Cant. VI. Guyon is of immodest Merth, led into loose desyre, Fights with Cymochles, whiles his bro- ther burnes in furious fyre. [1] A Hharder lesson, to learne Continence In ioyous joyous pleasure, 1590.bk2.II.vi.1.2. then: than then than in grieuous grievous paine: For sweetnesse doth allure the weaker sence So strongly, that vneathes uneathes it can refraine R 2 257 Eft. the Faerie Queene. Cant.VI. From that, which feeble nature couets covets faine; But griefe and wrath, that be her enemies, And foes of life, she better can abſtaineabstaine reſtrainerestraine ; Yet vertue vauntes in both her their victories, And Guyon in them all shewes goodly maysteries. [2] Whom bold Cymochles traueiling traveiling to finde, With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him The wrath, which Atin kindled in his mind, Came to a riuer river , by whose vtmost utmost brim Wayting to passe, he saw whereas did swim A long Along the shore, as swift as glaunce of eye, A litle Gondelay, bedecked trim With boughes and arbours wouen woven cunningly, That like a litle forrest seemed outwardly. [3] And therein sate a Lady fresh and fayre, Making sweete solace to herselfe alone; Sometimes she song, as lowd as larke in ayre, Sometimes she laught, as merry as Pope Ione Jone that nigh her breth was gone that nigh her breath was gone , Yet was there not with her else any one, That to her might That might to her moue move cause of meriment: Matter of merth enough, though there were noneShe could deuise devise , and thousand waies inuent invent ,To feede her foolish humour, and vaine iolliment jolliment . [4] Which when far 1590.bk2.II.vi.4.1. of: off of off Cymochles heard, and saw, He lowdly cald to such, as were abord, The little barke vnto unto the shore to draw, And him to ferry ouer over that deepe ford: The merry mariner vnto unto his word Soone hearkned, and her painted bote streightway Turnd to the shore, where that same warlike Lord She in receiu’d receiv’d ; but Atin by no way She would admit, albe the knight her much did pray. 258 But The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [5] Eftsoones her shallow ship away did slide, More swift, 1590.bk2.II.vi.5.2. then: than then than swallow sheres the liquid skye, Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide, Or winged canuas canvas with the wind to fly, Onely she turnd a pin, and by and by It cut away vpon upon the yielding waue wave , Ne cared she her course for to apply: For it was taught the way, which she would haue have , And both from rocks and flats it selfe could wisely saue save . [6] And all the way, the wanton Damsell found New merth, her passenger to entertaine: For she in pleasaunt purpose did abound, And greatly ioyed joyed merry tales to faine, Of which a store-house did with her remaine, Yet seemed, nothing well they her became; For all her wordes she drownd with laughter vaine, And wanted grace in vtt’ring utt’ring of the same, That turned all her pleasaunce to a scoffing game. [7] And other whiles vaine toyes she would deuize devize , As her fantasticke wit did most delight, Sometimes her head she fondly would aguize With gaudy girlonds, or fresh flowrets dight About her necke, or rings of rushes plight; Sometimes to do him laugh, she would assay To laugh at shaking of off the leaues leaves light, Or to behold the water worke, and play About her little frigot, therein making way. [8] Her light behauiour behaviour , and loose dalliaunce Gaue Gave wondrous great contentment to the knight, That of his way he had no souenaunce sovenaunce , Nor care of vow’d reuenge revenge , and cruell fight, R 3 259 It the Faery Queene. Cant.VI. But to weake wench did yield his martiall might. So easie was to quench his flamed minde With one sweete drop of sensuall delight. So easie is, t’appease the stormy windeOf malice in the calme of pleasaunt womankind. [9] Diuerse Diverse discourses in their way they spent, Mongst which Cymochles of her questioned, Both what she was, and what that vsage usage ment, Which in her cott she daily practized. Vaine man (saide she) that wouldest be reckoned A straunger in thy home, and ignoraunt Of Phædria (for so my name is red) Of Phædria, thine owne fellow seruaunt servaunt ; For thou to serue serve Acrasia thy selfe doest vaunt. [10] In this wide Inland sea, that hight by name The Idle lake, my wandring ship I row, That knowes her port, and thether sayles by ayme, Ne care, ne feare I, how the wind do blow, Or whether swift I wend, or whether slow: Both slow and swift alike do serue serve my tourne, Ne swelling Neptune, ne lowd thundring Ioue Jove Can chaunge my cheare, or make me euer ever mourne; My little boat can safely passe this perilous bourne. [11] Whiles thus she talked, and whiles thus she toyd, They were far past the passage, which he spake, And come vnto unto an Island, waste and voyd, That floted in the midst of that great lake, There her small Gondelay her port did make, And that gay payre issewing on the shore Disburdned her. Their way they forward take Into the land, that lay them faire before, Whose pleasaunce she him shewd, and plentifull great (store. 260 Our The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [12] It was a chosen plott of fertile land,Emongst wide waues waves sett, like a litle nest, As if it had by Natures cunning hand, Bene choycely picked out from all the rest, And laid forth for ensample of the best: No dainty flowre or herbe, that growes on grownd,No arborett with painted blossomes drest, And smelling sweete, but there it might be fownd To bud out faire, & and throwe her ſweete ſmelsthrowe her sweete smels her ſweet ſmels throwher sweet smels throw her ſweet ſmels throweher sweet smels throwe al arownd. [13] No tree, whose braunches did not brauely bravely spring; No braunch, whereon a fine bird did not sitt: No bird, but did her shrill notes sweetely sing; No song but did containe a louely lovely ditt: Trees, braunches, birds, and songs were framed fitt, For to allure fraile mind to carelesse ease. Carelesse the man soone woxe, and his weake witt Was ouercome overcome of thing, that did him please; So pleased, did his wrathfull purpose faire appease. [14] Thus when shee had his eyes and sences fed With false delights, and fild with pleasures vayn, Into a shady dale she soft him led, And laid him downe vpon upon a grassy playn; And her sweete selfe without dread, or disdayn, She sett beside, laying his head disarmd In her loose lap, it softly to sustayn, Where soone he slumbred fearing not be harmd, The whils with a loue love loud lay she thus him sweetly charmd. [15] Behold, O man, that toilesome paines doest takeThe flowrs, the fields, and all that pleasaunt growes,How they them selues selves doe thine ensample make, Whiles nothing enuious envious nature them forth throwesR 4261Bythe Faery Queene.Cant.VI.Out of her fruitfull lap; how, no man how noman knowes, They spring, they bud, they blossome fresh and faire, And decke the world with their rich põpous pompous showes; Yet no man for them taketh paines or care, Yet no man to them can his carefull paines compare. [16] The lilly, Lady of the flowring field, The flowre deluce, her louely lovely Paramoure, Bid thee to them thy fruitlesse labors yield, And soone leaue leave off this toylsome weary stoure; Loe loe how braue brave she decks her bounteous boure, With silkin curtens and gold couerletts coverletts , Therein to shrowd her sumptuous Belamoure, Yet nether spinnes nor cards, ne cares nor fretts, But to her mother Nature all her care she letts. [17] Why then doest thou, O man, that of them allArt Lord, and eke of nature Soueraine Soveraine , Wilfully make thy selfe a wretched thrall, And waste thy ioyous joyous howres in needelesse paine, Seeking for daunger and aduentures adventures vaine? What bootes it al to haue have , and nothing vse use ? Who shall him rew, that swimming in the maine, Will die for thrist, and water doth refuse? Refuse such fruitlesse toile, and present pleasures chuse. [18] By this she had him lulled fast a sleepeasleepe, That of no wordly worldly thing he care did take; Then she with liquors strong his eies did steepe, That nothing should him hastily awake: So she him lefte, and did her selfe betake Vnto Unto her boat again, with which she clefte The slouthfull waue wave of that great grieſygriesy grieſ⁀lygriesly lake; Soone shee that Island far behind her lefte, And now is come to that same place, where first she (wefte. 262 But The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [19] By this time was the worthy Guyon brought Vnto Unto the other side of that wide strond, Where she was rowing, and for passage sought: Him needed not long call, shee soone to hond Her ferry brought, where him she byding fond, With his sad guide; him selfe she tooke a boord, But the Blacke Palmer suffred still to stond,Ne would for price, or prayers once affoord,To ferry that old man ouer over the perlous foord. [20] Guyon was loath to leaue leave his guide behind, Yet being entred, might not backe retyre; For the flitt barke, obaying to her mind, Forth launched quickly, as she did desire, Ne gaue gave him leaue leave to bid that aged sire Adieu, but nimbly ran her wonted course Through the dull billowes thicke as troubled mire, Whom nether wind out of their seat could forse, Nor timely tides did driue drive out of their sluggish sourse. [21] And by the way, as was her wonted guize, Her mery fitt shee freshly gan to reare, And did of ioy joy and iollity jollity deuize devize , Her selfe to cherish, and her guest to cheare: The knight was courteous, and did not forbeare Her honest merth and pleasaunce to partake; But when he saw her toy, and gibe, and geare, And passe the bonds of modest merimake, Her dalliaunce he despisd, and follies did forsake. [22] Yet she still followed her former style, And said, and did all that thar mote him delight, Till they arriued arrived in that pleasaunt Ile, Where sleeping late she lefte her other knight. 263 But the Faery Queene Cant.VI. But whenas Guyon of that land had sight, He wist him selfe amisse, and angry said; Ah Dame, perdy ye haue have not doen me right, Thus to mislead mee, whiles I you obaid: Me litle needed from my right way to haue have straid. [23] Faire Sir ( qd. quoth she) be not displeasd at all; Who fares on sea, may not commaund his way,Ne wind and weather at his pleasure call:The sea is wide, and easy for to stray;The wind vnstable unstable , and doth neuer never stay. But here a while ye may in safety rest, Till season serue serve new passage to assay; Better safe port, 1590.bk2.II.vi.23.8. then: than then than be in seas distrest. Therewith she laught, and did her earnest end in iest jest . [24] But he halfe discontent, mote nathelesse Himselfe appease, and issewd forth on shore: The ioyes joyes whereof, and happy fuitfulnesse, Such as he saw, she gan him lay before, And all though pleasaunt, yet she made much more: The fields did laugh, the flowres did freshly spring, The trees did bud, and early blossomes bore, And all the quire of birds did sweetly sing, And told that gardins pleasures in their caroling. [25] And she more sweete, 1590.bk2.II.vi.25.1. then: than then than any bird on bough, Would oftentimes emongst them beare a part, And striue strive to passe (as she could well enough) Their natiue native musicke by her skilful art: So did she all, that might his constant hart Withdraw from thought of warlike enterprize, And drowne in dissolute delights apart, Where noise of armes, or vew of martiall guize Might not reuiue revive desire of knightly exercize. 264 Their The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [26] But he was wise, and wary of her will, And euer ever held his hand vpon upon his hart: Yet would not seeme so rude, and thewed ill, As to despise so curteous seeming part, That gentle Lady did to him impart, But fairly tempring fond desire subdewd, And euer ever her desired to depart. She list not heare, but her disports poursewd, And euer ever bad him stay, till time the tide renewd. [27] And now by this, Cymochles howre was spent, That he awoke out of his ydle dreme, And shaking off his drowsy dreriment, Gan him auize avize , howe ill did him beseme, In slouthfull sleepe his molten hart to steme, And quench the brond of his conceiued conceived yre. Tho vp up he started, stird with shame extreme, Ne staied for his Damsell to inquire, But marched to the Strond, there their passage to require. [28] And in the way he with Sir Guyon mett, Accompanyde with Phædria the faire, faire: Eftsoones he gan to rage, and inly frett, Crying, Let be that Lady debonaire bebonaire debonaire , Thou recreaunt knight, and soone thy selfe prepaire To batteile, if thou meane her loue love to gayn: Loe, loe already, how the fowles in aireDoe flocke, awaiting shortly to obtaynThy carcas for their pray, the guerdon of thy payn. [29] And therewith all he fiersly at him flew, And with importuneimportanceimportant outrage him assayld; Who soone prepard to field, his sword forth drew, And him with equall valew counteruayld countervayld : 265 If the Faery Queene. Cant.VI. Their mightie strokes their haberieons haberjeons dismayld, And naked made each others manly spalles; The mortall steele despiteously entayld Deepe in their flesh, quite through the yron walles, That a large purple stream adown their giambeux falles. falles [30] Cymocles Cymochles , that had neuer never mett before before, So puissant foe, with enuious envious despight His prowd presumed force increased more, Disdeigning to bee held so long in fight; Sir Guyon grudging not so much his might, As those vnknightly unknightly raylinges, which he spoke, With wrathfull fire his corage kindled bright, Thereof deuising devising shortly to be wroke, And doubling all his powres, redoubled euery every stroke. [31] Both of them high attonce their hands enhaunst, And both attonce their huge blowes down did sway; Cymochles sword on Guyons shield yglaunst, And thereof nigh one quarter sheard away; But Guyons angry blade so fiers did play On th’others helmett, which as Titan shone, That quite it cloue clove his plumed crest in tway, And bared all his head vnto unto the bone; Wherewith astonisht, still he stood, as sencelesse stone. [32] Still as he stood, fayre Phædria, that beheld That deadly daunger, soone atweene them ran; And at their feet her selfe most humbly feld, Crying with pitteous voyce, and count’nance wan; Ah well away, most noble Lords, how can Your cruell eyes endure so pitteous sight, To shed your liues lives on ground? wo worth the man, That first did teach the cursed steele to bight In his owne flesh, and make way to the liuing living spright. 266 Such The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [33] If euer ever loue love of Lady did empierce Your yron brestes, or pittie could find place, Withhold your bloody handes from battaill fierce, And sith for me ye fight, to me this grace Both yield, to stay your deadly stryfe a space. They stayd a while: and forth she gan proceed: Most wretched woman, and of wicked race, That am the authour of this hainous deed, And cause of death betweene two doughtie knights do (breed. [34] But if for me ye fight, or me will serue serve , Not this rude kynd of battaill, nor these armes Are meet, the which doe men in bale to sterue sterve , And doolefull sorrow heape with deadly harmes: Such cruell game my scarmoges disarmes: Another warre, and other weapons IDoe loue love , where loue love does giue give his sweet Alarmes,Without bloodshed, and where the enimyDoes yield vnto unto his foe a pleasaunt victory. [35] Debatefull strife, and cruell enmity The famous name of knighthood fowly shend; But louely lovely peace, and gentle amity, And in Amours the passing howres to spend, The mightie martiall handes doe most commend; Of loue love they euer ever greater glory bore, 1590.bk2.II.vi.35.7. Then: Than Then Than of their armes: Mars is Cupidoes frend,And is for Venus loues loves renowmed more, 1590.bk2.II.vi.35.9. Then: Than Then Than all his wars and spoiles, the which he did of yore. [36] Therewith she sweetly smyld. They though full bent, To proue prove extremities of bloody fight, Yet at her speach their rages gan relent, And calme the sea of their tempestuous spight, 267 With the Faery Queene. Cant.V.I. Such powre haue have pleasing wordes: such is the might Of courteous clemency in gentle hart. Now after all was ceast, the Faery knight Besought that Damzell suffer him depart, And yield him ready passage to that other part. [37] She no lesse glad, 1590.bk2.II.vi.37.1. then: than then than he desirous was Of his departure thence; for of her ioy joy And vaine delight she saw he light did pas, A foe of folly and immodest toy, Still solemne sad, or still disdainfull coy, Delighting all in armes and cruell warre, That her sweet peace and pleasures did annoy, Troubled with terrour and vnquiet unquiet iarre jarre , That she well pleased was thence to amoue amove him farre. [38] Tho him she brought abord, and her swift bote Forthwith directed to that further strand; The which on the dull waues waves did lightly flote And soone arriued arrived on the shallow sand, Where gladsome Guyon salied forth to land, And to that Damsell thankes gaue gave for reward. Vpon Upon that shore he spyed Atin stand, Thereby his maister left, when late he far’d In Phædrias flitt barck ouer over that perlous shard. [39] Well could he him remember, sith of late He with Pyrrhochles sharp debatement made; Streight gan he him reuyle revyle , and bitter rate, As Shepheards Shepheardes ſ⁀hepheards curre, that in darke eueninges eveninges euenigeseveniges eueningsevenings shade Hath tracted forth some saluage salvage beastes trade; Vile Miscreaunt (said he) whether dost thou flye The shame and death, which will thee soone inuade invade ? What coward hand shall doe thee next to dye, That art thus fowly fledd from famous enimy? 268 Ready The Second Booke of Cant.VI. [40] With that he stifly shooke his steelhead dart: But sober Guyon, hearing him so rayle, Though somewhat moued moved in his mightie hart, Yet with strong reason maistred passion fraile, And passed fayrely forth. He turning taile, Backe to the strond retyrd, and there still stayd, Awaiting passage, which him late did faile; The whiles Cymochles with that wanton mayd The hasty heat of his auowd avowd reuenge revenge delayd.delayd [41] Whylest there the varlet stood, he saw from farre An armed knight, that towardes him fast ran, He ran on foot, as if in lucklesse warre His forlorne steed from him the victour wan; He seemed breathlesse, hartlesse, faint, and wan, And all his armour sprinckled was with blood, And soyld with durtie gore, that no man can Discerne the hew thereof. He neuer never stood, But bent his hastie course towardes the ydle flood. [42] The varlett saw, when to the flood he came, How without stop or stay he fiersly lept, And deepe him selfe beducked in the same, That in the lake his loftie crest was stept, Ne of his safetie seemed care he kept, But with his raging armes he rudely flasht, The waues waves about, and all his armour swept, That all the blood and filth away was washt, Yet still he bet the water, and the billowes dasht. [43] Atin drew nigh, to weet, what it mote bee; For much he wondred at that vncouth uncouth sight; Whom should he, but his own deare Lord, there see, His owne deare Lord Pyrrhochles, in sad plight, 269 Whyles the Faerie Queene. Cant.VI. Ready to drowne him selfe for fell despight. Harrow now out, and well awayweal-away , he cryde, What dismall day hath lent his but this his this cursed light, To see my Lord so deadly damnifyde Pyrrhochles, O Pyrrhochles, what is thee betyde? [44] I burne, I burne, I burne, then lowd he cryde, O how I burne with implacable fyre, Yet nought can quench mine inly flaming syde, Nor sea of licour cold, nor lake of myre, Nothing but death can doe me to respyre. Ah be it (said he) from Pyrrhochles farre After pursewing death once to requyre, Or think, that ought those puissant hands may marre: marre Death is for wretches borne vnder under vnhappy unhappy starre. [45] Perdye, then is it fitt for me (said he) That am, I weene, most wretched man aliue alive , Burning But in flames, yet no flames can I see, And dying dayly, dayly yet reuiue revive : O Atin, helpe to me last death to giue give . The varlet at his plaint was grieued grieved so sore, That his deepe wounded hart in two did riue rive , And his owne health remembring now no more, Did follow that ensample, which he blam’d afore. [46] Into the lake he lept, his Lord to ayd, (So Loue Love the dread of daunger doth despise) And of him catching hold him strongly stayd From drowning. But more happy he, 1590.bk2.II.vi.46.4. then: than then than wise Of that seas nature did him not auise avise . The waues waves thereof so slow and sluggish were,Engrost with mud, which did them fowle agrise,That euery every weighty thing they did vpbeare upbeare ,Ne ought mote euer ever sinck downe to the bottom there. 270 Kindled The Second Booke of Who [47] Whiles thus they strugled in that ydle waue wave , And stroue strove in vaine, the one him selfe to drowne, The other both from drowning for to saue save , Lo, to that shore one in an auncient gowne, Whose hoary locks great grauitie gravitie did crowne, Holding in hand a goodly arming sword, By fortune came, ledd with the troublous sowne: Where drenched deepe he fownd in that dull ford The carefull seruaunt servaunt , stryuing stryving with his raging Lord. [48] Him Atin spying, knew right well of yore, And lowdly cald, Help helpe, O Archimage; Archimage, To saue save my Lord, in wretched plight forlore; Helpe with thy hand, or with thy counsell sage: Weake handes, but counsell is most strong in age. Him when the old man ſaw,man saw, man, ſawman, saw he woundred sore, To see Pyrrhochles there so rudely rage: Yet sithens helpe, he saw, he needed more 1590.bk2.II.vi.48.9. Then: Than Then Than pitty, he in hast approched to the shore. [49] And cald, Pyrrhochles, what is this, I see? What hellish fury hath at earst thee hent? Furious euer ever I thee knew to bee, Yet neuer never in this straunge astonishment. These flames, these flames (he cryde) do me torment. What flames ( qd. quoth he) when I thee present see, In daunger rather to be drent, 1590.bk2.II.vi.49.7. then: than then than brent? Harrow, the flames, which me consume (said hee) Ne can be quencht, within my secret bowelles bee. [50] That cursed man, that cruel feend of hell, Furor, oh Furor hath me thus bedight: His deadly woundes within my liuer liver liuerslivers swell, And his whott fyre burnes in mine entralles bright, S 271 So the Faery Queene. Cant. VII. Kindled through his infernall brond of spight, Sith late with him I batteill vaine would boste, That now I weene Ioues Joves dreaded thunder light Does scorch not halfe so sore, nor damned ghoste In flaming Phlegeton does not so felly roste. [51] Which when as Archimago heard, his griefe He knew right well, and him attonce disarmd: Then searcht his secret woundes, and made a priefe Of euery every place, that was with bruzing harmd, Or with the hidden fier inly fire too inly warmd. Which doen, he balmes and herbes thereto applyde, And euermore evermore with mightie spels them charmd, That in short space he has them qualifyde, And him restor’d to helth, that would haue have algates dyde.