THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE. Contayning, THE LEGEND OF BRITOMARTIS. OR Of Chastitie. [1] I T t falles me here to write of Chastity, That fairest vertue, farre aboueabove the rest; For which what needs me fetch from Faery Forreine ensamples, it to hauehave exprest? Sith it is shrined in my SouerainesSoveraines brest, And form’d so liuelylively in each perfect part That to all Ladies, which hauehave it profest, Need but behold the pourtraict of her hart, If pourtrayd it might be by any liuingliving art. [2] But liuingliving art may not least part expresse, Nor life-resembling pencill it can paint, All were it Zeuxis or Praxiteles: His daedale hand would faile, and greatly faint, And her perfections with his error taint: Ne Poets wit, that passeth Painter farre In picturing the parts of beautie daint, So hard a workmanship aduentureadventure darre, For fear through want of words her excellence to marre. [3] How 1596.bk3.III.proem.3.1. then: thanthenthan shall I, Apprentice of the skill, That whylome in diuinestdivinest wits did raine, Presume so high to stretch mine humble quill? Yet now my lucklesse lot doth me constraine Hereto perforce. But dred Soueraine Thus farre forth pardon, sith that choicest wit Cannot your glorious pourtraict figure plaine That I in colourd showes may shadow it, And antique praises vntounto present persons fit. [4] But if in liuingliving colours, and right hew, Your selfe you couetcovet to see pictured, Who can it doe more liuelylively, or more trew, Then that sweet verse, with Nectar sprinckeled, In which a gracious seruantservant pictured His Cynthia, his heauensheavens fairest light? That with his melting sweetnesse rauishedravished, And with the wonder of her beames bright, My senses lulled are in slomber of delight. [5] But let that same delitious Poet lend A little leaueleave vntounto a rusticke Muse To sing his mistresse prayse, and let him mend, If ought amis her liking may abuse: Ne let his fairest Cynthia refuse, In mirrours more 1596.bk3.III.proem.5.6. then: thanthenthan one her selfe to see, But either Gloriana let her chuse, Or in Belphoebe fashioned to bee: In th’one her rule, in th’other her rare chastitee.