Chapter XVIII: Appendix: Stanzas Omitted in the Second Edition (1596) 517 (16)

Who hauing ended with that _Squire of Dames_ xliv
A long discourse of his[1061] aduentures vaine,
The which himselfe, then Ladies more defames,
And finding not th’_Hyena_ to be slaine,
With that same _Squire_, returned backe againe
To his first way. And as they forward went,
They spyde a knight faire pricking on the plaine,
As if he were on some aduenture bent,
And in his port appeared manly hardiment.

Sir _Satyrane_ him towards did addresse, xlv
To weet, what wight he was, and what his quest:
And comming nigh, eftsoones he gan to gesse[1062]
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 tydings farre abrode;
And afterwardes, on what aduenture now he rode.

Who thereto answering, said; The tydings bad, xlvi
Which now in Faerie court all men do 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 braue knights, that doen in armes excell,
To sauegard her, ywandred all alone;
Emongst the rest my lot (vnworthy[1063]) is to be one.

Ah gentle knight (said then Sir _Satyrane_) xlvii
Thy labour all is lost, I greatly dread,
That hast a thanklesse seruice on thee ta’ne,
And offrest sacrifice vnto the dead:
For dead, I surely doubt, thou maist aread
Henceforth for euer _Florimell_ to be,
That all the noble knights of _Maydenhead_,
Which her ador’d, may sore repent with me,
And all faire Ladies may for euer sory be.

Which words when _Paridell_ had heard, his hew xlviii
Gan greatly chaunge, and seem’d dismayd to bee;
Then said, Faire Sir, how may I weene it trew,
That ye doe tell in such vncertaintee?
Or speake ye of report, or did ye see
Iust cause of dread, that makes ye doubt so sore?
For perdie else how mote it euer bee,
That euer hand should dare for to engore
Her noble bloud? the heauens such crueltie abhore.

These eyes did see, that they will euer rew xlix
T’haue[1064] seene, (quoth he) when as a monstrous beast
The Palfrey, whereon she did trauell, slew,
And of his bowels made his bloudie[1065] feast:
Which speaking token sheweth at the least
Her certaine losse, if not her sure decay:
Besides, that more suspition encreast,
I found her golden girdle cast astray,
Distaynd with durt and bloud, as relique of the pray.

Aye me, (said _Paridell_) the signes be sad, l
And but God turne the same to good soothsay,
That Ladies safetie is sore to be drad:
Yet will I not forsake my forward way,
Till triall doe more certaine 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 speed.

Ye noble knights (said then the _Squire of Dames_) li
Well may ye speed in so praiseworthy paine:
But sith the Sunne now ginnes to slake his beames,
In deawy vapours of the westerne maine,
And lose the teme out of his weary waine,
Mote not mislike you also to abate
Your zealous hast, till morrow next againe
Both light of heauen, and strength of men relate:
Which if ye please, to yonder castle turne your gate.

That counsell pleased well; so all yfere lii
Forth marched to a Castle them before,
Where soone arriuing, they restrained were
Of readie entrance, which ought euermore
To errant knights be commun[1066]: wondrous sore
Thereat displeasd they were, till that young Squire
Gan them informe the cause, why that same dore
Was shut to all, which lodging did desire:
The which to let you weet, will further time require.

FOOTNOTES:

[1042] ii 7 broken] golden _1590_

[1043] iii 2 relieued _1609_

[1044] iv 5 masters _1609_

[1045] v 1 aduise] deuice _1590_

[1046] vi 7 wax _1609_

[1047] vii 4 a womans] to womens _1590_

[1048] viii 3 lomewhyle _1590_: lomewhile _1596_

[1049] ix 9 whom] who _1590_, _1596_

[1050] x 6 countenaunce] countenant _1596_

[1051] xi 6 he _om. 1596_

[1052] xiv 1 pursute _1609_

[1053] xxii 5 saw, _1590_, _1596_

[1054] xxiii 8 the] this _1590_

[1055] 9 ame. _1590_

[1056] xxv 9 reprou’d _1590_

[1057] xxx 3 frory] frowy _1590_, _1596_

[1058] xxxiii 9 thereby] her by _1590_

[1059] xxxvii 9 hight] high _1590_

[1060] xli 5 end.] eend. _1590_

[1061] xliv 2 his] hir _1609_

[1062] xlv 3 ghesse _1609_

[1063] xlvi 9 vnworthy’ _1590_

[1064] xlix 2 To haue _1590_

[1065] 4 his bloudie] a bloudy _1609_

_Cant. IX._

_Malbecco will no straunge knights host,
For peeuish gealosie:
Paridell giusts with Britomart:
Both shew their auncestrie._
]

Redoubted knights, and honorable Dames, i
To whom I leuell all my labours end,
Right sore I feare, least with vnworthy blames
This odious argument my rimes should shend,
Or ought your goodly patience offend,
Whiles of a wanton Lady I do write,
Which with her loose incontinence doth blend
The shyning glory of your soueraigne light,
And knighthood fowle defaced by a faithlesse knight.

But neuer let th’ensample of the bad ii
Offend the good: for good by paragone
Of euill, may more notably be rad,
As white seemes fairer, macht with blacke attone[1067];
Ne all are shamed by the fault of one:
For lo in heauen, whereas all goodnesse is,
Emongst the Angels, a whole legione
Of wicked Sprights did fall from happy blis;
What wonder then, if one of women all did mis?

Then listen Lordings, if ye list to weet iii
The cause, why _Satyrane_ and _Paridell_
Mote not be entertaynd, as seemed meet,
Into that Castle (as that Squire does tell.)
Therein a cancred crabbed Carle does dwell,
That has no skill of Court nor courtesie,
Ne cares, what men say of him ill or well;
For all his dayes he drownes in priuitie,
Yet has full large to liue, and spend at libertie.

But all his mind is set on mucky pelfe, iv
To hoord vp heapes of euill gotten masse,
For which he others wrongs, and wreckes himselfe;
Yet is he lincked to a louely lasse,
Whose beauty doth her[1068] bounty far surpasse,
The which to him both far vnequall yeares,
And also far vnlike conditions has;
For she does ioy to play emongst her peares,
And to be free from hard restraint and gealous feares.

But he is old, and withered like hay, v
Vnfit faire Ladies seruice to supply;
The priuie guilt whereof makes him alway
Suspect her truth, and keepe continuall spy
Vpon her with his other blincked eye;
Ne suffreth he resort of liuing wight
Approch to her, ne keepe her company,
But in close bowre her mewes from all mens sight,
Depriu’d of kindly ioy and naturall delight.

_Malbecco_ he, and _Hellenore_ she hight, vi
Vnfitly yokt together in one teeme,
That is the cause, why neuer any knight
Is[1069] suffred here to enter, but he seeme
Such, as no doubt of him he neede misdeeme.
Thereat Sir _Satyrane_ gan smile, and say;
Extremely mad the man I surely deeme,
That weenes with watch and hard restraint to stay
A womans will, which is disposd to go astray.

In vaine he feares that, which he cannot shonne: vii
For who wotes not, that womans subtiltyes
Can guilen _Argus_, when she list misdonne[1070]?
It is not yron bandes, nor hundred eyes,
Nor brasen walls, nor many wakefull spyes,
That can withhold her wilfull wandring feet;
But fast good will with gentle curtesyes,
And timely seruice to her pleasures meet
May her perhaps containe, that else would algates fleet.

Then is he not more mad (said _Paridell_) viii
That hath himselfe vnto such seruice sold,
In dolefull thraldome all his dayes to dwell?
For sure a foole I do him firmely hold,
That loues his fetters, though they were of gold.
But why do we deuise of others ill,
Whiles thus we suffer this same dotard old,
To keepe vs out, in scorne of his owne will,
And rather do not ransack all, and him selfe kill?

Nay let vs first (said _Satyrane_) entreat ix
The man by gentle meanes, to let vs in,
And afterwardes affray with cruell threat,
Ere that we to efforce it do begin:
Then if all fayle, we will by force it win,
And eke reward the wretch for his mesprise,
As may be worthy of his haynous sin.
That counsell pleasd: then _Paridell_ did rise,
And to the Castle gate approcht in quiet wise.

Whereat soft knocking, entrance he desyrd. x
The good man selfe, which then the Porter playd,
Him answered, that all were now retyrd
Vnto their rest, and all the keyes conuayd
Vnto their maister, who in bed was layd,
That none him durst awake out of his dreme;
And therefore them of patience gently prayd.
Then _Paridell_ began to chaunge his theme,
And threatned him with force and punishment extreme.

But all in vaine; for nought mote him relent, xi
And now so long before the wicket fast
They wayted, that the night was forward spent,
And the faire welkin fowly ouercast,
Gan blowen vp a bitter stormy blast,
With shoure and hayle so horrible and dred,
That this faire many were compeld at last,
To fly for succour to a little shed,
The which beside the gate for swine was ordered.

It fortuned, soone after they were gone, xii
Another knight, whom tempest thither brought,
Came to that Castle, and with earnest mone,
Like as the rest, late entrance deare besought;
But like so as the rest he prayd for nought,
For flatly he of entrance was refusd,
Sorely thereat he was displeasd, and thought
How to auenge himselfe so sore abusd,
And euermore the Carle of curtesie accusd.

But to auoyde th’intollerable stowre, xiii
He was compeld to seeke some refuge neare,
And to that shed, to shrowd him from the showre,
He came, which full of guests he found whyleare,
So as he was not let to enter there:
Whereat he gan to wex exceeding wroth,
And swore, that he would lodge with them yfere,
Or them dislodge, all were they liefe or loth;
And so defide them each[1071], and so defide them both.

Both were full loth to leaue that needfull tent, xiv
And both full loth in darkenesse to debate;
Yet both full liefe him lodging to haue lent,
And both full liefe his boasting to abate;
But chiefly _Paridell_ his hart did grate,
To heare him threaten so despightfully,
As if he did a dogge to[1072] kenell rate,
That durst not barke; and rather had he dy,
Then when he was defide, in coward corner ly.

Tho hastily remounting to his steed, xv
He forth issew’d; like as a boistrous wind,
Which in th’earthes hollow caues hath long bin[1073] hid,
And shut vp fast within her prisons blind,
Makes the huge element against her kind
To moue, and tremble as it were agast,
Vntill that it an issew forth may find;
Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blast
Confounds both land and seas, and skyes doth ouercast.

Their steel-hed speares they strongly coucht, and met xvi
Together with impetuous rage and forse,
That with the terrour of their fierce affret,
They rudely droue to ground both man and horse,
That each awhile lay like a sencelesse corse.
But _Paridell_ sore brused with the blow,
Could not arise, the counterchaunge to scorse,
Till that young Squire him reared from below;
Then drew he his bright sword, and gan about him throw.

But _Satyrane_ forth stepping, did them stay xvii
And with faire treatie pacifide their ire,
Then when they were accorded from the fray,
Against that Castles Lord they gan conspire,
To heape on him dew vengeaunce for his hire.
They bene agreed, and to the gates they goe
To burne the same with vnquenchable fire,
And that vncurteous Carle their commune foe
To do fowle death to dye, or wrap in grieuous woe.

_Malbecco_ seeing them resolu’d in deed xviii
To flame the gates, and hearing them to call
For fire in earnest, ran with fearefull speed,
And to them calling from the castle wall,
Besought them humbly, him to beare with all,
As ignoraunt of seruants bad abuse,
And slacke attendaunce vnto straungers call.
The knights were willing all things to excuse,
Though nought beleu’d, and entraunce late did not refuse.

They bene ybrought into a comely bowre, xix
And seru’d of all things that mote needfull bee;
Yet secretly their hoste did on them lowre,
And welcomde more for feare, then charitee;
But they dissembled, what they did not see,
And welcomed themselues. Each gan vndight
Their garments wet, and weary armour free,
To dry them selues by _Vulcanes_ flaming light,
And eke their lately bruzed parts to bring in plight.

And eke that straunger knight emongst the rest[1074] xx
Was for like need enforst to disaray:
Tho whenas vailed was her loftie crest,
Her golden locks, that were in tramels gay
Vpbounden, did them selues adowne display,
And raught vnto her heeles; like sunny beames,
That in a cloud their light did long time stay,
Their vapour vaded, shew their golden gleames,
And through the persant[1075] aire shoote forth their azure
streames.

She also dofte her heauy haberieon, xxi
Which the faire feature of her limbs did hyde,
And her well plighted frock, which she did won
To tucke about her short, when she did ryde,
She low let fall, that flowd from her lanck syde
Downe to her foot, with carelesse modestee.
Then of them all she plainly was espyde,
To be a woman wight, vnwist to bee,
The fairest woman wight, that euer eye did see.

Like as _Minerua_[1076], being late returnd xxii
From slaughter of the Giaunts conquered;
Where proud _Encelade_, whose wide nosethrils burnd
With breathed flames, like to a furnace red,
Transfixed with the[1077] speare, downe tombled ded
From top of _Hemus_, by him heaped hye;
Hath loosd her helmet from her lofty hed,
And her _Gorgonian_ shield gins to vntye
From her left arme, to rest in glorious victorye.

Which whenas they beheld, they smitten were xxiii
With great amazement of so wondrous sight,
And each on other, and they all on her
Stood gazing, as if suddein great affright
Had them surprised. At last auizing right,
Her goodly personage and glorious hew,
Which they so much mistooke, they tooke delight
In their first errour, and yet still anew
With wonder of her beauty fed their hungry[1078] vew.

Yet note their hungry vew be satisfide, xxiv
But seeing still the more desir’d to see,
And euer firmely fixed did abide
In contemplation of diuinitie:
But most[1079] they meruaild at her cheualree,
And noble prowesse, which they had approued,
That much they faynd to know, who she mote bee;
Yet none of all them her thereof amoued,
Yet euery one her likte, and euery one her loued.

And _Paridell_ though partly discontent xxv
With his late fall, and fowle indignity,
Yet was soone wonne his malice to relent,
Through gracious regard of her faire eye,
And knightly worth, which he too late did try,
Yet tried did adore. Supper was dight;
Then they _Malbecco_ prayd of curtesy,
That of his Lady they might haue the sight,
And company at meat, to do them more delight.

But he to shift their curious request, xxvi
Gan causen, why she could not come in place;
Her crased health, her late recourse to rest,
And humid euening ill for sicke folkes cace:
But none of those excuses could take place;
Ne would they eate, till she in presence came.
She came in presence with right comely grace,
And fairely them saluted, as became,
And shewd her selfe in all a gentle curteous Dame.

They sate to meat, and _Satyrane_ his chaunce xxvii
Was her before, and _Paridell_ besyde;
But he him selfe sate looking still askaunce,
Gainst _Britomart_, and euer closely eyde
Sir _Satyrane_, that[1080] glaunces might not glyde:
But his blind eye, that syded _Paridell_,
All his demeasnure[1081] from his sight did hyde:
On her faire face so did he feede his fill,
And sent close messages of loue to her at will.

And euer and anone, when none was ware, xxviii
With speaking lookes, that close embassage bore,
He rou’d at her, and told his secret care:
For all that art he learned had of yore.
Ne was she ignoraunt of that lewd lore,
But in his eye his meaning wisely red,
And with the like him answerd euermore:
She sent at him one firie dart, whose hed
Empoisned was with priuy lust, and gealous dred.

He from that deadly throw made no defence, xxix
But to the wound his weake hart opened wyde;
The wicked engine through false influence,
Past through his eyes, and secretly did glyde
Into his hart, which it did sorely gryde.
But nothing new to him was that same paine,
Ne paine at all; for he so oft had tryde
The powre thereof, and lou’d so oft in vaine,
That thing of course he counted, loue to entertaine.

Thenceforth to her he sought to intimate xxx
His inward griefe, by meanes to him well knowne,
Now _Bacchus_ fruit out of the siluer plate
He on the table dasht, as ouerthrowne,
Or of the fruitfull liquor ouerflowne,
And by the dauncing bubbles did diuine,
Or therein write to let his loue be showne;
Which well she red out of the learned line,
A sacrament prophane in mistery of wine.

And when so of his hand the pledge she raught, xxxi
The guilty cup she fained to mistake,
And in her lap did shed her idle draught,
Shewing desire her inward flame to slake:
By such close signes they secret way did make
Vnto their wils, and one eyes watch escape;
Two eyes him needeth, for to watch and wake,
Who louers will deceiue. Thus was the ape,
By their faire handling, put into _Malbeccoes_ cape.

Now when of meats and drinks they had their fill, xxxii
Purpose was moued by that gentle Dame,
Vnto those knights aduenturous, to tell
Of deeds of armes, which vnto them became,
And euery one his kindred, and his name.
Then _Paridell_, in whom a kindly pryde
Of gracious speach, and skill his words to frame
Abounded, being glad[1082] of so fit tyde
Him to commend to her, thus spake, of all well eyde.

_Troy_, that art now nought, but an idle name, xxxiii
And in thine ashes buried low dost lie,
Though whilome far much greater then thy fame,
Before that angry Gods, and cruell skye
Vpon thee heapt a direfull destinie,
What boots it boast thy glorious descent,
And fetch from heauen thy great Genealogie,
Sith all thy worthy prayses being blent,
Their of-spring hath embaste, and later glory shent.

Most famous Worthy of the world, by whome xxxiv
That warre was kindled, which did _Troy_ inflame,
And stately towres of _Ilion_ whilome
Brought vnto balefull ruine, was by name
Sir _Paris_ far renowmd through noble fame,
Who through great prowesse and bold hardinesse,
From _Lacedæmon_ fetcht the fairest Dame,
That euer _Greece_ did boast, or knight possesse,
Whom _Venus_ to him gaue for meed of worthinesse.

Faire _Helene_, flowre of beautie excellent, xxxv
And girlond of the mighty Conquerours,
That madest many Ladies deare lament
The heauie losse of their braue Paramours,
Which they far off beheld from _Troian_ toures,
And saw the fieldes of faire _Scamander_ strowne
With carcases of noble warrioures,
Whose fruitlesse liues were vnder furrow sowne,
And _Xanthus_ sandy bankes with bloud all ouerflowne.

From him my linage I deriue aright, xxxvi
Who long before the ten yeares siege of _Troy_,
Whiles yet on _Ida_ he a shepheard hight,
On faire _Oenone_ got a louely boy,
Whom for remembraunce of her passed ioy,
She of his Father _Parius_ did name;
Who, after _Greekes_ did _Priams_ realme destroy,
Gathred the _Troian_ reliques sau’d from flame,
And with them sayling thence, to th’Isle of _Paros_ came.

That was by him cald _Paros_, which before xxxvii
Hight _Nausa_, there he many yeares did raine,
And built _Nausicle_ by the _Pontick_ shore,
The which he dying left next in remaine
To _Paridas_ his sonne.
From whom I _Paridell_ by kin descend;
But for faire Ladies loue, and glories gaine,
My natiue soile haue left, my dayes to spend
In sewing[1083] deeds of armes, my liues and labours end.

Whenas the noble _Britomart_ heard tell xxxviii
Of _Troian_ warres, and _Priams_ Citie sackt,
The ruefull story of Sir _Paridell_,
She was empassiond at that piteous act,
With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact,
Against that nation, from whose race of old
She heard, that she was lineally extract:
For noble _Britons_ sprong from _Troians_ bold,
And _Troynouant_ was built of old _Troyes_ ashes cold.

Then sighing soft awhile, at last she thus: xxxix
O lamentable fall of famous towne,
Which raignd so many yeares victorious,
And of all _Asie_[1084] bore the soueraigne crowne,
In one sad night consumd, and throwen downe:
What stony hart, that heares thy haplesse fate,
Is not empierst with deepe compassiowne,
And makes ensample of mans wretched state,
That floures so fresh at morne, and fades at euening late?

Behold, Sir, how your pitifull complaint xl
Hath found another partner of your payne:
For nothing may impresse so deare constraint,
As countries cause, and commune foes disdayne.
But if it should not grieue you, backe agayne
To turne your course, I would to heare desyre,
What to _Aeneas_ fell; sith that men sayne
He was not in the Cities wofull fyre
Consum’d, but did him selfe to safetie retyre.

_Anchyses_ sonne begot of _Venus_ faire, xli
(Said he,) out of the flames for safegard fled,
And with a remnant did to sea repaire,
Where he through fatall errour long was led
Full many yeares, and weetlesse wandered
From shore to shore, emongst the Lybicke sands,
Ere rest he found. Much there he suffered,
And many perils past in forreine lands,
To saue his people sad from victours vengefull hands.

At last in _Latium_ he did arriue, xlii
Where he with cruell warre was entertaind
Of th’inland folke, which sought him backe to driue,
Till he with old _Latinus_ was constraind,
To contract wedlock: (so the fates ordaind.)
Wedlock contract in bloud, and eke in blood
Accomplished, that many deare complaind:
The riuall slaine, the victour through the flood
Escaped hardly, hardly praisd his wedlock good.

Yet after all, he victour did suruiue, xliii
And with _Latinus_ did the kingdome part.
But after, when both nations gan to striue,
Into their names the title to conuart,
His sonne _Iülus_ did from thence depart,
With all the warlike youth of _Troians_ bloud,
And in long _Alba_ plast his throne apart,
Where faire it florished, and long time stoud,
Till _Romulus_ renewing it, to _Rome_ remoud.

There there (said _Britomart_) a fresh appeard xliv
The glory of the later world to spring,
And _Troy_ againe out of her dust was reard,
To sit in second seat of soueraigne king,
Of all the world vnder her gouerning.
But a third kingdome yet is to arise,
Out of the _Troians_ scattered of-spring,
That in all glory and great enterprise,
Both first and second _Troy_ shall dare to equalise.

It _Troynouant_ is hight, that with the waues xlv
Of wealthy _Thamis_ washed is along,
Vpon whose stubborne neck[1085], whereat he raues
With roring rage, and sore him selfe does throng,
That all men feare to tempt his billowes strong,
She fastned hath her foot, which standes so hy,
That it a wonder of the world is song
In forreine landes, and all which passen by,
Beholding it from far, do thinke it threates the skye.

The _Troian Brute_ did first that Citie found, xlvi
And Hygate[1086] made the meare thereof by West,
And _Ouert_ gate by North: that is the bound
Toward the land; two riuers bound the rest.
So huge a scope at first him seemed best,
To be the compasse of his kingdomes seat:
So huge a mind could not in lesser rest,
Ne in small meares containe his glory great,
That _Albion_ had conquered first by warlike feat.

Ah fairest Lady knight, (said _Paridell_) xlvii
Pardon I pray my heedlesse ouersight,
Who had forgot, that whilome I heard[1087] tell
From aged _Mnemon_; for my wits bene light.
Indeed he said (if I remember right,)
That of the antique _Troian_ stocke, there grew
Another plant, that raught to wondrous hight,
And far abroad his mighty branches threw,
Into the vtmost Angle of the world he knew.

For that same _Brute_, whom much he did aduaunce xlviii
In all his speach, was _Syluius_ his sonne,
Whom hauing slaine, through luckles arrowes glaunce
He fled for feare of that he had misdonne,
Or else for shame, so fowle reproch to shonne,
And with him led to sea[1088] an youthly trayne,
Where wearie wandring they long time did wonne,
And many fortunes prou’d in th’_Ocean_ mayne,
And great aduentures found, that now were long to sayne.

At last by fatall course they driuen were xlix
Into an Island spatious and brode,
The furthest North, that did to them appeare:
Which[1089] after rest they seeking far abrode,
Found it the fittest soyle for their abode,
Fruitfull of all things fit for liuing foode,
But wholy wast, and void of peoples trode,
Saue an huge nation of the Geaunts broode,
That fed on liuing flesh, and druncke mens vitall blood.

Whom he through wearie wars and labours long, l
Subdewd with losse of many _Britons_ bold:
In which the great _Goemagot_ of strong
_Corineus_, and _Coulin_ of _Debon_ old
Were ouerthrowne, and layd on th’earth full cold,
Which quaked vnder their so hideous masse,
A famous history to be enrold
In euerlasting moniments of brasse,
That all the antique Worthies merits far did passe.

His worke great _Troynouant_, his worke is eke li
Faire _Lincolne_, both renowmed far away,
That who from East to West will endlong seeke,
Cannot two fairer Cities find this day,
Except _Cleopolis_: so heard I say
Old _Mnemon_. Therefore Sir, I greet you well
Your countrey kin, and you entirely pray
Of pardon for the strife, which late befell
Betwixt vs both vnknowne. So ended _Paridell_.

But all the while, that he these speaches spent, lii
Vpon his lips hong faire Dame _Hellenore_,
With vigilant regard, and dew attent,
Fashioning worlds of fancies euermore
In her fraile wit, that now her quite forlore:
The whiles vnwares away her wondring eye,
And greedy eares her weake hart from her bore:
Which he perceiuing, euer priuily
In speaking, many false belgardes at her let fly.

So long these knights discoursed diuersly, liii
Of straunge affaires, and noble hardiment,
Which they had past with mickle ieopardy,
That now the humid night was farforth spent,
And heauenly lampes were halfendeale ybrent:
Which th’old man seeing well, who too long thought
Euery discourse and euery argument,
Which by the houres he measured, besought
Them go to rest. So all vnto their bowres were brought.

FOOTNOTES:

[1066] lii 5 commune _1590_

[1067] ii 4 attonce _1590_

[1068] iv 5 her] his _1609_

[1069] vi 4 Is] It _1596_

[1070] vii 3 disdonne _1590_

[1071] xiii 9 And defide them each _1596_: And them defied each _1609_

[1072] xiv 7 to] in _1590_

[1073] xv 3 bin] ben _1590_

[1074] xx 1 rest; _1590_, _1596_

[1075] 9 persent _1609_

[1076] xxii 1 _Minerua_] _Bellona_ _1590_

[1077] 5 the] her _1590_

[1078] xxiii 9 hongry _1590_

[1079] xxiv 5 most _om. 1596_

[1080] xxvii 5 that] with _1590_

[1081] 7 demeanure _1609_

[1082] xxxii 8 yglad _1590_

[1083] xxxvii 9 seewing _1590_, _1596_

[1084] xxxix 4 _Asia_ _1609_

[1085] xlv 3 necks _1590_

[1086] xlvi 2 Hygate gate _1596_

[1087] xlvii 3 hard _1590_

[1088] xlviii 6 to the sea _1596_

[1089] xlix 4 Which] And _1609_

_Cant. X._

_Paridell rapeth Hellenore:
Malbecco her pursewes:
Findes emongst Satyres, whence with him
To turne she doth refuse._
]

The morow next, so soone as _Phœbus_ Lamp i
Bewrayed had the world with early light,
And fresh _Aurora_ had the shady damp
Out of the goodly heauen amoued quight,
Faire _Britomart_ and that same _Faerie_ knight
Vprose, forth on their iourney for to wend:
But _Paridell_ complaynd, that his late fight
With _Britomart_, so sore did him offend,
That ryde he could not, till his hurts he did amend.

So forth they far’d, but he behind them stayd, ii
Maulgre his host, who grudged grieuously[1090],
To house a guest, that would be needes obayd,
And of his owne him left not liberty:
Might wanting measure moueth surquedry.
Two things he feared, but the third was death;
That fierce youngmans vnruly maistery;
His money, which he lou’d as liuing breath;
And his faire wife, whom honest long he kept vneath.

But patience perforce he must abie, iii
What fortune and his fate on him will lay,
Fond is the feare, that findes no remedie;
Yet warily he watcheth euery way,
By which he feareth euill happen may:
So th’euill thinkes by watching to preuent;
Ne doth he suffer her, nor night, nor day,
Out of his sight her selfe once to absent.
So doth he punish her and eke himselfe torment.

But _Paridell_ kept better watch, then hee, iv
A fit occasion for his turne to find:
False loue, why do men say, thou canst not see,
And in their foolish fancie feigne thee blind,
That with thy charmes the sharpest sight doest bind,
And to thy will abuse? Thou walkest free,
And seest euery secret of the mind;
Thou seest all, yet none at all sees thee;
All that is by the working of thy Deitee.

So perfect in that art was _Paridell_, v
That he _Malbeccoes_[1091] halfen eye did wyle,
His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well,
And _Hellenors_ both eyes did eke beguyle,
Both eyes and hart attonce, during the whyle
That he there soiourned his wounds to heale;
That _Cupid_ selfe it seeing, close did smyle,
To weet how he her loue away did steale,
And bad, that none their ioyous treason should reueale.

The learned louer lost no time nor tyde, vi
That least auantage mote to him afford,
Yet bore so faire a saile, that none espyde
His secret drift, till he her layd abord.
When so in open place, and commune bord,
He fortun’d her to meet, with commune speach
He courted her, yet bayted euery word,
That his vngentle hoste n’ote him appeach
Of vile vngentlenesse, or hospitages breach.

But when apart (if euer her apart) vii
He found, then his false engins fast he plyde,
And all the sleights vnbosomd in his hart;
He sigh’d, he sobd, he swownd, he perdy dyde,
And cast himselfe on ground her fast besyde:
Tho when againe he him bethought to liue,
He wept, and wayld, and false laments belyde,
Saying, but if she Mercie would him giue
That he mote algates dye, yet did his death forgiue.

And otherwhiles with amorous delights, viii
And pleasing toyes he would her entertaine,
Now singing sweetly, to surprise her sprights,
Now making layes of loue and louers paine,
Bransles, Ballads, virelayes, and verses vaine;
Oft purposes, oft riddles he deuysd,
And thousands like, which flowed in his braine,
With which he fed her fancie, and entysd
To take to[1092] his new loue, and leaue her old despysd.

And euery where he might, and euery while ix
He did her seruice dewtifull, and sewed
At hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile,
So closely yet, that none but she it vewed,
Who well perceiued all, and all indewed.
Thus finely did he his false nets dispred,
With which he many weake harts had subdewed
Of yore, and many had ylike misled:
What wonder then, if she were likewise carried?

No fort so fensible, no wals so strong, x
But that continuall battery will riue,
Or daily siege through dispuruayance long,
And lacke of reskewes will to parley driue;
And Peece[1093], that vnto parley eare will giue,
Will shortly yeeld it selfe, and will be made
The vassall of the victors will byliue:
That stratageme had oftentimes assayd
This crafty Paramoure, and now it plaine displayd.

For through his traines he her intrapped hath, xi
That she her loue and hart hath wholy sold
To him, without regard of gaine, or scath,
Or care of credite, or of husband old,
Whom she hath vow’d to dub a faire Cucquold.
Nought wants but time and place, which shortly shee
Deuized hath, and to her louer told.
It pleased well. So well they both agree;
So readie rype to ill, ill wemens counsels bee.

Darke was the Euening, fit for louers stealth, xii
When chaunst _Malbecco_ busie be elsewhere,
She to his closet went, where all his wealth
Lay hid: thereof she countlesse summes did reare,
The which she meant away with her to beare;
The rest she fyr’d for sport, or for despight;
As _Hellene_, when she saw aloft appeare
The _Troiane_ flames, and reach to heauens hight
Did clap her hands, and ioyed at that dolefull sight.

This second _Hellene_, faire Dame _Hellenore_, xiii
The whiles her husband ranne with sory haste,
To quench the flames, which she had tyn’d before,
Laught at his foolish labour spent in waste;
And ranne into her louers armes right fast;
Where streight embraced, she to him did cry,
And call aloud for helpe, ere helpe were past;
For loe that Guest would[1094] beare her forcibly,
And meant to rauish her, that rather had to dy.

The wretched man hearing her call for ayd, xiv
And readie seeing him with her to fly,
In his disquiet mind was much dismayd:
But when againe he backward cast his eye,
And saw the wicked fire so furiously
Consume his hart, and scorch his Idoles face,
He was therewith distressed diuersly,
Ne wist he how to turne, nor to what place;
Was neuer wretched man in such a wofull cace.

Ay when to him she cryde, to her he turnd, xv
And left the fire; loue money ouercame:
But when he marked, how his money burnd,
He left his wife; money did loue disclame:
Both was he loth to loose his loued Dame,
And loth to leaue his liefest pelfe behind,
Yet sith he n’ote saue both, he sau’d that same,
Which was the dearest to his donghill mind,
The God of his desire, the ioy of misers blind.

Thus whilest all things in troublous vprore were, xvi
And all men busie to suppresse the flame,
The louing couple need no reskew feare,
But leasure had, and libertie to frame
Their purpost flight, free from all mens reclame;
And Night, the patronesse of loue-stealth faire,
Gaue them safe conduct, till to end they came:
So bene they gone yfeare, a wanton paire
Of louers loosely knit, where list them to repaire.

Soone as the cruell flames yslaked were, xvii
_Malbecco_ seeing, how his losse did lye,
Out of the flames, which he had quencht whylere
Into huge waues of griefe and gealosye
Full deepe emplonged was, and drowned nye,
Twixt inward doole and felonous despight;
He rau’d, he wept, he stampt, he lowd did cry,
And all the passions, that in man may light,
Did him attonce oppresse, and vex his caytiue spright.

Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe, xviii
And did consume his gall with anguish sore,
Still when he mused on his late mischiefe,
Then[1095] still the smart thereof increased more,
And seem’d more grieuous, then it was before:
At last when sorrow he saw booted nought,
Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore,
He gan deuise, how her he reskew mought,
Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought.

At last resoluing, like a pilgrim pore, xix
To search[1096] her forth, where so she might be fond,
And bearing with him treasure in close store,
The rest he leaues in ground: So takes in hond
To seeke her endlong, both by sea and lond.
Long he her sought, he sought her farre and nere,
And euery where that he mote vnderstond,
Of knights and ladies any meetings were,
And of eachone he met, he tydings did inquere.

But all in vaine, his woman was too wise, xx
Euer to come into his clouch againe,
And he too simple euer to surprise
The iolly _Paridell_, for all his paine.
One day, as he forpassed by the plaine
With weary pace, he farre away espide
A couple, seeming well to be his twaine,
Which houed close vnder a forrest side,
As if they lay in wait, or else themselues did hide.

Well weened he, that those the same mote bee, xxi
And as he better did their shape auize,
Him seemed more their manner did agree;
For th’one was armed all in warlike wize,
Whom, to be _Paridell_ he did deuize;
And th’other all yclad in garments light,
Discolour’d like to womanish disguise,
He did resemble to his Ladie bright;
And euer his faint hart much earned[1097] at the sight.

And euer faine he towards them would goe, xxii
But yet durst not for dread approchen nie,
But stood aloofe, vnweeting what to doe;
Till that prickt forth with loues extremitie,
That is the father of foule gealosy,
He closely nearer crept, the truth to weet:
But, as he nigher drew, he easily
Might scerne, that it was not his sweetest sweet,
Ne yet her Belamour, the partner of his sheet.

But it was scornefull _Braggadocchio_, xxiii
That with his seruant _Trompart_ houerd there,
Sith late he fled from his too earnest foe:
Whom such when as _Malbecco_ spyed clere,
He turned backe, and would haue fled arere;
Till _Trompart_ ronning hastily, him did stay,
And bad before his soueraine Lord appere:
That was him loth, yet durst he not gainesay,
And comming him before, low louted on the lay.

The Boaster at him sternely bent his browe, xxiv
As if he could haue kild him with his looke,
That to the ground him meekely made to bowe,
And awfull terror deepe into him strooke,
That euery member of his bodie quooke.
Said he, Thou[1098] man of nought, what doest thou here,
Vnfitly furnisht with thy bag and booke,
Where I expected one with shield and spere,
To proue some deedes of armes vpon an equall pere.

The wretched man at his imperious speach, xxv
Was all abasht, and low prostrating, said;
Good Sir, let not my rudenesse be no breach
Vnto your patience, ne be ill ypaid;
For I vnwares this way by fortune straid,
A silly Pilgrim driuen to distresse,
That seeke a Lady, There he suddein staid,
And did the rest with grieuous sighes suppresse,
While teares stood in his eies, few drops of bitternesse.

What Ladie, man? (said _Trompart_) take good hart, xxvi
And tell thy griefe, if any hidden lye;
Was neuer better time to shew thy smart,
Then now, that noble succour is thee by,
That is the whole worlds commune remedy.
That cheareful word his weake hart much did cheare,
And with vaine hope his spirits faint supply,
That bold he said; O most redoubted Pere,
Vouchsafe with mild regard a wretches cace to heare.

Then sighing sore, It is not long (said hee) xxvii
Sith[1099] I enioyd the gentlest Dame aliue;
Of whom a knight, no knight at all perdee,
But shame of all, that doe for honor striue,
By treacherous deceipt did me depriue;
Through open outrage he her bore away,
And with fowle force vnto his will did driue,
Which all good knights, that armes do beare this day,
Are bound for to reuenge, and punish if they may.

And you most noble Lord, that can and dare xxviii
Redresse the wrong of miserable wight,
Cannot employ your most victorious speare
In better quarrell, then defence of right,
And for a Ladie gainst a faithlesse knight;
So shall your glory be aduaunced much,
And all faire Ladies magnifie your might,
And eke my selfe, albe I simple such,
Your worthy paine shall well reward with guerdon rich.

With that out of his bouget forth he drew xxix
Great store of treasure[1100], therewith him to tempt;
But he on it lookt scornefully askew,
As much disdeigning to be so misdempt,
Or a war-monger to be basely nempt;
And said; Thy[1101] offers base I greatly loth,
And eke thy words vncourteous and vnkempt;
I tread in dust thee and thy money both,
That, were it not for shame, So turned from him wroth.

But _Trompart_, that his maisters humor knew, xxx
In lofty lookes to hide an humble mind,
Was inly tickled with that golden vew,
And in his eare him rounded[1102] close behind:
Yet stoupt he not, but lay still in the wind,
Waiting aduauntage on the pray to sease;
Till _Trompart_ lowly to the ground inclind,
Besought him his great courage to appease,
And pardon simple man, that rash did him displease.

Bigge looking like a doughtie Doucepere, xxxi
At last he thus; Thou clod of vilest clay,
I pardon yield, and with thy[1103] rudenesse beare;
But weete henceforth, that all that golden pray,
And all that else the vaine world vaunten may,
I loath as doung, ne deeme my dew reward:
Fame is my meed, and glory vertues[1104] pray[1105].
But minds of mortall men are muchell mard,
And mou’d amisse with massie mucks vnmeet regard.

And more[1106], I graunt to thy great miserie xxxii
Gratious respect, thy wife shall backe be sent,
And that vile knight, who euer that he bee,
Which hath thy Lady reft, and knighthood shent,
By _Sanglamort_ my sword, whose deadly dent
The bloud hath of so many thousands shed,
I sweare, ere long shall dearely it repent;
Ne he twixt heauen and earth shall hide his hed,
But soone he shall be found, and shortly doen be ded.

The foolish man thereat woxe wondrous blith, xxxiii
As if the word so spoken, were halfe donne,
And humbly thanked him a thousand sith,
That had from death to life him newly wonne.
Tho forth the Boaster marching, braue begonne
His stolen steed to thunder furiously,
As if he heauen and hell would ouerronne,
And all the world confound with cruelty,
That much _Malbecco_ ioyed in his iollity.

Thus long they three together traueiled, xxxiv
Through many a wood, and many an vncouth way,
To seeke his wife, that was farre wandered:
But those two sought nought, but the present pray,
To weete the treasure, which he did bewray,
On which their eies and harts were wholly set,
With purpose, how they might it best betray;
For sith the houre, that first he did them let
The same behold, therewith their keene desires were whet.

It fortuned as they together far’d, xxxv
They spide, where _Paridell_ came pricking fast
Vpon the plaine, the which himselfe prepar’d
To giust with that braue straunger knight a cast,
As on aduenture by the way he past:
Alone he rode without his Paragone;
For hauing filcht her bels, her vp he cast
To the wide world, and let her fly alone,
He nould be clogd. So had he serued many one.

The gentle Lady, loose at randon left, xxxvi
The greene-wood long did walke, and wander wide
At wilde aduenture, like a forlorne weft,
Till on a day the _Satyres_ her espide
Straying alone withouten groome or guide;
Her vp they tooke, and with them home her led,
With them as housewife euer to abide,
To milk their gotes, and make them cheese and bred,
And euery one as commune good her handeled.

That shortly she _Malbecco_ has forgot, xxxvii
And eke Sir _Paridell_, all were he deare;
Who from her went to seeke another lot,
And now by fortune was arriued here,
Where those two guilers with _Malbecco_ were:
Soone as the oldman saw Sir _Paridell_,
He fainted, and was almost dead with feare,
Ne word he had to speake, his griefe to tell,
But to him louted low, and greeted goodly well.

And after asked him for _Hellenore_, xxxviii
I take no keepe of her (said _Paridell_)
She wonneth in the forrest there before.
So forth he rode, as his aduenture fell;
The whiles the Boaster from his loftie sell
Faynd to alight, something amisse to mend;
But the fresh Swayne would not his leasure dwell,
But went his way; whom when he passed kend,
He vp remounted light, and after faind to wend.

Perdy nay (said _Malbecco_) shall ye not: xxxix
But let him passe as lightly, as he came:
For litle good of him is to be got,
And mickle perill to be put to shame.
But let vs go to seeke my dearest Dame,
Whom he hath left in yonder forrest wyld:
For of her safety in great doubt I am[1107],
Least saluage beastes her person haue despoyld:
Then all the world is lost, and we in vaine haue toyld.

They[1108] all agree, and forward them addrest: xl
Ah but (said craftie _Trompart_) weete ye well,
That yonder in that wastefull[1109] wildernesse
Huge monsters haunt, and many dangers dwell;
Dragons, and Minotaures, and feendes of hell,
And many wilde woodmen, which robbe and rend
All trauellers; therefore aduise[1110] ye well,
Before ye enterprise that way to wend:
One may his iourney bring too soone to euill end.

_Malbecco_ stopt in great astonishment, xli
And with pale eyes fast fixed on the rest,
Their counsell crau’d, in daunger imminent.
Said _Trompart_, You[1111] that are the most opprest
With burden of great treasure, I thinke best
Here for to stay in safetie behind;
My Lord and I will search the wide forrest.
That counsell pleased not _Malbeccoes_ mind;
For he was much affraid, himselfe alone to find.

Then is it best (said he) that ye doe leaue xlii
Your treasure here in some securitie,
Either fast closed in some hollow greaue,
Or buried in the ground from ieopardie,
Till we returne againe in safetie:
As for vs two, least doubt of vs ye haue,
Hence farre away we will blindfolded lie,
Ne priuie be vnto your treasures graue.
It pleased: so he did.[1112] Then they march forward braue.

Now when amid the thickest woods they were, xliii
They heard a noyse of many bagpipes shrill,
And shrieking Hububs them approching nere,
Which all the forrest did with horror fill:
That dreadfull sound the boasters hart did thrill,
With such amazement, that in haste he fled,
Ne euer looked backe for good or ill,
And after him eke fearefull _Trompart_ sped;
The old man could not fly, but fell to ground halfe ded.

Yet afterwards close creeping, as he might, xliv
He in a bush did hide his fearefull hed,
The iolly _Satyres_ full of fresh delight,
Came dauncing forth, and with them nimbly led
Faire _Hellenore_, with girlonds all bespred,
Whom their May-lady they had newly made:
She proud of that new honour, which they red,
And of their louely fellowship full glade,
Daunst liuely, and her face did with a Lawrell shade.

The silly man that in the thicket lay xlv
Saw all this goodly sport, and grieued sore,
Yet durst he not against it doe or say,
But did his hart with bitter thoughts engore,
To see th’vnkindnesse of his _Hellenore_.
All day they daunced with great lustihed,
And with their horned feet the greene grasse wore,
The whiles their Gotes vpon the brouzes fed,[1113]
Till drouping _Phœbus_ gan to hide his golden hed.

Tho vp they gan their merry pypes to trusse, xlvi
And all their goodly heards did gather round,
But euery _Satyre_ first did giue a busse
To _Hellenore_: so busses did abound.
Now gan the humid vapour shed the ground
With perly deaw, and th’Earthes[1114] gloomy shade
Did dim the brightnesse of the welkin round,
That euery bird and beast awarned made,
To shrowd themselues, whiles sleepe their senses did inuade.

Which when _Malbecco_ saw, out of his[1115] bush xlvii
Vpon his hands[1116] and feete he crept full light,
And like a Gote emongst the Gotes did rush,
That through the helpe of his faire hornes on hight,
And misty dampe of misconceiuing night,
And eke through likenesse of his gotish beard,
He did the better counterfeite aright:
So home he marcht emongst the horned heard,
That none of all the _Satyres_ him espyde or heard.

At night, when all they went to sleepe, he vewd, xlviii
Whereas his louely wife emongst them lay,
Embraced of a _Satyre_ rough and rude,
Who all the night did minde his ioyous play:
Nine times he heard him come aloft ere day,
That all his hart with gealosie did swell;
But yet that nights ensample did bewray,
That not for nought his wife them loued so well,
When one so oft[1117] a night did ring his matins bell.

So closely as he could, he to them crept, xlix
When wearie of their sport to sleepe they fell,
And to his wife, that now full soundly slept,
He whispered in her eare, and did her tell,
That it was he, which by her side did dwell,
And therefore prayd her wake, to heare him plaine.
As one out of a dreame not waked well,
She turned her, and returned backe againe:
Yet her for to awake he did the more constraine.

At last with irkesome trouble she abrayd; l
And then perceiuing, that it was indeed
Her old _Malbecco_, which did her vpbrayd,
With loosenesse of her loue, and loathly deed,
She was astonisht with exceeding dreed,
And would haue wakt the _Satyre_ by her syde;
But he her prayd, for mercy, or for meed,
To saue his life, ne let him be descryde,
But hearken to his lore, and all his counsell hyde.

Tho gan he her perswade, to leaue that lewd li
And loathsome life, of God and man abhord,
And home returne, where all should be renewd
With perfect peace, and bandes of fresh accord,
And she receiu’d againe to bed and bord,
As if no trespasse euer had bene donne:
But she it all refused at one word,
And by no meanes would to his will be wonne,
But chose emongst the iolly _Satyres_ still to wonne.

He wooed her, till day spring[1118] he espyde; lii
But all in vaine: and then turnd to the heard,
Who butted him with hornes on euery syde,
And trode downe in the durt, where his hore beard
Was fowly dight, and he of death afeard.
Early before the heauens fairest light
Out of the ruddy East was fully reard,
The heardes out of their foldes were loosed quight,
And he emongst the rest crept forth in sory plight.

So soone as he the Prison dore did pas, liii
He ran as fast, as both his feete could beare,
And neuer looked, who behind him was,
Ne scarsely who before: like as a Beare
That creeping close, amongst[1119] the hiues to reare
An hony combe, the wakefull dogs espy,
And him assayling, sore his carkasse teare,
That hardly he with life away does fly,
Ne stayes, till safe himselfe he see from ieopardy.

Ne stayd he, till he came vnto the place, liv
Where late his treasure he entombed had,
Where when he found it not (for _Trompart_ bace
Had it purloyned for his maister bad:)
With extreme fury he became quite mad,
And ran away, ran with himselfe away:
That who so straungely had him seene bestad,
With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay,
From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say.

High ouer hilles and ouer dales he fled, lv
As if the wind him on his winges had borne,
Ne banck nor bush could stay him, when he sped
His nimble feet, as treading still on thorne:
Griefe, and despight, and gealosie, and scorne
Did all the way him follow hard behind,
And he himselfe himselfe loath’d so forlorne,
So shamefully forlorne of womankind;
That as a Snake, still lurked in his wounded mind.

Still fled he forward, looking backward still, lvi
Ne stayd his flight, nor fearefull agony,
Till that he came vnto a rockie hill,
Ouer the sea, suspended dreadfully,
That liuing creature it would terrify,
To looke adowne, or vpward to the hight:
From thence he threw himselfe dispiteously,
All desperate of his fore-damned spright,
That seem’d no helpe for him was left in liuing sight.

But through long anguish, and selfe-murdring thought lvii
He was so wasted and forpined quight,
That all his substance was consum’d to nought,
And nothing left, but like an aery Spright,
That on the rockes he fell so flit and light,
That he thereby receiu’d no hurt at all,
But chaunced on a craggy cliff to light;
Whence he with crooked clawes so long did crall,
That at the last he found a caue with entrance small.

Into the same he creepes, and thenceforth there lviii
Resolu’d to build his balefull mansion,
In drery darkenesse, and continuall feare
Of that rockes fall, which euer and anon
Threates with huge ruine him to fall vpon,
That he dare neuer sleepe, but that one eye
Still ope he keepes for that occasion;
Ne euer rests he in tranquillity,
The roring billowes beat his bowre so boystrously.