 Book 3, Canto 7, The Legend of Brita Martis. The witch's son loves Florimel. She flies. He feigns to die. Satterain saves the Squire of Dames from Giant's tyranny. Like as an hind, forth-singled from the herd, That hath escaped from a ravenous beast, It flies away of her own feet of fear, And every leaf that shaketh with the least murmur of wind, Her terror hath increased. So fled fair Florimel from her vain fear, Long after she from peril was released. Each shade she saw, And each noise she did hear, Did seem to be the same, Which she escaped while ear. All that same evening she in flying spent, And all that night her course continued. And did she let dull sleep once to relent, Nor weariness to slack her haste, But fled ever alike, As if her former dread were hard behind, Her ready to arrest. And her, white palfry having conquered, The meistering reins out of her weary rest, Perforce her carried, wherever he thought best. So long as breath and able puissance Did native courage unto him supply, His pacy freshly forward did advance, And carried her beyond all jeopardy. But and not that wanted rest Can long abide. He having, through incessant travel, Spent his force, at last perforce her down, Did lie, and a foot could further move, The lady gent thereat was sudden Struck with great astonishment. And forced to light, on foot-moat all gates fair, A traveller unwanted to such way, Need teacheth her this lesson hard and rare, That fortune all in equal lance doth sway, In the mortal miseries doth make her play. So long she travelled, Till at length she came to an hillside, Which did to her beret a little valley, Subject to the same, all covered with thick woods, That quite it overcame. Through the tops of the high trees She did describe a little smoke, Whose vapor thin and light, Reaking aloft uprode to the sky, Which, cheerful sign, did send unto her sight, That in the same did one some living white. Eft soonce her steps she there unto applied, And came at last in weary wretched plight, Unto the place to which her hope did guide, To find some refuge there and rest Her weary side. There in a gloomy hollow glen She found a little cottage, built of sticks and reeds, And homely wise, and walled with sods around, In which a witch did dwell in loathly weeds, And willful want all careless of her needs. So choosing solitary to abide, Far from all neighbours, that her devilish deeds And hellish arts from people she might hide, And hurt far off unknown whomever she invite. The damsel there arriving entered in, Where sitting on the floor the hag she found, Busy as seemed about some wicked gin, Who soon as she beheld that sudden stound, Lightly upstarted from the dusty ground, And with fell look and hollow deadly gaze, There on her a while is when astound, Nay had one word to speak, for great amaze, But should by outward signs That dread her since did daze. At last turning her fear to foolish wrath, She asked what a devil had her thither brought, And who she was, and what unwanted path Had guided her unwelcomed, unsought, To which the damsel full of doubtful thought her mirefully answered, Beldein, be not wroth with silly virgin by adventure brought, Unteer dwelling, ignorant in loath, That craved but roamed to rest, While tempest overbloweth. With that a down out of her crystal-ine, Few trickling tears she softly forthlet fall, That like two orient pearls did purely shine Upon her snowy cheek, And therewithal she sighed soft, That none so bestial, Nor salvage-heart, but Ruth of her sad plight Would make to melt, or piteously appalled. In that vile hag all were her whole delight In mischief was much moved at so piteous sight, And again recovered her in her rude wise, With womanish compassion of her plaint, Wiping the tears from her suffused eyes, And bidding her sit down to rest her faint, And weary limbs a while. She, nothing quaint nor zainful of so homely fashion, Sist brought she was now to so hard constraint, Sat down upon the dusty ground and on, As glad of that small rest, As bird of tempest gone. Though again she gather up her garments rent, And her loose locks to diet in order due, With golden wreath and gorgeous ornament, Whom such when as the wicked hag did view, She was astonished at her heavenly hue, And doubted her to deem an earthly white. But, o'er some goddess, or of Diane's crew, And thought her to adore with humble sprite, To door-thing so divine as beauty were but right. This wicked woman had a wicked son, The comfort of her age and weary days, A lazy lord, for nothing good to done, But stretched forth in idleness all ways. Nay ever cast his mind to covet praise, Or ply himself to any honest trade, But all the day before the sunny rays, He used to slug or sleep in slothful shade. Such laziness both lewd and poor at once him made. He, coming home at under-time, There found the fairest creature that he ever saw, Sitting beside his mother on the ground, The sight whereup did greatly him a doll, And his base thought with terror and with awe, So inly smart that as one, Which had gazed on the bright sun unwares, Doth soon withdraw his feeble eye, With too much brightness dazed, So stared he on her and stood long while amazed. Softly at last again his mother asked, What Mr. White that was, And whence derived, That in so strange disguise there did mask, And by what accident she there arrived, But she, as one Nayub, her wits deprived, With not but ghastly looks him answered, Like to a ghost that lately is revived, From stygian shores where late it wandered, So both at her and each at other wandered. But the fair virgin was so meek and mild, That she, to them vouchsafed, To embeze her goodly port, and to their senses vile, Her gentle speech applied, that in short space she grew familiar in that desert place, During which time the churro, through her so kind and courteous use, Conceived affection base, and cast to lover in his brutish mind, No love but brutish lust that was so beastly tined. Closely the wicked flame his bowels brint, And shortly grew in two outrageous fire, Yet had he not the heart nor hardiment, As unto her to utter his desire. His cative thought durced not so high aspire, But with soft sighs and lovely semblances, He weaned that his affection entire she should a-read. Many resemblances to her he made, And many kind remembrances. Off from the forest wildings he did bring, Whose sides in purple'd were with Smiling red and off'd young birds, Which he had taught to sing, His mistress praises, sweetly carol'd. Girlens of flowers, sometimes for her fair head, He fine wood-dite, sometimes a squirrel wild, He brought to her in bands, as conquered to be her thrall, His fellow servant vile'd. All which she of him took, With countenance meek and mild. But past a while, when she fit season saw, To leave that desert mansion she cast in secret wise, Herself thins to withdraw, For fear of mischief, Which she did forecast, might by the witch, Or by her son come past. Her weary pal-free closely, as she might, Now well recovered after long repast, In his proud furnitures she freshly-dite, His late mis-wondered ways now to re-measure right. And early ere the dawning day appeared, She forth eschew'd, and on her journey went. She went in peril, of each noise afield, And of each shade that did itself present, For still she feared to be over-hint Of that vile hag, or her uncivil son, Who, when too late awaking, well they can't, That their fair guest was gone. They both begun to make exceeding moan, As they had been undone. But that lewd lover did the most lament For her depart, that ever man did hear. He knocked his breast with desperate intent, And scratched his face, And with his teeth did tear, His rugged flesh and rent his ragged hair. That his sad mother seeing his sore plight Was greatly woe-begone, And gend of fear, least his frail senses, Were imperished quite, And love to frenzy turned, Sith love his frantic height. Always she sought him to restore to plight With herbs, with charms, With counsel, and with tears, But tears, nor charms, nor herbs, Nor counsel might assuage the fury Which his entrails tears, So strong his passion that no reason hears. Though when all other helps she sought to fail, She turned herself back to her wicked beers, And by her devilish arts thought to prevail, To bring her back again to work her final bail. Eftsoons out of her hidden cave she called an hideous beast, Of horrible aspect that could the stoutest courage have appalled. Monstrous misshaped, and on his back Was specked with thousands spots Of colors quaint elect, There too so swift that it all beasts did pass. Like never yet it did living eye-detect, But likeest it to an hyena was That feeds on women's flesh, As others feed on grass. It forth she called, and gave it straight in charge, Through thick and thin her to pursue apace, Nay wants to stay, to rest, Or breathe at large till her he had attained, And brought in place, Or quite devoured her beauty's scornful grace. The monster swift is word, That from her went, went forth. In haste, and did her footing tray so sure and swiftly, Through his perfect scent, and passing speed, That shortly he her overhint. Whom when the fearful damsel, Nay, aspired, No need to bid her fast away to fly, That ugly shape so sore her terrified, That it she shunned no less than dread to die, And her flip palfry did so well apply His nimble feet to her conceivet fear. The whilest his breath did strength to him supply, From peril free, he her away did bear. But when his foreskin failed, His pay-skin waxed her ear, Which when, as she perceived, she was dismayed, At that same last extremity full soar, And of her safety greatly grew afraid, And now she again approached to the seashore, As it befell, that she could fly no more, But yield herself to spoil of greediness, Lightly she leaped as a white forlore From her dull horse in desperate distress, And to her feet betook her doubtful sickerness. Not half so fast the wicked mirror fled From dread of her revenging father's hand, Nor half so fast to save her maiden-head, Fled fearful Daphne on the Aegean strand, As Floramel fled from that monster yawned. To reach the sea ere she of him were wrought, For in the sea to drown herself she fond, Rather than of the tyrant to be caught, There to fear gave her wings, And need her courage taught. It fortune'd, High God did so ordain, As she arrived on the roaring shore In mind to leap into the mighty main. A little boat lay, hoving her before, In which there slept a fisher old and poor. The wiles his nets were drying on the sand Into the same she leaped, And with the ore did thrust the shellop From the floating strand, So safety found at sea which she found not at land. The monster ready on the prey to cease Was of his forward hope deceiv'd quite, Nay durst assay to wade the pearless seas, But greedily long gaping at the sight, At last in vain was forced to turn his flight, And to tell the idle tidings to his dame, Yet to avenge his devilish despite, He set upon her palfry, tired, lame, And slew him cruelly ere any rescue came. And after having him embowled, To fill his hellish gorge, It chanced a night to pass that way As forth he travelled. It was a goodly swaying and of great might, As ever man that bloody field did fight, But in vain shows that want young knights bewitch, And courtly services took no delight, But rather joy'd to be than seamen's sitch, For both to be and seem to him was labour litch. It was to wit the good Sir Satterrain That ranged abroad to seek adventures wild, As was his want in forest and in plain, He was all armed in rugged steel unfiled, As in the smoky forge it was compiled, And in his scuchin' bore a satyr's head. He, coming present, where the monster viled, Upon that milk-white palfry's carcass fed, Unto his rescue ran, and greedily him sped. There well perceived he, that it was the horse Whereon fair Flora-mill was want to ride, That of that fiend was rent without remorse, Much feared he, least ought did ill betide To that fair maid, the flower of women's pride, For her he dearly loved, And in all his famous conquests highly magnified, Besides her golden girdle, Which did fall from her in flight he found, And that did him soar up all. Full of sad fear and doubtful agony, Fiercely he flew upon that wicked fiend, And with huge strokes and cruel battery, Him forced to leave his prey, For to attend himself from deadly danger to defend, Full many wounds in his corrupted flesh he did engrave, And much of blood did spend, Yet might not do him die. But I, more fresh and fierce, He still appeared, the more he did him thresh. He whisked not how to despoil of life, Nay how to win the wicked victory, Sith him he saw still stronger grow through strife, And himself weaker through infirmity. Greatly he grew enraged, And furiously hurling his sword away, He lightly leapt upon the beast, That with great cruelty roared and raged To be under-kept, Yet he perforced him held, And strokes upon him hept. As he that strives to stop a sudden flood, And in strong banks his violence enclose, Forceth its swell above his wanted mood, And largely overflow the fruitful plain, That all the country seems to be a main. And the rich furrows float, All quite foredone, The woeful husbandmen thus loud complain, To see his whole year's labor lost So soon, for which to God he made so many an idle boon, So him he held, and did through might amate, So long he held him, and him bet so long, That it's alas'd his fierceness ganabate, And to meekly stoop unto the victor's strong, Who to avenge the implacable wrong, Which he supposed, done to Florimel, Sought by all means his dollar to prolong, Since dent of steel his carcass could not quell, His maker with her charms Had frame'd him so well. The golden ribbon'd which that virgin wore About her slender waist, He took in hand, and with it bound the beast, That loud did roar for great despite Of that unwanted band, Yet dared not his victor to withstand, But trembled like a lamb, fled from the prey, And all the way him followed on the strand, As he had long been learned to obey, Yet never learned he such service till that day. Thus as he led the beast along the way, He spied far off a mighty giantess, Fast flying on a coarser dappled gray, From a bold night that with great hardiness Her heart pursued and sought for to suppress, She bore before her lap a doleful squire, Lying a thwart her horse in great distress, Fast bound in hand and foot with cords of wire, Whom she did mean to make the thrall of her desire. Which when as Seterain beheld, In haste he left his captive beast at liberty, And crossed the nearest way By which he cast her to encounter, ere she passed by. But she the way shunned Nay the more for thy, But forward galloped fast, Which, when he spied his mighty spear, He couched warily, and at her ran, She having him described, Herself to fight adressed, And threw her load aside. Like as a goss hawk, that in foot doth bear A trembling culver, Having spied on height an eagle, That with plumi wings doth shear the subtol air, Stooping with all his might, And quarry throws to ground with fell despite, And to the battle doth herself prepare. So rend the gentis unto the fight, Her fiery eyes with furious spark as Did stare, and with blasphemous bands, High God in pieces tear. She caught in hand an huge great iron mace, Wherewith she many had of life deprived. But ere the stroke could seize his aimed place, His spear amidst, Her sun-broad shield arrived. Yet Nay the more the steel asunder arrived, All were the beam in bigness like a mast, Nay her, out of the steadfast saddle, Drived. But glancing on the tempered metal, Brassed in thousand shivers, And so forth beside her past. Her steed did stagger with that puissant stroke, But she no more was moved with that might. Then it had lighted on an aged oak, Or on the marble pillar that is Pied upon the top of Mount Olympus height, For the brave, youthly champions to assay, With burning chariot wheels it nigh to smite, But he that smites it marrs his joyous play, And is the spectacle of ruinous decay. Yet ere therewith sword enraged, With stern regard, Her dreadful weapon she to him addressed, Which on his helmet martyled so hard, That made him low incline his loft decrest, And bowed his battered visor to his breast. Wherewith he was so stunned, That he note ride, But really too in frove from east to west, Which when his cruel enemy aspired, She lightly unto him had to join side to side. And on his collar laying cuissant hand, Out of his wavering seat he plucked Perforce, Perforce him plucked, Unable to withstand or help himself, Or lay and thwart her horse, In lowly wise like to a carrion course, She bore him fast away, Which when the night that her pursued, Saw with great remorse, He near was touched in his noble sprite, And again increased his speed, As she increased her flight. Whom when his nigh approaching she aspired, She threw away her burden angrily, For she list not the battle to abide, But made herself more light away to fly. Yet her the hardy night pursued so nigh, That almost in the back he offed her strike. But still, when him at hand she did aspire, She turned in semblance of fair fight did make, But when he stayed to flight again she did her take. By this the good Sir Satterain Gann wake out of his dream, That did him long in trance, And seeing none in place he gann, To make exceeding moan, Encourced that cruel chance, Which reft him of so fair a chevissance. At length he spied, Where as that woeful squire, Whom he had rescued from Captivance, Of his strong foe, They tumbled in the mire, Unable to arise, or foot or hand to stir. To whom approaching, Well he moat perceived, In that foul plight a comely personage, And lovely face, Made fit for to deceive frail ladies' heart, With loves consuming rage. Now in the blossom of his freshest age, He reared him up in loost, His iron bands, And after Gann inquire his parentage, And how he fell into that giant's hands, And who that was, Which chasted her along the lands, Then, trembling, yet through fear, The squire bespake, That a giant as Argante is behite, A daughter of the Titans, Which did make war against heaven, And heaped the hills on height, To scale the skies, And put a jove from his right, Her sire, typhius was, Who, mad through mirth, And drunk with blood of men, Slain by his might, Through incest, her of his own mother earth, While own begot, Being but half-twin of that birth. For at that birth another babe she bore, To wit the mighty elephant, That wrought great reek To many errant nights of yore, And many hath to fowl confusion brought. These twins, men say, A thing, far, passing thought, While's in their mother's womb Enclosed they were, ere they, in the lights and world, Were brought, In fleshly lust were mingled both the fear, And in that monstrous wise Did to the world appear. So lived they ever after in like sin, Against nature's law and good behavior, But greatest shame was to that maiden twin, Who, not content so foully to devour her native flesh, And stain her brother's bower, Did wallow in all other fleshly mire, And suffered beasts her body to deflower. So what she burned in that lustful fire, Yet all that might not slake her sensual desire. But over all the country she did range To seek young men To quench her flaming thirst, And feed her fancy with delightful change, Whom so she fittest finds to serve her lust, Through her main strength, In which she most doth trust, She with her brings into a secret aisle, Where in eternal bondage die he must, Or be the vassal of her pleasures vile, And in all shameful sort himself with her defile. Me, seely wretch, she so advantage-caught, After she long in wait for me did lie, And meant unto her prison to have brought, Her loathsome pleasure there to satisfy, That thousand death's me lever were to die. Then break the vow that to fair Columbel I plight it have, And yet keep steadfastly as for my name, It mistrith not to tell, Call me the squire of dames, That me besiegeth well. But that bold knight whom ye pursuing saw that giantess Is not such as she seemed, But a fair virgin, That in martial law and deeds of arms Above all dames is deemed, And above many knights his ache esteemed. For her great worth she paladine his height, She, you from death, you, me from dread redeemed, Nay, any may that monster match in fight, But she, or such as she, That is so chaste a white. Her well besiems that quest, Quasetere, But read thou, squire of dames, What vow is this, Which thou upon thyself hast lately tain, That shall I you recount, O Theobis, So be ye pleased to pardon all amiss, That a gentle lady whom I love and serve, After long suit and weary services, Did ask me how I could her love deserve, And how she might be sure that I would never swerve. I, glad by any means her grace to gain, Bad her command of my life to save or spill, After soonce she bad me, with incessant pain, To wander through the world abroad at will, And everywhere, where with my power or skill I might do service unto gentle dames, That I the same should faithfully fulfill, And at twelve months end should bring their names And pledges as the spoils of my victorious games. So will I to fair lady service did, And found such favor in their loving hearts, That ere the year his course had compassed Three hundred pledges for my good desserts, And thrice three hundred thanks for my good parts. I with me brought, and did to her present, Which, when she saw, more bent to eke my smarts Than to reward my trusty true intent, She ganned for me devise a grievous punishment, To wit that I my travel should resume, And with like labor walk the world around, Nay ever to her presence should presume till I, So many other dames had found, The which, for all the suit I could propound, Would me refuse their pledges to afford, But did abide, for ever chased, and sound. Ah, gentle squire, quote he, tell it one word, How many founds thou such to put in thy record? Indeed, Sir Knight said he, one word may tell, All that I ever found so wisely stayed, For only three they were disposed so well, And yet three years I now abroad have strayed To find them out. Motie, then, laughing, said the knight, Inquire of thee what were those three, The which thy proffered courtesy denied, Or ill they seem, it sure, of eyes to be, Or brutishly brought up, that never did fashion see. The first, which then refused me, said he, Certes was but a common courtesan, Yet flat refused to have a do with me, Because I could not give her many a jane, There at full heartedly laughed, set her reign. The second wasn't wholly none to choose, Which would not let me be her chaplain, Because she knew, she said, I would disclose her counsel, If she should her trust in me repose. The third a damsel was, of low degree, Whom I in country cottage found by chance. Full little weaned I, that chastity had lodging In so mean a maintenance, yet was she fair, And in her countenance, dwelt simple truth in seemly fashion. Long thus I wooed her, with due observance, In hope under my pleasure to have won. But was as far at last as when I first begun. Save her, I never any woman found, That chastity did for itself embrace, But were for other causes firm and sound, Either for want of handsome time and place, Or else for fear of shame and foul disgrace. Thus am I hopeless ever to attain my lady's love, In such a desperate case, But all my days am like to waste in vain, Seeking to match the chaste, With the unchaste lady's train. Pair dees, et cetera reign, Thou squire of dames, Great labour fondly has Thou hinted in hand To get small thanks, And therewith many blames, That may amongst Alsady's labour stand, Thence back returning to the former land, Where lady left the beast he overcame, He found him not, for he had broke his band, And was returned again unto his dame To tell what tidings of fair Floremel became. End of Canto 7, Book 3 of The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spencer Book 3, Canto 8, The Legend of Britomartis This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. 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The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spencer Book 3, The Legend of Britomartis Or of Chastity, Canto 8 The Witch Creates a Snowy Lady Like to Floremel Who, wronged by Carl, By Proteus Saved Is sought by Peridel So oft as I this history record My heart doth melt with mere compassion To think how causeless of her own accord This gentle damsel, Whom I wrote upon should plunge it be In such affliction Without all hope of comfort or relief That sure I weaned the hardest heart of stone Would hardly find to aggravate her grief For misery craves rather mercy than reprieve But that accursed hag, her hostess late, Had so enrankled her malicious heart That she desired the abridgment of her fate Or long enlargement of her painful smart Now, when the beast, which by her wicked art Late forth she sent, she back returning spide Tied with her broken girdle It a part of her rich spoils Whom he at earth destroyed, she weaned And wondrous gladness to her heart applied And with it running hastily to her son Thought with that sight him much to have relived Who thereby deeming, sure the thing is done His former grief with fury fresh revived Much more than erst And would have all gates rived The heart out of his breast For sith her dead, he surely dimmed Himself he thought deprived Quite of all hope Wherewith he long had fed his foolish malady And long time had misled With thought whereof, exceeding mad he grew And in his rage his mother would have slain Had she not fled into a secret mew Where she was want her sprites To entertain the masters of her art There was she feigned to call them all in order To her aid And them conjure upon eternal pain To counsel her so carefully dismayed How she might heal her son who senses were decayed By their advice and her own wicked wit She there devised a wondrous work to frame Whose like on earth was never framed yet That even nature's self envied the same And grudged to see the counterfeit should shame the thing itself In hand she boldly took to make another Like the former dame, another floramel In shape and look so lively and so like That many it mistook The substance whereof she the body made Was purest snow in massy mold congealed Which she had gathered in a shady glade Of the Raphian hills to her revealed by errant sprites But from all men concealed The same she tempered with fine mercury And virgin wax that never yet was sealed And mingled then with perfect vermilie That like a lively sanguine it seemed to the eye Instead of eyes, two burning lamps she sat in silver sockets Shining like the skies and a quick moving spirit Did a ret to stir and roll them like a woman's eyes Instead of yellow locks she did devise With golden wire to weave her curled head Yet golden wire was not so yellow thrice Is floramel's fair hair And in the stead of life she put a sprite to rule the carcass dead A wicked sprite he fraught with fawning guile And fair resemblance above all the rest Which with the Prince of Darkness fell some while From heaven's bliss and everlasting rest Him needed not instruct Which way were best himself to fashion likeest floramel Nay how to speak, nay how to use his guest For he in counterfeasance did excel And all the wiles of women's wits knew passing well Him shape it thus she decked in garments gay Which floramel had left behind her late That whoso then her saw would surely say it was herself Whom it did imitate, or fairer than herself If ought all gait might fairer be And then she forth her brought unto her son That lay in feeble state, who seeing her again Straight upstart and thought she was the lady's self Whom he so long had sought Though faster clipping twixed his armies twain Extremely joyed in so happy sight And soon forgot his former sickly pain But she, the more to seem such as she hight Coily rebutted his embracement light Yet still with gentle countenance retained Enough to hold a fool in vain delight Him long she so with shadows entertained As her creatress had in charge to her ordained Till on a day as he disposed was to walk the woods With that his idle fare, her to desport And idle time to pass In the open freshness of the gentle air A night that way their chance had to repair Yet a night he was not But a boastful swain that the deeds of arms had ever in despair Proud braggadocio That in vaunting vain his glory did repose And credit did maintain He seeing with that churl so fair a white Decked with many a costly ornament Much marveled there at as well he might And thought of that match of foul disparagement His bloody spear effed soonce he boldly bent Against the silly clown Who dead through fear fell straight to ground In great astonishment Villains said he this lady is my dear Die if thou it gainsay I will away her bear The fearful churl durst not gainsay nor do But a trembling stood and yielded him the prey Who finding little leisure to her wool On trumpets steed her mounted without stay And without rescue led her quite away Proud man himself thin braggadocio deemed And next to none After that happy day being possessed of that spoil Which seemed the fairest white on ground And most of men esteemed But when he saw himself free from pursuit He again made gentle purpose to his dame With terms of love and lewdness disillute For he could well his glowsing speeches frame To such vain uses that him best became But she there too would lend but a light regard As seeming sorry that she ever came into his power That used her so hard to reave her honor Which she more than life preferred Thus as they too of kindness treated long There them by chance encountered on the way an armid night Upon a coarser strong Whose trampling feet upon the hollow lay Seemed to thunder and did nigh afray That capon's courage Yet he looked grim In fang to cheer his lady in dismay Who seemed for fear to quake in every limb And her to save from outrage meekly prayed him Fiercely that stranger forward came and nigh approaching With bold words and bitter threat Bad that same boaster as he moored on high To leave to him that lady forex cheat Or bide him battle without further treat That challenge did too peremptory seem And filled his senses with abashment great Yet seeing nigh him jeopardy extreme He it dissembled well and light seemed to esteem Saying, thou foolish night that weaned with words to steal away That I with blows have won And brought through points of many perilous Swords. But if thee listed to see thy coarser run Or prove thyself, this sad encounter shone And seek else without hazard of thy head Yet those proud words that other night begun To wax exceeding wroth And him a red to turn his steed about Or sure he should be dead Cithin, said Braggadocio Needs thou wilt thy days abridge Through proof of puissance Turn we our steeds that both in equal tilt may meet again And each take happy chance This said they both of furlong's Mountains retired their steeds to run in even race But Braggadocio with his bloody lance Once having turned no more returned his face But left his love to loss And fled himself apace The night him seeing fly had no regard him to pursue But to the lady rode and having her from Trompart lightly reared Upon his coarser set the lovely load And with her fled away without abode Well ween it he that fairest Floramel it was With whom in company he yow'd And so herself did all ways to him tell So made him think himself in heaven That was in hell But Floramel herself was far away Driven to great distress by fortune strange And taught the careful mariner to play Since late Miss Chance had her compelled To change the land for sea It ran done there to range Yet there that cruel queen of injures Not satisfied so far her to estrange From courtly bliss and wanted happiness Did heap on her new waves of weary wretchedness For being fled into the Fisher's boat For refuge from the monstrous cruelty Long so she on the mighty main did float And with the tide drove forward carelessly For the air was mild and clear it was the sky And all his winds, Dan Eolas did keep From stirring up their stormy enmity As pitying to see her wail and weep But all the while the Fisher did securely sleep At last when drunk with drowsiness he woke And saw his drover drive along the stream He was dismayed and thrice his breast he stroke For marvel of that accident extreme But when he saw that blazing beauty's beam Which with rare light his bolt did beautify He marveled more and thought he yet did dream Not well-awaked or that some ecstasy assotted had his sense Or dazed was his eye But when her well-avising he perceived To be no vision nor fantastic sight Great comfort of her presence he conceived And felt in his old courage new delight To gin awake and stir his frozen sprite Though rudely asked how she thither came Ah, said she, Father, I note read a right What hard misfortune brought me to the same Yet am I glad that here I now in safety am But thou, good man, sith far in sea we be And the great waters guinea-pays to swell That in now no more we can the mainland see Have care, I pray, to guide the cock-boat well Least worse on sea than us on land befell There at the old man did not but fondly grin And said his boat the way could wisely tell But his deceitful eyes did never lend To look on her fair face and mark her snowy skin The sight whereof in his congealed flesh And fixed such secret sting of greedy lust That the dry with its stock again refresh And kindled heat that soon in flame forth brust The driest would his soonest burnt to dust Rudely to her he leapt And his rough hand where ill became him Rashly would have thrust But she with angry scorn him did withstand And shamefully reproved for his rudeness fond But he that never good nor manners new Her sharp rebukeful little did esteem Hard is to teach an old horse amble true The inward smoke that did before but steam Broke into open fire and rage extreme And to now he strength again add unto his will Forcing to do that did him foul mis-seem Beastly he threw her down Nay care to spill her garments gay with scales of fish That all did fill The silly virgin strove him to withstand All that she might in him in vain reviled She struggled strongly both with foot and hand To save her honor from that villain viled And cried to heaven from humane help exiled Oh ye brave knights that boast this lady's love Where be ye now when she is nigh defiled Of filthy wretch Well may she you reprove a false ador of sloth When most it may behove But if the thou, sir sat herein, Did sweet or thou, sir Peridure, her sorry state How soon would ye assemble many a fleet To fetch from sea that ye had land lost late Towers, cities, kingdoms ye would ruinate In your avengement and a despiteous rage Nay ought your burning fury moat abate But if, sir Calidor, could it presage No living creature could his cruelty assuage But sith that none of all her knights is nigh See how the heavens of voluntary grace In sovereign favor towards chastity Do succor send to her distressed case So much high God doth innocence embrace It fortune'd, whilst thus she stiffly strove And the wide sea importunate long space With shrilling shrieks proteus abroad did rove Along the foamy waves driving his finny drove Proteus is shepherd of the seas of yore And hath the charge of Neptune's mighty herd An aged sire with head all frory whore In sprinkled frost upon his dewy beard Who, when those pitiful outcries he heard Through all the seas so ruefully resound His chariot swift in haste he thither steered Which, with a team of scaly focus Bound was drawn upon the waves that formed him around And coming to that fisher's wandering boat That whitted will without encard or sail He therein saw that irksome sight Which smote deep indignation And compassion frail into his heart at once Straight did he hail the greedy villain From his hope and prey of which he now did very little fail And with his staff that drives his herd astray Him bet so sore that life and sense did much dismay The wiles the piteous lady up did rise Ruffled and fouledly raid with filthy soil In a blubbered face with tears of her fair eyes Her heart nigh broken was with weary toil To save herself from that outrageous spoil But when she looked up to eat what white had her From so infamous fact assailed For shame but more for fear of his grim sight Down in her lap she hid her face and loudly shrieked Her self not saved yet from danger dread She thought but changed from one to other fear Like as a fearful partridge that has fled from the sharp hawk Which her attached near and falls to ground To seek for succor there whereas the hungry spaniels She does spy with greedy jaws her ready for to tear In such distress and sad perplexity was Floremel When Proteus she did see thereby But he endeavored with speeches mild Her too a comfort and a courage bold Bidding her fair no more her foeman vile Nor doubt himself in who he was her told Yet all that could not from a fright her hold Nay too a comfort her at all prevailed For her faint heart was with the frozen cold Benumbed so inly that her wits nigh failed And all her senses with abatement quite were quailed Her up betwixt his rugged hands he reared And with his frory lips full softly kissed While the cold icicles from his rough beard Dropped it down upon her ivory breast Yet he himself so busily addressed That her out of astonishment he wrought And out of that same fishers filthy nest Removing her into his chariot broad And there with many gentle terms her fair besought But that old lecher Which with bold assault that beauty durst presumed to violate He cast to punish for his heinous fault Then took he him yet trembling sith of late And tied behind his chariot to a great the virgin Whom he had abused so sore So dragged him through the waves in scornful state And after cast him up upon the shore But Florimel with him unto his bower he bore His bower is in the bottom of the main under a mighty rock Against which do rave the roaring billows in their proud disdain That with the angry working of the wave Therein is eaten out an hollow cave That seems rough Mason's hand with Injun's keen Had long while laboured it too in grave There was his one, nay living white was seen Save one old nymph hide Panope to keep it clean Fither he brought the sorry Florimel And entertained her the best he might And Panope her entertained ache well As an immortal moat immortal white To win her liking unto his delight With flattering words he sweetly Wooed her and offered fair gifts to lure her sight But she both offers and the offerer despised And all the thawning of the flatterer Daily he tempted her with this or that And never suffered her to be at rest But evermore she, him, refused flat And all his fainted kindness did detest So firmly she had seal it up her breast Sometimes he boasted that a god he hight But she, a mortal creature, loved it best Then he would make himself a mortal white But then she said she loved none But a fairy knight Then, like a fairy knight himself he dressed For every shape on him he could endu Then, like a king he was to her expressed And offered kingdoms unto her in view To be his layman and his lady true But when all this he nothing saw prevail With harder means he cast her to subdue And with sharp threats her often did assail So thinking for to make her stubborn courage quail To dreadful shapes he did himself transform Now like a giant Now like to a fiend Then like a centaur Then like to a storm raging within the waves Thereby he weaned her will to win unto his wish it end But when with fear nor favor nor with all he else could do He saw himself esteemed down in a dungeon deep He let her fall And threatened there to make her his eternal thrall Eternal thralldom was to her more leaf than loss of chastity Or change of love Die had she rather in tormenting grief Than any should have falseness her recrude Or looseness that she lightly did remove Most virtuous virgin Glory be thy mead And crown of heavenly praise with saints above Where most sweet hymns of this Thy famous deed are still amongst them song That far my rhymes exceed Fit song of angels caroled to be But yet what so my feeble muse can frame Shall be to advance thy goodly chastity And to enroll thy memorable name in the heart of every honorable dame That they thy virtuous deeds may imitate and be partakers of thy endless fame It urcus me leave thee in this woeful state To tell of Satterain where I left him of late Who having ended with that squire of dames Along discourse of his adventurer's vein The witch himself then ladies more defames And finding not the hyena to be slain with that same squire Return it back again to his first way And as they forward went they spied a night Fair pricking on the plain As if he were on some adventure bent And in his port appeared manly hardament Sir Satterain him towards did address To wheat what white he was and what his quest And coming nigh after soon he gained to gas Both by the burning heart which on his breast he bare And by the colors in his crest that peridal it was Though to him yod and him saluting As beseemed best began first inquire of tidings Far abroad and afterwards on which adventure now he rode Who there too answering said The tidings bad which now in fairy court all men do tell Which turneth hath great mirth to mourning sad Is the late ruin of proud marinelle And sudden parcher of fair florinelle to find him forth And after her are gone all the brave knights That doing in arms excel to save guard her He wandered all alone amongst the rest my lot Unworthy is to be won Ah gentle knight said then Sir Satterain Thy labour all is lost I greatly dread that has to thankless service on the tain And offer us sacrifice unto the dead For dead I surely doubt Thou maest a reed henceforth forever florinelle to be That all the noble knights have made in head Which her adored may so repent with me And all fair ladies may forever sorry be Which words when paridale had heard his hue Again greatly change and seemed dismayed to be Then said fair sir how may I ween it true That ye do tell in such uncertainty Or speak ye of report or did ye see just cause of dread That makes ye doubt so sore For paridale's how molt it ever be That ever hand should dare far to engor her noble blood The heavens such cruelty abhor These eyes did see that they will ever rue They have seen Quote he when as a monstrous beast the palfry Whereon she did travel slew And of his bowels made his bloody feast Which speaking token sureth at the least Her certain loss if not her sure decay Besides that more suspicion increased I found her golden girdle cast astray Distained with dirt and blood is relic of the prey I me, said paridale, the signs be sad And but God turned the same to good sooth say That lady's safety is sore to be dread Yet will I not forsake my farward way Till trial do more certain truth beret Fair sir, quote he, well may it you succeed Nay long shall saturain behind you stay But to the rest, which in this quest proceed My labor add and be partaker of their speed Ye noble knights said then the squire of dames Well may ye speed in so praiseworthy pain But sith the sun now gains to slake his beams In dewy vapours of the western main And lose the team out of his weary wane Mo to not mislike you also to abate Your zealous haste till morrow next to gain Both light of heaven and strength of men relate Which, if ye please, to yonder castle turn your gate That council pleased well, so all a fear Forth marched to a castle then before Where soon arriving they restrained were of ready entrance Which ought evermore to errant knights be common Wondrous soar there at displeased they were Till that young squire again them inform the cause Why that same door was shut to all Which lodging did desire the witch to let you weep Will further time require End of canto eight book three The legend of britain martis or of chastity the fairy queen by admin spencer book three canto nine the legend of britain martis This is the libra vox recording all libra vox recordings from the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org Recording by nicolas james bridgewater the fairy queen by edmund spencer Book three the legend of britain martis canto nine Malbeco will know strong knights host for pivish jealousy Paradell just with britain mart both show their ancestry Redoubted knights in honorable dames to whom i level all my labours end Right soar i fear leased with unworthy blames This odious argument my rhymes should shend Or ought your goodly patience offend Whilst of a wanton lady i do write Which with her loosing continents doth blend The shining glory of your sovereign light And knighthood vowed a face by a faithless knight But never let the ensemble of the bad Offend the good for good by paragon Of evil may more notably be rad As white seems fairer match with black atone Nay all are shamed by the fault of one For low in heaven whereas all goodness is Amongst the angels a whole legion Of wicked sprites did fall from happy bliss What wonder then if one of women all did miss Then listen lordings if ye list to wheat The cause why satrain and paradell Moat not be entertained as seamed meat Into that castle as that squired as tell There in a cankered, crabid carl does dwell That has no skill of court nor courtesy Nay cares what men say of him ill or well For all his days he drowns in privity Yet has full large to live and spend at liberty But all his mind is set on mucky pelf To hurd up heats of evil gotten mass For which he others wrongs and wrecks himself Yet is he linked to a lovely lass Whose beauty doth their bounty far surpass To which to him both far unequal years And also far unlike conditions has For she does joy to play amongst her peers And to be free from hard restraint and jealous fears But he is old and withered like high Unfit for ladies' service to supply The privy guilt whereof makes him all why Suspect her guilt and keep continual spy Upon her with his other blinked eye Nesuffereth he resort of living white Approach to her, ne' keep her company But in close bower her muse from all men's sight Deprived of kindly joy and natural delight Malbeco he and Hellenor she height Unfitly yoke together in one team That is the cause why never any knight Is suffered here to enter, but he seem Such as no doubt of him he need misdeem The rat sir sattring and smile and sigh Extremely mad the man I surely deem That weans with watch and hard restraint to sty A woman's will which is disposed to go astray In vain he fears that which he cannot shone For who votes not that woman's subtle ties Can Gylan Argus when she list misdone Is it not iron bands nor hundred eyes Nor brassen walls nor many wakeful spies That can withhold her willful wandering feet But fast good will with gentle courtesy And timely service to her pleasures meet May her perhaps contain That else would all gates fleet Then is he not more mad, said Paradell, That after himself unto such service sold Indoleful thrall them all his days to dwell For such a fool I do infirmly hold That loves his fetters though they were of gold But why do we devise of others ill Whilst thus we suffer this same doderdoad To keep us out in scorn of his own will And rather do not ransack all And himself kill Nay, let us first, said Sadi Reign And treat the man by gentle means to let us in And afterwards affray with cruel threat Dear that we to aforesit do begin Then if all file we will by foresit win An ache reward the wretch for his misprise As may be worthy of his anus sin That council pleas then Paradell did rise And to the castle gate approached it quiet wise Where at soft knocking entrance he desired The good man's self, which then the porter plied Him answered that all were now retired Unto their rest and all the caves convide Unto their master who in bed was lied That none him durst wake out of his dream And therefore them of patience gently pride Then Paradell began to challenge his theme And threatened him with force and punishment extreme But all in vain for not moat him relent To now so long before the wicked fast They whited and the night was forward spent And the farewell can foully overcast Can blow an up a bitter stormy blast With jar and hile so horrible and dread That this fair many were compelled at last To fly for succour to a little shed The witch beside the gate for swine was ordered It fortune soon after they were gone Another night-tuned tempest thither brought Came to that castle and with earnest moan Like all the rest laid entrance dear besought But like so as the rest he prayed for not For flatly he of entrance was refused Sorely there at he was displeased and thought How to avenge himself so sore abused And evermore the carl of courtesy accused But to avoid the intolerable stour He was compelled to seek some refuge near And to that shed to shroud him from the shower He came, which full of guests he found while near So as he was not let to enter there Were at he gone to weck succeeding wroth And swore that he would lodge with them a fear Or them dislodge all were they leave for loathe And so defied them each and so defied them both Both were full loathe to leave that needful tent And both full loathe in darkness to debate Yet both full leaf him lodging to have lent And both full leaf is boasting to abate But chiefly Paradell his heart did great To hear him threaten so despitefully As if he did a dog to kennel right That durst not bark and rather had he die Then when he was defied in cowered corner lie Though hastily remounting to his steed He forth eschewed like as a boisterous wind Which in the earth this hollow caves hath long been heed And shut up fast within her prisons blind Makes the huge element against her kind To move and tremble as it were aghast Until that it an issue forth may find Then forth it breaks and with his furious blast Confound with his furious blasts Confound both land and seas and skies disovercast Their steel head spears they strongly couched And met together with impetuous rage and force That with the terror of their fierce afret They rudely drove to ground both man and horse That each a while lay like a senseless coors But Paradell soar bruised with the blow Could not arise the counter-chance to scours Till that young squire him reared from below Then drew he his bright sword and gann about him throw But sat-train forth-stepping did them stye And with fair treaty pacified their ire Then when they were accorded from the fry Against the castle's lord they gann conspire To heap on him two vengeance for his ire They been agreed and to the gates they go To burn the same with unquenchable fire And that uncurtious carl their common foe To do foul death to die or wrap in grievous woe Mal beckoned seeing him resolved indeed To flame the gates and hearing them to call For fire and earnest ran with fearful speed And to them calling from the castle wall Be sought them humbly, him to bear with all As ignorant of servants' bad abuse and slack attendance Unto strangers call The knights were willing all things to excuse Though not believed and entranced late did not refuse They beanie brought into a cumbly bower And served of all things that moat needful be Yet secretly they're hosted on them lower And welcome more for fear than charity But they disemble what they did not see And welcome themselves each gannon-dite Their garments wet and weary armor free To dry themselves by volcane's flaming light And eeked their lately bruised parts to bring him plight And eeked that stranger knight amongst the rest Was for like need and force to disar eye Though when as veiled was her lofty crest Her golden locks that were in trample's guy Upbound and did themselves a down display And wrought into her heels like sunny beams That in a cloud their light did long-time stye Their vapor-vaded show their golden gleams And through the person-to-air shoot forth their azure streams She also doft her heavy haberion Which the fair feature of her limbs did hide And her well-plighted frock which she did won To tuck about her short when she did ride Her low-let fall and flow from her lank-side Down to her foot with careless modesty Then of them all she plainly was espied To be a woman white and whisked to be The fairest woman white that ever I did see Like as Minerva being late returned From slaughter of the Gions Conquer Red Where proud of her she was to be a woman Conquer Red Where proud and Kaledu's wide nose-thrills burned With breathed flames like to a furnace red Transfix with the spear down tumble dead From top of Hemis by him heap it high Hath looster helmet from her lofty head And her Gorgonian shield gins to untie From her left arm to rest in glorious victor eye Which when as 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 sudden great of fright Had them surprised at last advising right Her goodly personage in glorious hue Which they so much mistook they took delight In their first error and yet still anew With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry view Yet note their hungry view be satisfied And seeing still the more desire to see And ever firmly fixed it abide In contemplation of divinity But most they marveled at her chivalry And noble prowess which they had approved That much they feigned to know who she might be Yet none of all them her thereof amoved Yet every one her liked and every one her loved And Paradel though partly discontent With his late fall and foul and dignitie Yet was soon won his malice to relent Through gracious regard of her fair eye And nightly worth which he too late did try Yet try did adore supper was diet Then did Malbeco prayed of courtesy That of his lady they might have the sight In company at meet to do them more delight But he to shift their curious request Gankowson why she was not come in place Her crescent health her late recourse to rest And humid evening ill for sick folks case But none of those excuses could take place Nay would they eat till she in presence came She came in presence with right comely grace And fair they saluted as became And showed herself in all a gentle courteous dame They say to meet and satrain his chance Was her before and Paradel beside But he himself say looking still a sconce Gains Britomart and ever closely eyed Sir Satrain that glances might not glide But his blind eye that sighted Paradel All his demesnure from his sight did hide On her fair face so did he feed his fill And sent close messages of love to her at will And ever and a gnome when gnome was where With speaking looks that close embassaged bore He roved at her and told his secret care For all that art he learned had of yore Nay was she ignorant of that lewd yore But in his eye is meaning wisely read And with the like him answered ever more She sent at him one fiery dart to his head In poison was with privilust and jealous red He from that deadly throw made no defence But to the wound his weak heart opened wide The wicked engine through false influence Passed through his eyes and secret lead Glide into his heart which it did sorely gride But nothing new to him was that same pain Nay pain at all for he so often tried The power thereof and loved so often vain That thing of course he counted love to entertain Thence forth the hur he sought to intimate His in were grief by means to him well known Now buck as fruit out of the silver plate He on the table dashed as overthrown Or of the fruitful liquor overflown And by the dancing bubbles did divine Or there in right to let his love be shown Which well she read out of the learned line A sacrament profane in mystery of wine And when so of his hand the pledge she wrought The guilty cup she feigned to mistake And in her lap did shed her idle drought Showing desire her inward flame to slake By such close signs they secret waded make Unto their wills and one eyes watch escape To eyes him needeth for to watch and wake Who lovers will deceive thus was the ape By their fair handling put into Malbeco's cape Now when of meats and drinks they had their fill Purpose was moved by that gentle dame Unto those knights adventurous to tell Of deeds and arms which unto them became And everyone is kindred and his name Then paradel in whom a kindly pride Of gracious speech and skill as words to frame A bounded being glad of so fit tide Him to commend to her the spake of all well-eyed Troy that art now not but an idle name And in thine ashes buried low to sly Though Willem far much greater than thy fame Before that angry gods and cruel sky Upon the heaped a direful destiny Which boots it boast thy glorious descent And fetch from heaven thy great genealogy Sith all thy worthy praises being blent Their offspring hath embast and later glory shent Most famous worthy of the world by whom That war was kindled which did Troy inflame And stately towered civilian Willem Broad unto baleful ruin was by name Sir Paris far renown through noble fame Who through great prowess and bold hardiness From lackey diamond fetch the fairest aim That ever greased did boaster night possess Whom Venus to him gave for mead of worthiness Fair Helen, flower of beauty excellent And girl on of the mighty conquerors That made us many ladies dear lament The heavy lost of their brave paramours Which they far off beheld from Trojan towers And saw the fields of fairest commander strown With carcasses of noble warriors Whose fruitless lives were under furrow's sown And xanthus sandy banks with blout all overflown From him my lineage I derive a rite Who long before the ten-year siege of Troy Whilst yet on Ida he a shepherd height Unfair enone got a lovely boy Whom for remembrance of her past joy She of his father Paris did name Who after Greeks did primes realm destroy Gathered the Trojan relics save from flame And with them sailing hence to the Isle of Paris came That was by him called Paris which before Hytenousa there be many years did reign And built Nausical by the Pontic shore The witch he dying left next in remain To Paradas his son From whom I Paradel by kind descend But for fair ladies love and glories gain My native soil I've left my days to spend In sowing deeds of arms my lives and labour's end When as the noble Britom art her tell Of Trojan wars and primes city sacked The rueful story of Sir Paradel She was impassioned at that pitchous act With zealous envy of Greeks cruel fact Against that nation from whose race of old She heard that she was lineal extract For noble Britons sprung from Trojan's bold And Troynavant was built of old Troy's ashes cold Then sighing soft a while at last she thus O lamentable fall of famous town Which reigns so many years victorious And of all age ye brought the sovereign crown In one sad night consumed and thrown down What stony heart that hears thy hapless fate Is not impirous with deep compassion And makes insomple of man's wretched state That flowers so fresh it mourn and fades at evening late Behold, sir, how your pitiful complaint Have found another partner of your pain For nothing may impress so dear constraint As country's cause and commune foes disdain But if it should not grieve you back again To turn your course, I would to hear desire What to ainiest fell sith that men say He was not in the city's woeful fire Consumed but did himself to safety retire Ancusi's son begot of Venus fair Said he out of the flames for safeguard fled And with a remnant did to see repair Where he through fatal error long was led For many years and wheatless wandered From shore to shore amongst the libic sands Your rusty fown much there he suffered And many perils passed in foreign lands To save his people's sad from victor's vengeful hands At last in Ladiya meet it arrived Where he with cruel war was entertained Of Vinland folk which sought him back to drive Till he with old Latiness was constrained To contract wedlock so the fates ordained Wedlock contract his blood and aching blood Accomplished that many deer complained The rival slain the victor through the flood Escaped hardly, hardly praised his wedlock good Yet after all he victor did survive And with Latiness did the kingdom part But after when both nations began to strive Into their names the title to convert His son Ulus did from thence depart With all the warlike youth of Trojan's blood And in Long Alba Plastis thrown apart Where fair it flourished in long time it stowed Till Romulus renewing to Rome remowed There, there, said Britomard afresh appeared The glory of the later world to spring And Troy again out of her dust was reared To sit in second seat to sovereign king Of all the world under her governing But a third kingdom yet is to arise Out of the Trojan scattered off spring That in all glory and great enterprise Both first and second Troy shall dare to equalize It Troy Navante's height that with the waves Of wealthy thamis washed is along Upon whose stubborn neck were at he raves With roaring rage and sore himself does throng That all men fear to tempt his billows strong She fastened hath her foot which stands so high That it a wonder of the world is song In foreign lands and all which passin' by Beholding it from far do think it threats the sky The Trojan brute did first that city found And Highgate made the mere thereof by west An overt gate by north that is the bound Toward the land to rivers bound the rest So huge a scope at first him seemed best To be the compass of his kingdom's seat So huge a mine could not in lesser rest Nay in small mirrors contain his glory great That I'll be on had conquered first by warlike feet Ah, fairest Lady Knight said Pardell Pardon I pray my heedless oversight Who had forgot that will of my hirtel From age mnemon for my wits being light Indeed he said if I remember right That of the antique Trojan stalk that grew Another plant that wrought to wondrous height And far abroad his mighty branches threw Into the utmost angle of the world he knew For that same brute too much he did advance In all his speech was Sylveus his son Whom having slain through luckless arrows glance He fled for fear of that he had misdone Or else for shame so foul reproach to shone And with him led to sea and youthly train Where weary wondering they long time did won And many fortunes probed in the ocean main And great adventures found that now were long to say At last by fatal course they driven were Into an island spacious and broad The furthest north that did to them appear Which after rest they seeking for are abroad Found it the fittest soil for their abode Fruitful of all things fit for living food But holy wasst and void of people's trod Save an huge nation of the Jeons abode That fed on living flesh and drunk men's vital blood Whom he through weary wars and labours long Subdued with loss of many Britons bold In which the great Goi Magot of Strong Corineus and Kaolin of Devon old Were overthrown and laid on earth for cold Which quaked under their so hideous mass A famous history to be enrolled In everlasting monuments of brass That all the unique worthy's merits far did pass His work great Troinavant, his work his ache Fair Lincoln both renowned far away That who from east to west will end longsake Cannot to fairer cities find this day Except Cleopolis so heard I say Olb nemon therefore sir I greet you well Your country kin and you entirely pray Of pardon for the strife which late befell Betwixt us both unknown so end Paradell But all the wheel that he these speeches spent Upon his lips hung fair dame Hellenor With vigilant regard and duetent Fashioning worlds of fancies evermore In her frail wit that now her quite forlore The wheels unwares away her wondering eye And greedy ear her weak heart from her bore Which he perceiving ever privilie In speaking many false bell guards at herlet fly So long these nights discourse diversely Of strong affairs a noble heart he meant Which they had passed with Mikkel Jeopardy That now the humid night was far forth spent And heavenly lamps were half and deally Brent Which though manseeing well lo too long thought Every discourse and every argument Which by the hours he measure besought Them go to rest so all unto their bowers were brought End of Canto 9, Book 3