The Second Booke of the Faerie Queene. Contayning The Legend of Sir Guyon. OR Of Temperaunce. Right well I wote most mighty SoueraineSoveraine, That all this famous antique history, Of some th'aboundance of an ydle braine Will iudgedjudged be, and painted forgery, Rather thenthan matter of iustjust memory, Sith none, that breatheth liuingliving aire, does know, Where is that happy land of Faery, Which I so much doe vaunt, yet no where show, But vouch antiquities, which no body can know. But let that man with better sence aduizeadvize, That of the world least part to vsus is red: And daily how through hardy enterprize, Many great Regions are discouereddiscovered, 186 Cant. The Second Booke of I.Cant. I. Which to late age were neuernever mentioned.mentioned, Who euerever heard of th'Indian PeruPeru? Or who in venturous vessell measured The AmazonsAmarons huge riuerriver now found trewtrew?true? Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euerever vew?vew. view? Yet all these were when no man did them know, Yet hauehave from wisest ages hidden beenebeene: And later times thinges more vnknowneunknowne shall show:ſ⁀howſ⁀how.ſ⁀howe. Why then should witlesse man so much misweene That nothing is but that which he hath seene? What if within the Moones fayre shining ſpheare,spheare, ſpheareſpheare? What if in eueryevery other starre vnseeneunseene Of other worldes he happily should heare?heare He wõderwonder would much more, yet such to some appeare.appeare Of faery lond yet if he more inquyre By certein signes here sett in sondrie place He may it fynd; ne let him then admyre But yield his sence to bee too blunt and bace That n'oteno'te no'tewithout an hound fine footing trace.trace And thouthenthou, O fayrest Princesse vnderunder skysky, In this fayre mirrhour maist behold thy face,face And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,Faery And in this antique ymage thy great auncestry. The which O pardon me thus to enfold In couertcovert vele and wrap in shadowes light,light That feeble eyes your glory may behold,behold Which ellesells elſe could not endure those beames bright,bright But would bee dazled with exceeding light;lightlight. O pardon and vouchsafe with patient eare The brauebrave aduenturesadventures of this faery knight The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare,heare (peare. In whom great rule of Temp'raunce goodly doth ap- peare. appeare. 232 A mad The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. Cant. IIII. Guyon does Furor bind in chaines, And stops occasion: DeliuersDelivers PhaonPhedon, and therefore By strife is rayld vpponuppon. 1 In brauebrave poursuitt of honorable deed, There is I know not what(what) great difference Betweene the vulgar and the noble seed, Which vntounto things of valorous pretencevalorours pre tencepre ten cevalorours pretenc evalorours pretence Seemes to be borne by natiuenative influence; As feates of armes, and louelove to entertaine, But chiefly skill to ride seemes a science Proper to gentle blood; some others faine To menage steeds, as did this vaunter; but in vaine. 2 But he the rightfull owner of that steede, Who well could menage and subdew his pride, The whiles on foot was forced for to yeed, With that blacke Palmer, his most trusty guide; Who suffred not his wandring feete to slide. But when strong passion or weake fleshlinesse, Would from the right way seeke to draw him wide, He would through temperaunce and stedfastnesse, Teach him the weak to strẽgthenstrengthen, &and the strõgstrong suppresse. 3 It fortuned forth faring on his way, He saw from far, or seemed for to see Some troublous vproreuprore or contentious fray, Whereto he drew in hast it to agree. 233 And the Faery Queene. Cant.IIII. A mad man, or that feigned mad to bee, Drew by the heare along vponupon the grownd, A handsom stripling with great crueltee, Whom sore he bett, and gor'd with many a wownd, That cheekes with teares, &and sydes with blood did all a- (bownd. bownd. abownd. 4 And him behynd, a wicked Hag did stalke, In ragged robes, and filthy disaray, Her other leg was lame, that she no'ten'ote walke. But on a staffe her feeble steps did stay; Her lockes, that loathly were and hoarie gray, Grew all afore, and loosly hong vnroldunrold, But all behinde was bald, and worne away, That none thereof could euerever taken hold, And eke her face ill fauourdfavourd, full of wrinckles old. 5 And euerever as she went, her toung did walke In fowle reproch, and termes of vile despight, ProuokingProvoking him by her outrageous talke, To heape more vengeance on that wretched wight; Somtimes she raught him stones, wherwith to smite, Sometimes her staffe, though it her one leg were, Withouten which she could not goe vprightupright; Ne any euillevill meanes she did forbeare, That might him mouemove to wrath, and indignation reare. 6 The noble Guyon mou'd mov'd with great remorse, Approching, first the Hag did thrust away, And after adding more impetuous forse, His mighty hands did on the madman lay, And pluckt him backe; who all on fire streight way, Against him turning all his fell intent, With beastly brutish rage gan him assay, And smott, and bitt, and kickt, and scratcht, and rent, And did he wist not what in his auengementavengement. 234 As The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 7 And sure he was a man of mickle might, Had he had gouernauncegovernaunce, it well to guyde: But when the frantick fitt inflamd his spright, His force was vaine, and strooke more often wyde, ThenThan at the aymed marke, which he had eyde: And oft himselfe he chaunst to hurt vnwaresunwares, Whylest reasõreason blent through passiõpassion, nought descryde But as a blindfold Bull at randon fares, (nought cares. And where he hits, nought knowes, &and whom he hurts, nought cares. 8 His rude assault and rugged handeling Straunge seemed to the knight, that aye with foe In fayre defence and goodly menaging Of armes was wont to fight, yet nathemoe Was he abashed now not fighting so, But more enfierced through his currish play, Him sternly grypt, and hailing to and fro, To ouerthrowoverthrow him strongly did assay, But ouerthrewoverthrew him selfe vnwaresunwares, and lower lay. 9 And being downe the villein sore did beate, And bruze with clownish fistes his manly face: And eke the Hag with many a bitter threat. Still cald vponupon to kill him in the place. With whose reproch and odious menacemenaee menace The knight emboyling in his haughtie hart, Knitt all his forces, and gan soone vnbraceunbrace His grasping hold: so lightly did vpstartupstart, And drew his deadly weapon, to maintaine his part. 10 Which when the Palmer saw, he loudly cryde, Not so O Guyon, neuernever thinke that so That Monster can be maistred or destroyd: He is not,no, ah he is not such a foe, 235 In the Faery Queene. Cant.IIII. As steele can wound , or strength can ouerthroeoverthroe. That same is Furor, cursed cruel wight, That vntounto knighthood workes much shame &and woe; And that same Hag, his aged mother, hight Occasion, the roote of all wrath and deſpight.despight. deſpight, 11 With her, who so will raging Furor tame, Must first begin, and well her amenage: First her restraine from her reprochfull blame, And euillevill meanes, with which she doth enrage Her frantick sonne, and kindles his corage, Then when she is withdrawne, or strong withstood, It's eath his ydle fury to aswage, And calme the tempest of his passion wood; The bankes are ouerflowneoverflowne, when stopped is the flood. 12 Therewith Sir Guyon left his first emprise, And turning to that woman, fast her hent By the hoare lockes, that hong before her eyes, And to the ground her threw: yet n'ould she stent Her bitter rayling and foule reuilementrevilement, But still prouoktprovokt her sonne to wreake her wrong; But nathelesse he did her still torment, And catching hold of her vngratiousungratious tongetonguetong, Thereon an yron lock, did fasten firme and strong. 13 Then whenas vseuse of speach was from her reft, With her two crooked handes she signes did make, And beckned him, the last help she had left: But he that last left helpe away did take, And both her handes fast bound vntounto a stake, That she note stirre. Then gan her sonne to flye Full fast away, and did her quite forsake; But Guyon after him in hast did hye, And soone him ouertookeovertooke in sad perplexitye. 236 The The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 14 In his strong armes he stifly him embraste, Who him gainstriuinggainstriving, nought at all preuaildprevaild: For all his power was vtterlyutterly defaste, And furious fitts at earst quite weren quaild: Oft he re'nforst, and oft his forces fayld, Yet yield he would not, nor his rancor slack. Then him to ground he cast, and rudely hayld, And both his hands fast bound behind his backe, And both his feet in fetters to an yron rack. 15 With hundred yron chaines he did him bind , And hundred knots that did him sore constraine: Yet his great yron teeth he still did grind, And grimly gnash, threatning reuengerevenge in vaine: His burning eyen, whom bloody strakes did staine, Stared full wide, and threw forth sparkes of fyre, And more for ranck despight , thenthan for great paine, Shakt his long locks, colourd like copper-wyre, And bitt his tawny beard to shew his raging yre. 16 Thus whenas Guyon Furor had captiudcaptivd, Turning about he saw that wretched Squyre, Whom that mad man of life nigh late depriuddeprivd, Lying on ground, all soild with blood and myre: Whom when as he perceiuedperceived to respyre, He gan to comfort, and his woundes to dresse. Being at last recured, he gan inquyre, What hard mishap him brought to such distresse, And made that caytiuescaytives thrall, the thrall of wretched-nesse. (nesse. wretchednesse. 17 With hart then throbbing, and with watry eyes, Fayre Sir (qd.he) what man can shun the hap, That hidden lyes vnwaresunwares him to ſurpriſe?surprise? ſurprysſe Misfortune waites aduantageadvantage to entrap 237 At the Faerie Queene. Cant.IIII. The man most wary in her whelming lap, So me weake wretch, of many weakest wretchone, VnweetingUnweeting, and vnwareunware of such mishap, She brought to mischiefe through her guilful trechoccaſion, Where this same wicked villein did me wãdringwandring ketchlight vpon. 18 It was a faithlesse Squire, that was the sourse Of all my sorrow, and of these sad teares, With whom from tender dug of commune nourse, Attonce I was vpbroughtupbrought, and eft when yeares More rype vsus reason lent to chose our Peares, Our seluesselves in league of vowed louelove wee knitt: In which we long time without gealous feares, Or faultie thoughts contynewd , as was fitt; And for my part I vow, dissembled not a whitt. 19 It was my fortune, commune to that age, To louelove a Lady fayre of great degree, The which was borne of noble parentage, And set in highest seat of dignitee, Yet seemd no lesse to louelove, thenthan louedloved to bee: Long I her seru'dserv'd, and found her faithfull still, Ne euerever thing could cause vsus disagree: LoueLove that two harts makes one, makes eke one will: Each strouestrove to please, and others pleasure to fulfill. 20 My friend, hight Philemon, I did partake, Of all my louelove and all my priuitieprivitie; Who greatly ioyousjoyous seemed for my sake, And gratious to that Lady, as to mee, Ne euerever wight, that more so welcome bee, As he to her, withouten blott or blame, Ne euerever thing, that she could thinke or see, But vntounto him she would impart the same: O wretched man, that would abuse so gentle Dame. 238 Who The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 21 At last such grace I found, and meanes I wrought, That I that Lady to my spouse had wonne; Accord of friendes, consent of Parents sought, Affyaunce made, my happinesse begonne, There wanted nought but few rites to be donne, Which mariage make; that day too farre did seeme: Most ioyousjoyous man, on whom the shining Sunne, Did shew his face, my selfe I did esteeme, And that my falser friend did no lesse ioyousjoyous deeme. 22 But ereear that wished day his beame disclosd, He either enuyingenvying my toward good, Or of him selfe to treason ill disposd One day vntounto me came in friendly mood, And told for secret how he vnderstoodunderstood That Lady whom I had to me assynd, Had both distaind her honorable blood, And eke the faith, which she to me did bynd; And therfore wisht me stay, till I more truth should fynd. 23 The gnawing anguish and sharp gelosy, Which his sad speach infixed in my brest, Ranckled so sore, and festred inwardly, That my engreeuedengreeved mind could find no rest, Till that the truth thereof I did out wrest, And him besought by that same sacred band Betwixt vsus both, to counsell me the best. He then with solemne oath and plighted hand Assurd, ere long the truth to let me vnderstandunderstand. 24 Ere long with like againe he boorded mee, Saying, he now had boulted all the floure, And that it was a groome of base degree, Which of my louelove was partenerpartner Paramoure: Q 239 Eft the Faery Queene. Cant.IIII. Who vsedused in a darkesome inner bowre Her oft to meete: which better to approueapprove, He promised to bring me at that howre, When I should see, that would me nearer mouemove, And driuedrive me to withdraw my blind abused louelove. 25 This gracelesse man for furtherance of his guile, Did court the handmayd of my Lady deare, Who glad t'embosome his affection vile, Did all she might, more pleasing to appeare. One day to worke her to his will more neare, He woo'd her thus: Pryene (so she hight) What great despight doth fortune to thee beare, Thus lowly to abase thy beautie bright, That it should not deface all others lesser light? 26 But if she had her least helpe to thee lent, T'adorne thy forme according thy desart, Their blazing pride thou wouldest soone hauehave blent, And staynd their prayses with thy least good part; Ne should faire Claribell with all her art, Though she thy Lady be, approch thee neare: For proofe thereof, this eueningevening, as thou art, Aray thy selfe in her most gorgeous geare, That I may more delight in thy embracement deare. 27 The MaydẽMayden proud through praise, &and mad through louelove Him hearkned to, and soone her selfe arayd, The whiles to me the treachour did remoueremove His craftie engin, and as he had sayd, Me leading, in a secret corner layd, The sad spectatour of my Tragedie; Where left, he went, and his owne false part playd, Disguised like that groome of base degree, Whom he had feignd th'abuser of my louelove to bee. 240 That The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 28 Eftsoones he came vntounto th'appointed place, And with him brought Pryene, rich arayd, In Claribellaes clothes. Her proper face I not descerned in that darkesome shade, But weend it was my louelove, with whom he playd. Ah God, what horrour and tormenting griefe My hart, my handes, mine eyes, and all assayd: Me liefer were ten thousand deathes priefe, (priefe ThenThan wounde of gealous worme, and shame of such repriefe.re- priefe. 29 I home retourning, fraught with fowle despight, And chawing vengeaunce all the way I went, Soone as my loathed louelove appeard in sight, With wrathfull hand I slew her innocent; That after soone I dearely did lament: For when the cause of that outrageous deede Demaunded, I made plaine and euidentevident, Her faultie Handmayd, which that bale did breede, Confest, how Philemon her wrought to chaunge her (weede. weede. 30 Which when I heard, with horrible affright And hellish fury all enragd, I sought VponUpon my selfe that vengeable despight To punish: yet it better first I thought, To wreake my wrath on him, that first it wrought. To Philemon, false faytour Philemon I cast to pay, that I so dearely bought; Of deadly drugs I gauegave him drinke anon, And washt away his guilt with guilty potion. 31 Thus heaping crime on crime, and griefe on griefe, To losse of louelove adioyningadjoyning losse of frend, I meant to purge both with a third mischiefe, And in my woes beginner it to end: Q 2 241 >Wrath, the Faerie Queene. Cant.IIII. That was Pryene; she did first offend, She last should smart: with which cruell intent, When I at her my murdrous blade did bend, She fled away with ghastly dreriment, And I poursewing my fell purpose, after went. 32 Feare gauegave her winges, and rage enforst my flight; Through woods and plaines so long I did her chace, Till this mad man, whom your victorious might Hath now fast bound, me met in middle space, As I her, so he me poursewd apace, And shortly ouertookeovertooke: I breathing yre, Sore chauffed at my stay in such a cace, And with my heat kindled his cruell fyre; Which kindled once, his mother did more rage inspyre. 33 Betwixt them both, they hauehave me doen to dye, Through wounds, &and strokes, &and stubborne handeling, That death were better, thenthan such agony, As griefe and fury vntounto me did bring; Of which in me yet stickes the mortall sting, That during life will neuernever be appeasd. When he thus ended had his sorrowing, Said Guyon, Squyre, sore hauehave ye beene diseasd; But all your hurts may soone through tẽperancetemperance be easd. 34 Then gan the Palmer thus, most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend; In their beginning they are weake and wan, But soone through suff'rance growe to fearefull end; Whiles they are weake betimes with them contend: For when they once to perfect strength do grow, Strong warres they make, and cruell battry bend Gainst fort of Reason, it to ouerthrowoverthrow: (low. Wrath, gelosy, griefe, louelove this Squyre hauehave laide thus low. 242 Burnt The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 35 Wrath, gealosie, griefe, louelove do thus expell: Wrath is a fire, and gealosie a weede, Griefe is a flood, and louelove a monster fell; The fire of sparkes, the weede of little seede, The flood of drops, the Monster filth did breede: But sparks, seed, drops, and filth do thus delay; The sparks soone quench, the springing seed outweed The drops dry vpup, and filth wipe cleane away: So shall wrath, gealosy, griefe, louelove die and decay. 36 VnluckyUnlucky Squire (saide Guyon) sith thou hast Falne intovnto mischiefe through intemperaunce, Henceforth take heede of that thou now hast past, And guyde thy waies with warie gouernauncegovernaunce, Least worse betide thee by some later chaunce. But read how art thou nam'd, and of what kin. PhaonPhedon I hight (quoth he) and do aduaunceadvaunce Mine auncestry from famous Coradin, Who first to rayse our house to honour did begin. 37 Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde A varlet ronning towardes hastily, Whose flying feet so fast their way applyde, That round about a cloud of dust did fly, Which mingled all with sweate, did dim his eye. He soone approched, panting, breathlesse, whot, And all so soyld, that none could him descry; His countenaunce was bold, and bashed not For Guyons lookes, but scornefull eyglaunce at him shot. 38 Behind his backe he bore a brasen shield, On which was drawen faire, in colours fit, A flaming fire in midst of bloody field, And round about the wreath this word was writ, Q 3 243 So the Faery Queene. Burnt I doe burne. Right well beseemed it, To be the shield of some redoubted knight; And in his hand two dartes exceeding flit, And deadly sharp he held, whose heads were dight In poyson and in blood, of malice and despight. 39 When he in presence came, to Guyon first He boldly spake, Sir knight, if knight thou bee, Abandon this forestalled place at erst, For feare of further harme, I counsell thee, Or bide the chaunce at thine owne ieopardeejeopardee. The knight at his great boldnesse wondered, And though he scornd his ydle vanitee, Yet mildly him to purpose answered; For not to grow of nought he it coniecturedconjectured. 40 Varlet, this place most dew to me I deeme, Yielded by him, that held it forcibly. (seeme But whence shold come that harme, which thou dost seeme To threat to him, that mindes his chaunce t'abye? Perdy (sayd he) here comes, and is hard by A knight of wondrous powre, and great assay, That neuernever yet encountred enemy, But did him deadly daunt, or fowle dismay; Ne thou for better hope, if thou his presence stay. 41 How hight he then (sayd Guyon) and from whence? PyrochlesPyrrhochlesPyrrhochles is his name, renowmed farre For his bold feates and hardy confidence, Full oft approudapprovd in many a cruell warre, The brother of Cymochles, both which arre The sonnes of old Acrates and Despight, Acrates sonne of Phlegeton and IarreJarre ; But Phlegeton is sonne of Herebus and Night; But Herebus sonne of Aeternitie is hight. 244 With The Second Booke of Cant.IIII. 42 So from immortall race he does proceede, That mortall hands may not withstand his might, Drad for his derring doe, and bloody deed; For all in blood andaud spoile is his delight. His am I Atin, his in wrong and right, That matter make for him to worke vponupon, And stirre him vpup to strife and cruell fight. Fly therefore, fly this fearfull stead anon, Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion. 43 His be that care, whom most it doth concerne. (Sayd he) but whether with such hasty flight Art thou now bownd? for well mote I discerne Great cause, that carries thee so swifte and light. My Lord (qd. he) me sent, and streight behight To seeke Occasion,Occasion; where so she bee: For he is all disposd to bloody fight, And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltee; Hard is his hap, that first fals in his ieopardeejeopardee. 44 Mad man (said then the Palmer) that does seeke Occasion to wrath, and cause of strife; Shee comes vnsoughtunsought, and shonned followes eke. Happy, who can abstaine, when Rancor rife Kindles ReuengeRevenge, and threats his rusty knife; Woe neuernever wants, where eueryevery cause is caught, And rash Occasion makes vnquietunquiet life. Then loe, wher bound she sits, whõwhom thou hast sought, Said Guyon, let that message to thy Lord be brought. 45 That when the varlett heard and saw, streight way He wexed wondrous wroth, and said, Vile knight, That knights &and knighthood doest with shame vp-brayupbray, And shewst th'ensãpleth'ensample of thy childishe might, Q 4 245 After the Faery Queene: Cant.V. With silly weake old woman that didthus to fight. Great glory and gay spoile sure hast thou gott, And stoutly prou'dprov'd thy puissaunce here in sight; That shall Pyrrhochles well requite, I wott, And with thy blood abolish so reprochfull blott. 46 With that one of his thrillant darts he threw, Headed with yre and vengeable despight; The quiueringquivering steele his aymed end wel knew, And to his brest it selfe intended right: But he was wary, and ere it empight In the meant marke, aduaunstadvaunst his shield atweene, On which it seizing, no way enter might, But backe rebownding, left the forckhead keene; Estsoones he fled away, and might no where be seene.