268 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. Whereof Cant. VII

Britomart comes to Isis Church, Where shee strange visions sees: She fights with Radigund, her slaies, And Artegall thence frees.

[1] NOught Nought is on earth more sacred or diuine divine , That Gods and men doe equally adore, 1596.bk5.V.vii.1.3. Then: Than Then Than this same vertue, that doth right define: For th’heuens th’hevens thẽselues themselues thẽselves themselves , whence mortal men implore Right in their wrongs, are rul’d by righteous lore Of highest Ioue Jove , who doth true iustice justice deale To his inferiour Gods, and euermore evermore Therewith containes his heauenly heavenly Common-weale: The skill whereof to Princes hearts he doth reueale reveale . [2] Well therefore did the antique world inuent invent , That Iustice Justice was a God of soueraine soveraine grace, And altars vnto unto him, and temples lent, And heauenly heavenly honours in the highest place; Calling him great Osyris, of the race Of th’old Ægyptian Kings, that whylome were; With fayned colours shading a true case: For that Osyris, whilest he liued lived here, The iustest justest man aliue alive , and truest did appeare. [3] His wife was Isis, whom they likewise made A Goddesse of great powre and souerainty soverainty , And in her person cunningly did shade That part of Iustice Justice , which is Equity, Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 269 Whereof I haue have to treat here presently. Vnto Unto whose temple when as Britomart Arriued Arrived , shee with great humility Did enter in, ne would that night depart; But Talus mote not be admitted to her part. [4] There she receiued received was in goodly wize Of many Priests, which duely did attend Vppon Uppon the rites and daily sacrifize, All clad in linnen robes with siluer silver hemd; And on their heads with long locks comely kemd, They wore rich Mitres shaped like the Moone, To shew that Isis doth the Moone portend; Like as Osyris signifies the Sunne. For that they both like race in equall iustice justice runne. [5] The Championesse them greeting, as she could, Was thence by them into the Temple led; Whose goodly building when she did behould, Borne vppon uppon stately pillours, all dispred With shining gold, and arched ouer over hed, She wondred at the workemans passing skill, Whose like before she neuer never saw nor red; And thereuppon long while stood gazing still, But thought, that she thereon could neuer never gaze her fill. [6] Thence forth vnto unto the Idoll they her brought, The which was framed all of siluer silver fine, So well as could with cunning hand be wrought, And clothed all in garments made of line, Hemd all about with fringe of siluer silver twine. Vppon Uppon her head she wore a Crowne of gold, To shew that she had powre in things diuine divine ; And at her feete a Crocodile was rold, That with her wreathed taile her middle did enfold. 270 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. By [7] One foote was set vppon uppon the Crocodile, And on the ground the other fast did stand, So meaning to suppresse both forged guile, And open force: and in her other hand She stretched forth a long white sclender wand. Such was the Goddesse; whom when Britomart Had long beheld, her selfe vppon uppon the land She did prostrate, and with right humble hart, Vnto Unto her selfe her silent prayers did impart. [8] To which the Idoll as it were inclining, Her wand did moue move with amiable looke, By outward shew her inward sence defining. Who well perceiuing perceiving , how her wand she shooke, It as a token of good fortune tooke. By this the day with dampe was ouercast overcast , And ioyous joyous light the house of Ioue Jove forsooke: Which when she saw, her helmet she vnlaste unlaste , And by the altars side her selfe to slumber plaste. [9] For other beds the Priests there vsed used none, But on their mother Earths deare lap did lie, And bake their sides vppon uppon the cold hard stone, T’enure them selues selves to sufferaunce thereby And proud rebellious flesh to mortify. For by the vow of their religion They tied were to stedfast chastity, And continence of life, that all forgon, They mote the better tend to their deuotion devotion . [10] Therefore they mote not taste of fleshly food, Ne feed on ought, the which doth bloud containe, Ne drinke of wine, for wine they say is blood, Euen Even the bloud of Gyants, which were slaine, Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 271 By thundring Ioue Jove in the Phlegrean plaine. For which the earth (as they the story tell) Wroth with the Gods, which to perpetuall paine Had damn’d her sonnes, which gainst them did rebell, With inward griefe and malice did against them swell. [11] And of their vitall bloud, the which was shed Into her pregnant bosome, forth she brought The fruitfull vine, whose liquor blouddy red Hauing Having the mindes of men with fury fraught, Mote in them stirre vp up old rebellious thought, To make new warre against the Gods againe: Such is the powre of that same fruit, that nought The fell contagion may thereof restraine, Ne within reasons rule, her madding mood containe. [12] There did the warlike Maide her selfe repose, Vnder Under the wings of Isis all that night, And with sweete rest her heauy heavy eyes did close, After that long daies toile and weary plight. Where whilest her earthly parts with soft delight Of sencelesse sleepe did deeply drowned lie, There did appeare vnto unto her heauenly heavenly spright A wondrous vision, which did close implie The course of all her fortune and posteritie. [13] Her seem’, das she was doing sacrifize To Isis, deckt with Mitre on her hed, And linnen stole after those Priestes guize, All sodainely she saw transfigured Her linnen stole to robe of scarlet red. And Moone-like Mitre to a Crowne of gold, That euen even she her selfe much wondered At such a chaunge, and ioyed joyed to behold Her selfe, adorn’d with gems and iewels jewels manifold. 272 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. Then [14] And in the midst of her felicity, An hideous tempest seemed from below, To rise through all the Temple sodainely, That from the Altar all about did blow The holy fire, and all the embers strow Vppon Uppon the ground, which kindled priuily privily , Into outragious flames vnwares unwares did grow, That all the Temple put in ieopardy jeopardy Of flaming, and her selfe in great perplexity. [15] With that the Crocodile, which sleeping lay Vnder Under the Idols feete in fearelesse bowre, Seem’d to awake in horrible dismay, As being troubled with that stormy stowre; And gaping greedy wide, did streight deuoure devoure Both flames and tempest: with which growen great, And swolne with pride of his owne peerelesse powre, He gan to threaten her likewise to eat; But that the Goddesse with her rod him backe did beat. [16] Tho turning all his pride to humblesse meeke, Him selfe before her feete he lowly threw, And gan for grace and loue love of her to seeke: Which she accepting, he so neare her drew, That of his game she soone enwombed grew, And forth did bring a Lion of great might; That shortly did all other beasts subdew. With that she waked, full of fearefull fright, And doubtfully dismayd through that so vncouth uncouth sight. [17] So thereuppon long while she musing lay, With thousand thoughts feeding her fantasie, Vntill Untill she spide the lampe of lightsome day, Vp-lifted Up-lifted in the porch of heauen heaven hie. Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 273 S Then vp up she rose fraught with melancholy, And forth into the lower parts did pas; Whereas the Priestes she found full busily About their holy things for morrow Mas: Whom she saluting faire, faire resaluted was. [18] But by the change of her vnchearefull unchearefull looke, They might perceiue perceive , she was not well in plight; Or that some pensiuenesse pensivenesse to heart she tooke. Therefore thus one of them, who seem’d in sight To be the greatest, and the grauest gravest wight, To her bespake; Sir Knight it seemes to me, That thorough euill evill rest of this last night, Or ill apayd, or much dismayd ye be, That by your change of cheare is easie for to see. [19] Certes (sayd she) sith ye so well haue have spide The troublous passion of my pensiue pensive mind, I will not seeke the same from you to hide, But will my cares vnfolde unfolde , in hope to find Your aide, to guide me out of errour blind. Say on (quoth he) the secret of your hart: For by the holy vow, which me doth bind, I am adiur’d adjur’d , best counsell to impart To all, that shall require my comfort in their smart. [20] Then gan she to declare the whole discourse Of all that vision, which to her appeard, As well as to her minde it had recourse. All which when he vnto unto the end had heard, Like to a weake faint-hearted man he fared, Through great astonishment of that strange sight; And with long locks vp-standing up-standing , stifly stared Like one adawed with some dreadfull spright. So fild with heauenly heavenly fury, thus he her behight. 274 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. She [21] Magnificke Virgin, that in queint disguise Of British armes doest maske thy royall blood, So to pursue a perillous emprize, How coulst thou weene, through that disguized hood, To hide thy state from being vnderstood understood ? Can from th’immortall Gods ought hidden bee? They doe thy linage, and thy Lordly brood; They doe thy sire, lamenting sore for thee; They doe thy loue love , forlorne in womens thraldome see. [22] The end whereof, and all the long euent event , They doe to thee in this same dreame discouer discover . For that same Crocodile doth represent The righteous Knight, that is thy faithfull louer lover , Like to Osyris in all iust just endeuer endever . For that same Crocodile Osyris is, That vnder under Isis feete doth sleepe for euer ever : To shew that clemence oft in things amis, Restraines those sterne behests, and cruell doomes of his. [23] That Knight shall all the troublous stormes asswage, And raging flames, that many foes shall reare, To hinder thee from the iust just heritage Of thy sires Crowne, and from thy countrey deare. Then shalt thou take him to thy loued loved fere, And ioyne joyne in equall portion of thy realme: And afterwards a sonne to him shalt beare, That Lion-like shall shew his powre extreame. So blesse thee God, and giue give thee ioyance joyance of thy dreame. [24] All which when she vnto unto the end had heard, She much was eased in her troublous thought, And on those Priests bestowed rich reward: And royall gifts of gold and siluer silver wrought, Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 275 S2 She for a present to their Goddesse brought. Then taking leaue leave of them, she forward went, To seeke her loue love , where he was to be sought; Ne rested till she came without relent Vnto Unto the land of Amazons, as she was bent. [25] Whereof when newes to Radigund was brought, Not with amaze, as women wonted bee, She was confused in her troublous thought, But fild with courage and with ioyous joyous glee, As glad to heare of armes, the which now she Had long surceast, she bad to open bold, That she the face of her new foe might see. But when they of that yron man had told, Which late her folke had slaine, she bad thẽ them forth to hold [26] So there without the gate (as seemed best) She caused her Pauilion Pavilion be pight; In which stout Britomart her selfe did rest, Whiles Talus watched at the dore all night. All night likewise, they of the towne in fright, Vppon Uppon their wall good watch and ward did keepe. The morrow next, so soone as dawning light Bad doe away the dampe of drouzie sleepe, The warlike Amazon out of her bowre did peepe. [27] And caused streight a Trumpet loud to shrill, To warne her foe to battell soone be prest: Who long before awoke (for she ful ill Could sleepe all night, that in vnquiet unquiet brest Did closely harbour such a iealous jealous guest) Was to the battell whilome ready dight. Eftsoones that warriouresse with haughty crest Did forth issue, all ready for the fight: On th’other side her foe appeared soone in sight. 276 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. So [28] But ere they reared hand, the Amazone Began the streight conditions to propound, With which she vsed used still to tye her fone; To serue serve her so, as she the rest had bound. Which when the other heard, she sternly frownd For high disdaine of such indignity, And would no lenger treat, but bad them sound. For her no other termes should euer ever tie. Then what prescribed were by lawes of cheualrie chevalrie . [29] The Trumpets sound, and they together run With greedy rage, and with their faulchins smot; Ne either sought the others strokes to shun, But through great fury both their skill forgot, And practicke vse use in armes: ne spared not Their dainty parts, which nature had created So faire and tender, without staine or spot, For other vses uses , 1596.bk5.V.vii.29.8. then: than then than they them translated; Which they now hackt & and hewd, as if such vse use they hated, [30] As when a Tygre and a Lionesse Are met at spoyling of some hungry pray, Both challenge it with equall greedinesse: But first the Tygre clawes thereon did lay; And therefore loth to loose her right away, Doth in defence thereof full stoutly stond: To which the Lion strongly doth gainesay, That she to hunt the beast first tooke in hond; And therefore ought it haue have , where euer ever she it fond. [31] Full fiercely layde the Amazon about, And dealt her blowes vnmercifully unmercifully sore: Which Britomart withstood with courage stout, And them repaide againe with double more. Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 277 S3 So long they fought, that all the grassie flore Was fild with bloud, which from their sides did flow, And gushed through their armes, that all in gore They trode, and on the ground their liues lives did strow, Like fruitles seede, of which vntimely untimely death should grow. [32] At last proud Radigund with fell despight, Hauing Having by chaunce espide aduantage advantage neare, Let driue drive at her with all her dreadfull might, And thus vpbrayding upbrayding sayd; This token beare Vnto Unto the man, whom thou doest loue love so deare; And tell him for his sake thy life thou gauest gavest . Which spitefull words she sore engrieu’d engriev’d to heare, Thus answer’d; Lewdly thou my loue love deprauest depravest , Who shortly must repent that now so vainely brauest bravest . [33] Nath’lesse that stroke so cruell passage found, That glauncing on her shoulder plate, it bit Vnto Unto the bone, and made a griesly wound, That she her shield through raging smart of it Could scarse vphold uphold ; yet soone she it requit. For hauing having force increast through furious paine, She her so rudely on the helmet smit, That it empierced to the very braine, And her proud person low prostrated on the plaine. [34] Where being layd, the wrothfull Britonesse Stayd not, till she came to her selfe againe, But in reuenge revenge both of her loues loves distresse, And her late vile reproch, though vaunted vaine, And also of her wound, which sore did paine, She with one stroke both head and helmet cleft. Which dreadfull sight, when all her warlike traine There present saw, each one of sence bereft, Fled fast into the towne, and her sole victor left. 278 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. To [35] But yet so fast they could not home retrate, But that swift Talus did the formost win; And pressing through the preace vnto unto the gate, Pelmell with them attonce did enter in. There then a piteous slaughter did begin: For all that euer ever came within his reach, He with his yron flale did thresh so thin, That he no worke at all left for the leach: Like to an hideous storme, which nothing may empeach. [36] And now by this the noble Conqueresse Her selfe came in, her glory to partake; Where though reuengefull revengefull vow she did professe, Yet when she saw the heapes, which he did make, Of slaughtred carkasses, her heart did quake For very ruth, which did it almost riue rive , That she his fury willed him to slake: For else he sure had left not one aliue alive , But all in his reuenge revenge of spirite would depriue deprive . [37] Tho when she had his execution stayd, She for that yron prison did enquire, In which her wretched loue love was captiue captive layd: Which breaking open with indignant ire, She entred into all the partes entire. Where when she saw that lothly vncouth uncouth sight, Of men disguiz’d in womanishe attire, Her heart gan grudge, for very deepe despight Of so vnmanly unmanly maske, in misery misdight. [38] At last when as to her owne Loue Love she came, Whom like disguize no lesse deformed had, At sight thereof abasht with secrete shame, She turnd her head aside, as nothing glad, Cant.VII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 279 S4 To haue have beheld a spectacle so bad: And then too well beleeu’d beleev’d , that which tofore Iealous Jealous suspect as true vntruely untruely drad, Which vaine conceipt now nourishing no more, She sought with ruth to salue salve his sad misfortunes sore. [39] Not so great wonder and astonishment, Did the most chast Penelope possesse, To see her Lord, that was reported drent, And dead long since in dolorous distresse, Come home to her in piteous wretchednesse, After long trauell travell of full twenty yeares, That she knew not his fauours favours likelynesse, For many scarres and many hoary heares, But stood long staring on him, mongst vncertaine uncertaine feares. [40] Ah my deare Lord, what sight is this (quoth she) What May-game hath misfortune made of you? Where is that dreadfull manly looke? where be Those mighty palmes, the which ye wont t’embrew In bloud of Kings, and great hoastes to subdew? Could ought on earth so wondrous change haue have (wrought, As to haue have robde you of that manly hew? Could so great courage stouped haue have to ought? Then farewell fleshly force; I see thy pride is nought. [41] Thenceforth she streight into a bowre him brought, And causd him those vncomely uncomely weedes vndight undight ; And in their steede for other rayment sought, Whereof there was great store, and armors bright, Which had bene reft from many a noble Knight; Whom that proud Amazon subdewed had, Whilest Fortune fauourd favourd her successe in fight, In which when as she him anew had clad, She was reuiu’d reviv’d , and ioyd joyd much in his semblance glad. 280 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VII. She [42] So there a while they afterwards remained, Him to refresh, and her late wounds to heale: During which space she there as Princes rained, And changing all that forme of common weale, The liberty of women did repeale, Which they had long vsurpt usurpt ; and them restoring To mens subiection subjection , did true Iustice Justice deale: That all they as a Goddesse her adoring, Her wisedome did admire, and hearkned to her loring. [43] For all those Knights, which long in captiue captive shade Had shrowded bene, she did from thraldome free; And magistrates of all that city made, And gaue gave to them great liuing living and large fee: And that they should for euer ever faithfull bee, Made them sweare fealty to Artegall. Who when him selfe now well recur’d did see, He purposd to proceed, what so be fall, Vppon Uppon his first aduenture adventure , which him forth did call. [44] Full sad and sorrowfull was Britomart For his departure, her new cause of griefe; Yet wisely moderated her owne smart, Seeing his honor, which she tendred chiefe, Consisted much in that aduentures adventures priefe. The care whereof, and hope of his successe Gaue Gave vnto unto her great comfort and reliefe, That womanish complaints she did represse, And tempred for the time her present heauinesse heavinesse . [45] There she continu’d for a certaine space, Till through his want her woe did more increase: Then hoping that the change of aire and place Would change her paine, and sorrow somewhat ease, Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 281 She parted thence, her anguish to appease. Meane while her noble Lord sir Artegall Went on his way, ne euer ever howre did cease, Till he redeemed had that Lady thrall: That for another Canto will more fitly fall.