Cant. XII. Fayre Vna Una to the Redcrosse knight betrouthed is with ioy joy : Though false Duessa it to barre Her false sleightes doe imploy. [1] BEhold Behold I see the hauen haven nigh at hand, To which I meane my wearie course to bend; Vere the maine shete, and beare vp up with the land, The which afore is fayrly to be kend, And seemeth safe from storms, that may offend; There this fayre virgin wearie of her way Must landed bee, now at her iourneyes journeyes end: There eke my feeble barke a while may stay, Till mery wynd and weather call her thence away. [2] Scarsely had Phœbus in the glooming East Yett harnessed his fyrie-footed teeme, Ne reard aboue above the earth his flaming creast, When the last deadly smoke aloft did steeme, That signe of last outbreathed life did seeme, Vnto Unto the watchman on the castle wall; Who thereby dead that balefull Beast did deeme, And to his Lord and Lady lowd gan call, To tell, how he had seene the Dragons fatall fall. fall, [3] Vprose Uprose with hasty ioy joy , and feeble speed That aged Syre, the Lord of all that land, And looked forth, to weet, if trew indeed Those tydinges were, as he did vnderstand understand , 172 The first Booke of Cant. XII. And Which whenas trew by tryall he out fond, He badd to open wyde his brasen gate, Which long time had beene shut, and out of hond Proclaymed ioy joy and peace through all his state; For dead now was their foe, which them forrayed late. [4] Then gan triumphant Trompets sownd on hye, That sent to heuenheven the ecchoed report Of their new ioy joy , and happie victory Gainst him, that had them long opprest with tort, And fast imprisoned in sieged fort. Then all the people, as in solemne feast, To him assembled with one full consort, Reioycing Rejoycing at the fall of that great beast, From whose eternall bondage now they were releast. [5] Forth came that auncient Lord and aged Queene, Arayd in antique robes downe to the grownd, And sad habiliments right well beseene; A noble crew about them waited rownd Of sage and sober Peres, all grauely gravely gownd; Whom far before did march a goodly band Of tall young men, all hable armes to sownd, But now they laurell braunches bore in hand; Glad signe of victory and peace in all their land. [6] Vnto Unto that doughtie Conquerour they came, And him before themselues themselves prostrating low, Their Lord and Patrone loud did him proclame, And at his feet their lawrell boughes did throw. Soone after them all dauncing on a row The comely virgins came, with girlands dight, As fresh as flowres in medow greene doe grow, When morning deaw vpon upon their leaues leaves doth light: And in their handes sweet Timbrels all vpheld upheld on hight. 173 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. Or [7] And them before, the fry of children yong Their wanton sportes and childish mirth did play, And to the Maydens sownding tymbrels ſongtymbrels song tymbrel ſongstymbrel songs In well attuned notes, a ioyous joyous lay, And made delightfull musick all the way, Vntill Untill they came, where that faire virgin stood; As fayre Diana in fresh sommers day, Beholdes her Nymphes, enraung’d in shady wood, Some wrestle, some do run, some bathe in christall flood:flood: flood,flood, flood.flood. [8] So she beheld those maydens meriment meriment. With chearefull vew; who when to her they came, Themselues Themselves to ground with gracious humblesse bent And her ador’d by honorable name, Lifting to heuen her euerlasting everlasting fame: Then on her head they sett a girlond greene, And crowned her twixt earnest and twixt game; Who in her self-resemblance well beseene, Did seeme such, as she was, a goodly maiden Queene. [9] And after all the raskall many ran, Heaped together in rude rablement, To see the face of that victorious man: Whom all admired, as from heauen heaven sent, And gazd vpon upon with gaping wonderment. wonderment, But when they came, where that dead Dragon lay, Stretcht on the ground in monſtrousmonstrous monſtronsmonstrons large extent, The sight with ydle feare did them dismay, Ne durst approch him nigh, to touch, or once assay. [10] Some feard, and fledd; some feard and well it faynd; One that would wiser seeme, 1590.bk1.I.xii.10.2. then: than then than all the rest, Warnd him not touch, for yet perhaps remaynd Some lingring life within his hollow brest, 174 The first Booke of Cant. XII. What Or in his wombe might lurke some hidden nest Of many Dragonettes, his fruitfull seede; Another saide, that in his eyes did rest Yet sparckling fyre, and badd thereof take heed; Another said, he saw him moue move his eyes indeed. [11] One mother, whenas her foolehardy chyld Did come to neare, and with his talants play Halfe dead through feare, her litle babe reuyld revyld , And to her gossibs gossips gan in counsell say; How can I tell, but that his talants talents may Yet scratch my sonne, or rend his tender hand? hand. So diuersly diversly them selues selves in vaine they fray; Whiles some more bold, to measure him nigh stand, To proue prove how many acres he did spred of land. [12] Thus flocked all the folke him rownd about, The whiles that hoarie king, with all his traine, Being arriued arrived , where that champion stout After his foes defeasaunce did remaine, Him goodly greetes, and fayre does entertayne, With princely gifts of yuory yvory and gold, And thousand thankes him yeeldes for all his paine. Then when his daughter deare he does behold, Her dearely doth imbrace, and kisseth manifold. [13] And after to his Pallace he them bringes, With shaumes, & and trompets, & and with Clarions sweet; And all the way the ioyous joyous people singes, And with their garments strowes the paued paved ſtreet:street: ſtreetstreet Whence mounting vp up , they fynd purueyaunce purveyaunce meet Of all, that royall Princes court became, And all the floore was vnderneath underneath their feet Bespredd with costly scarlott of great name, On which they lowly sitt, and fitting purpose frame. 175 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. For M [14] What needes me tell their feast and goodly guize, In which was nothing riotous nor vaine? What needes of dainty dishes to deuize devize , Of comely seruices services , or courtly trayne? My narrow leaues leaves cannot in them contayne vntayne containe The large discourse of roiall Princes state. Yet was their manner then but bare and playne: For th’antique world excesse and pryde did hate; Such proud luxurious pompe is swollen vp up but late. [15] Then when with meates and drinkes of euery every kinde Their feruent fervent appetites they quenched had, That auncient Lord gan fit occasion finde, Of straunge aduentures adventures , and of perils sad, Which in his trauell travell him befallen had, For to demaund of his renowmed guest: Who then with vtt’rance utt’rance graue grave , and count’nance sad, From poynt to poynt, as is before exprest, Discourst his voyage long, according his request. [16] Great pleaſurepleasure pleaſurespleasures mixt with pittifull regard, That godly King and Queene did passionate, Whyles they his pittifull aduentures adventures heard, That oft they did lament his lucklesse state, And often blame the too importune fate, That heapd on him so many wrathfull wreakes: For neuer never gentle knight, as he of late, So tossed was in fortunes cruell freakes; And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks. [17] Then sayd that the royall Pere in sober wise; Deare Sonne, great beene the euils evils , which ye bore From first to last in your late enterprise, That I note, whether praise, or pitty more: 176 The first Booke of Cant. XII. Then For neuer never liuing living man, I weene, so sore In sea of deadly daungers was distrest; But since now safe ye seised haue have the shore, And well arriued arrived are, (high God be blest) Let vs us deuize devize of ease and euerlasting everlasting rest. [18] Ah dearest Lord, said then that doughty knight, Of ease or rest I may not yet deuize devize ; For by the faith, which I to armes haue have plight, I bownden am streight after this emprize, As that your daughter can ye well aduize advize , Backe to retourne to that great Faery Queene, And her to serue serve sixe yeares in warlike wize, Gainst that proud Paynim Pynim king, that works her teene: Therefore I ought craue crave pardon, till I there haue have beene. [19] Vnhappy Unhappy falls that hard necessity, (Quoth he) the troubler of my happy peace, And vowed foe of my felicity; Ne I against the same can iustly justly preace: But since that band ye cannot now release, Nor doen vndoe undoe ; (for vowes may not be vayne) Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease, Ye then shall hether backe retourne agayne, The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twayn. [20] Which for my part I couet covet to performe, In sort as through the world I did proclame, That who so kild that monster most deforme, And him in hardy battayle ouercame overcame , Should haue have mine onely daughter to his Dame, And of my kingdome heyre apparaunt bee: Therefore since now to thee perteynes the same, By dew desert of noble cheualree chevalree , Both daughter and eke kingdome, lo I yield to thee. 177 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. Who M2 [21] Then forth he called that his daughter fayre, The fairest Vn Un ’ his onely daughter deare, His onely daughter, and his only hayre; Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare, As bright as doth the morning starre appeare Out of the East, with flaming lockes bedight, To tell that dawning day is drawing dawning neare, And to the world does bring long wished light; So faire and fresh that Lady shewd her selfe in sight. [22] So faire and fresh, as freshest flowre in May; For she had layd her mournefull stole aside, And widow-like sad wimple throwne away, Wherewith her heauenly heavenly heaunnly beautie she did hide, Whiles on her wearie iourney journey she did ride; And on her now a garment she did weare, All lilly white, withoutten spot, or pride, That seemd like silke and siluer silver wouen woven neare, But neither silke nor siluer silver therein did appeare. [23] The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame, And glorious light of her sunshyny face To tell, were as to striue strive against the streame. My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace, Her heauenly heavenly lineaments for to enchace. Ne wonder; for her own deare loued loved knight, All were she daily with himselfe in place, Did wonder much at her celestiall sight: Oft had he seene her faire, but neuer never so faire dight. [24] So fairely dight, when she in presence came, She to her Syre made humble reuerence reverence , And bowed low, that her right well became, And added grace vnto unto her excellence: 178 The first Booke of Cant. XII. Therefore Who with great wisedome, and graue grave eloquence Thus gan to say. But eare he thus had sayd, With flying speede, and seeming great pretence, Came running in, much like a man dismayd, A Messenger with letters, which his message sayd. [25] All in the open hall amazed stood, At suddeinnesse of that vnwary unwary sight, And wondred at his breathlesse hasty mood. But he for nought would stay his passage right, Till fast before the king he did alight; Where falling flat, great humblesse he did make, And kist the ground, whereon his foot was pight; Then to his handes that writt he did betake, Which he disclosing, read thus, as the paper spake. [26] To thee, most mighty king of Eden fayre, Her greeting sends in these sad lines addrest, The wofull daughter, and forsaken heyre Of that great Emperour of all the West; And bids thee be aduized advized for the best, Ere thou thy daughter linck in holy band Of wedlocke to that new vnknowen unknowen guest: For he already plighted his right hand Vnto Unto another loue love , and to another land. [27] To me sad mayd, or rather widow sad, He was affyaunced long time before, And sacred pledges he both gaue gave , and had, False erraunt knight, infamous, and forswore: Witnesse the burning Altars, which he swore, And guilty heauens heavens of his bold periury perjury , Which though he hath polluted oft of and yore, Yet I to them for iudgement judgement iust just doe fly, And them coniure conjure t’ auenge avenge this shamefull iniury injury . 179 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. With M3 [28] Therefore since mine he is, or free or bond, Or false or trew, or liuing living or else dead, Withhold, O souerayne soverayne Prince, your hasty hond From knitting league with him, I you aread; Ne weene my right with strength adowne to tread, Through weakenesse of my widowhed, or woe: For truth is strong, her his rightfull cause to plead, And shall finde friends, if need requireth soe. So bids thee well to fare, Thy neither friend, nor foe, Fidessa. [29] When he these bitter byting wordes had red, The tydings straunge did him abashed make, That still he sate long time astonished As in great muse, ne word to creature spake. At last his solemne silence thus he brake, With doubtfull eyes fast fixed on his guest; Redoubted knight, that for myne only sake Thy life and honor late aduentureſt aduenturest adventureſt adventurest , Let nought be hid from me, that ought to be exprest. [30] What meane these bloody vowes, and idle threats, Throwne out from womanish impatient mynd? What heuens? what altars? what enraged heates Here heaped vp up with termes of loue love vnkynd unkynd , My conscience cleare with guilty bands would bynd? High God be witnesse, that I guiltlesse ame. But if your selfe, Sir knight, ye faulty fynd, Or wrapped be in loues loves of former Dame, With cryme doe not it couer cover , but disclose the same. [31] To whom the Redcrosse knight this answere sent, My Lord, my king, be nought hereat dismayd, Till well ye wote by graue grave intendiment, What woman, and wherefore doth me vpbrayd upbrayd 180 The first Booke of Cant. XII. The With breach of loue love , and loialty betrayd. It was in my mishaps, as hitherward I lately traueild traveild , that vnwares unwares I ſtraydstrayd ſtaydstayd ſtraidstraid Out of my way, through perils straunge and hard; That day should faile me, ere I had them all declard. [32] There did I find, or rather I was fownd Of this false woman, that Fidessa hight, Fidessa hight the falsest Dame on grownd, Most false Duessa, royall richly dight, That easy was t’inueiglet’inveigle to inueigleto inveigle to inuegleto invegle to inveagle weaker sight: Who by her wicked arts, and wylie wiely wilie skill, Too false and strong for earthly skill or might, Vnwares Unwares me wrought vnto unto her wicked will, And to my foe betrayd, when least I feared ill. [33] Then stepped forth the goodly royall Mayd, And on the ground her selfe prostrating low, With sober countenaunce thus to him sayd; O pardon me, my soueraine soveraine Lord, to sheow The secret treasons, which of late I know To haue have bene wrought by that false sorceresse. Shee onely she it is, that earst did throw This gentle knight into so great distresse, That death him did awaite in daily wretchednesse. [34] And now it seemes, that she suborned hath This crafty messenger with letters faine, To worke new woe and improuided improvided scath, By breaking of the band betwixt vs us twaine; Wherein she vsed used hath the practicke paine Of this false footman, clokt with simplenesse, Whome if ye please for to discouer discover plaine, Ye shall him Archimago find, I ghesse, The falsest man aliue alive ; who wo tries shall find no lesse. 181 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. That M4 [35] The king was greatly moued moved at her speach, And all with suddein indignation fraight, Bad on that Messenger rude hands to reach. Eftsoones the Gard, which on his state did wait, Attacht that faytor false, and bound him strait: Who seeming sorely chauffed at his band, As chained beare, whom cruell dogs doe bait, With ydle force did faine them to withstand, And often semblaunce made to scape out of their hand. [36] But they him layd full low in dungeon deepe, And bound him hand and foote with yron chains. And with continual watch did warely keepe; Who then would thinke, that by his subtile trains He could escape fowle death or deadly pains? Thus when that Princes wrath was pacifide, He gan renew the late forbidden bains, And to the knight his daughter deare he tyde, With sacred rites and vowes for euer ever to abyde. [37] His owne two hands the holy knotts did knitt, That none but death for euer ever can diuide divide ; His owne two hands, for such a turne most fitt, The housling fire did kindle and prouide provide , And holy water thereon sprinckled wide; At which the bushy Teade a groome did light, And sacred lamp in secret chamber hide, Where it should not be quenched day nor night, For feare of euill evill fates, but burnen euer ever bright. [38] Then gan they sprinckle all the posts with wine, And made great feast to solemnize that day; They all perfumde with frankincense diuine divine , And precious odours fetcht from far away, 182 The first Booke of Cant. XII. Now That all the house did sweat with great aray: And all the while sweete Musicke did apply Her curious skill, the warbling notes to play, To driue drive away the dull Melancholy; The whiles one sung a song of loue love and iollity jollity . [39] During the which there was an heauenly heavenly noise Heard sownd through all the Pallace pleasantly, Like as it had bene many an Angels voice, Singing before th’eternall maiesty majesty , In their trinall triplicitles on hye; Yett wist no creature, whence that heuenly sweet Proceeded, yet eachone each one felt secretly Himselfe thereby refte of his sences meet, And rauished ravished with rare impression in his sprite. [40] Great ioy joy was made that day of young and old, And solemne feast proclaymd throughout the land, That their exceeding merth may not be told: SufficeSuffice SnfficeSnffice it heare by signes to vnderstand understand The vsuall usuall ioyes joyes at knitting of loues loves band. Thrise happy man the knight himselfe did hold, Possessed of his Ladies hart and hand, And euer ever , when his eie did her behold, His Her heart did seeme to melt in pleasures manifold. [41] Her ioyous joyous presence and sweet company In full content he there did long enioy enjoy , Ne wicked enuy envy , ne vile gealosy His deare delights were hable to annoy: Yet swimming in that sea of blissful ioy joy , He nought forgott, how he whilome had sworne, Incase In case he could that monstrous beast destroy, Vnto Unto his Faery Queene backe to retourne: The which he shortly did, and Vna Una left to mourne. 183 the Faery Queene. Cant. XII. [42] Now strike your sailes yee iolly jolly Mariners, For we be come vnto unto a quiet rode, Where we must land some of our passengers, And light this weary vessell of her lode. Here she a while may make her safe abode, Till she repaired haue have her tackles spent, And wants supplide. And then againe abroad On the long voiage whereto she is bent: Well may she speede and fairely finish her intent. Finis Lib. I.