The thirde Booke of the Faerie Queene. Contayning The Legend of Britomartis. OR Of Chastity. [1] I T t falls me here to write of Chastity, The That fayrest vertue, far aboueabove the rest; For which what needes me fetch from Faery Forreine ensamples, it to haue have exprest? Sith it is shrined in my Soueraines Soveraines brest, And formd so liuely lively in each perfect part, That to all Ladies, which haue have it profest, Neede but behold the pourtraict of her hart, If pourtrayd it might bee by any liuing living art. [2] But liuing living art may not least part expresse, Nor life-resembling pencill it can paynt, All were it Zeuxis or Praxiteles: Praxitcles: His dædale hand would faile, and greatly faynt, 390 The third Booke of Cant. I. Cant. And her perfections with his error taynt: Ne Poets witt, that passeth Painter farre In picturing the parts of beauty daynt, So hard a workemanship aduenture adventure darre, For fear through wãt want of words her excellence to marre. [3] How then shall I, Apprentice of the skill, That whilome in diuinest divinest wits did rayne, Presume so high to stretch mine humble quill? Yet now my luckelesse lott doth me constrayne Hereto perforce. But O dredd Souerayne Soverayne Thus far forth pardon, sith that choicest witt Cannot your glorious pourtraict figure playne, That I in colourd showes may shadow itt, And antique praises vnto unto present persons fitt. [4] But if in liuing living colours, and right hew, Thy ſelfe thou Thy selfe thou Your ſelfe you Your selfe you couet covet to see pictured, Who can it doe more liuely lively , or more trew, 1590.bk3.III.proem.4.4. Then: Than Then Than that sweete verse, with Nectar sprinckeled, In which a gracious seruaunt servaunt pictured His Cynthia, his heauens heavens fayrest light? That with his melting sweetnes rauished ravished , And with the wonder of her beames bright, My sences lulled are in slomber of delight. [5] But let that same delitious Poet lend A little leaue leave vnto unto a rusticke Muse To sing his mistresse prayse, and let him mend, If ought amis her liking may abuse: Ne let his fayrest Cynthia refuse, In mirrours more 1590.bk3.III.proem.5.6. then: than then than one her selfe to see, But either Gloriana let her chuse, Or in Belphœbe fashioned to bee: In th’one her rule, in th’other her rare chastitee.