So forth she comes, and to her coach does climb, Whose mind in meat and drink was drowned so, But this was drawn of six unequal beasts, On which her six sage counsellors did rice, Taught to obey their bestial behests, With like conditions to their kinds applied : Of which the first, that all the rest did guide, Was sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin; Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride, Array'd in habit black, and amice thin, Like to an holy monk, the service to begin. And next to him rode lustful Lechery, And in his hand his portice still he bare, In a green gown he clothed was full fair, From worldly cares he did himself essoine, And greatly shunned manly exercise: From every work he challenged essojne, For contemplation-sake: yet otherwise, Ilis life he led in lawless riotise, By which he grew to grievous malady; For in his listless limbs through evil guise A shaking fever reign'd continually: Such one was Idleness, first of this company. Inconstant man, that loved all he saw, prove, Tipe And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony, Deformed creature, on a filthy swine ; His belly was up-blown with luxury, And eke with fatness swollen were his eyne: And like a crane bis neck was long and fine, With which he swallowed up excessive feast, For want whereof poor people oft did pine ; And greedy Avarice by him did ride, Upon a camel loaden all with gold; Two iron coffers hung on either side, With precious metal full as they might hold, And in his lap an heap of coin he told; For of his wicked pelf his God he made, And unto hell himself for money sold; Accursed usury was all his trade, And right and wrong alikeinequal balance weigh’d. His life was nigh unto death's door yplac'd, And threadbare coat, and cobbled shoes he ware, Nor scarce good morsel all his life did taste, But both from back and belly still did spare, To fill his bags, and riches to compare ; Yet child or kinsman living had he none To leave them to; but thorough daily care To get, and nightly fear to lose his own, He led a wretched life unto himself unknown. In green 1 vinc leaves he was right fitly clad; For other clothes he could not wear for heat, And on his head an ivy garland had, From under which fast trickled down the sweat. Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat, And in his hand did bear a boozing can, Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat His drunken corse he scarce upholden can ; In shape and life more like a monster, than a man. I'nfit he was for any worldly thing, And eke unable once to stir or go; Not meet to be of counsel to a king, Most wretched wight, whom nothing might suffice, A grievous gout tormented him full sore, How; And after all, upon the waggon beami astray. at crew. bear: pear, 1 UNA ENTERTAINED BY THE WOOD GODS. And next to him malicious Envy rode (glad. All in a kirtle of discolour'd say He clothed was, ypainted full of eyes; And in his hosom secretly there lay An hateful snake, tlie which his tail upties In i many folds, and mortal sting implies. ntasie? The wild wood gods, arrived in the place, She more amaz'd in double dread doth dwell; I prove, fe; Such fearful fit assail'd her trembling heart, His The doubtful damsel dare not yet commit re, Ilis russian raiment all was stain'd with blood [haste. Full many mischiefs follow cruel wrath ; Their hearts she guesseth by their humble guise, And all the way their merry pipes they sound, Fair Thyamis, the daughter of Labride, That was in sacred bands of wedlock tied And chase the savage beast with busy pain, (vain. Who, with the noise awaked, cometh out, Than serve his lady's love, and waste in pleasures To weet the cause, his weak steps governing, And aged limbs on cypress stadle stout, The forlorn maid did with love's longing burn, And could not lack her lover's company; And with an ivy twine his waist is girt about. But to the wood she goes, to serve her turn, Far off he wonders what them makes so glad, And seek her spouse, that from her still does fly, If Bacchus' merry fruit they did invent, And follows other game and venery: The loyal links of wedlock did unbind, And made her person thrall unto his beastly kind. Stood long amaz'd, and burnt in his intent; llis own fair Driope now he thinks not fair, So long in secret cabin there he held And Pholoe foul, when her to this he doth compare. Her captive to his sensual desire, Till that with timely fruit her belly swellid, The wood-born people fall before her flat, And bore a boy unto that savage sire: And worship her as goddess of the wood; Then home he suffer's her for to retire, And old Sylvanus' self bethinks not what For ransom leaving him the late born child; To think of wight so fair, but gazing stood, Whom till to riper years he gan aspire, In doubt to deem her born of earthly brood ; He nursed up in life and manners wild, [exil'd. Sometimes dame Venus' self he seems to see : Amongst wild beasts and woods, from laws of men But Venus never had so sober mood; Sometimes Diana he her takes to be, For all he taught the tender imp was but Butmisseth bow, and shafts, and buskins to her knee. To banish cowardice and bastard fear; His trembling hand he would him force to put By view of her he ginneth to revive Upon the lion, and the rugged bear, His ancient love, and dearest Cypariss, And from the she-bear's teats her whelps to tear; And calls to mind his portraiture alive, And eke wild roaring bulls he would him make llow fair he was, and yet not fair to this, To tame, and ride their backs not made to bear; And how he slew with glancing dart amiss And the roebucks in flight to overtake, A gentle hind, the which the lovely boy That every beast for fear of him did fly and quake. Did love as life, above all worldly bliss ; For grief whereof the lad n' ould after joy Thereby so fearless, and so fell he grew, But pin`d away in anguish and self-will’d annoy. That his own sire and master of his guise, Did often tremble at his horrid view, The woody nymphs, fair Hamadryades, And oft for dread of hurt would him advise, Her to behold do thither run apace, The angry beasts not rashly to despise, And all the troop of light foot Naiades Nor too much to provoke; for he would learn Flock all about to see her lovely face : The lion stoop to him in lowly wise, But when they viewed have her heavenly grace, (A lesson hard) and make the libbard stern [yearn. They envy her in their malicious mind, Leave roaring, when in rage he for revenge did And fly away for fear of foul disgrace : But all the Satyrs scorn their woody kind, [find. And for to make his power approved more, And henceforth nothing fair but her on earth they Wild beasts in iron yokes he would compel; The spotted panther, and the tusked boar, It fortuned a noble warlike knight The pardale swift, and the tiger cruel; By just occasion to that forest came, The antelope, and wolf, both tierce and fell; To seek his kindred, and the lineage right, And them constrain in equal team to draw. From whence he took his well deserved name; Such joy he had, their stubborn hearts to quell, He had in arms abroad won mickle fame, And fill'd far lands with glory of his might, And sturdy courage tame with dreadful awe, Plain, faithful, true, and eneiny of shame, That his behest they feared as proud tyrant's law. And ever lov'd to fight for ladies' right, His loving mother came upon a day But in vain-glorious frays he little did delight; Unto the woods, to see her little son; And chanc'd unwares to meet him in the way, A satyr's son y born in forest wild, After his sports and cruel pastime done, By strange adventure as it did betide, When after him a lioness did run, And there begotten of a lady mild, That roaring all with rage, did loud requere Her children dear, whom he away had won : In ivory sheath, yearv'd with curious slights; Whose hilts were burnish'd gold, and handle strong Of mother pearl, and buckled with a golden tongue. The fearful dame all quaked at the sight, His haughty helmet, horrid all with gold, Both glorious brightness and great terror bred; For all the crest a dragon did enfold With greedy paws, and over all did spread Close couched on the beaver, seem'd to throw Upon the top of all his lofty crest A bunch of hairs discolour'd diversely, With sprinkled pearl, and gold full richly dressid, On top of green Selinis all alone, DESCRIPTION OF BELPHEBE, Her face so fair as flesh it seemed not, But heavenly portrait of bright angels' hue, Clear as the sky, withouten blame or blot, Through goodly mixture of complexions due ; The which ambrosial odours from them threw, Able to heal the sick, and to revive the dead, In her fair eyes two living lamps did flame, And darted fiery beams out of the same, So passing piercing, and so wondrous bright, That quite bereav'd the rash beholders' sight; To kindle oft essay’d, but had no might; For with dread Majesty, and awful ire, [sire. DESCRIPTION OF PRINCE ARTHUR. She broke his wanton darts, and quenched base de Her ivory forehead, full of bounty brave, For love his lofty triumphs to engrave, And write the battles of his great godhead; For there their dwelling was. And when she spake, Sweet words, like dropping honey, she did shed, [precious rare. Upon her eyelids many graces sate, And every one her with a grace endows: And every one with meckness to her bows, So glorious mirror of celestial grace, And sovereign monument of mortal vows, Behaves with cares, cannot so easy niiss. (grace ? So fair, and thousand thousand times more fair In woods, in waves, in wars, she wonts to dwell, She seem’d, when she presented was to sight. And will be found with peril and with pain; And was yclad (for heat of scorching air) Nor can the man that moulds in idle cell, All in a silken camus, lily white, Unto her happy mansion attain; with Before her gate high God did Sweat ordain, And wakeful Watches ever to abide: But easy is the way, and passage plain And day and night her doors to all stand open wide. Like two fair marble pillars they were seen, And in her hand a sharp boar-spear she held, [quellid [wrap. And therein sate a lady fresh and fair, Which when far off Cymochles heard and saw, TRUE IIONOUR. |