The Faerie Queene

by The Faerie Queen(Lit)

  In cases like, which when at last she saw,

  Her stubborne hart, which loue before disdayned,

  Gan stoupe, and falling downe with humble awe,

  Cryde mercie, to abate the extremitie of law.

  The sonne of Venus who is myld by kynd,

  But where he is prouokt with peeuishnesse,

  Vnto her prayers piteously enclynd,

  And did the rigour of his doome represse;

  Yet not so freely, but that nathelesse

  He vnto her a penance did impose:

  Which was, that through this worlds wyde wildernes

  She wander should in companie of those,

  Till she had sau'd so many loues, as she did lose.

  So now she had bene wandring two whole yeares

  Throughout the world, in this vncomely case,

  Wasting her goodly hew in heauie teares,

  And her good dayes in dolorous disgrace:

  Yet had she not in all these two yeares space,

  Saued but two, yet in two yeares before,

  Through her dispiteous pride, whilest loue lackt place,

  She had destroyed two and twenty more.

  Aie me, how could her loue make half amends therefore.

  And now she was vppon the weary way,

  When as the gentle Squire, with faire Serene,

  Met her in such misseeming foule array;

  The whiles that mighty man did her demeane

  With all the euill termes and cruell meane,

  That he could make; And eeke that angry foole

  Which follow'd her, with cursed hands vncleane

  Whipping her horse, did with his smarting toole

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

  Ne ought it mote auaile her to entreat

  The one or th'other, better her to vse:

  For both so wilfull were and obstinate,

  That all her piteous plaint they did refuse,

  And rather did the more her beate and bruse.

  But most the former villaine, which did lead

  Her tyreling iade, was bent her to abuse;

  Who though she were with wearinesse nigh dead,

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

  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

  Of those old Gyants, which did warres darraine

  Against the heauen in order battailous,

  And sib to great Orgolio, which was slaine

  By Arthure, when as Vnas Knight he did maintaine.

  His lookes were dreadfull, and his fiery eies

  Like two great Beacons, glared bright and wyde,

  Glauncing askew, as if his enemies

  He scorned in his ouerweening pryde;

  And stalking stately like a Crane, did stryde

  At euery step vppon the tiptoes hie,

  And all the way he went, on euery syde

  He gaz'd about, and stared horriblie,

  As if he with his lookes would all men terrifie.

  He wore no armour, ne for none did care,

  As no whit dreading any liuing wight;

  But in a Iacket quilted richly rare,

  Vpon 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,

  Were bound about, and voyded from before,

  And in his hand a mighty yron club he bore.

  This was Disdaine, who led that Ladies horse

  Through thick and thin, through mountains & through plains,

  Compelling her, wher she would not, by force,

  Haling her palfrey by the hempen raines.

  But that same foole, which most increast her paines,

  Was Scorne, who hauing in his hand a whip,

  Her therewith yirks, and still when she complaines,

  The more he laughes, and does her closely quip,

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

  Whose cruell handling when that Squire beheld,

  And saw those villaines her so vildely vse,

  His gentle heart with indignation sweld,

  And could no lenger beare so great abuse,

  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 fowlyshent.

  The villaine, wroth for greeting him so sore,

  Gathered him selfe together soone againe,

  And with his yron batton, which he bore,

  Let driue at him so dreadfully amaine,

  That for his safety he did him constraine

  To giue him ground, and shift to euery side,

  Rather then once his burden to sustaine:

  For bootelesse thing him seemed, to abide

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

  Like as a Mastiffe hauing at a bay

  A saluage 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 aduauntage get;

  The whiles the beast doth rage and loudly rore,

  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.

  Nathelesse so sharpely still he him pursewd,

  That at aduantage him at last he tooke,

  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 heauy hand the Carle vpon him layd,

  And bound him fast: Tho when he vp did looke,

  And saw him selfe captiu'd, he was dismayd,

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

  Then vp he made him rise, and forward fare,

  Led in a rope, which both his hands did bynd;

  Ne ought that foole for pitty did him spare,

  But with his whip him following behynd,

  Him often scourg'd, and forst his feete to fynd:

  And other whiles with bitter mockes and mowes

  He would him scorne, that to his gentle mynd

  Was much more grieuous, then the others blowes:

  Words sharpely wound, but greatest griefe of scorning growes.

  The faire Serena, when she saw him fall

  Vnder that villaines club, then surely thought

  That slaine he was, or made a wretched thrall,

  And fled away with all the speede she mought,

  To seeke for safety, which long time she sought:

  And past through many perils by the way,

  Ere she againe to Calepine was brought;

  The which discourse as now I must delay,

  Till Mirabellaes fortunes I doe further say.

  Cant. VIII.

  Prince Arthure ouercomes Disdaine,

  Quites Mirabell from dreed:

  Serena, found of Saluages,

  By Calepine is freed.

  Y e gentle Ladies, in whose soueraine powre

  Loue hath the glory of his kingdome left,

  And th'hearts of men, as your eternall dowre,

  In yron chaines, of liberty bereft,

  Deliuered hath into your hands by gift;

  Be well aware, how ye the same doe vse,

  That pride doe not to tyranny you lift;

  Least if men you of cruelty accuse,

  He from you take that chiefedome, which ye doe abuse.
/>   And as ye soft and tender are by kynde,

  Adornd with goodly gifts of beauties grace,

  So be ye soft and tender eeke in mynde;

  But cruelty and hardnesse from you chace,

  That all your other praises will deface,

  And from you turne the loue of men to hate.

  Ensample take of Mirabellaes case,

  Who from the high degree of happy state,

  Fell into wretched woes, which she repented late.

  Who after thraldome of the gentle Squire,

  Which she beheld with lamentable eye,

  Was touched with compassion entire,

  And much lamented his calamity,

  That for her sake fell into misery:

  Which booted nought for prayers, nor for threat

  To hope for to release or mollify;

  For aye the more, that she did them entreat,

  The more they him misust, and cruelly did beat.

  So as they forward on their way did pas,

  Him still reuiling and afflicting sore,

  They met Prince Arthure with Sir Enias,

  (That was that courteous Knight, whom he before

  Hauing subdew'd, yet did to life restore,)

  To whom as they approcht, they gan augment

  Their cruelty, and him to punish more,

  Scourging and haling him more vehement;

  As if it them should grieue to see his punishment.

  The Squire him selfe when as he saw his Lord,

  The witnesse of his wretchednesse, in place,

  Was much asham'd, that with an hempen cord

  He like a dog was led in captiue case,

  And did his head for bashfulnesse abase,

  As loth to see, or to be seene at all:

  Shame would be hid. But whenas Enias

  Beheld two such, of two such villaines thrall,

  His manly mynde was much emmoued therewithall.

  And to the Prince thus sayd; See you Sir Knight,

  The greatest shame that euer eye yet saw?

  Yond Lady and her Squire with foule despight

  Abusde, against all reason and all law,

  Without regard of pitty or of awe.

  See how they doe that Squire beat and reuile;

  See how they doe the Lady hale and draw.

  But if ye please to lend me leaue a while,

  I will them soone acquite, and both of blame assoile.

  The Prince assented, and then he streight way

  Dismounting light, his shield about him threw,

  With which approching, thus he gan to say;

  Abide ye caytiue treachetours vntrew,

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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 tow & tame their corage stout.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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 sigh't,

  And to the dore of death for sorrow drew,

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

  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.

  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,