cups his mates him pledg around Such ioy made Vna when her knight she found And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemde no lesse Then the glad marchant that does vew from ground His ship far come from watrie wildernesse He hurles out vowes and Neptune oft doth blesse So forth they past and all the way they spent Discoursing of her dreadful late distresse In which he askt her what the Lyon ment Who told her all that fell in iourney as she went They had not ridden far when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat Full strongly armd and on a courser free That through his fiersnesse fomed all with sweat And the sharpe yron did for anger eat When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side His looke was sterne and seemed still to threat Cruell reuenge which he in hart did hyde And on his shield Sans loy in bloody lines was dyde When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre And saw the Red-crosse which the knight did beare He burnt in fire and gan eftsoones prepare Himselfe to batteill with his couched speare Loth was that other and did faint through feare To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele But yet his Lady did so well him cheare That hope of new good hap he gan to feele So bent his speare and spurd his horse with yron heele But that proud Paynim forward came so ferce And full of wrath that with his sharphead speare Through vainly 〈◊〉 shield he quite did perce And had his staggering steed not shronke for feare Through shield and body eke he should him beare Yet so great was the puissance of his push That from his sadle quite he did him beare He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed He to him lept in minde to reaue his life And proudly said 〈◊〉 there the worthie meed Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloody knife Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife In peace may passen ouer Let he lake When mourning altars purgd with enimies life The black infernall Furies doen aslake Life from 〈◊〉 thou tookst Sansloy shall frō thee take Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace Till Vna cride O hold that heauie hand Deare Sir what euer that thou be in place Enough is that thy foe doth vanquisht stand Now at thy mercy Mercy not withstand For he is one the truest knight aliue Though conquered now he lye on lowly land And whilest him 〈◊〉 fauourd fayre did thriue In bloudy field therefore of life him not 〈◊〉 epriue Her piteous wordes might not abate his rage But rudely rending vp his helmet would Haue slayne him streight but when he sees his age And hoarie head of Archimago old His hasty hand he doth amased hold And halfe ashamed wondred at the sight For the old man well knew he though vntold In charmes and magick to haue wondrous might Ne euer wont in field ne in round lists to fight And said Why Archimago lucklesse syre What doe I see what hard mishap is this That hath thee hether brought to taste mine yre Or thine the fault or mine the error is Instead of foe to wound my friend amis He answered nought but in a traunce still lay And on those guile full 〈◊〉 eyes of his The cloude of death did sit Which doen away He left him lying so ne would no lenger stay But to the virgin comes who all this while Amased stands her selfe so mockt to see By him who has the guerdon of his guile For so misfeigning her true knight to bee Yet is she now in more perplexitie Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold From whom her booteth not at all to flie Who by her cleanly garment catching hold Her from her Palfrey pluckt her visage to behold But her fiers seruant full of kingly aw And high disdaine whenas his soueraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he saw With gaping iawesfull greedy at him came And ramping on his shield did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharprending clawes But he was stout and lust did now inflame His corage more that frō his griping pawes He hath his shield redeemd and forth his swerd he drawes O then too weake and feeble was the forse Of saluage beast his puissance to withstand For he was strong and of so mightie corse As euer wielded speare in warlike hand And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand Est soones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand And launcht his Lordly hart with death opprest He ror'd aloud whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid From raging spoile of law lesse victors will Her faithfull gard remou'd her hope dismaid Her selfe a yielded pray to saue or spill He now Lord of the field his pride to fill With foule reproches and disdaineful spight Her vildly entertaines and will or nill Beares her away vpon his courser light Her prayers nought preuaile his rage is more of might And all the way with great lamenting paine And piteous plaintes she filleth his dull eares That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine And all the way she wetts with flowing teares But he enrag'd with rancor nothing heares Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so But followes her far of ne ought he feares To be partaker of her wandring woe More mild in beastly kind then that her beastly foe Can. IIII. To sinfull hous of Pryde Duessa guydes the faithfull knight Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy doth chaleng him to fight YOung knight what euer that dost armes professe And through long labours huntest after fame Beware of fraud beware of ficklenesse In choice and chaunge of thy deare loued Dame Least thou of her belieue too lightly blame And rash misweening doe thy hart remoue For vnto knight there is no greater shame Then lightnesse and inconstancie in loue That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly proue Who after that he had faire Vna lorne Through light misdeeming of her loialtie And fale Duessa in her sted had borne Called Fidess and so supposd to be Long with her traueild till at last they see A goodly building brauely garnished The house of mightie Prince it seemd to be And towards it a broad high way that led All bare through peoples feet which thether traueiled Great troupes of people traueild thetherward Both day and night of each degree and place But few returned hauing scaped hard With balefull beggery or soule disgrace Which euer after in most wretched care Like loathsome lazars by the hedges lay Thether Duessa badd him bend his pace For she is wearie of the toilsom way And also nigh consumed is the lingring day A stately Pallace built of squared bricke Which cunningly was without morter laid Whose wals were high but nothing strong nor thick And golden foile all ouer them displaid That purest skye with
if no trespas euer had beene donne But she it all refused at one word And by no meanes would to his will be wonne But chose emongst the iolly Satyres still to wonne He wooed her till day spring he espyde But all in vaine and then turnd to the heard Who butted him with hornes on euery syde And trode downe in the durt where his hore beard Was fowly dight and he of death afeard Early before the heauens fairest light Out of the ruddy East was fully reard The heardes out of their foldes were loosed quight And he emongst the rest crept forth in sory plight So soone as he the Prison dore did pas He ran as fast as both his feer could beare And neuer looked who behind him was Ne scarsely who before like as a Beare That creeping close amongst the hiues to reare An hony combe the wakefull dogs espy And him assayling sore his carkas teare That hardly he with life away does fly Ne stayes till safe him selfe he see from ieopardy Ne stayd he till he came vnto the place Where late his treasure he entombed had Where when he found it not for Trompart bace Had it purloyned for his maister bad With extreme fury he became quite mad And ran away ran with him selfe away That who so straungely had him seene bestadd With vpstart haire and staring eyes dismay From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say High ouer hilles and ouer dales he fledd As if the wind him on his winges had borne Ne banck nor bush could stay him when he spedd His nimble feet as 〈◊〉 still on thorne Griefe and despight and gealofy and scorne Did all the way him follow hard behynd And he himselfe himselfe loath'd so forlorne So shamefully forlorne of womankynd That as a Snake still lurked in his wounded mynd Still fled he forward looking backward still Ne stayd his flight nor fearefull agony Till that he came vnto a rocky hill Ouer the sea suspended dreadfully That liuing creature it would terrify To looke adowne or vpward to the hight From thence he threw him selfe dispiteously All desperate of his fore-damned spright That seemd no help for him was left in liuing sight But through long anguish and selfe-murdring thought He was so wasted and forpined quight That all his substance was consum'd to nought And nothing left but like an aery Spright That on the rockes he fell so flit and light That he thereby receiu'd no hurt at all But chaunced on a craggy cliff to light Whence he with crooked clawes so long did crall That à t the last he found a caue with entrance small Into the same he creepes and thenceforth there Resolu'd to build his balefull mansion In 〈◊〉 darkenes and continuall feare Of that rocks fall which euer and anon Threates with huge ruine him to fall vpon That he dare neuer sleepe but that one eye Still ope he keepes for that occasion Ne euer rests he in tranquillity The roring billowes beat his bowre so boystrously Ne euer is he wont on ought to feed But todes and frogs his pasture poysonous Which in his cold complexion doe breed A filthy blood or humour rancorous Matter of doubt and dread suspitious That doth with curelesse care consume the hart Corrupts the stomacke with gall vitious Croscuts the liuer with internall smart And doth transfixe the soule with deathes eternall dart Yet can he neuer dye but dying liues And doth himselfe with sorrow new sustaine That death and life attonce vnto him giues And painefull pleasure turnes to pleasing paine There dwels he euer miserable swaine Hatefull both to him selfe and euery wight Where he through priuy griefe and horrour vaine Is woxen so deform'd that he has quight Forgot he was a man and Gelosy is hight Cant. XI Britomart chaceth Ollyphant findes Scudamour distrest Assayes the house of Busyrane where loues spoyles are exprest O Hatefull hellish Snake what furie furst Brought thee from balefull house of Proserpine Where in her bosome she thee long had nurst And fostred vp with bitter milke of tine Fowle Gealosy that turnest loue diuine To ioylesse dread and mak'st the louing hart With hatefull thoughts to languish and to pine And feed it selfe with selfe-consuming smart Of all the passions in the mind thou vilest art O let him far be banished away And in his stead let Loue for euer dwell Sweete Loue that doth his golding wings embay In blessed Nectar and pure Pleasures well Vntroubled of vile feare or 〈◊〉 fell And ye faire Ladies that your kingdomes make In th'harts of men them gouerne wisely well And of faire Britomart ensample take That was as trew in loue as Turtle to her make Who with Sir Satyrane as earst ye red Forth ryding from Malbeccoes hostlesse hous Far off aspyde a young man the which fled From an huge Geaunt that with hideous And hatefull outrage long him chaced thus It was that Ollyphant the brother deare Of that Argante vile and vitious From whom the Squyre of Dames was reft whylere This all as bad as she and worse if worse ought were For as the sister did in feminine And filthy lust exceede all woman kinde So he surpassed his sex masculine In beastly vse all that I euer finde Whom when as Britomart beheld behinde The fearefull boy so greedily poursew She was emmoued in her noble minde T' employ her puissaunce to his reskew And pricked fiercely forward where she did him vew Ne was Sir Satyrane her far behinde But with like fiercenesse did ensew the chace Whom when the Gyaunt saw he soone resinde His former suit and from them fled apace They after both and boldly bad him bace And each did striue the other to outgoe But he them both outran a wondrous space For he was long and swift as any Roe And now made better speed t' escape his feared foe It was not Satyrane whom he did feare But Britomart the flowre of chastity For he the powre of chaste hands might not beare But alwayes did their dread encounter fly And now so fast his feet he did apply That he has gotten to a forrest neare Where he is shrowded in security The wood they enter and search euerie where They searched diuersely so both diuided were Fayre Britomart so long him followed That she at last came to a fountaine sheare By which there lay a knight all wallowed Vpon the grassy ground and by him neare His haberieon his helmet and his speare A little of his shield was rudely throwne On which the winged boy in colours cleare Depeincted was full easie to be knowne And he thereby where euer it in field was showne His face vpon the grownd did groueling ly As if he had beene slombring in the shade That the braue Mayd would not for courtesy Out of his quiet slomber him abrade Nor seeme too suddeinly him to inuade Still as she stood she heard with grieuous throb Him grone as if his hart were peeces made And with most painefull pangs to sigh and
wights our wearie daies we waste But how long time said then the 〈◊〉 knight Are you in this misformed hous to dwell We may not chaunge quoth he this euill plight Till we be bathed in a liuing well That is the terme prescribed by the spell O how sayd'he mote I that well out find That may restore you to your wonted well Time and suffised fates to former kynd Shall vs restore none else from hence may vs vnbynd The false Duessa now Fidessa hight Heard how in vaine Fradubio did lament And knew well all was true But the good knight Full of sad feare and ghastly dreriment When all this speech the liuing tree had spent The bleeding bough did thrust into the ground That from the blood he might be innocent And with fresh clay did close the wooden wound Then turning to his Lady dead with feare her fownd Her seeming dead he fownd with feigned feare As all vnweeting of that well she knew And paynd himselfe with busie care to reare Her out of carelesse swowne Her eylids blew And dimmed fight with pale and deadly hew At last she vp gan lift with trembling cheare Her vp he tooke too simple and too trew And oft her kist At length all passed feare He set her on her steede and forward forth did beare Cant. III. Forsaken Truth long seekes her loue And makes the Lyon mylde Marres blind Deuotions mart fals In hand of leachour vylde NOught is there vnder heau'ns wide hollownesse That moues more deare compassion of mind Then beautie brought t'vnworthie wretchednesse Through enuies snares or fortunes freakes vnkind I whether lately through her brightne blynd Or through alleageance and fast fealty Which I do owe vnto all womankynd Feele my hart perst with so great agony When such I see that all for pitty I could dy And now it is empassioned so deepe For fairest Vnaes sake of whom I sing That my frayle eies these lines with teares do steepe To thinke how she through guylefull handeling Though true as touch though daughter of a king Though faire as euer liuing wight was fayre Though nor in word nor deede ill meriting Is from her knight diuorced in despayre And her dew loues deryu'd to that vile witches shayre Yet she most faithfull Ladie all this while Forsaken wofull solitarie mayd Far from all peoples preace as in exile In wildernesse and wastfull deserts strayd To seeke her knight who subtily betrayd Through that late vision which th' Enchaunter wrought Had her abandond She of nought affrayd Through woods and wastnes wide him daily sought Yet wished tydinges none of him vnto her brought One day nigh wearie of the yrkesome way From her vnhastie beast she did alight And on the grasse her dainty limbs did lay In secrete shadow far from all mens sight From her fayre head her fillet she vndight And layd her stole aside Her angels face As the great eye of heauen shyned bright And made a sunshine in the shady place Did neuer mortall eye behold such heauenly grace It fortuned out of the thickest wood A ramping Lyon rushed suddeinly Hunting full greedy after saluage blood Soone as the royall virgin he did spy With gaping mouth at her ran greedily To haue attonce deuourd her tender corse But to the pray when as he drew more ny His bloody rage aswaged with remorse And with the sight amazd forgat his furious forse In stead thereof he kist her wearie feet And lickt her lilly hands with fawning tong As he her wronged innocence did weet O how can beautie maister the most strong And simple truth subdue auenging wrong Whose yielded pryde and proud submission Still dreading death when she had marked long Her hart gan melt in great compassion And drizling teares did shed for pure affection The Lyon Lord of euerie beast in field Quoth she his princely puissance doth abate And mightie proud to humble weake does yield Forgetfull of the hungry rage which late Him prickt in pit tie of my sad estate But he my Lyon and my noble Lord How does he find in cruell hart to hate Her that him lou'd and euer most adord As the God of my life why hath he me abhord Redounding teares did choke th' end of her plaint Which softly ecchoed from the neighbour wood And sad to see her sorrowfull constraint The kingly beast vpon her gazing stood With pittie calmd downe fell his angry mood At last in close hart shutting vp her payne Arose the virgin borne of heauenly brood And to her snowy Palfrey got agayne To seeke her strayed Champion if she might attayne The Lyon would not leaue her desolate But with her went along as a strong gard Of her chast person and a faythfull mate Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard Still when she slept he kept both watch and ward And when she wakt he wayted diligent With humble seruice to her will prepard From her fayre eyes he tooke commandement And euer by her lookes conceiued herintent Long 〈◊〉 thus 〈◊〉 through 〈◊〉 wyde By which she thought her wandring knight shold pas Yet neuer shew of liuing wight 〈◊〉 Till that at length she found the troden 〈◊〉 In which the tract of peoples footing was Vnder the steepe foot of a mountaine hore The same she followes till at last she has A damzell spyde slow footing her before That on her shoulders sad a 〈◊〉 of water bore To whom approching she to her gan call To weet if dwelling place were nigh at hand But the rude wench her answerd nought at all She could not heare nor speake nor vnderstand Till seeing by her side the Lyon 〈◊〉 With suddeine feare her pitcher downe she threw And fled away for neuer in that land Face of fayre Lady she before did vew And that dredd Lyons looke her cast in deadly hew Full fast she fled ne euer lookt behynd As if her life vpon the wager lay And home she came whereas her mother blynd Sate in eternall night nought could she say But 〈◊〉 catching hold did her dismay With quaking hands and other signes of feare Who full of ghastly fright and cold affray Gan shut the dore By this 〈◊〉 there Dame Vna weary Dame and entrance did requere Which when none yielded her vnruly Page With his rude clawes the wicket open rent And let her in where of his cruell rage Nigh dead with feare and faint astonishment Shee found them both in darkefome corner pent Where that old woman day and night did pray Vpon her beads deuoutly penitent Nine hundred Pater nosters euery day And thrise nine hundred Aues she was wont to say And to augment her painefull penaunce more Thrise euery weeke in 〈◊〉 shee did sitt And next her wrinkled 〈◊〉 rough sackecloth wore And thrise three times did fast from any bitt But now for feare her beads she did forgett Whose needelesse dread for to remoue away Faire Vna framed words and count'naunce fitt Which hardly 〈◊〉 at length she 〈◊〉 them pray That in
owne cote he would cut and it distribute glad The fourth appointed by his office was Poore prisoners to relieue with gratious ayd And captiues to redeeme with price of bras From Turkes and Sarazins which them had stayd And though they faulty were yet well he wayd That God to vs forgiueth euery howre Much more then that why they in bands were layd And he that harrowd hell with heauie stowre The faulty soules from thence brought to his heauenly bowre The fift had charge sick persons to attend And comfort those in point of death which lay For them most needeth comfort in the end When sin and hell and death doe most dismay The feeble soule departing hence away All is but lost that liuing we bestow If not well ended at our dying day O man haue mind of that last bitter throw For as the tree does fall so lyes it euer low The sixt had charge of them now being dead In seemely sort their corses to engraue And deck with dainty flowres their brydall bed That to their heauenly spouse both sweet and braue They might appeare when he their soules shall saue The wondrous workmanship of Gods owne mould Whose face he made all beastes to feare and gaue All in his hand euen dead we honour should Ah dearest God me graunt I dead be not defould The seuenth now after death and buriall done Had charge the tender Orphans of the dead And wydowes ayd least they should be vndone In face of iudgement he their right would plead Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread In their defence nor would for gold or fee Be wonne their rightfull causes downe to tread And when they stood in most necessitee He did supply their want and gaue them euer free There when the Elfin knight arriued was The first and chiefest of the seuen whose care Was guests to welcome towardes him did pas Where seeing Mercie that his steps vpbare And alwaies led to her with reuerence rare He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse And seemely welcome for her did prepare For of their order she was Patronesse Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse There she awhile him stayes him selfe to rest That to the rest more hable he might bee During which time in euery good behest And godly worke of Almes and charitee Shee him instructed with great 〈◊〉 Shortly therein so perfect he became That from the first vnto the last degree His mortall life he learned had to frame In holy righteousnesse without rebuke or blame Thence forward by that painfull way they pas Forth to an hill that was both steepe and hy On top whereof a sacred chappell was And eke a litle Hermitage thereby Wherein an aged holy man did lie That day and night said his deuotion Ne other worldly busines did apply His name was heuenly Contemplation Of God and goodnes was his meditation Great grace that old man to him giuen had For God he often saw from heauens hight All were his earthly eien both blunt and bad And through great age had lost their kindly sight Yet wondrous quick and persaunt was his spright As Eagles eie that can behold the Sunne That hill they scale with all their powre and might That his 〈◊〉 thighes nigh 〈◊〉 and fordonne Gan faile but by her helpe the top at last he wonne There they doe finde that godly aged Sire With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed As hoary frost with spangles doth attire The mossy braunches of an Oke halfe ded Each bone might through his body well be red And euery sinew seene through his long fast For nought he car'd his carcas long vnfed His mind was full of spirituall repast And pyn'd his flesh to keepe his body low and chast Who when these two approching he aspide At their first presence grew agrieued sore That forst him lay his heuenly thoughts aside And had he not that Dame respected more Whom highly he did reuerence and adore He would not once haue moued for the knight They him saluted standing far afore Who well them greeting humbly did requight And asked to what end they clomb that redious hight What end qd she should cause vs take such paine But that same end which euery liuing wight Should make his marke high heauen to attaine Is not from hence the way that leadeth right To that most glorious house that glistreth bright With burning starres and euerliuing fire Where of the keies are to thy hand behight By wise Fidelia shee doth thee require To shew it to this knight according his desire Thrise happy man said then the father graue Whose staggering steps thy steady hand doth lead And shewes the way his sinfull soule to saue Who better can the way to heauen aread Then thou thy selfe that was both borne and bred In heuenly throne where thousand Angels shine Thou do est the praiers of the righteous sead Present before the maiesty diuine And his auenging wrath to clemency incline Yet since thou bidst thy pleasure shal be donne Then come thou man of earth and see the way That neuer yet was seene of Faries sonne That neuer leads the traueiler astray But after labors long and sad delay Bring them to ioyous rest and endlesse blis But first thou must a season fast and pray Till from her bands the spright assoiled is And haue her strength recur'd from fraile infirmitis That done he leads him to the highest Mount Such one as that same mighty man of God That blood-red billowes like a walled front On either side disparted with his rod Till that his army dry-foot through them yod Dwelt forty daies vpon where writt in stone VVith bloody letters by the hand of God The bitter doome of death and balefull mone He did receiue whiles flashing fire about him shone Or like that sacred hill whose head full hie Adornd with fruitfull Oliues all arownd Is as it were for endlesse memory Of that deare Lord who oft thereon was fownd For euer with a flowring girlond crownd Or like that pleasaunt Mount that is foray Through famous 〈◊〉 verse each where renownd On which the thrife three learned Ladies play Their heuenly notes and make full many a louely lay From 〈◊〉 far off he vnto him did shew A litle path that was both steepe and long Which to a goodly Citty led his vew Whose wals and towres were builded high strong Of perle and 〈◊〉 stone that earthly tong Cannot describe nor wit of man can tell Too high a ditty for my simple song The Citty of the greate king hight it well Wherein eternall peace and happinesse doth dwell As he thereon stood gazing he might see The blessed Angels to and fro descend From highest heuen in gladsome companee And with great ioy into that Citty wend As commonly as frend does with his frend Whereat he wondred much and gan enquere What stately building durst so high extend Her lofty towres vnto the starry sphere And what vnknowen nation there empeopled
Thrise happy man who fares them both atweene But sith this wretched woman ouercome Of 〈◊〉 rather then of crime hath bene Reserue her cause to her eternall doome And in the meane vouchsafe her honorable toombe Palmer qd he death is an equall doome To good and bad the commen In of rest But after death the tryall is to come When best shall bee to them that liued best But both alike when death hath both supprest Religious reuerence doth buriall teene Which who so wants wants so much of his rest For all so greet shame after death I weene As selfe to dyen bad vnburied bad to beene So both agree their bodies to engraue The great earthes wombe they open to the sky And with sad Cypresse seemely it embraue Then couering with a clod their closed eye They lay therein those corses tenderly And bid them sleepe in euerlasting peace But ere they did their vtmost obsequy Sir Guyon more affection to increace Bynempt a sacred vow which none should ay releace The dead knights sword out of his sheath he drew With which he cutt a lock of all their heare Which medling with their blood earth he threw Into the graue and gan deuoutly sweare Such and such euil God on Gúyon reare And worse and worse young Orphane bethy payne If I or thou dew vengeance doe forbeare Till guiltie blood her guerdon doe obtayne So shedding many teares they closd the earth agayne Cant II. Babes bloody handes may not be clensd the face of golden Meane Her sisters two Extremities striue her to banish cleane THus when Sir Guyon with his faithful guyde Had with dew rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde The litle babe vp in his armes he hent Who with sweet pleasaunce and bold blandishment Gan smyle on them that rather ought to weepe As carelesse of his woe or innocent Of that was doen that ruth emperced deepe In that knightes hart and wordes with bitter teares did steepe Ah lucklesse babe borne vnder cruell starre And in dead parents balefull ashes bred Full little weenest thou what sorrowes are Left thee for porcion of thy liuelyhed Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered As budding braunch rent from the natiue tree And throwen forth till it be withered Such is the state of men Thus enter we Into this life with woe and end with miseree Then soft him selfe inclyning on his knee Downe to that well did in the water weene So loue does loath disdainefull nicitee His guiltie handes from bloody gore to cleene He washt them oft and oft yet nought they beene For all his washing cleaner Still he stroue Yet still the litle hands were bloody seene The which him into great amaz'ment droue And into diuerse doubt his wauering wonder cloue He wist not whether blott of fowle offence Might not be purgd with water nor with bath Or that high God in lieu of innocence Imprinted had that token of his wrath To shew how sore bloodguiltinesse he hat'h Or that the charme and veneme which they dronck Their blood with secret filth infected hath Being diffused through the sencelesse tronck That through the great contagion direful deadly stonck Whom thus at gaze the Palmer gan to bord With goodly reason and thus fayre bespake Ye bene right hart amated gratious Lord And of your ignorance great merueill make Whiles cause not well conceiued ye mistake But know that secret vertues are infusd In euery fountaine and in euerie lake Which who hath skill them rightly to haue chusd To proofe of passing wonders hath full often vsd Of those some were so from their sourse indewd By great Dame Nature from whose fruitfull pap Their welheads spring and are with moisture deawd Which feedes each liuing plant with liquid sap And filles with flowres fayre Floraes painted lap But other some by guifte of later grace Or by good prayers or by other hap Had vertue pourd into their waters bace And thenceforth were renowmd and sought from place place Such is this well wrought by occasion straunge Which to her Nymph befell Vpon a day As she the woodes with bow and shaftes did raunge The hartlesse Hynd and Robucke to dismay Dan Faunus chaunst to meet her by the way And kindling fire at her faire burning eye Inflamed was to follow beauties chace And chaced her that fast from him did fly As Hynd from her so she fled from her enimy At last when fayling breath began to faint And saw no meanes to scape of shame affrayd She set her downe to weepe for sore constraint And to Diana calling lowd for ayde Her deare besought to let her die a mayd The goddesse heard and suddeine where she sate Welling out streames of teares and quite dismayd With stony feare of that rude rustick mate Transformd her to a stone from stedfast virgins state Lo now she is that stone from whose two heads As from two weeping eyes fresh streames do flow Yet colde through feare and old conceiued dreads And yet the stone her semblance seemes to show Shapt like a maide that such ye may her know And yet her vertues in her water byde For it is chaste and pure as purest snow Ne lets her waues with any filth be dyde But euer like her selfe vnstayned hath beene tryde From thence it comes that this babes bloody hand May not be clensd with water of this well Ne certes Sir striue you it to withstand But let them still be bloody as befell That they his mothers innocence may tell As she bequeathd in her last testament That as a sacred Symbole it may dwell In her sonnes flesh to mind reuengement And be for all chaste Dames an endlesse moniment He hearkned to his reason and the childe Vptaking to the Palmer gaue to beare But his sad fathers armes with blood defilde An heauie load himselfe did lightly reare And turning to that place in which whyleare He left his loftie steed with golden sell And goodly gorgeous barbes him found not theare By other accident that earst befell He is conuaide but how or where here fits not tell Which when Sir Guyon saw all were he wroth Yet algates mote he soft himselfe appease And fairely fare on foot how euer loth His double burden did him sore disease So long they traueiled with litle ease Till that at last they to a Castle came Built on a rocke adioyning to the seas It was an auncient worke of antique frame And wondrous strong by nature and by skilfull frame Therein three sisters dwelt of sundry sort The children of one syre by mothers three Who dying whylome did diuide this fort To them by equall shares in equall fee But stryfull mind and diuerse qualitee Drew them in partes and each made others foe Still did they striue and daily disagree The eldest did against the youngest goe And both against the middest meant to worken woe Where when the knight arriu'd he was right well Receiu'd as knight of so much worth became Of second
Sith his good steed is lately from him gone Patience perforce helplesse what may it boot To frett for anger or for griefe to mone His Palmer now shall foot no more alone So fortune wrought as vnder greene woodes syde He lately hard that dying Lady grone He left his steed without and speare besyde And rushed in on foot to ayd her cre she dyde The whyles a losell wandring by the way One that to bountie neuer cast his mynd Ne thought of honour euer did assay His baser brest but in his kestrell kynd A pleasing vaine of glory he did fynd To which his flowing toung and troublous spright Gaue him great ayd and made him more inclynd He that braue steed there finding ready dight Purloynd both steed and speare and ran away full light Now gan his hart all swell in iollity And of him selfe great hope and help conceiu'd That puffed vp with smoke of vanity And with selfe-loued personage deceiu'd He gan to hope of men to be receiu'd For such as he him thought or faine would bee But for in court gay portaunce he perceiu'd And gallant shew to be in greatest gree Eftsoones to court he cast t' aduaunce his first degree And by the way he chaunced to espy One sitting ydle on a sunny banck To whom auaunting in great brauery As Peacocke that his painted plumes doth pranck He smote his courser in the trembling flanck And to him threatned his hart-thrilling speare The seely man seeing him ryde so ranck And ayme at him fell flatt to ground for feare And crying Mercy loud his pitious handes gan reare Thereat the Scarcrow wexed wondrous prowd Through fortune of his first aduenture fayre And with big thundring voice reuyld him lowd Vile Caytiue vassall of dread and despayre Vnworthie of the commune breathed ayre Why liuest thou dead dog a lenger day And doest not vnto death thy selfe prepayre Dy or thy selfe my captiue yield for ay Great fauour I thee graunt for aunswere thus to stay Hold O deare Lord hold your dead-doing hand Then loud he cryde I am your humble thrall Ah wretch qd he thy destinies withstand My wrathfull will and doe for mercy call I giue thee life therefore prostrated fall And kisse my stirrup that thy homage bee The Miser threw him selfe as an Offall Streight at his foot in base humilitee And cleeped him his liege to hold of him in fee So happy peace they made and faire accord Eftsoones this liegeman gan to wexe more bold And when he felt the folly of his Lord In his owne kind he gan him selfe vnfold For he was wylie witted and growne old In cunning sleightes and practick knauery From that day forth he cast for to vphold His ydle humour with fine slattery And blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity Trompart fitt man for Braggadochio To serue at court in view of vaunting eye Vaineglorious man when fluttring wind does blow In his light winges is lifted vp to skye The scorne of knighthood and trew cheualrye To thinke without desert of gentle deed And noble worth to be aduaunced hye Such prayse is shame but honour vertues meed Doth beare the fayrest flowre in honourable seed So forth they pas a well consorted payre Till that at length with Archimage they meet Who seeing one that shone in armour fayre On goodly course thondring with his feet Eftsoones supposed him a person meet Of his 〈◊〉 to make the instrument For since the Redcrosse knight he erst did weet To beene with Guyon knitt in one consent The ill which earst to him he now to Guyon ment And comming close to Trompart gan inquere Of him what mightie warriour that mote bee That rode in golden sell with single spere But wanted sword to wreake his enmitee He is a great aduenturer said he That hath his sword through hard assay forgone And now hath vowd till he auenged bee Of that despight neuer to wearen none That speare is him enough to doen a thousand grone Th' enchaunter greatly ioyed in the vaunt And weened well ere long his will to win And both his foen with equall foyle to daunt Tho to him louting lowly did begin To plaine of wronges which had committed bin By Guyon and by that false Redcrosse knight Which two through treason and deceiptfull gin Had slayne Sir Mordant and his Lady bright That more him honour win to wreak so foule despight Therewith all suddeinly he seemd enragd And threatned death with dreadfull countenaunce As if their liues had in his hand beene gagd And with stiffe force shaking his mortall launce To let him weet his doughtie valiaunce Thus said Old man great sure shal be thy meed If where those knights for feare of dew vengeaunce Doe lurke thou certeinly to mee areed That I may wreake on them their hainous hateful deed Certes my Lord said he that shall I soone And giue you eke good helpe to their decay But mote I wisely you aduise to doon Giue no ods to your foes but doe puruay Your selfe of sword before that bloody day For they be two the prowest knights on grownd And oft approu'd in many hard assay And eke of surest steele that may be fownd Doe arme yourself against that day them to confownd Dotard saide he let be thy deepe aduise Seemes that through many yeares thy wits thee faile And that weake eld hath left thee nothing wise Els neuer should thy iudgement be so frayle To measure manhood by the sword or mayle Is not enough fowre quarters of a man Withouten sword or shield an hoste to quayle Thou litle wotest what this right-hand can Speake they which haue beheld the battailes which it wan The man was much abashed at his boast Yet well he wist that who so would contend With either of those knightes on euen coast Should neede of all his armes him to defend Yet feared least his boldnesse should offend When Braggadocchio saide Once I did sweare When with one sword seuen knightes I brought to end Thence forth in battaile neuer sword to beare But it were that which noblest knight on earth doth weare Perdy Sir knight saide then th'enchaunterbliue That shall I shortly purchase to your hond For now the best and noblest knight aliue Prince Arthur is that wonnes in Faerie lond He hath a sword that flames like burning brond The same by my deuice I vndertake Shall by to morrow by thy side be fond At which bold word that boaster gan to quake And wondred in his minde what mote that Monster make He stayd not for more bidding but away Was suddein vanished out of his sight The Northerne winde his wings did broad display At his commaund and reared him vp light From of the earth to take his aerie flight They lookt about but no where could espye Tract of his foot then dead through great affright They both nigh were and each bad other flye Both fled attonce ne euer backe retourned eye Till that they come vnto a forrest greene In which they
requyre Or think that ought those puissant hands may marre Death is for wretches borne vnder vnhappy starre Perdye then is it fitt for me said he That am I weene most wretched man aliue Burning in flames yet no flames can I see And dying dayly dayly yet reuiue O Atin helpe to me last death to giue The varlet at his plaint was grieued so sore That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue And his owne health remembring now no more Did follow that ensample which he blam'd afore Into the lake he lept his Lord to ayd So Loue the dread of daunger doth despise And of him catching hold him strongly stayd From drowning But more happy he then wise Of that seas nature did him not auise The waues thereof so slow and sluggish were Engrost with mud which did them fowle agrise That euery weighty thing they did vpbeare Ne ought mote euer sinck downe to the bottom there Whiles thus they strugled in that ydle waue And stroue in vaine the one him selfe to drowne The other both from drowning for to saue Lo to that shore one in an auncient gowne Whose hoary locks great grauitie did crowne Holding in hand a goodly arming sword By fortune came ledd with the troublous sowne Where drenched deepe he fownd in that dull ford The carefull seruaunt stryuing with his raging Lord. Him Atin spying knew right well of yore And lowdly cald Help helpe O Archimage To saue my Lord in wretched plight forlore Helpe with thy hand or with thy counsell sage Weake handes but counsell is most strong in age Him when the old man saw he woundred sore To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage Yet sithens helpe he saw he needed more Then pitty he in hast approched to the shore And cald Pyrrhochles what is this I see What hellish fury hath at earst thee hent Furious euer I thee knew to bee Yet neuer in this straunge astonishment These flames these flames he cryde do me torment What flames qd he when I thee present see In daunger rather to be drent then brent Harrow the flames which me consume said hee Ne can be quencht within my secret bowelles bee That cursed man that cruel feend of hell Furor oh Furor hath me thus bedight His deadly woundes within my liuers swell And his whott fyre burnes in mine entralles bright Kindled through his infernall brond of spight Sith late with him I batteill vaine would boste That now I weene Ioues dreaded thunder light Does scorch not halfe so sore nor damned ghoste In flaming Phlegeton does not so felly roste Which when as Archimago heard his griefe He knew right well and him attonce disarmd Then searcht his secret woundes and made a priefe Of euery place that was with bruzing harmd Or with the hidden fier inly warmd Which doen he balmes and herbes thereto applyde And euermore with mightie spels them charmd That in short space he has them qualifyde And him restor'd to helth that would haue algates dyde Cant. VII Guyon findes Mamon in a delue sunning his threasure hore Is by him tempted led downe To see his secrete store AS Pilot well expert in perilous waue That to a stedfast starre his course hath bent When foggy mistes or cloudy tempests haue The faithfull light of that faire lampe yblent And couer'd heauen with hideous dreriment Vpon his card and compas firmes his eye The maysters of his long experiment And to them does the steddy helme apply Bidding his winged vessell fairely forward fly So Guyon hauing lost his trustie guyde Late left beyond that Ydle lake proceedes Yet on his way of none accompanyde And euermore himselfe with comfort feedes Of his owne vertues and praise-worthie deedes So long he yode yet no aduenture found Which fame of her shrill trompet worthy reedes For still he traueild through wide wastfull ground That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around At last he came vnto a gloomy glade Couer'd with boughes shrubs from heauens light Whereas he sitting found in secret shade An vncouth saluage and vnciuile wight Of griesly hew and fowle ill fauour'd sight His face with smoke was tand eies were bleard His head and beard with sout were ill bedight His cole-blacke hands did seeme to haue ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge and nayles like clawes appeard His yron cote all ouergrowne with rust Was vnderneath enueloped with gold Whose glistring glosse darkned with filthy dust Well yet appeared to haue beene of old A worke of rich entayle and curious mould Wouen with antickes and wyld ymagery And in his lap a masse of coyne he told And turned vpside downe to feede his eye And couetous desire with his huge threasury And round about him lay on euery side Great heapes of gold that neuer could be spent Of which some were rude owre not purifide Of Malcibers deuouring element Some others were new driuen and distent Into great Ingowes and to wedges square Some in round plates withouten moniment But most were stampt and in their metal bare The antique shapes of kings and 〈◊〉 straung rare Soone as he Guyon saw in great affright And haste he rose for to remoue aside Those pretious hils from straungers enuious sight And downe them poured through an hole full wide Into the hollow earth them there to hide But Guyon lightly to him leaping stayd His hand that trembled as one terrifyde And though him selfe were at the sight dismayd Yet him perforce restraynd and to him doubtfull sayd What art thou man if man at all thou art That here in desert hast thine habitaunce And these rich hils of welth doest hide apart From the worldes eye and from her right vsaunce Thereat with staring eyes fixed askaunce In great disdaine he answerd Hardy Elfe That darest vew my direfull countenaunce I read thee rash and heedlesse of thy selfe To trouble my still seate and heapes of pretious pelfe God of the world and worldlings I me call Great Mammon greatest god below the skye That of my plenty poure out vnto all And vnto none my graces do enuye Riches renowme and principality Honour estate and all this worldes good For which men swinck and sweat incessantly Fro me do flow into an ample flood And in the hollow earth haue their eternall brood Wherefore if me thou deigne to serue and 〈◊〉 At thy commaund lo all these mountaines bee Or if to thy great mind or greedy vew All these may not suffise there shall to thee Ten times so much be nombred francke and free Mammon said he thy godheads vaunt is vaine And idle offers of thy golden fee To them that couet such eye-glutting gaine Proffer thy giftes and fitter seruaunts entertaine Me ill besits that in derdoing armes And honours suit my vowed daies do spend Vnto thy bounteous baytes and pleasing charmes With which weake men thou witchest to attend Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend And low abase the high heroicke spright That ioyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend Faire
Yet such as were through former flight preseru'd Gathering againe her Host she did renew And with fresh corage on the victor seru'd But being all defeated saue a few Rather then fly or becaptiu'd her selfe she slew O famous moniment of womens prayse Matchable either to Semiramis Whom antique history so high doth rayse Or to Hypsiphil ' or to Thomiris Her Host two hundred thousand numbred is Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might Triumphed oft against her enemis And yet though ouercome in haplesse fight Shee triumphed on death in enemies despight Her reliques Fulgent hauing gathered Fought with Seuerus and him ouerthrew Yet in the chace was slaine of them that fled So made them victors whome he did subdew Then gan Carausius tirannize anew And gainst the Romanes bent their proper powre But him Allectus treacherously slew And tooke on him the robe of Emperoure Nath'lesse the same enioyed but short happy howre For Asclepiodate him ouercame And left inglorious on the vanquisht playne Without or robe or rag to hide his shame 〈◊〉 afterwards he in his stead did raigne But shortly was by Coyll in batteill slaine Who after long debate since Lucies tyme Was of the Britons first crownd Soueraine Then gan this Realme renew her passed prime He of his name Coylchester built of stone and lime Which when the Romanes heard they hether sent Constantius a man of mickle might With whome king Coyll made an agreement And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright Fayre Helena the fairest liuing wight Who in all godly thewes and goodly praise Did far excell but was most famous hight For skil in Musicke of all in her daies Aswell in curious instruments as cunning laies Of whom he did great Constantine begett Who afterward was Emperour of Rome To which whiles absent he his mind did sett Octauius here lept into his roome And it vsurped by vnrighteous doome But he his title iustifide by might Slaying Traherne and hauing ouercome The Romane legion in dreadfull fight So settled he his kingdome and confirmd his right But wanting yssew male his daughter deare He gaue in wedlocke to Maximian And him with her made of his kingdome heyre Who soone by meanes thereof the Empire wan Till murdred by the freends of Gratian Then gan the Hunnes and Picts inuade this land During the raigne of Maximinian Who dying left none heire them to withstand But that they ouerran all parts with easy hand The weary Britons whose war-hable youth Was by Maximian lately ledd away With wretched miseryes and woefull ruth Were to those Pagans made an open pray And daily spectacle of sad decay Whome Romane warres which now fowr hundred yeares And more had wasted could no whit dismay Til by consent of Commons and of Peares They crownd the secōd Constantine with ioyous teares Who hauing oft in batteill vanquished Those spoylefull Picts and swarming Easterlings Long time in peace his realme established Yet oft annoyd with sondry bordragings Of neighbour Scots and forrein Scatterlings With which the world did in those dayes abound Which to outbarre with painefull pyonings From sea to sea he heapt a mighty mound Which from Alcluid to Panwelt did that border bownd Three sonnes he dying left all vnder age By meanes whereof their vncle Vortigere Vsurpt the crowne during their pupillage Which th' Infants tutors gathering to feare Them closely into Armorick did beare For dread of whom and for those Picts annoyes He sent to Germany straunge aid to reare From whence eftsoones arriued here three hoyes Of Saxons whom he for his safety imployes Two brethren were their Capitayns which hight Hengist and Horsus well approu'd in warre And both of them men of renowmed might Who making vantage of their ciuile iarre And of those forreyners which came from farre Grew great and got large portions of land That in the Realme ere long they stronger arre Then they which sought at first their helping hand And Vortiger haue forst the kingdome to aband But by the helpe of Vortimere his sonne He is againe vnto his rule restord And Hengist seeming sad for that was donne Receiued is to grace and new accord Through his faire daughters face flattring word Soone after which three hundred Lords he slew Of British blood all sitting at his bord Whose dolefull moniments who list to rew Th' eternall marks of treason may at Stonheng vew By this the sonnes of Constantine which fled Ambrose and Vther did ripe yeares attayne And here arriuing strongly challenged The crowne which Vortiger did long detayne Who flying from his guilt by them was slayne And Hengist eke soone brought to shamefull death Thenceforth Aurelius peaceably did rayne Till that through poyson stopped was his breath So now entombed lies at Stoneheng by the heath After him Vther which Pendragon hight Succeeding There abruptly it did end Without full point or other Cesure right As if the rest some wicked hand did rend Or th' Author selfe could not at least attend To finish it that so vntimely breach The Prince him selfe halfe seemed to offend Yet secret pleasure did offence empeach And wonder of antiquity long stopt his speach At last quite rauisht with delight to heare The royall Ofspring of his natiue land Cryde out Deare countrey O how dearely deare Ought thy remembraunce and perpetual band Be to thy foster Childe thà t from thy hand Did commun breath and nouriture receaue How brutish is it not to vnderstand How much to her we owe that all vs gaue That gaue vnto vs all what euer good we haue But Guyon all this while his booke did read Ne yet has ended for it was a great And ample volume that doth far excead My leasure so long leaues here to repeat It told how first Prometheus did create A man of many parts from beasts deryu'd And then stole fire from heuen to animate His worke for which he was by Ioue depryu'd Of life him self and hart-strings of an Aegle ryu'd That man so made he called Elfe to weet Quick the first author of all Elfin kynd Who wandring through the world with wearie feet Did in the gardins of Adonis fynd A goodly creature whom he deemd in mynd To be no earthly wight but either Spright Or-Angell th' authour of all woman kynd Therefore a Fay he her according hight Of whom all Faryes spring fetch their lignage right Of these a mighty people shortly grew And puissant kinges which all the world warrayd And to them selues all Nations did subdew The first and eldest which that scepter swayd Was Elfin him all India obayd And all that now America men call Next him was noble Elfinan who laid Cleopolis foundation first of all But Elfiline enclosd it with a golden wall His sonne was Elfinell who ouercame The wicked Gobbelines in bloody field But Elfant was of most renowmed fame Who all of Christall did Panthea build Then Elfar who two brethren gyauntes kild The one of which had two heades th' other three Then Elfinor
And the frayle soule in deepe delight nigh drownd And when it ceast shrill trompets lowd did bray That their report did far away rebound And when they ceast it gan againe to play The whiles the maskers marched forth in trim aray The first was Fansy like a louely Boy Of rare aspect and beautie without peare Matchable ether to that ympe of Troy Whom Ioue did loue and chose his cup to beare Or that same daintie 〈◊〉 which was so deare To great Alcides that when as he dyde He wailed womanlike with many a teare And euery word and euery valley wyde He fild with Hylas name the Ny mphes eke Hylas cryde His garment nether was of silke nor say But paynted plumes in goodly order dight Like as the 〈◊〉 Indians do aray Their tawney bodies in their proudest plight As those same plumes so seemd he vaine and light That by his gate might easily appeare For still he far'd as dauncing in delight And in his hand a windy fan did 〈◊〉 That in the ydle ayre he mou'd still here and theare And him beside marcht amorous Desyre Who seemd of ryper yeares then th' other Swayne Yet was that others swayne this elders syre And gaue him being commune to them twayne His garment was disguysed very vayne And his embrodered Bonet sat awry Twixt both his hands few sparks he close did strayne Which still he blew and kindled busily That soone they life conceiu'd and forth in flames did fly Next after him went Doubt who was yclad In a discolour'd cote of straunge disguyse That at his 〈◊〉 a brode Capuccio had And sleeues dependaunt Albanese-wyse He lookt askew with his mistrustfull eyes And nycely trode as thornes lay in his way Or that the flore to shrinke he did auyse And on a broken reed he still did stay His feeble steps which shrunck when hard thereon he lay With him went Daunger cloth'd in ragged weed Made of Beares skin that him more dreadfull made Yet his owne face was dreadfull ne did need Straunge horrour to deforme his griesly shade A net in th' one hand and a rusty blade In th' other was this Mischiefe that mishap With th' one his foes he threatned to inuade With th' other he his friends ment to enwrap For whom he could not kill he practizd to entrap Next him was Feare all arm'd from top to toe Yet thought himselfe not safe enough thereby But feard each shadow mouing too or froe And his owne armes when glittering he did spy Or clashing heard he fast away did fly As ashes pale of hew and winged heeld And euermore on daunger fixt his eye Gainst whom he alwayes bent a brasen shield Which his right hand vnarmed fearefully did wield With him went Hope in rancke a handsome Mayd Of chearefull looke and louely to behold In silken samite she was light arayd And her fayre lockes were wouen vp in gold She alway smyld and in her hand did hold An holy water Sprinckle dipt in deowe With which slie sprinckled fauours manifold On whom she list and did great liking sheowe Great liking vnto many but true loue to feowe And after them 〈◊〉 and Suspect Marcht in one rancke yet an vnequall paire For she was gentle and of milde aspect Courteous to all and seeming debonaire Goodly adorned and exceeding faire Yet was that all but paynted and pourloynd And her bright browes were deckt with borrowed haire Her deeds were forged and her words false coynd And alwaies in her hand two clewes of silke she twynd But he was fowle ill fauoured and grim Vnder his eiebrowes looking still askaunce And euer as Dissemblaunce laught on him He lowrd on her with daungerous eyeglaunce Shewing his nature in his countenaunce His rolling eies did neuer rest in place But walkte each where for feare of hid mischaunce Holding a lattis still before his face Through which he stil did peep as forward he did pace Next him went Griefe and Fury matcht yfere Griefe all in sable sorrowfully clad Downe hanging his dull head with heauy chere Yet inly being more then seeming sad A paire of Pincers in his hand he had With which he pinched people to the hart That from thenceforth a wretched life they ladd In wilfull languor and consuming smart Dying each day with in ward wounds of dolours dart But Fury was full ill appareiled In rags that naked nigh she did appeare With ghastly looks and dreadfull drerihed For from her backe her garments she did teare And from her head ofterent her snarled heare In her right hand a firebrand shee did tosse About her head still roming here and there As a dismayed Deare in chace emhost Forgetfull of his safety hath his right way lost After them went Displeasure and Pleasaunce He looking lompish and full 〈◊〉 sad And hanging downe his heauy countenaunce She chearfull fresh and full of ioyaunce glad As if no sorrow she ne felt ne dread That euill matched paire they seemd to bee An angry Waspe th' one in a viall had Th' other in hers an hony-lady Bee Thus marched these six couples forth in faire degree After all these there marcht a most faire Dame Led of two grysie villeins th' one Despight The other cleped Cruelty by name She dolefull Lady like a dreary Spright Cald by strong charmes out of eternall night Had Deathes owne ymage figurd in her face Full of sad signes fearfull to liuing sight Yet in that horror shewd a seemely grace And with her feeble feete did moue a comely pace Her brest all naked as 〈◊〉 yuory Without adorne of gold or siluer bright Wherewith the Craftesman wonts it beautify Of her dew honour was despoyled quight And a wide wound therein O ruefull sight Entrenched deep with knyfe accursed keene Yet freshly bleeding forth her fainting spright The worke of cruell hand was to be seene That dyde in sanguine red her skin all snowy cle At that wide orifice her trembling hart Was drawne forth and in siluer basin layd Quite through transfixed with a deadly dart And in her blood yet steeming fresh embayd And those two villeins which her steps vpstayd When her weake feete could scarcely her sustaine And fading vitall powres gan to fade Her forward skill with torture did constraine And euermore encreased her consuming paine Next after her the winged God him selfe Cameriding on a Lion rauenous Taught to obay the menage of that Elfe That man and beast with powre imperious Subdeweth to his kingdome tyrannous His blindfold eies he bad a while vnbinde That his proud spoile of that same dolorous Faire Dame he might behold in perfect kinde Which seene he much reioyced in his cruell minde Of which ful prowd him selfe vp rearing hye He looked round about with sterne disdayne And did suruay his goodly company And marshalling the euill ordered trayne With that the darts which his right did straine Full dreadfully he shooke that all did quake And clapt on hye his coulourd winges twaine That all his many it affraide did
speach Could his blood frosen hart emboldened bee But through his boldnes rather feare did reach Yett forst at last he made through silēce suddein breach And am I now in safetie sure quoth he From him that would haue forced me to dye And is the point of death now turnd fro mee That I may tell this haplesse history Feare nought quoth he no daunger now is nye Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace Said he the which with this vnlucky eye I late beheld and had not greater grace Me reft from it had bene partaker of the place I lately chaunst Would I had neuer chaunst With a fayre knight to keepen companee Sir Terwin hight that well himselfe aduaunst In all affayres and was both bold and free But not so happy as mote happy bee He lou'd as was his lot a Lady gent That him againe lou'd in the least degree For she was proud and of too high intent And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament From whom retourning sad and comfortlesse As on the way together we did fare We met that villen God from him me blesse That cursed wight from whom I scapt whyleare A man of hell that calls himselfe Despayre Who first vs greets and after fayre areedes Of tydinges straunge and of aduentures rare So creeping close as Snake in hidden weedes Inquireth of our states and of our knightly deedes Which when he knew and felt our feeble harts Embost with bale and bitter byting griefe Which loue had launched with his deadly darts With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe He pluckt from vs all hope of dew reliefe That earst vs held in loue of lingring life Then hopelesse hartlesse gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs dye to stint all further strife To me he lent this rope to him a rusty knife With which sad instrument of hasty death That wofull louer loathing lenger light A wyde way made to let forth liuing breath But I more fearefull or more lucky wight Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight Fledd fast away halfe dead with dying feare Ne yet assur'd of life by you Sir knight Whose like infirmity like chaunce may beare But God you neuer let his charmed speaches heare How may a man said he with idle speach Be wonne to spoyle the Castle of his health I wote quoth he whom tryall late did teach That like would not for all this worldes wealth His subtile tong like dropping honny mealt'h Into the heart and searcheth euery vaine That ere one be aware by secret stealth His powre is reft and weaknes doth remaine O neuer Sir desire to try his guilefull traine Certes sayd he hence shall I neuer rest Till I that treachours art haue heard and tryde And you Sir knight whose name mote I request Of grace do me vnto his cabin guyde I that hight Treuisan quoth he will ryde Against my liking backe to doe you grace But nor for gold nor glee will I abyde By you when ye arriue in that same place For 〈◊〉 had I die then see his deadly face Ere long they come where that same wicked wight His dwelling has low in an hollow caue Far vnderneath a craggy clifty plight Darke dolefull dreary like a greedy graue That still for carrion carcases doth craue On top whereof ay dwelt the ghastly Owle Shrieking his balefull note which euer draue Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle Aud all about it wandring ghostes did wayle howle And all about old stockes and stubs of trees Whereon nor fruite nor leafe was euer seene Did hang vpon the ragged rocky knees On which had many wretches hanged beene Whose carcases were scattred on the greene And throwne about the clifts Arriued there That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene Would faine haue fled ne durst approchen neare But th' other forst him staye and comforted in feare That darkesome caue they enter where they find That cursed man low sitting on the ground Musing full sadly in his sullein mind His griesie lockes long growen and vnbound Disordred hong about his shoulders round And hid his face through which his hollow eyne Lookt deadly dull and stared as astound His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine Were shronke into his iawes as he did neuer dyne His garment nought but many ragged clouts With thornes together pind and patched was The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts And him beside there lay vpon the gras A dreary corse whose life away did pas All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood That from his wound yet welled fresh alas In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood And made an open passage for the gushing flood Which piteous spectacle approuing trew The wofull tale that Trevisan had told When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold Him to auenge before his blood were cold And to the villein sayd Thou damned wight The authour of this fact we here behold What iustice can but iudge against thee right With thine owne blood to price his blood here shed in sight What franticke fit quoth he hath thus distraught Thee foolish man so rash a doome to giue What iustice euer other iudgement taught But he should dye who merites not to liue None els to death this man despayring driue But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death Is then vniust to each his dew to giue Or let him dye that loatheth liuing breath Or let him die at ease that liueth here vneath Who trauailes by the wearie wandring way To come vnto his wished home in haste And meetes a flood that doth his passage stay Is not great grace to helpe him ouer past Or free his feet that in the myresticke fast Most enuious man that grieues at neighbours good And fond that ioyest in the woe thou hast Why wilt not let him passe that long hath stood Vpon the bancke yet wilt thy selfe not pas the flood He there does now enioy eternall rest And happy ease which thou doest want and craue And further from it daily wanderest What if some little payne the passage haue That makes frayle flesh to feare the bitter waue Is not short payne well borne that bringes long ease And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue Sleepe after toyle port after stormie seas Ease after warre death after life does greatly pleafe The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit And sayd The terme of life limited Ne may a man prolong nor shorten it The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted Nor leaue his stand vntill his Captaine bed Who life did limit by almightie doome Quoth he knowes best the termes established And he that points the Centonell his roome Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome Is not his deed what euer thing is donne In heauen and earth did not he all create To die againe all ends that was begonne Their times in his eternall booke of fate Are written sure and haue their certein date
Who then can striue with strong necessitie That holds the world in his still chaunging state Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie Whē houre of death is come let none aske whence nor why The lenger life I wote the greater sin The greater sin the greater punishment All those great battels which thou boasts to win Through strife and blood-shed and auengement Now praysd hereafter deare thou shalt repent For life must life and blood must blood repay Is not enough thy euill life forespent For he that once hath missed the right way The further he doth goe the further he doth stray Then doe no further goe no further stray But herely downe and to thy rest betake Th' ill to preuent that life ensewen may For what hath life that may it loued make And giues not rather cause it to forsake Feare sicknesse age losse labour sorrow strife Payne hunger cold that makes the hart to quake And euer fickle fortune rageth rife All which and thousands mo do make a loathsome life Thou wretched man of death hast greatest need If in true ballaunce thou wilt weigh thy state For neuer knight that dared warlike deed More luckless dissauentures did amate Witnes the dungeon deepe wherein of late Thy life shutt vp for death so oft did call And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date Yet death then would the like mishaps forestall Into the which heareafter thou maist happen fall Why then doest thou O man of sin desire To draw thy dayes forth to their last degree Is not the measure of thy sinfull hire High heaped vp with huge 〈◊〉 Against the day of wrath to burden thee Is not enough that to this Lady mild Thou falsest hast thy faith with periuree And sold thy selfe to serue Duessa vild With whom in al abuse thou hast thy selfe defild Is not he iust that all this doth behold From highest heuen and beares an equall eie Shall he thy sins vp in his knowledge fold And guilty be of thine impietie Is not his lawe Let euery sinner die Die shall all flesh what then must needs be donne Is it not better to doe willinglie Then linger till the glas be all out ronne Death is the end of woes die soone O faries sonne The knight was much enmoued with his speach That as a swords poynt through his 〈◊〉 did perse And in his conscience made a secrete breach Well knowing 〈◊〉 all that he did reherse And to his fresh remembraunce did reuerse The vgly vew of his deformed crimes That all his manly powres it did disperse As he were charmed with inchaunted rimes That oftentimes he quakt and fainted oftentimes In which amazement when the Miscreaunt Perceiued him to wauer weake and fraile Whiles trembling horror did his conscience daunt And hellish anguish did his soule assaile To driue him to despaire and quite to quaile Hee shewd him painted in a table plaine The damned ghosts that doe in torments waile And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paine With fire and brimstone which for euer shall remaine The sight whereof so throughly him dismaid That nought but death before his eies he saw And euer burning wrath before him laid By righteous sentence of th' Almighties law Then gan the villein him to ouercraw And brought vnto him swords ropes poison fire And all that might him to perdition draw And bad him choose what death he would desire For death was dew to him that had prouokt Gods ire But whenas none of them he saw him take He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene And gaue it him in hand his hand did quake And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene And troubled blood through his pale face was seene To come and goe with tidings from the heart As it a ronning messenger had beene At last resolu'd to worke his finall smart He lifted vp his hand that backe againe did start Which whenas Vna heard through euery vaine The crudled cold ran to her well of life As in a swowne but so one reliu'd againe Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife And threw it to the ground enraged rife And to him said Fie fie faint hearted knight What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife Is this the battaile which thou vauntst to fight With that fire-mouthed Dragon horrible and bright Come come away fraile feeble fleshly wight Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart Ne diuelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright In heauenly mercies hast thou not a part Why shouldst thou then despeire that chosen art Where iustice growes there grows eke greter grace The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart And that accurst hand-writing doth deface Arise Sir knight arise and leaue this cursed place So vp he rose and thence amounted streight VVhich when the carle beheld and saw his guest VVould safe depart for all his subtile sleight He chose an halter from among the rest And with it hong him selfe vnbid vnblest But death he could not worke himselfe thereby For thousand times he so him selfe had drest Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die Till he should die his last that is eternally Cant. X. Her faithfull knight faire Vna brings To house of Holinesse Where he is taught repentaunce and The way to heuenly blesse What man is he that boasts of fleshly might And vaine assuraunce of mortality Which all so soone as it doth come to fight Against spirituall foes yields by and by Or from the fielde most cowardly doth fly Ne let the man ascribe it to his skill That thorough grace hath gained victory If any strength we haue it is to ill But all the good is Gods both power and eke will By that which lately hapned Vna saw That this her knight was feeble and too faint And all his sinewes woxen weake and raw Through long enprisonment and hard constraint Which he endured in his late restraint That yet he was vnfitt for bloody fight Therefore to cherish him with diets daint She cast to bring him where he chearen might Till he recouered had his late decayed plight There was an auncient house not far away Renowmd throughout the world for sacred lore And pure vnspotted life so well they say It gouernd was and guided euermore Through wisedome of a matrone graue and hore Whose onely ioy was to relieue the needes Of wretched soules and helpe the helpelesse pore All night she spent in bidding of her bedes And all the day in doing good and godly deedes Dame Caelia men did her call as thought From heauen to come or thether to arise The mother of three daughters well vpbrought In goodly thewes and godly exercise The eldest two most sober chast and wise Fidelia and Speranza virgins were Though spousd yet wanting wedlocks solemnize But faire Charissa to a louely fere Was lincked and by him had many pledges dere Arriued there the dore they find fast lockt For it was warely watched night and day For feare of many foes but when they