THE SECONDBOOKE OF THEFAERIE QVEENE.Contayning,THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON,OROf Temperaunce.
THE SECONDBOOKE OF THEFAERIE QVEENE.Contayning,THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON,OROf Temperaunce.
Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,iThat all this famous antique history,Of some th’aboundance of an idle braineWill iudged be, and painted forgery,Rather then matter of iust memory,Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,Where is that happy land of Faery,Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.But let that man with better sence aduize,iiThat of the world least part to vs is red:And dayly how through hardy enterprize,Many great Regions are discouered,Which to late age were neuer mentioned.Who euer heard of th’IndianPeru?Or who in venturous vessell measuredTheAmazons[432]huge riuer now found trew?Or fruitfullestVirginiawho did euer vew?
Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,iThat all this famous antique history,Of some th’aboundance of an idle braineWill iudged be, and painted forgery,Rather then matter of iust memory,Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,Where is that happy land of Faery,Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.But let that man with better sence aduize,iiThat of the world least part to vs is red:And dayly how through hardy enterprize,Many great Regions are discouered,Which to late age were neuer mentioned.Who euer heard of th’IndianPeru?Or who in venturous vessell measuredTheAmazons[432]huge riuer now found trew?Or fruitfullestVirginiawho did euer vew?
Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,iThat all this famous antique history,Of some th’aboundance of an idle braineWill iudged be, and painted forgery,Rather then matter of iust memory,Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,Where is that happy land of Faery,Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.
Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine,i
That all this famous antique history,
Of some th’aboundance of an idle braine
Will iudged be, and painted forgery,
Rather then matter of iust memory,
Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,
Where is that happy land of Faery,
Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,
But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.
But let that man with better sence aduize,iiThat of the world least part to vs is red:And dayly how through hardy enterprize,Many great Regions are discouered,Which to late age were neuer mentioned.Who euer heard of th’IndianPeru?Or who in venturous vessell measuredTheAmazons[432]huge riuer now found trew?Or fruitfullestVirginiawho did euer vew?
But let that man with better sence aduize,ii
That of the world least part to vs is red:
And dayly how through hardy enterprize,
Many great Regions are discouered,
Which to late age were neuer mentioned.
Who euer heard of th’IndianPeru?
Or who in venturous vessell measured
TheAmazons[432]huge riuer now found trew?
Or fruitfullestVirginiawho did euer vew?
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;iiiYet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:And later times things more vnknowne shall show.Why then should witlesse man so much misweeneThat nothing is, but that which he hath seene?What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?What if in euery other starre vnseeneOf other worldes he happily should heare?He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,ivBy certaine signes here set in sundry placeHe may it find; ne let him then admire,But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky,In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.The which O pardon me thus to enfoldvIn couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,That feeble eyes your glory may behold,Which else[434]could not endure those beames[435]bright,But would be dazled with exceeding light.O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eareThe braue aduentures of this Faery knightThe good SirGuyongratiously to heare,In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;iiiYet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:And later times things more vnknowne shall show.Why then should witlesse man so much misweeneThat nothing is, but that which he hath seene?What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?What if in euery other starre vnseeneOf other worldes he happily should heare?He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,ivBy certaine signes here set in sundry placeHe may it find; ne let him then admire,But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky,In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.The which O pardon me thus to enfoldvIn couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,That feeble eyes your glory may behold,Which else[434]could not endure those beames[435]bright,But would be dazled with exceeding light.O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eareThe braue aduentures of this Faery knightThe good SirGuyongratiously to heare,In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;iiiYet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:And later times things more vnknowne shall show.Why then should witlesse man so much misweeneThat nothing is, but that which he hath seene?What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?What if in euery other starre vnseeneOf other worldes he happily should heare?He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;iii
Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:
And later times things more vnknowne shall show.
Why then should witlesse man so much misweene
That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?
What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?
What if in euery other starre vnseene
Of other worldes he happily should heare?
He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.
Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,ivBy certaine signes here set in sundry placeHe may it find; ne let him then admire,But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky,In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.
Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,iv
By certaine signes here set in sundry place
He may it find; ne let him then admire,
But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,
That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.
And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky,
In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,
And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,
And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.
The which O pardon me thus to enfoldvIn couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,That feeble eyes your glory may behold,Which else[434]could not endure those beames[435]bright,But would be dazled with exceeding light.O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eareThe braue aduentures of this Faery knightThe good SirGuyongratiously to heare,In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.
The which O pardon me thus to enfoldv
In couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,
That feeble eyes your glory may behold,
Which else[434]could not endure those beames[435]bright,
But would be dazled with exceeding light.
O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare
The braue aduentures of this Faery knight
The good SirGuyongratiously to heare,
In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.
FOOTNOTES:[432]Proem, ii 8Amarons1590:AmazonF. E.[433]iv 6 thou] then1590[434]v 4 else] elles1590[435]beamez1609
[432]Proem, ii 8Amarons1590:AmazonF. E.
[432]Proem, ii 8Amarons1590:AmazonF. E.
[433]iv 6 thou] then1590
[433]iv 6 thou] then1590
[434]v 4 else] elles1590
[434]v 4 else] elles1590
[435]beamez1609
[435]beamez1609