badly met The chastest Vestall liu'd no chaster life Then did this Lady yet he still did fret A strangers looke would set them both at strife He thinks she doth her vowed loue forget Which made her weary of her prison'd breath And with a sword her soule vnburdeneth Her ghost embrued in that crimson gore Still plaines to Rhadamant with ceaseles cry For fierce reuenge to make him once deplore That wrought her that accursed misery Who deeply moued wild her weepe no more And bad reuenge vnto the earth to fly Where he should get him still desired food Of cruell torments and new issuing blood Now hath he got this fained penitent To play the pageant of his plotted ill Who though she seemeth inly to repent Yet sinnes abyssus there remaineth still The filthy dregges of shame whose noysome sent VVith poysened humors shall her louer fill But since his heart a woing needes must goe I le leaue him to his woing and his woe Now change thy Myrtle for a Cypresse bow Put on thy mourning weedes come mourne my Muse VVith Ebon dye vailing thy smiling brow Loth would I tell it yet I cannot chuse And t is too late to helpe thy losses now Floods of my teares cannot thy ioy reduce Ah good Sir Aidon whose vntimely fate Makes me to mourne euen fast by pleasures gate After this Knight returnde with victorie Into the country where he first was borne It chanced as he did arriue full nie His castle day was fled and double horne Of Cynthia gan aduance their tops full hie VVhen wearines their limmes had much for worne And the Sunnes scorching now ore-passed heate VVith labour made their panting hearts to beate But now a Christal well they haue espide In whose cleere streames beauties fayre looking glasse Phoebe when in her circuit she did ride VVould ioy to see the glorie of her face VVhere they alight and by the fountaine side Doe lay them downe vpon the pleasant grasse And while they harke how Zephire soft doth sing A murmur to their eares these words doth bring You goodly boughs of youth which proudly beare Your climing tops vnto the smiling ayre Thinke how fierce winter shall your garments teare And with his stormes ore-shadow all your fayre The goodliest vesture which you ere shall weare Times aged feathers basely shall impayre Your ioy the mornings smile but sable night Shall drowne in sorrowes floods your most delight The worlds great pride shall haue a greater fall Vncertaine men haue no possession sure He that is neerest death is best of all The lesser troubles hath he to endure He that doth sit attirde in princely pall Cannot the purchase of one day procure When our ioyes Sunne from Tethis waues doth wade T is signe there was and shall againe be shade Therefore thou body which dost pine away VVhich age hath furrow'd with his iron plow Reioyce that thou shalt see that glorious day VVhose bright Sunnes Chariot shall not downward bow But lighten beames which black night doth obay So chainde she neuer can from darkenes glow And while thou drawest this thy fainting breath VVeepe for to wash thy sinnes not for thy death This mournfull voyce with hoarce and hollow sound Sayled full gently to their listning eares VVhose noyse that did from out the caue rebound Brought to their stonied hearts affrighting feares At last by earnest thought the Knight hath found VVhat wracked wight this dolefull musick beares And knew that this his mother deare had beene Grieuing her woe and not her selfe is seene Distracted quight about the place he goes Like Bacchus priests whom holy Thyrse had raught But now the sound with crying he doth lose And with the sound the place so much he saught But then he thinks some wicked forraine foes His castle haue and her both captiue caught Therefore vnto the Castle he doth flie As one intranced in an extasie He fiercely knocks against the castle gate He knocks againe as fury doth him driue At last one comes and cryes who dares thus late VVith troubling noyse hither to ariue No sooner saw he him but vrgde with hate VVith which his passions doe all vainely striue He with a mighty blow stroke at his head Thinking euen then t' haue sent his soule to bed The other voyding drew his fiery blade And here quoth he goe to thy mothers ghost His mothers loued name such entry made As he for thought thereof gan faint almost In which deepe traunce he doth the Knight inuade And stroke him deepely to the vtmost cost Downe falls the Knight as if he dead had bin The other left him so and entred in After Viceina softly followeth At last she comes where she doth weeping view The mournfull picture of vngentle death Nor doth she looke vpon his plight to rue But with a linnen closely couereth The wound and doth a litle life renew VVhere helped by the stopping of his blood He went with her vnto a ioyning wood Yet knowes he not how this vngentle deede VVas wrought nor who abusde his mothers right It was a bloody man that did exceede In furious wrath each word would make him fight Yet mighty was he and his happy speede Causde him of any foes to make but light And still his iawes like smoaky Orcus caue VVould reeke forth othes when he did curse and raue This furious Aiax when the drowsie night Had couerd all things with her pitchy vaile Comes to this castle where he doth alight And cries for entry but his cry doth faile Then swelling deepe with rage and great despight The gates with violence he doth assaile VVhich broken downe he takes the sleeping Nun And shuts her in a caue and roules a stone vpon But now good Aidon like the dying swan Knew that the time of death approached neere Therefore to sing sweet tunes he now began The tunes which please the great Creators eare The cruell fates haue burnt the liuely bran VVith whose consuming breath and life doth weare Cruell Althea death rest of vnrest Leauing the earth-wormes carrying hence the best But as his eyes had almost rolde the last To him his mothers shadow doth appeare Quoth she reioyce thou soule worlds woe is past This burden now no longer shalt thou beare Our liues account in heauens booke is cast Throw hence earths cloake and follow me my deare This heard he fix'th his standing eyes on hye His winged ghost to heauens bower doth flye As fayre Creusa in consumed Troy Fled from Aeneas lifted in the ayre Rauisht with heauens ouer-pleasing ioy And left him crying in his loues despayre Freed from these troubles and the worlds annoy So hath this ghost now set in starry chayre Left her that with the shrilnes of her cry Pierced resisting ayre and stroake the sky The greatest woe that heart did euer beare With grisly tallants gripeth on her soule Sorrow her inward parts doth fiercely teare And in griefes couer doth her heart enroule And when the least relenting doth appeare Then
in silence passe our silent dayes No ill on earth nor sorrow after death VVe feare not enuious tongues nor black disprayse VVhile they though soothed in this liuely breath After their time are punisht many wayes Each swelling heart his hate vnburdeneth And wisheth that the earth may heauy lie And presse them deeply with her grauitie Thus passing foorth a rufull sight they view VVhere many hung vpon a crossing tree O these quoth they no more earths woe shall rew Thrise happie easde of mortall miserie VVe haue a mightie Ocean yet anew Through which our tossed ships to port must flie Brought to the summe of great felicitie Further they goe when comes a down-cast wight VVhose face the Sunne had dide with sunnie black O friends quoth he and can you take delight On earth while heau'ns great pleasures you doe lack Come come each man breath vp his ending spright Before foule sin it driue to deadly wrack Send vp to heauen a soule ere sin it get Intangled in his nere-dissolued net O cease quoth they to make an ouerflow Ouer the bounds of our ny-drowned mindes This worlds vncertaintie we well doe know VVho so seekes ought nought but despayre he findes And these our earthly bodies sinking low In mancipate of shame our soules doe binde Our Sunne with clowds is darkned in the rise The noone is black but brightest when he dyes Since then the fates our meeting thus ordaind Let vs not seeke to teach what each doth see But let him happiest be most soules that gaind Franchising them to immortalitie Here will we tell how that the soule is paind Laden with earthly things not euer free Before the bodies seruice they reiect And here we 'le counsell them to that effect Agreed they fram'd full many a wooden crosse And digd vp pooles and many other wayes VVhen they perswade them to this gaining losse The worlds losse gaine which gaine our soule imbayes In happy rest where neuer tempests tosse But sweet content our soules in quiet layes VVhere Aeol dares not foorth his seruants send VVhere ending wo woes heire doth neuer end CANT 5. The Hermite tels Asotus Tragedie His wicked deeds and filthie luparie And Cipribel there learnes felicitie But Erofel still plagues with crueltie Pirinoes souls whose craft when they had found They stript her clothes and to the steed her bound HAples that wight within whose bowels lye The deep-drencht poysons of vncured vice Not any Antidote can helpe apply To whose soules cure no leach-art will suffice But tossed in the waues from any eye Payes desperate his soules vnmatched price But happy they awake from sleepe of night To see the blessed dayes thought-chearing light Which seld seene blisse new-changed Cipribel Hath by her gentle-smiling fortune gaind So they that in a parfum'd house doe dwell The parfum'd odour afterlong retaind And wicked chaind with those that vse doe well Haue from their wicked customes soone refraind The horse whose back the tamer oft bestrides At length with easie pace full gently rides After the Giant-fight when downe he threw The filthie sonnes which Aloâ—us bare And those same monsters great Themistos flew Spoyling those wolues which all the passers tare From their black mansions he his seete withdrew And with the Ladies in his way doth fare Freeing each wretch from his vnworthie paine Restoring them vnto their rest againe At length they past where they all wondring spide A little rocky forme whence did arise A fruitfull issuing streame that still did slide From out the hollow stone in ample wise Fast by a little cabinet they eyde Whither desirous of some nouelties They goe enquiring what these things mought bee Which they so strange and neuer-heard did see VVhen by a crany there they silent view An old age-worne-out father that with beades Praying full deeply seem'd some gift to sue Of the great king when still he earnest reades And letting downe his beades sayes prayer new Thus he his life 's cold Autumne-yeares doth leade Nor caring for the world nor wordly wealth But his beloued soules beloued health When streight Themistos Sir without offence If tell you may pray tell the mysterie Of yonder stone and if oft recompence Can quite I pray my kindnes proue and trie Sir your request quoth he doth grieue my sence With new memoriall of this historie Yet though each word doe bring with him a teare You shall my storie and sad fortune heare VVeeping and speaking thus the mourner sayes VVhere now vast rudenes shewes her rugged face Here on these plaines shone in the former dayes The stateliest walls that ere with glories grace Send to the world their fayre prospectiue rayes The place to them gaue worth they to the place That twixt both worths farre worthiest they were seene O that as once they were they now had beene Here dwelt vnworthie farre here for to dwell My brother why should I him brother call Asotus height that nere-recured fell Into the snares of vice O haples fall Nothing but luxurie did please him well Drinking and feasting and consuming all His belly was the ship whereto he set All marchandize that he could euer get Like to the yawning mouth of vgly Diâ— That euer gapes still hungry for his pray Where sinking downe into the black Abysse The pained soules their sinnes deare tribute pay Such was the neuer-satiat gulfe of his Wherein still soules of beasts he fresh did lay VVhen to extinguish his thirsts raging fire VVhole haruests he of prest-grapes doth require Once when the Sunne began for to release His teames all weary with their daily paine Came by a godly father whom he prayes His castles lodging for a night to daigne Though loth he were so much to yeeld to ease Yet by requests here now he will remaine In is he gone to take his nightly rest Meaning to lodge within this Pythoes nest Hunger the vulture that on euery maw Bites with her meager teeth her wombe to fill Bids them to yeeld to common natures law And satisfie her not resisted will The father who before then neuer saw The dish where rawish blood downe did distill But Pythagorean like with gardens fed VVonders to see so many creatures dead Fie shame quoth he to kill the harmeles beast That with his fleece maintaines our vestiment And with this bloodie meate to make a feast VVhich nature made for a more good intent VVhat hath the oxe deseru'd that still opprest VVith heauie yoke in paine his yeares hath spent Or what the sheepe the sheepe that innocent VVhich neuer cryes for slaughter vp ypent Sauing your tale quoth he and taking wine Asotus in a full carouse doth swill But he whose grieued heart doth much repine To see him with those bloodie meates to fill His rau'ning panch goes forward to diuine Telling that for his soule this feast was ill Who in deepe hell for penance long shall fast Guiltie to thinke vpon his pleasure past Thus long he spoke when downe Asotus lyes Whom deep-fetcht
vphoue And grifly darknes doth on earth encroach The weary Sunne his wagon doth remoue Seeing the vgly night so neere approach That from the furnace of her sooty throte Forth foggy vapours and black smoke vpshote Still Bellamy vnluckie chance doth feare VVarned with fatall noyse of nightly foule Now doth she seeme sweet Amians voyce to heare Yeelding the lowly present of his soule Vnto his maker when her heart doth reare A swelling sigh his fortune to condole The mournfull presage of some euill hap As lightning flames before a thunder-clap Thus in sad thought the silent night is spent VVhen Phoebus gan vpreare his firy crest And had the easterne heauen with flames ybrent VVhen streight doth Amian leaue his quiet rest And armed to the place appoynted went VVhere nine strong Knights that enmitie profest He with his speare dismounted to the ground VVhere with disgrace an humble seate they found Like to a loftie ranke of Cedar trees VVhen Aeolus is kindled deepe with rage And with a whirlwing vp from earth he frees Their riuen rootes now layd in equipage VVith baser shrubs while to the heauen flees The roring noyse ypent in iron cage Of tumbling vapours that doe scoure the ayre Inuested highly in a clowdy chayre Now Bellamies good heart for ioy doth dance Driuing forth stormes of sorrow and of care VVhen the tenth Knight his speare did high aduance That ouer al his armour Cypres ware Shadowing with clowdes of griefe his countenance VVho now towards the Knight his palfrey bare VVhere meeting with a hideous shiuering stroke Their yelding speares in sprinkled dust they broke On foote they try what thus on horse doth faile Each other driuing with a deadly blow And with their weapons kisse the splitted maile Which riuen gushing blood in streames doth throw While now or neuer meaning to preuaile Sir Amian droue vnto his riuall foe And with his sword his intrals doth vnclose Whose soule vp fled his earthly bowels doth lose Viewing the sword wherewith his riuall fought That on it written had his fathers name Whom with a charme from vnknowne land he brought He cuest himselfe with much vnworthie blame That he this wofull Tragedie had wrought For well he knew his brother was the fame Whom with his wretched might he thus had slaine To whom his father gaue that hurtfull gaine Now horror ringeth in his grieued soule And guilt of thought that he his brother flew VVhere fearfull fight his rest doth deepe controle Wherefore vnto his palfrey he withdrew And doth to none his inward griefe vnrole But to the woods all solitarie flew Banishing any thought of pleasing mirth Or any ioy which lighteth on the earth In leauy shadowes and in bushie brakes He with the wood-doue grones for pinching woe Sometimes in hand his cursed sword he takes But streight his sword he from his hand doth throw Now in a bush a hollow nest he makes From whence he swares his feete shall neuer goe Each little glimse of light his soule doth shun And in despayre to headlong death doth run But how fayre Bellamy doth rue his case Plaining and seeking him that her forgat Is deeply grauen in her parched face Which doth not lighten as it did of late Earth-brightning beames of neuer-matched grace But frowning with the force of angrie fate Downe drooping doth she close her folded eyes Drowning themselues in their owne Nectaries And euery where to seeke him out she sends Whom neuer shall againe her eyes behold Wherefore despayring now her thoughts she bends Fixt on th'ldea of his heauenly mold And to her minde that only food she lends While from her body rest she doth withhold And still her beautie doth consuming pine Wasting those torches which are so diuine Like as the sweetest Querister of Night VVhen rau'ning fowle berest her of her young VVhile Phoebe sends from high her clowdy light Vnto the Moone in chanting tunes she sung That rauishing the trauailer with delight Made him bewaile the birds disproferd wrong So doth each eye lament this wofull plaint VVhich beautie makes while she in woe doth faint But O my pen transforme thy swanny face And in eternall streames my inck shall weepe Driue madly downe thy coach in tumbly pace O thou which heauens mightie lights dost keepe That neuer beames may brighten any place Since she in neuer-ending dreame doth sleepe O Bellamy that now vntimely dyes And in sad tombe deaths cruell triumph lyes The fearfull thought of her deare loued Knight Eats on her heart consuming vitall heat That taking in the world not lest delight She with her hands that softest breast doth beat And vexeth still with griefe her wofull spright VVho weary of so much vneasie seat To heauen on her snowy pineons fled VVherein Ioues breast she layes her quiet head Now came the Knights that dwelt remoued farre To see the buriall of this Angel wight The Sunne arose with his low drooping carre To see though grieu'd to see that wofull sight And Pirin with the dame ariued are And Cypribel her tombe forsaketh quight Prepar'd all to doe honour to her graue The latest honour now her corps could haue Where with such rites as loue and wit deuise VVhich might renew a storie to expresse She was entombed in most glorious wise Accompanide with number numberlesse VVhile fountaines ouerflow the Dukes sad eyes That now for lack of teares to weepe doe cease Faine would he in her armes his death-bed see That in two heauens he and his soule might bee But enuious fates resist his louing will VVho doe command his soule here to remaine VVhere with lamenting noyse she plaineth still Yet neuer can her plaints bring back againe That soule which mounted on Olympus hill In sacred spirits and the Muses traine Singing soule-pleasing tunes her dayes doth spend VVhose musick and whose dayes haue neuer end And now ye heauens if euer Musick straine Issued from a concord-mouing spheare Then in a dolefull language helpe to plaine And mourning part in sorrowes consort beare For neuer shall you haue like cause againe For neuer may the like on earth appeare And for her death ring out a dolefull knell VVhile dewy teares at euery stroke distill And ye fayre Ladies in a pilgrimage Attiring blushing white in mourning black Vntill the world shall end his endles age Goe to her tombe and plaine her beauties wrack Raught from the earth by deaths vnsatiate rage And though your teares can neuer bring her back Kissing her tombe to Libitina pray The earth may easie on her bosome lay VVhere with the parbreake of vnclowded hell Night wraps in ruggy black the ayres darke face Still vomiting fro her defiled Cell The shadowy fumes that mought the light disgrace VVhile scriching Owles their fearfull stories tell Hoarsly complaining in that gloomy place Groning with hollow notes their dismall song VVhile trembling tunes to guiltie hearts they rung The wolues about that haples place doe cry And howling weepe for her that lieth slaine Sometimes in hollow fearfull harmony The Harpyes doe a dumpish consort straine Sometimes it seemes they see some passing by That on a beere a carkasse doe sustaine VVhile meager Death with hels vnchained hags Vpon her graue display their pitchie flags The Conclusion of all THese haue I sent vnto the Muses hearse Whose daies of honour now haue found an end To spread therewith this my latest verse Whom the vnworthie world too much offend Nor yet because some change-affecting braine Debas'th the Muses and their sacred hill Fault I my selfe as hauing writ in vaine Know he I only loue the Musicke skill But whether he delight in feates of armes Or prouder vaunt the glorie of his race Know he I feare not Martiall alarmes Nor yeeld a step his friendship to embrace Though now in shade I whisper to the winde And plaine the Muses can no harbour finde FINIS Ariost. cant 32. Alluding to Cyparrisus Medea
had mischief'd more The while that rout of mischief-tainted theeues Rouzing each other from their cabinets One puls the other by their venom'd sleeues And with more poyson all his hand be wets Which with more stings his egged conscience greeues That this their stay should interpose more lets At last all wak't all into counsell fall And which hurteth most that pleaseth all At length their Captaine Bonauallant hight Riseth from out their hellish counsell-house And takes a golden cup with pearles bedight And drinking to his mates a full carrouse Tels them let neuer danger you affright Nor let your harts great hils bring foorth a mouse But follow me that still haue happie beene The worser hap for some such hap was seene Then all arising like the studious Bees That for the golden hony follow fast Each hopes to gaine his serious labours fees And euery one doth scorne to follow last Least he his hoped fruits perhaps might leese Therefore each striues to make more speedie hast At length they come vnto this stately fort And each to mischief doth his friend exhort Eu'n as when good Aeneas crost the seas And Aeolus sent his whirling seruants out Neptune awaked from his nightly ease Calde all his Tritons and his guard about And counseld all the tumults to appease And be reueng'd on that vnruly rout So doe these rau'n-tongd birds of Plutoes quier Complot to spoyle that holy sleeping sier At last with violence and open force They brake the posternes of the Castle gate And entred spoyling all without remorce Nor could old Sobrin now resist his fate But stiffe with feare eu'n like a senceles corse Whom grisly terror doth so much amate He lyes supine vpon his fatall bed Expecting eu'ry minute to be dead While as Deuota his religious wife Sent prayers the sweet ambassadors to God The heralds to prepare a better life For now approacheth deaths deuasting rod Sharper then sharpest edge of keenest knife That with his stroke denyes lifes long aboad Which now is setled in these butchers hands That bound in chaines of sinne passe conscience bands Vp rushing now vnto the lodge they runne Striuing who first should worke this cruell deed Nor could their prayers stay what was begunne But still they prosecute with greater speed And long it seem'd before their fact was done So much did blood their hellish hunger feed That to inuent some kind of cruell death They added loathed respite to their breath At last one bellowed from his woluish throat This bloody doome the brat of sauage minde Quoth he Then let this old gray-haired goat Be set in graue aliue and there be pinde And to this varlet which for age doth dote To be beheaded only is assignde So is he buried ere his corps be dead And she with cruell blow parts from her head So haue I seene the chaste and purest doue Striken by cruell fowlers shiuering shot Disseuerd from her nere-forsaken loue Fall on the ground ere she her selfe had wot And with one spraule for sweetest liuing stroue But all her piteous strugling helpt her not So haue I seene that purest bird to dye As here doth this sweet carkasse mangled lye Now whiles this wicked pageant thus is playd Viceina daughter to this reuerend man Viewing these facts and of the like afrayd As fast as tender thighes transport her can Flyes comfortles and poore forsaken mayd Her looke with former terror pale and wan But her mis-haps when these black deeds are told In sequent lines more fit I will vnfold The house all ransackt and the coffers torne They found Sobrinus mayd Erona calde Whom Bonauallant thence would streight haue borne For she was fayre and then with feare appalde She added doule grace to that beforne Which with sharpe stings his burning stomack galde That with this ouerscorching passion fir'd To carry her closely thence he streight conspir'd But they whose eyes soule lawles lust had taught Moued with enuie at so faire a pray Told him that he false treacherie had wrought In seeking thus to steale the prize away Since it was common and in common caught He should vnto the common lawes obay Which is that what so ere by force was gaind Should to their common vse still be retaind But he whom beautie and these words commou'd Drew out his often-blood-embrewed sword And cryes here take the sport so much ye lou'd This lasse shall kisses to your lips afford And with that speech his mightie valour prou'd And cloue ones skull like to a riuen bord The second laying downe the ware he found Left ware and crased head vpon the-ground Their fellowes seeing this their mates mis-hap Left all their treasure and their gaines behinde And fearing some ensuing thunderclap In coward swiftnes do their safetie finde While he triumphing in this lucky hap Taught by the maid two coursers doth vnbind Which in a roome with mightie cords were tied And long had there laine still vnoccupied Then doth he set much sewell all about Encompassing the walls of all the towers And that no flame might quench the fier out He lightens all the wood-ingraued bowers Which ioyned to the wall full faire and stout And perisht quickly built in many howers While he and she in dawning of the day Mounted aloft and parted thence away The fuming vapors mount vnto the skie Where turned into teare-distilling raine They mourne their masters helples miserie Returning to the former seat againe But viewing there the spoyles of iniurie In trickling streames they mourne his torturing paine While raging Phoebus wrapt in duskie clowdes Angrie with fates his mantled visage shrowdes CANT 2. Viceina wanders all forlorne In middest darknes of the night But at the rising of the morne She meetes the wicked lustfull knight Whom once well knowen she defies Hating those sensuall vanities THus raignes deepe sacriledge and wicked armes Yspent in persecuting vertuous soules The fire is quencht which with his vigour warmes Distressed hearts now truth doth hide in hoales Afraid of falshoods terrifying alarmes Whose enuious force her sweetest rest controules Iustice from out the goared earth is flowne And left her vertues offspring all alone From which poore stock this sweet Viceina bred Wanders vnhappie virgin all forlorne Foule cares doe deadly wrack that blessed head Whose braine in streaming teares is much forworne For pitie that her steps are so mis-led In blackest night and cannot see the morne Yet still she hopes on that sweet Sunne of light Which leades her soule in all this earthly night At length the Mornings chariot climbd aloft Bringing sweet comfort to this pilgrim mayd The gratefull light which she so long had sought To guide her errant footsteps farre astrayd When viewing whither now her feete were brought Her sighing heart was drerily dismayd And sorrow surrow'd her sweet countenance With black remembrance of her sad mischance Yet still she moues in vnaccustom'd pace And meanes to try fatall misfortunes worst Plunged in various thoughts distorting case And tortur'd thus
valiance him draue And he was meeke to those that hated ill But to the wicked he was fearefull still This knight was moued by this damsels fame And with his mothers leaue departed thence Vowing by heauens-makers fearfull name As long as life should stay or liuely sence Not euer to returne from whence he came Before as signe of his beneuolence He shall salute this Lady face to face And with his armes that Saint-like Nymph embrace Thus purposde foorth he goes as errant knight In glistring armes yclad and mightie lance While vnder him in trappings gorgeous dight A sturdie courser all the way doth dance And as compacted of a liuely spright His trampling hoofes aloft he doth aduance And for aduentures armd in warlike wise He pricks his palsreys sides and forward tries But what great dangers in his weary way Or what he saw or did my Muse must passe For they would much my stories course delay Besides they are ingrau'd in during brasse By one who doth antiquitie bewray Writing what euer in that Iland was Let this suffice that he now iourneyes nye Vnto that place whereas this Dame doth lye But Night had spread her gloomy wings abroad Which forced thoughts of ease into his breast Therefore with swifter pace he faster road Hoping to get some place of gentle rest But while an easie gale vnto him blowd The sweetest sound that euer eare possest Which made him turne his horse toward the noyse At last he came where he had heard the voyce And askt if lodging for a Knight there were Quoth he that sung straight leaping from his seate None can approach fayre Sir more welcome here Then those that errant are whom knightly heare Enforc'th to seeke aduentures farre and neere And with this filed speech did worke deceit The Knight full glad he had a harbour found Dismounted straight and lighted to the ground But little did he thinke that fayrest mayd Was prisoner in this cell of riotise For this same castle where he now is stayd Is that where poore Viceina captiue lyes And sure they thought to haue this Knight betrayd But his sweet thought did frustrate their surmise Yet in this foolish hope vp was he led Into a chamber fairely Arrased Where after delicates and curious feast Full weary of his way and toylsome watch To pleasing sleepe his body he addrest Least during labour should him ouermatch When he no sooner setled him to rest But slumber in his sences seate did hatch Partly by toyle wherewith he now was sore Partly by Musick sounding at his dore Thus halfe her light fayre Cynthia had spent And he in sleepe had spent halfe Cynthias light Vntill a cry vnto his eare was sent Which did his tumbling sences all affright It seem'd to come from heart in peecesrent The wofull ofspring of a wretched wight But thus the plaint was form'd in dolefull sort Carrying vnto his eares a sad report Haples Viceina whom thy father lost Ynough tormented not though dearly lou'd Nor sad remembrance of thy mothers ghost Though she to teares mine eyes hath often mou'd Nor thine owne harme which grieueth others most Ynough thy hearts great patience hath prou'd But here dispoyld of sweet virginitie Thy spotted soule in vgly sinne shall dye But rather let the consort of dread Night Which sing sad notes before her chariot When she in progresse rides to chase the light Feare me before I take Sinnes filthy blot The scriching Owle race out my loathed sight Before it see that sight of wretched lot The rauens of darknes take my corse for pray That they may hide it from the blushing day And to those ghastly shades which haunt my soule And to the Night consenting to this ill My latest testament I will vnroule The dreery summe of my death-grauen will They shall my seruants be my bell to toule To ring the dolefull accents of my knill Death be the head and Shame shall be the next Then Night and Guilt which holds my heart perplext These on their damned backs shal beare my corse Vnto the funerall which is prepar'd My soule prouide thy selfe against remorse From hope of better death thou art debar'd For Sinne still threatens his vngentle force To wound thee deeply which had els been spar'd But till death come take solace in the Night For darkned soule there fits no better light This sayd a bitter sigh euapour'd out The sad conclusion of a sadder tale When gan the Knight his thoughts to stir about Pondring what wight thus lay in sorry bale But while he wauered in vncertaine doubt He soone vnto his troubled minde did call How that mayd had her selfe Viceina hight Wherewith he gan to burst with raging spight As Tereus in the banquet of his sonne When he a while his hungrie wombe had fed Knowing the bloodie mischiefe that was done And that he ate him whom before he bred Into a headlong rage along did runne And curs'th the liuing execrates the dead In such a furie was this knight distraught With thoughts of blood and vengeance fully fraught But well he could his raging sences tame And thought this time was not so fit to get The freedome of this soule-diseased dame The night and sudden noyse his deede would let Therefore he rested till the morning came When to this act himselfe he ready set And watcht to see the Lady of his loue That from this feare he might her soule remoue But he not long had sought the Lady fayre Ere he had spide where as that lozell mate Walkt with her in the garden for the ayre And he of lust and filthie sinne did prate The Knight went straight vnto that louing payre Not able longer to refraine his hate When she straight blusht to see her selfe alone Except this villaine compani'd of none Then lightned with reuenge thus gan the Knight Thou foulest shame of all that breath this ayre How dar'st thou to abuse this sacred wight Inclosing her in den of black dispayre Either defend thy deede in martiall fight Or els here dye my minde can like no prayer Her champion I and Aidon is my name Thou or thy kind that dare defend the same But streight he quailing sunke vnto the ground For he of warre before had neuer heard The name of death straight cast him in a swound His heart did pant he was so much afeard The while Sir Aidon gaue a deadly wound Vnto his heart that all the ground besmeard With filthie blood his foulest pleasures price The nourishment of his vngodly vice His soule sunke downe gnashing for furious mad That she should lose the pleasures of her bower Repining at the cursed fate she had Thus to be banisht in vnlookt for hower This while the Knight vnto that Lady sad Told why and whence he came who thankt that power Whose prouidence preuented her mis-hap Sheelding her soule from deaths fierce thunderclap But thence departing to the hall they went Where mingled wanton troopes of either kinde Dallied together
arise And once both fayre and happie was this strand But now the renting earthquakes of debate Shake Atlas pillars which vpholde the state This City Bdella calde and he that raines Is Aimaran the cruelst wight aliue His soule doth leape to view his subiects paynes And when his Taxers doe great heapes contriue Of subiects riches and extorted gaines Then doth his soule into his port ariue Like rauens that on carkasses doe feede And glut their corps full glad while others bleede But furious hate had with his egging sting Commou'd them to the feeling of their woe And straight the Commons fall a counsailing How they their heauy yoke might from them throw And in some bounds this bloody deluge bring Least it should shortly make an ouer-flow And driue this Waspe from out their hony-nest Before his tyrannie consume the rest These murmuring conuents came to Midas eares For what from Kings and Potentates are hid But dismall horror in his heart appeares An hundred gardians he about doth bid And parasites whose troope the State downe teares Foule wormes which neuer yet a crowne could rid While he at rushing of each moued straw Thinks he an host of armed foemen saw The guilt of conscience doth his thoughts torment Feare is immured in his rented skin It seemes here doth a ghost it selfe present And houering aske where all his kinsfolks bin There one who cryes out blood and dreeriment And Tisiphon to plague him for his sin While horror in his eares deaths knill doth toule And deadly trembling graspeth on his soule It chanc'd this time that Phoebus wending downe And breathles driuing to his loued west Saw where in Thetis breasts softs-softest downe Neptune was taking his vnlawfull rest Phoebus thereat was wroth and gan to frowne And straight forswore his loues now lothed west Vowing with Tellus now should be his seate And she should feele the comfort of his heate Phoebus then timely rose and did embrace Fayre Tellus with the vigour of his rayes Who straight begun to spring and grow apace And hence it came that in these later dayes We haue our spring when Phoebus glorious face Begins to lengthen his protracted wayes And still this time remembring her offence He makes on earth his greater residence These dayes were come and Phoebus with his shine Doth make the solac't earth her fruits to bring Whose sight refresheth mens foredaunted eyne While tuning birds their sweetest carrols sing And naked trees their vestures doe refine Mou'd with this sight goes foorth a solacing The lustie youth and to his bonibell Each doth a lesson of the Summer tell Amongst the rest walks foorth a forlorne wight Euen like Heraclitus from whose moyst eyes Still-flowing teares notes of a grieued spright As welling fountaines fruitfully arise His head as scorning heauens most delight Looking still downward on his shoulder lyes As though his heart and troubled spirits haue His ioy intumulated in the graue Sometimes to heau'n he lookes and then he weepes For her sweet soule that to her rest is fled Vpon the ayre and then his eyes he steepes In flowing Oceans which by griefe are bred Vpon the earth then in a trance he sleepes And slumbring sinketh downe as carkasse dead But then some sence doth him recall againe In life to dye and liue in deadly paine But now a groane doth beate his hearkning eare And many tumblings issuing from below When straight he cryes O death thrice-welcome heare My yeares are ripe come downe them gently mow Giue end vnto the woe my heart doth teare And sweetest ease vpon my soule bestow With that he falls vnto the loued ground While ioyes his drowned heart doe deepe astound But then the ghost replies awake deare loue No death thy life and dearest wife I am VVhom tyrants hand from thee did once remoue Now doe I come for to reuenge the same Strike vp thy sences deare thy valour proue And when to him the Lady neerer came She gaue him armour which Achilles wore VVhen Hectors side with hideous stroke he tore And sayes here be the ransomes of my life That shall plead vengeance of the tyrants soule He at the name of his beloued wife Thrice ' ssayd within his armes her to enroule But thrice her flying ghost doth end the strife And doth his warring sences streight controule Farre flyes her soule escaping humane sight Like louring Falcon in her ayrie flight This was his loued spouse whom Aimaran Not yeelding to his lust causde to be slaine Dicaa was her name whom wicked man In sepulcher too timely doth detaine VVhen first her wofull husband hopeles ran Into despayre not daring to complaine And still lamenting all his dayes outweares Vpon her graue greene growing with his teares As one whom rauing Hecuba hath bit Whose blood corrupted with her venom'd tung Confounds his sences and amaz'th his wit And vncouth noyse that in his eare still-rung Casteth him downe in some outragious fit With such a fury was this mourner stung Despayre still howleth in his flagging eare Haunting his heart like ouer-hungry beare But now hath hope that sweet phisition Lifted the spirits which were farre deprest Infusing in a cordiall potion Solacing drops which worke eternall rest And driuing thence this mourning passion Inthroniz'th thoughts of Ire within his brest Whose sulphure kindled with a mounting fire Blow vengeance in his hearts contorted gire Foorth doth he march to the seditious campe Who only did expect some worthy head That might conduct them as their lights bright lampe Amidst warres darknes which are menaced Who when they saw him like a clowdy dampe That doth the vayled fields all ouer-spred So doe their troopes concurre from euery part As veniall blood vnto the liuely hart They haue agreed of placing euery wing Themistos is the Generall of the field They pitch their tents with ioy and reuelling And warlike bowers now apace they build And now black night her rusty coach doth bring Furthering with silence all euents they wild All things for battell readie are prepar'd The townsmen sleepe as they that nothing car'd The morne no sooner op'd her ruddy gate But straight a peale of Trumpetters doe sound To stirre their hearts with thoughts of hie debate Whose hate against their king might deepe rebound As Mandrakes cry a passer doth amate Striking his soule with irrecured wound So doth this noyse affright great Bdellaâ—s peeres To heare such musicke rattle in their eares Hark Aimaran how death with gastly cry Doth sound the knill of thy deserued fate Heare how the trumpet of thy destinie Looseth the bands of blood ennurtur'd hate That tingles in thine eares and bids thee die Yet stops deaths doores and shuts that loued gate Bellona howling from her bellowing caue Bids thee torment thy selfe and curse and raue Where shall thy haunted soule finde place of rest The heau'ns are darkned with the bloody smoke Of harmles Saints whose liues thy hands opprest Hell vapours ready are thy soule to choke In earth the shrikes of
alas The Giant O now whither shall I flie But soone toward him doth Thomistos passe And bids him cheare his wofull heart but he Refuseth any sparke of least delight And with his soule gainst comfort strong doth fight O what haue you to doe in dead mens graues Quoth he why trouble you what longs to death And hinder my repast as curses raues And sighs and teares which feede my lingring breath Sorrow within my breast round-vaulted caues Sings tunes which most my eares sweet rauisheth Goe fondlings to your haples wanton end I will on Griefe and blessed Death attend Then with a griping gnash he ends his tale As though an earthquake all his bow'ls did teare But him the Knight bespoke to tell his bale And who the authors of his sorrow were But he so shall I cause thee to bewaile And I grow worse for cursed hope may nere Take me from out my loued sorrowes bands For all my soule I yeeld into thy hands But since thou needs wilt draw my cursed chance I Algiger am calde that happie of yore Till fortune frownd with crabbed countenance But now ill luck downe all my triumphs bore Yonder two monsters did their strength aduance Against my house which fearfull ruin tore My friends are slaine and I am left alone To be and there he breathd a deadly grone Faine would the Knight more of his tale expresse But he to any earthly ioy was dead His soule entombed in deepe heauinesse Into a pleasing sensles dreame was led The Knight full greatly mou'd with his distresse Awakt him from his cares most vncouth bed But for no treasure that on earth doth lie Would he this Knight in way accompanie VVhere leauing him the Knight doth forward goe Seeking by any meanes the way to finde But soone he found it for all passers know VVith sad experience all that monstrous kinde For still they worke the countrie scath and woe Leauing each where sad notes of ruth behinde And now the Knight arriues vnto the place VVhere his great valour shall their force deface He knocks against the posternes of the gate VVhen streight foorth steps a beldam dry with age VVhen she the Knight espies then plung'd in hate Vnto her sonnes she runnes who all in rage Come foorth embrued with the spoyle which late They made for safely passe no carriage This find hath Policlopon to his name That Pantarpazon children of one dame Huge mighty corps they haue which like a tree March to and fro full gastly to behold Their heads with rau'nish iawes foule woluish bee Some say a diuell did their dame infold Other that with a wolfe lay vgly shee But how-soere all filthie is her mold Harpyia she well worthie such a brood At whose birth-time some hagge as midwife stood Now with the Knight the elder boy doth fight Yawning like Orcus iawes and gaping wide But at the first downe in his throte there pight The speares sharpe poynt which doth full deeply slide VVhen streight he parbreakes forth O lothsome sight Great filthie gobbets which doe vpward glide And rawish meate and flesh that yet did bleede The nourishment on which his vice did feede But then Harpya soule doth curse amaine VVhen as she sees him groueling on the ground And howles and raues and bids his brother gaine The full reuengement of that deadly wound He thought with meeting blow at first t' haue slaine The Knight auoyding downe it doth rebound The hideous beame wherewith this monster fought Into the groning earth full deepe is wrought VVhen nimbly he diuides his conduit-pipe Through which the Lerna of his sinne did flow It seem'd for Pluto now his soule was ripe VVith such a trice off doth his forhead goe The whining dame doth with her apron wipe His brothers throte thinking his life to slow But all the furies of infernall hell Long since within his damned corps doe dwell They thus captiu'd he takes that foggie fiend And strips her naked from her antique hew And to a spreader both her feete doth binde That she might neuer him nor his pursew And with a cord doth tye her hands behinde Thus is this haggard placed in her mew And to the scorching Sunne her face doth turne VVho with his beames doth her most feruent burne She with her curses gripes heau'ns highest seat Accusing them of her deserued paine And execrates the Sunne for sending heat Bidding him drench his steeds within the maine Then gainst the fearfull throane she foule doth bleat But all her plaints and curses are in vaine Her tortur'd soule to bloomy Ereb fell VVhile on her carkasse crowes and rauens dwell Here to his spoyles we 'le leaue this worthie Knight And follow Erofel that flies amaine Whom those two brethren did but now affright She to her former tricks returnes againe Seeking to worke fayre loue her foule despight And that she sooner might her end attaine In mans apparell she is fairly clad While womans skin and woluish heart she had Thus foorth she marched in her way alone But that consorted with deceit and guile And she in many Sunnes hath painfull gone But none she meets whom may her art beguile Further she trauailes still but now anon A voyce she heard that fits her plotted wile And thus it faintly beates the yeelding ayre Issuing from pangs of woe and deepe despayre Heart leaue to pine since pining cannot saue Soule loue not her that doth not loue thy loue Minde be no longer to that force a slaue That can deepe passions but no mercie moue You clowdes of sorrow no more issue haue This tree for all your watring will not proue For that fayre plant bout which your waters flow In midst of them all barren will not grow O she is sick with vnrecur'd disease That serpent foule disdaine her sharp doth sting And to the cure I proued many wayes Of my heart-blood I did a plaister bring And kept it warme with sighs and stroue to please And washt it with the wels of sorrowing My soules deare garden-plots I did reueale Yet by the chiefest herbs she will not heale But no I am diseasd here lyes the wound For when her beautie had the harts in chace Which in the pale of loue were seruants bound Then I not able to withdraw my pace My selfe by those her arrowes gored found Which fly from that fayre bow of her sweet face Yet though I feele the arrow in my hart It doth deny me leaue to breake the dart Therefore thus festring deepe in venom'd skin Since my liues Surgeon doth her helpe deny And all my sinewes are consum'd within No hope remaines on which I may rely After this death my soule no life shall win But in a second griefe shall ending dy So shall her cruell heart be fully pleasde My wounds embalmed and my passions easde These and more mournfull words still sighing deepe He breathed vainly to the sensles sky Which might haue brought a stony heart asleepe But Erofel arm'd with black crueltie Shutteth
draughts had ouer-nie opprest When streight the Sire from out the castles flyes Whence fled he falls vpon his humbled breast And zealous to the king of heauen cryes Turning his face vnto the darkned East Praying to shew some iudgement on his sin Before more soules this wicked vice might win No sooner hath he prayd but vanisht quite The old foundations of the ruinde walls Like to a bird that flieth from the fight And in some farre remoued valley falls Nothing appeares but this vngodly wight Who while for helpe all cursing deeply calls Into this stone was chang'd whence still arise New issuing streames of superfluities And here stay I that to the rising Sunne For that his soule full many prayers say Beginning still nor euer will haue done Vntill to rest his soule transport I may This said downe riuolets of teares doe run And streight all vehement begins to pray A ruthfull sight it was for deepest smart Was sure ingrauen in his grieued hart But now is Cipribel quite shapte a new Sorrow within her heart doth tirannize Her former pleasure she doth deepely rew And be their Gods which see our vanities Quoth she rewarding men their sins great due Or is there any heauenly paradise Where euerlasting haruest shall repay The fruites of good which here on earth we lay This said she doth the aged Sire request To tell the blessed newes she nere did heare Who all the rites that holy men profest And who vnhappie and who blessed were Which was the way to euiternall rest Where was the place of horror and of feare To her in largest tolde where we will leaue This new made Saint her lessons to receiue Now good Pyrino must I tell thy wo The mighty wrack thy weary barke sustaines Whom Erofel thus tumbleth to and fro With boistrous winds of her infected braines Needes must thou to thy haples fortune goe When desperate rider holds thy guiding raines Losse of a loue in loue is greatest death But mocking of his losse twise burdeneth After he had sung forth the historie VVherein his Tragedies he did reueale Erofel seemes some comfort to applie And where she poyson laies she seemes to heale Like the Hiâ—na that will sorriestcrie VVhen she in cruelst manner meanes to deale The Adder in his seeming kisse doth sting And mischiefe lies within most flattering Now she perswades to lift his wearied seete And to his Lady turne his dolefull course Perchance quoth she some streames of hope doe fleete VVhich may quench out the flame ere growing worse VVho neuer ventures prize shall neuer meete And he his owne vnwillingnes will curse That while occasion turnes her hairy face Staies nor her neuer-back returning pace Now when the darkened euening cals to rest VVhen Stars all ready in their watch doe stand VVhen he doth of his loue remember least Then comes she in and questions doth demaund To ouercharge the wight so deepe opprest To make him dreame of things like furies brand In the infernall nookes of gaping hell Torturing the soules which downe condemned fell So lankish famine gnawing on her breast Tires Erisicton with a restles drought And makes him euer hungring sor a feast VVhen yet that swallowed feast but grieues his thought That his luxurious end so soone hath ceast Eu'n such loue famine hath this Tiger brought To this ore burning youth within whose soule A thousand Sisiphus their restles burdens roule Sometimes in womans cloathes she would appeare In mightie shadowes to affright him more And Bellamies diuinest image beare And play an Anticke by his chamber dore VVhen straight the louer thinks that she was there And in pursuite out from his bed he tore She flies he now remaines of all bereft Like one whom Fayries company hath left One night she came to play her wonted game When he all desp'rate in a mightie rage Drew forth his blade and brandishing the same Betwixt them made an vncouth mariage And made her arme giue to her head the blame That fram'd such plaies vpon so strange a stage For he deepe stroke vnto the center-bone O haples stroke it had no further gone Like Cadmus Dragon in the Theban caue VVhen with his speare he pierst his writhed tayle Begins within his den to rage and raue And swelling deepely meanes then to preuaile VVhen with vnited force at him he draue Such rancor doth her cancred heart assaile As loues great Eagle lesser foule doth rent To massaker him so her heart is bent But now the fates thy whiter threede haue spun Foule Erofel now hath thy shady loome All died in pitch her griefly birth begun Masking misfortunes shade and haples bloome Now hath thy night vailde thy most orient sunne Blacke chance to worser fortune doth thee doome Cast downe Loues Scepter tirannize no more The wings are scorcht which once thy flight vpbore When cheating Phoebus bad his fiery steeds Breath forth bright lightning in the rising morne Pirino on whose heart grim sorrow feeds Left his sad couch in which no rest is borne Now easier fate his happier chaunce areedes Loue doth not pricke him as it wont beforne Whose presage drieth vp the ice of smart And makes a verdant spring within his hart Vpon his foaming Palfrey doth he mount When straight his furie hath his heart in chase But let the cottages make great account When Boreas turnes his cloud-in-wrapped face This Castell now all stormes wrath doth surmount It scornes to stooping now his height debase Goe Erofel those iawes in sunder teare Whose poyson to no worth their edge doth reare Foreward they trauell in appoynted way Driuing the tediousnes of shortned miles She still is egged to the Knights decay And with new stinging tales his cares defiles While nothing can her words his minde afray But now a sudden noyse doth end her wiles Like to the humming of great swarmes of Bees VVhich in this sorte vnto their hearing flees Goe Aspicke goe which with thy venomd sting Defil'st the puritie which nature gaue VVithin thy head a thousand fiends doe ring And whispering counsell doe thy thoughts depraue Let mischiefe thee vnto thy buriall bring Or robbers lay thee in some vncouth caue VVhere thou entombed in eternall night Maist not defile the toxicated light VVhile thou my soule whom spots of sinne doe staine Vanish from this thy worldly pilgrimage And to the highest powers of heauen complaine Thou didst vnwilling spoyle thy heritage VVhile as the sunne who knowes my inward paine Viewing the wofull ofspring of my rage Shall witnes to blacke Radamant that I A penitentiall sinner fainting dye VVhile thou fell hagge whose foule corrupted minde Doth glut his thought with sight of others griefe Maist wander haples neuer helpe maist finde But driuen from thy hauen of reliefe Tosse vp and downe with some vncertaine winde Not euer trusted neuer get beliefe And I appoynted to a fatall end VVill dye that life whose death is liues deare friend Following the sound vnto a bush they came VVhom when he saw and
replide they did not well Then streight on him they rush and left alone The prisoner only one attending stayes Whom downe he throwing drew his fauchion And on his masters throte it freely layes This while the other Knight so much hath done That many saw the latest of their dayes And sinking downe to Plutoes smokie fort Told him they could not stay to see the sport So Perseus of the Centaures hauock made Cleauing their hoofie legs with steely dint And Stixes banks with damned soules doth lade As doe their Knights whose wrath will neuer stint Vntill the edge of euer-hungrie blade Shall with his bloodie seale each foman print And make his pasport currant downe to hell Not hindred by the ghosts below that dwell The captiue now is freed while downe they fall Like to vntimely fruit whom blustring winde Breaking from out his iron-prison wall Strooke from the tree and made new place to finde In lowest-ground that â—rst on boughes so tall All loftily his proudest stem did binde Dying into the dust he downe doth slide Neuer to see his summer beauties pride CANT 7. The brethren still renew their sharpe debate Pirino viewes a fayre distressed dame Whom cruell Knight had brought to wofull state With whom vnto a castle soone he came After he had reueng'd the bloodie deede Quiting the bloodie man with bloodie meede WHen as the earths great palsie doth her moue Shaking her bowels with an ayrie rent It shiuers downe the Citadels aboue And her great burthens all in peeces rent But not so much as discord doth remoue Whose quartan shaking in his continent Feeds on the intrals of the stinging harts And teares his bowels in tormented parts Which mightie earthquake now these brethren shooke That with their swords each others limbes doe hew And makes them like the ruddy morning looke Embrude in sanguine and in purple hew No time doth slide but one the other strooke Dying the stayned earth with gory dew The musick still in harmonie doth sing While still their swords to others sides they fling Thus doe they hack and spoyle with grisly wounds The vitall fountaines of their welling blood Like to the Bore whom Meleagers hounds In Calidons forwasted fields withstood Whose iron tuske with renting edge confounds The springs fayre fruits and summers growing food Tearing the vine and Bacchus ensigne downe And in his panch that sacred iuyce doth drowne Thus doe they cruelly their forces waste Vntill two princes came vnto the place Two princes that with loue each one imbraste Ioyned in strongest league and mightie grace That in a louing heart could ere be plaste No enuie could their plighted loued face But like two doues that in the woods doe fly Starue out themselues when as his mate doth dy They pitying to see that spitefull hate Should thus distract the soules of tortur'd wights VVent streight to part them from that sharpe debate But they now swelling with vnbounded sprights No whit the more their furie did abate But exercising still their hatefull sprights Vpon each other wreake their mightie wrath And in each others gore their swords imbath Like mightie buls that in a femall â—â—ock Striue who should be the droues promoted head VVith horny engines do their frontiers knock That from their browes a purple streame downe bled VVhile drumming still with mightie blowes they stroke And with their fellowes hurt their ire they fed VVhen ramping-fiercely on each others skull Downe to the earth their carkasses they pull But now at length they haue disseuered These fighting brethren and their swords vp lay And euery prince with him one brother led And parted thence vnto a diuers way VVhen home this burden soone they caried VVhose teeth yet gnash that this their bloodie fray VVas not full tried and with venome swell Gainst those that parted them though doing well And still doe egge these sworne friends to fight Stirring so long to strife their burning mindes That though no cause they had of their despight Yet enuie still some secret reason findes And they send challenges to try by might Their strife no longer league their friendship bindes But like two beares that from a keeper scape Doe waste the fields with massacre and rape VVhere we will leaue to desolation Those whom fell discord doth so much increase And to Pirino will againe be gone VVho marched forward still in great pretence That Ladies seruice he would nere haue done But he his formers sinne shall recompence And ere I leaue him so I loue your kinde His heart and hands another way shall finde After the shameles Erofels defeate VVhen with the pilgrime Knight he ioynde his way They for aduentures strangest paths doe beate Searching out works of valour euery day VVhose haughtie mindes thinke nothing is so great But with their puissance they 'le ouerway About whose boldest hearts encircled was Strong mightie oke and thrice enfolded brasse Not long they forreind till on plaine they spide A wofull sight as euer eye beheld A Ladie that on ground all wounded lide Fayrer then her the Sunne hath viewed seld And more mishap did neuer dame betide For she to ground with ruthles blow was feld Like to the sweetest rose in haruest time Is mowen downe in youths most lustie prime They rested not vntill they to her came Vpon whose eyes death seemeth to arrest And turning vp their Alabaster frame Made death in loue with them that lou'd death best But now those Knights did ransome fayre the dame Barring her soule from such a heauie rest And vp did binde the life dissoluing wound VVho wept in blood that it on her was found But now Pirino quite his oth forgate And moued much with pitie more with loue Downe from his horse as light as winde he gate And from the ground her quickly doth remoue Cursing the sword the hand and cursed fate That on this Lady crueltie did proue O who can tell what vertue hidden lyes VVithin the charming of a Ladies eyes Now doth he wish that he the sword had beene For to haue kist that Ladies downy brest Or he were Balsamum to powre betweene The lips of that broad wound where sweetest rest In beauties haruest yet lookes euer greene And would from stony hearts haue teares exprest To see so fayre a Ladie foully vsde And that same beautie which such wrong abusde Forth doe they goe to finde some resting place VVhere they her deepe intrenched wound may dresse VVhile still Pirino musing on her face Studieth the astronomie of happinesse VVhose starres doe leade vnto the port of grace VVhere is inuested perfect blessednesse The starres of her sweet eyes where beautie plaines That wrongfull prison her in bonds detaines Forth doe they cary her their purposde way VVhile still she lieth dumbe no word doth flowe From out the Oracle where Beautie lay Silence in darknes all within doth goe To keepe her whom sharpe paine holds for a pray Subdued to pinching griefe and griesly woe That filthie dragon keepes the garden
earthly bounds The cinosure of all our ioyes it is VVhich leades vs through a world of happly blisse VVhich this faire Lady fully doth possesse Raught with the thought of her deceased Knight And euer keepes her soule in heauinesse Like to the Moone that must obscure her light VVhen as the Sunne his beautie doth represse Of whom she borrowes beames of all delight VVhich buried in the sad Sepulchrall ground Downe to the earth her captiue thoughts hath bound Which when Pirino saw whose words of ioy Still wooed sorrow to forsake her brest Knowing her Knights deare sight wrought this annoy Did counsell her to leaue this idle rest VVhich still with musing thoughts did her accloy And trauell forth where neuer should molest Her quiet thoughts the spectacle of death VVhose saddest sight the soule disquieteth She loth to leaue that where her treasure lay VVhere she had buried thoughts of all delight Determines neuer to depart away But so Pirino sues by day and night That now she 'le wander till a certaine day Though sorie to remoue from out his sight VVhose tombe containd with him her dearest hart VVith whom in graue she left her better part The Sunne appeareth in his bright aray Of firy beames and golden-wreathed gowne Meaning to cheare her with so fayre a day Now hauing banisht mistie vapours downe VVhen forth they ride now setled in their way Flying the place whence all her woe was growne But though vnto the farthest Indes thou flie Swifter then winde will sorrow after hie They had not gone as farre as Scithian bow Darts forth an arrow with his bended string Before they see where an old man doth goe As fast as dried bones his seete can bring Who ouertaking him whom age made slow Enquired whither he was trauailing But deepest cares that raigned in his thought Had silence and black melancholy brought At last they rouzd him from his musing dreame VVhen of a Ladies death he gan a tale VVhile downe his cheekes doth raine a pearling streame From out the clowdes of wrack and weary bale And this is Algiger that doth exclaime Against our life that still in woe doth fall VVho like the luckles owle these many yeares Neuer but at some funerall appeares And Bellamy was she whom vgly death Hath couerd with the graues vntimely shade Her now in dusky bloome he manteleth That with her beames the world astonisht made And on her corps his colours he displayeth VVhose colours in too soone a haruest fade The weeds doe grow and worser things suruiue VVhile as the good are thought too long aliue Pirino like to Dadals winged sonne That from great heau'n fell to the lowest flood To sinke in sorrowes drery gulfe begun And in his face doth care depaint in blood The victorie he ouer him hath wonne Senceles with too much sence of griefe he stood Vntill thus brake the cloudes into a showre VVhich forth with drery teares he thus did powre O cursed earth goe maske thee from the light VVhose light is quenched that did make the day And let the spring no more with greene bedight Adorned be with birds or Musick lay For she in whose sweete face spring still did write Her chiefest glory now in sad decay Hideth the heauenly lampe of louely grace And shadoweth from the earth her starrie face Her tresses like the flakie beames of morne Sheueld along vpon her snowie backe That did the golden Tagus colour scorne And dangling made behinde a goodly tracke Those which haue many harts in triumph borne And in loues sea haue driuen them to wracke These lye embraced of the basest ground VVhose curly traines haue many louers bound Thus forth he driues his passion with his plaint VVhen they agree to see her funerall VVhere we will leaue them wearied and faint Pricking toward her wofull buriall VVhile I full deepely greeud will striue to paint The story of this ladies wofull fall And when my teares shall stop their weeping spring I will plaine forth the tale I cannot sing When at the Dukes long time those thirtie Knights Lay for to try who could obtaine the prize Where with continuall showes and pleasant sights They woo'd the deare attention of her eyes One Knight there was whom she aboue all wights Most dearely lou'd whose image deepely lyes Sealed below vpon her softned hart From which his pressure neuer can depart Within the blessed heauen of her thought His comely face the onely starre doth shine Whose beautie to her soule amazement brought That then her selfe a wight was more diuine Like Cinthia when on Latmus top she spide The sleeping shepheard lately dreaming ly'ne She is amazed at so great a grace And with sweete Mel-dewes doth anoint her face No winde but Amian her ship doth blow Filling with pleasing breath fayre beauties sayles In which to happy Iles she meanes to go He beares the rule and he so much preuailes That now she doth not sticke to let him know How his most gratefull suite with her auailes Who though with those sweete wordes in loue he was Yet scarse for kisses could he let them passe She grants the garden where delight doth ly Which with chaste marriage they will seale anon And now she brings him roses by and by From which he wished neuer to haue gone So sweete an ayre vnto his smell doth fly That would with pleasure quite haue ouerflowne Drenching olde aged bones in youthfull dew And make the hoary man his dayes renew Like Hibla fields where though Bees still doe suck The hony of delight and rauishing Yet in this fertile field remaine to pluck Heauenly posies deeply solacing Distressed mindes which sharpe misfortune strook And in thoughts winter doth vpreare the spring Whose verdant head shall neuer languish downe But stand adorned with a flowry crowne VVhich when the lothed wooers quickly found They did enuy the happie chance he gate And ten of them in mightie challenge bound His valiant heart to answer their debate VVho now thus setled on so sure a ground Scorned the easie shafts of fruitles hate And sent them answer that next rising day He would controle what enuy durst to say But still fayre Bellamy doth him intreat To shun the dangers of the bloody fight And doth his breast with sighs and gronings beat Enchasing with fayre pearle her clowded sight VVhich drooping downe her richest eyes beget And to his louing bosome take their flight VVhen watering the plants that loue doth sow They quickly made sweet lowly pitty grow But he that had his vowed promise past VVith kisses still her opned lips doth stay She opneth still he still his lets doth cast Sweet lets which let him in where beautie lay That doubt it was whether she spoke so fast Because more kisses of him gaine she may Or kisses seeming for to stop the dore Still kist because they would haue kisses more Thus in this golden chaine of purest loue They past the euening when with rustie coach The Rauen-hud night her dusky traine