He cast to punish for his heinous fault;

Where most sweet hymns of this thy famous deed
Then took he him yet trembling since of late |- Are still amongst them sung, that far my rhimes exceed.
And tied behind his chariot, to aggrate
The virgin, whom he had abus'd so sore :

Fit song of angels carrolled to be;
So dragg'd him through the waves in scornful state. But yet what so my feeble muse can frame,
And after cast him up upon the shore ;

Shall be t'advance thy goodly chastity,
But Florimell with him unto his bower he bore. And to enroll thy memorable name

In th' heart of every honourable dame, His bower is in the bottom of the main,

That they thy virtuous deeds may imitate,
Under a mighty rock, gainst which do rave

And be partakers of thy endless fame.
The roaring billows in their proud disdain ;
That with the angry roaring of the wave,
Therein is eaten out an hollow cave,

THE MASK OF CUPID.
That seems rough mason's hand with engines keen,
Had long while laboured it to engrave:

Then when as chearless night ycovered had
There was his wonne, nor living wight was seen, Fair heaven with an universal cloud,
Save one old nymph, hight Panope, to keep it That every wight, dismay'd with darkness sad,
clean.

In silence and in sleep themselves did shroud,

She heard a shrilling trumpet sound aloud, Thither he brought the sorry Florimell,

Sign of nigh battle, or got victory; And entertained her the best he might;

Nought therewith daunted was her courage proud, And Panope her entertain'd eke well,

But rather stirr'd to cruel enmity, As an immortal might a mortal wight,

Expecting ever when some foe she might descry. To win her liking unto his delight: With flattering words he sweetly wooed her, All suddenly a stormy whirlwind blew And offered fair gifts t'allure her sight:

Throughout the house, that clapped every door : But she both offers and the offerer

With which that iron wicket open flew, Despis’d, and all the fawning of the flatterer. As it with mighty levers had been tore :

And forth issued, as on the ready floor Daily he tempted her with this or that,

Of some theatre, a grave personage, And never suffered her to be at rest :

That in his hand a branch of laurel bore, But evermore she him refused flat,

With comely haviour and count'nance sage,
And all his feigned kindness did detest;

Yclad in costly garments fit for tragic stage.
So firmly she had sealed up her breast.
Sometimes he boasted, that a god he hight:

Proceeding to the midst, he still did stand,
But she a mortal creature loved best :

As if in mind he somewhat had to say; Then he would make himself a mortal wight; And to the vulgar beck’ning with his hand, But then she said she lov'd none but a fairy knight. In sign of silence, as to hear a play,

By lively actions he gan bewray Then like a fairy knight himself he dress’d; Some argument of matter passioned ; For, every shape on him he could endew :

Which done, he back retired soft away: Then like a king he was to her express'd,

And passing by, his name discovered,
And offered kingdoms unto her in view,

Ease, on his robe, in golden letters cyphered.
To be his leman and his lady true:
But when all this he nothing saw prevail,

The noble maid, still standing, all this view'd,
With harder means he cast her to subdue,

And marvell’d at his strange intendiment ;
And with sharp threats her often did assail, With that a joyous fellowship issued
So thinking for to make her stubborn courage quail. Of minstrels, making goodly merriment,

With wanton bards and rhymers impudent;
To dreadful shapes he did himself transform, All which together sung full chearfully
Now like a giant, now like to a fiend,

A lay of love's delight, with sweet content:
Then like a centaur, then like to a storm,

After whom march'd a jolly company,
Raging within the waves : thereby he ween'd In manner of a mask, enranged orderly.
Her will to win unto his wished end ;
But when with fear, nor favour, nor with all The while a most delicious harmony,
He else could do, he saw himself esteemid,

In full strange notes was sweetly heard to sound, Down in a dungeon deep he let her fall,

That the rare sweetness of the melody And threatened there to make her his eternal thrall. The feeble senses wholly did confound,

And the frail soul in deep delight nigh drown'd: Eternal thraldom was to her more lief,

And when it ceas'd shrill trumpets loud did bray, Than loss of chastity, or change of love:

That their report did far away rebound, Die had she rather in tormenting grief,

And when they ceas'd, it gan again to play, Than any should of falseness her reprove,

The while the maskers marched forth in trim array. Or looseness, that she lightly did remove. Most virtuous virgin, glory be thy meed,

The first was Fancy, like a lovely boy, And crown of heavenly praise with saints above, Of rare aspect, and beauty without peer ;

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Matchable either to that imp of Troy,

On whom she list, and did great liking shew;
Whom Jove did love, and chose his cup to bear, Great liking unto many, but true love to few.
Or that same dainty lad, which was so dear
To great Alcides, that when as he died,

And after them Dissemblance and Suspect
He wailed womanlike with many a tear,

March'd in one rank, yet an unequal pair;
And every wood and every valley wide (cried. For, she was gentle, and of mild aspect,
He fill’d with Hylas' name; the nymphs eke Hylas Courteous to all, and seeming debonnair,

Goodly adorned, and exceeding fair :
His garment neither was of silk nor say,

Yet was that all but painted, and purloined, But painted plumes, in goodly order dight,

And her bright brows were deck'd with borrowed hair, Like as the sun-burnt Indians do array

Her deeds were forged, and her words false coined, Their tawny bodies, in their proudest plight; And always in her hand two clues of silk she twined. As those same plumes, so seem'd he vain and light, That by his gait might easily appear ;

But he was foul, ill-favoured, and grim, For, still he far'd as dancing in delight,

Under his eyebrows looking still askance; And in his hand a windy fan did bear,

And ever as Dissemblance laugh'd on him, That in the idle air he mov'd still here and there. He lour'd on her with dangerous eye-glance ;

Shewing his nature in his countenance; And him beside march'd amorous Desire,

His rolling eyes did never rest in place, Who seem'd of riper years, than th’ other swain; But walk'd each where, for fear of hid mischance, Yet was that other swain this elder's sire,

Holding a lattice still before his face, (pass. And gave him being, common to them twain : Through which he still did peep, as forward he did His garment was disguised very vain, And his embroidered bonnet sat awry;

Next him went Grief and Fury match'd yfere ; Twixt both his hands few sparks he close did strain, Grief, all in sable sorrowfully clad, Which still he blew, and kindled busily, [fly. Down hanging his dull head, with heavy cheer, That soon they life conceiv’d, and forth in flames día Yet inly being more, than seeming sad :

A pair of pincers in his hand he had, Next after him went Doubt, who was yclad

With which he pinched people to the heart, In a discolour'd coat, of strange disguise,

That from thenceforth a wretched life they lad, That at his back å broad capuccio had,

In wilful languor and consuming smart, And sleeves dependent Albanese-wise :

Dying each day with inward wounds of dolour's dart. He look'd askew with his mistrustful eyes, And nicely trod, as thorns lay in his way,

But Fury was full ill appareled Or that the floor to shrink he did avise,

In rags, that naked nigh she did appear, And on a broken reed he still did stay

With ghastful looks and dreadful drearihead; His feeble steps, which shrunk, when hard thereon For, from her back her garments she did tear, he lay.

And from her head oft rent her snarled hair:

In her right hand a firebrand she did toss
With him went Danger, cloth'd in rugged weed, About her head, still roaming here and there;
Made of bear's skin, that him more dreadful made: As a dismayed deer in chace embost,
Yet his own face was dreadful, nor did need

Forgetful of his safety, hath his right way lost.
Strange horror to deform his grisly shade;
A net in th' one hand, and a rusty blade

After them, went Displeasure and Pleasance;
In th' other was: this mischief, that mishap; He looking lumpish and full sullen sad,
With th' one his foes he threatened to invade, And hanging down his heavy countenance ;
With th' other he his friends meant to enwrap;

She chearful, fresh, and full of joyance glad,
For, whom he could not kill, he practis'd to entrap. As if no sorrow she nor felt, nor dread;

That evil matched pair they seemed to be:
Next him was Fear, all arm’d from top to toe, An angry wasp th one in á vial had :
Yet thought himself not safe enough thereby, Th’ other in her’s a honey-lady bee;
But fear'd each shadow moving to and fro:

Thus marched these six couples forth in fair degree.
And his own arns when glittering he did spy,
Or clashing heard, he fast away did fly,

After all these there march'd a most fair dame, As ashes pale of hue, and wingy-heel'd;

Led of two grizly villains, th' one Despight,
And evermore on Danger fix'd his eye,

The other cleped Cruelty by name:
Gainst whom he always bent a brazen shield, She doleful lady, like a dreary spright,
Which his right hand unarmed fearfully did wield. Call’d by strong charms out of eternal night,

Had death's own image figur'd in her face,
With him went Hope in rank, a handsome maid, Full of sad signs, fearful to living sight;
Of chearful look and lovely to behold;

Yet in that Horror shew'd a seemly grace, In silken samite she was light array'd,

And with her feeble feet did move a comely pace. And her fair locks were woven up in gold ; She always smild, and in her hand did hold Her breast all naked, as neat ivory, An holy water sprinkle, dipp'd in dew,

Without adorn of gold or silver bright, With which she sprinkled favours manifold, Wherewith the craftsman wonts it beautify,

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Of her due honour was despoiled quite,

THE SQUIRE AND THE DOVE.
And a wide wound therein (O rueful sight!)
Entrenched deep with knife accursed keen,

Well said the wise man, now prov'd true by this, Yet freshly bleeding forth her fainting sprite Which to this gentle squire did happen late; (The work of cruel hand) was to be seen,

That the displeasure of the mighty is
That dyed in sanguine red her skin all snowy clean. Than death itself more dread and desperate :

For, nought the same may calm, nor mitigate,
At that wide orifice, her trembling heart

Till time the tempest do thereof allay Was drawn forth, and in silver bason laid,

With sufferance soft, which rigour can abate, Quite through transfixed with a deadly dart,

And have the stern remembrance wip'd away And in her blood yet steaming fresh embay'd; Of bitter thoughts, which deep therein infixed lay. And those two villains, which her steps upstaid, When her weak feet could scarcely her sustain, Like as it fell to this unhappy boy, And fading vital powers gan to fade,

Whose tender heart the fair Belphebe had Her forward still with torture did constrain,

With one stern look so daunted, that no joy And evermore increased her consuming pain.

In all his life, which afterwards he lad,

He ever tasted ; but with penance sad, Next after her, the winged God himself

And pensive sorrow, pin’d and wore away, Came riding on a lion ravenous,

Nor ever laugh’d, nor once shew'd countenance glad; Taught to obey the manage of that elf,

But always wept and wailed night and day, (decay; That man and beast with power imperious

As blasted blossom, through heat, doth languish and Subdueth to his kingdom tyrannous : His blindfold eyes he bade awhile unbind,

Till on a day (as in his wonted wise That his proud spoil of that same dolorous

His dole he made) there chanc'd a turtle-dove Fair dame, he might behold in perfect kind; To come, where he his dolours did devise, Which seen, he much rejoiced in his cruel mind. That likewise late had lost her dearest love ;

Which loss her made like passion also prove. Of which full proud, himself uprearing high, Who seeing his sad plight, her tender heart He looked round about with stern disdain ;

With dear compassion deeply did emmove, And did survey his goodly company:

That she gan moan his underserved smart, · And marshalling the evil ordered train,

And with her doleful accent, bear with him a part. With that the darts which his right hand did strain, Full dreadfully he shook that all did quake, She, sitting by him, as on ground he lay, And clapp'd on high his coloured winges twain, Her mournful notes full piteously did frame, That all his many it afraid did make:

And thereof made a lamentable lay, Then, blinding him again, his way he forth did take. So sensibly compil'd, that in the same

Him seemed oft he heard his own right name. Behind him was Reproach, Repentance, Shame; With that, he forth would pour so plenteous tears, Reproach the first, Shame next, Repent behind : And beat his breast unworthy of such blame, Repentance feeble, sorrowful and lame:

And knock his head, and rend his rugged hairs, Reproach despiteful, careless, and unkind;

That could have pierc'd the hearts of tigers and of Shame most ill-favour'd, bestial, and blind ;

(bears. Shame lour’d, Repentance sigh’d, Reproach did scold; Thus long this gentle bird to him did use, Reproach sharp stings, Repentance whips entwin'd, Withouten dread of peril to repair Shame burning brand-irons in her hand did hold; Unto his wonne; and with her mournful muse All three to each unlike, yet all made in one mould. Him to recomfort in his greatest care,

That much did case his mourning and misfare :
And after them, a rude confused rout

And every day, for guerdon of her song,
Of persons flock’d, whose names is hard to read : He part of his small feast to her would share;
Amongst them was stern Strife, and Anger stout, That, at the last, of all his woe and wrong,
Unquiet Care, and fond Unthriftihead,

Companion she became, and so continued long.
Lewd Loss of Time, and Sorrow seeming dead,
Inconstant Change, and false Disloyalty,

Upon a day, as she him sate beside,
Consuming Riotise, and guilty Dread

By chance he certain moniments forth drew, Of heavenly vengeance, faint Infirmity,

Which yet with him as relicks did abide Vile Poverty, and lastly Death with Infamy. Of all the bounty, which Belphebe threw

On him, while goodly grace she did him shew:
There were full many more like maladies,

Amongst the rest, a jewel rich he found,
Whose names and natures I not readen well; That was a ruby of right perfect hue,
So many more as there be phantasies

Shap'd like a heart, yet bleeding of the wound,
In wandering women's wit, that none can tell; And with a little golden chain about it bound.
Or pains in love, or punishments in hell :
And, which disguised, march'd, in masking wise, The same he took, and with a ribbon new
About the chamber with that Damosel,

(In which his lady's colours were) did bind And then returned (having marched thrice)

About the turtle's neck, that with the view Into the inner room, from whence they first did rise. Did greatly solace his engrieved mind.

All unawares the bird, when she did find

If heaven, then none may it redress or blame,
Herself so deck'd, her nimble wings display'd,' Since to his power we all are subject born :
And flew away, as lightly as the wind :

If wrathful wight, then foul rebuke and shame
Which sudden accident him much dismay'd, Be theirs, that have so cruel thee forlorn ;
And looking after long, did mark which way she But if through inward grief, or wilful scorn
stray'd.

Of life it be, then better do avise.

For, he whose days in wilful woe are wom, But, when as long he looked had in vain,

The grace of his Creator doth despise, Yet saw her forward still to make her fight, That will not use his gifts for thankless niggardise. His weary eye return'd to him again, Full of discomfort and disquiet plight,

When so he heard her say, eftsoons he brake That both his jewel he had lost so light,

His sudden silence, which he long had pent,
And eke his dear companion of his care.

And sighing inly deep, her thus bespake;
But that sweet bird departing, flew forth right Then have they all themselves against me bent:
Through the wide region of the wasteful air, For heaven (first author of my languishment)
Until she came where wonned his Belphebe fair. Envying my too great felicity,

Did closely with a cruel one consent,
There found she her (as then it did betide)

To cloud my days in doleful misery, Sitting in covert shade of arbors sweet,

And make me loath this life, still longing for to die. After late weary toil, which she had tried In savage chace, to rest as seem'd her meet.

Nor any but yourself, O dearest dread, There she alighting, fell before her feet,

Hath done this wrong; to wreak on worthless wight And gan to her, her mournful plaint to make, Your high displeasure, through misdeeming bred : As was her wont: thinking to let her weet

That when your pleasure is to deem aright,
The great tormenting grief, that for her sake Ye may redress, and me restore to light.
Her gentle squire through her displeasure did partake. Which sorry words, her mighty heart did mate

With mild regard, to see his rueful plight,
She, her beholding with attentive eye,

That her in-burning wrath she gan abate,
At length did mark about her purple breast And him receiv'd again to former favour's state.
That precious jewel, which she formerly
Had known right well, with colour'd ribbon drest;
Therewith she rose in haste, and her addrest

SIMILE.
With ready hand it to have reft away.
But the swift bird obey'd not her behest,

Then did he set her by that snowy one,
But swerv'd aside, and there again did stay;

Like the true saint beside the image set; She follow'd her, and thought again it to assay.

Of both their beauties to make paragon,

And trial whether should the honour get. And ever when she nigh approach'd, the dove Straightway so soon as both together met, Would fit a little forward, and then stay

Th'enchanted damsel vanish'd into nought: Till she drew near, and then again remove;

Her snowy substance melted as with heat, So tempting her still to pursue the prey,

Nor of that goodly hue remained ought, ( wrought. And still from her escaping soft away :

But th’ empty girdle, which about her waist was
Till that at length, into that forest wide
She drew her far, and led with slow delay.

As when the daughter of Thaumantes fair,
In th' end, she her unto that place did guide, Hath in a wat’ry cloud displayed wide
Whereas that woful man in languor did abide. Her goodly bow, which paints the liquid air,

That all men wonder at her colour's pride;
He her beholding, at her feet down fell,

All suddenly, ere one can look aside,
And kiss'd the ground on which her sole did tread, The glorious picture vanisheth away,
And wash'd the same with water, which did well Nor any token doth thereof abide :
From his moist eyes, and like two streams proceed ; So did this lady's goodly form decay,
Yet spake no word, whereby she might aread And into nothing go, ere one could it bewray.
What mister wight he was, or what he meant;
But as one daunted with her presence dread,
Only few rueful looks unto her sent,

COMBAT BETWEEN PRINCE ARTHUR As messengers of his true meaning and intent.

AND THE SOLDAN DESCRIBED. Yet nathemore his meaning she ared,

WHEREWITH, the Soldan all with fury fraught, But wondered much at his so uncouth case ; Swearing, and banning most blasphemously, And by his person's secret seemlihed

Commanded strait his armour to be brought; Well ween'd, that he had been some man of place, And mounting strait upon a chariot high, Before misfortune did his hue deface:

With iron wheels and hooks arm'd dreadfully, That being mov'd with ruth she thus bespake. And drawn of cruel steeds, which he had fed Ah! woful man, what heaven's hard disgrace, With flesh of men, whom through fell tyranny Or wrath of cruel wight on thee ywrake,

He slaughtered had, and ere they were half dead, Or self disliked life, doth thee thus wretched make? Their bodies to his beasts for provender did spread.

So, forth he came all in a coat of plate,

Cannot come near him in the covert wood,
Burnish'd with bloody rust; while on the green Where be with boughs hath built his shady stand,
The Briton Prince him ready did await,

And fenc'd himself about with many a flaming brand.
In glittering arms right goodly well beseen,
That shone as bright as doth the heaven sheen; Still when he sought t' approach unto him nigh,
And by his stirrup Talus did attend,

His chariot wheels about him whirled round,
Playing his page's part, as he had been

And made him back again as fast to fly; Before directed by his lord; to th' end

And eke his steeds, like to an hungry hound, He should his flail to final execution bend.

That hunting after game hath carrion found,

So cruelly did him pursue and chace, Thus go they both together to their gear,

That his good steed, all were he much renown'd With like fierce minds, but meanings different :

For noble courage, and for hardy race, (place.
For, the proud Soldan with presumptuous chear,

Durst not endure their sight, but fled from place to
And countenance sublime and insolent,
Sought only slaughter and avengement :

Thus long they trac'd, and travers'd to and fro,
But the brave Prince for honour and for right, Seeking by every way to make some breach :
Gainst tortious power and lawless regiment,

Yet could the Prince not nigh unto him go, In the behalf of wronged weak did fight:

That one sure stroke he might unto him reach, More in his cause's truth he trusted than in might. Whereby his strength's essay he might him teach.

At last, from his victorious shield he drew Like to the Thracian tyrant, who they say

The veil, which did his powerful light impeach ; Unto his horses gave his guests for meat,

And coming full before his horses' view,
Till he himself was made their greedy prey,

As they upon him press'd, it plain to them did shew.
And torn in pieces by Alcides great ;
So thought the Soldan in his folly's threat,

Like lightening flash, that hath the gazer burned,
Either the Prince in pieces to have torn

So did the sight thereof their sense dismay,
With his sharp wheels, in his first rage's heat,

That back again upon themselves they turned,
Or under his fierce horses' feet have borne (scorn. And with their rider ran perforce away:
And trampled down in dust his thought's disdained Nor could the Soldan them from flying stay,

With reins, or wonted rule, as well he knew.
But the bold child that peril well espying,

Nought feared they, what he could do or say, If he too rashly to his chariot drew,

But th' only fear that was before their view;
Gave way unto his horse's speedy flying,

From which, like mazed deer, dismayfully they flew.
And their resistless rigour did eschew.
Yet, as he passed by, the Pagan threw

Fast did they fly, as them their feet could bear,
A shivering dart with so impetuous force,

High over hills, and lowly over dales,
That had he not it shunn'd with heedful view, As they were follow'd of their former fear.
It had himself transfixed, or his horse, (morse. In vain the Pagan banns, and swears, and rails,
Or made them both one mass withouten more re- And back with both his hands unto him hailes

The resty reins, regarded now no more:
Oft drew the Prince unto his chariot nigh,

He to them calls and speaks, yet nought avails; In hope some stroke to fasten on him near ;

They hear him not, they have forgot his lore, (lore.
But he was mounted in his seat so high,

But go which way they list, their guide they have for.
And his wing-footed coursers him did bear
So fast away, that ere his ready spear

As when the fiery-mouthed steeds, which drew
He could advance, he far was gone and past.

The sun's bright wain to Phaeton's decay, Yet still he him did follow every where,

Soon as they did the monstrous scorpion view, And followed was of him likewise full fast:

With ugly craples crawling in their way, So long as in his steeds the flaming breath did last. The dreadful sight did them so sore affray,

That their well knowen courses they forwent ; Again, the Pagan threw another dart,

And leading the ever burning lamp astray, Of which he had with him abundant store,

This lower world nigh all to ashes brent;
On every side of his embattled cart,

And left their scorched path yet in the firmament.
And of all other weapons less or more,
Which warlike uses had deviz'd of yore.

Such was the fury of these headstrong steeds,
The wicked shaft guided through th' airie wide, Soon as the infant's sun-like shield they saw,
By some bad spirit, that it to mischief bore,

That all obedience, both to words and deeds,
Staid not, till through his curat it did glide, They quite forgot, and scorn'd all former law;
And made a grisly wound in his enriven side. Through woods, and rocks, and mountains they did

The iron chariot, and the wheels did tear, (draw
Much was he grieved with that hapless throe, And toss'd the Paynim, without fear or awe;
That opened had the well-spring of his blood; From side to side they toss'd him here and there,
But much the more that to his hateful foe

Crying to them in vain, that n'ould his crying hear.
He might not come, to wreak his wrathful mood,
That made him rave, like to a lion wood;

Yet still the Prince pursued him close behind,
Which being wounded of the huntsman's hand Oft making offer him to smite, but found

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