Yet nought they feard but past on hardily Vntill they came in vew of those wild beasts Who all attonce gaping full greedily And rearing fiercely their vpstarting crests Ran towards to deuoure those vnexpected guests But soone as they approcht with deadly threat The Palmer ouer them his staffe vpheld His mighty staffe that could all charmes defeat Eftsoones their stubborne courages were queld And high aduaunced crests downe meekely feld In stead of fraying they them selues did feare And trembled as them passing they beheld Such wondrous powre did in that staffe appeare All monsters to subdew to him that did it beare Of that same wood it fram'd was cunningly Of which Caduceus whilome was made Caduceus the rod of Mercury With which he wonts the Stygian realmes inuade Through ghastly horrour and eternall shade Th' infernall feends with it he can asswage And Orcus tame whom nothing can perswade And rule the Furyes when they most do rage Such vertue in his staffe had eke this Palmer sage Thence passing forth they shortly do arriue Whereas the Bowre of Blisse was situate A place pick out by choice of best aliue That natures worke by art can imitate In which what euer in this worldly state Is sweet and pleasing vnto liuing sense Or that may dayntiest fantasie aggrate Was poured forth with plentifull dispence And made there to abound with lauish affluence Goodly it was enclosed round about Aswell their entred guestes to keepe within As those vnruly beasts to hold without Yet was the fence thereof but weake and thin Nought feard their force that fortilage to win But wisedomes powre and temperaunces might By which the mightiest things efforced bin And eke the gate was wrought of substaunce light Rather for pleasure then for battery or fight Yt framed was of precious yuory That seemd a worke of admirable wit And therein all the famous history Of Iason and Medaea was ywrit Her mighty charmes her furious louing fit His goodly conquest of the golden fleece His falsed faith and loue too lightly flit The wondred Argo which in venturous peece First through the Euxine seas bore all the flowr of Greece Ye might haue seene the frothy billowes fry Vnder the ship as thorough them she went That seemd the waues were into yuory Or yuory into the waues were sent And other where the snowy substaunce sprent With vermell like the boyes bloud therein shed A piteous spectacle did represent And otherwhiles with gold besprinkeled Yt seemd th'enchaunted flame which did Creiisa wed All this and more might in that goodly gate Be red that euer open stood to all Which thither came but in the Porch there sate A comely personage of stature tall And semblaunce pleasing more then naturall That trauellers to him seemd to entize His looser garment to the ground did fall And flew about his heeles in wanton wize Not fit for speedy pace or manly exercize They in that place him Genius did call Not that celestiall powre to whom the care Of life and generation of all That liues pertaines in charge particulare Who wondrous things concerning our welfare And straunge phantomes doth let vs oft forsee And oft of secret ill bids vs beware That is our Selfe whom though we do not see Yet each doth in him selfe it well perceiue to bee Therefore a God him sage Antiquity Did wisely make and good Agdistes call But this same was to that quite contrary The foe of life that good enuyes to all That secretly doth vs procure to fall Through guilefull semblaunts which he makes vs see He of this Gardin had the gouernall And Pleasures porter was deuizd to bee Holding a staffe in hand for more formalitee With diuerse flowres he daintily was deckt And strowed round about and by his side A mighty Mazer bowle of wine was set As if it had to him bene sacrifide Wherewith all new-come guests he gratifide So did he eke Sir Guyon passing by But he his idle curtesie defide And ouerthrew his bowle disdainfully And broke his staffe with which he charmed semblants sly Thus being entred they behold around A large and spacious plaine on euery side Strowed with pleasauns whose faire grassy ground Mantled with grenee and goodly beautifide With all the ornaments of Floraes pride Wherewith her mother Art as halfe in scome Of niggard Nature like a pompous bride Did decke her and too lauishly adorne When forth from virgin bowre she comes in th' early morne Thereto the Heauens alwayes Iouiall Lookt on them louely still in stedfast state Ne suffred storme nor frost on them to fall Their tender buds or leaues to violate Nor scorching heat nor cold intemperate Tafflict the crearures which therein did dwell But the milde aire with season moderate Gently attempred and disposd so well That still it breathed forth sweet spirit holesome smell More sweet and holesome then the pleasaunt hill Of Rhodope on which the Nimphe that bore A gyaunt babe her selfe for griefe did kill Or the Thessalian Tempe where of yore Faire Daphne Phoebus hart with loue did gore Or Ida where the Gods lou'd to repaire When euer they their heauenly bowres forlore Or sweet Parnasse the ha unt of Muses faire Of Eden if ought with Eden mote compaire Much wondred Guyon at the faire aspect Of that sweet place yet suffred no delight To sincke into his sence nor mind affect But passed forth and lookt still forward right Bridling his will and maistering his might Till that he came vnto another gate No gate but like one being goodly dight With boughes and braunches which did broad dilate Their clasping armes in wanton wreathings intricate So fashioned a Porch with rare deuice Archt ouer head with an embracing vine Whose bounches hanging downe seemed to entice All passers by to tast their lushious wine And did themselues into their hands incline As freely offering to be gathered Some deepe empurpled as the Hyacint Some as the Rubine laughing sweetly red Some like faire Emeraudes not yet well ripened And them amongst some were of burnisht gold So made by art to beautifie the rest Which did themselues emongst the leaues enfold As lurking from the vew of couetous guest That the weake bowes with so rich load opprest Did bow adowne as ouer-burdened Vnder that Porch a comely dame did rest Clad in faire weedes but fowle disordered And garments loose that seemd vnmeet for womanhed In her left hand a Cup of gold she held And with her right the riper fruit did reach Whose sappy liquor that with fulnesse sweld Into her cup she scruzd with daintie breach Of her fine fingers without fowle empeach That so faire wine-presse made the wine more sweet Thereof she vsd to giue to drinke to each Whom passing by she happened to meet It was her guise all Straungers goodly so to greet So she to Gayon offred it to tast Who taking it out of her tender hond The cup to ground did violently cast That all in pecces it was broken fond And with the liquor
foules to feede vpon for their repast Thence forth they passed with that gentle Mayd To see her Ladie as they did agree To which when she approched thus she sayd Loe now right noble knights arriu'd ye bee Nigh to the place which ye desir'd to see There shall ye see my souerayne Lady Queene Most sacred wight most debonayre and free That euer yet vpon this earth was seene Or that with Diademe hath euer crowned beene The gentle knights reioyced much to heare The prayses of that Prince so manifold And passing litle further commen were Where they a stately pallace did behold Of pompous show much more then she had told With many towres and tarras mounted hye And all their tops bright glittering with gold That seemed to out shine the dimmed skye And with their brightnesse daz'd the straunge beholders eye There they alighting by that Damzell were Directed in and shewed all the sight Whose porch that most magnificke did appeare Stood open wyde to all men day and night Yet warded well by one of mickle might That sate thereby with gyantlike resemblance To keepe out guyle and malice and despight That vnder shew oftimes of fayned semblance Are wont in Princes courts to worke great scath and hindrance His name was Awe by whom they passing in Went vp the hall that was a large wyde roome All full of people making troublous din And wondrous noyse as if that there were some Which vnto them was dealing righteous doome By whom they passing through the thickest preasse The marshall of the hall to them did come His name hight Order who commaunding peace Them guyded through the throng that did their clamors ceasse They ceast their clamors vpon them to gaze Whom seeing all in armour bright as day Straunge there to see it did them much amaze And with vnwonted terror halfe affray For neuer saw they there the like array Ne euer was the name of warre there spoken But ioyous peace and quietnesse alway Dealing iust iudgements that mote not be broken For any brybes or threates of any to be wroken There as they entred at the Scriene they saw Some one whose tongue was for his trespasse vyle Nayld to a post adiudged so by law For that therewith he falsely did reuyle And foule blaspheme that Queene for forged guyle Both with bold speaches which he blazed had And with lewd poems which he did compyle For the bold title of a Poet bad He on himselfe had ta'en and rayling rymes had sprad Thus there he stood whylest high ouer his head There written was the purport of his sin In cyphers strange that few could rightly read BON FONS but bon that once had written bin Was raced out and Mal was now put in So now Malfont was plainely to be red Eyther for th' euill which he did therein Or that he likened was to a welhed Of euill words and wicked sclaunders by him shed They passing by were guyded by degree Vnto the presence of that gratious Queene Who sate on high that she might all men see And might of all men royally be seene Vpon a throne of gold full bright and sheene Adorned all with gemmes of endlesse price As either might for wealth haue gotten bene Or could be fram'd by workmans rare deuice And all embost with Lyons and with Flourdelice All ouer her a cloth of state was spred Not of rich tissew nor of cloth of gold Nor of ought else that may be richest red But like a cloud as likest may be told That her brode spreading wings did wyde vnfold Whose skirts were bordred with bright sunny beams Glistring like gold amongst the plights enrold And here and there shooting forth siluer streames Mongst which crept litle Angels through the glittering gleames Seemed those litle Angels did vphold The cloth of state and on their purpled wings Did beare the pendants through their nimblesse bold Besides a thousand more of such as sings Hymnes to high God and carols heauenly things Encompassed the throne on which she sate She Angel-like the heyre of ancient kings And mightie Conquerors in royall state Whylest kings and kesars at her feet did them prostrate Thus she did fit in souerayne Maiestie Holding a Scepter in her royall hand The sacred pledge of peace and clemencie With which high God had blest her happie land Maugre so many foes which did withstand But at her feet her sword was likewise layde Whose long rest rusted the bright steely brand Yet when as foes enforst or friends sought ayde She could it sternely draw that all the world dismayde And round about before her feet there sate A beuie of faire Virgins clad in white That goodly seem'd t' adorne her royall state All louely daughters of high Ioue that hight Litae by him begot in loues delight Vpon the righteous Themis those they say Vpon Ioues iudgement seat wayt day and night And when in wrath he threats the worlds decay They doe his anger calme and cruell vengeance stay They also doe by his diuine permission Vpon the thrones of mortall Princes tend And often treat for pardon and remission To suppliants through frayltie which offend Those did vpon Mercillaes throne attend Iust Dice wise Eunomie myld Eirene And them amongst her glorie to commend Sate goodly Temperance in garments clene And sacred Reuerence yborne of heauenly strene Thus did she sit in royall rich estate Admyr'd of many honoured of all Whylest vnderneath her feete there as she sate An huge great Lyon lay that mote appall An hardie courage like captiued thrall With a strong yron chaine and coller bound That once he could not moue nor quich at all Yet did he murmure with rebellions sound And softly royne when saluage choler gan redound So sitting high in dreaded souerayntie Those two strange knights were to her presence brought Who bowing low before her Maiestie Did to her myld obeysance as they ought And meekest boone that they imagine mought To whom she eke inclyning her withall As a faire stoupe of her high soaring thought A chearefull countenance on them let fall Yet tempred with some maiestie imperiall As the bright sunne what time his fierie teme Towards the westerne brim begins to draw Gins to abate the brightnesse of his beme And feruour of his flames somewhat adaw So did this mightie Ladie when she saw Those two strange knights such homage to her make Bate somewhat of that Maiestie and awe That whylome wont to doe so many quake And with more myld aspect those two to entertake Now at that instant as occasion fell When these two stranger knights arriu'd in place She was about affaires of common wele Dealing of Iustice with indifferent grace And hearing pleas of people meane and base Mongst which as then there was for to be heard The tryall of a great and weightie case Which on both sides was then debating hard But at the sight of these those were a while debard But after all her princely entertayne To th' hearing of
to thee reprochfull blame To erect this wicked custome which I heare Gainst errant Knights and Ladies thou dost reare Whom when thou mayst thou dost of arms despoile Or of their vpper garment which they weare Yet doest thou not with manhood but with guile Maintaine this euill vse thy foes thereby to foile And lastly in approuance of thy wrong To shew such faintnesse and foule cowardize Is greatest shame for oft it falles that strong And valiant knights doe rashly enterprize Either for fame or else for exercize A wrongfull quarrell to maintaine by right Yet haue through prowesse and their braue emprize Gotten great worship in this worldes sight For greater force there needs to maintaine wrong then right Yet since thy life vnto this Ladie fayre I giuen haue liue in reproch and scorne Ne euer armes ne euer knighthood dare Hence to professe for shame is to adorne With so braue badges one so basely borne But onely breath sith that I did forgiue So hauing from his crauen bodie torne Those goodly armes he them away did giue And onely suffred him this wretched life to liue There whilest he thus was setling things aboue Atwene that Ladie myld and recreant knight To whom his life he graunted for her loue He gan bethinke him in what perilous plight He had behynd him left that saluage wight Amongst so many foes whom sure he thought By this quite slaine in so vnequall fight Therefore descending backe in haste he sought If yet he were aliue or to destruction brought There he him found enuironed about With slaughtred bodies which his hand had slaine And laying yet a fresh with courage stout Vpon the rest that did aliue remaine Whom he likewise right sorely did constraine Like scattred sheepe to seeke for safetie After he gotten had with busie paine Some of their weapons which thereby did lie With which he layd about and made them fast to flie Whom when the Prince so felly saw to rage Approching to him neare his hand he stayd And sought by making signes him to asswage Who them perceiuing streight to him obayd As to his Lord and downe his weapons layd As if he long had to his heasts bene trayned Thence he him brought away and vp conuayd Into the chamber where that Dame remayned With her vnworthy knight who ill him entertayned Whom when the Saluage saw from daunger free Sitting beside his Ladie there at ease He well remembred that the same was hee Which lately sought his Lord for to displease Tho all in rage he on him streight did seaze As if he would in peeces him haue rent And were not that the Prince did him appeaze He had not left one limbe of him vnrent But streight he held his hand at his commaundement Thus hauing all things well in peace ordayned The Prince himselfe there all that night did rest Where him Blandina fayrely entertayned With all the courteous glee and goodly feast The which for him she could imagine best For well she knew the wayes to win good will Of euery wight that were not too infest And how to please the minds of good and ill Through tempering of her words lookes by wondrous skill Yet were her words and lookes but false and fayned To some hid end to make more easie way Or to allure such fondlings whom she trayned Into her trap vnto their owne decay Thereto when needed she could weepe and pray And when her listed she could fawne and flatter Now smyling smoothly like to sommers day Now glooming sadly so to cloke her matter Yet were her words but wynd all her teares but water Whether such grace were giuen her by kynd As women wont their guilefull wits to guyde Or learn'd the art to please I doe not fynd This well I wote that she so well applyde Her pleasing tongue that soone she pacifyde The wrathfull Prince wrought her husbands peace Who nathelesse not therewith satisfyde His rancorous despight did not releasse Ne secretly from thought of fell reuenge surceasse For all that night the whyles the Prince did rest In carelesse couch not weeting what was ment He watcht in close awayt with weapons prest Willing to worke his villenous intent On him that had so shamefully him shent Yet durst he not for very cowardize Effect the same whylest all the night was spent The morrow next the Prince did early rize And passed forth to follow his first enterprize Cant. VII Turpine is baffuld his two knights doe gaine their treasons meed Fayre Mirabellaes punishment for loues disdaine decreed LIke as the gentle hart it selfe bewrayes In doing gentle deedes with franke delight Euen so the baser mind it selfe displayes In cancred malice and reuengefull spight For to maligne t'enuie t' vse shifting slight Be arguments of a vile donghill mind Which what it dare not doe by open might To worke by wicked treason wayes doth find By such discourteous deeds discouering his base kind That well appeares in this discourteous knight The coward Turpine whereof now I treat Who notwithstanding that in former fight He of the Prince his life receiued late Yet in his mind malitious and ingrate He gan denize to be aueng'd anew For all that shame which kindled inward hate Therefore so soone as he was out of vew Himselfe in hast he arm'd and did him fast pursew Well did he tract his steps as he did ryde Yet would not neare approch in daungers eye But kept aloofe for dread to be descryde Vntill fit time and place he mote espy Where he mote worke him scath and villeny At last he met two knights to him vnknowne The which were arm'd both agreeably And both combynd what euer chaunce were blowne Betwixt them to diuide and each to make his owne To whom false Turpine comming courteously To cloke the mischiefe which he inly ment Gan to complaine of great discourtesie Which a straunge knight that neare afore him went Had doen to him and his deare Ladie shent Which if they would afford him ayde at need For to auenge in time conuenient They should accomplish both a knightly deed And for their paines obtaine of him a goodly meed The knights beleeu'd that all he sayd was trew And being fresh and full of youthly spright Were glad to heare of that aduenture new In which they mote make triall of their might Which neuer yet they had approu'd in fight And eke desirous of the offred meed Said then the one of them where is that wight The which hath doen to thee this wrongfull deed That we may it auenge and punish him with speed He rides said Turpine there not farre afore With a wyld man soft footing by his syde That if ye list to haste a litle more Ye may him ouertake in timely tyde Eftsoones they pricked forth with forward pryde And ere that litle while they ridden had The gentle Prince not farre away they spyde Ryding a softly pace with portance sad Deuizing of his loue more then of daunger drad
so dearely bought What need of armes where peace doth ay remaine Said he and battailes none are to be fought As for loose loues are vaine and vanish into nought O let me not quoth he then turne againe Backe to the world whose ioyes so fruitlesse are But let me here for aye in peace remaine Or streight way on that last long voyage fare That nothing may my present hope empare That may not be said he ne maist thou yit Forgo that royall maides bequeathed care Who did her cause into thy hand commit Till from her cursed foe thou haue her freely quit Then shall I soone quoth he so God me grace Abet that virgins cause disconsolate And shortly backe returne vnto this place To walke this way in Pilgrims poore estate But now aread old father why of late Didst thou behight me borne of English blood Whom all a Faeries sonne doen then nominate That word shall I said he auouchen good Sith to thee is vnknowne the cradle of thy brood For well I wote thou springst from ancient race Of Saxon kings that haue with mightie hand And many bloudie battailes fought in place High reard their royall throne in Britane land And vanquisht them vnable to withstand From thence a Faerie thee vnweeting rest There as thou slepst in tender swadling band And her base Elfin brood there for thee left Such men do Chaungelings call so chaungd by Faeries theft Thence she thee brought into this Faerie lond And in an heaped furrow did thee hyde Where thee a Ploughman all vnweeting fond As he his toylesome teme that way did guyde And brought thee vp in ploughmans state to byde Whereof Georgos he thee gaue to name Till prickt with courage and thy forces pryde To Faery court thou cam'st to seeke for fame And proue thy puissaunt armes as seemes thee best became O holy Sire quoth he how shall I quight The many fauours I with thee haue found That hast my name and nation red aright And taught the way that does to heauen bound This said adowne he looked to the ground To haue returnd but dazed were his eyne Through passing brightnesse which did quite cōfoun His feeble sence and too exceeding shyne So darke are earthly things compard to things diuine At last whenas himselfe he gan to find To Vna back he cast him to retire Who him awaited still with pensiue mind Great thankes and goodly meed to that good syre He thence departing gaue for his paines hyre So came to Vna who him ioyd to see And after litle rest gan him desire Of her aduenture mindfull for to bee So leaue they take of Coelia and her daughters three Cant. XI The knight with that old Dragon fights two dayes incessantly The third him ouerthrowes and gayns most glorious victory HIgh time now gan it wex for Vna faire To thinke of those her captiue Parents deare And their forwasted kingdome to repaire Whereto whenas they now approched neare With hartie words her knight she gan to cheare And in her modest manner thus bespake Deare knight as deare as euer knight was deare That all these sorrowes suffer for my sake High heauen behold the tedious toyle ye for me take Now are we come vnto my natiue soyle And to the place where all our perils dwell Here haunts that feend and does his dayly spoyle Therefore henceforth be at your keeping well And euer ready for your foeman fell The sparke of noble courage now awake And striue your excellent selfe to excell That shall ye euermore renowmed make Aboue all knights on earth that batteill vndertake And pointing forth lo yonder is said she The brasen towre in which my parents deare For dread of that huge feend emprisond be Whom I from far see on the walles appeare Whose sight my feeble soule doth greatly cheare And on the top of all I do espye The watchman wayting tydings glad to heare That ô my parents might I happily Vnto you bring to ease you of your misery With that they heard a roaring hideous sound That all the ayre with terrour filled wide And seemd vneath to shake the stedfast ground Eftsoones that dreadfull Dragon they espide Where stretch he lay vpon the sunny side Of a great hill himselfe like a great hill But all so soone as he from far descride Those glistring armes that heauen with light did fill He rousd himselfe full blith and hastned them vntill Then bad the knight this Lady yede aloofe And to an hill her selfe with draw aside From whence she might behold that battailles proof And eke be safe from daunger far descryde She him obayd and turnd a little wyde Now O thou sacred Muse most learned Dame Faire ympe of Phoebus and his aged bride The Nourse of time and euerlasting fame That warlike hands ennoblest with immortall name O gently come into my feeble brest Come gently but not with that mighty rage Wherewith the martiall troupes thou doest infest And harts of great Heroes doest enrage That nought their kindled courage may aswage Soone as thy dreadfull trompe begins to sownd The God of warre with his fiers equipage Thou doest awake sleepe neuer he so sownd And feared nations doest with horrour sterne astownd Faire Goddesse lay that furious fit aside Till I of warres and bloudy Mars do sing And Briton fields with Sarazin bloud bedyde Twixt that great faery Queene and Paynim king That with their horrour heauen and earth did ring A worke of labour long and endlesse prayse But now a while let downe that haughtie string And to my tunes thy second tenor rayse That I this man of God his godly armes may blaze By this the dreadfull Beast drew nigh to hand Halfe flying and halfe footing in his hast That with his largenesse measured much land And made wide shadow vnder his huge wast As mountaine doth the valley ouercast Approching nigh he reared high afore His body monstrous horrible and wast Which to increase his wondrous greatnesse more Was swolne with wrath poyson with bloudy gore And ouer all with brasen scales was armd Like plated coate of steele so couched neare That nought mote perce ne might his corse be harmd With dint of sword nor push of pointed speare Which as an Eagle seeing pray appeare His aery plumes doth rouze full rudely dight So shaked he that horrour was to heare For as the clashing of an Armour bright Such noyse his rouzed scales did send vnto the knight His flaggy wings when forth he did display Were like two sayles in which the hollow wynd Is gathered full and worketh speedy way And eke the pennes that did his pineons bynd Were like mayne-yards with flying canuas lynd With which whenas him list the ayre to beat And there by force vnwonted passage find The cloudes before him fled for terrour great And all the heauens stood still amazed with his threat His huge long tayle wound vp in hundred foldes Does ouerspred his long bras-scaly backe Whose wreathed boughts when
All good and honour might therein be red For there their dwelling was And when she spake Sweet words like dropping honny she did shed And twixt the perles and rubins softly brake A siluer sound that heauenly musicke seemd to make Vpon her eyelids many Graces sate Vnder the shadow of her euen browes Working belgards and amorous retrate And euery one her with a grace endowes And euery one with meekenesse to her bowes So glorious mirrhour of celestiall grace And soueraine moniment of mortall vowes How shall fraile pen descriue her heauenly face For feare through want of skill her beautie to disgrace So faire and thousand thousand times more faire She seemd when she presented was to sight And was yclad for heat of scorching aire All in a silken Camus lylly whight Purfled vpon with many a folded plight Which all aboue besprinckled was throughout With golden aygulets that glistred bright Like twinckling starres and all the skirt about Was hemd with golden fringe Below her ham her weed did somewhat traine And her streight legs most brauely were embayld In gilden buskins of costly Cordwaine All bard with golden bendes which were entayld With curious antickes and full faire aumayld Before they fastned were vnder her knee In a rich Iewell and therein entrayld The ends of all their knots that none might see How they within their fouldings close enwrapped bee Like two faire marble pillours they were seene Which doe the temple of the Gods support Whom all the people decke with girlands greene And honour in their festiuall resort Those same with stately grace and princely port She taught to tread when she her selfe would grace But with the wooddie Nymphes when she did play Or when the flying Libbard she did chace She could them nimbly moue and after fly apace And in her hand a sharpe bore-speare she held And at her backe a bow and quiuer gay Stuft with steele-headed darts wherewith she queld The saluage beastes in her victorious play Knit with a golden bauldricke which forelay Athwart her snowy brest and did diuide Her daintie paps which like young fruit in May Now little gan to swell and being tide Through her thin weed their places only signifide Her yellow lockes crisped like golden wyre About her shoulders weren loosely shed And when the winde emongst them did inspyre They waued like a penon wide dispred And low behinde her backe were scattered And whether art it were or heedlesse hap As through the flouring forrest rash she fled In her rude haires sweet flowres themselues did lap And flourishing fresh leaues and blossomes did enwrap Such as Diana by the sandie shore Of swift Eurotas or on Cynthus greene Where all the Nymphes haue her vnwares forlore Wandreth alone with bow and arrowes keene To seeke her game Or as that famous Queene Of Amazons whom Pyrrhus did destroy The day that first of Priame she was seene Did shew her selfe in great triumphant ioy To succour the weake state of sad afflicted Troy Such when as hartlesse Trompart her did vew He was dismayed in his coward mind And doubted whether he himselfe should shew Or fly away or bide alone behind Both feare and hope he in her face did find When she at last him spying thus bespake Hayle Groome didst not thou see a bleeding Hind Whose right haunch earst my stedfast arrow strake If thou didst tell me that I may her ouertake Wherewith reviu'd this answere forth he threw O Goddesse for such I thee take to bee For neither doth thy face terrestriall shew Nor voyce sound mortall I auow to thee Such wounded beast as that I did not see Sith earst into this forrest wild I came But mote thy goodlyhed forgiue it mee To weet which of the Gods I shall thee name That vnto thee due worship I may rightly frame To whom she thus but ere her words ensewed Vnto the bush her eye did suddein glaunce In which vaine Braggadocchio was mewed And saw it stirre she left her percing launce And towards gan a deadly shaft aduaunce In mind to marke the beast At which sad stowre Trompart forth stept to stay the mortall chaunce Out crying ô what euer heauenly powre Or earthly wight thou be withhold this deadly howre O stay thy hand for yonder is no game For thy fierce arrowes them to exercize But loe my Lord my liege whose warlike name Is farre renowmd through many bold emprize And now in shade he shrowded yonder lies She staid with that he crauld out of his nest Forth creeping on his caitiue hands and thies And standing stoutly vp his loftie crest Did fiercely shake and rowze as comming late from rest As fearefull fowle that long in secret caue For dread of soaring hauke her selfe hath hid Not caring how her silly life to saue She her gay painted plumes disorderid Seeing at last her selfe from daunger rid Peepes foorth and soone renewes her natiue pride She gins her feathers foule disfigured Proudly to prune and set on euery side So shakes off shame ne thinks how erst she did her hide So when her goodly visage he beheld He gan himselfe to vaunt but when he vewed Those deadly tooles which in her hand she held Soone into other fits he was transmewed Till she to him her gratious speach renewed All haile Sir knight and well may thee befall As all the like which honour haue pursewed Through deedes of armes and prowesse martiall All vertue merits praise but such the most of all To whom he thus ô fairest vnder skie True be thy words and worthy of thy praise That warlike feats doest highest glorifie Therein haue I spent all my youthly daies And many battailes fought and many fraies Throughout the world wher so they might be found Endeuouring my dreadded name to raise Aboue the Moone that fame may it resound In her eternall trompe with laurell girland cround But what art thou ô Ladie which doest raunge In this wilde forrest where no pleasure is And doest not it for ioyous court exchaunge Emongst thine equall peres where happie blis And all delight does raigne much more then this There thou maist loue and dearely loued bee And swim in pleasure which thou here doest mis There maist thou best be seene and best maist see The wood is fit for beasts the court is fit for thee Who so in pompe of proud estate quoth she Does swim and bathes himselfe in courtly blis Does waste his dayes in darke obscuritee And in obliuion euer buried is Where ease abounds yt's eath to doe amis But who his limbs with labours and his mind Behaues with cares cannot so easie mis. Abroad in armes at home in studious kind Who seekes with painfull toile shall honor soonest find In woods in waues in warres she wonts to dwell And will be found with perill and with paine Ne can the man that moulds in idle cell Vnto her happie mansion attaine Before her gate high God did Sweat ordaine And wakefull watches euer to abide But easie is
did fade What is become of great Acrates sonne Or where hath he hong vp his mortall blade That hath so many haughtie conquests wonne Is all his force forlorne and all his glory donne Then pricking him with his sharpe-pointed dart He said vp vp thou womanish weake knight That here in Ladies lap entombed art Vnmindfull of thy praise and prowest might And weetlesse eke of lately wrought despight Whiles sad Pyrrhochles lies on senselesse ground And groneth out his vtmost grudging spright Through many a stroke many a streaming wound Calling thy helpe in vaine that here in ioyes art dround Suddeinly out of his delightfull dreame The man awoke and would haue questiond more But he would not endure that wofull theame For to dilate at large but vrged sore With percing words and pittifull implore Him hastie to arise As one affright With hellish feends or Furies mad vprore He then vprose inflam'd with fell despight And called for his armes for he would algates fight They bene ybrought he quickly does him dight And lightly mounted passeth on his way Ne Ladies loues ne sweete entreaties might Appease his heat or hastie passage stay For he has vowd to beene aueng'd that day That day it selfe him seemed all too long On him that did Pyrrhochles deare dismay So proudly pricketh on his courser strong And Atin aie him pricks with spurs of shame wrong Cant. VI. Guyon is of immodest Merth led into loose desire Fights with Cymochles whiles his brother burnes infurious fire A Harder lesson to learne Continence In ioyous pleasure then in grieuous paine For sweetnesse doth allure the weaker sence So strongly that vneathes it can refraine From that which feeble nature couets faine But griefe and wrath that be her enemies And foes of life she better can restraine Yet vertue vauntes in both their victories And Guyon in them all shewes goodly maisteries Whom bold Cymochles trauelling to find With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him The wrath which Atin kindled in his mind Came to a riuer by whose vtmost brim Wayting to passe he saw whereas did swim A long the shore as swift as glaunce of eye A litle Gondelay bedecked trim With boughes and arbours wouen cunningly That like a litle forrest seemed outwardly And therein sate a Ladie fresh and faire Making sweet solace to her selfe alone Sometimes she sung as loud as larke in aire Sometimes she laught that nigh her breth was gone Yet was there not with her else any one That might to her moue cause of meriment Matter of merth enough though there were none She could deuise and thousand waies inuent To feede her foolish humour and vaine iolliment Which when farre off Cymochles heard and saw He loudly cald to such as were a bord The little barke vnto the shore to draw And him to ferrie ouer that deepe ford The merry marriner vnto his word Soone hearkned and her painted bote streightway Turnd to the shore where that same warlike Lord She in receiu'd but Atin by no way She would admit albe the knight her much did pray Eftsoones her shallow ship away did slide More swift then swallow sheres the liquid skie Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide Or winged canuas with the wind to flie Only she turn'd a pin and by and by It cut away vpon the yielding waue Ne cared she her course for to apply For it was taught the way which she would haue And both from rocks and flats it selfe could wisely saue And all the way the wanton Damzell found New merth her passenger to entertaine For she in pleasant purpose did abound And greatly ioyed merry tales to faine Of which a store-house did with her remaine Yet seemed nothing well they her became For all her words she drownd with laughter vaine And wanted grace in vtt'ring of the same That turned all her pleasance to a scoffing game And other whiles vaine toyes she would deuize As her fantasticke wit did most delight Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize With gaudie girlonds or fresh flowrets dight About her necke or rings of rushes plight Sometimes to doe him laugh she would assay To laugh at shaking of the leaues light Or to behold the water worke and play About her litle frigot therein making way Her light behauiour and loose dalliaunce Gaue wondrous great contentment to the knight That of his way he had no souenaunce Nor care of vow'd reuenge and cruell fight But to weake wench did yeeld his martiall might So easie was to quench his flamed mind With one sweet drop of sensuall delight So easie is t' appease the stormie wind Of malice in the calme of pleasant womankind Diuerse discourses in their way they spent Mongst which Cymochles of her questioned Both what she was and what that vsage ment Which in her cot she daily practised Vaine man said she that wouldest be reckoned A straunger in thy home and ignoraunt Of Phaedria for so my name is red Of Phaedria thine owne fellow seruaunt For thou to serue Acrasia thy selfe doest vaunt In this wide Inland sea that hight by name The Idle lake my wandring ship I row That knowes her port and thither sailes by ayme Ne care ne feare I how the wind do blow Or whether swift I wend or whether slow Both slow and swift a like do serue my tourne Ne swelling Neptune ne loud thundring Ioue Can chaunge my cheare or make me euer mourne My litle boat can safely passe this perilous bourne Whiles thus she talked and whiles thus she toyd They were farre past the passage which he spake And come vnto an Island waste and voyd That floted in the midst of that great lake There her small Gondelay her port did make And that gay paire issuing on the shore Disburdued her Their way they forward take Into the land that lay them faire before Whose pleasaunce she him shew'd and plentifull great store It was a chosen plot of fertile land Emongst wide waues set like a litle nest As if it had by Natures cunning hand Bene choisely picked out from all the rest And laid forth for ensample of the best No daintie flowre or herbe that growes on ground No arboret with painted blossomes drest And smelling sweet but there it might be found To bud out faire and her sweet smels throw all around No tree whose braunches did not brauely spring No braunch whereon a fine bird did not sit No bird but did her shrill notes sweetly sing No song but did containe a louely dit Trees braunches birds and songs were framed fit For to allure fraile mind to carelesse ease Carelesse the man soone woxe and his weake wit Was ouercome of thing that did him please So pleased did his wrathfull purpose faire appease Thus when she had his eyes and senses fed With false delights and fild with pleasures vaine Into a shadie dale she soft him led And laid him downe vpon a grassie plaine And her sweet selfe without dread or disdaine She set
was that woman this that deadly wound That Proteus prophecide should him dismay The which his mother vainely did expound To be hart-wounding loue which should assay To bring her sonne vnto his last decay So tickle be the termes of mortall state And full of subtile sophismes which do play With double senses and with false debate Tapproue the vnknowen purpose of eternall fate Too true the famous Marinell it fownd Who through late triall on that wealthy Strond Inglorious now lies in senselesse swownd Through heauy stroke of Britomartis hond Which when his mother deare did vnderstond And heauy tydings heard whereas she playd Amongst her watry sisters by a pond Gathering sweet daffadillyes to haue made Gay girlonds from the Sun their forheads faire to shade Eftsoones both flowres and girlonds farre away She flong and her faire deawy lockes yrent To sorrow huge she turnd her former play And gameson merth to grieuous dreriment She threw her selfe downe on the Continent Ne word did speake but lay as in a swowne Whiles all her sisters did for her lament With yelling outcries and with shrieking sowne And euery one did teare her girlond from her crowne Soone as she vp out of her deadly fit Arose she bad her charet to be brought And all her sisters that with her did sit Bad eke attonce their charets to be sought Tho full of bitter griefe and pensiue thought She to her wagon clombe clombe all the rest And forth together went with sorrow fraught The waues obedient to their beheast Them yielded readie passage and their rage surceast Great Neptune stood amazed at their sight Whiles on his broad round backe they softly slid And eke himselfe mournd at their mournfull plight Yet wist not what their wailing ment yet did For great compassion of their sorrow bid His mightie waters to them buxome bee Eftsoones the roaring billowes still abid And all the griefly Monsters of the See Stood gaping at their gate and wondred them to see A teme of Dolphins raunged in aray Drew the smooth charet of sad Cymoent They were all taught by Triton to obay To the long traines at her commaundement As swift as swallowes on the waues they went That their broad flaggie finnes no fome did reare Ne bubbling roundell they behind them sent The rest of other fishes drawen weare Which with their finny oars the swelling sea did sheare Soone as they bene arriu'd vpon the brim Of the Rich strond their charets they forlore And let their temed fishes softly swim Along the margent of the fomy shore Least they their finnes should bruze and surbate sore Their tender feet vpon the stony ground And comming to the place where all in gore And cruddy bloud enwallowed they found The lucklesse Marinell lying in deadly swound His mother swowned thrise and the third time Could scarce recouered be out of her paine Had she not bene deuoyd of mortall slime She should not then haue bene reliu'd againe But soone as life recouered had the raine She made so piteous mone and deare wayment That the hard rocks could scarse from teares refraine And all her sister Nymphes with one consent Supplide her sobbing breaches with sad complement Deare image of my selfe she said that is The wretched sonne of wretched mother borne Is this thine high aduauncement ô is this Th' immortall name with which thee yet vnborne Thy Gransire Nereus promist to adorne Now lyest thou of life and honor reft Now lyest thou a lumpe of earth forlorne Ne of thy late life memory is left Ne can thy irreuocable destiny be weft Fond Proteus father of false prophecis And they more fond that credit to thee giue Not this the worke of womans hand ywis That so deepe wound through these deare members driue I feared loue but they that loue do liue But they that die doe neither loue nor hate Nath'lesse to thee thy folly I forgiue And to my selfe and to accursed fate The guilt I doe ascribe deare wisedome bought too late O what auailes it of immortall seed To beene ybred and neuer borne to die Farre better I it deeme to die with speed Then waste in woe and wailefull miserie Who dyes the vtmost dolour doth abye But who that liues is left to waile his losse So life is losse and death felicitie Sad life worse then glad death and greater crosse To see friends graue thē dead the graue selfe to engrosse But if the heauens did his dayes enuie And my short blisse maligne yet mote they well Thus much afford me ere that he did die That the dim eyes of my deare Marinell I mote haue closed and him bed farewell Sith other offices for mother meet They would not graunt Yet maulgre them farewell my sweetest sweet Farewell my sweetest sonne sith we no more shall meet Thus when they all had sorrowed their fill They softly gan to search his griesly wound And that they might him handle more at will They him disarm'd and spredding on the ground Their watchet mantles frindgd with siluer round They softly wipt away the gelly blood From th'orifice which hauing well vpbound They pourd in soueraine balme and Nectar good Good both for earthly med'cine and for heauenly food Tho when the lilly handed Liagore This Liagore whylome had learned skill In leaches craft by great Appolloes lore Sith her whylome vpon high Pindus hill He loued and at last her wombe did fill With heauenly seed whereof wise Paeon sprong Did feele his pulse she knew their staied still Some litle life his feeble sprites emong Which to his mother told despeire she from her flong Tho vp him taking in their tender hands They easily vnto her charet beare Her teme at her commaundement quiet stands Whiles they the corse into her wagon reare And strow with flowres the lamentable beare Then all the rest into their coches clim And through the brackish waues their passage sheare Vpon great Neptunes necke they softly swim And to her watry chamber swiftly carry him Deepe in the bottome of the sea her bowre Is built of hollow billowes heaped hye Like to thicke cloudes that threat a stormy showre And vauted all within like to the sky In which the Gods do dwell eternally There they him laid in easie couch well dight And sent in haste for Tryphon to apply Salues to his wounds and medicines of might For Tryphon of sea gods the soueraine leach is hight The whiles the Nymphes sit all about him round Lamenting his mishap and heauy plight And oft his mother vewing his wide wound Cursed the hand that did so deadly smight Her dearest sonne her dearest harts delight But none of all those curses ouertooke The warlike Maid th'ensample of that might But fairely well she thriu'd and well did brooke Her noble deeds ne her right course for ought forsooke Yet did false Archimage her still pursew To bring to passe his mischieuous intent Now that he had her singled from the crew Of courteous knights the Prince and Faery
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.
she the terme of each mans life For nought may lessened nor enlarged bee Graunt this that when ye shred with fatall knife His line which is the eldest of the three Which is of them the shortest as I see Eftsoones his life may passe into the next And when the next shall likewise ended bee That both their liues may likewise be annext Vnto the third that his may so be trebly wext They graunted it and then that carefull Fay Departed thence with full contented mynd And comming home in warlike fresh aray Them found all three according to their kynd But vnto them what destinie was assynd Or how their liues were eekt she did not tell But euermore when she fit time could fynd She warned them to tend their safeties well And loue each other deare what euer them befell So did they surely during all their dayes And neuer discord did amongst them fall Which much augmented all their other praise And now t' increase affection naturall In loue of Canacee they ioyned all Vpon which ground this same great battell grew Great matter growing of beginning small The which for length I will not here pursew But rather will reserue it for a Canto new Cant. III. The battell twixt three brethren with Cambell for Canacee Cambina with true friendships bond doth their long strife agree O Why doe wretched men so much desire To draw their dayes vnto the vtmost date And doe not rather wish them soone expire Knowing the miserie of their estate And thousand perills which them still awate Tossing them like a boate amid the mayne That euery houre they knocke at deathes gate And he that happie seemes and least in payne Yet is as nigh his end as he that most doth playne Therefore this Fay I hold but fond and vaine The which in seeking for her children three Long life thereby did more prolong their paine Yet whilest they liued none did euersee More happie creatures then they seem'd to bee Nor more ennobled for their courtesie That made them dearely lou'd of each degree Ne more renowmed for their cheualrie That made them dreaded much of all men farre and nie These three that hardie chalenge tooke in hand For Canacee with Cambell for to fight The day was set that all might vnderstand And pledges pawnd the same to keepe a right That day the dreddest day that liuing wight Did euer see vpon this world to shine So soone as heauens window shewed light These warlike Champions all in armour shine Assembled were in field the chalenge to define The field with listes was all about enclos'd To barre the prease of people farre away And at th' one side sixe iudges were dispos'd To view and deeme the deedes of armes that day And on the other side in fresh aray Fayre Canacee vpon a stately stage Was set to see the fortnne of that fray And to be seene as his most worthie wage That could her purchase with his liues aduentur'd gage Then entred Cambell first into the list With stately steps and fearelesse countenance As if the conquest his he surely wist Soone after did the brethren three aduance In braue aray and goodly amenance With scutchins gilt and banners broad displayd And marching thrise in warlike ordinance Thrise lowted lowly to the noble Mayd The whiles shril trompets loud clarions sweetly playd Which doen the doughty chalenger came forth All arm'd to point his chalenge to abet Gainst whom Sir Priamond with equall worth And equall armes himselfe did forward set A trompet blew they both together met With dreadfull force and furious intent Carelesse of perill in their fiers affret As if that life to losse they had forelent And cared not to spare that should be shortly spent Right practicke was Sir Priamond in fight And throughly skild in vse of shield and speare Ne lesse approued was Cambelloes might Ne lesse his sill in weapons did appeare That hard it was to weene which harder were Full many mightie strokes on either side Were sent that seemed death in them to beare But they were both so watchfull and well eyde That they auoyded were and vainely by did slyde Yet one of many was so strongly bent By Priamond that with vnluckie glaunce Through Cambels shoulder it vnwarely went That forced him his shield to disaduaunce Much was he grieued with that gracelesse chaunce Yet from the wound no drop of bloud there fell But wondrous paine that did the more enhaunce His haughtie courage to aduengement fell Smart daunts not mighty harts but makes them more to swell With that his poynant speare he fierce auentred With doubled force close vnderneath his shield That through the mayles into his thigh it entred And there arresting readie way did yield For bloud to gush forth on the grassie field That he for paine himselfe not right vpreare But too and fro in great amazement reel'd Like an old Oke whose pith and sap is seare At puffe of euery storme doth stagger here and theare Whom so dismayd when Cambell had espide Againe he droue at him with double might That nought mote stay the steele till in his side The mortall point most cruelly empight Where fast infixed whilest he sought by slight It forth to wrest the staffe a sunder brake And left the head behind with which despight He all enrag'd his shiuering speare did shake And charging him a fresh thus felly him bespake Lo faitour there thy meede vnto thee take The meede of thy mischalenge and abet Not for thine owne but for thy sisters sake Haue I thus long thy life vnto thee let But to forbeare doth not forgiue the det The wicked weapon heard his wrathfull vow And passing forth with furious affret Pierst through his beuer quite into his brow That with the force it backward forced him to bow Therewith a sunder in the midst it brast And in his hand nought but the troncheon left The other halfe behind yet sticking fast Out of his headpeece Cambell fiercely rest And with such furie backe at him it heft That making way vnto his dearest life His weasand pipe it through his gorget cleft Thence streames of purple bloud issuing rife Let forth his wearie ghost and made an end of strife His wearie ghost assoyld from fleshly band Did not as others wont directly fly Vnto her rest in Plutoes griesly land Ne into ayre did vanish presently Ne chaunged was into a starre in sky But through traduction was eftsoones deriued Like as his mother prayd the Destinie Into his other brethren that suruiued In whom he liu'd a new of former life depriued Whom when on ground his brother next beheld Though sad and sorie for so heauy sight Yet leaue vnto his sorrow did not yeeld But rather stird to vengeance and despight Through secret feeling of his generous spright Rusht fiercely forth the battell to renew As in reuersion of his brothers right And chalenging the Virgin as his dew His foe was soone addrest the trompets freshly
deeme this doutfull case for which they all cōtended But first was question made which of those Knights That lately turneyd had the wager wonne There was it iudged by those worthie wights That Satyrane the first day best had donne For he last ended hauing first begonne The second was to Triamond behight For that he sau'd the victour from fordonne For Cambell victour was in all mens sight Till by mishap he in his foemens hand did light The third dayes prize vnto that straunger Knight Whom all men term'd Knight of the Hebene speare To Britomart was giuen by good right For that with puissant stroke she downe did beare The Saluage Knight that victour was whileare And all the rest which had the best afore And to the last vnconquer'd did appeare For last is deemed best To her therefore The fayrest Ladie was adiudgd for Paramore But thereat greatly grudged Arthegall And much repynd that both of victors meede And eke of honour she did him forestall Yet mote he not withstand what was decreede But inly thought of that despightfull deede Fit time t'awaite auenged for to bee This being ended thus and all agreed Then next ensew'd the Paragon to see Of beauties praise and yeeld the fayrest her due fee. Then first Cambello brought vnto their view His faire Cambina couered with a veale Which being once withdrawne most perfect hew And passing beautie did eftsoones reueale That able was weake harts away to steale Next did Sir Triamond vnto their sight The face of his deare Canacee vnheale Whose beauties beame eftsoones did shine so bright That daz'd the eyes of all as with exceeding light And after her did Paridell produce His false Duessa that she might be seene Who with her forged beautie did seduce The hearts of some that fairest her did weene As diuerse wits affected diuers beene Then did Sir Ferramont vnto them shew His Lucida that was full faire and sheene And after these an hundred Ladies moe Appear'd in place the which each other did outgoe All which who so dare thinke for to enchace Him needeth sure a golden pen I weene To tell the feature of each goodly face For since the day that they created beene So many heauenly faces were not seene Assembled in one place ne he that thought For Chian folke to pourtraict beauties Queene By view of all the fairest to him brought So many faire did see as here he might haue sought At last the most redoubted Britonesse Her louely Amoret did open shew Whose face discouered plainely did expresse The heauenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew Well weened all which her that time did vew That she should surely beare the bell away Till Blandamour who thought he had the trew And very Florimell did her display The sight of whom once seene did all the rest dismay For all afore that seemed fayre and bright Now base and contemptible did appeare Compar'd to her that shone as Phebes light Amongst the lesser starres in euening cleare All that her saw with wonder rauisht weare And weend no mortall creature she should bee But some celestiall shape that flesh did beare Yet all were glad there Florimell to see Yet thought that Florimell was not so faire as shee As guilefull Goldsmith that by secret skill With golden foyle doth finely ouer spred Some baser metall which commend he will Vnto the vulgar for good gold insted He much more goodly glosse thereon doth shed To hide his falshood then if it were trew So hard this Idole was to be ared That Florimell her selfe in all mens vew She seem'd to passe so forged things do fairest shew Then was that golden belt by doome of all Graunted to her as to the fayrest Dame Which being brought about her middle small They thought to gird as best it her became But by no meanes they could it thereto frame For euer as they fastned it it loos'd And fell away as feeling secret blame Full oft about her wast she it enclos'd And it as oft was from about her wast disclos'd That all men wondred at the vncouth sight And each one thought as to their fancies came But she her selfe did thinke it doen for spight And touched was with secret wrath and shame Therewith as thing deuiz'd her to defame Then many other Ladies likewise tride About their tender loynes to knit the same But it would not on none of them abide But when they thought it fast eftsoones it was vntide Which when that scornefull Squire of Dames did vew He lowdly gan to laugh and thus to iest Alas for pittie that so faire a crew As like can not be seene from East to West Cannot find one this girdle to inuest Fie on the man that did it first inuent To shame vs all with this Vngirt vnblest Let neuer Ladie to his loue assent That hath this day so many so vnmanly shent Thereat all Knights gan laugh and Ladies lowre Till that at last the gentle Amoret Likewise assayd to proue that girdles powre And hauing it about her middle set Did find it fit withouten breach or let Whereat the rest gan greatly to enuie But Florimell exceedingly did fret And snatching from her hand halfe angrily The belt againe about her bodie gan it tie Yet nathemore would it her bodie fit Yet nathelesse to her as her dew right It yeelded was by them that iudged it And she her selfe adiudged to the Knight That bore the Hebene speare as wonne in fight But Britomart would not thereto assent Ne her owne Amoret forgoe so light For that strange Dame whose beauties wonderment She lesse esteem'd then th' others vertuous gouernment Whom when the rest did see her to refuse They were full glad in hope themselues to get her Yet at her choice they all did greatly muse But after that the Iudges did arret her Vnto the second best that lou'd her better That was the Saluage Knight but he was gone In great displeasure that he could not get her Then was she iudged Triamond his one But Triamond lou'd Canacee and other none Tho vnto Satyran she was adiudged Who was right glad to gaine so goodly meed But Blandamour thereat full greatly grudged And litle prays'd his labours euill speed That for to winne the saddle lost the steed Ne lesse thereat did Paridell complaine And thought t' appeale from that which was decreed To single combat with Sir Satyrane Thereto him Ate stird new discord to maintaine And eke with these full many other Knights She through her wicked working did incense Her to demaund and chalenge as their rights Deserued for their perils recompense Amongst the rest with boastfull vaine pretense Stept Braggadochio forth and as his thrall Her claym'd by him in battell wonne long sens Whereto her selfe he did to witnesse call Who being askt accordingly confessed all Thereat exceeding wroth was Satyran And wroth with Satyran was Blandamour And wroth with Blandamour was Eriuan And at them both Sir Paridell did loure So all together stird vp strifull
dearest loue Which losse her made like passion also proue Who seeing his sad plight her tender heart With deare compassion deeply did emmoue That she gan mone his vndeserued smart And with her dolefull accent beare with him a part Shee sitting by him as on ground he lay Her mournefull notes full piteously did frame And thereof made a lamentable lay So sensibly compyld that in the same Him seemed oft he heard his owne right name With that he forth would poure so plenteous teares And beat his breast vnworthy of such blame And knocke his head and rend his rugged heares That could haue perst the hearts of Tigres of Beares Thus long this gentle bird to him did vse Withouten dread of perill to repaire Vnto his wonne and with her mournefull muse Him to recomfort in his greatest care That much did ease his mourning and misfare And euery day for guerdon of her song He part of his small feast to her would share That at the last of all his woe and wrong Companion she became and so continued long Vpon a day as she him sate beside By chance he certaine miniments forth drew Which yet with him as relickes did abide Of all the bounty which Belphebe threw On him whilst goodly grace she did him shew Amongst the rest a iewell rich he found That was a Ruby of right perfect hew Shap'd like a heart yet bleeding of the wound And with a litle golden chaine about it bound The same he tooke and with a riband new In which his Ladies colours were did bind About the turtles necke that with the vew Did greatly solace his engrieued mind All vnawares the bird when she did find Her selfe so deckt hernimble wings displaid And flew away as lightly as the wind Which sodaine accident him much dismaid And looking after long did marke which way she straid But when as long he looked had in vaine Yet saw her forward still to make her flight His weary eie returnd to him againe Full of discomfort and disquiet plight That both his iuell he had lost so light And eke his deare companion of his care But that sweet bird departing flew forth right Through the wideregion of the wastfull aire Vntill she came where wonned his Belphebe faire There found she her as then it did betide Sitting in couert shade of arbors sweet After late weary toile which she had tride In saluage chase to rest as seem'd her meet There she alighting fell before her feet And gan to her her mournfull plaint to make As was herwont thinking to let her weet The great tormenting griefe that for her sake Her gentle Squire through her displeasure did pertake She her beholding with attentiue eye At length did marke about her purple brest That precious iuell which she formerly Had knowne right well with colourd ribbands drest Therewith she rose in hast and her addrest With ready hand it to haue rest away But the swift bird obayd not her behest But swaru'd aside and there againe did stay She follow'd her and thought againe it to assay And euer when she nigh approcht the Doue Would flit a litle forward and then stay Till she drew neare and then againe remoue So tempting her still to pursue the pray And still from her escaping soft away Till that at length into that forrest wide She drew her far and led with slow delay In th' end she her vnto that place did guide Whereas that wofull man in languor did abide Eftsoones she flew vnto his fearelesse hand And there a piteous ditty new deuiz'd As if she would haue made him vnderstand His sorrowes cause to be of her despis'd Whom when she saw in wretched weedes disguiz'd With heary glib deform'd and meiger face Like ghost late risen from his graue agryz'd She knew him not but pittied much his case And wisht it were in her to doe him any grace He her beholding at her feet downe fell And kist the ground on which her sole did tread And washt the same with water which did well From his moist eies and like two streames procead Yet spake no word whereby she might aread What mister wight he was or what he ment But as one daunted with her presence dread Onely few ruefull lookes vnto her sent As messengers of his true meaning and intent Yet nathemore his meaning she ared But wondred much at his so selcouth case And by his persons secret seemlyhed Well weend that he had beene some man of place Before misfortune did his hew deface That being mou'd with ruth she thus bespake Ah wofull man what heauens hard disgrace Or wrath of cruell wight on thee ywrake Or selfe disliked life doth thee thus wretched make If heauen then none may it redresse or blame Sith to his powre we all are subiect borne If wrathfull wight then fowle rebuke and shame Be theirs that haue so cruell thee forlorne But if through inward griefe or wilfull scorne Of life it be then better doe aduise For he whose daies in wilfull woe are worne The grace of his Creator doth despise That will not vse his gifts for thanklesse nigardise When so he heard her say eftsoones he brake His sodaine silence which he long had pent And sighing inly deepe her thus bespake Then haue they all themselues against me bent For heauen first author of my languishment Enuying my too great felicity Did closely with a cruell one consent To cloud my daies in dolefull misery And make me loath this life still longing for to die Ne any but your selfe ô dearest dred Hath done this wrong to wreake on worthlesse wight Your high displesure through misdeeming bred That when your pleasure is to deeme aright Ye may redresse and me restore to light Which sory words her mightie hart did mate With mild regard to see his ruefull plight That her inburning wrath she gan abate And him receiu'd againe to former fauours state In which he long time afterwards did lead An happie life with grace and good accord Fearlesse of fortunes chaunge or enuies dread And eke all mindlesse of his owne deare Lord The noble Prince who neuer heard one word Of tydings what did vnto him betide Or what good fortune did to him afford But through the endlesse world did wander wide Him seeking euermore yet no where him descride Till on a day as through that wood he rode He chaunst to come where those two Ladies late Aemylia and Amoret abode Both in full sad and sorrowfull estate The one right feeble through the euill rate Of food which in her duresse she had found The other almost dead and desperate Through her late hurts and through that haplesse wound With which the Squire in her defence her sore astound Whom when the Prince beheld he gan to rew The euill case in which those Ladies lay But most was moued at the piteous vew Of Amoret so neare vnto decay That her great daunger did him much dismay Eftsoones that pretious liquour forth
ioyne hand with him to fight Her warlike maides about her flockt so fast That they disparted them maugre their might And with their troupes did far a sunder cast But mongst the rest the fight did vntill euening last And euery while that mighty yron man With his strange weapon neuer wont in warre Them sorely vext and courst and ouerran And broke their bowes and did their shooting marre That none of all the many once did darre Him to assault nor once approach him nie But like a sort of sheepe dispersed farre For dread of their deuouring enemie Through all the fields and vallies did before him flie But when as daies faire shinie-beame yclowded With fearefull shadowes of deformed night Warn'd man and beast in quiet rest be shrowded Bold Radigund with sound of trumpe on hight Causd all her people to surcease from fight And gathering them vnto her citties gate Made them all enter in before her sight And all the wounded and the weake in state To be conuayed in ere she would once retrate When thus the field was voided all away And all things quieted the Elfin Knight Weary of toile and trauell of that day Causd his pauilion to be richly pight Before the city gate in open sight Where he him selfe did rest in safety Together with sir Terpin all that night But Talus vsde in times of ieopardy To keepe a nightly watch for dread of treachery But Radigund full of heart-gnawing griefe For the rebuke which she sustain'd that day Could take no rest ne would receiue reliefe But tossed in her troublous minde what way She mote reuenge that blot which on her lay There she resolu'd her selfe in single fight To try her Fortune and his force assay Rather then see her people spoiled quight As she had seene that day a disauenterous sight She called forth to her a trusty mayd Whom she thought fittest for that businesse Her name was Clarin and thus to her sayd Goe damzell quickly doe thy selfe addresse To doe the message which I shall expresse Goe thou vnto that stranger Faery Knight Who yeester day droue vs to such distresse Tell that to morrow I with him wil fight And try in equall field whether hath greater might But these conditions doe to him propound That if I vanquishe him he shall obay My law and euer to my lore be bound And so will I if me he vanquish may What euer he shall like to doe or say Goe streight and take with thee to witnesse it Sixe of thy fellowes of the best array And beare with you both wine and iuncates fit And bid him eate henceforth he oft shall hungry sit The Damzell streight obayd and putting all In readinesse forth to the Towne-gate went Where sounding loud a Trumpet from the wall Vnto those warlike Knights she warning sent Then Talus forth issuing from the tent Vnto the wall his way did fearelesse take To weeten what that trumpets sounding ment Where that same Damzell lowdly him bespake And shew'd that with his Lord she would emparlaunce make So he them streight conducted to his Lord Who as he could them goodly well did greete Till they had told their message word by word Which he accepting well as he could weete Them fairely entertaynd with curt'sies meete And gaue them gifts and things of deare delight So backe againe they homeward turnd their feete But Artegall him selfe to rest did dight That he mote fresher be against the next daies fight Cant. V. Artegall fights with Radigund And is subdewd by guile He is by her emprisoned But wrought by Clarins wile SO soone as day forth dawning from the East Nights humid curtaine from the heauens withdrew And earely calling forth both man and beast Comaunded them their daily workes renew These noble warriors mindefull to pursew The last daies purpose of their vowed fight Them selues thereto preparde in order dew The Knight as best was seeming for a Knight And th'Amazon as best it likt her selfe to dight All in a Camis light of purple silke Wouen vppon with siluer subtly wrought And quilted vppon sattin white as milke Trayled with ribbands diuersly distraught Like as the workeman had their courses taught Which was short tucked for light motion Vp to her ham but when she list it raught Downe to her lowest heele and thereuppon She wore for her defence a mayled habergeon And on her legs she painted buskins wore Basted with bends of gold on euery side And mailes betweene and laced close afore Vppon her thigh her Cemitare was tide With an embrodered belt of mickell pride And on her shoulder hung her shield bedeckt Vppon the bosse with stones that shined wide As the faire Moone in her most full aspect That to the Moone it mote be like in each respect So forth she came out of the citty gate With stately port and proud magnificence Guarded with many damzels that did waite Vppon her person for her sure defence Playing on shaumes and trumpets that from hence Their sound did reach vnto the heauens hight So forth into the field she marched thence Where was a rich Pauilion ready pight Her to receiue till time they should begin the fight Then forth came Artegall out of his tent All arm'd to point and first the Lists did enter Soone after eke came she with fell intent And countenaunce fierce as hauing fully bent her That battels vtmost triall to aduenter The Lists were closed fast to barre the rout From rudely pressing to the middle center Which in great heapes them circled all about Wayting how Fortune would resolue that daungerous dout The Trumpets sounded and the field began With bitter strokes it both began and ended She at the first encounter on him ran With furious rage as if she had intended Out of his breast the very heart haue rended But he that had like tempests often tride From that first flaw him selfe right well defended The more she rag'd the more he did abide She hewd she foynd she lasht she laid on euery side Yet still her blowes he bore and her forbore Weening at last to win aduantage new Yet still her crueltie increased more And though powre faild her courage did accrew Which fayling he gan fiercely her pursew Like as a Smith that to his cunning feat The stubborne mettall seeketh to subdew Soone as he feeles it mollifide with heat With his great yron sledge doth strongly on it beat So did Sir Artegall vpon her lay As if she had an yron anduile beene That flakes of fire bright as the sunny ray Out of her steely armes were flashing seene That all on fire ye would her surely weene But with her shield so well her selfe she warded From the dread daunger of his weapon keene That all that while her life she safely garded But he that helpe from her against her will discarded For with his trenchant blade at the next blow Halfe of her shield he shared quite away That halfe her side it selfe did naked show And
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
hideous tempest seemed from below To rise through all the Temple sodainely That from the Altar all about did blow The holy fire and all the embers strow Vppon the ground which kindled priuily Into outragious flames vnwares did grow That all the Temple put in ieopardy Of flaming and her selfe in great perplexity With that the Crocodile which sleeping lay Vnder the Idols feete in fearelesse bowre Seem'd to awake in horrible dismay As being troubled with that stormy stowre And gaping greedy wide did streight deuoure Both flames and tempest with which growen great And swolne with pride of his owne peerelesse powre He gan to threaten her likewise to eat But that the Goddesse with her rod him backe did beat Tho turning all his pride to humblesse meeke Him selfe before her feete he lowly threw And gan for grace and loue of her to seeke Which she accepting he so neare her drew That of his game she soone enwombed grew And forth did bring a Lion of great might That shortly did all other beasts subdew With that she waked full of fearefull fright And doubtfully dismayd through that so vncouth sight So thereuppon long while she musing lay With thousand thoughts feeding her fantasie Vntill she spide the lampe of lightsome day Vp-lifted in the porch of heauen hie Then vp she rose fraught with melancholy And forth into the lower parts did pas Whereas the Priestes she found full busily About their holy things for morrow Mas Whom she saluting faire faire resaluted was But by the change of her vnchearefull looke They might perceiue she was not well in plight Or that some pensiuenesse to heart she tooke Therefore thus one of them who seem'd in sight To be the greatest and the grauest wight To her bespake Sir Knight it seemes to me That thorough euill rest of this last night Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be That by your change of cheare is easie for to see Certes sayd she sith ye so well haue spide The troublous passion of my pensiue mind I will not seeke the same from you to hide But will my cares vnfolde in hope to find Your aide to guide me out of errour blind Say on quoth he the secret of your hart For by the holy vow which me doth bind I am adiur'd best counsell to impart To all that shall require my comfort in their smart Then gan she to declare the whole discourse Of all that vision which to her appeard As well as to her minde it had recourse All which when he vnto the end had heard Like to a weake faint-hearted man he fared Through great astonishment of that strange sight And with long locks vp-standing stifly stared Like one adawed with some dreadfull spright So fild with heauenly fury thus he her behight Magnificke Virgin that in queint disguise Of British armes doest maske thy royall blood So to pursue a perillous emprize How coulst thou weene through that disguized hood To hide thy state from being vnderstood Can from th' immortall Gods ought hidden bee They doe thy linage and thy Lordly brood They doe thy sire lamenting sore for thee They doe thy loue forlorne in womens thraldome see The end whereof and all the long euent They doe to thee in this same dreame discouer For that same Crocodile doth represent The righteous Knight that is thy faithfull louer Like to Osyris in all iust endeuer For that same Crocodile Osyris is That vnder Isis feete doth sleepe tor euer To shew that clemence oft in things amis Restraines those sterne behests and cruell doomes of his That Knight shall all the troublous stormes asswage And raging flames that many foes shall reare To hinder thee from the iust heritage Of thy sires Crowne and from thy countrey deare Then shalt thou take him to thy loued fere And ioyne in equall portion of thy realme And afterwards a sonne to him shalt beare That Lion-like shall shew his powre extreame So blesse thee God and giue thee ioyance of thy dreame All which when she vnto the end had heard She much was eased in her troublous thought And on those Priests bestowed rich reward And royall gifts of gold and siluer wrought She for a present to their Goddesse brought Then taking leaue of them she forward went To seeke her loue where he was to be sought Ne rested till she came without relent Vnto the land of Amazons as she was bent Whereof when newes to Radigund was brought Not with amaze as women wonted bee She was confused in her troublous thought But fild with courage and with ioyous glee As glad to heare of armes the which now she Had long surceast she bad to open bold That she the face of her new foe might see But when they of that yron man had told Which late her folke had slaine she bad thē forth to hold So there without the gate as seemed best She caused her Pauilion be pight In which stout Britomart her selfe did rest Whiles Talus watched at the dore all night All night likewise they of the towne in fright Vppon their wall good watch and ward did keepe The morrow next so soone as dawning light Bad doe away the dampe of drouzie sleepe The warlike Amazon out of her bowre did peepe And caused streight a Trumpet loud to shrill To warne her foe to battell soone be prest Who long before awoke for she ful ill Could sleepe all night that in vnquiet brest Did closely harbour such a iealous guest Was to the battell whilome ready dight Eftsoones that warriouresse with haughty crest Did forth issue all ready for the fight On th' other side her foe appeared soone in sight But ere they reared hand the Amazone Began the streight conditions to propound With which she vsed still to tye her fone To serue her so as she the rest had bound Which when the other heard she sternly frownd For high disdaine of such indignity And would no lenger treat but bad them sound For her no other termes should euer tie Then what prescribed were by lawes of cheualrie The Trumpets sound and they together run With greedy rage and with their faulchins smot Ne either sought the others strokes to shun But through great fury both their skill forgot And practicke vse in armes ne spared not Their dainty parts which nature had created So faire and tender without staine or spot For other vses then they them translated Which they now hackt hewd as if such vse they hated As when a Tygre and a Lionesse Are met at spoyling of some hungry pray Both challenge it with equall greedinesse But first the Tygre clawes thereon did lay And therefore loth to loose her right away Doth in defence thereof full stoutly stond To which the Lion strongly doth gainesay That she to hunt the beast first tooke in hond And therefore ought it haue where euer she it fond Full fiercely layde the Amazon about And dealt her blowes vnmercifully sore Which Britomart withstood with courage stout
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
threasures of nature appeare Which as they view with lustfull fantasyes Each wisheth to him selfe and to the rest enuyes Her yuorie necke her alablaster brest Her paps which like white silken pillowes were For loue in soft delight thereon to rest Her tender sides her bellie white and clere Which like an Altar did it selfe vprere To offer sacrifice diuine thereon Her goodly thighes whose glorie did appeare Like a triumphall Arch and thereupon The spoiles of Princes hang'd which were in battel won Those daintie parts the dearlings of delight Which mote not be prophan'd of common eyes Those villeins vew'd with loose lasciuious sight And closely tempted with their craftie spyes And some of them gan mongst themselues deuize Thereof by force to take their beastly pleasure But them the Priest rebuking did aduize To dare not to pollute so sacred threasure Vow'd to the gods religiō held euen theeues in measure So being stayd they her from thence directed Vnto a litle groue not farre asyde In which an altar shortly they erected To slay her on And now the Euentyde His brode black wings had through the heauens wyde By this dispred that was the tyme ordayned For such a dismall deed their guilt to hyde Of few greene turfes an altar soone they fayned And deckt it all with flowres which they nigh hand obtayned Tho when as all things readie were aright The Damzell was before the altar set Being alreadie dead with fearefull fright To whom the Priest with naked armes full net Approching nigh and murdrous knife well whet Gan mutter close a certaine secret charme With other diuelish ceremonies met Which doen he gan aloft t' aduance his arme Whereat they shouted all and made a loud alarme Then gan the bagpypes and the hornes to shrill And shrieke aloud that with the peoples voyce Confused did the ayre with terror fill And made the wood to tremble at the noyce The whyles she wayld the more they did reioyce Now mote ye vnderstand that to this groue Sir Calepine by chaunce more then by choyce The selfe same euening fortune hether droue As he to seeke Serena through the woods did roue Long had he sought her and through many a soyle Had traueld still on foot in heauie armes Ne ought was tyred with his endlesse toyles Ne ought was feared of his certaine harmes And now all weetlesse of the wretched stormes In which his loue was lost he slept full fast Till being waked with these loud alarmes He lightly started vp like one aghast And catching vp his arms streight to the noise forth past There by th' vncertaine glims of starry night And by the twinkling of their sacred fire He mote perceiue a litle dawning sight Of all which there was doing in that quire Mongst whom a woman spoyld of all attire He spyde lamenting her vnluckie strife And groning sore from grieued hart entire Eftsoones he saw one with a naked knife Readie to launch her brest and let out loued life With that he thrusts into the thickest throng And euen as his right hand adowne descends He him preuenting layes on earth along And sacrifizeth to th' infernall feends Then to the rest his wrathfull hand he bends Of whom he makes such hauocke and such hew That swarmes of damned soules to hell he sends The rest that scape his sword and death eschew Fly like a flocke of doues before a Faulcons vew From them returning to that Ladie backe Whom by the Altar he doth sitting find Yet fearing death and next to death the lacke Of clothes to couer what they ought by kind He first her hands beginneth to vnbind And then to question of her present woe And afterwards to cheare with speaches kind But she for nought that he could say or doe One word durst speake or answere him awhit thereto So inward shame of her vncomely case She did conceiue through care of womanhood That though the night did couer her disgrace Yet she in so vnwomanly a mood Would not bewray the state in which she stood So all that night to him vnknowen she past But day that doth discouer bad and good Ensewing made her knowen to him at last The end whereof I le keepe vntill another cast Cant. IX Calidore hostes with Meliboe And loues fayre Pastorell Coridon enuies him yet he for ill rewards him well NOw turne againe my teme thou iolly swayne Backe to the furrow which I lately left I lately left a furrow one or twayne Vnplough'd the which my coulter hath not cleft Yet seem'd the soyle both fayre and frutefull eft As I it past that were too great a shame That so rich frute should be from vs bereft Besides the great dishonour and defame Which should befall to Calidores immortall name Great trauell hath the gentle Calidore And toyle endured sith I left him last Sewing the Blatant beast which I forbore To finish then for other present hast Full many pathes and perils he hath past Through hils through dales throgh forests throgh plaines In that same quest which fortune on him cast Which he atchieued to his owne great gaines Reaping eternall glorie of his restlesse paines So sharply he the Monster did pursew That day nor night he suffred him to rest Ne rested he himselfe but natures dew For dread of daunger not to be redrest If he for slouth forslackt so famous quest Him first from court he to the citties coursed And from the citties to the townes him prest And from the townes into the countrie forsed And from the country back to priuate farmes he scorsed From thence into the open fields he fled Whereas the Heardes were keeping of their neat And shepheards singing to their flockes that fed Layes of sweete loue and youthes delightfull heat Him thether eke for all his fearefull threat He followed fast and chaced him so nie That to the folds where sheepe at night doe seat And to the litle cots where shepherds lie In winters wrathfull time he forced him to flie There on a day as he pursew'd the chace He chaunst to spy a sort of shepheard groomes Playing on pypes and caroling apace The whyles their beasts there in the budded broomes Beside them fed and nipt the tender bloomes For other worldly wealth they cared nought To whom Sir Calidore yet sweating comes And them to tell him courteously besought If such a beast they saw which he had thether brought They answer'd him that no such beast they saw Nor any wicked feend that mote offend Their happie flockes nor daunger to them draw But if that such there were as none they kend They prayd high God them farre from them to send Then one of them him seeing so to sweat After his rusticke wise that well he weend Offred him drinke to quench his thirstie heat And if he hungry were him offred eke to eat The knight was nothing nice where was no need And tooke their gentle offer so adowne They prayd him sit and gaue him for to feed Such homely
what as serues the simple clowne That doth despise the dainties of the towne Tho hauing fed his fill he there besyde Saw a faire damzell which did weare a crowne Of sundry flowres with silken ribbands tyde Yclad in home-made greene that her owne hands had dyde Vpon a litle hillocke she was placed Higher then all the rest and round about Enuiron'd with a girland goodly graced Of louely lasses and them all without The lustie shepheard swaynes sate in a rout The which did pype and sing her prayses dew And oft reioyce and oft for wonder shout As if some miracle of heauenly hew Were downe to them descended in that earthly vew And soothly sure she was full fayre of face And perfectly well shapt in euery lim Which she did more augment with modest grace And comely carriage of her count'nance trim That all the rest like lesser lamps did dim Who her admiring as some heauenly wight Did for their soueraine goddesse her esteeme And caroling her name both day and night The fayrest Pastorella her by name did hight Ne was there heard ne was there shepheards swayne But her did honour and eke many a one Burnt in her loue and with sweet pleasing payne Full many a night for her did sigh and grone But most of all the shepheard Coridon For her did languish and his deare life spend Yet neither she for him nor other none Did care a whit ne any liking lend Though meane her lot yet higher did her mind ascend Her whyles Sir Calidore there vewed well And markt her rare demeanure which him seemed So farre the meane of shepheards to excell As that he in his mind her worthy deemed To be a Princes Paragone esteemed He was vnwares surprisd in subtile bands Of the blynd boy ne thence could be redeemed By any skill out of his cruell hands Caught like the bird which gazing still on others stands So stood he still long gazing thereupon Ne any will had thence to moue away Although his quest were farre afore him gon But after he had fed yet did he stay And sate there still vntill the flying day Was farre forth spent discoursing diuersly Of sundry things as fell to worke delay And euermore his speach he did apply To th'heards but meant them to the damzels fantazy By this the moystie night approching fast Her deawy humour gan on th' earth to shed That warn'd the shepheards to their homes to hast Their tender flocks now being fully fed For feare of wetting them before their bed Then came to them a good old aged syre Whose siluer lockes bedeckt his beard and hed With shepheards hooke in hand and fit attyre That wild the damzell rise the day did now expyre He was to weet by common voice esteemed The father of the fayrest Pastorell And of her selfe in very deede so deemed Yet was not so but as old stories tell Found her by fortune which to him befell In th' open fields an Infant left alone And taking vp brought home and noursed well As his owne chyld for other he had none That she in tract of time accompted was his owne She at his bidding meekely did arise And streight vnto her litle flocke did fare Then all the rest about her rose likewise And each his sundrie sheepe with seuerall care Gathered together and them homeward bare Whylest euerie one with helping hands did striue Amongst themselues and did their labours share To helpe faire Pastorella home to driue Her fleecie flocke but Coridon most helpe did giue But Meliboee so hight that good old man Now seeing Calidore left all alone And night arriued hard at hand began Him to inuite vnto his simple home Which though it were a cottage clad with lome And all things therein meane yet better so To lodge then in the saluage fields to rome The knight full gladly soone agreed thereto Being his harts owne wish and home with him did go There he was welcom'd of that honest syre And of his aged Beldame homely well Who him besought himselfe to disattyre And rest himselfe till supper time befell By which home came the fayrest Pastorell After her flocke she in their fold had tyde And supper readie dight they to it fell With small adoe and nature satisfyde The which doth litle craue contented to abyde Tho when they had their hunger slaked well And the fayre mayd the table ta'ne away The gentle knight as he that did excell In courtesie and well could doe and say For so great kindnesse as he found that day Gan greatly thanke his host and his good wife And drawing thence his speach another way Gan highly to commend the happie life Which Shepheards lead without debate or bitter strife How much sayd he more happie is the state In which ye father here doe dwell at ease Leading a life so free and fortunate From all the tempests of these worldly seas Which tosse the rest in daungerous disease Where warres and wreckes and wicked enmitie Doe them afflict which no man can appease That certes I your happinesse enuie And wish my lot were plast in such felicitie Surely my sonne then answer'd he againe If happie then it is in this intent That hauing small yet doe I not complaine Of want ne wish for more it to augment But doe my selfe with that I haue content So taught of nature which doth litle need Of forreine helpes to lifes due nourishment The fields my food my flocke my rayment breed No better doe I weare no better doe I feed Therefore I doe not any one enuy Nor am enuyde of any one therefore They that haue much feare much to loose thereby And store of cares doth follow riches store The litle that I haue growes dayly more Without my care but onely to attend it My lambes doe euery yeare increase their score And my flockes father daily doth amend it What haue I but to praise th' Almighty that doth send it To them that list the worlds gay showes I leaue And to great ones such follies doe forgiue Which oft through pride do their owne perill weaue And through ambition downe themselues doe driue To sad decay that might contented liue Me no such cares nor combrous thoughts offend Ne once my minds vnmoued quiet grieue But all the night in siluer sleepe I spend And all the day to what I list I doe attend Sometimes I hunt the Fox the vowed foe Vnto my Lambes and him dislodge away Sometime the fawne I practise from the Doe Or from the Goat her kidde how to conuay Another while I baytes and nets display The birds to catch or fishes to beguyle And when I wearie am I downe doe lay My limbes in euery shade to rest from toyle And drinke of euery brooke when thirst my throte doth boyle The time was once in my first prime of yeares When pride of youth forth pricked my desire That I disdain'd amongst mine equall peares To follow sheepe and shepheards base attire For further fortune then I