Cant. IX. His loues loves and lignage Arthure tells the knights knitt friendly bands hands : Sir Treuisan Trevisan flies from Despeyre, Whom Redcros knight withstands. [1] O Goodly O goodly golden chayne, wherewith yfere The vertues linked are in louely lovely wize: And noble mindes of yore allyed were, In braue brave poursuitt of cheualrous chevalrous emprize, That none did others safety despize, Nor aid enuy envy to him, in need that stands, But friendly each did others praise deuize devize , How to aduaunce advaunce with fauourable favourable hands, As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from (bands. [2] Who when their powres empayrd through labor long, With dew repast they had recured well, And that weake captiue captive wight now wexed strong, Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell, But forward fare, as their aduentures adventures fell, But ere they parted, Vna Una faire besought That straunger knight his name and nation tell; Least so great good, as he for her had wrought, Should die vnknown unknown , & and buried be in thankles thought. 120 The first Booke of Cant. IX. Aread [3] Faire virgin (said the Prince) yee me require A thing without the compas of my witt: For both the lignage and the certein Sire, From which I sprong, from mee are hidden yitt. For all so soone as life did me admitt Into this world, and shewed heuens light, From mothers pap I taken was vnfitt unfitt : And streight deliuered delivered to a Fary knight, To be vpbrought upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might. [4] Vnto Unto old Timon he me brought byliue bylive , Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beene In warlike feates th’expertest man aliue alive , And is the wisest now on earth I weene; His dwelling is low in a valley greene, Vnder Under the foot of Rauran mossy hore, From whence the riuer river Dee as siluer silver cleene His tombling billowes dillowes billowes rolls with gentle rore: There all my daies he traind mee vp up in vertuous lore. [5] Thether the great magicien Merlin came, As was his vse use , ofttimes to visitt mee me: mee: For he had charge my discipline to frame, And Tutors nouriture to ouersee oversee . Him oft and oft I askt in priuity privity , Of what loines and what lignage I did spring. Whose aunswere bad me still assured bee, That I was sonne and heire vnto unto a king, As time in her iust just term the truth to light should bring. [6] Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent, And Pupill fitt for such a Tutors hand. But what aduenture adventure , or what high intent Hath brought you hether into Fary land, 121 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX. That Aread Prince Arthure, crowne of Martiall band? Full hard it is (qd.quoth he) to read aright The course of heauenly heavenly cause, or vnderstand understand The secret meaning of th’eternall might, That rules mens waies, and rules the thoughts of liuing living (wight. [7] For whether he through fatal deepe foresight Me hither sent, for cause to me vnghest unghest , Or that fresh bleeding wound, which day and night Whilome doth rancle in my riuen riven brest, With forced fury following his behest, Me hether brought by wayes yet neuer never found, You to haue have helpt I hold my selfe yet blest. Ah courteous knight (quoth she) what secret wound Could euer ever find, to grieue grieve the gentlest hart on ground? [8] Deare Dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake, Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow, Ne euer ever will their feruent fervent fury slake, Till liuing living moysture into smoke do flow, And wasted life doe lye in ashes low. Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire, But told it flames, and hidden it does glow, I will reuele revele , what ye so much desire: Ah Loue Love , lay down thy bow, the that whiles I may reſpire.respire. reſpyrerespyre [9] It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares, When corage first does creepe in manly chest, Then first that the cole of kindly heat appeares To kindle loue love in euery every liuing living brest; But me had warnd old Timons Cleons wise behest, Those creeping flames by reason to subdew, Before their rage grew to so great vnrest unrest , As miserable louers lovers vse use to rew, Which still wex old in woe, whiles wo stil wexeth new. 122 The first Booke of Cant. IX. Whiles [10] That ydle name of loue love , and louers lovers life, As losse of time, and vertues enimy I euer ever scornd, and ioyd joyd to stirre vp up strife, In middest of their mournfull Tragedy, Ay wont to laugh, when them I heard to cry, And blow the fire, which them to ashes brent: Their God himselfe, grieud grievd at my libertie, Shott many a dart at me with fiers intent, But I them warded all with wary gouernment government . [11] But all in vaine: no fort can be so strong, Ne fleshly brest can armed be so sownd, But will at last be wonne with battrie long, Or vnawares unawares at disauantage disavantage fownd: Nothing is sure, that growes on earthly grownd: And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might, And boastes, in beauties chaine not to be bownd, Doth soonest fall in disauentrous disaventrous fight, And yeeldes his caytiue caytive neck to victours most despight. [12] Ensample make of him your haplesse ioy joy , And of my selfe now mated, as ye see; Whose prouder vaunt that proud auenging avenging boy Did soone pluck downe, and curbd my libertee. For on a day prickt forth with iollitee jollitee Of looser life, and heat of hardiment, Raunging the forest wide on courser free, The fields, the floods, the heauens heavens with one consent Did seeme to laugh on at me, and fauour favour mine intent. [13] Forwearied For wearied For-wearied Fore-wearied with my sportes, I did alight From loftie steed, and downe to sleepe me layd; The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight, And pillow was my helmett fayre displayd: 123 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX. Thine Whiles euery every sence the humour sweet embayd, And slombring soft my hart did steale away away, Me seemed, by my side a royall Mayd Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay: So fayre a creature yet saw neuer never sunny day. [14] Most goodly glee and louely lovely blandishment She to me made, and badd me loue love her deare; deare, For dearely sure her loue love was to me bent, As when iust just time expired should appeare. But whether dreames delude, or true it were, Was neuer never hart so rauisht ravisht with delight, Ne liuing living man like wordes did euer ever heare, As she to me deliuered delivered all that night; And at her parting said, She Queene of Faries hight. [15] When I awoke, and found her place deuoyd devoyd , And nought but pressed gras where she had lyen, I sorrowed all so much, as earst I ioyd joyd , And washed all her place with watry eyen. From that day forth I lou’d lov’d that face diuyne divyne ; From that day forth I cast in carefull mynd, To seeke her out with labor, and long tyne, And neuer never vowd to rest, till her I fynd, Nyne monethes I seek in vain yet ni’ll that vow vnbynd unbynd . [16] Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale, And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray; Yett still he stroue strove to cloke his inward bale, And hide the smoke, that did his fire display, Till gentle Vna Una thus to him gan say; O happy Queene of Faries, that hast fownd Mongst many, one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour, and thy foes confownd: True Loues Loves are oftẽ often sown, but seldom grow on grownd. ground. grownd 124 The first Booke of Cant. IX. And [17] Thine, O then, said the gentle Redcrosse knight, Next to that Ladies loue love , shalbe the place, O fayrest virgin, full of heauenly heavenly light, Whose wondrous faith, exceeding earthly race, Was firmest fixt in myne extremest case. And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life, Of that great Queene may well gaine worthie grace: For onely worthie you through prowes priefe Yf liuing living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe. [18] So diuersly diversly discoursing of their loues loves , The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew, And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues amoves , With fresh desire his voyage to pursew: Als Vna Una earnd her traueill traveill to renew. Then those two knights, fast frendship for to bynd, And loue love establish each to other trew, Gaue Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd, And eke as the pledges firme, right hands together ioynd joynd . [19] Prince Arthur gaue gave a boxe of Diamond sure, Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament, Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure, Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent, That any wownd could heale incontinent: Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gaue gave A booke, wherein his this Saueours Saveours testament Was writt with golden letters rich and braue brave ; A worke of wondrous grace, and hable soules to saue save . [20] Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his way To seeke his loue love , and th’other for to fight With Vnaes Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray. But she now weighing the decayed plight, 125 the Faerie Queene. Cant. IX. He And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight, Would not a while her forward course pursew, Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight, Till he recouered recovered had his former hew: For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew. [21] So as they traueild traveild , lo they gan espy An armed knight towards them gallop fast, That seemed from some feared foe to fly, Or other griesly thing, that him aghast. Still as he fledd, his eye was backward cast, As if his feare still followed him behynd; Als flew his steed, as he his bandes had brast, And with his winged heeles did tread the wynd, As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kynd. [22] Nigh as he drew, they might perceiue perceive his head To bee vnarmd unarmd , and curld vncombed uncombed heares Vpstaring Upstaring stiffe, dismaid with vncouth uncouth dread; Nor drop of blood in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe: and to increase his feares, In fowle reproch of knighthoodes fayre degree, About his neck an hempen rope he weares, That with his glistring armes does ill agree; But he of rope or armes has now no memoree. [23] The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast, To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd: There him he findes all sencelesse and aghast, That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd, afrayd; afraid; Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd, Till he these wordes to him deliuer deliver might; Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd, And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight: For neuer never knight I saw in such misseeming plight. 126 The first Booke of Cant. IX. But [24] He answerd nought at all, but adding new Feare to his first amazment, staring wyde With stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew, Astonisht stood, as one that had aspyde Infernall furies, with their chaines vntyde untyde . Him yett againe, and yett againe bespake The gentle knight, knight; who nought to him replyde, But trembling euery every ioynt joynt did inly quake, And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to (shake. [25] For Gods deare loue love , Sir knight, doe me not stay; For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee. Eft looking back would faine haue have runne away; But he him forst to stay, and tellen free The secrete cause of his perplexitie, perplexitie: Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach, Could his blood frosen hart emboldened bee, But through his boldnes rather feare did reach, Yett forst, at last he made through silẽce silence suddein breach. [26] And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he) From him, that would haue have forced me to dye? And is the point of death now turnd fro mee, That I may tell this haplesse history? Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye. nye? nie? Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace, (Said he) the which with this vnlucky unlucky eye I late beheld, and had not greater grace Me reft from it, had bene partaker of the place. [27] I lately chaunst (Would I had neuer never chaunst) With a fayre knight to keepen companee, Sir Terwin hight, that well himselfe aduaunst advaunst In all affayres, and was both bold and free, 127 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX. How I But not so happy as mote happy bee: He lou’d lov’d , as was his lot, a Lady gent, That him againe lou’d lov’d in the least degree: For she was proud, and of too high intent, And ioyd joyd to see her louer lover languish and lament. [28] From whom retourning sad and comfortlesse, As on the way together we did fare, We met that villen (God from him me blesse) That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare, A man of hell, that calls himselfe Despayre: Who first vs us greets, and after fayre areedes Of tydinges straunge, and of aduentures adventures rare: So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes, Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes. [29] Which when he knew, and felt our feeble harts Embost with bale, and bitter byting griefe, Which loue love had launched with his deadly darts, With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe, He pluckt from vs us all hope of dew reliefe, That earst vs us held in loue love of lingring life; Then hopelesse hartlesse, gan the cunning thiefe Perswade vs us dye, to stint all further strife: To me he lent this rope, to him a rusty knife. [30] With which sad instrument of hasty death, That wofull louer lover , loathing lenger light, A wyde way made to let forth liuing living breath. But I more fearefull, or more lucky wight, Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight, Fledd fast away, halfe dead with dying feare; Ne yet assur’d of life by you, Sir knight, Whose like infirmity like chaunce may beare: But God you neuer never let his charmed speaches heare. 128 The first Booke of Cant. IX. Whose [31] How may a man (said he) with idle speach Be wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health? I wote (quoth he) whom tryall late did teach, That like would not for all this worldes wealth: His subtile tong, like dropping honny, mealt’h Into the heart, and searcheth euery every vaine, That ere one be aware, by secret stealth His powre is reft, and weaknes doth remaine. O neuer never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine. [32] Certes (sayd he) hence shall I neuer never rest, Till I that treachours art haue have heard and tryde; And you Sir knight, whose name mote I request, Of grace do me vnto unto his cabin guyde. I that hight Treuisan Trevisan (quoth he) will ryde Against my liking backe, to doe you grace: But nor for gold nor glee will I abyde By you, when ye arriue arrive in that same place; For leuer lever had I die, 1590.bk1.I.ix.32.9. then: than then than see his deadly face. [33] Ere long they come, where that same wicked wight His dwelling has, low in an hollow caue cave , Far vnderneath underneath a craggy clift yplight, Darke, dolefull, dreary, like a greedy graue grave , That still for carrion carcases doth craue crave : On top whereof ay dwelt the ghastly Owle, Shrieking his balefull note, which euer ever draue drave Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle; And Aud all about it wandring ghostes did wayle & and howle. [34] And all about old stockes and stubs of trees, Whereon nor fruite, nor leafe was euer ever seene, Did hang vpon upon the ragged rocky knees; On which had many wretches hanged beene, 129 the Faerie Queene. Cant. IX. What I2 Whose carcases were scattred on the greene, And throwne about the clifts. Arriued Arrived there, That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene, Would faine haue have fled, ne durst approchen neare, But th’other forst him staye, and comforted in feare. [35] That darkesome caue cave they enter, where they find That cursed man, low sitting on the ground, Musing full sadly in his sullein mind; His griesie lockes, long growen, and vnbound unbound , Disordred hong about his shoulders round, And hid his face; through which his hollow eyne Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound; His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine, Were Where shronke into his iawes jawes , as he did neuer never dyne. [36] His garment nought but many ragged clouts, With thornes together pind and patched was, The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts; And him beside there lay vpon upon the gras A dreary corse, whose life away did pas, All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood, That from his wound yet welled fresh alas; In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood, And made an open passage for the gushing flood. [37] Which piteous spectacle, approuing approving trew The wofull tale, that Trevisan had told, When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew, With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold, Him to auenge avenge , before his blood were cold, And to the villein sayd, Thou damned wight, The authour of this fact, we here behold, What iustice justice can but iudge judge against thee right, With thine owne blood to price his blood, here shed in (sight. 130 The first Booke of Cant. IX. Nor [38] What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to giue give ? What iustice justice euer ever other iudgement judgement taught, But he should dye, who merites not to liue live ? None els to death this man despayring driue drive , But his owne guiltie mind deseruing deserving death. Is then vniust unjust to each his dew to giue give ? Or let him dye, that loatheth liuing living liniug breath? Or let him die at ease, that liueth liveth here vneath uneath ? [39] Who trauailes travailes by the wearie wandring way, To come vnto unto his wished home in haste, And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay, Is not great grace to helpe him ouer over past, Or free his feet, that in the myre sticke fast? Most enuious envious man, that grieues grieves at neighbours good, And fond, that ioyest joyest in the woe thou hast, Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stood Vpon Upon the bancke, yet wilt thy selfe not pas the flood? [40] He there does now enioy enjoy eternall rest And happy ease, which thou doest want and craue crave , And further from it daily wanderest: What if some little payne the passage haue have , That makes frayle flesh to feare the bitter waue wave ? Is not short payne well borne, that bringes long ease, And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue grave ? Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas, Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please. [41] The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit, And sayd, The terme of life is limited life limited , Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it; The souldier may not moue move from watchfull sted, 131 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX. Thou I3 Nor leaue leave his stand, vntill untill his Captaine bed. Who life did limit by almightie doome, (Quoth he) knowes best the termes established; And he, that points the Centonell his roome, Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome. [42] Is not his deed, what euer ever thing is donne, In heauen heaven and earth? did not he all create, To die againe? all ends that was begonne. Their times in his eternall booke of fate Are written sure, and haue have their certein date. Who then can striue strive with strong necessitie, That holds the world in his still chaunging state, Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie? Whẽ When houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor (why. [43] The lenger life, I wote the greater sin, The greater sin, the greater punishment: All those great battels, which thou boasts to win, Through strife, and blood-shed, and auengement avengement , Now praysd, hereafter deare thou shalt repent: For life must life, and blood must blood repay. Is not enough thy euill evill life forespent? For he, that once hath missed the right way. The further he doth goe, the further he doth stray. [44] Then doe no further goe, no further stray, But here ly downe, and to thy rest betake, Th’ill to preuent prevent , that life ensewen may. For what hath life, that may it loued loved make, And giues gives not rather cause it to forsake? Feare, sicknesse, age, losse, labour, sorrow, strife, Payne, hunger, cold, that makes the hart to quake; And euer ever fickle fortune rageth rife, All which, and thousands mo do make a loathsome life. 132 The first Booke of Cant. IX. And [45] Thou wretched man, of death hast greatest need, If in true ballaunce thou wilt weigh thy state: For neuer never knight, that dared warlike deed, More luckless dissauentures dissaventures did amate: Witnes the dungeon deepe, wherein of late Thy life shutt vp up , for death so oft did call; And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date, Yet death then, would the like mishaps forestall, Into the which heareafter thou maist happen fall. [46] Why then doest thou, O man of sin, desire To draw thy dayes forth to their last degree? Is not the measure of thy sinfull hire High heaped vp up with huge iniquitee, Against the day of wrath, to burden thee? Is not enough, that to this Lady mild Thou falſedfalsed falſeſtfalsest hast thy faith with periuree perjuree , And sold thy selfe to serue serve Duessa vild, With whom in al abuse thou hast thy selfe defild? [47] Is not he iust just , that all this doth behold From highest heuenheven, and beares an equall eie? Shall he thy sins vp up in his knowledge fold, And guilty be of thine impietie? Is not his lawe, Let euery every sinner die: Die shall all flesh? what then must needs be donne, Is it not better to doe willinglie, 1590.bk1.I.ix.47.8. Then: Than Then Than linger, till the glas be all out ronne? Death is the end of woes: die soone, O faries sonne. [48] The knight was much enmoued enmoved with his speach, That as a swords poynt through his hart did perse, And in his conscience made a secrete breach, Well knowing trew all, that he did reherse, 133 the Faery Queene. Cant. IX. Which I4 And to his fresh remembraunce did reuerse reverse , The vgly ugly vew of his deformed crimes, That all his manly powres it did disperse, As he were charmed with inchaunted rimes, That oftentimes he quakt, and fainted oftentimes. [49] In which amazement, when the Miscreaunt Perceiued Perceived him to wauer waver weake and fraile, Whiles trembling horror did his conscience daunt, And hellish anguish did his soule assaile, To driue drive him to despaire, and quite to quaile, Hee shewd him painted in a table plaine, The damned ghosts, that doe in torments waile, And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paine With fire and brimstone, which for euer ever shall remaine. [50] The sight whereof so throughly him dismaid, That nought but death before his eies he saw, And euer ever burning wrath before him laid, By righteous sentence of th’Almighties law: Then gan the villein him to ouercraw overcraw , And brought vnto unto him swords, ropes, poison, fire, And all that might him to perdition draw; And bad him choose, what death he would desire: For death was dew to him, that had prouokt provokt Gods ire. [51] But whenas none of them he saw him take, He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene, And gaue gave it him in hand: his hand did quake, And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene, And troubled blood through his pale face was seene To come, and goe with tidings from the heart, As it a ronning messenger had beene. At last resolu’d resolv’d to worke his finall smart, He lifted vp up his hand, that backe againe did start. 134 The first Booke of Cant. IX. Cant. [52] Which whenas Vna Una saw heard , through euery every vaine The crudled cold ran to her well of life, As in a swowne: but soone reliu’d reliv’d againe, Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife, And threw it to the ground, enraged rife, And to him said, Fie fie, faint hearted knight, What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife? Is this the battaile, which thou vauntst to fight With that fire-mouthed Dragon, horrible and bright? [53] Come, come away, fraile, feeble ſeelyseely ſillysilly , fleshly wight, Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart, Ne diuelish divelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright. In heauenly heavenly mercies hast thou not a part? Why shouldst thou then despeire, that chosen art? Where iustice justice growes, there grows eke greter grace, The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart, And that accurst hand-writing doth deface. deface, deface: Arise, Sir knight arise, and leaue leave this cursed place. [54] So vp up he rose, and thence amounted streight. VVhich Which when the carle beheld, and saw his guest VVould Would safe depart, for all his subtile sleight, He chose an halter from among the rest, And with it hong him selfe, vnbid unbid vnblest unblest . But death he could not worke himselfe thereby; For thousand times he so him selfe had drest, Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die, Till he should die his last, that is eternally.