"So liv'd they ever after in like sin, Gainst natures law and good behaveoure: But greatest shame was to that maiden twin; Who, not content so fowly to devoure Her native flesh and staine her brothers bowre, Did wallow in all other fleshly myre, And suffred beastes her body to deflowre; So whot she burned in that lustfull fyre:
Yet all that might not slake her sensuail desyre:
"But over all the countrie she did raunge, To seeke young men to quench her flaming thrust, And feed her fancy with delightfull chaunge: Whom so she fittest findes to serve her lust, Through her maine strength, in which she most doth She with her bringes into a secret ile, [trust, Where in eternall bondage dye he must, Or be the vassall of her pleasures vile,
And in all shamefull sort himselfe with her defile.
"Me seely wretch she so at vauntage caught, After she long in waite for me did lye, And meant unto her prison to have brought, Her lothsom pleasure there to satisfye; That thousand deathes me lever were to dye Then breake the vow that to faire Columbell I plighted have, and yet keepe stedfastly: As for my name, it mistreth not to tell; [well. Call me the Squyre of Dames; that me beseemeth
"But that bold knight, whom ye pursuing saw That geauntesse, is not such as she seemd, But a faire virgin that in martial law And deedes of armes above all dames is deemd, And above many knightes is eke esteemd For her great wroth: she Palladine is hight: She you from death, you me from dread, redeemd: Ne any may that monster match in fight, But she, or such as she, that is so chaste a wight."
"Her well beseemes that quest," quoth Satyrane: "But read, thou Squyre of Dames, what vow is this, Which thou upon thyselfe hast lately ta'ne?" "That shall I you recount," quoth he, "ywis, So be ye pleasd to pardon all amis. That gentle lady whom I love and serve, After long suit and wearie servicis,
Did aske me how I could her love deserve, And how she might be sure that I would never swerve.
"I, glad by any meanes her grace to gaine, Badd her commaund my life to save or spill: Eftsoones she badd me with incessaunt paine To wander through the world abroad at will, And every where, where with my power or skill I might doe service unto gentle dames, That I the same should faithfully fulfill;
"To weet, that I my traveill should resume, And with like labour walke the world arownd, Ne ever to her presence should presume, Till I so many other dames had fownd, The which, for all the suit I could propownd, Would me refuse their pledges to afford, But did abide for ever chaste and sownd." "Ah! gentle squyre," quoth he, "tell at one word, How many fownd'st thou such to put in thy record?" "Indeed, sir Knight," said he, "one word inay tell All that I ever fownd so wisely stayd, For onely three they were disposd so well; And yet three yeares I now abrode have strayd, To find them out."-" Mote I," then laughing sayd The knight, “inquire of thee what were those three, The which thy proffred curtesie denayd? Or ill they seemed sure avizd to bee,
Or brutishly brought up, that nev'r did fashions see."
"The first which then refused me," said hee, "Certes was but a cominon courtisane; Yet flat refusd to have adoe with mee, Because I could not give her many a jane," (Thereat full hartely laughed Satyrane.) "The second was an holy nunne to chose, Which would not let me be her chappellane, Because she knew, she sayd, I would disclose Her counsell, if she should her trust in me repose.
"The third a damzell was of low degree, Whom I in countrey cottage fownd by chaunce: Full litle weened I that chastitee
Had lodging in so meane a maintenaunce; Yet was she fayre, and in her countenaunce Dwelt simple truth in seemely fashion: Long thus I woo'd her with due observaunce, In hope unto my pleasure to have won; But was as far at last, as when I first begon.
"Safe her, I never any woman found That chastity did for itselfe embrace, But were for other causes firme and sound; Either for want of handsome time and place, Or else for feare of shame and fowle disgrace. Thus am I hopelesse ever to attaine My ladies love, in such a desperate case, But all my dayes am like to waste in vaine, Seeking to match the chaste with th' unchaste ladies traine."
"Perdy, sayd Satyrane, "thou Squyre of Dames, Great labour fondly hast thou hent in hand, To get small thankes, and therewith many blames; That may emongst Alcides labours stand." Thence backe returning to the former land, Where late he left the beast he overcame,
And at the twelve monethes end should bring their He found him not; for he had broke his band, And was returud againe unto his dame,
And pledges, as the spoiles of my victorious games. To tell what tydings of fayre Florimell became.
"So well I to faire ladies service did,
And found such favour in their loving hartes, That, ere the yeare his course had compassid, Three hundred pledges for my good desartes, Ane thrice three hundred thanks for my good partes,
I with me brought and did to her present: Which when she saw, more bent to eke my smartes Then to reward my trusty true intent,
She gan for me devise a grievous punishment;
The witch creates a snowy la
dy like to Florimell;
Who wrong'd by carle, by Proteus sav'd, Is sought by Paridell.
So oft as I this history record,
My hart doth meit with meere compassion, To thinke how causelesse of her owne accord This gentle damzell, whom I write upon, Should plonged be in such affliction, Without all hope of comfort or reliefe; That sure I weene the hardest hart of stone Would hardly finde to aggravate her griefe: For misery craves rather mercy then repricfe.
But that accursed bag, her hostesse late, Had so enranckled her malitious hart, That she desyrd th' abridgement of her fate, Or long enlargement of her painefuil smart. Now when the beast, which by her wicked art Late foorth she sent, she backe retourning spyde Tyde with her golden girdle; it a part Of her rich spoyles whom he had earst destroyd She weend, and wondrous gladnes to her hart ap- plyde:
And, with it ronning hastly to her sonne, Thought with that sight him much to have reliv'd; Who, thereby deeming sure the thing as donne, His former griefe with furie fresh reviv'd
Instead of eyes two burning lampes she set In silver sockets, shyning like the skyes, And a quicke moving spirit did arret To stirre and roll them like to womens eyes: Instead of yellow lockes she did devyse With golden wyre to weave her curled head: Yet golden wyre was not so yellow thryse As Florimel's fayre heare: and, in the stead Of life, she put a spright to rule the carcas dead;
A wicked spright, yfraught with fawning guyle And fayre resemblance above all the rest, Which with the Prince of Darkenes fell somewhyle From Heavens blis and everlasting rest: Him needed not instruct which way were best Himselfe to fashion likest Florimell,
Ne how to speake, ne how to use his gest; For he in counterfesaunce did excell,
And all the wyles of wemens wits knew passing well.
Him shaped thus she deckt in garments gay, Which Florimell had left behind her late; That whoso then her saw, would surely say It was herselfe whom it did imitate, Or fayrer then herselfe, if ought algate Might fayrer be. And then she forth her brought Unto her sonne that lay in feeble state; Who seeing her gan streight upstart, and thought She was the lady selfe whom he so long had sought.
Tho, fast her clipping twixt his armés twayne, | Extremely ioyed in so happy sight, And soone forgot his former sickely payne: But she, the more to seeme such as she hight,
Much more than earst, and would have algates riv'd Coyly rebutted his embracement light;
The hart out of his brest: for sith her dedd He surely dempt, himselfe he thought depriv'd Quite of all hope wherewith he long had fedd His foolish malady, and long time had misledd.
With thought whereof exceeding mad he grew, And in his rage his mother would have slaine, Had she not filed into a secret mew, Where she was wont her sprightes to entertaine, The maisters of her art: there was she faine To call them all in order to her ayde, And them conjure, upon eternall paine, To counsell her so carefully dismayd
How she might heale her sonne whose senses were decayd.
By their advice, and her owne wicked wit, She there deviz'd a wondrous worke to frame, Whose like on Earth was never framed yit; That even Nature selfe envide the same, And grudg'd to see the counterfet should shame The thing itselfe in hand she boldly tooke To make another like the former dame, Another Florimell, in shape and looke So lively, and so like, that many it mistooke.
The substance, whereof she the body made, Was purest snow in massy mould congeald, Which she had gathered in a shady glade Of the Riphoan hils, to her reveald By errant sprights, but from all men conceald : The same she tempred with fine mercury And virgin wex that never yet was seald, And mingled them with perfect vermily; That like a lively sanguine it seemd to the eye. VOL. III
Yet still, with gentle countenaunce, retain'd Enough to hold a foole in vaine delight: Him long she so with shadowes entertain'd, As her creatresse had in charge to her ordain'd:
Till on a day, as he disposed was To walke the woodes with that his idole faire, Her to disport and idle time to pas In th' open freshnes of the gentle aire, A knight that way there chaunced to repaire; Yet knight he was not, but a boastfull swaine That deedes of armes had ever in despaire, Proud Braggadochio, that in vaunting vaine His glory did repose and credit did maintaine.
He, seeing with that chorle so faire a wight Decked with many a costly ornament, Much merveiled thereat, as well he might, And thought that match a fowle disparagement: His bloody speare eftesoones he boldly bent Against the silly clowne, who dead through feare Fell streight to ground in great astonishment: "Villein," sayd he, "this lady is my deare; Dy, if thou it gainesay: I will away her beare."
The fearefull chorle durst not gainesay nor dooe, But trembling stood, and yielded him the pray; Who, finding title leasure her to wooe,
On Trompts steed her mounted without stay, And without reskew led her quite away. Proud man himselfe then Braggadochio deem'd, And next to noue, after that happy day, Being possessed of that spoyle, which seem'd The fairest wight on ground and most of men esteem'd.
But, when he saw himselfe free from poursute, He gan make gentle purpose to his dame With termes of love and lewdnesse dissolute; For he could well his glozing speaches frame To such vaine uses that him best became : But she thereto would lend but light regard, As seeming sory that she ever came Into his powre, that used her so hard
For, being fled into the fishers bote For refuge from the monsters cruelty, Long so she on the mighty maine did flote, And with the tide drove forward carelesly; For th' ayre was milde and cleared was the skie, And all his windes dan Aeolus did keepe From stirring up their stormy enmity, As pittying to see her waile and weepe;
To reave her honor which she more then life prefard. But all the while the fisher did securely sleepe.
Thus as they two of kindnes treated long, There them by chaunce encountred on the way An armed knight upon a courser strong, Whose trampling feete upon the hollow lay Seemed to thunder, and did nigh affray That capons corage; yet he looked grim, And faynd to cheare his lady in dismay, Who seemd for feare to quake in every lim, And her to save from outrage meekely prayed him.
Fiercely that straunger forward came; and, nigh Approching, with boid words and bitter threat Bad that same boaster, as he mote on high, To leave to him that lady for excheat, Or bide him batteill without further treat. That challenge did too peremptory seeme, And fild his senses with abashment great; Yet, seeing nigh him ieopardy extreme,
He it dissembled well, and light seemd to esteeme;
Saying, "Thou foolish knight, that weenst with words To steale away that I with blowes have wonne, And brought through points of many perilous swords! But if thee list to see thy courser ronne, Or prove thyselfe; this sad encounter shonne, And seeke els without hazard of thy hedd." At those prowd words that other knight begonne To wex exceeding wroth, and him aredd
To turne his steede about, or sure he should be dedd.
"Sith then," said Braggadochio, "needes thou wilt Thy daies abridge, through proofe of puissaunce; Turne we our steeds; that both in equall tilt May meete againe, and each take happy chaunce." This said, they both a furlongs mountenaunce Retird their steeds, to ronne in even race: But Braggadochio with his bloody launce Once having turnd, no more returnd his face, But lefte his love to losse, and fled himselfe apace.
The knight, him seeing flie, had no regard Him to poursew, but to the lady rode; And, having her from Trompart lightly reard, Upon his courser sett the lovly lode, And with her fled away without abode: Well weened he, that fairest Florimell
It was with whom in company he yode,
And so herselfe did alwaies to him tell;
At last when droncke with drowsinesse he woke, And saw his drover drive along the streame, He was dismayd; and thrise his brest he stroke, For marvell of that accident extreame: But when he saw that blazing beauties beame, Which with rare light his bote did beautifye, He marveild more, and thought he yet did dreame Not well awakte; or that some extasye Assotted had his sence, or dazed was his eye.
But, when her well avizing hee perceiv'd To be no vision nor fantasticke sight, Great comfort of her presence he conceiv'd, And feit in his old corage new delight To gin awake, and stir his frosen spright: Tho rudely askte her, how she thether came? "Ah!" sayd she, "father, I note read aright What hard misfortune brought me to this same; Yet am I glad that here I now in safety ame.
"But thou, good man, sith far in sea we bee, And the great waters gin apace to swell, That now no more we can the mayn-land see, Have care, I pray, to guide the cock-bote well, Least worse on sea then us on land befell." Thereat th' old man did nought but foudly grin, And saide, his boat the way could wisely tell: But his deceiptfull eyes did never lin
To looke on her faire face and marke her snowy skin.
The sight whereof in his congealed flesh Infixt such secrete sting of greedy lust, That the drie withered stocke it gan refresh, And kindled heat, that soone in flame forth brust: The driest wood is soonest burnt to dust. Rudely to her he lept, and his rough hand, Where ill became him, rashly would have thrust; But she with angry scorne him did withstond, And shamefully reproved for his rudenes fond.
But be, that never good nor maners knew, Her sharpe rebuke full litle did esteeme; Hard is to teach an old horse amble trew: The inward smoke, that did before but steeme, Broke into open fire and rage extreme; And now he strength gan adde unto his will, Forcying to doe that did him fowle misseeme: Beastly he threwe her downe, ne car'd to spill
So made him thinke himselfe in Heven that was in Her garments gay with scales of fish, that all did
But Florimell herselfe was far away,
Driven to great distresse by fortune straunge, And taught the carefull mar ner to play,
Sith late mischaunce had her compeld to chaunge The land for sea, at randon there to raunge: Yett there that cruell queene avengenesse, Not satisfyde so far her to estraunge From courtly blis and wonted happinesse,
Did heape on her new waves of weary wretchednesse.
The silly virgin strove him to withstand All that she might, and him in vaine revild; Shee strugled strongly both with foote and hand To save her honor from that villaine vilde, And cride to Heven, from humane help exild. O! ye brave knights, that boast this ladies love, Where be ye now, when she is nigh defild Of filthy wretch! well may she you reprove Of falsehood or of slouth, when most it may behove!
But if that thou, sir Satyran, didst weete, Or thou, sir Peridure, her sory state,
How soone would yee assemble many a fleete, To fetch from sea that ye at land lost late! Towres, citties, kingdomes, ye would ruinate In your avengement and dispiteous rage, Ne ought your burning fury mote abate: But, if sir Calidore could it presage,
"No living creature could his cruelty asswage.
But, sith that none of all her knights is nye, See how the Heavens, of voluntary grace And soveraine favor towards chastity, Doe succor send to her distressed cace: So much high God doth innocence embrace! It fortuned, whilest thus she stifly strove, And the wide sea impórtuned long space With shrilling shriekes, Proteus abrode did rove, Along the fomy waves driving his finny drove.
Proteus is shepheard of the seas of yore, And hath the charge of Neptune's mighty heard; An aged sire with head all frowy hore, And sprinckled frost upon his deawy beard: Who when those pittifull outcries he heard Through all the seas so ruefully resownd, His charett swifte in hast he thether steard, Which with a teeme of scaly phocas bownd Was drawne upon the waves, that fomed him arownd;
And comming to that fishers wandring bote, That went at will withouten card or sayle, He therein saw that yrkesome sight, which smote Deepe indignation and compassion frayle Into his hart attonce: streight did he hayle The greedy villein from his hoped pray, Of which he now did very little fayle; And with his staffe, that drives his heard astray, Him bett so sore, that life and sence did much dis-
The whiles the pitteous lady up did ryse, Ruffled and fowly raid with filthy soyle, And blubbred face with teares of her faire eyes; Her heart nigh broken was with weary toyle, To save herselfe from that outrageous spoyle: But when she looked up, to weet what wight Had her from so infamous fact assoyld, For shame, but more for feare of his grim sight, Downe in her lap she hid her face, and lowdly shright.
Herselfe not saved yet from daunger dredd She thought, but chaung'd from one to other feare: Like as a fearefull partridge, that is fledd From the sharpe hauke which her attached neare, And fals to ground to seeke for succor taeare, Whereas the hungry spaniells she does spye With greedy iawes her ready for to teare: In such distresse and sad perplexity
Was Florimell, when Proteus she did see her by.
But he endevored with speaches milde Her to recomfort, and accourage bold, Bidding her feare no more her foeman vilde, Nor doubt himselfe; and who he was her told: Yet all that could not from affright her hold, Ne to recomfort her at all prevayld; For her faint hart was with the frosen cold Benumbd so inly that her wits nigh fayld, And all her sences with abashment quite were quayld.
His bowre is in the bottom of the maine, Under a mightie rocke gainst which doe rave The roring billowes in their proud disdaine, That with the angry working of the wave Therein is eaten out an hollow cave,
That seemes rough masons hand with engines keene Had long while laboured it to engrave:
There was his wonne; ne living wight was seene Save one old nymph, hight Panopè, to keepe it cleane.
Thether he brought the sory Florimell, And entertained her the best he might, (And Panopè her entertaind eke well) As an immortall mote a mortall wight, To winne her liking unto his delight: With flattering wordes he sweetly wooed her, And offered faire guiftes t' allure her sight; But she both offers and the offerer
Despysde, and all the fawning of the flatterer.
Dayly he tempted her with this or that, And never suffred her to be at rest: But evermore she him refused flat, And all his fained kindnes did detest; So firmely she had scaled up her brest. Sometimes he boasted that a god he hight; But she a mortall creature loved best: Then he would make himselfe a mortall wight; But then she said she lov'd none but a Faery knight.
Then like a Faerie knight himselfe he drest; For every shape on him he could endew: Then like a king he was to her exprest, And offred kingdoms unto her in vew To be his leman and his lady trew: But, when all this he nothing saw prevaile, With harder meanes he cast her to subdew, And with sharpe threates her often did assayle; So thinking for to make her stubborne corage quayle.
To dreadfull shapes he did himselfe transforme: Now like a gyaunt; now like to a feend; Then like a centaure; then like to a stormne Raging within the waves: thereby he weend Her will to win unto his wished eend: But when with feare, nor favour, nor with all He els could doe, he saw himselfe esteemd, Downe in a dongeon deepe he let her fall, And threatned there to make her his eternall thrall.
Eternall thraldome was to her more liefe Then losse of chastitie, or chaunge of love: Dye had she rather in tormenting griefe Then any should of falsenesse her reprove, Or loosenes, that she lightly did remove. Most vertuous virgin! glory be thy meed, And crowne of heavenly prayse with saintes above, Where most sweet hymmes of this thy famous deed Are still emongst them song, that far my rymes ex- ceed:
Fit song of angels caroled to bee!
But yet whatso my feeble Muse can frame, Shal be t' advance thy goodly chastitee, And to enroll thy memorable name In th' heart of every honourable dame, That they thy vertuous deedes may imitate, And be partakers of thy endlesse fame. Yt yrkes me leave thee in this wofull state, To tell of Satyrane where I him left of late:
Who having ended with that Squyre of Dames A long discourse of his adventures vayne, The which himselfe then ladies more defames, And finding not th' hyena to be slayne, With that same squyre retourned backe againe To his first way: and, as they forward went, They spyde a knight fayre pricking on the playne, As if he were on some adventure bent, And in his port appeared manly hardiment.
Sir Satyrane him towardes did addresse,
To weet what wight he was, and what his quest: Aud, comming nigh, eftsoones he gan to gesse Both by the burning hart which on his brest He bare, and by the colours in his crest, That Paridell it was: tho to him yode, And, him saluting as beseemed best, Gan first inquire of tydinges farre abrode : And afterwardes on what adventure now he rode.
Who thereto answering said; "The tydinges bad, Which now in Faery court all men doe tell, Which turned hath great mirth to mourning sad, Is the late ruine of proud Marinell, And suddein parture of faire Florimell To find him forth and after her are gone All the brave knightes, that doen in armes excell, To savegard her ywandred all alone; Emongst the rest my lott (unworthy') is to be one."
"Ah! gentle knight," said then sir Satyrane, "Thy labour all is lost, I greatly dread, That hast a thanklesse service on thee ta'ne, And offrest sacrifice unto the dead: For dead, I surely doubt, thou maist aread Henceforth for ever Florimell to bee; That all the noble knights of Maydenhead, Which her ador'd, may sore repent with mee, And all faire ladies may for ever sory bee."
Which wordes when Paridell had heard, his hew Gan greatly chaung, and seemd dismaid to bee; Then sayd; "Fayre sir, how may I weene it trew, That ye doe tell in such uncerteintee? Or speake ye of report, or did ye see
Just cause of dread, that makes ye doubt so sore? For perdie elles how mote it ever bee, That ever hand should dare for to engore Her noble blood! the Hevens such crueltie abhore."
"These eyes did see that they will ever rew T have seene," quoth he, "whenas a monstrous The palfrey whereon she did travell slew, [beast And of his bowels made his bloody feast; Which speaking token sheweth at the least Her certein losse, if not her sure decay: Besides, that more suspicion encreast, I found her golden girdle cast astray, Distaynd with durt and blood, as relique of the pray."
"Ah me!" said Paridell," the signes be sadd; And, but God turne the same to good soothsay, That ladies safetie is sore to be dradd : Yet will I not forsake my forward way, Till triall doe more certeine truth bewray." "Faire sir," quoth he, "well may it you succeed! Ne long shall Satyrane behind you stay; But to the rest, which in this quest proceed, My labour adde, and be partaker of their spedd."
"Yenoble knights," said then the Squyre of Dames, "Well may yee speede in so prayseworthy payne! But sith the Sunne now ginnes to slake his beames In deawy vapours of the westerne mayne, And lose the teme out of his weary wayne, Mote not mislike you also to abate Your zealous hast, till morrow next againe Both light of Heven and strength of men relate: Which if ye please, to yonder castle turne your gate."
That counsell pleased well; so all yfere Forth marched to a castle them before; Where soone arriving they restrained were Of ready entraunce, which ought evermore To errant knights be commune: wondrous sore Thereat displeasd they were, till that young squyre Gan them informe the cause why that same dore Was shut to all which lodging did desyre:
The which to let you weet will further time requyre.
Malbecco will no straunge knights host, For peevish gealosy : Paridell giusts with Britomart:
Both shew their auncestry.
REDOUBTED knights, and honorable dames, To whom I levell all my labours end, Right sore I feare least with unworthy blames This odious argument my rymes should shend, Or ought your goodly patience offend, Whiles of a wanton lady I doe write, Which with her loose incontinence doth blend The shyning glory of your soveraine light; And knighthood fowle defaced by a faithlesse knight.
But never let th' ensample of the bad Offend the good: for good, by paragone Of evill, may more notably be rad; As white seemes fayrer macht with blacke attone: Ne all are shamed by the fault of one: For lo! in Heven, whereas all goodnes is Emongst the angels, a whole legione Of wicked sprightes did fall from happy blis; What wonder then if one, of women all, did mis?
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