The warlike Elfe[689]much wondred at this tree,lviSo faire and great, that shadowed all the ground,And his broad braunches, laden with rich fee,Did stretch themselues without the vtmost boundOf this great gardin, compast with a mound,Which ouer-hanging, they themselues did steepe,In a blacke flood which flow’d about it round;That is the riuer ofCocytusdeepe,In which full many soules do endlesse waile and weepe.Which to behold, he clomb vp to the banke,lviiAnd looking downe, saw many damned wights,In those sad waues, which direfull deadly stanke,Plonged continually of cruell Sprights,That with their pitteous cryes, and yelling shrights,They made the further shore resounden wide:Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sights,One cursed creature[690]he by chaunce espide,That drenched lay full deepe, vnder the Garden side.Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin,lviiiYet gaped still, as coueting to drinkeOf the cold liquor, which he waded in,And stretching forth his hand, did often thinkeTo reach the fruit, which grew vpon the brincke:But both the fruit from hand, and floud from mouthDid flie abacke, and made him vainely swinke:The whiles he steru’d with hunger and with drouthHe daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,lixAskt who he was, and what he ment thereby:Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,LoTantalus, I here tormented lye:Of whom highIouewont whylome feasted bee,Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:But if that thou be such, as I thee see,Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.
The warlike Elfe[689]much wondred at this tree,lviSo faire and great, that shadowed all the ground,And his broad braunches, laden with rich fee,Did stretch themselues without the vtmost boundOf this great gardin, compast with a mound,Which ouer-hanging, they themselues did steepe,In a blacke flood which flow’d about it round;That is the riuer ofCocytusdeepe,In which full many soules do endlesse waile and weepe.Which to behold, he clomb vp to the banke,lviiAnd looking downe, saw many damned wights,In those sad waues, which direfull deadly stanke,Plonged continually of cruell Sprights,That with their pitteous cryes, and yelling shrights,They made the further shore resounden wide:Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sights,One cursed creature[690]he by chaunce espide,That drenched lay full deepe, vnder the Garden side.Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin,lviiiYet gaped still, as coueting to drinkeOf the cold liquor, which he waded in,And stretching forth his hand, did often thinkeTo reach the fruit, which grew vpon the brincke:But both the fruit from hand, and floud from mouthDid flie abacke, and made him vainely swinke:The whiles he steru’d with hunger and with drouthHe daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,lixAskt who he was, and what he ment thereby:Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,LoTantalus, I here tormented lye:Of whom highIouewont whylome feasted bee,Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:But if that thou be such, as I thee see,Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.
The warlike Elfe[689]much wondred at this tree,lviSo faire and great, that shadowed all the ground,And his broad braunches, laden with rich fee,Did stretch themselues without the vtmost boundOf this great gardin, compast with a mound,Which ouer-hanging, they themselues did steepe,In a blacke flood which flow’d about it round;That is the riuer ofCocytusdeepe,In which full many soules do endlesse waile and weepe.
The warlike Elfe[689]much wondred at this tree,lvi
So faire and great, that shadowed all the ground,
And his broad braunches, laden with rich fee,
Did stretch themselues without the vtmost bound
Of this great gardin, compast with a mound,
Which ouer-hanging, they themselues did steepe,
In a blacke flood which flow’d about it round;
That is the riuer ofCocytusdeepe,
In which full many soules do endlesse waile and weepe.
Which to behold, he clomb vp to the banke,lviiAnd looking downe, saw many damned wights,In those sad waues, which direfull deadly stanke,Plonged continually of cruell Sprights,That with their pitteous cryes, and yelling shrights,They made the further shore resounden wide:Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sights,One cursed creature[690]he by chaunce espide,That drenched lay full deepe, vnder the Garden side.
Which to behold, he clomb vp to the banke,lvii
And looking downe, saw many damned wights,
In those sad waues, which direfull deadly stanke,
Plonged continually of cruell Sprights,
That with their pitteous cryes, and yelling shrights,
They made the further shore resounden wide:
Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sights,
One cursed creature[690]he by chaunce espide,
That drenched lay full deepe, vnder the Garden side.
Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin,lviiiYet gaped still, as coueting to drinkeOf the cold liquor, which he waded in,And stretching forth his hand, did often thinkeTo reach the fruit, which grew vpon the brincke:But both the fruit from hand, and floud from mouthDid flie abacke, and made him vainely swinke:The whiles he steru’d with hunger and with drouthHe daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.
Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost chin,lviii
Yet gaped still, as coueting to drinke
Of the cold liquor, which he waded in,
And stretching forth his hand, did often thinke
To reach the fruit, which grew vpon the brincke:
But both the fruit from hand, and floud from mouth
Did flie abacke, and made him vainely swinke:
The whiles he steru’d with hunger and with drouth
He daily dyde, yet neuer throughly dyen couth.
The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,lixAskt who he was, and what he ment thereby:Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,LoTantalus, I here tormented lye:Of whom highIouewont whylome feasted bee,Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:But if that thou be such, as I thee see,Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.
The knight him seeing labour so in vaine,lix
Askt who he was, and what he ment thereby:
Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe;
Most cursed of all creatures vnder skye,
LoTantalus, I here tormented lye:
Of whom highIouewont whylome feasted bee,
Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:
But if that thou be such, as I thee see,
Of grace I pray thee, giue to eat and drinke to mee.
Nay, nay, thou greedieTantalus(quoth he)lxAbide the fortune of thy present fate,And vnto all that liue in high degree,Ensample be of mind intemperate[691],To teach them how to vse their present state.Then gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry,Accusing highestIoueand gods ingrate,And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly,As authour of vniustice, there to let him dye.He lookt a little further, and espydelxiAnother wretch, whose carkasse deepe was drentWithin the riuer, which the same did hyde:But both his hands most filthy feculent,Aboue the water were on high extent,And faynd to wash themselues incessantly;Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,But rather fowler seemed to the eye;So lost his labour vaine and idle industry.The knight him calling, asked who he was,lxiiWho lifting vp his head, him answerd thus:IPilateam the falsest Iudge, alas,And most vniust, that by vnrighteousAnd wicked doome, to Iewes despiteousDeliuered vp the Lord of life to die,And did acquite a murdrer felonous;The whiles my hands I washt in puritie,The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie.Infinite moe, tormented in like painelxiiiHe there beheld, too long here to be told:NeMammonwould there let him long remaine,For terrour of the tortures manifold,In which the damned soules he did behold,But roughly him bespake. Thou fearefull foole,Why takest not of that same fruit of gold,Ne sittest downe on that same siluer stoole,To rest thy wearie person, in the shadow coole.
Nay, nay, thou greedieTantalus(quoth he)lxAbide the fortune of thy present fate,And vnto all that liue in high degree,Ensample be of mind intemperate[691],To teach them how to vse their present state.Then gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry,Accusing highestIoueand gods ingrate,And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly,As authour of vniustice, there to let him dye.He lookt a little further, and espydelxiAnother wretch, whose carkasse deepe was drentWithin the riuer, which the same did hyde:But both his hands most filthy feculent,Aboue the water were on high extent,And faynd to wash themselues incessantly;Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,But rather fowler seemed to the eye;So lost his labour vaine and idle industry.The knight him calling, asked who he was,lxiiWho lifting vp his head, him answerd thus:IPilateam the falsest Iudge, alas,And most vniust, that by vnrighteousAnd wicked doome, to Iewes despiteousDeliuered vp the Lord of life to die,And did acquite a murdrer felonous;The whiles my hands I washt in puritie,The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie.Infinite moe, tormented in like painelxiiiHe there beheld, too long here to be told:NeMammonwould there let him long remaine,For terrour of the tortures manifold,In which the damned soules he did behold,But roughly him bespake. Thou fearefull foole,Why takest not of that same fruit of gold,Ne sittest downe on that same siluer stoole,To rest thy wearie person, in the shadow coole.
Nay, nay, thou greedieTantalus(quoth he)lxAbide the fortune of thy present fate,And vnto all that liue in high degree,Ensample be of mind intemperate[691],To teach them how to vse their present state.Then gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry,Accusing highestIoueand gods ingrate,And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly,As authour of vniustice, there to let him dye.
Nay, nay, thou greedieTantalus(quoth he)lx
Abide the fortune of thy present fate,
And vnto all that liue in high degree,
Ensample be of mind intemperate[691],
To teach them how to vse their present state.
Then gan the cursed wretch aloud to cry,
Accusing highestIoueand gods ingrate,
And eke blaspheming heauen bitterly,
As authour of vniustice, there to let him dye.
He lookt a little further, and espydelxiAnother wretch, whose carkasse deepe was drentWithin the riuer, which the same did hyde:But both his hands most filthy feculent,Aboue the water were on high extent,And faynd to wash themselues incessantly;Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,But rather fowler seemed to the eye;So lost his labour vaine and idle industry.
He lookt a little further, and espydelxi
Another wretch, whose carkasse deepe was drent
Within the riuer, which the same did hyde:
But both his hands most filthy feculent,
Aboue the water were on high extent,
And faynd to wash themselues incessantly;
Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,
But rather fowler seemed to the eye;
So lost his labour vaine and idle industry.
The knight him calling, asked who he was,lxiiWho lifting vp his head, him answerd thus:IPilateam the falsest Iudge, alas,And most vniust, that by vnrighteousAnd wicked doome, to Iewes despiteousDeliuered vp the Lord of life to die,And did acquite a murdrer felonous;The whiles my hands I washt in puritie,The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie.
The knight him calling, asked who he was,lxii
Who lifting vp his head, him answerd thus:
IPilateam the falsest Iudge, alas,
And most vniust, that by vnrighteous
And wicked doome, to Iewes despiteous
Deliuered vp the Lord of life to die,
And did acquite a murdrer felonous;
The whiles my hands I washt in puritie,
The whiles my soule was soyld with foule iniquitie.
Infinite moe, tormented in like painelxiiiHe there beheld, too long here to be told:NeMammonwould there let him long remaine,For terrour of the tortures manifold,In which the damned soules he did behold,But roughly him bespake. Thou fearefull foole,Why takest not of that same fruit of gold,Ne sittest downe on that same siluer stoole,To rest thy wearie person, in the shadow coole.
Infinite moe, tormented in like painelxiii
He there beheld, too long here to be told:
NeMammonwould there let him long remaine,
For terrour of the tortures manifold,
In which the damned soules he did behold,
But roughly him bespake. Thou fearefull foole,
Why takest not of that same fruit of gold,
Ne sittest downe on that same siluer stoole,
To rest thy wearie person, in the shadow coole.
All which he did, to doe him deadly falllxivIn frayle intemperance through sinfull bayt;To which if he inclined had at all,That dreadfull feend, which did behind him wayt,Would him haue rent in thousand peeces strayt:But he was warie wise in all his way,And well perceiued his deceiptfull sleight,Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray;So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray[692].And now he has so long remained there,lxvThat vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan,For want of food, and sleepe, which two vpbeare,Like mightie pillours, this fraile life of man,That none without the same enduren can.For now three dayes of men were full outwrought,Since he this hardie enterprize began:For thy greatMammonfairely he besought,Into the world to guide him backe, as he him brought.The God, though loth, yet was constraind t’obay,lxviFor lenger time, then that, no liuing wightBelow the earth, might suffred be to stay:So backe againe, him brought to liuing light.But all so soone as his enfeebled sprightGan sucke this vitall aire into his brest,As ouercome with too exceeding might,The life did flit away out of her nest,And all his senses were with deadly fit opprest.
All which he did, to doe him deadly falllxivIn frayle intemperance through sinfull bayt;To which if he inclined had at all,That dreadfull feend, which did behind him wayt,Would him haue rent in thousand peeces strayt:But he was warie wise in all his way,And well perceiued his deceiptfull sleight,Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray;So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray[692].And now he has so long remained there,lxvThat vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan,For want of food, and sleepe, which two vpbeare,Like mightie pillours, this fraile life of man,That none without the same enduren can.For now three dayes of men were full outwrought,Since he this hardie enterprize began:For thy greatMammonfairely he besought,Into the world to guide him backe, as he him brought.The God, though loth, yet was constraind t’obay,lxviFor lenger time, then that, no liuing wightBelow the earth, might suffred be to stay:So backe againe, him brought to liuing light.But all so soone as his enfeebled sprightGan sucke this vitall aire into his brest,As ouercome with too exceeding might,The life did flit away out of her nest,And all his senses were with deadly fit opprest.
All which he did, to doe him deadly falllxivIn frayle intemperance through sinfull bayt;To which if he inclined had at all,That dreadfull feend, which did behind him wayt,Would him haue rent in thousand peeces strayt:But he was warie wise in all his way,And well perceiued his deceiptfull sleight,Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray;So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray[692].
All which he did, to doe him deadly falllxiv
In frayle intemperance through sinfull bayt;
To which if he inclined had at all,
That dreadfull feend, which did behind him wayt,
Would him haue rent in thousand peeces strayt:
But he was warie wise in all his way,
And well perceiued his deceiptfull sleight,
Ne suffred lust his safetie to betray;
So goodly did beguile the Guyler of the pray[692].
And now he has so long remained there,lxvThat vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan,For want of food, and sleepe, which two vpbeare,Like mightie pillours, this fraile life of man,That none without the same enduren can.For now three dayes of men were full outwrought,Since he this hardie enterprize began:For thy greatMammonfairely he besought,Into the world to guide him backe, as he him brought.
And now he has so long remained there,lxv
That vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan,
For want of food, and sleepe, which two vpbeare,
Like mightie pillours, this fraile life of man,
That none without the same enduren can.
For now three dayes of men were full outwrought,
Since he this hardie enterprize began:
For thy greatMammonfairely he besought,
Into the world to guide him backe, as he him brought.
The God, though loth, yet was constraind t’obay,lxviFor lenger time, then that, no liuing wightBelow the earth, might suffred be to stay:So backe againe, him brought to liuing light.But all so soone as his enfeebled sprightGan sucke this vitall aire into his brest,As ouercome with too exceeding might,The life did flit away out of her nest,And all his senses were with deadly fit opprest.
The God, though loth, yet was constraind t’obay,lxvi
For lenger time, then that, no liuing wight
Below the earth, might suffred be to stay:
So backe againe, him brought to liuing light.
But all so soone as his enfeebled spright
Gan sucke this vitall aire into his brest,
As ouercome with too exceeding might,
The life did flit away out of her nest,
And all his senses were with deadly fit opprest.
FOOTNOTES:[651]Arg. 1Mamon1590,1596[652]i 9 fly.1590,1596[653]iii 9 spetting1609[654]iv 4 yet] it1596,1609[655]8 vpside downe1590[656]9 And] A1596[657]v 4Melcibers1590[658]vii 3 heapes] hils1590[659]x 1 besits] befits1609[660]xii 7 Strife;1596[661]9 as] in1590[662]xviii 2 thatom. 1596[663]xix 5 bloodguiltnesse1590: bloud guiltnesse1596[664]xxi 5 infernall] internall1590[665]xxiii 1 horror1590: horrour1596[666]xxiv 7 ought] nought1590[667]xxv 9 betwixt1609[668]xxxi 1 spake1609[669]3 his] it1609[670]xxxii 6Hammon1590:corr. F. E.[671]xxxiii 9 slaue1609[672]xxxvi 4 yron] dying1590[673]xxxvii 1 as] an1590[674]5 cam1590[675]xxxix 8 mesprise] mespise1596,1609[676]xl 5 ifom. 1596[677]that] the1590 &c.:corr. F. E.[678]would1596[679]7 But] And1590[680]golden] yron1590[681]xli 3 his] to1596,1609[682]5 terrestiall1609[683]xlviii 6 my deare my,1596[684]7 alone,1590 &c.[685]l 1Mammon1590,1596[686]lii 6 Which with1590,1596: Which-with1609[687]liii 1Gordin1596[688]liv 8 th’] the1590,1596:corr. F. E.[689]lvi 1 Elfe,1590,1596[690]lvii 8 creature,1590,1596[691]lx 4 intemperate] more temperate1590[692]lxiv 9 the pray] his pray1590
[651]Arg. 1Mamon1590,1596
[651]Arg. 1Mamon1590,1596
[652]i 9 fly.1590,1596
[652]i 9 fly.1590,1596
[653]iii 9 spetting1609
[653]iii 9 spetting1609
[654]iv 4 yet] it1596,1609
[654]iv 4 yet] it1596,1609
[655]8 vpside downe1590
[655]8 vpside downe1590
[656]9 And] A1596
[656]9 And] A1596
[657]v 4Melcibers1590
[657]v 4Melcibers1590
[658]vii 3 heapes] hils1590
[658]vii 3 heapes] hils1590
[659]x 1 besits] befits1609
[659]x 1 besits] befits1609
[660]xii 7 Strife;1596
[660]xii 7 Strife;1596
[661]9 as] in1590
[661]9 as] in1590
[662]xviii 2 thatom. 1596
[662]xviii 2 thatom. 1596
[663]xix 5 bloodguiltnesse1590: bloud guiltnesse1596
[663]xix 5 bloodguiltnesse1590: bloud guiltnesse1596
[664]xxi 5 infernall] internall1590
[664]xxi 5 infernall] internall1590
[665]xxiii 1 horror1590: horrour1596
[665]xxiii 1 horror1590: horrour1596
[666]xxiv 7 ought] nought1590
[666]xxiv 7 ought] nought1590
[667]xxv 9 betwixt1609
[667]xxv 9 betwixt1609
[668]xxxi 1 spake1609
[668]xxxi 1 spake1609
[669]3 his] it1609
[669]3 his] it1609
[670]xxxii 6Hammon1590:corr. F. E.
[670]xxxii 6Hammon1590:corr. F. E.
[671]xxxiii 9 slaue1609
[671]xxxiii 9 slaue1609
[672]xxxvi 4 yron] dying1590
[672]xxxvi 4 yron] dying1590
[673]xxxvii 1 as] an1590
[673]xxxvii 1 as] an1590
[674]5 cam1590
[674]5 cam1590
[675]xxxix 8 mesprise] mespise1596,1609
[675]xxxix 8 mesprise] mespise1596,1609
[676]xl 5 ifom. 1596
[676]xl 5 ifom. 1596
[677]that] the1590 &c.:corr. F. E.
[677]that] the1590 &c.:corr. F. E.
[678]would1596
[678]would1596
[679]7 But] And1590
[679]7 But] And1590
[680]golden] yron1590
[680]golden] yron1590
[681]xli 3 his] to1596,1609
[681]xli 3 his] to1596,1609
[682]5 terrestiall1609
[682]5 terrestiall1609
[683]xlviii 6 my deare my,1596
[683]xlviii 6 my deare my,1596
[684]7 alone,1590 &c.
[684]7 alone,1590 &c.
[685]l 1Mammon1590,1596
[685]l 1Mammon1590,1596
[686]lii 6 Which with1590,1596: Which-with1609
[686]lii 6 Which with1590,1596: Which-with1609
[687]liii 1Gordin1596
[687]liii 1Gordin1596
[688]liv 8 th’] the1590,1596:corr. F. E.
[688]liv 8 th’] the1590,1596:corr. F. E.
[689]lvi 1 Elfe,1590,1596
[689]lvi 1 Elfe,1590,1596
[690]lvii 8 creature,1590,1596
[690]lvii 8 creature,1590,1596
[691]lx 4 intemperate] more temperate1590
[691]lx 4 intemperate] more temperate1590
[692]lxiv 9 the pray] his pray1590
[692]lxiv 9 the pray] his pray1590