Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 399 Cc Cant. IIII.

Calepine by a saluage salvage man from Turpine reskewed is, And whylest an Infant from a Beare he saues saves , his loue love doth misse.

[1] LIke Like as a ship with dreadfull storme long tost, Hauing Having spent all her mastes and her ground-hold, Now farre from harbour likely to be lost, At last some fisher barke doth neare behold, That giueth giveth comfort to her courage cold. Such was the state of this most courteous knight Being oppressed by that faytour bold, That he remayned in most perilous plight, And his sad Ladie left in pitifull affright. [2] Till that by fortune, passing all foresight, A saluage salvage man, which in those woods did wonne, Drawne with that Ladies loud and piteous shright, Toward the same incessantly did ronne, To vnderstand understand what there was to be donne. There he this most discourteous crauen craven found, As fiercely yet, as when he first begonne, Chasing the gentle Calepine around, Ne sparing him the more for all his grieuous grievous wound. [3] The saluage salvage man, that neuer never till this houre Did taste of pittie, neither gentlesse knew, Seeing his sharpe assault and cruell stoure Was much emmoued emmoved at his perils vew, 400 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. Long That euen even his ruder hart began to rew, And feele compassion of his euill evill plight, Against his foe that did him so pursew: From whom he meant to free him, if he might, And him auenge avenge of that so villenous despight. [4] Yet armes or weapon had he none to fight, Ne knew the vse use of warlike instruments, Saue Save such as sudden rage him lent to smite, But naked without needfull vestiments, To clad his corpse with meete habiliments, He cared not for dint of sword nor speere, No more then for the stroke of strawes or bents: For from his mothers wombe, which him did beare He was invulnerable made by Magicke leare. [5] He stayed not t’aduize t’advize which way were best His foe t’assayle, or how himselfe to gard, But with fierce fury and with force infest Vpon Upon him ran; who being well prepard, His first assault full warily did ward, And with the push of his sharp-pointed speare Full on the breast him strooke, so strong and hard, That forst him backe recoyle, and reele areare; Yet in his bodie made no wound nor bloud appeare. [6] With that the wyld man more enraged grew, Like to a Tygre that hath mist his pray, And with mad mood againe vpon upon him flew, Regarding neither speare, that mote him flay, Nor his fierce steed, that mote him much dismay. The saluage salvage nation doth all dread despize: Tho on his shield he griple hold did lay, And held the same so hard, that by no wize He could him force to loose, or leaue leave his enterprize. Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 401 Cc2 [7] Long did he wrest and wring it to and fro, And euery every way did try, but all in vaine: For he would not his greedie grype forgoe, But hayld and puld with all his might and maine, That from his steed him nigh he drew againe. Who hauing having now no vse use of his long speare, So nigh at hand, nor force his shield to straine, Both speare and shield, as things that needlesse were, He quite forsooke, and fled himselfe away for feare. [8] But after him the wyld man ran apace And him pursewed with importune speed, (For he was swift as any Bucke in chace) And had he not in his extreamest need, Bene helped through the swiftnesse of his steed, He had him ouertaken overtaken in his flight. Who euer ever , as he saw him nigh succeed, Gan cry aloud with horrible affright, And shrieked out, a thing vncomely uncomely for a knight. [9] But when the Saluage Salvage saw his labour vaine, In following of him, that fled so fast, He wearie woxe, and backe return’d againe With speede vnto unto the place, whereas he last Had left that couple, nere their vtmost utmost cast. There he that knight full sorely bleeding found, And eke the Ladie fearefully aghast, Both for the perill of the present stound, And also for the sharpnesse of her rankling wound. [10] For though she were right glad, so rid to bee From that vile lozell, which her late offended, Yet now no lesse encombrance she did see, And perill by this saluage salvage man pretended; 402 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. Thether Gainst whom she saw no meanes to be defended, By reason that her knight was wounded sore. Therefore her selfe she wholy recommended To Gods sole grace, whom she did oft implore, To send her succour, being of all hope forlore. [11] But the wyld man, contrarie to her feare, Came to her creeping like a fawning hound, And by rude tokens made to her appeare His deepe compassion of her dolefull stound, Kissing his hands, and crouching to the ground; For other language had he none nor speach, But a soft murmure, and confused sound Of senselesse words, which nature did him teach, T’expresse his passions, which his reason did empeach. [12] And comming likewise to the wounded knight, When he beheld the streames of purple blood Yet flowing fresh, as moued moved with the sight, He made great mone after his saluage salvage mood: And running streight into the thickest wood, A certaine herbe from thence vnto unto him brought, Whose vertue he by vse use well vnderstood understood : The iuyce juyce whereof into his wound he wrought, And stopt the bleeding straight, ere he it staunched (thought. [13] Then taking vp up that Recreants shield and speare, Which earst he left, he signes vnto unto them made, With him to wend vnto unto his wonning neare: To which he easily did them perswade. Farre in the forrest by a hollow glade, Couered Covered with mossie shrubs, which spredding brode Did vnderneath underneath them make a gloomy shade; There foot of liuing living creature neuer never trode, Ne scarse wyld beasts durst come, there was this wights (abode. Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 403 Cc3 [14] Thether he brought these vnacquainted unacquainted guests; To whom faire semblance, as he could, he shewed By signes, by lookes, and all his other gests. But the bare ground, with hoarie mosse bestrowed, Must be their bed, their pillow was vnsowed unsowed , And the frutes of the forrest was their feast: For their bad Stuard neither plough’d nor sowed, Ne fed on flesh, ne euer ever of wyld beast Did taste the bloud, obaying natures first beheast. [15] Yet howsoeuer howsoever base and meane it were, They tooke it well, and thanked God for all, Which had them freed from that deadly feare, And sau’d sav’d from being to that caytiue caytive thrall. Here they of force (as fortune now did fall) Compelled were themselues themselves a while to rest, Glad of that easement, though it were but small; That hauing having there their wounds awhile redrest, They mote the abler be to passe vnto unto the rest. [16] During which time, that wyld man did apply His best endeuour endevour , and his daily paine, In seeking all the woods both farre and nye For herbes to dresse their wounds; still seeming faine, When ought he did, that did their lyking gaine. So as ere long he had that knightes wound Recured well, and made him whole againe: But that same Ladies hurts no herbe he found, Which could redresse, for it was inwardly vnsound unsound . [17] Now when as Calepine was woxen strong, Vpon Upon a day he cast abrode to wend, To take the ayre, and heare the thrushes song, Vnarm’d Unarm’d , as fearing neither foe nor frend, 404 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. But And without sword his person to defend. There him befell, vnlooked unlooked for before, An hard aduenture adventure with vnhappie unhappie end, A cruell Beare, the which an infant bore Betwixt his bloodie iawes jawes , besprinckled all with gore. [18] The litle babe did loudly scrike and squall, And all the woods with piteous plaints did fill, As if his cry did meane for helpe to call To Calepine, whose eares those shrieches shrill Percing his hart with pities point did thrill; That after him, he ran with zealous haste, To rescue th’infant, ere he did him kill: Whom though he saw now somewhat ouerpast overpast , Yet by the cry he follow’d, and pursewed fast. [19] Well then him chaunst his heauy heavy armes to want, Whose burden mote empeach his needfull speed, And hinder him from libertie to pant: For hauing having long time, as his daily weed, Them wont to weare, and wend on foot for need, Now wanting them he felt himselfe so light, That like an Hauke, which feeling her selfe freed From bels and iesses jesses , which did let her flight, Him seem’d his feet did fly, and in their speed delight. [20] So well he sped him, that the wearie Beare Ere long he ouertooke overtooke , and forst to stay, And without weapon him assayling neare, Compeld him soone the spoyle adowne to lay. Wherewith the beast enrag’d to loose his pray, Vpon Upon him turned, and with greedie force And furie, to be crossed in his way, Gaping full wyde, did thinke without remorse To be aueng’d aveng’d on him, and to deuoure devoure his corse. Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 405 Cc4 [21] But the bold knight no whit thereat dismayd, But catching vp up in hand a ragged stone, Which lay thereby (so fortune him did ayde) Vpon Upon him ran, and thrust it all attone Into his gaping throte, that made him grone And gaspe for breath, that he nigh choked was, Being vnable unable to digest that bone; Ne could it vpward upward come, nor downward passe, Ne could he brooke the coldnesse of the stony masse. [22] Whom when as he thus combred did behold, Stryuing Stryving in vaine that nigh his bowels brast, He with him closd, and laying mightie hold Vpon Upon his throte, did gripe his gorge so fast, That wanting breath, him downe to ground he cast; And then oppressing him with vrgent urgent paine, Ere long enforst to breath his vtmost utmost blast, Gnashing his cruell teeth at him in vaine, And threatning his sharpe clawes, now wanting powre (to straine. [23] Then tooke he vp up betwixt his armes twaine The litle babe, sweet relickes of his pray; Whom pitying to heare so sore complaine, From his soft eyes the teares he wypt away, And from his face the filth that did it ray, And euery every litle limbe he searcht around, And euery every part, that vnder under sweathbands lay, Least that the beasts sharpe teeth had any wound Made in his tender flesh, but whole them all he found. [24] So hauing having all his bands againe vptyde uptyde , He with him thought backe to returne againe: But when he lookt about on euery every syde, To weet which way were best to entertaine, 406 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. To To bring him to the place, where he would faine, He could no path nor tract of foot descry, Ne by inquirie learne, nor ghesse by ayme. For nought but woods and forrests farre and nye, That all about did close the compasse of his eye. [25] Much was he then encombred, ne could tell Which way to take: now West he went a while, Then North; then neither, but as fortune fell. So vp up and downe he wandred many a mile, With wearie trauell travell and vncertaine uncertaine toile, Yet nought the nearer to his iourneys journeys end; And euermore evermore his louely lovely litle spoile Crying for food, did greatly him offend. So all that day in wandring vainely he did spend. [26] At last about the setting of the Sunne, Him selfe out of the forest he did wynd, And by good fortune the plaine champion wonne: Where looking all about, where he mote fynd Some place of succour to content his mynd, At length he heard vnder under the forrests syde A voice, that seemed of some woman kynd, Which to her selfe lamenting loudly cryde, And oft complayn’d of fate, and fortune oft defyde. [27] To whom approching, when as she perceiued perceived A stranger wight in place, her plaint she stayd, As if she doubted to haue have bene deceiued deceived , Or loth to let her sorrowes be bewrayd. Whom when as Calepine saw so dismayd, He to her drew, and with faire blandishment Her chearing vp up , thus gently to her sayd; What be you wofull Dame, which thus lament, And for what cause declare, so mote ye not repent. Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 407 [28] To whom she thus, what need me Sir to tell, That which your selfe haue have earst ared so right? A wofull dame ye haue have me termed well; So much more wofull, as my wofull plight Cannot redressed be by liuing living wight. Nathlesse (quoth he) if need doe not you bynd, Doe it disclose, to ease your grieued grieved spright: Oftimes it haps, that sorrowes of the mynd Find remedie vnsought unsought , which seeking cannot fynd. [29] Then thus began the lamentable Dame; Sith then ye needs will know the griefe I hoord, I am th’vnfortunate th’unfortunate Matilde by name, The wife of bold Sir Bruin, who is Lord Of all this land, late conquer’d by his sword From a great Gyant, called Cormoraunt; Whom he did ouerthrow by yonder foord, And in three battailes did so deadly daunt, That he dare not returne for all his daily vaunt. [30] So is my Lord now seiz’d of all the land, As in his fee, with peaceable estate, And quietly doth hold it in his hand, Ne any dares with him for it debate. But to these happie fortunes, cruell Fate Hath ioyn’d joyn’d one euill evill , which doth ouerthrow overthrow All these our ioyes joyes , and all our blisse abate; And like in time to further ill to grow, And all this land with endlesse losse to ouerflow overflow . [31] For th’heauens th’heavens enuying envying our prosperitie, Haue Have not vouchsaft to graunt vnto unto vs us twaine The gladfull blessing of posteritie, Which we might see after our selues selves remaine 408 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. If In th’heritage of our vnhappie unhappie paine: So that for want of heires it to defend, All is in time like to returne againe To that foule feend, who dayly doth attend To leape into the same after our liues lives end. [32] But most my Lord is grieued grieved herewithall, And makes exceeding mone, when he does thinke That all this land vnto unto his foe shall fall, For which he long in vaine did sweat and swinke, That now the same he greatly doth forthinke. Yet was it sayd, there should to him a sonne Be gotten, not begotten, which should drinke And dry vp up all the water, which doth ronne In the next brooke, by whõ whom that feend shold be fordonne. [33] Well hop’t he then, when this was propheside, That from his sides some noble chyld should rize, The which through fame should farre be magnifide, And this proud gyant should with braue brave emprize Quite ouerthrow overthrow , who now ginnes to despize The good Sir Bruin, growing farre in yeares; Who thinkes from me his sorrow all doth rize. Lo this my cause of griefe to you appeares; For which I thus doe mourne, and poure forth ceaselesse (teares. [34] Which when he heard, he inly touched was With tender ruth for her vnworthy unworthy griefe, And when he had deuized devized of her case, He gan in mind conceiue conceive a fit reliefe For all her paine, if please her make the priefe. And hauing having cheared her, thus said; faire Dame, In euils evils counsell is the comfort chiefe, Which though I be not wise enough to frame, Yet as I well it meane, vouchsafe it without blame. Cant. IIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 409 [35] If that the cause of this your languishment Be lacke of children, to supply your place, Lo how good fortune doth to you present This litle babe, of sweete and louely lovely face, And spotlesse spirit, in which ye may enchace What euer ever formes ye list thereto apply, Being now soft and fit them to embrace; Whether ye list him traine in cheualry chevalry , Or noursle vp up in lore of learn’d Philosophy. [36] And certes it hath oftentimes bene seene, That of the like, whose linage was vnknowne unknowne , More braue brave and noble knights haue have raysed beene, As their victorious deedes haue have often showen, Being with fame through many Nations blowen, Then those, which haue have bene dandled in the lap. Therefore some thought, that those braue brave imps were sowen Here by the Gods, and fed with heauenly heavenly sap, That made them grow so high t’all honorable hap. [37] The Ladie hearkning to his sensefull speach, Found nothing that he said, vnmeet unmeet nor geason, Hauing Having oft seene it tryde, as he did teach. Therefore inclyning to his goodly reason, Agreeing well both with the place and season, She gladly did of that same babe accept, As of her owne by liuery livery and seisin, And hauing having ouer over it a litle wept, She bore it thence, and euer ever as her owne it kept. [38] Right glad was Calepine to be so rid Of his young charge, whereof he skilled nought: Ne she lesse glad; for she so wisely did, And with her husband vnder under hand so wrought, 410 THE VI. BOOK OF THE Cant. IIII. CANT. That when that infant vnto unto him she brought, She made him thinke it surely was his owne, And it in goodly thewes so well vpbrought upbrought , That it became a famous knight well knowne, And did right noble deedes, the which elswhere are showne. [39] But Calepine, now being left alone Vnder Under the greenewoods side in sorie plight, Withouten armes or steede to ride vpon upon , Or house to hide his head from heauens heavens spight, Albe that Dame by all the meanes she might, Him oft desired home with her to wend, And offred him, his courtesie to requite, Both horse and armes, and what so else to lend, Yet he them all refusd, though thankt her as a frend. [40] And for exceeding griefe which inly grew, That he his loue love so lucklesse now had lost, On the cold ground, maugre himselfe he threw, For fell despight, to be so sorely crost; And there all night himselfe in anguish tost, Vowing, that neuer never he in bed againe His limbes would rest, ne lig in ease embost, Till that his Ladies sight he mote attaine, Or vnderstand understand , that she in safetie did remaine.