High lifted up were many lofty tow'rs, And goodly galleries far over-laid,
Full of fair windows, and delightful bow'rs; And on the top a dial told the timely hours. It was a goodly heap for to behold, And fpake the praifes of the workman's wit; But full great pity, that fo fair a mold Did on fo weak foundation ever fit: For on a fandy hill, that still did flit And fall away, it mounted was full high, That every breath of heaven shaked it; And all the hinder parts, that few could fpy, Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.
$45. Lucifera afcending ber Coach. SUDDAIN uprifeth from her stately place
The royal dame, and for her coach doth call: All hurlen forth, and fhe with princely pace, As fair Aurora in her purple pall,
Out of the Eaft the dawning day doth call. So forth fhe comes: her brightnefs broad doth blaze; The heaps of people thronging in the hall, Do ride each other, upon her to gaze: [amaze. Her glorious glittering light doth all men's eyes So forth fhe comes, and to her coach does climb, Adorned all with gold, and garlands gay, That feem'd as freth as Flora in her prime; And ftrove to match, in royal fich array, Great Juno's golden chair, the which they fay The gods ftand gazing on, when the does ride To Jove's high house thro' heaven's brafs-paved
Drawn of fair peacocks that excel in pride, And full of Argus' eyes their tails difpredden wide.
Her filver buskins from her nimble thigh, And her lank loins ungirt, and breasts unbrac'd, After her heat the breathing cold to tafte; Her golden locks that late in treffes bright Embreeded were for hindring of her haste, Now loofe about her fhoulders long undight, And were with fweet ambrofia all befprinkled light. Soon as the Venus faw behind her back, She was afham'd to be fo loofe furpris'd; And wox half wroth againft her damfels flack, That had not her thereof before advis'd, But fuffer'd her so carelessly disguis'd' Be overtaken. Soon her garments loofe Upgathering in her bofom the compriz'd, Well, as the might, and the goddess rofe: Whilft all her nymphs did like a girlond her enclofe.
§ 48. Defcription of a Garden. EFTSOONS they heard a moft delicious found Of all that mote delight a dainty ear; Such as at once might not on living ground, Save in this paradife, be heard elsewhere: Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, For all that pleafing is to living ear To read what manner mufic that mote be,
Was there conforted in one harmony; Birds, voices, inftruments, winds, waters, all agree. The joyous birds, fhrouded in cheerful shade, Their notes unto the voice attemper'd sweet; Th angelical, foft trembling voices made To th' inftruments divine refpondence meet; The filver-founding inftruments did meet With the bafe murmur of the water's fall; The water's fall, with difference difcreet, Now foft, now loud, unto the wind did call;
§ 46. Defcription of Prince Arthur in his Hali- The gentle warbling wind low anfwered to all.
UPON the top of all his lofty creft
A bunch of hairs, difcolour'd diverfly With sprinkled pearl, and gold full richly dreft, Did thake, and feem'd to dance for jollity, Like to an almond tree ymounted high On top of green Selinis all alone, With bloffoms brave bedecked daintily; Whofe tender looks do tremble every one At every little blaft that under heaven is blown.
$47. Defeription of Diana with her Nymphs, returned from the Chace, and preparing to batbe.
SHORTLY unto the wafteful woods fhe came, Whereas the found the goddess and her crew, After late chace of their einbrued game Sitting befide a fountain in a rew, Some of them washing with the liquid dew From off their dainty limbs the dusty sweat, And foil, which did deform their lively huc; Others lay fhaded from the fcorching heat; The reit upon her perfon gave attendance great. She having hong upon a bough on high Her bow and painted quiver, had uniac'd
$51. Defcription of Jupiter.
So having faid he ceas'd, and with his brow, His black eye-brow, whofe doomful dreaded Is wont to wield the world unto his vow, [beck And even the highest powers of heaven to check, Made fign to them in their degrees to speak.
His nectar-dewed locks, with which the fkies, And all the world beneath, for terror quook, And eft his buruing leven-brond in hand he took.
Whofe carcaffes were fcatter'd on the green, And thrown about the clifts. Arrived there, That bare-head knight, for dread and doleful teen, Would fain have fled, ne durft approachen near: But th' other forc'd him stay, and comforted in fear.
The dark fome cave they enter, where they find That curfed man, low fitting on the ground, Mufing full fadly in his fullen mind; His greafy locks, long growing and unbound, Difordered hung about his fhoulders round, And hid his face thro' which his hollow eyne Look'd deadly dull, and stared as astound;
§ 52. Guyon conducted by Mammon through a His raw-bone checks, through penury and pine,
Carve under Ground, to jee bis Treafure.
AT length they came into a larger space,
That ftretch'd itself into an ample plain, Thro' which a beaten broad high-way did trace, That ftraight did lead to Pluto's griefly reign; By that way's fide there fat infernal Pain, And faft befide him fat tumultuous Strife; The one in hand an iron whip did ftrain, The other brandifhed a bloody knife,
And both did gash their teeth, and both did threaten life.
On the other fide in one confort there fate Cruel Revenge, and rancorous Defpite, Difloyal Treafon, and heart-burning Hate; But gnawing Jealoufy, out of their fight Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bite; And trembling Fear ftill to and fro did fly, And found no place where fafe he shroud him might.
Lamenting Sorrow did in darkness lie,
And Shame his ugly face did hide from living cyc. And over them fad Horror, with grim hue, Did always foar, beating his iron wings; And after him owls and night-ravens flew, The hateful meffengers of heavy things, Of death and dolour telling fad tidings; Whilft fad Celeno, fitting on a cliff, A fong of bale and bitter forrow fings, That heart of flint afunder would have rift; Which having ended, after him the flieth fwift.
$53. Defcription of Despair, and her Speech. FRE long they come, where that fame wicked wight
His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave, Far underneath a craggy clift ypight, Dark, doleful, dreary, like a greedy grave, That ftill for carion carcaffes doth crave: On top whereof ay dwelt the ghaftiy owl, Shrieking his baneful note, which ever drave Far from that haunt all other cheerful fowl:
And all about it wand'ring ghofts did wail and
And, all about, old ftocks and ftubs of trees, Whereon nor fruit nor leaf was ever feen, Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees;
On which had many wretches hanged been,
Were fhrank into his jaws, as he did never dine. His garment, nought but many ragged clouts, With thorns together pinn'd and patched was, The which his naked fides he wrapp'd abouts: And him befide there lay upon the grafs A dreary corfe, whofe life away did país, All wallow'd in his own yet lukewarm blood, That from his wound yet welled fresh, alas! In which a rusty knife faft fixed stood, And made an open paffage for the gufhing flood. Which piteous fpectacle, approving true The woeful tale that Trevifan had told, When as the gentle Red Crofs knight did view, With fiery zeal he burnt in courage bold, Him to avenge before his blood were cold; And to the villain faid: Thou damned wight The author of this fact, we here behold, What justice can but judge against thee right, With thine own blood to price his blood, her fhed in fight.
What frantic fit (quoth he) hath thus diftraught Thee, foolish man, fo rafh a doom to give? What juftice ever other judgment taught, But he fhould die, who merits not to live? None elle to death this man despairing drive But his own guilty mind deferving death. Is then unjust to each his due to give? Or let him die, that loatheth living breath? Or let him die at cafe, that liveth here uneath Who travels by the weary wand'ring way, To come unto his wifhed home in haste, And meets a flood that doth his paffage stay, Is not great grace to help him over-paft, Or free his feet, that in the mire stick faft? Moft envious man! that grieves at neighbour's. good;
And fond, that joyeft in the woe thou haft; Why wilt not let him pafs, that long hath stood Upon the bank, yet wilt thyfelf not pass the flood? He there does now enjoy eternal reft, And happy cafe, which thou doft want and crave, What if fome little pain the paffage have, And further from it daily wandereft: That makes frail Hefh to fear the bitter wave? Is not fhort pain well borne, that brings long eafe, And lays the foul to fleep in quiet grave? Sleep after toil, port after fto my feas, Eafe after war, death after life, does greatly [pleafe.
The knight much wonder'd at his fadden wit, And faid: The term of life is limited, Ne may a mañ prolong or fhorten it: The foldier may not move from watchful fted, Nor leave his ftand, until his captain bed. Who life did limit by almighty duom (Quoth he) knows beft the terms established; And he that 'points the centinel his room, Doth licenfe him depart at found of morning droom. Is not his deed, whatever thing is done, In heaven and earth? Did not he all create To die again? All ends that was begun; Their times in his eternal book of fate Are written fure, and have their certain date. Who then can ftrive with ftrong neceffity, That holds the world in his ftill changing ftate, Or fhun the death ordain'd by deftiny? When hour of death is come, let none afk whence, nor why.
The longer life, I wote the greater fin, The greater fin, the greater punishinent; All thofe great battles which thou boafts to win, Thro' ftrife, and bloodshed, and avengement, Now prais', hereafter dear thou shalt repent: For life muft life, and blood must blood, repay. Is not enough thy evil life forefpent? For he that once hath miffed the right way, The further he doth go, the further he doth ftray. Then do no further go, no further tray, But here lie down, and to thy reft betake, Th' ill to prevent, that life enfuen may: For what hath life, that may it loved make, And gives not rather caufe it to forfake? Fear, ficknefs, age, lofs, labour, forrow, ftrife, Pain, hunger, cold, that makes the heart to quake; And ever fickle fortune rageth rife,
All which, and thousands more, do make a loathfome life.
Thou, wretched man, of death haft greateft need, If in true balance thou wilt weigh thy state; For never knight that dared warlike deed More lucklefs difadventures did amate: Witness the dungeon deep, wherein of late Thy life hut up, for death fo oft did call; And though good luck prolonged hath thy date, Yet death then would the like mithaps foreftall, Into the which hereafter thou mayft happen fall. Why then doft thou, O man of fin, defire To draw thy days forth to their laft degree? Is not the measure of thy finful hire High heaped up with huge iniquity, Againft the day of wrath, to burden thee? Is not enough, that to this, lady mild Thou falfed haft thy face with perjury, And fold thyfelf to ferve Ductia vild, With whom in all abufe thou haft thy felf defil'd: Is not he just that all this doth behold From highest heaven, and bears an equal eye? Shall he thy fins up in his knowledge fold, And guilty be of thine impiety?
Is not his law, Let every flaner die?
Die fhall all flesh? What then must needs be done, Is it not better to do willingly,
Than linger till the glafs be all out-run? Death is the end of woes. Die foon, O Fairy's fon. The knight was much enmoved with this speech, That as a fword's point through his heart did
And in his confcience made a fecret breach, Well knowing true all that he did rehearse,
And to his fiefh remembrance did reverse The ugly view of his deformed crimes, That all his manly pow'rs it did difperfe, As he were charmed with inchaunted rhimes, That oftentimes he quak'd, and fainted often- times.
In which amazement when the miscreant Perceived him to waver weak and frail, With trembling horror did his confcience dant, And hellish anguish did his foul affail : To drive him to defpair, and quite to quail, He fhew'd him painted in a table plain, The damned ghofts, that do in torments wåil, And thoufand fiends that do them endless pain With fire and brimitone, which for ever shall re- main.
The fight whereof fo throughly him dismay'd, That nought but death before his eyes he law, And ever-burning wrath before him laid, By righteous fentence of th' Almighty's law: Then 'gan the villain him to over-craw, And brought unto him fwords, ropes, poison, fire, And all that might him to perdition draw; And bade him choofe what death he would defire: For death was due to him that had provok'd God's ire.
But when as none of them he faw him take, He to him raught a dagger fharp and keen, And gave it in his hand; his hand did quake, And tremble like a leaf of alpin green, And troubled blood thro' his pale face was feen To come and go; with tidings from the heart, As it a running meffenger had been : At last refolv'd to work his final fmart, He lifted up his hand, that back again did start. Which when as Una faw, through every vein The crudled cold ran to her well of life, As in a fwoon: but foon reliev'd again, Out of his hand the fnatcli'd the curfed knife, And threw it to the ground, enraged rife, And to him faid: Fie, fie, faint-hearted knight! What meaneft thou by this reproachful ftrife? Is this the battle which thou vaunt'ft to fight With that fire-mouthed dragon, horrible and bright.
Come, come away, frail, filly, fleshy wight, Ne let vain words bewitch thy manly heart, Ne devilish thoughts difmay thy constant spright: In heavenly mercies haft thou not a part? Why shouldst thou then despair, that chosen art? Where juftice grows, there grows eke great f grace,
The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart, And
And that accurs'd hand-writing doth deface: Arife, fir knight, arife, and leave this curfed place.
So up he rofe, and thence amounted freight. Which when the earl beheld, and saw his gueft Would fafe depart, for all his fubtle fleight, He chofe an halter from among the rest, And with it hung himfeif, unbid, unbleft. But death he could not work himself thereby; For thousand times he to himfelf had dress'd, Yet nathelefs it could not do him die, Till he should die his laft, that is eternally,
Puts on fwift wings, and tow'rds the gates of hell Explores his folitary flight; fometimes He fcours the right hand coaft, fometimes the left, Now fhaves with level wing the deep, then foars Up to the fiery concave tow'ring high. As when far off at fea a fleet defcried Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds Clofe failing from Bengala, or the ifles Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape Ply, ftemming nightly tow'rd the pole: to feem'd Far off the flying fiend: at laft appear Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice three-fold the gates; three folds were brafs,
Three iron, three of adamantine rock; Impenetrable, impal'd with circling fire, Yet unconfum'd. Before the gates there fat On either fide a formidable fhape; The one feem'd woman to the waist, and fair, But ended foul in many a fcaly fold Voluminous and vaft, á ferpent arm'd With mortal fting: about her middle round A cry of hell-hounds never ceating bark'd With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung A hideous peal; yet, when they lift, would creep, If aught difturb'd their noife, into her womb, And kennel there; yet there ftill bark'd and howl'd,
Within unfeen. Far lefs abhorr'd than these Vex'd Scylla bathing in the fea that parts Calabria from the hoarfe Trinacrian fhore: Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when call'd In fecret, riding through the air fhe comes, Lur'd with the smell of infant-blood, to dance With Lapland witches, while the lab'ring moon Eclipfes at their charms. The other shape, If fhape it might be call'd that shape had none Diftinguishable in member, joint, or lumb; Or. fubftance might be call'd that shadow feem'd, For each feem'd either; black it ftood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,
And shook a dreadful dart; what feem'd his head
The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now at hand, and from his feat The monster moving onward came as fast With horrid ftrides; hell trembled as he ftrode: Th' undaunted fiend what this might be admir'd, Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except, Created thing nought valued he nor fhuan'd, And with dildainful look thus first began:
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, That dar'ft, though grim and terrible, advance Thy mifcreated front athwart my way
To yonder gates? through them I mean to pafs, That be affur'd, without leave afk'd of thee: Retire, or tafte thy folly; and learn by proof, Hell-born, not to contend with fpirits of heaven.
To whom the goblin full of wrath replied: Art thou that traitor-angel, art thou he, [then Who firft broke peace in heaven, and faith, till Unbroken; and in proud rebellious arms Drew after him the third part of heaven's fons, Conjur'd against the Higheft; for which both thou
And they, outcaft from God, are here condemn'd To wafte eternal days in woe and pain? And reckon't thou thyfelf with fpirits of heaven, Hell-doom'd, and breath'ft defiance here and fcorn
Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, Falle fugitive, and to thy speed add wings; . Left with a whip of fcorpions I purfue Thy ling'ring, or with one stroke of this dart Strange horror feize thee, and pangs unfelt before.
So fpake the grifly terror, and in shape, So fpeaking and fo threat'ning, grew tenfold More dreadful and deform. On th`other fide Incens'd with indignation Satan stood Unterrified; and like a comet burn'd, That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In th' afctic sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes peftilence and war. Each at the head Levell'd his deadly aim; their fatal hands No fecond stroke intend, and fuch a frown Each caft at th' other, as when two black cloud With heaven's artillery fraught, come rattlin Over the Cafpian, then ftand front to fron Hovering a space, till winds the fignal blow To join their dark encounter in mid air: So frown'd the mighty combatants, that he Grew darker at their frown; fo match'd
For never but once more was either like To meet fo great a fee. And now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whercof all hell had rung, Had not the fnaky forcerefs that fat Faft by hell-gate, and kept the fatal key, Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. O father, what intends thy hand, fhe cried, Against thy only fon? What fury, O fon, Poffefies thee to bend that mortal dart Against thy father's head? and know it for whom? For him who fits above and laughs the while At thee, ordain'd his drudge, to execute Whate's
Whate'er his wrath, which he calls juftice, bids; His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both.
She fpake, and at her words the hellish pett Forbore; then thefe to her Satan return'd: Softrange thy outcry, and thy words fo ftrange Thou interpofeft, that my fudden hand Prevented ipares to tell thee yet by deeds What it intends; till firit I know of thee What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, In this infernal vale firit met thou call'st Me father, and that phantafin call'ft my fon: I know thee not, nor ever faw till now Sight more deteftable than him and thee. T'whom thus the portrefs of hell-gate replied: Haft thou forgot me then, and do I feem Now in thine eye to foul? once deem'd fo fair In Heaven, when at th' affembly, and in fight Of all the feraphim, with thee combin'd In bold confpiracy against Heaven's King, All on a fudden miferable pain
Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy fwam In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast Threw forth; till on the left side op'ning wide, Likeft to thee in fhape and count'nance bright, Then fhining heavenly fair, a goddess arm'd Out of thy head I fprung: amazement seiz'd All th' host of heaven; back they recoil'd, afraid At first, and call'd me Sin, and for a fign Portentous held me; but familiar grown, - I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won The most averfe, thee chiefly, who full oft Thyfelf in me thy perfect image viewing Becam'ft enamour'd, and fuch joy thou took'st With me in fecret, that my womb conceiv'd A growing burden Meanwhile war arofe, And helds were fought in heaven; wherein re- main'd
(For what could elfe?) to our almighty foe. Clear victory, to our part lots and rout Through all the empyrean: down they fell Driv'n headlong from the pitch of heaven, down Into this deep; and in the general fall I alfo; at which time this pow'rful key Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep Thefe gates for ever fhur, which none can pafs Without my opening. Penfive here I fat Alone; but long I fat not, till my womb, Pregnant by thee, and now excellive grown, Prodigious motion felt, and rueful throes. At laft this odious offspring whom thou feeft, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy Forth iffued, brandishing his fatal dart Made to destroy: I fled, and cried out, Death; Hell trembled at the hideous name, and figh'd From all her caves, and back refounded Death. I fled, but he pursued (though more, it feems, Inflam'd with luft than rage); and, fwifter far, Me overtook, his mother, all difmay'd, And in embraces forcible and foul Ingend ring with me, of that rape begot Thefe yelling monfters, that with ceatclefs cry Surround me, as then fix ft,-hondly conceiv'd
And hourly born, with forrow infinite To me; for, when they lift, into the womb That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw My bowels, their repaft! then bursting forth Afresh with confcious terrors vex me round, That reft or intermiffion none I find. Before mine eyes in oppofition fits
Grim Death, my fon and foc, who fets them on, | And me his parent would full foon devour For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involv'd: and knows that I Should prove a bitter morfel, and his bane, Whenever that shall be; fo fate pronounc'd. But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, fhun His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope To be invulnerable in thofe bright arms, Though temper'd heavenly; for that mortal dint, Save he who reigns above, none can refift. She finish'd; and the fubtle fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus anfwer'd imooth:
[fire, Dear daughter, fince thou claim'ft me for thy And my fair fon here fhew'ft me, the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in heaven, and joys Then fweet, now fad to mention, through dire change
| Befall'n us, unferefeen, unthought of; know I come no enemy, bat to fet free
From out this dark and dismal house of pain Both him and thee; and all the heavenly hott Of spirits, that in cur juft pretences arm'd Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand fole, and one for all Myfelf expofe, with lonely fteps to tread Th' unfounded deep, and through the void im- menfe
To fearch with wand'ring quest a place foretold Should be, and, by concurring figns, ere now Created vaft and round; a place of blifs In the purlicus of heaven, and therein plac'd A race of upftart creatures, to fupply Perhaps our vacant room; though more remov'd, Left heaven furcharg'd with potent multitude Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught Than this more fecret, now defign'd, I hatte To know; and, this once known, thail foon re- turn, [Death And bring ye to the place where thou and Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unfeen Wing filently the buxom air, imbalın'd With odours; there ye thall be fed and fill'd, | Immeafurably, all things thall be your prey. He ceas'd, for both feem'd highly pleas'd; and Death
Grinn'd horrible a ghaftly fmile, to hear His famine thould be fill'd; and blefs'd his maw Dettin'd to that good hour: no lefs rejoic'd His mother bad, and thus befpake her fire: The key of this infernal pit by due, And by command of heaven's all-powerful King, I keep, by him forbidden to unlock Thefe adamantine gates; against all force Death ready ftands to interpofe his dart, Fearlefs to be o'ermatch'd by living might. But what owe I to his commands above
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