When Miners dig her rocky Limbs away And falls at last as does the Giant here Shaking the Earth his ruin'd bulk does bear The nimble Knight upon the Corps soon stood And cuts the head off to discharge the Blood VVhich issuing like a Fountain from his Veins His filthy gore his wallowing Body stains And dead a while to Fame such wonder left That as a Bladder shews of Air bereft His massy substance leaves no more behind Than a thin film that had been swoll'n by wind The lustful Witch seeing her vast Lover kill'd Her Cup of Gold with Magick Liquor fill'd She casts away and next to ground does throw The stately Miter that adorn'd her Brow. With sorrow and disdain oppress'd her Soul As her Charms could not Destiny controul And leaving all behind from them had fled Had not the nimble Squire o'retook her Speed. Whom he turns back and to his Lord with Smiles Presents her as a Trophy to his Toils The Royal Virgin who beheld afar The whole Atchievements of this doubtful War In haste arrives and bending low her Knees Congratulates his wondrous Victories Letting him know her Soul was pos'd to tell How much his worth all mortals does excell And had for her a hapless Virgin done Exploits his Vertue ever must renown T'retaliate which she nothing could express Other than still oblig'd her self confess Monsters of unknown kind you have subdu'd And seen them die in their own blood embru'd And but remaining the accursed Dame Duessa who with Charms and impious flame My dearest Lord has wickedly betray'd And by her means here in a Dungeon lay'd O hear how his sad voice from under ground More doleful is than dying Mandrakes sound Her piteous moan great Arthur does deplore And bids his Squire secure the Scarlet Whore. Till this vast Castle search'd he finds the place Where lies in loathsom Duress and Disgrace The Red-Cross Knight still hoping for his Guide To find some mortal that did there reside VVhen passing Rooms such stilness to him seem'd As if there Nature had a Vacuum deem'd Nor did the loudest words that he could talk Summon one living thing to speak or walk Until a creeping Crooked-man that way Pass'd as he us'd about this time of day VVhose sight had from his age him long forsook And leaning on a Staff weak Steps he took And bunch of Keys upon his Arm he bore Yet had forgot their Use or proper Door Their substance much appear'd decay'd by Rust As but his Badge they seem'd of former Trust. But far more aukward 't was unto the sight To see how Nature did his movement spite For as he forward stept his wrinkl'd Face Behind still turn'd like none of humane Race An ancient Keeper of this Castle he Had long time been as Stories doe agree His Name Ignaro whence was his Genius read And Foster-father to the Giant dead The Prince an honourer of aged Hairs Unto him with becoming Meen repairs And gently ask'd where all the People were That in this stately Fabrick Office bear Or if he knew in what place was dispos'd The Knight whom the late Giant had oppos'd To which Ignaro said he did not know The Prince then ask'd what way he 'd forward show ' To whom the Man He could not tell reply'd And in like words all Knowledge still deny'd Which heard the Hero with displeasure said How mean is age that does due Manners need Wherefore old Sir methinks your Silver Head Should least with idle Mocks be furnished And since tho 'ast liv'd to Nature's grave degree As gravely answer what I ask of thee But still he said That he could nothing say Which speech repeated oft one senseless way The noble Prince his anger did restrain And like his Name thought Ignorance his Vein Then stepping from his Arm the Keys dos reach That open'd every Door without a breach And well he might when no Barricado there Or Foe t'impede his entrance every where Tho all within excessive rich he found No Prince's lavish Court could more abound But all the Floors too grievous to betold With Blood of Babes and Innocents were foul'd And on those for prophane Pollution strown Some Martyrs Ashes thick as seed fresh sown An Altar there of Marble-stone was rais'd Where Tyrants in their figur'd Pomp were prais'd That living glory'd in their impious Guilt Of holy Blood oft on this Altar spilt Whilst blessed Spirits beneath the Stone did lie To Heaven for Vengeance loudly seem'd to cry And grievously were often heard to groan That hardest Heart could not but them bemoan Fully each Room the valiant Prince had sought To find the Knight for Bondage thither brought At last unto an Iron Door was come But found no Key could open that dark Room And in 't a Grate was plac'd tho very small Through which with all his power he loud does call Whom to respond a hollow mournful sound Was heard like Ghost conjur'd from under ground Saying O welcome Man if as my choice Thou summon'st me to die by thy stern Voice Whilst my Griefs here worst pangs of Death transcend Like one alive is bury'd life to end Yet thus have liv'd full three Moons various hours Without beholding Beam from heavenly Powers Which when this Champion heard with noble grief And Courage joyn'd he attempts the Knights relief When thrusting strongly at the Iron Door His Strength to wonder it soon open tore Where entring he by no firm Steps could tread But such with steep descent him forward led And all in dark a dismal Stench did smell Such as the Poets write is breath'd from Hell. But neither noisom Damps or Darkness could This famous Knight from his design withhold Who after loathsom VVays and Perils past By painful Search he found the Knight at last And lifting him from ground with tender care From this dark depth the Man to light does beare But such a worn and ghastly shape had he Of Body pin'd by tedious Misery That his late radiant Eyes were pitted low And wasted did a fixed dimness show His ruddy Cheeks that heretofore had been Admir'd by Beauties now consumed seen His brawny Limbs of flesh and strength bereav'd That oft had armed Foes in pieces cleav'd Whilst even his comely Growth and vital Power Was shrunk within him like a wither'd Flower Whom when fair Una saw ' twards him she mov'd Like Woman joy'd to meet the Man belov'd Yet griev'd to see his pale and cheerless Face That once she thought surpassed mortal Race And when she wasted had a Flood of Tears Ah dearest Knight she said what evil Stars Have now bereav'd you of your beauteous Youth Or your heart influenc'd to suspect my Truth But welcome still my ever loved Lord My Comfort in all straits I 'le you afford And Fortune only blame for being unkind Without imputing Folly to your mind From harsh extreams our good does often grow Like Seed in Winter seasons men do sow These words tho kind the Man could little
just to die Yet for his latest Torment grants him leave To eye her well ere his Sword him shall cleave Which heard the stubborn Sarazen paws'd a space And thus with him expostulates his case Saying Thou Son of Mars what makes thee strive 'Gainst my hot blood this Beauty to reprieve How much 't were better for thy safer life To yield her mine and cease this bloody strife Least when subdu'd thou shouldst repent too late That any blushing Girl provok'd thy Fate Howe're to forward surer my design This blow for earnest take that she is mine And now like intermitting Lightnings flash Their hardy Spears as 'gainst their Shields they clash Whilst fiercer than before they fight renew VVhich seen the Royal Virgin from 'em flew And tim'rously through Desarts takes her way When the false Pilgrim that provok'd this Fray Being the Magician Archimago old Had near them hid and subt'ly did behold The Passage which the des'late Lady took Whom he resolves for vilest ends to look But what the Progress was she after makes Or how an end this bloody Combat takes Requires a larger compass to rehearse Then here our Muse thinks fit to give her Verse CANTO VII The Argument The Red-Cross Knight by Giant stern Is fatally subdu'd Which Arthur does from Una learn And to aid him is mov'd WHat human Prudence always can evade Th' attempts that by the faithless heart are made Or wont less specious Woman's truth explore When witness'd by the Lips he does adore Propense to judge from Beauty's outward Grace That Nature did the mind as comely place VVhich Supposition caus'd the impious Snare That false Duessa laid in seeming fair As her vile Person represents the Name Of chast Fidessa and her beauteous flame And now return'd from Hell's infernal sight Where she for Cure had left her wounded Knight Imploring there great Aesculapius Ghost T' repair the life her Champion had near lost Seeks for the Red-Cross Hero at Pride's Court Whither by her deceits he did resort Whom there not finding for her hop'd design To seek him howe're mov'd her thoughts combine Nor was it long before the weary Knight She found reposed in a mournful plight Under a blooming Shade to which adjoyn'd A Stream that seem'd to sob for his griev'd mind And fearing no surprize had disarray'd Himself of Arms which by him there he lay'd Permitting of his Steed for want of Fare To branch on Boughs and cool his heat with Air. No sooner did the Birds within this Grove Sing chearful Notes his Sorrows to remove But the Enchantress vile Duessa came And with reproach assaults his slack'ned flame Telling that he ingratefully her left In dangerous Mansions of his aid berest Yet could her crafty Language mingle so As her sharp words did with some sweeter go Unkindness past they of new solace treat Whilst in this shade they shelter'd lie from heat Where with green Boughs they deck'd a gloomy place That like a Garland did this Fountain grace Nor ever could the Summers fervent flame Lessen the bubbling Springs which thither came Altho the Cristal Nymph therein did dwell Was by Diana much dislik'd some tell The Cause as 't is allow'd from Fame's report Was from this Goddess displeas'd at her Sport. When with her quiver'd Nymphs she chas'd a Roe And saw this one of all first faintness show For which the angry Deity decreed That like her Temper she faint streams should breed And should for ever such an Influence take As their chill Liquor shou'd men feeble make Of this the Red-Cross Knight could little think And thirsty lying of these Springs did drink VVhich tho they purest seem'd unto the Eye Diffus'd in him their weakning Malady Whose mighty strength soon felt a feeble change As through his Veins his heavy Blood did range Whilst from his chearful Cheeks the Red impairs Like one the coldest shaking Ague bears Yet still he made Addresses to this Dame Hoping her soft embrace would raise his flame As both supinely on the Surface lay And did their gentlest Beams of Love display At once neglectful of his Health and Fame Till from the Wood a blustring Terror came That Trees and Earth affrighted seem'd to shake When up he starts and does his VVeapon take But ere his Armour he could fitly place A Giant more than monstrous him does face No Eye shall one so huge ere view agen And three times higher was than tallest Men. 'T is told this mighty Issue did proceed From Earth's wide Womb begotten by the Seed Of stormy Aeolus who within a Cave Of wondrous depth to her Conception gave From whence this slimy Mass in future time Grew as Sin 's Figure vast in bulk and crime And 'gainst best Knighthood furiously was bent Proud of his matchless strength and high descent A snaggy Oak he on his Shoulder bore VVhich from his Mother's Entrals he had tore And had with that fam'd Giants lately kill'd And now for like Adventure took the Field Stalking along he sternly gaz'd around And with his surly Eye the Hero found When steps he takes were more than Acre wide Till unto him with furious hast arriv'd The Knight not arm'd and from the baneful draught He at this Fountain took to weakness brought Attempts in vain his single Sword to weild And stands like one that impotent must yield When blows at him the rageful Monster made That level might a Tower of Stone have laid Yet fell'd him not with all his mighty power So strangely Heaven supported him that hour Some Strength he'ad left and but enough to try If in his Fate was such Dexterity That could avoid the Giants mighty stroak Which duely watch'd a leap aside he took VVhen missing him the monstrous blow did fall Upon the Turf and it to pieces maull Yet so exceeding was the force he shunn'd That the Air mov'd by it his Senses stunn'd As when some Man unhappily does hear The Canon's Thunder with astonish'd ear And falls to earth as does the Tree that 's cast By the impetuous VVind's unlook'd-for blast So prostrate had this Giant 's strength compell'd The valiant Knight whom as he thus beheld To crush him unto Powder at next blow His heavy Arm he lifting high does show Until Duessa with a loud voice cries Refrain Orgoglio greatest under Skies If thou 't for VVoman's sake this mortal save And let him still remain thy conquer'd Slave For which Obligements I 'le thy Mistress live And in thy Bed my soft Embraces give No sooner her allurements he had heard And view'd her beauteous looks but he appear'd Softned in Soul and to assure her Charms Gently receiv'd her coming to his Arms. And pronely bowing of his mighty height Kisses her once and talks of more at Night Then up the slumb'ring Hero he does take And seeing his sounding Sense did not awake This Monster on his Shoulder him does bear And hands the Lady on with kindest Care. Swell'd like some lustful Victor by whose Toil The Foe 's
'gainst its clearest Fame False men behold it and their Crimes not shame And if t' appall the headstrong rout he sought Stones it to dust transform'd and dust to nought But when he 'd prouder gazing Eyes subdue Its Rays them blind or turn their Person 's Hew Nor are these Deeds surpassing all belief Since this stupendious Shield of Artist's Chief Great Merlin did from Magick Skill produce And by his Spells inspir'd its wondrous use Which mighty Present to this Prince he brought When first his youthful Courage Battels sought After whose brave decease the Fairy Queen Within her Mansion kept it to be seen A gracious Youth whom he entirely lov'd Carrying his Heben Spear behind him mov'd Grac'd to attend as this brave Prince's Squire And bear his Steel thrice season'd by the Fire Whose gallant Person on a war-like Steed Sate and by comely Manage check'd his speed Whilst foaming he the Reins and Rowels bit As if he scorn'd best Man should on him sit This Knight unto fair Una thus arriv'd By Meen and Speech his best Address contriv'd But when he found her Accents few and slow He judg'd the cause arose from secret woe Which to appease or banish from her mind He does Pathetick Words on purpose find And kindly begs that she 'd to him relate By what means her fair worth endur'd this Fate This Speech so touching was it found a way To move her Sorrows where they deepest lay And now she sadly sighing yields to speak Then stays her Lips till Tears her Eyes forsake Letting him know how endless 't were to tell The Troubles in her Soul's discomfits dwell Each thought of which like Death's-cold seem'd to creep Into her Breast and there his pale Dart steep And could but entertain the kindest Ear With things that Pity would not wish to hear Better redresless Harms 't is to conceal Than with fresh bitter Pangs deeds past bewail Think not best Lady said this Hero bold That unto me your Story 's fruitless told Since for your sake my Soul 's with anguish struck As on the Person and Complaints I look But when particularly you shall impart Your Case and Suffrings to my ready Heart My Arms or Counsel happily may sind Some means to ease th' afflictions of your mind But Noblest Knight saies she the greatest Grief Not harder is to tell than find relief And when express'd does worse Intrigue despair If found surpassing humane Aid or Care. But Madam where choice worth refines the Soul Doubt like a flaw does then its mirrour foul And tho our outward Strength impar'd may seem Reason our inward Prop can that redeem His goodly words and well deliver'd Speech So graciously did her Afflictions reach As she resolves the bottom to disclose Where Love and Fate did complicate her VVoes Letting him know succinctly as she might How Stars design'd her Fortunes mock and spight Tho only Daughter of a King and Queen Whose Rule more far than Euphrates was seen Or Gebon's waves through mighty Regions glide And Sands enrich as flows their Golden Tide Thus great my Parent 's Scepter did command Till from loath'd Lakes in vilde Tartarian Land A mighty Dragon with a murderous hate Despoil'd by rav'nous power their Royal State. Whilst to their strongest Fortress they took flight And guarded its huge Towers against his might Where round the place he brazen out-works drew And by four years strict Siege afflicts them now Endless 't were to rehearse th' adventures great Or Armies led by Hero's to defeat This wondrous Monster whom no human Power Could ere attack but it Piece-meal he tore And by continual Victories was known Stronger than all the neighbouring World alone Whether from Unbelief or tim'rous Sin His vanquish'd Prey so many Great have been At last induc'd by full assured Praise Of war-like Knights whom Fairy Land does blaze The Virgin Queen's Gloriana's Court I found For her great Deeds and Beauty far renown'd When circling round her Throne I did behold Knights that from figur'd Stars did Honour hold Their Orders stately Cognizance which rose From Ladies Garter found as Story goes And here of Knighthoods I hop'd some to find Who would from brave adventures be inclin'd My Royal Parents valiantly to aid And kill the Dragon where his Leaguer's made At this fam'd Court I found a youthful Knight Whose early Vertue sought for hardy Fight Clean was his Heart and like his Heart his Arms Had ne're been stain'd by forcing guilty Harms Yet unto him was such high Prowess given As he seem'd for Truth 's Champion rais'd by Heav'n And I tho his sad Witness have beheld How his strength more than human Foes had quell'd Let these without all Episode assure The hardy Battels he did oft endure As here you from his piercing Sword and Spear Behold the Marks of Honour which they bear And which none like his Valour ere could weild Tho since his saddest Relicks left in field O! how is now my Red-Cross Knight distress'd That has lost these whose Valour us'd them best His Love I prov'd by fair beginnings had When nought mistrusting an Enchanter bad His Sense abus'd and vildly made him deem My Faith unworthy of his great esteem But judge you Heavens that all things know aright If I less lov'd him than with all my Might Death I oft wish'd tho Death I could not find As my Soul ponder'd on his deeds unkind And by wild wandrings as my Fortune led I Footsteps left where none before did tread Whilst his irregular Flight us more disjoyns As from one Point shew far extended Lines Thus too too long he weariless did stray Till meeting Witch Duessa in his way The Sorc'ress that against my Truth conspir'd And with her seeming Beauty his heart fir'd And next by subtle Charms his worth betray'd To Giant vaster than of old earth made Who having him disarm'd with his huge Mall Or stunn'd or dead compell'd his mighty fall Tho never Man or Monster could before Boast the success which sadly I deplore Not all she tells before her Spirits faint Whilst with apt words he softens her Complaint Letting her know tho great 's her cause of Grief That he 'd not rest till given her Knight Relief Which chearful words her drooping vitals raise And moving on the Dwarf well guides their wayes CANTO VIII The Argument Fair Una seeks her Lover still And Arthur brings to fight Who doth strange Beast and Giant kill And strips Duessa quite HOw from the World would best men harms receive Did not Celestial succours them relieve And by the Influence of divinest Grace Assist their weakness in each suff'ring Case When oft through human frailty they least see The Steps they take unto their Misery All which the captive Red-Cross Knight did feel Till this great Prince attempts his aid with Steel Who trav'ling with fair Una had arriv'd Unto a Castle high and strong contriv'd When saies the Dwarf see yonder is the place To which my Lord was carry'd
made His Speech does next our loss of Life perswade To me he gave this Rope to cease my Grief And for Sir Terwin's end a rusty Knife My amorous Friend provided thus for Death A wide way forc'd to let out living Breath But I more fearful or more lucky fled Leaving that Knight from his dire Act near dead O may not Mortals more this Charmer hear Lest they with others the same Fate should share VVas ever Man the Red-Cross Knight reply'd Before thus made an impious Suicide My VVoes sayes he too late this Truth assure Nor could I for Earth's Wealth the same endure His subtle Tongue such tempting words instils As Heart and Veins its baneful Sweetness fills Let none him find and Lovers most beware Lest to your wish'd for Bliss he joyns Despair Guide me the Hero answer'd and I 'le find This false and cruel Hater of Mankind In Soul more monstrous than was ere before Wasted by Charon o're the Stygian shore A Knight I you suppose since on your Arms I see remaining signs of Martial Harms Howe're by treacherous Fate you were design'd To seek your safety with affrighted mind My Name 's Sir Trevisan and back will ride Since you desire that I should be your Guide But beg that I may leave you near the place For at no rate again I 'de see his Face Not long they had pass'd thorough desart Ground But the sad dwelling of this VVretch they found Who underneath a Cliff possess'd a Cave Dark and full dismal as the greedy Grave On top whereof liv'd the sad-boding Owl And never haunted by Air 's chearful Fowl. And all around it wandring Ghosts still walk'd That ghastly look'd and in Hell's Language talk'd The ragged Trees on which no Fruit e're grew Upon th' adjacent Rock did wither'd shew On these had many Wretches hanged been Whose Carkases were scatter'd round the Green Or thrown along the Cliffs as sore afraid The strange bare-headed Knight had them survey'd Who would again have fled as he drew near Had not fair Una's Hero check'd his fear The dark some Cave they enter'd where was found That cursed Man low sitting on the ground His grizly Hairs beneath his Shoulders long And hid his Face as they disorder'd hung Deep pitted were his dismal Eyes and star'd Like one whose sullen mind had still despair'd Ghastly his hollow Jaws and Cheeks were pin'd And look'd throughout like one that never din'd His Garment diverse was of ragged Clout Which pinn'd by Thorns his Body hung about And by him was a dead Man bleeding seen VVhose bloody hand had his own Murd'rer been All naked in his gore he wallowed lay As in him stuck the Knife that him did slay VVhich piteous sight as Trevisan had told VVhen the great Hero fully did behold He to the Villain said Thou cursed thing And Author whence this horrid Guilt does spring In thy best Blood imbrued thou shalt die To expiate thy profess'd Cruelty What frantick Fit has thus distracted thee Vain Man that gives so rash a doom to me Is 't Justice think'st thou to deny him death That grants he longer does not merit Breath None here to die did this Desparer force Who kill'd himself to end Life's grievous Course Nor is 't unjust that loathed life should cease When Men from other means can find no ease Who weary travelleth a tedious way And sees a Stream that does his Passage stay Will he not thank the Aid by which 't is past Or frees his Feet that did in Mire stick fast Most envious he that hinders others good Or stays their Passage that attend the Flood What tho Death's Pains awhile distaste our Sense If Rest for ever be our Recompence The Port attain'd the Pilate's Care does cease And Souldiers fight to gain their future ease Thus Man oppress'd himself by Death should free Like one that at his wanted home would be The Knight admiring at his ready Wit Said Wretch consider what thou wouldst admit Or dost thou judge that human Life is given At will to leave without offending Heaven Don't we our Maker so refuse to trust That gives us Periods ere we end in Dust Who like a Soveraign Chief does Man command On his Life's Duty Centinel to stand And not for fear of Death his post to quit Till the Drum beats that does his Watch remit If Man his first beginning cannot know Other than Heaven 's revealed Will does show Dares he presume that he has rightful power To end his dayes at his appointed hour When 't is his duty to attend God's Call And with content when that time comes to fall From length of years reply'd the Caitiff then Improved are the Crimes of wicked Men. And all those Battels which thou boasts to win Through wrath or blood-shed or more daring Sin Expect thy Death shall bloodily repay Shouldst thou defer thy Guilt unto that day Better to end thy youth Adventures here And justly cruel to thy self appear Since all the Actions of thy warful Life At best can claim but glorious bloody Strife Or grant no Foe thy Fury could subdue Age Sorrow Sickness thee can vanquish'd show Besides a thousand Ills that Fortune can Add to the lingring wretched living Man. And if thou 't duely weigh thy Knightly State With what thy vain Atchievements caus'd of late VVhen from a Dungeon thou for Death didst call Yet Fate to end thee worse there spar'd thy fall VVhich thou if Stars are just ought'st to expect Pour'd on thy head since from thy false neglect This gracious Lady's Vertue suffer'd wrong As thou the Witch Duessa courtedst long VVhat more Heroick can for thee remain Than by thy hand to lie at her Feet slain Canst thou hear this and let one Minute flye Ere full detesting Life thou hasts to dye These words the Hero's Soul so deeply pierc'd As thence by thought his past Crimes were rehears'd Which he with secret Horror soon bewail'd Whilst deep Despair his res'lute Heart assail'd To heighten which the wicked Man did shew A Table-book wherein the figur'd Crew Of damned Ghosts such Torments did lament As threaten'd Crimes the Knight was to repent VVhich sight th' afflicted Hero much dismay'd Of nothing but th' Almighty's VVrath afraid Doubting that all the Courage of his Soul Might not his now despairing thoughts controul This by the Villain found to him he brought All means of speedy Death that could be sought Offring to him Ropes Poisons Sword or Fire So he 'd soon chuse by which he would expire But when the Knight these Offers did withstand The VVretch a Dagger keen gives him to hand Bidding him deeply pierce his troubled Breast And free from past and future Evils rest Trembling the Hero did this gift receive As in suspence if longer best to live VVhilst from his Heart past tidings to and fro By Looks that did his Soul's disturbance show At last proceeds to force his final Smart Had Una not stept 'twixt his Blow and Heart VVho interposing with