Complete Works of Edmund Spenser

By errant Sprights, but from all men con-
ceald:

The same she tempred with fine Mercury
And virgin wex that never yet was seald,
And mingled them with perfect vermily;
That like a lively sanguine it seemd to the eye

VII

Instead of eyes two burning lampes she set
In silver sockets, shyning like the skyes,
And a quicke moving Spirit did arret
To stirre and roll them like to womens eyes:
Instead of yellow lockes she did devyse
With golden wyre to weave her curied head;
Yet golden wyre was not so yellow thryse
As Florimells fayre heare: and, in the stead
Of life, she put a Spright to rule the carcas
dead;

VIII

A wicked Spright, yfraught with fawning guyle

And fayre resemblance above all the rest,

The fearefull Chorle durst not gainesay nor dooe,

Which with the Prince of Darkenes fell some-But trembling stood, and yielded him the pray;

whyle

From heavens blis and everlasting rest:
Him needed not instruct which way were best
Him selfe to fashion likest Florimell,
Ne how to speake, ne how to use his gest;
For he in counterfesaunce did excell,
And all the wyles of wemens wits knew pass-
ing well.

Who, finding litle leasure her to wooe
And without reskew led her quite away.
On Tromparts steed her mounted without stay,
Proud man himselfe then Braggadochio deem'd,
And next to none after that happy day,
Being possessed of that spoyle, which seem'd
The fairest wight on ground, and most of men

esteem'd.

XIV

But, when hee saw him selfe free from poursute, He gan make gentle purpose to his Dame With termes of love and lewdnesse dissolute; For he could well his glozing speaches frame To such vaine uses that him best became :

Him shaped thus she deckt in garments gay,
Which Florimell had left behind her late;
That who so then her saw would surely say
It was her selfe whom it did imitate,
Or fayrer then her selfe, if ought algate
Might fayrer be. And then she forth her
Unto her sonne that lay in feeble state: [brought As seeming sory that she ever came
Who seeing her gan streight upstart, and Into his powre, that used her so hard [prefard.
thought
[sought. To reave her honor, which she more then life

She was the Lady selfe whom he so long had

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But she thereto would lend but light regard,

Thus as they two of kindnes treated long,
There them by chaunce encountred on the way
An armed knight upon a courser strong,
Whose trampling feete upon the hollow lay
Seemed to thunder, and did nigh affray
That Capons corage: yet he looked grim,
And faynd to cheare his lady in dismay,
Who seemd for feare to quake in every lim,
And her to save from outrage meekely prayed
him.

XVI

Fiercely that straunger forward came: and, nigh

To walke the woodes with that his Idole faire, Approching, with bold words and bitter threat

Thou foolish knight, that weenst with words

To steale away that I with blowes have wonne,

From courtly blis and wonted happinesse,
Did heape on her new waves of weary wretched-

nesse.

XXI

For being fled into the fishers bote
For refuge from the Monsters cruelty,
Long so she on the mighty maine did flote,
And with the tide drove forward carelesly;
For th' ayre was milde and cleared was the
skie,

And all his windes Dan Aeolus did keepe
From stirring up their stormy enmity,

And brought through points of many perilous As pittying to see her waile and weepe:
But all the while the fisher did securely sleepe.

swords:

But if thee list to see thy Courser ronne,
Or prove thy selfe, this sad encounter shonne,
And seeke els without hazard of thy hedd.

At those prowd words that other knight begonne

To wex exceeding wroth, and him aredd To turne his steede about, or sure he should be dedd.

An aged sire with head all frory hore,
And sprinckled frost upon his deawy beard:

The driest wood is soonest burnt to dust.
Rudely to her he lept, and his rough hond
Where ill became him rashly would have Who when those pittifull outcries he heard

But sith that none of all her knights is nye,
See how the heavens, of voluntary grace
And soveraine favor towards chastity,
Doe succor send to her distressed cace;
So much high God doth innocence embrace.
It fortuned, whilest thus she stifly strove,
And the wide sea importuned long space
With shrilling shriekes, Proteus abrode did

rove,

But he endevored with speaches milde Her to recomfort, and accourage bold, Bidding her feare no more her foeman vilde, Nor doubt himselfe; and who he was her told: Yet all that could not from affright her hold, Ne to recomfort her at all prevayld; For her faint hart was with the frosen cold Proteus is Shepheard of the seas of yore, Benumbd so inly, that her wits nigh fayld, And hath the charge of Neptunes mighty And all her sences with abashment quite were

Along the fomy waves driving his finny drove.

XXX

heard;

quayld.

XLV

XLIX

Sir Satyrane him towardes did addresse, To weet what wight he was, and what his quest,

And, comming nigh, eftsoones he gan to gesse,
Both by the burning hart which on his brest
He bare, and by the colours in his crest,
That Paridell it was. Tho to him yode,
And him saluting as beseemed best,
Gan first inquire of tydinges farre abrode, [rode.
And afterwardes on what adventure now he'

XLVI

Who thereto answering said: "The tydinges bad,

Which now in Faery court all men doe tell, Which turned hath great mirth to mourning sad,

Is the late ruine of proud Marinell,
And suddein parture of faire Florimell
To find him forth and after her are gone
All the brave knightes that doen in armes
To savegard her ywandred all alone: [excell
Emongst the rest my lott (unworthy') is to be
one.'

XLVII

Ay me!' (said Paridell) 'the signes be sadd; And, but God turne the same to good sooth-say, That Ladies safetie is sore to be dradd. Yet will I not forsake my forward way, Till triall doe more certeine truth bewray.' 'Faire Sir,' (quoth he) well may it you succeed! Ne long shall Satyrane behind you stay, But to the rest, which in this Quest proceed, My labour adde, and be partaker of their speed.'

'Ye noble knights,' (said then the Squyre of Dames)

Ah! gentle knight,' (said then Sir Satyrane)Well may yee speede in so praiseworthy payne! "Thy labour all is lost, I greatly dread,

That hast a thanklesse servic on thee ta'ne,
And offrest sacrifice unto the dead:
For dead, I surely doubt, thou maist aread
Henceforth for ever Florimell to bee;
That all the noble knights of Maydenhead,
Which her ador'd, may sore repent with mee,
And all faire Lad.es may for ever sory bee.'

XLVIII

Which wordes when Paridell had heard, his hew

Gan greatly chaunge and seemd dis maid to bee;
Then said: Fayre Sir, how may I weene it
That ye doe tell in such uncerteintee? [trew,
Or speake ye of report, or did ye see [sore?
Just cause of dread, that makes ye doubt so
For, perdie, elles how mote it ever bee,
That ever hand should dare for to engore
Her noble blood? The hevens such crueltie
abhore.'

But sith the Sunne now ginnes to slake his beames

In deawy vapours of the westerne mayne,
And lose the teme out of his weary wayne,
Mote not mislike you also to abate
Your zealous hast, till morrow next againe
Both light of heven and strength of men relate:
Which if ye please, to yonder castle turne your
gate.'

That counsell pleased well: so all yfere Forth marched to a Castle them before; Where soone arryving they restrained were Of ready entraunce, which ought evermore To errant knights be commune: wondrous sore Thereat displeasd they were, till that young Squyre [dore

Gan them informe the cause, why that same Was shut to all which lodging did desyre: The which to let you weet will further time

requyre.

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