205 He the Faerie Queene. Cant.II. Cant II. Babes bloody handes may not be clensd, the face of golden Meane. Her sisters two Extremities: striue strive her to banish cleane. [1] T H h us when Sir Guyon Guyon with his faithful guyde Had with dew rites and dolorous lament The end of their sad Tragedie vptyde uptyde , The litle babe vp up in his armes he hent; Who with sweet pleasaunce and bold blandishment Gan smyle on them, that rather ought to weepe, As carelesse of his woe, or innocent Of that was doen, that ruth emperced deepe In that knightes hart, and wordes with bitter teares did (steepe. [2] Ah lucklesse babe, borne vnder under cruell starre, And in dead parents balefull ashes bred, Full little weenest thou, what sorrowes are Left thee for porcion of thy liuelyhed livelyhed , Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered, As budding braunch rent from the natiue native tree, And throwen forth, till it be withered:Such is the state of men: Thus enter we Into this life with woe and end with miseree. [3] Then soft him selfe inclyning on his knee Downe to that well, did in the water weene (So loue love does loath disdainefull niciteenicitee.) His guiltie handes from bloody gore to cleene; 206 Such The Second Booke of Cant.II. He washt them oft and oft, yet nought they beene For all his washing cleaner. Still he stroue strove , Yet still the litle hands were bloody seene; The which him into great amaz’ment droue drove , And into diuerse diverse doubt his wauering wavering wonder cloue clove . [4] He wist not whether blott of fowle offence Might not be purgd with water nor with bath; Or that high God, in lieu of innocence, Imprinted had that token of his wrath, To shew how sore bloodguiltinesse he hat’th hat’h hat’th ; Or that the charme and veneme, which they dronck,Their blood with secret filth infected hath,Being diffused through the sencelesse tronck, That through the great contagion direful deadly stonck. ſtonck,stonck, ſtunck.stunck. ſtunk.stunk. [5] Whom thus at gaze, the Palmer gan to bord With goodly reason, and thus fayre bespake; Ye bene right harthard amated, gratious Lord, And of your ignorance great merueill merveill make, Whiles cause not well conceiued conceived ye mistake. But know, that secret vertues are infusd In euery every fountaine, and in euerie everie lake, Which who hath skill them rightly to haue have chusd,To proofe of passing wonders hath full often vsd usd . [6] Of those some were so from their sourse indewd By great Dame Nature, from whose fruitfull pap Their welheads spring, and are with moisture deawd; Which feedes each liuing living plant with liquid sap, And filles with flowres fayre Floraes painted lap: But other some by guifte of later grace, Or by good prayers, or by other hap, Had vertue pourd into their waters bace, And thenceforth were renowmd, and sought from place to place. place (place. O 207 That the Faery Queene. Cant. II. [7] Such is this well, wrought by occasion straunge, Which to her Nymph befell. Vpon Upon a day, As she the woodes with bow and shaftes did raunge, The hartlesse Hynd and Robucke to dismay, Dan Faunus chaunst to meet her by the way, And kindling fire at her faire burning eye, Inflamed was to follow beauties chace, And chaced her, that fast from him did fly; As Hynd from her, so she fled from her enimy. [8] At last when fayling breath began to faint, And saw no meanes to scape, of shame affrayd, She set her downe to weepe for sore constraint, And to Diana calling lowd for ayde, Her deare besought, to let her die a mayd. The goddesse heard, and suddeine where she sate, Welling out streames of teares, and quite dismayd With stony feare of that rude rustick mate, Transformd her to a stone from stedfast virgins state. [9] Lo now she is that stone, from whoſewhose thoſethose two heads, As from two weeping eyes, fresh streames do flow, Yet colde through feare, and old conceiued conceived dreads; And yet the stone her semblance seemes to show, Shapt like a maide, that such ye may her know; And yet her vertues in her water byde: For it is chaste and pure, as purest snow, Ne lets her waues waves with any filth be he dyde, But euer ever like her selfe vnstayned unstayned hath beene tryde. [10] From thence it comes, that this babes bloody hand May not be clensd with water of this well:Ne certes Sir striue strive you it to withstand,But let them still be bloody, as befell,208 WhereThe Second Booke ofCant.II.That they his mothers innocence may tell,As she bequeathd in her last testament;That as a sacred Symbole it may dwellIn her sonnes flesh, to mind reuengement revengement ,And be for all chaste Dames an endlesse moniment. [11] He hearkned to his reason, and the childe Vptaking Uptaking , to the Palmer gaue gave to beare; But his sad fathers armes with blood defilde, An heauie heavie load himselfe did lightly reare, And turning to that place, in which whyleare He left his loftie steed with golden sell, And goodly gorgeous barbes, him found not theare.By other accident that earst befell,He is conuaide convaide , but how or where, here fits not tell. [12]Which when Sir Guyon saw, all were he wroth,Yet algates mote he soft himselfe appease,And fairely fare on foot, how euer ever loth;His double burden did him sore disease. So long they traueiled traveiled with litle ease, Till that at last they to a Castle came, Built on a rocke adioyning adjoyning to the seas, It was an auncient worke of antique fame antique frame , And wondrous strong by nature, and by skilfull frame. [13] Therein three sisters dwelt of sundry sort, The children of one syre by mothers three; Who dying whylome did diuide divide this fort To them by equall shares in equall fee: But stryfull mind, and diuerse diverse qualitee Drew them in partes, and each made others foe: Still did they striue strive , and daily disagree;The eldest did against the youngest goe,And both against the middest meant to worken woe. O 2 209 Since the Faerie Queene. Cant. II. [14] Where when the knight arriu’d arriv’d , he was right well Receiu’d Receiv’d , as knight of so much worth became, Of second sister, who did far excell The other two; Medina was her name, A sober sad, and comely courteous Dame; Who rich arayd, and yet in modest guize, In goodly garments, that her well became, Fayre marching forth in honorable wize, Him at the threshold mett, and well did enterprize. [15] She led him vp up into a goodly bowre, And comely courted with meet modestie, Ne in her speach, ne in her hauiour haviour , Was lightnesse seene, or looser vanitie, But gratious womanhood, and grauitie gravitie , Aboue Above the reason of her youthly yeares: Her golden lockes she roundly did vptye uptye In breaded tramels, that no looser heares Did out of order stray about her daintie eares. [16] Whilest she her selfe thus busily did frame, Seemely to entertaine her new-come guest, Newes hereof to her other sisters came, Who all this while were at their wanton rest, Accourting each her frend with lauish lavish fest: They were two knights of perelesse puissaunce, And famous far abroad for warlike gest, Which to these Ladies loue love did countenaunce, And to his mistresse each himselfe stroue strove to aduaunce advaunce . [17] He that made loue love vnto unto the eldest Dame, Was hight Sir Huddibras, an hardy man; Yet not so good of deedes, as great of name, Which he by many rash aduentures adventures wan, 210 The The Second Booke of Cant. II. Since errant armes to sew he first began; More huge in strength, 1590.bk2.II.ii.17.6. then: than then than wise in workes he was, And reason with foole-hardize ouer over ran; Sterne melancholy did his courage pas, And was for terrour more, all armd in shyning bras. [18] But he that lou’d lov’d the youngest, was Sansloy, He that faire Vna Una late fowle outraged, The most vnruly unruly , and the boldest boy, That euer ever warlike weapons menaged, And to all lawlesse lust encouraged, Through strong opinion of his matchlesse might: Ne ought he car’d, whom he endamaged By tortious wrong, or whom bereau’d bereav’d of right. He now this Ladies Champion chose for loue love to fight. [19] These two gay knights, vowd to so diuerse diverse loues loves , Each other does envy with deadly hate, And daily warre against his foeman moues moves , In hope to win more fauour favour with his mate, And th’others pleasing seruice service to abate, To magnifie his owne. But when they heard, How in that place straunge knight arriued arrived late, Both knightes and ladies forth right angry far’d, And fercely vnto unto battell sterne themselues themselves prepar’d. [20] But ere they could proceede vnto unto the place, Where he abode, themselues themselves at discord fell, And cruell combat ioynd joynd in middle space: With horrible assault, and fury fell, They heapt huge strokes, the scorned life to quell, That all on vprore uprore from her settled seat,The house was raysd, and all that in did dwell; Seemd that lowde thunder with amazement great Did rend the ratling skyes with flames of fouldring heat. O 3 211 That the Faery Queene. Cant. II. [21] The noyse thereof cald calth forth that straunger knight, To weet, what dreadfull thing was there in hand; Where when as two braue brave knightes in bloody fight With deadly rancour he enraunged fond, His sunbroad shield about his wrest he bond,And shyning blade vnsheathd unsheathd , with which he ran Vnto Unto that stead, their strife to vnderstond understond ;And at his first arriuall arrivall , them beganWith goodly meanes to pacifie, well as he can. [22] But they him spying, both with greedy forse Attonce vpon upon him ran, and him beset With strokes of mortall steele without remorse, And on his shield like yron sledges bet: As when a Beare and Tygre being met In cruell fight on lybicke Ocean wide, Espye a traueiler traveiler with feet surbet, Whom they in equall pray hope to diuide divide , They stint their strife, and him assayle on euerie everie side. [23] But he, not like a weary traueilere traveilere , Their sharp assault right boldly bloudy boldy did rebut, And suffred not their blowes to byte him nere, But with redoubled buffes them backe did put: Whose grieued grieved mindes, which choler did englut, Against themselues themselves turning their wrathfull spight, Gan with new rage their shieldes to hew and cut; But still when Guyon came to part their fight, With heauie heavie load on him they freshly gan to smight. [24] As a tall ship tossed in troublous seas,Whom raging windes threatning to make the prayOf the rough rockes, doe diuersly diversly disease,Meetes two contrarie billowes by the way,212ButThe Second Booke ofCant.I I.That her on either side doe sore assay,And boast to swallow her in greedy graue grave ; Shee scorning both their spights, does make wide (way, And with her brest breaking the fomy waue wave ,Does ride on both their backs, & and faire her self doth saue save . [25] So boldly he him beares, and rusheth forth Betweene them both, by conduct of his blade. Wondrous great prowesse and heroick worth He shewd that day, and rare ensample made, When two so mighty warriours he dismade: Attonce he wards and strikes, he takes and paies, Now forst to yield, now forcing to inuade invade , Before, behind, and round about him laies: So double was his paines, so double be his praise. [26] Straunge sort of fight, three valiaunt knights to see Three combates ioine joine in one, and to darraine A triple warre with triple enmitee, All for their Ladies froward loue love to gaine, Which gotten was but hate. So loue love does raine In stoutest minds, and maketh monstrous warre; He maketh warre, he maketh peace againe, And yett his peace is but continuall iarre jarre : O miserable men, that to him subiect subject arre. [27] Whilst thus they mingled were in furious armes, The faire Medina with her tresses torne,And naked brest, in pitty of their harmes, Emongst them ran, and falling them beforne, Besought them by the womb, which them had born, And by the loues loves , which were to them most deare, And by the knighthood, which they sure had sworn, Their deadly cruell discord to forbeare, And to her iust just conditions of faire peace to heare. O 4 213 Braue Brave the Freay Queene: Cant.II. [28] But her two other sisters standing by, Her lowd gainsaid, and both their both her champions champion Champion bad Pursew the end of their strong enmity, As euer ever of their loues loves they would be glad. Yet she with pitthy words and counsell sad, Still stroue strove their stubborne rages to reuoke revoke , That at the last suppressing fury mad, They gan abstaine from dint of direfull stroke, And hearken to the sober speaches, which she spoke. [29] Ah puissaunt Lords, what cursed euill evill Spright, Or fell Erinnys in your noble harts,Her hellish brond hath kindled with despight, And stird you vp up to worke your wilfull smarts? Is this the ioy joy of armes? be these the parts Of glorious knighthood, after blood to thrust, And not regard dew right and iust just desarts? Vaine is the vaunt, and victory vniust unjust , That more to mighty hãds hands , 1590.bk2.II.ii.29.9. thẽ: than1590.bk2.II.ii.29.9. then: than thẽ then thã than rightful cause doth trust. [30] And were 1590.bk2.II.ii.30.1. their: there their there rightfull cause of difference, Yet were not better, fayre it to accord, Then with bloodguiltnesse to heape offence, And mortal vengeaunce ioyne joyne to crime abhord? O fly from wrath, fly, O my liefest Lord: Sad be the sights, and bitter fruites of warre, And thousand furies wait on wrathfull sword; Ne ought the praise of prowesse more doth marre, 1590.bk2.II.ii.30.9. Then: ThanThenThan fowle reuenging revenging rage, and base contentious iarre jarre . [31] But louely lovely concord, and most sacred peace Doth nourish vertue, and fast friendship breeds; Weake she makesmake strõg strong , & and strong thing does increace, Till it the pitch of highest praise exceeds: 214 Elissa The Second Booke of Cant.II. Braue Brave be her warres, and honorable deeds, By which she triumphes ouer over yre and pride, And winnes an Oliue Olive girlond for her meeds: Be therefore, O my deare Lords, pacifide, And this misseeming discord meekely lay aside. [32] Her gracious words their rancour did appall, And suncke so deepe into their boyling brests, That downe they lett their cruell weapons fall, And lowly did abase their lofty crests To her faire presence, and discrete behests. Then she began a treaty to procure, And stablish termes betwixt both their requests, That as a law for euer ever should endure; Which to obserue observe in word of knights they did assure. [33] Which to confirme, and fast to bind their league, After their weary sweat and bloody toile, She them besought, during their quiet treague, Into her lodging to repaire a while, To rest themselues themselves , and grace to reconcile. They soone consent: so forth with her they fare, Where they are well receiud receivd , and made to spoile Themselues Themselves of soiled armes, and to prepare Their minds to pleasure, & and their mouths to dainty fare. [34] And those two froward sisters, their faire loues loves Came with them eke, all were they wondrous loth, And fained cheare, as for the time behoues behoves , But could not colour yet so well the troth, But that their natures bad appeard in both: For both did at their second sister grutch,And inly grieue grieve , as doth an hidden mothThe inner garment frett, not th’ vtter utter touch; One thought her cheare too litle, th’other thought too (mutch. 215 That the Faery Queene Cant. II. [35] Elissa (so the eldest hight) did deeme Such entertainment base, ne ought would eat, Ne ought would speake, but euermore evermore did seeme As discontent for want of merth mirth or meat; No solace could her Paramour intreat Her once to show, ne court, nor dalliaunce, But with bent lowring browes, as she would threat, She scould, and frownd with froward countenaunce, Vnworthy Unworthy of faire Ladies comely gouernaunce governaunce . [36] But young Perissa was of other mynd, Full of disport, still laughing, loosely light, And quite contrary to her sisters kynd; No measure in her mood, no rule of right, But poured out in pleasure and delight; In wine and meats she flowd aboue above the banck, And in excesse exceeded her owne might; In sumptuous tire she ioyd joyd her selfe to pranck, But of her loue love too lauish lavish (litle haue have she thanck). thank.) thanke.) thanck.) [37] FaſtFast FirſtFirst by her side did sitt the bold Sansloy, Fitt mate for such a mincing mineon, Who in her loosenesse tooke exceeding ioy joy ; Might not be found a francker franion, Of her leawd parts to make companion: But Huddibras, more like a Malecontent, Did see and grieue grieve at his bold fashion; Hardly could he endure his hardiment, Yett still he satt, and inly did him selfe torment. [38] Betwixt them both the faire Medina sate With sober grace, and goodly carriage: With equall measure she did moderate The strong extremities of their outrage, 216 To The Second Booke of Cant.II. That forward paire she euer ever would asswage,When they would striue strive dew reason to exceed;But that same froward twaine would accorage, And of her plenty adde vnto unto their need: So kept she them in order, and her selfe in heed. [39] Thus fairely shee attempered her feast, And pleasd them all with meete satiety: At last when lust of meat and drinke was ceast,She Guyon deare besought of curtesie, To tell from whence he came through ieopardy jeopardy , And whether now on new aduenture adventure bownd. Who with bold grace, and comely grauity gravity , Drawing to him the eies of all arownd,From lofty siege began these words aloud to sownd. [40] This thy demaund, O Lady, doth reuiue revive Fresh memory in me of that great Queene, Great and most glorious virgin Queene aliue alive , That with her soueraine soveraine powre, and scepter shene All Faery lond does peaceably peaceablee sustene. In widest Ocean she her throne does reare, That ouer over all the earth it may be seene; As morning Sunne her beames dispredden cleare, And in her face faire peace, and mercy doth appeare. [41] In her the richesse of all heauenly heavenly grace, In chiefe degree are heaped vp up on hye: And all that els this worlds enclosure bace, Hath great or glorious in mortall eye. Adornes the person of her Maiestye Majestye ; That men beholding so great excellence, And rare perfection in mortalitye, Doe her adore with sacred reuerence reverence , As th’Idole of her makers great magnificence. 217 Ill the Faery Queene. Cant. II. [42] To her I homage and my seruice service owe, In number of the noblest knightes on ground, Mongst whom on me she deigned to bestowe Order of Maydenhead, the most renownd, That may this day in all the world be found, An yearely solemne feast she wontes to makeThe day that first doth lead the yeare around;To which all knights of worth and courage boldResort, to heare of straunge aduentures adventures to be told. [43]There this old Palmer shewd himselfe that day,And to that mighty Princesse did complaineOf grieuous grievous mischiefes, which a wicked FayHad wrought, and many whelmd in deadly paine,Whereof he crau’d crav’d redresse. My Soueraine Soveraine ,Whose glory is in gracious deeds, and ioyes joyes Throughout the world her mercy to maintaine,Eftsoones deuisd devisd redresse for such annoyes;Me all vnfitt unfitt for so great purpose she employes.employes, [44] Now hath faire Phebe with her siluer silver faceThrise seene the shadowes of the neather world, Sith last I left that honorable place, In which her roiall presence is entroldintrold ; Ne euer ever shall I rest in house nor hold, Till I that false Acrasia haue have wonne; Of whose fowle deedes, too hideous to bee told I witnesse am, and this their wretched sonne, Whose wofull parents she hath wickedly fordonne. fordonne, [45] Tell on, fayre Sir, said she, that dolefull tale,From which sad ruth does seeme you to restraine,That we may pitty such vnhappie unhappie bale,And learne from pleasures poyson to abstaine: 218 Then The Second Booke of Cant.III. Ill by ensample good doth often gayne. Then forward he his purpose gan pursew, And told the story of the mortall payne, Which Mordant and Amauia Amavia did rew; As with lamenting eyes him selfe did lately vew. [46] Night was far spent, and now in Ocean deep Orion, flying fast from hissing snake,His flaming head did hasten for to steep, When of his pitteous tale he end did make; WhilſtWhilst WhileſtWhilest with delight of that he wisely spake, Those guestes beguyled, did beguyle their eyes Of kindly sleepe, that did them ouertake overtake . At last when they had markt the chaunged skyes, They wist their houre was spẽt spent ; thẽ then each to rest him hyes. hies. hyes