Till to the perilous bridge she came; and there Like coals that through a silver censer sparkle bright. 39 She stayed not to advise which way to take; Into the river, where he drunk his deadly last. 4 40 As when the flashing levin haps to light Upon two stubborn oaks, which stand so near Th' one from the earth, and through the air doth bear; The other it with force doth overthrow Upon one side, and from his roots doth rear : 1 Losels, good-for-nothings. 2 Despite, vexation. 3 His challenge he released, i.e. he withdrew his accusation. 4 Levin, lightning. XVII. After visiting the temple of Isis, Britomart slays Radigund and frees her lover. I NOUGHT is on earth more sacred or divine, That gods and men do equally adore, Then this same virtue that doth right define : For th' heavens themselves, whence mortal men implore Right in their wrongs, are ruled by righteous lore Therewith contains his heavenly common-weal : 2 Well therefore did the antique world invent Of th' old Ægyptian kings that whilom were; The justest man alive and truest did appear. 1 Contains, restrains, governs. 2 Lent, furnished. 8 Osiris, one of the principal divinities of Egypt; the husband and brother of Isis. 4 Shading, shadowing forth. 3 His wife was Isis; whom they likewise made Did enter in, ne would that night depart; 4 There she received was in goodly wise Of many priests, which duly did attend Upon the rites and daily sacrifice, All clad in linen robes with silver hemmed1; And on their heads with long locks comely kembed 2 They wore rich mitres shaped like the moon, For that they both like race in equal justice run. 5 The championess them greeting, as she could,4 1 Hemmed, edged. 2 Kembed, combed. Prof. Child says: The Egyptian priests were bald, while the Jewish priests, as As she could, as she knew how. Upton remarks, were forbidden to shave their heads." 3 In equal justice, i.e. with the same regularity. 5 Passing, surpassing. And thereupon long while stood gazing still, But thought that she thereon could never gaze her fill. 6 Thenceforth unto the idol1 they her brought; So well as could with cunning hand be wrought, That with her wreathèd tail her middle 3 did enfold. 7 One foot was set upon the crocodile, And on the ground the other fast did stand; And open force and in her other hand 4 She stretched forth a long, white, slender wand. She did prostráte, and with right humble heart 8 To which the idol as it were inclining, By outward show her inward sense designing 6: 1 The idol, the image of Isis. 2 Line, linen. 3 Middle, waist. 4 In her other hand, i.e. in one of her two hands. 5 Land, ground. 6 Designing, signifying. It as a token of good fortune took. By this the day with damp was overcast, 9 For other beds the priests there usèd none, But on their mother Earth's dear lap did lie, They tièd were to steadfast chastity 10 Therefore they mote not taste of fleshly food, Ne feed on ought the which doth blood contain, 1 Bake, i.e. make hard. 2 Sufferance, suffering. 8 All forgon, all foregone, i.e. everything given up. 4 Therefore they mote not, etc. The priests of Isis did not abstain from flesh of all kinds, and they drank wine sparingly. 5 Phlegrean plain: the volcanic plain extending along the coast of Campania, Italy, from Cumæ to Capua. |