vphoue And grifly darknes doth on earth encroach The weary Sunne his wagon doth remoue Seeing the vgly night so neere approach That from the furnace of her sooty throte Forth foggy vapours and black smoke vpshote Still Bellamy vnluckie chance doth feare VVarned with fatall noyse of nightly foule Now doth she seeme sweet Amians voyce to heare Yeelding the lowly present of his soule Vnto his maker when her heart doth reare A swelling sigh his fortune to condole The mournfull presage of some euill hap As lightning flames before a thunder-clap Thus in sad thought the silent night is spent VVhen Phoebus gan vpreare his firy crest And had the easterne heauen with flames ybrent VVhen streight doth Amian leaue his quiet rest And armed to the place appoynted went VVhere nine strong Knights that enmitie profest He with his speare dismounted to the ground VVhere with disgrace an humble seate they found Like to a loftie ranke of Cedar trees VVhen Aeolus is kindled deepe with rage And with a whirlwing vp from earth he frees Their riuen rootes now layd in equipage VVith baser shrubs while to the heauen flees The roring noyse ypent in iron cage Of tumbling vapours that doe scoure the ayre Inuested highly in a clowdy chayre Now Bellamies good heart for ioy doth dance Driuing forth stormes of sorrow and of care VVhen the tenth Knight his speare did high aduance That ouer al his armour Cypres ware Shadowing with clowdes of griefe his countenance VVho now towards the Knight his palfrey bare VVhere meeting with a hideous shiuering stroke Their yelding speares in sprinkled dust they broke On foote they try what thus on horse doth faile Each other driuing with a deadly blow And with their weapons kisse the splitted maile Which riuen gushing blood in streames doth throw While now or neuer meaning to preuaile Sir Amian droue vnto his riuall foe And with his sword his intrals doth vnclose Whose soule vp fled his earthly bowels doth lose Viewing the sword wherewith his riuall fought That on it written had his fathers name Whom with a charme from vnknowne land he brought He cuest himselfe with much vnworthie blame That he this wofull Tragedie had wrought For well he knew his brother was the fame Whom with his wretched might he thus had slaine To whom his father gaue that hurtfull gaine Now horror ringeth in his grieued soule And guilt of thought that he his brother flew VVhere fearfull fight his rest doth deepe controle Wherefore vnto his palfrey he withdrew And doth to none his inward griefe vnrole But to the woods all solitarie flew Banishing any thought of pleasing mirth Or any ioy which lighteth on the earth In leauy shadowes and in bushie brakes He with the wood-doue grones for pinching woe Sometimes in hand his cursed sword he takes But streight his sword he from his hand doth throw Now in a bush a hollow nest he makes From whence he swares his feete shall neuer goe Each little glimse of light his soule doth shun And in despayre to headlong death doth run But how fayre Bellamy doth rue his case Plaining and seeking him that her forgat Is deeply grauen in her parched face Which doth not lighten as it did of late Earth-brightning beames of neuer-matched grace But frowning with the force of angrie fate Downe drooping doth she close her folded eyes Drowning themselues in their owne Nectaries And euery where to seeke him out she sends Whom neuer shall againe her eyes behold Wherefore despayring now her thoughts she bends Fixt on th'ldea of his heauenly mold And to her minde that only food she lends While from her body rest she doth withhold And still her beautie doth consuming pine Wasting those torches which are so diuine Like as the sweetest Querister of Night VVhen rau'ning fowle berest her of her young VVhile Phoebe sends from high her clowdy light Vnto the Moone in chanting tunes she sung That rauishing the trauailer with delight Made him bewaile the birds disproferd wrong So doth each eye lament this wofull plaint VVhich beautie makes while she in woe doth faint But O my pen transforme thy swanny face And in eternall streames my inck shall weepe Driue madly downe thy coach in tumbly pace O thou which heauens mightie lights dost keepe That neuer beames may brighten any place Since she in neuer-ending dreame doth sleepe O Bellamy that now vntimely dyes And in sad tombe deaths cruell triumph lyes The fearfull thought of her deare loued Knight Eats on her heart consuming vitall heat That taking in the world not lest delight She with her hands that softest breast doth beat And vexeth still with griefe her wofull spright VVho weary of so much vneasie seat To heauen on her snowy pineons fled VVherein Ioues breast she layes her quiet head Now came the Knights that dwelt remoued farre To see the buriall of this Angel wight The Sunne arose with his low drooping carre To see though grieu'd to see that wofull sight And Pirin with the dame ariued are And Cypribel her tombe forsaketh quight Prepar'd all to doe honour to her graue The latest honour now her corps could haue Where with such rites as loue and wit deuise VVhich might renew a storie to expresse She was entombed in most glorious wise Accompanide with number numberlesse VVhile fountaines ouerflow the Dukes sad eyes That now for lack of teares to weepe doe cease Faine would he in her armes his death-bed see That in two heauens he and his soule might bee But enuious fates resist his louing will VVho doe command his soule here to remaine VVhere with lamenting noyse she plaineth still Yet neuer can her plaints bring back againe That soule which mounted on Olympus hill In sacred spirits and the Muses traine Singing soule-pleasing tunes her dayes doth spend VVhose musick and whose dayes haue neuer end And now ye heauens if euer Musick straine Issued from a concord-mouing spheare Then in a dolefull language helpe to plaine And mourning part in sorrowes consort beare For neuer shall you haue like cause againe For neuer may the like on earth appeare And for her death ring out a dolefull knell VVhile dewy teares at euery stroke distill And ye fayre Ladies in a pilgrimage Attiring blushing white in mourning black Vntill the world shall end his endles age Goe to her tombe and plaine her beauties wrack Raught from the earth by deaths vnsatiate rage And though your teares can neuer bring her back Kissing her tombe to Libitina pray The earth may easie on her bosome lay VVhere with the parbreake of vnclowded hell Night wraps in ruggy black the ayres darke face Still vomiting fro her defiled Cell The shadowy fumes that mought the light disgrace VVhile scriching Owles their fearfull stories tell Hoarsly complaining in that gloomy place Groning with hollow notes their dismall song VVhile trembling tunes to guiltie hearts they rung The wolues about that haples place doe cry And howling weepe for her that lieth slaine Sometimes in hollow fearfull harmony The Harpyes doe a dumpish consort straine Sometimes it seemes they see some passing by That on a beere a carkasse doe sustaine VVhile meager Death with hels vnchained hags Vpon her graue display their pitchie flags The Conclusion of all THese haue I sent vnto the Muses hearse Whose daies of honour now haue found an end To spread therewith this my latest verse Whom the vnworthie world too much offend Nor yet because some change-affecting braine Debas'th the Muses and their sacred hill Fault I my selfe as hauing writ in vaine Know he I only loue the Musicke skill But whether he delight in feates of armes Or prouder vaunt the glorie of his race Know he I feare not Martiall alarmes Nor yeeld a step his friendship to embrace Though now in shade I whisper to the winde And plaine the Muses can no harbour finde FINIS Ariost. cant 32. Alluding to Cyparrisus Medea
the country bordering commaunds But that which greatest raisde his glories hight VVas not his treasure nor farre stretched lands But three fayre daughters lights most brightest light VVhose wondrous beautie lookers did amaze That in one heauen so many Sunnes did blaze Amongst these lookers one there did surprize An vncouth heate of vndermining loue VVho knowing that stopt fire more hotly fryes And with his owne light doth his cloake remoue Made knowne the Comet which withdrew his eyes And to his Lady did his passions proue She Philaret was calde the eldest mayd The Knight Sir Fidamour thus ill apayd VVith earnest sute an answere he hath gaind The golden shaft shot foorth from Cupids bow That if the victorie he haue obtaind In that aduenture which this mayd shall show His gentle proffers shall be entertaind And happy match betweene these loues shall grow But if he doe not then all former band Came back as free into the makers hand Downe in the westerne coast there dwelt a king Phucerus he is hight his goodly seate Is calde Doledra whose high towers doe sing Soft murmuring tunes when windes then gently beat And loftio turrets mighty tops doe bring Vnto the skye which neuer saw so great That dar'd to looke vpon the starry skye And lift their masses in the ayre so hye Within this towne a prophesie did passe That from Eumorphos should a mayden come Whose hand should change the kingdome whence it was Which made the king in priuate charge to some That whosoere could bring that countries lasse Vnto th'appoynted Eumorphean tombe He should be recompenc'd with liberall see Beside the grace in which he still should bee Thus had he slaine and tombde in bloody pit Many that guiltles came with no pretence And Philaret glad to be reuengde of it Enioynd the knight these deedes to recompence And to prouoke them more he should him fit Womans apparell which breedes more offence And thus with speare and targe he forth should goe To be reuenged on his wicked foe Forth is he gone the gods him prosper fayre And to this castle is this iourney spent Where I must leaue him to his fortunes fare But still imagine that he forward went For strongest loue imprints a deepest care That nothing can withdraw his hearts intent But let him goe as fast as loue him driues I le ouertake him ere he home ariue◠CANT 6. Eronaes craft and filed tung And pleasing looke and flattring face Deogines his heart hath stung Aidon doth finde in wofull case His mother kept in bondage chaine In whose defence himselfe is slaine THou sacred Muse which with thy siluer spring A little sprinklest my scarse-moystned brow Helpe me in ampler field my verse to bring These deedes doe grow to larger number now Nor can this little pipe them fully sing Therefore my limits with my song must grow The diuers webs are now so diuers spunne They cannot end so neere as they begunne Whither defiled soules thus runne ye mad Wallowing in filthy shames sinck most obscene What see you not how Adrastéa sad With iron whips inflicting hellish peine Still houereth ouer marking what is bad And like Celaeno clasps her wings vncleane For ioy that she a subiect fit hath found On whom reuengement deeply may rebound This is Erona had considered than When she first yeelded her to sinnes delight And drawne her feete againe when she began This sorrow had not vext her troubled spright Now desolate left off that cursed man But since none other way is found in sight Vnto her wonted arte she runnes againe And modestie in poysoned heart doth faine After the castle was left desolate And all betooke them to that wicked way Faine would she after goe but t is too late So shall her sleights appeare as bright as day Therefore she doth inuent all desperate This path or none for helping to assay All clad in black like mourning for the dead Or Pilgrim that is all disquieted A hood of black vpon her head she wore Which fought against the Sunne her forme to shield And on her backe a mourning gowne she bore Which loosely flagging swept the verdant field And at her brest a booke there hung before Whose backe nor painting clad nor golde did guild But black it was without and so within Onely the letters white in all were seen Thus is the Ancres gone to seeke her fate Clad in the cloudes of sorrow and despayre Which to eclipse these rayes which shinde of late Yet in this battell of her bewties fayre Opposde to blacke this white supports more state Which litle teary dimples doe repayre So that or now or neuer so diuine Doth this fayre Cynthia at her fullest shine So long she had the playnes and valleys tras't That Phoebus gallopt downe the westerne hill Seeing his fierie torches so to wast And she then hoping for no lesser ill Then in some outcast harbour farre displas't To lye while night keepes all in silent still Goes forward seeking for some shady place To hide her from the view of mens disgrace But see an aged man this way doth ride Vpon a lusty Palfrey fayrely set Who though his hayres in ages graine are dyde Proues that his heart the mastery doth get And that some heate within his breast doth bide Not full remou'd from out his wonted seat Euen to this damsell is he come at last Whence fiery dartes into his eyes are cast Sometimes he lookes yet straight lookes back againe Sorry his heart should be captiu'd with loue Sometimes he viewes yet not to view doth fayne He fix'th his eyes yet streight he doth remoue His thoughts be gone yet thoughts he would restraine Which battle in his flaming brest doth proue That though he fight and striue with his desire Dry sticks must needes consume once put to fire Faine would he passe but burning loue denyes And makes him see he striues against his heart Therefore this medicine he now applyes And hopes to win his loue by loues desart He doth enquire which way her iourney lyes And if her busines binds not to depart Euen neere quoth he my castle fayre doth stand Which shall be ready at thy sweet command She then replyes a pilgrim mayde I am And finnes deepe spot farre buried in my brest Tells me I neuer can cleane purge the same Except I banish quite the bodies rest Which still prouokes the soule to endlesse shame But for this profer and your kinde request One night with you fayre friend I may remaine So in the morne I shall returne againe Euen as the baited hooke in Thamis waues Floteth along and swimmeth fast away As if no gainfull hinderance he craues And when the fish his guilefull course doth stay Playing a while his tangled life he saues But at the last he takes him for a pray So doth this mayd seeme careles for her gaine But he shall feele her craft to greater paine This Knight now widow'd had a comely wife Whose fayrenes with his fiercenes
badly met The chastest Vestall liu'd no chaster life Then did this Lady yet he still did fret A strangers looke would set them both at strife He thinks she doth her vowed loue forget Which made her weary of her prison'd breath And with a sword her soule vnburdeneth Her ghost embrued in that crimson gore Still plaines to Rhadamant with ceaseles cry For fierce reuenge to make him once deplore That wrought her that accursed misery Who deeply moued wild her weepe no more And bad reuenge vnto the earth to fly Where he should get him still desired food Of cruell torments and new issuing blood Now hath he got this fained penitent To play the pageant of his plotted ill Who though she seemeth inly to repent Yet sinnes abyssus there remaineth still The filthy dregges of shame whose noysome sent VVith poysened humors shall her louer fill But since his heart a woing needes must goe I le leaue him to his woing and his woe Now change thy Myrtle for a Cypresse bow Put on thy mourning weedes come mourne my Muse VVith Ebon dye vailing thy smiling brow Loth would I tell it yet I cannot chuse And t is too late to helpe thy losses now Floods of my teares cannot thy ioy reduce Ah good Sir Aidon whose vntimely fate Makes me to mourne euen fast by pleasures gate After this Knight returnde with victorie Into the country where he first was borne It chanced as he did arriue full nie His castle day was fled and double horne Of Cynthia gan aduance their tops full hie VVhen wearines their limmes had much for worne And the Sunnes scorching now ore-passed heate VVith labour made their panting hearts to beate But now a Christal well they haue espide In whose cleere streames beauties fayre looking glasse Phoebe when in her circuit she did ride VVould ioy to see the glorie of her face VVhere they alight and by the fountaine side Doe lay them downe vpon the pleasant grasse And while they harke how Zephire soft doth sing A murmur to their eares these words doth bring You goodly boughs of youth which proudly beare Your climing tops vnto the smiling ayre Thinke how fierce winter shall your garments teare And with his stormes ore-shadow all your fayre The goodliest vesture which you ere shall weare Times aged feathers basely shall impayre Your ioy the mornings smile but sable night Shall drowne in sorrowes floods your most delight The worlds great pride shall haue a greater fall Vncertaine men haue no possession sure He that is neerest death is best of all The lesser troubles hath he to endure He that doth sit attirde in princely pall Cannot the purchase of one day procure When our ioyes Sunne from Tethis waues doth wade T is signe there was and shall againe be shade Therefore thou body which dost pine away VVhich age hath furrow'd with his iron plow Reioyce that thou shalt see that glorious day VVhose bright Sunnes Chariot shall not downward bow But lighten beames which black night doth obay So chainde she neuer can from darkenes glow And while thou drawest this thy fainting breath VVeepe for to wash thy sinnes not for thy death This mournfull voyce with hoarce and hollow sound Sayled full gently to their listning eares VVhose noyse that did from out the caue rebound Brought to their stonied hearts affrighting feares At last by earnest thought the Knight hath found VVhat wracked wight this dolefull musick beares And knew that this his mother deare had beene Grieuing her woe and not her selfe is seene Distracted quight about the place he goes Like Bacchus priests whom holy Thyrse had raught But now the sound with crying he doth lose And with the sound the place so much he saught But then he thinks some wicked forraine foes His castle haue and her both captiue caught Therefore vnto the Castle he doth flie As one intranced in an extasie He fiercely knocks against the castle gate He knocks againe as fury doth him driue At last one comes and cryes who dares thus late VVith troubling noyse hither to ariue No sooner saw he him but vrgde with hate VVith which his passions doe all vainely striue He with a mighty blow stroke at his head Thinking euen then t' haue sent his soule to bed The other voyding drew his fiery blade And here quoth he goe to thy mothers ghost His mothers loued name such entry made As he for thought thereof gan faint almost In which deepe traunce he doth the Knight inuade And stroke him deepely to the vtmost cost Downe falls the Knight as if he dead had bin The other left him so and entred in After Viceina softly followeth At last she comes where she doth weeping view The mournfull picture of vngentle death Nor doth she looke vpon his plight to rue But with a linnen closely couereth The wound and doth a litle life renew VVhere helped by the stopping of his blood He went with her vnto a ioyning wood Yet knowes he not how this vngentle deede VVas wrought nor who abusde his mothers right It was a bloody man that did exceede In furious wrath each word would make him fight Yet mighty was he and his happy speede Causde him of any foes to make but light And still his iawes like smoaky Orcus caue VVould reeke forth othes when he did curse and raue This furious Aiax when the drowsie night Had couerd all things with her pitchy vaile Comes to this castle where he doth alight And cries for entry but his cry doth faile Then swelling deepe with rage and great despight The gates with violence he doth assaile VVhich broken downe he takes the sleeping Nun And shuts her in a caue and roules a stone vpon But now good Aidon like the dying swan Knew that the time of death approached neere Therefore to sing sweet tunes he now began The tunes which please the great Creators eare The cruell fates haue burnt the liuely bran VVith whose consuming breath and life doth weare Cruell Althea death rest of vnrest Leauing the earth-wormes carrying hence the best But as his eyes had almost rolde the last To him his mothers shadow doth appeare Quoth she reioyce thou soule worlds woe is past This burden now no longer shalt thou beare Our liues account in heauens booke is cast Throw hence earths cloake and follow me my deare This heard he fix'th his standing eyes on hye His winged ghost to heauens bower doth flye As fayre Creusa in consumed Troy Fled from Aeneas lifted in the ayre Rauisht with heauens ouer-pleasing ioy And left him crying in his loues despayre Freed from these troubles and the worlds annoy So hath this ghost now set in starry chayre Left her that with the shrilnes of her cry Pierced resisting ayre and stroake the sky The greatest woe that heart did euer beare With grisly tallants gripeth on her soule Sorrow her inward parts doth fiercely teare And in griefes couer doth her heart enroule And when the least relenting doth appeare Then
breast her legs her thighs Are chang'd and bound by charme for endles date That since she had delighted still to carrie Here in eternall carriage she should tarrie Her armes the oares do cut the fleeting sea And passe each traueller to the furtherd side Her face in which sweet beautie once did play The plowed waues in furrowes doth deuide So the Propaetides that common lay And passers violence did still abide Because their face no ruddie shame could print VVere turned to a neuer blushing flint But let me quickly to Doledra flie Vnles I thither make the greater hast Fidamour homeward doth so hasty hie That all the mariage will be ouer-past The feast and triumphs of his victorie And tilts vnto their latest day will wast But I will after on my thoughts swift wing And in triumphing tunes his trophees sing CANT 8. Fidamour from th'Inchanter fled With fayre Doledraes King doth fight She victor doth her foe behead And to Eumorphos takes her flight Where at the mariage suddenly Th'Inchanter downe to bell doth fly AS when Ioues lightning on a towre doth fall No humour can allay his firy might But with his hungrie iawes consumeth all On which his rending tallands can alight So doth this filthie flame vnnaturall Burne in this witches heart in hearts despight His thoughts like water in Pyracmâ—ns forge Make his fire-breathing throte more flames disgorge When in the castle all the night was spent In morne they hasted to depart away Which deeply wrought th'inchanters discontent And by these meanes doth seeke their course delay He takes a potion from Cocitus sent Whose force in weakned heart deepe loue will lay This had he mingled in some fatall wine Hoping to make her heart in furie pine But Epimel her carefull watching page Which still about his mistris did attend Had spide the witches faithles cariage And quickly bad her on her steed ascend She kindled with disdaine and mightie rage Vnto Doledra now her course doth bend Where come without in suburbs she doth stay And to Phucerus thence sends mortall fray The king that neuer thought in open fight He and his kingdome should be ouerthrowne But that some mayd would by her subtile slight Or other policie vndermine his throne Went foorth full fraught with rage and high despight And though his loues about him still did mone And curtizans about him euer cry The sad euent of wofull flight to fly Yet he respected not their vaine request But marched foorth to meete this warlike Dame And at his sight she kindling in her breast The Pyramis of an ascending flame Straight open enmitie to him profest And with well couched lance toward her came Their flashing speares that from their breasts rebound Made eccho tell the horror of the sound The flintie flakes drop from the riuen plate And make the hollow earth from deepe to grone Whose noyse the trembling spirits did amate Fearing their couering would haue falne vpon So angry Ioue inflam'd with ruthles hate Darts from the heau'ns a mightie thunderstone And in his rage from out a clowd doth rore That Atlas limmes doe quake which heau'n vpbore But at the first encounter deeply fell On Fidamours left side a heauy blow Which wofull newes vnto her heart did tell But at the next she him requited so His soule was wasted halfe the way to hell And made his conquerd corps her valour know Whom from his palfrey fayrely she vpheau'd And of the greeting earth a kisse receiu'd The feeble soule from out his breast was fled Wandring through gloomy wayes of hellish shade While with her sword she martyreth his head The ensigne which her victorie displaide And with her louing page she homewards sped But what great ioy this ouerthrow hath made Let them declare who doe their loue obtaine This pleasure in my heart did neare remaine Goe whistling winds with easie murmuring bring This happy Lady to her hearts desire And all the way let sweetest musick sing Melodious concent in loue-carols by her And goe my thoughts thorow sliding ayre fling And view the heat of her deepe printed fire Burne not your selues nor come the flame too nie Icarus once drown'd can teach you how to flie Thus in triumphing to Eumorphos brought All doe applaud the fortune of his fight The ransome which they still before had sought To free them from Phucorus foule despight But sudden ioy so much his Lady raught Her heart drew exhalations of delight Which kindled by her loue enkindled flame Vnto her Knight as darted Sunbeames came She giues him kisses pledges of her heart Sweeter then Ioue receiues of Ganymed While them betweene sweet Nectar downe doth moue The hony dew with which fayre loue is fed Such is the billing of the Cyprian doue Their mouths in others mouth emprisoned But she with talke loosing that rosiall binde Drew back her lips but left her heart behinde Now all things for the Mariage are prepar'd As when great Perseus maried Andromede No cost nor any ornament is spar'd With which the mariage may be beautifide No Knight nor commer is from hence debard To see the band which shall these louers wed Shine bright sweet Sunne now comes that happy day That in the port these gladfull loues shall lay Now for that holy Hermite haue they sent With whom Viceina all this while hath stayd Who both inuited to Eumorphos went Where stands the Knight and that diuinest mayd Ready to be conioynd with one consent The Hermite many holy prayers sayd While fayre Viceina by the payre doth stand And holds a torch in her ambrosiall hand But Bonauallant whom ny fortie yeares With foule Geticas date had neere opprest Thought ere he went to hurt these faithfull pheares And with his charmes to trouble holy rest But when this Hermites godly speech he heares His charmes are frustrate and enchaunting ceast Thus in despight of enuies stormy wrath These loues are setled in their quiets path Now all things for the tilting ready are And many Knights are gatherd from about And fierce Tigranes hitherward doth fare But poore Anander wraps a filthie clout About his hand and sayes this cloth he ware Because a wound hath peare'd his hand throughout But he receiu'd no wound in field nor fight This is his cowardise accustom'd slight He with Tigranes comes vnto the feast But saies he cannot runne for grieuous paine Tigranes doth beleeue the cowards iest And with him comes vnto the tilting plaine Where stood two Knights with ready speares in rest To try who could most valours glorie gaine They runne and fairely breake each others speare And throughly passe as if no let there were After runne many whose part youthfull heat Drew to expresse the fire of their heart Others whom loue taught in this warlike feat To proue before their Ladies loues desart As if in telling how their loue was great They begd some easing of impatient smart Which with emprezaes they doe fairely shew Fitting their outward to their inward hew One hath