Can. VI. From lawlesse lust by wondrous grace fayre Una is releast: Whom saluage salvage nation does adore, and learnes her wise beheast. [1] AS As when a ship, that flyes fayre vnder under sayle, An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares unwares , That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile, The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past, and yet in it doubt ne dares To ioy joy at his foolhappie ouersight oversight : So doubly is distrest twixt ioy joy and cares The dreadlesse corage of this Elfin knight, Hauing Having escapt so sad ensamples in his sight. 76 The first Booke of Cant. VI. And [2] Yet sad he was, that his too hastie speed The fayre Duess’ had forst him leaue leave behind; And yet more sad, that Vna Una his deare dreed Her truth had staynd with treason so vnkind unkind : Yet cryme in her could neuer never creature find, But for his loue love , and for her own selfe sake, She wandred had from one to other Ynd, Him for to seeke, ne euer ever would forsake, Till her vnwares unwares the fiers Sansloy did ouertake overtake . [3] Who after Archimagoes fowle defeat, Led her away into a forest wilde, And turning wrathfull fyre to lustfull heat, With beastly sin thought her to haue have defilde, And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde. Yet first he cast by treatie, and by traynes, Her to persuade, that stubborne fort to yilde: For greater conquest of hard loue love he gaynes, That workes it to his will, 1590.bk1.I.vi.3.9. then: than then than he that it constraines. [4] With fawning wordes he courted her a while, And looking louely lovely , and oft sighing sore, Her constant hart did tempt with diuerse diverse guile: But wordes, and lookes, and sighes she did abhore, As rock of Diamond stedfast euermore evermore . Yet for to feed his fyrie lustfull eye, He snatcht the vele, that hong her face before; Then gan her beautie shyne, as brightest skye, And burnt his beastly hart t’efforce her chastitye. [5] So when he saw his flatt’ring artes to fayle, And subtile engines bett from batteree, With greedy force he gan the fort assayle, Whereof he weend poſſeſſedpossessed poſſeſſepossesse poſſeſſedpossessed soone to bee, 77 the Faerie Queene. Cant. VI. The And win with rich spoile of ransackt chastitee. Ah heauens heavens , that doe this hideous act behold, And heauenly heavenly virgin thus outraged see, How can ye vengeance iust just so long withhold, And hurle not flashing flames vpõ vpon upõ upon that Paynim bold? [6] The pitteous mayden carefull comfortlesse, Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes, The last vaine helpe of wemens great distresse, And with loud plaintes importuneth the skyes, That molten starres doe drop like weeping eyes; And Phœbus flying so most shamefull sight, His blushing face in foggy cloud implyes, And hydes for shame. What witt of mortall wight Can now deuise devise to quitt a thrall from such a plight? [7] Eternall prouidence providence exceeding thought, Where none appeares can make her selfe a way: A wondrous way it for this Lady wrought, From Lyons clawes to pluck the gryped pray. Her shrill outcryes and shrieks so loud did bray, That all the woodes and forestes did resownd; A troupe of Faunes and Satyres far a way away Within the wood were dauncing in a rownd, Whiles old Syluanus Sylvanus slept in shady arber ſownd.sownd. ſownd,sownd, ſound:sound: [8] Who when they heard that pitteous strained voice, In haste forsooke their rurall meriment, And ran towardes the far rebownded noyce, To weet, what wight so loudly did lament. Vnto Unto the place they come incontinent: Whom when the raging Sarazin espyde, A rude, misshapen mishappen , monstrous rablement, Whose like he neuer never saw, he durst not byde, But got his ready steed, and fast away gan ryde. 78 The first Booke of Cant. VI. They [9] The wyld woodgods arriued arrived in the place, There find the virgin doolfull desolate, With ruffled rayments, and fayre blubbred face, As her outrageous foe had left her late, And trembling yet through feare of former hate; All stand amazed at so vncouth uncouth sight, And gin to pittie her vnhappie unhappie state. state, All stand astonied at her beautie bright, In their rude eyes vnworthy unworthy of so wofull plight. [10] She more amazd, in double dread doth dwell; And euery every tender part for feare does shake: As when a greedy Wolfe through honger fell A seely Lamb far from the flock does take, Of whom he meanes his bloody feast to make, A Lyon spyes fast running towards him, The innocent pray in hast he does forsake, Which quitt from death yet quakes in euery every lim With chaunge of feare, to see the Lyon looke so grim. [11] Such fearefull fitt assaid her trembling hart, Ne word to speake, ne ioynt joynt to moue move she had: The saluage salvage nation feele her secret smart, And read her sorrow in her count’nance sad; Their frowning forheades with rough hornes yclad, And rustick horror all a syde asyde doe lay, And gently grenning, shew a semblance glad To comfort her, and feare to put away, Their backward bent knees teach her humbly to obay. [12] The doubtfull Damzell dare not yet committ, Her single person to their barbarous truth, But still twixt feare and hope amazd does sitt, Late learnd what harme to hasty trust ensu’th, 81 the Faerie Queene. Cant. VI. The F They in compassion of her tender youth, And wonder of her beautie souerayne soverayne , Are wonne with pitty and vnwonted unwonted ruth, And all prostrate vpon upon the lowly playne, Doe kisse her feete, and fawne on her with count’nance (fayne. [13] Their harts she ghesseth by their humble guise, And yieldes her to extremitie of time; So from the ground she fearelesse doth arise, And walketh forth without suspect of crime: They all as glad, as birdes of ioyous joyous Pryme, Thence lead her forth, about her dauncing round, Shouting, and singing all a shepheards ryme, And with greene braunches strowing all the ground, Do worship her, as Queene, with oliue olive girlond cround. [14] And all the way their merry pipes they sound, That all the woods with doubled Eccho ring, And with their horned feet doe weare the ground, Leaping like wanton kids in pleasant Spring. So towards old Syluanus Sylvanus they her bring; Who with the noyse awaked, commeth out, To weet the cause, his weake steps gouerning governing , And aged limbs on Cypresse stadle stout, And with an yuie yvie twyne his waste is girt about. [15] Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, Or Of Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent invent , Or Cybeles franticke rites haue have made them mad; They drawing nigh, vnto unto their God present That flowre of fayth and beautie excellent: The God himselfe vewing that mirrhour rare, Stood long amazd, and burnt in his intent; His owne fayre Dryope now he thinkes not faire, And Pholoe fowle, when her to this he doth compaire. 80 The first Booke of Cant. VI. During [16] The woodborne people fall before her flat, And worship her as Goddesse of the wood; And old Syluanus Sylvanus selfe bethinkes not, what To thinke of wight so fayre, but gazing stood, In doubt to deeme her borne of earthly brood; Sometimes Dame Venus selfe he seemes to see, But Venus neuer never had so sober mood; Sometimes Diana he her takes to be, But misseth bow, and shaftes, and buskins to her knee. [17] By vew of her he ginneth to reuiue revive His ancient loue love , and dearest Cyparisse, And calles to mind his pourtraiture aliue alive , How fayre he was, and yet not fayre to this, And how he slew with glauncing dart amisse A gentle Hynd, the which the louely lovely boy Did loue love as life, aboue above all worldly blisse; For griefe whereof the lad n’ould after ioy joy , But pynd away in anguish and selfewild annoy. [18] The wooddy Nymphes, faire Hamadryades Her to behold do thether runne apace, And all the troupe of light-foot Naiades, Flocke all about to see her louely lovely face: But when they vewed haue have her heauenly heavenly grace, They enuy envy her in their malitious mind, And fly away for feare of fowle disgrace: But all the Satyres scorne their woody kind, And henceforth nothing faire, but her on earth they find.find. findfind [19] Glad of such lucke, the luckelesse lucky mayd, Did her content to please their feeble eyes, And long time with that saluage salvage people stayd, To gather breath in many miseryes. 81 the Faery Queene. Cant. VI. So F2 During which time her gentle wit she plyes, To teach them truth, which worshipt her in vaine, And made her th’Image of Idolatryes; But when their bootlesse zeale she did restrayne Frõ From her own worship, they her Asse would worship fayn. [20] It fortuned a noble warlike knight By iust just occasion to that forrest came, To seeke his kindred, and the lignage right, From whence he tooke his weldeserued weldeserved name: He had in armes abroad wonne muchell fame, And fild far landes with glorie of his might, Plaine, faithfull, true, and enimy of shame, And euer ever lou’d lov’d to fight for Ladies right, But in vaine glorious frayes he litle did delight. [21] A Satyres sonne yborne in forrest wyld, By straunge aduenture adventure as it did betyde, And there begotten of a Lady myld, Fayre Thyamis the daughter of Labryde, That was in sacred bandes of wedlocke tyde To Therion, a loose vnruly unruly swayne; Who had more ioy joy to raunge the forrest wyde, And chase the saluage salvage beast with busie payne, 1590.bk1.I.vi.21.9. Then: Than Then Than serue serve his Ladies loue love , & and waste in pleasures vayne. [22] The forlorne mayd did with loues loves longing burne, And could not lacke her louers lovers company, But to the wood she goes, to serue serve her turne, And seeke her spouse, that from her still does fly, And followes other game and venery: A Satyre chaunst her wandring for to finde, And kindling coles of lust in brutish eye, The loyall linkes of wedlocke did vnbinde unbinde , And made her person thrall vnto unto his beastly kind. 84 The first Booke of Cant. VI. The [23] So long in secret cabin there he held Her captiue captive to his sensuall desyre, Till that with timely fruit her belly sweld, And bore a boy vnto unto that saluage salvage syre: Then home he suffred her for to retyre, For ransome leauing leaving him the late-borne childe; Whom till to ryper yeares he gan aspyre, He nouſ⁀lednousled nourſ⁀lednoursled vp up in life and manners wilde, Emongst wild beastes and woods, from lawes of men (exilde. [24] For all he taught the tender ymp was but To banish cowardize and bastard feare; His trembling hand he would him force to put Vpon Upon the Lyon and the rugged Beare, And from the she Beares teats her whelps to teare; And eke wyld roring Buls he would him make To tame, and ryde their backes not made to beare; And the Robuckes in flight to ouertake overtake , That euerie everie beast for feare of him did fly and quake. [25] Thereby so fearelesse, and so fell he grew, That his owne syre and maister of his guise Did often tremble at his horrid vew, And oft for dread of hurt would him aduise advise , The angry beastes not rashly to despise, Nor too much to prouoke provoke : for he would learne The Lyon stoup to him in lowly wise; (A lesson hard) and make the Libbard Libbatd sterne Leaue Leave roaring, when in rage he for reuenge revenge did earne. [26] And for to make his powre approued approved more, Wyld beastes in yron yokes he would compell; The spotted Panther, and the tusked Bore, The Pardale swift, and the Tigre cruell; 85 the Faery Queene. Cant. VI. Yet F3 The Antelope, and Wolfe both fiers and fellfiers and fell ſwift and cruellswift and cruell fierce and fellfierce and fell ; And them constraine in equall teme to draw. Such ioy joy he had, their stubborne harts to quell, And sturdie courage tame with dreadfull aw, That his beheast they feared, as a tyrans as tyrans as proud tyrans law. [27] His louing loving mother came vpon upon a day Vnto Unto the woodes, to see her little sonne; And chaunst vnwares unwares to meet him in the way, After his sportes, and cruell pastime donne, When after him a Lyonesse did runne, That roaring all with rage, did lowd requere Her children deare, whom he away had wonne: The Lyon whelpes she saw how he did beare, And lull in rugged armes, withouten childish feare. [28] The fearefull Dame all quaked at the sight, And turning backe, gan fast to fly away, Vntill Untill with loue love reuokt revokt from vaine affright, She hardly yet perswaded was to stay, And then to him these womanish words gan say; Ah Satyrane, my dearling, and my ioy joy , For loue love of me leaue leave off this dreadfull play; To dally thus with death, is no fit toy, Go find some other play-fellowes, mine own sweet boy. [29] In these and like delightes of bloody game He trayned was, till ryper yeares he raught, And there abode, whylst any beast of name Walkt in that forrest, whom he had not taught, To feare his force: and then his courage haught Desyrd of forreine foemen to be knowne, And far abroad for straunge aduentures adventures sought: In which his might was neuer never ouerthrowne overthrowne , But through al Faery lond his famous worth was blown. blown blowne. 84 The first Booke of Cant. VI. Too [30] Yet euermore evermore it was his maner faire, After long labours and aduentures adventures spent, Vnto Unto those natiue native woods for to repaire, To see his syre and ofspring auncient. And now he thether came for like intent; Where he vnwares unwares the fairest Vna Una found, Straunge Sraunge Strange Lady, in so straunge habiliment, Teaching the Satyres, which her sat around Trew sacred lore, which frõ from her sweet lips did redound. [31] He wondred at her wisedome heuenly rare, Whose like in womens witt he neuer never knew; And when her curteous deeds he did compare, Gan her admire, and her sad sorrowes rew, Blaming of Fortune, which such troubles threw, And ioyd joyd to make proofe of her cruelty On gentle Dame, so hurtlesse, and so trew: Thenceforth he kept her goodly company, And learnd her discipline of faith and verity. [32] But she all vowd vnto unto the Redcrosse knight, His wandring perill closely did lament, Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight, But her deare heart with anguish did torment, And all her witt in secret counsels spent, How to escape. At last in priuy privy wise To Satyrane she shewed her intent; Who glad to gain such fauour favour , gan deuise devise , How with that pensiue pensive Maid he best might thence arise. [33] So on a day when Satyres all were gone, To doe their seruice service to Syluanus Sylvanus old, The gentle virgin left behinde alone He led away with corage stout and bold. 85 the Faery Queene. Cant. VI. That F4 Too late it was, to Satyres to be told, Or euer ever hope recouer recover her againe: In vaine he seekes that hauing having cannot hold. So fast he carried her with carefull paine, That they the woods wods are past, & and come now to the plaine. [34] The better part now of the lingring day, They traueild traveild had, whenas they far espide A weary wight forwandring by the way, And towards him they gan in hast to ride, To weete of newes, that did abroad betide, Or tidings of her knight of the Redcrosse. But he them spying, gan to turne aside, For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse; More greedy they of newes, fast towards him do crosse. [35] A silly man, in simple weeds forworne, And soild with dust of the long dried way; His sandales were with toilsome trauell travell torne, And face all tand with scorching sunny ray, As he had traueild traveild many a sommers day, Through boyling sands of Arabie and Ynde; And in his hand a Iacobs Jacobs staffe, to stay His weary limbs vpon upon : and eke behind, His scrip did hang, in which his needments he did bind. [36] The knight approching nigh, of him inquerd Tidings of warre, and of aduentures adventures new; But warres, nor new aduentures adventures none he herd. Then Vna Una gan to aske, if ought he knew, Or heard abroad of that her champion trew, That in his armour bare a croslet red. Ay me, Deare dame (qd.quoth he) well may I rew To tell the sad sight, which mine eies haue have red: These eies did see that knight both liuing living , and eke ded. 88 The first Booke of Cant. VI. Whereas [37] That cruell word her tender hart so thrild, That suddein cold did ronne through euery every vaine, And stony horrour all her sences fild With dying fitt, that downe she fell for paine. The knight her lightly reared vp up againe, And comforted with curteous kind reliefe: Then wonne from death, she bad him tellen plaine The further processe of her hidden griefe; The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur’d the chief. [38] Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day, This fatall day, that shall I euer ever rew, To see two knights in trauell travell on my way (A sory sight) arraung’d in batteill new, Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew: My feareful flesh did tremble at their strife, To see their blades so greedily imbrew, That dronke with blood, yet thristed after life: What more? the Redcrosse knight was slain with Paynim (knife. [39] Ah dearest Lord (qd.quoth she) how might that bee, And he the stoutest knight, that euer ever wonne? Ah dearest dame (qd.quoth hee) how migh I see The thing, that might not be, and yet was donne? Where is (said Satyrane) that Paynims sonne, That him of life, and vs us of ioy joy hath refte? Not far away ( quoth he qd. ſ⁀heqd. shequoth ſ⁀hequoth she quoth hee ) he hence doth wonne Foreby a fountaine, where I late him lefte Washing his bloody wounds, that through the steele (were cleft. [40] Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast, Whiles Vna Una with huge heauinesse heavinesse opprest, Could not for sorrow follow him so fast; And soone he came, as he the place had ghest, 89 the Faery Queene Cant. VI. So Whereas that Pagan proud him selfe did rest, In secret shadow by a fountaine side: Euen Even he it was, that earst would haue have supprest Faire Vna Una : whom when Satyrane espide, With foule reprochfull words he boldly him defide. [41] And said, Arise thou cursed Miscreaunt, That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous train Faire knighthood fowly shamed, and doest vaunt That good knight of the Redcrosse to haue have slain: Arise, and with like treason now maintain Thy guilty wrong, or els thee guilty yield. The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain, And catching vp up in hast his three square shield, And shining helmet, soone him buckled to the field. [42] And drawing nigh him said, Ah misborn Elfe, In euill evill houre thy foes thee hither sent, Anothers wrongs to wreak vpon upon thy selfe: Yet ill thou blamest me, for hauing having blent My name with guile and traiterous intent; That Redcrosse knight, perdie, I neuer never slew, But had he beene, where earst his armes were lent, Th’enchaunter vaine his errour should not rew: But thou his errour shalt, I hope now prouen proven trew. [43] Therewith they gan, both furious and fell, To thunder blowes, and fiersly to assaile Each other, bent his enimy to quell, That with their force they perst both plate & and maile, And made wide furrowes in their fleshes fraile, That it would pitty any liuing living eie. Large floods of blood adowne their sides did raile; But floods of blood could not them satisfie: Both hongred after death: both chose to win, or die. 88 The first Booke of Cant. VI. Most [44] So long they fight, and fell full reuenge revenge pursue, That fainting each, them selues selves to breathen lett, And ofte refreshed, battell oft renue: As when two Bores with rancling malice mett, Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely frett, Til breathlesse both themselues themselves aside retire, Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whett, And trample th’earth, the whiles they may respire; Then backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire. [45] So fiersly, when these knights had breathed once, They gan to fight retourne, retourne. returne, increasing more Their puissant force, and cruell rage attonce, With heaped strokes more hugely, 1590.bk1.I.vi.45.4. then: than then than before, That with their drery wounds and bloody gore They both deformed, scarsely could bee known. By this sad Vna Una fraught with anguish sore, Led with their noise, which through the aire was (thrown: Arriu’d Arriv’d , wher they in erth their fruitles blood had sown. [46] Whom all so soone as that proud Sarazin Espide, he gan reuiue revive the memory Of his leud lusts, and late attempted sin, And lefte the doubtfull battell hastily, To catch her, newly offred to his eie: But Satyrane with strokes him turning, staid, And sternely bad him other businesse plie, 1590.bk1.I.vi.46.8. Then: Than Then Than hunt the steps of pure vnspotted unspotted Maid: Wherewith he al enrag’d, these bitter speaches said. [47] O foolish faeries sonne, what fury mad Hath thee incenst, to hast thy dolefull fate fete ? Were it not better, I that Lady had, 1590.bk1.I.vi.47.4. Then: Than Then Than that thou hadst repented it too late? 89 the Faery Queene. Cant. VII. Wh Who Most sencelesse man he, that himselfe doth hate, To loue love another. Lo then for thine ayd Here take thy louers lovers token on thy pate. So they to two fight; the whiles the royall Mayd Fledd farre away, of that proud Paynim sore afrayd. afrayd affraid.affraid. [48] But that false Pilgrim, which that leasing told, Being in deed old Archimage, did stay In secret shadow, all this to behold, And much reioyced rejoyced in their bloody fray: But when he saw the Damsell passe away He left his stond, and her pursewd apace, In hope to bring her to her last decay. But for to tell her lamentable cace, And eke this battels end, will need another place.