As he thereon stood gazing, be might see
The blessed Angels to and fro descend
From highest heven in gladsome companee,
And with great ioy into that citty wend,
As commonly as frend does with his frend.
Whereat he wondred much, and gan enquere,
What stately building durst so high extend
Her lofty towres unto the starry sphere,
And what unknowen nation there empeopled were.
"Faire knight," quoth he, "Hierusalem that is,
The New Hierusalem, that God has built
For those to dwell in, that are chosen his,
His chosen people purg'd from sinful guilt
With pretious blood, which cruelly was spilt
On cursed tree. of that unspotted Lam,
That for the sinnes of al the world was kilt:
Now are they saints all in that citty sam,
More dear unto their God than younglings to their
dam."
"Till now," said then the knight, "I weened well,
That great Cleopolis where I have beene,
In which that fairest Fary Queene doth dwell,
The fairest citty was that might be seene;
And that bright towre, all built of christall clene,
Panthea, seemd the brightest thing that was:
But now by proofe all otherwise I weene;
For this great citty that does far surpas,
And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre
of glas."
"Most trew," then said the holy aged man ;
"Yet is Cleopolis, for earthly frame,
The fairest peece that eie beholden can;
And we beseemes all knights of noble name,
That covett in th' immortall booke of fame
To be etérnized, that same to haunt,
And doen their service to that soveraigne dame,
That glory does to them for guerdon graunt:
For she is hevenly borne, and heaven may iustly
"And thou, faire ymp, sprong out from English race,
How ever now accompted Elfins sonne,
Well worthy doest thy service for her grace,
To aide a virgin desolate fordonne.
But when thou famous victory hast wonne,
And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield,
Thenceforth the suitt of earthly conquest shonne,
And wash thy hands from guilt of bloody field :
For blood can nought but sin, and wars but sorrows
yield.
"Then seek this path that I to thee presage,
Which after all to heaven shall thee send;
Then peaceably thy painefull pilgrimage
To yonder same Hierusalem doe bend,
Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end:
For thou emongst those saints, whom thou doest see
Shalt be a saint, and thine owne nations frend
And patrone: thou Saint George shalt called bee,
Saint George of mery England, the signe of victoree.'
"Unworthy wretch," quoth he, " of so great grace, How dare I thinke such glory to attaine!" "These, that have it attaynd, were in like race," Quoth be," as wretched, and liv'd in like paine." "But deeds of armes must I at last be faine And ladies love to leave, so dearely bought?" "What need of armes, where peace doth ay remaine, Said he, "and battailes none are to he fought?
As for loose loves, they'are vaine, and vanish into nought."
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