death with many a bloudie word Toung hates to tell the rest that eye to see abhord Therewith amoued from his sober mood And liues he yet said he that wrought this act And doen the heauens afford him vitall food He liues quoth he and boasteth of the fact Ne yet hath any knight his courage crackt Where may that treachour then said he be found Or by what meanes may I his footing tract That shall I shew said he as sure as hound The strickē Deare doth chalenge by the bleeding wound He staid not lenger talke but with fierce ire And zealous hast away is quickly gone To seeke that knight where him that craftie Squire Supposd to be They do arriue anone Where sate a gentle Lady all alone With garments rent and haire discheueled Wringing her hands and making piteous mone Her swollen eyes were much disfigured And her faire face with teares was fowly blubbered The knight approching nigh thus to her said Faire Ladie through foule sorrow ill bedight Great pittie is to see you thus dismaid And marre the blossome of your beautie bright For thy appease your griefe and heauie plight And tell the cause of your conceiued paine For if he liue that hath you doen despight He shall you doe due recompence againe Or else his wrong with greater puissance maintaine Which when she heard as in despightfull wise She wilfully her sorrow did augment And offred hope of comfort did despise Her golden lockes most cruelly she rent And scratcht her face with ghastly dreriment Ne would she speake ne see ne yet be seene But hid her visage and her head downe bent Either for grieuous shame or for great teene As if her hart with sorrow had transfixed beene Till her that Squire bespake Madame my liefe For Gods deare loue be not so wilfull bent But doe vouchsafe now to receiue reliefe The which good fortune doth to you present For what bootes it to weepe and to wayment When ill is chaunst but doth the ill increase And the weake mind with double woe torment When she her Squire heard speake she gan appease Her voluntarie paine and feele some secret ease Eftsoone she said Ah gentle trustie Squire What comfort can I wofull wretch conceaue Or why should euer I henceforth desire To see faire heauens face and life not leaue Sith that false Traytour did my honour reaue False traytour certes said the Faerie knight I read the man that euer would deceaue A gentle Ladie or her wrong through might Death were too little paine for such a foule despight But now faire Ladie comfort to you make And read who hath ye wrought this shamefull plight That short reuenge the man may ouertake Where so he be and soone vpon him light Certes said she I wote not how he hight But vnder him a gray steede did he wield Whose sides with dapled circles weren dight Vpright he rode and in his siluer shield He bore a bloudie Crosse that quartred all the field Now by my head said Guyon much I muse How that same knight should do so foule amis Or euer gentle Damzell so abuse For may I boldly say he surely is A right good knight and true of word ywis I present was and can it witnesse well When armes he swore and streight did enterpris Th' aduenture of the Errant damozell In which he hath great glorie wonne as I heare tell Nathlesse he shortly shall againe be tryde And fairely quite him of th' imputed blame Else be ye sure he dearely shall abyde Or make you good amendment for the same All wrongs haue mends but no amends of shame Now therefore Ladie rise out of your paine And see the saluing of your blotted name Full loth she seemd thereto but yet did faine For she was inly glad her purpose so to gaine Her purpose was not such as she did faine Ne yet her person such as it was seene But vnder simple shew and semblant plaine Lurckt false Duessa secretly vnseene As a chast Virgin that had wronged beene So had false Archimago her disguisd To cloke her guile with sorrow and sad teene And eke himselfe had craftily deuisd To be her Squire and do her seruice well aguisd Her late forlorne and naked he had found Where she did wander in waste wildernesse Lurking in rockes and caues farre vnder ground And with greene mode cou'ring her nakednesse To hide her shame and loathly filthinesse Sith her Prince Arthur of proud ornaments And borrow'd beautie spoyld Her nathelesse Th' enchaunter finding fit for his intents Did thus reuest and deckt with due habiliments For all he did was to deceiue good knights And draw them from pursuit of praise and fame To slug in slouth and sensuall delights And end their daies with irrenowmed shame And now exceeding griefe him ouercame To see the Redcrosse thus aduaunced hye Therefore this craftie engine he did frame Against his praise to stirre vp enmitye Ofsuch as vertues like mote vnto him allye So now he Guyon guides an vncouth way Through woods mountaines till they came at last Into a pleasant dale that lowly lay Betwixt two hils whose high heads ouerplast The valley did with coole shade ouercast Through midst thereof a little riuer rold By which there sate a knight with helme vnlast Himselfe refreshing with the liquid cold After his trauell long and labours manifold Loe yonder he cryde Archimage alowd That wrought the shamefull fast which I did shew And now he doth himselfe in secret shrowd To flie the vengeance for his outrage dew But vaine for ye shall dearely do him rew So God ye speed and send you good successe Which we farre off will here abide to vew So they him left inflam'd with wrathfulnesse That streight against that knight his speare he did addresse Who seeing him from farre so fierce to pricke His warlike armes about him gan embrace And in the rest his readie speare did sticke Tho when as still he saw him towards pace He gan rencounter him in equall race They bene ymet both readie to affrap When suddenly that warrriour gan abace His threatned speare as if some new mishap Had him betidde or hidden daunger did entrap And cryde Mercie Sir knight and mercie Lord For mine offence and heedlesse hardiment That had almost committed crime abhord And with reprochfull shame mine honour shent Whiles cursed steele against that badge I bent The sacred badge of my Redeemers death Which on your shield is set for ornament But his fierce foe his steede could stay vneath Who prickt with courage kene did cruell battell breath But when he heard him speake streight way he knew His error and himselfe inclyning sayd Ah deare Sir Guyon well becommeth you But me behoueth rather to vpbrayd Whose hastie hand so farre from reason strayd That almost it did haynous violence On that faire image of that heauenly Mayd That decks and armes your shield with faire defence Your court'sie takes on you anothers due offence So bene they both attone
was vp-blowne with luxury And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne With which he swallowd vp excessiue feast For want whereof poore people oft did pyne And all the way most like a brutish beast He spued vp his gorge that all did him deteast In greene vine leaues he was right fitly clad For other clothes he could not weare for heat And on his head an yuie girland had From vnder which fast trickled downe the sweat Still as he rode he somewhat still did eat And in his hand did beare a bouzing can Of which he supt so oft that on his seat His dronken corse he scarse vpholden can In shape and life more like a monster then a man Vnfit he was for any worldly thing And eke vnhable once to stirre or go Not meet to be of counsell to a king Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so That from his friend he seldome knew his so Full of diseases was his carcas blew And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow Which by misdiet daily greater grew Such one was Gluttony the second of that crew And next to him rode lustfull Lechery Vpon a bearded Goat whose rugged haire And whally eyes the signe of gelosy Was like the person selfe whom he did beare Who rough and blacke and filthy did appeare Vnseemely man to please faire Ladies eye Yet he of Ladies oft was loued deare When fairer faces were bid standen by O who does know the bent of womens fantasy In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire Which vnderneath did hide his filthinesse And in his hand a burning hart he bare Full of vaine follies and new fanglenesse For he was false and fraught with sicklenesse And learned had to loue with secret lookes And well could daunce and sing with ruefulnesse And fortunes tell and read in louing bookes And thousand other wayes to bait his fleshly hookes Inconstant man that loued all he saw And lusted after all that he did loue Ne would his looser life be tide to law But ioyd weake wemens hearts to tempt and proue If from their loyall loues he might them moue Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paine Of that fowle euill which all men reproue That rots the marrow and consumes the braine Such one was Lecherie the third of all this traine And greedy Auarice by him did ride Vpon a Camell loaden all with gold Two iron coffers hong on either side With precious mettall full as they might hold And in his lap an heape of coine he told For of his wicked pelfe his God he made And vnto hell him selfe for money sold Accursed vsurie was all his trade And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide His life was nigh vnto deaths doore yplast And thred-bare cote and cobled shoes he ware Ne scarse good morsell all his life did tast But both from backe and belly still did spare To fill his bags and richesse to compare Yet chylde ne kinsman liuing had he none To leaue them to but thorough daily care To get and nightly feare to lose his owne He led a wretched life vnto him selfe vnknowne Most wretched wight whom nothing might suffise Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store Whose need had end but no end couetise Whose wealth was want whose plēty made him pore Who had enough yet wished euer more A vile disease and eke in foote and hand A grieuous gout tormented him full sore That well he could not touch nor go nor stand Such one was Auarice the fourth of this faire band And next to him malicious Enuie rode Vpon a rauenous wolfe and still did chaw Betweene his cankred teeth a venemous tode That all the poison ran about his chaw But inwardly he chawed his owne maw At neighbours wealth that made him euer sad For death it was when any good he saw And wept that cause of weeping none he had But when he heard of harme he wexed wondrous glad All in a kirtle of discolourd say He clothed was ypainted full of eyes And in his bosome secretly there lay An hatefull Snake the which his taile vptyes In many folds and mortall sting implyes Still as he rode he gnasht his teeth to see Those heapes of gold with griple Couetyse And grudged at the great felicitie Of proud Lucifera and his owne companie He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds And him no lesse that any like did vse And who with gracious bread the hungry feeds His almes for want of faith he doth accuse So euery good to bad he doth abuse And eke the verse of famous Poets witt He does backebite and spightfull poison spues From leprous mouth on all that euer writt Such one vile Enuie was that first in row did sitt And him beside rides fierce reuenging VVrath Vpon a Lion loth for to be led And in his hand a burning brond he hath The which he brandisheth about his hed His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red And stared sterne on all that him beheld As ashes pale of hew and seeming ded And on his dagger still his hand he held Trembling through hasty rage whē choler in him sweld His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood Which he had spilt and all to rags yrent Through vnaduized rashnesse woxen wood For of his hands he had no gouernement Ne car'd for bloud in his auengement But when the furious fit was ouerpast His cruell facts he often would repent Yet wilfull man he neuer would forecast How many mischieues should ensue his heedlesse hast Full many mischiefes follow cruell VVrath Abhorred bloudshed and tumultuous strife Vnmanly murder and vnthrifty scath Bitter despight with rancours rusty knife And fretting griefe the enemy of life All these and many euils moe haunt ire The swelling Splene and Frenzy raging rife The shaking Palsey and Saint Fraunces fire Such one was VVrath the last of this vngodly tire And after all vpon the wagon beame Rode Sathan with a smarting whip in hand With which he forward lasht the laesie teme So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand Huge routs of people did about them band Showting for ioy and still before their way A foggy mist had couered all the land And vnderneath their feet all scattered lay Dead sculs bones of men whose life had gone astray So forth they marchen in this goodly sort To take the solace of the open aire And in fresh flowring fields themselues to sport Emongst the rest rode that false Lady faire The fowle Duessa next vnto the chaire Of proud Lucifera as one of the traine But that good knight would not so nigh repaire Him selfe estraunging from their ioyaunce vaine Whose fellowship seemd far vnfit for warlike swaine So hauing solaced themselues a space With pleasaunce of the breathing fields yfed They backe returned to the Princely Place Whereas an errant knight in armes ycled And heathnish shield wherein with letters red Was writ Sans
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
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
seruice may I do vnto thee meete That hast from darkenesse me returnd to light And with thy heauenly salues and med'cines sweete Hast drest my sinfull wounds I kisse thy blessed feete Thereat she blushing said Ah gentle Squire Nor Goddesse I nor Angell but the Mayd And daughter of a woody Nymphe desire No seruice but thy safety and ayd Which if thou gaine I shal be well apayd We mortall wights whose liues and fortunes bee To commun accidents still open layd Are bound with commun bond of frailtee To succour wretched wights whom we captiued see By this her Damzels which the former chace Had vndertaken after her arriu'd As did Belphoebe in the bloudy place And thereby deemd the beast had bene depriu'd Of life whom late their Ladies arrow ryu'd For thy the bloudy tract they follow fast And euery one to runne the swiftest stryu'd But two of them the rest far ouerpast And where their Lady was arriued at the last Where when they saw that goodly boy with blood Defowled and their Lady dresse his wownd They wondred much and shortly vnderstood How him in deadly case their Lady fownd And reskewed out of the heauy stownd Eftsoones his warlike courser which was strayd Farre in the woods whiles that he lay in swownd She made those Damzels search which being stayd They did him set thereon and forthwith them conuayd Into that forest farre they thence him led Where was their dwelling in a pleasant glade With mountaines round about enuironed And mighty woods which did the valley shade And like a stately Theatre it made Spreading it selfe into a spatious plaine And in the midst a little riuer plaide Emongst the pumy stones which seemd to plaine With gentle murmure that his course they did restraine Beside the same a dainty place there lay Planted with mirtle trees and laurels greene In which the birds song many a louely lay Of gods high prayse and of their loues sweet teene As it an earthly Paradize had beene In whose enclosed shadow there was pight A faire Pauilion scarcely to be seene The which was all within most richly dight That greatest Princes liuing it mote well delight Thither they brought that wounded Squire and layd In easie couch his feeble limbes to rest He rested him a while and then the Mayd His ready wound with better salues new drest Dayly she dressed him and did the best His grieuous hurt to garish that she might That shortly she his dolour hath redrest And his foule sore reduced to faire plight It she reduced but himselfe destroyed quight O foolish Physick and vnfruitfull paine That heales vp one and makes another wound She his hurt thigh to him recur'd againe But hurt his hart the which before was sound Through an vnwary dart which did rebound From her faire eyes and gracious countenaunce What bootes it him from death to be vnbound To be captiued in endlesse duraunce Of sorrow and despaire without aleggeaunce Still as his wound did gather and grow hole So still his hart woxe sore and health decayd Madnesse to saue a part and lose the whole Still whenas he beheld the heauenly Mayd Whiles dayly plaisters to his wound she layd So still his Malady the more increast The whiles her matchlesse beautie him dismayd Ah God what other could he do at least But loue so faire a Lady that his life releast Long while he stroue in his courageous brest With reason dew the passion to subdew And loue for to dislodge out of his nest Still when her excellencies he did vew Her soueraigne bounty and celestiall hew The same to loue he strongly was constraind But when his meane estate he did renew He from such hardy boldnesse was restraind And of his lucklesse lot and cruell loue thus plaind Vnthankfull wretch said he is this the meed With which her soueraigne mercy thou doest quight Thy life she saued by her gracious deed But thou doest weene with villeinous despight To blot her honour and her heauenly light Dye rather dye then so disloyally Deeme of her high desert or seeme so light Faire death it is to shonne more shame to dy Dye rather dy then euer loue disloyally But if to loue disloyalty it bee Shall I then hate her that from deathes dore Me brought ah farre be such reproch fro mee What can I lesse do then her loue therefore Sith I her dew reward cannot restore Dye rather dye and dying do her serue Dying her serue and liuing her adore Thy life she gaue thy life she doth deserue Dye rather dye then euer from her seruice swerue But foolish boy what bootes thy seruice bace To her to whom the heauens do serue and sew Thou a meane Squire of meeke and lowly place She heauenly borne and of celestiall hew How then of all loue taketh equall vew And doth not highest God vouchsafe to take The loue and seruice of the basest crew If she will not dye meekly for her sake Dye rather dye then euer so faire loue forsake Thus warreid he long time against his will Till that through weaknesse he was forst at last To yield himselfe vnto the mighty ill Which as a victour proud gan ransack fast His inward parts and all his entrayles wast That neither bloud in face nor life in hart It left but both did quite drye vp and blast As percing leuin which the inner part Of euery thing consumes and calcineth by art Which seeing faire Belphoebe gan to feare Least that his wound were inly well not healed Or that the wicked steele empoysned were Litle she weend that loue he close concealed Yet still he wasted as the snow congealed When the bright sunne his beams thereon doth beat Yet neuer he his hart to her reuealed But rather chose to dye for sorrow great Then with dishonorable termes her to entreat She gracious Lady yet no paines did spare To do him ease or do him remedy Many Restoratiues of vertues rare And costly Cordialles she did apply To mitigate his stubborne mallady But that sweet Cordiall which can restore A loue-sick hart she did to him enuy To him and to all th'vnworthy world forlore She did enuy that soueraigne salue in secret store That dainty Rose the daughter of her Morne More deare then life she tendered whose flowre The girlond of her honour did adorne Ne suffred she the Middayes scorching powre Ne the sharp Northerne wind thereon to showre But lapped vp her silken leaues most chaire When so the froward skye began to lowre But soone as calmed was the Christall aire She did it faire dispred and let to florish faire Eternall God in his almighty powre To make ensample of his heauenly grace In Paradize whilome did plant this flowre Whence he it fetcht out of her natiue place And did in stocke of earthly flesh enrace That mortall men her glory should admire In gentle Ladies brest and bounteous race Of woman kind it fairest flowre doth spire And beareth fruit of honour and all chast
she the terme of each mans life For nought may lessened nor enlarged bee Graunt this that when ye shred with fatall knife His line which is the eldest of the three Which is of them the shortest as I see Eftsoones his life may passe into the next And when the next shall likewise ended bee That both their liues may likewise be annext Vnto the third that his may so be trebly wext They graunted it and then that carefull Fay Departed thence with full contented mynd And comming home in warlike fresh aray Them found all three according to their kynd But vnto them what destinie was assynd Or how their liues were eekt she did not tell But euermore when she fit time could fynd She warned them to tend their safeties well And loue each other deare what euer them befell So did they surely during all their dayes And neuer discord did amongst them fall Which much augmented all their other praise And now t' increase affection naturall In loue of Canacee they ioyned all Vpon which ground this same great battell grew Great matter growing of beginning small The which for length I will not here pursew But rather will reserue it for a Canto new Cant. III. The battell twixt three brethren with Cambell for Canacee Cambina with true friendships bond doth their long strife agree O Why doe wretched men so much desire To draw their dayes vnto the vtmost date And doe not rather wish them soone expire Knowing the miserie of their estate And thousand perills which them still awate Tossing them like a boate amid the mayne That euery houre they knocke at deathes gate And he that happie seemes and least in payne Yet is as nigh his end as he that most doth playne Therefore this Fay I hold but fond and vaine The which in seeking for her children three Long life thereby did more prolong their paine Yet whilest they liued none did euersee More happie creatures then they seem'd to bee Nor more ennobled for their courtesie That made them dearely lou'd of each degree Ne more renowmed for their cheualrie That made them dreaded much of all men farre and nie These three that hardie chalenge tooke in hand For Canacee with Cambell for to fight The day was set that all might vnderstand And pledges pawnd the same to keepe a right That day the dreddest day that liuing wight Did euer see vpon this world to shine So soone as heauens window shewed light These warlike Champions all in armour shine Assembled were in field the chalenge to define The field with listes was all about enclos'd To barre the prease of people farre away And at th' one side sixe iudges were dispos'd To view and deeme the deedes of armes that day And on the other side in fresh aray Fayre Canacee vpon a stately stage Was set to see the fortnne of that fray And to be seene as his most worthie wage That could her purchase with his liues aduentur'd gage Then entred Cambell first into the list With stately steps and fearelesse countenance As if the conquest his he surely wist Soone after did the brethren three aduance In braue aray and goodly amenance With scutchins gilt and banners broad displayd And marching thrise in warlike ordinance Thrise lowted lowly to the noble Mayd The whiles shril trompets loud clarions sweetly playd Which doen the doughty chalenger came forth All arm'd to point his chalenge to abet Gainst whom Sir Priamond with equall worth And equall armes himselfe did forward set A trompet blew they both together met With dreadfull force and furious intent Carelesse of perill in their fiers affret As if that life to losse they had forelent And cared not to spare that should be shortly spent Right practicke was Sir Priamond in fight And throughly skild in vse of shield and speare Ne lesse approued was Cambelloes might Ne lesse his sill in weapons did appeare That hard it was to weene which harder were Full many mightie strokes on either side Were sent that seemed death in them to beare But they were both so watchfull and well eyde That they auoyded were and vainely by did slyde Yet one of many was so strongly bent By Priamond that with vnluckie glaunce Through Cambels shoulder it vnwarely went That forced him his shield to disaduaunce Much was he grieued with that gracelesse chaunce Yet from the wound no drop of bloud there fell But wondrous paine that did the more enhaunce His haughtie courage to aduengement fell Smart daunts not mighty harts but makes them more to swell With that his poynant speare he fierce auentred With doubled force close vnderneath his shield That through the mayles into his thigh it entred And there arresting readie way did yield For bloud to gush forth on the grassie field That he for paine himselfe not right vpreare But too and fro in great amazement reel'd Like an old Oke whose pith and sap is seare At puffe of euery storme doth stagger here and theare Whom so dismayd when Cambell had espide Againe he droue at him with double might That nought mote stay the steele till in his side The mortall point most cruelly empight Where fast infixed whilest he sought by slight It forth to wrest the staffe a sunder brake And left the head behind with which despight He all enrag'd his shiuering speare did shake And charging him a fresh thus felly him bespake Lo faitour there thy meede vnto thee take The meede of thy mischalenge and abet Not for thine owne but for thy sisters sake Haue I thus long thy life vnto thee let But to forbeare doth not forgiue the det The wicked weapon heard his wrathfull vow And passing forth with furious affret Pierst through his beuer quite into his brow That with the force it backward forced him to bow Therewith a sunder in the midst it brast And in his hand nought but the troncheon left The other halfe behind yet sticking fast Out of his headpeece Cambell fiercely rest And with such furie backe at him it heft That making way vnto his dearest life His weasand pipe it through his gorget cleft Thence streames of purple bloud issuing rife Let forth his wearie ghost and made an end of strife His wearie ghost assoyld from fleshly band Did not as others wont directly fly Vnto her rest in Plutoes griesly land Ne into ayre did vanish presently Ne chaunged was into a starre in sky But through traduction was eftsoones deriued Like as his mother prayd the Destinie Into his other brethren that suruiued In whom he liu'd a new of former life depriued Whom when on ground his brother next beheld Though sad and sorie for so heauy sight Yet leaue vnto his sorrow did not yeeld But rather stird to vengeance and despight Through secret feeling of his generous spright Rusht fiercely forth the battell to renew As in reuersion of his brothers right And chalenging the Virgin as his dew His foe was soone addrest the trompets freshly
beget True loue and faithfull friendship she by her did set Backe to that desert forrest they retyred Where sorie Britomart had lost her late There they her sought and euery where inquired Where they might tydings get of her estate Yet found they none But by what haplesse fate Or hard misfortune she was thence conuayd And stolne away from her beloued mate Were long to tell therefore I here will stay Vntill another tyde that I it finish may Cant. VII Amoret rapt by greedie lust Belphebe saues from dread The Squire her loues and being blam'd his dayes in dole doth lead GReat God of loue that with thy cruell dart Doest conquer greatest conquerors on ground And setst thy kingdome in the captiue harts Of Kings and Keasars to thy seruice bound What glorie or what guerdon hast thou found In feeble Ladies tyranning so sore And adding anguish to the bitter wound With which their liues thou lanchedst long afore By heaping stormes of trouble on them daily more So whylome didst thou to faire Florimell And so and so to noble Britomart So doest thou now to her of whom I tell The louely Amoret whose gentle hart Thou martyrest with sorow and with smart In saluage forrests and in deserts wide With Beares and Tygers taking heauie part Withouten comfort and withouten guide That pittie is to heare the perils which she tride So soone as she with that braue Britonesse Had left that Turneyment for beauties prise They trauel'd long that now for wearinesse Both of the way and warlike exercise Both through a forest ryding did deuise T' alight and rest their wearie limbs awhile There heauie sleepe the eye-lids did surprise Of Britomart after long tedious toyle That did her passed paines in quiet rest assoyle The whiles faire Amoret of nought affeard Walkt through the wood for pleasure or for need When suddenly behind her backe she heard One rushing forth out of the thickest weed That ere she backe could turne to taken heed Had vnawares her snatched vp from ground Feebly she shriekt but so feebly indeed That Britomart heard not the shrilling sound There where through weary trauel she lay sleeping soūd It was to weet a wilde and saluage man Yet was no man but onely like in shape And eke in stature higher by a span All ouer growne with haire that could awhape An hardy hart and his wide mouth did gape With huge great teeth like to a Bore For he liu'd all on rauin and on rape Of men and beasts and fed on fleshly gore The signe whereof yet stain'd his bloudy lips afore His neather lip was not like man nor beast But like a wide deepe poke downe hanging low In which he wont the relickes of his feast And cruell spoyle which he had spard to stow And ouer it his huge great nose did grow Full dreadfully empurpled all with bloud And downe both sides two wide long eares did glow And raught downe to his waste when vp he stood More great then th' eares of Elephants by Indus flood His wast was with a wreath of yuie greene Engirt about ne other garment wore For all his haire was like a garment seene And in his hand a tall young oake he bore Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore And beath'd in fire for steele to be in sted But whence he was or of what wombe ybore Of beasts or of the earth I haue not red But certes was with milke of Wolues and Tygres fed This vgly creature in his armes her snatcht And through the forrest bore her quite away With briers and bushes all to rent and scratcht Ne care he had ne pittie of the pray Which many a knight had sought so many a day He stayed not but in his armes her bearing Ran till he came to th' end of all his way Vnto his caue farre from all peoples hearing And there he threw her in nought feeling ne nought fearing For she deare Ladie all the way was dead Whilest he in armes her bore but when she felt Her selfe downe soust she waked out of dread Streight into griefe that her deare hart nigh swelt And eft gan into tender teares to melt Then when she lookt about and nothing found But darknesse and dread horrour where she dwelt She almost fell againe into a swound Ne wist whether aboue she were or vnder ground With that she heard some one close by her side Sighing and sobbing sore as if the paine Her tender hart in peeces would diuide Which she long listning softly askt againe What mister wight it was that so did plaine To whom thus aunswer'd was Ah wretched wight That seekes to know anothers griefe in vaine Vnweeting of thine owne like haplesse plight Selfe to forget to mind another is ouersight Aye me said she where am I or with whom Emong the liuing or emong the dead What shall of me vnhappy maid become Shall death be th' end or ought else worse aread Vnhappy mayd then answerd she whose dread Vntride is lesse then when thou shalt it try Death is to him that wretched life doth lead Both grace and gaine but he in hell doth lie That liues a loathed life and wishing cannot die This dismall day hath thee a caytiue made And vassall to the vilest wretch aliue Whose cursed vsage and vngodly trade The heauens abhorre and into darkenesse driue For on the spoile of women he doth liue Whose bodies chast when euer in his powre He may them catch vnable to gainestriue He with his shamefull lust doth first deflowre And afterwards themselues doth cruelly deuoure Now twenty daies by which the sonnes of men Diuide their works haue past through heuen sheene Since I was brought into this dolefull den During which space these sory eies haue seen Seauen women by him slaine and eaten clene And now no more for him but I alone And this old woman here remaining beene Till thou cam'st hither to augment our mone And of vs three to morrow he will sure eate one Ah dreadfull tidings which thou doest declare Quoth she of all that euer hath bene knowen Full many great calamities and rare This feeble brest endured hath but none Equall to this where euer I haue gone But what are you whom like vnlucky lot Hath linckt with me in the same chaine attone To tell quoth she that which ye see needs not A wofull wretched maid of God and man forgot But what I was it irkes me to reherse Daughter vnto a Lord of high degree That ioyd in happy peace till fates peruerse With guilefull loue did secretly agree To ouerthrow my state and dignitie It was my lot to loue a gentle swaine Yet was he but a Squire of low degree Yet was he meet vnlesse mine eye did faine By any Ladies side for Leman to haue laine But for his meannesse and disparagement My Sire who me too dearely well did loue Vnto my choise by no meanes would assent But often did my folly fowle reproue Yet nothing could my fixed mind
scard Vnworthy they of grace whom one deniall Excludes from fairest hope withouten further triall Yet many doughty warriours often tride In greater perils to bestout and bold Durst not the sternnesse of his looke abide But soone as they his countenance did behold Began to faint and feele their corage cold Againe some other that in hard assaies Were cowards knowne and litle count did hold Either through gifts or guile or such like waies Crept in by stouping low or stealing of the kaies But I though nearest man of many moe Yet much disdaining vnto him to lout Or creepe betweene his legs so in to goe Resolu'd him to assault with manhood stout And either beat him in or driue him out Eftsoones aduauncing that enchaunted shield With all my might I gan to lay about Which when he saw the glaiue which he did wield He gan forthwith t'auale and way vnto me yield So as I entred I did backeward looke For feare of harme that might lie hidden there And loe his hindparts whereof heed I tooke Much more deformed fearefull vgly were Then all his former parts did earst appere For hatred murther treason and despight With many moe lay in ambushment there Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight Which did not them preuent with vigilant foresight Thus hauing past all perill I was come Within the compasse of that Islands space The which did seeme vnto my simple doome The onely pleasant and delightfull place That euer troden was of footings trace For all that nature by her mother wit Could frame in earth and forme of substance base Was there and all that nature did omit Art playing second natures part supplyed it No tree that is of count in greenewood growes From lowest Iuniper to Ceder tall No flowre in field that daintie odour throwes And deckes his branch with blossomes ouer all But there was planted or grew naturall Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice But there mote find to please it selfe withall Nor hart could wish for any queint deuice But there it present was and did fraile sense entice In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure It seem'd a second paradise to bee So lauishly enricht with natures threasure That if the happie soules which doe possesse Th' Elysian fields and liue in lasting blesse Should happen this with liuing eye to see They soone would loath their lesser happinesse And wish to life return'd againe to ghesse That in this ioyous place they mote haue ioyance free Fresh shadowes fit to shroud from sunny ray Faire lawnds to take the sunne in season dew Sweet springs in which a thousand Nymphs did play Soft rombling brookes that gentle slomber drew High reared mounts the lands about to vew Low looking dales disloignd from common gaze Delightfull bowres to solace louers trew False Labyrinthes fond runners eyes to daze All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze And all without were walkes and all eyes dight With diuers trees enrang'd in euen rankes And here and there were pleasant arbors pight And shadie seates and sundry flowring bankes To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes And therein thousand payres of louers walkt Praysing their god and yeelding him great thankes Ne euer ought but of their true loues talkt Ne euer for rebuke or blame of any balkt All these together by themselues did sport Their spotlesse pleasures and sweet loues content But farre away from these another sort Of louers lincked in true harts consent Which loued not as these for like intent But on chast vertue grounded their desire Farre from all fraud or fayned blandishment Which in their spirits kindling zealous fire Braue thoughts and noble deedes did euermore aspire Such were great Hercules and Hyllus deare Trew Ionathan and Dauid trustie tryde Stout Theseus and Pirithous his feare Pylades and Orestes by his syde Myld Titus and Gesippus without pryde Damon and Pythias whom death could not seuer All these and all that euer had bene tyde In bands of friendship there did liue for euer Whose liues although decay'd yet loues decayed neuer Which when as I that neuer tasted blis Nor happie howre beheld with gazefull eye I thought there was none other heauen then this And gan their endlesse happinesse enuye That being free from feare and gealosye Might frankely there their loues desire possesse Whilest I through paines and perlous ieopardie Was forst to seeke my lifes deare patronesse Much dearer be the things which come through hard distresse Yet all those sights and all that else I saw Might not my steps withhold but that forthright Vnto that purposd place I did me draw Where as my loue was lodged day and night The temple of great Venus that is hight The Queene of beautie and of loue the mother There worshipped of euery liuing wight Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other That euer were on earth all were they set together Not that same famous Temple of Diane Whose hight all Ephesus did ouersee And which all Asia sought with vowes prophane One of the worlds seuen wonders sayd to bee Might match with this by many a degree Nor that which that wise King of Iurie framed With endlesse cost to be th' Almighties see Nor all that else through all the world is named To all the heathen Gods might like to this be clamed I much admyring that so goodly frame Vnto the porch approcht which open stood But therein sate an amiable Dame That seem'd to be of very sober mood And in her semblant shewed great womanhood Strange was her tyre for on her head a crowne She wore much like vnto a Danisk hood Poudred with pearle and stone and all her gowne Enwouen was with gold that taught full low a downe On either side of her two young men stood Both strongly arm'd as fearing one another Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood Begotten by two fathers of one mother Though of contrarie natures each to other The one of them hight Loue the other Hate Hate was the elder Loue the younger brother Yet was the younger stronger in his state Then th' elder and him maystred still in all debate Nathlesse that Dame so well them tempted both That she them forced hand to ioyne in hand Albe that Hatred was thereto full loth And turn'd his face away as he did stand Vnwilling to behold that louely band Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might That her commaundment he could notwithstand But bit his lip for felonous despight And gnasht his yron tuskes at that displeasing sight Concord she cleeped was in common reed Mother of blessed Peace and Friendship trew They both her twins both borne of heauenly seed And she her selfe likewise diuinely grew The which right well her workes diuine did snew For strength and wealth and happinesse she lends And strife and warre and anger does subdew Of litle much of foes she maketh frends And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends By her the heauen is in his
men plainely wot It was no mortall worke that seem'd and yet was not Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flow Vnto her waste with flowres bescattered The which ambrosiall odours forth did throw To all about and all her shoulders spred As a new spring and likewise on her hed A Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore From vnder which the deawy humour shed Did tricle downe her haire like to the hore Congealed litle drops which doe the morne adore On her two pretty handmaides did attend One cald the Theise the other cald the Crane Which on her waited things amisse to mend And both behind vpheld her spredding traine Vnder the which her feet appeared plaine Her siluer feet faire washt against this day And her before there paced Pages twaine Both clad in colours like and like array The Doune eke the Frith both which prepard her way And after these the Sea Nymphs marched all All goodly damzels deckt with long greene haire Whom of their sire Nereides men call All which the Oceans daughter to him bare The gray eyde Doris all which fifty are All which she there on her attending had Swift Proto milde Eucrate Thetis faire Soft Spio sweete Endore Sao sad Light Doto wanton Glauce and Galene glad White hand Eunica proud Dynamene Ioyous Thalia goodly Amphitrite Louely Pasithee kinde Eulimene Light foote Cymothoe and sweete Melite Fairest Pherusa Phao lilly white Wondred Agaue Poris and Nesaea With Erato that doth in loue delite And Panopae and wise Protomedaea And snowy neckd Doris and milkewhite Galathaea Speedy Hippothoe and chaste Actea Large Lisianassa and Pronaea sage Euagore and light Pontoporea And she that with her least word can asswage The surging seas when they do sorest rage Cymodoce and stout Autonoe And Neso and Eione well in age And seeming still to smile Glauconome And she that hight of many heastes Polynome Fresh Alimeda deckt with girlond greene Hyponeo with salt bedewed wrests Laomedia like the christall sheene Liagore much praisd for wise behests And Psamathe for her brode snowy brests Cymo Eupompe and Themiste iust And she that vertue loues and vice detests Euarna and Menippe true in trust And Nemertea learned well to rule her lust All these the daughters of old Nereus were Which haue the sea in charge to them assinde To rule his tides and surges to vprere To bring forth stormes or fast them to vpbinde And sailers saue from wreckes of wrathfull winde And yet besides three thousand more there were Of th' Oceans seede but Ioues and Phoebus kinde The which in floods and fountaines doe appere And all mankinde do nourish with their waters clere The which more eath it were for mortall wight To tell the sands or count the starres on hye Or ought more hard then thinke to reckon right But well I wote that these which I descry Were present at this great solemnity And there amongst the rest the mother was Of luckelesse Marinell Cymodoce Which for my Muse her selfe now tyred has Vnto an other Canto I will ouerpas Cant. XII Marin for loue of Florimell In languor wastes his life The Nymph his mother getteth her And giues to him for wife O What an endlesse worke haue I in hand To count the seas abundant progeny Whose fruitfull seede farre passeth those in land And also those which wonne in th' azure sky For much more eath to tell the starres on hy Albe they endlesse seeme in estimation Then to recount the Seas posterity So fertile be the flouds in generation So huge their numbers and so numberlesse their nation Therefore the antique wisards well inuented That Venus of the fomy sea was bred For that the seas by her are most augmented Witnesse th'exceeding fry which there are fed And wondrous sholes which may of none be red Then blame me not if I haue err'd in count Of Gods of Nymphs Of riuers yet vnred For though their numbers do much more surmount Yet all those same were there which erst I did recount All those were there and many other more Whose names and nations were too long to tell That Proteus house they fild euen to the dore Yet were they all in order as befell According their degrees disposed well Amongst the rest was faire Cymodoce The mother of vnlucky Marinell Who thither with her came to learne and see The manner of the Gods when they at banquet be But for he was halfe mortall being bred Of mortall sire though of immortall wombe He might not with immortall food be fed Ne with th' eternall Gods to bancket come But walkt abrode and round about did rome To view the building of that vncouth place That seem'd vnlike vnto his earthly home Where as he to and fro by chaunce did trace There vnto him betid a disauentrous case Vnder the hanging of an hideous clieffe He heard the lamentable voice of one That piteously complaind her carefull grieffe Which neuer she before disclosd to none But to her selfe her sorrow did bemone So feelingly her case she did complaine That ruth it moued in the rocky stone And made it seeme to feele her grieuous paine And oft to grone with billowes beating from the maine Though vaine I see my sorrowes to vnfold And count my cares when none is nigh to heare Yet hoping griefe may lessen being told I will them tell though vnto no man neare For heauen that vnto all lends equall eare Is farre from hearing of my heauy plight And lowest hell to which I lie most neare Cares not what euils hap to wretched wight And greedy seas doe in the spoile of life delight Yet loe the seas I see by often beating Doe pearce the rockes and hardest marble weares But his hard rocky hart for no entreating Will yeeld but when my piteous plaints he heares Is hardned more with my aboundant teares Yet though he neuer list to me relent But let me waste in woe my wretched yeares Yet will I neuer of my loue repent But ioy that for his sake I suffer prisonment And when my weary ghost with griefe outworne By timely death shall winne her wished rest Let then this plaint vnto his eares be borne That blame it is to him that armes profest To let her die whom he might haue redrest There did she pause inforced to giue place Vnto the passion that her heart opprest And after she had wept and wail'd a space She gan afresh thus to renew her wretched case Ye Gods of seas if any Gods at all Haue care of right or ruth of wretches wrong By one or other way me woefull thrall Deliuer hence out of this dungeon strong In which I daily dying am too long And if ye deeme me death for louing one That loues not me then doe it not prolong But let me die and end my daies attone And let him liue vnlou'd or loue him selfe alone But if that life ye vnto me decree Then let mee liue as louers ought to do And of my lifes deare loue beloued
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
his feeble steps did frame And guide his wearie gate both too and fro For his eye sight him failed long ygo And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore The which vnused rust did ouergrow Those were the keyes of euery inner dore But he could not them vse but kept them still in store But very vncouth sight was to behold How he did fashion his vntoward pace For as he forward moou'd his footing old So backward still was turnd his wrincled face Vnlike to men who euer as they trace Both feet and face one way are wont to lead This was the auncient keeper of that place And foster father of the Gyant dead His name Ignaro did his nature right aread His reuerend haires and holy grauitie The knight much honord as beseemed well And gently askt where all the people bee Which in that stately building wont to dwell Who answerd him full soft he could not tell Againe he askt where that same knight was layd Whom great Orgoglio with his puissaunce fell Had made his caytiue thrall againe he sayde â—e could not tell ne euer other answere made Then asked he which way he in might pas He could not tell againe he answered Thereat the curteous knight displeased was And said Old sire it seemes thou hast not red How ill it fits with that same siluer hed In vaine to mocke or mockt in vaine to bee But if thou be as thou art pourtrahed With natures pen in ages graue degree Aread in grauer wise what I demaund of thee His answere likewise was he could not tell Whose sencelesse speach and doted ignorance When as the noble Prince had marked well He ghest his nature by his countenance And calmd his wrath with goodly temperance Then to him stepping from his arme did reach Those keyes and made himselfe free enterance Each dore he opened without any breach There was no barre to stop nor foe him to empeach There all within full rich arayd he found With royall arras and resplendent gold And did with store of euery thing abound That greatest Princes presence might behold But all the floore too filthy to be told With bloud of guiltlesse babes and innocents trew Which there were slaine as sheepe out of the fold Defiled was that dreadfull was to vew And sacred ashes ouer it was strowed new And there beside of marble stone was built An Altare caru'd with cunning imagery On which true Christians bloud was often spilt And holy Martyrs often doen to dye With cruell malice and strong tyranny Whose blessed sprites from vnderneath the stone To God for vengeance cryde continually And with great griefe were often heard to grone That hardest heart would bleede to heare their piteous mone Through euery rowme he sought and euery bowr But no where could he find that wofull thrall At last he came vnto an yron doore That fast was lockt but key found not at all Emongst that bounch to open it withall But in the same a little grate was pight Through which he sent his voyce and lowd did call With all his powre to weet if liuing wight Were housed there within whom he enlargen might â—herewith an hollow dreary murmuring voyce These piteous plaints and dolours did resound O who is that which brings me happy choyce Of death that here lye dying euery stound Yet liue perforce in balefull darkenesse bound For now three Moones haue chaÌ„ged thrice their hew And haue beene thrice hid vnderneath the ground Since I the heauens chearefull face did vew O welcome thou that doest of death bring tydings trew Which when that Champion heard with percing point Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore And trembling horrour ran through euery ioynt For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore Which shaking off he rent that yron dore With furious force and indignation fell Where entred in his foot could find no flore But all a deepe descent as darke as hell â—â—at breathed euer forth a filthie banefull smell But neither darkenesse fowle nor filthy bands Nor noyous smell his purpose could withhold Entire affection hateth nicer hands But that with constant zeale and courage bold After long paines and labours manifold He found the meanes that Prisoner vp to reare Whose feeble thighes vnhable to vphold His pined corse him scarse to light could beare A ruefull spectacle of death and ghastly drere His sad dull eyes deepe sunck in hollow pits Could not endure th'vnwonted sunne to view His bare thin cheekes for want of better bits And empty sides deceiued of their dew Could make a stony hart his hap to rew His rawbone armes whose mighty brawned bowres Were wont to riue steele plates helmets hew Were cleane consum'd and all his vitall powres Decayd and all his flesh shronk vp like withered flowres Whom when his Lady saw to him she ran With hasty ioy to see him made her glad And sad to view his visage pale and wan Who earst in flowres of freshest youth was clad Tho when her well of teares she wasted had She said Ah dearest Lord what euill starre On you hath fround and pourd his influence bad That of your selfe ye thus berobbed arre And this misseeming hew your manly looks doth marre But welcome now my Lord in wele or woe Whose presence I kaue lackt too long a day And fie on Fortune mine auowed foe Whose wrathfull wreakes them selues do now alay And for these wrongs shall treble penaunce pay Of treble good good growes of euils priefe The chearelesse man whom sorrow did dismay Had no delight to treaten of his griefe â—is long endured famine needed more reliefe â—â—ire Lady then said that victorious knight The things that grieuous were to do or beare Them to renew I wote breeds no delight Best musicke breeds delight in loathing eare But th' onely good that growes of passed feare Is to be wise and ware of like agein This dayes ensample hath this lesson deare Deepe written in my heart with yron pen â—hat blisse may not abide in state of mortall men â—enceforth sir knight take to you wonted strength And maister these mishaps with patient might Loe where your foe lyes stretcht in monstrous length And loe that wicked woman in your sight The roote of all your care and wretched plight Now in your powre to let her liue or dye To do her dye quoth Vna were despight And shame t' auenge so weake an enimy â—ut spoile her of her scarlot robe and let her fly â—o as she bad that witch they disaraid And robd of royall robes and purple pall And ornaments that richly were displaid Ne spared they to strip her naked all Then when they had despoild her tire and call Such as she was their eyes might her behold That her mishaped parts did them appall A loathly wrinckled hag ill fauoured old â—hose secret filth good manners biddeth not be told Her craftie head was altogether bald And as in hate of honorable eld Was ouergrowne with scurfe and filthy scald Her
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
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
Bull Europa to withdraw Ah how the fearefull Ladies tender hart Did liuely seeme to tremble when she saw The huge seas vnder her t' obay her seruaunts law Soone after that into a golden showre Him selfe he chaung'd faire Danaë to vew And through the roofe of her strong brasen towre Did raine into her lap an hony dew The whiles her foolish garde that little knew Of such deceipt kept th'yron dore fast bard And watcht that none should enter nor issew Vaine was the watch and bootlesse all the ward Whenas the God to golden hew him selfe transfard Then was he turnd into a snowy Swan To win faire Leda to his louely trade O wondrous skill and sweet wit of the man That her in daffadillies sleeping made From scorching heat her daintie limbes to shade Whiles the proud Bird ruffing his fethers wyde And brushing his faire brest did her inuade She slept yet twixt her eyelids closely spyde How towards her he rusht and smiled at his pryde Then shewd it how the Thebane Semelee Deceiu'd of gealous Iuno did require To see him in his soueraigne maiestee Armd with his thunderbolts and lightning fire Whence dearely she with death bought her desire But faire Alcmena better match did make Ioying his loue in likenesse more entire Three nights in one they say that for her sake He then did put her pleasures lenger to partake Twise was he seene in soaring Eagles shape And with wide wings to beat the buxome ayre Once when he with Asterie did scape Againe when as the Troiane boy so faire He snatcht from Ida hill and with him bare Wondrous delight it was there to behould How the rude Shepheards after him did stare Trembling through feare least down he fallen should And often to him calling to take surer hould In Satyres shape Antiopa he snatcht And like a fire when he Aegin ' assayd A shepheard when Mnemosyne he catcht And like a Serpent to the Thracian mayd Whiles thus on earth great Ioue these pageaunts playd The winged boy did thrust into his throne And scoffing thus vnto his mother sayd Lo now the heauens obey to me alone And take me for their Ioue whiles Ioue to earth is gone And thou faire Phoebus in thy colours bright Wast there enwouen and the sad distresse In which that boy thee plonged for despight That thou bewray'dst his mothers wantonnesse When she with Mars was meynt in ioyfulnesse For thy he thrild thee with a leaden dart To loue faire Daphne which thee loued lesse Lesse she thee lou'd then was thy iust desart Yet was thy loue her death her death was thy smart So louedst thou the lusty Hyacinct So louedst thou the faire Coroxis deare Yet both are of thy haplesse hand extinct Yet both in flowres do liue and loue thee beare The one a Paunce the other a sweet breare For griefe whereof ye mote haue liuely seene The God himselfe rending his golden heare And breaking quite his gyrlond euer greene With other signes of sorrow and impatient teene Both for those two and for his owne deare sonne The sonne of Climene he did repent Who bold to guide the charet of the Sunne Himselfe in thousand peeces fondly rent And all the world with flashing fier brent So like that all the walles did seeme to flame Yet cruell Cupid not herewith content Forst him eftsoones to follow other game And loue a Shepheards daughter for his dearest Dame He loued Isse for his dearest Dame And for her sake her cattell fed a while And for her sake a cowheard vile became The seruant of Admetus cowheard vile Whiles that from heauen he suffered exile Long were to tell each other louely fit Now like a Lyon hunting after spoile Now like a Hag now like a faulcon flit All which in that faire arras was most liuely writ Next vnto him was Neptune pictured In his diuine resemblance wondrous lyke His face was rugged and his hoarie hed Dropped with brackish deaw his three-forkt Pyke He stearnly shooke and therewith fierce did stryke The raging billowes that on euery syde They trembling stood and made a long broad dyke That his swift charet might haue passage wyde Which foure great Hippodames did draw in temewise tyde His sea-horses did seeme to snort amayne And from their nosethrilles blow the brynie streame That made the sparckling waues to smoke agayne And flame with gold but the white fomy creame Did shine with siluer and shoot forth his beame The God himselfe did pensiue seeme and sad And hong adowne his head as he did dreame For priuy loue his brest empierced had Ne ought but deare Bisaltis ay could make him glad He loued eke Iphimedia deare And Aeolus faire daughter Arne hight For whom he turnd him selfe into a Steare And fed on fodder to beguile her sight Also to win Deucalions daughter bright Her turnd him selfe into a Dolphin fayre And like a winged horse he tooke his flight To snaly-locke Medusa to repayre On whom he got faire Pegasus that flitteth in the ayre Next Saturne was but who would euer weene That sullein Saturne euer weend to loue Yet loue is sullein and Saturnlike seene As he did for Erigone it proue That to a Centaure did him selfe transmoue So proou'd it eke that gracious God of wine When for to compasse Philliras hard loue He turnd himselfe into a fruitfull vine And into her faire bosome made his grapes decline Long were to tell the amorous assayes And gentle pangues with which he maked meeke The mighty Mars to learne his wanton playes How oft for Venus and how often eek For many other Nymphes he sore did shreek With womanish teares and with vnwarlike smarts Priuily moystening his horrid cheek There was he painted full of burning darts And many wide woundes launched through his inner parts Ne did he spare so cruell was the Elfe His owne deare mother ah why should he so Ne did he spare sometime to pricke himselfe That he might tast the sweet consuming woe Which he had wrought to many others moe But to declare the mournfull Trage dyes And spoiles wherewith he all the ground did strow More eath to number with how many eyes High heauen beholds sad louers nightly theeueryes Kings Queenes Lords Ladies Knights Damzels gent Were heap'd together with the vulgar sort And mingled with the raskall rablement Without respect of person or of port To shew Dan Cupids powre and great effort And round about a border was entrayld Of broken bowes and arrowes shiuered short And a long bloudy riuer through them rayld So liuely and so like that liuing sence it fayld And at the vpper end of that faire rowme There was an Altar built of pretious stone Of passing valew and of great renowme On which there stood an Image all alone Of massy gold which with his owne light shone And wings it had with sundry colours dight More sundry colours then the proud Pauone Beares in his boasted fan or Iris bright When her discolourd bow she
they had seene and heard her doome a rights Against Duessa damned by them all But by her tempred without griefe or gall Till strong constraint did her thereto enforce And yet euen then ruing her wilfull fall With more then needfull naturall remorse And yeelding the last honour to her wretched corse During all which those knights continu'd there Both doing and receiuing curtesies Of that great Ladie who with goodly chere Them entertayn'd fit for their dignities Approuing dayly to their noble eyes Royall examples of her mercies rare And worthie paterns of her clemencies Which till this day mongst many liuing are Who them to their posterities doe still declare Amongst the rest which in that space befell There came two Springals of full tender yeares Farre thence from forrein land where they did dwell To seeke for succour of her and of her Peares With humble prayers and intreatfull teares Sent by their mother who a widow was Wrapt in great dolours and in deadly feares By a strong Tyrant who inuaded has Her land and slaine her children ruefully alas Her name was Belgae who in former age A Ladie of great worth and wealth had beene And mother of a frutefull heritage Euen seuenteene goodly sonnes which who had seene In their first flowre before this fatall teene Them ouertooke and their faire blossomes blasted More happie mother would her surely weene Then famous Niobe before she tasted Latonaes childrens wrath that all her issue wasted But this fell Tyrant through his tortious powre Had left her now but fiue of all that brood For twelue of them he did by times deuoure And to his Idols sacrifice their blood Whylest he of none was stopped nor withstood For soothly he was one of matchlesse might Of horrible aspect and dreadfull mood And had three bodies in one wast empight And th' armes and legs of three to succour him in fight And sooth they say that he was borne and bred Of Gyants race the sonne of Geryon He that whylome in Spaine so sore was dred For his huge powre and great oppression Which brought that land to his subiection Through his three bodies powre in one combynd And eke all strangers in that region Arryuing to his kyne for food assynd The fayrest kyne aliue but of the fiercest kynd For they were all they say of purple hew Kept by a cowheard hight Eurytion A cruell carle the which all strangers slew Ne day nor night did sleepe t' attend them on But walkt about them euer and anone With his two headed dogge that Orthrus hight Orthrus begotten by great Typhaon And foule Echidna in the house of night But Hercules them all did ouercome in fight His sonne was this Geryoneo hight Who after that his monstrous father fell Vnder Alcides club streight tooke his flight From that sad land where he his syre did quell And came to this where Belge then did dwell And flourish in all wealth and happinesse Being then new made widow as befell After her Noble husbands late decesse Which gaue beginning to her woe and wretchednesse Then this bold Tyrant of her widowhed Taking aduantage and her yet fresh woes Himselfe and seruice to her offered Her to defend against all forrein foes That should their powre against her right oppose Whereof she glad now needing strong defence Him entertayn'd and did her champion chose Which long he vsd with carefull diligence The better to confirme her fearelesse confidence By meanes whereof she did at last commit All to his hands and gaue him soueraine powre To doe what euer he thought good or fit Which hauing got he gan forth from that howre To stirre vp strife and many a Tragicke stowre Giuing her dearest children one by one Vnto a dreadfull Monster to deuoure And setting vp an Idole of his owne The image of his monstrous parent Geryone So tyrannizing and oppressing all The woefull widow had no meanes now left But vnto gratious great Mercilla call For ayde against that cruell Tyrants theft Ere all her children he from her had reft Therefore these two her eldest sonnes she sent To seeke for succour of this Ladies gieft To whom their sute they humbly did present In th' hearing of full many Knights and Ladies gent. Amongst the which then fortuned to bee The noble Briton Prince with his braue Peare Who when he none of all those knights did see Hastily bent that enterprise to heare Nor vndertake the same for cowheard feare He stepped forth with courage bold and great Admyr'd of all the rest in presence there And humbly gan that mightie Queene entreat To graunt him that aduenture for his former feat She gladly graunted it then he straight way Himselfe vnto his iourney gan prepare And all his armours readie dight that day That nought the morrow next mote stay his fare The morrow next appear'd with purple hayre Yet dropping fresh out of the Indian fount And bringing light into the heauens fayre When he was readie to his steede to mount Vnto his way which now was all his care and count Then taking humble leaue of that great Queene Who gaue him roiall giftes and riches rare As tokens of her thankefull mind beseene And leauing Artegall to his owne care Vpon his voyage forth he gan to fare With those two gentle youthes which him did guide And all his way before him still prepare Ne after him did Artigall abide But on his first aduenture forward forth did ride It was not long till that the Prince arriued Within the land where dwelt that Ladie sad Whereof that Tyrant had her now depriued And into moores and marshes banisht had Out of the pleasant soyle and citties glad In which she wont to harbour happily But now his cruelty so sore she drad That to those fennes for fastnesse she did fly And there her selfe did hyde from his hard tyranny There he her found in sorrow and dismay All solitarie without liuing wight For all her other children through affray Had hid themselues or taken further flight And eke her selfe through sudden strange affright When one in armes she saw began to fly But when her owne two sonnes she had in sight She gan take hart and looke vp ioyfully For well she wist this knight came succour to supply And running vnto them with greedy ioyes Fell straight about their neckes as they did kneele And bursting forth in teares Ah my sweet boyes Sayd she yet now I gin new life to feele And feeble spirits that gan faint and reele Now rise againe at this your ioyous sight Alreadie seemes that fortunes headlong wheele Begins to turne and sunne to shine more bright Then it was wont through comfort of this noble knight Then turning vnto him And you Sir knight Said she that taken haue this toylesome paine For wretched woman miserable wight May you in heauen immortall guerdon gaine For so great trauell as you doe sustaine For other meede may hope for none of mee To whom nought else but bare life
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
loathly hands Or else abide the death that hard before you stands The villaine stayd not aunswer to inuent But with his yron club preparing way His mindes sad message backe vnto him sent The which descended with such dreadfull sway That seemed nought the course thereof could stay No more then lightening from the lofty sky Ne list the Knight the powre thereof assay Whose doome was death but lightly slipping by Vnwares defrauded his intended destiny And to requite him with the like againe With his sharpe sword he fiercely at him flew And strooke so strongly that the Carle with paine Saued him selfe but that he there him slew Yet sau'd not so but that the bloud it drew And gaue his foe good hope of victory Who therewith flesht vpon him set anew And with the second stroke thought certainely To haue supplyde the first and paide the vsury But Fortune aunswerd not vnto his call For as his hand was heaued vp on hight The villaine met him in the middle fall And with his club bet backe his brondyron bright So forcibly that with his owne hands might Rebeaten backe vpon him selfe againe He driuen was to ground in selfe despight From whence ere he recouery could gaine He in his necke had set his foote with fell disdaine With that the foole which did that end awayte Came running in and whilest on ground he lay Laide heauy hands on him and held so strayte That downe he kept him with his scornefull sway So as he could not weld him any way The whiles that other villaine went about Him to haue bound and thrald without delay The whiles the foole did him reuile and flout Threatning to yoke them tow tame their corage stout As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde By strength haue ouerthrowne a stubborne steare They downe him hold and fast with cords do bynde Till they him force the buxome yoke to beare So did these two this Knight oft tug and teare Which when the Prince beheld there standing by He left his lofty steede to aide him neare And buckling soone him selfe gan fiercely fly Vppon that Carle to saue his friend from ieopardy The villaine leauing him vnto his mate To be captiu'd and handled as he list Himselfe addrest vnto this new debate And with his club him all about so blist That he which way to turne him scarcely wist Sometimes aloft he layd sometimes alow Now here now there and oft him neare he mist So doubtfully that hardly one could know Whether more wary were to giue or ward the blow But yet the Prince so well enured was With such huge strokes approued oft in fight That way to them he gaue forth right to pas Ne would endure the daunger of their might But wayt aduantage when they downe did light At last the caytiue after long discourse When all his strokes he saw auoyded quite Resolued in one t' assemble all his force And make one end of him without ruth or remorse His dreadfull hand he heaued vp aloft And with his dreadfull instrument of yre Thought sure haue pownded him to powder soft Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre But Fortune did not with his will conspire For ere his stroke attayned his intent The noble childe preuenting his desire Vnder his club with wary boldnesse went And smote him on the knee that neuer yet was bent It neuer yet was bent ne bent it now Albe the stroke so strong and puissant were That seem'd a marble pillour it could bow But all that leg which did his body beare It crackt throughout yet did no bloud appeare So as it was vnable to support So huge a burden on such broken geare But fell to ground like to a lumpe of durt Whence he assayd to rise but could not for his hurt Eftsoones the Prince to him full nimbly stept And least he should recouer foote againe His head meant from his shoulders to haue swept Which when the Lady saw she cryde amaine Stay stay Sir Knight for loue of God abstaine For that vnwares ye weetlesse doe intend Slay not that Carle though worthy to be slaine For more on him doth then him selfe depend My life will by his death haue lamentable end He staide his hand according her desire Yet nathemore him suffred to arize But still suppressing gan of her inquire What meaning mote those vncouth words comprize That in that villaines health her safety lies That were no might in man nor heart in Knights Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize Yet heauens them selues that fauour feeble rights Would for it selfe redresse and punish such despights Then bursting forth in teares which gushed fast Like many water streames a while she stayd Till the sharpe passion being ouerpast Her tongue to her restord then thus she sayd Nor heauens nor men can me most wretched mayd Deliuer from the doome of my desart The which the God of loue hath on me layd And damned to endure this direfull smart For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious hart In prime of youthly yeares when first the flowre Of beauty gan to bud and bloosme delight And nature me endu'd with plenteous dowre Of all her gifts that pleasde each liuing sight I was belou'd of many a gentle Knight And sude and sought with all the seruice dew Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight And to the dore of death for sorrow drew Complayning out on me that would not on them rew But let them loue that list or liue or die Me list not die for any louers doole Ne list me leaue my loued libertie To pitty him that list to play the foole To loue my selfe I learned had in schoole Thus I triumphed long in louers paine And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine But all is now repayd with interest againe For loe the winged God that woundeth harts Causde me be called to accompt therefore And for reuengement of those wrongfull smarts Which I to others did inflict afore Addeem'd me to endure this penaunce sore That in this wize and this vnmeete array With these two lewd companions and no more Disdaine and Scorne I through the world should stray Till I haue sau'd so many as I earst did slay Certes sayd then the Prince the God is iust That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile For were no law in loue but all that lust Might them oppresse and painefully turmoile His kingdome would continue but a while But tell me Lady wherefore doe you beare This bottle thus before you with such toile And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare That for these Carles to carry much more comely were Here in this bottle sayd the sory Mayd I put the teares of my contrition Till to the brim I haue it full defrayd And in this bag which I behinde me don I put repentaunce for things past and gon Yet is the bottle leake and bag so torne That all which I put in fals out