Cant. VIII.

Prince Arthure and Sir Artegall, Free Samient from feare: They slay the Soudan, driue drive his wife, Adicia to despaire.

[1] NOught Nought vnder under heauen heaven so strongly doth allure The sence of man, and all his minde possesse, As beauties louely lovely baite, that doth procure Great warriours oft their rigour to represse, And mighty hands forget their manlinesse; Drawne with the powre of an heart-robbing eye, And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse, That can with melting pleasaunce mollifye Their hardned hearts, enur’d to bloud and cruelty. [2] So whylome learnd that mighty Iewish Jewish swaine, Each of whose lockes did match a man in might, To lay his spoiles before his lemans traine: So also did that great Oetean Knight For his loues loves sake his Lions skin vndight undight : And so did warlike Antony neglect The worlds whole rule for Cleopatras sight. Such wondrous powre hath wemens faire aspect, To captiue captive men, and make them all the world reiect reject . 282 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. Sir [3] Yet could it not sterne Artegall retaine, Nor hold from suite of his auowed avowed quest, Which he had vndertane undertane to Gloriane; But left his loue love , albe her strong request, Faire Britomart in languor and vnrest unrest , And rode him selfe vppon uppon his first intent: Ne day nor night did euer ever idly rest; Ne wight but onely Talus with him went, The true guide of his way and vertuous gouernment government . [4] So trauelling travelling , he chaunst far off to heed A Damzell, flying on a palfrey fast Before two Knights, that after her did speed With all their powre, and her full fiercely chast In hope to haue have her ouerhent overhent at last: Yet fled she fast, and both them farre outwent, Carried with wings of feare, like fowle aghast, With locks all loose, and rayment all to rent; And euer ever as she rode, her eye was backeward bent. [5] Soone after these he saw another Knight, That after those two former rode apace, With speare in rest, and prickt with all his might: So ran they all, as they had bene at bace, They being chased, that did others chase. At length he saw the hindmost ouertake overtake One of those two, and force him turne his face; How euer ever loth he were his way to slake, Yet mote he algates now abide, and answere make. [6] But th’other still pursu’d the fearefull Mayd; Who still from him as fast away did flie, Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd, Till that at length she did before her spie Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 283 Sir Artegall, to whom she streight did hie With gladfull hast, in hope of him to get Succour against her greedy enimy: Who seeing her approch gan forward set, To saue save her from her feare, and him from force to let. [7] But he like hound full greedy of his pray, Being impatient of impediment, Continu’d still his course, and by the way Thought with his speare him quight haue have ouerwent overwent . So both together ylike felly bent, Like fiercely met. But Artegall was stronger, And better skild in Tilt and Turnament, And bore him quite out of his saddle, longer 1596.bk5.V.viii.7.9. Then: Than Then Than two speares length; So mischiefe ouermatcht overmatcht the (wronger. [8] And in his fall misfortune him hm mistooke; For on his head vnhappily unhappily he pight, That his owne waight his necke asunder broke, And left there dead. Meane while the other Knight Defeated had the other faytour quight, And all his bowels in his body brast: Whom leauing leaving there in that dispiteous plight, He ran still on, thinking to follow fast His other fellow Pagan, which before him past. [9] In stead of whom finding there ready prest Sir Artegall, without discretion He at him ran, with ready speare in rest: Who seeing him come still so fiercely on, Against him made againe. So both anon Together met, and strongly either strooke And broke their speares; yet neither has forgon His horses backe, yet to and fro long shooke, And tottred like two towres, which through a tempest (quooke. 284 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. Yeeld [10] But when againe they had recouered recovered sence, They drew their swords, in mind to make amends For what their speares had fayld of their pretence. Which when the Damzell, who those deadly ends Of both her foes had seene, and now her frends For her beginning a more fearefull fray, She to them runnes in hast, and her haire rends, Crying to them their cruell hands to stay, Vntill Untill they both doe heare, what she to them will say. [11] They stayd their hands, when she thus gan to speake; Ah gentle Knights, what meane ye thus vnwise unwise Vpon Upon your selues selves anothers wrong to wreake? I am the wrong’d, whom ye did enterprise Both to redresse, and both redrest likewise: Witnesse the Paynims both, whom ye may see There dead on ground. What doe ye then deuise devise Of more reuenge revenge ? if more, then I am shee, Which was the roote of all, end your reuenge revenge on mee. [12] Whom when they heard so say, they lookt about, To weete if it were true, as she had told; Where when they saw their foes dead out of doubt, Eftsoones they gan their wrothfull hands to hold, And Ventailes reare, each other to behold. Tho when as Artegall did Arthure vew, So faire a creature, and so wondrous bold, He much admired both his heart and hew, And touched with intire affection, nigh him drew. [13] Saying, sir Knight, of pardon I you pray, That all vnweeting unweeting haue have you wrong’d thus sore, Suffring my hand against my heart to stray: Which if ye please forgiue forgive , I will therefore Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 285 Yeeld for amends my selfe yours euermore evermore , Or what so penaunce shall by you be red. To whom the Prince; Certes me needeth more To craue crave the same, whom errour so misled, As that I did mistake the liuing living for the ded. [14] But sith ye please, that both our blames shall die, Amends may for the trespasse soone be made, Since neither is endamadg’d much thereby. So can they both them selues selves full eath perswade To faire accordaunce, and both faults to shade, Either embracing other louingly lovingly , And swearing faith to either on his blade, Neuer Never thenceforth to nourish enmity, But either others cause to maintaine mutually. [15] Then Artegall gan of the Prince enquire, What were those knights, which there on groũd ground were (layd, And had receiu’d receiv’d their follies worthy hire, And for what cause they chased so that Mayd. Certes I wote not well (the Prince then sayd) But by aduenture adventure found them faring so, As by the way vnweetingly unweetingly I strayd, And lo the Damzell selfe, whence all did grow, Of whom we may at will the whole occasion know. [line not left-justified.] [16] Then they that Damzell called to then nie, And asked her, what were those two her fone, From whom she earst so fast away did flie; And what was she her selfe so woe begone, And for what cause pursu’d of them attone. To whom she thus; Then wote ye well, that I Doe serue serve a Queene, that not far hence doth wone, A Princesse of great powre and maiestie majestie , Famous through all the world, and honor’d far and nie. 286 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. To [17] Her name Mercilla most men vse use to call; That is a mayden Queene of high renowne, For her great bounty knowen ouer over all, And soueraine soveraine grace, with which her royall crowne She doth support, and strongly beateth downe The malice of her foes, which her enuy envy , And at her happinesse do fret and frowne: Yet she her selfe the more doth magnify, And euen even to her foes her mercies multiply. [18] Mongst many which maligne her happy state, There is a mighty man, which wonnes here by That with most fell despight and deadly hate, Seekes to subuert subvert her Crowne and dignity, And all his powre doth thereunto apply: And her good Knights, of which so braue brave a band Serues Serves her, as any Princesse vnder under sky, He either spoiles, if they against him stand, Or to his part allures, and bribeth vnder under hand. [19] Ne him sufficeth all the wrong and ill, Which he vnto unto her people does each day, But that he seekes by traytrous traines to spill Her person, and her sacred selfe to slay: That ô ye heauens heavens defend, and turne away From her, vnto unto the miscreant him selfe, That neither hath religion nor fay, But makes his God of his vngodly ungodly pelfe, And Idols serues serves ; so let his Idols serue serve the Elfe. [20] To all which cruell tyranny they say, He is prouokt provokt , and stird vp up day and night By his bad wife, that hight Adicia, Who counsels him through confidence of might, Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 287 To breake all bonds of law, and rules of right. For she her selfe professeth mortall foe To Iustice Justice , and against her still doth fight, Working to all, that loue love her, deadly woe, And making all her Knights and people to doe so. [21] Which my liege Lady seeing, thought it best, With that his wife in friendly wise to deale, For stint of strife, and stablishment of rest Both to her selfe, and to her common weale, And all forepast displeasures to repeale. So me in message vnto unto her she sent, To treat with her by way of enterdeale, Of finall peace and faire attonement, Which might concluded be by mutuall consent. [22] All times haue have wont safe passage to afford To messengers, that come for causes iust just : But this proude Dame disdayning all accord, Not onely into bitter termes forth brust, Reuiling Reviling me, and rayling as she lust, But lastly to make proofe of vtmost utmost shame, Me like a dog she out of dores did thrust, Miscalling me by many a bitter name, That neuer never did her ill, ne once deserued deserved blame. [23] And lastly, that no shame might wanting be, When I was gone, soone after me she sent These two false Knights, whom there ye lying see, To be by them dishonoured and shent: But thankt be God, and your good hardiment, They haue have the price of their owne folly payd. So said this Damzell, that hight Samient, And to those knights, for their so noble ayd, Her selfe most gratefull shew’d, & and heaped thanks repayd. 288 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. Kept [24] But they now hauing having throughly heard, and seene Al those great wrongs, the which that mayd complai-(ned. To haue have bene done against her Lady Queene, By that proud dame, which her so much disdained, Were moued moved much thereat, and twixt them fained, With all their force to worke auengement avengement strong Vppon Uppon the Souldan selfe, which it mayntained, And on his Lady, th’author of that wrong, And vppon uppon all those Knights, that did to her belong. [25] But thinking best by counterfet disguise To their deseigne to make the easier way, They did this complot twixt them selues selves deuise devise , First that sir Artegall should him array, Like one of those two Knights, which dead there lay. And then that Damzell, the sad Samient, Should as his purchast prize with him conuay convay Vnto Unto the Souldans court, her to present Vnto Unto his scornefull Lady, that for her had sent. [26] So as they had deuiz’d deviz’d , sir Artegall Him clad in th’armour of a Pagan knight, And taking with him, as his vanquisht thrall, That Damzell, led her to the Souldans right. Where soone as his proud wife of her had sight, Forth of her window as she looking lay, She weened streight, it was her Paynim Knight, Which brought that Damzell, as his purchast pray; And sent to him a Page, that mote direct his way. [27] Who bringing them to their appointed place, Offred his seruice service to disarme the Knight; But he refusing him to let vnlace unlace , For doubt to be discouered discovered by his sight, Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 289 T Kept himselfe still in his straunge armour dight. Soone after whom the Prince arriued arrived there, And sending to the Souldan in despight A bold defyance, did of him requere That Damzell, whom he held as wrongfull prisonere. [28] Wherewith the Souldan all with furie fraught, Swearing, and banning most blasphemously, Commaunded straight his armour to be brought, And mounting straight vpon upon a charret hye, With yron wheeles and hookes arm’d dreadfully, And drawne of cruell steedes, which he had fed With flesh of men, whom through fell tyranny He slaughtred had, and ere they were halfe ded, Their bodies to his beasts for prouender provender did spred. [29] So forth he came all in a cote of plate, Burnisht with bloudie rust, whiles on the greene The Briton Prince him readie did awayte, In glistering armes right goodly well beseene, That shone as bright, as doth the heauen heaven sheene; And by his stirrup Talus did attend, Playing his pages part, as he had beene Before directed by his Lord; to th’end He should his flale to finall execution bend. [30] Thus goe they both together to their geare, With like fierce minds, but meanings different: For the proud Souldan with presumpteous cheare, And countenance sublime and insolent, Sought onely slaughter and auengement avengement : But the braue brave Prince for honour and for right, Gainst tortious powre and lawlesse regiment, In the behalfe of wronged weake did fight: More in his causes truth he trusted 1596.bk5.V.viii.30.9. then: than then than in might. 290 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. Which [31] Like to the Thracian Tyrant, who they say Vnto Unto his horses gaue gave his guests for meat, Till he himselfe was made their greedie pray, And torne in peeces by Alcides great. So thought the Souldan in his follies threat, Either the Prince in peeces to haue have torne With his sharpe wheeles, in his first rages heat, Or vnder under his fierce horses feet haue have borne And trampled downe in dust his thoughts disdained (scorne. [32] But the bold child that perill well espying, If he too rashly to his charet drew, Gaue way vnto unto his horses speedie flying, And their resistlesse rigour did eschew. Yet as he passed by, the Pagan threw A shiuering shivering dart with so impetuous force, That had he not it shun’d with heedfull vew, It had himselfe transfixed, or his horse, Or made them both one masse withouten more remorse. [33] Oft drew the Prince vnto unto his charret nigh, In hope some stroke to fasten on him neare; But he was mounted in his seat so high, And his wingfooted coursers him did beare So fast away, that ere his readie speare He could aduance advance , he farre was gone and past. Yet still he him did follow euerywhere everywhere , And followed was of him likewise full fast; So long as in his steedes the flaming breath did last. [34] Againe the Pagan threw another dart, Of which he had with him abundant store, On euery every side of his embatteld cart, And of all other weapons lesse or more, Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 291 T2 Which warlike vses uses had deuiz’d deviz’d of yore. The wicked shaft guyded through th’ayrie wyde, By some bad spirit, that it to mischiefe bore, Stayd not, till through his curat it did glyde, And made a griesly wound in his enriuen enriven side. [35] Much was he grieued grieved with that haplesse throe, That opened had the welspring of his blood; But much the more that to his hatefull foe He mote not come, to wreake his wrathfull mood. That made him raue rave , like to a Lyon wood, Which being wounded of the huntsmans hand Can not come neare him in the couert covert wood, Where he with boughes hath built his shady stand, And fenst himselfe about with many a flaming brand. [36] Still when he sought t’approch vnto unto him ny, His charret wheeles about him whirled round, And made him backe againe as fast to fly; And eke his steedes like to an hungry hound, That hunting after game hath carrion found, So cruelly did him pursew and chace, That his good steed, all were he much renound For noble courage, and for hardie race, Durst not endure their sight, but fled from place to place. [37] Thus long they trast, and trauerst traverst to and fro, Seeking by euery every way to make some breach, Yet could the Prince not nigh vnto unto him goe, That one sure stroke he might vnto unto him reach, Whereby his strengthes assay he might him teach. At last from his victorious shield he drew The vaile, which did his powrefull light empeach; And comming full before his horses vew, As they vpon upon him prest, it plaine to them did shew. 292 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. Through [38] Like lightening flash, that hath the gazer burned, So did the sight thereof their sense dismay, That backe againe vpon upon themselues themselves they turned, And with their ryder ranne perforce away: Ne could the Souldan them from flying stay, With raynes, or wonted rule, as well he knew. Nought feared they, what he could do, or say, But th’onely feare, that was before their vew; From which like mazed deare, dismayfully they flew. [39] Fast did they fly, as them their feete could beare, High ouer over hilles, and lowly ouer over dales, As they were follow’d of their former feare. In vaine the Pagan bannes, and sweares, and rayles, And backe with both his hands vnto unto him hayles The resty raynes, regarded now no more: He to them calles and speakes, yet nought auayles avayles ; They heare him not, they haue have forgot his lore, But go, which way they list, their guide they haue have forlore. [40] As when the firie-mouthed steeds, which drew The Sunnes bright wayne to Phaetons decay, Soone as they did the monstrous Scorpion vew, With vgly ugly craples crawling in their way, The dreadfull sight did them so sore affray, That their well knowne courses they forwent, And leading th’euer-burning th’ever-burning lampe astray, This lower world nigh all to ashes brent, And left their scorched path yet in the firmament. [41] Such was the furie of these head-strong steeds, Soone as the infants sunlike shield they saw, That all obedience both to words and deeds They quite forgot, and scornd all former law; Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 293 T3 Through woods, and rocks, and mountaines they did (draw The yron charet, and the wheeles did teare, And tost the Paynim, without feare or awe; From side to side they tost him here and there, Crying to them in vaine, that nould his crying heare. [42] Yet still the Prince pursew’d him close behind, Oft making offer him to smite, but found No easie meanes according to his mind. At last they haue have all ouerthrowne overthrowne to ground Quite topside turuey turvey , and the pagan hound Amongst the yron hookes and graples keene, Torne all to rags, and rent with many a wound, That no whole peece of him was to be seene, But scattred all about, and strow’d vpon upon the greene. [43] Like as the cursed sonne of Theseus, That following his chace in dewy morne, To fly his stepdames loues loves outrageous, Of his owne steedes was all to peeces torne, And his faire limbs left in the woods forlorne; That for his sake Diana did lament, And all the wooddy Nymphes did wayle and mourne. So was this Souldan rapt and all to rent, That of his shape appear’d no litle moniment. [44] Onely his shield and armour, which there lay, Though nothing whole, but all to brusd and broken, He vp up did take, and with him brought away, That mote remaine for an eternall token To all, mongst whom this storie should be spoken, How worthily, by heauens heavens high decree, Iustice Justice that day of wrong her selfe had wroken, That all men which that spectacle did see, By like ensample mote for euer ever warned bee. 294 THE V. BOOKE OF THE Cant.VIII. With [45] So on a tree, before the Tyrants dore, He caused them be hung in all mens sight, To be a moniment for euermore evermore . Which when his Ladie from the castles hight Beheld, it much appald her troubled spright: Yet not, as women wont in dolefull fit, She was dismayd, or faynted through affright, But gathered vnto unto her her troubled wit, And gan eftsoones deuize devize to be aueng’d aveng’d for it. [46] Streight downe she ranne, like an enraged cow, That is berobbed of her youngling dere, With knife in hand, and fatally did vow, To wreake her on that mayden messengere, Whom she had causd be kept as prisonere, By Artegall, misween’d for her owne Knight, That brought her backe. And comming present there, She at her ran with all her force and might, All flaming with reuenge revenge and furious despight. [47] Like raging Ino, when with knife in hand She threw her husbands murdred infant out, Or fell Medea, when on Colchicke strand Her brothers bones she scattered all about; Or as that madding mother, mongst the rout Of Bacchus Priests her owne deare flesh did teare. Yet neither Ino, nor Medea stout, Nor all the Mœnades so furious were, As this bold woman, when she saw that Damzell there. [48] But Artegall being thereof aware, Did stay her cruell hand, ere she her raught, And as she did her selfe to strike prepare, Out of her fist the wicked weapon caught: Cant.VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 295 T4 With that like one enfelon’d or distraught, She forth did rome, whether her rage her bore, With franticke passion, and with furie fraught; And breaking forth out at a posterne dore, Vnto Unto the wyld wood ranne, her dolours to deplore. [49] As a mad bytch, when as the franticke fit Her burning tongue with rage inflamed hath, Doth runne at randon, and with furious bit Snatching at euery every thing, doth wreake her wrath On man and beast, that commeth in her path. There they doe say, that she transformed was Into a Tygre, and that Tygres scath In crueltie and outrage she did pas, To proue prove her surname true, that she imposed has. [50] Then Artegall himselfe dicouering dicovering plaine, Did issue forth gainst all that warlike rout Of knights and armed men, which did maintaine That Ladies part, and to the Souldan lout: All which he did assault with courage stout, All were they nigh an hundred knights of name, And like wyld Goates them chaced all about, Flying from place to place with cowheard shame, So that with finall force them all he ouercame overcame . [51] Then caused he the gates be opened wyde, And there the Prince, as victour of that day, With tryumph entertayn’d and glorifyde, Presenting him with all the rich array, And roiall pompe, which there long hidden lay, Purchast through lawlesse powre and tortious wrong Of that proud Souldan, whom he earst did slay. So both for rest there hauing having stayd not long, Marcht with that mayd, fit matter for another song.