That did his virtuous bofom aye inspire
With zeal unfeigned for her fervice true,
And fend him forth in chivalrous attire,
Arm'd at all points, adventures to pursue,
And wreak upon her foes his vowed vengeance due.
So as he journeyed upon the way
Him foon the fly enchaunter overhent*,
Clad like a Fairy knight in armour gay,
With painted fhield and spear right forward bent,
In knightly guife† and thew of hardiment ‡,
That aye prepared was for bloody fight;
Whereat the Elfin || knight with speeches gent
Him firft faluted, who well as he might
Him fair falutes again, as feemeth § courteous knight.
Then 'gan he purpose ** frame of valiant deeds
Achiev'd by foreign knights of prowess ++ great
And mighty fame, which emulation breeds
In virtuous breast, and kindleth martial heat,
Of arts and sciences for warriour meet ‡‡,
And knight that would in feats of arms excel,
Or him who liefer || || chufing calm retreat
With Peace and gentle Virtue aye would dwell,
Who have their triumphs like as hath Bellona fell.
* Overtook. Fashion. + Courage. feemeth. **Difcourfe, or argument. ‡‡ Proper, fit. Rather.
Thefe, as he said, befeemed knight to know,
And all be they in Fairylond ytaught,
Where ev'ry art and all fair virtues grow;
Yet various climes with various fruits are fraught,
And fuch an one hath full perfection raught'
The which no fkill may in another rear.
So gloz'd th' enchaunter till he hath him brought
To a huge rock that clomb fo high in air
[hear. That from it he uneath† the murm'ring furge mote
Thence the falt wave beyond in profpect wide Ico
A fpacious plain the falfe enchaunter fhow'd,
With goodly caftles deck'd on ev'ry fide,
And filver ftreams that down the champain flow'd,
And wash'd the vineyards that befide them flood,
And groves of myrtle; als the lamp of day
His orient beams difplay'd withouten cloud,
Which lightly on the glift'ning waters play,
And tinge the caftles, woods, and hills, with purple
So fair a landscape charm'd the wond'ring knight,
And eke the breath of morning fresh and sweet 110
Infpir'd his jocund spirit with delight,
And eafe of heart for foft perfuafion meet.
Then him the traytor bafe 'gan fair entreat,
And from the rock as downward they defcend
Of that bleft lond his praifes 'gan repeat,
+ Hardly.
Till he him moved hath with him to wend*,
So to the billowy fhore their hafty march they bend. XIV.
There in a painted bark all trim and gay,
Whofe fails full glad embrac'd the wanton wind,
There fat a stranger wight † in quaint array,
'That feem'd of various garbs attone ‡ combin'd
Of Europe, Africk, Eaft and Western Inde:
Als round about him many creatures flood
Of fev'ral nations and of divers kind,
Apes, ferpents, birds with human speech endow'd, And monsters of the land and wonders of the flood.
He was to weet a mighty traveller
Who Curiofity thereafter hight |,
And well he knew each coaft and harbour fair,
And ev'ry nation's latitude and fite,
And how to fteer the wand'ring bark aright.
So to him ftrait the falfe enchaunter bore,
And with him likewife brought the Redcrofs knight, Then fairly him befought to waft them o'er;
Swift flew the dauncing bark and reach'd the adverse
[fhore. 135
There when they landed were them ran to greet
A bevy bright of damfels gent and gay,
Who with foft fmiles, and falutation fweet,
And courteous violence, would force them stay,
And reft them in their bow'r not far away;
To go. Man or woman. Together. Was called.
Their bow'r, that most luxuriously was dight
With all the dainties of air, earth, and fea,
All that mote please the taste and charm the fight,
The pleasure of the board, and charm of beauty bright.
XVII.
Als might he therein hear a mingled found
Of feaft and fong and laughing jollity,
That in the noife was all diftinction drown'd
Of graver fenfe or mufick's harmony:
Yet were there fome in that blithe company
That aptly could difcourfe of virtuous lore,
Of manners, wisdom, and found policy;
Yet nould they often ope their facred store,
Ne might their voice be heard 'mid riot and uproar.
Thereto the joys of idleness and love,
And luxury, that befots the nobleft mind,
And custom prevalent, at distance drove
All fenfe and relish of a higher kind,
Whereby the foul to virtue is refin'd;
Inftead whereof the arts of Slavery
Were taught, of Slavery perverfe and blind!
That vainly boafts her native liberty,
Yet wears the chains of Pride, of Luft, and Gluttony.
Of which the Redcrofs knight right well aware
Would in no wife agree with them to go,
Albeit with courtly glee their leader fair,
Hight * Politeffa, him did kindly woo:
But all was falfe pretence and hollow fhow,
Falfe as the flow'rs which to their breafts they ty'd,
Or those which feemed in their cheeks to glow,
For both were false, and not by Nature dy'd,
Falfe rivals of the spring and beauty's rofy pride.
Then from behind them straightway 'gan advaunce
An uncouth stripling quaintly habited,
As for fome revel mafk or antick daunce,
All chequer'd o'er with yellow, blue, and red; 175
Als in a vizor black he brouds his head,
The which he toffed to and fro amain,
And eft† his lathy falchion brandifhed,
As if he meant fierce battle to darrain ‡,
And like a wanton ape eft skipp'd he on the plain.
XXI.
And eft about him fkipp'd a gaudy throng
Of youthful gallants, frolick, trim, and gay,
Chanting in careless notes their am'rous fong,
Match'd with like carelefs guefts like am'rous play:
Als were they gorgeous, dreft in rich array,
And well accepted of that female train,
Whofe hearts to joy and mirth devoted aye
Each proffer'd love receive without difdain,
And part without regret from each late favour'dfwain.
Attempt.
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