Faire virgin to redeeme her deare
brings Arthur to the fight,

Who slayes the Gyant, wounds the beast,

and strips Duessa quight.

AY me, how many perils doe enfold

The righteous man, to make him daily fall?

Were not, that heauenly grace doth him vphold,

And stedfast truth acquite him out of all.

Her loue is firme, her care continuall,

So oft as he through his owne foolish pride,

Or weaknesse is to sinfull bands made thrall:

Else should this "Redcrosse" knight in bands haue dyde,

For whose deliuerce she this Prince doth thither guide.

They sadly traueild thus, vntill they came

Nigh to a castle builded strong and hie:

Then cryde the Dwarfe, lo yonder is the same,

In which my Lord my liege doth lucklesse lie,

Thrall to that Gyants hatefull tyrannie:

Therefore, deare Sir, your mightie powres assay.

The noble knight alighted by and by

From loftie steede, and bad the Ladie stay,

To see what end of fight should him befall that day.

So with the Squire, th'admirer of his might,

He marched forth towards that castle wall;

Whose gates he found fast shut, ne liuing wight

To ward the same, nor answere commers call.

Then tooke that Squire an horne of bugle small,

Which hong adowne his side in twisted gold,

And tassels gay. Wyde wonders ouer all

Of that same hornes great vertues weren told,

Which had approued bene in vses manifold.

Was neuer wight, that heard that shrilling sound,

But trembling feare did feele in euery vaine;

Three miles it might be easie heard around,

And Ecchoes three answerd it selfe againe:

No false enchauntment, nor deceiptfull traine

Might once abide the terror of that blast,

But presently was voide and wholly vaine:

No gate so strong, no locke so firme and fast,

But with that percing noise flew open quite, or brast.

The same before the Geants gate he blew,

That all the castle quaked from the ground,

And euery dore of freewill open flew.

The Gyant selfe dismaied with that sownd,

Where he with his "Duessa" dalliance fownd,

In hast came rushing forth from inner bowre,

With staring countenance sterne, as one astownd,

And staggering steps, to weet, what suddein stowre

Had wrought that horror strange, and dar'd his dreaded powre.

And after him the proud "Duessa" came,

High mounted on her manyheaded beast,

And euery head with fyrie tongue did flame,

And euery head was crowned on his creast,

And bloudie mouthed with late cruell feast.

That when the knight beheld, his mightie shild

Vpon his manly arme he soone addrest,

And at him fiercely flew, with courage fild,

And eger greedinesse through euery member thrild.

Therewith the Gyant buckled him to fight,

Inflam'd with scornefull wrath and high disdaine,

And lifting vp his dreadfull club on hight,

All arm'd with ragged snubbes and knottie graine,

Him thought at first encounter to haue slaine,

But wise and warie was that noble Pere,

And lightly leaping from so monstrous maine,

Did faire auoide the violence him nere;

It booted nought, to thinke, such thunderbolts to beare.

Ne shame he thought to shunne so hideous might:

The idle stroke, enforcing furious way,

Missing the marke of his misaymed sight

Did fall to ground, and with his heauie sway

So deepely dinted in the driuen clay,

That three yardes deepe a furrow vp did throw:

The sad earth wounded with so sore assay,

Did grone full grieuous vnderneath the blow,

And trembling with strange feare, did like an earthquake show.

As when almightie "Ioue" in wrathfull mood,

To wreake the guilt of mortall sins is bent,

Hurles forth his thundring dart with deadly food,

Enrold in flames, and smouldring dreriment,

Through riuen cloudes and molten firmament;

The fierce threeforked engin making way,

Both loftie towres and highest trees hath rent,

And all that might his angrie passage stay,

And shooting in the earth, casts vp a mount of clay.

His boystrous club, so buried in the ground,

He could not rearen vp againe so light,

But that the knight him at auantage found,

And whiles he stroue his combred clubbe to quight

Out of the earth, with blade all burning bright

He smote off his left arme, which like a blocke

Did fall to ground, depriu'd of natiue might;

Large streames of bloud out of the truncked stocke

Forth gushed, like fresh water streame from riuen rocke.

Dismaied with so desperate deadly wound,

And eke impatient of vnwonted paine,

He loudly brayd with beastly yelling sound,

That all the fields rebellowed againe;

As great a noyse, as when in Cymbrian plaine

An heard of Bulles, whom kindly rage doth sting,

Do for the milkie mothers want complaine,

And fill the fields with troublous bellowing,

The neighbour woods around with hollow murmur ring.

That when his deare "Duessa" heard, and saw

The euill stownd, that daungerd her estate,

Vnto his aide she hastily did draw

Her dreadfull beast, who swolne with bloud of late

Came ramping forth with proud presumpteous gate,

And threatned all his heads like flaming brands.

But him the Squire made quickly to retrate,

Encountring fierce with single sword in hand,

And twixt him and his Lord did like a bulwarke stand.

The proud "Duessa" full of wrathfull spight,

And fierce disdaine, to be affronted so,

Enforst her purple beast with all her might

That stop out of the way to ouerthroe,

Scorning the let of so vnequall foe:

But nathemore would that courageous swayne

To her yeeld passage, gainst his Lord to goe,

But with outrageous strokes did him restraine,

And with his bodie bard the way atwixt them twaine.

Then tooke the angrie witch her golden cup,

Which still she bore, replete with magick artes;

Death and despeyre did many ther sup,

And secret poyson through their inner parts,

Th'eternall bale of heauie wounded harts;

Which after charmes and some enchauntments said,

She lightly sprinkled on his weaker parts;

Therewith his sturdie courage soone was quayd,

And all his senses were with suddeine dread dismayd.

So downe he fell before the cruell beast,

Who on his necke his bloudie clawes did seize,

That life nigh crusht out of his panting brest:

No powre he had to stirre, nor will to rize.

That when the carefull knight gan well auise,

He lightly left the foe, with whom he fought,

And to the beast gan turne his enterprise;

For wondrous anguish in his hart it wrought,

To see his loued Squire into such thraldome brought.

And high aduauncing his bloud-thirstie blade,

Stroke one of those deformed heads so sore,

That of his puissance proud ensample made;

His monstrous scalpe downe to his teeth it tore,

And that misformed shape mis-shaped more:

A sea of bloud gusht from the gaping wound,

That her gay garments staynd with filthy gore,

And ouerflowed all the field around;

That ouer shoes in bloud he waded on the ground.

Thereat he roared for exceeding paine,

That to haue heard, great horror would haue bred,

And scourging th'emptie ayre with his long traine,

Through great impatience of his grieued hed

His gorgeous ryder from her loftie sted

Would haue cast downe, and trod in durtie myre,

Had not the Gyant soone her succoured;

Who all enrag'd with smart and franticke yre,

Came hurtling in full fierce, and forst the knight retyre.

The force, which wont in two to be disperst,

In one alone left hand he now vnites,

Which is through rage more strong then both were erst;

With which his hideous club aloft he dites,

And at his foe with furious rigour smites,

That strongest Oake might seeme to ouerthrow.

The stroke vpon his shield so heauie lites,

That to the ground it doubleth him full low

What mortall wight could euer beare so monstrous blow?

And in his fall his shield, that couered was,

Did loose his vele by chaunce, and open flew:

The light wher, that heauens light did pas,

Such blazing brightnesse through the aier threw,

That eye mote not the same endure to vew.

Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye,

He downe let fall his arme, and soft withdrew

His weapon huge, that heaued was on hye

For to haue slaine the man, that on the ground did lye.

And eke the fruitfull-headed beast, amaz'd

At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield,

Became starke blind, and all his senses daz'd,

That downe he tumbled on the durtie field,

And seem'd himselfe as conquered to yield.

Whom when his maistresse proud perceiu'd to fall,

Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld,

Vnto the Gyant loudly she gan call,

O helpe "Orgoglio", helpe, or else we perish all.

At her so pitteous cry was much amoou'd

Her champion stout, and for to ayde his frend,

Againe his wonted angry weapon proou'd:

But all in vaine: for he has read his end

In that bright shield, and all their forces spend

Themselues in vaine: for since that glauncing sight,

He hath no powre to hurt, nor to defend;

As where th'Almighties lightning brond does light,

It dimmes the dazed eyen, and daunts the senses quight.

Whom when the Prince, to battell new addrest,

And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see,

His sparkling blade about his head he blest,

And smote off quite his right leg by the knee,

That downe he tombled; as an aged tree,

High growing on the top of rocky clift,

Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be,

The mightie trunck halfe rent, with ragged rift

Doth roll adowne the rocks, and fall with fearefull drift.

Or as a Castle reared high and round,

By subtile engins and malitious slight

Is vndermined from the lowest ground

And her foundation forst, and feebled quight,

At last downe falles, and with her heaped hight

Her hastie ruine does more heauie make,

And yields it selfe vnto the victours might;

Such was this Gyaunts fall, that seemd to shake

The stedfast globe of earth, as it for feare did quake.

The knight then lightly leaping to the pray,

With mortall steele him smot againe so sore,

That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay,

All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore,

Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous store,

But soone as breath out of his breast did pas,

That huge great body, which the Gyaunt bore,

Was vanisht quite, and of that monstrous mas

Was nothing left, but like an emptie bladder was.

Whose grieuous fall, when false "Duessa" spide,

Her golden cup she cast vnto the ground,

And crowned mitre rudely threw aside;

Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound,

That she could not endure that dolefull stound,

But leauing all behind her, fled away:

The light-foot Squire her quickly turnd around,

And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay,

So brought vnto his Lord, as his deserued pray.

The royall Virgin, which beheld from farre,

In pensiue plight, and sad perplexitie,

The whole atchieuement of this doubtfull warre,

Came running fast to greet his victorie,

With sober gladnesse, and myld modestie,

And with sweet ioyous cheare him thus bespake;

Faire braunch of noblesse, flowre of cheualrie,

That with your worth the world amazed make,

How shall I quite the paines, ye suffer for my sake?

And you fresh bud of vertue springing fast,

Whom these sad eyes saw nigh vnto deaths dore,

What hath poore Virgin for such perill past,

Wherewith you to reward? Accept therefore

My simple selfe, and seruice euermore;

And he that high does sit, and all things see

With equall eyes, their merites to restore,

Behold what ye this day haue done for mee,

And what I cannot quite, requite with vsuree.

But sith the heauens, and your faire handeling

Haue made you maister of the field this day,

Your fortune maister eke with gouerning,

And well begun end all so well, I pray,

Ne let that wicked woman scape away;

For she it is, that did my Lord bethrall,

My dearest Lord, and deepe in dongeon lay,

Where he his better dayes hath wasted all.

O heare, how piteous he to you for ayd does call.

Forthwith he gaue in charge vnto his Squire,

That scarlot whore to keepen carefully;

Whiles he himselfe with greedie great desire

Into the Castle entred forcibly,

Where liuing creature none he did espye;

Then gan he lowdly through the house to call:

But no man car'd to answere to his crye.

There raignd a solemne silence ouer all,

Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seene in bowre or hall.

At last with creeping crooked pace forth came

An old old man, with beard as white as snow,

That on a staffe his feeble steps did frame,

And guide his wearie gate both too and fro:

For his eye sight him failed long ygo,

And on his arme a bounch of keyes he bore,

The which vnused rust did ouergrow:

Those were the keyes of euery inner dore,

But he could not them vse, but kept them still in store.

But very vncouth sight was to behold,

How he did fashion his vntoward pace,

For as he forward moou'd his footing old,

So backward still was turnd his wrincled face,

Vnlike to men, who euer as they trace,

Both feet and face one way are wont to lead.

This was the auncient keeper of that place,

And foster father of the Gyant dead;

His name "Ignaro" did his nature right aread.

His reuerend haires and holy grauitie

The knight much honord, as beseemed well,

And gently askt, where all the people bee,

Which in that stately building wont to dwell.

Who answerd him full soft, he could not tell.

Againe he askt, where that same knight was layd,

Whom great "Orgoglio" with his puissaunce fell

Had made his caytiue thrall; againe he sayde,

He could not tell: ne euer other answere made.

Then asked he, which way he in might pas:

He could not tell, againe he answered.

Thereat the curteous knight displeased was,

And said, Old sire, it seemes thou hast not red

How ill it sits with that same siluer hed

In vaine to mocke, or mockt in vaine to bee:

But if thou be, as thou art pourtrahed

With natures pen, in ages graue degree,

Aread in grauer wise, what I demaund of thee.

His answere likewise was, he could not tell.

Whose senceless speach, and doted ignorance

When as the noble Prince had marked well,

He ghest his nature by his countenance,

And calmd his wrath with goodly temperance.

Then to him stepping, from his arme did reach

Those keyes, and made himselfe free enterance.

Each dore he opened without any breach;

There was no barre to stop, nor foe him to empeach.

There all within full rich arayd he found,

With royall arras and resplendent gold.

And did with store of euery thing abound,

That greatest Princes presence might behold.

But all the floore (too filthy to be told)

With bloud of guiltlesse babes, and innocents trew,

Which there were slaine, as sheepe out of the fold,

Defiled was, that dreadfull was to vew,

And sacred ashes ouer it was strowed new.

And there beside of marble stone was built

An Altare, caru'd with cunning imagery,

On which true Christians bloud was often spilt,

And holy Martyrs often doen to dye,

With cruell malice and strong tyranny:

Whose blessed sprites from vnderneath the stone

To God for vengeance cryde continually,

And with great griefe were often heard to grone,

That hardest heart would bleede, to heare their piteous mone.

Through euery rowme he sought, and euery bowr,

But no where could he find that wofull thrall:

At last he came vnto an yron doore,

That fast was lockt, but key found not at all

Emongst that bounch, to open it withall;

But in the same a little grate was pight,

Through which he sent his voyce, and lowd did call

With all his powre, to weet, if liuing wight

Were housed therewithin, whom he enlargen might.

Therewith an hollow, dreary, murmuring voyce

These piteous plaints and dolours did resound;

O who is that, which brings me happy choyce

Of death, that here lye dying euery stound,

Yet liue perforce in balefull darkenesse bound?

For now three Moones haue chged thrice their hew,

And haue beene thrice hid vnderneath the ground,

Since I the heauens chearefull face did vew,

O welcome thou, that doest of death bring tydings trew.

Which when that Champion heard, with percing point

Of pitty deare his hart was thrilled sore,

And trembling horrour ran through euery ioynt,

For ruth of gentle knight so fowle forlore:

Which shaking off, he rent that yron dore,

With furious force, and indignation fell;

Where entred in, his foot could find no flore,

But all a deepe descent, as darke as hell,

That breathed euer forth a filthie banefull smell.

But neither darkenesse fowle, nor filthy bands,

Nor noyous smell his purpose could withhold,

(Entire affection hateth nicer hands)

But that with constant zeale, and courage bold,

After long paines and labours manifold,

He found the meanes that Prisoner vp to reare;

Whose feeble thighes, vnhable to vphold

His pined corse, him scarse to light could beare,

A ruefull spectacle of death and ghastly drere.

His sad dull eyes deepe sunck in hollow pits,

Could not endure th'vnwonted sunne to view;

His bare thin cheekes for want of better bits,

And empty sides deceiued of their dew,

Could make a stony hart his hap to rew;

His rawbone armes, whose mighty brawned bowrs

Were wont to riue steele plates, and helmets hew,

Were cleane consum'd, and all his vitall powres

Decayd, and all his flesh shronk vp like withered flowres.

Whom when his Lady saw, to him she ran

With hasty ioy: to see him made her glad,

And sad to view his visage pale and wan,

Who earst in flowres of freshest youth was clad.

Tho when her well of teares she wasted had,

She said, Ah dearest Lord, what euill starre

On you hath fround, and pourd his influence bad,

That of your selfe ye thus berobbed arre,

And this misseeming hew your manly looks doth marre?

But welcome now my Lord, in wele or woe,

Whose presence I haue lackt too long a day;

And fie on Fortune mine auowed foe,

Whose wrathfull wreakes them selues do now alay.

And for these wrongs shall treble penaunce pay

Of treble good: good growes of euils priefe.

The chearelesse man, whom sorrow did dismay,

Had no delight to treaten of his griefe;

His long endured famine needed more reliefe.

Faire Lady, then said that victorious knight,

The things, that grieuous were to do, or beare,

Them to renew, I wote, breeds no delight:

Best musicke breeds delight in loathing eare:

But th'onely good, that growes of passed feare,

Is to be wise, and ware of like agein.

This dayes ensample hath this lesson deare

Deepe written in my heart with yron pen,

That blisse may not abide in state of mortall men.

Henceforth sir knight, take to you wonted strength,

And maister these mishaps with patient might;

Loe where your foe lyes stretcht in monstrous length,

And loe that wicked woman in your sight,

The roote of all your care, and wretched plight,

Now in your powre, to let her liue, or dye.

To do her dye (quoth "Vna") were despight,

And shame t'auenge so weake an enimy;

But spoile her of her scarlot robe, and let her fly.

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.

Then when they had despoild 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 fauoured, old,

Whose secret filth good manners biddeth not be told.

Her craftie head was altogether bald,

And as in hate of honorable eld,

Was ouergrowne with scurfe and filthy scald;

Her teeth out of her rotten gummes were feld,

And her sowre breath abhominably smeld;

Her dried dugs, like bladders lacking wind,

Hong downe, and filthy matter from them weld;

Her wrizled skin as rough, as maple rind,

So scabby was, that would haue loathd all womankind.

Her neather parts, the shame of all her kind,

My chaster Muse for shame doth blush to write;

But at her rompe she growing had behind

A foxes taile, with dong all fowly dight;

And eke her feete most monstrous were in sight;

For one of them was like an Eagles claw,

With griping talaunts armd to greedy fight,

The other like a Beares vneuen paw:

More vgly shape yet neuer liuing creature saw.

Which when the knights beheld, amazd they were,

And wondred at so fowle deformed wight.

Such then (said "Vna") as she seemeth here,

Such is the face of falshood, such the sight

Of fowle "Duessa", when her borrowed light

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 vnknowne.

She flying fast from heauens hated face,

And from the world that her discouered wide,

Fled to the wastfull wildernesse apace,

From liuing eyes her open shame to hide,

And lurkt in rocks and caues long vnespide.

But that faire crew of knights, and "Vna" faire

Did in that castle afterwards abide,

To rest them selues, and weary powres repaire,

Where store they found of all, that dainty was and rare.

His loues and lignage Arthur tells

The knights knit friendly bands:

Sir Treuisan flies from Despayre,

Whom Redcrosse knight withstands.

O Goodly golden chaine, wherewith yfere

The vertues linked are in louely wize:

And noble minds of yore allyed were,

In braue poursuit of cheualrous emprize,

That none did others safety despize,

Nor aid enuy to him, in need that stands,

But friendly each did others prayse deuize

How to aduaunce with fauourable hands,

As this good Prince redeemd the "Redcrosse" knight from bands.

Who when their powres, empaird through labour long,

With dew repast they had recured well,

And that weake captiue wight now wexed strong,

Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,

But forward fare, as their aduentures fell,

But ere they parted, "Vna" faire besought

That straunger knight his name and nation tell;

Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,

Should die vnknown,

His dwelling is low in a valley greene,

Vnder the foot of "Rauran" mossy hore,

From whence the riuer "Dee" as siluer cleene

His tombling billowes rolls with gentle rore:

There all my dayes he traind me vp in vertuous lore.

Thither the great Magicien "Merlin" came,

As was his vse, ofttimes to visit me:

For he had charge my discipline to frame,

And Tutours nouriture to ouersee.

Him oft and oft I askt in priuitie,

Of what loines and what lignage I did spring:

Whose aunswere bad me still assured bee,

That I was sonne and heire vnto a king,

As time in her iust terme the truth to light should bring.

Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent,

And Pupill fit for such a Tutours hand.

But what aduenture, or what high intent

Hath brought you hither into Faery land,

Aread Prince "Arthur", crowne of Martiall band?

Full hard it is (quoth he) to read aright

The course of heauenly cause, or vnderstand

The secret meaning of th'eternall might,

That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of liuing wight.

For whither he through fatall deepe foresight

Me hither sent, for cause to me vnghest,

Or that fresh bleeding wound, which day and night

Whilome doth rancle in my riuen brest,

With forced fury following his behest,

Me hither brought by wayes yet neuer found,

You to haue helpt I hold my selfe yet blest.

Ah curteous knight (quoth she) what secret wound

Could euer find, to grieue the gentlest hart on ground?

Deare Dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake,

Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow,

Ne euer will their feruent fury slake,

Till liuing moysture into smoke do flow,

And wasted life do lye in ashes low.

Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire,

But told it flames, and hidden it does glow,

I will reuele, what ye so much desire:

Ah Loue, lay downe thy bow, the whiles I may respire.

It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares,

When courage first does creepe in manly chest,

Then first the coale of kindly heat appeares

To kindle loue in euery liuing brest;

But me had warnd old "Timons" wise behest,

Those creeping flames by reason to subdew,

Before their rage grew to so great vnrest,

As miserable louers vse to rew,

Which still wex old in woe, whiles woe still wexeth new.

That idle name of loue, and louers life,

As losse of time, and vertues enimy

I euer scornd, and ioyd to stirre vp strife,

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 God himselfe, grieu'd at my libertie,

Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent,

But I them warded all with wary gouernment.

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 vnawares at disauantage found;

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 disauentrous fight,

And yeeldes his caytiue neck to victours most despight.

Ensample make of him your haplesse ioy,

And of my selfe now mated, as ye see;

Whose prouder vaunt that proud auenging boy

Did soone pluck downe, and curbd my libertie.

For on a day prickt forth with iollitie

Of looser life, and heat of hardiment,

Raunging the forest wide on courser free,

The fields, the floods, the heauens with one consent

Did seeme to laugh on me, and fauour mine intent.

For-wearied with my sports, I did alight

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 euery sence the humour sweet embayd,

And slombring soft my hart did steale away,

Me seemed, by my side a royall Mayd

Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay:

So faire a creature yet saw neuer sunny day.

Most goodly glee and louely blandishment

She to me made, and bad me loue her deare,

For dearely sure her loue was to me bent,

As when iust time expired should appeare.

But whether dreames delude, or true it were,

Was neuer hart so rauisht with delight,

Ne liuing man like words did euer heare,

As she to me deliuered all that night;

And at her parting said, She Queene of Faeries hight.

When I awoke, and found her place deuoyd,

And nought but pressed gras, where she had lyen,

I sorrowed all so much, as earst I ioyd,

And washed all her place with watry eyen.

From that day forth I lou'd that face diuine;

From that day forth I cast in carefull mind,

To seeke her out with labour, and long tyne,

And neuer vow to rest, till her I find,

Nine monethes I seeke in vaine yet ni'll that vow vnbind.

Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale,

And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray;

Yet still he stroue to cloke his inward bale,

And hide the smoke, that did his fire display,

Till gentle "Vna" thus to him gan say;

O happy Queene of Faeries, that hast found

Mongst many, one that with his prowesse may

Defend thine honour, and thy foes confound:

True Loues are oft sown, but seldom grow on ground.

Thine, O then, said the gentle "Redcrosse" knight,

Next to that Ladies loue, shalbe the place,

O fairest virgin, full of heauenly light,

Whose wondrous faith, exceeding earthly race,

Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case,

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 liuing man mote worthy be, to be her liefe.

So diuersly discoursing of their loues,

The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew,

And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues,

With fresh desire his voyage to pursew:

Als "Vna" earnd her traueill to renew.

Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd,

And loue establish each to other trew,

Gaue goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd,

And eke as pledges firme, right hands together ioynd.

Prince "Arthur" gaue a boxe of Diamond sure,

Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament,

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 gaue

A booke, wherein his Saueours testament

Was writ with golden letters rich and braue;

A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to saue.

Thus beene they parted, "Arthur" on his way

To seeke his loue, and th'other for to fight

With "Vnaes" foe, that all her realme did pray.

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 recouered had his former hew:

For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew.

So as they traueild, lo they gan espy

An armed knight towards them gallop fast,

That seemed from some feared foe to fly,

Or other griesly thing, that him agast.

Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast,

As if his feare still followed him behind;

Als flew his steed, as he his bands had brast,

And with his winged heeles did tread the wind,

As he had beene a fole of "Pegasus" his kind.

Nigh as he drew, they might perceiue his head

To be vnarmd, and curld vncombed heares

Vpstaring stiffe, dismayd with vncouth dread;

Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares

Nor life in limbe: and to increase his feares,

In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree,

About his neck an hempen rope he weares,

That with his glistring armes does ill agree;

But he of rope or armes has now no memoree.

The "Redcrosse" knight toward him crossed fast,

To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd:

There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast,

That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd;

Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd,

Till he these wordes to him deliuer might;

Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd,

And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight:

For neuer knight I saw in such misseeming plight.

He answerd nought at all, but adding new

Feare to his first amazment, staring wide

With stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew,

Astonisht stood, as one that had aspide

Infernall furies, with their chaines vntide.

Him yet againe, and yet againe bespake

The gentle knight; who nought to him replide,

But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake,

And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake.

For Gods deare loue, Sir knight, do me not stay;

For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee.

Eft looking backe would faine haue runne away;

But he him forst to stay, and tellen free

The secret cause of his perplexitie:

Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach,

Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee,

But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach,

Yet forst, at last he made through silence suddein breach.

And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he)

From him, that would haue forced me to dye?

And is the point of death now turnd fro mee,

That I may tell this haplesse history?

Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye?

Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace,

(Said he) the which with this vnlucky eye

I late beheld, and had not greater grace

Me reft from it, had bene partaker of the place.

I lately chaunst (Would I had neuer chaunst)

With a faire knight to keepen companee,

Sir "Terwin" hight, that well himselfe aduaunst

In all affaires, and was both bold and free,

But not so happie as mote happie bee:

He lou'd, as was his lot, a Ladie gent,

That him againe lou'd in the least degree:

For she was proud, and of too high intent,

And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament.

From whom returning sad and comfortlesse,

As on the way together we did fare,

We met that villen (God from him me blesse)

That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare,

A man of hell, that cals himselfe "Despaire":

Who first vs greets, and after faire areedes

Of tydings strange, and of aduentures rare:

So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes,

Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes.

Which when he knew, and felt ourfeeble harts

Embost with bale, and bitter byting griefe,

Which loue had launched with his deadly darts,

With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe

He pluckt from vs all hope of due reliefe,

That earst vs held in loue of lingring life;

Then hopelesse hartlesse, gan the cunning thiefe

Perswade vs die, to stint all further strife:

To me he lent this rope, to him a rustie knife.

With which sad instrument of hastie death,

That wofull louer, loathing lenger light,

A wide way made to let forth liuing breath.

But I more fearefull, or more luckie wight,

Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight,

Fled fast away, halfe dead with dying feare:

Ne yet assur'd of life by you, Sir knight,

Whose like infirmitie like chaunce may beare:

But God you neuer let his charmed speeches heare.

How may a man (said he) with idle speach

Be wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health?

I wote (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,

That like would not for all this worldes wealth:

His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt'th

Into the hart, and searcheth euery vaine,

That ere one be aware, by secret stealth

His powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.

O neuer Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.

Certes (said he) hence shall I neuer rest,

Till I that treachours art haue heard and tride;

And you Sir knight, whose name mote I request,

Of grace do me vnto his cabin guide.

I that hight "Treuisan" (quoth he) will ride

Against my liking backe, to doe you grace:

But nor for gold nor glee will I abide

By you, when ye arriue in that same place;

For leuer had I die, then see his deadly face.

Ere long they come, where that same wicked wight

His dwelling has, low in an hollow caue,

Farre vnderneath a craggie clift ypight,

Darke, dolefull, drearie, like a greedie graue,

That still for carrion carcases doth craue:

On top wher aye dwelt the ghastly Owle,

Shrieking his balefull note, which euer draue

Farre from that haunt all other chearefull fowle;

And all about it wandring ghostes did waile and howle.

And all about old stockes and stubs of trees,

Whereon nor fruit, nor leafe was euer seene,

Did hang vpon the ragged rocky knees;

On which had many wretches hanged beene,

Whose carcases were scattered on the greene,

And throwne about the cliffs. Arriued there,

That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene,

Would faine haue fled, ne durst approchen neare,

But th'other forst him stay, and comforted in feare.

That darkesome caue they enter, where they find

That cursed man, low sitting on the ground,

Musing full sadly in his sullein mind;

His griesie lockes, long growen, and vnbound,

Disordred hong about his shoulders round,

And hid his face; through which his hollow eyne

Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound;

His raw-bone cheekes through penurie and pine,

Were shronke into his iawes, as he did neuer dine.

His garment nought but many ragged clouts,

With thornes together pind and patched was,

The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts;

And him beside there lay vpon the gras

A drearie corse, whose life away did pas,

All wallowd in his owne yet luke-warme blood,

That from his wound yet welled fresh alas;

In which a rustie knife fast fixed stood,

And made an open passage for the gushing flood.

Which piteous spectacle, approuing trew

The wofull tale that "Treuisan" had told,

When as the gentle "Redcrosse" knight did vew,

With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold,

Him to auenge, before his bloud were cold,

And to the villein said, Thou damned wight,

The author of this fact, we here behold,

What iustice can but iudge against thee right,

With thine owne bloud to price his bloud, here shed in sight.

What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught

Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to giue?

What iustice euer other iudgement taught,

But he should die, who merites not to liue?

None else to death this man despayring driue,

But his owne guiltie mind deseruing death.

Is then vniust to each his due to giue?

Or let him die, that loatheth liuing breath?

Or let him die at ease, that liueth here vneath?

Who trauels by the wearie wandring way,

To come vnto his wished home in haste,

And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay,

Is not great grace to helpe him ouer past,

Or free his feet, that in the myre sticke fast?

Most enuious man, that grieues at neighbours good,

And fond, that ioyest in the woe thou hast,

Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stood

Vpon the banke, yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood?

He there does now enioy eternall rest

And happie ease, which thou doest want and craue,

And further from it daily wanderest:

What if some litle paine the passage haue,

That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter waue?

Is not short paine well borne, that brings long ease,

And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet graue?

Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas,

Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please.

The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit,

And said, The terme of life is limited,

Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it;

The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted,

Nor leaue his stand, vntill his Captaine bed.

Who life did limit by almightie doome,

(Quoth he) knowes best the termes established;

And he, that points the Centonell his roome,

Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome.

Is not his deed, what euer thing is donne,

In heauen and earth? did not he all create

To die againe? all ends that was begonne.

Their times in his eternall booke of fate

Are written sure, and haue their certaine date.

Who then can striue with strong necessitie,

That holds the world in his still chaunging state,

Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie?

Wh houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why.

The lenger life, I wote the greater sin,

The greater sin, the greater punishment:

All those great battels, which thou boasts to win,

Through strife, and bloud-shed, and auengement,

Now praysd, hereafter deare thou shalt repent:

For life must life, and bloud must bloud repay.

Is not enough thy euill life forespent?

For he, that once hath missed the right way,

The further he doth goe, the further he doth stray.

Then do no further goe, no further stray,

But here lie downe, and to thy rest betake,

Th'ill to preuent, that life ensewen may.

For what hath life, that may it loued make,

And giues not rather cause it to forsake?

Feare, sicknesse, age, losse, labour, sorrow, strife,

Paine, hunger, cold, that makes the hart to quake;

And euer fickle fortune rageth rife,

All which, and thousands mo do make a loathsome life.

Thou wretched man, of death hast greatest need,

If in true ballance thou wilt weigh thy state:

For neuer knight, that dared warlike deede,

More lucklesse disauentures did amate:

Witnesse the dongeon deepe, wherein of late

Thy life shut vp, for death so oft did call;

And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date,

Yet death then, would the like mishaps forestall,

Into the which hereafter thou maiest happen fall.

Why then doest thou, man of sin, desire

To draw thy dayes forth to their last degree?

Is not the measure of thy sinfull hire

High heaped vp with huge iniquitie,

Against the day of wrath, to burden thee?

Is not enough, that to this Ladie milde

Thou falsed hast thy faith with periurie,

And sold thy selfe to serue "Duessa" vilde,

With whom in all abuse thou hast thy selfe defilde?

Is not he iust, that all this doth behold

From highest heauen, and beares an equall eye?

Shall he thy sins vp in his knowledge fold,

And guiltie be of thine impietie?

Is not his law, Let euery sinner die:

Die shall all flesh? what then must needs be donne,

Is it not better to doe willinglie,

Then linger, till the glasse be all out ronne?

Death is the end of woes: die soone, O faeries sonne.

The knight was much enmoued with his speach,

That as a swords point through his hart did perse,

And in his conscience made a secret breach,

Well knowing true all, that he did reherse,

And to his fresh remembrance did reuerse

The vgly vew of his deformed crimes,

That all his manly powres it did disperse,

As he were charmed with inchaunted rimes,

That oftentimes he quakt, and fainted oftentimes.

In which amazement, when the Miscreant

Perceiued him to wauer weake and fraile,

Whiles trembling horror did his conscience dant,

And hellish anguish did his soule assaile,

To driue him to despaire, and quite to quaile,

He shew'd him painted in a table plaine,

The damned ghosts, that doe in torments waile,

And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paine

With fire and brimstone, which for euer shall remaine.

The sight wher so throughly him dismaid,

That nought but death before his eyes he saw,

And euer burning wrath before him laid,

By righteous sentence of th'Almighties law:

Then gan the villein him to ouercraw,

And brought vnto him swords, ropes, poison, fire,

And all that might him to perdition draw;

And bad him choose, what death he would desire:

For death was due to him, that had prouokt Gods ire.

But when as none of them he saw him take,

He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene,

And gaue it him in hand: his hand did quake,

And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene,

And troubled bloud through his pale face was seene

To come, and goe with tydings from the hart,

As it a running messenger had beene.

At last resolu'd to worke his finall smart,

He lifted vp his hand, that backe againe did start.

Which when as "Vna" saw, through euery vaine

The crudled cold ran to her well of life,

As in a swowne: but soone reliu'd againe,

Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife,

And threw it to the ground, enraged rife,

And to him said, Fie, fie, faint harted knight,

What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife?

Is this the battell, which thou vauntst to fight

With that fire-mouthed Dragon, horrible and bright?

Come, come away, fraile, seely, fleshly wight,

Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart,

Ne diuelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright.

In heauenly mercies hast thou not a part?

Why shouldst thou then despeire, that chosen art?

Where iustice growes, there grows eke greater grace,

The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart,

And that accurst hand-writing doth deface,

Arise, Sir knight arise, and leaue this cursed place.

So vp he rose, and thence amounted streight.

Which when the carle beheld, and saw his guest

Would safe depart, for all his subtill sleight,

He chose an halter from among the rest,

And with it hung himselfe, vnbid vnblest.

But death he could not worke himselfe thereby;

For thousand times he so himselfe had drest,

Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die,

Till he should die his last, that is eternally.

Book 1. Canto Viii