ground as hating life and light The gentle knight her soone with carefull paine Vplifted light and softly did vphold Thrise he her reard and thrise she sunke againe Till he his armes about her sides gan fold And to her said Yet if the stony cold Haue not all seized on your frozen hart Let one word fall that may your griefe vnfold And tell the secret of your mortall smart He oft finds present helpe who does his griefe impart Then casting vp a deadly looke full low Shee sight from bottome of her wounded brest And after many bitter throbs did throw With lips full pale and foltring tongue opprest These words she breathed forth from riuen chest Leaue ah leaue off what euer wight thou bee To let a wearie wretch from her dew rest And trouble dying soules tranquilitee Take not away now got which none would giue to me Ah farre be it said he Deare dame fro mee To hinder soule from her desired rest Or hold sad life in long captiuitee For all I seeke is but to haue redrest The bitter pangs that doth your heart infest Tell then ô Lady tell what fatall priefe Hath with so huge misfortune you opprest That I may cast to compasse your reliefe Or die with you in sorrow and partake your griefe With feeble hands then stretched forth on hye As heauen accusing guiltie of her death And with dry drops congealed in her eye In these sad words she spent her vtmost breath Heare then ô man the sorrowes that vneath My tongue can tell so farre all sense they pas Loe this dead corpse that lies here vnderneath The gentlest knight that euer on greene gras Gay steed with spurs did pricke the good Sir Mortdant was Was ay the while that he is not so now My Lord my loue my deare Lord my deare loue So long as heauens iust with equall brow Vouchsafed to behold vs from aboue One day when him high courage did emmoue As wont ye knights to seeke aduentures wilde He pricked forth his puissant force to proue Me then he left enwombed of this child This lucklesse child whom thus ye see with bloud defild Him fortuned hard fortune ye may ghesse To come where vile Acrasia does wonne Acrasia a false enchaunteresse That many errant knights hath foule fordonne Within a wandring Island that doth ronne And stray in perilous gulfe her dwelling is Faire Sir if euer there ye trauell shonne The cursed land where many wend amis And know it by the name it hight the Bowre of blis Her blisse is all in pleasure and delight Wherewith she makes her louers drunken mad And then with words weedes of wondrous might On them she workes her will to vses bad My lifest Lord she thus beguiled had For he was flesh all flesh doth frailtie breed Whom when I heard to beene so ill bestad Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed And cast to seeke him forth through daunger and great dreed Now had faire Cynthia by euen tournes Full measured three quarters of her yeare And thrise three times had fild her crooked hornes When as my wombe her burdein would forbeare And bad me call Lucina to me neare Lucina came a manchild forth I brought The woods the Nymphes my bowres my midwiues weare Hard helpe at need So deare thee babe I bought Yet nought too deare I deemd while so my dear I sought Him so I sought and so at last I found Where him that witch had thralled to her will In chaines of lust and lewd desires ybound And so transformed from his former skill That me he knew not neither his owne ill Till through wise handling and faire gouernance I him recured to a better will Purged from drugs of foule intemperance Then meanes I gan deuise for his deliuerance Which when the vile Enchaunteresse perceiu'd How that my Lord from her I would repriue With cup thus charmd him parting she deceiu'd Sad verse giue death to him that death does giue And losse of loue to her that loues to liue So soone as Bacchus with the Nymphe does lincke So parted we and on our iourney driue Till comming to this well he stoupt to drincke The charme fulfild dead suddenly he downe did sincke Which when I wretch Not one word more she sayd But breaking off the end for want of breath And slyding soft as downe to sleepe her layd And ended all her woe in quiet death That seeing good Sir Guyon could vneath From teares abstaine for griefe his hart did grate And from so heauie sight his head did wreath Accusing fortune and too cruell fate Which plunged had faire Ladie in so wretched state Then turning to his Palmer said Old syre Behold the image of mortalitie And feeble nature cloth'd with fleshly tyre When raging passion with fierce tyrannie Robs reason of her due regalitie And makes it seruant to her basest part The strong it weakens with infirmitie And with bold furie armes the weakest hart The strong through pleasure soonest falles the weake through smart But temperance said he with golden squire Betwixt them both can measure out a meane Neither to melt in pleasures whot desire Nor fry in hartlesse griefe and dolefull teene Thrise happie man who fares them both atweene But sith this wretched woman ouercome Of anguish rather then of crime hath beene Reserue her cause to her eternall doome And in the meane vouchsafe her honorable toombe Palmer quoth he death is an euill doome To good and bad the common Inne of rest But after death the tryall is to come When best shall be to them that liued best But both alike when death hath both supprest Religious reuerence doth buriall teene Which who so wants wants so much of his rest For all so great shame after death I weene As selfe to dyen bad vnburied bad to beene So both agree their bodies to engraue The great earthes wombe they open to the sky And with sad Cypresse seemely it embraue Then couering with a clod their closed eye They lay therein those corses tenderly And bid them sleepe in euerlasting peace But ere they did their vtmost obsequy Sir Guyon more affection to increace Bynempt a sacred vow which none should aye releace The dead knights sword out of his sheath he drew With which he cut a locke of all their heare Which medling with their bloud and earth he threw Into the graue and gan deuoutly sweare Such and such euill Godon Guyon reare And worse and worse young Orphane be thy paine If I or thou dew vengeance doe forbeare Till guiltie bloud her guerdon doe obtaine So shedding many teares they closd the earth againe Cant. II. Babes bloudie hands may not be clensd the face of golden Meane Her sisters two Extremities striue her to banish cleane THus when Sir Guyon with his faithfull guide Had with due rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde The litle babe vp in his armes he hent Who with sweet pleasance and bold blandishment
all his head vnto the bone Wherewith astonisht still he stood as senselesse stone Still as he stood faire Phaedria that beheld That deadly daunger soone atweene them ran And at their feet her selfe most humbly feld Crying with pitteous voice and count'nance wan Ah well away most noble Lords how can Your cruell eyes endure so pitteous sight To shed your liues on ground wo worth the man That first did teach the oursed steele to bight In his owne flesh and make way to the liuing spright If euer loue of Ladie did empierce Your yron brestes or pittie could find place Withhold your bloudie hands from battell fierce And sith for me ye fight to me this grace Both yeeld to stay your deadly strife a space They stayd a while and forth she gan proceed Most wretched woman and of wicked race That am the author of this hainous deed And cause of death betweene two doughtie knights doe breed But if for me ye fight or me will serue Not this rude kind of battell nor these armes Are meet the which doe men in bale to sterue And dolefull sorrow heape with deadly harmes Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes Another warre and other weapons I Doe loue where loue does giue his sweet alarmes Without bloudshed and where the enemy Does yeeld vnto his foe a pleasant victory Debatefull strife and cruell enmitie The famous name of knighthood fowly shent But louely peace and gentle amitie And in Amours the passing houres to spend The mightie martiall hands doe most commend Of loue they euer greater glory bore Then of their armes Mars is Cupidoes frend And is for Venus loues renowmed more Then all his wars and spoiles the which he did of yore Therewith she sweetly smyld They though full bent To proue extremities of bloudie fight Yet at her speach their rages gan relent And calme the sea of their tempestuous spight Such powre haue pleasing words such is the might Of courteous clemencie in gentle hart Now after all was ceast the Faery knight Besought that Damzell suffer him depart And yield him readie passage to that other part She no lesse glad then he desirous was Of his departure thence for of her ioy And vaine delight she saw he light did pas A foe of folly and immodest toy Still solemne sad or still disdainfull coy Delighting all in armes and cruell warre That her sweet peace and pleasures did annoy Troubled with terrour and vnquiet iarre That she well pleased was thence to amoue him farre Tho him she brought abord and her swift bote Forthwith directed to that further strand The which on the dull waues did lightly flote And soone arriued on the shallow sand Where gladsome Guyon salied forth to land And to that Damzell thankes gaue for reward Vpon that shore he spied Atin stand Thereby his maister left when late he far'd In Phadrias flit barke ouer that perlous shard Well could he him remember sith of late He with Pyrrhochles sharp debatement made Streight gan he him reuile and bitter rate As shepheards curre that in darke euenings shade Hath tracted forth some saluage beastes trade Vile Miscreant said he whither doest thou flie The shame and death which will thee soone inuade What coward hand shall doe thee next to die That art thus foully fled from famous enemie With that he stiffely shooke his steelehead dart But sober Guyon hearing him so raile Though somewhat moued in his mightie hart Yet with strong reason maistred passion fraile And passed fairely forth He turning taile Backe to the strond retyrd and there still stayd Awaiting passage which him late did faile The whiles Cymochles with that wanton mayd The hastie heat of his auowd reuenge delayd Whylest there the varlet stood he saw from farre An armed knight that towards him fast ran He ran on foot as if in lucklesse warre His forlorne steed from him the victourwan He seemed breathlesse hartlesse faint and wan And all his armour sprinckled was with bloud And soyld with durtie gore that no man can Discerne the hew thereof He neuer stood But bent his hastie course towards the idle flood The varlet saw when to the flood he came How without stop or stay he fiercely lept And deepe him selfe beduked in the same That in the lake his loftie crest was steept Ne of his safetie seemed care he kept But with his raging armes he rudely flasht The waues about and all his armour swept That all the bloud and filth away was washt Yet still he bet the water and the billowes dasht Atin drew nigh to weet what it mote bee For much he wondred at that vncouth sight Whom should he but his owne deare Lord there see His owne deare Lord Pyrrhochles in sad plight Readie to drowne himselfe for fell despight Harrow now out and well away he cryde What dismall day hath lent this cursed light To see my Lord so deadly damnifyde Pyrrhochles ô Pyrrhochles what is thee betyde I burne I burne I burne then loud he cryde O how I burne with implacable fire Yet nought can quench mine inly flaming syde Nor sea of licour cold nor lake of mire Nothing but death can doe me to respire Ah be it said he from Pyrrhochles farre After pursewing death once to require Or think that ought those puissant hands may marre Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappie starre Perdie then is it fit for me said he That am I weene most wretched man aliue But in flames yet no flames can I see And dying daily daily yet reuiue O Atin helpe to me last death to giue The varlet at his plaint was grieued so sore That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue And his owne health remembring now no more Did follow that ensample which he blam'd afore Into the lake he lept his Lord to ayd So Loue the dread of daunger doth despise And of him catching hold him strongly stayd From drowning But more happie he then wise Of that seas nature did him not auise The waues thereof so slow and sluggish were Engrost with mud which did them foule agrise That euery weightie thing they did vpbeare Ne ought mote euer sinke downe to the bottome there Whiles thus they strugled in that idle waue And stroue in vaine the one himselfe to drowne The other both from drowning for to saue Lo to that shore one in an auncient gowne Whose hoarie locks great grauitie did crowne Holding in hand a goodly arming sword By fortune came led with the troublous sowne Where drenched deepe he found in that dull ford The carefull seruant striuing with his raging Lord. Him Atin spying knew right well of yore And loudly cald Helpe helpe ô Archimage To saue my Lord in wretched plight forlore Helpe with thy hand or with thy counsell sage Weake hands but counsell is most strong in age Him when the old man saw he wondred sore To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage Yet sithens helpe he saw he needed more Then pittie he in hast
beget True loue and faithfull friendship she by her did set Backe to that desert forrest they retyred Where sorie Britomart had lost her late There they her sought and euery where inquired Where they might tydings get of her estate Yet found they none But by what haplesse fate Or hard misfortune she was thence conuayd And stolne away from her beloued mate Were long to tell therefore I here will stay Vntill another tyde that I it finish may Cant. VII Amoret rapt by greedie lust Belphebe saues from dread The Squire her loues and being blam'd his dayes in dole doth lead GReat God of loue that with thy cruell dart Doest conquer greatest conquerors on ground And setst thy kingdome in the captiue harts Of Kings and Keasars to thy seruice bound What glorie or what guerdon hast thou found In feeble Ladies tyranning so sore And adding anguish to the bitter wound With which their liues thou lanchedst long afore By heaping stormes of trouble on them daily more So whylome didst thou to faire Florimell And so and so to noble Britomart So doest thou now to her of whom I tell The louely Amoret whose gentle hart Thou martyrest with sorow and with smart In saluage forrests and in deserts wide With Beares and Tygers taking heauie part Withouten comfort and withouten guide That pittie is to heare the perils which she tride So soone as she with that braue Britonesse Had left that Turneyment for beauties prise They trauel'd long that now for wearinesse Both of the way and warlike exercise Both through a forest ryding did deuise T' alight and rest their wearie limbs awhile There heauie sleepe the eye-lids did surprise Of Britomart after long tedious toyle That did her passed paines in quiet rest assoyle The whiles faire Amoret of nought affeard Walkt through the wood for pleasure or for need When suddenly behind her backe she heard One rushing forth out of the thickest weed That ere she backe could turne to taken heed Had vnawares her snatched vp from ground Feebly she shriekt but so feebly indeed That Britomart heard not the shrilling sound There where through weary trauel she lay sleeping soūd It was to weet a wilde and saluage man Yet was no man but onely like in shape And eke in stature higher by a span All ouer growne with haire that could awhape An hardy hart and his wide mouth did gape With huge great teeth like to a Bore For he liu'd all on rauin and on rape Of men and beasts and fed on fleshly gore The signe whereof yet stain'd his bloudy lips afore His neather lip was not like man nor beast But like a wide deepe poke downe hanging low In which he wont the relickes of his feast And cruell spoyle which he had spard to stow And ouer it his huge great nose did grow Full dreadfully empurpled all with bloud And downe both sides two wide long eares did glow And raught downe to his waste when vp he stood More great then th' eares of Elephants by Indus flood His wast was with a wreath of yuie greene Engirt about ne other garment wore For all his haire was like a garment seene And in his hand a tall young oake he bore Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore And beath'd in fire for steele to be in sted But whence he was or of what wombe ybore Of beasts or of the earth I haue not red But certes was with milke of Wolues and Tygres fed This vgly creature in his armes her snatcht And through the forrest bore her quite away With briers and bushes all to rent and scratcht Ne care he had ne pittie of the pray Which many a knight had sought so many a day He stayed not but in his armes her bearing Ran till he came to th' end of all his way Vnto his caue farre from all peoples hearing And there he threw her in nought feeling ne nought fearing For she deare Ladie all the way was dead Whilest he in armes her bore but when she felt Her selfe downe soust she waked out of dread Streight into griefe that her deare hart nigh swelt And eft gan into tender teares to melt Then when she lookt about and nothing found But darknesse and dread horrour where she dwelt She almost fell againe into a swound Ne wist whether aboue she were or vnder ground With that she heard some one close by her side Sighing and sobbing sore as if the paine Her tender hart in peeces would diuide Which she long listning softly askt againe What mister wight it was that so did plaine To whom thus aunswer'd was Ah wretched wight That seekes to know anothers griefe in vaine Vnweeting of thine owne like haplesse plight Selfe to forget to mind another is ouersight Aye me said she where am I or with whom Emong the liuing or emong the dead What shall of me vnhappy maid become Shall death be th' end or ought else worse aread Vnhappy mayd then answerd she whose dread Vntride is lesse then when thou shalt it try Death is to him that wretched life doth lead Both grace and gaine but he in hell doth lie That liues a loathed life and wishing cannot die This dismall day hath thee a caytiue made And vassall to the vilest wretch aliue Whose cursed vsage and vngodly trade The heauens abhorre and into darkenesse driue For on the spoile of women he doth liue Whose bodies chast when euer in his powre He may them catch vnable to gainestriue He with his shamefull lust doth first deflowre And afterwards themselues doth cruelly deuoure Now twenty daies by which the sonnes of men Diuide their works haue past through heuen sheene Since I was brought into this dolefull den During which space these sory eies haue seen Seauen women by him slaine and eaten clene And now no more for him but I alone And this old woman here remaining beene Till thou cam'st hither to augment our mone And of vs three to morrow he will sure eate one Ah dreadfull tidings which thou doest declare Quoth she of all that euer hath bene knowen Full many great calamities and rare This feeble brest endured hath but none Equall to this where euer I haue gone But what are you whom like vnlucky lot Hath linckt with me in the same chaine attone To tell quoth she that which ye see needs not A wofull wretched maid of God and man forgot But what I was it irkes me to reherse Daughter vnto a Lord of high degree That ioyd in happy peace till fates peruerse With guilefull loue did secretly agree To ouerthrow my state and dignitie It was my lot to loue a gentle swaine Yet was he but a Squire of low degree Yet was he meet vnlesse mine eye did faine By any Ladies side for Leman to haue laine But for his meannesse and disparagement My Sire who me too dearely well did loue Vnto my choise by no meanes would assent But often did my folly fowle reproue Yet nothing could my fixed mind
did delight A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld By straunge aduenture as it did betyde And there begotten of a Lady myld Faire Thyamis the daughter of Labryde That was in sacred bands of wedlocke tyde To Therion a loose vnruly swayne Who had more ioy to raunge the forrest wyde And chase the saluage beast with busie payne Then serue his Ladies loue and wast in pleasures vayne The forlorne mayd did with loues longing burne And could not lacke her louers company But to the wood she 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 find And kindling coles of lustin brutish eye The loyall links of wedlocke did vnbind And made her person thrall vnto his beastly kind So long in secret cabin there he held Her captiue to his sensuall desire Till that with timely fruit her belly sweld And bore a boy vnto that saluage fire Then home he suffred her for to retire For ransome leauing him the late borne childe Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspire He noursled vp in life and manners wilde Emongst wild beasts and woods from lawes of men exilde For all he taught the tender ymp was but To banish 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 ryde their backes not made to beare And the Robuckes in flight to ouertake That euery beast for feare of him did fly and quake Thereby so fearelesse and so fell he grew That his owne sire and maister of his guise Did often tremble at his horrid vew And oft for dread of hurt would him aduise The angry beasts not rashly to despise Nor too much to prouoke for he would learne The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise A lesson hard and make the Libbard sterne Leaue roaring when in rage he for reuenge did earne And for to make his powre approued more Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell The spotted Panther and the tusked Bore The Pardale swift and the Tigre cruell The Antelope and Wolfe both fierce and fell 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 tyrans law His louing mother came vpon a day Vnto the woods 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 delights of bloudy game He trayned was till ryper yeares he raught And there abode whilst any beast of name Walkt in that forest whom he had not taught To feare his force and then his courage haught Desird of forreine foemen to be knowne And far abroad for straunge aduentures sought In which his might was neuer ouerthrowne But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown Yet euermore it was his manner faire After long labours and aduentures spent Vnto those natiue woods for to repaire To see his fire and ofspring auncient And now he thither came for like intent Where he vnwares the fairest Vna found Straunge Lady in so straunge habiliment Teaching the Satyres which her sat around Trew sacred lore which from her sweet lips did redound He wondred at her wisedome heauenly rare Whose like in womens wit he neuer knew And when her curteous 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 crueltie On gentle Dame so hurtlesse and so trew Thenceforth he kept her goodly company And learnd her discipline of faith and veritie 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 wit in secret counsels spent How to escape At last in priuie 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 do their seruice to Syluanus old The gentle virgin left behind alone He led away with courage 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 woods are past come now to the plaine The better part now of the lingring day They traueild had when as they farre espide A wearie wight forwandring by the way And towards him they gan in hast to ride To weet of newes that did abroad betide Or tydings 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 weedes forworne And soild with dust of the long dried way His sandales were with toilesome 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 wearie limbes vpon and eke behind His scrip did hang in which his needments he did bind The knight approching nigh of him inquerd Tydings 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 Aye me Deare dame quoth he well may I rew To tell the sad sight which mine eies haue red These eyes did see that knight both liuing and eke ded That cruell word her tender hart so thrild That suddein cold did runne through euery vaine And stony horrour all her sences fild With dying fit 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 chiefe Then gan the Pilgrim thus I chaunst this day This fatall day that shall I euer rew
and doen vpreare Their beuers bright each other for to greete Goodly comportance each to other beare And entertaine themselues with court'sies meet Then said the Redcrosse knight Now mote I weet Sir Guyon why with so fierce saliaunce And fell intent ye did at earst me meet For sith I know your goodly gouernaunce Great cause I weene you guided or some vncouth chaunce Certes said he well mote I shame to tell The fond encheason that me hither led A false infamous faitour late befell Me for to meet that seemed ill bested And playnd of grieuous outrage which he red A knight had wrought against a Ladie gent Which to auenge he to this place me led Where you he made the marke of his intent And now is fled foule shame him follow where he went So can he turne his earnest vnto game Through goodly handing and wise temperance By this his aged guide in presence came Who soone as on that knight his eye did glance Eft soones of him had perfect cognizance Sith him in Faerie court he late auizd And said faire sonne God giue you happie chance And that deare Crosse vpon your shield deuizd Wherewith aboue all knights ye goodly seeme aguizd Ioy may you haue and euerlasting fame Of late most hard atchieu'ment by you donne For which enrolled is your glorious name In heauenly Registers aboue the Sunne Where you a Saint with Saints your seat haue wonne But wretched we where ye haue left your marke Must now anew begin like race to runne God guide thee Guyon well to end thy warke And to the wished hauen bring thy weary barke Palmer him answered the Redcrosse knight His be the praise that this atchieu'ment wrought Who made my hand the organ of his might More then goodwill to me attribute nought For all I did I did but as I ought But you faire Sir whose pageant next ensewes Well mote yee thee as well can wish your thought That home ye may report these happie newes For well ye worthie bene for worth and gentle thewes So courteous conge both did giue and take With right hands plighted pledges of good will Then Guyon forward gan his voyage make With his blacke Palmer that him guided still Still he him guided ouer dale and hill And with his steedie staffe did point his way His race with reason and with words his will From foule intemperance he oft did stay And suffred not in wrath his hastie steps to stray In this faire wize they traueild long yfere Through many hard assayes which did betide Of which he honour still away did beare And spred his glorie through all countries wide At last as chaunst them by a forest side To passe for succour from the scorching ray They heard a ruefull voice that dearnly cride With percing shriekes and many a dolefull lay Which to attend a while their forward steps they stay But if that carelesse heauens quoth she despise The doome of iust reuenge and take delight To see sad pageants of mens miseries As bound by them to liue in liues despight Yet can they not warne death from wretched wight Come then come soone come sweetest death to mee And take away this long lent loathed light Sharpe be thy wounds but sweet the medicines bee That long captiued soules from wearie thraldome free But thou sweet Babe whom frowning froward fate Hath made sad witnesse of thy fathers fall Sith heauen thee deignes to hold in liuing state Long maist thou liue and better thriue withall Then to thy lucklesse parents did befall Liue thou and to thy mother dead attest That cleare she dide from blemish criminall Thy litle hands embrewd in bleeding brest Loe I for pledges leaue So giue me leaue to rest With that a deadly shrieke she forth did throw That through the wood reecchoed againe And after gaue a grone so deepe and low That seemd her tender heart was rent in twaine Or thrild with point of thorough piercing paine As gentle Hynd whose sides with cruell steele Through launched forth her bleeding life does raine Whiles the sad pang approching she does feele Brayes out her latest breath and vp her eyes doth seele Which when that warriour heard dismounting straict From his tall steed he rusht into the thicke And soone arriued where that sad pourtraict Of death and labour lay halfe dead halfe quicke In whose white alabaster brest did sticke A cruell knife that made a griesly wound From which forth gusht a streme of gorebloud thick That all her goodly garments staind around And into a deepe sanguine dide the grassie ground Pittifull spectacle of deadly smart Beside a bubbling fountaine low she lay Which she increased with her bleeding hart And the cleane waues with purple gold did ray Al 's in her lap a louely babe did play His cruell sport in stead of sorrow dew For in her streaming blood he did embay His litle hands and tender ioynts embrew Pitifull spectacle as euer eye did view Besides them both vpon the soiled gras The dead corse of an armed knight was spred Whose armour all with bloud besprinckled was His ruddie lips did smile and rosy red Did paint his chearefull cheekes yet being ded Seemd to haue beene a goodly personage Now in his freshest flowre of lustie hed Fit to inflame faire Lady with loues rage But that fiers fate did crop the blossome of his age Whom when the good Sir Guyon did behold His hart gan wexe as starke as marble stone And his fresh bloud did frieze with fearefull cold That all his senses seemd bereft attone At last his mightie ghost gan deepe to grone As Lyon grudging in his great disdaine Mournes inwardly and makes to himselfe mone Till ruth and fraile affection did constraine His stout courage to stoupe and shew his inward paine Out of her gored wound the cruell steele He lightly snatcht and did the floudgate stop With his faire garment then gan softly feele Her feeble pulse to proue if any drop Of liuing bloud yet in her veynes did hop Which when he felt to moue he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop So well he did her deadly wounds repaire That at the last she gan to breath out liuing aire Which he perceiuing greatly gan reioice And goodly counsell that for wounded hart Is meetest med'cine tempred with sweet voice Ay me deare Lady which the image art Of ruefull pitie and impatient smart What direfull chance armd with reuenging fate Or cursed hand hath plaid this cruell part Thus fowle to hasten your vntimely date Speake O deare Lady speake help neuer comes too late Therewith her dim eie-lids she vp gan reare On which the drery death did sit as sad As lump of lead and made darke clouds appeare But when as him all in bright armour clad Before her standing she espied had As one out of a deadly dreame affright She weakely started yet she nothing drad Streight downe againe her selfe in great despight She groueling threw to
of euerlasting fame He with his victour sword first opened The bowels of wide Fraunce a forlorne Dame And taught her first how to be conquered Since which with sundrie spoiles she hath beene ransacked Let Scaldis tell and let tell Hania And let the marsh of Estham bruges tell What colour were their waters that same day And all the moore twixt Eluersham and Dell With bloud of Henalois which therein fell How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell That not Scuith guiridh it mote seeme to bee But rather y Scuith gogh signe of sad crueltee His sonne king Leill by fathers labour long Enioyd an heritage of lasting peace And built Cairleill and built Cairleon strong Next Huddibras his realme did not encrease But taught the land from wearie warres to cease Whose footsteps Bladud following in arts Exceld at Athens all the learned preace From whence he brought them to these saluage parts And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts Ensample of his wondrous faculty Behold the boyling Bathes at Cairbadon Which seeth with secret fire eternally And in their entrails full of quicke Brimston Nourish the flames which they are warm'd vpon That to her people wealth they forth do well And health to euery forreine nation Yet he at last contending to excell The reach of men through flight into fond mischief fell Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raind But had no issue male him to succeed But three faire daughters which were well vptraind In all that seemed sit for kingly seed Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed To haue diuided Tho when feeble age Nigh to his vtmost date he saw proceed He cald his daughters and with speeches sage Inquyrd which of them most did loue her parentage The eldest Gonorill gan to protest That she much more then her owne life him lou'd And Regan greater loue to him profest Then all the world when euer it were proou'd But Cordeill said she lou'd him as behoou'd Whose simple answere wanting colours faire To paint it forth him to displeasance moou'd That in his crowne he counted her no haire But twixt the other twaine his kingdome whole did shaire So wedded th' one to Maglan king of Scots And th' other to the king of Cambria And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lots But without dowre the wise Cordelia Was sent to Aganip of Celtica Their aged Syre thus cased of his crowne A priuate life led in Albania With Gonorill long had in great renowne That nought him grieu'd to bene from rule deposed downe But true it is that when the oyle is spent The light goes out and weeke is throwne away So when he had resignd his regiment His daughter gan despise his drouping day And wearie waxe of his continuall stay Tho to his daughter Rigan he repayrd Who him at first well vsed euery way But when of his departure she despayrd Her bountie she abated and his cheare empayrd The wretched man gan then auise too late That loue is not where most it is profest Too truely tryde in his extreamest state At last resolu'd likewise to proue the rest He to Cordelia him selfe addrest Who with entire affection him receau'd As for her Syre and king her seemed best And after all an army strong she leau'd To war on those which him had of his realme bereau'd So to his crowne she him restor'd againe In which he dyde made ripe for death by eld And after wild it should to her remaine Who peaceably the same long time did weld And all mens harts in dew obedience held Till that her sisters children woxen strong Through proud ambition against her rebeld And ouercommen kept in prison long Till wearie of that wretched life her selfe she hong Then gan the bloudie brethren both to raine But fierce Cundah gan shortly to enuie His brother Morgan prickt with proud disdaine To haue a pere in part of soueraintie And kindling coles of cruell enmitie Raisd warre and him in battell ouerthrew Whence as he to those woodie hils did flie Which hight of him Glamorgan there him slew Then did he raigne alone when he none equall knew His sonne Riuallo his dead roome did supply In whose sad time bloud did from heauen raine Next great Gurgustus then faire Caecily In constant peace their kingdomes did containe After whom Lago and Kinmarke did raine And Gorbogud till farre in yeares he grew Till his ambitious sonnes vnto them twaine Arraught the rule and from their father drew Stout Ferrex and sterne Porrex him in prison threw But ô the greedy thirst of royall crowne That knowes no kinred nor regardes no right Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe Who vnto him assembling forreine might Made warre on him and fell him selfe in fight Whose death t' auenge his mother mercilesse Most mercilesse of women VVyden hight Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse Here ended Brutus sacred progenie Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne With high renowme and great felicitie The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne Through discord and the royall throne forlorne Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent Whilest each of Brutus boasted to be borne That in the end was left no moniment Of Brutus nor of Britons glory auncient Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might And wondrous wit to menage high affaires Who stird vp pitty of the stressed plight Of this sad Realme cut into sundry shaires By such as claymd themselues Brutes rightfull haires Gathered the Princes of the people loose To taken counsell of their common cares Who with his wisedom won him streight did choose Their king and swore him fealty to win or loose Then made he head against his enimies And Ymner slew or Logris miscreate Then Ruddoc and proud Stater both allyes This of Albanie newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce Whos 's countreis he redus'd to quiet state And shortly brought to ciuill gouernaunce Now one which earst were many made through variaunce Then made he sacred lawes which some men say Were vnto him reueald in vision By which he freed the Traueilers high way The Churches part and Ploughmans portion Restraining stealth and strong extortion The gracious Numa of great Britanie For till his dayes the chiefe dominion By strength was wielded without pollicie Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignitie Donwallo dyde for what may liue for ay And left two sonnes of pearelesse prowesse both That sacked Rome too dearely did assay The recompence of their periured oth And ransackt Greece well tryde whē they were wroth Besides subiected Fraunce and Germany Which yet their prayses speake all be they loth And inly tremble at the memory Of Brennus and Bellinus kings of Britany Next them did Gurgunt great Bellinus sonne In rule succeede and eke in fathers prayse He Easterland subdewd and Danmarke
wonne And of them both did foy and tribute raise The which was dew in his dead fathers dayes He also gaue to fugitiues of Spayne Whom he at sea found wandring from their wayes 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 dayes Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre A woman worthy of immortall prayse Which for this Realme found many goodly layes And wholesome Statutes to her husbahd 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 sonnes Sifillus after her did rayne And then Kimarus and then Danius Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustaine Who had he not with wrath outrageous And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous And mightie deeds 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 sonne he left begotten of one wife All which successiuely by turnes did raine First Gorboman a man of vertuous life Next Archigald who for his proud disdaine Deposed was from Princedome soueraine And pitteous Elidure put in his sted Who shortly it to him restord againe 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 royall Diademe And goodly well long time it gouerned Till the prowd 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 hither came Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe And twise renforst backe to their ships to fly The whiles with bloud 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 or Vncles soueraintie Betrayd his contrey vnto forreine spoyle Nought else but treason from the first this lād did foyle So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloushed and many a sad assay In which him selfe 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 did defray 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 happytime That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd O too high ditty for my simple rime Soone after this the Romanes him wrrayd For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd Good Claudius that next was Emperour An army brought and with him battell fought In which the king was by a Treachetour Disguised slaine ere any thereof thought Yet ceased not the bloudy fight for ought For Aruirage his brothers place supplide Both in armes and crowne and by that draught Did driue the Romanes to the weaker side That they to peace agreed So all was pacifide Was neuer king more highly magnifide Nor dred of Romanes then was Aruirage For which the Emperour to him allide His daughter Genuiss ' in marriage Yet shortly he renounst the vassalage Of Rome againe who hither hastly sent Vespasian that with great spoile and rage Forwasted all till Genuissa gent Perswaded him to ceasse and her Lord to relent He dyde and him succeeded Marius Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity Then Coyll and after him good Lucius That first receiued Christianitie 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 greatly did decay This good king shortly without issew dide Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew That did her selfe in sundry parts diuide And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew Whilest Romanes dayly 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 battell tride Not with so good successe as she deseru'd By reason that the Captaines on her side Corrupted by Paulinus from her sweru'd Yet such as were through former flight perseru'd Gathering againe her Host she did renew And with fresh courage on the victour seru'd But being all defeated saue a few Rather then fly or be captiu'd her selfe she slew O famous moniment of womens prayse Matchable either to Semiramis Whom antique history so high doth raise Or to Hysiphil ' or to Thomiris Her Host two hundred thousand numbred is Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might Triumphed oft against her enimis And yet though ouercome in haplesse fight She triumphed on death in enemies despight Her reliques Fulgent hauing gathered Fought with Scuerus and him ouerthrew Yet in the chace was slaine of them that fled So made them victours whom he did subdew Then gan Carausius tirannize anew And gainst the Romanes bent their proper powre But him Allectus treacherously slew And tooke on him the robe of Emperoure Nath'lesse the same enioyed but short happy howre For Asclepiodate him ouercame And left inglorious on the vanquisht playne Without or robe or rag to hide his shame Then afterwards he in his stead did rayne But shortly was by Coyll in battell slaine Who after long debate since Lucies time Was of the Britons first crownd Soueraine Then gan this Realme renewe her passed prime He of his name Coylchester built of stone and lime Which when the Romanes heard they hither sent Constantius a man of mickle might With whom king Coyll made an agreement And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright Faire Helena the fairest liuing wight Who in all godly thewes and goodly prayse Did far excell but was most famous hight For skill in Musicke of all in
th' one was armed all in warlike wize Whom to be Paridell he did deuize And th' other all yclad in garments light Discolour'd like to womanish disguise He did resemble to his Ladie 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 extremitie That is the father of foule gealosy He 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 Belamour the partner of his sheet But it was scornefull Braggadocchio That with his seruant Trompart houerd there Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe Whom such when as Malbecco spyed clere He turned backe and would haue fled arere Till Trompart ronning hastily 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 bodie quooke Said he thou man of nought what doest thou here Vnfitly furnisht with thy bag and booke Where I expected one with shield and spere To proue some deedes 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 rudedesse 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 Ladie 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 succour is thee by That is the whole worlds commune remedy That chearefull word his weake hart much did cheare And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply That bold he said ô most redoubted Pere Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare Then sighing sore It is not long said 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 depriue Through open outrage he her bore away And with fowle force vnto his will did driue Which all good knights that armes do beare this day Are bound 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 quarrell then defence of right And for a Ladie gainst a faithlesse knight So shall your glory be aduaunced much And all faire Ladies magnifie your might And eke my selfe albe I simple such Your worthy paine shall well 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 scornefully askew As much disdeigning to be so misdempt Or a war-monger to be basely nempt And said 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 Trompart that his maisters humor knew In lofty lookes to hide an humble mind Was inly tickled with that golden vew And in his eare him grounded close behind Yet stoupt he not but lay still in the wind Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease Till Trompart lowly to the ground inclind Besought him his great courage to appease And pardon simple man that rash did him displease Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere At last he thus Thou clod of vilest clay I pardon yield and with thy rudenesse beare But weete henceforth that all that golden pray And all that else the vaine world vaunten may I loath as doung ne deeme my dew reward Fame is my meed and glory vertues pray But minds of mortall men are muchell mard And mou'd amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard And more I graunt to thy great miserie 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 bloud hath of so many thousands shed I sweare ere long shall dearely it repent Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed But soone he shall be found and shortly doen be ded 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 ouerronne 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 farre wandered But those two sought nought but the present pray To weete the treasure which he did bewray On which their eies and harts were wholly set With purpose how they might it best betray For sith the houre that first he did them let The same behold therewith their keene desires were whet It fortuned as they together far'd They spide where Paridell came pricking fast Vpon the plaine the which himselfe prepar'd To giust with that braue straunger knight a cast As on aduenture by the way he past Alone he rode without his Paragone For hauing filcht her bels her vp he cast To the wide world and let her fly alone He nould be clogd So had he serued many one The gentle Lady loose at randon left The greene-wood long did walke and wander wide At wilde aduenture like a forlorne west Till on a day the Satyres her espide Straying alone withouten groome or guide Her vp they tooke and with them home her led With them as housewife euer to abide To milke their gotes and make them cheese and bred And euery one as commune good her handeled That shortly she Malbecco has forgot And eke Sir Paridell all were he deare Who from her went to seeke another lot And now by fortune was arriued here Where those two guilers with Malbecco were Soone as the oldman saw Sir Paridell He fainted and was almost dead with feare Ne word he had to speake his griefe to tell But to him louted low and greeted goodly well And after asked him for Hellenore I take no keepe of her said Paridell She wonneth in the forrest there before So forth he rode as his aduenture fell The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sell Faynd to alight something amisse to mend But
brother did ellope streight way Who taking her from me his owne loue left astray She seeing then her selfe forsaken so Through dolorous despaire which she conceyued Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw Thinking to haue her griefe by death bereaued But see how much her purpose was deccaued Whilest thus amidst the billowes beating of her Twixt life and death long to and fro she weaued She chaunst vnwares to light vppon this coffer Which to her in that daunger hope of life did offer The wretched mayd that earst desir'd to die When as the paine of death she tasted had And but halfe seene his vgly visnomie Gan to repent that she had beene so mad For any death to chaunge life though most bad And catching hold of this Sea-beaten chest The lucky Pylot of her passage sad After long tossing in the seas distrest Her weary barke at last vppon mine Isle did rest Where I by chaunce then wandring on the shore Did her espy and through my good endeuour From dreadfull mouth of death which threatned sore Her to haue swallow'd vp did helpe to saue her She then in recompence of that great fauour Which I on her bestowed bestowed on me The portion of that good which Fortune gaue her Together with her selfe in dowry free Both goodly portions but of both the better she Yet in this coffer which she with her brought Great threasure sithence we did finde contained Which as our owne we tooke and so it thought But this same other Damzell since hath fained That to her selfe that threasure appertained And that she did transport the same by sea To bring it to her husband new ordained But suffred cruell shipwracke by the way But whether it be so or no I can not say But whether it indeede be so or no This doe I say that what so good or ill Or God or Fortune vnto me did throw Not wronging any other by my will I hold mine owne and so will hold it still And though my land he first did winne away And then my loue though now it little skill Yet my good lucke he shall not likewise pray But I will it defend whilst euer that I may So hauing sayd the younger did ensew Full true it is what so about our land My brother here declared hath to you But not for it this ods twixt vs doth stand But for this threasure throwne vppon his strand Which well I proue as shall appeare by triall To be this maides with whom I fastned hand Known by good markes and perfect good espiall Therefore it ought be rendred her without deniall When they thus ended had the Knight began Certes your strife were easie to accord Would ye remit it to some righteous man Vnto your selfe said they we giue our word To bide what iudgement ye shall vs afford Then for assuraunce to my doome to stand Vnder my foote let each lay downe his sword And then you shall my sentence vnderstand So each of them layd downe his sword out of his hand Then Artegall thus to the younger sayd Now tell me Amidas if that ye may Your brothers land the which the sea hath layd Vnto your part and pluckt from his away By what good right doe you withhold this day What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea it to my share did lay Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme Then turning to the elder thus he sayd Now Bracidas let this likewise be showne Your brothers threasure which from him is strayd Being the dowry of his wife well knowne By what right doe you claime to beyour owne What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea hath it vnto me throwne Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme For equall right in equall things doth stand For what the mighty Sea hath once possest And plucked quite from all possessors hand Whether by rage of waues that neuer rest Or else by wracke that wretches hath distrest He may dispose by his imperiall might As thing at randon left to whom he list So Amidas the land was yours first hight And so the threasure yours is Bracidas by right When he his sentence thus pronounced had Both Amidas and Philtra were displeased But Bracidas and Lucy were right glad And on the threasure by that iudgement seased So was their discord by this doome appeased And each one had his right Then Artegall When as their sharpe contention he had ceased Departed on his way as did befall To follow his old quest the which him forth did call So as he trauelled vppon the way He chaunst to come where happily he spide A rout of many people farre away To whom his course he hastily applide To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide To whom when he approched neare in sight An vncouth sight he plainely then descride To be a troupe of women warlike dight With weapons in their hands as ready for to fight And in the midst of them he saw a Knight With both his hands behinde him pinnoed hard And round about his necke an halter tight As ready for the gallow tree prepard His face was couered and his head was bar'd That who he was vneath was to descry And with full heauy heart with them he far'd Grieu'd to the soule and groning inwardly That he of womens hands so base a death should dy But they like tyrants mercilesse the more Reioyced at his miserable case And him reuiled and reproched sore With bitter taunts and termes of vile disgrace Now when as Artegall arriu'd in place Did aske what cause brought that man to decay They round about him gan to swarme apace Meaning on him their cruell hands to lay And to haue wrought vnwares some villanous assay But he was soone aware of their ill minde And drawing backe deceiued their intent Yet though him selfe did shame on womankinde His mighty hand to shend he Talus sent To wrecke on them their follies hardyment Who with few sowces of his yron flale Dispersed all their troupe incontinent And sent them home to tell a piteous tale Of their vaine prowesse turned to their proper bale But that same wretched man ordaynd to die They left behind them glad to be so quit Him Talus tooke out of perplexitie And horrour of fowle death for Knight vnfit Who more then losse of life ydreaded it And him restoring vnto liuing light So brought vnto his Lord where he did sit Beholding all that womanish weake fight Whom soone as he beheld he knew and thus behight Sir Turpine haplesse man what make you here Or haue you lost your selfe and your discretion That euer in this wretched case ye were Or haue ye yeelded you to proude oppression Of womens powre that boast of mens subiection Or else what other deadly dismall day Is falne on you by
time the warlike Amazon Whose wandring fancie after lust did raunge Gan cast a secret liking to this captiue straunge Which long concealing in her couert brest She chaw'd the cud of louers carefull plight Yet could it not so thoroughly digest Being fast fixed in her wounded spright But it tormented her both day and night Yet would she not thereto yeeld free accord To serue the lowly vassall of her might And of her seruant make her souerayne Lord So great her pride that she such basenesse much abhord So much the greater still her anguish grew Through stubborne handling of her loue-sicke hart And still the more she stroue it to subdew The more she still augmented her owne smart And wyder made the wound of th'hidden dart At last when long she struggled had in vaine She gan to stoupe and her proud mind conuert To meeke obeysance of loues mightie raine And him entreat for grace that had procur'd her paine Vnto her selfe in secret she did call Her nearest handmayd whom she most did trust And to her said Clarinda whom of all I trust a liue sith I thee fostred first Now is the time that I vntimely must Thereof make tryall in my greatest need It is so hapned that the heauens vniust Spighting my happie freedome haue agreed To thrall my looser life or my last bale to breed With that she turn'd her head as halfe abashed To hide the blush which in her visage rose And through her eyes like sudden lightning flashed Decking her cheeke with a vermilion rose But soone she did her countenance compose And to her turning thus began againe This griefes deepe wound I would to thee disclose Thereto compelled through hart-murdring paine But dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine Ah my deare dread said then the faithfull Mayd Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold That many hath with dread of death dismayd And dare euen deathes most dreadfull face behold Say on my souerayne Ladie and be bold Doth not your handmayds life at your foot lie Therewith much comforted she gan vnfold The cause of her conceiued maladie As one that would confesse yet faine would it denie Clarin sayd she thou seest yond Fayry Knight Whom not my valour but his owne braue mind Subiected hath to my vnequall might What right is it that he should thraldome find For lending life to me a wretch vnkind That for such good him recompence with ill Therefore I cast how I may him vnbind And by his freedome get his free goodwill Yet so as bound to me he may continue still bound vnto me but not with such hard bands Of strong compulsion and streight violence As now in miserable state he stands But with sweet loue and sure beneuolence Voide of malitious mind or foule offence To which if thou canst win him any way Without discouerie of my thoughts pretence Both goodly meede of him it purchase may And eke with gratefull seruice me right well apay Which that thou mayst the better bring to pas Loe here this ring which shall thy warrant bee And token true to old Eumenias From time to time when thou it best shalt see That in and out thou mayst haue passage free Goe now Clarinda well thy wits aduise And all thy forces gather vnto thee Armies of louely lookes and speeches wise With which thou canst euen Ioue himselfe to loue entise The trustie Mayd conceiuing her intent Did with sure promise of her good indeuour Giue her great comfort and some harts content So from her parting she thenceforth did labour By all the meanes she might to curry fauour With th'Elfin Knight her Ladies best beloued With daily shew of courteous kind behauiour Euen at the markewhite of his hart she roued And with wide glauncing words one day she thus him proued Vnhappie Knight vpon whose hopelesse state Fortune enuying good hath felly frowned And cruell heauens haue heapt an heauy fate I rew that thus thy better dayes are drowned In sad despaire and all thy senses swowned In stupid sorow sith thy iuster merit Might else haue with felicitie bene crowned Looke vp at last and wake thy dulled spirit To thinke how this long death thou mightest disinherit Much did he maruell at her vncouth speach Whose hidden drift he could not well perceiue And gan to doubt least she him sought t'appeach Of treason or some guilefull traine did weaue Through which she might his wretched life bereaue Both which to barre he with this answere met her Faire Damzell that with ruth as I perceaue Of my mishaps art mou'd to wish me better For such your kind regard I can but rest your detter Yet weet ye well that to a courage great It is no lesse beseeming well to beare The storme of fortunes frowne or heauens threat Then in the sunshine of her countenance cleare Timely to ioy and carrie comely cheare For though this cloud haue now me ouercast Yet doe I not of better times despeyre And though vnlike they should for euer last Yet in my truthes assurance I rest fixed fast But what so stonie mind she then replyde But if in his owne powre occasion lay Would to his hope a windowe open wyde And to his fortunes helpe make readie way Vnworthy sure quoth he of better day That will not take the offer of good hope And eke pursew if he attaine it may Which speaches she applying to the scope Of her intent this further purpose to him shope Then why doest not thou ill aduized man Make meanes to win thy libertie forlorne And try if thou by faire entreatie can Moue Radigund who though she still haue worne Her dayes in warre yet weet thou was not borne Of Beares and Tygres nor so saluage mynded As that albe all loue of men she scorne She yet forgets that she of men was kynded And sooth oft seene that proudest harts base loue hath blynded Certes Clarinda not of cancred will Sayd he nor obstinate disdainefull mind I haue forbore this duetie to fulfill For well I may this weene by that I fynd That she a Queene and come of Princely kynd Both worthie is for to be sewd vnto Chiefely by him whose life her law doth bynd And eke of powre her owne doome to vndo And al 's of princely grace to be inclyn'd thereto But want of meanes hath bene mine onely let From seeking fauour where it doth abound Which if I might by your good office get I to your selfe should rest for euer bound And readie to deserue what grace I found She feeling him thus bite vpon the bayt Yet doubting least his hold was but vnsound And not well fastened would not strike him strayt But drew him on with hope fit leasure to awayt But foolish Mayd whyles heedlesse of the hooke She thus oft times was beating off and on Through slipperie footing fell into the brooke And there was caught to her confusion For seeking thus to salue the Amazon She wounded was with her deceipts owne
Then one of them aloud vnto him cryde Bidding him turne againe false traytour knight Foule womanwronger for he him defyde With that they both at once with equall spight Did bend their speares and both with equall might Against him ran but th' one did misse his marke And being carried with his force forthright Glaunst swiftly by like to that heauenly sparke Which glyding through the ayre lights all the heauens darke But th' other ayming better did him smite Full in the shield with so impetuous powre That all his launce in peeces shiuered quite And scattered all about fell on the flowre But the stout Prince with much more steddy stowre Full on his beuer did him strike so sore That the cold steele through piercing did deuowre His vitall breath and to the ground him bore Where still he bathed lay in his owne bloody gore As when a cast of Faulcons make their flight At an Herneshaw that lyes aloft on wing The whyles they strike at him with heedlesse might The warie foule his bill doth backward wring On which the first whose force her first doth bring Her selfe quite through the bodie doth engore And falleth downe to ground like senselesse thing But th' other not so swift as she before Fayles of her souse and passing by doth hurt no more By this the other which was passed by Himselfe recouering was return'd to fight Where when he saw his fellow lifelesse ly He much was daunted with so dismall sight Yet nought abating of his former spight Let driue at him with so malitious mynd As if he would haue passed through him quight But the steele-head no stedfast hold could fynd But glauncing by deceiu'd him of that he desynd Not so the Prince for his well learned speare Tooke surer hould and from his horses backe Aboue a launces length him forth did beare And gainst the cold hard earth so sore him strake That all his bones in peeces nigh he brake Where seeing him so lie he left his steed And to him leaping vengeance thought to take Of him for all his former follies meed With flaming sword in hand his terror more to breed The fearefull swayne beholding death so nie Cryde out aloud for mercie him to saue In lieu whereof he would to him descrie Great treason to him meant his life to reaue The Prince soone hearkned and his life forgaue Then thus said he There is a straunger knight The which for promise of great meed vs draue To this attempt to wreake his hid despight For that himselfe thereto did want sufficient might The Prince much mused at such villenie And sayd Now sure ye well haue earn'd your meed For th' one is dead and th' other soone shall die Vnlesse to me thou hether bring with speed The wretch that hyr'd you to this wicked deed He glad of life and willing eke to wreake The guilt on him which did this mischiefe breed Swore by his sword that neither day nor weeke He would surceasse but him where so he were would seeke So vp he rose and forth streight way he went Backe to the place where Turpine late he lore There he him found in great astonishment To see him so bedight with bloodie gore And griesly wounds that him appalled sore Yet thus at length he said how now Sir knight What meaneth this which here I see before How fortuneth this foule vncomely plight So different from that which earst ye seem'd in sight Perdie said he in euill houre it fell That euer I for meed did vndertake So hard a taske as life for hyre to sell The which I earst aduentur'd for your sake Witnesse the wounds and this wyde bloudie lake Which ye may see yet all about me steeme Therefore now yeeld as ye did promise make My due reward the which right well I deeme I yearned haue that life so dearely did redeeme But where then is quoth he halfe wrothfully Where is the bootie which therefore I bought That cursed caytiue my strong enemy That recreant knight whose hated life I sought And where is eke your friend which halfe it ought He lyes said he vpon the cold bare ground Slayne of that errant knight with whom he fought Whom afterwards my selfe with many a wound Did slay againe as ye may see there in the stound Thereof false Turpin was full glad and faine And needs with him streight to the place would ryde Where he himselfe might see his foeman slaine For else his feare could not be satisfyde So as they rode he saw the way all dyde With streames of bloud which tracting by the traile Ere long they came whereas in euill tyde That other swayne like ashes deadly pale Lay in the lap of death rewing his wretched bale Much did the Crauen seeme to mone his case That for his sake his deare life had forgone And him bewayling with affection base Did counterfeit kind pittie where was none For wheres no courage there 's no ruth nor mone Thence passing forth not farre away he found Whereas the Prince himselfe lay all alone Loosely displayd vpon the grassie ground Possessed of sweete sleepe that luld him soft in swound Wearie of trauell in his former fight He there in shade himselfe had layd to rest Hauing his armes and warlike things vndight Fearelesse of foes that mote his peace molest The whyles his saluage page that wont be prest Was wandred in the wood another way To doe some thing that seemed to him best The whyles his Lord in siluer slomber lay Like to the Euening starre adorn'd with deawy ray Whom when as Turpin saw so loosely layd He weened well that he in deed was dead Like as that other knight to him had sayd But when he nigh approcht he mote aread Plaine signes in him of life and liuelihead Whereat much grieu'd against that straunger knight That him too light of credence did mislead He would haue backe retyred from that sight That was to him on earth the deadliest despight But that same knight would not once let him start But plainely gan to him declare the case Of all his mischiefe and late lucklesse smart How both he and his fellow there in place Were vanquished and put to foule disgrace And how that he in lieu of life him lent Had vow'd vnto the victor him to trace And follow through the world where so he went Till that he him deliuered to his punishment He therewith much abashed and affrayd Began to tremble euery limbe and vaine And softly whispering him entyrely prayd T'aduize him better then by such a traine Him to betray vnto a straunger swaine Yet rather counseld him contrarywize Sith he likewise did wrong by him sustaine To ioyne with him and vengeance to deuize Whylest time did offer meanes him sleeping to surprize Nathelesse for all his speach the gentle knight Would not be tempted to such villenie Regarding more his faith which he did plight All were it to his mortall enemie Then to entrap him by false treacherie Great
sorrowes heapt on her in greater throng That who so heares her heauinesse would rew And pitty her sad plight so chang'd from pleasaunt hew Whylest thus she in these hellish dens remayned Wrapped in wretched cares and hearts vnrest It so befell as Fortune had ordayned That he which was their Capitaine profest And had the chiefe commaund of all the rest One day as he did all his prisoners vew With lustfull eyes beheld that louely guest Faire Pastorella whose sad mournefull hew Like the faire Morning clad in misty fog did shew At sight whereof his barbarous heart was fired And inly burnt with flames most raging whot That her alone he for his part desired Of all the other pray which they had got And her in mynde did to him selfe allot From that day forth he kyndnesse to her showed And sought her loue by all the meanes he mote With looks with words with gifts he oft her wowed And mixed threats among and much vnto her vowed But all that euer he could doe or say Her constant mynd could not a whit remoue Nor draw vnto the lure of his lewd lay To graunt him fauour or afford him loue Yet ceast he not to sew and all waies proue By which he mote accomplish his request Saying and doing all that mote behoue Ne day nor night he suffred her to rest But her all night did watch and all the day molest At last when him she so importune saw Fearing least he at length the raines would lend Vnto his lust and make his will his law Sith in his powre she was to foe or frend She thought it best for shadow to pretend Some shew of fauour by him gracing small That she thereby mote either freely wend Or at more ease continue there his thrall A little well is lent that gaineth more withall So from thenceforth when loue he to her made With better tearmes she did him entertaine Which gaue him hope and did him halfe perswade That he in time her ioyaunce should obtaine But when she saw through that small fauours gaine That further then she willing was he prest She found no meanes to barre him but to faine A sodaine sickenesse which her sore opprest And made vnfit to serue his lawlesse mindes behest By meanes whereof she would not him permit Once to approch to her in priuity But onely mongst the rest by her to sit Mourning the rigour of her malady And seeking all things meete for remedy But she resolu'd no remedy to fynde Nor better cheare to shew in misery Till Fortune would her captiue bonds vnbynde Her sickenesse was not of the body but the mynde During which space that she thus sicke did lie It chaunst a sort of merchants which were wount To skim those coastes for bondmen there to buy And by such trafficke after gaines to hunt Arriued in this Isle though bare and blunt T' inquire for slaues where being readie met By some of these same theeues at the instant brunt Were brought vnto their Captaine who was set By his faire patients side with sorrowfull regret To whom they shewed how those marchants were Arriu'd in place their bondslaues for to buy And therefore prayd that those same captiues there Mote to them for their most commodity Be sold and mongst them shared equally This their request the Captaine much appalled Yet could he not their iust demaund deny And willed streight the slaues should forth be called And sold for most aduantage not to be forstalled Then forth the good old Meliboe was brought And Coridon with many other moe Whom they before in diuerse spoyles had caught All which he to the marchants sale did showe Till some which did the sundry prisoners knowe Gan to inquire for that faire shepherdesse Which with the rest they tooke not long agoe And gan her forme and feature to expresse The more t' augment her price through praise of comlinesse To whom the Captaine in full angry wize Made answere that the Mayd of whom they spake Was his owne purchase and his onely prize With which none had to doe ne ought partake But he himselfe which did that conquest make Litle for him to haue one silly lasse Besides through sicknesse now so wan and weake That nothing meet in marchandise to passe So shew'd them her to proue how pale weake she was The sight of whom though now decayd and mard And eke but hardly seene by candle-light Yet like a Diamond of rich regard In doubtfull shadow of the darkesome night With starrie beames about her shining bright These marchants fixed eyes did so amaze That what through wonder what through delight A while on her they greedily did gaze And did her greatly like and did her greatly praize At last when all the rest them offred were And prises to them placed at their pleasure They all refused in regard of her Ne ought would buy how euer prisd with measure Withouten her whose worth aboue all threasure They did esteeme and offred store of gold But then the Captaine fraught with more displeasure Bad them be still his loue should not be sold The rest take if they would he her to him would hold Therewith some other of the chiefest theeues Boldly him bad such iniurie forbeare For that same mayd how euer it him greeues Should with the rest be sold before him theare To make the prises of the rest more deare That with great rage he stoutly doth denay And fiercely drawing forth his blade doth sweare That who so hardie hand on her doth lay It dearely shall aby and death for handsell pay Thus as they words amongst them multiply They fall to strokes the frute of too much talke And the mad steele about doth fiercely fly Not sparing wight ne leauing any balke But making way for death at large to walke Who in the horror of the griesly night In thousand dreadful shapes doth mongst them stalke And makes huge hauocke whiles the candlelight Out quenched leaues no skill nor difference of wight Like as a sort of hungry dogs ymet About some carcase by the common way Doe fall together stryuing each to get The greatest portion of the greedie pray All on confused heapes themselues assay And snatch and byte and rend and tug and teare That who them sees would wonder at their fray And who sees not would be affrayd to heare Such was the conflict of those cruell Brigants there But first of all their captiues they doe kill Least they should ioyne against the weaker side Or rise against the remnant at their will Old Meliboe is slaine and him beside His aged wife with many others wide But Coridon escaping craftily Creepes forth of dores whilst darknes him doth hide And flyes away as fast as he can hye Ne stayeth leaue to take before his friends doe dye But Pastorella wofull wretched Elfe Was by the Captaine all this while defended Who minding more her safety then himselfe His target alwayes ouer her pretended By meanes whereof that mote