384 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. Yet Cant. III.

Calidore brings Priscilla home, Pursues the Blatant Beast: Saues Saves Serena whilest Calepine By Turpine is opprest.

[1] TRue True is, that whilome that good Poet sayd, The gentle minde by gentle deeds is knowne. For a man by nothing is so well bewrayd, As by his manners, in which plaine is showne Of what degree and what race he is growne. For seldome seene, a trotting Stalion get An ambling Colt, that is his proper owne: So seldome seene, that one in basenesse set Doth noble courage shew, with curteous manners met. [2] But euermore evermore contrary hath bene tryde, That gentle bloud will gentle manners breed; As well may be in Calidore descryde, By late ensample of that courteous deed, Done to that wounded Knight in his great need, Whom on his backe he bore, till he him brought Vnto Unto the Castle where they had decreed. There of the Knight, the which that Castle ought, To make abode that night he greatly was besought. [3] He was to weete a man of full ripe yeares, That in his youth had beene of mickle might, And borne great sway in armes amongst his peares: But now weake age had dimd his candle light. Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 385 Bb2 Yet was he courteous still to euery every wight, And loued loved all that did to armes incline. And was the father of that wounded Knight, Whom Calidore thus carried on his chine, And Aldus was his name, and his sonnes Aladine. [4] Who when he saw his sonne so ill bedight, With bleeding wounds, brought home vpon upon a Beare By a faire Lady, and a straunger Knight, Was inly touched with compassion deare, And deare affection of so dolefull dreare, That he these words burst forth; Ah sory boy, Is this the hope that to my hoary heare Thou brings? aie me, is this the timely ioy joy , Which I expected long, now turnd to sad annoy? [5] Such is the weakenesse of all mortall hope; So tickle is the state of earthly things, That ere they come vnto unto their aymed scope, They fall too short of our fraile reckonings, And bring vs us bale and bitter sorrowings, In stead of comfort, which we should embrace: This is the state of Keasars and of Kings. Let none therefore, that is in meaner place, Too greatly grieue grieve at any his vnlucky unlucky case. [6] So well and wisely did that good old Knight Temper his griefe, and turned it to cheare, To cheare his guests, whom he had stayd that night, And make their welcome to them well appeare: That to Sir Calidore was easie geare; But that faire Lady would be cheard for nought, But sigh’t and sorrow’d for her louer lover deare, And inly did afflict her pensive pensive thought, With thinking to what case her name should now be (brought. 386 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. And [7] For she was daughter to a noble Lord, Which dwelt thereby, who sought her to affy To a great pere; but she did disaccord, Ne could her liking to his loue love apply, But lou’d lov’d this fresh young Knight, who dwelt her ny, The lusty Aladine, though meaner borne, And of lesse liuelood livelood and hability, Yet full of valour, the which did adorne His meanesse much, & and make her th’others riches scorne. [8] So hauing having both found fit occasion, They met together in that luckelesse glade; Where that proud Knight in his presumption The gentle Aladine did earst inuade invade , Being vnarm’d unarm’d , and set in secret shade. Whereof she now bethinking, gan t’aduize t’advize , How great a hazard she at earst had made Of her good fame, and further gan deuize devize , How she the blame might salue salve with coloured disguize. [9] But Calidore with all good courtesie Fain’d her to frolicke, and to put away The pensiue pensive fit of her melancholie; And that old Knight by all meanes did assay, To make them both as merry as he may. So they the euening evening past, till time of rest, When Calidore in seemly good array Vnto Unto his bowre was brought, and there vndrest undrest , Did sleepe all night through weary trauell travell of his quest. [10] But faire Priscilla (so that Lady hight) Would to no bed, nor take no kindely sleepe, But by her wounded loue love did watch all night, And all the night for bitter anguish weepe, Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 387 Bb3 And with her teares his wounds did wash and steepe. So well she washt them, and so well she watcht him, That of the deadly swound, in which full deepe He drenched was, she at the length dispacht him, And droue drove away the stound, which mortally attacht him. [11] The morrow next, when day gan to vplooke uplooke , He also gan vplooke uplooke with drery eye, Like one that out of deadly dreame awooke: Where when he saw his faire Priscilla by, He deepely sigh’d, and groaned inwardly, To thinke of this ill state, in which she stood, To which she for his sake had weetingly Now brought her selfe, and blam’d her noble blood: For first, next after life, he tendered her good. [12] Which she perceiuing perceiving , did with plenteous teares His care more then her owne compassionate, Forgetfull of her owne, to minde his feares: So both conspiring, gan to intimate Each others griefe with zeale affectionate, And twixt them twaine with equall care to cast, How to saue save hole whole her hazarded estate; For which the onely helpe now left them last Seem’d to be Calidore: all other helpes were past. [13] Him they did deeme, as sure to them he seemed, A courteous Knight, and full of faithfull trust: Therefore to him their cause they best esteemed Whole to commit, and to his dealing iust just . Earely, so soone as Titans beames forth brust Through the thicke clouds, in which they steeped lay All night in darkenesse, duld with yron rust, Calidore rising vp up as fresh as day, Gan freshly him addresse vnto unto his former way. 388 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. There [14] But first him seemed fit, that wounded Knight To visite, after this nights perillous passe, And to salute him, if he were in plight, And eke that Lady his faire louely lovely lasse. There he him found much better then he was, And moued moved speach to him of things of course, The anguish of his paine to ouerpasse overpasse : Mongst which he namely did to him discourse, Of former daies mishap, his sorrowes wicked sourse. [15] Of which occasion Aldine taking hold, Gan breake to him the fortunes of his loue love , And all his disaduentures disadventures to vnfold unfold ; That Calidore it dearly deepe did moue move . In th’end his kyndly courtesie to proue prove , He him by all the bands of loue love besought, And as it mote a faithfull friend behoue behove , To safeconduct his loue love , and not for ought To leaue leave , till to her fathers house he had her brought. [16] Sir Calidore his faith thereto did plight, It to performe: so after little stay, That she her selfe had to the iourney journey dight, He passed forth with her in faire array, Fearelesse, who ought did thinke, or ought did say, Sith his own thought he knew most cleare from wite. So as they past together on their way, He can deuize devize this counter-cast of slight, To giue give faire colour to that Ladies cause in sight. [17] Streight to the carkasse of that Knight he went, The cause of all this euill evill , who was slaine The day before by iust just auengement avengement Of noble Tristram, where it did remaine: Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 389 Bb4 There he the necke thereof did cut in twaine, And tooke with him the head, the signe of shame. So forth he passed thorough that daies paine, Till to that Ladies fathers house he came; Most pensiue pensive man, through feare, what of his childe be-(came. [18] There he arriuing arriving boldly, did present The fearefull Lady to her father deare, Most perfect pure, and guiltlesse innocent Of blame, as he did on his Knighthood sweare, Since first he saw her, and did free from feare Of a discourteous Knight, who her had reft, And by outragious force away did beare: Witnesse thereof he shew’d his head there left, And wretched life forlorne for vengement of his theft. [19] Most ioyfull joyfull man her sire was her to see, And heare th’aduenture th’adventure of her late mischaunce; And thousand thankes to Calidore for fee Of his large paines in her deliueraunce deliveraunce Did yeeld; Ne lesse the Lady did aduaunce advaunce . Thus hauing having her restored trustily, As he had vow’d, some small continuaunce He there did make, and then most carefully Vnto Unto his first exploite he did him selfe apply. [20] So as he was pursuing of his quest He chaunst to come whereas a iolly jolly Knight, In couert covert shade him selfe did safely rest, To solace with his Lady in delight: His warlike armes he had from him vndight undight : For that him selfe he thought from daunger free, And far from enuious envious eyes that mote him spight. And eke the Lady was full faire to see, And courteous withall, becomming her degree. 390 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. Crying [21] To whom Sir Calidore approaching nye, Ere they were well aware of liuing living wight, Them much abasht, but more him selfe thereby, That he so rudely did vppon uppon them light, And troubled had their quiet loues loves delight. Yet since it was his fortune, not his fault, Him selfe thereof he labour’d to acquite, And pardon crau’d crav’d for his so rash default, That he gainst courtesie so fowly did default. [22] With which his gentle words and goodly wit He soone allayd that Knights conceiu’d conceiv’d displeasure, That he besought him downe by him to sit, That they mote treat of things abrode at leasure; And of aduentures adventures , which had in his measure Of so long waies to him befallen late. So downe he sate, and with delightfull pleasure His long aduentures adventures gan to him relate, Which he endured had through daungerous debate. [23] Of which whilest they discoursed both together, The faire Serena Criſpina Crispina (so his Lady hight) Allur’d with myldnesse of the gentle wether, And pleasaunce of the place, the which was dight With diuers divers flowres distinct with rare delight; Wandred about the fields, as liking led Her wauering wavering lust after her wandring sight, To make a garland to adorne her hed, Without suspect of ill or daungers hidden dred. [24] All sodainely out of the forrest nere The Blatant Beaſ⁀t Blatant Beast Blatant Beaſ⁀t Blatant Beast forth rushing vnaware unaware , Caught her thus loosely wandring here and there, And in his wide great mouth away her bare. Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 391 Crying aloud in vaine, to shew her sad misfare Vnto Unto the Knights, and calling oft for ayde, Who with the horrour of her haplesse care Hastily ſ⁀tarting vp, starting up, ſ⁀tarting, vp starting, vp like men dismayde, Ran after fast to reskue the distressed mayde. [25] The Beast with their pursuit incited more, Into the wood was bearing her apace For to haue have spoyled her, when Calidore Who was more light of foote and swift in chace, Him ouertooke overtooke in middest of his race: And fiercely charging him with all his might, Forst to forgoe his pray there in the place, And to betake him selfe to fearefull flight; For he durst not abide with Calidore to fight. [26] Who nathelesse, when he the Lady saw There left on ground, though in full euill evill plight, Yet knowing that her Knight now neare did draw, Staide not to succour her in that affright, But follow’d fast the Monster in his flight: Through woods and hils he follow’d him so fast, That he nould let him breath nor gather spright, But forst him gape and gaspe, with dread aghast, As if his lungs and lites were nigh a sunder brast. [27] And now by this Sir Calepine (so hight) Came to the place, where he his Lady found In dolorous dismay and deadly plight, All in gore bloud there tumbled on the ground, Hauing Having both sides through grypt with griesly wound. His weapons soone from him he threw away, And stouping downe to her in drery swound, Vprear’d Uprear’d her from the ground, whereon ground whereon she lay, And in his tender armes her forced vp up to stay. 392 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. To [28] So well he did his busie paines apply, That the faint sprite he did reuoke revoke againe, To her fraile mansion of mortality. Then vp up he tooke her twixt his armes twaine, And setting on his steede, her did sustaine With carefull hands soft footing her beside, Till to some place of rest they mote attaine, Where she in safe assuraunce mote abide, Till she recured were of those her woundes wide. [29] Now when as Phœbus with his fiery waine Vnto Unto his Inne began to draw apace; Tho wexing weary of that toylesome paine, In trauelling travelling on foote so long a space, Not wont on foote with heauy heavy armes to trace, Downe in a dale forby a riuers rivers syde, He chaunst to spie a faire and stately place, To which he meant his weary steps to guyde, In hope there for his loue love some succour to provyde prouyde . [30] But comming to the riuers rivers side, he found That hardly passable on foote it was: Therefore there still he stood as in a stound, Ne wist which way he through the foord mote pas. Thus whilest he was in this distressed case, Deuising Devising what to doe, he nigh espyde An armed Knight approaching to the place, With a faire Lady lincked by his syde, The which themselues themselves prepard through the foord to ride [31] Whom Calepine saluting (as became) Besought of courtesie in that his neede, For safe conducting of his sickely Dame, Through that same perillous foord with better heede, Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 393 To take him vp up behinde vpon upon his steed, To whom that other did this taunt returne. Perdy thou peasant Knight, mightst rightly reed Me then to be full base and euill evill borne, If I would beare behinde a burden of such scorne. [32] But as thou hast thy steed forlorne with shame, So fare on foote till thou another gayne, And let thy Lady likewise doe the same. Or beare her on thy backe with pleasing payne, And proue prove thy manhood on the billowes vayne. With which rude speach his Lady much displeased, Did him reproue reprove , yet could him not restrayne, And would on her owne Palfrey him haue have eased, For pitty of his Dame, whom she saw so diseased. [33] Sir Calepine her thanckt, yet inly wroth Against her Knight, her gentlenesse refused, And carelesly into the riuer river goth, As in despight to be so fowle abused Of a rude churle, whom often he accused Of fowle discourtesie, vnfit unfit for Knight And strongly wading through the waues waves vnused unused , With speare in th’one hand, stayd him selfe vpright upright , With th’other staide his Lady vp up with steddy might. [34] And all the while, that same discourteous Knight, Stood on the further bancke beholding him, At whose calamity, for more despight He laught, and mockt to see him like to swim. But when as Calepine came to the brim, And saw his carriage past that perill well, Looking at that same Carle with count’nance grim, His heart with vengeaunce inwardly did swell, And forth at last did breake in speaches sharpe and fell. 394 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. And [35] Vnknightly Unknightly Knight, the blemish of that name, And blot of all that armes vppon uppon them take, Which That is the badge of honour and of fame, Loe I defie thee, and here challenge make, That thou for euer ever doe those armes forſake; forsake; forſake, forsake, And be for euer ever held a recreant Knight, Vnlesse Unlesse thou dare for thy deare Ladies sake, And for thine owne defence on foote alight, To iustifie justifie thy fault gainst me in equall fight. [36] The dastard, that did heare him selfe defyde, Seem’d not to weigh his threatfull words at all, But laught them out, as if his greater pryde Did scorne the challenge of so base a thrall: Or had no courage, or else had no gall. So much the more was Calepine offended, That him to no reuenge revenge he forth could call, But both his challenge and him selfe contemned, Ne cared as a coward so to be condemned. [37] But he nought weighing what he sayd or did, Turned his steede about another way, And with his Lady to the Castle rid, Where was his won; ne did the other stay, But after went directly as he may, For his sicke charge some harbour there to seeke; Where he arriuing arriving with the fall of day, Drew to the gate, and there with prayers meeke, And myld entreaty lodging did for her for her did beseeke. [38] But the rude Porter that no manners had, Did shut the gate against him in his face, And entraunce boldly vnto unto him forbad. Nathelesse the Knight now in so needy case, Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 395 Gan him entreat euen even with submission base, And humbly praid to let them in that night: Who to him aunswer’d, that there was no place Of lodging fit for any errant Knight, Vnlesse Unlesse that with his Lord he formerly did fight. [39] Full loth am I (quoth he) as now at earst, When day is spent, and rest vs us needeth most, And that this Lady, both whose sides are pearst With wounds, is ready to forgo the ghost: Ne would I gladly combate with mine host, That should to me such curtesie afford, Vnlesse Unlesse that I were thereunto enforst. But yet aread to me, how hight thy Lord, That doth thus strongly ward the Castle of the ford. [40] His name (quoth he) if that thou list to learne, Is hight Sir Turpine, one of mickle might, And manhood rare, but terrible and stearne In all assaies to euery every errant Knight, Because of one, that wrought him fowle despight. Ill seemes (sayd he) if he so valiaunt be, That he should be so sterne to stranger wight: For seldome yet did liuing living creature see, That curtesie and manhood euer ever disagree. [41] But go thy waies to him, and fro me say, That here is at his gate an errant Knight, That house-rome craues craves , yet would be loth t’assay The proofe of battell, now in doubtfull night, Or curtesie with rudenesse to requite: Yet if he needes will fight, craue crave leaue leave till morne, And tell with all, the lamentable plight, In which this Lady languisheth forlorne, That pitty craues craves , as he of woman was yborne. 396 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. Vprear’d Uprear’d [42] The groome went streight way in, and to his Lord Declar’d the message, which that Knight did moue move ; Who sitting with his Lady then at bord, Not onely did not his demaund reproue reprove , But both himselfe reuil’d revil’d , and eke his loue love ; Albe his Lady, that Blandina hight, Him of vngentle ungentle vsage usage did approue approve And earnestly entreated that they might Finde fauour favour to be lodged there for that same night. [43] Yet would he not perswaded be for ought, Ne from his currish will awhit reclame. Which answer when the groome returning, brought To Calepine, his heart did inly flame With wrathfull fury for so foule a shame, That he could not thereof auenged avenged bee: But most for pitty of his dearest Dame, Whom now in deadly daunger he did see; Yet had no meanes to comfort, nor procure her glee. [44] But all in vaine; for why, no remedy He saw, the present mischiefe to redresse, But th’vtmost th’utmost end perforce for to aby, Which that nights fortune would for him addresse. So downe he tooke his Lady in distresse, And layd her vnderneath underneath a bush to sleepe, Couer’d Cover’d with cold, and wrapt in wretchednesse, Whiles he him selfe all night did nought but weepe, And wary watch about her for her safegard keepe. [45] The morrow next, so soone as ioyous joyous day Did shew it selfe in sunny beames bedight, Serena full of dolorous dismay, Twixt darkenesse dread, and hope of liuing living light, Cant. III. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 397 Vprear’d Uprear’d her head to see that chearefull sight. Then Calepine, how euer ever inly wroth, And greedy to auenge avenge that vile despight, Yet for the feeble Ladies sake, full loth To make there lenger stay, forth on his iourney journey goth. [46] He goth on foote all armed by her side, Vpstaying Upstaying still her selfe vppon uppon her steede, Being vnable unable else alone to ride; So sore her sides, so much her wounds did bleede: Till that at length, in his extreamest neede, He chaunst far off an armed Knight to spy, Pursuing him apace with greedy speede, Whom well he wist to be some enemy, That meant to make aduantage advantage of his misery. [47] Wherefore he stayd, till that he nearer drew, To weet what issue would thereof betyde, Tho whenas he approched nigh in vew, By certaine signes he plainely him descryde, To be the man, that with such scornefull pryde Had him abusde, and shamed yesterday; Therefore misdoubting, least he should misguyde His former malice to some new assay, He cast to keepe him selfe so safely as he may. [48] By this the other came in place likewise, And couching close his speare and all his powre, As bent to some malicious enterprise, He bad him stand, t’abide the bitter stoure Of his sore vengeaunce, or to make auoure avoure Of the lewd words and deedes, which he had done: With that ran at him, as he would deuoure devoure His life attonce; who nought could do, but shun The perill of his pride, or else be ouerrun overrun . 398 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. III. Canto. [49] Yet he him still pursew’d from place to place, Will full intent him cruelly to kill, And like a wilde goate round about did chace, Flying the fury of his bloudy will. But his best succour and refuge was still Behinde his Ladies backe, who to him cryde, And called oft with prayers loud and shrill, As euer ever he to Lady was affyde, To spare her Knight, and rest with reason pacifyde. [50] But he the more thereby enraged was, And with more eager felnesse him pursew’d: So that at length, after long weary chace, Hauing Having by chaunce a close aduantage advantage vew’d, He ouer over raught him, hauing having long eschew’d His violence in vaine, and with his spere Strooke through his shoulder, that the blood ensew’d In great aboundance, as a well it were, That forth out of an hill fresh gushing did appere. [51] Yet ceast he not for all that cruell wound, But chaste him still, for all his Ladies cry, Not satisfyde till on the fatall ground He saw his life powrd forth dispiteously: The which was certes in great ieopardy jeopardy , Had not a wondrous chaunce his reskue wrought, And saued saved from his cruell villany. Such chaunces oft exceed all humaine thought: That in another Canto shall to end be brought.