Cant XI The enimies of Temperaunce besiege her dwelling place: Prince Arthure Arthur them repelles, and fowle Maleger doth deface. [1] W H h at warre so cruel, or what siege so sore, As that, which strong affections doe apply Against the forte of reason euermore evermore , To bring the sowle into captiuity captivity : Their force is fiercer through infirmity Of the fraile flesh, relenting to their rage, And exercise most bitter tyranny Vpon Upon the partes, brought into their bondage: No wretchednesse is like to sinfull vellenage. [2] But in a body which doth freely yeeldHis partes to reasons rule obedient,And letteth her that ought the scepter weeld,All happy peace and goodly gouernment government 348ThemThe Second Booke ofCant.XI.Is setled there in sure establishment, There Alma like a virgin Queene most bright, Doth florish in all beautie excellent: And to her guestes doth bounteous banket dight, Attempred goodly well for health and for and delight. [3] Early before the Morne with cremosin ray, The windowes of bright heauen heaven opened had, Through which into the world the dawning day Might looke, that maketh euery every creature glad, Vprose Uprose Sir Guyon, in bright armour clad, And to his purposd iourney journey him prepar’d: With him the Palmer eke in habit sad, Him selfe addrest to that aduenture adventure hard: So to the riuers rivers syde they both together far’d. [4] Where them awaited ready at the ford The Ferriman, as Alma had behight, With his well rigged bote: They goe abord, And he And eftsoones gan launch his barke forthright. Ere long they rowed were quite out of sight, And fast the land behynd them fled away. But let them pas, whiles winde and wether right Doe serue serve their turnes: here I a while must stay, To see a cruell fight doen by the Prince prince this day. [5] For all so soone, as Guyon thence was gon Vpon Upon his voyage with his trustie guyde, That wicked band of villeins fresh begon That castle to assaile on euery every side, And lay strong siege about it far and wyde. So huge and infinite their numbers were, That all the land they vnder under them did hyde; So fowle and vgly ugly , that exceeding feareTheir visages imprest, when they approched neare. 349 And the Faerie Queene. Cant.XI. [6] Them in twelue twelve troupes their Captein did dispart, And round about in fittest steades did place, Where each might best offend his proper part,And his contrary obiect object most deface, As euery every one seem’d meetest in that cace. Seuen Seven of the same against the Castle gate, In strong entrenchments he did closely place, Which with incessaunt force and endlesse hate, They battred day and night, and entraunce did awate. [7] The other fiue five fine , fiue five sondry wayes he sett, Against the fiue five great Bulwarkes of that pyle, And vnto unto each a Bulwarke did arrett, T’assayle with open force or hidden guyle, In hope thereof to win victorious spoile. They all that charge did feruently fervently apply, With greedie malice and importune toyle, And planted there their huge artillery, With which they dayly made most dreadfull battery. [8] The first troupe was a monstrous rablement Of fowle misshapen wightes, of which some were Headed like Owles, with beckes vncomely uncomely bent,Others like Dogs, others like Gryphons dreare, And some had wings, and some had clawes to teare, And euery every one of them had Lynces eyes, And euery every one did bow and arrowes beare: All those were lawlesse lustes, corrupt enuyes envyes , And couetous covetous aspects, all cruel enimyes. [9] Those same against the bulwarke of the Sight Did lay strong siege, and battailous assault, Ne once did yield it respitt day nor night, But soone as Titan gan his head exault, 350 But The Second Booke of Cant.XI. And soone againe as he his light withhault, Their wicked engins they against it bent: That is each thing, by which the eyes may fault, But two 1590.bk2.II.xi.9.8. then: than then than all more huge and violent, Beautie, and money they againſtagainst that Bulwarke lent that Bulwarke ſorelysorely rent . [10] The second Bulwarke was the Hearing sence, Gainst which the second troupe aſ⁀ſignmentassignment dessignment makes, Deformed creatures, in straunge difference,Some hauing having heads like Harts, some like to Snakes,Some like wilde Bores late rouzd out of the brakes, Slaunderous reproches, and fowle infamies,Leasinges, backbytinges, and vaineglorious crakes,Bad counsels, prayses, and false flatteries, All those against that fort did bend their batteries. [11] Likewise that same third Fort, that is the Smell Of that third troupe was cruelly assayd: Whose hideous shapes were like to feendes of hell, Some like to houndes, some like to Apes, dismayd,Some like to Puttockes, all in plumes arayd: All shap’t according their conditions, For by those vgly ugly formes weren pourtrayd, Foolish delights and fond abusions, Which doe that sence besiege with light illusions. [12] And that fourth band which cruell battry bent, Against the fourth Bulwarke, that is the Taste, Was as the rest a grysie rablement, Some mouth’d like greedy Oystriges, some fasteLike loathly Toades, some fashioned in the waste Like swine; for so deformd is luxury, Surfeat, misdiet, and vnthriftie unthriftie waste, Vaine feastes, and ydle superfluity: All those this sences Fort assayle incessantly. Z 351 Gan the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. [13] But the fift troupe most horrible of hew, And ferce of force, is was dreadfull to report: For some like Snailes, some did like spyders shew, And some like vgly ugly Vrchins Urchins thick and short: Cruelly they aſ⁀ſayedassayed aſ⁀ſayledassayled that fift Fort,Armed with dartes of sensuall delight,With stinges of carnall lust, and strong effortOf feeling pleasures, with which day and night Against that same fift bulwarke they continued fight. [14] Thus these twelue twelve troupes with dreadfull puissaunce Against that Castle restlesse siege did lay, And euermore evermore their hideous Ordinaunce Vpon Upon the Bulwarkes cruelly did play, That now it gan to threaten neare decay. And euermore evermore their wicked Capitayn Prouoked Provoked them the breaches to assay, Somtimes with threats, somtimes with hope of gayn, Which by the ransack of that peece they should attayn. [15] On th’other syde, th’assieged Castles ward Their stedfast stonds did mightily maintaine, And many bold repulse, and many hard Atchieuement Atchievement wrought with perill and with payne, That goodly frame from ruine to sustaine: And those two brethren Gyauntes did defend The walles so stoutly with their sturdie mayne, That neuer never entraunce any durst pretend, But they to direfull death their groning ghosts did send. [16] The noble Virgin, Ladie of the Place, Was much dismayed with that dreadful sight: For neuer never was she in so euill evill cace, Till that the Prince seeing her wofull plight, 352 Which The Second Booke of Cant. XI. Gan her recomfort from so sad affright, Offring his seruice service , and his dearest life For her defence, against that Carle to fight, Which was their chiefe and th’authour of that strife: She him remercied as the Patrone of her life. [17] Eftsoones himselfe in glitterand armes he dight, And his well proued proved weapons to him hent; So taking courteous conge he behight, Those gates to be vnbar’d unbar’d , and forth he went. Fayre mote he thee, the prowest and most gent, That euer ever brandished bright steele on hye: Whom soone as that vnruly unruly rablement rablcment rablement rabblement , With his gay Squyre issewing did espye, They reard a most outrageous outragous outrageous outragious dreadfull yelling cry. [18] And therewithall attonce at him let flyTheir fluttring arrowes, thicke as flakes of snow, And round about him flocke impetuously, Like a great water flood, that tombling lowFrom the high mountaines, threates to ouerflow overflow With suddein fury all the fertile playne,And the sad husbandmans long hope doth throw, A downe Adowne the streame and all his vowes make vayne,Nor bounds nor banks his headlong ruine may sustayne. [19] Vpon Upon his shield their heaped hayle he bore, And with his sword disperst the raskall flockes, Which fled a sonder asonder , and him fell before, As withered leaues withered leaves witheredleaueswitheredleaves withered leaueswithered leaves drop from their dryed stockes, Whẽ When the wroth Western wind does reaue reave their locks; And vnder under neath him his courageous steed, The fierce Spumador trode them downe like docks, The fierce Spumador borne of heauenly heavenly seed:Such as Laomedon of Phæbus race did breed.breed Z 2 353 And the Faerie Queene. Cant.XI. [20] Which suddeine horrour and confused cry, When as their Capteine heard, in haste he yode, The cause to weet, and fault to remedy, Vpon Upon a Tygre swift and fierce he rode, That as the winde ran vnderneath underneath his lode, Whiles his long legs nigh raught vnto unto the ground, Full large he was of limbe, and shoulders brode, But of such subtile substance and vnsound unsound , That like a ghost he seem’d, whose graue grave -clothes were vnbound. unbound. [21] And in his hand a bended bow was seene,And many arrowes vnder under his right side,All deadly daungerous, all cruell keene,Headed with flint, and fethers bloody dide, Such as the Indians in their quiuers quivers hide, Those could he well direct and streight as line, And bid them strike the marke, which he had eyde, Ne was their salue salve ne was their medicine, That mote recure their wounds: so inly they did tine. [22] As pale and wan as ashes was his looke, His body leane and meagre as a rake, And skin all withered like a dryed rooke, Thereto as cold and drery as a Snake, That seemd to tremble euermore evermore , and quake: All in a canuas canvas thin he was bedight, And girded with a belt of twisted brake, Vpon Upon his head he wore an Helmet light,Made of a dead mans skull, that seemd a ghastly sight. [23] Maleger was his name, and after him, There follow’d fast at hand two wicked Hags, With hoary lockes all loose, and visage grim; Their feet vnshod unshod , their bodies wrapt in rags, 354 Apace The Second Booke of Cant. XI. And both as swift on foot, as chased Stags, And yet the one her other legge had lame, Which with a staffe, all full of litle snags She did support diſportdisport , and Impotence her name: But th’other was Impatience, arm’d with raging flame. [24] Soone as the Carle from far the Prince espyde, Glistring in armes and warlike ornament, His Beast he felly prickt on either syde, And his mischieuous mischievous bow full readie bent, With which at him a cruell shaft he sent: But he was warie, and it warded well Vpon Upon his shield, that it no further went, But to the ground the idle quarrell fell: Then he another and another did expell. [25] Which to preuent prevent , the Prince his mortall speare Soone to him raught, and fierce at him did ride, To be auenged avenged of that shot whyleare: But he was not so hardy to abide That bitter stownd, but turning quicke aside His light-foot beast, fled fast away for feare: Whom to poursue, the Infant after hide, So fast as his good Courser could him beare, But labour lost it was, to weene approch him neare. [26] For as the winged wind his Tigre fled, That vew of eye could scarse him ouertake overtake , Ne scarse his feet on ground were seene to tred; Through hils and dales he speedy way did make, Ne hedge ne ditch his readie passage brake, And in his flight the villein turn’d his face,(As wonts the Tartar by the Caspian lake,When as the Russian him in fight does chace) Vnto Unto his Tygres taile, and shot at him apace. Z 3 355 Till the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. [27] Apace he shot, and yet he fled apace, Still as the greedy knight nigh to him drew, And oftentimes he would relent his pace,That him his foe more fiercely should poursew: But Who when his vncouth uncouth manner he did vew, He gan auize avize to follow him no more, But keepe his standing, and his shaftes eschew, Vntill Untill he quite had spent his perlous store, And then assayle him fresh, ere he could shift for more. [28] But that lame Hag, still as abroad he strew His wicked arrowes, gathered them againe, And to him brought fresh batteill to renew: Which he espying, cast her to restraine From yielding succour to that cursed Swaine, And her attaching, thought her hands to tye; But soone as him dismounted on the plaine, That other Hag did far away espye Binding her sister, she to him ran hastily. [29] And catching hold of him, as downe he lent, Him backeward ouerthrew overthrew , and downe him stayd With their rude handes and gryesly graplement, Till that the villein comming to their ayd, Vpon Upon him fell, and lode vpon upon him layd; Full litle wanted, but he had him slaine, And of the battell balefull end had made, Had not his gentle Squire beheld his paine,And commen to his reskew, ere his bitter bane. [30] So greatest and most glorious thing on ground May often need the helpe of weaker hand; So feeble is mans state, and life vnsound unsound , That in assuraunce it may neuer never stand,356WhichThe Second Booke ofCant.XI.Till it dissolued dissolved be from earthly band. Proofe be thou Prince, the prowest man alyue alyve , And noblest borne of all in BritayneBritomBriton land, Yet thee fierce Fortune did so nearely driue drive , That had not grace thee blest, thou shouldest not ſuruiue ſurvive suruiue survive reuiuerevive . [31] The Squyre arriuing arriving , fiercely in his armes Snatcht first the one, and then the other Iade Jade , His chiefest letts and authors of his harmes, And them perforce withheld with threatned blade, Least that his Lord they ſhouldshould fhould behinde inuade invade ; The whiles the Prince prickt with reprochful shame,As one awakte out of long slombring shade, Reuiuyng Revivyng thought of glory and of fame, Vnited United all his powres to purge him selfe from blame. [32] Like as a fire, the which in hollow caue cave Hath long bene vnderkept underkept , and down supprest, With murmurous disdayne doth inly raue rave , And grudge, in so streight prison to be prest, At last breakes forth with furious infeſtinfest unreſtunrest , And striues strives to mount vnto unto his natiue native seat; All that did earst it hinder and molest, Yt now deuoures devoures with flames and scorching heat, And carries into smoake with rage and horror great. [33] So mightely the Briton Prince him rouzd Out of his holde, and broke his caytiue caytive bands, And as a Beare whom angry curres haue have touzd, Hauing Having off-shakt them, and escapt their hands, Becomes more fell, and all that him withstands Treads down and ouerthrowes overthrowes . Now had the Carle Alighted from his Tigre, and his handsDischarged of his bow and deadly quar’le, To seize vpon upon his foe flatt lying on the marle. Z 4 357 That the Faery Queene: Cant. XI. [34] Which now him turnd to disauantage disavantage deare, For neither can he fly, nor other harme, But trust vnto unto his strength and manhood meare, Sith now he is far from his monstrous swarme, And of his weapons did him selfe disarme. The knight yet wrothfull for his late disgrace, Fiercely aduaunst advaunst his valorous right arme, And him so sore smott with his yron mace, That groueling groveling to the ground he fell, and fild his place. [35] Wel weened hee, that field was then his owne, And all his labor brought to happy end, When suddein vp up the villeine ouerthrowne overthrowne ,Out of his swowne arose, fresh to contend, And gan him selfe to second battaill bend, As hurt he had not beene. Thereby there lay An huge great stone, which stood vpon upon one end,And had not bene remoued removed many a day;Some land-marke seemd to bee, or signe of sundry way. [36] The same he snatcht, and with exceeding sway Threw at his foe, who was right well aware To shonne the engin of his meant decay; It booted not to thinke that throw to beare, But grownd he gaue gave , and lightly lept areare: Efte fierce retourning, as a faulcon fayre That once hath failed of her souse full neare, Remounts againe into the open ayre, And vnto unto better fortune doth her selfe prepayre. [37] So braue brave retourning, with his brandisht blade, He to the Carle him selfe agayn addrest, And strooke at him so sternely, that he made An open passage through his riuen riven brest, 358 A while The Second Booke of Cant.XI. That halfe the steele behind his backe did rest; Which drawing backe, he looked euermore evermore When the hart blood should gush out of his chest, Or his dead corse should fall vpon upon the flore;But his dead corse vpon upon the flore fell nathemore. [38] Ne drop of blood appeared shed to bee, All were the wownd so wide and wonderous, That through his carcas one might playnly see: Halfe in amaze with horror hideous, And halfe in rage, to be deluded thus, Again through both the sides he strooke him quight, That made his spright to grone full piteous: Yet nathemore forth fled his groning spright, But freshly as at first, prepard himselfe to fight. [39] Thereat he smitten was with great affright, And trembling terror did his hart apall, Ne wist he, what to thinke of that same sight, Ne what to say, ne what to doe at all; He doubted, least it were some magicall Illusion, that did beguile his sense, Or wandring ghost, that wanted funerall, Or aery spirite vnder under false pretence, Or hellish feend raysd vp up through diuelish divelish science. [40] His wonder far exceeded reasons reach, That he began to doubt his dazeled sight, And oft of error did him selfe appeach: Flesh without blood, a person without spright, Wounds without hurt, a body without might, That could doe harme, yet could not harmed bee, That could not die, yet seemd a mortall wight, That was most strong in most infirmitee; Like did he neuer never heare, like did he neuer never see. 359 That the Faery Queene. Cant.XI. [41] A while he stood in this astonishment, Yet would he not for all his great dismay Giue Give ouer over to effect his first intent, And th’ vtmost utmost meanes of victory assay, Or th’ vtmost utmost yssew of his owne decay. His owne good sword Mordure, that neuer never fayld At need, till now, he lightly threw away, And his bright shield, that nought him now auayld avayld , And with his naked hands him forcibly assayld. [42] Twixt his two mighty armes him vp up he snatcht, And crusht his carcas so against his brest, That the disdainfull sowle he thence dispatcht, And th’ydle breath all vtterly utterly exprest: Tho when he felt him dead, adowne he kest The lumpish corse vnto unto the sencelesse grownd, Adowne he kest it with so puissant wrest, That backe againe it did alofte rebownd, And gaue gave against his mother earth a gronefull sownd. [43] As when Ioues Joves harnesse-bearing Bird from hye Stoupes at a flying heron with proud disdayne, The stone-dead quarrey falls so forciblye, That yt rebownds against the lowly playne, A second fall redoubling backe agayne. Then thought the Prince all peril sure was past, And that he victor onely did remayne; No sooner thought, then that the Carle as fast Gan heap huge strokes on him, as ere he down was cast. [44] Nigh his wits end then woxe th’amazed knight, And thought his labor lost and trauell travell vayne, Against thishis lifelesse shadow so to fight: Yet life he saw, and felt his mighty mayne, 360 Thus The Second Booke of Cant. XI. That whiles he marueild marveild still, did still him payne: For thy he gan some other wayes aduize advize ,How to take life from that dead- liuing living swayne,Whom still he marked freshly to arizeFrom th’earth, & and from her womb new spirits to reprize. [45] He then remembred well, that had bene sayd,How th’Earth his mother was, and first him bore,Shee eke so often, as his life decayd,Did life with vsury usury to him restore,And reysd him vp up much stronger 1590.bk2.II.xi.45.5. then: than then than before,So soone as he vnto unto her wombe did fall; Therefore to grownd he would him cast no more, Ne him committ to graue grave terrestriall, But beare him farre from hope of succour vsuall usuall . [46] Tho vp up he caught him twixt his puissant hands, And hauing having scruzd out of his carrion corse The lothfull life, now loosd from sinfull bands, Vpon Upon his shoulders carried him perforse Aboue Above three furlongs, taking his full course, Vntill Untill he came vnto unto a standing lake; Him thereinto he threw without remorse, Ne stird, till hope of life did him forsake; So end of that Carles dayes, and his owne paynes did (make. [47] Which when those wicked Hags from far did spye, Like two mad dogs they ran about the lands, And th’one of them with dreadfull yelling crye, Throwing away her broken chaines and bands, And hauing having quencht her burning fier brands, Hedlong her selfe did cast into that lake; But Impotence with her owne wilfull hands, One of Malegers cursed darts did take, So ryu’d ryv’d her trembling hart, and wicked end did make. 361 Cant. the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. [48] Thus now alone he conquerour remaines; Tho cumming to his Squyre, that kept his steed, Thought to haue have mounted, but his feeble vaines Him faild thereto, and serued served not his need, Through losse of blood, which from his wounds did (bleed, That he began to faint, and life decay: But his good Squyre him helping vp up with speed, With stedfast hand vpon upon his horse did stay, And led him to the Castle by the beaten way. [49] Where many Groomes and Squyres ready were, To take him from his steed full tenderly, And eke the fayrest Alma mett him there With balme and wine and costly spicery, To comfort him in his infirmity; Eftesoones shee causd him vp up to be conuayd convayd , And of his armes despoyled easily, In sumptuons bed shee made him to be layd, And al the while his woũds wounds were dressing, by him ſtayd.stayd. ſtaydstayd