest all with filthy bloud The place there ouerflowne seemd like a sodaine flood Thenceforth she past into his dreadfull den Where nought but darkesome drerinesse she found Ne creature saw but hearkned now and then Some litle whispering and soft groning sound With that she askt what ghosts there vnder ground
brother did ellope streight way Who taking her from me his owne loue left astray She seeing then her selfe forsaken so Through dolorous despaire which she conceyued Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw Thinking to haue her griefe by death bereaued But see how much her purpose was deccaued Whilest thus amidst the billowes beating of her Twixt life and death long to and fro she weaued She chaunst vnwares to light vppon this coffer Which to her in that daunger hope of life did offer The wretched mayd that earst desir'd to die When as the paine of death she tasted had And but halfe seene his vgly visnomie Gan to repent that she had beene so mad For any death to chaunge life though most bad And catching hold of this Sea-beaten chest The lucky Pylot of her passage sad After long tossing in the seas distrest Her weary barke at last vppon mine Isle did rest Where I by chaunce then wandring on the shore Did her espy and through my good endeuour From dreadfull mouth of death which threatned sore Her to haue swallow'd vp did helpe to saue her She then in recompence of that great fauour Which I on her bestowed bestowed on me The portion of that good which Fortune gaue her Together with her selfe in dowry free Both goodly portions but of both the better she Yet in this coffer which she with her brought Great threasure sithence we did finde contained Which as our owne we tooke and so it thought But this same other Damzell since hath fained That to her selfe that threasure appertained And that she did transport the same by sea To bring it to her husband new ordained But suffred cruell shipwracke by the way But whether it be so or no I can not say But whether it indeede be so or no This doe I say that what so good or ill Or God or Fortune vnto me did throw Not wronging any other by my will I hold mine owne and so will hold it still And though my land he first did winne away And then my loue though now it little skill Yet my good lucke he shall not likewise pray But I will it defend whilst euer that I may So hauing sayd the younger did ensew Full true it is what so about our land My brother here declared hath to you But not for it this ods twixt vs doth stand But for this threasure throwne vppon his strand Which well I proue as shall appeare by triall To be this maides with whom I fastned hand Known by good markes and perfect good espiall Therefore it ought be rendred her without deniall When they thus ended had the Knight began Certes your strife were easie to accord Would ye remit it to some righteous man Vnto your selfe said they we giue our word To bide what iudgement ye shall vs afford Then for assuraunce to my doome to stand Vnder my foote let each lay downe his sword And then you shall my sentence vnderstand So each of them layd downe his sword out of his hand Then Artegall thus to the younger sayd Now tell me Amidas if that ye may Your brothers land the which the sea hath layd Vnto your part and pluckt from his away By what good right doe you withhold this day What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea it to my share did lay Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme Then turning to the elder thus he sayd Now Bracidas let this likewise be showne Your brothers threasure which from him is strayd Being the dowry of his wife well knowne By what right doe you claime to beyour owne What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea hath it vnto me throwne Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme For equall right in equall things doth stand For what the mighty Sea hath once possest And plucked quite from all possessors hand Whether by rage of waues that neuer rest Or else by wracke that wretches hath distrest He may dispose by his imperiall might As thing at randon left to whom he list So Amidas the land was yours first hight And so the threasure yours is Bracidas by right When he his sentence thus pronounced had Both Amidas and Philtra were displeased But Bracidas and Lucy were right glad And on the threasure by that iudgement seased So was their discord by this doome appeased And each one had his right Then Artegall When as their sharpe contention he had ceased Departed on his way as did befall To follow his old quest the which him forth did call So as he trauelled vppon the way He chaunst to come where happily he spide A rout of many people farre away To whom his course he hastily applide To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide To whom when he approched neare in sight An vncouth sight he plainely then descride To be a troupe of women warlike dight With weapons in their hands as ready for to fight And in the midst of them he saw a Knight With both his hands behinde him pinnoed hard And round about his necke an halter tight As ready for the gallow tree prepard His face was couered and his head was bar'd That who he was vneath was to descry And with full heauy heart with them he far'd Grieu'd to the soule and groning inwardly That he of womens hands so base a death should dy But they like tyrants mercilesse the more Reioyced at his miserable case And him reuiled and reproched sore With bitter taunts and termes of vile disgrace Now when as Artegall arriu'd in place Did aske what cause brought that man to decay They round about him gan to swarme apace Meaning on him their cruell hands to lay And to haue wrought vnwares some villanous assay But he was soone aware of their ill minde And drawing backe deceiued their intent Yet though him selfe did shame on womankinde His mighty hand to shend he Talus sent To wrecke on them their follies hardyment Who with few sowces of his yron flale Dispersed all their troupe incontinent And sent them home to tell a piteous tale Of their vaine prowesse turned to their proper bale But that same wretched man ordaynd to die They left behind them glad to be so quit Him Talus tooke out of perplexitie And horrour of fowle death for Knight vnfit Who more then losse of life ydreaded it And him restoring vnto liuing light So brought vnto his Lord where he did sit Beholding all that womanish weake fight Whom soone as he beheld he knew and thus behight Sir Turpine haplesse man what make you here Or haue you lost your selfe and your discretion That euer in this wretched case ye were Or haue ye yeelded you to proude oppression Of womens powre that boast of mens subiection Or else what other deadly dismall day Is falne on you by
doth remaine And that so wretched one as ye do see Is liker lingring death then loathed life to bee Much was he moued with her piteous plight And low dismounting from his loftie steede Gan to recomfort her all that he might Seeking to driue away deepe rooted dreede With hope of helpe in that her greatest neede So thence he wished her with him to wend Vnto some place where they mote rest and feede And she take comfort which God now did send Good hart in euils doth the euils much amend Ay me sayd she and whether shall I goe Are not all places full of forraine powres My pallaces possessed of my foe My cities sackt and their sky-threating towres Raced and made smooth fields now full of flowres Onely these marishes and myrie bogs In which the fearefull ewftes do build their bowres Yeeld me an hostry mongst the croking frogs And harbour here in safety from those rauenous dogs Nathlesse said he deare Ladie with me goe Some place shall vs receiue and harbour yield If not we will it force maugre your foe And purchase it to vs with speare and shield And if all fayle yet farewell open field The earth to all her creatures lodging lends With such his chearefull speaches he doth wield Her mind so well that to his will she bends And bynding vp her locks and weeds forth with him wends They came vnto a Citie farre vp land The which whylome that Ladies owne had bene But now by force extort out of her hand By her strong foe who had defaced cleene Her stately towres and buildings sunny sheene Shut vp her hauen mard her marchants trade Robbed her people that full rich had beene And in her necke a Castle huge had made The which did her cōmaund without needing perswade That Castle was the strength of all that state Vntill that state by strength was pulled downe And that same citie so now ruinate Had bene the keye of all that kingdomes crowne Both goodly Castle and both goodly Towne Till that th' offended heauens list to lowre Vpon their blisse and balefull fortune frowne When those gainst states and kingdomes do coniure Who then can thinke their hedlong ruine to recure But he had brought it now in seruile bond And made it beare the yoke of inquisition Stryuing long time in vaine it to withstond Yet glad at last to make most base submission And life enioy for any composition So now he hath new lawes and orders new Imposd on it with many a hard condition And forced it the honour that is dew To God to doe vnto his Idole most vntrew To him he hath before this Castle greene Built a faire Chappell and an Altar framed Of costly Iuory full rich beseene On which that cursed Idole farre proclamed He hath set vp and him his God hath named Offring to him in sinfull sacrifice The flesh of men to Gods owne likenesse framed And powring forth their bloud in brutishe wize That any yron eyes to see it would agrize And for more horror and more crueltie Vnder that cursed Idols altar stone An hideous monster doth in darknesse lie Whose dreadfull shape was neuer seene of none That liues on earth but vnto those alone The which vnto him sacrificed bee Those he deuoures they say both flesh and bone What else they haue is all the Tyrants fee So that no whit of them remayning one may see There eke he placed a strong garrisone And set a Seneschall of dreaded might That by his powre oppressed euery one And vanquished all ventrous knights in fight To whom he wont shew all the shame he might After that them in battell he had wonne To which when now they gan approch in sight The Ladie counseld him the place to shonne Whereas so many knights had fouly bene fordonne Her fearefull speaches nought he did regard But ryding streight vnder the Castle wall Called aloud vnto the watchfull ward Which there did wayte willing them forth to call Into the field their Tyrants Seneschall To whom when tydings thereof came he streight Cals for his armes and arming him withall Eftsoones forth pricked proudly in his might And gan with courage fierce addresse him to the fight They both encounter in the middle plaine And their sharpe speares doe both together smite Amid their shields with so huge might and maine That seem'd their soules they wold haue ryuen quight Out of their breasts with furious despight Yet could the Seneschals no entrance find Into the Princes shield where it empight So pure the mettall was and well refynd But shiuered all about and scattered in the wynd Not so the Princes but with restlesse force Into his shield it readie passage found Both through his haberieon and eke his corse Which tombling downe vpon the senselesse ground Gaue leaue vnto his ghost from thraldome bound To wander in the griesly shades of night There did the Prince him leaue in deadly swound And thence vnto the castle marched right To see if entrance there as yet obtaine he might But as he nigher drew three knights he spyde All arm'd to point issuing forth a pace Which towards him with all their powre did ryde And meeting him right in the middle race Did all their speares attonce on him enchace As three great Culuerings for battrie bent And leueld all against one certaine place Doe all attonce their thunders rage forth rent That makes the wals to stagger with astonishment So all attonce they on the Prince did thonder Who from his saddle swarued nought asyde Ne to their force gaue way that was great wonder But like a bulwarke firmely did abyde Rebutting him which in the midst did ryde With so huge rigour that his mortall speare Past through his shield pierst through either syde That downe he fell vppon his mother deare And powred forth his wretched life in deadly dreare Whom when his other fellowes saw they fled As fast as feete could carry them away And after them the Prince as swiftly sped To be aueng'd of their vnknightly play There whilest they entring th' one did th' other stay The hindmost in the gate he ouerhent And as he pressed in him there did slay His carkasse tumbling on the threshold sent His groning soule vnto her place of punishment The other which was entred laboured fast To sperre the gate but that same lumpe of clay Whose grudging ghost was thereout fled and past Right in the middest of the threshold lay That it the Posterne did from closing stay The whiles the Prince hard preased in betweene And entraunce wonne Streight th' other fled away And ran into the Hall where he did weene Him selfe to saue but he there slew him at the skreene Then all the rest which in that Castle were Seeing that sad ensample them before Durst not abide but fled away for feare And them conuayd out at a Posterne dore Long sought the Prince but when he found no more T' oppose against his powre he forth issued Vnto that
her sonnes prostrated low Before his feete in all that peoples sight Mongst ioyes mixing some tears mongst wele some wo Him thus bespake O most redoubted Knight The which hast me of all most wretched wight That earst was dead restor'd to life againe And these weake impes replanted by thy might What guerdon can I giue thee for thy paine But euen that which thou sauedst thine still to remaine He tooke her vp for by the lilly hand And her recomforted the best he might Saying Deare Lady deedes ought not be scand By th'authors manhood nor the doers might But by their trueth and by the causes right That same is it which fought for you this day What other meed then need me to requight But that which yeeldeth vertues meed alway That is the vertue selfe which her reward doth pay She humbly thankt him for that wondrous grace And further sayd Ah Sir but mote ye please Sith ye thus farre haue tendred my poore case As from my chiefest foe me to release That your victorious arme will not yet cease Till ye haue rooted all the relickes out Of that vilde race and stablished my peace What is there else sayd he left of their rout Declare it boldly Dame and doe not stand in dout Then wote you Sir that in this Church hereby There stands an Idole of great note and name The which this Gyant reared first on hie And of his owne vaine fancies thought did frame To whom for endlesse horrour of his shame He offred vp for daily sacrifize My children and my people burnt in flame With all the tortures that he could deuize The more t'aggrate his God with such his blouddy guize And vnderneath this Idoll there doth lie An hideous monster that doth it defend And feedes on all the carkasses that die In sacrifize vnto that cursed feend Whose vgly shape none euer saw nor kend That euer scap'd for of a man they say It has the voice that speaches forth doth send Euen blasphemous words which she doth bray Out of her poysnous entrails fraught with dire decay Which when the Prince heard tell his heart gan earne For great desire that Monster to assay And prayd the place of her abode to learne Which being shew'd he gan him selfe streight way Thereto addresse and his bright shield display So to the Church he came where it was told The Monster vnderneath the Altar lay There he that Idoll saw of massy gold Most richly made but there no Monster did behold Vpon the Image with his naked blade Three times as in defiance there he strooke And the third time out of an hidden shade There forth issewd from vnder th' Altars smooke A dreadfull feend with fowle deformed looke That stretcht it selfe as it had long lyen still And her long taile and fethers strongly shooke That all the Temple did with terrour fill Yet him nought terrifide that feared nothing ill An huge great Beast it was when it in length Was stretched forth that nigh fild all the place And seem'd to be of infinite great strength Horrible hideous and of hellish race Borne of the brooding of Echidna base Or other like infernall furies kinde For of a Mayd she had the outward face To hide the horrour which did lurke behinde The better to beguile whom she so fond did finde Thereto the body of a dog she had Full of fell rauin and fierce greedinesse A Lions clawes with powre and rigour clad To rend and teare what so she can oppresse A Dragons taile whose sting without redresse Full deadly wounds where so it is empight And Eagles wings for scope and speedinesse That nothing may escape her reaching might Whereto she euer list to make her hardy flight Much like in foulnesse and deformity Vnto that Monster whom the Theban Knight The father of that fatall progeny Made kill her selfe for very hearts despight That he had red her Riddle which no wight Could euer loose but suffred deadly doole So also did this Monster vse like slight To many a one which came vnto her schoole Whom she did put to death deceiued like a foole She comming forth when as she first beheld The armed Prince with shield so blazing bright Her ready to assaile was greatly queld And much dismayd with that dismayfull sight That backe she would haue turnd for great affright But he gan her with courage fierce assay That forst her turne againe in her despight To saue her selfe least that he did her slay And sure he had her slaine had she not turnd her way Tho when she saw that she was forst to fight She flew at him like to an hellish feend And on his shield tooke hold with all her might As if that it she would in peeces rend Or reaue out of the hand that did it hend Strongly he stroue out of her greedy gripe To loose his shield and long while did contend But when he could not quite it with one stripe Her Lions clawes he from her feete away did wipe With that aloude she gan to bray and yell And fowle blasphemous speaches forth did cast And bitter curses horrible to tell That euen the Temple wherein she was plast Did quake to heare and nigh asunder brast Tho with her huge long taile she at him strooke That made him stagger and stand halfe agast With trembling ioynts as he for terrour shooke Who nought was terrifide but greater courage tooke As when the Mast of some well timbred hulke Is with the blast of some outragious storme Blowne downe it shakes the bottome of the bulke And makes her ribs to cracke as they were torne Whilest still she stands as stonisht and forlorne So was he stound with stroke of her huge taile But ere that it she backe againe had borne He with his sword it strooke that without faile He ioynted it and mard the swinging of her flaile Then gan she cry much louder then afore That all the people there without it heard And Belge selfe was therewith stonied sore As if the onely sound thereof she feard But then the feend her selfe more fiercely reard Vppon her wide great wings and strongly flew With all her body at his head and beard That had he not foreseene with heedfull vew And thrown his shield atween she had him done to rew But as she prest on him with heauy sway Vnder her wombe his fatall sword he thrust And for her entrailes made an open way To issue forth the which once being brust Like to a great Mill damb forth fiercely gusht And powred out of her infernall sinke Most vgly filth and poyson therewith rusht That him nigh choked with the deadly stinke Such loathly matter were small lust to speake or thinke Then downe to ground fell that deformed Masse Breathing out clouds of sulphure fowle and blacke In which a puddle of contagion was More loathd then Lerna or then Stygian lake That any man would nigh awhaped make Whom when he saw on ground he was full glad And
streight went forth his gladnesse to partake With Belge who watcht all this while full sad Wayting what end would be of that same daunger drad Whom when she saw so ioyously come forth She gan reioyce and shew triumphant chere Lauding and praysing his renowmed worth By all the names that honorable were Then in he brought her and her shewed there The present of his paines that Monsters spoyle And eke that Idoll deem'd so costly dere Whom he did all to peeces breake and foyle In filthy durt and left so in the loathely soyle Then all the people which beheld that day Gan shout aloud that vnto heauen it rong And all the damzels of that towne in ray Came dauncing forth and ioyous carrols song So him they led through all their streetes along Crowned with girlonds of immortall baies And all the vulgar did about them throng To see the man whose euerlasting praise They all were bound to all posterities to raise There he with Belgae did a while remaine Making great feast and ioyous merriment Vntill he had her settled in her raine With safe assuraunce and establishment Then to his first emprize his mind he lent Full loath to Belgae and to all the rest Of whom yet taking leaue thenceforth he went And to his former iourney him addrest On which long way he rode ne euer day did rest But turne we now to noble Artegall Who hauing left Mercilla streight way went On his first quest the which him forth did call To weet to worke Irenaes franchisement And eke Grantortoes worthy punishment So forth he fared as his manner was With onely Talus wayting diligent Through many perils and much way did pas Till nigh vnto the place at length approcht he has There as he traueld by the way he met An aged wight wayfaring all alone Who through his yeares long since aside had set The vse of armes and battell quite forgone To whom as he approcht he knew anone That it was he which whilome did attend On faire Irene in her affliction When first to Faery court he saw her wend Vnto his soueraine Queene her suite for to commend Whom by his name saluting thus he gan Haile good Sir Sergis truest Knight aliue Well tride in all thy Ladies troubles than When her that Tyrant did of Crowne depriue What new ocasion doth thee hither driue Whiles she alone is left and thou here found Or is she thrall or doth she not suruiue To whom he thus She liueth sure and sound But by that Tyrant is in wretched thraldome bound For she presuming on th' appointed tyde In which ye promist as ye were a Knight To meete her at the saluage Ilands syde And then and there for triall of her right With her vnrigteous enemy to fight Did thither come where she afrayd of nought By guilefull treason and by subtill slight Surprized was and to Grantorto brought Who her imprisond hath and her life often sought And now he hath to her prefixt a day By which if that no champion doe appeare Which will her cause in battailous array Against him iustifie and proue her cleare Of all those crimes that he gainst her doth reare She death shall by Those tidings sad Did much abash Sir Artegall to heare And grieued sore that through his fault she had Fallen into that Tyrants hand and vsage bad Then thus replide Now sure and by my life Too much am I too blame for that faire Maide That haue her drawne to all this troublous strife Through promise to afford her timely aide Which by default I haue not yet defraide But witnesse vnto me ye heauens that knew How cleare I am from blame of this vpbraide For ye into like thraldome me did throw And kept from complishing the faith which I did owe. But now aread Sir Sergis how long space Hath he her lent a Champion to prouide Ten daies quoth he he graunted hath of grace For that he weeneth well before that tide None can haue tidings to assist her side For all the shores which to the sea accoste He day and night doth ward both far and wide That none can there arriue without an hoste So her he deemes already but a damned ghoste Now turne againe Sir Artegall then sayd For if I liue till those ten daies haue end Assure your selfe Sir Knight she shall haue ayd Though I this dearest life for her doe spend So backeward he attone with him did wend. Tho as they rode together on their way A rout of people they before them kend Flocking together in confusde array As if that there were some tumultuous affray To which as they approcht the cause to know They saw a Knight in daungerous distresse Of a rude rout him chasing to and fro That sought with lawlesse powre him to oppresse And bring in bondage of their brutishnesse And farre away amid their rakehell bands They spide a Lady left all succourlesse Crying and holding vp her wretched hands To him for aide who long in vaine their rage withstands Yet still he striues ne any perill spares To reskue her from their rude violence And like a Lion wood amongst them fares Dealing his dreadfull blowes with large dispence Gainst which the pallid death findes no defence But all in vaine their numbers are so great That naught may boot to banishe them from thence For soone as he their outrage backe doth beat They turne afresh and oft renew their former threat And now they doe so sharpely him assay That they his shield in peeces battred haue And forced him to throw it quite away Fro dangers dread his doubtfull life to saue Albe that it most safety to him gaue And much did magnifie his noble name For from the day that he thus did it leaue Amongst all Knights he blotted was with blame And counted but a recreant Knight with endles shame Whom when they thus distressed did behold They drew vnto his aide but that rude rout Them also gan assaile with outrage bold And forced them how euer strong and stout They were as well approu'd in many a doubt Backe to recule vntill that yron man With his huge flaile began to lay about From whose sterne presence they diffused ran Like scattred chaffe the which the wind away doth fan So when that Knight from perill cleare was freed He drawing neare began to greete them faire And yeeld great thankes for their so goodly deed In sauing him from daungerous despaire Of those which sought his life for to empaire Of whom Sir Artegall gan then enquire The whole occasion of his late misfare And who he was and what those villaines were The which with mortall malice him pursu'd so nere To whom he thus My name is Burbon hight Well knowne and far renowmed heretofore Vntill late mischiefe did vppon me light That all my former praise hath blemisht sore And that faire Lady which in that vprore Ye with those caytiues saw Flourdelis hight Is mine owne loue though me she haue
his sayles and vereth his mainsheat And lends vnto it leaue the emptie ayre to beat So did the Faerie knight himselfe abeare And stouped oft his head from shame to shield No shame to stoupe ones head more high to reare And much to gaine a litle for to yield So stoutest knights doen oftentimes infield But still the tyrant sternely at him layd And did his yron axe so nimbly wield That many wounds into his flesh it made And with his burdenous blowes him sore did ouerlade Yet when as fit aduantage he did spy The whiles the cursed felon high did reare His cruell hand to smite him mortally Vnder his stroke he to him stepping neare Right in the flanke him strooke with deadly dreare That the gore bloud thence gushing grieuously Did vnderneath him like a pond appeare And all his armour did with purple dye Thereat he brayed loud and yelled dreadfully Yet the huge stroke which he before intended Kept on his course as he did it direct And with such monstrous poise adowne descended That seemed nought could him from death protect But he it well did ward with wise respect And twixt him and the blow his shield did cast Which thereon seizing tooke no great effect But byting deepe therein did sticke so fast That by no meanes it backe againe he forth could wrast Long while he tug'd and stroue to get it out And all his powre applyed thereunto That he therewith the knight drew all about Nathlesse for all that euer he could doe His axe he could not from his shield vndoe Which Artegall perceiuing strooke no more But loosing soone his shield did it forgoe And whiles he combred was therewith so sore He gan at him let driue more fiercely then afore So well he him pursew'd that at the last He stroke him with Chrysaor on the hed That with the souse thereof full sore aghast He staggered to and fro in doubtfull sted Againe whiles he him saw so ill bested He did him smite with all his might and maine That falling on his mother earth he fed Whom when he saw prostrated on the plaine He lightly reft his head to ease him of his paine Which when the people round about him saw They shouted all for ioy of his successe Glad to be quit from that proud Tyrants awe Which with strōg powre did thē long time oppresse And running all with greedie ioyfulnesse To faire Irena at her feet did fall And her adored with due humblenesse As their true Liege and Princesse naturall And eke her champions glorie sounded ouer all Who streight her leading with meete maiestie Vnto the pallace where their kings did rayne Did her therein establish peaceablie And to her kingdomes seat restore agayne And all such persons as did late maintayne That Tyrants part with close or open ayde He sorely punished with heauie payne That in short space whiles there with her he stayd Not one was left that durst her once haue disobayd During which time that he did there remaine His studie was true Iustice how to deale And day and night employ'd his busie paine How to reforme that ragged common-weale And that same yron man which could reueale All hidden crimes through all that realme he sent To search out those that vsd to rob and steale Or did rebell gainst lawfull gouernment On whom he did inflict most grieuous punishment But ere he could reforme it thoroughly He through occasion called was away To Faerie Court that of necessity His course of Iustice he was forst to stay And Talus to reuoke from the right way In which he was that Realme for to redresse But enuies cloud still dimmeth vertues ray So hauing freed Irena from distresse He tooke his leaue of her there left in heauinesse Tho as he backe returned from that land And there arriu'd againe whence forth he set He had not passed farre vpon the strand When as two old ill fauour'd Hags he met By the way side being together set Two griesly creatures and to that their faces Most foule and filthie were their garments yet Being all rag'd and tatter'd their disgraces Did much the more augment and made most vgly cases The one of them that elder did appeare With her dull eyes did seeme to looke askew That her mis-shape much helpt and her foule heare Hung loose and loathsomely Thereto her hew Was wan and leane that all her teeth arew And all her bones might through her cheekes be red Her lips were like raw lether pale and blew And as she spake therewith she slauered Yet spake she seldom but thought more the lesse she sed Her hands were foule and durtie neuer washt In all her life with long nayles ouer raught Like puttocks clawes with th' one of which she scracht Her cursed head although it itched naught The other held a snake with venime fraught On which she fed and gnawed hungrily As if that long she had not eaten ought That round about her iawes one might descry The bloudie gore and poyson dropping lothsomely Her name was Enuie knowen well thereby Whose nature is to grieue and grudge at all That euer she sees doen prays-worthily Whose sight to her is greatest crosse may fall And vexeth so that makes her eat her gall For when she wanteth other thing to eat She feedes on her owne maw vnnaturall And of her owne foule entrayles makes her meat Meat fit for such a monsters monsterous dyeat And if she hapt of any good to heare That had to any happily betid Then would she inly fret and grieue and teare Her flesh for felnesse which she inward hid But if she heard of ill that any did Or harme that any had then would she make Great cheare like one vnto a banquet bid And in anothers losse great pleasure take As she had got thereby and gayned a great stake The other nothing better was then shee Agreeing in bad will and cancred kynd But in bad maner they did disagree For what so Enuie good or bad did fynd She did conceale and murder her owne mynd But this what euer euill she conceiued Did spred abroad and throw in th' open wynd Yet this in all her words might be perceiued That all she sought was mens good name to haue bereaued For whatsoeuer good by any sayd Or doen she heard she would streightwayes inuent How to depraue or slaunderously vpbrayd Or to misconstrue of a mans intent And turne to ill the thing that well was ment Therefore she vsed often to resort To common haunts and companies frequent To hearke what any one did good report To blot the same with blame or wrest in wicked sort And if that any ill she heard of any She would it eeke and make much worse by telling And take great ioy to publish it to many That euery matter worse was for her melling Her name was hight Detraction and her dwelling Was neare to Enuie euen her neighbour next A wicked hag and Enuy selfe excelling In mischiefe for her selfe she onely
of my plight Spake as was meet for ease of my regret Whereof befell what now is in your sight Now sure then said Sir Calidore and right Me seemes that him befell by his owne fault Or through support of count'nance proud and hault To wrong the weaker oft falles in his owne assault Then turning backe vnto that gentle boy Which had himselfe so stoutly well acquit Seeing his face so louely sterne and coy And hearing th'answeres of his pregnant wit He praysd it much and much admyred it That sure he weend him borne of noble blood With whom those graces did so goodly fit And when he long had him beholding stood He burst into these words as to him seemed good Faire gentle swayne and yet as stout as fayre That in these woods amōgst the Nymphs dost wonne Which daily may to thy sweete lookes repayre As they are wont vnto Latonaes sonne After his chace on woodie Cynthus donne Well may I certes such an one thee read As by thy worth thou worthily hast wonne Or surely borne of some Heroicke sead That in thy face appeares and gratious goodly head But should it not displease thee it to tell Vnlesse thou in these woods thy selfe conceale For loue amongst the woodie Gods to dwell I would thy selfe require thee to reueale For deare affection and vnfayned zeale Which to thy noble personage I beare And wish thee grow in worship and great weale For since the day that armes I first did reare I neuer saw in any greater hope appeare To whom then thus the noble youth may be Sir knight that by discouering my estate Harme may arise vnweeting vnto me Nathelesse sith ye so courteous seemed late To you I will not feare it to relate Then wote ye that I am a Briton borne Sonne of a King how euer thorough fate Or fortune I my countrie haue forlorne And lost the crowne which should my head by right adorne And Tristram is my name the onely heire Of good king Meliogras which did rayne In Cornewale till that he through liues despeire Vntimely dyde before I did attaine Ripe yeares of reason my right to maintaine After whose death his brother seeing mee An infant weake a kingdome to sustaine Vpon him tooke the roiall high degree And sent me where him list instructed for to bee The widow Queene my mother which then hight Faire Emiline conceiuing then great feare Of my fraile safetie resting in the might Of him that did the kingly Scepter beare Whose gealous dread induring not a peare Is wont to cut off all that doubt may breed Thought best away me to remoue somewhere Into some forrein land where as no need Of dreaded daunger might his doubtfull humor feed So taking counsell of a wise man red She was by him aduiz'd to send me quight Out of the countrie wherein I was bred The which the fertile Lionesse is hight Into the land of Faerie where no wight Should weet of me nor worke me any wrong To whose wise read she hearkning sent me streight Into this land where I haue wond thus long Since I was ten yeares old now growen to stature strong All which my daies I haue not lewdly spent Nor spilt the blossome of my tender yeares In ydlesse but as was conuenient Haue trayned bene with many noble feres In gentle thewes and such like seemely leres Mongst which my most delight hath alwaies been To hunt the saluage chace amongst my peres Of all that raungeth in the forrest greene Of which none is to me vnknowne that eu'r was seene Ne is there hauke which mantleth her on pearch Whether high towring or accoasting low But I the measure of her flight doe search And all her pray and all her diet know Such be our ioyes which in these forrests grow Onely the vse of armes which most I ioy And fitteth most for noble swayne to know I haue not tasted yet yet past a boy And being now high time these strong ioynts to imploy Therefore good Sir sith now occasion fit Doth fall whose like hereafter seldome may Let me this craue vnworthy though of it That ye will make me Squire without delay That from henceforth in batteilous array I may beare armes and learne to vse them right The rather since that fortune hath this day Giuen to me the spoile of this dead knight These goodly gilden armes which I haue won in fight All which when well Sir Calidore had heard Him much more now then earst he gan admire For the rare hope which in his yeares appear'd And thus replide faire chyld the high desire To loue of armes which in you doth aspire I may not certes without blame denie But rather wish that some more noble hire Though none more noble then is cheualrie I had you to reward with greater dignitie There him he causd to kneele and made to sweare Faith to his knight and truth to Ladies all And neuer to be recreant for feare Of perill or of ought that might befall So he him dubbed and his Squire did call Full glad and ioyous then young Tristram grew Like as a flowre whose silken leaues small Long shut vp in the bud from heauens vew At length breakes forth and brode displayes his smyling hew Thus when they long had treated to and fro And Calidore betooke him to depart Chyld Tristram prayd that he with him might goe On his aduenture vowing not to start But wayt on him in euery place and part Whereat Sir Calidore did much delight And greatly ioy'd at his so noble hart In hope he sure would proue a doughtie knight Yet for the time this answere he to him behight Glad would I surely be thou courteous Squire To haue thy presence in my present quest That mote thy kindled courage set on fire And flame forth honour in thy noble brest But I am bound by vow which I profest To my dread Soueraine when I it assayd That in atchieuement of her high behest I should no creature ioyne vnto mine ayde For thy I may not graunt that ye so greatly prayde But since this Ladie is all desolate And needeth safegard now vpon her way Ye may doe well in this her needfull state To succour her from daunger of dismay That thankfull guerdon may to you repay The noble ympe of such new seruice fayne It gladly did accept as he did say So taking courteous leaue they parted twayne And Calidore forth passed to his former payne But Tristram then despoyling that dead knight Of all those goodly implements of prayse Long fed his greedie eyes with the faire sight Of the bright mettall shyning like Sunne rayes Handling and turning them a thousand wayes And after hauing them vpon him dight He tooke that Ladie and her vp did rayse Vpon the steed of her owne late dead knight So with her marched forth as she did him behight There to their fortune leaue we them awhile And turne we backe to good Sir Calidore Who ere he thence had traueild many a
Then one of them aloud vnto him cryde Bidding him turne againe false traytour knight Foule womanwronger for he him defyde With that they both at once with equall spight Did bend their speares and both with equall might Against him ran but th' one did misse his marke And being carried with his force forthright Glaunst swiftly by like to that heauenly sparke Which glyding through the ayre lights all the heauens darke But th' other ayming better did him smite Full in the shield with so impetuous powre That all his launce in peeces shiuered quite And scattered all about fell on the flowre But the stout Prince with much more steddy stowre Full on his beuer did him strike so sore That the cold steele through piercing did deuowre His vitall breath and to the ground him bore Where still he bathed lay in his owne bloody gore As when a cast of Faulcons make their flight At an Herneshaw that lyes aloft on wing The whyles they strike at him with heedlesse might The warie foule his bill doth backward wring On which the first whose force her first doth bring Her selfe quite through the bodie doth engore And falleth downe to ground like senselesse thing But th' other not so swift as she before Fayles of her souse and passing by doth hurt no more By this the other which was passed by Himselfe recouering was return'd to fight Where when he saw his fellow lifelesse ly He much was daunted with so dismall sight Yet nought abating of his former spight Let driue at him with so malitious mynd As if he would haue passed through him quight But the steele-head no stedfast hold could fynd But glauncing by deceiu'd him of that he desynd Not so the Prince for his well learned speare Tooke surer hould and from his horses backe Aboue a launces length him forth did beare And gainst the cold hard earth so sore him strake That all his bones in peeces nigh he brake Where seeing him so lie he left his steed And to him leaping vengeance thought to take Of him for all his former follies meed With flaming sword in hand his terror more to breed The fearefull swayne beholding death so nie Cryde out aloud for mercie him to saue In lieu whereof he would to him descrie Great treason to him meant his life to reaue The Prince soone hearkned and his life forgaue Then thus said he There is a straunger knight The which for promise of great meed vs draue To this attempt to wreake his hid despight For that himselfe thereto did want sufficient might The Prince much mused at such villenie And sayd Now sure ye well haue earn'd your meed For th' one is dead and th' other soone shall die Vnlesse to me thou hether bring with speed The wretch that hyr'd you to this wicked deed He glad of life and willing eke to wreake The guilt on him which did this mischiefe breed Swore by his sword that neither day nor weeke He would surceasse but him where so he were would seeke So vp he rose and forth streight way he went Backe to the place where Turpine late he lore There he him found in great astonishment To see him so bedight with bloodie gore And griesly wounds that him appalled sore Yet thus at length he said how now Sir knight What meaneth this which here I see before How fortuneth this foule vncomely plight So different from that which earst ye seem'd in sight Perdie said he in euill houre it fell That euer I for meed did vndertake So hard a taske as life for hyre to sell The which I earst aduentur'd for your sake Witnesse the wounds and this wyde bloudie lake Which ye may see yet all about me steeme Therefore now yeeld as ye did promise make My due reward the which right well I deeme I yearned haue that life so dearely did redeeme But where then is quoth he halfe wrothfully Where is the bootie which therefore I bought That cursed caytiue my strong enemy That recreant knight whose hated life I sought And where is eke your friend which halfe it ought He lyes said he vpon the cold bare ground Slayne of that errant knight with whom he fought Whom afterwards my selfe with many a wound Did slay againe as ye may see there in the stound Thereof false Turpin was full glad and faine And needs with him streight to the place would ryde Where he himselfe might see his foeman slaine For else his feare could not be satisfyde So as they rode he saw the way all dyde With streames of bloud which tracting by the traile Ere long they came whereas in euill tyde That other swayne like ashes deadly pale Lay in the lap of death rewing his wretched bale Much did the Crauen seeme to mone his case That for his sake his deare life had forgone And him bewayling with affection base Did counterfeit kind pittie where was none For wheres no courage there 's no ruth nor mone Thence passing forth not farre away he found Whereas the Prince himselfe lay all alone Loosely displayd vpon the grassie ground Possessed of sweete sleepe that luld him soft in swound Wearie of trauell in his former fight He there in shade himselfe had layd to rest Hauing his armes and warlike things vndight Fearelesse of foes that mote his peace molest The whyles his saluage page that wont be prest Was wandred in the wood another way To doe some thing that seemed to him best The whyles his Lord in siluer slomber lay Like to the Euening starre adorn'd with deawy ray Whom when as Turpin saw so loosely layd He weened well that he in deed was dead Like as that other knight to him had sayd But when he nigh approcht he mote aread Plaine signes in him of life and liuelihead Whereat much grieu'd against that straunger knight That him too light of credence did mislead He would haue backe retyred from that sight That was to him on earth the deadliest despight But that same knight would not once let him start But plainely gan to him declare the case Of all his mischiefe and late lucklesse smart How both he and his fellow there in place Were vanquished and put to foule disgrace And how that he in lieu of life him lent Had vow'd vnto the victor him to trace And follow through the world where so he went Till that he him deliuered to his punishment He therewith much abashed and affrayd Began to tremble euery limbe and vaine And softly whispering him entyrely prayd T'aduize him better then by such a traine Him to betray vnto a straunger swaine Yet rather counseld him contrarywize Sith he likewise did wrong by him sustaine To ioyne with him and vengeance to deuize Whylest time did offer meanes him sleeping to surprize Nathelesse for all his speach the gentle knight Would not be tempted to such villenie Regarding more his faith which he did plight All were it to his mortall enemie Then to entrap him by false treacherie Great
not be amended He at the length was slaine and layd on ground Yet holding fast twixt both his armes extended Fayre Pastorell who with the selfe same wound Launcht through the arme fell down with him in drerie swound There lay she couered with confused preasse Of carcases which dying on her fell Tho when as he was dead the fray gan ceasse And each to other calling did compell To stay their cruell hands from slaughter fell Sith they that were the cause of all were gone Thereto they all attonce agreed well And lighting candles new gan search anone How many of their friends were slaine how many sone Their Captaine there they cruelly found kild And in his armes the dreary dying mayd Like a sweet Angell twixt two clouds vphild Her louely light was dimmed and decayd With cloud of death vpon her eyes displayd Yet did the cloud make euen that dimmed light Seeme much more louely in that darknesse layd And twixt the twinckling of her eye-lids bright To sparke out litle beames like starres in foggie night But when they mou'd the carcases aside They found that life did yet in her remaine Then all their helpes they busily applyde To call the soule backe to her home againe And wrought so well with labour and long paine That they to life recouered her at last Who sighing sore as if her hart in twaine Had riuen bene and all her hart strings brast With drearie drouping eyne lookt vp like one aghast There she beheld that sore her grieu'd to see Her father and her friends about her lying Her selfe sole left a second spoyle to bee Of those that hauing saued her from dying Renew'd her death by timely death denying What now is left her but to wayle and weepe Wringing her hands and ruefully loud crying Ne cared she her wound in teares to steepe Albe with all their might those Brigants her did keepe But when they saw her now reliu'd againe They left her so in charge of one the best Of many worst who with vnkind disdaine And cruell rigour her did much molest Scarse yeelding her due food or timely rest And scarsely suffring her infestred wound That sore her payn'd by any to be drest So leaue we her in wretched thraldome bound And turne we backe to Calidore where we him found Who when he backe returned from the wood And saw his shepheards cottage spoyled quight And his loue reft away he wexed wood And halfe enraged at that ruefull sight That euen his hart for very fell despight And his owne flesh he readie was to teare He chauft he grieu'd he fretted and he sight And fared like a furious wyld Beare Whose whelpes are stolne away she being otherwhere Ne wight he found to whom he might complaine Ne wight he found of whom he might inquire That more increast the anguish of his paine He sought the woods but no man could see there He sought the plaines but could no tydings heare The woods did nought but ecchoes vaine rebound The playnes all waste and emptie did appeare Where wont the shepheards oft their pypes resound And feed an hundred flocks there now not one he found At last as there he romed vp and downe He chaunst one comming towards him to spy That seem'd to be some sorie simple clowne With ragged weedes and lockes vpstaring hye As if he did from some late daunger fly And yet his feare did follow him behynd Who as he vnto him approched nye He mote perceiue by signes which he did fynd That Coridon it was the silly shepherds hynd Tho to him running fast he did not stay To greet him first but askt where were the rest Where Pastorell who full of fresh dismay And gushing forth in teares was so opprest That he no word could speake but smit his brest And vp to heauen his eyes fast streming threw Whereat the knight amaz'd yet did not rest But askt againe what ment that rufull hew Where was his Pastorell where all the other crew Ah well away sayd he then sighing sore That euer I did liue this day to see This dismall day and was not dead before Before I saw faire Pastorella dye Die out alas then Calidore did cry How could the death dare euer her to quell But read thou shepheard read what destiny Or other dyrefull hap from heauen or hell Hath wrought this wicked deed doe feare away and tell Tho when the shepheard breathed had a whyle He thus began where shall I then commence This wofull tale or how those Brigants vyle With cruell rage and dreadfull violence Spoyld all our cots and caried vs from hence Or how faire Pastorell should haue bene sold To marchants but was sau'd with strong defence Or how those theeues whilest one sought her to hold Fell all at ods and fought through fury fierce and bold In that same conflict woe is me befell This fatall chaunce this dolefull accident Whose heauy tydings now I haue to tell First all the captiues which they here had hent Were by them slaine by generall consent Old Meliboe and his good wife withall These eyes saw die and dearely did lament But when the lot to Pastorell did fall Their Captaine long withstood did her death forstall But what could he gainst all them doe alone It could not boot needs mote she die at last I onely scapt through great confusione Of cryes and clamors which amongst them past In dreadfull darknesse dreadfully aghast That better were with them to haue bene dead Then here to see all desolate and wast Despoyled of those ioyes and iolly head Which with those gentle shepherds here I wont to lead When Calidore these ruefull newes had raught His hart quite deaded was with anguish great And all his wits with doole were nigh distraught That he his face his head his brest did beat And death it selfe vnto himselfe did threat Oft cursing th' heauens that so cruell were To her whose name he often did repeat And wishing oft that he were present there When she was slaine or had bene to her succour nere But after griefe awhile had had his course And spent it selfe in mourning he at last Began to mitigate his swelling sourse And in his mind with better reason cast How he might saue her life if life did last Or if that dead how he her death might wreake Sith otherwise he could not mend thing past Or if it to reuenge he were too weake Then for to die with her and his liues threed to breake Tho Coridon he prayd sith he well knew The readie way vnto that theeuish wonne To wend with him and be his conduct trew Vnto the place to see what should be donne But he whose hart through feare was late fordonne Would not for ought be drawne to former drede But by all meanes the daunger knowne did shonne Yet Calidore so well him wrought with meed And faire bespoke with words that he at last agreed So forth they goe together God before Both clad in