Spenser's The Faerie Queene Part 20

Thence forward by that painfull way they pas, Forth to an hill, that was both steepe and hy; On top whereof a sacred chappell was, And eke a little Hermitage thereby, 410 Wherein an aged holy man did lye, That day and night said his devotion, Ne other worldly busines did apply; His name was heavenly Contemplation; Of G.o.d and goodnesse was his meditation.

XLVII

415 Great grace that old man to him given had; For G.o.d he often saw from heavens hight, All were his earthly eyen both blunt and bad, And through great age had lost their kindly sight, Yet wondrous quick and persant was his spright, 420 As Eagles eye, that can behold the Sunne: That hill they scale with all their powre and might, That his fraile thighes nigh weary and fordonne Gan faile, but by her helpe the top at last he wonne.

XLVIII

There they do finde that G.o.dly aged Sire, 425 With snowy lockes adowne his shoulders shed, As h.o.a.rie frost with spangles doth attire The mossy braunches of an Oke halfe ded.

Each bone might through his body well be red, And every sinew seene through his long fast: 430 For nought he car'd his carcas long unfed; His mind was full of spirituall repast, And pyn'd his flesh, to keepe his body low and chast.

XLIX

Who when these two approaching he aspide, At their first presence grew agrieved sore, 435 That forst him lay his heavenly thoughts aside; And had he not that Dame respected more, Whom highly he did reverence and adore, He would not once have moved for the knight.

They him saluted, standing far afore; 440 Who well them greeting, humbly did requight, And asked, to what end they clomb that tedious height.

L

What end (quoth she) should cause us take such paine, But that same end which every living wight Should make his marke, high heaven to attaine?

445 Is not from hence the way, that leadeth right To that most glorious house that glistreth bright With burning starres and everliving fire, Whereof the keyes are to thy hand behight By wise Fidelia? She doth thee require, 450 To show it to his knight, according his desire.

LI

Thrise happy man, said then the father grave, Whose staggering steps thy steady hand doth lead, And shewes the way, his sinfull soule to save.

Who better can the way to heaven aread, 455 Then thou thy selfe, that was both borne and bred In heavenly throne, where thousand Angels shine?

Thou doest the prayers of the righteous sead Present before the majestie divine, And his avenging wrath to clemencie incline.

LII

460 Yet since thou bidst, thy pleasure shal be donne.

Then come thou man of earth, and see the way, That never yet was seene of Faeries sonne, That never leads the traveiler astray, But after labors long, and sad delay, 465 Brings them to joyous rest and endlesse blis.

But first thou must a season fast and pray, Till from her bands the spright a.s.soiled is, And have her strength recur'd from fraile infirmitis.

LIII

That donne, he leads him to the highest Mount; 470 Such one as that same mighty man of G.o.d, That blood-red billowes like a walled front On either side disparted with his rod, Till that his army dry-foot through them yod, Dwelt forty dayes upon; where writ in stone 475 With bloudy letters by the hand of G.o.d, The bitter doome of death and balefull mone He did receive, whiles flashing fire about him shone.

LIV

Or like that sacred hill, whose head full hie, Adornd with fruitfull Olives all arownd, 480 Is, as it were for endlesse memory Of that deare Lord who oft thereon was fownd, For ever with a flowring girlond crownd: Or like that pleasaunt Mount, that is for ay Through famous Poets verse each where renownd, 485 On which the thrise three learned Ladies play Their heavenly notes, and make full many a lovely lay.

LV

From thence, far off he unto him did shew A litle path, that was both steepe and long, Which to a goodly Citie led his vew; 490 Whose wals and towres were builded high and strong Of perle and precious stone, that earthly tong Cannot describe, nor wit of man can tell; Too high a ditty for my simple song; The Citie of the great king hight it well, 495 Wherein eternall peace and happinesse doth dwell.

LVI

As he thereon stood gazing, he might see The blessed Angels to and fro descend From highest heaven in gladsome companee, And with great joy into that Citie wend, 500 As commonly as friend does with his frend.

Whereat he wondred much, and gan enquere, What stately building durst so high extend Her loftie towres unto the starry sphere, And what unknowen nation there empeopled were.

LVII

505 Faire knight (quoth he) Hierusalem that is, The new Hierusalem, that G.o.d has built For those to dwell in, that are chosen his, His chosen people purg'd from sinfull guilt With pretious blood, which cruelly was spilt 510 On cursed tree, of that unspotted lam, That for the sinnes of al the world was kilt: Now are they Saints all in that Citie sam, More dear unto their G.o.d then younglings to their dam.

LVIII

Till now, said then the knight, I weened well, 515 That great Cleopolis, where I have beene, In which that fairest Faerie Queene doth dwell, The fairest citie was that might be seene; And that bright towre all built of christall cleene, Panthea, seemd the brightest thing that was: 520 But now by proofe all otherwise I weene; For this great Citie that does far surpas, And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre of glas.

LIX

Most trew, then said the holy aged man; Yet is Cleopolis, for earthly frame, 525 The fairest peece that eye beholden can; And well beseemes all knights of n.o.ble name, That covett in th' immortall booke of fame To be eternized, that same to haunt, And doen their service to that soveraigne dame, 530 That glorie does to them for guerdon graunt: For she is heavenly borne, and heaven may justly vaunt.

LX

And thou faire ymp, sp.r.o.ng out from English race, How ever now accompted Elfins sonne, Well worthy doest thy service for her grace, 535 To aide a virgin desolate fordonne.

But when thou famous victory hast wonne, And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield, Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shonne, And wash thy hands from guilt of bloudy field: 540 For blood can nought but sin, and wars but sorrowes yield.

LXI

Then seek this path, that I to thee presage, Which after all to heaven shall thee send; Then peaceably thy painefull pilgrimage To yonder same Hierusalem do bend, 545 Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end: For thou emongst those Saints, whom thou doest see, Shall be a Saint, and thine owne nations frend And Patrone: thou Saint George shalt called bee, Saint George of mery England, the signe of victoree.

LXII

550 Unworthy wretch (quoth he) of so great grace, How dare I thinke such glory to attaine?

These that have it attaind, were in like cace, (Quoth he) as wretched, and liv'd in like paine.

But deeds of armes must I at last be faine 555 And Ladies love to leave so dearely bought?

What need of armes, where peace doth ay remaine, (Said he,) and battailes none are to be fought?

As for loose loves, they're vain, and vanish into nought.

LXIII

O let me not (quoth he) then turne againe 560 Backe to the world, whose joyes so fruitlesse are; But let me here for aye in peace remaine, Or streight way on that last long voyage fare, That nothing may my present hope empare.

That may not be, (said he) ne maist thou yit 565 Forgo that royall maides bequeathed care, Who did her cause into thy hand commit, Till from her cursed foe thou have her freely quit.

LXIV

Then shall I soone (quoth he) so G.o.d me grace, Abet that virgins cause disconsolate, 570 And shortly backe returne unto this place, To walke this way in Pilgrims poore estate.

But now aread, old father, why of late Didst thou behight me borne of English blood, Whom all a Faeries sonne doen nominate?

575 That word shall I (said he) avouchen good, Sith to thee is unknowne the cradle of thy blood.

LXV

For well I wote thou springst from ancient race Of Saxon kings, that have with mightie hand And many b.l.o.o.d.y battailes fought in place 580 High reard their royall throne in Britane land, And vanquisht them, unable to withstand: From thence a Faerie thee unweeting reft, There as thou slepst in tender swadling band, And her base Elfin brood there for thee left.

585 Such men do Chaungelings call, so chang'd by Faeries theft.

LXVI

Thence she thee brought into this Faerie lond, And in an heaped furrow did thee hyde, Where thee a Ploughman all unweeting fond, As he his toylesome teme that way did guyde, 590 And brought thee up in ploughmans state to byde Whereof Georgos he gave thee to name; Till p.r.i.c.kt with courage, and thy forces pryde, To Faerie court thou cam'st to seeke for fame, And prove thy puissaunt armes, as seemes thee best became.

LXVII

595 O holy Sire (quoth he) how shall I quight The many favours I with thee have found, That hast my name and nation red aright, And taught the way that does to heaven bound?

This said, adowne he looked to the ground, 600 To have returnd, but dazed were his eyne Through pa.s.sing brightnesse, which did quite confound His feeble sence and too exceeding shyne.

So darke are earthly things compard to things divine.

LXVIII

At last whenas himselfe he gan to find, 605 To Una back he cast him to retire; Who him awaited still with pensive mind.

Great thankes and goodly meed to that good syre He thence departing gave for his paines hyre.

So came to Una, who him joyd to see, 610 And after little rest, gan him desire Of her adventure mindfull for to bee.

So leave they take of Clia, and her daughters three.

CANTO XI The knight with that old Dragon fights two dayes incessantly; The third him overthrowes, and gayns most glorious victory.

I

HIGH time now gan it wex for Una faire To thinke of those her captive Parents deare, And their forwasted kingdome to repaire: Whereto whenas they now approched neare, 5 With hartie wordes her knight she gan to cheare, And in her modest manner thus bespake; Deare knight, as deare as ever knight was deare, That all these sorrowes suffer for my sake, High heaven behold the tedious toyle ye for me take.

II

10 Now are we come unto my native soyle, And to the place where all our perils dwell; Here haunts that feend, and does his dayly spoyle; Therefore henceforth be at your keeping well, And ever ready for your foeman fell.

15 The sparke of n.o.ble courage now awake, And strive your excellent selfe to excell: That shall ye evermore renowmed make, Above all knights on earth that batteill undertake.

III