• For at the first they all created were

“ Whatever thing is done, by him is donne, In goodly measure by their Makers might ; Ne any may his mighty will withstand; And weighed out in ballaunces so nere,

Ne any may his soveraine power shonne, That not a dram was missing of their right: Ne loose that he hath bound with stedfast band : The Earth was in the middle centre pight,

In vaine therefore doest thou now take in hand In which it doth immoveable abide,

To call to count, or weigh his workes anew, Hemd in with waters like a wall in sight,

Whose counsels depth thou canst not understand; And they with aire, that not a drop can slide : Sith of things subiect to thy daily vew [dew. All which the Heavens containe, and in their Thou doest not know the causes nor their courses courses guide.

“ For take thy ballaunce, if thou be so wise, * Such heavenly iustice doth among them raine,

And weigh the winde that under Heaven doth blow; That every one doe know their certaine bound;

Or weigh the light that in the east doth rise; In which they doe these many yeares remaine, And mongst them al no change hath yet beene found: Or weigh the thought that from mans mind doth flow:

But if the weight of these thou canst not show, But if thou now shouldst weigh them new in pound,

Weigh but one word which from thy lips doth fall: We are not sure they would so long remaine :

For how canst thou those greater secrets know, All change is perillous, and all chaunce unsound.

That doest not know the least thing of them all? Therefore leave off to weigh them all againe,

Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small." Till we may be assur'd they shall their course retaine."

Therewith the gyant much abashed sayd “ Thou foolishe elfe," said then the gyant wroth, That he of little things made reckoning light; “ Seest not how badly all things present bee,

Yet the least word that ever could be layd And each estate quite out of order goth?

Within bis ballaunce he could way aright. The sea itselfe doest thou not plainely see

“ Which is,” sayd he, “more heavy then in weight, Encroch uppon the land there under thee? The right or wrong, the false or else the trew ?" And th' earth itselfe how daily its increast

He answered that he would try it streight: By all that dying to it turned be?

So he the words into his ballaunce threw; (flew. Were it not good that wrong were then surceast, But streight the winged words out of his ballaunce And from the most that some were given to the least?

Wroth wext he then, and sayd that words were light, “ Therefore I will throw downe these mountains hie, Ne would within his ballaunce well abide: And make them levell with the lowly plaine, But he could justly weigh the wrong or right. These towring rocks, which reach unto the skie, “ Well then,” sayd Artegall, “ let it be tride: I will thrust downe into the deepest maine, First in one ballance set the true aside." And, as they were, them equalize againe.

He did so first, and then the false he layd Tyrants, that make men subiect to their law, In th' other scale; but still it downe did slide, I will suppresse, that they no more may raine ; And by no meane could in the weight be stayd : And lordlings curbe that commons over-aw; For by no meanes the false will with the truth be And all the wealth of rich men to the poore will

wayd. draw."

“ Now take the right likewise,” sayd Artegale, * Of things anseene how canst thou deeme aright,”

“ And counterpeise the same with so much wrong." Then ariswered the righteous Artegall, « Sith thou misdeem'st so much of things in sight? And then the gyant struve with puissance strong

So first the right he put into one scale ; What though the sea with waves continuall

To fill the other scale with so much wrong: Doe eate the earth, it is no more at all ;

But all the wrongs that he therein could lay Ne is the earth the lesse, or loseth ought :

Might not it peise; yet did he labour long, For whatsoever from one place doth fall

And swat, and chauf'd, and proved every way: Is with the tide unto another brought:

Yet all the wrongs could not a litle right downe way. For there is nothing lost, that may be found if sought. " Likewise the earth is not augmented more

Which when he saw, he greatly grew in rage, By all that dying into it doe fade;

And almost would his balances have broken: For of the earth they formed were of yore:

But Artegall him fairely gan asswage, However gay their blossome or their blade

And said, “Be not upon thy balance wroken: Doe flourish now, they into dust shall vade.

For they do nought but right or wrong betoken; What wrong then is it if that when they die

But in the mind the doome of right must bee: They turne to that whereof they first were made ?

And so likewise of words, the which be spoken, All in the powre of their great Maker lie:

The eare must be the ballance, to decree (agree. All creatures inust obey the voice of the Most Hier And iudge, whether with truth or falshood they “ They live, they die, like as he doth ordaine, “ But set the truth and set the right aside, Ne ever any asketh reason why.

For they with wrong or falshood will not fare, The hils doe not the lowly dales disdaine ;

And put two wrongs together to be tride, The dales doe not the lofty hils envy.

Or else two falses, of each equal share, He maketh kings to sit in soverainty;

And then together doe them both compare: He maketh subiects to their powre obay;

For truth is one, and rigbt is ever one.” He pulleth downe, be setteth up on hy;

So did he; and then plaine it did appeare, He gives to this, from that he takes away :

Whether of them the greater were attone: For all we have is his; what he list doe, he may. But right sat in the middest of the beame alone.

But he the right from thence did thrust away;
For it was not the right which he did seeke:
But rather strove extremities to way,

CANTO III.
Th’one to diminish, th other for to eeke:
For of the meane he greatly did misleeke.
Whom when so lewdly minded Talus found,

The spousals of faire Florimell,
Approching nigh unto him cheeke by cheeke

Where turney many knights: He shouldered him from off the higher ground,

There Braggadochio is uncas'd And down the rock him throwing in the sea him

In all the ladies sights. dround.

After long stormes and tempests over-blowne Like as a ship, whom cruell tempest drives The Sunne at length his ioyous face doth cleare : Upon a rocke with borrible dismay,

So whenas fortune all her spight hath showne, Her shattered ribs in thousand peeces rives, Some blisfull houres at last must needes appeare ; And spoyling all her geares and goodly ray Else should afflicted wights oft-times despeire. Does make herselfe misfortunes piteous pray. So comes it now to Florimell by tourne, So downe the cliffe the wretched gyant tumbled; After long sorrowes suffered whyleare, His battred ballances in peeces lay,

In which captiv'd she many moneths did mourne, His timbered bones all broken rudely rumbled: To tast of ioy, and to wont pleasures to retourue : So was the high-aspyring with huge ruine bumbled.

Who, being freed from Proteus cruell band
That when the people, whieh had there about By Marinell, was unto him affide,
Long wayted, saw his sudden desolation,

And by him brought againe to Faerie land;
They gan to gather in tumultuous rout,

Where he her spous'd, and made his ioyous bride. And mutining to stirre up civill faction

The time and place was blazed farre and wide, For certaine losse of so great expectation :

And solemne feastes and giusts ordain'd therefore For well they hoped to have got great good, To which there did resort from every side And wondrous riches by his innovation:

Of lords and ladies infinite great store; Therefore resolving to revenge his blood

Ne any knight was absent that brave courage bore. They rose in armes, and all in battell order stood.

To tell the glorie of the feast that day, Which lawlesse multitude biin comming to The goodly service, the devicefull sights, In warlike wise when Artegall did vew,

The bridegromes state, the brides most rich aray, He much was troubled, ne wist what to do: The pride of ladies, and the worth of knights, For loth he was his noble hands t' embrew

The royall banquets, and the rare delights, In the base blood of such a rascall crew;

Were worke fit for an herauld, not for me : And otherwise, if that he should retire,

But for so much as to my lot here lights, He fear'd least they with shame would him pursew: That with this present treatise doth agree, Therefore be Talus to them sent t inquire True vertue to advance, shall here recounted bee The cause of their array, and truce for to desire.

When all men had with full satietie Bat soone as they him nigha approching spide, Of mcates and drinkes their appetites suffiz'd, They gan with all their weapons him assay, To dredes of arines and proofe of chevalrie And rudely stroke at him on every side ;

They gan themselves addresse, full rich aguiz’d, Yet dought they could bim hurt, ne ought dismay: As each one had his furnitures deviz'd. But when at them he with his flaile gan lay, And first of all issu'd sir Marinell, He like a swarm of flyes them overthrew :

And with him sixe knights more, which enterpriz'd Ne any of them durst come in his way,

To chalenge all in right of Florimell, But here and there before his presence flew, And to maintaine that she all others did excello And bid themselves in holes and bushes from his vew.

The first of them was hight sir Orimont,

A noble knight, and tride in hard assayes:
As when a faulcon hath with nimble fight

The second had to name sir Bellisont,
Mowne at a flush of ducks foreby the brooke, But second unto none iu prowesse prayse :
The trembling foule dismayd with dreadfull sight The third was Brunell, famous in bis dayes:
Of death, the which them almost overtooke, The fourth Ecastor, of exceeding might:
Doe hide themselves from her astonying looke The fift Armeddan, skild in lovely layes:
Amongst the flags and covert round about.

The sixt was Lansack, a redoubted knight:
When Talus saw they all the field forsooke, All sixe well seene in armes, and prov'd in many &
And none appear'd of all that rascall rout,

fight.
To Artegall he turn'd and went with him through-
out.

And them against came all that list to giust,
From every coast and countrie under Sunne:
None was debard, but all had leave that lust.
The trompets sound ; then all together ronne.
Full many deeds of armes that day were donne;
And many knights unhorst, and many wounded,
As fortune fell; yet little lost or wonne:
But all that day the greatest prayse redounded [ed.
To Marinell, whose name the heralds loud resound-

The second day, so soone as morrow light

And thether also came in open sight Appear'd in Heaven, into the field they came, Fayre Florimell into the common ball, And there all day continew'd cruell fight,

To greet his guerdon unto every knight,
With divers fortune fit for such a game,

And best to him to whom the best should fall.
In which all strove with perill to winde fame; Then for that stranger knight they loud did call,
Yet whether side was victor note be ghest :

To whom that day they should the girlond yield; But at the last the trompets did proclame

Who came not forth : but for sir Artegall That Marinell that day deserved best.

Came Braggadochio, and did shew his shield, So they disparted were, and all men went to rest. Which bore the Sunne brode blazed in a golden field. The third day came, that should due tryall lend The sight whereof did all with gladnesse fill : Of all the rest; and then this warlike crew

So unto him they did addeeme the prise Together met, of all to make an end.

Of all that tryumph. Then the trompets shrill There Marinell great deeds of armes did shew; Don Braggadochios name resounded thrise: And through the thickest like a lyon few,

So courage lent a cloke to cowardise : Rashing off helmes, and ryving plates asonder; And then to him came fayrest Florimell, That every one his daunger did eschew :

And goodly gan to greete his brave emprise, So terribly his dreadfull strokes did thonder, And thousand thankes him yeeld, that had so well That all men stood amaz’d, and at his might did Approv'd that day that she all others did excell. wonder.

To whom the boaster, that all knights did blot, But what on Earth can alwayes happie stand ? With proud disdaine did scornefull answere make, The greater prowesse greater perills find.

That what he did that day, he did it not So farre he past amongst his enemies band, For her, but for his owne deare ladies sake, That they have him enclosed so behind,

Whom on his perill he did undertake As by no meanes he can himselfe outwind : Both her and eke all others to excell: And now perforce they have him prisoner taken ;

And further did uncomely speaches crake.
And now they doe with captive bands him bind ; Much did his words the gentle ladie quell,
And now they lead him hence, of all forsaken, And turn'd aside for shame to beare what he did telle
Unlesse some succour had in time him overtaken.

Then forth he brought his snowy Florimele,
It fortun'd, whylest they were thus ill beset, Whom Tromparte had in keeping there beside,
Sir Artegall into the tilt-yard came,

Covered from peoples gazement with a vele:
With Braggadochio, whoun he lately met

Whom when discovered they had throughly eide, Upon the way with that his snowy dame:

With great amazement they were stupefide;
Where when he understood by common fame, And said, that surely Florinell it was,
What evil hap to Marinell betid,

Or if it were not Florimell so tride,
He much was mov'd at so unworthie shame, That Florimell herselfe she then did pas.
And streight that boaster prayd, with whom he rid, So feeble skill of perfect things the vulgar has.
To change his shield with him, to be the better hid.

Which whenas Marinell beheld likewise,
So forth he went, and soone them overhent, He was therewith exceedingly dismayd;
Where they were leading Marinell away;

Ne wist he what to thinke, or to devise:
Whom he assayld with dreadlesse hardiment, But, like as one whom feends had made affrayd,
And forst the burden of their prize to stay. He long astonisht stood, ne ought he sayd,
They were an hundred knights of that array; Ne ought he did, but with fast fixed eies
Of which th' one halfe upon himselfe did set, He gazed still upon that snowy mayd;
The other stayd behind to gard the pray:

Whom ever as he did the more avize,
But he ere long the former fiftie bet;

The more to be true Florimell he did surmize. And from the other fiftie soone the prisoner fet.

As when two sunnes appeare in th' azure skye, So backe he brought sir Marinell againe ;

Mounted in Phoebus charet fierie bright, Whom having quickly arm'd againe anew,

Both darting forth faire beames to each mans eye, They both together joyned might and maine, And both adorn'd with lampes of Alaming light; To set afresh on all the other crew :

All that behold so strange prodigious sight, Whom with sore havocke soone they overthrew, Not knowing Natures worke, nor what to weene, And chased quite out of the field, that none Are rapt with wonder and with rare affright Against them durst his head to perill shew. So stood sir Marinell when he bad seené [queene. So were they left lords of the field alone :

The semblant of this false by his faire beauties So Marinell by him was rescu'd from his fone.

All which when Artegall, who all this while Which when he had perform'd, then backe againe Stood in the preasse close covered, well advewed, To Braggadochio did his shield restore:

And saw that boasters pride and gracelesse guile, Who all this while bebind him did remaine, He could no longer beare, but forth issewed, Keeping there close with him in pretious store And unto all himselfe there open shewed, That his false ladie, as ye heard afore.

And to the boaster said ; “ Thou losell base, Then did the trompets sound, and iudges rose, That hast with borrowed plumes thyselfe endewed, And all these knights, which that day armuur boré, And others worth with leasings doest deface, Came to the open hall to listen whose

When they are all restor'd thou shalt rest in disThe honour of the prize should be adiudg'd by those.

grace.

« That shield, which thou doest beare, was it indeed Full many ladies often had assayd
Which this dayes honour sav'd to Marinell : About their middles that faire belt to knit ;
But not that arme, nor thou the man I reed, And many a one suppos’d to be a mayd:
Which didst that service unto Florimell:

Yet it to none of all their loynes would fit,
For proofe shew forth thy sword, and let it tell Till Florimell'about her fastned it.
What strokes, what dreadfull stoure, it stird this day: Such power it had, that to no womans wast
Or shew the wounds which unto thee befell; By any skill or labour it would sit,
Or shew the sweat with which thou diddest sway Unlesse that she were continent and chast;
So sharpe a battell, that so many did dismay. But it would lose or breake, that many had disgrast.
“ But this the sword which wrought those cruell Whilest thus they busied were bout Florimell,
stounds,

And boastfull Braggadochio to defame, And this the arme the which that shield did beare, Sir Guyon, as by fortune then befell, And these the signs,” (so shewed forth his wounds) Forth from the thickest preasse of people came, " By which that glorie gotten doth appeare. His owne good steed, which he had stolne, to clame; As for this ladie, which he sheweth here,

And, th' one hand seizing on his golden bit, Is not (I wager) Florimell at all;

With th' other drew his sword; for with the same But some fayre franion, fit for such a fere, He meant the thiefe there deadly to have smit: That by misfortune in his hand did fall."

And, had he not bene held, he nought had fayld of For proofe whereof he bad them Florimell forth call.

it. So forth the noble ladie was ybrought,

Thereof great hurly burly moved was Adorn’d with honor and all comely grace: Throughout the hall for that same warlike horse : Whereto her bashfull shamefastnesse ywrought For Braggadochio would not let him pas; A great increase in her faire blushing face; And Guyon would bim algates have perforse, As roses did with lillies interlace :

Or it approve upon his carrion corse. For of those words, the which that boaster threw, Which troublous stirre when Artegall perceived, She inly yet conceived great disgrace:

He nigh them drew to stay th' avengers forse; Whom whenas all the people such did vew, (shew. And gan inquire how was that steed bereaved, They shouted loud, and signes of gladnesse all did Whether by might extort, or else by slight deceaved. Then did he set her by that snowy one,

Who all that piteous storie, which befell Like the true saint beside the image set ;

About that wofall couple which were slaine, Of both their beauties to make paragone

And their young bloodie babe to him gan tell; And triall, whether should the honor get.

With whom while he did in the wood remaine, Streightway, so soone as both together met, His horse purloyned was by sabtill traine; Th' enchaunted damzell vanisht into nought: For which he chalenged the thiefe to fight : Her sowy substance melted as with heat,

But he for nought could him thereto constraine; Ne of that goodly hew remayned ought, [wrought. For as the death he hated such despight, But th’ emptie girdle which about her wast was And rather had to lose than trie in armes his right. As when the daughter of Thaumantes faire Which Artegall well hearing, (though no more Hath in a watry cloud displayed wide

By law of armes there neede ones right to trie, Her goodly bow, which paints the liquid ayre; As was the wont of warlike knights of yore, That all men wonder at her colours pride;

Then that his foe should him the field denie,) All suddenly, ere one can looke aside,

Yet further right by tokens to descrie, The glorious picture vanisheth away,

He askt, what privie tokens he did beare." Ne any token doth thereof abide:

“ If that,” said Guyon, “may you satisfie, So did this ladies goodly forme decay,

Within his mouth a blacke spot doth appeare, And into nothing goe, ere one could it bewray. Shapt like a horses shoe, who list to seeke it there." Which whenas all that present were beheld, Whereof to make due tryall one did take They stricken were with great astonishment, The horse in hand within his month to looke: And their faint harts with senselesse horrour queld, But with his heeles so sorely he him strake, To see the thing, that seem'd so excellent, That all his ribs he quite in peeces broke, So stolen from their fancies wonderment;

That never word from that day forth he spoke. That what of it became none understood :

Another, that would seeme to have more wit, And Braggadochio selfe with dreriment

Him by the bright embrodered hedstall tooke: So daunted was in his despeyring mood,

But by the shoulder him so sore he bit, (split. That like a lifelesse corse immoveable he stood. That he him maymed quite, and all his shoulder But Artegall that golden belt optooke,

Ne he his mouth would open unto wight, The which of all her spoyle was onely left; Untill that Guyon selfe unto him spake, Which was not hers, as many it mistooke, And called Brigadore, (so was he hight) But Florimells owne girdle, from her reft

Whose voice so soone as he did undertake, While she was dying, like a weary weft,

Eftsoones he stood as still as any stake, From that foule monster which did her compell And suffred all his secret marke to see; To perils great; which he unbuckling eft

And, whenas he him nam’d, for joy he brake Presented to the fayrest Florimell;

His bands, and follow'd him with gladfull glee, Who roand about her tender wast it fitted well. And friskt, and flong aloft, and louted low on knee.

WHOSO

Thereby sir Artegall did plaine areed,
That unto him the horse belong'd; and sayd,

CANTO IV.
“ Lo there, sir Guyon, take to you the steed,
As he with golden saddle is arayd ;
And let that losell, plainely now displayd,

Artegall dealeth right betwixt
Hence fare on foot, till he an horse have gayned.”

Two brethren that doe strive: But the proud boaster gan his doome upbrayd,

Saves Terpine froin the gallow tree, And him revil'd, and rated, and disdayned,

And doth from death reprive. That iudgement so uniust against him had ordayned.

upon himselfe will take the skill Much was the knight incenst with his lewd word, True justice unto people to divide, To have revenged that his villeny;

Had need have mightie hands for to fulGI! And thrice did lay his hand upon his sword, That which he doth with righteous doome decide; To have him slaine, or dearely doen aby :

And for to maister wrong and puissant pride: But Guyon did his choler pacify,

Fur vaine it is to deeme of things aright, Saying, “Sir Knight, it would dishonour bee And makes wrong doers iustice to deride, To you that are our iudge of equity,

Unlesse it be perform’d with dreadlesse might: To wreake your wrath on such a carle as hee: For powre is the right hand of lustice truely hight: It's punishment enough that all his shame doe see.”

Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise So did he mitigate sir Artegall;

The charge of lustice given was in trust, But Talus by the backe the boaster bent,

That they might execute her iudgements wise; And drawing him out of the open hall

And with their might beat downe licentious lust, Upon him did inflict this punishment :

Which proudly did impugne her sentence iust: First he his beard did shave, and fowly shent; Whereof no braver president this day Then from him reft his shield, and it renverst, Pemaines on Earth, preserv'd from yron rust And blotted out his armes with falsehood blent; Of rude oblivion and long times decay, And himselfe baffuld, and his armes unherst; Then this of Artegall, which here we have to say. And broke his sword in twaine, and all his armour sperst.

Who having lately left that lovely payre,

Enlincked fast in wedlockes loyall bond,
The whiles his guilefull groome was fled away ; Bold Marinell with Florimell the fayre,
But vaine it was to thinke from bim to flie: With whom great feast and goodly glee he fond,
Who overtaking him did disaray,

Departed from the castle of the strond
And all his face deform'd with infamie,

To follow his adventures first intent, And out of court him scourged openly.

Which long agoe he taken had in hond: So ought all faytours, that true knighthood shame, Ne wight with him for his assistance went, And armes dishonour with base villanie,

But that great yron groome, his gard and govern. From all brave knights be banisht with defame:

ment: For oft their lewdnes blotteth good deserts with blame.

With whom, as be did passe by the sea-shore,

He chaupst to come whereas two comely squires, Now when these counterfeits were thus uncased Both brethren whom one wombe together bore, Out of the foreside of their forgerie,

But stirred up with different desires,
And in the sight of all men cleane disgraced, Together strove, and kindled wrathfull fires:
All gan to iest and gibe full merilie

And them beside two seemely damzels stood,
At the remembrance of their knaverie :

By all meanes seeking to asswage their ires, Ladies can laugh at ladies, knights at knights, Now with faire words, but words did little good; To thinke with how great vaunt of braverie Now with sharpe threats; but threats the more in He them abused through his subtill slights,

creast their mood. And what a glorious shew he made in all their sights.

And there before them stood a coffer strong There leave we them in pleasure and repast, Fast bound on every side with iron bands, Spending their ioyous dayes and gladfull nights, But seeming to have suffred inickle wrong, And taking usurie of time forepast,

Either by being wreckt uppon the sands,
With all deare delices and rare delights,

Or being carried farre from forraine lands:
Fit for such ladies and such lovely knights: Seem'd that for it these squires at ods did fall,
And turne we here to this faire furrowes end And bent against themselves their cruell hands;
Our wearie yokes, to gather fresher sprights, But evermore those damzels did forestall
That, whenas time to Artegall shall tend,

Their furious encounter, and their fiercenesse pallo We on his first adventure may him forward send.

But firmely fixt they were with dint of sword
And battailes doubtfull proofe their rights to try;
Ne other end their fury would afford,
But what to them fortune would justify:
So stood they both in readinesse tbereby
To joyne the combate with cruell intent:
When Artegall arriving happily
Did stay awhile their greedy bickerment,
Till be bad questioned the cause of their dissent