Book 3. Canto Ix

Malbecco will no straunge knights host,

For peeuish gealosie:

Paridell giusts with Britomart:

Both shew their auncestrie.

R Edoubted knights, and honorable Dames,

To whom I leuell all my labours end,

Right sore I feare, least with vnworthy blames

This odious argument my rimes should shend,

Or ought your goodly patience offend,

Whiles of a wanton Lady I do write,

Which with her loose incontinence doth blend

The shyning glory of your soueraigne light,

And knighthood fowle defaced by a faithlesse knight.

But neuer let th'ensample of the bad

Offend the good: for good by paragone

Of euill, may more notably be rad,

As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone;

Ne all are shamed by the fault of one;

For lo in heauen, whereas all goodnesse is,

Emongst the Angels, a whole legione

Of wicked Sprights did fall from happy blis;

What wonder then, if one of women all did mis?

Then listen Lordings, if ye list to weet

The cause, why "Satyrane" and "Paridell"

Mote not be entertaynd, as seemed meet,

Into that Castle (as that Squire does tell.)

Therein a cancred crabbed Carle does dwell,

That has no skill of Court nor courtesie,

Ne cares, what men say of him ill or well;

For all his dayes he drownes in priuitie,

Yet has full large to liue, and spend at libertie.

But all his mind is set on mucky pelfe,

To hoord vp heapes of euill gotten masse,

For which he others wrongs, and wreckes himselfe;

Yet is he lincked to a louely lasse,

Whose beauty doth her bounty far surpasse,

The which to him both far vnequall yeares,

And also far vnlike conditions has;

For she does ioy to play emongst her peares,

And to be free from hard restraint and gealous feares.

But he is old, and withered like hay,

Vnfit faire Ladies seruice to supply;

The priuie guilt wher makes him alway

Suspect her truth, and keepe continuall spy

Vpon her with his other blincked eye;

Ne suffreth he resort of liuing wight

Approch to her, ne keepe her company,

But in close bowre her mewes from all mens sight,

Depriu'd of kindly ioy and naturall delight.

"Malbecco" he, and "Hellenore" she hight,

Vnfitly yokt together in one teeme,

That is the cause, why neuer any knight

Is suffred here to enter, but he seeme

Such, as no doubt of him he neede misdeeme.

Thereat Sir "Satyrane" gan smile, and say;

Extremely mad the man I surely deeme,

That weenes with watch and hard restraint to stay

A womans will, which is disposd to go astray.

In vaine he feares that, which he cannot shonne:

For who wotes not, that womans subtiltyes

Can guilen "Argus", when she list misdonne?

It is not yron bandes, nor hundred eyes,

Nor brasen walls, nor many wakefull spyes,

That can withhold her wilfull wandring feet;

But fast good will with gentle curtesyes,

And timely seruice to her pleasures meet

May her perhaps containe, that else would algates fleet.

Then is he not more mad (said "Paridell")

That hath himselfe vnto such seruice sold,

In dolefull thraldome all his dayes to dwell?

For sure a foole I do him firmely hold,

That loues his fetters, though they were of gold.

But why do we deuise of others ill,

Whiles thus we suffer this same dotard old,

To keepe vs out, in scorne of his owne will,

And rather do not ransack all, and him selfe kill?

Nay let vs first (said "Satyrane"[)] entreat

The man by gentle meanes, to let vs in,

And afterwardes affray with cruell threat,

Ere that we to efforce it do begin:

Then if all fayle, we will by force it win,

And eke reward the wretch for his mesprise,

As may be worthy of his haynous sin.

That counsell pleasd: then "Paridell" did rise,

And to the Castle gate approcht in quiet wise.

Whereat soft knocking, entrance he desyrd.

The good man selfe, which then the Porter playd,

Him answered, that all were now retyrd

Vnto their rest, and all the keyes conuayd

Vnto their maister, who in bed was layd,

That none him durst awake out of his dreme;

And therefore them of patience gently prayd.

Then "Paridell" began to chaunge his theme,

And threatned him with force for nought mote him relent,

And now so long before the wicket fast

They wayted, that the night was forward spent,

And the faire welkin fowly ouercast,

Gan blowen vp a bitter stormy blast,

With shoure and hayle so horrible and dred,

That this faire many were compeld at last,

To fly for succour to a little shed,

The which beside the gate for swine was ordered.

It fortuned, soone after they were gone,

Another knight, whom tempest thither brought,

Came to that Castle, and with earnest mone,

Like as the rest, late entrance deare besought;

But like so as the rest he prayd for nought,

For flatly he of entrance was refusd,

Sorely thereat he was displeasd, and thought

How to auenge himselfe so sore abusd,

And euermore the Carle of curtesie accusd.

But to auoyde th'intollerable stowre,

He was compeld to seeke some refuge neare,

And to that shed, to shrowd him from the showre,

He came, which full of guests he found whyleare,

So as he was not let to enter there:

Whereat he gan to wex exceeding wroth,

And swore, that he would lodge with them yfere,

Or them dislodge, all were they liefe or loth;

And so defide them each, and so defide them both.

Both were full loth to leaue that needfull tent,

And both full loth in darkenesse to debate;

Yet both full liefe him lodging to haue lent,

And both full liefe his boasting to abate;

But chiefly "Paridell" his hart did grate,

To heare him threaten so despightfully.

As if he did a dogge to kenell rate,

That durst not barke; and rather had he dy,

Then when he was defide, in coward corner ly.

Tho hastily remounting to his steed,

He forth issew'd; like as a boistrous wind,

Which in th'earthes hollow caues hath long bin hid,

And shut vp fast within her prisons blind,

Makes the huge element against her kind

To moue, and tremble as it were agast,

Vntill that it an issew forth may find;

Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blast

Confounds both land

Then drew he his bright sword, & gan about him throw.

But "Satyrane" forth stepping, did them stay

And with faire treatie pacifide their ire,

Then when they were accorded from the fray,

Against that Castles Lord they gan conspire,

To heape on him dew vengeaunce for his hire.

They bene agreed, and to the gates they goe

To burne the same with vnquenchable fire,

And that vncurteous Carle their commune foe

To do fowle death to dye, or wrap in grieuous woe.

"Malbecco" seeing them resolu'd in deed

To flame the gates, and hearing them to call

For fire in earnest, ran with fearefull speed,

And to them calling from the castle wall,

Besought them humbly, him to beare withal,

As ignoraunt of seruants bad abuse,

And slacke attendaunce vnto straungers call.

The knights were willing all things to excuse,

Though nought beleu'd, & entrace late did not refuse.

They bene ybrought into a comely bowre,

And seru'd of all things that mote needfull bee;

Yet secretly their hoste did on them lowre,

And welcomde more for feare, then charitee;

But they dissembled, what they did not see,

And welcomed themselues. Each gan vndight

Their garments wet, and weary armour free,

To dry them selues by "Vulcanes" flaming light,

And eke their lately bruzed parts to bring in plight.

And eke that straunger knight emongst the rest;

Was for like need enforst to disaray:

Tho whenas vailed was her loftie crest,

Her golden locks, that were in tramels gay

Vpbounden, did them selues adowne display,

And raught vnto her heeles; like sunny beames,

That in a cloud their light did long time stay,

Their vapour vaded, shew their golden gleames,

And through the persant aire shoote forth their azure streames.

She also dofte her heauy haberieon,

Which the faire feature of her limbs did hyde,

And her well plighted frock, which she did won

To tucke about her short, when she did ryde,

She low let fall, that flowd from her lanck syde

Downe to her foot, with carelesse modestee.

Then of them all she plainly was espyde,

To be a woman wight, vnwist to bee,

The fairest woman wight, that euer eye did see.

Like as "Minerua", being late returnd

From slaughter of the Giaunts conquered;

Where proud "Encelade", whose wide nosethrils burnd

With breathed flames, like to a furnace red,

Transfixed with the speare, downe tombled ded

From top of "Hemus", by him heaped hye;

Hath loosd her helmet from her lofty hed,

And her "Gorgonian" shield gins to vntye

From her left arme, to rest in glorious victorye.

Which whenas they beheld, they smitten were

With great amazement of so wondrous sight,

And each on other, and they all on her

Stood gazing, as if suddein great affright

Had them surprised. At last auizing right,

Her goodly personage and glorious hew,

Which they so much mistooke, they tooke delight

In their first errour, and yet still anew

With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry vew.

Yet note their hungry vew be satisfide,

But seeing still the more desir'd to see,

And euer firmely fixed did abide

In contemplation of diuinitie:

But most they meruail[e]d at her cheualree,

And noble prowesse, which they had approued,

That much they faynd to know, who she mote bee;

Yet none of all them her ther amoued,

Yet euery one her likte, and euery one her loued.

And "Paridell" though partly discontent

With his late fall, and fowle indignity,

Yet was soone wonne his malice to relent,

Through gracious regard of her faire eye,

And knightly worth, which he too late did try,

Yet tried did adore. Supper was dight;

Then they "Malbecco" prayd of curtesy,

That of his Lady they might haue the sight,

And company at meat, to do them more delight.

But he to shift their curious request,

Gan causen, why she could not come in place;

Her crased health, her late recourse to rest,

And humid euening ill for sicke folkes cace:

But none of those excuses could take place;

Ne would they eate, till she in presence came.

She came in presence with right comely grace,

And fairely them saluted, as became,

And shewd her selfe in all a gentle curteous Dame.

They sate to meat, and "Satyrane" his chaunce

Was her before, and "Paridell" besyde;

But he him selfe sate looking still askaunce,

Gainst "Britomart", and euer closely eyde

Sir "Satyrane", that glaunces might not glyde:

But his blind eye, that syded "Paridell",

All his demeasnure from his sight did hyde:

On her faire face so did he feede his fill,

And sent close messages of loue to her at will.

And euer and anone, when none was ware,

With speaking lookes, that close embassage bore,

He rou'd at her, and told his secret care:

For all that art he learned had of yore.

Ne was she ignoraunt of that lewd lore,

But in his eye his meaning wisely red,

And with the like him answerd euermore:

She sent at him one firie dart, whose hed

Empoisned was with priuy lust, and gealous dred.

He from that deadly throw made no defence,

But to the wound his weake hart opened wyde;

The wicked engine through false influence,

Past through his eyes, and secretly did glyde

Into his hart, which it did sorely gryde.

But nothing new to him was that same paine,

Ne paine at all; for he so oft had tryde

The powre ther, and lou'd so oft in vaine,

That thing of course he counted, loue to entertaine.

Thenceforth to her he sought to intimate

His inward griefe, by meanes to him well knowne,

Now "Bacchus" fruit out of the siluer plate

He on the table dasht, as ouerthrowne,

Or of the fruitfull liquor ouerflowne,

And by the dauncing bubbles did diuine,

Or therein write to let his loue be showne;

Which well she red out of the learned line,

A sacrament prophane in mistery of wine.

And when so of his hand the pledge she raught,

The guilty cup she fained to mistake,

And in her lap did shed her idle draught,

Shewing desire her inward flame to slake:

By such close signes they secret way did make

Vnto their wils, and one eyes watch escape;

Two eyes him needeth, for to watch and wake,

Who louers will deceiue. Thus was the ape,

By their faire handling, put into "Malbeccoes" cape.

Now when of meats and drinks they had their fill,

Purpose was moued by that gentle Dame,

Vnto those knights aduenturous, to tell

Of deeds of armes, which vnto them became,

And euery one his kindred, and his name.

Then "Paridell", in whom a kindly pryde

Of gracious speach, and skill his words to frame

Abounded, being glad of so fit tyde

Him to commend to her, thus spake, of all well eyde.

"Troy", that art now nought, but an idle name,

And in thine ashes buried low dost lie,

Though whilome far much greater then thy fame,

Before that angry Gods, and cruell skye

Vpon thee heapt a direfull destinie,

What boots it boast thy glorious descent,

And fetch from heauen thy great Genealogie,

Sith all thy worthy prayses being blent,

Their of-spring hath embaste, and later glory shent.

Most famous Worthy of the world, by whome

That warre was kindled, which did "Troy" inflame,

And stately towres of "Ilion" whilome

Brought vnto balefull ruine, was by name

Sir "Paris" far renowmd through noble fame,

Who through great prowesse and bold hardinesse,

From "Lacedmon" fetcht the fairest Dame,

That euer "Greece" did boast, or knight possesse,

Whom "Venus" to him gaue for meed of worthinesse.

Faire "Helene", flowre of beautie excellent,

And girlond of the mighty Conquerours,

That madest many Ladies deare lament

The heauie losse of their braue Paramours,

Which they far off beheld from "Troian" toures,

And saw the fieldes of faire "Scamander" strowne

With carcases of noble warrioures,

Whose fruitlesse liues were vnder furrow sowne,

And "Xanthus" sandy bankes with bloud all ouerflowne.

From him my linage I deriue aright,

Who long before the ten yeares siege of "Troy",

Whiles yet on "Ida" he a shepheard hight,

On faire "Oenone" got a louely boy,

Whom for remembraunce of her passed ioy,

She of his Father "Parius" did name;

Who, after "Greekes" did "Priams" realme destroy,

Gathred the "Troian" reliques sau'd from flame,

And with them sayling thence, to th'Isle of "Paros" came.

That was by him cald "Paros", which before

Hight "Nausa", there he many yeares did raine,

And built "Nausicle" by the "Pontick" shore,

The which he dying left next in remaine

To "Paridas" his sonne.

From whom I "Paridell" by kin descend;

But for faire Ladies loue, and glories gaine,

My natiue soile haue left, my dayes to spend

In sewing deeds of armes, my liues and labours end.

Whenas the noble "Britomart" heard tell

Of "Troian" warres, and "Priams" Citie sackt,

The ruefull story of Sir "Paridell",

She was empassiond at that piteous act,

With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact,

Against that nation, from whose race of old

She heard, that she was lineally extract:

For noble "Britons" sprong from "Troians" bold,

And "Troynouant" was built of old "Troyes" ashes cold.

Then sighing soft awhile, at last she thus:

O lamentable fall of famous towne,

Which raignd so many yeares victorious,

And of all "Asie" bore the soueraigne crowne,

In one sad night consumd, and throwen downe:

What stony hart, that heares thy haplesse fate,

Is not empierst with deepe compassiowne,

And makes ensample of mans wretched state,

That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at euening late?

Behold, Sir, how your pitifull complaint

Hath found another partner of your payne:

For nothing may impresse so deare constraint,

As countries cause, and commune foes disdayne.

But if it should not grieue you, backe agayne

To turne your course, I would to heare desyre,

What to "Aeneas" fell; sith that men sayne

He was not in the Cities wofull fyre

Consum'd, but did him selfe to safetie retyre.

"Anchyses" sonne begot of "Venus" faire,

(Said he,) out of the flames for safegard fled,

And with a remnant did to sea repaire,

Where he through fatall errour long was led

Full many yeares, and weetlesse wandered

From shore to shore, emongst the Lybicke sands,

Ere rest he found. Much there he suffered,

And many perils past in forreine lands,

To saue his people sad from victours vengefull hands.

At last in "Latium" he did arriue,

Where he with cruell warre was entertaind

Of th'inland folke, which sought him backe to driue,

Till he with old "Latinus" was constraind,

To contract wedlock: (so the fates ordaind.)

Wedlock contract in bloud, and eke in blood

Accomplished, that many deare complaind:

The riuall slaine, the victour through the flood

Escaped hardly, hardly praisd his wedlock good.

Yet after all, he victour did suruiue,

And with "Latinus" did the kingdome part.

But after when both nations gan to striue,

Into their names the title to conuart,

His sonne "Iulus" did from thence depart,

With all the warlike youth of "Troians" bloud,

And in long "Alba" plast his throne apart,

Where faire it florished, and long time it stoud,

Till "Romulus" renewing it, to "Rome" remoud.

There there (said "Britomart") a fresh appeard

The glory of the later world to spring,

And "Troy" againe out of her dust was reard,

To sit in second seat of soueraigne king,

Of all the world vnder her gouerning.

But a third kingdome yet is to arise,

Out of the "Troians" scattered of-spring,

That in all glory and great enterprise,

Both first and second "Troy" shall dare to equalise.

It "Troynouant" is hight, that with the waues

Of wealthy "Thamis" washed is along,

Vpon whose stubborne neck, whereat he raues

With roring rage, and sore him selfe does throng,

That all men feare to tempt his billowes strong,

She fastned hath her foot, which standes so hy,

That it a wonder of the world is song

In forreine landes, and all which passen by,

Beholding it from far, do thinke it threates the skye.

The "Troian Brute" did first that Citie found,

And Hygate made the meare ther by West,

And "Ouert" gate by North: that is the bound

Toward the land; two riuers bound the rest.

So huge a scope at first him seemed best,

To be the compasse of his kingdomes seat:

So huge a mind could not in lesser rest,

Ne in small meares containe his glory great,

That "Albion" had conquered first by warlike feat.

Ah fairest Lady knight, (said "Paridell")

Pardon I pray my heedlesse ouersight,

Who had forgot, that whilome I heard tell

From aged "Mnemon"; for my wits bene light.

Indeed he said (if I remember right,)

That of the antique "Troian" stocke, there grew

Another plant, that raught to wondrous hight,

And far abroad his mighty branches threw,

Into the vtmost Angle of the world he knew.

For that same "Brute", whom much he did aduaunce

In all his speach, was "Syluius" his sonne,

Whom hauing slaine, through luckles arrowes glace

He fled for feare of that he had misdonne,

Or else for shame, so fowle reproch to shonne,

And with him led to sea an youthly trayne,

Where wearie wandring they long time did wonne,

And many fortunes prou'd in th'"Ocean" mayne,

And great adutures found, that now were lg to sayne.

At last by fatall course they driuen were

Into an Island spatious and brode,

The furthest North, that did to them appeare:

Which after rest they seeking far abrode,

Found it the fittest soyle for their abode,

Fruitfull of all things fit for liuing foode,

But wholy wast, and void of peoples trode,

Saue an huge nation of the Geaunts broode,

That fed on liuing flesh, & druncke mens vitall blood.

Whom he through wearie wars and labours long,

Subdewd with losse of many "Britons" bold:

In which the great "Goemagot" of strong

"Corineus", and "Coulin" of "Debon" old

Were ouerthrowne and layd on th'earth full cold,

Which quaked vnder their so hideous masse,

A famous history to be enrold

In euerlasting moniments of brasse,

That all the antique Worthies merits far did passe.

His worke great "Troynouant", his worke is eke

Faire "Lincolne", both renowmed far away,

That who from East to West will endlong seeke,

Cannot two fairer Cities find this day,

Except "Cleopolis:" so heard I say

Old "Mnemon". Therefore Sir, I greet you well

Your countrey kin, and you entirely pray

Of pardon for the strife, which late befell

Betwixt vs both vnknowne. So ended "Paridell".

But all the while, that he these speaches spent,

Vpon his lips hong faire Dame "Hellenore",

With vigilant regard, and dew attent,

Fashioning worlds of fancies euermore

In her fraile wit, that now her quite forlore:

The whiles vnwares away her wondring eye,

And greedy eares her weake hart from her bore:

Which he perceiuing, euer priuily

In speaking, many false belgardes at her let fly.

So long these knights discoursed diuersly,

Of straunge affaires, and noble hardiment,

Which they had past with mickle ieopardy,

That now the humid night was farforth spent,

And heauenly lampes were halfendeale ybrent:

Which th'old man seeing well, who too long thought

Euery discourse and euery argument,

Which by the houres he measured, besought

Them go to rest. So all vnto their bowres were brought.