Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

by Edmund Spenser

  He glad of life, and willing eke to wreake

  The guilt on him which did this mischiefe breed, 115

  Swore by his sword, that neither day nor weeke

  He would surceasse, but him, where so he were, would seeke.

  XIV

  So up he rose, and forth streight way he went

  Backe to the place where Turpine late he lore:

  There he him found in great astonishment, 120

  To see him so bedight with bloodie gore

  And griesly wounds that him appalled sore.

  Yet thus at length he said: ‘How now, sir knight?

  What meaneth this which here I see before?

  How fortuneth this foule uncomely plight, 125

  So different from that which earst ye seem’d in sight?’

  XV

  ‘Perdie,’ said he, ‘in evill houre it fell,

  That ever I for meed did undertake

  So hard a taske as life for hyre to sell;

  The which I earst adventur’d for your sake. 130

  Witnesse the wounds, and this wyde bloudie lake,

  Which ye may see yet all about me steeme.

  Therefore now yeeld, as ye did promise make,

  My due reward, the which right well I deeme

  I yearned have, that life so dearely did redeeme.’ 135

  XVI

  ‘But where then is,’ quoth he halfe wrothfully,

  ‘Where is the bootie, which therefore I bought,

  That cursed caytive, my strong enemy,

  That recreant knight, whose hated life I sought?

  And where is eke your friend, which halfe it ought?’ 140

  ‘He lyes,’ said he, ‘upon the cold bare ground,

  Slayne of that errant knight, with whom he fought;

  Whom afterwards my selfe with many a wound

  Did slay againe, as ye may see there in the stound.’

  XVII

  Thereof false Turpin was full glad and faine, 145

  And needs with him streight to the place would ryde,

  Where he himselfe might see his foeman slaine;

  For else his feare could not be satisfyde.

  So as they rode, he saw the way all dyde

  With streames of bloud; which tracting by the traile, 150

  Ere long they came whereas in evill tyde

  That other swayne, like ashes deadly pale,

  Lay in the lap of death, rewing his wretched bale.

  XVIII

  Much did the craven seeme to mone his case,

  That for his sake his deare life had forgone; 155

  And him bewayling with affection base,

  Did counterfeit kind pittie, where was none:

  For wheres no courage, theres no ruth nor mone.

  Thence passing forth, not farre away he found

  Whereas the Prince himselfe lay all alone, 160

  Loosely displayd upon the grassie ground,

  Possessed of sweete sleepe, that luld him soft in swound.

  XIX

  Wearie of travell in his former fight,

  He there in shade himselfe had layd to rest

  Having his armes and warlike things undight, 165

  Fearelesse of foes that mote his peace molest;

  The whyles his salvage page, that wont be prest,

  Was wandred in the wood another way,

  To doe some thing, that seemed to him best,

  The whyles his lord in silver slomber lay, 170

  Like to the evening starre adorn’d with deawy ray.

  XX

  Whom when as Turpin saw so loosely layd,

  He weened well that he in deed was dead,

  Like as that other knight to him had sayd:

  But when he nigh approcht, he mote aread 175

  Plaine signes in him of life and livelihead.

  Whereat much griev’d against that straunger knight,

  That him too light of credence did mislead,

  He would have backe retyred from that sight,

  That was to him on earth the deadliest despight. 180

  XXI

  But that same knight would not once let him start,

  But plainely gan to him declare the case

  Of all his mischiefe and late lucklesse smart;

  How both he and his fellow there in place

  Were vanquished, and put to foule disgrace, 185

  And how that he, in lieu of life him lent,

  Had vow’d unto the victor, him to trace

  And follow through the world, where so he went,

  Till that he him delivered to his punishment.

  XXII

  He, therewith much abashed and affrayd, 190

  Began to tremble every limbe and vaine;

  And softly whispering him, entyrely prayd

  T’ advize him better then by such a traine

  Him to betray unto a straunger swaine:

  Yet rather counseld him contrarywize, 195

  Sith he likewise did wrong by him sustaine,

  To joyne with him and vengeance to devize,

  Whylest time did offer meanes him sleeping to surprize.

  XXIII

  Nathelesse, for all his speach, the gentle knight

  Would not be tempted to such villenie, 200

  Regarding more his faith which he did plight,

  All were it to his mortall enemie,

  Then to entrap him by false treacherie:

  Great shame in lieges blood to be embrew’d.

  Thus whylest they were debating diverslie, 205

  The salvage forth out of the wood issew’d

  Backe to the place whereas his lord he sleeping vew’d.

  XXIV

  There when he saw those two so neare him stand,

  He doubted much what mote their meaning bee,

  And throwing downe his load out of his hand, 210

  To weet great store of forrest frute, which hee

  Had for his food late gathered from the tree,

  Himselfe unto his weapon he betooke,

  That was an oaken plant, which lately hee

  Rent by the root; which he so sternely shooke, 215

  That like an hazell wand it quivered and quooke.

  XXV

  Whereat the Prince awaking, when he spyde

  The traytour Turpin with that other knight,

  He started up, and snatching neare his syde

  His trustie sword, the servant of his might, 220

  Like a fell lyon leaped to him light,

  And his left hand upon his collar layd.

  Therewith the cowheard, deaded with affright,

  Fell flat to ground, ne word unto him sayd,

  But holding up his hands, with silence mercie prayd. 225

  XXVI

  But he so full of indignation was,

  That to his prayer nought he would incline,

  But as he lay upon the humbled gras,

  His foot he set on his vile necke, in signe

  Of servile yoke, that nobler harts repine. 230

  Then, letting him arise like abject thrall,

  He gan to him object his haynous crime,

  And to revile, and rate, and recreant call,

  And lastly to despoyle of knightly bannerall.

  XXVII

  And after all, for greater infamie, 235

  He by the heeles him hung upon a tree,

  And baffuld so, that all which passed by

  The picture of his punishment might see,

  And by the like ensample warned bee,

  How ever they through treason doe trespasse. 240

  But turn we now backe to that ladie free,

  Whom late we left ryding upon an asse,

  Led by a carle and foole, which by her side did passe

  XXVIII

  She was a ladie of great dignitie,

  And lifted up to honorable place, 245

  Famous through all the land of Faerie,

  Though of meane parentage and kindr
ed base,

  Yet deckt with wondrous giftes of Natures grace,

  That all men did her person much admire,

  And praise the feature of her goodly face, 250

  The beames whereof did kindle lovely fire

  In th’ harts of many a knight, and many a gentle squire.

  XXIX

  But she thereof grew proud and insolent,

  That none she worthie thought to be her fere,

  But scornd them all, that love unto her ment: 255

  Yet was she lov’d of many a worthy pere;

  Unworthy she to be belov’d so dere,

  That could not weigh of worthinesse aright:

  For beautie is more glorious bright and clere,

  The more it is admir’d of many a wight, 260

  And noblest she that served is of noblest knight.

  XXX

  But this coy damzell thought contrariwize,

  That such proud looks would make her praysed more;

  And that the more she did all love despize,

  The more would wretched lovers her adore. 265

  What cared she, who sighed for her sore,

  Or who did wayle or watch the wearie night?

  Let them that list their lucklesse lot deplore;

  She was borne free, not bound to any wight,

  And so would ever live, and love her owne delight. 270

  XXXI

  Through such her stubborne stifnesse and hard hart,

  Many a wretch, for want of remedie,

  Did languish long in lifeconsuming smart,

  And at the last through dreary dolour die:

  Whylest she, the ladie of her libertie, 275

  Did boast her beautie had such soveraine might,

  That with the onely twinckle of her eye,

  She could or save or spill whom she would hight.

  What could the gods doe more, but doe it more aright?

  XXXII

  But loe! the gods, that mortall follies vew, 280

  Did worthily revenge this maydens pride;

  And nought regarding her so goodly hew,

  Did laugh at her, that many did deride,

  Whilest she did weepe, of no man mercifide.

  For on a day, when Cupid kept his court, 285

  As he is wont at each Saint Valentide,

  Unto the which all lovers doe resort,

  That of their loves successe they there may make report;

  XXXIII

  It fortun’d then, that when the roules were red,

  In which the names of all Loves folke were fyled, 290

  That many there were missing, which were ded,

  Or kept in bands, or from their loves exyled,

  Or by some other violence despoyled.

  Which when as Cupid heard, he wexed wroth,

  And doubting to be wronged, or beguyled, 295

  He bad his eyes to be unblindfold both,

  That he might see his men, and muster them by oth.

  XXXIV

  Then found he many missing of his crew,

  Which wont doe suit and service to his might;

  Of whom what was becomen no man knew. 300

  Therefore a jurie was impaneld streight,

  T’ enquire of them, whether by force, or sleight,

  Or their owne guilt, they were away convayd.

  To whom foule Infamie and fell Despight

  Gave evidence, that they were all betrayd, 305

  And murdred cruelly by a rebellious mayd.

  XXXV

  Fayre Mirabella was her name, whereby

  Of all those crymes she there indited was:

  All which when Cupid heard, he by and by,

  In great displeasure, wild a capias 310

  Should issue forth, t’ attach that scornefull lasse.

  The warrant straight was made, and therewithall

  A baylieffe errant forth in post did passe,

  Whom they by name there Portamore did call;

  He which doth summon lovers to Loves judgement hall. 315

  XXXVI

  The damzell was attacht, and shortly brought

  Unto the barre, whereas she was arrayned:

  But she thereto nould plead, nor answere ought,

  Even for stubborne pride, which her restrayned.

  So judgement past, as is by law ordayned 320

  In cases like; which when at last she saw,

  Her stubborne hart, which love before disdayned,

  Gan stoupe, and falling downe with humble awe,

  Cryde mercie, to abate the extremitie of law.

  XXXVII

  The sonne of Venus, who is myld by kynd, 325

  But where he is provokt with peevishnesse,

  Unto her prayers piteously enclynd,

  And did the rigour of his doome represse;

  Yet not so freely, but that nathelesse

  He unto her a penance did impose, 330

  Which was, that through this worlds wyde wildernes

  She wander should in companie of those,

  Till she had sav’d so many loves as she did lose.

  XXXVIII

  So now she had bene wandring two whole yeares

  Throughout the world, in this uncomely case, 335

  Wasting her goodly hew in heavie teares,

  And her good dayes in dolorous disgrace:

  Yet had she not in all these two yeares space

  Saved but two, yet in two yeares before,

  Throgh her dispiteous pride, whilest love lackt place, 340

  She had destroyed two and twenty more.

  Aie me! how could her love make half amends therefore?

  XXXIX

  And now she was uppon the weary way,

  When as the gentle squire, with faire Serene,

  Met her in such misseeming foule array; 345

  The whiles that mighty man did her demeane

  With all the evill termes and cruell meane,

  That he could make; and eeke that angry foole

  Which follow’d her, with cursed hands uncleane

  Whipping her horse, did with his smarting toole 350

  Oft whip her dainty selfe, and much augment her doole.

  XL

  Ne ought it mote availe her to entreat

  The one or th’ other, better her to use:

  For both so wilfull were and obstinate,

  That all her piteous plaint they did refuse, 355

  And rather did the more her beate and bruse.

  But most the former villaine, which did lead

  Her tyreling jade, was bent her to abuse;

  Who, though she were with wearinesse nigh dead,

  Yet would not let her lite, nor rest a little stead. 360

  XLI

  For he was sterne and terrible by nature,

  And eeke of person huge and hideous,

  Exceeding much the measure of mans stature,

  And rather like a gyant monstruous.

  For sooth he was descended of the hous 365

  Of those old gyants, which did warres darraine

  Against the heaven in order battailous,

  And sib to great Orgolio, which was slaine

  By Arthure, when as Unas knight he did maintaine.

  XLII

  His lookes were dreadfull, and his fiery eies, 370

  Like two great beacons, glared bright and wyde,

  Glauncing askew, as if his enemies

  He scorned in his overweening pryde;

  And stalking stately like a crane, did stryde

  At every step uppon the tiptoes hie; 375

  And all the way he went, on every syde

  He gaz’d about, and stared horriblie,

  As if he with his lookes would all men terrifie.

  XLIII

  He wore no armour, ne for none did care,

  As no whit dreading any living wight; 380

  But in a jacket, quilted richly rare

  Upon checklaton, he was straungely dight;
/>   And on his head a roll of linnen plight,

  Like to the Mores of Malaber, he wore,

  With which his locks, as blacke as pitchy night, 385

  Were bound about, and voyded from before;

  And in his hand a mighty yron club he bore.

  XLIV

  This was Disdaine, who led that ladies horse

  Through thick and thin, through mountains and through plains,

  Compelling her, wher she would not, by force, 390

  Haling her palfrey by the hempen raines.

  But that same foole, which most increast her paines,

  Was Scorne, who, having in his hand a whip,

  Her therewith yirks, and still when she complaines,

  The more he laughes, and does her closely quip, 395

  To see her sore lament, and bite her tender lip.

  XLV

  Whose cruell handling when that squire beheld,

  And saw those villaines her so vildely use,

  His gentle heart with indignation sweld,

  And could no lenger beare so great abuse, 400

  As such a lady so to beate and bruse;

  But to him stepping, such a stroke him lent,

  That forst him th’ halter from his hand to loose,

  And maugre all his might, backe to relent:

  Else had he surely there bene slaine, or fowly shent. 405

  XLVI

  The villaine, wroth for greeting him so sore,

  Gathered him selfe together soone againe,

  And with his yron batton which he bore

  Let drive at him so dreadfully amaine,

  That for his safety he did him constraine 410

  To give him ground, and shift to every side,

  Rather then once his burden to sustaine:

  For bootelesse thing him seemed, to abide

  So mighty blowes, or prove the puissaunce of his pride.

  XLVII

  Like as a mastiffe, having at a bay 415

  A salvage bull, whose cruell hornes doe threat

  Desperate daunger, if he them assay,

  Traceth his ground, and round about doth beat,

  To spy where he may some advauntage get,

  The whiles the beast doth rage and loudly rore; 420

  So did the squire, the whiles the carle did fret

  And fume in his disdainefull mynd the more,

  And oftentimes by Turmagant and Mahound swore.

  XLVIII

  Nathelesse so sharpely still he him pursewd,

  That at advantage him at last he tooke, 425

  When his foote slipt (that slip he dearely rewd,)

  And with his yron club to ground him strooke;

  Where still he lay, ne out of swoune awooke,

  Till heavy hand the carle upon him layd,

  And bound him fast: tho, when he up did looke, 430

  And saw him selfe captiv’d, he was dismayd,

  Ne powre had to withstand, ne hope of any ayd.

  XLIX