of Britons glorie auncient Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might And wondrous wit to menage high affayres Who stird with pitty of the stressed plight Of this sad realme cut into sondry shayres By such as claymd thēselues Brutes rightfull hayres Gathered the Princes of the people loose To taken counsell of their common cares Who with his wisedom won him streight did choose Their king and swore him fealty to win or loose Then made he head against his enimies And Ymner slew of Logris miscreate Then Ruddoc and proud Stater both allyes This of Albany newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce Whose countries he redus'd to quiet state And shortly brought to ciuile gouernaunce Now one which earst were many made through variaunce Then made he sacred lawes which some men say Were vnto him reueald in vision By which he freed the Traueilers high way The Churches part and Ploughmans portion Restraining stealth and strong extortion The gratious Numa of great Britany For till his dayes the chiefe dominion By strength was wielded without pollicy Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignity Donwallo dyde for what may liue for ay And left two sonnes of pearelesse prowesse both That sacked Rome too dearely did assay The recompence of their periured oth And ransackt Greece wel tryde whē they were wroth Besides subiected France and Germany Which yet their praises speake all be they 〈◊〉 And inly tremble at the memory Of Brennus and Belinus kinges of Britany Next them did Gurgiunt great Belinus sonne In rule succeede and eke in fathers praise He Easterland subdewd and Denmarke wonne And of them both did 〈◊〉 and tribute raise The which was dew in his dead fathers daies He also gaue to fugitiues of Spayne Whom he at sea found wandring from their waies A seate in Ireland safely to remayne Which they should hold of him as subiect to Britayne After him raigned Guitheline his hayre The iustest man and trewest in his daies Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre A woman worthy of immortall praise Which for this Realme found many goodly layes And wholesome Statutes to her husband brought Her many deemd to haue beene of the Fayes As was Aegerie that Numa tought Those yet of her be Mertiā lawes both nam'd thought Her sonne Sifillus after her did rayne And then Kimarus and then Danius Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustayne Who had he not with wrath outrageous And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous And mightie deedes should matched haue the best As well in that same field victorious Against the forreine Morands he exprest Yet liues his memorie though carcas sleepe in rest Fiue sonnes he 〈◊〉 begotten of one wife All which successiuely by turnes did rayne First Gorboman a man of vertuous life Next Archigald who for his proud disdayne Deposed was from princedome souerayne And pitteous Elidure put in his sted Who shortly it to him restord agayne Till by his death he it recouered But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized In wretched prison long he did remaine Till they outraigned had their vtmost date And then therein reseized was againe And ruled long with honorable state Till he surrendred Realme and life to fate Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd By dew successe and all their Nephewes late Euen thrise eleuen descents the crowne retaynd Till aged Hely by dew heritage it gaynd He had two sonnes whose eldest called Lud Left of his life most famous memory And endlesse moniments of his great good The ruin'd wals he did reaedifye Of Troynouant gainst force of enimy And built that gate which of his name is hight By which he lyes entombed solemnly He left two sonnes too young to rule aright Androgeus and Tenantius pictures of his might Whilst they were young Cassibalane their Eme Was by the people chosen in their sted Who on him tooke the roiall Diademe And goodly well long time it gouerned Till the prowde Romanes him disquieted And warlike Caesar tempted with the name Of this sweet Island neuer conquered And enuying the Britons blazed fame O hideous hunger of dominion hether came Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe And twise renforst backe to their ships to fly The whiles with blood they all the shore did staine And the gray Ocean into purple dy Ne had they footing found at last perdie Had not Androgeus false to natiue soyle And enuious of Vncles soueraintie Betrayd his countrey vnto forreine spoyle Nought els buttreason from the first this land did foyle So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloodshed and many a sad assay In which himselfe was charged heauily Of hardy Nennius whom he yet did slay But lost his sword yet to be seene this day Thenceforth this land was tributarie made T'ambitious Rome and did their rule obay Till Arthur all that reckoning defrayd Yet oft the Briton kings against them strongly swayd Next him Tenantius raignd then Kimbeline What time th' eternall Lord in fleshly slime Enwombed was from wretched Adams line To purge away the guilt of sinfull crime O ioyous memorie of happy time That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd O too high ditty for my simple rime Soone after this the Romanes him warrayd For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd Good Claudius that next was Emperour An army brought and with him batteile fought In which the king was by a Treachetour Disguised slaine ere any thereof thought Yet ceased not the bloody fight for ought For Aruirage his brothers place supplyde Both in his armes and crowne and by that draught Did driue the Romanes to the weaker syde That they to peace agreed So all was pacifyde Was neuer king more highly magnifide Nor dredd of Romanes then was Aruirage For which the Emperour to him allide His daughter Genuiss ' in marriage Yet shortly he renounst the vassallage Of Rome againe who hether hastly sent Vespasian that with great spoile and rage Forwasted all till Gen̄uissa gent Persuaded him to ceasse and her lord to relent He dide and him succeeded Marius Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity Then Coyll and after him good Lucius That first receiued Christianity The sacred pledge of Christes Euangely Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Ioseph of Arimathy Who brought with him the holy grayle they say And preacht the truth but since it 〈◊〉 did decay This good king shortly without issew dide Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew That did herselfe in sondry parts diuide And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew Whilest Romanes daily did the weake subdew Which seeing stout Bunduca vp arose And taking armes the Britons to her drew With whom she marched streight against her foes And them vnwares besides the Seuerne did enclose There she with them a cruell batteill tryde Not with so good successe as shee deseru'd By reason that the Captaines on her syde Corrupted by Paulinus from her sweru'd
nothing may withstand his stormy stowre The clowdes as thinges affrayd before him flye But all so soone as his outrageous powre Is layd they fiercely then begin to showre And as in scorne of his spent stormy spight Now all attonce their malice forth do poure So did Sir Guyon beare himselfe in fight And suffred rash Pyrrhochles waste his ydle might At last when as the Sarazin perceiu'd How that straunge sword refusd to serue his neede But when he stroke most strong the dint deceiu'd He flong it from him and deuoyd of dreed Vpon him lightly leaping without heed Twixt his two mighty armes engrasped fast Thinking to ouerthrowe and downe him tred But him in strength and skill the Prince surpast And through his nimble sleight did vnder him down cast Nought booted it the Paynim then to striue For as a Bittur in the Eagles clawe That may not hope by flight to scape aliue Still waytes for death with dread and trembling aw So he now fubiect to the victours law Did not once moue nor vpward cast his eye For vile disdaine and rancour which did gnaw His hart in twaine with sad melancholy As one that loathed life and yet despysd to dye But full of princely bounty and great mind The Conquerour nought cared him to slay But casting wronges and all reuenge behind More glory thought to giue life then decay And sayd Paynim this is thy dismall day Yet if thou wilt renounce thy miscreaunce And my trew liegeman yield thy selfe for ay Life will I graunt thee for thy valiaunce And all thy wronges will wipe out of my souenaunce Foole sayd the Pagan I thy gift defye But vse thy fortune as it doth befall And say that I not ouercome doe dye But in despight of life for death doe call Wroth was the Prince and sory yet withall That he so wilfully refused grace Yet sith his fate so cruelly did fall His shining Helmet he gan soone vnlace And left his headlesse body bleeding all the place By this Sir Guyon from his traunce awakt Life hauing maystered her sencelesse foe And looking vp when as his shield he lakt And sword saw not he wexed wondrous woe But when the Palmer whom he long ygoe Had lost he by him spyde right glad he grew And saide Deare sir whom wandring to and fro I long haue lackt I ioy thy face to vew Firme is thy faith whom daunger neuer fro me drew But read what wicked hand hath robbed mee Of my good sword and shield The Palmer glad With so fresh hew vprysing him to see Him answered fayre sonne be no whit sad For want of weapons they shall soone be had So gan he to discourse the whole debate Which that straunge knight for him sustained had And those two Sarazins confounded late Whose carcases on ground were horribly prostrate Which when he heard and saw the tokens trew His hart with great affection was embayd And to the Prince bowing reuerence dew As to the Patrone of his life thus sayd My Lord my liege by whose most gratious ayd I liue this day and see my foes subdewd What may 〈◊〉 to be for meede repayd Of so great graces as ye haue me shewd But to be euer bound To whom the Infant thus Fayre Sir what need Good turnes be counted as a seruile bond To bind their dooers to receiue their meed Are not all knightes by oath bound to withstond Oppreslours powre by armes and puissant hond Suffise that I haue done my dew in place So goodly purpose they together fond Of kindnesse and of courteous aggrace The whiles false Archimage and Atin fled apace Cant. IX The house of Temperance in which doth sober Alma dwell Besiegd of many foes whom straunger knightes to flight compell OF all Gods workes which doe this world adorne There is no one more faire and excellent Then is mans body both for powre and forme Whiles it is kept in sober gouernment But none then it more fowle and incedent Distempred through misrule and passions bace It growes a Monster and incontinent Doth loose his dignity and natiue grace Behold who list both one and other in this place After the Paynim brethren conquer'd were The Briton Prince recou'ring his stolne sword And Guyon his lost shield they both yfere Forth 〈◊〉 on their way in fayre accord Till him the Prince with gentle court did bord Sir knight mote I of you this court'sy read To weet why on your shield so goodly scord Beare ye the picture of that Ladies head Full liuely is the semblaunt though the substance dead Fayre Sir sayd he if in that picture dead Such life ye read and vertue in vaine shew What mote ye weene if the trew liuely-head Of that most glorious visage ye did vew But yf the beauty of her mind ye knew That is her bounty and imperiall powre Thousand times fairer then her mortal hew O how great wonder would your thoughts deuoure And infinite desire into your spirite ponre Shee is the mighty Queene of Faery Whose faire retraitt I in my shield doe beare Shee is the flowre of grace and ehastity Throughout the world renowmed far and neare My liefe my liege my Soueraine my deare Whose glory shineth as the morning starre And with her light the earth enlumines cleare Far reach her mercies and her praises farre As well in state of peace as puissaunce in warre Thrise happy man said then the Briton knight Whom gracious lott and thy great valiaunce Haue made thee soldier of that Princesse bright Which with her bounty and glad countenaunce Doth blesse her seruaunts and them high 〈◊〉 How may straunge knight hope euer to aspire By faithfull seruice and meete amenaunce Vnto such blisse sufficient were that hire For losse of thousand liues to die at her desire Said Guyon Noble Lord what meed so great Or grace of earthly Prince so soueraine But by your wondrous worth add 〈◊〉 feat Ye well may hope and easely attaine But were your will her sold to entertaine And numbred be mongst knights of Maydenhcd Great guerdon well I wore should you remaine And in her fauor high bee reckoned As Arthogall and Sophy now beene honored Certes then said the Prince I God auow That sith I armes and knighthood first did plight My whole desire hath beene and yet is now To serue that Queene with al my powre and might Seuen times the Sunne with his lamp-burning light Hath walkte about the world and I no lesse Sith of that Goddesse I haue sought the sight Yet no where can her find such happinesse Heuen doth to me enuy and fortune fauourlesse Fortune the foe of famous cheuisaunce Seldome said Guyon yields to vertue aide But in her way throwes mischiefe and mischaunce Whereby her course is stopt and passage staid But you faire Sir be not herewith dismaid But constant keepe the way in which ye stand Which were it not that I am els delaid With hard adventure which I haue in hand I labour would to
he prayed as he went And often knockt his brest as one that did repent He faire the knight saluted louting low Who faire him quited as that courteous was And after asked him if he did know Of straunge aduentures which abroad did pas Ah my deare Sonne quoth he how should alas Silly old man that liues in hidden cell Bidding his beades all day for his trespas Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell With holy father sits not with such thinges to mell But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell And homebred deuil ye desire to heare Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell That wasteth all this countrie farre and neare Of such saide he I chiefly doe inquere And shall thee well rewarde to shew the place In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare For to all knighthood it is foule disgrace That such a cursed creature liues so long a space Far hence quoth he in wastfull wildernesse His dwelling is by which no liuing wight May euer passe but thorough great distresse Now saide the Ladie draweth toward night And well I wote that of your later fight Ye all forwearied be for what so strong But wanting rest will also want of might The Sunne that measures heauen all day long At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waues emong Then with the Sunne take Sir your timely rest And with new day new worke at once begin Vntroubled night they say giues counsell best Right well Sir knight ye haue aduised bin Quoth then that aged man the way to win Is wisely to aduise now day is spent Therefore with me ye may take vp your In For this same night The knight was well content So with that godly father to his home they went A litle lowly Hermitage it was Downe in a dale hard by a forests side Far from resort of people that did pas In traueill to and 〈◊〉 a litle wyde There was an holy chappell edify de Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say His holy thinges each morne and euentyde Thereby a christall streame did gently play Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway Arriued there the litle house they fill Ne looke for entertainement where none was Rest is their feast and all thinges at their will The noblest mind the best contentment has With faire discourse the euening so they pas For that olde man of pleasing wordes had store And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas He told of Saintes and Popes and euermore He strowd an Aue-Mary after and before The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast And the sad humor loading their eye liddes As messenger of Morpheus on them cast Sweet slōbring deaw the which to sleep them biddes Vnto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes He to his studie goes and there amiddes His magick bookes and artes of sundrie kindes He seekes out mighty charmes to trouble sleepy minds Then choosing out few words most horrible Let none them read thereof did verses frame With which and other spelles like terrible He bad awake blacke Plutoes griesly Dame And cursed heuen and spake reprochful shame Of highest God the Lord of life and light A bold bad man that dar'd to call by name Great Gorgon prince of darknes and dead night At which Cocytus quakes and Styx is put to flight And forth he cald out of deepe darknes dredd Legions of Sprights the which like litle flyes Fluttring about his euerdamned hedd A waite whereto their seruice he applyes To aide his friendes or fray his enimies Of those he chose out two the falsest twoo And fittest for to forge true-seeming lyes The one of them he gaue a message too The other by himselfe staide other worke to doo He making speedy way through spersed ayre And through the world of waters wide and deepe To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe And low where dawning day doth neuer peepe His dwelling is there Tethys his wet bed Doth euer wash and Cynthia still doth steepe In siluer deaw his euer drouping hed Whiles sad Night ouer him her mātle black doth spred Whose double gates he findeth locked fast The one faire fram'd of burnisht Yuory The other all with siluer ouercast And wakeful dogges before them farre doelye Watching to banish Care their enimy Who oft is wont to trouble gentle Sleepe By them the Sprite doth passe in quietly And vnto Morpheus comes whom drowned deepe In drowsie fit he findes of nothing he takes keepe And more to lulle him in his slumber soft A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe And euery drizling raine vpon the loft Mixt with a murmuring winde much like the sowne Of swarming Bees did cast him in a swowne No other noyse nor peoples troublous cryes As still are wont t'annoy the walled towne Might there be heard but carelesse Quiet lyes Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes The Messenger approching to him spake But his waste wordes retournd to him in vaine So sound he slept that nought mought him awake Then rudely he him thrust and pusht with paine Whereat he gan to stretch but he againe Shooke him so hard that forced him to speake As one then in a dreame whose dryer braine Is tost with troubled sighes and fancies weake He mumbled soft but would not all his silence breake The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake And threatned vnto him the dreaded name Of Hecate whereat he gan to quake And lifting vp his lompish head with blame Halfe angrie asked him for what he came Hether quoth he me Archimago sent He that the stubborne Sprites can wisely tame He bids thee to him send for his intent A fit false dreame that can delude the sleepers sent The God obayde and calling forth straight way A diuerse dreame out of his prison darke Deliuered it to him and downe did lay His heauie head deuoide of careful carke Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke He backe returning by the Yuorie dore Remounted vp as light as chearefull Larke And on his litle winges the dreame he bore In hast vnto his Lord where he him left afore Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes Had made a Lady of that other Spright And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes So liuely and so like in all mens sight That weaker sence it could haue rauisht quight The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight Her all in white he clad and ouer it Cast a blackstole most like to seeme for Vna fit Now when that ydle dreame was to him brought Vnto that Elfin knight he bad him fly Where he slept soundly void of euil thought And with false shewes abuse his fantasy In sort as he him schooled priuily And that new creature borne without her dew Full of the makers guyle with vsage sly He taught to imitate that Lady trew Whose semblance she
cups his mates him pledg around Such ioy made Vna when her knight she found And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemde no lesse Then the glad marchant that does vew from ground His ship far come from watrie wildernesse He hurles out vowes and Neptune oft doth blesse So forth they past and all the way they spent Discoursing of her dreadful late distresse In which he askt her what the Lyon ment Who told her all that fell in iourney as she went They had not ridden far when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat Full strongly armd and on a courser free That through his fiersnesse fomed all with sweat And the sharpe yron did for anger eat When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side His looke was sterne and seemed still to threat Cruell reuenge which he in hart did hyde And on his shield Sans loy in bloody lines was dyde When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre And saw the Red-crosse which the knight did beare He burnt in fire and gan eftsoones prepare Himselfe to batteill with his couched speare Loth was that other and did faint through feare To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele But yet his Lady did so well him cheare That hope of new good hap he gan to feele So bent his speare and spurd his horse with yron heele But that proud Paynim forward came so ferce And full of wrath that with his sharphead speare Through vainly 〈◊〉 shield he quite did perce And had his staggering steed not shronke for feare Through shield and body eke he should him beare Yet so great was the puissance of his push That from his sadle quite he did him beare He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed He to him lept in minde to reaue his life And proudly said 〈◊〉 there the worthie meed Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloody knife Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife In peace may passen ouer Let he lake When mourning altars purgd with enimies life The black infernall Furies doen aslake Life from 〈◊〉 thou tookst Sansloy shall frō thee take Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace Till Vna cride O hold that heauie hand Deare Sir what euer that thou be in place Enough is that thy foe doth vanquisht stand Now at thy mercy Mercy not withstand For he is one the truest knight aliue Though conquered now he lye on lowly land And whilest him 〈◊〉 fauourd fayre did thriue In bloudy field therefore of life him not 〈◊〉 epriue Her piteous wordes might not abate his rage But rudely rending vp his helmet would Haue slayne him streight but when he sees his age And hoarie head of Archimago old His hasty hand he doth amased hold And halfe ashamed wondred at the sight For the old man well knew he though vntold In charmes and magick to haue wondrous might Ne euer wont in field ne in round lists to fight And said Why Archimago lucklesse syre What doe I see what hard mishap is this That hath thee hether brought to taste mine yre Or thine the fault or mine the error is Instead of foe to wound my friend amis He answered nought but in a traunce still lay And on those guile full 〈◊〉 eyes of his The cloude of death did sit Which doen away He left him lying so ne would no lenger stay But to the virgin comes who all this while Amased stands her selfe so mockt to see By him who has the guerdon of his guile For so misfeigning her true knight to bee Yet is she now in more perplexitie Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold From whom her booteth not at all to flie Who by her cleanly garment catching hold Her from her Palfrey pluckt her visage to behold But her fiers seruant full of kingly aw And high disdaine whenas his soueraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he saw With gaping iawesfull greedy at him came And ramping on his shield did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharprending clawes But he was stout and lust did now inflame His corage more that frō his griping pawes He hath his shield redeemd and forth his swerd he drawes O then too weake and feeble was the forse Of saluage beast his puissance to withstand For he was strong and of so mightie corse As euer wielded speare in warlike hand And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand Est soones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand And launcht his Lordly hart with death opprest He ror'd aloud whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid From raging spoile of law lesse victors will Her faithfull gard remou'd her hope dismaid Her selfe a yielded pray to saue or spill He now Lord of the field his pride to fill With foule reproches and disdaineful spight Her vildly entertaines and will or nill Beares her away vpon his courser light Her prayers nought preuaile his rage is more of might And all the way with great lamenting paine And piteous plaintes she filleth his dull eares That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine And all the way she wetts with flowing teares But he enrag'd with rancor nothing heares Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so But followes her far of ne ought he feares To be partaker of her wandring woe More mild in beastly kind then that her beastly foe Can. IIII. To sinfull hous of Pryde Duessa guydes the faithfull knight Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy doth chaleng him to fight YOung knight what euer that dost armes professe And through long labours huntest after fame Beware of fraud beware of ficklenesse In choice and chaunge of thy deare loued Dame Least thou of her belieue too lightly blame And rash misweening doe thy hart remoue For vnto knight there is no greater shame Then lightnesse and inconstancie in loue That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly proue Who after that he had faire Vna lorne Through light misdeeming of her loialtie And fale Duessa in her sted had borne Called Fidess and so supposd to be Long with her traueild till at last they see A goodly building brauely garnished The house of mightie Prince it seemd to be And towards it a broad high way that led All bare through peoples feet which thether traueiled Great troupes of people traueild thetherward Both day and night of each degree and place But few returned hauing scaped hard With balefull beggery or soule disgrace Which euer after in most wretched care Like loathsome lazars by the hedges lay Thether Duessa badd him bend his pace For she is wearie of the toilsom way And also nigh consumed is the lingring day A stately Pallace built of squared bricke Which cunningly was without morter laid Whose wals were high but nothing strong nor thick And golden foile all ouer them displaid That purest skye with
brightnesse they dismaid High lifted vp were many loftie towres And goodly galleries far ouer laid Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres And on the top a Diall told the timely howres It was a goodly heape for to behould And spake the praises of the workmans witt But full great pittie that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sitt For on a sandie hill that still did flitt And fall away it mounted was full hie That euery breath of heauen shaked itt And all the hinder partes that few could spie Were ruinous and old but painted cunningly Arriued there they passed in forth right For still to all the gates stood open wide Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight Cald Maluenù who entrance none denide Thence to the hall which was on euery side With rich array and costly arras dight Infinite sortes of people did abide There waiting long to win the wished sight Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright By them they passe all gazing on them round And to the Presence mount whose glorious vew Their frayle amazed senses did confound In liuing Princes court none euer knew Such endlesse richesse and so sumpteous shew Ne Persia selfe the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw And there a noble crew Of Lords and Ladies stood on euery side Which with their presence fayre the place much beautifide High aboue all a cloth of State was spred And a rich throne as bright as sunny day On which there sate most braue embellished With royall robes and gorgeous array A mayden Queene that shone as Titans ray In glistring gold and perelesse pretious stone Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne As enuying her selfe that too exceeding shone Exceeding shone like Phoebus fayrest childe That did presume his fathers fyrie wayne And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne Proud of such glory and aduancement vayne While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen He leaues the welkin way most beaten playne And rapt with whirling wheeles inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne but fayrely for to shyne So proud she shyned in her princely state Looking to heauen for earth she did disdayne And sitting high for lowly she did hate Lo vnder neath her scornefull feete was layne A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright Wherein her face she often vewed fayne And in her selfe-lou'd semblance tooke delight For she was wondrous faire as any liuing wight Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell Yet did she thinke her pearelesse worth to pas That parentage with pride so did she swell And thundring Iove that high in heauen doth dwell And wield the world she claymed for her syre Or if that any else did Ioue excell For to the highest she did still aspyre Or if ought higher were then that did it desyre And proud Lucifera men did her call That made her selfe a Queene and crownd to be Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all Ne heritage of natiue soueraintie But did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie Vpon the scepter which she now did hold Ne ruld her Realme with lawes but pollicie And strong aduizement of six wisards old That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came And false Duessa seeming Lady fayre A gentle Husher Vanitie by name Made rowme and passage for them did prepaire So goodly brought them to the lowest stayre Of her high throne where they on humble knee Making obeysaunce did the cause declare Why they were come her roiall state to see To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee With loftie eyes halfe loth to looke so lowe She thancked them in her disdainefull wise Ne other grace vouchsafed them to showe Of Princesse worthy scarse them bad arise Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deuise Themselues to setten forth to straungers sight Some frounce their curled heare in courtly guise Some prancke their ruffes and others trimly dight Their gay attyre each others greater pride does spight Goodly they all that knight doe entertayne Right glad with him to haue increast their crew But to Duess each one himselfe did payne All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew For in that court whylome her well they knew Yet the stout Faery mongst the middest crowd Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd That to strange knight no better countenance allowd Suddein vpriseth from her stately place The roiall Dame and for her coche doth call All hurtlen forth and she with princely pace As faire Aurora in her purple pall Out of the East the dawning day doth call So forth she comes her brightnes brode doth 〈◊〉 The heapes of people thronging in the hall Doe ride each other vpon her to gaze Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eies amaze So forth she comes and to her coche does clyme Adorned all with gold and girlonds gay That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime And stroue to match in roiall rich array Great 〈◊〉 golden chayre the which they say The Gods stand gazing on when she does ride To Ioues high hous through heauens bras paued way Drawne of fayre Pecocks that excell in pride And full of 〈◊〉 eyes their tayles dispredden wide But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde Taught to obay their bestiall be heasts With like conditions to their kindes applyde Of which the first that all the rest did guyde Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin Vpon a slouthfull Asse he chose to ryde Arayd in habit blacke and amis thin Like to an holy Monck the seruice to begin And in his hand his Portesse still he bare That much was worne but therein little redd For of deuotion he had little care Still drownd in sleepe and most of his daies dedd Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hedd To looken whether it were night or day May seeme the wayne was very euill ledd When such an one had guiding of the way That knew not whether right he went or else astray From worldly cares himselfe he did 〈◊〉 And greatly shunned manly exercise From 〈◊〉 worke he chalenged essoyne For contemplation sake yet otherwise His life he led in lawlesse riotise By which he grew to grieuous malady For in his lustlesse limbs through euill guise A shaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continually 〈◊〉 one was Idlenesse first of this company And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony Deformed creature on a filthie swyne His belly was vpblowne with luxury And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne With which he swallowd vp excessiue feast For want whereof poore people oft did pyne And all the way most like a brutish beast He spued vp
his wounds in wondrous store But soone as breath out of her brest did pas That huge great body which the Gyaunt bore Was vanisht quite and of that monstrous mas Was nothing left but like an emptie blader was Whose grieuous fall when false Duessa spyde Her golden cup she cast vnto the ground And crowned mitre rudely threw asyde Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound That she could not endure that dolefull stound But leauing all behind her fled away The light-foot Squyre her quickly turnd around And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay So brought vnto his Lord as his deserued pray The roiall Virgin which beheld from farre In pensiue plight and sad perplexitie The whole atchieuement of this doubtfull warre Came running fast to greet his victorie With sôber gladnesse and myld modestie And with sweet ioyous cheare him thus bespake Fayre braunch of noblesse flowre of chevalrie That with your worth the world amazed make How shall I quite the paynes ye suffer for my sake And you fresh budd of vertue springing fast Whom these sad eyes saw nigh vnto deaths dore What hath poore Virgin for such perill past Where with you to reward Accept therefore My simple selfe and seruice euermore And he that high does sit and all things see With equall eye their merites to restore Behold what ye this day haue done for mee And what I cannot quite requite with vsuree But sith the heauens and your faire handeling Haue made you master of the field this day Your fortune maister eke with gouerning And well begonne end all so well I pray Ne let that wicked woman scape away For she it is that did my Lord bethrall My dearest Lord and deepe in dongeon lay Where he his better dayes hath wasted all O heare how piteous he to you for ayd does call Forthwith he gaue in charge vnto his Squyre That scarlot whore to keepen carefully Whyles he himselfe with greedie great desyre 〈◊〉 the Castle entred forcibly Where liuing creature none he did espye Then gan he lowdly through the house to call But no man car'd to answere to his crye There raignd a solemne silence ouer all Nor voice was heard nor wight was seene in bowre or hall At last with creeping crooked pace forth came An old old man with beard as white as snow That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame And guyde his wearie gate both too and fro For his eye sight him fayled long ygo And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore The which vnused rust did ouergrow Those were the keyes of euery inner dore But he could not them vse but kept them still in store But very vncouth sight was to behold How he did fashion his vntoward pace For as he forward mooud his footing old So backward still was turnd his wrincled face Vnlike to men who euer as they trace Both feet and face one way are wont to lead This was the auncient keeper of that place And foster father of the Gyaunt dead His name Ignaro did his nature right aread His reuerend heares and holy grauitee The knight much honord as beseemed well And gently askt where all the people bee Which in that stately building wont to dwell Who answerd him full soft he could not tell Againe he askt where that same knight was layd Whom great 〈◊〉 with his puissaunce fell Had made his 〈◊〉 thrall againe he sayde He could not tell ne euer other answere made Then asked he which way he in might pas He could not tell againe he answered Thereat the courteous knight displeased was And said Old syre it seemes thou hast not red How ill it sits with that same siluer hed In vaine to mocke or mockt in vaine to bee But if thou be as thou art pourtrahed With natures pen in ages graue degree Aread in grauer wise what I demaund of thee His answere likewise was he could not tell Whose sencelesse speach and doted ignorance When as the noble Prince had marked well He ghest his nature by his countenance And calmd his wrath with goodly temperance Then to him stepping from his arme did reach Those keyes and made himselfe free enterance Each dore he opened without any breach There was no barre to stop nor foe him to empeach There all within full rich arayd he found With royall arras and resplendent gold And did with store of euery thing abound That greatest Princes presence might behold But all the floore too filthy to be told With blood of guiltlesse babes and innocents trew Which there were slaine as sheepe out of the fold Defiled was that dreadfull was to vew And sacred ashes ouer it was strowed new And there beside of marble stone was built An Altare caru'd with cunning ymagery On which trew Christians blood was often spilt And holy Martyres often doen to dye With cruell malice and strong tyranny Whose blessed sprites from vnderneath the stone To God for vengeance cryde continually And with great griefe were often heard to grone That hardest heart would bleede to heare their piteous mone Through euery rowme he sought and euerie bowr But no where could he find that wofull thrall At last he came vnto an yron doore That fast was lockt but key found not at all Emongst that bounch to open it withall But in the same a little grate was pight Through which he sent his voyce and lowd did call With all his powre to weet if liuing wight Were housed therewithin whom he enlargen might Therewith an hollow dreary murmuring voyce These pitteous plaintes and dolours did resound O who is that which bringes me happy choyce Of death that here lye dying euery stound Yet liue perforce in balefull darkenesse bound For now three Moones haue chāged thrice their hew And haue beene thrice hid vnderneath the ground Since I the heauens chearefull face did vew O welcome thou that doest of death bring tydings trew Which whē that Champion heard with percing point Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore And trembling horrour ran through euery ioynt For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore Which shaking off he rent that yron dore With furious force and indignation fell Where entred in his foot could find no flore But all a deepe descent as darke as hell That breathed euer forth a filthie banefull smell But nether darkenesse fowle nor filthy bands Nor noyous smell his purpose could withhold Entire affection hateth nicer hands But that with constant zele and corage bold After long paines and labors manifold He found the meanes that Prisoner vp to reare Whose feeble thighes vnhable to vphold His pined corse him scarse to light could beare A ruefull spectacle of death and ghastly drere His sad dull eies deepe sunck in hollow pits Could not endure th'vnwonted sunne to view His bare thin cheekes for want of better bits And empty sides deceiued of their dew Could make a stony hart his hap to rew His rawbone armes whose mighty brawned bowrs Were wont
Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire But told it flames and hidden it does glow I will reuele what ye so much desire Ah Loue lay down thy bow that whiles I may 〈◊〉 It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares When corage first does creepe in manly chest Then first that cole of kindly heat appeares To kindle loue in euery liuing brest But me had warnd old Cleons wise behest Those creeping flames by reason to subdew Before their rage grew to so great vnrest As miserable louers vse to rew Which still wex old in woe whiles wo stil wexeth new That ydle name of loue and louers life As losse of time and vertues enimy I euer scormd and ioyd to 〈◊〉 strife In middest of their mournfull Tragedy Ay wont to laugh when them I heard to cry And blow the fire which them to ashes brent Their God himselfe grieud at my libertie Shott many a dart at me with fiers intent But I them warded all with wary gouernment But all in vaine no fort can be so strong 〈◊〉 brest can armed be so sownd But will at last be wonne with battrie long Or vnawares at disauantage fownd Nothing is sure that growes on earthly grownd And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might And boastes in beauties chaine not to bebownd Doth soonest fall in disauentrous fight And yeeldes his caytiue neck to victours most despight Ensample make of him your haplesse ioy And of my selfe now mated as ye see Whose prouder vaunt that proud auenging boy Did soone pluck downe and curbd my libertee For on a day prickt forth with iollitee Of looser life and heat of hardiment Raunging the forest wide on courser free The fields the floods the heauens with one consent Did seeme to laugh at me and fauour mine intent For wearied with my sportes I did alight From loftie steed and downe to sleepe me layd The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight And pillow was my helmett fayre displayd Whiles euery sence the humour sweet embayd And slombring soft my hart did steale away Me seemed by my side a royall Mayd Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay So fayre a creature yet saw neuer sunny day Most goodly glee and louely blandishment She to me made and badd me loue her deare For dearely sure her loue was to me bent As when iust time expired should appeare But whether dreames delude or true it were Was neuer hart so rauisht with delight Ne liuing man like wordes did euer heare As she to me deliuered all that night And at her parting said She Queene of Faries hight When I awoke and found her place deuoyd And nought but pressed gras where she had lyen I sorrowed all so much as earst I ioyd And washed all her place with watry eyen From that day forth I lou'd that face diuyne From that day forth I cast in carefull mynd To seeke her out with labor and long tyne And neuer vowd to rest till her I fynd Nyne monethes I seek in vain yet ni'll that vow vnbynd Thus as he spake his visage wexed pale And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray Yett still he stroue to cloke his inward bale And hide the smoke that did his fire display Till gentle Vna thus to him gan say O happy Queene of Faries that hast fownd Mongst many one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour and thy foes confownd True Loues are oftē sown but seldom grow on grownd Thine O then said the gentle Redcrosse knight Next to that Ladies loue shal be the place O fayrest virgin full of heauenly light Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race Was firmest fixt in myne extremest case And you my Lord the Patrone of my life Of that great Queene may well gaine worthie grace For onely worthie you through prowes priefe Yf liuing man mote worthie be to be her liefe So 〈◊〉 discoursing of their loues The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues With fresh desire his voyage to pursew Al 's Vna earnd her traue ill to renew Then those two knights fast frendship for to bynd And loue establish each to other trew Gaue goodly gifts the signes of gratefull mynd And eke as pledges firme right hands together ioynd Prince 〈◊〉 gaue a boxe of Diamond sure Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure Of wondrous worth and vertue excellent That any wownd could heale incontinent Which to requite the Redcrosse knight him gaue A booke wherein this Saueours testament Was writt with golden letters rich and braue A worke of wondrous grace and hable soules to saue Thus beene they parted Arthur on his way To seeke his loue and th' other for to fight With 〈◊〉 foe that all her realme did pray But she now weighing the decayed plight And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight Would not a while her forward course pursew Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight Till he recouered had his former hew For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew So as they traueild lo they gan espy An armed knight towards them gallop fast That seemed from some feared foe to fly Or other griesly thing that him aghast Still as he fledd his eye was backward cast As if his feare still followed him behynd Al 's flew his steed as he his bandes had brast And with his winged heeles did tread the wynd As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kynd Nigh as he drew they might perceiue his head To bee vnarmd and curld vncombed heares Vpstaring stiffe dismaid with vncouth dread Nor drop of blood in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe and to increase his feares In fowle reproch of knighthoodes fayre degree About his neck an hempen rope he weares That with his glistring armes does ill agree But he of rope or armes has now no memoree The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast To weet what mister wight was so dismayd There him he findes all sencelesse and aghast That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd Till he these wordes to him deliuer might Sir knight aread who hath ye thus arayd And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight For neuer knight I saw in such misseeming plight He answerd nought at all but adding new Feare to his first amazment staring wyde With stony eyes and hartlesse hollow hew Astonisht stood as one that had aspyde Infernall furies with their chaines vntyde Him yett againe and yett againe bespake The gentle knight who nought to him replyde But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake For Gods deare loue Sir knight doe me not stay For loe he comes he comes fast after mee Est looking back would faine haue runne away But he him forst to stay and tellen free The secrete cause of his perplexitie Yet nathemore by his bold hartie
watchman on the castle wall Who thereby dead that balefull Beast did deeme And to his Lord and Lady lowd gan call To tell how he had seene the Dragons fatall fall Vprose with hasty ioy and feeble speed That aged Syre the Lord of all that land And looked forth to weet if trew indeed Those tydinges were as he did vnderstand Which whenas trew by try all he out fond He badd to open wyde his brasen gate Which long time had beene shut and out of hond Proclaymed ioy and peace through all his state For dead now was their foe which them forrayed late Then gan triumphant Trompets sownd on hye That sent to heuen the ecchoed report Of their new ioy and happie victory Gainst him that had them long opprest with tort And fast imprisoned in sieged fort Then all the people as in solemne feast To him assembled with one full consort Reioycing at the fall of that great beast From whose eternall bondage now they were releast Forth came that auncient Lord and 〈◊〉 Queene Arayd in antique robes downe to the grownd And sad habiliments right well 〈◊〉 A noble crew about them waited rownd Ofsage and sober Peres all grauely gownd Whom far before did march a goodly band Of tall young men all hable armes to sownd But now they laurell braunches bore in hand Glad signe of victory and peace in all their land Vnto that doughtie Conquerour they came And him before themselues prostrating low Their Lord and Patrone loud did him proclame And at his feet their lawrell boughes did throw Soone after them all dauncing on a row The comely virgins came with girlands dight As fresh as flowres in medow greene doe grow When morning deaw vpon their leaues doth light And in their handes sweet Timbrels all vpheld on hight And them before the fry of children yong Their wanton sportes and childish mirth did play And to the Maydens sownding tymbrels song In well attuned notes a ioyous lay And made delightfull musick all the way Vntill they came where that faire virgin stood As fayre Diana in fresh sommers day Beholdes her Nymphes enraung'd in shady wood Some wrestle some do run some bathe in christall flood So she beheld those may dens meriment With chearefull vew who when to her they came Themselues to ground with gracious humblesse 〈◊〉 And her ador'd by honorable name Lifting to heuen her euerlasting fame Then on her head they sett agirlond greene And crowned her twixt earnest and twixt game Who in her self-resemblance well beseene Did seeme such as she was a goodly maiden Queene And after all the raskall many ran Heaped together in rude rablement To see the face of that victorious man Whom all admired as from heauen sent And gazd vpon with gaping wonderment But when they came where that dead Dragon Iay Stretcht on the ground in monstrous large extent The sight with ydle feare did them dismay Ne durst approch him nigh to touch or once assay Some feard and fledd some 〈◊〉 and well it saynd One that would wiser seeme then all the rest Warnd him not touch for yet perhaps remaynd Some lingring life within his hollow brest Or in his wombe might lurke some hidden nest Of many Dragonettes his fruitfull seede Another saide that in his eyes did rest Yet sparckling fyre and badd thereof take heed Another said he saw him moue his eyes indeed One mother whenas her foolehardy chyld Did come to neare and with his talants play Halfe dead through feare her litle babe reuyld And to her gossibs gan in counsell say How can I tell but that his talents may Yet scratch my sonne or rend his tender hand So diuersly them selues in vaine they fray Whiles some more bold to measure him 〈◊〉 stand To proue how many acres he did spred ofland Thus flocked all the folke him rownd about The whiles that hoarie king with all his traine Being arriued where that champion stout After his foes defeasaunce did remaine Him goodly greetes and fayre does entertayne With princely gifts of yuory and gold And thousand thankes him yeeldes for all his paine Then when his daughter deare he does behold Her dearely doth imbrace and kisseth manifold And after to his Pallace he them bringes With shaumes trompets with Clarions sweet And all the way the ioyous people singes And with their garments strowes the paued street Whence mounting vp they fynd purueyaunce meet Of all that royall Princes court became And all the floore was vnderneath their feet Be spredd with costly scarlott of great name On which they lowly sitt and fitting purpose frame What needes me tell their feast and goodly guize In which was nothing riotous nor vaine What needes of dainty dishes to deuize Of comely seruices or courtly trayne My narrow leaues cannot in them vntayne The large discourse of roiall Princes state Yet was their manner then but bare and playne For th'antique world excesse and pryde did hate Such proud luxurious pompe is swollen vp but late Then when with meates and drinkes of euery kinde Their feruent appetites they quenched had That auncient Lord gan fit occasion finde Of straunge aduentures and of perils sad Which in his trauell him befallen had For to demaund of his renowmed guest Who then with vtt'rance graue and count'nance sad From poynt to poynt as is before exprest Discourst his voyage long according his request Great pleasure mixt with pittifull regard That godly King and Queene did passionate Whyles they his pittifull aduentures heard That oft they did lament his lucklesse state And often blame the too importune fate That heapd on him so many wrathfull wreakes For neuer gentle knight as he of late So tossed was in fortunes cruell freakes And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks Then sayd that royall Pere in sober wise Deare Sonne great beene the euils which ye bore From first to last in your late enterprise That I note whether praise or pitty more For neuer liuing man I weene so fore In sea of deadly daungers was distrest But since now safe ye seised haue the shore And well arriued are high God be blest Let vs deuize of ease and euerlasting rest Ah dearest Lord said then that doughty knight Of ease or rest I may not yet deuize For by the faith which I to armes haue plight I bownden am streight after this emprize As that your daughter can ye well aduize Backe to retourne to that great Faery Quueene And her to serue sixe yeares in warlike wize Gainst that proud Paynim king that works her teene Therefore I ought craue pardon till I there haue beene Vnhappy falls that hard necessity Quoth he the troubler of my happy peace And vowed foe of my felicity Ne I against the same can iustly preace But since that band ye cannot now release Nor doen vndoe for vowes may not be vayne Soone as the 〈◊〉 of those six yeares shall cease Ye then shall hether backe retourne agayne The
marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twayn Which for my part I couet to performe In sort as through the world I did proclame That who so kild that monster most deforme And him in hardy battayle ouercame Should haue mine onely daughter to his Dame And of my kingdome heyre apparaunt bee Therefore since now to thee perteynes the 〈◊〉 By dew desert of noble cheualree Both daughter and eke kingdome lo I yield to thee Then forth he called that his daughter fayre The fairest Vn ' his onely daughter deare His onely daughter and his only hayre Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare As bright as doth the morning starre appeare Out of the East with flaming lockes bedight To tell that dawning day is drawing neare And to the world does bring long wished light So faire and fresh that Lady shewd her selfe in sight So faire and fresh as freshest flowre in May For she had layd her mournefull stole aside And widow-like sad wimple throwne away Wherewith her heauenly beautie she did hide Whiles on her wearie iourney she did ride And on her now a garment she did weare All lilly white withoutten spot or pride That seemd like silke and siluer wouen neare But neither silke nor siluer therein did appeare The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame And glorious light of her sunshyny face To tell were as to striue against the streame My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace Her heauenly lineaments for to enchace Ne wonder for her own deare loued knight All were she daily with himselfe in place Did wonder much at her celestiall sight Oft had he seene her faire but neuer so faire dight So fairely dight when she in presence came She to her Syre made humble reuerence And bowed low that her right well became And added grace vnto her excellence Who with great wisedome and graue eloquence Thus gan to say But eare he thus had sayd With flying speede and seeming great pretence Came running in much like a man dismayd A Messenger with letters which his message sayd All in the open hall amazed stood At suddeinnesse of that vnwary sight And wondred at his breathlesse hasty mood But he for nought would stay his passage right Till fast before the king he did alight Where falling flat great humblesse he did make And kist the ground whereon his foot was pight Then to his handes that writt he did betake Which he disclosing read thus as the paper spake To thee most mighty king of Eden fayre Her greeting sends in these sad lines addrest The wofull daughter and forsaken heyre Of that great Emperour of all the West And bids thee be aduized for the best Ere thou thy daughter linck in holy band Of wedlocke to that new vnknowen guest For he already plighted his right hand Vnto another loue and to another land To me sad mayd or rather widow sad He was affyaunced long time before And sacred pledges he both gaue and had Falfe erraunt knight infamous and forswore Witnesse the burning Altars which he swore And guilty heauens of his bold periury Which though he hath polluted oft of yore Yet I to them for iudgement iust doe fly And them coniure t' auenge this shamefull iniury Therefore since mine he is or free or bond Or false or trew or liuing or else dead Withhold O souerayne Prince your hasty hond From knitting league with him I you aread Neweene my right with strength adowne to tread Through weakenesse of my widowhed or woe For truth is strong her rightfull cause to plead And shall finde friends if need requireth soe So bids thee well to fare Thy neither friend nor foe Fidessa When he these bitter byting wordes had red The tydings straunge did him abashed make That still he sate long time astonished As in great muse ne word to creature spake At last his solemne silence thus he brake With doubtfull eyes fast fixed on his guest Redoubted knight that for myne only sake Thy life and 〈◊〉 late aduenturest Let nought be hid from me that ought to be exprest What meane these bloody vowes and idle threats Throwne out from womanish impatient mynd What heuens what altars what enraged heates Here heaped vp with termes of loue vnkynd My conscience cleare with guilty bands would bynd High God be witnesse that I guiltlesse ame But if your selfe Sir knight ye faulty fynd Or wrapped be in 〈◊〉 of former Dame With cry 〈◊〉 doe not it couer but disclose the same To whom the Redcrosse knight this answere sent My Lord my king be nought hereat dismayd Till well ye wote by graue intendiment What woman and wherefore doth me vpbrayd With breach of loue and loialty betrayd It was in my mishaps 〈◊〉 hitherward I lately traueild that vnwares I stayd Out of my way through perils straunge and hard That day should faile me ere I had them all declard There did I find or rather I was fownd Of this false woman that Fidessa hight Fidessa hight the falsest Dame on grownd Most false Duessa royall richly dight That easy was to inueigle weaker sight Who by her wicked arts and wiely skill Too false and strong for earthly skill or might Vnwares me wrought vnto her wicked will And to my foe betrayd when least I feared ill Then stepped forth the goodly royall Mayd And on the ground her selfe prostrating low With sober countenaunce thus to him sayd O pardon me my soueraine Lord to sheow The secret treasons which of late I know To haue bene wrought by that false 〈◊〉 Shee onely she it is that earst did throw This gentle knight into so great distresse That death him did awaite in daily wretchednesse And now it seemes that she suborned hath This crafty messenger with letters faine To worke new woe and improuided 〈◊〉 By breaking of the band betwixt vs twaine Wherein she vsed hath the practicke pame Of this false footman clokt with simplenesle Whome if ye please for to discouer plaine Ye shall him Archimage find I ghesse The falsest man aliue wo tries shall find no lesse The king was greatly moued at her speach And all with suddein indignation fraight Bad on that Messenger rude hands to reach Eftsoones the Gard which on his state did wait Attacht that faytor false and bound him strait Who seeming sorely chauffed at his band As chained beare whom cruell dogs doe bait With ydle force did faine them to withstand And often semblaunce made to scape out of their hand But they him layd full low in dungeon deepe And bound him hand and foote with yron chains And with continual watch did warely keepe Who then would thinke that by his subtile trains He could escape fowle death or deadly pains Thus when that Princes wrath was pacifide He gan renew the late forbidden bains And to the knight his daughter deare he tyde With sacred rites and vowes for euer to abyde His owne two hands the holy knotts did knitt That none but death for euer can diuide His
cheekes yett being ded Seemd to haue beene a goodly personage Now in his freshest flowre of lusty hed Fitt to inflame faire Lady with loues rage But that fiers fate did crop the blossome of his age VVhom when the good Sir Guyou did behold His hart gan wexe as starke as marblestone And his sresh blood did frieze with fearefull cold That all his sences seemd berefte attone At last his mighty ghost gan deepe to grone As Lion grudging in his great disdaine Mournes inwardly and makes to him selfe mone Til ruth and fraile affection did constraine His stout courage to stoupe and shew his inward paine Out of her gored wound the cruell steel He lightly snatcht and did the floodgate stop VVith his faire garment then gansoftly feel Herfeeble pulfe to proue if any drop Of liuing blood yet in her veynes did hop VVhich when he felt to moue he hoped faire To call backe life to her forsaken shop So well he did her deadly wounds repaire That at the last shee gan to breath out liuing aire VVhich he perceiuing greatly gan reioice And goodly counsell that for wounded hart Is meetest med'cine tempred with sweete voice Ay me deare Lady which the ymage art Of ruefull pitty and impatient smart VVhat direfull chaunce armd with auenging fate Or cursed hand hath plaid this cruell part Thus fowle to hasten your vntimely date Speake O dear Lady speake help neuer comes too late Therewith her dim eie-lids she vp gan reare On which the drery death did sitt as sad As lump oflead and made darke clouds appeare But when as him all in bright armour clad Before her standing she espied had As one out of a deadly dreame affright She weakely started yet she nothing drad Streight downe againe her selfe in great despight She groueling threw to groūd as hating life and light The gentle knight her soone with carefull paine Vplifted light and softly did vphold Thrise he her reard and thrise she sunck againe Till he his armes about her sides gan fold And to her said Yet if the stony cold Haue not all seized on your frozen hart Let one word fall that may your griefe vnfold And tell the secrete of your mortall smart He oft finds present helpe who does his griefe impart Then casting vp a deadly looke full low Shee sight from bottome of her wounded brest And after many bitter throbs did throw With lips full pale and foltring tong opprest These words she breathed forth from riuen chest Leaue ah leaue of what euer wight thou bee To lett a weary wretch from her dew rest And trouble dying soules tranquilitee Take not away now got which none would giue to me Ah far be it said he Deare dame fro mee To hinder soule from her desired rest Or hold sad life in long captiuitee For all I seeke is but to haue redrest The bitter pangs that doth your heart infest Tell then O Lady tell what fatall priefe Hath with so huge misfortune you opprest That I may cast to compas your reliefe Or die with you in sorrow and partake your griefe With feeble hands then stretched forth on hye As heuen accusing guilty of her death And with dry drops congealed in her eye In these sad wordes she spent her vtmost breath Heare then O man the sorrowes that vneath My tong can tell so far all sence they pas Loe this dead corpse that lies here vnderneath The gentlest knight that euer on greene gras Gay steed with spurs did pricke the good Sir Mortdant was Was ay the while that he is not so now My Lord my loue my deare Lord my deare loue So long as heuens iust with equall brow Vouchsafed to behold vs from aboue One day when him high corage did emmoue As wont ye knightes to seeke aduentures wilde He pricked forth his puissaunt force to proue Me then he left enwombed of this childe This luckles childe whom thus ye see with blood defild Him fortuned hard fortune ye may ghesse To come where vile Acrasia does wonne Acrasia a false enchaunteresse That many errant knightes hath fowle fordonne Within a wandring Island that doth ronne And stray in perilous gulfe her dwelling is Fayre Sir if euer there ye trauell shonne The cursed land where many wend amis And know it by the name it hight the Bowre of blis Her blis is all in pleasure and delight Wherewith she makes her louers dronken mad And then with words weedes of wondrous might On them she workes her will to vses bad My liefest Lord she thus beguiled had For he was flesh all flesh doth frayltie breed Whom when I heard to beene so ill bestad Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed And cast to seek him forth through danger great dreed Now had fayre Cynthia by euen tournes Full measured three quarters of her yeare And thrise three tymes had fild her crooked hornes Whenas my wombe her burdein would forbeare And bad me call Lucina to me neare Lucina came a manchild forth I brought The woods the Nymphes my bowres my midwiues weare Hard helpe at need So deare thee babe I bought Yet nought to dear I deemd while so my deare I sought Him so I sought and so at last I fownd Where him that witch had thralled to her will In chaines of lust and lewde desyres vbownd And so transformed from his former skill That me he knew not nether his owne ill Till through wise handling and faire gouernaunce I him recured to a better will Purged from drugs of fowle intemperaunce Then meanes I gan deuise for his deliuerance Which when the vile Enchaunteresse perceiu'd How that my Lord from her I would repriue With cup thus charmd him parting she deceiud Sad verse giue death to him that death does giue And losse of loue to her that loues to liue So soone as Bacchus with the Nymphe does lincke So parted we and on our iourney driue Till comming to this well he stoupt to drincke The charme fulfild dead suddeinly he downe did sincke Which when I wretch Not one word more she sayd But breaking of the end for want of breath And slyding soft as downe to sleepe her layd And ended all her woe in quiet death That seeing good Sir Guyon could vneath From teares abstayne for griefe his hart did grate And from so heauie sight his head did wreath Accusing fortune and too cruell fate Which plonged had faire Lady in so wretched state Then turning to his Palmer said Old syre Behold the ymage of mortalitie And feeble nature cloth'd with fleshly tyre When raging passion with fierce tyranny Robs reason of her dew regalitie And makes it seruaunt to her basest part The strong it weakens with infirmitie And with bold furie armes the weakest hart The strong through pleasure soonest falles the weake through smart But temperaunce said he with golden squire Betwixt them both can measure out a meane Nether to melt in pleasures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor frye in hartlesse griefe and dolefull tene
Thrise happy man who fares them both atweene But sith this wretched woman ouercome Of 〈◊〉 rather then of crime hath bene Reserue her cause to her eternall doome And in the meane vouchsafe her honorable toombe Palmer qd he death is an equall doome To good and bad the commen In of rest But after death the tryall is to come When best shall bee 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 greet 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 ay releace The dead knights sword out of his sheath he drew With which he cutt a lock of all their heare Which medling with their blood earth he threw Into the graue and gan deuoutly sweare Such and such euil God on Gúyon reare And worse and worse young Orphane bethy payne If I or thou dew vengeance doe forbeare Till guiltie blood her guerdon doe obtayne So shedding many teares they closd the earth agayne Cant II. Babes bloody handes may not be clensd the face of golden Meane Her sisters two Extremities striue her to banish cleane THus when Sir Guyon with his faithful guyde Had with dew rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde The litle babe vp in his armes he hent Who with sweet pleasaunce and bold blandishment Gan smyle on them that rather ought to weepe As carelesse of his woe or innocent Of that was doen that ruth emperced deepe In that knightes hart and wordes with bitter teares did steepe Ah lucklesse babe borne vnder cruell starre And in dead parents balefull ashes bred Full little weenest thou what sorrowes are Left thee for porcion of thy liuelyhed Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered As budding braunch rent from the natiue tree And throwen forth till it be withered Such is the state of men Thus enter we Into this life with woe and end with miseree Then soft him selfe inclyning on his knee Downe to that well did in the water weene So loue does loath disdainefull nicitee His guiltie handes from bloody gore to cleene He washt them oft and oft yet nought they beene For all his washing cleaner Still he stroue Yet still the litle hands were bloody seene The which him into great amaz'ment droue And into diuerse doubt his wauering wonder cloue He wist not whether blott of fowle offence Might not be purgd with water nor with bath Or that high God in lieu of innocence Imprinted had that token of his wrath To shew how sore bloodguiltinesse he hat'h Or that the charme and veneme which they dronck Their blood with secret filth infected hath Being diffused through the sencelesse tronck That through the great contagion direful deadly stonck Whom thus at gaze the Palmer gan to bord With goodly reason and thus fayre bespake Ye bene right hart amated gratious Lord And of your ignorance great merueill make Whiles cause not well conceiued ye mistake But know that secret vertues are infusd In euery fountaine and in euerie lake Which who hath skill them rightly to haue chusd To proofe of passing wonders hath full often vsd Of those some were so from their sourse indewd By great Dame Nature from whose fruitfull pap Their welheads spring and are with moisture deawd Which feedes each liuing plant with liquid sap And filles with flowres fayre Floraes painted lap But other some by guifte of later grace Or by good prayers or by other hap Had vertue pourd into their waters bace And thenceforth were renowmd and sought from place place Such is this well wrought by occasion straunge Which to her Nymph befell Vpon a day As she the woodes with bow and shaftes did raunge The hartlesse Hynd and Robucke to dismay Dan Faunus chaunst to meet her by the way And kindling fire at her faire burning eye Inflamed was to follow beauties chace And chaced her that fast from him did fly As Hynd from her so she fled from her enimy At last when fayling breath began to faint And saw no meanes to scape of shame affrayd She set her downe to weepe for sore constraint And to Diana calling lowd for ayde Her deare besought to let her die a mayd The goddesse heard and suddeine where she sate Welling out streames of teares and quite dismayd With stony feare of that rude rustick mate Transformd her to a stone from stedfast virgins state Lo now she is that stone from whose two heads As from two weeping eyes fresh streames do flow Yet colde through feare and old conceiued dreads And yet the stone her semblance seemes to show Shapt like a maide that such ye may her know And yet her vertues in her water byde For it is chaste and pure as purest snow Ne lets her waues with any filth be dyde But euer like her selfe vnstayned hath beene tryde From thence it comes that this babes bloody hand May not be clensd with water of this well Ne certes Sir striue you it to withstand But let them still be bloody as befell That they his mothers innocence may tell As she bequeathd in her last testament That as a sacred Symbole it may dwell In her sonnes flesh to mind reuengement And be for all chaste Dames an endlesse moniment He hearkned to his reason and the childe Vptaking to the Palmer gaue to beare But his sad fathers armes with blood defilde An heauie load himselfe did lightly reare And turning to that place in which whyleare He left his loftie steed with golden sell And goodly gorgeous barbes him found not theare By other accident that earst befell He is conuaide but how or where here fits not tell Which when Sir Guyon saw all were he wroth Yet algates mote he soft himselfe appease And fairely fare on foot how euer loth His double burden did him sore disease So long they traueiled with litle ease Till that at last they to a Castle came Built on a rocke adioyning to the seas It was an auncient worke of antique frame And wondrous strong by nature and by skilfull frame Therein three sisters dwelt of sundry sort The children of one syre by mothers three Who dying whylome did diuide this fort To them by equall shares in equall fee But stryfull mind and diuerse qualitee Drew them in partes and each made others foe Still did they striue and daily disagree The eldest did against the youngest goe And both against the middest meant to worken woe Where when the knight arriu'd he was right well Receiu'd as knight of so much worth became Of second
and right That matter make for him to worke vpon And stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight Fly therefore fly this fearfull stead anon Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion His be that care whom most it doth concerne Sayd he but whether with such hasty flight Art thou now bownd for well mote I discerne Great cause that carries thee so swifte and light My Lord qd he me sent and streight behight To seeke Occasion where so she bee For he is all disposd to bloody fight And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltee Hard is his hap that first fals in his ieopardee Mad man said then the Palmer that does seeke Occasion to wrath and cause of strife Shee comes vnsought and shonned followes eke Happy who can abstaine when Rancor rife Kindles Reuenge and threats his rusty knife Woe neuer wants where euery cause is caught And rash Occasion makes vnquiet life Then loe wher bound she sits whō thou hast sought Said Guyon let that message to thy Lord be brought That when the varlett heard and saw streight way He wexed wondrous wroth and said Vile knight That knights knighthood doest with shame vpbray And shewst th'ensāple of thy childishe might With silly weake old woman that did fight Great glory and gay spoile sure hast thou gott And stoutly prou'd thy puissaunce here in sight That shall Pyrrhochles well requite I wott And with thy blood abolish so reprochfull blott With that one of his thrillant darts he threw Headed with yre and vengeable despight The quiuering steele his aymed end wel knew And to his brest it selfe intended right But he was wary and ere it empight In the meant marke aduaunst his shield atweene On which it seizing no way enter might But backe rebownding left the forckhead keene Estsoones he fled away and might no where be seene Cant. V. Pyrrhochles does with Guyon fight And Furors chayne vntyes Who him sore wounds whiles Atin to Gymochles for ayd flyes WHo euer doth to temperaunce apply His stedfast life and all his actions frame Trust me shal find no greater enimy Then stubborne perturbation to the same To which right wel the wise doe giue that name For it the goodly peace of staied mindes Does ouerthrow and troublous warre proclame His owne woes author who so bound it findes As did Pirrhocles and it wilfully vnbindes After that varlets flight it was not long Ere on the plaine fast pricking Guyon spide One in bright armes embatteiled full strong That as the Sunny beames doe glaunce and glide Vpon the trembling waue so shined bright And round about him threw forth sparkling fire That seemd him to enflame on euery side His steed was bloody red and fomed yre When with the maistring spur he did him roughly stire Approching nigh he neuer staid to greete Ne chaffar words prowd corage to prouoke But prickt so fiers that vnderneath his feete The smouldring dust did rownd about him smoke Both horse and man nigh able for to choke And fayrly couching his steeleheaded speare Him first saluted with a sturdy stroke It booted nought Sir Guyon comming neare To thincke such hideous puissaunce on foot to beare But lightly shunned it and passing by With his bright blade did smite at him so fell That the sharpe steele arriuing forcibly On his broad shield bi tt not but glaun cingfell On his horse necke before the quilred sell And from the head the body sundred quight So him dismounted low he did compell On foot with him to matchen equall fight The truncked beast fast bleeding did him fowly dight Sore bruzed with the fall he slow vprose And all enraged thus him loudly shent Disle all knight whose coward corage chose To wreake it selfe on beast all innnocent And shund the marke at which it should be ment Therby thine armes seem strong but manhood frayl So hast thou ost with guile thine honor blent But litle may such guile thee now auayl If wonted force and fortune doe me not much fayl With that he drew his flaming sword and strooke At him so fiercely that the vpper marge Of his seuenfolded shield away it tooke And glauncing on his helmet made a large And open gash therein were not his targe That broke the violence of his intent The weary sowle from thence it would discharge Nathelesse so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reele and to his brest his beuer bent Exceeding wroth was Guyon at that blow And much ashamd that stroke of liuing arme Should him dismay and make him stoup so low Though otherwise it did him litle harme Tho hurling high his yron braced arme He smote so manly on his shoulder plate That all his left side it did quite disarme Yet there the steele stayd not but inly bate Deepe in his flesh and opened wide a red floodgate Deadly dismayd with horror of that dint Pyrrhochles was and grieued eke entyre Yet nathemore did it his fury stint But added flame vnto his former fire That welnigh molt his hart in raging yre Ne thenceforth his approued skill to ward Or strike or hurtle rownd in warlike gyre Remembred he ne car'd for his saufgard But rudely rag'd and like a cruel tygre far'd He hewd and lasht and foynd and thondred blowes And euery way did seeke into his life Ne plate ne male could ward so mighty throwes But yeilded passage to his cruell knife But Guyon in the heat of all his strife Was wary wise and closely did awayt Auauntage whilest his foe did rage most rife Sometimes a thwart sometimes he strook him strayt And falsed oft his blowes t'illude him with such bayt Like as a Lyon whose imperiall powre A prowd rebellious Vnicorne defyes T' auoide the rash assault and wrathfull stowre Of his fiers foe him to a tree applyes And when him ronning in full course he spyes He slips aside the whiles that furious beast His precious horne sought of his enimye Strikes in the stocke ne thence can be releast But to the mighty victor yields a bounteous feast With such faire sleight him Guyon often fayld Till at the last all breathlesse weary faint Him spying with fresh onsett he assayld And kindling new his corage seeming queint Strooke him so hugely that through grear constraint He made him stoup perforce vnto his knee And doe vnwilling worship to the Saint That on his shield depainted he did see Such homage till that instant neuer learned hee Whom Guyon seeing stoup poursewed fast The present offer of faire victory And soone his dreadfull blade about he cast Wherewith he smote his haughty crest so hye That streight on grownd made him full low to lye Then on his brest his victor foote he thrust With that he cryde Mercy doe me not dye Ne deeme thy force by fortunes doome vniust That hath maugre her spight thus low me laid in dust Eftsoones his cruel hand Sir Guyon stayd Tempring the passion with aduizement slow And maistring might on enimy dismayd For th'equall die of
knowledge of those woods where he did dwell That shortly he from daunger was releast And out of fight escaped at the least Yet not escaped from the dew reward Of his bad deedes which daily he increast Ne ceased not till him oppressed hard The heauie plague that for such leachours is prepard For soone as he was vanisht out of sight His coward courage gan emboldned bee And cast t' auenge him of that fowle despight Which he had borne of his bold enimee Tho to his brethren came for they were three Vngratious children of one gracelesse syre And vnto them complayned how that he Had vsed beene of that foolehardie Squyre So them with bitter words he stird to bloodie yre Forthwith themselues with their sad instruments Of spoyle and murder they gan arme byliue And with him foorth into the forrest went To wreake the wrath which he did earst reuiue In their sterne brests on him which late did driue Their brother to reproch and shamefull flight For they had vow'd that neuer he aliue Out of that forest should escape their might Vile rancour their rude harts had fild with such despight Within that wood there was a couert glade Foreby a narrow foord to them well knowne Through which it was vneath for wight to made And now by fortune it was ouerflowne By that same way they knew that Squyre vnknowne Mote algates passe for thy themselues they set There in await with thicke woods ouer growne And all the while their malice they did whet With cruell threats his passage through the ford to let It fortuned as they deuized had The gentle Squyre came ryding that same way Vnweeting of their wile and treason bad And through the ford to passen did assay But that fierce foster which late fled away Stoutly foorth stepping on the further shore Him boldly bad his passage there to stay Till he had made amends and full restore For all the damage which he had him doen afore With that at him a quiu'ring dart he threw With so fell force and villeinous despite That through his haberieon the forkehead flew And through the linked mayles empierced quite But had now powre in his soft flesh to bite That stroke the hardy Squire did sore displease But more that him he could not come to smite For by no meanes the high banke he could sease But labour'd long in that deepe ford with vaine disease And still the foster with his long bore-speare Him kept from landing at his wished will Anone one sent out of the thicket neare A cruell shaft headed with deadly ill And fethered with an vnlucky quill The wicked steele stayd not till it did light In his left thigh and deepely did it thrill Exceeding griefe that wound in him empight But more that with his foes he could not come to fight At last through wrath and vengeaunce making way He on the bancke arryud with mickle payne Where the third brother him did sore assay And drove at him with all his might and mayne A forest bill which both his hands did strayne But warily he did auoide the blow And with his speare requited him agayne That both his sides were thrilled with the throw And a large streame of flood out of the wound did flow He tombling downe with gnashing teeth did bite The bitter earth and bad to lett him in Into the balefull house of endlesse night Where wicked ghosts doe waile their former sin Tho gan the battaile freshly to begin For nathemore for that spectacle bad Did th' other two their cruell vengeaunce blin But both attonce on both sides him bestad And load vpon him layd his life for to haue had Tho when that villayn he auiz'd which late Affrighted had the fairest Florimell Full of fiers fury and indignant hate To him he turned and with rigor fell Smote him so rudely on the Pannikell That to the chin he clefte his head in twaine Downe on the ground his carkas groueling fell His sinfull sowle with desperate disdaine Out of her fleshly ferme fled to the place of paine That seeing now the only last of three Who with that wicked shafte him wounded had Trembling with horror as that did foresee The fearefull end of his auengement sad Through which he follow should his brethren bad His bootelesse bow in feeble hand vpcaught And therewith shott an arrow at the lad Which fayntly fluttring scarce his helmet raught And glauncing fel to ground but him annoyed naught With that he would haue fled into the wood But Timias him lightly ouerhent Right as he entring was into the flood And strooke at him with force so violent That headlesse him into the foord he sent The carcas with the streame was carried downe Butch'head fell backeward on the Continent So mischief fel vpon the meaners crowne They three be dead with shame the Squire liues with renowne He liues but takes small ioy of his renowne For of that cruell wound he bled so sore That from his steed he fell in deadly swowne Yet still the blood forth gusht in so great store That he lay wallowd all in his owne gore Now God thee keepe thou gentlest squire aliue Els shall thy louing Lord thee see no more But both of comfort him thou shalt depriue And eke thy selfe of honor which thou didst atchiue Prouidence heuenly passeth liuing thought And doth for wretched mens reliefe make way For 〈◊〉 great grace or fortune thether brought Comfort to him that comfortlesse now lay In those same woods ye well remember may How that a noble hunteresse did wonne Shee that base Braggadochio did affray And made him fast out of the forest ronne Belphoebe was her name as faire as Phaebus sunne She on a day as shee pursewd the chace Of some wilde beast which with her arrowes keene She wounded had the same along did trace By tract of blood which she had freshly seene To haue besprinckled all the grassy greene By the great persue which she there perceau'd Well hoped shee 〈◊〉 beast engor'd had beene And made more haste the life to haue bereav'd But ah het expectation greatly was deceau'd Shortly she came whereas that woefull Squire With blood deforwed lay in deadly swownd In whose faire eyes like lamps of quenched fire The Christall humor stood congealed rownd His locks like faded leaues fallen to grownd Knotted with blood in bounches rudely ran And his sweete lips on which before that stownd The bud of youth to blossome faire began Spoild of their rosy red were woxen pale and wan Saw neuer liuing eie more heauy sight That could haue made a rocke of stone to rew Or riue in twaine which when that Lady bright Besides all hope with melting eies did vew All suddeinly abasht shee chaunged hew And with sterne horror backward gan to start But when shee bitter him beheld shee grew Full of sofe passion and vnwonted smart The point of pitty perced through her tender hart Meekely shee bowed downe to weete if life Yett in his
himselfe into a fruitfull vine And into her faire bosome made his grapes decline Long were to tell the amorous assayes And gentle pangues with which he maked meeke The mightie Mars to learne his wanton playes How oft for Venus and how often eek For many other Nymphes hesore did shreek With womanish teares and with vnwarlike smarts Priuily moystening his horrid cheeke There was he painted full of burning dartes And many wide woundes launched through his inner partes Ne did he spare so cruell was the Elfe His owne deare mother ah why should he so Ne did he spare sometime to pricke himselfe That he might taste the sweet consuming woe Which he had wrought to many others moe But to declare the mournfull Tragedyes And spoiles wherewith he all the ground did strow More eath to number with how many eyes High heuen beholdes sad louers nightly theeueryes Kings Queenes Lords Ladies knights Damsels gent Were heap'd together with the vulgar sort And mingled with the raskall rablement Without respect of person or of port To shew Dan Cupids powre and great effort And round about a border was entrayld Of broken bowes and-arrowes shiuered short And a long bloody riuer through them rayld So liuely and so like that liuing sence it fayld And at the vpper end of that faire rowme There was an Altar built of pretious stone Of passing valew and of great renowme On which there stood an Image all alone Of massy gold which with his owne light shone And winges it had with sondry colours dight More sondry colours then the proud Pauone Beares in his boasted fan or Iris bright When her discolourd bow she spreds through heuen bright Blyndfold he was and in his cruell fist A mortall bow and arrowes keene did hold With which he shot at randon when him list Some headed with sadlead some with pure gold Ah man beware how thou those dartes behold A wounded Dragon vnder him didly Whose hideous tayle his lefte foot did enfold And with a shaft was shot through either eye That no man forth might draw ne no man remedye And vnderneath his feet was written thus Vnto the Victor of the Gods this bee And all the people in that ample hous Did to that image bowe their humble knee And oft committed fowle Idolatree That wondrous sight faire Britomart amazd Ne seeing could her wonder satisfie But euermore and more vpon it gazd The whiles the passing brightnes her fraile sences dazd Tho as she backward cast her busie eye To search each secrete of that goodly sted Ouer the dore thus written she did spye Bee bold she oft and oft it ouer-red Yet could not find what sence it figured But what so were therein or writ or ment She was no whit thereby discouraged From prosecuting of her first intent But forward with bold steps into the next roome went Much fayrer then the former was that roome And richlier by many partes arayd For not with arras made in painefull loome But with pure gold it all was ouerlayd Wrought with wilde Antickes which their follies playd In the rich metall as they liuing were A thousand monstrous formes therein were made Such as false loue doth oft vpon him weare For loue in thousand mōstrous formes doth oft appeare And all about the glistring walles were hong With warlike spoiles and with victorious prayes Of mightie Conquerours and Captaines strong Which were whilome captiued in their dayes To cruell loue and wrought their owne decayes Their swerds speres were broke hauberques rent And their proud girlonds of tryumphant bayes Troden in dust with fury insolent To shew the victors might and mercilesse intent The warlike Mayd beholding earnestly The goodly ordinaunce of this rich Place Did greatly wonder ne could satisfy Her greedy eyes with gazing a long space But more she meruaild that no footings 〈◊〉 Nor wight appear'd but wastefull emptinesse And solemne silence ouer all that place Straunge thing it seem'd that none was to possesse So rich purueyaunce ne them keepe with carefulnesse And as she lookt about she did behold How ouer that same dore was likewise writ Be bolde be bolde and euery where Be bold That much she muz'd yet could not construe it By any ridling skill or commune wit At last she spyde at that rowmes vpper end Another yron dore on which was writ Be not too bold whereto though she did bend Her earnest minde yet wist not what it might intend Thus she there wayted vntill euentyde Yet liuing creature none she saw appeare And now sad shadowes gan the world to hyde From mortall vew and wrap in darkenes dreare Yet nould she d'off her weary armes for feare Of secret daunger ne let sleepe oppresse Her heauy eyes with natures burdein deare But drew herselfe aside in sickernesse And her welpointed wepons did about her dresse Cant. XII The maske of Cupid and th' enchanted Chamber are displayd Whence Britomart redeemes faire Amoret through charmes decayd THo when as chearelesse Nighty coucred had Fayre heauen with an vniuersall clowd That euery wight dismayd with darkenes sad In silence and in sleepe themselues did shrowd She heard a shrilling Trompet sound alowd Signe of nigh battaill or got victory Nought therewith daunted was her courage prowd But rather stird to cruell enmity Expecting euer when some foe she might descry With that an hideous storme of winde arose With dreadfull thunder and lightning atwixt And an earthquake as if it streight would lose The worlds foundations from his centre fixt A direfull stench of smoke and sulphure mixt Ensewd whose noyaunce fild the fearefull sted From the fourth howre of night vntill the sixt Yet the bold Britonesse was nought ydred Though much emmou'd but stedfast still perseuered All suddeinly a stromy whirlwind blew Throughout the house that clapped euery dore With which that yron wicket open flew As it with mighty leuers had bene 〈◊〉 And forth yssewd as on the readie flore Of some Theatre a graue personage That in his hand a braunch of laurell bore With comely haueour and count'nance 〈◊〉 Yclad in costly garments fit for 〈◊〉 Stage Proceeding to the midst he stil did stand As if in minde he somewhat had to say And to the vulgare beckning with his hand In signe of silence as to heare a play By liuely actions he gan bewray Some argument of matter passioned Which doen he backe retyred soft away And passing by his name 〈◊〉 Ease on his robe in golden letters cyphered The noble Mayd still standing all this vewd And merueild at his straunge intendiment With that a ioyous fellowship issewd Of Minstrales making goodly meriment With wanton Bardes and Rymers impudent All which together song full chearefully A lay of loues delight with sweet concent After whom marcht a iolly company In manner of a maske enranged orderly The whiles a most delitious harmony In full straunge notes was sweetly heard to sound That the rare sweetnesse of the melody The feeble sences wholy did confound
for their titles sake may find more grace To the right honourable the Lo. Burleigh Lo. high Threasurer of England TO you right noble Lord whose carefull brest To menage of most graue affaires is bent And on whose mightie shoulders most doth rest The burdein of this kingdomes gouernement As the wide compasse of the firmament On Atlas mighty shoulders is vpstayd Vnfitly 〈◊〉 these ydle rimes present The labor of lost time and wit vnstayd Yet if their deeper sence be inly wayd And the dim 〈◊〉 with which from comune vew Their 〈◊〉 parts are hid aside be layd Pethaps not vaine they may appeare to you Such as they be vouchsafe them to receaue And wipe their faults out of your censure 〈◊〉 E. S. To the right Honourable the Earle of Oxenford Lord high 〈◊〉 of England c. REceiue most Noble Lord in gentle gree The vnripe fruit of an vnready wit Which by thy 〈◊〉 doth crane to bee Defended from foule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bit Which so to doe may 〈◊〉 right well besit Sith th'antique glory of thine auncestry Vnder a shady vele is therein writ And ekethine owne long liuing memory Succeeding them in true nobility And also for the loue which thou doest beare To th' Heliconian ymps and they to thee They vnto thee and thou to them most deare Deare as thou art vnto thy selfe so loue That loues honours thee as doth behoue To the right honourable the Earle of Northumberland THe sacred Muses haue made alwaies clame To be the Nour ses of nobility And Registres of euer lasting fame To all that armes professe and 〈◊〉 Then by like right the noble Progeny Which them succeed in fame and worth are tyde T' embrace the seruice of sweete Poetry By whose endeuours they are glorifide And eke from all of whom it is enuide To 〈◊〉 the authour of their praise Which 〈◊〉 them life that els would soone haue dide And crownes their ashes with immort all baies To thee therefore right noble Lord 〈◊〉 send This present of my paines 〈◊〉 to defend To the right honourable the Earle of Cumberland REdoubted Lord in whose corageous mind The flowre of cheualry now bloosming faire Doth promise fruite worthy the noble kind Which of their praises haue left you the haire To you this humble present I prepare For loue of vertue and of Martiall praise To which though nobly ye inclined are As goodlie well ye shew'd in late assaies Yet braue ensample of long passed daies In which trew honor yee may fashiond see To like desire of honor may ye raise And fill your mind with magnanimitee Receiue it Lord therefore as it was ment For honor of your name and high descent E. S. To the most honourable and excellent Lo. the Earle of Essex Great Maister of the Horse to her Highnesse and knight of the Noble order of the Garter c. MAgnificke Lord whose vertues exellent Doe merit a most famous Poets witt To be thy liuing praises instrument Yet doe not sdeigne to let thy name be writt In this base Poeme for thee far vnfitt Nought is thy worth disparaged thereby But when my Muse whose fethers nothing 〈◊〉 Doe yet but flagg and lowly learne to fly With bolder wing shall dare 〈◊〉 to sty To the last praises of this Faery Queene Then shall it make more famous memory Of thine Heroicke parts such as they beene Till then vouch safe thy noble count enaunce To these first labours needed furtheraunce To the right Honourable the Earle of Ormond and Ossory REceiue most noble Lord a simple taste Of the wilde fruit which saluage soyl hath bred Which being through long wars left almost waste With brutish barbarisme is ouerspredd And in so faire a land as may be redd Not one Parnassus nor one Helicone Left for sweete Muses to be harboured But where thy selfe hast thy braue mansione There in deede 〈◊〉 welfaire Graces many one And gentle Nymphes delights of learned wits And in thy person without Paragone All goodly bountie and true honour sits Such therefore as that wasted soyl doth yield Receiue dear Lord in worth the fruit of barren field To the right honourable the Lo. Ch. Howard 〈◊〉 high Admiral of England knight of the noble order of the Garter and one of her Maiesties priuie Counsel c. ANdye braue Lord whose goodly personage And noble deeds each other garnishing Make you ensample to the present age Of th' old Heroes whose famous of spring The antique Poets wont so much to 〈◊〉 In this same Pageaunt haue a worthy place Sith those huge castles of Castilian king That vainly 〈◊〉 kingdomes to displace Like flying doues ye did before you chace And that proud people 〈◊〉 insolent Through many 〈◊〉 didst first deface Thy praises euerlasting 〈◊〉 Is in this verse engrauen semblably That it may liue to all posterity To the right honourable the Lord of Hunsdon high Chamber laine to her Maiesty REnowmed Lord that for your worthinesse And noble deeds haue your deserued place High in the fauour of that Emperesse The worlds sole glory and her sexes grace Here eke of right haue you a worthie place Both for your nearnes to that Faerie Queene And for your owne high merit in like cace Of which apparaunt proofe was to be seene When that tumultuous rage and fearfull deene Of Northerne rebels ye did pacify And their distoiall powre defaced clene The record of enduring memory Liue Lord for euer in this lasting verse That all posteritie thy honor may reherse E. S. To the most renowmed and valiar 〈◊〉 the Lord Grey of Wilton knight of the Noble order of the Garter c. MOst Noble Lord the pillor of my life And Patrone of my Muses pupillage Through whose large bountie poured on me rife In the first season of my feeble age I now doe liue bound yours by vassalage Sith nothing euer may redeeme nor reaue Out of your endlesse debt so sure a gage Vouchsafe in worth this small guift to receaue Which in your noble hands for pledge I leaue Of all the rest that I am tyde t' account Rude rymes the which a rustick Muse did weaue In fauadge soyle far from Parnasso mount And roughly wrought in an vnlearned Loome The which vouchsafe dear Lord your fauorable doome To the right honourable the Lord of Buckhurst one of her Maisties 〈◊〉 Counsell IN vain I thinke right honourable Lord By this rude rime to memorize thy name Whose learned Muse hath writ her owne record In golden verse worthy immortal fame Thou much more fit were leasure to the same Thy gracious Souerain praises to compile And her imperiall Maiestie to frame In loftie numbers and heroicke stile But sith thou maist not so giue leaue a while To baser wit his power therein to spend Whose grosse defaults thy daintie pen may file And vnaduised ouersights amend But euermore vouchsafe it to maintaine Against vile Zoilus backbitings vaine To the right honourable Sir Fr. Walsingham knight 〈◊〉 Secretary to her Maiesty and of her honourable priuy Counsell THat Mantuane Poetes incompared spirit Whose girland now is set in highest place Had not Mecoenas for his worthy merit It first aduaunst to great Augustus grace Might long perhaps haue lien in silence bace Ne bene so much admir'd of later age This lowly Muse that learns like steps to trace Flies for like aide vnto your Patronage That are the great Mecenas of this age As wel to al that ciuil artes professe As those that are inspird with Martial rage And craues protection of her feeblenesse Which if ye yield perhaps ye may her rayse In bigger tunes to sound your liuing prayse E. S. To the right noble Lord and most valiaunt Captaine Sir Iohn Norris knight Lord president of 〈◊〉 VVHo euer gaue more honourable prize To the sweet Muse then did the Martiall crew That their braue deeds she might immortalize In her shril tromp and sound their praises dew Who then ought more to fauour her then you Moste noble Lord the honor of this age And Precedent of all that armes ensue Whose warlike prowesse and manly courage Tempred with reason and aduizement sage Hath fild sad Belgicke with victorious spoile In Fraunce and Ireland left a famous gage And lately shakt the Lusitanian soile Sith then each where thou hast dispredd thy fame Loue him that hath eternized your name E. S. To the right noble and valorous knight Sir Walter Raleigh Lo. Wardein of the Stanneryes and lieftenaunt of Cornewaile TO thee that art the sommers Nightingale Thy soueraine Goddesses most deare delight Why doe I send this rusticke Madrigale That may thy tunefull eare vnseason quite Thou onely fit this Argument to write In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre And dainty loue learnd sweetly to endite My rimes I know vnsauory and sowre To tast the streames that like a golden showre Flow from thy fruitfull bead of thy loues praise Fitter perhaps to thonder Martiall stowre When so thee list thy lofty Muse to raise Yet till that thou thy Poeme wilt make knowne Let thy faire Cinthias praises bee thus rudely showne E. S.