The Faerie Queene

by Edmund Spenser

  That haue with treason thralled vnto you

  These two, vnworthy of your wretched bands;

  And now your crime with cruelty pursew.

  Abide, and from them lay your loathly hands;

  Or else abide the death, that hard before you stands.

  8 The villaine stayd not aunswer to inuent,

  But with his yron club preparing way,

  His mindes sad message backe vnto him sent;

  The which descended with such dreadfull sway,

  That seemed nought the course thereof could stay:

  No more then lightening from the lofty sky.

  Ne list the Knight the powre thereof assay,

  Whose doome was death, but lightly slipping by,

  Vnwares defrauded his intended destiny.

  9 And to requite him with the like againe,

  With his sharpe sword he fiercely at him flew,

  And strooke so strongly, that the Carle with paine

  Saued him selfe, but that he there him slew:

  Yet sau’d not so, but that the bloud it drew,

  And gaue his foe good hope of victory.

  Who therewith flesht, vpon him set anew,

  And with the second stroke, thought certainely

  To haue supplyde the first, and paide the vsury.

  10 But Fortune aunswerd not vnto his call;

  For as his hand was heaued vp on hight,

  The villaine met him in the middle fall,

  And with his club bet backe his brondyron bright

  So forcibly, that with his owne hands might

  Rebeaten backe vpon him selfe againe,

  He driuen was to ground in selfe despight;

  From whence ere he recouery could gaine,

  He in his necke had set his foote with fell disdaine.

  11 With that the foole, which did that end awayte,

  Came running in, and whilest on ground he lay,

  Laide heauy hands on him, and held so strayte,

  That downe he kept him with his scornefull sway,

  So as he could not weld him any way.

  The whiles that other villaine went about

  Him to haue bound, and thrald without delay;

  The whiles the foole did him reuile and flout,

  Threatning to yoke them two & tame their corage stout.

  12 As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde

  By strength haue ouerthrowne a stubborne steare,

  They downe him hold, and fast with cords do bynde,

  Till they him force the buxome yoke to beare:

  So did these two this Knight oft tug and teare.

  Which when the Prince beheld, there standing by,

  He left his lofty steede to aide him neare,

  And buckling soone him selfe, gan fiercely fly

  Vppon that Carle, to saue his friend from ieopardy.

  13 The villaine leauing him vnto his mate

  To be captiu’d, and handled as he list,

  Himselfe addrest vnto this new debate,

  And with his club him all about so blist,

  That he which way to turne him scarcely wist:

  Sometimes aloft he layd, sometimes alow;

  Now here, now there, and oft him neare he mist;

  So doubtfully, that hardly one could know

  Whether more wary were to giue or ward the blow.

  14 But yet the Prince so well enured was

  With such huge strokes, approued oft in fight,

  That way to them he gaue forth right to pas.

  Ne would endure the daunger of their might,

  But wayt aduantage, when they downe did light.

  At last the caytiue after long discourse,

  When all his strokes he saw auoyded quite,

  Resolued in one t’assemble all his force,

  And make one end of him without ruth or remorse.

  15 His dreadfull hand he heaued vp aloft,

  And with his dreadfull instrument of yre,

  Thought sure haue pownded him to powder soft,

  Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre:

  But Fortune did not with his will conspire.

  For ere his stroke attayned his intent,

  The noble childe preuenting his desire,

  Vnder his club with wary boldnesse went,

  And smote him on the knee, that neuer yet was bent.

  16 It neuer yet was bent, ne bent it now,

  Albe the stroke so strong and puissant were,

  That seem’d a marble pillour it could bow,

  But all that leg, which did his body beare,

  It crackt throughout, yet did no bloud appeare;

  So as it was vnable to support

  So huge a burden on such broken geare,

  But fell to ground, like to a lumpe of durt,

  Whence he assayd to rise, but could not for his hurt.

  17 Eftsoones the Prince to him full nimbly stept,

  And least he should recouer foote againe,

  His head meant from his shoulders to haue swept.

  Which when the Lady saw, she cryde amaine;

  Stay stay, Sir Knight, for loue of God abstaine,

  From that vnwares ye weetlesse doe intend;

  Slay not that Carle, though worthy to be slaine:

  For more on him doth then him selfe depend;

  My life will by his death haue lamentable end.

  18 He staide his hand according her desire,

  Yet nathemore him suffred to arize;

  But still suppressing gan of her inquire,

  What meaning mote those vncouth words comprize,

  That in that villaines health her safety lies:

  That, were no might in man, nor heart in Knights,

  Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize,

  Yet heauens them selues, that fauour feeble rights,

  Would for it selfe redresse, and punish such despights.

  19 Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast

  Like many water streames, a while she stayd;

  Till the sharpe passion being ouerpast,

  Her tongue to her restord, then thus she sayd;

  Nor heauens, nor men can me most wretched mayd

  Deliuer from the doome of my desart,

  The which the God of loue hath on me layd,

  And damned to endure this direfull smart,

  For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious hart.

  20 In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre

  Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight,

  And nature me endu’d with plenteous dowre,

  Of all her gifts, that pleasde each liuing sight,

  I was belou’d of many a gentle Knight,

  And sude and sought with all the seruice dew:

  Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight,

  And to the dore of death for sorrow drew,

  Complayning out on me, that would not on them rew.

  21 But let them loue that list, or liue or die;

  Me list not die for any louers doole:

  Ne list me leaue my loued libertie,

  To pitty him that list to play the foole:

  To loue my selfe I learned had in schoole.

  Thus I triumphed long in louers paine,

  And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole,

  Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine:

  But all is now repayd with interest againe.

  22 For loe the winged God, that woundeth harts,

  Causde me be called to accompt therefore,

  And for reuengement of those wrongfull smarts,

  Which I to others did inflict afore,

  Addeem’d me to endure this penaunce sore;

  That in this wize, and this vnmeete array,

  With these two lewd companions, and no more,

  Disdaine and Scome, I through the world should stray,

  Till I haue sau’d so many, as I earst did slay.

  23 Certes (sayd then th
e Prince) the God is iust,

  That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile.

  For were no law in loue, but all that lust,

  Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile,

  His kingdome would continue but a while.

  But tell me Lady, wherefore doe you beare

  This bottle thus before you with such toile,

  And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare,

  That for these Carles to carry much more comely were?

  24 Here in this bottle (sayd the sory Mayd)

  I put the teares of my contrition,

  Till to the brim I haue it full defrayd:

  And in this bag which I behinde me don,

  I put repentaunce for things past and gon.

  Yet is the bottle leake, and bag so torne,

  That all which I put in, fals out anon;

  And is behinde me trodden downe of Scorne,

  Who mocketh all my paine, & laughs the more I mourn.

  25 The Infant hearkned wisely to her tale,

  And wondred much at Cupids iudg’ment wise,

  That could so meekly make proud hearts auale,

  And wreake him selfe on them, that him despise.

  Then suffred he Disdaine vp to arise,

  Who was not able vp him selfe to reare,

  By meanes his leg through his late luckelesse prise,

  Was crackt in twaine, but by his foolish feare

  Was holpen vp, who him supported standing neare.

  26 But being vp, he lookt againe aloft,

  As if he neuer had receiued fall;

  And with Sterne eye-browes stared at him oft,

  As if he would haue daunted him with all:

  And standing on his tiptoes, to seeme tall,

  Downe on his golden feete he often gazed,

  As if such pride the other could apall;

  Who was so far from being ought amazed,

  That he his lookes despised, and his boast dispraized.

  27 Then turning backe vnto that captiue thrall,

  Who all this while stood there beside them bound,

  Vnwilling to be knowne, or seene at all,

  He from those bands weend him to haue vnwound.

  But when approching neare, he plainely found,

  It was his owne true groome, the gentle Squire,

  He thereat wext exceedingly astound,

  And him did oft embrace, and oft admire,

  Ne could with seeing satisfie his great desire.

  28 Meane while the Saluage man, when he beheld

  That huge great foole oppressing th’other Knight,

  Whom with his weight vnweldy downe he held,

  He flew vpon him, like a greedy kight

  Vnto some carrion offered to his sight,

  And downe him plucking, with his nayles and teeth

  Gan him to hale, and teare, and scratch, and bite;

  And firom him taking his owne whip, therewith

  So sore him scourgeth, that the bloud downe followeth.

  29 And sure I weene, had not the Ladies cry

  Procur’d the Prince his cruell hand to stay,

  He would with whipping, him haue done to dye:

  But being checkt, he did abstains streight way,

  And let him rise. Then thus the Prince gan say;

  Now Lady sith your fortunes thus dispose,

  That if ye list haue liberty, ye may,

  Vnto your selfe I freely leaue to chose,

  Whether I shall you leaue, or from these villaines lose.

  30 Ah nay Sir Knight (sayd she) it may not be,

  But that I needes must by all meanes fulfill

  This penaunce, which enioyned is to me,

  Least vnto me betide a greater ill;

  Yet no lesse thankes to you for your good will.

  So humbly taking leaue, she turnd aside,

  But Arthure with the rest, went onward still

  On his first quest, in which did him betide

  A great aduenture, which did him from them deuide.

  31 But first it falleth me by course to tell

  Of faire Serena, who as earst you heard,

  When first the gentle Squire at variaunce fell

  With those two Carles, fled fast away, afeard

  Of villany to be to her inferd:

  So fresh the image of her former dread,

  Yet dwelling in her eye, to her appeard,

  That euery foote did tremble, which did tread,

  And euery body two, and two she foure did read.

  32 Through hils & dales, through bushes & through breres

  Long thus she fled, till that at last she thought

  Her selfe now past the perill of her feares.

  Then looking round about, and seeing nought,

  Which doubt of daunger to her offer mought,

  She from her palfrey lighted on the plaine,

  And sitting downe, her selfe a while bethought

  Of her long trauell and turmoyling paine;

  And often did of loue, and oft of lucke complaine.

  33 And euennore she blamed Calepine,

  The good Sir Calepine, her owne true Knight,

  As th’onely author of her wofull tine:

  For being of his loue to her so light,

  As her to leaue in such a piteous plight.

  Yet neuer Turtle truer to his make,

  Then he was tride vnto his Lady bright:

  Who all this while endured for her sake,

  Great perill of his life, and resdesse paines did take.

  34 Tho when as all her plaints, she had displayd,

  And well disburdened her engrieued brest,

  Vpon the grasse her selfe adowne she layd;

  Where being tyrde with trauell, and opprest

  With sorrow, she betooke her selfe to rest.

  There whitest in Morpheus bosome safe she lay,

  Fearelesse of ought, that mote her peace molest,

  False Fortune did her safety betray,

  Vnto a straunge mischaunce, that menac’d her decay.

  35 In these wylde deserts, where she now abode,

  There dwelt a saluage nation, which did liue

  Of stealth and spoile, and making nightly rode

  Into their neighbours borders; ne did giue

  Them selues to any trade, as for to driue

  The painefull plough, or cattell for to breed,

  Or by aduentrous marchandize to thriue;

  But on the labours of poore men to feed,

  And serue their owne necessities with others need.

  36 Thereto they vsde one most accursed order,

  To eate the flesh of men, whom they mote fynde,

  And straungers to deuoure, which on their border

  Were brought by errour, or by wreckfull wynde.

  A monstrous cruelty gainst course of kynde.

  They towards euening wandring euery way,

  To seeke for booty, came by fortune blynde,

  Whereas this Lady, like a sheepe astray,

  Now drowned in the depth of sleepe all fearelesse lay.

  37 Soone as they spide her, Lord what gladfull glee

  They made amongst them selues; but when her face

  Like the faire yuory shining they did see,

  Each gan his fellow solace and embrace,

  For ioy of such good hap by heauenly grace.

  Then gan they to deuize what course to take:

  Whether to slay her there vpon the place,

  Or suffer her out of her sleepe to wake,

  And then her eate attonce; or many meales to make.

  38 The best aduizement was of bad, to let her

  Sleepe out her fill, without encomberment:

  For sleepe they sayd would make her battill better.

  Then when she wakt, they all gaue one consent,

  That since by grace of God she there was sent,

  Vnto their God they would her sacrifize,

  Whose share, her gui
ldesse bloud diey would present,

  But of her dainty flesh they did deuize

  To make a common feast, & feed with gunnandize.

  39 So round about her they them selues did place

  Vpon the grasse, and diuersely dispose,

  As each thought best to spend the lingring space.

  Some with their eyes the daintest morsels chose;

  Some praise her paps, some praise her lips and nose;

  Some whet their kniues, and strip their elboes bare:

  The Priest him selfe a garland doth compose

  Of finest flowres, and with full busie care

  His bloudy vessels wash; and holy fire prepare.

  40 The Damzell wakes, then all attonce vpstart,

  And round about her flocke, like many flies,

  Whooping, and hallowing on euery part,

  As if they would haue rent the brasen skies.

  Which when she sees with ghastly grieflful eies,

  Her heart does quake, and deadly pallid hew

  Benumbes her cheekes: Then out aloud she cries,

  Where none is nigh to heare, that will her rew,

  And rends her golden locks, and snowy brests embrew.

  41 But all bootes not: they hands vpon her lay;

  And first they spoile her of her iewls deare,

  And afterwards of all her rich array;

  The which amongst them they in peeces teare,

  And of the pray each one a part doth beare.

  Now being naked, to their sordid eyes

  The goodly threasures of nature appeare:

  Which as they view with lustfull fantasyes,

  Each wisheth to him selfe, and to the rest enuyes.

  42 Her yuorie necke, her alablaster brest,

  Her paps, which like white silken pillowes were,

  For loue in soft delight thereon to rest;

  Her tender sides, her bellie white and clere,

  Which like an Altar did it selfe vprere,

  To offer sacrifice diuine thereon;

  Her goodly thighes, whose glorie did appeare

  Like a triumphall Arch, and thereupon

  The spoiles of Princes hang’d, which were in battel won.

  43 Those daintie parts, the dearlings of delight,

  Which mote not be prophan’d of common eyes,

  Those villeins vew’d with loose lasciuious sight,

  And closely tempted with their craftie spyes;

  And some of them gan mongst themselues deuize,

  Thereof by force to take their beastly pleasure.

  But them the Priest rebuking, did aduize

  To dare not to pollute so sacred threasure,

  Vow’d to the gods: religion held euen theeues in measure.

  44 So being stayd, they her from thence directed

  Vnto a litle groue not farre asyde,

  In which an altar shortly they erected,

  To slay her on. And now the Euentyde