The Faerie Queene

by Edmund Spenser

  Offend the good: for good by paragone

  Of euill, may more notably be rad,

  As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone;

  Ne all are shamed by the fault of one:

  For lo in heauen, whereas all goodnesse is,

  Emongst the Angels, a whole legione

  Of wicked Sprights did fall from happy blis;

  What wonder then, if one of women all did mis?

  3 Then listen Lordings, if ye list to weet

  The cause, why Satyrane and Paridell

  Mote not be entertaynd, as seemed meet,

  Into that Castle (as that Squire does tell.)

  Therein a cancred crabbed Carle does dwell,

  That has no skill of Court nor courtesie,

  Ne cares, what men say of him ill or well;

  For all his dayes he drownes in priuitie,

  Yet has full large to liue, and spend at libertie.

  4 But all his mind is set on mucky pelfe,

  To hoord vp heapes of euill gotten masse,

  For which he others wrongs, and wreckes himselfe;

  Yet is he lincked to a louely lasse,

  Whose beauty doth her bounty far surpasse,

  The which to him both far vnequall yeares,

  And also far vnlike conditions has;

  For she does ioy to play emongst her peares,

  And to be free from hard restraint and gealous feares.

  5 But he is old, and withered like hay,

  Vnfit faire Ladies seruice to supply;

  The priuie guilt whereof makes him alway

  Suspect her truth, and keepe continuall spy

  Vpon her with his other blincked eye;

  Ne suffreth he resort of liuing wight

  Approch to her, ne keepe her company,

  But in close bowre her mewes from all mens sight,

  Depriu’d of kindly ioy and naturall delight.

  6 Malbecco he, and Hellenore she hight,

  Vnfitly yokt together in one teeme,

  That is the cause, why neuer any knight

  Is suffred here to enter, but he seeme

  Such, as no doubt of him he neede misdeeme.

  Thereat Sir Satyrane gan smile, and say;

  Extremely mad the man I surely deeme,

  That weenes with watch and hard restraint to stay

  A womans will, which is disposd to go astray.

  7 In vaine he feares that, which he cannot shonne:

  For who wotes not, that womans subtiltyes

  Can guilen Argus, when she list misdonne?

  It is not yron bandes, nor hundred eyes,

  Nor brasen walls, nor many wakefull spyes,

  That can withhold her wilfull wandring feet;

  But fast good will with gentle curtesyes,

  And timely seruice to her pleasures meet

  May her perhaps containe, that else would algates fleet

  8 Then is he not more mad (said Paridell)

  That hath himselfe vnto such seruice sold,

  In dolefull thraldome all his dayes to dwell?

  For sure a foole I do him firmely hold,

  That loues his fetters, though they were of gold.

  But why do we deuise of others ill,

  Whiles thus we suffer this same dotard old,

  To keepe vs out, in scorne of his owne will,

  And rather do not ransack all, and him selfe kill?

  9 Nay let vs first (said Satyrane) entreat

  The man by gentle meanes, to let vs in,

  And afterwardes affray with cruell threat,

  Ere that we to efforce it do begin:

  Then if all fayle, we will by force it win,

  And eke reward the wretch for his mesprise,

  As may be worthy of his haynous sin.

  That counsell pleasd: then Paridell did rise,

  And to the Castle gate approcht in quiet wise.

  10 Whereat soft knocking, entrance he desyrd.

  The good man selfe, which then the Porter playd,

  Him answered, that all were now retyrd

  Vnto their rest, and all the keyes conuayd

  Vnto their maister, who in bed was layd,

  That none him durst awake out of his dreme;

  And therefore them of patience gently prayd.

  Then Paridell began to chaunge his theme,

  And threatned him with force & punishment extreme.

  11 But all in vaine; for nought mote him relent,

  And now so long before the wicket fast

  They wayted, that the night was forward spent,

  And the faire welkin fowly ouercast,

  Gan blowen vp a bitter stormy blast,

  With shoure and hayle so horrible and dred,

  That this faire many were compeld at last,

  To fly for succour to a little shed,

  The which beside the gate for swine was ordered.

  12 It fortuned, soone after they were gone,

  Another knight, whom tempest thither brought,

  Came to that Castle, and with earnest mone,

  Like as the rest, late entrance deare besought;

  But like so as the rest he prayd for nought,

  For flatly he of entrance was refusd,

  Sorely thereat he was displeasd, and thought

  How to auenge himselfe so sore abusd,

  And euermore the Carle of curtesie accusd.

  13 But to auoyde th’intollerable stowre,

  He was compeld to seeke some refuge neare,

  And to that shed, to shrowd him from the showre,

  He came, which full of guests he found whyleare,

  So as he was not let to enter there:

  Whereat he gan to wex exceeding wroth,

  And swore, that he would lodge with them yfere,

  Or them dislodge, all were they liefe or loth;

  And so defide them each, and so defide them both.

  14 Both were full loth to leaue that needfull tent,

  And both full loth in darkenesse to debate;

  Yet both full liefe him lodging to haue lent,

  And both full liefe his boasting to abate;

  But chiefly Paridell his hart did grate,

  To heare him threaten so despightfully,

  As if he did a dogge to kenell rate,

  That durst not barke; and rather had he dy,

  Then when he was defide, in coward corner ly.

  15 Tho hastily remounting to his steed,

  He forth issew’d; like as a boistrous wind,

  Which in th’earthes hollow caues hath long bin hid,

  And shut vp fast within her prisons blind,

  Makes the huge element against her kind

  To moue, and tremble as it were agast,

  Vntill that it an issew forth may find;

  Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blast

  Confounds both land & seas, and skyes doth ouercast

  16 Their steel-hed speares they strongly coucht, and met

  Together with impetuous rage and forse,

  That with the terrour of their fierce affret,

  They rudely droue to ground both man and horse,

  That each awhile lay like a sencelesse corse.

  But Paridell sore brused with the blow,

  Could not arise, the counterchaunge to scorse,

  Till that young Squire him reared from below;

  Then drew he his bright sword, & gan about him throw.

  17 But Satyrane forth stepping, did them stay

  And with faire treatie pacifide their ire;

  Then when they were accorded from the fray,

  Against that Castles Lord they gan conspire,

  To heape on him dew vengeaunce for his hire.

  They bene agreed, and to the gates they goe

  To burne the same with vnquenchable fire,

  And that vncurteous Carle their commune foe

  To do fowle death to dye, or wrap in grieuous woe.

  18 Malbecco seeing
them resolu’d in deed

  To flame the gates, and hearing them to call

  For fire in earnest, ran with fearefull speed,

  And to them calling from the castle wall,

  Besought them humbly, him to beare with all,

  As ignoraunt of seruants bad abuse,

  And slacke attendaunce vnto straungers call.

  The knights were willing all things to excuse,

  Though nought beleu’d, & entraunce late did not refuse.

  19 They bene ybrought into a comely bowre,

  And seru’d of all things that mote needfull bee;

  Yet secretly their hoste did on them lowre,

  And welcomde more for feare, then charitee;

  But they dissembled, what they did not see,

  And welcomed themselues. Each gan vndight

  Their garments wet, and weary armour free,

  To dry them selues by Vulcanes flaming light,

  And eke their lately bruzed parts to bring in plight.

  20 And eke that straunger knight emongst the rest,

  Was for like need enforst to disaray:

  Tho whenas vailed was her loftie crest,

  Her golden locks, that were in tramels gay

  Vpbounden, did them selues adowne display,

  And raught vnto her heeles; like sunny beames,

  That in a cloud their light did long time stay,

  Their vapour vaded, shew their golden gleames,

  And through the persant aire shoote forth their azure streames.

  21 She also dofte her heauy haberieon,

  Which the faire feature of her limbs did hyde,

  And her well plighted frock, which she did won

  To tucke about her short, when she did ryde,

  She low let fall, that flowd from her lanck syde

  Downe to her foot, with carelesse modestee.

  Then of them all she plainly was espyde,

  To be a woman wight, vnwist to bee,

  The fairest woman wight, that euer eye did see.

  22 Like as Minerua, being late returnd

  From slaughter of the Giaunts conquered;

  Where proud Encelade, whose wide nosethrils burnd

  With breathed flames, like to a furnace red,

  Transfixed with the speare, downe tombled ded

  From top of Hemus, by him heaped hye;

  Hath loosd her helmet from her lofty hed,

  And her Gorgonian shield gins to vntye

  From her left arme, to rest in glorious victorye.

  23 Which whenas they beheld, they smitten were

  With great amazement of so wondrous sight,

  And each on other, and they all on her

  Stood gazing, as if suddein great affright

  Had them surprised. At last auizing right,

  Her goodly personage and glorious hew,

  Which they so much mistooke, they tooke delight

  In their first errour, and yet still anew

  With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry vew.

  24 Yet note their hungry vew be satisfide,

  But seeing still the more desir’d to see,

  And euer firmely fixed did abide

  In contemplation of diuinitie:

  But most they meruaild at her cheualree,

  And noble prowesse, which they bad approued,

  That much they faynd to know, who she mote bee;

  Yet none of all them her thereof amoued,

  Yet euery one her likte, and euery one her loued,

  25 And Paridell though partly discontent

  With his late fall, and fowle indignity,

  Yet was soone wonne his malice to relent,

  Through gracious regard of her faire eye,

  And knightly worth, which he too late did try,

  Yet tried did adore. Supper was dight;

  Then they Malbecco prayd of curtesy,

  That of his Lady they might haue the sight,

  And company at meat, to do them more delight

  26 But he to shift their curious request,

  Gan causen, why she could not come in place;

  Her erased health, her late recourse to rest,

  And humid euening ill for sicke folkes cace:

  But none of those excuses could take place;

  Ne would they eate, till she in presence came.

  She came in presence with right comely grace,

  And fairely them saluted, as became,

  And shewd her selfe in all a gentle curteous Dame.

  27 They sate to meat, and Satyrane his chaunce

  Was her before, and Paridell besyde;

  But he him selfe sate looking still askaunce,

  Gainst Britomart, and euer closely eyde

  Sir Satyrane, that glaunces might not glyde:

  But his blind eye, that syded Paridell,

  All his demeasnure from his sight did hyde:

  On her faire face so did he feede his fill,

  And sent close messages of loue to her at will.

  28 And euer and anone, when none was ware,

  With speaking lookes, that dose embassage bore,

  He rou’d at her, and told his secret care:

  For all that art he learned had of yore.

  Ne was she ignoraunt of that lewd lore,

  But in his eye his meaning wisely red,

  And with the like him answerd euermore:

  She sent at him one firie dart, whose hed

  Empoisned was with priuy lust, and gealous dred.

  29 He from that deadly throw made no defence,

  But to the wound his weake hart opened wyde;

  The wicked engine through false influence,

  Past through his eyes, and secretly did glyde

  Into his hart, which it did sorely gryde.

  But nothing new to him was that same paine,

  Ne paine at all; for he so oft had tryde

  The powre thereof, and lou’d so oft in vaine,

  That thing of course he counted, loue to entertaine.

  30 Thenceforth to her he sought to intimate

  His inward griefe, by meanes to him well knowne,

  Now Bacchus fruit out of the siluer plate

  He on the table dasht, as ouerthrowne,

  Or of the fruitfull h’quor ouerflowne,

  And by the dauncing bubbles did diuine,

  Or therein write to let his loue be showne;

  Which well she red out of the learned line,

  A sacrament prophane in mistery of wine.

  31 And when so of his hand the pledge she raught,

  The guilty cup she fained to mistake,

  And in her lap did shed her idle draught,

  Shewing desire her inward flame to slake:

  By such close signes they secret way did make

  Vnto their wils, and one eyes watch escape;

  Two eyes him needeth, for to watch and wake,

  Who louers will deceiue. Thus was the ape,

  By their faire handling, put into Malbeccoes cape.

  32 Now when of meats and drinks they had their fill,

  Purpose was moued by that gentle Dame,

  Vnto those knights aduenturous, to tell

  Of deeds of armes, which vnto them became,

  And euery one his kindred, and his name.

  Then Paridell, in whom a kindly pryde

  Of gracious speach, and skill his words to frame

  Abounded, being glad of so fit tyde

  Him to commend to her, thus spake, of all well eyde.

  33 Troy, that art now nought, but an idle name,

  And in thine ashes buried low dost lie,

  Though whilome far much greater then thy fame,

  Before that angry Gods, and cruell skye

  Vpon thee heapt a direfull destinie,

  What boots it boast thy glorious descent,

  And fetch from heauen thy great Genealogie,

  Sith all thy worthy prayses being blent,

  Their of-spring hath emb
aste, and later glory shent.

  34 Most famous Worthy of the world, by whome

  That warre was kindled, which did Troy inflame,

  And stately towres of Ilion whilome

  Brought vnto balefull mine, was by name

  Sir Paris far renowmd through noble fame,

  Who through great prowesse and bold hardinesse,

  From Lacedœmon fetcht the fairest Dame,

  That euer Greece did boast, or knight possesse,

  Whom Venus to him gaue for meed of worthinesse.

  35 Faire Helene, flowre of beautie excellent,

  And girlond of the mighty Conquerours,

  That madest many Ladies deare lament

  The heauie losse of their braue Paramours,

  Which they far off beheld from Troian toures,

  And saw the fieldes of faire Scamander strowne

  With carcases of noble warrioures,

  Whose fruitlesse h’ues were vnder furrow sowne,

  And Xanthus sandy bankes with bloud all ouernowne.

  36 From him my linage I deriue aright,

  Who long before the ten yeares siege of Troy,

  Whiles yet on Ide he a shepheard hight,

  On faire Oenone got a louely boy,

  Whom for remembraunce of her passed ioy,

  She of his Father Parius did name;

  Who, after Greekes did Priams realme destroy,

  Gathred the Troian reliques sau’d from flame,

  And with them sayling thence, to th’Isle of Paros came.

  37 That was by him cald Paros, which before

  Hight Nausa, there he many yeares did raine,

  And built Nausicle by the Pontick shore,

  The which he dying left next in remaine

  To Paridas his sonne.

  From whom I Paridell by kin descend;

  But for faire Ladies loue, and glories gaine,

  My natiue soile haue left, my dayes to spend

  In seewing deeds of armes, my liues and labours end.

  38 Whenas the noble Britomart heard tell

  Of Troian warres, and Priams Citie sackt,

  The ruefull story of Sir Paridell,

  She was empassiond at that piteous act,

  With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact,

  Against that nation, from whose race of old

  She heard, that she was lineally extract:

  For noble Britons sprong from Troians bold,

  And Troynouant was built of old Troyes ashes cold.

  39 Then sighing soft awhile, at last she thus:

  O lamentable fall of famous towne,

  Which raignd so many yeares victorious,

  And of all Asie bore the soueraigne crowne,

  In one sad night consumd, and throwen downe:

  What stony hart, that heares thy haplesse fate,

  Is not empierst with deepe compassiowne,

  And makes ensample of mans wretched state,

  That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at euening late?