Who, as they now approachéd nigh at hand,
Deeming them doughty' as they did appear,
They sent that squire afore, to understand
What might they be: who, viewing them more
Returnéd ready news, that those same were
Two of the prowest2 knights in Faery Lond;
And those two ladies their two lovers dear;
Courageous Cambell, and stout Triamond,
With Canacee and Cambine link'd in lovely bond.
Whilome,3 as antique stories tellen us,
Those two were foes the fellonest on ground,
And battle made the dreadest dangerous
That ever shrilling trumpet did resound;
Though now their acts be nowhere to be found,
As that renowned poet them compiled
With warlike numbers and heroic sound,
Dan Chaucer, Well of English undefiled,
On fame's eternal beadroll5 worthy to be filed.
But wicked Time, that all good thoughts doth
waste,
And works of noblest wits to naught outwear,
That famous monument hath quite defac'd,
And robb'd the world of treasure endless dear,
The which might have enrichéd all us here.
O cursed eld, the canker-worm of writs!
How may these rhymes, so rude as doth appear,
Hope to endure, sith7 works of heavenly wits
Are quite devour'd, and brought to naught by little
Then pardon, O most sacred happy spirit,
That I thy labours lost may thus revive,
And steal from thee the meed of thy due merit,
That none durst ever whilst thou wast alive,
And, being dead, in vain yet many strive:
Ne dare I like; but, through infusion sweet
Of thine own spirit which doth in me survive,
I follow here the footing of thy feet,
That with thy meaning so I may the rather meet.
Cambello's sister was fair Canacee,
That was the learnedst lady in her days,
Well seen1 in every science that might be,
And every secret work of nature's ways;
In witty riddles; and in wise soothsays;
In power of herbs; and tunes of beasts and birds;
And, that augmented all her other praise,
She modest was in all her deeds and words,
And wondrous chaste of life, yet lov'd of knights and lords.
Full many lords and many knights her lov'd,
Yet she to none of them her liking lent,
Ne ever was with fond affection mov'd,
But rul'd her thoughts with goodly government,
For dread of blame and honour's blemishment;
And eke unto her looks a law she made,
That none of them once out of order went,
But, like to wary sentinels well stay'd,
Still watch'd on every side, of secret foes afraid.
So much the more as she refus'd to love,
So much the more she loved was and sought,
That oftentimes unquiet strife did move
Amongst her lovers, and great quarrels wrought;
That oft for her in bloody arms they fought.
Which whenas Cambell, that was stout and wise,
Perceiv'd would breed great mischief, he bethought
How to prevent the peril that might rise,
And turn both him and her to honour in this wise.
One day, when all that troop of warlike wooers
Assembled were, to weet1 whose she should be,
All mighty men and dreadful derring-doers,2
(The harder it to make them well agree,)
Amongst them all this end he did decree;
That, of them all which love to her did make,
They by consent should choose the stoutest three
That with himself should combat for her sake,
And of them all the victor should his sister take.
Bold was the challenge, as himself was bold,
And courage full of haughty hardiment,3
Approved oft in perils manifold,
Which he achiev'd to his great ornament:
But yet his sister's skill unto him lent
Most confidence and hope of happy speed,
Conceived by a ring which she him sent,
That, 'mongst the many virtues which we read,
Had power to staunch all wounds that mortally did
Well was that ring's great virtue known to all;
That dread thereof, and his redoubted might,
Did all that youthly rout so much appal,
That none of them durst undertake the fight:
More wise they ween'd to make of love delight
Than life to hazard for fair lady's look:
And yet uncertain by such outward sight,
Though for her sake they all that peril took,
1 Endure. Whether she would them love, or in her liking brook.1
Amongst those knights there were three brethren
Three bolder brethren never were yborn, [bold,
Born of one mother in one happy mould,
Born at one burden in one happy morn;
Thrice happy mother, and thrice happy morn,
That bore three such, three such not to be found!
Her name was Agapè, whose children wern2
All three as one; the first hights Priamond,
The second Diamond, the youngest Triamond.
Stout Priamond, but not so strong to strike;
Strong Diamond, but not so stout a knight;
But Triamond was stout and strong alike:
On horseback uséd Triamond to fight,
And Priamond on foot had more delight;
But horse and foot knew Diamond to wield:
With curtaxe5 uséd Diamond to smite,
And Triamond to handle spear and shield,
But spear and curtaxe both us'd Priamond in field.
These three did love each other dearly well,
And with so firm affection were allied,
As if but one soul in them all did dwell,
Which did her power into three parts divide;
Like three fair branches budding far and wide,
That from one root deriv'd their vital sap:
And, like that root that doth her life divide,
Their mother was; and had full blessed hap
These three so noble babes to bring forth at one ciap.
Their mother was a Fay, and had the skill
Of secret things, and all the powers of nature,
Which she by art could use unto her will,
And to her service bind each living creature,
Through secret understanding of their feature.1
Thereto2 she was right fair, whenso her face
She list3 discover, and of goodly stature;
1 Character.
2 Besides.
3 Chose to.
But she, as Fays are wont, in privy place [space. Roam. Did spend her days, and lov'd in forests wild to
There on a day a noble youthly knight,
Seeking adventures in the savage wood,
Did by great fortune get of her the sight,
As she sat careless by a crystal flood
Combing her golden locks, as seem'd her good;
And unawares upon her laying hold,
That strove in vain him long to have withstood,
Oppressed her, and there (as it is told)
Got these three lovely babes, that prov'd three
champions bold:
Which she with her long foster'd in that wood,
Till that to ripeness of man's state they grew:
Then, showing forth signs of their father's blood,
They loved arms, and knighthood did ensue,5
Seeking adventures where they any knew.
Which when their mother saw, she gan to doubt
Their safety; lest by searching dangers new,
And rash provoking perils all about, [stout.
Their days might be abridgéd through their courage
Therefore desirous th' end of all their days
To know, and them t' enlarge with long extent,
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