Within his mouth a blacke spot doth appeare Shapt like a horses shoe who list to seeke it there Whereof to make due tryall one did take The horse in hand within his mouth to looke But with his heeles so sorely he him strake That all his ribs he quite in peeces broke That neuer word from that day forth he spoke Another that would seeme to haue more wit Him by the bright embrodered hedstall tooke But by the shoulder him so sore he bit That he him maymed quite and all his shoulder split Ne he his mouth would open vnto wight Vntill that Guyon selfe vnto him spake And called Brigadore so was he hight Whose voice so soone as he did vndertake Eftsoones he stood as still as any stake And suffred all his secret marke to see And when as he him nam'd for ioy he brake His bands and follow'd him with gladfull glee And friskt and flong aloft and louted low on knee Thereby Sir Artegall did plaine areed That vnto him the horse belong'd and sayd Lo there Sir Guyon take to you the steed As he with golden saddle is arayd And let that losell plainely now displayd Hence fare on foot till he an horse haue gayned But the proud boaster gan his doome vpbrayd And him reuil'd and rated and disdayned That iudegement so vniust against him had ordayned Much was the knight incenst with his lewd word To haue reuenged that his villeny And thrise did lay his hand vpon his sword To haue him slaine or dearely doen aby But Guyon did his choler pacify Saying Sir knight it would dishonour bee To you that are our iudge of equity To wreake your wrath on such a carle as hee It's punishment enough that all his shame doe see So did he mitigate Sir Artegall But Talus by the backe the boaster hent And drawing him out of the open hall Vpon him did inflict this punishment First he his beard did shaue and fowly shent Then from him reft his shield and it renuerst And blotted out his armes with falshood blent And himselfe baffuld and his armes vnherst And broke his sword in twaine and all his armour sperst The whiles his guilefull groome was fled away But vaine it was to thinke from him to flie Who ouertaking him did disaray And all his face deform'd with infamie And out of court him scourged openly So ought all faytours that true knighthood shame And armes dishonour with base villanie From all braue knights be banisht with defame For oft their lewdnes blotteth good deserts with blame Now when these counterfeits were thus vncased Out of the foreside of their forgerie And in the sight of all men cleane disgraced All gan to iest and gibe full merilie At the remembrance of their knauerie Ladies can laugh at Ladies Knights at Knights To thinke with how great vaunt of brauerie He them abused through his subtill slights And what a glorious shew he made in all their sights There leaue we them in pleasure and repast Spending their ioyous dayes and gladfull nights And taking vsurie of time forepast With all deare delices and rare delights Fit for such Ladies and such louely knights And turne were here to this faire furrowes end Our wearie yokes to gather fresher sprights That when as time to Artegall shall tend We on his first aduenture may him forward send Cant. IIII Artegall dealeth right betwixt two brethren that doe striue Saues Terpine from the gallow tree and doth from death reprine WHo so vpon him selfe will take the skill True Iustice vnto people to diuide Had neede haue mightie hands for to fulfill That which he doth with righteous doome decide And for to maister wrong and puissant pride For vaine it is to deeme of things aright And makes wrong doers iustice to deride Vnlesse it be perform'd with dreadlesse might For powre is the right hand of Iustice truely hight Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise The charge of Iustice giuen was in trust That they might execute her iudgements wise And with their might beat downe licentious lust Which proudly did impugne her sentence iust Whereof no brauer president this day Remaines on earth preseru'd from yron rust Of rude obliuion and long times decay Then this of Artegall which here we haue to say Who hauing lately left that louely payre Enlincked fast in wedlockes loyall bond Bold Marinell with Florimell the fayre With whom great feast and goodly glee he fond Departed from the Castle of the strond To follow his aduentures first intent Which long agoe he taken had in hond Ne wight with him for his assistance went But that great yron groome his gard and gouernment With whom as he did passe by the sea shore He chaunst to come whereas two comely Squires Both brethren whom one wombe together bore But stirred vp with different desires Together stroue and kindled wrathfull fires And them beside two seemely damzels stood By all meanes seeking to asswage their ires Now with faire words but words did little good Now with sharpe threats but threats the more increast their mood And there before them stood a Coffer strong Fast bound on euery side with iron bands But seeming to haue suffred mickle wrong Either by being wreckt vppon the sands Or being carried farre from forraine lands Seem'd that for it these Squires at ods did fall And bent against them selues their cruell hands But euermore those Damzels did forestall Their furious encounter and their fiercenesse pall But firmely fixt they were with dint of sword And battailes doubtfull proofe their rights to try Ne other end their fury would afford But what to them Fortune would iustify So stood they both in readinesse thereby To ioyne the combate with cruell intent When Artegall arriuing happily Did stay a while their greedy bickerment Till he had questioned the cause of their dissent To whom the elder did this aunswere frame Then weete ye Sir that we two brethren be To whom oursire Milesio by name Did equally bequeath his lands in fee Two Ilands which ye there before you see Not farre in sea of which the one appeares But like a little Mount of small degree Yet was as great and wide ere many yeares As that same other Isle that greater bredth now beares But tract of time that all things doth decay And this deuouring Sea that naught doth spare The most part of my land hath washt away And throwne it vp vnto my brothers share So his encreased but mine did empaire Before which time I lou'd as was my lot That further mayd hight Philtera the faire With whom a goodly doure I should haue got And should haue ioyned bene to her in wedlocks knot Then did my younger brother Amidas Loue that same other Damzell Lucy bright To whom but little dowre allotted was Her vertue was the dowre that did delight What better dowre can to a dame be hight But now when Philtra saw my lands decay And former liuelod fayle she left me quight And to my
brother did ellope streight way Who taking her from me his owne loue left astray She seeing then her selfe forsaken so Through dolorous despaire which she conceyued Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw Thinking to haue her griefe by death bereaued But see how much her purpose was deccaued Whilest thus amidst the billowes beating of her Twixt life and death long to and fro she weaued She chaunst vnwares to light vppon this coffer Which to her in that daunger hope of life did offer The wretched mayd that earst desir'd to die When as the paine of death she tasted had And but halfe seene his vgly visnomie Gan to repent that she had beene so mad For any death to chaunge life though most bad And catching hold of this Sea-beaten chest The lucky Pylot of her passage sad After long tossing in the seas distrest Her weary barke at last vppon mine Isle did rest Where I by chaunce then wandring on the shore Did her espy and through my good endeuour From dreadfull mouth of death which threatned sore Her to haue swallow'd vp did helpe to saue her She then in recompence of that great fauour Which I on her bestowed bestowed on me The portion of that good which Fortune gaue her Together with her selfe in dowry free Both goodly portions but of both the better she Yet in this coffer which she with her brought Great threasure sithence we did finde contained Which as our owne we tooke and so it thought But this same other Damzell since hath fained That to her selfe that threasure appertained And that she did transport the same by sea To bring it to her husband new ordained But suffred cruell shipwracke by the way But whether it be so or no I can not say But whether it indeede be so or no This doe I say that what so good or ill Or God or Fortune vnto me did throw Not wronging any other by my will I hold mine owne and so will hold it still And though my land he first did winne away And then my loue though now it little skill Yet my good lucke he shall not likewise pray But I will it defend whilst euer that I may So hauing sayd the younger did ensew Full true it is what so about our land My brother here declared hath to you But not for it this ods twixt vs doth stand But for this threasure throwne vppon his strand Which well I proue as shall appeare by triall To be this maides with whom I fastned hand Known by good markes and perfect good espiall Therefore it ought be rendred her without deniall When they thus ended had the Knight began Certes your strife were easie to accord Would ye remit it to some righteous man Vnto your selfe said they we giue our word To bide what iudgement ye shall vs afford Then for assuraunce to my doome to stand Vnder my foote let each lay downe his sword And then you shall my sentence vnderstand So each of them layd downe his sword out of his hand Then Artegall thus to the younger sayd Now tell me Amidas if that ye may Your brothers land the which the sea hath layd Vnto your part and pluckt from his away By what good right doe you withhold this day What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea it to my share did lay Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme Then turning to the elder thus he sayd Now Bracidas let this likewise be showne Your brothers threasure which from him is strayd Being the dowry of his wife well knowne By what right doe you claime to beyour owne What other right quoth he should you esteeme But that the sea hath it vnto me throwne Your right is good sayd he and so I deeme That what the sea vnto you sent your own should seeme For equall right in equall things doth stand For what the mighty Sea hath once possest And plucked quite from all possessors hand Whether by rage of waues that neuer rest Or else by wracke that wretches hath distrest He may dispose by his imperiall might As thing at randon left to whom he list So Amidas the land was yours first hight And so the threasure yours is Bracidas by right When he his sentence thus pronounced had Both Amidas and Philtra were displeased But Bracidas and Lucy were right glad And on the threasure by that iudgement seased So was their discord by this doome appeased And each one had his right Then Artegall When as their sharpe contention he had ceased Departed on his way as did befall To follow his old quest the which him forth did call So as he trauelled vppon the way He chaunst to come where happily he spide A rout of many people farre away To whom his course he hastily applide To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide To whom when he approched neare in sight An vncouth sight he plainely then descride To be a troupe of women warlike dight With weapons in their hands as ready for to fight And in the midst of them he saw a Knight With both his hands behinde him pinnoed hard And round about his necke an halter tight As ready for the gallow tree prepard His face was couered and his head was bar'd That who he was vneath was to descry And with full heauy heart with them he far'd Grieu'd to the soule and groning inwardly That he of womens hands so base a death should dy But they like tyrants mercilesse the more Reioyced at his miserable case And him reuiled and reproched sore With bitter taunts and termes of vile disgrace Now when as Artegall arriu'd in place Did aske what cause brought that man to decay They round about him gan to swarme apace Meaning on him their cruell hands to lay And to haue wrought vnwares some villanous assay But he was soone aware of their ill minde And drawing backe deceiued their intent Yet though him selfe did shame on womankinde His mighty hand to shend he Talus sent To wrecke on them their follies hardyment Who with few sowces of his yron flale Dispersed all their troupe incontinent And sent them home to tell a piteous tale Of their vaine prowesse turned to their proper bale But that same wretched man ordaynd to die They left behind them glad to be so quit Him Talus tooke out of perplexitie And horrour of fowle death for Knight vnfit Who more then losse of life ydreaded it And him restoring vnto liuing light So brought vnto his Lord where he did sit Beholding all that womanish weake fight Whom soone as he beheld he knew and thus behight Sir Turpine haplesse man what make you here Or haue you lost your selfe and your discretion That euer in this wretched case ye were Or haue ye yeelded you to proude oppression Of womens powre that boast of mens subiection Or else what other deadly dismall day Is falne on you by
What mister wight that was and whence deriued That in so straunge disguizement there did maske And by what accident she there arriued But she as one nigh of her wits depriued With nought but ghastly lookes him answered Like to a ghost that lately is reuiued From Stygian shores where late it wandered So both at her and each at other wondered But the faire Virgin was so meeke and mild That she to them vouchsafed to embace Her goodly port and to their senses vild Her gentle speach applide that in short space She grew familiare in that desert place During which time the Chorle through her so kind And curteise vse conceiu'd affection bace And cast to loue her in his brutish mind No loue but brutish lust that was so beastly tind Closely the wicked flame his bowels brent And shortly grew into outrageous fire Yet had he not the hart nor hardiment As vnto her to vtter his desire His caytiue thought durst not so high aspire But with soft sighes and louely semblaunces He ween'd that his affection entire She should aread many resemblaunces To her he made and many kind remembraunces Oft from the forrest wildings he did bring Whose sides empurpled were with smiling red And oft young birds which he had taught to sing His mistresse prayses sweetly caroled Girlonds of flowres sometimes for her faire hed He fine would dight sometimes the squirell wild He brought to her in bands as conquered To be her thrall his fellow seruant vild All which she of him tooke with countenance meeke and mild But past awhile when she fit season saw To leaue that desert mansion she cast In secret wize her selfe thence to withdraw For feare of mischiefe which she did forecast Might be the witch or that her sonne compast Her wearie Palfrey closely as she might Now well recouered after long repast In his proud furnitures she freshly dight His late miswandred wayes now to remeasure right And earely ere the dawning day appeard She forth issewed and on her iourney went She went in perill of each noyse affeard And of each shade that did it selfe present For still she feared to be ouerhent Of that vile hag or her vnciuile sonne Who when too late awaking well they kent That their faire guest was gone they both begonne To make exceeding mone as they had bene vndonne But that lewd louer did the most lament For her depart that euer man did heare He knockt his brest with desperate intent And scratcht his face and with his teeth did teare His rugged flesh and rent his ragged heare That his sad mother seeing his sore plight Was greatly woe begon and gan to feare Least his fraile senses were emperisht quight And loue to frenzy turnd sith loue is franticke hight All wayes she sought him to restore to plight With herbs with charms with coūsell with teares But tears nor charms nor herbs nor counsell might Asswage the fury which his entrails teares So strong is passion that no reason heares Tho when all other helpes she saw to faile She turnd her selfe backe to her wicked leares And by her deuilish arts thought to preuaile To bring her backe againe or worke her finall bale Eftsoones out of her hidden caue she cald An hideous beast of horrible aspect That could the stoutest courage haue appald Monstrous mishapt and all his backe was spect With thousand spots of colours queint elect Thereto so swift that it all beasts did pas Like neuer yet did liuing eye detect But likest it to an Hyena was That feeds on womens flesh as others feede on gras It forth she cald and gaue it streight in charge Through thicke and thin her to pursew apace Ne once to stay to rest or breath at large Till her he had attaind and brought in place Or quite deuourd her beauties scornefull grace The Monster swift as word that from her went Went forth in hast and did her footing trace So sure and swiftly through his perfect sent And passing speede that shortly he her ouerhent Whom when the fearefull Damzell nigh espide No need to bid her fast away to flie That vgly shape so sore her terrifide That it she shund no lesse then dread to die And her flit Palfrey did so well apply His nimble feet to her conceiued feare That whilest his breath did strength to him supply From perill free he her away did beare But when his force gan faile his pace gan wex areare Which whenas she perceiu'd she was dismayd At that same last extremitie full sore And of her safetie greatly grew afrayd And now she gan approch to the sea shore As it befell that she could flie no more But yield her selfe to spoile of greedinesse Lightly she leaped as a wight forlore From her dull horse in desperate distresse And to her feet betooke her doubtfull sickernesse Not halfe so fast the wicked Myrrha fled From dread of her reuenging fathers hond Nor halfe so fast to saue her maidenhed Fled fearefull Daphne on th' AEgaean strond As Florimell fled from that Monster yond To reach the sea ere she of him were raught For in the sea to drowne her selfe she fond Rather then of the tyrant to be caught Thereto feare gaue her wings and neede her courage taught It fortuned high God did so ordaine As she arriued on the roring shore In minde to leape into the mighty maine A little boate lay houing her before In which there slept a fisher old and pore The whiles his nets were drying on the sand Into the same she leapt and with the ore Did thrust the shallop from the floting strand So safetie found at sea which she found not at land The Monster ready on the pray to sease Was of his forward hope deceiued quight Ne durst assay to wade the perlous seas But greedily long gaping at the sight At last in vaine was forst to turne his flight And tell the idle tidings to his Dame Yet to auenge his deuilish despight He set vpon her Palfrey tired lame And slew him cruelly ere any reskew came And after hauing him embowelled To fill his bellish gorge it chaunst a knight To passe that way as forth he trauelled It was a goodly Swaine and of great might As euer man that bloudy field did fight But in vaine sheows that wont yong knights bewitch And courtly seruices tooke no delight But rather ioyd to be then seemen fich For both to be and seeme to him was labour lich It was to weete the good Sir Satyrane That raungd abroad to seeke aduentures wilde As was his wont in forrest and in plaine He was all armd in rugged steele vnfilde As in the smoky forge it was compilde And in his Scutchin bore a Satyres hed He comming present where the Monster vilde Vpon that milke-white Palfreyes carkas fed Vnto his reskew ran and greedily him sped There well perceiu'd he that it was the horse Whereon faire Florimell was wont to ride That of that feend was rent without remorse
last when droncke with drowsinesse he woke And saw his drouer driue along the streame He was dismayd and thrise his breast he stroke For maruell of that accident extreame But when he saw that blazing beauties beame Which with rare light his bote did beautifie He marueild more and thought he yet did dreame Not well awakt or that some extasie Assotted had his sense or dazed was his eie But when her well auizing he perceiued To be no vision nor fantasticke sight Great comfort of her presence he conceiued And felt in his old courage new delight To gin awake and stirre his frozen spright Tho rudely askt her how she thither came Ah said she father I note read aright What hard misfortune brought me to the same Yet am I glad that here I now in safety am But thou good man sith farre in sea we bee And the great waters gin apace to swell That now no more we can the maine-maine-land see Haue care I pray to guide the cock-bote well Least worse on sea then vs on land befell Thereat th' old man did nought but fondly grin And said his boat the way could wisely tell But his deceiptfull eyes did neuer lin To looke on her faire face and marke her snowy skin The sight whereof in his congealed flesh Infixt such secret sting of greedy lust That the drie withered stocke it gan refresh And kindled heat that soone in flame forth brust The driest wood is soonest burnt to dust Rudely to her he lept and his rough hand Where ill became him rashly would haue thrust But she with angry scorne him did withstond And shamefully reproued for his rudenesse fond But he that neuer good nor maners knew Her sharpe rebuke full litle did esteeme Hard is to teach an old horse amble trew The inward smoke that did before but steeme Broke into open fire and rage extreme And now he strength gan adde vnto his will Forcing to doe that did him fowle misseeme Beastly he threw her downe ne car'd to spill Her garments gay with scales of fish that all did fill The silly virgin stroue him to withstand All that she might and him in vaine reuild She struggled strongly both with foot and hand To saue her honor from that villaine vild And cride to heauen from humane helpe exild O ye braue knights that boast this Ladies loue Where be ye now when she is nigh defild Of filthy wretch well may shee you reproue Of falshood or of slouth when most it may behoue But if that thou Sir Satyran didst weete Or thou Sir Peridure her sorie state How soone would yee assemble many a fleete To fetch from sea that ye at land lost late Towres Cities Kingdomes ye would ruinate In your auengement and dispiteous rage Ne ought your burning fury mote abate But if Sir Calidore could it presage No liuing creature could his cruelty asswage But sith that none of all her knights is nye See how the heauens of voluntary grace And soueraine fauour towards chastity Doe succour send to her distressed cace So much high God doth innocence embrace It fortuned whilest thus she stifly stroue And the wide sea importuned long space With shrilling shriekes Proteus abrode did roue Along the fomy waues driuing his finny droue Proteus is Shepheard of the seas of yore And hath the charge of Neptunes mightie heard An aged sire with head all frowy hore And sprinckled frost vpon his deawy beard Who when those pittifull outcries he heard Through all the seas so ruefully resound His charet swift in haste he thither steard Which with a teeme of scaly Phocas bound Was drawne vpon the waues that fomed him around And comming to that Fishers wandring bote That went at will withouten carde or sayle He therein saw that yrkesome sight which smote Deepe indignation and compassion frayle Into his hart attonce streight did he hayle The greedy villein from his hoped pray Of which he now did very litle fayle And with his staffe that driues his Heard astray Him bet so sore that life and sense did much dismay The whiles the pitteous Ladie vp did ryse Ruffled and fowly raid with filthy soyle And blubbred face with teares of her faire eyes Her heart nigh broken was with weary toyle To saue her selfe from that outrageous spoyle But when she looked vp to weet what wight Had her from so infamous fact assoyld For shame but more for feare of his grim sight Downe in her lap she hid her face and loudly shright Her selfe not saued yet from daunger dred She thought but chaung'd from one to other feare Like as a fearefull Partridge that is sled From the sharpe Hauke which her attached neare And fals to ground to seeke for succour theare Whereas the hungry Spaniels she does spy With greedy iawes her readie for to teare In such distresse and sad perplexity Was Florimell when Proteus she did see thereby But he endeuoured with speeches milde Her to recomfort and accourage bold Bidding her feare no more her foeman vilde Nor doubt himselfe and who he was her told Yet all that could not from affright her hold Ne to recomfort her at all preuayld For her faint heart was with the frozen cold Benumbd so inly that her wits nigh fayld And all her senses with abashment quite were quayld Her vp betwixt his rugged hands he reard And with his frory lips full softly kist Whiles the cold ysickles from his rough beard Dropped adowne vpon her yuorie brest Yet he himselfe so busily addrest That her out of astonishment he wrought And out of that same fishers filthy nest Remouing her into his charet brought And there with many gentle termes her faire besought But that old leachour which with bold assault That beautie durst presume to violate He cast to punish for his hainous fault Then tooke he him yet trembling sith of late And tyde behind his charet to aggrate The virgin whom he had abusde so sore So drag'd him through the waues in scornefull state And after cast him vp vpon the shore But Florimell with him vnto his bowre he bore His bowre is in the bottome of the maine Vnder a mightie rocke gainst which do raue The roaring billowes in their proud disdaine That with the angry working of the waue Therein is eaten out an hollow caue That seemes rough Masons hand with engines keene Had long while laboured it to engraue There was his wonne ne liuing wight was seene Saue one old Nymph hight Panope to keepe it cleane Thither he brought the sory Florimell And entertained her the best he might And Panope her entertaind eke well As an immortall mote a mortall wight To winne her liking vnto his delight With flattering words he sweetly wooed her And offered faire gifts t' allure her sight But she both offers and the offerer Despysde and all the fawning of the flatterer Daily he tempted her with this or that And neuer suffred her to be at rest But euermore she him refused flat And all
soust in swelling Tethys saltish teare And long time hauing tand his tawney hide With blustring breath of heauen that none can bide And scorching flames of fierce Orions hound Soone as the port from farre he has espide His chearefull whistle merrily doth sound And Nereus crownes with cups his mates him pledg around Such ioy made Vna when her knight she found And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemd no lesse Then the glad marchant that does vew from ground His ship farre come from watrie wildernesse He hurles out vowes and Neptune oft doth blesse So forth they past and all the way they spent Discoursing of her dreadfull late distresse In which he askt her what the Lyon ment Who told her all that fell in iourney as she went They had not ridden farre when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat Full strongly armd and on a courser free That through his fiercenesse fomed all with swear And the sharpe yron did for anger eat When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side His looke was sterne and seemed still to threat Cruell reuenge which he in hart did hyde And on his shield Sans loy in bloudie lines was dyde When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre And saw the Red-crosse which the knight did beare He burnt in fire and gan eftsoones prepare Himselfe to battell with his couched speare Lo thwas that other and did faint through fea To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele But yet his Lady did so well him cheare That hope of new goodhap he gan to feele So bent his speare and spurnd his horse with yron heele But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce And full of wrath that with his sharp-head speare Through vainely crossed shield he quite did pierce And had his staggering steede not shrunke for feare Through shield and bodie eke he should him beare Yet so great was the puissance of his push That from his saddle quite he did him beare He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed He to him lept in mind to reaue his life And proudly said Lo there the worthie meed Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloudie knife Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife In peace may passen ouer Lethe lake When morning altars purgd with enemies life The blacke infernall Furies doen aslake Life from Sansfoy thou tookst Sansloy shall frō thee take Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace Till Vna cride O hold that heauie hand Deare Sir what euer that thou be in place Enough is that thy foe doth vanquisht stand Now at thy mercy Mercie not withstand For he is one the truest knight aliue Though conquered now he lie on lowly land And whilest him fortune fauourd faire did thriue In bloudie field therefore of life him not depriue Her piteous words might not abate his rage But rudely rending vp his helmet would Haue slaine him straight but when he sees his age And hoarie head of Archimago old His hastie hand he doth amazed hold And halfe ashamed wondred at the sight For the old man well knew he though vntold In charmes and magicke to haue wondrous might Ne euer wont in field ne in round lists to fight And said Why Archimago lucklesse syre What doe I see what hard mishap is this That hath thee hither brought to taste mineyre Or thine the fault or mine the error is In stead of foe to wound my friend amis He answered nought but in a traunce still lay And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his The cloud of death did sit Which doen away He left him lying so ne would no lenger stay But to the virgin comes who all this while Amased stands her selfe so mockt to see By him who has the guerdon of his guile For so misfeigning her true knight to bee Yet is she now in more perplexitie Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold From whom her booteth not at all to flie Who by her cleanly garment catching hold Her from her Palfrey pluckt her visage to behold But her fierce seruant full of kingly awe And high disdaine whenas his soueraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he sawe With gaping iawes full greedy at him came And ramping on his shield did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharpe rending clawes But he was stout and lust did now inflame His corage more that frō his griping pawes He hath his shield redeem'd and foorth his swerd he drawes O then too weake and feeble was the forse Of saluage beast his puissance to withstand For he was strong and of so mightie corse As euer wielded speare in warlike hand And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand And launcht his Lordly hart with death opprest He roar'd aloud whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will Her faithfull gard remou'd her hope dismaid Her selfe a yeelded pray to saue or spill He now Lord of the fied his pride to fill With foule reproches and disdainfull spight Her vildly entertaines and will or nill Beares her away vpon his courser light Her prayers nought preuaile his rage is more of might And all the way with great lamenting paine And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine And all the way she wets with flowing teares But he enrag'd with rancor nothing heares Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so But followes her farre off ne ought he feares To be partaker of her wandring woe More mild in beastly kind then that her beastly foe Cant. IIII To sinfull house of Pride Duessa guides the faithfull knight Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy doth chalenge him to fight YOung knight what euer that dost armes professe And through long labours huntest after fame Beware of fraud beware of ficklenesse In choice and change of thy deare loued Dame Least thou of her beleeue too lightly blame And rash misweening doe thy hart remoue For vnto knight there is no greater shame Then lightnesse and inconstancie in loue That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly proue Who after that he had faire Vna lorne Through light misdeeming of her loialtie And false Duessa in her sted had borne Called Fidess ' and so supposd to bee Long with her traueild till at last they see A goodly building brauely garnished The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee And towards it a broad high way that led All bare through peoples feet which thither traueiled Great troupes of people traueild thitherward Both day and night of each degree and place But few returned hauing scaped hard With balefull beggerie or foule disgrace Which euer after in most wretched case Like loathsome lazars by the hedges lay Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace
did delight A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld By straunge aduenture as it did betyde And there begotten of a Lady myld Faire Thyamis the daughter of Labryde That was in sacred bands of wedlocke tyde To Therion a loose vnruly swayne Who had more ioy to raunge the forrest wyde And chase the saluage beast with busie payne Then serue his Ladies loue and wast in pleasures vayne The forlorne mayd did with loues longing burne And could not lacke her louers company But to the wood she goes to serue her turne And seeke her spouse that from her still does fly And followes other game and venery A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to find And kindling coles of lustin brutish eye The loyall links of wedlocke did vnbind And made her person thrall vnto his beastly kind So long in secret cabin there he held Her captiue to his sensuall desire Till that with timely fruit her belly sweld And bore a boy vnto that saluage fire Then home he suffred her for to retire For ransome leauing him the late borne childe Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspire He noursled vp in life and manners wilde Emongst wild beasts and woods from lawes of men exilde For all he taught the tender ymp was but To banish cowardize and bastard feare His trembling hand he would him force to put Vpon the Lyon and the rugged Beare And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare And eke wyld roring Buls he would him make To tame and ryde their backes not made to beare And the Robuckes in flight to ouertake That euery beast for feare of him did fly and quake Thereby so fearelesse and so fell he grew That his owne sire and maister of his guise Did often tremble at his horrid vew And oft for dread of hurt would him aduise The angry beasts not rashly to despise Nor too much to prouoke for he would learne The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise A lesson hard and make the Libbard sterne Leaue roaring when in rage he for reuenge did earne And for to make his powre approued more Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell The spotted Panther and the tusked Bore The Pardale swift and the Tigre cruell The Antelope and Wolfe both fierce and fell And them constraine in equall teme to draw Such ioy he had their stubborne harts to quell And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw That his beheast they feared as tyrans law His louing mother came vpon a day Vnto the woods to see her little sonne And chaunst vnwares to meet him in the way After his sportes and cruell pastime donne When after him a Lyonesse did runne That roaring all with rage did lowd requere Her children deare whom he away had wonne The Lyon whelpes she saw how he did beare And lull in rugged armes withouten childish feare The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight And turning backe gan fast to fly away Vntill with loue reuokt from vaine affright She hardly yet perswaded was to stay And then to him these womanish words gan say Ah Satyrane my dearling and my ioy For loue of me leaue off this dreadfull play To dally thus with death is no fit toy Go find some other play-fellowes mine own sweet boy In these and like delights of bloudy game He trayned was till ryper yeares he raught And there abode whilst any beast of name Walkt in that forest whom he had not taught To feare his force and then his courage haught Desird of forreine foemen to be knowne And far abroad for straunge aduentures sought In which his might was neuer ouerthrowne But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown Yet euermore it was his manner faire After long labours and aduentures spent Vnto those natiue woods for to repaire To see his fire and ofspring auncient And now he thither came for like intent Where he vnwares the fairest Vna found Straunge Lady in so straunge habiliment Teaching the Satyres which her sat around Trew sacred lore which from her sweet lips did redound He wondred at her wisedome heauenly rare Whose like in womens wit he neuer knew And when her curteous deeds he did compare Gan her admire and her sad sorrowes rew Blaming of Fortune which such troubles threw And ioyd to make proofe of her crueltie On gentle Dame so hurtlesse and so trew Thenceforth he kept her goodly company And learnd her discipline of faith and veritie But she all vowd vnto the Redcrosse knight His wandring perill closely did lament Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight But her deare heart with anguish did torment And all her wit in secret counsels spent How to escape At last in priuie wise To Satyrane she shewed her intent Who glad to gain such fauour gan deuise How with that pensiue Maid he best might thence arise So on a day when Satyres all were gone To do their seruice to Syluanus old The gentle virgin left behind alone He led away with courage stout and bold Too late it was to Satyres to be told Or euer hope recouer her againe In vaine he seekes that hauing cannot hold So fast he carried her with carefull paine That they the woods are past come now to the plaine The better part now of the lingring day They traueild had when as they farre espide A wearie wight forwandring by the way And towards him they gan in hast to ride To weet of newes that did abroad betide Or tydings of her knight of the Redcrosse But he them spying gan to turne aside For feare as seemd or for some feigned losse More greedy they of newes fast towards him do crosse A silly man in simple weedes forworne And soild with dust of the long dried way His sandales were with toilesome trauell torne And face all tand with scorching sunny ray As he had traueild many a sommers day Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde And in his hand a Iacobs staffe to stay His wearie limbes vpon and eke behind His scrip did hang in which his needments he did bind The knight approching nigh of him inquerd Tydings of warre and of aduentures new But warres nor new aduentures none he herd Then Vna gan to aske if ought he knew Or heard abroad of that her champion trew That in his armour bare a croslet red Aye me Deare dame quoth he well may I rew To tell the sad sight which mine eies haue red These eyes did see that knight both liuing and eke ded That cruell word her tender hart so thrild That suddein cold did runne through euery vaine And stony horrour all her sences fild With dying fit that downe she fell for paine The knight her lightly reared vp againe And comforted with curteous kind reliefe Then wonne from death she bad him tellen plaine The further processe of her hidden griefe The lesser pangs can beare who hath endur'd the chiefe Then gan the Pilgrim thus I chaunst this day This fatall day that shall I euer rew
did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd And thrise he her reviu'd with busie paine At last when life recouer'd had the raine And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie With foltring tong and trembling euery vaine Tell on quoth she the wofull Tragedie The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight And thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight Then that I feele and harbour in mine hart Who hath endur'd the whole can beare each part If death it be it is not the first wound That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart Begin and end the bitter balefull stound If lesse then that I feare more fauour I haue found Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare The subtill traines of Archimago old The wanton loues of false Fidessa faire Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold The wretched payre transform'd to treen mould The house of Pride and perils round about The combat which he with Sansioy did hould The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout Wherein captiu'd of life or death he stood in doubt She heard with patience all vnto the end And stroue to maister sorrowfull assay Which greater grew the more she did contend And almost rent her tender hart in tway And loue fresh coles vnto her fire did lay For greater loue the greater is the losse Was neuer Ladie loued dearer day Then she did loue the knight of the Redcrosse For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse At last when feruent sorrow slaked was She vp arose resoluing him to find A liue or dead and forward forth doth pas All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd And euermore in constant care full mind She fed her wound with fresh renewed bale Long tost with stormes and bet with bitter wind High ouer hils and low adowne the dale She wandred many a wood and measurd many a vale At last she chaunced by good hap to meet A goodly knight faire marching by the way Together with his Squire arayed meet His glitterand armour shined farre away Like glauncing light of Phoebus brightest ray From top to toe no place appeared bare That deadly dint of steele endanger may Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware That shynd like twinkling stars with stons most pretious rare And in the midst thereof one pretious stone Of wondrous worth and eke of wondrous mights Shapt like a Ladies head exceeding shone Like Hesperus emongst the lesser lights And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong In yuory sheath ycaru'd with curious slights Whose hilts were burnisht gold and handle strong Of mother pearle and buckled with a golden tong His haughtie helmet horrid all with gold Both glorious brightnesse and great terrour bred For all the crest a Dragon did enfold With greedie pawes and ouer all did spred His golden wings his dreadfull hideous hed Close couched on the beuer seem'd to throw From flaming mouth bright sparkles fierie red That suddeine horror to faint harts did show And scaly tayle was stretcht adowne his backe full low Vpon the top of all his loftie crest A bunch of haires discolourd diuersly With sprincled pearle and gold full richly drest Did shake and seem'd to daunce for iollity Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye On top of greene Selinis all alone With blossomes braue bedecked daintily Whos 's tender locks do tremble euery one At euery little breath that vnder heauen is blowne His warlike shield all closely couer'd was Ne might of mortall eye be euer seene Not made of steele nor of enduring bras Such earthlymettals soone consumed bene But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene It framed was one massie entire mould Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene That point of speare it neuer percen could Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would The same to wight he neuer wont disclose But when as monsters huge he would dismay Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes Or when the flying heauens he would affray For so exceeding shone his glistring ray That Phoebus golden face it did attaint As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay And siluer Cynthia wexed pale and faint As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint No magicke arts hereof had any might Nor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call But all that was not such as seemd in sight Before that shield did fade and suddeine fall And when him list the raskall routes appall Men into stones therewith he could transmew And stones to dust and dust to nought at all And when him list the prouder lookes subdew He would them gazing blind or turne to other hew Ne let it seeme that credence this exceedes For he that made the same was knowne right well To haue done much more admirable deedes It Merlin was which whylome did excell All liuing wightes in might of magicke spell Both shield and sword and armour all he wrought For this young Prince when first to armes he fell But when he dyde the Faerie Queene it brought To Faerie lond where yet it may be seene if sought A gentle youth his dearely loued Squire His speare of heben wood behind him bare Whose harmefull head thrice heated in the fire Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square A goodly person and could menage faire His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit Who vnder him did trample as the aire And chauft that any on his backe should sit The yron rowels into frothy some he bit When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew With louely court he gan her entertaine But when he heard her answeres loth he knew Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine Which to allay and calme her storming paine Faire feeling words he wisely gan display And for her humour fitting purpose faine To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray Wherewith emmou'd these bleeding words she gan to say What worlds delight or ioy of lining speach Can heart so plung'd in sea of sorrowes deepe And heaped with so huge misfortunes reach The carefull cold beginneth for to creepe And in my heart his yron arrow steepe Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe Then rip vp griefe where it may not auaile My last left comfort is my woes to weepe and waile Ah Ladie deare quoth then the gentle knight Well may I weene your griefe is wondrous great For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat But wofull Ladie let me you intrete For to vnfold the anguish of your hart Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete And counsell mittigates the greatest smart Found neuer helpe who neuer would his hurts impart O but quoth she great griefe will not be tould And can more easily be thought then said Right so quoth he but he that neuer would Could neuer will to might giues greatest
Full of disport still laughing loosely light And quite contrary to her sisters kind No measure in her mood no rule of right But poured out in pleasure and delight In wine and meats she flowd aboue the bancke And in excesse exceeded her owne might In sumptuous tire she ioyd her selfe to prancke But of her loue too lauish litle haue she thancke First by her side did sit the bold Sans-loy Fit mate for such a mincing mineon Who in her loosenesse tooke exceeding ioy Might not be found a franker franion Of her lewd parts to make companion But Huddibras more like a Malecontent Did see and grieue at his bold fashion Hardly could he endure his hardiment Yet still he sat and inly did him selfe torment Betwixt them both the faire Medina sate With sober grace and goodly carriage With equall measure she did moderate The strong extremities of their outrage That forward paire she euer would asswage When they would striue dew reason to exceed But that same froward twaine would accourage And of her plenty adde vnto their need So kept she them in order and her selfe in heed Thus fairely she attempered her feast And pleasd them all with meete satietie At last when lust of meat and drinke was ceast She Guyon deare besought of curtesie To tell from whence he came through ieopardie And whither now on new aduenture bound Who with bold grace and comely grauitie Drawing to him the eyes of all around From lofty siege began these words aloud to sound This thy demaund ô Lady doth reuiue Fresh memory in me of that great Queene Great and most glorious virgin Queene aliue That with her soueraigne powre and scepter shene All Faery lond does peaceable sustene In widest Ocean she her throne does reare That ouer all the earth it may be seene As morning Sunne her beames dispredden cleare And in her face faire peace and mercy doth appeare In her the richesse of all heauenly grace In chiefe degree are heaped vp on hye And all that else this worlds enclosure bace Hath great or glorious in mortall eye Adornes the person of her Maiestie That men beholding so great excellence And rare perfection in mortalitie Do her adore with sacred reuerence As th'Idole of her makers great magnificence To her I homage and my seruice owe In number of the noblest knights on ground Mongst whom on me she deigned to bestowe Order of Maydenhead the most renownd That may this day in all the world be found An yearely solemne feast she wontes to make The day that first doth lead the yeare around To which all knights of worth and courage bold Resort to heare of straunge aduentures to be told There this old Palmer shewed himselfe that day And to that mighty Princesse did complaine Of grieuous mischiefes which a wicked Fay Had wrought and many whelmd in deadly paine Whereof he crau'd redresse My Soueraine Whose glory is in gracious deeds and ioyes Throughout the world her mercy to maintaine Eftsoones deuisd redresse for such annoyes Me all vnfit for so great purpose she employes Now hath faire Phoebe with her siluer face Thrise seene the shadowes of the neather world Sith last I left that honorable place In which her royall presence is introld Ne euer shall I rest in house nor hold Till I that false Acrasia haue wonne Of whose fowle deedes too hideous to be told I witnesse am and this their wretched sonne Whose wofull parents she hath wickedly fordonne Tell on faire Sir said she that dolefull tale From which sad ruth does seeme you to restraine That we may pitty such vnhappy bale And learne from pleasures poyson to abstaine Ill by ensample good doth often gayne Then forward he his purpose gan pursew And told the storie of the mortall payne Which Mordant and Amauia did rew As with lamenting eyes him selfe did lately vew Night was far spent and now in Ocean deepe Orion flying fast from hissing snake His flaming head did hasten for to steepe When of his pitteous tale he end did make Whilest with delight of that he wisely spake Those guestes beguiled did beguile their eyes Of kindly sleepe that did them ouertake At last when they had markt the chaunged skyes They wist their houre was spēt thē each to rest him hyes Cant. III. Vaine Braggadocchio getting Guyons horse is made the scorne Of knighthood trew and is of fayre Belphoebe fowle forlorne SOone as the morrow faire with purple beames Disperst the shadowes of the mistie night And Titan playing on the eastern streames Gan cleare the deawy ayre with springing light Sir Guyon mindfull of his vow yplight Vprose from drowsie couch and him addrest Vnto the iourney which he had behight His puissaunt armes about his noble brest And many-folded shield he bound about his wrest Then taking Congé of that virgin pure The bloudy-handed babe vnto her truth Did earnestly commit and her coniure In vertuous lore to traine his tender youth And all that gentle noriture ensu'th And that so soone as ryper yeares he raught He might for memorie of that dayes ruth Be called Ruddymane and thereby taught T' auenge his Parēts death on them that had it wrought So forth he far'd as now befell on foot Sith his good steed is lately from him gone Patience perforce helpelesse what may it boot To fret for anger or for griefe to mone His Palmer now shall foot no more alone So fortune wrought as vnder greene woods syde He lately heard that dying Lady grone He left his steed without and speare besyde And rushed in on foot to ayd her ere she dyde The whiles a losell wandring by the way One that to bountie neuer cast his mind Ne thought of honour euer did assay His baser brest but in his kestrell kind A pleasing vaine of glory vaine did find To which his flowing toung and troublous spright Gaue him great ayd and made him more inclind He that braue steed there finding ready dight Purloynd both steed and speare and ran away full light Now gan his hart all swell in iollitie And of him selfe great hope and helpe conceiu'd That puffed vp with smoke of vanitie And with selfe-loued personage deceiu'd He gan to hope of men to be receiu'd For such as he him thought or faine would bee But for in court gay portaunce he perceiu'd And gallant shew to be in greatest gree Eftsoones to court he cast t'auaunce his first degree And by the way he chaunced to espy One sitting idle on a sunny bancke To whom auaunting in great brauery As Peacocke that his painted plumes doth prancke He smote his courser in the trembling flancke And to him threatned his hart-thrilling speare The seely man seeing him ryde so rancke And ayme at him fell flat to ground for feare And crying Mercy lowd his pitious hands gan reare Thereat the Scarcrow wexed wondrous prowd Through fortune of his first aduenture faire And with big thundring voyce reuyld him lowd Vile Caytiue vassall of dread and despaire
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
wonne And of them both did foy and tribute raise The which was dew in his dead fathers dayes He also gaue to fugitiues of Spayne Whom he at sea found wandring from their wayes A seate in Ireland safely to remayne Which they should hold of him as subiect to Britayne After him raigned Guitheline his hayre The iustest man and trewest in his dayes Who had to wife Dame Mertia the fayre A woman worthy of immortall prayse Which for this Realme found many goodly layes And wholesome Statutes to her husbahd brought Her many deemd to haue beene of the Fayes As was Aegerie that Numa tought Those yet of her be Mertiā lawes both nam'd thought Her sonnes Sifillus after her did rayne And then Kimarus and then Danius Next whom Morindus did the crowne sustaine Who had he not with wrath outrageous And cruell rancour dim'd his valorous And mightie deeds should matched haue the best As well in that same field victorious Against the forreine Morands he exprest Yet liues his memorie though carcas sleepe in rest Fiue sonne he left begotten of one wife All which successiuely by turnes did raine First Gorboman a man of vertuous life Next Archigald who for his proud disdaine Deposed was from Princedome soueraine And pitteous Elidure put in his sted Who shortly it to him restord againe Till by his death he it recouered But Peridure and Vigent him disthronized In wretched prison long he did remaine Till they outraigned had their vtmost date And then therein reseized was againe And ruled long with honorable state Till he surrendred Realme and life to fate Then all the sonnes of these fiue brethren raynd By dew successe and all their Nephewes late Euen thrise eleuen descents the crowne retaynd Till aged Hely by dew heritage it gaynd He had two sonnes whose eldest called Lud Left of his life most famous memory And endlesse moniments of his great good The ruin'd wals he did reaedifye Of Troynouant gainst force of enimy And built that gate which of his name is hight By which he lyes entombed solemnly He left two sonnes too young to rule aright Androgeus and Tenantius pictures of his might Whilst they were young Cassibalane their Eme Was by the people chosen in their sted Who on him tooke the royall Diademe And goodly well long time it gouerned Till the prowd Romanes him disquieted And warlike Caesar tempted with the name Of this sweet Island neuer conquered And enuying the Britons blazed fame O hideous hunger of dominion hither came Yet twise they were repulsed backe againe And twise renforst backe to their ships to fly The whiles with bloud they all the shore did staine And the gray Ocean into purple dy Ne had they footing found at last perdie Had not Androgeus false to natiue soyle And enuious or Vncles soueraintie Betrayd his contrey vnto forreine spoyle Nought else but treason from the first this lād did foyle So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloushed and many a sad assay In which him selfe was charged heauily Of hardy Nennius whom he yet did slay But lost his sword yet to be seene this day Thenceforth this land was tributarie made T'ambitious Rome and did their rule obay Till Arthur all that reckoning did defray Yet oft the Briton kings against them strongly swayd Next him Tenantius raignd then Kimbeline What time th' eternall Lord in fleshly slime Enwombed was from wretched Adams line To purge away the guilt of sinfull crime O ioyous memorie of happytime That heauenly grace so plenteously displayd O too high ditty for my simple rime Soone after this the Romanes him wrrayd For that their tribute he refusd to let be payd Good Claudius that next was Emperour An army brought and with him battell fought In which the king was by a Treachetour Disguised slaine ere any thereof thought Yet ceased not the bloudy fight for ought For Aruirage his brothers place supplide Both in armes and crowne and by that draught Did driue the Romanes to the weaker side That they to peace agreed So all was pacifide Was neuer king more highly magnifide Nor dred of Romanes then was Aruirage For which the Emperour to him allide His daughter Genuiss ' in marriage Yet shortly he renounst the vassalage Of Rome againe who hither hastly sent Vespasian that with great spoile and rage Forwasted all till Genuissa gent Perswaded him to ceasse and her Lord to relent He dyde and him succeeded Marius Who ioyd his dayes in great tranquillity Then Coyll and after him good Lucius That first receiued Christianitie The sacred pledge of Christes Euangely Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Ioseph of Arimathy Who brought with him the holy grayle they say And preacht the truth but since it greatly did decay This good king shortly without issew dide Whereof great trouble in the kingdome grew That did her selfe in sundry parts diuide And with her powre her owne selfe ouerthrew Whilest Romanes dayly did the weake subdew Which seeing stout Bunduca vp arose And taking armes the Britons to her drew With whom she marched streight against her foes And them vnwares besides the Seuerne did enclose There she with them a cruell battell tride Not with so good successe as she deseru'd By reason that the Captaines on her side Corrupted by Paulinus from her sweru'd Yet such as were through former flight perseru'd Gathering againe her Host she did renew And with fresh courage on the victour seru'd But being all defeated saue a few Rather then fly or be captiu'd her selfe she slew O famous moniment of womens prayse Matchable either to Semiramis Whom antique history so high doth raise Or to Hysiphil ' or to Thomiris Her Host two hundred thousand numbred is Who whiles good fortune fauoured her might Triumphed oft against her enimis And yet though ouercome in haplesse fight She triumphed on death in enemies despight Her reliques Fulgent hauing gathered Fought with Scuerus and him ouerthrew Yet in the chace was slaine of them that fled So made them victours whom he did subdew Then gan Carausius tirannize anew And gainst the Romanes bent their proper powre But him Allectus treacherously slew And tooke on him the robe of Emperoure Nath'lesse the same enioyed but short happy howre For Asclepiodate him ouercame And left inglorious on the vanquisht playne Without or robe or rag to hide his shame Then afterwards he in his stead did rayne But shortly was by Coyll in battell slaine Who after long debate since Lucies time Was of the Britons first crownd Soueraine Then gan this Realme renewe her passed prime He of his name Coylchester built of stone and lime Which when the Romanes heard they hither sent Constantius a man of mickle might With whom king Coyll made an agreement And to him gaue for wife his daughter bright Faire Helena the fairest liuing wight Who in all godly thewes and goodly prayse Did far excell but was most famous hight For skill in Musicke of all in
of Temperaunce besiege her dwelling place Prince Arthur them repelles and fowle Maleger doth deface WHat warre so cruell or what siege so sore As that which strong affections do apply Against the fort of reason euermore To bring the soule into captiuitie Their force is fiercer through infirmitie Of the fraile flesh relenting to their rage And exercise most bitter tyranny Vpon the parts brought into their bondage No wretchednesse is like to sinfull vellenage But in a body which doth freely yeeld His partes to reasons rule obedient And letteth her that ought the scepter weeld All happy peace and goodly gouernment Is setled there in sure establishment There Alma like a virgin Queene most bright Doth florish in all beautie excellent And to her guestes doth bounteous banket dight Attempted goodly well for health and delight Early before the Morne with cremosin ray The windowes of bright heauen opened had Through which into the world the dawning day Might looke that maketh euery creature glad Vprose Sir Guyon in bright armour clad And to his purposd iourney him prepar'd With him the Palmer eke in habit sad Him selfe addrest to that aduenture hard So to the riuers side they both together far'd Where them awaited ready at the ford The Ferriman as Alma had behight With his well rigged boate They go abord And eftsoones gan launch his barke forthright Ere long they rowed were quite out of sight And fast the land behind them fled away But let them pas whiles wind and weather right Do serue their turnes here I a while must stay To see a cruell fight doen by the Prince this day For all so soone as Guyon thence was gon Vpon his voyage with his trustie guide That wicked band of villeins fresh begon That castle to assaile on euery side And lay strong siege about it far and wide So huge and infinite their numbers were That all the land they vnder them did hide So fowle and vgly that exceeding feare Their visages imprest when they approched neare Them in twelue troupes their Captain did dispart And round about in sittest steades did place Where each might best offend his proper part And his contrary obiect most deface As euery one seem'd meetest in that cace Seuen of the same against the Castle gate In strong entrenchments he did closely place Which with incessaunt force and endlesse hate They battred day and night and entraunce did awate The other fiue fiue sundry wayes he set Against the fiue great Bulwarkes of that pile And vnto each a Bulwarke did arret T' assayle with open force or hidden guile In hope thereof to win victorious spoile They all that charge did seruently apply With greedie malice and importune toyle And planted there their huge artillery With which they dayly made most dreadfull battery The first troupe was a monstrous rablement Of fowle misshapen wights of which some were Headed like Owles with beckes vncomely bent Others like Dogs others like Gryphons dreare And some had wings and some had clawes to teare And euery one of them had Lynces eyes And euery one did bow and arrowes beare All those were lawlesse lustes corrupt enuies And couetous aspectes all cruell enimies Those same against the bulwarke of the Sight Did lay strong siege and battailous assault Ne once did yield it respit day nor night But soone as Titan gan his head exault And soone againe as he his light with hault Their wicked engins they against it bent That is each thing by which the eyes may fault But two then all more huge and violent Beautie and money they that Bulwarke sorely rent The second Bulwarke was the Hearing sence Gainst which the second troupe dessignment makes Deformed creatures in straunge difference Some hauing heads like Harts some like to Snakes Some like wild Bores late rouzd out of the brakes Slaunderous reproches and fowle infamies Leasings backbytings and vaine-glorious crakes Bad counsels prayses and false flatteries All those a gainst that fort did bend their batteries Likewise that same third Fort that is the Smell Of that third troupe was cruelly assayd Whose hideous shapes were like to feends of hell Some like to hounds some like to Apes dismayd Some like to Puttockes all in plumes arayd All shap't according their conditions For by those vgly formes weren pourtrayd Foolish delights and fond abusions Which do that sence besiege with light illusions And that fourth band which cruell battry bent Against the fourth Bulwarke that is the Tast Was as the rest a grysie rablement Some mouth'd like greedy Oystriges some fast Like loathly Toades some fashioned in the wast Like swine for so deformd is luxury Surfeat misdiet and vnthriftie wast Vaine feasts and idle superfluity All those this sences Fort assayle incessantly But the fift troupe most horrible of hew And fierce or force was dreadfull to report For some like Snailes some did like spyders shew And some like vgly Vrchins thicke and short Cruelly they assayled that fift Fort Armed with darts of sensuall delight With stings of carnall lust and strong effort Of feeling pleasures with which day and night Against that same fift bulwarke they continued fight Thus these twelue troupes with dreadfull puissance Against that Castle restlesse siege did lay And euermore their hideous Ordinance Vpon the Bulwarkes cruelly did play That now it gan to threaten neare decay And euermore their wicked Capitaine Prouoked them the breaches to assay Somtimes with threats somtimes with hope of gaine Which by the ransack of that peece they should attaine On th' other side th'assieged Castles ward Their stedfast stonds did mightily maintaine And many bold repulse and many hard Atchieuement wrought with perill and with paine That goodly frame from ruine to sustaine And those two brethren Giants did defend The walles so stoutly with their sturdie maine That neuer entrance any durst pretend But they to direfull death their groning ghosts did send The noble virgin Ladie of the place Was much dismayed with that dreadfull sight For neuer was she in so euill cace Till that the Prince seeing her wofull plight Gan her recomfort from so sad affright Offring his seruice and his dearest life For her defence against that Carle to fight Which was their chiefe and th' author of that strife She him remercied as the Patrone of her life Eftsoones himselfe in glitterand armes he dight And his well proued weapons to him hent So taking courteous conge he behight Those gates to be vnbar'd and forth he went Faire mote he thee the prowest and most gent That euer brandished bright steele on hye Whom soone as that vnruly rablement With his gay Squire issuing did espy They reard a most outrageous dreadfull yelling cry And therewith all attonce at him let fly Their fluttring arrowes thicke as flakes of snow And round about him flocke impetuously Like a great water flood that tombling low From the high mountaines threats to ouerflow With suddein fury all the fertile plaine And the sad husbandmans
which stood vpon one end And had not bene remoued many a day Some land-marke seem'd to be or signe of sundry way The same he snatcht and with exceeding sway Threw at his foe who was right well aware To shunne the engin of his meant decay It booted not to thinke that throw to beare But ground he gaue and lightly leapt areare Eft fierce returning as a Faulcon faire That once hath failed of her souse full neare Remounts againe into the open aire And vnto better fortune doth her selfe prepaire So braue returning with his brandisht blade He to the Carle himselfe againe addrest And strooke at him so sternely that he made An open passage through his riuen brest That halfe the steele behind his back did rest Which drawing backe he looked euermore When the hart bloud should gush out of his chest Or his dead corse should fall vpon the flore But his dead corse vpon the flore fell nathemore Ne drop of bloud appeared shed to bee All were the wounde so wide and wonderous That through his carkasse one might plainely see Halfe in a maze with horror hideous And halfe in rage to be deluded thus Againe through both the sides he strooke him quight That made his spright to grone full piteous Yet nathemore forth fled his groning spright But freshly as at first prepard himselfe to fight Thereat he smitten was with great affright And trembling terror did his hart apall Ne wist he what to thinke of that same sight Ne what to say ne what to doe at all He doubted least it were some magicall Illusion that did beguile his sense Or wandring ghost that wanted funerall Or aerie spirit vnder false pretence Or hellish feend raysd vp through diuelish science His wonder farre exceeded reasons reach That he began to doubt his dazeled sight And oft of error did himselfe appeach Flesh without bloud a person without spright Wounds without hurt a bodie without might That could doe harme yet could not harmed bee That could not die yet seem'd a mortall wight That was most strong in most infirmitee Like did he neuer heare like did he neuer see A while he stood in this astonishment Yet would he not for all his great dismay Giue ouer to effect his first intent And th' vtmost meanes of victorie assay Or th' vtmost issew of his owne decay His owne good sword Mordure that neuer fayld At need till now he lightly threw away And his bright shield that nought him now auayld And with his naked hands him forcibly assayld Twixt his two mightie armes him vp he snatcht And crusht his carkasse so against his brest That the disdainfull soule he thence dispatcht And th' idle breath all vtterly exprest Tho when he felt him dead adowne he kest The lumpish corse vnto the senselesse grownd Adowne he kest it with so puissant wrest That backe againe it did aloft rebownd And gaue against his mother earth a gronefull sownd As when Ioues harnesse-bearing Bird from hie Stoupes at a flying heron with proud disdaine The stone-dead quarrey fals so forciblie That it rebounds against the lowly plaine A second fall redoubling backe againe Then thought the Prince all perill sure was past And that he victor onely did remaine No sooner thought then that the Carle as fast Gan heap huge strokes on him as ere he downe was cast Nigh his wits end then woxe th' amazed knight And thought his labour lost and trauell vaine Against this lifelesse shadow so to fight Yet life he saw and felt his mightie maine That whiles he marueild still did still him paine For thy he gan some other wayes aduize How to take life from that dead-liuing swaine Whom still he marked freshly to arize From th' earth from her wombe new spirits to reprize He then remembred well that had bene sayd How th' Earth his mother was and first him bore She eke so often as his life decayd Did life with vsury to him restore And raysd him vp much stronger then before So soone as he vnto her wombe did fall Therefore to ground he would him cast no more Ne him commit to graue terrestriall But beare him farre from hope of succour vsuall Tho vp he caught him twixt his puissant hands And hauing scruzd out of his carrion corse The lothfull life now loosd from sinfull bands Vpon his shoulders carried him perforse Aboue three furlongs taking his full course Vntill he came vnto a standing lake Him thereinto he threw without remorse Ne stird till hope of life did him forsake So end of that Carles dayes and his owne paines did make Which when those wicked Hags from farre did spy Like two mad dogs they ran about the lands And th' one of them with dreadfull yelling cry Throwing away her broken chaines and bands And hauing quencht her burning fier brands Hedlong her selfe did cast into that lake But Impotence with her owne wilfull hands One of Malegers cursed darts did take So riu'd her trembling hart and wicked end did make Thus now alone he conquerour remaines Tho comming to his Squire that kept his steed Thought to haue mounted but his feeble vaines Him faild thereto and serued not his need Through losse of bloud which from his wounds did bleed That he began to faint and life decay But his good Squire him helping vp with speed With stedfast hand vpon his horse did stay And led him to the Castle by the beaten way Where many Groomes and Squiers readie were To take him from his steed full tenderly And eke the fairest Alma met him there With balme and wine and costly spicery To comfort him in his infirmity Eftsoones she causd him vp to be conuayd And of his armes despoyled easily In sumptuous bed she made him to be layd And all the while his wounds were dressing by him stayd Cant. XII Guyon by Palmers gouernance passing through perils great Doth ouerthrow the Bowre of blisse and Acrasie defeat NOw gins this goodly frame of Temperance Fairely to rise and her adorned hed To pricke of highest praise forth to aduance Formerly grounded and fast setteled On firme foundation of true bountihed And this braue knight that for this vertue fights Now comes to point of that same perilous sted Where Pleasure dwelles in sensuall delights Mōgst thousand dangers ten thousand magick mights Two dayes now in that sea he sayled has Ne euer land beheld ne liuing wight Ne ought saue perill still as he did pas Tho when appeared the third Morrow bright Vpon the waues to spred her trembling light An hideous roaring farre away they heard That all their senses filled with affright And streight they saw the raging surges reard Vp to the skyes that them of drowning made affeard Said then the Boteman Palmer stere aright And keepe an euen course for yonder way We needes must passe God do vs well acquight That is the Gulfe of Greedinesse they say That deepe engorgeth all this worldes pray Which hauing swallowd vp excessiuely He
table for eternall moniment Of thy great grace and my great ieopardee Great Neptune I auow to hallow vnto thee Then sighing softly sore and inly deepe She shut vp all her plaint in priuy griefe For her great courage would not let her weepe Till that old Glauce gan with sharpe repriefe Her to restraine and giue her good reliefe Through hope of those which Merlin had her told Should of her name and nation be chiefe And fetch their being from the sacred mould Of her immortall wombe to be in heauen enrold Thus as she her recomforted she spyde Where farre away one all in armour bright With hastie gallop towards her did ryde Her dolour soone she ceast and on her dight Her Helmet to her Courser mounting light Her former sorrow into suddein wrath Both coosen passions of distroubled spright Conuerting forth she beates the dustie path Loue and despight attonce her courage kindled hath As when a foggy mist hath ouercast The face of heauen and the cleare aire engrost The world in darkenesse dwels till that at last The watry Southwinde from the seabord cost Vpblowing doth disperse the vapour lo'st And poures it selfe forth in a stormy showre So the faire Britomart hauing disclo'st Her clowdy care into a wrathfull stowre The mist of griefe dissolu'd into vengeance powre Eftsoones her goodly shield addressing faire That mortall speare she in her hand did take And vnto battell did her selfe prepaire The knight approching sternely her bespake Sir knight that doest thy voyage rashly make By this forbidden way in my despight Ne doest by others death ensample take I read thee soone retyre whiles thou hast might Least afterwards it be too late to take thy flight Ythrild with deepe disdaine of his proud threat She shortly thus Fly they that need to fly Words fearen babes I meane not thee entreat To passe but maugre thee will passe or dy Ne lenger stayd for th' other to reply But with sharpe speares the rest made dearly knowne Srongly the straunge knight ran and sturdily Strooke her full on the brest that made her downe Decline her head touch her crouper with her crowne But she againe him in the shield did smite With so fierce furie and great puissaunce That through his threesquare scuchin percing quite And through his mayled hauberque by mischaunce The wicked steele through his left side did glaunce Him so transfixed she before her bore Beyond his croupe the length of all her launce Till sadly soucing on the sandie shore He tombled on an heape and wallowd in his gore Like as the sacred Oxe that carelesse stands With gilden hornes and flowry girlonds crownd Proud of his dying honor and deare bands Whiles th' altars fume with frankincense arownd All suddenly with mortall stroke astownd Doth groueling fall and with his streaming gore Distaines the pillours and the holy grownd And the faire flowres that decked him afore So fell proud Marinell vpon the pretious shore The martiall Mayd stayd not him to lament But forward rode and kept her readie way Along the strond which as she ouer-went She saw bestrowed all with rich aray Of pearles and pretious stones of great assay And all the grauell mixt with golden owre Whereat she wondred much but would not stay For gold or perles or pretious stones an howre But them despised all for all was in her powre Whiles thus he lay in deadly stonishment Tydings hereof came to his mothers eare His mother was the blacke-browd Cymoent The daughter of great Nereus which did beare This warlike sonne vnto an earthly peare The famous Dumarin who on a day Finding the Nymph a sleepe in secret wheare As he by chaunce did wander that same way Was taken with her loue and by her closely lay There he this knight of her begot whom borne She of his father Marinell did name And in a rocky caue as wight forlorne Long time she fostred vp till he became A mightie man at armes and mickle fame Did get through great aduentures by him donne For neuer man he suffred by that same Rich strond to trauell whereas he did wonne But that he must do battell with the Sea-nymphes sonne An hundred knights of honorable name He had subdew'd and them his vassals made That through all Farie lond his noble fame Now blazed was and feare did all inuade That none durst passen through that perilous glade And to aduance his name and glorie more Her Sea-god syre she dearely did perswade T'endow her sonne with threasure and rich store Boue all the sonnes that were of earthly wombes ybore The God did graunt his daughters deare demaund To doen his Nephew in all riches flow Eftsoones his heaped waues he did commaund Out of their hollow bosome forth to throw All the huge threasure which the sea below Had in his greedie gulfe deuoured deepe And him enriched through the ouerthrow And wreckes of many wretches which did weepe And often waile their wealth which he from them did keepe Shortly vpon that shore there heaped was Exceeding riches and all pretious things The spoyle of all the world that it did pas The wealth of th' East and pompe of Persian kings Gold amber yuorie perles owches rings And all that else was pretious and deare The sea vnto him voluntary brings That shortly he a great Lord did appeare As was in all the lond of Faery or elsewheare Thereto he was a doughtie dreaded knight Tryde often to the scath of many deare That none in equall armes him matchen might The which his mother seeing gan to feare Least his too haughtie hardines might reare Some hard mishap in hazard of his life For thy she oft him counseld to forbeare The bloudie battell and to stirre vp strife But after all his warre to rest his wearie knife And for his more assurance she inquir'd One day of Proteus by his mightie spell For Proteus was with prophecie inspir'd Her deare sonnes destinie to her to tell And the sad end of her sweet Marinell Who through foresight of his eternall skill Bad her from womankind to keepe him well For of a woman he should haue much ill A virgin strange and stout him should dismay or kill For thy she gaue him warning euery day The loue of women not to entertaine A lesson too too hard for liuing clay From loue in course of nature to refraine Yet he his mothers lore did well retaine And euer from faire Ladies loue did fly Yet many Ladies faire did oft complaine That they for loue of him would algates dy Dy who so list for him he was loues enimy But ah who can deceiue his destiny Or weene by warning to auoyd his fate That when he sleepes in most security And safest seemes him soonest doth amate And findeth dew effect or soone or late So feeble is the powre of fleshly arme His mother bad him womens loue to hate For she of womans force did feare no harme So weening to haue arm'd him she did quite disarme This
gent Whom late in chace of beautie excellent She left pursewing that same foster strong Of whose foule outrage they impatient And full of fiery zeale him followed long To reskew her from shame and to reuenge her wrong Through thick and thin through mountaines through plains Those two great chāpions did attonce pursew The fearefull damzell with incessant paines Who from them fled as light-foot hare from vew Of hunter swift and sent of houndes trew At last they came vnto a double way Where doubtfull which to take her to reskew Themselues they did dispart each to assay Whether more happie were to win so goodly pray But Timias the Princes gentle Squire That Ladies loue vnto his Lord forlent And with proud enuy and indignant ire After that wicked foster fiercely went So beene they three three sundry wayes ybent But fairest fortune to the Prince befell Whose chaunce it was that soone he did repent To take that way in which that Damozell Was fled afore affraid of him as feend of hell At last of her farre off he gained vew Then gan he freshly pricke his fomy steed And euer as he nigher to her drew So euermore he did increase his speed And of each turning still kept warie heed Aloud to her he oftentimes did call To doe away vaine doubt and needlesse dreed Full myld to her he spake and oft let fall Many meeke wordes to stay and comfort her withall But nothing might relent her hastie flight So deepe the deadly feare of that foule swaine Was earst impressed in her gentle spright Like as a fearefull Doue which through the raine Of the wide aire her way does cut amaine Hauing farre off espyde a Tassell gent Which after her his nimble wings doth straine Doubleth her haste for feare to be for-hent And with her pineons cleaues the liquid firmament With no lesse haste and eke with no lesse dreed That fearefull Ladie fled from him that ment To her no euill thought nor euill deed Yet former feare of being fowly shent Carried her forward with her first intent And though oft looking backward well she vewd Her selfe freed from that foster insolent And that it was a knight which now her sewd Yet she no lesse the knight feard then that villein rude His vncouth shield and straunge armes her dismayd Whose like in Faery lond were seldome seene That fast she from him fled no lesse affrayd Then of wilde beastes if she had chased beene Yet he her followd still with courage keene So long that now the golden Hesperus Was mounted high in top of heauen sheene And warnd his other brethren ioyeous To light their blessed lamps in Ioues eternall hous All suddenly dim woxe the dampish ayre And griesly shadowes couered heauen bright That now with thousand starres was decked fayre Which when the Prince beheld a lothfull sight And that perforce for want of lenger light He mote surcease his suit and lose the hope Of his long labour he gan fowly wyte His wicked fortune that had turnd aslope And cursed night that reft from him so goodly scope Tho when her wayes he could no more descry But to and fro at disauenture strayd Like as a ship whose Lodestarre suddenly Couered with cloudes her Pilot hath dismayd His wearisome pursuit perforce he stayd And from his loftie steed dismounting low Did let him forage Downe himselfe he layd Vpon the grassie ground to sleepe a throw The cold earth was his couch the hard steele his pillow But gentle Sleepe enuyde him any rest In stead thereof sad sorrow and disdaine Of his hard hap did vexe his noble brest And thousand fancies bet his idle braine With their light wings the sights of semblants vaine Oft did he wish that Lady faire mote bee His Faery Queene for whom he did complaine Or that his Faery Queene were such as shee And euer hastie Night he blamed bitterlie Night thou foule Mother of annoyance sad Sister of heauie death and nourse of woe Which wast begot in heauen but for thy bad And brutish shape thrust downe to hell below Where by the grim floud of Cocytus slow Thy dwelling is in Herebus blacke hous Blacke Herebus thy husband is the foe Of all the Gods where thou vngratious Halfe of thy dayes doest lead in horrour hideous What had th' eternall Maker need of thee The world in his continuall course to keepe That doest all things deface ne lettest see The beautie of his worke Indeed in sleepe The slouthfull bodie that doth loue to steepe His lustlesse limbes and drowne his baser mind Doth praise thee oft and oft from Stygian deepe Calles thee his goddesse in his error blind And great Dame Natures handmaide chearing euery kind But well I wote that to an heauy hart Thou art the root and nurse of bitter cares Breeder of new renewer of old smarts In stead of rest thou lendest rayling teares In stead of sleepe thou sendest troublous feares And dreadfull visions in the which aliue The drearie image of sad death appeares So from the wearie spirit thou doest driue Desired rest and men of happinesse depriue Vnder thy mantle blacke there hidden lye Light-shonning theft and traiterous intent Abhorred bloudshed and vile felony Shamefull deceipt and daunger imminent Foule horror and eke hellish dreriment All these I wote in thy protection bee And light doe shonne for feare of being shent For lightylike is loth'd of them and thee And all that lewdnesse loue doe hate the light to see For day discouers all dishonest wayes And sheweth each thing as it is indeed The prayses of high God he faire displayes And his large bountie rightly doth areed Dayes dearest children be the blessed seed Which darknesse shall subdew and heauen win Truth is his daughter he her first did breed Most sacred virgin without spot of sin Our life is day but death with darknesse doth begin O when will day then turne to me againe And bring with him his long expected light O Titan haste to reare thy ioyous waine Speed thee to spred abroad thy beames bright And chase away this too long lingring night Chase her away from whence she came to hell She she it is that hath me done despight There let her with the damned spirits dwell And yeeld her roome to day that can it gouerne well Thus did the Prince that wearie night outweare In restlesse anguish and vnquiet paine And earely ere the morrow did vpreare His deawy head out of the Ocean maine He vp arose as halfe in great disdaine And clombe vnto his steed So forth he went With heauie looke and lumpish pace that plaine In him bewraid great grudge and maltalent His steed eke seem'd t' apply his steps to his intent Cant. V. Prince Arthur heares of Florimell three fosters Timias wound Belphebe finds him almost dead and reareth out of sownd WOnder it is to see in diuerse minds How diuersly loue doth his pageants play And shewes his powre in variable kinds The bafer wit whose idle thoughts
That horse and man to ground he quite did beare That neither could in hast themselues againe vpreare Which to auenge Sir Deuon him did dight But with no better fortune then the rest For him likewise he quickly downe did smight And after him Sir Douglas him addrest And after him Sir Faliumord forth prest But none of them against his strokes could stand But all the more the more his praise increst For either they were left vppon the land Or went away sore wounded of his haplesse hand And now by this Sir Satyrane abraid Out of the swowne in which too long he lay And looking round about like one dismaid When as he saw the mercilesse affray Which doughty Triamond had wrought that day Vnto the noble Knights of Maidenhead His mighty heart did almost rend in tway For very gall that rather wholly dead Himselfe he wisht haue beene then in so bad a stead Eftsoones he gan to gather vp around His weapons which lay scattered all abrode And as it fell his steed he ready found On whom remounting fiercely forth he rode Like sparke of fire that from the anduile glode There where he saw the valiant Triamond Chasing and laying on them heauy lode That none his force were able to withstond So dreadfull were his strokes so deadly was his hond With that at him his brauelike speare he aimed And thereto all his power and might applide The wicked steele for mischiefe first ordained And hauing now misfortune got for guide Staid not till it arriued in his side And therein made a very griesly wound That streames of bloud his armour all bedide Much was he daunted with that direfull stound That scarse he him vpheld from falling in a sound Yet as he might himselfe he soft withdrew Out of the field that none perceiu'd it plaine Then gan the part of Chalengers anew To range the field and victorlike to raine That none against them battell durst maintaine By that the gloomy euening on them fell That forced them from fighting to refraine And trumpets sound to cease did them compell So Satyrane that day was iudg'd to beare the bell The morrow next the Turney gan anew And with the first the hardy Satyrane Appear'd in place with all his noble crew On th' other side full many a warlike swaine Assembled were that glorious prize to gaine But mongst them all was not Sir Triamond Vnable he new battell to darraine Through grieuaunce of his late receiued wound That doubly did him grieue when so himselfe he found Which Cambell seeing though he could not salue Ne done vndoe yet for to salue his name And purchase honour in his friends behalue This goodly counterfesaunce he did frame The shield and armes well knowne to be the same Which Triamond had worne vnwares to wight And to his friend vnwist for doubt of blame If he misdid he on himselfe did dight That none could him discerne and so went forth to fight There Satyrane Lord of the field he found Triumphing in great ioy and iolity Gainst whom none able was to stand on ground That much he gan his glorie to enuy And cast t' auenge his friends indignity A mightie speare eftsoones at him he bent Who seeing him come on so furiously Met him mid-way with equall hardiment That forcibly to ground they both together went They vp againe them selues can lightly reare And to their tryed swords them selues betake With which they wrought such wondrous maruels there That all the rest it did amazed make Ne any dar'd their perill to partake Now cuffling close now chacing to and fro Now hurtling round aduantage for to take As two wild Boares together grapling go Chaufing and foming choler each against his fo So as they courst and turneyd here and theare It chaunst Sir Satyrane his steed at last Whether through foundring or through sodein feare To stumble that his rider nigh he cast Which vauntage Cambell did pursue so fast That ere him selfe he had recouered well So sore he sowst him on the compast creast That forced him to leaue his loftie sell And rudely tumbling downe vnder his horse feete fell Lightly Cambello leapt downe from his steed For to haue rent his shield and armes away That whylome wont to be the victors meed When all vnwares he felt an hideous sway Of many swords that lode on him did lay An hundred knights had him enclosed round To rescue Satyrane out of his pray All which at once huge strokes on him did pound In hope to take him prisoner where he stood on ground He with their multitude was nought dismayd But with stout courage turnd vpon them all And with his brondiron round about him layd Of which he dealt large almes as did befall Like as a Lion that by chaunce doth fall Into the hunters toile doth rage and rore In royall heart disdaining to be thrall But all in vaine for what might one do more They haue him taken captiue though it grieue him sore Whereof when newes to Triamond was brought There as he lay his wound he soone forgot And starting vp streight for his armour sought In vaine he sought for there he found it not Cambello it away before had got Cambelloes armes therefore he on him threw And lightly issewd forth to take his lot There he in troupe found all that warlike crew Leading his friend away full sorie to his vew Into the thickest of that knightly preasse He thrust and smote downe all that was betweene Caried with feruent zeale ne did he ceasse Till that he came where he had Cambell seene Like captiue thral two other Knights atweene There he amongst them cruell hauocke makes That they which lead him soone enforced beene To let him loose to saue their proper stakes Who being freed from one a weapon fiercely takes With that he driues at them with dreadfull might Both in remembrance of his friends late harme And in reuengement of his owne despight So both together giue a new allarme As if but now the battell wexed warme As when two greedy Wolues doe breake by force Into an heard farre from the husband farme They spoile and rauine without all remorse So did these two through all the field their foes enforce Fiercely they followd on their bolde emprize Till trumpets sound did warne them all to rest Then all with one consent did yeeld the prize To Triamond and Cambell as the best But Triamond to Cambell it relest And Cambell it to Triamond transferd Each labouring t' aduance the others gest And make his praise before his owne preferd So that the doome was to another day differd The last day came when all those knightes againe Assembled were their deedes of armes to shew Full many deedes that day were shewed plaine But Satyrane boue all the other crew His wondrous worth declared in all mens view For from the first he to the last endured And though some while Fortune from him withdrew Yet euermore his honour he recured And with
course contained And all the world in state vnmoued stands As their Almightie maker first ordained And bound them with inuiolable bands Else would the waters ouerflow the lands And fire deuoure the ayre and hell them quight But that she holds them with her blessed hands She is the nourse of pleasure and delight And vnto Venus grace the gate doth open right By her I entring halfe dismayed was But she in gentle wise me entertayned And twixt her selfe and loue did let me pas But Hatred would my entrance haue restrayned And with his club me threatned to haue brayned Had not the Ladie with her powrefull speach Him from his wicked will vneath refrayned And th' other eke his malice did empeach Till I was throughly past the perill of his reach Into the inmost Temple thus I came Which fuming all with frankensence I found And odours rising from the altars flame Vpon an hundred marble pillors round The roose vp high was reared from the ground All deckt with crownes chaynes and girlands gay And thousand pretious gifts worth many a pound The which sad louers for their vowes did pay And all the ground was strow'd with flowres as fresh as may An hundred Altars round about were set All flaming with their sacrifices fire That with the steme thereof die Temple swet Which rould in clouds to heauen did aspire And in them bore true louers vowes entire And eke an hundred brasen caudrons bright To bath in ioy and amorous desire Euery of which was to a damzell hight For all the Priests were damzels in soft linnen dight Right in the midst the Goddesse selfe did stand Vpon an altar of some costly masse Whose substance was vneath to vnderstand For neither pretious stone nor durefull brasse Nor shining gold nor mouldring clay it was But much more rare and pretious to esteeme Pure in aspect and like to christall glasse Yet glasse was not if one did rightly deeme But being faire and brickle likest glasse did seeme But it in shape and beautie did excell All other Idoles which the heathen adore Farre passing that which by surpassing skill Phidias did make in Paphos Isle of yore With which that wretched Greeke that life forlore Did fall in loue yet this much fairer shined But couered with a slender veile afore And both her feete and legs together twyned Were with a snake whose head tail were fast cōbyned The cause why she was couered with a vele Was hard to know for that her Priests the same From peoples knowledge labour'd to concele But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame Nor any blemish which the worke mote blame But for they say she hath both kinds in one Both male and female both vnder one name She syre and mother is her selfe alone Begets and eke conceiues ne needeth other none And all about her necke and shoulders flew A flocke of litle loues and sports and ioyes With nimble wings of gold and purple hew Whose shapes seem'd not like to terrestriall boyes But like to Angels playing heauenly toyes The whilest their eldest brother was away Cupid their eldest brother he enioyes The wide kingdome of loue with Lordly sway And to his law compels all creatures to obay And all about her altar scattered lay Great sorts of louers piteously complayning Some of their losse some of their loues delay Some of their pride some paragons disdayning Some fearing fraud some fraudulently fayning As euery one had cause of good or ill Amongst the rest some one through loues constrayning Tormented sore could not containe it still But thus brake forth that all the temple it did fill Great Venus Queene of beautie and of grace The ioy of Gods and men that vnder skie Doest fayrest shine and most adorne thy place That with thy smyling looke doest pacifie The raging seas and makst the stormes to flie Thee goddesse thee the winds the clouds doe feare And when thou spredst thy mantle forth on hie The waters play and pleasant lands appeare And heauens laugh al the world shews ioyous cheare Then doth the daedale earth throw forth to thee Out of her fruitfull lap aboundant flowres And then all liuing wights soone as they see The spring breake forth out of his lusty bowres They all doe learne to play the Paramours First doe the merry birds thy prety pages Priuily pricked with thy lustfull powres Chirpe loud to thee out of their leauy cages And thee their mother call to coole their kindly rages Then doe the saluage beasts begin to play Their pleasant friskes and loath their wanted food The Lyons rore the Tygres loudly bray The raging Buls rebellow through the wood And breaking forth dare tempt the deepest flood To come where thou doest draw them with desire So all things else that nourish vitall blood Soone as with fury thou doest them inspire In generation seeke to quench their inward fire So all the world by thee at first was made And dayly yet thou doest the same repayre Ne ought on earth that merry is and glad Ne ought on earth that louely is and fayre But thou the same for pleasure didst prepayre Thou art the root of all that ioyous is Great God of men and women queene of th' ayre Mother of laughter and welspring of blisse O graunt that of my loue at last I may not misse So did he say but I with murmure soft That none might heare the sorrow of my hart Yet inly groning deepe and sighing oft Besought her to graunt ease vnto my smart And to my wound her gratious help impart Whilest thus I spake behold with happy eye I spyde where at the Idoles feet apart A beuie of fayre damzels close did lye Wayting when as the Antheme should be sung on hye The first of them did seeme of ryper yeares And grauer countenance then all the rest Yet all the rest were eke her equall peares Yet vnto her obayed all the best Her name was VVomanhood that she exprest By her sad semblant and demeanure wyse For stedfast still her eyes did fixed rest Ne rov'd at randon after gazers guyse Whose luring baytes oftimes doe heedlesse harts entyse And next to her sate goodly Shamefastnesse Ne euer durst her eyes from ground vpreare Ne euer once did looke vp from her desse As if some blame of euill she did feare That in her cheekes made roses oft appeare And her against sweet Cherefulnesse was placed Whose eyes like twinkling stars in euening cleare Were deckt with smyles that all sad humors chaced And darted forth delights the which her goodly graced And next to her sate sober Modestie Holding her hand vpon her gentle hart And her against sate comely Curtesie That vnto euery person knew her part And her before was seated ouerthwart Soft Silence and submisse Obedience Both linckt together neuer to dispart Both gifts of God not gotten but from thence Both girlonds of his Saints against their foes offence Thus sate they all a round in seemely rate And in
for their rightfull deedes And place deserued with the Gods on hy Herein the noblesse of this knight exceedes Who now to perils great for iustice sake proceedes To which as he now was vppon the way He chaunst to meet a Dwarfe in hasty course Whom he requir'd his forward hast to stay Till he of tidings mote with him discourse Loth was the Dwarfe yet did he stay perforse And gan of sundry newes his store to tell And to his memory they had recourse But chiefely of the fairest Florimell How she was found againe and spousde to Marinell For this was Dony Florimels owne Dwarfe Whom hauing lost as ye haue heard whyleare And finding in the way the scattred scarfe The fortune of her life long time did feare But of her health when Artegall did heare And safe returne he was full inly glad And askt him where and when her bridale cheare Should be solemniz'd for if time he had He would be there and honor to her spousall ad Within three daies quoth she as I do here It will be at the Castle of the strond What time if naught me let I will be there To doe her seruice so as I am bond But in my way a little here beyond A cursed cruell Sarazin doth wonne That keepes a Bridges passage by strong hond And many errant Knights hath there fordonne That makes all men for feare that passage for to shonne What mister wight quoth he and how far hence Is he that doth to trauellers such harmes He is said he a man of great defence Expert in battell and in deedes of armes And more emboldned by the wicked charmes With which his daughter doth him still support Hauing great Lordships got and goodly farmes Through strong oppression of his powre extort By which he stil them holds keepes with strong effort And dayly he his wrongs encreaseth more For neuer wight he lets to passe that way Ouer his Bridge albee he rich or poore But he him makes his passage-penny pay Else he doth hold him backe or beat away Thereto he hath a groome of euill guize Whose scalp is bare that bondage doth bewray Which pols and pils the poore in piteous wize But he him selfe vppon the rich doth tyrannize His name is hight Pollente rightly so For that he is so puissant and strong That with his powre he all doth ouergo And makes them subiect to his mighty wrong And some by sleight he eke doth vnderfong For on a Bridge he custometh to fight Which is but narrow but exceeding long And in the same are many trap fals pight Through which the rider downe doth fall through ouersight And vnderneath the same a riuer flowes That is both swift and dangerous deepe withall Into the which whom so he ouerthrowes All destitute of helpe doth headlong fall But he him selfe through practise vsuall Leapes forth into the floud and there assaies His foe confused through his sodaine fall That horse and man he equally dismaies And either both them drownes or trayterously slaies Then doth he take the spoile of them at will And to his daughter brings that dwels thereby Who all that comes doth take and therewith fill The coffers of her wicked threasury Which she with wrongs hath heaped vp so hy That many Princes she in wealth exceedes And purchast all the countrey lying ny With the reuenue of her plenteous meedes Her name is Munera agreeing with her deedes Thereto she is full faire and rich attired With golden hands and siluer feete beside That many Lords haue her to wife desired But she them all despiseth for great pride Now by my life sayd he and God to guide None other way will I this day betake But by that Bridge whereas he doth abide Therefore me thither lead No more he spake But thitherward forthright his ready way did make Vnto the place he came within a while Where on the Bridge he ready armed saw The Sarazin awayting for some spoile Who as they to the passage gan to draw A villaine to them came with scull all raw That passage money did of them require According to the custome of their law To whom he aunswerd wroth loe there thy hire And with that word him strooke that streight he did expire Which when the Pagan saw he wexed wroth And streight him selfe vnto the fight addrest Ne was Sir Artegall behinde so both Together ran with ready speares in rest Right in the midst whereas they brest to brest Should meete a trap was letten downe to fall Into the floud streight leapt the Carle vnblest Well weening that his foe was falne withall But he was well aware and leapt before his fall There being both together in the floud They each at other tyrannousty flew Ne ought the water cooled their whot bloud But rather in them kindled choler new But there the Paynim who that vse well knew To fight in water great aduantage had That oftentimes him nigh he ouerthrew And eke the courser whereuppon he rad Could swim like to a fish whiles he his backe bestrad Which oddes when as Sir Artegall espide He saw no way but close with him in hast And to him driuing strongly downe the tide Vppon his iron coller griped fast That with the straint his wesand nigh he brast There they together stroue and struggled long Either the other from his steede to cast Ne euer Artegall his griple strong For any thing wold slacke but still vppon him hong As when a Dolphin and a Sele are met In the wide champian of the Ocean plaine With cruell chause their courages they whet The maysterdome of each by force to gaine And dreadfull battaile twixt them do darraine They snuf they snort they boūce they rage they rore That all the sea disturbed with their traine Doth frie with some aboue the surges hore Such was betwixt these two the troublesome vprore So Artegall at length him forst forsake His horses backe for dread of being drownd And to his handy swimming him betake Eftsoones him selfe he from his hold vnbownd And then no ods at all in him he fownd For Artegall in swimming skilfull was And durst the depth of any water sownd So ought each Knight that vse of perill has In swimming be expert through waters force to pas Then very doubtfull was the warres euent Vncertaine whether had the better side For both were skildin that experiment And both in armes well traind and throughly tride But Art egall was better breath'd beside And towards th' end grew greater in his might That his faint foe no longer could abide His puissance ne beare him selfe vpright But from the water to the land betooke his flight But Artegall pursewd him still so neare With bright Chrysaor in his cruell hand That as his head he gan a litle reare Aboue the brincke to tread vpon the land He smote it off that tumbling on the strand It bit the earth for very fell despight And gnashed with his teeth as if he band
they had seene and heard her doome a rights Against Duessa damned by them all But by her tempred without griefe or gall Till strong constraint did her thereto enforce And yet euen then ruing her wilfull fall With more then needfull naturall remorse And yeelding the last honour to her wretched corse During all which those knights continu'd there Both doing and receiuing curtesies Of that great Ladie who with goodly chere Them entertayn'd fit for their dignities Approuing dayly to their noble eyes Royall examples of her mercies rare And worthie paterns of her clemencies Which till this day mongst many liuing are Who them to their posterities doe still declare Amongst the rest which in that space befell There came two Springals of full tender yeares Farre thence from forrein land where they did dwell To seeke for succour of her and of her Peares With humble prayers and intreatfull teares Sent by their mother who a widow was Wrapt in great dolours and in deadly feares By a strong Tyrant who inuaded has Her land and slaine her children ruefully alas Her name was Belgae who in former age A Ladie of great worth and wealth had beene And mother of a frutefull heritage Euen seuenteene goodly sonnes which who had seene In their first flowre before this fatall teene Them ouertooke and their faire blossomes blasted More happie mother would her surely weene Then famous Niobe before she tasted Latonaes childrens wrath that all her issue wasted But this fell Tyrant through his tortious powre Had left her now but fiue of all that brood For twelue of them he did by times deuoure And to his Idols sacrifice their blood Whylest he of none was stopped nor withstood For soothly he was one of matchlesse might Of horrible aspect and dreadfull mood And had three bodies in one wast empight And th' armes and legs of three to succour him in fight And sooth they say that he was borne and bred Of Gyants race the sonne of Geryon He that whylome in Spaine so sore was dred For his huge powre and great oppression Which brought that land to his subiection Through his three bodies powre in one combynd And eke all strangers in that region Arryuing to his kyne for food assynd The fayrest kyne aliue but of the fiercest kynd For they were all they say of purple hew Kept by a cowheard hight Eurytion A cruell carle the which all strangers slew Ne day nor night did sleepe t' attend them on But walkt about them euer and anone With his two headed dogge that Orthrus hight Orthrus begotten by great Typhaon And foule Echidna in the house of night But Hercules them all did ouercome in fight His sonne was this Geryoneo hight Who after that his monstrous father fell Vnder Alcides club streight tooke his flight From that sad land where he his syre did quell And came to this where Belge then did dwell And flourish in all wealth and happinesse Being then new made widow as befell After her Noble husbands late decesse Which gaue beginning to her woe and wretchednesse Then this bold Tyrant of her widowhed Taking aduantage and her yet fresh woes Himselfe and seruice to her offered Her to defend against all forrein foes That should their powre against her right oppose Whereof she glad now needing strong defence Him entertayn'd and did her champion chose Which long he vsd with carefull diligence The better to confirme her fearelesse confidence By meanes whereof she did at last commit All to his hands and gaue him soueraine powre To doe what euer he thought good or fit Which hauing got he gan forth from that howre To stirre vp strife and many a Tragicke stowre Giuing her dearest children one by one Vnto a dreadfull Monster to deuoure And setting vp an Idole of his owne The image of his monstrous parent Geryone So tyrannizing and oppressing all The woefull widow had no meanes now left But vnto gratious great Mercilla call For ayde against that cruell Tyrants theft Ere all her children he from her had reft Therefore these two her eldest sonnes she sent To seeke for succour of this Ladies gieft To whom their sute they humbly did present In th' hearing of full many Knights and Ladies gent. Amongst the which then fortuned to bee The noble Briton Prince with his braue Peare Who when he none of all those knights did see Hastily bent that enterprise to heare Nor vndertake the same for cowheard feare He stepped forth with courage bold and great Admyr'd of all the rest in presence there And humbly gan that mightie Queene entreat To graunt him that aduenture for his former feat She gladly graunted it then he straight way Himselfe vnto his iourney gan prepare And all his armours readie dight that day That nought the morrow next mote stay his fare The morrow next appear'd with purple hayre Yet dropping fresh out of the Indian fount And bringing light into the heauens fayre When he was readie to his steede to mount Vnto his way which now was all his care and count Then taking humble leaue of that great Queene Who gaue him roiall giftes and riches rare As tokens of her thankefull mind beseene And leauing Artegall to his owne care Vpon his voyage forth he gan to fare With those two gentle youthes which him did guide And all his way before him still prepare Ne after him did Artigall abide But on his first aduenture forward forth did ride It was not long till that the Prince arriued Within the land where dwelt that Ladie sad Whereof that Tyrant had her now depriued And into moores and marshes banisht had Out of the pleasant soyle and citties glad In which she wont to harbour happily But now his cruelty so sore she drad That to those fennes for fastnesse she did fly And there her selfe did hyde from his hard tyranny There he her found in sorrow and dismay All solitarie without liuing wight For all her other children through affray Had hid themselues or taken further flight And eke her selfe through sudden strange affright When one in armes she saw began to fly But when her owne two sonnes she had in sight She gan take hart and looke vp ioyfully For well she wist this knight came succour to supply And running vnto them with greedy ioyes Fell straight about their neckes as they did kneele And bursting forth in teares Ah my sweet boyes Sayd she yet now I gin new life to feele And feeble spirits that gan faint and reele Now rise againe at this your ioyous sight Alreadie seemes that fortunes headlong wheele Begins to turne and sunne to shine more bright Then it was wont through comfort of this noble knight Then turning vnto him And you Sir knight Said she that taken haue this toylesome paine For wretched woman miserable wight May you in heauen immortall guerdon gaine For so great trauell as you doe sustaine For other meede may hope for none of mee To whom nought else but bare life
Lady where he her had lore And her gan cheare with what she there had vewed And what she had not seene within vnto her shewed Who with right humble thankes him goodly greeting For so great prowesse as he there had proued Much greater then was euer in her weeting With great admiraunce inwardly was moued And honourd him with all that her behoued Thenceforth into that Castle he her led With her two sonnes right deare of her beloued Where all that night them selues they cherished And from her balefull minde all care he banished Cant. XI Prince Arthure ouercomes the great Gerioneo in fight Doth slay the Monster and restore Belge vnto her right IT often fals in course of common life That right long time is ouerborne of wrong Through auarice or powre or guile or strife That weakens her and makes her party strong But Iustice though her dome she doe prolong Yet at the last she will her owne cause right As by sad Belge seemes whose wrongs though long She suffred yet at length she did requight And sent redresse thereof by this braue Briton Knight Whereof when newes was to that Tyrant brought How that the Lady Belge now had found A Champion that had with his Champion fought And laid his Seneschall low on the ground And eke him selfe did threaten to confound He gan to burne in rage and friese in feare Doubting sad end of principle vnsound Yet sith he heard but one that did appeare He did him selfe encourage and take better cheare Nathelesse him selfe he armed all in hast And forth he far'd with all his many bad Ne stayed step till that he came at last Vnto the Castle which they conquerd had There with huge terrour to be more ydrad He sternely marcht before the Castle gate And with bold vaunts and ydle threatning bad Deliuer him his owne ere yet too late To which they had no right nor any wrongfull state The Prince staid not his aunswere to deuize But opening streight the Sparre forth to him came Full nobly mounted in right warlike wize And asked him if that he were the same Who all that wrong vnto that wofull Dame So long had done and from her natiue land Exiled her that all the world spake shame He boldly aunswerd him he there did stand That would his doings iustifie with his owne hand With that so furiously at him he flew As if he would haue ouerrun him streight And with his huge great yron axe gan hew So hideously vppon his armour bright As he to peeces would haue chopt it quight That the bold Prince was forced foote to giue To his first rage and yeeld to his despight The whilest at him so dreadfully he driue That seem'd a marble rocke asunder could haue riue Thereto a great aduauntage eke he has Through his three double hands thrise multiplyde Besides the double strength which in them was For stil when fit occasion did betyde He could his weapon shift from side to syde From hand to hand and with such nimblesse sly Could wield about that ere it were espide The wicked stroke did wound his enemy Behinde beside before as he it list apply Which vncouth vse when as the Prince perceiued He gan to watch the wielding of his hand Least by such slight he were vnwares deceiued And euer ere he saw the stroke to land He would it meete and warily withstand One time when he his weapon faynd to shift As he was wont and chang'd from hand to hand He met him with a counterstroke so swift That quite smit off his arme as he it vp did lift Therewith all fraught with fury and disdaine He brayd aloud for very fell despight And sodainely t' auenge him selfe againe Gan into one assemble all the might Of all his hands and heaued them on hight Thinking to pay him with that one for all But the sad steele seizd not where it was hight Vppon the childe but somewhat short did fall And lighting on his horses head him quite did mall Downe streight to ground fell his astonisht steed And eke to th' earth his burden with him bare But he him selfe full lightly from him freed And gan him selfe to fight on foote prepare Whereof when as the Gyant was aware He wox right blyth as he had got thereby And laught so loud that all his teeth wide bare One might haue seene enraung'd disorderly Like to a rancke of piles that pitched are awry Eftsoones againe his axe he raught on hie Ere he were throughly buckled to his geare And can let driue at him so dreadfullie That had he chaunced not his shield to reare Ere that huge stroke arriued on him neare He had him surely clouen quite in twaine But th'Adamantine shield which he did beare So well was tempred that for all his maine It would no passage yeeld vnto his purpose vaine Yet was the stroke so forcibly applide That made him stagger with vncertaine sway As if he would haue tottered to one side Wherewith full wroth he fiercely gan assay That curt'sie with like kindnesse to repay And smote at him with so importune might That two more of his armes did fall away Like fruitlesse braunches which the hatchets slight Hath pruned from the natiue tree and cropped quight With that all mad and furious he grew Like a fell mastiffe through enraging heat And curst and band and blasphemies forth threw Against his Gods and fire to them did threat And hell vnto him selfe with horrour great Thenceforth he car'd no more which way he strooke Nor where it light but gan to chaufe and sweat And gnasht his teeth and his head at him shooke And sternely him beheld with grim and ghastly looke Nought fear'd the childe his lookes ne yet his threats But onely wexed now the more aware To saue him selfe from those his furious heats And watch aduauntage how to worke his care The which good Fortune to him offred faire For as he in his rage him ouerstrooke He ere he could his weapon backe repaire His side all bare and naked ouertooke And with his mortal steel quite throgh the body strooke Through all three bodies he him strooke attonce That all the three attonce fell on the plaine Else should he thrise haue needed for the nonce Them to haue stricken and thrise to haue slaine So now all three one sencelesse lumpe remaine Enwallow'd in his owne blacke bloudy gore And byting th' earth for very deaths disdaine Who with a cloud of night him couering bore Downe to the house of dole his daies there to deplore Which when the Lady from the Castle saw Where she with her two sonnes did looking stand She towards him in hast her selfe did draw To greet him the good fortune of his hand And all the people both of towne and land Which there stood gazing from the Citties wall Vppon these warriours greedy t' vnderstand To whether should the victory befall Now when they saw it falne they eke him greeted all But Belge with
so strong No loue so lasting then that may endure long Witnesse may Burbon be whom all the bands Which may a Knight assure had surely bound Vntill the loue of Lordship and of lands Made him become most faithlesse and vnsound And witnesse be Gerioneo found Who for like cause faire Belge did oppresse And right and wrong most cruelly confound And so be now Grantorto who no lesse Then all the rest burst out to all outragiousnesse Gainst whom Sir Artegall long hauing since Taken in hand th'exploit being theretoo Appointed by that mightie Faerie Prince Great Gloriane that Tyrant to fordoo Through other great aduentures hethertoo Had it forslackt But now time drawing ny To him assynd her high beheast to doo To the sea shore he gan his way apply To weete if shipping readie he mote there descry Tho when they came to the sea coast they found A ship all readie as good fortune fell To put to sea with whom they did compound To passe them ouer where them list to tell The winde and weather serued them so well That in one day they with the coast did fall Whereas they readie found them to repell Great hostes of men in order martiall Which them forbad to land and footing did forstall But nathemore would they from land refraine But when as nigh vnto the shore they drew That foot of man might sound the bottome plaine Talus into the sea did forth issew Though darts from shore stones they at him threw And wading through the waues with stedfast sway Maugre the might of all those troupes in vew Did win the shore whence he them chast away And made to fly like doues whom the Eagle doth affray The whyles Sir Artegall with that old knight Did forth descend there being none them neare And forward marched to a towne in sight By this came tydings to the Tyrants eare By those which earst did fly away for feare Of their arriuall wherewith troubled sore He all his forces streight to him did reare And forth issuing with his scouts afore Meant them to haue incountred ere they left the shore But ere he marched farre he with them met And fiercely charged them with all his force But Talus sternely did vpon them set And brusht and battred them without remorse That on the ground he left full many a corse Ne any able was him to withstand But he them ouerthrew both man and horse That they lay scattred ouer all the land As thicke as doth the seede after the sowers hand Till Artegall him seeing so to rage Willd him to stay and signe of truce did make To which all harkning did a while asswage Their forces furie and their terror slake Till he an Herauld cald and to him spake Willing him wend vnto the Tyrant streight And tell him that not for such slaughters sake He thether came but for to trie the right Of fayre Irenaes cause with him in single fight And willed him for to reclayme with speed His scattred people ere they all were slaine And time and place conuenient to areed In which they two the combat might darraine Which message when Grantorto heard full fayne And glad he was the slaughter so to stay And pointed for the combat twixt them twayne The morrow next ne gaue him longer day So sounded the retraite and drew his folke away That night Sir Artegall did cause his tent There to be pitched on the open plaine For he had giuen streight commaundement That none should dare him once to entertaine Which none durst breake though many would right faine For fayre Irena whom they loued deare But yet old Sergis did so well him paine That from close friends that dar'd not to appeare He all things did puruay which for them needfull weare The morrow next that was the dismall day Appointed for Irenas death before So soone as it did to the world display His chearefull face and light to men restore The heauy Mayd to whom none tydings bore Of Artegals arryuall her to free Lookt vp with eyes full sad and hart full sore Weening her lifes last howre then neare to bee Sith no redemption nigh she did nor heare nor see Then vp she rose and on her selfe did dight Most squalid garments fit for such a day And with dull countenance and with doleful spright She forth was brought in sorrowfull dismay For to receiue the doome of her decay But comming to the place and finding there Sir Artegall in battailous array Wayting his foe it did her dead hart cheare And new life to her lent in midst of deadly feare Like as a tender Rose in open plaine That with vntimely drought nigh withered was And hung the head soone as few drops of raine Thereon distill and deaw her daintie face Gins to looke vp and with fresh wonted grace Dispreds the glorie of her leaues gay Such was Irenas countenance such her case When Artegall she saw in that array There wayting for the Tyrant till it was farre day Who came at length with proud presumpteous gate Into the field as if he fearelesse were All armed in a cote of yron plate Of great defence to ward the deadly feare And on his head a steele cap he did weare Of colour rustie browne but sure and strong And in his hand an huge Polaxe did beare Whose steale was yron studded but not long With which he wont to fight to iustifie his wrong Of stature huge and hideous he was Like to a Giant for his monstrous hight And did in strength most sorts of men surpas Ne euer any found his match in might Thereto he had great skill in single fight His face was vgly and his countenance sterne That could haue frayd one with the very sight And gaped like a gulfe when he did gerne That whether man or monster one could scarse discerne Soone as he did within the listes appeare With dreadfull looke he Artegall beheld As if he would haue daunted him with feare And grinning griesly did against him weld His deadly weapon which in hand he held But th'Elfin swayne that oft had seene like fight Was with his ghastly count'nance nothing queld But gan him streight to buckle to the fight And cast his shield about to be in readie plight The trompets sound and they together goe With dreadfull terror and with fell intent And their huge strokes full daungerously bestow To doe most dammage where as most they ment But with such force and furie violent The tyrant thundred his thicke blowes so fast That through the yron walles their way they rent And euen to the vitall parts they past Ne ought could them endure but all they cleft or brast Which cruell outrage when as Artegall Did well auize thenceforth with warie heed He shund his strokes where euer they did fall And way did giue vnto their gracelesse speed As when a skilfull Marriner doth reed A storme approching that doth perill threat He will not bide the daunger of such dread But strikes
wynd And by good fortune the plaine champion wonne Where looking all about where he mote fynd Some place of succour to content his mynd At length he heard vnder the forrests syde A voice that seemed of some woman kynd Which to her selfe lamenting loudly cryde And oft complayn'd of fate and fortune oft defyde To whom approching when as she perceiued A stranger wight in place her plaint she stayd As if she doubted to haue bene deceiued Or loth to let her sorrowes be bewrayd Whom when as Calepine saw so dismayd He to her drew and with faire blandishment Her chearing vp thus gently to her sayd What be you wofull Dame which thus lament And for what cause declare so mote ye not repent To whom she thus what need me Sir to tell That which your selfe haue earst ared so right A wofull dame ye haue me termed well So much more wofull as my wofull plight Cannot redressed be by liuing wight Nathlesse quoth he if need doe not you bynd Doe it disclose to ease your grieued spright Oftimes it haps that sorrowes of the mynd Find remedie vnsought which seeking cannot fynd Then thus began the lamentable Dame Sith then ye needs will know the griefe I hoord I am th' vnfortunate Matilde by name The wife of bold Sir Bruin who is Lord Of all this land late conquer'd by his sword From a great Gyant called Cormoraunt Whom he did ouerthrow by yonder foord And in three battailes did so deadly daunt That he dare not returne for all his daily vaunt So is my Lord now seiz'd of all the land As in his fee with peaceable estate And quietly doth hold it in his hand Ne any dares with him for it debate But to these happie fortunes cruell fate Hath ioyn'd one euill which doth ouerthow All these our ioyes and all our blisse abate And like in time to further ill to grow And all this land with endlesse losse to ouerflow For th' heauens enuying our prosperitie Haue not vouchsaft to graunt vnto vs twaine The gladfull blessing of posteritie Which we might see after our selues remaine In th'heritage of our vnhappie paine So that for want of heires it to defend All is in time like to returne againe To that foule feend who dayly doth attend To leape into the same after our liues end But most my Lord is grieued herewithall And makes exceeding mone when he does thinke That all this land vnto his foe shall fall For which he long in vaine did sweat and swinke That now the same he greatly doth forthinke Yet was it sayd there should to him a sonne Be gotten not begotten which should drinke And dry vp all the water which doth ronne In the next brooke by whō that feend shold be fordonne Well hop't he then when this was propheside That from his sides some noble chyld should rize The which through fame should farre be magnifide And this proud gyant should with braue emprize Quite ouerthrow who now ginnes to despize The good Sir Bruin growing farre in yeares Who thinkes from me his sorrow all doth rize Lo this my cause of griefe to you appeares For which I thus doe mourne and poure forth ceaselesse teares Which when he heard he inly touched was With tender ruth for her vnworthy griefe And when he had deuized of her case He gan in mind conceiue a fit reliefe For all her paine if please her make the priefe And hauing cheared her thus said faire Dame In euils counsell is the comfort chiefe Which though I be not wise enough to frame Yet as I well it meane vouchsafe it without blame If that the cause of this your languishment Be lacke of children to supply your place Low how good fortune doth to you present This litle babe of sweete and louely face And spotlesse spirit in which ye may enchace What euer formes ye list thereto apply Being now soft and fit them to embrace Whether ye list him traine in cheualry Or noursle vp in lore of learn'd Philosophy And certes it hath oftentimes bene seene That of the like whose linage was vnknowne More braue and noble knights haue raysed beene As their victorious deedes haue often showen Being with fame through many Nations blowen Then those which haue bene dandled in the lap Therefore some thought that those braue imps were sowen Here by the Gods and fed with heauenly sap That made them grow so high t' all honorable hap The Ladie hearkning to his sensefull speach Found nothing that he said vnmeet nor geason Hauing oft seene it tryde as he did teach Therefore inclyning to his goodly reason Agreeing well both with the place and season She gladly did of that same babe accept As of her owne by liuerey and seisin And hauing ouer it a litle wept She bore it thence and euer as her owne it kept Right glad was Calepine to be so rid Of his young charge whereof he skilled nought Ne she lesse glad for she so wisely did And with her husband vnder hand so wrought That when that infant vnto him she brought She made him thinke it surely was his owne And it in goodly thewes so well vpbrought That it became a famous knight well knowne And did right noble deedes the which elswhere are showne But Calepine now being left alone Vnder the greenewoods side in sorie plight Withouten armes or steede to ride vpon Or house to hide his head from heauens spight Albe that Dame by all the meanes she might Him oft desired home with her to wend And offred him his courtesie to requite Both horse and armes and what so else to lend Yet he them all refusd though thankt her as a frend And for exceeding griefe which inly grew That he his loue so lucklesse now had lost On the cold ground maugre himselfe he threw For fell despight to be so sorely crost And there all night himselfe in anguish tost Vowing that neuer he in bed againe His limbes would rest ne lig in ease embost Till that his Ladies sight he mote attaine Or vnderstand that she in safetie did remaine Cant. V. The saluage serues Matilda well till she Prince Arthure fynd Who her together with his Squyre with th'Hermit leaues behynd O What an easie thing is to descry The gentle bloud how euer it bewrapt In sad misfortunes foule deformity And wretched sorrowes which haue often hapt For howsoeuer it may grow mis-shapt Like this wyld man being vndisciplynd That to all vertue it may seeme vnapt Yet will it shew some sparkes of gentle mynd And at the last breake forth in his owne proper kynd That plainely may in this wyld man be red Who though he were still in this desert wood Mongst saluage beasts both rudely borne and bred Ne euer saw faire guize ne learned good Yet shewd some token of his gentle blood By gentle vsage of that wretched Dame For certes he was borne of noble blood How euer by hard hap he hether came As ye may know when time
matrone stayd no lenger to enquire But forth in hast ran to the straunger Mayd Whom catching greedily for great desire Rent vp her brest and bosome open layd In which that rose she plainely saw displayd Then her embracing twixt her armes twaine She long so held and softly weeping sayd And liuest thou my daughter now againe And art thou yet aliue whom dead I long did faine Tho further asking her of sundry things And times comparing with their accidents She found at last by very certaine signes And speaking markes of passed monuments That this young Mayd whom chance to her presents Is her owne daughter her owne infant deare Tho wondring long at those so straunge euents A thousand times she her embraced nere With many a ioyfull kisse and many a melting teare Who euer is the mother of one chylde Which hauing thought long dead she fyndes aliue Let her by proofe of that which she hath fylde In her owne breast this mothers ioy descriue For other none such passion can contriue In perfect forme as this good Lady felt When she so faire a daughter saw suruiue As Pastorella was that nigh she swelt For passing ioy which did all into pitty melt Thence running forth vnto her loued Lord She vnto him recounted all that fell Who ioyning ioy with her in one accord Acknowledg'd for his owne faire Pastorell There leaue we them in ioy and let vs tell Of Calidore who seeking all this while That monstrous Beast by finall force to quell Through euery place with restlesse paine and toile Him follow'd by the tract of his outragious spoile Through all estates he found that he had past In which he many massacres had left And to the Clergy now was come at last In which such spoile such hauocke and such theft He wrought that thence all goodnesse he bereft That endlesse were to tell The Elfin Knight Who now no place besides vnsought had left At length into a Monastere did light Where he him foūd despoyling all with maine might Into their cloysters now he broken had Through which the Monckes he chaced here there And them pursu'd into their dortours sad And searched all their cels and secrets neare In which what filth and ordure did appeare Were yrkesome to report yet that foule Beast Nought sparing them the more did tosse and teare And ransacke all their dennes from most to least Regarding nought religion nor their holy heast From thence into the sacred Church he broke And robd the Chancell and the deskes downe threw And Altars fouled and blasphemy spoke And th'Images for all their goodly hew Did cast to ground whilest none was them to rew So all confounded and disordered there But seeing Calidore away he flew Knowing his fatall hand by former feare But he him fast pursuing soone approched neare Him in a narrow place he ouertooke And fierce assailing forst him turne againe Sternely he turnd againe when he him strooke With his sharpe steele and ran at him amaine With open mouth that seemed to containe A full good pecke within the vtmost brim All set with yron teeth in raunges twaine That terrifide his foes and armed him Appearing like the mouth of Orcus griesly grim And therein were a thousand tongs empight Of sundry kindes and sundry quality Some were of dogs that barked day and night And some of cats that wrawling still did cry And some of Beares that groynd continually And some of Tygres that did seeme to gren And snar at all that euer passed by But most of them were tongues of mortall men Which spake reprochfully not caring where nor when And them amongst were mingled here and there The tongues of Serpents with three forked stings That spat out poyson and gore bloudy gere At all that came within his rauenings And spake licentious words and hatefull things Of good and bad alike of low and hie Ne Kesars spared he a whit nor Kings But either blotted them with infamie Or bit them with his banefull teeth of iniury But Calidore thereof no whit afrayd Rencountred him with so impetuous might That th'outrage of his violence he stayd And bet abacke threatning in vaine to bite And spitting forth the poyson of his spight That fomed all about his bloody iawes Tho rearing vp his former feete on hight He rampt vpon him with his rauenous pawes As if he would haue rent him with his cruell clawes But he right well aware his rage to ward Did cast his shield atweene and therewithall Putting his puissaunce forth pursu'd so hard That backeward he enforced him to fall And being downe ere he new helpe could call His shield he on him threw and fast downe held Like as a bullocke that in bloudy stall Of butchers balefull hand to ground is feld Is forcibly kept downe till he be throughly queld Full cruelly the Beast did rage and rore To be downe held and maystred so with might That he gan fret and fome out bloudy gore Striuing in vaine to rere him selfe vpright For still the more he stroue the more the Knight Did him suppresse and forcibly subdew That made him almost mad for fell despight He grind hee bit he scratcht he venim threw And fared like a feend right horrible in hew Or like the hell-borne Hydra which they faine That great Alcides whilome ouerthrew After that he had labourd long in vaine To crop his thousand heads the which still new Forth budded and in greater number grew Such was the fury of this hellish Beast Whilest Calidore him vnder him downe threw Who nathemore his heauy load releast But aye the more he rag'd the more his powre increast Tho when the Beast saw he mote nought auaile By force he gan his hundred tongues apply And sharpely at him to reuile and raile With bitter termes of shamefull infamy Oft interlacing many a forged lie Whose like he neuer once did speake nor heare Nor euer thought thing so vnworthily Yet did he nought for all that him forbeare But strained him so streightly that he chokt him neare At last when as he found his force to shrincke And rage to quaile he tooke a muzzell strong Of surest yron made with many a lincke Therewith he mured vp his mouth along And therein shut vp his blasphemous tong For neuer more defaming gentle Knight Or vnto louely Lady doing wrong And thereunto a great long chaine he tight With which he drew him forth euē in his own despight Like as whylome that strong Tirynthian swaine Brought forth with him the dreadfull dog of hell Against his will fast bound in yron chaine And roring horribly did him compell To see the hatefull sunne that he might tell To griesly Pluto what on earth was donne And to the other damned ghosts which dwell For aye in darkenesse which day light doth shonne So led this Knight his captyue with like conquest wonne Yet greatly did the Beast repine at those Straunge bands whose like till then he neuer bore Ne euer any durst till then impose And chauffed inly seeing now no more Him liberty was left aloud to rore Yet durst he not draw backe nor once withstand The proued powre of noble Calidore But trembled vnderneath his mighty hand And like a fearefull dog him followed through the land Him through all Faery land he follow'd so As if he learned had obedience long That all the people where so he did go Out of their townes did round about him throng To see him leade that Beast in bondage strong And seeing it much wondred at the sight And all such persons as he earst did wrong Reioyced much to see his captiue plight And much admyr'd the Beast but more admyr'd the Knight Thus was this Monster by the maystring might Of doughty Calidore supprest and tamed That neuer more he mote endammadge wight With his vile tongue which many had defamed And many causelesse caused to be blamed So did he eeke long after this remaine Vntill that whether wicked fate so framed Or fault of men he broke his yron chaine And got into the world at liberty againe Thenceforth more mischiefe and more scath he wrought To mortall men then he had done before Ne euer could by any more be brought Into like bands ne maystred any more Albe that long time after Calidore The good Sir Pelleas him tooke in hand And after him Sir Lamoracke of yore And all his brethren borne in Britaine land Yet none of them could euer bring him into band So now he raungeth through the world againe And rageth sore in each degree and state Ne any is that may him now restraine He growen is so great and strong of late Barking and biting all that him doe bate Albe they worthy blame or cleare of crime Ne spareth he most learned wits to rate Ne spareth he the gentle Poets rime But rends without regard of person or of time Ne may this homely verse of many meanest Hope to escape his venemous despite More then my former writs all were they clearest From blamefull blot and free from all that wite With which some wicked tongues did it backebite And bring into a mighty Peres displeasure That neuer so deserued to endite Therfore do you my rimes keep better measure And seeke to please that now is counted wisemens threasure FINIS
scard Vnworthy they of grace whom one deniall Excludes from fairest hope withouten further triall Yet many doughty warriours often tride In greater perils to bestout and bold Durst not the sternnesse of his looke abide But soone as they his countenance did behold Began to faint and feele their corage cold Againe some other that in hard assaies Were cowards knowne and litle count did hold Either through gifts or guile or such like waies Crept in by stouping low or stealing of the kaies But I though nearest man of many moe Yet much disdaining vnto him to lout Or creepe betweene his legs so in to goe Resolu'd him to assault with manhood stout And either beat him in or driue him out Eftsoones aduauncing that enchaunted shield With all my might I gan to lay about Which when he saw the glaiue which he did wield He gan forthwith t'auale and way vnto me yield So as I entred I did backeward looke For feare of harme that might lie hidden there And loe his hindparts whereof heed I tooke Much more deformed fearefull vgly were Then all his former parts did earst appere For hatred murther treason and despight With many moe lay in ambushment there Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight Which did not them preuent with vigilant foresight Thus hauing past all perill I was come Within the compasse of that Islands space The which did seeme vnto my simple doome The onely pleasant and delightfull place That euer troden was of footings trace For all that nature by her mother wit Could frame in earth and forme of substance base Was there and all that nature did omit Art playing second natures part supplyed it No tree that is of count in greenewood growes From lowest Iuniper to Ceder tall No flowre in field that daintie odour throwes And deckes his branch with blossomes ouer all But there was planted or grew naturall Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice But there mote find to please it selfe withall Nor hart could wish for any queint deuice But there it present was and did fraile sense entice In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure It seem'd a second paradise to bee So lauishly enricht with natures threasure That if the happie soules which doe possesse Th' Elysian fields and liue in lasting blesse Should happen this with liuing eye to see They soone would loath their lesser happinesse And wish to life return'd againe to ghesse That in this ioyous place they mote haue ioyance free Fresh shadowes fit to shroud from sunny ray Faire lawnds to take the sunne in season dew Sweet springs in which a thousand Nymphs did play Soft rombling brookes that gentle slomber drew High reared mounts the lands about to vew Low looking dales disloignd from common gaze Delightfull bowres to solace louers trew False Labyrinthes fond runners eyes to daze All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze And all without were walkes and all eyes dight With diuers trees enrang'd in euen rankes And here and there were pleasant arbors pight And shadie seates and sundry flowring bankes To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes And therein thousand payres of louers walkt Praysing their god and yeelding him great thankes Ne euer ought but of their true loues talkt Ne euer for rebuke or blame of any balkt All these together by themselues did sport Their spotlesse pleasures and sweet loues content But farre away from these another sort Of louers lincked in true harts consent Which loued not as these for like intent But on chast vertue grounded their desire Farre from all fraud or fayned blandishment Which in their spirits kindling zealous fire Braue thoughts and noble deedes did euermore aspire Such were great Hercules and Hyllus deare Trew Ionathan and Dauid trustie tryde Stout Theseus and Pirithous his feare Pylades and Orestes by his syde Myld Titus and Gesippus without pryde Damon and Pythias whom death could not seuer All these and all that euer had bene tyde In bands of friendship there did liue for euer Whose liues although decay'd yet loues decayed neuer Which when as I that neuer tasted blis Nor happie howre beheld with gazefull eye I thought there was none other heauen then this And gan their endlesse happinesse enuye That being free from feare and gealosye Might frankely there their loues desire possesse Whilest I through paines and perlous ieopardie Was forst to seeke my lifes deare patronesse Much dearer be the things which come through hard distresse Yet all those sights and all that else I saw Might not my steps withhold but that forthright Vnto that purposd place I did me draw Where as my loue was lodged day and night The temple of great Venus that is hight The Queene of beautie and of loue the mother There worshipped of euery liuing wight Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other That euer were on earth all were they set together Not that same famous Temple of Diane Whose hight all Ephesus did ouersee And which all Asia sought with vowes prophane One of the worlds seuen wonders sayd to bee Might match with this by many a degree Nor that which that wise King of Iurie framed With endlesse cost to be th' Almighties see Nor all that else through all the world is named To all the heathen Gods might like to this be clamed I much admyring that so goodly frame Vnto the porch approcht which open stood But therein sate an amiable Dame That seem'd to be of very sober mood And in her semblant shewed great womanhood Strange was her tyre for on her head a crowne She wore much like vnto a Danisk hood Poudred with pearle and stone and all her gowne Enwouen was with gold that taught full low a downe On either side of her two young men stood Both strongly arm'd as fearing one another Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood Begotten by two fathers of one mother Though of contrarie natures each to other The one of them hight Loue the other Hate Hate was the elder Loue the younger brother Yet was the younger stronger in his state Then th' elder and him maystred still in all debate Nathlesse that Dame so well them tempted both That she them forced hand to ioyne in hand Albe that Hatred was thereto full loth And turn'd his face away as he did stand Vnwilling to behold that louely band Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might That her commaundment he could notwithstand But bit his lip for felonous despight And gnasht his yron tuskes at that displeasing sight Concord she cleeped was in common reed Mother of blessed Peace and Friendship trew They both her twins both borne of heauenly seed And she her selfe likewise diuinely grew The which right well her workes diuine did snew For strength and wealth and happinesse she lends And strife and warre and anger does subdew Of litle much of foes she maketh frends And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends By her the heauen is in his