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
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 wilde Breedes dreadfull doubts Oft fire is without smoke And perill without show therefore your hardy stroke Sir knight with-hold till further triall made Ah Ladie said he shame were to reuoke The forward footing for an hidden shade Vertue giues her selfe light through darkenesse for to wade Yea but quoth she the perill of this place I better wot then you though now too late To wish you backe returne with foule disgrace Yet wisedome warnes whilest foot is in the gate To stay the steppe ere forced to retrate This is the wandring wood this Errours den A monster vile whom God and man does hate Therefore I read beware Fly fly quoth then The fearefull Dwarfe this is no place for liuing men But full of fire and greedy hardiment The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide But forth vnto the darksome hole he went And looked in his glistring armor made A litle glooming light much like a shade By which he saw the vgly monster plaine Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide But th' other halfe did womans shape retaine Most lothsom filthie foule and full of vile disdaine And as she lay vpon the durtie ground Her huge long taile her den all ouerspred Yet was in knots and many boughtes vpwound Pointed with mortall sting Of her there bred A thousand yong ones which she dayly fed Sucking vpon her poisonous dugs eachone Of sundry shapes yet all ill fauored Soone as that vncouth light vpon them shone Into her mouth they crept and suddain all were gone Their dam vpstart out of her den effraide And rushed forth hurling her hideous taile About her cursed head whose folds displaid Were stretcht now forth at length without entraile She lookt about and seeing one in mayle Armed to point sought backe to turne againe For light she hated as the deadly bale Ay wont in desert darknesse to remaine Where plaine none might her see nor she see any plaine Which when the valiant Elfe perceiu'ed he lept As Lyon fierce vpon the flying pray And with his trenchand blade her boldly kept From turning backe and forced her to stay Therewith enrag'd she loudly gan to bray And turning fierce her speckled taile aduaunst Threatning her angry sting him to dismay Who nought aghast his mightie hand enhaunst The stroke down frō her head vnto her shoulder glaunst Much daunted with that dint her sence was dazd Yet kindling rage her selfe she gathered round And all attonce her beastly body raizd With doubled forces high aboue the ground Tho wrapping vp her wrethed sterne arownd Lept fierce vpon his shield and her huge traine All suddenly about his body wound That hand or foot to stirre he stroue in vaine God helpe the man so wrapt in Errours endlesse traine His Lady sad to see his sore constraint Cride out Now now Sir knight shew what ye bee Add faith vnto your force and be not faint Strangle her else she sure will strangle thee That when he heard in great perplexitie His gall did grate for griefe and high disdaine And knitting all his force got one hand free Wherewith he grypt her gorge with so great paine That soone to loose her wicked bands did her constraine Therewith she spewd out of her filthy maw A floud of poyson horrible and blacke Full of great lumpes of flesh and gobbets raw Which stunck so vildly that it forst him slacke His grasping hold and from her turne him backe Her vomit full of bookes and papers was With loathly frogs and toades which eyes did lacke And creeping sought way in the weedy gras Her filthy parbreake all the place defiled has As when old father Nilus gins to swell With timely pride aboue the Aegyptian vale His fattie waues do fertile slime outwell And ouerflow each plaine and lowly dale But when his later ebbe gins to auale Huge heapes of mudd he leaues wherein there breed Ten thousand kindes of creatures partly male And partly female of his fruitfull feed Such vgly monstrous shapes elswhere may no man reed The same so sore annoyed has the knight That welnigh choked with the deadly stinke His forces faile ne can no longer fight Whose corage when the feend perceiu'd to shrinke She poured forth out of her hellish sinke Her fruitfull cursed spawne of serpents small Deformed monsters fowle and blacke as inke Which swarming all about his legs did crall And him encombred sore but could not hurt at all As gentle Shepheard in sweete euen-tide When ruddy Phoebus gins to welke in west High on an hill his flocke to vewen wide Markes which do byte their hasty supper best A cloud of combrous gnattes do him molest All striuing to infixe their feeble stings That from their noyance he no where can rest But with his clownish hands their tender wings He brusheth oft and oft doth mar their murmurings Thus ill bestedd and fearefull more of shame Then of the certaine perill he stood in Halfe furious vnto his foe he came Resolv'd in minde all suddenly to win Or soone to lose before he once would lin And strooke at her with more then manly force That from her body full of filthie sin He rafther hatefull head without remorse A streame of cole black bloud forth gushed frō her corse Her scattred brood soone as their Parent deare They saw so rudely falling to the ground Groning full deadly all with troublous feare Gathred themselues about her body round Weening their wonted entrance to haue found At her wide mouth but being there withstood They flocked all about her bleeding wound And sucked vp their dying mothers blood Making her death their life and eke her hurt their good That detestable sight him much amazde To see th'vnkindly Impes of heauen accurst Deuoure their dam on whom while so he gazd Hauing all satisfide their bloudy thurst Their bellies swolne he saw with fulnesse burst And bowels gushing forth well worthy end Of such as drunke her life the which them nurst Now needeth him no lenger labour spend His foes haue slaine themselues with whom he should contend His Ladie seeing all that chaunst from farre Approcht in hast to greet his victorie And said Faire knight borne vnder happy starre Who see your vanquisht foes before you lye Well worthy be you of that Armorie Wherein ye haue great glory wonne this day And proou'd your strength on a strong enimie Your first aduenture many such I pray And henceforth euer wish that like succeed it may Then mounted he vpon his Steede againe And with the Lady backward sought to wend That path he kept which beaten was most plaine Ne euer would to any by-way bend But still did follow one vnto the end The which at last out of the wood them brought So forward on his way with God to frend He passeth forth and new aduenture sought Long way he trauelled before he heard of ought At length they chaunst to meet vpon the way An aged Sire in long blacke weedes yclad His feete all bare his beard all
might That stop out of the way to ouerthroe Scorning the let of so vnequall foe But nathemore would that courageous swayne To her yeeld passage gainst his Lord to goe But with outrageous strokes did him restraine And with his bodie bard the way atwixt them twaine Then tooke the angrie witch her golden cup Which still she bore replete with magick artes Death and despeyre did many thereof sup And secret poyson through their inner parts Th' eternall bale of heauie wounded harts Which after charmes and some enchauntments said She lightly sprinkled on his weaker parts Therewith his sturdie courage soone was quayd And all his senses were with suddeine dread dismayd So downe he fell before the cruell beast Who on his necke his bloudie clawes did seize That life night crusht out of his panting brest No powre he had to stirre nor will to rize That when the carefull knight gan well auise He lightly left the foe with whom he fought And to the beast gan turne his enterprise For wondrous anguish in his hart it wrought To see his loued Squire into such thraldome brought And high aduauncing his bloud-thirstie blade Stroke one of those deformed heads so sore That of his puissance proud ensample made His monstrous scalpe downe to his teeth it tore And that misformed shape mis-shaped more A sea of bloud gusht from the gaping wound That her gay garments staynd with filthy gore And ouerflowed all the field around That ouer shoes in bloud he waded on the ground Thereat he roared for exceeding paine That to haue heard great horror would haue bred And scourging th' emptie ayre with his long traine Through great impatience of his grieued hed His gorgeous ryder from her loftie sted Would haue cast downe and trod in durtie myre Had not the Gyant soone her succoured Who all enrag'd with smart and franticke yre Came hurtling in full fierce and forst the knight retyre The force which wont in two to be disperst In one alone left hand he now vnites Which is through rage more strong then both were erst With which his hideous club aloft he dites And at his foe with furious rigour smites That strongest Oake might seeme to ouerthrow The stroke vpon his shield so heauie lites That to the ground it doubleth him full low What mortall wight could euer beare so monstrous blow And in his fall his shield that couered was Did loose his vele by chaunce and open flew The light whereof that heauens light did pas Such blazing brightnesse through the aier threw That eye mote not the same endure to vew Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye He downe let fall his arme and soft withdrew His weapon huge that heaued was on hye For to haue slaine the man that on the ground did lye And eke the fruitfull-headed beast amaz'd At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield Became starke blind and all his senses daz'd That downe he tumbled on the durtie field And seem'd himselfe as conquered to yield Whom when his maistresse proud perceiu'd to fall Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld Vnto the Gyant loudly she gan call O helpe Orgoglio helpe or else we perish all At her so pitteous cry was much amoou'd Her champion stout and for to ayde his frend Againe his wonted angry weapon proou'd But all in vaine for he has read his end In that bright shield and all their forces spend Themselues in vaine for since that glauncing sight He hath no powre to hurt nor to defend As where th' Almighties lightning brond does light It dimmes the dazed eyen and daunts the senses quight Whom when the Prince to battell new addrest And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see His sparkling blade about his head he blest And smote off quite his right leg by the knee That downe he tombled as an aged tree High growing on the top of rocky clift Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be The mightie trunck halfe rent with ragged rift Doth roll adowne the rocks and fall with fearefull drift Or as a Castle reared high and round By subtile engins and malitious slight Is vndermined from the lowest ground And her foundation forst and feebled quight At last downe falles and with her heaped hight Her hastie ruine does more heauie make And yields it selfe vnto the victours might Such was this Gyaunts fall that seemd to shake The stedfast globe of earth as it for feare did quake The knight then lightly leaping to the pray With mortall steele him smot againe so sore That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous store But soone as breath out of his breast did pas That huge great body which the Gyaunt bore Was vanisht quite and of that monstrous mas Was nothing left but like an emptie bladder was Whose grieuous fall when false Duessa spide Her golden cup she cast vnto the ground And crowned mitre rudely threw aside Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound That she could not endure that dolefull stound But leauing all behind her fled away The light-foot Squire her quickly turnd around And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay â—…o brought vnto his Lord as his deserued pray The royall Virgin which beheld from farre In pensiue plight and sad perplexitie The whole atchieuement of this doubtfull warre Came running fast to greet his victorie With sober gladnesse and myld modestie And with sweet ioyous cheare him thus bespake Faire braunch of noblesse flowre of cheualrie That with your worth the world amazed make How shall I quite the paines ye suffer for my sake And you fresh bud of vertue springing fast Whom these sad eyes saw nigh vnto deaths dore What hath poore Virgin for such perill past Wherewith you to reward Accept therefore My simple selfe and seruice euermore And he that high does sit and all things see With equall eyes their merites to restore Behold what ye this day haue done for mee And what I cannot quite requite with vsuree But sith the heauens and your faire handeling Haue made you maister of the field this day Your fortune maister eke with gouerning And well begun end all so well I pray Ne let that wicked woman scape away For she it is that did my Lord bethrall My dearest Lord and deepe in dongeon lay Where he his better dayes hath wasted all O heare how piteous he to you for ayd does call Forthwith he gaue in charge vnto his Squire That scarlot whore to keepen carefully Whiles he himselfe with greedie great desire Into the Castle entred forcibly Where liuing creature none he did espye Then gan he lowdly through the house to call But no man car'd to answere to his crye There raignd a solemne silence ouer all Nor voice was heard nor wight was seene in bowre or hall At last with creeping crooked pace forth came And old old man with beard as white as snow That on a staffe
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
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
shepheards weeds agreeably And both with shepheards hookes But Calidore Had vnderneath him armed priuily Tho to the place when they approched nye They chaunst vpon an hill not farre away Some flockes of sheepe and shepheards to espy To whom they both agreed to take their way In hope there newes to learne how they mote best assay There did they find that which they did not feare The selfe same flocks the which those theeues had reft From Meliboe and from themseles whyleare And certaine of the theeues there by them left The which for want of heards themselues then kept Right well knew Coridon his owne late sheepe And seeing them for tender pittie wept But when he saw the theeues which did them keepe His hart gan fayle albe he saw them all asleepe But Calidore recomforting his griefe Though not his feare for nought may feare disswade Him hardly forward drew whereas the thiefe Lay sleeping soundly in the bushes shade Whom Coridon him counseld to inuade Now all vnwares and take the spoyle away But he that in his mind had closely made A further purpose would not so them slay But gently waking them gaue them the time of day Tho sitting downe by them vpon the greene Of sundrie things he purpose gan to faine That he by them might certaine tydings weene Of Pastorell were she aliue or slaine Mongst which the theeues them questioned againe What mister men and eke from whence they were To whom they answer'd as did appertaine That they were poore heardgroomes the which whylere Had frō their maisters fled now sought hyre elswhere Whereof right glad they seem'd and offer made To hyre them well if they their flockes would keepe For they themselues were euill groomes they sayd Vnwont with heards to watch or pasture sheepe But to forray the land or scoure the deepe Thereto they soone agreed and earnest tooke To keepe their flockes for litle hyre and chepe For they for better hyre did shortly looke So there all day they bode till light the sky forsooke Tho when as towards darksome night it drew Vnto their hellish dens those theeues them brought Where shortly they in great acquaintance grew And all the secrets of their entrayles sought There did they find contrarie to their thought That Pastorell yet liu'd but all the rest Were dead right so as Coridon had taught Whereof they both full glad and blyth did rest But chiefly Calidore whom griefe had most possest At length when they occasion fittest found In dead of night when all the theeues did rest After a late forray and slept full sound Sir Calidore him arm'd as he thought best Hauing of late by diligent inquest Prouided him a sword of meanest sort With which he streight went to the Captaines nest But Coridon durst not with him consort Ne durst abide behind for dread of worse effort When to the Caue they came they found it fast But Calidore with huge resistlesse might The dores assayled and the locks vpbrast With noyse whereof the theefe awaking light Vnto the entrance ran where the bold knight Encountring him with small resistance slew The whiles faire Pastorell through great affright Was almost dead misdoubting least of new Some vprore were like that which lately she did vew But when as Calidore was comen in And gan aloud for Pastorell to call Knowing his voice although not heard long sin She sudden was reuiued therewithall And wondrous ioy felt in her spirits thrall Like him that being long in tempest tost Looking each houre into deathes mouth to fall At length espyes at hand the happie cost On which he safety hopes that earst feard to be lost Her gentle hart that now long season past Had neuer ioyance felt nor chearefull thought Began some smacke of comfort new to tast Like lyfull heat to nummed senses brought And life to feele that long for death had sought Ne lesse in hart reioyced Calidore When he her found but like to one distraught And robd of reason towards her him bore A thousand times embrast and kist a thousand more But now by this with noyse of late vprore The hue and cry was raysed all about And all the Brigants flocking in great store Vnto the caue gan preasse nought hauing dout Of that was doen and entred in a rout But Calidore in th' entry close did stand And entertayning them with courage stout Still slew the formost that came first to hand So long till all the entry was with bodies mand Tho when no more could nigh to him approch He breath'd his sword and rested him till day Which when he spyde vpon the earth t' encroch Through the dead carcases he made his way Mongst which he found a sword of better say With which he forth went into th' open light Where all the rest for him did readie stay And fierce assayling him with all their might Gan all vpon him lay there gan a dreadfull fight How many flyes in whottest sommers day Do seize vpon some beast whose flesh is bare That all the place with swarmes do ouerlay And with their litle stings right felly fare So many theeues about him swarming are All which do him assayle on euery side And sore oppresse ne any him doth spare But he doth with his raging brond diuide Their thickest troups round about him scattreth wide Like as a Lion mongst an heard of dere Disperseth them to catch his choysest pray So did he fly amongst them here and there And all that nere him came did hew and slay Till he had strowd with bodies all the way That none his daunger daring to abide Fled from his wrath and did themselues conuay Into their caues their heads from death to hide Ne any left that victorie to him enuide Then backe returning to his dearest deare He her gan to recomfort all he might With gladfull speaches and with louely cheare And forth her bringing to the ioyous light Whereof she long had lackt the wishfull sight Deuiz'd all goodly meanes from her to driue The sad remembrance of her wretched plight So her vneath at last he did reuiue That long had lyen dead and made againe aliue This doen into those theeuish dens he went And thence did all the spoyles and threasures take Which they from many long had robd and rent But fortune now the victors meed did make Of which the best he did his loue betake And also all those flockes which they before Had reft from Meliboe and from his make He did them all to Coridon restore So droue them all away and his loue with him bore Cant. XII Fayre Pastorella by great hap her parents vnderstands Calidore doth the Blatant beast subdew and bynd in bands LIke as a ship that through the Ocean wyde Directs her course vnto one certaine cost Is met of many a counter winde and tyde With which her winged speed is let and crost And she her selfe in stormie surges tost Yet making many a borde and many a bay Still
could neuer win The Fort that Ladies hold in soueraigne dread There lies he now with foule dishonour dead Who whiles he liu'de was called proud Sans foy The eldest of three brethren all three bred Of one bad sire whose youngest is Sans ioy And twixt them both was borne the bloudy bold Sans loy In this sad plight friendlesse vnfortunate Now miserable I Fidessa dwell Crauing of you in pitty of my state To do none ill if please ye not do well He in great passion all this while did dwell More busying his quicke eyes her face to view Then his dull eares to heare what she did tell And said faire Lady hart of flint would rew The vndeserued woes and sorrowes which ye shew Henceforth in safe assuraunce may ye rest Hauing both found a new friend you to aid And lost an old foe that did you molest Better new friend then an old foe is said With chaunge of cheare the seeming simple maid Let fall her eyen as shamefast to the earth And yeelding soft in that she nought gain-said So forth they rode he feining seemely merth And she coy lookes so dainty they say maketh derth Longtime they thus together traueiled Till weary of their way they came at last Where grew two goodly trees that faire did spred Their armes abroad with gray mosse ouercast And their greene leaues trembling with euery blast Made a calme shadow far in compasse round The fearefull Shepheard often there aghast Vnder them neuer sat ne wont there sound His mery oaten pipe but shund th' vnlucky ground But this good knight soone as he them can spie For the coole shade thither hastly got For golden Phoebus now that mounted hie From fiery wheeles of his faire chariot Hurled his beame so scorching cruell hot That liuing creature mote it not abide And his new Lady it endured not There they alight in hope themselues to hide From the fierce heat and rest their weary limbs a tide Faire seemely pleasaunce each to other makes With goodly purposes there as they sit And in his falsed fancy he her takes To be the fairest wight that liued yit Which to expresse he bends his gentle wit And thinking of those braunches greene to frame A girlond for her dainty forehead fit He pluckt a bough out of whose rift there came Small drops of gory bloud that trickled downe the same Therewith a piteous yelling voyce was heard Crying O spare with guilty hands to teare My tender sides in this rough rynd embard But fly ah fly far hence away for feare Least to you hap that happened to me heare And to this wretched Lady my deare loue O too deare loue loue bought with death too deare Astond he stood and vp his haire did houe And with that suddein horror could no member moue At last whenas the dreadfull passion Was ouerpast and manhood well awake Yet musing at the straunge occasion And doubting much his sence he thus bespake What voyce of damned Ghost from Limbo lake Or guilefull spright wandring in empty aire Both which fraile men do oftentimes mistake Sends to my doubtfull eares these speaches rare And ruefull plaints me bidding guitlesse bloud to spare Then groning deepe Nor damned Ghost quoth he Nor guilefull sprite to thee these wordes doth speake But once a man Fradubio now a tree Wretched man wretched tree whose nature weake A cruell witch her cursed will to wreake Hath thus transformd and plast in open plaines Where Bore as doth blow full bitter bleake And scorching Sunne does dry my secret vaines For though a tree I seeme yet cold and heat me paines Say on Fradubio then or man or tree Quoth then the knight by whose mischieuous arts Art thou misshaped thus as now I see He oft finds med'cine who his griefe imparts But double griefs afflict concealing harts As raging flames who striueth to suppresse The author then said he of all my smarts Is one Duessa a false sorceresse That many errāt knights hath brought to wretchednesse In prime of youthly yeares when corage hot The fire of loue and ioy of cheualree First kindled in my brest it was my lot To loue this gentle Lady whom ye see Now not a Lady but a seeming tree With whom as once I rode accompanyde Me chaunced of a knight encountred bee That had a like faire Lady by his syde Like a faire Lady but did fowle Duessa hyde Whose forged beauty he did take in hand All other Dames to haue exceeded farre I in defence of mine did likewise stand Mine that did then shine as the Morning starre So both to battell fierce arraunged arre In which his harder fortune was to fall Vnder my speare such is the dye of warre His Lady left as a prise martiall Did yield her comely person to be at my call So doubly lou'd of Ladies vnlike faire Th' one seeming such the other such indeede One day in doubt I cast for to compare Whether in beauties glorie did exceede A Rosy girlond was the victors meede Both seemde to win and both seemde won to bee So hard the discord was to be agreede Fraelissa was as faire as faire mote bee And euer false Duessa seemde as faire as shee The wicked witch now seeing all this while The doubtfull ballaunce equally to sway What not by right she cast to win by guile And by her hellish science raisd streight way A foggy mist that ouercast the day And a dull blast that breathing on her face Dimmed her former beauties shining ray And with foule vgly forme did her disgrace Then was she faire alone when none was faire in place Then cride she out fye fye deformed wight Whose borrowed beautie now appeareth plaine To haue before bewitched all mens sight O leaue her soone or let her soone be slaine Her loathly visage viewing with disdaine Eftsoones I thought her such as she me told And would haue kild her but with faigned paine The false witch did my wrathfull hand with-hold So left her where she now is turnd to treen mould Then forth I tooke Duessa for my Dame And in the witch vnweening ioyd long time Ne euer wist but that she was the same Till on a day that day is euery Prime When Witches wont do penance for their crime I chaunst to see her in her proper hew Bathing her selfe in origane and thyme A filthy foule old woman I did vew That euer to haue toucht her I did deadly rew Her neather partes misshapen monstruous Were hidd in water that I could not see But they did seeme more foule and hideous Then womans shape man would beleeue to bee Then forth from her most beastly companie I gan refraine in minde to slip away Soone as appeard safe oportunitie For danger great if not assur'd decay I saw before mine eyes if I were knowne to stray The diuelish hag by chaunges of my cheare Perceiu'd my thought and drownd in sleepie night With wicked herbes and ointments did besmeare My bodie all through charmes and magicke