Cant. V. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 451 Ff3 Cant. VIII.

Prince Arthure ouercomes overcomes Disdaine, Quites Mirabell from dreed: Serena, found of Saluages Salvages , By Calepine is freed.

[1] YE Ye gentle Ladies, in whose soueraine soveraine powre Loue Love hath the glory of his kingdome left, And th’hearts of men, as your eternall dowre, In yron chaines, of liberty bereft, Deliuered Delivered hath into your hands by gift; Be well aware, how ye the same doe vse use , That pride doe not to tyranny you lift; Least if men you of cruelty accuse, He from you take that chiefedome, which ye doe abuse. [2] And as ye soft and tender are by kynde, Adornd with goodly gifts of beauties grace, So be ye soft and tender eeke in mynde; But cruelty and hardnesse from you chace, That all your other praises will deface, And from you turne the loue love of men to hate. Ensample take of Mirabellaes case, Who from the high degree of happy state, Fell into wretched woes, which she repented late. [3] Who after thraldome of the gentle Squire, Which she beheld with lamentable eye, Was touched with compassion entire, And much lamented his calamity, 452 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. The That for her sake fell into misery: Which booted nought for prayers, nor for threat To hope for to release or mollify; For aye the more, that she did them entreat, The more they him misust, and cruelly did beat. [4] So as they forward on their way did pas, Him still reuiling reviling and afflicting sore, They met Prince Arthure with Sir Enias, (That was that courteous Knight, whom he before Hauing Having subdew’d, yet did to life restore,) restore), To whom as they approcht, they gan augment Their cruelty, and him to punish more, Scourging and haling him more vehement; As if it them should grieue grieve to see his punishment. [5] The Squire him selfe when as he saw his Lord, The witnesse of his wretchednesse, in place, Was much asham’d, that with an hempen cord He like a dog was led in captiue captive case, And did his head for bashfulnesse abase, As loth to see, or to be seene at all: Shame would be hid. But whenas Enias Beheld two such, of two such villaines thrall, His manly mynde was much emmoued emmoved therewithall. [6] And to the Prince thus sayd; See you Sir Knight, The greatest shame that euer ever eye yet saw? Yond Lady and her Squire with foule despight Abusde, against all reason and all law, Without regard of pitty or of awe. See how they doe that Squire beat and reuile revile ; See how they doe the Lady hale and draw. But if ye please to lend me leaue leave a while, I will them soone acquite, and both of blame assoile. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 453 Ff4 [7] The Prince assented, and then he streight way Dismounting light, his shield about him threw, With which approching, thus he gan to say; Abide ye caytiue caytive treachetours vntrew untrew , That haue have with treason thralled vnto unto you These two, vnworthy unworthy of your wretched bands; And now your crime with cruelty pursew. Abide, and from them lay your loathly hands; Or else abide the death, that hard before you stands. [8] The villaine stayd not aunswer to inuent invent , But with his yron club preparing way, His mindes sad message backe vnto unto him sent; The which descended with such dreadfull sway, That seemed nought the course thereof could stay: No more then lightening from the lofty sky. Ne list the Knight the powre thereof assay, Whose doome was death, but lightly slipping by, Vnawares Unawares defrauded his intended destiny. [9] And to requite him with the like againe, With his sharpe sword he fiercely at him flew, And strooke so strongly, that the Carle with paine Saued Saved him selfe, but that he there him slew: Yet sau’d sav’d not so, but that the bloud it drew, And gaue gave his foe good hope of victory. Who therewith flesht, vpon upon him set anew, And with the second stroke, thought certainely To haue have supplyde the first, and paide the vsury usury . [10] But Fortune aunswerd not vnto unto his call; For as his hand was heaued heaved vp up on hight, The villaine met him in the middle fall, And with his club bet backe his brondyron bright 454 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. But So forcibly, that with his owne hands might Rebeaten backe vpon upon him selfe againe, He driuen driven was to ground in selfe despight; From whence ere he recouery recovery could gaine, He in his necke had set his foote with fell disdaine. [11] With that the foole, which did that end awayte, Came running in, and whilest on ground he lay, Laide heauy heavy hands on him, and held so strayte, That downe he kept him with his scornefull sway, So as he could not weld him any way. The whiles that other villaine went about Him to haue have bound, and thrald without delay; The whiles the foole did him reuile revile and flout, Threatning to yoke them tow & and tame their corage stout. [12] As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde By strength haue have ouerthrowne overthrowne a stubborne steare, They downe him hold, and fast with cords do bynde, Till they him force the buxome yoke to beare: So did these two this Knight oft tug and teare. Which when the Prince beheld, there standing by, He left his lofty steede to aide him neare, And buckling soone him selfe, gan fiercely fly Vppon Uppon that Carle, to saue save his friend from iourney journey . [13] The villaine leauing leaving him vnto unto his mate To be captiu’d captiv’d , and handled as he list, Himselfe addrest vnto unto this new debate, And with his club him all about so blist, That he which way to turne him scarcely wist: Sometimes aloft he layd, sometimes alow; Now here, now there, and oft him neare he mist; So doubtfully, that hardly one could know Whether more wary were to giue give or ward the blow. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 455 [14] But yet the Prince so well enured was With such huge strokes, approued approved oft in fight, That way to them he gaue gave forth right to pas. Ne would endure the daunger of their might, But wayt aduantage advantage , when they downe did light. At last the caytiue caytive after long discourse, When all his strokes he saw auoyded avoyded quite, Resolued Resolved in one t’assemble all his force, And make one end of him without ruth or remorse. [15] His dreadfull hand he heaued heaved vp up aloft, And with his dreadfull instrument of yre, Thought sure haue have pownded him to powder soft, Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre: But Fortune did not with his will conspire. For ere his stroke attayned his intent, The noble childe preuenting preventing his desire, Vnder Under his club with wary boldnesse went, And smote him on the knee, that neuer never yet was bent. [16] It neuer never yet was bent, ne bent it now, Albe the stroke so strong and puissant were, That seem’d a marble pillour it could bow: But all that leg, which did his body beare, It crackt throughout, yet did no bloud appeare; So as it was vnable unable to support So huge a burden on such broken geare, But fell to ground, like to a lumpe of durt, Whence he assayd to rise, but could not for his hurt. [17] Eftsoones the Prince to him full nimbly stept, And least he should recouer recover foote againe, His head meant from his shoulders to haue have swept. Which when the Lady saw, she cryde amaine; 456 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. But Stay stay, Sir Knight, for loue love of God abstaine, From that vnawares unawares ye weetlesse doe intend; Slay not that Carle, though worthy to be slaine: For more on him doth then him selfe depend; My life will by his death haue have lamentable end. [18] He staide his hand according her desire, Yet nathemore him suffred to arize; But still suppressing gan of her inquire, What meaning mote those vncouth uncouth words comprize, That in that villaines health her safety lies: That, were no might in man, nor heart in Knights, Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize, Yet heauens heavens them selues selves , that fauour favour feeble rights, Would for it selfe redresse, and punish such despights. [19] Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast Like many water streames, a while she stayd; Till the sharpe passion being ouerpast overpast , Her tongue to her restord, then thus she sayd; Nor heauens heavens , nor men can me most wretched mayd Deliuer Deliver from the doome of my desart, The which the God of loue love hath on me layd, And damned to endure this direfull smart, For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious hart. [20] In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight, And nature me endu’d with plenteous dowre, Of all her gifts, that pleasde each liuing living sight, I was belou’d belov’d of many a gentle Knight, And sude sued and sought with all the seruice service dew: Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight, And to the dore of death for sorrow drew, Complayning out on me, that would not on them rew. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 457 [21] But let them loue love that list, or liue live or die; Me list not die for any louers lovers doole: Ne list me leaue leave my loued loved libertie, To pitty him that list to play the foole: To loue love my selfe I learned had in schoole. Thus I triumphed long in louers lovers paine, And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole, Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine: But all is now repayd with interest againe. [22] For loe the winged God, that woundeth harts, Causde me be called to accompt therefore, And for reuengement revengement of those wrongfull smarts, Which I to others did inflict afore, Addeem’d me to endure this penaunce sore; That in this wize, and this vnmeete unmeete array, With these two lewd companions, and no more, Disdaine and Scorne, I through the world should stray, Till I haue have sau’d sav’d so many, as I earst did slay. [23] Certes (sayd then the Prince) the God is iust just , That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile. For were no law in loue love , but all that lust, Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile, His kingdome would continue but a while. But tell me Lady, wherefore doe you beare This bottle thus before you with such toile, And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare, That for these Carles to carry much more comely were? [24] Here in this bottle (sayd the sory Mayd) I put the teares of my contrition, Till to the brim I haue have it full defrayd: And in this bag which I behinde me don, 458 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. Meane I put repentaunce for things past and gon. Yet is the bottle leake, and bag so torne, That all which I put in, fals out anon; And is behinde me trodden downe of Scorne, Who mocketh all my paine, & and laughs the more I mourn. [25] The Infant hearkned wisely to her tale, And wondred much at Cupids iudg’ment judg’ment wise, That could so meekly make proud hearts auale avale , And wreake him selfe on them, that him despise. Then suffred he Disdaine vp up to arise, Who was not able vp up him selfe to reare, By meanes his leg through his late luckelesse prise, Was crackt in twaine, but by his foolish feere Was holpen vp up , who him supported standing neare. [26] But being vp up , he lookt againe aloft, As if he neuer never had receiued received fall; And with sterne eye-browes stared at him oft, As if he would haue have daunted him with all: And standing on his tiptoes, to seeme tall, Downe on his golden feete he often gazed, As if such pride the other could apall; Who was so far from being ought amazed, That he his lookes despised, and his boast dispraized. [27] Then turning backe vnto unto that captiue captive thrall, Who all this while stood there beside them bound, Vnwilling Unwilling to be knowne, or seene at all, He from those bands weend him to haue have vnwound unwound . But when approching neare, he plainely found, It was his owne true groome, the gentle Squire, He thereat wext exceedingly astound, And him did oft embrace, and oft admire, Ne could with seeing satisfie his great desire. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 459 [28] Meane while the Saluage Salvage man, when he beheld That huge great foole oppressing th’other Knight, Whom with his weight vnweldy unweldy downe he held, He flew vpon upon him, like a greedy kight Vnto Unto some carrion offered to his sight, And downe him plucking, with his nayles and teeth Gan him to hale, and teare, and scratch, and bite; And from him taking his owne whip, therewith So sore him scourgeth, that the bloud downe followeth. [29] And sure I weene, had not the Ladies cry Procur’d the Prince his cruell hand to stay, He would with whipping, him haue have done to dye: But being checkt, he did abstaine streight way, And let him rise. Then thus the Prince gan say; Now Lady sith your fortunes thus dispose, That if ye list haue have liberty, ye may, Vnto Unto your selfe I freely leaue leave to chose, Whether I shall you leaue leave , or from these villaines lose. [30] Ah nay Sir Knight (sayd she) it may not be, But that I needes must by all meanes fulfill This penaunce, which enioyned enjoyned is to me, Least vnto unto me betide a greater ill; Yet no lesse thankes to you for your good will. So humbly taking leaue leave , she turnd aside, But Arthure with the rest, went onward still On his first quest, in which did him betide A great aduenture adventure , which did him from them deuide devide . [31] But first it falleth me by course to tell Of faire Serena, who as earst you heard, When first the gentle Squire at variaunce fell With those two Carles, fled fast away, afeard 460 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. In Of villany to be to her inferd: So fresh the image of her former dread, Yet dwelling in her eye, to her appeard, That euery every foote did tremble, which did tread, And euery every body two, and two she foure did read. [32] Through hils & and dales, through bushes & and through breres Long thus she fled, till that at last she thought Her selfe now past the perill of her feares. Then looking round about, and seeing nought, Which doubt of daunger to her offer mought, She from her palfrey lighted on the plaine, And sitting downe, her selfe a while bethought Of her long trauell travell and turmoyling paine; And often did of loue love , and oft of lucke complaine. [33] And euermore evermore she blamed Calepine, The good Sir Calepine, her owne true Knight, As th’onely author of her wofull tine: For being of his loue love to her so light, As her to leaue leave in such a piteous plight. Yet neuer never Turtle truer to his make, Then he was tride vnto unto his Lady bright: Who all this while endured for her sake, Great perill of his life, and restlesse paines did take. [34] Tho when as all her plaints she had displayd, And well disburdened her engrieued engrieved brest, Vpon Upon the grasse her selfe adowne she layd; Where being tyrde with trauell travell , and opprest With sorrow, she betooke her selfe to rest. There whilest in Morpheus bosome safe she lay, Fearelesse of ought, that mote her peace molest, False Fortune did her safety betray, Vnto Unto a straunge mischaunce, that menac’d her decay. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 461 [35] In these wylde deserts, where she now abode, There dwelt a saluage salvage nation, which did liue live Of stealth and spoile, and making nightly rode Into their neighbours borders; ne did giue give Them selues selves to any trade, as for to driue drive The painefull plough, or cattell for to breed, Or by aduentrous adventrous marchandize to thriue thrive ; But on the labours of poore men to feed, And serue serve their owne necessities with others need. [36] Thereto they vsde usde one most accursed order, To eate the flesh of men, whom they mote fynde, And straungers to deuoure devoure , which on their border Were brought by errour, or by wreckfull wynde. A monstrous cruelty gainst course of kynde. They towards euening evening wandring euery every way, To seeke for booty, came by fortune blynde, Whereas this Lady, like a sheepe astray, Now drowned in the depth of sleepe all fearelesse lay. [37] Soone as they spide her, Lord what gladfull glee They made amongst them selues selves ; but when her face Like the faire yuory yvory shining they did see, Each gan his fellow solace and embrace, For ioy joy of such good hap by heauenly heavenly grace. Then gan they to deuize devize what course to take: Whether to slay her there vpon upon the place, Or suffer her out of her sleepe to wake, And then her eate attonce; or many meales to make. [38] The best aduizement advizement was of bad, to let her Sleepe out her fill, without encomberment: For sleepe they sayd would make her battill better. Then when she wakt, they all gaue gave one consent, 462 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. Her That since by grace of God she there was sent, Vnto Unto their God they would her sacrifize, Whose share, her guiltlesse bloud they would present, But of her dainty flesh they did deuize devize To make a common feast, & and feed with gurmandize. [39] So round about her they them selues selves did place Vpon Upon the grasse, and diuersely diversely dispose, As each thought best to spend the lingring space. Some with their eyes the daintest morsels chose; Some praise her paps, some praise her lips and nose; Some whet their kniues knives , and strip their elboes bare: The Priest him selfe a garland doth compose Of finest flowres, and with full busie care His bloudy vessels wash, and holy fire prepare. [40] The Damzell wakes, then all attonce vpstart upstart , And round about her flocke, like many flies, Whooping, and hallowing on euery every part, As if they would haue have rent the brasen skies. Which when she sees with ghastly griefful eies, Her heart does quake, and deadly pallid hew Benumbes her cheekes: Then out aloud she cries, Where none is nigh to heare, that will her rew, And rends her golden locks, and snowy brests embrew. [41] But all bootes not: they hands vpon upon her lay; And first they spoile her of her iewls jewls deare, And afterwards of all her rich array; The which amongst them they in peeces teare, And of the pray each one a part doth beare. Now being naked, to their sordid eyes The goodly threasures of nature appeare: Which as they view with lustfull fantasyes, Each wisheth to him selfe, and to the rest enuyes envyes . Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 461 Gg [42] Her yuorie yvorie necke, her alablaster brest, Her paps, which like white silken pillowes were, For loue love in soft delight thereon to rest; Her tender sides, her bellie white and clere, Which like an Altar did it selfe vprere uprere , To offer sacrifice diuine divine thereon; Her goodly thighes, whose glorie did appeare Like a triumphall Arch, and thereupon The spoiles of Princes hang’d, which were in battel won. [43] Those daintie parts, the dearlings of delight, Which mote not be prophan’d of common eyes, Those villeins vew’d with loose lasciuious lascivious sight, And closely tempted with their craftie spyes; And some of them gan mongst themselues themselves deuize devize , Thereof by force to take their beastly pleasure. But them the Priest rebuking, did aduize advize To dare not to pollute so sacred threasure, Vow’d to the gods: religiõ religion held euen even theeues theeves in measure. [44] So being stayd, they her from thence directed Vnto Unto a litle groue grove not farre asyde, In which an altar shortly they erected, To slay her on. And now the Euentyde Eventyde His brode black wings had through the heauens heavens wyde By this dispred, that was the tyme ordayned For such a dismall deed, their guilt to hyde: Of few greene turfes an altar soone they fayned, And deckt it all with flowres, which they nigh hand ob-(tayned. [45] Tho when as all things readie were aright, The Damzell was before the altar set, Being alreadie dead with fearefull fright. To whom the Priest with naked armes full net 464 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. VIII. With Approching nigh, and murdrous knife well whet, Gan mutter close a certaine secret charme, With other diuelish divelish ceremonies met: Which doen he gan aloft t’aduance t’advance his arme, Whereat they shouted all, and made a loud alarme. [46] Then gan the bagpypes and the hornes to shrill, And shrieke aloud, that with the peoples voyce Confused, did the ayre with terror fill, And made the wood to tremble at the noyce: The whyles she wayld, the more they did reioyce rejoyce . Now mote ye vnderstand understand that to this groue grove Sir Calepine by chaunce, more then by choyce, The selfe same euening evening fortune hether droue drove , As he to seeke Serena through the woods did roue rove . [47] Long had he sought her, and through many a soyle Had traueld traveld still on foot in heauie heavie armes, Ne ought was tyred with his endlesse toyles, Ne ought was feared of his certaine harmes: And now all weetlesse of the wretched stormes, In which his loue love was lost, he slept full fast, Till being waked with these loud alarmes, He lightly started vp up like one aghast, And catching vp up his arms streight to the noise forth past. [48] There by th’vncertaine th’uncertaine glimse of starry night, And by the twinkling of their sacred fire, He mote perceiue perceive a litle dawning sight Of all, which there was doing in that quire: Mongst whom a woman spoyld of all attire He spyde, lamenting her vnluckie unluckie strife, And groning sore from grieued grieved hart entire; Eftsoones he saw one with a naked knife Readie to launce her brest, and let out loued loved life. Cant. VIII. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 465 Gg2 [49] With that he thrusts into the thickest throng, And euen even as his right hand adowne descends, He him preuenting preventing , layes on earth along, And sacrifizeth to th’infernall feends. Then to the rest his wrathfull hand he bends, Of whom he makes such hauocke havocke and such hew, That swarmes of damned soules to hell he sends: The rest that scape his sword and death eschew, Fly like a flocke of doues doves before a Faulcons vew. [50] From them returning to that Ladie backe, Whom by the Altar he doth sitting find, Yet fearing death, and next to death the lacke Of clothes to couer cover , what they ought by kind, He first her hands beginneth to vnbind unbind , And then to question of her present woe; And afterwards to cheare with speaches kind. But she for nought that he could say or doe, One word durst speake, or answere him a whit thereto. [51] So inward shame of her vncomely uncomely case She did conceive conceiue , through care of womanhood, That though the night did couer cover her disgrace, Yet she in so vnwomanly unwomanly a mood, Would not bewray the state in which she stood. So all that night to him vnknowen unknowen she past. But day, that doth discouer discover bad and good, Ensewing, made her knowen to him at last: The end whereof Ile keepe vntill untill another cast.