A multitude of babes about her hung,
Playing their sports, that joy'd her to behold;
Whom still she fed, whiles they were weak and young,
But thrust them forth still as they waxed old:
And on her head she wore a tyre of gold,
Adorn'd with gems and owches wondrous fair,
Whose passing price uneath was to be told:
And by her side there sat a gentle pair
Of turtle doves, she sitting in an ivory chair.
The knight and Una ent'ring fair her greet,
And bid her joy of that her happy brood;
Who them requites with court'sies seeming meet,
And entertains with friendly cheerful mood.
Then Una her besought, to be so good
As in her virtuous rules to school her knight,
Now after all his torment well withstood
In that sad house of Penance, where his spright
Had past the pains of hell and and long-enduring night.
She was right joyous of her just request;
And, taking by the hand that faëry's son,
Gan him instruct in every good behest,
Of love; and righteousness; and well to donne,*
And wrath and hatred warëly to shun,
That drew on men God's hatred and his wrath,
And many souls in dolours had foredone :
In which when him she well instructed hath,
From thence to heaven she teacheth him the ready path.
Wherein his weaker wand'ring steps to guide,
An ancient matron she to her does call,
Whose sober looks her wisdom well descry'd:
Her name was Mercy; well known over all
To be both gracious and eke liberal:
To whom the careful charge of him she gave,
To lead aright, that he should never fall
In all his ways through this wide worldes wave;
That Mercy in the end his righteous soul might save.
The godly matron by the hand him bears
Forth from her presence, by a narrow way,
Scattered with bushy thorns and ragged breares*
Which still before him she remov'd away,
That nothing might his ready passage stay:
And ever when his feet encumber'd were,
Or gan to shrink, or from the right to stray,
She held him fast, and firmly did upbear;
As careful nurse her child from falling oft does rear.
Eftsoones unto an holy hospital,
That was foreby the way, she did him bring;
In which seven bead-men, that had vowed all
Their life to service of high heaven's king,
Did spend their days in doing godly thing
Their gates to all were open evermore,
That by the weary way were travelling;
And one sate waiting ever them before,
To call in comers by, that needy were and poor.
The first of them, that eldest was and best,
Of all the house had charge and government,
As guardian and steward of the rest :
His office was to give entertainmént
And lodging unto all that came and went;
Not unto such as could him feast again,
And double quit* for that he on them spent ;
But such, as want of harbor did constrain:
Those for God's sake his duty was to entertain.
The second was an alm'ner of the place.
His office was the hungry for to feed,
And thirsty give to drink; a work of grace:
He fear'd not once himself to be in need,
Nor car'd to hoard for those whom he did breed:
of God he laid up still in store,
The grace
Which as a stock he left unto his seed:
He had enough'; what need him care for more?
And had he less, yet some he would give to the poor.
The third had of their wardrobe custody,
In which were not rich tyres, nor garments gay,
The plumes of pride, and wings of vanity,
But clothes meet to keep keen cold away,
And naked nature seemly to array ;
With which bare wretched wights he daily clad,
The images of God in earthly clay;
And, if that no spare clothes to give he had,
His own coat he would cut, and it distribute glad.
The fourth appointed by his office was
Poor prisoners to relieve with gracious aid,
And captives to redeem with price of brass
From Turks and Saracens, which them had stay'd;
And though they faulty were, yet well he weigh'd,
That God to us forgiveth every hour
Much more than that why they in bands were laid ;
And he, that harrow'd hell with heavy stowre,
The faulty souls from thence brought to his heav'nly bower.
The fifth had charge sick persons to attend,
And comfort those in point of death which lay;
For them most needeth comfort in the end,
When Sin, and Hell, and Death do most dismay
The feeble soul departing hence away,
All is but lost, that living we bestow,
If not well ended at our dying day,
O man! have mind of that last bitter throw;
For as the tree does fall, so lies it ever low.
The sixth had charge of them now being dead,
In seemly sort their corses to engrave,*
And deck with dainty flowers their bridal bed,
That to their heavenly Spouse both sweet and brave
They might appear, when he their souls shall save.
The wondrous workmanship of God's own mould,
Whose face he made all beasts to fear, and gave
All in his hand, even dead we honor should.
Ah, dearest God, me grant, I dead be not defoul'd!
The seventh, now after death and burial done,
Had charge the tender orphans of the dead
And widows aid, lest they should be undone;
In face of judgment he their rights would plead
Nor ought the power of mighty men did dread
In their defence; nor would for gold.or fee
Be won their rightful causes down to tread :
And, when they stood in most necessity,
He did supply their want, and gave them ever free.
There when the elfin knight arrived was,
The first and chiefest of the seven, whose care
Was guests to welcome, towards him did pass.
Where seeing Mercy, that his steps upbare
And always led, to her with reverence rare
He humbly louted* in meek lowliness,
And seemly welcome for her did prepare:
For of their order she was patroness,
Albeit Charissa were their chiefest founderess.
There she awhile him stays, himself to rest,
That to the rest more able he might be,
During which time, in every good behest,
And godly work of alms and charity,
She him instructed with great industry.
Shortly therein so perfect he became,
That, from the first unto the last degree,
His mortal life he learned had to frame
In holy righteousness, without rebuke or blame.
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