Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

by Edmund Spenser

X

  That when the hardy Titanesse beheld

  The goodly building of her palace bright,

  Made of the heavens substance, and up-held

  With thousand crystall pillors of huge hight, 85

  Shee gan to burne in her ambitious spright,

  And t’ envie her that in such glorie raigned.

  Eftsoones she cast by force and tortious might

  Her to displace, and to her selfe to have gained

  The kingdome of the night, and waters by her wained. 90

  XI

  Boldly she bid the goddesse downe descend,

  And let her selfe into that ivory throne;

  For shee her selfe more worthy thereof wend,

  And better able it to guide alone:

  Whether to men, whose fall she did bemone, 95

  Or unto gods, whose state she did maligne,

  Or to th’ infernall powers, her need give lone

  Of her faire light and bounty most benigne,

  Her selfe of all that rule shee deemed most condigne.

  XII

  But shee that had to her that soveraigne seat 100

  By highest Jove assign’d, therein to beare

  Nights burning lamp, regarded not her threat,

  Ne yielded ought for favour or for feare;

  But with sterne countenaunce and disdainfull cheare,

  Bending her horned browes, did put her back: 105

  And boldly blaming her for comming there,

  Bade her attonce from heavens coast to pack,

  Or at her perill bide the wrathfull thunders wrack.

  XIII

  Yet nathemore the Giantesse forbare:

  But boldly preacing-on, raught forth her hand 110

  To pluck her downe perforce from off her chaire;

  And there-with lifting up her golden wand,

  Threatned to strike her if she did withstand.

  Where-at the starres, which round about her blazed,

  And eke the Moones bright wagon, still did stand. 115

  All beeing with so bold attempt amazed,

  And on her uncouth habit and sterne looke still gazed.

  XIV

  Meane-while the lower world, which nothing knew

  Of all that chaunced here, was darkned quite;

  And eke the heavens, and all the heavenly crew 120

  Of happy wights, now unpurvaide of light,

  Were much afraid, and wondred at that sight;

  Fearing least Chaos broken had his chaine,

  And brought againe on them eternall night:

  But chiefely Mercury, that next doth raigne, 125

  Ran forth in haste, unto the king of gods to plaine.

  XV

  All ran together with a great out-cry

  To Joves faire palace, fixt in heavens hight;

  And beating at his gates full earnestly,

  Gan call to him aloud with all their might, 130

  To know what meant that suddaine lack of light.

  The father of the gods, when this he heard,

  Was troubled much at their so strange affright,

  Doubting least Typhon were againe up-rear’d,

  Or other his old foes, that once him sorely fear’d. 135

  XVI

  Eftsoones the sonne of Maia forth he sent

  Downe to the circle of the Moone, to knowe

  The cause of this so strange astonishment,

  And why shee did her wonted course forslowe;

  And if that any were on earth belowe 140

  That did with charmes or magick her molest,

  Him to attache, and downe to hell to throwe:

  But, if from heaven it were, then to arrest

  The author, and him bring before his presence prest.

  XVII

  The wingd-foot god so fast his plumes did beat, 145

  That soone he came where-as the Titanesse

  Was striving with faire Cynthia for her seat:

  At whose strange sight and haughty hardinesse

  He wondred much, and feared her no lesse.

  Yet laying feare aside to doe his charge, 150

  At last he bade her (with bold stedfastnesse)

  Ceasse to molest the Moone to walke at large,

  Or come before high Jove, her dooings to discharge.

  XVIII

  And there-with-all, he on her shoulder laid

  His snaky-wreathed mace, whose awfull power 155

  Doth make both gods and hellish fiends affraid:

  Where-at the Titanesse did sternely lower,

  And stoutly answer’d, that in evill hower

  He from his Jove such message to her brought,

  To bid her leave faire Cynthias silver bower; 160

  Sith shee his Jove and him esteemed nought,

  No more then Cynthia’s selfe; but all their kingdoms sought.

  XIX

  The heavens herald staid not to reply,

  But past away, his doings to relate

  Unto his lord; who now, in th’ highest sky, 165

  Was placed in his principall estate,

  With all the gods about him congregate:

  To whom when Hermes had his message told,

  It did them all exceedingly amate,

  Save Jove; who, changing nought his count’nance bold, 170

  Did unto them at length these speeches wise unfold:

  XX

  ‘Harken to mee awhile, yee heavenly powers:

  Ye may remember since th’ Earths cursed seed

  Sought to assaile the heavens eternall towers,

  And to us all exceeding feare did breed: 175

  But how we then defeated all their deed,

  Yee all doe knowe, and them destroied quite;

  Yet not so quite, but that there did succeed

  An off-spring of their bloud, which did alite

  Upon the fruitfull earth, which doth us yet despite. 180

  XXI

  ‘Of that bad seed is this bold woman bred,

  That now with bold presumption doth aspire

  To thrust faire Phœbe from her silver bed,

  And eke our selves from heavens high empire,

  If that her might were match to her desire: 185

  Wherefore, it now behoves us to advise

  What way is best to drive her to retire;

  Whether by open force or counsell wise,

  Areed, ye sonnes of God, as best ye can devise.’

  XXII

  So having said, he ceast; and with his brow 190

  (His black eye-brow, whose doomefull dreaded beck

  Is wont to wield the world unto his vow,

  And even the highest powers of heaven to check)

  Made signe to them in their degrees to speake:

  Who straight gan cast their counsell grave and wise. 195

  Meane-while th’ Earths daughter, thogh she nought did reck

  Of Hermes message, yet gan now advise,

  What course were best to take in this hot bold emprize.

  XXIII

  Eftsoones she thus resolv’d; that whil’st the gods

  (After returne of Hermes embassie) 200

  Were troubled, and amongst themselves at ods,

  Before they could new counsels re-allie,

  To set upon them in that extasie;

  And take what fortune time and place would lend:

  So forth she rose, and through the purest sky 205

  To Joves high palace straight cast to ascend,

  To prosecute her plot: good on-set boads good end.

  XXIV

  Shee there arriving, boldly in did pass;

  Where all the gods she found in counsell close,

  All quite unarm’d, as then their manner was. 210

  At sight of her they suddaine all arose,

  In great amaze, ne wist what way to chose.

  But Jove, all fearelesse, forc’t them to aby;

  And in his soveraine throne, gan straight dispose
<
br />   Himselfe more full of grace and majestie, 215

  That mote encheare his friends, and foes mote terrifie.

  XXV

  That when the haughty Titanesse beheld,

  All were she fraught with pride and impudence,

  Yet with the sight thereof was almost queld;

  And inly quaking, seem’d as reft of sense, 220

  And voyd of speech in that drad audience;

  Untill that Jove himselfe her selfe bespake:

  ‘Speake, thou fraile woman, speake with confidence;

  Whence art thou, and what doost thou here now make?

  What idle errand hast thou, earths mansion to forsake?’ 225

  XXVI

  Shee, halfe confused with his great commaund,

  Yet gathering spirit of her natures pride,

  Him boldly answer’d thus to his demaund:

  ‘I am a daughter, by the mothers side,

  Of her that is grand-mother magnifide 230

  Of all the gods, great Earth, great Chaos child:

  But by the fathers (be it not envide)

  I greater am in bloud (whereon I build)

  Then all the gods, though wrongfully from heaven exil’d.

  XXVII

  ‘For Titan (as ye all acknowledge must) 235

  Was Saturnes elder brother by birth-right;

  Both, sonnes of Uranus: but by unjust

  And guilefull meanes, through Corybantes slight,

  The younger thrust the elder from his right:

  Since which thou, Jove, injuriously hast held 240

  The heavens rule from Titans sonnes by might;

  And them to hellish dungeons downe hast feld:

  Witnesse, ye heavens, the truth of all that I have teld.’

  XXVIII

  Whil’st she thus spake, the gods, that gave good eare

  To her bold words, and marked well her grace, 245

  Beeing of stature tall as any there

  Of all the gods, and beautifull of face

  As any of the goddesses in place,

  Stood all astonied; like a sort of steeres,

  Mongst whom some beast of strange and forraine race 250

  Unwares is chaunc’t, far straying from his peeres:

  So did their ghastly gaze bewray their hidden feares.

  XXIX

  Till, having pauz’d awhile, Jove thus bespake:

  ‘Will never mortall thoughts ceasse to aspire,

  In this bold sort, to heaven claime to make, 255

  And touch celestiall seates with earthly mire?

  I would have thought that bold Procrustes hire,

  Or Typhons fall, or proud Ixions paine,

  Or great Prometheus tasting of our ire,

  Would have suffiz’d the rest for to restraine, 260

  And warn’d all men, by their example, to refraine:

  XXX

  ‘But now this off-scum of that cursed fry

  Dare to renew the like bold enterprize,

  And chalenge th’ heritage of this our skie;

  Whom what should hinder, but that we likewise 265

  Should handle as the rest of her allies,

  And thunder-drive to hell?’ With that, he shooke

  His nectar-deawed locks, with which the skyes

  And all the world beneath for terror quooke,

  And left his burning levin-brond in hand he tooke. 270

  XXXI

  But, when he looked on her lovely face,

  In which faire beames of beauty did appeare,

  That could the greatest wrath soone turne to grace

  (Such sway doth beauty even in heaven beare)

  He staide his hand: and having chang’d his cheare, 275

  He thus againe in milder wise began:

  ‘But ah! if gods should strive with flesh yfere,

  Then shortly should the progeny of man

  Be rooted out, if Jove should doe still what he can.

  XXXII

  ‘But thee, faire Titans child, I rather weene, 280

  Through some vaine errour, or inducement light,

  To see that mortall eyes have never seene;

  Or through ensample of thy sisters might,

  Bellona, whose great glory thou doost spight,

  Since thou hast seene her dreadfull power belowe, 285

  Mongst wretched men, dismaide with her affright,

  To bandie crownes, and kingdomes to bestowe:

  And sure thy worth no lesse then hers doth seem to showe.

  XXXIII

  ‘But wote thou this, thou hardy Titanesse,

  That not the worth of any living wight 290

  May challenge ought in heavens interesse;

  Much lesse the title of old Titans right:

  For we by conquest of our soveraine might,

  And by eternall doome of Fates decree,

  Have wonne the empire of the heavens bright; 295

  Which to ourselves we hold, and to whom wee

  Shall worthy deeme partakers of our blisse to bee.

  XXXIV

  ‘Then ceasse thy idle claime, thou foolish gerle,

  And seeke by grace and goodnesse to obtaine

  That place from which by folly Titan fell; 300

  There-to thou maist perhaps, if so thou faine,

  Have Jove thy gratious lord and soveraigne.’

  So having said, she thus to him replide:

  ‘Ceasse, Saturnes sonne, to seeke by proffers vaine

  Of idle hopes t’ allure mee to thy side, 305

  For to betray my right, before I have it tride.

  XXXV

  ‘But thee, O Jove, no equall judge I deeme

  Of my desert, or of my dewfull right;

  That in thine owne behalfe maist partiall seeme:

  But to the highest him, that is behight 310

  Father of gods and men by equall might,

  To weet, the god of Nature, I appeale.’

  There-at Jove wexed wroth, and in his spright

  Did inly grudge, yet did it well conceale;

  And bade Dan Phœbus scribe her appellation seale. 315

  XXXVI

  Eftsoones the time and place appointed were,

  Where all, both heavenly powers and earthly wights,

  Before great Natures presence should appeare,

  For triall of their titles and best rights:

  That was, to weet, upon the highest hights 320

  Of Arlo-hill (Who knowes not Arlo-hill?)

  That is the highest head (in all mens sights)

  Of my old father Mole, whom shepheards quill

  Renowmed hath with hymnes fit for a rurall skill.

  XXXVII

  And, were it not ill fitting for this file, 325

  To sing of hilles and woods, mongst warres and knights,

  I would abate the sternenesse of my stile,

  Mongst these sterne stounds to mingle soft delights;

  And tell how Arlo through Dianaes spights

  (Beeing of old the best and fairest hill 330

  That was in all this holy-islands hights)

  Was made the most unpleasant and most ill.

  Meane while, O Clio, lend Calliope thy quill.

  XXXVIII

  Whylome, when Ireland florished in fame

  Of wealths and goodnesse, far above the rest 335

  Of all that beare the British Islands name,

  The gods then us’d (for pleasure and for rest)

  Oft to resort there-to, when seem’d them best:

  But none of all there-in more pleasure found

  Then Cynthia, that is soveraine queene profest 340

  Of woods and forrests, which therein abound,

  Sprinkled with wholsom waters more then most on ground.

  XXXIX

  But mongst them all, as fittest for her game,

  Either for chace of beasts with hound or boawe,

  Or for to shroude in shade from Phœbus flame, 345

  Or ba
the in fountaines that doe freshly flowe,

  Or from high hilles, or from the dales belowe,

  She chose this Arlo; where shee did resort

  With all her nymphes enranged on a rowe,

  With whom the woody gods did oft consort: 350

  For with the nymphes the satyres love to play and sport.

  XL

  Amongst the which there was a nymph that hight

  Molanna, daughter of old Father Mole,

  And sister unto Mulla, faire and bright,

  Unto whose bed false Bregog whylome stole, 355

  That Shepheard Colin dearely did condole,

  And made her lucklesse loves well knowne to be.

  But this Molanna, were she not so shole,

  Were no lesse faire and beautifull then shee:

  Yet as she is, a fairer flood may no man see. 360

  XLI

  For, first, she springs out of two marble rocks,

  On which a grove of oakes high-mounted growes,

  That as a girlond seemes to deck the locks

  Of som faire bride, brought forth with pompous showes

  Out of her bowre, that many flowers strowes: 365

  So, through the flowry dales she tumbling downe,

  Through many woods and shady coverts flowes

  (That on each side her silver channell crowne)

  Till to the plaine she come, whose valleyes shee doth drowne.

  XLII

  In her sweet streames Diana used oft 370

  (After her sweatie chace and toilesome play)

  To bathe her selfe; and after, on the soft

  And downy grasse, her dainty limbes to lay

  In covert shade, where none behold her may:

  For much she hated sight of living eye. 375

  Foolish god Faunus, though full many a day

  He saw her clad, yet longed foolishly

  To see her naked mongst her nymphes in privity.

  XLIII

  No way he found to compasse his desire,

  But to corrupt Molanna, this her maid, 380

  Her to discover for some secret hire:

  So her with flattering words he first assaid;

  And after, pleasing gifts for her purvaid,

  Queene-apples, and red cherries from the tree,

  With which he her allured and betraid, 385

  To tell what time he might her lady see

  When she her selfe did bathe, that he might secret bee.

  XLIV

  There-to hee promist, if shee would him pleasure

  With this small boone, to quit her with a better;

  To weet, that where-as shee had out of measure 390

  Long lov’d the Fanchin, who by nought did set her,

  That he would undertake for this to get her

  To be his love, and of him liked well:

  Besides all which, he vow’d to be her debter

  For many moe good turnes then he would tell; 395

  The least of which this little pleasure should excell.