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Ne wote I but thou didst these goods be

reave

From rightfull owner by unrighteous lot, Or that bloodguiltinesse or guile them blot." "Perdy," (quoth he) "yet never eie did vew, Ne tong did tell, ne hand these handled not; But safe I have them kept in secret mew From hevens sight, and powre of al which them poursew."

20

"What secret place" (quoth he) "can safely hold

So huge a masse, and hide from heavens eie? Or where hast thou thy wonne, that so much gold

Thou canst preserve from wrong and robbery?"

"Come thou," (quoth he) "and see." So by and by

Through that thick covert he him led, and fownd

A darkesome way, which no man could descry,

That deep descended through the hollow ground,

And was with dread and horror compassed arownd.

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At length they came into a larger space, That stretcht itselfe into an ample playne; Through which a beaten broad high way did

trace,

That streight did lead to Plutoes griesly

rayne.

By that wayes side there sate internall
Payne,

And fast beside him sat tumultuous Strife:
The one in hand an yron whip did strayne,
The other brandished a bloody knife;
And both did gnash their teeth, and both
did threten life.

22

On thother side in one consort there sate Cruell Revenge, and rancorous Despight, Disloyall Treason, and hart-burning Hate; But gnawing Gealosy, out of their sight Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bight; And trembling Feare still to and fro did fly,

And found no place wher safe he shroud him might:

Lamenting Sorrow did in darknes lye, And shame his ugly face did hide from living eye.

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That was Ambition, rash desire to sty, And every linck thereof a step of dignity.

47

Some thought to raise themselves to high degree

By riches and unrighteous reward; Some by close shouldring; some by flatteree;

Others through friendes; others for base regard,

And all by wrong waies for themselves prepard:

Those that were up themselves kept others low;

Those that were low themselves held others hard,

Ne suffred them to ryse or greater grow; But every one did strive his fellow downe to throw.

48

Which whenas Guyon saw, he gan inquire, What meant that preace about that Ladies throne,

And what she was that did so high aspyre?
Him Mammon answered; "That goodly one,
Whom all that folke with such contention
Doe flock about, my deare, my daughter is:
Honour and dignitie from her alone
Derived are, and all this worldes blis,
For which we men doe strive; few gett, but
many mis:

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"And fayre Philotime she rightly hight, The fairest wight that wonneth under skie, But that this darksom neather world her light

Doth dim with horror and deformity;
Worthie of heven and hye felicitie,
From whence the gods have her for envy
thrust:

But, sith thou hast found favour in mine eye,

Thy spouse, I will her make, if that thou lust,

That she may thee advance for works and merits just."

50

"Gramercy, Mammon," (said the gentle knight)

"For so great grace and offred high estate; But I, that am fraile flesh and earthly wight, Unworthy match for such immortall mate My selfe well wote, and mine unequall fate: And were I not, yet is my trouth yplight,

And love avowd to other Lady late, That to remove the same I have no might: To chaunge love causelesse is reproch to warlike knight." 51

Mammon emmoved was with inward wrath; Yet, forcing it to fayne, him forth thence ledd,

Through griesly shadowes by a beaten path, Into a gardin goodly garnished.

With hearbs and fruits, whose kinds mote not be redd:

Not such as earth out of her fruitful woomb Throwes forth to men, sweet and well savored,

But direfull deadly black, both leafe and bloom,

Fitt to adorne the dead, and deck the drery toombe.

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