Cant. VIII. Sir Guyon layd in swowne is by Acrates sonnes despoyld, Whom Arthure soone hath reskewed And Paynim brethren foyld. [1] A N n d is there care in heauen heaven ? and is 1590.bk2.II.viii.1.1. their: there their there loue love In heauenly heavenly spirits to these creatures bace, That may compassion of their euilles evilles moue move ? There is: else much more wretched were the cace T 3 291 Beside the Faery Queene. Cant.V III. Of men 1590.bk2.II.viii.1.5. then: than then than beasts. But O th’exceeding grace Of highest God, that loues loves his creatures so, And all his workes with mercy doth embrace, That blessed Angels, he sends to and fro, To serue serve to wicked man, to serue serve his wicked foe. [2] How oft do they, their siluer silver bowers leaue leave , To come to succour vs us , that succour want, want? How oft do they with golden pineons, cleaue cleave The flitting skyes, like flying Pursuiuant Pursuivant , Against fowle feendes to ayd vs us militant:militant? They for vs us fight, they watch and dewly ward, And their bright Squadrons round about vs us plant,And all for loue love , and nothing for reward: O why should heuenly hevenly God to men haue have such regard?regard. [3] During the while, that Guyon did abide In Mamons house, the Palmer, whom whyleareThat wanton Mayd of passage had denide, By further search had passage found elsewhere, And being on his way, approched neare, Where Guyon lay in traunce, when suddeinly He heard a voyce, that called lowd and cleare, Come hether, come hether, O come hastily; That all the fields resounded with the ruefull cry. [4] The Palmer lent his eare vnto unto the noyce, To weet, who called so importunely: Againe he heard a more efforced voyce, That bad him come in haste. He by and by His feeble feet directed to the cry; Which to that shady delue delve him brought at last, Where Mammon earst did sunne his threasury: There the good Guyon he found slumbring fast In senceles dreame; which sight at first him sore aghast. 292 But The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [5] Beside his head there satt a faire young man, Of wondrous wondtous beauty, and of freshest yeares, Whose tender bud to blossome new began, And florish faire aboue above his equall peares; His snowy front curled with golden heares, Like Phoebus face adornd with sunny rayes, Diuinely Divinely shone, and two sharpe winged sheares, Decked with diuerse diverse plumes, like painted Iayes Jayes , Were fixed at his backe, to cut his ayery wayes. [6] Like as Cupido on Idæan hill, When hauing having laid his cruell bow away, And mortall arrowes, wherewith he doth fill The world with murdrous spoiles and bloody pray, With his faire mother he him dights to play, And with his goodly sisters, Graces three; The Goddesse pleased with his wanton play, Suffers her selfe through sleepe beguild to bee, The whiles the other Ladies mind theyr mery glee. [7] Whom when the Palmer saw, abasht he was Through fear and wonder, that he nought could say, Till him the childe bespoke, Long lackt, alas, Hath bene thy faithfull aide in hard assay, Whiles deadly fitt thy pupill doth dismay; Behold this heauy heavy sight, thou reuerend reverend Sire, But dread of death and dolor doe away; For life ere long shall to her home retire, And he that breathlesse seems, shal corage bold respire. [8] The charge, which God doth vnto unto me arrett, Of his deare safety, I to thee commend; Yet will I not forgoe, ne yet forgett The care thereof my selfe vnto unto the end, T 4 293 Whom the Faery Queene. Cant.VIII. But euermore evermore him succour, and defend Against his foe and mine: watch thou I pray; For euill evill is at hand him to offend. So hauing having said, eftsoones he gan display His painted nimble wings, and vanisht quite away. [9] The Palmer seeing his lefte empty place, And his slow eies beguiled of their sight, Woxe sore affraid, and standing still a space, Gaz’d after him, as fowle escapt by flight; At last him turning to his charge behight, With trembling hand his troubled pulse gan try, Where finding life not yet dislodged quight, He much reioyst rejoyst , and courd it tenderly,As chicken newly hatcht, from dreaded destiny. [10] At last he spide, where towards him did pace Two Paynim knights, al armd as bright as skie, And them beside an aged Sire did trace, And far before a light-foote Page did flie, That breathed strife and troublous enmitie; Those were the two sonnes of Acrates old, Who meeting earst with Archimago slie,Foreby that idle strond, of him were told, That he, which earst them combatted, was Guyon bold. [11] Which to auenge avenge on him they dearly vowd, Where euer ever that on ground they mote him find; False Archimage prouokte provokte their corage prowd, And stryful Atin in their stubborne mindColes of contention and whot vengeaunce tind. Now bene they come, whereas the Palmer sate, Keeping that slombred corse to him assind; Well knew they both his person, sith of late With him in bloody armes they rashly did debate. 294 Sith The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [12] Whom when Pyrochles Pyrrhochles saw, inflam’d with rage, That sire he fowl bespake, Thou dotard vile, That with thy brutenesse shendst thy comely age, Abandon soone, I read, the caytiue caytive spoile Of that same outcast carcas, that ere while erewhile ere whfle Made it ſelfeselfe felfe famous through false trechery, And crownd his coward crest with knightly stile; Loe where he now inglorious doth lye, To prooue proove he liued lived il, that did thus fowly dye. [13] To whom the Palmer fearlesse answered, Certes, Sir knight, ye bene too much to blame, Thus for to blott the honor of the dead, And with fowle cowardize his carcas shame, Whose liuing living handes immortalizd his name. Vile is the vengeaunce on the ashes cold, And enuy envy base, to barke at sleeping fame: Was neuer never wight, that treason of him told; Your self his prowesse prou’d prov’d & and found him fiers & and bold. [14] Then sayd Cymochles, Palmer, thou doest dote, Ne canst of prowesse, ne of knighthood deeme, Saue Save as thou seest or hearst. But well I wote, That of his puissaunce tryall made extreeme; Yet gold al is not, that doth golden seeme, Ne all good knights, that shake well speare & and shield: The worth of all men by their end esteeme,And then dew praise, or dew reproch them yield;Bad therefore I him deeme, that thus lies dead on field. [15] Good or bad, gan his brother fiers reply, What doe I recke, sith that he dide entire? Or what doth his bad death now satisfy, The greedy hunger of reuenging revenging yre; 295 But the Faery Queene Cant.VIII. Sith wrathfull hand wrought not her owne desire? Yet since no way is lefte to wreake my spight, I will him reaue reave of armes, the victors hire, And of that shield, more worthy of good knight; For why should a dead dog be deckt in armour bright? [16] Fayr Sir, said then the Palmer suppliaunt, For knighthoods loue love , doe not so fowle a deed, Ne blame your honor with so shamefull vaunt Of vile reuenge revenge . To spoile the dead of weedIs sacrilege, and doth all sinnes exceed; But leaue leave these relicks of his liuing living might, To decke his herce, and trap his tomblacke tomb-blacke tomb-black steed. What herce or steed (said he) should he haue have dight, But be entombed in the rauen raven or the kight? [17] With that, rude hand vpon upon his shield he laid, And th’other brother gan his helme vnlace unlace , Both fiercely bent to haue have him disaraid; Till that they spyde, where towards them did pace An armed knight, of bold and bounteous grace, Whose squire bore after him an heben launce, And couerd coverd shield. Well kend him so far space Th’enchaunter by his armes and amenaunce, When vnder under him he saw his Lybian steed to praunce. [18] And to those brethren sayd, Rise rise byliue bylive , And vnto unto batteil doe yourselues yourselves addresse; For yonder comes the prowest knight aliue alive , Prince Arthur, flowre of grace and nobilesse, That hath to Paynim knights wrought gret diſtreſſe,distresse, diſtreſſe.distresse. And thousand Sar’zins fowly donne to dye. That word so deepe did in their harts impresse, That both eftsoones vpstarted upstarted furiously, And gan themselues themselves prepare to batteill greedily. 296 His The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [19] But fiers Pyrrhochles, lacking his owne sword, The want thereof now greatly gan to plaine, And Archimage besought, him that afford, Which he had brought for Braggadochio Braggadocchio vaine. So would I (said th’enchaunter) glad and faine Beteeme to you this sword, you to defend, Or ought that els your honor might maintaine, But that this weapons powre I well haue have kend, To be contrary to the worke, which ye intend. [20] For that same knights owne sword this is of yore, Which Merlin made by his almightie art, For that his noursling, when he knighthood swore, Therewith to doen his foes eternall smart. The metall first he mixt with Medæwart, That no enchauntment from his dint might saue save ; Then it in flames of Aetna wrought apart, And seuen seven times dipped in the bitter waue wave Of hellish Styx, which hidden vertue to it gaue gave . [21] The vertue is, that nether steele, nor stone The stroke thereof from entraunce may defend; Ne euer ever may be vsed used by his fone, Ne forst his rightful owner to offend, Ne euer ever will it breake, ne euer ever bend. Wherefore Morddure it rightfully is hight. In vaine therefore, Pyrhochles Pyrrhochles , should I lend The same to thee, against his lord to fight, For sure yt would deceiue deceive thy labor, and thy might. [22] Foolish old man, said then the Pagan wroth, That weenest words or charms may force withstond: Soone shalt thou see, and then beleeue beleeve for troth, That I can carue carve with this inchaunted brond 297 Palmer the Faery Queene. Cant.VIII. His Lords owne flesh. Therewith out of his hond That vertuous steele he rudely snatcht away, And Guyons shield about his wrest he bond; So ready dight, fierce battaile to assay, And match his brother proud in battailous aray. [23] By this that straunger knight in presence came, And goodly salued them; who nought againe Him answered, as courtesie became, But with sterne lookes, and stomachous disdaine, Gaue Gave signes of grudge and discontentment vaine: Then turning to the Palmer, he gan spy Where at his feet, with sorrowfull demayne And deadly hew, an armed corse did lye, In whose dead face he redd great magnanimity. [24] Sayd he then to the Palmer, Reuerend Reverend syre, What great misfortune hath betidd this knight? Or did his life her fatall date expyre, Or did he fall by treason, or by fight? How euer ever , sure I rew his pitteous plight. Not one, nor other, sayd the Palmer graue grave , Hath him befalne, but cloudes of deadly night A while his heauy heavy eylids couer cover ’d haue have , And all his sences drowned in deep sencelesse waue wave . [25] Which, those his cruell ſamesame foes, that stand hereby, Making aduauntage advauntage , to reuenge revenge their spight, Would him disarme, and treaten shamefully, Vnworthie Unworthie vsage usage of redoubted knight. But you, faire Sir, whose honourable sight Doth promise hope of helpe, and timely grace, Mote I beseech to succour his sad plight, And by your powre protect his feeble cace. First prayse of knighthood is, fowle outrage to deface. 298 Till The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [26] Palmer, (said he) no knight so rude, I weene, As to doen outrage to a sleeping ghost: Ne was there euer ever noble corage seene, That in aduauntage advauntage would his puissaunce bost: Honour is least, where oddes appeareth most. May bee, that better reason will aswage, The rash reuengers revengers heat. Words well dispost Haue Have secrete powre, t’appease inflamed rage: If not, leaue leave vnto unto me thy knights last patronagepatonagepat⁀ronage . [27] Tho turning to those brethren, thus bespoke, Ye warlike payre, whose valorous great might It seemes, iust just wronges to vengeaunce doe prouoke provoke , To wreake your wrath on this dead seeming knight, Mote ought allay the storme of your despight, And settle patience in so furious heat? Not to debate the chalenge of your right, But for this carkas pardon I entreat, Whom fortune hath already laid in lowest seat. [28] To whom Cymochles said, For what art thou, That mak’st thy selfe his dayes-man, to prolong The vengeaunce prest? Or who shall let me now, On this vile body from to wreak my wrong, And make his carkas as the outcast dong? Why should not that dead carrion satisfye The guilt, which if he liued lived had thus long, His life for dew reuenge revenge should deare abye? The trespas still doth liue live , albee the person dye. [29] Indeed, then said the Prince, the euill evill donneDyes not, when breath the body first doth leaue leave ,But from the grandsyre to the Nephewes sonne,And all his seede the curse doth often cleaue cleave ,299Whichthe Faerie Queene.Cant.VIII.Till vengeaunce vtterly utterly the guilt bereaue bereave :So streightly God doth iudge judge . But gentle knight, That doth against the dead his hand vpreare upreare , His honour staines with rancour and despight, And great disparagment makes to his former might. [30] Pyrrhochles gan reply the second tyme, And to him said, Now felon sure I read, How that thou art partaker of his cryme: Therefore by Termagaunt thou shalt be dead. With that his hand, more sad 1590.bk2.II.viii.30.5. then: than then than lomp of lead, Vplifting Uplifting high, he weened with Morddure, His owne good sword Morddure, to cleaue cleave his head. The faithfull steele such treason n’ould no’uld endure, But swaruing swarving from the marke, his Lordes life did assure. [31] Yet was the force so furious and so fell, That horse and man it made to reele asyde; Nath’lesse the Prince would not forsake his sell: For well of yore he learned had to ryde, But full of anger fiersly to him cryde; False traitour miscreaunt, thou broken hastThe law of armes, to strike foe vndefide undefide . But thou thy treasons fruit, I hope, shalt taste Right sowre, & and feele the law, the which thou hast defaſt.defast. defaſtdefast defac’tdefac’t [32] With that his balefull speare, he fiercely bent Against the Pagans Pagons brest, and therewith thought His cursed life out of her lodg haue have rent: But ere the point arriued arrived , where it ought, That seuen seven fold shield, which he from Guyon brought He cast between toward the bitter stownd: Through all those foldes the steelehead passage (wrought And through his shoulder perst; wherwith to groũd ground He groueling groveling fell, all gored in his gushing wound. 300 That The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [33] Which when his brother saw, fraught with great griefe And wrath, he to him leaped furiously, And fowly saide, By Mahoune, cursed thiefe, That direfull stroke thou dearely shalt aby. Then hurling vp up his harmefull blade on hy, Smote him so hugely on his haughtie crest, That from his saddle forced him to fly: Els mote it needes downe to his manly brest Haue Have cleft his head in twaine, and life thence diſpoſſeſt.dispossest. diſpoſſeſtdispossest [34] Now was the Prince in daungerous distresse, Wanting his sword, when he on foot should fight: His single speare could doe him small redresse, Against two foes of so exceeding might, The least of which was match for any knight. And now the other, whom he earst did daunt, Had reard him selfe againe to cruel fight, Three times more furious, and more puissaunt, Vnmindfull Unmindfull of his wound, of his fate ignoraunt. [35] So both attonce him charge on either syde, With hideous strokes, and importable powre, That forced him his ground to trauerse traverse wyde, And wisely watch to ward that deadly stowre: For on in his shield, as thicke as stormie showre, Their strokes did raine, yet did he neuer never quaile, Ne backward shrinke, but as a stedfast towre, Whom foe with double doubly battry doth assaile, Them on her bulwarke beares, and bids them nought a-(uaile. a-(vaile. [36] So stoutly he withstood their strong assay, Till that at last, when he aduantage advantage spyde, His poynant speare he thrust with puissant sway At proud Cymochles, whiles his shield was wyde, 301 Whom the Faerie Queene. Cant.VIII. That through his thigh the mortall steele did gryde: He swaruing swarving with the force, within his flesh Did breake the launce, and let the head abyde: Out of the wound the redblood flowed fresh, That vnderneath underneath his feet soone made a purple plesh. [37] Horribly then he gan to rage, and rayle, Cursing his Gods, and him selfe damning deepe: Als when his brother saw the redblood rayle traile Adowne so fast and all his armour steepe, For very felnesse lowd he gan to weepe, And said, Caytiue Caytive , cursse on thy cruell hond, That twise hath spedd, yet shall it not thee keepe From the third brunt of this my fatall brond: Lo where the dreadfull Death behynd thy backe doth (stond. [38] With that he strooke, and thother strooke withall, That nothing seemd mote beare so mõstrous monstrous might: The one vpon upon his couered covered shield did fall, And glauncing downe would not his owner byte: But th’other did vpon upon his troncheon smyte, Which hewing quite a sunder asunder , further way It made, and on his hacqueton did lyte, The which diuiding dividing with importune sway, It seizd in his right side, and there the dint did stay. [39]Wyde was the wound, and a large lukewarme flood,Red as the Rose, thence gushed grieuously grievously , That when the Paynym spyde the streaming blood, Gaue Gave him great hart, and aud hope of victory. On thother side, in huge perplexity, The Prince now stood, hauing having his weapon broke; Nought could he hurt, but still at warde did ly: Yet with his troncheon he so rudely stroke Cymochles twise, that twise him forst his foot reuoke revoke . 302 And The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [40] Whom when the Palmer saw in such distresse, Sir Guyons sword he lightly to him raught, And said, fayre Sonne, great god thy right hãd hand blesse, To vse use that sword ſo well, as heso well, as he ſo wiſely asso wisely as it ought. Glad was the knight, & and with fresh courage fraught, When as againe he armed felt his hond; Then like a Lyon, which hath long time saughtHis robbed whelpes and at the last them fondEmongst the shepeheard swaynes, then wexeth wood & and (yond. [41] So fierce he laid about him, and dealt blowes On either side, that neither mayle could hold, Ne shield defend the thunder of his throwes: Now to Pyrrhochles many strokes he told; Eft to Cymochles twise so many fold: Then backe againe turning his busie hond, Them both atonce compeld with courage bold, To yield wide way to his hart-thrilling brond; And though they both stood stiffe, yet could not both (withstond. [42] As saluage salvage Bull, whom two fierce mastiues mastives bayt, When rancour doth with rage him once engore, Forgets with wary warde them to awayt, But with his dreadfull hornes them driues drives afore, Or flings aloft or treades downe in the flore, Breathing out wrath, and bellowing disdaine, That all the forest quakes to heare him rore: So rag’d Prince Arthur twixt his foemen twaine, That neither could his mightie puissaunce sustaine. [43] But euer ever at Pyrrhochles when he smitt, Who Guyons shield cast euer ever him before,before. Whereon the Faery Queenes pourtract was writt, His hand relented, and the stroke forbore, V 303 With the Faery Queene. Cant. VIII. And his deare hart the picture gan adore, Which oft the Paynim sau’d sav’d from deadly stowre. But him henceforth the same can saue save no more; For now arriued arrived is his fatall howre, That n’ote no’te auoyded avoyded be by earthly skill or powre. [44] For when Cymochles saw the fowle reproch, Which them appeached, prickt with guiltie gulty guilty shame, And inward griefe, he fiercely gan approch, Resolu’d Resolv’d to put away that loathly blame, Or dye with honour and desert of fame; And on the haubergh stroke the Prince so sore, That quite disparted all the linked frame, And pierced to the skin, but bit not thore no more , Yet made him twise to reele, that neuer never moou’d moov’d afore. [45] Whereat renfierst with wrath and sharp regret, He stroke so hugely with his borrowd blade, That it empierſtempierst empieſtempiest empearc’t the Pagans burganet, And cleauing cleaving the hard steele, did deepe inuade invade Into his head, and cruell passage made Quite through his brayne. He tombling downe on (ground, Breathd out his ghost, which to th’infernall shadeFast flying, there eternall torment found,For all the sinnes, wherewith his lewd life did abound.abound, [46] Which when his german saw, the stony feare, Ran to his hart, and all his sence dismayd, Ne thenceforth life ne corage did appeare, But as a man, whom hellish feendes haue have frayd, Long trembling still he stoode: at last thus sayd, Traytour what hast thou doen? how euer ever may Thy cursed hand so cruelly haue have swayd Against that knight: HarrowharrowHorrow and well away, After so wicked deede why liu’st liv’st thou lenger day? 304 So The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [47] With that all desperate as loathing light, And with reuenge revenge desyring soone to dye, Assembling all his force and vtmost utmost might, With his owne swerd he fierce at him did flye, And strooke, and foynd, and lasht outrageously, Withouten reason or regard. Well knew The Prince, with pacience and sufferaunce sly So hasty heat soone cooled to subdew: Tho when this breathlesse woxe, that batteil gan renew. [48] As when a windy tempest bloweth hye, That nothing may withstand his stormy stowre, The clowdes, as thinges affrayd, before him flye; But all so soone as his outrageous powre Is layd, they fiercely then begin to showre, And as in scorne of his spent stormy spight, Now all attonce their malice forth do poure; So did Prince Arthur Sir Guyon beare himselfe in fight, And suffred rash Pyrrhochles waste his ydle might. [49] At last when as the Sarazin perceiu’d perceiv’d ,How that straunge sword refusd, to serue serve his neede,But when he stroke most strong, the dint deceiu’d deceiv’d ,He flong it from him, and deuoyd devoyd of dreed, Vpon Upon him lightly leaping without heed,Twixt his two mighty armes engrasped fast,Thinking to ouerthrowe overthrowe and downe him tred: But him in strength and skill the Prince surpast, And through his nimble sleight did vnder under him down caſt.cast. caſtcast [50] Nought booted it the Paynim then to striue strive ; For as a Bittur in the Eagles clawe,That may not hope by flight to scape aliue alive ,Still waytes for death with dread and trembling aw, V 2 305 But the Faerie Queene. Cant.VIII. So he now subiect subject to the victours law, Did not once moue move , nor vpward upward cast his eye, For vile disdaine and rancour, which did gnaw His hart in twaine with sad melancholy, As one that loathed life, and yet despysd to dye. [51] But full of princely bounty and great mind, The Conquerour nought cared him to slay, But casting wronges and all reuenge revenge behind, More glory thought to giue give life, 1590.bk2.II.viii.51.4. then: than then than decay, And sayd, Paynim, this is thy dismall day; Yet if thou wilt renounce thy miscreaunce, And my trew liegeman yield thy selfe for ay, Life will I graunt thee for thy valiaunce, And all thy wronges will wipe out of my souenaunce sovenaunce . [52] Foole (sayd the Pagan) I thy gift defye, But vse use thy fortune, as it doth befall, And say, that I not ouercome overcome doe dye, But in despight of life, for death doe call. Wroth was the Prince, and sory yet withall, That he so wilfully refused grace; Yet sith his fate so cruelly did fall, His shining Helmet he gan soone vnlace unlace ,And left his headlesse body bleeding all the place. [53] By this Sir Guyon from his traunce awakt, Life hauing having maystered her sencelesse foe; And looking vp up , when as his shield he lakt, And sword saw not, he wexed wondrous woe: But when the Palmer, whom he long ygoe Had lost, he by him spyde, right glad he grew, And saide, Deare sir, whom wandring to and fro I long haue have lackt, I ioy joy thy face to vew; Firme is thy faith, whom daunger neuer never fro me drew. 306 Cant. The Second Booke of Cant.VIII. [54] But read, what wicked hand hath robbed mee Of my good sword and shield? The Palmer glad, With so fresh hew vprysing uprysing him to see, Him answered; fayre sonne, be no whit sad For want of weapons, they shall soone be had. had, had. So gan he to discourse the whole debate, Which that straunge knight for him sustained had. And those two Sarazins confounded late, Whose carcases on ground were horribly prostrate. [55] Which when he heard, and saw the tokens trew, His hart with great affection was embayd, And to the Prince bowing with bowing reuerence reverence dew, As to the Patrone of his life, thus sayd; My Lord, my liege, by whose most gratious ayd I liue live this day, and see my foes subdewd, What may suffise, to be for meede repayd Of so great graces, as ye haue have me shewd, But to be euer ever bound [56] To whom the Infant thus, Fayre Sir, what needGood turnes be counted, as a seruile servile bond,To bind their dooers, to receiue receive their meed? Are not all knightes by oath bound, to withstond Oppressours powre by armes and puissant hond? Suffise, that I haue have done my dew in place. So goodly purpose they together fond,Of kindnesse and of courteous aggrace; The whiles false Archimage and Atin fled apace.