The Faerie Queene Letter

The Faerie Queene

LETTER TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH

A LETTER of the Authors expounding his whole intention in the course of this worke;¹ which, for that it giveth great light to the reader, for the better understanding is hereunto annexed.

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, KNIGHT.

Lo: Wardein of the Stanneries, and her majesties lieutenaunt of the countie of Cornewayll.

SIR,

Knowing how doubtfully all Allegories may be constructed, and this booke of mine, which I have entituled The Faery Queene, being a continued Allegorie, or darke conceit, I have thought good, as well for avoyding of jealous opinions and misconstructions, as also for your better light in reading thereof, (being so, by you commanded) to discover unto you the generall intention and meaning, which in the whole course thereof I have fashioned, without expressing of any particular purposes, or by-accidents therein occasioned. The generall end therefore of all the booke, is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline. Which for that I conceived shoulde be most plausible and pleasing, beeing coloured with an historicall fiction, the which the most part of men delight to read, rather for varietie of matter than for profit of the ensample: I chose the historie of king Arthure, as most fit for the excellencie of his person, beeing made famous by many mens former workes, and also furthest from the danger of envie, and suspicion of present time. In which I have followed all the antique poets historicall: first Homer, who in the persons of Agamemnon and Ulysses hath ensampled a good governour and a vertuous man, the one in his Ilias, the other in his Odysseis: then Virgil, whose like intention was to doe in the person of Æneas: after him Ariosto comprised them both in his Orlando: and lately Tasso dissevered them againe, and formed both parts in two persons, namely, that part which they in philosophy call Ethice, or vertues of a private man, coloured in his Rinaldo: the other named Politice, in his Godfredo. By ensample of which excellent Poets, I laboure to pourtraict in Arthure, before he was king, the image of a brave knight, perfected in the twelve private morall vertues, as Aristotle hath devised: which if I find to be well accepted, I may be perhaps encoraged to frame the other part of pollitike vertues in his person, after he came to bee king.

To some I know this Methode will seem displeasant, which had rather have good discipline delivered plainly in way of precepts, or sermoned at large, as they use, then thus clowdily enwrapped in Allegoricall devises. But such, mee seeme, should be satisfied with the use of these dayes, seeing all things accounted by their showes, and nothing esteemed of, that is not delightfull and pleasing to common sense. For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgement, formed a Commune-wealth, such as it should be; but the other, in the person of Cyrus and the Persians, fashioned a government, such as might best be: So much more profitable and gracious is doctrine by ensample then by rule. So have I laboured to do in the person of Arthure: whom I conceive, after his long education by Timon (to whom he was by Merlin delivered to be brought up, so soone as he was borne of the Lady Igrayne) to have seen in a dreame or vision the Faerie Queene, with whose excellent beautie ravished, hee awaking, resolved to seek her out: and so, being by Merlin armed, and by Timon throughly instructed, he went to seeke her forth in Faery land. In that Faery Queene I mean Glory in my generall intention: but in my particular I conceive the most excellent and glorious person of our soveraine the Queene, and her kingdome in Faery land. And yet, in some places else, I doe otherwise shadow her. For considering shee beareth two persons, the one of a most royall Queene or Empresse, the other of a most vertuous and beautifull lady, this latter part in some places I doe expresse in Belphoebe, fashioning her name according to your owne excellent conceipt of Cynthia,² (Phoebe and Cynthia being both names of Diana). So in the person of Prince Arthure I sette forth magnificence in particular, which vertue, for that (according to Aristotle and the rest) it is the perfection of all the rest, and containeth in it them all, therefore in the whole course I mention the deeds of Arthure appliable to the vertue, which I write of in that booke. But of the twelve other vertues I make XII other knights the patrons, for the more varietie of the historic: Of which these three bookes containe three. The first, of the Knight of the Red crosse, in whom I expresse Holinesse: the second of Sir Guyon, in whome I set foorth Temperance: the third of Britomartis, a Lady knight, in whom I picture Chastitie. But because the beginning of the whole worke seemeth abrupt and as depending upon other antecedents, it needs that yee know the occasion of these three knights severall adventures. For the Methode of a Poet historicall is not such as of an Historiographer. For an Historiographer discourseth of affaires orderly as they were done, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a Poet thrusteth into the middest, even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the things forepast, and divining of things to come, maketh a pleasing analysis of all. The beginning therefore of my historie, if it were to be told by an Historiographer, should be the twelfth booke, which is the last; where I devise that the Faery Queene kept her annuall feast twelve daies; uppon which twelve severall dayes, the occasions of the twelve severall adventures hapned, which being undertaken by XII severall knights, are in these twelve books severally handled and discoursed.

The first was this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented him selfe a tall clownish younge man, who falling before the Queene of Faeries desired a boone (as the manner then was) which during that feast she might not refuse: which was that hee might have the atchievement of any adventure, which during that feast should happen; that being granted, he rested him selfe on the fioore, unfit through his rusticitie for a better place. Soone after entred a faire Ladie in mourning weedes, riding on a white Asse, with a dwarfe behind her leading a warlike steed, that bore the Armes of a knight, and his speare in the dwarfes hand. She falling before the Queene of Faeries, complayned that her father and mother, an ancient King and Queene, had bene by an huge dragon many yeers shut up in a brazen Castle, who thence suffered them not to issew: and therefore besought the Faery Queene to assigne her some one of her knights to take on him that exployt. Presently that clownish person upstarting, desired that adventure; whereat the Queene much wondering, and the Lady much gaine-saying, yet he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the Lady told him, that unlesse that armour which she brought would serve him (that is, the armour of a Christian man specified by Saint Paul, V. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that enterprise: which being forth with put upon him with due furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in al that company, and was well liked of the Lady. And eftesoones taking on him knighthood, and mounting on that straunge Courser, he went forth with her on that adventure: where beginneth the first booke, viz.

A gentle knight was pricking on the playne, etc.

The second day there came in a Palmer bearing an Infant with bloody hands, whose Parents he complained to have bene slaine by an enchauntresse called Acrasia: and therefore craved of the Faery Queene, to appoint him some knight to performe that adventure, which being assigned to Sir Guyon, he presently went foorth with the same Palmer: which is the beginning of the second booke and the whole subject thereof. The third day there came in a Groome, who complained before the Faery Queene, that a vile Enchaunter, called Busirane, had in hand a most faire Lady, called Amoretta, whom he kept in most grevious torment. Whereupon Sir Scudamour, the lover of that Lady, presently tooke on him that adventure. But beeing unable to performe it by reason of the hard Enchauntments, after long sorrow, in the end met with Britomartis, who succoured him, and reskewed his love.

But by occasion hereof, many other adventures are intermedled; but rather as accidents then intendments. As the love of Britomart, the overthrow of Marinell, the miserie of Florimell, the vertuousness of Belphoebe; and many the like.

Thus much, Sir, I have briefly-over-run to direct your understanding to the wel-head of the History, that from thence gathering the whole intention of the conceit, ye may as in a handfull gripe all the discourse, which otherwise may happely seem tedious and confused. So humbly craving the continuance of your honourable favour towards me, and th’ eternall establishment of your happines, I humbly take leave.

Yours most humbly affectionate,

EDM. SPENSER.

23 Januarie, 1589.

1 The letter served as an introduction to the first three books of the Faerie Queene.

2 An allusion to Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem Cynthia.

To the Right Noble and Valorous Knight,

SIR WALTER RALEIGH,

Lord Wardein of the Stanneryes, and Lieftenaunt of Cornewaile,

To thee that art the sommers Nightingale,

Thy soveraigne Goddesses most deare delight,

Why doe I send this rustick Madrigale,

That may thy tunefull eare unseason quite?

Thou onely fit this argument to write

In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre,

And dainty Love learnd sweetly to endite.

My rimes I know unsavory and sowre,

To taste the streames, that, like a golden showre,

Flow from thy fruitfull head, of thy Loves praise;

Fitter perhaps to thunder martiall stowre,

When so thee list thy loftie Muse to raise:

Yet, till that thou thy poeme wilt make knowne,

Let thy faire Cinthias praises be thus rudely showne.

E.S.

TO

THE MOST HIGH, MIGHTIE, AND MAGNIFICENT

EMPERESSE

RENOWNED FOR PIETIE, VERTVE, AND ALL GRATIOVS GOVERNMENT

ELIZABETH

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Queen of England, Fraunce and Ireland, and of Virginia,
Defender of the Faith etc.

HER MOST HUMBLE SERVAUNT

EDMVND SPENSER

DOTH IN ALL HUMILITIE

DEDICATE, PRESENT, AND CONSECRATE THESE HIS LABOVRS

TO LIVE WITH THE ETERNITIE OF HER FAME.

THE FIRST BOOKE OF

THE FAERIE QUEENE

CONTAINING

THE LEGENDE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE,
OR OF HOLINESSE

Lo I the man,° whose Muse whilome did maske,

As time her taught, in lowly Shepheards weeds,

Am now enforst a far unfitter taske,

For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds,

And sing of Knights and Ladies° gentle deeds;

Whose prayses having slept in silence long,

Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds

To blazon broade emongst her learned throng:

Fierce warres and faithfull loves shall moralize my song.

10Helpe then, O holy Virgin chiefe of nine,°

Thy weaker Novice to performe thy will;

Lay forth out of thine everlasting scryne

The antique rolles, which there lye hidden still,

Of Faerie knights° and fairest Tanaquill,°

Whom that most noble Briton Prince° so long

Sought through the world, and suffered so much ill,

That I must rue his undeserved wrong:

O helpe thou my weake wit, and sharpen my dull tong.

III

And thou most dreaded impe of highest Jove,°

Faire Venus sonne, that with thy cruell dart

At that good knight so cunningly didst rove,

That glorious fire it kindled in his hart,

Lay now thy deadly Heben bow apart,

And with thy mother milde come to mine ayde;

Come both, and with you bring triumphant Mart,°

In loves and gentle jollities arrayd,

After his murdrous spoiles and bloudy rage allayd.

And with them eke, O Goddesse heavenly bright,°

Mirrour of grace and Majestie divine,

Great Lady of the greatest Isle, whose light

Like Phoebus lampe° throughout the world doth shine,

Shed thy faire beames into my feeble eyne,

And raise my thoughts, too humble and too vile,

To thinke of that true glorious type of thine,°

The argument of mine afflicted stile:°

The which to heare, vouchsafe, O dearest dred,° a-while.

CANTO I

The Patron of true Holinesse

foule Errour doth defeate;

Hypocrisie him to entrappe

doth to his home entreate.

A GENTLE Knight° was pricking on the plaine,

Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,

Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,

The cruel markes of many’a bloudy fielde;

Yet armes till that time did he never wield:

His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,

As much disdayning to the curbe to yield:

Full jolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt,

As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.

10And on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,

The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,

For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore,

And dead as living ever him ador’d:

Upon his shield the like was also scor’d,

For soveraine hope,° which in his helpe he had:

Right faithfull true he was in deede and word,

But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad;

Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.

III

Upon a great adventure he was bond,

That greatest Gloriana° to him gave,

That greatest Glorious Queene of Faerie lond,

To winne him worship, and her grace to have,

Which of all earthly things he most did crave;

And ever as he rode, his hart did earne

To prove his puissance in battell brave

Upon his foe, and his new force to learne;

Upon his foe, a Dragon° horrible and stearne.

A lovely Ladie° rode him faire beside,

Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow,

Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide

Under a vele, that wimpled was full low,

And over all a blacke stole she did throw,

As one that inly mournd: so was she sad,

And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow;

Seemed in heart some hidden care she had,

And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad.

So pure and innocent, as that same lambe,

She was in life and every vertuous lore,

And by descent from Royall lynage came

Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore

Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore,

And all the world in their subjection held;

Till that infernall feend with foule uprore

Forwasted all their land, and them expeld:

45Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld.

Behind her farre away a Dwarfe° did lag,

That lasie seemd in being ever last,

Or wearied with bearing of her bag

Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past,

The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast,

And angry Jove an hideous storme of raine

Did poure into his Lemans lap so fast,

That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain,

And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain.

VII

55Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand,

A shadie grove° not far away they spide,

That promist ayde the tempest to withstand:

Whose loftie trees yclad with sommers pride

Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide,

Not perceable with power of any starre:

And all within were pathes and alleies wide,

With footing worne, and leading inward farre:

Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre.

VIII

And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led,

Joying to heare the birdes sweete harmony,

Which therein shrouded from the tempest dred,

Seemd in their song to scorne the cruell sky.

Much can they prayse the trees so straight and hy,

The sayling Pine,° the Cedar proud and tall,

The vine-prop Elme, the Poplar never dry,°

The builder Oake,° sole king of forrests all,

The Aspine good for staves, the Cypresse funerall.°

The Laurell,° meed of mightie Conquerours

And Poets sage, the firre that weepeth still,°

The Willow° worne of forlorne Paramours,

The Eugh° obedient to the benders will,

The Birch for shaftes, the Sallow for the mill,

The Mirrhe° sweete bleeding in the bitter wound,

The warlike Beech,° the Ash for nothing ill,°

The fruitfull Olive, and the Platane round,

The carver Holme,° the Maple seeldom inward sound.

Led with delight, they thus beguile the way,

Untill the blustring storme is overblowne;

When weening to returne, whence they did stray,

They cannot finde that path, which first was showne,

But wander too and fro in wayes unknowne,

Furthest from end then, when they neerest weene,

That makes them doubt their wits be not their owne:

So many pathes, so many turnings seene,

90That which of them to take, in diverse doubt they been.

At last resolving forward still to fare,

Till that some end they finde or in or out,

That path they take, that beaten seemd most bare,

And like to lead the labyrinth about;

Which when by tract they hunted had throughout,

At length it brought them to a hollow cave

Amid the thickest woods. The Champion stout

Eftsoones dismounted from his courser brave,

And to the Dwarfe awhile his needlesse spere he gave.

XII

100Be well aware, quoth then that Ladie milde,

Least suddaine mischiefe ye too rash provoke:

The danger hid, the place unknowne and wilde,

Breedes dreadfull doubts: Oft fire is without smoke,

And perill without show: therefore your stroke,

105

Sir Knight, with-hold, till further triall made.

Ah Ladie, (said he) shame were to revoke°

The forward footing for an hidden shade:

Vertue gives her selfe light, through darkenesse for to wade.

XIII

Yea but (quoth she) the perill of this place

110

I better wot then you, though now too late

To wish you backe returne with foule disgrace,

Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate,

To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate.

This is the wandring wood,° this Errours den,

115

A monster vile, whom God and man does hate:

Therefore I read beware. Fly fly (quoth then

The fearefull Dwarfe) this is no place for living men.

XIV

But full of fire and greedy hardiment,

The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide,

120

But forth unto the darksome hole he went,

And looked in: his glistring armor made

A litle glooming light, much like a shade,

By which he saw the ugly monster° plaine,

Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide,

125

But th’other halfe did womans shape retaine,

Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine.°

And as she lay upon the durtie ground,

Her huge long taile her den all overspred,

Yet was in knots and many boughtes upwound,

130

Pointed with mortall sting. Of her there bred°

A thousand yong ones, which she dayly fed,

Sucking upon her poisnous dugs, eachone

Of sundry shapes, yet all ill favored:

Soone as that uncouth light upon them shone,

135Into her mouth they crept, and suddain all were gone.

XVI

Their dam upstart, out of her den effraide,

And rushed forth, hurling her hideous taile

About her cursed head, whose folds displaid

Were stretcht now forth at length without entraile.

140

She lookt about, and seeing one in mayle

Armed to point,° sought backe to turne againe;

For light she hated as the deadly bale,

Ay wont in desert darknesse to remaine,

Where plain none might her see, nor she see any plaine.

XVII

145Which when the valiant Elfe° perceiv’d, he lept

As Lyon fierce upon the flying pray,

And with his trenchand blade her boldly kept

From turning backe, and forced her to stay:

Therewith enrag’d she loudly gan to bray,

150

And turning fierce, her speckled taile advaunst,

Threatning her angry sting, him to dismay:

Who nought aghast his mightie hand enhaunst:

The stroke down from her head unto her shoulder glaunst.

XVIII

Much daunted with that dint, her sence was dazd,

155

Yet kindling rage, her selfe she gathered round,

And all attonce her beastly body raizd

With doubled forces high above the ground:

Tho wrapping up her wrethed sterne arownd,

Lept fierce upon his shield, and her huge traine

160

All suddenly about his body wound,

That hand or foot to stirre he strove in vaine:

God helpe the man so wrapt in Errours endlesse traine.

XIX

His Lady sad to see his sore constraint,

Cride out, Now now Sir knight, shew what ye bee,

165

Add faith unto your force, and be not faint:

Strangle her, else she sure will strangle thee.

That when he heard, in great perplexitie,

His gall did grate for griefe° and high disdaine,

And knitting all his force got one hand free,

170

Wherewith he grypt her gorge with so great paine,

That soone to loose her wicked bands did her constraine.

Therewith she spewd out of her filthy maw

A floud of poyson horrible and blacke,

Full of great lumpes of flesh and gobbets raw,

175

Which stunck so vildly, that it forst him slacke

His grasping hold, and from her turne him backe:

Her vomit full of bookes° and papers was,

With loathly frogs and toades, which eyes did lacke,

And creeping sought way in the weedy gras:

180Her filthy parbreake all the place defiled has.

XXI

As when old father Nilus° gins to swell

With timely pride above the Aegyptian vale,

His fattie waves do fertile slime outwell,

And overflow each plaine and lowly dale:

185

But when his later spring gins to avale,

Huge heapes of mudd he leaves, wherein there breed

Ten thousand kindes of creatures, partly male

And partly female of his fruitful seed;

Such ugly monstrous shapes elswhere may no man reed.

XXII

190The same so sore annoyed has the knight,

That welnigh choked with the deadly stinke,

His forces faile, ne can no lenger fight.

Whose corage when the feend perceiv’d to shrinke,

She poured forth out of her hellish sinke

195

Her fruitfull cursed spawne of serpents small,

Deformed monsters, fowle, and blacke as inke,

With swarming all about his legs did crall,

And him encombred sore, but could not hurt at all.

XXIII

As gentle Shepheard° in sweete even-tide,

200

When ruddy Phoebus gins to welke in west,

High on an hill, his flocke to vewen wide,

Markes which do byte their hasty supper best,

A cloud of combrous gnattes do him molest,

All striving to infixe their feeble stings,

205

That from their noyance he no where can rest,

But with his clownish hands their tender wings

He brusheth oft, and oft doth mar their murmurings.

XXIV

Thus ill bestedd,° and fearefull more of shame,

Then of the certeine perill he stood in,

210

Halfe furious unto his foe he came,

Resolv’d in minde all suddenly to win,

Or soone to lose, before he once would lin

And strooke at her with more then manly force,

That from her body full of filthie sin

215

He raft her hatefull head without remorse;

A streame of cole black bloud forth gushed from her corse.

XXV

Her scattred brood,° soone as their Parent deare

They saw so rudely falling to the ground,

Groning full deadly, all with troublous feare,

220

Gathred themselves about her body round,

Weening their wonted entrance to have found

At her wide mouth: but being there withstood

They flocked all about her bleeding wound,

And sucked up their dying mothers blood,

225Making her death their life, and eke her hurt their good.

XXVI

That detestable sight him much amazde,

To see th’ unkindly Impes, of heaven accurst,

Devoure their dam; on whom while so he gazd,

Having all satisfide their bloudy thurst,

230

Their bellies swolne he saw with fulnesse burst,

And bowels gushing forth: well worthy end

Of such as drunke her life, the which them nurst;°

Now needeth him no lenger labour spend,

His foes have slaine themselves, with whom he should contend.°

XXVII

235His Ladie seeing all that chaunst, from farre

Approcht in hast to greet his victorie,

And said, Faire knight, borne under happy starre,°

Who see your vanquisht foes before you lye:

Well worthie be you of that Armorie,°

240

Wherin ye have great glory wonne this day,

And proov’d your strength on a strong enimie,

Your first adventure: many such I pray,

And henceforth ever wish that like succeed it may.°

XXVIII

Then mounted he upon his Steede againe,

245

And with the Lady backward sought to wend;

That path he kept which beaten was most plaine,

Ne ever would to any by-way bend,

But still did follow one unto the end,

The which at last out of the wood them brought.

250

So forward on his way (with God to frend)°

He passed forth, and new adventure sought;

Long way he travelled, before he heard of ought.

XXIX

At length they chaunst to meet upon the way

An aged Sire,° in long blacke weedes yclad,

255

His feete all bare, his beard all hoarie gray

And by his belt his booke he hanging had;

Sober he seemde, and very sagely sad,

And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent,

Simple in shew, and voyde of malice bad,

260

And all the way he prayed, as he went,

And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent.

XXX

He faire the knight saluted, louting low,

Who faire him quited, as that courteous was:

And after asked him, if he did know

265

Of straunge adventures, which abroad did pas.

Ah my deare Sonne (quoth he) how should, alas,

Silly old man, that lives in hidden cell,

Bidding his beades all day for his trespas,

Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell?

270With holy father sits not with such things to mell.

XXXI

But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell,

And homebred evil ye desire to heare,

Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell,

That wasteth all this countrey farre and neare.

275

Of such (said he) I chiefly do inquere,

And shall you well reward to shew the place,

In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare:

For to all knighthood it is foule disgrace,

That such a cursed creature lives so long a space.

XXXII

280Far hence (quoth he) in wastfull wildernesse

His dwelling is, by which no living wight

May ever passe, but thorough great distresse.

Now (sayd the Lady) draweth toward night,

And well I wote, that of your later fight

285

Ye all forwearied be: for what so strong,

But wanting rest will also want of might?

The Sunne that measures heaven all day long,

At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waves emong.

XXXIII

Then with the Sunne take Sir, your timely rest,

290

And with new day new worke at once begin:

Untroubled night they say gives counsell best.

Right well Sir knight ye have advised bin,

(Quoth then that aged man;) the way to win

Is wisely to advise: now day is spent;

295

Therefore with me ye may take up your In°

For this same night. The knight was well content:

So with that godly father to his home they went.

XXXIV

A little lowly Hermitage it was,

Downe in a dale, hard by a forests side,

300

Far from resort of people, that did pas

In travell to and froe: a little wyde°

There was an holy Chappell edifyde,

Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say

His holy things each morne and eventyde:

305

Thereby a Christall streame did gently play,

Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway.

XXXV

Arrived there, the little house they fill,

Ne looke for entertainement, where none was:

Rest is their feast, and all things at their will:

310

The noblest mind the best contentment has.

With faire discourse the evening so they pas:

For that old man of pleasing wordes had store,

And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas,

He told of Saintes and Popes, and evermore

315He strowd an Ave-Mary° after and before.

XXXVI

The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast,

And the sad humour° loading their eye liddes,

As messenger of Morpheus° on them cast

Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleepe them biddes.

320

Unto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes:

Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes,

He to this study goes, and there amiddes

His Magick bookes and artes° of sundry kindes,

He seekes out mighty charmes, to trouble sleepy mindes.

XXXVII

325Then choosing out few words most horrible,

(Let none them read) thereof did verses frame,

With which and other spelles like terrible,

He bad awake blacke Plutoes griesly Dame,°

And cursed heaven and spake reprochfull shame

330

Of highest God, the Lord of life and light;

A bold bad man, that dar’d to call by name

Great Gorgon,° Prince of darknesse and dead night,

At which Cocytus° quakes, and Styx is put to flight.

XXXVIII

And forth he cald out of deepe darknesse dred

335

Legions of Sprights,° the which like little flyes

Fluttring about his ever damned hed,

Awaite whereto their service he applyes,

To aide his friends, or fray his enimies:

Of those he chose° out two, the falsest twoo,

340

And fittest for to forge true-seeming lyes;

The one of them he gave a message too,

The other by him selfe staide other worke to doo.

XXXIX

He making speedy way through spersed ayre,

And through the world of waters wide and deepe,

345

To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire.

Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe,

And low, where dawning day doth never peepe,

His dwelling is; there Tethys° his wet bed

Doth ever wash, and Cynthia° still doth steepe

350

In silver deaw his ever-drouping hed,

Whiles sad Night over him her mantle black doth spred.

Whose double gates° he findeth locked fast,

The one faire fram’d of burnisht Yvory,

The other all with silver overcast;

355

And wakeful dogges before them farre do lye,

Watching to banish Care their enimy,

Who oft is wont to trouble gentle Sleepe.

By them the Sprite doth passe in quietly,

And unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned deepe

360In drowsie fit he findes: of nothing he takes keepe.

XLI

And more, to lulle him in his slumber soft,°

A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe,

And ever-drizling raine upon the loft,

Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne

365

Of swarming Bees, did cast him in a swowne:

No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes,

As still are wont t’annoy the walled towne,

Might there be heard: but carelesse Quiet lyes,

Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enemyes.

XLII

370The messenger approching to him spake,

But his wast wordes returnd to him in vaine:

So sound he slept, that nought mought him awake.

Then rudely he him thrust, and pusht with paine

Whereat he gan to stretch: but he againe

375

Shooke him so hard, that forced him to speake.

As one then in a dreame, whose dryer braine°

Is tost with troubled sights and fancies weake,

He mumbled soft, but would not all° his silence breake.

XLIII

The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake,

380

And threatned unto him the dreaded name

Of Hecate°: whereat he gan to quake,

And lifting up his lumpish head, with blame

Halfe angry asked him, for what he came.

Hither (quoth he) me Archimago sent,

385

He that the stubborne Sprites can wisely tame,

He bids thee to him send for his intent

A fit false dreame, that can delude the sleepers sent.°

XLIV

The God obayde, and, calling forth straightway

A diverse dreame out of his prison darke,

390

Delivered it to him, and downe did lay

His heavie head, devoide of carefull carke,

Whose sences all were straight benumbed and starke.

He backe returning by the Yvorie dore,

Remounted up as light as chearefull Larke,

395

And on his litle winges the dreame he bore

In hast unto his Lord, where he him left afore.

XLV

Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes,

Had made a Lady of that other Spright,

And fram’d of liquid ayre her tender partes

400

So lively, and so like in all mens sight,

That weaker sence it could have ravisht quight:

The maker selfe, for all his wondrous witt,

Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight:

Her all in white he clad, and over it

405Cast a black stole, most like to seeme° for Una fit.

XLVI

Now when that ydle dreame was to him brought,

Unto that Elfin knight he bad him fly,

Where he slept soundly void of evill thought,

And with false shewes abuse his fantasy,

410

In sort as he him schooled privily:

And that new creature, borne without her dew,°

Full of the makers guile, with usage sly

He taught to imitate that Lady trew,

Whose semblance she did carrie under feigned hew.

XLVII

415Thus well instructed, to their worke they hast,

And coming where the knight in slomber lay,

The one upon his hardy head him plast

And made him dreame of loves and lustfull play,

That nigh his manly hart did melt away,

420

Bathed in wanton blis and wicked joy:

Then seemed him his Lady by him lay,

And to him playnd, how that false winged boy,

Her chast hart had subdewd, to learne Dame Pleasures toy.

XLVIII

And she herselfe of beautie soveraigne Queene,

425

Fayre Venus° seemde unto his bed to bring

Her, whom he waking evermore did weene,

To bee the chastest flowre, that ay did spring

On earthly braunch, the daughter of a king,

Now a loose Leman to vile service bound:

430

And eke the Graces° seemed all to sing,

Hymen Iö Hymen° dauncing all around,

Whilst freshest Flora° her with Yvie girlond crownd.

XLIX

In this great passion of unwonted lust,

Or wonted feare of doing ought amis,

435

He started up, as seeming to mistrust

Some secret ill, or hidden foe of his:

Lo there before his face his Lady is,

Under blake stole hyding her bayted hooke;

And as halfe blushing offred him to kis,

440

With gentle blandishment and lovely looke,

Most like that virgin true, which for her knight him took.

All cleane dismayd to see so uncouth sight,

And half enraged at her shamelesse guise,

He thought have slaine her in his fierce despight:

445

But hasty heat tempring with suffrance wise,

He stayde his hand, and gan himselfe advise

To prove his sense,° and tempt her faigned truth.

Wringing her hands in womans pitteous wise,

Tho can she weepe,° to stirre up gentle ruth,

450Both for her noble bloud, and for her tender youth.

And said, Ah Sir, my liege Lord and my love,

Shall I accuse the hidden cruell fate,

And mightie causes wrought in heaven above,

Or the blind God,° that doth me thus amate,

455

For hoped love to winne me certaine hate?

Yet thus perforce he bids me do, or die.

Die is my dew; yet rew my wretched state

You, whom my hard avenging destinie

Hath made judge of my life or death indifferently.

LII

460Your owne deare sake forst me at first to leave

My Fathers kingdome—There she stopt with teares;

Her swollen hart her speech seemd to bereave,

And then againe begun; My weaker yeares

Captiv’d to fortune and frayle worldly feares,

465

Fly to your fayth for succour and sure ayde:

Let me not dye in languor and long teares.

Why Dame (quoth he) what hath ye thus dismayd?

What frayes ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayd?

LIII

Love of your selfe, she saide, and deare constraint,

470

Lets me not sleepe, but wast the wearie night

In secret anguish and unpittied plaint,

Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight.

Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight

Suspect her truth: yet since no’ untruth he knew,

475

Her fawning love with foule disdainefull spight

He would not shend; but said, Deare dame I rew,

That for my sake unknowne such griefe unto you grew.

LIV

Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground;°

For all so deare as life is to my hart,

480

I deeme your love, and hold me to you bound:

Ne let vaine feares procure your needlesse smart,

Where cause is none, but to your rest depart.

Not all content, yet seemd she to appease

Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art,

485

And fed with words that could not chuse but please,

So slyding softly forth, she turned as to her ease.

Long after lay he musing at her mood,

Much griev’d to thinke that gentle Dame so light,

For whose defence he was to shed his blood.

490

At last, dull wearinesse of former fight

Having yrockt asleepe his irkesome spright,

That troublous dreame gan freshly tosse his braine,

With bowres, and beds, and Ladies deare delight:

But when he saw his labour all was vaine,

495With that misformed spright he backe returnd againe.

CANTO II

The guilefull great Enchaunter parts

the Redcrosse Knight from truth,

Into whose stead faire Falshood steps,

and workes him wofull ruth.

BY this the Northerne wagoner° had set

His sevenfold teme° behind the stedfast starre,°

That was in Ocean waves yet never wet,

But firme is fixt, and sendeth light from farre

To all that in the wide deepe wandring arre:

And chearefull Chaunticlere° with his note shrill

Had warned once, that Phœbus fiery carre°

In hast was climbing up the Easterne hill,

Full envious that night so long his roome did fill.

10When those accursed messengers of hell,

That feigning dreame, and that faire-forged Spright°

Came to their wicked maister, and gan tell

Their bootelesse paines, and ill succeeding night:

Who all in rage to see his skilfull might

Deluded so, gan threaten hellish paine

And sad Proserpines wrath, them to affright.

But when he saw his threatning was but vaine,

He cast about, and searcht his baleful bookes againe.

III

Eftsoones he tooke that miscreated faire,

And that false other Spright, on whom he spred

A seeming body of the subtile aire,

Like a young Squire, in loves and lustybed

His wanton dayes that ever loosely led,

Without regard of armes and dreaded fight:

Those two he tooke, and in a secret bed,

Coverd with darknesse and misdeeming night,

Them both together laid, to joy in vaine delight.

Forthwith he runnes with feigned faithfull hast

Unto his guest, who after troublous sights

And dreames, gan now to take more sound repast,

Whom suddenly he wakes with fearfull frights,

As one aghast with feends or damned sprights,

And to him cals, Rise, rise, unhappy Swaine

That here wex old in sleepe, whiles wicked wights

Have knit themselves in Venus shameful chaine,

Come see where your false Lady doth her honour staine.

All in amaze he suddenly upstart

With sword in hand, and with the old man went

Who soone him brought into a secret part

Where that false couple were full closely ment

In wanton lust and leud embracement:

Which when he saw, he burnt with gealous fire,

The eye of reason was with rage yblent,

And would have slaine them in his furious ire,

45But hardly was restreined of that aged sire.

Returning to his bed in torment great,

And bitter anguish of his guiltie sight,

He could not rest, but did his stout heart eat,

And wast his inward gall with deepe despight,

Yrkesome of life, and too long lingring night.

At last faire Hesperus° in highest skie

Had spent his lampe and brought forth dawning light,

Then up he rose, and clad him hastily;

The Dwarfe him brought his steed: so both away do fly.

VII

55Now when the rosy-fingred Morning° faire,

Weary of aged Tithones° saffron bed,

Had spread her purple robe through deawy aire,

And the high hils Titan° discovered,

The royall virgin shooke off drowsy-hed;

And rising forth out of her baser bowre,

Lookt for her knight, who far away was fled,

And for her Dwarfe, that wont to wait each houre:

Then gan she waile and weepe, to see that woefull stowre.

VIII

And after him she rode with so much speede

As her slow beast could make; but all in vaine:

For him so far had borne his light-foot steede,

Pricked with wrath and fiery fierce disdaine,

That him to follow was but fruitlesse paine;

Yet she her weary limbes would never rest,

But every hill and dale, each wood and plaine,

Did search, sore grieved in her gentle brest,

He so ungently left her, whom she loved best.

But subtill Archimago, when his guests

He saw divided into double parts,

And Una wandring in woods and forrests,

Th’ end of his drift, he praisd his divelish arts,

That had such might over true meaning harts:

Yet rests not so, but other meanes doth make,

How he may worke unto her further smarts:

For her he hated as the hissing snake,

And in her many troubles did most pleasure take.

He then devisde himselfe how to disguise;

For by his mightie science he could take

As many formes and shapes in seeming wise,

As ever Proteus° to himselfe could make:

Sometime a fowle, sometime a fish in lake,

Now like a foxe, now like a dragon fell,

That of himselfe he ofte for feare would quake,

And oft would flie away. O who can tell

90The hidden power of herbes° and might of Magicke spell?

But now seemde best the person to put on

Of that good knight, his late beguiled guest:

In mighty armes he was yclad anon:

And silver shield, upon his coward brest

A bloudy crosse, and on his craven crest

A bounch of haires discolourd diversly:

Full jolly knight he seemde, and well addrest,

And when he sate upon his courser free,

Saint George himself ye would have deemed him to be.

XII

100But he the knight, whose semblaunt he did beare,

The true Saint George, was wandred far away,

Still flying from his thoughts and gealous feare;

Will was his guide, and griefe led him astray.

At last him chaunst to meete upon the way

105

A faithless Sarazin° all arm’d to point,

In whose great shield was writ with letters gay

Sans foy: full large of limbe and every joint

He was, and cared not for God or man a point.

XIII

He had a faire companion° of his way,

110

A goodly Lady clad in scarlot red,

Purfled with gold and pearle of rich assay,

And like a Persian mitre on her hed

She wore, with crowns and owches garnished,

The which her lavish lovers to her gave;

115

Her wanton palfrey all was overspred

With tinsell trappings, woven like a wave,

Whose bridle rung with golden bels and bosses brave.

XIV

With faire disport and courting dalliaunce

She intertainde her lover all the way:

120

But when she saw the knight his speare advaunce,

She soone left off her mirth and wanton play,

And bade her knight addresse him to the fray:

His foe was nigh at hand. He prickt with pride

And hope to winne his Ladies heart that day,

125

Forth spurred fast: adowne his coursers side

The red bloud trickling staind the way, as he did ride.

The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide,

Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous,

Gan fairely couch his speare, and towards ride:

130

Soone meete they both, both fell and furious,

That daunted with their forces hideous,

Their steeds do stagger, and amazed stand,

And eke themselves, too rudely rigorous,

Astonied with the stroke of their owne hand

135Doe backe rebut, and each to other yeeldeth land.

XVI

As when two rams° stird with ambitious pride,

Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flocke,

Their horned fronts so fierce on either side

Do meete, that with the terrour of the shocke

140

Astonied both, stand sencelesse as a blocke,

Forgetfull of the hanging victory:°

So stood these twaine, unmoved as a rocke,

Both staring fierce, and holding idely

The broken reliques° of their former cruelty.

XVII

145The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffe

Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;

Who well it wards, and quyteth cuff with cuff:

Each others equall puissaunce envies,°

And through their iron sides° with cruell spies

150

Does seeke to perce: repining courage yields

No foote to foe. The flashing fier flies

As from a forge out of their burning shields,

And streams of purple bloud new dies the verdant fields.

XVIII

Curse on that Crosse (quoth then the Sarazin),

155

That keepes thy body from the bitter fit;°

Dead long ygoe I wote thou haddest bin,

Had not that charme from thee forwarned it:

But yet I warne thee now assured sitt,°

And hide thy head. Therewith upon his crest

160

With rigour so outrageous° he smitt,

That a large share° it hewd out of the rest,

And glauncing down his shield from blame him fairly blest.°

XIX

Who thereat wondrous wroth, the sleeping spark

Of native vertue gan eftsoones revive,

165

And at his haughtie helmet making mark,

So hugely stroke, that it the steele did rive,

And cleft his head. He tumbling downe alive,

With bloudy mouth his mother earth did kis.

Greeting his grave: his grudging° ghost did strive

170

With the fraile flesh; at last it flitted is,

Whither the soules do fly of men that live amis.

The Lady when she saw her champion fall,

Like the old ruines of a broken towre,

Staid not to waile his woefull funerall,

175

But from him fled away with all her powre;

Who after her as hastily gan scowre,

Bidding the Dwarfe with him to bring away

The Sarazins shield, signe of the conqueroure.

Her soone he overtooke, and bad to stay,

180For present cause was none of dread her to dismay.

XXI

She turning backe with ruefull countenaunce,

Cride, Mercy mercy Sir vouchsafe to show

On silly Dame, subject to hard mischaunce,

And to your mighty will. Her humblesse low

185

In so ritch weedes and seeming glorious show,

Did much emmove his stout heroicke heart,

And said, Deare dame, your suddin overthrow

Much rueth me; but now put feare apart,

And tell, both who ye be, and who that tooke your part.

XXII

190Melting in teares, then gan she thus lament;

The wretched woman, whom unhappy howre

Hath now made thrall to your commandement,

Before that angry heavens list to lowre,

And fortune false betraide me to your powre,

195

Was, (O what now availeth that I was!)

Borne the sole daughter of an Emperour,°

He that the wide West under his rule has,

And high hath set his throne, where Tiberis doth pas.

XXIII

He in the first flowre of my freshest age,

200

Betrothed me unto the onely haire°

Of a most mighty king, most rich and sage;

Was never Prince so faithfull and so faire,

Was never Prince so meeke and debonaire;

But ere my hoped day of spousall shone,

205

My dearest Lord fell from high honours staire

Into the hands of his accursed fone,

And cruelly was slaine, that shall I ever mone.

XXIV

His blessed body spoild of lively breath,

Was afterward, I know not how, convaid

210

And fro me hid: of whose most innocent death

When tidings came to me, unhappy maid,

O how great sorrow my sad soule assaid.

Then forth I went his woefull corse to find,

And many yeares throughout the world I straid,

215

A virgin widow, whose deepe wounded mind

With love long time did languish as the striken hind.

XXV

At last it chaunced this proud Sarazin

To meete me wandring, who perforce me led

With him away, but yet could never win

220

The Fort, that Ladies hold in soveraigne dread;

There lies he now with foule dishonour dead,

Who whiles he livde, was called proud Sansfoy,

The eldest of three brethren, all three bred

Of one bad sire, whose youngest is Sansjoy;

225And twixt them both was born the bloudy bold Sansloy.

XXVI

In this sad plight, friendlesse, unfortunate,

Now miserable I Fidessa dwell,

Craving of you in pitty of my state,

To do none ill, if please ye not do well.

230

He in great passion all this while did dwell,

More busying his quicke eyes, her face to view,

Then his dull eares, to heare what she did tell;

And said, Faire Lady hart of flint would rew

The undeserved woes and sorrowes which ye shew.

XXVII

235Henceforth in safe assuraunce may ye rest,

Having both found a new friend you to aid,

And lost an old foe that did you molest:

Better new friend then an old foe is said.

With chaunge of cheare the seeming simple maid

240

Let fall her eyen, as shamefast to the earth,

And yeelding soft, in that she nought gain-said,

So forth they rode, he feining seemely merth,

And she coy lookes: so dainty they say maketh derth.°

XXVIII

Long time they thus together traveiled,

245

Till weary of their way, they came at last

Where grew two goodly trees, that faire did spred

Their armes abroad, with gray mosse overcast,

And their greene leaves trembling with every blast,

Made a calme shadow far in compasse round:

250

The fearfull Shepheard often there aghast

Under them never sat, ne wont there sound°

His mery oaten pipe, but shund th’ unlucky ground.

XXIX

But this good knight soone as he them can spie,

For the cool shade° him thither hastly got:

255

For golden Phœbus now ymounted hie,

From fiery wheeles of his faire chariot

Hurled his beame so scorching cruell hot,

That living creature mote it not abide;

And his new Lady it endured not.

260

There they alight, in hope themselves to hide

From the fierce heat, and rest their weary limbs a tide.

XXX

Faire seemely pleasaunce° each to other makes,

With goodly purposes° there as they sit:

And in his falsed fancy he her takes

265

To be the fairest wight that lived yit;

Which to expresse he bends his gentle wit,

And thinking of those braunches greene to frame

A girlond for her dainty forehead fit,

He pluckt a bough;° out of whose rift there came

270Small drops of gory bloud, that trickled down the same.

XXXI

Therewith a piteous yelling voyce was heard,

Crying, O spare with guilty hands° to teare

My tender sides in this rough rynd embard,

But fly, ah fly far hence away, for feare

275

Least to you hap, that happened to me heare,

And to this wretched Lady, my deare love,

O too deare love, love bought with death too deare.

Astond he stood, and up his haire did hove,

And with that suddein horror could no member move.

XXXII

280At last whenas the dreadfull passion

Was overpast, and manhood well awake,

Yet musing at the straunge occasion,

And doubting much his sence, he thus bespake;

What voyce of damned Ghost from Limbo lake,°

285

Or guilefull spright wandring in empty aire,

Both which fraile men do oftentimes mistake,

Sends to my doubtfull eares these speaches rare,

And ruefull plaints, me bidding guiltlesse bloud to spare?

XXXIII

Then groning deepe, Nor damned Ghost, (quoth he,)

290

Nor guileful sprite to thee these wordes doth speake,

But once a man Fradubio,° now a tree,

Wretched man, wretched tree; whose nature weake

A cruell witch her cursed will to wreake,

Hath thus transformd, and plast in open plaines,

295

Where Boreas doth blow full bitter bleake,

And scorching Sunne does dry my secret vaines:

For though a tree I seeme, yet cold and heat me paines.

XXXIV

Say on Fradubio then, or man, or tree,

Quoth then the knight, by whose mischievous arts

300

Art thou misshaped thus, as now I see?

He oft finds med’cine, who his griefe imparts;

But double griefs afflict concealing harts,

As raging flames who striveth to suppresse.

The author then (said he) of all my smarts,

305

Is one Duessa a false sorceresse,

That many errant knights hath brought to wretchednesse.

XXXV

In prime of youthly yeares, when corage hot

The fire of love and joy of chevalree

First kindled in my brest, it was my lot

310

To love this gentle Lady, whom ye see,

Now not a Lady, but a seeming tree;

With whom as once I rode accompanyde,

Me chaunced of a knight encountred bee,

That had a like faire Lady by his syde,

315Like a faire Lady, but did fowle Duessa hyde.

XXXVI

Whose forged beauty he did take in hand,

All other Dames to have exceeded farre;

I in defence of mine did likewise stand,

Mine, that did then shine as the Morning starre.

320

So both to battell fierce arraunged arre,

In which his harder fortune was to fall

Under my speare: such is the dye of warre:

His Lady left as a prise martiall,

Did yield her comely person to be at my call.

XXXVII

325So doubly lov’d of Ladies unlike faire,

Th’ one seeming such, the other such indeede,

One day in doubt I cast for to compare,

Whether in beauties glorie did exceede;

A Rosy girlond was the victors meede:

330

Both seemde to win, and both seemde won to bee,

So hard the discord was to be agreede.

Fraelissa was as faire, as faire mote bee,

And ever false Duessa seemde as faire as shee.

XXXVIII

The wicked witch now seeing all this while

335

The doubtfull ballaunce equally to sway,

What not by right, she cast to win by guile,

And by her hellish science raisd streightway

A foggy mist, that overcast the day,

And a dull blast, that breathing on her face,

340

Dimmed her former beauties shining ray,

And with foule ugly forme did her disgrace:

Then was she faire alone, when none was faire in place.°

XXXIX

Then cride she out, Fye, fye, deformed wight,

Whose borrowed beautie now appeareth plaine

345

To have before bewitched all mens sight;

O leave her soone, or let her soone be slaine.

Her loathly visage viewing with disdaine,

Eftsoones I thought her such, as she me told,

And would have kild her; but with faigned paine

350

The false witch did my wrathfull hand with-hold;

So left her, where she now is turnd to treen mould.°

Then forth I tooke Duessa for my Dame,

And in the witch unweeting joyd long time,

Ne ever wist but that she was the same,°

355

Till on a day (that day is every Prime,

When Witches wont do penance for their crime)

I chaunst to see her in her proper hew,°

Bathing her selfe in origane and thyme:

A filthy foule old woman I did vew,

360That ever to have toucht her I did deadly rew.

XLI

Her neather parts misshapen, monstruous,

Were hidd in water, that I could not see.

But they did seeme more foule and hideous,

Then womans shape man would beleeve to bee.

365

Thensforth from her most beastly companie

I gan refraine, in minde to slip away,

Soone as appeard safe opportunitie:

For danger great, if not assur’d decay,

I saw before mine eyes, if I were knowne to stray.

XLII

370The divelish hag by chaunges of my cheare°

Perceiv’d my thought, and drownd in sleepie night,°

With wicked herbs and ointments did besmeare

My body all, through charms and magicke might,

That all my senses were bereaved quight:

375

Then brought she me into this desert waste,

And by my wretched lovers side me pight,

Where now enclosd in wooden wals full faste,

Banisht from living wights, our wearie dayes we waste.

XLIII

But how long time, said then the Elfin knight,

380

Are you in this misformed house to dwell?

We may not chaunge (quoth he) this evil plight,

Till we be bathed in a living well;°

That is the terme prescribed by the spell.

O how, said he, mote I that well out find,

385

That may restore you to your wonted well?

Time and suffised fates to former kynd

Shall us restore, none else from hence may us unbynd.

XLIV

The false Duessa, now Fidessa hight,

Heard how in vaine Fradubio did lament,

390

And knew well all was true. But the good knight

Full of sad feare and ghastly dreriment,

When all this speech the living tree had spent,

The bleeding bough did thrust into the ground,

That from the bloud he might be innocent,

395

And with fresh clay did close the wooden wound:

Then turning to his Lady, dead with feare her found.

XLV

Her seeming dead he found with feigned feare,

As all unweeting of that well she knew,

And paynd himselfe with busie care to reare

400

Her out of carelesse swowne. Her eyelids blew

And dimmed sight with pale and deadly hew

At last she up gan lift: with trembling cheare

Her up he tooke, too simple and too trew,

And oft her kist. At length all passed feare,°

405He set her on her steede, and forward forth did beare.

CANTO III

Forsaken Truth long seekes her love,

and makes the Lyon mylde,

Marres blind Devotions mart, and fals

in hand of leachour vylde.

NOUGHT is there under heav’ns wide hollownesse,

That moves more deare compassion of mind,

Then beautie brought t’ unworthy wretchednesse

Through envies snares, or fortunes freakes unkind.

I, whether lately through her brightnesse blind,

Or through alleageance and fast fealtie,

Which I do owe unto all woman kind,

Feele my hart perst with so great agonie,

When such I see, that all for pittie I could die.

10And now it is empassioned so deepe,

For fairest Unaes sake, of whom I sing,

That my fraile eyes these lines with teares do steepe,

To thinke how she through guilefull handeling,

Though true as touch,° though daughter of a king,

Though faire as ever living wight was faire,

Though nor in word nor deede ill meriting,

Is from her knight divorced in despaire,

And her due loves° deriv’d to that vile witches share.

III

Yet she most faithfull Ladie all this while

Forsaken, wofull, solitarie mayd

Far from all peoples prease, as in exile,

In wildernesse and wastfull deserts strayd,

To seeke her knight; who subtilly betrayd

Through that late vision, which th’ Enchaunter wrought,

Had her abandond. She of nought affrayd,

Through woods and wastnesse wide him daily sought;

Yet wished tydings° none of him unto her brought.

One day nigh wearie of the yrkesome way,

From her unhastie beast she did alight,

And on the grasse her daintie limbes did lay

In secret shadow, farre from all mens sight:

From her faire head her fillet she undight,

And laid her stole aside. Her angels face

As the great eye of heaven° shyned bright,

And made a sunshine in the shadie place;

Did never mortall eye behold such heavenly grace.

It fortuned out of the thickest wood

A ramping Lyon° rushed suddainly,

Hunting full greedy after salvage blood;

Soone as the royall virgin he did spy,

With gaping mouth at her ran greedily,

To have attonce devourd her tender corse:

But to the pray when as he drew more ny,

His bloody rage asswaged with remorse,

45And with the sight amazd, forgat his furious forse.

In stead thereof he kist her wearie feet,

And lickt her lilly hands with fawning tong,

As he her wronged innocence did weet.

O how can beautie maister the most strong,

And simple truth subdue avenging wrong?

Whose yeelded pride° and proud submission,

Still dreading death, when she had marked long,

Her hart gan melt in great compassion,

And drizling teares did shed for pure affection.

VII

55The Lyon Lord of every beast in field,

Quoth she, his princely puissance doth abate,

And mightie proud to humble weake does yield,

Forgetfull of the hungry rage, which late

Him prickt, in pittie of my sad estate:

But he my Lyon, and my noble Lord,

How does he find in cruell hart to hate,

Her that him lov’d, and ever most adord,

As the God of my life? why hath he me abhord?

VIII

Redounding teares did choke th’ end of her plaint,

Which softly ecchoed from the neighbour wood;

And sad to see her sorrowfull constraint

The kingly beast upon her gazing stood;

With pittie calmd, downe fell his angry mood.

At last in close hart shutting up her paine,

Arose the virgin borne of heavenly brood,

And to her snowy Palfrey got againe,

To seeke her strayed Champion, if she might attaine.

The Lyon would not leave her desolate,

But with her went along, as a strong gard

Of her chast person, and a faithfull mate

Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard:

Still when she slept, he kept both watch and ward,°

And when she wakt, he waited diligent,

With humble service to her will prepard:

From her faire eyes he tooke commaundement,

And ever by her lookes conceived her intent.

Long she thus traveiled through deserts wyde,

By which she thought her wandring knight shold pas,

Yet never shew of living wight espyde;

Till that at length she found the troden gras,

In which the tract of peoples footing was,

Under the steepe foot of a mountaine hore;

The same she followes, till at last she has

A damzell spyde° slow footing her before,

90That on her shoulders sad a pot of water bore.

To whom approching she to her gan call,

To weet, if dwelling place were nigh at hand;

But the rude wench her answerd nought at all;

She could not heare, nor speake, nor understand;

Till seeing by her side the Lyon stand,

With suddaine feare her pitcher downe she threw,

And fled away: for never in that land

Face of faire Ladie she before did vew,

And that dread Lyons looke her cast in deadly hew.°

XII

100Full fast she fled, ne never lookt behynd,

As if her life upon the wager lay,°

And home she came, whereas her mother blynd°

Sate in eternall night: nought could she say,

But suddaine catching hold, did her dismay

105

With quaking hands, and other signes of feare;

Who full of ghastly fright and cold affray,

Gan shut the dore. By this arrived there

Dame Una, wearie Dame, and entrance did requere.

XIII

Which when none yeelded, her unruly Page°

110

With his rude claws the wicket open rent,

And let her in; where of his cruell rage

Nigh dead with feare, and faint astonishment,

She found them both in darkesome corner pent;

Where that old woman day and night did pray

115

Upon her beads devoutly penitent;

Nine hundred Pater nosters° every day,

And thrise nine hundred Aves she was wont to say.

XIV

And to augment her painefull pennance more,

Thrise every weeke in ashes she did sit,

120

And next her wrinkled skin rough sackcloth wore,

And thrise three times did fast from any bit:

But now for feare her beads she did forget.

Whose needlesse dread for to remove away,

Faire Una framed words and count’nance fit:

125

Which hardly doen, at length she gan them pray,

That in their cotage small that night she rest her may.

The day is spent, and commeth drowsie night,

When every creature shrowded is in sleepe;

Sad Una downe her laies in wearie plight,

130

And at her feete the Lyon watch doth keepe:

In stead of rest, she does lament, and weepe

For the late losse of her deare loved knight,

And sighes, and grones, and ever more does steepe

Her tender brest in bitter teares all night,

135All night she thinks too long, and often lookes for light.

XVI

Now when Aldeboran° was mounted hie

Above the shynie Cassiopeias chaire,°

And all in deadly sleepe did drowned lie,

One knocked at the dore,° and in would fare;

140

He knocked fast, and often curst, and sware,

That readie entrance was not at his call:

For on his backe a heavy load he bare

Of nightly stelths, and pillage severall,

Which he had got abroad by purchase criminall.

XVII

145He was, to weete, a stout and sturdy thiefe,

Wont to robbe Churches of their ornaments,

And poore mens boxes of their due reliefe,

Which given was to them for good intents;

The holy Saints of their rich vestiments

150

He did disrobe, when all men carelesse slept,

And spoild the Priests of their habiliments,

Whiles none the holy things in safety kept;

Then he by conning sleights in at the window crept.

XVIII

And all that he by right or wrong could find,

155

Unto this house he brought, and did bestow

Upon the daughter of this woman blind,

Abessa, daughter of Corceca slow,

With whom he whoredome usd, that few did know,

And fed her fat with feast of offerings,

160

And plentie, which in all the land did grow;

Ne spared he to give her gold and rings:

And now he to her brought part of his stolen things.

XIX

Thus long the dore with rage and threats he bet,

Yet of those fearfull women none durst rize,

165

The Lyon frayed them, him in to let:

He would no longer stay him to advize,°

But open breakes the dore in furious wize,

And entring is; when that disdainfull beast

Encountring fierce, him suddaine doth surprize,

170

And seizing cruell clawes on trembling brest,

Under his Lordly foot him proudly hath supprest.

Him booteth not resist,° nor succour call,

His bleeding hart is in the vengers hand,

Who streight him rent in thousand peeces small,

175

And quite dismembred hath: the thirsty land

Drunke up his life; his corse left on the strand.

His fearefull friends weare out the wofull night,

Ne dare to weepe, nor seeme to understand

The heavie hap, which on them is alight,

180Affraid, least to themselves the like mishappen might.

XXI

Now when broad day the world discovered has,

Up Una rose, up rose the Lyon eke,

And on their former journey forward pas,

In wayes unknowne, her wandring knight to seeke,

185

With paines farre passing that long wandring Greeke,°

That for his love refused deitie;

Such were the labours of his Lady meeke,

Still seeking him, that from her still did flie;

Then furthest from her hope, when most she weened nie.

XXII

190Soone as she parted thence, the fearfull twaine,

That blind old woman and her daughter deare,°

Came forth, and finding Kirkrapine there slaine,

For anguish great they gan to rend their heare,

And beat their brests, and naked flesh to teare.

195

And when they both had wept and wayld their fill,

Then forth they ran like two amazed deare,

Halfe mad through malice, and revenging will,

To follow her, that was the causer of their ill.

XXIII

Whom overtaking, they gan loudly bray,

200

With hollow howling, and lamenting cry,

Shamefully at her rayling all the way,

And her accusing of dishonesty,

That was the flowre of faith and chastity;

And still amidst her rayling, she did pray,

205

That plagues, and mischiefs, and long misery

Might fall on her, and follow all the way,

And that in endlesse error she might ever stray.

XXIV

But when she saw her prayers nought prevaile,

She backe returned with some labour lost;

210

And in the way as shee did weepe and waile,

A knight her met in mighty armes embost,

Yet knight was not for all his bragging bost,

But subtill Archimag, that Una sought

By traynes into new troubles to have tost:

215

Of that old woman tidings he besought,

If that of such a Ladie she could tellen ought.

XXV

Therewith she gan her passion to renew,

And cry, and curse, and raile, and rend her heare,

Saying, that harlot she too lately knew,

220

That caused her shed so many a bitter teare,

And so forth told the story of her feare:

Much seemed he to mone her haplesse chaunce,

And after for that Ladie did inquere;

Which being taught, he forward gan advaunce

225His fair enchaunted steed, and eke his charmed launce.

XXVI

Ere long he came where Una traveild slow,

And that wilde Champion wayting her besyde:

Whom seeing such, for dread he durst not show

Himselfe too nigh at hand, but turned wyde

230

Unto an hill; from whence when she him spyde,

By his like seeming shield, her knight by name

She weend it was, and towards him gan ryde:

Approaching nigh, she wist it was the same,

And with faire fearefull humblesse towards him shee came:

XXVII

235And weeping said, Ah my long lacked Lord,

Where have ye bene thus long out of my sight?

Much feared I to have bene quite abhord,

Or ought have done,° that ye displeasen might,

That should as death° unto my deare heart light:

240

For since mine eye your joyous sight did mis,

My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night,

And eke my night of death the shadow is;

But welcome now my light, and shining lampe of blis.

XXVIII

He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame,

245

Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will,

To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame,

As you to leave, that have me loved still,

And chose in Faery court° of meere goodwill,

Where noblest knights were to be found on earth:

250

The earth shall sooner leave her kindly skill,°

To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth,

Then I leave you, my liefe, yborne of heavenly berth.

XXIX

And sooth to say, why I left you so long,

Was for to seeke adventure in strange place,

255

Where Archimago said a felon strong

To many knights did daily worke disgrace;

But knight he now shall never more deface:

Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye please

Well to accept, and evermore embrace

260

My faithfull service, that by land and seas

Have vowd you to defend: now then your plaint appease.

XXX

His lovely words her seemd due recompence

Of all her passed paines: one loving howre

For many yeares of sorrow can dispence:

265

A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre:

She has forgot, how many a woful stowre

For him she late endurd; she speakes no more

Of past: true is, that true love hath no powre

To looken backe; his eyes be fixt before.

270Before her stands her knight, for whom she toyld so sore.

XXXI

Much like, as when the beaten marinere,

That long hath wandred in the Ocean wide,

Oft soust in swelling Tethys saltish teare,

And long time having tand his tawney hide

275

With blustring breath of heaven, 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.

XXXII

280Such joy made Una, when her knight she found;

And eke th’ enchaunter joyous 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:

285

So forth they past, and all the way they spent

Discoursing of her dreadful late distresse,

In which he askt her, what the Lyon ment:

Who told her all that fell in journey as she went.

XXXIII

They had not ridden farre, when they might see

290

One pricking towards them with hastie heat,

Full strongly armd, and on a courser free,

That through his fiercenesse fomed all with sweat,

And the sharpe yron did for anger eat,

When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side;

295

His looke was sterne, and seemed still to threat

Cruell revenge, which he in hart did hyde,

And on his shield Sans loy° in bloudie lines was dyde.

XXXIV

When nigh he drew unto this gentle payre

And saw the Red-crosse, which the knight did beare,

300

He burnt in fire, and gan eftsoones prepare

Himselfe to battell with his couched speare.

Loth was that other, and did faint through feare,

To taste th’ untryed dint of deadly steele;

But yet his Lady did so well him cheare,

305

That hope of new goodhap he gan to feele;

So bent his speare, and spurd his horse with yron heele.

XXXV

But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce,

And full of wrath, that with his sharp-head speare,

Through vainly crossed shield° he quite did pierce,

310

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,

315And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush.

XXXVI

Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed,

He to him lept, in mind to reave his life,

And proudly said, Lo there the worthie meed

Of him that slew Sansfoy with bloudie knife;

320

Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife,

In peace may passen over Lethe lake,°

When mourning altars purgd with enemies life,°

The blacke infernall Furies° doen aslake:

Life from Sansfoy thou tookst, Sansloy shall from thee take.

XXXVII

325Therewith in haste his helmet gan unlace,°

Till Una cried, O hold that heavie hand,

Deare Sir, what ever that thou be in place:

Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand

Now at thy mercy: Mercie not withstand:

330

For he is one the truest knight alive,

Though conquered now he lie on lowly land,

And whilest him fortune favourd, faire did thrive

In bloudie field: therefore of life him not deprive.

XXXVIII

Her piteous words might not abate his rage,

335

But rudely rending up his helmet, would

Have slaine him straight: but when he sees his age,

And hoarie head of Archimago old,

His hasty hand he doth amazed hold,

And halfe ashamed, wondred at the sight:

340

For that old man well knew he, though untold,

In charmes and magicke to have wondrous might,

Ne ever wont in field,° ne in round lists to fight;

XXXIX

And said, Why Archimago, lucklesse syre,

What doe I see? what hard mishap is this,

345

That hath thee hither brought to taste mine yre?

Or thine the fault, or mine the error is,

Instead of foe to wound my friend amis?

He answered nought, but in a traunce still lay,

And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his

350

The cloude of death did sit. Which doen away,

He left him lying so, ne would no lenger stay:

But to the virgin comes, who all this while

Amased stands, her selfe so mockt to see

By him, who has the guerdon of his guile,

355

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,

360Her from her Palfrey pluckt, her visage to behold.

XLI

But her fierce servant, full of kingly awe

And high disdaine, whenas his soveraine Dame

So rudely handled by her foe he sawe,

With gaping jawes full greedy at him came,

365

And ramping on his shield, did weene the same

Have reft away with his sharpe rending clawes:

But he was stout, and lust did now inflame

His corage more, that from his griping pawes

He hath his shield redeem’d, and foorth his swerd he drawes.

XLII

370O then too weake and feeble was the forse

Of salvage beast, his puissance to withstand:

For he was strong, and of so mightie corse,

As ever wielded speare in warlike hand,

And feates of armes did wisely understand.

375

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.

XLIII

Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid

380

From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will?

Her faithfull gard remov’d, her hope dismaid,

Her selfe a yielded pray to save or spill.

He now Lord of the field, his pride to fill,

With foule reproches, and disdainfull spight

385

Her vildly entertaines, and will or nill,

Beares her away upon his courser light:

Her prayers nought prevaile, his rage is more of might.°

XLIV

And all the way, with great lamenting paine,

And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares,

390

That stony hart could riven have in twaine,

And all the way she wets with flowing teares:

But he enrag’d with rancor, nothing heares.

Her servile beast yet would not leave her so,

But followes her farre off, ne ought he feares,

395

To be partaker of her wandring woe,

More mild in beastly kind, then that her beastly foe.

CANTO IV

To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa

guides the faithfull knight,

Where brother’s death to wreak Sansjoy

doth chalenge him to fight.

YOUNG knight whatever that dost armes professe,

And through long labours huntest after fame,

Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,

In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame,

Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame,

And rash misweening doe thy hart remove:

For unto knight there is no greater shame,

Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love;

That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly prove.

10Who after that he had faire Una 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 traveild, till at last they see

A goodly building, bravely 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 traveiled.

III

Great troupes of people traveild thitherward

Both day and night, of each degree and place,°

But few returned, having scaped hard,°

With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace;

Which ever after in most wretched case,

Like loathsome lazars,° by the hedges lay.

Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace:

For she is wearie of the toilesome way,

And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

A stately Pallace built of squared bricke,

Which cunningly was without morter laid,

Whose wals were high, but nothing strong, nor thick,

And golden foile all over them displaid,

That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:

High lifted up were many loftie towres,

And goodly galleries farre over laid,

Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres;

And on the top a Diall told the timely howres.

It was a goodly heape for to behould,

And spake the praises of the workmans wit;

But full great pittie, that so faire a mould

Did on so weake foundation ever sit:

For on a sandie hill, that still did flit

And fall away, it mounted was full hie,

That every breath of heaven shaked it:

And all the hinder parts, that few could spie,

45Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

Arrived there, they passed in forth right;

For still to all the gates stood open wide:

Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight

Cald Malvenù,° who entrance none denide:

Thence to the hall, which was on every side

With rich array and costly arras dight:

Infinite sorts of people did abide

There waiting long, to win the wished sight

Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright.

VII

55By them they passe, all gazing on them round,

And to the Presence mount; whose glorious vew

Their frayle amazed senses did confound:

In living Princes court none ever knew

Such endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew;

Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous pride

Like ever saw. And there a noble crew

Of Lordes and Ladies stood on every side,

Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide.

VIII

High above all a cloth of State was spred,

And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day,

On which there sate most brave embellished

With royall robes and gorgeous array,

A mayden Queene, that shone as Titans ray,

In glistring gold, and peerelesse pretious stone:

Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay

To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne,

As envying her selfe, that too exceeding shone.

Exceeding shone, like Phœbus fairest childe,°

That did presume his fathers firie wayne,

And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wilde

Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne;

Proud of such glory and advancement vaine,

While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,

He leaves the welkin way most beaten plaine,

And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,

With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.

So proud she shyned in her Princely state,

Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdayne:

And sitting high; for lowly she did hate:

Lo underneath her scornefull feete was layne

A dreadfull Dragon° with an hideous trayne,

And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,

Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,

And in her selfe-lov’d semblance tooke delight;

90For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight.

Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was,

And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell;

Yet did she thinke her pearlesse worth to pas

That parentage,° with pride so did she swell;

And thundring Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell,

And wield the world, she claymed for her syre,

Or if that any else did Jove excell:

For to the highest she did still aspyre,

Or if ought higher were then that, did it desyre.

XII

100And proud Lucifera men did her call,

That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be,

Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all,

Ne heritage of native soveraintie,

But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie

105

Upon the scepter, which she now did hold:

Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes, but pollicie,

And strong advizement of six wisards old,°

That with their counsels bad her kingdome did uphold.

XIII

Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came,

110

And false Duessa seeming Lady faire,

A gentle Husher, Vanitie by name

Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire:

So goodly brought them to the lowest staire

Of her high throne, where they on humble knee

115

Making obeyssance, did the cause declare,

Why they were come, her royall state to see,

To prove the wide report of her great Majestee.

XIV

With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low,

She thanked them in her disdainefull wise;

120

Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show

Of Princesse worthy, scarse them bad arise.

Her Lordes and Ladies all this while devise

Themselves to setten forth to straungers sight:

Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise,

125

Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dight

Their gay attire: each others greater pride does spight.

Goodly they all that knight do entertaine,

Right glad with him to have increast their crew:

But to Duess’ each one himselfe did paine

130

All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew;

For in that court whylome her well they knew:

Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd

Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew,

And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd,

135That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.

XVI

Suddein upriseth from her stately place

The royall Dame, and for her coche did call:

All hurtlen forth, and she with Princely pace,

As faire Aurora in her purple pall,

140

Out of the east the dawning day doth call:

So forth she comes: her brightnesse brode doth blaze;

The heapes of people thronging in the hall,

Do ride each other, upon her to gaze:

Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eyes amaze.

XVII

145So forth she comes, and to her coche° does clyme,

Adorned all with gold, and girlonds gay,

That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime,

And strove to match, in royall rich array,

Great Junoes golden chaire, the which they say

150

The Gods stand gazing on, when she does ride

To Joves high house through heavens bras-paved way

Drawne of faire Pecocks, that excell in pride,

And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide.

XVIII

But this was drawne of six unequall beasts,

155

On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde,

Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts,

With like conditions° to their kinds applyde:

Of which the first, that all the rest did guyde,

Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin;

160

Upon a slouthful Asse he chose to ryde,

Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin,

Like to an holy Monck, the service to begin.

XIX

And in his hand his Portesse still he bare,

That much was worne, but therein little red,

165

For of devotion he had little care,

Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his dayes ded;

Scarse could he once uphold his heavie hed,

To looken, whether it were night or day:

May seeme the wayne was very evill led,

170

When such an one had guiding of the way,

That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray.

From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne,

And greatly shunned manly exercise,

From every worke he chalenged essoyne,°

175

For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,

His life he led in lawlesse riotise;

By which he grew to grievous malady;

For in his lustlesse limbs through evill guise

A shaking fever raignd continually:

180Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company.

XXI

And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony,

Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne;

His belly was up-blowne with luxury,

And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne,

185

And like a Crane° his necke was long and fyne,

With which he swallowed up excessive feast,

For want whereof poore people oft did pyne;

And all the way, most like a brutish beast,

He spued up his gorge, that all did him deteast.

XXII

190In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad;

For other clothes he could not weare for heat,

And on his head an yvie girland had,

From under which fast trickled downe the sweat:

Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat,

195

And in his hand did beare a bouzing can,

Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat

His dronken corse he scarse upholden can,

In shape and life more like a monster, then a man.

XXIII

Unfit he was for any worldly thing,

200

And eke unhable once to stirre or go,

Not meet to be of counsell to a king,

Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so,

That from his friend he seldome knew his fo:

Full of diseases was his carcas blew,

205

And a dry dropsie° through his flesh did flow:

Which by misdiet daily greater grew:

Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.

XXIV

And next to him rode lustfull Lechery,

Upon a bearded Goat, whose rugged haire,

210

And whally eyes (the signe of gelosy),

Was like the person selfe, whom he did beare:

Who rough, and blacke, and filthy did appeare,

Unseemely man to please faire Ladies eye;

Yet he of Ladies oft was loved deare,

215

When fairer faces were bid standen by:

O who does know the bent of womens fantasy?

XXV

In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire,

Which underneath did hide his filthinesse,

And in his hand a burning hart he bare,

220

Full of vaine follies, and new fanglenesse,

For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse;

And learned had to love with secret lookes;

And well could daunce, and sing with ruefulnesse,

And fortunes tell, and read in loving bookes,

225And thousand other wayes, to bait his fleshly hookes.

XXVI

Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,

And lusted after all that he did love;

Ne would his looser life be tide to law,

But joyd weak wemens hearts to tempt and prove,

230

If from their loyall loves he might them move;

Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paine

Of that fowle evill, which all men reprove,

That rots the marrow and consumes the braine:

Such one was Lecherie, the third of all this traine.

XXVII

235And greedy Avarice by him did ride,

Upon a Camell° loaden all with gold;

Two iron coffers hong on either side,

With precious mettall full as they might hold;

And in his lap an heape of coine he told;

240

For of his wicked pelfe his God he made,

And unto hell him selfe for money sold;

Accursed usurie was all his trade,

And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.

XXVIII

His life was nigh unto deaths doore yplast,

245

And thred-bare cote, and cobled shoes he ware,

Ne scarse good morsell all his life did tast,

But both from backe and belly still did spare,

To fill his bags, and richesse to compare;

Yet chylde ne kinsman living had he none

250

To leave them to; but thorough daily care

To get, and nightly feare to lose his owne,

He led a wretched life unto him selfe unknowne.°

XXIX

Most wretched wight, whom nothing might suffise,

Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store,

255

Whose need had end, but no end covetise,

Whose wealth was want, whose plenty made him pore,

Who had enough, yet wished ever more;

A vile disease, and eke in foote and hand

A grievous gout tormented him full sore,

260

That well he could not touch, nor go, nor stand;

Such one was Avarice, the fourth of this faire band.

XXX

And next to him malicious Envie rode,

Upon a ravenous wolfe, and still did chaw

Betweene his cankred teeth a venemous tode,

265

That all the poison ran about his chaw;

But inwardly he chawed his owne maw

At neighbours wealth, that made him ever sad;

For death it was when any good he saw,

And wept, that cause of weeping none he had,

270But when he heard of harme, he wexed wondrous glad.

XXXI

All in a kirtle of discolourd say

He clothed was, ypainted full of eyes;

And in his bosome secretly there lay

An hatefull Snake, the which his taile uptyes

275

In many folds, and mortall sting implyes.

Still as he rode, he gnasht his teeth, to see

Those heapes of gold with griple Covetyse;

And grudged at the great felicitie

Of proud Lucifera, and his owne companie.

XXXII

280He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds,

And him no lesse, that any like did use,

And who with gracious bread the hungry feeds,

His almes for want of faith he doth accuse;

So every good to bad he doth abuse:

285

And eke the verse of famous Poets witt

He does backebite, and spightfull poison spues

From leprous mouth on all that ever writt:

Such one vile Envie was, that fifte in row did sitt.

XXXIII

And him beside rides fierce revenging Wrath,

290

Upon a Lion, loth for to be led;

And in his hand a burning brond he hath,

The which he brandisheth about his hed;

His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red,

And stared sterne on all that him beheld,

295

As ashes pale of hew and seeming ded;

And on his dagger still his hand he held,

Trembling through hasty rage, when choler in him sweld.

XXXIV

His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood,

Which he had spilt, and all to rags yrent,

300

Through unadvized rashnesse woxen wood;

For of his hands he had no governement,

Ne car’d for bloud in his avengement:

But when the furious fit was overpast,

His cruell facts he often would repent;

305

Yet wilfull man he never would forecast,

How many mischieves should ensue his heedlesse hast.

XXXV

Full many mischiefes follow cruell Wrath;

Abhorred bloodshed and tumultuous strife,

Unmanly murder, and unthrifty scath,°

310

Bitter despight, with rancours rusty knife,

And fretting griefe the enemy of life;

All these, and many evils moe haunt ire,

The swelling Splene,° and Frenzy raging rife,

The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire:°

315Such one was Wrath, the last of this ungodly tire.

XXXVI

And after all, upon the wagon beame

Rode Sathan, with a smarting whip in hand,

With which he forward lasht the laesie teme,

So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand.

320

Hugh routs of people did about them band,

Showting for joy, and still before their way

A foggy mist had covered all the land;

And underneath their feet, all scattered lay

Dead sculs and bones of men, whose life had gone astray.

XXXVII

325So forth they marchen in this goodly sort,

To take the solace of the open aire,

And in fresh flowring fields themselves to sport;

Emongst the rest rode that false Lady faire,

The foule Duessa, next unto the chaire

330

Of proud Lucifera, as one of the traine:

But that good knight would not so nigh repaire,

Him selfe estraunging from their joyaunce vaine,

Whose fellowship seemd far unfit for warlike swaine.

XXXVIII

So having solaced themselves a space

335

With pleasaunce° of the breathing fields yfed,

They backe retourned to the Princely Place;

Whereas an errant knight in armes ycled,

And heathnish shield, wherein with letters red

Was writ Sans joy, they new arrived find:

340

Enflam’d with fury and fiers hardy-hed

He seemd in hart to harbour thoughts unkind,

And nourish bloudy vengeaunce in his bitter mind.

XXXIX

Who when the shamed shield of slaine Sansfoy

He spide with that same Faery champions page,

345

Bewraying him, that did of late destroy

His eldest brother, burning all with rage

He to him leapt, and that same envious gage

Of victors glory from him snatcht away:

But th’ Elfin knight, which ought that warlike wage

350

Disdaind to loose the meed he wonne in fray,

And him rencountring fierce, reskewd the noble pray.

Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily,

Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne,

And clash their shields, and shake their swords on hy,

355

That with their sturre they troubled all the traine;

Till that great Queene upon eternall paine

Of high displeasure that ensewen might,

Commaunded them their fury to refraine,

And if that either to that shield had right,

360In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight.

XLI

Ah dearest Dame, (quoth then the Paynim bold,)

Pardon the error of enraged wight,

Whom great griefe made forget the raines to hold

Of reasons rule, to see this recreant knight,

365

No knight, but treachour full of false despight

And shamefull treason, who through guile hath slayn

The prowest knight that ever field did fight,

Even stout Sansfoy (O who can then refrayn?)

Whose shield he beares renverst, the more to heape disdayn.

XLII

370And to augment the glorie of his guile,

His dearest love, the faire Fidessa, loe

Is there possessed of the traytour vile,

Who reapes the harvest sowen by his foe,

Sowen in bloudy field, and bought with woe:

375

That brothers hand shall dearely well requight,

So be, O Queene, you equall favour showe.

Him litle answerd th’ angry Elfin knight;

He never meant with words, but swords to plead his right.

XLIII

But threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledge,

380

His cause in combat the next day to try:

So been they parted both, with harts on edge

To be aveng’d each on his enimy.

That night they pas in joy and jollity,

Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall;

385

For Steward was excessive Gluttonie,

That of his plenty poured forth to all;

Which doen, the Chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call.

XLIV

Now whenas darkesome night had all displayed

Her coleblacke curtein over brightest skye,

390

The warlike youthes on dayntie couches layd,

Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye,

To muse on meanes of hoped victory.

But whenas Morpheus had with leaden mace

Arrested all that courtly company,

395

Up-rose Duessa from her resting place,

And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace.

XLV

Whom broad awake she finds, in troublous fit,

Forecasting, how his foe he might annoy,

And him amoves with speaches seeming fit:

400

Ah deare Sansjoy, next dearest to Sansfoy,

Cause of my new griefe, cause of my new joy,

Joyous, to see his ymage in mine eye,

And greev’d, to thinke how foe did him destroy,

That was the flowre of grace and chevalrye;

405Lo his Fidessa to thy secret faith I flye.

XLVI

With gentle wordes he can her fairely greet,

And bad say on the secret of her hart.

Then sighing soft, I learne that litle sweet

Oft tempred is (quoth she) with muchell smart:

410

For since my brest was launcht with lovely dart

Of deare Sans foy, I never joyed howre,

But in eternall woes my weaker hart

Have wasted, loving him with all my powre,

And for his sake have felt full many an heavie stowre.

XLVII

415At last when perils all I weened past,

And hop’d to reape the crop of all my care,

Into new woes unweeting I was cast,

By this false faytor, who unworthy ware

His worthy shield, whom he with guilefull snare

420

Entrapped slew, and brought to shamefull grave.

Me silly maid away with him he bare,

And ever since hath kept in darksome cave,

For that I would not yeeld, that to Sans foy I gave.

XLVIII

But since faire Sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd,

425

And to my loathed life now shewes some light,

Under your beames I will me safely shrowd,

From dreaded storme of his disdainfull spight:

To you th’ inheritance belongs by right

Of brothers prayse, to you eke longs his love.

430

Let not his love, let not his restlesse spright,

Be unreveng’d, that calles to you above

From wandring Stygian shores, where it doth endlesse move.

XLIX

Thereto said he, Faire Dame, be nought dismaid

For sorrowes past; their griefe is with them gone:

435

Ne yet of present perill be affraid;

For needlesse feare did never vantage none

And helplesse hap° it booteth not to mone.

Dead is Sansfoy, his vitall paines are past,

Though greeved ghost for vengeance deepe do grone:

440

He lives, that shall him pay his dewties last,°

And guiltie Elfin blood shall sacrifice in hast.

O but I feare the fickle freakes (quoth shee)

Of fortune false, and oddes of armes° in field.

Why Dame (quoth he) what oddes can ever bee,

445

Where both do fight alike, to win or yield?

Yea but (quoth she) he beares a charmed shield,

And eke enchaunted armes, that none can perce,

Ne none can wound the man that does them wield.

Charmd or enchaunted (answerd he then ferce)

450I no whit reck, ne you the like need to reherce.

But faire Fidessa, sithens fortunes guile,

Or enimies powre, hath now captived you,

Returne from whence ye came, and rest a while

Till morrow next, that I the Elfe subdew,

455

And with Sansfoyes dead dowry you endew.

Ay me, that is a double death (she said)

With proud foes sight my sorrow to renew:

Where ever yet I be, my secret aid

Shall follow you. So passing forth she him obaid.

CANTO V

The faithfull knight in equall field

subdewes his faithlesse foe,

Whom false Duessa saves, and for

his cure to hell does goe.

THE noble hart, that harbours vertuous thought,

And is with child of glorious great intent,

Can never rest, untill it forth have brought

Th’ eternall brood of glorie excellent.

Such restlesse passion did all night torment

The flaming corage of that Faery knight,

Devizing, how that doughtie turnament

With greatest honour he atchieven might;

Still did he wake, and still did watch for dawning light.

10At last the golden Orientall gate,

Of greatest heaven gan to open faire,

And Phoebus fresh, as bridegrome to his mate,

Came dauncing forth, shaking his deawie haire:

And hurls his glistring beams through gloomy aire.

Which when the wakeful Elfe perceiv’d, streightway

He started up, and did him selfe prepaire,

In sunbright armes, and battailous array:

For with that Pagan proud he combat will that day.

III

And forth he comes into the commune hall,

Where earely waite him many a gazing eye,

To weet what end to straunger knights may fall.

There many Minstrales maken melody,

To drive away the dull melancholy,

And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord

Can tune their timely voyces° cunningly,

And many Chroniclers that can record

Old loves,° and warres for Ladies doen by many a Lord.

Soone after comes the cruell Sarazin,

In woven maile° all armed warily,

And sternly lookes at him, who not a pin

Does care for looke of living creatures eye.

They bring them wines of Greece and Araby,°

And daintie spices fetcht from furthest Ynd,°

To kindle heat of corage privily:

And in the wine a solemne oth they bynd

T’ observe the sacred lawes of armes, that are assynd.

At last forth comes that far renowmed Queene,

With royall pomp and Princely majestie;

She is ybrought unto a paled greene,°

And placed under stately canapee,

The warlike feates of both those knights to see.

On th’ other side in all mens open vew

Duessa placed is, and on a tree

Sans-foy his° shield is hangd with bloody hew:

45Both those° the lawrell girlonds to the victor dew.

A shrilling trompet sownded from on hye,

And unto battaill bad them selves addresse:

Their shining shieldes about their wrestes they tye,

And burning blades about their heads do blesse,

The instruments of wrath and heavinesse:

With greedy force each other doth assayle,

And strike so fiercely, that they do impresse

Deepe dinted furrowes in the battred mayle;

The yron walles to ward their blowes are weak and fraile.

VII

55The Sarazin was stout, and wondrous strong,

And heaped blowes like yron hammers great;

For after bloud and vengeance he did long.

The knight was fiers, and full of youthly heat,

And doubled strokes, like dreaded thunders threat:

For all for prayse and honour he did fight.

Both stricken strike, and beaten both do beat,

That from their shields forth flyeth firie light,

And helmets hewen deepe show marks of eithers might.

VIII

So th’ one for wrong, the other strives for right;

As when a Gryfon° seized of his pray,

A Dragon fiers encountreth in his flight,

Through widest ayre making his ydle way,

That would his rightfull ravine rend away;

With hideous horror both together smight,

And souce so sore that they the heavens affray:

The wise Soothsayer seeing so sad sight,

Th’ amazed vulgar tels of warres and mortall fight.

So th’ one for wrong, the other strives for right,

And each to deadly shame would drive his foe:

The cruell steele so greedily doth bight

In tender flesh that streames of bloud down flow,

With which the armes, that earst so bright did show,

Into a pure vermillion now are dyde:

Great ruth in all the gazers harts did grow,

Seeing the gored woundes to gape so wyde,

That victory they dare not wish to either side.

At last the Paynim chaunst to cast his eye,

His suddein eye, flaming with wrathful fyre,

Upon his brothers shield, which hong thereby:

Therewith redoubled was his raging yre,

And said, Ah wretched sonne of wofull syre,

Doest thou sit wayling by blacke Stygian lake,

Whilest here thy shield is hangd for victors hyre,

And sluggish german° doest thy forces slake

90To after-send his foe, that him may overtake?

Goe caytive Elfe, him quickly overtake,

And soone redeeme from his long wandring woe;

Goe guiltie ghost, to him my message make,

That I his shield have quit from dying foe.

Therewith upon his crest he stroke him so,

That twise he reeled, readie twise to fall;

End of the doubtfull battell deemed tho

The lookers on, and lowd to him gan call

The false Duessa, Thine the shield, and I, and all.

XII

100Soone as the Faerie heard his Ladie speake,°

Out of his swowning dreame he gan awake,

And quickning faith, that earst was woxen weake,

The creeping deadly cold away did shake:

Tho mov’d with wrath, and shame, and Ladies sake,

105

Of all attonce he cast avengd to bee,

And with so’ exceeding furie at him strake,

That forced him to stoupe upon his knee;

Had he not stouped so, he should have cloven bee.

XIII

And to him said, Goe now proud Miscreant,

110

Thy selfe thy message do to german deare;

Alone he wandring thee too long doth want:

Goe say, his foe thy shield with his doth beare.

Therewith his heavie hand he high gan reare,

Him to have slaine; when loe a darkesome clowd°

115

Upon him fell: he no where doth appeare,

But vanisht is. The Elfe him calls alowd,

But answer none receives: the darkness him does shrowd.

XIV

In haste Duessa from her place arose,

And to him running said, O prowest knight,

120

That ever Ladie to her love did chose,

Let now abate the terror of your might,

And quench the flame of furious despight,

And bloudie vengeance; lo th’ infernall powres,

Covering your foe with cloud of deadly night,

125

Have borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres.

The conquest yours, I yours, the shield, the glory yours.

Not all so satisfide, with greedie eye

He sought all round about, his thristie blade

To bath in bloud of faithlesse enemy;

130

Who all that while lay hid in secret shade:

He standes amazed, how he thence should fade.

At last the trumpets Triumph sound on hie,

And running Heralds humble homage made,

Greeting him goodly with new victorie,

135And to him brought the shield, the cause of enmitie.

XVI

Wherewith he goeth to that soveraine Queene,

And falling her before on lowly knee,

To her makes present of his service seene:

Which she accepts, with thankes, and goodly gree,

140

Greatly advauncing his gay chevalree.

So marcheth home, and by her takes the knight,

Whom all the people follow with great glee,

Shouting, and clapping all their hands on hight,

That all the aire it fils, and flyes to heaven bright.

XVII

145Home is he brought, and laid in sumptuous bed:

Where many skilfull leaches him abide,

To salve his hurts, that yet still freshly bled.

In wine and oyle they wash his woundes wide,

And softly can embalme on every side.

150

And all the while, most heavenly melody

About the bed sweet musicke did divide,

Him to beguile of griefe and agony:

And all the while Duessa wept full bitterly.

XVIII

As when a wearie traveller that strayes

155

By muddy shore of broad seven-mouthed Nile,

Unweeting of the perillous wandring wayes,

Doth meete a cruell craftie Crocodile,

Which in false griefe hyding his harmefull guile,

Doth weepe full sore, and sheddeth tender teares:°

160

The foolish man, that pitties all this while

His mournefull plight, is swallowed up unawares,

Forgetfull of his owne, that mindes anothers cares.

XIX

So wept Duessa untill eventide,

That shyning lampes in Joves high house were light:

165

Then forth she rose, ne lenger would abide,

But comes unto the place, where th’ Hethen knight

In slombring swownd nigh voyd of vitall spright,

Lay cover’d with inchaunted cloud all day:

Whom when she found, as she him left in plight,

170

To wayle his woefull case she would not stay,

But to the easterne coast of heaven makes speedy way.

Where griesly Night,° with visage deadly sad,

That Phœbus chearefull face durst never vew,

And in a foule blacke pitchie mantle clad,

175

She findes forth comming from her darkesome mew,

Where she all day did hide her hated hew.

Before the dore her yron charet stood,

Alreadie harnessed for journey new;

And coleblacke steedes yborne of hellish brood,

180That on their rustie bits did champ, as they were wood.

XXI

Who when she saw Duessa sunny bright,

Adornd with gold and jewels shining cleare,

She greatly grew amazed at the sight,

And th’ unacquainted light began to feare:

185

For never did such brightnesse there appeare,

And would have backe retyred to her cave,

Until the witches speech she gan to heare,

Saying, Yet, O thou dreaded Dame, I crave

Abide, till I have told the message which I have.

XXII

190She stayd, and foorth Duessa gan proceede

O thou most auncient Grandmother of all,

More old then Jove, whom thou at first didst breede,

Or that great house of Gods cælestiall,

Which wast begot in Daemogorgons hall,

195

And sawst the secrets of the world unmade,

Why suffredst thou thy Nephewes deare to fall

With Elfin sword, most shamefully betrade?

Lo where the stout Sansjoy doth sleepe in deadly shade.

XXIII

And him before, I saw with bitter eyes

200

The bold Sansfoy shrinke underneath his speare;

And now the pray of fowles in field he lyes,

Nor wayld of friends, nor layd on groning beare,°

That whylome was to me too dearely deare.

O what of Gods° then boots it to be borne,

205

If old Aveugles sonnes so evill heare?

Or who shall not great Nightes children scorne,

When two of three her Nephews are so fowle forlorne?

XXIV

Up then, up dreary Dame, of darknesse Queene,

Go gather up the reliques of thy race,

210

Or else goe them avenge, and let be seene,

That dreaded Night in brightest day hath place,

And can the children of faire light deface.

Her feeling speeches some compassion moved

In hart, and chaunge in that great mothers face:

215

Yet pittie in her hart was never proved

Till then: for evermore she hated, never loved.

XXV

And said, Deare daughter rightly may I rew

The fall of famous children borne of mee,

And good successes,° which their foes ensew:

220

But who can turne the streame of destinee,

Or breake the chayne° of strong necessitee,

Which fast is tyde to Joves eternall seat?

The sonnes of Day he favoureth, I see,

And by my ruines thinkes to make them great:

225To make one great by others losse, is bad excheat.°

XXVI

Yet shall they not escape so freely all;

For some shall pay the price of others guilt:

And he the man that made Sansfoy to fall,

Shall with his owne bloud° price that he has spilt.

230

But what art thou, that telst of Nephews kilt?

I that do seeme not I, Duessa am,

(Quoth she) how ever now in garments gilt,

And gorgeous gold arrayd I to thee came;

Duessa I, the daughter of Deceipt and Shame.

XXVII

235Then bowing downe her aged backe, she kist

The wicked witch, saying; In that faire face

The false resemblance of Deceipt I wist

Did closely lurke; yet so true-seeming grace

It carried, that I scarce in darkesome place

240

Could it discerne, though I the mother bee

Of falshood, and roote of Duessaes race.

O welcome child, whom I have longd to see,

And now have seene unwares. Lo now I go with thee.

XXVIII

Then to her yron wagon she betakes,

245

And with her beares the fowle welfavourd witch:

Through mirkesome aire her readie way she makes.

Her twyfold Teme, of which two blacke as pitch,

And two were browne, yet each to each unlich,

Did softly swim away, ne ever stampe,

250

Unlesse she chaunst their stubborne mouths to twitch;

Then foming tarre, their bridles they would champe,

And trampling the fine element would fiercely rampe.

XXIX

So well they sped, that they be come at length

Unto the place, whereas the Paynim lay,

255

Devoid of outward sense, and native strength,

Coverd with charmed cloud from vew of day

And sight of men, since his late luckelesse fray.

His cruell wounds with cruddy bloud congeald

They binden up so wisely, as they may,

260

And handle softly, till they can be healed:

So lay him in her charet close in night concealed.

XXX

And all the while she stood upon the ground,

The wakefull dogs did never cease to bay,°

As giving warning of th’ unwonted sound,

265

With which her yron wheeles did them affray,

And her darke griesly looke them much dismay:

The messenger of death, the ghastly Owle°

With drery shriekes did also her bewray;

And hungry Wolves continually did howle,

270At her abhorred face, so filthy and so fowle.

XXXI

Thence turning backe in silence soft they stole,

And brought the heavie corse with easie pace

To yawning gulfe of deepe Avernus hole.°

By that same hole an entrance darke and bace

275

With smoake and sulphure hiding all the place,

Descends to hell: there creature never past,

That backe returned without heavenly grace;

But dreadfull Furies which their chaines have brast,

And damned sprights sent forth to make ill men aghast.

XXXII

280By that same way the direfull dames doe drive

Their mournefull charet, fild with rusty blood,

And downe to Plutoes house are come bilive:

Which passing through, on every side them stood

The trembling ghosts with sad amazed mood,

285

Chattring their yron teeth, and staring wide

With stonie eyes; and all the hellish brood

Of feends infernall flockt on every side,

To gaze on earthly wight that with the Night durst ride.

XXXIII

They pas the bitter waves of Acheron,

290

Where many soules sit wailing woefully,

And come to fiery flood of Phlegeton,

Whereas the damned ghosts in torments fry,

And with sharpe shrilling shriekes doe bootlesse cry,

Cursing high Jove, the which them thither sent.

295

The house of endlesse paine is built thereby,

In which ten thousand sorts of punishment

The cursed creatures doe eternally torment.

XXXIV

Before the threshold dreadfull Cerberus°

His three deformed heads did lay along,

300

Curled with thousand adders venemous,

And lilled forth his bloudie flaming tong:

At them he gan to reare his bristles strong,

And felly gnarre, until Dayes enemy

Did him appease; then downe his taile he hong

305

And suffred them to passen quietly:

For she in hell and heaven had power equally.

XXXV

There was Ixion turned on a wheele,°

For daring tempt the Queene of heaven to sin;

And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reele

310

Against an hill, ne might from labour lin;

There thirsty Tantalus hong by the chin;

And Tityus fed a vulture on his maw;

Typhœus joynts were stretched on a gin,

Theseus condemnd to endlesse slouth by law,

315And fifty sisters water in leake vessels draw.

XXXVI

They all beholding worldly wights in place,

Leave off their worke, unmindfull of their smart,

To gaze on them; who forth by them doe pace,

Till they be come unto the furthest part;

320

Where was a Cave ywrought by wondrous art,

Deepe, darke, uneasie, dolefull, comfortlesse,

In which sad Aesculapius° farre apart

Emprisond was in chaines remedilesse,

For that Hippolytus rent corse he did redresse.

XXXVII

325Hippolytus a jolly huntsman was

That wont in charett chace the foming Bore:

He all his Peeres in beauty did surpas,

But Ladies love as losse of time forbore:

His wanton stepdame loved him the more,

330

But when she saw her offred sweets refused,

Her love she turnd to hate, and him before

His father fierce of treason false accused,

And with her gealous termes his open eares abused.

XXXVIII

Who all in rage his Sea-god syre besought,

335

Some cursed vengeaunce on his sonne to cast,

From surging gulf two monsters straight were brought,

With dread whereof his chasing steedes aghast,

Both charet swift and huntsman overcast.

His goodly corps on ragged cliffs yrent,

340

Was quite dismembred, and his members chast

Scattered on every mountaine, as he went,

That of Hippolytus was left no moniment.

XXXIX

His cruell step-dame seeing what was donne,

Her wicked dayes with wretched knife did end,

345

In death avowing th’ innocence of her sonne,

Which hearing, his rash Syre began to rend

His haire, and hastie tongue that did offend.

Tho gathering up the relicks of his smart,

By Dianes meanes, who was Hippolyts frend,

350

Them brought to Æsculape, that by his art

Did heale them all againe, and joyned every part.

Such wondrous science in mans wit to raine

When Jove avizd, that could the dead revive,

And fates expired° could renew againe,

355

Of endlesse life he might him not deprive,

But unto hell did thrust him downe alive,

With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore:

Where long remaining, he did alwaies strive

Himselfe with salves to health for to restore,

360And slake the heavenly fire, that raged evermore.

XLI

There auncient Night arriving, did alight

From her nigh wearie waine, and in her armes

To Æsculapius brought the wounded knight:

Whom having softly disarayd of armes,

365

Tho gan to him discover all his harmes,

Beseeching him with prayer, and with praise,

If either salves, or oyles, or herbes, or charmes

A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise,

He would at her request prolong her nephews daies.

XLII

370Ah Dame (quoth he) thou temptest me in vaine,

To dare the thing, which daily yet I rew,

And the old cause of my continued paine

With like attempt to like end to renew.

Is not enough, that thrust from heaven dew

375

Here endlesse penance for one fault I pay,

But that redoubled crime with vengeance new

Thou biddest me to eeke? can Night defray

The wrath of thundring Jove that rules both night and day?

XLIII

Not so (quoth she) but sith that heavens king

380

From hope of heaven hath thee excluded quight,

Why fearest thou, that canst not hope for thing;

And fearest not, that more thee hurten might,

Now in the powre of everlasting Night?

Goe to then, O thou farre renowmed sonne

385

Of great Apollo, shew thy famous might

In medicine, that else hath to thee wonne

Great paines, and greater praise,° both never to be donne.

XLIV

Her words prevaild: And then the learned leach

His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay,

390

And all things else, the which his art did teach:

Which having seene, from thence arose away

The mother of dread darknesse, and let stay

Aveugles sonne there in the leaches cure,

And backe returning tooke her wonted way,

395

To runne her timely race, whilst Phœbus pure,

In westerne waves his weary wagon did recure.

XLV

The false Duessa leaving noyous Night,

Returnd to stately pallace of Dame Pride;

Where when she came, she found the Faery knight

400

Departed thence, albe his woundes wide

Not throughly heald, unreadie were to ride.

Good cause he had to hasten thence away;

For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spide

Where in a dongeon deepe huge numbers lay

405Of caytive wretched thrals, that wayled night and day.

XLVI

A ruefull sight, as could be seene with eie;

Of whom he learned had in secret wise

The hidden cause of their captivitie,

How mortgaging their lives to Covetise,

410

Through wastfull Pride and wanton Riotise,

They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse,

Provokt with Wrath, and Envies false surmise,

Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse,

Where they should live in woe, and die in wretchednesse.

XLVII

415There was that great proud king of Babylon,°

That would compell all nations to adore,

And him as onely God to call upon,

Till through celestiall doome throwne out of dore,

Into an Oxe he was transform’d of yore:

420

There also was king Croesus,° that enhaunst

His hart too high through his great riches store;

And proud Antiochus,° the which advaunst

His cursed hand gainst God and on his altars daunst.

XLVIII

And them long time before, great Nimrod° was,

425

That first the world with sword and fire warrayd;

And after him old Ninus° farre did pas

In princely pompe, of all the world obayd;

There also was that mightie Monarch° layd

Low under all, yet above all in pride,

430

That name of native syre did fowle upbrayd,

And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide,

Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide.

XLIX

All these together in one heape were throwne,

Like carkases of beasts in butchers stall.

435

And in another corner wide were strowne

The antique ruines of the Romaines fall:

Great Romulus° the Grandsyre of them all,

Proud Tarquin,° and too lordly Lentulus,°

Stout Scipio,° and stubborne Hanniball,°

440

Ambitious Sylla,° and sterne Marius,°

High Caesar,° great Pompey,° and fierce Antonius.°

Amongst these mightie men were wemen mixt,

Proud wemen, vaine, forgetfull of their yoke:

The bold Semiramis,° whose sides transfixt

445

With sonnes own blade, her fowle reproches spoke;

Faire Sthenoboea,° that her selfe did choke

With wilfull cord, for wanting of her will;

High minded Cleopatra,° that with stroke

Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill:

450And thousands moe the like, that did that dongeon fill;

Besides the endlesse routs of wretched thralles,

Which thither were assembled day by day,

From all the world after their wofull falles

Through wicked pride, and wasted wealthes decay.

455

But most of all, which in the Dongeon lay,

Fell from high Princes courts, or Ladies bowres;

Where they in idle pompe, or wanton play,

Consumed had their goods, and thriftlesse howres,

And lastly throwne themselves into these heavy stowres.

LII

460Whose case when as the carefull Dwarfe had tould,

And made ensample of their mournefull sight

Unto his maister, he no lenger would

There dwell in perill of like painefull plight,

But early rose, and ere that dawning light

465

Discovered had the world to heaven wyde,

He by a privie Posterne tooke his flight,

That of no envious eyes he mote be spyde:

For doubtlesse death ensewd, if any him descryde.

LIII

Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way,

470

For many corses, like a great Lay-stall,

Of murdred men which therein strowed lay,

Without remorse, or decent funerall:

Which all through that great Princesse pride did fall

And came to shamefull end. And them beside

475

Forth ryding underneath the castell wall,

A donghill of dead carkases he spide,

The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pride.

CANTO VI

From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace

fayre Una is releast:

Whom salvage nation does adore,

and learnes her wise beheast.

AS when a ship, that flyes faire under saile,

An hidden rocke escaped hath unwares,

That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile,

The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares

At perill past, and yet in doubt ne dares

To joy at his foole-happie oversight:

So doubly is distrest twixt joy and cares

The dreadlesse courage of this Elfin knight,

Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight.

10Yet sad he was that his too hastie speede

The faire Duess’ had forst him leave behind;

And yet more sad, that Una his deare dreed

Her truth had staind with treason so unkind;

Yet crime in her could never creature find,

But for his love, and for her owne selfe sake,

She wandred had from one to other Ynd,°

Him for to seeke, ne ever would forsake,

Till her unwares the fiers Sansloy did overtake.

III

Who, after Archimagoes fowle defeat,

Led her away into a forest wilde,

And turning wrathfull fyre to lustfull heat,

With beastly sin thought her to have defilde,

And made the vassal of his pleasures wilde.

Yet first he cast by treatie, and by traynes,

Her to persuade that stubborne fort to yilde:

For greater conquest of hard love he gaynes,

That workes it to his will, then he that it constraines.

With fawning words he courted her awhile,

And looking lovely, and oft sighing sore,

Her constant hart did tempt with diverse guile,

But wordes and lookes, and sighes she did abhore;

As rocke of Diamond steadfast evermore,

Yet for to feed his fyrie lustfull eye,

He snatcht the vele that hong her face before;

Then gan her beautie shyne, as brightest skye

And burnt his beastly hart t’efforce her chastitye.

So when he saw his flatt’ring artes to fayle,

And subtile engines bett from batteree;

With greedy force he gan the fort assayle,

Whereof he weend possessed soone to bee,

And with rich spoile of ransackt chastitee.

Ah heavens! that do this hideous act behold,

And heavenly virgin thus outraged see,

How can ye vengeance just so long withold

45And hurle not flashing flames upon that Paynim bold?

The pitteous maiden carefull comfortlesse,

Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes,

The last vaine helpe of womens great distresse,

And with loud plaints importuneth the skyes,

That molten starres do drop like weeping eyes;

And Phœbus flying so most shameful sight,

His blushing face in foggy cloud implyes,

And hides for shame. What wit of mortall wight

Can now devise to quit a thrall from such a plight?

VII

55Eternal providence exceeding thought,

Where none appeares can make herselfe a way:

A wondrous way it for this Lady wrought,

From Lyons clawes to pluck the griped pray.

Her shrill outcryes and shriekes so loud did bray,

That all the woodes and forestes did resownd;

A troupe of Faunes and Satyres° far away

Within the wood were dauncing in a rownd,

Whiles old Sylvanus° slept in shady arber sownd:

VIII

Who when they heard that pitteous strained voice,

In haste forsooke their rurall meriment,

And ran towards the far rebownded noyce,

To weet, what wight so loudly did lament.

Unto the place they come incontinent:

Whom when the raging Sarazin espide,

A rude, mishapen, monstrous rablement,

Whose like he never saw, he durst not bide,

But got his ready steed, and fast away gan ride.

The wyld woodgods arrived in the place,

There find the virgin dolefull desolate,

With ruffled rayments, and faire blubbred face,

As her outrageous foe had left her late;

And trembling yet through feare of former hate:

All stand amazed at so uncouth sight,

And gin to pittie her unhappie state;

All stand astonied at her beautie bright,

In their rude eyes unworthy of so wofull plight.

She more amaz’d, in double dread doth dwell;

And every tender part for feare doth shake:

As when a greedie Wolfe, through hunger fell,

A seely Lambe farre from the flocke does take,

Of whom he meanes his bloudie feast to make,

A Lyon spyes fast running towards him,

The innocent pray in hast he does forsake,

Which quit from death yet quakes in every lim

90With chaunge of feare,° to see the Lyon looke so grim.

Such fearefull fit assaid her trembling hart,

Ne word to speake, ne joynt to move she had:

The salvage nation feele her secret smart,

And read her sorrow in her count’nance sad;

Their frowning forheads with rough hornes yclad,

And rustick horror° all a side doe lay;

And gently grenning, show a semblance glad

To comfort her, and feare to put away,

Their backward bent knees° teach her humbly to obay.

XII

100The doubtfull Damzell dare not yet commit

Her single person to their barbarous truth;°

But still twixt feare and hope amazd does sit,

Late learnd° what harme to hasty trust ensu’th:

They in compassion of her tender youth,

105

And wonder of her beautie soveraine,

Are wonne with pitty and unwonted ruth,

And all prostrate upon the lowly plaine,

Do kisse her feete, and fawne on her with count’nance faine.

XIII

Their harts she ghesseth by their humble guise,

110

And yieldes her to extremitie of time;

So from the ground she fearlesse doth arise,

And walketh forth without suspect of crime:°

They all as glad, as birdes of joyous Prime,

Thence lead her forth, about her dauncing round,

115

Shouting, and singing all a shepheards ryme,

And with greene braunches strowing all the ground,

Do worship her, as Queene, with olive° girlond cround.

XIV

And all the way their merry pipes they sound,

That all the woods with doubled Eccho ring,

120

And with their horned feet° do weare the ground,

Leaping like wanton kids in pleasant Spring.

So towards old Sylvanus they her bring;

Who with the noyse awaked commeth out

To weet the cause, his weake steps governing,

125

And aged limbs on Cypresse stadle stout;

And with an yvie twyne his wast is girt about.

Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad,

Or Bacchus merry fruit° they did invent,

Or Cybeles franticke rites° have made them mad,

130

They drawing nigh, unto their God present

That flowre of faith and beautie excellent.

The God himselfe, vewing that mirrhour rare,°

Stood long amazd, and burnt in his intent;

His owne faire Dryope° now he thinkes not faire,

135And Pholoe fowle when her to this he doth compaire.

XVI

The woodborne people fall before her flat,

And worship her as Goddesse of the wood;

And old Sylvanus selfe bethinkes not, what

To thinke of wight so faire, but gazing stood,

140

In doubt to deeme her borne of earthly brood;

Sometimes Dame Venus selfe he seemes to see,

But Venus never had so sober mood;

Sometimes Diana he her takes to bee,

But misseth bow, and shaftes, and buskins to her knee.

XVII

145By vew of her he ginneth to revive

His ancient love, and dearest Cyparisse,°

And calles to mind his pourtraiture alive,

How faire he was, and yet not faire to this,°

And how he slew with glauncing dart amisse

150

A gentle Hynd, the which the lovely boy

Did love as life, above all worldly blisse;

For griefe whereof the lad n’ould after joy,°

But pynd away in anguish and selfe-wild annoy.°

XVIII

The wooddy Nymphes, faire Hamadryades,°

155

Her to behold do thither runne apace,

And all the troupe of light-foot Naiades°

Flocke all about to see her lovely face:

But when they vewed have her heavenly grace,

They envy her in their malitious mind,

160

And fly away for feare of fowle disgrace:

But all the Satyres scorne their woody kind,°

And henceforth nothing faire but her on earth they find.

XIX

Glad of such lucke, the luckelesse° lucky maid,

Did her content to please their feeble eyes,

165

And long time with that salvage people staid,

To gather breath in many miseries.

During which time her gentle wit she plyes,

To teach them truth, which worshipt her in vaine,

And made her th’ Image of Idolatryes°;

170

But when their bootlesse zeale she did restraine

From her own worship, they her Asse would worship fayn.

It fortuned a noble warlike knight°

By just occasion° to that forrest came,

To seeke his kindred, and the lignage right,

175

From whence he tooke his well deserved name:

He had in armes abroad wonne muchell fame,

And fild far lands with glorie of his might,

Plaine, faithfull, true, and enimy of shame,

And ever lov’d to fight for Ladies right:

180But in vaine glorious frayes he litle did delight.

XXI

A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld,

By straunge adventure as it did betyde,

And there begotten of a Lady myld,

Faire Thyamis° the daughter of Labryde,

185

That was in sacred bands of wedlocke tyde

To Therion, a loose unruly swayne;

Who had more joy to raunge the forrest wyde,

And chase the salvage beast with busie payne,

Then serve his Ladies love, and wast in pleasures vayne.

XXII

190The forlorne mayd did with loves longing burne

And could not lacke her lovers company,

But to the wood she goes, to serve her turne,

And seeke her spouse that from her still does fly,

And followes other game and venery:

195

A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to finde,

* * * * *

And made her person thrall unto his beastly kind.

XXIII

So long in secret cabin there he held

* * * * *

Then home he suffred her for to retyre,

For ransome leaving him the late borne childe;

200

Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspire,

He noursled up in life and manners wilde,

Emongst wild beasts and woods, from lawes of men exilde.

XXIV

For all he taught the tender ymp, was but°

To banish cowardize and bastard feare;

205

His trembling hand he would him force to put

Upon the Lyon and the rugged Beare;

And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare;

And eke wyld roaring Buls he would him make

To tame, and ryde their backes not made to beare;

210

And the Robuckes in flight to overtake,

That every beast for feare of him did fly and quake.

XXV

Thereby so fearlesse, and so fell he grew,

That his owne sire and maister of his guise°

Did often tremble at his horrid vew,°

215

And oft for dread of hurt would him advise,

The angry beasts not rashly to despise,

Nor too much to provoke; for he would learne

The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise,

(A lesson hard) and make the Libbard sterne

220Leave roaring, when in rage he for revenge did earne.

XXVI

And for to make his powre approved more,

Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell;

The spotted Panther, and the tusked Bore,

The Pardale swift, and the tigre cruell,

225

The Antelope, and Wolfe both fierce and fell;

And them constraine in equall teme to draw.

Such joy he had, their stubborne harts to quell,

And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw,

That his beheast they feared, as a tyrans law.

XXVII

230His loving mother came upon a day

Unto the woods, to see her little sonne;

And chaunst unwares to meet him in the way,

After his sportes, and cruell pastime donne;

When after him a Lyonesse did runne,

235

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.

XXVIII

The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight,

240

And turning backe, gan fast to fly away,

Untill with love revokt 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 joy,

245

For love of me leave off this dreadfull play;

To dally thus with death is no fit toy,

Go find some other play-fellowes, mine own sweet boy.

XXIX

In these and like delights of bloudy game

He trayned was, till ryper yeares he raught;

250

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 adventures sought;

255

In which his might was never overthrowne;

But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown.°

XXX

Yet evermore it was his manner faire,

After long labours and adventures spent,

Unto those native woods for to repaire,

260

To see his sire and offspring auncient.

And now he thither came for like intent;

Where he unwares the fairest Una found,

Straunge Lady, in so straunge habiliment,

Teaching the Satyres, which her sat around,

265Trew sacred lore, which from her sweet lips did redound.

XXXI

He wondred at her wisedome heavenly rare,

Whose like in womens wit he never knew;

And when her curteous deeds he did compare,

Gan her admire, and her sad sorrowes rew,

270

Blaming of Fortune, which such troubles threw,

And joyd 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.

XXXII

275But she all vowd unto 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,

280

How to escape. At last in privie wise

To Satyrane she shewed her intent;

Who glad to gain such favour, gan devise

How with that pensive Maid he best might thence arise.

XXXIII

So on a day when Satyres all were gone

285

To do their service to Sylvanus 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 ever hope recover her againe:

290

In vaine he seekes that having cannot hold.

So fast he carried her with carefull paine,

That they the woods are past, and come now to the plaine.

XXXIV

The better part now of the lingring day,

They traveild had, whenas they farre espide

295

A weary wight forwandring by the way,

And towards him they gan in haste to ride,

To weete of newes, that did abroad betide,

Or tydings of her knight of the Redcrosse.

But he them spying, gan to turne aside,

300

For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse;

More greedy they of newes, fast towards him do crosse.

XXXV

A silly man, in simple weedes forworne,

And soild with dust of the long dried way;

His sandales were with toilsome travell torne,

305

And face all tand with scorching sunny ray,

As he had traveild many a sommers day,

Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde;

And in his hand a Jacobs staffe,° to stay

His wearie limbes upon: and eke behind,

310His scrip did hang, in which his needments he did bind.

XXXVI

The knight approaching nigh, of him inquerd

Tidings of warre, and of adventures new;

But warres, nor new adventures none he herd.

Then Una gan to aske, if ought he knew,

315

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 have red.

These eies did see that knight both living and eke ded.

XXXVII

320That cruell word her tender hart so thrild,

That suddein cold did runne through every vaine,

And stony horrour all her sences fild

With dying fit, that downe she fell for paine.

The knight her lightly reared up againe,

325

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.

XXXVIII

Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day,

330

This fatall day, that shall I ever rew,

To see two knights in travell on my way

(A sory sight) arraung’d in battell new,

Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew:

My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife,

335

To see their blades so greedily imbrew,

That drunke with bloud, yet thristed after life:

What more? the Redcrosse knight was slaine with Paynim knife.

XXXIX

Ah dearest Lord (quoth she) how might that bee,

And he the stoughtest knight, that ever wonne?

340

Ah dearest dame (quoth he) how might I see

The thing, that might not be, and yet was donne?

Where is (said Satyrane) that Paynims sonne,

That him of life, and us of joy hath reft?

Not far away (quoth he) he hence doth wonne

345

Foreby a fountaine, where I late him left

Washing his bloudy wounds, that through the steele were cleft.

Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast,

Whiles Una with huge heavinesse opprest,

Could not for sorrow follow him so fast;

350

And soone he came, as he the place had ghest,

Whereas that Pagan proud him selfe did rest,

In secret shadow by a fountaine side:

Even he it was, that earst would have supprest

Faire Una: whom when Satyrane espide,

355With fowle reprochfull words he boldly him defide.

XLI

And said, Arise thou cursed Miscreaunt,

That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous train

Faire knighthood fowly shamed, and doest vaunt

That good knight of the Redcrosse to have slain:

360

Arise, and with like treason now maintain

Thy guilty wrong, or els thee guilty yield.

The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain,

And catching up in hast his three-square shield,

And shining helmet, soone him buckled to the field.

XLII

365And drawing nigh him said, Ah misborne Elfe,

In evill houre thy foes thee hither sent,

Anothers wrongs to wreake upon thy selfe:

Yet ill thou blamest me, for having blent

My name with guile and traiterous intent:

370

That Redcrosse knight, perdie, I never slew,

But had he beene, where earst his arms were lent,°

Th’ enchaunter vaine° his errour should not rew:

But thou his errour shalt,° I hope, now proven trew.

XLIII

Therewith they gan, both furious and fell,

375

To thunder blowes, and fiersly to assaile

Each other bent his enimy to quell,

That with their force they perst both plate and maile,

And made wide furrowes in their fleshes fraile,

That it would pitty any living eie.

380

Large floods of bloud adowne their sides did raile;

But floods of bloud could not them satisfie:

Both hungred after death: both chose to win, or die.

XLIV

So long they fight, and fell revenge pursue,

That fainting each, themselves to breathen let,

385

And oft refreshed, battell oft renue:

As when two Bores with rancling malice met,°

Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret,

Til breathlesse both them selves aside retire,

Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whet,

390

And trample th’ earth, the whiles they may respire;

Then backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire.

XLV

So fiersly, when these knights had breathed once,

They gan to fight returne, increasing more

Their puissant force, and cruell rage attonce.

395

With heaped strokes more hugely then before,

That with their drerie wounds and bloudy gore

They both deformed, scarsely could be known.

By this, sad Una fraught with anguish sore,

Led with their noise, which through the aire was thrown:

400Arriv’d, wher they in erth their fruitles bloud had sown.

XLVI

Whom all so soone as that proud Sarazin

Espide, he gan revive the memory

Of his lewd lusts, and late attempted sin,

And left the doubtfull battell hastily,

405

To catch her, newly offred to his eie:

But Satyrane with strokes him turning, staid,

And sternely bad him other businesse plie,

Then hunt the steps of pure unspotted Maid:

Wherewith he all enrag’d, these bitter speaches said.

XLVII

410O foolish faeries son, what fury mad

Hath thee incenst, to hast thy doefull fate?

Were it not better I that Lady had,

Then that thou hadst repented it too late?

Most senseless man he, that himselfe doth hate

415

To love another. Lo then for thine ayd

Here take thy lovers token on thy pate.°

So they two fight; the whiles the royall Mayd

Fledd farre away, of that proud Paynim sore afrayd.

XLVIII

But that false Pilgrim, which that leasing told,

420

Being in deed old Archimage, did stay

In secret shadow, all this to behold,

And much rejoiced in their bloudy fray:

But when he saw the Damsell passe away,

He left his stond, and her pursewd apace,

425

In hope to bring her to her last decay,°

But for to tell her lamentable cace,°

And eke this battels end, will need another place.

CANTO VII

The Redcrosse knight is captive made

by Gyaunt proud opprest,

Prince Arthur meets with Una great-

ly with those newes distrest.

WHAT man so wise, what earthly wit so ware,

As to discry the crafty cunning traine,

By which deceipt doth maske in visour faire,

And cast her colours dyed deepe in graine,

To seeme like Truth, whose shape she well can faine,

And fitting gestures to her purpose frame;

The guiltlesse man with guile to entertaine?

Great maistresse of her art was that false Dame,

The false Duessa, cloked with Fidessaes name.

10Who when returning from the drery Night,

She fownd not in that perilous house of Pryde,

Where she had left, the noble Redcrosse knight,

Her hoped pray; she would no lenger bide,

But forth she went, to seeke him far and wide.

Ere long she fownd, whereas he wearie sate

To rest him selfe, foreby a fountaine side,

Disarmed all of yron-coted Plate,

And by his side his steed the grassy forage ate.

III

He feedes upon° the cooling shade, and bayes

His sweatie forehead in the breathing wind,

Which through the trembling leaves full gently playes,

Wherein the cherefull birds of sundry kind

Do chaunt sweet musick, to delight his mind:

The Witch approaching gan him fairely greet,

And with reproch of carelesnesse unkind

Upbrayd, for leaving her in place unmeet,

With fowle words tempring faire, soure gall with hony sweet.

Unkindnesse past, they gan of solace treat,

And bathe in pleasaunce of the joyous shade,

Which shielded them against the boyling heat,

And with greene boughes decking a gloomy glade,

About the fountaine like a girlond made;

Whose bubbling wave did ever freshly well,

Ne ever would through fervent sommer fade:

The sacred Nymph, which therein wont to dwell,

Was out of Dianes favour, as it then befell.

The cause was this: One day, when Phœbe° fayre

With all her band was following the chace,

This Nymph, quite tyr’d with heat of scorching ayre,

Sat downe to rest in middest of the race:

The goddesse wroth gan fowly her disgrace,

And bad the waters, which from her did flow,

Be such as she her selfe was then in place.

Thenceforth her waters waxed dull and slow,

45And all that drinke thereof do faint and feeble grow.°

Hereof this gentle knight unweeting was,

And lying downe upon the sandie graile,

Drunke of the streame, as cleare as cristall glas:

Eftsoones his manly forces gan to faile,

And mightie strong was turned to feeble fraile.

His chaunged powres at first them selves not felt,

Till crudled cold his corage gan assaile,

And cheareful bloud in faintnesse chill did melt,

Which like a fever fit through all his body swelt.

VII

55Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame,

Pourd° out in loosnesse on the grassy grownd,

Both carelesse of his health, and of his fame:

Till at the last he heard a dreadfull sownd,

Which through the wood loud bellowing did rebownd,

That all the earth for terrour seemd to shake,

And trees did tremble. Th’ Elfe therewith astownd,

Upstarted lightly from his looser make,°

And his unready weapons gan in hand to take.

VIII

But ere he could his armour on him dight,

Or get his shield, his monstrous enimy

With sturdie steps came stalking in his sight,

An hideous Geant,° horrible and hye,

That with his tallnesse seemd to threat the skye,

The ground eke groned under him for dreed;

His living like saw never living eye,

Ne durst behold: his stature did exceed

The hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed.

The greatest Earth his uncouth mother was,

And blustering Æolus his boasted syre,

* * * * *

Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slime

Puft up with emptie wind, and fild with sinfull crime.

So growen great through arrogant delight

Of th’ high descent, whereof he was yborne,

And through presumption of his matchlesse might,

All other powres and knighthood he did scorne.

Such now he marcheth to this man forlorne,

And left to losse: his stalking steps are stayde

Upon a snaggy Oke, which he had torne

Out of his mothers bowelles, and it made

85His mortall mace, wherewith his foeman he dismayde.

That when the knight he spide, he gan advance

With huge force and insupportable mayne,

And towardes him with dreadfull fury praunce;

Who haplesse, and eke hopelesse, all in vaine

Did to him pace, sad battaile to darrayne,

Disarmd, disgrast, and inwardly dismayde,

And eke so faint in every joynt and vaine,

Through that fraile fountaine, which him feeble made,

That scarsely could he weeld his bootlesse single blade.

XII

95The Geaunt strooke so maynly mercilesse,

That could have overthrowne a stony towre,

And were not heavenly grace, that did him blesse,

He had beene pouldred all, as thin as flowre:

But he was wary of that deadly stowre,

100

And lightly lept from underneath the blow:

Yet so exceeding was the villeins powre,

That with the wind it did him overthrow,

And all his sences stound, that still he lay full low.

XIII

As when that divelish yron Engin° wrought

105

In deepest Hell, and framd by Furies skill,

With windy Nitre and quick Sulphur fraught,

And ramd with bullet round, ordaind to kill,

Conceiveth fire, the heavens it doth fill

With thundring noyse, and all the ayre doth choke,

110

That none can breath, nor see, nor heare at will,

Through smouldry cloud of duskish stincking smoke,

That th’ onely breath° him daunts, who hath escapt the stroke.

XIV

So daunted when the Geaunt saw the knight,

His heavie hand he heaved up on hye,

115

And him to dust thought to have battred quight,

Untill Duessa loud to him gan crye;

O great Orgoglio, greatest under skye,

O hold thy mortall hand for Ladies sake,

Hold for my sake, and do him not to dye,°

120

But vanquisht thine eternall bondslave make,

And me, thy worthy meed, unto thy Leman take.

He hearkned, and did stay from further harmes,

To gayne so goodly guerdon, as she spake:

So willingly she came into his armes,

125

Who her as willingly to grace did take,

And was possessed of his new found make.

Then up he tooke the slombred sencelesse corse,

And ere he could out of his swowne awake,

Him to his castle brought with hastie forse,

130And in a Dongeon deepe him threw without remorse.

XVI

From that day forth Duessa was his deare,

And highly honourd in his haughtie eye,

He gave her gold and purple pall to weare,

And triple crowne set on her head full hye,

135

And her endowd with royall majestye:

Then for to make her dreaded more of men,

And peoples harts with awfull terrour tye,

A monstrous beast° ybred in filthy fen

He chose, which he had kept long time in darksome den.°

XVII

140Such one it was, as that renowmed Snake°

Which great Alcides in Stremona slew,

Long fostred in the filth of Lerna lake,

Whose many heads out budding ever new

Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew:

145

But this same Monster much more ugly was;

For seven great heads out of his body grew,

An yron brest, and back of scaly bras,°

And all embrewd in bloud, his eyes did shine as glas.

XVIII

His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length,

150

That to the house of heavenly gods it raught,°

And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength,

The ever-burning lamps from thence it braught,

And prowdly threw to ground, as things of naught;

And underneath his filthy feet did tread

155

The sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught.°

Upon this dreadfull Beast with sevenfold head

He sett the false Duessa, for more aw and dread.

XIX

The wofull Dwarfe, which saw his maisters fall,

Whiles he had keeping of his grasing steed,

160

And valiant knight become a caytive thrall,

When all was past, tooke up his forlorne weed,°

His mightie armour, missing most at need;

His silver shield, now idle maisterlesse;

His poynant speare, that many made to bleed,

165

The rueful moniments° of heavinesse,

And with them all departes, to tell his great distresse.

He had not travaild long, when on the way

He wofull Ladie, wofull Una met,

Fast flying from that Paynims greedy pray,

170

Whilest Satyrane him from pursuit did let:

Who when her eyes she on the Dwarfe had set,

And saw the signes, that deadly tydings spake,

She fell to ground for sorrowfull regret,

And lively breath her sad brest did forsake,

175Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake.

XXI

The messenger of so unhappie newes,

Would faine have dyde: dead was his hart within,

Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes:

At last recovering hart, he does begin

180

To rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin,

And everie tender part does tosse and turne.

So hardly° he the flitted life does win,

Unto her native prison to retourne:

Then gins her grieved ghost thus to lament and mourne.

XXII

185Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight,

That doe this deadly spectacle behold,

Why do ye lenger feed on loathed light,

Or liking find to gaze on earthly mould,

Sith cruell fates the carefull threeds unfould,

190

The which my life and love together tyde?

Now let the stony dart of senselesse cold

Perce to my hart, and pas through every side,

And let eternall night so sad sight fro me hide.

XXIII

O lightsome day, the lampe of highest Jove,

195

First made by him, mens wandring wayes to guyde,

When darkenesse he in deepest dongeon drove,

Henceforth thy hated face for ever hyde,

And shut up heavens windowes shyning wyde:

For earthly sight can nought but sorrow breed,

200

And late repentance, which shall long abyde.

Mine eyes no more on vanitie shall feed,

But seeled up with death,° shall have their deadly meed.

XXIV

Then downe againe she fell unto the ground;

But he her quickly reared up againe:

205

Thrise did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd

And thrise he her reviv’d with busie paine,

At last when life recover’d had the raine,

And over-wrestled his strong enemie,

With foltring tong, and trembling every vaine,

210

Tell on (quoth she) the wofull Tragedie,

The which these reliques sad present unto mine eie.

XXV

Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight,

And thrilling sorrow throwne his utmost dart;

Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heavy plight,

215

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;°

220If lesse then that I feare,° more favour I have found.

XXVI

Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare,

The subtill traines of Archimago old;

The wanton loves of false Fidessa faire,

Bought with the blood of vanquisht Paynim bold;

225

The wretched payre transformed to treen mould;

The house of Pride, and perils round about;

The combat, which he with Sansjoy did hould;

The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout,

Wherein captiv’d, of life or death he stood in doubt.

XXVII

230She heard with patience all unto the end,

And strove to maister sorrowfull assay,°

Which greater grew, the more she did contend,

And almost rent her tender hart in tway;

And love fresh coles unto her fire did lay:

235

For greater love, the greater is the losse.

Was never Lady° loved dearer day,

Then she did love the knight of the Redcrosse;

For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse.

XXVIII

At last when fervent sorrow slaked was,

240

She up arose, resolving him to find

Alive or dead: and forward forth doth pas,

All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd:

And evermore, in constant carefull mind,

She fed her wound with fresh renewed bale;

245

Long tost with stormes, and bet with bitter wind,

High over hills, and low adowne the dale,

She wandred many a wood, and measurd many a vale.

XXIX

At last she chaunced by good hap to meet

A goodly knight,° faire marching by the way

250

Together with his Squire, arrayed meet:

His glitterand armour shined farre away,

Like glauncing light of Phœbus brightest ray;

From top to toe no place appeared bare,

That deadly dint of steele endanger may:

255

Athwart his brest a bauldrick brave he ware,

That shynd, like twinkling stars, with stons most pretious rare.

XXX

And in the midst thereof one pretious stone

Of wondrous worth, and eke of wondrous mights,

Shapt like a Ladies head,° exceeding shone,

260

Like Hesperus° emongst the lesser lights,

And strove for to amaze the weaker sights:

Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong

In yvory sheath, ycarv’d with curious slights;

Whose hilts were burnisht gold, and handle strong

265Of mother pearle, and buckled with a golden tong.

XXXI

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 over all did spred

270

His golden wings: his dreadfull hideous hed

Close couched on the bever, 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.

XXXII

275Upon the top of all his loftie crest,

A bunch of haires discolourd diversly,

With sprincled pearle, and gold full richly drest,

Did shake, and seemd to daunce for jollity,

Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye

280

On top of greene Selinis° all alone,

With blossoms brave bedecked daintily;

Whose tender locks do tremble every one

At every little breath that under heaven is blowne.

XXXIII

His warlike shield° all closely cover’d was,

285

Ne might of mortall eye be ever seene;

Not made of steele, nor of enduring bras,

Such earthly mettals soone consumed beene;

But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene

It framed was, one massie entire mould,

290

Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene,

That point of speare it never percen could,

Ne dint of direfull sword divide the substance would.

XXXIV

The same to wight he never wont disclose,

But when as monsters huge he would dismay,

295

Or daunt unequall armies of his foes,

Or when the flying heavens he would affray;

For so exceeding shone his glistring ray,

That Phœbus golden face it did attaint,

As when a cloud his beames doth over-lay;

300

And silver Cynthia° wexed pale and faint,

As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint.

XXXV

No magicke arts hereof had any might,

Nor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call;

But all that was not such as seemd in sight,°

305

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,

310He would them gazing blind, or turne to other hew.

XXXVI

Ne let it seeme, that credence this exceedes,

For he that made the same, was knowne right well

To have done much more admirable deedes.

It Merlin° was, which whylome did excell

315

All living 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.

XXXVII

320A gentle youth, his dearely loved Squire,

His speare of heben wood behind him bare,

Whose harmefull head, thrice heated in the fire,

Had riven many a brest with pikehead square:

A goodly person, and could menage faire

325

His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit,

Who under him did trample° as the aire,

And chauft, that any on his backe should sit;

The yron rowels into frothy fome he bit.

XXXVIII

When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew,

330

With lovely 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,

335

And for her humour° fitting purpose faine,

To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray;

Wherewith emmov’d, these bleeding words she gan to say.

XXXIX

What worlds delight, or joy of living speach

Can heart, so plung’d in sea of sorrowes deep,

340

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 upon my bitter bale:

Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe,

345

Then rip up griefe, where it may not availe,

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,

350

Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat.

But wofull Ladie, let me you intrete

For to unfold the anguish of your hart:

Mishaps are maistred by advice discrete,

And counsell mittigates the greatest smart;

355Found° never helpe who never would his hurts impart.

XLI

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 never would,

Could never: will to might gives greatest aid.

360

But griefe (quoth she) does greater grow displaid,

If then it find not helpe, and breedes despaire.

Despaire breedes not (quoth he) where faith is staid.

No faith° so fast (quoth she) but flesh does paire.

Flesh may empaire (quoth he) but reason can repaire.

XLII

365His goodly reason, and well guided speach,

So deepe did settle in her gracious thought,

That her perswaded to disclose the breach,

Which love and fortune in her heart had wrought,

And said; Faire Sir, I hope good hap hath brought

370

You to inquire the secrets of my griefe,

Or that your wisedome will direct my thought,

Or that your prowesse can me yield reliefe:

Then heare the storie sad, which I shall tell you briefe.

XLIII

The forlorne Maiden, whom your eyes have seene

375

The laughing stocke of fortunes mockeries,

Am th’ only daughter° of a King and Queene,

Whose parents deare, whilest equal destinies°

Did runne about, and their felicities

The favourable heavens did not envy,

380

Did spread their rule through all the territories,

Which Phison° and Euphrates floweth by,

And Gehons golden waves doe wash continually.

XLIV

Till that their cruell cursed enemy,

An huge great Dragon horrible in sight,

385

Bred in the loathly lakes of Tartary,°

With murdrous ravine, and devouring might

Their kingdome spoild, and countrey wasted quight:

Themselves, for feare into his jawes to fall,

He forst to castle strong to take their flight,

390

Where fast embard in mighty brasen wall,

He has them now foure yeres besiegd to make them thrall.°

XLV

Full many knights adventurous and stout

Have enterpriz’d that Monster to subdew;

From every coast that heaven walks about,°

395

Have thither come the noble Martiall crew,

That famous hard atchievements still pursew;

Yet never any could that girlond win,

But all still shronke, and still he greater grew:

All they for want of faith, or guilt of sin,

400The pitteous pray of his fierce crueltie have bin.

XLVI

At last yledd with farre reported praise,

Which flying fame throughout the world had spred,

Of doughty knights, whom Faery land did raise,

That noble order° hight of Maidenhed,

405

Forthwith to court of Gloriane° I sped

Of Gloriane great Queene of glory bright,

Whose Kingdomes seat Cleopolis° is red,

There to obtaine some such redoubted knight,

The Parents deare from tyrants powre deliver might.

XLVII

410It was my chance (my chance was faire and good)

There for to find a fresh unproved knight,

Whose manly hands imbrew’d in guiltie blood

Had never bene, ne ever by his might

Had throwne to ground the unregarded right:

415

Yet of his prowesse proofe he since hath made

(I witnesse am) in many a cruell fight;

The groning ghosts of many one dismaide

Have felt the bitter dint of his avenging blade.

XLVIII

And ye the forlorne reliques of his powre,

420

His byting sword, and his devouring speare,

Which have endured many a dreadfull stowre,

Can speake his prowesse, that did earst you beare,

And well could rule: now he hath left you heare

To be the record of his ruefull losse,

425

And of my dolefull disaventurous deare:°

O heavie record of the good Redcrosse,

Where have you left your Lord, that could so well you tosse?

XLIX

Well hoped I, and faire beginnings had,

That he my captive languor° should redeeme,

430

Till all unweeting, an Enchaunter bad

His sence abusd, and made him to misdeeme

My loyalty,° not such as it did seeme;

That rather death desire, then such despight.

Be judge ye heavens, that all things right esteeme,

435

How I him lov’d, and love with all my might,

So thought I eke of him, and thinke I thought aright.

Thenceforth me desolate he quite forsooke,

To wander, where wilde fortune would me lead,

And other bywaies he himselfe betooke,

440

Where never foot of living wight did tread,

That brought° not backe the balefull body dead;

In which him chaunced false Duessa meete,

Mine onely foe, mine onely deadly dread,

Who with her witchcraft, and misseeming sweete,

445Inveigled him to follow her desires unmeete.

At last by subtill sleights she him betraid

Unto his foe, a Gyant huge and tall,

Who him disarmed, dissolute, dismaid,

Unwares surprised, and with mighty mall

450

The monster mercilesse him made to fall,

Whose fall did never foe before behold;

And now in darkesome dungeon, wretched thrall,

Remedilesse, for aie he doth him hold;

This is my cause of griefe, more great then may be told.

LII

455Ere she had ended all, she gan to faint:

But he her comforted and faire bespake,

Certes, Madame, ye have great cause of plaint,

The stoutest heart, I weene, could cause to quake.

But be of cheare, and comfort to you take:

460

For till I have acquit your captive knight,

Assure your selfe, I will you not forsake.

His chearefull wordes reviv’d her chearelesse spright,

So forth they went, the Dwarfe them guiding ever right.

CANTO VIII

Faire virgin, to redeeme her deare

brings Arthur to the fight:

Who slayes that Gyant, woundes the beast,

and strips Duessa quight.

AY me, how many perils doe enfold

The righteous man, to make him daily fall,

Were not that heavenly grace doth him uphold,

And stedfast truth acquite him out of all.

Her love is firme, her care continuall,

So oft as he through his owne foolish pride,

Or weaknesse is to sinfull bands made thrall:

Else should this Redcrosse knight in bands have dydd

For whose deliverance she this Prince doth thither guide.

10They sadly traveild thus, until they came

Nigh to a castle builded strong and hie:

Then cryde the Dwarfe, Lo yonder is the same,

In which my Lord my liege doth lucklesse lie,

Thrall to that Gyants hateful tyrannie:

Therefore, deare Sir, your mightie powres assay.

The noble knight alighted by and by

From loftie steede, and bad the Ladie stay,

To see what end of fight should him befall that day.

III

So with the Squire, th’ admirer of his might,

He marched forth towards that castle wall;

Whose gates he found fast shut, ne living wight

To ward the same, nor answere commers call.

Then tooke that Squire an horne° of bugle small.

Which hong adowne his side in twisted gold

And tassels gay. Wyde wonders over all

Of that same hornes great vertues weren told,

Which had approved bene in uses manifold.

Was never wight that heard that shrilling sownd,

But trembling feare did feel in every vaine;

Three miles it might be easie heard around,

And Ecchoes three answerd it selfe againe:

No false enchauntment, nor deceiptfull traine,

Might once abide the terror of that blast,

But presently was voide and wholly vaine:

No gate so strong, no locke so firme and fast,

But with that percing noise flew open quite, or brast.

The same before the Geants gate he blew,

That all the castle quaked from the ground,

And every dore of freewill open flew.

The Gyant selfe dismaied with that sownd,

Where he with his Duessa dalliance fownd,

In hast came rushing forth from inner bowre,

With staring countenance sterne, as one astownd,

And staggering steps, to weet, what suddein stowre,

45Had wrought that horror strange, and dar’d his dreaded powre.

And after him the proud Duessa came

High mounted on her many-headed beast;

And every head with fyrie tongue did flame,

And every head was crowned on his creast,

And bloody mouthed with late cruell feast.°

That when the knight beheld, his mightie shild

Upon his manly arme he soone addrest,

And at him fiercely flew, with courage fild,

And eger greedinesse through every member thrild.

VII

55Therewith the Gyant buckled him to fight,

Inflam’d with scornefull wrath and high disdaine,

And lifting up his dreadfull club on hight,

All arm’d with ragged snubbes and knottie graine,

Him thought at first encounter to have slaine.

But wise and wary was that noble Pere,

And lightly leaping from so monstrous maine,

Did faire avoide the violence him nere;

It booted nought to thinke such thunderbolts to beare.

VIII

Ne shame he thought to shunne so hideous might:

The idle stroke, enforcing furious way,

Missing the marke of his misaymed sight

Did fall to ground, and with his heavie sway

So deepely dinted in the driven clay,

That three yardes deepe a furrow up did throw:

The sad earth wounded with so sore assay,

Did grone full grievous underneath the blow,

And trembling with strange feare, did like an earthquake show.

As when almightie Jove, in wrathfull mood,°

To wreake the guilt of mortall sins is bent,

Hurles forth his thundring dart with deadly food,

Enrold in flames, and smouldring dreriment,

Through riven cloudes and molten firmament;

The fierce threeforked engin making way

Both loftie towres and highest trees hath rent,

And all that might his angry passage stay,

And shooting in the earth, casts up a mount of clay.

His boystrous club, so buried in the ground,

He could not rearen up againe so light,

But that the knight him at avantage found,

And whiles he strove his combred clubbe to quight

Out of the earth, with blade all burning bright

He smote off his left arme, which like a blocke

Did fall to ground, depriv’d of native might;

Large streames of bloud out of the truncked stocke

90Forth gushed, like fresh water streame from riven rocke.

Dismayed with so desperate deadly wound,

And eke impatient of unwonted paine,

He lowdly brayd with beastly yelling sound,

That all the fields rebellowed againe;

As great a noyse, as when in Cymbrian plaine°

An heard of Bulles, whom kindly rage° doth sting,

Do for the milkie mothers want complaine,

And fill the fields with troublous bellowing,

The neighbour woods around with hollow murmur ring.

XII

100That when his deare Duessa heard, and saw

The evil stownd, that daungerd her estate,

Unto his aide she hastily did draw

Her dreadfull beast, who swolne with blood of late

Came ramping forth with proud presumpteous gate,

105

And threatned all his heads like flaming brands.°

But him the Squire made quickly to retrate,

Encountring fierce with single sword in hand,

And twixt him and his Lord did like a bulwarke stand.

XIII

The proud Duessa, full of wrathfull spight,

110

And fierce disdaine, to be affronted so,

Enforst her purple beast with all her might

That stop out of the way to overthroe,

Scorning the let of so unequall foe:

But nathemore would that courageous swayne

115

To her yeeld passage, gainst his Lord to goe,

But with outrageous strokes did him restraine,

And with his bodie bard the way atwixt them twaine.

XIV

Then tooke the angrie witch her golden cup,°

Which still she bore, replete with magick artes;

120

Death and despeyre did many thereof sup,

And secret poyson through their inner parts,

Th’ eternall bale of heavie wounded harts;

Which after charmes and some enchauntments said

She lightly sprinkled on his weaker parts;

125

Therewith his sturdie courage soone was quayd,

And all his senses were with suddeine dread dismayd.

So downe he fell before the cruell beast,

Who on his neck his bloody clawes did seize,

That life nigh crusht out of his panting brest:

130

No powre he had to stirre, nor will to rize.

That when the carefull knight gan well avise,

He lightly left the foe, with whom he fought,

And to the beast gan turne his enterprise;

For wondrous anguish in his hart it wrought,

135To see his loved Squire into such thraldome brought.

XVI

And high advauncing his blood-thirstie blade,

Stroke one of those deformed heads so sore,

That of his puissance proud ensample made;

His monstrous scalpe downe to his teeth it tore,

140

And that misformed shape mis-shaped more:

A sea of blood gusht from the gaping wound,

That her gay garments staynd with filthy gore,

And overflowed all the field around;

That over shoes in bloud he waded on the ground.

XVII

145Thereat he roared for exceeding paine,

That to have heard great horror would have bred,

And scourging th’ emptie ayre with his long traine,

Through great impatience° of his grieved hed

His gorgeous ryder from her loftie sted

150

Would have cast downe, and trod in durtie myre,

Had not the Gyant soone her succoured;

Who all enrag’d with smart and franticke yre,

Came hurtling in full fierce, and forst the knight retyre.

XVIII

The force which wont in two to be disperst,

155

In one alone left hand° he now unites,

Which is through rage more strong than both were erst;

With which his hideous club aloft he dites,

And at his foe with furious rigour smites,

That strongest Oake might seeme to overthrow:

160

The stroke upon his shield so heavie lites,

That to the ground it doubleth him full low:

What mortall wight could ever beare so monstrous blow?

XIX

And in his fall his shield,° that covered was,

Did loose his vele by chaunce, and open flew:

165

The light whereof, that heavens light did pas,

Such blazing brightnesse through the aier threw,

That eye mote not the same endure to vew.

Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye,

He downe let fall his arme, and soft withdrew

170

His weapon huge, that heaved was on hye

For to have slaine the man, that on the ground did lye.

And eke the fruitfull-headed beast, amazd

At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield,

Became starke blind, and all his sences daz’d,

175

That downe he tumbled on the durtie field,

And seem’d himselfe as conquered to yield.

Whom when his maistresse proud perceiv’d to fall,

Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld,

Unto the Gyant loudly she gan call,

180O helpe Orgoglio, helpe, or else we perish all.

XXI

At her so pitteous cry was much amoov’d

Her champion stout, and for to ayde his frend,

Againe his wonted angry weapon proov’d:

But all in vaine: for he has read his end

185

In that bright shield, and all their forces spend

Themselves in vaine: for since that glauncing sight,

He had no powre to hurt, nor to defend;

As where th’ Almighties lightning brond does light,

It dimmes the dazed eyen, and daunts the senses quight.

XXII

190Whom when the Prince, to battell new addrest,

And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see,

His sparkling blade about his head he blest,

And smote off quite his right leg by the knee,

That downe he tombled; as an aged tree,

195

High growing on the top of rocky clift,

Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be,

The mightie trunck halfe rent, with ragged rift

Doth roll adowne the rocks, and fall with fearefull drift.

XXIII

Or as a Castle reared high and round,

200

By subtile engins and malitious slight

Is undermined from the lowest ground,

And her foundation forst, and feebled quight,

At last downe falles, and with her heaped hight

Her hastie ruine does more heavie make,

205

And yields it selfe unto the victours might;

Such was this Gyants fall, that seemd to shake

The stedfast globe of earth, as it for feare did quake.

XXIV

The knight then lightly leaping to the pray,

With mortall steele him smot againe so sore,

210

That headlesse his unweldy bodie lay,

All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore,

Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous store.

But soone as breath out of his breast did pas,

That huge great body, which the Gyaunt bore,

215

Was vanisht quite, and of that monstrous mas

Was nothing left, but like an emptie bladder was.

XXV

Whose grievous fall, when false Duessa spide,

Her golden cup she cast unto the ground,

And crowned mitre rudely threw aside;

220

Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound,

That she could not endure that dolefull stound,

But leaving all behind her, fled away;

The light-foot Squire her quickly turnd around,

And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay,

225So brought unto his Lord, as his deserved pray.

XXVI

The royall Virgin which beheld from farre,

In pensive plight, and sad perplexitie,

The whole atchievement of this doubtfull warre,

Came running fast to greet his victorie,

230

With sober gladnesse, and myld modestie,

And with sweet joyous cheare him thus bespake:

Faire braunch of noblesse, flowre of chevalrie,

That with your worth the world amazed make,

How shall I quite the paines ye suffer for my sake?

XXVII

235And you fresh budd of vertue springing fast,

Whom these sad eyes saw nigh unto deaths dore,

What hath poore Virgin for such perill past

Wherewith you to reward? Accept therefore

My simple selfe, and service evermore;

240

And he that high does sit, and all things see

With equall eyes, their merites to restore,

Behold what ye this day have done for mee,

And what I cannot quite, requite with usuree.

XXVIII

But sith the heavens, and your faire handeling

245

Have made you master of the field this day,

Your fortune maister° eke with governing,

And well begun end all so well, I pray.

Ne let that wicked woman scape away;

For she it is, that did my Lord bethrall,

250

My dearest Lord, and deepe in dongeon lay,

Where he his better dayes hath wasted all.

O heare, how piteous he to you for ayd does call.

XXIX

Forthwith he gave in charge unto his Squire,

That scarlot whore to keepen carefully;

255

Whiles he himselfe with greedie great desire

Into the Castle entred forcibly,

Where living creature none he did espye;

Then gan he lowdly through the house to call:

But no man car’d to answere to his crye.

260

There raignd a solemne silence over all,

Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seene in bowre or hall.

XXX

At last with creeping crooked pace forth came

An old old man, with beard as white as snow,

That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame,

265

And guide his wearie gate both to and fro:

For his eye sight him failed long ygo,

And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore,

The which unused rust° did overgrow:

Those were the keyes of every inner dore,

270But he could not them use, but kept them still in store.

XXXI

But very uncouth sight was to behold,

How he did fashion his untoward pace,

For as he forward moov’d his footing old,

So backward still was turnd his wrincled face,

275

Unlike to men, who ever as they trace,

Both feet and face one way are wont to lead.

This was the auncient keeper of that place,

And foster father of the Gyant dead;

His name Ignaro did his nature right aread.

XXXII

280His reverend haires and holy gravitie

The knight much honord, as beseemed well,

And gently askt, where all the people bee,

Which in that stately building wont to dwell.

Who answerd him full soft, he could not tell.

285

Again he askt, where that same knight was layd,

Whom great Orgoglio with his puissance fell

Had made his caytive thrall, againe he sayde,

He could not tell: ne ever other answere made.

XXXIII

Then asked he, which way he in might pas:

290

He could not tell, againe he answered.

Thereat the curteous knight displeased was,

And said, Old sire, it seemes thou hast not red

How ill it sits with that same silver hed,

In vaine to mocke, or mockt in vaine to bee:

295

But if thou be, as thou art pourtrahed

With natures pen,° in ages grave degree,

Aread in graver wise, what I demaund of thee.

XXXIV

His answere likewise was, he could not tell.

Whose sencelesse speach, and doted ignorance

300

When as the noble Prince had marked well,

He ghest his nature by his countenance,

And calmd his wrath with goodly temperance.

Then to him stepping, from his arme did reach

Those keyes, and made himselfe free enterance.

305

Each dore he opened without any breach;

There was no barre to stop, nor foe him to empeach.

XXXV

There all within full rich arrayd he found,

With royall arras and resplendent gold.

And did with store of every thing abound,

310

That greatest Princes° presence might behold.

But all the floore (too filthy to be told)

With bloud of guiltlesse babes, and innocents trew,°

Which there were slaine, as sheepe out of the fold,

Defiled was, that dreadfull was to vew,

315And sacred ashes over it was strowed new.°

XXXVI

And there beside of marble stone was built

An Altare,° carv’d with cunning ymagery,

On which true Christians bloud was often spilt,

And holy Martyrs often doen to dye,

320

With cruell malice and strong tyranny:

Whose blessed sprites from underneath the stone

To God for vengeance cryde continually,

And with great griefe were often heard to grone,

That hardest heart would bleede, to hear their piteous mone.

XXXVII

325Through every rowme he sought, and every bowr,

But no where could he find that woful thrall:

At last he came unto an yron doore,

That fast was lockt, but key found not at all

Emongst that bounch, to open it withall;

330

But in the same a little grate was pight,

Through which he sent his voyce, and lowd did call

With all his powre, to weet, if living wight

Were housed there within, whom he enlargen might.

XXXVIII

Therewith an hollow, dreary, murmuring voyce

335

These pitteous plaints and dolours did resound;

O who is that, which brings me happy choyce

Of death, that here lye dying every stound,

Yet live perforce in balefull darkenesse bound?

For now three Moones have changed thrice their hew,

340

And have been thrice hid underneath the ground,

Since I the heavens chearfull face did vew,

O welcome thou, that doest of death bring tydings trew.

XXXIX

Which when that Champion heard, with percing point

Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore,

345

And trembling horrour ran through every joynt

For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore:

Which shaking off, he rent that yron dore,

With furious force, and indignation fell;

Where entred in, his foot could find no flore,

350

But all a deepe descent, as darke as hell,

That breathed ever forth a filthie banefull smell.

But neither darkenesse fowle, nor filthy bands,

Nor noyous smell his purpose could withhold,

(Entire affection hateth nicer hands)

355

But that with constant zeale, and courage bold,

After long paines and labours manifold,

He found the meanes that Prisoner up to reare;

Whose feeble thighes, unhable to uphold

His pined corse, him scarse to light could beare.

360A ruefull spectacle of death and ghastly drere.

XLI

His sad dull eyes deepe sunck in hollow pits,

Could not endure th’ unwonted sunne to view;

His bare thin cheekes for want of better bits,

And empty sides deceived of their dew,

365

Could make a stony hart his hap to rew;

His rawbone armes, whose mighty brawned bowrs°

Were wont to rive steele plates, and helmets hew,

Were cleane consum’d, and all his vitall powres

Decayd, and all his flesh shronk up like withered flowres.

XLII

370Whom when his Lady saw, to him she ran

With hasty joy: to see him made her glad,

And sad to view his visage pale and wan,

Who earst in flowres of freshest youth was clad.

Tho when her well of teares she wasted had,

375

She said, Ah dearest Lord, what evill starre°

On you hath fround, and pourd his influence bad,

That of your selfe ye thus berobbed arre,

And this misseeming hew your manly looks doth marre?

XLIII

But welcome now my Lord, in wele or woe,

380

Whose presence I have lackt too long a day;

And fie on Fortune mine avowed foe,°

Whose wrathful wreakes them selves doe now alay.

And for these wrongs shall treble penaunce pay

Of treble good: good growes of evils priefe.°

385

The chearelesse man, whom sorrow did dismay,

Had no delight to treaten of his griefe;

His long endured famine needed more reliefe.

XLIV

Faire Lady, then said that victorious knight,

The things, that grievous were to do, or beare,

390

Them to renew, I wote, breeds no delight;

Best musicke breeds delight° in loathing eare:

But th’ onely good, that growes of passed feare,

Is to be wise, and ware of like agein.

This dayes ensample hath this lesson deare

395

Deepe written in my heart with yron pen,

That blisse may not abide in state of mortall men.

XLV

Henceforth sir knight, take to you wonted strength,

And maister these mishaps with patient might;

Loe where your foe lyes stretcht in monstrous length,

400

And loe that wicked woman in your sight,

The roote of all your care, and wretched plight,

Now in your powre, to let her live, or dye.

To do her dye (quoth Una) were despight,

And shame t’avenge so weake an enimy;

405But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly.

XLVI

So as she bad, that witch they disaraid,°

And robd of royall robes, and purple pall,

And ornaments that richly were displaid;

Ne spared they to strip her naked all.

410

Then when they had despoiled her tire and call,

Such as she was, their eyes might her behold,

That her misshaped parts did them appall,

A loathly, wrinckled hag, ill favoured, old,

Whose secret filth good manners biddeth not be told.

* * * * *

XLIX

415Which when the knights beheld, amazd they were,

And wondred at so fowle deformed wight.

Such then (said Una) as she seemeth here,

Such is the face of falshood, such the sight

Of fowle Duessa, when her borrowed light

420

Is laid away, and counterfesaunce knowne.

Thus when they had the witch disrobed quight,

And all her filthy feature open showne,

They let her goe at will, and wander wayes unknowne.

She flying fast from heavens hated face,

425

And from the world that her discovered wide,

Fled to the wastfull wildernesse apace,

From living eyes her open shame to hide,

And lurkt in rocks and caves long unespide.

But that faire crew of knights, and Una faire

430

Did in that castle afterwards abide,

To rest them selves, and weary powres repaire,

Where store they found of all that dainty was and rare.

CANTO IX

His loves and lignage Arthur tells:

the Knights knit friendly hands:

Sir Trevisan flies from Despayre,

whom Redcrosse Knight withstands.

O GOODLY golden chaine,° wherewith yfere

The vertues linked are in lovely wize:

And noble mindes of yore allyed were,

In brave poursuit of chevalrous emprize,

That none did others safety despize,

Nor aid envy to him, in need that stands,

But friendly each did others prayse devize,

How to advaunce with favourable hands,

As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from bands.

10Who when their powres empaird through labour long,

With dew repast they had recured well,

And that weake captive wight now wexed strong,

Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,

But forward fare, as their adventures fell,

But ere they parted, Una faire besought

That straunger knight his name and nation tell;

Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,

Should die unknown, and buried be in thanklesse° thought.

III

Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me require

A thing without the compas of my wit:

For both the lignage and the certain Sire,

From which I sprong, from me are hidden yit.

For all so soone as life did me admit

Into this world, and shewed heavens light,

From mothers pap I taken was unfit:

And streight deliver’d to a Faery knight,°

To be upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.

Unto old Timon he me brought bylive,

Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beene

In warlike feates th’expertest man alive,

And is the wisest now on earth I weene;

His dwelling is low in a valley greene,

Under the foot of Rauran mossy hore,°

From whence the river Dee° as silver cleene,

His tombling billowes roll with gentle rore:

There all my dayes he traind me up in vertuous lore.

Thither the great magicien Merlin came,

As was his use, ofttimes to visit me:

For he had charge my discipline to frame,°

And Tutours nouriture to oversee.

Him oft and oft I askt in privitie,

Of what loines and what lignage I did spring:

Whose aunswere bad me still assured bee,

That I was sonne and heire unto a king,

45As time in her just terme° the truth to light should bring.

Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent,

And pupill fit for such a Tutours hand.

But what adventure, or what high intent

Hath brought you hither into Faery land,

Aread Prince Arthur, crowne of Martiall band?

Full hard it is (quoth he) to read aright

The course of heavenly cause, or understand

The secret meaning of th’ eternall might,

That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of living wight.

VII

55For whether he through fatall deepe foresight

Me hither sent, for cause to me unghest,

Or that fresh bleeding wound,° which day and night

Whilome doth rancle in my riven brest,

With forced fury° following his behest,

Me hither brought by wayes yet never found;

You to have helpt I hold myself yet blest.

Ah curteous knight (quoth she) what secret wound

Could ever find,° to grieve the gentlest hart on ground?

VIII

Deare dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake,°

Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow,

Ne ever will their fervent fury slake,

Till living moysture into smoke do flow,

And wasted life do lye in ashes low.

Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire,

But told° it flames, and hidden it does glow;

I will revele what ye so much desire:

Ah Love, lay down thy bow, the whiles I may respire.

It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares,

When courage first does creepe in manly chest,

Then first the coale of kindly heat appeares

To kindle love in every living brest;

But me had warnd old Timons wise behest,

Those creeping flames by reason to subdew,

Before their rage grew to so great unrest,

As miserable lovers use to rew,

Which still wex old in woe, whiles woe still wexeth new.

That idle name of love, and lovers life,

As losse of time, and vertues enimy,

I ever scornd, and joyd to stirre up strife,

In middest of their mournfull Tragedy,

Ay wont to laugh, when them I heard to cry,

And blow the fire, which them to ashes brent:

Their God himselfe, griev’d at my libertie,

Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent,

90But I them warded all with wary government.

But all in vaine: no fort can be so strong,

Ne fleshly brest can armed be so sound,

But will at last be wonne with battrie long,

Or unawares at disadvantage found:

Nothing is sure, that growes on earthly ground:

And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might,

And boasts in beauties chaine not to be bound,

Doth soonest fall in disaventrous fight,

And yeeldes his caytive neck to victours most despight.

XII

100Ensample make° of him your haplesse joy,

And of my selfe now mated, as ye see;

Whose prouder vaunt that proud avenging boy

Did soone pluck downe and curbd my libertie.

For on a day, prickt forth with jollitie

105

Of looser life, and heat of hardiment,

Raunging the forest wide on courser free,

The fields, the floods, the heavens with one consent

Did seeme to laugh on me, and favour mine intent.

XIII

For-wearied with my sports, I did alight

110

From loftie steed, and downe to sleepe me layd;

The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight,

And pillow was my helmet faire displayd:

Whiles every sence° the humour sweet embayd,

And slombring soft my hart did steale away,

115

Me seemed, by my side a royall Mayd

Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay:

So faire a creature yet saw never sunny day.

XIV

Most goodly glee and lovely blandishment

She to me made, and bad me love her deare;

120

For dearely sure her love was to me bent,

As when just time expired should appeare.

But whether dreames delude, or true it were,

Was never hart so ravisht with delight,

Ne living man like words did ever heare,

125

As she to me delivered all that night;

And at her parting said, She Queene of Faeries hight.

When I awoke, and found her place devoyd,

And nought but pressed gras, where she had lyen,

I sorrowed all so much as earst I joyd,

130

And washed all her place with watry eyen.

From that day forth I lov’d that face divine;

From that day forth I cast in carefull mind

To seeke her out with labour, and long tyne,

And never vowd to rest till her I find,

135Nine monethes I seeke in vain, yet ni’ll that vow unbind.

XVI

Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale,

And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray;

Yet still he strove to cloke his inward bale,

And hide the smoke that did his fire display,

140

Till gentle Una thus to him gan say;

O happy Queene of Faeries, that has found

Mongst many, one that with his prowesse may

Defend thine honour, and thy foes confound:

True Loves are often sown, but seldom grow on ground.

XVII

145Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight,

Next to that Ladies love,° shal be the place,

O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light,

Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race,

Was firmest fixt° in mine extremest case.

150

And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life,

Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace:

For onely worthy you through prowes priefe,

Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe.

XVIII

So diversly discoursing of their loves,

155

The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew,

And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoves

With fresh desire his voyage to pursew;

Als Una earnd her traveill to renew.

Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd,

160

And love establish each to other trew,

Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd,

And eke the pledges firme, right hands together joynd.

XIX

Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure,

Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament,

165

Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure,

Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent,

That any wound could heale incontinent:

Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gave

A booke,° wherein his Saveours testament

170

Was writ with golden letters rich and brave;

A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to save.

Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his way

To seeke his love, and th’ other for to fight

With Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray.

175

But she now weighing the decayed plight,

And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight,

Would not a while her forward course pursew,

Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight,

Till he recovered had his former hew:

180For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew.

XXI

So as they traveild, lo they gan espy

An armed knight° towards them gallop fast,

That seemed from some feared foe to fly,

Or other griesly thing, that him aghast.

185

Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast,

As if his feare still followed him behind;

Als flew his steed, as he his bands had brast,

And with his winged heeles did tread the wind,

As he had beene a fole of Pegasus° his kind.

XXII

190Nigh as he drew, they might perceive his head

To be unarmd, and curld uncombed heares

Upstaring stiffe, dismayd with uncouth dread;

Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares

Nor life in limbe: and to increase his feares

195

In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree,

About his neck an hempen rope he weares,

That with his glistring armes does ill agree;

But he of rope or armes has now no memoree.

XXIII

The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast,

200

To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd:

There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast,

That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd;

Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd,

Till he these wordes to him deliver might;

205

Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd,

And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight:

For never knight I saw in such misseeming plight.

XXIV

He answerd nought at all, but adding new

Feare to his first amazment, staring wide

210

With stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew,

Astonisht stood, as one that had aspide

Infernall furies, with their chaines untide.

Him yet againe, and yet againe bespake

The gentle knight; who nought to him replide,

215

But trembling every joint did inly quake,

And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake.

XXV

For Gods deare love, Sir knight, do me not stay;

For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee.

Eft looking back would faine have runne away;

220

But he him forst to stay, and tellen free

The secret cause of his perplexitie:

Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach

Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee,

But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach,

225Yet forst, at last he made through silence suddein breach.

XXVI

And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he)

From him, that would have forced me to dye?

And is the point of death now turnd fro mee,

That I may tell this haplesse history?

230

Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye.

Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace,

(Said he) the which with this unlucky eye

I late beheld, and had not greater grace°

Me reft from it, had bene partaker of the place.

XXVII

235I lately chaunst (would I had never chaunst)

With a faire knight to keepen companee,

Sir Terwin hight, that well himselfe advaunst

In all affaires, and was both bold and free,

But not so happy as mote happy bee:

240

He lov’d, as was his lot, a Ladie gent,

That him againe lov’d in the least degree:

For she was proud, and of too high intent,

And joyd to see her lover languish and lament.

XXVIII

From whom returning sad and comfortlesse,

245

As on the way together we did fare,

We met that villen (God from him me blesse)

That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare,

A man of hell, that cals himselfe Despaire:

Who first us greets, and after faire areedes°

250

Of tydings strange, and of adventures rare:

So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes,

Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes.

XXIX

Which when he knew, and felt our feeble harts

Embost with bale, and bitter byting griefe,

255

Which love had launched with his deadly darts,

With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe,

He pluckt from us all hope of due reliefe,

That earst us held in love of lingring life;

Then hopelesse hartlesse, gan the cunning thiefe

260

Perswade us die, to stint all further strife:

To me he lent this rope, to him a rustie knife.

XXX

With which sad instrument of hasty death,

That wofull lover, loathing lenger light,

A wide way made to let forth living breath.

265

But I more fearfull, or more luckie wight,

Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight,

Fled fast away, halfe dead with dying feare:°

Ne yet assur’d of life by you, Sir knight,

Whose like infirmitie° like chaunce may beare:

270But God° you never let his charmed speeches heare.

XXXI

How may a man (said he) with idle speach

Be wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health?°

I wote° (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,

That like would not for all this worldes wealth:

275

His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt’h°

Into the hart, and searcheth every vaine;

That ere one be aware, by secret stealth

His powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.

O never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.

XXXII

280Certes (said he) hence shall I never rest,

Till I that treacherours art have heard and tride;

And you Sir knight, whose name mote I request,

Of grace do me unto his cabin guide.

I that hight Trevisan (quoth he) will ride,

285

Against my liking backe, to do you grace:

But not for gold nor glee° will I abide

By you, when ye arrive in that same place

For lever had I die, then see his deadly face.

XXXIII

Ere long they come, where that same wicked wight

290

His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave,

Farre underneath a craggie clift ypight,

Darke, dolefull, drearie, like a greedy grave,

That still for carrion carcases doth crave:

On top whereof aye dwelt the ghastly Owle,°

295

Shrieking his balefull note, which ever drave

Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle;

And all about it wandring ghostes did waile and howle.

XXXIV

And all about old stockes and stubs of trees,

Whereon nor fruit nor leafe was ever seene,

300

Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees;

On which had many wretches hanged beene,

Whose carcases were scattered on the greene,

And throwne about the clifts. Arrived there,

That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene,

305

Would faine have fled, ne durst approchen neare,

But th’ other forst him stay, and comforted in feare.

XXXV

That darkesome cave they enter, where they find

That cursed man, low sitting on the ground,

Musing full sadly in his sullein mind;

310

His griesie lockes, long growen, and unbound,

Disordred hong about his shoulders round,

And hid his face; through which his hollow eyne

Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound;

His raw-bone cheekes, through penurie and pine,

315Were shronke into his jawes, as° he did never dine.

XXXVI

His garment nought but many ragged clouts,

With thornes together pind and patched was,

The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts;

And him beside there lay upon the gras

320

A drearie corse,° whose life away did pas,

All wallowed in his owne yet luke-warme blood,

That from his wound yet welled fresh alas;

In which a rustie knife fast fixed stood,

And made an open passage for the gushing flood.

XXXVII

325Which piteous spectacle, approving trew

The wofull tale that Trevisan had told,

When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew,

With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold,

Him to avenge, before his bloud were cold,

330

And to the villein said, Thou damned wight,

The author of this fact we here behold,

What justice can but judge against thee right,°

With thine owne bloud to price° his bloud, here shed in sight.

XXXVIII

What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught

335

Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to give?

What justice° ever other judgement taught,

But he should die, who merites not to live?

None else to death this man despayring drive,

But his owne guiltie mind deserving death.

340

Is then unjust° to each his due to give?

Or let him die, that loatheth living breath?

Or let him die at ease, that liveth here uneath?

XXXIX

Who travels by the wearie wandring way,°

To come unto his wished home in haste,

345

And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay,

Is not great grace to helpe him over past,

Or free his feet that in the myre sticke fast?

Most envious man, that grieves at neighbours good,

And fond, that joyest in the woe thou hast,

350

Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stood

Upon the banke, yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood?

He there does now enjoy eternall rest

And happy ease, which thou dost want and crave,

And further from it daily wanderest:

355

What if some little paine the passage have,

That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter wave?

Is not short paine well borne, that brings long ease,

And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet grave?

Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas,

360Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please.

XLI

The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit,°

And said, The terme of life is limited,

Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it;

The souldier may not move from watchfull sted,

365

Nor leave his stand, untill his Captaine bed.

Who life did limit by almightie doome

(Quoth he)° knowes best the termes established;

And he, that points the Centonell his roome,

Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome.

XLII

370Is not his deed, what ever thing is donne

In heaven and earth? did not he all create

To die againe? all ends that was begonne.

Their times in his eternall booke of fate

Are written sure, and have their certaine date.

375

Who then can strive with strong necessitie,

That holds the world in his still chaunging state,

Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie?

When houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why.

XLIII

The lenger life, I wote the greater sin,

380

The greater sin, the greater punishment:

All those great battels, which thou boasts to win,

Through strife, and blood-shed, and avengement,

Now praysd, hereafter deare thou shalt repent:

For life must life, and blood must blood repay.

385

Is not enough thy evill life forespent?

For he that once hath missed the right way,

The further he doth goe, the further he doth stray.

XLIV

Then do no further goe, no further stray,

But here lie downe, and to thy rest betake,

390

Th’ ill to prevent, that life ensewen may.

For what hath life, that may it loved make,

And gives not rather cause it to forsake?

Feare, sicknesse, age, losse, labour, sorrow, strife,

Paine, hunger, cold, that makes the hart to quake;

395

And ever fickle fortune rageth rife,

All which, and thousands mo do make a loathsome life.

XLV

Thou wretched man, of death hast greatest need,

If in true ballance thou wilt weigh thy state:

For never knight, that dared warlike deede,

400

More lucklesse disaventures did amate:

Witnesse the dungeon deepe, wherein of late

Thy life shut up, for death so oft did call;

And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date,°

Yet death then would the like mishaps forestall,

405Into the which hereafter thou maiest happen fall.

XLVI

Why then doest thou, O man of sin, desire

To draw thy dayes forth to their last degree?

Is not the measure of thy sinfull hire°

High heaped up with huge iniquitie,

410

Against the day of wrath, to burden thee?

Is not enough, that to this Ladie milde

Thou falsed hast thy faith with perjurie,

And sold thy selfe to serve Duessa vilde,

With whom in all abuse thou hast thy selfe defilde?

XLVII

415Is not he just, that all this doth behold

From highest heaven, and beares an equall eye?

Shall he thy sins up in his knowledge fold,

And guilty be of thine impietie?

Is not his law, Let every sinner die:

420

Die shall all flesh? what then must needs be donne,

Is it not better to doe willinglie,

Then linger, till the glasse be all out ronne?

Death is the end of woes: die soone, O faeries sonne.

XLVIII

The knight was much enmoved with his speach,

425

That as a swords point through his hart did perse,

And in his conscience made a secret breach,

Well knowing true all that he did reherse,

And to his fresh remembraunce did reverse

The ugly vew of his deformed crimes,

430

That all his manly powres it did disperse,

As he were charmed° with inchaunted rimes,

That oftentimes he quakt, and fainted oftentimes.

XLIX

In which amazement, when the Miscreant

Perceived him to waver weake and fraile,

435

Whiles trembling horror did his conscience dant,

And hellish anguish did his soule assaile,

To drive him to despaire, and quite to quaile,

He shew’d him painted in a table° plaine,

The damned ghosts, that doe in torments waile,

440

And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paine

With fire and brimstone, which for ever shall remaine.

The sight whereof so throughly him dismaid,

That nought but death before his eyes he saw,

And ever burning wrath before him laid,

445

By righteous sentence of th’ Almighties law.

Then gan the villein him to overcraw,

And brought unto him swords, ropes, poison, fire,

And all that might him to perdition draw;

And bad him choose, what death he would desire:

450For death was due to him, that had provokt Gods ire.

But when as none of them he saw him take,

He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene,

And gave it him in hand: his hand did quake,

And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene,

455

And troubled bloud through his pale face was seene

To come, and goe with tidings from the heart,

As it a running messenger had beene.

At last resolv’d to worke his finall smart,

He lifted up his hand, that backe againe did start.

LII

460Which whenas Una saw, through every vaine

The crudled cold ran to her well of life,

As in a swowne: but soone reliv’d againe,

Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife,

And threw it to the ground, enraged rife,

465

And to him said, Fie, fie, faint harted knight,

What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife?

Is this the battell, which thou vauntst to fight

With that fire-mouthed Dragon,° horrible and bright?

LIII

Come, come away, fraile, seely, fleshly wight,

470

Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart,

Ne divelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright.

In heavenly mercies hast thou not a part?

Why shouldst thou then despeire, that chosen art?°

Where justice growes, there grows eke greater grace,

475

The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart,

And that accurst hand-writing° doth deface.

Arise, Sir knight, arise, and leave this cursed place.

LIV

So up he rose, and thence amounted streight.

Which when the carle beheld, and saw his guest

480

Would safe depart for all his subtill sleight,

He chose an halter from among the rest,

And with it hung himselfe, unbid unblest.

But death he could not worke himselfe thereby;

For thousand times he so himselfe had drest,

485

Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die,

Till he should die his last, that is, eternally.

CANTO X

Her faithfull knight faire Una brings

to house of Holinesse,

Where he is taught repentance, and

the way to heavenly blesse.

WHAT man is he, that boasts of fleshly might

And vaine assurance of mortality,

Which all so soone as it doth come to fight

Against spirituall foes, yeelds by and by,

Or from the field most cowardly doth fly?

Ne let the man ascribe it to his skill,

That thorough grace hath gained victory.

If any strength we have, it is to ill,

But all the good is Gods, both power and eke will.

10But that, which lately hapned, Una saw,

That this her knight was feeble, and too faint;

And all his sinews woxen weake and raw,

Through long enprisonment, and hard constraint,

Which he endured in his late restraint,

That yet he was unfit for bloudy fight:

Therefore to cherish him with diets daint,

She cast to bring him, where he chearen might.

Till he recovered had his late decayed plight.

III

There was an auntient house° not farre away,

Renowmd throughout the world for sacred lore,

And pure unspotted life: so well they say

It governd was, and guided evermore,

Through wisedome of a matrone grave and hore

Whose onely joy was to relieve the needes

Of wretched soules, and helpe the helpelesse pore:

All night she spent in bidding of her bedes,

And all the day in doing good and godly deedes.

Dame Cœlia° men did her call, as thought

From heaven to come, or thither to arise,

The mother of three daughters, well upbrought

In goodly thewes, and godly exercise:

The eldest two, most sober, chast, and wise,

Fidelia° and Speranza virgins were,

Though spousd, yet wanting wedlocks solemnize:

But faire Charissa° to a lovely fere

Was lincked, and by him had many pledges dere.

Arrived there, the dore they find fast lockt;

For it was warely watched night and day,

For feare of many foes: but when they knockt,

The Porter opened unto them streight way:

He was an aged syre, all hory gray,

With lookes full lowly cast, and gate full slow,

Wont on a staffe his feeble steps to stay,

Hight Humiltà.° They passe in stouping low;

45For streight and narrow was the way which he did show.

Each goodly thing is hardest to begin,

But entred in a spacious court they see,

Both plaine, and pleasant to be walked in,

Where them does meete a francklin faire and free,

And entertaines with comely courteous glee,

His name was Zele, that him right well became,

For in his speeches and behaviour hee

Did labour lively to expresse the same,

And gladly did them guide, till to the Hall they came.

VII

55There fairely them receives a gentle Squire,

Of milde demeanure, and rare courtesie,

Right cleanly clad in comely sad attire;

In word and deede that shew’d great modestie,

And knew his good° to all of each degree,

Hight Reverence. He them with speeches meet

Does faire entreat; no courting nicetie,

But simple true, and eke unfained sweet,

As might become a Squire so great persons to greet.

VIII

And afterwards them to his Dame he leades,

That aged Dame, the Ladie of the place:

Who all this while was busy at her beades:

Which doen, she up arose with seemely grace,

And toward them full matronely did pace.

Where when that fairest Una she beheld,

Whom well she knew to spring from heavenly race,

Her hart with joy unwonted inly sweld,

As feeling wondrous comfort in her weaker eld.

And her embracing said, O happie earth,

Whereon thy innocent feet doe ever tread,

Most vertuous virgin borne of heavenly berth,

That, to redeeme thy woefull parents head,

From tyrans rage, and ever dying dread,°

Hast wandred through the world now long a day;°

Yet ceasest not thy weary soles to lead,°

What grace hath thee now hither brought this way?

Or doen thy feeble feet unweeting hither stray?

Strange thing it is an errant knight to see

Here in this place, or any other wight,

That hither turnes his steps. So few there bee

That chose the narrow path, or seeke the right:

All keepe the broad high way, and take delight

With many rather for to go astray,

And be partakers of their evill plight,

Then with a few to walke the rightest way;

90O foolish men, why haste ye to your owne decay?

Thy selfe to see, and tyred limbes to rest,

O matrone sage (quoth she) I hither came;

And this good knight his way with me addrest,

Led with thy prayses and broad-blazed fame,

That up to heaven is blowne. The auncient Dame

Him goodly greeted in her modest guise,

And entertaynd them both, as best became,

With all the court’sies that she could devise,

Ne wanted ought, to shew her bounteous or wise.

XII

100Thus as they gan of sundry things devise,

Loe two most goodly virgins came in place,

Ylinked arme in arme in lovely wise,

With countenance demure, and modest grace,

They numbred even steps and equall pace:

105

Of which the eldest, that Fidelia hight,

Like sunny beames threw from her christall face,

That could have dazd the rash beholders sight,

And round about her head did shine like heavens light.

XIII

She was araied all in lilly white,°

110

And in her right hand bore a cup of gold,

With wine and water fild up to the hight,

In which a Serpent did himselfe enfold,

That horrour made to all that did behold;

But she no whit did chaunge her constant mood:

115

And in her other hand she fast did hold

A booke, that was both signd and seald with blood:

Wherin darke things were writ, hard to be understood.

XIV

Her younger sister, that Speranza hight,

Was clad in blew, that her beseemed well;

120

Not all so chearefull seemed she of sight,

As was her sister; whether dread did dwell,

Or anguish in her hart, is hard to tell:

Upon her arme a silver anchor lay,

Whereon she leaned ever, as befell:

125

And ever up to heaven, as she did pray,

Her stedfast eyes were bent, ne swarved other way.

They seeing Una, towards her gan wend,

Who them encounters with like courtesie;

Many kind speeches they betwene them spend,

130

And greatly joy each other well to see:

Then to the knight with shamefast modestie

They turne themselves, at Unaes meeke request,

And him salute with well beseeming glee;

Who faire them quites, as him beseemed best,

135And goodly gan discourse of many a noble gest.

XVI

Then Una thus; But she your sister deare,

The deare Charissa where is she become?

Or wants she health, or busie is elsewhere?

Ah no, said they, but forth she may not come:

140

For she of late is lightned of her wombe,

And hath encreast the world with one sonne more,

That her to see should be but troublesome.

Indeed (quoth she) that should be trouble sore;

But thankt be God, and her encrease° so evermore.

XVII

145Then said the aged Cœlia, Deare dame,

And you good Sir, I wote that of youre toyle,

And labours long, through which ye hither came,

Ye both forwearied be: therefore a whyle

I read you rest, and to your bowres recoyle.

150

Then called she a Groome, that forth him led

Into a goodly lodge, and gan despoile

Of puissant armes, and laid in easie bed;

His name was meeke Obedience rightfully ared.

XVIII

Now when their wearie limbes with kindly rest,

155

And bodies were refresht with due repast,

Faire Una gan Fidelia faire request,

To have her knight into her schoolehouse plaste,

That of her heavenly learning he might taste,

And heare the wisedom of her words divine.

160

She graunted, and that knight so much agraste,

That she him taught celestiall discipline,

And opened his dull eyes, that light mote in them shine.

XIX

And that her sacred Booke, with blood ywrit,

That none could read, except she did them teach,

165

She unto him disclosed every whit,

And heavenly documents thereout did preach,

That weaker wit of man could never reach,

Of God, of grace, of justice, of free will,

That wonder was to heare her goodly speach:

170

For she was able with her words to kill,

And raise againe to life the hart that she did thrill.

And when she list° poure out her larger spright,

She would commaund the hastie Sunne to stay,

Or backward turne his course from heavens hight;

175

Sometimes great hostes of men she could dismay;

[Dry-shod to passe she parts the flouds in tway;°]

And eke huge mountaines from their native seat

She would commaund, themselves to beare away,

And throw in raging sea with roaring threat.

180Almightie God her gave such powre, and puissaunce great.

XXI

The faithfull knight now grew in litle space,

By hearing her, and by her sisters lore,

To such perfection of all heavenly grace,

That wretched world he gan for to abhore,

185

And mortall life gan loath, as thing forlore,

Greevd with remembrance of his wicked wayes,

And prickt with anguish of his sinnes so sore,

That he desirde to end his wretched dayes:

So much the dart of sinfull guilt the soule dismayes.

XXII

190But wise Speranza gave him comfort sweet,

And taught him how to take assured hold

Upon her silver anchor, as was meet;

Else had his sinnes so great and manifold

Made him forget all that Fidelia told.

195

In this distressed doubtfull agonie,

When him his dearest Una did behold,

Disdeining life, desiring leave to die,

She found her selfe assayld with great perplexitie.

XXIII

And came to Cœlia to declare her smart,

200

Who well acquainted with that commune plight,

Which sinfull horror workes in wounded hart,

Her wisely comforted all that she might,

With goodly counsell and advisement right;

And streightway sent with carefull diligence,

205

To fetch a Leach, the which had great insight

In that disease of grieved conscience,

And well could cure the same; his name was Patience.

XXIV

Who comming to that soule-diseased knight,

Could hardly him intreat° to tell his griefe:

210

Which knowne, and all that noyd his heavie spright

Well searcht, eftsoones he gan apply relief

Of salves and med’cines, which had passing priefe,

And thereto added words of wondrous might;°

By which to ease he him recured briefe,

215

And much aswag’d the passion of his plight,°

That he his paine endur’d, as seeming now more light.

XXV

But yet the cause and root of all his ill,

Inward corruption and infected sin,

Not purg’d nor heald, behind remained still,

220

And festring sore did rankle yet within,

Close creeping twixt the marrow and the skin.

Which to extirpe, he laid him privily

Downe in a darkesome lowly place farre in,

Whereas he meant his corrosives to apply,

225And with streight diet tame his stubborne malady.

XXVI

In ashes and sackcloth he did array

His daintie corse, proud humors to abate,

And dieted with fasting every day,

The swelling of his wounds to mitigate,

230

And made him pray both earely and eke late:

And ever as superfluous flesh did rot

Amendment readie still at hand did wayt,

To pluck it out with pincers firie whot,

That soone in him was left no one corrupted jot.

XXVII

235And bitter Penance with an yron whip,

Was wont him once to disple every day:

And sharpe Remorse his hart did pricke and nip,

That drops of blood thence like a well did play:

And sad Repentance used to embay

240

His bodie in salt water smarting sore,

The filthy blots of sinne to wash away.

So in short space they did to health restore

The man that would not live, but earst lay at deathes dore.

XXVIII

In which his torment often was so great,

245

That like a Lyon he would cry and rore,

And rend his flesh, and his owne synewes eat.

His owne deare Una hearing evermore

His ruefull shriekes and gronings, often tore

Her guiltlesse garments, and her golden heare,

250

For pitty of his paine and anguish sore;

Yet all with patience wisely she did beare;

For well she wist his crime could else be never cleare.

XXIX

Whom thus recover’d by wise Patience

And trew Repentaunce they to Una brought:

255

Who joyous of his cured conscience,

Him dearely kist, and fairely eke besought

Himselfe to chearish, and consuming thought

To put away out of his carefull brest.

By this Charissa, late in child-bed brought,

260

Was woxen strong, and left her fruitfull nest;

To her faire Una brought this unacquainted guest.

XXX

She was a woman in her freshest age,°

Of wondrous beauty, and of bountie rare,

With goodly grace and comely personage,

265

That was on earth not easie to compare;

Full of great love, but Cupid’s wanton snare

As hell she hated, chast in worke and will;

Her necke and breasts were ever open bare,

That ay thereof her babes might sucke their fill;

270The rest was all in yellow robes arayed still.

XXXI

A multitude of babes about her hong,

Playing their sports, that joyd her to behold,

Whom still she fed, whiles they were weake and young,

But thrust them forth still as they wexed old:

275

And on her head she wore a tyre of gold,

Adornd with gemmes and owches wondrous faire,

Whose passing price° uneath was to be told:

And by her side there sate a gentle paire

Of turtle doves, she sitting in an yvorie chaire.

XXXII

280The knight and Una entring faire her greet,

And bid her joy of that her happie brood;

Who them requites with court’sies seeming meet,

And entertaines with friendly chearefull mood.

Then Una her besought, to be so good

285

As in her vertuous rules to schoole her knight,

Now after all his torment well withstood,

In that sad house of Penaunce, where his spright

Had past the paines of hell, and long enduring night.

XXXIII

She was right joyous of her just request,

290

And taking by the hand that Faeries sonne,

Gan him instruct in every good behest,

Of love, and righteousnesse, and well to donne,°

And wrath, and hatred warely to shonne,

That drew on men Gods hatred and his wrath,

295

And many soules in dolours had fordonne:

In which when him she well instructed hath,

From thence to heaven she teacheth him the ready path.

XXXIV

Wherein his weaker wandring steps to guide,

An auncient matrone she to her does call,

300

Whose sober lookes her wisedome well descride:

Her name was Mercie, well knowne over all,

To be both gratious, and eke liberall:

To whom the carefull charge of him she gave,

To lead aright, that he should never fall

305

In all his wayes through this wide worldes wave,

That Mercy in the end his righteous soule might save.

XXXV

The godly Matrone by the hand him beares

Forth from her presence, by a narrow way,

Scattred with bushy thornes, and ragged breares,

310

Which still before him she remov’d away,

That nothing might his ready passage stay:

And ever when his feet encombred were,

Or gan to shrinke, or from the right to stray,

She held him fast, and firmely did upbeare,

315As carefull Nourse her child from falling oft does reare.

XXXVI

Eftsoones unto an holy Hospitall,

That was fore by the way, she did him bring,

In which seven Bead-men° that had vowed all

Their life to service of high heavens king,

320

Did spend their dayes in doing godly thing:

Their gates to all were open evermore,

That by the wearie way were traveiling,

And one sate wayting ever them before,

To call in commers by, that needy were and pore.

XXXVII

325The first of them that eldest was, and best,

Of all the house had charge and governement,

As Guardian and Steward of the rest:

His office was to give entertainement

And lodging, unto all that came, and went:

330

Not unto such, as could him feast againe,

And double quite, for that he on them spent,

But such, as want of harbour did constraine:

Those for Gods sake his dewty was to entertaine.

XXXVIII

The second was as Almner of the place,

335

His office was, the hungry for to feed,

And thristy give to drinke, a worke of grace:

He feard not once him selfe to be in need,

Ne car’d to hoord for those whom he did breede:

The grace of God he layd up still in store,

340

Which as a stocke he left unto his seede;

He had enough, what need him care for more?

And had he lesse, yet some he would give to the pore.

XXXIX

The third had of their wardrobe custodie,

In which were not rich tyres, nor garments gay,

345

The plumes of pride, and wings of vanitie,

But clothes meet to keepe keene could away,

And naked nature seemely to aray;

With which bare wretched wights he dayly clad,

The images of God in earthly clay;

350

And if that no spare cloths to give he had,

His owne coate he would cut, and it distribute glad.

The fourth appointed by his office was,

Poore prisoners to relieve with gratious ayd,

And captives to redeeme with price of bras,°

355

From Turkes° and Sarazins, which them had stayd,

And though they faultie were, yet well he wayd,

That God to us forgiveth every howre

Much more then that why they in bands were layd,

And he that harrowd° hell with heavie stowre,

360The faultie soules from thence brought to his heavenly bowre.

XLI

The fift had charge sicke persons to attend,

And comfort those, in point of death which lay;

For them most needeth comfort in the end,

When sin, and hell, and death do most dismay

365

The feeble soule departing hence away.

All is but lost, that living we bestow,

If not well ended at our dying day.

O man have mind of that last bitter throw

For as the tree does fall, so lyes it ever low.

XLII

370The sixt had charge of them now being dead,

In seemely sort their corses to engrave,

And deck with dainty flowres their bridall bed,

That to their heavenly spouse both sweet and brave

They might appeare, when he their soules shall save.°

375

The wondrous workmanship of Gods owne mould,

Whose face he made all beasts to feare, and gave

All in his hand, even dead we honour should.

Ah dearest God me graunt, I dead be not defould.°

XLIII

The seventh, now after death and buriall done,

380

Had charge the tender orphans of the dead

And widowes ayd,° least they should be undone:

In face of judgement° he their right would plead,

Ne ought the powre of mighty men did dread

In their defence, nor would for gold or fee

385

Be wonne their rightfull causes downe to tread:

And, when they stood in most necessitee,

He did supply their want, and gave them ever free.

XLIV

There when the Elfin knight arrived was,

The first and chiefest of the seven, whose care

390

Was guests to welcome, towardes him did pas:

Where seeing Mercie, that his steps upbare,

And alwayes led, to her with reverence rare

He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse,

And seemely welcome for her did prepare:

395

For of their order she was Patronesse,

Albe Charissa were their chiefest founderesse.

XLV

There she awhile him stayes, him selfe to rest,

That to the rest more able he might bee:

During which time, in every good behest

400

And godly worke of almes and charitee,

She him instructed with great industree;

Shortly therein so perfect he became,

That from the first unto the last degree,

His mortall life he learned had to frame

405In holy righteousnesse, without rebuke or blame.

XLVI

Thence forward by that painfull way they pas,

Forth to an hill, that was both steepe and hy;

On top whereof a sacred chappell was,

And eke a little Hermitage thereby,

410

Wherein an aged holy man did lye,

That day and night said his devotion,

Ne other worldly busines did apply;

His name was heavenly Contemplation;

Of God and goodnesse was his meditation.

XLVII

415Great grace that old man to him given had;

For God he often saw from heavens hight,

All were his earthly eyen both blunt and bad,

And through great age had lost their kindly sight,

Yet wondrous quick and persant was his spright,

420

As Eagles eye, that can behold the Sunne:

That hill they scale with all their powre and might,

That his° fraile thighes nigh weary and fordonne

Gan faile, but by her° helpe the top at last he wonne.

XLVIII

There they do finde that godly aged Sire,

425

With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed,

As hoarie frost with spangles doth attire

The mossy braunches of an Oke halfe ded.

Each bone might through his body well be red,

And every sinew seene through his long fast:

430

For nought he car’d° his carcas long unfed;

His mind was full of spirituall repast,

And pyn’d his flesh, to keepe his body low and chast.

XLIX

Who when these two approaching he aspide,

At their first presence grew agrieved sore,

435

That forst him lay his heavenly thoughts aside;

And had he not that Dame respected more,

Whom highly he did reverence and adore,

He would not once have moved for the knight.

They him saluted, standing far afore;

440

Who well them greeting, humbly did requight,

And asked, to what end they clomb that tedious height.

What end (quoth she) should cause us take such paine,

But that same end which every living wight

Should make his marke, high heaven to attaine?

445

Is not from hence the way, that leadeth right

To that most glorious house that glistreth bright

With burning starres and everliving fire,

Whereof the keyes are to thy hand behight

By wise Fidelia? She doth thee require,

450To show it to his knight, according his desire.

Thrise happy man, said then the father grave,

Whose staggering steps thy steady hand doth lead,

And shewes the way, his sinfull soule to save.

Who better can the way to heaven aread,

455

Then thou thy selfe, that was both borne and bred

In heavenly throne, where thousand Angels shine?

Thou doest the prayers of the righteous sead

Present before the majestie divine,

And his avenging wrath to clemencie incline.

LII

460Yet since thou bidst, thy pleasure shal be donne.

Then come thou man of earth, and see the way,

That never yet was seene of Faeries sonne,

That never leads the traveiler astray,

But after labors long, and sad delay,

465

Brings them to joyous rest and endlesse blis.

But first thou must a season fast and pray,

Till from her bands the spright assoiled is,

And have her strength recur’d from fraile infirmitis.

LIII

That donne, he leads him to the highest Mount;

470

Such one as that same mighty man° of God,

That blood-red billowes° like a walled front

On either side disparted with his rod,

Till that his army dry-foot through them yod,

Dwelt forty dayes upon; where writ in stone

475

With bloudy letters by the hand of God,

The bitter doome of death and balefull mone

He did receive, whiles flashing fire about him shone.

LIV

Or like that sacred hill,° whose head full hie,

Adornd with fruitfull Olives all arownd,

480

Is, as it were for endlesse memory

Of that deare Lord who oft thereon was fownd,

For ever with a flowring girlond crownd:

Or like that pleasaunt Mount,° that is for ay

Through famous Poets verse each where renownd,

485

On which the thrise three learned Ladies play

Their heavenly notes, and make full many a lovely lay.

From thence, far off he unto him did shew

A litle path, that was both steepe and long,

Which to a goodly Citie° led his vew;

490

Whose wals and towres were builded high and strong

Of perle and precious stone, that earthly tong

Cannot describe, nor wit of man can tell;

Too high a ditty for my simple song;

The Citie of the great king hight it well,

495Wherein eternall peace and happinesse doth dwell.

LVI

As he thereon stood gazing, he might see

The blessed Angels to and fro descend

From highest heaven in gladsome companee,

And with great joy into that Citie wend,

500

As commonly as friend does with his frend.

Whereat he wondred much, and gan enquere,

What stately building durst so high extend

Her loftie towres unto the starry sphere,

And what unknowen nation there empeopled were.

LVII

505Faire knight (quoth he) Hierusalem that is,

The new Hierusalem, that God has built

For those to dwell in, that are chosen his,

His chosen people purg’d from sinfull guilt

With pretious blood, which cruelly was spilt

510

On cursed tree, of that unspotted lam,

That for the sinnes of al the world was kilt:

Now are they Saints all in that Citie sam,

More dear unto their God then younglings to their dam.

LVIII

Till now, said then the knight, I weened well,

515

That great Cleopolis,° where I have beene,

In which that fairest Faerie Queene doth dwell,

The fairest citie was that might be seene;

And that bright towre all built of christall cleene,

Panthea,° seemd the brightest thing that was:

520

But now by proofe all otherwise I weene;

For this great Citie that does far surpas,

And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre of glas.

LIX

Most trew, then said the holy aged man;

Yet is Cleopolis, for earthly frame,°

525

The fairest peece that eye beholden can;

And well beseemes all knights of noble name,

That covett in th’ immortall booke of fame

To be eternized, that same to haunt,

And doen their service to that soveraigne dame,

530

That glorie does to them for guerdon graunt:

For she is heavenly borne, and heaven may justly vaunt.

And thou faire ymp, sprong out from English race,

How ever now accompted Elfins sonne,

Well worthy doest thy service for her grace,

535

To aide a virgin desolate fordonne.

But when thou famous victory hast wonne,

And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield,

Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shonne,

And wash thy hands from guilt of bloudy field:

540For blood can nought but sin, and wars but sorrowes yield.

LXI

Then seek this path, that I to thee presage,

Which after all to heaven shall thee send;

Then peaceably thy painefull pilgrimage

To yonder same Hierusalem do bend,

545

Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end:

For thou emongst those Saints, whom thou doest see,

Shall be a Saint, and thine owne nations frend

And Patrone: thou Saint George shalt called bee,

Saint George° of mery England, the signe of victoree.

LXII

550Unworthy wretch (quoth he) of so great grace,°

How dare I thinke such glory to attaine?

These that have it attaind, were in like cace,

(Quoth he) as wretched, and liv’d in like paine.

But deeds of armes must I at last be faine

555

And Ladies love to leave so dearely bought?

What need of armes, where peace doth ay remaine,

(Said he,) and battailes none are to be fought?

As for loose loves, they’re vain, and vanish into nought.

LXIII

O let me not (quoth he) then turne againe

560

Backe to the world, whose joyes so fruitlesse are;

But let me here for aye in peace remaine,

Or streight way on that last long voyage fare,

That nothing may my present hope empare.

That may not be, (said he) ne maist thou yit

565

Forgo that royall maides bequeathed care,°

Who did her cause into thy hand commit,

Till from her cursed foe thou have her freely quit.

LXIV

Then shall I soone (quoth he) so God me grace,

Abet that virgins cause disconsolate,

570

And shortly backe returne unto this place,

To walke this way in Pilgrims poore estate.

But now aread, old father, why of late

Didst thou behight me borne of English blood,

Whom all a Faeries sonne doen nominate?

575

That word shall I (said he) avouchen good,

Sith to thee is unknowne the cradle of thy blood.

LXV

For well I wote thou springst from ancient race

Of Saxon kings, that have with mightie hand

And many bloody battailes° fought in place

580

High reard their royall throne in Britane land,

And vanquisht them, unable to withstand:

From thence a Faerie thee unweeting reft,

There as thou slepst in tender swadling band,

And her base Elfin brood there for thee left.

585Such men do Chaungelings° call, so chang’d by Faeries theft.

LXVI

Thence she thee brought into this Faerie lond,

And in an heaped furrow did thee hyde,

Where thee a Ploughman all unweeting fond,

As he his toylesome teme that way did guyde,

590

And brought thee up in ploughmans state to byde

Whereof Georgos° he gave thee to name;

Till prickt with courage, and thy forces pryde,

To Faerie court thou cam’st to seeke for fame,

And prove thy puissaunt armes, as seemes thee best became.

LXVII

595O holy Sire (quoth he) how shall I quight

The many favours I with thee have found,

That hast my name and nation red aright,

And taught the way that does to heaven bound?

This said, adowne he looked to the ground,

600

To have returnd, but dazed were his eyne

Through passing brightnesse, which did quite confound

His feeble sence and too exceeding shyne.

So darke are earthly things compard to things divine.

LXVIII

At last whenas himselfe he gan to find,

605

To Una back he cast him to retire;

Who him awaited still with pensive mind.

Great thankes and goodly meed to that good syre

He thence departing gave for his paines hyre.

So came to Una, who him joyd to see,

610

And after little rest, gan him desire

Of her adventure mindfull for to bee.

So leave they take of Cœlia, and her daughters three.

CANTO XI

The knight with that old Dragon fights

two dayes incessantly;

The third him overthrowes, and gayns

most glorious victory.

HIGH time now gan it wex for Una faire

To thinke of those her captive Parents deare,

And their forwasted kingdome to repaire:

Whereto whenas they now approched neare,

With hartie wordes her knight she gan to cheare,

And in her modest manner thus bespake;

Deare knight, as deare as ever knight was deare,

That all these sorrowes suffer for my sake,

High heaven behold the tedious toyle ye for me take.

10Now are we come unto my native soyle,

And to the place where all our perils dwell;

Here haunts that feend, and does his dayly spoyle;

Therefore henceforth be at your keeping well,°

And ever ready for your foeman fell.

The sparke of noble courage now awake,

And strive your excellent selfe to excell:

That shall ye evermore renowmed make,

Above all knights on earth that batteill undertake.

III

And pointing forth, Lo yonder is (said she)°

The brasen towre in which my parents deare

For dread of that huge feend emprisond be,

Whom I from far, see on the walles appeare,

Whose sight my feeble soule doth greatly cheare:

And on the top of all I do espye

The watchman wayting tydings glad to heare,

That O my parents might I happily

Unto you bring, to ease you of your misery.

With that they heard a roaring hideous sound,

That all the ayre with terrour filled wide,

And seemd uneath° to shake the stedfast ground.

Eftsoones that dreadful Dragon° they espide,

Where stretcht he lay upon the sunny side,°

Of a great hill, himselfe like a great hill.

But all so soone as he from far descride

Those glistring armes, that heaven with light did fill,

He rousd himselfe full blith, and hastned them untill.

Then bad the knight his Lady yede aloofe,

And to an hill her selfe withdraw aside:

From whence she might behold that battailles proof,

And eke be safe from daunger far descryde:

She him obayd, and turnd a little wyde.

Now O thou sacred muse,° most learned Dame,

Faire ympe of Phœbus and his aged bride,

The Nourse of time and everlasting fame,

45That warlike hands ennoblest with immortall name;

O gently come into my feeble brest

Come gently, but not with that mighty rage,

Wherewith the martiall troupes thou doest infest,

And harts of great Heroës doest enrage,

That nought their kindled courage may aswage,

Soone as thy dreadfull trompe begins to sownd,

The God of warre with his fiers equipage

Thou doest awake, sleepe never he so sownd,

All scared nations doest with horrour sterne astownd.

VII

55Faire Goddesse, lay that furious fit aside,

Till I of warres° and bloody Mars do sing,

And Briton fields with Sarazin bloud bedyde,

Twixt that great Faery Queene, and Paynim king,

That with their horrour heaven and earth did ring;

A worke of labour long and endlesse prayse:

But now a while let downe that haughtie string°

And to my tunes thy second tenor rayse,

That I this man of God his godly armes may blaze.

VIII

By this the dreadfull Beast drew nigh to hand,

Halfe flying, and halfe footing in his haste,

That with his largenesse measured much land,

And made wide shadow under his huge wast,

As mountaine doth the valley overcast.

Approching nigh, he reared high afore

His body monstrous, horrible, and vaste,

Which to increase his wondrous greatnesse more,

Was swoln with wrath, and poyson, and with bloudy gore.

And over, all with brasen scales was armd,

Like plated coate of steele, so couched neare,

That nought mote perce, ne might his corse be harmd

With dint of sword, nor push of pointed speare;

Which, as an Eagle, seeing pray appeare,

His aery plumes doth rouze, full rudely dight;

So shaked he, that horrour was to heare,

For as the clashing of an Armour bright,

Such noyse his rouzed scales did send unto the knight.

His flaggy wings when forth he did display,

Were like two sayles, in which the hollow wynd

Is gathered full, and worketh speedy way:

And eke the pennes, that did his pineons bynd,

Were like mayne-yards, with flying canvas lynd;

With which whenas him list the ayre to beat,

And there by force unwonted passage find,

The cloudes before him fled for terrour great,

90And all the heavens stood still amazed with his threat.

His huge long tayle wound up in hundred foldes,

Does overspred his long bras-scaly backe,

Whose wreathed boughts when ever he unfoldes,

And thicke entangled knots adown does slacke,

Bespotted as with shields of red and blacke,

It sweepeth all the land behind him farre,

And of three furlongs does but litle lacke;

And at the point two stings in-fixed arre,

Both deadly sharpe, that sharpest steele exceeden farre.

XII

100But stings and sharpest steele did far exceed

The sharpnesse of his cruell rending clawes;

Dead was it sure, as sure as death in deed,

What ever thing does touch his ravenous pawes,

Or what within his reach he ever drawes.

105

But his most hideous head my toung to tell

Does tremble: for his deepe devouring jawes

Wide gaped, like the griesly mouth of hell,

Through which into his darke abisse all ravin fell.

XIII

And that more wondrous was, in either jaw

110

Three ranckes of yron teeth enraunged were,

In which yet trickling blood, and gobbets raw

Of late devoured bodies did appeare,

That sight thereof bred cold congealed feare:

Which to increase, and as atonce to kill,

115

A cloud of smoothering smoke and sulphure seare,

Out of his stinking gorge forth steemed still,

That all the ayre about with smoke and stench did fill.

XIV

His blazing eyes, like two bright shining shields,

Did burne with wrath, and sparkled living fyre:

120

As two broad Beacons,° set in open fields,

Send forth their flames far off to every shyre,

And warning give, that enemies conspyre

With fire and sword the region to invade;

So flam’d his eyne with rage and rancorous yre:

125

But farre within, as in a hollow glade,

Those glaring lampes were set, that made a dreadfull shade.

So dreadfully he towards him did pas,

Forelifting up aloft his speckled brest,

And often bounding on the brused gras,

130

As for great joyance of his newcome guest.

Eftsoones he gan advance his haughtie crest,

As chauffed Bore his bristles doth upreare,

And shoke his scales to battell ready drest;

That made the Redcrosse knight nigh quake for feare,

135As bidding bold defiance to his foeman neare.

XVI

The knight gan fairely couch his steadie speare,

And fiercely ran at him with rigorous might:

The pointed steele arriving rudely theare,

His harder hide would neither perce, nor bight,

140

But glauncing by forth passed forward right;

Yet sore amoved with so puissaunt push,

The wrathfull beast about him turned light,

And him so rudely passing by, did brush

With his long tayle, that horse and man to ground did rush.

XVII

145Both horse and man up lightly rose againe,

And fresh encounter towards him addrest:

But th’idle stroke yet backe recoyld in vaine,

And found no place his deadly point to rest.

Exceeding rage enflam’d the furious beast,

150

To be avenged of so great despight;

For never felt his imperceable brest

So wondrous force, from hand of living wight;

Yet had he prov’d the powre of many a puissant knight.

XVIII

Then with his waving wings displayed wyde,

155

Himselfe up high he lifted from the ground,

And with strong flight did forcibly divide

The yielding aire, which nigh too feeble found

Her flitting parts,° and element unsound,

To beare so great a weight: he cutting way

160

With his broad sayles, about him soared round:

At last low stouping° with unweldie sway,

Snatcht up both horse and man, to beare them quite away.

XIX

Long he them bore above the subject plaine,

So far as Ewghen bow a shaft may send,

165

Till struggling strong did him at last constraine

To let them downe before his flightes end:

As hagard hauke,° presuming to contend

With hardie fowle, above his hable might,°

His wearie pounces all in vaine doth spend

170

To trusse the pray too heavy for his flight;

Which comming downe to ground, does free it selfe by fight.

He so disseized° of his gryping grosse,

The knight his thrillant speare again assayd

In his bras-plated body to embosse,

175

And three mens strength unto the stroke he layd;

Wherewith the stiffe beame quaked, as affrayd,

And glauncing from his scaly necke, did glyde

Close under his left wing, then broad displayd:

The percing steele there wrought a wound full wyde,

180That with the uncouth smart the Monster lowdly cryde.

XXI

He cryde, as raging seas are wont to rore,

When wintry storme his wrathfull wreck does threat

The roaring billowes beat the ragged shore,

As they the earth would shoulder from her seat,

185

And greedy gulfe does gape,° as he would eat

His neighbour element in his revenge:

Then gin the blustring brethren° boldly threat

To move the world from off his steadfast henge,

And boystrous battell make, each other to avenge.

XXII

190The steely head stucke fast still in his flesh,

Till with his cruell clawes he snatcht the wood,

And quite a sunder broke. Forth flowed fresh

A gushing river of blacke goarie blood,

That drowned all the land, whereon he stood;

195

The streame thereof would drive a water-mill:

Trebly augmented was his furious mood

With bitter sence of his deepe rooted ill,

That flames of fire he threw forth from his large nosethrill.

XXIII

His hideous tayle then hurled he about,

200

And therewith all enwrapt the nimble thyes

Of his froth-fomy steed, whose courage stout

Striving to loose the knot that fast him tyes,

Himselfe in streighter bandes too rash implyes,

That to the ground he is perforce constraynd

205

To throw his rider: who can quickly ryse

From off the earth, with durty blood distaynd,

For that reprochfull fall right fowly he disdaynd.

XXIV

And fiercely tooke his trenchand blade in hand,

With which he stroke so furious and so fell,

210

That nothing seemd the puissaunce could withstand:

Upon his crest the hardned yron fell,

But his more hardned crest was armd so well,

That deeper dint therein it would not make;

Yet so extremely did the buffe him quell,

215

That from thenceforth he shund the like to take,

But when he saw them come, he did them still forsake.

XXV

The knight was wroth to see his stroke beguyld,

And smote againe with more outrageous might;

But backe againe the sparckling steele recoyld,

220

And left not any marke, where it did light,

As if in Adamant rocke it had bene pight.

The beast impatient of his smarting wound,

And of so fierce and forcible despight,

Thought with his wings to stye above the ground;

225But his late wounded wing unserviceable found.

XXVI

Then full of griefe and anguish vehement,

He lowdly brayd, that like was never heard,

And from his wide devouring oven° sent

A flake of fire, that, flashing in his beard,

230

Him all amazd, and almost made affeard:

The scorching flame sore swinged all his face,

And through his armour all his body seard,

That he could not endure so cruell cace,

But thought his armes to leave, and helmet to unlace.

XXVII

235Not that great Champion° of the antique world,

Whom famous Poetes verse so much doth vaunt,

And hath for twelve huge labours high extold,

So many furies and sharpe fits did haunt,

When him the poysond garment did enchaunt,

240

With Centaures bloud and bloudie verses charm’d;

As did this knight twelve thousand dolours daunt,

Whom fyrie steele now burnt, that earst him arm’d,

That erst him goodly arm’d, now most of all him harm’d.

XXVIII

Faint, wearie, sore, emboyled, grieved, brent°

245

With heat, toyle, wounds, armes, smart, and inward fire,

That never man such mischiefes did torment;

Death better were, death did he oft desire,

But death will never come, when needes require.

Whom so dismayd when that his foe beheld,

250

He cast to suffer him no more respire,

But gan his sturdy sterne about to weld,

And him so strongly stroke, that to the ground him feld.

XXIX

It fortuned, (as faire it then befell,)

Behind his backe unweeting, where he stood,

255

Of auncient time there was a springing well,

From which fast trickled forth a silver flood,

Full of great vertues, and for med’cine good.

Whylome, before that cursed Dragon got

That happy land, and all with innocent blood

260

Defyld those sacred waves, it rightly hot

The well of life,° ne yet his vertues had forgot.

XXX

For unto life the dead it could restore,

And guilt of sinfull crimes cleane wash away,

Those that with sicknesse were infected sore

265

It could recure, and aged long decay

Renew, as one were borne that very day.

Both Silo° this, and Jordan did excell,

And th’ English Bath,° and eke the German Spau;

Ne can Cephise,° nor Hebrus match this well:

270Into the same the knight back overthrowen, fell.

XXXI

Now gan the golden Phœbus for to steepe

His fierie face in billowes of the west,

And his faint steedes watred in Ocean deepe,

Whiles from their journall labours they did rest,

275

When that infernall Monster, having kest

His wearie foe into that living well,

Can high advance his broad discoloured brest

Above his wonted pitch, with countenance fell,

And clapt his yron wings, as victor he did dwell.

XXXII

280Which when his pensive Ladie saw from farre,

Great woe and sorrow did her soule assay,

As weening that the sad end of the warre,

And gan to highest God entirely pray,

That feared chance from her to turne away;

285

With folded hands and knees full lowly bent,

All night she watcht, ne once adowne would lay

Her daintie limbs in her sad dreriment,

But praying still did wake, and waking did lament.

XXXIII

The morrow next gan early to appeare,

290

That Titan rose to runne his daily race;

But early ere the morrow next gan reare

Out of the sea faire Titans deawy face,

Up rose the gentle virgin from her place,

And looked all about, if she might spy

295

Her loved knight to move° his manly pace:

For she had great doubt of his safety,

Since late she saw him fall before his enemy.

XXXIV

At last she saw, where he upstarted brave

Out of the well, wherein he drenched lay:

300

As Eagle° fresh out of the Ocean wave,

Where he hath left his plumes all hoary gray,

And deckt himselfe with feathers youthly gay,

Like Eyas hauke up mounts unto the skies,

His newly budded pineons to assay,

305

And marveiles at himselfe, still as he flies:

So new this new-borne knight to battell new did rise.

XXXV

Whom when the damned feend so fresh did spy,

No wonder if he wondred at the sight,

And doubted, whether his late enemy

310

It were, or other new supplied knight.

He, now to prove his late renewed might,

High brandishing his bright deaw-burning blade,°

Upon his crested scalpe so sore did smite,

That to the scull a yawning wound it made;

315The deadly dint his dulled senses all dismaid.

XXXVI

I wote not, whether the revenging steele

Were hardned with that holy water dew,

Wherein he fell, or sharper edge did feele,

Or his baptized hands now greater grew;

320

Or other secret vertue did ensew;

Else never could the force of fleshly arme,

Ne molten mettall in his blood embrew°;

For till that stownd could never wight him harme,

By subtilty, nor slight, nor might, nor mighty charme.

XXXVII

325The cruell wound enraged him so sore,

That loud he yelded for exceeding paine;

As hundred ramping Lyons seem’d to rore,

Whom ravenous hunger did thereto constraine:

Then gan he tosse aloft his stretched traine,

330

And therewith scourge the buxome aire so sore,

That to his force to yeelden it was faine;

Ne ought his sturdy strokes might stand afore,

That high trees overthrew, and rocks in peeces tore.

XXXVIII

The same advauncing high above his head,

335

With sharpe intended sting° so rude him smot,

That to the earth him drove, as stricken dead,

Ne living wight would have him life behot:

The mortall sting his angry needle shot

Quite through his shield, and in his shoulder seasd,

340

Where fast it stucke, ne would there out be got:

The griefe thereof him wondrous sore diseasd,

Ne might his ranckling paine with patience be appeasd.

XXXIX

But yet more mindfull of his honour deare,

Then of the grievous smart, which him did wring,

345

From loathed soile he can him lightly reare,

And strove to loose the far infixed sting:

Which when in vaine he tryde with struggeling,

Inflam’d with wrath, his raging blade he heft,

And strooke so strongly, that the knotty string

350

Of his huge taile he quite a sunder cleft,

Five joints thereof he hewd, and but the stump him left.

Hart cannot thinke, what outrage, and what cryes,

With foule enfouldred smoake and flashing fire,

The hell-bred beast threw forth unto the skyes,

355

That all was covered with darkenesse dire:

Then fraught with rancour, and engorged ire,

He cast at once him to avenge for all,

And gathering up himselfe out of the mire,

With his uneven wings did fiercely fall,

360Upon his sunne-bright shield, and gript it fast withall.

XLI

Much was the man encombred with his hold,

In feare to lose his weapon in his paw,

Ne wist yet, how his talaunts to unfold;

For harder was from Cerberus greedy jaw

365

To plucke a bone, then from his cruell claw

To reave by strength the griped gage° away:

Thrise he assayd it from his foot to draw,

And thrise in vaine to draw it did assay,

It booted nought to thinke to robbe him of his pray.

XLII

370Tho when he saw no power might prevaile,

His trustie sword he cald to his last aid,

Wherewith he fiercely did his foe assaile,

And double blowes about him stoutly laid,

That glauncing fire out of the yron plaid;

375

As sparckles from the Andvile use to fly,

When heavy hammers on the wedge are swaid;

Therewith at last he forst him to unty

One of his grasping feete, him to defend thereby.

XLIII

The other foot, fast fixed on his shield,

380

Whenas no strength, nor stroks mote him constraine

To loose, ne yet the warlike pledge to yield,

He smot thereat with all his might and maine,

That nought so wondrous puissaunce might sustaine;

Upon the joint the lucky steele did light,

385

And made such way, that hewd it quite in twaine;

The paw yett missed not his minisht might,°

But hong still on the shield, as it at first was pight.

XLIV

For griefe thereof and divelish despight,°

From his infernall fournace forth he threw

390

Huge flames, that dimmed all the heavens light,

Enrold in duskish smoke and brimstone blew:

As burning Aetna from his boyling stew

Doth belch out flames, and rockes in peeces broke,

And ragged ribs of mountains molten new,

395

Enwrapt in coleblacke clouds and filthy smoke,

That all the land with stench, and heaven with horror choke.

XLV

The heate whereof, and harmefull pestilence

So sore him noyd, that forst him to retire

A little backward for his best defence,

400

To save his body from the scorching fire,

Which he from hellish entrailes did expire.

It chaunst (eternall God that chaunce did guide,)

As he recoiled backward, in the mire

His nigh forwearied feeble feet did slide,

405And downe he fell, with dread of shame sore terrifide.

XLVI

There grew a goodly tree° him faire beside,

Loaden with fruit and apples rosie red,

As they in pure vermilion had beene dide,

Whereof great vertues over all were red°:

410

For happy life to all which thereon fed,

And life eke everlasting did befall:

Great God it planted in that blessed sted

With his Almighty hand, and did it call

The tree of life, the crime of our first fathers fall.°

XLVII

415In all the world like was not to be found,

Save in that soile, where all good things did grow,

And freely sprong out of the fruitfull ground,

As incorrupted Nature did them sow,

Till that dread Dragon all did overthrow.

420

Another like faire tree eke grew thereby,

Whereof whoso did eat, eftsoones did know

Both good and ill: O mornefull memory:

That tree through one mans fault hath doen us all to dy.

XLVIII

From that first tree forth flowd, as from a well,

425

A trickling streame of Balme, most soveraine

And dainty deare, which on the ground, still fell,

And overflowed all the fertile plaine,

As it had deawed bene with timely raine:

Life and long health that gratious ointment gave,

430

And deadly wounds could heale and reare againe

The senselesse corse appointed for the grave.

Into that same he fell: which did from death him save.

XLIX

For nigh thereto the ever damned beast

Durst not approch, for he was deadly made,°

435

And all that life preserved did detest:

Yet he is oft adventur’d to invade.

By this the drouping day-light gan to fade,

And yield his roome to sad succeeding night,

Who with her sable mantle gan to shade

440

The face of earth, and wayes of living wight,

And high her burning torch set up in heaven bright.

When gentle Una saw the second fall

Of her deare knight, who wearie of long fight,

And faint through losse of blood, mov’d not at all,

445

But lay, as in a dreame of deepe delight,

Besmeard with pretious Balme, whose vertuous might

Did heale his wounds, and scorching heat alay,

Againe she stricken was with sore affright,

And for his safetie gan devoutly pray,

450And watch the noyous night, and wait for joyous day.

The joyous day gan early to appeare,

And faire Aurora from the deawy bed

Of aged Tithone gan herselfe to reare

With rosy cheekes, for shame as blushing red;

455

Her golden locks for haste were loosely shed

About her eares, when Una her did marke

Clymbe to her charet, all with flowers spred;

From heaven high to chase the chearelesse darke,

With merry note her loud salutes the mounting larke.

LII

460Then freshly up arose the doughtie knight,

All healed of his hurts and woundes wide,

And did himselfe to battell ready dight;

Whose early foe awaiting him beside

To have devourd, so soone as day he spyde,

465

When now he saw himselfe so freshly reare,

As if late fight had nought him damnifyde,

He woxe dismayd, and gan his fate to feare;

Nathlesse with wonted rage he him advaunced neare.

LIII

And in his first encounter, gaping wide,°

470

He thought attonce him to have swallowd quight,

And rusht upon him with outragious pride;

Who him r’encountring fierce, as hauke in flight

Perforce rebutted backe. The weapon bright

Taking advantage of his open jaw,

475

Ran through his mouth with so importune might,

That deepe emperst his darksome hollow maw,

And back retyrd,° his life blood forth with all did draw.

LIV

So downe he fell, and forth his life did breath,

That vanisht into smoke and cloudes swift;

480

So downe he fell, that th’ earth him underneath

Did grone, as feeble so great load to lift;

So downe he fell, as an huge rockie clift,

Whose false foundation waves have washt away,

With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift,

485

And rolling downe, great Neptune doth dismay;

So downe he fell, and like an heaped mountaine lay.

The knight himselfe even trembled at his fall,

So huge and horrible a masse it seem’d,

And his deare Ladie, that beheld it all,

490

Durst not approch for dread, which she misdeem’d;°

But yet at last, whenas the direfull feend

She saw not stirre, off-shaking vaine affright,

She nigher drew, and saw that joyous end:

Then God she praysd, and thankt her faithfull knight,

495That had atchieved so great a conquest by his might.

CANTO XII

Faire Una to the Redcrosse knight,

betrouthed is with joy:

Though false Duessa it to barre

her false sleights doe imploy.

BEHOLD I see the haven nigh at hand,

To which I meane my wearie course to bend;

Vere the maine shete,° and beare up with the land,

The which afore is fairely to be kend,

And seemeth safe from storms that may offend;

There this faire virgin wearie of her way

Must landed be, now at her journeyes end:

There eke my feeble barke a while may stay

Till merry wind and weather call her thence away.

10Scarsely had Phœbus in the glooming East

Yet harnessed his firie-footed teeme,

Ne reard above the earth his flaming creast;

When the last deadly smoke aloft did steeme

That signe of last outbreathed life did seeme

Unto the watchman on the castle wall,

Who thereby dead that balefull Beast did deeme,

And to his Lord and Ladie lowd gan call,

To tell how he had seene the Dragons fatall fall.

III

Uprose with hastie joy, and feeble speed

That aged Sire, the Lord of all that land,

And looked forth, to weet if true indeede

Those tydings were, as he did understand,

Which whenas true by tryall he out found,

He bad to open wyde his brazen gate,

Which long time had bene shut, and out of hond°

Proclaymed joy and peace through all his state;

For dead now was their foe which them forrayed late.

Then gan triumphant Trompets sound on hie,

That sent to heaven the ecchoed report

Of their new joy, and happie victorie

Gainst him, that had them long opprest with tort,

And fast imprisoned in sieged fort.

Then all the people, as in solemne feast,

To him assembled with one full consort,

Rejoycing at the fall of that great beast,

From whose eternall bondage now they were releast.

Forth came that auncient Lord and aged Queene,

Arayd in antique robes downe to the ground,

And sad habiliments right well beseene;

A noble crew about them waited round

Of sage and sober Peres, all gravely gownd;

Whom farre before did march a goodly band

Of tall young men,° all hable armes to sownd,

But now they laurell braunches bore in hand;

45Glad signe of victorie and peace in all their land.

Unto that doughtie Conquerour they came,

And him before themselves prostrating low,

Their Lord and Patrone loud did him proclame,

And at his feet their laurell boughes did throw.

Soone after them all dauncing on a row

The comely virgins came, with girlands dight,

As fresh as flowres in medow greene do grow,

When morning deaw upon their leaves doth light:

And in their hands sweet Timbrels all upheld on hight.

VII

55And them before, the fry of children young

Their wanton sports and childish mirth did play,

And to the Maydens° sounding tymbrels sung,

In well attuned notes, a joyous lay,

And made delightfull musicke all the way,

Untill they came, where that faire virgin stood;

As faire Diana in fresh sommers day,

Beholds her Nymphes enraung’d in shadie wood,

Some wrestle, some do run, some bathe in christall flood:

VIII

So she beheld those maydens meriment

With chearefull vew; who when to her they came,

Themselves to ground with gracious humblesse bent,

And her ador’d by honorable name,

Lifting to heaven her everlasting fame:

Then on her head they set a girland greene,

And crowned her twixt earnest and twixt game;

Who in her self-resemblance well beseene,°

Did seeme such, as she was, a goodly maiden Queene.

And after, all the raskall many° ran,

Heaped together in rude rablement,

To see the face of that victorious man:

Whom all admired, as from heaven sent,

And gazd upon with gaping wonderment.

But when they came where that dead Dragon lay,

Stretcht on the ground in monstrous large extent,

The sight with idle feare did them dismay,

Ne durst approch him nigh, to touch, or once assay.

Some feard, and fled; some feard and well it faynd;

One that would wiser seeme then all the rest,

Warnd him not touch, for yet perhaps remaynd

Some lingring life within his hollow brest,

Or in his wombe might lurke some hidden nest

Of many Dragonets, his fruitfull seed;

Another said, that in his eyes did rest

Yet sparckling fire, and bad thereof take heed;

90Another said, he saw him move his eyes indeed.

One mother, when as her foolehardie chyld

Did come too neare, and with his talants play,

Halfe dead through feare, her little babe revyld,

And to her gossips gan in counsell say;

How can I tell, but that his talants may

Yet scratch my sonne, or rend his tender hand?

So diversly themselves in vaine they fray;

Whiles some more bold, to measure him nigh stand,

To prove how many acres he did spread of land.

XII

100Thus flocked all the folke him round about,

The whiles that hoarie king, with all his traine,

Being arrived where that champion stout

After his foes defeasance did remaine,

Him goodly greetes, and faire does entertaine

105

With princely gifts of yvorie and gold,

And thousand thankes him yeelds for all his paine.

Then when his daughter deare he does behold,

Her dearely doth imbrace, and kisseth manifold.

XIII

And after to his Pallace he them brings,

110

With shaumes, and trompets, and with Clarions sweet;

And all the way the joyous people sings,

And with their garments strowes the paved street:

Whence mounting up, they find purveyance meet

Of all that royall Princes court became,

115

And all the floore was underneath their feet

Bespred with costly scarlot of great name,°

On which they lowly sit, and fitting purpose frame.°

XIV

What needs me tell their feast and goodly guize,°

In which was nothing riotous nor vaine?

120

What needs of dainty dishes to devize,

Of comely services, or courtly trayne?

My narrow leaves cannot in them containe

The large discourse of royall Princes state.

Yet was their manner then but bare and plaine:

125

For th’ antique world excesse and pride did hate;

Such proud luxurious pompe is swollen up but late.

Then when with meates and drinkes of every kinde

Their fervent appetites they quenched had,

That auncient Lord gan fit occasion finde,

130

Of straunge adventures, and of perils sad,

Which in his travell him befallen had,

For to demaund of his renowmed guest:

Who then with utt’rance grave, and count’nance sad,

From point to point, as is before exprest,

135Discourst his voyage long, according his request.

XVI

Great pleasures mixt with pittiful regard,

That godly King and Queene did passionate,

Whiles they his pittifull adventures heard,

That oft they did lament his lucklesse state,

140

And often blame the too importune fate,

That heaped on him so many wrathfull wreakes:

For never gentle knight, as he of late,

So tossed was in fortunes cruell freakes;

And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks.

XVII

145Then sayd the royall Pere in sober wise;

Deare Sonne, great beene the evils which ye bore

From first to last in your late enterprise,

That I note whether prayse, or pitty more:

For never living man, I weene, so sore

150

In sea of deadly daungers was distrest;

But since now safe ye seised have the shore,

And well arrived are, (high God be blest)

Let us devize of ease and everlasting rest.

XVIII

Ah, dearest Lord, said then that doughty knight,

155

Of ease or rest I may not yet devize,

For by the faith, which I to armes have plight,

I bounden am streight after this emprize,

As that your daughter can ye well advize,

Backe to returne to that great Faerie Queene,

160

And her to serve six yeares in warlike wize,

Gainst that proud Paynim king° that workes her teene

Therefore I ought crave pardon, till I there have beene.

XIX

Unhappie falles that hard necessitie,

(Quoth he) the troubler of my happie peace,

165

And vowed foe of my felicitie;

Ne I against the same can justly preace:

But since that band ye cannot now release,

Nor doen undo°; (for vowes may not be vaine,)

Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease,

170

Ye then shall hither backe returne againe,

The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twain.

Which for my part I covet to performe,

In sort as° through the world I did proclame,

That whoso kild that monster most deforme,

175

And him in hardy battaile overcame,

Should have mine onely daughter to his Dame,

And of my kingdome heyre apparaunt bee:

Therefore since now to thee perteines the same,

By dew desert of noble chevalree,

180Both daughter and eke kingdome, lo, I yield to thee.

XXI

Then forth he called that his daughter faire,

The fairest Un’ his onely daughter deare,

His onely daughter, and his onely heyre;

Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare,

185

As bright as doth the morning starre appeare

Out of the East, with flaming lockes bedight,

To tell that dawning day is drawing neare,

And to the world does bring long wished light:

So faire and fresh that Lady shewd her selfe in sight.

XXII

190So faire and fresh, as freshest flowre in May;

For she had layd her mournefull stole aside,

And widow-like sad wimple throwne away,

Wherewith her heavenly beautie she did hide,

Whiles on her wearie journey she did ride;

195

And on her now a garment she did weare,

All lilly white, withoutten spot, or pride,

That seemd like silke and silver woven neare,

But neither silke nor silver therein did appeare.

XXIII

The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame,

200

And glorious light of her sunshyny face,

To tell, were as to strive against the streame;

My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace,

Her heavenly lineaments for to enchace.

Ne wonder; for her owne deare loved knight,

205

All were she° dayly with himselfe in place,

Did wonder much at her celestiall sight:

Oft had he seene her faire, but never so faire dight.

XXIV

So fairely dight, when she in presence came,

She to her Sire made humble reverence,

210

And bowed low, that her right well became,

And added grace unto her excellence:

Who with great wisedome and grave eloquence

Thus gan to say. But eare he thus had said,

With flying speede, and seeming great pretence

215

Came running in, much like a man dismaid,

A Messenger with letters, which his message said.

XXV

All in the open hall amazed stood

At suddeinnesse of that unwarie sight,

And wondred at his breathlesse hastie mood.

220

But he for nought would stay his passage right,

Till fast before the king he did alight;

Where falling flat, great humblesse he did make,

And kist the ground, whereon his foot was pight;

Then to his hands that writ he did betake,

225Which he disclosing, red thus, as the paper spake.

XXVI

To thee, most mighty king of Eden faire,

Her greeting sends in these sad lines addrest,

The wofull daughter, and forsaken heire

Of that great Emperour of all the West;

230

And bids thee be advized for the best,

Ere thou thy daughter linck in holy band

Of wedlocke to that new unknowen guest:

For he already plighted his right hand

Unto another love, and to another land.

XXVII

235To me sad mayd, or rather widow sad,

He was affiaunced long time before,

And sacred pledges he both gave, and had,

False erraunt knight, infamous, and forswore:

Witnesse the burning Altars, which he swore,

240

And guiltie heavens of his bold perjury,

Which though he hath polluted oft of yore,

Yet I to them for judgement just do fly,

And them conjure t’avenge this shamefull injury.

XXVIII

Therefore since mine he is, or free or bond,

245

Or false or trew, or living or else dead,

Withhold, O soveraine Prince, your hasty hond

From knitting league with him, I you aread;

Ne weene my right with strength adowne to tread,

Through weaknesse of my widowhed, or woe;

250

For truth is strong her rightfull cause to plead,

And shall find friends, if need requireth soe.

So bids thee well to fare, Thy neither friend, nor foe, Fidessa.

XXIX

When he these bitter byting wordes had red,

The tydings straunge did him abashed make,

255

That still he sate long time astonished,

As in great muse, ne word to creature spake.

At last his solemne silence thus he brake,

With doubtfull eyes fast fixed on his guest;

Redoubted knight, that for mine onely sake

260

Thy life and honour late adventurest,

Let nought be hid from me, that ought to be exprest.

XXX

What meane these bloody vowes, and idle threats,

Throwne out from womanish impatient mind?

What heavens? what altars? what enraged heates

265

Here heaped up with termes of love unkind,

My conscience cleare with guilty bands would bind?

High God be witnesse, that I guiltlesse ame.

But if your selfe, Sir knight, ye faultie find,

Or wrapped be in loves of former Dame,

270With crime do not it cover, but disclose the same.

XXXI

To whom the Redcrosse knight this answere sent

My Lord, my King, be nought hereat dismayd,

Till well ye wote by grave intendiment,

What woman, and wherefere doth me upbrayd

275

With breach of love, and loyalty betrayd.

It was in my mishaps, as hitherward

I lately traveild, that unwares I strayd

Out of my way, through perils straunge and hard;

That day should faile me, ere I had them all declard.

XXXII

280There did I find, or rather I was found

Of this false woman, that Fidessa hight,

Fidessa hight the falsest Dame on ground,

Most false Duessa, royall richly dight,

That easy was to invegle weaker sight:

285

Who by her wicked arts, and wylie skill,

Too false and strong for earthly skill or might,

Unwares me wrought unto her wicked will,

And to my foe betrayd, when least I feared ill.

XXXIII

Then stepped forth the goodly royall Mayd,

290

And on the ground her selfe prostrating low,

With sober countenaunce thus to him sayd;

O pardon me, my soveraigne Lord, to show

The secret treasons, which of late I know

To have bene wroght by that false sorceresse.

295

She onely she it is, that earst did throw

This gentle knight into so great distresse,

That death him did awaite in dayly wretchednesse.

XXXIV

And now it seemes, that she suborned hath

This craftie messenger with letters vaine,

300

To worke new woe and unprovided scath,

By breaking of the band betwixt us twaine;

Wherein she used hath the practicke paine

Of this false footman, clokt with simplenesse,

Whom if ye please for to discover plaine,

305

Ye shall him Archimago find, I ghesse,

The falsest man alive; who tries shall find no lesse.

XXXV

The king was greatly moved at her speach,

And, all with suddein indignation fraight,

Bad on that Messenger rude hands to reach.

310

Eftsoones the Gard, which on his state did wait,

Attacht that faitor false, and bound him strait:

Who seeming sorely chauffed at his band,

As chained Beare, whom cruell dogs do bait,°

With idle force did faine them to withstand,

315And often semblaunce made to scape out of their hand.

XXXVI

But they him layd full low in dungeon deepe,

And bound him hand and foote with yron chains

And with continual watch did warely keepe:

Who then would thinke, that by his subtile trains

320

He could escape fowle death or deadly paines?

Thus when that princes wrath was pacifide,

He gan renew the late forbidden bains,

And to the knight his daughter dear he tyde,

With sacred rites and vowes for ever to abyde.

XXXVII

325His owne two hands the holy knots did knit,

That none but death for ever can devide;

His owne two hands, for such a turne most fit,

The housling fire° did kindle and provide,

And holy water thereon sprinckled wide;

330

At which the bushy Teade a groome did light,

And sacred lamp in secret chamber hide,

Where it should not be quenched day nor night,

For feare of evill fates, but burnen ever bright.

XXXVIII

Then gan they sprinckle all the posts with wine,

335

And made great feast to solemnize that day;

They all perfumde with frankencense divine,

And precious odours fetcht from far away,

That all the house did sweat with great aray:

And all the while sweete Musicke did apply

340

Her curious skill, the warbling notes to play,

To drive away the dull Melancholy;

The whiles one sung a song of love and jollity.

XXXIX

During the which there was an heavenly noise

Heard sound through all the Pallace pleasantly,

345

Like as it had bene many an Angels voice

Singing before th’ eternall Majesty,

In their trinall triplicities° on hye;

Yet wist no creature whence that heavenly sweet

Proceeded, yet eachone felt secretly

350

Himselfe thereby reft of his sences meet,

And ravished with rare impression in his sprite.

Great joy was made that day of young and old,

And solemne feast proclaimd throughout the land,

That their exceeding merth may not be told:

355

Suffice it heare by signes to understand

The usuall joyes at knitting of loves band.

Thrise happy man the knight himselfe did hold,

Possessed of his Ladies hart and hand,

And ever, when his eye did her behold,

360His heart did seeme to melt in pleasures manifold.

XLI

Her joyous presence, and sweet company

In full content he there did long enjoy;

Ne wicked envie, ne vile gealosy,

His deare delights were able to annoy:

365

Yet swimming in that sea of blissfull joy,

He nought forgot how he whilome had sworne,

In case he could that monstrous beast destroy,

Unto his Faerie Queene backe to returne;

The which he shortly did, and Una left to mourne.

XLII

370Now strike your sailes ye jolly Mariners,

For we be come unto a quiet rode,

Where we must land some of our passengers,

And light this wearie vessell of her lode.

Here she a while may make her safe abode,

375

Till she repaired have her tackles spent,°

And wants supplide. And then againe abroad

On the long voyage whereto she is bent:

Well may she speede and fairely finish her intent.

NOTES

Line 1. Lo I the man.… An imitation of the opening lines of Vergil’s Aeneid:—

“Ille ego, qui quondam gracili modulatus avena

Carmen,…

Gratum opus agricolis, at nunc horrentia Martis.”

Referring to his Shepheards Calender (1579) Spenser thus gracefully indicates his change from pastoral to epic poetry.

5-9. Knights and Ladies. The poet here imitates the opening of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.

10. O holy virgin chiefe of nine, refers to Clio, the muse of history. Spenser should have invoked Calliope, the muse of poetry.

14. Of Faerie knights, the the champions of Gloriana, the queen of Faerieland. fairest Tanaquill, a British princess, daughter of Oberon, king of Faerieland. In the allegory she is Queen Elizabeth.

15. that most noble briton prince is Prince Arthur, the perfect knight, who is in love with Gloriana. In the allegory the Earl of Leicester is probably meant, though by one tradition Sir Philip Sidney is identified with Prince Arthur.

19. impe of highest jove, Cupid, the god of love, and son of Jupiter and Venus. He is represented as armed with an ebony bow (l. 23).

25. triumphant mart, Mars, the god of war. The spelling is that of the Italians and Chaucer.

28. O Goddesse heavenly bright, Queen Elizabeth (aged 56), who was fond of such extravagant flattery, and expected it of all her courtiers.

31. Phoebus lampe, Apollo, the sun-god.

34. glorious type of thine, the Lady Una, who stands for Truth in the allegory.

35. The argument of mine afflicted stile, the subject of my humble pen. “Afflicted” has the original Latin sense of “cast down.”

36. O dearest dred, O beloved object of reverence; a common salutation of royalty.

CANTO I

I. The Plot: At the bidding of Gloriana, the Redcross Knight undertakes to deliver Una’s parents from a dragon who holds them captive. He sets out upon his quest attended by a dwarf and guided by Una, mounted on an ass and leading a lamb. They are driven by a storm into a forest, where they discover the cave of Error, who is slain by the Knight. They are then beguiled into the house of Archimago, an old enchanter. By his magic he leads the Knight in a dream to believe that Una is false to him, and thus separates them.

II. The Allegory: 1. Holiness, the love of God, united with Truth, the knowledge of God, is to deliver man from the thraldom of the Devil. Together they are able to overthrow Error; but Hypocrisy deceitfully alienates Holiness from Truth by making the latter appear unworthy of love.

2. There is a hint of the intrigues of the false Roman church and the treacherous Spanish king, Philip II, to undermine the religious and political freedom of the English people. The English nation, following the Reformed church, overthrows the Catholic faith, but is deceived by the machinations of Spanish diplomacy.

Line 1. A gentle knight, the Redcross Knight, representing the church militant, and Reformed England. He is the young, untried champion of the old cause whose struggles before the Reformation are referred to in ll. 3, 4. His shield bore “a cross gules upon a field argent,” a red cross on a silver ground. See The Birth of St. George in Percy’s Reliques, iii, 3, and Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, iii, 65.

15. For soveraine hope, as a sign of the supreme hope.

20. Greatest Gloriana, Queen Elizabeth. In other books of The Faerie Queene she is called Belphoebe, the patroness of chastity, and Britomart, the military genius of Britain.

27. A Dragon, “the great dragon, that old serpent, called the devil,” Revelation, xii, 9, also Rome and Spain. Cf. legend of St. George and the dragon, and Fletcher’s Purple Island, vii seq.

28. a lovely Ladie, Una, the personification of truth and true religion. Her lamb symbolizes innocence.

46. a Dwarfe, representing prudence, or common sense; according to Morley, the flesh.

56. A shadie grove, the wood of Error. “By it Spenser shadows forth the danger surrounding the mind that escapes from the bondage of Roman authority and thinks for itself.”—Kitchin. The description of the wood is an imitation of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, i, 37, Chaucer’s Assembly of Foules, 176, and Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, iii, 75. Morley sees in this grove an allegory of man’s life, the trees symbolizing trade, pleasure, youth, etc.

69. The sayling Pine. Ships were built of pine.

70. the Loplar never dry, because it grows best in moist soil.

71. The builder Oake. In the Middle Ages most manor houses and churches were built of oak.

72. the Cypresse funerall, an emblem of death among the ancients, and sacred to Pluto. Sidney says that they were wont to dress graves with cypress branches in old times.

73. The Laurell. Victors at the Pythian games and triumphing Roman generals were crowned with laurel. It was also sacred to Apollo, the god of poetry, hence “meed of poets sage.”

74. the Firre that weepeth still. The fir exudes resinous substance.

75. The Willow. “Willows: a sad tree, whereof such who have lost their love make their mourning garlands.”—Fuller’s Worthies, i, 153. Cf. Heywood’s Song of the Green Willow, and Desdemona’s song in Othello, IV, iii, 39.

76. The Eugh. Ascham in his Toxophilus tells us that the best bows were made of yew.

78. the Mirrhe, the Arabian myrtle, which exudes a bitter but fragrant gum. The allusion is to the wounding of Myrrha by her father and her metamorphosis into this tree.

79. The warlike Beech, because lances and other arms were made of it. the Ash for nothing ill. “The uses of the ash is one of the most universal: it serves the souldier, the carpenter, the wheelwright, cartwright, cooper, turner, and thatcher.”—Evelyn’s Sylva. The great tree Igdrasil in the northern mythology was an ash.

81. The carver Holme, or evergreen oak, was good for carving.

106. shame were to revoke, etc., it would be cowardly not to go forward for fear of some suspected unseen danger.

114. the wandring wood, i.e. which causes men to go astray.

123. monster. The description of the monster Error, or Falsehood, is based on Hesiod’s Echidna, Theog. 301, and the locusts in Revelation, ix, 7-10. She is half human, half serpent, because error is partly true and partly false. Dante’s Fraud and Milton’s Sin are similar monsters.

126. full of vile disdaine, full of vileness that bred disgust in the beholder.

130. Of her there bred, etc., of her were born a thousand young ones. Her offspring are lies and rumors of many shapes.

141. Armed to point, completely armed. Cf. Fr. à point, to a nicety.

145. the valiant elfe, because he was the reputed son of an Elfin or Faerie, though really sprung from “an ancient race of Saxon kings.” Three kinds of elves are mentioned in the Edda: the black dwarfs, and brownies, who both dwelt under ground, and the fair elves, who dwelt in Fairyland or Alfheim. “The difference between Spenser’s elves and these Teutonic elves shows how he perverts Fairy mythology in the same way as he does Classical myths.”—Percival.

168. His gall did grate for griefe, his anger was aroused on account of pain. In the old anatomy anger had its seat in the gallbladder. See Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy, I, i, 2.

177. Her vomit full of bookes, etc. From 1570, when Pope Sixtus V issued his bull of deposition against Queen Elizabeth, to 1590, great numbers of scurrilous pamphlets attacking the Queen and the Reformed church had been disseminated by Jesuit refugees.

181. Nilus. Pliny believed that the mud of the Nile had the power of breeding living creatures like mice. Hist. Nat. ix, 84. So Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, II, vii, 29.

199. gentle shepheard. In this pastoral simile, Spenser imitates Homer’s Iliad, ii, 469, and xvii, 641, and Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, xiv, 109.

208. Thus ill bestedd. There is a similar combat in the old romance Guy of Warwick, ix, between the hero and a man-eating dragon.

217. Her scattred brood. The poet here follows a belief as old as Pliny that the young of serpents fed on their mother’s blood. In this entire passage the details are too revolting for modern taste.

232. the which them nurst. The antecedent of which is her. In the sixteenth century the was frequently placed before which, which was also the equivalent of who. Cf. the Lord’s Prayer.

234. he should contend, he should have had to contend.

237. borne under happy starre. Belief in astrology was once common, and Spenser being a Pythagorean would hold the doctrine of the influence of the stars on human destiny.

239. that Armorie, the armor of the Christian warrior. Ephesians, vi, 13.

243. that like succeed it may, that like successful adventures may succeed it. The word order is inverted for the sake of the rhyme.

250. to frend, as his friend.

254. An aged Sire, the false enchanter, Archimago, or Hypocrisy, who is supposed to represent Pope Sixtus V or King Philip II of Spain. In general he stands for false religion or the Church of Rome. The character and adventure are taken from Orlando Furioso, ii, 12, in which there is a hypocritical hermit. The Knight at first takes Archimago to be a palmer, and inquires for the foreign news.

295. take up your In, take lodging.

301. a little wyde, a little way off.

315. an Ave-Mary, Hail Mary, a prayer to the Virgin. Cf. Luke, i, 28.

317. the sad humour, the heavy moisture, or “slombring deaw.”

318. morpheus, the son of Somnus and god of sleep and dreams, who sprinkled the dew of sleep on the brow of mortals from his horn or wings or from a bough dipped in Lethe.

323. His Magick bookes and artes. Monks engaged in scientific investigation, such as Friar Roger Bacon, were popularly supposed to use cabalistic books, and to make compacts with the Devil by means of necromancy, or the black art, as in st. xxxvii. Before the close of the century Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and Greene’s Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, both based on the popular belief in magic, were presented on the London stage.

328. blacke Plutoes griesly Dame, Proserpine, the avenger of men, and inflicter of curses on the dead. She is identified with Shakespeare’s Hecate, the goddess of sorcery, and with Milton’s Cotytto, goddess of lust. To this latter sin the knight is tempted.

332. Great Gorgon, Demogorgon, whose name might not be uttered, a magician who had power over the spirits of the lower world. The poet is here imitating the Latin poets Lucan and Statius.

333. Cocytus, the river of wailing, and Styx, the river of hate, both in Hades. There were two others, Acheron, the river of sorrow, and Phlegethon, the river of fire.

335. Legions of Sprights. In this stanza and the preceding Spenser follows Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, xiii, 6-11, where the magician Ismeno, guarding the Enchanted Wood, conjures “legions of devils” with the “mighty name” (l. 332).

339. chose. Imitation of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, ii, 15, in which a false spirit is called up by a hypocritical hermit. The description of the House of Sleep in st. xxxix seq. is modelled on the same poet, Orlando Furioso, ii, 15 seq. The influence of Homer’s Odyssey, xi, 16 is seen in st. xxxix, ll. 348 seq.

348. Tethys, the ocean. In classical mythology she is the daughter of Uranus (heaven) and Gaea (earth), and the wife of Oceanus.

349. Cynthia, the moon. The allusion is to the story of Diana and Endymion. See Lyly’s play Endymion.

352. Whose double gates. Homer, Odyssey, xix, 562, and Vergil, Aeneid, vi, 893, give the House of Dreams a horn and an ivory gate. Spenser substitutes silver for horn, mirrors being overlaid with silver in his time. From the ivory gate issued false dreams; from the other, true ones.

361. slumber soft. This stanza shows Spenser’s wonderful technique. His exquisite effects are produced, it will be noticed, partly by the choice of musical words and partly by the rhythmical cadence of the verse phrases. It is an example of perfect “keeping,” or adaptation of sound to sense. Cf. Chaucer’s description of the waterfalls in the Cave of Sleep in his Boke of the Duchesse, 162.

376. whose dryer braine, whose brain too dry. In the old physiology, a dry brain was the cause of slow and weak perception, and a moist brain of quickness.

378. all, entirely, altogether.

381. Hecate, queen of phantoms and demons in Hades, and mistress of witches on earth. See xxxvii.

387. the sleepers sent, the sleeper’s sense.

405. most like to seeme, etc.. most likely fit to seem for (represent) Una. Like is an adv. A very awkward inversion.

411. borne without her dew, i.e. created by him in an unnatural manner.

425. Fayre Venus, the daughter of Jupiter, or Zeus, and the sea-nymph Dione. She is the same as Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

430. the Graces, Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thalia, daughters of Zeus and Aphrodite.

431. Hymen Iö Hymen, refrain of an old Roman nuptial song. Hymen, the son of Apollo and the Muse Urania, was the god of marriage.

432. freshest Flora, the goddess of flowers. She typified spring.

447. To prove his sense, etc. To test his perception and prove her feigned truth.

449. Tho can she weepe, then did she weep. Can here is the Northern dialect form for the middle English gan, past tense of ginnen, to begin, which was used as an auxiliary.

454. the blind God, Cupid, Eros, or Amor, the god of love.

478. Like other knights of romance, e.g. Sir Galahad and Sir Gareth in Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, iii, 65, etc., the Redcross Knight does not yield to the temptation of the flesh, but overcomes it.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR STUDY

(Canto I)

1. Tell in your own words the story of this canto. 2. Which muse does Spenser invoke? 3. Who were the nine muses? 4. What is the difference between pastoral and epic poetry? 5. Illustrate by The Shepheards Calender and the The Faerie Queene. 6. Point out imitations of Homer, Vergil, Lucan, Statius, Ariosto, Tasso, and Chaucer. 7. Explain the reference to the religious questions and politics of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. 8. Where does Spenser use classical mythology—mediæval legends? 9. What references to the Bible do you find? 10. Try to make a mental picture of the Knight—of Una—of Error—of Archimago. 11. Is Spenser’s character drawing objective or subjective? 12. Is the description of the wood in vii true to nature? Could so many trees grow together in a thick wood? 13. Study the Rembrandt-like effects of light and shade in xiv. 14. What infernal deities are conjured up by Archimago?

15. Paraphrase in your own language ll. 88, 106-107, 116, 267-268.

16. Explain use of of in l. 75. 17. What part of speech is wandering l. 114? to viewen l. 201? parse which l. 232; him and spend l. 233; you and shew l. 276. 18. Find examples of Euphuistic hyperbole in iv, of alliteration in xiv. 19. Explain the use and form of eyne, edified, afflicted, weeds, Hebean, impe, compeld, areeds, blazon, ycladd.

CANTO II

I. The Plot: Deceived by Archimago’s phantoms, the Redcross Knight suspects the chastity of Una, and flies at early dawn with his dwarf. He chances to meet the Saracen Sansfoy in company with the false Duessa. They do battle and Sansfoy is slain. Duessa under the name of Fidessa attaches herself to the Knight, and they ride forward. They stop to rest under some shady trees, On breaking a bough, the Knight discovers that the trees are two lovers, Fradubio and Fraelissa, thus imprisoned by the cruel enchantment of Duessa.

II. The Allegory: 1. Hypocrisy under a pious disguise is attractive to Holiness. Truth is also deceived by it, and shamefully slandered. Holiness having abandoned Truth, takes up with Falsehood, who is attended by Infidelity. Unbelief when openly assailing Holiness is overthrown, but Falsehood under the guise of Faith remains undiscovered. The fate of the man (Fradubio) is set forth who halts between two opinions,—False Religion (Duessa) and Heathen Philosophy, or Natural Religion (Fraelissa).

2. The Reformed Church, no longer under the guidance of Truth, rushes headlong into Infidelity, and unwittingly became the defender of the Romish Faith under the name of the True Faith. There is a hint of the intrigues of Mary Queen of Scots and the libels of the Jesuits on Queen Elizabeth designed to bring back the English nation to Romish allegiance.

LINE 1. the Northerne wagoner, the constellation Boötes.

2. his sevenfold teme, the seven stars of Ursa Major, or Charles’s Wain. the stedfast starre, the Pole-star, which never sets.

6. chearefull Chaunticlere, the name of the cock in the fabliaux and beast epics, e.g. Roman de Renart and Reineke Fuchs.

7. Phœbus fiery carre, the sun.

11. that faire-forged spright, fair but miscreated spirit (I, xiv). Spenser took suggestions for this stanza from Ariosto and Tasso.

51. faire Hesperus, the evening star.

55. the rosy-fingred Morning. This beautiful epithet of Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, is borrowed from Homer, Hesiod, and other ancient poets.

56. aged Tithones, son of Laomedon, King of Troy. Aurora conferred upon him immortality without youth, hence the epithet “aged.”

58. Titan, the sun-god in the Roman myths.

85. Proteus, a sea-god who was endowed with the power of prophecy. He could change himself into any shape in order to avoid having to prophesy. See Homer, Odyssey, iv, 366 seq., and Vergil, Georgics, iv, 387.

90. herbes. In the sixteenth century the belief in potions, magic formulas, etc., was still strongly rooted in the popular mind. The Spanish court and the priests were supposed to employ supernatural agencies against the Protestants.

105. A faithless Sarazin. Spenser uses the word Saracen in the general sense of pagan. During the Middle Ages the Saracen power was a menace to Europe, and the stronghold of infidelity. The names of the three Paynim brethren, Sansfoy, Sansjoy, and Sansloy,—faithless, joyless, and lawless,—suggest the point of view of Spenser’s age.

109. a faire companion, the enchantress Duessa, or Falsehood, who calls herself Fidessa. In the allegory Spenser intended her to represent the Romish church and Mary Queen of Scots. Her character and appearance were suggested by the woman of Babylon, in Revelation, viii, 4, Ariosto’s Alcina, and Tasso’s Armida.

136. As when two rams. This figure is found in Vergil, Apollonius, Malory, Tasso, Dante, and other poets and romancers.

141. the hanging victory, the victory which hung doubtful in the balance.

144. The broken reliques, the shattered lances.

148. Each others equall puissaunce envies, each envies the equal prowess of the other.

149. through their iron sides, etc., through their armored sides with cruel glances, etc.

155. the bitter fit, the bitterness of death.

158. assured sitt, etc., sit firm (in the saddle), and hide (cover) thy head (with thy shield).

160. With rigour so outrageous, with force so violent.

161. That a large share, etc., that a large piece it (the sword) hewed, etc.

162. from blame him fairly blest. 1, fairly preserved him from hurt; 2, fairly acquitted him of blame. Him in (1) refers to the knight, in (2) to the Saracen. (1) is the better interpretation.

169. grudging. Because reluctant to part from the flesh.

196. daughter of an Emperour. Duessa represents the Pope, who exercised imperial authority in Rome, though the seat of the empire had been transferred to Constantinople in 476.

200. the only haire. The dauphin of France, the first husband of Mary Queen of Scots, afterwards King Francis II, son of Henry II. Duessa’s story is full of falsehoods.

243. so dainty they say maketh derth, coyness makes desire. The knight is allured on by Duessa’s assumed shyness.

251. ne wont there sound, nor was accustomed to sound there.

254. cool shade. The Reformed Church, weakened by Falsehood, is enticed by doubt and skepticism.

262. faire seemly pleasaunce, pleasant courtesies.

263. With goodly purposes, with polite conversation. This whole stanza refers to Mary’s candidacy for the English throne and its dangers to Protestantism.

269. He pluckt a bough. In this incident Spenser imitates Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, vi, 26, in which Ruggiero addresses a myrtle which bleeds and cries out with pain. The conception of men turned into trees occurs also in Ovid, Vergil, Tasso, and Dante.

272. O spare with guilty hands, etc. Cf Vergil’s account of Polydorus in Aeneid, iii, 41, in which a myrtle exclaims, Parce pias scelerare manus, etc.

284. from Limbo lake, here, the abode of the lost. With the Schoolmen, Limbo was a border region of hell where dwelt the souls of Old Testament saints, pious heathen, lunatics, and unbaptized infants. Cf. Milton’s Paradise of Fools, Paradise Lost, iii, 495.

291. Fradubio, as it were “Brother Doubtful,” one who hesitates between false religion and pagan religion, Duessa and Fraelissa (Morley). Fraelissa is fair but frail, and will not do to lean upon.

342. faire in place, fair in that place.

351. to treen mould, to the form of a tree. Treen is an adj. like wooden.

354. the same. Supply “as she appeared to be,” i.e. fair and true.

357. proper hew. Witches had to appear in their “proper hew” one day in spring and undergo a purifying bath. The old romances make frequent mention of the enchanted herb bath.

370. by chaunges of my cheare, by my changed countenance or expression.

371. drownd in sleepie night. The phrase modifies “body,” or is equivalent to “while I was drowned in sleep.”

382. in a living well, in a well of running water. This well signifies the healing power of Christianity. John, iv, 14. In Spenser’s story this well is never found, and the wretched couple are never restored to human shape.

404. all passed feare, all fear having passed.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto II)

1. How does the knight feel and act while under Archimago’s spell? 2. What becomes of Una? 3. How does Archimago plan to deceive her? 4. Tell the story of the lovers turned into trees. 5. Who was Sansfoy? 6. Describe the appearance and character of Duessa. 7. What did she have to do with Fradubio and Fraelissa? 8. What was the old belief about the penance of witches? 9. How only could the lovers be restored to their human shape? Was it done? 10. Who were St. George, Phoebus, Titan, Tithonius? 11. Explain the reference to Chaunticlere in l. 6.

12. Find examples of alliteration in xix; of balance in xxxvii; and of Latinizing in xix; xxxvi; xxxviii, and xl.

13. Paraphrase in your own words ll. 111, 134-135, 162 (giving two interpretations); 335, 386-387.

14. What figure of speech is used in xiii, xvi, and xx?

15. Study the rich word-painting in the description of sunrise in vii. Find other examples of this poet’s use of “costly” epithets.

16. Scan the following passages: 148, 174, 178, 193, and 299.

17. Find example of tmesis (separation of prep. from ob.) in xlv.

18. What is the difference between the two wells in xliii?

19. To whom do the pronouns in ll. 174, 175 refer?

20. What is the case of heavens in l. 193? of Sarazin in l. 217?

21. What words are omitted in ll. 188, 313, 398?

CANTO III

I. The Plot: Una wandering in quest of her Knight is guarded by a Lion. With difficulty they gain entrance to the cottage of Corceca and her daughter Abessa, the paramour of Kirkrapine. The latter is killed by the Lion. Fleeing the next day, Una falls in with Archimago disguised as the Redcross Knight. They journey on and meet a second Saracen knight, Sansloy. In the fight which ensues Archimago is unhorsed and his deception unmasked. The Lion is slain, and Una becomes the captive of Sansloy.

II. The Allegory: 1. Truth finds temporary protection in Reason, or Natural Honor (Lion), and with its help puts a stop to the Robbing of Churches (Kirkrapine), which is connived at by Blind Devotion (Corceca) and Secret Sin (Abessa). Truth is then associated with Hypocrisy under the guise of Holiness, but it is soon unmasked by Lawlessness (Sansloy), with which Truth is forced into an unnatural alliance.

2. “The lion is said to represent Henry VIII, overthrowing the monasteries, destroying church-robbers, disturbing the dark haunts of idleness, ignorance and superstition.”—Kitchin. The battle between Archimago and Sansloy refers to the contests of the Catholic powers with the Moslems. The whole canto also has a hint of the violence and lawlessness connected with the English conquest of Ireland.

Line 14. though true as touch, though true as if tested on the touchstone (by which true gold was distinguished from counterfeit).

18. And her due loves, etc., the love due to her diverted, etc.

27. Yet wished tydings, etc., yet none brought unto her the wished-for tidings of him. An awkward transposition.

34. the great eye of heaven, the sun. Cf. Paradise Lost, v. 171.

38. A ramping lyon. Reason or Natural Honor; also Henry VIII. According to the ancient belief, no lion would attack a true virgin or one of royal blood. Similar scenes are found in Sir Bevis of Hampton, The Seven Champions of Christendom, etc. Cf. I Henry IV, ii, 4. The allegory signifies that man guided merely by reason will recognize Truth and pay it homage.

51. Whose yeelded pride, etc., object of had marked, l. 52.

77. he kept both watch and ward, he kept awake and guarded her.

89. A damzell spyde, Abessa, who symbolizes Flagrant or Secret Sin.

99. her cast in deadly hew, threw her into a deathly paleness.

101. upon the wager lay, was at stake.

102. whereas her mother blynd, where her blind mother, Corceca, or Blind Devotion.

109. unruly Page. This refers to the violence with which Henry VIII forced Protestantism upon the people. In his Present State of Ireland (p. 645), Spenser speaks of the ignorance and blind devotion of the Irish Papists in the benighted country places.

116. Pater nosters, the Lord’s Prayer; Aves, prayers to the Virgin.

136. Aldeboran, the Bull’s Eye, a double star of the first magnitude in the constellation Taurus.

137. Cassiopeias chaire, a circumpolar constellation having a fancied resemblance to a chair.

139. One knocked at the dore, Kirkrapine, the plunderer of the Church. Spenser represents in him the peculiar vices of the Irish clergy and laity.

166. stay him to advize, stop to reflect.

172. him booteth not resist, it does him no good to resist. This whole passage refers, perhaps, to Henry VIII’s suppression of the monasteries and convents in 1538-39.

185. that long wandring Greeke. Ulysses, or Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s Odyssey, who wandered ten years and refused immortality from the goddess Calypso in order that he might return to Penelope.

xxii. Note the rhymes deare, heare, and teare (air). This 16th century pronunciation still survives in South Carolina. See Ellis’s Early English Pronunciation, III, 868. This stanza reads like the description of an Irish wake.

238. Or ought have done, or have done something to displease you.

239. That should as death, etc., that should settle like death, etc.

248. And chose in Faery court. See Spenser’s letter to Sir W. Raleigh, p. 6.

250. her kindly skill, her natural power.

276. fierce Orions hound, Sirius, the Dog-star, the brightest of the fixed stars. The constellation Orion was named from a giant hunter who was beloved by Aurora and slain by Diana.

279. and Nereus crownes with cups, and Nereus drinks bumpers in his honor. Nereus was a sea-god, son of Ocean and Earth.

282. from ground, from the land.

297. Sans loy symbolizes the pagan lawlessness in Ireland. There is also a wider reference to the struggles between the Turks and the allied Christian powers, which had been going on since the siege of Vienna in 1529.

309. vainly crossed shield, Archimago’s false cross lacked the protecting power of St. George’s charmed true cross.

321. Lethe lake, a lake or river of Hades, whose water brought oblivion or forgetfulness to all who drank of it.

322. Refers to the ancient custom of sacrificing an enemy on the funeral altar to appease the shade of the dead.

323. The blacke infernall Furies, the Erinyes, or goddesses of vengeance, who dwelt in Erebus. They were robed in black, bloody garments befitting their gloomy character.

325. In romance it was customary for the victor to unlace the helmet of the knight whom he had unhorsed before slaying him. Friends and relatives were sometimes discovered by this precaution.

342. Ne ever wont in field, etc., was never accustomed to fight in the battle-field or in the lists of the tournament.

xliii. Contrast Sansloy’s rude treatment of Una with the chivalrous respect and courtesy always shown by a true knight to woman.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto III)

1. What moral reflections does the poet make in the introductory stanza? Note the reference to the Queen. 2. What do you learn of the laws, customs, and sentiments of chivalry in this canto? 3. Give an account of Una’s meeting with the Lion. 4. Explain the allegory of the incident of the Lion. 5. Describe the character, appearance, and actions of Corceca, and explain the allegory. 6. Note the use of the stars to indicate time. 7. Under what circumstances does Una meet Archimago? 8. Explain the allegory in ix. 9. Note the Euphuistic balance in xxvii. 10. What figure do you find in xxxi? Note the Homeric style. 11. Describe the fight between Archimago and Sansloy, and explain the double allegory. 12. What is the moral interpretation of xli-xlii?

13. Explain the Latinisms in ll. 37 and 377. 14. How are the adjectives used in l. 57? 15. Note change of pronouns in vii from third person to first. 16. Explain tense of shold pas in l. 83. 17. Note confusion of pronouns in xxii and xxxv. 18. Examine the nominative absolute construction in st. xiv and xxxix. 19. Explain the ambiguous construction in l. 165. 20. Parse her in l. 262. 21. Note careless use of relative in l. 288.

CANTO IV

I. The Plot: In this and the following canto the adventures of the Redcross Knight are continued from Canto II. Guided by Duessa, he enters the House of Pride. There he sees Lucifera, the Queen of Pride, attended by her sinful court. Her six Counselors are described in detail, with an account of a pleasure trip taken by the Queen and her court. Sansjoy unexpectedly arrives and challenges the Knight to mortal combat for the shield of Sansfoy. That night Duessa holds a secret conference with the Saracen knight.

II. The Allegory: 1. The Christian Soldier, under the influence of false ideals (Duessa), is exposed to the temptations of the Seven Deadly Sins, chief among which is Pride. In the midst of these sinful pleasures, he is assailed by Joylessness, on whose side is Falsehood secretly.

2. The religious and political allegory is here vague and somewhat discontinuous. There is a hint, however, of the attempts of Mary Queen of Scots to bring England back to Romanism. The pride and corruption of the false church and its clergy are set forth. There is also a suggestion of the perilous position of the English in Ireland.

20. of each degree and place, of every rank and order of society.

21. having scaped hard, having escaped with difficulty.

24. lazars. Leprosy was a common disease in England even as late as the sixteenth century.

49. Malvenù, ill-come, as opposed to Bienvenu, welcome.

73. like Phœbus fairest childe, Phaethon, the son of Helios. He was killed by a thunderbolt from the hand of Zeus, as a result of his reckless driving of the chariot of the sun.

86. A dreadfull Dragon, Fallen Pride.

94. This genealogy of Pride is invented by the poet in accord with the Christian doctrine concerning this sin.

107. six wizards old, the remaining six of the Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath, Envy, Lechery, Gluttony, Avarice, and Idleness. See Chaucer’s Parson’s Tale for a sermon on these mortal sins, Gower’s Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins, and Laugland’s Piers Plowman.

145. coche. Spenser imitates Ovid and Homer in this description of Juno’s chariot. The peacock was sacred to the goddess, who transferred to its tail the hundred eyes of the monster Argus. See Ovid’s Metamorphoses, i, 625 seq.

157. With like conditions, etc. The behests were of a kind similar to the nature of the six Sins.

174. he chalenged essoyne, he claimed exemption.

185. like a Crane. This refers to Aristotle’s story of a man who wished that his neck were as long as a crane’s, that he might the longer enjoy the swallowing of his food. Nic. Ethics, iii, 13.

205. a dry dropsie, a dropsy causing thirst.

236. Upon a Camell, etc. The reference is to a story in Herodotus’ History (iii, 102 seq.), in which the Indians are described as carrying off on camels gold dust hoarded by enormous ants.

252. unto him selfe unknowne, i.e. being ignorant of his own wretchedness.

309. Unthrifty scath, wicked damage, or mischief that thrives not.

313. The swelling Splene. The spleen was the seat of anger.

314. Saint Fraunces fire, St. Anthony’s fire, or erysipelas. Diseases were named from those who were supposed to be able to heal them.

335. With pleasaunce, etc. Fed with enjoyment of the fields, the fresh air of which they went to breathe.

437. And helplesse hap, etc. It does no good to bemoan unavoidable chance.

440. pay his dewties last, pay his last duty to the shade of the slain man by sacrificing his murderer.

443. oddes of armes, chances of mishap in arms due to some advantage of one’s antagonist.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto IV)

1. What are the moral reflections in stanza i? 2. What suggestion of the condition of the English roads do you find in st. ii? 3. But few returned, l. 21. What became of the rest? 4. Give a description of the House of Pride. Note resemblance to a typical Elizabethan hall. 5. Explain the allegory of the House, noting the association of ugliness and beauty. 6. How is expectation aroused in vi? 7. Describe the dramatic appearance and character of Pride. Cf. description of Satan on his throne in Paradise Lost, iii. 8. What do you learn in this canto of Elizabethan or chivalric manners and customs? 9. Describe the procession at the court of Pride. 10. What satire of the Romish priesthood in xviii-xx? 11. Note examples of Spenser’s humor in xiv and xvi. 12. Point out the classical influence (Dionysus and Silenus) in the description of Gluttony. 13. Subject of the interview between Duessa and Sansjoy. 14. Point out the archaisms in l. 10; alliteration in xxxix and l; the Latinisms in xlvi and xlvii. 15. In what case is way in l. 17? 16. Explain the meaning and historical significance of lazar, l. 24, and diall, l. 36. 17. Explain the references of the pronouns in l. 55, and ll. 418-419. 18. Note the Euphuistic balance and antithesis in xxix and xlv. 19. Explain the suffix in marchen in l. 325. 20. Note the double negative in iv, xlix. 21. Paraphrase in your own words ll. 239, 243, 360, 437.

CANTO V

I. The Plot: (a continuation of Canto IV). The Knight fights in the lists with Sansjoy and defeats him, but is prevented by Duessa’s magic from slaying him. Duessa descends to Erebus and obtains the aid of Night, who conveys the wounded Saracen in her chariot to Æsculapius to be healed of his wounds. The tortures of some of the souls in Erebus are described, particularly the cause of Æsculapius’ punishment. A roll of the prisoners whom the dwarf discovers in Pride’s dungeon is given. The Knight flees with the dwarf from her house.

II. The Allegory: When the Christian Soldier is attacked by Joylessness, he has a far more desperate struggle than that with Infidelity, and comes out wounded though victorious. Joylessness when crushed by Holiness is restored by Pagan Philosophy. The backsliding Christian is warned in time by Prudence of the fearful consequences of sin, and hastens to turn his back on Pride and the other sins. The soul is led to dread Pride, not by Truth, but by its sufferings and other inferior motives.

25. their timely voyces, their voices keeping time with their harps.

27. Old loves, famous love-affairs, the subject of the Minnesängers.

29. In woven maile, in chain armor.

32. Araby, probably here the Orient in general.

33. From furthest Ynd, from farthest India.

39. unto a paled greene, a green inclosure (lists for a tournament) surrounded by a palisade.

44. his. An old method of forming the possessive, based on a misapprehension of the original Anglo-Saxon suffix -es, which was shortened in middle English to -is, and finally to s.

45. Both those, etc. Both Duessa and the shield are to go to the victor.

65. a Gryfon, a fabulous animal, part lion and part eagle. Gryfon is subject of encountereth with Dragon as object.

89. And sluggish german, etc., and sluggish brother dost relax thy strength to send his (Sansfoy’s) foe after him, that he may overtake him. In ll. 86-88 Sansjoy addresses his brother, in ll. 89-90 himself. German is any blood relation.

100. The Knight supposed that Duessa’s encouraging words were addressed to him.

114. Spenser here, with fine dramatic effect, imitates Homer, who saves Paris and Æneas by a similar device. Iliad, iii, 380, and v, 345.

159. teares. This mention of the man-eating crocodile’s tears is based on an old Latin proverb. Sir John Mandeville repeats the story.

172. griesly Night. According to mythology (Hesiod’s Theog., 123), one of the first things created, the daughter of Chaos, and mother of Æther (sky) and Hemera (day); also of Deceit, Strife, Old Age, and Vengeance. See xxii and xxvii.

202. on groning beare, on a bier with groaning friends around.

204. O what of gods, etc., O what is it to be born of gods, if old Aveugle’s (the father of the three Saracens) sons are so ill treated.

219. and good successes, etc., and good results which follow their foes.

221. or breake the chayne, refers to Jove’s proposition to fasten a golden chain to the earth by which to test his strength. Homer’s Iliad, viii, 19. Cf. Milton’s Paradise Lost, ii, 1051.

225. bad excheat, bad gain by exchange. Escheat is an old legal term, meaning any lands or goods which fall to the lord of a fief by forfeiture. Cf. “rob Peter to pay Paul.”

229. shall with his owne bloud, etc., shall pay the price of the blood that he has spilt with his own.

263. Here Spenser imitates Homer’s Odyssey, xvi, 163.

267. the ghastly Owle. The poet follows the Latin rather than the Greek poets, who regard the owl as the bird of wisdom.

273. of deep Avernus hole. Avernus in the poets is a cavern (in an ancient crater), supposed to be the entrance to the infernal regions. Cf. Vergil’s Æneid, vi, 237. In Strabo’s Geography it is a lake in Campania.

298. Cerberus, the dog which guarded the lower regions. This stanza is an imitation of Vergil’s Æneid, vi, 417 seq. In Dante’s Inferno Vergil appeases him by casting handfuls of earth into his maw.

xxxv. In this stanza we see the influence of Homer and Vergil. Ixion, the king of Lapithæ, was chained by order of Zeus to a fiery-winged wheel for aspiring to the love of the goddess Hera (Juno). Sisyphus had to roll a huge stone forever up a hill for betraying the designs of the gods. Tantalus, for divulging the secrets of Zeus, was condemned to stand tormented by thirst in a lake. Tityus, for an assault on Artemis, was pinioned to the ground with two vultures plucking at his vitals. Typhoeus, a hundred-headed giant, was slain by Zeus’ thunderbolt, and buried under Ætna. The gin on which he was tortured was probably the rack of the Middle Ages. Cf. the bed of Procrustes. Theseus, for attempting to carry off Persephone, was fixed to a rock in Tartarus. The “fifty sisters” are the fifty Danaides, who, for slaying their husbands, were condemned to pour water forever into a vessel full of holes.

322. sad Aesculapius, the god of medicine, slain by Zeus for arresting death and diseases.

354. And fates expired, and the threads of life which the fates (Parcæ) had severed.

387. Great paines, and greater praise, etc. His praise, like his pain, is to be eternal.

xlvii. This list of the thralls of Pride is in imitation of a similar one in Chaucer’s Monk’s Tale, which was based on Boccaccio’s De Casibus Illustrium Virorum.

415. proud king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. See Daniel, iii and iv.

420. king Croesus, the last king of Lydia, who was overthrown by Cyrus in B.C. 646. Herodotus, i, 26.

422. proud Antiochus, Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, who captured Jerusalem twice, and defiled God’s altar. He died raving mad B.C. 164. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, xiii, 5-9.

424. great Nimrod, “the mighty hunter” (Genesis, x, 8), whose game, according to Spenser, was man. Josephus tells us that through pride he built the tower of Babel.

426. old Ninus, the legendary founder of Nineveh, and put to death by his wife, Semiramis.

428. that mighty Monarch, Alexander the Great (B.C. 366-323), king of Macedon. While consulting the oracle of Jupiter Ammon in the Libyan desert he was saluted by the priests as “Ammons Sonne.” He died either of poison (Plutarch) or of excessive drink (Diodorus).

437. Great Romulus, legendary founder of Rome (B.C. 753). See Livy, i, 16.

438. Proud Tarquin, Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome. He was banished B.C. 510.

438. too lordly Lentulus, surnamed Sura, member of a haughty patrician family, who conspired with Catiline, and was strangled B.C. 62.

439. Stout Scipio, Cornelius Scipio Africanus (B.C. 287?-183?), the conqueror of Hannibal, and self-exiled from Rome. Livy speaks of his inordinate pride, xxxviii, 50.

439. stubborne Hanniball (B.C. 247-183), the great Carthaginian general, who died by poison to avoid falling into the hands of the Romans.

440. Ambitious Sylla (B.C. 138-78), Cornelius Sulla, the Dictator, who died a loathsome death.

440. sterne Marius (B.C. 157-86), after being seven times consul, he was obliged to take refuge from his rival Sulla amid the ruins of Carthage.

441. High Caesar, Caius Julius Caesar (B.C. 100-44), who was murdered by Brutus and other conspirators.

441. great Pompey. Cn. Pompeius Magnus (B.C. 106-48). After his defeat at Pharsalia, he fled to Egypt, where he was murdered.

441. fierce Antonius, Marcus (B.C. 83-30), the great triumvir, who after his defeat at Actium killed himself in Egypt.

444. The bold Semiramis, the legendary queen of Assyria.

446. Faire Sthenoboea, the wife of Proteus, who on account of her unrequited love for Bellerophon, died by hemlock. Aristophanes’ Frogs, 1049 seq.

448. High minded Cleopatra (B.C. 69-30), the beautiful queen of Egypt, who is said by Plutarch to have died in the manner mentioned.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto V)

1. How did Redcross spend the night before the fight with Sansjoy?

2. Study in detail the fine description of Duessa’s descent to Erebus.

3. What elements of beauty are seen in the description of dawn and sunrise in ii? and compare Psalms, xix, 5. 4. What arbitrary classification of musicians does Spenser make in iii? 5. Who is the far renowmed Queene in v? 6. Describe the joust between the Knight and Sansjoy. 7. Where do you learn of the laws governing such contests? 8. Observe the dramatic way in which Duessa saves Sansjoy. 9. What dramatic stroke in xxvii? 10. Describe Night and her team. 11. Give an account of her descent to Erebus with Sansjoy. 12. What were some of the tortures of the damned? 13. What effect is produced in xxx and how? 14. Point out some instances in which Spenser has imitated Homer—Vergil.

15. Where does he follow the Latin rather than the Greek poets?

16. Why did Æsculapius hesitate to heal Sansjoy? 17. Whom did the dwarf see in the dungeons of Pride? 18. Why did the Knight flee from the House of Pride?

19. Examine the following grammatical forms: maken, l. 22; woundes, l. 400. 20. What figure of speech is employed in xviii? 21. What illustration is used in viii? 22. Find example of balanced structure in vii; alliteration in viii, xv, xviii. 23. Scan l. 23. 24. Note nom. abs. construction in xlv.

25. Paraphrase the involved constructions in xlii, xix, viii, xxxvi.

CANTO VI

I. The Plot: (Continuation of Canto III). Una is delivered from Sansloy by a band of Satyrs. She remains with them as their teacher. There a knight of the wild-wood, Sir Satyrane, discovers her, and by his assistance, Una succeeds in making her way out of the forest to the plain. On the way they meet Archimago, disguised as a pilgrim, and he deceives them and leads them to Sansloy. While Sir Satyrane and Sansloy are engaged in a bloody battle, Una flees. She is pursued by Archimago but makes her escape.

II. The Allegory: 1. Truth is saved from destruction by Lawless Violence (Sansloy) by the aid of Barbarism or Savage Instinct, which terrorizes Lawlessness but offers natural homage to Truth. Truth finds a temporary home among Ignorant and Rude Folk (Satyrs) and in return imparts divine truth to their unregenerate minds. Natural Heroism or Manly Courage (Sir Satyrane) sides with Truth and defends it against Lawlessness.

2. The religious allegory signifies the extension of Protestantism through the outlying rural districts of England and in Ireland. Upton thinks that Sir Satyrane represents “Sir John Perrot, whose behaviour, though honest, was too coarse and rude for a court. ‘Twas well known that he was a son of Henry VIII.” Holinshed says that as Lord President of Munster, Sir John secured such peace and security that a man might travel in Ireland with a white stick only in his hand.

16. from one to other Ynd, from the East to the West Indies.

61. A troupe of Faunes and Satyres. The Fauns were the wood-gods of the Romans, the Satyrs the wood-gods of the Greeks. They were half human, half goat, and represented the luxuriant powers of nature.

63. old Sylvanus, the Roman god of fields and woods, young and fond of animal pleasures. Spenser represents him as a feeble but sensuous old man.

90. With chaunge of feare, from the wolf to the lion.

96. rustick horror, bristling hair.

99. Their backward bent knees, like the hinder legs of a goat.

101. their barbarous truth, their savage honor.

103. Late learnd, having been recently taught. She had shown too “hasty trust” in Archimago.

112. without suspect of crime, without suspicion of blame.

117. The olive is the emblem of peace, as the ivy (l. 126) is of sensuousness.

120. with their horned feet, with their hoofs.

128. Or Bacchus merry fruit, etc., whether they did discover grapes.

129. Or Cybeles franticke rites, the wild dances of the Corybantes, priestesses of Cybele, or Rhea, the wife of Chronos and mother of the gods.

132. that mirrhour rare, that model of beauty. So Sidney was called “the mirror of chivalry.”

134. faire Dryope, a princess of Æchalia, who became a forest nymph. Pholoe, mentioned in l. 135, is probably a fictitious creation of the author’s.

146. dearest Cyparisse, a youth of Cea, who accidentally killed his favorite stag and dying of grief was changed into a cypress. He was beloved by Apollo and Sylvanus.

148. not faire to this, i.e. compared to this.

152. n’ould after joy, would not afterwards be cheerful.

153. selfe-wild annoy, self-willed distress.

154. faire Hamadryades, the nymphs who dwelt in the forest trees and died with them.

156. light-foot Naiades, the fresh water nymphs, companions of the fauns and satyrs.

161. their woody kind, the wood-born creatures of their own kind, e.g. nymphs or satyrs.

163. Una was “luckelesse” in having lost her knights, but “lucky” in the friendship of the Satyrs. Note the Euphuistic phrasing.

169. Idolatryes. The allegory has reference to the idolatrous practices of the ignorant primitive Christians, such as the worship of images of the Saints, the pageant of the wooden ass during Lent (see Matthew, xxi, and Brand’s Popular Antiquities, i, 124), and the Feast of the Ass (see Matthew, ii, 14).

172. a noble warlike knight, Sir Satyrane, in whom are united rude untaught chivalry and woodland savagery. He represents natural heroism and instinctive love of truth.

173. by just occasion, just at the right moment.

184. Thyamis is the symbol of Animal Passion; Labryde of the lower appetites; Therion, the human wild beast, who deserts his wife.

xxiv. This account of Sir Satyrane’s education is based on that of Rogero by his uncle Atlante in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, vii, 5, 7.

213. maister of his guise, his instructor.

214. at his horrid vew, his shaggy, uncouth appearance.

256. his famous worth was blown, i.e. blazoned by Fame’s trumpet.

308. a Jacobs staffe. According to Nares, “A pilgrim’s staff; either from the frequent pilgrimages to St. James of Comfortella (in Galicia), or because the apostle St. James is usually represented with one.”

371. See Canto III, xxxviii, where Archimago was disguised as St. George.

372. Th’ enchaunter vaine, etc., the foolish enchanter (Archimago) would not have rued his (St. George’s) crime (i.e. slaying Sansfoy).

373. But them his errour shalt, etc., thou shalt by thy death pay the penalty of his crime and thus prove that he was really guilty. A very obscure passage. Look up the original meaning of shall.

386. This simile is found frequently in the old romances. Cf. Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, ii, 104, and Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale, l. 1160.

416. According to a usage of chivalry, the lover wore a glove, sleeve, kerchief, or other token of his lady-love on his helmet. By “lover’s token” Sansloy ironically means a blow.

425. to her last decay, to her utter ruin.

426. Spenser leaves the fight between Sansloy and Sir Satyrane unfinished. Both warriors appear in later books of the Faerie Queene.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto VI)

1. Who rescued Una from Sansloy? 2. How does Una repay their kindness? 3. How was she treated by them? 4. Explain the references to the various classes of nymphs. 5. Look up the classical references in xvi and xviii. 6. Why is Una described as “luckelesse lucky”? 7. What customs of the early Christians are referred to in xix? 8. What does Sir Satyrane symbolize in the allegory? 9. What was his character and education? 10. Note the Elizabethan conception of the goddess Fortune in xxxi. 11. Did Una act ungratefully in leaving the Satyrs as she did? 12. Who is the weary wight in xxxiv? 13. What news of St. George did he give? Was it true? 14. Who is the Paynim mentioned in xl? 15. Note Euphuistic antithesis in xlii. 16. Explain the figures in iv, vi, x, xliv. 17. Paraphrase ll. 289, 296. 18. Find Latinisms in xxv; xxvi; xxviii; xxxi; and xxxvii. 19. Describe the fight at the end of the Canto.

CANTO VII

I. The Plot: (Continuation of Canto V). Duessa pursues the Redcross Knight, and overtakes him sitting by an enchanted fountain, weary and disarmed. He is beguiled into drinking from the fountain, and is quickly deprived of strength. In this unnerved and unarmed condition he is suddenly set upon by the giant Orgoglio. After a hopeless struggle he is struck down by the giant’s club and is thrust into a dungeon. Una is informed by the dwarf of the Knight’s misfortune and is prostrated with grief. Meeting Prince Arthur, she is persuaded to tell her story and receives promise of his assistance.

II. The Allegory: 1. The Christian soldier, beguiled by Falsehood, doffs the armor of God, and indulges in sinful pleasures, and loses his purity. He then quickly falls into the power of Carnal Pride, or the brutal tyranny of False Religion (Orgoglio). He can then be restored only by an appeal to the Highest Honor or Magnificence (Prince Arthur) through the good offices of Truth and Common Sense.

2. In the reaction from the Reformation, Protestant England by dallying with Romanism (Duessa, Mary Queen of Scots) falls under the tyrannic power of the Pope (Orgoglio), with whom Catholic England was coquetting. At this juncture National Honor and Consciousness comes to the relief of Protestantism. There is personal compliment to either Lord Leicester or Sir Philip Sidney.

19. He feedes upon, he enjoys. A Latinism: cf. Vergil’s Æneid, iii.

37. Phœbe, a surname of Diana, or Artemis, the goddess of the moon.

45. Spenser probably takes the suggestion from the fountain in the gardens of Armida in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, xiv, 74. Cf. also the fountain of Salmacis in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, xv, 819 seq.

56. Pourd out, a metaphor borrowed from Euripides (Herac., 75) and Vergil (Æneid, ix, 317).

62. his looser make, his too dissolute companion.

67. An hideous Geant, Orgoglio, symbolizing Inordinate Pride, and the Pope of Rome, who then claimed universal power over both church and state (x). For a list of many other giants of romance see Brewer’s Handbook, pp. 376-379.

104. that divelish yron Engin, cannon. The invention of artillery by infernal ingenuity is an old conception of the poets. There is a suggestion of it in Vergil’s Æneid, vi, 585 seq., which is elaborated in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, ix, 91, which Milton in turn imitated in Paradise Lost, vi, 516 seq. So in the romance of Sir Triamour.

112. th’ onely breath, the mere breath.

119. do him not to dye, slay him not; cf. “done to death.”

138. A monstrous beast, on which the woman of Babylon sat; Revelation, xiii and xvii, 7.

139. This refers to the Romish policy of fostering ignorance among its members.

140. that renowmed Snake, the Lernæan Hydra, a monster with nine or more heads, offspring of Typhon and Echidna. It was slain by Hercules. Stremona is a name of Spenser’s own invention.

147. The reference is to the cruelty and insensibility of the Romish Church.

150. Its tail reached to the stars. Revelation, xii, 4.

155. and holy heasts foretaught, and holy commands previously taught (them).

161. his forlorne weed, his abandoned clothing.

165. moniments, the sorrowful, mournful relics.

182. So hardly he, etc. So he with difficulty coaxes the life which has flown to return into her body. According to the Platonic teaching, the body is the prison-house of the soul. Cf Psalms, cxlii, 7.

202. But seeled up with death, but closed in death. “Seel” was a term in falconry, meaning “to sew up” (the eyes of the hawk).

219. the bitter balefull stound, the bitter, grievous moment during which she listens to the story.

220. If lesse then that I feare, etc., if it is less bitter than I fear it is, I shall have found more favor (been more fortunate) than I expected.

231. sorrowfull assay, the assault of sorrow (on her heart).

236. Was never Lady, etc., there never was lady who loved day (life) dearer.

249. A goodly knight. Prince Arthur, son of King Uther Pendragon and Queen Ygerne, the model English gentleman, in whom all the virtues are perfected (Magnificence). According to Upton and most editors, Prince Arthur represents Lord Leicester; according to another tradition, Sir Philip Sidney. Could the author have possibly intended in him compliment to Sir Walter Raleigh? See Spenser’s Letter to Raleigh. Arthur is the beau ideal of knighthood, and upon him the poet lavishes his richest descriptive powers. His armor, his shield Pridwen, his lance Roan, and sword Exculibur, were made by the great enchanter Merlin in the isle of Avallon.

259. Shapt like a Ladies head, an effigy of Queen Elizabeth, the Faerie Queene.

260. Like Hesperus, the evening star. Cf. Phosphorus, the morning star.

268. The dragon couchant was also the crest of Arthur’s father, Uther, surnamed on this account Pen-dragon. The description in this stanza is imitated from Tasso’s description of the helmet of the Sultan in Jerusalem Delivered, ix, 25, which in turn follows Vergil’s Æneid, vii, 785 seq.

280. greene Selinis, a town in Sicily.

284. His warlike shield. Spenser here follows closely the description of the shield of the magician Atlante in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, ii, 55.

300. silver Cynthia, the moon. It was popularly supposed that magicians and witches had power to cause eclipses of the moon.

304. All falsehood and deception. Truth and Wisdom are symbolized (Upton).

306. when him list, when it pleased him. Him is dative.

314. It Merlin was. Ambrose Merlin, the prince of enchanters, son of the nun Matilda, and an incubus, “half-angel and half-man.” He made, in addition to Prince Arthur’s armor and weapons, the Round Table for one hundred and fifty knights at Carduel, the magic fountain of love, and built Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. He died spellbound by the sorceress Vivien in a hollow oak. See Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.

326. did trample as the aire, curveted as lightly as the air.

335. And for her humour, etc., and to suit her (sad) mood framed fitting conversation.

355. The subject of found is the substantive clause who… impart.

xli. Observe the antithetical structure of this stanza, both in the Stichomuthia, or balance of line against line, and in the lines themselves. In this rapid word-play Arthur wins his point by appealing to Una’s faith.

363. No faith so fast, etc., no faith is so firm that human infirmity may not injure it.

376. Una, Truth, is the sole daughter of Eden.

377. whilest equal destinies, etc., whilst their destinies (Fates) revolved equally and undisturbed in their orbits. (Astronomical figure.)

381. Phison and Euphrates, etc., three of the four rivers that watered Eden, the Hiddekel being omitted. See Genesis, ii, 11-14. In this stanza the poet strangely mixes Christian doctrine and the classical belief in the envy of the gods working the downfall of men.

385. Tartary, Tartarus (for the rhyme), the lowest circle of torment in the infernal regions.

391. Has this obscure line any reference to prophecy? Cf. Daniel, vii, 25, Revelation, xii, 6, 14.

394. that heaven walks about, under the sky.

404. That noble order, the Order of the Garter, of which the Maiden Queen was head. The figure of St. George slaying the dragon appears on the oval and pendant to the collar of this Order.

405. of Gloriane, Queen Elizabeth.

407. Cleopolis is red, is called Cleopolis, i.e. the city of Glory, or London.

425. my dolefull disadventurous deare, my sad misadventurous injury.

429. That he my captive languor, the languishing captivity of my parents.

432. My loyalty, i.e. the loyalty of me that rather death desire, etc.

441. That brought not backe, etc., (and whence) the body full of evil was not brought back dead.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto VII)

1. Relate how the Knight fell into the hands of the Giant. 2. Note the fine adaptation of sound to sense in vii. 3. Who were the parents and the foster-father of Orgoglio? 4. What are the principal characteristics of the giants of romance as seen in Orgoglio? cf. with the giants in Pilgrim’s Progress. 5. In the description of the giant do the last two lines (viii) add to or detract from the impression? Why? 6. To whom does Spenser ascribe the invention of artillery? 7. Explain the allegory involved in the relations of Duessa and Orgoglio. 8. How does Una act on hearing the news of the Knight’s capture? 9. What part does the Dwarf play? 10. Is Una just to herself in ll. 200-201? 11. Is she over sentimental or ineffective—and is the pathos of her grief kept within the limits of the reader’s pleasure? 12. Express in your own words the main thought in xxii. 13. Note the skillful summary of events in xxvi, and observe that this stanza is the Central Crisis and Pivotal Point of the whole Book. The fortunes of the Knight reach their lowest ebb and begin to turn. The first half of the Book has been the complication of the plot, the second half will be the resolution. 14. Give a description of Prince Arthur. 15. What mysterious power was possessed by his shield? Cf. the Holy Grail. 16. Observe carefully the scene between Una and Arthur, noting the changes in her mood. What light is thrown on her character? What are her feelings toward the Knight? 17. Explain the various threads of allegory in this Canto.

CANTO VIII

I. The Plot: Prince Arthur and Una are conducted by the Dwarf to Orgoglio’s Castle. At the blast of the Squire’s horn the Giant comes forth attended by Duessa mounted on the seven-headed Beast. In the battle which ensues Arthur wounds the Beast, slays the Giant and captures Duessa. Prince Arthur finds the Redcross Knight half starved in a foul dungeon and releases him. Duessa is stripped of her gaudy clothes and allowed to hide herself in the wilderness.

II. The Allegory: 1. Magnificence, the sum of all the virtues, wins the victory over Carnal Pride, and restores Holiness to its better half, Truth. With the overthrow of Pride, Falsehood, which is the ally of that vice, is stripped of its outward show and exposed in all its hideous deformity.

2. The false Romish Church becomes drunk in the blood of the martyrs. There is a hint of the persecutions in the Netherlands, in Piedmont, of the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day and the burnings under Bloody Mary. Protestant England is delivered from Popish tyranny by the honor and courage of the English people. Militant England (Prince Arthur) is assisted by the clergy (Squire) with his horn (Bible) and is guided by Truth and Common Sense (Dwarf).

23. horne of bugle small, the English Bible. Spenser here imitates the description of the magic horn of Logistilla in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, xv, 15, 53. Such horns are frequently mentioned in romance, e.g., Chanson de Roland, Morte d’ Arthur, Hawes’ Pastime, Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, Huon of Bordeaux, Romance of Sir Otarel, Cervantes’ Don Quixote, etc.

50. late cruell feast, a probable reference to the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day in Paris in 1572, and to the persecutions of Alva’s Council of Blood in the Netherlands in 1567.

ix. This stanza is an imitation of Homer’s Iliad, xiv, 414.

95. in Cymbrian plaine, probably the Crimea, the ancient Tauric Chersonese. Some connect it with the Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland, which was famous for its herds of bulls.

96. kindly rage, natural passion.

105. Note the Latinism “threatened his heads,” and the imperfect rhyme “brands.”

118. her golden cup, suggested by Circe’s magic cup in Homer’s Odyssey, x, 316, and the golden cup of the Babylonish woman in Revelation, xvii, 4.

148. Through great impatience of his grieved hed, etc., through inability to endure (the pain of) his wounded head, he would have cast down his rider, etc.

155. In one alone left hand, in one hand alone remaining. His left arm had been cut off (x).

xix. The uncovered shield represents the open Bible. The incident is an imitation of Ruggiero’s display of his shield in Orlando Furioso, xxii, 85.

246. Your fortune maister, etc., be master of your fortune by good management.

268. unused rust, rust which is due to disuse; a Latinism.

296. With natures pen, etc., i.e. by his gray hairs, at that age to which proper seriousness belongs. “I cannot tell” did not become his venerable looks.

310. That greatest princes, etc. This may mean (1) befitting the presence of the greatest princes, or (2) that the greatest princes might deign to behold in person. The first interpretation is preferable.

312. A general reference to the bloody persecutions without regard to age or s*x carried on for centuries by the Romish Church, often under the name of “crusades,” “acts of faith,” “holy inquisition,” etc.

315. This may refer to the burning of heretics, under the pretext that the Church shed no blood. Kitchin thinks that it means “accursed ashes.”

317. An Altare, cf. Revelation, vi, 9. Carv’d with cunning ymagery, “in allusion to the stimulus given to the fine arts by the Church of Rome” (Percival).

366. brawned bowrs, brawny muscles.

375. what evill starre, etc. In Spenser’s day, belief in astrology, the pseudo-science of the influence of the stars on human lives, was still common.

381. There was an old familiar ballad entitled Fortune my Foe.

384. i.e. your good fortune will be threefold as great as your evil fortune.

384. good growes of evils priefe, good springs out of our endurance of the tests and experience of evil.

391. Best musicke breeds delight, etc. A troublesome passage. Upton and Jortin emend delight to dislike; Church inserts no before delight and omits best; Kitchin suggests despight; Grosart prefers the text as it stands with the meaning that although the best music pleases the troubled mind, it is no pleasure to renew the memory of past sufferings. I venture to offer still another solution, based on the context. When Una shows a desire to hear from her Knight a recountal of his sufferings in the dungeon, and he is silent, being loath to speak of them, Arthur reminds her that a change of subject is best, for the best music is that which breeds delight in the troubled ear.

xlvi. In this passage Spenser follows closely the description of the witch Alcina in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, vii, 73. Rogero has been fascinated by her false beauty, and her real foulness is exposed by means of a magic ring. The stripping of Duessa symbolizes the proscription of vestments and ritual, and the overthrow of images, etc., at the time of the Reformation. Duessa is only banished to the wilderness, not put to death, and reappears in another book of the poem.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto VIII)

1. What moral reflections are found in i? 2. What were the duties of the Squire in chivalry? 3. What part does Arthur’s Squire play? 4. What does the Squire’s horn symbolize? 5. Observe the classical figure in ix. 6. Describe the battle before the Giant’s Castle, stating what part is taken by each of the four engaged. 7. Point out several of the characteristics of a typical battle of romance, and compare with combats in classical and modern times. 8. What additional traits of Una’s character are presented in this Canto? Note especially her treatment of the Knight. 9. How is the unchangeableness of truth illustrated in this story? 10. Who is the old man in xxx seq.? 11. Who is the woful thrall in xxxvii? 12. In what condition, mental and physical, is the Knight when liberated? 13. How long was he a captive? 14. What was Duessa’s punishment? Was it adequate? Explain its moral and religious meaning. 15. Observe the use of thou and ye (you) in this Canto. 16. Find examples of antithesis, alliteration, Latinisms.

CANTO IX

I. The Plot: Prince Arthur tells Una of his vision of the Faerie Queene and of his quest for her. After exchanging presents with the Redcross Knight, he bids farewell to Una and her companions. These pursue their journey and soon meet a young knight, Sir Trevisan, fleeing from Despair. Sir Trevisan tells of his narrow escape from this old man, and unwillingly conducts the Redcross Knight back to his cave. The Knight enters and is almost persuaded to take his own life. He is saved by the timely interposition of Una. This is the most powerful canto of Book I.

II. The Allegory: 1. The moral allegory in Canto VII presents the transition of the Soul (Redcross) from Pride to Sin (Duessa) through distrust of Truth (Una), and it thus comes into the bondage of Carnal Pride (Orgoglio). In Canto IX the Soul suffers a similar change from Sin to Despair. Having escaped from actual sin, but with spiritual life weakened, it almost falls a victim to Despair through excess of confidence and zeal to perform some good action. The Soul is saved by Truth, by which it is reminded to depend on the grace of God.

2. The allegory on its religious side seems to have some obscure reference to the long and bitter controversies between Protestantism (Calvinism) and Roman Catholicism allied with infidelity.

1. O goodly golden chaine, chivalry or knightly honor, the bond that unites all the virtues.

18. thanklesse, because not knowing whom to thank.

26. In Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, Arthur is taken from his mother, Ygerne, at birth, and committed to the care of Sir Ector as his foster-father, i, 3. In Merlin Sir Antor is his foster-father.

33. Rauran mossy hore, Rauran white with moss. A “Rauran-vaur hill” in Merionethshire is mentioned by Selden. Contrary to the older romancers, Spenser makes Prince Arthur a Welshman, not a Cornishman.

34. the river Dee, which rises in Merionethshire and flows through Lake Bala.

39. my discipline to frame, etc., to plan my course of instruction, and, as my tutor, to supervise my bringing up.

45. in her just terme, in due time.

57. or that fresh bleeding wound, i.e. his love for Gloriana.

59. With forced fury, etc., supplying “me” from “my” in l. 58 the meaning is: the wound … brought … me following its bidding with compulsive (passionate) fury, etc. In the sixteenth century his was still almost always used as the possessive of it. Its does not occur in the King James Version of the Bible (1611).

63. Could ever find (the heart) to grieve, etc. A Euphuistic conceit.

64. According to the physiology of Spenser’s age, love was supposed to dry up the humors (“moysture”) of the body.

70. But told, i.e. if it (my love) is told.

100. Ensample make of him, witness him (the Redcross knight).

113. Whiles every sence, etc., while the sweet moisture bathed all my senses.

146. Next to that Ladies love, i.e. next to his love (loyalty) for Gloriana. Does the poet mean that allegiance to queen and country comes before private affection?

149. Was firmest fixt, etc., were strongest in my extremity (in the giant’s dungeon).

169. A booke, the New Testament, an appropriate gift from the champions of the Reformed Church.

182. An armed knight, Sir Trevisan, who symbolizes Fear.

189. Pegasus, the winged horse of the Muses. For note on the false possessive with his, see note on V, 44.

233. had not greater grace, etc., had not greater grace (than was granted my comrade) saved me from it, I should have been partaker (with him of his doom) in that place.

249. after faire areedes, afterwards graciously tells.

267. with dying feare, with fear of dying.

269. Whose like infirmitie, etc., i.e. if you are a victim of love, you may also fall into the hands of despair.

270. But God you never let, but may God never let you, etc.

272. to spoyle the Castle of his health, to take his own life. Cf. Eliot’s Castell of Helthe, published in 1534.

273. I wote, etc. I, whom recent trial hath taught, and who would not (endure the) like for all the wealth of this world, know (how a man may be so gained over to destroy himself).

275. This simile is a very old one. See Homer’s Iliad, i, 249; Odyssey, xviii, 283; Song of Solomon, iv, 11; and Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, ii, 51.

286. for gold nor glee. Cf. for love or money.

294-296. Imitated from Vergil’s Æneid, vi, 462.

315. as, as if.

320. A drearie corse, Sir Terwin, mentioned in xxvii.

332. judge against thee right, give just judgment against thee.

333. to price, to pay the price of.

336. What justice, etc., what justice ever gave any other judgment but (this, that) he, who deserves, etc.

340. Is then unjust, etc., is it then unjust to give each man his due?

xxxix. Observe the subtle argument on suicide in this and st. xl.

xli. Spenser here puts into the mouth of the Knight Socrates’ argument to Cebes in their dialogue on the immortality of the soul. Plato’s Phædo, vi.

367. Quoth he, Despair.

403. thy date, the allotted measure or duration of thy life.

408. thy sinfull hire, thy service of sin.

431. As he were charmed, etc., as if he were under the spell of magic incantation.

438. in a table, in a picture. The horrors of the Last Judgment and the torments of the lost were favorite subjects of the mediæval Catholic painters.

468. fire-mouthed Dragon. The dragons of romance are all described as fire-breathing,

473. that chosen art, a reference to the doctrine of Election. Mark, xiii, 20.

476. accurst hand-writing. A reference to Paul’s letter to the Colossians, ii, 14, in which he declares that the gospel of grace has superseded the law of Moses.

484. he so himselfe had drest, he had thus attempted (to take his life).

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto IX)

1. Give an account of Prince Arthur’s vision of the Faerie Queene. 2. Interpret his search for her as an allegory of the young man’s quest after his ideal. 3. Observe in xvii an allusion to Spenser’s patron, Lord Leicester, who was a favored suitor for Elizabeth’s hand. 4. What presents did the Knights exchange at parting? 5. Characterize Sir Trevisan by his appearance, speech, and actions. What does he symbolize? 6. Note the skill with which Spenser arouses interest before telling of the interview with Despair. 7. What was the fate of Sir Terwin? Its moral significance? 8. Describe the Cave of Despair, and show what effects are aimed at by the poet. 9. Compare with Despair Bunyan’s Giant Despair and the Man in the Iron Cage. 10. Trace the sophistries by which Despair works in the mind of the Knight, e.g. the arguments from necessity (fatalism), humanity, cowardice, discouragement and disgust on account of his past failures, dread of the future, of God’s justice, and the relief of death. 11. Does Despair show knowledge of the Knight’s past? 12. With what powerful truths does Una meet the arguments of Despair? 13. Where do you find reference to mediæval art?

14. Find examples of Euphuism, metaphors, similes, Latinisms, and alliteration. 15. Explain the verb forms in ll. 154, 321, 336.

CANTO X

I. The Plot: The Redcross Knight is conducted by Una to the House of Holiness, where they are welcomed by Dame Cœlia and graciously entertained. The Knight is instructed by Fidelia, Speranza, and Charissa, the three daughters of Cœlia, in his relations to God and his fellow-men. He is healed in body, and undergoes discipline for his sins. Mercy conducts him through the Hospital of Good Works, where he sees her seven Beadsmen. He then with Una climbs the Hill of Contemplation and hears from a holy man the story of his past with a prophecy of his future, and obtains a view of the City of Heaven.

This must be pronounced the most beautiful canto of the first book.

II. The Allegory: 1. The Soul is brought by the Truth to a knowledge of the Heavenly Life (Cœlia), and is led, through repentance, to seek forgiveness and to desire a holier life. Having learned Faith and Hope, it acquires a zeal for Good Works (Charity), and is strengthened by exercising Patience and Repentance. At last it enjoys a mood of happy Contemplation of the past with bright prospects for the future. The whole canto sets forth the beauty in a life of faith combined with good deeds.

2. The religious allegory presents the doctrine, discipline, and spirit of Protestantism in the sixteenth century. A close parallel may be drawn between this canto and many things in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. For his House of Holiness and its management, Spenser has no doubt taken many suggestions from the great manor house of some Elizabethan gentleman.

19. an auntient house, the House of Holiness.

28. Dame Cœlia, i.e. the Heavenly Lady.

33. Fidelia and Speranza, Faith and Hope.

35. faire Charissa, Charity, or Love. Cf. I Corinthians, xiii, 13.

44. Hight Humiltà, named Humility.

59. And knew his good, etc., and knew how to conduct himself to all of every rank.

77. ever-dying dread, constant dread of death.

78. long a day, many a long day.

79. thy weary soles to lead, to guide thy weary feet (to rescue them).

xiii. The description of Fidelia is full of biblical allusions, viz.; her white robe (Revelation, vii, 9); the sacramental cup filled with wine and water according to the custom of the early Christians (John, xix, 34); the serpent symbolical of healing power (Numbers, xxi, and Mark, xiv, 24); the book sealed with the blood of the Lamb (Revelation, v, 1, and II Corinthians, v, 7).

144. encrease is in the optative subj. with God as subject.

172. And when she list, etc., and when it pleased her to manifest her higher spiritual power. These miracles of Faith are based on the following passages: Joshua, x, 12; II Kings, xx, 10; Judges, vii, 7; Exodus, xiv, 21; Joshua, iii, 17; Matthew, xxi, 21.

176. This line is given in the folio edition of 1609, but is wanting in the edition of 1590 and 1596.

209. hardly him intreat, scarcely prevail on him.

213. The absolutions granted by the clergy.

215. the passion of his plight, his suffering condition.

xxx. Percival points out the resemblance between Spenser’s Charity and Andrea del Sarto’s famous painting La Charité in the Louvre.

277. Whose passing price, etc., whose surpassing value it was difficult to calculate.

292. well to donne, well doing, right doing.

318. seven Bead-men, seven men of prayer, corresponding to the Seven Deadly Sins of the House of Pride. They represent good works: (1) entertainment of strangers; (2) food to the needy; (3) clothing to the naked; (4) relief to prisoners; (5) comfort to the sick; (6) burial of the dead, and (7) care of widows and orphans.

354. price of bras, ransom in money. Bras is a Latinism from æs.

355. From Turkes and Sarazins. In the sixteenth century thousands of Christians were held captive in Turkish and Saracen prisons, and many of these were ransomed by the charitable of Europe. Prescott tells us that Charles V found 10,000 Christians in Tunis at its capture in 1535.

359. he that harrowd hell. The Harrowing of Hell was the mediæval belief in the descent of Christ to hell to redeem the souls of Old Testament saints, and to despoil the powers of darkness. It is the subject of an old miracle play.

374. The reference is to the resurrection from the dead.

378. I dead be not defould, that I (when) dead be not defiled. This prayer was answered, for the poet received honorable burial in Westminster Abbey.

381. And widowes ayd, i.e. had charge (to) aid widows, etc.

382. In face of judgement, before the judgment-seat.

422-423. his … her, Redcross Knight…mercy.

430. For nought he car’d, for he cared nought that his body had been long unfed.

470. that same mighty man of God, Moses. See Exodus, xiv, 16, xxiv, and xxxiv.

471. That blood-red billowes, of the Red Sea.

478. that sacred hill, the mount of Olives.

483. that pleasaunt Mount, mount Parnassus, the seat of the nine Muses (l. 485), the patronesses of the arts and of learning. Sacred and profane literature are beautifully blended in the thoughts of the contemplative man.

489. a goodly Citie, the Celestial City, Heaven. The description is suggested by that in Revelation, xxi, 10 seq.

515. That great Cleopolis, London, “the city of glory.”

519. Panthea, probably Westminster Abbey, in which Elizabeth’s ancestors were buried.

524. for earthly frame, for an earthly structure.

549. Saint George of mery England. St. George became the patron Saint of England in 1344, when Edward III consecrated to him the Order of the Garter. Church and Percival say that merry means pleasant and referred originally to the country, not the people. Cf. Mereweather.

lxii. Observe that lines 1, 2, 5, 6 are spoken by the Knight, the rest by Contemplation.

565. bequeathed care, the charge intrusted to thee (by Una).

579. and many bloody battailes, etc., and fought many bloody pitched battles.

585. Chaungelings. The belief in the power of fairies to substitute their elf-children for human babies is frequently referred to in writers of Spenser’s time. In the Seven Champions the witch Kalyb steals away St. George, the son of Lord Albert of Coventry, soon after his birth.

591. Georgos, from the Greek γεωργός, an earth tiller, farmer. Spenser borrows the story in this stanza from that of Tages, son of Earth, who was similarly found and brought up. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, xv, 553.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto X)

1. Observe that stanza i contains the moral of Canto IX. 2. What was Una’s purpose in bringing the Knight to the House of Holiness? 3. Why should Faith and Hope be represented as betrothed virgins, and Charity a matron? 4. Who were Zeal, Reverence, Obedience, Patience, and Mercy, with the symbolism of each? 5. Who was the door-keeper? Explain the allegory. 6. Find and explain the biblical allusions in this Canto, which shows the influence of the Bible to a remarkable extent. 7. In what was the Knight instructed by Faith (xix seq.)? 8. Compare the mood of the Knight in xxi with that in Canto IX, li. 9. How did the two situations affect Una? 10. Note the teachings in xxiii (prayer), xxiv (absolution), and xxv (mortification of the flesh). 11. Observe that Faith teaches the Knight his relations to God; Charity, those to his fellow-men. 12. Explain the lyric note in l. 378. 13. Give an account of the knight’s visit to the Hill of Contemplation. Explain the allegory. 14. Find a stanza complimentary to Queen Elizabeth. 16. What prophecy was made of the Knight?

CANTO XI

I. The Plot: The Redcross Knight reaches the Brazen Tower in which Una’s parents, the King and Queen of Eden, are besieged by the Dragon. The monster is described. The first day’s fight is described, in which the Knight is borne through the air in the Dragon’s claws, wounds him under the wing with his lance, but is scorched by the flames from the monster’s mouth. The Knight is healed by a bath in the Well of Life. On the second day the Knight gives the Dragon several sword-wounds, but is stung by the monster’s tail and forced to retreat by the flames. That night he is refreshed and healed by the balm from the Tree of Life. On the third day he slays the Dragon by a thrust into his vitals.

II. The Allegory: 1. Mankind has been deprived of Eden by Sin or Satan (Dragon). The Christian overcomes the devil by means of the whole armor of God (shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, etc.). The soul is strengthened by the ordinances of religion: baptism, regeneration, etc.

2. There is a hint of the long and desperate struggle between Reformed England (St. George) and the Church of Rome, in which the power of the Pope and the King of Spain was broken in England, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe. Some may see a remoter allusion to the delivery of Ireland from the same tyranny.

13. be at your keeping well, be well on your guard.

iii. This stanza is not found in the edition of 1590.

30. And seemd uneath, etc., and seemed to shake the steadfast ground (so that it became) unstable. Church and Nares take uneath to mean “beneath” or “underneath”; Kitchin conjectures “almost.”

31. that dreadful Dragon, symbolical of Satan. Spenser here imitates the combat between St. George and the Dragon in the Seven Champions of Christendom, i.

32. This description of the dragon watching the tower from the sunny hillside is justly admired for its picturesqueness, power, and suggestiveness. The language is extremely simple, but the effect is awe-inspiring. It has been compared with Turner’s great painting of the Dragon of the Hesperides.

42. O thou sacred muse, Clio, the Muse of History, whom Spenser calls the daughter of Phœbus (Apollo) and Mnemosyne (Memory).

56. till I of warres, etc. Spenser is here supposed to refer to his plan to continue the Faerie Queene and treat of the wars of the English with Philip II (“Paynim King”) and the Spanish (“Sarazin”).

61. let downe that haughtie string, etc., cease that high-pitched strain and sing a second (or tenor) to my (lower) tune.

120. As two broad Beacons. Kitchin thinks this passage is a reminiscence of the beacon-fires of July 29, 1588, which signaled the arrival of the Armada off the Cornish coast.

158. Her flitting parts, her shifting parts; referring to the instability of the air.

161. low stouping, swooping low (to the ground); a term in falconry.

167. hagard hauke, a wild, untamed falcon.

168. above his hable might, beyond the strength of which he is capable.

172. He so disseized, etc., i.e. the dragon being thus dispossessed of his rough grip. The construction is nominative absolute.

185. And greedy gulfe does gape, etc., i.e. the greedy waters gape as if they would devour the land.

187. the blustring brethren, the winds.

228. his wide devouring oven, the furnace of his maw, or belly.

235. that great Champion, Hercules. The charmed garment steeped in the blood of the Centaur Nessus, whom Hercules had slain, was given him by his wife Dejanira in order to win back his love. Instead of acting as a philter, the poison-robe burned the flesh from his body. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, ix, 105.

xxviii. Observe the correspondence between the adjectives in l. 244 and the nouns in l. 245. The sense is: “He was so faint,” etc.

261. The well of life. This incident is borrowed from Bevis of Hampton. The allegory is based on John, iv, 14, and Revelation, xxii, 1.

267. Silo, the healing Pool of Siloam, John, ix, 7. Jordan, by bathing in which Naaman was healed of leprosy, II Kings, v, 10.

268. Bath, in Somersetshire, a town famous from the earliest times for its medicinal baths. Spau, a town in Belgium noted for its healthful waters, now a generic name for German watering-places.

269. Cephise, the river Cephissus in Bœotia whose waters possessed the power of bleaching the fleece of sheep. Cf. Isaiah, i, 18. Hebrus, a river in Thrace, here mentioned because it awaked to music the head and lyre of the dead Orpheus, as he floated down its stream. Ovid’s Metamorphoses, xi, 50.

295. to move, moving. This is a French idiom.

300. As Eagle fresh out of the Ocean wave, etc. There was an ancient belief, that once in ten years the eagle would soar into the empyrean, and plunging thence into the sea, would molt his plumage and renew his youth with a fresh supply of feathers.

312. his bright deaw-burning blade, his bright blade flashing with the “holy water dew” in which it had been hardened (l. 317).

322. Ne molten mettall in his blood embrew, i.e. nor sword bathe itself in his (the dragon’s) blood.

335. With sharpe intended sting, with sharp, outstretched sting.

366. the griped gage, the pledge (shield) seized (by the dragon).

386. missed not his minisht might, felt not the loss of its diminished strength; i.e. though cut off, the paw still held to the shield.

xliv. In comparing the fire-spewing dragon to a volcano, Spenser follows Vergil’s Æneid, iii, 571, and Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, iv, 8.

406. a goodly tree. Cf. Genesis, ii, 9, and Revelation, xxii, 2.

409. over all were red, everywhere were spoken of.

414. Cf. Genesis, iii, 2. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden lest they should eat and live forever.

434. deadly made, a creature of death, i.e. hell-born.

469. An imitation of an incident in the Seven Champions in which a winged serpent attempts to swallow St. George; i, 1.

477. And back retyrd, and as it was withdrawn. A Gallicism.

490. which she misdeem’d, in which she was mistaken. Una feared that the dragon was not dead.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto XI)

1. Describe the three days’ fight between the Knight and the Dragon. 2. What advantages does each gain? 3. Study the Dragon as a type of the conventional monster of romance, contrasting his brutal nature with the intellectuality and strategy of the Knight. 4. Study the battle as an allegory of the victory of mind over matter, of virtue over vice, of Protestantism over Romanism. 5. By what devices does Spenser obtain the effects of terror? Mystery and terror are prime elements in romance. 6. Find examples of another romantic characteristic, exaggeration. 7. Do you think that in his use of hyperbole and impossibilities Spenser shows that he was deficient in a sense of humor? 8. Observe the lyric note in iii and liv. 9. How does the poet impress the reader with the size of the Dragon? 10. Which Muse does he invoke? 11. Spenser’s poetry is richly sensuous: find passages in which he appeals to the sense of sight (iv, viii, xiv), of sound (iv, ix), of touch (x, xi, vii), of smell (xiii), of taste (xiii), of pain (xxxvii, xxvi, xxii), of motion (x, xv, xviii). 12. Where do you find an allegory of baptism? Of regeneration? Of the resurrection of Christ (the three days)? 13. Analyze the descriptions of the coming of darkness and of dawn.

CANTO XII

I. The Plot: The death of the dragon is announced by the watchman on the tower of the city, and Una’s parents, the King and Queen, accompanied by a great throng, come forth rejoicing at their deliverance. The Knight and Una are conducted with great honors into the palace. On the eve of their betrothal, Archimago suddenly appears as Duessa’s messenger and claims the Knight. Their wicked attempt is frustrated, and the pair are happily betrothed. After a long time spent in Una’s society, the Knight sets out to engage in the further service of the Faerie Queene.

II. The Allegory: Holiness, by conquering the devil, frees the whole human race from the tyranny of sin. It is embarrassed by the unexpected appearance of the consequences of its past sins, but makes a manly confession. In spite of hypocritical intrigues (Archimago) and false slanders (Duessa), Holiness is united to Truth, thus forming a perfect character. The champion of the church militant responds cheerfully to the calls of duty and honor.

2. Reformed England, having destroyed the brutal power of Rome, is firmly united to the truth in spite of the intrigues of the Pope to win it back to allegiance. It then goes forth against the King of Spain in obedience to the command of Queen Elizabeth.

3. vere the maine shete, shift the mainsail, beare up with the land, direct the ship toward land.

25. out of hond, at once.

43. Of tall young men. An allusion to Queen Elizabeth’s Pensioners, a band of the tallest and handsomest young men, of the best families and fortunes, that could be found (Warton). All hable armes to sownd, all proper to wield armes.

57. to the Maydens, to the accompaniment of the maidens’ timbrels.

71. in her self-resemblance well beseene, looking well in her resemblance to her proper self, i.e. a king’s daughter.

73. the raskall many, the crowd of common people.

116. of great name, of great celebrity, i.e. value.

117. fitting purpose frame, held fitting conversation.

xiv. Kitchin and Percival think this whole passage a clever compliment to the parsimony of the Queen’s court.

161. that proud Paynim king, probably a reference to Philip of Spain.

168. Nor doen undo, nor undo what has been done.

173. In sort as, even as.

205. all were she, although she had been. In place, in various places.

313. bait. In Spenser’s time bear-baiting was a favorite pastime of the people and received royal patronage.

328. The housling fire, the sacramental fire. Spenser seems here to have in mind, not the Christian housel or Eucharist, but the Roman marriage rites with their symbolic fire and water.

347. trinall triplicities, the threefold three orders of the celestial hierarchy according to the scholastic theologians. They were as follows: (1) Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; (2) Dominations, Virtues, Powers; (3) Princedoms, Archangels, and Angels. Cf. Dante’s Paradiso, xxviii, Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, xviii, 96, and Milton’s Paradise Lost, v, 748.

375. her tackles spent, her worn-out rigging.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto XII)

1. Contrast the tone of this canto with the preceding two. 2. When does Spenser drop into a lighter, humorous vein? 3. Find allusions to sixteenth century customs, e.g. that of sitting on rush-strewn floors. 4. How was the Redcross Knight received by the King? 5. Compare Una’s costume with that described in the first canto. Why this change? 6. What hint of the significance of her name in xxi? 7. What is the effect of Archimago’s appearance? (For dramatic surprise.) 8. What is the effect of Duessa’s letter? (Suspense of fear.) 9. Observe the confusion of Christian and Pagan rites in this canto. 10. Where does Spenser make happy use of maritime figures? 11. Explain the allegory of this canto.

GLOSSARY

[The numbers refer to cantos and stanzas.]

Abide, v, 17, to attend on.

About, i, 11, out of.

Acquite, viii, 1, release, set free.

Addrest, ii, 11, armed, equipped; x, 11, directed.

Advise, i, 33, consider.

Advizement, iv, 12, counsel, advice.

Afflicted, Int. 4, humble.

Affray, iii, 12, terror, alarm; v, 30, to startle.

Affronted, viii, 13, opposed.

Afore, x, 49, ahead, in front of.

Agraste, x, 18, favor, show grace.

Albe, v, 45, although.

All, x, 47; xii, 23, although.

Almner, x, 38, almoner, distributer of alms.

Als, ix, 18, also, quite so.

Amate, ix, 45, dismay, dishearten.

Amis, iv, 18, linen head-dress.

Amoves, iv, 45; viii, 21; ix, 18, moves.

Andvile, xi, 42, anvil.

Apply, x, 46, attend to, add.

Aread, viii, 31, 33; ix, 6, 23; x, 51, 64, tell, explain; xii, 28, advise; ared, x, 17; explained; areeds, Int. 1, urges.

Arise, vi, 32, depart, rise out of.

Armorie, i, 27, armor.

Arras, iv, 6; viii, 35, tapestry.

Aslake, iii, 36, appease, abate the fury of.

Assay, ii, 13, approved quality, value; vii, 27, trial; viii, 8, assault; ii, 24; iv, 8; viii, 2; xi, 32, try, assail, attempt.

Assoiled, x, 52, absolved.

Astond, ii, 31; vi, 9; ix, 35, astounded, amazed.

Attach, xii, 35, seize, arrest.

Attaine, ii, 8, reach, fall in with.

Attaint, vii, 34, obscure, discolor.

Avale, i, 21, fall, sink.

Avise, v, 40; viii, 15, perceive.

Baite, i, 32, feed, refresh.

Bale, i, 16; viii, 4, disaster, destruction; ix, 16, 29, trouble, grief.

Banes, xii, 36, banns of marriage.

Battailous, v, 2, warlike, ready for battle.

Battrie, ix, 11, assault.

Bauldrick, vii, 29, a leather girdle for the sword or bugle, worn pendant across the shoulder and breast.

Bayes, vii, 3, bathes.

Beades, i, 30, prayers.

Beadmen, x, 36, men devoted to prayer for the soul of the founder of the charitable institution in which they lived.

Become, x, 16, gone to; became, x, 66, suited.

Bed, ix, 41, bid.

Bedight, xii, 21, adorned.

Beguyld, xi, 25, foiled.

Beheast, iv, 18, command.

Behight, x, 64, name, declare; x, 50, intrusted, delivered; xi, 38, behot, promised.

Beseemed, viii, 32, suited, was becoming.

Beseene, xii, 5, (good) looking, or (well) dressed.

Bestedd, i, 24, situated, badly off.

Bet, iii, 19, beat; bett, vi, 5.

Betake, xii, 25, intrust to, hand over to.

Bethrall, viii, 28, imprison, take captive.

Bever, vii, 31, the lower and movable part of the helmet.

Bewaile, vi, 1, cause, bring about. Use either forced, or an error (Nares).

Bidding, i, 30, praying.

Bilive, or blive, v, 32, quickly.

Blame, ii, 18, hurt, injury, or blameworthiness.

Blaze, xi, 7, proclaim.

Blent, vi, 42, stained.

Blesse, v, 6; viii, 22, brandish; vii, 12; ix, 28, protect, deliver; pp. blest.

Blubbred, vi, 9, disfigured or swollen with weeping.

Blunt, x, 47, dim (of eyesight).

Bond, i, 3, bound.

Booteth, iii, 20, 40, profits, avails.

Bootlesse, v, 33, without avail.

Bost, iii, 24, vain glory.

Boughtes, i, 15; xi, 11, folds, coils.

Bound, x, 67, lead.

Bouzingcan, iv, 22, drinking vessel.

Bowrs, viii, 41, muscles.

Bras, x, 40, money, cf. Lat. aes.

Brast, v, 31; viii, 4; ix, 21, burst.

Brave, x, 42, fair, beautiful.

Brawned, viii, 41; brawny, muscular.

Breares, x, 35, briars.

Brent, ix, 10; xi, 28, burnt.

Brode, iv, 16, abroad.

Brond, iv, 33; viii, 21, firebrand.

Buffe, ii, 17; xi, 24, blow.

Bugle, viii, 3, wild ox.

Buxome, xi, 37, pliant, yielding.

Bylive, ix, 4, quickly.

Call, viii, 46, cap, headdress.

Can, iv, 46, an auxiliary verb with preterite meaning; ix, 5, can=gan, began (Halliwell).

Canon, vii, 37, a smooth, round bit (for horses).

Carefull, v, 52, etc., full of care, anxious, sorrowful.

Careless, i, 41; ii, 45, free from care.

Carke, i, 44, care, sorrow, anxiety.

Carle, ix, 54, churl.

Cast, x, 2; xi, 28, resolve, plan.

Caytive, v, 45, captive; v, 11; viii, 32; ix, 11, base, mean.

Chaufe, vii, 21, chafe, warm by rubbing; iii, 33, 43, vex, heat.

Chaw, iv, 30, jaw.

Chear, ii, 27, 42, face.

Chearen, x, 2, regain cheerfulness, refresh (himself).

Cleare, x, 28, clean.

Cleene, ix, 4, clear, pure, bright.

Compare, iv, 28, collect.

Compel, i, 5, call to aid.

Conceit, conception or design.

Constraint, ii, 8, anguish; vii, 34, binding charms.

Corage, ii, 35, heart.

Corse, iii, 42; iv, 22, etc., body.

Couch, ii, 15, lay (a lance in rest), level, adjust; couched xi, 9, laid in place (of armor plates).

Couched, vii, 31, lying down with head up, ready to spring.

Counterfesaunce, viii, 49, fraud, imposture.

Court, vii, 38, courteous attention.

Crime, x, 28, sin; xi, 46, cause.

Cruddy, v, 29, clotted.

Crudled, vii, 6; ix, 52, curdled, congealed (with cold).

Cure, v, 44, charge.

Daint, x, 2, dainty, delicate.

Dalliaunce, ii, 14, trifling, light talk.

Dame, xii, 20, wife.

Damnify, xi, 52, injure.

Darrayne, iv, 40; vii, 11, prepare (for battle).

Deare, vii, 48, hurt, injury.

Deaw-burning, xi, 35, bright with dew.

Debonaire, ii, 23, gracious, courteous.

Defeasaunce, xii, 12, defeat.

Defray, v, 42, appease.

Deitye, iii, 21, immortality.

Derth, ii, 27, dearness, high value.

Deryn’d, iii, 2, diverted, drawn away.

Despight, ii, 6, resentment; iv, 35, 41, etc., malice, spite, contempt; vii, 49; xi, 17, injury.

Despoile, x, 17, strip.

Devise, xii, 17, plan.

Diamond, ix, 19, adamant, steel.

Dight, vii, 8; iv, 14, etc., arrange, dress, adorn.

Disaventrous, vii, 48, ix, 11, unfortunate.

Discipline, vi, 31, teaching.

Discolourd, vii, 32, variegated.

Discourse, xii, 14, description; xii, 15, to narrate.

Disease, xi, 38, render uneasy.

Dishonesty, ii, 23, unchastity.

Dispence, iii, 30, pay for.

Dispiteous, ii, 15, cruel.

Disple, x, 27, discipline.

Disseized, xi, 20, dispossessed.

Dissolute, vii, 51, weak, unstrung.

Distayned, xi, 23, defiled.

Dites, viii, 18, raises (a club).

Diverse, i, 44, distracting.

Divide, v, 17, play (variations).

Documents, x, 19, doctrines.

Donne, x, 33, to do.

Doom, ix, 38, judgment.

Doted, viii, 34, foolish.

Doubt, vi, 1, fear.

Doughty, xi, 52; xii, 6, strong, brave.

Dragonets, xii, 10, little dragons.

Dreed, or dred, Int. 4; vi, 2, object of reverence.

Drere, viii, 40, sorrow.

Drery, v, 30, gloomy; vi, 45, dripping with blood.

Dreriment, ii, 44; xi, 32, sorrow, gloom.

Drest, ix, 54, prepared, arranged.

Drift, viii, 22, impetus.

Droome, ix, 41, drum.

Drousy-hed, ii, 7, drowsiness.

Dry-dropsie, iv, 23 (meaning doubtful).

(1) Dropsy causing thirst (Warton).

(2) A misprint for dire dropsie (Upton).

(3) A misprint for hydropsie (Collier).

Dye, ii, 36, chance, fortune (lit. a small cube used for gaming).

Earne, i, 3; vi, 25; ix, 18, yearn, long for.

Edifyde, i, 34, built.

Eeke, v, 42, increase.

Eft, ix, 25, again.

Eftsoones, x, 24, etc., forthwith.

Eke, iii, 21, also.

Eld, x, 8, old age.

Embalme, v, 17, anoint, pour balm into.

Embaye, ix, 13; x, 27, bathe.

Embost, iii, 24, encased; ix, 29, fatigued.

Embosse, xi, 20, plunge.

Embowed, ix, 19, rounded.

Emboyled, xi, 28, agitated, troubled.

Embrew, xi, 36, imbrue, drench.

Empassioned, iii, 2, moved to pity.

Empeach, viii, 34, hinder.

Emperse, xi, 53, pierce.

Emprize, ix, 1, undertaking, adventure.

Enchace, xii, 23, set off in fitting terms.

Endew, iv, 51, endow.

Enfouldred, xi, 40, shot forth (like a thunderbolt).

Engrave, x, 42, bury, entomb.

Enhaunst, i, 17; v, 47, raised.

Enlargen, viii, 37, deliver.

Ensample, ix, 12, witness.

Ensue, iv, 34, pursue; ix, 44, persecute.

Entirely, xi, 32, with all the heart.

Entraile, i, 16, fold, twist.

Envie, ill will, hatred.

Equall, vi, 26, side by side.

Errant, iv, 38; x, 10, wandering (in quest of adventure).

Esloyne, iv, 20, retire.

Essoyne, iv, 20, excuse, exemption.

Eugh, i, 9, yew.

Ewghen, xi, 19, made of yew.

Excheat, v, 25, gain; lit. property forfeited to the lord of a fief.

Extirpe, x, 25, uproot.

Eyas, xi, 34, young untrained hawk, unfledged falcon.

Eyne, eien, eyen, ii, 27, etc., eyes.

Fact, iv, 34; ix, 37, feat, evil deed.

Fall, ix, 2, befall.

Fare, i, 11, etc., go, travel.

Fatal, ix, 7, ordained by fate.

Fattie, i, 21, fertilizing.

Fayne, iv, 10, gladly; vi, 12, glad.

Faytor, iv, 47; xii, 35, deceiver, villain, sham.

Fearefull, i, 13, alarmed.

Feature, viii, 49, form.

Fee, x, 43, payment.

Felly, v, 34, fiercely.

Fere, x, 4, husband; lit. companion.

Fillet, iii, 4, snood.

Fit, ii, 18, death agony; iv, 34, struggle, passion; xi, 7, musical strain.

Flaggy, xi, 10, yielding, hanging loose.

Flit, iv, 5, crumble away.

Foile, iv, 4, leaf of metal.

Foltring, vii, 24, stammering.

Fond, ix, 39, foolish.

Fone, ii, 23, foes.

Food, viii, 9, feud.

Foolhappie, vi, 1, happy as a fool, “fortunate rather than provident” (Nares).

Fordonne, v, 41; etc., undone, ruined, wounded to death.

Foreby, vi, 39, near.

Forespent, ix, 43, wasted, squandered.

Foretaught, vii, 18, either

(1) untaught, mistaught, or

(2) taught before, hence, perhaps, despised (Warren).

Forlore, viii, 29; x, 21, forlorn, forsaken.

Forray, xii, 3, ravage, prey upon.

Forsake, xi, 24, avoid.

Forwandring, vi, 34, weary with wandering, or utterly astray.

Forwarned, ii, 18, warded off.

Forwasted, i, 5; xi, 1, ravaged, utterly wasted.

Forwearied, i, 32, etc., tterly weary.

Forworne, vi, 35, much worn.

Fraight, xii, 35, fraught, freighted.

Frame, viii, 30, support, steady.

Francklin, x, 6, freeman, freeholder.

Fray, i, 38, to frighten; ii, 14, an affray.

Freak, iii, 1; iv, 50, whim, caprice.

Frounce, iv, 14, curl, plait, friz (the hair).

Fruitfull-headed, viii, 20, many-headed.

Fry, xii, 7, crowd, swarm.

Funerall, ii, 20, death.

Fyne, iv, 21, thin; v, 28, fine.

Gage, xi, 41, pledge, the thing contended for.

Game, xii, 8, sport.

Gan, ii, 2, began, often used as auxiliary verb, “did.”

Gate, i, 13, way; viii, 12, manner.

Geaunt, vii, 12, giant.

Gent, ix, 6, 27, gentle, gracious, fair.

German, v, 10, 13, brother.

Gest, x, 15, adventure, exploit.

Ghost, ii, 19, spirit.

Gin, v, 35, engine, instrument (of torture).

Gins, see gan.

Girlond, ii, 30, garland.

Giust, i, 1, tilt, joust.

Glitterand, iv, 16; vii, 29, glittering.

Gnarre, v, 34, gnarl, snarl, growl.

Gobbet, i, 20; xi, 13, lump, piece.

Gorge, i, 19, etc., throat.

Gossip, xii, 11, neighbor, crony.

Government, ix, 10, self-control.

Graile, vii, 6, gravel.

Graine, vii, 1, dye, fast color.

Gree, v, 16, favor, good will, satisfaction.

Greedy, viii, 29, eager.

Gren, vi, 11, grin.

Griesie, ix, 35, horrible.

Griesly, ix, 21, grisly, hideous.

Griple, iv, 31, greedy, grasping.

Groome, servant.

Grosse, xi, 20, fast, heavy.

Grudging, ii, 19, groaning.

Gryfon, v, 8, griffin (a fabulous animal half lion, half eagle).

Guerdon, iii, 40, reward.

Guise, vi, 25; xii, 14, guize, mode (of life).

Hable, xi, 19, able, skillful.

Hagard, xi, 19, wild, untrained.

Hanging, ii, 16, doubtful.

Hardiment, ix, 2; i, 14, boldness.

Harrow, x, 40, despoil.

Haught, vi, 29, haughty.

Heare, v, 23, pass for being so unlucky, in such evil case (Kitchin).

Heast, vii, 18, command.

Heben, Int. 3; vii, 37, of ebony wood.

Heft, xi, 39, raised on high.

Henge, xi, 21, orbit; lit, hinge.

Hew, i, 46, etc., form, countenance; iii, 11, color.

Hight, ix, 14; x, 55, called, was called; intrusted.

Hond, out of, xii, 3, at once.

Horrid, vi, 25; vii, 31, rough, bristling.

Hot, xi, 29, was called; see hight.

Housling, xii, 37, sacramental.

Hove, ii, 37, rose, stood on end.

Humour, i, 36, moisture.

Hurtle, iv, 16, 40; viii, 17, rush, clash together.

Hurtlesse, vi, 31, harmless, gentle.

Husher, iv, 13, usher.

Imbrew, vii, 47, imbrue, drench.

Impe, Int. 3; ix, 6, etc., child, scion.

Impeach, viii, 34, hinder.

Imperceable, xi, 17, that cannot be pierced.

Imply, vi, 6; xi, 23, infold.

Importune, xi, 53, violent.

Improvided, xii, 34, unforeseen.

In, i, 33, inn, lodging.

Incontinent, ix, 19, at once.

Infected, x, 25, ingrained.

Infest, xi, 6, make fierce or hostile.

Influence, viii, 42, power of the stars.

Intended, xi, 38, armed, stretched out.

Intendiment, xii, 31, attention.

Intent, i, 43; ix, 27, aim, purpose.

Invent, vi, 15, discover.

Jealous, suspicious.

Jolly, i, 1; ii, 11, fine, handsome.

Jott, x, 26, speck, small piece.

Journall, xi, 31, daily.

Joy, vi, 17, to be cheerful.

Joyaunce, iv, 37, gladness, merriment.

Keepe, i, 40, heed, care.

Keeping, xi, 2, care, guard.

Kend, xii, 1, known.

Kest, xi, 31, cast.

Kindly, iii, 28, etc., natural, according to nature.

Kirtle, iv, 31, coat, tunic.

Knee, ix, 34, projection (of rocks).

Knife, vi, 38, sword.

Lad, i, 4, led.

Launch, iii, 42; iv, 46, pierce.

Lay-stall, v, 53, rubbish heap, dunghill.

Lazar, iv, 3, leper.

Leach, v, 17, 44; x, 23, surgeon, physician.

Learne, vi, 25, teach.

Leasing, vi, 48, falsehood, lying.

Leke, v, 35, leaky.

Leman, i, 6; vii, 14, lover, sweetheart, mistress.

Let, viii, 13, hindrance.

Lever, ix, 32, rather.

Libbard, vi, 25, leopard.

Liefe, iii, 28; ix, 17, dear one, darling.

Lilled, v, 34, lolled.

Lin, i, 24; v, 35, cease.

List, ii, 22; vii, 35; x, 20; xi, 10, desired, pleased.

Lively, ii, 24; vii, 20, living.

Loft, i, 41, (doubtful) air, sky, or roof.

Long, iv, 48, belong.

Lore, i, 5, knowledge.

Lorne, iv, 2, lost.

Loute, i, 30; x, 44, bow, stoop.

Lowre, ii, 22, frown, darken.

Lumpish, i, 43, dull, heavy.

Lustlesse, iv, 20, feeble, listless.

Lynd, xi, 10, lined.

Mace, iv, 44, club.

Make, vii, 7, 15, mate, companion.

Mall, vii, 51, wooden hammer, or club.

Many, xii, 9, troop, crowd.

Mart, Int. 3, mass.

Mated, ix, 12, overcome, confounded.

Maw, i, 20, stomach.

Maynly, vii, 12, violently.

Mell, i, 30, meddle.

Menage, vii, 37, manage.

Ment, i, 5, joined, mingled.

Mew, v, 20, prison, lit. cage for hawks.

Mirksome, v, 28, dark, murky.

Miscreant, v, 13; ix, 49, infidel, vile fellow.

Misdeeming, ii, 3, misleading; iv, 2, misjudging.

Misfeigning, iii, 40, pretending wrongfully.

Misformed, i, 55; viii, 16, ill formed, or formed for evil.

Misseeming, ix, 23; viii, 42, unseemly; vii, 50, deceit.

Mister, ix, 23, sort of, manner of.

Misweening, iv, 1, wrong thinking, wrong belief.

Moe, mo, v, 50, etc., more.

Mortality, x, 1, state of being mortal.

Mortall, i, 15, deadly.

Mote, iii, 29, etc., may, might.

Mought, i, 42, might.

Muchell, iv, 46; vi, 20, much, great.

Nathemore, viii, 13; ix, 25, none the more.

Nephewes, v, 22, grandchildren, descendants.

Ni’ll, ix, 15, will not.

Nosethrill, xi, 22, nostril.

Note, xii, 17, know not.

N’ould, vi, 17, would not.

Noyance, i, 23, annoyance.

Noye, x, 24; xi, 45, hurt, harm.

Noyes, Noyce, vi, 8, noise.

Noyous, v, 45; xi, 50, harmful, unpleasant.

Offend, xii, 1, injure.

Offspring, vi, 30, ancestors.

Origane, ii, 40, wild marjoram.

Ought, iv, 39, owned, possessed.

Outrage, xi, 40, insult, abuse.

Overcraw, ix, 50, insult, crow over.

Oversight, vi, 1, want of prudence.

Owch, ii, 13; x, 31, jewel or socket in which a jewel was set.

Paine, xii, 34, labor, treacherous skill; ii, 39, effort; iv, 15, take pains.

Paire, vii, 41, impair, injure.

Paled, v, 5, fenced off, inclosed with a pale.

Palfrey, i, 4; iii, 40, a lady’s saddle horse, here Una’s ass.

Paramour, i, 9, lover (not in a bad sense).

Parbreake, i, 20, vomit.

Pardale, vi, 26, leopard.

Parted, iii, 22, departed.

Pas, iv, 11, surpass; xi, 15, step, pace.

Passing, x, 24, surpassing.

Passion, ii, 26, 32, deep feeling, lit. suffering.

Passionate, xii, 16, express feelingly.

Payne, vi, 21, pains, labor.

Paynim, iv, 41; vi, 38; xi, 7, pagan, heathen.

Peece, x, 59, something constructed (Cleopolis).

Penne, xi, 10, feather, quill.

Perceable, i, 7, that can be pierced.

Perdie, perdy, vi, 42, French par Dieu, a common oath.

Pere, viii, 7; xii, 17, noble, prince.

Persaunt, x, 47, piercing.

Pight, ii, 42, etc., pitched, fixed, placed.

Pine, ix, 35, wasting away; viii, 40, pined, wasted away through torment.

Plate, vi, 43; vii, 2, solid armor, as distinguished from the coat of mail, or light chain armor.

Pleasaunce, ii, 30, courtesies; iv, 38; vii, 4, delight, conversational pleasure.

Point, (1) ix, 41, appoint;

(2) ii, 12, not a whit;

(3) i, 16; ii, 12, (armed) at all points.

Pollicie, iv, 12, statecraft, cunning.

Portesse, iv, 19, breviary, small prayer-book.

Posterne, v, 52, small private gate behind.

Pouldred, vii, 12, powdered.

Pounces, xi, 19, a hawk’s claws.

Poynant, vii, 19, sharp, piercing.

Poyse, xi, 54, weight, force.

Practicke, xii, 34, deceitful.

Prancke, iv, 14, display gaudily.

Praunce, vii, 11, strut proudly.

Pray, ix, 30, ravage.

Preace, iii, 3, crowd, throng.

Presently, immediately.

Price, ix, 37, pay the price of, atone for.

Pricking, i, 1; iii, 33, riding, usually rapidly, i.e. spurring.

Priefe, viii, 43, trial; ix, 17, proof; x, 24, proved excellence.

Prime, ii, 40; etc., springtime.

Privity, ix, 5, privacy.

Prowesse, vii, 42, bravery.

Prowest, iv, 41; v, 14, bravest.

Puissance, i, 3, etc., power.

Purchas, iii, 16, lit. acquisition, cant term for theft, or robbery (Nares).

Purfled, ii, 13, embroidered on the edge.

Purposes, ii, 30, conversation.

Purveyance, xii, 13, provision.

Quaile, ix, 49, subdue, overpower.

Quayd, viii, 14, subdued.

Quell, xi, 24, disconcert, daunt.

Quight, viii, 10, repay.

Quit, quitt, vi, 6, 10, to free.

Quite, viii, 26, 27; x, 37, repay, return.

Quited, i, 30, return a salute.

Quoth, i, 12, etc., said.

Raft, i, 24, struck away (from reave).

Ragged, xii, 23, rough, rugged.

Raile, vi, 43, flow.

Ramping, iii, 5, etc., leaping, bounding, erect; ramp, v, 28.

Rapt, iv, 9, carried away.

Rare, ii, 32, thin-voiced.

Raskall, vii, 35; xii, 9, vulgar, base.

Raught, vi, 20, etc., reached.

Ravine, v, 8, prey.

Raw, x, 2, unpracticed, out of training.

Read, i, 13; x, 17, advise.

Reave, iii, 36; xi, 41, snatch away, rob.

Recoyle, x, 17, retreat.

Recreaunt, iv, 41, base, cowardly.

Recure, v, 44, etc., refresh.

Red, vii, 46, etc., declared.

Redoubted, iv, 40, terrible.

Redound, vi, 30; iii, 8, overflow.

Redresse, v, 30, restore, revive, reunite.

Reed, i, 21, notice, perceive.

Reele, v, 35, roll.

Reft, ix, 31; x, 65, snatched away.

Refte, vi, 39; xii, 39, bereft.

Renverst, iv, 41, turned upside down.

Repaire, vi, 30, return home.

Repining, ii, 17, failing (Percival), angry (Upton).

Repriefe, ix, 29, reproof.

Retrate, i, 13, retreat.

Reverse, ix, 48, bring back.

Revoke, vi, 28, call back.

Ridde, i, 36, remove, dispatch.

Rife, iv, 35; ix, 52, much, exceedingly.

Riotise, iv, 20, riot.

Rode, xii, 42, anchorage, harbor.

Rove, Int. 3, shoot (an arrow with an elevation, not point blank).

Round, vi, 7, dance.

Rowel, vii, 37, ring of a bit.

Ruffin, iv, 34, rough, disordered.

Rusty, v, 32, rust-colored, bloodstained, filthy.

Ruth, v, 9, pity, sorrow.

Sacred, viii, 35, accursed—of ashes used impiously to receive the blood of the slain (Upton).

Sad, i, 2; v, 20; x, 7; xii, 5, grave, mournful; iii, 10, firm, steady; i, 36, heavy.

Sallow, i, 9, a kind of willow.

Salvage, iii, 5; vi, 11, etc., wild, woodland (adj.).

Sam, x, 57, together, same.

Say, iv, 31, serge cloth for cloaks (Halliwell).

Scath, iv, 35; xii, 34, hurt, mischief.

Scor’d, i, 2, carved.

Scowre, ii, 20, run fast.

Scryne, Int. 2, chest, or case for keeping books, etc.

Sead, x, 51, seed, posterity.

Sease, xi, 38, fasten; seised, xii, 17, gained, taken possession of.

Seel, vii, 23, lit. sew up the eyes (of hawks), deprive of sight.

Seely, silly, vi, 10; i, 30; ii, 21, simple, innocent.

Seemly, ii, 30, polite.

Scene, v, 16, proved, tested.

Semblaunt, ii, 12, appearance.

Sent, i, 43, perception, sense.

Shadow, represent typically.

Shamefast, x, 15, shy, modest.

Shaume, xii, 13, a wind musical instrument.

Shend, i, 53, shame.

Shew, iii, 10, sign, track.

Shroud, i, 6, 8, shelter.

Single, vi, 12, weak; viii, 12, mere.

Sith, vii, 22, etc., since; sitheng, iv, 51.

Sits, i, 30, becomes, suits.

Slight, vii, 30, device; viii, 23, skill.

Snubbe, viii, 7, knob, snag.

Solemnize, x, 4, rite, solemnizing.

Sooth, iii, 29, truth.

Souce, v, 8, beat.

Soust, iii, 31, drenched.

Sowne, i, 41, sound.

Sperst, i, 39; iv, 48, dispersed.

Spill, iii, 43, destroy.

Stadle, vi, 14, staff.

Stanneries, stannaries, tin mines or tin works.

Starke, i, 44. stiff.

Sted, stedd, viii, 17, etc., place.

Sterne, i, 18; xi, 28, tail.

Stew, xi, 44, warm place.

Stole, i, 4, 45; xii, 22, long robe.

Stound, vii, 12, stunned; vii, 25; viii, 12, 25, 38, moment.

Stowre, ii, 7, etc., distress, peril battle.

Stye, xi, 25, ascend, rise up.

Subject, xi, 19, lying beneath.

Sure, ix, 19, secure.

Swarved, x, 14, swerved.

Swelt, vii, 6, burned.

Swinge, xi, 26, singe.

Swowne, i, 41, heavy sleep; ix, 52, swoon; swound, v, 19.

Table, ix, 49, picture.

Tackles, xii, 42, rigging.

Talaunts, xi, 41, talons.

Teade, xii, 37, torch.

Teene, ix, 34; xii, 18, grief, trouble, hurt.

Then, x, 10, than.

Thewes, ix, 3; x, 4, manners.

Tho, i, 18, etc., then.

Thorough, i, 32; x, 1, through.

Thrall, ii, 22; vii, 44; viii, 1, subject; v, 45, 51; viii, 32, 37, prisoner; vi, 6, one in distress.

Three-square, vi, 41, triangular.

Thrill, iii, 42; x, 19; xi, 20, pierce.

Thrist, vi, 38, thirst.

Throw, x, 41, throe, pang.

Tide, ii, 29, time (duration).

Timely, i, 21; iv, 4, keeping time.

Tire, iv, 35, train, rank, company; viii, 40; x, 31, headdress, attire.

Told, iv, 27, counted.

Tort, xii, 4, wrong.

Touch, iii, 2, touchstone.

Toy, vi, 28, sport.

Trace, viii, 31, walk.

Traine, trayne, i, 18; viii, 17; xi, 37, tail; iii, 24; vi, 3, etc., deceit, wiles.

Transmew, vii, 35, transmute.

Treachour, iv, 41; ix, 32, traitor.

Treen, ii, 39; vii, 26, tree-like, of trees.

Trenchand, i, 17; xi, 24, sharp, trenchant.

Trinall, xii, 39, threefold.

Truncked, viii, 10, truncated, with the limbs cut off.

Trusse, xi, 19, to secure a firm hold on.

Turnament, v, 1, tournament, combat of knights in the lists.

Tway, vii, 27, two, twain.

Twyfold, v, 28, twofold.

Twyne, vi, 14, twist.

Tyne, ix, 15, anxiety, pain.

Unacquainted, v, 21, unaccustomed.

Unbid, ix, 54, unprayed for.

Uncouth, i, 15; xi, 20, strange.

Undight, iii, 4, unfastened.

Uneath, ix, 38, etc., with difficulty.

Unkindly, i, 26, unnatural.

Unlich, v, 28, unlike.

Untill, xi, 41, unto.

Unty, xi, 41, loosen.

Unwary, xii, 25, unexpected.

Unweeting, ii, 45, etc., unaware, not knowing.

Venery, vi, 22, hunting.

Vere, xii, 1, veer, change the direction of.

Vew, vi, 25, aspect, appearance.

Vild, ix, 46, vile.

Vine-prop, i, 8, supporting the vine.

Visour, vii, 1, visor, the part of the helmet which protected the eyes.

Wade, i, 12, walk, go, pass.

Wage, iv, 39, reward, pledge.

Wanton, ii, 13, 14, wild, unrestrained.

Ware, vii, 1, wary.

Warray, v, 48, wage war against.

Wastfull, i, 32, etc., barren, wild.

Wastnes, iii, 3, desert, wilderness.

Wax, iv, 34, grow.

Wayne, iv, 9, chariot.

Wayting, x, 36, watching.

Weare, i, 31, spend, pass.

Weedes, Int. 1; ii, 21, clothes, x, 28, armor.

Weene, i, 10; iii, 41, intend; x, 58, think.

Weet, iii, 6, 11, to know; to weete, iii, 17, etc., to wit.

Welke, i, 23, fade, grow dim.

Welkin, iv, 9, sky.

Well, ii, 43, well-being, health; i, 26, etc., quite, very; vii, 4, bubble up.

Wex, xi, 1, grow; woxen, iv, 34.

Whally, iv, 34, streaked (Warren).

Whenas, ii, 32, etc., as soon as.

Whereas, vi, 40, where.

Whot, x, 26, hot.

Whyleare, ix, 28, erewhile.

Whylome, iv, 15, etc., formerly.

Wight, ix, 23, 32, person, creature.

Wimple, xii, 22, veil, lit. covering for the neck;

wimpled, i, 4, folded, provided with a wimple.

Wist, v, 27 knew.

Wonne, vi, 39, fought; wonne, vi, 39, dwell.

Wood, iv, 34; v, 20, mad, furious.

Worshippe, i, 3, honor, respect.

Wot, i, 13; wote, ii, 18; ix, 31, know.

Woxen, see wax.

Wreakes, viii, 43; xii, 16, anger, acts of vengeance.

Wreck, xi, 21, destruction, mischief.

Wrizled, viii, 47, wrinkled (Warren).

Wyde, i, 34, distant.

Yborne, vii, 10, born.

Ycladd, i, 1; yclad, i, 7, 29; ii, 2; ycled, iv, 38, clad.

Ydle, v, 8, airy, purposeless.

Ydrad, i, 2, dreaded.

Yede, xi, 5, go.

Yfere, ix, 1, together.

Ygoe, ii, 18, ago.

Ylike, iv, 27, alike.

Ymp, see impe.

Yod, see yede.

Younglings, x, 57, young of any animal.

Youthly, vi, 34, youthful.

Ypight, ix, 33, pitched, placed.

Yrkesome, ii, 6, weary; iii, 4, painful.

Yts, vii, 39, it is.

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LETTER TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VALOROUS

SIR WALTER RALEIGH, KNIGHT.

To the Right Noble and Valorous Knight,

SIR WALTER RALEIGH,

Lord Wardein of the Stanneryes, and Lieftenaunt of Cornewaile,

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RENOWNED FOR PIETIE, VERTVE, AND ALL GRATIOVS GOVERNMENT

ELIZABETH

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QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO III

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO IV

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO V

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

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QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO VII

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO VIII

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO IX

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO X

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO XI

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CANTO XII

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

GLOSSARY

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