cheekes yett being ded Seemd to haue beene a goodly personage Now in his freshest flowre of lusty hed Fitt to inflame faire Lady with loues rage But that fiers fate did crop the blossome of his age VVhom when the good Sir Guyou did behold His hart gan wexe as starke as marblestone And his sresh blood did frieze with fearefull cold That all his sences seemd berefte attone At last his mighty ghost gan deepe to grone As Lion grudging in his great disdaine Mournes inwardly and makes to him selfe mone Til ruth and fraile affection did constraine His stout courage to stoupe and shew his inward paine Out of her gored wound the cruell steel He lightly snatcht and did the floodgate stop VVith his faire garment then gansoftly feel Herfeeble pulfe to proue if any drop Of liuing blood yet in her veynes did hop VVhich when he felt to moue he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop So well he did her deadly wounds repaire That at the last shee gan to breath out liuing aire VVhich he perceiuing greatly gan reioice And goodly counsell that for wounded hart Is meetest med'cine tempred with sweete voice Ay me deare Lady which the ymage art Of ruefull pitty and impatient smart VVhat direfull chaunce armd with auenging fate Or cursed hand hath plaid this cruell part Thus fowle to hasten your vntimely date Speake O dear Lady speake help neuer comes too late Therewith her dim eie-lids she vp gan reare On which the drery death did sitt as sad As lump oflead and made darke clouds appeare But when as him all in bright armour clad Before her standing she espied had As one out of a deadly dreame affright She weakely started yet she nothing drad Streight downe againe her selfe in great despight She groueling threw to groūd 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 sunck 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 secrete 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 tong opprest These words she breathed forth from riuen chest Leaue ah leaue of what euer wight thou bee To lett a weary wretch from her dew rest And trouble dying soules tranquilitee Take not away now got which none would giue to me Ah far 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 O Lady tell what fatall priefe Hath with so huge misfortune you opprest That I may cast to compas your reliefe Or die with you in sorrow and partake your griefe With feeble hands then stretched forth on hye As heuen accusing guilty of her death And with dry drops congealed in her eye In these sad wordes she spent her vtmost breath Heare then O man the sorrowes that vneath My tong can tell so far all sence 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 heuens iust with equall brow Vouchsafed to behold vs from aboue One day when him high corage did emmoue As wont ye knightes to seeke aduentures wilde He pricked forth his puissaunt force to proue Me then he left enwombed of this childe This luckles childe whom thus ye see with blood defild Him fortuned hard fortune ye may ghesse To come where vile Acrasia does wonne Acrasia a false enchaunteresse That many errant knightes hath fowle fordonne Within a wandring Island that doth ronne And stray in perilous gulfe her dwelling is Fayre 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 blis is all in pleasure and delight Wherewith she makes her louers dronken mad And then with words weedes of wondrous might On them she workes her will to vses bad My liefest Lord she thus beguiled had For he was flesh all flesh doth frayltie breed Whom when I heard to beene so ill bestad Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed And cast to seek him forth through danger great dreed Now had fayre Cynthia by euen tournes Full measured three quarters of her yeare And thrise three tymes had fild her crooked hornes Whenas 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 to dear I deemd while so my deare I sought Him so I sought and so at last I fownd Where him that witch had thralled to her will In chaines of lust and lewde desyres vbownd And so transformed from his former skill That me he knew not nether his owne ill Till through wise handling and faire gouernaunce I him recured to a better will Purged from drugs of fowle intemperaunce 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 deceiud 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 suddeinly he downe did sincke Which when I wretch Not one word more she sayd But breaking of 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 abstayne for griefe his hart did grate And from so heauie sight his head did wreath Accusing fortune and too cruell fate Which plonged had faire Lady in so wretched state Then turning to his Palmer said Old syre Behold the ymage of mortalitie And feeble nature cloth'd with fleshly tyre When raging passion with fierce tyranny Robs reason of her dew regalitie And makes it seruaunt 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 temperaunce said he with golden squire Betwixt them both can measure out a meane Nether to melt in pleasures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor frye in hartlesse griefe and dolefull tene
requyre Or think that ought those puissant hands may marre Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappy starre Perdye then is it fitt for me said he That am I weene most wretched man aliue Burning in flames yet no flames can I see And dying dayly dayly yet reuiue O Atin helpe to me last death to giue The varlet at his plaint was grieued so sore That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue And his owne health remembring now no more Did follow that ensample which he blam'd afore Into the lake he lept his Lord to ayd So Loue the dread of daunger doth despise And of him catching hold him strongly stayd From drowning But more happy he then wise Of that seas nature did him not auise The waues thereof so slow and sluggish were Engrost with mud which did them fowle agrise That euery weighty thing they did vpbeare Ne ought mote euer sinck downe to the bottom there Whiles thus they strugled in that ydle waue And stroue in vaine the one him selfe to drowne The other both from drowning for to saue Lo to that shore one in an auncient gowne Whose hoary locks great grauitie did crowne Holding in hand a goodly arming sword By fortune came ledd with the troublous sowne Where drenched deepe he fownd in that dull ford The carefull seruaunt stryuing with his raging Lord. Him Atin spying knew right well of yore And lowdly cald Help helpe O Archimage To saue my Lord in wretched plight forlore Helpe with thy hand or with thy counsell sage Weake handes but counsell is most strong in age Him when the old man saw he woundred sore To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage Yet sithens helpe he saw he needed more Then pitty he in hast approched to the shore And cald Pyrrhochles what is this I see What hellish fury hath at earst thee hent Furious euer I thee knew to bee Yet neuer in this straunge astonishment These flames these flames he cryde do me torment What flames qd he when I thee present see In daunger rather to be drent then brent Harrow the flames which me consume said hee Ne can be quencht within my secret bowelles bee That cursed man that cruel feend of hell Furor oh Furor hath me thus bedight His deadly woundes within my liuers swell And his whott fyre burnes in mine entralles bright Kindled through his infernall brond of spight Sith late with him I batteill vaine would boste That now I weene Ioues dreaded thunder light Does scorch not halfe so sore nor damned ghoste In flaming Phlegeton does not so felly roste Which when as Archimago heard his griefe He knew right well and him attonce disarmd Then searcht his secret woundes and made a priefe Of euery place that was with bruzing harmd Or with the hidden fier inly warmd Which doen he balmes and herbes thereto applyde And euermore with mightie spels them charmd That in short space he has them qualifyde And him restor'd to helth that would haue algates dyde Cant. VII Guyon findes Mamon in a delue sunning his threasure hore Is by him tempted led downe To see his secrete store AS Pilot well expert in perilous waue That to a stedfast starre his course hath bent When foggy mistes or cloudy tempests haue The faithfull light of that faire lampe yblent And couer'd heauen with hideous dreriment Vpon his card and compas firmes his eye The maysters of his long experiment And to them does the steddy helme apply Bidding his winged vessell fairely forward fly So Guyon hauing lost his trustie guyde Late left beyond that Ydle lake proceedes Yet on his way of none accompanyde And euermore himselfe with comfort feedes Of his owne vertues and praise-worthie deedes So long he yode yet no aduenture found Which fame of her shrill trompet worthy reedes For still he traueild through wide wastfull ground That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around At last he came vnto a gloomy glade Couer'd with boughes shrubs from heauens light Whereas he sitting found in secret shade An vncouth saluage and vnciuile wight Of griesly hew and fowle ill fauour'd sight His face with smoke was tand eies were bleard His head and beard with sout were ill bedight His cole-blacke hands did seeme to haue ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge and nayles like clawes appeard His yron cote all ouergrowne with rust Was vnderneath enueloped with gold Whose glistring glosse darkned with filthy dust Well yet appeared to haue beene of old A worke of rich entayle and curious mould Wouen with antickes and wyld ymagery And in his lap a masse of coyne he told And turned vpside downe to feede his eye And couetous desire with his huge threasury And round about him lay on euery side Great heapes of gold that neuer could be spent Of which some were rude owre not purifide Of Malcibers deuouring element Some others were new driuen and distent Into great Ingowes and to wedges square Some in round plates withouten moniment But most were stampt and in their metal bare The antique shapes of kings and 〈◊〉 straung rare Soone as he Guyon saw in great affright And haste he rose for to remoue aside Those pretious hils from straungers enuious sight And downe them poured through an hole full wide Into the hollow earth them there to hide But Guyon lightly to him leaping stayd His hand that trembled as one terrifyde And though him selfe were at the sight dismayd Yet him perforce restraynd and to him doubtfull sayd What art thou man if man at all thou art That here in desert hast thine habitaunce And these rich hils of welth doest hide apart From the worldes eye and from her right vsaunce Thereat with staring eyes fixed askaunce In great disdaine he answerd Hardy Elfe That darest vew my direfull countenaunce I read thee rash and heedlesse of thy selfe To trouble my still seate and heapes of pretious pelfe God of the world and worldlings I me call Great Mammon greatest god below the skye That of my plenty poure out vnto all And vnto none my graces do enuye Riches renowme and principality Honour estate and all this worldes good For which men swinck and sweat incessantly Fro me do flow into an ample flood And in the hollow earth haue their eternall brood Wherefore if me thou deigne to serue and 〈◊〉 At thy commaund lo all these mountaines bee Or if to thy great mind or greedy vew All these may not suffise there shall to thee Ten times so much be nombred francke and free Mammon said he thy godheads vaunt is vaine And idle offers of thy golden fee To them that couet such eye-glutting gaine Proffer thy giftes and fitter seruaunts entertaine Me ill besits that in derdoing armes And honours suit my vowed daies do spend Vnto thy bounteous baytes and pleasing charmes With which weake men thou witchest to attend Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend And low abase the high heroicke spright That ioyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend Faire
beast with busie payne Then serue his Ladies loue waste in pleasures vayne The forlorne mayd did with 〈◊〉 longing burne And could not lacke her louers company But to the wood shè goes to serue her turne And seeke her spouse that from her still does fly And followes other game and venery A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to finde And kindling coles of lust in brutish eye The loyall linkes of wedlocke did vnbinde And made her person thrall vnto his beastly kind So long in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there be held Her 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 desyre Till that with timely 〈◊〉 her belly sweld And bore a boy vnto that saluage syre Then home he 〈◊〉 her for to retyre For ransome leauing him the late-borne childe Whom till to 〈◊〉 yeares he 〈◊〉 aspyre He nousled vp in life and manners wilde Emongst wild beastes and woods from lawes of men exilde For all he taught the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To 〈◊〉 cowardize and bastard feare His trembling hand he would him force to put Vpon the Lyon and the rugged Beare And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare And eke wyld roring Buls he would him make To tame and 〈◊〉 their backes not made to beare And the Robuckes in flight to ouertake That euerie beast for feare of him did fly and quake Thereby so fearelesse and so fell he grew That his owne 〈◊〉 and maister of his guise Did often tremble at his horrid vew And oft for dread of hurt would him aduise The angry beastes not rashly to despise Nor too much to prouoke for he would learne The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wife A lesson hard and make the 〈◊〉 sterne Leaue roaring when in rage he for reuenge did earne And for to make his powre approued more Wyld beastes in yron yokes he would compell The spotted Panther and the 〈◊〉 Bore The Pardale swift and the Tigre cruell The Antelope and Wolfe both swift and cruell And them constraine in equall teme to draw Such ioy he had their stubborne harts to quell And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw That his beheast they feared as a tyrans law His louing mother came vpon a day Vnto the woodes to see her little sonne And chaunst vnwares to meet him in the way After his sportes and cruell pastime donne When after him a Lyonesse did runne That roaring all with rage did lowd requere Her children deare whom he away had wonne The Lyon whelpes she saw how he did beare And lull in rugged armes withouten childish feare The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight And turning backe gan fast to fly away Vntill with loue reuokt from vaine affright She hardly yet perswaded was to stay And then to him these womanish words gan say Ah Satyrane my dearling and my ioy For loue of me leaue off this dreadfull play To dally thus with death is no fit toy Go find some other play-fellowes mine own sweet boy In these and like delightes of bloody game He trayned was till ryper yeares he raught And there abode whylst any beast of name Walkt in that forrest whom he had not taught To feare his force and then his courage haught Desyrd of forreine foemen to be knowne And far abroad for straunge aduentures sought In which his might was neuer ouerthrowne But through al Faery lond his famous worth was blown Yet euermore it was his maner faire After long labours and aduentures spent Vnto those natiue woods for to repaire To see his syre and ofspring auncient And now he thether came for like intent Where he vnwares the fairest Vna found Sraunge Lady in so straunge habiliment Teaching the Satyres which her sat around Trew sacred lore which frō her sweet lips did redound He wondred at her wisedome heuenly rare Whose like in womens witt he neuer knew And when her cutteous deeds he did compare Gan her admire and her sad sorrowes rew Blaming of Fortune which such troubles threw And ioyd to make proofe of her cruelty On gentle Dame so hurtlesse and so trew Thenceforth he kept her goodly company And learnd her discipline of faith and verity But she all vowd vnto the Redcrosse knight His wandring perill closely did lament Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight But her deare heart with anguish did torment And all her witt in secret counsels spent How to escape At last in priuy wise To Satyrane she shewed her intent Who glad to gain such fauour gan deuise How with that pensiue Maid he best might thence arise So on a day when Satyres all were gone To doe their seruice to Syluanus old The gentle virgin left behinde alone He led away with corage stout and bold Too late it was to Satyres to be told Or euer hope recouer her againe In vaine he seekes that hauing cannot hold So fast he carried her with carefull paine That they the wods are past come now to the plaine The better part now of the lingring day They traueild had whenas they far espide A weary wight for wandring by the way And towards him they gan in hast to ride To weete of newes that did abroad betide Or tidings of her knight of the Redcrosse But he them spying gan to turne aside For feare as seemd or for some feigned losse More greedy they of newes fast towards him do crosse A silly man in simple weeds forworne And soild with dust of the long dried way His sandales were with to ilsome trauell torne And face all tand with scorching sunny ray As he had traueild many a sommers day Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde And in his hand a Iacobs staffe to stay His weary limbs vpon and eke behind His scrip did hang in which his needments he did bind The knight approching nigh of him inquerd Tidings of warre and of aduentures new But warres nor new aduentures none he herd Then Vna gan to aske if ought he knew Or heard abroad of that her champion trew That in his armour bare a croslet red Ay me Deare dame qd he well may I rew To tell the sad sight which mine eies haue red These eies did see that knight both liuing and eke ded That cruell word her tender hart so thrild That suddein cold did ronne through euery vaine And stony horrour all her sences fild With dying fitt that downe she fell for paine The knight her lightly reared vp againe And comforted with curteous kind reliefe Then wonne from death she bad him tellen plaine The further processe of her hidden griefe The lesser pangs can beare who hath endur'd the chief Then gan the Pilgrim thus I chaunst this day This fatall day that shall I euer rew To see two knights in trauell on my way A sory sight arraung'd in batteill new Both breathing vengeaunce both of wrathfull hew My feareful flesh did tremble at their strife To see their blades so greedily imbrew That dronke with blood yet thristed after life What more the Redcrosse knight was slain with Paynim
with coole 〈◊〉 ouercast Through midst thereof a little riuer rold By which there sate a knight with helme vnlaste Himselfe refreshing with the liquid cold After his trauell long and labours manifold Lo yonder he cryde Archimage alowd That wrought the shamefull fact which I did shew And now he doth himselfe in secret shrowd To fly the vengeaunce for his outrage dew But vaine for ye shall dearely do him rew So God ye speed and send you good successe Which we far 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 far so fierce to pricke His warlike armes about him gan embrace And in the rest his ready speare did sticke Tho when as still he saw him towards pace He gan rencounter him in equall race They bene ymett both ready to affrap When suddeinly that warriour gan abace His threatned speare as if some new mishap Had him betide or hidden danger did entrap And cryde Mercie Sir knight and mercie Lord For mine offence and heedelesse 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 steed could stay vneath Who prickt with couragekene did cruell battell breath But when he heard him speake streight way he knew His errour and himselfe inclyning sayd Ah deare Sir Guyon well becommeth you But me behoueth rather to vpbrayd Whose hastie hand so fat from reason strayd That almost it did haynous violence On that fayre ymage of that heauenly Mayd That decks and armes your shield with faire defence Your court'sie takes on you anothers dew offence So beene they both at one and doen vpreare Their beuers bright each other for to greet Goodly comportaunce each to other beare And entertaine themselues with court'sies meet Then saide the Redcrosse knight Now mote I weet Sir Guyon why with so fierce saliaunce And fell intent ye did at earst me meet For sith I know your goodly gouernaunce Great cause I weene you guided or some vncouth chaunce Certes said he well mote I shame to tell The fond encheason that me hether led A false infamous faitour late befell Me for to meet that seemed ill bested And playnd of grieuous outrage which he red A knight had wrought against a Ladiegent Which to auenge he to this place me led Where you he made the marke of his intent And now is fled foule shame him follow wher he went So can he turne his earnest vnto game Through goodly handling and wise temperaunce By this his aged Guide in presence came Who soone as one that knight his eye did glaunce Eft soones of him had perfect cognizaunee Sith him in Faery court he late auizd And sayd fayre sonne God giue you happy chaunce And that deare Crosse vppon your shield deuizd Wherewith aboue all knights ye goodly seeme aguizd Ioy may you haue and euerlasting fame Of late 〈◊〉 hard atchieu'ment by you donne For which enrolled is your glorious name In heauenly Regesters aboue the Sunne Where you a Saint with Saints your seat haue wōne But wretched we where ye haue left your marke Most now anew begin like race to ronne God guide thee Guyon well to end thy warke And to the wished hauen bring thy weary barke Palmer him answered the Redcrosse knight His be the praise that this atchieu'ment wrought Who made my hand the organ of his might More then goodwill to me attribute nought For all I did I did but as I ought But you faire Sir whose pageant next ensewes Well mote yee thee as well can wish your thought That home ye may report these happy newes For well ye worthy bene for worth and gentle thewes So courteous conge both did giue and take With right hands plighted pledges of good will Then Guyon forward gan his voyage make With his blacke Palmer that him guided still Still he him guided ouer dale and hill And with his steedy staffe did point his way His race with reason and with words his will From fowle intemperaunce he ofte did stay And suffred not in wrath his hasty steps to stray In this faire wize they traueild long yfere Through many hard assayes which did betide Of which he honour still away did beare And spred his glory through all countryes wide At last as chaunst them by a forest side To passe for succour from the scorching ray They heard a ruefull voice that dearnly cride With percing shriekes and many a dolefull lay Which to attend awhile their forward steps they stay But if that carelesse heuens qdshe despise The doome of iust reuenge and take delight To see sad pageaunts of mens miseries As bownd by them to liue in liues despight Yet can they not warne death from wretched wight Come then come soone come sweetest death to me And take away this long lent loathed light Sharpe be thy wounds but sweete the medicines be That long captiued soules from weary thraldome free But thou sweete Babe whom frowning froward fate Hath made sad witnesse of thy fathers fall Sith heuen thee deignes to hold in liuing state Long maist thou liue and better thriue withall Then to thy lucklesse parents did befall Liue thou and to thy mother dead attest That cleare she dide from blemish criminall Thy litle hands embrewd in bleeding brest Loe I for pledges leaue So giue me leaue to rest With that a deadly shrieke she forth did throw That through the wood reechoed againe And after gaue a grone so deepe and low That seemd her tender heart was rent in twaine Or thrild with point of thorough piercing paine As gentle Hynd whose sides with 〈◊〉 steele Through laūched forth her bleeding life does raine Whiles the sad pang approching shee does feele Braies out her latest breath and vp her eies doth seele Which when that warriour heard dismounting straict From his tall steed he rusht into the thick And soone arriued where that sad pourtraict Of death and dolour lay halfe dead halfe quick In whose white alabaster brest did stick A cruell knife that made a griesly wownd From which forth gusht a stream of goreblood thick That all her goodly garments staind arownd And into a deepe sanguine dide the grassy grownd Pitifull spectacle of deadly smart Beside a bubling fountaine low she lay Which shee increased with her bleeding hart And the cleane waues with purple gore did ray Al 's in her lap a louely babe did play His cruell sport in stead of sorrow dew For in her streaming blood he did embay His litle hands and tender ioints embrew Pitifull spectacle as euer eie did vew Besides them both vpon the soiled gras The dead corse of an armed knight was spred Whose armour all with blood besprincled was His ruddy lips did smyle and rosy red Did 〈◊〉 his chearefull
feare She there attached far from all succoure The one she 〈◊〉 vpon the present floure But the sad virgin innocent of all Adowne the rolling riuer she did poure Which of her name now Seuerne men do call Such was the end that to disloyall loue did fall Then for her sonne which she to Locrin bore Madan was young vnmeet the rule to sway In her owne hand the crowne she kept in store Till ryper yeares he raught and stronger stay During which time her powre she did display Through all this realme the glory of her sex And first taught men a woman to obay But when her sonne to mans estate did wex She it surrendred ne her selfe would lenger vex Tho Madan raignd vnworthie of his race For with all shame that sacred throne he fild Next Memprise as vnworthy of that place In which being consorted with Manild For thirst of single kingdom him he kild But Ebranck salued both their infamies With noble deedes and warreyd on Brunchild In 〈◊〉 where yet of his victories Braue moniments remaine which yet that land enuies An happy man in his first dayes he was And happy father of faire progeny For all so many weekes as the yeare has So many children he did multiply Of which were twentie sonnes which did apply Their mindes to prayse and cheualrous desyre Those germans did subdew all Germany Of whom it hight but in the end their Syre With foule repulse from Fraunce was forced to retyre Which blott his sonne succeeding in his seat The second Brute the second both in name And eke in semblaunce of his puissaunce great Right well recur'd and did away that blame With recompence of euerlasting fame He with his victour sword first opened The bowels of wide Fraunce a forlorne Dame And taught her first how to be conquered Since which with sondrie spoiles she hath bene ransacked Let Scaldis tell and let tell Hania And let the marsh of Estham bruges tell What colour were their waters that same day And all the moore twixt Eluersham and Dell With blood of Henalois which therein fell How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell That not Seuith guiridh he mote seeme to bee But rather y Seuith gogh signe of sad crueltee His sonne king Leill by fathers labour long Enioyd an heritage of lasting peace And built Cairleill and built Cairleon strong Next Huddibras his realme did not encrease But taught the land from wearie wars to cease Whose footsteps Bladud following in artes Exceld at Athens all the learned preace From whēce he brought them to these saluage parts And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts Ensample of his wondrous faculty Behold the boyling Bathes at Cairbadon Which seeth with secret fire eternally And in their entrailles full of quick Brimston Nourish the flames which they are warmd vpon That to her people wealth they forth do well And health to euery forreyne nation Yet he at last contending to excell The reach of men through flight into fond mischieffell Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raynd But had no issue male him to succeed But three faire daughters which were well vptraind In all that seemed fitt for kingly seed Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed To haue diuided Tho when feeble age Nigh to his vtmost date he saw proceed He cald his daughters and with speeches sage 〈◊〉 which of them most did loue her parentage The eldest Gonorill gan to protest That she much more then her owne life him lou'd And Regan greater loue to him profest Then all the world when euer it were proou'd But Cordeill said she lou'd him as behoou'd Whose simple answere wanting colours fayre To paint it forth him to displeasaunce moou'd That in his crown he counted her no hayre But twixt the other twain his kingdom whole did shayre So wedded th' one to Maglan king of Scottes And thother to the king of Cambria And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lottes But without dowre the wise Cordelia Was sent to Aggannip of Celtica Their aged Syre thus eased of his crowne A priuate life ledd in Albania With Gonorill long had in great renowne That nought him grieu'd to beene from rule deposed downe But true it is that when the oyle is spent The light goes out and weeke is throwne away So when he had resignd his regiment His daughter gan despise his drouping day And wearie wax of his continuall stay Tho to his daughter Regan he repayrd Who him at first well vsed euery way But when of his departure she despayrd Her bountie she abated and his cheare empayrd The wretched man gan then auise to late That loue is not where most it is profest Too truely tryde in his extremest state At last resolu'd likewise to proue the 〈◊〉 He to Cordelia him selfe addrest Who with entyre affection him receau'd As for her Syre and king her seemed best And after all au army strong she leau'd To war on those which him had of his realme bereau'd So to his crowne she him restord againe In which he dyde made ripe for death by eld And after wild it should to her remaine Who peaceably the same long time did weld And all mens harts in dew obedience held Till that her sisters children woxen strong Through proud ambition against her rebeld And ouercommen kept in prison long Till weary of that wretched life her selfe she hong Then gan the bloody brethren both to raine But fierce Cundah gan shortly to enuy His brother Morgan prickt with proud disdaine To haue a pere in part of souerainty And kindling coles of cruell enmity Raisd warre and him in batteill ouerthrew Whence as he to those woody hilles did fly Which hight of him Glamorgan there him slew Then did he raigne alone when he none equall knew His sonne Riuall ' his dead rowme did supply In whose sad time blood did from heauen rayne Next great Gurgustus then faire Coecily In constant peace their kingdomes did contayne After whom Lago and Kinmarke did rayne And Gorbogud till far in yeares he grew Then his Ambitious sonnes vnto them twayne Arraught the rule and from their father drew Stout Ferrex and sterne Porrex him in prison threw But O the greedy thirst of royall crowne That knowes no kinred nor regardes no right Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe Who vnto him assembling forreigne might Made warre on him and fell him selfe in fight Whose death t' auenge his mother 〈◊〉 Most mercilesse of women Wyden hight Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse Here ended Brutus sacred progeny Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne With high renowme and great felicity The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne Through discord and the roiall throne forlorne Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent Whilest each of Brutus boasted to be borne That in the end was left no moniment Of Brutus nor
of Britons glorie auncient Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might And wondrous wit to menage high affayres Who stird with pitty of the stressed plight Of this sad realme cut into sondry shayres By such as claymd thēselues Brutes rightfull hayres Gathered the Princes of the people loose To taken counsell of their common cares Who with his wisedom won him streight did choose Their king and swore him fealty to win or loose Then made he head against his enimies And Ymner slew of Logris miscreate Then Ruddoc and proud Stater both allyes This of Albany newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce Whose countries he redus'd to quiet state And shortly brought to ciuile gouernaunce Now one which earst were many made through variaunce Then made he sacred lawes which some men say Were vnto him reueald in vision By which he freed the Traueilers high way The Churches part and Ploughmans portion Restraining stealth and strong extortion The gratious Numa of great Britany For till his dayes the chiefe dominion By strength was wielded without pollicy Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignity Donwallo dyde for what may liue for ay And left two sonnes of pearelesse prowesse both That sacked Rome too dearely did assay The recompence of their periured oth And ransackt Greece wel tryde whē they were wroth Besides subiected France and Germany Which yet their praises speake all be they 〈◊〉 And inly tremble at the memory Of Brennus and Belinus kinges of Britany Next them did Gurgiunt great Belinus sonne In rule succeede and eke in fathers praise He Easterland subdewd and Denmarke wonne And of them both did 〈◊〉 and tribute raise The which was dew in his dead fathers daies He also gaue to fugitiues of Spayne Whom he at sea found wandring from their waies A seate in Ireland safely to remayne Which they should hold of him as subiect to Britayne After him raigned Guitheline his hayre The iustest man and trewest in his daies Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre A woman worthy of immortall praise Which for this Realme found many goodly layes And wholesome Statutes to her husband brought Her many deemd to haue beene of the Fayes As was Aegerie that Numa tought Those yet of her be Mertiā lawes both nam'd thought Her sonne Sifillus after her did rayne And then Kimarus and then Danius Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustayne Who had he not with wrath outrageous And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous And mightie deedes should matched haue the best As well in that same field victorious Against the forreine Morands he exprest Yet liues his memorie though carcas sleepe in rest Fiue sonnes he 〈◊〉 begotten of one wife All which successiuely by turnes did rayne First Gorboman a man of vertuous life Next Archigald who for his proud disdayne Deposed was from princedome souerayne And pitteous Elidure put in his sted Who shortly it to him restord agayne Till by his death he it recouered But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized In wretched prison long he did remaine Till they outraigned had their vtmost date And then therein reseized was againe And ruled long with honorable state Till he surrendred Realme and life to fate Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd By dew successe and all their Nephewes late Euen thrise eleuen descents the crowne retaynd Till aged Hely by dew heritage it gaynd He had two sonnes whose eldest called Lud Left of his life most famous memory And endlesse moniments of his great good The ruin'd wals he did reaedifye Of Troynouant gainst force of enimy And built that gate which of his name is hight By which he lyes entombed solemnly He left two sonnes too young to rule aright Androgeus and Tenantius pictures of his might Whilst they were young Cassibalane their Eme Was by the people chosen in their sted Who on him tooke the roiall Diademe And goodly well long time it gouerned Till the prowde Romanes him disquieted And warlike Caesar tempted with the name Of this sweet Island neuer conquered And enuying the Britons blazed fame O hideous hunger of dominion hether came Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe And twise renforst backe to their ships to fly The whiles with blood they all the shore did staine And the gray Ocean into purple dy Ne had they footing found at last perdie Had not Androgeus false to natiue soyle And enuious of Vncles soueraintie Betrayd his countrey vnto forreine spoyle Nought els buttreason from the first this land did foyle So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloodshed and many a sad assay In which himselfe was charged heauily Of hardy Nennius whom he yet did slay But lost his sword yet to be seene this day Thenceforth this land was tributarie made T'ambitious Rome and did their rule obay Till Arthur all that reckoning defrayd Yet oft the Briton kings against them strongly swayd Next him Tenantius raignd then Kimbeline What time th' eternall Lord in fleshly slime Enwombed was from wretched Adams line To purge away the guilt of sinfull crime O ioyous memorie of happy time That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd O too high ditty for my simple rime Soone after this the Romanes him warrayd For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd Good Claudius that next was Emperour An army brought and with him batteile fought In which the king was by a Treachetour Disguised slaine ere any thereof thought Yet ceased not the bloody fight for ought For Aruirage his brothers place supplyde Both in his armes and crowne and by that draught Did driue the Romanes to the weaker syde That they to peace agreed So all was pacifyde Was neuer king more highly magnifide Nor dredd of Romanes then was Aruirage For which the Emperour to him allide His daughter Genuiss ' in marriage Yet shortly he renounst the vassallage Of Rome againe who hether hastly sent Vespasian that with great spoile and rage Forwasted all till Gen̄uissa gent Persuaded him to ceasse and her lord to relent He dide and him succeeded Marius Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity Then Coyll and after him good Lucius That first receiued Christianity The sacred pledge of Christes Euangely Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Ioseph of Arimathy Who brought with him the holy grayle they say And preacht the truth but since it 〈◊〉 did decay This good king shortly without issew dide Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew That did herselfe in sondry parts diuide And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew Whilest Romanes daily did the weake subdew Which seeing stout Bunduca vp arose And taking armes the Britons to her drew With whom she marched streight against her foes And them vnwares besides the Seuerne did enclose There she with them a cruell batteill tryde Not with so good successe as shee deseru'd By reason that the Captaines on her syde Corrupted by Paulinus from her sweru'd
losse did lye Out of the flames which he had quencht whylere Into huge waues of griefe and gealosye Full deepe emplonged was and drowned nye Twixt inward doole and felonous despight He rau'd he wept he stampt he lowd did cry And all the passions that in man may light Did him attonce oppresse and vex his caytiue spright Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe And did consume his gall with anguish sore Still when he mused on his late mischiefe So still the smart thereof increased more And seemd more grieuous then it was before At last when sorrow he saw booted nought Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore He gan deuise how her he reskew mought Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought At last resoluing like a Pilgrim pore To search her forth where so she might be fond And bearing with him treasure in close store The rest he leaues in ground So takes in hond To seeke her endlong both by sea and lond Long he her sought he sought her far and nere And euery where that he mote vnderstond Of knights and ladies any meetings were And of eachone he mett he tidings did inquere But all in vaine his woman was too wise Euer to come into his clouch againe And hee too simple euer to surprise The iolly Paridell for all his paine One day as hee forpassed by the plaine With weary pace he far away espide A couple seeming well to be his twaine Which houed close vnder a forest side As if they lay in wait or els them selues did hide Well weened hee that those the same more bee And as he better did their shape auize Him seemed more their maner did agree For th' one was armed all in warlike wize Whom to be Paridell he did deuize And th' other alyclad in garments light Discolourd like to womanish disguise He did resemble to his lady bright And euer his faint hart much earned at the sight And euer faine he towards them would goe But yet durst not for dread approchen nie But stood aloofe vnweeting what to doe Till that prickt forth with loues extremity That is the father of fowle gealosy 〈◊〉 closely nearer crept the truth to weet But as he nigher drew he easily Might scerne that it was not his sweetest sweet Ne yet her 〈◊〉 the partner of his sheet But it was scornefull Braggadochio That with his seruant Trompart houerd there Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe Whom such whenas Malbecco spyed clere He turned backe and would haue fled arere Till Trompart ronning hastely him did stay And bad before his soueraine Lord appere That was him loth yet durst he not gainesay And comming him before low louted on the lay The Boaster at him sternely bent his browe As if he could haue kild him with his looke That to the ground him meekely made to bowe And awfull terror deepe into him strooke That euery member of his body quooke Said he thou man of nought what doest thou here 〈◊〉 furnisht with thy bag and booke Where I expected one with shield and spere To proue some deeds of armes vpon an equall pere The wretched man at his imperious speach Was all abasht and low prostrating said Good Sir let not my rudenes be no breach Vnto your patience ne be ill ypaid For I vnwares this way by fortune straid A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse That seeke a Lady There he suddein staid And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse While teares stood in his eies few drops of bitternesse What Lady man said Trompart take good hart And tell thy griefe if any hidden lye Was neuer better time to shew thy smart Then now that noble succor is thee by That is the whole worlds commune remedy That chearful word his weak heart much did cheare And with vaine hope his spirits 〈◊〉 supply That bold he sayd O most redoubted Pere Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare Then sighing sore It is not long saide hee Sith I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue Of whom a knight no knight at all perdee But shame of all that doe for honor striue By treacherous deceipt did me 〈◊〉 Through open outrage he her bore away And with fowle force vnto his will did driue Which al good knights that armes do bear this day Are bownd for to reuenge and punish if they may And you most noble Lord that can and dare Redresse the wrong of miserable wight Cannot employ your most victorious speare In better quarell then defence of right And for a Lady gainst a faithlesse knight So shall your glory bee aduaunced much And all faire Ladies magnify your might And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selfe albee I simple such Your worthy paine shall wel reward with guerdon rich With that out of his bouget forth he drew Great store of treasure therewith him to tempt But he on it lookt 〈◊〉 askew As much 〈◊〉 to be so misdempt Or a war-monger to be basely nempt And sayd thy offers base I greatly loth And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt I tread in dust thee and thy money both That were it not for shame So turned from him wroth But 〈◊〉 that his 〈◊〉 humor knew In lofty looks to hide an humble minde Was inly tickled with that golden vew And in his eare him rownded close behinde Yet stoupt he not but lay still in the winde Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease Till Trompart lowly to the grownd inclinde Besought him his great corage to appease And pardon simple man that rash did him displease Big looking like a doughty Doucepere At last he thus Thou clod of vilest clay I pardon yield and that with rudenes beare But weete henceforth that all that golden pray And all that els the vaine world vaunten may I loath as doung ne deeme my dew reward Fame is my meed and glory vertuous pray But minds of mortal men are muchell mard And mou'd amisle with massy mucks vnmeet regard And 〈◊〉 I graunt to thy great misery Gratious respect thy wife shall backe be sent And that vile knight who euer that he bee Which hath thy lady rest and knighthood shent By Sanglamort my sword whose deadly dent The blood hath of so many thousands shedd I sweare ere long shall dearly it repent Ne he twixt heuen and earth shall hide his hedd But soone he shal be fownd and shortly doen be dedd The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith As if the word so spoken were halfe donne And humbly thanked him a thousand sith That had from death to life him newly wonne Tho forth the Boaster marching braue begonne His stolen steed to thunder furiously As if he heauen and hell would oueronne And all the world confound with cruelty That much Malbecco ioyed in his iollity Thus long they three together traueiled Through many a wood and many an vncouth way To seeke his wife that was far wandered But those two sought nought but the present pray To weete
did him beseme In slouthfull sleepe his molten hart to steme And quench the brond of his conceiued yre Tho vp he started stird with shame extreme Ne staied for his Damsell to inquire But marched to the Strond their passage to require And in the way he with Sir Guyon mett Accompanyde with Phaedria the faire Eftsoones he gan to rage and inly frett Crying Let be that Lady debonaire Thou recreaunt knight and soone thy selfe prepaire To batteile if thou meane her loue to gayn Loe loe already how the fowles in aire Doe flocke awaiting shortly to obtayn Thy carcas for their pray the guerdon of thy payn And therewith all he fiersly at him flew And with importune outrage him assayld Who soone prepard to field his sword forth drew And him with equall valew counteruayld Their mightie strokes their haberieons dismayld And naked made each others manly spalles The mortall steele despiteously entayld Deepe in their flesh quite through the yron walles That a large purple stream adown their giambeux falles Cymocles that had neuer mett before So puissant foe with enuious despight His prowd presumed force increased more Disdeigning to bee held so long in fight Sir Guyon grudging not so much his might As those vnknightly ray linges which he spoke With wrathfull fire his corage kindled bright Thereof deuising shortly to be wroke And doubling all his powres redoubled euery stroke Both of them high attonce their hands enhaunst And both attonce their huge blowes down did sway Cymochles sword on Guyons shield yglaunst And there of nigh one quarter sheard away But Guyons angry blade so fiers did play On th 'others helmett which as Titan shone That quite it cloue his plumed crest in tway And bared all his head vnto the bone Wherewith astonisht still he stood as sencelesse stone Still as he stood fayre Phaedria that beheld That deadly daunger soone atweene them ran And at their feet her selfe most humbly feld Crying with pitteous voyce and count'nance wan Ah well away most noble Lords how can Your cruell eyes endure so pitteous sight To shed your liues on ground wo worth the man That first did teach the cursed steele to bight In his owne flesh and make way to the liuing spright If euer loue of Lady did empierce Your yron brestes or pittie could find place Withhold your bloody handes from battaill fierce And sith for me ye fight to me this grace Both yield to stay your deadly stryfe a space They stayd a while and forth she gan proceed Most wretched woman and of wicked race That am the authour of this hainous deed And cause of death betweene two doughtie knights do breed But if for me ye fight or me will serue Not this rude kynd of battaill nor these armes Are meet the which doe men in bale to sterue And doolefull sorrow heape with deadly harmes Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes Another warre and other weapons I Doe loue where loue does giue his sweet Alarmes Without bloodshed and where the enimy Does yield vnto his foe a pleasaunt victory Debatefull strife and cruell enmity The famous name of knighthood fowly shend But louely peace and gentle amity And in Amours the passing howres to spend The mightie martiall handes doe most commend Of loue they euer greater glory bore Then of their armes Mars is Cupidoes frend And is for Venus loues renowmed more Then all his wars and spoiles the which he did of yore Therewith she sweetly smyld They though full bent To proue extremities of bloody fight Yet at her speach their rages gan relent And calme the sea of their tempestuous spight Such powre haue pleasing wordes such is the might Of courteous clemency in gentle hart Now after all was ceast the Faery knight Besòught that Damzell suffer him depart And yield him ready passage to that other part She no lesse glad then he desirous was Of his departure thence for of her ioy And vaine delight she saw he light did pas A foe of folly and immodest toy Still solemne sad or still disdainfull coy Delighting all in armes and cruell warre That her sweet peace and pleasures did annoy Troubled with terrour and vnquiet iarre That she well pleased was thence 〈◊〉 amoue him farre Tho him she brought abord and her swift bote Forthwith directed to that further strand The which on the dull waues did lightly flote And soone arriued on the shallow sand Where gladsome Guyon salied forth to land And to that Damsell thankes gaue for reward Vpon that shore he spyed Atin stand Thereby his maister left when late he far'd In Phaedrias flitt barck ouer that perlous shard Well could he him remember sith of late He with 〈◊〉 sharp debatement made Streight gan he him reuyle and bitter rate As Shepheards curre that in darke eueninges shade Hath tracted forth some saluage beastes trade Vile Miscreaunt said he whether dost thou flye The shame and death which will thee soone inuade What coward hand shall doe thee next to dye That art thus fowly fledd from famous enimy With that he stifly shooke his steelhead dart But sober Guyon hearing him so rayle Though somewhat moued in his mightie hart Yet with strong reason maistred passion fraile And passed fayrely forth He turning taile Backe to the strond retyrd and there still stayd Awaiting passage which him late did faile The whiles Cymochles with that wanton mayd The hasty heat of his auowd reuenge delayd Whylest there the varlet stood he saw from farre An armed knight that towardes him fast ran He ran on foot as if in lucklesse warre His forlorne steed from him the victour wan He seemed breathlesse hartlesse faint and wan And all his armour sprinckled was with blood And soyld with durtie gore that no man can Discerne the hew thereof He neuer stood But bent his hastie course towardes the ydle flood The varlett saw when to the flood he came How without stop or stay he fiersly lept And deepe him selfe beducked in the same That in the lake his loftie crest was stept Ne of his safetie seemed care he kept But with his raging armes he rudely flasht The waues about and all his armour swept That all the blood and filth away was washt Yet still he bet the water and the billowes dasht Atin drew nigh to weet what it mote bee For much he wondred at that vncouth sight Whom should he but his own deare Lord 〈◊〉 His owne deare Lord Pyrrhochles in sad plight Ready to drowne him selfe for fell despight Harrow now out and well away he cryde What dismall day hath lent but this his cursed light To see my Lord so deadly damnifyde Pyrrhochles O Pyrrhochles what is thee betyde I burne I burne I burne then lowd he cryde O how I burne with implacable fyre Yet nought can quench mine inly flaming syde Nor sea of licour cold nor lake of myre Nothing but death can doe me to respyre Ah be it said he from Pyrrhochles farre After pursewing death once to