THE FIRSTBOOKE OF THEFAERIE QVEENEQUEENE. ContayningTHE LEGENDE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE,OR OF HOLINESSE. [1] LO I the man, whose Muse whilome did maske, As time her taught in lowly Shepheards weeds, Am now enforst a far vnfitterunfitter taske, For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds, And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds; Whose prayses hauinghaving slept in silence long, Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds To blazon broad emongst her learned throng: Fierce warres and faithfull louesloves shall moralize my song. [2] Helpe 1596.bk1.I.proem.2.1. then: thanthenthan, ô holy Virgin chiefe of nine, Thy weaker NouiceNovice to performe thy will, Lay forth out of thine euerlastingeverlasting scryne The antique rolles, which there lye hidden still, Of Faerie knights and fairest Tanaquill, Whom that most noble Briton Prince so long Sought through the world, and suffered so much ill, That I must rue his vndeseruedundeserved wrong: O helpe thou my weake wit, and sharpen my dull tong. [3] And thou most dreaded impe of highest Ioue Jove , Faire Venus sonne, that with thy cruell dart At that good knight so cunningly didst rouerove, That glorious fire it kindled in his hart, Lay now thy deadly Heben bow apart, And with thy mother milde come to mine ayde: Come both, and with you bring triumphant Mart, In louesloves and gentle iollitiesjollities arrayd, After his murdrous spoiles and bloudy rage allayd. [4] And with them eke, O Goddesse heauenlyheavenly bright, Mirrour of grace and MaiestieMajestie diuinedivine, Great Lady of the greatest Isle, whose light Like Phoebus lampe throughout the world doth shine, Shed thy faire beames into my feeble eyne, And raise my thoughts too humble and too vile, To thinke of that true glorious type of thine, The argument of mine afflicted stile: The which to heare, vouchsafe, O dearest dred a-while.