So when that forest they had passed well, Upon the ground, in ragged rude attire, Gnawing her nayles for felness and for ire, And thereout sucking venom to her parts. intire. A foule and loathly creature sure in sight, And in conditions to be loath'd no less: For shee was stuft with rancour and despight Her nature is, all goodness to abuse, cuse, And steale away the crowne of their good name: So chast and loyall liv'd, but she would strive Like to a storm that hovers under skie Long here and there, and round about At length breaks down in raine, and haile, sleet, First from one coast, till nought ther And then another, till that likewise fleet: And so from side to side, till all the work 105. Superstition. WHERE that old woman day and nigh Upon her beades devously penitent; Nine hundred Pater-nosters every day, And thrice nine hundred Aves she was w to say, And to auginent her paineful penance mom. Thrice every week in ashes she did sit, And next her wrinkled skin rough sackc wore, And thrice three times did fast from anyUpon the image with his naked blade Three times, as in defiance, there he stroke: And the third time, out of an hidden sha There forth issued from under the altar sma A dreadful fiend, with foul deformed loos That strecht it self, as it had long lain s That her long taile and feathers strongly shoos That all the temple did with terror till; Yet him nought terrified, that feared nothi ill. An huge great beast it was, when it in lengt Was stretched forth, that nigh filled all the place, And And seem'd to be of infinite great strength; A lyon's clawes with power and rigour clad, dress Full deadly wounds, when so it is empight; An eagle's wings for scope, and speediness, That nothing might escape her ravening might, Whereto she ever list to make her hardy Much like in foulness and deformitie To many a one, which came into her school, § 106. Suspicion. Ur he was foule, ill-favour'd, and grim, § 107. Venus. IGHT in the midst the goddesse self did¦ stand, Upon an altar of some costly masse, Whose substance was uneath to understand: or neither precious stones, nor durefall brasse, or shining gold, nor mouldring clay it was; But yet more rare and precious to esteeme, re in aspect, and like to chrystall glass; Yet glass was not, if one did rightly deem; it being faire and brittle, likest glass did seeme. But it in shape and beauty did excell ll other idols which the heathen adore ; Farre passing that, which by surpassing skill hidias did make in Paphos isle of yore. [lore Vith which that wretched Greeke that life forDid fall in love: vet this much fairer shined, But covered with slender veile afore, And both her feet and legs together twined Were with a snake, whoes head and taile were fast combined. But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame, But like to angels playing heavenly toyes; The wide kingdome of love with lordly sway, Some of their loss, some of their love's delay, T § 108. Temple of Venus. HE temple of great Venus, that is hight Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other Not that same famous temple of Diane, One of the world's seven wonders said to be, Nor that, which that wise king of Jurie With endless cost to be the Almighty's see; Unto the porch approacht, which open stood, She wore, much like unto a Danisk hood, Poudred with pearl and stone; and all her gowne Enwoven was with gold, that raught full low adowne. On either side of her two young men stood, Both strongly arm'd, as fearing one another, Yet were they brethren both of half the blood, Though of contrary natures each to other: Begotten by two fathers of one another, The one of them hight Love, the other Hate, Hate was the elder, Love the younger brother; Yet That she them forced hand to join in hand, Albe that Hatred was thereof full loth, And turn'd his face away as he did stand, Unwilling to behold that lovely band. Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might, [stand, That her commandment he could not withBut bit his lips for felonous despight, And gnasht his iron tusks at that displeasing sight. Concord she cleeped was in common reed, Mother of blessed Peace, and Friendship true; They both her twins, both born of heavenly And she herself likewise divinely grew; [seed, The which right well her works divine did [lends, For strength, and wealth, and happiness, she And strife, and war, and anger, does subdue : shew: Of little, much, of foes she maketh friends, And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends. By her the heaven is in his course contained, And all the world in state unmoved stands, As their Aknighty Maker first ordained, And bound them with inviolable bands; Else would the waters overflow the lands, And fire devour the aire, and hell them quite, But that she holds them with her blessed hands. She is the nurse of pleasure and delight, And unto Venus grace the gate doth open right. Into the inmost temple thus I came, Which fuming all with frankencense I found, And odours rising from the altars flame; Upon an hundred marble pillers round, The roof up high was reared from the ground, All decht with crowns, and chains, and gir londs gay, A thousand precious gifts worth many a pound, The which sad lovers for their vowes did pay; And all the ground was strew'd with flowers as fresh as May. An hundred altars round about were set, All flaming with their sacrifices fire, That with the steme thereof the temple swet, Which roul'd in cloudes, to heaven did aspire, And in them bore true lovers vows entire: Aad eke an hundred brazen cauldrons bright To bathe in joy and amorous desire, Every which was to a damzell hight; For all the priests were damzells, in soft linnen dight. $109. Wrath. AFTER that varlet's fight, it was not long Ere on the plaine fast pricking Guion spide One in bright arins embattailed full strong, That as the sunny beams doe glance and glide Upon the trembling wave, so shined bright, And round about him threw forth sparkling fire, His steed was bloody red, and foamed ire. That seemed him to enflame on every side: When with the maistring spur he did hin roughly stire. Approaching nigh he never staid to gree, Ne chaffer words, proud courage to provale. But prickt so fierce, that underneath his t The smouldring dust did round about smoke, Both horse and man nigh able for to ch; And fairely couching his steel-headed se, Him first saluted with a sturdy stroke. And him beside rides fierce revengingWads Upon a lyon, loth for to be led ; And in his hand a burning brond he hath, The which he brandisheth about his head, His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red, And stared stern on all that him beheld, As ashes pale of hue, and seeming dead; And on his dagger still his hand he held, Trembling thro' hasty rage, when choler in swell'd. His ruffin raiment all was stain'd with bic Which he had spilt, and all to rage yreut, Thro' unadvised rashness woxen wood, For of his hands he had no government, Ne car'd for bloud in his avengement; But when the furious fit was overpast, His cruel facts he often would repent, Yet, wilful man, he never would tores How many mischiefs should ensue his l less hast! Full many mischiefs follow cruel Wrabi Abhorred bloudshed, and tumultuous str., Unmanly murther, and unthrifty scath, Bitter despight, with rancour's rusty kaik, And fretting grief, the enemy of life, And these and many evils more haunt it. The swelling splene, and phrenzy raging? The shaking palsey, and St. Francis' fi Such one was Wrath, the last of this ung tire. SPENSER'S FAIRY QUEEN § 110. Duessa weeping over her Enemy,comis to a Crocodile; and a Description of Nig As when a weary traveller, that strays By muddy shore of broad seven-men Unweeting of the perilous wand'ring ways Doth meet a cruel crafty crocodile, Which in false grief hiding his harmless Doth weep full sore, and sheddeth tendert The foolish man, that pities all this while His mournful plight, is swallow'd up unawar Forgetful of his own, that minds another car So wept Duessa until even tide, [light: That shining lamps in Jove's high house wer Then Then forth she rose, ne longer would abide, In slumb'ring swoon nigh void of vital spright, Where griesly Night, with visage deadly sad, he finds forth coming from her darksoine mew, And cole-black steeds yborn of hellish brood, nd all the while she stood upon the ground, -On every side them stood durst ride. $111. Description of Lucifera's Palace. ad golden foil all over them display'd; all of fair windows, and delightful bow'rs; ad spake the praises of the workman's wit; §113. Description of Prince Arthur in his Habiliments of War. UPON the top of all his lofty crest, A bunch of hairs, discolour'd diversly Whose tender locks do tremble every one $114. Description of Diana with her Nymphs, returned from the Chase, and preparing to bathe. SHO HORTLY unto the wasteful woods she came, She was asham'd to be so loose surpris'd; $115. Description of a Garden. FTSOONS they heard a most delicious sound all that yote delight a dainty ear; Such as at once might not on living ground, Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere: Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, To read what manner music that mote be, For all that pleasing is to living ear Was there consorted in one harmony; [agree. Birds, voices, instruments, winds, waters, all The joyous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade, Their notes unto the voice attemper'd sweet; Th' angelical, soft trembling voices made To th' instruments divine respondence meet; The silver-sounding instruments did meet With the base murmur of the waters fall; The waters fall, with difference discreet, Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did call; The gentle warbling wind low answered to all. Emongst the shady leaves, their sweet abode, And their true loves without suspicion tell abroad. $119. Guyon conducted by Mammon threat a Cave under Ground, to see his Treasure A length they came into a larger space That straight did lead to Pluto's griesly reg On the other side in one consort there sate Lamenting Sorrow did in darkness lie, fe § 120. Description of Despair, and her Spe His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave, And, all about, old stocks and stubs of trees. Wheron nor fruit nor leaf was ever seen, Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees; On which had many wretches hanged bee Whose carcasses were scatter'd on the gree And thrown about the clifts. Arrived ther That bare-head knight, for dread and de'e [Dest teen, Would fain have fled, ne durst approac But th' other forc'd him stay, and comfor |