466 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. If Cant. IX.

Calidore hostes with Melibœ and loues loves fayre Pastorell; Coridon enuies envies him, yet he for ill rewards him well.

[1] NOw Now turne againe my teme thou iolly jolly swayne, Backe to the furrow which I lately left; I lately left a furrow, one or twayne Vnplough’d Unplough’d , the which my coulter hath not cleft: Yet seem’d the soyle both fayre and frutefull eft, As I it past, that were too great a shame, That so rich frute should be from vs us bereft; Besides the great dishonour and defame, Which should befall to Calidores immortall name. [2] Great trauell travell hath the gentle Calidore And toyle endured, sith I left him last Sewing the Blatant beast, which I forbore To finish then, for other present hast. Full many pathes and perils he hath past, Through hils, through dales, throgh forests, & and throgh (plaines In that same quest which fortune on him cast, Which he atchieued atchieved to his owne great gaines, Reaping eternall glorie of his restlesse paines. [3] So sharply he the Monster did pursew, That day nor night he suffred him to rest, Ne rested he himselfe but natures dew, For dread of daunger, not to be redrest, Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 467 Gg3 If he for slouth forslackt so famous quest. Him first from court he to the citties coursed, And from the citties to the townes him prest, And from the townes into the countrie forsed, And from the country back to priuate private farmes he scorsed. [4] From thence into the open fields he fled, Whereas the Heardes were keeping of their neat, And shepheards singing to their flockes, that fed, Layes of sweete loue love and youthes delightfull heat: Him thether eke for all his fearefull threat He followed fast, and chaced him so nie, That to the folds, where sheepe at night doe seat, And to the litle cots, where shepherds lie In winters wrathfull time, he forced him to flie. [5] There on a day as he pursew’d the chace, He chaunst to spy a sort of shepheard groomes, Playing on pypes, and caroling apace, The whyles their beasts there in the budded broomes Beside them fed, and nipt the tender bloomes: For other worldly wealth they cared nought. To whom Sir Calidore yet sweating comes, And them to tell him courteously besought, If such a beast they saw, which he had thether brought. [6] They answer’d him, that no such beast they saw, Nor any wicked feend, that mote offend Their happie flockes, nor daunger to them draw: But if that such there were (as none they kend) They prayd high God him farre from them to send. Then one of them him seeing so to sweat, After his rusticke wise, that well he weend, Offred him drinke, to quench his thirstie heat, And if he hungry were, him offred eke to eat. 468 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. But [7] The knight was nothing nice, where was no need, And tooke their gentle offer: so adowne They prayd him sit, and gaue gave him for to feed Such homely what, as serues serves the simple clowne, That doth despise the dainties of the towne. Tho hauing having fed his fill, he there besyde Saw a faire damzell, which did weare a crowne Of sundry flowres, with silken ribbands tyde, Yclad in home-made greene that her owne hands had (dyde. [8] Vpon Upon a litle hillocke she was placed Higher then all the rest, and round about Enuiron’d Environ’d with a girland, goodly graced, Of louely lovely lasses, and them all without The lustie shepheard swaynes sate in a rout, The which did pype and sing her prayses dew, And oft reioyce rejoyce , and oft for wonder shout, As if some miracle of heauenly heavenly hew Were downe to them descended in that earthly vew. [9] And soothly sure she was full fayre of face, And perfectly well shapt in euery every lim, Which she did more augment with modest grace, And comely carriage of her count’nance trim, That all the rest like lesser lamps did dim: Who her admiring as some heauenly heavenly wight, Did for their soueraine soveraine goddesse her esteeme, And caroling her name both day and night, The fayrest Pastorella her by name did hight. [10] Ne was there heard, ne was there shepheards swayne But her did honour, and eke many a one Burnt in her loue love , and with sweet pleasing payne Full many a night for her did sigh and grone: Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 469 Gg4 But most of all the shepheard Coridon For her did languish, and his deare life spend; Yet neither she for him, nor other none Did care a whit, ne any liking lend: Though meane her lot, yet higher did her mind ascend. [11] Her whyles Sir Calidore there vewed well, And markt her rare demeanure, which him seemed So farre the meane of shepheards to excell, As that he in his mind her worthy deemed, To be a Princes Paragone esteemed, He was vnawares unawares surprisd in subtile bands Of the blynd boy, ne thence could be redeemed By any skill out of his cruell hands, Caught like the bird, which gazing still on others stands. [12] So stood he still long gazing thereupon, Ne any will had thence to moue move away, Although his quest were farre afore him gon; But after he had fed, yet did he stay, And sate there still, vntill untill the flying day Was farre forth spent, discoursing diuersely diversely Of sundry things, as fell, to worke delay; And euermore evermore his speach he did apply To th’heards, but meant them to the damzels fantazy. [13] By this the moystie night approching fast, Her deawy humour gan on th’earth to shed, That warn’d the shepheards to their homes to hast Their tender flocks, now being fully fed, For feare of wetting them before their bed; Then came to them a good old aged syre, Whose siluer silver lockes bedeckt his beard and hed, With shepheards hooke in hand, and fit attyre, That wild the damzell rise; the day did now expyre. 470 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. By [14] He was to weet by common voice esteemed The father of the fayrest Pastorell, And of her selfe in very deede so deemed; Yet was not so, but as old stories tell Found her by fortune, which to him befell, In th’open fields an Infant left alone, And taking vp up brought home, and noursed well As his owne chyld; for other he had none, That she in tract of time accompted was his owne. [15] She at his bidding meekely did arise, And streight vnto unto her litle flocke did fare: Then all the rest about her rose likewise, And each his sundrie sheepe with seuerall severall care Gathered together, and them homeward bare: Whylest euerie everie one with helping hands did striue strive Amongst themselues themselves , and did their labours share, To helpe faire Pastorella, home to driue drive Her fleecie flocke; but Coridon most helpe did giue give . [16] But Melibœe (so hight that good old man) Now seeing Calidore left all alone, And night arriued arrived hard at hand, began Him to inuite invite vnto unto his simple home; Which though it were a cottage clad with lome, And all things therein meane, yet better so To lodge, then in the saluage salvage fields to rome. The knight full gladly soone agreed thereto, Being his harts owne wish, and home with him did go. [17] There he was welcom’d of that honest syre, And of his aged Beldame homely well; Who him besought himselfe to disattyre, And rest himselfe, till supper time befell. Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 471 By which home came the fayrest Pastorell, After her flocke she in their fold had tyde, And supper readie dight, they to it fell With small adoe, and nature satisfyde, The which doth litle craue crave contented to abyde. [18] Tho when they had their hunger slaked well, And the fayre mayd the table ta’ne away, The gentle knight, as he that did excell In courtesie, and well could doe and say, For so great kindnesse as he found that day, Gan greatly thanke his host and his good wife; And drawing thence his speach another way, Gan highly to commend the happie life, Which Shepheards lead, without debate or bitter strife. [19] How much (sayd he) more happie is the state, In which ye father here doe dwell at ease, Leading a life so free and fortunate, From all the tempests of these worldly seas, Which tosse the rest in daungerous disease? Where warres, and wreckes, and wicked enmitie Doe them afflict, which no man can appease, That certes I your happinesse enuie envie , And wish my lot were plast in such felicitie. [20] Surely my sonne (then answer’d he againe) If happie, then it is in this intent, That hauing having small, yet doe I not complaine Of want, ne wish for more it to augment, But doe my self, with that I haue have , content; So taught of nature, which doth litle need Of forreine helpes to lifes due nourishment: The fields my food, my flocke my rayment breed; No better doe I weare, no better doe I feed. 472 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. For [21] Therefore I doe not any one enuy envy , Nor am enuyde envyde of any one therefore; They that haue have much, feare much to loose thereby, And store of cares doth follow riches store. The litle that I haue have , growes dayly more Without my care, but onely to attend it; My lambes doe euery every yeare increase their score, And my flockes father daily doth amend it. What haue have I, but to praise th’Almighty, that doth send it? [22] To them, that list, the worlds gay showes I leaue leave , And to great ones such follies doe forgiue forgive , Which oft through pride do their owne perill weaue weave , And through ambition downe themselues themselves doe driue drive To sad decay, that might contented liue live . Me no such cares nor combrous thoughts offend, Ne once my minds vnmoued unmoved quiet greiue greive , But all the night in siluer silver sleepe I spend, And all the day, to what I list, I doe attend. [23] Sometimes I hunt the Fox, the vowed foe Vnto Unto my Lambes, and him dislodge away; Sometime the fawne I practise from the Doe, Or from the Goat her kidde how to conuay convay ; Another while I baytes and nets display, The birds to catch, or fishes to beguyle: And when I wearie am, I downe doe lay My limbes in euery every shade, to rest from toyle, And drinke of euery every brooke, when thirst my throte doth boyle. [24] The time was once, in my first prime of yeares, When pride of youth forth pricked my desire, That I disdain’d amongst mine equall peares To follow sheepe, and shepheards base attire: Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 473 For further fortune then I would inquire. And leauing leaving home, to roiall court I sought; Where I did sell my selfe for yearely hire, And in the Princes gardin daily wrought: There I beheld such vainenesse, as I neuer never thought. [25] With sight whereof soone cloyd, and long deluded With idle hopes, which them doe entertaine, After I had ten yeares my selfe excluded From natiue native home, and spent my youth in vaine, I gan my follies to my selfe to plaine, And this sweet peace, whose lacke did then appeare. Tho backe returning to my sheepe againe, I from thenceforth haue have learn’d to loue love more deare This lowly quiet life, which I inherite here. [26] Whylest thus he talkt, the knight with greedy eare Hong still vpon upon his melting mouth attent; Whose sensefull words empierst his hart so neare, That he was rapt with double rauishment ravishment , Both of his speach that wrought him great content, And also of the obiect object of his vew, On which his hungry eye was alwayes bent; That twixt his pleasing tongue, and her faire hew, He lost himselfe, and like one halfe entraunced grew. [27] Yet to occasion meanes, to worke his mind, And to insinuate his harts desire, He thus replyde; Now surely syre, I find, That all this worlds gay showes, which we admire, Be but vaine shadowes to this safe retyre Of life, which here in lowlinesse ye lead, Fearelesse of foes, or fortunes wrackfull yre, Which tosseth states, and vnder under foot doth tread The mightie ones, affrayd of euery every chaunges dread. 474 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. With [28] That euen even I which daily doe behold The glorie of the great, mongst whom I won, And now haue have prou’d prov’d , what happineesse ye hold In this small plot of your dominion, Now loath great Lordship and ambition; And wish th’heauens th’heavens so much had graced mee, As graunt me liue live in like condition; Or that my fortunes might transposed bee From pitch of higher place, vnto unto this low degree. [29] In vaine (said then old Melibœ) doe men The heauens heavens of their fortunes fault accuse, Sith they know best, what is the best for them: For they to each such fortune doe diffuse, As they doe know each can most aptly vse use . For not that, which men couet covet most, is best, Nor that thing worst, which men do most refuse; But fittest is, that all contented rest With that they hold: each hath his fortune in his brest. [30] It is the mynd, that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happie, rich or poore: For some, that hath abundance at his will, Hath not enough, but wants in greatest store; And other, that hath litle, askes no more, But in that litle is both rich and wise. For wisedome is most riches; fooles therefore They are, which fortunes doe by vowes deuize devize , Sith each vnto unto himselfe his life may fortunize. [31] Since then in each mans self (said Calidore) It is, to fashion his owne lyfes estate, Giue Give leaue leave awhyle, good father, in this shore To rest my barcke, which hath bene beaten late Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 475 With stormes of fortune and tempestuous fate, In seas of troubles and of toylesome paine, That whether quite from them for to retrate I shal resolue resolve , or backe to turne againe, I may here with your selfe some small repose obtaine. [32] Not that the burden of so bold a guest Shall chargefull be, or chaunge to you at all; For your meane food shall be my daily feast, And this your cabin both my bowre and hall. Besides for recompence hereof, I shall You well reward, and golden guerdon giue give , That may perhaps you better much withall, And in this quiet make you safer liue live . So forth he drew much gold, and toward him it driue drive . [33] But the good man, nought tempted with the offer Of his rich mould, did thrust it farre away, And thus bespake; Sir knight, your bounteous proffer Be farre fro me, to whom ye ill display That mucky masse, the cause of mens decay, That mote empaire my peace with daungers dread. But if ye algates couet covet to assay This simple sort of life, that shepheards lead, Be it your owne: our rudenesse to your selfe aread. [34] So there that night Sir Calidore did dwell, And long while after, whilest him list remaine, Dayly beholding the faire Pastorell, And feeding on the bayt of his owne bane. During which time he did her entertaine With all kind courtesies, he could inuent invent ; And euery every day, her companie to gaine, When to the field she went, he with her went: So for to quench his fire, he did it more augment. 476 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. That [35] But she that neuer never had acquainted beene With such queint vsage usage , fit for Queenes and Kings, Ne euer ever had such knightly seruice service seene, But being bred vnder under base shepheards wings, Had euer ever learn’d to loue love the lowly things, Did litle whit regard his courteous guize, But cared more for Colins carolings Then all that he could doe, or euer ever deuize devize : His layes, his loues loves , his lookes she did them all despize. [36] Which Calidore perceiuing perceiving , thought it best To chaunge the manner of his loftie looke; And doffing his bright armes, himselfe addrest In shepheards weed, and in his hand he tooke, In stead of steelehead speare, a shepheards hooke; That who had seene him then, would haue have bethought On Phrygian Paris by Plexippus brooke, When he the loue love of fayre Benone sought, What time the golden apple was vnto unto him brought. [37] So being clad, vnto unto the fields he went With the faire Pastorella euery every day, And kept her sheepe with diligent attent, Watching to driue drive the rauenous ravenous Wolfe away, The whylest at pleasure she mote sport and play; And euery every euening evening helping them to fold: And otherwhiles for need, he did assay In his strong hand their rugged teats to hold, And out of them to presse the milke: loue love so much could. [38] Which seeing Coridon, who her likewise Long time had lou’d lov’d , and hop’d her loue love to gaine, He much was troubled at that straungers guize, And many gealous thoughts conceiu’d conceiv’d in vaine, Cant. IX. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 477 That this of all his labour and long paine Should reap the haruest harvest , ere it ripened were, That made him scoule, and pout, and oft complaine Of Pastorell to all the shepheards there, That she did loue love a stranger swayne then him more dere. [39] And euer ever when him came in companie, Where Calidore was present, he would loure, And byte his lip, and euen even for gealousie Was readie oft his owne hart to deuoure devoure , Impatient of any paramoure: Who on the other side did seeme so farre From malicing, or grudging his good houre, That all he could, he graced him with her, Ne euer ever shewed signe of rancour or of iarre jarre . [40] And oft, when Coridon vnto unto her brought Or litle sparrowes, stolen from their nest, Or wanton squirrels, in the woods farre sought, Or other daintie thing for her addrest, He would commend his guift, and make the best. Yet she no whit his presents did regard, Ne him could find to fancie in her brest: This newcome shepheard had his market mard. Old loue love is litle worth when new is more prefard. [41] One day when as the shepheard swaynes together Were met, to make their sports and merrie glee, As they are wont in faire sunshynie weather, The whiles their flockes in shadowes shrouded bee, They fell to daunce: then did they all agree, That Colin clout should pipe as one most fit; And Calidore should lead the ring, as hee That most in Pastorellaes grace did sit. Thereat frown’d Coridon, and his lip closely bit. 478 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. IX. For [42] But Calidore of courteous inclination Tooke Coridon, and set him in his place, That he should lead the daunce, as was his fashion; For Coridon could daunce, and trimly trace. And when as Pastorella, him to grace, Her flowry garlond tooke from her owne head, And plast on his, he did it soone displace, And did it put on Coridons in stead: Then Coridon woxe frollicke, that earst seemed dead. [43] Another time, when as they did dispose To practise games, and maisteries to try, They for their Iudge Judge did Pastorella chose; A garland was the meed of victory. There Coridon forth stepping openly, Did chalenge Calidore to wrestling game: For he through long and perfect industry, Therein well practisd was, and in the same Thought sure t’auenge t’avenge his grudge, & and worke his foe great (shame. [44] But Calidore he greatly did mistake; For he was strong and mightily stiffe pight, That with one fall his necke he almost brake, And had he not vpon upon him fallen light, His dearest ioynt joynt he sure had broken quight. Then was the oaken crowne by Pastorell Giuen Given to Calidore, as his due right; But he, that did in courtesie excell, Gaue Gave it to Coridon, and said he wonne it well. [45] Thus did the gentle knight himselfe abeare Amongst that rusticke rout in all his deeds, That euen even they, the which his riuals rivals were, Could not maligne him, but commend him needs: Cant. X. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . 479 Hh For courtesie amongst the rudest breeds: Good will and fauour favour . So it surely wrought With this faire Mayd, and in her mynde the seeds Of perfect loue love did sow, that last forth brought The fruite of ioy joy and blisse, though long time dearely (bought. [46] Thus Calidore continu’d there long time, To winne the loue love of the faire Pastorell; Which hauing having got, he vsed used without crime Or blamefull blot, but menaged so well, That he of all the rest, which there did well, Was fauoured favoured , and to her grace commmended. But what straunge fortunes vnto unto him befell, Ere he attain’d the point by him intended, Shall more conueniently conveniently in other place be ended.