From profecuting of her first intent,

But forward with bold fteps into the next roome

went.

LI.

Much fayrer then the former was that roome,
And richlier, by many partes, arayd ;
For not with arras made in painefull loome,
But with pure gold it all was overlayd,
Wrought with wilde antickes which their
follies playd

In the rich metall, as they living were:

A thousand monftrous formes therein were made,

Such as falfe Love doth oft upon him weare; For Love in thousand monftrous formes doth

oft appeare.

LII.

And, all about, the gliftring walles were hong With warlike fpoiles and with victorious

prayes

Of mightie conquerours and captaines strong, Which were whilóme captíved in their dayes To cruell Love, and wrought their owne decayes:

Their fwerds and fperes were broke, and hauberques rent,

LI. 5.

antickes] Buffoons, who, in the old English farces, appeared with a blacked face and a patch-work habit. See the commentators on Shakspeare's Much Ado about Nothing, A. iii. S. i. TODD.

And their proud girlonds of tryumphant bayes
Troden in duft with fury infolent,

To fhew the Victors might and merciless intent.

LIII.

The warlike Mayd, beholding earnestly
The goodly ordinaunce of this rich place,
Did greatly wonder; ne could fatisfy
Her greedy eyes with gazing a long space :
But more the mervaild that no footings trace
Nor wight appeard, but wastefull emptiness
And folemne filence over all that place:
Straunge thing it feem'd, that none was to
poffeffe

So rich purveyaunce, ne them keepe with care

fulneffe.

LIV.

And, as fhe lookt about, fhe did behold

How over that fame dore was likewife writ,
Be bolde, Be bolde, and every where, Be bold;
That much the muz'd, yet could not conftrue it
By any ridling fkill or commune wit.
At last she spyde at that rowmes upper end
Another yron dore, on which was writ,
Be not too bold; whereto though she did bend

LIII. 5. But more he mervaild &c.] See Mr. Warton's note on the fame image of filence &c. F. Q. i. viii. 29. TODD. LIV. 8. Be not too bold;] Dante's idea of an infcription on the brafen portal of hell, (Inf. C. iii.) was fuggested by books of chivalry; in which the gate of an impregnable enchanted caftle is often infcribed with words importing the danger, or wonders, to be found within. Thus, on one of the

Her earnest minde, yet wift not what it might

intend.

LV.

Thus the there wayted untill eventyde,
Yet living creature none she saw appeare.
And now fad fhadowes gan the world to hyde
From mortall vew, and wrap in darkenes
dreare ;

Yet nould the d'off her weary armes, for feare
Of fecret daunger, ne let sleepe oppreffe

Her heavy eyes with natures burdein deare,
But drew herfelfe aside in fickerneffe,

And her welpointed wepons did about her dreffe.

doors of this chamber in Spenfer's necromantick palace of Bufyrane, is written a threat to the champions who prefumed to attempt to enter. T. WARTON.

LV. 1. Thus the there] The folios, Hughes, and Tonfon's' edition in 1758, read, "Thus there fhe &c." Topp.

CANTO XII.

The Maske of Cupid, and th' enchaun-
ted Chamber are displayd;
Whence Britomart redeemes faire A-
moret through charmes decayd.

I.

THO, whenas cheareleffe Night ycovered had
Fayre heaven with an univerfall clowd,
That every wight difmayd with darkenes fad
In filence and in fleepe themselves did shrowd,
She heard a fhrilling trompet found alowd,
Signe of nigh battaill, or got victory:
Nought therewith daunted was her courage
prowd,

But rather ftird to cruell enmity,
Expecting ever when some foe she might defcry.

ARG. 1. The Mafke of Cupid and th' enchaun

ted Chamber &c.] See the Preliminary Remarks on Spenfer's Allegorical Character, vol. ii. pp. civ, &c. Where I have endeavoured to fhow that the Mask and the enchanted Chamber are perhaps, in a small degree, indebted to the Amadis de Gaule and other publications. TODD.

I. 5. She heard a fhrilling trompet &c.] So, in the Seven Champions, B. i. Ch. 5. "After this he heard the found of drums, and the chearfull echoes of brazen trumpets; by which the valiaunt champion expected fome honourable pastime, or fome great turnament to be at hand." T. WARTON.

II.

With that, an hideous storme of winde arofe, With dreadfull thunder aud lightning atwixt, And an earthquake, as if it ftreight would lose The worlds foundations from his centre fixt: A direfull ftench of fmoke and fulphure mixt Enfewd, whofe noyaunce fild the fearefull fted From the fourth howre of night untill the fixt; Yet the bold Britoneffe was nought ydred, Though much emmov'd, but stedfast still persévered.

III.

All fuddeinly a stormy whirlwind blew

Throughout the house, that clapped every
dore,

With which that yron wicket open flew,
As it with mighty levers had bene tore;
And forth yffewd, as on the readie flore
Of fome theatre, a grave perfonage

That in his hand a braunch of laurell bore, With comely haveour and count'nance fage, Yclad in coftly garments fit for tragicke stage.

IV.

Proceeding to the midst he ftil did stand,

As if in minde he fomewhat had to fay;

III. 5. And forth fewd, &c.] This Mafk of Cupid our poet, I believe, wrote in his younger days with the title of Pageants; and with proper alterations worked it into this his greater Poem. See the note of E. K. Shep. Cal. June, ver. 25.

UPTON.