Talus to her brought Brought in vntimely houre ere it was sought For after that the vtmost date assynde For his returne she waited had for nought She gan to cast in her misdoubtfull mynde A thousand feares that loue-sicke fancies faine to fynde Sometime she feared least some hard mishap Had him misfalne in his aduenturous quest Sometime least his false foe did him entrap In traytrous traine or had vnwares opprest But most she did her troubled mynd molest And secretly afflict with iealous feare Least some new loue had him from her possest Yet loth she was since she no ill did heare To thinke of him so ill yet could she not forbeare One while she blam'd her selfe another whyle She him condemn'd as trustlesse and vntrew And then her griefe with errour to beguyle She fayn'd to count the time againe anew As if before she had not counted trew For houres but dayes for weekes that passed were She told but moneths to make them seeme more few Yet when she reckned them still drawing neare Each hour did seeme a moneth euery moneth a yeare But when as yet she saw him not returne She thought to send some one to seeke him out But none she found so fit to serue that turne As her owne selfe to ease her selfe of dout Now she deuiz'd amongst the warlike rout Of errant Knights to seeke her errant Knight And then againe resolu'd to hunt him out Amongst loose Ladies lapped in delight And then both Knights enuide Ladies eke did spight One day when as she long had sought for ease In euery place and euery place thought best Yet found no place that could her liking please She to a window came that opened West Towards which coast her loue his way addrest There looking forth shee in her heart did find Many vaine fancies working her vnrest And sent her winged thoughts more swift then wind To beare vnto her loue the message of her mind There as she looked long at last she spide One comming towards her with hasty speede Well weend she then ere him she plaine descride That it was one sent from her loue indeede Who when he nigh approcht shee mote arede That it was Talus Artegall his groome Whereat her heart was fild with hope and drede Ne would she stay till he in place could come But ran to meete him forth to know his tidings somme Euen in the dore him meeting she begun And where is he thy Lord and how far hence Declare at once and hath he lost or wun The yron man albe he wanted sence And sorrowes feeling yet with conscience Of his ill newes did inly chill and quake And stood still mute as one in great suspence As if that by his silence he would make Her rather reade his meaning then him selfe it spake Till she againe thus sayd Talus be bold And tell what euer it be good or bad That from thy tongue thy hearts intent doth hold To whom he thus at length The tidings sad That I would hide will needs I see be rad My Lord your loue by hard mishap doth lie In wretched bondage wofully bestad Ay me quoth she what wicked destinie And is he vanquisht by his tyrant enemy Not by that Tyrant his intended foe But by a Tyrannesse he then replide That him captiued hath in haplesse woe Cease thou bad newes-man badly doest thou hide Thy maisters shame in harlots bondage tide The rest my selfe too readily can spell With that in rage she turn'd from him aside Forcing in vaine the rest to her to tell And to her chamber went like solitary cell There she began to make her monefull plaint Against her Knight for being so vntrew And him to touch with falshoods fowle attaint That all his other honour ouerthrew Oft did she blame her selfe and often rew For yeelding to a straungers loue so light Whose life and manners straunge she neuer knew And euermore she did him sharpely twight For breach of faith to her which he had firmely plight And then she in her wrathfull will did cast How to reuenge that blot of honour blent To fight with him and goodly die her last And then againe she did her selfe torment Inflicting on her selfe his punishment A while she walkt and chauft a while she threw Her selfe vppon her bed and did lament Yet did she not lament with loude alew As women wont but with deepe sighes and singulfs few Like as a wayward childe whose sounder sleepe Is broken with some fearefull dreames affright With froward will doth set him selfe to weepe Ne can be stild for all his nurses might But kicks and squals and shriekes for fell despight Now scratching her and her loose locks misusing Now seeking darkenesse and now seeking light Then crauing sucke and then the sucke refusing Such was this Ladies fit in her loues fond accusing But when she had with such vnquiet fits Her selfe there close afflicted long in vaine Yet found no easement in her troubled wits She vnto Talus forth return'd againe By change of place seeking to ease her paine And gan enquire of him with mylder mood The certaine cause of Artegals detaine And what he did and in what state he stood And whether he did woo or whether he were woo'd Ah wellaway sayd then the yron man That he is not the while in state to woo But lies in wretched thraldome weake and wan Not by strong hand compelled thereunto But his owne doome that none can now vndoo Sayd I not then quoth shee erwhile aright That this is things compacte betwixt you two Me to deceiue of faith vnto me plight Since that he was not forst nor ouercome in fight With that he gan at large to her dilate The whole discourse of his captiuance sad In sort as ye haue heard the same of late All which when she with hard enduraunce had Here to the end she was right sore bestad With sodaine stounds of wrath and griefe attone Ne would abide till she had aunswere made But streight her selfe did dight and armor don And mounting to her steede bad Talus guide heron So forth she rode vppon her ready way To seeke her Knight as Talus her did guide Sadly she rode and neuer word did say Nor good nor bad ne euer lookt aside But still right downe and in her thought did hide The felnesse of her heart right fully bent To fierce auengement of that womans pride Which had her Lord in her base prison pent And so great honour with so fowle reproch had blent So as she thus melancholicke did ride Chawing the cud of griefe and inward paine She chaunst to meete toward th'euen-tide A Knight that softly paced on the plaine As if him selfe to solace he were faine Well shot in yeares he seem'd and rather bent To peace then needlesse trouble to constraine As well by view of that his vestiment As by his modest semblant that no euill ment He comming neare gan gently her salute With curteous words in the
plight Yet knowing that her Knight now neare did draw Staide not to succour her in that affright But follow'd fast the Monster in his flight Through woods and hils he follow'd him so fast That he nould let him breath nor gather spright But forst him gape and gaspe with dread aghast As if his lungs and lites were nigh a sunder brast And now by this Sir Calepine so hight Came to the place where he his Lady found In dolorous dismay and deadly plight All in gore bloud there tumbled on the ground Hauing both sides through grypt with griesly wound His weapons soone from him he threw away And stouping downe to her in drery swound Vprear'd her from the ground whereon she lay And in his tender armes her forced vp to stay So well he did his busie paines apply That the faint sprite he did reuoke againe To her fraile mansion of mortality Then vp he tooke her twixt his armes twaine And setting on his steede her did sustaine With carefull hands softing foot her beside Till to some place of rest they mote attaine Where she in safe assuraunce mote abide Till she recured were of those her woundes wide Now when as Phoebus with his fiery waine Vnto his Inne began to draw apace Tho wexing weary of that toylesome paine In trauelling on foote so long a space Not wont on foote with heauy armes to trace Downe in a dale forby a riuers syde He chaunst to spie a faire and stately place To which he meant his weary steps to guyde In hope there for his loue some succour to prouyde But comming to the riuers side he found That hardly passable on foote it was Therefore there still he stood as in a stound Ne wist which way he through the foord mote pas Thus whilest he was in this distressed case Deuising what to doe he nigh espyde An armed Knight approaching to the place With a faire Lady lincked by his syde The which themselues prepard through the foord to ride Whom Calepine saluting as became Besought of courtesie in that his neede For safe conducting of his sickely Dame Through that same perillous foord with better heede To take him vp behinde vpon his steed To whom that other did this taunt returne Perdy thou peasant Knight mightst rightly reed Me then to be full base and euill borne If I would beare behinde a burden of such scorne But as thou hast thy steed forlorne with shame So fare on foote till thou another gayne And let thy Lady likewise doe the same Or beare her on thy backe with pleasing payne And proue thy manhood on the billowes vayne With which rude speach his Lady much displeased Did him reproue yet could him not restrayne And would on her owne Palfrey him haue eased For pitty of his Dame whom she saw so diseased Sir Calepine her thanckt yet inly wroth Against her Knight her gentlenesse refused And carelesly into the riuer goth As in despight to be so fowle abused Of a rude churle whom often he accused Of fowle discourtesie vnfit for Knight And strongly wading through the waues vnused With speare in th' one hand stayd him selfe vpright With th' other staide his Lady vp with steddy might And all the while that same discourteous Knight Stood on the further bancke beholding him At whose calamity for more despight He laught and mockt to see him like to swim But when as Calepine came to the brim And saw his carriage past that perill well Looking at that same Carle with count'nance grim His heart with vengeaunce inwardly did swell And forth at last did breake in speaches sharpe and fell Vnknightly Knight the blemish of that name And blot of all that armes vppon them take Which is the badge of honour and of fame Loe I defie thee and here challenge make That thou for euer doe those armes forsake And be for euer held a recreant Knight Vnlesse thou dare for thy deare Ladies sake And for thine owne defence on foote alight To iustifie thy fault gainst me in equall fight The dastard that did heare him selfe defyde Seem'd not to weigh his threatfull words at all But laught them out as if his greater pryde Did scorne the challenge of so base a thrall Or had no courage or else had no gall So much the more was Calepine offended That him to no reuenge he forth could call But both his challenge and him selfe contemned Ne cared as a coward so to be condemned But he nought weighing what he sayd or did Turned his steede about another way And with his Lady to the Castle rid Where was his won ne did the other stay But after went directly as he may For his sicke charge some harbour there to seeke Where he arriuing with the fall of day Drew to the gate and there with prayers meeke And myld entreaty lodging did for her beseeke But the rude Porter that no manners had Did shut the gate against him in his face And entraunce boldly vnto him forbad Nathelesse the Knight now in so needy case Gan him entreat euen with submission base And humbly praid to let them in that night Who to him aunswer'd that there was no place Of lodging fit for any errant Knight Vnlesse that with his Lord he formerly did fight Full loth am I quoth he as now at earst When day is spent and rest vs needeth most And that this Lady both whose sides are pearst With wounds is ready to forgo the ghost Ne would I gladly combate with mine host That should to me such curtesie afford Vnlesse that I were thereunto enforst But yet aread to me how hight thy Lord That doth thus strongly ward the Castle of the ford His name quoth he if that thou list to learne Is hight Sir Turpine one of mickle might And manhood rare but terrible and stearne In all assaies to euery errant Knight Because of one that wrought him fowle despight Ill seemes sayd he if he so valiaunt be That he should be so sterne to stranger wight For seldome yet did liuing creature see That curtesie and manhood euer disagree But go thy waies to him and fro me say That here is at his gate an errant Knight That house-rome craues yet would be loth t' assay The proofe of battell now in doubtfull night Or curtesie with rudenesse to requite Yet if he needes will fight craue leaue till morne And tell with all the lamentable plight In which this Lady languisheth forlorne That pitty craues as he of woman was yborne The groome went streight way in and to his Lord Declar'd the message which that Knight did moue Who sitting with his Lady then at bord Not onely did not his demaund reproue But both himselfe reuil'd and eke his loue Albe his Lady that Blandina hight Him of vngentle vsage did approue And earnestly entreated that they might Finde fauour to be lodged there for that same night Yet would he not perswaded be for ought Ne from his currish will awhit reclame Which
hoarie gray And by his belt his booke he hanging had Sober he seemde and very sagely sad And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent Simple in shew and voyde of malice bad And all the way he prayed as he went And often knock 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 things to mell But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell And homebred euill euill ye desire to heare Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell That wasteth all this countrey farre and neare Of such said he I chiefly do inquere And shall you well reward 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 lining wight May euer passe but thorough great distresse Now sayd the Lady draweth toward night And well I wote that of your later fight Ye all for wearied 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 little lowly Hermitage it was Downe in a dale hard by a forests side Far from resort of people that did pas In trauell to and froe a little wyde There was an holy Chappell edifyde Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say His holy things each morne and euentyde Thereby a Christall streame did genlty play Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway Arriued there the little house they fill Ne looke for entertainement where none was Rest is their feast and all things at their will The noblest mind the best contentment has With faire discourse the euening so they pas For that old man of pleasing wordes had store And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas He told of Saintes and Popes and euemore He strowd an Aue-Mary after and before The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast And the sad humour loading their eye liddes As messenger of Morpheus on them cast Sweet slōbring deaw the which to sleepe them biddes Vnto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes He to his study goes and there amiddes His Magick bookes and artes of sundry kindes He seekes out mighty charmes to trouble sleepy mindes Then choosing out few wordes 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 heauen and spake reprochfull 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 darknesse and dead night At which Cocytus quakes and Styx is put to flight And forth he cald out of deepe darknesse dred Legions of Sprights the which like little flyes Fluttring about his euer damned hed A-waite whereto their seruice he applyes To aide his friends 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 him selfe 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 wakefull dogges before them farre do lye 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 rocke tumbling downe And euer-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 enemyes The messenger approching to him spake But his wast wordes returnd to him in vaine So sound he slept that nought mought him awake Then rudely he him trust 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 sights 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 lumpish head with blame Halfe angry asked him for what he came Hither 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 carefull 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 blacke stole 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 euill thought And with
soust in swelling Tethys saltish teare And long time hauing tand his tawney hide With blustring breath of heauen that none can bide And scorching flames of fierce Orions hound Soone as the port from farre he has espide His chearefull whistle merrily doth sound And Nereus crownes with cups his mates him pledg around Such ioy made Vna when her knight she found And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemd no lesse Then the glad marchant that does vew from ground His ship farre 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 dreadfull 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 farre when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat Full strongly armd and on a courser free That through his fiercenesse fomed all with swear 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 bloudie 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 battell with his couched speare Lo thwas that other and did faint through fea To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele But yet his Lady did so well him cheare That hope of new goodhap he gan to feele So bent his speare and spurnd his horse with yron heele But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce And full of wrath that with his sharp-head speare Through vainely crossed shield he quite did pierce And had his staggering steede not shrunke for feare Through shield and bodie eke he should him beare Yet so great was the puissance of his push That from his saddle 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 mind to reaue his life And proudly said Lo there the worthie meed Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloudie knife Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife In peace may passen ouer Lethe lake When morning altars purgd with enemies life The blacke infernall Furies doen aslake Life from Sansfoy 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 Mercie not withstand For he is one the truest knight aliue Though conquered now he lie on lowly land And whilest him fortune fauourd faire did thriue In bloudie field therefore of life him not depriue Her piteous words might not abate his rage But rudely rending vp his helmet would Haue slaine him straight but when he sees his age And hoarie head of Archimago old His hastie hand he doth amazed hold And halfe ashamed wondred at the sight For the old man well knew he though vntold In charmes and magicke 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 hither brought to taste mineyre Or thine the fault or mine the error is In stead of foe to wound my friend amis He answered nought but in a traunce still lay And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his The cloud 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 fierce seruant full of kingly awe And high disdaine whenas his soueraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he sawe With gaping iawes full greedy at him came And ramping on his shield did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharpe rending clawes But he was stout and lust did now inflame His corage more that frō his griping pawes He hath his shield redeem'd and foorth 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 Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand And launcht his Lordly hart with death opprest He roar'd aloud whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will Her faithfull gard remou'd her hope dismaid Her selfe a yeelded pray to saue or spill He now Lord of the fied his pride to fill With foule reproches and disdainfull 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 plaints she filleth his dull eares That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine And all the way she wets with flowing teares But he enrag'd with rancor nothing heares Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so But followes her farre off ne ought he feares To be partaker of her wandring woe More mild in beastly kind then that her beastly foe Cant. IIII To sinfull house of Pride Duessa guides the faithfull knight Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy doth chalenge 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 change of thy deare loued Dame Least thou of her beleeue 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 false Duessa in her sted had borne Called Fidess ' and so supposd to bee Long with her traueild till at last they see A goodly building brauely garnished The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee And towards it a broad high way that led All bare through peoples feet which thither traueiled Great troupes of people traueild thitherward Both day and night of each degree and place But few returned hauing scaped hard With balefull beggerie or foule disgrace Which euer after in most wretched case Like loathsome lazars by the hedges lay Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace
For she is wearie of the toilesome 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 farre ouer laid Full of faire windowes and delightfull 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 wit But full great pittie that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sit For on a sandie hill that still did flit And fall away it mounted was full hie That euery breath of heauen shaked it And all the hinder parts 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 sorts 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 sumptuous shew Ne Persia selfe the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw And there a noble crew Of Lordes and Ladies stood on euery side Which with their presence faire 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 peerelesse 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 fairest childe That did presume his fathers firie wayne And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine And rapt with whirling wheeles inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne but fairely 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 vnderneath 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 wroth to pas That parentage with pride so did she swell And thundring Ioue 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 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 Realmes with lawes but pollicie And strong aduizement of six wisards old That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold Soone as the Elfing knight in presence came And false Duessa seeming Lady faire A gentle Husher Vanitie by name Made rowme and passage for them did prepaire So goodly brought them to the lowest staire Of her high throne where they on humble knee Making obeyssance did the cause declare Why they were come her royall state to see To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee With loftie eyes halfe loth to looke so low She thanked them in her disdainefull wise Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show 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 haire in courtly guise Some prancke their ruffes and others trimly dight Their gay attire each others greater pride does spight Goodly they all that knight do entertaine Right glad with him to haue increast their crew But to Duess ' each one himselfe did paine All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew For in that court whylome her well they knew Yet the stout Faerie 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 royall 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 brightnesse brode doth blaze The heapes of people thronging in the hall Do ride each other vpon her to gaze Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eyes 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 royall rich array Great Iunoes golden chaire the which they say The Gods stand gazing on when she does ride To Ioues high house through heauens bras-paued way Drawne of faire Pecocks that excell in pride And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts With like conditions to their kinds 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 red For of deuotion he had little care Still drownd in sleepe and most of his dayes ded Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hed To looken whether it were night or day May seeme the wayne was very euill led 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 esloyne And greatly shunned manly exercise For euery 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 feuer raignd continually Such one was Idlenesse first of this company And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony Deformed creature on a filthie swyne His belly
might That stop out of the way to ouerthroe Scorning the let of so vnequall foe But nathemore would that courageous swayne To her yeeld passage gainst his Lord to goe But with outrageous strokes did him restraine And with his bodie bard the way atwixt them twaine Then tooke the angrie witch her golden cup Which still she bore replete with magick artes Death and despeyre did many thereof sup And secret poyson through their inner parts Th' eternall bale of heauie wounded harts Which after charmes and some enchauntments said She lightly sprinkled on his weaker parts Therewith his sturdie courage soone was quayd And all his senses were with suddeine dread dismayd So downe he fell before the cruell beast Who on his necke his bloudie clawes did seize That life night crusht out of his panting brest No powre he had to stirre nor will to rize That when the carefull knight gan well auise He lightly left the foe with whom he fought And to the beast gan turne his enterprise For wondrous anguish in his hart it wrought To see his loued Squire into such thraldome brought And high aduauncing his bloud-thirstie blade Stroke one of those deformed heads so sore That of his puissance proud ensample made His monstrous scalpe downe to his teeth it tore And that misformed shape mis-shaped more A sea of bloud gusht from the gaping wound That her gay garments staynd with filthy gore And ouerflowed all the field around That ouer shoes in bloud he waded on the ground Thereat he roared for exceeding paine That to haue heard great horror would haue bred And scourging th' emptie ayre with his long traine Through great impatience of his grieued hed His gorgeous ryder from her loftie sted Would haue cast downe and trod in durtie myre Had not the Gyant soone her succoured Who all enrag'd with smart and franticke yre Came hurtling in full fierce and forst the knight retyre The force which wont in two to be disperst In one alone left hand he now vnites Which is through rage more strong then both were erst With which his hideous club aloft he dites And at his foe with furious rigour smites That strongest Oake might seeme to ouerthrow The stroke vpon his shield so heauie lites That to the ground it doubleth him full low What mortall wight could euer beare so monstrous blow And in his fall his shield that couered was Did loose his vele by chaunce and open flew The light whereof that heauens light did pas Such blazing brightnesse through the aier threw That eye mote not the same endure to vew Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye He downe let fall his arme and soft withdrew His weapon huge that heaued was on hye For to haue slaine the man that on the ground did lye And eke the fruitfull-headed beast amaz'd At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield Became starke blind and all his senses daz'd That downe he tumbled on the durtie field And seem'd himselfe as conquered to yield Whom when his maistresse proud perceiu'd to fall Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld Vnto the Gyant loudly she gan call O helpe Orgoglio helpe or else we perish all At her so pitteous cry was much amoou'd Her champion stout and for to ayde his frend Againe his wonted angry weapon proou'd But all in vaine for he has read his end In that bright shield and all their forces spend Themselues in vaine for since that glauncing sight He hath no powre to hurt nor to defend As where th' Almighties lightning brond does light It dimmes the dazed eyen and daunts the senses quight Whom when the Prince to battell new addrest And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see His sparkling blade about his head he blest And smote off quite his right leg by the knee That downe he tombled as an aged tree High growing on the top of rocky clift Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be The mightie trunck halfe rent with ragged rift Doth roll adowne the rocks and fall with fearefull drift Or as a Castle reared high and round By subtile engins and malitious slight Is vndermined from the lowest ground And her foundation forst and feebled quight At last downe falles and with her heaped hight Her hastie ruine does more heauie make And yields it selfe vnto the victours might Such was this Gyaunts fall that seemd to shake The stedfast globe of earth as it for feare did quake The knight then lightly leaping to the pray With mortall steele him smot againe so sore That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous store But soone as breath out of his breast 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 bladder was Whose grieuous fall when false Duessa spide Her golden cup she cast vnto the ground And crowned mitre rudely threw aside 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 Squire her quickly turnd around And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay â—…o brought vnto his Lord as his deserued pray The royall 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 sober gladnesse and myld modestie And with sweet ioyous cheare him thus bespake Faire braunch of noblesse flowre of cheualrie That with your worth the world amazed make How shall I quite the paines ye suffer for my sake And you fresh bud of vertue springing fast Whom these sad eyes saw nigh vnto deaths dore What hath poore Virgin for such perill past Wherewith you to reward Accept therefore My simple selfe and seruice euermore And he that high does sit and all things see With equall eyes 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 maister of the field this day Your fortune maister eke with gouerning And well begun 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 Squire That scarlot whore to keepen carefully Whiles he himselfe with greedie great desire Into 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 And old old man with beard as white as snow That on a staffe
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 words did euer heare As she to me deliuered all that night And at her parting said She Queene of Faeries 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 diuine From that day forth I cast in carefull mind To seeke her out with labour and long tyne And neuer vow to rest till her I find Nine monethes I seeke in vaine yet ni'll that vow vnbind Thus as he spake his visage wexed pale And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray Yet 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 Faeries that hast found Mongst many one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour and thy foes confound True Loues are oftē sown but seldom grow on ground Thine O then said the gentle Redcrosse knight Next to that Ladies loue shal be the place O fairest virgin full of heauenly light Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case And you my Lord the Patrone of my life Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace For onely worthy you through prowes priefe Yf liuing man mote worthy be to be her liefe So diuersly 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 traueill to renew Then those two knights fast friendship for to bynd And loue establish each to other trew Gaue goodly gifts the signes of gratefull mynd And eke the pledges firme right hands together ioynd Prince Arthur 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 wound could heale incontinent Which to requite the Redcrosse knight him gaue A booke wherein his Saueours testament Was writ with golden letters rich and braue A worke of wondrous grace and able soules to saue Thus beene they parted Arthur on his way To seeke his loue and th' other for to fight With Vnaes 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 agast Still as he fled his eye was backward cast As if his feare still followed him behind Al 's flew his steed as he his bands had brast And with his winged heeles did tread the wind As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kind Nigh as he drew they might perceiue his head To be vnarmd and curld vncombed heares Vpstaring stiffe dismayd with vncouth dread Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe and to increase his feares In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire 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 finds 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 wide With stony eyes and hartlesse hollow hew Astonisht stood as one that had aspide Infernall furies with their chaines vntide Him yet againe and yet againe bespake The gentle knight who nought to him replide But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake For Gods deare loue Sir knight do me not stay For loe he comes he comes fast after mee Eft looking backe would faine haue runne away But he him forst to stay and tellen free The secret cause of his perplexitie Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach Yet forst at last he made through silence suddein breach And am I now in safetie sure quoth he From him that would haue forced me to dye And is the point of death now turnd fro mee That I may tell this haplesse history Feare nought quoth he no daunger now is nye Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace Said he the which with this vnlucky eye I late beheld and had not greater grace Me reft from it had bene partaker of the place I lately chaunst Would I had neuer chaunst With a faire knight to keepen companee Sir Terwin hight that well himselfe aduaunst In all affaires and was both bold and free But not so happie as mote happie bee He lou'd as was his lot a Ladie gent That him againe lou'd in the least degree For she was proud and of too high intent And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament From whom returning sad and comfortlesse As on the way together we did fare We met that villen God from him me blesse That cursed wight from whom I scapt whyleare A man of hell that cals himselfe Despaire Who first vs greets and after faire areedes Of tydings strange and of aduentures rare So creeping close as Snake in hidden weedes Inquireth of our states and of our knightly deedes Which when he knew and felt our feeble harts Embost with bale and bitter byting griefe Which loue had launched with his deadly darts With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe He pluckt from vs all hope of due reliefe That earst vs held in loue of lingring life Then hopelesse hartlesse gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs die to stint all further strife To me he lent this rope to him a rustie knife With which sad instrument of hastie death That wofull louer loathing lenger light A wide way made to let forth liuing breath But I more fearefull or more luckie wight Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight Fled fast away halfe dead with dying feare Ne yet assur'd of life by you Sir knight Whose like infirmitie like chaunce may beare But God you neuer let his charmed speeches heare How may a man said he with idle speach Be wonne to spoyle the Castle of his health I wote quoth he whom
play And to the Maydens sounding tymbrels sung In well attuned notes a ioyous lay And made delightfull musicke all the way Vntill they came where that faire virgin stood As faire Diana in fresh sommers day Beholds her Nymphes enraung'd in shadie wood Some wrestle some do run some bathe in christall flood So she beheld those maydens meriment With chearefull vew who when to her they came Themselues to ground with gratious humblesse bent And her ador'd by honorable name Lifting to heauen her euerlasting fame Then on her head they set a girland greene And crowned her twixt earnest and twixt game Who in her selfe-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 lay Stretcht on the ground in monstrons large extent The sight with idle feare did them dismay Ne durst approch him nigh to touch or once assay Some feard and fled some feard and well it faynd 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 Dragonets his fruitfull seed Another said that in his eyes did rest Yet sparckling fire and bad thereof take heed Another said he saw him moue his eyes indeed One mother when as her foolehardie chyld Did come too neare and with his talants play Halfe dead through feare her litle babe reuyld And to her gossips gan in counsell say How can I tell but that his talents may Yet scratch my sonne or rend his tender hand So diuersly themselues in vaine they fray Whiles some more bold to measure him nigh stand To proue how many acres he did spread of land Thus flocked all the folke him round about The whiles that hoarie king with all his traine Being arriued where that champion stout After his foes defeasance did remaine Him goodly greetes and faire does entertaine With princely gifts of yuorie and gold And thousand thankes him yeelds 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 brings With shaumes trompets with Clarions sweet And all the way the ioyous people sings And with their garments strowes the paued street Whence mounting vp they find purueyance meet Of all that royall Princes court became And all the floore was vnderneath their feet Bespred with costly scarlot of great name On which they lowly sit and fitting purpose frame What needs me tell their feast and goodly guize In which was nothing riotous nor vaine What needs of daintie dishes to deuize Of comely seruices or courtly trayne My narrow leaues cannot in them containe The large discourse of royall Princes state Yet was their manner then but bare and plaine For th'antique world excesse and pride 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 point to point as is before exprest Discourst his voyage long according his request Great pleasures mixt with pittifull regard That godly King and Queene did passionate Whiles 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 said the 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 prayse or pitty more For neuer liuing man I weene so sore 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 bounden am streight after this emprize As that your daughter can ye well aduize Backe to returne to that great Faerie Queene And her to serue six yeares in warlike wize Gainst that proud Pynim king that workes her teene Therefore I ought craue pardon till I there haue beene Vnhappie falles that hard necessitie Quoth he the troubler of my happie peace And vowed foe of my felicitie Ne I against the same can iustly preace But since that band ye cannot now release Nor doen vndo for vowes may not be vaine Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease Ye then shall hither backe returne againe The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twain 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 battaile ouercame Should haue mine onely daughter to his Dame And of my kingdome heire apparaunt bee Therefore since now to thee perteines the same By dew desert of noble cheualree Both daughter and eke kingdome lo I yield to thee Then forth he called that his daughter faire The fairest Vn ' his onely daughter deare His onely daughter and his onely heyre 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 the dawning day is dawning 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 heaunnly 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 owne deare loued knight All were she dayly 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 Sire 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 said With flying speede and seeming great pretence Came running in much like a man dismaid A Messenger with letters which his message said All in the open hall amazed stood At suddeinnesse of that vnwarie sight And wondred at his breathlesse hastie 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 hands that writ he did betake Which he disclosing red thus as the paper spake To thee most mighty king of Eden faire Her greeting sends in these sad lines addrest The wofull daughter and forsaken heire 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 affiaunced long time before And sacred pledges he both gaue and had False erraunt knight infamous and forswore Witnesse the burning Altars which he swore And guiltie heauens of his bold periury Which though he hath polluted oft and yore Yet I to them for iudgement iust do 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 soueraine Prince your hasty hond From knitting league with him I you aread Ne weene my right with strength adowne to tread Through weakenesse of my widowhed or woe For truth is strong his rightfull cause to plead And shall find friends if need requireth soe So bids thee well to fare Thy neither friend nor foe Fidessa When he these bitter byting words 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 mine onely sake Thy life and honour late aduenturest Let nought be hid from me that ought to be exprest What meane these bloudy vowes and idle threats Throwne out from womanish impatient mind What heauens what altars what enraged heates Here heaped vp with termes of loue vnkind My conscience cleare with guilty bands would bind High God be witnesse that I guiltlesse ame But if your selfe Sir knight ye faultie find Or wrapped be in loues of former Dame With crime do 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 loyalty betrayd It was in my mishaps as hitherward I lately traueild that vnwares I strayd 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 found Of this false woman that Fidessa hight Fidessa hight the falsest Dame on ground Most false Duessa royall richly dight That easie was to inuegle weaker sight Who by her wicked arts and wylie skill Too false and strong for earthly skill or might Vmwares 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 soueraigne Lord to show The secret treasons which of late I know To haue bene wroght by that false sorceresse She onely she it is that earst did throw This gentle knight into so great distresse That death him did awaite in dayly wretchednesse And now it seemes that she suborned hath This craftie messenger with letters vaine To worke new woe and improuided scath By breaking of the band betwixt vs twaine Wherein she vsed hath the practicke paine Of this false footman clokt with simplenesse Whom if ye please for to discouer plaine Ye shall him Archimago 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 Card which on his state did wait Attacht that faitor false and bound him strait Who seeming sorely chauffed at his band As chained Beare whom cruell dogs do bait With idle 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 continuall watch did warely keepe Who then would thinke that by his subtile trains He could escape fowle death or deadly paines Thus when that Princes wrath was pacifide He gan renew the late forbidden banes And to the knight his daughter deare he tyde With sacred rites and vowes for euer to abyde His owne two hands the holy knots did knit That none but death for euer can deuide His owne two hands for such a turne most fit The housling fire did kindle and prouide And holy water thereon sprinckled wide At which the bushy Teade a groome did light And sacred lampe in secret chamber hide Where it should not be quenched day nor night For feare of euill fates but burnen euer bright Then gan they sprinckle all the posts with wine And made great feast to solemnize that day They all perfumde with frankencense diuine And precious odours fetcht from far away That all the house did sweat with great aray And all the while sweete Musicke did apply Her curious skill the warbling notes to play To driue away the dull Melancholy The whiles one sung a song of loue and iollity During the which there was an heauenly noise Heard sound through all the Pallace pleasantly Like as it had bene many an Angels voice Singing before th' eternall maiesty In their trinall triplicities on hye Yet wist no creature whence that heauenly sweet Proceeded yet eachone felt secretly Himselfe thereby reft of his sences meet And rauished with rare impression in his sprite Great ioy was made that day of young and old And solemne feast proclaimd throughout the land That their exceeding merth may not be told Suffice it heare by signes to vnderstand The vsuall ioyes at knitting of loues band Thrise happy man the knight himselfe did hold Possessed of his Ladies hart and hand And euer when his eye did her behold Her heart did seeme to melt in pleasures manifold Her ioyous presence and sweet company In full content he there did long enioy Ne wicked enuie ne vile gealosy His deare delights were able to annoy Yet swimming in that sea of blisfull ioy He nought forgot how he whilome had sworne In case he could that monstrous beast destroy Vnto his Farie Queene backe to returne The which he shortly did and Vna left
ground as hating life and light The gentle knight her soone with carefull paine Vplifted light and softly did vphold Thrise he her reard and thrise she sunke againe Till he his armes about her sides gan fold And to her said Yet if the stony cold Haue not all seized on your frozen hart Let one word fall that may your griefe vnfold And tell the secret of your mortall smart He oft finds present helpe who does his griefe impart Then casting vp a deadly looke full low Shee sight from bottome of her wounded brest And after many bitter throbs did throw With lips full pale and foltring tongue opprest These words she breathed forth from riuen chest Leaue ah leaue off what euer wight thou bee To let a wearie wretch from her dew rest And trouble dying soules tranquilitee Take not away now got which none would giue to me Ah farre be it said he Deare dame fro mee To hinder soule from her desired rest Or hold sad life in long captiuitee For all I seeke is but to haue redrest The bitter pangs that doth your heart infest Tell then ô Lady tell what fatall priefe Hath with so huge misfortune you opprest That I may cast to compasse your reliefe Or die with you in sorrow and partake your griefe With feeble hands then stretched forth on hye As heauen accusing guiltie of her death And with dry drops congealed in her eye In these sad words she spent her vtmost breath Heare then ô man the sorrowes that vneath My tongue can tell so farre all sense they pas Loe this dead corpse that lies here vnderneath The gentlest knight that euer on greene gras Gay steed with spurs did pricke the good Sir Mortdant was Was ay the while that he is not so now My Lord my loue my deare Lord my deare loue So long as heauens iust with equall brow Vouchsafed to behold vs from aboue One day when him high courage did emmoue As wont ye knights to seeke aduentures wilde He pricked forth his puissant force to proue Me then he left enwombed of this child This lucklesse child whom thus ye see with bloud defild Him fortuned hard fortune ye may ghesse To come where vile Acrasia does wonne Acrasia a false enchaunteresse That many errant knights hath foule fordonne Within a wandring Island that doth ronne And stray in perilous gulfe her dwelling is Faire Sir if euer there ye trauell shonne The cursed land where many wend amis And know it by the name it hight the Bowre of blis Her blisse is all in pleasure and delight Wherewith she makes her louers drunken mad And then with words weedes of wondrous might On them she workes her will to vses bad My lifest Lord she thus beguiled had For he was flesh all flesh doth frailtie breed Whom when I heard to beene so ill bestad Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed And cast to seeke him forth through daunger and great dreed Now had faire Cynthia by euen tournes Full measured three quarters of her yeare And thrise three times had fild her crooked hornes When as my wombe her burdein would forbeare And bad me call Lucina to me neare Lucina came a manchild forth I brought The woods the Nymphes my bowres my midwiues weare Hard helpe at need So deare thee babe I bought Yet nought too deare I deemd while so my dear I sought Him so I sought and so at last I found Where him that witch had thralled to her will In chaines of lust and lewd desires ybound And so transformed from his former skill That me he knew not neither his owne ill Till through wise handling and faire gouernance I him recured to a better will Purged from drugs of foule intemperance Then meanes I gan deuise for his deliuerance Which when the vile Enchaunteresse perceiu'd How that my Lord from her I would repriue With cup thus charmd him parting she deceiu'd Sad verse giue death to him that death does giue And losse of loue to her that loues to liue So soone as Bacchus with the Nymphe does lincke So parted we and on our iourney driue Till comming to this well he stoupt to drincke The charme fulfild dead suddenly he downe did sincke Which when I wretch Not one word more she sayd But breaking off the end for want of breath And slyding soft as downe to sleepe her layd And ended all her woe in quiet death That seeing good Sir Guyon could vneath From teares abstaine for griefe his hart did grate And from so heauie sight his head did wreath Accusing fortune and too cruell fate Which plunged had faire Ladie in so wretched state Then turning to his Palmer said Old syre Behold the image of mortalitie And feeble nature cloth'd with fleshly tyre When raging passion with fierce tyrannie Robs reason of her due regalitie And makes it seruant to her basest part The strong it weakens with infirmitie And with bold furie armes the weakest hart The strong through pleasure soonest falles the weake through smart But temperance said he with golden squire Betwixt them both can measure out a meane Neither to melt in pleasures whot desire Nor fry in hartlesse griefe and dolefull teene Thrise happie man who fares them both atweene But sith this wretched woman ouercome Of anguish rather then of crime hath beene Reserue her cause to her eternall doome And in the meane vouchsafe her honorable toombe Palmer quoth he death is an euill doome To good and bad the common Inne of rest But after death the tryall is to come When best shall be to them that liued best But both alike when death hath both supprest Religious reuerence doth buriall teene Which who so wants wants so much of his rest For all so great shame after death I weene As selfe to dyen bad vnburied bad to beene So both agree their bodies to engraue The great earthes wombe they open to the sky And with sad Cypresse seemely it embraue Then couering with a clod their closed eye They lay therein those corses tenderly And bid them sleepe in euerlasting peace But ere they did their vtmost obsequy Sir Guyon more affection to increace Bynempt a sacred vow which none should aye releace The dead knights sword out of his sheath he drew With which he cut a locke of all their heare Which medling with their bloud and earth he threw Into the graue and gan deuoutly sweare Such and such euill Godon Guyon reare And worse and worse young Orphane be thy paine If I or thou dew vengeance doe forbeare Till guiltie bloud her guerdon doe obtaine So shedding many teares they closd the earth againe Cant. II. Babes bloudie hands may not be clensd the face of golden Meane Her sisters two Extremities striue her to banish cleane THus when Sir Guyon with his faithfull guide Had with due rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde The litle babe vp in his armes he hent Who with sweet pleasance and bold blandishment
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 knights heart and wordes with bitter teares did steepe Ah lucklesse babe borne vnder cruell starre And in dead parents balefull ashes bred Full litle weenest thou what sorrowes are Left thee for portion of thy liuelihed 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 wee Into this life with woe and end with miseree Then soft himselfe inclyning on his knee Downe to that well did in the water weene So loue does loath disdainfull nicitee His guiltie hands from bloudie 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 bloudie seene The which him into great amaz'ment droue And into diuerse doubt his wauering wonder cloue He wist not whether blot of foule 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 bloudguiltinesse he hat'th Or that the charme and venim which they druncke Their bloud with secret filth infected hath Being diffused through the senselesse truncke That through the great contagion direfull deadly stunck Whom thus at gaze the Palmer gan to bord With goodly reason and thus faire bespake Ye bene right hard amated gratious Lord And of your ignorance great maruell make Whiles cause not well conceiued ye mistake But know that secret vertues are infusd In euery fountaine and in euery 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 faire Floraes painted lap But other some by gift of later grace Or by good prayers or by other hap Had vertue pourd into their waters bace And thenceforth were renowmd sought from place to place Such is this well wrought by occasion straunge Which to her Nymph befell Vpon a day As she the woods with bow and shafts did raunge The hartlesse Hind 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 Hind 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 dye 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 those two heads As from two weeping eyes fresh streames do flow Yet cold through feare and old conceiued dreads And yet the stone her semblance seâ—mes to show Shapt like a maid that such ye may her know And yet her vertues in her water byde For it is chast and pure as purest snow Ne lets her waues with any filth he dyde But euer like her selfe vnstained hath beene tryde From thence it comes that this babes bloudy hand May not be clensd with water of this well Ne certes Sir striue you it to withstand But let them still be bloudy 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 minde reuengement And be for all chast 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 blond 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 fame And wondrous strong by nature and by skilfull frame Therein three sisters dwelt of sundry sort The children of one sire by mothers three Who dying whylome did diuide this fort To them by equall shares in equall fee But strifull minde and diuerse qualitee Drew them in parts and each made others foe Still did they striue and dayly 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 sister who did far excell The other two Medina was her name A sober sad and comely curteous Dame Who rich arayd and yet in modest guize In goodly garments that her well became Faire marching forth in honorable wize Him at the threshold met and well did enterprize She led him vp into a goodly bowre And comely courted with meet modestie Ne in her speach ne in her hauiour Was lightnesse seene or looser vanitie But gratious womanhood and grauitie Aboue the reason of her youthly yeares Her golden lockes she roundly did vptye In breaded tramels that no looser heares Did out of order stray about her daintie eares Whilest she her selfe thus busily did frame Seemely to entertaine her new-come guest Newes hereof to her other sisters came Who all this while were at their wanton rest Accourting each her friend with lauish fest They were two knights of perelesse puissance And famous far abroad for warlike gest Which to these Ladies loue did countenaunce And to his mistresse each himselfe stroue to aduaunce He that made loue vnto the eldest Dame Was hight Sir Huddibras an hardy man Yet not so good of deedes as great of name Which he by many rash aduentures wan Since errant armes to sew he first began More huge in strength then wise in workes he was And reason with foole-hardize ouer ran Sterne melancholy did his courage pas And was for terrour more all armd in shyning bras But he that lou'd the youngest was Sans-loy He that faire Vna late fowle outraged The most vnruly and the boldest boy That euer warlike weapons menaged And to all lawlesse lust encouraged Through strong opinion of his matchlesse might Ne ought he car'd whom he endamaged By tortious wrong or whom bereau'd of right He now this Ladies champion
Vnworthie of the commune breathed aire Why liuest thou dead dog a lenger day And doest not vnto death thy selfe prepaire Dye or thy selfe my captiue yield for ay Great fauour I thee graunt for aunswere thus to stay Hold ô deare Lord hold your dead-doing hand Then loud he cryde I am your humble thrall Ah wretch quoth he thy destinies withstand My wrathfull will and do for mercy call I giue thee life therefore prostrated fall And kisse my stirrup that thy homage bee The Miser threw him selfe as an Offall Streight at his foot in base humilitee And cleeped him his liege to hold of him in fee. So happy peace they made and faire accord Eftsoones this liege-man gan to wexe more bold And when he felt the folly of his Lord In his owne kind he gan him selfe vnfold For he was wylie witted and growne old In cunning sleights and practick knauery For that day forth he cast for to vphold His idle humour with fine flattery And blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity Trompart fit man for Braggadochio To serue at court in view of vaunting eye Vaine-glorious man when fluttring wind does blow In his light wings is lifted vp to skye The scorne of knighthood and trew cheualrye To thinke without desert of gentle deed And noble worth to be aduaunced hye Such prayse is shame but honour vertues meed Doth beare the fairest flowre in honorable seed So forth they pas a well consorted paire Till that at length with Archimage they meet Who seeing one that shone in armour faire On goodly courser thundring with his feet Eftsoones supposed him a person meet Of his reuenge to make the instrument For since the Redcrosse knight he earst did weet To beene with Guyon knit in one consent The ill which earst to him he now to Guyon ment And comming close to Trompart gan inquere Of him what mighty warriour that mote bee That rode in golden sell with single spere But wanted sword to wreake his enmitee He is a great aduenturer said he That hath his sword through hard assay forgone And now hath vowd till he auenged bee Of that despight neuer to wearen none That speare is him enough to doen a thousand grone Th' enchaunter greatly ioyed in the vaunt And weened well ere long his will to win And both his foen with equall foyle to daunt Tho to him louting lowly did begin To plaine of wrongs which had committed bin By Guyon and by that false Redcrosse knight Which two through treason and deceiptfull gin Had slaine Sir Mordant and his Lady bright That mote him honour win to wreake so foule despight Therewith all suddeinly he seemd enraged And threatned death with dreadfull countenaunce As if their liues had in his hand beene gaged And with stiffe force shaking his mortall launce To let him weet his doughtie valiaunce Thus said Old man great sure shal be thy meed If where those knights for feare of dew vengeaunce Do lurke thou certainly to me areed That I may wreake on them their hainous hatefull deed Certes my Lord said he that shall I soone And giue you eke good helpe to their decay But mote I wisely you aduise to doon Giue no ods to your foes but do puruay Your selfe of sword before that bloudy day For they be two the prowest knights on ground And oft approu'd in many hard assay And eke of surest steele that may be found Do arme your selfe against that day them to confound Dotard said he let be thy deepe aduise Seemes that through many yeares thy wits thee faile And that weake eld hath left thee nothing wise Else neuer should thy iudgement be so fraile To measure manhood by the sword or maile Is not enough foure quarters of a man Withouten sword or shield an host to quaile Thou little wotest what this right hand can Speake they which haue beheld the battailes which it wan The man was much abashed at his boast Yet well he wist that who so would contend With either of those knights on euen coast Should need of all his armes him to defend Yet feared least his boldnesse should offend When Braggadocchio said Once I did sweare When with one sword seuen knights I brought to end Thence forth in battell neuer sword to beare But it were that which noblest knight on earth doth weare Perdie Sir knight said then th' enchaunter bliue That shall I shortly purchase to your hond For now the best and noblest knight aliue Prince Arthur is that wonnes in Faerie lond He hath a sword that flames like burning brond The same by my aduise I vndertake Shall by to morrow by thy side be fond At which bold word that boaster gan to quake And wondred in his mind what mote that monster make He stayd not for more bidding but away Was suddein vanished out of his sight The Northerne wind his wings did broad display At his commaund and reared him vp light From off the earth to take his aerie flight They look about but no where could espie Tract of his foot then dead through great affright They both nigh were and each bad other flie Both fled attonce ne euer backe returned eie Till that they come vnto a forrest greene In which they shrowd thēselues from causelesse feare Yet feare them followes still where so they beene Each trembling leafe and whistling wind they heare As ghastly bug their haire on end does reare Yet both doe striue their fearfulnesse to faine At last they heard a horne that shrilled cleare Throughout the wood that ecchoed againe And made the forrest ring as it would riue in twaine Eft through the thicke they heard one rudely rush With noyse whereof he from his loftie steed Downe fell to ground and crept into a bush To hide his coward head from dying dreed But Trompart stoutly stayd to taken heed Of what might hap Eftsoone there stepped forth A goodly Ladie clad in hunters weed That seemd to be a woman of great worth And by her stately portance borne of heauenly birth Her face so faire as flesh it seemed not But heauenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew Cleare as the skie withouten blame or blot Through goodly mixture of complexions dew And in her cheekes the vermeill red did shew Like roses in a bed of lillies shed The which ambrosiall odours from them threw And gazers sense with double pleasure fed Hable to heale the sicke and to reuiue the ded In her faire eyes two liuing lamps did flame Kindled aboue at th'heauenly makers light And darted fyrie beames out of the same So passing persant and so wondrous bright That quite bereau'd the rash beholders sight In them the blinded god his lustfull fire To kindle oft assayd but had no might For with dredd Maiestie and awfull ire She broke his wanton darts and quenched base desire Her iuorie forhead full of bountie braue Like a broad table did it selfe dispred For Loue his loftie triumphes to engraue And write the battels of his great godhed
when the cause of that outrageous deede Demaunded I made plaine and euident Her faultie Handmayd which that bale did breede Confest how Philemon her wrought to chaunge her weede Which when I heard with horrible affright And hellish fury all enragd I sought Vpon my selfe that vengeable despight To punish yet it better first I thought To wreake my wrath on him that first it wrought To Philemon false faytour Philemon I cast to pay that I so dearely bought Of deadly drugs I gaue him drinke anon And washt away his guilt with guiltie potion Thus heaping crime on crime and griefe on griefe To losse of loue adioyning losse of frend I meant to purge both with a third mischiefe And in my woes beginner it to end That was Pryene she did first offend She last should smart with which cruell intent When I at her my murdrous blade did bend She fled away with ghastly dreriment And I pursewing my fell purpose after went Feare gaue her wings and rage enforst my flight Through woods and plaines so long I did her chace Till this mad man whom your victorious might Hath now fast bound me met in middle space As I her so he me pursewd apace And shortly ouertooke I breathing yre Sore chauffed at my stay in such a cace And with my heat kindled his cruell fyre Which kindled once his mother did more rage inspyre Betwixt them both they haue me doen to dye Through wounds strokes stubborne handeling That death were better then such agony As griefe and furie vnto me did bring Of which in me yet stickes the mortall sting That during life will neuer be appeasd When he thus ended had his sorrowing Said Guyon Squire sore haue ye beene diseasd But all your hurts may soone through tēperance be easd Then gan the Palmer thus most wretched man That to affections does the bridle lend In their beginning they are weake and wan But soone through suff'rance grow to fearefull end Whiles they are weake betimes with them contend For when they once to perfect strength do grow Strong warres they make and cruell battry bend Gainst fort of Reason it to ouerthrow Wrath gelosie griefe loue this Squire haue layd thus low Wrath gealosie griefe loue do thus expell Wrath is a fire and gealosie a weede Griefe is a flood and loue a monster fell The fire of sparkes the weede of little seede The flood of drops the Monster filth did breede But sparks seed drops and filth do thus delay The sparks soone quench the springing seed outweed The drops dry vp and filth wipe cleane away So shall wrath gealosie griefe loue dye and decay Vnlucky Squire said Guyon sith thou hast Falne vnto mischiefe through intemperaunce Henceforth take heede of that thou now hast past And guide thy wayes with warie gouernaunce Least worse betide thee by some later chaunce But read how art thou nam'd and of what kin Phedon I hight quoth he and do aduaunce Mine auncestry from famous Coradin Who first to rayse our house to honour did begin Thus as he spake lo far away they spyde A varlet running towards hastily Whose flying feet so fast their way applyde That round about a cloud of dust did fly Which mingled all with sweate did dim his eye He soone approched panting breathlesse whot And all so soyld that none could him descry His countenaunce was bold and bashed not For Guyons lookes but scornefull eyglaunce at him shot Behind his backe he bore a brasen shield On which was drawen faire in colours fit A flaming fire in midst of bloudy field And round about the wreath this word was writ Burnt I do burne Right well beseemed it To be the shield of some redoubted knight And in his hand two darts exceeding flit And deadly sharpe he held whose heads were dight In poyson and in bloud of malice and despight When he in presence came to Guyon first He boldly spake Sir knight if knight thou bee Abandon this fore stalled place at erst For feare of further harme I counsell thee Or bide the chaunce at thine owne ieoperdie The knight at his great boldnesse wondered And though he scornd his idle vanitie Yet mildly him to purpose answered For not to grow of nought he it coniectured Varlet this place most dew to me I deeme Yielded by him that held it forcibly But whēce should come that harme which thou doest seeme To threat to him that minds his chaunce t'abye Perdy said he here comes and is hard by A knight of wondrous powre and great assay That neuer yet encountred enemy But did him deadly daunt or fowle dismay Ne thou for better hope if thou his presence stay How hight he then said Guyon and from whence Pyrrhochles is his name renowmed farre For his bold feats and hardy confidence Full oft approu'd in many a cruell warre The brother of Cymochles both which arre The sonnes of old Acrates and Despight Acrates sonne of Phlegeton and Iarre But Phlegeton is sonne of Herebus and Night But Herebus sonne of Aeternitie is hight So from immortall race he does proceede That mortall hands may not withstand his might Drad for his derring do and bloudy deed For all in bloud and spoile is his delight His am I Atin his in wrong and right That matter make for him to worke vpon And stirre him vp to strife and cruell fight Fly therefore fly this fearefull stead anon Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion His be that care whom most it doth concerne Said he but whither with such hasty flight Art thou now bound for well mote I discerne Great cause that carries thee so swift and light My Lord quoth he me sent and streight behight To seeke Occasion where so she bee For he is all disposd to bloudy fight And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltie Hard is his hap that first fals in his ieopardie Madman said then the Palmer that does seeke Occasion to wrath and cause of strife She comes vnsought and shonned followes eke Happy who can abstaine when Rancour rife Kindles Reuenge and threats his rusty knife Woe neuer wants where euery cause is caught And rash Occasion makes vnquiet life Then loe where bound she fits whō thou hast sought Said Guyon let that message to thy Lord be brought That when the varlet heard and saw streight way He wexed wondrous wroth and said Vile knight That knights knighthood doest with shame vpbray And shewst th'enfāple of thy childish migbt With silly weake old woman thus to fight Great glory and gay spoile sure hast thou got And stoutly prou'd thy puissaunce here in sight That shall Pyrrhochles well requite I wot And with thy bloud abolish so reprochfull blot With that one of his thrillant darts he threw Headed with ire and vengeable despight The quiuering steele his aymed end well knew And to his brest it selfe intended right But he was warie and ere it empight In the meant marke aduaunst his shield atweene On which it seizing
Thy spouse I will her make if that thou lust That she may thee aduance for workes and merites iust Gramercy Mammon said the gentle knight For so great grace and offred high estate But I that am fraile flesh and earthly wight Vnworthy match for such immortall mate My selfe well wote and mine vnequall fate And were I not yet is my trouth yplight And loue auowd to other Lady late That to remoue the same I haue no might To chaunge loue causelesse is reproch to warlike knight Mammon emmoued was with inward wrath Yet forcing it to faine him forth thence led Through griesly shadowes by a beaten path Into a gardin goodly garnished With hearbs and fruits whose kinds mote not be red Not such as earth out of her fruitfull woomb Throwes forth to men sweet and well sauoured But direfull deadly blacke both leafe and bloom Fit to adorne the dead and decke the drery toombe There mournfull Cypresse grew in greatest store And trees of bitter Gall and Heben sad Dead sleeping Poppy and blacke Hellebore Cold Coloquintida and Tetra mad Mortall Samnitis and Cicuta bad Which with th'vniust Atheniens made to dy Wise Socrates who thereof quaffing glad Pourd out his life and last Philosophy To the faire Critias his dearest Belamy The Gordin of Proserpina this hight And in the midst thereof a siluer seat With a thicke Arber goodly ouer dight In which she often vsd from open heat Her selfe to shroud and pleasures to entreat Next thereunto did grow a goodly tree With braunches broad dispred and body great Clothed with leaues that none the wood mote see And loaden all with fruit as thicke as it might bee Their fruit were golden apples glistring bright That goodly was their glory to behold On earth like neuer grew ne liuing wight Like euer saw but they from hence were sold For those which Hercules with conquest bold Got from great Atlas daughters hence began And planted there did bring forth fruit of gold And those with which th' Eubaean young man wan Swift Atalanta when through craft he her out ran Here also sprong that goodly golden fruit With which Acontius got his louer trew Whom he had long time sought with fruitlesse suit Here eke that famous golden Apple grew The which emongst the gods false Ate threw For which th' Idaean Ladies disagreed Till partiall Paris dempt it Venus dew And had of her faire Helen for his meed That many noble Greekes and Troians made to bleed The warlike Elfe much wondred at this tree So faire and great that shadowed all the ground And his broad braunches laden with rich fee Did stretch themselues without the vtmost bound Of this great gardin compast with a mound Which ouer-hanging they themselues did steepe In a blacke flood which flow'd about it round That is the riuer of Cocytus deepe In which full many soules do endlesse waile and weepe Which to behold he clomb vp to the banke And looking downe saw many damned wights In those sad waues which direfull deadly stanke Plonged continually of cruell Sprights That with their pitteous cryes and yelling shrights They made the further shore resounden wide Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sights One cursed creature he by chaunce espide That drenched lay full deepe vnder the Garden side Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin Yet gaped still as coueting to drinke Of the cold liquor which he waded in And stretching forth his hand did often thinke To reach the fruit which grew vpon the brincke But both the fruit from hand and floud from mouth Did flie abacke and made him vainely swinke The whiles he steru'd with hunger and with drouth He daily dyde yet neuer throughly dyen couth The knight him seeing labour so in vaine Askt who he was and what he ment thereby Who groning deepe thus answerd him againe Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye Lo Tantalus I here tormented lye Of whom high Ioue wont whylome feasted bee Lo here I now for want of food doe dye But if that thou be such as I thee see Of grace I pray thee giue to eat and drinke to mee Nay nay thou greedie Tantalus quoth he Abide the fortune of thy present fate And vnto all that liue in high degree Ensample be of mind intemperate To teach them how to vse their present state Then gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry Accusing highest Ioue and gods ingrate And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly As authour of vniustice there to let him dye He lookt a little further and espyde Another wretch whose carkasse deepe was drent Within the riuer which the same did hyde But both his hands most filthy feculent Aboue the water were on high extent And faynd to wash themselues incessantly Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent But rather fowler seemed to the eye So lost his labour vaine and idle industry The knight him calling asked who he was Who lifting vp his head him answerd thus I Pilate am the falsest Iudge alas And most vniust that by vnrighteous And wicked doome to Iewes despiteous Deliuered vp the Lord of life to die And did acquite a murdrer felonous The whiles my hands I washt in puritie The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie Infinite moe tormented in like paine He there beheld too long here to be told Ne Mammon would there let him long remaine For terrour of the tortures manifold In which the damned soules he did behold But roughly him bespake Thou fearefull foole Why takest not of that same fruit of gold Ne sittest downe on that same siluer stoole To rest thy wearie person in the shadow coole All which he did to doe him deadly fall In frayle intemperance through sinfull bayt To which if he inclined had at all That dreadfull feend which did behind him wayt Would him haue rent in thousand peeces strayt But he was warie wise in all his way And well perceiued his deceiptfull sleight Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray And now he has so long remained there That vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan For want of food and sleepe which two vpbeare Like mightie pillours this fraile life of man That none without the same enduren can For now three dayes of men were full outwrought Since he this hardie enterprize began For thy great Mammon fairely he besought Into the world to guide him backe as he him brought The God though loth yet was constraind t' obay For lenger time then that no liuing wight Below the earth might suffred be to stay So backe againe him brought to liuing light But all so soone as his enfeebled spright Gan sucke this vitall aire into his brest As ouercome with too exceeding might The life did flit away out of her nest And all his senses were with deadly fit opprest Cant. VIII Sir Guyon laid in swowne is by Acrates sonnes despoyld Whom Arthur soone hath reskewed And Paynim brethren foyld ANd is
befall And say that I not ouercome do dye But in despight of life for death do 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 maistered 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 Hast lost he by him spide right glad he grew And said 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 rend what wicked hand hath robbed mee Of my good sword and shield The Palmer glad With so fresh hew vprising him to see Him answered faire 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 with 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 suffise to be for meede repayd Of so great graces as ye haue me shewd But to be euer bound To whom the Insant thus Faire Sir what need Good turnes be counted as a seruile bond To bind their doers to receiue their meede Are not all knights by oath bound to withstond Oppressours 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 curteous aggrace The whiles false Archimage and Atin fled apace Cant. IX The house of Temperance in which doth sober Almadwell Besiegd of many foes whom straunger knightes to fight compell O Fall Gods workes which do 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 indecent Distempred through misrule and passions bace It growes a Monster and incontinent Doth loose his dignitie 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 passed on their way in faire accord Till him the Prince with gentle court did bord Sir knight mote I of you this curt'sie 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 Faire Sir said 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 if the beautie of her mind ye knew That is her bountie and imperiall powre Thousand times fairer then her mortall hew O how great wonder would your thoughts deuoure And infinite desire into your spirite poure She is the mighty Queene of Faerie Whose faire retrait I in my shield do beare She is the flowre of grace and chastitie Throughout the world renowmed far and neare My liefe my liege my Soueraigne my deare Whose glory shineth as the morning starre And with her light the earth enlumines cleare Far reach her mercies and her prayses farre As well in state of peace as puissaunce in warre Thrise happy man said then the Briton knight Whom gracious lot and thy great valiaunce Haue made thee souldier of that Princesse bright Which with her bounty and glad countenance Doth blesse her seruaunts and them high aduaunce How may straunge knight hope euer to aspire By faithfull seruice and meet amenance Vnto such blisse sufficient were that hire For losse of thousand liues to dye at her desire Said Guyon Noble Lord what meed so great Or grace of earthly Prince so soueraine But by your wondrous worth and warlike feat Ye well may hope and easely attaine But were your will her sold to entertaine And numbred be mongst knights of Maydenhed Great guerdon well I wote should you remaine And in her fauour high be reckoned As Arthegall 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 all my powre and might Now hath the Sunne with his lamp-burning light Walkt round about the world and I no lesse Sith of that Goddesse I haue sought the sight Yet no where can her find such happinesse Heauen 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 else delaid With hard aduenture which I haue in hand I labour would to guide you through all Faery land Gramercy Sir said he but mote I wote What straunge aduenture do ye now pursew Perhaps my succour or aduizement meete Mote stead you much your purpose to subdew Then gan Sir Guyon all the story shew Of false Acrasia and her wicked wiles Which to auenge the Palmer him forth drew From Faery court So talked they the whiles They wasted had much way and measurd many miles And now faire Phoebus gan decline in hast His weary wagon to the Westerne vale Whenas they spide a goodly castle plast Foreby a riuer in a pleasaunt dale Which choosing for that euenings hospitale They thither marcht but when they came in sight And from their sweaty Coursers did auale They found the gates fast barred long ere night And euery loup fast lockt as fearing foes despight Which when they saw they weened fowle reproch Was to them doen their entrance to forstall Till that the Squire gan nigher to approch And wind his horne vnder the castle wall That with the noise it shooke as it would fall Eftsoones forth looked from the highest spire The watch and lowd vnto the knights did call To weete what they so rudely did require Who gently answered They entrance did desire Fly fly good knights said he fly fast away If that your liues ye loue as meete ye should Fly fast and saue your selues from neare decay Here may ye not haue entraunce though we would We would and would againe if that we could But thousand enemies about vs raue And with long siege vs in this castle hould Seuen yeares this wize they vs besieged haue And many good knights slaine that haue vs sought to saue Thus
wonne And of them both did foy and tribute raise The which was dew in his dead fathers dayes He also gaue to fugitiues of Spayne Whom he at sea found wandring from their wayes A seate in Ireland safely to remayne Which they should hold of him as subiect to Britayne After him raigned Guitheline his hayre The iustest man and trewest in his dayes Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre A woman worthy of immortall prayse Which for this Realme found many goodly layes And wholesome Statutes to her husbahd brought Her many deemd to haue beene of the Fayes As was Aegerie that Numa tought Those yet of her be Mertiā lawes both nam'd thought Her sonnes Sifillus after her did rayne And then Kimarus and then Danius Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustaine Who had he not with wrath outrageous And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous And mightie deeds should matched haue the best As well in that same field victorious Against the forreine Morands he exprest Yet liues his memorie though carcas sleepe in rest Fiue sonne he left begotten of one wife All which successiuely by turnes did raine First Gorboman a man of vertuous life Next Archigald who for his proud disdaine Deposed was from Princedome soueraine And pitteous Elidure put in his sted Who shortly it to him restord againe Till by his death he it recouered But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized In wretched prison long he did remaine Till they outraigned had their vtmost date And then therein reseized was againe And ruled long with honorable state Till he surrendred Realme and life to fate Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd By dew successe and all their Nephewes late Euen thrise eleuen descents the crowne retaynd Till aged Hely by dew heritage it gaynd He had two sonnes whose eldest called Lud Left of his life most famous memory And endlesse moniments of his great good The ruin'd wals he did reaedifye Of Troynouant gainst force of enimy And built that gate which of his name is hight By which he lyes entombed solemnly He left two sonnes too young to rule aright Androgeus and Tenantius pictures of his might Whilst they were young Cassibalane their Eme Was by the people chosen in their sted Who on him tooke the royall Diademe And goodly well long time it gouerned Till the prowd Romanes him disquieted And warlike Caesar tempted with the name Of this sweet Island neuer conquered And enuying the Britons blazed fame O hideous hunger of dominion hither came Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe And twise renforst backe to their ships to fly The whiles with bloud they all the shore did staine And the gray Ocean into purple dy Ne had they footing found at last perdie Had not Androgeus false to natiue soyle And enuious or Vncles soueraintie Betrayd his contrey vnto forreine spoyle Nought else but treason from the first this lād did foyle So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloushed and many a sad assay In which him selfe was charged heauily Of hardy Nennius whom he yet did slay But lost his sword yet to be seene this day Thenceforth this land was tributarie made T'ambitious Rome and did their rule obay Till Arthur all that reckoning did defray Yet oft the Briton kings against them strongly swayd Next him Tenantius raignd then Kimbeline What time th' eternall Lord in fleshly slime Enwombed was from wretched Adams line To purge away the guilt of sinfull crime O ioyous memorie of happytime That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd O too high ditty for my simple rime Soone after this the Romanes him wrrayd For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd Good Claudius that next was Emperour An army brought and with him battell fought In which the king was by a Treachetour Disguised slaine ere any thereof thought Yet ceased not the bloudy fight for ought For Aruirage his brothers place supplide Both in armes and crowne and by that draught Did driue the Romanes to the weaker side That they to peace agreed So all was pacifide Was neuer king more highly magnifide Nor dred of Romanes then was Aruirage For which the Emperour to him allide His daughter Genuiss ' in marriage Yet shortly he renounst the vassalage Of Rome againe who hither hastly sent Vespasian that with great spoile and rage Forwasted all till Genuissa gent Perswaded him to ceasse and her Lord to relent He dyde and him succeeded Marius Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity Then Coyll and after him good Lucius That first receiued Christianitie The sacred pledge of Christes Euangely Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Ioseph of Arimathy Who brought with him the holy grayle they say And preacht the truth but since it greatly did decay This good king shortly without issew dide Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew That did her selfe in sundry parts diuide And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew Whilest Romanes dayly did the weake subdew Which seeing stout Bunduca vp arose And taking armes the Britons to her drew With whom she marched streight against her foes And them vnwares besides the Seuerne did enclose There she with them a cruell battell tride Not with so good successe as she deseru'd By reason that the Captaines on her side Corrupted by Paulinus from her sweru'd Yet such as were through former flight perseru'd Gathering againe her Host she did renew And with fresh courage on the victour seru'd But being all defeated saue a few Rather then fly or be captiu'd her selfe she slew O famous moniment of womens prayse Matchable either to Semiramis Whom antique history so high doth raise Or to Hysiphil ' or to Thomiris Her Host two hundred thousand numbred is Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might Triumphed oft against her enimis And yet though ouercome in haplesse fight She triumphed on death in enemies despight Her reliques Fulgent hauing gathered Fought with Scuerus and him ouerthrew Yet in the chace was slaine of them that fled So made them victours whom he did subdew Then gan Carausius tirannize anew And gainst the Romanes bent their proper powre But him Allectus treacherously slew And tooke on him the robe of Emperoure Nath'lesse the same enioyed but short happy howre For Asclepiodate him ouercame And left inglorious on the vanquisht playne Without or robe or rag to hide his shame Then afterwards he in his stead did rayne But shortly was by Coyll in battell slaine Who after long debate since Lucies time Was of the Britons first crownd Soueraine Then gan this Realme renewe her passed prime He of his name Coylchester built of stone and lime Which when the Romanes heard they hither sent Constantius a man of mickle might With whom king Coyll made an agreement And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright Faire Helena the fairest liuing wight Who in all godly thewes and goodly prayse Did far excell but was most famous hight For skill in Musicke of all in
which late fled away Stoutly forth 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 despighte That through his haberieon the forkehead flew And through the linked mayles empierced quite But had no 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 Acruell 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 arriu'd with mickle paine Where the third brother him did sore assay And droue at him with all his might and maine A forrest bill which both his hands did straine But warily he did auoide the blow And with his speare requited him againe That both his sides were thrilled with the throw And a large streame of bloud out of the wound did flow He tombling downe with gnashing teeth did bite The bitter earth and bad to let him in Into the balefull house of endlesse night Where wicked ghosts do waile their former sin Tho gan the battell 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 villain he auiz'd which late Affrighted had the fairest Florimell Full of fiers fury and indignant hate To him he turned and with rigour fell Smote him so rudely on the Pannikell That to the chin he cleft his head in twaine Downe on the ground his carkas groueling fell His sinfull soule with desperate disdaine Out of her fleshly ferme fled to the place of paine That seeing now the onely last of three Who with that wicked shaft him wounded had Trembling with horrour 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 shot an arrow at the lad Which faintly fluttring scarce his helmet raught And glauncing fell 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 carkas with the streame was carried downe But th' head fell backeward on the Continent So mischieffel 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 bloud forth gusht in so great store That he lay wallowd all in his owne gore Now God thee keepe thou gentlest Squire aliue Else shall thy louing Lord thee see no more But both of comfort him thou shalt depriue And eke thy selfe of honour which thou didst atchiue Prouidence heauenly passeth liuing thought And doth for wretched mens reliefe make way For loe great grace or fortune thither brought Comfort to him that comfortlesse now lay In those same woods ye well remember may How that a noble hunteresse did wonne She that base Braggadochio did affray And made him fast out of the forrest runne Belphoebe was her name as faire as Phoebus sunne She on a day as she pursewd the chace Of some wild beast which with her arrowes keene She wounded had the same along did trace By tract of bloud which she had freshly seene To haue be sprinckled all the grassy greene By the great persue which she there perceau'd Well hoped she the beast engor'd had beene And made more hast the life to haue bereau'd But ah her expectation greatly was deceau'd Shortly she came whereas that woefull Squire With bloud deformed lay in deadly swownd In whose faire eyes like lamps of quenched fire The Christall humour stood congealed rownd His locks like faded leaues fallen to grownd Knotted with bloud in bounches rudely ran And his sweete lips on which before that stownd The bud of youth to blossome faire began Spoild of their rosie red were woxen pale and wan Saw neuer liuing eye 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 eyes did vew All suddeinly abasht she chaunged hew And with sterne horrour backward gan to start But when she better him beheld she grew Full of soft passion and vnwonted smart The point of pitty perced through her tender hart Meekely she bowed downe to weete if life Yet in his frosen members did remaine And feeling by his pulses beating rife That the weake soule her seat did yet retaine She cast to comfort him with busie paine His double folded necke she reard vpright And rubd his temples and each trembling vaine His mayled haberieon she did vndight And from his head his heauy burganet did light Into the woods thenceforth in hast she went To seeke for hearbes that mote him remedy For she of hearbes had great intendiment Taught of the Nymphe which from her infancy Her nourced had in trew Nobility There whether it diuine Tobacco were Or Fanachaea or Polygony She found and brought it to her patient deare Who al this while lay bleeding out his hart-bloud neare The soueraigne weede betwixt two marbles plaine She pownded small and did in peeces bruze And then atweene her lilly handes twaine Into his wound the iuyce thereof did scruze And round about as she could well it vze The flesh therewith she suppled and did steepe T' abate all spasme and soke the swelling bruze And after hauing searcht the intuse deepe She with her scarfe did bind the wound frō cold to keepe By this he had sweet life recur'd againe And groning inly deepe at last his eyes His watry eyes drizling like deawy raine He vp gan lift toward the azure skies From whence descend all hopelesse remedies Therewith he sigh'd and turning him aside The goodly Mayd full of diuinities And gifts of heauenly grace he by him spide Her bow and gilden quiuer lying him beside Mercy deare Lord said he what grace is this That thou hast shewed to me sinfull wight To send thine Angell from her bowre of blis To comfort me in my distressed plight Angell or Goddesse do I call thee right What
Bull Europa to withdraw Ah how the fearefull Ladies tender hart Did liuely seeme to tremble when she saw The huge seas vnder her t' obay her seruaunts law Soone after that into a golden showre Him selfe he chaung'd faire Danaë to vew And through the roofe of her strong brasen towre Did raine into her lap an hony dew The whiles her foolish garde that little knew Of such deceipt kept th'yron dore fast bard And watcht that none should enter nor issew Vaine was the watch and bootlesse all the ward Whenas the God to golden hew him selfe transfard Then was he turnd into a snowy Swan To win faire Leda to his louely trade O wondrous skill and sweet wit of the man That her in daffadillies sleeping made From scorching heat her daintie limbes to shade Whiles the proud Bird ruffing his fethers wyde And brushing his faire brest did her inuade She slept yet twixt her eyelids closely spyde How towards her he rusht and smiled at his pryde Then shewd it how the Thebane Semelee Deceiu'd of gealous Iuno did require To see him in his soueraigne maiestee Armd with his thunderbolts and lightning fire Whence dearely she with death bought her desire But faire Alcmena better match did make Ioying his loue in likenesse more entire Three nights in one they say that for her sake He then did put her pleasures lenger to partake Twise was he seene in soaring Eagles shape And with wide wings to beat the buxome ayre Once when he with Asterie did scape Againe when as the Troiane boy so faire He snatcht from Ida hill and with him bare Wondrous delight it was there to behould How the rude Shepheards after him did stare Trembling through feare least down he fallen should And often to him calling to take surer hould In Satyres shape Antiopa he snatcht And like a fire when he Aegin ' assayd A shepheard when Mnemosyne he catcht And like a Serpent to the Thracian mayd Whiles thus on earth great Ioue these pageaunts playd The winged boy did thrust into his throne And scoffing thus vnto his mother sayd Lo now the heauens obey to me alone And take me for their Ioue whiles Ioue to earth is gone And thou faire Phoebus in thy colours bright Wast there enwouen and the sad distresse In which that boy thee plonged for despight That thou bewray'dst his mothers wantonnesse When she with Mars was meynt in ioyfulnesse For thy he thrild thee with a leaden dart To loue faire Daphne which thee loued lesse Lesse she thee lou'd then was thy iust desart Yet was thy loue her death her death was thy smart So louedst thou the lusty Hyacinct So louedst thou the faire Coroxis deare Yet both are of thy haplesse hand extinct Yet both in flowres do liue and loue thee beare The one a Paunce the other a sweet breare For griefe whereof ye mote haue liuely seene The God himselfe rending his golden heare And breaking quite his gyrlond euer greene With other signes of sorrow and impatient teene Both for those two and for his owne deare sonne The sonne of Climene he did repent Who bold to guide the charet of the Sunne Himselfe in thousand peeces fondly rent And all the world with flashing fier brent So like that all the walles did seeme to flame Yet cruell Cupid not herewith content Forst him eftsoones to follow other game And loue a Shepheards daughter for his dearest Dame He loued Isse for his dearest Dame And for her sake her cattell fed a while And for her sake a cowheard vile became The seruant of Admetus cowheard vile Whiles that from heauen he suffered exile Long were to tell each other louely fit Now like a Lyon hunting after spoile Now like a Hag now like a faulcon flit All which in that faire arras was most liuely writ Next vnto him was Neptune pictured In his diuine resemblance wondrous lyke His face was rugged and his hoarie hed Dropped with brackish deaw his three-forkt Pyke He stearnly shooke and therewith fierce did stryke The raging billowes that on euery syde They trembling stood and made a long broad dyke That his swift charet might haue passage wyde Which foure great Hippodames did draw in temewise tyde His sea-horses did seeme to snort amayne And from their nosethrilles blow the brynie streame That made the sparckling waues to smoke agayne And flame with gold but the white fomy creame Did shine with siluer and shoot forth his beame The God himselfe did pensiue seeme and sad And hong adowne his head as he did dreame For priuy loue his brest empierced had Ne ought but deare Bisaltis ay could make him glad He loued eke Iphimedia deare And Aeolus faire daughter Arne hight For whom he turnd him selfe into a Steare And fed on fodder to beguile her sight Also to win Deucalions daughter bright Her turnd him selfe into a Dolphin fayre And like a winged horse he tooke his flight To snaly-locke Medusa to repayre On whom he got faire Pegasus that flitteth in the ayre Next Saturne was but who would euer weene That sullein Saturne euer weend to loue Yet loue is sullein and Saturnlike seene As he did for Erigone it proue That to a Centaure did him selfe transmoue So proou'd it eke that gracious God of wine When for to compasse Philliras hard loue He turnd 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 mighty Mars to learne his wanton playes How oft for Venus and how often eek For many other Nymphes he sore did shreek With womanish teares and with vnwarlike smarts Priuily moystening his horrid cheek There was he painted full of burning darts And many wide woundes launched through his inner parts 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 tast the sweet consuming woe Which he had wrought to many others moe But to declare the mournfull Trage dyes And spoiles wherewith he all the ground did strow More eath to number with how many eyes High heauen beholds sad louers nightly theeueryes Kings Queenes Lords Ladies Knights Damzels 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 bloudy 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 wings it had with sundry colours dight More sundry colours then the proud Pauone Beares in his boasted fan or Iris bright When her discolourd bow she
Paridel resynd Nathlesse he forth did march well as he might And made good semblance to his companie Dissembling his disease and euill plight Till that ere long they chaunced to espie Two other knights that towards them did ply With speedie course as bent to charge them new Whom when as Blandamour approching nie Perceiu'd to be such as they seemd in vew He was full wo and gan his former griefe renew For th' one of them he perfectly descride To be Sir Scudamour by that he bore The God of loue with wings displayed wide Whom mortally he hated euermore Both for his worth that all men did adore And eke because his loue he wonne by right Which when he thought it grieued him full sore That through the bruses of his former fight He now vnable was to wreake his old despight For thy he thus to Paridel bespake Faire Sir offriendship let me now you pray That as I late aduentured for your sake The hurts whereof me now from battell stay Ye will me now with like good turne repay And iustifie my cause on yonder knight Ah Sir said Paridel do not dismay Your selfe for this my selfe will for you fight As ye haue done for me the left hand rubs the right With that he put his spurres vnto his steed With speare in rest and toward him did fare Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed But Scudamour was shortly well aware Of his approch and gan him selfe prepare Him to receiue with entertainment meete So furiously they met that either bare The other downe vnder their horses feete That what of them became themselues did scarsly weete As when two billowes in the Irish sowndes Forcibly driuen with contrarie tydes Do meete together each abacke rebowndes With roaring rage and dashing on all sides That filleth all the sea with some diuydes The doubtfull current into diuers wayes So fell those two in spight of both their prydes But Scudamour himselfe did soone vprayse And mounting light his foe for lying long vpbrayes Who rolled on an heape lay still in swound All carelesse of his taunt and bitter rayle Till that the rest him seeing lie on ground Ran hastily to weete what did him ayle Where finding that the breath gan him to fayle With busie care they stroue him to awake And doft his helmet and vndid his mayle So much they did that at the last they brake His slomber yet so mazed that he nothing spake Which when as Blandamour beheld he sayd False faitour Scudamour that hast by slight And foule aduantage this good Knight dismayd A Knight much better then thy selfe behight Well falles it thee that I am not in plight This day to wreake the dammage by thee donne Such is thy wont that still when any Knight Is weakned then thou doest him ouerronne So hast thou to thy selfe false honour often wonne He little answer'd but in manly heart His mightie indignation did forbeare Which was not yet so secret but some part Thereof did in his frouning face appeare Like as a gloomie cloud the which doth beare An hideous storme is by the Northerne blast Quite ouerblowne yet doth not passe so cleare But that it all the skie doth ouercast With darknes dred and threatens all the world to wast Ah gentle knight then false Duessa sayd Why do ye striue for Ladies loue so sore Whose chiefe desire is loue and friendly aid Mongst gentle Knights to nourish euermore Ne be ye wroth Sir Scudamour therefore That she your loue list loue another knight Ne do your selfe dislike a whit the more For Loue is free and led with selfe delight Ne will enforced be with maisterdome or might So false Duessa but vile Ate thus Both foolish knights I can but laugh at both That striue and storme with stirre outrageous For her that each of you alike doth loth And loues another with whom now she goth In louely wise and sleepes and sports and playes Whilest both you here with many a cursed oth Sweare she is yours and stirre vp bloudie frayes To win a willow bough whilest other weares the bayes Vile hag sayd Scudamour why dost thou lye And falsly seekst a vertuous wight to shame Fond knight sayd she the thing that with this eye I saw why should I doubt to tell the same Then tell quoth Blandamour and feare no blame Tell what thou saw'st maulgre who so it heares I saw quoth she a stranger knight whose name I wote not well but in his shield he beares That well I wote the heads of many broken speares I saw him haue your Amoret at will I saw him kisse I saw him her embrace I saw him sleepe with her all night his fill All manie nights and manie by in place That present were to testifie the case Which when as Scudamour did heare his heart Was thrild with inward griefe as when in chace The Parthian strikes a stag with shiuering dart The beast astonisht stands in middest of his smart So stood Sir Scudamour when this he heard Ne word he had to speake for great dismay But lookt on Glauce grim who woxe afeard Of outrage for the words which she heard say Albee vntrue she wist them by assay But Blandamour whenas he did espie His chaunge of cheere that anguish did bewray He woxe full blithe as he had got thereby And gan thereat to triumph without victorie Lo recreant sayd he the fruitlesse end Of thy vaine boast and spoile of loue misgotten Whereby the name of knight-hood thou dost shend And all true louers with dishonor blotten All things not rooted well will soone be rotten Fy fy false knight then false Duessa cryde Vnworthy life that loue with guile hast gotten Be thou where euer thou do go or ryde Loathed of ladies all and of all knights defyde But Scudamour for passing great despight Staid not to answer scarcely did refraine But that in all those knights and ladies sight He for reuenge had guiltlesse Glauce slaine But being past he thus began amaine False traitour squire false squire of falsest knight Why doth mine hand from thine auenge abstaine Whose Lord hath done my loue this soule despight Why do I not it wreake on thee now in my might Discourteous disloyall Britomart Vntrue to God and vnto man vniust What vengeance due can equall thy desart That hast with shamefull spot of sinfull lust Defil'd the pledge committed to thy trust Let vgly shame and endlesse infamy Colour thy name with foule reproaches rust Yet thou false Squire his fault shalt deare aby And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply The aged Dame him seeing so enraged Was dead with feare nathlesse as neede required His flaming furie sought to haue assuaged With sober words that sufferance desired Till time the tryall of her truth expyred And euermore sought Britomart to cleare But he the more with furious rage was fyred And thrise his hand to kill her did vpreare And thrise he drew it backe so did at last forbeare Cant. II.
That horse and man to ground he quite did beare That neither could in hast themselues againe vpreare Which to auenge Sir Deuon him did dight But with no better fortune then the rest For him likewise he quickly downe did smight And after him Sir Douglas him addrest And after him Sir Faliumord forth prest But none of them against his strokes could stand But all the more the more his praise increst For either they were left vppon the land Or went away sore wounded of his haplesse hand And now by this Sir Satyrane abraid Out of the swowne in which too long he lay And looking round about like one dismaid When as he saw the mercilesse affray Which doughty Triamond had wrought that day Vnto the noble Knights of Maidenhead His mighty heart did almost rend in tway For very gall that rather wholly dead Himselfe he wisht haue beene then in so bad a stead Eftsoones he gan to gather vp around His weapons which lay scattered all abrode And as it fell his steed he ready found On whom remounting fiercely forth he rode Like sparke of fire that from the anduile glode There where he saw the valiant Triamond Chasing and laying on them heauy lode That none his force were able to withstond So dreadfull were his strokes so deadly was his hond With that at him his brauelike speare he aimed And thereto all his power and might applide The wicked steele for mischiefe first ordained And hauing now misfortune got for guide Staid not till it arriued in his side And therein made a very griesly wound That streames of bloud his armour all bedide Much was he daunted with that direfull stound That scarse he him vpheld from falling in a sound Yet as he might himselfe he soft withdrew Out of the field that none perceiu'd it plaine Then gan the part of Chalengers anew To range the field and victorlike to raine That none against them battell durst maintaine By that the gloomy euening on them fell That forced them from fighting to refraine And trumpets sound to cease did them compell So Satyrane that day was iudg'd to beare the bell The morrow next the Turney gan anew And with the first the hardy Satyrane Appear'd in place with all his noble crew On th' other side full many a warlike swaine Assembled were that glorious prize to gaine But mongst them all was not Sir Triamond Vnable he new battell to darraine Through grieuaunce of his late receiued wound That doubly did him grieue when so himselfe he found Which Cambell seeing though he could not salue Ne done vndoe yet for to salue his name And purchase honour in his friends behalue This goodly counterfesaunce he did frame The shield and armes well knowne to be the same Which Triamond had worne vnwares to wight And to his friend vnwist for doubt of blame If he misdid he on himselfe did dight That none could him discerne and so went forth to fight There Satyrane Lord of the field he found Triumphing in great ioy and iolity Gainst whom none able was to stand on ground That much he gan his glorie to enuy And cast t' auenge his friends indignity A mightie speare eftsoones at him he bent Who seeing him come on so furiously Met him mid-way with equall hardiment That forcibly to ground they both together went They vp againe them selues can lightly reare And to their tryed swords them selues betake With which they wrought such wondrous maruels there That all the rest it did amazed make Ne any dar'd their perill to partake Now cuffling close now chacing to and fro Now hurtling round aduantage for to take As two wild Boares together grapling go Chaufing and foming choler each against his fo So as they courst and turneyd here and theare It chaunst Sir Satyrane his steed at last Whether through foundring or through sodein feare To stumble that his rider nigh he cast Which vauntage Cambell did pursue so fast That ere him selfe he had recouered well So sore he sowst him on the compast creast That forced him to leaue his loftie sell And rudely tumbling downe vnder his horse feete fell Lightly Cambello leapt downe from his steed For to haue rent his shield and armes away That whylome wont to be the victors meed When all vnwares he felt an hideous sway Of many swords that lode on him did lay An hundred knights had him enclosed round To rescue Satyrane out of his pray All which at once huge strokes on him did pound In hope to take him prisoner where he stood on ground He with their multitude was nought dismayd But with stout courage turnd vpon them all And with his brondiron round about him layd Of which he dealt large almes as did befall Like as a Lion that by chaunce doth fall Into the hunters toile doth rage and rore In royall heart disdaining to be thrall But all in vaine for what might one do more They haue him taken captiue though it grieue him sore Whereof when newes to Triamond was brought There as he lay his wound he soone forgot And starting vp streight for his armour sought In vaine he sought for there he found it not Cambello it away before had got Cambelloes armes therefore he on him threw And lightly issewd forth to take his lot There he in troupe found all that warlike crew Leading his friend away full sorie to his vew Into the thickest of that knightly preasse He thrust and smote downe all that was betweene Caried with feruent zeale ne did he ceasse Till that he came where he had Cambell seene Like captiue thral two other Knights atweene There he amongst them cruell hauocke makes That they which lead him soone enforced beene To let him loose to saue their proper stakes Who being freed from one a weapon fiercely takes With that he driues at them with dreadfull might Both in remembrance of his friends late harme And in reuengement of his owne despight So both together giue a new allarme As if but now the battell wexed warme As when two greedy Wolues doe breake by force Into an heard farre from the husband farme They spoile and rauine without all remorse So did these two through all the field their foes enforce Fiercely they followd on their bolde emprize Till trumpets sound did warne them all to rest Then all with one consent did yeeld the prize To Triamond and Cambell as the best But Triamond to Cambell it relest And Cambell it to Triamond transferd Each labouring t' aduance the others gest And make his praise before his owne preferd So that the doome was to another day differd The last day came when all those knightes againe Assembled were their deedes of armes to shew Full many deedes that day were shewed plaine But Satyrane boue all the other crew His wondrous worth declared in all mens view For from the first he to the last endured And though some while Fortune from him withdrew Yet euermore his honour he recured And with
for their rightfull deedes And place deserued with the Gods on hy Herein the noblesse of this knight exceedes Who now to perils great for iustice sake proceedes To which as he now was vppon the way He chaunst to meet a Dwarfe in hasty course Whom he requir'd his forward hast to stay Till he of tidings mote with him discourse Loth was the Dwarfe yet did he stay perforse And gan of sundry newes his store to tell And to his memory they had recourse But chiefely of the fairest Florimell How she was found againe and spousde to Marinell For this was Dony Florimels owne Dwarfe Whom hauing lost as ye haue heard whyleare And finding in the way the scattred scarfe The fortune of her life long time did feare But of her health when Artegall did heare And safe returne he was full inly glad And askt him where and when her bridale cheare Should be solemniz'd for if time he had He would be there and honor to her spousall ad Within three daies quoth she as I do here It will be at the Castle of the strond What time if naught me let I will be there To doe her seruice so as I am bond But in my way a little here beyond A cursed cruell Sarazin doth wonne That keepes a Bridges passage by strong hond And many errant Knights hath there fordonne That makes all men for feare that passage for to shonne What mister wight quoth he and how far hence Is he that doth to trauellers such harmes He is said he a man of great defence Expert in battell and in deedes of armes And more emboldned by the wicked charmes With which his daughter doth him still support Hauing great Lordships got and goodly farmes Through strong oppression of his powre extort By which he stil them holds keepes with strong effort And dayly he his wrongs encreaseth more For neuer wight he lets to passe that way Ouer his Bridge albee he rich or poore But he him makes his passage-penny pay Else he doth hold him backe or beat away Thereto he hath a groome of euill guize Whose scalp is bare that bondage doth bewray Which pols and pils the poore in piteous wize But he him selfe vppon the rich doth tyrannize His name is hight Pollente rightly so For that he is so puissant and strong That with his powre he all doth ouergo And makes them subiect to his mighty wrong And some by sleight he eke doth vnderfong For on a Bridge he custometh to fight Which is but narrow but exceeding long And in the same are many trap fals pight Through which the rider downe doth fall through ouersight And vnderneath the same a riuer flowes That is both swift and dangerous deepe withall Into the which whom so he ouerthrowes All destitute of helpe doth headlong fall But he him selfe through practise vsuall Leapes forth into the floud and there assaies His foe confused through his sodaine fall That horse and man he equally dismaies And either both them drownes or trayterously slaies Then doth he take the spoile of them at will And to his daughter brings that dwels thereby Who all that comes doth take and therewith fill The coffers of her wicked threasury Which she with wrongs hath heaped vp so hy That many Princes she in wealth exceedes And purchast all the countrey lying ny With the reuenue of her plenteous meedes Her name is Munera agreeing with her deedes Thereto she is full faire and rich attired With golden hands and siluer feete beside That many Lords haue her to wife desired But she them all despiseth for great pride Now by my life sayd he and God to guide None other way will I this day betake But by that Bridge whereas he doth abide Therefore me thither lead No more he spake But thitherward forthright his ready way did make Vnto the place he came within a while Where on the Bridge he ready armed saw The Sarazin awayting for some spoile Who as they to the passage gan to draw A villaine to them came with scull all raw That passage money did of them require According to the custome of their law To whom he aunswerd wroth loe there thy hire And with that word him strooke that streight he did expire Which when the Pagan saw he wexed wroth And streight him selfe vnto the fight addrest Ne was Sir Artegall behinde so both Together ran with ready speares in rest Right in the midst whereas they brest to brest Should meete a trap was letten downe to fall Into the floud streight leapt the Carle vnblest Well weening that his foe was falne withall But he was well aware and leapt before his fall There being both together in the floud They each at other tyrannousty flew Ne ought the water cooled their whot bloud But rather in them kindled choler new But there the Paynim who that vse well knew To fight in water great aduantage had That oftentimes him nigh he ouerthrew And eke the courser whereuppon he rad Could swim like to a fish whiles he his backe bestrad Which oddes when as Sir Artegall espide He saw no way but close with him in hast And to him driuing strongly downe the tide Vppon his iron coller griped fast That with the straint his wesand nigh he brast There they together stroue and struggled long Either the other from his steede to cast Ne euer Artegall his griple strong For any thing wold slacke but still vppon him hong As when a Dolphin and a Sele are met In the wide champian of the Ocean plaine With cruell chause their courages they whet The maysterdome of each by force to gaine And dreadfull battaile twixt them do darraine They snuf they snort they boūce they rage they rore That all the sea disturbed with their traine Doth frie with some aboue the surges hore Such was betwixt these two the troublesome vprore So Artegall at length him forst forsake His horses backe for dread of being drownd And to his handy swimming him betake Eftsoones him selfe he from his hold vnbownd And then no ods at all in him he fownd For Artegall in swimming skilfull was And durst the depth of any water sownd So ought each Knight that vse of perill has In swimming be expert through waters force to pas Then very doubtfull was the warres euent Vncertaine whether had the better side For both were skildin that experiment And both in armes well traind and throughly tride But Art egall was better breath'd beside And towards th' end grew greater in his might That his faint foe no longer could abide His puissance ne beare him selfe vpright But from the water to the land betooke his flight But Artegall pursewd him still so neare With bright Chrysaor in his cruell hand That as his head he gan a litle reare Aboue the brincke to tread vpon the land He smote it off that tumbling on the strand It bit the earth for very fell despight And gnashed with his teeth as if he band
of such a rascall crew And otherwise if that he should retire He fear'd least they with shame would him pursew Therefore he Talus to them sent t' inquire The cause of their array and truce for to desire But soone as they him nigh approching spide They gan with all their weapons him assay And rudely stroke at him on euery side Yet nought they could him hurt ne ought dismay But when at them he with his flaile gan lay He like a swarme of flyes them ouerthrew Ne any of them durst come in his way But here and there before his presence flew And hid themselues in holes and bushes from his vew As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke The trembling foule dismayd with dreadfull sight Of death the which them almost ouertooke Doe hide themselues from her astonying looke Amongst the flags and couert round about When Talus saw they all the field forsooke And none appear'd of all that raskall rout To Artegall he turn'd and went with him throughout Cant. III. The spousals of faire Florimell where turney many knights There Braggadochio is vncas'd in all the Ladies sights AFter long stormes and tempests ouerblowne The sunne at length his ioyous face doth cleare So when as fortune all her spight hath showne Some blisfull houres at last must needes appeare Else should afflicted wights oftimes despeire So comes it now to Florimell by tourne After long sorrowes suffered whyleare In which captiu'd she many moneths did mourne To tast of ioy and to wont pleasures to retourne Who being freed from Proteus cruell band By Marinell was vnto him affide And by him brought againe to Faerie land Where be her spous'd and made his ioyous bride The time and place was blazed farre and wide And solemne feasts and giusts ordain'd therefore To which there did resort from euery side Of Lords and Ladies infinite great store Ne any Knight was absent that braue courage bore To tell the glorie of the feast that day The goodly seruice the deuicefull sights The bridegromes state the brides most rich aray The pride of Ladies and the worth of knights The royall banquets and the rare delights Were worke fit for an Herauld not for me But for so much as to my lot here lights That with this present treatise doth agree True vertue to aduance shall here recounted bee When all men had with full satietie Of meates and drinkes their appetites suffiz'd To deedes of armes and proofe of cheualrie They gan themselues addresse full rich aguiz'd As each one had his furnitures deuiz'd And first of all issu'd Sir Marinell And with him sixe knights more which enterpriz'd To chalenge all in right of Florimell And to maintaine that she all others did excell The first of them was hight Sir Orimont A noble Knight and tride in hard assayes The second had to name Sir Bellisont But second vnto none in prowesse prayse The third was Brunell famous in his dayes The fourth Ecastor of exceeding might The fift Armeddan skild in louely layes The sixt was Lansack a redoubted Knight All sixe well seene in armes and prou'd in many a fight And them against came all that list to giust From euery coast and countrie vnder sunne None was debard but all had leaue that lust The trompets sound then all together ronne Full many deedes of armes that day were donne And many knights vnhorst and many wounded As fortune fell yet litle lost or wonne But all that day the greatest prayse redounded To Marinell whose name the Heralds loud resounded The second day so soone as morrow light Appear'd in heauen into the field they came And there all day continew'd cruell fight With diuers fortune fit for such a game In which all stroue with perill to winne fame Yet whether side was victor note be ghest But at the last the trompets did proclame That Marinell that day deserued best So they disparted were and all men went to rest The third day came that should due tryall lend Of all the rest and then this warlike crew Together met of all to make an end There Marinell great deeds of armes did shew And through the thickest like a Lyon flew Rashing oft helmes and ryuing plates a sonder That euery one his daunger did eschew So terribly his dreadfull strokes did thonder That all men stood amaz'd at his might did wonder But what on earth can alwayes happie stand The greater prowesse greater perils find So farre he past amongst his enemies band That they haue him enclosed so behind As by no meanes he can himselfe outwind And now perforce they haue him prisoner taken And now they doe with captiue bands him bind And now they lead him thence of all forsaken Vnlesse some succour had in time him ouertaken It fortun'd whylest they were thus ill beset Sir Artegall into the Tilt-yard came With Braggadochio whom he lately met Vpon the way with that his snowy Dame Where when he vnderstood by common fame What euill hap to Marinell betid He much was mou'd at so vnworthie shame And streight that boaster prayd with whom he rid To change his shield with him to be the better hid So forth he went and soone them ouer hent Where they were leading Marinell away Whom he assayld with dreadlesse hardiment And forst the burden of their prize to stay They were an hundred knights of that array Of which th' one halfe vpon himselfe did set Th' other stayd behind to gard the pray But he ere long the former fiftie bet And from th' other fiftie soone the prisoner fet So backe he brought Sir Marinell againe Whom hauing quickly arm'd againe anew They both together ioyned might and maine To set afresh on all the other crew Whom with sore hauocke soone they ouerthrew And chaced quite out of the field that none Against them durst his head to perill shew So were they left Lords of the field alone So Marinell by him was rescu'd from his fone Which when he had perform'd then backe againe To Braggadochio did his shield restore Who all this while behind him did remaine Keeping there close with him in pretious store That his false Ladie as ye heard afore Then did the trompets sound and Iudges rose And all these knights which that day armour bore Came to the open hall to listen whose The honour of the prize should be adiudg'd by those And thether also came in open sight Fayre Florimell into the common hall To greet his guerdon vnto euery knight And best to him to whom the best should fall Then for that stranger knight they loud did call To whom that day they should the girlond yield Who came not forth but for Sir Artegall Came Braggadochio and did shew his shield Which bore the Sunne brode blazed in a golden field The sight whereof did all with gladnesse fill So vnto him they did addeeme the prise Of all that Tryumph Then the trompets shrill Don Braggadochios
thenceforth vnto daunger opened way Much was she moued with the mightie sway Of that sad stroke that halfe enrag'd she grew And like a greedie Beare vnto her pray With her sharpe Cemitare at him she flew That glauncing downe his thigh the purple bloud forth drew Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast And to vpbrayd that chaunce which him misfell As if the prize she gotten had almost With spightfull speaches fitting with her well That his great hart gan inwardly to swell With indignation at her vaunting vaine And at her strooke with puissance fearefull fell Yet with her shield she warded it againe That shattered all to peeces round about the plaine Hauing her thus disarmed of her shield Vpon her helmet he againe her strooke That downe she fell vpon the grassie field In sencelesse swoune as if her life forsooke And pangs of death her spirit ouertooke Whom when he saw before his foote prostrated He to her lept with deadly dreadfull looke And her sunshynie helmet soone vnlaced Thinking at once both head and helmet to haue raced But when as he discouered had her face He saw his senses straunge astonishment A miracle of natures goodly grace In her faire visage voide of ornament But bath'd in bloud and sweat together ment Which in the rudenesse of that euill plight Bewrayd the signes of feature excellent Like as the Moone in foggie winters night Doth seeme to be her selfe though darkned be her light At sight thereof his cruell minded hart Empierced was with pittifull regard That his sharpe sword he threw from him apart Cursing his hand that had that visage mard No hand so cruell nor no hart so hard But ruth of beautie will it mollifie By this vpstarting from her swoune she star'd A while about her with confused eye Like one that from his dreame is waked suddenlye Soone as the knight she there by her did spy Standing with emptie hands all weaponlesse With fresh assault vpon him she did fly And gan renew her former cruelnesse And though he still retyt'd yet nathelesse With huge redoubled strokes she on him layd And more increast her outrage mercilesse The more that he with meeke intreatie prayd Her wrathful hand from greedy vengeance to haue stayd Like as a Puttocke hauing spyde in sight A gentle Faulcon sitting on an hill Whose other wing now made vnmeete for flight Was lately broken by some fortune ill The foolish Kyte led with licentious will Doth beat vpon the gentle bird in vaine With many idle stoups her troubling still Euen so did Radigund with bootlesse paine Annoy this noble Knight and sorely him constraine Nought could he do but shun the dred despight Of her fierce wrath and backward still retyre And with his single shield well as he might Beare off the burden of her raging yre And euermore he gently did desyre To stay her stroks and he himselfe would yield Yet nould she hearke ne let him once respyre Till he to her deliuered had his shield And to her mercie him submitted in plaine field So was he ouercome not ouercome But to her yeelded of his owne accord Yet was he iustly damned by the doome Of his owne mouth that spake so warelesse word To be her thrall and seruice her afford For though that he first victorie obtayned Yet after by abandoning his sword He wilfull lost that he before attayned No fayrer conquest then that with goodwill is gayned Tho with her sword on him she flatling strooke In signe of true subiection to her powre And as her vassall him to thraldome tooke But Terpine borne to'a more vnhappy howre As he on whom the lucklesse starres did lowre She causd to be attacht and forthwith led Vnto the crooke t' abide the balefull stowre From which he lately had through reskew fled Where he full shamefully was hanged by the hed But when they thought on Talus hands to lay He with his yron flaile amongst them thondred That they were fayne to let him scape away Glad from his companie to be so sondred Whose presence all their troups so much encombred That th'heapes of those which he did wound and slay Besides the rest dismayd might not be nombred Yet all that while he would not once assay To reskew his owne Lord but thought it iust t' obay Then tooke the Amazon this noble knight Left to her will by his owne wilfull blame And caused him to be disarmed quight Of all the ornaments of knightly name With which whylome he gotten had great fame In stead whereof she made him to be dight In womans weedes that is to manhood shame And put before his lap a napron white In stead of Curiets and bases fit for fight So being clad she brought him from the field In which he had bene trayned many a day Into a long large chamber which was sield With moniments of many knights decay By her subdewed in victorious fray Amongst the which she causd his warlike armes Be hang'd on high that mote his shame bewray And broke his sword or feare of further harmes With which he wont to stirre vp battailous alarmes There entred in he round about him saw Many braue knights whose names right well he knew There bound t' obay that Amazons proud law Spinning and carding all in comely rew That his bigge hart loth'd so vncomely vew But they were forst through penurie and pyne To doe those workes to them appointed dew For nought was giuen them to sup or dyne But what their hands could earne by twisting linnen twyne Amongst them all she placed him most low And in his hand a distaffe to him gaue That he thereon should spin both flax and tow A sordid office for a mind so braue So hard it is to be a womans slaue Yet he it tooke in his owne selfes despight And thereto did himselfe right well behaue Her to obay sith he his faith had plight Her vassall to become if she him wonne in fight Who had him seene imagine mote thereby That whylome hath of Hercules bene told How for Iolas sake he did apply His mightie hands the distaffe vile to hold For his huge club which had subdew'd of old So many monsters which the world annoyed His Lyons skin chaungd to a pall of gold In which forgetting warres he onely ioyed In combats of sweet loue and with his mistresse toyed Such is the crueltie of women kynd When they haue shaken off the shamefast band With which wise Nature did them strongly bynd Tobay the heasts of mans well ruling hand That then all rule and reason they withstand To purchase a licentious libertie But vertuous women wisely vnderstand That they were borne to base humilitie Vnlesse the heauens them lift to lawfull soueraintie Thus there long while continu'd Artegall Seruing proud Radigund with true subiection How euer it his noble heart did gall Tobay a womans tyrannous direction That might haue had of life or death election But hauing chosen now he might not chaunge During which
time the warlike Amazon Whose wandring fancie after lust did raunge Gan cast a secret liking to this captiue straunge Which long concealing in her couert brest She chaw'd the cud of louers carefull plight Yet could it not so thoroughly digest Being fast fixed in her wounded spright But it tormented her both day and night Yet would she not thereto yeeld free accord To serue the lowly vassall of her might And of her seruant make her souerayne Lord So great her pride that she such basenesse much abhord So much the greater still her anguish grew Through stubborne handling of her loue-sicke hart And still the more she stroue it to subdew The more she still augmented her owne smart And wyder made the wound of th'hidden dart At last when long she struggled had in vaine She gan to stoupe and her proud mind conuert To meeke obeysance of loues mightie raine And him entreat for grace that had procur'd her paine Vnto her selfe in secret she did call Her nearest handmayd whom she most did trust And to her said Clarinda whom of all I trust a liue sith I thee fostred first Now is the time that I vntimely must Thereof make tryall in my greatest need It is so hapned that the heauens vniust Spighting my happie freedome haue agreed To thrall my looser life or my last bale to breed With that she turn'd her head as halfe abashed To hide the blush which in her visage rose And through her eyes like sudden lightning flashed Decking her cheeke with a vermilion rose But soone she did her countenance compose And to her turning thus began againe This griefes deepe wound I would to thee disclose Thereto compelled through hart-murdring paine But dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine Ah my deare dread said then the faithfull Mayd Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold That many hath with dread of death dismayd And dare euen deathes most dreadfull face behold Say on my souerayne Ladie and be bold Doth not your handmayds life at your foot lie Therewith much comforted she gan vnfold The cause of her conceiued maladie As one that would confesse yet faine would it denie Clarin sayd she thou seest yond Fayry Knight Whom not my valour but his owne braue mind Subiected hath to my vnequall might What right is it that he should thraldome find For lending life to me a wretch vnkind That for such good him recompence with ill Therefore I cast how I may him vnbind And by his freedome get his free goodwill Yet so as bound to me he may continue still bound vnto me but not with such hard bands Of strong compulsion and streight violence As now in miserable state he stands But with sweet loue and sure beneuolence Voide of malitious mind or foule offence To which if thou canst win him any way Without discouerie of my thoughts pretence Both goodly meede of him it purchase may And eke with gratefull seruice me right well apay Which that thou mayst the better bring to pas Loe here this ring which shall thy warrant bee And token true to old Eumenias From time to time when thou it best shalt see That in and out thou mayst haue passage free Goe now Clarinda well thy wits aduise And all thy forces gather vnto thee Armies of louely lookes and speeches wise With which thou canst euen Ioue himselfe to loue entise The trustie Mayd conceiuing her intent Did with sure promise of her good indeuour Giue her great comfort and some harts content So from her parting she thenceforth did labour By all the meanes she might to curry fauour With th'Elfin Knight her Ladies best beloued With daily shew of courteous kind behauiour Euen at the markewhite of his hart she roued And with wide glauncing words one day she thus him proued Vnhappie Knight vpon whose hopelesse state Fortune enuying good hath felly frowned And cruell heauens haue heapt an heauy fate I rew that thus thy better dayes are drowned In sad despaire and all thy senses swowned In stupid sorow sith thy iuster merit Might else haue with felicitie bene crowned Looke vp at last and wake thy dulled spirit To thinke how this long death thou mightest disinherit Much did he maruell at her vncouth speach Whose hidden drift he could not well perceiue And gan to doubt least she him sought t'appeach Of treason or some guilefull traine did weaue Through which she might his wretched life bereaue Both which to barre he with this answere met her Faire Damzell that with ruth as I perceaue Of my mishaps art mou'd to wish me better For such your kind regard I can but rest your detter Yet weet ye well that to a courage great It is no lesse beseeming well to beare The storme of fortunes frowne or heauens threat Then in the sunshine of her countenance cleare Timely to ioy and carrie comely cheare For though this cloud haue now me ouercast Yet doe I not of better times despeyre And though vnlike they should for euer last Yet in my truthes assurance I rest fixed fast But what so stonie mind she then replyde But if in his owne powre occasion lay Would to his hope a windowe open wyde And to his fortunes helpe make readie way Vnworthy sure quoth he of better day That will not take the offer of good hope And eke pursew if he attaine it may Which speaches she applying to the scope Of her intent this further purpose to him shope Then why doest not thou ill aduized man Make meanes to win thy libertie forlorne And try if thou by faire entreatie can Moue Radigund who though she still haue worne Her dayes in warre yet weet thou was not borne Of Beares and Tygres nor so saluage mynded As that albe all loue of men she scorne She yet forgets that she of men was kynded And sooth oft seene that proudest harts base loue hath blynded Certes Clarinda not of cancred will Sayd he nor obstinate disdainefull mind I haue forbore this duetie to fulfill For well I may this weene by that I fynd That she a Queene and come of Princely kynd Both worthie is for to be sewd vnto Chiefely by him whose life her law doth bynd And eke of powre her owne doome to vndo And al 's of princely grace to be inclyn'd thereto But want of meanes hath bene mine onely let From seeking fauour where it doth abound Which if I might by your good office get I to your selfe should rest for euer bound And readie to deserue what grace I found She feeling him thus bite vpon the bayt Yet doubting least his hold was but vnsound And not well fastened would not strike him strayt But drew him on with hope fit leasure to awayt But foolish Mayd whyles heedlesse of the hooke She thus oft times was beating off and on Through slipperie footing fell into the brooke And there was caught to her confusion For seeking thus to salue the Amazon She wounded was with her deceipts owne
And them repaide againe with double more So long they fought that all the grassie flore Was fild with bloud which from their sides did flow And gushed through their armes that all in gore They trode and on the ground their liues did strow Like fruitles seede of which vntimely death should grow At last proud Radigund with fell despight Hauing by chaunce espide aduantage neare Let driue at her with all her dreadfull might And thus vpbrayding said This token beare Vnto the man whom thou doest loue so deare And tell him for his sake thy life thou gauest Which spitefull words she sore engrieu'd to heare Thus answer'd Lewdly thou my loue deprauest Who shortly must repent that now so vainely brauest Nath'lesse that stroke so cruell passage found That glauncing on her shoulder plate it bit Vnto the bone and made a griesly wound That she her shield through raging smart of it Could scarse vphold yet soone she it requit For hauing force increast through furious paine She her so rudely on the helmet smit That it empierced to the very braine And her proud person low prostrated on the plaine Where being layd the wrothfull Britonesse Stayd not till she came to her selfe againe But in reuenge both of her loues distresse And her late vile reproch though vaunted vaine And also of her wound which sore did paine She with one stroke both head and helmet cleft Which dreadfull sight when all her warlike traine There present saw each one of sence bereft Fled fast into the towne and her sole victor left But yet so fast they could not home retrate But that swift Talus did the formost win And pressing through the preace vnto the gate Pelmell with them attonce did enter in There then a piteous slaughter did begin For all that euer came within his reach He with his yron flale did thresh so thin That he no worke at all left for the leach Like to an hideous storme which nothing may empeach And now by this the noble Conqueresse Her selfe came in her glory to partake Where though reuengefull vow she did professe Yet when she saw the heapes which he did make Of slaughtred carkasses her heart did quake For very ruth which did it almost riue That she his fury willed him to slake For else he sure had left not one aliue But all in his reuenge of spirite would depriue Tho when she had his execution stayd She for that yron prison did enquire In which her wretched loue was captiue layd Which breaking open with indignant ire She entred into all the partes entire Where when she saw that lothly vncouth sight Of men disguiz'd in womanishe attire Her heart gan grudge for very deepe despight Of so vnmanly maske in misery misdight At last when as to her owne Loue she came Whom like disguize no lesse deformed had At sight thereof abasht with secrete shame She turnd her head aside as nothing glad To haue beheld a spectacle so bad And then too well beleeu'd that which tofore Iealous suspect as true vntruely drad Which vaine conceipt now nourishing no more She sought with ruth to salue his sad misfortunes sore Not so great wonder and astonishment Did the most chast Penelope possesse To see her Lord that was reported drent And dead long since in dolorous distresse Come home to her in piteous wretchednesse After long trauell of full twenty yeares That she knew not his fauours likelynesse For many scarres and many hoary heares But stood long staring on him mongst vncertaine feares Ah my deare Lord what sight is this quoth she What May-game hath misfortune made of you Where is that dreadfull manly looke where be Those mighty palmes the which ye wont t'embrew In bloud of Kings and great hoastes to subdew Could ought on earth so wondrous change haue wrought As to haue robde you of that manly hew Could so great courage stouped haue to ought Then farewell fleshly force I see thy pride is nought Thenceforth she streight into a bowre him brought And causd him those vncomely weedes vndight And in their steede for other rayment sought Whereof there was great store and armors bright Which had bene reft from many a noble Knight Whom that proud Amazon subdewed had Whilest Fortune fauourd her successe in fight In which when as she him anew had clad She was reuiu'd and ioyd much in his semblance glad So there a while they afterwards remained Him to refresh and her late wounds to heale During which space she there as Princes rained And changing all that forme of common weale The liberty of women did repeale Which they had long vsurpt and them restoring To mens subiection did true Iustice deale That all they as a Goddesse her adoring Her wisedome did admire and hearkned to her loring For all those Knights which long in captiue shade Had shrowded bene she did from thraldome free And magistrates of all that city made And gaue to them great liuing and large fee And that they should for euer faithfull bee Made them sweare fealty to Artegall Who when him selfe now well recur'd did see He purposd to proceed what so be fall Vppon his first aduenture which him forth did call Full sad and sorrowfull was Britomart For his departure her new cause of griefe Yet wisely moderated her owne smart Seeing his honor which she tendred chiefe Consisted much in that aduentures priefe The care whereof and hope of his successe Gaue vnto her great comfort and reliefe That womanish complaints she did represse And tempred for the time her present heauinesse There she continued for a certaine space Till through his want her woe did more increase Then hoping that the change of aire and place Would change her paine and sorrow somewhat ease She parted thence her anguish to appease Meane while her noble Lord sir Artegall Went on his way ne euer howre did cease Till he redeemed had that Lady thrall That for another Canto will more fitly fall Cant. VIII Prince Arthure and Sir Artegall Free Samient from feare They slay the Soudan driue his wife A dicia to despaire NOught vnder heauen so strongly doth allure The sence of man and all his minde possesse As beauties lonely baite that doth procure Great warriours oft their rigour to represse And mighty hands forget their manlinesse Drawne with the powre of an heart-robbing eye And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse That can with melting pleasaunce mollifye Their hardned hearts enur'd to bloud and cruelty So whylome learnd that mighty Iewish swaine Each of whose lockes did match a man in might To lay his spoiles before his lemans traine So also did that great Octean Knight For his loues sake his Lions skin vndight And so did warlike Antony neglect The worlds whole rule for Cleopatras sight Such wondrous powre hath wemens faire aspect To captiue men and make them all the world reiect Yet could it not sterne Artegall retaine Nor hold from suite of his auowed quest Which he had
mile Came to the place whereas ye heard afore This knight whom Tristram slew had wounded sore Another knight in his despiteous pryde There he that knight found lying on the flore With many wounds full perilous and wyde That all his garments and the grasse in vermeill dyde And there beside him sate vpon the ground His wofull Ladie piteously complayning With loud laments that most vnluckie stound And her sad selfe with carefull hand constrayning To wype his wounds and ease their bitter payning Which sorie sight when Calidore did vew With heauie eyne from teares vneath refrayning His mightie hart their mournefull case can rew And for their better comfort to them nigher drew Then speaking to the Ladie thus he sayd Ye dolefull Dame let not your griefe empeach To tell what cruell hand hath thus arayd This knight vnarm'd with so vnknightly breach Of armes that if I yet him nigh may reach I may auenge him of so foule despight The Ladie hearing his so courteous speach Gan reare her eyes as to the chearefull light And from her sory hart few heauie words forth sight In which she shew'd how that discourteous knight Whom Tristram slew them in that shadow found Ioying together in vnblam'd delight And him vnarm'd as now he lay on ground Charg'd with his speare and mortally did wound Withouten cause but onely her to reaue From him to whom she was for euer bound Yet when she fled into that couert greaue He her not finding both them thus nigh dead did leaue When Calidore this ruefull storie had Well vnderstood he gan of her demand What manner wight he was and how yclad Which had this outrage wrought with wicked hand She then like as she best could vnderstand Him thus describ'd to be of stature large Clad all in gilden armes with azure band Quartred athwart and bearing in his targe A Ladie on rough waues row'd in a sommer barge Then gan Sir Calidore to ghesse streight way By many signes which she described had That this was he whom Tristram earst did slay And to her said Dame be no longer sad For he that hath your Knight so ill bestad Is now him selfe in much more wretched plight These eyes him saw vpon the cold earth sprad The meede of his desert for that despight Which to your selfe he wrought to your loued knight Therefore faire Lady lay aside this griefe Which ye haue gathered to your gentle hart For that displeasure and thinke what reliefe Were best deuise for this your louers smart And how ye may him hence and to what part Conuay to be recur'd She thankt him deare Both for that newes he did to her impart And for the courteous care which he did beare Both to her loue and to her selfe in that sad dreare Yet could she not deuise by any wit How thence she might conuay him to some place For him to trouble she it thought vnfit That was a straunger to her wretched case And him to beare she thought it thing too base Which when as he perceiu'd he thus bespake Faire Lady let it not you seeme disgrace To beare this burden on your dainty backe My selfe will beare a part coportion of your packe So off he did his shield and downeward layd Vpon the ground like to an hollow beare And powring balme which he had long puruayd Into his wounds him vp thereon did reare And twixt them both with parted paines did beare Twixt life and death not knowing what was donne Thence they him carried to a Castle neare In which a worthy auncient Knight did wonne Where what ensu'd shall in next Canto be begonne Cant. III. Calidore brings Priscilla home Pursues the Blatant Beast Saues Serena whilest Calepine By Turpine is opprest TRue is that whiLome that good Poet sayd The gentle minde by gentle deeds is knowne For a man by nothing is so well bewrayd As by his manners in which plaine is showne Of what degree and what race he is growne For seldome seene a trotting Stalion get An ambling Colt that is his proper owne So seldome seene that one in basenesse set Doth noble courage shew with curteous manners met But euermore contrary hath bene tryde That gentle bloud will gentle manners breed As well may be in Calidore descryde By late ensample of that courteous deed Done to that wounded Knight in his great need Whom on his backe he bore till he him brought Vnto the Castle where they had decreed There of the Knight the which that Castle ought To make abode that night he greatly was besought He was to weete a man of full ripe yeares That in his youth had beene of mickle might And borne great sway in armes amongst his peares But now weake age had dimd his candle light Yet was he courteous still to euery wight And loued all that did to armes incline And was the father of that wounded Knight Whom Calidore thus carried on his chine And Aldus was his name and his sonnes Aladine Who when he saw his sonne so ill bedight With bleeding wounds brought home vpon a Beare By a faire Lady and a straunger Knight Was inly touched with compassion deare And deare affection of so dolefull dreare That he these words burst forth Ah sory boy Is this the hope that to my hoary heare Thou brings aie me is this the timely ioy Which I expected long now turnd to sad annoy Such is the weakenesse of all mortall hope So tickle is the state of earthly things That ere they come vnto their aymed scope They fall too short of our fraile reckonings And bring vs bale and bitter sorrowings In stead of comfort which we should embrace This is the state of Keasars and of Kings Let none therefore that is in meaner place Too greatly grieue at any his vnlucky case So well and wisely did that good old Knight Temper his griefe and turned it to cheare To cheare his guests whom he had stayd that night And make their welcome to them well appeare That to Sir Calidore was easie geare But that faire Lady would be cheard for nought But sigh'd and sorrow'd for her louer deare And inly did afflict her pensiue thought With thinking to what case her name should now be brought For she was daughter to a noble Lord Which dwelt thereby who sought her to affy To a great pere but she did disaccord Ne could her liking to his loue apply But lou'd this fresh young Knight who dwelt her ny The lusty Aladine though meaner borne And of lesse liuelood and hability Yet full of valour the which did adorne His meanesse much make her th'others riches scorne So hauing both found fit occasion They met together in that luckelesse glade Where that proud Knight in his presumption The gentle Aladine did earst inuade Being vnarm'd and set in secret shade Whereof she now bethinking gan t'aduize How great a hazard she at earst had made Of her good fame and further gan deuize How she the blame might salue with
wynd And by good fortune the plaine champion wonne Where looking all about where he mote fynd Some place of succour to content his mynd At length he heard vnder the forrests syde A voice that seemed of some woman kynd Which to her selfe lamenting loudly cryde And oft complayn'd of fate and fortune oft defyde To whom approching when as she perceiued A stranger wight in place her plaint she stayd As if she doubted to haue bene deceiued Or loth to let her sorrowes be bewrayd Whom when as Calepine saw so dismayd He to her drew and with faire blandishment Her chearing vp thus gently to her sayd What be you wofull Dame which thus lament And for what cause declare so mote ye not repent To whom she thus what need me Sir to tell That which your selfe haue earst ared so right A wofull dame ye haue me termed well So much more wofull as my wofull plight Cannot redressed be by liuing wight Nathlesse quoth he if need doe not you bynd Doe it disclose to ease your grieued spright Oftimes it haps that sorrowes of the mynd Find remedie vnsought which seeking cannot fynd Then thus began the lamentable Dame Sith then ye needs will know the griefe I hoord I am th' vnfortunate Matilde by name The wife of bold Sir Bruin who is Lord Of all this land late conquer'd by his sword From a great Gyant called Cormoraunt Whom he did ouerthrow by yonder foord And in three battailes did so deadly daunt That he dare not returne for all his daily vaunt So is my Lord now seiz'd of all the land As in his fee with peaceable estate And quietly doth hold it in his hand Ne any dares with him for it debate But to these happie fortunes cruell fate Hath ioyn'd one euill which doth ouerthow All these our ioyes and all our blisse abate And like in time to further ill to grow And all this land with endlesse losse to ouerflow For th' heauens enuying our prosperitie Haue not vouchsaft to graunt vnto vs twaine The gladfull blessing of posteritie Which we might see after our selues remaine In th'heritage of our vnhappie paine So that for want of heires it to defend All is in time like to returne againe To that foule feend who dayly doth attend To leape into the same after our liues end But most my Lord is grieued herewithall And makes exceeding mone when he does thinke That all this land vnto his foe shall fall For which he long in vaine did sweat and swinke That now the same he greatly doth forthinke Yet was it sayd there should to him a sonne Be gotten not begotten which should drinke And dry vp all the water which doth ronne In the next brooke by whō that feend shold be fordonne Well hop't he then when this was propheside That from his sides some noble chyld should rize The which through fame should farre be magnifide And this proud gyant should with braue emprize Quite ouerthrow who now ginnes to despize The good Sir Bruin growing farre in yeares Who thinkes from me his sorrow all doth rize Lo this my cause of griefe to you appeares For which I thus doe mourne and poure forth ceaselesse teares Which when he heard he inly touched was With tender ruth for her vnworthy griefe And when he had deuized of her case He gan in mind conceiue a fit reliefe For all her paine if please her make the priefe And hauing cheared her thus said faire Dame In euils counsell is the comfort chiefe Which though I be not wise enough to frame Yet as I well it meane vouchsafe it without blame If that the cause of this your languishment Be lacke of children to supply your place Low how good fortune doth to you present This litle babe of sweete and louely face And spotlesse spirit in which ye may enchace What euer formes ye list thereto apply Being now soft and fit them to embrace Whether ye list him traine in cheualry Or noursle vp in lore of learn'd Philosophy And certes it hath oftentimes bene seene That of the like whose linage was vnknowne More braue and noble knights haue raysed beene As their victorious deedes haue often showen Being with fame through many Nations blowen Then those which haue bene dandled in the lap Therefore some thought that those braue imps were sowen Here by the Gods and fed with heauenly sap That made them grow so high t' all honorable hap The Ladie hearkning to his sensefull speach Found nothing that he said vnmeet nor geason Hauing oft seene it tryde as he did teach Therefore inclyning to his goodly reason Agreeing well both with the place and season She gladly did of that same babe accept As of her owne by liuerey and seisin And hauing ouer it a litle wept She bore it thence and euer as her owne it kept Right glad was Calepine to be so rid Of his young charge whereof he skilled nought Ne she lesse glad for she so wisely did And with her husband vnder hand so wrought That when that infant vnto him she brought She made him thinke it surely was his owne And it in goodly thewes so well vpbrought That it became a famous knight well knowne And did right noble deedes the which elswhere are showne But Calepine now being left alone Vnder the greenewoods side in sorie plight Withouten armes or steede to ride vpon Or house to hide his head from heauens spight Albe that Dame by all the meanes she might Him oft desired home with her to wend And offred him his courtesie to requite Both horse and armes and what so else to lend Yet he them all refusd though thankt her as a frend And for exceeding griefe which inly grew That he his loue so lucklesse now had lost On the cold ground maugre himselfe he threw For fell despight to be so sorely crost And there all night himselfe in anguish tost Vowing that neuer he in bed againe His limbes would rest ne lig in ease embost Till that his Ladies sight he mote attaine Or vnderstand that she in safetie did remaine Cant. V. The saluage serues Matilda well till she Prince Arthure fynd Who her together with his Squyre with th'Hermit leaues behynd O What an easie thing is to descry The gentle bloud how euer it bewrapt In sad misfortunes foule deformity And wretched sorrowes which haue often hapt For howsoeuer it may grow mis-shapt Like this wyld man being vndisciplynd That to all vertue it may seeme vnapt Yet will it shew some sparkes of gentle mynd And at the last breake forth in his owne proper kynd That plainely may in this wyld man be red Who though he were still in this desert wood Mongst saluage beasts both rudely borne and bred Ne euer saw faire guize ne learned good Yet shewd some token of his gentle blood By gentle vsage of that wretched Dame For certes he was borne of noble blood How euer by hard hap he hether came As ye may know when time
shame in lieges blood to be embrew'd Thus whylest they were debating diuerslie The Saluage forth out of the wood issew'd Backe to the place whereas his Lord he sleeping vew'd There when he saw those two so neare him stand He doubted much what mote their meaning bee And throwing downe his load out of his hand To weet great store of forrest frute which hee Had for his food late gathered from the tree Himselfe vnto his weapon he betooke That was an oaken plant which lately hee Rent by the root which he so sternely shooke That like an hazell wand it quiuered and quooke Whereat the Prince awaking when he spyde The traytour Turpin with that other knight He started vp and snatching neare his syde His trustie sword the seruant of his might Like a fell Lyon leaped to him light And his left hand vpon his collar layd Therewith the cowheard deaded with affright Fell flat to ground ne word vnto him sayd But holding vp his hands with silence mercie prayd But he so full of indignation was That to his prayer nought he would incline But as he lay vpon the humbled gras His foot he set on his vile necke in signe Of seruile yoke that nobler harts repine Then letting him arise like abiect thrall He gan to him obiect his haynous crime And to reuile and rate and recreant call And lastly to despoyle of knightly banner all And after all for greater infamie He by the heeles him hung vpon a tree And baffuld so that all which passed by The picture of his punishment might see And by the like ensample warned bee How euer they through treason doe trespasse But turne we now backe to that Ladie free Whom late we left ryding vpon an Asse Led by a Carle and foole which by her side did passe She was a Ladie of great dignitie And lifted vp to honorable place Famous through all the land of Faerie Though of meane parentage and kindred base Yet deckt with wondrous giftes of natures grace That all men did her person much admire And praise the feature of her goodly face The beames whereof did kindle louely fire In th'harts of many a knight and many a gentle squire But she thereof grew proud and insolent That none she worthie thought to be her fere But scornd them all that loue vnto her ment Yet was she lou'd of many a worthy pere Vnworthy she to be belou'd so dere That could not weigh of worthinesse aright For beautie is more glorious bright and clere The more it is admir'd of many a wight And noblest she that serued is of noblest knight But this coy Damzell thought contrariwize That such proud looks would make her praysed more And that the more she did all loue despize The more would wretched louers her adore What cared she who sighed for her sore Or who did wayle or watch the wearie night Let them that list their lucklesse lot deplore She was borne free not bound to any wight And so would euer liue and loue her owne delight Through such her stubborne stifnesse and hard hart Many a wretch for want of remedie Did languish long in life consuming smart And at the last through dreary dolour die Whylest she the Ladie of her libertie Did boast her beautie had such soueraine might That with the onely twinckle of her eye She could or saue or spill whom she would hight What could the Gods doe more but doe it more aright But loe the Gods that mortall follies vew Did worthily reuenge this maydens pride And nought regarding her so goodly hew Did laugh at her that many did deride Whilest she did weepe of no man mercifide For on a day when Cupid kept his court As he is wont at each Saint Valentide Vnto the which all louers doe resort That of their loues successe they there may make report It fortun'd then that when the roules were red In which the names of all loues folke were fyled That many there were missing which were ded Or kept in bands or from their loues exyled Or by some other violence despoyled Which when as Cupid heard he wexed wroth And doubting to be wronged or beguyled He bad his eyes to be vnblindfold both That he might see his men and muster them by oth Then found he many missing of his crew Which wont doe suit and seruice to his might Of whom what was becomen no man knew Therefore a Iurie was impaneld streight T' enquire of them whether by force or sleight Or their owne guilt they were away conuayd To whom foule Infamie and fell Despight Gaue euidence that they were all betrayd And murdred cruelly by a rebellious Mayd Fayre Mirabella was her name whereby Of all those crymes she there indited was All which when Cupid heard he by and by In great displeasure wild a Capias Should issue forth t'attach that scornefull lasse The warrant straight was made and therewithall A Baylieffe errant forth in post did passe Whom they by name there Portamore did call He which doth summon louers to loues iudgement hall The damzell was attacht and shortly brought Vnto the barre whereas she was arrayned But she thereto nould plead nor answere ought Euen for stubborne pride which her restrayned So iudgement past as is by law ordayned In cases like which when at last she saw Her stubborne hart which loue before disdayned Gan stoupe and falling downe with humble awe Cryde mercie to abate the extremitie of law The sonne of Venus who is myld by kynd But where he is prouokt with peeuishnesse Vnto her prayers piteously enclynd And did the rigour of his doome represse Yet not so freely but that nathelesse He vnto her a penance did impose Which was that through this worlds wyde wildernes She wander should in companie of those Till she had sau'd so many loues as she did lose So now she had bene wandring two whole yeares Throughout the world in this vncomely case Wasting her goodly hew in heauie teares And her good dayes in dolorous disgrace Yet had she not in all these two yeares space Saued but two yet in two yeares before Throgh her dispiteous pride whilest loue lackt place She had destroyed two and twenty more Aie me how could her loue make half amends therefore And now she was vppon the weary way When as the gentle Squire with faire Serene Met her in such misseeming foule array The whiles that mighty man did her demeane With all the euill termes and cruell meane That he could make And eeke that angry foole Which follow'd her with cursed hands vncleane Whipping her horse did with his smarting toole Oft whip her dainty selfe and much augment her doole Ne ought it mote auaile her to entreat The one or th' other better her to vse For both so wilfull were and obstinate That all her piteous plaint they did refuse And rather did the more her beate and bruse But most the former villaine which did lead Her tyreling iade was bent her to abuse
winneth way ne hath her compasse lost Right so it fares with me in this long way Whose course is often stayd yet neuer is astray For all that hetherto hath long delayd This gentle knight from sewing his first quest Though out of course yet hath not bene mis-sayd To shew the courtesie by him profest Euen vnto the lowest and the least But now I come into my course againe To his atchieuement of the Blatant beast Who all this while at will did range and raine Whilst none was him to stop nor none him to restraine Sir Calidore when thus he now had raught Faire Pastorella from those Brigants powre Vnto the Castle of Belgard her brought Whereof was Lord the good Sir Bellamoure Who whylome was in his youthes freshest flowre A lustie knight as euer wielded speare And had endured many a dreadfull stoure In bloudy battell for a Ladie deare The fayrest Ladie then of all that liuing were Her name was Claribell whose father hight The Lord of Many Ilands farre renound For his great riches and his greater might He through the wealth wherein he did abound This daughter thought in wedlocke to haue bound Vnto the Prince of Picteland bordering nere But she whose sides before with secret wound Of loue to Bellamoure empierced were By all meanes shund to match with any forrein fere And Bellamour againe so well her pleased With dayly seruice and attendance dew That of her loue he was entyrely seized And closely did her wed but knowne to few Which when her father vnderstood he grew In so great rage that them in dongeon deepe Without compassion cruelly he threw Yet did so streightly them a sunder keepe That neither could to company of th' other creepe Nathlesse Sir Bellamour whether through grace Or secret guifts so with his keepers wrought That to his loue sometimes he came in place Whereof her wombe vnwist to wight was fraught And in dew time a mayden child forth brought Which she streight way for dread least if her syre Should know thereof to slay he would haue sought Deliuered to her handmayd that for hyre She should it cause be fostred vnder straunge attyre The trustie damzell bearing it abrode Into the emptie fields where liuing wight Mote not bewray the secret of her lode She forth gan lay vnto the open light The litle babe to take thereof a sight Whom whylest she did with watrie eyne behold Vpon the litle brest like christall bright She mote perceiue a litle purple mold That like a rose her silken leaues did faire vnfold Well she it markt and pittied the more Yet could not remedie her wretched case But closing it againe like as before Bedeaw'd with teares there left it in the place Yet left not quite but drew a litle space Behind the bushes where she her did hyde To weet what mortall hand or heauens grace Would for the wretched infants helpe prouyde For which it loudly cald and pittifully cryde At length a Shepheard which there by did keepe His fleecie flocke vpon the playnes around Led with the infants cry that loud did weepe Came to the place where when he wrapped found Th'abandond spoyle he softly it vnbound And seeing there that did him pittie sore He tooke it vp and in his mantle wound So home vnto his honest wife it bore Who as her owne it nurst and named euermore Thus long continu'd Claribell a thrall And Bellamour in bands till that her syre Departed life and left vnto them all Then all the stormes of fortunes former yre Were turnd and they to freedome did retyre Thenceforth they ioy'd in happinesse together And liued long in peace and loue entyre Without disquiet or dislike of ether Till time that Calidore brought Pastorella thether Both whom they goodly well did entertaine For Bellamour knew Calidore right well And loued for his prowesse sith they twaine Long since had fought in field Al 's Claribell No lesse did tender the faire Pastorell Seeing her weake and wan through durance long There they a while together thus did dwell In much delight and many ioyes among Vntill the damzell gan to wex more sound and strong Tho gan Sir Calidore him to aduize Of his first quest which he had long forlore Asham'd to thinke how he that enterprize The which the Faery Queene had long afore Bequeath'd to him forslacked had so sore That much he feared least reprochfull blame With foule dishonour him mote blot therefore Besides the losse of so much loos and fame As through the world thereby should glorifie his name Therefore resoluing to returne in hast Vnto so great atchieuement he bethought To leaue his loue now perill being past With Claribell whylest he that monster sought Troughout the world and to destruction brought So taking leaue of his faire Pastorell Whom to recomfort all the meanes he wrought With thanks to Bellamour and Claribell He went forth on his quest and did that him befell But first ere I doe his aduentures tell In this exploite me needeth to declare What did betide to the faire Pastorell During his absence left in heauy care Through daily mourning and nightly misfare Yet did that auncient matrone all she might To cherish her with all things choice and rare And her owne handmayd that Melissa hight Appointed to attend her dewly day and night Who in a morning when this Mayden faire Was dighting her hauing her snowy brest As yet not laced nor her golden haire Into their comely tresses dewly drest Chaunst to espy vpon her yuory chest The rosie marke which she remembred well That litle Infant had which forth she kest The daughter of her Lady Claribell The which she bore the whiles iâ— prison she did dwell Which well auizing streight she gan to cast In her conceiptfull mynd that this faire Mayd Was that same infant which so long sith past She in the open fields had loosely layd To fortunes spoile vnable it to ayd So full of ioy streight forth she ran in hast Vnto her mistresse being halfe dismayd To tell her how the heauens had her graste To saue her chylde which in misfortunes mouth was plaste The sober mother seeing such her mood Yet knowing not what meant that sodaine thro Askt her how mote her words be vnderstood And what the matter was that mou'd her so My liefe sayd she ye know that long ygo Whilest ye in durance dwelt ye to me gaue A little mayde the which ye chylded tho The same againe if now ye list to haue The same is yonder Lady whom high God did saue Much was the Lady troubled at that speach And gan to question streight how she it knew Most certaine markes sayd she do me it teach For on her brest I with these eyes did vew The litle purple rose which thereon grew Whereof her name ye then to her did giue Besides her countenaunce and her likely hew Matched with equall yeares do surely prieue That yond same is your daughter sure which yet doth liue The