Cant. III. Vaine Braggadocchio getting Guyons horse is made the scorne Of knighthood trew, and is of fayre Belphœbe fowle forlorne. [1] S O o one as the morrow fayre with purple beames Disperst the shadowes of the misty night, And Titan playing on the eastern streames, Gan cleare the deawy ayre with springing light, Sir Guyon mindfull of his vow yplight, Vprose Uprose from drowsie couch, and him addrest Vnto Unto the iourney journey which he had behight: His puissaunt armes about his noble brest, And many-folded shield he bound about his wrest. 219 He the Faery Queene. Cant. III. [2] Then taking Congè of that virgin pure, The bloody-handed babe vnto unto her truth Did earnestly committ, and her coniure conjure , In vertuous lore to traine his tender youth, And all that gentle noriture ensueth: And that so soone as ryper yeares he raught rought , He might for memory of that dayes ruth, Be called Ruddymane, and thereby taught,T’ auenge avenge his Parents death on thẽ them , that had it wrought. [3] So forth he far’d, as now befell, on foot,Sith his good steed is lately from him gone;Patience perforce: helplesse what may it bootTo frett for anger, or for griefe to mone?His Palmer now shall foot no more alone: So fortune wrought, as vnder under greene woodes syde He lately hard that dying Lady grone, He left his steed without, and speare besyde, And rushed in on foot to ayd her, ere she dyde. [4] The whyles a losell wandring by the way, One that to bountie neuer never cast his mynd, Ne thought of honour euer ever did assay His baser brest, but in his kestrell kynd A pleasing vaine of glory he vaine did fynd, To which his flowing toung, and troublous spright Gaue Gave him great ayd, and made him more inclynd: He that braue brave steed there finding ready dight, Purloynd both steed and speare, and ran away full light. [5] Now gan his hart all swell in iollity jollity , And of him selfe great hope and help conceiu’d conceiv’d , That puffed vp up with smoke of vanity, And with selfe- loued loved personage deceiu’d deceiv’d , 220 So The Second Booke of Cant.III. He gan to hope, of men to be receiu’d receiv’d For such, as he him thought, or faine would bee: But for in court gay portaunce he perceiu’d perceiv’d , And gallant shew to be in greatest gree, Eftsoones to court he cast t’ aduaunce advaunce his first degree. [6] And by the way he chaunced to espy One sitting ydle on a sunny banck, To whom auaunting avaunting in great brauery bravery , As Peacocke, that his painted plumes doth pranck, He smote his courser in the trembling flanck, And to him threatned his hart-thrilling speare: The seely man seeing him ryde so ranck, And ayme at him, fell flatt to ground for feare, And crying Mercy loud, his pitious handes gan reare. [7] Thereat the Scarcrow wexed wondrous prowd, Through fortune of his first aduenture adventure fayre, And with big thundring voice reuyld revyld him lowd; Vile Caytiue Caytive , vassall of dread and despayre, Vnworthie Unworthie of the commune breathed ayre, Why liuest livest thou, dead dog, a lenger day, And doest not vnto unto death thy selfe prepayre. Dy, or thy selfe my captiue captive yield for ay; Great fauour favour I thee graunt, for aunswere thus to stay. [8] Hold, O deare Lord, hold your dead-doing hand, Then loud he cryde, I am your humble thrall. Ah wretch ( qd. quoth he) thy destinies withstand My wrathfull will, and doe for mercy call. I giue give thee life: therefore prostrated fall, And kisse my stirrup; that thy homage bee. The Miser threw him selfe, as an Offall, Streight at his foot in base humilitee, And cleeped him his liege, to hold of him in fee. 221 He the Faerie Queene. Cant.III. [9] So happy peace they made and faire accord: Eftsoones this liegeman gan to wexe more bold, And when he felt the folly of his Lord, In his owne kind he gan him selfe vnfold unfold : For he was wylie witted, and growne old In cunning sleightes and practick knauery knavery . From that day forth he cast for to vphold uphold His ydle humour with fine f⁀latteryflattery ſ⁀latteryslattery , And blow the bellowes to his swelling vanity. [10] Trompart fitt man for Braggadochio, To serue serve at court in view of vaunting eye; Vaineglorious man, when fluttring wind does blowIn his light winges, is lifted vp up to skye: The scorne of knighthood and trew cheualrye chevalrye , To thinke without desert of gentle deed, And noble worth to be aduaunced advaunced hye: Such prayse is shame; but honour vertues meedDoth beare the fayrest flowre in honourable seed. [11] So forth they pas, a well consorted payre, Till that at length with Archimage they meet: Who seeing one that shone in armour fayre, On goodly courſercourser courſecourse thondring with his feet, Eftsoones supposed him a person meet, Of his reuenge revenge to make the instrument: For since the Redcrosse knight he erst did weet,To beene with Guyon knitt in one consent,The ill, which earst to him, he now to Guyon ment. [12] And comming close to Trompart gan inquere Of him, what mightie warriour that mote bee, That rode in golden sell with single spere, But wanted sword to wreake his enmitee. 222 Dotard The Second Booke of Cant.III. He is a great aduenturer adventurer , (said he) That hath his sword through hard assay forgone, And now hath vowd, till he auenged avenged bee,Of that despight, neuer never to wearen none; That speare is him enough to doen a thousand grone. [13] Th’enchaunter greatly ioyed joyed in the vaunt, And weened well ere long his will to win, And both his foen with equall foyle to daunt. Tho to him louting lowly did begin To plaine of wronges, which had committed bin By Guyon, and by that false Redcrosse knight, Which two through treason and deceiptfull gin,Had slayne Sir Mordant, and his Lady bright: That mote him honour win, to wreak so foule despight. [14] Therewith all suddeinly he seemd enragd, And threatned death with dreadfull countenaunce, As if their liues lives had in his hand beene gagd; And with stiffe force shaking his mortall launce, To let him weet his doughtie valiaunce, Thus said; Old man, great sure shalbe thy meed, If where those knights for feare of dew vengeaunce Doe lurke, thou certeinly to mee areed, That I may wreake on them their hainous hateful deed. [15] Certes, my Lord, (said he) that shall I soone, And giue give you eke good helpe to their decay. But mote I wisely you aduise advise to doon; Giue Give no ods to your foes, but doe puruay purvay Your selfe of sword before that bloody day: For they be two the prowest knights on grownd, And oft approu’d approv’d in many hard assay, And eke of surest steele, that may be fownd, Doe arme yourself against that day, them to confownd. P 223 From the Faery Queene. Cant. III. [16] Dotard, (saide he) let be thy deepe aduise advise ; Seemes that through many yeares thy wits thee faile, And that weake eld hath left thee nothing wise, Els neuer never should thy iudgement judgement be so frayle, To measure manhood by the sword or mayle. Is not enough fowre quarters of a man, Withouten sword or shield, an hoste to quayle? Thou litle wotest, what this right-hand can: Speake they, which haue have beheld the battailes, which it (wan. [17] The man was much abashed at his boast; Yet well he wist, that who so would contend With either of those knightes on euen even coast, Should neede of all his armes, him to defend; Yet feared least his boldnesse should offend, When Braggadocchio saide, Once I did sweare, When with one sword seuen seven knightes I brought to (end, Thence forth in battaile neuer never sword to beare,But it were that, which noblest knight on earth doth weare. [18] Perdy Sir knight, saide then th’enchaunter bliue blive , That shall I shortly purchase to your hond: For now the best and noblest knight aliue alive , Prince Arthur is, that wonnes in Faerie lond; He hath a sword, that flames like burning brond. The same by my deuice device I vndertake undertake Shall by to morrow by thy side be fond. At which bold word that boaster gan to quake, And wondred in his minde, what mote that Monster (make. [19] He stayd not for more bidding, but away Was suddein vanished out of his sight: The Northerne winde his wings did broad display At his commaund, and reared him vp up light 224 In The Second Booke of Cant.III. From 1590.bk2.II.iii.19.5. of: offofoff the earth, to take his aerie flight. They lookt about, but no where could espye Tract of his foot: then dead through great affright They both nigh were, and each bad other flye: Both fled attonce, ne euer ever backe retourned eye. [20] Till that they come vnto unto a forrest greene, In which they shrowd thẽselues themselues thẽselves themselves from causeles feare; Yet feare them followes still, where so they beene, Each trembling leafe, and whistling wind they heare, As ghastly bug does vnto unto them affeare: Yet both doe striue strive their fearefulnesse to faine. At last they heard a horne, that shrilled cleare Throughout the wood, that ecchoed againe, And made the forrest ring, as it would riue rive in twaine. [21] Eft through the thicke they heard one rudely rush; With noyse whereof he from his loftie steed Downe fell to ground, and crept into a bush,To hide his coward head from dying dreed. But Trompart stoutly stayd to taken heed, Of what might hap. Eftsoone there stepped foorth A goodly Ladie clad in hunters weed, That seemd to be a woman of great worth, And by her stately portance, borne of heauenly heavenly birth. [22] Her face so faire as flesh it seemed not, But heuenly hevenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew, Cleare as the skye, withouten blame or blot,Through goodly mixture of complexions dew; And in her cheekes the vermeill red did shewLike roses in a bed of lillies shed, The which ambrosiall odours from them threw, And gazers sence with double pleasure fed,Hable to heale the sicke, and to reuiue revive the ded. P 2 225 Purfled the Faerie Queene. Cant.III. [23] In her faire eyes two liuing living lamps did flame,Kindled aboue above at th’heuenly th’hevenly makers light,And darted fyrie beames out of the same,So passing persant, and so wondrous bright,That quite bereau’d bereav’d the rash beholders sight:In them the blinded god his lustfull fyreTo kindle oft assayd, but had no might;For with dredd Maiestie Majestie , and awfull yre,She broke his wanton darts, and quenched bace desyre. [24] Her yuorie yvorie forhead, full of bountie braue brave ,Like a broad table did it selfe dispred,For Loue Love his loftie triumphes to engraue engrave ,And write the battailes of his great godhed:All good and honour might therein be red:For there their dwelling was. And when she spake, Sweete wordes, like dropping honny she did shed, And twixt the perles and rubins softly brake A siluer silver sound, that heauenly heavenly musicke seemd to make. [25] Vpon Upon her eyelids many Graces sate, Vnder Under the shadow of her euen even browes, Working belgardes, and amorous retrate, And euerie everie one her with a grace endowes: And euerie everie one with meekenesse to her bowes. So glorious mirrhour of celestiall grace,And soueraine soveraine moniment of mortall vowes, How shall frayle pen descriue descrive her heauenly heavenly face,For feare through want of skill her beauty to disgrace? [26] So faire, and thousand thousand times more faire She seemd, when she presented was to sight, And was yclad, for heat of scorching aire, All in a silken Camus lylly whight, 226 Her The Second Booke of Cant.III. Purfled vpon upon with many a folded plight, Which all aboue above besprinckled was throughout, With golden aygulets, that glistred bright, Like twinckling starres, and all the skirt about Was hemd with golden fringe [27] Below her ham her weed did somewhat trayne, And her streight legs most brauely bravely were embayld In gilden buskins of costly Cordwayne, All bard with golden bendes, which were entayld With curious antickes, and full fayre aumayld: Before they fastned were vnder under her knee In a rich iewell jewell , and therein entrayldThe ends of all the knots, that none might see,How they within their fouldings close enwrapped bee. [28] Like two faire marble pillours they weredid seene,Which doe the temple of the Gods support,Whom all the people decke with girlands greene,And honour in their festiuall festivall resort; Those same with stately grace, and princely port She taught to tread, when she her selfe would grace, But with the woody Nymphes when she did play, Or when the flying Libbard she did chace, She could them nimbly moue move , and after fly apace. [29] And in her hand a sharpe bore-speare she held, And at her backe a bow and quiuer quiver gay, Stuft with steele-headed dartes, wherewith she queld The saluage salvage beastes in her victorious play, Knit with a golden bauldricke, which forelayAthwart her snowy brest, and did diuide divide Her daintie paps; which like young fruit in May Now little gan to swell, and being tide,Through her thin weed their places only signifide. P 3 227 Such the Faery Queene. Cant.I II. [30] Her yellow lockes crisped, like golden wyre,About her shoulders weren loosely shed,And when the winde emongst them did inspyre,They waued waved like a penon wyde dispredAnd low behinde her backe were scattered: And whether art it were, or heedelesse hap, As through the flouring forrest rash she fled, In her rude heares sweet flowres themselues themselves did lap,And flourishing fresh leaues leaves and blossomes did enwrap. [31] Such as Diana by the sandy shoreOf swift Eurotas, or on Cynthus greene, Where all the Nymphes haue have her vnwares unwares forlore, Wandreth alone with bow and arrowes keene, To seeke her game: Or as that famous QueeneOf Amazons, whom Pyrrhus did destroy, The day that first of Priame she was seene,Did shew her selfe in great triumphant ioy joy ,To succour the weake state of sad afflicted Troy. [32] Such when as hartlesse Trompart her did vew, He was dismayed in his coward minde, And doubted, whether he himselfe should shew, Or fly away, or bide alone behinde: Both feare and hope he in her face did finde, When she at last him spying thus bespake; Hayle Groome; didst not thou see a bleeding Hynde, Whose right haunch earst my stedfast arrow strake? If thou didst, tell me, that I may her ouertake overtake . [33] Wherewith reviu’d reviv’d , this answere forth he threw; O Goddesse, (for such I thee take to bee) For nether doth thy face terrestriall shew, Nor voyce sound mortall; I auow avow to thee, 228 So The Second Booke of Cant.III. Such wounded beast, as that, I did not see, Sith earst into this forrest wild I came. But Bur mote thy goodlyhed forgiue forgive it mee, To weete, which of the Gods I shall thee name, That vnto unto thee dew worship I may rightly frame. [34] To whom she thus, but ere her words ensewd, Vnto Unto the bush her eye did suddein glaunce, In which vaine Braggadocchio was mewd, And saw it stirre: she lefte her percing launce, And towards gan a deadly shafte aduaunce advaunce , In mind to marke the beast. At which sad stowre, Trompart forth stept, to stay the mortall chaunce, Out crying, O what euer ever heuenly hevenly powre, Or earthly wight thou be, withhold this deadly howre. [35] O stay thy hand, for yonder is no game For thy fiers arrowes, them to exercize, But loe my Lord, my liege, whose warlike name, Is far renowmd through many bold emprize; And now in shade he shrowded yonder lies. She staid: with that he crauld out of his nest,Forth creeping on his caitiue caitive hands and thies,And standing stoutly vp up , his lofty crestDid fiercely shake, and rowze, as comming late frõ from rest. [36] As fearfull fowle, that long in secret caue cave For dread of soring hauke her selfe hath hid, Not caring how her silly life to saue save , She her gay painted plumes disorderid, Seeing at last her selfe from daunger rid, Peepes forth, and soone renews her natiue native pride; She gins her feathers fowlefoule disfigured Prowdly to prune, and sett on euery every side, So shakes off shame, ne thinks how erst she did her hide. P 4 229 Where the Faery Queene. Cant.III. [37] So when her goodly visage he beheld, He gan himselfe to vaunt: but when he vewd Those deadly tooles, which in her hand she held, Soone into other fitts he was transmewd, Till she to him her gracious speach renewd; All haile, Sir knight, and well may thee befall, As all the like, which honor haue have pursewd Through deeds of armes and prowesse martiall; All vertue merits praise, but such the most of all. [38] To whom he thus, O fairest vnder under skie, Trew be thy words, and worthy of thy praise, That warlike feats doest highest glorifie. Therein I haue have haue have I spent all my youthly daies, And many battailes fought, and many fraies Throughout the world, wher so they might be foũd found , Endeuoring Endevoring my dreaded name to raise Aboue Above the Moone, that fame may it resound In her eternall tromp, with laurell girlond cround. [39] But what art thou, O Lady, which doest raunge In this wilde forest, where no pleasure is, And doest not it for ioyous joyous court exchaunge, Emongst thine equall peres, where happy blis And all delight does raigne, much more 1590.bk2.II.iii.39.5. then: than then than this? There thou maist loue love , and dearly loued loved be, And swim in pleasure, which thou here doest mis; There maist thou best be seene, and best maist see: The wood is fit for beasts, the court is fitt for thee. [40] Who so in pompe of prowd estate ( qd. quoth she) Does swim, and bathes him selfe in courtly blis, Does waste his dayes in darke obscuritee, And in obliuion oblivion euer ever buried is: 230 Perdy The Second Booke of Cant.III. Where ease abownds, yt’s eath to doe amis; But who his limbs with labours, and his mynd Behaues Behaves with cares, cannot so easy mis. Abroad in armes, at home in studious kynd Who seekes with painfull toile, shal honor soonest fynd. [41] In woods, in waues waves , in warres she wonts to dwell, And wilbe found with perill and with paine; Ne can the man, that moulds in ydle cell, Vnto Unto her happy mansion attaine: Before her gate high God did Sweate ordaine, And wakefull watches euer ever to abide: But easy is the way, and passage plaineTo pleasures pallace; it may soone be spide,And day and night her dores to all stand open wide. [42] In Princes court. The rest she would haue have sayd, But that the foolish man, fild with delight Of her sweete words, that all his sence dismayd, And with her wondrous beauty rauisht ravisht quight, Gan burne in filthy lust, and leaping light,Thought in his bastard armes her to embrace. With that she swaruing swarving backe, her Iauelin Javelin bright Against him bent, and fiercely did menace: So turned her about, and fled away apace. [43] Which when the Pesaunt saw, amazd he stood, And grieued grieved at her flight; yet durst he nott Pursew her steps, through wild vnknowen unknowen wood; Besides he feard her wrath, and threatned shott Whiles in the bush he lay, not yet forgott: Ne car’d he greatly for her presence vayne, But turning said to Trompart, What fowle blott Is this to knight, that Lady should agayne Depart to woods vntoucht untoucht , & and leaue leave so proud disdayne? 231 Cant. the Faery Queene Cant. III. [44] Perdy (said Trompart) lett her pas at will, Least by her presence daunger mote befall. For who can tell (and sure I feare it ill) But that shee is some powre celestiall? For whiles she spake, her great words did apall My feeble corage, and my heart oppresse, That yet I quake and tremble ouer over all. And I (said Braggadocchio) thought no lesse, When first I heard her horn soũd sound with such ghastlinesse. [45] For from my mothers wombe this grace I haue have Me giuen given by eternall destiny, That earthly thing may not my corage braue brave Dismay with feare, or cause one on foote to flye, But either hellish feends, or powres on hye: Which was the cause, when earst that horne I heard, Weening it had beene thunder in the skye, I hid my selfe from it, as one affeard; But when I other knew, my selfe I boldly reard. [46] But now for feare of worse, that may betide, Let vs us soone hence depart. They soone agree; So to his steed he gott, and gan to ride, As one vnfitt unfitt therefore, that all might see He had not trayned bene in cheualree chevalree . Which well that valiaunt courser did discerne; For he despisd to tread in dew degree, But chaufd and fom’d, with corage fiers and sterne, And to be easd of that base burden still did erne.