And, to augment her painefull penaunce more, Now when broad day the world discovered bas, Thrise every weeke in ashes shee did sitt,

Up Una rose, up rose the lyon eke; And next her wrinkled skin rough sackecloth wore, And on their former iourney forward pas, And thrise-three times did fast from any bitt: In waies unknowne, her wandring knight to seeke, But now for feare her beads she did forgett. With paines far passing that long-wandring Greeke, Whose needlesse dread for to remove away, That for his love refused deitye: Faire Una framed words and count'naunce fitt: Such were the labours of this lady weeke, Which bardly doen, at length she gan them pray, Still seeking him, that from her still did fye; (nye. That in their cotage small that night she rest her Then furthest from her hope, when most she weened may.

Soone as she parted thence, the fearfull twayne, The day is spent; and commeth drowsie night, That blind old woman, and her daughter dear, When every creature shrowded is in sleepe: Came forth; and, finding Kirkrapine there slayne, Sad Una downe her laies in weary plight,

For anguish great they gan to rend their heare, And at her feete the lyon watch doth keepe: And beat their brests, and naked flesh to teare : In stead of rest, she does lament, and weepe, And when they both had wept and wayld their fill, For the late losse of her deare-loved knight, Then forth they ran, like two amazed deare, And sighes, and grones, and everinore does steepe Halfe mad through malice and revenging will, Her tender brest in bitter teares all night; (light. To follow her, that was the causer of their ill: All night she thinks too long, and often lookes for

Whome overtaking, they gan loudly bray, Now when Aldeboran was mounted hye

With hollow houling, and lamenting cry; Above the shinie Cassiopeias chaire,

Shamefully at her rayling all the way,
And all in deadly sleepe did drowned lye,

And her accusing of dishonesty,
One knocked at the dore, and in would fare; That was the flowre of faith and chastity:
He knocked fast, and often curst, and sware,

And still, amidst her rayl vg, she did pray
That ready entraunce was not at his call;

That plagues, and mischiefes, and long misery, For on his backe a heavy load he bare

Might fall on her, and follow all the way; Of nightly stelths, and pillage severall,

And that in endlesse error she might ever stray. Which he had got abroad by purchas criminall.

But, when she saw her prayers nought prevaile, He was, to weete, a stout and sturdy thiefe, Shee backe retourned with some labour lost; Wont to robbe churches of their ornaments, And in the way, as shee did weepe and waile, And poore mens boxes of their due reliefe,

A knight her mett in mighty armes embost, Which given was to them for good intents: Yet knight was not for all his bragging bost; The holy saints of their rich vestiments

But subtill Archimay, that Una sought He did disrobe, when all men carelesse slept; By traynes into new troubles to have toste : And spoild the priests of their habiliments; Of that old woman tidings he besought, Whiles none the holy things in safety kept, If that of such a lady shee could tellen ought. Then he by conning sleights in at the window crept.

Therewith she gan her passion to renew, And all, that he by right or wrong could find, And cry, and curse, and raile, and rend her heare, Unto this house he brought, and did bestow Saying, that harlott she too lately knew, Upon the daughter of this woman blind,

That causd her shed so many a bitter teare; Abessa, daughter of Corceca slow,

And so fortb told the story of her feare. With whom he whoredome usd that few did know, Much seemed he to mone her haplesse chaunce, And fed her fatt with feast of offerings,

And after for that lady did inquere; And plenty, which in all the land did grow; Which being taught, he forward gan advaupce Ne spared he to give her gold and rings :

His fair enchaunted steed, and eke his charmed And now be to her brought part of his stolen things.

launce. Thus, long the core with rage and threats he bett; Ere long he came where Una traveild slow, Yet of those fearfull women none durst rize, And that wilde champion wayting her besyde; (The lyon frayed them) bim in to lett;

Whome seeing such, for dread hee durst not show He would no lenger stay him to advize,

Him selfe too nigh at hand, but turned wyde But open breakes the dore in furious wize,

Unto an bil; from whence when she him spyde, And entring is; when that disdainfull beast, By his like-seeming shield her knight by name Encountring fierce, him suddein doth surprize; Shee weend it was, and towards him gan ride : And, seizing cruell clawes on trembling brest, Approching nigh she wist it was the same; (came: Under his lordly foot him proudly hath supprest. And with faire fearefull humblesse towards him shee Him booteth not resist, nor succour call,

And weeping said, “Ah my long-lacked lord, His bleeding hart is in the vengers hand;

Where have ye bene thus long out of my sight? Who streight him rent in thousand peeces small, Much feared I to have bene quite abhord, And quite dismembred hath: the thirsty land Or ought have done, that ye displeasen might; Dronke up his life; his corse left on the strand. That should as death unto my deare heart light: His fearefull freends weare out the wofull night, For since mine eie your ioyous sight did mis, Ne dare to weepe, nor seeme to understand My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night, The heavie hap, which on them is alight;

And eke my night of death the shadow is: [blis !" Affraid, least to themselvesthe like mishapen might. But welcome now, my light, and shining lampe of

He thereto meeting said, “ My dearest dame, But that proud Paynim forward came so ferce
Far be it from your thought, and fro my wil, And full of wrath, that, with his sharp-head speare,
To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame, Through vainly crossed shield he quite did perce;
As you to leave that have me loved stil,

And, had his staggering steed not sbronke for feare,
And chose in Faery court, of meere goodwil, Through shield and body eke he should him beare:
Where noblest knights were to be found on Earth. Yet, so great was the puissance of his push,
The Earth shall sooner leave her kindly skil That from his sadle quite he did hiin beare:
To bring forth fruit, and make eternal dertb, He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush,
Then I leave you, my liefe, ybort of hevenly berth. And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush.
“ And sooth to say, why I lefte you so long, D'smounting lightly from his loft'e steed,
Was for to seeke adventure in straunge place; He to bim lept, in minde to reave his life,
Where, Archimago said, a felon strong

And proudly said; “ Lo, there the wortbie meed To many knights did daily worke disgrace; Of him, that slew Sansfoy with bloody knife; But knight be now shall never more deface: Henceforth his ghost, freed from repming strife, Good cause of mine excuse that mote ye please

In peace may passen over Lethe lake; Well to accept, and evermore embrace

When mourning altars, purgd with epiinies life, My faithfull service, that by land and seas

The black infernall Furies doen aslake: (thee take." Have yowd you to defend: now then your plaint Life from Sansfoy thou toukst, Sansloy shal) from appease.”

Therewith in haste his helmet gan unlace, His lovely words her seemd due recompence

Till Una cride, “ O hold that heavie hand,
Of all her passed paines: one loving howre

Dear sir, what ever that thou be in place:
For many yeares of sorrow can dispence;
A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre.

Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand

Now at thy mercy; mercy not withstand;
Shee has forgott bow many a woeful stowre
For him she late endurd; she speakes no more

For he is one the truest knight al re,
Of past: true is, that true love bath no powre

Though conquered now be lye on lowly land;

And, whilest him fortune favourd, favre did thrive To lookep backe; bis eies be fixt before. (so sore. Before her stands ber knight, for whom she toyld

In bloudy field; therefore of life him not deprive.” Much like, as when the beaten marinere,

Her piteous wordes might not abate his rage; That long bath wandred in the ocean wide,

But, rudely rending up his helmet, would Ofte soust in swelling Tethys saltish teare;

Have slayne him streight: but when he sees his age, And long time having tand his tawney bide

And hoarie head of Archimago old, With blustring breath of Heaven, that none can bide,

His hasty hand he doth amased hold, And scorching flames of fierce Orion's hound;

And, halte ashamed, wondred at the sight: Soone as the port from far he has espide,

For that old inan well knew he, though untold, His chearfull whistle merily doth sound,

In charmes and magick to have wondrous might; And Nerens crownes with cups; his mates him Ne ever wont in field, ne in round lists, to fignt: pledg around.

And said, “ Why Archimago, lucklesse syre, Such ioy made Una, when her knight she found;

What doe I see? what hard mishap is this, And eke th' enchaunter ioyous seemde no lesse That hath thee hether bronght to taste mine yre? Then the glad marchant, that does vew from ground Or thine the fault, or mine the error is, His ship far come from watrie wildernesse; Instead of foe to wound my friend am ss?" He hurles ont vows, and Neptune oft doth blesse. He answered nought, but in a traunce still lay, So forth they past; and all the way they spent And on those guilefull dazed eyes of his Discogrsing of her dreadful la e distresse,

The cloude of death did sit; which doen away, In which he askt her, what the lyon ment;

He left bin lying so, ne would no lenger stay: Who told, her all that fell in journey, as she went. They had not ridden far, when they might see

But to the virgin comes; who all this while One pricking towards them with hastie heat,

Amased stands, herselie so mockt to see Full strongly armd, and on a courser free

By hiin, who has the guerdon of his guile, That through his fiersnesse fomed all with sweat,

For so misfeigning her true knight to bee:

Yet is she now in more perplexitie,
And the sharpe yron did for anger eat,
When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side;

Left in the band of that same Pavnim bold,
His looke was stere, and seemed still to threat

From whom her booteth not at all to flie: Cruell revenge, which he in hart did hyde:

Who, by her cleanly garment catching hold, And on his shield Sans loy in bloody lines was dyde,

Her from her palfrey pluckt, her visage to behold, When nigh he drew into this gentle payre, But her fiers servant, full of kingly aw And saw the red crosse, which the knight did beare, And high disclaine, whenas his soveraine dame He burnt in fire; and gan eftsoones prepare So rudely handled by her foe he saw, Himstife to batteill with his couched speare. With gaping iawes full greedy at bim came, loth was that other, and did faint through feare, And, rainping on his shield, did weene the same To taste th' untryed dint of deadly steele:

Have reft away with his sharp rending clawes: But yet his lady did so well him cheare,

But he was stout, and lust did now inflame That hope of new good hap be gan to feele; His corage more, that from his griping pawes So bent bis speare, and spurd his horse with yron He bath his shield redeemd; and forth his swerd he beele.

O then, too weake and feeble was the forse A stately pallace built of squared bricke,
Of salvage beast, his puissance to withstand ! Which cunningly was without morter laid,
For he was strong, and of so mightie corse, Whose wals were high, but nothing strong nor thick,
As ever wielded speare in warlike hand;

And golden foile all over them displaid,
And feates of armes did wisely understand. That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:
Eftsoones he perced through his chanfed chest High lifted up were many loftie towres,
With thrilling point of deadly yron brand, And goodly galleries far over laid,
And launcht his lordly hart: with death opprest Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres;
Ile ror'd aloud, whiles life forsooke his stubborne And on the top a diall told the timely howres.
brest.

It was a goodly heape for to behould,
Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid And spake the praises of the workmans witt:
From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will? But full great pittie, that so faire a mould
Her faithfull gard remov'd; her hope dismaid; Did on so weake foundation ever sitt:
Iler selfe a yielded pray to save or spill!

For on a sandie hill, that still did fitt
He now, lord of the field, his pride to fill,

And fall away, it mounted was full hie: With foule reproches and disdaineful spight That every breath of Heaven shaked itt: Her vildy entertaines; and, will or nill,

And all the hinder partes, that few could spie, Beares ber away upon his courser light: (might | Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly. Her prayers nought prevaile: his rage is more of

Arrived there, they passed in forth right;
And all the way, with great lamenting paine, For still to all the gates stood open wide:
And piteous plaintes, she filleth his dull eares, Yet charge of them was to a porter hight,
That stony hart could riven have in twaine; Cald Malvenú, wbu entrance none denide:
And all the way she wetts with flowing teares; Thence to the hall, which was on every side
But he, enrag'd with rancor, nothing heares. With rich array and costly arras dight:
Her servile beast yet would not leave her so, Infinite sortes of people did abide
But follows her far off, ne ought he feares

There waiting long, to wiu the wished sight
To be partaker of her wandring woe.

Of her, that was the lady of that pallace bright. More mild in beastly kind, then that her beastly foe.

By them they passe, all gazing on them round,
And to the presence mount; whose glorious vew
Their frayle amazed senses did confound.

In living princes court none ever knew
CANTO IV.

Such endlesse richesse, and so sumpteous shew;

Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous pride, To sinfull hous of Pryde Diless

Like ever saw: and there a noble crew a guydes the faithfull knight ;

Of lords and ladies stood on every side, [beautifide. Where, brothers death to wreak, Sansioy Which, with their presence fayre, the place much Doth chaleng him to fight.

High above all a cloth of state was spred, Young knight whatever, that dost armes professe, And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day; And through long labours huntest after fame, On which there sate, most brave embellished 'Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,

With royall robes and gorgeous array, In choice, and chaunge, of thy deare-loved dame; À mayden queene that shone, as Titans ray, Lcast thou of her believe too lightly blame, In glistring gold and perelesse pretious stone; And rash misweening doe thy hart remove:

Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay For unto knight there is no greater shame,

To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne, Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love; [prove. As envying her seife, that too exceeding shone: That doth tbis Redcrosse knights ensample plainly

Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fayrest childe, Who, after that he had faire Una lorne,

That did presume his fathers fyrie wayne, Through light misdeeming of her loialtie;

And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wilde, And false Driessa in her sted had borne,

Through highest Heaven with weaker hand to rayne; Called Fidess', and so supposd to be ;

Proud of such glory and advancement vayne, Long with her traveild; till at last they see While flashing beames do daze bis feeble eyen, A goodly building, brarely garnished;

He leaves the welkin way most beaten playne, The house of mightie prince it seemd to be; And, rapt with whirling wbeeles, inflames the skyen And towards it a broad high way that led, [ed. With fire not made to burne, but fayrely for to All bare through peoples feet, which thether trareil

shyne. Great troupes of people traveild thetherward So proud she shyned in her princely state, Both day and night, of each degree and place; Looking to Heaven; for Earth she did disdayne: But few returned, having scaped hard,

And sitting high; for lowly she did hate: With balefull beggery, or foule disgrace;

Lo, underneath her scornefull feete was layne Which ever after in most wretched case,

A dreadfull dragon with an hideous trayne; Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.

And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright, Thether Duessa badd him bend his pace;

Wherein her face she often vewed fayne, For she is wearie of the toilsom way;

And in her selfe-lov'd semblance took delight; And also nigh consumed is the lingring day. For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight

Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was,

But this was drawne of six uneqnall beasts, And sad Proserpina, the queene of Hell;

On which her six sage counsellours did ryde, Yet did she thinke her pearelesse worth to pas Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts, That parentage, with pride so did she swell; With like conditions to their kindes applyde: And thundring love, that high in Heaven doth dwell of which the first, that all the rest did guyde, And wield the world, she claymed for her syre; Was sluggish Idlenesse, the nourse of sin; Or if that any else did love excell;

Upon a slouthfull asse he chose to ryde,
For to the highest she did still aspyre;

Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin;
Or, if ought higher were then thai, did it desyre. Like to an holy monck, the service to begin.
And proud Lucifera men did her call,

And in his hand his portesse still he bare,
That made her selfe a queene, and crownd to be; That much was worne, but therein little redd;
Yet rightfull kingdome she bad none at all, For of devotion he had little care,
Ne heritage of native soveraintie;

Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his daies dedd: But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie

Scarse could be once uphold his heavie hedd, Upon the scepter, which she now did hold : To looken whether it were night or day. Ne ruld her realme with lawes, but pollicie, May seeme the wayne was very evil ledd, And strong advizement of six wisards old, [hold. When such an one had guiding of the way, That with their counsels bad ber kingdonne did up- That knew not, whether right he went or else

astray. Sonne as the Elfin knight in presence came, Ann false Duessa, seeming lady fayre,

From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne, A gentle husber, Vanitie by name,

And greatly shunned manly exercise; Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire: Form everie worke he chalenged essoyne, So goodly brought them to the lowest stayre For contemplation sake: yet otherwise Of her high throne; where they, on bumble knee His life he led in lawlesse riotise; Making obeysaunce, did the canse declare, By which he grew to grievous malady: Why they were come, her ro'all state to see, For in his lustlesse limbs, through evill guise, To prove the wide report of her great maiestee. A shaking fever raignd continually:

Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company. With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so lowe, She thancked them in her disdainefull wise ; And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony, Ne other grace vouchsafed them to showe

Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne; Of princesse worthy; scarse thein bad arise. His belly was upblowne with luxury, Her lordes and ladies all this while devise

And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne; Themselves to setten forth to straungers sight: And like a crane bis necke was long and fyne, Some frounce their curled heare in courtly guise ; With which he swallowed up excessive feast, Some praneke their rufles; and others trimly dight For want whereof poore people oft did pyne: Their gay attyre: each others greater pride does And all the way, most like a brutish beast, spight.

He spued up his gorge, that all did him deteast. Goodly thay all that knight doe entertayne, In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad; Right glad with him to have increast their crew; For other clothes he could not wear for heate: But to Duess' each one himselfe did payne

And on his head an yvie girland had, All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew;

From under which fast trickled downe the sweat : For in that court whylome her well they knew : Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat, Yet the stout Faery mongst the middest crowd And in his hand did beare a bouzing can, Thought all their glorie vaine iu knightly vew, Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat And that great princesse too exceeding prowd, His dronken corse be scarse upholden can: That to strange knight no better countenance allowd. In shape and life more like a monster then a man. Suddein upriseth from her stately place

Unfit he was for any wordly thing, The roiall dame, and for her coche doth call : And eke unhable once to stirre or go; All hurtlen forth; and she, with princely pace, Not meet to be of counsell to a king, As faire Aurora, in her purple pall,

Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so, Out of the east the dawning day doth call,

That from his frend he seeldome knew his fo:
So forth she comes; her brightnes brode doth blaze. Full of diseases was his carcas blew,
The heapes of people, thronging in the hall, And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow,
Doe ride each other, upon her to gaze: [amaze. Which by misiliet daily greater grew:
Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eies Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.
So forth she comes, and to her coche doeś clyme, And next to him rode lustfull Lechery
Adorsed all with gold and girlonds gay,

Upon a bearded gote, whose rugged heare,
That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime ; And wbally eies, (the signe of gelosy)
And strove to match, in roiall rich array,

Was like the person selte, whom he did beare:
Great lunces golden chayre; the which, they say, Who rough, and blacke, and filthy, did appeare;
The gods stand gazing on, when she does ride Cnseemely man to please fair ladies eye:
To loves high hous through Heavens bras-paved way, Yet he of ladies oft was loved deare,
Drawne of fayre pecocks, that excell in pride, When fairer faces were bid standen by:
And full of Argus eyes their tayles dispreddeu wide. O who does know the bent of womens fantasy !

In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire, He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds, Which underneath did hide his filthinesse;

And him no lesse, that any like did use; And in his hand a burning hart he bare,

And, who with grations bread the hungry feeds, Full of vaine follies and new-fanglenesse :

His almes for want of faith he doth accuse; For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse; So every good to bard he doth abuse: And learned had to love with secret lookes ; And eke the verse of famous poets witt And well could daunce; and sing with ruefulnesse; He does backebite, and spightfall poison spues And fortunes tell; and read in loving bookes : Prom leprous mouth on all that ever writt : And thousand other waies, to bajt his fleshly hookes. Such one vile Envy was, that fifie in row did sitt. Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,

And him beside rides fierce revenging Wrath, And lusted after all, that he did love;

Upon a lion, loth for to be led; Ne would his looser life be tide to law,

And in his hand a burning brond he hath, But ioyd weake wemens hearts to tempt, and prove, The which he brandisheth about his hed: If from their loyall loves he might them move: His eies did hurle forth sparcles fiery red, Which lewdnes fild him with reprochfull pain And stared stcrne on all that him beheld ; Of that foule evill, which all men reprove,

As ashes pale of hew, and seeming ded; That rotts the marrow, and consumes the braine : And on his dagger still his band he held, (sweld. Such one was Lechery, the third of all this traine. Trembling througb hasty rage, when choler in him

And greedy Avarice by him did ride,

His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood Upon a camell loaden all with gold:

Which he had spilt, and all to rags y rent; Two iron coffers hong on either s'de,

Through unadvized rashnes woxen wood; With precious metali full as they might hold; For of his hands he had no governement, And in his lap an heap of coine he toid:

Ne car'd for blood in his avengement: For of his wicked pelf his god be made,

But, when the furious fitt was overpast, And unto Hel him selfe for money sold:

His cruel facts he often would repent; Accursed usury was all his trade; [waide. Yet, wilfull man, he never would forecast, [hast. And right and wrong ylike in equall ballamuce How many mischieves should ensue his heedlesse His life was nigh unto deaths dore yplaste; Full many mischiefes follow cruell Wrath; And thred-bare cote, and cobled shoes, hee ware; Abhorred Bloodshed, and tumultuous Strife, Ne scarse good morzell all his life did taste; Unmanly Murder, and unthrifty Scath, But both froin backe and belly still did spare, Bitter Despight with Rancours rosty knife; To fill his bags, and richesse to compare:

And frettig Griefe, the enemy of life: Yet childe ne kinsman living bad he none

All these, and many evils moe haunt Ire, To leave them to; but thorough daily care The swelling Splene, and Frenzy raging rife, To get, and nightly feare to lose his owne, The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire: He led a wretched life, unto himselfe unknowne. Such one was Wrath, the last of this ungodly tire.

Most wretched wight, whom nothing might suffise; And, after all, upon the wagon beame
Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store; Rode Sathan with a smarting whip in hand,
Whose need had end, but no end covetise; (pore; With which he forward lasht the laesy teme,
Whose welth was want; whose plenty made bim So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand.
Who had enough, yett wished ever more;

Huge routs of people did about them band,
A vile disease: and eke in foote and hand

Showting for joy ; and still before their way A grievous gout tormented him full sore;

A foggy mist bad covered all the land;
That well he could not touch, nor goe, nor stand : And, underneath their feet, all scattered lay
Such one was Avarice, the fourth of this faire band ! Dead sculls and bones of men, whose life had gone

astray.
And next to him malicious Envy rode
Upon a ravenous wolfe, and still did chaw So forth they marchen in this goodly sort,
Between his cankred teeth a venemous tode, To take the solace of the open aire,
That all the poison ran about his chaw;

And in fresh flowring fields themselves to sport: But inwardly he chawed his owne maw

Emongst the rest rode that false lady faire, At neibors welth, that made him ever sad;

The foule Duessa, next unto the chaire For death it was, when any good he saw;

Of proud Lucifer', as one of the traine: And wept, that cause of weeping none he had ;* But that good kn ght would not so nigh repaire, But, when he heard of harme, he wexed wondrous | Him selte estraunging from their ioyaunce vaine, glad.

Whose fellowship seemd far unfitt for warlike swaine. All in a kirtle of discolourd say

So, having solaced themselves a space He clothed was, ypayuted full of eies;

With pleasaunce of the breathing fields yfed, And in his bosome secretly there lay

They backe retourned to the princely place; An hatefull snake, the which his taile uptyes Whereas an errant knight in armes ycied, In many folds, and mortall sting implyes : And heathnish shield, wherein with letters red Still as he rode, he guasht his teeth to see

Was writt Sans joy, they new arrived find : Those heapes of gold with griple Covetyse; Enflam'd with fury and fiers hardyhed, And grudged at the great felicitee

He seemd in hart to harbour thoughts unkind, Of proud Lucifera, and his owne companee. And nourish bloody vengeaunce in his bitter mind.