The Faerie Queene

  And often blame the too importune fate,

  That heapd on him so many wrathfull wreakes:

  For neuer gentle knight, as he of late,

  So tossed was in fortunes cruell freakes;

  And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks.

  17 Then said the royall Pere in sober wise;

  Deare Sonne, great beene the euils, which ye bore

  From first to last in your late enterprise,

  That I note, whether prayse, or pitty more:

  For neuer liuing man, I weene, so sore

  In sea of deadly daungers was distrest;

  But since now safe ye seised haue the shore,

  And well arriued are, (high God be blest)

  Let vs deuize of ease and euerlasting rest.

  18 Ah dearest Lord, said then that doughty knight,

  Of ease or rest I may not yet deuize;

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

  I bounden am streight after this emprize,

  As that your daughter can ye well aduize,

  Backe to returne to that great Faerie Queene,

  And her to serue six yeares in warlike wize,

  Gainst that proud Paynim king, that workes her teene;

  Therefore I ought craue pardon, till I there haue beene.

  19 Vnhappie falles that hard necessirie,

  (Quoth he) the troubler of my happie peace,

  And vowed foe of my felicitie;

  Ne I against the same can iustly preace:

  But since that band ye cannot now release,

  Nor doen vndo; (for vowes may not be vaine)

  Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease,

  Ye then shall hither backe returne againe,

  The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twain.

  20 Which for my part I couet to performe,

  In sort as through the world I did proclame,

  That who so kild that monster most defonne,

  And him in hardy battaile ouercame,

  Should haue mine onely daughter to his Dame,

  And of my kingdome heire apparaunt bee:

  Therefore since now to thee perteines the same,

  By dew desert of noble cheualree,

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

  21 Then forth he called that his daughter faire,

  The fairest Vn’ his onely daughter deare,

  His onely daughter, and his onely heyre;

  Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare,

  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

  22 So 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 heauenly beautie she did hide,

  Whiles on her wearie iourney she did ride;

  And on her now a garment she did weare,

  All My white, withoutten spot, or pride,

  That seemd like silke and siluer wouen neare,

  But neither silke nor siluer therein did appeare.

  23 The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame,

  And glorious light of her sunshyny face

  To tell, were as to striue against the streame.

  My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace,

  Her heauenly lineaments for to enchace.

  Ne wonder; for her owne deare loued knight,

  All were she dayly with himselfe in place,

  Did wonder much at her celestiall sight:

  Oft had he seene her faire, but neuer so faire dight

  24 So fairely dight, when she in presence came,

  She to her Sire made humble reuerence,

  And bowed low, that her right well became,

  And added grace vnto her excellence:

  Who with great wisedome, and graue eloquence

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

  With flying speede, and seeming great pretence,

  Came running in, much like a man dismaid,

  A Messenger with letters, which his message said.

  25 All in the open hall amazed stood,

  At suddeinnesse of that vnwarie sight,

  And wondred at his breathlesse hastie mood.

  But he for nought would stay his passage right,

  Till fast before the king he did alight;

  Where Ming flat, great humblesse he did make,

  And kist the ground, whereon his foot was pight;

  Then to his hands that writ he did betake,

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

  26 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;

  And bids thee be aduized for the best,

  Ere thou thy daughter linck in holy band

  Of wedlocke to that new vnknowen guest:

  For he already plighted his right hand

  Vnto another loue, and to another land.

  27 To me sad mayd, or rather widow sad,

  He was affiaunced long time before,

  And sacred pledges he both gaue, and had,

  False erraunt knight, infamous, and forswore:

  Witnesse the burning Altars, which he swore,

  And guiltie heauens of his bold penury,

  Which though he hath polluted oft of yore,

  Yet I to them for iudgement iust do fly,

  And them coniure t’auenge this shamefull iniury.

  28 Therefore since mine he is, or free or bond,

  Or false or trew, or liuing or else dead,

  Withhold, O soueraine Prince, your hasty hond

  From knitting league with him, I you aread;

  Ne weene my right with strength adowne to tread,

  Through weakenesse of my widowhed, or woe:

  For truth is strong, his rightfull cause to plead,

  And shall find friends, if need requireth soe,

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

  29 When he these bitter byting words had red,

  The tydings straunge did him abashed make,

  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

  Thy life and honour late aduenturest,

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

  30 What meane these bloudy vowes, and idle threats,

  Throwne out from womanish impatient mind?

  What heauens? what altars? what enraged heates

  Here heaped vp with termes of loue vnkind,

  My conscience deare 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 loues of former Dame,

  With crime do not it couer, but disclose the same.

  31 To whom the Redcrosse knight this answere sent,

  My Lord, my King, be nought hereat dismayd,

  Till well ye wote by graue intendiment,

  What woman, and wherefore doth me vpbrayd

  With breach of loue, and loyalty betrayd.

  It was in my mishaps, as hitherward

  I lately traueild, that vnwares I strayd

  Out of my way, through perils straunge and hard;

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

  32 There did I find, or rather I was found

  Of this false woman, that Fides
sa tight,

  Fidessa night the falsest Dame on ground,

  Most false Duessa, royall richly dight,

  That easie was t’inuegle weaker sight:

  Who by her wicked arts, and wylie skill,

  Too false and strong for earthly skill or might,

  Vnwares me wrought vnto her wicked will,

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

  33 Then stepped forth the goodly royall Mayd,

  And on the ground her selfe prostrating low,

  With sober countenaunce thus to him sayd;

  O pardon me, my soueraigne Lord, to show

  The secret treasons, which of late I know

  To haue bene wroght by that false sorceresse.

  She onely she it is, that earst did throw

  This gentle knight into so great distresse,

  That death him did awaite in dayly wretchednesse,

  34 And now it seemes, that she suborned hath

  This craftie messenger with letters vaine,

  To worke new woe and improuided scath,

  By breaking of the band betwixt vs twaine;

  Wherein she vsed hath the practicke paine

  Of this false footman, clokt with simplenesse,

  Whom if ye please for to discouer plaine,

  Ye shall him Archimago find, I ghesse,

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

  35 The king was greatly moued at her speach,

  And all with suddein indignation fraight,

  Bad on that Messenger rude hands to reach.

  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,

  And often semblaunce made to scape out of their hand.

  36 But they him layd full low in dungeon deepe,

  And bound him hand and foote with yron chains.

  And with continuall watch did warely keepe;

  Who then would thinke, that by his subtile trains

  He could escape fowle death or deadly paines?

  Thus when that Princes wrath was pacifide,

  He gan renew the late forbidden banes,

  And to the knight his daughter deare he tyde,

  With sacred rites and vowes for euer to abyde.

  37 His owne two hands the holy knots did knit,

  That none but death for euer can deuide;

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

  The housling fire did kindle and prouide,

  And holy water thereon sprinckled wide;

  At which the bushy Teade a groome did light,

  And sacred lampe in secret chamber hide,

  Where it should not be quenched day nor night,

  For feare of euill fates, but burnen euer bright.

  38 Then gan they sprinckle all the posts with wine,

  And made great feast to solemnize that day;

  They all perfiim.de with frankencense diuine,

  And precious odours fetcht from far away,

  That all the house did sweat with great aray:

  And all the while sweete Musicke did apply

  Her curious skill, the warbling notes to play,

  To driue away the dull Melancholy;

  The whiles one sung a song of loue and iollity.

  39 During the which there was an heauenly noise

  Heard sound through all the Pallace pleasantly,

  Like as it had bene many an Angels voice,

  Singing before th’eternall maiesty,

  In their trinall triplicities on hye;

  Yet wist no creature, whence that heauenly sweet

  Proceeded, yet eachone felt secretly

  Himselfe thereby reft of his sences meet,

  And rauished with rare impression in his sprite.

  40 Great ioy was made that day of young and old,

  And solemne feast prodaimd throughout the land,

  That their exceeding merth may not be told:

  Suffice it heare by signes to vnderstand

  The vsuall ioyes at knitting of loues band.

  Thrise happy man the knight himselfe did hold,

  Possessed of his Ladies hart and hand,

  And euer, when his eye did her behold,

  His heart did seeme to melt in pleasures manifold.

  41 Her ioyous presence and sweet company

  In full content he there did long enioy,

  Ne wicked enuie, ne vile gealosy

  His deare delights were able to annoy:

  Yet swimming in that sea of blisfull ioy,

  He nought forgot, how he whilome had sworne,

  In case he could that monstrous beast destroy,

  Vnto his Farie Queene backe to returne:

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

  42 Now strike your sailes ye iolly Mariners,

  For we be come vnto a quiet rode,

  Where we must land some of our passengers,

  And light this wearie vessel of her lode.

  Here she a while may make her safe abode,

  Till she repaired haue her tackles spent,

  And wants supplide. And then againe abroad

  On the long voyage whereto she is bent:

  Well may she speede and fairely finish her intent.

  THE SECOND BOOKE

  OF THE

  FAERIE QVEENE

  CONTAYNING

  THE LEGEND OP SIR GVYON.

  OR

  OF TEMPERAUNCE.

  1 Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,

  That all this famous antique history,

  Of some th’aboundance of an idle braine

  Will iudged be, and painted forgery,

  Rather then matter of iust memory,

  Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,

  Where is that happy land of Faery,

  Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,

  But vouch antiquities, which nobody can know.

  2 But let that man with better sence aduize,

  That of the world least part to vs is red:

  And dayly how through hardy enterprize,

  Many great Regions are discouered,

  Which to late age were neuer mentioned.

  Who euer heard of th’Indian Peru?

  Or who in venturous vessell measured

  The Amazons huge riuer now found trew?

  Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew?

  3 Yet all these were, when no man did them know;

  Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:

  And later times things more vnknowne shall show.

  Why then should witlesse man so much misweene

  That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?

  What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?

  What if in euery other starre vnseene

  Of other worldes he happily should heare?

  He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.

  4 Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,

  By certaine signes here set in sundry place

  He may it find; ne let him then admire,

  But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,

  That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.

  And thou, O fairest Princesse vnder sky,

  In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,

  And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,

  And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.

  5 The which O pardon me thus to enfold

  In couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,

  That feeble eyes your glory may behold,

  Which else could not endure those beames bright,

  But would be dazled with exceeding light

  O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare

  The braue aduentures of this Faery knig
ht

  The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare,

  In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.

  CANTO I

  Guyon by Archimage abusd,

  The Redcrosse knight awaytes,

  Findes Mordant and Amauia slaine

  With pleasures poisoned baytes.

  1 That cunning Architect of cancred guile,

  Whom Princes late displeasure left in bands,

  For falsed letters and suborned wile,

  Soone as the Redcrosse knight he vnderstands,

  To beene departed out of Eden lands,

  To serue againe his soueraine Elfin Queene,

  His artes he moues, and out of caytiues hands

  Himselfe he frees by secret meanes vnseene;

  His shackles emptie left, him selfe escaped cleene.

  2 And forth he fares full of malicious mind,

  To worken mischiefe and auenging woe,

  Where euer he that godly knight may find,

  His onely hart sore, and his onely foe,

  Sith Vna now he algates must forgoe,

  Whom his victorious hands did earst restore

  To natiue crowne and kingdome late ygoe:

  Where she enioyes sure peace for euermore,

  As weather-beaten ship arriu’d on happie shore.

  3 Him therefore now the obiect of his spight

  And deadly food he makes: him to offend

  By forged treason, or by open fight

  He seekes, of all his drift the aymed end:

  Thereto his subtile engins he does bend

  His practick wit, and his faire filed tong,

  With thousand other sleights: for well he kend,

  His credit now in doubtfull ballaunce hong;

  For hardly could be hurt, who was already stong.

  4 Still as he went, he craftie stales did lay,

  With cunning traines him to entrap vnwares,

  And priuie spials plast in all his way,

  To weete what course he takes, and how he fares;

  To ketch him at a vantage in his snares.

  But now so wise and warie was the knight

  By triall of his former harmes and cares,

  That he descride, and shonned still his slight:

  The fish that once was caught, new bait will hardly bite.

  5 Nath’lesse th’Enchaunter would not spare his paine,

  In hope to win occasion to his will;

  Which when he long awaited had in vaine,

  He chaungd his minde from one to other ill:

  For to all good he enimy was still.

  Vpon the way him fortuned to meet,

  Faire marching vndemeath a shady hill,

  A goodly knight, all armd in harnesse meete,

  That from his head no place appeared to his feete.

  6 His carriage was full comely and vpright,

  His countenaunce demure and temperate,