Not made of steel, nor of enduring brass. Ne dint of direful sword divide the substance would. No magic arts hereof had any might, He would them, gazing, blind, or turn to other hue. HER face so fair, as flesh it seemed not, The which ambrosial odours from them threw, In her fair eyes two living lamps did flame, In them the blinded god his lustful fire To kindle oft assayed, but had no might; For, with dread majesty and awful ire She broke his wanton darts, and quenchéd base desire.3 Her ivory forehead, full of bounty brave, 1 See Note 15, p. 6. 2 Piercing. Compare Shakespeare's compliment to Elizabeth in Oberon's Vision, Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II. Sc. 2. Belphoebe is Chastity. For there their dwelling was. And when she spake, A silver sound, that heavenly music seemed to make. Upon her eyelids many Graces sat, For fear, through want of skill, her beauty to disgrace! So fair, and thousand thousand times more fair, She seemed, when she presented was to sight; Purfled upon with many a folded plight,* Her yellow locks, crispéd like golden wire, As through the flow'ring forest rash she fled, In her rude hairs sweet flowers themselves did lap, And flourishing fresh leaves and blossoms did enwrap: Such as Diana by the sandy shore Of swift Eurotas, or on Cynthus green, 7 8 Where all the nymphs have her unawares forlore, s To seek her game: or as that famous queen' To succour the weak state of sad afflicted Troy. 1 Teeth and lips. * Fair looks and amorous aspect. Fr. belle and regarder to look at; retraite has many applications. See Gattel's Dictionary 4 Plait. A thin cloak. Camisa Camisia pro subucula vel muliebri quodam ornamento." Du Cange. Hence Chemise (Fr.) 5 Sparkling points. French. 6 Elizabeth loved to be flattered on the colour of her hair.-See Melville's interview with her. Hume, Chap. xxxix. 7 Comp. Virg. Æn. I. 498. 8 Left. "Penthesilea; some say she was slain by Achilles.-Æn. I. 491. THE HOUSE OF RICHES. BOOK II. CANTO VII. THAT house's form within was rude and strong, That heavy ruin they did seem to threat; Her cunning web, and spread her subtle net, Enwrapped in foul smoke and clouds more black than jet Both roof, and floor, and walls, were all of gold, But overgrown with dust and old decay, And hid in darkness, that none could behold Does show to him that walks in fear and sad affright. In all that room was nothing to be seen But huge great iron chests, and coffers strong, All barred with double bends, that none could ween On every side they placéd were along. But all the ground with skulls was scattered And dead men's bones, which round about were flung; THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS. BOOK II. CANTO VIII. AND is there care in Heaven? And is there love To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe! How oft do they their silver bowers leave 1 The spider.-See Ovid, Met. vi. 5–145. How oft do they with golden pinions cleave They for us fight, they watch and duly ward, And all for love and nothing for reward: O, why should heavenly God to men have such regard? THE CHAMBER OF MEMORY IN THE CASTLE OF ALMA. BOOK II. CANTO IX. THAT chamber seeméd ruinous and old, And therefore was removéd far behind, Yet were the walls, that did the same uphold, Right firm and strong, though somewhat they declined; And all decrepit in his feeble corse, Yet lively vigour rested in his mind, And recompensed them1 with a better scorse :2 Weak body well is chang'd for mind's redoubled force. This man of infinite remembrance was, And things foregone through many ages held, As all things else the which this world doth wield; The years of Nestor nothing were to his, Some made in books, some in long parchment scrolls, Amidst them all he in a chair was set, A little boy did on him still attend To reach, whenever he for ought did send; And oft when things were lost, or laid amiss, The visitors of the chamber. 3 Lat. scrinium, a casket. Fetch. 2 Exchange. That boy them sought and unto him did lend: And that old man, Eumnestes, by their properties. CONCLUSION OF MERLIN'S PROPHECY. BOOK III. CANTO IV. "NOR shall the Saxons' selves all peaceably 3 For, ere two hundred years be full outrun, In their avenge, tread down the victor's surquedry." "Yet shall a third both these and thine subdue: Of Neustria come roaring, with a crew Of hungry whelps, his bataillous bold brood, Amongst his young ones shall divide with bounty head. "Tho, when the term is full accomplished, Be freshly kindled in the fruitful isle 8 Of Mona, where it lurkéd in exile; Which shall break forth into bright burning flame, So shall the Briton blood their crown again reclaim. "Thenceforth eternal union shall be made Then shall the royal virgin reign, which shall 1 Recollection. 2 Memory. 3 The "Reafen" (raven) was the enchanted standard of the Danes. See Hume's Eng land, Chap. ii. Unchristianized. 5 Presumption; cuider (old Fr.), to think, to imagine; outrecuidance is used in the same sense as surquedry. 6 The Frankish name of Normandy. 7 Then. The Mortimers and the Tudors were Welsh families or of Welsh alliance. Elizabeth assisted the Netherland Provinces in their revolt against Spain. The "Great Castle" is the Castilian power. A glance along any English history will sufficien ly explain the allusions in these stanzas. |