Cant. X.

Scudamour doth his conquest tell, Of vertuous Amoret: Great Venus Temple is describ’d, And louers lovers life forth set.

[1] TRue True he it said, what euer ever man it sayd, That loue love with gall and hony doth abound, But if the one be with the other wayd, For euery every dram of hony therein found, A pound of gall doth ouer over it redound. That I too true by triall haue have approued approved : For since the day that first with deadly wound My heart was launcht, and learned to haue have loued loved , I neuer never ioyed joyed howre, but still with care was moued moved . [2] And yet such grace is giuen given them from aboue above , That all the cares and euill evill which they meet, May nought at all their setled mindes remoue remove , But seeme gainst common sence to them most sweet; As bosting in their martyrdome vnmeet unmeet . So all that euer ever yet I haue have endured, I count as naught, and tread downe vnder under feet, Since of my loue love at length I rest assured, That to disloyalty she will not be allured. [3] Long were to tell the trauell travell and long toile, Through which this shield of loue love I late haue have wonne, And purchased this peerelesse beauties spoile, That harder may be ended, 1596.bk4.IV.x.3.4. then: than then than begonne. 140 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. And But since ye so desire, your will be donne. Then hearke ye gentle knights and Ladies free, My hard mishaps, that ye may learne to shonne; For though sweet loue love to conquer glorious bee, Yet is the paine thereof much greater 1596.bk4.IV.x.3.9. then: than then than the fee. [4] What time the fame of this renowmed prise Flew first abroad, and all mens eares possest, I hauing having armes then taken, gan auise avise To winne me honour by some noble gest, And purchase me some place amongst the best. I boldly thought (so young mens thoughts are bold) That this same braue brave emprize for me did rest, And that both shield and she whom I behold, Might be my lucky lot; sith all by lot we hold. [5] So on that hard aduenture adventure forth I went, And to the place of perill shortly came. That was a temple faire and auncient, Which of great mother Venus bare the name, And farre renowmed through exceeding fame; Much more 1596.bk4.IV.x.5.6. then: than then than that, which was in Paphos built, Or that in Cyprus, both long since this same, Though all the pillours of the one were guilt, And all the others pauement pavement were with yuory yvory spilt. [6] And it was seated in an Island strong, Abounding all with delices most rare, And wall’d by nature gainst inuaders invaders wrong, That none mote haue have accesse, nor inward fare, But by one way, that passage did prepare. It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize, With curious Corbes and pendants grauen graven faire, And arched all with porches, did arize On stately pillours, fram’d after the Doricke guize. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 141 [7] And for defence thereof, on th’other end There reared was a castle faire and strong, That warded all which in or out did wend, And flancked both the bridges sides along, Gainst all that would it faine to force or wrong. And therein wonned twenty valiant Knights; All twenty tride in warres experience long; Whose office was, against all manner nanner wights By all meanes to maintaine, that castels ancient ancients rights. [8] Before that Castle was an open plaine, And in the midst thereof a piller placed; On which this shield, of many sought in vaine, The shield of Loue Love , whose guerdon me hath graced, Was hangd on high with golden ribbands laced; And in the marble stone was written this, With golden letters goodly well enchaced, Blessed the man that well can vse use his this blis: VVhose Whose euer ever be the shield, faire Amoret be ee his. [9] Which when I red, my heart did inly earne, And pant with hope of that aduentures adventures hap: Ne stayed further newes thereof to learne, But with my speare vpon upon the shield did rap, That all the castle ringed with the clap. Streight forth issewd a Knight all arm’d to proofe, And brauely bravely mounted to his most mishap: Who staying nought to question from aloofe, Ran fierce at me, that fire glaunst from his horses hoofe. [10] Whom boldly I encountred (as I could) And by good fortune shortly him vnseated unseated . Eftsoones out sprung two more of equall mould; But I them both with equall hap defeated: 142 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Me So all the twenty I likewise entreated, And left them groning there vpon upon the plaine. Then preacing to the pillour I repeated The read thereof for guerdon of my paine, And taking downe the shield, with me did it retaine. [11] So forth without impediment I past, Till to the Bridges vtter utter gate I came: The which I found sure lockt and chained fast. I knockt, but no man aunswred me by name; I cald, but no man answerd to my clame. Yet I perseuer’d persever’d still to knocke and call, Till at the last I spide within the same, Where one stood peeping through a creuis crevis small, To whom I cald aloud, halfe angry therewithall. [12] That was to weet the Porter of the place, Vnto Unto whose trust the charge thereof was lent: His name was Doubt, that had a double face, Th’one forward looking, th’other backeward bent, Therein resembling Ianus Janus auncient, Which hath in charge the ingate of the yeare: And euermore evermore his eyes about him went, As if some proued proved perill he did feare, Or did misdoubt some ill, whose cause did not appeare. [13] On th’one side he, on th’other sate Delay, Behinde the gate, that none her might espy; Whose manner was all passengers to stay, And entertaine with her occasions sly, Through which some lost great hope vnheedily unheedily , Which neuer never they recouer recover might againe; And others quite excluded forth, did ly Long languishing there in vnpittied unpittied paine, And seeking often entraunce, afterwards in vaine. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 143 [14] Me when as he had priuily privily espide, Bearing the shield which I had conquerd late, He kend it streight, and to me opened wide. So in I past, and streight he closd the gate. But being in, Delay in close awaite Caught hold on me, and thought my steps to stay, Feigning full many a fond excuse to prate, And time to steale, the threasure of mans day, Whose smallest minute lost, no riches render may. [15] But by no meanes my way I would forslow, For ought that euer ever she could doe or say, But from my lofty steede dismounting low, Past forth on foote, beholding all the way The goodly workes, and stones of rich assay, Cast into sundry shapes by wondrous skill, That like on earth no where I recken may: And vnderneath underneath , the riuer river rolling still With murmure soft, that seem’d to serue serve the workmans (will. [16] Thence forth I passed to the second gate, The Gate of good desert, whose goodly pride And costly frame, were long here to relate. The same to all stoode alwaies open wide: But in the Porch did euermore evermore abide An hideous Giant, dreadfull to behold, That stopt the entraunce with his spacious stride, And with the terrour of his countenance bold Full many did affray, that else faine enter would. [17] His name was Daunger dreaded ouer over all, Who day and night did watch and duely ward, From fearefull cowards, entrance to forstall, And faint-heart-fooles, whom shew of perill hard 144 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Thus Could terrifie from Fortunes faire adward: For oftentimes faint hearts at first espiall Of his grim face, were from approaching scard; Vnworthy Unworthy they of grace, whom one deniall Excludes from fairest hope, withouten further triall. [18] Yet many doughty warriours, often tride In greater perils to be stout and bold, Durst not the sternnesse of his looke abide, But soone as they his countenance did behold, Began to faint, and feele their corage cold. Againe some other, that in hard assaies Were cowards knowne, and litle count did hold, Either through gifts, or guile, or such like waies, Crept in by stouping low, or stealing of the kaies. [19] But I though nearest man of many moe, Yet much disdaining vnto unto him to lout, Or creepe betweene his legs, so in to goe, Resolu’d Resolv’d him to assault with manhood stout, And either beat him in, or driue drive him out. Eftsoones aduancing advancing that enchaunted shield, With all my might I gan to lay about: Which when he saw, the glaiue glaive which he did wield He gan forthwith t’auale t’avale , and way vnto unto me yield. [20] So as I entred, I did backeward looke, For feare of harme, that might lie hidden there; And loe his hindparts, whereof heed I tooke, Much more deformed fearefull vgly ugly were, 1596.bk4.IV.x.20.5. Then: Than Then Than all his former parts did earst appere. For hatred, murther, treason, and despight, With many moe lay in ambushment there, Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight, Which did not them preuent prevent with vigilant foresight. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 145 K [21] Thus hauing having past all perill, I was come Within the compasse of that Islands space; The which did seeme vnto unto my simple doome, The onely pleasant and delightfull place, That euer ever troden was of footings trace. For all that nature by her mother wit Could frame in earth, and forme of substance base, Was there, and all that nature did omit, Art playing second natures part, supplyed it. [22] No tree, that is of count, in greenewood growes, From lowest Iuniper Juniper to Ceder tall, No flowre in field, that daintie odour throwes, And deckes his branch with blossomes ouer over all, But there was planted, or grew naturall: Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice, But there mote find to please it selfe withall; Nor hart could wish for any queint deuice device , But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice. [23] In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure, It seem’d a second paradise to gheſſe, ghesse, bee, bee, So lauishly lavishly enricht with natures threasure, That if the happie soules, which doe possesse Th’Elysian fields, and liue live in lasting blesse, Should happen this with liuing living eye to see, They soone would loath their lesser happinesse, And wish to life return’d againe to bee, gheſſe, ghesse, gheſſe, ghesse, That in this ioyous joyous place they mote haue have ioyance joyance free. [24] Fresh shadowes, fit to shroud from sunny ray; Faire lawnds, to take the sunne in season dew; Sweet springs, in which a thousand Nymphs did play; Soft rombling brookes, that gentle slomber drew; 146 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Which High reared mounts, the lands about to vew; Low looking dales, disloignd from common gaze; Delightfull bowres, to solace louers lovers trew; False Labyrinthes, fond runners eyes to daze; All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze. [25] And all without were walkes and all eyes dight, With diuers divers trees, enrang’d in euen even rankes; And here and there were pleasant arbors pight, And shadie seates, and sundry flowring bankes, To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes, And therein thousand payres of louers lovers walkt, Praysing their god, and yeelding him great thankes, Ne euer ever ought but of their true loues loves talkt, Ne euer ever for rebuke or blame of any balkt. [26] All these together by themselves did sport Their spotlesse pleasures, and sweet loues loves content. But farre away from these, another sort Of louers lovers lincked in true harts consent; Which loued loved not as these, for like intent, But on chast vertue grounded their desire, Farre from all fraud, or fayned blandishment; Which in their spirits kindling zealous fire, Braue Brave thoughts and noble deedes did euermore evermore aspire. [27] Such were great Hercules, and Hyllus deare; Trew Ionathan Jonathan , and Dauid trustie tryde; Stout Theseus, and Pirithous his feare; Pylades and Orestes by his syde; Myld Titus and Gesippus without pryde; Damon and Pythias whom death could not seuer sever : All these and all that euer ever had bene tyde, In bands of friendship there did liue live for euer ever , Whose liues lives although decay’d, yet loues loves decayed neuer never . Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 147 K2 [28] Which when as I, that neuer never tasted blis, Nor happie howre, beheld with gazefull eye, I thought there was none other heauen heaven 1596.bk4.IV.x.28.3. then: than then than this; And gan their endlesse happinesse enuye envye , That being free from feare and gealosye, Might frankely there their loues loves desire possesse; Whilest I through paines and perlous ieopardie jeopardie , Was forst to seeke my lifes deare patronesse: Much dearer be the things, which come through hard distresse. [29] Yet all those sights, and all that else I saw, Might not my steps withhold, but that forthright Vnto Unto that purposd place I did me draw, Where as my loue love was lodged day and night: The temple of great Venus, that is hight The Queene of beautie, and of loue love the mother, There worshipped of euery every liuing living wight; Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other That euer ever were on earth, all were they set together. [30] Not that same famous Temple of Diane, Whose hight all Ephesus did ouersee oversee , And which all Asia sought with vowes prophane, One of the worlds seuen seven wonders sayd to bee, Might match with this by many a degree: Nor that, which that wise King of Iurie Jurie framed, With endlesse cost, to be th’Almighties see; Nor all that else through all the world is named To all the heathen Gods, might like to this be clamed. [31] I much admyring that so goodly frame, Vnto Unto the porch approcht, which open stood; But therein sate an amiable Dame, That seem’d to be of very sober mood, 148 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. By And in her semblant shewed great womanhood: Strange was her tyre; for on her head a crowne She wore much like vnto unto a Danisk hood, Poudred with pearle and stone, and all her gowne Enwouen Enwoven was with gold, that raught full low a downe adowne . [32] On either side of her, two young men stood, Both strongly arm’d, as fearing one another; Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood, Begotten by two fathers of one mother, Though of contrarie natures each to other: The one of them hight Loue Love , the other Hate, Hate was the elder, Loue Love the younger brother; Yet was the younger stronger in his state Then th’elder, and him maystred still in all debate. [33] Nathlesse that Dame so well them tempred both, That she them forced hand to ioyne joyne in hand, Albe that Hatred was thereto full loth, And turn’d his face away, as he did stand, Vnwilling Unwilling to behold that louely lovely band. Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might, That her commaundment he could not withstand, But bit his lip for felonous despight, And gnasht his yron tuskes at that displeasing sight. [34] Concord she cleeped was in common reed, Mother of blessed Peace, and Friendship trew; They both her twins, both borne of heauenly heavenly seed, And she her selfe likewise diuinely divinely grew; The which right well her workes diuine divine did shew: For strength, and wealth, and happinesse she lends, And strife, and warre, and anger does subdew: Of litle much, of foes she maketh frends, And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 149 K3 [35] By her the heauen heaven is in his course contained, And all the world in state vnmoued unmoved stands, As their Almightie maker first ordained, And bound them with inuiolable inviolable bands; Else would the waters ouerflow overflow the lands, And fire deuoure devoure the ayre, and hell them quight, But that she holds them with her blessed hands. She is the nourse of pleasure and delight, And vnto unto Venus grace the gate doth open right. [36] By her I entring halfe dismayed was, But she in gentle wise me entertayned, And twixt her selfe and loue love did let me pas; But Hatred would my entrance haue have restrayned, And with his club me threatned to haue have brayned, Had not the Ladie with her powrefull speach Him from his wicked will vneath uneath refrayned; And th’other eke his malice did empeach, Till I was throughly past the perill of his reach. [37] Into the inmost Temple thus I came, Which fuming all with frankensence I found, And odours rising from the altars flame. Vpon Upon an hundred marble pillors round The roofe vp up high was reared from the ground, All deckt with crownes, & and chaynes, and girlands gay, And thousand pretious gifts worth many a pound, The which sad louers lovers for their vowes did pay; And all the ground was strow’d with flowres, as fresh as (may. [38] An hundred Altars round about were set, All flaming with their sacrifices fire, That with the steme thereof the Temple swet, Which rould in clouds to heauen heaven did aspire, 150 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. And And in them bore true louers lovers vowes entire: And eke an hundred brasen caudrons bright, To bath in ioy joy and amorous desire, Euery Every of which was to a damzell hight; For all the Priests were damzels, in soft linnen dight. [39] Right in the midst the Goddesse selfe did stand Vpon Upon an altar of some costly masse, Whose substance was vneath uneath to vnderstand understand : For neither pretious stone, nor durefull brasse, Nor shining gold, nor mouldring clay it was; But much more rare and pretious to esteeme, Pure in aspect, and like to christall glasse, Yet glasse was not, if one did rightly deeme, But being faire and brickle, likest glasse did seeme. [40] But it in shape and beautie did excell All other Idoles, which the heathen adore, Farre passing that, which by surpassing skill Phidias did make in Paphos Isle of yore, With which that wretched Greeke, that life forlore Did fall in loue love : yet this much fairer shined, But couered covered with a slender veile afore; And both her feete and legs together twyned Were with a snake, whose head & and tail were fast cõbyned combyned . [41] The cause why she was couered covered with a vele, Was hard to know, for that her Priests the same From peoples knowledge labour’d to concele. But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame, Nor any blemish, which the worke mote blame; But for, they say, she hath both kinds in one, Both male and female, both vnder under one name: She syre and mother is her selfe alone, Begets and eke conceiues conceives , ne needeth other none. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 151 K4 [42] And all about her necke and shoulders flew A flocke of litle loues loves , and sports, and ioyes joyes , With nimble wings of gold and purple hew; Whose shapes seem’d not like to terrestriall boyes, But like to Angels playing heauenly heavenly toyes; The whilest their eldest brother was away, Cupid their eldest brother; he enioyes enjoyes The wide kingdome of loue love with Lordly sway, And to his law compels all creatures to obay. [43] And all about her altar scattered lay Great sorts of louers lovers piteously complayning, Some of their losse, some of their loues loves delay, Some of their pride, some paragons disdayning, Some fearing fraud, some fraudulently fayning, As euery every one had cause of good or ill. Amongst the rest some one through loues loves constray-(ning, Tormented sore, could not containe it still, But thus brake forth, that all the temple it did fill. [44] Great Venus, Queene of beautie and of grace, The ioy joy of Gods and men, that vnder under skie Doest fayrest shine, and most adorne thy place, That with thy smyling looke doest pacifie The raging seas, and makst the stormes to flie; Thee goddesse, thee the winds, the clouds doe feare, And when thou spredst thy mantle forth on hie, The waters play and pleasant lands appeare, And heauens heavens laugh, & and all the world shews ioyous joyous cheare. [45] Then doth the daedale earth throw forth to thee Out of her fruitfull lap aboundant flowres, And then all liuing living wights, soone as they see The spring breake forth out of his lusty bowres, 152 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. The They all doe learne to play the Paramours; First doe the merry birds, thy prety pages Priuily Privily pricked with thy lustfull powres, Chirpe loud to thee out of their leauy leavy cages, And thee their mother call to coole their kindly rages. [46] Then doe the saluage salvage beasts begin to play Their pleasant friskes, and loath their wonted food; The Lyons rore, the Tygres loudly bray, The raging Buls rebellow through the wood, And breaking forth, dare tempt the deepest flood, To come where thou doest draw them with desire: So all things else, that nourish vitall blood, Soone as with fury thou doest them inspire, In generation seeke to quench their inward fire. [47] So all the world by thee at first was made, And dayly yet thou doest the same repayre: Ne ought on earth that merry is and glad, Ne ought on earth that louely lovely is and fayre, But thou the same for pleasure didst prepayre. Thou art the root of all that ioyous joyous is, Great God of men and women, queene of th’ayre, Mother of laughter, and welspring of blisse, O graunt that of my loue love at last I may not misse. [48] So did he say: but I with murmure soft, That none might heare the sorrow of my hart, Yet inly groning deepe and sighing oft, Besought her to graunt ease vnto unto my smart, And to my wound her gratious help impart. Whilest thus I spake, behold with happy eye I spyde, where at the Idoles feet apart A beuie bevie of fayre damzels close did lye, Wayting when as the Antheme should be sung on hye. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 15 [49] The first of them did seeme of ryper yeares, And grauer graver countenance 1596.bk4.IV.x.49.2. then: than then than all the rest; Yet all the rest were eke her equall peares, Yet vnto unto her obayed all the best. Her name was VVomanhood Womanhood , that she exprest By her sad semblant and demeanure wyse: For stedfast still her eyes did fixed rest, Ne rov’d at randon after gazers guyse, Whose luring baytes oftimes doe heedlesse harts entyse. [50] And next to her sate goodly Shamefastnesse, Ne euer ever durst her eyes from ground vpreare upreare , Ne euer ever once did looke vp up from her desse, As if some blame of euill evill she did feare, That in her cheekes made roses oft appeare: And her against sweet Cherefulnesse was placed, Whose eyes like twinkling stars in euening evening cleare, Were deckt with smyles, that all sad humors chaced, And darted forth delights, the which her goodly graced. [51] And next to her sate sober Modestie, Holding her hand vpon upon her gentle hart; And her against sate comely Curtesie, That vnto unto euery every person knew her part; And her before was seated ouerthwart overthwart Soft Silence, and submisse Obedience, Both linckt together neuer never to dispart, Both gifts of God not gotten but from thence, Both girlonds of his Saints against their foes offence. [52] Thus sate they all a round around in seemely rate: And in the midst of them a goodly mayd, Euen Even in the lap of VVomanhood Womanhood there sate, The which was all in lilly white arayd, Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 154 And With siluer silver streames amongst the linnen stray’d; Like to the Morne, when first her shyning face Hath to the gloomy world it selfe bewray’d, That same was fayrest Amoret in place, Shyning with beauties light, and heauenly heavenly vertues grace. [53] Whom soone as I beheld, my hart gan throb, And wade in doubt, what best were to be donne: For sacrilege me seem’d the Church to rob, And folly seem’d to leaue leave the thing vndonne undonne , Which with so strong attempt I had begonne. Tho shaking off all doubt and shamefast feare, Which Ladies loue love I heard had neuer never wonne Mongst men of worth, I to her stepped neare, And by the lilly hand her labour’d vp up to reare. [54] Thereat that formost matrone me did blame, And sharpe rebuke, for being ouer over bold; Saying it was to Knight vnseemely unseemely shame, Vpon Upon a recluse Virgin to lay hold, That vnto unto Venus seruices services was sold. To whom I thus, Nay but it fitteth best, For Cupids man with Venus mayd to hold, For ill your goddesse seruices services are drest By virgins, and her sacrifices let to rest. [55] With that my shield I forth to her did show, Which all that while I closely had conceld; On which when Cupid with his killing bow And cruell shafts emblazond she beheld, At sight thereof she was with terror queld, And said no more: but I which all that while The pledge of faith, her hand engaged held, Like warie Hynd within the weedie soyle, For no intreatie would forgoe so glorious spoyle. Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 155 [56] And euermore evermore vpon upon the Goddesse face Mine eye was fixt, for feare of her offence, Whom when I saw with amiable grace To laugh at me, and fauour favour my pretence, I was emboldned with more confidence, And nought for nicenesse nor for enuy envy sparing, In presence of them all forth led her thence, All looking on, and like astonisht staring, Yet to lay hand on her, not one of all them daring. [57] She often prayd, and often me besought, Sometime with tender teares to let her goe, Sometime with witching smyles: but yet for nought, That euer ever she to me could say or doe, Could she her wished freedome fro me wooe; But forth I led her through the Temple gate, By which I hardly past with much adoe: But that same Ladie which me friended late In entrance, did me also friend in my retrate. [58] No lesse did daunger threaten me with dread, When as he saw me, maugre all his powre, That glorious spoyle of beautie with me lead, 1596.bk4.IV.x.58.4. Then: Than Then Than Cerberus, when Orpheus did recoure recovre His Leman from the Stygian Princes boure. But euermore evermore my shield did me defend, Against the storme of euery every dreadfull stoure: Thus safely with my loue love I thence did wend. So ended he his tale, where I this Canto end.