Spenser's The Faerie Queene Part 7

x.x.xVII

325 Therewith in haste his helmet gan unlace, Till Una cried, O hold that heavie hand, Deare Sir, what ever that thou be in place: Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand Now at thy mercy: Mercie not withstand: 330 For he is one the truest knight alive, Though conquered now he lie on lowly land, And whilest him fortune favourd, faire did thrive In bloudie field: therefore of life him not deprive.

x.x.xVIII

Her piteous words might not abate his rage, 335 But rudely rending up his helmet, would Have slaine him straight: but when he sees his age, And h.o.a.rie head of Archimago old, His hasty hand he doth amazed hold, And halfe ashamed, wondred at the sight: 340 For that old man well knew he, though untold, In charmes and magicke to have wondrous might, Ne ever wont in field, ne in round lists to fight; x.x.xIX

And said, Why Archimago, lucklesse syre, What doe I see? what hard mishap is this, 345 That hath thee hither brought to taste mine yre?

Or thine the fault, or mine the error is, Instead of foe to wound my friend amis?

He answered nought, but in a traunce still lay, And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his 350 The cloude of death did sit. Which doen away, He left him lying so, ne would no lenger stay: XL

But to the virgin comes, who all this while Amased stands, her selfe so mockt to see By him, who has the guerdon of his guile, 355 For so misfeigning her true knight to bee: Yet is she now in more perplexitie, Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold, From whom her booteth not at all to flie; Who, by her cleanly garment catching hold, 360 Her from her Palfrey pluckt, her visage to behold.

XLI

But her fierce servant, full of kingly awe And high disdaine, whenas his soveraine Dame So rudely handled by her foe he sawe, With gaping jawes full greedy at him came, 365 And ramping on his s.h.i.+eld, did weene the same Have reft away with his sharpe rending clawes: But he was stout, and l.u.s.t did now inflame His corage more, that from his griping pawes He hath his s.h.i.+eld redeem'd, and foorth his swerd he drawes.

XLII

370 O then too weake and feeble was the forse Of salvage beast, his puissance to withstand: For he was strong, and of so mightie corse, As ever wielded speare in warlike hand, And feates of armes did wisely understand.

375 Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest With thrilling point of deadly yron brand, And launcht his Lordly hart: with death opprest He roar'd aloud, whiles life forsooke his stubborne brest.

XLIII

Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid 380 From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will?

Her faithfull gard remov'd, her hope dismaid, Her selfe a yielded pray to save or spill.

He now Lord of the field, his pride to fill, With foule reproches, and disdainfull spight 385 Her vildly entertaines, and will or nill, Beares her away upon his courser light: Her prayers nought prevaile, his rage is more of might.

XLIV

And all the way, with great lamenting paine, And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares, 390 That stony hart could riven have in twaine, And all the way she wets with flowing teares: But he enrag'd with rancor, nothing heares.

Her servile beast yet would not leave her so, But followes her farre off, ne ought he feares, 395 To be partaker of her wandring woe, More mild in beastly kind, then that her beastly foe.

CANTO IV To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa guides the faithfull knight, Where brother's death to wreak Sansjoy doth chalenge him to fight.

I

YOUNG knight whatever that dost armes professe, And through long labours huntest after fame, Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse, In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame, 5 Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame, And rash misweening doe thy hart remove: For unto knight there is no greater shame, Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love; That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly prove.

II

10 Who after that he had faire Una lorne, Through light misdeeming of her loialtie, And false Duessa in her sted had borne, Called Fidess', and so supposd to bee; Long with her traveild, till at last they see 15 A goodly building, bravely garnished, The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee: And towards it a broad high way that led, All bare through peoples feet, which thither traveiled.

III

Great troupes of people traveild thitherward 20 Both day and night, of each degree and place, But few returned, having scaped hard, With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace; Which ever after in most wretched case, Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.

25 Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace: For she is wearie of the toilesome way, And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

IV

A stately Pallace built of squared bricke, Which cunningly was without morter laid, 30 Whose wals were high, but nothing strong, nor thick, And golden foile all over them displaid, That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid: High lifted up were many loftie towres, And goodly galleries farre over laid, 35 Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres; And on the top a Diall told the timely howres.

V

It was a goodly heape for to behould, And spake the praises of the workmans wit; But full great pittie, that so faire a mould 40 Did on so weake foundation ever sit: For on a sandie hill, that still did flit And fall away, it mounted was full hie, That every breath of heaven shaked it: And all the hinder parts, that few could spie, 45 Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

VI

Arrived there, they pa.s.sed in forth right; For still to all the gates stood open wide: Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight Cald Malvenu, who entrance none denide: 50 Thence to the hall, which was on every side With rich array and costly arras dight: Infinite sorts of people did abide There waiting long, to win the wished sight Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright.

VII

55 By them they pa.s.se, all gazing on them round, And to the Presence mount; whose glorious vew Their frayle amazed senses did confound: In living Princes court none ever knew Such endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew; 60 Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous pride Like ever saw. And there a n.o.ble crew Of Lordes and Ladies stood on every side, Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide.

VIII

High above all a cloth of State was spred, 65 And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day, On which there sate most brave embellished With royall robes and gorgeous array, A mayden Queene, that shone as t.i.tans ray, In glistring gold, and peerelesse pretious stone: 70 Yet her bright blazing beautie did a.s.say To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne, As envying her selfe, that too exceeding shone.

IX

Exceeding shone, like Phbus fairest childe, That did presume his fathers firie wayne, 75 And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wilde Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne; Proud of such glory and advancement vaine, While flas.h.i.+ng beames do daze his feeble eyen, He leaves the welkin way most beaten plaine, 80 And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen, With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.

X

So proud she shyned in her Princely state, Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdayne: And sitting high; for lowly she did hate: 85 Lo underneath her scornefull feete was layne A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne, And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright, Wherein her face she often vewed fayne, And in her selfe-lov'd semblance tooke delight; 90 For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight.

XI

Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was, And sad Proserpina the Queene of h.e.l.l; Yet did she thinke her pearlesse worth to pas That parentage, with pride so did she swell; 95 And thundring Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell, And wield the world, she claymed for her syre, Or if that any else did Jove excell: For to the highest she did still aspyre, Or if ought higher were then that, did it desyre.

XII

100 And proud Lucifera men did her call, That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be, Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all, Ne heritage of native soveraintie, But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie 105 Upon the scepter, which she now did hold: Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes, but pollicie, And strong advizement of six wisards old, That with their counsels bad her kingdome did uphold.

XIII

Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came, 110 And false Duessa seeming Lady faire, A gentle Husher, Vanitie by name Made rowme, and pa.s.sage for them did prepaire: So goodly brought them to the lowest staire Of her high throne, where they on humble knee 115 Making obeyssance, did the cause declare, Why they were come, her royall state to see, To prove the wide report of her great Majestee.

XIV

With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low, She thanked them in her disdainefull wise; 120 Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show Of Princesse worthy, sca.r.s.e them bad arise.

Her Lordes and Ladies all this while devise Themselves to setten forth to straungers sight: Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise, 125 Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dight Their gay attire: each others greater pride does spight.

XV

Goodly they all that knight do entertaine, Right glad with him to have increast their crew: But to Duess' each one himselfe did paine 130 All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew; For in that court whylome her well they knew: Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew, And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd, 135 That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.

XVI

Suddein upriseth from her stately place The royall Dame, and for her coche did call: All hurtlen forth, and she with Princely pace, As faire Aurora in her purple pall, 140 Out of the east the dawning day doth call: So forth she comes: her brightnesse brode doth blaze; The heapes of people thronging in the hall, Do ride each other, upon her to gaze: Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eyes amaze.

XVII

145 So forth she comes, and to her coche does clyme, Adorned all with gold, and girlonds gay, That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime, And strove to match, in royall rich array, Great Junoes golden chaire, the which they say 150 The G.o.ds stand gazing on, when she does ride To Joves high house through heavens bras-paved way Drawne of faire Pec.o.c.ks, that excell in pride, And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide.

XVIII

But this was drawne of six unequall beasts, 155 On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde, Taught to obay their b.e.s.t.i.a.ll beheasts, With like conditions to their kinds applyde: Of which the first, that all the rest did guyde, Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin; 160 Upon a slouthful a.s.se he chose to ryde, Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin, Like to an holy Monck, the service to begin.

XIX

And in his hand his Portesse still he bare, That much was worne, but therein little red, 165 For of devotion he had little care, Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his dayes ded; Sca.r.s.e could he once uphold his heavie hed, To looken, whether it were night or day: May seeme the wayne was very evill led, 170 When such an one had guiding of the way, That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray.

XX

From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne, And greatly shunned manly exercise, From every worke he chalenged essoyne, 175 For contemplation sake: yet otherwise, His life he led in lawlesse riotise; By which he grew to grievous malady; For in his l.u.s.tlesse limbs through evill guise A shaking fever raignd continually: 180 Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company.

XXI

And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony, Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne; His belly was up-blowne with luxury, And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne, 185 And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne, With which he swallowed up excessive feast, For want whereof poore people oft did pyne; And all the way, most like a brutish beast, He spued up his gorge, that all did him deteast.

XXII

190 In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad; For other clothes he could not weare for heat, And on his head an yvie girland had, From under which fast trickled downe the sweat: Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat, 195 And in his hand did beare a bouzing can, Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat His dronken corse he sca.r.s.e upholden can, In shape and life more like a monster, then a man.

XXIII

Unfit he was for any worldly thing, 200 And eke unhable once to stirre or go, Not meet to be of counsell to a king, Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so, That from his friend he seldome knew his fo: Full of diseases was his carcas blew, 205 And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow: Which by misdiet daily greater grew: Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.