3 A3 which Canto I. The Patrone of true Holinesse, Foule Errour doth defeate: Hypocrisie him to entrappe, Doth to his home entreate. [1] A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine, Ycladd in mightie armes and siluer silver shielde, Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine, The cruell markes of many’a bloody fielde; Yet armes till that time did he neuer never wield: His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield: Full iolly jolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt, As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt. [2] And But on his brest a bloodie Crosse he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead as liuing living euer ever him ador’d: Vpon Upon his shield the like was also scor’d, For soueraine soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had: Right faithfull true he was in deede and word, But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but euer ever was ydrad. [3] Vpon Upon a great aduenture adventure he was bond, That greatest Gloriana to him gaue gave , That greatest glorîous Glorious glorious Queene of Faery lond, To winne him worshippe, and her grace to haue have , 4 The first Booke of Cant. I. Enforst Which of all earthly thinges he most did craue crave ; And euer ever as he rode his hart did earne, To proue prove his puissance in battell braue brave Vpon Upon his foe, and his new force to learne; Vpon Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne. [4] A louely lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, Vpon Upon a lowly Asse more white 1590.bk1.I.i.4.2. then: than then than snow, Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide Vnder Under a vele, that wimpled was full low, And ouer over all a blacke stole shee did throw, As one that inly mournd: so was she sad, And heauie heavie sate vpon upon her palfrey slow: Seemed in heart some hidden care she had; And by her in a line a milkewhite lambe she lad. [5] So pure and an innocent, as that same lambe, She was in life and euery every vertuous lore, And by descent from Royall lynage came Of ancient Kinges and Queenes, that had of yore Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore, And all the world in their subiection subjection held, Till that infernall feend with foule vprore uprore Forwasted all their land, and them expeld: Whom to auenge avenge , she had this Knight from far cõpeld compeld . [6] Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, That lasie seemd in being euer ever last, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, The day with cloudes was suddeine ouercast overcast , And angry Ioue Jove an hideous storme of raine Did poure into his Lemans lap so fast, That euerie everie wight to shrowd it did constrain, And this faire couple eke to shroud thẽselues themselues thẽselves themselves were fain. Cant. I. the Faery Queene. 5 A4 But [7] Enforst to seeke some couert covert nigh at hand, A shadie groue grove not farr away they spide, That promist ayde the tempest to withstand: Whose loftie trees yclad with sommers pride, Did spred so broad, that heauens heavens light did hide, Not perceable with power of any starr: And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farr: Faire harbour that them seemes, so in they entred ar. [8] And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led, Ioying Joying to heare the birdes sweete harmony, Which therein shrouded from the tempest dred, Seemd in their song to scorne the cruell sky. Much can they praise the trees so straight and hy, The sayling Pine, the Cedar proud and tall, The vine-propp Elme, the Poplar neuer never dry, The builder Oake, sole king of forrests all, The Aspine good for staues staves , the Cypresse funerall. [9] The Laurell, meed of mightie Conquerours And Poets sage, the Firre that weepeth still, The Willow worne of forlorne Paramours, The Eugh obedient to the benders will, The Birch for shaftes, the Sallow for the mill, The Mirrhe sweete bleeding in the bitter wound, The warlike Beech, the Ash for nothing ill, The fruitfull Oliue Olive , and the Platane round, The caruer carver Holme, the Maple seeldom inward sound. [10] Led with delight, they thus beguile the way, Vntill Untill the blustring storme is ouerblowne overblowne ; When weening to returne, whence they did stray, They The cannot finde that path, which first was showne, 6 The first Booke of Cant. I. But But wander 1590.bk1.I.i.10.5. too: to too to and fro in waies vnknowne unknowne , Furthest from end then, when they neerest weene, That makes thẽ them doubt, their wits be not their owne: So many pathes, so many turnings seene, That which of them to take, in diuerse diverse doubt they been. [11] At last resoluing resolving forward still to fare, Till that some end they finde or in or out, That path they take, that beaten seemd most bare, And like to lead the labyrinth about; Which when by tract they hunted had throughout, At length it brought them to a hollowe caue cave Amid the thickest woods. The Champion stout Eftsoones dismounted from his courser braue brave , And to the Dwarfe a while his needlesse spere he gaue gave . [12] Be well aware, quoth then that Ladie milde, Least suddaine mischiefe ye too rash prouoke provoke : The danger hid, the place vnknowne unknowne and wilde, Breedes dreadfull doubts: Oft fire is without smoke, And perill without show: therefore your stroke your hardy stroke Sir knight with-hold, till further tryall made. Ah Ladie (sayd he) shame were to reuoke revoke , The forward footing for an hidden shade: Vertue giues gives her selfe light, through darkenesse for to (wade. [13] Yea but (quoth she) the perill of this place I better wot 1590.bk1.I.i.13.2. then: than then than you, though nowe too late, To wish you backe returne with foule disgrace, Yet wisedome warnes, whilest foot is in the gate, To stay the steppe, ere forced to retrate. This is the wandring wood, this Errours den, A monster vile, whom God and man does hate: Therefore I read beware. Fly fly (quoth then The fearefull Dwarfe:) Dwarfe): this is no place for liuing living men. Cant. I. the Faery Queene 7 There. [14] But full of fire and greedy hardiment, The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide, But forth vnto unto the darksom hole he went, And looked in: his glistring armor made A litle glooming light, much like a shade, By which he saw the vgly ugly monster plaine, Halfe like a serpent horribly displaide, But th’other halfe did womans shape retaine, Most lothsom Mostlothsom , filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine. [15] And as she lay vpon upon the durtie ground, Her huge long taile her den all ouerspred overspred , Yet was in knots and many boughtes vpwound upwound , Pointed with mortall sting. Of her there bred, A thousand yong ones, which she dayly fed, Sucking vpon upon her poisnous dugs, eachone each one Of sundrie shapes, yet all ill fauored favored : Soone as that vncouth uncouth light vpon upon them shone, Into her mouth they crept, and suddain all were gone. [16] Their dam vpstart upstart , out of her den effraide, And rushed forth, hurling her hideous taile About her cursed head, whose folds displaid Were stretcht now forth at length without entraile, She lookt about, and seeing one in mayle Armed to point, sought backe to turne againe; For light she hated as the deadly bale, Ay wont in desert darknes to remaine, Where plain none might her see, nor she see any plaine. [17] Which when the valiant Elfe perceiu’d perceiv’d , he lept As Lyon fierce vpon upon the flying pray, And with his trenchand blade her boldly kept From turning backe, and forced her to stay: 8 The first Booke of As Therewith enrag’d, she loudly gan to bray, And turning fierce, her speckled taile aduaunst advaunst , Threatning her angrie sting, him to dismay: Who nought aghast, his mightie hand enhaunst: The stroke down frõ from her head vnto unto her shoulder glaunst. glaunſtglaunst [18] Much daunted with that dint, her sence was dazd, Yet kindling rage her selfe she gathered round, And all attonce her beastly bodie raizd With doubled forces high aboue above the ground: Tho wrapping vp up her wrethed sterne arownd, Lept fierce vpon upon his shield, and her huge traine All suddenly about his body wound, That hand or foot to stirr he stroue strove in vaine: God helpe the man so wrapt in Errours endlesse traine. [19] His Lady sad to see his sore constraint, Cride out, Now now Sir knight, shew what ye bee Add faith vnto unto your force, and be not faint: Strangle her, els she sure will strangle thee. That when he heard, in great perplexitie, His gall did grate for griefe and high disdaine, And knitting all his force got one hand free, Wherewith he grypt her gorge with so great paine, That soone to loose her wicked bands did her cõstraine constraine . [20] Therewith she spewd out of her filthie maw A floud of poyson horrible and blacke, Full of great lumps of flesh and gobbets raw, Which stunck so vildly that it forst him slacke, slacke,’ His grasping hold, and from ftom her turne him backe: Her vomit full of bookes and papers was, With loathly frogs and toades, which eyes did lacke, And creeping sought way in the weedy gras: Her filthie parbreake all the place defiled has. Cant. I. the Faery Queene 9 Or [21] As when old father Nilus gins to swell With timely pride aboue above the Aegyptian vale, His fattie waues waves doe fertile slime outwell, And ouerflow overflow each plaine and lowly dale: But when his later spring gins to auale avale ebbe gins t’auale ebbe gins to auale ebbe gins to avale , Huge heapes of mudd he leaues leaves , wherin there breed Ten thousand kindes of creatures partly male And partly femall of his fruitful seed; Such vgly ugly monstrous shapes elswher may no man reed. [22] The same so sore annoyed has the knight, That welnigh choked with the deadly stinke, His forces faile, ne can no lenger fight. Whose corage when the feend perceiud perceivd to shrinke, She poured forth out of her hellish sinke Her fruitfull cursed spawne of serpents small, Deformed monsters, fowle, and blacke as inke, Which swarming all about his legs did crall, And him encombred sore, but could not hurt at all. [23] As gentle Shepheard in sweete euentide eventide , When ruddy Phebus gins to welke in west, High on an hill, his flocke to vewen wide, Markes which doe byte their hasty supper best, A cloud of cumbrous gnattes doe him molest, All striuing striving to infixe their feeble stinges, That from their noyance he no where can rest, But with his clownish hands their tender wings, He brusheth oft, and oft doth mar their murmurings. [24] Thus ill bestedd, and fearefull more of shame, 1590.bk1.I.i.24.2. Then: Than Then Than of the certeine perill he stood in, Halfe furious vnto unto his foe he came, Resolud Resolvd in minde all suddenly to win, 10 The first Booke of Then Or soone to lose, before he once would lin; And stroke at her with more 1590.bk1.I.i.24.6. then: than then than manly force, That from her body full of filthie sin He raft her hatefull heade without remorse; A streame of cole black blood forth gushed frõ from her corse. corse [25] Her scattred brood, soone as their Parent deare They saw so rudely falling to the ground, Groning full deadly, all with troublous feare, Gathred themselues themselves about her body round, Weening their wonted entrance to haue have found At her wide mouth: but being there withstood They flocked all about her bleeding wound, And sucked vp up their dying mothers bloud, Making her death their life, and eke her hurt their good. [26] That detestable sight him much amazde, To see th’ vnkindly unkindly Impes of heauen heaven accurst, Deuoure Devoure their dam; on whom while so he gazd, Hauing Having all satisfide their bloudy thurst, Their bellies swolne he saw with fulnesse burst, And bowels gushing forth: well worthy end Of such as drunke her life, the which them nurst; Now needeth him no lenger labour spend, His foes haue have slaine themselues themselves , with whom he should (contend. [27] His Lady seeing all, that chaunst, from farre Approcht in hast to greet his victorie, And saide, Faire knight, borne vnder under happie starre, Who see your vanquisht foes before you lye: Well worthie be you of that Armory, Wherein ye haue have great glory wonne this day, And proou’d proov’d your strength on a strong enimie, Your first aduenture adventure : many such I pray, And henceforth euer ever wish, that like succeed it may. 11 the Faery Queene. Cant. I. Of [28] Then mounted he vpon upon his Steede againe, And with the Lady backward sought to wend; That path he kept, which beaten was most plaine, Ne euer ever would to any byway bend, But still did follow one vnto unto the end, The which at last out of the wood them brought. So forward on his way (with God to frend) He paſ⁀ſedpassed paſ⁀ſethpasseth forth, and new aduenture adventure sought, Long way he traueiled traveiled , before he heard of ought. [29] At length they chaunst to meet vpon upon the way An aged Sire, in long blacke weedes yclad, His feete all bare, his beard all hoarie gray, And by his belt his booke he hanging had; Sober he seemde, and very sagely sad, And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent, Simple in shew, and voide of malice bad, And all the way he prayed as he went, And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent. [30] He faire the knight saluted, louting low, Who faire him quited, as that courteous was: And after asked him, if he did know Of straunge aduentures adventures , which abroad did pas. Ah my deare Sonne (quoth he) how should, alas, Silly old man, that liues lives in hidden cell, Bidding his beades all day for his trespas, Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell? With holy father sits not with such thinges to mell. [31] But if of daunger which hereby doth dwell, And homebredd euilhomebredd evil homebred deuilhomebred devil homebred euill euillhomebred evill evill home-bred euillhome-bred evill ye desire to heare, Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell, That wasteth all this countrie farre and neare. 12 The first Booke of Cant. I. Arriued Arrived Of such (saide he) I chiefly doe inquere, And shall thee you well rewarde to shew the place, In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare: For to all knighthood it is foule disgrace, That such a cursed creature liues lives so long a space. [32] Far hence (quoth he) in wastfull wildernesse His dwelling is, by which no liuing living wight May euer ever passe, but thorough great distresse. Now (saide the Ladie) draweth toward night, And well I wote, that of your later fight Ye all forwearied be: for what so strong, But wanting rest will also want of might? The Sunne that measures heauen heaven all day long, At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waues waves emong. [33] Then with the Sunne take Sir, your timely rest, And with new day new worke at once begin: Vntroubled Untroubled night they say giues gives counsell best. Right well Sir knight ye haue have aduised advised bin, Quoth then that aged man; the way to win Is wisely to aduise advise : now day is spent; Therefore with me ye may take vp up your In For this same night. The knight was well content: So with that godly father to his home they went. [34] A litle lowly Hermitage it was, Downe in a dale, hard by a forests side, Far from resort of people, that did pas In traueill traveill to and froe: a litle wyde There was an holy chappell edifyde, Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say His holy thinges each morne and euentyde eventyde : Thereby a christall streame did gently genlty play, Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway. 13 the Faery Queene. Cant. I. To [35] Arriued Arrived there the litle house they fill, Ne looke for entertainement, where none was: Rest is their feast, and all thinges at their will; The noblest mind the best contentment has. With faire discourse the euening evening so they pas: For that olde man of pleasing wordes had store, And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas, He told of Saintes and Popes, and euermore evermore euemore evemore He strowd an Aue-Mary Ave-Mary after and before. [36] The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast, And the sad humor loading their eye liddes, As messenger of Morpheus on them cast Sweet slõbring slombring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes: Vnto Unto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes: Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes, He to his studie goes, and there amiddes His magick bookes and artes of sundrie kindes, He seekes out mighty charmes, to trouble sleepy minds. [37] Then choosing out few words most horrible, (Let none them read) thereof did verses frame, With which and other spelles like terrible, He bad awake blacke Plutoes griesly Dame, And cursed heuen, and spake reprochful shame Of highest God, the Lord of life and light, A bold bad man, that dar’d to call by name Great Gorgon, prince of darknes and dead night, At which Cocytus quakes and Styx is put to flight. [38] And forth he cald out of deepe darknes dredd Legions of Sprights, the which like litle flyes Fluttring about his euerdamned everdamned hedd, A-waite A waite Awaite whereto their seruice service he applyes, 14 The firſt Booke of The first Booke of The firſt Booke of the The first Booke of the Cant. I. The To aide his friendes, or fray his enimies: Of those he chose out two, the falsest twoo, And fittest for to forge true-seeming lyes; The one of them he gaue gave a message too, The other by himselfe staide other worke to doo. [39] He making speedy way through spersed ayre, And through the world of waters wide and deepe, To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire. Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe, And low, where dawning day doth neuer never peepe, His dwelling is; there Tethys his wet bed Doth euer ever wash, and Cynthia still doth steepe In siluer silver deaw his euer-droupingever-drouping euer droupingever drouping hed, Whiles sad Night ouer over him her mãtle mantle black doth spred. [40] Whose double gates he findeth locked fast, The one faire fram’d of burnisht Yuory Yvory , The other all with siluer silver ouercast overcast ; And wakeful dogges before them farre doe lye, Watching to banish Care their enimy, Who oft is wont to trouble gentle Sleepe. By them the Sprite doth passe in quietly, And vnto unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned deepe In drowsie fit he findes: of nothing he takes keepe. [41] And more, to lulle him in his slumber soft, A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe And euer drizlingever drizling euery drizlingevery drizling euer-drizlingever-drizling raine vpon upon the loft, Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne Of swarming Bees, did cast him in a swowne: No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes, As still are wont t’annoy the walled towne, Might there be heard: but carelesse Quiet lyes, Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes. 15 the Faery Queene. Cant. I. That B [42] The Messenger approching to him spake, But his waste wordes retournd to him in vaine: So sound he slept, that nought mought him awake. Then rudely he him thruſtthrusttruſttrust, and pusht with paine, Whereat he gan to stretch: but he againe Shooke him so hard, that forced him to speake. As one then in a dreame, whose dryer braine Is tost with troubled ſightssights ſighessighes and fancies weake, He mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake. [43] The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake, And threatned vnto unto him the dreaded name Of Hecate: whereat he gan to quake, And lifting vp up his lompish head, with blame Halfe angrie asked him, for what he came. Hether (quoth he) me Archimago sent, He that the stubborne Sprites can wisely tame, He bids thee to him send for his intent A fit false dreame, that can delude the sleepers sent. [44] The God obayde, and calling forth straight way A diuerse diverse dreame out of his prison darke, Deliuered Delivered it to him, and downe did lay His heauie heavie head, deuoide devoide of careful carke, Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke. He backe returning by the Yuorie Yvorie dore, Remounted vp up as light as chearefull Larke, And on his litle winges the dreame he bore, In hast vnto unto his Lord, where he him left afore. [45] Who all this while with charmes and hidden artes, Had made a Lady of that other Spright, And fram’d of liquid ayre her tender partes So liuely lively and so like in all mens sight, 16 The first Booke of Cant. I. In That weaker sence it could haue have rauisht ravisht quight: The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt, Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight: Her all in white he clad, and ouer over it Cast a blackstole black stole , most like to seeme for Vna Una fit. [46] Now when that ydle dreame was to him brought, Vnto Unto that Elfin knight he bad him fly, Where he slept soundly void of euil evil thought, And with false shewes abuse his fantasy, In sort as he him schooled priuily privily : And that new creature borne without her dew, Full of the makers guyle with vsage usage sly He taught to imitate that Lady trew, Whose semblance she did carrie vnder under feigned hew. [47] Thus well instructed, to their worke they haste, And comming where the knight in slomber lay, The one vpon upon his hardie head him plaste, And made him dreame of loues loves and lustfull play, That nigh his manly hart did melt away, Bathed in wanton blis and wicked ioy joy : Then seemed him his Lady by him lay, And to him playnd, how that false winged boy, Her chaste hart had subdewd, to learne Dame pleasures (toy. [48] And she her selfe of beautie soueraigne soveraigne Queene, Fayre Venus seemde vnto unto his bed to bring Her, whom he waking euermore evermore did weene, To bee the chastest flowre, that aye did spring On earthly braunch, the daughter of a king, Now a loose Leman to vile seruice service bound: And eke the Graces seemed all to sing, Hymen iö́ Hymen, dauncing all around, Whylst freshest Flora her with Yuieher with Yvie her Yuieher Yvie girlond crownd. 17 the Faery Queene. Cant. I. Captiu’d B2 [49] In this great passion of vnwonted unwonted lust, Or wonted feare of doing ought amis, He ſtartethstarteth ſtartedstarted vp up , as seeming to mistrust, Some secret ill, or hidden foe of his: Lo there before his face his Ladie is, Vnder Under blacke stole hyding her bayted hooke, And as halfe blushing offred him to kis, With gentle blandishment and louely lovely looke, Most like that virgin true, which for her knight him took. took tooke. [50] All cleane dismayd to see so vncouth uncouth sight, And halfe enraged at her shamelesse guise, He thought haue have slaine her in his fierce despight, But hastie heat tempring with sufferance wise, He stayde his hand, and gan himselfe aduise advise To proue prove his sense, and tempt her faigned truth. Wringing her hands in wemens pitteous wise, Tho can she weepe, to stirre vp up gentle ruth, Both for her noble blood, and for her tender youth. [51] And sayd, Ah Sir, my liege Lord and my loue love , Shall I accuse the hidden cruell fate, And mightie causes wrought in heauen heaven aboue above , Or the blind God, that doth me thus amate, For hoped loue love to winne me certaine hate? Yet thus perforce he bids me do, or die. Die is my dew: yet rew my wretched state You, whom my hard auenging avenging destinie Hath made iudge judge of my life or death indifferently. [52] Your owne deare sake forst me at first to leaue leave My Fathers kingdom, There she stopt with teares; Her swollen hart her speech seemd to bereaue bereave , And then againe begonne, My weaker yeares 18 The first Booke of Cant. I. Cant. Captiu’d Captiv’d to fortune and frayle worldly feares Fly to your fayth for succour and sure ayde: Let me not die in languor and long teares. Why Dame (quoth he) what hath ye thus dismayd? What frayes ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayd? [53] Loue Love of your selfe, she saide, and deare constraint Lets me not sleepe, but waste the wearie night In secret anguish and vnpittied unpittied plaint, Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight. Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight Suspect her truth: yet since no’vntruth no’untruth he knew, Her fawning loue love with foule disdainefull spight He would not shend, but said, Deare dame I rew, That for my sake vnknowne unknowne such griefe vnto unto you grew. [54] Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground; For all so deare as life is to my hart, I deeme your loue love , and hold me to you bound; Ne let vaine feares procure your needlesse smart, Where cause is none, but to your rest depart. Not all content, yet seemd she to appease Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art, And fed with words, that could not choſechose chuſechuse but please, So slyding softly forth, she turnd as to her ease. [55] Long after lay he musing at her mood, Much grieu’d griev’d to thinke that gentle Dame so light, For whose defence he was to shed his blood. At last dull wearines of former fight Hauing Having yrockt a sleepe asleepe his irkesome spright, That troublous dreame gan freshly tosse his braine, With bowres, and beds, and ladies deare delight: But when he saw his labour all was vaine, With that misformed spright he backe returnd againe.