Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

by Edmund Spenser

  Passing the measure of my feeble powre,

  That, living thus a wretch and loving so, 350

  I neither can my love, ne yet my life forgo.’

  XL

  Then good Sir Claribell him thus bespake:

  ‘Now were it not, Sir Scudamour, to you

  Dislikefull paine, so sad a taske to take,

  Mote we entreat you, sith this gentle crew 355

  Is now so well accorded all anew,

  That, as we ride together on our way,

  Ye will recount to us in order dew

  All that adventure, which ye did assay

  For that faire ladies love: past perils well apay.’ 360

  XLI

  So gan the rest him likewise to require,

  But Britomart did him importune hard

  To take on him that paine: whose great desire

  He glad to satisfie, him selfe prepar’d

  To tell through what misfortune he had far’d 365

  In that atchievement, as to him befell;

  And all those daungers unto them declar’d,

  Which sith they cannot in this canto well

  Comprised be, I will them in another tell.

  Faerie Queene Detailed Table of Contents

  Glossary for ‘The Faerie Queene’

  Canto X

  Scudamour doth his conquest tell

  Of vertuous Amoret:

  Great Venus temple is describ’d,

  And lovers life forth set.

  I

  ‘TRUE he it said, what ever man it sayd,

  That love with gall and hony doth abound,

  But if the one be with the other wayd,

  For every dram of hony therein found,

  A pound of gall doth over it redound. 5

  That I too true by triall have approved:

  For since the day that first with deadly wound

  My heart was launcht, and learned to have loved,

  I never joyed howre, but still with care was moved.

  II

  ‘And yet such grace is given them from above, 10

  That all the cares and evill which they meet

  May nought at all their setled mindes remove,

  But seeme, against common sence, to them most sweet;

  As bosting in their martyrdome unmeet.

  So all that ever yet I have endured 15

  I count as naught, and tread downe under feet,

  Since of my love at length I rest assured,

  That to disloyalty she will not be allured.

  III

  ‘Long were to tell the travell and long toile,

  Through which this Shield of Love I late have wonne, 20

  And purchased this peerelesse beauties spoile,

  That harder may be ended, then begonne:

  But since ye so desire, your will be donne.

  Then hearke, ye gentle knights and ladies free,

  My hard mishaps, that ye may learne to shonne; 25

  For though sweet love to conquer glorious bee,

  Yet is the paine thereof much greater then the fee.

  IV

  ‘What time the fame of this renowmed prise

  Flew first abroad, and all mens eares possest,

  I, having armes then taken, gan avise 30

  To winne me honour by some noble gest,

  And purchase me some place amongst the best.

  I boldly thought (so young mens thoughts are bold)

  That this same brave emprize for me did rest,

  And that both shield and she whom I behold 35

  Might be my lucky lot; sith all by lot we hold.

  V

  ‘So on that hard adventure forth I went,

  And to the place of perill shortly came.

  That was a temple faire and auncient,

  Which of great mother Venus bare the name, 40

  And farre renowmed through exceeding fame;

  Much more then that which was in Paphos built,

  Or that in Cyprus, both long since this same,

  Though all the pillours of the one were guilt,

  And all the others pavement were with yvory spilt. 45

  VI

  ‘And it was seated in an island strong,

  Abounding all with delices most rare,

  And wall’d by nature gainst invaders wrong,

  That none mote have accesse, nor inward fare,

  But by one way, that passage did prepare. 50

  It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize,

  With curious corbes and pendants graven faire,

  And, arched all with porches, did arize

  On stately pillours, fram’d after the Doricke guize.

  VII

  ‘And for defence thereof, on th’ other end 55

  There reared was a castle faire and strong,

  That warded all which in or out did wend,

  And flancked both the bridges sides along,

  Gainst all that would it faine to force or wrong.

  And therein wonned twenty valiant knights; 60

  All twenty tride in warres experience long;

  Whose office was, against all manner wights

  By all meanes to maintaine that castels ancient rights.

  VIII

  ‘Before that castle was an open plaine,

  And in the midst thereof a piller placed; 65

  On which this shield, of many sought in vaine,

  The Shield of Love, whose guerdon me hath graced,

  Was hangd on high with golden ribbands laced;

  And in the marble stone was written this,

  With golden letters goodly well enchaced: 70

  Blessed the man that well can use his blis:

  Whose ever be the shield, faire Amoret be his.

  IX

  ‘Which when I red, my heart did inly earne,

  And pant with hope of that adventures hap:

  Ne stayed further newes thereof to learne, 75

  But with my speare upon the shield did rap,

  That all the castle ringed with the clap.

  Streight forth issewd a knight all arm’d to proofe,

  And bravely mounted to his most mishap:

  Who, staying nought to question from aloofe, 80

  Ran fierce at me, that fire glaunst from his horses hoofe.

  X

  ‘Whom boldly I encountred as I could,

  And by good fortune shortly him unseated.

  Eftsoones out sprung two more of equall mould;

  But I them both with equall hap defeated: 85

  So all the twenty I likewise entreated,

  And left them groning there upon the plaine.

  Then, preacing to the pillour, I repeated

  The read thereof for guerdon of my paine,

  And taking downe the shield, with me did it retaine. 90

  XI

  ‘So forth without impediment I past,

  Till to the bridges utter gate I came:

  The which I found sure lockt and chained fast.

  I knockt, but no man aunswred me by name;

  I cald, but no man answerd to my clame. 95

  Yet I persever’d still to knocke and call,

  Till at the last I spide within the same

  Where one stood peeping through a crevis small,

  To whom I cald aloud, halfe angry therewithall.

  XII

  ‘That was to weet the porter of the place, 100

  Unto whose trust the charge thereof was lent:

  His name was Doubt, that had a double face,

  Th’ one forward looking, th’ other backeward bent,

  Therein resembling Janus auncient,

  Which hath in charge the ingate of the yeare: 105

  And evermore his eyes about him went,

  As if some proved perill he did feare,

  Or did misdoubt some ill, whose cause did not appeare.

  XIII

  ‘On th’ one side he, on th’ other sate Delay,

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p; Behinde the gate, that none her might espy; 110

  Whose manner was, all passengers to stay

  And entertaine with her occasions sly;

  Through which some lost great hope unheedily,

  Which never they recover might againe;

  And others, quite excluded forth, did ly 115

  Long languishing there in unpittied paine,

  And seeking often entraunce afterwards in vaine.

  XIV

  ‘Me when as he had privily espide

  Bearing the shield which I had conquerd late,

  He kend it streight, and to me opened wide. 120

  So in I past, and streight he closd the gate.

  But being in, Delay in close awaite

  Caught hold on me, and thought my steps to stay,

  Feigning full many a fond excuse to prate,

  And time to steale, the threasure of mans day, 125

  Whose smallest minute lost no riches render may.

  XV

  ‘But by no meanes my way I would forslow,

  For ought that ever she could doe or say,

  But from my lofty steede dismounting low,

  Past forth on foote, beholding all the way 130

  The goodly workes, and stones of rich assay,

  Cast into sundry shapes by wondrous skill,

  That like on earth no where I recken may:

  And underneath, the river rolling still

  With murmure soft, that seem’d to serve the workmans will. 135

  XVI

  ‘Thence forth I passed to the second gate,

  The Gate of Good Desert, whose goodly pride

  And costly frame were long here to relate.

  The same to all stoode alwaies open wide:

  But in the porch did evermore abide 140

  An hideous giant, dreadfull to behold,

  That stopt the entraunce with his spacious stride,

  And with the terrour of his countenance bold

  Full many did affray, that else faine enter would.

  XVII

  ‘His name was Daunger, dreaded over all, 145

  Who day and night did watch and duely ward,

  From fearefull cowards entrance to forstall,

  And faint-heart-fooles, whom shew of perill hard

  Could terrifie from Fortunes faire adward:

  For oftentimes faint hearts, at first espiall 150

  Of his grim face, were from approaching scard:

  Unworthy they of grace, whom one deniall

  Excludes from fairest hope, withouten further triall.

  XVIII

  ‘Yet many doughty warriours, often tride

  In greater perils to be stout and bold, 155

  Durst not the sternnesse of his looke abide,

  But soone as they his countenance did behold,

  Began to faint, and feele their corage cold.

  Againe, some other, that in hard assaies

  Were cowards knowne, and litle count did hold, 160

  Either through gifts, or guile, or such like waies,

  Crept in by stouping low, or stealing of the kaies.

  XIX

  ‘But I, though meanest man of many moe,

  Yet much disdaining unto him to lout,

  Or creepe betweene his legs, so in to goe, 165

  Resolv’d him to assault with manhood stout,

  And either beat him in or drive him out.

  Eftsoones, advauncing that enchaunted shield,

  With all my might I gan to lay about:

  Which when he saw, the glaive which he did wield 170

  He gan forthwith t’ avale, and way unto me yield.

  XX

  ‘So as I entred, I did backeward looke,

  For feare of harme, that might lie hidden there;

  And loe! his hindparts, whereof heed I tooke,

  Much more deformed fearefull ugly were, 175

  Then all his former parts did earst appere:

  For Hatred, Murther, Treason, and Despight,

  With many moe, lay in ambushment there,

  Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight,

  Which did not them prevent with vigilant foresight. 180

  XXI

  ‘Thus having past all perill, I was come

  Within the compasse of that islands space;

  The which did seeme, unto my simple doome,

  The onely pleasant and delightfull place

  That ever troden was of footings trace. 185

  For all that Nature by her mother wit

  Could frame in earth, and forme of substance base,

  Was there, and all that Nature did omit,

  Art, playing second Natures part, supplyed it.

  XXII

  ‘No tree, that is of count, in greenewood growes, 190

  From lowest juniper to ceder tall,

  No flowre in field, that daintie odour throwes,

  And deckes his branch with blossomes over all,

  But there was planted, or grew naturall:

  Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice, 195

  But there mote find to please it selfe withall;

  Nor hart could wish for any queint device,

  But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice.

  XXIII

  ‘In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure,

  It seem’d a second paradise to ghesse, 200

  So lavishly enricht with Natures threasure,

  That if the happie soules, which doe possesse

  Th’ Elysian fields and live in lasting blesse,

  Should happen this with living eye to see,

  They soone would loath their lesser happinesse, 205

  And wish to life return’d againe to bee,

  That in this joyous place they mote have joyance free.

  XXIV

  ‘Fresh shadowes, fit to shroud from sunny ray;

  Faire lawnds, to take the sunne in season dew;

  Sweet springs, in which a thousand nymphs did play; 210

  Soft rombling brookes, that gentle slomber drew;

  High reared mounts, the lands about to vew;

  Low looking dales, disloignd from common gaze;

  Delightfull bowres, to solace lovers trew;

  False labyrinthes, fond runners eyes to daze; 215

  All which by Nature made did Nature selfe amaze.

  XXV

  ‘And all without were walkes and alleyes dight

  With divers trees, enrang’d in even rankes;

  And here and there were pleasant arbors pight,

  And shadie seates, and sundry flowring bankes, 220

  To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes;

  And therein thousand payres of lovers walkt,

  Praysing their god, and yeelding him great thankes,

  Ne ever ought but of their true loves talkt,

  Ne ever for rebuke or blame of any balkt. 225

  XXVI

  ‘All these together by themselves did sport

  Their spotlesse pleasures, and sweet loves content.

  But farre away from these, another sort

  Of lovers lincked in true harts consent;

  Which loved not as these, for like intent, 230

  But on chast vertue grounded their desire,

  Farre from all fraud, or fayned blandishment;

  Which, in their spirits kindling zealous fire,

  Brave thoughts and noble deedes did evermore aspire.

  XXVII

  ‘Such were great Hercules, and Hyllus deare; 235

  Trew Jonathan, and David trustie tryde;

  Stout Theseus, and Pirithous his feare;

  Pylades, and Orestes by his syde;

  Myld Titus and Gesippus without pryde;

  Damon and Pythias, whom death could not sever: 240

  All these, and all that ever had bene tyde

  In bands of friendship, there did live for ever;

  Whose lives although decay’d, yet loves decayed never.

 
XXVIII

  ‘Which when as I, that never tasted blis

  Nor happie howre, beheld with gazefull eye, 245

  I thought there was none other heaven then this;

  And gan their endlesse happinesse envye,

  That, being free from feare and gealosye,

  Might frankely there their loves desire possesse;

  Whilest I through paines and perlous jeopardie 250

  Was forst to seeke my lifes deare patronesse:

  Much dearer be the things which come through hard distresse.

  XXIX

  ‘Yet all those sights, and all that else I saw,

  Might not my steps withhold, but that forthright

  Unto that purposd place I did me draw, 255

  Where as my love was lodged day and night:

  The temple of great Venus, that is hight

  The Queene of Beautie, and of Love the mother,

  There worshipped of every living wight;

  Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other 260

  That ever were on earth, all were they set together.

  XXX

  ‘Not that same famous temple of Diane,

  Whose hight all Ephesus did oversee,

  And which all Asia sought with vowes prophane,

  One of the worlds seven wonders sayd to bee, 265

  Might match with this by many a degree:

  Nor that which that wise king of Jurie framed,

  With endlesse cost, to be th’ Almighties see;

  Nor all that else through all the world is named

  To all the heathen gods, might like to this be clamed. 270

  XXXI

  ‘I, much admyring that so goodly frame,

  Unto the porch approcht, which open stood;

  But therein sate an amiable dame,

  That seem’d to be of very sober mood,

  And in her semblant shewed great womanhood: 275

  Strange was her tyre; for on her head a crowne

  She wore, much like unto a Danisk hood,

  Poudred with pearle and stone, and all her gowne

  Enwoven was with gold, that raught full low a downe.

  XXXII

  ‘On either side of her two young men stood, 280

  Both strongly arm’d, as fearing one another;

  Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood,

  Begotten by two fathers of one mother,

  Though of contrarie natures each to other:

  The one of them hight Love, the other Hate; 285

  Hate was the elder, Love the younger brother;

  Yet was the younger stronger in his state

  Then th’ elder, and him maystred still in all debate.

  XXXIII

  ‘Nathlesse that dame so well them tempred both,

  That she them forced hand to joyne in hand, 290

  Albe that Hatred was thereto full loth,

  And turn’d his face away, as he did stand,

  Unwilling to behold that lovely band.