Chapter 18

Cant. VII.

The Redcrosse knight is captiue madeBy Gyaunt proud opprest,Prince Arthur meets with Vna greatlywith those newes distrest.

The Redcrosse knight is captiue made

By Gyaunt proud opprest,

Prince Arthur meets with Vna greatly

with those newes distrest.

What man so wise, what earthly wit so ware,iAs to descry 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,[230]The guiltlesse man with guile to entertaine?Great maistresse of her art was that false Dame,The falseDuessa, cloked withFidessaesname.Who when returning from the dreryNight,iiShe fownd not in that perilous house ofPryde,Where she had left, the nobleRedcrosseknight,Her hoped pray,[231]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.

What man so wise, what earthly wit so ware,i

As to descry 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,[230]

The guiltlesse man with guile to entertaine?

Great maistresse of her art was that false Dame,

The falseDuessa, cloked withFidessaesname.

Who when returning from the dreryNight,iiShe fownd not in that perilous house ofPryde,Where she had left, the nobleRedcrosseknight,Her hoped pray,[231]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.

Who when returning from the dreryNight,ii

She fownd not in that perilous house ofPryde,

Where she had left, the nobleRedcrosseknight,

Her hoped pray,[231]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.

He feedes vpon the cooling shade, and bayesiiiHis sweatie forehead in the breathing wind,Which through the trembling leaues full gently playesWherein the cherefull birds of sundry kindDo chaunt sweet musick, to delight his mind:The Witch approching gan him fairely greet,And with reproch of carelesnesse vnkindVpbrayd, for leauing her in place vnmeet,With fowle words tempring faire, soure gall with hony sweet.Vnkindnesse past, they gan of solace treat,ivAnd bathe in pleasaunce of the ioyous 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 waue did euer freshly well,Ne euer would through feruent sommer fade:The sacred Nymph, which therein wont to dwell,Was out ofDianesfauour, as it then befell.The cause was this: one day whenPhœbefayrevWith all her band was following the chace,This Nymph, quite tyr’d with heat of scorching ayreSat downe to rest in middest of the race:The goddesse wroth gan fowly her[232]disgrace,And bad the waters, which from her did flow,Be such as she her selfe was then in place.Thenceforth her waters waxed[233]dull and slow,And all that drunke thereof, did[234]faint and feeble grow.Hereof this gentle knight vnweeting was,viAnd lying downe vpon the sandie graile,Drunke of the streame, as cleare as cristall glas;[235]Eftsoones his manly forces gan to faile,And mightie strong was turnd to feeble fraile.His chaunged powres at first them selues not felt,Till crudled cold his corage gan assaile,And chearefull bloud in faintnesse chill did melt,Which like a feuer fit through all his body swelt.

He feedes vpon the cooling shade, and bayesiii

His sweatie forehead in the breathing wind,

Which through the trembling leaues full gently playes

Wherein the cherefull birds of sundry kind

Do chaunt sweet musick, to delight his mind:

The Witch approching gan him fairely greet,

And with reproch of carelesnesse vnkind

Vpbrayd, for leauing her in place vnmeet,

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

Vnkindnesse past, they gan of solace treat,ivAnd bathe in pleasaunce of the ioyous 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 waue did euer freshly well,Ne euer would through feruent sommer fade:The sacred Nymph, which therein wont to dwell,Was out ofDianesfauour, as it then befell.

Vnkindnesse past, they gan of solace treat,iv

And bathe in pleasaunce of the ioyous 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 waue did euer freshly well,

Ne euer would through feruent sommer fade:

The sacred Nymph, which therein wont to dwell,

Was out ofDianesfauour, as it then befell.

The cause was this: one day whenPhœbefayrevWith all her band was following the chace,This Nymph, quite tyr’d with heat of scorching ayreSat downe to rest in middest of the race:The goddesse wroth gan fowly her[232]disgrace,And bad the waters, which from her did flow,Be such as she her selfe was then in place.Thenceforth her waters waxed[233]dull and slow,And all that drunke thereof, did[234]faint and feeble grow.

The cause was this: one day whenPhœbefayrev

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[232]disgrace,

And bad the waters, which from her did flow,

Be such as she her selfe was then in place.

Thenceforth her waters waxed[233]dull and slow,

And all that drunke thereof, did[234]faint and feeble grow.

Hereof this gentle knight vnweeting was,viAnd lying downe vpon the sandie graile,Drunke of the streame, as cleare as cristall glas;[235]Eftsoones his manly forces gan to faile,And mightie strong was turnd to feeble fraile.His chaunged powres at first them selues not felt,Till crudled cold his corage gan assaile,And chearefull bloud in faintnesse chill did melt,Which like a feuer fit through all his body swelt.

Hereof this gentle knight vnweeting was,vi

And lying downe vpon the sandie graile,

Drunke of the streame, as cleare as cristall glas;[235]

Eftsoones his manly forces gan to faile,

And mightie strong was turnd to feeble fraile.

His chaunged powres at first them selues not felt,

Till crudled cold his corage gan assaile,

And chearefull bloud in faintnesse chill did melt,

Which like a feuer fit through all his body swelt.

Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame,viiPourd 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,Vpstarted lightly from his looser make,And his vnready weapons gan in hand to take.But ere he could his armour on him dight,viiiOr get his shield, his monstrous enimyWith sturdie steps came stalking in his sight,An hideous Geant horrible and hye,That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye,The ground eke groned vnder him for dreed;His liuing like saw neuer liuing eye,Ne durst behold: his stature did exceedThe hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed.The greatest Earth his vncouth mother was,ixAnd blustringÆolushis boasted sire,Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas,Her hollow womb did secretly inspire,And fild her hidden caues with stormie yre,That she conceiu’d; and trebling the dew time,In which the wombes of women[236]do expire,Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slime,Puft vp with emptie wind, and fild with sinfull crime.So growen great through arrogant delightxOf 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 staydeVpon a snaggy Oke, which he had torneOut of his mothers bowelles, and it madeHis mortall mace, wherewith his foemen he dismayde.

Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame,vii

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,

Vpstarted lightly from his looser make,

And his vnready weapons gan in hand to take.

But ere he could his armour on him dight,viiiOr get his shield, his monstrous enimyWith sturdie steps came stalking in his sight,An hideous Geant horrible and hye,That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye,The ground eke groned vnder him for dreed;His liuing like saw neuer liuing eye,Ne durst behold: his stature did exceedThe hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed.

But ere he could his armour on him dight,viii

Or get his shield, his monstrous enimy

With sturdie steps came stalking in his sight,

An hideous Geant horrible and hye,

That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye,

The ground eke groned vnder him for dreed;

His liuing like saw neuer liuing eye,

Ne durst behold: his stature did exceed

The hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed.

The greatest Earth his vncouth mother was,ixAnd blustringÆolushis boasted sire,Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas,Her hollow womb did secretly inspire,And fild her hidden caues with stormie yre,That she conceiu’d; and trebling the dew time,In which the wombes of women[236]do expire,Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slime,Puft vp with emptie wind, and fild with sinfull crime.

The greatest Earth his vncouth mother was,ix

And blustringÆolushis boasted sire,

Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas,

Her hollow womb did secretly inspire,

And fild her hidden caues with stormie yre,

That she conceiu’d; and trebling the dew time,

In which the wombes of women[236]do expire,

Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slime,

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

So growen great through arrogant delightxOf 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 staydeVpon a snaggy Oke, which he had torneOut of his mothers bowelles, and it madeHis mortall mace, wherewith his foemen he dismayde.

So growen great through arrogant delightx

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

Vpon a snaggy Oke, which he had torne

Out of his mothers bowelles, and it made

His mortall mace, wherewith his foemen he dismayde.

That when the knight he spide, he gan aduancexiWith huge force and insupportable mayne,And towardes him with dreadfull fury praunce;Who haplesse, and eke hopelesse,[237]all in vaineDid to him pace, sad battaile to darrayne,Disarmd, disgrast, and inwardly dismayde,And eke so faint in euery ioynt and vaine,Through that fraile fountaine, which him feeble made,That scarsely could he weeld his bootlesse single blade.The Geaunt strooke so maynly mercilesse,xiiThat could haue ouerthrowne a stony towre,And were not heauenly grace, that him did blesse,He had beene pouldred all, as thin as flowre:But he was wary of that deadly stowre,And lightly lept from vnderneath the blow:Yet so exceeding was the villeins powre,That with the wind it did him ouerthrow,And all his sences stound[238], that still he lay full low.As when that diuelish yron Engin wroughtxiiiIn deepest Hell, and framd byFuriesskill,With windy Nitre and quick Sulphur fraught,And ramd with bullet[239]round, ordaind to kill,Conceiueth fire, the heauens it doth fillWith thundring noyse, and all the ayre doth choke,That none can breath, nor see, nor heare at will,Through smouldry cloud of duskish stincking smoke[240],That th’onely breath him daunts, who hath escapt the stroke.So daunted when the Geaunt saw the knight,[241]xivHis heauie hand he heaued vp on hye,And him to dust thought to haue battred quight,VntillDuessaloud to him gan crye;O greatOrgoglio, greatest vnder skye,O hold thy mortall hand for Ladies sake,Hold for my sake, and do him not to dye,But vanquisht thine eternall bondslaue make,And me thy worthy meed vnto thy Leman take.

That when the knight he spide, he gan aduancexi

With huge force and insupportable mayne,

And towardes him with dreadfull fury praunce;

Who haplesse, and eke hopelesse,[237]all in vaine

Did to him pace, sad battaile to darrayne,

Disarmd, disgrast, and inwardly dismayde,

And eke so faint in euery ioynt and vaine,

Through that fraile fountaine, which him feeble made,

That scarsely could he weeld his bootlesse single blade.

The Geaunt strooke so maynly mercilesse,xiiThat could haue ouerthrowne a stony towre,And were not heauenly grace, that him did blesse,He had beene pouldred all, as thin as flowre:But he was wary of that deadly stowre,And lightly lept from vnderneath the blow:Yet so exceeding was the villeins powre,That with the wind it did him ouerthrow,And all his sences stound[238], that still he lay full low.

The Geaunt strooke so maynly mercilesse,xii

That could haue ouerthrowne a stony towre,

And were not heauenly grace, that him did blesse,

He had beene pouldred all, as thin as flowre:

But he was wary of that deadly stowre,

And lightly lept from vnderneath the blow:

Yet so exceeding was the villeins powre,

That with the wind it did him ouerthrow,

And all his sences stound[238], that still he lay full low.

As when that diuelish yron Engin wroughtxiiiIn deepest Hell, and framd byFuriesskill,With windy Nitre and quick Sulphur fraught,And ramd with bullet[239]round, ordaind to kill,Conceiueth fire, the heauens it doth fillWith thundring noyse, and all the ayre doth choke,That none can breath, nor see, nor heare at will,Through smouldry cloud of duskish stincking smoke[240],That th’onely breath him daunts, who hath escapt the stroke.

As when that diuelish yron Engin wroughtxiii

In deepest Hell, and framd byFuriesskill,

With windy Nitre and quick Sulphur fraught,

And ramd with bullet[239]round, ordaind to kill,

Conceiueth fire, the heauens it doth fill

With thundring noyse, and all the ayre doth choke,

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

Through smouldry cloud of duskish stincking smoke[240],

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

So daunted when the Geaunt saw the knight,[241]xivHis heauie hand he heaued vp on hye,And him to dust thought to haue battred quight,VntillDuessaloud to him gan crye;O greatOrgoglio, greatest vnder skye,O hold thy mortall hand for Ladies sake,Hold for my sake, and do him not to dye,But vanquisht thine eternall bondslaue make,And me thy worthy meed vnto thy Leman take.

So daunted when the Geaunt saw the knight,[241]xiv

His heauie hand he heaued vp on hye,

And him to dust thought to haue battred quight,

VntillDuessaloud to him gan crye;

O greatOrgoglio, greatest vnder skye,

O hold thy mortall hand for Ladies sake,

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

But vanquisht thine eternall bondslaue make,

And me thy worthy meed vnto thy Leman take.

He hearkned, and did stay from further harmes,xvTo gayne so goodly guerdon, as she spake:So willingly she came into his armes,Who her as willingly to grace did take,And was possessed of his new found make.Then vp he tooke the slombred sencelesse corse,And ere he could out of his swowne awake,Him to his castle brought with hastie forse,And in a Dongeon deepe him threw without remorse.From that day forthDuessawas his deare,xviAnd highly honourd in his haughtie eye,He gaue her gold and purple pall to weare,And triple crowne set on her head full hye,And her endowd with royall maiestye:Then for to make her dreaded more of men,And peoples harts with awfull terrour tye,A monstrous beast ybred in filthy fenHe chose, which he had kept long time in darksome den.Such one it was, as that renowmed SnakexviiWhich greatAlcidesinStremonaslew,Long fostred in the filth ofLernalake,Whose many heads out budding euer new,Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew:But this same Monster much more vgly was;For seuen great heads out of his body grew,An yron brest, and backe of scaly bras,And all embrewd in bloud, his eyes did shine as glas.His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length,xviiiThat to the house of heauenly gods it raught,And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength,The euer-burning lamps from thence it brought[242],And prowdly threw to ground, as things of nought[243];And vnderneath his filthy feet did treadThe sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught.Vpon this dreadfull Beast with seuenfold headHe set the falseDuessa, for more aw and dread.

He hearkned, and did stay from further harmes,xv

To gayne so goodly guerdon, as she spake:

So willingly she came into his armes,

Who her as willingly to grace did take,

And was possessed of his new found make.

Then vp he tooke the slombred sencelesse corse,

And ere he could out of his swowne awake,

Him to his castle brought with hastie forse,

And in a Dongeon deepe him threw without remorse.

From that day forthDuessawas his deare,xviAnd highly honourd in his haughtie eye,He gaue her gold and purple pall to weare,And triple crowne set on her head full hye,And her endowd with royall maiestye:Then for to make her dreaded more of men,And peoples harts with awfull terrour tye,A monstrous beast ybred in filthy fenHe chose, which he had kept long time in darksome den.

From that day forthDuessawas his deare,xvi

And highly honourd in his haughtie eye,

He gaue her gold and purple pall to weare,

And triple crowne set on her head full hye,

And her endowd with royall maiestye:

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.

Such one it was, as that renowmed SnakexviiWhich greatAlcidesinStremonaslew,Long fostred in the filth ofLernalake,Whose many heads out budding euer new,Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew:But this same Monster much more vgly was;For seuen great heads out of his body grew,An yron brest, and backe of scaly bras,And all embrewd in bloud, his eyes did shine as glas.

Such one it was, as that renowmed Snakexvii

Which greatAlcidesinStremonaslew,

Long fostred in the filth ofLernalake,

Whose many heads out budding euer new,

Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew:

But this same Monster much more vgly was;

For seuen great heads out of his body grew,

An yron brest, and backe of scaly bras,

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

His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length,xviiiThat to the house of heauenly gods it raught,And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength,The euer-burning lamps from thence it brought[242],And prowdly threw to ground, as things of nought[243];And vnderneath his filthy feet did treadThe sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught.Vpon this dreadfull Beast with seuenfold headHe set the falseDuessa, for more aw and dread.

His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length,xviii

That to the house of heauenly gods it raught,

And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength,

The euer-burning lamps from thence it brought[242],

And prowdly threw to ground, as things of nought[243];

And vnderneath his filthy feet did tread

The sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught.

Vpon this dreadfull Beast with seuenfold head

He set the falseDuessa, for more aw and dread.

The wofull Dwarfe, which saw his maisters fall,xixWhiles he had keeping of his grasing steed,And valiant knight become a caytiue thrall,When all was past, tooke vp his forlorne weed,His mightie armour, missing most at need;His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse;His poynant speare, that many made to bleed,The ruefull moniments of heauinesse,And with them all departes, to tell his great distresse.He had not trauaild long, when on the wayxxHe wofull Ladie, wofullVnamet,Fast flying from the[244]Paynims greedy pray,WhilestSatyranehim 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 liuely breath her sad brest did forsake,Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake.The messenger of so vnhappie newes[245]xxiWould faine haue dyde: dead was his hart within,Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes:At last recouering hart, he does beginTo rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin,And euery tender part does tosse and turne:So hardly he the flitted life does win,Vnto her natiue prison to retourne:Then gins her grieued ghost thus to lament and mourne.Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight,xxiiThat 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 vnfould,The which my life and loue together tyde?Now let the stony dart of senselesse coldPerce to my hart, and pas through euery side,And let eternall night so sad sight[246]fro me hide.

The wofull Dwarfe, which saw his maisters fall,xix

Whiles he had keeping of his grasing steed,

And valiant knight become a caytiue thrall,

When all was past, tooke vp his forlorne weed,

His mightie armour, missing most at need;

His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse;

His poynant speare, that many made to bleed,

The ruefull moniments of heauinesse,

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

He had not trauaild long, when on the wayxxHe wofull Ladie, wofullVnamet,Fast flying from the[244]Paynims greedy pray,WhilestSatyranehim 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 liuely breath her sad brest did forsake,Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake.

He had not trauaild long, when on the wayxx

He wofull Ladie, wofullVnamet,

Fast flying from the[244]Paynims greedy pray,

WhilestSatyranehim 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 liuely breath her sad brest did forsake,

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

The messenger of so vnhappie newes[245]xxiWould faine haue dyde: dead was his hart within,Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes:At last recouering hart, he does beginTo rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin,And euery tender part does tosse and turne:So hardly he the flitted life does win,Vnto her natiue prison to retourne:Then gins her grieued ghost thus to lament and mourne.

The messenger of so vnhappie newes[245]xxi

Would faine haue dyde: dead was his hart within,

Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes:

At last recouering hart, he does begin

To rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin,

And euery tender part does tosse and turne:

So hardly he the flitted life does win,

Vnto her natiue prison to retourne:

Then gins her grieued ghost thus to lament and mourne.

Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight,xxiiThat 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 vnfould,The which my life and loue together tyde?Now let the stony dart of senselesse coldPerce to my hart, and pas through euery side,And let eternall night so sad sight[246]fro me hide.

Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight,xxii

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 vnfould,

The which my life and loue together tyde?

Now let the stony dart of senselesse cold

Perce to my hart, and pas through euery side,

And let eternall night so sad sight[246]fro me hide.

O lightsome day, the lampe of highestIoue,xxiiiFirst made by him, mens wandring wayes to guyde,When darknesse he in deepest dongeon droue,Henceforth thy hated face for euer hyde,And shut vp heauens windowes shyning wyde:For earthly sight can nought but sorrow breed,And late repentance, which shall long abyde.Mine eyes no more on vanitie shall feed,But seeled vp with death, shall haue their deadly meed.Then downe againe she fell vnto the ground;xxivBut he her quickly reared vp againe:Thrise did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd,And thrise he her reviu’d with busie paine:At last when life recouer’d had the raine,And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie,With foltring tong, and trembling euery vaine,Tell on (quoth she) the wofull Tragedie,The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie.Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight,xxvAnd thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart;Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight,Then that I feele, and harbour in mine hart:Who hath endur’d the whole, can beare each part.If death it be, it is not the first wound,That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart.Begin, and end the bitter balefull stound;If lesse, then that I feare,[247]more fauour I haue found.Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare,xxviThe subtill traines ofArchimagoold;The wanton loues of falseFidessafaire,Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold:The wretched payre transform’d to treen mould;The house of Pride, and perils round about;The combat, which he withSansioydid hould;The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout,Wherein captiu’d, of life or death he stood in doubt.

O lightsome day, the lampe of highestIoue,xxiii

First made by him, mens wandring wayes to guyde,

When darknesse he in deepest dongeon droue,

Henceforth thy hated face for euer hyde,

And shut vp heauens windowes shyning wyde:

For earthly sight can nought but sorrow breed,

And late repentance, which shall long abyde.

Mine eyes no more on vanitie shall feed,

But seeled vp with death, shall haue their deadly meed.

Then downe againe she fell vnto the ground;xxivBut he her quickly reared vp againe:Thrise did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd,And thrise he her reviu’d with busie paine:At last when life recouer’d had the raine,And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie,With foltring tong, and trembling euery vaine,Tell on (quoth she) the wofull Tragedie,The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie.

Then downe againe she fell vnto the ground;xxiv

But he her quickly reared vp againe:

Thrise did she sinke adowne in deadly swownd,

And thrise he her reviu’d with busie paine:

At last when life recouer’d had the raine,

And ouer-wrestled his strong enemie,

With foltring tong, and trembling euery vaine,

Tell on (quoth she) the wofull Tragedie,

The which these reliques sad present vnto mine eie.

Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight,xxvAnd thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart;Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight,Then that I feele, and harbour in mine hart:Who hath endur’d the whole, can beare each part.If death it be, it is not the first wound,That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart.Begin, and end the bitter balefull stound;If lesse, then that I feare,[247]more fauour I haue found.

Tempestuous fortune hath spent all her spight,xxv

And thrilling sorrow throwne his vtmost dart;

Thy sad tongue cannot tell more heauy plight,

Then that I feele, and harbour in mine hart:

Who hath endur’d the whole, can beare each part.

If death it be, it is not the first wound,

That launched hath my brest with bleeding smart.

Begin, and end the bitter balefull stound;

If lesse, then that I feare,[247]more fauour I haue found.

Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare,xxviThe subtill traines ofArchimagoold;The wanton loues of falseFidessafaire,Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold:The wretched payre transform’d to treen mould;The house of Pride, and perils round about;The combat, which he withSansioydid hould;The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout,Wherein captiu’d, of life or death he stood in doubt.

Then gan the Dwarfe the whole discourse declare,xxvi

The subtill traines ofArchimagoold;

The wanton loues of falseFidessafaire,

Bought with the bloud of vanquisht Paynim bold:

The wretched payre transform’d to treen mould;

The house of Pride, and perils round about;

The combat, which he withSansioydid hould;

The lucklesse conflict with the Gyant stout,

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

She heard with patience all vnto the end,xxviiAnd stroue to maister sorrowfull assay,Which greater grew, the more she did contend,And almost rent her tender hart in tway;And loue fresh coles vnto her fire did lay:For greater loue, the greater is the losse.Was neuer Ladie loued dearer day,Then she did loue the knight of theRedcrosse;For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse.At last when feruent sorrow slaked was,xxviiiShe vp arose, resoluing him to findA liue or dead: and forward forth doth pas,All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd:And euermore in constant carefull mindhe fed her wound with fresh renewed bale;Long tost with stormes, and bet with bitter wind,High ouer hils, and low adowne the dale,She wandred many a wood, and measurd many a vale.At last she chaunced by good hap to meetxxixA goodly knight, faire marching by the wayTogether with his Squire, arayed meet:His glitterand armour shined farre away,Like glauncing light ofPhœbusbrightest ray;From top to toe no place appeared bare,That deadly dint of steele endanger may:Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware,That shynd, like twinkling stars, with stons most pretious rare.And in the midst thereof one pretious stonexxxOf wondrous worth, and eke of wondrous mights,Shapt like a Ladies head, exceeding shone,LikeHesperusemongst the lesser lights,And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights;Thereby his mortall blade full comely hongIn yuory sheath, ycaru’d with curious slights;Whose hilts were burnisht gold, and handle strongOf mother pearle, and buckled with a golden tong.

She heard with patience all vnto the end,xxvii

And stroue to maister sorrowfull assay,

Which greater grew, the more she did contend,

And almost rent her tender hart in tway;

And loue fresh coles vnto her fire did lay:

For greater loue, the greater is the losse.

Was neuer Ladie loued dearer day,

Then she did loue the knight of theRedcrosse;

For whose deare sake so many troubles her did tosse.

At last when feruent sorrow slaked was,xxviiiShe vp arose, resoluing him to findA liue or dead: and forward forth doth pas,All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd:And euermore in constant carefull mindhe fed her wound with fresh renewed bale;Long tost with stormes, and bet with bitter wind,High ouer hils, and low adowne the dale,She wandred many a wood, and measurd many a vale.

At last when feruent sorrow slaked was,xxviii

She vp arose, resoluing him to find

A liue or dead: and forward forth doth pas,

All as the Dwarfe the way to her assynd:

And euermore in constant carefull mind

he fed her wound with fresh renewed bale;

Long tost with stormes, and bet with bitter wind,

High ouer hils, and low adowne the dale,

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

At last she chaunced by good hap to meetxxixA goodly knight, faire marching by the wayTogether with his Squire, arayed meet:His glitterand armour shined farre away,Like glauncing light ofPhœbusbrightest ray;From top to toe no place appeared bare,That deadly dint of steele endanger may:Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware,That shynd, like twinkling stars, with stons most pretious rare.

At last she chaunced by good hap to meetxxix

A goodly knight, faire marching by the way

Together with his Squire, arayed meet:

His glitterand armour shined farre away,

Like glauncing light ofPhœbusbrightest ray;

From top to toe no place appeared bare,

That deadly dint of steele endanger may:

Athwart his brest a bauldrick braue he ware,

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

And in the midst thereof one pretious stonexxxOf wondrous worth, and eke of wondrous mights,Shapt like a Ladies head, exceeding shone,LikeHesperusemongst the lesser lights,And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights;Thereby his mortall blade full comely hongIn yuory sheath, ycaru’d with curious slights;Whose hilts were burnisht gold, and handle strongOf mother pearle, and buckled with a golden tong.

And in the midst thereof one pretious stonexxx

Of wondrous worth, and eke of wondrous mights,

Shapt like a Ladies head, exceeding shone,

LikeHesperusemongst the lesser lights,

And stroue for to amaze the weaker sights;

Thereby his mortall blade full comely hong

In yuory sheath, ycaru’d with curious slights;

Whose hilts were burnisht gold, and handle strong

Of mother pearle, and buckled with a golden tong.

His haughtie helmet, horrid all with gold,xxxiBoth glorious brightnesse, and great terrour bred;For all the crest a Dragon did enfoldWith greedie pawes, and ouer all did spredHis golden wings: his dreadfull hideous hedClose couched on the beuer, seem’d to throwFrom flaming mouth bright sparkles fierie red,That suddeine horror to faint harts did show;And scaly tayle was stretcht adowne his backe full low.Vpon the top of all his loftie crest,xxxiiA bunch[248]of haires discolourd diuersly,With sprincled pearle, and gold full richly drest,Did shake, and seem’d to daunce for iollity,Like to an Almond tree ymounted hyeOn top of greeneSelinis[249]all alone,With blossomes braue bedecked daintily;Whose[250]tender locks do tremble euery oneAt euery little breath, that vnder heauen is blowne.His warlike shield all closely couer’d was,xxxiiiNe might of mortall eye be euer seene;Not made of steele[251], nor of enduring bras,Such earthly mettals soone consumed bene:But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleeneIt framed was, one massie entire mould,Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene,That point of speare it neuer percen could,Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would.The same to wight he neuer wont disclose,xxxivBut when as monsters huge he would dismay,Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes,Or when the flying heauens he would affray;For so exceeding shone his glistring ray,ThatPhœbusgolden face it did attaint,As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay;And siluerCynthiawexed pale and faint,As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint.

His haughtie helmet, horrid all with gold,xxxi

Both glorious brightnesse, and great terrour bred;

For all the crest a Dragon did enfold

With greedie pawes, and ouer all did spred

His golden wings: his dreadfull hideous hed

Close couched on the beuer, seem’d to throw

From flaming mouth bright sparkles fierie red,

That suddeine horror to faint harts did show;

And scaly tayle was stretcht adowne his backe full low.

Vpon the top of all his loftie crest,xxxiiA bunch[248]of haires discolourd diuersly,With sprincled pearle, and gold full richly drest,Did shake, and seem’d to daunce for iollity,Like to an Almond tree ymounted hyeOn top of greeneSelinis[249]all alone,With blossomes braue bedecked daintily;Whose[250]tender locks do tremble euery oneAt euery little breath, that vnder heauen is blowne.

Vpon the top of all his loftie crest,xxxii

A bunch[248]of haires discolourd diuersly,

With sprincled pearle, and gold full richly drest,

Did shake, and seem’d to daunce for iollity,

Like to an Almond tree ymounted hye

On top of greeneSelinis[249]all alone,

With blossomes braue bedecked daintily;

Whose[250]tender locks do tremble euery one

At euery little breath, that vnder heauen is blowne.

His warlike shield all closely couer’d was,xxxiiiNe might of mortall eye be euer seene;Not made of steele[251], nor of enduring bras,Such earthly mettals soone consumed bene:But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleeneIt framed was, one massie entire mould,Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene,That point of speare it neuer percen could,Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would.

His warlike shield all closely couer’d was,xxxiii

Ne might of mortall eye be euer seene;

Not made of steele[251], nor of enduring bras,

Such earthly mettals soone consumed bene:

But all of Diamond perfect pure and cleene

It framed was, one massie entire mould,

Hewen out of Adamant rocke with engines keene,

That point of speare it neuer percen could,

Ne dint of direfull sword diuide the substance would.

The same to wight he neuer wont disclose,xxxivBut when as monsters huge he would dismay,Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes,Or when the flying heauens he would affray;For so exceeding shone his glistring ray,ThatPhœbusgolden face it did attaint,As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay;And siluerCynthiawexed pale and faint,As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint.

The same to wight he neuer wont disclose,xxxiv

But when as monsters huge he would dismay,

Or daunt vnequall armies of his foes,

Or when the flying heauens he would affray;

For so exceeding shone his glistring ray,

ThatPhœbusgolden face it did attaint,

As when a cloud his beames doth ouer-lay;

And siluerCynthiawexed pale and faint,

As when her face is staynd with magicke arts constraint.

No magicke arts hereof had any might,xxxvNor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call,But all that was not such, as seemd in sight,Before that shield did fade, and suddeine fall:And when him list the raskall routes appall,Men into stones therewith he could transmew,And stones to dust, and dust to nought at all;And when him list the prouder lookes subdew,He would them gazing blind, or turne to other hew.Ne let it seeme[252], that credence this exceedes,xxxviFor he that made the same, was knowne right wellTo haue done much more admirable deedes.ItMerlinwas, which whylome did excellAll liuing wightes in might of magicke spell:Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wroughtFor this young Prince, when first to armes he fell;But when he dyde, the Faerie Queene it broughtTo Faerie lond, where yet it may be seene, if sought.A gentle youth, his dearely loued SquirexxxviiHis speare of heben wood behind him bare,Whose harmefull head, thrice heated in the fire,Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square;A goodly person, and could menage faire[253]His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit,Who vnder him did trample[254]as the aire,And chauft[255], that any on his backe should sit;The yron rowels into frothy fome he bit.When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew,xxxviiiWith louely court he gan her entertaine;But when he heard her answeres loth, he knewSome secret sorrow did her heart distraine:Which to allay, and calme her storming paine,Faire feeling words he wisely gan display,And for her humour fitting purpose faine,To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray;Wherewith emmou’d[256], these bleeding words she gan to say.

No magicke arts hereof had any might,xxxv

Nor bloudie wordes of bold Enchaunters call,

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

Before that shield did fade, and suddeine fall:

And when him list the raskall routes appall,

Men into stones therewith he could transmew,

And stones to dust, and dust to nought at all;

And when him list the prouder lookes subdew,

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

Ne let it seeme[252], that credence this exceedes,xxxviFor he that made the same, was knowne right wellTo haue done much more admirable deedes.ItMerlinwas, which whylome did excellAll liuing wightes in might of magicke spell:Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wroughtFor this young Prince, when first to armes he fell;But when he dyde, the Faerie Queene it broughtTo Faerie lond, where yet it may be seene, if sought.

Ne let it seeme[252], that credence this exceedes,xxxvi

For he that made the same, was knowne right well

To haue done much more admirable deedes.

ItMerlinwas, which whylome did excell

All liuing wightes in might of magicke spell:

Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wrought

For this young Prince, when first to armes he fell;

But when he dyde, the Faerie Queene it brought

To Faerie lond, where yet it may be seene, if sought.

A gentle youth, his dearely loued SquirexxxviiHis speare of heben wood behind him bare,Whose harmefull head, thrice heated in the fire,Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square;A goodly person, and could menage faire[253]His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit,Who vnder him did trample[254]as the aire,And chauft[255], that any on his backe should sit;The yron rowels into frothy fome he bit.

A gentle youth, his dearely loued Squirexxxvii

His speare of heben wood behind him bare,

Whose harmefull head, thrice heated in the fire,

Had riuen many a brest with pikehead square;

A goodly person, and could menage faire[253]

His stubborne steed with curbed canon bit,

Who vnder him did trample[254]as the aire,

And chauft[255], that any on his backe should sit;

The yron rowels into frothy fome he bit.

When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew,xxxviiiWith louely court he gan her entertaine;But when he heard her answeres loth, he knewSome secret sorrow did her heart distraine:Which to allay, and calme her storming paine,Faire feeling words he wisely gan display,And for her humour fitting purpose faine,To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray;Wherewith emmou’d[256], these bleeding words she gan to say.

When as this knight nigh to the Ladie drew,xxxviii

With louely court he gan her entertaine;

But when he heard her answeres loth, he knew

Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine:

Which to allay, and calme her storming paine,

Faire feeling words he wisely gan display,

And for her humour fitting purpose faine,

To tempt the cause it selfe for to bewray;

Wherewith emmou’d[256], these bleeding words she gan to say.

What worlds delight, or ioy of liuing speachxxxixCan heart, so plung’d in sea of sorrowes deepe,And heaped with so huge misfortunes, reach?The carefull cold beginneth for to creepe,And in my heart his yron arrow steepe,Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale:Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe,Then rip vp griefe, where it may not auaile,My last left comfort is, my woes to weepe and waile.Ah Ladie deare, quoth then the gentle knight,xlWell may I weene, your griefe is wondrous great;For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright,Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat.But wofull Ladie let me you intrete,For to vnfold the anguish of your hart:Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete,And counsell mittigates the greatest smart;Found neuer helpe, who neuer would his hurts impart.O but (quoth she) great griefe will not be tould,xliAnd can more easily be thought, then said.Right so; (quoth he) but he, that neuer would,Could neuer: will to might giues greatest aid.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.His goodly reason, and well guided speachxliiSo deepe did settle in her gratious thought,That her perswaded to disclose the breach,Which loue and fortune in her heart had wrought,And said; Faire[257]Sir, I hope good hap hath broughtYou to inquire[258]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.

What worlds delight, or ioy of liuing speachxxxix

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

And heaped with so huge misfortunes, reach?

The carefull cold beginneth for to creepe,

And in my heart his yron arrow steepe,

Soone as I thinke vpon my bitter bale:

Such helplesse harmes yts better hidden keepe,

Then rip vp griefe, where it may not auaile,

My last left comfort is, my woes to weepe and waile.

Ah Ladie deare, quoth then the gentle knight,xlWell may I weene, your griefe is wondrous great;For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright,Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat.But wofull Ladie let me you intrete,For to vnfold the anguish of your hart:Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete,And counsell mittigates the greatest smart;Found neuer helpe, who neuer would his hurts impart.

Ah Ladie deare, quoth then the gentle knight,xl

Well may I weene, your griefe is wondrous great;

For wondrous great griefe groneth in my spright,

Whiles thus I heare you of your sorrowes treat.

But wofull Ladie let me you intrete,

For to vnfold the anguish of your hart:

Mishaps are maistred by aduice discrete,

And counsell mittigates the greatest smart;

Found neuer helpe, who neuer would his hurts impart.

O but (quoth she) great griefe will not be tould,xliAnd can more easily be thought, then said.Right so; (quoth he) but he, that neuer would,Could neuer: will to might giues greatest aid.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.

O but (quoth she) great griefe will not be tould,xli

And can more easily be thought, then said.

Right so; (quoth he) but he, that neuer would,

Could neuer: will to might giues greatest aid.

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.

His goodly reason, and well guided speachxliiSo deepe did settle in her gratious thought,That her perswaded to disclose the breach,Which loue and fortune in her heart had wrought,And said; Faire[257]Sir, I hope good hap hath broughtYou to inquire[258]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.

His goodly reason, and well guided speachxlii

So deepe did settle in her gratious thought,

That her perswaded to disclose the breach,

Which loue and fortune in her heart had wrought,

And said; Faire[257]Sir, I hope good hap hath brought

You to inquire[258]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.

The forlorne Maiden, whom your eyes haue seenexliiiThe laughing stocke of fortunes mockeries,Am th’only daughter of a King and Queene,Whose parents deare, whilest[259]equall destiniesDid runne[260]about, and their felicitiesThe fauourable heauens did not enuy,Did spread their rule through all the territories,WhichPhisonandEuphratesfloweth by,AndGehons[261]golden waues doe wash continually.Till that their cruell cursed enemy,xlivAn huge great Dragon horrible in sight,Bred in the loathly lakes ofTartary,With murdrous rauine, and deuouring mightTheir kingdome spoild, and countrey wasted quight:Themselues, for feare into his iawes to fall,He forst to castle strong to take their flight,Where fast embard in mightie brasen wall,He has them now foure yeres besiegd to make them thrall.Full many knights aduenturous and stoutxlvHaue enterprizd that Monster to subdew;From euery coast that heauen walks about,Haue thither come the noble Martiall crew,That famous hard atchieuements still pursew,Yet neuer any could that girlond win,But all still shronke, and still he greater grew:All they for want of faith, or guilt of sin,The pitteous pray of his fierce crueltie haue bin.At last yledd with farre reported praise,xlviWhich flying fame throughout the world had spred,Of doughtie knights, whom Faery land did raise,That noble order hight of Maidenhed,Forthwith to court ofGlorianeI sped,OfGlorianegreat Queene of glory bright,Whose kingdomes seatCleopolisis red,There to obtaine some such redoubted knight,That Parents deare from tyrants powre deliuer might.

The forlorne Maiden, whom your eyes haue seenexliii

The laughing stocke of fortunes mockeries,

Am th’only daughter of a King and Queene,

Whose parents deare, whilest[259]equall destinies

Did runne[260]about, and their felicities

The fauourable heauens did not enuy,

Did spread their rule through all the territories,

WhichPhisonandEuphratesfloweth by,

AndGehons[261]golden waues doe wash continually.

Till that their cruell cursed enemy,xlivAn huge great Dragon horrible in sight,Bred in the loathly lakes ofTartary,With murdrous rauine, and deuouring mightTheir kingdome spoild, and countrey wasted quight:Themselues, for feare into his iawes to fall,He forst to castle strong to take their flight,Where fast embard in mightie brasen wall,He has them now foure yeres besiegd to make them thrall.

Till that their cruell cursed enemy,xliv

An huge great Dragon horrible in sight,

Bred in the loathly lakes ofTartary,

With murdrous rauine, and deuouring might

Their kingdome spoild, and countrey wasted quight:

Themselues, for feare into his iawes to fall,

He forst to castle strong to take their flight,

Where fast embard in mightie brasen wall,

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

Full many knights aduenturous and stoutxlvHaue enterprizd that Monster to subdew;From euery coast that heauen walks about,Haue thither come the noble Martiall crew,That famous hard atchieuements still pursew,Yet neuer any could that girlond win,But all still shronke, and still he greater grew:All they for want of faith, or guilt of sin,The pitteous pray of his fierce crueltie haue bin.

Full many knights aduenturous and stoutxlv

Haue enterprizd that Monster to subdew;

From euery coast that heauen walks about,

Haue thither come the noble Martiall crew,

That famous hard atchieuements still pursew,

Yet neuer any could that girlond win,

But all still shronke, and still he greater grew:

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

The pitteous pray of his fierce crueltie haue bin.

At last yledd with farre reported praise,xlviWhich flying fame throughout the world had spred,Of doughtie knights, whom Faery land did raise,That noble order hight of Maidenhed,Forthwith to court ofGlorianeI sped,OfGlorianegreat Queene of glory bright,Whose kingdomes seatCleopolisis red,There to obtaine some such redoubted knight,That Parents deare from tyrants powre deliuer might.

At last yledd with farre reported praise,xlvi

Which flying fame throughout the world had spred,

Of doughtie knights, whom Faery land did raise,

That noble order hight of Maidenhed,

Forthwith to court ofGlorianeI sped,

OfGlorianegreat Queene of glory bright,

Whose kingdomes seatCleopolisis red,

There to obtaine some such redoubted knight,

That Parents deare from tyrants powre deliuer might.

It was my chance (my chance was faire and good)xlviiThere for to find a fresh vnproued knight,Whose manly hands[262]imbrew’d in guiltie bloodHad neuer bene, ne euer by his mightHad throwne to ground the vnregarded right:Yet of his prowesse proofe he since hath made(I witnesse am) in many a cruell fight;The groning ghosts of many one dismaideHaue felt the bitter dint of his auenging blade.And ye the forlorne reliques of his powre,xlviiiHis byting sword, and his deuouring speare,Which haue 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,And of my dolefull disauenturous deare:O heauie record of the goodRedcrosse,Where haue you[263]left your Lord, that could so well you tosse?Well hoped I, and faire beginnings had,xlixThat he my captiue langour[264]should redeeme,Till all vnweeting, an Enchaunter badHis sence abusd, and made him to misdeemeMy loyalty, not such as it did seeme;That rather death desire, then such despight.Be iudge ye heauens, that all things right esteeme,How I him lou’d, and loue with all my might,So thought I eke of him, and thinke I thought aright.Thenceforth me desolate he quite forsooke,lTo wander, where wilde fortune would me lead,And other bywaies he himselfe betooke,Where neuer foot of liuing wight did tread,That brought not backe the balefull body dead;In which him chaunced falseDuessameete,Mine onely foe, mine onely deadly dread,Who with her witchcraft and misseeming sweete,Inueigled him to follow her desires vnmeete.

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

There for to find a fresh vnproued knight,

Whose manly hands[262]imbrew’d in guiltie blood

Had neuer bene, ne euer by his might

Had throwne to ground the vnregarded right:

Yet of his prowesse proofe he since hath made

(I witnesse am) in many a cruell fight;

The groning ghosts of many one dismaide

Haue felt the bitter dint of his auenging blade.

And ye the forlorne reliques of his powre,xlviiiHis byting sword, and his deuouring speare,Which haue 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,And of my dolefull disauenturous deare:O heauie record of the goodRedcrosse,Where haue you[263]left your Lord, that could so well you tosse?

And ye the forlorne reliques of his powre,xlviii

His byting sword, and his deuouring speare,

Which haue 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,

And of my dolefull disauenturous deare:

O heauie record of the goodRedcrosse,

Where haue you[263]left your Lord, that could so well you tosse?

Well hoped I, and faire beginnings had,xlixThat he my captiue langour[264]should redeeme,Till all vnweeting, an Enchaunter badHis sence abusd, and made him to misdeemeMy loyalty, not such as it did seeme;That rather death desire, then such despight.Be iudge ye heauens, that all things right esteeme,How I him lou’d, and loue with all my might,So thought I eke of him, and thinke I thought aright.

Well hoped I, and faire beginnings had,xlix

That he my captiue langour[264]should redeeme,

Till all vnweeting, 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 iudge ye heauens, that all things right esteeme,

How I him lou’d, and loue with all my might,

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

Thenceforth me desolate he quite forsooke,lTo wander, where wilde fortune would me lead,And other bywaies he himselfe betooke,Where neuer foot of liuing wight did tread,That brought not backe the balefull body dead;In which him chaunced falseDuessameete,Mine onely foe, mine onely deadly dread,Who with her witchcraft and misseeming sweete,Inueigled him to follow her desires vnmeete.

Thenceforth me desolate he quite forsooke,l

To wander, where wilde fortune would me lead,

And other bywaies he himselfe betooke,

Where neuer foot of liuing wight did tread,

That brought not backe the balefull body dead;

In which him chaunced falseDuessameete,

Mine onely foe, mine onely deadly dread,

Who with her witchcraft and misseeming sweete,

Inueigled him to follow her desires vnmeete.

At last by subtill sleights she him betraidliVnto his foe, a Gyant huge and tall,Who him disarmed, dissolute, dismaid,Vnwares surprised, and with mightie mallThe monster mercilesse him made to fall,Whose fall did neuer 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.Ere she had ended all, she gan to faint:liiBut he her comforted and faire bespake,Certes, Madame, ye haue great cause of plaint,That stoutest heart, I weene, could cause to quake.But be of cheare, and comfort to you take:For till I haue acquit your captiue knight,Assure your selfe, I will you not forsake.His chearefull words reuiu’d her chearelesse spright,So forth they went, the Dwarfe them guiding euer right.

At last by subtill sleights she him betraidli

Vnto his foe, a Gyant huge and tall,

Who him disarmed, dissolute, dismaid,

Vnwares surprised, and with mightie mall

The monster mercilesse him made to fall,

Whose fall did neuer 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.

Ere she had ended all, she gan to faint:liiBut he her comforted and faire bespake,Certes, Madame, ye haue great cause of plaint,That stoutest heart, I weene, could cause to quake.But be of cheare, and comfort to you take:For till I haue acquit your captiue knight,Assure your selfe, I will you not forsake.His chearefull words reuiu’d her chearelesse spright,So forth they went, the Dwarfe them guiding euer right.

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

But he her comforted and faire bespake,

Certes, Madame, ye haue great cause of plaint,

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

But be of cheare, and comfort to you take:

For till I haue acquit your captiue knight,

Assure your selfe, I will you not forsake.

His chearefull words reuiu’d her chearelesse spright,

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

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