Cant.V. FAERIE QVEEN 239 Cant. V.

Artegall fights with Radigund And is subdewd by guile: He is by her hcr emprisoned, But wrought by Clarins wile.

[1] SO So soone as day forth dawning from the East, Nights humid curtaine from the heauens heavens withdrew, And earely calling forth both man and beast, Comaunded them their daily workes renew, These noble warriors, mindefull to pursew The last daies purpose of their vowed fight, Them selues selves thereto preparde in order dew; The Knight, as best was seeming for a Knight, And th’Amazon, as best it likt her selfe to dight. [2] All in a Camis light of purple silke Wouen Woven vppon uppon with siluer silver , subtly wrought, And quilted vppon uppon sattin white as milke, Trayled with ribbands diuersly diversly distraught Like as the workeman had their courses taught; Which was short tucked for light motion Vp Up to her ham, but when she list, it raught Downe to her lowest heele, and thereuppon She wore for her defence a mayled habergeon. [3] And on her legs she painted buskins wore, Basted with bends of gold on euery every side, And mailes betweene, and laced close afore: Vppon Uppon her thigh her Cemitare was tide, 240 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. Yet With an embrodered belt of mickell pride; And on her shoulder hung her shield, bedeckt Vppon Uppon the bosse with stones, that shined wide, As the faire Moone in her most full aspect, That to the Moone it mote be like in each respect. [4] So forth she came out of the citty gate, With stately port and proud magnificence, Guarded with many damzels, that did waite Vppon Uppon her person for her sure defence, Playing on shaumes and trumpets, that from hence Their sound did reach vnto unto the heauens heavens hight. So forth into the field she marched thence, Where was a rich Pauilion Pavilion ready pight, Her to receiue receive , till time they should begin the fight. [5] Then forth came Artegall out of his tent, All arm’d to point, and first the Lists did enter: Soone after eke came she, with fell intent, And countenaunce fierce, as hauing having fully bent her, That battels vtmost utmost triall to aduenter adventer . The Lists were closed fast, to barre the rout From rudely pressing to the middle center; Which in great heapes them circled all about, Wayting, how Fortune would resolue resolve that daungerous (dout. [6] The Trumpets sounded, and the field began; With bitter strokes it both began, and ended. She at the first encounter on him ran With furious rage, as if she had intended Out of his breast the very heart haue have rended: But he that had like tempests often tride, From that first flaw him selfe right well defended. The more she rag’d, the more he did abide; She hewd, she foynd, she lasht, she laid on euery every side. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 241 Q [7] Yet still her blowes he bore, and her forbore, Weening at last to win aduantage advantage new; Yet still her crueltie increased more, And though powre faild, her courage did accrew, Which fayling he gan fiercely her pursew. Like as a Smith that to his cunning feat The stubborne mettall seeketh to subdew, Soone as he feeles it mollifide with heat, With his great yron sledge doth strongly on it beat. [8] So did Sir Artegall vpon upon her lay, As if she had an yron anduile andvile beene, That flakes of fire, bright as the sunny ray, Out of her steely armes were flashing seene, That all on fire ye would her surely weene. But with her shield so well her selfe she warded, From the dread daunger of his weapon keene, That all that while her life she safely garded: But he that helpe from her against her will discarded. [9] For with his trenchant blade at the next blow Halfe of her shield he shared quite away, That halfe her side it selfe did naked show, And thenceforth vnto unto daunger opened way. Much was she moued moved with the mightie sway Of that sad stroke, that halfe enrag’d she grew, And like a greedie Beare vnto unto her pray, With her sharpe Cemitare at him she flew, That glauncing downe his thigh, the purple bloud forth drew. [10] Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast, And to vpbrayd upbrayd that chaunce, which him misfell, As if the prize she gotten had almost, With spightfull speaches, fitting with her well; 242 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. Soone That his great hart gan inwardly to swell With indignation, at her vaunting vaine, And at her strooke with puissance fearefull fell; Yet with her shield she warded it againe, That shattered all to peeces round about the plaine. [11] Hauing Having her thus disarmed of her shield, Vpon Upon her helmet he againe her strooke, That downe she fell vpon upon the grassie field, In sencelesse swoune, as if her life forsooke, And pangs of death her spirit ouertooke overtooke . Whom when he saw before his foote prostrated, He to her lept with deadly dreadfull looke, And her sunshynie helmet soone vnlaced unlaced , Thinking at once both head and helmet to haue have raced. [12] But when as he discouered discovered had her face, He saw his senses straunge astonishment, A miracle of natures goodly grace, In her faire visage voide of ornament, But bath’d in bloud and sweat together ment; Which in the rudenesse of that euill evill plight, Bewrayd the signes of feature excellent: Like as the Moone in foggie winters night, Doth seeme to be her selfe, though darkned be her light. [13] At sight thereof his cruell minded hart Empierced was with pittifull regard, That his sharpe sword he threw from him apart, Cursing his hand that had that visage mard: No hand so cruell, nor no hart so hard, But ruth of beautie will it mollifie. By this vpstarting upstarting from her swoune, she star’d A while about her with confused eye; Like one that from his dreame is waked suddenlye. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 243 Q2 [14] Soone as the knight she there by her did spy, Standing with emptie hands all weaponlesse, With fresh assault vpon upon him she did fly, And gan renew her former cruelnesse: And though he still retyr’d, yet nathelesse With huge redoubled strokes she on him layd; And more increast her outrage mercilesse, The more that he with meeke intreatie prayd, Her wrathful hand from greedy vengeance to haue have stayd. [15] Like as a Puttocke hauing having spyde in sight A gentle Faulcon sitting on an hill, Whose other wing, now made vnmeete unmeete for flight, Was lately broken by some fortune ill; The foolish Kyte, led with licentious will, Doth beat vpon upon the gentle bird in vaine, With many idle stoups her troubling still: Euen Even so did Radigund with bootlesse paine Annoy this noble Knight, and sorely him constraine. [16] Nought could he do, but shun the dred despight Of her fierce wrath, and backward still retyre, And with his single shield, well as he might, Beare off the burden of her raging yre; And euermore evermore he gently did desyre, To stay her stroks, and he himselfe would yield: Yet nould she hearke, ne let him once respyre, Till he to her deliuered delivered had his shield, And to her mercie him submitted in plaine field. [17] So was he ouercome overcome , not ouercome overcome , But to her yeelded of his owne accord; Yet was he iustly justly damned by the doome Of his owne mouth, that spake so warelesse word, 244 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. So To be her thrall, and seruice service her afford. For though that he first victorie obtayned, Yet after by abandoning his sword, He wilfull lost, that he before attayned. No fayrer conquest, 1596.bk5.V.v.17.9. then: than then than that with goodwill is gayned. [18] Tho with her sword on him she flatling strooke, In signe of true subiection subjection to her powre, And as her vassall him to thraldome tooke. But Terpine borne to’a more vnhappy unhappy howre, As he, on whom the lucklesse starres did lowre, She causd to be attacht, and forthwith led Vnto Unto the crooke t’abide the balefull stowre, From which he lately had through reskew fled: Where he full shamefully was hanged by the hed. [19] But when they thought on Talus hands to lay, He with his yron flaile amongst them thondred, That they were fayne to let him scape away, Glad from his companie to be so sondred; Whose presence all their troups so much encombred That th’heapes of those, which he did wound and slay, Besides the rest dismayd, might not be nombred: Yet all that while he would not once assay, To reskew his owne Lord, but thought it iust just t’obay. [20] Then tooke the Amazon this noble knight, Left to her will by his owne wilfull blame, And caused him to be disarmed quight, Of all the ornaments of knightly name, With which whylome he gotten had great fame: In stead whereof she made him to be dight In womans weedes, that is to manhood shame, And put before his lap a napron white, In stead of Curiets and bases fit for fight. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 245 Q3 [21] So being clad, she brought him from the field, In which he had bene trayned many a day, Into a long large chamber, which was sield With moniments of many knights decay, By her subdewed in victorious fray: Amongst the which she causd his warlike armes Be hang’d on high, that mote his shame bewray; And broke his sword, for feare of further harmes, With which he wont to stirre vp up battailous alarmes. [22] There entred in, he round about him saw Many braue brave knights, whose names right well he knew, There bound t’obay that Amazons proud law, Spinning and carding all in comely rew, That his bigge hart loth’d so vncomely uncomely vew. But they were forst through penurie and pyne, To doe those workes, to them appointed dew: For nought was giuen given them to sup or dyne, But what their hands could earne by twisting linnen twyne. [23] Amongst them all she placed him most low, And in his hand a distaffe to him gaue gave , That he thereon should spin both flax and tow; A sordid office for a mind so braue brave . So hard it is to be a womans slaue slave . Yet he it tooke in his owne selfes despight, And thereto did himselfe right well behaue behave , Her to obay, sith he his faith had plight, Her vassall to become, if she him wonne in fight. [24] Who had him seene, imagine mote thereby, That whylome hath of Hercules bene told, How for Iolas sake he did apply His mightie hands, the distaffe vile to hold, 246 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. So For his huge club, which had subdew’d of old So many monsters, which the world annoyed; His Lyons skin chaungd to a pall of gold, In which forgetting warres, he onely ioyed joyed In combats of sweet loue love , and with his mistresse toyed. [25] Such is the crueltie of womenkynd, When they haue have shaken off the shamefast band, With which wise Nature did them strongly bynd, T’obay the heasts of mans well ruling hand, That then all rule and reason they withstand, To purchase a licentious libertie. But vertuous women wisely vnderstand understand , That they were borne to base humilitie, Vnlesse Unlesse the heauens heavens them lift to lawfull soueraintie soveraintie . [26] Thus there long while continu’d Artegall, Seruing Serving proud Radigund with true subiection subjection ; How euer ever it his noble heart did gall, T’obay a womans tyrannous direction, That might haue have had of life or death election: But hauing having chosen, now he might not chaunge. During which time, the warlike Amazon, Whose wandring fancie after lust did raunge, Gan cast a secret liking to this captiue captive straunge. [27] Which long concealing in her couert covert brest, She chaw’d the cud of louers lovers carefull plight; Yet could it not so thoroughly digest, Being fast fixed in her wounded spright, But it tormented her both day and night: Yet would she not thereto yeeld free accord, To serue serve the lowly vassall of her might, And of her seruant servant make her souerayne soverayne Lord: So great her pride, that she such basenesse much abhord. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 247 Q4 [28] So much the greater still her anguish grew, Through stubborne handling of her loue-sicke love-sicke hart; And still the more she stroue strove it to subdew, The more she still augmented her owne smart, And wyder made the wound of th’hidden dart. At last when long she struggled had in vaine, She gan to stoupe, and her proud mind conuert convert To meeke obeysance of loues loves mightie raine, And him entreat for grace, that had procur’d her paine. [29] Vnto Unto her selfe in secret she did call Her nearest handmayd, whom she most did trust, And to her said; Clarinda whom of all I trust a liue alive , sith I thee fostred first; Now is the time, that I vntimely untimely must Thereof make tryall, in my greatest need: It is so hapned, that the heauens heavens vniust unjust , Spighting my happie freedome, haue have agreed, To thrall my looser life, or my last bale to breed. [30] With that she turn’d her head, as halfe abashed, To hide the blush which in her visage rose, And through her eyes like sudden lightning flashed, Decking her cheeke with a vermilion rose: But soone she did her countenance compose, And to her turning, thus began againe; This griefes deepe wound I would to thee disclose, Thereto compelled through hart-murdring paine, But dread of shame my doubtfull lips doth still restraine. [31] Ah my deare dread (said then the faithfull Mayd) Can dread of ought your dreadlesse hart withhold, That many hath with dread of death dismayd, And dare euen even deathes most dreadfull face behold? 248 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. The Say on my souerayne Ladie, and be bold; Doth not your handmayds life at your foot lie? Therewith much comforted, she gan vnfold unfold The cause of her conceiued conceived maladie, As one that would confesse, yet faine would it denie. [32] Clarin (sayd she) thou seest yond Fayry Knight, Whom not my valour, but his owne braue brave mind Subiected Subjected hath to my vnequall unequall might; What right is it, that he should thraldome find, For lending life to me a wretch vnkind unkind ; That for such good him recompence with ill? Therefore I cast, how I may him vnbind unbind , And by his freedome get his free goodwill; Yet so, as bound to me he may continue still. [33] Bound vnto unto me, but not with such hard bands Of strong compulsion, and streight violence, As now in miserable state he stands; But with sweet loue love and sure beneuolence benevolence , Voide of malitious mind, or foule offence. To which if thou canst win him any way, Without discouerie discoverie of my thoughts pretence, Both goodly meede of him it purchase may, And eke with gratefull seruice service me right well apay. [34] Which that thou mayst the better bring to pas, Loe here this ring, which shall thy warrant bee, And token true to old Eumenias, From time to time, when thou it best shalt see, That in and out thou mayst haue have passage free. Goe now, Clarinda, well thy wits aduise advise , And all thy forces gather vnto unto thee; Armies of louely lovely lookes, and speeches wise, With which thou canst euen even Ioue Jove himselfe to loue love entise. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 249 [35] The trustie Mayd, conceiuing conceiving her intent, Did with sure promise of her good indeuour indevour , Giue Give her great comfort, and some harts content. So from her parting, she thenceforth did labour By all the meanes she might, to curry fauour favour With th’Elfin Knight, her Ladies best beloued beloved ; With daily shew of courteous kind behauiour behaviour , Euen Even at the markewhite of his hart she roued roved , And with wide glauncing words, one day she thus him proued. proved. [36] Vnhappie Unhappie Knight, vpon upon whose hopelesse state Fortune enuying envying good, hath felly frowned, And cruell heauens heavens haue have heapt an heauy heavy fate; I rew that thus thy better dayes are drowned In sad despaire, and all thy senses swowned In stupid sorow, sith thy iuster juster merit Might else haue have with felicitie bene crowned: Looke vp up at last, and wake thy dulled spirit, To thinke how this long death thou mightest disinherit. [37] Much did he maruell marvell at her vncouth uncouth speach, Whose hidden drift he could not well perceiue perceive ; And gan to doubt, least she him sought t’appeach Of treason, or some guilefull traine did weaue weave , Through which she might his wretched life bereaue bereave . Both which to barre, he with this answere met her; Faire Damzell, that with ruth (as I perceaue perceave ) Of my mishaps, art mou’d mov’d to wish me better, For such your kind regard, I can but rest your detter. [38] Yet weet ye well, that to a courage great It is no lesse beseeming well, to beare The storme of fortunes frowne, or heauens heavens threat, 1596.bk5.V.v.38.4. Then: Than Then Than in the sunshine of her countenance cleare 250 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. But Timely to ioy joy , and carrie comely cheare. For though this cloud haue have now me ouercast overcast , Yet doe I not of better times despeyre; And, though vnlike unlike , they should for euer ever last, Yet in my truthes assurance I rest fixed fast. [39] But what so stonie mind (she then replyde) But if in his owne powre occasion lay, Would to his hope a windowe open wyde, And to his fortunes helpe make readie way? Vnworthy Unworthy sure (quoth he) of better day, That will not take the offer of good hope, And eke pursew, if he attaine it may. Which speaches she applying to the scope Of her intent, this further purpose to him shope. [40] Then why doest not, thou ill aduized advized man, Make meanes to win thy libertie forlorne, And try if thou by faire entreatie, can Moue Move Radigund? who though she still haue have worne Her dayes in warre, yet (weet thou) was not borne Of Beares and Tygres, nor so saluage salvage mynded, As that, albe all loue love of men she scorne, She yet forgets, that she of men was kynded: And sooth oft seene, that proudest harts base loue love hath (blynded. [41] Certes Clarinda, not of cancred will, (Sayd he) nor obstinate disdainefull mind, I haue have forbore this duetie to fulfill: For well I may this weene, by that I fynd, That she a Queene, and come of Princely kynd, Both worthie is for to be sewd vnto unto , Chiefely by him, whose life her law doth bynd, And eke of powre her owne doome to vndo undo , And als’ of princely grace to be inclyn’d thereto. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 251 [42] But want of meanes hath bene mine onely let, From seeking fauour favour , where it doth abound; Which if I might by your good office get, I to your selfe should rest for euer ever bound, And readie to deserue deserve , what grace I found. She feeling him thus bite vpon upon the bayt, Yet doubting least his hold was but vnsound unsound , And not well fastened, would not strike him strayt, But drew him on with hope, fit leasure to awayt. [43] But foolish Mayd, whyles heedlesse of the hooke, She thus oft times was beating off and on, Through slipperie footing, fell into the brooke, And there was caught to her confusion. For seeking thus to salue salve the Amazon, She wounded was with her deceipts owne dart, And gan thenceforth to cast affection, Conceiued Conceived close in her beguiled hart, To Artegall, through pittie of his causelesse smart. [44] Yet durst she not disclose her fancies wound, Ne to himselfe, for doubt of being sdayned, Ne yet to any other wight on ground, For feare her mistresse shold haue have knowledge gayned, But to her selfe it secretly retayned, Within the closet of her couert covert brest: The more thereby her tender hart was payned. Yet to awayt fit time she weened best, And fairely did dissemble her sad thoughts vnrest unrest . [45] One day her Ladie, calling her apart, Gan to demaund of her some tydings good, Touching her loues loves successe, her lingring smart. Therewith she gan at first to change her mood, 252 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. Say, As one adaw’d, and halfe confused stood; But quickly she it ouerpast overpast , so soone As she her face had wypt, to fresh her blood: Tho gan she tell her all, that she had donne, And all the wayes she sought, his loue love for to haue have wonne. [46] But sayd, that he was obstinate and sterne, Scorning her offers and conditions vaine; Ne would be taught with any termes, to lerne So fond a lesson, as to loue love againe. Die rather would he in penurious paine, And his abridged dayes in dolour wast, 1596.bk5.V.v.46.7. Then: Than Then Than his foes loue love or liking entertaine: His resolution was both first and last, His bodie was her thrall, his hart was freely plast. [47] Which when the cruell Amazon perceiued perceived , She gan to storme, and rage, and rend her gall, For very fell despight, which she conceiued conceived , To be so scorned of a base borne thrall, Whose life did lie in her least eye-lids fall; Of which she vow’d with many a cursed threat, That she therefore would him ere long forstall. Nathlesse when calmed was her furious heat, She chang’d that threatfull mood, & and mildly gan entreat. [48] What now is left Clarinda? what remaines, That we may compasse this our enterprize? Great shame to lose so long employed paines, And greater shame t’abide so great misprize, With which he dares our offers thus despize. Yet that his guilt the greater may appeare, And more my gratious mercie by this wize, I will a while with his first folly beare, Till thou haue have tride againe, & and tempted him more neare. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 253 [49] Say, and do all, that may thereto preuaile prevaile ; Leaue Leave nought vnpromist unpromist , that may him perswade, Life, freedome, grace, and gifts of great auaile availe , With which the Gods themselues themselves are mylder made: Thereto adde art, euen even womens witty trade, The art of mightie words, that men can charme; With which in case thou canst him not inuade invade , Let him feele hardnesse of thy heauie heavie arme: Who will not stoupe with good, shall be made stoupe (with harme. [50] Some of his diet doe from him withdraw; For I him find to be too proudly fed. Giue Give him more labour, and with streighter law, That he with worke may be forwearied. Let him lodge hard, and lie in strawen bed, That may pull downe the courage of his pride; And lay vpon upon him, for his greater dread, Cold yron chaines, with which let him be tide; And let, what euer ever he desires, be him denide. [51] When thou hast all this doen, then bring me newes Of his demeane: thenceforth not like a louer lover , But like a rebell stout I will him vse use . For I resolue resolve this siege not to giue give ouer over , Till I the conquest of my will recouer recover . So she departed, full of griefe and sdaine, Which inly did to great impatience moue move her. But the false mayden shortly turn’d againe Vnto Unto the prison, where her hart did thrall remaine. [52] There all her subtill nets she did vnfold unfold , And all the engins of her wit display; In which she meant him warelesse to enfold, And of his innocence to make her pray. 254 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant. V. So So cunningly she wrought her crafts assay, That both her Ladie, and her selfe withall, And eke the knight attonce she did betray: But most the knight, whom she with guilefull call Did cast for to allure, into her trap to fall. [53] As a bad Nurse, which fayning to receiue receive In her owne mouth the food, ment for her chyld, Withholdes it to her selfe, and doeth deceiue deceive The infant, so for want of nourture spoyld: Euen Even so Clarinda her owne Dame beguyld, And turn’d the trust, which was in her affyde, To feeding of her priuate private fire, which boyld Her inward brest, and in her entrayles fryde, The more that she it sought to couer cover and to hyde. [54] For comming to this knight, she purpose fayned, How earnest suit she earst for him had made Vnto Unto her Queene, his freedome to haue have gayned; But by no meanes could her thereto perswade: But that in stead therof, she sternely bade His miserie to be augmented more, And many yron bands on him to lade. All which nathlesse she for his loue love forbore: So praying him t’accept her seruice service euermore evermore . [55] And more 1596.bk5.V.v.55.1. then: than then than that, she promist that she would, In case she might finde fauour favour in his eye, Deuize Devize how to enlarge him out of hould. The Fayrie glad to gaine his libertie, Can yeeld great thankes for such her curtesie, And with faire words, fit for the time and place, To feede the humour of her maladie; Promist, if she would free him from that case, He wold by all good means he might, deserue deserve such grace. Cant.V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 255 [56] So daily he faire semblant did her shew, Yet neuer never meant he in his noble mind, To his owne absent loue love to be vntrew untrew : Ne euer ever did deceiptfull Clarin find In her false hart, his bondage to vnbind unbind ; But rather how she mote him faster tye. Therefore vnto unto her mistresse most vnkind unkind She daily told, her loue love he did defye, And him she told, her Dame his freedome did denye. [57] Yet thus much friendship she to him did show, That his scarse diet somewhat was amended, And his worke lessened, that his loue love mote grow: Yet to her Dame him still she discommended, That she with him mote be the more offended. Thus he long while in thraldome there remayned, Of both beloued beloved well, but litle frended; Vntill Untill his owne true loue love his freedome gayned, Which in an other Canto will be best contayned.