The Faerie Queene

by Edmund Spenser

  40 Ah my deare Lord, what sight is this (quoth she)

  What May-game hath misfortune made of you?

  Where is that dreadfull manly looke? where be

  Those mighty palmes, the which ye wont t’embrew

  In bloud of Kings, and great hoastes to subdew?

  Could ought on earth so wondrous change haue wrought,

  As to haue robde you of that manly hew?

  Could so great courage stouped haue to ought?

  Then farewell fleshly force; I see thy pride is nought.

  41 Thenceforth she straight into a bowre him brought,

  And causd him those vncomely weedes vndight;

  And in their steede for other rayment sought,

  Whereof there was great store, and armors bright,

  Which had bene reft from many a noble Knight;

  Whom that proud Amazon subdewed had,

  Whilest Fortune fauourd her successe in fight,

  In which when as she him anew had clad,

  She was reuiu’d, and ioyd much in his semblance glad.

  42 So there a while they afterwards remained,

  Him to refresh, and her late wounds to heale:

  During which space she there as Princes rained,

  And changing all that forme of common weale,

  The liberty of women did repeale,

  Which they had long vsurpt; and them restoring

  To mens subiection, did true Iustice deale:

  That all they as a Goddesse her adoring,

  Her wisedome did admire, and hearkned to her loring.

  43 For all those Knights, which long in captiue shade

  Had shrowded bene, she did from thraldome free;

  And magistrates of all that city made,

  And gaue to them great liuing and large fee:

  And that they should for euer faithfull bee,

  Made them sweare fealty to Artegall.

  Who when him selfe now well recur’d did see,

  He purposd to proceed, what so be fall,

  Vppon his first aduenture, which him forth did call.

  44 Full sad and sorrowfull was Britomart

  For his departure, her new cause of griefe;

  Yet wisely moderated her owne smart,

  Seeing his honor, which she tendred chiefe,

  Consisted much in that aduentures priefe.

  The care whereof, and hope of his successe

  Gaue vnto her great comfort and reliefe,

  That womanish complaints she did represse,

  And tempred for the time her present heauinesse.

  45 There she continu’d for a certaine space,

  Till through his want her woe did more increase:

  Then hoping that the change of aire and place

  Would change her paine, and sorrow somewhat ease,

  She parted thence, her anguish to appease.

  Meane while her noble Lord sir Artegall

  Went on his way, ne euer howre did cease,

  Till he redeemed had that Lady thrall:

  That for another Canto will more fitly fall.

  CANTO VIII

  Prince Arthure and Sir Artegall,

  Free Samient from feare:

  They slay the Soudan, driue his wife,

  Adicia to despaire.

  1 Nought vnder heauen so strongly doth allure

  The sence of man, and all his minde possesse,

  As beauties louely baite, that doth procure

  Great warriours oft their rigour to represse,

  And mighty hands forget their manlinesse;

  Drawne with the powre of an heart-robbing eye,

  And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse,

  That can with melting pleasaunce mollifye

  Their hardned hearts, enur’d to bloud and cruelty.

  2 So whylome learnd that mighty Iewish swaine,

  Each of whose lockes did match a man in might,

  To lay his spoiles before his lemans traine:

  So also did that great Oetean Knight

  For his loues sake his Lions skin vndight:

  And so did warlike Antony neglect

  The worlds whole rule for Cleopatras sight.

  Such wondrous powre hath wemens faire aspect,

  To captiue men, and make them all the world reiect

  3 Yet could it not sterne Artegall retaine,

  Nor hold from suite of his auowed quest,

  Which he had vndertane to Gloriane;

  But left his loue, albe her strong request,

  Faire Britomart in languor and vnrest,

  And rode him selfe vppon his first intent:

  Ne day nor night did euer idly rest;

  Ne wight but onely Talus with him went,

  The true guide of his way and vertuous gouemment.

  4 So trauelling, he chaunst far off to heed

  A Damzell, flying on a palfrey fast

  Before two Knights, that after her did speed

  With all their powre, and her full fiercely chast

  In hope to haue her ouerhent at last:

  Yet fled she fast, and both them farre outwent,

  Carried with wings of feare, like fowle aghast,

  With locks all loose, and rayment all to rent;

  And euer as she rode, her eye was backeward bent

  5 Soone after these he saw another Knight,

  That after those two former rode apace,

  With speare in rest, and prickt with all his might:

  So ran they all, as they had bene at bace,

  They being chased, that did others chase.

  At length he saw the hindmost ouertake

  One of those two, and force him turne his face;

  How euer loth he were his way to slake,

  Yet mote he algates now abide, and answere make.

  6 But th’other still pursu’d the fearefull Mayd;

  Who still from him as fast away did flie,

  Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd,

  Till that at length she did before her spie

  Sir Artegall, to whom she streight did hie

  With gladfull hast, in hope of him to get

  Succour against her greedy enimy:

  Who seeing her approch gan forward set,

  To saue her from her feare, and him from force to let.

  7 But he like hound full greedy of his pray,

  Being impatient of impediment,

  Continu’d still his course, and by the way

  Thought with his speare him quight haue ouerwent

  So both together ylike felly bent,

  Like fiercely met. But Artegall was stronger,

  And better skild in Tilt and Turnament,

  And bore him quite out of his saddle, longer

  Then two speares length; So mischiefe ouermatcht the wronger.

  8 And in his fall misfortune him mistooke;

  For on his head vnhappily he pight,

  That his owne waight his necke asunder broke,

  And left there dead. Meane while the other Knight

  Defeated had the other faytour quight,

  And all his bowels in his body brast:

  Whom leauing there in that dispiteous plight,

  He ran still on, thinking to follow fast

  His other fellow Pagan, which before him past

  9 Instead of whom finding there ready prest

  Sir Artegall, without discretion

  He at him ran, with ready speare in rest:

  Who seeing him come still so fiercely on,

  Against him made againe. So both anon

  Together met, and strongly either strooke

  And broke their speares; yet neither has forgon

  His horses backe, yet to and fro long shooke,

  And tottred like two towres, which through a tempest quooke.

  10 But when againe they had recouered sence,

  They drew their swords, in mind to make amends

  For what their speares had fayld of their pretence.
<
br />   Which when the Damzell, who those deadly ends

  Of both her foes had seene, and now her frends

  For her beginning a more fearefull fray,

  She to them runnes in hast, and her haire rends,

  Crying to them their cruell hands to stay,

  Vntill they both doe heare, what she to them will say.

  11 They stayd their hands, when she thus gan to speake;

  Ah gentle Knights, what meane ye thus vnwise

  Vpon your selues anothers wrong to wreake?

  I am the wrong’d, whom ye did enterprise

  Both to redresse, and both redrest likewise:

  Witnesse the Paynims both, whom ye may see

  There dead on ground. What doe ye then deuise

  Of more reuenge? if more, then I am shee,

  Which was the roote of all, end your reuenge on mee.

  12 Whom when they heard so say, they lookt about,

  To weete if it were true, as she had told;

  Where when they saw their foes dead out of doubt,

  Eftsoones they gan their wrothfull hands to hold,

  And Ventailes reare, each other to behold.

  Tho when as Artegall did Arthure vew,

  So faire a creature, and so wondrous bold,

  He much admired both his heart and hew,

  And touched with intire affection, nigh him drew.

  13 Saying, sir Knight, of pardon I you pray,

  That all vnweeting haue you wrong’d thus sore,

  Suffring my hand against my heart to stray:

  Which if ye please forgiue, I will therefore

  Yeeld for amends my selfe yours euermore,

  Or what so penaunce shall by you be red.

  To whom the Prince; Certes me needeth more

  To craue the same, whom errour so misled,

  As that I did mistake the liuing for the ded.

  14 But sith ye please, that both our blames shall die,

  Amends may for the trespasse soone be made,

  Since neither is endamadg’d much thereby.

  So can they both them selues full eath perswade

  To faire accordaunce, and both faults to shade,

  Either embracing other louingly,

  And swearing faith to either on his blade,

  Neuer thenceforth to nourish enmity,

  But either others cause to maintaine mutually.

  15 Then Artegall gan of the Prince enquire,

  What were those knights, which there on ground were layd,

  And had receiu’d their follies worthy hire,

  And for what cause they chased so that Mayd.

  Certes I wote not well (the Prince then sayd)

  But by aduenture found them faring so,

  As by the way vnweetingly I strayd,

  And lo the Damzell selfe, whence all did grow,

  Of whom we may at will the whole occasion know.

  16 Then they that Damzell called to them nie,

  And asked her, what were those two her fone,

  From whom she earst so fast away did flie;

  And what was she her selfe so woe begone,

  And for what cause pursu’d of them attone.

  To whom she thus; Then wote ye well, that I

  Doe serue a Queene, that not far hence doth wone,

  A Princesse of great powre and maiestie,

  Famous through all the world, and honor’d far and nie.

  17 Her name Mercilla most men vse to call;

  That is a mayden Queene of high renowne,

  For her great bounty knowen ouer all,

  And soueraine grace, with which her royall crowne

  She doth support, and strongly beateth downe

  The malice of her foes, which her enuy,

  And at her happinesse do fret and frowne:

  Yet she her selfe the more doth magnify,

  And euen to her foes her mercies multiply.

  18 Mongst many which maligne her happy state,

  There is a mighty man, which wonnes here by

  That with most fell despight and deadly hate,

  Seekes to subuert her Crowne and dignity,

  And all his powre doth thereunto apply:

  And her good Knights, of which so braue a band

  Serues her, as any Princesse vnder sky,

  He either spoiles, if they against him stand,

  Or to his part allures, and bribeth vnder hand.

  19 Ne him sufficeth all the wrong and ill,

  Which he vnto her people does each day,

  But that he seekes by traytrous traines to spill

  Her person, and her sacred selfe to slay:

  That ô ye heauens defend, and turne away

  From her, vnto the miscreant him selfe,

  That neither hath religion nor fay,

  But makes his God of his vngodly pelfe,

  And Idols serues; so let his Idols serue the Elfe.

  20 To all which cruell tyranny they say,

  He is prouokt, and stird vp day and night

  By his bad wife, that hight Adicia,

  Who counsels him through confidence of might,

  To breake all bonds of law, and rules of right.

  For she her selfe professeth mortall foe

  To Iustice, and against her still doth fight,

  Working to all, that loue her, deadly woe,

  And making all her Knights and people to doe so.

  21 Which my liege Lady seeing, thought it best,

  With that his wife in friendly wise to deale,

  For stint of strife, and stablishment of rest

  Both to her selfe, and to her common weale,

  And all forepast displeasures to repeale.

  So me in message vnto her she sent,

  To treat with her by way of enterdeale,

  Of finall peace and faire attonement,

  Which might concluded be by mutuall consent.

  22 All times haue wont safe passage to afford

  To messengers, that come for causes iust:

  But this proude Dame disdayning all accord,

  Not onely into bitter termes forth brust,

  Reuiling me, and rayling as she lust,

  But lastly to make proofe of vtmost shame,

  Me like a dog she out of dores did thrust,

  Miscalling me by many a bitter name,

  That neuer did her ill, ne once deserued blame.

  23 And lastly, that no shame might wanting be,

  When I was gone, soone after me she sent

  These two false Knights, whom there ye lying see,

  To be by them dishonoured and shent:

  But thankt be God, and your good hardiment,

  They haue the price of their owne folly payd.

  So said this Damzell, that hight Samient,

  And to those knights, for their so noble ayd,

  Her selfe most gratefull shew’d, & heaped thanks repayd.

  24 But they now hauing throughly heard, and seene

  Al those great wrongs, the which that mayd complained

  To haue bene done against her Lady Queene,

  By that proud dame, which her so much disdained,

  Were moued much thereat, and twixt them fained,

  With all their force to worke auengement strong

  Vppon the Souldan selfe, which it mayntained,

  And on his Lady, th’author of that wrong,

  And vppon all those Knights, that did to her belong.

  25 But thinking best by counterfet disguise

  To their deseigne to make the easier way,

  They did this complot twixt them selues deuise,

  First that sir Artegall should him array,

  Like one of those two Knights, which dead there lay.

  And then that Damzell, the sad Samient,

  Should as his purchast prize with him conuay

  Vnto the Souldans court, her to present

  Vnto his scornefull Lady, that for her had sent.

  26 So as th
ey had deuiz’d, sir Artegall

  Him clad in th’annour of a Pagan knight,

  And taking with him, as his vanquisht thrall,

  That Damzell, led her to the Souldans right.

  Where soone as his proud wife of her had sight,

  Forth of her window as she looking lay,

  She weened streight, it was her Paynim Knight,

  Which brought that Damzell, as his purchast pray;

  And sent to him a Page, that mote direct his way.

  27 Who bringing them to their appointed place,

  Offred his seruice to disarme the Knight;

  But he refusing him to let vnlace,

  For doubt to be discouered by his sight,

  Kept himselfe still in his straunge armour dight.

  Soone after whom the Prince arriued there,

  And sending to the Souldan in despight

  A bold defyance, did of him requere

  That Damzell, whom he held as wrongfull prisonere.

  28 Wherewith the Souldan all with furie fraught,

  Swearing, and banning most blasphemously,

  Commaunded straight his armour to be brought,

  And mounting straight vpon a charret hye,

  With yron wheeles and hookes arm’d dreadfully,

  And drawne of cruell steedes, which he had fed

  With flesh of men, whom through fell tyranny

  He slaughtred had, and ere they were halfe ded,

  Their bodies to his beasts for prouender did spred.

  29 So forth he came all in a cote of plate,

  Burnisht with bloudie rust, whiles on the greene

  The Briton Prince him readie did awayte,

  In glistering armes right goodly well beseene,

  That shone as bright, as doth the heauen sheene;

  And by his stirrup Talus did attend,

  Playing his pages part, as he had beene

  Before directed by his Lord; to th’end

  He should his flale to flnall execution bend.

  30 Thus goe they both together to their geare,

  With like fierce minds, but meanings different:

  For the proud Souldan with presumpteous cheare,

  And countenance sublime and insolent,

  Sought onely slaughter and auengement:

  But the braue Prince for honour and for right,

  Gainst tortious powre and lawlesse regiment,

  In the behalfe of wronged weake did fight:

  More in his causes truth he trusted then in might

  31 Like to the Thraclan Tyrant, who they say

  Vnto his horses gaue his guests for meat,

  Till he himselfe was made their greedie pray,

  And torne in peeces by Alcides great.

  So thought the Souldan in his follies threat,

  Either the Prince in peeces to haue torne

  With his sharpe wheeles, in his first rages heat,