The Faerie Queene

by Edmund Spenser

  Now stood, came forth in hast to take his part,

  And pacific the strife, which causd so deadly smart.

  41 And as she passed through th’vnruly preace

  Of people, thronging thicke her to behold,

  Her angrie teame breaking their bonds of peace,

  Great heapes of them, like sheepe in narrow fold,

  For hast did ouer-runne, in dust enrould,

  That thorough rude confusion of the rout,

  Some fearing shriekt, some being harmed hould,

  Some laught for sport, some did for wonder shout,

  And some that would seeme wise, their wonder turnd to dout.

  42 In her right hand a rod of peace shee bore,

  About the which two Serpents weren wound,

  Entrayled mutually in louely lore,

  And by the tailes together firmely bound,

  And both were with one oliue garland crownd

  Like to the rod which Maias sonne doth wield,

  Wherewith the hellishfiends he doth confound.

  And in her other hand a cup she hild,

  The which was with Nepenthe to the brim vpfild.

  43 Nepenthe is a drinck of souerayne grace,

  Deuized by the Gods, for to asswage

  Harts grief, and bitter gall away to chace,

  Which stirs vp anguish and contentious rage:

  In stead thereof sweet peace and quiet age

  It doth establish in the troubled mynd.

  Few men, but such as sober are and sage,

  Are by the Gods to drinck thereof assynd;

  But such as drinck, eternall happinesse do fynd.

  44 Such famous men, such worthies of the earth,

  As Ioue will haue aduaunced to the skie,

  And there made gods, though borne of mortall berth,

  For their high merits and great dignitie,

  Are wont, before they may to heauen flie,

  To drincke hereof, whereby all cares forepast

  Are washt away quite from their memorie.

  So did those olde Heroes hereof taste,

  Before that they in blisse amongst the Gods were plaste.

  45 Much more of price and of more gratious powre

  Is this, then that same water of Ardenne,

  The which Rinaldo drunck in happie howre,

  Described by that famous Tuscane penne:

  For that had might to change the hearts of men

  Fro loue to hate, a change of euill choise:

  But this doth hatred make in loue to brenne,

  And heauy heart with comfort doth reioyce.

  Who would not to this vertue rather yeeld his voice?

  46 At last arriuing by the listes side,

  Shee with her rod did softly smite the raile,

  Which straight flew ope, and gaue her way to ride.

  Eftsoones out of her Coch she gan auaile,

  And pacing fairely forth, did bid all haile,

  First to her brother, whom she loued deare,

  That so to see him made her heart to quaile:

  And next to Cambell, whose sad ruefull cheare

  Made her to change her hew, and hidden loue t’appeare.

  47 They lightly her requit (for small delight

  They had as then her long to entertaine,)

  And eft them turned both againe to fight,

  Which when she saw, downe on the bloudy plaine

  Her selfe she threw, and teares gan shed amaine;

  Amongst her teares immuring prayers meeke,

  And with her prayers reasons to restraine,

  From blouddy strife, and blessed peace to seeke,

  By all that vnto them was deare, did them beseeke.

  48 But when as all might nought with them preuaile,

  Shee smote them lightly with her powrefull wand.

  Then suddenly as if their hearts did faile,

  Their wrathfull blades downe fell out of their hand,

  And they like men astonisht still did stand.

  Thus whilest their minds were doubtfully distraught,

  And mighty spirites bound with mightier band,

  Her golden cup to them for drinke she raught,

  Whereof full glad for thirst, ech drunk an harty draught.

  49 Of which so soone as they once tasted had,

  Wonder it is that sudden change to see:

  Instead of strokes, each other kissed glad,

  And louely haulst from feare of treason free,

  And plighted hands for euer friends to be.

  When all men saw this sudden change of things,

  So mortall foes so friendly to agree,

  For passing ioy, which so great maruaile brings,

  They all gan shout aloud, that all the heauen rings.

  50 All which, when gentle Canacee beheld,

  In hast she from her lofty chaire descended,

  Too weet what sudden tidings was befeld:

  Where when she saw that cruell war so ended,

  And deadly foes so faithfully affrended,

  In louely wise she gan that Lady greet,

  Which had so great dismay so well amended,

  And entertaining her with curt’sies meet,

  Profest to her true friendship and affection sweet.

  51 Thus when they all accorded goodly were,

  The trumpets sounded, and they all arose,

  Thence to depart with glee and gladsome chere.

  Those warlike champions both together chose,

  Homeward to march, themselues there to repose,

  And wise Cambina taking by her side

  Faire Canacee, as fresh as morning rose,

  Vnto her Coch remounting, home did ride,

  Admir’d of all the people, and much glorifide.

  52 Where making ioyous feast theire daies they spent

  In perfect loue, deuoide of hatefull strife,

  Allide with bands of mutuall couplement;

  For Triamond had Canacee to wife,

  With whom he ledd a long and happie life;

  And Cambel tooke Cambina to his fere,

  The which as life were each to other liefe.

  So all alike did loue, and loued were,

  That since their days such louers were not found elswere.

  CANTO IV

  Satyrane makes a Tumeyment

  For Ioue of Florimell:

  Britomart winnes the prize from all,

  And Artegall doth quell.

  1 It often fals, (as here it earst befell)

  That mortall foes doe turne to faithfull frends,

  And friends profest are chaungd to foemen fell:

  The cause of both, of both their minds depends;

  And th’end of both likewise of both their ends.

  For enmitie, that of no ill proceeds,

  But of occasion, with th’occasion ends;

  And friendship, which a faint affection breeds

  Without regard of good, dyes like ill grounded seeds.

  2 That well (me seemes) appeares, by that of late

  Twixt Cambell and Sir Triamond befell,

  As els by this, that now a new debate

  Stird vp twixt Blandamour and Paridell,

  The which by course befals me here to tell:

  Who hauing those two other Knights espide

  Marching afore, as ye remember well,

  Sent forth their Squire to haue them both descride,

  And eke those masked Ladies riding them beside.

  3 Who backe returning, told as he had seene,

  That they were doughtie knights of dreaded name:

  And those two Ladies, their two loues vnseene;

  And therefore wisht them without blot or blame,

  To let them passe at will, for dread of shame.

  But Blandamour full of vainglorious spright,

  And rather stird by bis discordfull Dame,

  Vpon them gladly would haue prov’d his might,

  But that he yet was sore
of his late lucklesse fight.

  4 Yet nigh approching, he them fowle bespake,

  Disgracing them, him selfe thereby to grace,

  As was his wont, so weening way to make

  To Ladies loue, where so he came in place,

  And with lewd termes their louers to deface.

  Whose sharpe prouokement them incenst so sore,

  That both were bent t’auenge his vsage base,

  And gan their shields addresse them selues afore:

  For euill deedes may better then bad words be bore.

  5 But faire Cambina with perswasions myld,

  Did mitigate the fiercenesse of their mode,

  That for the present they were reconcyld,

  And gan to treate of deeds of armes abrode,

  And strange aduentures, all the way they rode:

  Amongst the which they told, as then befell,

  Of that great turney, which was blazed brode,

  For that rich girdle of faire Florimell,

  The prize of her, which did in beautie most excell.

  6 To which folke-mote they all with one consent,

  Sith each of them his Ladie had him by,

  Whose beautie each of them thought excellent,

  Agreed to trauell, and their fortunes try.

  So as they passed forth, they did espy

  One in bright armes, with ready speare in rest,

  That toward them his course seem’d to apply,

  Gainst whom Sir Paridell himselfe addrest,

  Him weening, ere he nigh approcht to haue represt.

  7 Which th’other seeing, gan his course relent,

  And vaunted speare eftsoones to disaduaunce,

  As if he naught but peace and pleasure ment,

  Now falne into their fellowship by chance,

  Whereat they shewed curteous countenaunce.

  So as he rode with them accompanide,

  His rouing eie did on the Lady glaunce,

  Which Blandamour had riding by his side:

  Whom sure he weend, that he some wher tofore had eide.

  8 It was to weete that snowy Florimell,

  Which Ferrau late from Braggodochio wonne,

  Whom he now seeing, her remembred well,

  How hauing reft her from the witches sonne,

  He soone her lost: wherefore he now begunne

  To challenge her anew, as his owne prize,

  Whom formerly he had in battell wonne,

  And proffer made by force her to reprize,

  Which scornefull offer, Blandamour gan soone despize.

  9 And said, Sir Knight, sith ye this Lady clame,

  Whom he that hath, were loth to lose so light,

  (For so to lose a Lady, were great shame)

  Yee shall her winne, as I haue done in fight:

  And lo shee shall be placed here in sight,

  Together with this Hag beside her set,

  That who so winnes her, may her haue by right:

  But he shall haue the Hag that is ybet,

  And with her alwaies ride, till he another get.

  10 That offer pleased all the company,

  So Florimell with Ate forth was brought,

  At which they all gan laugh full merrily:

  But Braggadochio said, he neuer thought

  For such an Hag, that seemed worse then nought,

  His person to emperill so in fight.

  But if to match that Lady they had sought

  Another like, that were like faire and bright,

  His life he then would spend to iustifie his right.

  11 At which his vaine excuse they all gan smile,

  As scorning his vnmanly cowardize:

  And Florimell him fowly gan reuile,

  That for her sake refus’d to enterprize

  The battell, offred in so knightly wize.

  And Ate eke prouokt him priuily,

  With loue of her, and shame of such mesprize.

  But naught he car’d for friend or enemy,

  For in base mind nor friendship dwels nor enmity.

  12 But Cambell thus did shut vp all in iest,

  Braue Knights and Ladies, certes ye doe wrong

  To stirre vp strife, when most vs needeth rest,

  That we may vs reserue both fresh and strong,

  Against the Turneiment which is not long.

  When who so list to fight, may fight his fill,

  Till then your challenges ye may prolong;

  And then it shall be tried, if ye will,

  Whether shall haue the Hag, or hold the Lady still.

  13 They all agreed, so turning all to game,

  And pleasaunt bord, they past forth on their way,

  And all that while, where so they rode or came,

  That masked Mock-knight was their sport and play

  Till that at length vpon th’appointed day,

  Vnto the place of turneyment they came;

  Where they before them found in fresh aray

  Manie a braue knight, and manie a daintie dame

  Assembled, for to get the honour of that game.

  14 There this faire crewe arriuing, did diuide

  Them selues asunder: Blandamour with those

  Of his, on th’one; the rest on th’other side.

  But boastfull Braggadocchio rather chose,

  For glorie vaine their fellowship to lose,

  That men on him the more might gaze alone.

  The rest them selues in troupes did else dispose,

  Like as it seemed best to euery one;

  The knights in couples marcht, with ladies linckt attone.

  15 Then first of all forth came Sir Satyrane,

  Bearing that precious relicke in an arke

  Of gold, that bad eyes might it not prophane:

  Which drawing softly forth out of the darke,

  He open shewd, that all men it mote marke.

  A gorgeous girdle, curiously embost

  With pearle & precious stone, worth many a marke;

  Yet did the workmanship farre passe the cost:

  It was the same, which lately Florimel had lost.

  16 That same aloft he hong in open vew,

  To be the prize of beautie and of might;

  The which eftsoones discouered, to it drew

  The eyes of all, allur’d with close delight,

  And hearts quite robbed with so glorious sight,

  That all men threw out vowes and wishes vaine.

  Thrise happie Ladie, and thrise happie knight,

  Them seemd that could so goodly riches gaine,

  So worthie of the perill, wormy of the paine.

  17 Then tooke the bold Sir Satyrane in hand

  An huge great speare, such as he wont to wield,

  And vaunting forth from all the other band

  Of knights, addrest his maiden-headed shield,

  Shewing him selfe all ready for the field.

  Gainst whom there singled from the other side

  A Painim knight, that well in armes was skild,

  And had in many a battell oft bene tride,

  Hight Bruncheual the bold, who fiersly forth did ride.

  18 So furiously they both together met,

  That neither could the others force sustaine;

  As two fierce Buls, that striue the rule to get

  Of all the heard, meete with so hideous maine,

  That both rebutted, tumble on the plaine:

  So these two champions to the ground were feld,

  Where in a maze they both did long remaine,

  And in their hands their idle troncheons held,

  Which neither able were to wag, or once to weld.

  19 Which when the noble Ferramont espide,

  He pricked forth in ayd of Satyran;

  And him against Sir Blandamour did ride

  With all the strength and stifnesse that he can.

  But the more strong and stiffely that he ran,

  So much more sorely to the ground he f
ell,

  That on an heape were tumbled horse and man.

  Vnto whose rescue forth rode Paridell;

  But him likewise with that same speare he eke did quell.

  20 Which Braggadocchio seeing, had no will

  To hasten greatly to his parties ayd,

  Albee his turne were next; but stood there still,

  As one that seemed doubtfull or dismayd.

  But Triamond halfe wroth to see him staid,

  Sternly stept forth, and raught away his speare,

  With which so sore he Ferramont assaid,

  That horse and man to ground he quite did beare,

  That neither could in hast themselues againe vpreare.

  21 Which to auenge, Sir Deuon him did dight,

  But with no better fortune then the rest:

  For him likewise he quickly downe did smight,

  And after him Sir Douglas him addrest,

  And after him Sir Paliumord forth prest.

  But none of them against his strokes could stand,

  But all the more, the more his praise increst

  For either they were left vppon the land,

  Or went away sore wounded of his haplesse hand.

  22 And now by this, Sir Satyrane abraid,

  Out of the swowne, in which too long he lay;

  And looking round about, like one dismaid,

  When as he saw the mercilesse affray,

  Which doughty Triamond had wrought that day,

  Vnto the noble Knights of Maidenhead,

  His mighty heart did almost rend in tway,

  For very gall, that rather wholly dead

  Himselfe he wisht haue beene, then in so bad a stead.

  23 Eftsoones he gan to gather vp around

  His weapons, which lay scattered all abrode,

  And as it fell, his steed he ready found.

  On whom remounting, fiercely forth he rode,

  Like sparke of fire that from the anduile glode,

  There where he saw the valiant Triamond

  Chasing, and laying on them heauy lode.

  That none his force were able to withstond,

  So dreadfull were his strokes, so deadly was his hond.

  24 With that at him his beamlike speare he aimed,

  And thereto all his power and might applide:

  The wicked steele for mischiefe first ordained,

  And hauing now misfortune got for guide,

  Staid not, till it arriued in his side,

  And therein made a very griesly wound,

  That streames of bloud his armour all bedide.

  Much was he daunted with that direfull stound,

  That scarse he him vpheld from falling in a sound.

  25 Yet as he might, himselfe he soft withdrew

  Out of the field, that none perceiu’d it plaine,

  Then gan the part of Chalengers anew