Cant. XI. Britomart chaceth Ollyphant, findes Scudamour distrest: Assayes the house of Busyrane, where loues loves spoyles are expreſt. exprest. expres⁀t, exprest, [1] O H h atefull hellish Snake, what furie furst Brought thee from balefull house of Proserpine, Where in her bosome she thee long had nurst, And fostred vp up with bitter milke of tine, Fowle Gealosy, that turnest loue love diuine divine To ioylesse joylesse dread, and mak’st the louing loving hart With hatefull thoughts to languish and to pine, And feed it selfe with selfe-consuming smart? Of all the passions in the mind thou vilest art. [2] O let him far be banished away, And in his stead let Loue Love for euer ever dwell, Sweete Loue Love , that doth his golden golding wings embay In blessed Nectar, and pure Pleasures well, Vntroubled Untroubled of vile feare, or bitter fell. And ye faire Ladies, that your kingdomes make In th’harts of men, them gouerne governe wisely well, And of faire Britomart ensample take, That was as trew in loue love , as Turtle to her make. [3] Who with Sir Satyrane, as earst ye red, Forth ryding from Malbeccoes hostlesse hous, Far off aspyde a young man, the which fled From an huge Geaunt, that with hideous 561 the Faerie Queene. Cant. XI. Faire Nn 2 And hatefull outrage long him chaced thus; It was that Ollyphant, the brother deare Of that Argante vile and vitious, From whom the Squyre of Dames was reft whylere; This all as bad as she, and worse, if worse ought were. [4] For as the sister did in feminine And filthy lust exceede all woman kinde, So he surpassed his sex masculine, In beastly vse use all, that I euer ever that I did euer ever finde: Whom when as Britomart beheld behinde The fearefull boy so greedily poursew, She was emmoued emmoved in her noble minde, T’employ her puissaunce to his reskew, And pricked fiercely forward, where she did him him did vew. [5] Ne was Sir Satyrane her far behinde, But with like fiercenesse did ensew the chace: Whom when the Gyaunt saw, he soone resinde His former suit, and from them fled apace; They after both, and boldly bad him bace, And each did striue strive the other to outgoe; But he them both outran a wondrous space, For he was long, and swift as any Roe, And now made better speed, t’escape his feared foe. [6] It was not Satyrane, whom he did feare, But Britomart the flowre of chastity; For he the powre of chaste hands might not beare, But alwayes did their dread encounter fly: And now so fast his feet he did apply, That he has gotten to a forrest neare, Where he is shrowded in security. The wood they enter, and search euerie everie where, They searched diuersely diversely , so both diuided divided were. 592 The third Booke of Cant. XI. Or [7] Fayre Britomart so long him followed, That she at last came to a fountaine sheare, By which there lay a knight all wallowed Vpon Upon the grassy ground, and by him neare His haberieon haberjeon , his helmet, and his speare; A little off, of off, his shield was rudely throwne, On which the winged boy in colours cleare Depeincted was, full easie to be knowne, And he thereby, where euer ever it in field was showne. [8] His face vpon upon the grownd did groueling groveling ly, As if he had beene slombring in the shade, That the braue brave Mayd would not for courtesy, Out of his quiet slomber him abrade, Nor seeme too suddeinly him to inuade invade : Still as she stood, she heard with grieuous grievous throb Him grone, as if his hart were peeces made, And with most painefull pangs to sigh and sob, That pitty did the Virgins hart of patience rob. [9] At last forth breaking into bitter plaintes He sayd, O souerayne soverayne Lord that sit’st on hye, And raignst in blis emongst thy blessed Saintes, How suffrest thou such shamefull cruelty, So long vnwreaked unwreaked of thine enimy? Or haſ⁀t thou, Lord hast thou, Lord haſ⁀t, thou Lord hast, thou Lord , of good mens cause no heed? Or doth thy iustice justice sleepe, and silent ly? What booteth then the good and righteous deed, If goodnesse find no grace, nor righteousnes no meed? [10] If good find grace, and righteousnes reward, Why then is Amoret in caytiue caytive band, Sith that more bounteous creature neuer never far’d On foot, vpon upon the face of liuing living land? 563 the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. Ah Nn 3 Or if that heuenly hevenly iustice justice may withstand The wrongfull outrage of vnrighteous unrighteous men, Why then is Busirane with wicked hand Suffred, these seuen seven monethes day in secret den My Lady and my loue love so cruelly to pen? [11] My Lady and my loue love is cruelly pend In dolefull darkenes from the vew of day, Whilest deadly torments doe her chast brest rend, And the sharpe steele doth riue rive her hart in tway, All for she Scudamore will not denay. Yet thou vile man, vile Scudamore art sound, Ne canst her ayde, ne canst her foe dismay; Vnworthy Unworthy wretch to tread vpon upon the ground, For whom so faire a Lady feeles so sore a wound. [12] There an huge heape of singulfes did oppresse His strugling soule, and swelling throbs empeach His foltring toung with pangs of drerinesse, Choking the remnant of his plaintife speach, As if his dayes were come to their last reach. Which when she heard, and saw the ghastly fit, Threatning into his life to make a breach, Both with great ruth and terrour she was smit, Fearing least from her cage the wearie soule would flit. [13] Tho stouping downe she him amoued amoved light; Who therewith somewhat starting, vp up gan looke, And seeing him behind a stranger knight, Whereas no liuing living creature he mistooke, With great indignaunce he that sight forsooke, And downe againe himselfe disdainefully Abiecting Abjecting , th’earth with his faire forhead strooke: Which the bold Virgin seeing, gan apply Fit medcine to his griefe, and spake thus courtesly. 564 The third Booke of Cant. XI. But [14] Ah gentle knight, whose deepe conceiued conceived griefe Well seemes t’exceede the powre of patience, Yet if that heuenly hevenly grace some gracesome good reliefe You send, submit you to high prouidence providence , And euer ever in your noble hart prepense, That all the sorrow in the world is lesse, 1590.bk3.III.xi.14.7. Then: Than Then Than vertues might, and values confidence. For who nill bide the burden of distresse, Must not here thinke to liue live : for life is wretchednesse. [15] Therefore, faire Sir, doe comfort to you take, And freely read, what wicked felon so Hath outrag’d you, and thrald your gentle make. Perhaps this hand may helpe to ease your woe, And wreake your sorrow on your cruell foe, At And least it faire endeuour endevour will apply. Those feeling words so neare the quicke did goe, That vp up his head he reared easily, And leaning on his elbowe, these few words lett fly. [16] What boots it plaine, that cannot be redrest, And sow vaine sorrow in a fruitlesse eare, Sith powre of hand, nor skill of learned brest, Ne worldly price cannot redeeme my deare, Out of her thraldome and continuall feare? For he the tyrant, which her hath in ward By strong enchauntments and blacke Magicke leare, Hath in a dungeon deepe her close embard, And many dreadfull feends hath pointed to her gard. [17] There he tormenteth her most terribly, And day and night afflicts with mortall paine, Because to yield him loue love she doth deny, Once to me yold, not to be yolde againe: 565 the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. There Nn 4 But yet by torture he would her constraine Loue Love to conceiue conceive in her disdainfull brest; Till so she doe, she must in doole remaine, Ne may by liuing living meanes be thence relest: What boots it then to plaine, that cannot be redrest? [18] With this sad hersall of his heauy heavy stresse, The warlike Damzell was empassiond sore, And sayd, Sir knight, your cause is nothing lesse, 1590.bk3.III.xi.18.4. Then: Than Then Than is your sorrow, certes if not more; For nothing so much pitty doth implore, As gentle Ladyes helplesse misery. But yet, if please ye listen to my lore, I will with proofe of last extremity, Deliuer Deliver her fro thence, or with her for you dy. [19] Ah gentlest knight aliue alive , (sayd Scudamore) What huge heroicke magnanimity Dwells in thy bounteous brest? what couldst thou (more, If shee were thine, and thou as now am I? O spare thy happy daies, and them apply To better boot, but let me die, that ought; More is more losse: one is enough to dy, Life is not lost, (said she) for which is bought Endlesse renowm, that more 1590.bk3.III.xi.19.9. then: than then than death is to be sought. [20] Thus shee at length persuaded him to rise, And with her wend, to see what new successe Mote him befall vpon upon new enterprise; enterprise: enterprise. His armes, which he had vowed to disprofesse, She gathered vp up and did about him dresse, And his forwandred steed vnto unto him gott: So forth they both yfere make their progresse, And march not past the mountenaunce of a shott, Till they arriu’d arriv’d , whereas their purpose they did plott. 566 The third Booke of Cant. XI. Perdy [21] There they dismounting, drew their weapons bold And stoutly came vnto unto the Castle gate; Whereas no gate they found, them to withhold, Nor ward to wait at morne and euening evening late, But in the Porch, that did them sore amate, A flaming fire, ymixt with smouldry smoke, And stinking Sulphure, that with griesly hate And dreadfull horror did all entraunce choke, Enforced them their forward footing to reuoke revoke . [22] Greatly thereat was Britomart dismayd, Ne in that stownd wist, how her selfe to beare; For daunger vaine it were, to haue have assayd That cruell element, which all things feare, Ne none can suffer to approchen neare: And turning backe to Scudamour, thus sayd; What monstrous enmity prouoke provoke we heare, Foolhardy, as the Earthes children, which th’Earthes children, the which made Batteill against the Gods? so we a God inuade invade . [23] Daunger without discretion to attempt, Inglorious and beastlike is: therefore Sir knight, Aread what course of you is safest dempt, dempt. And how we with our foe may come to fight. This is This (quoth he) the dolorous despight, Which earst to you I playnd: for neither may This fire be quencht by any witt or might, Ne yet by any meanes remou’d remov’d away; So mighty be th’enchaũtments th’enchauntments , which the same do stay. [24] What is there ells, but cease these fruitlesse paines, And leaue leave me to my former languiſ⁀hing? languishing? languiſ⁀hing; languishing; Faire Amorett must dwell in wicked chaines, And Scudamore here die with sorrowing. 567 the Faery Queene: Cant. XI. For Perdy not so; (saide shee) for shameful thing Yt were t’abandon noble cheuisaunce chevisaunce , For shewe of perill, without venturing: Rather let try extremities of chaunce, 1590.bk3.III.xi.24.9. Then: Than Then Than enterprised praise for dread to disauaunce disavaunce . [25] Therewith resolu’d resolv’d to proue prove her vtmost utmost might, Her ample shield she threw before her face, And her swords point directing forward right, right,, (right) Assayld the flame, the which eftesoones gaue gave place, And did it selfe diuide divide with equall space, That through she passed, as a thonder bolt Perceth the yielding ayre, and doth displace The soring clouds into sad showres ymolt; So to her yold the flames, and did their force reuolt revolt . [26] Whome whenas Scudamour saw past the fire, Safe and vntoucht untoucht , he likewise gan assay, With greedy will, and enuious envious desire, And bad the stubborne flames to yield him way: But cruell Mulciber would not obay His threatfull pride, but did the more augment His mighty rage, and with and and his imperious sway Him forst (maulgre) his fercenes to relent, And backe retire, all scorcht and pitifully brent. [27] With huge impatience he inly swelt, More for great sorrow, that he could not pas, 1590.bk3.III.xi.27.3. Then: Than Then Than for the burning torment, which he felt, That with fell woodnes he effierced was, And wilfully him throwing on the gras, Did beat and bounse his head and brest ful sore; The whiles the Championesse now entred decked has The vtmost utmost rowme, and past the formest dore, The vtmost utmost rowme, abounding with all precious store. 568 The third Booke of Cant. XI. The [28] For round about, the walls yclothed were With goodly arras of great maiesty majesty , Wouen Woven with gold and silke so close and nere, That the rich metall lurked priuily privily , As faining to be hidd from enuious envious eye; Yet here, and there, and euery every where vnwares unwares It shewd it selfe, and shone vnwillingly unwillingly ; Like to Like a discolourd Snake, whose hidden snares Through the greene gras his long bright burnisht back (declares. [29] And in those Tapets weren fashioned Many faire pourtraicts, and many a faire feate, And all of loue love , and al of lusty-hed, As seemed by their semblaunt did entreat; And eke all Cupids warres they did repeate, And cruell battailes, which he whilome fought Gainst all the Gods, to make his empire great; Besides the huge massacres, which he wrought On mighty kings and kesars, into thraldome brought. [30] Therein was writt, how often thondring Ioue Jove Had felt the point of his hart percing dart, And leauing leaving heauens heavens kingdome, here did roue rove In straunge disguize, to slake his scalding smart; Now like a Ram, faire Helle to peruart pervart , Now like a Bull, Europa to withdraw: Ah, how the fearefull Ladies tender hart Did liuely lively seeme to tremble, when she saw The huge seas vnder under her t’obay her seruaunts servaunts law. [31] Soone after that into a golden showre Him selfe he chaung’d, faire Danaë to vew, And Ant through the roofe of her strong brasen towre Did raine into her lap an hony dew, 569 the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. In The whiles her foolish garde, that litle knew Of such deceipt, kept th’yron dore fast bard, And watcht, that none should enter nor issew; Vaine was the watch, and bootlesse all the ward, Whenas the God to golden hew him selfe transfard. [32] Then was he turnd into a snowy Swan, To win faire Leda to his louely lovely trade: O wondrous skill, and sweet wit of the man, That her in daffadillies sleeping made, From scorching heat her daintie limbes to shade: Whiles the proud Bird ruffing his fethers wyde, And brushing his faire brest, did her inuade invade ; Shee slept, yet twixt her eielids closely spyde, How towards her he rusht, and smiled at his pryde. [33] Then shewd it, how the Thebane Semelee Deceiud Deceivd of gealous Iuno Juno , did require To see him in his souerayne soverayne maiestee majestee , Armd with his thunderbolts and lightning fire, Whens dearely she with death bought her desire. But faire Alcmena better match did make, Ioying Joying his loue love in likenes more entire, entire; Three nights in one, they say, that for her sake He then did put, her pleasures lenger to partake. [34] Twise was he seene in soaring Eagles shape, And with wide winges to beat the buxome ayre, Once, when he with Asterie did scape, Againe, when as the Troiane Trojane boy so fayre He snatcht from Ida hill, and with him bare: Wondrous delight it was, there to behould, How the rude Shepheards after him did stare, Trembling through feare, least down he fallen should And often to him calling, to take surer hould. 570 The third Booke of Cant. XI. And [35] In Satyres shape Antiopa he snatcht: And like a fire, when he Aegin’ assayd: A shepeheard, when Mnemosyne he catcht: And like a Serpent to the Thracian mayd. Whyles thus on earth great Ioue Jove these pageaunts (playd, The winged boy did thrust into his throne, And scoffing, thus vnto unto his mother sayd, Lo now the heuens hevens obey to me alone, And take me for their Ioue Jove , whiles Ioue Jove to earth is gone. [36] And thou, faire Phœbus, in thy colours bright Wast there enwouen enwoven , and the sad distresse, In which that boy thee plonged, for despight, That thou bewray’dst his mothers wantonnesse, When she with Mars was meynt in ioyfulnesse joyfulnesse : For thy he thrild thee with a leaden dart, To loue love faire Daphne, which thee the loued loved lesse: Lesse she thee lou’d lov’d , 1590.bk3.III.xi.36.8. then: than then than was thy iust just desart, Yet was thy loue love her death, & and her death was thy smart. [37] So louedst lovedst thou the lusty Hyacinct, So louedst lovedst thou the faire Coronis deare: Yet both are of thy haplesse hand extinct, Yet both in flowres doe liue live , and loue love thee beare breare beare , The one a Paunce, the other a sweet breare: beare: breare: breare; For griefe whereof, ye mote haue have liuely lively seene The God himselfe rending his golden heare, And breaking quite his garlond euer ever greene, With other signes of sorrow and impatient teene. [38] Both for those two, and for his owne deare sonne, The sonne of Climene he did repent, Who bold to guide the charet of the Sunne, Himselfe in thousand peeces fondly rent, 571 the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. He And all the world with flashing fire brent: So like, that all the walles did seeme to flame. Yet cruell Cupid, not herewith content, Forst him estsoones to follow other game, And loue love a Shephards daughter for his dearest Dame. [39] He loued loved Isse for his dearest Dame, And for her sake her cattell fedd a while, And for her sake a cowheard vile became, The seruant servant of Admetus cowheard vile, Whiles that from heauen heaven he suffered exile. Long were to tell each his other louely lovely fitt, Now like a Lyon, hunting after spoile, Now like a stag Hag , now like a faulcon flit: All which in that faire arras was most liuely lively writ. [40] Next vnto unto him was Neptune pictured, In his diuine divine resemblance wondrous lyke: His face was rugged, and his hoarie hed Dropped with brackish deaw; his threeforkt Pyke He stearnly shooke, and therewith fierce did stryke The raging billowes, that on euery every syde They trembling stood, and made a long broad dyke, That his swift charet might haue have passage wyde, Which foure great Hippodames did draw in temewise (tyde. [41] His seahorses did seeme to snort amayne, And from their nosethrilles blow the brynie streame, That made the sparckling waues waves to smoke agayne, And flame with gold, but the white fomy creame, Did shine with siluer silver , and shoot forth his beame. The God himselfe did pensiue pensive seeme and sad, And hong adowne his head, as he did dreame: For priuy privy loue love his brest empierced had, Ne ought but deare Bisaltis ay could make him glad. 572 The third Booke of Cant. XI. Which [42] He loued loved eke Iphimedia deare, And Aeolus faire daughter Arne hight, For whom he turnd him selfe into a Steare, And fedd on fodder, to beguile her sight. Also to win Deucalions daughter bright, He turnd him selfe into a Dolphin fayre; And like a winged horse he tooke his flight, To snaky-locke Medusa to repayre, On whom he got faire Pegasus, that flitteth in the ayre. [43] Next Saturne was, (but who would euer ever weene, That sullein Saturne euer ever weend to loue love ? Yet loue love is sullein, and Saturnlike seene, As he did for Erigone it proue.) prove.) proue. prove. That to a Centaure did him selfe transmoue transmove . So proou’d proov’d it eke that gratious God of wine, When for to compasse Philliras hard loue love , He turnd himselfe into a fruitfull vine, And into her faire bosome made his grapes decline. [44] Long were to tell the amorous assayes, And gentle pangues, with which he maked meeke The mightie Mars, to learne his wanton playes: How oft for Venus, and how often eek For many other Nymphes he sore hesore did shreek, With womanish teares, and with vnwarlike unwarlike smarts, Priuily Privily moystening his horrid cheeke. There was he painted full of burning dartes, And many wide woundes launched through his inner (partes. [45] Ne did he spare (so cruell was the Elfe) His owne deare mother, (ah why should he so?) Ne did he spare sometime to pricke himselfe, That he might taste the sweet consuming woe, 573 the Faerie Queene. Cant. XI. And Which he had wrought to many others moe. But to declare the mournfull Tragedyes, And spoiles, wherewith he all the ground did strow, More eath to number, with how many eyes High heuen heven beholdes sad louers lovers nightly theeueryes theeveryes . [46] Kings Queenes, Lords Ladies, knights & and Damsels gent Were heap’d together with the vulgar sort, And mingled with the raskall rablement, Without respect of person or of port, To shew Dan Cupids powre and great effort: And round about a border was entrayld, Of broken bowes and arrowes shiuered shivered short, And a long bloody riuer river through them rayld, So liuely lively and so like, that liuing living sence it fayld. [47] And at the vpper upper end of that faire rowme, There was an Altar built of pretious stone, Of passing valew, and of great renowme, On which there stood an Image all alone, Of massy gold, which with his owne light shone; And winges it had with sondry colours dight, More sondry colours, 1590.bk3.III.xi.47.7. then: than then than the proud Pauone Pavone Beares in his boasted fan, or Iris bright, When her discolourd bow she spreds through heuen heven (bright. [48] Blyndfold he was, and in his cruell craell cruell fist A mortall bow and arrowes keene did hold, With which he shot at randon, when him list, Some headed with sad lead, some with pure gold; (Ah man beware, how thou those dartes behold) A wounded Dragon vnder under him did ly, Whose hideous tayle his lefte foot did enfold enſold ensold , And with a shaft was shot through either eye, That no man forth might draw, ne no man remedye. 574 The thirdBooke of Cant. XI. To [49] And vnderneath underneath his feet was written thus, Vnto Unto the Victor of the Gods this bee: And all the people in that ample hous Did to that image bowe their humble knee, And oft committed fowle Idolatree. That wondrous sight faire Britomart amazd, Ne seeing could her wonder satisfie, But euermore evermore and more vpon upon it gazd, The whiles the passing brightnes her fraile sences dazd. [50] Tho as she backward cast her busie eye, To search each secrete of that goodly sted sted, Ouer Over the dore thus written she did spye Bee bold: she oft and oft it ouer-red over-red ouer-read over-read Yet could not find what sence it figured: But what so were therein, or writ or ment, She was no whit thereby discouraged, From prosecuting of her first intent, But forward with bold steps into the next roome went. [51] Much fayrer, 1590.bk3.III.xi.51.1. then: than then than the former, was that roome, And richlier by many partes arayd: For not with arras made in painefull loome, But with pure gold it all was ouerlayd overlayd , Wrought with wilde Antickes, which their follies (playd, In the rich metall, as they liuing living were: A thousand monstrous formes therein were made, Such as false loue love doth oft vpon upon him weare, For loue love in thousand mõstrous monstrous formes doth oft appeare. [52] And all about, the glistring walles were hong With warlike spoiles, and with victorious prayes, Of mightie Conquerours and Captaines strong, Which were whilome captiued captived in their dayes, 575 the Faery Queene. Cant. XI. Cant. Oo To cruell loue love , and wrought their owne decayes: Their swerds & and speres were broke, & and hauberques rent And their proud girlonds of tryumphant bayes, Troden in dust with fury insolent, To shew the victors might and mercilesse intent. [53] The warlike Mayd beholding earnestly The goodly ordinaunce of this rich Place, Did greatly wonder, ne could satisfy Her greedy eyes with gazing a long space, But more she meruaild mervaild that no footings trace, Nor wight appear’d, but wastefull emptinesse, And solemne silence ouer over all that place: Straunge thing it seem’d, that none was to possesse So rich purueyaunce purveyaunce , ne them keepe with carefulnesse. [54] And as she lookt about, she did behold, How ouer over that same dore was likewise writ, Be bolde, be bolde, and euery every where Be bold, That much she muz’d, yet could not construe it By any ridling skill, or commune wit. At last she spyde at that rowmes vpper upper end, Another yron dore, on which was writ, Be not too bold; whereto though she did bend Her earnest minde, yet wist not what it might intend. [55] Thus she there wayted vntill untill euentyde eventyde , Yet liuing living creature none she saw appeare: And now sad shadowes gan the world to hyde From mortall vew, and wrap in darkenes dreare; Yet nould she d’off her weary armes, for feare Of secret daunger, ne let sleepe oppresse Her heauy heavy eyes with natures burdein deare, But drew herselfe aside in sickernesse, And her welpointed wepons did about her dresse.