 Book 2, Canto 9, The Legend of Sergion. For more information or to volunteer, please go to Libervox.org. The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spencer. Book 2, The Legend of Sergion, Canto 9. The House of Temperance in which doth sober Alma dwell, besieged of many foes, whom stronger nights to flight compel. Of all God's works, which do this world adorn, there is no one more fair and excellent than his man's body, both for power and form, whilst it is kept in sober government, but none than it more foul and indecent, distemperate through misrule and passion's base. It grows a monster and incontinent doth lose his dignity and native grace. Behold, who list, both one and other in this place. After the pain and brethren conquered were, the Britain Prince recovering his stone sword, and Gion his lost shield, they both he fear forth pass it on their way, in fair accord, till him the Prince with gentle court did board. Sir Knight, moat eye of you this curtsy reed, To wheat why on your shield so goodly scored, bear ye the picture of that lady's head, Full lively is the symbolant, though the substance dead. Fair sir, said he, if in that picture dead such life ye read, and virtue in vain shoe, What moaty wean if the true, lively head of that most glorious visage ye did view. But if the beauty of her mind ye knew, that is her bounty and imperial power, Thousand times fairer than her mortal hue. Oh, how great wonder would your thoughts devour, And infinite desire into your spirit poor. She is the mighty Queen of Fairy, whose fair retrait I in my shield do bear. She is the flower of grace and chastity throughout the world renown mid-far and near. My leaf, my liege, my sovereign, my dear, Whose glory shineth as the morning star, And with her light the earth in lumines clear, Far reach her mercies and her praises far, As well in state of peace as poisons in war. Thrice, happy man, said then the Britain Knight, whom gracious lot and thy great valiance Have made thee soldier of that Princess Bright, Which, with her bounty and glad countenance, Doth bless her servants, and them high advance. How may Strong Knight hope ever to aspire By faithful service and meet aminance unto such bliss. Sufficient were that higher, for loss of Thousand lives to die at her desire. Said Guyon, noble Lord, what meed so great Or grace of earthly Prince so sovereign, But by your wondrous worth and warlike feet You well may hope and easily attain. But were your will, her sold to entertain And numbered be amongst knights of maidenhead, Great Gerdon, well I vote, should you remain, And in her favour high be reckoned, As Arthigal and Sophie now been honoured. Certes, then said the Prince, I, God, are now, That Sith I armors and the knighthood first, Did plight, my whole desire hath been, And yet is now to serve that Queen, With all my power and might. Now hath the sun, with his lamp-burning light Walked round about the world, and I no less. Sith of that goddess I have sought the sight, Yet nowhere can her find. Such happiness, heaven doth to me envy, And fortune favour less. Fortune the foe of famous Cheveson seldom, Said Guyon, yields to virtue aid, But in her way throws mischief and mischance, Whereby her course is stopped, And passage stayed. But you, fair sir, be not herewith dismayed, But constant keep the way in which you stand. Which were it not, that I am else delayed, With hard adventure, which I have in hand, I labour would to guide you through all fairy-land. Grum mercy, sir, said he, but moat I wheat, What strong adventure do ye now pursue? Perhaps my succor, or advisement meet, Moat stead you much, your purpose to subdue. Then, ghan sir Guyon, all the story's shoe Of false acracia, and her wicked wiles, Which, to avenge, the palmer him forth drew From fairy court. So talk it, they, the wiles, They wasted had much way, and measured many miles. And now fair Phoebus ghan decline in haste His weary wagon to the western Vale, When, as they spied, a goodly castle Placed for by a river in a pleasant dale, Which, choosing that for evening's hospital, They thither marched, but when they came inside, And from their sweaty courses did avail, They found the gates fast-barred long air-night, And every loop fast-locked, As fearing foes despite. Which, when they saw, they weaned foul reproach, Was to them done their entrance to forestall, Till that the squire ghan nire to approach, And wind his horn under the castle wall, That with the noise it shook as it would fall, If to soon's forthlook it from the highest spire the watch, And loud unto the knights did call to wait, What they so rudely did require, Who gently answered, they entrance did desire. Fly, fly, good knight, said he, Fly fast away, if that your lives he love, As meat he should, fly fast, and save yourselves from near decay, Here may you not have entrance, though we would, we would, And would again, if that we could, But thousand enemies about us rave, And with long siege us in this castle hold, Seven years this wise they us besieged have, And many good knights slain that have us sought to save. Thus, as he spoke, lo, with outrageous cry, A thousand villains round about them swarmed, Out of the rocks and caves adjoining nigh, Vile, cative wretches, ragged, rude, deformed, All threatening death, all in strong manner armed, Some with unweldy clubs, some with long spears, Some rusty knives, some staves in fire warned, Stern was their look, like wild, amazed steers, Staring with hollow eyes and stiff, upstanding hairs. Fiercely at first those knights they did assail, And drove them to recoil, But when again they gave fresh charge, Their forces came to fail, Unable their encounter to sustain. For with such poisons and impetuous maine, Those champions broke on them that forced them fly, Like scattered sheep when as the shepherds swain, A lion and a tiger doth espy, With greedy pace forth rushing from the forest nigh. A while they fled, but soon returned again, With greater fury than before was found, And evermore their cruel captain, Saw it with his rascal routes to enclose them round, And overrun to tread them to the ground. But soon the knights with their bright burning blades, Broke their rude troops and orders did confound, Hewing and slashing at their idle shades, For though they body seem, yet substance from them fades. As when a swarm of gnats at eventide, Out of the fends of allen do arise, Their murmuring small trumpets sound and wide, While in the air their clustering army flies, That as a cloud a doth seem to dim the skies, Nay man nor beast may rest, nor take repast, For their sharp wounds and noyous injuries, Till the fierce northern wind with blustering blast doth blow them quite away, And in the ocean cast. Thus when they had that a troublous rout dispersed, Unto the castle gate they come again, And entrance craved, which was denied airst. Now when report of their perilous pain and cumbers conflict, Which they did sustain, came to the lady's ear, Which there did dwell, she forth is shewed With a goodly train of squires and ladies, Equipage dwell, and entertained them right fairly as befell. Alma, she call it was, a virgin bright, That had not yet felt Cupid's wanton rage, Yet was she wooed of many a gentle night, And many a lord of noble parentage, That sought with her to link in marriage. For she was fair as fair moat ever be, And in the flower now of her freshest age, Yet full of grace and goodly modesty, That even heaven rejoiced at her sweet face to see. In robe of lily white she was arrayed, That from her shoulder to her heel down wrought, The train whereof loose, far behind her strayed, Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought, And born of two fair damsels, which were taught that service well. Her yellow golden hair was trimly woven, And in tresses wrought. Nay, other tire she on her head did wear, But crowned with a garland of sweet rosier. Goodly she entertained those noble knights, And brought them up into her castle hall, Where gentle court and gracious delight she to them made with mildness virginal. Shewing herself both wise and liberal, There when they rested had a seasoned you, They her besought of favour special, Of that fair castle to afford them view. She granted, and them leading forth the same did she. First she them led up to the castle wall, That was so high as foe might not it climb, And also fair and fincable with all, Not built of brick, nay, yet of stone and lime, But of thing like to that Egyptian slime, Whereof King Ninie, while alone built, Babel Tower, But, oh, great pity, that no longer time, So goodly workmanship should not endure. Soon it must turn to earth. No earthly thing is sure. The frame thereof seemed partly circular, And part triangular, oh, work divine. Those to the first and last proportions are, The one imperfect, mortal, feminine, The other immortal, perfect, masculine, And twixt them both a quadrate was the base, Proportionate equally by seven and nine. Nine was the circle set in heaven's place, All which compacted made a goodly diapace. Therein two gates were placed it seemly well, The one before by which all in did pass, Did thither far in workmanship excel, For not of wood nor of enduring brass, But of more worthy substance framed it was. Doubly disparted it did lock and close, That when it lucked none might thorough pass, And when it opened it no man might it close, Still open to their friends, And close it to their foes. Of hue and stone the port was fairly wrought, Stone more of value and more smooth and fine, Than jet or marble far from Ireland brought, Over the which was cast a wandering vine, And chasted with a wanton ivy twine, And over it a fair portcolours hung, Which to the gate directly did incline, With comely compass and compacture strong, Neither unseemly short nor yet exceeding long. Within the Barbican a porter said, Day and night duly keeping watch and war, Nor white nor word moat pass out of the gate, But in good order and with due regard, Utterers of secrets he from Thins debarred, Bablers of folly and blazers of crime, His larum bell might loud and wide be hard, When cause required but never out of time, Early and late it rung at evening and at prime. And round about the porch on every side, Twice sixteen warders set, all armoured bright, In glistering steel and strongly fortified, Tall yeoman seemed they, And of great might, and were enraged ready, Still for fight. By them, as Alma, Passed with her guests, they did obeisance, as beseemed right, And then again returned to their rests, The porter-eek to her did loud with humble jests. Thins she then brought into a stately hall, Wherein were many tables fair, Despread and ready-dite with drape its festival, Against the vions should be ministered. At the upper end there set a clad in red, Down to the ground a comely personage, That in his hand a white rod managed, He steward was height diet, ripe of age, And in demeanor sober and in counsel sage. And through the hall there walketh to and fro a jolly yeoman, Marshall of the same, whose name was appetite, He did bestow both guests and meat, Whenever in they came, and knew them how to order without blame, As him the steward bade, they both at one did duty to their lady as became, Who passing by forth led her guests Anon into the kitchen room, And they spired for niceness none. It was a vault he built for great dispense, With many ranges reared along the wall, And one great chimney, whose long tunnel thins, The smoke forth through, And in the midst of all there place it was a cauldron, Wide and tall, upon a mighty furnace, Burning hot, more hot than eb, Nor flaming munch of all. For day and night it breathed, and they cease it not, So long as anything it in the cauldron got. But to delay the heat, leased by mischance it might break out, And set the hole on fire, there added was by goodly ordinance, And huge pair of bellows, which did stir continually And cooling breath inspire, about the cauldron many cooks aquiled, With hooks and ladles as neat it did require, The wiles the vians in the vessel boiled, They did about their business sweat And sorely toiled. The master-cook was called concoction, A careful man and full of comely guise, The kitchen-clerk, that height digestion, Did order all the caties inseemly wise, And set them forth as well he could devise. The rest had several offices assigned, Some to remove the scum, as it did rise, Others to bear the same away did mind, And others to use according to his kind. But all the liquor which was foul and waste, Not good nor serviceable else for ought, They in another great round vessel placed, Till by a conduit piped thins were brought, And all the rest, that noyus was and not, By secret ways that none might it aspire, Was close conveyed and to the back gate brought, That cleavid was Port Esquiline, Whereby it was avoided quite and thrown out privily. Which goodly order and great workman's skill, When as those knights beheld with rare delight, And gazing wonder they their minds did fill, For never had they seen so strong a sight, Thins back again fair Alma led them right, And soon into a goodly parlour brought, That was with royal eras richly dyed, In which was nothing portrayed nor wrought, Nor wrought nor portrayed, But easy to be thought. And in the midst thereof upon the floor, A lovely bevy of fair lady set, Courted of many a jolly paramour, The which them did in modest wise amate, And each one sought his lady to aggrate, And eke amongst them little cupid played, His wanton sports being returned late from his fierce wars, And having from him laid his cruel bow, Wherewith he thousands hath dismantled, Diverse delights they found themselves to please, Some song in sweet consort, Some laughed for joy, Some played with straws, Some idly set at ease, But others some could not abide to toy, All pleasant was to them grief and annoy, This frowned, that fawned, The third forshave did blush, Another seemed envious or coy, Another in her teeth did gnaw a rush, But at these stronger's presence Everyone did hush. Soon as the gracious Alma came in place, They all at once, out of their seats arose, And to her homage made with humble grace, Whom when the nights beheld they again disposed themselves to court, And each a damsel chose, The prince by chance did on a lady-light, That was right fair and fresh as morning rose, But somewhat sad and solemn eke in sight, As if some pensive thought constrained her gentle sprite. In a long purple pall, whose skirt with gold was fretted all about, She was arrayed, and in her hand a popular branch did hold, To whom the prince in courteous manner said, Gentle madam, by being ye thus dismayed, And your fair beauty do with sadness spill, Lives any that ye hath thus ill a paid, Or done ye love, or done ye lack your will, Whatever be the cause it sure besiems you ill. Fair, sir, said she half in disdainful wise, How is it that this word in me ye blame, And in yourself do not the same advise, Him ill besiems, another's fault to name, That may unwares be blotted with the same. Pincevae yield I am, and sad in mind, Through great desire of glory and of fame, That ought I wean, are ye there in behind, That have twelve months sought one, yet nowhere Can her find? The prince was inly moved at her speech, While weeding true what she had rashly told, Yet with fair semblance sought to hide the breach, Which charge of color did perforce unfold, Now seeming flaming hot, now stony cold. Though turning soft aside he did inquire what white she was, That popular branch did hold, it answered was her name was Praise Desire, That by well-doing sought to honor, to aspire. There whilst the fairy knight did entertain another damsel of that gentle crew, That was right fair and modest of domain, But that too oft she charged her native hue, Strong was her tire, and all her garment blue, Close round about her tucked with many a plight, Upon her fist the bird, Which shuneth view, and keeps in covarts Close from living white, did sit, As yet ashamed how rude Pan did her dite. So long as Guyon with her commoned, Under the ground she cast her modest eye, And ever an anon, with rosy red the bashful blood her snowy cheeks did dye, That her became a polished ivory, Which cunning craftsmen hand hath overlaid, With fair vermillion or pure castory, Great wonder had the knight to see the maid So strangely passionate, and to her gently said, Fair damsel, seamoth by your troubled cheer, That either me too bold ye wean. This wise you too molest, or other ill to fear, That in the secret of your heart at close lies, From winter doth, as cloud from sea arise, If it be I of pardon I you pray. But if ought else that I moat not devise, I will, if please, you it discure assay, To ease you of that ill so wisely as I may. She answered not, but more abashed for shame, Held down her head, The wiles her lovely face, the flashing blood, With blushing did inflame, And of the strong passion marred, her modest grace, And Gion marveled at her uncouth case, Till Alma him bespake. Why wonder ye fair sir at that, which ye so much embrace? She is the fountain of your modesty. You shame-faced are, but shame-facedness itself is she. There at the elf did blush in privity, And turned his face away, But she the same dissembled fair, And feigned to oversee. Thus they, a while with court and goodly game, Themselves did solace each one with his dame, Till that great lady-things away them sought, To view her castle's other wondrous frame, Up to a stately turret she then brought, Ascending by ten steps of alablaster wrought. That turret's frame most admirable was, Like highest heaven compassed around, And lifted high above this earthly mass, Which it's reviewed as hills done lower ground. But not on ground most like to this be found, Not that which antique cadmus, While long built in thieves, Which Alexander did confound, Nor that proud tower of Troy, though richly gilt, From which young hector's blood By cruel Greeks was spilt. The roof hereof was arched overhead, And decked with flowers, And herbars daitily. Two goodly beacons set in watches stead, Therein gave light and flamed continually, For they of living fire most subtly were made, And set in silver sockets bright, Covered with lids devised of substance sly, That readily they shut in open might. Oh, who can tell the praises of that maker's might? Nay can I tell, nay can I stay to tell This part's great workmanship and wondrous power, That all this other world's work doth excel, And likeest is unto that heavenly tower, That God hath built for his own blessed bower. Therein were diverse rooms and diverse stages, But three the chiefest and of greatest power, In which there dwelt three honourable sages, The wisest men I wean, that lived in their ages. Not he by whom Greece the nurse Of all good arts, by Phoebus doom, The wisest thought alive, Might be compared to these by many parts, Nor that sage Pylian Sire, which did survive three ages, Such as mortal men contrive, By whose advice old primes city fell. With these in praise of policies moat strife, These three in these three rooms did sundry dwell, And counseled fair Alma, how to govern well. The first of them could things to come foresee, The next could of things present best advise. The third things past could keep in memory, So that no time nor reason could arise, But that the same could one of these comprise. For thy the first did in the four parts sit, That not moat hinder his quick prejudise. He had a sharp foresight, and working wit, That never idle was, nay once could rest a wit. His chamber was dis-painted all within, With sundry colours, In the which were written infinite shapes Of things dispersed thin. Some such as in the world were never yet, Nay can devise it be of mortal wit. Some daily seen and known by their names, Such as in idle fantasies do flit, Infernal hags, centaurs, fiends, hippodames, Apes, lions, eagles, owls, fruels, Lovers, children, dames. And all the chamber-fillet was with flies, Which buzzed all about and made such sound, That they encumbered all men's ears and eyes, Like many swarms of bees, a simblet round. After their hives with honey do abound, All those were idle thoughts and fantasies, Devices, dreams, opinions unsound, Shoes, visions, soothsays, and prophecies. And all that faint it is, as leasings, tales, and lies. Amongst them all said he, which wanted there, That height fantasts, by his nature true, A man of years yet fresh as moat appear, Of swarth complexion and of crabid hue, That him full of melancholy did shew, Bid hollow beetle-brows, sharp, staring eyes, That mad or foolish seemed one by his view, More to deem him born with ill-disposed skies When oblique satin set in the house of Agonies, Whom Alma, having sureed to her guests, Thins brought them to the second room, Whose walls were painted fair with memorable jests, Of famous wizards and with picturals, Of magistrates, of courts, of tribunals. Of common-wealths, of states, of policy, Of laws, of judgments, and of decretals. All arts, all science, all philosophy, And all that in the world was I thought wittily. Of those that room was full, and them among, There set a man of ripe and perfect age, Who did them meditate all his life long, That through continual practice and usage He now was grown right wise and wondrous sage, Great pleasure had those stranger knights To see his goodly reason and grave personage, That his disciples both desired to be, But Alma thins them led to the hindmost room of three. That a chamber seemed ruinous and old, And therefore was removed far behind, Yet were the walls that did the same uphold, Right firm and strong, though somewhat they declined, And therein set an old old man, half-blind, And all decrepit in his feeble course, Yet lively vigor rested in his mind, And recompensed him with a better scores. Weak body well is changed, for minds redoubled force. This man of infinite remembrance was, And things foregone through many ages held, Which he recorded still as they did pass, Ne suffered them to perish through long-eld, As all things else that which this world doth weld, But laid them up in his immortal scrine, Where they for ever incorrupted dwelled, The wars he well remembered of King Nine, Of old Ocericus and Inicus divine. The years of nest or nothing were to his, Nay yet Methuselem, though longest lived. For he remembered both their infancies, Nay wonder then if that he were deprived Of native strength now, that he them survived. His chamber all was hanged about with rolls, And old records from ancient times derived, Some made in books, some in long parchment scrolls, That were all worm-eaten and full of canker holds. Amidst them all he in a chair was set, Tossing and turning them without an end. Amidst them all he in a chair was set, Tossing and turning them without an end. But for he was unable them to fett, A little boy did on him still attend, To reach whenever he for ought did send, And oft when things were lost or laid amiss, That boy them sought and unto him did lend. Therefore he, an amnesties, cleap it is, And that old man, a whom nesties by their properties. The nights there entering did him reverence due, And wondered at his endless exercise. Then as they began his library to view, And antique registers far to avise, There chanted to the prince's hand to rise An ancient book, Hite-Britain Monuments, That of this land's first conquest did devise, And old division into regiments, Till it reduced it was to one man's governments. Sir Guy Unchanced eek on another book, That Hite antiquity of fairy land, In which when, as he greedily did look, The offspring of elves and fairies there he found, As it delivered it was from hand to hand, Where ere to they burning both with fervent fire, Their country's ancestry to understand, Craved leave of Alma and that aged sire, To read those books, Who gladly grotted their desire. End of Canto 9, Book 2, The Legend of Sir Guy Unch. Book 2, Canto 10, Of the Fairy Queen. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Zhu. The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spencer. Book 2, The Legend of Sir Guy Unch. Canto 10, A Chronicle of Britain Kings, From brute to ooth as rain, And rolls of elven emperors, Till time of gloryain. Who now shall give unto me Words and sound equal unto this haughty enterprise? Or who shall lend me wings, With which from ground lowly verse may loftily arise, And lift itself unto the highest skies? More ample spirit than hitherto was won't, Here needs me, Whilst the famous ancestries Of my most dreaded sovereign I recount, By which all earthly princes She doth far surmount. Nay, under sun that shines so wide and fair, Whence all that lives does borrow life and light, Lives ought that to her lineage may compare, Which though from earth it be derivered right, Yet doth itself stretch forth to heaven's height, And all the world with wonder overspread. A labour huge exceeding far my might, How shall frail pen, with fear disparaged, Conceive such sovereign glory, And great bounty-head? Argument worthy of Mayonian quill, Or rather worthy of great Phoebus wrote, Whereon the ruins of great Osser hill, And triumphs of Flegrion Jove, He wrote, that all the gods admired his lofty note. But if some relish of that heavenly lay His learned daughters would to me report, To deck my song with all, I would say Thy name, O sovereign queen, To blazen far away. Thy name, O sovereign queen, Thy realm and race, From this renowned prince-derivered are, Who mightily upheld that royal mace Which now thou bearest, To thee descended far from mighty kings and conquerors in war, Thy fathers and great-grandfathers of old, Whose noble deeds above the northern star Immortal fame for ever hath enrolled, As in that old man's book they were in order told. The land which warlike Britons now possess, And therein have their mighty empire raised, In antique time was salvage wilderness unpeopled, Unmanured, unproved, unpraised. Nay was it island then, Nay was it paced amid the ocean waves, Nay was it sort of merchants far, For profits therein praised, But was all desolate, And of some thought by sea To have been from the Celtic mainland brought. Nay did it then deserve a name to have, Till that the venturous mariner That way learning his ship from those white rocks to save, Which all along the southern sea coast lay, Threatening unheedy wreck and rash decay, For safety's sake, that same his sea-mark made And named it Albion. But later-day, finding in it fit ports for vicious trade, Gann more the same frequent, And further to invade. But far inland a salvage nation dwelt Of hideous giants and half-beastly men, That never tasted grace nor goodness felt, But like wild beasts lurking in loathsome den, And flying fast as robuck through the fen, All naked without shame or care of cold, By hunting and by spoiling livid then, A stature huge and eek of courage bold, That sons of men amazed their sternness to behold. But whence they sprung, or how they were begot, Uneath is to assure, uneath to wean that monstrous error, Which doth some assort, that Darkletian's fifty daughters Sheen into this land by chance have driven been, Where, accompanying with fiends and filthy sprites Through vain illusion of their lust unclean, They brought forth giants and such dreadful whites As far exceeded men in their immeasured mites. They held this land, and with their filthiness Polluted this same gentle soil long time, That their own mother loathed their beastliness, And Gann abhor her brood's unkindly crime, All with a borne of her own native slime, Until that Brutus, anciently derived from royal stock Of old Sarac's line, driven by fatal error here arrived, And them of their unjust possession deprived. But ere he had established at his throne, And spread his empire to the utmost shore, He fought great battles with his salvage phone, In which he them defeated ever more, And many giants left on groaning floor, That well can witness yet unto this day the western hoff, Be sprinkled with the gore of mighty Garamot, Whom, in stout fray, Corineus conquered, And cruelly did slay. And eek that ample pit, yet far renowned for the large leap, Which Deben did compel, coolen to make, Being eight lugs of ground, into the which, Returning back he fell. But those three monstrous stones do most excel Which that huge son of hideous Albion, Whose father Hercules in France did quell great Godma through, In fierce contention at bold Canutus, But of him was slain anon. In mead of these great conquests by them got, Corineus had that province utmost west, To him assigned for his worthy lot, Which of his name and memorable jest He callered Corniwale, yet so called best. And Deben share was that his Deben share, But Canut had his portion from the rest, The which he called Canutium for his hire, Now Cantium, which Kent we commonly inquire. Thus brute this realm unto his rule subdued, And reined long in great felicity. Loved of his friends and of his foes astute He left three sons his famous progeny. Born of fair Imogen of Italy, Amongst whom he parted his imperial state, And Locrine left chief lord of Brittany. At last ripe age bad him surrender late his life, And long good fortune unto final fate. Locrine was left the sovereign lord of all, But Albanact had all the northern part, Which of himself Albania he did call, And Canber did possess the western quart, Which seven now from Logris doth depart, And each his portion peaceably enjoyed. Ne was thou outward breach, nor grudge in heart, That once their quiet government annoyed, But each his pains to others' profit still employed. Until a nation strong with visage swat, And courage fierce that all men did affray, Which through the world them swarmed in every part, And overflowed all countries far away, Like Noah's great flood with their importune sway, This land invaded with like violence, And did themselves through all the north display, Until that Locrine for his realm's defence Did head against them make and strong munificence. He them encountered a confused route For by the river that while home was height The ancient abyss, where with courage stout He them defeated in victorious fight, And chased so fiercely after fearful flight That forced their chieftain for his fear-safety's sake, Their chieftain, Humber, named, was right, Unto the mighty stream him to be take, Where he an end of battle and of life did make. The king returned proud of victory, And insolent walks through unwonted ease, That shortly he forgot the jeopardy Which in his land he lately did appease, And fell to vain but voluptuous disease. He loved fair Lady Estrilled, Ludely loved whose wanton pleasures Him too much did please, That quite his heart from Gwendolyn removed, From Gwendolyn his wife, Though always faithful proved. The noble daughter of Carinius Would not endure to be so vile disdained, But gathering force and courage valorous, Encounted him in battle well ordained, In which him vanquished she to fly constrained. But she so fast pursued that him she took, And threw in bands where he till death remained, Else his fair Leemann flying through a brook She overhent, not movered with her piteous look. But both herself, and Ike her daughter dear, Begotten by her kingly paramour, The fair Sabrina, almost dead with fear, She there attached, far from all succour. The one she slew in that impatient store, But the sad virgin, innocent of all, A down the rolling river she did pour, Which of her name now seven men do call. Such was the end, that two disloyal love did fall. Then for her son, which she to Loughrin bore, Madden was young, unmeet the rule of sway, In her own hand the crown she kept in store, Till ripe a years he wrought, and stronger stay. During which time her power she did display Through all this realm the glory of her sex, And first taught men a woman to obey. But when her son to man's estate did wex, She it surrendered, nay herself would linger vex. Though Madden reigned, unworthy of his race, For with all shame that sacred throne he filled, Next memprise as unworthy of that place, In which being consorted with man illed, For thirst of single kingdom him he killed. But Ebrank salvored both their infamies, With noble deeds, and warred on Brunchild, In Henult, where yet of his victory's Brave monuments remain, which yet that land envies. Unhappy man in his first days he was, And happy father of fair progeny, For all so many weeks as the year has, So many children he did multiply, Of which were twenty sons, Which did apply their minds to praise, And chivalrous desire. Those Germans did subdue all Germany, Of whom it hight. But in the end their sire, with foul repulse, From France was forced to retire. Which blot his son succeeding in his seat, The second brute, the second both in name, And eke in semblance of his puissance great, Right well recurred, and did away that blame With recompense of everlasting fame. He, with his victor's sword, first opened The bowels of wide France, a forlorn dame, And taught her first how to be conquered, Since which, with sundry spoils, She hath been ransacked. Let Skaldis tell, and let Tell Hania, And let the marsh of Estham bruges tell What colour were their waters that same day, And all the moor twix elvisham and dell, With blood of heneloise, which therein fell. How oft that day did Sad Brunchildas see The green shield dyed in dolorous vermel, That not skivgirith it might seem to be, But rather ease give goch, sign of sad cruelty. His son, King Lyle, by father's labour long, Enjoyed a heritage of lasting peace, And built Carlile, and built Carlion strong. Next, Houdibras his realm did not increase, But taught the land from weary wars to cease, Whose footstep, bladdled following in arts, Excelled at Athens all the learned peace, From whence he brought them to these salvage parts, And with sweet science mollified their stubborn hearts. Ensample of his wondrous faculty Behold the boiling baths at Carbadon, Which seeth with secret fire eternally, And in their entrails full of quick brimstone, Nourish the flames which they are warmed upon. That to their people, wealth they forth do well, And health to every foreign nation. Yet he at last, contending to excel the reach of man, Through flight into fond mischief fell. Next him, King Lyle, in happy peace long reigned, But had no issue mail him to succeed, But three fair daughters, which were well uptrained In all that seemed fit for kingly seed, Amongst whom his realm he equally decreed to have divided. Though when feeble age nigh to his utmost date He saw proceed, he called his daughters, And with speeches sage inquired which of them most Did love her parentage. The eldest, Gonaril, began to protest That she much more than her own life him loved, And Reagan greater love to him professed Than all the world whenever it were proved. But Cordyle said she loved him as behooved, Whose simple answer, wanting colours fair to paint it forth, Him to displeasance moved, that in his crown He counted her no heir, but twixed the other twain His kingdom whole did share. So wedded the one to Maglan king of Scots, And the other to the king of Cambria, And twixed them shared his realm by equal lots, But without Dower the wise Cordelia was sent To Aghanip of Celtica. Their aged sire thus eased of his crown A private life led in Albania with Gonaril Long had in great renown that naught him Grieved to been from rule deposed down. But true it is that when the oil is spent The light goes out and weak is thrown away. So when he had resigned his regiment His daughter Gann despise his drooping day And weary wax of his continual stay, Though to his daughter Regan he repaired, Who him at first well-usered every way, But when of his departure she dispaired Her bounty she abated and his cheer impaired. The wretched man Gann then advised too late That love is not where most it is professed. Too truly tried in his extremist state That last resolved likewise to prove the rest, He to Cordelia himself addressed Who with entire affection him received As for her sire and king has seemed best. And after all an army strong she left To war on those which him had of his realm bereaved. So to his crown she him restored again In which he died, made ripe for death by Eld And after willed it should to her remain Who peaceably the same long time did weld And all men's hearts in due obedience held Till that her sister's children Walks and strong through proud ambition Against her rebelled. And overcommon kept in prison long Till weary of that wretched life herself she hung. Then Gann the bloody brethren both to reign But fierce Kunda Gann shortly to envy His brother Morgan, pricked with proud disdain To have a peer in part of sovereignty And kindling coals of cruel enmity raised war And him in battle overthrew. Wents as he to those woody hills did fly Which height of him Glamorgan there him slew Then did he reign alone where he non-equal knew. His son Rivalo, his dead room did supply In whose sad time blood did from heaven reign. Next great Augustus, then fair Cecily In constant peace their kingdoms did contain. After whom Lago and Kinmarca did reign And Gorbogud till far in years he grew. Then his ambitious sons unto them Twain Awrote the rule, and from their father drew Stout Ferex and stern Porrex, Him in prison through. But oh the greedy thirst of royal crown That knows no kindred, nor regards no right Stirred Porrex up to put his brother down Who unto him assembling foreign might Made war on him and fell himself in fight Whose death to avenge his mother merciless Most merciless of women widen height. Her other son, fast sleeping, did oppress And with most cruel hand him murdered pitiless. Here ended Brutus' sacred progeny Which seven hundred years this sceptre borne With high renown and great felicity. The noble branch from the antique stock Was torn through discord and the royal throne Forlorn. Thenceforth this realm was into Faction's rent, whilst each of Brutus Boasted to be born, that in the end Was left no monument of Brutus Nor of Britain's glory ancient. Then up arose a man of matchless might And wondrous wit to manage high affairs Who stirred with pity of the stressor'd Plight of this sad realm cut into Sundry shares by such as claimed Themselves Brutus' rightful heirs Gathered the princes of the people loose To take and counsel of their common cares Who with his wisdom won him straight To choose their king and swore him fealty To win or lose. Then made he head against his enemies And Imna slew or loggress miscreate. Then Ruddock and Proud Stata both allied This of Albania newly nominate And that of Cambry king confirmed late He overthrew through his own valiance Whose countries he reduced to quiet state And shortly brought to civil governance Now one which erst were many Made through variance. Then made he sacred laws Which some men say were unto him Revealed in vision, by which he freed The traveller's highway, the church's part And Plowman's portion, restraining stealth And strong extortion, the gracious Numer of Great Brittany. For till his days the chief dominion Strength was wielded without policy Therefore he first wore crown of gold For dignity. Don Wallo died for what may live for I And left two sons of peerless prowess both That sacquered Rome to dearly did assay The recompense of their pejorid oath And ransacked Greece well tried When they were wroth. Besides subjected France and Germany Which yet their praises speak Albeit they loathe and inly tremble At the memory of Brennus and Bolinus Kings of Brittany. Next them did Gurgant, great Bolinus' son In rule succeed and eek in father's praise He Easterland subdued and Denmark won And of them both did foy and tribute raise Which was due in his dead father's days He also gave to fugitives of Spain Whom he at sea found wandering in their ways A seat in Ireland safely to remain Which they should hold of him As subject to Brittany. After him reigned Githerline his heir The justest man and truest in his days Who had to wife demercia the fair A woman worthy of immortal praise Which for this realm found many goodly lays And wholesome statutes to her husband brought Her many deemed to have been of the phase As was Egeria that Numa taught Those yet of her bemercian laws Both named and thought. Her son Ciculus after her did reign And then Chimeras and then Danius The next whom Marindus did the crown sustain Who had he not with Roth outrageous And cruel ranker dimmed his valorous And mighty deeds should mached have the best As well in that same field victorious Against the foreign morons he expressed Yet lives his memory though carcass Sleep in rest. Five sons he left Begotten of one wife All which successively by turns did raise First Gorberman, a man of virtuous life Next Archigold, who for his proud disdain Deposered was from Princeton sovereign And Piteus Elidore put in his stead Who shortly it to him restored again Till by his death he it recovered But Peridior and Vigent him disthronisered In wretched prison long he did remain Till they out-rainer'd had their utmost date And then therein receded was again And ruled long with honourable state Till he surrendered realm and life to fate Then all the sons of these five brethren Reigned by due success and all their nephews late Even thrice eleven descents the crown retained Till aged he lie by due heritage it gained He had two sons whose eldest called Ludd Left of his life most famous memory And lendless monuments of his great good The ruined walls he did re-edify Of troineant against force of enemy And built that gate which of his name is height By which he lies entombed solemnly He left two sons too young to rule a right And drogis and tenantius pictures of his might Whilst they were young, Cassibilane their aim Was by the people chosen in their stead Who on him took the royal diadem And goodly well long time it govern'd Till the proud Romans him disquieted And warlike Caesar tempted with the name Of this sweet island never conquered And envying the Britain's blazed fame O hideous hunger of dominion hither came Yet twice they were repulsed back again Twice renforced back to their ships to fly The wiles with blood they all the shore did stain And the grey ocean into purple dye Nay had they footing found at last per die Had not Androgyus false to native soil And envious of uncle's sovereignty Betrayed his country into foreign spoil Not else but treason from the first This land did foil So by him Caesar got the victory Through great bloodshed and many a sad assay In which himself was charged heavily Of hardy Neneus whom he yet did slay But lost his sword yet to be seen this day Then's forth this land was tributary made To ambitious Rome and did their rule obey Till Arthur all that reckoning did defray Yet oft the kings against them strongly swayed Next him to Nanteus reigned, then Kimberline What time the Eternal Lord in fleshly slime And womb it was from wretched Adam's line To purge away the guilt of sinful crime O joyous memory of happy time That heavenly grace so plentiously displayed O too hide-ditty for my simple rhyme Soon after this the Romans him worried For that their tribute he refused to let be paid Good Claudius that next was Emperor An army brought, and with him battle fought In which the king was by a treachery Disguised slain, ere any thereof thought Yet Caesar not the bloody fight for ought For Arvirage his brother's place supplied Both in his arms and crown, and by that draught Did drive the Romans to the weaker side That they to peace agreed, so all was pacified Was never king more highly magnified Nor dread of Romans than was Arvirage For which the Emperor to him allied His daughter Genoese in marriage Yet shortly he renounced the vacillage Of Rome again, who hither hastely sent Vespasian, that with great spoil And rage for wasted all, till Genoese A gent persuaded him to cease And her lord to relent He died, and him succeeded Marius Who joyed his days in great tranquillity Then Coyle, and after him Good Lucius, that first received The sacred pledge of Christ's evangely Yet true it is that long before that day Hither came Joseph of Arrimathie Who brought with him the Holy Grail, they say And preached the truth, but since It greatly did decay This good king shortly without issue died Whereof great trouble in the kingdom grew That did herself in sundry parts divide And with her power her and self or through Whilst Romans daily did the weak subdue Which seeing stout bandooka up a rose And taking arms the Britons to her drew With whom she marched straight against her foes And them unwares beside the seven did enclose There she with them a cruel battle tried Not with so good success as she deserved By reason that the captains on her side Corrupted by Paulinas from her swerved Yet such as were through former flight preserved Gathering again her host she did renew And with fresh courage on the victor served But being all defeated save a few Rather than fly or be captived Herself she slew A famous monument of women's praise Matchable either to Semiramis Whom antique history so hide athraise Or to Hipsiphil or to Tomeris Her host two hundred thousand numbered is Who whilst good fortune favoured her might Triumphed off against her enemies And yet though overcome in hapless fight She triumphed on death in enemies despite Her relics, fulgent having gathered Fought with Severus and him or through Yet in the chase was slain of them that fled So made them victors whom he did subdue Then Gan Carousius tyrannize anew And against the Romans bent their proper power But him alectus treacherously slew And took on him the robe of Emperor Now the less the same enjoyed but short Happy hour For Asklopiodate him overcame And left inglorious on the vanquished plain Without or robe or rag to hide his shame Then afterwards he in his stead did reign But shortly was by coil in battle slain Who after long debate since Lucy's time Was of the Britons first crowned Sovereign Then Gan this realm renew her password prime He of his name Colchester built Of stone and lime Which when the Romans heard They hither sent Constantius a man of Mickel might with whom King Coil Made an agreement and to him gave For wife his daughter bright Fair Helena The fairest living white who in all Godly fuse and goodly praise did far excel But was most famous height for skill in music Of all in her days as well in curious instruments As cunning lays Of whom he did great Constantine beget Who afterward was Emperor of Rome To which while absent he his mind did set Octavius here leapt into his room Yet you surpered by unrighteous doom But he his title justified by might Slaying Traheon and having overcome The Roman legion in dreadful fight So settled he his kingdom and confirmed his right But wanting issue mail his daughter dear He gave in wedlock to Maximian And him with her made of his kingdom heir Who soon by means thereof the Empire won Till murdered by the friends of Gracian Then Gander Huns and Picts Invade this land during the reign of Maximian Who dying left none heir them to withstand But that they overran all parts with easy hand The weary Britons whose war-hable youth Was by Maximian lately led away With wretched miseries and woeful Ruth Were to those pagans made an open prey And daily spectacle of sad decay Whom Roman wars which now four hundred years And more had wasted could no whit dismay Till by consent of commons and of peers They crowned the second Constantine with joyous tears Who having often battle vanquished Those spoilful Picts and swarming Easterlings Long time in peace his realm established Yet often annoyed with sundry bored raging Of neighbour Scots and foreign scatterlings With which the world did in those days abound Which to out-bar with painful pionings From sea to sea he heaped a mighty mound Which from Alcluid to Panwelt did that border bound Three sons he dying left all under age By means whereof their uncle Vortigier Usurped the crown during their pupillage Which the infants tutors gathering to fear Them closely into armoric did bear For dread of whom and for those Picts a noise He sent to Germany strange aid to rear From whence Eftsoons arrived here Three hoys of Saxons whom he for his safety Employs. Two brethren were their Capitans Which height hengist and horses well approved in war And both of them men of renowned might Who making vantage of their civil jar And of those foreigners which came from far Grew great and got large portions of land That in the realm ere long they stronger are Than they which sought at first Their helping hand and Vortigier Enforced the kingdom to a band But by the help of Vortimir his son He is again unto his rule restored And hengist, seeming sad for that was done Receivered is to grace and new accord Through his fair daughter's face And flattering word. Soon after which Three hundred lords he slew of British blood All sitting at his board, whose doleful monuments Who list to rue the eternal marks of treason May at stone-heng view. By this the sons of Constantine which fled Ambrose and Uther did ripe years attain And here arriving strongly challenged The crown which Vortigier did long detain Who flying from his guilt by them was slain And hengist Eke soon brought to shameful death Thenceforth Aurelius peaceably did reign Till that through poison stopped was his breath So now entombed lies at stone-heng by the heath After him Uther which pendragon height succeeding There abruptly it did end Without full point or other seizure right As if the rest some wicked hand did rend Or the author self could not at least attend To finish it, that so untimely breech The prince himself half seamoth to offend Yet secret pleasure did offence impeach And wonder of antiquity long stopped his speech At last quite ravished with delight To hear the royal offspring of his native land Cried out, dear country, oh how dearly dear Aught thy remembrance and perpetual band Be to thy foster-child that from thy hand Did common breath and nourisher receive How brutish is it not to understand How much to her we owe that all us gave That gave unto us all whatever good we have But Guyon all this while his book did read Nayet has ended, for it was a great and ample volume That doth far exceed my leisure So long leaves here to repeat I told how first Prometheus did create A man of many parts from beast derived And then stole fire from heaven to animate his work For which he was by Jove deprived of life himself And heartstrings of an eagle rived That man so made he called Elf to wheat quick The first author of all Elvin kind Who wandering through the world with weary feet Did in the gardens of Adonis find a goodly creature Whom he deemed in mind to be no earthly white But either sprite or angel the author of all woman kind Therefore a fay he her according height Of whom all fairies spring and fetch their lineage right Of these a mighty people shortly grew And poisoned kings which all the world were aid And to themselves all nations did subdue The first and eldest which that sceptre swayed Was Elfin, him all India obeyed And all that now America men call Next him was noble Elfinan Who laid Cleopolis foundation first of all But Elfiline enclosed it with a golden wall His son was Elfinel Who overcame the wicked goblins in bloody field But Elfant was of most renowned fame Who all of crystal did Panthea build Then Elfar, who to brethren giants killed The one of which had two heads, the other three Then Elfinor, who was in magic skilled He built by art upon the glassy sea a bridge of brass Who sound heaven's thunder seemed to be He left three sons, the witch in order reigned And all their offspring in their due descents Even seven hundred princes Which maintained with mighty deeds their sundry governments That were too long their infinite contents Here to record in a much material Yet should they be most famous monuments And brave and sample both of martial And civil rule to kings and states imperial After all these Elficlios did reign The wise Elficlios in great majesty Who mightily that scepter did sustain And with rich spoils and famous victory Did high advance the crown of Fairy He left two sons of which fair Elferon The eldest brother did untimely die Whose empty place the mighty Oberon Doubly supplied in spousal and dominion Great was his power and glory over all Which him before that sacred seat did fill That yet remains his wide memorial He dying left the fairest Tanaquil Him to succeed therein by his last will Farer and nobler liveth none this hour Nay like in grace, nay like in learned skill Therefore they glory and call that glorious flower Long mayest thou glory and live In glory and great power Beguiled thus with delight of novelties And a natural desire of country state So long they read in those antiquities That how the time was fled they quite forget Till gentle Alma seeing it so late Perforce their studies broke And them besought to think How supper did them long await So half unwilling from their books Them brought and fairly feasted As so noble knights she ought End of Canto 10 Book 2 The Legend of Sir Guyon Book 2 Canto 11 The Legend of Sir Guyon This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please go to LibriVox.org The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spencer Book 2 The Legend of Sir Guyon Canto 11 The enemies of temperance besiege her dwelling place Prince Arthur them repels And foul Maligar doth deface What war so cruel or what siege so sore Is that which strong affections Do apply against the fort of reason Evermore to bring the soul into captivity Their force is fiercer through infirmity Of the frail flesh relenting to their rage And exercise most bitter tyranny And the parts brought into their bondage No wretchedness is like to sinful villainage But in a body which doth freely yield his parts To reason's rule obedient And leteth her that ought the scepter wield All happy peace and goodly government Is settled their insure establishment Their Alma like a virgin queen most bright Doth flourish in all beauty excellent And to her guests doth bounteous bank it dite A tempered goodly well for health and for delight Early before the morn with cremosan ray The windows of bright heaven open it had Through which into the world The dawning day might look That maketh every creature glad Up rose Sir Guyon in bright armor clad And to his purpose to journey him prepared With him the palmer Ike inhabits sad Himself addressed to that adventure hard So to the river's side they both together fared Where them awaited ready at the ford The ferryman as Alma had be height With his well-rigid boat They go aboard and he effs soonce Gann launch his bark forthright E'er long they rowed were quite out of sight And fast the land behind them fled away But let them pass, whilst wind and weather Right do serve their turns Here I a while must stay To see a cruel fight done by the prince this day For all so soon as Guyon thence was gone Upon his voyage with his trusty guide That wicked band of villains fresh begun That castle to assail on every side And lay strong siege about it far and wide So huge and infinite their numbers were That all the land they under them did hide So foul and ugly that exceeding fear Their visages impressed when they approached near Them in twelve troops their captain did dispart And round about in fittest steds did place Where each might best offend his proper part And his contrary object most deface As every one seemed meatest in that case Seven of the same against the castle gate In strong entrenchments he did closely place Which with incessant force and endless hate They battered day and night and entrance did await The other five, five sundry ways he set Against the five great bulwarks of that pile And unto each a bulwark did a ret To sail with open force our hidden Guyon In hope thereof to win victorious spoil They all that charge did fervently apply With greedy malice and importune toil And planted there their huge artillery With which they daily made most dreadful battery The first troop was a monstrous rabblement Of foul misshapen whites of which some were Headed like owls with beaks uncomely bent Others like dogs others like griffons drear And some had wings and some had claws to tear And every one of them had lynx's eyes And every one did bow and arrows bear All those were lawless lusts, corrupt envies And covetous aspects, all cruel enemies Those same against the bulwark of the site Did lay strong siege and battleous assault Ne once did yield it respite day nor night But soon as Titan again his head exalt And soon again as he his light with halt There wicked engines they against it bent That is each thing by which the eyes may fault But two then all more huge and violent Beauty and money they that bulwark sorely rent The second bulwark was the hearing sense Against which the second troop designement makes Deformed creatures in strong difference Some having heads like hearts, some like to snakes Some like wild boars late roused out of the brakes Slanderous reproaches and foul infamies Leasings, backbiting and vain glorious crakes Bad councils, praises and false flatteries All those against that fort did bend their batteries Likewise that same third fort that is the smell Of that third troop was cruelly assayed Whose hideous shapes were like to fiends of hell Some like to hounds, some like to apes dismayed Some like to puttocks, all in plumes arrayed All shaped according to their conditions For by those ugly forms were in portrayed Foolish delights and fond abusions Which do that sense besiege with light illusions And that fourth band which cruel battery bent Against the fourth bulwark, that is the taste Was as the rest a greasy rabblement Some mouthed like greedy oysters Some fast like lowly toads Some fashion it in the waist like swine For so deformed is luxury, surfeit, mis-diet And unthrifty waist, vain feasts And idle superfluity All those this since his fort assail incessantly But the fifth troop most horrible of hue And fierce of force was dreadful to report For some like snails Some did like spiders' shoe And some like ugly urchins thick and short Cruely they assail it that fifth fort Armored with darts of sensual delight With stings of carnal lust And strong effort of feeling pleasures With which day and night against that same fifth bulwark They continued fight Thus these twelve troops with dreadful poisons Against that castle restless siege did lay And evermore their hideous ordinance Upon the bulwarks cruelly did play That now it again to threaten near decay And evermore their wicked capitane Provoked them the breaches to assay Sometimes with threats, sometimes with hope of gain Which by the ransack of that peace They should attain On the other side the sieged castle's ward Their steadfast stones did mightily maintain And many bold repulse and many hard achievement wrought With peril and with pain That goodly frame from ruin to sustain And those two brethren giants did defend The walls so stoutly with their sturdy mane That never entrance any durst pretend But they, to direful death, their groaning ghosts Did send The noble virgin, lady of the place Was much dismayed with that dreadful sight For never was she in so evil case Till that the prince seeing her woeful plight Gain her a comfort from so sad a fright Offering his service and his dearest life For her defense against that carl to fight Which was their chief and the author of that strife She him remersed as the patron of her life Eftsoons himself in glitter and arms he died And his well-proved weapons to him hint So taking courteous congey he behight Those gates to be unbarred and forth he went Fair, moat he thee, the prowessed And most gent that ever brandished Bright steel on high, whom soon as That unruly rabblement with his gay squire Issuing did espy, they reared a most Outrageous, dreadful, yelling cry And there with all at once at him let fly Their fluttering arrows thick as flakes of snow And round about him flock impetuously Like a great water flood that tumbling low From the high mountains threats to overflow With sudden fury all the fertile plain And the sad husbandmen's long hope Doth throw a down the stream And all his vows make vain Nor bounds nor banks his headlong ruin May sustain. Upon his shield their heaped hail he bore And with his sword dispersed the rascal flocks Which fled asunder, and him fell before As withered leaves drop from their dried stalks When the wroth western wind doth rieve their locks And underneath him his courageous steed The fierce espumidor trode them down Like docks, the fierce espumidor born Of heavenly seed, such as Laumidon Of Phoebus' race did breed Which sudden horror and confused cry When, as their captain heard, in haste he yow'd The cause to wheat and fault to remedy Upon a tiger swift and fierce he rode That as the wind ran underneath his load While his long legs nigh wrought unto the ground Full large he was of limb and shoulders brod But of such subtile substance and unsound That like a ghost he seemed whose grave clothes Were unbound. And in his hand a bended bow was seen And many arrows under his right side All deadly dangerous, all cruel keen Headed with flint and feathers bloody died Such as the Indians in their quivers hide Those could he well direct and straight as line And bid them strike the mark which he had eyed Nay was their salve, nay was their medicine That moat recure their wounds, so inly they did tine As pale and wan, as ashes was his look His body lean and meager as a rake And skin all withered like a dried rook There too as coved and dreary as a snake That seemed to tremble evermore and quake All in a canvas thin he was bedight And girded with a belt of twisted break Upon his head he wore unhelmet light Made of a dead man's skull that seemed a ghastly sight Maleager was his name and after him There followed fast at hand two wicked hags With hoary lux all loose and visage grim Their feet unshod their bodies wrapped in rags And both his swift on foot his chastened stags And yet the one her other leg had lame Which with a staff all full of little snags She did support and impotence her name But the other was impatience armed with raging flame Soon as the curl from far the prince aspired Glittering in arms and warlike ornament His beast he fellly pricked on either side And his mischievous bow full ready bent With which at him a cruel shaft he sent But he was wary and it warded well upon his shield That it no further went but to the ground The idle quarrel fell Then he another and another did expel Which to prevent the prince's mortal spear Soon to him wrought and fierce at him did ride To be a vinget of that shot while ear But he was not so hardy to abide that bitter sound But turning quick aside his light-foot beast Fled fast away for fear Whom to pursue the infant after hide So fast as his good coarser could him bear But labor lost it was to wean approach him near For as the winged wind his tiger fled That view of eye could scarce him overtake Nay scarce his feet on ground were seen to tread Through hills and dails he speedyway did make Nay hedge, nay ditch his ready passage break And in his flight the villain turned his face As wonce the tarter by the Caspian lake When as the Russian him in fight does chase Unto his tiger's tail He shot at him apace Apace he shot and yet he fled apace Still as the greedy night nigh to him drew And often times he would relent his pace That him his foe more fiercely should pursue Whom when his uncouth manner he did view He ganivized to follow him no more But keep his standing and his shafts astue Until he quite had spent his pearless store And then assail him fresh ere he could shift for more But that lame hag still as abroad he strew his wicked arrows Gathered them again and to him brought Fresh battle to renew Which he aspiring cast her to restrain From yielding succor to that cursed swain And her attaching thought her hands to tie But soon as him dismounted on that plane That other hag did far away as spy Binding her sister she to him ran hastily And catching hold of him as down he lent Him backward overthrew and down him stayed With their rude hands and grizzly grapplement Till that the villain coming to their aid Upon him fell and loathe upon him laid Full little wanted but he had him slain And of the battle baleful end had made Had not his gentle squire beheld his pain And common to his rescue ere his bitter bane So greatest and most glorious thing on ground May often need the help of weaker hand So feeble his man's state and life unsound That in assurance it may never stand Till it dissolve it be from earthly band Proof be thou, Prince, the prowist man alive And noblest born of all in Britain land Yet thee, fierce fortune did so nearly drive That had not grace thee blessed Thou shouldst not survive The squire arriving fiercely in his arms Snatched first the one and then the other jade His chiefest letts and authors of his harms And them perforce withheld with threatened blade Least that his lord they should behind invade The wiles the prince pricked with reproachful shame As one awaked out of long slumbering shade Reviving thought of glory and of fame United all his powers to purge himself from blame Like as a fire which in a hollow cave Hath long been under kept and down suppressed With murmurous disdain doth inly rave And grudge in so straight prison to be pressed At last breaks forth with furious unrest And strives to mount unto his native seat All that did erst it hinder and molest It now devours with flames and scorching heat And carries into smoke with rage and horror great So mightily the Britain prince him roused Out of his hold and broke his cative bands And as a bear whom angry cures have toused Having offshaked them and escaped their hands Becomes more foul and all that him withstands Treads down and overthrows Now head the carl alighted from his tiger And his hands discharged of his bow and deadly quarrel To seize upon his foe flat lying on the moral Which now him turned to disadvantage near For neither can he fly nor other harm But trust unto his strength and manhood mere Sith now he is far from his monstrous swarm And of his weapons did himself disarm The night yet wrathful for his late disgrace Fiercely advanced his valorous right arm And him so sore smote with his iron mace That grovelling to the ground he fell And filled his place Well ween'd he that field was then his own And all his labor brought to happy end When the sudden up the villain overthrown Out of his swoon arose fresh to contend And gain himself to second battle bend Is hurt he had not been Thereby lay an huge great stone Which stood upon one end And had not been removed many a day Some landmark seemed to be your sign Of sundry way The same he snatched and with exceeding sway Threw at his foe who was right well aware To shun the engine of his mint decay It booted not to think that throw to bear But ground he gave and lightly leapt a rear Eft fierce returning as a falcon fare That once hath failed of her sauce full near Remounts again into the open air An unto better fortune doth herself prepare So brave returning with his brandished blade He to the carl himself again addressed And struck at him so sternly that he made An open passage through his riven breast That half the steel behind his back did rest Which drawing back he looked ever more When the heart blood should gush out of his chest Or his dead chorus should fall upon the floor But his dead chorus upon the floor fell Nay the more Nay drop of blood appeared shed to be All were the wound so wide and wondrous That through his carcass one might plainly see Half an amaze with horror hideous And half in rage to be deluded thus Again through both the sides he struck him quite That made his sprite to groan full piteous Yet Nay the more forth fled his groaning sprite But freshly as it first prepared himself to fight There at he smitten was with greater fright And trembling terror did his heart appall Nay, wist he what to think of that same sight Nay what to say, nay what to do at all He doubted at least it were some magical illusion That it did beguile his sense or wandering ghost That wanted funeral or airy spirit under false pretense Or hellish fiend raised up through devilish science His wonder far exceeded reasons reach That he began to doubt his dazzled sight And oft of error did himself up each Flesh without blood, a person without sprite Wounds without hurt, a body without might That could do harm, yet could not harm it be That could not die, yet seemed a mortal white That was most strong in most infirmity Like did he never hear, like did he never see A while he stood in this astonishment Yet would he not for all his great dismay Give over to effect his first intent And the utmost means of victory assay Or the utmost issue of his own decay His own good-sword morture That never failed at need till now He lightly threw away And his bright shield that not him now availed And with his naked hands him forcibly assailed Twixed his two mighty arms him up he snatched And crushed his carcass so against his breast That the disdainful soul he since dispatched And the idle breath all utterly expressed Though when he felt him dead A down he cast the lumpish course Unto the senseless ground A down he cast it with so puissant wrist That back again it did a loft rebound And gave against his mother earth a groanful sound As when Job's harness bearing bird from high Stoops at a flying heron with proud disdain The stone dead quarry falls so forcibly That it rebounds against the lowly plain A second fall redoubling back again Then thought the prince all peril sure was past And that he victor only did remain No sooner thought than that the carl As fast again heap huge strokes on him As ere he down was cast Nigh his wits end then walks the maze at night And thought his labour lost and travel vain Against this lifeless shadow so to fight Yet a life he saw and felt his mighty mane That whilst he marveled still did still him pain For thy he gann some other ways advise How to take life from that dead living swain Whom still he marked freshly to arise from the earth And from her womb new spirits to reprise He then remembered well That had been said how the earth his mother was And first him bore She eek so often as his life decayed With usury to him restore And raised him up much stronger than before So soon as he unto her womb did fall Therefore to ground he would him cast no more Nay him commit to grave terrestrial But bear him far from hope of succor usual Though up he caught him twixt his puissant hands And having screws out of his carrion course The loathful life now loosed from sinful bands Upon his shoulders carried him perforce Above three furlongs carrying his full course Until he came unto a standing lake Him there into he threw without remorse Nay stirred still hope of life did him forsake So end of that Carl's days And his own pains did make Which when those wicked hags from far did spy Like two mad dogs they ran about the lands And the one of them with dreadful yelling cry Throwing away her broken chains and bands And having quenched her burning firebrands Headlong herself did cast into that lake But impotence with her own willful hands One of Maliga's cursed darts did take So rived her trembling heart and wicked end did make Thus now alone he conqueror remains Though coming to his squire that kept his steed Thought to have mounted but his feeble veins Him failed there too and serve it not his need Through loss of blood which from his wounds did bleed That he began to faint and life decay But his good squire him helping up with speed With steadfast hand upon his horse did stay And led him to the castle by the beaten way Where many grooms and squires ready were To take him from his steed full tenderly In Eek the fairest Alma met him there With balm and wine and costly spicery To comfort him in his infirmity Eft soonce she caused him up to be conveyed And of his arms despoiled it easily In sumptuous bed she made him to be laid And all the while his wounds were dressing By him stayed End of Canto 11, Book 2, The Legend of Sir Guyon