355 Z2

THE SIXTE BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE . Contayning THE LEGEND OF S.CALIDORE OR OF COVRTESIE COURTESIE .

[1] THe The waies, through which my weary steps I (guyde, In this delightfull land of Faery, Are so exceeding spacious and wyde, And sprinckled with such sweet variety, Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye, That I nigh rauisht ravisht with rare thoughts delight, My tedious trauell travell doe forget thereby; And when I gin to feele decay of might, It tI strength to me supplies, & and chears my dulled spright. [2] Such secret comfort, and such heauenly heavenly pleasures, Ye sacred imps, that on Parnasso dwell, And there the keeping haue have of learnings threasures, Which doe all worldly riches farre excell, Into the mindes of mortall men doe well, And goodly fury into them infuse; Guyde ye my footing, and conduct me well In these strange waies, where neuer never foote did vse use , Ne none can find, but who was taught them by the Muse. 356 THE VI. BOOKE OF THE Cant. I. In [3] Reuele Revele to me the sacred noursery Of vertue, which with you doth there remaine, Where it in siluer silver bowre does hidden ly From view of men, and wicked worlds disdaine. Since it at first was by the Gods with paine Planted in earth, being deriu’d deriv’d at furst From heauenly heavenly seedes of bounty soueraine, And by them long with carefull labour nurst, Till it to ripenesse grew, and forth to honour burst. [4] Amongst them all growes not a fayrer flowre, Then is the bloosme of comely courtesie, Which though it on a lowly stalke doe bowre, Yet brancheth forth in braue brave nobilitie, And spreds it selfe through all ciuilitie civilitie : Of which though present age doe plenteous seeme, Yet being matcht with plaine Antiquitie, Ye will them all but fayned showes esteeme, Which carry colours faire, that feeble eies misdeeme. [5] But in the triall of true curtesie, Its now so farre from that, which then it was, That it indeed is nought but forgerie, Fashion’d to please the eies of them, that pas, Which see not perfet things but in a glas: Yet is that glasse so gay, that it can blynd The wisest sight, to thinke gold that is bras. But vertues seat is deepe within the mynd, And not in outward shows, but inward thoughts defynd. [6] But where shall I in all Antiquity So faire a patterne finde, where may be seene The goodly praise of Princely curtesie, As in your selfe, O soueraine soveraine Lady Queene, Cant. I. FAERIE QVEENE QUEENE 357 Z3 In whose pure minde, as in a mirrour sheene It showes, and with her brightnesse doth inflame The eyes of all, which thereon fixed beene; But meriteth indeede an higher name: Yet so from low to high vplifted uplifted is your name. [7] Then pardon me, most dreaded Soueraine Soveraine That from your selfe I doe this vertue bring, And to your selfe doe it returne againe: So from the Ocean all riuers rivers spring, And tribute backe repay as to their King. Right so from you all goodly vertues well Into the rest, which round about you ring, Faire Lords and Ladies, which about you dwell, And doe adorne your Court, where courtesies excell.