Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 21 B3 Cant. II.

Blandamour winnes false Florimell, Paridell for her striues strives , They are accorded: Agape doth lengthen her sonnes liues lives .

[1] Firebrand of hell first tynd in Phlegeton, By thousand furies, and from thence out throwen Into this world, to worke confusion, And set it all on fire by force vnknownen unknownen , Is wicked discord, whose small sparkes once blowen None but a God or godlike man can slake; Such as was Orpheus, that when strife was growen Amongst those famous ympes of Greece, did take His siluer silver Harpe in hand, and shortly friends them make. [2] Or such as that celestiall Psalmist was, That when the wicked feend his Lord tormented, With heauenly heavenly notes, that did all other pas, The outrage of his furious fit relented. Such Musicke is wise words with time concented, To moderate stiffe minds, disposd to striue strive : Such as that prudent Romane well inuented invented , What time his people into partes did riue rive , Them reconcyld againe, and to their homes did driue drive . [3] Such vs’d us’d wise Glauce to that wrathfull knight, To calme the tempest of his troubled thought: Yet Blandamour with termes of foule despight, And Paridell her scornd, and set at nought, Cant. II. THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE 22 Who As old and crooked and not good for ought. Both they vnwise unwise , and warelesse of the euill evill , That by themselues themselves vnto unto themselues themselves is wrought, Through that false witch, and that foule aged dreuill drevill , The one a feend, the other an incarnate deuill devill . [4] With whom as they thus rode accompanide, They were encountred of a lustie Knight, That had a goodly Ladie by his side, To whom he made great dalliance and delight. It was to weete the bold Sir Ferraugh hight, He that from Braggadocchio whilome reft The snowy Florimell, whose beautie bright Made him seeme happie for so glorious theft; Yet was it in due triall but a wandring weft. [5] Which when as Blandamour, whose fancie light Was alwaies flitting as the wauering wavering wind, After each beautie, that appeard in sight, Beheld, eftsoones it prickt his wanton mind With sting of lust, that reasons eye did blind, That to Sir Paridell these words he sent; Sir knight why ride ye dumpish thus behind, Since so good fortune doth to you present So fayre a spoyle, to make you ioyous joyous meriment? [6] But Paridell that had too late a tryall Of the bad issue of his counsell vaine, List not to hearke, but made this faire denyall; Last turne was mine, well proued proved to my paine, This now be yours, God send you better gaine. Whose scoffed words he taking halfe in scorne, Fiercely forth prickt his steed as in disdaine, Against that Knight, ere he him well could torne By meanes whereof he hath him lightly ouerborne overborne . Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 23 B4 [7] Who with the sudden stroke astonisht sore, Vpon Upon the ground a while in slomber lay; The whiles his loue love away the other bore, And shewing her, did Paridell vpbray upbray ; Lo sluggish Knight the victors happie pray: So fortune friends the bold: whom Paridell Seeing so faire indeede, as he did say, His hart with secret enuie envie gan to swell, And inly grudge at him, that he had sped so well. [8] Nathlesse proud man himselfe the other deemed, Hauing Having so peerelesse paragon ygot: For sure the fayrest Florimell him seemed, To him was fallen for his happie lot, Whose like aliue alive on earth he weened not: Therefore he her did court, did serue serve , did wooe, With humblest suit that he imagine mot, And all things did deuise devise , and all things dooe, That might her loue love prepare, and liking win theretoo. [9] She in regard thereof him recompenst With golden words, and goodly countenance, And such fond fauours favours sparingly dispenst: Sometimes him blessing with a light eye-glance, And coy lookes tempring with loose dalliance; Sometimes estranging him in sterner wise, That hauing having cast him in a foolish trance, He seemed brought to bed in Paradise, And prou’d prov’d himselfe most foole, in what he seem’d most (wise. [10] So great a mistresse of her art she was, And perfectly practiz’d in womans craft, That though therein himselfe he thought to pas, And by his false allurements wylie draft, 24 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. Exceeding Had thousand women of their loue love beraft, Yet now he was surpriz’d: for that false spright, Which that same witch had in this forme engraft, Was so expert in euery every subtile slight, That it could ouerreach overreach the wisest earthly wight. [11] Yet he to her did dayly seruice service more, And dayly more deceiued deceived was thereby; Yet Paridell him enuied envied therefore, As seeming plast in sole felicity: So blind is lust, false colours to descry. But Ate soone discouery discovery his desire, And finding now fit opportunity To stirre vp up strife, twixt loue love and spight and ire, Did priuily privily put coles vnto unto his secret fire. [12] By sundry meanes thereto she prickt him forth, Now with remembrance of those spightfull speaches, Now with opinion of his owne more worth, Now with recounting of like former breaches Made in their friendship, as that Hag him teaches: And euer ever when his passion is allayd, She it reuiues revives and new occasion reaches: That on a time as they together way’d, He made him open chalenge, and thus boldly sayd. [13] Too boastfull Blandamour, too long I beare The open wrongs, thou doest me day by day, Well know’st thou, whẽ when we friendship first did sweare, The couenant covenant was, that euery every spoyle or pray Should equally be shard betwixt vs tway: Where is my part then of this Ladie bright, Whom to thy selfe thou takest quite away? Render therefore therein to me my right, Or answere for thy wrong, as shall fall out in fight. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 25 [14] Exceeding wroth thereat was Blandamour, And gan this bitter answere to him make; Too foolish Paridell, that fayrest floure Wouldst gather faine, and yet no paines wouldst take: But not so easie will I her forsake; This hand her wonne, this hand shall her defend. With that they gan their shiuering shivering speares to shake, And deadly points at eithers breast to bend, Forgetfull each to haue have bene euer ever others frend. [15] Their firie Steedes with so vntamed untamed forse Did beare them both to fell auenges avenges end, That both their speares with pitilesse remorse, Through shield and mayle, and haberieon did wend, And in their flesh a griesly passage rend, That with the furie of their owne affret, Each other horse and man to ground did send; Where lying still a while, both did forget The perilous present stownd, in which their liues lives were (set. [16] As when two warlike Brigandines at sea, With murdrous weapons arm’d to cruell fight, Doe meete together on the watry lea, They stemme ech other with so fell despight, That with the shocke of their owne heedlesse might, Their wooden ribs are shaken nigh a sonder asonder ; They which from shore behold the dreadfull sight Of flashing fire, and heare the ordenance thonder, Do greatly stand amaz’d at such vnwonted unwonted wonder. [17] At length they both vpstarted upstarted in amaze; As men awaked rashly out of dreme, And round about themselues themselves a while did gaze, Till seeing her, that Florimell did seme, 26 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. And In doubt to whom she victorie should deeme, Therewith their dulled sprights they edgd anew, And drawing both their swords with rage extreme, Like two mad mastiffes each on other flew, And shields did share, & and mailes did rash, and helmes did (hew. [18] So furiously each other did assayle, As if their soules they would attonce haue have rent Out of their brests, that streames of bloud did rayle Adowne, as if their springs of life were spent; That all the ground with purple bloud was sprent, And all their armours staynd with bloudie gore, Yet scarcely once to breath would they relent, So mortall was their malice and so sore, Become of fayned friendship which they vow’d afore. [19] And that which is for Ladies most befitting, To stint all strife, and foster friendly peace, Was from those Dames so farre and so vnfitting unfitting , As that in stead of praying them surcease, They did much more their cruelty encrease; Bidding them fight for honour of their loue love , And rather die 1596.bk4.IV.ii.19.7. then: than then than Ladies cause release. With which vaine termes so much they did thẽ them moue move , That both resolu’d resolv’d the last extremities to proue prove . [20] There they I weene would fight vntill untill this day, Had not a Squire, euen even he the Squire of Dames, By great aduenture adventure trauelled travelled that way; Who seeing both bent to so bloudy games, And both of old well knowing by their names, Drew nigh, to weete the cause of their debate: And first laide on those Ladies thousand blames, That did not seeke t’appease their deadly hate, But gazed on their harmes, not pittying their estate. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 27 [21] And then those Knights he humbly did beseech, To stay their hands, till he a while had spoken: Who lookt a little vp up at that his speech, Yet would not let their battell so be broken, Both greedie fiers on other to be wroken. Yet he to them so earnestly did call, And them coniur’d conjur’d by some well knowen token, That they at last their wrothfull hands let fall, Content to heare him speake, and glad to rest withall. [22] First he desir’d their cause of strife to see: They said, it was for loue love of Florimell, Ah gentle knights (quoth he) how may that bee, And she so farre astray, as none can tell, Fond Squire, full angry then sayd Paridell, Seest not the Ladie there before thy face? He looked backe, and her aduizing advizing well, Weend as he said, by that her outward grace, That fayrest Florimell was present there in place. [23] Glad man was he to see that ioyous joyous sight, For none aliue alive but ioy’d joy’d in Florimell, And lowly to her lowting thus behight; Fayrest of faire, that fairenesse doest excell, This happie day I haue have to greete you well, In which you safe I see, whom thousand late, Misdoubted lost through mischiefe that befell; Long may you liue live in health and happie state, She litle answer’d him, but lightly did aggrate. [24] Then turning to those Knights, he gan a new; And you Sir Blandamour and Paridell, That for this Ladie present in your vew, Haue Have rays’d this cruell warre and outrage fell, 28 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. When Certes me seemes bene not aduised advised well, But rather ought in friendship for her sake To ioyne joyne your force, their forces to repell, That seeke perforce her from you both to take, And of your gotten spoyle their owne triumph to make. [25] Thereat Sir Blandamour with countenance sterne, All full of wrath, thus fiercely him bespake; A read Aread thou Squire, that I the man may learne, That dare fro me thinke Florimell to take. Not one (quoth he) but many doe partake Herein, as thus. It lately so befell, That Satyran a girdle did vptake uptake , Well knowne to appertaine to Florimell, Which for her sake he wore, as him beseemed well. [26] But when as she her selfe was lost and gone, Full many knights, that loued loved her like deare, Thereat did greatly grudge, that he alone That lost faire Ladies ornament should weare, And gan therefore close spight to him to beare: Which he to shun, and stop vile enuies envies sting, Hath lately caus’d to be proclaim’d each where A solemne feast, with publike turneying, To which all knights with them their Ladies are to bring. [27] And of them all she that is fayrest found, Shall haue have that golden girdle for reward, And of those Knights who is most stout on ground, Shall to that fairest Ladie be prefard. Since therefore she her selfe is now your ward, To you that ornament of hers pertaines, Against all those, that chalenge it to gard, And saue save her honour with your ventrous paines; That shall you win more glory, 1596.bk4.IV.ii.27.9. then: than then than ye here find gaines. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 29 [28] When they the reason of his words had hard, They gan abate the rancour of their rage, And with their honours and their loues loves regard, The furious flames of malice to asswage. Tho each to other did his faith engage, Like faithfull friends thenceforth to ioyne joyne in one With all their force, and battell strong to wage Gainst all those knights, as their professed fone, That chaleng’d ought in Florimell, saue save they alone. [29] So well accorded forth they rode together In friendly sort, that lasted but a while; And of all old dislikes they made faire weather, Yet all was forg’d and spred with golden foyle, That vnder under it hidde hate and hollow guyle. Ne certes can that friendship long endure, How euer ever gay and goodly be the style, That doth ill cause or euill evill end enure: For vertue is the band, that bindeth harts most sure. [30] Thus as they marched all in close disguise, Of fayned loue love , they chaunst to ouertake overtake Two knights, that lincked rode in louely lovely wise, As if they secret counsels did partake; And each not farre behinde him had his make, To weete, two Ladies of most goodly hew, That twixt themselues themselves did gentle purpose make, Vnmindfull Unmindfull both of that discordfull crew, The which with speedie pace did after them pursew. [31] Who as they now approched nigh at hand, Deeming them doughtie as they did appeare, They sent that Squire afore, to vnderstand understand , What mote they be: who viewing them more neare 28 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. Cambelloes Returned readie newes, that those same weare Two of the prowest Knights in Faery lond; And those two Ladies their two louers lovers deare, Couragious Cambell, and stout Triamond, With Canacee and Cambine linckt in louely lovely bond. [32] Whylome as antique stories tellen vs us , Those two were foes the fellonest on ground, And battell made the dreddest daungerous, That euer ever shrilling trumpet did resound; Though now their acts be no where to be found, As that renowmed Poet them compyled, With warlike numbers and Heroicke sound, Dan Chaucer, well of English vndefyled undefyled , On Fames eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled. [33] But wicked Time that all good thoughts doth waste, And workes of noblest wits to nought out weare, That famous moniment hath quite defaste, And robd the world of threasure endlesse deare, The which mote haue have enriched all vs us heare. O cursed Eld the cankerworme of writs, How may these rimes, so rude as doth appeare, Hope to endure, sith workes of heauenly heavenly wits Are quite deuourd devourd , and brought to nought by little bits? [34] Then pardon, O most sacred happie spirit, That I thy labours lost may thus reuiue revive , And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit, That none durst euer ever whilest thou wast aliue alive , And being dead in vaine yet many striue strive : Ne dare I like, but through infusion sweete Of thine owne spirit, which doth in me suruiue survive , I follow here the footing of thy feete, That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE. QUEENE. 29 [35] Cambelloes sister was fayre Canacee, That was the learnedst Ladie in her dayes, Well seene in euerie everie science that mote bee, And euery every secret worke of natures wayes, In wittie riddles, and in wise soothsayes, In power of herbes, and tunes of beasts and burds; And, that augmented all her other prayse, She modest was in all her deedes and words, And wondrous chast of life, yet lou’d lov’d of Knights & and Lords. [36] Full many Lords, and many Knights her loued loved , Yet she to none of them her liking lent, Ne euer ever was with fond affection moued moved , But rul’d her thoughts with goodly gouernement governement , For dread of blame and honours blemishment; And eke vnto unto her lookes a law she made, That none of them once out of order went, But like to warie Centonels well stayd, Still watcht on euery every side, of secret foes affrayd. [37] So much the more as she refusd to loue love , So much the more she loued loved was and sought, That oftentimes vnquiet unquiet strife did moue move Amongst her louers lovers , and great quarrels wrought, That oft for her in bloudie armes they fought. Which whenas Cambell, that was stout and wise, Perceiu’d Perceiv’d would breede great mischiefe, he bethought How to preuent prevent the perill that mote rise, And turne both him and her to honour in this wise. [38] One day, when all that troupe of warlike wooers Assembled were, to weet whose she should bee, All mightie men and dreadfull derring dooers, (The harder it to make them well agree) 32 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. Stout Amongst them all this end he did decree; That of them all, which loue love to her did make, They by consent should chose the stoutest three, That with himselfe should combat for her sake, And of them all the victour should his sister take. [39] Bold was the chalenge, as himselfe was bold, And courage full of haughtie hardiment, Approued Approved oft in perils manifold, Which he atchieu’d atchiev’d to his great ornament: But yet his sisters skill vnto unto him lent Most confidence and hope of happie speed, Conceiued Conceived by a ring, which she him sent, That mongst the manie vertues, which we reed, Had power to staunch al wounds, that mortally did bleed. [40] Well was that rings great vertue knowen to all, That dread thereof, and his redoubted might Did all that youthly rout so much appall, That none of them durst vndertake undertake the fight; More wise they weend to make of loue love delight, 1596.bk4.IV.ii.40.6. Then: Than Then Than life to hazard for faire Ladies looke, And yet vncertaine uncertaine by such outward sight, Though for her sake they all that perill tooke, Whether she would them loue love , or in her liking brooke. [41] Amongst those knights there were three brethren bold, Three bolder brethren neuer never were yborne, Borne of one mother in one happie mold, Borne at one burden in one happie morne, Thrise happie mother, and thrise happie morne, That bore three such, three such not to be fond; Her name was Agape whose children werne All three as one, the first hight Priamond, The second Dyamond, the youngest Triamond. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 33 C [42] Stout Priamond, but not so strong to strike, Strong Diamond, but not so stout a knight, But Triamond was stout and strong alike: On horsebacke vsed used Triamond to fight, And Priamond on foote had more delight, But horse and foote knew Diamond to wield: With curtaxe vsed used Diamond to smite, And Triamond to handle speare and shield, But speare and curtaxe both vsd usd Priamond in field. [43] These three did loue love each other dearely well, And with so firme affection were allyde, As if but one soule in them all did dwell, Which did her powre into three parts diuyde divyde ; Like three faire branches budding farre and wide, That from one roote deriu’d deriv’d their vitall sap: And like that roote that doth her life diuide divide , Their mother was, and had full blessed hap, These three so noble babes to bring forth at one clap. [44] Their mother was a Fay, and had the skill Of secret things, and all the powres of nature, Which she by art could vse use vnto unto her will, And to her seruice service bind each liuing living creature: Through secret vnderstanding understanding of their feature. Thereto she was right faire, when so her face She list discouer discover , and of goodly stature; But she as Fayes are wont, in priuie privie place Did spend her dayes, and lov’d in forests wyld to space. [45] There on a day a noble youthly knight Seeking aduentures adventures in the saluage salvage wood, Did by great fortune get of her the sight; As she sate carelesse by a cristall flood, 34 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. Combing her golden lockes, as seemd her good: And vnawares unawares vpon upon her laying hold, That stroue strove in vaine him long to haue have withstood, Oppressed her, and there (as it is told) Got these three louely lovely babes, that prov’d three chãpions champions (bold. [46] Which she with her long fostred in that wood, Till that to ripenesse of mans state they grew: Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood, They loued loved armes, and knighthood did ensew, Seeking aduentures adventures , where they anie knew. Which when their mother saw, she gan to dout Their safetie, least by searching daungers new, And rash prouoking provoking perils all about, Their days mote be abridged through their corage stout. [47] Therefore desirous th’end of all their dayes To know, and them t’enlarge with long extent, By wondrous skill, and many hidden wayes, To the three fatall sisters house she went. Farre vnder under ground from tract of liuing living went, Downe in the bottome of the deepe Abysse, Where Demogorgon in dull darknesse pent, Farre from the view of Gods and heauens heavens blis, The hideous Chaos keepes, their dreadfull dwelling is. [48] There she them found, all sitting round about The direfull distaffe standing in the mid, And with vnwearied unwearied fingers drawing out The lines of life, from liuing living knowledge hid. Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thrid By griesly Lachesis was spun with paine, That cruell Atropos eftsoones vndid undid , With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine: Most wretched men, whose dayes depend on thrids so (vaine. Cant. II. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 35 C2 [49] She them saluting, there by them sate still, Beholding how the thrids of life they span: And when at last she had beheld her fill, Trembling in heart, and looking pale and wan, Her cause of comming she to tell began. To whom fierce Atropos, Bold Fay, that durst Come see the secret of the life of man, Well worthie thou to be of Ioue Jove accurst, And eke thy childrens thrids to be asunder burst. [50] Whereat she sore affrayd, yet her besought To graunt her boone, and rigour to abate, That she might see her childrẽs childrens thrids forth brought, And know the measure of their vtmost utmost date, To them ordained by eternall fate. Which Clotho graunting, shewed her the same: That when she saw, it did her much amate, To see their thrids so thin, as spiders frame, And eke so short, that seemd their ends out shortly came [51] She then began them humbly to intreate, To draw them longer out, and better twine, That so their liues lives might be prolonged late. But Lachesis thereat gan to repine, And sayd, fond dame that deem’st of things diuine divine As of humane, that they may altred bee, And chaung’d at pleasure for those impes of thine. Not so; for what the Fates do once decree, Not all the gods can chaunge, nor Ioue Jove him self can free. [52] Then since (quoth she) the terme of each mans life For nought may lessened nor enlarged bee, Graunt this, that when ye shred with fatall knife His line, which is the eldest of the three, 36 THE IIII. BOOKE OF THE Cant. II. CANT. Which is of them the shortest, as I see, Eftsoones his life may passe into the next; And when the next shall likewise ended bee, That both their liues lives may likewise be annext Vnto Unto the third, that his may so be trebly wext. [53] They graunted it; and then that carefull Fay Departed thence with full contended mynd; And comming home, in warlike fresh aray Them found all three according to their kynd: But vnto unto them what destinie was assynd,, Or how their liues lives were eekt, she did not tell; But euermore evermore , when she fit time could fynd, She warned them to tend their safeties well, And loue love each other deare, what euer ever them befell. [54] So did they surely during all their dayes, And neuer never discord did amongst them fall; Which much augmented all their other praise. And now t’increase affection naturall, In loue love of Canacee they ioyned joyned all: Vpon Upon which ground this same great battell grew, Great matter growing of beginning small; The which for length I will not here pursew, But rather will reserue reserve it for a Canto new.