 Book 2, Canto XII. 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 XII. Guyon by Palmer's governance, passing through peril's great, doth overthrow the bower of bliss, and a crazier defeat. Now gins this goodly frame of temperance, fairly to rise, and her adorned head to prick of highest praise, forth to advance, formerly grounded and fast-settled, on firm foundation of true bounty-head, and brave knight, that for this virtue fights, now comes to point of that same perilous stead, where pleasure dwells in sensual delights, amongst thousand dangers and ten thousand magic mites. Two days now, in that sea he sail it has, nay ever land beheld, nay living white, nay ought save peril, still as he did pass, though when appeared the third morrow bright, upon the waves to spread her trembling light, and hideous roaring far away they heard, that all their senses fillied with a fright, and straight they saw, though raging surges reared, up to the skies, that them of drowning made afield. Said then the boatman, Palmer steer aright and keep an even course, for yonder way we needs must pass. God do us well equite, that is the gulf of greediness, they say, that deep in gorgeous all this world's prey, which having swallowed up excessively, he soon invomit up again doth lay, and belches forth his superfluity, that all the seas for fear do seem a way to fly. On the other side, an hideous rock is pite of mighty magnus stone, whose craggy clift, depending from on high, dreadful to sight, over the waves his rugged arms doth lift, and threateneth down to throw his ragged rift, on whoso cometh nigh. Yet nigh it draws all passengers, that none from it can shift, for whiles they fly, that gulfs devouring jaws, they on this rock are rent, and sunk in helpless waves. Forward they pass, and strongly he them rose, until they nigh, unto that gulf arrive, where stream more violent and greedy grows. Then he, with all his puissance, doth strive to strike his oars, and mightily doth drive the hollow vessel through the threatful wave, which gaping wide to swallow them alive, in the huge abyss of his engulfing grave, doth roar at them in vain, and with great terror rave. They passing by, that grisly mouth did see, sucking the seas into his entrails deep, that seemed more horrible than hell to be, or that a dark dreadful hole of tartare steep, through which the damnate ghosts don't often creep, back to the world, bad livers to torment, but not that falls into this direful deep, nay that approacheth nigh the wide descent may back return, but is condemned to be drenned. On the other side they saw that perilous rock, threatening itself on them to ruinate, on whose sharp cliffs the ribs of vessels broke, and shivered ships which had been wrecked late, yet stuck, with carcasses ex-animate, of such as having all their substance spent, in wanton joys and lusts, in temperate, did afterwards make shipwreck violent, both of their life and fame forever foully blent. For thy, this height, the rock of vile reproach, a dangerous and detestable place, to which nor fish nor fowl did once approach, but yelling mews, with seagulls, horse and base, and cormorants, with birds of ravenous race, which still sat waiting on that wasteful cliff for spoil of wretches, whose unhappy case afterlost credit and consumid thrift, at last them driven hath to this despairful drift. The palmer seeing them in safety passed, thus said, Behold the ensembles in our sights of lustful luxury and thriftless waste, what now is left of miserable wights, which has spent their looser days in lewd delights, but shame and sad reproach here to be read, by these rental relics, speaking of their ill plights, let all that live hereby be counselled to shun rock of reproach, and it as death to dread. So forth they rowed, and that ferryman with his stiff oars did brush the sea so strong that the whore waters from his frigot wren, and the light bubbles dance it all along, whilst the salt brine out of the billows sprung, at last far off they many islands spy, on every side floating the floods among. Then said the knight, Lo, I the land describe, therefore old sire, thy course do thereon to apply. That may not be, said then the ferryman, least we unwitting hap to be foredone, for those same islands, seeming now and then, are not firm land, nor any certain one, but straggling plots, which to and fro do run in the wide waters. Therefore are they height the wandering islands, therefore do them shun, for they have, oft drawn many a wandering white, through most deadly danger and distressid plight. Yet well they seem to him that far doth view, both far and fruitful, and the ground is spread with grassy green of delectable hue, and the tall trees with leaves, a perlid, are decked with blossoms dyed in white and red, that moat the passengers there to allure. But whosoever once hath fastened his foot thereon may never it recure, but wandereth evermore uncertain and unsure. As the Isle of Delos will on men report, amid the Aegean sea long time did stray, ne'er made far shipping any certain port, till that Latona travelling that way, flying from Juno's wrath and hard assay, of her fair twins, was there delivered, which afterwards did rule the night and day, since forth it firmly was established, and for Apollo's honour highly harried. They, to him harken, is besiemitth meet, and pass on forward. So their way does lie, that one of those same islands, which do fleet in the wide sea, they needs must passen by, which seemed so sweet and pleasant to the eye that it would tempt a man to touch and there. Upon the bank they sitting did a spy, a dainty damsel, dressing of her hair, by whom a little skippet floating did appear. She them, a spying, loud unto them, can call, bidding them nigh her draw unto the shore, for she had cause to busy them with all, and therewith loudly laughed. But nay the more would they once turn, but kept on as a fore, which when she saw, she left her locks undight, and running to her boat without an oar, from the departing land it launched light, and after them did drive with all her power and might. Whom overtaking, she in merry sort, them gant aboard in purpose diversely. Now feigning dalliance and wanton sport, now throwing forth lewd words immodestly, till that the palmer again fooled bitterly her to rebuke, for being loose and light, which not abiding but more scornfully scoffing at him, that did her justly white, she turned her boat about, and from them rowed quite. That was the wanton Phaedria, which late did ferry him over the idle lake, whom not regarding, they kept on their gate, and all her vain allurements did forsake, when them the wary boatmen thus bespake. Here now behove with as well to avise, and of our safety good heed to take, for here before a perilous passage lies, where many mermaids hunt, making false melodies. But by the way there is a great quicksand, and a whirlpool of hidden jeopardy. Therefore, sir palmer, keep an even hand, for tweaks to them both the narrow way doth lie. Scarce had he said when hard at hand they spy, that quicksand nigh with water covered. But by the checkered wave they did describe, it plain and by the sea discoloring. It call it was the quicksand of untrifty head. They passing by, a goodly shifted sea, laden from far with precious merchant dies, and bravely furnished as a ship might be, which through great disaventure or misprice, herself had run into that hazardise, whose mariners and merchants with much toil, laboured in vain, to have recured their prize, and the rich wares to save from piteous spoil. But neither toil nor travel might her back recoil. On the other side they see the perilous pool, that call it was the whirlpool of decay, in which full many had with hapless duel been sunk, of whom no memory did stay, whose circled waters wrapped with whirling sway, like to a restless wheel still running round, did covet, as they pass it by that way, to draw the boat within the utmost bound, of his wide labyrinth, and then to have them drowned. But the heedful boatman strongly forth did stretch his brawny arms, and all his body strain, that the utmost sandy breach they shortly fetch, whilst the dread donger does behind remain. Sudden they see from midst of all the main, the surging waters like a mountain rise, and the great sea puffed up with proud disdain, to swell above the measure of his guise, as threatening to devour all that his power despise. The waves come rolling, and the billows roar, outrageously as they enrage it were, o'er wrathful Neptune did them drive before his whirling chariot, for exceeding fear, for not one puff of wind there did appear, that all the three there at walks much afraid, unwitting what such horror-strange did rear. Eft soonce they saw an hideous host arrayed of huge sea monsters, such as living-sense dismayed. Most ugly shapes and horrible aspects, such as dame nature, self-mote fear to see, or shame that ever should so foul defects from her most cunning hand escape it be, all dreadful portraits of deformity. Spring-headed hydras, and sea-shouldering whales, great whirlpools which all fishes make to flee, bright scolopindres armed with silver scales, mighty monoceros with immeasurred tails. The dreadful fish that hath deserved the name of death, and like him looks in dreadful hue, the greasely Wasserman that makes his game the flying ships with swiftness to pursue, the horrible sea-sator that doth shoo his fearful face in time of greatest storm, huge as zephyous whom mariners as chew, no less than rocks as travellers inform, and greedy rose-marines with visages deform. All these, and thousand-thousands many more, and more deformed at monsters thousand-fold, with dreadful noise and hollow rumbling roar, came rushing in the foamy waves enrolled, which seemed to fly for fear them to behold. Nay wonder if these did the night, for all that here on earth we dreadful hold, be but his bugs to fear in babes with all, compared to the creatures in the seas enthralled. Fear not, then said the Palmer well-avised, for these same monsters are not these indeed, but are into these fearful shapes disguised by that same wicked witch to work us dreed, and draw from on this journey to proceed. Though lifting up his virtuous staff on high, he smote the sea which Calmid was with speed, and all that dreadful army fast again fly into great Tethys bosom, where they hidden lie. Quit from that danger forth their course they kept, and as they went they heard a rueful cry of one that wailed and pitifully wept, that through the sea the resounding plains did fly, at last they in an island did espy a seamly maiden, sitting by the shore that with great sorrow and sad agony seemed some great misfortune to deplore, and loud to them for succor called evermore, which Gaon hearing straight his Palmer bad to steer the boat towards that doleful maid that he might know and ease her sorrow sad. Who him advising better to him said, fair sir, be not displeased if disobeyed, for ill it were to harken to her cry, for she is inlay nothing ill a-paid, but only womanish fine forgery your stubborn heart to effect with frail infirmity. To which when she your courage hath inclined through foolish pity, then her guileful bait she will embuzun deeper in your mind and for your ruin at the last await. The night was ruled and the boatman straight hailed on his course with stead steadfastness, nay ever shrunk, nay ever sought to bait his tired arms for toilsome weariness, but with his oars did sweep the watery wilderness. And now they nigh approached to the stead, whereas those mermaids dwelt. It was a still and call me bay, on the one side sheltered with the broad shadow of an hoary hill, and on the other side an high rock towered still, that twixed them both a pleasant port they made and did like a half-theater fulfill. There those five sisters had continual trade and used to bathe themselves in that deceitful shade. They were fair ladies, till they fondly strived with the alicornian maids for mastery, of whom they overcommon were deprived of their proud beauty and the one moiety transformed to fish for their bold circuitry. But the upper half their hue retained it still and their sweet skill in wanted melody, whichever after they abused to ill, tillure weak travelers whom, gotten, they did kill. So now to Gion as he pass it by, their pleasant tunes they sweetly thus applied. O thou fair son of gentle fairy, thou art in mighty arms most magnified above all nights that ever battle tried. O turn thy rudder hitherward a while. Here may thy storm-bet vessel safely ride. This is the port of rest from Troublous Toil, the world's sweet inn, from pain and wirysome turmoil. With that the rolling sea resounding soft in his big bass them fitly answered, and on the rock the waves breaking aloft a solemn mean unto them measured, the while's sweet zephyrus loud whistled his treble a strong kind of harmony which Gion senses softly tickled that he, the boatman, bad row easily, and let him hear some part of their rare melody. But him, the palmer from that vanity with temperate advice discountciled, that they it passed, and shortly again describe the land to which their course they leveled, when suddenly a gross fog overspread with his dull vapor all that desert has, and heaven's cheerful face enveloped that all things won and won as nothing was, and this great universe seemed one confused mass. There at they greatly were dismayed, nay wist how to direct their way in darkness wide, but feared to wander in that wasteful mist for tumbling into mischief unespide. Worse is the danger hidden than described. Suddenly innumerable flight of harmful fowls about them fluttering cried, and with their wicked wings them oft did smite, and sore annoyed groping in that grizzly night. Even all the nation of unfortunate and fatal birds about them flocked were, such as by nature men abhor and hate, the ill-faced owl, death's dreadful messenger, the whore's night raven, trump of doleful drear, the leather-winged bat, day's enemy, the rueful stretch still waiting on the beer, the whistler shrill, that whoso hears doth die, the hellish harpies, prophets of sad destiny, all those and all that else does horror breed about them flew and filled their sails with fear, yet stayed they not, but forward did proceed, whilst the one did row and the other stiffly steer, till that at last the weather-gan to clear, and the fair land itself did plainly show, said then the palmer, lo, where does appear the sacred soil, where all our perils grow, therefore, sir night, your ready arms about you throw. He hearkened, and his arms about him took, the wiles the nimble boat so well her sped, that with her crooked keel the land she struck, then forth the noble guy on Salliad, and his sage palmer that him govern'd, but the other by his boat behind did stay, they march'd fairly forth, of not a dread, both firmly armed for every hard assay, with constancy and care against danger and dismay, ere long they heard an hideous bellowing of many beasts that roared outrageously, as if that hunger's point, or Venus' sting, had them enraged with fell circuitry, yet not they feared, but passed on hardily, until they came in view of those wild beasts, who all at once gaping full greedily, and rearing fiercely their upstarting crests, ran towards to devour those unexpected guests. But as soon as they approached with deadly threat, the palmer over them his staff upheld, his mighty staff that could all charms defeat, after soon's their stubborn courage's were quelled, and high-advanced crests down meekly fell'd, instead of fraying they themselves did fear, and trembled as them passing they beheld. Such wondrous power did in that staff appear, all monsters to subdue to him that it did it bear, of that same wood it framed was cunningly, of which Caduceus, alone, was made. Caduceus, the rod of Mercury, with which he wants the Stygian realms invade, through ghastly horror and eternal shade, the infernal fiends with it he can assuage, and Orcus tame whom nothing can persuade, and rule the furies when they most do rage, such virtue in his staff had eek this palmer sage. Thins passing forth they shortly do arrive, whereas the bower of bliss was situate, a place picked out by choice of best alive, that nature's work by art can imitate, in which whatever in this worldly state is sweet, and pleasing unto living sense, or that may daintiest fantasy aggrate, was poured forth with plentiful dispense, and made there to abound with lavish affluence. Gullit was enclosed round about, as well there entered guests to keep within, as those unruly beasts to hold without, yet was the fence thereof but weak and thin, not feared their force, that fortilage to win, but wisdom's power, and temperance's might, by which the mightiest things a force had been, and eek the gate was wrought of substance light, rather for pleasure than for battery, or fight. It frame it was of precious ivory, it seemed a work of admirable wit, and therein all the famous history of Jason, and Medea was irrit, her mighty charms, her furious loving fit, his goodly conquest of the golden fleece, his falsed faith, and love too lightly flit, the wondered Argo, which in venturous peace first through the Eucscene seas, bore all the flower of grease. He might have seen the frothy billows fry under the ship, as thorough them she went, that seemed the waves were into ivory, or ivory into the waves were sent, and other where the snowy substance sprint with vermel, like the boy's blood therein shed, a piteous spectacle did represent, while with gold brisk sprinkled it, it seemed the enchanted flame which did creusa wed, all this and more might in that goodly gate be red, that ever open stood to all which thither came, but in the porch there set a comely personage of stature tall, and semblance pleasing, more than natural, travelers to him seemed to entice. His looser garment to the ground did fall, and flew about his heels in wanton wise, not fit for speedy pace or manly exercise. They in that place him genius did call, not that celestial power to whom the care of life and a generation of all that lives pertains in charge particular, who wondrous things concerning our welfare and stronge phantoms doth let us oft foresee, and oft of secret ill bids us beware, that is our self whom though we do not see, yet each doth in himself it well perceive to be, therefore a god him sage antiquity did wise.