Led with delight, they thus beguile the way, Untill the blustring storme is overblowne; When, weening to returne whence they did stray, They cannot finde that path, which first was showne, But wander too and fro in waies unknowne, Furthest from end then, when they neerest weene, That makes them doubt their wits be not their owne: So many pathes, so many turnings seene,

That which of them to take in diverse doubt they been.

THE HOUSE OF PRIDE.

High above all a cloth of State was spred,
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day;
On which there sate, most brave embellished
With royall robes and gorgeous array,

A mayden Queene that shone as Titans ray,
In glistring gold and perelesse pretious stone;
Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay

To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne,
As envying her selfe, that too exceeding shone:

Exceeding shone, like Phœbus fayrest childe,
That did presume his fathers fyrie wayne,
And flaming mouthes of steedes, unwonted wilde,
Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne:
Proud of such glory and advancement vayne,
While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,
He leaves the welkin way most beaten playne,
And, rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen
With fire not made to burne, but fayrely for to shyne
So proud she shyned in her princely state,
Looking to heaven, for earth she did disdayne,
And sitting high, for lowly she did hate :
Lo! underneath her scornefull feete was layne
A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne;
And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,
Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,
And in her selfe-lov'd semblance took delight;
For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight.

Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was,
And sad Proserpina, the Queene of hell;

Yet did she thinke her pearelesse worth to pas
That parentage, with pride so did she swell;
And thundring Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell
And wield the world, she claymed for her syre,
Or if that any else did Jove excell;

For to the highest she did still aspyre,

Or, if ought higher were than that, did it desyre.

And proud Lucifera men did her call,

That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be;
Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all,
Ne heritage of native soveraintie;

But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie
Upon the scepter which she now did hold:
Ne ruld her Realme with lawes, but pollicie,

And strong advizement of six wisards old,

That, with their counsels bad, her kingdome did uphold

Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came,

And false Duessa, seeming Lady fayre,

A gentle Husher, Vanitie by name,

Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire :
So goodly brought them to the lowest stayre

Of her high throne; where they, on humble knee
Making obeysaunce, did the cause declare,
Why they were come her roiall state to see,
To prove the wide report of her great Majestee.

With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so lowe,
She thancked them in her disdainefull wise;
Ne other grace vouchsafed them to showe
Of Princesse worthy; scarse them bad arise.
Her Lordes and Ladies all this while devise
Themselves to setten forth to straungers sight:
Some frounce their curled heare in courtly guise;
Some prancke their ruffes; and others trimly dight
Their gay attyre; each others greater pride does spight.

Suddein upriseth from her stately place

The roiall Dame, and for her coche doth call:
All hurtlen forth; and she, with princely pace,
As faire Aurora in her purple pall

Out of the East the dawning day doth call.

So forth she comes; her brightnes brode doth blaze. The heapes of people, thronging in the hall,

Doe ride each other upon her to gaze:

Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eies amaze
So forth she comes, and to her coche does clyme,
Adorned all with gold and girlonds gay,
That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime;
And strove to match, in roiall rich array,

Great Junoes golden chayre; the which, they say,
The gods stand gazing on, when she does ride

To Joves high hous through heavens bras-paved way,
Drawne of fayre Pecocks, that excell in pride,
And full of Argus eyes their tayles dispredden wide.

UNA'S MARRIAGE.

Then forth he called that his daughter fayre, The fairest Un', his onely daughter deare, His onely daughter and his only hayre; Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare, As bright as doth the morning starre appeare Out of the East, with flaming lockes bedight, To tell that dawning day is drawing neare, And to the world does bring long-wished light: So faire and fresh that Lady shewd herselfe in sight. So faire and fresh, as freshest flowre in May; For she had layd her mournefull stole aside, And widow-like sad wimple throwne away, Wherewith her heavenly beautie she did hide, Whiles on her wearie journey she did ride; And on her now a garment she did weare All lilly white, withoutten spot or pride, That seemd like silke and silver woven neare But neither silke nor silver therein did appeare.

The blazing brightnesse of her beauties beame, And glorious light of her sunshyny face, To tell were as to strive against the streame: My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace Her heavenly lineaments for to enchace. Ne wonder; for her own deare loved knight, All were she daily with himselfe in place, Did wonder much at her celestial sight:

Oft had he seene her faire, but never so faire dight.

His owne two hands the holy knotts did knitt,
That none but death for ever can divide;
His owne two hands, for such a turne most fitt,
The housling fire did kindle and provide,
And holy water thereon sprinckled wide;
At which the bushy Teade1 a groome did light,
And sacred lamp in secret chamber hide,
Where it should not be quenched day nor night,
For feare of evil fates, but burnen ever bright.

Then gan they sprinckle all the posts with wine,
And made great feast to solemnize that day:
They all perfumde with frankincense divine,
And precious odours fetcht from far away,
That all the house did sweat with great aray:
And all the while sweete Musicke did apply
Her curious skill the warbling notes to play,
To drive away the dull Melancholy;

The whiles one sung a song of love and jollity.

During the which there was an heavenly noise Heard sownd through all the Pallace pleasantly, Like as it had bene many an Angels voice Singing before th' eternall majesty,

In their trinall triplicities on hye:

Yett wist no creature whence that hevenly sweet
Proceeded, yet each one felt secretly

Himselfe thereby refte of his sences meet,

And ravished with rare impression in his sprite.

I torch.

Great joy was made that day of young and old, And solemne feast proclaymd throughout the land, That their exceeding merth may not be told : Suffice it heare by signes to understand The usual joyes at knitting of loves band. Thrise happy man the knight himselfe did hold, Possessed of his Ladies hart and hand;

And ever, when his eie did her behold,

His heart did seeme to melt in pleasures manifold.
Her joyous presence, and sweet company,

In full content he there did long enjoy;
Ne wicked envy, ne vile gealosy,

His deare delights were hable to annoy;
Yet, swimming in that sea of blisfull joy,

He nought forgott how he whilome had sworne,
In case he could that monstrous beast destroy,
Unto his Faery Queene backe to retourne ;
The which he shortly did, and Una left to mourne.
Now, strike your sailes, yee jolly Mariners,

For we be come unto a quiet rode,
Where we must land some of our passengers,
And light this weary vessell of her lode :
Here she a while may make her safe abode,

Till she repaired have her tackles spent,

And wants supplide; And then againe abroad

On the long voiage whereto she is bent:

Well may she speede, and fairely finish her intenti [From The Faerie Queene, Bk. ii.]

PHAEDRIA AND THE IDLE LAKE

A harder lesson to learne Continence
In joyous pleasure then in grievous paine;
For sweetnesse doth allure the weaker sence
So strongly, that uneathes it can refraine
From that which feeble nature covets faine:
But griefe and wrath, that be her enemies
And foes of life, she better can abstaine:
Yet vertue vauntes in both her victories,

And Guyon in them all shewes goodly maysteries.