Spenser's The Faerie Queene Part 16

But welcome now my Lord, in wele or woe, 380 Whose presence I have lackt too long a day; And fie on Fortune mine avowed foe, Whose wrathful wreakes them selves doe now alay.

And for these wrongs shall treble penaunce pay Of treble good: good growes of evils priefe.

385 The chearelesse man, whom sorrow did dismay, Had no delight to treaten of his griefe; His long endured famine needed more reliefe.

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Faire Lady, then said that victorious knight, The things, that grievous were to do, or beare, 390 Them to renew, I wote, breeds no delight; Best musicke breeds delight in loathing eare: But th' onely good, that growes of pa.s.sed feare, Is to be wise, and ware of like agein.

This dayes ensample hath this lesson deare 395 Deepe written in my heart with yron pen, That blisse may not abide in state of mortall men.

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Henceforth sir knight, take to you wonted strength, And maister these mishaps with patient might; Loe where your foe lyes stretcht in monstrous length, 400 And loe that wicked woman in your sight, The roote of all your care, and wretched plight, Now in your powre, to let her live, or dye.

To do her dye (quoth Una) were despight, And shame t'avenge so weake an enimy; 405 But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly.

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So as she bad, that witch they disaraid, And robd of royall robes, and purple pall, And ornaments that richly were displaid; Ne spared they to strip her naked all.

410 Then when they had despoiled her tire and call, Such as she was, their eyes might her behold, That her misshaped parts did them appall, A loathly, wrinckled hag, ill favoured, old, Whose secret filth good manners biddeth not be told.

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415 Which when the knights beheld, amazd they were, And wondred at so fowle deformed wight.

Such then (said Una) as she seemeth here, Such is the face of falshood, such the sight Of fowle Duessa, when her borrowed light 420 Is laid away, and counterfesaunce knowne.

Thus when they had the witch disrobed quight, And all her filthy feature open showne, They let her goe at will, and wander wayes unknowne.

L

She flying fast from heavens hated face, 425 And from the world that her discovered wide, Fled to the wastfull wildernesse apace, From living eyes her open shame to hide, And lurkt in rocks and caves long unespide.

But that faire crew of knights, and Una faire 430 Did in that castle afterwards abide, To rest them selves, and weary powres repaire, Where store they found of all that dainty was and rare.

CANTO IX His loves and lignage Arthur tells: the Knights knit friendly hands: Sir Trevisan flies from Despayre, whom Redcrosse Knight withstands.

I

O GOODLY golden chaine, wherewith yfere The vertues linked are in lovely wize: And n.o.ble mindes of yore allyed were, In brave poursuit of chevalrous emprize, 5 That none did others safety despize, Nor aid envy to him, in need that stands, But friendly each did others prayse devize, How to advaunce with favourable hands, As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from bands.

II

10 Who when their powres empaird through labour long, With dew repast they had recured well, And that weake captive wight now wexed strong, Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell, But forward fare, as their adventures fell, 15 But ere they parted, Una faire besought That straunger knight his name and nation tell; Least so great good, as he for her had wrought, Should die unknown, and buried be in thanklesse thought.

III

Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me require 20 A thing without the compas of my wit: For both the lignage and the certain Sire, From which I sp.r.o.ng, from me are hidden yit.

For all so soone as life did me admit Into this world, and shewed heavens light, 25 From mothers pap I taken was unfit: And streight deliver'd to a Faery knight, To be upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.

IV

Unto old Timon he me brought bylive, Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beene 30 In warlike feates th'expertest man alive, And is the wisest now on earth I weene; His dwelling is low in a valley greene, Under the foot of Rauran mossy h.o.r.e, From whence the river Dee as silver cleene, 35 His tombling billowes roll with gentle rore: There all my dayes he traind me up in vertuous lore.

V

Thither the great magicien Merlin came, As was his use, ofttimes to visit me: For he had charge my discipline to frame, 40 And Tutours nouriture to oversee.

Him oft and oft I askt in privitie, Of what loines and what lignage I did spring: Whose aunswere bad me still a.s.sured bee, That I was sonne and heire unto a king, 45 As time in her just terme the truth to light should bring.

VI

Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent, And pupill fit for such a Tutours hand.

But what adventure, or what high intent Hath brought you hither into Faery land, 50 Aread Prince Arthur, crowne of Martiall band?

Full hard it is (quoth he) to read aright The course of heavenly cause, or understand The secret meaning of th' eternall might, That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of living wight.

VII

55 For whether he through fatall deepe foresight Me hither sent, for cause to me unghest, Or that fresh bleeding wound, which day and night Whilome doth rancle in my riven brest, With forced fury following his behest, 60 Me hither brought by wayes yet never found; You to have helpt I hold myself yet blest.

Ah curteous knight (quoth she) what secret wound Could ever find, to grieve the gentlest hart on ground?

VIII

Deare dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake, 65 Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow, Ne ever will their fervent fury slake, Till living moysture into smoke do flow, And wasted life do lye in ashes low.

Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire, 70 But told it flames, and hidden it does glow; I will revele what ye so much desire: Ah Love, lay down thy bow, the whiles I may respire.

IX

It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares, When courage first does creepe in manly chest, 75 Then first the coale of kindly heat appeares To kindle love in every living brest; But me had warnd old Timons wise behest, Those creeping flames by reason to subdew, Before their rage grew to so great unrest, 80 As miserable lovers use to rew, Which still wex old in woe, whiles woe still wexeth new.

X

That idle name of love, and lovers life, As losse of time, and vertues enimy, I ever scornd, and joyd to stirre up strife, 85 In middest of their mournfull Tragedy, Ay wont to laugh, when them I heard to cry, And blow the fire, which them to ashes brent: Their G.o.d himselfe, griev'd at my libertie, Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent, 90 But I them warded all with wary government.

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But all in vaine: no fort can be so strong, Ne fleshly brest can armed be so sound, But will at last be wonne with battrie long, Or unawares at disadvantage found: 95 Nothing is sure, that growes on earthly ground: And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might, And boasts in beauties chaine not to be bound, Doth soonest fall in disaventrous fight, And yeeldes his caytive neck to victours most despight.

XII

100 Ensample make of him your haplesse joy, And of my selfe now mated, as ye see; Whose prouder vaunt that proud avenging boy Did soone pluck downe and curbd my libertie.

For on a day, p.r.i.c.kt forth with jollitie 105 Of looser life, and heat of hardiment, Raunging the forest wide on courser free, The fields, the floods, the heavens with one consent Did seeme to laugh on me, and favour mine intent.

XIII

For-wearied with my sports, I did alight 110 From loftie steed, and downe to sleepe me layd; The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight, And pillow was my helmet faire displayd: Whiles every sence the humour sweet embayd, And s...o...b..ing soft my hart did steale away, 115 Me seemed, by my side a royall Mayd Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay: So faire a creature yet saw never sunny day.

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Most goodly glee and lovely blandishment She to me made, and bad me love her deare; 120 For dearely sure her love was to me bent, As when just time expired should appeare.

But whether dreames delude, or true it were, Was never hart so ravisht with delight, Ne living man like words did ever heare, 125 As she to me delivered all that night; And at her parting said, She Queene of Faeries hight.

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When I awoke, and found her place devoyd, And nought but pressed gras, where she had lyen, I sorrowed all so much as earst I joyd, 130 And washed all her place with watry eyen.

From that day forth I lov'd that face divine; From that day forth I cast in carefull mind To seeke her out with labour, and long tyne, And never vowd to rest till her I find, 135 Nine monethes I seeke in vain, yet ni'll that vow unbind.

XVI

Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale, And chaunge of hew great pa.s.sion did bewray; Yet still he strove to cloke his inward bale, And hide the smoke that did his fire display, 140 Till gentle Una thus to him gan say; O happy Queene of Faeries, that has found Mongst many, one that with his prowesse may Defend thine honour, and thy foes confound: True Loves are often sown, but seldom grow on ground.

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145 Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight, Next to that Ladies love, shal be the place, O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light, Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race, Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case.

150 And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life, Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace: For onely worthy you through prowes priefe, Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe.

XVIII

So diversly discoursing of their loves, 155 The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew, And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoves With fresh desire his voyage to pursew; Als Una earnd her traveill to renew.

Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd, 160 And love establish each to other trew, Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd, And eke the pledges firme, right hands together joynd.

XIX

Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure, Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament, 165 Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure, Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent, That any wound could heale incontinent: Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gave A booke, wherein his Saveours testament 170 Was writ with golden letters rich and brave; A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to save.

XX

Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his way To seeke his love, and th' other for to fight With Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray.

175 But she now weighing the decayed plight, And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight, Would not a while her forward course pursew, Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight, Till he recovered had his former hew: 180 For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew.

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