THE SECOND
BOOKE OF THE
FAERIE QVEENE.
Contayning, THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON.
OR
OF TEMPERAUNCE.
[1]
R Ight well I wote most mighty SoueraineSoveraine,
That all this famous antique history,
Of some th’aboundance of an idle braine
Will iudgedjudged be, and painted forgery,
Rather 1596.bk2.II.proem.1.5. then: thanthenthan matter of iustjust memory,
Sith none, that breatheth liuingliving 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.
[2]
But let that man with better sence aduizeadvize,
That of the world least part to vsus is red:
And dayly how through hardy enterprize,
Many great Regions are discouereddiscovered,
Which to late age were neuernever mentioned.
Who euerever heard of th’Indian Peru?
Or who in venturous vessell measured
The Amazons huge riuerriver now found trew?
Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euerever vew?
[3]
Yet all these were, when no man did them know;
Yet hauehave from wisest ages hidden beene:
And later times things more vnknowneunknowne shall show.
Why 1596.bk2.II.proem.3.4. then: thanthenthan 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 eueryevery other starre vnseeneunseene
Of other worldes he happily should heare?
He wõder would much more: yet such to some appeare.
[4]
Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,
By certaine signes here set in sundry place
He may it find; ne let him 1596.bk2.II.proem.4.3. then: thanthenthan admire,
But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,
That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.
And thou, O fairest Princesse vnderunder sky,
In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,
And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,
And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.
[5]
The which O pardon me thus to enfold
In couertcovert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,
That feeble eyes your glory may behold,
Which else could not endure those beames bright,
But would be dazled with exceeding light.
O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare
The brauebrave aduenturesadventures of this Faery knight
The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare,
In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.
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