The Faerie Queene (8 page)

Was for to seeke aduenture in strange place,

Where
Archimago
said a felon strong

To many knights did daily worke disgrace;

But knight he now shall neuer more deface:

Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye please

Well to accept, and euermore embrace

My faithfull sendee, that by land and seas

Haue vowd you to defend, now then your plaint appease.

30
His louely words her seemd due recompence

Of all her passed paines: one louing howre

For many yeares of sorrow can dispence:

A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre:

She has forgot, how many a wofull stowre

For him she late endur'd; she speakes no more

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

To looken backe; his eyes be fixt before.

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

31
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 hauing tand his tawney hide

With blustring breath of heauen, that none can bide,

And scorching flames of fierce
Orions
hound,

Soone as the port from farre he has espide,

His chearefull whistle merrily doth sound,

And
Nereus
crownes with cups; his mates him pledg around.

32
Such ioy made
Vna,
when her knight she found;

And eke th'enchaunter ioyous seemd no lesse,

Then the glad marchant, that does vew from ground

His ship farre come from watrie wildernesse,

He hurles out vowes, and
Neptune
oft doth blesse:

So forth they past, and all the way they spent

Discoursing of her dreadfull late distresse,

In which he askt her, what the Lyon ment:

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

33
They had not ridden farre, when they might see

One pricking towards them with hastie heat,

Full strongly armd, and on a courser free,

That through his fiercenesse fomed all with sweat,

And the sharpe yron did for anger eat,

When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side;

His looke was sterne, and seemed still to threat

Cruell reuenge, which he in hart did hyde,

And on his shield
Sansloy
in bloudie lines was dyde.

34
When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre

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

He burnt in fire, and gan eftsoones prepare

Himselfe to battell with his couched speare.

Loth was that other, and did faint through feare

To taste th'vntryed dint of deadly steele;

But yet his Lady did so well him cheare,

That hope of new goodhap he gan to feele;

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

35
But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce,

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

Through vainely crossed shield he quite did pierce,

And had his staggering steede not shrunke for feare,

Through shield and bodie eke he should him beare:

Yet so great was the puissance of his push,

That from his saddle quite he did him beare:

He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush,

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

36
Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed,

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

And proudly said, Lo there the worthie meed

Of him, that slew
Sansfoy
with bloudie knife;

Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife,

In peace may passen ouer
Lethe
lake,

When mourning altars purgd with enemies life,

The blacke infernall
Furies
doen aslake:

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

37
Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace,

Till
Vna
cride, O hold that heauie hand,

Deare Sir, what euer that thou be in place:

Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand

Now at thy mercy: Mercie not withstand:

For he is one the truest knight aliue,

Though conquered now he lie on lowly land,

And whilest him fortune fauourd, faire did thriue

In bloudie field: therefore of life him not depriue.

38
Her piteous words might not abate his rage,

But rudely rending vp his helmet, would

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

And hoarie head
of Archimago
old,

His hastie hand he doth amazed hold,

And halfe ashamed, wondred at the sight:

For that old man well knew he, though vntold,

In charmes and magicke to haue wondrous might,

Ne euer wont in field, ne in round lists to fight.

39
And said, Why
Archimago,
lucklesse syre,

What doe I see? what hard mishap is this,

That hath thee hither brought to taste mine yre?

Or thine the fault, or mine the error is,

In stead of foe to wound my friend amis?

He answered nought, but in a traunce still lay,

And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his

The cloud of death did sit. Which doen away,

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

40
But to the virgin comes, who all this while

Amased stands, her selfe so mockt to see

By him, who has the guerdon of his guile,

For so misfeigning her true knight to bee;

Yet is she now in more perplexitie,

Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold,

From whom her booteth not at all to flie;

Who by her cleanly garment catching hold,

Her from her Palfrey pluckt, her visage to behold.

41
But her fierce seruant full of kingly awe

And high disdaine, whenas his soueraine Dame

So rudely handled by her foe he sawe,

With gaping iawes full greedy at him came,

And ramping on his shield, did weene the same

Haue reft away with his sharpe rending clawes:

But he was stout, and lust did now inflame

His corage more, that from his griping pawes

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

42
O then too weake and feeble was the forse

Of saluage beast, his puissance to withstand:

For he was strong, and of so mightie corse,

As euer wielded speare in warlike hand,

And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand.

Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest

With thrilling point of deadly yron brand,

And launcht his Lordly hart: with death opprest

He roar'd aloud, whiles Me forsooke his stubborne brest

43
Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid

From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will?

Her faithfull gard remou'd, her hope dismaid,

Her selfe a yeelded pray to saue or spill.

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

With foule reproches, and disdainfull spight

Her vildly entertaines, and will or nill,

Beares her away vpon his courser light:

Her prayers nought preuaile, his rage is more of might.

44
And all the way, with great lamenting paine,

And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares,

That stony hart could riuen haue in twaine,

And all the way she wets with flowing teares:

But he enrag'd with rancor, nothing heares.

Her seruile beast yet would not leaue her so,

But followes her farre off, ne ought he feares,

To be partaker of her wandring woe,

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

To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa
   guides the faithfull knight,
Where brothers death to wreak Sansioy
   doth chalenge him to fight
.

1
Young knight, what euer that dost armes professe,

And through long labours huntest after fame,

Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,

In choice, and change of thy deare loued Dame,

Least thou of her beleeue too lightly blame,

And rash misweening doe thy hart remoue:

For vnto knight there is no greater shame,

Then lightnesse and inconstancie in loue;

That doth this
Redcrosse
knights ensample plainly proue.

2
Who after that he had faire
Vna
lorne,

Through light misdeeming of her loialtie,

And false
Duessa
in her sted had borne,

Called
Fidess',
and so supposd to bee;

Long with her traueild, till at last they see

A goodly building, brauely garnished,

The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee:

And towards it a broad high way that led,

All bare through peoples feet, which thither traueiled.

3
Great troupes of people traueild thitherward

Both day and night, of each degree and place,

But few returned, hauing scaped hard,

With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace,

Which euer after in most wretched case,

Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.

Thither
Duessa
bad him bend his pace:

For she is wearie of the toilesome way,

And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

4
A stately Pallace built of squared bricke,

Which cunningly was without morter laid,

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

And golden foile all ouer them displaid.

That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:

High lifted vp were many loftie towres,

And goodly galleries farre ouer laid,

Full of faire windowes, and delightfull bowres;

And on the top a Diall told the timely howres.

5
It was a goodly heape for to behould,

And spake the praises of the workmans wit;

But full great pittie, that so faire a mould

Did on so weake foundation euer sit:

For on a sandie hill, that still did flit,

And fall away, it mounted was full hie,

That euery breath of heauen shaked it:

And all the hinder parts, that few could spie,

Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

6
Arriued there they passed in forth right;

For still to all the gates stood open wide,

Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight

Cald
Maluenù,
who entrance none denide:

Thence to the hall, which was on euery side

With rich array and costly arras dight:

Infinite sorts of people did abide

There waiting long, to win the wished sight

Of her, that was the Lady of that Pallace bright

7
By them they passe, all gazing on them round,

And to the Presence mount; whose glorious vew

Their frayle amazed senses did confound:

In liuing Princes court none euer knew

Such endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew;

Ne
Persia
selfe, the nourse of pompous pride

Like euer saw. And there a noble crew

Of Lordes and Ladies stood on euery side,

Which with their presence faire, the place much beautifide.

8
High aboue all a cloth of State was spred,

And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day,

On which there sate most braue embellished

With royall robes and gorgeous array,

A mayden Queene, that shone as
Titans
ray,

In glistring gold, and peerelesse pretious stone:

Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay

To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne,

As enuying her selfe, that too exceeding shone.

9
Exceeding shone, like
Phoebus
fairest childe,

That did presume his fathers firie wayne,

And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde

Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne;

Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine,

While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,

He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine,

And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,

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

10
So proud she shyned in her Princely state,

Looking to heauen; for earth she did disdayne,

And sitting high; for lowly she did hate:

Lo vnderneath her scornefull feete, was layne

A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne,

And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,

Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,

And in her selfe-lou'd semblance tooke delight;

For she was wondrous faire, as any liuing wight.

11
Of griesly
Pluto
she the daughter was,

And sad
Proserpina
the Queene of hell;

Yet did she thinke her pearelesse worth to pas

That parentage, with pride so did she swell,

And thundring
Ioue,
that high in heauen doth dwell,

And wield the world, she claymed for her syre,

Or if that any else did
Ioue
excell:

For to the highest she did still aspyre,

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

12
And 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 natiue soceraintie,

But did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie

Vpon the scepter, which she now did hold:

Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes, but pollicie,

And strong aduizement of six wisards old,

That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold.

13
Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came,

And false
Duessa
seeming Lady faire,

A gentle Husher,
Vanitie
by name

Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire:

So goodly brought them to the lowest staire

Of her high throne, where they on humble knee

Making obeyssance, did the cause declare,

Why they were come, her royall state to see,

To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee.

14
With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low,

She thanked them in her disdainefull wise,

Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show

Of Princesse worthy, scarse them bad arise.

Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deuise

Themselues to setten forth to straungers sight:

Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise,

Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dight

Their gay attire: each others greater pride does spight

15
Goodly they all that knight do entertaine,

Right glad with him to haue increast their crew:

But to
Duess'
each one himselfe did paine

All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew;

For in that court whylome her well they knew:

Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd

Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew,

And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd,

That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.

16
Suddein vpriseth from her stately place

The royall Dame, and for her coche doth call:

All hurtlen forth, and she with Princely pace,

As faire
Aurora
in her purple pall,

Out of the East the dawning day doth call:

So forth she comes: her brightnesse brode doth blaze;

The heapes of people thronging in the hall,

Do ride each other, vpon her to gaze:

Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eyes amaze.

17
So forth she comes, and to her coche does clyme,

Adorned all with gold, and girlonds gay,

That seemd as fresh as
Flora
in her prime,

And stroue to match, in royall rich array,

Great
Iunoes
golden chaire, the which they say

The Gods stand gazing on, when she does ride

To
Ioues
high house through heauens bras-paued way

Drawne of faire Pecocks, that excell in pride,

And full of
Argus
eyes their tailes dispredden wide.

18
But this was drawne of six vnequall beasts,

On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde,

Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts,

With like conditions to their kinds applyde:

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

Was sluggish
Idlenesse
the nourse of sin;

Vpon a slouthfull Asse he chose to ryde,

Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin,

Like to an holy Monck, the seruice to begin.

19
And in his hand his Portesse still he bare,

That much was worne, but therein little red,

For of deuotion he had little care,

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

Scarse could he once vphold his heauie hed,

To looken, whether it were night or day:

May seeme the wayne was very euill led,

When such an one had guiding of the way,

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

20
From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne,

And greatly shunned manly exercise,

From euery worke he chalenged essoyne,

For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,

His life he led in lawlesse riotise;

By which he grew to grieuous malady;

For in his lustlesse limbs through euill guise

A shaking feuer raignd continually:

Such one was
Idlenesse,
first of this company.

21
And by his side rode loathsome
Gluttony,

Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne,

His belly was vp-blowne with luxury,

And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne,

And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne,

With which he swallowd vp excessiue feast;

For want whereof poore people oft did pyne;

And all the way, most like a brutish beast,

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

22
In greene vine leaues he was right fitly clad;

For other clothes he could not weare for heat,

And on his head an yuie girland had,

From vnder which fast trickled downe the sweat:

Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat,

And in his hand did beare a bouzing can,

Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat

His dronken corse he scarse vpholden can,

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

23
Vnfit he was for any worldly thing,

And eke vnhable 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,

And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow:

Which by misdiet daily greater grew:

Such one was
Gluttony, th
e second of that crew.

24
And next to him rode lustfull
Lechery,

Vpon a bearded Goat, whose rugged haire,

And whally eyes (the signe of gelosy,)

Was like the person selfe, whom he did beare:

Who rough, and blacke, and filthy did appeare,

Vnseemely man to please faire Ladies eye;

Yet he of Ladies oft was loued deare,

When fairer faces were bid standen by:

O who does know the bent of womens fantasy?

25
In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire,

Which vnderneath did hide his filthinesse,

And in his hand a burning hart he bare,

Full of vaine follies, and new fanglenesse:

For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse,

And learned had to loue with secret lookes,

And well could daunce, and sing with ruefulnesse,

And fortunes tell, and read in louing bookes,

And thousand other wayes, to bait his fleshly hookes.

26
Inconstant man, that loued all he saw,

And lusted after all, that he did loue,

Ne would his looser life be tide to law,

But ioyd weake wemens hearts to tempt and proue

If from their loyall loues he might them moue;

Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paine

Of that fowle euill, which all men reproue,

That rots the marrow, and consumes the braine:

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

27
And greedy
Auarice
by him did ride,

Vpon 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;

For of his wicked pelfe his God he made,

And vnto hell him selfe for money sold;

Accursed vsurie was all his trade,

And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.

28
His life was nigh vnto deaths doore yplast,

And tired-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 liuing had he none

To leaue them to; but thorough daily care

To get, and nightly feare to lose his owne,