Cant V. The faithfull knight in equall field subdewes his faithlesse foe, Whom false Duessa saues saves , and for his cure to hell does goe. [1] THe The noble hart, that harbours vertuous thought, And is with childe of glorious great intent, Can neuer never rest, vntill untill it forth haue have brought Th’eternall brood of glorie excellent: Such restlesse passion did all night torment The flaming corage of that Faery knight, Deuizing Devizing , how that doughtie turnament With greatest honour he atchieuen atchieven might; Still did he wake, and still did watch for dawning light. light, [2] At last the golden Orientall gate Of greatest heauen heaven gan to open fayre, And Phoebus fresh, as brydegrome to his mate, Came dauncing forth, shaking his deawie hayre, hayre:, haire: And hurld hurls hurles his glistring beams through gloomy ayre. Which whẽ when the wakeful Elfe perceiud perceivd , streight way He started vp up , and did him selfe prepayre, In sunbright armes, and battailous array: For with that Pagan proud he combatt will that day. [3] And forth he comes into the commune hall, Where earely waite him many a gazing eye, To weet what end to straunger knights may fall. There many Minstrales maken melody, 61 the Faerie Queene. Cant. V. And To drive away the dull melancholy, And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord Can tune their timely voices cunningly, And many Chroniclers, that can record Old loues loves , and warres for Ladies doen by many a Lord. [4] Soone after comes the cruell Sarazin, In wouen woven maile all armed warily, And sternly lookes at him, who not a pin Does care for looke of liuing living creatures eye. They bring them wines of Greece and Araby, And daintie spices fetcht from furthest Ynd, To kindle heat of corage priuily privily : And in the wine a solemne oth they bynd T’ obserue observe the sacred lawes of armes, that are assynd. [5] At last forth comes that far renowmed Queene, With royall pomp and princely maiestie majestie ; She is ybrought vnto unto a paled greene, And placed vnder under stately canapee, The warlike feates of both those knights to see. On th’other side in all mens open vew Duessa placed is, and on a tree Sansfoy his shield is hangd with bloody hew: Both those the lawrell girlonds to the victor dew. [6] A shrilling trompett sownded from on hye, And vnto unto battaill bad them selues selves addresse: Their shining shieldes about their wrestes they tye, And burning blades about their heades doe blesse, The instruments of wrath and heauinesse heavinesse : With greedy force each other doth assayle, And strike so fiercely, that they doe impresse Deepe dinted furrowes in the battred mayle: The yron walles to ward their blowes are weak & and fraile. 62 The first Booke of Cant. IIII. And [7] The Sarazin was stout, and wondrous strong, And heaped blowes like yron hammers great: For after blood and vengeance he did long. The knight was fiers, and full of youthly heat, heat: And doubled strokes, like dreaded thunders threat: For all for praise and honour he did fight. Both stricken stryke, and beaten both doe beat, That from their shields forth flyeth firie light, And hewen helmets helmets hewen deepe shew marks of eithers might. [8] So th’one for wrong, the other striues strives for right: As when a Gryfon seized of his pray, A Dragon fiers encountreth in his flight, Through widest ayre making his ydle way, That would his rightfull rauine ravine rend away: With hideous horror both together smight, And souce so sore, that they the heauens heavens affray: The wise Southsayer seeing so sad sight, Th’amazed vulgar telles vulgartelles of warres and mortall fight. [9] So th’one for wrong, the other striues strives for right, And each to deadly shame would driue drive his foe: The cruell steele so greedily doth bight In tender flesh, that streames of blood down flow, With which the armes, that earst so bright did show Into a pure vermillion now are dyde: Great ruth in all the gazers harts did grow, Seeing the gored woundes to gape so wyde, That victory they dare not wish to either side. [10] At last the Paynim chaunst to cast his eye, His suddein eye, flaming with wrathfull fyre, Vpon Upon his brothers shield, which hong thereby: Therewith redoubled was his raging yre, 63 the Faery Queene. Cant. V. In E And said, Ah wretched sonne of wofull syre, Doest thou sit wayling by blacke Stygian lake, Whylest here thy shield is hangd for victors hyre, And sluggish german doest thy forces slake, To after-send his foe, that him may ouertake overtake ? [11] Goe caytiue caytive Elfe, him quickly ouertake overtake , And soone redeeme from his long wandring woe; woe, Goe guiltie ghost, to him my message make, That I his shield haue have quit from dying foe. Therewith vpon upon his crest he stroke him so, That twise he reeled, readie twise to fall; End of the doubtfull battaile deemed tho The lookers on, and lowd to him gan call The false Duessa, Thine the shield, and I, and all. [12] Soone as the Faerie heard his Ladie speake, Out of his swowning dreame he gan awake, And quickning faith, that earst was woxen weake, The creeping deadly cold away did shake: Tho mou’d mov’d with wrath, and shame, and Ladies sake, Of all attonce he cast auengd avengd to be, And with so’exceeding furie at him strake, That forced him to stoupe vpon upon his knee; Had he not stouped so, he should haue have clouen cloven bee. [13] And to him said, Goe now proud Miscreant, Thy selfe thy message do to german deare, Alone he wandring thee too long doth want: Goe say, his foe thy shield with his doth beare. Therewith his heauie heavie hand he high gan reare, Him to haue have slaine; when lo a darkesome clowd Vpon Upon him fell: he no where doth appeare, But vanisht is. The Elfe him calls alowd, But answer none receiues receives : the darknes him does ſ⁀hrowd.shrowd. ſ⁀hrowdshrowd ſ⁀hrowde.shrowde. 64 The first Booke of Cant. IIII. And [14] In haste Duessa from her place arose, And to him running sayd, O prowest knight, That euer ever Ladie to her loue love did chose, Let now abate the terrour of your might, And quench the flame of furious despight, And bloodie vengeance; lo th’infernall powres Couering Covering your foe with cloud of deadly night, Haue Have borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres. The conquest yours, I yours, the shield, and glory yours. [15] Not all so satisfide, with greedy eye He sought all round about, his thriſtythristy thirſtiethirstie blade To bathe in blood of faithlesse enimy; Who all that while lay hid in secret shade: He standes amazed, how he thence should fade. At last the trumpets Triumph sound on hie, And running Heralds humble homage made, Greeting him goodly with new victorie, And to him brought the shield, the cause of enmitie. [16] Wherewith he goeth to that soueraine soveraine Queene, And falling her before on lowly knee, To her makes present of his seruice service seene: Which she accepts, with thankes, and goodly gree, Greatly aduauncing advauncing his gay cheualree chevalree . So marcheth home, and by her takes the knight, Whom all the people followe with great glee, Shouting, and clapping all their hands on hight, That all the ayre it fils, and flyes to heauen heaven bright. [17] Home is he brought, and layd in sumptuous bed: Where many skilfull leaches him abide, To salue salve his hurts, that yet still freshly bled. In wine and oyle they wash his woundes wide, 65 the Faerie Queene. Cant. V. Who E2 And softly gan can embalme on euerie everie side. And all the while, most heauenly heavenly melody About the bed sweet musicke did diuide divide , Him to beguile of griefe and agony: And all the while Duessa wept full bitterly. [18] As when a wearie traueiler traveiler that strayes By muddy shore of broad seuen seven -mouthed Nile, Vnweeting Unweeting of the perillous wandring wayes, Doth meete a cruell craftie Crocodile, Which in false griefe hyding his harmefull guile, Doth weepe full sore, and sheddeth tender teares: The foolish man, that pitties all this while His mournefull plight, is swallowd vp up vnwares unwares , Forgetfull of his owne, that mindes an others cares. [19] So wept Duessa vntill untill euentyde eventyde , That shyning lampes in Ioues Joves high house were light: Then forth she rose, ne lenger would abide, But comes vnto unto the place, where th’Hethen knight In slombring swownd nigh voyd of vitall spright, Lay couer cover ’d with inchaunted cloud all day: Whom when she found, as she him left in plight, To wayle his wofull case she would not stay, But to the Easterne coast of heauen heaven makes speedy way. [20] Where griesly Night, with visage deadly sad, That Phœbus chearefull face durst neuer never vew, And in a foule blacke pitchy mantle clad, She findes forth comming from her darksome mew, Where she all day did hide her hated hew. Before the dore her yron charet stood, Already harnessed for iourney journey new; And coleblacke steedes yborne of hellish brood, That on their rusty bits did champ, as they were wood. 66 The first Booke of Cant. IIII. And [21] Who when she saw Duessa sunny bright, Adornd with gold and iewels jewels shining cleare, She greatly grew amazed at the sight, And th’ vnacquainted unacquainted light began to feare: For neuer never did such brightnes there appeare, And would haue have backe retyred to her caue cave , Vntill Untill the witches speach she gan to heare, Saying, yet O thou dreaded Dame, I craue crave Abyde, till I haue have told the message, which I haue have . [22] She stayd, and foorth Duessa gan proceede, O thou most auncient Grandmother of all, More old 1590.bk1.I.v.22.3. then: than then than Ioue Jove , whom thou at first didst breede, Or that great house of Gods cælestiall, Which wast begot in Dæmogorgons hall, And sawst the secrets of the world vnmade unmade , Why suffredst thou thy Nephewes deare to fall With Elfin sword, most shamefully betrade? Lo where the stout Sansioy Sansjoy doth sleepe in deadly shade. [23] And him before, I saw with bitter eyes The bold Sansfoy shrinck vnderneath underneath his speare; And now the pray of fowles in field he lyes, Nor wayld of friends, nor layd on groning beare, That whylome was to me too dearely deare. O what of Gods then boots it to be borne, If old Aveugles sonnes so euill evill heare? Or who shall not great Nightes children scorne, When two of three her Nephews are so fowle forlorne. [24] Vp Up then, vp up dreary Dame, of darknes Queene, Go gather vp up the reliques of thy race, Or else goe them auenge avenge , and let be seene, That dreaded Night in brightest day hath place, 67 the Faery Queene. Cant. V. Then E3 And can the children of fayre light deface. Her feeling speaches some compassion mou’d mov’d In hart, and chaunge in that great mothers face: Yet pitty in her hart was neuer never prou’d prov’d Till then: for euermore evermore she hated, neuer never lou’d lov’d . [25] And said, Deare daughter rightly may I rew The fall of famous children borne of mee, And good successes, which their foes ensew: But who can turne the streame of destinee, Or breake the chayne of strong necessitee, Which fast is tyde to Ioues Joves eternall seat. The sonnes of Day he fauoureth favoureth , I see, And by my ruines thinkes to make them great: To make one great by others losse, is bad excheat. [26] Yet shall they not escape so freely all; For some shall pay the price of others guilt: And he the man that made Sansfoy to fall, Shall with his owne blood price, that he hath spilt. But what art thou, that telst of Nephews kilt? I that do seeme not I, Duessa ame, Quoth she, how euer ever now in garments gilt, And gorgeous gold arayd I to thee came; Duessa I, the daughter of Deceipt and Shame. [27] Then bowing downe her aged backe, she kist The wicked witch, saying, In that fayre face The false resemblaunce of Deceipt, I wist Did closely lurke; yet so true-seeming grace It carried, that I scarse in darksome place Could it discerne, though I the mother bee Of falshood fashood Falshood , and roote of Duessaes race. O welcome child, whom I haue have longd to see, And now haue have seene vnwares unwares . Lo now I goe with thee. 68 The first Booke of Cant. V. With [28] Then to her yron wagon she betakes, And with her beares the fowle welfauourd welfavourd witch: Through mirkesome aire her ready way she makes. Her twyfold Teme, of which two blacke as pitch, And two were browne, yet each to each vnlich unlich , Did softly swim away, ne euer ever stamp, Vnlesse Unlesse she chaũst chaunst their stubborne mouths to twitch; Then foming tarre, their bridles they would champ, And trampling the fine element, would fiercely ramp. [29] So well they sped, that they be come at length Vnto Unto the place, whereas the Paynim lay, Deuoid Devoid of outward sence, and natiue native strength, Couerd Coverd with charmed cloud from vew of day, And sight of men, since his late luckelesse fray. His cruell wounds with cruddy bloud congeald, They binden vp up so wisely, as they may, And handle softly, till they can be heald: So lay him in her charett, close in night conceald. [30] And all the while she stood vpon upon the ground grouud , The wakefull dogs did neuer never cease to bay, As giuing giving warning of th’ vnwonted unwonted sound, With which her yron wheeles did them affray, And her darke griesly looke them much dismay; The messenger of death, the ghastly owle With drery shriekes did also her bewray; And hungry wolues wolves continually did howle, At her abhorred face, so filthy and so fowle. [31] Thence turning backe in silence softe they stole, And brought the heauy heavy corse with easy pace To yawning gulfe of deepe Auernus Avernus hole. By that same hole an entraunce darke and bace 69 the Faery Queene. Cant. V. There E4 With smoake and sulphur hiding all the place, Descends to hell: there creature neuer never past, That backe retourned without heauenly heavenly grace; But dreadfull Furies, which their chaines haue have brast, And damned sprights sent forth to make ill men aghast. [32] By that same way the direfull dames doe driue drive Their mournefull charett, fild with rusty blood, And downe to Plutoes house are come biliue bilive : Which passing through, on euery every side them stood The trembling ghosts with sad amazed mood, Chattring their iron teeth, and staring wide With stony eies; and all the hellish brood Of feends infernall flockt on euery every side, To gaze on erthly wight, that with the Night durst ride. [33] They pas the bitter waues waves of Acheron, Where many soules sit wailing woefully, And come to fiery flood of Phlegeton, Whereas the damned ghosts in torments fry, And with sharp shrilling shriekes doe bootlesse cry, Cursing high Ioue Jove , the which them thither sent. The house of endlesse paine is built thereby, In which ten thousand sorts of punishment The cursed creatures doe eternally torment. [34] Before the threshold dreadfull Cerberus His three deformed heads did lay along, Curled with thousand adders venemous, And lilled forth his bloody flaming tong: At them he gan to reare his bristles strong, And felly gnarre, vntill untill Dayes enemy Did him appease; then downe his taile he hong And suffered them to passen quietly: For she in hell and heauen heaven had power equally. 70 The first Booke of Cant. V. Both [35] There was Ixion turned on a wheele, For daring tempt the Queene of heauen heaven to sin; And Sisyphus an huge round stone did reele Against an hill, ne might from labour lin; There thriſtythristy thirſtiethirstie Tantalus hong by the chin; And Tityus fed a vultur on his maw; Typhœus Typhoeus Typhœus ioynts joynts were stretched on a gin, Theseus condemned to endlesse slouth by law And fifty sisters water in leke lete vessels draw. [36] They all beholding worldly wights in place, Leaue Leave off their worke, vnmindfull unmindfull of their smart, To gaze on them; who forth by them doe pace, Till they be come vnto unto the furthest part: Where was a Caue Cave ywrought by wondrous art, Deepe, darke, vneasy uneasy , dolefull, comfortlesse, In which sad Aesculapius far apart Emprisond was in chaines remedilesse, For that Hippolytus rent corse he did redresse. [37] Hippolytus a iolly jolly huntsman was, That wont in charett chace the foming bore; He all his Peeres in beauty did surpas, But Ladies loue love as losse of time forbore: His wanton stepdame loued loved him the more, But when she saw her offred sweets refusd Her loue love she turnd to hate, and him before His father fierce of treason false accusd, And with her gealous termes his open eares abusd. [38] Who all in rage his Sea-god syre besought, Some cursed vengeaunce on his sonne to cast: Frõ From surging gulf two Mõsters Monsters streight were brought, With dread whereof his chacing steedes aghast, 71 the Faery Queene Cant. V. Ah Both charett swifte and huntsman ouercast overcast . His goodly corps on ragged clifts yrent, Was quite dismembred, and his members chast Scattered on euery every mountaine, as he went, That of Hippolytus was lefte no moniment. [39] His cruell stepdame seeing what was donne, Her wicked daies with wretched knife did end, In death auowing avowing th’innocence of her sonne. Which hearing his rash Syre, began to rend His heare, and hasty tong, that did offend: Tho gathering vp up the relicks of his smart By Dianes meanes, who was Hippolyts frend, Them brought to Aesculape, that by his art Did heale them all againe, and ioyned joyned euery every part. [40] Such wondrous science in mans witt to rain When Ioue Jove auizd avizd , that could the dead reviue,revive, reuiue,revive, And fates expired could renew again, Of endlesse life he might him not depriue deprive , But vnto unto hell did thrust him downe aliue alive , With flashing thunderbolt ywounded sore: Where long remaining, he did alwaies striue strive Him selfe with salues salves to health for to restore, And slake the heauenly heavenly fire sire , that raged euermore evermore . [41] There auncient Night arriuing arriving , did alight From her nigh high weary wayne, and in her armes To Aesculapius AEsculapius brought the wounded knight: Whome hauing having softly disaraid of armes, Tho gan to him discouer discover all his harmes, Beseeching him with prayer, and with praise, If either salues salves , or oyles, or herbes, or charmes A fordonne wight from dore of death mote raise, He would at her request prolong her nephews daies. 72 The first Booke of Cant. V. Not [42] Ah Dame (qd.quoth he) thou temptest me in vaine, To dare the thing, which daily yet I rew, And the old cause of my continued paine With like attempt to like end to renew. Is not enough, that thrust from heauen heaven dew Here endlesse penaunce for one fault I pay, But that redoubled crime with vengeaunce new Thou biddest me to eeke? Can Night defray The wrath of thundring Ioue Jove , that rules both night and (day? [43] Not so (qd.quoth she) but sith that heauens heavens king From hope of heauen heaven hath thee excluded quight, Why fearest thou, that canst not hope for thing, And fearest not, that more thee hurten might, Now in the powre of euerlasting everlasting Night? Goe to then, O thou far renowmed renouned sonne Of great Apollo, shew thy famous might In medicine, that els hath to thee wonne Great pains, and greater praise, both neuer never to be donne. [44] Her words preuaild prevaild : And then the learned leach His cunning hand gan to his wounds to lay, And all things els, the which his art did teach: Which hauing having seene, from thence arose away The mother of dredd darkenesse, and let stay Aueugles Aveugles sonne there in the leaches cure, And backe retourning tooke her wonted way, To ronne her timely race, whilst Phoebus pure In westerne waues waves his weary wagon did recure. [45] The false Duessa leauing leaving noyous Night, Returnd to stately pallace of Dame Pryde; Where when she came, she found the Faery knight Departed thence, albee his woundes wyde 73 the Faery Queene. Cant. V. All Not throughly heald, vnready unready were to ryde. Good cause he had to hasten thence away; For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spyde, Where in a dungeon deepe huge nombers lay Of caytiue caytive wretched thralls, that wayled night and day. [46] A ruefull sight, as could be seene with eie; Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie captivitie , How mortgaging their liues lives to Couetise Covetise , Through wastfull Pride, and wanton Riotise, They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt Provokt with Wrath, and Enuyes Envyes false surmise, Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse, Where they should liue live in wo, & and dye in wretchednesse. [47] There was that great proud king of Babylon, That would compell all nations to adore, And him as onely God to call vpon upon , Till through celestiall doome thrown out of dore, Into an Oxe he was transformd of yore: There also was king CrœſusCrœsus CræſusCræsus , that enhaunst His hart too high through his great richesse store; And proud Antiochus, the which aduaunst advaunst His cursed hand gainst God, and on his altares daunst. [48] And them long time before, great Nimrod was, That first the world with sword and fire warrayd; And after him old Ninus far did pas In princely pomp, of all the world obayd; There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder under all, yet aboue above all in pride, That name of natiue native syre did fowle vpbrayd upbrayd , And would as Ammons sonne be magnifide, Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide. 74 The first Booke of Cant. V. But [49] All these together in one heape were throwne, Like carkases of beastes in butchers stall. And in another corner wide were strowne The Antique ruins of the Romanes fall: Great Romulus the Grandsyre of them all, Proud Tarquin, and too lordly Lentulus, Stout Scipio, and stubborne Hanniball, Ambitious Sylla, and sterne Marius, High Caesar, great Pompey, and fiers Antonius. [50] Amongst these mightie men were wemen mixt, Proud wemen, vaine, forgetfull of their yoke: The bold Semiramis, whose sides transfixt With sonnes own blade, her fowle reproches spoke; Fayre Sthenobœa, that herselfe did choke With wilfull chord, for wanting of her will; High minded Cleopatra, that with stroke Of Aspes sting herselfe did stoutly kill: And thousands moe the like, that did that dongeon fill. fill. (fill (fill [51] Besides the endlesse routes of wretched thralles, Which thether were assembled day by day, From all the world after their wofull falles, Through wicked pride, and wasted welthes decay. But most of all, which in that the Dongeon lay Fell from high Princes courtes, or Ladies bowres, Where they in ydle pomp, or wanton play, Consumed had their goods, and thriftlesse howres, And lastly thrown themselues themselves into these heauy heavy stowres. [52] Whose case whenas the carefull Dwarfe had tould, And made ensample of their mournfull sight Vnto Unto his maister, he no lenger would There dwell in perill of like painefull plight, 75 the Faery Queene. Cant. VI. Yet But earely rose, and ere that dawning light Discouered Discovered had the world to heauen heaven wyde, He by a priuy privy Posterne tooke his flight, That of no enuious envious eyes he mote be spyde: For doubtlesse death ensewed, if any him descryde. [53] Scarse could he footing find in that fowle way, For many corses, like a great Lay-stall Of murdred men which therein strowed lay, Without remorse, or decent funerall: Which al through that great Princesse pride did fall And came to shamefull end. And them besyde Forth ryding vnderneath underneath the castell wall, A Donghill of dead carcases he spyde, The dreadfull spectacle of that sad house of Pryde.