Cant. X.

Calidore sees the Graces daunce, To Colins melody: The whiles his Pastorell is led, Into captiuity captivity .

[1] WHo Who now does follow the foule Blatant Beast, Whilest Calidore does follow that faire Mayd, Vnmyndfull Unmyndfull of his vow and high beheast, Which by the Faery Queene was on him layd, That he should neuer never leaue leave , nor be delayd From chacing him, till he had it attchieued attchieved ? But now entrapt of loue love , which him betrayd, He mindeth more, how he may be relieued relieved With grace from her, whose loue love his heart hath sore en-(grieuedgrieved. 480 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. To [2] That from henceforth he meanes no more to sew His former quest, so full of toile and paine; Another quest, another game in vew He hath, the guerdon of his loue love to gaine: With whom he myndes for euer ever to remaine, And set his rest amongst the rusticke sort, Rather then hunt still after shadowes vaine Of courtly fauour favour , fed with light report, Of euery every blaste, and sayling alwaies on the port. [3] Ne certes mote he greatly blamed be, From so high step to stoupe vnto unto so low. For who had tasted once (as oft did he) The happy peace, which there doth ouerflow overflow , And prou’d prov’d the perfect pleasures, which doe grow Amongst poore hyndes, in hils, in woods, in dales, Would neuer never more delight in painted show Of such false blisse, as there is set for stales, T’entrap vnwary unwary fooles in their eternall bales. [4] For what hath all that goodly glorious gaze Like to one sight, which Calidore did vew? The glaunce whereof their dimmed eies would daze, That neuer never more they should endure the shew Of that sunne-shine, that makes them looke askew. Ne ought in all that world of beauties rare, ( Saue Save onely Glorianaes heauenly heavenly hew To which what can compare?) compare)? can it compare; The which as commeth now, by course I will declare. [5] One day as he did raunge the fields abroad, Whilest his faire Pastorella was elsewhere, He chaunst to come, far from all peoples troad, Vnto Unto a place, whose pleasaunce did appere Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 481 Hh 2 To passe all others, on the earth which were: For all that euer ever was by natures skill Deuized Devized to worke delight, was gathered there, And there by her were poured forth at fill, As if this to adorne, she all the rest did pill. [6] It was an hill plaste in an open plaine, That round about was bordered with a wood Of matchlesse hight, that seem’d th’earth to disdaine, In which all trees of honour stately stood, And did all winter as in sommer bud, Spredding pauilions pavilions for the birds to bowre, Which in their lower braunches sung aloud; And in their tops the soring hauke did towre, Sitting like King of fowles in maiesty majesty and powre. [7] And at the foote thereof, a gentle flud His siluer silver waues waves did softly tumble downe, Vnmard Unmard with ragged mosse or filthy mud; Ne mote wylde beastes, ne mote the ruder clowne Thereto approch, ne filth mote therein drowne: But Nymphes and Faeries by the bancks did sit, In the woods shade, which did the waters crowne, Keeping all noysome things away from it, And to the waters fall tuning their accents fit. [8] And on the top thereof a spacious plaine Did spred it selfe, to serue serve to all delight, Either to daunce, when they to daunce would faine, Or else to course about their bases light; Ne ought there wanted, which for pleasure might Desired be, or thence to banish bale: So pleasauntly the hill with equall hight, Did seeme to ouerlooke overlooke the lowly vale; Therefore it rightly cleeped was mount Acidale. 482 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. And [9] They say that Venus, when she did dispose Her selfe to pleasaunce, vsed used to resort Vnto Unto this place, and therein to repose And rest her selfe, as in a gladsome port, Or with the Graces there to play and sport; That euen even her owne Cytheron, though in it She vsed used most to keepe her royall court, And in her soueraine soveraine Maiesty Majesty to sit, She in regard hereof refusde and thought vnfit unfit . [10] Vnto Unto this place when as the Elfin Knight Approcht, him seemed that the merry sound Of a shrill pipe he playing heard on hight, And many feete fast thumping th’hollow ground, That through the woods their Eccho did rebound. He nigher drew, to weete what mote it be; There he a troupe of Ladies dauncing found Full merrily, and making gladfull glee, And in the midst a Shepheard piping he did see. [11] He durst not enter into th’open greene, For dread of them vnawares unawares to be descryde, For breaking of their daunce, if he were seene; But in the couert of the wood did byde, Beholding all, yet of them vnespyde unespyde . There he did see, that pleased much his sight, That euen even he him selfe his eyes enuyde envyde , An hundred naked maidens lilly white, All raunged in a ring, and dauncing in delight. [12] All they without were raunged in a ring, And daunced round; but in the midst of them Three other Ladies did both daunce and sing, The whilest the rest them round about did hemme, Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 483 Hh 3 And like a girlond did in compasse stemme: And in the middest of those same three, was placed Another Damzell, as a precious gemme, Amidst a ring most richly well enchaced, That with her goodly presence all the rest much graced. [13] Looke how the Crowne, which Ariadne wore Vpon Upon her yuory yvory forehead that same day That Theseus her vnto unto his bridale bore, When the bold Centaures made that bloudy fray fray. With the fierce Lapithes, which did them dismay; Being now placed in the firmament, Through the bright heauen heaven doth her beams display, And is vnto unto the starres an ornament, Which round about her moue move in order excellent. [14] Such was the beauty of this goodly band, Whose sundry parts were here too long to tell: But she that in the midst of them did stand, Seem’d all the rest in beauty to excell, Crownd with a rosie girlond, that right well Did her beseeme. And euer ever , as the crew About her daunst, sweet flowres, that far did smell, And fragrant odours they vppon uppon her threw; But most of all, those three did her with gifts endew. [15] Those were the Graces, daughters of delight, Handmaides of Venus, which are wont to haunt Vppon Uppon this hill, and daunce there day and night: Those three to men all gifts of grace do graunt, And all, that Venus in her selfe doth vaunt, Is borrowed of them. But that faire one, That in the midst was placed parauaunt paravaunt , Was she to whom that shepheard pypt alone, That made him pipe so merrily, as neuer never none. 484 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Which [16] She was to weete that iolly jolly Shepheards lasse, Which piped there vnto unto that merry rout: That iolly jolly shepheard, which there piped, was Poore Colin Clout (who knowes not Colin Clout?) Clout)? He pypt apace, whilest they him daunst about. Pype iolly jolly shepheard, pype thou now apace Vnto Unto thy loue love , that made thee low to lout; Thy loue love is present there with thee in place, Thy loue love is there aduaunst advaunst to be another Grace. [17] Much wondred Calidore at this straunge sight, Whose like before his eye had neuer never seene, And standing long astonished in spright, And rapt with pleasaunce, wist not what to weene; Whether it were the traine of beauties Queene, Or Nymphes, or Faeries, or enchaunted show, With which his eyes mote haue have deluded beene. Therefore resoluing resolving , what it was, to know, Out of the wood he rose, and toward them did go. [18] But soone as he appeared to their vew, They vanisht all away out of his sight, And cleane were gone, which way he neuer never knew; All saue save the shepheard, who for fell despight Of that displeasure, broke his bag-pipe quight, And made great mone for that vnhappy unhappy turne. But Calidore, though no lesse sory wight, For that mishap, yet seeing him to mourne, Drew neare, that he the truth of all by him mote learne. [19] And first him greeting, thus vnto unto him spake, Haile iolly jolly shepheard, which thy ioyous joyous dayes Here leadest in this goodly merry make, Frequented of these gentle Nymphes alwayes, Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 485 Hh 4 Which to thee flocke, to heare thy louely lovely layes; Tell me, what mote these dainty Damzels be, Which here with thee doe make their pleasant playes? Right happy thou, that mayst them freely see: But why when I them saw, fled they away from me? [20] Not I so happy answerd then that swaine, As thou vnhappy unhappy , which them thence didst chace, Whom by no meanes thou canst recall againe For being gone, none can them bring in place, But whom they of them selues selves list so to grace. Right sory I, (saide then Sir Calidore,) That my ill fortune did them hence displace. But since things passed none may now restore, Tell me, what were they all, whose lacke thee grieues grieves so (sore. [21] Tho gan that shepheard thus for to dilate; Then wote thou shepheard, whatsoeuer whatsoever thou bee, That all those Ladies, which thou sawest late, Are Venus Damzels, all within her fee, But differing in honour and degree: They all are Graces, which on her depend, Besides a thousand more, which ready bee Her to adorne, when so she forth doth wend: But those three in the midst, doe chiefe on her attend. [22] They are the daughters of sky-ruling Ioue Jove , By him begot of faire Eurynome, The Oceans daughter, in this pleasant groue grove , As he this way comming from feastfull glee, Of Thetis wedding with AEcidee, In sommers shade himselfe here rested weary. The first of them hight mylde Euphrosyne, Next faire Aglaia, last Thalia merry: Sweete Goddesses all three which me in mirth do cherry. 486 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Ne [23] These three on men all gracious gifts bestow, Which decke to body or adorne the mynde, To make them louely lovely or well fauoured favoured show, As comely carriage, entertainement kynde, Sweete semblaunt, friendly offices that bynde, And all the complements of curtesie: They teach vs us , how to each degree and kynde We should our selues selves demeane, to low, to hie; To friends, to foes, which skill men call Ciulity Civlity . [24] Therefore they alwaies smoothly seeme to smile, That we likewise should mylde and gentle be, And also naked are, that without guile Or false dissemblaunce all them plaine may see, Simple and true from couert malice free: And eeke them selues selves so in their daunce they bore, That two of them still forward seem’d to bee, But one still towards shew’d her selfe afore; That good should from vs us goe, then come in greater (store. [25] Such were those Goddesses, which ye did see; But that fourth Mayd, which there amidst thẽ them traced, Who can aread, what creature mote she bee, Whether a creature, or a goddesse graced With heauenly heavenly gifts from heuen heven first enraced? But what so sure she was, she worthy was, For be the fourth with those three other placed: Yet was she certes but a countrey counrtey lasse, Yet she all other countrey lasses farre did passe. [26] So farre as doth the daughter of the day, All other lesser lights in light excell, So farre doth she in beautyfull array, Aboue Above all other lasses beare the bell, Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 487 Ne lesse in vertue that beseemes her well, Doth she exceede the rest of all her race, For which the Graces that here wont to dwell, Haue Have for more honor brought her to this place, And graced her so much to be another Grace. [27] Another Grace she well deserues deserves to be, In whom so many Graces gathered are, Excelling much the meane of her degree; Diuine Divine resemblaunce, beauty soueraine soveraine rare, Firme Chastity, that spight ne blemish dare; All which she with such courtesie doth grace, That all her peres cannot with her compare, But quite are dimmed, when she is in place. She made me often pipe and now to pipe apace. [28] Sunne of the world, great glory of the sky, That all the earth doest lighten with thy rayes, Great Gloriana, greatest Maiesty Majesty , Pardon thy shepheard, mongst so many layes, As he hath sung of thee in all his dayes, To make one minime of thy poore handmayd, And vnderneath underneath thy feete to place her prayse, That when thy glory shall be farre displayd To future age of her this mention may be made. [29] When thus that shepherd ended had his speach, Sayd Calidore; Now sure it yrketh mee, That to thy blisse I made this luckelesse breach, As now the author of thy bale to be, Thus to bereaue bereave thy loues loves deare sight from thee: But gentle Shepheard pardon thou my shame, Who rashly sought that, which I mote not see. Thus did the courteous Knight excuse his blame, And to recomfort him, all comely meanes did frame. 488 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Whether [30] In such discourses they together spent Long time, as fit occasion forth them led; With which the Knight him selfe did much content, And with delight his greedy fancy fed, Both of his words, which he with reason red; And also of the place, whose pleasures rare With such regard his sences rauished ravished , That thence, he had no will away to fare, But wisht, that with that shepheard he mote dwelling (share. [31] But that enuenimd envenimd sting, the which of yore, His poysnous point deepe fixed in his hart Had left, now gan afresh to rancle sore, And to renue the rigour of his smart: Whch to recure, no skill of Leaches art Mote him auaile availe , but to returne againe To his wounds worker, that with louely lovely dart Dinting his brest, had bred his restlesse paine, Like as the wounded Whale to shore flies frõ from the maine. [32] So taking leaue leave of that same gentle swaine, He backe returned to his rusticke wonne, Where his faire Pastorella did remaine: To whome in sort, as he at first begonne, He daily did apply him selfe to donne All dewfull seruice service voide of thoughts impare Ne any paines ne perill did he shonne, By which he might her to his loue love allure, And liking in her yet vntamed untamed heart procure. [33] And euermore evermore the shepheard Coridon, What euer ever thing he did her to aggrate, Did striue strive to match with strong contention, And all his paines did closely emulate; Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 489 Whether it were to caroll, as they sate Keeping their sheepe, or games to exercize, Or to present her with their labours late; Through which if any grace chaunst to arize To him, the Shepheard streight with iealousie jealousie did frize. [34] One day as they all three together went To the greene wood, to gather strawberies, There chaunst to them a dangerous accident; A Tigre forth out of the wood did rise, That with fell clawes full of fierce gourmandize, And greedy mouth, wide gaping like hell gate, Did runne at Pastorell, her to surprize: Whom she beholding, now all desolate Gan cry to them aloud, to helpe ere all too late. [35] Which Coridon first hearing, ran in hast To reskue her, but when he saw the feend, Through cowherd feare he fled away as fast, Ne durst abide the daunger of the end; His life he steemed dearer then his frend. But Calidore soone comming to her ayde, When he the beast saw ready now to rend His loues loves deare spoile, in which his heart was prayde, He ran at him enraged in stead of being frayde. [36] He had no weapon, but his shepheards hooke, To serue serve the vengeaunce of his wrathfull will; With which so sternely he the monster strooke, That to the ground astonished he fell; Whence ere he could recou’r recov’r , he did him quell, And hewing off his head, it presented Before the feete of the faire Pastorell; Who scarcely yet from former feare exempted, A thousand times him thankt, that had her death preuen-(ted. preven-(ted. 490 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. X. Faire [37] From that day forth she gan him to affect, And daily more her fauour favour to augment; But Coridon for cowherdize reiect reject , Fit to keepe sheepe, vnfit unfit for loues loves content: The gentle heart scornes base disparagement. Yet Calidore did not despise him quight, But vsde usde him friendly for further intent, That by his fellowship, he colour might Both his estate, and loue love from skill of any wight. [38] So well he woo’d wood her, and so well he wrought her, With humble seruice service , and with daily sute, That at the last vnto unto his will he brought her; Which he so wisely well did prosecute, That of his loue love he reapt the timely frute, And ioyed joyed long in close felicity: Till fortune fraught with malice, blinde, and brute, That enuies envies louers lovers long prosperity, Blew vp up a bitter storme of foule aduersity adversity . [39] It fortuned one day, when Calidore Was hunting in the woods (as was his trade) A lawlesse people, Brigants hight of yore, That neuer never vsde usde to liue live by plough nor spade, But fed on spoile and booty, which they made Vpon Upon their neighbours, which did nigh them border, The dwelling of these shepheards did inuade invade , And spoyld their houses, and them selues selves did murder; And droue drove away their flocks, with other much disorder. [40] Amongst the rest, the which they then did pray, They spoyld old Melibee of all he had, And all his people captiue captive led away; Mongst which this lucklesse mayd away was lad, Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 491 Faire Pastorella, sorrowfull and sad, Most sorrowfull, most sad, that euer ever sight, Now made the spoile of theeues theeves and Brigants bad, Which was the conquest of the gentlest Knight, That euer ever liu’d liv’d , and th’onely glory of his might. [41] With them also was taken Coridon, And carried captiue captive by those theeues theeves away; Who in the couert of the night, that none Mote them descry, nor reskue from their pray, Vnto Unto their dwelling did them close conuay convay . Their dwelling in a little Island was, Couered Covered with shrubby woods, in which no way Appeard for people in nor out to pas, Nor any footing fynde for ouergrowen overgrowen gras. [42] For vnderneath underneath the ground their way was made, Through hollow caues caves , that no man mote discouer discover For the thicke shrubs, which did them alwaies shade From view of liuing living wight, and couered covered ouer over : But darkenesse dred and daily night did houer hover Through all the inner parts, wherein they dwelt, Ne lightned was with window, nor with louer lover , But with continuall candlelight, which delt A doubtfull sense of things, not so well seene, as felt. [43] Hither those Brigants brought their present pray, And kept them with continuall watch and ward, Meaning so soone, as they conuenient convenient may, For salues salves to sell them, for no small reward, To merchants, which them kept in bondage hard, Or sold againe. Now when faire Pastorell Into this place was brought, and kept with gard Of griesly theeues theeves , she thought her self in hell, Where with such damned fiends she should in darknesse (dwell. 492 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. XI. Detaynd, [44] But for to tell the dolefull dreriment, And pittifull complaints, which there she made, Where day and night she nought did but lament Her wretched life, shut vp up in deadly shade, And waste her goodly beauty, which did fade Like to a flowre, that feeles no heate of sunne, Which may her feeble leaues leaves with comfort glade. But what befell her in that theeuish theevish wonne, Will in an other Canto better be begonne.