Cant. VII. Guyon findes Mamon in a delue delve , sunning his threasure hore: Is by him tempted, & and led downe, To see his secrete store. [1] A S s Pilot well expert in perilous waue wave , That to a stedfast starre his course hath bent, When foggy mistes, or cloudy tempests haue have The faithfull light of that faire lampe yblent, And couer cover ’d heauen heaven with hideous dreriment, Vpon Upon his card and compas firmes his eye, The maysters of his long experiment, And to them does the steddy helme apply, Bidding his winged vessell fairely forward fly. 272 Some The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [2] So Guyon hauing having lost his trustie guyde, Late left beyond that Ydle lake, proceedes Yet on his way, of none accompanyde; And euermore evermore himselfe with comfort feedes,Of his owne vertues, and praise-worthie deedes. Long ſo so So long he yode, yet no aduenture adventure found, Which fame of her shrill trompet worthy reedes: For still he traueild traveild through wide wastfull ground, That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around. [3] At last he came vnto unto a gloomy glade, Couer’d Cover’d with boughes & and shrubs from heauens heavens light, Whereas he sitting found in secret shade An vncouth uncouth , saluage salvage , and vnciuile uncivile wight, Of griesly hew, and fowle ill fauour favour ’d sight; His face with smoke was tand & and eies were bleardHis head and beard with sout were ill bedight,His cole-blacke hands did seeme to haue have ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge, and nayles like clawes ap-(peard. [4] His yron cote all ouergrowne overgrowne with rust, Was vnderneath underneath enueloped enveloped with gold, Whose glistring glosse darkned with filthy dust, Well yet it appeared, to haue have beene of old A worke of rich entayle, and curious mould, Wouen Woven with antickes and wyld ymagery: And in his lap a masse of coyne he told, And turned vpſide downe upſide downe vpside downe upside downe vpſidowne upſidowne vpsidowne upsidowne , to feede his eye And A couetous covetous desire with his huge threasury. [5] And round about him lay him lay lay on euery every side Great heapes of gold, that neuer never could be spent: Of which some were rude owre, not purifideOf MulcibersMalcibers deuouring devouring element; S 2 273 Where the Faerie Queene. Cant.VII. Some others were new driuen driven , and distent Into great Ingowes, and to wedges square; Some in round plates withouten moniment: But most were stampt, and in their metal bare The antique shapes of kings and kesars straung & and rare. [6] Soone as he Guyon saw, in great affright And haste he rose, for to remoue remove aside Those pretious hils from straungers enuious envious sight, And downe them poured through an hole full wide, Into the hollow earth, them there to hide. But Guyon lightly to him leaping, stayd His hand, that trembled, as one terrifyde; And though him selfe were at the sight dismayd, Yet him perforce restraynd, and to him doubtfull sayd. [7] What art thou man, (if man at all thou art) That here in desert hast thine habitaunce, And these rich hils heapes of welth doest hide apart From the worldes eye, and from her right vsaunce usaunce ? Thereat with staring eyes fixed askaunce, In great disdaine, he answerd, Hardy Elfe, That darest vew my direfull countenaunce, I read thee rash, and heedlesse of thy selfe, To trouble my still seate, and heapes of pretious pelfe. [8] God of the world and worldlings I me call,Great Mammon, greatest god below the skye, That of my plenty poure out vnto unto all, And vnto unto none my graces do enuye envye : Riches, renowme, and principality, Honour, estate, and all this worldes good, For which men swinck and sweat incessantly,Fro me do flow into an ample flood,And in the hollow earth haue have their eternall brood. 274 Leauing Leaving The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [9] Wherefore if me thou deigne to serue serve and sew, At thy commaund lo all these mountaines bee; Or if to thy great mind, or greedy vew All these may not suffise, there shall to thee Ten times so much be nombred francke and free. Mammon (said he) thy godheads vaunt is vaine, And idle offers of thy golden fee; To them, that couet covet such eye-glutting gaine, Proffer thy giftes, and fitter seruaunts servaunts entertaine. [10] Me ill befits beſitsbesits , that in derdoing armes, And honours suit my vowed daies do spend, Vnto Unto thy bounteous baytes, and pleasing charmes, With which weake men thou witchest, to attend: Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend, And low abase the high heroicke spright, That ioyes joyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend; Faire shields, gay steedes, bright armes be my delight: Those be the riches fit for an aduent’rous advent’rous knight. [11] Vaine glorious Elfe (saide he) doest not thou weet, That money can thy wantes at will supply? Sheilds, steeds, and armes, and all things for thee meet It can purvay in twinckling of an eye; And crownes and kingdomes kingdowes kingdomes to thee multiply. Doe not I kings create, and create, create, &and throw the crowne Sometimes to him, that low in dust doth ly? And him that raignd, into his rowme thrust downe, And whom I lust, do heape with glory and renowne? [12] All otherwise (saide he) I riches read, And deeme them roote of all disquietnesse; First got with guile, and then preseru’d preserv’d with dread, And after spent with pride and lauishnesse lavishnesse , S 3 275 The the Faery Queene. Cant.VII. Leauing Leaving behind them griefe and heauinesse heavinesse . Infinite mischiefes of them doe arize, Strife, and debate, bloodshed, and bitternesse, Outrageous wrong, and hellish couetize covetize , That noble heart asin great dishonour doth despize. [13] Ne thine be kingdomes, ne the scepters thine; But realmes and rulers thou doest both confound, And loyall truth to treason doest incline; Witnesse the guiltlesse blood pourd oft on ground, The crowned often slaine, the slayer cround, The sacred Diademe in peeces rent, And purple robe gored with many a wound; Castles surprizd, great citties sackt and brent: So mak’st thou kings, & and gaynest wrongfull gouernmẽt gouernment governmẽt government . [14] Long were to tell the troublous stormes, that tosse The priuate private state, and make the life vnsweet unsweet : Who swelling sayles in Caspian CaſpianCaspian sea doth crosse,And in frayle wood on Adrian gulf doth fleet, Doth not, I weene, so many euils evils meet. Then Mammon wexing wroth, And why then, sayd, Are mortall men so fond and vndiscreet undiscreet ,So euill evill thing to seeke vnto unto their ayd,And hauing having not complaine, and hauing having it vpbrayd upbrayd ? [15] Indeede (quoth he) through fowle intemperaunce, Frayle men are oft captiu’d captiv’d to couetise covetise : But would they thinke, with how small allowaunce Vntroubled Untroubled Nature doth her selfe suffise, Such superfluities they would despise, Which with sad cares empeach our natiue native ioyes joyes : At the well head the purest streames arise: But mucky filth his braunching armes annoyes, And with vncomely uncomely weedes the gentle waue wave accloyes. 276 Or The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [16] The antique world, in his first flowring youth, Fownd no defect in his Creators grace, But with glad thankes, and vnreproued unreproved truth, The guifts of soueraine soveraine bounty did embrace: Like Angels life was then mens happy cace; But later ages pride, like corn-fed steed,Abusd her plenty, and fat swolne encreaceTo all licentious lust, and gan exceedThe measure of her meane, and naturall first need. [17] Then gan a cursed hand the quiet wombe Of his great Grandmother with steele to wound, And the hid treasures in her sacred tombe,With Sacriledge to dig. Therein he fownd Fountaines of gold and siluer silver to abownd, Of which the matter of his huge desireAnd pompous pride eftsoones he did compownd; Then auarice avarice gan through his veines inspire His greedy flames, and kindled life- deuouring devouring fire. [18] Sonne (said he then) lett be thy bitter scorne, And leaue leave the rudenesse of that of antique age To them, that liu’d liv’d therin in state forlorne; Thou that doest liue live in later times, must wage Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage. If then thee list my offred grace to vse use , Take what thou please of all this surplusage; If thee list not, leaue leave haue have thou to refuse: But thing refused, doe not afterward accuse. [19] Me list not (said the Elfin knight) receaue receave Thing offred, till I know it well be gott, Ne wote I, but thou didst these goods bereaue bereave From rightfull owner by vnrighteous unrighteous lott, S 4 277 And the Faery Queene. Cant.VII. Or that bloodguiltnesse or guile them blott. Perdy ( qd. quoth he) yet neuer never eie did vew,Ne tong did tell, ne hand these handled not, But safe I haue have them kept in secret mew, From heuens hevens sight, and powre of al which thẽ them poursew. [20] What secret place ( qd. quoth he) can safely holdSo huge a masse, and hide from heauens heavens eie?Or where hast thou thy wonne, that so much goldThou canst preserue preserve from wrong and robbery?Come thou (qd. he) (quoth he) (qd. he.) (quoth he.) (quoth he) quoth he, and see. So by and by by and by. Through that thick couert covert he him led, and fowndA darkesome way, which no man could descry,That deep descended through the hollow grownd,And was with dread and horror compassed arownd. [21] At length they came into a larger space, That stretcht it selfe into an ample playne, Through which a beaten broad high way did trace, That streight did lead to Plutoes griesly rayne: By that wayes side, there sate infernallinternall Payne,And fast beside him sat tumultuous Strife: The one in hand an yron whip did strayne, The other brandished a bloody knife, And both did gnash their teeth, & and both did threten life. [22] On thother side in one consort there sate, Cruell Reuenge Revenge , and rancorous Despight, Disloyall Treason, and hart-burning Hate, But gnawing Gealosy out of their sight Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bight, And trembling Feare still to and fro did fly, And found no place, wher safe he shroud him might, Lamenting Sorrow did in darknes lye, lye. And ſ⁀hameshame Shame his vgly ugly face did hide from liuing living eye. 278 Soone The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [23] And ouer over them sad horrorhorrourHorrour with grim hew, Did alwaies sore, beating his yron wings; And after him Owles and Night- rauens ravens flew,The hatefull messengers of heauy heavy things,Of death and dolor telling sad tidings; Whiles sad Celeno, sitting on a clifte, A song of bale and bitter sorrow sings, That hart of flint a sonder asonder could haue have rifte: Which hauing having ended, after him she flyeth swifte. [24] All these before the gates of Pluto lay, By whom they passing, spake vnto unto them nought. But th’Elfin knight with wonder all the way Did feed his eyes, and fild his inner thought. At last him to a litle dore he brought, That to the gate of Hell, which gaped wide, Was next adioyning adjoyning , ne them parted ought nought : Betwixt Betwtxt Betwixt them both was but a litle stride, That did the house of Richesse from hellmouth diuide divide . [25] Before the dore sat selfe-consuming Care, Day and night keeping wary watch and ward, For feare least Force or Fraud should vnaware unaware Breake in, and spoile the treasure there in gard: Ne would he suffer Sleepe once thether-ward Approch, albe his drowsy den were next; For next to death is Sleepe to be compard: Therefore his house is vnto unto his annext; Here Sleep, ther Richesse, & and Helgate thẽ them both betwext. [26] So soone as Mammon there arriud arrivd , the dore To him did open, and affoorded way; Him followed eke Sir Guyon euermore evermore , Ne darkenesse him, ne daunger might dismay. 279 In the Faery Queene Cant.VII. Soone as he entred was, the dore streight way Did shutt, and from behind it forth there lept An vgly ugly feend, more fowle 1590.bk2.II.vii.26.7. then: than then than dismall day, The which with monstrous stalke behind him stept, And euer ever as he went, dew watch vpon upon him kept. [27] Well hoped hee, ere long that hardy guest, If euer ever couetous covetous hand, or lustfull eye,Or lips he layd on thing, that likte him best,Or euer ever sleepe his eiestrings did vntye untye , Should be his pray. And therefore still on hye He ouer over him did hold his cruell clawes, Threatning with greedy gripe to doe him dye And rend in peeces with his rauenous ravenous pawes, If euer ever he transgrest the fatall Stygian lawes. [28] That houses forme within was rude and strong, Lyke an huge caue cave , hewne out of rocky clifte, From whose rough vaut the ragged breaches hong, Embost with massy gold of glorious guifte, And with rich metall loaded euery every rifte, That heauy heavy ruine they did seeme to threatt; And ouer over them Arachne high did lifteHer cunning web, and spred her subtile nett,Enwrapped in fowle smoke and clouds more black 1590.bk2.II.vii.28.9. then: than then than ( Iett Jett . [29] Both roofe, and floore, and walls were all of gold,But ouergrowne overgrowne with dust and old decay,And hid in darkenes, that none could beholdThe hew thereof: for vew of cherefull dayDid neuer never in that house it selfe display, But a faint shadow of vncertein uncertein light;Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away:Or as the Moone cloathed with clowdy night,Does shew to him, that walkes in feare and sad affright. 280 To The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [30] In all that rowme was nothing to be seene, But huge great yron chests and coffers strong, All bard with double bends, that none could weene Them to efforce by violence or wrong: On euery every side they placed were along. But all the grownd with sculs was scattered,And dead mens bones, which round about were flõg flong ,Whose liues lives , it seemed, whilome there were shed,And their vile carcases now left vnburied unburied . [31] They forward passe, ne Guyon yet spoke word, Till that they came vnto unto an yron dore,Which to them opened of his owne accord, And shewd of richesse such exceeding store, As eie of man did neuer never see before, Ne euer ever could within one place be fownd, Though all the wealth, which is, or was of yore, Could gathered be through all the world arownd, And that aboue above were added to that vnder under grownd. [32] The charge thereof vnto unto a couetous covetous Spright Commaunded was, who thereby did attend, And warily awaited day and night, From other couetous covetous feends it to defend, Who it to rob and ransacke did intend. Then Mammon Hammon turning to that warriour, said; Loe here the worldes blis, loe here the end, To which al men doe ayme, rich to be made: Such grace now to be happy, is before thee laid. [33] Certes (sayd he) I n’ill thine offred grace, Ne to be made so happy doe intend:Another blis before mine eyes I place,Another happines, another end. 281 But the Faery Queene. Cant.VII. To them, that list, these base regardes I lend: But I in armes, and in atchieuements atchievements braue brave , Do rather choose my flitting houres to spend, And to be Lord of those, that riches haue have , 1590.bk2.II.vii.33.9. Then: Than Then Than them to haue have my selfe, and be their seruile servile sclaue sclave . [34] Thereat the feend his gnashing teeth did grate, And grieu’d griev’d , so long to lacke his greedie pray; For well he weened, that so glorious bayte Would tempt his guest, to take thereof assay: Had he so doen, he had him snatcht away, More light 1590.bk2.II.vii.34.6. then: than then than Culuer Culver in the Faulcons fist. Eternall God thee saue save from such decay. But whenas Mammon saw his purpose mist, Him to entrap vnwares unwares another way he wist. [35] Thence forward he him ledd, and shortly brought Vnto Unto another rowme, whose dore forthright,To him did open, as it had beene taught: Therein an hundred raunges weren pight, And hundred fournaces all burning bright; By euery every fournace many feendes did byde, Deformed creatures, horrible in sight, And euery every feend his busie paines applyde, To melt the golden metall, ready to be tryde. [36] One with great bellowes gathered filling ayre, And with forst wind the fewell did inflame; Another did the dying bronds repayre With yron dying yron tongs, and sprinckled ofte the same With liquid waues waves , fiers Vulcans rage to tame, Who maystring them, renewd his former heat; Some scumd the drosse, that from the metall came. Some stird the molten owre with ladles great; And euery every one did swincke, and euery every one did sweat. 282 As The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [37] But when an earthly wight they present saw, Glistring in armes and battailous aray, From their whot work they did themselues themselves withdraw To wonder at the sight: for till that day, They neuer never creature saw, that cam that way. Their staring eyes sparckling with feruent fervent fyre, And vgly ugly shapes did nigh the man dismay, That were it not for shame, he would retyre, Till that him thus bespake their soueraine soveraine Lord & and syre. [38] Behold, thou Faeries sonne, with mortall eye, That liuing living eye before did neuer never see: The thing, that thou didst craue crave so earnestly, To weet, whence all the wealth late shewd by mee, Proceeded, lo now is reueald reveald to thee. Here is the fountaine of the worldes good: Now therefore, if thou wilt enriched bee, Auise Avise thee well, and chaunge thy wilfull mood, Least thou perhaps hereafter wish, and be withstood. [39] Suffise it then, thou Money God ( qd. quoth hee) That all thine ydle offers I refuse. All that I need I haue have ; what needeth mee To couet covet more, then I haue have cause to vse use ? With such vaine shewes thy worldlinges vyle abuse: But giue give me leaue leave to follow mine emprise. Mammon was much displeasd, yet n’ote no’te he chuse, But beare the rigour of his bold mesprise, And thence him forward ledd, him further to entise. [40] He brought him through a darksom narrow strayt,To a broad gate, all built of beaten gold: The gate was open, but therein did wayt A sturdie villein, stryding stiffe and bold, 283 A the Faery Queene. CantV.II. As if thatif thethe highest God defy he would; In his right hand an yron club he held, AndBut he himselfe was all of yrongolden mould, Yet had both life and sence, and well could weld That cursed weapon, when his cruell foes he queld. [41] Disdayne he called was, and did disdayne To be so cald, and who so did him call: Sterne was his to looke, and full of stomacke vayne, His portaunce terrible, and stature tall, Far passing th’hight of men terrestriall; Like an huge Gyant of the Titans race, That made him scorne all creatures great and small, And with his pride all others powre deface: More fitt emongst black fiendes, 1590.bk2.II.vii.41.9. then: than then than men to haue have his (place. [42] Soone as those glitterand armes he did espye, That with their brightnesse made that darknes light, His harmefull club he gan to hurtle hye, And threaten batteill to the Faery knight; Who likewise gan himselfe to batteill dight,Till Mammon did his hasty hand withhold,And counseld him abstaine from perilous fight: For nothing might abash the villein bold, Ne mortall steele emperce his miscreated mould. [43] So hauing having him with reason pacifyde, And the fiers Carle commaunding to forbeare, He brought him in. The rowme was large and wyde, As it some Gyeld or solemne Temple weare: Many great golden pillours did vpbeare upbeare The massy roofe, and riches huge sustayne, And euery every pillour decked was full deare With crownes and Diademes, & and titles vaine, Which mortall Princes wore, whiles they on earth did (rayne. 284 And The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [44] A route of people there assembled were, Of euery every sort and nation vnder under skye, Which with great vprore uprore preaced to draw nere To th’ vpper upper part, where was aduaunced advaunced hye A stately siege of soueraine soveraine maiestye majestye ,And thereon satt a woman gorgeous gay,And richly cladd in robes of royaltye,That neuer never earthly Prince in such arayHis glory did enhaunce and pompous pryde display. [45] Her face right wondrous faire did seeme to bee, That her broad beauties beam great brightnes threw Through the dim shade, that all men might it see: Yet was not that same her owne natiue native hew, But wrought by art and counterfetted shew, Thereby more louers lovers vnto unto her to call; Nath’lesse most heuenly hevenly faire in deed and vew She by creation was, till she did fall, Thẽceforth Thenceforth Thencforth she sought for helps to cloke her crime withall. crimewith-(all. [46] There as in glistring glory she did sitt, She held a great gold chaine ylincked well, Whose vpper upper end to highest heuen heven was knitt, And lower part did reach to lowest Hell, And all that preace did rownd about her swell, To catchen hold of that long chaine, thereby To climbe aloft, and others to excell: That was Ambition, rash desire to sty, And euery every linck thereof a step of dignity. [47] Some thought to raise themselues themselves to high degree, By riches and vnrighteous unrighteous reward, Some by close shouldring, some by flatteree; Others through friendes, others for base regard; 285 Mammon the Faerie Queene. Cant.VII. And all by wrong waies for themselues themselves prepard. Those that were vp up themselues themselves , kept others low, Those that were low themselues themselves , held others hard, Ne suffred them to ryse or greater grow, But euery every one did striue strive his fellow downe to throw. [48] Which whenas Guyon saw, he gan inquire, What meant that preace about that Ladies throne, And what she was that did so high aſpyre.aspyre. aſpyre,aspyre, aſpireaspire Him Mammon answered, That goodly one, Whom all that folke with such contention, Doe flock about, my deare my daughter is, Honour and dignitie from her alone, Deriued Derived are, and all this worldes blis For which ye men doe striue strive : few gett, but many mis. [49] And fayre Philotime she rightly hight, The fairest wight that wonneth vnder under skye, But that this darksom neather world her light Doth dim with horror and deformity, Worthie of heuen heven and hye felicitie, From whence the gods haue have her for enuy envy thrust: But sith thou hast found fauour favour in mine eye, Thy spouse I will her make, if that thou lust, That she may thee aduance advance for works and merits iust just . [50] Gramercy Mammon Mammom (said the gentle knight) For so great grace and offred high estate, But I, that am fraile flesh and earthly wight, Vnworthy Unworthy match for such immortall mate mate, mate My selfe well wote, and mine vnequall unequall fate, And were I not, yet is my trouth yplight, And loue love auowd avowd to other Lady late, That to remoue remove the same I haue have no might: To chaunge loue love causelesse is reproch to warlike knight. knight 286 For The Second Booke of Cant.VII. [51] Mammon emmoued emmoved was with inward wrath; Yet forcing it to fayne, him forth thence ledd Through griesly shadowes by a beaten path, Into a gardin goodly garnished With hearbs & and fruits, whose kinds mote not be redd. Not such, as earth out of her fruitfull woomb Throwes forth to men sweet and well savored, But direfull deadly black both leafe and bloom,Fitt to adorne the dead and deck the drery toombe. [52] There mournfull Cypresse grew in greatest store, And trees of bitter Gall, and Heben sad, Dead sleeping Poppy, and black Hellebore, Cold Coloquintida, and Tetra mad, Mortall Samnitis, and Cicuta bad, With which Which with th’ vniust unjust Atheniens made to dyWise Socrates, who thereof quaffing gladPourd out his life, and last PhilosophyTo the fayre Critias his dearest Belamy. [53] The Gardin of Proserpina this hight; And in the midst thereof a siluer silver seat, With a thick Arber goodly ouerdight overdight , In which she often vsd usd from open heat Her selfe to shroud, and pleasures to entreat. Next thereunto did grow a goodly tree, With braunches broad dispredd and body great, great. great, Clothed with leaues leaves , that none the wood mote see And loaden all with fruit as thick as it might bee. [54] Their fruit were golden apples glistring bright, That goodly was their glory to behold, On earth like neuer never grew, ne liuing living wight Like euer ever saw, but they from hence were sold; T 287 Deep the Faery Queene. Cant.VIII. For those, which Hercules with conquest boldGot from great Atlas daughters, hence began, And planted there, did bring forth fruit of gold And those, with which th’Eubæanthe Eubæan young man wanSwift Atalanta, when through craft he her out ran. [55] Here also sprong that goodly golden fruit,With which Acontius got his louer lover trew,Whom he had long time sought with fruitlesse suit: Here eke that famous golden Apple grew,The which emongest the Gods false Ate threw:For which th’Idæan Ladies disagreed,Till partiall Paris dempt it Venus dew,And had of her, fayre Helen for his meed,That many noble Greekes and Troians Trojans made to bleed. [56] The warlike Elfe, much wondred at this tree, So fayre and great, that shadowed all the ground, And his broad braunches, laden with rich fee, Did stretch themselues themselves without the vtmost utmost bound Of this great gardin, compast with a mound, Which ouer over -hanging, they themselues themselves did steepe, In a blacke flood which flow’d about it round, That is the riuer river of Cocytus deepe, In which full many soules do endlesse wayle and weepe. [57] Which to behold, he clomb vp up to the bancke, And looking downe, saw many damned wightes, In those sad waues waves , which direfull deadly stancke, Plonged continually of cruell Sprightes, That with their piteous cryes, and yelling shrightes, They made the further shore resounden wide: Emongst the rest of those same ruefull sightes, One cursed creature, he by chaunce espide, That drenched lay full deepe, vnder under the Garden side. 288 Aboue Above The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [58] Deepe was he drenched to the vpmost upmost chin, Yet gaped still as coueting coveting to drinke, Of the cold liquour which he waded in, And stretching forth his hand, did often thinke To reach the fruit which grew vpon upon the brincke: But both the fruit from hand, and flood from mouth Did fly abacke, and made him vainely swincke: The whiles he steru’d sterv’d with hunger, and with drouth He daily dyde, yet neuer never throughly dyen couth. [59] The knight him seeing labour so in vaine, Askt who he was, and what he ment thereby: Who groning deepe, thus answerd him againe; Most cursed of all creatures vnder under skye, Lo Tantalus, I here tormented lye:Of whom high Ioue Jove wont whylome feasted bee,Lo here I now for want of food doe dye:But if that thou be such, as I thee see,Of grace I pray thee, giue give to eat and drinke to mee. [60] Nay, nay, thou greedy Tantalus (quoth he) Abide the fortune of thy present fate, And vnto unto all that liue live in high degree, Ensample be of mind more temperate intemperate , To teach them how to vse use their present state. Then gan the cursed wretch alowd to cry,Accusing highest Ioue Jove and gods ingrate,And eke blaspheming heauen heaven bitterly,As authour of vniustice unjustice , there to let him dye. [61] He lookt a litle further, and espyde Another wretch, whose carcas deepe was drent Within the riuer river , which the same did hyde: But both his handes most filthy feculent,T 2289Whichthe Faerie Queene.Cant.VIII. Aboue Above the water were on high extent, And faynd to wash themselues themselves incessantly,Yet nothing cleaner were for such intent,But rather fowler seemed to the eye,So lost his labour vaine and ydle industry. [62] The knight him calling, asked who he was, Who lifting vp up his head, him answerd thus: I Pilate am the falsest Iudge Judge , alas,And most vniust unjust that by vnrighteous unrighteous And wicked doome to Iewes Jewes despiteous, Deliuered Delivered vp up the Lord of life to dye,And did acquite a murdrer felonous,The whiles my handes I washt in purity,The whiles my soule was soyld with fowle iniquity. [63] Infinite moe, tormented in like paine He there beheld, too long here to be told: Ne Mammon would there let him long remayne, For terrour of the tortures manifold, In which the damned soules he did behold, But roughly him bespake. Thou fearefull foole Why takest not of that same fruite of gold,Ne sittest downe on that same siluer silver stoole,To rest thy weary person, in the shadow coole. [64] All which he did, to do him deadly fall, In frayle intemperaunce through sinfull bayt, To which if he inclyned had at all, That dreadfull feend, which did behinde him wayt, Would him haue have rent in thousand peeces strayt: But he was wary wise in all his way, And well perceiued perceived his deceiptfull sleight, Ne suffred lust his safety to betray; So goodly did beguile the Guyler of his the pray. 290 Of The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [65] And now he has so long remained theare, That vitall powres gan wexe both weake and wan, For want of food, and sleepe, which two vpbeare upbeare , Like mightie pillours, this frayle life of man, That none without the same enduren can. For now three dayes of men were full outwrought, Since he this hardy enterprize began: For thy great Mammon fayrely he besought, Into the world to guyde him backe, as he him brought. [66] The God, though loth, yet was constraynd t’obay, For lenger time, 1590.bk2.II.vii.66.2. then: than then than that, no liuing living wightBelow the earth, might suffred be to stay: So backe againe, him brought to liuing living light. But all so soone as his enfeebled spright,Gan sucke this vitall ayre into his brest, As ouercome overcome with too exceeding might, The life did flit away out of her nest, And all his sences were with deadly fit opprest.