great industree 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 lye That day and night said his deuotion Ne other worldly busines did apply His name was heauenly Contemplation Of God and goodnesse was his meditation Great grace that old man to him giuen had For God he often saw from heauens hight All were his earthly eyen both blunt and bad And through great age had lost their kindly sight Yet wondrous quick and persant was his spright As Eagles eye that can behold the Sunne That hill they scale with all their powre and might That his frayle thighes nigh wearie and fordonne Gan faile but by her helpe the top at last he wonne There they do finde that godly aged Sire With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed As hoarie 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 heauenly 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 tedious height What end quoth he 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 Whereof the keyes are to thy hand behight By wise Fidelia she 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 heauenly throne where thousand Angels shine Thou doest the prayers of the righteous sead Present before the maiestie diuine And his auenging wrath to clemencie 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 Faeries sonne That neuer leads the traueiler astray But after labours 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 bloud-red billowes like a walled front On either side disparted with his rod Till that his army dry-foot through them yod Dwelt fortie dayes vpon where writ in stone With bloudy 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 for ay Through famous Poets verse each where renownd On which the thrise three learned Ladies play Their heauenly notes and make full many a louely lay From thence far off he vnto him did shew A litle path that was both steepe and long Which to a goodly Citie led his vew Whose wals and towres were builded high and strong Of perle and precious stone that earthly tong Cannot describe nor wit of man can tell Too high a ditty for my simple song The Citie of the great 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 heauen in gladsome companee And with great ioy into that Citie wend As commonly as friend does with his frend Whereathe wondred much and gan enquere What stately building durst so high extend Her loftie towres vnto the starry sphere And what vnknowen nation there empeopled were Faire knight quoth he Hierusalem that is The new Hierusalem that God has built For those to dwell in that are chosen his His chosen people purg'd from sinfull guilt With piteous bloud which cruelly was spilt On cursed tree of that vnspotted lam That for the sinnes of all the world was kilt Now are they Saints all in that Citie sam More deare vnto their God then yoūglings to their dam. Till now said then the knight I weened well That great Cleopolis where I haue beene In which that fairest Faerie Queene doth dwell The fairest Citie was that might be seene And that bright towre all built of christall cleene Panthea seemd the brightest thing that was But now by proofe all otherwise I weene For this great Citie that does far surpas And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre of glas Most trew then said the holy aged man Yet is Cleopolis for earthly fame The fairest peece that eye beholden can And well beseemes all knights of noble name That couet in th' immortall booke of fame To be eternized that same to haunt And doen their seruice to that soueraigne Dame That glorie does to them for guerdon graunt For she is heauenly borne and heauen may iustly vaunt And thou faire ymp sprong out from English race How euer now accompted Elsins sonne Well worthy doest thy seruice for her grace To aide a virgin desolate foredonne But when thou famous victorie hast wonne And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shonne And wash thy hands from guilt of bloudy field For bloud can nought but sin wars but sorrowes yield Then seeke this path that I to thee presage Which after all to heauen shall thee send Then peaceably to thy painefull pilgrimage To yonder same Hierusalem do bend Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end For thou emongst those Saints whom thou doest see Shalt be a Saint and thine owne nations frend And Patrone thou Saint George shalt called bee Saint George of mery England the signe of victoree Vnworthy wretch quoth he ofso great grace How dare I thinke such glory to attaine These that haue it attaind were in like cace Quoth he as wretched and liu'd in like paine But deeds of armes must I at last be faine And Ladies loue to leaue
daintie spices fetcht from furthest Ynd To kindle heat of corage priuily And in the wine a solemne oth they bynd T' obserue the sacred lawes of armes that are assynd At last forth comes that far renowmed Queene With royall pomp and Princely maiestie She is ybrought vnto a paled greene And placed vnder stately canapee The warlike feates of both those knights to see On th' other side in all mens open vew Duessa placed is and on a tree Sans-foy his shield is hangd with bloudy hew Both those the lawrell girlonds to the victor dew A shrilling trompet sownded from on hye And vnto battaill bad them selues addresse Their shining shieldes about their wrestes they tye And burning blades about their heads do blesse The instruments of wrath and heauinesse With greedy force each other doth assayle And strike so fiercely that they do impresse Deepe dinted furrowes in the battred mayle The yron walles to ward their blowes are weake fraile The Sarazin was stout and wondrous strong And heaped blowes like yron hammers great For after bloud and vengeance he did long The knight was fiers and full of youthly heat And doubled strokes like dreaded thunders threat For all for prayse and honour he did fight Both stricken strike and beaten both do beat That from their shields forth flyeth firie light And helmets hewen deepe shew marks of eithers might So th' one for wrong the other striues for right As when a Gryfon seized of his pray A Dragon fiers encountreth in his flight Through widest ayre making his ydle way That would his rightfull rauine rend away With hideous horrour both together smight And souce so sore that they the heauens affray The wise Southsayer seeing so sad sight Th' amazed vulgar tels of warres and mortall fight So th' one for wrong the other striues for right And each to deadly shame would driue his foe The cruell steele so greedily doth bight In tender flesh that streames of bloud down flow With which the armes that earst so bright did show Into a pure vermillion now are dyde Great ruth in all the gazers harts did grow Seeing the gored woundes to gape so wyde That victory they dare not wish to either side At last the Paynim chaunst to cast his eye His suddein eye flaming with wrathfull fyre Vpon his brothers shield which hong thereby Therewith redoubled was his raging yre And said Ah wretched sonne of wofull syre Doest thou sit wayling by black Stygian lake Whilest here thy shield is hangd for victors hyre And sluggish german doest thy forces slake To after-send his foe that him may ouertake Goe caytiue Elfe him quickly ouertake And soone redeeme from his long wandring woe Goe guiltie ghost to him my message make That I his shield haue quit from dying foe Therewith vpon his crest he stroke him so That twise he reeled readie twise to fall End of the doubtfull battell deemed tho The lookers on and lowd to him gan call The false Duessa Thine the shield and I and all Soone as the Faerie heard his Ladie speake Out of his swowning dreame he gan awake And quickning faith that earst was woxen weake The creeping deadly cold away did shake Tho mou'd with wrath and shame and Ladies sake Of all attonce he cast auengd to bee And with so'exceeding furie at him strake That forced him to stoupe vpon his knee Had he not stouped so he should haue clouen bee And to him said Goe now proud Miscreant Thy selfe thy message doe to german deare Alone he wandring thee too long doth want Goe say his foe thy shield with his doth beare Therewith his heauie hand he high gan reare Him to haue slaine when loe a darkesome clowd Vpon him fell he no where doth appeare But vanisht is The Elfe him cals alowd But answer none receiues the darknes him does shrowd In haste Duessa from her place arose And to him running said O prowest knight That euer Ladie to her loue did chose Let now abate the terror of your might And quench the flame of furious despight And bloudie vengeance lo th' infernall powres Couering your foe with cloud of deadly night Haue borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres The conquest yours I yours the shield and glory yours Not all so satisfide with greedie eye He sought all round about his thirstie blade To bath in bloud of faithlesse enemy Who all that while lay hid in secret shade He standes amazed how he thence should fade At last the trumpets Triumph sound on hie And running Heralds humble homage made Greeting him goodly with new victorie And to him brought the shield the cause of enmitie Wherewith he goeth to that soueraine Queene And falling her before on lowly knee To her makes present of his seruice seene Which she accepts with thankes and goodly gree Greatly aduauncing his gay cheualree So marcheth home and by her takes the knight Whom all the people follow with great glee Shouting and clapping all their hands on hight That all the aire it fils and flyes to heauen bright Home is he brought and laid in sumptuous bed Where many skilfull leaches him abide To salue his hurts that yet still freshly bled In wine and oyle they wash his woundes wide And softly can embalme on euery side And all the while most heauenly melody About the bed sweet musicke did diuide Him to beguile of griefe and agony And all the while Duessa wept full bitterly As when a wearie traueller that strayes By muddy shore of broad seuen-mouthed Nile Vnweeting of the perillous wandring wayes Doth meet a cruell craftie Crocodile Which in false griefe hyding his harmefull guile Doth weepe full sore and sheddeth tender teares The foolish man that pitties all this while His mournefull plight is swallowd vp vnwares Forgetfull of his owne that mindes anothers cares So wept Duessa vntill euentide That shyning lampes in Ioues high house were light Then forth she rose ne lenger would abide But comes vnto the place where th'Hethen knight In slombring swownd nigh voyd of vitall spright Lay couer'd with inchaunted cloud all day Whom when she found as she him left in plight To wayle his woefull case she would not stay But to the easterne coast of heauen makes speedy way Where griesly Night with visage deadly sad That Phoebus chearefull face durst neuer vew And in a foule blacke pitchie mantle clad She findes forth comming from her darkesome mew Where she all day did hide her hated hew Before the dore her yron charet stood Alreadie harnessed for iourney new And coleblacke steedes yborne of hellish brood That on their rustie bits did champ as they were wood Who when she saw Duessa sunny bright Adornd with gold and iewels shining cleare She greatly grew amazed at the sight And th'vnacquainted light began to feare For neuer did such brightnesse there appeare And would haue backe retyred to her caue Vntill the witches speech she gan to heare Saying yet ô thou dreaded Dame I craue Abide till I
to mourne Now strike your sailes ye iolly Mariners For we be come vnto a quiet rode Where we must land some of our passengers And light this wearie vessell of her lode Here she a while may make her safe abode Till she repaired haue her tackles spent And wants supplide And then againe abroad On the long voyage whereto she is bent Well may she speede and fairely finish her intent FINIS LIB I. THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE Contayning THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON OR Of Temperaunce RIght well I wote most mighty Soueraine That all this famous antique history Of some th' aboundance of an idle braine Will iudged be and painted forgery Rather then matter of iust memory Sith none that breatheth liuing aire does know Where is that happy land of Faery Which I so much do và unt yet no where show But vouch antiquities which no body can know But let that man with better sence aduize That of the world least part to vs is red And dayly how through hardy enterprize Many great Regions are discouered Which to late age were neuer mentioned Who euer heard of th' Indian Peru Or who in venturous vessell measured The Amazons huge riuer now found trew Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew Yet all these were when no man did them know Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene And later times things more vnknowne shall show Why then should witlesse man so much misweene That nothing is but that which he hath seene What if within the Moones faire shining spheare What if in euery other starre vnseene Of other worldes he happily should heare He wōder would much more yet such to some appeare Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire By certaine signes here set in sundry place He may it find ne let him then admire But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace That note without an hound fine footing trace And thou O fairest Princesse vnder sky In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery And in this antique Image thy great auncestry The which O pardon me thus to enfold In couert vele and wrap in shadowes light That feeble eyes your glory may behold Which else could not endure those beames bright But would be dazled with exceeding light O pardon and vonchsafe with patient eare The braue aduentures of this Faery knight The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare In whom great rule of Temp'raunce goodly doth appeare Cant. I. Guyon by Archimage abusd The Redcrosse knight awaytes Findes Mordant and Amauia slaine With pleasures poisoned baytes THat cunning Architect of cancred guile Whom Princes late displeasure left in bands For falsed letters and suborned wile Soone as the Redcrosse knight he vnderstands To beene departed out of Eden lands To serue againe his soueraine Elfin Queene His artes he moues and out of caytiues hands Himselfe he frees by secret meanes vnseene His shackles emptie left him selfe escaped cleene And forth he fares full of malicious mind To worken mischiefe and auenging woe Where euer he that godly knight may find His onely hart sore and his onely foe Sith Vna now he algates must forgoe Whom his victorious hands did earst restore To natiues crowne and kingdome late ygoe Where she enioyes sure peace for euermore As weather-beaten ship arriu'd on happie shore Him therefore now the obiect of his spight And deadly food he makes him to offend By forged treason or by open fight He seekes of all his drift the aymed end Thereto his subtile engins he does bend His practick wit and his faire filed tong With thousand other sleights for well he kend His credit now in doubtfull ballaunce hong For hardly could be hurt who was already stong Still as he went he craftie stales did lay With cunning traines him to entrap vnwares And priuie spials plast in all his way To weete what course he takes and how he fares To ketch him at a vantage in his snares By triall of his former harmes and cares But now so wise and warie was the knight That he descride and shonned still his slight The fish that once was caught new bait will hardly bite Nath'lesse th' Enchaunter would not spare his paine In hope to win occasion to his will Which when he long awaited had in vaine He chaungd his minde from one to other ill For to all good he enimy was still Vpon the way him fortuned to meet Faire marching vnderneath a shady hill A goodly knight all armd in harnesse meete That from his head no place appeared to his feete His carriage was full comely and vpright His countenaunce demure and temperate But yet so sterne and terrible in sight That cheard his friends and did his foes amate He was an Elsin borne of noble state And mickle worship in his natiue land Well could he tourney and in lists debate And knighthood tooke of good Sir Huons hand When with king Oberon he came to Faerie land Him al 's accompanyd vpon the way A comely Palmer clad in blacke attire Of ripest yeares and haires all hoarie gray That with a staffe his feeble steps did stire Least his long way his aged limbes should tire And if by lookes one may the mind aread He seemd to be a sage and sober sire And euer with slow pace the knight did lead Who taught his trampling steed with equall steps to tread Such whenas Archimago them did view He weened well to worke some vncouth wile Estsoones vntwisting his deceiptfull clew He gan to weaue a web of wicked guile And with a faire countenance and flattring stile To them approching thus the knight bespake Faire sonne of Mars that seeke with warlike spoile And great atchieu'ments great your selfe to make Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble misers sake He stayd his steed for humble misers sake And bad tell on the tenor of his plaint Who feigning then in euery limbe to quake Through inward feare and seeming pale and faint With piteous mone his percing speach gan paint Deare Lady how shall I declare thy cace Whom late I left in langourous constraint Would God thy selfe now present were in place To tell this ruefull tale thy sight could win thee grace Or rather would O would it so had chaunst That you most noble Sir had present beene When that lewd ribauld with vile lust aduaunst Layd first his filthy hands on virgin cleene To spoile her daintie corse so faire and sheene As on the earth great mother of vs all With liuing eye more faire was neuer seene Of chastitie and honour virginall Witnesse ye heauēs whom she in vaine to helpe did call How may it be said then the knight halfe wroth That knight should knighthood euer so haue shent None but that saw quoth he would weene for troth How shamefully that Maid he did torment Her looser golden lockes he rudely rent And drew her on the ground and his sharpe sword Against her snowy brest be fiercely bent And threatned
her dayes Aswell in curious instruments as cunning layes Of whom he did great Constantine beget Who afterward was Emperour of Rome To which whiles absent he his mind did set 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 issew 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 friends 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 easie hand The weary Britons whose war-hable youth Was by Maximian lately led away With wretched miseries and woefull ruth Were to those Pagans made an open pray And dayly spectacle of sad decay Whom Romane warres which now foure hundred yeares And more had wasted could no whit dismay Till by consent of Commons and of Peares They crownd the second Constantine with ioyous teares Who hauing oft in battell vanquished Those spoilefull Picts and swarming Easterlings Long time in peace his Realme established Yet oft annoyd with sundry 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 mightie mound Which from Alcluid to Panwelt did that border bound 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 Germanie straunge aid to reare From whence eftsoones arriued here three hoyes Of Saxons whom he for his safetie imployes Two brethren were their Captains which hight Hengist and Horsus well approu'd in warre And both of them men of renowmed might Who making vantage of their ciuill iarre And of those forreiners 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 enforst 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 Lordes he slew Of British bloud all sitting at his bord Whose dolefull moniments who list to rew Th' eternall markes of treason may at Stonheng vew By this the sonnes of Constantine which fled Ambrise and Vther did ripe yeares attaine And here arriuing strongly challenged The crowne which Vortiger did long detaine Who flying from his guilt by them was slaine And Hengist eke soone brought to shamefull death Thenceforth Aurelius peaceably did rayne Till that through poyson stopped was his breath So now entombed lyes at Stoneheng by the heath After him Vther which Pendragon hight Succeding There abruptly it did end Without full point or other Cesure right As if the rest some wicked hand did rend Or th' Authour selfe could not at least attend To finish it that so vntimely breach The Prince him selfe halfe seemeth to offend Yet secret pleasure did offence empeach And wonder of antiquitie long stopt his speach At last quite rauisht with delight to heare The royall Ofspring of his natiue land Cryde out Deare countrey ô how dearely deare Ought thy remembraunce and perpetuall band Be to thy foster Childe that 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 partes from beasts deriued And then stole fire from heauen to animate His worke for which he was by loue depriued Of life him selfe and hart-strings of an Aegle riued That man so made he called Elfe to weet Quick the first author of all Elfin kind Who wandring through the world with wearie feet Did in the gardins of Adonis find A goodly creature whom he deemd in mind To beno earthly wight but either Spright Or Angell th' authour of all woman kind Therefore a Fay he her according hight Of whom all Faeryes spring and fetch their lignage right Of these a mightie people shortly grew And puissaunt kings 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 layd Cleopolis foundation first of all But Elfiline enclosd it with a golden wall His sonne was Elfinell who ouercame The wicked Gobbelines in bloudy field But Elfant was of most renowmed fame Who all of Christall did Panthea build Then Elfar who two brethren gyants kild The one of which had two heads th' other three Then Elfinor who was in Magick skild He built by art vpon the glassy See A bridge of bras whose sound heauēs thunder seem'd to bee He left three sonnes the which in order raynd And all their Ofspring in their dew descents Euen seuen hundred Princes which maintaynd With mightie deedes their sundry gouernments That were too long their infinite contents Here to record ne much materiall Yet should they be most famous moniments And bratie ensample both of martiall And ciuill rule to kings and states imperiall After all these Elficleos did rayne The wise Elficleos in great Maiestie Who mightily that scepter did sustayne And with rich spoiles and famous victorie Did high aduaunce the crowne of Faery He left two sonnes of which faire Elferon The eldest brother did vntimely dy Whose emptie place the mightie Oberon Doubly supplide in spousall and dominion Great was his power and glorie ouer all Which him before that sacred seate did fill That yet remaines his wide memoriall He dying left the fairest Tanaquill Him to succeede therein by his last will Fairer and nobler liueth none this howre Ne like in grace ne like in learned skill Therefore they Glorian call that glorious flowre Long mayst thou Glorian liue in glory and great powre Beguild thus with delight of nouelties And naturall desire of countreys state So long they red in those antiquities That how the time was fled they quite forgate Till geutle Alma seeing it so late Perforce their studies broke and them besought To thinke how supper did them long awaite So halfe vnwilling from their bookes them brought And fairely feasted as so nobles knights she ought Cant. XI The enimies
was that woman this that deadly wound That Proteus prophecide should him dismay The which his mother vainely did expound To be hart-wounding loue which should assay To bring her sonne vnto his last decay So tickle be the termes of mortall state And full of subtile sophismes which do play With double senses and with false debate Tapproue the vnknowen purpose of eternall fate Too true the famous Marinell it fownd Who through late triall on that wealthy Strond Inglorious now lies in senselesse swownd Through heauy stroke of Britomartis hond Which when his mother deare did vnderstond And heauy tydings heard whereas she playd Amongst her watry sisters by a pond Gathering sweet daffadillyes to haue made Gay girlonds from the Sun their forheads faire to shade Eftsoones both flowres and girlonds farre away She flong and her faire deawy lockes yrent To sorrow huge she turnd her former play And gameson merth to grieuous dreriment She threw her selfe downe on the Continent Ne word did speake but lay as in a swowne Whiles all her sisters did for her lament With yelling outcries and with shrieking sowne And euery one did teare her girlond from her crowne Soone as she vp out of her deadly fit Arose she bad her charet to be brought And all her sisters that with her did sit Bad eke attonce their charets to be sought Tho full of bitter griefe and pensiue thought She to her wagon clombe clombe all the rest And forth together went with sorrow fraught The waues obedient to their beheast Them yielded readie passage and their rage surceast Great Neptune stood amazed at their sight Whiles on his broad round backe they softly slid And eke himselfe mournd at their mournfull plight Yet wist not what their wailing ment yet did For great compassion of their sorrow bid His mightie waters to them buxome bee Eftsoones the roaring billowes still abid And all the griefly Monsters of the See Stood gaping at their gate and wondred them to see A teme of Dolphins raunged in aray Drew the smooth charet of sad Cymoent They were all taught by Triton to obay To the long traines at her commaundement As swift as swallowes on the waues they went That their broad flaggie finnes no fome did reare Ne bubbling roundell they behind them sent The rest of other fishes drawen weare Which with their finny oars the swelling sea did sheare Soone as they bene arriu'd vpon the brim Of the Rich strond their charets they forlore And let their temed fishes softly swim Along the margent of the fomy shore Least they their finnes should bruze and surbate sore Their tender feet vpon the stony ground And comming to the place where all in gore And cruddy bloud enwallowed they found The lucklesse Marinell lying in deadly swound His mother swowned thrise and the third time Could scarce recouered be out of her paine Had she not bene deuoyd of mortall slime She should not then haue bene reliu'd againe But soone as life recouered had the raine She made so piteous mone and deare wayment That the hard rocks could scarse from teares refraine And all her sister Nymphes with one consent Supplide her sobbing breaches with sad complement Deare image of my selfe she said that is The wretched sonne of wretched mother borne Is this thine high aduauncement ô is this Th' immortall name with which thee yet vnborne Thy Gransire Nereus promist to adorne Now lyest thou of life and honor reft Now lyest thou a lumpe of earth forlorne Ne of thy late life memory is left Ne can thy irreuocable destiny be weft Fond Proteus father of false prophecis And they more fond that credit to thee giue Not this the worke of womans hand ywis That so deepe wound through these deare members driue I feared loue but they that loue do liue But they that die doe neither loue nor hate Nath'lesse to thee thy folly I forgiue And to my selfe and to accursed fate The guilt I doe ascribe deare wisedome bought too late O what auailes it of immortall seed To beene ybred and neuer borne to die Farre better I it deeme to die with speed Then waste in woe and wailefull miserie Who dyes the vtmost dolour doth abye But who that liues is left to waile his losse So life is losse and death felicitie Sad life worse then glad death and greater crosse To see friends graue thē dead the graue selfe to engrosse But if the heauens did his dayes enuie And my short blisse maligne yet mote they well Thus much afford me ere that he did die That the dim eyes of my deare Marinell I mote haue closed and him bed farewell Sith other offices for mother meet They would not graunt Yet maulgre them farewell my sweetest sweet Farewell my sweetest sonne sith we no more shall meet Thus when they all had sorrowed their fill They softly gan to search his griesly wound And that they might him handle more at will They him disarm'd and spredding on the ground Their watchet mantles frindgd with siluer round They softly wipt away the gelly blood From th'orifice which hauing well vpbound They pourd in soueraine balme and Nectar good Good both for earthly med'cine and for heauenly food Tho when the lilly handed Liagore This Liagore whylome had learned skill In leaches craft by great Appolloes lore Sith her whylome vpon high Pindus hill He loued and at last her wombe did fill With heauenly seed whereof wise Paeon sprong Did feele his pulse she knew their staied still Some litle life his feeble sprites emong Which to his mother told despeire she from her flong Tho vp him taking in their tender hands They easily vnto her charet beare Her teme at her commaundement quiet stands Whiles they the corse into her wagon reare And strow with flowres the lamentable beare Then all the rest into their coches clim And through the brackish waues their passage sheare Vpon great Neptunes necke they softly swim And to her watry chamber swiftly carry him Deepe in the bottome of the sea her bowre Is built of hollow billowes heaped hye Like to thicke cloudes that threat a stormy showre And vauted all within like to the sky In which the Gods do dwell eternally There they him laid in easie couch well dight And sent in haste for Tryphon to apply Salues to his wounds and medicines of might For Tryphon of sea gods the soueraine leach is hight The whiles the Nymphes sit all about him round Lamenting his mishap and heauy plight And oft his mother vewing his wide wound Cursed the hand that did so deadly smight Her dearest sonne her dearest harts delight But none of all those curses ouertooke The warlike Maid th'ensample of that might But fairely well she thriu'd and well did brooke Her noble deeds ne her right course for ought forsooke Yet did false Archimage her still pursew To bring to passe his mischieuous intent Now that he had her singled from the crew Of courteous knights the Prince and Faery
middest of those same three was placed Another Damzell as a precious gemme Amidst a ring most richly well enchaced That with her goodly presence all the rest much graced Looke how the Crowne which Ariadne wore Vpon her yuory forehead that same day That Theseus her vnto his bridale bore When the bold Centaures made that bloudy fray With the fierce Lapithes which did them dismay Being now placed in the firmament Through the bright heauen doth her beams display And is vnto the starres an ornament Which round about her moue in order excellent Such was the beauty of this goodly band Whose sundry parts were here too long to tell But she that in the midst of them did stand Seem'd all the rest in beauty to excell Crownd with a rosie girlond that right well Did her beseeme And euer as the crew About her daunst sweet flowres that far did smell And fragrant odours they vppon her threw But most of all those three did her with gifts endew Those were the Graces daughters of delight Handmaides of Venus which are wont to haunt Vppon this hill and daunce there day and night Those three to men all gifts of grace do graunt And all that Venus in her selfe doth vaunt Is borrowed of them But that faire one That in the midst was placed parauaunt Was she to whom that shepheard pypt alone That made him pipe so merrily as neuer none She was to weete that iolly Shepheards lasse Which piped there vnto that merry rout That iolly shepheard which there piped was Poore Colin Clout who knowes not Colin clout He pypt apace whilest they him daunst about Pype iolly shepheard pype thou now apace Vnto thy loue that made thee low to lout Thy loue is present there with thee in place Thy loue is there aduaunst to be another Grace Much wondred Calidore at this straunge sight Whose like before his eye had neuer seene And standing long astonished in spright And rapt with pleasaunce wist not what to weene Whether it were the traine of beauties Queene Or Nymphes or Faeries or enchaunted show With which his eyes mote haue deluded beene Therefore resoluing what it was to know Out of the wood he rose and toward them did go But soone as he appeared to their vew They vanisht all away out of his sight And cleane were gone which way he neuer knew All saue the shepheard who for fell despight Of that displeasure broke his bag-pipe quight And made great mone for that vnhappy turne But Calidore though no lesse sory wight For that mishap yet seeing him to mourne Drew neare that he the truth of all by him mote learne And first him greeting thus vnto him spake Haile iolly shepheard which thy ioyous dayes Here leadest in this goodly merry make Frequented of these gentle Nymphes alwayes Which to thee flocke to heare thy louely layes Tell me what mote these dainty Damzels be Which here with thee doe make their pleasant playes Right happy thou that mayst them freely see But why when I them saw fled they away from me Not I so happy answerd then that swaine As thou vnhappy which them thence didst chace Whom by no meanes thou canst recall againe For being gone none can them bring in place But whom they of them selues list so to grace Right sory I saide then Sir Calidore That my ill fortune did them hence displace But since things passed none may now restore Tell me what were they all whose lacke thee grieues so sore Tho gan that shepheard thus for to dilate Then wote thou shepheard whatsoeuer thou bee That all those Ladies which thou sawest late Are Venus Damzels all with in her fee But differing in honour and degree They all are Graces which on her depend Besides a thousand more which ready bee Her to adorne when so she forth doth wend But those three in the midst doe chiefe on her attend They are the daughters of sky-ruling Ioue By him begot of faire Eurynome The Oceans daughter in this pleasant groue As he this way comming from feastfull glee Of Thetis wedding with AEcidee In sommers shade him selfe here rested weary The first of them hight mylde Euphrosyne Next faire Aglaia last Thalia merry Sweete Goddesses all three which me in mirth do cherry These three on men all gracious gifts bestow Which decke the body or adorne the mynde To make them louely or well fauoured show As comely carriage entertainement kynde Sweete semblaunt friendly offices that bynde And all the complements of curtesie They teach vs how to each degree and kynde We should our selues demeane to low to hie To friends to foes which skill men call Ciuility Therefore they alwaies smoothly seeme to smile That we likewise should mylde and gentle be And also naked are that without guile Or false dissemblaunce all them plaine may see Simple and true from couert malice free And eeke them selues so in their daunce they bore That two of them still forward seem'd to bee But one still towards shew'd her selfe afore That good should from vs goe then come in greater store Such were those Goddesses which ye did see But that fourth Mayd which there amidst thē traced Who can aread what creature mote she bee Whether a creature or a goddesse graced With heauenly gifts from heuen first enraced But what so sure she was she worthy was To be the fourth with those three other placed Yet was she certes but a counrtey lasse Yet she all other countrey lasses farre did passe So farre as doth the daughter of the day All other lesser lights in light excell So farre doth she in beautyfull array Aboue all other lasses beare the bell Ne lesse in vertue that beseemes her well Doth she exceede the rest of all her race For which the Graces that here wont to dwell Haue for more honor brought her to this place And graced her so much to be another Grace Another Grace she well deserues to be In whom so many Graces gathered are Excelling much the meane of her degree Diuine resemblaunce beauty soueraine rare Firme Chastity that spight ne blemish dare All which she with such courtesie doth grace That all her peres cannot with her compare But quite are dimmed when she is in place She made me often pipe and now to pipe apace Sunne of the world great glory of the sky That all the earth doest lighten with thy rayes Great Gloriana greatest Maiesty Pardon thy shepheard mongst so many layes As he hath sung of thee in all his dayes To make one minime of thy poore handmayd And vnderneath thy feete to place her prayse That when thy glory shall be farre displayd To future age of her this mention may be made When thus that shepherd ended had his speach Sayd Calidore Now sure it yrketh mee That to thy blisse I made this luckelesse breach As now the author of thy bale to be Thus to bereaue thy loues deare sight from thee But gentle Shepheard pardon thou my shame Who rashly sought that
hoarie gray And by his belt his booke he hanging had Sober he seemde and very sagely sad And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent Simple in shew and voyde of malice bad And all the way he prayed as he went And often knock his brest as one that did repent He faire the knight saluted louting low Who faire him quited as that courteous was And after asked him if he did know Of straunge aduentures which abroad did pas Ah my deare Sonne quoth he how should alas Silly old man that liues in hidden cell Bidding his beades all day for his trespas Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell With holy father sits not with such things to mell But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell And homebred euill euill ye desire to heare Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell That wasteth all this countrey farre and neare Of such said he I chiefly do inquere And shall you well reward to shew the place In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare For to all knighthood it is foule disgrace That such a cursed creature liues so long a space Far hence quoth he in wastfull wildernesse His dwelling is by which no lining wight May euer passe but thorough great distresse Now sayd the Lady draweth toward night And well I wote that of your later fight Ye all for wearied be for what so strong But wanting rest will also want of might The Sunne that measures heauen all day long At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waues emong Then with the Sunne take Sir your timely rest And with new day new worke at once begin Vntroubled night they say giues counsell best Right well Sir knight ye haue aduised bin Quoth then that aged man the way to win Is wisely to aduise now day is spent Therefore with me ye may take vp your In For this same night The knight was well content So with that godly father to his home they went A little lowly Hermitage it was Downe in a dale hard by a forests side Far from resort of people that did pas In trauell to and froe a little wyde There was an holy Chappell edifyde Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say His holy things each morne and euentyde Thereby a Christall streame did genlty play Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway Arriued there the little house they fill Ne looke for entertainement where none was Rest is their feast and all things at their will The noblest mind the best contentment has With faire discourse the euening so they pas For that old man of pleasing wordes had store And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas He told of Saintes and Popes and euemore He strowd an Aue-Mary after and before The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast And the sad humour loading their eye liddes As messenger of Morpheus on them cast Sweet slōbring deaw the which to sleepe them biddes Vnto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes He to his study goes and there amiddes His Magick bookes and artes of sundry kindes He seekes out mighty charmes to trouble sleepy mindes Then choosing out few wordes most horrible Let none them read thereof did verses frame With which and other spelles like terrible He bad awake blacke Plutoes griesly Dame And cursed heauen and spake reprochfull shame Of highest God the Lord of life and light A bold bad man that dar'd to call by name Great Gorgon Prince of darknesse and dead night At which Cocytus quakes and Styx is put to flight And forth he cald out of deepe darknesse dred Legions of Sprights the which like little flyes Fluttring about his euer damned hed A-waite whereto their seruice he applyes To aide his friends or fray his enimies Of those he chose out two the falsest twoo And fittest for to forge true-seeming lyes The one of them he gaue a message too The other by him selfe staide other worke to doo He making speedy way through spersed ayre And through the world of waters wide and deepe To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe And low where dawning day doth neuer peepe His dwelling is there Tethys his wet bed Doth euer wash and Cynthia still doth steepe In siluer deaw his euer-drouping hed Whiles sad Night ouer him her mātle black doth spred Whose double gates he findeth locked fast The one faire fram'd of burnisht Yuory The other all with siluer ouercast And wakefull dogges before them farre do lye Watching to banish Care their enimy Who oft is wont to trouble gentle sleepe By them the Sprite doth passe in quietly And vnto Morpheus comes whom drowned deepe In drowsie fit he findes of nothing he takes keepe And more to lulle him in his slumber soft A trickling streame from high rocke tumbling downe And euer-drizling raine vpon the loft Mixt with a murmuring winde much like the sowne Of swarming Bees did cast him in a swowne No other noyse nor peoples troublous cryes As still are wont t'annoy the walled towne Might there be heard but carelesse Quiet lyes Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enemyes The messenger approching to him spake But his wast wordes returnd to him in vaine So sound he slept that nought mought him awake Then rudely he him trust and pusht with paine Whereat he gan to stretch but he againe Shooke him so hard that forced him to speake As one then in a dreame whose dryer braine Is tost with troubled sights and fancies weake He mumbled soft but would not all his silence breake The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake And threatned vnto him the dreaded name Of Hecate whereat he gan to quake And lifting vp his lumpish head with blame Halfe angry asked him for what he came Hither quoth he me Archimago sent He that the stubborne Sprites can wisely tame He bids thee to him send for his intent A fit false dreame that can delude the sleepers sent The God obayde and calling forth straight way A diuerse dreame out of his prison darke Deliuered it to him and downe did lay His heauie head deuoide of carefull carke Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke He backe returning by the Yuorie dore Remounted vp as light as chearefull Larke And on his litle winges the dreame he bore In hast vnto his Lord where he him left afore Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes Had made a Lady of that other Spright And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes So liuely and so like in all mens sight That weaker sence it could haue rauisht quight The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight Her all in white he clad and ouer it Cast a blacke stole most like to seeme for Vna fit Now when that ydle dreame was to him brought Vnto that Elfin knight he bad him fly Where he slept soundly void of euill thought And with
might That all my senses were bereaued quight Then brought she me into this desert waste And by my wretched louers side me pight Where now enclosd in wooden wals full faste Banisht from liuing wights our wearie dayes we waste But how long time said then the Elfin knight Are you in this misformed house to dwell We may not chaunge quoth he this euil plight Till we be bathed in a lining well That is the terme prescribed by the spell O how said 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 bloud he might be innocent And with fresh clay did close the wooden wound Then turning to his Lady dead with feare her found Her seeming dead he found 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 sight 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 and 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'vnworthy wretchednesse Through enuies snares or fortunes freakes vnkind I whether lately through her brightnesse blind Or through alleageance and fast fealtie Which I do owe vnto all woman kind Feele my heart perst with so great agonie When such I see that all for pittie I could die And now it is empassioned so deepe For fairest Vnaes sake of whom I sing That my fraile eyes these lines with teares do steepe To thinke how she through guilefull handeling Though true as touch though daughter of a king Though faire as euer liuing wight was faire Though nor in word nor deede ill meriting Is from her knight diuorced in despaire And her due loues deriu'd to that vile witches share Yet she most faithfull Ladie all this while Forsaken wofull solitarie mayd Farre from all peoples prease as in exile In wildernesse and wastfull deserts strayd To seeke her knight who subtilly betrayd Through that late vision which th' Enchaunter wrought Had her abandond She of nought affrayd Through woods and wastnesse wide him daily sought Yet wished tydings 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 daintie limbes did lay In secret shadow farre from all mens sight From her faire head her fillet she vndight And laid her stole aside Her angels face As the great eye of heauen shyned bright And made a sunshine in the shadie place Did neuer mortall eye behold such heauenly grace It fortuned out of the thickest wood A ramping Lyon rushed suddainly Hunting full greedie after saluage blood Soone as the royall virgin he did spy With gaping mouth at her ran greedily To haue attonce deuour'd her tender corse But to the pray when as he drew more ny His bloudie rage asswaged 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 yeelded pride 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 euery 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 pittie 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 paine Arose the virgin borne of heauenly brood And to her snowy Palfrey got againe To seeke her strayed Champion if she might attaine The Lyon would not leaue her desolate But with her went along as a strong gard Of her chast person and a faithfull mate Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard Still when she slept he kept both watch and ward And when she wakt he waited diligent With humble seruice to her will prepard From her faire eyes he tooke commaundement And euer by her lookes conceiued her intent Long she thus traueiled through deserts wyde By which she thought her wandring knight shold pas Yet neuer shew of liuing wight espyde Till that at length she found the troden gras 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 pot 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 answer'd nought at all She could not heare nor speake nor vnderstand Till seeing by her side the Lyon stand With suddaine feare her pitcher downe she threw And fled away for neuer in that land Face of faire Ladie she before did vew And that dread 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 suddaine 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 arriued there Dame Vna wearie Dame and entrance did requere Which when none yeelded 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 She found them both in darkesome corner pent Where that old woman day and night did pray Vpon her beades deuoutly penitent Nine hundred Pater nosters euery day And thrise nine hundred Aues she was wont to say And to augment her painefull pennance more Thrise euery weeke in ashes she did sit And next her wrinkled skin rough sackcloth wore And thrise three
For she is wearie of the toilesome way And also nigh consumed is the lingring day A stately Pallace built of squared bricke Which cunningly was without morter laid Whose wals were high but nothing strong nor thick And golden foile all ouer them displaid That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid High lifted vp were many loftie towres And goodly galleries farre ouer laid Full of faire windowes and delightfull bowres And on the top a Diall told the timely howres It was a goodly heape for to behould And spake the praises of the workmans wit But full great pittie that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sit For on a sandie hill that still did flit And fall away it mounted was full hie That euery breath of heauen shaked it And all the hinder parts that few could spie Were ruinous and old but painted cunningly Arriued there they passed in forth right For still to all the gates stood open wide Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight Cald Maluenù who entrance none denide Thence to the hall which was on euery side With rich array and costly arras dight Infinite sorts of people did abide There waiting long to win the wished sight Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright By them they passe all gazing on them round And to the Presence mount whose glorious vew Their frayle amazed senses did confound In liuing Princes court none euer knew Such endlesse richesse and so sumptuous shew Ne Persia selfe the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw And there a noble crew Of Lordes and Ladies stood on euery side Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide High aboue all a cloth of State was spred And a rich throne as bright as sunny day On which there sate most braue embellished With royall robes and gorgeous array A mayden Queene that shone as Titans ray In glistring gold and peerelesse pretious stone Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne As enuying her selfe that too exceeding shone Exceeding shone like Phoebus fairest childe That did presume his fathers firie wayne And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine And rapt with whirling wheeles inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne but fairely for to shyne So proud she shyned in her Princely state Looking to heauen for earth she did disdayne And sitting high for lowly she did hate Lo vnderneath her scornefull feete was layne A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright Wherein her face she often vewed fayne And in her selfe-lou'd semblance tooke delight For she was wondrous faire as any liuing wight Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell Yet did she thinke her pearelesse wroth to pas That parentage with pride so did she swell And thundring Ioue that high in heauen doth dwell And wield the world she claymed for her syre Or if that any else did Ioue excell For to the highest she did still aspyre Or if ought higher were then that did it desyre And proud Lucifera men did her call That made her selfe Queene and crownd to be Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all Ne heritage of natiue soueraintie But did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie Vpon the scepter which she now did hold Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes but pollicie And strong aduizement of six wisards old That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold Soone as the Elfing knight in presence came And false Duessa seeming Lady faire A gentle Husher Vanitie by name Made rowme and passage for them did prepaire So goodly brought them to the lowest staire Of her high throne where they on humble knee Making obeyssance did the cause declare Why they were come her royall state to see To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee With loftie eyes halfe loth to looke so low She thanked them in her disdainefull wise Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show Of Princesse worthy scarse them bad arise Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deuise Themselues to setten forth to straungers sight Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise Some prancke their ruffes and others trimly dight Their gay attire each others greater pride does spight Goodly they all that knight do entertaine Right glad with him to haue increast their crew But to Duess ' each one himselfe did paine All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew For in that court whylome her well they knew Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd That to strange knight no better countenance allowd Suddein vpriseth from her stately place The royall Dame and for her coche doth call All hurtlen forth and she with Princely pace As faire Aurora in her purple pall Out of the East the dawning day doth call So forth she comes her brightnesse brode doth blaze The heapes of people thronging in the hall Do ride each other vpon her to gaze Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eyes amaze So forth she comes and to her coche does clyme Adorned all with gold and girlonds gay That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime And stroue to match in royall rich array Great Iunoes golden chaire the which they say The Gods stand gazing on when she does ride To Ioues high house through heauens bras-paued way Drawne of faire Pecocks that excell in pride And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts With like conditions to their kinds applyde Of which the first that all the rest did guyde Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin Vpon a slouthfull Asse he chose to ryde Arayd in habit blacke and amis thin Like to an holy Monck the seruice to begin And in his hand his Portesse still he bare That much was worne but therein little red For of deuotion he had little care Still drownd in sleepe and most of his dayes ded Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hed To looken whether it were night or day May seeme the wayne was very euill led When such an one had guiding of the way That knew not whether right he went or else astray From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne And greatly shunned manly exercise For euery worke he chalenged essoyne For contemplation sake yet otherwise His life he led in lawlesse riotise By which he grew to grieuous malady For in his lustlesse limbs through euill guise A shaking feuer raignd continually Such one was Idlenesse first of this company And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony Deformed creature on a filthie swyne His belly
ioy they new arriued find Enflam'd with fury and fiers hardy-hed He seemd in hart to harbour thoughts vnkind And nourish bloudy vengeaunce in his bitter mind Who when the shamed shield of slaine Sans foy He spide with that same Faery champions page Bewraying him that did of late destroy His eldest brother burning all with rage He to him leapt and that same enuious gage Of victors glory from him snatcht away But th' Elfin knight which ought that warlike wage Disdaind to loose the meed he wonne in fray And him rencountring fierce reskewd the noble pray Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne And clash their shields and shake their swords on hy That with their sturre they troubled all the traine Till that great Queene vpon eternall paine Of high displeasure that ensewen might Commaunded them their fury to refraine And if that either to that shield had right In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight Ah dearest Dame quoth then the Paynim bold Pardon the errour of enraged wight Whom great griefe made forget the raines to hold Of reasons rule to see this recreant knight No knight but treachour full of false despight And shamefull treason who through guile hath slayn The prowest knight that euer field did fight Euen stout Sans foy O who can then refrayn Whose shield he beares renuerst the more to heape disdayn And to augment the glorie of his guile His dearest loue the faire Fidessa loe Is there possessed of the traytour vile Who reapes the haruest sowen by his foe Sowen in bloudy field and bought with woe That brothers hand shall dearely well requight So be ô Queene you equall fauour showe Him litle answerd th' angry Elfin knight He neuer meant with words but swords to plead his right But threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledge His cause in combat the next day to try So been they parted both with harts on edge To be aueng'd each on his enimy That night they pas in ioy and iollity Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall For Steward was excessiue Gluttonie That of his plenty poured forth to all Which doen the Chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call Now whenas darkesome night had all displayd Her coleblacke curtein ouer brightest skye The warlike youthes on dayntie couches layd Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye To muse on meanes of hoped victory But whenas Morpheus had with leaden mace Arrested all that courtly company Vp-rose Duessa from her resting place And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace Whom broad awake she finds in troublous fit Forecasting how his foe he might annoy And him amoues with speaches seeming fit Ah deare Sans ioy next dearest to Sans foy Cause of my new griefe cause of new ioy Ioyous to see his ymage in mine eye And greeu'd to thinke how foe did him destroy That was the flowre of grace and cheualrye Lo his Fidessa to thy secret faith I flye With gentle wordes he can her fairely greet And bad say on the secret of her hart Then sighing soft I learne that litle sweet Oft tempred is quoth she with muchell smart For since my brest was launcht with louely dart Of deare Sansfoy I neuer ioyed howre But in eternall woes my weaker hart Haue wasted louing him with all my powre And for his sake haue felt full many an heauie stowre At last when perils all I weened past And hop'd to reape the crop of all my care Into new woes vnweeting I was cast By this false faytor who vnworthy ware His worthy shield whom he with guilefull snare Entrapped slew and brought to shamefull graue Me silly maid away with him he bare And euer since hath kept in darksome caue For that I would not yeeld that to Sans-foy I gaue But since faire Sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd And to my loathed life now shewes some light Vnder your beames I will me safely shrowd From dreaded storme of his disdainfull spight To you th' inheritance belongs by right Of brothers prayse to you eke longs his loue Let not his loue let not his restlesse spright Be vnreueng'd that calles to you aboue From wandring Stygian shores where it doth endlesse moue Thereto said he faire Dame be nought dismaid For sorrowes past their griefe is with them gone Ne yet of present perill be affraid For needlesse feare did neuer vantage none And helplesse hap it booteth not to mone Dead is Sans foy his vitall paines are past Though greeued ghost for vengeance deepe do grone He liues that shall him pay his dewties last And guiltie Elsin bloud shall sacrifice in hast O but I feare the fickle freakes quoth shee Of fortune false and oddes of armes in field Why dame quoth he what oddes can euer bee Where both do fight alike to win or yield Yea but quoth she he beares a charmed shield And eke enchaunted armes that none can perce Ne none can wound the man that does them wield Charmd or enchaunted answerd he then ferce I no whit reck ne you the like need to reherce But faire Fidessa sithens fortunes guile Or enimies powre hath now captiued you Returne from whence ye came and rest a while Till morrow next that I the Elfe subdew And with Sans-foyes dead dowry you endew Ay me that is a double death she said With proud foes sight my sorrow to renew Where euer yet I be my secret aid Shall follow you So passing forth she him obaid Cant. V. The faithfull knight in equall field subdewes his faithlesse foe Whom false Duessa saues and for his cure to hell does goe THe noble hart that harbours vertuous thought And is with child of glorious great intent Can neuer rest vntill it forth haue brought Th' eternall brood of glorie excellent Such restlesse passion did all night torment The flaming corage of that Faery knight Deuizing how that doughtie turnament With greatest honour he atchieuen might Still did wake and still did watch for dawning light At last the golden Orientall gate Of greatest heauen gan to open faire And Phoebus fresh as bridegrome to his mate Came dauncing forth shaking his deawie haire And hurls his glistring beames through gloomy aire Which when the wakeful Elfe perceiu'd streight way He started vp and did him selfe prepaire In sun-bright armes and battailous array For with that Pagan proud he combat will that day And forth he comes into the commune hall Where earely waite him many a gazing eye To weet what end to straunger knights may fall There many Minstrales maken melody To driue away the dull melancholy And many Bardes that to the trembling chord Can tune their timely voyces cunningly And many Chroniclers that can record Old loues and warres for Ladies doen by many a Lord. Soone after comes the cruell Sarazin In wouen maile all armed warily And sternly lookes at him who not a pin Does care for looke of liuing creatures eye They bring them wines of Greece and Araby And
rash Syre began to rend His haire and hastie tongue that did offend Tho gathering vp the relicks of his smart By Dianes meanes who was Hippolyts frend Them brought to Aesculape that by his art Did heale them all againe and ioyned euery part Such wondrous science in mans wit to raine When Ioue auizd that could the dead reuiue And fates expired could renew againe Of endlesse life he might him not depriue But vnto hell did thrust him downe aliue With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore Where long remaining he did alwaies striue Himselfe with salues to health for to restore And slake the heauenly fire that raged euermore There auncient Night arriuing did alight From her high wearie waine and in her armes To Aesculapius brought the wounded knight Whom hauing softly disarayd of armes Tho gan to him discouer all his harmes Beseeching him with prayer and with praise If either salues or oyles or herbes or charmes A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise He would at her request prolong her nephews daies Ah Dame quoth he thou temptest me in vaine To dare the thing which daily yet I rew And the old cause of my continued paine With like attempt to like end to renew Is not enough that thrust from heauen dew Here endlesse penance for one fault I pay But that redoubled crime with vengeance new Thou biddest me to eeke Can Night defray The wrath of thundring Ioue that rules both night and day Not so quoth she but sith that heauens king From hope of heauen hath thee excluded quight Why fearest thou that canst not hope for thing And fearest not that more thee hurten might Now in the powre of euerlasting Night Goe to then ô thou farre renowmed sonne Of great Apollo shew thy famous might In medicine that else hath to thee wonne Great paines greater praise both neuer to be donne Her words preuaild And then the learned leach His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay And all things else the which his art did teach Which hauing seene from thence arose away The mother of dread darknesse and let stay Aueugles sonne there in the leaches cure And backe returning tooke her wonted way To runne her timely race whilst Phoebus pure In westerne waues his wearie wagon did recure The false Duessa leauing noyous Night Returnd to stately pallace of dame Pride Where when she came she found the Faery knight Departed thence albe his woundes wide Not throughly heald vnreadie were to ride Good cause he had to hasten thence away For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spide Where in a dongeon deepe huge numbers lay Of caytiue wretched thrals that wayled night and day A ruefull sight as could be seene with eie Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie How mortgaging their liues to Couetise Through wastfull Pride and wanton Riotise They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt with VVrath and Enuies false surmise Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse Where they should liue in woe die in wretchednesse There was that great proud king of Babylon That would compell all nations to adore And him as onely God to call vpon Till through celestiall doome throwne out of dore Into an Oxe he was transform'd of yore There also was king Craesus that enhaunst His heart too high through his great riches store And proud Antiochus the which aduaunst His cursed hand gainst God and on his altars daunst And them long time before great Nimrod was That first the world with sword and fire warrayd And after him old Ninus farre did pas In princely pompe of all the world obayd There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder all yet aboue all in pride That name of natiue syre did fowle vpbrayd And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide All these together in one heape were throwne Like carkases of beasts in butchers stall And in another corner wide were strowne The antique ruines of the Romaines fall Great Romulus the Grandsyre of them all Proud Tarquin and too lordly Lentulus Stout Scipio and stubborne Hanniball Ambitious Sylla and sterne Marius High Caesar great Pompey and fierce Antonius Amongst these mighty men were wemen mixt Proud wemen vaine forgetfull of their yoke The bold Semiramis whose sides transfixt With sonnes owne blade her fowle reproches spoke Faire Sthenoboea that her selfe did choke With wilfull cord for wanting of her will High minded Cleopatra that with stroke Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill And thousands moe the like that did that dongeon fill Besides the endlesse routs of wretched thralles Which thither were assembled day by day From all the world after their wofull falles Through wicked pride and wasted wealthes decay But most of all which in the Dongeon lay Fell from high Princes courts or Ladies bowres Where they in idle pompe or wanton play Consumed had their goods and thriftlesse howres And lastly throwne themselues into these heauy stowres Whose case when as the carefull Dwarfe had tould And made ensample of their mournefull sight Vnto his maister he no lenger would There dwell in perill of like painefull plight But early rose and ere that dawning light Discouered had the world to heauen wyde He by a priuie Posterne tooke his flight That of no enuious eyes he mote be spyde For doubtlesse death ensewd if any him descryde Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way For many corses like a great Lay-stall Of murdred men which therein strowed lay Without remorse or decent funerall Which all through that great Princesse pride did fall And came to shamefull end And them beside Forth ryding vnderneath the castell wall A donghill of dead carkases he spide The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pride Cant. VI. From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace fayre Vna is releast Whom saluage nation does adore and learnes her wise beheast AS when a ship that flyes faire vnder saile An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past and yet it doubt ne dares To ioy at his foole-happie ouersight So doubly is distrest twixt ioy and cares The dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight Hauing escapt so sad ensamples in his sight Yet sad he was that his too hastie speed The faire Duess ' had forst him leaue behind And yet more sad that Vna his deare dreed Her truth had staind with treason so vnkind Yet crime in her could neuer creature find But for his loue and for her owne selfe sake She wandred had from one to other Ynd Him for to seeke ne euer would forsake Till her vnwares the fierce Sansloy did ouertake Who after Archimagoes fowle defeat Led her away into a forrest wilde And turning wrathfull fire to lustfull heat With beastly sin thought her to haue defilde And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde Yet first he cast by
so dearely bought What need of armes where peace doth ay remaine Said he and battailes none are to be fought As for loose loues are vaine and vanish into nought O let me not quoth he then turne againe Backe to the world whose ioyes so fruitlesse are But let me here for aye in peace remaine Or streight way on that last long voyage fare That nothing may my present hope empare That may not be said he ne maist thou yit Forgo that royall maides bequeathed care Who did her cause into thy hand commit Till from her cursed foe thou haue her freely quit Then shall I soone quoth he so God me grace Abet that virgins cause disconsolate And shortly backe returne vnto this place To walke this way in Pilgrims poore estate But now aread old father why of late Didst thou behight me borne of English blood Whom all a Faeries sonne doen then nominate That word shall I said he auouchen good Sith to thee is vnknowne the cradle of thy brood For well I wote thou springst from ancient race Of Saxon kings that haue with mightie hand And many bloudie battailes fought in place High reard their royall throne in Britane land And vanquisht them vnable to withstand From thence a Faerie thee vnweeting rest There as thou slepst in tender swadling band And her base Elfin brood there for thee left Such men do Chaungelings call so chaungd by Faeries theft Thence she thee brought into this Faerie lond And in an heaped furrow did thee hyde Where thee a Ploughman all vnweeting fond As he his toylesome teme that way did guyde And brought thee vp in ploughmans state to byde Whereof Georgos he thee gaue to name Till prickt with courage and thy forces pryde To Faery court thou cam'st to seeke for fame And proue thy puissaunt armes as seemes thee best became O holy Sire quoth he how shall I quight The many fauours I with thee haue found That hast my name and nation red aright And taught the way that does to heauen bound This said adowne he looked to the ground To haue returnd but dazed were his eyne Through passing brightnesse which did quite cōfoun His feeble sence and too exceeding shyne So darke are earthly things compard to things diuine At last whenas himselfe he gan to find To Vna back he cast him to retire Who him awaited still with pensiue mind Great thankes and goodly meed to that good syre He thence departing gaue for his paines hyre So came to Vna who him ioyd to see And after litle rest gan him desire Of her aduenture mindfull for to bee So leaue they take of Coelia and her daughters three Cant. XI The knight with that old Dragon fights two dayes incessantly The third him ouerthrowes and gayns most glorious victory HIgh time now gan it wex for Vna faire To thinke of those her captiue Parents deare And their forwasted kingdome to repaire Whereto whenas they now approched neare With hartie words her knight she gan to cheare And in her modest manner thus bespake Deare knight as deare as euer knight was deare That all these sorrowes suffer for my sake High heauen behold the tedious toyle ye for me take Now are we come vnto my natiue soyle And to the place where all our perils dwell Here haunts that feend and does his dayly spoyle Therefore henceforth be at your keeping well And euer ready for your foeman fell The sparke of noble courage now awake And striue your excellent selfe to excell That shall ye euermore renowmed make Aboue all knights on earth that batteill vndertake And pointing forth lo yonder is said she The brasen towre in which my parents deare For dread of that huge feend emprisond be Whom I from far see on the walles appeare Whose sight my feeble soule doth greatly cheare And on the top of all I do espye The watchman wayting tydings glad to heare That ô my parents might I happily Vnto you bring to ease you of your misery With that they heard a roaring hideous sound That all the ayre with terrour filled wide And seemd vneath to shake the stedfast ground Eftsoones that dreadfull Dragon they espide Where stretch he lay vpon the sunny side Of a great hill himselfe like a great hill But all so soone as he from far descride Those glistring armes that heauen with light did fill He rousd himselfe full blith and hastned them vntill Then bad the knight this Lady yede aloofe And to an hill her selfe with draw aside From whence she might behold that battailles proof And eke be safe from daunger far descryde She him obayd and turnd a little wyde Now O thou sacred Muse most learned Dame Faire ympe of Phoebus and his aged bride The Nourse of time and euerlasting fame That warlike hands ennoblest with immortall name O gently come into my feeble brest Come gently but not with that mighty rage Wherewith the martiall troupes thou doest infest And harts of great Heroes doest enrage That nought their kindled courage may aswage Soone as thy dreadfull trompe begins to sownd The God of warre with his fiers equipage Thou doest awake sleepe neuer he so sownd And feared nations doest with horrour sterne astownd Faire Goddesse lay that furious fit aside Till I of warres and bloudy Mars do sing And Briton fields with Sarazin bloud bedyde Twixt that great faery Queene and Paynim king That with their horrour heauen and earth did ring A worke of labour long and endlesse prayse But now a while let downe that haughtie string And to my tunes thy second tenor rayse That I this man of God his godly armes may blaze By this the dreadfull Beast drew nigh to hand Halfe flying and halfe footing in his hast That with his largenesse measured much land And made wide shadow vnder his huge wast As mountaine doth the valley ouercast Approching nigh he reared high afore His body monstrous horrible and wast Which to increase his wondrous greatnesse more Was swolne with wrath poyson with bloudy gore And ouer all with brasen scales was armd Like plated coate of steele so couched neare That nought mote perce ne might his corse be harmd With dint of sword nor push of pointed speare Which as an Eagle seeing pray appeare His aery plumes doth rouze full rudely dight So shaked he that horrour was to heare For as the clashing of an Armour bright Such noyse his rouzed scales did send vnto the knight His flaggy wings when forth he did display Were like two sayles in which the hollow wynd Is gathered full and worketh speedy way And eke the pennes that did his pineons bynd Were like mayne-yards with flying canuas lynd With which whenas him list the ayre to beat And there by force vnwonted passage find The cloudes before him fled for terrour great And all the heauens stood still amazed with his threat His huge long tayle wound vp in hundred foldes Does ouerspred his long bras-scaly backe Whose wreathed boughts when
couetous feends it to defend Who it to rob and ransacke did intend Then Mammon turning to that warriour said Loe here the worldes blis loe here the end To which all men do ayme rich to be made Such grace now to be happy is before thee laid Certes said he I n'ill thine offred grace Ne to be made so happy do intend Another blis before mine eyes I place Another happinesse another end To them that list these base regardes I lend But I in armes and in atchieuements braue Do rather choose my flitting houres to spend And to be Lord of those that riches haue Then them to haue my selfe and be their seruile sclaue Thereat the feend his gnashing teeth did grate And grieu'd so long to lacke his greedy pray For well he weened that so glorious bayte Would tempt his guest to take thereof assay Had he so doen he had him snatcht away More light then Culuer in the Faulcons fist Eternall God thee saue from such decay But whenas Mammon saw his purpose mist Him to entrap vnwares another way he wist Thence forward he him led and shortly brought Vnto another rowme whose dore forthright To him did open as it had beene taught Therein an hundred raunges weren pight And hundred fornaces all burning bright By euery fornace many feends did bide Deformed creatures horrible in sight And euery feend his busie paines applide To melt the golden metall ready to be tride One with great bellowes gathered filling aire And with forst wind the fewell did inflame Another did the dying bronds repaire With yron toungs and sprinckled oft the same With liquid waues fiers Vulcans rage to tame Who maistring them renewd his former heat Some scumd the drosse that from the metall came Some stird the molten owre with ladles great And euery one did swincke and euery one did sweat But when as earthly wight they present saw Glistring in armes and battailous aray From their whot worke they did themselues withdraw To wonder at the sight for till that day They neuer creature saw that came that way Their staring eyes sparckling with feruent fire And vgly shapes did nigh the man dismay That were it not for shame he would retire Till that him thus bespake their soueraigne Lord sire Behold thou Faeries sonne with mortall eye That liuing eye before did neuer see The thing that thou didst craue so earnestly To weet whence all the wealth late shewd by mee Proceeded lo now is reueald to thee Here is the fountaine of the worldes good Now therefore if thou wilt enriched bee Auise thee well and chaunge thy wilfull mood Least thou perhaps hereafter wish and be withstood Suffise it then thou Money God quoth hee That all thine idle offers I refuse All that I need I haue what needeth mee To couet more then I haue cause to vse With such vaine shewes thy worldlings vile abuse But giue me leaue to follow mine emprise Mammon was much displeasd yet no'te he chuse But beare the rigour of his bold mespise And thence him forward led him further to entise He brought him through a darksome narrow strait To a broad gate all built of beaten gold The gate was open but therein did wait A sturdy villein striding stiffe and bold As the highest God defie he would In his right hand an yron club he held But he himselfe was all of golden mould Yet had both life and sence and well could weld That cursed weapon when his cruell foes he queld Disdayne he called was and did disdaine To be so cald and who so did him call Sterne was to looke and full of stomacke vaine His portaunce terrible and stature tall Far passing th'hight of men terrestriall Like an huge Gyant of the Titans race That made him scorne all creatures great and small And with his pride all others powre deface More fit amongst blacke fiendes then men to haue his place Soone as those glitterand armes he did espye That with their brightnesse made that darknesse light His harmefull club he gan to hurtle hye And threaten batteill to the Faery knight Who likewise gan himselfe to batteill dight Till Mammon did his hasty hand withhold And counseld him abstaine from perilous fight For nothing might abash the villein bold Ne mortall steele emperce his miscreated mould So hauing him with reason pacifide And the fiers Carle commaunding to forbeare He brought him in The rowme was large and wide As it some Gyeld or solemne Temple weare Many great golden pillours did vpbeare The massy roofe and riches huge sustayne And euery pillour decked was full deare With crownes and Diademes titles vaine Which mortall Princes wore whiles they on earth did rayne A route of people there assembled were Of euery sort and nation vnder skye Which with great vprore preaced to draw nere To th'vpper part where was aduaunced hye A stately siege of soueraigne maiestye And thereon sat a woman gorgeous gay And richly clad in robes of royaltye That neuer earthly Prince in such a ray His glory did enhaunce and pompous pride display Her face right wondrous faire did seeme to bee That her broad beauties beam great brightnes threw Through the dim shade that all men might it see Yet was not that same her owne natiue hew But wrought by art and counterfetted shew Thereby more louers vnto her to call Nath'lesse most heauenly faire in deed and vew She by creation was till she did fall Thēceforth she sought for helps to cloke her crime withall There as in glistring glory she did sit She held a great gold chaine ylincked well Whose vpper end to highest heauen was knit And lower part did reach to lowest Hell And all that preace did round about her swell To catchen hold of that long chaine thereby To clime aloft and others to excell That was Ambition rash desire to sty And euery lincke thereof a step of dignity Some thought to raise themselues to high degree By riches and vnrighteous reward Some by close shouldrihg some by flatteree Others through friends others for base regard And all by wrong wayes for themselues prepard Those that were vp themselues kept others low Those that were low themselues held others hard Ne suffred them to rise or greater grow But euery one did striue his fellow downe to throw Which when as Guyon saw he gan inquire What meant that preace about that Ladies throne And what she was that did so high aspire Him Mammon answered That goodly one Whom all that folke with such contention Do flocke about my deare my daughter is Honour and dignitie from her alone Deriued are and all this worldes blis For which ye men do striue few get but many mis. And faire Philotime she rightly hight The fairest wight that wonneth vnder skye But that this darksome neather world her light Doth dim with horrour and deformitie Worthy of heauen and hye felicitie From whence the gods haue her for enuy thrust But sith thou hast found fauour in mine eye
Cookes accoyld With hookes and ladles as need did require The whiles the viandes in the vessell boyld They did about their businesse sweat and sorely toyld The maister Cooke was cald Concoction A carefull man and full of comely guise The kitchin Clerke that hight Digestion Did order all th'Achates in seemely wise And set them forth as well he could deuise The rest had seuerall offices assind Some to remoue the scum as it did rise Others to beare the same away did mind And others it to vse according to his kind But all the liquour which was fowle and wast Not good nor seruiceable else for ought They in another great round vessell plast Till by a conduit pipe it thence were brought And all the rest that noyous was and nought By secret wayes that none might it espy Was close conuaid and to the back-gate brought That cleped was Port Esquiline whereby It was auoided quite and throwne out priuily Which goodly order and great workmans skill When as those knights beheld with rare delight And gazing wonder they their minds did fill For neuer had they seene so straunge a sight Thence backe againe faire Alma led them right And soone into a goodly Parlour brought That was with royall arras richly dight In which was nothing pourtrahed nor wrought Not wrought nor pourtrahed but easie to be thought And in the midst thereof vpon the floure A louely beuy of faire Ladies sate Courted of many a iolly Paramoure The which them did in modest wise amate And each one sought his Lady to aggrate And eke emongst them litle Cupid playd His wanton sports being returned late From his fierce warres and hauing from him layd His cruell bow wherewith he thousands hath dismayd Diuerse delights they found them selues to please Some song in sweet consort some laught for ioy Some plaid with strawes some idly sat at ease But other some could not abide to toy All pleasaunce was to them griefe and annoy This fround that faund the third for shame did blush Another seemed enuious or coy Another in her teeth did gnaw a rush But at these straungers presence euery one did hush Soone as the gracious Alma came in place They all attonce out of their seates arose And to her homage made with humble grace Whom when the knights beheld they gan dispose Themselues to court and each a Damsell chose The Prince by chaunce did on a Lady light That was right faire and fresh as morning rose But somwhat sad and solemne eke in sight As if some pensiue thought cōstraind her gentle spright In a long purple pall whose skirt with gold Was fretted all about she was arayd And in her hand a Poplar braunch did hold To whom the Prince in curteous manner said Gentle Madame why beene ye thus dismaid And your faire beautie do with sadnesse spill Liues any that you hath thus ill apaid Or doen your loue or doen you lacke your will What euer be the cause it sure beseemes you ill Faire Sir said she halfe in disdainefull wise How is it that this word in me ye blame And in your selfe do not the same aduise Him ill beseemes anothers fault to name That may vnwares be blotted with the same Pensiue I yeeld I am and sad in mind Through great desire of glory and of fame Ne ought I weene are ye therein behind That haue twelue moneths sought one yet no where can her find The Prince was inly moued at her speach Well weeting trew what she had rashly told Yet with faire samblaunt sought to hide the breach Which chaunge of colour did perforce vnfold Now seeming flaming whot now stony cold Tho turning soft aside he did inquire What wight she was that Poplar braunch did hold It answered was her name was Prays-desire That by well doing sought to honour to aspire The whiles the Faerie knight did entertaine Another Damsell of that gentle crew That was right faire and modest of demaine But that too oft she chaung'd her natiue hew Straunge was her tyre and all her garment blew Close round about her tuckt with many a plight Vpon her fist the bird which shonneth vew And keepes in couerts close from liuing wight Did sit as yet ashamd how rude Pan did her dight So long as Guyon with her commoned Vnto the ground she cast her modest eye And euer and anone with rosie red The bashfull bloud her snowy cheekes did dye That her became as polisht yuory Which cunning Craftesman hand hath ouerlayd With faire vermilion or pure lastery Great wonder had the knight to see the mayd So straungely passioned and to her gently sayd Faire Damzell seemeth by your troubled cheare That either me too bold ye weene this wise You to molest or other ill to feare That in the secret of your hart close lyes From whence it doth as cloud from sea arise If it be I of pardon I you pray But if ought else that I mote not deuise I will if please you it discure assay To ease you of that ill so wisely as I may She answerd nought but more abasht for shame Held downe her head the whiles her louely face The flashing bloud with blushing did inflame And the strong passion mard her modest grace That Guyon meruayld at her vncouth cace Till Alma him bespake why wonder yee Faire Sir at that which ye so much embrace She is the fountaine of your modestee You shamefast are but Shamefastnesse it selfe is shee Thereat the Elfe did blush in priuitee And turnd his face away but she the same Dissembled faire and faynd to ouersee Thus they awhile with court and goodly game Themselues did solace each one with his Dame Till that great Ladie thence away them sought To vew her castles other wondrous frame Vp to a stately Turret she them brought Ascending by ten steps of Alablaster wrought That Turrets frame most admirable was Like highest heauen compassed around And lifted high aboue this earthly masse Which it suruew'd as hils doen lower ground But not on Ground mote like to this be found Not that which antique Cadmus whylome built In Thebes which Alexander did confound Nor that proud towre of Troy though richly guilt From which young Hectors bloud by cruell Greekes was spilt The roofe hereof was arched ouer head And deckt with flowers and herbars daintily Two goodly Beacons set in watches stead Therein gaue light and flam'd continually For they of liuing fire most subtilly Were made and set in siluer sockets bright Couer'd with lids deuiz'd of substance sly That readily they shut and open might O who can tell the prayses of that makers might Ne can I tell ne can I stay to tell This parts great workmanship wondrous powre That all this other worlds worke doth excell And likest is vnto that heauenly towre That God hath built for his owne blessed bowre Therein were diuerse roomes and diuerse stages But three the chiefest and of greatest powre In which there dwelt three honorable sages The
of euerlasting fame He with his victour sword first opened The bowels of wide Fraunce a forlorne Dame And taught her first how to be conquered Since which with sundrie spoiles she hath beene ransacked Let Scaldis tell and let tell Hania And let the marsh of Estham bruges tell What colour were their waters that same day And all the moore twixt Eluersham and Dell With bloud of Henalois which therein fell How oft that day did sad Brunchildis see The greene shield dyde in dolorous vermell That not Scuith guiridh it mote seeme to bee But rather y Scuith gogh signe of sad crueltee His sonne king Leill by fathers labour long Enioyd an heritage of lasting peace And built Cairleill and built Cairleon strong Next Huddibras his realme did not encrease But taught the land from wearie warres to cease Whose footsteps Bladud following in arts Exceld at Athens all the learned preace From whence he brought them to these saluage parts And with sweet science mollifide their stubborne harts Ensample of his wondrous faculty Behold the boyling Bathes at Cairbadon Which seeth with secret fire eternally And in their entrails full of quicke Brimston Nourish the flames which they are warm'd vpon That to her people wealth they forth do well And health to euery forreine nation Yet he at last contending to excell The reach of men through flight into fond mischief fell Next him king Leyr in happie peace long raind But had no issue male him to succeed But three faire daughters which were well vptraind In all that seemed sit for kingly seed Mongst whom his realme he equally decreed To haue diuided Tho when feeble age Nigh to his vtmost date he saw proceed He cald his daughters and with speeches sage Inquyrd which of them most did loue her parentage The eldest Gonorill gan to protest That she much more then her owne life him lou'd And Regan greater loue to him profest Then all the world when euer it were proou'd But Cordeill said she lou'd him as behoou'd Whose simple answere wanting colours faire To paint it forth him to displeasance moou'd That in his crowne he counted her no haire But twixt the other twaine his kingdome whole did shaire So wedded th' one to Maglan king of Scots And th' other to the king of Cambria And twixt them shayrd his realme by equall lots But without dowre the wise Cordelia Was sent to Aganip of Celtica Their aged Syre thus cased of his crowne A priuate life led in Albania With Gonorill long had in great renowne That nought him grieu'd to bene from rule deposed downe But true it is that when the oyle is spent The light goes out and weeke is throwne away So when he had resignd his regiment His daughter gan despise his drouping day And wearie waxe of his continuall stay Tho to his daughter Rigan he repayrd Who him at first well vsed euery way But when of his departure she despayrd Her bountie she abated and his cheare empayrd The wretched man gan then auise too late That loue is not where most it is profest Too truely tryde in his extreamest state At last resolu'd likewise to proue the rest He to Cordelia him selfe addrest Who with entire affection him receau'd As for her Syre and king her seemed best And after all an army strong she leau'd To war on those which him had of his realme bereau'd So to his crowne she him restor'd againe In which he dyde made ripe for death by eld And after wild it should to her remaine Who peaceably the same long time did weld And all mens harts in dew obedience held Till that her sisters children woxen strong Through proud ambition against her rebeld And ouercommen kept in prison long Till wearie of that wretched life her selfe she hong Then gan the bloudie brethren both to raine But fierce Cundah gan shortly to enuie His brother Morgan prickt with proud disdaine To haue a pere in part of soueraintie And kindling coles of cruell enmitie Raisd warre and him in battell ouerthrew Whence as he to those woodie hils did flie Which hight of him Glamorgan there him slew Then did he raigne alone when he none equall knew His sonne Riuallo his dead roome did supply In whose sad time bloud did from heauen raine Next great Gurgustus then faire Caecily In constant peace their kingdomes did containe After whom Lago and Kinmarke did raine And Gorbogud till farre in yeares he grew Till his ambitious sonnes vnto them twaine Arraught the rule and from their father drew Stout Ferrex and sterne Porrex him in prison threw But ô the greedy thirst of royall crowne That knowes no kinred nor regardes no right Stird Porrex vp to put his brother downe Who vnto him assembling forreine might Made warre on him and fell him selfe in fight Whose death t' auenge his mother mercilesse Most mercilesse of women VVyden hight Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse Here ended Brutus sacred progenie Which had seuen hundred yeares this scepter borne With high renowme and great felicitie The noble braunch from th'antique stocke was torne Through discord and the royall throne forlorne Thenceforth this Realme was into factions rent Whilest each of Brutus boasted to be borne That in the end was left no moniment Of Brutus nor of Britons glory auncient Then vp arose a man of matchlesse might And wondrous wit to menage high affaires Who stird vp pitty of the stressed plight Of this sad Realme cut into sundry shaires By such as claymd themselues Brutes rightfull haires Gathered the Princes of the people loose To taken counsell of their common cares Who with his wisedom won him streight did choose Their king and swore him fealty to win or loose Then made he head against his enimies And Ymner slew or Logris miscreate Then Ruddoc and proud Stater both allyes This of Albanie newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He ouerthrew through his owne valiaunce Whos 's countreis he redus'd to quiet state And shortly brought to ciuill gouernaunce Now one which earst were many made through variaunce Then made he sacred lawes which some men say Were vnto him reueald in vision By which he freed the Traueilers high way The Churches part and Ploughmans portion Restraining stealth and strong extortion The gracious Numa of great Britanie For till his dayes the chiefe dominion By strength was wielded without pollicie Therefore he first wore crowne of gold for dignitie Donwallo dyde for what may liue for ay And left two sonnes of pearelesse prowesse both That sacked Rome too dearely did assay The recompence of their periured oth And ransackt Greece well tryde whē they were wroth Besides subiected Fraunce and Germany Which yet their prayses speake all be they loth And inly tremble at the memory Of Brennus and Bellinus kings of Britany Next them did Gurgunt great Bellinus sonne In rule succeede and eke in fathers prayse He Easterland subdewd and Danmarke
sith they warlike armes haue layd away They haue exceld in artes and pollicy That now we foolish men that prayse gin eker'enuy Of warlike puissaunce in ages spent Be thou faire Britomart whose prayse I write But of all wisedome be thou precedent Endite I would as dewtie doth excite But ah my rimes too rude and rugged arre When in so high an obiect they do lite And striuing fit to make I feare do marre Thy selfe thy prayses tell and make them knowen farre She trauelling with Guyon by the way Of sundry things faire purpose gan to find T'abridg their iourney long and lingring day Mongst which it fell into that Faeries mind To aske this Briton Mayd what vncouth wind Made her dissemble her disguised kind Faire Lady she him seemd like Lady drest But fairest knight aliue when armed washer brest Thereat she sighing softly had no powre To speake a while ne ready answere make But with hart-thrilling throbs and bitter stowre As if she had a feuer fit did quake And euery daintie limbe with horrour shake And euer and anone the rosy red Flasht through her face as it had beene a flake Oflightning through bright heauen fulmined At last the passion past she thus him answered Faire Sir I let you weete that from the howre I taken was from nourses tender pap I haue beene trained vp in warlike stowre To tossen speare and shield and to affrap The warlike ryder to his most mishap Sithence I loathed haue my life to lead As Ladies wont in pleasures wanton lap To finger the fine needle and nyce thread Me leuer were with point of foemans speare be dead All my delights deedes of armes is set To hunt out perils and aduentures hard By sea by land where so they may be met Onely for honour and for high regard Without respect of richesse or reward For such intent into these parts I came Withouten compasse or withouten card Far fro my natiue soyle that is by name The greater Britaine here to seeke for prayse and fame Fame blazed hath that here in Faery lond Do many famous Knightes and Ladies wonne And many straunge aduentures to be fond Of which great worth and worship may be wonne Which I to proue this voyage haue begonne But mote I weet of you right curteous knight Tydings of one that hath vnto me donne Late foule dishonour and reprochfull spight The which I seeke to wreake and Arthegall he hight The word gone out she backe againe would call As her repenting so to haue missayd But that he it vp-taking ere the fall Her shortly answered Faire martiall Mayd Certes ye misa uised beene t'vpbrayd A gentle knight with so vnknightly blame For weet ye well of all that euer playd At tilt or tourney or like warlike game The noble Arthegall hath euer borne the name For thy great wonder were it if such shame Should euer enter in his bounteous thought Or euer do that mote deseruen blame The noble courage neuer weeneth ought That may vnworthy of it selfe be thought Therefore faire Damzell be ye well aware Least that too farre ye haue your sorrow sought You and your countrey both I wish welfare And honour both for each of other worthy are The royall Mayd woxe inly wondrous glad To heare her Loue so highly magnifide And ioyd that euer she affixed had Her hart on knight so goodly glorifide How euer finely she it faind to hide The louing mother that nine monethes did beare In the deare closet of her paine full side Her tender babe it seeing safe appeare Doth not so much reioyce as she reioyced theare But to occasion him to further talke To feed her humour with his pleasing stile Her list in strifull termes with him to balke Aud thus replide How euer Sir ye file Your curteous tongue his prayses to compile It ill beseemes a knight of gentle sort Such as ye haue him boasted to beguile A simple mayd and worke so haynous tort In shame of knighthood as I largely can report Let be therefore my vengeaunce to disswade And read where I that faytour false may find Ah but if reason faire might you perswade To slake your wrath and mollifie your mind Said he perhaps ye should it better find For hardy thing it is to weene by might That man to hard conditions to bind Or euer hope to match in equall fight Whose prowesse paragon saw neuer liuing wight Ne soothlich is it easie for to read Where now on earth or how he may be found For he ne wonneth in one certaine stead But restlesse walketh all the world around Ay doing things that to his same redound Defending Ladies cause and Orphans right Where so he heares that any doth confound Them comfortlesse through tyranny or might So is his soueraine honour raisde to heavens hight His feeling words her feeble sence much pleased And softly sunck into her molten hart Hart that is inly hurt is greatly eased With hope of thing that may allegge his smart For pleasing words are like to Magick art That doth the charmed Snake in slomber lay Such secret ease felt gentle Britomart Yet list the same efforce with faind gainesay So dischord oft in Musick makes the sweeter lay And said Sir knight these idle termes forbeare And sith it is vneath to find his haunt Tell me some markes by which he may appeare If chaunce I him encounter parauant For perdie one shall other slay or daunt What shape what shield what armes what steed what sted And what so else his person most may vaunt All which the Redcrosse knight to point ared And him in euery part before her fashioned Yet him in euery part before she knew How euer list her now her knowledge faine Sith him whilome in Britaine she did vew To her reuealed in a mirrhour plaine Whereof did grow her first engraffed paine Whose root and stalke so bitter yet did tast That but the fruit more sweetnesse did containe Her wretched dayes in dolour she mote wast And yield the pray of loue to lothsome death at last By strange occasion she did him behold And much more strangely gan to loue his sight As it in bookes hath written bene of old In Deheubarth that now South-wales is hight What time king Ryence raign'd and dealed right The great Magitian Merlin had deuiz'd By his deepe science and hell-dreaded might A looking glasse right wondrously aguiz'd Whose vertues through the wyde world soone were solemniz'd It vertue had to shew in perfect sight What euer thing was in the world contaynd Betwixt the lowest earth and heauens hight So that it to the looker appertaynd What euer foe had wrought or frend had faynd Therein discouered was ne ought mote pas Ne ought in secret from the same remaynd For thy it round and hollow shaped was Like to the world it selfe and seem'd a world of glas Who wonders not that reades so wonderous worke But who does wonder that has red the Towre Wherein th' Aegyptian Phaeo long
desire Faire ympes of beautie whose bright shining beames Adorne the world with like to heauenly light And to your willes both royalties and Realmes Subdew through conquest of your wondrous might With this faire flowre your goodly girlonds dight Of chastity and vertue virginall That shall embellish more your beautie bright And crowne your heades with heauenly coronall Such as the Angels weare before Gods tribunall To your faire selues a faire ensample frame Of this faire virgin this Belphoebe faire To whom in perfect loue and spotlesse fame Of chastitie none liuing may compaire Ne poysnous Enuy iustly can empaire The prayse of her fresh flowring Maidenhead For thy she standeth on the highest staire Of th'honorable stage of womanhead That Ladies all may follow her ensample dead In so great prayse of stedfast chastity Nathlesse she was so curteous and kind Tempred with grace and goodly modesty That seemed those two vertues stroue to find The higher place in her Heroick mind So striuing each did other more augment And both encreast the prayse of woman kind And both encreast her beautie excellent So all did make in her a perfect complement Cant. VI. The birth of faire Belphoebe and Of Amoret is told The Gardins of Adonis fraught With pleasures manifold WEll may I weene faire Ladies all this while Ye wonder how this noble Damozell So great perfections did in her compile Sith that in saluage forests she did dwell So farre from court and royall Citadell The great schoolmistresse of all curtesy Seemeth that such wild woods should far expell All ciuill vsage and gentility And gentle sprite deforme with rude rusticity But to this faire Belphoebe in her berth The heauens so fauourable were and free Looking with myld aspect vpon the earth In th' Horoscope of her natiuitee That all the gifts of grace and chastitee On her they poured forth of plenteous horne Ioue laught on Venus from his soueraigne see And Phoebus with faire beames did her adorne And all the Graces rockt her cradle being borne Her berth was of the wombe of Morning dew And her conception of the ioyous Prime And all her whole creation did her shew Pure and vnspotted from all loathly crime That is ingenerate in fleshly slime So was this virgin borne so was she bred So was she trayned vp from time to time In all chast vertue and true bounti-hed Till to her dew perfection she was ripened Her mother was the faire Chrysogonee The daughter of Amphisa who by race A Faerie was yborne of high degree She bore Belphaebe she bore in like cace Faire Amoretta in the second place These two were twinnes twixt them two did share The heritage of all celestiall grace That all the rest it seem'd they robbed bare Of bountie and of beautie and all vertues rare It were a goodly storie to declare By what straunge accident faire Chrysogone Conceiu'd these infants and how them she bare In this wild forrest wandring all alone After she had nine moneths fulfild and gone For not as other wemens commune brood They were enwombed in the sacred throne Of her chaste bodie nor with commune food As other wemens babes they sucked vitall blood But wondrously they were begot and bred Through influence of th' heauens fruitfull ray As it in antique bookes is mentioned It was vpon a Somâ—ers shynie day When Titan faire his beames did display In a fresh fountaine farre from all mens vew She bath'd her brest the boyling heat t' allay She bath'd with roses red and violets blew And all the sweetest flowres that in the forrest grew Till faint through irkesome wearinesse adowne Vpon the grassie ground her selfe she layd To sleepe the whiles a gentle slombring swowne Vpon her fell all naked bare displayd The sunne-beames bright vpon her body playd Being through former bathing mollifide And pierst into her wombe where they embayd With so sweet sence and secret power vnspide That in her pregnant flesh they shortly fructifide Miraculous may seeme to him that reades So straunge ensample of conception But reason teacheth that the fruitfull seades Of all things liuing through impression Of the sunbeames in moyst complexion Doe life conceiue and quickned are by kynd So after Nilus invndation Infinite shapes of creature men do fynd Informed in the mud on which the Sunne hath shynd Great father he of generation Is rightly cald th' author of life and light And his faire sister for creation Ministreth matter fit which tempred right With heate and humour breedes the liuing wight So sprong these twinnes in wombe of Chrysogone Yet wist she nought thereof but sore affright Wondred to see her belly so vpblone Which still increast till she her terme had full outgone Whereof conceiuing shame and foule disgrace Albe her guiltlesse conscience her cleard She sled into the wildernesse a space Till that vnweeldy burden she had reard And shund dishonor which as death she feard Where wearie of long trauell downe to rest Her selfe she set and comfortably cheard There a sad cloud of sleepe her ouerkest And seized euery sense with sorrow sore opprest It fortuned faire Venus hauing lost Her little sonne the winged god of loue Who for some light displeasure which him crost Was from her fled as flit as ayerie Doue And left her blisfull bowre of ioy aboue So from her often he had fled away When she for ought him sharpely did reproue And wandred in the world in strange aray Disguiz'd in thousand shapes that none might him bewray Him for to seeke she left her heauenly hous The house of goodly formes and faire aspects Whence all the world deriues the glorious Features of beauties and all shapes select With which high God his workmanship hath deckt And searched euery way through which his wings Had borne him or his tract she mote detect She promist kisses sweet and sweeter things Vnto the man that of him tydings to her brings First she him sought in Court where most he vsed Whylome to haunt but there she found him not But many there she found which sore accused His falsehood and with foule infamous blot His cruell deedes and wicked wyles did spot Ladies and Lords she euery where mote heare Complayning how with his empoysned shot Their wofull harts he wounded had whyleare And so had left them languishing twixt hope and feare She then the Cittie 's sought from gate to gate And euery one did aske did he him see And euery one her answerd that too late He had him seene and felt the crueltie Of his sharpe darts and whot artillerie And euery one threw forth reproches rife Of his mischieuous deedes and said That hee Was the disturber of all ciuill life The enimy of peace and author of all strife Then in the countrey she abroad him sought And in the rurall cottages inquired Where also many plaints to her were brought How he their heedlesse harts with loue had fyred And his false venim through their veines inspyred And eke the gentle shepheard
swaynes which sat Keeping their fleecie flockes as they were hyred She sweetly heard complaine both how and what Her sonne had to them doen yet she did smile thereat But when in none of all these she him got She gan auize where else he mote him hyde At last she her bethought that she had not Yet sought the saluage woods and forrests wyde In which full many louely Nymphes abyde Mongst whom might be that he did closely lye Or that the loue of some of them him tyde For thy she thither cast her course t' apply To search the secret haunts of Dianes company Shortly vnto the wastefull woods she came Whereas she found the Goddesse with her crew After late chace of their embrewed game Sitting beside a fountaine in a rew Some of them washing with the liquid dew From off their dainty limbes the dustie sweat And soyle which did deforme their liuely hew Others lay shaded from the scorching heat The rest vpon her person gaue attendance great She hauing hong vpon a bough on high Her bow and painted quiuer had vnlaste Her siluer buskins from her nimble thigh And her lancke loynes vngirt and brests vnbraste After her heat the breathing cold to taste Her golden lockes that late in tresses bright Embreaded were for hindring of her haste Now loose about her shoulders hong vndight And were with sweet Ambrosia all be sprinckled light Soone as she Venus saw behind her backe She was asham'd to be so loose surprized And woxe halfe wroth against her damzels flacke That had nother thereof before auized But suffred her so carelesly disguized Be ouertaken Soone her garments loose Vpgath'ring in her bosome she comprized Well as she might and to the Goddesse rose Whiles all her Nymphes did like a girlond her enclose Goodly she gan faire Cytherea greet And shortly asked her what cause her brought Into that wildernesse for her vnmeet From her sweete bowres and beds with pleasures fraught That suddein change she strange aduenture thought To whom halfe weeping she thus answered That she her dearest sonne Cupido sought Who in his frowardnesse from her was fled That she repented sore to haue him angered Thereat Diana gan to smile in scorne Of her vaine plaint and to her scoffing sayd Great pittie sure that ye be so forlorne Of your gay sonne that giues ye so good ayd To your disports ill mote ye bene apayd But she was more engrieued and replide Faire sister ill beseemes it to vpbrayd A dolefull heart with so disdainfull pride The like that mine may be your paine another tide As you in woods and wanton wildernesse Your glory set to chace the saluage beasts So my delight is all in ioyfulnesse In beds in bowres in banckets and in feasts And ill becomes you with your loftie creasts To scorne the ioy that Ioue is glad to seeke We both are bound to follow heauens beheasts And tend our charges with obeisance meeke Spare gentle sister with reproch my paine to eeke And tell me if that ye my sonne haue heard To lurke emongst your Nymphes in secret wize Or keepe their cabins much I am affeard Least he like one of them him selfe disguize And turne his arrowes to their exercize So may he long himselfe full easie hide For he is faire and fresh in face and guize As any Nymph let not it be enuyde So saying euery Nymph full narrowly she eyde But Phoebe therewith sore was angered And sharply said Goe Dame goe seeke your boy Where you him lately left in Mars his bed He comes not here we scorne his foolish ioy Ne lend we leisure to his idle toy But if I catch him in this company By Stygian lake I vow whose sad annoy The Gods doe dread he dearely shall abye I le clip his wanton wings that he no more shall fly Whom when as Venus saw so sore displeased She inly sory was and gan relent What she had said so her she soone appeased With sugred words and gentle blandishment From which a fountaine from her sweet lips went And welled goodly forth that in short space She was well pleasd and forth her damzels sent Through all the woods to search from place to place If any tract of him or tydings they mote trace To search the God of loue her Nymphes she sent Throughout the wandring forrest euery where And after them her selfe eke with her went To seeke the fugitiue both farre and nere So long they sought till they arriued were In that same shadie couert whereas lay Faire Crysogone in slombry traunce whilere Who in her sleepe a wondrous thing to say Vnwares had borne two babes as faire as springing day Vnwares she them conceiu'd vnwares she bore She bore withouten paine that she conceiued Withouten pleasure ne her need implore Lucinaes aide which when they both perceiued They were through wonder nigh of sense bereaued And gazing each on other nought bespake At last they both agreed her seeming grieued Out of her heauy swowne not to awake But from her louing side the tender babes to take Vp they them tooke each one a babe vptooke And with them carried to be fostered Dame Phoebe to a Nymph her babe betooke To be vpbrought in perfect Maydenhed And of her selfe her name Belphoebe red But Venus hers hence farre away conuayd To be vpbrought in goodly womanhed And in her litle loues stead which was strayd Her Amoretta cald to comfort her dismayd She brought her to her ioyous Paradize Where most she wonnes whē she on earth does dwel So faire a place as Nature can deuize Whether in Paphos or Cytheron hill Or it in Gnidus be I wote not well But well I wote by tryall that this same All other pleasant places doth excell And called is by her lost louers name The Gardin of Adonis farre renowmd by fame In that same Gardin all the goodly flowres Wherewith dame Nature doth her beautifie And decks the girlonds of her paramoures Are fetcht there is the first seminarie Of all things that are borne to liue and die According to their kindes Long worke it were Here to account the endlesse pregenie Of all the weedes that bud and blossome there But so much as doth need must needs be counted here It sited was in fruitfull soyle of old And girt in with two walles on either side The one of yron the other of bright gold That none might thorough breake nor ouer-stride And double gates it had which opened wide By which both in and out men moten pas Th' one faire and fresh the other old and dride Old Genius the porter of them was Old Genius the which a double nature has He letteth in he letteth out to wend All that to come into the world desire A thousand thousand naked babes attend About him day and night which doe require That he with fleshly weedes would them attire Such as him list such as eternall fate Ordained hath he clothes with sinfull mire And sendeth forth to liue in mortall state
wight vnwist to bee The fairest woman wight that euer eye did see Like as Minerua being late returnd From slaughter of the Giaunts conquered Where proud Encelade whose wide nosethrils burnd With breathed flames like to a furnace red Transfixed with the speare downe tombled ded From top of Hemus by him heaped hye Hath loosd her helmet from her lofty hed And her Gorgonian shield gins to vntye From her left arme to rest in glorious victorye Which whenas they beheld they smitten were With great amazement of so wondrous sight And each on other and they all on her Stood gazing as if suddein great affright Had them surprised At last auizing right Her goodly personage and glorious hew Which they so much mistooke they tooke delight In their first errour and yet still anew With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry vew Yet note their hungry vew be satisfide But seeing still the more desir'd to see And euer firmely fixed did abide In contemplation of diuinitie But they meruaild at her cheualree And noble prowesse which they had approued That much they faynd to know who she mote bee Yet none of all them her thereof amoued Yet euery one her likte and euery one her loued And Paridell though partly discontent With his late fall and fowle indignity Yet was soone wonne his malice to relent Through gracious regard of her faire eye And knightly worth which he too late did try Yet tried did adore Supper was dight Then they Malbecco prayd of curtesy That of his Lady they might haue the sight And company at meat to do them more delight But he to shift their curious request Gan causen why she could not come in place Her crased health her late recourse to rest And humid euening ill for sicke folkes cace But none of those excuses could take place Ne would they eate till she in presence came She came in presence with right comely grace And fairely them saluted as became And shewd her selfe in all a gentle curteous Dame They sate to meat and Satyrane his chaunce Was her before and Paridell besyde But he him selfe sate looking still askaunce Gainst Britomart and euer closely eyde Sir Satyrane that glaunces might not glyde But his blind eye that syded Paridell All his demeasnure from his sight did hyde On her faire face so did he feede his fill And sent close messages of loue to her at will And euer and anone when none was ware With speaking lookes that close embassage bore He rou'd at her and told his secret care For all that art he learned had ofyore Ne was she ignoraunt of that lewd lore But in his eye his meaning wisely red And with the like him answerd euermore She sent at him one firie dart whose hed Empoisned was with priuy lust and gealous dred He from that deadly throw made no defence But to the wound his weake hart opened wyde The wicked engine through false influence Past through his eyes and secretly did glyde Into his hart which it did sorely gryde But nothing new to him was that same paine Ne paine at all for he so oft had tryde The powre thereof and lou'd so oft in vaine That thing of course he counted loue to entertaine Thenceforth to her he sought to intimate His inward griefe by meanes to him well knowne Now Bacchus fruit out of the siluer plate He on the table dasht as ouerthrowne Or of the fruitfull liquor ouerflowne And by the dauncing bubbles did diuine Or therein write to let his loue be showne Which well she red out of the learned line A sacrament prophane in mistery of wine And when so of his hand the pledge she raught The guilty cup she fained to mistake And in her lap did shed her idle draught Shewing desire her inward flame to slake By such close signes they secret way did make Vnto their wils and one eyes watch escape Two eyes him needeth for to watch and wake Who louers will deceiue Thus was the ape By their faire handling put into Malbeccoes cape Now when of meats and drinks they had their fill Purpose was moued by that gentle Dame Vnto those knights aduenturous to tell Of deeds of armes which vnto them became And euery one his kindred and his name Then Paridell in whom a kindly pryde Of gracious speach and skill his words to frame Abounded being glad of so fit tyde Him to commend to her thus spake of all well eyde Troy that art now nought but an idle name And in thine ashes buried low dost lie Though whilome far much greater then thy fame Before that angry Gods and cruell skye Vpon thee heapt a direfull destinie What boots it boast thy glorious descent And fetch from heauen thy great Genealogie Sith all thy worthy prayses being blent Their of-spring hath embaste and later glory shent Most famous Worthy of the world by whome That warre was kindled which did Troy inflame And stately towres of Ilion whilome Brought vnto balefull ruine was by name Sir Paris far renowmd through noble fame Who through great prowesse and bold hardinesse From Lacedaemon fetcht the fairest Dame That euer Greece did boast or knight possesse Whom Venus to him gaue for meed of worthinesse Faire Helene flowre of beautie excellent And girlond of the mighty Conquerours That madest many Ladies deare lament The heauie losse of their braue Paramours Which they far off beheld from Troian toures And saw the fieldes of faire Scamander strowne With carcases of noble warrioures Whose fruitlesse liues were vnder furrow sowne And Xanthus sandy bankes with bloud all ouerflowne From him my linage I deriue aright Who long before the ten yeares siege of Troy Whiles yet on Ida he a shepheard hight On faire Oenone got a louely boy Whom for remembraunce of her passed ioy She of his Father Parius did name Who after Greekes did Priams realme destroy Gathred the Troian reliques sau'd from flame And with them sayling thence to th' Isle of Paros came That was by him cald Paros which before Hight Nausa there he many yeares did raine And built Nausicle by the Pontick shore The which he dying left next in remaine To Paridas his sonne From whom I Paridell by kin descend But for faire Ladies loue and glories gaine My natiue soile haue left my dayes to spend In seewing deeds of armes my liues and labours end When as the noble Britomart heard tell Of Troian warres and Priams Citie sackt The ruefull story of Sir Paridell She was empassiond at that piteous act With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact Against that nation from whose race of old She heard that she was lineally extract For noble Britons sprong from Troians bold And Troynouant was built of old Troyes ashes cold Then sighing soft awhile at last she thus O lamentable fall of famous towne Which raignd so many yeares victorious And of all Asie bore the soueraigne crowne In one sad night consumd and throwen downe What stony hart that heares thy haplesse
would flit Tho stooping downe she him amoued light Who therewith somewhat starting vp gan looke And seeing him behind a straunger knight Whereas no liuing creature he mistooke With great indignaunce he that sight forsooke And downe againe himselfe disdainefully Abiecting th' earth with his faire forhead strooke Which the bold Virgin seeing gan apply Fit medcine to his griefe and spake thus courtesly Ah gentle knight whose deepe cenceiued griefe Well seemes t' exceede the powre of patience Yet if that heauenly grace some good reliefe You send submit you to high prouidence And euer in your noble hart prepense That all the sorrow in the world is lesse Then vertues might and values confidence For who nill bide the burden of distresse Must not here thinke to liue for life is wretchednesse Therefore faire Sir do comfort to you take And freely read what wicked felon so Hath outrag'd you and thrald your gentle make Perhaps this hand may helpe to ease your woe And wreake your sorrow on your cruell foe And least it faire endeuour will apply Those feeling wordes so neare the quicke did goe That vp his head he reared easily And leaning on his elbow these few wordes let fly What boots it plaine that cannot be redrest And sow vaine sorrow in a fruilesse care Sith powre of hand nor skill of learned brest Ne worldly price cannot redeeme my deare Out of her thraldome and continuall feare For he the tyraunt which her hath in ward By strong enchauntments and blacke Magicke leare Hath in a dungeon deepe her close embard And many dreadfull feends hath pointed to her gard There he tormenteth her most terribly And day and night afflicts with mortall paine Because to yield him loue she doth deny Once to me yold not to be yold againe But yet by torture he would her constraine Loue to conceiue in her disdainfull breast Till so she do she must in doole remaine Ne may by liuing meanes be thence relest What boots it then to plaine that cannot be redrest With this sad hersall of his heauy stresse The warlike Damzell was empassiond sore And said Sir knight your cause is nothing lesse Then is your sorrow certes if not more For nothing so much pitty doth implore As gentle Ladies helplesse misery But yet if please ye listen to my lore I will with proofe of last extremity Deliuer her fro thence or with her for you dy Ah gentlest knight aliue said Scudamore What huge heroicke magnanimity Dwels in thy bounteous brest what couldst thou more If she were thine and thou as now am I O spare thy happy dayes and them apply To better boot but let me dye that ought More is more losse one is enough to dy Life is not lost said she for which is bought Endlesse renowm that more then death is to be sought Thus she at length perswaded him to rise And with her wend to see what new successe Mote him befall vpon new enterprise His armes which he had vowed to disprofesse She gathered vp and did about him dresse And his for wandred steed vnto him got So forth they both yfere make their progresse And march not past the mountenaunce of a shot Till they arriu'd whereas their purpose they did plot There they dismounting drew their weapons bold And stoutly came vnto the Castle gate Whereas no gate they found them to withhold Nor ward to wait at morne and euening late But in the Porch that did them sore amate A flaming fire ymixt with smouldry smoke And stinking Sulphure that with griesly hate And dreadfull horrour did all entraunce choke Enforced them their forward footing to reuoke Greatly thereat was Britomart dismayd Ne in that stownd wist how her selfe to beare For daunger vaine it were to haue assayd That cruell element which all things feare Ne none can suffer to approchen neare And turning backe to Scudamour thus sayd What monstrous enmity prouoke we heare Foolhardy as th'Earthes children the which made Battell against the Gods so we a God inuade Daunger without discretion to attempt Inglorious and beastlike is therefore Sir knight A read what course of you is safest dempt And how we with our foe may come to fight This quoth he the dolorous despight Which earst to you I playnd for neither may This fire be quencht by any wit or might Ne yet by any meanes remou'd away So mighty be th'enchauntments which the same do stay What is there else but cease these fruitlesse paines And leaue me to my former languishing Faire Amoret must dwell in wicked chaines And Scudamore here dye with sorrowing Perdy not so said she for shamefull thing It were t' abandon noble cheuisaunce For shew of perill without venturing Rather let try extremities of chaunce Then enterprised prayse for dread to disauaunce Therewith resolu'd to prone her vtmost might Her ample shield she threw before her face And her swords point directing forward right Assayld the flame the which eftsoones gaue place And did it selfe diuide with equall space That throngh she passed as a thunder bolt Perceth the yielding ayre and doth displace The soring clouds into sad showres ymolt So to her yold the flames and did their force reuolt Whom whenas Scudamour saw past the fire Safe and Vntoucht he likewise gan assay With greedy will and enuious desire And bad the stubborne flames to yield him way But cruell Mulciber would not obay His threatfull pride but did the more augment His mighty rage and imperious sway Him forst maulgre his fiercenesse relent And backe retire all scorcht and pitifully brent With huge impatience he inly swelt More for great sorrow that he could not pas Then for the burning torment which he felt That with fell woodnesse he effierced was And wilfully him throwing on the gras Did beat and bounse his head and brest full sore The whiles the Championesse now entred has The vtmost rowme and past the formest dore The vtmost rowme abounding with all precious store For round about the wals yclothed were With goodly arras of great maiesty Wouen with gold and silke so close and nere That the rich metall lurked priuily As faining to be hid from enuious eye Yet here and there and euery where vnwares It shewd it sfelfe and shone vnwillingly Like a discolourd Snake whose hidden snares Through the greene gras his long bright burnisht backe declares And in those Tapets weren fashioned Many faire pourtraicts and many a faire feate And all of loue and all of lusty-hed As seemed by their semblaunt did entreat And eke all Cupids warres they did repeate And cruell battels which he whilome fought Gainst all the Gods to make his empire great Besides the huge massacres which he wrought On mighty kings and kesars into thraldome brought Therein was writ how often thundring Ioue Had felt the point of his hart-percing dart And leauing heauens kingdome here did roue In straunge disguize to slake his scalding smart Now like a Ram faire Helle to peruart Now like a
Bull Europa to withdraw Ah how the fearefull Ladies tender hart Did liuely seeme to tremble when she saw The huge seas vnder her t' obay her seruaunts law Soone after that into a golden showre Him selfe he chaung'd faire Danaë to vew And through the roofe of her strong brasen towre Did raine into her lap an hony dew The whiles her foolish garde that little knew Of such deceipt kept th'yron dore fast bard And watcht that none should enter nor issew Vaine was the watch and bootlesse all the ward Whenas the God to golden hew him selfe transfard Then was he turnd into a snowy Swan To win faire Leda to his louely trade O wondrous skill and sweet wit of the man That her in daffadillies sleeping made From scorching heat her daintie limbes to shade Whiles the proud Bird ruffing his fethers wyde And brushing his faire brest did her inuade She slept yet twixt her eyelids closely spyde How towards her he rusht and smiled at his pryde Then shewd it how the Thebane Semelee Deceiu'd of gealous Iuno did require To see him in his soueraigne maiestee Armd with his thunderbolts and lightning fire Whence dearely she with death bought her desire But faire Alcmena better match did make Ioying his loue in likenesse more entire Three nights in one they say that for her sake He then did put her pleasures lenger to partake Twise was he seene in soaring Eagles shape And with wide wings to beat the buxome ayre Once when he with Asterie did scape Againe when as the Troiane boy so faire He snatcht from Ida hill and with him bare Wondrous delight it was there to behould How the rude Shepheards after him did stare Trembling through feare least down he fallen should And often to him calling to take surer hould In Satyres shape Antiopa he snatcht And like a fire when he Aegin ' assayd A shepheard when Mnemosyne he catcht And like a Serpent to the Thracian mayd Whiles thus on earth great Ioue these pageaunts playd The winged boy did thrust into his throne And scoffing thus vnto his mother sayd Lo now the heauens obey to me alone And take me for their Ioue whiles Ioue to earth is gone And thou faire Phoebus in thy colours bright Wast there enwouen and the sad distresse In which that boy thee plonged for despight That thou bewray'dst his mothers wantonnesse When she with Mars was meynt in ioyfulnesse For thy he thrild thee with a leaden dart To loue faire Daphne which thee loued lesse Lesse she thee lou'd then was thy iust desart Yet was thy loue her death her death was thy smart So louedst thou the lusty Hyacinct So louedst thou the faire Coroxis deare Yet both are of thy haplesse hand extinct Yet both in flowres do liue and loue thee beare The one a Paunce the other a sweet breare For griefe whereof ye mote haue liuely seene The God himselfe rending his golden heare And breaking quite his gyrlond euer greene With other signes of sorrow and impatient teene Both for those two and for his owne deare sonne The sonne of Climene he did repent Who bold to guide the charet of the Sunne Himselfe in thousand peeces fondly rent And all the world with flashing fier brent So like that all the walles did seeme to flame Yet cruell Cupid not herewith content Forst him eftsoones to follow other game And loue a Shepheards daughter for his dearest Dame He loued Isse for his dearest Dame And for her sake her cattell fed a while And for her sake a cowheard vile became The seruant of Admetus cowheard vile Whiles that from heauen he suffered exile Long were to tell each other louely fit Now like a Lyon hunting after spoile Now like a Hag now like a faulcon flit All which in that faire arras was most liuely writ Next vnto him was Neptune pictured In his diuine resemblance wondrous lyke His face was rugged and his hoarie hed Dropped with brackish deaw his three-forkt Pyke He stearnly shooke and therewith fierce did stryke The raging billowes that on euery syde They trembling stood and made a long broad dyke That his swift charet might haue passage wyde Which foure great Hippodames did draw in temewise tyde His sea-horses did seeme to snort amayne And from their nosethrilles blow the brynie streame That made the sparckling waues to smoke agayne And flame with gold but the white fomy creame Did shine with siluer and shoot forth his beame The God himselfe did pensiue seeme and sad And hong adowne his head as he did dreame For priuy loue his brest empierced had Ne ought but deare Bisaltis ay could make him glad He loued eke Iphimedia deare And Aeolus faire daughter Arne hight For whom he turnd him selfe into a Steare And fed on fodder to beguile her sight Also to win Deucalions daughter bright Her turnd him selfe into a Dolphin fayre And like a winged horse he tooke his flight To snaly-locke Medusa to repayre On whom he got faire Pegasus that flitteth in the ayre Next Saturne was but who would euer weene That sullein Saturne euer weend to loue Yet loue is sullein and Saturnlike seene As he did for Erigone it proue That to a Centaure did him selfe transmoue So proou'd it eke that gracious God of wine When for to compasse Philliras hard loue He turnd himselfe into a fruitfull vine And into her faire bosome made his grapes decline Long were to tell the amorous assayes And gentle pangues with which he maked meeke The mighty Mars to learne his wanton playes How oft for Venus and how often eek For many other Nymphes he sore did shreek With womanish teares and with vnwarlike smarts Priuily moystening his horrid cheek There was he painted full of burning darts And many wide woundes launched through his inner parts Ne did he spare so cruell was the Elfe His owne deare mother ah why should he so Ne did he spare sometime to pricke himselfe That he might tast the sweet consuming woe Which he had wrought to many others moe But to declare the mournfull Trage dyes And spoiles wherewith he all the ground did strow More eath to number with how many eyes High heauen beholds sad louers nightly theeueryes Kings Queenes Lords Ladies Knights Damzels gent Were heap'd together with the vulgar sort And mingled with the raskall rablement Without respect of person or of port To shew Dan Cupids powre and great effort And round about a border was entrayld Of broken bowes and arrowes shiuered short And a long bloudy riuer through them rayld So liuely and so like that liuing sence it fayld And at the vpper end of that faire rowme There was an Altar built of pretious stone Of passing valew and of great renowme On which there stood an Image all alone Of massy gold which with his owne light shone And wings it had with sundry colours dight More sundry colours then the proud Pauone Beares in his boasted fan or Iris bright When her discolourd bow she
stricken beene He forced was to strike and saue him selfe from teene Yet from thenceforth more warily he fought As one in feare the Stygian gods t' offend Ne followd on so fast but rather sought Him selfe to saue and daunger to defend Then life and labour both in vaine to spend Which Triamond perceiuing weened sure He gan to faint toward the battels end And that he should not long on foote endure A signe which did to him the victorie assure Whereof full blith eftsoones his mightie hand He heav'd on high in mind with that same blow To make an end of all that did withstand Which Cambell seeing come was nothing slow Him selfe to saue from that so deadly throw And at that instant reaching forth his sweard Close vnderneath his shield that scarce did show Stroke him as he his hand to strike vpreard In th'arm-pit full that through both sides the wound appeard Yet still that direfull stroke kept on his way And falling heauie on Cambelloes crest Strooke him so hugely that in swowne he lay And in his head an hideous wound imprest And sure had it not happily found rest Vpon the brim of his brode plated shield It would haue cleft his braine downe to his brest So both at once fell dead vpon the field And each to other seemd the victorie to yield Which when as all the lookers on beheld They weened sure the warre was at an end And Iudges rose and Marshals of the field Broke vp the listes their armes away to rend And Canacee gan wayle her dearest frend All suddenly they both vpstarted light The one out of the swownd which him did blend The other breathing now another spright And fiercely each assayling gan afresh to fight Long while they then continued in that wize As if but then the battell had begonne Strokes wounds wards weapons all they did despise Ne either car'd to ward or perill shonne Desirous both to haue the battell donne Ne either cared life to saue or spill Ne which of them did winne ne which were wonne So wearie both of fighting had their fill That life it selfe seemd loathsome and long safetie ill Whilst thus the case in doubtfull ballance hong Vnsure to whether side it would incline And all mens eyes and hearts which there among Stood gazing filled were with rufull tine And secret feare to see their fatall fine All suddenly they heard a troublous noyes That seemd some perilous tumult to desine Confusd with womens cries and shouts of boyes Such as the troubled Theaters oftimes annoyes Thereat the Champions both stood still a space To weeten what that sudden clamour ment Lo where they spyde with speedie whirling pace One in a charet of straunge furniment Towards them driuing like a storme out sent The charet decked was in wondrous wize With gold and many a gorgeous ornament After the Persian Monarks antique guize Such as the maker selfe could best by art deuize And drawne it was that wonder is to tell Of two grim lyons taken from the wood In which their powre all others did excell Now made forget their former cruell mood T' obey their riders hest as seemed good And therein sate a Ladie passing faire And bright that seemed borne of Angels brood And with her beautie bountie did compare Whether of them in her should haue the greater share Thereto she learned was in Magicke leare And all the artes that subtill wits discouer Hauing therein bene trained many a yeare And well instructed by the Fay her mother That in the same she farre exceld all other Who vnderstanding by her mightie art Of th' euill plight in which her dearest brother Now stood came forth in hast to take his part And pacifie the strife which causd so deadly smart And as she passed through th'vnruly preace Of people thronging thicke her to behold Her angrie teame breaking their bonds of peace Great heapes of them like sheepe in narrow fold For hast did ouer-runne in dust enrould That thorough rude confusion of the rout Some fearing shriekt some being harmed hould Some laught for sport some did for wonder shout And some that would seeme wise their wonder turnd to dout In her right hand a rod of peace shee bore About the which two Serpents weren wound Entrayled mutually in louely lore And by the tailes together firmely bound And both were with one oliue garland crownd Like to the rod which Maias sonne doth wield Wherewith the hellishfiends he doth confound And in her other hand a cup she hild The which was with Nepenthe to the brim vpfild Nepenthe is a drinck of souerayne grace Deuized by the Gods for to asswage Harts grief and bitter gall away to chace Which stirs vp anguish and contentious rage In stead thereof sweet peace and quiet age It doth establish in the troubled mynd Few men but such as sober are and sage Are by the Gods to drinck thereof assynd But such as drinck eternall happinesse do fynd Such famous men such worthies of the earth As loue will haue aduaunced to the skie And there made gods though borne of mortall berth For their high merits and great dignitie Are wont before they may to heauen flie To drincke hereof whereby all cares forepast Are washt away quite from their memorie So did those olde Heroes hereof taste Before that they in blisse amongst the Gods were plaste Much more of price and of more gratious powre Is this then that same water of Ardenne The which Rinaldo drunck in happie howre Described by that famous Tuscane penne With whom he ledd a long and happie life And Cambel tooke Cambina to his fere The which as life were each to other liefe So all alike did loue and loued were That since their days such louers were not found elswere Cant. IIII. Satyrane makes a Turneyment For loue of Florimell Britomart winnes the prize from all And Artegall doth quell IT often fals as here it earst befell That mortall foes doe turne to faithfull frends And friends profest are chaungd to foemen fell The cause of both of both their minds depends And th' end of both likewise of both their ends For enmitie that of no ill proceeds But of occasion with th' occasion ends And friendship which a faint affection breeds Without regard of good dyes like ill grounded seeds That well me seemes appeares by that oflate Twixt Camhell and Sir Triamond befell As els by this that now a new debate Stird vp twixt Scudamour and Paridell The which by course befals me here to tell Who hauing those two other Knights espide Marching afore as ye remember well Sent forth their Squire to haue them both descride And eke those masked Ladies riding them beside Who backe returning told as he had seene That they were doughtie knights of dreaded name And those two Ladies their two loues vnseene And therefore wisht them without blot or blame To let them passe at will for dread of shame But Blandamour full of vainglorious spright And rather
it would dissemble And fayned still her former angry mood Thinking to hide the depth by troubling of the flood When Glauce thus gan wisely all vpknit Ye gentle Knights whom fortune here hath brought To be spectators of this vncouth fit Which secret fate hath in this Ladie wrought Against the course of kind ne meruaile nought Ne thenceforth feare the thing that hethertoo Hath troubled both your mindes with idle thought Fearing least she your loues away should woo Feared in vaine sith meanes ye see there wants theretoo And you Sir Artegall the saluage knight Henceforth may not disdaine that womans hand Hath conquered you anew in second fight For whylome they haue conquerd sea and land And heauen it selfe that nought may them withstand Ne henceforth be rebellious vnto loue That is the crowne of knighthood and the band Of noble minds deriued from aboue Which being knit with vertue neuer will remoue And you faire Ladie knight my dearest Dame Relent the rigour of your wrathfull will Whose fire were better turn'd to other flame And wiping out remembrance of all ill Graunt him your grace but so that he fulfill The penance which ye shall to him empart For louers heauen must passe by sorrowes hell Thereat full inly blushed Britomart But Artegall close smyling ioy'd in secret hart Yet durst he not make loue so suddenly Ne thinke th' affection of her hart to draw From one to other so quite contrary Besides her modest countenance he saw So goodly graue and full of princely aw That it his ranging fancie did refraine And looser thoughts to lawfull bounds withdraw Whereby the passion grew more fierce and faine Like to a stubborne steede whom strong hand would restraine But Scudamour whose hart twixt doubtfull feare And feeble hope hung all this while suspence Desiring of his Amoret to heare Some gladfull newes and sure intelligence Her thus bespake But Sir without offence Mote I request you tydings of my loue My Amoret sith you her freed fro thence Where she captiued long great woes did proue That where ye left I may her seeke as doth behoue To whom thus Britomart certes Sir knight What is of her become or whether rest I can not vnto you aread a right For from that time I from enchaunters theft Her freed in which ye her all hopelesse left I her preseru'd from perill and from feare And euermore from villenie her kept Ne euer was there wight to me more deare Then she ne vnto whom I more true loue did beare Till on a day as through a desert wyld We trauelled both wearie of the way We did alight and sate in shadow myld Where fearelesse I to sleepe me downe did lay But when as I did out of sleepe abray I found her not where I her left whyleare But thought she wandred was or gone astray I cal'd her loud I so ught her farre and neare But no where could her find nor tydings of her heare When Scudamour those heauie tydings heard His hart was thrild with point of deadly feare Ne in his face or bloud or life appeard But senselesse stood like to a mazed steare That yet of mortall stroke the stound doth beare Till Glauce thus Faire Sir be nought dismayd With needelesse dread till certaintie ye heare For yet she may be safe though somewhat strayd It s best to hope the best though of the worst affrayd Nathlesse he hardly of her chearefull speech Did comfort take or in his troubled sight Shew'd change of better cheare so sore a breach That sudden newes had made into his spright Till Britomart him fairely thus behight Great cause of sorrow certes Sir ye haue But comfort take for by this heauens light I vow you dead or liuing not to leaue Till I her find and wreake on him that her did reaue Therewith he rested and well pleased was So peace being confirm'd amongst them all They tooke their steeds and forward thence did pas Vnto some resting place which mote befall All being guided by Sir Artegall Where goodly solace was vnto them made And dayly feasting both in bowre and hall Vntill that they their wounds well healed had And wearie limmes recur'd after late vsage bad In all which time Sir Artegall made way Vnto the loue of noble Britomart And with meeke seruice and much suit did lay Continuall siege vnto her gentle hart Which being whylome launcht with louely dart More eath was new impression to receiue How euer she her paynd with womanish art To hide her wound that none might it pereciue Vaine is the art that seekes it selfe for to deceiue So well he woo'd her and so well he wrought her With faire entreatie and sweet blandishment That at the length vnto a bay he brought her So as she to his speeches was content To lend an eare and softly to relent At last through many vowes which forth he pour'd And many othes she yeelded her consent To be his loue and take him for her Lord Till they with mariage meet might finish that accord Tho when they had long time there taken rest Sir Artegall who all this while was bound Vpon an hard aduenture yet in quest Fit time for him thence to depart it found To follow that which he did long propound And vnto her his congee came to take But her therewith full sore displeasd he found And loth to leaue her late betrothed make Her dearest loue full loth so shortly to forsake Yet he with strong perswasions her asswaged And wonne her will to suffer him depart For which his faith with her he fast engaged And thousand vowes from bottome of his hart That all so soone as he by wit or art Could that atchieue whereto he did aspire He vnto her would speedily reuert No longer space thereto he did desire But till the horned moone three courses did expire With which she for the present was appeased And yeelded leaue how euer malcontent She inly were and in her mind displeased So early in the morrow next he went Forth on his way to which he was ybent Ne wight him to attend or way to guide As whylome was the custome ancient Mongst Knights when on aduentures they did ride Saue that she algates him a while accompanide And by the way she sundry purpose found Of this or that the time for to delay And of the perils whereto he was bound The feare whereof seem'd much her to affray But all she did was but to weare out day Full oftentimes she leaue of him did take And eft againe deuiz'd some what to say Which she forgot whereby excuse to make So loth she was his companie for to forsake At last when all her speeches she had spent And new occasion fayld her more to find She left him to his fortunes gouernment And backe returned with right heauie mind To Scudamour who she had left behind With whom she went to seeke faire Amoret Her second care though in another kind For vertues onely sake which doth
beget True loue and faithfull friendship she by her did set Backe to that desert forrest they retyred Where sorie Britomart had lost her late There they her sought and euery where inquired Where they might tydings get of her estate Yet found they none But by what haplesse fate Or hard misfortune she was thence conuayd And stolne away from her beloued mate Were long to tell therefore I here will stay Vntill another tyde that I it finish may Cant. VII Amoret rapt by greedie lust Belphebe saues from dread The Squire her loues and being blam'd his dayes in dole doth lead GReat God of loue that with thy cruell dart Doest conquer greatest conquerors on ground And setst thy kingdome in the captiue harts Of Kings and Keasars to thy seruice bound What glorie or what guerdon hast thou found In feeble Ladies tyranning so sore And adding anguish to the bitter wound With which their liues thou lanchedst long afore By heaping stormes of trouble on them daily more So whylome didst thou to faire Florimell And so and so to noble Britomart So doest thou now to her of whom I tell The louely Amoret whose gentle hart Thou martyrest with sorow and with smart In saluage forrests and in deserts wide With Beares and Tygers taking heauie part Withouten comfort and withouten guide That pittie is to heare the perils which she tride So soone as she with that braue Britonesse Had left that Turneyment for beauties prise They trauel'd long that now for wearinesse Both of the way and warlike exercise Both through a forest ryding did deuise T' alight and rest their wearie limbs awhile There heauie sleepe the eye-lids did surprise Of Britomart after long tedious toyle That did her passed paines in quiet rest assoyle The whiles faire Amoret of nought affeard Walkt through the wood for pleasure or for need When suddenly behind her backe she heard One rushing forth out of the thickest weed That ere she backe could turne to taken heed Had vnawares her snatched vp from ground Feebly she shriekt but so feebly indeed That Britomart heard not the shrilling sound There where through weary trauel she lay sleeping soūd It was to weet a wilde and saluage man Yet was no man but onely like in shape And eke in stature higher by a span All ouer growne with haire that could awhape An hardy hart and his wide mouth did gape With huge great teeth like to a Bore For he liu'd all on rauin and on rape Of men and beasts and fed on fleshly gore The signe whereof yet stain'd his bloudy lips afore His neather lip was not like man nor beast But like a wide deepe poke downe hanging low In which he wont the relickes of his feast And cruell spoyle which he had spard to stow And ouer it his huge great nose did grow Full dreadfully empurpled all with bloud And downe both sides two wide long eares did glow And raught downe to his waste when vp he stood More great then th' eares of Elephants by Indus flood His wast was with a wreath of yuie greene Engirt about ne other garment wore For all his haire was like a garment seene And in his hand a tall young oake he bore Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore And beath'd in fire for steele to be in sted But whence he was or of what wombe ybore Of beasts or of the earth I haue not red But certes was with milke of Wolues and Tygres fed This vgly creature in his armes her snatcht And through the forrest bore her quite away With briers and bushes all to rent and scratcht Ne care he had ne pittie of the pray Which many a knight had sought so many a day He stayed not but in his armes her bearing Ran till he came to th' end of all his way Vnto his caue farre from all peoples hearing And there he threw her in nought feeling ne nought fearing For she deare Ladie all the way was dead Whilest he in armes her bore but when she felt Her selfe downe soust she waked out of dread Streight into griefe that her deare hart nigh swelt And eft gan into tender teares to melt Then when she lookt about and nothing found But darknesse and dread horrour where she dwelt She almost fell againe into a swound Ne wist whether aboue she were or vnder ground With that she heard some one close by her side Sighing and sobbing sore as if the paine Her tender hart in peeces would diuide Which she long listning softly askt againe What mister wight it was that so did plaine To whom thus aunswer'd was Ah wretched wight That seekes to know anothers griefe in vaine Vnweeting of thine owne like haplesse plight Selfe to forget to mind another is ouersight Aye me said she where am I or with whom Emong the liuing or emong the dead What shall of me vnhappy maid become Shall death be th' end or ought else worse aread Vnhappy mayd then answerd she whose dread Vntride is lesse then when thou shalt it try Death is to him that wretched life doth lead Both grace and gaine but he in hell doth lie That liues a loathed life and wishing cannot die This dismall day hath thee a caytiue made And vassall to the vilest wretch aliue Whose cursed vsage and vngodly trade The heauens abhorre and into darkenesse driue For on the spoile of women he doth liue Whose bodies chast when euer in his powre He may them catch vnable to gainestriue He with his shamefull lust doth first deflowre And afterwards themselues doth cruelly deuoure Now twenty daies by which the sonnes of men Diuide their works haue past through heuen sheene Since I was brought into this dolefull den During which space these sory eies haue seen Seauen women by him slaine and eaten clene And now no more for him but I alone And this old woman here remaining beene Till thou cam'st hither to augment our mone And of vs three to morrow he will sure eate one Ah dreadfull tidings which thou doest declare Quoth she of all that euer hath bene knowen Full many great calamities and rare This feeble brest endured hath but none Equall to this where euer I haue gone But what are you whom like vnlucky lot Hath linckt with me in the same chaine attone To tell quoth she that which ye see needs not A wofull wretched maid of God and man forgot But what I was it irkes me to reherse Daughter vnto a Lord of high degree That ioyd in happy peace till fates peruerse With guilefull loue did secretly agree To ouerthrow my state and dignitie It was my lot to loue a gentle swaine Yet was he but a Squire of low degree Yet was he meet vnlesse mine eye did faine By any Ladies side for Leman to haue laine But for his meannesse and disparagement My Sire who me too dearely well did loue Vnto my choise by no meanes would assent But often did my folly fowle reproue Yet nothing could my fixed mind
was betraide Then gan she loudly cry and weepe and waile And that same Squire of treason to vpbraide But all in vaine her plaints might not preuaile Ne none there was to reskue her ne none to baile Then tooke he that same Dwarfe and him compeld To open vnto him the prison dore And forth to bring those thrals which there he held Thence forth were brought to him aboue a score Of Knights and Squires to him vnknowne afore All which he did from bitter bondage free And vnto former liberty restore Amongst the rest that Squire of low degree Came forth full weake and wan not like him selfe to bee Whom soone as faire Aemylia beheld And Placidas they both vnto him ran And him embracing fast betwixt them held Striuing to comfort him all that they can And kissing oft his visage pale and wan That faire Paeana them beholding both Gan both enuy and bitterly to ban Through iealous passion weeping inly wroth To see the sight perforce that both her eyes were loth But when a while they had together beene And diuersly conferred of their case She though full oft she both of them had seene Asunder yet not euer in one place Began to doubt when she them saw embrace Which was the captiue Squire she lou'd so deare Deceiued through great likenesse of their face For they so like in person did appeare That she vneath discerned whether whether weare And eke the Prince when as he them auized Their like resemblaunce much admired there And mazd how nature had so well disguized Her worke and counterfet her selfe so nere As if that by one patterne seene somewhere She had them made a paragone to be Or whether it through skill or errour were Thus gazing long at them much wondred he So did the other knights and Squires which him did see Then gan they ransacke that same Castle strong In which he found great store of hoorded threasure The which that tyrant gathered had by wrong And tortious powre without respect or measure Vpon all which the Briton Prince made seasure And afterwards continu'd there a while To rest him selfe and solace in soft pleasure Those weaker Ladies after weary toile To whom he did diuide part of his purchast spoile And for more ioy that captiue Lady faire The faire Paeana he enlarged free And by the rest did set in sumptuous chaire To feastand frollicke nathemore would she Shew gladsome countenaunce nor pleasaunt glee But grieued was for losse both of her sire And eke of Lordship with both land and fee But most she touched was with griefe entire For losse of her new loue the hope of her desire But her the Prince through his well wonted grace To better termes of myldnesse did entreat From that fowle rudenesse which did her deface And that same bitter corsiue which did eat Her tender heart and made refraine from meat He with good thewes and speaches well applyde Did mollifie and calme her raging heat For though she were most faire and goodly dyde Yet she it all did mar with cruelty and pride And for to shut vp all in friendly loue Sith loue was first the ground of all her griefe That trusty Squire he wisely well did moue Not to despise that dame which lou'd him liefe Till he had made of her some better priefe But to accept her to his wedded wife Thereto he offred for to make him chiefe Of all her land and lordship during life He yeelded and her tooke so stinted all their strife From that day forth in peace and ioyous blis They liu'd together long without debate Ne priuate iarre ne spite of enemis Could shake the safe assuraunce of their state And she whom Nature did so faire create That she mote match the fairest of her daies Yet with lewd loues and lust intemperate Had it defaste thenceforth reformd her waies That all men much admyrde her change and spake her praise Thus when the Prince had perfectly compylde These paires of friends in peace and setled rest Him selfe whose minde did trauell as with chylde Of his old loue conceau'd in secret brest Resolued to pursue his former guest And taking leaue of all with him did beare Faire Amoret whom Fortune by bequest Had left in his protection whileare Exchanged out of one into an other feare Feare of her safety did her not constraine For well she wist now in a mighty hond Her person late in perill did remaine Who able was all daungers to withstond But now in feare of shame she more did stond Seeing her selfe all soly succourlesse Left in the victors powre like vassall bond Whose will her weakenesse could no way represse In case his burning lust should breake into excesse But cause of feare sure had she none at all Of him who goodly learned had of yore The course of loose affection to forstall And lawlesse lust to rule with reasons lore That all the while he by his side her bore She was as safe as in a Sanctuary Thus many miles they two together wore To seeke their loues dispersed diuersly Yet neither shewed to other their hearts priuity At length they came whereas a troupe of Knights They saw together skirmishing as seemed Sixe they were all all full offell despight But foure of them the battell best beseemed That which of them was best mote not be deemed Those foure were they from whom false Florimell By Braggadochio lately was redeemed To weet sterne Druon and lewd Claribell Loue-lauish Blandamour and lustfull Paridell Druons delight was all in single life And vnto Ladies loue would lend no leasure The more was Claribell enraged rise With feruent flames and loued out of measure So eke lou'd Blandamour but yet at pleasure Would change his liking and new Lemans proue But Paridell of loue did make no threasure But lusted after all that him did moue So diuersly these foure disposed were to loue But those two other which beside them stoode Were Britomart and gentle Scudamour Who all the while beheld their wrathfull moode And wondred at their impacable stoure Whose like they neuer saw till that same houre So dreadfull strokes each did at other driue And laid on load with all their might and powre As if that euery dint the ghost would riue Out of their wretched corses and their liues depriue As when Dan AEolus in great displeasure For losse of his deare loue by Neptune hent Sends forth the winds out of his hidden threasure Vpon the sea to wreake his fell intent They breaking forth with rude vnruliment From all foure parts of heauen doe rage full sore And tosse the deepes and teare the firmament And all the world confound with wide vprore As if in stead thereof they Chaos would restore Cause of their discord and so fell debate Was for the loue of that same snowy maid Whome they had lost in Turneyment of late And seeking long to weet which way she straid Met here together where through lewd vpbraide Of Ate and Duessa
that was wont be best For during Saturnes ancient raigne it 's sayd That all the world with goodnesse did abound All loued vertue no man was affrayd Of force ne fraud in wight was to be found No warre was knowne no dreadfull trompets sound Peace vniuersall rayn'd mongst men and beasts And all things freely grew out of the ground Iustice sate high ador'd with solemne feasts And to all people did diuide her dred beheasts Most sacred vertue she of all the rest Resembling God in his imperiall might Whose soueraine powre is herein most exprest That both to good and bad he dealeth right And all his workes with Iustice hath bedight That powre he also doth to Princes lend And makes then like himselfe in glorious sight To sit in his owne seate his cause to end And rule his people right as he doth recommend Dread Souerayne Goddesse that doest highest sit In seate of iudgement in th' Almighties place And with magnificke might and wondrous wit Doest to thy people righteous doome aread That furthest Nations filles with awfull dread Pardon the boldnesse of thy basest thrall That dare discourse of so diuine a read As thy great iustice praysed ouer all The instrument whereof loe here thy Artegall Cant. I. Artegall trayn'd in Iustice lore Irenaes quest pursewed He doeth auenge on Sanglier his Ladies bloud embrewed THough vertue then were held in highest price In those old times of which I doe intreat Yet then likewise the wicked seede of vice Began to spring which shortly grew full great And with their boughes the gentle plants did beat But euermore some of the vertuous race Rose vp inspired with heroicke heat That cropt the branches of the sient base And with strong hand their fruitfull rancknes did deface Such first was Bacchus that with furious might All th' East before vntam'd did ouerronne And wrong repressed and establisht right Which lawlesse men had formerly fordonne There Iustice first her princely rule begonne Next Hercules his like ensample shewed Who all the West with equall conquest wonne And monstrous tyrants with his club subdewed The club of Iustice dread with kingly powre endewed And such was he of whom I haue to tell The Champion of true Iustice Artegall Whom as ye lately mote remember well An hard aduenture which did then befall Into redoubted perill forth did call That was to succour a distressed Dame Whom a strong tyrant did vniustly thrall And from the heritage which she did clame Did with strong hand withhold Grantorto was his name Wherefore the Lady which Eirena hight Did to the Faery Queene her way addresse To whom complayning her afflicted plight She her besought of gratious redresse That soueraine Queene that mightie Emperesse Whose glorie is to aide all suppliants pore And of weake Princes to be Patronesse Chose Artegall to right her to restore For that to her he seem'd best skild in righteous lore For Artegall in iustice was vpbrought Euen from the cradle of his infancie And all the depth of rightfull doome was taught By faire Astraea with great industrie Whilest here on earth the liued mortallie For till the world from his perfection fell Into all filth and foule iniquitie Astraea here mongst earthly men did dwell And in the rules of iustice them instructed well Whiles through the world she walked in this sort Vpon a day she found this gentle childe Amongst his peres playing his childish sport Whom seeing fit and with no crime defilde She did allure with gifts and speaches milde To wend with her So thence him farre she brought Into a caue from companie exilde In which she noursled him till yeares he raught And all the discipline of iustice there him taught There she him taught to weigh both right and wrong In equall ballance with due recompence And equitie to measure out along According to the line of conscience When so it needs with rigour to dispence Of all the which for want there of mankind She caused him to make experience Vpon wyld beasts which she in woods did find With wrongfull powre oppressing others of their kind Thus she him trayned and thus she him taught In all the skill of deeming wrong and right Vntill the ripenesse of mans yeares he raught That euen wilde beasts did feare his awfull sight And men admyr'd his ouerruling might Ne any liu'd on ground that durst withstand His dreadfull heast much lesse him match in fight Or bide the horror of his wreakfull hand When so he list in wrath lift vp his steely brand Which steely brand to make him dreaded more She gaue vnto him gotten by her slight And earnest search where it was kept in store In Ioues eternall house vnwist of wight Since he himselfe it vs'd in that great fight Against the Titans that whylome rebelled Gainst highest heauen Chrysaor it was hight Chrysaor that all other swords excelled Well prou'd in that same day when Ioue those Gyants quelled For of most perfect metall it was made Tempred with Adamant amongst the same And garnisht all with gold vpon the blade In goodly wise whereof it tooke his name And was of no lesse vertue then of fame For there no substance was so firme and hard But it would pierce or cleaue where so it came Ne any armour could his dint out ward But wheresoeuer it did light it throughly shard Now when the world with sinne gan to abound Astraea loathing lenger here to space Mongst wicked men in whom no truth she found Return'd to heauen whence she deriu'd her race Where she hath now an euerlasting place Mongst those twelue signes which nightly we doe see The heauens bright-shining baudricke to enchace And is the Virgin sixt in her degree And next her selfe her righteous ballance hanging bee But when she parted hence she left her groome An yron man which did on her attend Alwayes to execute her stedfast doome And willed him with Artegall to wend And doe what euer thing he did intend His name was Talus made of yron mould Immoueable resistlesse without end Who in his hand an yron flale did hould With which he thresht out falshood and did truth vnfould He now went with him in this new inquest Him for to aide if aide he chaunst to neede Against that cruell Tyrant which opprest The faire Irena with his foule misdeede And kept the crowne in which she should succeed And now together on their way they bin When as they saw a Squire in squallid weed Lamenting sore his sorowfull sad tyne With many bitter teares shed from his blubbred eyne To whom as they approched they espide A sorie sight as euer seene with eye An headlesse Ladie lying him beside In her owne blood all wallow'd wofully That her gay clothes did in discolour die Much was he moued at that ruefull sight And flam'd with zeale of vengeance inwardly He askt who had that Dame so fouly dight Or whether his owne hand or whether other wight Ah woe is me and well away quoth
of such a rascall crew And otherwise if that he should retire He fear'd least they with shame would him pursew Therefore he Talus to them sent t' inquire The cause of their array and truce for to desire But soone as they him nigh approching spide They gan with all their weapons him assay And rudely stroke at him on euery side Yet nought they could him hurt ne ought dismay But when at them he with his flaile gan lay He like a swarme of flyes them ouerthrew Ne any of them durst come in his way But here and there before his presence flew And hid themselues in holes and bushes from his vew As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke The trembling foule dismayd with dreadfull sight Of death the which them almost ouertooke Doe hide themselues from her astonying looke Amongst the flags and couert round about When Talus saw they all the field forsooke And none appear'd of all that raskall rout To Artegall he turn'd and went with him throughout Cant. III. The spousals of faire Florimell where turney many knights There Braggadochio is vncas'd in all the Ladies sights AFter long stormes and tempests ouerblowne The sunne at length his ioyous face doth cleare So when as fortune all her spight hath showne Some blisfull houres at last must needes appeare Else should afflicted wights oftimes despeire So comes it now to Florimell by tourne After long sorrowes suffered whyleare In which captiu'd she many moneths did mourne To tast of ioy and to wont pleasures to retourne Who being freed from Proteus cruell band By Marinell was vnto him affide And by him brought againe to Faerie land Where be her spous'd and made his ioyous bride The time and place was blazed farre and wide And solemne feasts and giusts ordain'd therefore To which there did resort from euery side Of Lords and Ladies infinite great store Ne any Knight was absent that braue courage bore To tell the glorie of the feast that day The goodly seruice the deuicefull sights The bridegromes state the brides most rich aray The pride of Ladies and the worth of knights The royall banquets and the rare delights Were worke fit for an Herauld not for me But for so much as to my lot here lights That with this present treatise doth agree True vertue to aduance shall here recounted bee When all men had with full satietie Of meates and drinkes their appetites suffiz'd To deedes of armes and proofe of cheualrie They gan themselues addresse full rich aguiz'd As each one had his furnitures deuiz'd And first of all issu'd Sir Marinell And with him sixe knights more which enterpriz'd To chalenge all in right of Florimell And to maintaine that she all others did excell The first of them was hight Sir Orimont A noble Knight and tride in hard assayes The second had to name Sir Bellisont But second vnto none in prowesse prayse The third was Brunell famous in his dayes The fourth Ecastor of exceeding might The fift Armeddan skild in louely layes The sixt was Lansack a redoubted Knight All sixe well seene in armes and prou'd in many a fight And them against came all that list to giust From euery coast and countrie vnder sunne None was debard but all had leaue that lust The trompets sound then all together ronne Full many deedes of armes that day were donne And many knights vnhorst and many wounded As fortune fell yet litle lost or wonne But all that day the greatest prayse redounded To Marinell whose name the Heralds loud resounded The second day so soone as morrow light Appear'd in heauen into the field they came And there all day continew'd cruell fight With diuers fortune fit for such a game In which all stroue with perill to winne fame Yet whether side was victor note be ghest But at the last the trompets did proclame That Marinell that day deserued best So they disparted were and all men went to rest The third day came that should due tryall lend Of all the rest and then this warlike crew Together met of all to make an end There Marinell great deeds of armes did shew And through the thickest like a Lyon flew Rashing oft helmes and ryuing plates a sonder That euery one his daunger did eschew So terribly his dreadfull strokes did thonder That all men stood amaz'd at his might did wonder But what on earth can alwayes happie stand The greater prowesse greater perils find So farre he past amongst his enemies band That they haue him enclosed so behind As by no meanes he can himselfe outwind And now perforce they haue him prisoner taken And now they doe with captiue bands him bind And now they lead him thence of all forsaken Vnlesse some succour had in time him ouertaken It fortun'd whylest they were thus ill beset Sir Artegall into the Tilt-yard came With Braggadochio whom he lately met Vpon the way with that his snowy Dame Where when he vnderstood by common fame What euill hap to Marinell betid He much was mou'd at so vnworthie shame And streight that boaster prayd with whom he rid To change his shield with him to be the better hid So forth he went and soone them ouer hent Where they were leading Marinell away Whom he assayld with dreadlesse hardiment And forst the burden of their prize to stay They were an hundred knights of that array Of which th' one halfe vpon himselfe did set Th' other stayd behind to gard the pray But he ere long the former fiftie bet And from th' other fiftie soone the prisoner fet So backe he brought Sir Marinell againe Whom hauing quickly arm'd againe anew They both together ioyned might and maine To set afresh on all the other crew Whom with sore hauocke soone they ouerthrew And chaced quite out of the field that none Against them durst his head to perill shew So were they left Lords of the field alone So Marinell by him was rescu'd from his fone Which when he had perform'd then backe againe To Braggadochio did his shield restore Who all this while behind him did remaine Keeping there close with him in pretious store That his false Ladie as ye heard afore Then did the trompets sound and Iudges rose And all these knights which that day armour bore Came to the open hall to listen whose The honour of the prize should be adiudg'd by those And thether also came in open sight Fayre Florimell into the common hall To greet his guerdon vnto euery knight And best to him to whom the best should fall Then for that stranger knight they loud did call To whom that day they should the girlond yield Who came not forth but for Sir Artegall Came Braggadochio and did shew his shield Which bore the Sunne brode blazed in a golden field The sight whereof did all with gladnesse fill So vnto him they did addeeme the prise Of all that Tryumph Then the trompets shrill Don Braggadochios
time the warlike Amazon Whose wandring fancie after lust did raunge Gan cast a secret liking to this captiue straunge Which long concealing in her couert brest She chaw'd the cud of louers carefull plight Yet could it not so thoroughly digest Being fast fixed in her wounded spright But it tormented her both day and night Yet would she not thereto yeeld free accord To serue the lowly vassall of her might And of her seruant make her souerayne Lord So great her pride that she such basenesse much abhord So much the greater still her anguish grew Through stubborne handling of her loue-sicke hart And still the more she stroue it to subdew The more she still augmented her owne smart And wyder made the wound of th'hidden dart At last when long she struggled had in vaine She gan to stoupe and her proud mind conuert To meeke obeysance of loues mightie raine And him entreat for grace that had procur'd her paine Vnto her selfe in secret she did call Her nearest handmayd whom she most did trust And to her said Clarinda whom of all I trust a liue sith I thee fostred first Now is the time that I vntimely must Thereof make tryall in my greatest need It is so hapned that the heauens vniust Spighting my happie freedome haue agreed To thrall my looser life or my last bale to breed With that she turn'd her head as halfe abashed To hide the blush which in her visage rose And through her eyes like sudden lightning flashed Decking her cheeke with a vermilion rose But soone she did her countenance compose And to her turning thus began againe This griefes deepe wound I would to thee disclose Thereto compelled through hart-murdring paine But dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine Ah my deare dread said then the faithfull Mayd Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold That many hath with dread of death dismayd And dare euen deathes most dreadfull face behold Say on my souerayne Ladie and be bold Doth not your handmayds life at your foot lie Therewith much comforted she gan vnfold The cause of her conceiued maladie As one that would confesse yet faine would it denie Clarin sayd she thou seest yond Fayry Knight Whom not my valour but his owne braue mind Subiected hath to my vnequall might What right is it that he should thraldome find For lending life to me a wretch vnkind That for such good him recompence with ill Therefore I cast how I may him vnbind And by his freedome get his free goodwill Yet so as bound to me he may continue still bound vnto me but not with such hard bands Of strong compulsion and streight violence As now in miserable state he stands But with sweet loue and sure beneuolence Voide of malitious mind or foule offence To which if thou canst win him any way Without discouerie of my thoughts pretence Both goodly meede of him it purchase may And eke with gratefull seruice me right well apay Which that thou mayst the better bring to pas Loe here this ring which shall thy warrant bee And token true to old Eumenias From time to time when thou it best shalt see That in and out thou mayst haue passage free Goe now Clarinda well thy wits aduise And all thy forces gather vnto thee Armies of louely lookes and speeches wise With which thou canst euen Ioue himselfe to loue entise The trustie Mayd conceiuing her intent Did with sure promise of her good indeuour Giue her great comfort and some harts content So from her parting she thenceforth did labour By all the meanes she might to curry fauour With th'Elfin Knight her Ladies best beloued With daily shew of courteous kind behauiour Euen at the markewhite of his hart she roued And with wide glauncing words one day she thus him proued Vnhappie Knight vpon whose hopelesse state Fortune enuying good hath felly frowned And cruell heauens haue heapt an heauy fate I rew that thus thy better dayes are drowned In sad despaire and all thy senses swowned In stupid sorow sith thy iuster merit Might else haue with felicitie bene crowned Looke vp at last and wake thy dulled spirit To thinke how this long death thou mightest disinherit Much did he maruell at her vncouth speach Whose hidden drift he could not well perceiue And gan to doubt least she him sought t'appeach Of treason or some guilefull traine did weaue Through which she might his wretched life bereaue Both which to barre he with this answere met her Faire Damzell that with ruth as I perceaue Of my mishaps art mou'd to wish me better For such your kind regard I can but rest your detter Yet weet ye well that to a courage great It is no lesse beseeming well to beare The storme of fortunes frowne or heauens threat Then in the sunshine of her countenance cleare Timely to ioy and carrie comely cheare For though this cloud haue now me ouercast Yet doe I not of better times despeyre And though vnlike they should for euer last Yet in my truthes assurance I rest fixed fast But what so stonie mind she then replyde But if in his owne powre occasion lay Would to his hope a windowe open wyde And to his fortunes helpe make readie way Vnworthy sure quoth he of better day That will not take the offer of good hope And eke pursew if he attaine it may Which speaches she applying to the scope Of her intent this further purpose to him shope Then why doest not thou ill aduized man Make meanes to win thy libertie forlorne And try if thou by faire entreatie can Moue Radigund who though she still haue worne Her dayes in warre yet weet thou was not borne Of Beares and Tygres nor so saluage mynded As that albe all loue of men she scorne She yet forgets that she of men was kynded And sooth oft seene that proudest harts base loue hath blynded Certes Clarinda not of cancred will Sayd he nor obstinate disdainefull mind I haue forbore this duetie to fulfill For well I may this weene by that I fynd That she a Queene and come of Princely kynd Both worthie is for to be sewd vnto Chiefely by him whose life her law doth bynd And eke of powre her owne doome to vndo And al 's of princely grace to be inclyn'd thereto But want of meanes hath bene mine onely let From seeking fauour where it doth abound Which if I might by your good office get I to your selfe should rest for euer bound And readie to deserue what grace I found She feeling him thus bite vpon the bayt Yet doubting least his hold was but vnsound And not well fastened would not strike him strayt But drew him on with hope fit leasure to awayt But foolish Mayd whyles heedlesse of the hooke She thus oft times was beating off and on Through slipperie footing fell into the brooke And there was caught to her confusion For seeking thus to salue the Amazon She wounded was with her deceipts owne
hideous tempest seemed from below To rise through all the Temple sodainely That from the Altar all about did blow The holy fire and all the embers strow Vppon the ground which kindled priuily Into outragious flames vnwares did grow That all the Temple put in ieopardy Of flaming and her selfe in great perplexity With that the Crocodile which sleeping lay Vnder the Idols feete in fearelesse bowre Seem'd to awake in horrible dismay As being troubled with that stormy stowre And gaping greedy wide did streight deuoure Both flames and tempest with which growen great And swolne with pride of his owne peerelesse powre He gan to threaten her likewise to eat But that the Goddesse with her rod him backe did beat Tho turning all his pride to humblesse meeke Him selfe before her feete he lowly threw And gan for grace and loue of her to seeke Which she accepting he so neare her drew That of his game she soone enwombed grew And forth did bring a Lion of great might That shortly did all other beasts subdew With that she waked full of fearefull fright And doubtfully dismayd through that so vncouth sight So thereuppon long while she musing lay With thousand thoughts feeding her fantasie Vntill she spide the lampe of lightsome day Vp-lifted in the porch of heauen hie Then vp she rose fraught with melancholy And forth into the lower parts did pas Whereas the Priestes she found full busily About their holy things for morrow Mas Whom she saluting faire faire resaluted was But by the change of her vnchearefull looke They might perceiue she was not well in plight Or that some pensiuenesse to heart she tooke Therefore thus one of them who seem'd in sight To be the greatest and the grauest wight To her bespake Sir Knight it seemes to me That thorough euill rest of this last night Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be That by your change of cheare is easie for to see Certes sayd she sith ye so well haue spide The troublous passion of my pensiue mind I will not seeke the same from you to hide But will my cares vnfolde in hope to find Your aide to guide me out of errour blind Say on quoth he the secret of your hart For by the holy vow which me doth bind I am adiur'd best counsell to impart To all that shall require my comfort in their smart Then gan she to declare the whole discourse Of all that vision which to her appeard As well as to her minde it had recourse All which when he vnto the end had heard Like to a weake faint-hearted man he fared Through great astonishment of that strange sight And with long locks vp-standing stifly stared Like one adawed with some dreadfull spright So fild with heauenly fury thus he her behight Magnificke Virgin that in queint disguise Of British armes doest maske thy royall blood So to pursue a perillous emprize How coulst thou weene through that disguized hood To hide thy state from being vnderstood Can from th' immortall Gods ought hidden bee They doe thy linage and thy Lordly brood They doe thy sire lamenting sore for thee They doe thy loue forlorne in womens thraldome see The end whereof and all the long euent They doe to thee in this same dreame discouer For that same Crocodile doth represent The righteous Knight that is thy faithfull louer Like to Osyris in all iust endeuer For that same Crocodile Osyris is That vnder Isis feete doth sleepe tor euer To shew that clemence oft in things amis Restraines those sterne behests and cruell doomes of his That Knight shall all the troublous stormes asswage And raging flames that many foes shall reare To hinder thee from the iust heritage Of thy sires Crowne and from thy countrey deare Then shalt thou take him to thy loued fere And ioyne in equall portion of thy realme And afterwards a sonne to him shalt beare That Lion-like shall shew his powre extreame So blesse thee God and giue thee ioyance of thy dreame All which when she vnto the end had heard She much was eased in her troublous thought And on those Priests bestowed rich reward And royall gifts of gold and siluer wrought She for a present to their Goddesse brought Then taking leaue of them she forward went To seeke her loue where he was to be sought Ne rested till she came without relent Vnto the land of Amazons as she was bent Whereof when newes to Radigund was brought Not with amaze as women wonted bee She was confused in her troublous thought But fild with courage and with ioyous glee As glad to heare of armes the which now she Had long surceast she bad to open bold That she the face of her new foe might see But when they of that yron man had told Which late her folke had slaine she bad thē forth to hold So there without the gate as seemed best She caused her Pauilion be pight In which stout Britomart her selfe did rest Whiles Talus watched at the dore all night All night likewise they of the towne in fright Vppon their wall good watch and ward did keepe The morrow next so soone as dawning light Bad doe away the dampe of drouzie sleepe The warlike Amazon out of her bowre did peepe And caused streight a Trumpet loud to shrill To warne her foe to battell soone be prest Who long before awoke for she ful ill Could sleepe all night that in vnquiet brest Did closely harbour such a iealous guest Was to the battell whilome ready dight Eftsoones that warriouresse with haughty crest Did forth issue all ready for the fight On th' other side her foe appeared soone in sight But ere they reared hand the Amazone Began the streight conditions to propound With which she vsed still to tye her fone To serue her so as she the rest had bound Which when the other heard she sternly frownd For high disdaine of such indignity And would no lenger treat but bad them sound For her no other termes should euer tie Then what prescribed were by lawes of cheualrie The Trumpets sound and they together run With greedy rage and with their faulchins smot Ne either sought the others strokes to shun But through great fury both their skill forgot And practicke vse in armes ne spared not Their dainty parts which nature had created So faire and tender without staine or spot For other vses then they them translated Which they now hackt hewd as if such vse they hated As when a Tygre and a Lionesse Are met at spoyling of some hungry pray Both challenge it with equall greedinesse But first the Tygre clawes thereon did lay And therefore loth to loose her right away Doth in defence thereof full stoutly stond To which the Lion strongly doth gainesay That she to hunt the beast first tooke in hond And therefore ought it haue where euer she it fond Full fiercely layde the Amazon about And dealt her blowes vnmercifully sore Which Britomart withstood with courage stout
would inquire And leauing home to roiall court I sought Where I did sell my selfe for yearely hire And in the Princes gardin daily wrought There I beheld such vainenesse as I neuer thought With sight whereof soone cloyd and long deluded With idle hopes which them doe entertaine After I had ten yeares my selfe excluded From natiue home and spent my youth in vaine I gan my follies to my selfe to plaine And this sweet peace whose lacke did then appeare Tho backe returning to my sheepe againe I from thenceforth haue learn'd to loue more deare This lowly quiet life which I inherite here Whylest thus he talkt the knight with greedy eare Hong still vpon his melting mouth attent Whose sensefull words empierst his hart so neare That he was rapt with double rauishment Both of his speach that wrought him great content And also of the obiect of his vew On which his hungry eye was alwayes bent That twixt his pleasing tongue and her faire hew He lost himselfe and like one halfe entraunced grew Yet to occasion meanes to worke his mind And to insinuate his harts desire He thus replyde Now surely syre I find That all this worlds gay showes which we admire Be but vaine shadowes to this safe retyre Of life which here in lowlinesse ye lead Fearelesse of foes or fortunes wrackfull yre Which tosseth states and vnder foot doth tread The mightie ones affrayd of euery chaunges dread That euen I which daily doe behold The glorie of the great mongst whom I won And now haue prou'd what happinesse ye hold In this small plot of your dominion Now loath great Lordship and ambition And wish th' heauens so much had graced mee As graunt me liue in like condition Or that my fortunes might transposed bee From pitch of higher place vnto this low degree In vaine said then old Meliboe doe men The heauens of their fortunes fault accuse Sith they know best what is the best for them For they to each such fortune doe diffuse As they doe know each can most aptly vse For not that which men couet most is best Nor that thing worst which men do most refuse But fittest is that all contented rest With that they hold each hath his fortune in his brest It is the mynd that maketh good or ill That maketh wretch or happie rich or poore For some that hath abundance at his will Hath not enough but wants in greatest store And other that hath litle askes no more But in that litle is both rich and wise For wisedome is most riches fooles therefore They are which fortunes doe by vowes deuize Sith each vnto himselfe his life may fortunize Since then in each mans self said Calidore It is to fashion his owne lyfes estate Giue leaue awhyle good father in this shore To rest my barcke which hath bene beaten late With stormes of fortune and tempestuous fate In seas of troubles and of toylesome paine That whether quite from them for to retrate I shall resolue or backe to turne againe I may here with your selfe some small repose obtaine Not that the burden of so bold a guest Shall chargefull be or chaunge to you at all For your meane food shall be my daily feast And this your cabin both my bowre and hall Besides for recompence hereof I shall You well reward and golden guerdon giue That may perhaps you better much withall And in this quiet make you safer liue So forth he drew much gold and toward him it driue But the good man nought tempted with the offer Of his rich mould did thrust it farre away And thus bespake Sir knight your bounteous proffer Be farre fro me to whom ye ill display That mucky masse the cause of mens decay That mote empaire my peace with daungers dread But if ye algates couet to assay This simple sort of life that shepheards lead Be it your owne our rudenesse to your selfe aread So there that night Sir Calidore did dwell And long while after whilest him list remaine Dayly beholding the faire Pastorell And feeding on the bayt of his owne bane During which time he did her entertaine With all kind courtesies he could inuent And euery day her companie to gaine When to the field she went he with her went So for to quench his fire he did it more augment But she that neuer had acquainted beene With such queint vsage fit for Queenes and Kings Ne euer had such knightly seruice seene But being bred vnder base shepheards wings Had euer learn'd to loue the lowly things Did litle whit regard his courteous guize But cared more for Colins carolings Then all that he could doe or euer deuize His layes his loues his lookes she did them all despize Which Calidore perceiuing thought it best To chaunge the manner of his loftie looke And doffing his bright armes himselfe addrest In shepheards weed and in his hand he tooke In stead of steelehead speare a shepheards hooke That who had seene him then would haue bethought On Phrygian Paris by Plexippus brooke When he the loue of fayre Benone sought What time the golden apple was vnto him brought So being clad vnto the fields he went With the faire Pastorella euery day And kept her sheepe with diligent attent Watching to driue the rauenous Wolfe away The whylest at pleasure she mote sport and play And euery euening helping them to fold And otherwhiles for need he did assay In his strong hand their rugged teats to hold And out of them to presse the milke loue so much could Which seeing Coridon who her likewise Long time had lou'd and hop'd her loue to gaine He much was troubled at that straungers guize And many gealous thoughts conceiu'd in vaine That this of all his labour and long paine Should reap the haruest ere it ripened were That made him scoule and pout and oft complaine Of Pastorell to all the shepheards there That she did loue a stranger swayne then him more dere And euer when he came in companie Where Calidore was present he would loure And byte his lip and euen for gealousie Was readie oft his owne hart to deuoure Impatient of any paramoure Who on the other side did seeme so farre From malicing or grudging his good houre That all he could he graced him with her Ne euer shewed signe of rancour or of iarre And oft when Coridon vnto her brought Or litle sparrowes stolen from their nest Or wanton squirrels in the woods farre sought Or other daintie thing for her addrest He would commend his guift and make the best Yet she no whit his presents did regard Ne him could find to fancie in her brest This newcome shepheard had his market mard Old loue is litle worth when new is more prefard One day when as the shepheard swaynes together Were met to make their sports and merrie glee As they are wont in faire sunshynie weather The whiles their flockes in shadowes shrouded bee They fell to daunce then did they all agree That
which I mote not see Thus did the courteous Knight excuse his blame And to recomfort him all comely meanes did frame In such discourses they together spent Long time as fit occasion forth them led With which the Knight him selfe did much content And with delight his greedy fancy fed Both of his words which he with reason red And also of the place whose pleasures rare With such regard his sences rauished That thence he had no will away to fare But wisht that with that shepheard he mote dwelling share But that enuenimd sting the which of yore His poysnous point deepe fixed in his hart Had left now gan afresh to rancle sore And to renue the rigour of his smart Whch to recure no skill of Leaches art Mote him auaile but to returne againe To his wounds worker that with louely dart Dinting his brest had bred his restlesse paine Like as the wounded Whale to shore flies frō the maine So taking leaue of that same gentle swaine He backe returned to his rusticke wonne Where his faire Pastorella did remaine To whome in sort as he at first begonne He daily did apply him selfe to donne All dewfull seruice voide of thoughts impare Ne any paines ne perill did he shonne By which he might her to his loue allure And liking in her yet vntamed heart procure And euermore the shepheard Coridon What euer thing he did her to aggrate Did striue to match with strong contention And all his paines did closely emulate Whether it were to caroll as they sate Keeping their sheepe or games to exercize Or to present her with their labours late Through which if any grace chaunst to arize To him the Shepheard streight with iealousie did frize One day as they all three together went To the greene wood to gather strawberies There chaunst to them a dangerous accident A Tigre forth out of the wood did rise That with fell clawes full of fierce gourmandize And greedy mouth wide gaping like hell gate Did runne at Pastorell her to surprize Whom she beholding now all desolate Gan cry to them aloud to helpe her all too late Which Coridon first hearing ran in hast To reskue her but when he saw the feend Through cowherd feare he fled away as fast Ne durst abide the daunger of the end His life he steemed dearer then his frend But Calidore soone comming to her ayde When he the beast saw ready now to rend His loues deare spoile in which his heart was prayde He ran at him enraged in stead of being frayde He had no weapon but his shepheards hooke To serue the vengeaunce of his wrathfull will With which so sternely he the monster strooke That to the ground astonished he fell Whence ere he could recour he did him quell And hewing off his head it presented Before the feete of the faire Pastorell Who scarcely yet from former feare exempted A thousand times him thankt that had her death preuented From that day forth she gan him to affect And daily more her fauour to augment But Coridon for cowherdize reiect Fit to keepe sheepe vnfit for loues content The gentle heart scornes base disparagement Yet Calidore did not despise him quight But vsde him friendly for further intent That by his fellowship he colour might Both his estate and loue from skill of any wight So well he wood her and so well he wrought her With humble seruice and with daily sute That at the last vnto his will he brought her Which he so wisely well did prosecute That of his loue he reapt the timely frute And ioyed long in close felicity Till fortune fraught with malice blinde and brute That enuies louers long prosperity Blew vp a bitter storme of foule aduersity It fortuned one day when Calidore Was hunting in the woods as was his trade A lawlesse people Brigants hight of yore That neuer vsde to liue by plough nor spade But fed on spoile and booty which they made Vpon their neighbours which did nigh them border The dwelling of these shepheards did inuade And spoyld their houses and them selues did murder And droue away their flocks with other much disorder Amongst the rest the which they then did pray They spoyld old Melibee of all he had And all his people captiue led away Mongst which this lucklesse mayd away was lad Faire Pastorella sorrowfull and sad Most sorrowfull most sad that euer sight Now made the spoile of theeues and Brigants bad Which was the conquest of the gentlest Knight That euer liu'd and th' onely glory of his might With them also was taken Coridon And carried captiue by those theeues away Who in the couert of the night that none Mote them descry nor reskue from their pray Vnto their dwelling did them close conuay Their dwelling in a little Island was Couered with shrubby woods in which no way Appeard for people in nor out to pas Nor any footing fynde for ouergrowen gras For vnderneath the ground their way was made Through hollow caues that no man mote discouer For the thicke shrubs which did them alwaies shade From view of liuing wight and couered ouer But darkenesse dred and daily night did houer Through all the inner parts wherein they dwelt Ne ligntned was with window nor with louer But with continuall candlelight which delt A doubtfull sense of things not so well seene as felt Hither those Brigants brought their present pray And kept them with continuall watch and ward Meaning so soone as they conuenient may For slaues to sell them for no small reward To merchants which them kept in bondage hard Or sold againe Now when faire Pastorell Into this place was brought and kept with gard Of griesly theeues she thought her self in hell Where with such damned fiends she should in darknesse dwell But for to tell the dolefull dreriment And pittifull complaints which there she made Where day and night she nought did but lament Her wretched life shut vp in deadly shade And waste her goodly beauty which did fade Like to a flowre that feeles no heate of sunne Which may her feeble leaues with comfort glade But what befell her in that theeuish wonne Will in an other Canto better be begonne Cant. XI The theeues fall out for Pastorell VVhilest Melibee is slaine Her Calidore from them redeemes And bringeth backe againe THe ioyes of loue if they should euer last Without affliction or disquietnesse That worldly chaunces doe amongst them cast Would be on earth too great a blessednesse Liker to heauen then mortall wretchednesse Therefore the winged God to let men weet That here on earth is no sure happinesse A thousand sowres hath tempred with one sweet To make it seeme more deare and dainty as is meet Like as is now befalne to this faire Mayd Faire Pastorell of whom is now my song Who being now in dreadfull darknesse layd Amongst those theeues which her in bondage strong Detaynd yet Fortune not with all this wrong Contented greater mischiefe on her threw And
not be amended He at the length was slaine and layd on ground Yet holding fast twixt both his armes extended Fayre Pastorell who with the selfe same wound Launcht through the arme fell down with him in drerie swound There lay she couered with confused preasse Of carcases which dying on her fell Tho when as he was dead the fray gan ceasse And each to other calling did compell To stay their cruell hands from slaughter fell Sith they that were the cause of all were gone Thereto they all attonce agreed well And lighting candles new gan search anone How many of their friends were slaine how many sone Their Captaine there they cruelly found kild And in his armes the dreary dying mayd Like a sweet Angell twixt two clouds vphild Her louely light was dimmed and decayd With cloud of death vpon her eyes displayd Yet did the cloud make euen that dimmed light Seeme much more louely in that darknesse layd And twixt the twinckling of her eye-lids bright To sparke out litle beames like starres in foggie night But when they mou'd the carcases aside They found that life did yet in her remaine Then all their helpes they busily applyde To call the soule backe to her home againe And wrought so well with labour and long paine That they to life recouered her at last Who sighing sore as if her hart in twaine Had riuen bene and all her hart strings brast With drearie drouping eyne lookt vp like one aghast There she beheld that sore her grieu'd to see Her father and her friends about her lying Her selfe sole left a second spoyle to bee Of those that hauing saued her from dying Renew'd her death by timely death denying What now is left her but to wayle and weepe Wringing her hands and ruefully loud crying Ne cared she her wound in teares to steepe Albe with all their might those Brigants her did keepe But when they saw her now reliu'd againe They left her so in charge of one the best Of many worst who with vnkind disdaine And cruell rigour her did much molest Scarse yeelding her due food or timely rest And scarsely suffring her infestred wound That sore her payn'd by any to be drest So leaue we her in wretched thraldome bound And turne we backe to Calidore where we him found Who when he backe returned from the wood And saw his shepheards cottage spoyled quight And his loue reft away he wexed wood And halfe enraged at that ruefull sight That euen his hart for very fell despight And his owne flesh he readie was to teare He chauft he grieu'd he fretted and he sight And fared like a furious wyld Beare Whose whelpes are stolne away she being otherwhere Ne wight he found to whom he might complaine Ne wight he found of whom he might inquire That more increast the anguish of his paine He sought the woods but no man could see there He sought the plaines but could no tydings heare The woods did nought but ecchoes vaine rebound The playnes all waste and emptie did appeare Where wont the shepheards oft their pypes resound And feed an hundred flocks there now not one he found At last as there he romed vp and downe He chaunst one comming towards him to spy That seem'd to be some sorie simple clowne With ragged weedes and lockes vpstaring hye As if he did from some late daunger fly And yet his feare did follow him behynd Who as he vnto him approched nye He mote perceiue by signes which he did fynd That Coridon it was the silly shepherds hynd Tho to him running fast he did not stay To greet him first but askt where were the rest Where Pastorell who full of fresh dismay And gushing forth in teares was so opprest That he no word could speake but smit his brest And vp to heauen his eyes fast streming threw Whereat the knight amaz'd yet did not rest But askt againe what ment that rufull hew Where was his Pastorell where all the other crew Ah well away sayd he then sighing sore That euer I did liue this day to see This dismall day and was not dead before Before I saw faire Pastorella dye Die out alas then Calidore did cry How could the death dare euer her to quell But read thou shepheard read what destiny Or other dyrefull hap from heauen or hell Hath wrought this wicked deed doe feare away and tell Tho when the shepheard breathed had a whyle He thus began where shall I then commence This wofull tale or how those Brigants vyle With cruell rage and dreadfull violence Spoyld all our cots and caried vs from hence Or how faire Pastorell should haue bene sold To marchants but was sau'd with strong defence Or how those theeues whilest one sought her to hold Fell all at ods and fought through fury fierce and bold In that same conflict woe is me befell This fatall chaunce this dolefull accident Whose heauy tydings now I haue to tell First all the captiues which they here had hent Were by them slaine by generall consent Old Meliboe and his good wife withall These eyes saw die and dearely did lament But when the lot to Pastorell did fall Their Captaine long withstood did her death forstall But what could he gainst all them doe alone It could not boot needs mote she die at last I onely scapt through great confusione Of cryes and clamors which amongst them past In dreadfull darknesse dreadfully aghast That better were with them to haue bene dead Then here to see all desolate and wast Despoyled of those ioyes and iolly head Which with those gentle shepherds here I wont to lead When Calidore these ruefull newes had raught His hart quite deaded was with anguish great And all his wits with doole were nigh distraught That he his face his head his brest did beat And death it selfe vnto himselfe did threat Oft cursing th' heauens that so cruell were To her whose name he often did repeat And wishing oft that he were present there When she was slaine or had bene to her succour nere But after griefe awhile had had his course And spent it selfe in mourning he at last Began to mitigate his swelling sourse And in his mind with better reason cast How he might saue her life if life did last Or if that dead how he her death might wreake Sith otherwise he could not mend thing past Or if it to reuenge he were too weake Then for to die with her and his liues threed to breake Tho Coridon he prayd sith he well knew The readie way vnto that theeuish wonne To wend with him and be his conduct trew Vnto the place to see what should be donne But he whose hart through feare was late fordonne Would not for ought be drawne to former drede But by all meanes the daunger knowne did shonne Yet Calidore so well him wrought with meed And faire bespoke with words that he at last agreed So forth they goe together God before Both clad in
spreds through heauen bright Blindfold he was and in his cruell fist A mortall bow and arrowes keene did hold With which he shot at randon when him list Some headed with sad lead some with pure gold Ah man beware how thou those darts behold A wounded Dragon vnder him did ly Whose hideous tayle his left foot did ensold And with a shaft was shot through either eye That no man forth might draw ne no man remedye And vnderneath his feet was written thus Vnto the Victor of the Gods this bee And all the people in that ample hous Did to that image bow their humble knee And oft committed fowle Idola tree That wondrous sight faire Britomart amazed Ne seeing could her wonder satisfie But euermore and more vpon it gazed The whiles the passing brightnes her fraile sences dazed Tho as she backward cast her busie eye To search each secret of that goodly sted Ouer the dore thus written she did spye Be hold she oft and oft it ouer-red Yet could not find what sence it figured But what so were therein or writ or ment She was no whit thereby discouraged From prosecuting of her first intent But forward with bold steps into the next roome went Much fairer then the former was that roome And richlier by many partes arayd For not with arras made in painefull loome But with pure gold it all was ouerlayd Wrought with wilde Antickes which their follies playd In the rich metall as they liuing were A thousand monstrous formes therein were made Such as false loue doth oft vpon him weare For loue in thousand mōstrous formes doth oft appeare And all about the glistring walles were hong With warlike spoiles and with victorious prayes Of mighty Conquerours and Captaines strong Which were whilome captiued in their dayes To cruell loue and wrought their owne decayes Their swerds speres were broke hauberques rent And their proud girlonds of tryumphant bayes Troden in dust with fury insolent To shew the victors might and mercilesse intent The warlike Mayde beholding earnestly The goodly ordinance of this rich place Did greatly wonder ne could satisfie Her greedy eyes with gazing a long space But more she meruaild that no footings trace Nor wight appear'd but wastefull emptinesse And solemne silence ouer all that place Straunge thing it seem'd that none was to possesse So rich purueyance ne them keepe with carefulnesse And as she lookt about she did behold How ouer that same dore was likewise writ Be bold be bold and euery where Be bold That much she muz'd yet could not construe it By any ridling skill or commune wit At last she spyde at that roomes vpper end Another yron dore on which was writ Be not too bold whereto though she did bend Her earnest mind yet wist not what it might intend Thus she there waited vntill euentyde Yet liuing creature none she saw appeare And now sad shadowes gan the world to hyde From mortall vew and wrap in darkenesse dreare Yet nould she d'off her weary armes for feare Of secret daunger ne let sleepe oppresse Her heauy eyes with natures burdein deare But drew her selfe aside in sickernesse And her welpointed weapons did about her dresse Cant. XII The maske of Cupid and th'enchaunted Chamber are displayd Whence Britomart redeemes faire Amoret through charmes decayd THo when as chearelesse Night ycouered had Faire heauen with an vniuersall cloud That euery wight dismayd with darknesse sad In silence and in sleepe themselues did shroud She heard a shrilling Trompet sound aloud Signe of nigh battell or got victory Nought therewith daunted was her courage proud But rather stird to cruell enmity Expecting cuer when some foe she might descry With that an hideous storme of winde arose With dreadfull thunder and lightning atwixt And an earth-quake as if it streight would lose The worlds foundations from his centre fixt A direfull stench of smoke and sulphure mixt Ensewd whose noyance fild the fearefull sted From the fourth houre of night vntill the sixt Yet the bold Britonesse was nought ydred Though much emmou'd but stedfast still perseuered All suddenly a stormy whirlwind blew Throughout the house that clapped euery dore With which that yron wicket open flew As it with mightie leuers had bene tore And forth issewd as on the ready flore Of some Theatre a graue personage That in his hand a branch of laurell bore With comely haueour and count'nance sage Yclad in costly garments fit for tragicke Stage Proceeding to the midst he still did stand As if in mind he somewhat had to say And to the vulgar beckning with his hand In signe of silence as to heare a play By liuely actions he gan bewray Some argument of matter passioned Which doen he backe retyred soft away And passing by his name discouered Ease on his robe in golden letters cyphered The noble Mayd still standing all this vewd And merueild at his strange intendiment With that a ioyous fellowship issewd Of Minstrals making goodly meriment With wanton Bardes and Rymers impudent All which together sungfull chearefully A lay of loues delight with sweet consent After whom marcht a iolly company In manner of a maske enranged orderly The whiles a most delitious harmony In full straunge notes was sweetly heard to sound That the rare sweetnesse of the melody The feeble senses wholly did confound And the fraile soule in deepe delight nigh dround And when it ceast shrill trompets loud did bray That their report did farre away rebound And when they ceast it gan againe to play The whiles the maskers marched forth in trim aray The first was Fancy like a louely boy Of rare aspect and beautie without peare Matchable either to that ympe of Troy Whom Ioue did loue and chose his cup to beare Or that same daintie lad which was so deare To great Alcides that when as he dyde He wailed womanlike with many a teare And euery wood and euery valley wyde He fild with Hylas name the Nymphes eke Hylas cryde His garment neither was of silke nor say But painted plumes in goodly order dight Like as the sunburnt 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 beare That in the idle aire he mou'd still here and there And him beside marcht amorous Desyre Who seemd of riper yeares then th' other Swaine Yet was that others swayne this elders syre And gaue him being commune to them twaine His garment was disguised very vaine And his embrodered Bonet sat awry Twixt both his hands few sparkes he close did straine Which still he blew and kindled busily That soone they life conceiud forth in flames did fly Next after him went Doubt who was yclad In a discolour'd cote of straunge disguyse That at his backe a brode Capuccio had And sleeues dependant Albanese-wyse He lookt askew with