Chapter 63

Cant. X.

Paridell rapeth Hellenore:Malbecco her pursewes:Findes emongst Satyres, whence with himTo turne she doth refuse.

Paridell rapeth Hellenore:

Malbecco her pursewes:

Findes emongst Satyres, whence with him

To turne she doth refuse.

The morow next, so soone asPhœbusLampiBewrayed had the world with early light,And freshAurorahad the shady dampOut of the goodly heauen amoued quight,FaireBritomartand that sameFaerieknightVprose, forth on their iourney for to wend:ButParidellcomplaynd, that his late fightWithBritomart, so sore did him offend,That ryde he could not, till his hurts he did amend.So forth they far’d, but he behind them stayd,iiMaulgre his host, who grudged grieuously[1090],To house a guest, that would be needes obayd,And of his owne him left not liberty:Might wanting measure moueth surquedry.Two things he feared, but the third was death;That fierce youngmans vnruly maistery;His money, which he lou’d as liuing breath;And his faire wife, whom honest long he kept vneath.But patience perforce he must abie,iiiWhat fortune and his fate on him will lay,Fond is the feare, that findes no remedie;Yet warily he watcheth euery way,By which he feareth euill happen may:So th’euill thinkes by watching to preuent;Ne doth he suffer her, nor night, nor day,Out of his sight her selfe once to absent.So doth he punish her and eke himselfe torment.

The morow next, so soone asPhœbusLampi

Bewrayed had the world with early light,

And freshAurorahad the shady damp

Out of the goodly heauen amoued quight,

FaireBritomartand that sameFaerieknight

Vprose, forth on their iourney for to wend:

ButParidellcomplaynd, that his late fight

WithBritomart, so sore did him offend,

That ryde he could not, till his hurts he did amend.

So forth they far’d, but he behind them stayd,iiMaulgre his host, who grudged grieuously[1090],To house a guest, that would be needes obayd,And of his owne him left not liberty:Might wanting measure moueth surquedry.Two things he feared, but the third was death;That fierce youngmans vnruly maistery;His money, which he lou’d as liuing breath;And his faire wife, whom honest long he kept vneath.

So forth they far’d, but he behind them stayd,ii

Maulgre his host, who grudged grieuously[1090],

To house a guest, that would be needes obayd,

And of his owne him left not liberty:

Might wanting measure moueth surquedry.

Two things he feared, but the third was death;

That fierce youngmans vnruly maistery;

His money, which he lou’d as liuing breath;

And his faire wife, whom honest long he kept vneath.

But patience perforce he must abie,iiiWhat fortune and his fate on him will lay,Fond is the feare, that findes no remedie;Yet warily he watcheth euery way,By which he feareth euill happen may:So th’euill thinkes by watching to preuent;Ne doth he suffer her, nor night, nor day,Out of his sight her selfe once to absent.So doth he punish her and eke himselfe torment.

But patience perforce he must abie,iii

What fortune and his fate on him will lay,

Fond is the feare, that findes no remedie;

Yet warily he watcheth euery way,

By which he feareth euill happen may:

So th’euill thinkes by watching to preuent;

Ne doth he suffer her, nor night, nor day,

Out of his sight her selfe once to absent.

So doth he punish her and eke himselfe torment.

ButParidellkept better watch, then hee,ivA fit occasion for his turne to find:False loue, why do men say, thou canst not see,And in their foolish fancie feigne thee blind,That with thy charmes the sharpest sight doest bind,And to thy will abuse? Thou walkest free,And seest euery secret of the mind;Thou seest all, yet none at all sees thee;All that is by the working of thy Deitee.So perfect in that art wasParidell,vThat heMalbeccoes[1091]halfen eye did wyle,His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well,AndHellenorsboth eyes did eke beguyle,Both eyes and hart attonce, during the whyleThat he there soiourned his wounds to heale;ThatCupidselfe it seeing, close did smyle,To weet how he her loue away did steale,And bad, that none their ioyous treason should reueale.The learned louer lost no time nor tyde,viThat least auantage mote to him afford,Yet bore so faire a saile, that none espydeHis secret drift, till he her layd abord.When so in open place, and commune bord,He fortun’d her to meet, with commune speachHe courted her, yet bayted euery word,That his vngentle hoste n’ote him appeachOf vile vngentlenesse, or hospitages breach.But when apart (if euer her apart)viiHe found, then his false engins fast he plyde,And all the sleights vnbosomd in his hart;He sigh’d, he sobd, he swownd, he perdy dyde,And cast himselfe on ground her fast besyde:Tho when againe he him bethought to liue,He wept, and wayld, and false laments belyde,Saying, but if she Mercie would him giueThat he mote algates dye, yet did his death forgiue.

ButParidellkept better watch, then hee,iv

A fit occasion for his turne to find:

False loue, why do men say, thou canst not see,

And in their foolish fancie feigne thee blind,

That with thy charmes the sharpest sight doest bind,

And to thy will abuse? Thou walkest free,

And seest euery secret of the mind;

Thou seest all, yet none at all sees thee;

All that is by the working of thy Deitee.

So perfect in that art wasParidell,vThat heMalbeccoes[1091]halfen eye did wyle,His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well,AndHellenorsboth eyes did eke beguyle,Both eyes and hart attonce, during the whyleThat he there soiourned his wounds to heale;ThatCupidselfe it seeing, close did smyle,To weet how he her loue away did steale,And bad, that none their ioyous treason should reueale.

So perfect in that art wasParidell,v

That heMalbeccoes[1091]halfen eye did wyle,

His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well,

AndHellenorsboth eyes did eke beguyle,

Both eyes and hart attonce, during the whyle

That he there soiourned his wounds to heale;

ThatCupidselfe it seeing, close did smyle,

To weet how he her loue away did steale,

And bad, that none their ioyous treason should reueale.

The learned louer lost no time nor tyde,viThat least auantage mote to him afford,Yet bore so faire a saile, that none espydeHis secret drift, till he her layd abord.When so in open place, and commune bord,He fortun’d her to meet, with commune speachHe courted her, yet bayted euery word,That his vngentle hoste n’ote him appeachOf vile vngentlenesse, or hospitages breach.

The learned louer lost no time nor tyde,vi

That least auantage mote to him afford,

Yet bore so faire a saile, that none espyde

His secret drift, till he her layd abord.

When so in open place, and commune bord,

He fortun’d her to meet, with commune speach

He courted her, yet bayted euery word,

That his vngentle hoste n’ote him appeach

Of vile vngentlenesse, or hospitages breach.

But when apart (if euer her apart)viiHe found, then his false engins fast he plyde,And all the sleights vnbosomd in his hart;He sigh’d, he sobd, he swownd, he perdy dyde,And cast himselfe on ground her fast besyde:Tho when againe he him bethought to liue,He wept, and wayld, and false laments belyde,Saying, but if she Mercie would him giueThat he mote algates dye, yet did his death forgiue.

But when apart (if euer her apart)vii

He found, then his false engins fast he plyde,

And all the sleights vnbosomd in his hart;

He sigh’d, he sobd, he swownd, he perdy dyde,

And cast himselfe on ground her fast besyde:

Tho when againe he him bethought to liue,

He wept, and wayld, and false laments belyde,

Saying, but if she Mercie would him giue

That he mote algates dye, yet did his death forgiue.

And otherwhiles with amorous delights,viiiAnd pleasing toyes he would her entertaine,Now singing sweetly, to surprise her sprights,Now making layes of loue and louers paine,Bransles, Ballads, virelayes, and verses vaine;Oft purposes, oft riddles he deuysd,And thousands like, which flowed in his braine,With which he fed her fancie, and entysdTo take to[1092]his new loue, and leaue her old despysd.And euery where he might, and euery whileixHe did her seruice dewtifull, and sewedAt hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile,So closely yet, that none but she it vewed,Who well perceiued all, and all indewed.Thus finely did he his false nets dispred,With which he many weake harts had subdewedOf yore, and many had ylike misled:What wonder then, if she were likewise carried?No fort so fensible, no wals so strong,xBut that continuall battery will riue,Or daily siege through dispuruayance long,And lacke of reskewes will to parley driue;And Peece[1093], that vnto parley eare will giue,Will shortly yeeld it selfe, and will be madeThe vassall of the victors will byliue:That stratageme had oftentimes assaydThis crafty Paramoure, and now it plaine displayd.For through his traines he her intrapped hath,xiThat she her loue and hart hath wholy soldTo him, without regard of gaine, or scath,Or care of credite, or of husband old,Whom she hath vow’d to dub a faire Cucquold.Nought wants but time and place, which shortly sheeDeuized hath, and to her louer told.It pleased well. So well they both agree;So readie rype to ill, ill wemens counsels bee.

And otherwhiles with amorous delights,viii

And pleasing toyes he would her entertaine,

Now singing sweetly, to surprise her sprights,

Now making layes of loue and louers paine,

Bransles, Ballads, virelayes, and verses vaine;

Oft purposes, oft riddles he deuysd,

And thousands like, which flowed in his braine,

With which he fed her fancie, and entysd

To take to[1092]his new loue, and leaue her old despysd.

And euery where he might, and euery whileixHe did her seruice dewtifull, and sewedAt hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile,So closely yet, that none but she it vewed,Who well perceiued all, and all indewed.Thus finely did he his false nets dispred,With which he many weake harts had subdewedOf yore, and many had ylike misled:What wonder then, if she were likewise carried?

And euery where he might, and euery whileix

He did her seruice dewtifull, and sewed

At hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile,

So closely yet, that none but she it vewed,

Who well perceiued all, and all indewed.

Thus finely did he his false nets dispred,

With which he many weake harts had subdewed

Of yore, and many had ylike misled:

What wonder then, if she were likewise carried?

No fort so fensible, no wals so strong,xBut that continuall battery will riue,Or daily siege through dispuruayance long,And lacke of reskewes will to parley driue;And Peece[1093], that vnto parley eare will giue,Will shortly yeeld it selfe, and will be madeThe vassall of the victors will byliue:That stratageme had oftentimes assaydThis crafty Paramoure, and now it plaine displayd.

No fort so fensible, no wals so strong,x

But that continuall battery will riue,

Or daily siege through dispuruayance long,

And lacke of reskewes will to parley driue;

And Peece[1093], that vnto parley eare will giue,

Will shortly yeeld it selfe, and will be made

The vassall of the victors will byliue:

That stratageme had oftentimes assayd

This crafty Paramoure, and now it plaine displayd.

For through his traines he her intrapped hath,xiThat she her loue and hart hath wholy soldTo him, without regard of gaine, or scath,Or care of credite, or of husband old,Whom she hath vow’d to dub a faire Cucquold.Nought wants but time and place, which shortly sheeDeuized hath, and to her louer told.It pleased well. So well they both agree;So readie rype to ill, ill wemens counsels bee.

For through his traines he her intrapped hath,xi

That she her loue and hart hath wholy sold

To him, without regard of gaine, or scath,

Or care of credite, or of husband old,

Whom she hath vow’d to dub a faire Cucquold.

Nought wants but time and place, which shortly shee

Deuized hath, and to her louer told.

It pleased well. So well they both agree;

So readie rype to ill, ill wemens counsels bee.

Darke was the Euening, fit for louers stealth,xiiWhen chaunstMalbeccobusie be elsewhere,She to his closet went, where all his wealthLay hid: thereof she countlesse summes did reare,The which she meant away with her to beare;The rest she fyr’d for sport, or for despight;AsHellene, when she saw aloft appeareTheTroianeflames, and reach to heauens hightDid clap her hands, and ioyed at that dolefull sight.This secondHellene, faire DameHellenore,xiiiThe whiles her husband ranne with sory haste,To quench the flames, which she had tyn’d before,Laught at his foolish labour spent in waste;And ranne into her louers armes right fast;Where streight embraced, she to him did cry,And call aloud for helpe, ere helpe were past;For loe that Guest would[1094]beare her forcibly,And meant to rauish her, that rather had to dy.The wretched man hearing her call for ayd,xivAnd readie seeing him with her to fly,In his disquiet mind was much dismayd:But when againe he backward cast his eye,And saw the wicked fire so furiouslyConsume his hart, and scorch his Idoles face,He was therewith distressed diuersly,Ne wist he how to turne, nor to what place;Was neuer wretched man in such a wofull cace.Ay when to him she cryde, to her he turnd,xvAnd left the fire; loue money ouercame:But when he marked, how his money burnd,He left his wife; money did loue disclame:Both was he loth to loose his loued Dame,And loth to leaue his liefest pelfe behind,Yet sith he n’ote saue both, he sau’d that same,Which was the dearest to his donghill mind,The God of his desire, the ioy of misers blind.

Darke was the Euening, fit for louers stealth,xii

When chaunstMalbeccobusie be elsewhere,

She to his closet went, where all his wealth

Lay hid: thereof she countlesse summes did reare,

The which she meant away with her to beare;

The rest she fyr’d for sport, or for despight;

AsHellene, when she saw aloft appeare

TheTroianeflames, and reach to heauens hight

Did clap her hands, and ioyed at that dolefull sight.

This secondHellene, faire DameHellenore,xiiiThe whiles her husband ranne with sory haste,To quench the flames, which she had tyn’d before,Laught at his foolish labour spent in waste;And ranne into her louers armes right fast;Where streight embraced, she to him did cry,And call aloud for helpe, ere helpe were past;For loe that Guest would[1094]beare her forcibly,And meant to rauish her, that rather had to dy.

This secondHellene, faire DameHellenore,xiii

The whiles her husband ranne with sory haste,

To quench the flames, which she had tyn’d before,

Laught at his foolish labour spent in waste;

And ranne into her louers armes right fast;

Where streight embraced, she to him did cry,

And call aloud for helpe, ere helpe were past;

For loe that Guest would[1094]beare her forcibly,

And meant to rauish her, that rather had to dy.

The wretched man hearing her call for ayd,xivAnd readie seeing him with her to fly,In his disquiet mind was much dismayd:But when againe he backward cast his eye,And saw the wicked fire so furiouslyConsume his hart, and scorch his Idoles face,He was therewith distressed diuersly,Ne wist he how to turne, nor to what place;Was neuer wretched man in such a wofull cace.

The wretched man hearing her call for ayd,xiv

And readie seeing him with her to fly,

In his disquiet mind was much dismayd:

But when againe he backward cast his eye,

And saw the wicked fire so furiously

Consume his hart, and scorch his Idoles face,

He was therewith distressed diuersly,

Ne wist he how to turne, nor to what place;

Was neuer wretched man in such a wofull cace.

Ay when to him she cryde, to her he turnd,xvAnd left the fire; loue money ouercame:But when he marked, how his money burnd,He left his wife; money did loue disclame:Both was he loth to loose his loued Dame,And loth to leaue his liefest pelfe behind,Yet sith he n’ote saue both, he sau’d that same,Which was the dearest to his donghill mind,The God of his desire, the ioy of misers blind.

Ay when to him she cryde, to her he turnd,xv

And left the fire; loue money ouercame:

But when he marked, how his money burnd,

He left his wife; money did loue disclame:

Both was he loth to loose his loued Dame,

And loth to leaue his liefest pelfe behind,

Yet sith he n’ote saue both, he sau’d that same,

Which was the dearest to his donghill mind,

The God of his desire, the ioy of misers blind.

Thus whilest all things in troublous vprore were,xviAnd all men busie to suppresse the flame,The louing couple need no reskew feare,But leasure had, and libertie to frameTheir purpost flight, free from all mens reclame;And Night, the patronesse of loue-stealth faire,Gaue them safe conduct, till to end they came:So bene they gone yfeare, a wanton paireOf louers loosely knit, where list them to repaire.Soone as the cruell flames yslaked were,xviiMalbeccoseeing, how his losse did lye,Out of the flames, which he had quencht whylereInto huge waues of griefe and gealosyeFull deepe emplonged was, and drowned nye,Twixt inward doole and felonous despight;He rau’d, he wept, he stampt, he lowd did cry,And all the passions, that in man may light,Did him attonce oppresse, and vex his caytiue spright.Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe,xviiiAnd did consume his gall with anguish sore,Still when he mused on his late mischiefe,Then[1095]still the smart thereof increased more,And seem’d more grieuous, then it was before:At last when sorrow he saw booted nought,Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore,He gan deuise, how her he reskew mought,Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought.At last resoluing, like a pilgrim pore,xixTo search[1096]her forth, where so she might be fond,And bearing with him treasure in close store,The rest he leaues in ground: So takes in hondTo seeke her endlong, both by sea and lond.Long he her sought, he sought her farre and nere,And euery where that he mote vnderstond,Of knights and ladies any meetings were,And of eachone he met, he tydings did inquere.

Thus whilest all things in troublous vprore were,xvi

And all men busie to suppresse the flame,

The louing couple need no reskew feare,

But leasure had, and libertie to frame

Their purpost flight, free from all mens reclame;

And Night, the patronesse of loue-stealth faire,

Gaue them safe conduct, till to end they came:

So bene they gone yfeare, a wanton paire

Of louers loosely knit, where list them to repaire.

Soone as the cruell flames yslaked were,xviiMalbeccoseeing, how his losse did lye,Out of the flames, which he had quencht whylereInto huge waues of griefe and gealosyeFull deepe emplonged was, and drowned nye,Twixt inward doole and felonous despight;He rau’d, he wept, he stampt, he lowd did cry,And all the passions, that in man may light,Did him attonce oppresse, and vex his caytiue spright.

Soone as the cruell flames yslaked were,xvii

Malbeccoseeing, how his losse did lye,

Out of the flames, which he had quencht whylere

Into huge waues of griefe and gealosye

Full deepe emplonged was, and drowned nye,

Twixt inward doole and felonous despight;

He rau’d, he wept, he stampt, he lowd did cry,

And all the passions, that in man may light,

Did him attonce oppresse, and vex his caytiue spright.

Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe,xviiiAnd did consume his gall with anguish sore,Still when he mused on his late mischiefe,Then[1095]still the smart thereof increased more,And seem’d more grieuous, then it was before:At last when sorrow he saw booted nought,Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore,He gan deuise, how her he reskew mought,Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought.

Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe,xviii

And did consume his gall with anguish sore,

Still when he mused on his late mischiefe,

Then[1095]still the smart thereof increased more,

And seem’d more grieuous, then it was before:

At last when sorrow he saw booted nought,

Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore,

He gan deuise, how her he reskew mought,

Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought.

At last resoluing, like a pilgrim pore,xixTo search[1096]her forth, where so she might be fond,And bearing with him treasure in close store,The rest he leaues in ground: So takes in hondTo seeke her endlong, both by sea and lond.Long he her sought, he sought her farre and nere,And euery where that he mote vnderstond,Of knights and ladies any meetings were,And of eachone he met, he tydings did inquere.

At last resoluing, like a pilgrim pore,xix

To search[1096]her forth, where so she might be fond,

And bearing with him treasure in close store,

The rest he leaues in ground: So takes in hond

To seeke her endlong, both by sea and lond.

Long he her sought, he sought her farre and nere,

And euery where that he mote vnderstond,

Of knights and ladies any meetings were,

And of eachone he met, he tydings did inquere.

But all in vaine, his woman was too wise,xxEuer to come into his clouch againe,And he too simple euer to surpriseThe iollyParidell, for all his paine.One day, as he forpassed by the plaineWith weary pace, he farre away espideA couple, seeming well to be his twaine,Which houed close vnder a forrest side,As if they lay in wait, or else themselues did hide.Well weened he, that those the same mote bee,xxiAnd as he better did their shape auize,Him seemed more their manner did agree;For th’one was armed all in warlike wize,Whom, to beParidellhe did deuize;And th’other all yclad in garments light,Discolour’d like to womanish disguise,He did resemble to his Ladie bright;And euer his faint hart much earned[1097]at the sight.And euer faine he towards them would goe,xxiiBut yet durst not for dread approchen nie,But stood aloofe, vnweeting what to doe;Till that prickt forth with loues extremitie,That is the father of foule gealosy,He closely nearer crept, the truth to weet:But, as he nigher drew, he easilyMight scerne, that it was not his sweetest sweet,Ne yet her Belamour, the partner of his sheet.But it was scornefullBraggadocchio,xxiiiThat with his seruantTromparthouerd there,Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe:Whom such when asMalbeccospyed clere,He turned backe, and would haue fled arere;TillTrompartronning hastily, him did stay,And bad before his soueraine Lord appere:That was him loth, yet durst he not gainesay,And comming him before, low louted on the lay.

But all in vaine, his woman was too wise,xx

Euer to come into his clouch againe,

And he too simple euer to surprise

The iollyParidell, for all his paine.

One day, as he forpassed by the plaine

With weary pace, he farre away espide

A couple, seeming well to be his twaine,

Which houed close vnder a forrest side,

As if they lay in wait, or else themselues did hide.

Well weened he, that those the same mote bee,xxiAnd as he better did their shape auize,Him seemed more their manner did agree;For th’one was armed all in warlike wize,Whom, to beParidellhe did deuize;And th’other all yclad in garments light,Discolour’d like to womanish disguise,He did resemble to his Ladie bright;And euer his faint hart much earned[1097]at the sight.

Well weened he, that those the same mote bee,xxi

And as he better did their shape auize,

Him seemed more their manner did agree;

For th’one was armed all in warlike wize,

Whom, to beParidellhe did deuize;

And th’other all yclad in garments light,

Discolour’d like to womanish disguise,

He did resemble to his Ladie bright;

And euer his faint hart much earned[1097]at the sight.

And euer faine he towards them would goe,xxiiBut yet durst not for dread approchen nie,But stood aloofe, vnweeting what to doe;Till that prickt forth with loues extremitie,That is the father of foule gealosy,He closely nearer crept, the truth to weet:But, as he nigher drew, he easilyMight scerne, that it was not his sweetest sweet,Ne yet her Belamour, the partner of his sheet.

And euer faine he towards them would goe,xxii

But yet durst not for dread approchen nie,

But stood aloofe, vnweeting what to doe;

Till that prickt forth with loues extremitie,

That is the father of foule gealosy,

He closely nearer crept, the truth to weet:

But, as he nigher drew, he easily

Might scerne, that it was not his sweetest sweet,

Ne yet her Belamour, the partner of his sheet.

But it was scornefullBraggadocchio,xxiiiThat with his seruantTromparthouerd there,Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe:Whom such when asMalbeccospyed clere,He turned backe, and would haue fled arere;TillTrompartronning hastily, him did stay,And bad before his soueraine Lord appere:That was him loth, yet durst he not gainesay,And comming him before, low louted on the lay.

But it was scornefullBraggadocchio,xxiii

That with his seruantTromparthouerd there,

Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe:

Whom such when asMalbeccospyed clere,

He turned backe, and would haue fled arere;

TillTrompartronning hastily, him did stay,

And bad before his soueraine Lord appere:

That was him loth, yet durst he not gainesay,

And comming him before, low louted on the lay.

The Boaster at him sternely bent his browe,xxivAs if he could haue kild him with his looke,That to the ground him meekely made to bowe,And awfull terror deepe into him strooke,That euery member of his bodie quooke.Said he, Thou[1098]man of nought, what doest thou here,Vnfitly furnisht with thy bag and booke,Where I expected one with shield and spere,To proue some deedes of armes vpon an equall pere.The wretched man at his imperious speach,xxvWas all abasht, and low prostrating, said;Good Sir, let not my rudenesse be no breachVnto your patience, ne be ill ypaid;For I vnwares this way by fortune straid,A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse,That seeke a Lady, There he suddein staid,And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse,While teares stood in his eies, few drops of bitternesse.What Ladie, man? (saidTrompart) take good hart,xxviAnd tell thy griefe, if any hidden lye;Was neuer better time to shew thy smart,Then now, that noble succour is thee by,That is the whole worlds commune remedy.That cheareful word his weake hart much did cheare,And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply,That bold he said; O most redoubted Pere,Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare.Then sighing sore, It is not long (said hee)xxviiSith[1099]I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue;Of whom a knight, no knight at all perdee,But shame of all, that doe for honor striue,By treacherous deceipt did me depriue;Through open outrage he her bore away,And with fowle force vnto his will did driue,Which all good knights, that armes do beare this day,Are bound for to reuenge, and punish if they may.

The Boaster at him sternely bent his browe,xxiv

As if he could haue kild him with his looke,

That to the ground him meekely made to bowe,

And awfull terror deepe into him strooke,

That euery member of his bodie quooke.

Said he, Thou[1098]man of nought, what doest thou here,

Vnfitly furnisht with thy bag and booke,

Where I expected one with shield and spere,

To proue some deedes of armes vpon an equall pere.

The wretched man at his imperious speach,xxvWas all abasht, and low prostrating, said;Good Sir, let not my rudenesse be no breachVnto your patience, ne be ill ypaid;For I vnwares this way by fortune straid,A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse,That seeke a Lady, There he suddein staid,And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse,While teares stood in his eies, few drops of bitternesse.

The wretched man at his imperious speach,xxv

Was all abasht, and low prostrating, said;

Good Sir, let not my rudenesse be no breach

Vnto your patience, ne be ill ypaid;

For I vnwares this way by fortune straid,

A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse,

That seeke a Lady, There he suddein staid,

And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse,

While teares stood in his eies, few drops of bitternesse.

What Ladie, man? (saidTrompart) take good hart,xxviAnd tell thy griefe, if any hidden lye;Was neuer better time to shew thy smart,Then now, that noble succour is thee by,That is the whole worlds commune remedy.That cheareful word his weake hart much did cheare,And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply,That bold he said; O most redoubted Pere,Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare.

What Ladie, man? (saidTrompart) take good hart,xxvi

And tell thy griefe, if any hidden lye;

Was neuer better time to shew thy smart,

Then now, that noble succour is thee by,

That is the whole worlds commune remedy.

That cheareful word his weake hart much did cheare,

And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply,

That bold he said; O most redoubted Pere,

Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare.

Then sighing sore, It is not long (said hee)xxviiSith[1099]I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue;Of whom a knight, no knight at all perdee,But shame of all, that doe for honor striue,By treacherous deceipt did me depriue;Through open outrage he her bore away,And with fowle force vnto his will did driue,Which all good knights, that armes do beare this day,Are bound for to reuenge, and punish if they may.

Then sighing sore, It is not long (said hee)xxvii

Sith[1099]I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue;

Of whom a knight, no knight at all perdee,

But shame of all, that doe for honor striue,

By treacherous deceipt did me depriue;

Through open outrage he her bore away,

And with fowle force vnto his will did driue,

Which all good knights, that armes do beare this day,

Are bound for to reuenge, and punish if they may.

And you most noble Lord, that can and darexxviiiRedresse the wrong of miserable wight,Cannot employ your most victorious speareIn better quarrell, then defence of right,And for a Ladie gainst a faithlesse knight;So shall your glory be aduaunced much,And all faire Ladies magnifie your might,And eke my selfe, albe I simple such,Your worthy paine shall well reward with guerdon rich.With that out of his bouget forth he drewxxixGreat store of treasure[1100], therewith him to tempt;But he on it lookt scornefully askew,As much disdeigning to be so misdempt,Or a war-monger to be basely nempt;And said; Thy[1101]offers base I greatly loth,And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt;I tread in dust thee and thy money both,That, were it not for shame, So turned from him wroth.ButTrompart, that his maisters humor knew,xxxIn lofty lookes to hide an humble mind,Was inly tickled with that golden vew,And in his eare him rounded[1102]close behind:Yet stoupt he not, but lay still in the wind,Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease;TillTrompartlowly to the ground inclind,Besought him his great courage to appease,And pardon simple man, that rash did him displease.Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere,xxxiAt last he thus; Thou clod of vilest clay,I pardon yield, and with thy[1103]rudenesse beare;But weete henceforth, that all that golden pray,And all that else the vaine world vaunten may,I loath as doung, ne deeme my dew reward:Fame is my meed, and glory vertues[1104]pray[1105].But minds of mortall men are muchell mard,And mou’d amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard.

And you most noble Lord, that can and darexxviii

Redresse the wrong of miserable wight,

Cannot employ your most victorious speare

In better quarrell, then defence of right,

And for a Ladie gainst a faithlesse knight;

So shall your glory be aduaunced much,

And all faire Ladies magnifie your might,

And eke my selfe, albe I simple such,

Your worthy paine shall well reward with guerdon rich.

With that out of his bouget forth he drewxxixGreat store of treasure[1100], therewith him to tempt;But he on it lookt scornefully askew,As much disdeigning to be so misdempt,Or a war-monger to be basely nempt;And said; Thy[1101]offers base I greatly loth,And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt;I tread in dust thee and thy money both,That, were it not for shame, So turned from him wroth.

With that out of his bouget forth he drewxxix

Great store of treasure[1100], therewith him to tempt;

But he on it lookt scornefully askew,

As much disdeigning to be so misdempt,

Or a war-monger to be basely nempt;

And said; Thy[1101]offers base I greatly loth,

And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt;

I tread in dust thee and thy money both,

That, were it not for shame, So turned from him wroth.

ButTrompart, that his maisters humor knew,xxxIn lofty lookes to hide an humble mind,Was inly tickled with that golden vew,And in his eare him rounded[1102]close behind:Yet stoupt he not, but lay still in the wind,Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease;TillTrompartlowly to the ground inclind,Besought him his great courage to appease,And pardon simple man, that rash did him displease.

ButTrompart, that his maisters humor knew,xxx

In lofty lookes to hide an humble mind,

Was inly tickled with that golden vew,

And in his eare him rounded[1102]close behind:

Yet stoupt he not, but lay still in the wind,

Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease;

TillTrompartlowly to the ground inclind,

Besought him his great courage to appease,

And pardon simple man, that rash did him displease.

Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere,xxxiAt last he thus; Thou clod of vilest clay,I pardon yield, and with thy[1103]rudenesse beare;But weete henceforth, that all that golden pray,And all that else the vaine world vaunten may,I loath as doung, ne deeme my dew reward:Fame is my meed, and glory vertues[1104]pray[1105].But minds of mortall men are muchell mard,And mou’d amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard.

Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere,xxxi

At last he thus; Thou clod of vilest clay,

I pardon yield, and with thy[1103]rudenesse beare;

But weete henceforth, that all that golden pray,

And all that else the vaine world vaunten may,

I loath as doung, ne deeme my dew reward:

Fame is my meed, and glory vertues[1104]pray[1105].

But minds of mortall men are muchell mard,

And mou’d amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard.

And more[1106], I graunt to thy great miseriexxxiiGratious respect, thy wife shall backe be sent,And that vile knight, who euer that he bee,Which hath thy Lady reft, and knighthood shent,BySanglamortmy sword, whose deadly dentThe bloud hath of so many thousands shed,I sweare, ere long shall dearely it repent;Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed,But soone he shall be found, and shortly doen be ded.The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith,xxxiiiAs if the word so spoken, were halfe donne,And humbly thanked him a thousand sith,That had from death to life him newly wonne.Tho forth the Boaster marching, braue begonneHis stolen steed to thunder furiously,As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne,And all the world confound with cruelty,That muchMalbeccoioyed in his iollity.Thus long they three together traueiled,xxxivThrough many a wood, and many an vncouth way,To seeke his wife, that was farre wandered:But those two sought nought, but the present pray,To weete the treasure, which he did bewray,On which their eies and harts were wholly set,With purpose, how they might it best betray;For sith the houre, that first he did them letThe same behold, therewith their keene desires were whet.It fortuned as they together far’d,xxxvThey spide, whereParidellcame pricking fastVpon the plaine, the which himselfe prepar’dTo giust with that braue straunger knight a cast,As on aduenture by the way he past:Alone he rode without his Paragone;For hauing filcht her bels, her vp he castTo the wide world, and let her fly alone,He nould be clogd. So had he serued many one.

And more[1106], I graunt to thy great miseriexxxii

Gratious respect, thy wife shall backe be sent,

And that vile knight, who euer that he bee,

Which hath thy Lady reft, and knighthood shent,

BySanglamortmy sword, whose deadly dent

The bloud hath of so many thousands shed,

I sweare, ere long shall dearely it repent;

Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed,

But soone he shall be found, and shortly doen be ded.

The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith,xxxiiiAs if the word so spoken, were halfe donne,And humbly thanked him a thousand sith,That had from death to life him newly wonne.Tho forth the Boaster marching, braue begonneHis stolen steed to thunder furiously,As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne,And all the world confound with cruelty,That muchMalbeccoioyed in his iollity.

The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith,xxxiii

As if the word so spoken, were halfe donne,

And humbly thanked him a thousand sith,

That had from death to life him newly wonne.

Tho forth the Boaster marching, braue begonne

His stolen steed to thunder furiously,

As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne,

And all the world confound with cruelty,

That muchMalbeccoioyed in his iollity.

Thus long they three together traueiled,xxxivThrough many a wood, and many an vncouth way,To seeke his wife, that was farre wandered:But those two sought nought, but the present pray,To weete the treasure, which he did bewray,On which their eies and harts were wholly set,With purpose, how they might it best betray;For sith the houre, that first he did them letThe same behold, therewith their keene desires were whet.

Thus long they three together traueiled,xxxiv

Through many a wood, and many an vncouth way,

To seeke his wife, that was farre wandered:

But those two sought nought, but the present pray,

To weete the treasure, which he did bewray,

On which their eies and harts were wholly set,

With purpose, how they might it best betray;

For sith the houre, that first he did them let

The same behold, therewith their keene desires were whet.

It fortuned as they together far’d,xxxvThey spide, whereParidellcame pricking fastVpon the plaine, the which himselfe prepar’dTo giust with that braue straunger knight a cast,As on aduenture by the way he past:Alone he rode without his Paragone;For hauing filcht her bels, her vp he castTo the wide world, and let her fly alone,He nould be clogd. So had he serued many one.

It fortuned as they together far’d,xxxv

They spide, whereParidellcame pricking fast

Vpon the plaine, the which himselfe prepar’d

To giust with that braue straunger knight a cast,

As on aduenture by the way he past:

Alone he rode without his Paragone;

For hauing filcht her bels, her vp he cast

To the wide world, and let her fly alone,

He nould be clogd. So had he serued many one.

The gentle Lady, loose at randon left,xxxviThe greene-wood long did walke, and wander wideAt wilde aduenture, like a forlorne weft,Till on a day theSatyresher espideStraying alone withouten groome or guide;Her vp they tooke, and with them home her led,With them as housewife euer to abide,To milk their gotes, and make them cheese and bred,And euery one as commune good her handeled.That shortly sheMalbeccohas forgot,xxxviiAnd eke SirParidell, all were he deare;Who from her went to seeke another lot,And now by fortune was arriued here,Where those two guilers withMalbeccowere:Soone as the oldman saw SirParidell,He fainted, and was almost dead with feare,Ne word he had to speake, his griefe to tell,But to him louted low, and greeted goodly well.And after asked him forHellenore,xxxviiiI take no keepe of her (saidParidell)She wonneth in the forrest there before.So forth he rode, as his aduenture fell;The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sellFaynd to alight, something amisse to mend;But the fresh Swayne would not his leasure dwell,But went his way; whom when he passed kend,He vp remounted light, and after faind to wend.Perdy nay (saidMalbecco) shall ye not:xxxixBut let him passe as lightly, as he came:For litle good of him is to be got,And mickle perill to be put to shame.But let vs go to seeke my dearest Dame,Whom he hath left in yonder forrest wyld:For of her safety in great doubt I am[1107],Least saluage beastes her person haue despoyld:Then all the world is lost, and we in vaine haue toyld.

The gentle Lady, loose at randon left,xxxvi

The greene-wood long did walke, and wander wide

At wilde aduenture, like a forlorne weft,

Till on a day theSatyresher espide

Straying alone withouten groome or guide;

Her vp they tooke, and with them home her led,

With them as housewife euer to abide,

To milk their gotes, and make them cheese and bred,

And euery one as commune good her handeled.

That shortly sheMalbeccohas forgot,xxxviiAnd eke SirParidell, all were he deare;Who from her went to seeke another lot,And now by fortune was arriued here,Where those two guilers withMalbeccowere:Soone as the oldman saw SirParidell,He fainted, and was almost dead with feare,Ne word he had to speake, his griefe to tell,But to him louted low, and greeted goodly well.

That shortly sheMalbeccohas forgot,xxxvii

And eke SirParidell, all were he deare;

Who from her went to seeke another lot,

And now by fortune was arriued here,

Where those two guilers withMalbeccowere:

Soone as the oldman saw SirParidell,

He fainted, and was almost dead with feare,

Ne word he had to speake, his griefe to tell,

But to him louted low, and greeted goodly well.

And after asked him forHellenore,xxxviiiI take no keepe of her (saidParidell)She wonneth in the forrest there before.So forth he rode, as his aduenture fell;The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sellFaynd to alight, something amisse to mend;But the fresh Swayne would not his leasure dwell,But went his way; whom when he passed kend,He vp remounted light, and after faind to wend.

And after asked him forHellenore,xxxviii

I take no keepe of her (saidParidell)

She wonneth in the forrest there before.

So forth he rode, as his aduenture fell;

The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sell

Faynd to alight, something amisse to mend;

But the fresh Swayne would not his leasure dwell,

But went his way; whom when he passed kend,

He vp remounted light, and after faind to wend.

Perdy nay (saidMalbecco) shall ye not:xxxixBut let him passe as lightly, as he came:For litle good of him is to be got,And mickle perill to be put to shame.But let vs go to seeke my dearest Dame,Whom he hath left in yonder forrest wyld:For of her safety in great doubt I am[1107],Least saluage beastes her person haue despoyld:Then all the world is lost, and we in vaine haue toyld.

Perdy nay (saidMalbecco) shall ye not:xxxix

But let him passe as lightly, as he came:

For litle good of him is to be got,

And mickle perill to be put to shame.

But let vs go to seeke my dearest Dame,

Whom he hath left in yonder forrest wyld:

For of her safety in great doubt I am[1107],

Least saluage beastes her person haue despoyld:

Then all the world is lost, and we in vaine haue toyld.

They[1108]all agree, and forward them addrest:xlAh but (said craftieTrompart) weete ye well,That yonder in that wastefull[1109]wildernesseHuge monsters haunt, and many dangers dwell;Dragons, and Minotaures, and feendes of hell,And many wilde woodmen, which robbe and rendAll trauellers; therefore aduise[1110]ye well,Before ye enterprise that way to wend:One may his iourney bring too soone to euill end.Malbeccostopt in great astonishment,xliAnd with pale eyes fast fixed on the rest,Their counsell crau’d, in daunger imminent.SaidTrompart, You[1111]that are the most opprestWith burden of great treasure, I thinke bestHere for to stay in safetie behind;My Lord and I will search the wide forrest.That counsell pleased notMalbeccoesmind;For he was much affraid, himselfe alone to find.Then is it best (said he) that ye doe leauexliiYour treasure here in some securitie,Either fast closed in some hollow greaue,Or buried in the ground from ieopardie,Till we returne againe in safetie:As for vs two, least doubt of vs ye haue,Hence farre away we will blindfolded lie,Ne priuie be vnto your treasures graue.It pleased: so he did.[1112]Then they march forward braue.Now when amid the thickest woods they were,xliiiThey heard a noyse of many bagpipes shrill,And shrieking Hububs them approching nere,Which all the forrest did with horror fill:That dreadfull sound the boasters hart did thrill,With such amazement, that in haste he fled,Ne euer looked backe for good or ill,And after him eke fearefullTrompartsped;The old man could not fly, but fell to ground halfe ded.

They[1108]all agree, and forward them addrest:xl

Ah but (said craftieTrompart) weete ye well,

That yonder in that wastefull[1109]wildernesse

Huge monsters haunt, and many dangers dwell;

Dragons, and Minotaures, and feendes of hell,

And many wilde woodmen, which robbe and rend

All trauellers; therefore aduise[1110]ye well,

Before ye enterprise that way to wend:

One may his iourney bring too soone to euill end.

Malbeccostopt in great astonishment,xliAnd with pale eyes fast fixed on the rest,Their counsell crau’d, in daunger imminent.SaidTrompart, You[1111]that are the most opprestWith burden of great treasure, I thinke bestHere for to stay in safetie behind;My Lord and I will search the wide forrest.That counsell pleased notMalbeccoesmind;For he was much affraid, himselfe alone to find.

Malbeccostopt in great astonishment,xli

And with pale eyes fast fixed on the rest,

Their counsell crau’d, in daunger imminent.

SaidTrompart, You[1111]that are the most opprest

With burden of great treasure, I thinke best

Here for to stay in safetie behind;

My Lord and I will search the wide forrest.

That counsell pleased notMalbeccoesmind;

For he was much affraid, himselfe alone to find.

Then is it best (said he) that ye doe leauexliiYour treasure here in some securitie,Either fast closed in some hollow greaue,Or buried in the ground from ieopardie,Till we returne againe in safetie:As for vs two, least doubt of vs ye haue,Hence farre away we will blindfolded lie,Ne priuie be vnto your treasures graue.It pleased: so he did.[1112]Then they march forward braue.

Then is it best (said he) that ye doe leauexlii

Your treasure here in some securitie,

Either fast closed in some hollow greaue,

Or buried in the ground from ieopardie,

Till we returne againe in safetie:

As for vs two, least doubt of vs ye haue,

Hence farre away we will blindfolded lie,

Ne priuie be vnto your treasures graue.

It pleased: so he did.[1112]Then they march forward braue.

Now when amid the thickest woods they were,xliiiThey heard a noyse of many bagpipes shrill,And shrieking Hububs them approching nere,Which all the forrest did with horror fill:That dreadfull sound the boasters hart did thrill,With such amazement, that in haste he fled,Ne euer looked backe for good or ill,And after him eke fearefullTrompartsped;The old man could not fly, but fell to ground halfe ded.

Now when amid the thickest woods they were,xliii

They heard a noyse of many bagpipes shrill,

And shrieking Hububs them approching nere,

Which all the forrest did with horror fill:

That dreadfull sound the boasters hart did thrill,

With such amazement, that in haste he fled,

Ne euer looked backe for good or ill,

And after him eke fearefullTrompartsped;

The old man could not fly, but fell to ground halfe ded.

Yet afterwards close creeping, as he might,xlivHe in a bush did hide his fearefull hed,The iollySatyresfull of fresh delight,Came dauncing forth, and with them nimbly ledFaireHellenore, with girlonds all bespred,Whom their May-lady they had newly made:She proud of that new honour, which they red,And of their louely fellowship full glade,Daunst liuely, and her face did with a Lawrell shade.The silly man that in the thicket layxlvSaw all this goodly sport, and grieued sore,Yet durst he not against it doe or say,But did his hart with bitter thoughts engore,To see th’vnkindnesse of hisHellenore.All day they daunced with great lustihed,And with their horned feet the greene grasse wore,The whiles their Gotes vpon the brouzes fed,[1113]Till droupingPhœbusgan to hide his golden hed.Tho vp they gan their merry pypes to trusse,xlviAnd all their goodly heards did gather round,But euerySatyrefirst did giue a busseToHellenore: so busses did abound.Now gan the humid vapour shed the groundWith perly deaw, and th’Earthes[1114]gloomy shadeDid dim the brightnesse of the welkin round,That euery bird and beast awarned made,To shrowd themselues, whiles sleepe their senses did inuade.Which whenMalbeccosaw, out of his[1115]bushxlviiVpon his hands[1116]and feete he crept full light,And like a Gote emongst the Gotes did rush,That through the helpe of his faire hornes on hight,And misty dampe of misconceiuing night,And eke through likenesse of his gotish beard,He did the better counterfeite aright:So home he marcht emongst the horned heard,That none of all theSatyreshim espyde or heard.

Yet afterwards close creeping, as he might,xliv

He in a bush did hide his fearefull hed,

The iollySatyresfull of fresh delight,

Came dauncing forth, and with them nimbly led

FaireHellenore, with girlonds all bespred,

Whom their May-lady they had newly made:

She proud of that new honour, which they red,

And of their louely fellowship full glade,

Daunst liuely, and her face did with a Lawrell shade.

The silly man that in the thicket layxlvSaw all this goodly sport, and grieued sore,Yet durst he not against it doe or say,But did his hart with bitter thoughts engore,To see th’vnkindnesse of hisHellenore.All day they daunced with great lustihed,And with their horned feet the greene grasse wore,The whiles their Gotes vpon the brouzes fed,[1113]Till droupingPhœbusgan to hide his golden hed.

The silly man that in the thicket layxlv

Saw all this goodly sport, and grieued sore,

Yet durst he not against it doe or say,

But did his hart with bitter thoughts engore,

To see th’vnkindnesse of hisHellenore.

All day they daunced with great lustihed,

And with their horned feet the greene grasse wore,

The whiles their Gotes vpon the brouzes fed,[1113]

Till droupingPhœbusgan to hide his golden hed.

Tho vp they gan their merry pypes to trusse,xlviAnd all their goodly heards did gather round,But euerySatyrefirst did giue a busseToHellenore: so busses did abound.Now gan the humid vapour shed the groundWith perly deaw, and th’Earthes[1114]gloomy shadeDid dim the brightnesse of the welkin round,That euery bird and beast awarned made,To shrowd themselues, whiles sleepe their senses did inuade.

Tho vp they gan their merry pypes to trusse,xlvi

And all their goodly heards did gather round,

But euerySatyrefirst did giue a busse

ToHellenore: so busses did abound.

Now gan the humid vapour shed the ground

With perly deaw, and th’Earthes[1114]gloomy shade

Did dim the brightnesse of the welkin round,

That euery bird and beast awarned made,

To shrowd themselues, whiles sleepe their senses did inuade.

Which whenMalbeccosaw, out of his[1115]bushxlviiVpon his hands[1116]and feete he crept full light,And like a Gote emongst the Gotes did rush,That through the helpe of his faire hornes on hight,And misty dampe of misconceiuing night,And eke through likenesse of his gotish beard,He did the better counterfeite aright:So home he marcht emongst the horned heard,That none of all theSatyreshim espyde or heard.

Which whenMalbeccosaw, out of his[1115]bushxlvii

Vpon his hands[1116]and feete he crept full light,

And like a Gote emongst the Gotes did rush,

That through the helpe of his faire hornes on hight,

And misty dampe of misconceiuing night,

And eke through likenesse of his gotish beard,

He did the better counterfeite aright:

So home he marcht emongst the horned heard,

That none of all theSatyreshim espyde or heard.

At night, when all they went to sleepe, he vewd,xlviiiWhereas his louely wife emongst them lay,Embraced of aSatyrerough and rude,Who all the night did minde his ioyous play:Nine times he heard him come aloft ere day,That all his hart with gealosie did swell;But yet that nights ensample did bewray,That not for nought his wife them loued so well,When one so oft[1117]a night did ring his matins bell.So closely as he could, he to them crept,xlixWhen wearie of their sport to sleepe they fell,And to his wife, that now full soundly slept,He whispered in her eare, and did her tell,That it was he, which by her side did dwell,And therefore prayd her wake, to heare him plaine.As one out of a dreame not waked well,She turned her, and returned backe againe:Yet her for to awake he did the more constraine.At last with irkesome trouble she abrayd;lAnd then perceiuing, that it was indeedHer oldMalbecco, which did her vpbrayd,With loosenesse of her loue, and loathly deed,She was astonisht with exceeding dreed,And would haue wakt theSatyreby her syde;But he her prayd, for mercy, or for meed,To saue his life, ne let him be descryde,But hearken to his lore, and all his counsell hyde.Tho gan he her perswade, to leaue that lewdliAnd loathsome life, of God and man abhord,And home returne, where all should be renewdWith perfect peace, and bandes of fresh accord,And she receiu’d againe to bed and bord,As if no trespasse euer had bene donne:But she it all refused at one word,And by no meanes would to his will be wonne,But chose emongst the iollySatyresstill to wonne.

At night, when all they went to sleepe, he vewd,xlviii

Whereas his louely wife emongst them lay,

Embraced of aSatyrerough and rude,

Who all the night did minde his ioyous play:

Nine times he heard him come aloft ere day,

That all his hart with gealosie did swell;

But yet that nights ensample did bewray,

That not for nought his wife them loued so well,

When one so oft[1117]a night did ring his matins bell.

So closely as he could, he to them crept,xlixWhen wearie of their sport to sleepe they fell,And to his wife, that now full soundly slept,He whispered in her eare, and did her tell,That it was he, which by her side did dwell,And therefore prayd her wake, to heare him plaine.As one out of a dreame not waked well,She turned her, and returned backe againe:Yet her for to awake he did the more constraine.

So closely as he could, he to them crept,xlix

When wearie of their sport to sleepe they fell,

And to his wife, that now full soundly slept,

He whispered in her eare, and did her tell,

That it was he, which by her side did dwell,

And therefore prayd her wake, to heare him plaine.

As one out of a dreame not waked well,

She turned her, and returned backe againe:

Yet her for to awake he did the more constraine.

At last with irkesome trouble she abrayd;lAnd then perceiuing, that it was indeedHer oldMalbecco, which did her vpbrayd,With loosenesse of her loue, and loathly deed,She was astonisht with exceeding dreed,And would haue wakt theSatyreby her syde;But he her prayd, for mercy, or for meed,To saue his life, ne let him be descryde,But hearken to his lore, and all his counsell hyde.

At last with irkesome trouble she abrayd;l

And then perceiuing, that it was indeed

Her oldMalbecco, which did her vpbrayd,

With loosenesse of her loue, and loathly deed,

She was astonisht with exceeding dreed,

And would haue wakt theSatyreby her syde;

But he her prayd, for mercy, or for meed,

To saue his life, ne let him be descryde,

But hearken to his lore, and all his counsell hyde.

Tho gan he her perswade, to leaue that lewdliAnd loathsome life, of God and man abhord,And home returne, where all should be renewdWith perfect peace, and bandes of fresh accord,And she receiu’d againe to bed and bord,As if no trespasse euer had bene donne:But she it all refused at one word,And by no meanes would to his will be wonne,But chose emongst the iollySatyresstill to wonne.

Tho gan he her perswade, to leaue that lewdli

And loathsome life, of God and man abhord,

And home returne, where all should be renewd

With perfect peace, and bandes of fresh accord,

And she receiu’d againe to bed and bord,

As if no trespasse euer had bene donne:

But she it all refused at one word,

And by no meanes would to his will be wonne,

But chose emongst the iollySatyresstill to wonne.

He wooed her, till day spring[1118]he espyde;liiBut all in vaine: and then turnd to the heard,Who butted him with hornes on euery syde,And trode downe in the durt, where his hore beardWas fowly dight, and he of death afeard.Early before the heauens fairest lightOut of the ruddy East was fully reard,The heardes out of their foldes were loosed quight,And he emongst the rest crept forth in sory plight.So soone as he the Prison dore did pas,liiiHe ran as fast, as both his feete could beare,And neuer looked, who behind him was,Ne scarsely who before: like as a BeareThat creeping close, amongst[1119]the hiues to reareAn hony combe, the wakefull dogs espy,And him assayling, sore his carkasse teare,That hardly he with life away does fly,Ne stayes, till safe himselfe he see from ieopardy.Ne stayd he, till he came vnto the place,livWhere late his treasure he entombed had,Where when he found it not (forTrompartbaceHad it purloyned for his maister bad:)With extreme fury he became quite mad,And ran away, ran with himselfe away:That who so straungely had him seene bestad,With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay,From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say.High ouer hilles and ouer dales he fled,lvAs if the wind him on his winges had borne,Ne banck nor bush could stay him, when he spedHis nimble feet, as treading still on thorne:Griefe, and despight, and gealosie, and scorneDid all the way him follow hard behind,And he himselfe himselfe loath’d so forlorne,So shamefully forlorne of womankind;That as a Snake, still lurked in his wounded mind.

He wooed her, till day spring[1118]he espyde;lii

But all in vaine: and then turnd to the heard,

Who butted him with hornes on euery syde,

And trode downe in the durt, where his hore beard

Was fowly dight, and he of death afeard.

Early before the heauens fairest light

Out of the ruddy East was fully reard,

The heardes out of their foldes were loosed quight,

And he emongst the rest crept forth in sory plight.

So soone as he the Prison dore did pas,liiiHe ran as fast, as both his feete could beare,And neuer looked, who behind him was,Ne scarsely who before: like as a BeareThat creeping close, amongst[1119]the hiues to reareAn hony combe, the wakefull dogs espy,And him assayling, sore his carkasse teare,That hardly he with life away does fly,Ne stayes, till safe himselfe he see from ieopardy.

So soone as he the Prison dore did pas,liii

He ran as fast, as both his feete could beare,

And neuer looked, who behind him was,

Ne scarsely who before: like as a Beare

That creeping close, amongst[1119]the hiues to reare

An hony combe, the wakefull dogs espy,

And him assayling, sore his carkasse teare,

That hardly he with life away does fly,

Ne stayes, till safe himselfe he see from ieopardy.

Ne stayd he, till he came vnto the place,livWhere late his treasure he entombed had,Where when he found it not (forTrompartbaceHad it purloyned for his maister bad:)With extreme fury he became quite mad,And ran away, ran with himselfe away:That who so straungely had him seene bestad,With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay,From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say.

Ne stayd he, till he came vnto the place,liv

Where late his treasure he entombed had,

Where when he found it not (forTrompartbace

Had it purloyned for his maister bad:)

With extreme fury he became quite mad,

And ran away, ran with himselfe away:

That who so straungely had him seene bestad,

With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay,

From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say.

High ouer hilles and ouer dales he fled,lvAs if the wind him on his winges had borne,Ne banck nor bush could stay him, when he spedHis nimble feet, as treading still on thorne:Griefe, and despight, and gealosie, and scorneDid all the way him follow hard behind,And he himselfe himselfe loath’d so forlorne,So shamefully forlorne of womankind;That as a Snake, still lurked in his wounded mind.

High ouer hilles and ouer dales he fled,lv

As if the wind him on his winges had borne,

Ne banck nor bush could stay him, when he sped

His nimble feet, as treading still on thorne:

Griefe, and despight, and gealosie, and scorne

Did all the way him follow hard behind,

And he himselfe himselfe loath’d so forlorne,

So shamefully forlorne of womankind;

That as a Snake, still lurked in his wounded mind.

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