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} + .c023 { vertical-align: top; text-align: left; } + div.tnotes { padding-left:1em; padding-right:1em; background-color:yellow; + color: #000000; border:thin black; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; clear: both; } + .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } + div.tnotes p { text-align:left; } + .x-ebookmaker .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block; } + .figcenter {font-size: .9em; page-break-inside: avoid; max-width: 100%; } + h1 {line-height: 150%; } + .footnote {font-size: .9em; } + div.footnote p {text-indent: 2em; margin-bottom: .5em; } + blockquote {font-size: 90%; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; } + .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } + table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; + clear: both; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: auto; } + .pageno {font-size: small; background-color:#ffffff; } + p {text-align: left; } + div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } + .ph1 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; + margin: .67em auto; page-break-before: always; } + .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; + page-break-before: always; } + .blackletter {font-family: 'Old English Text MT'; font-weight:bold; + font-style: normal; } + .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } + </style> + </head> + + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79406 ***</div> + + +<div class='tnotes covernote'> + +<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> + +<p class='c000'>New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.</p> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter ph1'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c001'> + <div>Stories from the</div> + <div>Faerie Queene</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div id='Frontispiece' class='c002 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_004.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>She nigher drew, and saw that joyous end:<br> Then God she praysd, and thankt her faithfull Knight<br> That had atchievde so great a conquest by his might.</span>”<br> —<i>Page <a href='#Page_86'>86</a>.</i></p> +</div> +</div> + +<main> +<div class='titlepage chapter'> + +<div id='titlepage' class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_title.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<div> + <h1 class='c003'><span class='sc'>Stories from the Faerie Queene</span></h1> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>By Mary Macleod</span></span></div> + <div class='c004'><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>with Introduction by</span></span></div> + <div><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>John W Hales</span></span></div> + <div class='c004'><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>Drawings by</span></span></div> + <div><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>A.G. Walker.</span> Sculptor.</span></div> + <div class='c004'><span class='sc'>New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company,</span></div> + <div><span class='sc'>Publishers.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span> +<img src='images/i_007.jpg' alt='Two men on horseback, one blowing a trumpet with a banner and the other reading a document.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>Introduction</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c006'>The object of this volume is to excite interest +in one of the greatest poems of English literature, +which for all its greatness is but little read and +known—to excite this interest not only in young persons +who are not yet able to read “The Faerie Queene,” +with its archaisms of language, its distant ways and +habits of life and thought, its exquisite melodies that +only a cultivated ear can catch and appreciate, but +also in adults, who, not from the lack of ability, but +because they shrink from a little effort, suffer the +loss of such high and refined literary pleasure as the +perusal of Spenser’s masterpiece can certainly give.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>Assuredly, when all that cavillers can say or do is +said and done, “The Faerie Queene” is deservedly +called one of the greatest poems of English literature. +From the high place it took, and took with acclamation, +when it first appeared, it has, in fact, never been +deposed. It has many defects and imperfections, such +as the crudest and most commonplace critic can discover, +and has discovered with much self-complacency; +but it has beauties and perfections that such critics +very often fail to see; and, so far as the status of +“The Faerie Queene” is concerned, it is enough for +the ordinary reader to grasp the significant fact that +Spenser has won specially for himself the famous +title of “the poets’ poet.” Ever since his star appeared +above the horizon, wise men from all parts +have come to worship it; and amongst these devotees +fellow-poets have thronged with a wonderful enthusiasm. +In one point all the poetic schools of England +have agreed together, viz., in admiration for Spenser. +From Milton and Wordsworth on the one hand to +Dryden and Pope—from the one extreme of English +poetry to the other—has prevailed a perpetual reverence +for Spenser. The lights in his temple, so to speak, +have never been extinguished—never have there been +wanting offerers of incense and of praise; and, to +repeat in other words what has already been said, as +it is what we wish to specially emphasise, amidst this +faithful congregation have been many who already +had or were some day to have temples of their own. +We recognise amongst its members not only the great +poets already mentioned, but many others of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span>divine brotherhood, some at least of whom rank with +the greatest, such as Keats, Shelley, Sidney, Gray, +Byron, the Fletchers, Henry More, Raleigh, Thomson, +not to name Beattie, Shenstone, Warton, Barnefield, +Peele, Campbell, Drayton, Cowley, Prior, Akenside, +Roden Noel. To this long but by no means exhaustive +list might be added many of high eminence in +other departments of literature and of life, as Gibbon, +Mackintosh, Hazlitt, Craik, Lowell, Ruskin, R. W. +Church, and a hundred more.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, of course, the acceptance of a poet is and +must be finally due to his own intrinsic merits. No +amount of testimonials from ever so highly distinguished +persons will make a writer permanently popular +if he cannot make himself so—if his own works +do not make him so. Of testimonials there is very +naturally considerable distrust—very naturally, when +we notice what second-rate penmen have been and are +cried up to the skies. But in the present case the +character of the testifiers is to be carefully considered; +and, secondly, not only their words but their actions +are to be taken into account. Many of our greatest +poets have praised Spenser not only in formal phrases, +but practically and decisively, by surrendering themselves +to his influence, by sitting at his feet, by taking +hints and suggestions from him. He has been their +master not merely nominally but actually, and with +obvious results. If all traces of Spenser’s fascination +and power could be removed from subsequent English +literature, that literature would be a very different +thing from what it is: there would be strange breaks +<span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>and blanks in many a volume, hiatuses in many a +line, an altered turning of many a sentence, a modification +of many a conception and fancy. And we are +convinced that the more Spenser is studied the more +remarkable will his dominance and his dominion be +found to be. To quote lines that have been quoted +before in this connection—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Hither, as to their fountain, other stars</div> + <div class='line'>Repairing, in their urns draw golden light.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“The Faerie Queene” is one of the great wellheads +of English poetry; or, in other words, Spenser’s +Faerie Land has been and is a favourite haunt of all +our highest poetic spirits.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And yet it is incontrovertible that this poem is +very little known as a whole to most people. Everybody +is familiar with the story of Una and the +Lion, and with two or three stanzas of singular +beauty in other parts of “The Faerie Queen,” because +these occur in most or all books of selections: in +every anthology occur those fairest flowers. But the +world at large is content to know no more. The size +of the poem appals it. “A big book is a big evil,” it +thinks, and it shudders at the idea of perusing the +six twelve-cantoed books in which Spenser’s genius +expressed itself—expressed itself only in an incomplete +and fragmentary fashion, for many more books +formed part of his enormous design. “Of the persons +who read the first canto,” says Macaulay in a famous +Essay, “not one in ten reaches the end of the First +Book, and not one in a hundred perseveres to the end +of the poem. Very few and very weary are those who +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span>are in at the death of the Blatant Beast. If the last +six books, which are said [without any authority] to +have been destroyed in Ireland, had been preserved, +we doubt whether any heart less stout than that of a +commentator would have held out to the end.” And +Macaulay speaks truly as well as wittily. He is as +accurate as Poins when Prince Hal asks him what he +would think if the Prince wept because the King his +father was sick. “I would think thee a most princely +hypocrite,” replies Poins. “It would be every man’s +thought,” says the Prince: “and thou art a blessed +fellow to think as every man thinks. Never a man’s +thought in the world keeps the roadway better than +thine.” Even so is Macaulay “a blessed fellow to +think as every man thinks,” and no doubt his blessedness +in this respect is one of the characteristics—by +no means the only one—that account for his widespread +popularity. He not only states that people +do not read “The Faerie Queen,” but he shows that +he himself, voracious reader—<i><span lang="la">helluo librorum</span></i>—as he +was, had not done so, or had done so very carelessly; +for, alas! the Blatant Beast, as at all events every +student of the present volume will know, does not +die; Sir Calidore only suppresses him for a time; he +but temporarily ties and binds him in an iron chain, +“and makes him follow him like a fearful dog;” and +one day long afterwards the beast got loose again—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Ne ever could by any, more be brought</div> + <div class='line'>Into like bands, ne maystred any more,</div> + <div class='line'>Albe that, long time after Calidore,</div> + <div class='line'>The good Sir Pelleas him tooke in hand,</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>And after him Sir Lamoracke of yore,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And all his brethren borne in Britaine land;</div> + <div class='line'>Yet none of them could ever bring him into band.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“So now he raungeth through the world againe,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And rageth sore in each degree and state;</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ne any is that may him now restraine,</div> + <div class='line in2'>He growen is so great and strong of late,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Barking and biting all that him doe bate,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Albe they worthy blame, or clear of crime;</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ne spareth he most learned wits to rate,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ne spareth he the gentle Poets rime;</div> + <div class='line'>But rends without regard of person or of time.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>And Spenser goes on to declare that even his “homely +verse of many meanest” cannot hope to escape “his +venemous despite;” for, in his own day, as often +since, Spenser by no means found favour with everybody. +Clearly even Macaulay’s memory of the close of +“The Faerie Queene” was sufficiently hazy. But even +Milton, to whom Spenser was so congenial a spirit, +and whom he acknowledged as his “poetical father,” +on one occasion at least forgets the details of the +Spenserian story. When insisting in the <cite><span lang="it">Areopagitica</span></cite> +that true virtue is not “a fugitive and cloistered +virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies +out and sees her adversary,” but a virtue that has +been tried and tested, he remarks that this “was the +reason why our sage and serious poet Spenser, whom +I dare be known to think a better teacher than Scotus +or Aquinas, describing true temperance under the +person of Guion, brings him in with his Palmer +through the cave of Mammon and the bower of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiii'>xiii</span>earthly bliss, that he may see, and know, and yet +abstain.” But the Palmer was not with Sir Guyon in +the Cave of Mammon, Phædria having declined to +ferry him over to her floating island. See “The +Faerie Queene,” ii, 6, 19:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in10'>“Himselfe [Sir Guyon] she tooke aboord,</div> + <div class='line in4'>But the Black Palmer suffred still to stond,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Ne would for price or prayers once affoord</div> + <div class='line'>To ferry that old man over the perlous foord.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Guyon was loath to leave his guide behind,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Yet being entred might not back retyre;</div> + <div class='line in2'>For the flitt barke, obeying to her mind,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Forth launched quickly as she did desire,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ne gave him leave to bid that aged sire</div> + <div class='line'>Adieu.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>So Macaulay’s lapse must not be regarded too +severely, though, as may be seen, much more prominence +is given by Spenser to the fact that the Blatant +Beast was not killed, than to the absence of the +Palmer from Guyon’s side in Mammon’s House. It +seems probable, indeed, that Macaulay mixed up the +fate of the Dragon in the eleventh canto of the First +Book with that of the Blatant Beast in the twelfth of +the Sixth. But we mention these things only to prevent +any surprise at the general ignorance of Spenser, +when such a confirmed book-lover as Macaulay, and +such a devoted Spenserian as Milton, are found tripping +in their allusions to his greatest work.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now this ignorance, however explicable, is, we +think, to be regretted. A poet of such splendid attributes, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiv'>xiv</span>and with such a choice company of followers, +surely deserves to be better known than he is by “the +general reader”; and we trust that this volume may +be of service in making the stories of “The Faerie +Queene” more familiar, and so in tempting the general +reader to turn to Spenser’s own version of them, and +to appreciate his amazing affluence of language, of +melody, and of fancy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Clearly, Spenser does not appeal to everybody at +first; we mean that to enjoy him fully needs some +little effort to begin with—some distinct effort to put +ourselves in communication with him, so to speak; +for he is far away from us in many respects. His +costume and his accent are very different from ours. +He does not seem to be of us or of our world. “His +soul” is “like a star”: it dwells “apart.” We have, +it would appear at first sight, nothing in common with +him: he moves all alone in a separate sphere—he is +not of our flesh and blood. What strikes us at first +sight is a certain artificiality and elaborateness, as we +think. We cannot put ourselves on confidential terms +with him; he is too stately and <i>point devise</i>. His +art rather asserts than conceals itself to persons who +merely glance at him. But these impressions will be +largely or altogether removed, <i>if the reader will +really read “The Faerie Queene.”</i> He will no longer +think of its author as a mere phrase-monger, or only +a dainty melodist, or the master of a superfine style. +He will find himself in communion with a man of +high intellect, of a noble nature—of great attraction, +not only for his humanism, but for his humanity. To +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xv'>xv</span>Spenser, Wordsworth’s lines in “A Poet’s Epitaph” +may be applied with particular and profound truth:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“He is retired as noontide dew,</div> + <div class='line'>Or fountain in a noonday grove;</div> + <div class='line'>And you must love him ere to you</div> + <div class='line'>He will seem worthy of your love.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The very opulence of Spenser’s genius stands in +the way of his due appraisement. There can scarcely +be a doubt that if he could have restrained the redundant +stream of his poetry, he might have been +more worthily recognised. Had he written less, he +would have been praised more; as it is, with many +readers, <i><span lang="la">mole ruit sua</span></i>: they are overpowered and +bewildered by the immense flood. The waters of +Helicon seem a torrent deluge. We say his popularity +would have been greater, if he could have +restrained and controlled this amazing outflow; but, +after all, we must take our great poets as we find +them. In this very abundance, as in other ways, +Spenser was a child of his age, and we must accept +him with all his faults as well as with all his excellences. +Both faults and excellences are closely inter-connected. +<i><span lang="fr">Il a les défauts de ses qualités.</span></i></p> + +<p class='c007'>He said that Chaucer was his poetical master, and +more than once he mentions Chaucer with the most +generous admiration:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“Dan Chaucer, well of English undefyled,</div> + <div class='line'>On Fames eternal beadroll worthy to be fyled.”</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>“That old Dan Geffrey, in whose gentle spright</div> + <div class='line'>The pure well head of Poesie did dwell.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xvi'>xvi</span>And Chaucer too may be said to suffer from a very +plethora of wealth. Chaucer is apt to be superabundant; +but yet he was a model of self-restraint +as compared with Spenser. One cannot say in this +case, “Like master, like man,” or, “Like father, like +son.” Their geniuses are entirely different—a fact +which makes Spenser’s devotion to Chaucer all the +more noticeable and interesting; and the art of the +one is in sharp contrast with the art of the other. +Chaucer is a masterly tale-teller: no one in all English +poetry equals him in this faculty; he is as supreme +in it as Shakespeare in the department of the drama. +In his tales Chaucer is, “without o’erflowing, full.” +The conditions under which they were told beneficially +bounded and limited them. Each is <i><span lang="la">multum +in parvo</span></i>. They are very wonders of compression, +and yet produce no sense of confinement or excision. +Spenser could not possibly have set before himself a +better exemplar; but yet he so set him in vain. The +contrast between the two poets, considered merely as +narrators or story-tellers, is vividly exhibited in the +third canto of the Fourth Book of “The Faerie +Queene,” where, after a reverent obeisance to his great +predecessor, he attempts to tell the other half of the +half-told story.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in8'>“Of Cambuscan bold,</div> + <div class='line'>Of Camball and of Algarsife,</div> + <div class='line'>And who had Canace to wife,</div> + <div class='line'>That owned the virtuous ring and glass,</div> + <div class='line'>And of the wondrous horse of brass,</div> + <div class='line'>On which the Tartar king did ride.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xvii'>xvii</span>It is not without some misgiving that he adventures +on such a daring task:—</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in2'>“Then pardon, O most sacred happie Spirit!</div> + <div class='line in2'>That I thy labours lost<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c010'><sup>[1]</sup></a> may thus revive,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit,</div> + <div class='line in2'>That none durst ever whilest thou wast alive,</div> + <div class='line in2'>And being dead in vain yet many strive.</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ne dare I like; but through infusion swete</div> + <div class='line in2'>Of thine own Spirit which doth in me survive,</div> + <div class='line in2'>I follow here the footing of thy feete,</div> + <div class='line'>But with thy meaning so I may the rather meete.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c007'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. Spenser thought that the latter Part or Parts of the “Squire’s Tale” had +actually been written but been lost—been “quite devoured” by “cursed eld,” +and “brought to nought by little bits,” as he quaintly expresses it. But it +may be taken as certain Chaucer left the tale as we have it, that is, “half told.” +The closing lines of what we have are clearly unrevised. For some reason or +another—trouble or sickness, or his growing infirmity—what would have +been one of the most brilliant works of the Middle Ages was never completed, +and, like “Christabel” and “Hyperion,” remains only a glorious fragment.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>But it can scarcely be allowed either that he follows +the footing of his master’s feet, or that he caught the +breath of his master’s spirit. There are “diversities of +operations”; and Spenser’s method and manner were +not those of Chaucer, however sincere the allegiance he +professed, and however sincere his intentions to tread +in his footsteps and march along the same road. He +wanted some gifts and some habits that are necessary +for the perfect story-teller—gifts and habits which +Chaucer, by nature or by discipline, possessed in a +high degree, such as humour, concentration, realism. +The very structure of “The Faerie Queene” is defective. +It begins in the middle—at its opening it +takes us <i>in medias res</i>, seemingly in accordance with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xviii'>xviii</span>the precedent of the <i><span lang="la">Iliad</span></i> or of the <i><span lang="la">Æneid</span></i>, but +only seemingly, for both Homer and Virgil very +soon finish the explanation of their opening initial +scenes, and their readers know where they are. But +the first six books of “The Faerie Queene” are very +slightly connected together; and what the connection +is meant to be we learn only from the letter of the +poet to Sir Walter Raleigh, which it was thought +well to print with the first three books, no doubt in +consequence of some complaints of obscurity and disattachment. +This letter is significantly described as +“expounding his” (the author’s) “whole intention in +the course of this work,” and as “hereunto annexed, for +that it giveth great light to the reader for the better +understanding.” Certainly a story ought not to require +a prose appendix to set forth its arrangement +and its purpose, even if only a fourth of it is completed. +The exact correlation of eleven books was to remain +unrevealed till the Twelfth Book appeared. In fact, +had the poem ever been completed, we should have +had to begin its perusal at the end! Thus “The Faerie +Queene,” as has often been remarked, lacks unity and +cohesion. It is not so much one large and glorious +mansion as a group of mansions. To use the metaphor +of Professor Craik, to whom many subsequent writers +on Spenser have been so considerably indebted, and +often without any at all adequate acknowledgment, it +is a street of fine houses, or, to use another metaphor +of Professor Craik’s, which also has been freely +adopted by other critics, it is in parts a kind of wilderness—a +wilderness of wonderful beauty and wealth, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xix'>xix</span>in which it is a delight to wander, but yet a wilderness +with paths and tracks dimly and faintly marked, often +scarcely to be discerned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Such was the abundance of Spenser’s fancy, and so +various and extensive was his learning, that he wrote, +it would seem, with an amazing facility, never checked +by any paucities of either knowledge or ideas. His +pen could scarcely keep pace with his imagination. +His material he drew from all accessible sources—from +the Greek and Latin classics (his sympathetic acquaintance +with Plato is one of his distinctions), from +the Italian poets (not only from Ariosto and Tasso, +but Berni, Boiardo, Pulci, and others), from the old +Romances of Chivalry (especially the Arthurian in +Malory’s famous rendering, Bevis of Southampton, +Amadis de Gaul), from what there was of modern +English literature (above all, Chaucer’s works, but +also Hawes and other minor writers) and of modern +French literature (especially Marot), from contemporary +history (all the great personages of his time are +brought before us in his pages): but all these diverse +elements he combines and assimilates in his own +fashion, and forms into a compound quite unique, and +highly characteristic both of the hour and of the man. +No wonder if the modern reader is at first somewhat +perplexed and confused; no wonder if he often loses +the thread of the story, and fails to comprehend +such an astonishing prodigality of incident and of personification. +Figure after figure flits before his eyes—the +cry is still “They come”; one seems to be in the +very birthplace and home of dreams, knights, ladies, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xx'>xx</span>monsters, wizards, and witches; all forms of good and +evil throng by in quick succession, and we are apt to +forget who is who and what is what. Probably some +candid good-natured friend complained to Spenser of +this complicatedness, which is certainly at its worst in +the Third and Fourth Books; and in a certain passage +in the Sixth he makes some sort of defence of himself +for what might seem divisions or aberrations in the +story of Sir Calidore. He compares himself to a ship +that, by reason of counter-winds and tides, fails to go +straight to its destination, but yet makes for it, and +does not lose its compass; see VI. xii. 1 and 2.</p> + +<p class='c007'>We are sure that for all young readers such a +version of Spenser’s stories as is given in this volume +may be truly serviceable in preparing them for the +study of the poem itself. And with some older +readers too—and it is to them this Introduction is +mainly addressed—we would fain hope this volume +may find a hearty welcome, as providing them with +a clue to what seems an intricate maze. What we +should like to picture to ourselves is young and old +reading these stories together, and the elder students +selecting for their own benefit, and for the benefit of +the younger, a few stanzas here and there from “The +Faerie Queene” by way of illustration. Of course we +do not make this humble suggestion to the initiated, +but to those—and their name is Legion—who at +present know nothing or next to nothing of what is +certainly one of the masterpieces of English literature.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-r'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>JOHN W. HALES.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxi'>xxi</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_021.jpg' alt='Woman gazing into a crystal ball labeled "CONTENTS".' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='c002'></div> +<nav data-epub-type="toc"> +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>THE RED CROSS KNIGHT—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'></td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <th class='c012'>PAGE</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Court of the Queen</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Wood of Error</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_4'>4</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Knight deceived by the Magician</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_8'>8</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Knight forsakes Una</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_12'>12</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Holiness fights Faithless, and makes Friends With False Religion</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_15'>15</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Una and the Lion</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_17'>17</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>In the Hands of the Enemy</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The House of Pride</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_26'>26</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Battle for the Shield</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_36'>36</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Una and the Woodland Knight</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_41'>41</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The False Pilgrim</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_43'>43</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Giant Pride</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Prince Arthur</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_50'>50</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Wondrous Bugle and the Mighty Shield</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_54'>54</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Knight with the Hempen Rope</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxii'>xxii</span> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>In the Cave of Despair</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How the Red Cross Knight came to the House of Holiness</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_73'>73</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The City of the Great King</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Last Fight</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_84'>84</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'>“<span class='sc'>Ease after War</span>”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_86'>86</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>THE GOOD SIR GUYON—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir Guyon meets the Magician</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_92'>92</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Friend or Foe?</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_96'>96</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Story of the Knight and the Lady</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_100'>100</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Three Sisters</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_104'>104</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Braggadochio</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_108'>108</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Fury’s Captive</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_112'>112</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Anger of Fire</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_116'>116</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Idle Lake</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_121'>121</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Realm of Pluto</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_127'>127</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Cave of Mammon</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_132'>132</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Champion of Chivalry</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_139'>139</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The House of Temperance</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_144'>144</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Rock of Reproach and the Wandering Islands</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_150'>150</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sea-Monsters and Land-Monsters</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_156'>156</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Bower of Bliss</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_158'>158</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>THE LEGEND OF BRITOMART—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Sir Guyon met a Champion mightier than himself</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_167'>167</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart fought with Six Knights</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_172'>172</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How it fared with Britomart in Castle Joyous</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_177'>177</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart looked into the Magic Mirror</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_181'>181</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart went to the Cave of the Magician Merlin</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_186'>186</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart set forth on her Quest</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_192'>192</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiii'>xxiii</span> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart came to the Castle of the Churl Malbecco</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_196'>196</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart walked through Fire</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_200'>200</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>What Britomart saw in the Enchanted Chamber</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_206'>206</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart rescued a Fair Lady from a Wicked Enchanter</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_212'>212</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>What Strange Meetings befell on the Way</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_217'>217</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Sir Satyrane proclaimed a Great Tournament</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_223'>223</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>What befell on the First and Second Days of The Tournament</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_229'>229</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart did Battle for the Golden Girdle</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_234'>234</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How the Golden Girdle was awarded to the False Florimell</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_239'>239</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Sir Scudamour came to the House of Care</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_244'>244</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How the “Savage Knight” met the “Knight with the Ebony Spear”</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_250'>250</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Britomart ended her Quest</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_255'>255</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Giant With Flaming Eyes</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_260'>260</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'>“<span class='sc'>For his Friend’s Sake</span>”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_268'>268</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Giant’s Daughter</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_274'>274</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR ARTEGALL—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Sword of Justice and the Iron Man</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_280'>280</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Adventure of the Saracen’s Bridge</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_286'>286</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Giant with the Scales</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_290'>290</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Borrowed Plumes, and the Fate of the Snowy Lady</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_294'>294</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How the Good Horse Brigadore knew his own Master</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_301'>301</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiv'>xxiv</span> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Adventure of the Two Brothers and the Coffer</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Radigund, Queen of the Amazons</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_311'>311</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>How Sir Artegall threw away his Sword</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_318'>318</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The House of Guile</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_323'>323</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Battle of Queen Radigund and Britomart</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_331'>331</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Adventure of the Damsel, the Two Knights, and the Sultan’s Horses</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_336'>336</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Adventure at the Den of Deceit</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_345'>345</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Adventure of the Tyrant Grantorto</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_352'>352</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011' colspan='2'>SIR CALIDORE, KNIGHT OF COURTESY—</td> + <td class='c012'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Quest of the Blatant Beast</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_360'>360</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Proud Discourteous Knight</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_369'>369</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>Coridon and Pastorella</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_374'>374</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>In the Brigands’ Den</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_381'>381</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'> </td> + <td class='c011'><span class='sc'>The Beast with a Thousand Tongues</span></td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_389'>389</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</nav> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_024.jpg' alt='A young man and woman sitting together on a bench, holding hands.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxv'>xxv</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_025.jpg' alt='Artist carving a "List of Illustrations" onto a stone slab.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'><span class='sc'>List of</span><br> ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='c002'></div> +<nav data-epub-type="loi"> +<table class='table0'> + <tr> + <td class='c013' colspan='2'><span class='sc'><a href='#Frontispiece'>Frontispiece</a></span>—On the morning of the third day he slew the Dragon.</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c013' colspan='2'><span class='sc'><a href='#titlepage'>Title-Page</a>.</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'></td> + <th class='c012'>PAGE</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Heading to Introduction</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_vii'>vii</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>„ Contents</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_xxi'>xxi</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>„ List of Illustrations</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_xxv'>xxv</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Arming the Knight</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>There rode into the city a fair lady</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_3'>3</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Rushing at his foe</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_6'>6</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>At last they chanced to meet an old man</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_9'>9</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“The Lady Una has left you!”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_13'>13</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Sleeping quietly in her bower</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_14'>14</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The two knights levelled their spears and rushed at each other</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_16'>16</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>When she slept, he kept watch</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He was afraid to go too near</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Tearing off his helmet</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_24'>24</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>With his sword he struck the lion</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They saw in front of them a grand and beautiful building</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_26'>26</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvi'>xxvi</span>High above all sat the Queen</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_29'>29</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The coach was drawn by an ugly and ill-matched team</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_33'>33</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Duessa stole secretly to the lodging of the pagan knight</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_37'>37</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A poor, simple pilgrim</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Knight tried to seize his weapons</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_48'>48</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Prince carried him out of the castle</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_59'>59</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They saw a knight galloping towards them</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They came to the place where Despair had his dwelling</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_69'>69</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The third daughter, whose name was Love</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>It was called “The City of the Great King”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Red Cross Knight and Una were betrothed</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_87'>87</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Sir Guyon and the Black Palmer</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_92'>92</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He saw marching to meet him a noble Knight</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A beautiful lady sat alone, weeping bitterly</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_97'>97</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>An end to all her sorrow</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They came to a Castle on a rock near the sea</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_105'>105</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“Yield thyself my captive!”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_110'>110</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A savage man beating a handsome youth</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_113'>113</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“There is now coming a knight of wondrous power”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_119'>119</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“Lady, you have not done right to mislead me like this”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_123'>123</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He began with trembling hands to pour them through a hole into the earth</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“Behold what living eye has never seen before”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_135'>135</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Watched over by a beautiful angel</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_140'>140</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Knights soon drove them into confusion</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_147'>147</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The ferryman had to put forth all his strength and skill</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_153'>153</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A pack of wild beasts rushed forward</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_159'>159</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Acrasia tried to set herself free</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_164'>164</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Disguising themselves in poor clothes</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_167'>167</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Hurled from his horse</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_169'>169</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Britomart saw six knights</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_173'>173</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>One of them shot a keen arrow at her</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_179'>179</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvii'>xxvii</span>Britomart looked well at the figure of this Knight</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_184'>184</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Deep in some work of wonder</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_189'>189</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Glaucé, taking down the armour, dressed her in it</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_193'>193</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The valiant stranger was a beautiful maiden</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_198'>198</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The flames parted on either side</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_203'>203</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He rode on a ravenous lion</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_209'>209</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Fastened to a brazen pillar</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_214'>214</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They presently saw two knights in armour</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_219'>219</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Feeding on the dead body of a milk-white palfrey</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_225'>225</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Both champions were felled to the ground</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_231'>231</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Smote him sorely on the visor</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_237'>237</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Britomart showed her lovely Amoret</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_241'>241</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They heard the sound of many iron hammers</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_247'>247</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Threatening to strike</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_254'>254</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>At last she was obliged to leave him</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_258'>258</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The rescue of Amoret</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_260'>260</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A mighty man, riding on a dromedary</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_265'>265</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Giant’s daughter came one day in glee to the prison</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_271'>271</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He found Pœana playing on a rote</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_275'>275</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Saracen’s Bridge</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_280'>280</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Wild beasts ... wrongfully oppressing others of their own kind</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_283'>283</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Sir Artegall gripped him fast by his iron collar</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_288'>288</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>They beheld a giant on a rock, holding a pair of scales</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_291'>291</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Straightway the enchanted damsel vanished into nothing</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_299'>299</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He scourged him out of the court</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_303'>303</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>“I helped to save her from the jaws of death”</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_308'>308</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>In the midst of them he saw a Knight pinioned</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_312'>312</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He was dazzled with astonishment</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_320'>320</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>She came to a window opening to the west</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_326'>326</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>In the temple of Isis</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_333'>333</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Sultan’s horses, like hungry hounds, cruelly chased him</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_342'>342</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The noise of her weeping speedily brought forth the villain</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_347'>347</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxviii'>xxviii</span>Artegall, with his sword Crysaor, swiftly cut off his head</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_359'>359</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>Sir Calidore and the shepherds</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_360'>360</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>A comely Squire, bound hand and foot to a tree</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_363'>363</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The Knight invited him to sit down beside them</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_373'>373</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He saw seated on a little hillock a beautiful maiden</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_375'>375</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>The brigands made search to see who was slain</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_383'>383</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c011'>He threw his shield on him, and pinned him to the ground</td> + <td class='c012'><a href='#Page_391'>391</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</nav> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_028.jpg' alt='A dragon flying over a rocky landscape.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_1' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_1">1</span> + <h2 class='c005'>The Red Cross Knight</h2> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div>“<i>Right faithful true he was in deed and word</i>”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<h3 class='c014'>The Court of the Queen</h3> + +<div class='c004 figright id002'> +<img src='images/i_029.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c015'>Once upon a time, in the days +when there were still such +things as giants and dragons, there +lived a great Queen. She reigned +over a rich and beautiful country, +and because she was good and noble +every one loved her, and tried also +to be good. Her court was the +most splendid one in the world, for all her knights +were brave and gallant, and each one thought only +of what heroic things he could do, and how best he +could serve his royal lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the Queen was Gloriana, and each of +her twelve chief knights was known as the Champion +of some virtue. Thus Sir Guyon was the representative +of <i>Temperance</i>, Sir Artegall of <i>Justice</i>, Sir Calidore +of <i>Courtesy</i>, and others took up the cause of +<i>Friendship</i>, <i>Constancy</i>, and so on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Every year the Queen held a great feast, which +<span class='pageno' id='Page_2' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_2">2</span>lasted twelve days. Once, on the first day of the +feast, a stranger in poor clothes came to the court, and, +falling before the Queen, begged a favour of her. It was +always the custom at these feasts that the Queen +should refuse nothing that was asked, so she bade the +stranger say what it was he wished. Then he besought +that, if any cause arose which called for knightly aid, +the adventure might be entrusted to him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Queen had given her promise he stood +quietly on one side, and did not try to mix with the +other guests who were feasting at the splendid tables. +Although he was so brave, he was very gentle and +modest, and he had never yet proved his valour in +fight, therefore he did not think himself worthy of +a place among the knights who had already won for +themselves honour and renown.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon after this there rode into the city a fair lady +on a white ass. Behind her came her servant, a dwarf, +leading a warlike horse that bore the armour of a +knight. The face of the lady was lovely, but it was +very sorrowful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Making her way to the palace, she fell before Queen +Gloriana, and implored her help. She said that her +name was Una; she was the daughter of a king and +queen who formerly ruled over a mighty country; +but, many years ago, a huge dragon came and wasted +all the land, and shut the king and queen up in a +brazen castle, from which they might never come out. +The Lady Una therefore besought Queen Gloriana to +grant her one of her knights to fight and kill this +terrible dragon.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_3' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_3">3</span> +<img src='images/i_031.jpg' alt='Woman riding a donkey with a dwarf walking alongside and a horse behind.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Then the stranger sprang forward, and reminded +the Queen of the promise she had given. At first +she was unwilling to consent, for the Knight was +young, and, moreover, he had no armour of his +own to fight with.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then said the Lady Una to him, “Will you +wear the armour that I bring you, for unless you do +you will never succeed in the enterprise, nor kill the +horrible monster of Evil? The armour is not new, +it is scratched and dinted with many a hard-fought +battle, but if you wear it rightly no armour that ever +was made will serve you so well.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the stranger bade them bring the armour and +put it on him, and Una said, “Stand, therefore, having +your loins girt about with truth, and having on the +breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with +the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all +taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able +to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take +<span class='pageno' id='Page_4' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_4">4</span>the helmet of salvation and the sword of the <span class='sc'>Spirit</span>, +which is the word of <span class='sc'>God</span>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>And when the stranger had put off his own rough +clothes and was clad in this armour, straightway he +seemed the goodliest man in all that company, and +the Lady Una was well pleased with her champion; +and, because of the red cross which he wore on his +breastplate and on his silver shield, henceforth he +was known always as “the Red Cross Knight.” But +his real name was <i>Holiness</i>, and the name of the lady +for whom he was to do battle was <i>Truth</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So these two rode forth into the world together, +while a little way behind followed their faithful attendant, +<i>Prudence</i>. And now you shall hear some of +the adventures that befell the Red Cross Knight and +his two companions.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Wood of Error</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The first adventure happened in this way. Scarcely +had the Red Cross Knight and the Lady Una started +on their journey when the sky suddenly became overcast, +and a great storm of rain beat down upon the +earth. Looking about for shelter, they saw, not far +away, a shady grove, which seemed just what they +wanted. The trees here had great spreading branches, +which grew so thickly overhead that no light could +pierce the covering of leaves. Through this wood +wide paths and alleys, well trodden, led in all directions. +It seemed a truly pleasant place, and a safe +<span class='pageno' id='Page_5' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_5">5</span>shelter against the tempest, so they entered in at +once.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At first, as they roamed along the winding paths +they found nothing but pleasure. Deeper and deeper +into the heart of the wood they went, hearing with joy +the sweet singing of the birds, and filled with wonder +to see so many different kinds of beautiful trees clustered +in one spot. But by-and-by, when the storm was +over and they wished to go forward on their journey, +they found, to their sorrow, that they had lost their +way. It was impossible to remember by which path +they had come; every way now seemed strange and +unknown. Here and there they wandered, backwards +and forwards; there were so many turnings to be seen, +so many paths, they knew not which to take to lead +them out of the wood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In this perplexity, at last they determined to go +straight forward until they found some end, either in +or out of the wood. Choosing for this purpose one of +the broadest and most trodden paths, they came presently, +in the thickest part of the wood, to a hollow +cave. Then the Red Cross Knight dismounted from +his steed, and gave his spear to the dwarf to hold.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Take heed,” said the Lady Una, “lest you too +rashly provoke mischief. This is a wild and unknown +place, and peril is often without show. Hold back, +therefore, till you know further if there is any danger +hidden there.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, lady,” said the Knight, “it were shame to +go backward for fear of a hidden danger. Virtue herself +gives light to lead through any darkness.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_6' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_6">6</span>“Yes,” said Una; “but I know better than you +the peril of this place, though now it is too late to +bid you go back like a coward. Yet wisdom warns +you to stay your steps, before you are forced to retreat. +This is the Wandering Wood, and that is the +den of Error, a horrible monster, hated of all. Therefore, +I advise you to be cautious.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_034.jpg' alt='Knight fighting a dragon while a woman and dwarf watch with horses.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“Fly, fly! this is no +place for living men!” cried +timid Prudence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the young Knight +was full of eagerness and +fiery courage, and nothing could stop him. Forth +to the darksome hole he went, and looked in. His +glittering armour made a little light, by which he +could plainly see the ugly monster. Such a great, +horrible thing it was, something like a snake, with a +long tail twisted in knots, with stings all over it. +And near this wicked big creature, whose other name +was <i>Falsehood</i>, there were a thousand little ones, all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_7' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_7">7</span>varying in shape, but every one bad and ugly; for +you may be quite sure that wherever one of this +horrible race is found, there will always be many +others of the same family lurking near.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the light shone into the cave all the little +creatures fled to hide themselves, and the big parent +Falsehood rushed out of her den in terror. But +when she saw the shining armour of the Knight she +tried to turn back, for she hated light as her deadliest +foe, and she was always accustomed to live in darkness, +where she could neither see plainly nor be seen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Knight saw that she was trying to +escape, he sprang after her as fierce as a lion, and +then the great fight began. Though he strove +valiantly, yet he was in sore peril, for suddenly the +cunning creature flung her huge tail round and round +him, so that he could stir neither hand nor foot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the Lady Una cried out, to encourage him, +“Now, now, Sir Knight, show what you are! Add +faith unto your force, and be not faint! Kill her, +or else she will surely kill you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With that, fresh strength and courage came to +the Knight. Gathering all his force, he got one +hand free, and gripped the creature by the throat +with so much pain that she was soon compelled +to loosen her wicked hold. Then, seeing that she +could not hope to conquer in this way, she suddenly +tried to stifle the Knight by flinging over him a flood +of poison. This made the Knight retreat a moment; +then she called to her aid all the horrid little creeping +and crawling monsters that he had seen before, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_8' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_8">8</span>many others of the same kind, or worse. These came +swarming and buzzing round the Knight like a cloud +of teasing gnats, and tormented and confused him +with their feeble stings. Enraged at this fresh attack, +he made up his mind to end the matter one way or +another, and, rushing at his foe, he killed her with +one stroke of his sword.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Lady Una, who, from a distance, had +watched all that passed, came near in haste to greet +his victory.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair Knight,” she said, “born under happy +star! You are well worthy of that armour in which +this day you have won great glory, and proved your +strength against a strong enemy. This is your first +battle. I pray that you will win many others in +like manner.”</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Knight deceived by the Magician</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After his victory over Falsehood, the Red Cross +Knight again mounted his steed, and he and the Lady +Una went on their way. Keeping carefully to one +path, and turning neither to the right hand nor the +left, at last they found themselves safely out of the +Wood of Error.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But now they were to fall into the power of a more +dangerous and treacherous foe than even the hateful +monster, Falsehood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had travelled a long way, and met with no +fresh adventure, when at last they chanced to meet in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_9' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_9">9</span>the road an old man. He looked very wise and good. +He was dressed in a long black gown, like a hermit, +and had bare feet and a grey beard; he had a book +hanging from his belt, as was the +custom with scholars in those days. +He seemed very quiet and sad, +and kept his eyes fixed on the +ground, and all the time, as he +went along, he seemed to be saying +prayers, and lamenting over +his own wickedness.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_037.jpg' alt='An old bearded hermit standing on a path as a knight and woman approach.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When he saw the travellers he +made a very humble salute to them. The Red Cross +Knight returned the greeting with all courtesy, and +asked him if he knew of any strange adventures that +were then taking place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, my dear son!” said the hermit, “how should +<span class='pageno' id='Page_10' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_10">10</span>a simple old man, who lives in a lonely cell, and does +nothing all day but sorrow for his own faults—how +should such a man know any tidings of war or worldly +trouble? It is not fitting for me to meddle with such +matters. But, if indeed you desire to hear about +danger and evil near at hand, I can tell you about a +strange man who wastes all the surrounding country.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That,” said the Knight, “is what I chiefly ask +about, and I will reward you well if you will guide +me to the place where he dwells. For it is a disgrace +to knighthood that such a creature should be allowed +to live so long.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His dwelling is far away from here, in the midst +of a barren wilderness,” answered the old man. “No +living person may ever pass it without great danger +and difficulty.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now,” said the Lady Una, “night is drawing +near, and I know well that you are wearied with your +former fight. Therefore, take rest, and with the new +day begin new work.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You have been well advised, Sir Knight,” said +the old man. “Day is now spent; therefore take up +your abode with me for this night.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The travellers were well content to do this, so +they went with the apparently good old man to his +home.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a little lowly hermitage, down in a dale by +the side of a forest, far from the beaten track of +travellers. A small chapel was built near, and close +by a crystal stream gently welled forth from a never-failing +fountain.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_11' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_11">11</span>Arrived at the house, they neither expected nor +found any entertainment; but rest was what they +chiefly needed, and they were well satisfied, for the +noblest mind is always the best contented. The old +man had a good store of pleasing words, and knew well +how to fit his talk to suit his visitors. The evening +passed pleasantly, and then the hermit conducted his +guests to the lodgings where they were to spend the night.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when they were safely asleep a horrid change +came over the old man, for in reality he was not good +at all, although he pretended to be so. His heart was +full of hatred, malice, and deceit. He called himself +Archimago, which means a “Great Magician,” but his +real name was <i>Hypocrisy</i>. He knew that as long as +Holiness and Truth kept together, no great harm +could come to either of them; so he determined to +do everything in his power to separate them. For +this purpose he got out all his books of magic, and set +to work to devise cunning schemes and spells. He +was so clever and wily that he could deceive people +much better and wiser than himself. He also had at +his bidding many bad little spirits, who ran about and +did his messages; these he used to help his friends +and frighten his enemies, and he had the power of +making them take any shape he wished.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Choosing out two of the worst of these, he sent +one on a message to King Morpheus, who rules over +the Land of Sleep. He bade him bring back with +him a bad, false dream, which Archimago then carried +to the sleeping Knight. So cunningly did he contrive +the matter, that when the Knight awoke the next +<span class='pageno' id='Page_12' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_12">12</span>morning he never knew that it had only been a dream, +but believed that all the things he had seen in his sleep +had really happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the meanwhile, Archimago dressed up the other +bad spirit to look like Una, so that at a little distance +it was impossible to tell any difference in the two +figures. He knew that the only way to part Holiness +and Truth was to make Holiness believe by some +means that Truth was not as good as she appeared to +be. He knew also that the Red Cross Knight would +believe nothing against the Lady Una except what he +saw with his own eyes. Therefore he laid his plans +with the greatest care and guile.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now we shall see how he succeeded in his wicked +endeavour.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Knight forsakes Una</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The next morning at daybreak the Knight awoke, +sad and unrested after the unpleasant dreams that had +come to him in the night. He did not know he had +been asleep; he thought the things that troubled him +had really happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was scarcely dawn when Archimago rushed up +to him in a state of pretended sorrow and indignation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Lady Una has left you,” said this wicked +man. “She is not good as she pretends to be. She +cares nothing at all for you, nor for the noble work on +which you are bound, and she does not mean to go +any farther with you on your toilsome journey.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Red Cross Knight started up in anger. This +<span class='pageno' id='Page_13' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_13">13</span>was like his dream, and he knew not what was true +nor what was false.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Come,” said Archimago, “see for yourself.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He pointed to a figure in the distance whom the +Knight took to be Una. Then, indeed, he was forced +to believe what the wicked magician told him. He +now took for granted that Una had been deceiving +him all along, and had seized this moment to escape. +He forgot all her real sweetness and goodness and +beauty; he only thought how false and unkind she +was. He was filled with anger, and he never paused +a moment to reflect if there could be any possibility +of mistake. Calling his servant, he bade him bring +his horse at once, and then these two immediately set +forth again on their journey.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_041.jpg' alt='Hermit gesturing toward a doorway while a man sits up in bed.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Here the Red Cross Knight was wrong, and we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_14' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_14">14</span>shall see presently into what perils and misfortunes he +fell because of his hasty want of faith. If he had had +a little patience he would soon have discovered that +the figure he saw was only a +dressed-up imitation. The real +Lady Una all this time was +sleeping quietly in her own +bower.</p> + +<div class='figleft id002'> +<img src='images/i_042.jpg' alt='Woman sleeping in bed beside a vase of lilies.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When she awoke and found +that her two companions had +fled in the night and left her +alone behind, she was filled with +grief and dismay. She could +not understand why they should +do such a thing. Mounting her white ass, she rode +after them with all the speed she could, but the Knight +had urged on his steed so fast it was almost useless to +try to follow. Yet she never stayed to rest her weary +limbs, but went on seeking them over hill and dale, +and through wood and plain, sorely grieved in her +tender heart that the one she loved best should leave +her with such ungentle discourtesy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the wicked Archimago saw that his cunning +schemes had succeeded so well he was greatly pleased, +and set to work to devise fresh mischief. It was Una +whom he chiefly hated, and he took great pleasure +in her many troubles, for hypocrisy always hates real +goodness. He had the power of turning himself into +any shape he chose—sometimes he would be a fowl, +sometimes a fish, now like a fox, now like a dragon. +On the present occasion, to suit his evil purpose, it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_15' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_15">15</span>seemed best to him to put on the appearance of the +good knight whom he had so cruelly beguiled.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Therefore, Hypocrisy dressed himself up in imitation +armour with a silver shield and everything exactly +like the Red Cross Knight. When he sat upon his +fiery charger he looked such a splendid warrior you +would have thought it was St. George himself.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Holiness fights Faithless, and makes Friends with False Religion</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The true St. George, meanwhile, had wandered far +away. Now that he had left the Lady Una, he had +nothing but his own will to guide him, and he no +longer followed any fixed purpose.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently he saw coming to meet him another +warrior, fully armed. He was a great, rough fellow, +who cared nothing for God or man; across his shield, +in gay letters, was written “Sans Foy,” which means +<i>Faithless</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He had with him a companion, a handsome lady, +dressed all in scarlet, trimmed with gold and rich +pearls. She rode a beautiful palfrey, with gay trappings, +and little gold bells tinkled on her bridle. The +two came along laughing and talking, but when the +lady saw the Red Cross Knight, she left off her mirth +at once, and bade her companion attack him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the two knights levelled their spears, and +rushed at each other. But when Faithless saw the +red cross graven on the breastplate of the other, he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_16' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_16">16</span>knew that he could never prevail +against that safeguard. However, +he fought with great fury, and the +Red Cross Knight had a hard battle +before he overcame him. At last +he managed to kill him, and he told +his servant to carry away the shield of Faithless in token +of victory.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_044.jpg' alt='Two knights jousting on horseback while a woman watches from her horse.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When the lady saw her champion fall, she fled in +terror; but the Red Cross Knight hurried after her, +and bade her stay, telling her that she had nothing +now to fear. His brave and gentle heart was full of +pity to see her in so great distress, and he asked her +to tell him who she was, and who was the man that +had been with her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Melting into tears, she then told him the following +sad story:—She said that she was the daughter of an +emperor, and had been engaged to marry a wise and +good prince. Before the wedding-day, however, the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_17' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_17">17</span>prince fell into the hands of his foes, and was cruelly slain. +She went out to look for his dead body, and in the course +of her wandering met the Saracen knight, who took her +captive. “Sans Foy” was one of three bad brothers. +The names of the others were “Sans Loy,” which means +<i>Lawless</i>, and “Sans Joy,” which means <i>Joyless</i>. She +further said that her own name was “Fidessa,” or <i>True +Religion</i>, and she besought the Knight to have compassion +on her, because she was so friendless and unhappy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair lady,” said the Knight, “a heart of flint +would grieve to hear of your sorrows. But henceforth +rest safely assured that you have found a new friend +to help you, and lost an old foe to hurt you. A new +friend is better than an old foe.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the seemingly simple maiden pretended to +look comforted, and the two rode on happily together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But what the lady had told about herself was quite +untrue. Her name was not “Fidessa” at all, but +“Duessa,” which means <i>False Religion</i>. If Una had +still been with the Knight, he would never have been +led astray; but when he parted from her he had +nothing but his own feelings to guide him. He still +meant to do right, but he was deceived by his false +companion, who brought him into much trouble and +danger.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Una and the Lion</h3> + +<p class='c017'>All this while the Lady Una, lonely and forsaken, +was roaming in search of her lost Knight. How sad +was her fate! She, a King’s daughter, so beautiful, so +<span class='pageno' id='Page_18' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_18">18</span>faithful, so true, who had done no wrong either in word +or deed, was left sorrowful and deserted because of the +cunning wiles of a wicked enchanter. Fearing nothing, +she sought the Red Cross Knight through woods and +lonely wilderness, but no tidings of him ever came +to her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day, being weary, she alighted from her steed, +and lay down on the grass to rest. It was in the midst +of a thicket, far from the sight of any traveller. She +lifted her veil, and put aside the black cloak which +always covered her dress.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c008'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line in20'>“Her angel’s face,</div> + <div class='line'>As the great eye of Heaven shinèd bright,</div> + <div class='line'>And made a sunshine in the shady place.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Suddenly, out of the wood there rushed a fierce +lion, who, seeing Una, sprang at her to devour her; +but, when he came nearer, he was amazed at the sight +of her loveliness, and all his rage turned to pity. +Instead of tearing her to pieces, he kissed her weary +feet and licked her lily hand as if he knew how innocent +and wronged she was.<a id='r2'></a><a href='#f2' class='c010'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> + +<div class='footnote' id='f2'> +<p class='c007'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. The figure of the lion may be taken as the emblem of <i>Honour</i>, +which always pays respect to <i>Truth</i>.</p> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When Una saw the gentleness of this kingly +creature, she could not help weeping.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sad to see her sorrow, he stood gazing at her; all +his angry mood changed to compassion, till at last Una +mounted her snowy palfrey and once more set out to +seek her lost companion.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_19' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_19">19</span>The lion would not leave her desolate, but went +with her as a strong guard and as a faithful companion. +When she slept he kept watch, and when she waked he +waited diligently, ready +to help her in any way he +could. He always knew +from her looks what she +wanted.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_047.jpg' alt='Lion sitting on a cliff above a sleeping woman while a donkey grazes nearby.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Long she travelled thus through +lonely places, where she thought +her wandering Knight might pass, +yet never found trace of living +man. At length she came to the +foot of a steep mountain, where +the trodden grass showed that +there was a path for people to go. +This path she followed till at +last she saw, slowly walking +in the front of her, a damsel +carrying a jar of water.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Lady Una called to her to ask if there were +any dwelling-place near, but the rough-looking girl +made no answer; she seemed not able to speak, nor +<span class='pageno' id='Page_20' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_20">20</span>hear, nor understand. But when she saw the lion +standing beside her, she threw down her pitcher with +sudden fear and fled away. Never before in that land +had she seen the face of a fair lady, and the sight of +the lion filled her with terror. Fast away she fled, and +never looked behind till she came at last to her home, +where her blind mother sat all day in darkness. Too +frightened to speak, she caught hold of her mother +with trembling hands, while the poor old woman, full +of fear, ran to shut the door of their house.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By this time the weary Lady Una had arrived, and +asked if she might come in; but, when no answer came +to her request, the lion, with his strong claws, tore +open the wicket-door and let her into the little hut. +There she found the mother and daughter crouched up +in a dark corner, nearly dead with fear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the poor old blind woman was <i>Superstition</i>. +She tried to be good in a very mistaken way. +She hid herself in her dark corner, and was quite content +never to come out of it. When the beautiful Lady +Una, who was all light and truth, came to the hut, the +mother and daughter, instead of making her welcome, +hated her, and would gladly have thrust her out.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Trying to soothe their needless dread, Una spoke +gently to them, and begged that she might rest that +night in their small cottage. To this they unwillingly +agreed, and Una lay down with the faithful lion at her +feet to keep watch. All night, instead of sleeping, she +wept, still sorrowing for her lost Knight and longing +for the morning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the middle of the night, when all the inmates +<span class='pageno' id='Page_21' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_21">21</span>of the little cottage were asleep, there came a furious +knocking at the door. This was a wicked thief, +called “Kirkrapine,” or <i>Church-robber</i>, whose custom +it was to go about stealing ornaments from churches, +and clothes from clergymen, and robbing the alms-boxes +of the poor. He used to share his spoils with +the daughter of the blind woman, and to-night he +had come with a great sackful of stolen goods.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he received no answer to his knocking, he +got very angry indeed, and made a loud clamour at +the door; but the women in the hut were too much +afraid of the lion to rise and let him in. At last he +burst open the door in a great rage and tried to enter, +but the lion sprang upon him and tore him to pieces +before he could even call for help. His terrified +friends scarcely dared to weep or move in case they +should share his fate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When daylight came, Una rose and started again +on her journey with the lion to seek the wandering +Knight. As soon as they had left, the two frightened +women came forth, and, finding Church-robber slain +outside the cottage, they began to wail and lament; +then they ran after Una, railing at her for being the +cause of all their ill; they called after her evil wishes +that mischief and misery might fall on her and follow +her all the way, and that she might ever wander in +endless error.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they saw that their bad words were of no +avail, they turned back, and there in the road they +met a knight, clad in armour; but, though he looked +such a grand warrior, it was really only the wicked +<span class='pageno' id='Page_22' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_22">22</span>enchanter, Hypocrisy, who was seeking Una, in +order to work her fresh trouble. When he saw +the old woman, Superstition, he asked if she could +give him any tidings of the lady. Therewith her +passion broke out anew; she told him what had +just happened, blaming Una as the cause of all +her distress. Archimago pretended to condole with +her, and then, finding out the direction in which Una +had gone, he followed as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before long he came up to where Una was slowly +travelling; but seeing the noble lion at her side, he +was afraid to go too near, and turned away to a hill +at a little distance. When Una saw him, she thought, +from his shield and armour, that it was her own true +knight, and she rode up to him, and spoke meekly, +half-frightened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, my lord,” she said, “where have you been so +long out of my sight? I feared that you hated me, +or that I had done something to displease you, and +that made everything seem dark and cheerless. But +welcome now, welcome!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dearest lady,” said false Hypocrisy, “you +must not think I could so shame knighthood as to +desert you. But the truth is, the reason why I left +you so long was to seek adventure in a strange place, +where Archimago said there was a mighty robber, who +worked much mischief to many people. Now he will +trouble no one further. This is the good reason why +I left you. Pray believe it, and accept my faithful +service, for I have vowed to defend you by land and +sea. Let your grief be over.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_23' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_23">23</span> +<img src='images/i_051.jpg' alt='Lion and a woman on a donkey facing a knight on horseback.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When Una heard these +sweet words it seemed to her +that she was fully rewarded +for all the trials she had gone +through. One loving hour can +make up for many years of sorrow. +She forgot all that she had suffered; +she spoke no more of the +past. True love never looks back, but always forward. +Before her stood her Knight, for whom she had toiled +so sorely, and Una’s heart was filled with joy.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>In the Hands of the Enemy</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Una and the Magician (who was disguised as the +Red Cross Knight) had not gone far when they saw +some one riding swiftly towards them. The new-comer +was on a fleet horse, and was fully armed; his look was +stern, cruel, and revengeful. On his shield in bold +<span class='pageno' id='Page_24' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_24">24</span>letters was traced the name “Sans Loy,” which means +<i>Lawless</i>. He was one of the brothers of “Sans Foy,” +or Faithless, whom the real Red Cross Knight had slain, +and he had made up his mind to avenge his brother’s +death.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he saw the red cross graven on the shield +which Hypocrisy carried, he thought that he had found +the foe of whom he was in search, and, levelling his +spear, he prepared for battle. Hypocrisy, who was a +mean coward, and had never fought in his life, was +nearly fainting with fear; but the Lady Una spoke +such cheering words that he began to feel more hopeful. +Lawless, however, rushed at him with such fury +that he drove his lance right through the other’s shield, +and bore him to the ground. Leaping from his horse, +he ran towards him, meaning to kill him, and exclaiming, +“Lo, this is the worthy reward of him that slew +Faithless!”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_052.jpg' alt='Knight standing over a defeated knight on the ground while a lion and a woman on a donkey watch nearby.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Una begged the cruel knight to have pity on his +fallen foe, but her words were of no avail. Tearing off +<span class='pageno' id='Page_25' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_25">25</span>his helmet, Lawless would +have slain him at +once, but he stopped +in astonishment +when, instead of the +Red Cross Knight, +he saw the face of +Archimago. He +knew well that crafty +Hypocrisy was +skilled in all forms +of deceit, but that he took care to shun fighting and +brave deeds. Now, indeed, had Hypocrisy’s guile met +with a just punishment.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_053.jpg' alt='Knight fighting a lion beneath a tree.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, luckless Archimago, what is this?” cried +Lawless. “What evil chance brought <i>you</i> here? Is +it your fault, or my mistake, that I have wounded my +friend instead of my foe?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the old Magician answered nothing; he lay +still as if he were dying. So Lawless spent no more +time over him, but went over to where Una waited, +lost in amazement and sorely perplexed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her companion, whom she had imagined was her +own true Knight, turned out to be nothing but an +impostor, and she herself had fallen into the hands of +a cruel enemy.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_26">26</span>When the brave lion saw Lawless go up to Una +and try to drag her roughly from her palfrey, full +of kingly rage he rushed to protect her. He flew at +Lawless and almost tore his shield to pieces with his +sharp claws. But, alas! he could not overcome the +warrior, for Lawless was one of the strongest men that +ever wielded spear, and was well skilled in feats of arms. +With his sharp sword he struck the lion, and the noble +creature fell dead at his feet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Poor Una, what was to become of her now? Her +faithful guardian was gone, and she found herself the +captive of a cruel foe. Lawless paid no heed to her +tears and entreaties. Placing her on his own horse, he +rode off with her; while her snow-white ass, not willing +to forsake her, followed meekly at a distance.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_054.jpg' alt='Knight and a woman on horseback looking toward a distant castle.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<h3 class='c016'>The House of Pride</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Now the Red Cross Knight, because of his lack of +loyalty to Una, fell into much danger and difficulty. +His first fault was in believing evil of her so readily, +and leaving her forlorn; after that he was too easily +beguiled by the pretended goodness and beauty of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_27' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_27">27</span>Duessa. All who fight in a good cause must beware +of errors such as these. If matters do not go exactly +as we wish, we must not lose heart and get impatient; +even if we cannot understand what is happening, +we must trust that all will be well. We must keep +steadily to the one true aim set before us, or else, +like the Red Cross Knight, we may be led astray by +false things that are only pleasant in appearance, and +have no real goodness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa and the Knight travelled for a long way, till +at last they saw in front of them a grand and beautiful +building. It seemed as if it were the house of some +mighty Prince; a broad highway led up to it, all +trodden bare by the feet of those who flocked thither. +Great troops of people of all sorts and condition +journeyed here, both by day and night. But few returned, +unless they managed to escape, beggared and +disgraced, when, ever afterwards, they lived a life of +misery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To this place Duessa guided the Red Cross Knight, +for she was tired with the toilsome journey, and the +day was nearly over.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a stately palace, built of smooth bricks, +cunningly laid together without mortar. The walls +were high, but neither strong nor thick, and they were +covered with dazzling gold-foil. There were many +lofty towers and picturesque galleries, with bright +windows and delightful bowers; and on the top there +was a dial to tell the time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was lovely to look at, and did much credit to +the workman that designed it; but it was a great pity +<span class='pageno' id='Page_28' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_28">28</span>that so fair a building rested on so frail a foundation. +For it was mounted high up on a sandy hill that kept +shifting and falling away. Every breath of heaven +made it shake; and all the back parts, that no one +could see, were old and ruinous, though cunningly +painted over.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Arrived here, Duessa and the Red Cross Knight +passed in at once, for the gates stood wide open to all. +They were in charge of a porter, called “Ill-come,” who +never denied entrance to any one. The hall inside was +hung with costly tapestry and rich curtains. Numbers +of people, rich and poor, were waiting here, in order to +gain sight of the Lady of this wonderful place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa and the Knight passed through this crowd, +who all gazed at them, and entered the Presence +Chamber of the Queen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>What a dazzling sight met their eyes! Such a +scene of splendour had never been known in the court +of any living prince. A noble company of lords and +ladies stood on every side, and made the place more +beautiful with their presence.</p> + +<p class='c007'>High above all there was a cloth of state, and a +rich throne as bright as the sun. On the throne, clad +in royal robes, sat the Queen. Her garments were all +glittering with gold and precious jewels; but so great +was her beauty that it dimmed even the brightness of +her throne. She sat there in princely state, shining +like the sun. She hated and despised all lowly things +of earth. Under her scornful feet lay a dreadful +dragon, with a hideous tail. In her hand she held a +mirror in which she often looked at her face; she took +<span class='pageno' id='Page_29' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_29">29</span>great delight in her own appearance, for she was fairer +than any living woman.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_057.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Lo! underneath her scornful feet was layne<br> A dreadful dragon with an hideous trayne;<br> And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,<br> Wherein her face she often viewed fayne,<br> And in her self-loved semblance took delight.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_31' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_31">31</span>She was the daughter of grisly Pluto, King of +Hades, and men called her proud Lucifera. She had +crowned herself a queen, but she had no rightful kingdom +at all, nor any possessions. The power which she +had obtained she had usurped by wrong and tyranny. +She ruled her realm not by laws, but by craft, and +according to the advice of six old wizards, who with +their bad counsels upheld her kingdom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the Knight and Duessa came into the +presence-chamber, an usher, by name <i>Vanity</i>, made +room and prepared a passage for them, and brought +them to the lowest stair of the high throne. Here +they made a humble salute, and declared that they had +come to see the Queen’s royal state, and to prove if +the wide report of her great splendour were true.</p> + +<p class='c007'>With scornful eyes, half unwilling to look so low, +she thanked them disdainfully, and did not show them +any courtesy worthy of a queen, scarcely even bidding +them arise. The lords and ladies of the court, however, +were all eager to appear well in the eyes of the +strangers. They shook out their ruffles, and fluffed up +their curls, and arranged their gay attire more trimly; +and each one was jealous and spiteful of the others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They did their best to entertain the Knight, and +would gladly have made him one of their company. +To Duessa, also, they were most polite and gracious, +for formerly she had been well known in that court. +But to the knightly eyes of the warrior all the glitter +of the crowd seemed vain and worthless, and he thought +<span class='pageno' id='Page_32' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_32">32</span>that it was unbefitting so great a queen to treat a +strange knight with such scant courtesy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Suddenly, Queen Lucifera rose from her throne, and +called for her coach. Then all was bustle and confusion, +every one rushing violently forth. Blazing with +brightness she paced down the hall, like the sun dawning +in the east. All the people thronging the hall +thrust and pushed each other aside to gaze upon her. +Her glorious appearance amazed the eyes of all men.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her coach was adorned with gold and gay garlands, +and was one of the most splendid carriages ever seen, +but it was drawn by an ugly and ill-matched team. On +every animal rode one of her evil Councillors, who was +much like in nature to the creature that carried him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The first of these, who guided all the rest, was +<i>Idleness</i>, the nurse of Sin. He chose to ride a slothful +ass; he looked always as if he were half asleep, and +as if he did not know whether it were night or day. +He shut himself away from all care, and shunned manly +exercise, but if there were any mischief to be done he +joined in it readily. The Queen was indeed badly +served who had Idleness for her leading Councillor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Next to him came <i>Gluttony</i>, riding on a pig; then +<i>Self-indulgence</i> on a goat, <i>Avarice</i> on a camel, <i>Envy</i> +on a wolf, and <i>Wrath</i> on a lion. Each in his own +way was equally hideous and hateful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they went along, crowds of people came round, +shouting for joy; always before them a foggy mist +sprang up, covering all the land, and under their feet +lay the dead bones of men who had wandered from +the right path.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_33' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_33">33</span> +<img src='images/i_061.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>... This was drawne of six unequall beasts<br> On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_35">35</span>So forth they went in this goodly array to enjoy the +fresh air, and to sport in the flowery meadows. Among +the rest, next to the chariot, rode the false Duessa, but +the good Knight kept far apart, not joining in the noisy +mirth which seemed unbefitting a true warrior.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Having enjoyed themselves awhile in the pleasant +fields, they returned to the stately palace. Here they +found that a wandering knight had just arrived. On his +shield, in red letters, was written the name “Sans Joy,” +which means <i>Joyless</i>, and he was the brother of <i>Faithless</i>, +whom the Red Cross Knight had slain, and of +<i>Lawless</i>, who had taken Una captive. He looked +sullen and revengeful, as if he had in his mind bitter +and angry thoughts.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he saw the shield of his slain brother, Faithless, +in the hands of the Red Cross Knight’s page, he +sprang at him and snatched it away. But the Knight +had no mind to lose the trophy which he had won in +battle, and, attacking him fiercely, he again got possession +of it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thereupon they hastily began to prepare for battle, +clashing their shields and shaking their swords in the +air. But the Queen, on pain of her severe displeasure, +commanded them to restrain their fury, saying that if +either had a right to the shield, they should fight it +out fairly the next day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>That night was passed in joy and gaiety, feasting +and making merry in bower and hall. The steward +of the court was <i>Gluttony</i>, who poured forth lavishly +of his abundance to all; and then the chamberlain, +<i>Sloth</i>, summoned them to rest.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_36' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_36">36</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Battle for the Shield</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>That night, when every one slept, Duessa stole +secretly to the lodgings of the pagan knight Joyless. +She found him wide awake, restless, and troubled, +busily devising how he might annoy his foe. To +him she spoke many untrue words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear Joyless,” she said, “I am so glad that you +have come. I have passed many sad hours for the sake +of Faithless, whom this traitor slew. He has treated +me very cruelly, keeping me shut up in a dark cave; +but now I will take shelter with you from his disdainful +spite. To you belongs the inheritance of your +brother, Faithless. Let him not be unavenged.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair lady, grieve no more for past sorrows,” said +Joyless; “neither be afraid of present peril, for needless +fear never profited any one, nor is it any good to +lament over misfortunes that cannot be helped. Faithless +is dead, his troubles are over; but I live, and I +will avenge him.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, but I fear what may happen,” she answered, +“and the advantage is on his side.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why, lady, what advantage can there be when +both fight alike?” asked Joyless.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yes, but he bears a charmed shield,” said Duessa, +“and also enchanted armour that no one can pierce. +None can wound the man that wears them.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Charmed or enchanted, I care not at all,” said Joyless +fiercely, “nor need you tell me anything more about +them. But, fair lady, go back whence you came and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_37' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_37">37</span>rest awhile. To-morrow I shall subdue the Red Cross +Knight, and give you the heritage of dead Faithless.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_065.jpg' alt='Woman with her hand raised standing over a man reclining on a couch.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“Wherever I am, my secret aid shall follow you,” +she answered, and then she left him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At the first gleam of dawn the Red Cross Knight +<span class='pageno' id='Page_38' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_38">38</span>sprang up and dressed himself for battle in his sun-bright +armour. Forth he stepped into the hall, where +there were many waiting to gaze at him, curious to +know what fate was in store for the stranger knight. +Many minstrels were there, making melody to drive +away sadness; many singers that could tune their voices +skilfully to harp and viol; many chroniclers that could +tell old stories of love and war.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon after, came the pagan knight, Joyless, warily +armed in woven mail. He looked sternly at the Red +Cross Knight, who cared not at all how any living +creature looked at him. Cups of wine were brought +to the warriors, with dainty Eastern spices, and they +both swore a solemn oath to observe faithfully the +laws of just and fair fighting.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last, with royal pomp, came the Queen. She +was led to a railed-in space of the green field, and +placed under a stately canopy. On the other side, full +in all men’s view, sat Duessa, and on a tree near was +hung the shield of Faithless. Both Duessa and the +shield were to be given to the victor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>A shrill trumpet bade them prepare for battle. +The pagan knight was stout and strong, and his blows +fell like great iron hammers. He fought for cruelty +and vengeance. The Red Cross Knight was fierce, and +full of youthful courage; he fought for praise and +honour. So furious was their onslaught that sparks of +fire flew from their shields, and deep marks were hewn +in their helmets.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus they fought, the one for wrong, the other for +right, and each tried to put his foe to shame. At last +<span class='pageno' id='Page_39' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_39">39</span>Joyless chanced to look at his brother’s shield which +was hanging near. The sight of this doubled his anger, +and he struck at his foe with such fury that the Knight +reeled twice, and seemed likely to fall. To those who +looked on, the end of the battle appeared doubtful, and +false Duessa began to call loudly to Joyless,—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thine the shield, and I, and all!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Directly the Red Cross Knight heard her voice he +woke out of the faintness that had overcome him; his +faith, which had grown weak, suddenly became strong, +and he shook off the deadly cold that was creeping +over him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This time he attacked Joyless with such vigour that +he brought him down upon his knees. Lifting his sword, +he would have slain him, when suddenly a dark cloud fell +between them. Joyless was seen no more; he had vanished! +The Knight called aloud to him, but received no +answer: his foe was completely hidden by the darkness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa rose hastily from her place, and ran to the +Red Cross Knight, saying,—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“O noblest Knight, be angry no longer! Some +evil power has covered your enemy with the cloud of +night, and borne him away to the regions of darkness. +The conquest is yours, I am yours, the shield and the +glory are yours.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the trumpets sounded, and running heralds +made humble homage, and the shield, the cause of all +the enmity, was brought to the Red Cross Knight. +He went to the Queen, and, kneeling before her, offered +her his service, which she accepted with thanks and +much satisfaction, greatly praising his chivalry.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_40' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_40">40</span>So they marched home, the Knight next the Queen, +while all the people followed with great glee, shouting +and clapping their hands. When they got to the +palace the Knight was given gentle attendants and +skilled doctors, for he had been badly hurt in the fight. +His wounds were washed with wine, and oil, and healing +herbs, and all the while lovely music was played +round his bed to beguile him from grief and pain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>While this was happening, Duessa secretly left the +palace, and stole away to the Kingdom of Darkness, +which is ruled over by the Queen of Night. This +queen was a friend of her own, and was always ready +to help in any bad deeds. Duessa told her of what +had befallen the pagan knight, Joyless, and persuaded +her to carry him away to her own dominions. Here he +was placed under the care of a wonderful doctor, who +was able to cure people by magic, and Duessa hastened +back to the House of Pride.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When she got there she was dismayed to find that +the Red Cross Knight had already left, although he +was not nearly healed from the wounds which he +had received in battle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The reason why he left was this. One day his +servant, whose name you may remember was Prudence, +came and told him that he had discovered in the palace +a huge, deep dungeon, full of miserable prisoners. +Hundreds of men and women were there, wailing and +lamenting—grand lords and beautiful ladies, who, from +foolish behaviour or love of idle pomp, had wasted +their wealth and fallen into the power of the wicked +Queen of Pride.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_41">41</span>When the good Red Cross Knight heard this, he +determined to stay no longer in such a place of peril.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Rising before dawn, he left by a small side door, for +he knew that if he were seen he would be at once put to +death. To him the place no more seemed beautiful; +it filled him with horror and disgust. Riding under +the castle wall, the way was strewn with hundreds of +dead bodies of those who had perished miserably. +Such was the dreadful sight of the House of Pride.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Una and the Woodland Knight</h3> + +<p class='c017'>We left Una in a piteous plight, in the hands of a +cruel enemy, the pagan knight Lawless.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Paying no heed to her tears and entreaties, he +placed her on his horse, and rode off with her till he +came to a great forest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Una was almost in despair, for there seemed no +hope of any rescue. But suddenly there came a +wonderful way of deliverance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the midst of the thick wood Lawless halted to +rest. This forest was inhabited by numbers of strange +wild creatures, quite untaught, almost savages. Hearing +Una’s cries for help, they came flocking up to see +what was the matter. Their fierce, rough appearance +so frightened Lawless that he jumped on to his horse +and rode away as fast as he could.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the wild wood-folk came up they found +Una sitting desolate and alone. They were amazed +at such a strange sight, and pitied her sad condition. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_42' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_42">42</span>They all stood astonished at her loveliness, and could +not imagine how she had come there.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Una, for her part, was greatly terrified, not knowing +whether some fresh danger awaited her. Half in +fear, half in hope, she sat still in amazement. Seeing +that she looked so sorrowful, the savages tried to show +that they meant to be friendly. They smiled, and came +forward gently, and kissed her feet. Then she guessed +that their hearts were kind, and she arose fearlessly +and went with them, no longer afraid of any evil.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Full of gladness, they led her along, shouting and +singing and dancing round her, and strewing all the +ground with green branches, as if she had been a queen. +Thus they brought her to their chief, old Sylvanus.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sylvanus saw her, like the rest he was +astonished at her beauty, for he had never seen anything +so fair. Her fame spread through the forest, +and all the other dwellers in it came to look at her. +The Hamadryads, who live in the trees, and the +Naiades, who live in the flowing fountains, all came +flocking to see her lovely face. As for the woodlanders, +henceforth they thought no one on earth fair +but Una.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Glad at such good fortune, Una was quite contented +to please the simple folk. She stayed a long +while with them, to gather strength after her many +troubles. During this time she did her best to teach +them, but the poor things were so ignorant, it was +almost impossible to make them understand the difference +between right and wrong.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It chanced one day that a noble knight came to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_43' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_43">43</span>the forest to seek his kindred who dwelt there. He +had won much glory in wars abroad, and distant lands +were filled with his fame. He was honest, faithful, +and true, though not very polished in manner, nor +accustomed to a courtly life. His name was Sir Satyrane. +He had been born and brought up in the forest, +and his father had taught him nothing but to be utterly +fearless. When he grew up, and could master everything +in the forest, he went abroad to fight foreign foes, +and his fame was soon carried through all lands. It +was always his custom, after some time spent in labour +and adventure, to return for a while to his native +woods, and so it happened on this occasion that he +came across Una.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The first time he saw her she was surrounded by +the savages, whom she was trying to teach good and +holy things. Sir Satyrane wondered at the wisdom +which fell from her sweet lips, and when, later on, he +saw her gentle and kindly deeds, he began to admire +and love her. Although noble at heart, he had never +had any one to teach him, but now he began to learn +from Una faith and true religion.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The False Pilgrim</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Una’s thoughts were still fixed on the Red Cross +Knight, and she was sorry to think of his perilous +wandering. She was always sad at heart, and spent +her time planning how to escape. At last she told +her wish to Sir Satyrane, who, glad to please her in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_44' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_44">44</span>any way, began to devise how he could help her to get +free from the savage folk. One day, when Una was +left alone, all the woodlanders having gone to pay +court to their chief, old Sylvanus, she and Sir Satyrane +rode away together. They went so fast and so carefully +that no one could overtake them, and thus at +last they came to the end of the forest, and out into +the open plain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Towards evening, after they had journeyed a long +distance, they met a traveller. He seemed as if he +were a poor, simple pilgrim; his clothes were dusty +and travel-worn; his face brown and scorched with +the sun; he leant upon a staff, and carried all his necessaries +in a scrip, or little bag, hanging behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Satyrane asked if there were any tidings of new +adventures, but the stranger had heard of none. Then +Una began to ask if he knew anything about a knight +who wore on his shield a red cross.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Alas! dear lady,” he replied, “I may well grieve +to tell you the sad news! I have seen that knight with +my own eyes, both alive and also dead.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Una heard these cruel words she was filled +with sorrow and dismay, and begged the pilgrim to tell +her everything he knew.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he related how on that very morning he had +seen two knights preparing for battle. One was a +pagan, the other was the Red Cross Knight. They +fought with great fury, and in the end the Red Cross +Knight was slain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This story was altogether false. The pretended +pilgrim was no other than the wicked enchanter +<span class='pageno' id='Page_45' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_45">45</span>Archimago, or <i>Hypocrisy</i>, in a fresh disguise. But Sir +Satyrane and Una believed everything he told them.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_073.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>The Knight, approaching nigh, of him inquired<br> Tidings of warre, and of adventures new.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_47' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_47">47</span>“Where is this pagan now?” asked Satyrane.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not far from here,” replied the pilgrim; “I +left him resting beside a fountain.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thereupon Sir Satyrane hastily marched off, and +soon came to the place where he guessed that the +other would be found. This pagan knight turned +out to be Lawless, from whom, you may remember, +Una had escaped in the forest, before she was found +by the woodlanders. Sir Satyrane challenged Lawless +to fight, and they were soon engaged in a fierce +battle. Poor Una was so terrified at this new peril, +and in such dread of Lawless, that she did not wait +to see what the end would be, but fled far away as +fast as she could.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Archimago had been watching everything from a +secret hiding-place. Now, when he saw Una escaping, +he quickly followed, for he hoped to be able to work +her some further mischief.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Giant Pride</h3> + +<p class='c017'>When Duessa found that the Red Cross Knight had +left the palace of Queen Lucifera, she immediately set +out in search of him. It was not long before she found +him where he sat wearily by the side of a fountain to +rest himself. He had taken off all his armour, and his +steed was cropping the grass close by. It was pleasant +in the cool shade, and the soft wind blew refreshingly +<span class='pageno' id='Page_48' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_48">48</span>upon his forehead, +while, in the trees +above, numbers of +singing birds delighted +him with +their sweet music.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_076.jpg' alt='Woman standing near a tree and a man on the ground as a figure approaches in the distance.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa at first +pretended to be +angry with the +Knight for leaving +her so unkindly, but +they were soon good +friends again. They +stayed for some time +beside the fountain, where the green boughs sheltered +them from the scorching heat.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But although it looked so lovely and tempting, +the fountain near which they sat was an enchanted one. +Whoever tasted its waters grew faint and feeble.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knight, not knowing this, stooped down to +drink of the stream, which was as clear as crystal. Then +<span class='pageno' id='Page_49' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_49">49</span>all his strength turned to weakness, his courage melted +away, and a deadly chill crept over him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At first he scarcely noticed the change, for he had +grown careless both of himself and of his fame. But +suddenly he heard a dreadful sound—a loud bellowing +which echoed through the wood. The earth seemed +to shake with terror, and all the trees trembled. The +Knight, astounded, started up, and tried to seize his +weapons. But before he could put on his armour, or get +his shield, his monstrous enemy came stalking into sight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was a hideous Giant, great and horrible. The +ground groaned under him. He was taller than three +of the tallest men put together. His name was +Orgoglio, or <i>Pride</i>, and his father’s name was <i>Ignorance</i>. +He was puffed up with arrogance and conceit, +and because he was so big and strong he despised every +one else. He leant upon a gnarled oak, which he had +torn up by its roots from the earth; it also served +him as a weapon to dismay his foemen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he saw the Knight he advanced to him with +dreadful fury. The latter, quite helpless, all in vain +tried to prepare for battle. Disarmed, disgraced, inwardly +dismayed, and faint in every limb, he could +scarcely wield even his useless blade. The Giant aimed +such a merciless stroke at him, that if it had touched +him it would have crushed him to powder. But the +Knight leapt lightly to one side, and thus escaped the +blow. So great, however, was the wind that the club +made in whirling through the air that the Knight was +overthrown, and lay on the ground stunned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Giant Pride saw his enemy lying helpless, he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_50' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_50">50</span>lifted up his club to kill him, but Duessa called to +him to stay his hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“O great Orgoglio,” she cried, “spare him for my +sake, and do not kill him. Now that he is vanquished +make him your bond-slave, and, if you like, I will be +your wife!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Giant Pride was quite pleased with this arrangement, +and, taking up the Red Cross Knight before he could +awake from his swoon, he carried him hastily to his +castle, and flung him, without pity, into a deep dungeon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As for Duessa, from that day forth she was treated +with the greatest honour. She was given gold and +purple to wear, and a triple crown was placed upon her +head, and every one had to obey her as if she were a +queen. To make her more dreaded, Orgoglio gave +her a hideous dragon to ride. This dragon had seven +heads, with gleaming eyes, and its body seemed made +of iron and brass. Everything good that came within +its reach it swept away with a great long tail, and then +trampled under foot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All the people’s hearts were filled with terror when +they saw Duessa riding on her dragon.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Prince Arthur</h3> + +<p class='c017'>When the Red Cross Knight was made captive by +Giant Pride and carried away, Prudence, his servant, +who had seen his master’s fall, sorrowfully collected his +forsaken possessions—his mighty armour, missing when +most needed, his silver shield, now idle and masterless, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_51' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_51">51</span>his sharp spear that had done good service in many a +fray. With these he departed to tell his sad tale.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He had not gone far when he met Una, flying +from the scene of battle, while Sir Satyrane hindered +Lawless from pursuing her. When she saw Prudence +carrying the armour of the Red Cross Knight, she +guessed something terrible had happened, and fell to +the ground as if she were dying of sorrow.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Unhappy Prudence would gladly have died himself, +but he did his best to restore Una to life. When she +had recovered she implored him to tell her what had +occurred.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the dwarf told her everything that had taken +place since they parted. How the crafty Archimago +had deceived the Red Cross Knight by his wiles, and +made him believe that Una had left him; how the +Knight had slain Faithless and had taken pity on Duessa +because of the false tales she told. Prudence also told +Una all about the House of Pride and its perils; he +described the fight which the Knight had with Joyless, +and lastly, he told about the luckless conflict with the +great Giant Pride, when the Knight was made captive, +whether living or dead he knew not.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Una listened patiently, and bravely tried to master +her sorrow, which almost broke her heart, for she dearly +loved the Red Cross Knight, for whose sake she had +borne so many troubles. At last she rose, quite resolved +to find him, alive or dead. The dwarf pointed out the +way by which Giant Pride had carried his prisoner, and +Una started on her quest. Long she wandered, through +woods and across valleys, high over hills, and low +<span class='pageno' id='Page_52' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_52">52</span>among the dales, tossed by storms and beaten by the +wind, but still keeping steadfast to her purpose.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last she chanced by good fortune to meet a +knight, marching with his squire. This knight was +the most glorious she had ever seen. His glittering +armour shone far off, like the glancing light of the +brightest ray of sunshine; it covered him from top to +toe, and left no place unguarded. Across his breast he +wore a splendid belt, covered with jewels that sparkled +like stars. Among the jewels was one of great value, +which shone with such brilliancy that it amazed all who +beheld it. Close to this jewel hung the knight’s sword, +in an ivory sheath, carved with curious devices. The +hilt was of burnished gold, the handle of mother-of-pearl, +and it was buckled on with a golden clasp.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The helmet of this knight was also of gold, and for +crest it had a golden dragon with wings. On the top of +all was a waving plume, decked with sprinkled pearls, +which shook and danced in every little breath of wind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The shield of the warrior was closely covered, and +might never be seen by mortal eye. It was not made +of steel nor of brass, but of one perfect and entire +diamond. This had been hewn out of the adamant +rock with mighty engines; no point of spear could ever +pierce it, nor dint of sword break it asunder.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This shield the knight never showed to mortals, +unless he wished to dismay some huge monster or to +frighten large armies that fought unfairly against him. +No magic arts nor enchanter’s spell had any power +against it. Everything that was not exactly what it +seemed to be faded before it and fell to ruin.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_53' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_53">53</span>The maker of the shield was supposed to be +Merlin, a mighty magician; he made it with the +sword and armour for this young prince when the +latter first took to arms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the knight was Prince Arthur, type +of all Virtue and Magnificence, and pattern of all true +Knighthood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His squire bore after him his spear of ebony wood; +he was a gallant and noble youth, who managed his +fiery steed with much skill and courage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Prince Arthur came near Una, he greeted +her with much courtesy. By her unwilling answers he +guessed that some secret sorrow was troubling her, and +he hoped that his gentle and kindly words would +persuade her to tell him the cause of her grief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What good will it do to speak of it?” said Una. +“When I think of my sorrow it seems to me better +to keep it hidden than to make it worse by speaking of +it. Nothing in the world can lighten my misfortunes. +My last comfort is to be left alone to weep for them.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, dear lady,” said the gentle Knight, “I know +well that your grief is great, for it makes me sad even +to hear you speak of it. But let me entreat you to +tell me what is troubling you. Misfortunes may be +overcome by good advice, and wise counsel will lessen +the worst injury. He who never tells of his hurts will +never find help.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>His words were so kind and reasonable that Una +was soon persuaded to tell him her whole story. She +began with the time when she had gone to the Court +of Queen Gloriana to seek a champion to release her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_54' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_54">54</span>parents from the horrible dragon, and ended with the +account of how the Red Cross Knight had fallen a prey +to Giant Pride, who now held him captive in a dark +dungeon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly, lady, you have much cause to grieve,” said +Prince Arthur when the story was finished. “But be of +good cheer, and take comfort. Rest assured I will never +forsake you until I have set free your captive Knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>His cheerful words revived Una’s drooping heart, +and so they set forth on their journey, Prudence guiding +them in the right way.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Wondrous Bugle and the Mighty Shield</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Badly indeed would it now have fared with the Red +Cross Knight had it not been for the Lady Una. Even +good people daily fall into sin and temptation, but as +often as their own foolish pride or weakness leads them +astray, so often will Divine love and care rescue them, +if only they repent of their misdoings. Thus we see +how Holiness, in the guise of the Red Cross Knight, +was for a while cast down and defeated; yet in the end, +because he truly repented, help was given him to fight +again and conquer.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Prince Arthur and the Lady Una travelled till they +came to a castle which was built very strong and high.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lo,” cried the dwarf, “yonder is the place where +my unhappy master is held captive by that cruel +tyrant!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Prince at once dismounted, and bade Una stay +<span class='pageno' id='Page_55' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_55">55</span>to see what would happen. He marched with his +squire to the castle walls, where he found the gates +shut fast. There was no warder to guard them, nor +to answer to the call of any who came.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the squire took a small bugle which hung at +his side with twisted gold and gay tassels. Wonderful +stories were told about that bugle; every one trembled +with dread at its shrill sound. It could easily be heard +three miles off, and whenever it was blown it echoed +three times. No false enchantment or deceitful snare +could stand before the terror of that blast. No gate +was so strong, no lock so firm and fast, but at that +piercing noise it flew open or burst.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was the bugle which Prince Arthur’s squire +blew before the gate of Giant Pride. Then the whole +castle quaked, and every door flew open. The Giant +himself, dismayed at the sound, came rushing forth in +haste from an inner bower, to see what was the reason +of this sudden uproar, and to discover who had dared +to brave his power. After him came Duessa, riding on +her dragon with the seven heads; every head had a +crown on it, and a fiery tongue of flame.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Prince Arthur saw Giant Pride, he took his +mighty shield and flew at him fiercely; the Giant lifted +up his club to smite him, but the Prince leaped to one +side, and the weapon, missing him, buried itself with such +force in the ground, that the Giant could not quickly +pull it out again. Then with his sharp sword Prince +Arthur struck at the Giant, and wounded him severely.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa, seeing her companion’s danger, urged forward +her dragon to help him, but the brave squire sprang +<span class='pageno' id='Page_56' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_56">56</span>in between it and the Prince, and with his drawn sword +drove it back. Then the angry Duessa took a golden +cup, which she always carried, and which was full of a +secret poison. Those who drank of that cup either died, +or else felt despair seize them. She lightly sprinkled +the squire with the contents of this cup, and immediately +his courage faded away, and he was filled with +sudden dread. He fell down before the cruel dragon, +who seized him with its claws, and nearly crushed the +life out of him. He had no power nor will to stir.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Prince Arthur saw what had happened, he +left Giant Pride and turned against the dragon, for he +was deeply grieved to see his beloved squire in such peril. +He soon drove back the horrible creature, but now once +again the Giant rushed at him with his club. This time +the blow struck the Prince with such force, that it bore +him to the ground. In the fall, his shield, that had been +covered, lost by chance its veil, and flew open.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then through the air flashed such a blazing brightness, +that no eye could bear to look upon it. Giant +Pride let fall the weapon with which he was just going +to slay the Prince, and the dragon was struck blind, +and tumbled on the ground.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, help, Orgoglio, help, or we all perish!” cried +Duessa.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Gladly would Giant Pride have helped her, but all +was in vain; when that light shone he had no power +to hurt others, nor to defend himself; so Prince Arthur +soon killed him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he was dead, his great body, that had seemed +so big and strong, suddenly melted away, and nothing +<span class='pageno' id='Page_57' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_57">57</span>was left but what looked like the shrivelled skin of a +broken balloon; for, after all, there was no real substance +in him, but he was simply puffed out with emptiness +and conceit, and his grand appearance was nothing +but a sham.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So that was the end of Giant Pride.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When false Duessa saw the fall of Giant Pride she +flung down her golden cup, and threw aside her crown, +and fled away. But the squire followed, and soon took +her prisoner. Telling him to keep safe guard on her, +Prince Arthur boldly entered the Giant’s Castle. Not +a living creature could he spy; he called loudly, but +no one answered; a solemn silence reigned everywhere, +not a voice was to be heard, not a person seen, in +bower or hall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last an old, old man, with beard as white as +snow, came creeping along; he guided his feeble steps +with a staff, for long ago his sight had failed. On his +arm he bore a bunch of keys, all covered with rust. They +were the keys of all the doors inside the castle; they +were never used, but he still kept possession of them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was curious to see the way in which this old man +walked, for always, as he went forward, he kept his +wrinkled face turned back, as if he were trying to +look behind. He was the keeper of the place, and +the father of the dead Giant Pride; his name was +<i>Ignorance</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Prince Arthur, as was fitting, honoured his grey +hair and gravity, and gently asked him where all the +people were who used to live in that stately building. +The old man softly answered him that he could not +<span class='pageno' id='Page_58' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_58">58</span>tell. Again the Prince asked where was the Knight +whom the Giant had taken captive?</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cannot tell,” said the old man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the Prince asked which was the way into the +castle, and again he got the same answer, “I cannot +tell.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>At first he thought the man was mocking him, and +began to be much displeased. But presently, seeing +that the poor old thing could not help his foolishness, +he wisely calmed his anger. Going up to him he took +the keys from his arm, and made an entrance for himself. +He opened each door without the least difficulty; +there was no one to challenge him, nor any bars to +hinder his passage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Inside the castle he found the whole place fitted +up in the most splendid manner, decked with royal +tapestry, and shining with gold, fit for the presence of +the greatest prince. But all the floors were dirty, and +strewn with ashes, for it was here that the wicked +Giant Pride used to slay his unhappy victims.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Prince Arthur sought through every room, but +nowhere could he find the Red Cross Knight. At last +he came to an iron door, which was fast locked, but +he found no key among the bunch to open it. In the +door, however, there was a little grating, and through +this the Prince called as loudly as he could, to know +if there were any living person shut up there whom he +could set free.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then there came a hollow voice in answer. “Oh, +who is that who brings to me the happy choice of +death? Here I lie, dying every hour, yet still compelled +<span class='pageno' id='Page_59' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_59">59</span>to live, bound in horrible darkness. Three months +have come and gone since I beheld the light of day. +Oh, welcome, you who bring true tidings of death.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_087.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Whome when his Lady saw, to him she ran<br> With hasty joy: to see him made her glad,<br> And sad to view his visage pale and wan.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_61">61</span>When Prince Arthur heard these words his heart +was so filled with pity and horror at any noble knight +being thus shamefully treated, that, in his strength and +indignation, he rent open the iron door. But entering, +he found no floor; there was a deep descent, as dark +as a pit, from which came up a horrible deadly smell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Neither darkness, however, nor dirt, nor poisonous +smell could turn the Prince from his purpose, and he +went forward courageously. With great trouble and +difficulty he found means to raise the captive, whose +own limbs were too feeble to bear him, and then he +carried him out of the castle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>What a mournful picture was now the Red Cross +Knight! His dull, sunken eyes could not bear the +unaccustomed light of the sun; his cheeks were thin +and gaunt; his mighty arms, that had fought so often +and so bravely, were nothing now but bones; all his +strength was gone, and all his flesh shrunk up like a +withered flower.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Una saw Prince Arthur carrying the Red +Cross Knight out of the castle she ran to them joyfully; +it made her glad even to see the Knight, but +she was full of sorrow at the sight of his pale, wan +face, which had formerly been radiant with the glory +of youth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My dearest lord,” she cried, “what evil star has +frowned on you and changed you thus? But welcome +now, in weal or woe, my dear lord whom I have lost +<span class='pageno' id='Page_62' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_62">62</span>too long! Fate, who has been our foe so long, will +injure us no further, but shall pay penance with threefold +good for all these wrongs.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The unhappy man, dazed with misery, had no +desire to speak of his troubles; his long-endured +famine needed more relief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair lady,” then said the victorious Prince, +“things that were grievous to do or to bear it brings +no pleasure to recall. The only good that comes from +past danger is to make us wiser and more careful for +the future. This day’s example has deeply written this +lesson on my heart—perfect happiness can never be +lasting while we still live on earth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Henceforth, Sir Knight,” he continued, “take to +yourself your old strength, and master these mishaps +by patience. Look where your foe lies vanquished, +and the wicked woman, Duessa, the cause of all your +misery, stands in your power, to let her live or die.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To kill her would be to act unworthily,” said +Una, “and it would be a shame to avenge one’s self +on such a weak enemy. But take off her scarlet robe +and let her fly!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they did as Una bade them. They took from +Duessa all her finery—her royal robe, and purple cloak, +and all the rich ornaments with which she was decked. +And when this disguise was taken from her, they saw +her as she really was—old, and ugly, and bad. She +would no longer be able to deceive people by her pretended +goodness, and youth, and beauty, for every one +who saw her shrunk away in horror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Such,” said Una, “is the face of Falsehood when +<span class='pageno' id='Page_63' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_63">63</span>its borrowed light is laid aside, and all its deceitfulness +is made known.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus, having taken from Duessa her power to work +evil, they set her free to go where she pleased. She +fled to a barren wilderness, where she lurked unseen in +rocks and caves, for she always hated the light.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Prince Arthur, and the Red Cross Knight, and +fair Una stayed for awhile in the castle of Giant Pride, to +rest themselves and to recover their strength. And here +they found a goodly store of all that was dainty and rare.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Knight with the Hempen Rope</h3> + +<p class='c017'>When the two Knights and the Lady Una had +rested awhile in the castle of Giant Pride, they set out +again on their journey. Before they parted, Prince +Arthur and the Red Cross Knight gave each other +beautiful gifts—tokens of love and friendship. Prince +Arthur gave a box of adamant, embossed with gold, +and richly ornamented; in it were enclosed a few drops +of a precious liquid of wonderful power, which would +immediately heal any wound. In return the Red Cross +Knight gave the Prince a Bible, all written with golden +letters, rich and beautiful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus they parted, Prince Arthur to go about his +own work, and the Knight to fight the terrible Dragon +that was laying waste the kingdom that belonged to +Una’s father and mother. But she, seeing how thin +and ill her champion looked, and knowing that he was +still weak and weary, would not hasten forward, nor +<span class='pageno' id='Page_64' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_64">64</span>let him run the chance of any further fighting, until +he had recovered his former strength.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they travelled, they presently saw an armed +knight galloping towards them. It seemed as though +he were flying from a dreaded foe, or some other grisly +thing. As he fled, his eyes kept looking backwards as +if the object of his terror were pursuing him, and his +horse flew as if it had wings to its feet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he came nearer they saw that his head was +bare, his hair almost standing on end with fright, and +his face very pale. Round his neck was a hempen +rope, suiting ill with his glittering armour.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Red Cross Knight rode up to him, but could +scarcely prevail upon him to stop.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Sir Knight,” he said, “pray tell us who hath +arrayed you like this, and from whom you are flying, +for never saw I warrior in so unseemly a plight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The stranger seemed dazed with fear, and at first +answered nothing; but after the gentle Knight had +spoken to him several times, at last he replied with +faltering tongue, and trembling in every limb: “I +beseech you, Sir Knight, do not stop me, for lo! he +comes—he comes fast after me!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With that he again tried to run away, but the Red +Cross Knight prevented him, and tried to persuade him +to say what was the matter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Am I really safe from him who would have +forced me to die?” said the stranger. “May I tell +my luckless story?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fear nothing,” said the Knight; “no danger is +near now.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_65' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_65">65</span> +<img src='images/i_093.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>So as they traveíled, lo! they gan espy<br> An armed knight towards them gallop fast,<br> That seemed from some feared foe to fly,<br> Or other griesly thing that him aghast.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_67' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_67">67</span>Then the stranger told how he and another knight +had lately been companions. The name of his friend +was Sir Terwin. He was bold and brave, but because +everything did not go exactly as he wished, he was not +happy. One day when they were feeling very sad and +comfortless, they met a man whose name was <i>Despair</i>. +Greeting them in a friendly fashion, Despair soon contrived +to find out from them what they were feeling, +and then he went on to make the worst of everything. +He told them there was no hope that things would get +any better, and tried to persuade them to put an end +to all further trouble by killing themselves. To Sir +Terwin he lent a rusty knife, and to the other knight +a rope. Sir Terwin, who was really very unhappy, +killed himself at once; but Sir Trevisan, dismayed at +the sight, fled fast away, with the rope still round his +neck, half dead with fear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“May you never hear the tempting speeches of +Despair,” he ended.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“How could idle talking persuade a man to put +an end to his life?” said the Red Cross Knight. He +was ready to despise the danger, and he trusted in his +own strength to withstand it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“<i>I</i> know,” said the stranger, “for trial has lately +taught me; nor would I go through the like again for +the world’s wealth. His cunning, like sweetest honey, +drops into the heart, and all else is forgotten. Before +one knows it, all power is secretly stolen, and only +weakness remains. Oh, sir, do not wish ever to meet +with Despair.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly,” said the Red Cross Knight, “I shall +<span class='pageno' id='Page_68' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_68">68</span>never rest till I have heard what the traitor has to +say for himself. And, Sir Knight, I beg of you, as +a favour, to guide me to his cabin.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“To do you a favour, I will ride back with you +against my will,” said Sir Trevisan; “but not for gold, +nor for anything else will I remain with you when you +arrive at the place. I would rather die than see his +deadly face again.”</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>In the Cave of Despair</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Sir Trevisan and the Red Cross Knight soon came +to the place where Despair had his dwelling. It was +in a hollow cave, far underneath a craggy cliff, dark +and dreary. On the top always perched a melancholy +owl, shrieking his dismal note, which drove all cheerful +birds far away. All around were dead and withered +trees, on which no fruit nor leaf ever grew.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they arrived, Sir Trevisan would have fled +in terror, not daring to go near, but the Red Cross +Knight forced him to stay, and soothed his fears.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They entered the gloomy cave, where they found a +miserable man sitting on the ground, musing sullenly. +He had greasy, unkempt locks, and dull and hollow +eyes, and his cheeks were thin and shrunken, as if he +never got enough to eat. His garment was nothing +but rags, all patched, and pinned together with thorns. +At his side lay the dead body of Sir Terwin, just as +Sir Trevisan had told.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_69' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_69">69</span> +<img src='images/i_097.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Ere long they come where that same wicked wight<br> His dwelling has, low in a hollow cave,<br> For underneath a craggy cliff ypight,<br> Dark, doleful, dreary, like a greedy grave,<br> That still for carrion carcases doth crave.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When the Red Cross Knight saw this sad sight, all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_71' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_71">71</span>his courage blazed up in the desire to avenge him, and +he said to Despair, “Wretched man! you are the cause +of this man’s death. It is only just that you should +pay the price of his life with your own.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Why do you speak so rashly?” said Despair. +“Does not justice teach that he should die who does +not deserve to live? This man killed himself by his +own wish. Is it unjust to give to each man his due? +Or to let him die who hates to live longer? Or to +let him die in peace who lives here in trouble? If a +man travels by a weary, wandering way, and comes to +a great flood between him and his wished-for home, is +it not a gracious act to help him to pass over it? +Foolish man! would you not help him to gain rest, +who has long dwelt here in woe?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus spoke Despair, and he said many beautiful +and persuasive words concerning Death. And as the +Red Cross Knight listened, all his courage and all his +anger melted away, and it seemed to him that there +would be no sweeter thing in the whole world than to +lie down and be at rest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the good of living?” said Despair. “The +longer you live the more sins you commit. All those +great battles that you are so proud of winning, all this +strife and bloodshed and revenge, which are praised +now, hereafter you will be sorry for. Has not your +evil life lasted long enough? He that hath once missed +the right way, the farther he goes, the farther he goes +wrong. Go no farther, then—stray no farther. Lie +down here and take your rest. What has life to make +men love it so? Fear, sickness, age, loss, labour, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_72' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_72">72</span>sorrow, strife, pain, hunger, cold, and fickle fortune, +all these, and a thousand more ills make life to be +hated rather than loved. Wretched man! you indeed +have the greatest need of death if you will truly judge +your own conduct. Never did knight who dared warlike +deeds meet with more luckless adventures. Think +of the deep dungeon wherein you were lately shut up; +how often then did you wish for death! Though by +good luck you escaped from there, yet death would +prevent any further mischance into which you may +happen to fall.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Despair went on to speak to the Red Cross +Knight of all his sins. He pointed out the many +wrong things he had done, and said that he had been +so faithless and wicked that there was no hope for +him of any mercy or forgiveness. Rather than live +longer and add to his sins, it would be better for him +to die at once, and put an end to all.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knight was greatly moved by this speech, +which pierced his heart like a sword. Too well he +knew that it was all true. There came to his conscience +such a vivid memory of all his wrongdoings that all +his strength melted away, as if a spell had bewitched +him. When Despair saw him waver and grow weak, +and that his soul was deeply troubled, he tried all the +harder to drive him to utter misery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Think of all your sins,” he said. “God is very +angry with you. You are not worthy to live. It is only +just that you should die. Better kill yourself at once.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Despair went and fetched a dagger, sharp and +keen, and gave it to the Red Cross Knight. Trembling +<span class='pageno' id='Page_73' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_73">73</span>like an aspen-leaf, the Knight took it, and lifted up +his hand to slay himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Una saw this, she grew cold with horror, +but, starting forward, she snatched the knife from his +hand, and threw it to the ground, greatly enraged.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fie, fie, faint-hearted Knight!” she cried. “What +is the meaning of this shameful strife? Is <i>this</i> the battle +which you boasted you would fight with the horrible +fiery Dragon? Come, come away, feeble and faithless +man! Let no vain words deceive your manly heart, nor +wicked thoughts dismay your brave spirit. Have you +not a share in heavenly mercy? Why should you then +despair who have been chosen to fight the good fight? +If there is Justice, there is also Forgiveness, which +soothes the anguish of remorse and blots out the record +of sin. Arise, Sir Knight, arise and leave this evil place.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So up he rose, and straightway left the cave. When +Despair saw this, and that his guest would safely depart +in spite of all his beguiling words, he took a rope and +tried to hang himself. But though he had tried to +kill himself a thousand times, he could never do so, +until the last day comes when all evil things shall +perish for ever.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How the Red Cross Knight came to the House of Holiness</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The bravest man who boasts of bodily strength +may often find his moral courage fail in the hour of +temptation. If he gain the victory, let him not +<span class='pageno' id='Page_74' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_74">74</span>ascribe it to his own skill, but rather to the grace +of God.</p> + +<p class='c007'>From what had happened in the Cave of Despair, +Una saw that her Knight had grown faint and feeble; +his long imprisonment had wasted away all his strength, +and he was still quite unfit to fight. Therefore she +determined to bring him to a place where he might +refresh himself, and recover from his late sad plight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There was an ancient house not far away, renowned +through all the world for its goodness and holy learning, +so well was it guided and governed by a wise +matron. Her only joy was to comfort those in trouble +and to help the helpless poor. She was called Dame +Celia—the “Heavenly Lady”—and she had three +beautiful daughters, Fidelia (<i>Faith</i>), Speranza (<i>Hope</i>), +and Charissa (<i>Love</i>).</p> + +<p class='c007'>Arrived at the House of Holiness, they found the +door fast locked, for it was warily watched, night and +day, for fear of many foes. But when they knocked, +the porter straightway opened to them. He was an +aged man, with grey hair and slow footsteps; his name +was <i>Humility</i>. They passed in, stooping low, for the +way he showed them was strait and narrow, even as +all good things are hardest at the beginning. But +when they had entered they saw a spacious court, +very pleasant to walk in. Here they were met by a +frank, honest-looking man, called <i>Zeal</i>, who gladly +acted as their guide till they came to the hall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire of the household received them, and +made them welcome; his name was <i>Reverence</i>. He +was very gentle, modest, and sincere, always treating +<span class='pageno' id='Page_75' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_75">75</span>every one with the greatest kindness and courtesy, not +from any pretended politeness, but because of his own +good and sweet disposition.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He conducted them to the lady of the house, who +was busied as usual in some good works. Directly +Dame Celia saw Una, she knew who she was; her +heart filled with joy, and she put her arms round her +and kissed her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Oh, happy earth,” she cried, “whereon your +innocent feet still tread! What good fortune has +brought you this way, or did you wander here unknowingly? +It is strange to see a knight-errant in +this place, or any other man, for there are few who +choose the narrow path or seek the right.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Una replied that they had come to rest their weary +limbs, and to see the lady herself, whose fame and +praise had reached them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Dame Celia entertained them with every +courtesy she could think of, and nothing was lacking +to show her generosity and wisdom. Whilst they were +talking, two beautiful maidens came in; they were +Faith and Hope, the daughters of the lady. Faith +was arrayed all in lily-white, and her face shone like +the light of the sun; in one hand she held a book. +Her younger sister, Hope, was clad all in blue, and +carried a silver anchor; her face was not as cheerful +as Faith’s, but it was very noble and steadfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently a servant, called <i>Obedience</i>, came and +conducted the guests to their rooms, in order that they +might rest awhile. Afterwards Una asked Faith if she +would allow the Red Cross Knight to enter her schoolhouse, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_76' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_76">76</span>in order that he might share in her heavenly +learning, and hear the divine wisdom of her words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the Knight went to school to learn of Faith, +and many were the wondrous things she taught him. +Now he saw in its true light all the error of his +ways, and he began truly to repent of all his wrongdoings. +The thought of them was so bitter, that he +felt he was no longer worthy to live.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then came Hope with sweet comfort, and bade +him trust steadily and not lose heart. And Dame +Celia, seeing how unhappy he was, sent to him a +wonderful doctor, called <i>Patience</i>. Thanks to his +skill and wisdom, and to the careful nursing of his +attendant, <i>Repentance</i>, the Red Cross Knight presently +recovered, and grew well and strong again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After this Una took him one day to visit the third +daughter, whose name was Love. She was so wonderfully +beautiful and good that there were few on earth +to compare with her. They found her in the midst +of a group of happy children; she wore a yellow robe, +and sat in an ivory chair, and at her side were two +turtle-doves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Una besought Love to let the Red Cross Knight +learn of her whatever she could teach, and to this request +Love gladly agreed. Then she began to instruct +the Knight in all good things. She spoke to him of +love and righteousness, and how to do well, and bade +him shun all wrath and hatred, which are displeasing +to <span class='sc'>God</span>. And when she had well taught him this, she +went on to show him the path to heaven.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_77' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_77">77</span> +<img src='images/i_105.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>The Knight and Una entering fayre her greet,<br> And bid her joy of that her happy brood;<br> Who them requites with court’sies seeming meet,<br> And entertaynes with friendly cheerefull mood.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The better to guide his weak and wandering steps, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_79' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_79">79</span>she called an ancient matron, named <i>Mercy</i>, well +known for her gracious and tender ways. Into her +careful charge Love gave the Knight, to lead in the +right path, so that he should never fall in all his +journeying through the wide world, but come to the +end in safety.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Mercy, taking the Knight by the hand, led +him away by a narrow path; it was scattered with +bushy thorns and ragged briars, but these she always +cleared away before him, so that nothing might hinder +his ready passage. And whenever his footsteps were +cumbered, or began to falter and stray, she held him +fast, and bore him up, so that he never fell.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The City of the Great King</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Soon after leaving the House of Holiness, the Red +Cross Knight and his guide, Mercy, came to a hospital +by the wayside. Some bedesmen lived here, who had +vowed all their life to the service of the King of +Heaven, and who spent their days in doing good. +Their gates were always open to weary travellers, and +one of the brothers sat waiting to call in all poor and +needy passers-by. Each of the brothers had a separate +duty to perform. The first had to entertain travellers; +the second, to give food to the needy; the third, +clothing to those who had none; the fourth, to relieve +prisoners and to redeem captives; the fifth, to comfort +the sick and the dying; the sixth, to take charge of +those who were dead, and to deck them with dainty +<span class='pageno' id='Page_80' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_80">80</span>flowers; the seventh had to look after widows and +orphans. Mercy was a great friend of theirs, and +Love was the founder of their order.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They stayed at the hospital for some time, while +the Knight was taught all kinds of good works. He +was very quick at learning, and soon became so perfect +that no cause of blame or rebuke could be found +in him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leaving the hospital, he next came with his guide +to a steep and high hill, on the top of which was a +church, with a little hermitage close by. Here there +dwelt an old man, called <i>Contemplation</i>. He spent +all his days in prayer and meditation, never thinking +of worldly business, but only of God and goodness. +When he saw the travellers approaching, at first he felt +vexed, for he thought they would distract his thoughts +to earthly matters. But recognising Mercy, whom he +loved and respected, he greeted them civilly, and asked +why they had climbed that tedious height.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“For that same purpose which every living person +should make his aim—the wish to go to Heaven,” +replied Mercy. “Does not the path lead straight from +here to that most glorious place which shines with +ever-living light? The keys were given into your hands +by Faith, who requires that you show the lovely city +to this knight in accordance with his desire.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Contemplation took the Red Cross Knight, +and, after the latter had fasted awhile and prayed, he +led him to the highest part of the hill.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_81' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_81">81</span> +<img src='images/i_109.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>From thence, far off he unto him did shew<br> A little path that was both steepe and long,<br> Which to a goodly Citty led his vew,<br> Whose wals and towres were builded high and strong<br> Of perle and precious stone that earthly tong<br> Cannot describe, nor wit of man can tell.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>From there he showed him a little path, steep and +long, which led to a goodly city. The walls and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_83' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_83">83</span>towers were built very high and strong, of pearl and +precious stones, more beautiful than tongue can tell. +It was called “The City of the Great King,” and in it +dwelt eternal peace and happiness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the Knight stood gazing, he could see the +blessed angels descending to and fro, and walking in +the streets of the city, as friend walks with friend. At +this he much wondered, and he began to ask what was +the stately building that lifted its lofty towers so near +the starry sky, and what unknown nation dwelt there.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair Knight,” said his companion, “that is Jerusalem—the +New Jerusalem, which <span class='sc'>God</span> has built for +those to dwell in that are His chosen people, cleansed +from sinful guilt by <span class='sc'>Christ</span>, who died for the sins +of the whole world. Now they are saints together in +that city.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Until now,” said the Knight, “I thought that +the city of Queen Gloriana, whence I come, was the +fairest that might ever be seen. But now I know +otherwise, for that great city yonder far surpasses it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Most true,” said the holy man. “Yet for an +earthly place the kingdom of Queen Gloriana is the +fairest that eye can behold. And you, Sir Knight, +have done good service by aiding a desolate and +oppressed maiden. But when you have won a famous +victory, and high amongst all knights have hung your +shield, follow no more the pursuit of earthly conquest, +for bloodshed and war bring sin and sorrow. Seek +this path which I point out to you, for it will in the +end bring you to Heaven. Go peaceably on your +pilgrimage to the City of the Great King. A blessed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_84' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_84">84</span>end is ordained for you. Amongst the saints you +shall be a saint, the friend and patron of your own +nation. Saint George you shall be called—‘Saint +George for merry England, the sign of Victory.’”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“O holy Sire!” said the Knight, “how can I requite +you for all that you have done for me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>His eyes were dazzled by the brightness of the +glory at which he had been gazing, so that he could +scarcely see the ground by which to return; so dark +are earthly things compared with divine.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thanking and rewarding the good man for all his +trouble, the Red Cross Knight returned to Una, who +was anxiously awaiting him. She received him with +joy, and after he had rested a little, she bade him be +mindful of the task still before him. So they took +leave of Dame Celia and her three daughters, and once +more set out on their journey.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Last Fight</h3> + +<p class='c017'>At last Una and the Knight came to Una’s kingdom, +where her parents were held captive, and all the +land lay wasted by the terrible dragon. As they drew +near their journey’s end, Una began to cheer her companion +with brave words.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear Knight,” she said, “who for my sake have +suffered all these sorrows, may Heaven reward you for +your weary toil! Now we have come to my own +country, and the place where all our perils dwell. +This is the haunt of the horrible monster, therefore +<span class='pageno' id='Page_85' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_85">85</span>be well on your guard and ready for the foe. Call +up all your courage, and do better than you have ever +done before, so that hereafter you shall be renowned +above all knights on earth.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this moment they heard a hideous roaring sound, +which filled the air, and almost shook the solid ground. +Soon they saw the dreadful dragon where he lay stretched +on the sunny side of a great hill. Directly he caught +sight of the glittering armour of the Knight, he quickly +roused himself, and hastened towards them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Red Cross Knight bade Una go to a hill at +some distance, from where she might behold the +battle and be safe from danger. She had scarcely done +so when the huge beast drew near, half flying, and half +running in his haste.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He was a dreadful creature to look at, very big, +covered with brazen scales like a coat of steel, which +he clashed loudly as he came. He had two immense +wings with which he could fly, and at the point of his +great, knotted tail were two stings, sharper than the +sharpest steel. Worse even than these, however, were +his cruel claws, which tore to pieces everything that +came within their clutches. He had three rows of +iron teeth, and his eyes, blazing with wrath, sparkled +like living fire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Such was the terrible monster with whom the Red +Cross Knight had now to do battle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All day they fought; and when evening came, the +Knight was quite worn out and almost defeated. As +it chanced, however, close by was a spring, the waters +of which possessed a wonderful gift of healing. The +<span class='pageno' id='Page_86' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_86">86</span>Knight was driven backwards and fell into this well. +The dragon clapped his wings in triumph, for he +thought he had gained the victory. But so great was +the power of the water in this well that although the +Knight’s own strength was utterly exhausted, yet he rose +out of it refreshed and vigorous. The dawn of the next +day found him stronger than ever, and ready for battle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the spring was called the Well of Life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All through the second day the battle lasted, and +again, when evening came, the Knight was almost defeated. +But this night he rested under a beautiful +tree laden with goodly fruit; the name of the tree was +the Tree of Life. From it flowed, as from a well, a +trickling stream of balm, a perfect cure for all ills, and +whoever ate of its fruit attained to everlasting life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The strength of the Red Cross Knight alone would +never have been sufficient to overcome the terrible +Dragon of Sin, but the water of the Well of Life, and +the balm from the Tree of Life, gave him a power +that nothing could resist.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On the morning of the third day he slew the dragon.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>“Ease after War”</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The sun had scarcely risen on the third day, when +the watchman on the walls of the brazen tower saw +the death of the dragon. He hastily called to the +captive King and Queen, who, coming forth, ordered +the tidings of peace and joy to be proclaimed through +the whole land.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_87' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_87">87</span> +<img src='images/i_115.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>And to the Knight his daughter deare he tyde<br> With sacred rites and vowes for ever to abyde.<br> * * * * *<br> His owne two hands the holy knotts did knitt,<br> That none but death for ever can divide.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_89' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_89">89</span>Then all the trumpets sounded for victory, and +the people came flocking as to a great feast, rejoicing +at the fall of the cruel enemy, from whose bondage +they were now free.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Forth from the castle came the King and Queen, +attended by a noble company. In front marched a +goodly band of brave young men, all able to wield +arms, but who now bore laurel branches in sign of +victory and peace. These they threw at the feet of +the Red Cross Knight, and hailed him conqueror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then came beautiful maidens with garlands of +flowers and timbrels; troops of merry children ran in +front, dancing and singing to the sound of sweet music. +When they reached the spot where Una stood, they +bowed before her, and crowned her with a garland, so +that she looked—as indeed she was—a queen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The King gave goodly gifts of gold and ivory to +his brave champion, and thanked him a thousand times +for all that he had done. Then the Red Cross Knight +and Una were brought in triumph to the palace; the +trumpets and the clarions sounded, and all the people +sang for joy, and strewed their garments in the way. +At the palace everything was splendid and beautiful, as +befitted a prince’s court, and here a great feast was held.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The King and Queen made their guest tell them +all the strange adventures and perils that had befallen +him. They listened with much interest and pity to +his story. Then said the King:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear son, great are the evils which you have +borne, so that I know not whether most to praise or +to pity you. Never has living man passed through a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_90' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_90">90</span>sea of more deadly dangers. But since you have +arrived safely at the shore, now let us think of ease +and everlasting rest.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! dearest sovereign,” replied the brave Knight, +“I may not yet think of ease or rest. For by the +vow which I made when I first took up arms, I plighted +myself to return to Queen Gloriana, and to serve her +in warlike ways for six years.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The King, when he heard this, was very sorry, but +he knew that the vow must be kept.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As soon as the six years are over,” said he, “you +shall return here and marry my daughter, the Lady +Una. I proclaimed through the world that whoever +killed the dragon should have my only daughter to be +his wife, and should be made heir of my kingdom. +Since you have won the reward by noble chivalry, lo! +here I yield to you my daughter and my kingdom.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Una stepped forward, radiant as the morning +star and fair as the flowers in May. She wore a garment +of lily-white, that looked as if it were woven of +silk and silver. The blazing brightness of her beauty +and the glorious light of her sunshiny face can scarcely +be told. Even her dear Knight, who had been with +her every day, wondered at the sight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the Red Cross Knight and Una were betrothed. +Every one, young and old, rejoiced, and a solemn feast +was held through all the land. Now, indeed, the +Knight thought himself happy. Whenever his eye +beheld Una, his heart melted with joy; no wickedness +nor envy could ever again harm their love.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Yet even in the midst of his happiness he remembered +<span class='pageno' id='Page_91' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_91">91</span>the vow he had made to return to Queen +Gloriana. His work was not yet done, and at last the +day came when he had to leave Una, and set forth +again on his travels.</p> + +<p class='c007'>We know, however, that whatever new perils lay +before him, he would be able to overcome them all +by the help of his heavenly armour, and that in the +end he would be restored to Una, to dwell happily +with her for ever.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_92' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_92">92</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_120.jpg' alt='Knight in armor standing next to a seated monk.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>“The Good Sir Guyon”</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c006'>Sir Guyon meets the Magician</p> + +<p class='c007'>Archimago, the wicked magician, who had +worked such mischief to Una and the Red +Cross Knight, was very angry when he found that in +the end all his evil wiles were defeated, and that the +Knight and the lady were happily betrothed. He +would willingly have brought more trouble on them, +but he was powerless to do any harm to Una, for she +was now safely restored to her own kingdom, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_93' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_93">93</span>living in the care of her father and mother. He +therefore directed all his spite against the Knight, who +had once more to set forth on his adventures, as he +had promised Queen Gloriana to serve her faithfully +for six years. At the end of that time he hoped to +return and marry Una, and the King, her father, had +made him heir to the throne.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_121.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Upon the way him fortuned to meete,<br> Faire marching underneath a shadie hill,<br> A goodly Knight, all armed in harnesse meete.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_95">95</span>Archimago, whose other name you may remember +was <i>Hypocrisy</i>, set all his wits to work to see what +harm he could do the Knight, for he knew that, after +all the troubles he had fallen into, he would be more +than usually careful. He kept laying snares for him, +and placed spies wherever he went, but the Knight had +now become so wise and wary that he always found +out and shunned the danger. Archimago, however, +still kept on hoping he should find some way to hurt +him, and at last his opportunity came.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It happened, one day, that the enchanter saw marching +to meet him a noble knight. The stranger was +clad in shining armour and rode a splendid war-horse; +his bearing was very stately, and his face, although +calm and beautiful, was so stern and noble that all his +friends loved him and his foes feared him. He was +one of the chief knights of Queen Gloriana’s court, a +man of great honour and power in his native land. +His name was Sir Guyon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the Red Cross Knight was known as the +Champion of <i>Holiness</i>, so Sir Guyon was known as +the Knight of <i>Temperance</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>With him now there was an aged palmer or pilgrim, +clad in black; his hair was grey and he leant on a staff. +To judge by his look he was a wise and grave old +<span class='pageno' id='Page_96' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_96">96</span>man, and he seemed to be acting as guide to the +Knight, who carefully checked his prancing horse to +keep pace with his slow footsteps.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the black palmer was <i>Conscience</i>, and +he went with Sir Guyon as his companion and adviser, +somewhat in the same fashion as <i>Prudence</i> had gone +as servant with the Red Cross Knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Archimago saw Sir Guyon, he immediately +stopped him, just as on a former occasion he had +stopped the Red Cross Knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This time he had a fresh story to tell, which, of course, +was perfectly false. He implored Sir Guyon to come +to the help of a beautiful maiden, cruelly ill-treated by +a rough knight, who had cut off her golden locks, +and threatened to kill her with his sharp sword.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What!” cried Sir Guyon, his gentle nature roused +to indignation, “is the man still alive who could do +such a deed?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is alive, and boasts of it,” said wicked +Hypocrisy. “Nor has any other knight yet punished +him for it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Take me to him at once,” said Sir Guyon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That I can easily do,” said Archimago. “I will +show you where he is,” and he hurried off in high glee, +because he thought that at last he had found a way of +revenging himself on the Red Cross Knight.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Friend or Foe?</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Archimago and Sir Guyon came presently to a place +where a beautiful lady sat alone, with torn clothes and +ruffled hair; she was weeping bitterly and wringing her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_97' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_97">97</span>hands, and when Sir Guyon asked her the cause of her +grief, she said it was because she had been most cruelly +treated by a rough knight.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_125.jpg' alt='A weeping woman seated on the ground while a knight and a man approach.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>This lady who seemed so good and gentle was, in +reality, no other than Duessa (or <i>Falsehood</i>), who had +formerly led the Red Cross Knight into such trouble. +Her old companion, Archimago, had found her wandering +forlorn in the desert whither she had been banished +<span class='pageno' id='Page_98' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_98">98</span>by Prince Arthur, and had again decked her out in fine +clothes and ornaments, so that she might help him in +his wicked schemes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her cunning quite deceived Sir Guyon, who believed +everything she told him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Be comforted, fair lady,” he said, “and tell me +who did this, so that I can punish him at once.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not know his name,” she replied, “but he +rode a dappled grey steed, and on his silver shield +there was a red cross.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon heard this he was amazed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I cannot think how that knight could have done +such a deed,” he said, “for I can say boldly he is a +right good knight. I was present when he first took +arms and started out to help the Lady Una, since when +he has won great glory, as I have heard tell. Nevertheless, +he shall be made to explain this, and if he +cannot clear himself of all blame, be sure he shall be +well punished.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Duessa was greatly pleased when she heard this, for +now she hoped there would be a quarrel between the +two knights.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Archimago then led Sir Guyon by an unknown way +through woods and across mountains, till they came at +last to a pleasant dale which lay between two hills. A +little river ran through this valley, and by it sat a knight +with his helmet unlaced, refreshing himself with the +cool water after his long journey and hard work.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yonder is the man!” cried Archimago. “He +has come here thinking to hide himself, but in vain, +for you will soon make him repent of his cruelty. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_99' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_99">99</span>All success to you! We will stay here, and watch +from a distance.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Archimago and Duessa left Sir Guyon, who immediately +rushed forward to the attack. The stranger, +seeing a knight hurrying so fiercely towards him, seized +his own weapons, prepared for battle, and sprang to +meet him. The two had almost met when Sir Guyon +suddenly lowered his spear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mercy, Sir Knight! Mercy!” he cried. “Pardon +my rashness, that had almost led me to disgrace my +honour by raising my weapon against the sacred badge +on your shield.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Red Cross Knight, for he indeed it was, +heard the other’s voice, he knew him at once.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah! dear Sir Guyon,” he said, bowing courteously, +“it is I rather who should be blamed. In my +reckless haste I almost did violence to the image of +Queen Gloriana which I now see inscribed on your +shield. The fault is mine!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the two knights made friends, and talked very +happily together, and Sir Guyon explained how he +had been cheated by Archimago and Duessa, who had +both now fled away. Then up came Guyon’s guide, +Conscience, and as soon as his eye fell on the Red +Cross Knight, he knew him, for he had seen him at +the court of Queen Gloriana.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Joy be with you, and everlasting fame, for the +great deeds you have done!” he cried. “Your glorious +name is enrolled in the heavenly register, where you have +won a seat among the saints. But we luckless mortals +are only now beginning to run the race in which you +<span class='pageno' id='Page_100' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_100">100</span>have gained such renown.” Then to his master he said, +“God grant you, Guyon, to end your work well, and +bring your weary bark safely to the wished-for haven.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Palmer,” said the Red Cross Knight, “give the +praise to <span class='sc'>God</span>, to whom all honour is due, and who +made my hand the organ of His might. Attribute +nothing to me except a willing heart; for all that I did, +I only did as I ought. But as for you, fair sir, whose +turn it is now,” he added to Guyon, “may you prosper +as well as you can wish, and may we hear thrice happy +tidings of you; for you are indeed worthy, both in +courage and gentle manners.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the two Knights took leave of each other +with much courtesy and goodwill. Sir Guyon went +forward on his journey, still guided by the Black +Palmer, who led him over hill and dale, pointing out +the way with his staff, and by his wise judgment guarding +his master from all dangers into which his own +hasty nature might have made him fall.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Story of the Knight and the Lady</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After leaving the Red Cross Knight, Guyon and +the Black Palmer (or <i>Conscience</i>) travelled for some +distance, fighting and winning many battles as they +went, which brought much honour to the Knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the chief adventure in Sir Guyon’s life began +in this way:</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day, passing through a forest, they heard +sounds of bitter weeping and lamentation.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_101' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_101">101</span>“If I cannot be revenged for all my misery,” cried +a voice, “at least nothing can prevent my dying. +Come then, come soon, come, sweetest death! But, +thou, my babe, who hast seen thy father’s fall, long +mayest thou live, and thrive better than thy unhappy +parents. Live to bear witness that thy mother died +for no fault of her own.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon heard these piteous words, he +dismounted, and rushed into the thicket, where he +found a beautiful lady dying on the ground. In her +arms there was a lovely baby, and the dead body of an +armed knight lay close beside them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Horrified at the sight, Sir Guyon did all he could +to restore the lady to life, but she begged him to +leave her alone to die in peace; her sorrows, she said, +were more than she could bear, and therefore she had +tried to kill herself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Dear lady,” said Sir Guyon, “all that I wish is +to comfort you, and to bring you some relief, therefore +tell me the cause of your misfortune.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Listen, then,” she answered. “This dead man, +the gentlest, bravest knight that ever lived, was my +husband, the good Sir Mordant. One day he rode +forth, as is the custom of knights, to seek adventures, +and it chanced most unhappily he came to the place +where the wicked Acrasia lives—Acrasia, the false +enchantress, who has brought ruin on so many knights. +Her dwelling is within a wandering island, in Perilous +Gulf. Fair sir, if ever you travel there, shun the +hateful place! I will tell you the name—it is called +the <i>Bower of Bliss</i>. Acrasia’s one aim in life is +<span class='pageno' id='Page_102' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_102">102</span><i>Pleasure</i>. In the Bower of Bliss nothing is thought +of but eating and drinking, and every kind of luxury +and extravagance. All those who come within it forget +everything good and noble, and care for nothing +but to amuse themselves. When my dear knight +never returned to me, I set forth in search of him, +and here I found him, a captive to the spells of Acrasia. +At first he did not even know me; but by-and-by, +with great care, I brought him back to a better state of +mind, and persuaded him to leave the Bower of Bliss. +But the wicked enchantress, angry at losing one of her +victims, gave him a parting cup of poison, and stooping +to drink at this well, he suddenly fell dead. When +I saw this——” Here the lady’s own words failed, +and, lying down as if to sleep, quiet death put an end +to all her sorrow.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon felt such grief at what had happened +that he could scarcely keep from weeping. Turning +to the Palmer, he said: “Behold here this image +of human life, when raging passion like a fierce +tyrant robs reason of its proper sway. The strong +it weakens, and the weak it fills with fury; the +strong (like this Knight) fall soonest through excess of +pleasure; the weak (like this Lady) through excess of +grief. But Temperance with a golden rule can measure +out a medium between the two, neither to be overcome +by pleasure, nor to give way to despair. Thrice happy +man who can tread evenly between them! But, since +this wretched lady did wrong through grief, and not +from wickedness, it is not for us to judge her. Let +us give her an honourable burial. Death comes to all, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_103' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_103">103</span>the good and the bad alike, +and, after death, each must answer +for his own deeds. But both alike should have a +fitting burial.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_131.jpg' alt='Knight standing near a woman and a knight lying dead on the ground, with an old man sitting nearby.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>So Sir Guyon and the Black Palmer dug a grave +under the cypress-trees, and here they tenderly placed +the dead bodies of the Knight and the Lady, and bade +them sleep in everlasting peace. And before they left +the spot, Sir Guyon swore a solemn vow that he would +avenge the hapless little orphan child for the death of +his parents.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_104' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_104">104</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Three Sisters</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>After the burial of the Knight and the Lady, Sir +Guyon gave the little baby into the care of the Palmer, +and, lading himself with the heavy armour of the dead +Sir Mordant, the two started again on their journey. +But when they came to the place where Sir Guyon +had left his steed, with its golden saddle and costly +trappings, they found, to their surprise and vexation, +that it had quite disappeared. They were obliged, +therefore, to go forward on foot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By-and-by they came to a famous old Castle, built +on a rock near the sea. In this castle lived three +sisters, who were so different in character that they +could never agree. The eldest and the youngest were +always quarrelling, and they were both as disagreeable +as possible to the middle sister. Elissa, the eldest, was +very harsh and stern; she always looked discontented, +and she despised every kind of pleasure or merriment. +It was useless ever to attempt to make her smile; she +was always frowning and scolding in a way not at all +becoming to any gentle lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Perissa, the youngest sister, was just as bad in the +other direction; she cared for nothing but amusement, +and was so full of laughter and play that she forgot all +rules of right and reason, and became quite thoughtless +and silly. She spent all her time in eating, and drinking, +and dressing herself up in fine clothes.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_105' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_105">105</span> +<img src='images/i_133.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“... <span class='blackletter'>At last they to a Castle came,<br> Built on a rocke adjoyning to the seas.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>These two sisters showed the evil of two extremes; +but the middle sister, Medina, or “<i>Golden Mean</i>,” as +<span class='pageno' id='Page_107' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_107">107</span>she was sometimes called, was the type of moderation, +and all that was right and proper. She was sweet, +and gracious, and womanly; not harsh and stern, like +Elissa, nor yet heedless and silly, like Perissa. She +dressed richly, but quietly, and her clothes suited her +well: they were different alike from Elissa’s stinginess +and Perissa’s extravagance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Medina saw Sir Guyon approaching the +castle, she met him on the threshold, and led him in +like an honoured guest. But her sisters were very +angry when they heard of his arrival. There were two +other visitors at the castle just then, and they also +were very angry. Sir Hudibras was a friend of the +eldest sister. He was very savage and sullen, slow-witted, +but big and strong. Sans-loy, or <i>Lawless</i>, was +the friend of the youngest sister. He was the same +Lawless who had been so cruel to poor Una, and he +was just as bold and unruly now as he had been then, +and he never cared what wrong he did to any one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>These two hated each other, and were always +quarrelling, but when they heard of the coming of +the stranger knight, they both flew to attack him. +On the way, however, they began fighting with each +other, and, hearing the noise, Sir Guyon ran to try to +stop them, whereupon they both turned upon him. +The two sisters stood by, and encouraged them to go +on fighting; but Medina ran in amongst them, and +entreated them to stop. Her gentle words at last appeased +their anger, and they laid down their weapons, +and consented to make friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Medina invited them all to a feast, which +<span class='pageno' id='Page_108' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_108">108</span>she had prepared in honour of Sir Guyon. Elissa and +Perissa came very unwillingly, though they attempted +to hide their grudging and envy under a pretence of +cheerfulness. One sister thought the entertainment +provided far too much, and the other sister thought +it far too little. Elissa would scarcely speak or eat +anything, while Perissa chattered and ate far more +than was right or proper.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After the feast, Medina begged Sir Guyon to tell +them the story of his adventures, and to say on what +quest he was now bound.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Guyon told them all about the court of +the Faerie Queene, Gloriana, and how he had sworn +service to her, and promised to go out into the world +to fight every kind of evil. The task he had now in +hand was to find out the wicked enchantress, Acrasia, +and to destroy her dwelling, for she had done more +bad deeds than could be told, and, among them, had +brought about the deaths of the father and mother of +the poor little baby he had taken under his care.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By the time Sir Guyon’s tale was finished the night +was far spent, and all the guests in the castle betook +themselves to rest.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Braggadochio</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As soon as it was dawn, Sir Guyon arose, and, +mindful of his appointed work, armed himself again +for the journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The little baby whom he had rescued he entrusted +<span class='pageno' id='Page_109' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_109">109</span>to the tender care of Medina, entreating her to train +him up as befitted his noble birth. Then, since his +good steed had been stolen from him, he and the +Palmer fared forward on foot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It will be remembered that when Sir Guyon heard +the cries for help of the Lady Amavia, he dismounted, +and ran into the thicket, leaving his horse outside. +While he was absent, there wandered that way an idle, +worthless fellow, called Braggadochio. This was a man +who never did anything great or good, but who was +extremely vain and boastful, and always trying to make +out that he was somebody grand. When he saw the +beautiful horse with its golden saddle and rich trappings, +and Sir Guyon’s spear, he immediately took possession +of them, and hurried away. He was so puffed up with +self-conceit that he felt now as if he were really some +noble knight, and he hoped that every one else would +think the same of him. He determined to go first to +court, where he thought such a gallant show would at +once attract notice and gain him favour.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Braggadochio had never been trained in chivalry; +he rode very badly, and could not manage Sir Guyon’s +splendid high-spirited horse in the least. He managed, +however, to stick on somehow, and presently, seeing a +man sitting on a bank by the roadside, and wishing to +show off, he rode at him, pretending to aim at him with +his spear. The silly fellow fell flat down with fear, +crying out for mercy. Braggadochio was very proud +and delighted at this, and shouted at him in a loud +voice, “Die, or yield thyself my captive!” The man +was so terrified that he promised at once to become +<span class='pageno' id='Page_110' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_110">110</span>Braggadochio’s servant. So the two went on together. +They were excellently well suited, for both were vain, +and false, and cowardly, while Braggadochio tried to get +his own way by bluster, and his companion by cunning.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_138.jpg' alt='A horseman holding a long spear rides past a man lying on the ground.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Trompart (or <i>Deceit</i>), for that was the man’s name, +speedily discovered the folly of his master. He was +very wily-witted and well accustomed to every form of +cunning trickery, and, to suit his own purpose, he +flattered up Braggadochio, and did all he could to +encourage his idle vanity.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_111' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_111">111</span>Presently, as the two went along, they met the +wicked magician, Archimago (or <i>Hypocrisy</i>), who was +now just as angry with Sir Guyon as he had been before +with the Red Cross Knight. When he saw Braggadochio, +he thought he had found a good opportunity +to be revenged on both the knights, and, going up to +him, he asked if he would be willing to fight them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Braggadochio immediately pretended to fall into a +great rage against them, and said he would slay them +both. Then Archimago, seeing that he had no sword, +warned him that he must arm himself with the very +best weapons, for they were two of the mightiest warriors +living.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Silly old man!” said Braggadochio boastfully. +“Stop giving advice. Isn’t one brave man enough, +without sword or shield, to make an army quail? You +little know what this right hand can do. Once, when +I killed seven knights with one sword, I swore thenceforward +never to wear a sword in battle again, unless it +could be the one that the noblest knight on earth wears.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Good!” said the magician quickly; “that sword +you shall have very shortly. For now the best and +noblest knight alive is Prince Arthur, who lives in the +land of the Faerie Queene. He has a sword that is like +a flaming brand. I will undertake that, by my devices, +this sword is found to-morrow at your side.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>At these words the boaster began to quake, for he +could not think who it was that spoke like this. Then +Archimago suddenly vanished, for the north wind, at +his command, carried him away, lifting him high into +the air.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_112' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_112">112</span>Braggadochio and Deceit looked all about, but could +find no trace of him. Nearly dead with fright, they +both fled, never turning to look round till, at last, they +came to a green forest where they hid themselves. Even +here fear followed them, and every trembling leaf and +rustle of the wind made their hair stand on end.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Fury’s Captive</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As Sir Guyon and his guide, the Black Palmer, +went on their way, they presently saw at some distance +what seemed to be a great uproar and commotion. +Hurrying near, they found a big savage man dragging +along and beating a handsome youth. An ugly old +woman followed them, shouting and railing, and +urging the man not to let go the youth, but to treat +him worse and worse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the bad man was <i>Fury</i>; the old +woman was his mother, and was called <i>Occasion</i>. The +youth was a young squire, named Phaon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Fury had Phaon completely in his power, but in +his blind and senseless rage he scarcely knew what he +was about, and spent half his force in vain. He often +struck wide of the mark, and frequently hurt himself +unawares, like a bull rushing at random, not knowing +where he hits and not caring whom he hurts.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_113' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_113">113</span> +<img src='images/i_141.jpg' alt='A man attacking and holding another person by the collar while a woman points and shouts, with a knight and another figure watching in the distance.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>A mad man, or that feigned mad to bee,<br> Drew by the haire along upon the grownd<br> A handsom stripling with great crueltee,<br> Whom sore he bett.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon saw the sad plight of the young +squire, he ran to help him; but Fury grappled with +the Knight and flung him to the ground. Sir Guyon +sprang to his feet, and drew his sword, but, seeing this, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_115' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_115">115</span>the Palmer cried, “Not so, O Guyon; never think the +monster can be mastered or destroyed in that fashion. +He is not a foe to be wounded by steel or overthrown +by strength. This cruel wretch is Fury, who works +much woe and shame to knighthood. That old hag, his +mother, is the cause of all his wrath and spite. Whoever +will conquer Fury, must first get hold of Occasion and +master her. When she is got rid of, or strongly withstood, +Fury himself is easily managed. But she is very +difficult to catch, for her hair hangs so thickly over her +eyes, it is often impossible to know her, and when she +has once slipped past, you can never overtake her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon heard this, he left Fury and went +to catch Occasion. All happened as the Palmer said. +Directly the wicked old woman was captured, and her +angry tongue silenced, her son turned to fly. Sir Guyon +followed, and soon made him prisoner; but even when +bound in iron chains, Fury kept grinding and gnashing +his teeth, shaking his copper-coloured locks, and +threatening revenge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Guyon turned to the young squire, and +asked him how he had fallen into the power of such a +wretch.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Phaon said all his misfortunes arose from his giving +way to wrath and jealousy. He had a dear friend, about +whom malicious stories were told, and without waiting +to find out whether or not they were true, he killed +this friend in sudden anger. When he discovered that +he had been misled, and that his friend was innocent, +he was filled with grief, and swore to be revenged on +the two people who had deceived him. To one he gave +<span class='pageno' id='Page_116' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_116">116</span>a deadly draught of poison, and the other he was +pursuing with a drawn sword, when he himself was +overtaken by Fury, who completely mastered him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As long as I live,” he ended, “I shall never get +over the agony caused me by Grief and Fury.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Squire,” said Sir Guyon, “you have suffered much, +but all your ills may be softened if you do not give +way to such violence.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then said the Palmer, “Wretched is the man who +never learns to govern his passions. At first they are +feeble and can be easily managed, but through lack of +control they lead to fearful results. Fight against them +while they are young, for when they get strong they +do their best to overcome all the good in you. Ungoverned +wrath, jealousy, and grief have been the cause +of this squire’s downfall.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Unlucky Phaon,” said Sir Guyon; “since you +have fallen into trouble through your hot, impatient +disposition, henceforth take heed, and govern your ways +carefully, <a id='t116'></a>lest a worse evil come upon you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>While Sir Guyon spoke, they saw far off a man +running towards them, whose flying feet went so fast +that he was almost hidden in a cloud of dust.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Anger of Fire</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The man soon reached Sir Guyon and the Palmer, +hot, panting, and breathless. He was a bold-looking +fellow, not in the least abashed by Sir Guyon, but +casting scornful glances at him.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_117">117</span>Behind his back he bore a brazen shield, which +looked as if it belonged to some famous knight. On it +was drawn the picture of a flaming fire, round which were +the words “<i>Burnt, I do burn.</i>” In his hand the man +carried two sharp and slender darts, tipped with poison.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he came near, he said boldly to Guyon, “Sir +Knight—if you be a knight—I advise you to leave this +place at once, in case of further harm. If you choose +to stay, you do so at your own peril!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon wondered at the fellow’s boldness, though +he scorned his idle vanity. He asked him mildly why +any harm should come to him if he remained.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Because,” replied the man, “there is now coming, +and close at hand, a knight of wondrous power, who +never yet met an enemy without doing him deadly +harm, or frightening him dreadfully. You need not +hope for any better fate, if you choose to stay.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is his name?” said Sir Guyon, “and where +does he come from?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“His name is Pyrocles, which means <i>the Anger of +Fire</i>,” was the answer, “and he is called so from his +hot and cruel temper. He is the brother of Cymocles, +which means <i>the Anger of the Sea-Waves</i>, for Cymocles +is wild and revengeful. They are the sons of <i>Malice</i> +and <i>Intemperance</i>. I am <i>Strife</i>, the servant of Pyrocles, +and I find work for him to do and stir him up to mischief. +Fly, therefore, from this dreadful place, or your +foolhardiness may bring you into danger.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Never mind about that,” said Sir Guyon, “but +tell me whither you are now bound. For it must be +some great reason that makes you in such a hurry.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_118' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_118">118</span>“My master has sent me to seek out Occasion,” said +Strife. “He is furious to fight, and woe betide the +man who first falls in his way.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You must be mad,” said the Palmer, “to seek +out Occasion and cause for strife. She comes unsought, +and follows even when shunned. Happy the man who +can keep away from her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Look,” said Sir Guyon, “yonder she sits, bound. +Take that message to your master.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this Strife grew very angry, and seizing one of +his darts, he hurled it at Sir Guyon. The Knight +caught it on his shield, whereupon Strife fled away, +and was soon lost to sight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Not long after, Sir Guyon saw a fierce-looking +knight riding swiftly towards him. His armour +sparkled like fire, and his horse was bright red, and +champed and chafed at his bit as his master spurred +him roughly forward. This was Pyrocles.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Not waiting to speak, he furiously attacked Sir +Guyon, but after a sharp battle he was utterly defeated, +and obliged to beg for mercy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This Sir Guyon courteously granted, and asked the +reason why Pyrocles had attacked him so fiercely.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The knight replied it was because he heard that +Sir Guyon had taken captive a poor old woman, and +chained her up. He demanded that she and her son +Fury should be set free.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And is that all that has so sorely displeased you?” +said Sir Guyon, smiling. “There they are; I hand +them over to you.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_119' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_119">119</span> +<img src='images/i_147.jpg' alt='A man holding spears and pointing while a knight stands and another figure sits nearby.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>He boldly spake, ‘Sir Knight, if knight thou bee,<br> Abandon this forestalled place at erst,<br> For fear of further harme, I counsell thee,<br> Or bide the chaunce at thine owne jeopardie.’</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Pyrocles, delighted, rushed to set free the captives, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_121' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_121">121</span>but they were scarcely untied before their rage and +spite burst forth with double fury. They did everything +they could to make Pyrocles and Sir Guyon fight +again. They not only railed against Sir Guyon for +being the conqueror, but also against Pyrocles for allowing +himself to be conquered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon stood apart and refused to be drawn +into the quarrel; but Pyrocles could not help getting +enraged, and he and Fury were soon in the midst of a +terrible fight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Seeing that Pyrocles was getting the worst of it, +Sir Guyon would have gone to his help, but the Palmer +held him back, and refused to let him interfere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No,” he said firmly, “it is idle for you to pity +him. He has brought this trouble upon himself by +his own folly and wilfulness, and he must now bear +the punishment.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So, as there was nothing more to be done, Sir Guyon +and the Palmer started again on their journey.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Idle Lake</h3> + +<p class='c017'>In the course of their journey, Sir Guyon and the +Palmer came at last to the shores of a great lake. The +water of this lake was thick and sluggish, unmoved by +any wind or tide. In the midst of it floated an island, +a lovely plot of fertile land, set like a little nest among +the wide waves. The island was full of dainty herbs +and flowers, beautiful trees with spreading branches, +and with birds singing sweetly on every branch. But +<span class='pageno' id='Page_122' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_122">122</span>everything there—the flowers, the trees, and the singing +birds—only served to tempt weak-minded people +to be slothful and lazy. Lying on the soft grass in +some shady dell, they forgot there was any such thing +as work or duty, and cared for nothing but to sleep +away the time in idle dreams.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Up to the present, Sir Guyon had only had to face +adventures of a stern and painful kind, but now he was +to be put to quite a different test. Would he fall a +prey to the sloth and luxury of this island, or would +he remain faithful to his knightly duty?</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon and his companion, Conscience, +came to the shore of the lake, they saw, floating near, +a little gondola, all decked with boughs. In the +gondola sat a beautiful lady, amusing herself by singing +and laughing loudly. She came at once when +Guyon called, and offered to ferry him across the lake; +but when the Knight was in the boat, she refused to +let the Palmer get in, and neither money nor entreaties +would induce her to take the old man with them. Sir +Guyon was very unwilling to leave his guide behind, +but he could not go back, for the boat, obeying the +lady’s wish, shot away more swiftly than a swallow flies. +It needed no oar nor pilot to guide it, nor any sails to +carry it with the wind; it knew how to go exactly +where its owner wanted, and could save itself both +from rocks and shoals.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the lady in the gondola was Phædria; +she was one of the servants of the wicked enchantress, +Acrasia, whom Sir Guyon was now on his way to attack. +She hoped that the beautiful island would entrap the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_123' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_123">123</span>Knight, and make him delay his journey and forget his +purpose.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_151.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>But whenas Guyon of that land had sight,<br> He wist himselfe amisse, and angry said;<br> ‘Ah, Dame! perdy ye have not doen me right,<br> Thus to mislead mee, whiles I you obaid:<br> Mee litle needed from my right way to have straid.’</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_125' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_125">125</span>On the way, as was her custom, she began joking +and laughing loudly, thinking this would amuse her +guest. Sir Guyon was so kind and courteous that he +was quite ready to join in any real merriment; but +when he saw his companion grow noisier and sillier +every moment, he began to despise her and did not care +to share her foolish attempts at fun. But she went on +still in the same manner till at last they reached the +island.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Guyon saw this land, he knew he was +out of his way, and was very angry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lady,” he said, “you have not done right to me, +to mislead me like this, when I trusted you. There +was no need for me to have strayed from my right way.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair sir,” she said, “do not be angry. He who +travels on the sea cannot command his way, nor order +wind and weather at his pleasure. The sea is wide, +and it is easy to stray on it; the wind is uncertain. +But here you may rest awhile in safety, till the season +serves to attempt a new passage. Better be safe in +port than on a rough sea,” she ended laughingly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon was not at all pleased, but he checked +his anger and stepped on shore. Phædria at once began +to show off all the delights of the island, which grew +in beauty wherever she went. The flowers sprang +freshly, the trees burst into bud and early blossom, +and a whole chorus of birds broke into song. And +the lady, more sweetly than any bird on bough, would +often sing with them, surpassing, as she easily could, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_126' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_126">126</span>their native music with her skilful art. She strove, +by every device in her power, so to charm Sir Guyon +that he would forget all deeds of daring and his +knightly duty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Sir Guyon was wise, and took care not to be +carried away by these delights, though he would not +seem so rude as to despise anything that a gentle lady +did to give him pleasure. He spoke many times of +his desire to leave, but she kept on making excuses +to delay his journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now it happened that Phædria had already allured +to the island another knight. This was Cymocles, +whose name means <i>the Anger of the Sea</i>. He was +the brother of Pyrocles (<i>the Anger of Fire</i>), whom +you may remember Sir Guyon had already fought and +conquered. Cymocles had been sunk in a heavy sleep +when Sir Guyon arrived, but when he woke up and +discovered the new-comer, he flew at once into a +furious rage, and rushed to attack him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon, of course, was quite ready to defend +himself, and Cymocles soon found that he had never +before met such a powerful foe. The fight between +them was so terrible that Phædria, overcome with pity +and dismay, rushed forward, and implored them, for +her sake, to stop. She blamed herself as the cause of +all the mischief, and entreated them not to disgrace +the name of knighthood by strife and cruelty, but to +make peace and be friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So great is the power of gentle words to a brave +and generous heart, that at her speech their rage began +to relent. When all was over, Sir Guyon again begged +<span class='pageno' id='Page_127' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_127">127</span>the lady to let him depart, and to give him passage to +the opposite shore. She was now quite as glad as he +was for him to go, for she saw that all her folly and +vain delights were powerless to tempt him from his +duty, and she did not want her selfish ease and pleasure +to be troubled with terror and the clash of arms. So +she bade him get into the little boat again, and soon +conveyed him swiftly to the farther strand.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Realm of Pluto</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Sir Guyon having lost his trusty guide, who was +left behind on the shore of the Idle Lake, had now to +go on his way alone. At last he came to a gloomy +glade, where the thick branches and shrubs shut away +the daylight. There, lurking in the shade, he found +a rude, savage man, very ugly and unpleasant-looking. +His face was tanned with smoke, his eyes dull, his +head and beard streaked with soot, his hands were +coal-black, as if burnt at a smith’s forge, and his nails +were like claws.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His iron coat, all overgrown with rust, was lined +with gold, which, though now darkened with dirt, +seemed as if it had been formerly a work of rich and +curious design. In his lap he counted over a mass of +coin, feasting his eyes and his covetous wishes with +the sight of his huge treasury. Round about on every +side lay great heaps of gold, which could never be +spent: some were the rough ore, others were beaten +into great ingots and square wedges; some were +<span class='pageno' id='Page_128' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_128">128</span>round plates, without mark of any kind, but most +were stamped, and bore the ancient and curious inscription +of some king or emperor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the man saw Sir Guyon, he rose, in great +haste and fright, to hide his mounds of treasure, and +began with trembling hands to pour them through a +wide hole into the earth. But Sir Guyon, though he +was himself dismayed at the sight, sprang lightly forward +to stop him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Who are you that live here in the desert, and +hide away from people’s sight, and from their proper +use, all these rich heaps of wealth?” he asked.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Looking at him with great disdain, the man replied, +“You are very rash and heedless of yourself, Sir +Knight, to come here to trouble me, and my heaps of +treasure. I call myself ‘King of this world and +worldlings’—Great Mammon—the greatest power on +earth. Riches, renown, honour, estate, and all the +goods of this world, for which men incessantly toil +and moil, flow forth from me in abundance. If you +will deign to serve and follow me, all these mountains +of gold shall be at your command, and, if these will +not suffice, you shall have ten times as much.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Mammon,” said the Knight, “your boast of +kingship is in vain, and your bribe of golden wages is +useless. Offer your gifts to those who covet such +dazzling gain. It would ill befit me, who spend my +days in deeds of daring and pursuit of honour, to pay +any attention to the tempting baits with which you +bewitch weak men. Any desire for worldly dross +mixes badly with, and debases the true heroic spirit +<span class='pageno' id='Page_129' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_129">129</span>which joys in fighting for crowns and kingdoms. Fair +shields, gay steeds, bright armour are my delight. +These are the riches fit for a venturous knight.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_157.jpg' alt='Knight with a sword approaching a man who is kneeling near a hole or cave opening on the ground.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Mammon went on trying to tempt the Knight with +all sorts of alluring promises, but Sir Guyon stood +firm. He pointed out the evils that had come through +<span class='pageno' id='Page_130' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_130">130</span>riches, which he considered the root of all unquietness—first +got with guile—then kept with dread, afterwards +spent with pride and lavishness, and leaving +behind them grief and heaviness. They were the +cause of infinite mischief, strife and debate, bloodshed +and bitterness, wrong-doing and covetousness, which +noble hearts despise as dishonour. Innocent people +were murdered, kings slain, great cities sacked and +burnt, and other evils, too many to mention, were +caused by riches.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Son,” said Mammon at last, “let be your scorn, +and leave the wrongs done in the old days to those +who lived in them. You who live in these later times +must work for wealth, and risk your life for gold. +If you choose to use what I offer you, take what you +please of all this abundance; if you don’t choose, you +are free to refuse it, but do not afterwards blame the +thing you have refused.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I do not choose to receive anything,” replied the +Knight, “until I am sure that it has been well come +by. How do I know but what you have got these +goods by force or fraud from their rightful owners?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No eye has ever yet seen, nor tongue counted, +nor hand handled them,” said Mammon. “I keep +them safe hidden in a secret place. Come and see.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Mammon led Sir Guyon through the thick +covert, and found a dark way which no man could +spy, that went deep down into the ground, and was +compassed round with dread and horror. At length +they came into a larger space, that stretched into a wide +plain; a broad beaten highway ran across this, leading +<span class='pageno' id='Page_131' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_131">131</span>straight to the grisly realm of Pluto, ruler of the +Lower Regions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was indeed a horrible road. By the wayside sat +fiendish Vengeance and turbulent Strife, one brandishing +an iron whip, the other a knife, and both gnashing +their teeth and threatening the lives of those who went +by. On the other side, in one group, sat cruel Revenge +and rancorous Spite, disloyal Treason and heart-burning +Hate; but gnawing Jealousy sat alone out of their +sight, biting his lips; and trembling Fear ran to and +fro, finding no place where he might safely shroud +himself. Lamenting Sorrow lay in the darkness, and +Shame hid his ugly face from living eye. Over them +always fluttered grim Horror, beating his iron wings, +and after him flew owls and night-ravens, messengers +of evil tidings, while a Harpy—a hideous bird of ill +omen—sitting on a cliff near, sang a song of bitter +sorrow that would have broken a heart of flint, and +when it was ended flew swiftly after Horror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All these lay before the gates of Pluto, and passing +by, Sir Guyon and Mammon said nothing to them, +but all the way wonder fed the eyes and filled the +thoughts of Sir Guyon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last Mammon brought him to a little door that +was next adjoining to the wide-open gate of Hades, +and nothing parted them; there was only a little stride +between them, dividing the House of Riches from the +mouth of the Lower Regions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Before the door sat self-consuming Care, keeping +watch and ward, day and night, for fear lest Force or +Fraud should break in, and steal the treasure he was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_132' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_132">132</span>guarding. Nor would he allow Sleep once to come +near, although his drowsy den was next.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Directly Mammon arrived, the door opened, and +gave passage to him. Sir Guyon still kept following, +for neither darkness nor danger could dismay him.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Cave of Mammon</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As soon as Mammon and Sir Guyon entered the +House of Riches, the door immediately shut of itself, +and from behind it leapt forth an ugly fiend, who +followed them wherever they went. He kept an eager +watch on Guyon, hoping that before long the Knight +would lay a covetous hand on some of the treasures, +in which case he was ready to tear him to pieces with +his claws.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The form of the house inside was rude and strong, +like a huge cave hewn out of the cliff; from cracks in +the rough vault hung lumps of gold, and every rift +was laden with rich metal, so that they seemed ready +to fall in pieces, while high above all the spider spun +her crafty web, smothered in smoke and clouds blacker +than jet. The roof, and floor, and walls were all of +gold, but covered with dust and hid in darkness, so +that no one could see the colour of it; for the cheerful +daylight never came inside that house, only a faint +shadow of uncertain light, like a dying lamp. Nothing +was to be seen but great iron chests and strong coffers, +all barred with double bands of metal, so that no one +could force them open by violence; but all the ground +<span class='pageno' id='Page_133' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_133">133</span>was strewn with the bones of dead men, who had lost +their lives in that place, and were now left there +unburied.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They passed on, and Guyon spoke not a word till +they came to an iron door, which opened to them of +its own accord, and showed them such a store of riches +as the eye of man had never seen before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Mammon, turning to the warrior, said, “Behold +here the world’s happiness! Behold here the end +at which all men aim, to be made rich! Such favour—to +be happy—is now laid before you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I will not have your offered favour,” said the +Knight, “nor do I intend to be happy in that way. +Before my eyes I place another happiness, another end. +To those that take pleasure in them, I resign these +base things. But I prefer to spend my fleeting hours +in fighting and brave deeds, and would rather be lord +over those who have riches than have them myself, +and be their slave.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>At that the fiend gnashed his teeth, and was angry +because he was kept so long from his prey, for he +thought that so glorious a bait would surely have +tempted his guest. Had it done so, he would have +snatched him away lighter than a dove in a falcon’s +claws.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But, when Mammon saw he had missed his object, +he thought of another way to entrap the Knight unawares. +He led him away into another room where +there were a hundred furnaces burning fiercely. By +every furnace were many evil spirits horrible to see, +busily engaged in tending the fires, or working with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_134' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_134">134</span>the molten metal. When they saw Guyon they all +stood stock still to wonder at him, for they had never +seen such a mortal before; he was almost afraid of +their staring eyes and hideous figures.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Behold what living eye has never seen before,” +said Mammon. “Here is the fountain of the world’s +good. If, therefore, you will be rich, be well advised +and change your wilful mood, lest hereafter you may +wish and not be able to have.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Let it suffice that I refuse all your idle offers,” +said Guyon. “All that I need I have. Why should +I covet more than I can use? Keep such vain show +for your worldlings, but give me leave to follow my +quest.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mammon was much displeased, but he led him +forward, to entice him further. He brought him +through a dark and narrow way to a broad gate, built +of beaten gold. The gate was open, but there stood +in front of it a sturdy fellow, very bold and defiant-looking. +In his right hand he held an iron club, but +he himself seemed as if he were made of gold. His +name was Disdain. When he saw Guyon he brandished +his club, but Mammon bade him be still, and led his +guest past him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He took him into a large place, like some solemn +temple; great golden pillars upheld the massive roof, +and every pillar was decked with crowns and diadems, +such as princes wore while reigning on earth. A +crowd of people of every sort and nation were there +assembled, all pressing with a great uproar to the +upper part, where was placed a high throne. On it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_135' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_135">135</span>sat a woman, clad in gorgeous robes of royalty. Her +face seemed marvellously fair; her beauty threw such +brightness round that all men could see it; it was not +all her own, however, but was partly made up by art.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_163.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Behold thou Faeries sonne, with mortall eye,<br> That living eye before did never see:<br> * * * * *<br> Here is the fountaine of the worldes good:<br> How, therefore, if thou wilt enriched bee,<br> Avise thee well, and chaunge thy wilfull mood.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_137' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_137">137</span>As she sat there, glittering, she held a great gold +chain, the upper end of which reached high into heaven, +and the other end deep down into the lower regions; +and all the crowd around her pressed to catch hold of +that chain, to climb aloft by it, and excel others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the chain was <i>Ambition</i>, and every +link was a step of dignity. Some thought to raise +themselves to a high place by riches, some by pushing, +some by flattery, some by friends—and all by wrong +ways, for those that were up themselves kept others +low, and those that were low held tight hold of others, +not letting them rise, while every one strove to throw +down his companions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Guyon saw this he began to ask what all +the crowd meant, and who was the lady that sat on +the throne.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That goodly person, round whom every one +flocks, is my dear daughter,” said Mammon. “From +her alone come honour and dignity, and this world’s +happiness, for which all men struggle, but which few +get. She is called Philotime, <i>the Love of Honour</i>, +and she is the fairest lady in the world. Since you +have found favour with me, I will make her your wife, +if you like, that she may advance you, because of your +work and just merits.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I thank you much, Mammon,” said the gentle +Knight, “for offering me such favour, but I am only +<span class='pageno' id='Page_138' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_138">138</span>a mortal, and, I know well, an unworthy match for such +a wife. And, if I were not, yet is my troth plighted +and my love declared to another lady, and to change +one’s love without cause is a disgrace to a knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mammon was inwardly enraged, but, hiding his +feelings, he led him away, through the grisly shadows, +by a beaten path, into a garden well furnished with +herbs and fruits of an unknown kind. They were +not such as men gather from the fertile earth, sweet +and of good taste, but deadly black, both leaf and +flower. Here grew cypress and ebony, poppy and +deadly nightshade, hemlock, and many other poisonous +plants. The place was called the Garden of Proserpine. +In the midst was a silver seat, under a thick +arbour, and near by grew a great tree with spreading +branches, laden with golden apples.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Mammon showed the Knight many wonders in +the Garden of Proserpine, and tried to tempt him to +sit in the silver seat, or to eat of the golden apples. +If Guyon had done so, the horrible monster who +waited behind would have pounced on him and torn +him to pieces; but he was wary and took care not +to yield to temptation, so the beguiler was cheated +of his prey. But now he began to feel weak and ill +for want of food and sleep, for three days had passed +since he entered the cave. So he begged Mammon to +guide him back to the surface of the earth by the way +they had come. Mammon, though very unwilling, was +forced to obey; but the change was too much for Guyon +in his feeble state, and as soon as he came into the light, +and began to breathe the fresh air, he fainted away.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_139' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_139">139</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Champion of Chivalry</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>During the time that Guyon stayed in the house +of Mammon, the Palmer, whom the maid of the Idle +Lake had refused to take in her boat, had found a +passage in some other way. On his journey he came +near the place where Guyon lay in a trance, and suddenly +he heard a voice calling loud and clear, “Come +hither, hither! Oh, come quickly!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>He hurried in the direction of the cry, which led +him to the shady dell where Mammon had formerly +counted his wealth. Here he found Guyon senseless +on the ground, but watched over by a beautiful angel.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At first he was dismayed, but the angel bade him +not be frightened, for that life and renewed vigour +would soon come back to the Knight. He now handed +him over to the charge of the Palmer, and bade him +watch with care, for fresh evil was at hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus saying, the angel vanished, and the Palmer, +turning to look at Guyon, was rejoiced to find a feeble +glimmer of life in him, which he cherished tenderly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last there came that way two Pagan knights in +shining armour, led by an old man, and with a lightfooted +page far in front, scattering mischief and enmity +wherever he went. These were the two bad brothers, +Pyrocles and Cymocles, the sons of Anger, guided by +the false Archimago, while their servant, Atin (or +<i>Strife</i>) stirred them up to quarrelling and vengeance.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_140' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_140">140</span> +<img src='images/i_168.jpg' alt='An angel sitting beside a fallen knight on the ground while the Palmer looks on.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When they came to the place where the Palmer sat +watching over the sleeping body of the Knight, they +knew the latter at once, for they had both lately +fought with him. They reviled the Palmer, and began +heaping abuse on Sir Guyon, whom they thought dead, +and declared that they would strip him of his armour, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_141' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_141">141</span>which was much too good for such a worthless creature. +The Palmer implored them not to do such a shameful +and dishonourable deed, but his entreaties were in vain; +one brother laid his hand on the shield, the other on +the helmet, both fiercely eager to possess themselves of +the spoil.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this moment they saw coming towards them +an armed knight of bold and lofty grace, whose squire +bore after him an ebony spear and a covered shield. +Well did the magician know him by his arms and bearing +when he saw his prancing Libyan steed, and he cried +to the brothers, “Rise quickly, and prepare yourselves +for battle, for yonder comes the mightiest knight alive—Prince +Arthur, the flower of grace and chivalry.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The brothers were so impressed that they started up +and greedily prepared for battle. Pyrocles, who had lost +his own weapons in the fight with Fury, snatched a +sword from Archimago, although the latter warned +him it was a magic sword, and would do no harm to +Prince Arthur, for whom it had been made long ago, +and who was its rightful owner. Pyrocles only laughed +at the magician’s warning, and having bound Guyon’s +shield to his wrist, he was ready for the fray.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By that time the stranger Knight had come near, +and greeted them courteously. They returned no +answer, but looked very disdainful, and then, turning to +the Palmer, Prince Arthur noticed that at his feet lay an +armed man, in whose dead face he read great nobility.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Reverend sir,” he said, “what great misfortune +has befallen this Knight? Did he die a natural death, +or did he fall by treason or by fight?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_142' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_142">142</span>“Not by one or the other,” said the Palmer; “but +his senses are drowned in sleep, and these cruel foes +have taken advantage of it to revenge their spite and +rob him of his armour; but you, fair sir, whose +honourable look promises hope of help, may I beseech +you to take pity on his sad plight, and by your power +protect him?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Palmer,” he said, “there is no knight so rude, I +trust, as to do outrage to a sleeping spirit. Maybe, +better reason will soften their rash revenge. Well-chosen +words have a secret power in appeasing anger. +If not, leave to me your Knight’s last defence.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, turning to the brothers, he first tried what +persuasion would do. He took for granted that their +wrath was provoked by wrongs they had suffered, and +did not challenge the right or justice of their actions; +but, on behalf of the sleeping man, he entreated pardon +for anything he might have done amiss.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To this gentle speech the brothers made rude and +insulting answers, and Pyrocles, not waiting to set +the Prince on guard, lifted high the magic sword, +thinking to kill him. The faithful steel refused to +harm its master, and swerved from the mark, but the +blow was so furious it made man and horse reel. +Prince Arthur was such a splendid rider that he did +not fall from the saddle; but, full of anger, he cried +fiercely—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“False traitor! you have broken the law of arms +by striking a foe unchallenged, but you shall soon +right bitterly taste the fruit of your treason, and feel +the law which you have disgraced.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_143' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_143">143</span>With that he levelled his spear at Pyrocles, and the +two were soon engaged in a fiery battle. Cymocles +rushed to his brother’s aid, and they both fell on the +Prince with terrific fury, so that he had hard work to +defend himself. So mighty was his power that neither +of his foes could stand against it; but whenever he +smote at Pyrocles, the latter threw in front of him +Guyon’s shield, on which was portrayed the face of +the Faerie Queene, and when he saw this, the Prince’s +hand relented, and he stayed the stroke, because of the +love and loyalty he bore the picture. This often saved +the Pagan knight from deadly harm, but at last Prince +Arthur overcame and killed both him and his brother, +while false Archimago and Strife fled fast away.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By this time Sir Guyon had awakened from his +trance, and was much grieved when he found that his +shield and sword had disappeared; but when he saw +beside him his faithful companion, whom he had lost +some days before, he was very glad. The Palmer was +delighted to see him rise looking so well, and told him +not to trouble about the loss of his weapons, for they +would soon be restored to him. Then he told Guyon +all that had happened, and how the strange Knight +had fought for him with the two wicked brothers.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When he heard this, Sir Guyon was deeply touched, +and felt all his heart fill with affection. Bowing to +Prince Arthur with due reverence, as to the defender +of his life, he said, “My lord, my liege, by whose most +gracious aid I live this day and see my foes subdued, +what reward would be sufficient to repay you for your +great goodness, unless to be ever bound——”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_144' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_144">144</span>But the Prince interrupted. “Fair sir, what need +is there to reckon a good turn as a debt to be paid? +Are not all knights bound by oath to withstand the +power of the oppressor? It is sufficient that I have +done my duty properly.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they both found that a good deed is made +gracious by kindness and courtesy.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The House of Temperance</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After the Pagan brothers were conquered, and Prince +Arthur had recovered his stolen sword and Guyon his +lost shield, the two went on their way together, talking +pleasantly as they journeyed along. When the sun was +near setting they saw in the distance a goodly castle, +placed near a river, in a pleasant valley. Thinking this +place would do to spend the night in, they marched +thither, but when they came near, and dismounted from +their tired steeds, they found the gates barred and every +fastening locked, as though for fear of foes. They +thought this was done as an insult to them, to prevent +their entrance, till the Squire blew his horn under the +castle wall, which shook with the sound as if it would +fall. Then a watchman quickly looked forth from the +highest tower, and called loudly to the knights to ask +what they required so rudely. They gently answered +that they wished to enter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fly, fly, good knights!” he said; “fly fast away +if you love your lives, as it is right you should. Fly +fast, and save yourselves from instant death. You +<span class='pageno' id='Page_145' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_145">145</span>may not enter here, though we would most willingly +let you in if only we could. But a thousand enemies +rage round us, who have held the castle in siege for +seven years, and many good knights who have sought +to save us have been slain.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he spoke, a thousand villains, with horrible outcry, +swarmed around them from the adjoining rocks +and caves—vile wretches, ragged, rude, and hideous, +all threatening death, and all armed in a curious +manner, some with unwieldy clubs, some with long +spears, some with rusty knives, some with staves heated +in the fire. They looked like wild bulls, staring with +hollow eyes, and with stiff hair standing on end.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They assailed the Knights fiercely, and made them +recoil, but when Prince Arthur and Sir Guyon charged +again their strength began to fail, and they were unable +to withstand them, for the champions broke on +them with such might that they were forced to fly like +scattered sheep before the rush of a lion and a tiger. +The Knights with their shining blades soon broke their +rude ranks, and drove them into confusion, hewing and +slashing at them; and now, when faced boldly, they +found that they were nothing but idle shadows, for, +though they seemed bodies, they had really no substance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they had dispersed this troublesome rabble, +Prince Arthur and Guyon came again to the castle +gate, and begged entrance, where they had been refused +before. The report of their danger and conflict having +reached the ears of the lady who dwelt there, she came +out with a goodly train of squires and ladies to bid +them welcome.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_146' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_146">146</span>The lady’s name was Alma. She was as beautiful +as it was possible to be, in the very flower of her youth, +yet full of goodness and modesty. She was clad in a +robe of lily-white, reaching from her shoulders to the +ground; the long, loose train, embroidered with gold +and pearls, was carried by two fair damsels. Her +yellow-golden hair was trimly arranged, and she wore +no head-dress except a garland of sweet roses.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She entertained the Knights nobly, and, when they +had rested a little, they begged her, as a great favour, +to show them over her castle. This she consented +to do.</p> + +<p class='c007'>First she led them up to the castle wall, which was +so high that no foe could climb it, and yet was both +beautiful and fit for defence. It was not built of +brick, nor yet of stone, sand, nor mortar, but of clay. +The pity was that such goodly workmanship could not +last longer, for it must soon turn back to earth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Two gates were placed in this building, the one +(<i>mouth</i>) by which all passed in far excelling the other +in workmanship. When it was locked, no one could +pass through, and when it was opened no man could +shut it. Within the barbican sat a porter (the <i>tongue</i>), +day and night keeping watch and ward; nobody could +go in or out of the gate without strict scrutiny. +Utterers of secrets he debarred, babblers of folly, and +those who told tales of wrong-doing; when cause +required it, his alarm-bell might be heard far and +wide, but never without occasion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Round the porch on each side sat sixteen warders +(the <i>teeth</i>), all in bright array; tall yeomen they +<span class='pageno' id='Page_147' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_147">147</span>seemed, of great strength, and were ranged ready for +fight.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_175.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>But soone the knights with their bright-burning blades<br> Broke their rude troupes, and orders did confound,<br> Hewing and slashing at their idle shades;<br> For though they bodies seem, yet substaunce from them fades.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_149' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_149">149</span>Alma then took the Knights over the rest of the +castle, and showed them so many curious and beautiful +things that their minds were filled with wonder, for +they had never before seen so strange a sight. Presently +she brought them back into a beautiful parlour +(the <i>heart</i>), hung with rich tapestry, where sat a bevy +of fair ladies (the <i>feelings</i>, <i>tastes</i>, &c.), amusing themselves +in different ways. Some sang, some laughed, +some played with straws, some sat idly at ease; but +others could not bear to play—all amusement was +annoyance to them. This one frowned, that one +yawned, a third blushed for shame, another seemed +envious or shy, while another gnawed a rush and looked +sullen.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After that, Alma took her guests up to a stately +turret (the <i>head</i>), in which two beacons (the <i>eyes</i>) +gave light, and flamed continually, for they were most +marvellously made of living fire, and set in silver sockets, +covered with lids that could easily open and shut.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In this turret there were many rooms and places, +but three chief ones, in which dwelt three honourable +sages, who counselled fair Alma how to govern well. +The first of these could foresee things to come; the +second could best advise of things present; the third +kept things past in memory, so that no time or occasion +could arise which one or other of them could not +deal with.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The first sat in the front of the house, so that +nothing should hinder his coming to a conclusion +<span class='pageno' id='Page_150' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_150">150</span>quickly; he made up his mind in advance, without +listening to reason; he had a keen foresight, and an +active brain that was never idle and never rested. His +room held a collection of the oddest and queerest things +ever seen or imagined. It was filled, too, with flies, +that buzzed all about, confusing men’s eyes and ears, +with a sound like a swarm of bees. These were idle +thoughts and fancies, dreams, visions, soothsayings, +prophecies, &c., and all kinds of false tales and lies.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The second counsellor was a much older man. He +spent all his time meditating over things that had really +happened, and in studying law, art, science and philosophy, +so that he had grown very wise indeed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The third counsellor was a very, very aged man. +His chamber seemed very ruinous and old, and was +therefore at the back of the house, but the walls that +upheld it were quite firm and strong. He was half +blind, and looked feeble in body, but his mind was +still vigorous. All things that had happened, however +ancient they were, he faithfully recorded, so that nothing +might be forgotten.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The names of Alma’s three counsellors were Imagination, +Judgment, and Memory.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Rock of Reproach and the Wandering Islands</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The next morning, before it was light, Sir Guyon, +clad in his bright armour, and accompanied by the Palmer +in his black dress, started once more on his journey +to find the wicked enchantress, Acrasia, and the Bower +<span class='pageno' id='Page_151' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_151">151</span>of Bliss. At the river ford, they found a ferryman, +whom Alma had commanded to be there with his well-rigged +boat. They went on board, and he immediately +launched his bark, and Lady Alma’s country +was soon left far behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For two days they sailed without even seeing land; +but on the morning of the third day, they heard, far +away, a hideous roaring that filled them with terror, +and they saw the surges rage so high, they feared to be +drowned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then said the boatman, “Palmer, steer aright, and +keep an even course, for we must needs pass yonder +way. That is the Gulf of Greediness, which swallows +up all it can devour, and is in a constant turmoil.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>On the other side, stood a hideous rock of mighty +magnet stone, whose craggy cliffs were dreadful to +behold. Great jagged reefs ran out into the water, +and threatened death to all who came near. Yet +passers-by were unable to keep away, for trying to +escape the devouring jaws of the Gulf of Greediness, +they were dashed to pieces on the rock.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they drew near this dreadful spot, the ferryman +had to put forth all his strength and skill to row them +past. On the one hand, they saw the horrible gulf, +that looked as if it were sucking down all the sea into +itself; and on the other hand, they saw the perilous +rock, on whose sharp cliffs lay the ribs of many shattered +vessels, together with the dead bodies of those who +had recklessly flung themselves to destruction.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the rock was the “Rock of Reproach.” +It was a dangerous and hateful place, to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_152' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_152">152</span>which no fish nor fowl ever came, but only screaming +sea-gulls and cormorants, who sat waiting on the cliff +to prey on the unhappy wretches whose extravagant +and thriftless living had brought them to ruin.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon and his companions passed by this +dangerous spot in safety, and the ferryman rowed them +briskly over the dancing billows.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last, far off, they spied many islands floating +on every side among the waves. Then said the Knight, +“Lo, I see the land, so, Sir Palmer, direct your course +to it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not so,” said the ferryman, “lest we unknowingly +run into danger; for those same islands, which +now and then appear, are not firm land, nor have they +any certain abiding-place; they are straggling plots, +which run to and fro in the wide waters, wherefore +they are called the ‘Wandering Islands,’ and are to +be shunned, for they have drawn many a traveller into +danger and distress. Yet from far off, they seem very +pleasant, both fair and fruitful, the ground spread +with soft, green grass, and the tall trees covered with +leaves, and decked with white and red blossoms that +might well allure passers-by. But whoever once sets +his foot on those islands can never recover it, but +evermore wanders, uncertain and unsure.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon and the Palmer listened to their pilot, as +seemed fitting, and they passed on their way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now,” said the cautious boatman, when they had +left behind them the Wandering Islands (or, <i>listless +idleness</i>), “we must be careful to take good heed of +our safety here, for a perilous passage lies before us. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_153' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_153">153</span>There is a great quicksand, and a whirlpool of hidden +danger; therefore, Sir Palmer, keep a steady hand, for +the narrow way lies between them.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_181.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Said then the Boteman, ‘Palmer, stere aright,<br> And keepe an even course; for yonder way<br> We needes must pas (God doe us well acquight).’</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_155' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_155">155</span>Scarcely had he spoken, when near at hand they +spied the quicksand; it was almost covered with +water, but they knew it at once by the waves round it +and the discoloured sea. It was called the Quicksand +of Unthriftiness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passing by, they saw a goodly ship, laden from far +with precious merchandise, and well fitted as a ship +could be, which through misadventure or carelessness +had run herself into danger. The mariners +and merchants, with much toil, laboured in vain to +recover their prize and to save the rich wares from +destruction, but neither toil nor trouble served to free +her from the quicksand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On the other side, they saw the dangerous pool +that was called the Whirlpool of Decay, in which +many had haplessly sunk, of whom no memory remained. +The circling waters whirled round, like a restless +wheel, eager to draw the boat into the outer limit +of the labyrinth, and to drown the travellers. But the +heedful ferryman rowed with all his might, so that they +passed by in safety and left the dreaded danger behind.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Suddenly they saw in the midst of the ocean, the surging +waters rise like a mountain, and the great sea puffed +up, as though threatening to devour everything. The +waves came rolling along, and the billows roared in fury, +though there was not a breath of wind. At this, Sir +Guyon, the Palmer, and the ferryman were greatly afraid, +for they knew not what strange horror was approaching.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_156' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_156">156</span> + <h3 class='c016'>Sea-Monsters and Land-Monsters</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Presently they saw a hideous crowd of huge sea-monsters, +such as terrified any one to behold; every +shape of ugliness and horror was there—water-snakes, +and whales, and sword-fish, and hippopotamuses, and +sharks, and every kind of sea-monster, and they came +along in thousands, with a dreadful noise and a hollow, +rumbling roar. No wonder the Knight was appalled, +for, compared with these, all that we hold dreadful on +earth were but a trifle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fear nothing,” then said the Palmer, “for these +creatures that look like monsters are not so in reality; +they are only disguised into these fearful shapes by the +wicked enchantress to terrify us, and to prevent our +continuing our journey.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, lifting up his magic staff, he smote the sea, +which immediately became calm, and all the make-believe +monsters fled to the bottom of the ocean.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Free from that danger, the travellers kept on their +way, and as they went, they heard a pitiful cry, as of +some one wailing and weeping. At last, on an island, +they saw a beautiful maiden, who seemed in great +sorrow, and who kept calling to them for help. Directly +Guyon heard her, he bade the Palmer steer straight +to her rescue; but the latter, knowing better, said, +“Fair sir, do not be displeased if I disobey you, for +it would be a bad thing to listen to her, for really +there is nothing the matter; it is only a trick to +entrap you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_157">157</span>The Knight was guided by his advice, and the +ferryman held steadily straight on his course.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next temptation they had to face was of a +different kind. They came to a lovely bay, sheltered +on the one side by a steep hill, and on the other by +a high rock, so that between them was a still and +pleasant haven. In this bay lived five mermaids, who +could sing in the sweetest manner possible, but the +only use they made of their skill in melody was to +allure travellers, whom, when they had got hold of, +they killed. So now to Guyon as he passed, they +began to sing their sweetest tunes, greeting him as the +mightiest knight that had ever fought in battle, and +bidding him to turn his rudder into the quiet bay, +where his storm-beaten vessel might safely ride.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This is the port of rest from troublous toil,” they +sang; “the world’s sweet inn from pain and wearisome +turmoil.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The rolling sea and the waves breaking on the rock +mingled with their singing, and the wind whistled in +harmony. The sound so delighted Guyon that he bade +the boatman row slowly, to let him listen to their +melody. But the Palmer wisely counselled him not to +do this, and so they got safely past the danger, and +soon after they saw, in the distance, the land to which +they were directing their course.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then suddenly a thick fog came down upon them, +hiding the cheerful daylight, and making the whole +world seem a confused mass. They were much dismayed +at this, not knowing which way to steer in the +darkness, and fearing that they would fall into some +<span class='pageno' id='Page_158' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_158">158</span>hidden danger. To add to their confusion, they were +attacked by a flock of horrible birds, which flew screaming +round them, beating at them with their wicked wings—owls, +and ravens, and bats, and screech-owls. Yet +the travellers would not stay because of these, but went +straight forward, the ferryman rowing, while the Palmer +kept a firm hand on the rudder, till at last the weather +began to clear, and the land showed plainly. Then +the Palmer warned Sir Guyon to have his armour in +readiness, for peril would soon assail him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knight obeyed, and when the boat reached +the shore, he and the Palmer stepped out, fully armed, +and carefully prepared against every danger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They had not gone far, before they heard a hideous +bellowing, and a pack of wild beasts rushed forward +as if to devour them. But when they came near, the +Palmer lifted up his wonderful staff, and immediately +they were quelled, and shrank back trembling.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passing these, Sir Guyon and the Palmer soon came +to the place the Knight was seeking—the object of +his long and toilsome quest—the home of the wicked +enchantress—the “Bower of Bliss.”</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Bower of Bliss</h3> + +<p class='c017'>It was a lovely spot, a place adorned in the most +perfect way by which art could imitate nature; everything +sweet and pleasing, or that the daintiest fancy +could devise, was gathered here in lavish profusion. +A light fence enclosed it, and a rich ivory gate, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_159' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_159">159</span>wonderfully carven, stood open to all those that came +thither.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_187.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Ere long they heard an hideous bellowing<br> Of many beasts, that roared outrageously.<br> * * * * *<br> But soone as they approcht with deadly threat,<br> The Palmer over them his staffe upheld.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_161' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_161">161</span>In the porch sat a tall, handsome porter, whose +looks were so pleasant that he seemed to entice +travellers to him, but it was only to deceive them to +their own ruin. He was the keeper of the garden, +and his name was <i>Pleasure</i>. He was decked with +flowers, and by his side was set a great bowl of wine, +with which he pleased all new-comers. He offered it +to Sir Guyon, but the latter refused his idle courtesy, +and overthrew the bowl.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passing through the gate, they beheld a large and +spacious plain, strewn on every side with delights. The +ground was covered with green grass, and made beautiful +with all kinds of lovely flowers; the skies were +always bright, and the air soft and balmy; no storm +or frost ever came to harm the tender blossoms; neither +scorching heat nor piercing cold to hurt those who +dwelt therein.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Guyon wondered much at the loveliness of that +sweet place, yet would not suffer any of its delights to +allure him, but passed straight through, and still looked +forward. Presently he came to a beautiful arbour, +fashioned out of interlacing boughs and branches. This +was arched over with a clustering vine, richly laden with +bunches of luscious grapes—some were deep purple +like the hyacinth—some like rubies, laughing red—some +like emeralds, not yet well ripened, and there were +others of burnished gold. They almost broke down +the branches with their weight, and seemed to offer +themselves to be freely gathered by the passers-by.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_162' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_162">162</span>In the arbour sat a finely dressed lady; she held +in her left hand a golden cup, and with her right hand +she gathered the ripe fruit, and squeezed the juice of +the grapes into the cup. It was her custom to give a +draught of this wine to every stranger that passed, +but when she offered it to Guyon to taste, he took +the cup out of her hand, and flung it to the ground, +so that it was broken and all the wine spilt. <i>Excess</i>, +for that was the lady’s name, was very angry at this, +but she could not withstand the Knight, and was +obliged to let him pass, and he went on, heedless of +her displeasure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then before his eyes appeared a most lovely paradise, +abounding in every sort of pleasure: rainbow-coloured +flowers, lofty trees, shady dells, breezy +mountains, rustling groves, crystal streams—it was +impossible to tell which was art and which nature, +they were so cunningly mingled; both combined made +greater the beauty of the other, and adorned this garden +with an endless variety.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the midst of all, stood a fountain made of the +most precious materials on earth, so pure and bright +that one could see the silver flood running through +every channel. It was wrought all over with curious +carving, and above all was spread a trail of ivy of the +purest gold, coloured like nature, so that any one who +saw it would surely think it was real ivy. Numberless +little streams continually welled out of this fountain, +and formed a little lake, through the shallow +water of which one could see the bottom, all paved +with shining jasper.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_163' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_163">163</span>Then at last Sir Guyon and the Palmer drew near +to the “Bower of Bliss,” so called by the foolish +favourites of the wicked enchantress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, sir, consider well,” said the Palmer, “for +here is the end of all our travel. Here dwells Acrasia, +whom we must surprise, or else she will slip away, and +laugh at our attempt.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon they heard the most lovely melody, such as +might never be heard on mortal ground. It was almost +impossible to say what kind of music it was, for all that +is pleasing to the ear there joined in harmony—the +joyous singing of birds, angelic voices, silver-sounding +instruments, murmuring waters, and the whispering +wind; and through it all they heard the singing of one +voice, sweeter than all the others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But in spite of the lovely music heard on every +side, Sir Guyon and the Palmer never left their path; +they kept on through many groves and thickets, till at +last they came in sight of the wicked enchantress herself. +She lay, half-sleeping, on a bed of roses, clad in a veil +of silk and silver; all round were many fair ladies and +boys singing sweetly. Not far off was her last victim, +a gallant-looking youth, over whom she had cast an +evil spell. His brave sword and armour hung idly on +a tree, and he lay sunk in a heavy slumber, forgetful of +all the noble deeds in which he had once delighted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Guyon and the Palmer cautiously drew near, +then suddenly rushed forward, and flung over Acrasia +a net which the skilful Palmer had made for the occasion. +All her attendants immediately fled in terror. +Acrasia tried all her arts and crafty wiles to set herself +<span class='pageno' id='Page_164' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_164">164</span>free, but in vain; the net was so cunningly woven, +neither guile nor force could disentangle her.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_192.jpg' alt='A knight and an old man standing near a fallen knight on the ground while a woman lies nearby reaching out toward them.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Guyon broke down without +pity all the pleasant bowers, and the stately +palace, and trampled down the gardens, and burnt +the banqueting-hall, so that nothing was left of the +beautiful place to tempt other people to ruin.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_165' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_165">165</span>As for Acrasia, they led her away captive, bound +with adamantine chains, for nothing else would keep +her safe; and when they came back to the place where +they had met the wild beasts, these again flew fiercely +at them, as if they would rescue their mistress. But +the Palmer soon pacified them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Guyon asked what was the meaning of these +beasts that lived there.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“These seeming beasts are really men whom the enchantress +has thus transformed,” replied the Palmer. +“Now they are turned into these hideous figures, in +accordance with their bad and ugly minds.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A sad end of an ignoble life, and a mournful result +of excess in pleasure,” said the Knight. “But, Palmer, +if it may so please you, let them be returned to their +former state.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the Palmer struck them with his staff, and immediately +they were turned into men. Very queer and +ill at ease they looked. Some were inwardly ashamed, +and some were angry to see the Lady Acrasia captive. +But one in particular, who had lately been a hog, Grill +by name, loudly lamented, and abused the Knight for +bringing him back from the shape of a hog into that +of a man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then said Guyon, “See how low a man can sink, to +forget so soon the excellence in which he was created, and +to choose rather to be a beast without intelligence!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Worthless men delight in base things,” said the +Palmer. “Let Grill be Grill, and have his hoggish +mind. But let us depart hence, while wind and +weather serve.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_166' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_166">166</span>So Sir Guyon, having overthrown the power of the +wicked enchantress, went back to the house of Alma, +where he had left Prince Arthur. The captive Acrasia +he sent under a strong guard to the court of the +Faerie Queene, to be presented to Queen Gloriana as +a proof that he had accomplished his hard task; but +he himself travelled forth with Prince Arthur, to +make further trial of his strength and to seek fresh +adventures.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_167' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_167">167</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_195.jpg' alt='Person in a cloak holding a staff standing next to a hooded figure.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>The Legend of Britomart</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c006'>How Sir Guyon met a Champion mightier +than himself</p> + +<p class='c007'>After the capture of the wicked enchantress +Acrasia, Prince Arthur and Sir Guyon travelled +long and far together in all sorts of dangerous places. +They met with many perilous adventures, which won +them great glory and honour, for their aim was always +to relieve the weak and oppressed, and to recover right +for those who had suffered wrong.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_168">168</span>At last one day, as they rode across an open plain, +they saw a Knight spurring towards them. An aged +squire rode beside him, and on the Knight’s shield was +emblazoned a lion on a golden field.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they saw him, Sir Guyon begged Prince +Arthur to let him be the one to face the attack, and the +Prince agreeing, Guyon levelled his spear and galloped +towards the Knight. They met with such fury that +the stranger reeled in his saddle, and Guyon himself, +before he was aware, was hurled from his horse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His fall filled him with shame and sorrow, for never +yet since he bore arms had such a disgrace happened +to him. He need not, however, have been so grieved, +for it was no fault of his own that he was dismounted. +The spear that brought him to the ground was enchanted, +and no one could resist it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Guyon would have felt far more sorry and +ashamed had he known that the Knight who overthrew +him was in reality a maiden. The stranger was no +other than the famous Princess Britomart, daughter +of Ryence, King of South Wales. She was roaming +the world in search of Artegall, the champion Knight +of Justice, whose image she had once beheld in a magic +mirror given by the magician Merlin to her father. +So grand and noble was the image of this splendid +Knight that Britomart felt she could never rest until +she had seen him in reality. She dressed herself in +the armour of a knight, and her old nurse, Glaucé, +disguised herself as her squire, and together the two +left the court of King Ryence and wandered through +the world in search of Sir Artegall.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_169' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_169">169</span> +<img src='images/i_197.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>But Guyon selfe, ere well he was aware,<br> High a speares length behind his crouper fell.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_171' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_171">171</span>Sir Guyon, full of anger at his fall, and eager to +revenge himself, rose hastily, drew his sword, and +rushed at the foe; but his attendant, the Black Palmer, +who had been his faithful companion and guide in all +his former adventures, implored his master not to run +into fresh danger. By his great wisdom he could tell +that Britomart’s spear was enchanted, and that no +mortal power could withstand it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Prince Arthur joined his entreaties to the Palmer’s, +and they both spoke so wisely that Guyon’s anger +melted away. Britomart and he became reconciled, and +swore a firm friendship. In those days, when knights +fought together, it was often not at all in malice, +but only to test their strength and manliness. The +one who conquered won much renown, but the vanquished +felt no spite nor envy. It is a great thing to +be able to lose with a good grace, without becoming +sulky and disagreeable. Later ages might do well +in this respect to learn a lesson from the days of +chivalry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So Britomart, Prince Arthur, and Sir Guyon then +travelled on together in the most friendly fashion, +seeking further adventures. For some time nothing +happened, but at length they came to a wide forest, +which seemed very horrible and dreary. They rode a +long way through this, but found no track of living +creature, except bears, and lions, and bulls, which +roamed all around. Suddenly, out of the thickest +part of the wood, something rushed past them.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_172' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_172">172</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How Britomart fought with Six Knights</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The creature that rushed from the wood, across +the path of Britomart, Sir Guyon, and Prince Arthur, +was a milk-white pony. On its back was a lovely +lady, whose face shone as clear as crystal, though it +was now white with fear. Her garments were all +worked with beaten gold, and the trappings of her +steed were covered with glittering embroidery. The +pony fled so fast that nothing could hold it, and they +could scarcely see the lady. She kept casting backward +glances, as if she feared some evil that closely +pursued her, and her bright yellow hair flew out far +behind in the wind like the trail of a blazing comet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The name of the lady was Florimell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the Knights stood gazing after her, there rushed +from the same thicket a rough, clownish woodman, +fiercely urging on his tired horse through thick and +thin, over bank and bush, hoping by some means to +get hold of Florimell. He was a huge, cruel-looking +fellow, and in his hand he carried a sharp boar-spear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Directly Prince Arthur and Sir Guyon saw this +they stayed not a moment to see which would be first, +but both spurred after as fast as they could to rescue +the lady from the villain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart waited some time to see if they would +return, but finding they did not come back she again +set forward on her journey with steadfast courage. +She intended no evil, nor did she fear any.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_173' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_173">173</span> +<img src='images/i_201.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>But faire before the gate a spatious playne<br> Mantled with greene, it selfe did spredden wyde,<br> On which she saw six knights, that did darrayne<br> Fiers battail against one with cruel might and mayne.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>At last, when she had nearly reached the edge of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_175' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_175">175</span>the wood, she spied far away a stately Castle, to which +she immediately directed her steps. This castle was a +fine building, and placed for pleasure near the edge of +the forest, but in front of the gate stretched a wide, +green plain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On this plain Britomart saw six knights, who were +all engaged in cruel battle against one Knight. They +attacked him with great violence all at the same time, +and sorely beset him on every side, so that he was +nearly breathless; but nothing could dismay him, and +he never yielded a foot of ground, although he was +sorely wounded. He dealt his blows stoutly, and +whichever way he turned he made his enemies recoil, +so that not one of all the six dared face him alone. +They were like cowardly curs having some savage creature +at bay, who run about here and there to snatch +a bite at their prey whenever his back is turned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Britomart saw this gallant Knight in such +distress and danger, she ran quickly to his rescue, and +called to the six others to cease their attack on a +single enemy. They paid no attention, but rather +increased their spiteful fury, till Britomart, rushing +through the thickest crowd, broke up their band, and +compelled them, by force, to listen to peace. Then +she began mildly to inquire the cause of their dispute +and outrageous anger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thereupon the single Knight answered, “These +six tried by force to make me give up my own dear +lady, and love another. I would rather die than do +such a thing. For I love one lady, the truest one on +earth, and I have no desire to change. For her dear +<span class='pageno' id='Page_176' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_176">176</span>sake I have endured many a bitter peril and met with +many a wound.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, certainly, you six are to blame,” said +Britomart, “for it would be a great shame for a +knight to leave his faithful lady—it would be better +to die. Neither can you compel love by force.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then spoke one of the six. “There dwells within +this Castle a fair lady whose beauty has no living rival. +She has ordained this law, which we approve—that +every knight who comes this way, and has no lady of +his own, shall enter her service, never to leave it. But +if he has already a lady whom he loves, then he must +give her up, or else fight with us to prove that she is +fairer than our lady.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly,” said Britomart, “the choice is hard. +But, suppose the knight overcame, what reward would +he get?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then he would be advanced to high honour, and +win the hand of our lady,” was the answer. “Therefore, +sir, if you love any one——”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I certainly will not give up my love, nor will I +do service to your lady,” replied Britomart. “But +I will revenge the wrong you have done to this +Knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then she rode at the six with her enchanted spear, +and overthrew three of them before they were well +aware of it. The fourth was dismayed by the Knight +to whose rescue she had come, and the two others gave +in before she touched them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Too well we see our own weakness and your +matchless power,” they said. “Henceforth, fair sir, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_177' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_177">177</span>according to her own law, the lady is yours, and we +plight our loyalty to you as liegemen.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they threw their swords under Britomart’s feet, +and afterwards besought her to enter into the castle, +and reap the reward of her victory.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart consenting, they all went in together.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How it fared with Britomart in Castle Joyous</h3> + +<p class='c017'>The stately mansion into which Britomart and the +rescued Knight now entered was called “Castle Joyous,” +and the owner of it was known to her retainers by the +name of “the Lady of Delight.” It would be impossible +to tell all the wonderful richness and beauty +of this building, which was adorned fit for the palace +of a prince.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passing through a lofty and spacious chamber, +every pillar of which was pure gold, set with pearls +and precious stones, the knights came to an inner +room, hung with the most costly tapestry. The place +was filled with the sweetest music and the singing of +birds, but the wasteful luxury they saw on every side +did not please Britomart nor the Knight, and they +looked with a scornful eye on such lavish profusion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then they came into the presence of the Lady of +the Castle. They found her seated on a splendid +couch, glittering with gold and embroidery. She +seemed very generous and of rare beauty, but she was +neither gentle nor modest, and she never hesitated to +gratify her own desires at any cost.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_178' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_178">178</span>When she saw Britomart, who, in her armour, +appeared to be a young and handsome knight, she +took a great liking to her, and thought how nice it +would be if she would enter into her service, and stay +altogether at the Castle. All through the splendid +supper which was presently served, she tried to make +herself as agreeable as ever she could, hoping that +Britomart would be tempted to remain. After supper, +she begged her to lay aside her armour, and enjoy +some sport; but this the maiden refused to do, for +she wore it as a disguise. Britomart would not be so +discourteous as to repulse the kindly spoken offers of +goodwill, but she in her heart thought that such a +sudden affection for a wandering guest could not be +worth very much.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the supper-tables were cleared away, all the +knights, and squires, and dames began to make merry. +There was dancing and gambling, and every kind of +revelry; but through it all Malecasta (which was the +real name of the Lady of Delight) was plotting in her +own mind how she could get hold of Britomart. If +the gallant young Knight (as she thought him) would +not consent to stay of his own free will, she determined +to detain him by guile.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So that night, when Britomart had taken off her +armour and was fast asleep, Malecasta went to her +room. Britomart sprang up in a great fright, and ran +to seize her weapon; but Malecasta shrieked for her +six knights, and they all came rushing in, armed +and half-armed. When they saw Britomart, with her +sword drawn, they were afraid to go near her; but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_179' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_179">179</span>one of them drew a deadly bow, and shot a keen arrow +at her, which wounded her in the side. But the noise +had also wakened the other Knight, who now ran to +her help, and, fighting together side by side, they soon +defeated their foes.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_207.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>But one of these sixe knights, Gardanté hight,<br> Drew out a deadly bow and arrow keene,<br> Which forth he sent, with felonous despight<br> And fell intent, against the virgin sheene.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_181' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_181">181</span>When they were all put to shameful flight, Britomart +arrayed herself again in her armour, for she +would stay no longer in a place where such things +were done by those who were apparently noble knights +and ladies. Quite early, therefore, while the dawn was +still grey, she and her companion-knight took their +steeds and went forth upon their journey.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Britomart looked into the Magic Mirror</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As Britomart and the Knight journeyed away from +Castle Joyous, it came into the Knight’s mind to ask +the Princess what had brought her into that part of +the country, and why she disguised herself thus: for +she seemed a beautiful lady when she was dressed as +one, but the handsomest knight alive when she was +clad in armour.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair sir,” replied Britomart, “I would have you +know that from the hour when I left my nurse’s arms, +I have been trained up in warlike ways, to toss spear +and shield, and to meet and overthrow warrior knights. +I loathe to lead the lazy life of pleasure that most +ladies do, fingering fine needle and fancy thread; I +would rather die at the point of the foeman’s spear. +All my delight is set on deeds of arms, to hunt out +<span class='pageno' id='Page_182' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_182">182</span>perils and adventures wherever they may be met by +sea or land, not for riches nor for reward, but only for +glory and honour. For this reason, I came into these +parts, far from my native country, without map or +compass, to seek for praise and fame.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“For report has blazed forth that here, in the +land of the Faerie Queene, many famous knights and +ladies dwell, and many strange adventures can be +found, out of which much glory may be won; and to +prove this, I have begun this voyage. But may I ask +of you, courteous Knight, tidings of one who has +behaved very badly to me, and on whom I am seeking +to revenge myself; he is called Artegall.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart did not mean what she said of Artegall; +she only spoke like this to conceal her real feelings. +As soon as the words were uttered she repented, and +would have recalled them, but her companion answered +almost before she had finished speaking. He said she +was very wrong to upbraid so scornfully a gentle Knight, +for of all who ever rode at tilt or tourney, the noble +Artegall was the most renowned. It would be very +strange, therefore, if any shameful thought ever entered +his mind, or if he did any deed deserving of blame, for +noble courage does nothing unworthy of itself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart grew wonderfully glad to hear her love +thus highly praised, and rejoiced that she had given +her heart to one so gallant; but in order to lead +the Knight to speak further in the same style, she still +pretended to find fault with Artegall, and asked where +he might be found, because she wanted to fight with +him.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_183' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_183">183</span>“Ah, if only reason could persuade you to soften +your anger!” said the Knight. “It is a bold thing +to imagine you can bind a man like this down to hard +conditions, or to hope to match in equal fight one +whose prowess has no living rival. Besides, it is not +at all easy to tell where or how he can be found, for +he never dwells in any settled spot, but roams all over +the world, always doing noble deeds, defending the +rightful cause of women and orphans, whenever he +hears they are oppressed by might or tyranny. Thus +he wins the highest honour.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>These words sank into Britomart’s heart, and filled +her with rapture; but still she would not let her companion +see it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Since it is so difficult to find Sir Artegall,” she +said, “tell me some marks by which he may be known, +in case I happen to meet him by chance. What is he +like? What is his shield—his arms—his steed—and +anything else that may distinguish him?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knight set himself to point out all these, and +described Sir Artegall in every particular.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Britomart knew already exactly what Sir +Artegall was like; and this is how she came to +know it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Long ago in Britain she had seen his image plainly +revealed in a magic mirror, and ever since then she +had loved no one else.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For in the days when her father, King Ryence, +reigned over South Wales, Merlin, the great magician, +had by his spells devised a wonderful looking-glass, +the fame of which soon went through all the world.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_184' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_184">184</span> +<img src='images/i_212.jpg' alt='A woman holds her chin in her hands as she sits gazing at a crystal ball on a table.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>For this mirror had the power of showing perfectly +whatever thing the world contained, between heaven +and earth, provided it had to do with the person who +looked into it. Whatever a foe had done, or a friend +<span class='pageno' id='Page_185' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_185">185</span>had feigned, was revealed in this mirror, and it was +impossible to keep anything secret from it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The mirror was round and hollow, and seemed +like a great globe of glass. Merlin gave it to King +Ryence as a safeguard, so that if foes ever invaded his +kingdom he would always know it at home before he +heard tidings, and thus be able to prevent them. A +present which could thus detect treason and overthrow +enemies, was a famous one for a prince.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day Britomart happened to go into her father’s +private room. Nothing was kept hidden from her, +for she was his only daughter, and his heir. When +she spied the mirror, she first looked in to see herself, +but in vain. Then, remembering the strange power it +was said to possess, she tried to think of some interesting +thing that concerned herself, and thus she wondered +what husband fortune would allot to her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Immediately there was presented to her eyes the +picture of a gallant Knight, clad in complete armour. +His face, under the uplifted visor of the helmet, +showed forth like the sun, to terrify his foes and +make glad his friends. His heroic grace and noble +bearing added to the grandeur of his figure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His crest was a crouching hound, and all his +armour seemed of an antique fashion, but was wonderfully +massive and stout, and fretted all round with gold; +written on it in ancient lettering were the words—</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>“<span class='blackletter'>Achilles’ arms, which Artegall did win.</span>”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>On his shield he bore the device of a little crowned +ermine on an azure field.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_186' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_186">186</span>Britomart looked well at the figure of this Knight, +and liked it well, and then went on her way, never +dreaming that her future fate lay hidden at the bottom +of this globe of glass.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Britomart went to the Cave of the Magician Merlin</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After Britomart had seen the figure of Sir Artegall +in the magic mirror, a strange thing happened. She +grew pale and ill, and lost all her merry spirits, and +she no longer cared to do any of the things in which +she had formerly delighted. At night, instead of +sleeping, she tossed about, and sighed and wept; or +if she did close her eyes for a few minutes, it was only +to dream of dreadful things, and to start awake again +suddenly, with cries of terror.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her old nurse, Glaucé, was much distressed to see +such a sad change in her dear young mistress, and one +night when Britomart had been more restless than +usual, she begged her to say what was troubling her, +and if she were secretly fretting over anything.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Britomart told Glaucé of the splendid Knight +she had seen in the magic mirror, and how she longed +to see him again. If it were some living person, there +might have been some hope for her, but now there +was none, for it was only the shade or semblance of a +knight. So grand and noble was the appearance of +Artegall that Britomart’s heart ached with sorrow to +think she should never see him in real life.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_187' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_187">187</span>Glaucé tried to comfort her, and spoke cheerfully, +but at first Britomart would not be consoled, for she +did not see how things could ever be better for her. +It was very foolish of her, she owned, to love only a +shadow, but she knew the remembrance of Sir Artegall +would never fade as long as life lasted, and she felt +that death only could put an end to her grief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well,” said the faithful old nurse, “if it is a +choice between death and seeing him again, I swear to +you by right or wrong to discover that Knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her cheerful words quite soothed Britomart’s sad +heart, and she lay down again in bed, and actually got +a little sleep; as for Glaucé, she turned the lamp low, +and sat by the bedside to watch and weep over her +dear young lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After that, Glaucé tried every way she could think +of to cure Britomart’s grief; but neither medicine, nor +charms, nor good advice did her any good, and the nurse +began to fear the King would be very angry with her +when he heard what had happened to his dear daughter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last she thought that he who made the mirror +in which Britomart had seen the strange vision of the +Knight, would surely be able to tell where the real +man could be found. Disguising themselves, therefore, +in poor clothes, so that no one would know who +they were, she and Britomart took their way to the +place where the great magician, Merlin, had his dwelling, +low underneath the ground, in a deep dell, far +from the light of day. It was a hideous, hollow cave, +under a rock that lay near a swift river foaming down +the woody hills.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_188' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_188">188</span>Arrived here, Glaucé and Britomart at first loitered +about outside, afraid to go into the cave, and beginning +to doubt whether they had done well to come. The +brave maiden, with love to befriend her, was the first +to enter, and there she found the magician deep in +some work of wonder, busily writing strange characters +on the ground.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Merlin was not in the least surprised at their bold +visit, for he knew quite well beforehand of their +coming; but he bade them unfold their business,—as +though anything in the world were hidden from +him!</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Glaucé told him that for the last three +months some strange malady had taken hold of the +young maiden; what it was, or whence it sprang, she +knew not, but this she knew, that if a remedy were +not found, she would soon see her dead. Merlin +began to smile softly at Glaucé’s smooth speeches, for +he knew quite well she was not telling him the whole +truth, and he said, “By what you say, your young +lady has more need of a doctor than of my skill. He +who can get help elsewhere, seeks in vain wonders +from magic.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Glaucé was rather taken aback at hearing these +words, and yet she was unwilling to let her purpose +appear plainly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If any doctor’s skill could have cured my dear +daughter,” she said, “I should certainly not have +wished to trouble you; but this sad illness which has +seized her is far beyond natural causes.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_189' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_189">189</span> +<img src='images/i_217.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Deepe busied ’bout worke of wondrous end,<br> And writing straunge characters in the grownd.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The wizard could stand no more of this, but burst +<span class='pageno' id='Page_191' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_191">191</span>out laughing, and said, “Glaucé, what need is there +for these excuses to cover the cause which has already +betrayed itself? And you, fair Britomart, although +dressed in these poor clothes, are no more hidden than +the sun in a veil of clouds. You have done well to +come to me for help, for I can give it you.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart was quite abashed at finding herself +discovered, and grew very red; but the old nurse was +not in the least discomfited.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Since you know all our grief—for what is there +that you do not know?”—she said to Merlin, “I pray +you to pity our trouble, and grant us relief.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Merlin reflected for a few minutes; then he spoke +to Britomart, and told her many things that would +happen in the future. He bade her not to be in the +least troubled, for all would end well, and it was no +misfortune for her to love the most powerful knight +that had ever lived.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The man whom she had seen in the magic mirror +was Sir Artegall, the champion Knight of <i>Justice</i>, and +he dwelt in the land of the Faerie Queene. He was +a mighty warrior, and would fight many battles for +his native country, in which Britomart would aid him. +He would win again for himself the crown that was +his father’s by right, and he would reign with great +happiness. His son would succeed him, and after +him would come a long race of kings.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Britomart and her old nurse, Glaucé, had +heard all they wanted to know, they both felt very +glad and hopeful, and they returned home with much +lighter hearts than they had set out.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_192' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_192">192</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How Britomart set forth on her Quest</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Britomart and her old nurse Glaucé now took +counsel together as to the best means of finding Sir +Artegall. They thought of one plan after another, +and at last the nurse hit upon a bold device. She +suggested to Britomart that, as the whole country was +now disturbed by war, they should disguise themselves, +in armour, and go in search of the Knight. It would +be easy for Britomart to do this, for she was tall and +strong, and needed nothing but a little practice to +render her skilful in the use of spear and sword.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly,” said Glaucé, “it ought to fire your +courage to hear the poets sing of all the brave women +who have come from the royal house to which you +belong.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>She went on to name a long list of noble Princesses +who had fought gallantly against their country’s enemies, +and bade Britomart follow their example and be +equally courageous.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her stirring words sank deep into the heart of the +maiden, and immediately filled her with courage, and +made her long to do brave deeds. She resolved to go +forth as an adventurous knight, and bade Glaucé put +all things at once in readiness.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_193' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_193">193</span> +<img src='images/i_221.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>In th’ evening late old Glaucé hither led<br> Faire Britomart, and, that same Armory<br> Downe taking, her therein appareled<br> Well as she might.</span>” . . .</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>It happened fortunately for them that only a few +days before, a band of Britons riding on a foray had +taken some rich spoil from the enemy. Amongst this +was a splendid suit of armour which had belonged +to the Saxon Queen, Angela. It was all fretted with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_195' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_195">195</span>gold, and very beautiful. This, with the other ornaments, +King Ryence had caused to be hung in his +chief church, as a lasting memorial of his victory. +Glaucé, remembering this, led Britomart there late +one evening, and, taking down the armour, dressed +her in it. Beside the arms stood a mighty spear, +which had been made by magic; no living person +could sit so fast in the saddle but it could hurl him +to the ground. Britomart took this spear, and also +a shield which hung near.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Glaucé had dressed the maiden she took +another suit of armour, and put it on herself, so that +she could go forth with her young mistress and attend +her carefully as her squire. Then they lightly mounted +their horses, which were ready for them, and rode +away in the darkness of night, so that none should +see them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They never rested till they reached the land of +the Faerie Queene, as Merlin had directed them. +There they met with the Knight from Queen +Gloriana’s court, as we have already seen, with whom +they had much pleasant conversation, but especially +about the gallant Sir Artegall. When they came +at last to the place where they had to part, the +Knight and Britomart, who greatly liked each other, +promised always to remain true friends, and Britomart +then rode on alone with Glaucé in search of Sir +Artegall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>What her companion had told her about Artegall +made her long all the more to see him, and she +fashioned in her mind a thousand thoughts as to what +<span class='pageno' id='Page_196' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_196">196</span>he would be like, picturing him in her fancy everything +that was noble and lovable—“wise, warlike, +handsome, courteous, and kind.” But these thoughts, +instead of soothing her sorrow, only made it worse, +till it seemed that nothing but death could drive away +the pain. So she rode forth, restless and unrefreshed, +searching all lands, and every remotest part, with +nothing but her love to guide her.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Britomart came to the Castle of the Churl Malbecco</h3> + +<p class='c017'>One night, as Britomart was riding on her way, a +fearful storm came on, great blasts of wind and a +pelting shower of hail. Seeing a Castle in front of +her, she went up to it, and earnestly begged to be let +in. But the Castle belonged to a miserly churl, called +Malbecco, who, because of his jealous and peevish +disposition, refused to allow any strangers to enter his +doors. He cared nothing what men said of him, +good or bad; all his mind was set upon hoarding up +heaps of ill-gotten gain. He was old and ugly, and +lacking in all kindness and courtesy. Instead of +opening his doors to all wandering knights, as was +the custom of the time, he kept them close-barred, +and even in the midst of the terrible tempest which +was then raging, Britomart was flatly refused entrance. +She was greatly displeased at this, and determined +when the time came to punish the churl for his discourtesy.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_197' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_197">197</span>But, in order to escape the fury of the gale, she +was compelled to seek some refuge near. Beside the +Castle gate was a little shed, meant for swine, but +when she tried to enter she found it already full of +guests. Another party of knights had been refused +admittance at the Castle, and were forced to fly there +for shelter. These would not at first allow Britomart +to enter, whereupon she grew very angry, and declared +she would either lodge with them in a friendly fashion, +or she would turn them all out of the shed, whether +they were willing or not, and then she challenged +them to come forth and fight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The knights would now have been willing to let +her come in, but her boastful tone irritated them; +one of them, Paridell by name, was especially annoyed, +and hastily mounting his steed he rode forth to fight +with her. Their spears met with such fury that both +man and horse were borne to the ground, and Paridell +was so sorely bruised that he could scarcely arise to +continue the combat on foot, with swords, as was then +the custom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But his companion, Sir Satyrane (who was the +good Knight who had formerly befriended Una in +the forest), stepped forward to prevent Britomart and +Paridell from fighting further, and his wise speeches +soon soothed their anger. When peace was restored, +they agreed to join together to punish the unmannerly +churl, who had acted so ungraciously in refusing them +shelter from the tempest, and they went towards the +gates to burn them down.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Malbecco, seeing that they were really resolved to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_198' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_198">198</span>set fire to the building, ran frantically, and called to +them from the castle wall, beseeching them humbly to +have patience with him, as being ignorant of his servants’ +rudeness and inattention to strangers. The +knights were willing to accept his excuses, though they +did not believe them, and they did not refuse to enter.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_226.jpg' alt='Several people gathered inside a room with a fireplace, including a knight removing a helmet and other figures seated or standing nearby.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>They were brought into a beautiful bower, and +served with everything needful, though their host +<span class='pageno' id='Page_199' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_199">199</span>secretly scowled at them, and welcomed them more +through fear than charity. They took off their wet +garments, and undid their heavy armour, to dry themselves +at the fire. Britomart, like the rest, was forced +to disarray herself. When she lifted her helmet, and +her golden locks fell like a cloud of light to the +ground, they were all amazed to find the valiant +stranger was a beautiful maiden. They stood gazing +at her, silent with astonishment, for eye had never +seen a fairer woman, but chiefly they marvelled at her +chivalry and noble daring. They longed to know who +she might be, yet no one questioned her, and every +one loved her on the spot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Supper was then served, and when the meal was +over the Lady Hellenore, wife of Malbecco, invited +all the knights to tell their name and kindred, and +any deeds of arms they had done. They talked so +long about their various strange adventures, and the +daring feats and many dangers they had passed through, +that old Malbecco grew quite impatient. He took no +interest in conversation of this kind. At last, when +the night was half spent, he persuaded them to go +to rest; so they all retired to the rooms prepared for +them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next day, as soon as the sun shone in the sky, +Britomart rose up and set forth on her journey. Sir +Satyrane went with her, but Paridell pretended to have +been so much hurt by his fight with Britomart that +he must stay behind at the Castle till his wounds were +cured.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_200' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_200">200</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How Britomart walked through Fire</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Britomart and Sir Satyrane had not long left the +Castle of the churl Malbecco when they saw in front +of them a huge Giant chasing a young man. Filled +with anger, Britomart immediately galloped to the +rescue, and Sir Satyrane followed close behind. Seeing +them approach, the Giant quickly resigned his prey, +and fled to save himself. He ran so fast that neither +of them could overtake him, and presently he came +to a great forest, where he hid himself. It was not +Sir Satyrane he feared so much as Britomart, for some +instinct told him that his evil nature would be powerless +to fight against any one so good.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart and Sir Satyrane entered the wood, and +searched everywhere for the Giant, and, each going a +different way, they soon got separated. Britomart +went deep into the forest, and at last came to a fountain +by which lay a Knight. He had tossed aside his +coat and mail, his helmet, his spear, and his shield, +and had flung himself face downwards on the grass. +At first, Britomart would not disturb him, for she +thought him asleep, but, while she stood still looking +at him, she presently heard him sob and sigh as if his +heart would break.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Filled with pity, Britomart begged him to say +what was the matter, as perhaps she might be able to +help him. The Knight, whose name was Scudamour, +did not think this at all likely, and would scarcely +speak, but, after some further gentle words from +<span class='pageno' id='Page_201' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_201">201</span>Britomart, he told her that he was in such deep sorrow +because the lady he loved had been seized by a wicked +enchanter called Busirane, and shut up in a horrible +dungeon, from which no living power could release +her. The enchanter had done this because he wanted +to marry her himself, and when she refused, and declared +she would never forsake her own true Knight, he had +taken this cruel revenge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Britomart bade him take courage, for she +would either deliver the Lady Amoretta from her +dungeon, or she would die with her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, gentlest Knight alive,” cried Scudamour, +“how brave and good you are! But keep your happy +days and use them to better purpose. Let me die +that ought. One is enough to die.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Life is not lost by which is bought endless +renown,” said Britomart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus she persuaded Sir Scudamour to rise and go +with her to see what success would befall him in this +fresh attempt. She gathered up his armour, which he +had flung away in despair, and helped him to put it +on, and she fetched his steed, which had wandered to +some distance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then they went forth together, and soon arrived +at the place where their venture was to be made. +There they dismounted, drew their weapons, and +boldly marched up to the Castle. Here they found +no gate to bar their passage, nor any warder, but in +the porch, which greatly terrified them, was a huge +flaming fire, mixed with smoke and sulphur, which +choked all the entrance, and forced them to go back.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_202' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_202">202</span>Britomart was dismayed at this, and did not know +what to do, for it seemed useless danger to attempt +to brave the fire, which prevented any one going near. +Turning back to Scudamour, she asked what course +he thought it would be safest to take, and how they +should get at their foe to fight him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“This is the reason why I said to you at first the +quest was hopeless,” replied Scudamour, “for this fire +cannot be quenched either by strength or cunning, nor +can it be moved away, so mighty are the enchantments +that keep it here. What else is to be done but to +stop this useless labour, and leave me to my former +despair? The Lady Amoretta must stay in her wicked +chains, and Scudamour die here with sorrowing.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“No, indeed,” said Britomart, “for it would be a +shameful thing to abandon a noble enterprise at the +mere sight of peril, without even venturing. Rather +let us try the last chance than give up our purpose +out of fear.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So saying, resolved to try her utmost, she threw her +shield in front of her face, and, holding the point of her +sword straight in front of her, she advanced to the fire. +The flames immediately gave way, and parted on either +side, so that she walked through without hindrance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Scudamour saw Britomart safe and untouched +on the other side of the fire, he also tried to +pass, and bade the flames make way for him; but the +fire would not obey his threatening command, and +only raged the more fiercely, forcing him to retire all +scorched and painfully burnt. Furious at his failure, +more even than at the pain of his burns, he flung himself +<span class='pageno' id='Page_203' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_203">203</span>impatiently down on the grass, but Britomart had +now passed the first door and entered the Castle.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_231.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Her ample shield she threw before her face,<br> And her swords point directing forward right<br> Assayld the flame; the which eftsoones gave place,<br> And did it selfe divide with equall space.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_205' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_205">205</span>The first room she came to was splendid to see, +for it was all hung round with rich tapestry, woven +with gold and silk. Beautiful pictures, representing +well-known fables and stories, were worked in the +tapestry, and at the upper end of the room was a great +Image which the people of the house were accustomed +to worship. This image was made of massive gold, +and had wings that shone with all the colours of the +rainbow. It was blindfolded, and held in its hand a +bow and arrows, which it seemed to shoot at random; +some of the arrows were tipped with lead, some with +pure gold. A wounded dragon lay under its feet.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart was so amazed at this wonderful figure, +that she kept gazing at it again and again, though its +brightness quite dazzled her. But, casting her eyes +round the room, to discover every secret of the place, +she saw written over the door these words:—</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>“<span class='blackletter'>Be bold.</span>”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>She read this over and over, but could not think +to what it could refer; but, whatever it might mean, +it did not in the least discourage her from following +out her first intention, so she went forward with bold +steps into the next room.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This second room was even fairer and richer than +the first one, for it was not hung round with tapestry, +but was all overlaid with pure gold carved into the +most curious and grotesque figures.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart marvelled much to see all this wealth +<span class='pageno' id='Page_206' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_206">206</span>and luxury, but, still more, that there was no trace of +living person—nothing but wasteful emptiness and +solemn silence over all the place; it seemed strange +that there was no one to possess such rich belongings, +nor to keep them carefully.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And as she looked about she saw how over that +door, too, was written “<i>Be bold, be bold</i>;” and everywhere, +“<i>Be bold</i>.” She meditated much over this, +but could not understand it. At last, at the upper +end of the room, she saw another iron door, on +which was written</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <div>“<span class='blackletter'>Be not too bold</span>,”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c009'>but, though she bent all her wise mind to the subject, +she could not tell what it might mean.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus she waited there until evening, yet saw no +living creature appear. And now gloomy shadows +began to hide the world from mortal view and wrap +it in darkness. Britomart did not dare to take off +her tiring armour, nor to go to sleep, for fear of +secret danger, but she held herself in readiness, and +saw that all her weapons were in good order.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>What Britomart saw in the Enchanted Chamber</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As darkness fell, Britomart heard the sound of a +shrill trumpet, the sign of an approaching battle or a +victory gained. This did not in the least daunt her +courage, but rather strengthened it, while she expected +each moment to see some foe appear.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_207' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_207">207</span>Then arose a hideous storm of wind, with thunder +and lightning, and an earthquake as if it would shake +the foundations of the world. This was followed by +a horrible smell of smoke and sulphur, which filled +the whole place. Yet still the brave Princess was not +afraid, but remained steadfast.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Suddenly a whirlwind swept through the house, +banging every door, and bursting open the iron wicket. +Then stepped forth a grave-looking person, in costly +raiment, and bearing in his hand a branch of laurel. +Advancing to the middle of the room, he stood still, +as if he had something to say, and beckoned with his +hand to call for silence. After making various other +signs, as if he were explaining some play that was going +on, he softly retired, and then his name could be seen +written on his robe in golden letters—“<i>Ease</i>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart, still standing, saw all this, and marvelled +what his strange intention could be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then through the iron wicket came a joyous band, +minstrels and poets playing and singing the sweetest +music, and after them followed a number of strange +figures in curious disguise, marching all in order like +a procession.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The first was <i>Fancy</i>, like a lovely boy. His +garment was neither silk nor stuff, but painted plumes, +such as wild Indians deck themselves with. He +seemed as vain and light as these same plumes, for he +walked along as if he were dancing, bearing in his +hand a great fan, which he waved to and fro. At his +side marched <i>Desire</i>. His dress was extravagant, and +his embroidered cap was all awry. He carried in his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_208' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_208">208</span>two hands some sparks, which he kept so busily blowing +that they soon burst into flame.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Next after these came <i>Doubt</i>, in a faded cloak and +hood, with wide sleeves. He glanced sideways out of +his mistrustful eyes, and trod carefully, as if thorns +lay in his path; he supported his feeble steps with a +broken reed, which bent whenever he leant hard on it. +With <i>Doubt</i> walked <i>Danger</i>, clothed in a ragged bear’s +skin, which made him more dreadful, though his own +face was grisly enough, and needed nothing to make it +more so. In one hand was a net, in the other a rusty blade—Mischief +and Mischance. With the one he threatened +his foes, with the other he entrapped his friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After Danger walked <i>Fear</i>; he was all armed from +top to toe, yet even then did not think himself safe. +He was afraid of every shadow, and when he spied his +own arms glittering, or heard them clashing, he fled +fast away. His face was pale as ashes, and he kept his +eyes fixed on Danger, against whom he always bent a +brazen shield, which he held in his right hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Side by side with Fear marched <i>Hope</i>, a handsome +maid, with a cheerful expression and lovely to see. +She was lightly arrayed in silken samite, and her fair +locks were woven up with gold. She always smiled, and +in her hand she held a little phial of dew, from which +she sprinkled favours on any one she chose. She showed +a great liking to many people, but true love to few.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After them, <i>Dissembling</i> and <i>Suspicion</i> marched +together, though they were not in the least alike; for +Dissembling was gentle and mild, courteous to all, +and seemingly gracious, well adorned, and handsome. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_209' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_209">209</span>But all her good points were painted or stolen; her +deeds were forged, her words false. In her hand she +always twined two clues of silk.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_237.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>After all these there marcht a most faire Dame,<br> Led of two grysie Villains, th’ one Despight,<br> The other cleped Cruelty by name.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_211' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_211">211</span><i>Suspicion</i> was ugly, ill-favoured, and grim, for ever +looking askance under his sullen eyebrows. While Dissembling +constantly smiled at him, he scowled back at +her, showing his nature by his countenance. His rolling +eyes never rested in one place, but wandered all round, +for fear of hidden mischief; he held a screen of latticework +in front of his face, through which he kept peering.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Next him came <i>Grief</i> and <i>Fury</i>, fit companions—Grief +clad in sable, hanging his dull head, carrying a +pair of pincers, with which he pinched people to the +heart; Fury all in rags, tossing in her right hand a +firebrand. Then followed <i>Displeasure</i>, looking heavy +and sullen, and <i>Pleasure</i>, cheerful, fresh, and full of +gladness. Displeasure had an angry wasp in a bottle, +and Pleasure a honey-laden bee.</p> + +<p class='c007'>After these six couples came a beautiful lady, led +by two villains, <i>Spite</i> and <i>Cruelty</i>. She looked pale +as death, and very ill, but in spite of this was most lovely +and graceful. Her feeble feet could scarcely carry her, +but the two wretches held her up, and kept urging her +forward.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the Tyrant of the Castle appeared—the +winged figure of <i>Love</i>, whom Britomart had already +seen in the first room as a golden image. He rode on +a ravenous lion, and had unbound his eyes, so that he +might gloat over the distress of the lovely lady, which +seemed to please him greatly. He looked round him +with stern disdain, and, surveying his goodly company, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_212' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_212">212</span>marshalled them in order. Then he shook the darts +that he carried in his right hand and clashed his rainbow-coloured +wings, so that every one was terrified.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Behind him came his three chief attendants, <i>Reproach</i>, +<i>Repentance</i>, and <i>Shame</i>, and after them flocked +a rude, confused crowd, who owned him as master—<i>Strife</i> +and <i>Anger</i>, <i>Care</i> and <i>Unthriftiness</i>, <i>Loss of +Time</i> and <i>Sorrow</i>, fickle <i>Change</i>, false <i>Disloyalty</i>, +<i>Rioting</i>, <i>Poverty</i>, and, lastly, <i>Death-with-infamy</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All these and many other evil followers passed in +disguise before Britomart, and, having thrice marched +round the enchanted chamber, returned to the inner +room whence they had come.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Britomart rescued a Fair Lady from a Wicked Enchanter</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As soon as the strange procession had passed into +the inner room, the door shut tight, driven by the +same stormy blast with which it had first opened. +Then the brave maiden, who all this while had remained +hidden in shadow, came forth, and went to the +door to enter in, but found it fast locked. In vain +she thought to open it by strength when charms had +closed it, and, finding force of no avail, she determined +to use art, resolving not to leave that room till the +next day, when the same figures would again appear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last the morning dawned, calling men to their +daily work, and Britomart, fresh as the morning, came +out from her hiding-place. All that day she spent in +wandering and in gazing at the adornment of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_213' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_213">213</span>chamber, till again the second evening spread her black +cloak over everything. Then at midnight the brazen +door flew open, and in went bold Britomart, as she +had made up her mind to do, afraid neither of idle +shows nor of false charms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as she entered, she cast her eyes round to +see what had become of all the persons she had seen +in the outside room the night before, but, lo! they +had all vanished. She saw no living mortal of that +strange company except the same hapless lady, whose +two hands were bound fast, and who had an iron +chain round her small waist, fastened to a brazen +pillar by which she stood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In front of her sat the vile Enchanter, drawing in +blood strange characters of his art, to try to make +her love him. But who could love the cause of all +her trouble? He had already tried a thousand charms, +but a thousand charms could not alter the lady’s steadfast +heart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the Enchanter saw Britomart, he hastily +overthrew his wicked books, not caring to lose his long +labour, and, drawing a knife out of his pocket, ran +fiercely at the lady, thinking, in his villainy, to kill +her. But Britomart, leaping lightly to him, withheld +his wicked hand, and overpowered him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, turning the weapon from the one whom he +had first meant it, he struck at Britomart and wounded +her. The hurt was slight, but it so enraged the maiden +that she drew her sword, and smote fiercely at the +tyrant. He fell to the ground half dead, and the next +stroke would have slain him, had not the lady who +<span class='pageno' id='Page_214' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_214">214</span>stood bound called to Britomart not to kill him. If +she did so, the prisoner’s pain would be without remedy, +for no one but the Enchanter who had put the spell +on her could take it off again.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_242.jpg' alt='A woman chained to a pillar while a seated figure tends to a small fire and a knight stands holding a shield behind them.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Then Britomart unwillingly stayed her hand, for she +grudged him his life, and longed to see him punished.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_215' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_215">215</span>“Thou wicked man,” she said to him, “whose huge +mischief and villainy merit death or worse than death, +be sure that nothing shall save thee, unless thou immediately +restore the lady to health and to her former +condition. This do and live, or else thou shalt undoubtedly +die.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Enchanter, glad to live, for he had expected +nothing but death, yielded willingly, and, rising, began +at once to look over the wicked book, in order to +reverse his charms. He read aloud many dreadful +things, so that Britomart’s heart was pierced with horror. +But all the time he read, she held her sword high +over him, in case he tried to do further mischief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Presently the house began to quake, and all the +doors to rattle. Yet this did not dismay her nor +make her slacken her threatening hand. But, with +steadfast eye and stout courage, she waited to see what +would be the end. At last the mighty chain which +was wound round the lady’s waist fell down, and the +great brazen pillar broke into small pieces. Gradually +her look of terrible suffering passed, and she became +restored to perfect health, as if she had never +been ill.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When she felt herself unbound, and quite well and +strong, she threw herself at the feet of Britomart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, noble Knight!” she said, “what recompense +can a wretched lady, freed from her woeful state, yield +you for your gracious deed? Your virtue shall bring +its own reward, even immortal praise and glory, which +I, your vassal, freed by your prowess, shall proclaim +throughout the world.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_216' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_216">216</span>But Britomart, lifting her from the ground, said, +“Gentle lady, this I ween is reward enough for many +more labours than I have done, that now I see you in +safety, and that I have been the means of your deliverance. +Henceforth, fair lady, take comfort, and put +away remembrance of your late trouble. Know, instead, +that your loving husband has endured no less grief for +your sake.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amoret, for that was the lady’s name, was much +cheered to hear this mention of Sir Scudamour, for +she loved him best of all living people.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the noble champion laid her strong hand on +the Enchanter who had treated Amoret so cruelly, and, +with the great chain with which he had formerly kept +prisoner the hapless lady, she now bound himself, and +led him away captive.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Returning the way she came, Britomart was dismayed +to find that the goodly rooms which she had +lately seen so richly and royally adorned had utterly +vanished, and all their glory had decayed. Descending +to the perilous porch, she found also that the dreadful +flames, which had formerly so cruelly scorched all those +who tried to enter, were quenched like a burnt-out +torch. It was now much easier to pass out than it had +been to come in. The Enchanter, who had framed this +fraud to compel the love of the fair lady, was deeply +vexed to see his work all wasted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when Britomart arrived at the place where she +had left Sir Scudamour and her own trusty squire (her +old nurse, Glaucé), she found neither of them there. +At this she was sorely astonished, and, above all, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_217' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_217">217</span>Amoret, who had looked forward to seeing her own +dear Knight, being deprived of this hope, was filled +with fresh alarm.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Scudamour, poor man, had waited long in dread +for Britomart’s return, but not seeing her, nor any +sign of her success, his expectation turned to despair, +for he felt sure that the flames must have burnt her. +Therefore he took counsel with her old squire, who +mourned her loss no less deeply, and the two departed +in search of further aid.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>What Strange Meetings befell on the Way</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Leaving the Enchanter’s Castle behind them, Britomart +and Amoret started in search of Sir Scudamour +and Glaucé.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As they went, Amoret told Britomart the story of +how she came into the power of the wicked Busirane. +On the very day of her marriage to Sir Scudamour, at +the wedding feast, while all the guests were making +merry, Busirane found means to introduce the strange +procession which had so amazed Britomart in the enchanted +chamber. Amoret was persuaded in sport to +join it, and was carried away quite unknown to any one. +Seven months she had been kept in cruel imprisonment, +because she would not consent to give up her own dear +husband and become the wife of the wicked Enchanter. +Now, at last, she was free, and when she discovered that +her deliverer was not after all a knight, but in reality +a beautiful maiden like herself, her heart overflowed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_218' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_218">218</span>with love and gratitude, and she and Britomart speedily +became the best and dearest friends.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the course of their journey they presently saw +two knights in armour coming to meet them, each with +what seemed at that distance a fair lady riding beside him. +But ladies they were not, although in face and outward +show they seemed so. Under a mask of beauty and +graciousness they hid vile treachery and falsehood, which +were not apparent to any but the wise and cautious.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One was the false Duessa, who had formerly beguiled +the Red Cross Knight and Sir Guyon. She had changed +her usual appearance, for she could put on as many +different shapes as a chameleon can new colours.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Her companion was, if possible, worse than herself. +Her name was Até, <i>Mother of Strife</i>, cause of all dissension +both among private men and in public affairs of +state. False Duessa, knowing that she was just the +most fitting person to aid her in mischief, had summoned +her from her dwelling under the earth, where +she wasted her wretched days and nights in darkness. +Her abode was close to the Kingdom of Evil, where +plagues and harms abound to punish those who do +wrong. It was a gloomy dell, far under ground, surrounded +with thorns and briars, so that no one could +easily get out; there were many ways to enter, but +none by which to leave when one was once in; for it +is harder to end discord than to begin it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All the broken walls inside were hung with the +ragged memorials of past times, which showed the sad +effects of strife. There were rent robes and broken +sceptres, sacred things ruined, shivered spears, and shields +<span class='pageno' id='Page_219' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_219">219</span>torn in twain, great cities ransacked, and strong castles +beaten down, nations led into captivity, and huge armies +slain—relics of all these ruins remained in the house of +Até. All the famous wars in history found a record +here, as well as the feuds and quarrels of private persons +too many to mention.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_247.jpg' alt='A woman and a knight on horseback riding along a path near a forest, with other horsemen visible in the distance.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_220' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_220">220</span>Such was the house inside. Outside, the barren +ground was full of poisonous weeds, which <i>Strife</i> herself +had sown; they had grown great from small seeds—the +seeds of evil words and wrangling deeds, which, +when they come to ripeness, bring forth an infinite +increase of trouble and contention, often ending in +bloodshed and war. These horrible seeds also served +Até for bread, and she had been fed upon them from +childhood, for she got her life from that which killed +other people. She was born of a race of demons, and +brought up by the Furies.</p> + +<p class='c007'><i>Strife</i> was as ugly as she was wicked; she could +speak nothing but falsehood, and she never heard +aright. She could not even walk straight, but stumbled +backwards and forwards; what one hand reached out +to take, the other pushed away, or what one hand +made, the other destroyed. Great riches, which had +taken many a day to collect, she often squandered +rapidly, dismaying their possessors; for all her study +and thought was how she might overthrow the things +done by Concord. So far did her malice surpass her +might that she tried to bring all the world’s fair peace +and harmony into confusion. Such was the odious +creature that rode with Duessa.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The two knights who escorted them, Blandamour +and Paridell, were young and handsome, but both +equally foolish, fickle, and false. When they saw +Britomart and the lovely Lady Amoret approaching, +Blandamour jestingly tried to make his companion +<span class='pageno' id='Page_221' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_221">221</span>attack Britomart, so that he might win Amoret for +himself. But Paridell remembered how he had already +fought with a knight bearing those arms and that +shield, outside the castle of the churl Malbecco, and +he had no desire to provoke a new fight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Very well,” said Blandamour; “I will challenge +him myself;” and he rode straight at Britomart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But he had soon cause to repent his rashness, for +Britomart received his advance with so rude a welcome +that he speedily left his saddle. Then she passed +quietly on, leaving him on the ground much hurt, an +example of his own folly, and as sad now as he had +formerly been merry, well warned to beware in future +with whom he dared to interfere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Paridell ran to his aid and helped him to mount +again, and they marched on their way, Blandamour +trying as well as he could to hide the evil plight +he was in. Before long they saw two other knights +coming quickly to meet them, and Blandamour was +enraged to see that one was Sir Scudamour, whom he +hated mortally, both because of his worth, which made +all men love him, and because he had won by right +the Lady Amoret. Blandamour was greatly vexed +that his bruises prevented his wreaking his old spite, +and he immediately spoke thus to Paridell:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fair sir, let me beg of you in the name of friendship, +that, as I lately ventured for you and got these +wounds, which now keep me from battle, you will now +repay me with a like good turn, and justify my cause +on yonder Knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Paridell willingly agreed, and sped at the stranger like +<span class='pageno' id='Page_222' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_222">222</span>a shaft from a bow, but Sir Scudamour was on his guard, +and prepared himself to give him a fitting welcome. +So furiously they met that each hurled the other from +his horse, like two billows driven by contrary tides, +which meet together, and rebound back with roaring +rage, dashing on all sides and filling the sea with foam. +So fell these two, in spite of all their pride.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Scudamour soon raised himself, and upbraided +his foe for lying there so long.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Blandamour, seeing the fall of Paridell, taunted +Sir Scudamour as a traitor, and heaped abuse on him, +saying that he only attacked knights who were too +weak to defend themselves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Scudamour gave no answer to this, trying to restrain +his indignation; but then Duessa and Até +both chimed in, wickedly doing all they could to +rouse his passion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They spoke jeering words, and said they wondered +Sir Scudamour should care to fight for any lady, for +Amoret was faithless, and had forgotten him and gone +off with another Knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This Knight, we know, was in reality the Princess +Britomart; but Sir Scudamour did not know this. +He swore, in a fearful rage, to be revenged; he +even threatened to kill the squire, Glaucé, who was +still with him, since he could not get hold of his +master. In vain the poor old nurse tried to appease +him, for she dared not disclose Britomart’s secret. +Three times Sir Scudamour lifted his hand to kill +Glaucé, and three times he drew back, before at last +he became a little pacified.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_223' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_223">223</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How Sir Satyrane proclaimed a Great Tournament</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The fickle and quarrelsome couple, Blandamour and +Paridell, having been defeated by Britomart and Sir +Scudamour, next fell in with a party of two knights and +two masked ladies. They sent their squire to find out +who these were, and he brought back word that they +were two doughty knights of dreaded name, Cambell +and Triamond, and the two ladies were their wives, +Cambina and Candace. All four were very famous +people, and the dearest friends possible. They had +had many wonderful adventures of their own, about +which perhaps you will read some day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Blandamour, in his usual vainglorious spirit, would +gladly have tested his strength against the knights, but +he was still sore from the late unlucky fight with Britomart. +However, he went up to them, and began to +abuse and insult them, thinking in this way to win +admiration from the ladies. Of course this enraged the +two knights, who were both bent on punishing Blandamour +for his base behaviour. But Cambina, wife of +Cambell, soothed them with her mild words, so, for +the present, they were reconciled.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The whole party rode on together, talking of daring +deeds and strange adventures, and, among other things, +of the great tournament to which they were then all +bound.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This tournament had been set on foot by Sir Satyrane, +the same woodland knight who had formerly +befriended Una, and who had met Britomart at the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_224' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_224">224</span>castle of the churl Malbecco. Some time before, +ranging abroad in search of adventure, he had come to +the sea-coast, where he was horrified to find a vile +monster, something like a hyena, feeding on the dead +body of a milk-white palfrey. He knew the horse at +once as the one on which Florimell was accustomed +to ride, and, moreover, he found beside it her golden +girdle. This girdle had fallen from her in flight, for +Florimell had escaped in a small boat; but Sir Satyrane +did not know this—he thought she had been killed by +the savage brute. Filled with fury, he fell on the +creature. He was unable to slay it, for it was protected +by the magic spells of its mistress, a wicked witch; +but he led it away captive for the time, though it +afterwards escaped.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The golden girdle which Sir Satyrane found he +kept as a sacred treasure, and wore for the sake of +Florimell. But when she herself was lost and gone, +many knights who also loved her dearly were jealous +that Sir Satyrane alone should wear the ornament of +the lost lady, and began to bear much spite against +him. Therefore, to stop their envy, he caused a solemn +feast, with public tourneying, to be proclaimed, to +which every knight was to bring his lady. She who +was found fairest of them all was to have the golden +girdle as a reward, and she was to bestow it on the +stoutest knight.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_225' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_225">225</span> +<img src='images/i_253.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>He sett upon her Palfrey, tired lame,<br> And slew him cruelly ere any reskew came.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Now it happened after the flight of Florimell, that +the wicked witch from whom she had escaped made +up another person to represent her, in order to deceive +people. This imitation maiden was most beautiful to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_227' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_227">227</span>see. The substance of which her body was made was +purest snow frozen in a mass, and mixed with virgin +wax, tinted with vermilion; her eyes shone like stars, +her hair was yellow gold. Any one who saw her would +surely say it was Florimell herself, or even fairer than +Florimell, if such a thing could be.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But this false Florimell had a wicked and deceitful +spirit, full of fawning guile, and she excelled in all +manner of wily cunning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the course of her wandering, this creature, who +was known by the name of the “Snowy Lady,” came +across Braggadochio, whom you may remember as +the cowardly boaster that stole Sir Guyon’s horse and +armour. But as she rode along with Braggadochio the +latter was attacked and beaten by another knight, who +thought the lady was the real Florimell. He in turn +was vanquished by Blandamour, who also imagined that +she was the true Florimell, and was very proud of himself +for getting possession of such a paragon. Though +he was so false himself, and had deceived hundreds of +others, he was no match for the “Snowy Lady” in cunning, +and was completely taken in by her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Blandamour heard of the great tournament +held by Sir Satyrane in honour of Florimell’s golden +girdle, he immediately determined to go there and +claim the prize on behalf of its rightful owner, whom +he then believed to be under his protection. Thus it +came to pass that the false Florimell journeyed with +Blandamour and the others to the tournament.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Not long after Cambell and Triamond, with their +wives, Cambina and Candace, had joined the party, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_228' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_228">228</span>they saw a man in bright armour, with spear in rest, +riding towards them as though he meant to attack +them. Paridell immediately prepared his own weapons, +whereupon the other slackened his pace, and seemed +to alter his intention, as if he meant nothing but peace +and pleasure now that he had fallen by chance into +their fellowship. Seeing this, they greeted him civilly, +and he rode on with them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This man was Braggadochio. When his eyes fell +on the false Florimell, he remembered her as the lady +who had been taken from him not long before. He +therefore began to challenge her as his own prize, and +threatened to seize her again by force.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Blandamour treated his words with much disdain, +saying, “Sir Knight, since you claim this lady, you +shall win her, as I have done, in fight. She shall be +placed here, together with this hideous old hag, Até +(<i>Strife</i>), that whoso wins her may have her by right. +But Até shall go to the one that is beaten, and he +shall always ride with her till he gets another lady.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>That offer pleased all the company, so the false +Florimell was brought forward with Até, at which every +one began to laugh merrily. But Braggadochio now +tried to back out of his challenge. He said he never +thought to imperil his person in fight for a hideous old +creature like that. If they had sought to match the lady +with another one equally fair and radiant, he would then +have spent his life to justify his right.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this vain excuse they all began to smile, scorning +his unmanly cowardice. The Snowy Lady reviled him +loudly for refusing to venture battle for her sake when +<span class='pageno' id='Page_229' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_229">229</span>it was offered in such knightly fashion, and Até secretly +taunted him with the shame of such contempt. But +nothing did he care for friend or foe, for in the base +mind dwells neither friendship nor enmity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Cambell jestingly stopped them all, saying, +“Brave knights and ladies, certainly you do wrong to +stir up strife when most we need rest, so that we may +keep ourselves fresh and strong against the coming +tournament, when every one who wishes to fight may +fight his fill. Postpone your challenge till that day, +and then it shall be tried, if you will, which one shall +have Até and which one still hold the lady.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>They all agreed, and so, turning everything to sport +and pleasantness, they passed merrily on their way, till +at length, on the appointed day, they came to the place +where the tournament was to be held.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>What befell on the First and Second Days of the Tournament</h3> + +<p class='c017'>On arriving at the scene of the tournament, the +little company divided, Blandamour and those of his +party going to one side and the rest to the other side; +but boastful Braggadochio, from vain-glory, chose +rather to leave his companions, so that men might gaze +more on him alone. The rest disposed themselves in +groups, as seemed best to each one, every knight with +his own lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, first of all, came forth Sir Satyrane, bearing +the precious relic in a golden casket, so that no evil +<span class='pageno' id='Page_230' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_230">230</span>eyes should profane it. Then softly drawing it out of +the dark, he showed it openly, so that all men might +mark it—a gorgeous girdle of marvellous workmanship, +curiously embossed with pearls and precious stones +of great value. It was the same girdle which Florimell +had lately lost. Sir Satyrane hung it aloft in +open view, to be the prize of might and beauty. The +moment it was uncovered, the glorious sight attracted +every one’s gaze and stole the hearts of all who looked +on it, so that they uttered vain vows and wishes. +Thrice happy, it seemed to them, would be the lady +and knight who gained such a splendid reward for +their peril and labour.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the bold Sir Satyrane took in his hand a +great spear, such as he was accustomed to wield, and, +advancing forward from all the other knights, set his +shield in place, showing that he was ready for the fray. +The warriors who fought on his side were called the +“Knights of Maidenhood.” They were the challengers, +and their aim was to keep the golden girdle in +their own possession.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Against him, from the other side, stepped out a +Pagan knight, well skilled in arms, and often tried in +battle. He was called “Bruncheval the Bold.” These +two met together so furiously that neither could sustain +the other’s force, and both champions were felled +to the ground, where they lay senseless.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Seeing this, other knights rode quickly to their +aid, some fighting on one side and some on the other. +Only Braggadochio, when his turn came, showed no +desire to hasten to the help of his party, but stood +<span class='pageno' id='Page_231' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_231">231</span>still as one who seemed doubtful or dismayed. Then +Triamond, angry to see him delay, sternly stepped +forward and caught away his spear, with which he so +sorely assailed one of the knights that he bore both +horse and rider to the ground. To avenge his fall +one knight after another pressed forward, but Triamond +vanquished them all, for no one seemed able to +withstand his power.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_259.jpg' alt='Knights on horseback jousting or fighting with spears and swords near a camp with tents.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>By this time Sir Satyrane had awakened from his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_232' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_232">232</span>swoon. When he looked around and saw the merciless +havoc that Sir Triamond had wrought to the knights +of his party, his heart was almost broken with bitterness, +and he wished himself dead rather than in so bad +a plight. He began at once to gather up his scattered +weapons, and, as it happened, he found his steed ready. +Like a flash of fire from the anvil, he rode fiercely to +where Triamond was driving his foes before him, and, +aiming his spear at him, he pierced his side badly. +Triamond could scarcely keep from falling, but he +withdrew softly from the field as well as he could, so +that no one saw plainly what had happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the challengers—the Knights of Maidenhood—began +to range the field anew, and pride themselves +on victory, since no one dared to maintain battle against +them. By that time it was evening, which forced them +to refrain from fighting, and the trumpets sounded to +compel them to cease.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So Sir Satyrane was judged to be the best knight on +that first day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next morning the tournament began anew. +Satyrane, with his gallant band, was the first to appear, +but Sir Triamond was unable to prepare for battle, because +of his wound. This grieved him much, and Cambell, +seeing this, and eager to win honour on his friend’s +behalf, took the shield and armour which were well +known to belong to Triamond, and without saying a +word to any one, put them on and went forth to fight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There he found Satyrane lord of the field, triumphing +in great joy, for no one was able to stand against +him. Envious of his glory, and eager to avenge his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_233' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_233">233</span>friend’s indignity, Cambell at once bent his spear against +him. After a furious battle, he overthrew Sir Satyrane; +but, before he could seize his shield and weapons, which +were always the reward of the victor, a hundred knights +had pressed round him to rescue Satyrane, and in the +hope of taking Cambell prisoner. Undismayed, the +latter fought valiantly, but what could one do against +so many? At last he was taken captive.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When news of this was brought to Triamond, he +forgot his wound, and, instantly starting up, looked for +his armour. But he sought in vain, for it was not there—Cambell +had taken it. Triamond therefore threw on +himself Cambell’s armour, and nimbly rushed forward +to take his chance. There he found the warrior band +leading away his friend—a sorry sight for him to see.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He thrust into the thickest of that knightly crowd, +and smote down all between till he came to where he +had seen Cambell, like a captive thrall, between two +other knights. Triamond attacked them so fiercely that +they were obliged to let their prisoner go, and then the +two friends, fighting together, scattered their foes in +alarm, as two greedy wolves might a flock of sheep. +They followed in pursuit till the sound of the trumpet +warned every one to rest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then all with one consent yielded the prize of this +second day to Triamond and Cambell as the two best +knights. But Triamond resigned it to Cambell, and +Cambell gave it back to Triamond, each trying to +advance the other’s deed of arms, and make his praise +preferred before his own.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the judgment was deferred to another day.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_234' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_234">234</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How Britomart did Battle for the Golden Girdle</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The last day of the tournament came, when all the +knights again assembled to show their feats of arms. +Many brave deeds were done that day, but Satyrane above +all the other warriors displayed his wondrous might; +from first to last he remained fighting, and though sometimes +for a little while fortune failed him, yet he always +managed to retrieve his honour, and with unwearied +power he kept the prize secure for his own party.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The field was strewn with shivered spears, and +broken swords, and scattered shields, showing how +severe the fight had been; there might be seen also +loose steeds running at random, whose luckless riders +had been overthrown, and squires hastening to help +their wounded masters. But still the Knights of +Maidenhood came off the best, till there entered on +the other side a stranger knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Whence he came no man could tell. He was in +a quaint disguise, hard to be discovered, for all his +armour was like a savage dress, decked with woody +moss, and his steed had trappings of oak-leaves, that +seemed fit for some savage mortal. Charging the +enemy, this stranger smote down knight after knight, +till every one began to shun the dreadful sight of him. +They all wondered greatly who he was and whence he +came, and began to ask each other his name; but when +they could not learn it anyhow, it seemed most suitable +to his wild disguise to term him the <i>Savage Knight</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But, truly, his right name was otherwise. Though +<span class='pageno' id='Page_235' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_235">235</span>known to few, he was called Sir Artegall, the champion +of <i>Justice</i>, the doughtiest and the mightiest Knight +then living.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Satyrane and all his band were so dismayed by +his strength and valour that none of them dared remain +in the field, but were beaten and chased about all day +till the evening. Then, as the sun set, out of the +thickest rout rushed forth another strange knight, who +put the glory of the “Savage Knight” to shame—so +can nothing be accounted happy till the end.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This strange Knight charged his mighty spear at +Artegall in the midst of his pride, and smote him so +sorely on the visor that he fell back off his horse, and +had small desire to rise again. Cambell, seeing this, +ran at the stranger with all his might and main, but +was soon likewise to be seen lying on the field. Triamond +thereupon was inwardly full of wrath, and determined +to avenge the shame done to his friend; but by +his friend he soon found himself lying, in no less need +of help. Blandamour had seen everything from beginning +to end, and when he beheld this he was sorely +displeased, and thought he would soon mend matters; +but he fared no better than the rest before him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Many others likewise ran at the Knight, but in like +manner they were all dismounted; and of a truth it +was no wonder. No power of man could stay the +force of that enchanted spear, for the stranger was no +other than the famous Britomart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus the warrior Princess restored that day to the +Knights of Maidenhood the prize which was well-nigh +lost, and bore away the prize of prowess from them all.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_236' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_236">236</span>Then the shrill trumpets began to bray loudly, and +bade them leave their labour and long toil for the joyous +feast and other gentle play, for now the precious golden +girdle was to be awarded to the most beautiful lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Through all ages it has been the custom that the +prize of Beauty has been joined with the praise of arms +and Chivalry. And there are special reasons for this, +for each relies much on the other; that Knight who +can best defend a fair Lady from harm, is surely the +most fitting to serve her; and that Lady who is fairest +and who will never swerve from her faith, is the most +fitting to deserve his service.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So after the proof of prowess well ended came +next the contest of the sovereign grace of beauty, in +which the girdle of Florimell should fall to her who +most excelled. Many wished to win it only from vanity, +and not for the wondrous virtues which some said it +possessed. For the girdle gave the gift of constant +and loyal love to all who wore it; but whosoever was +false and fickle could never keep it on, for it would +loosen itself, or else tear asunder. It was said to be of +magic origin, and Florimell, to whom it had been given +long ago, held it dear as her life. No wonder, then, +that so many ladies sought to win it, for she who wore +it was accounted to be peerless.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_237' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_237">237</span> +<img src='images/i_265.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>He at his entrance charg’d his powrefull spear<br> At Artegall, in middest of his pryde,<br> And therewith smote him on his umbriere<br> So sore, that tombling back, he downe did slyde.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The feast, therefore, being ended, the selected judges +went down into the late field of battle to decide this +doubtful case, for which all the ladies contended. But, +first, inquiry was made as to which of those knights who +had lately tourneyed had won the wager. Then it was +judged that Satyrane had done best on the first day, for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_239' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_239">239</span>he ended last, having begun first; the second day was +adjudged to Triamond, because he saved the victor from +disaster, for Cambell was in all men’s sight the victor +till by mishap he fell into the hands of his foemen; the +third day’s prize was adjudged to the stranger knight, +whom they all termed the “Knight of the Ebony Spear,” +and it was given by good right to Britomart, for she +had vanquished the “Savage Knight,” who until then +was the victor, and appeared at the last unconquered; +for the last is deemed best.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To Britomart, therefore, the fairest lady was adjudged +as a companion.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Artegall greatly grudged this, and was much +vexed that this stranger had forestalled him both of +honour and of the reward of victory. He could not +dispute what was decreed, but he inwardly brooded over +the disgrace, and awaited a fit time to be avenged.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This matter being settled and every one agreed, it +next followed to decide the Paragon of Beauty, and +yield to the fairest lady her due prize.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How the Golden Girdle was awarded to the False Florimell</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Then each Knight in turn began to claim the golden +girdle on behalf of his own lady. First, Cambell +brought to their view his fair wife, Cambina, covered +with a veil. The veil being withdrawn at once revealed +her surpassing loveliness, which stole all wavering +hearts. Next, Sir Triamond uncovered the face of his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_240' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_240">240</span>dear Candace, which shone with such beauty that the +eyes of all were dazzled as with a great light. After +her, Paridell produced his false Duessa. With her +forged beauty, Duessa entrapped the hearts of some +who considered her the fairest; and, after these, a +hundred more ladies appeared in turn, each one of +whom seemed to excel the others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last Britomart openly showed her lovely Amoret, +whose face uncovered seemed like the heavenly picture +of some bright angel. Then all who saw her thought +that Amoret would surely bear away the prize.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Blandamour, who imagined that he had the +real, true Florimell, now displayed the Snowy Lady, +and the sight, once seen, dismayed all the rest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For all who had seemed bright and fair before, now +appeared base and contemptible; compared with her, +they were only like stars in comparison with the sun. +Every one who saw her was ravished with wonder; +they thought she could be no mortal, but must be +some celestial being. They were all glad to see Florimell, +yet thought Florimell was not so fair as this +lady. Like some base metal overlaid with gold, which +deceives those who see it, was this false image who +passed for the true Florimell. Thus do forged things +sometimes show the fairest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, by the decision of all, the golden belt was +granted to her as to the fairest lady; and, bringing it +to her, they thought to place it round her waist, as +became her best. But this they could by no means do, +for every time they fastened the girdle, it grew loose +and fell away, as if there were some secret fault in her. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_241' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_241">241</span>Again and again she put it round her waist, but again +and again it fell apart. All the people wondered at +the strange sight, and each one thought according to +his own fancy. But the Snowy Lady herself thought +it was some spiteful trick, and it filled her with wrath +and shame as a thing devised to bring disgrace on her.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_269.jpg' alt='An armored knight and a seated woman among a group of people outdoors.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_242' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_242">242</span>Then many other ladies likewise tried to put on the +girdle, but it would stay on none of them. As soon as +they thought it fast, immediately it was untied again.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Seeing this, a scornful knight began to jest and +sneer, saying it was a pity that, among so many beautiful +ladies, not one was found worthy to wear the girdle. +All the knights began to laugh and all the ladies to +frown, till at last the gentle Amoret also essayed to +prove the girdle’s power. She set it round her waist, +and immediately it fitted perfectly, with no difficulty +whatever.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The others were very envious, and the Snowy +Lady was greatly fretted. Snatching the belt angrily +from Amoret, she again tied it round her own body, +but none the more would it fit her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Nevertheless, to her, as her due right, was the girdle +yielded, for every one thought she was the true Florimell, +to whom it really belonged. And now she had +to choose her companion knight. Then she adjudged +the prize to the “Knight of the Ebony Spear,” who +had won it in fight. But Britomart would not assent +to this, nor give up her own companion, Amoret, for +the sake of that strange lady, whose wondrous beauty +she esteemed less than the wisdom and goodness of +Amoret.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the other knights saw Britomart refuse, they +were all very glad, for each hoped Florimell would +choose himself. But the judges said that after Britomart +she must next choose the second best, and that +was the “Savage Knight.” But Sir Artegall had +already left in displeasure because he had not won the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_243' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_243">243</span>prize. Then she was offered Triamond, but Triamond +loved Candace, and no one else. Then Sir Satyrane +was adjudged to Florimell, and he was right glad to +gain so goodly an award; but Paridell and Blandamour +and many other knights were very angry, and wanted +to fight Sir Satyrane. The hideous old woman, Até, +with her wicked words, stirred them all up to demand +and challenge Florimell as their right, the recompense +which they deserved for their peril.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amongst the rest, with boastful, vain pretence, +Braggadochio stepped forward and claimed her as +his thrall, having won her in battle long ago. He +called the Snowy Lady herself to witness this, and being +asked, she confessed that it was the case.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thereupon all the other knights were more angry +than ever, and they were quite ready to prepare anew +for battle. But Sir Satyrane hit on a plan to appease +them. He suggested that the Lady herself should +choose which knight she preferred, and all the others +should abide by her choice. This they agreed to. So +Florimell was placed in the midst of them all, and every +knight hoped she would choose him. Then, having +looked a long time at each one, as though she wished +to please them all, the Snowy Lady walked up to +Braggadochio, and the two went off together.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart took no part in the struggle for Florimell, +for as soon as she saw that discord had arisen, she left +the place. Taking with her the lovely Amoret, who +was still looking for Sir Scudamour, Britomart rode off +on her first quest, to seek her beloved Knight, Sir Artegall, +whose image she had seen in the magic mirror. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_244' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_244">244</span>Little did she know that he was the “Savage Knight” +with whom she had so lately fought, and who was even +now waiting to be revenged on her. Unlucky maid, to +seek her enemy! Unlucky maid to seek far and wide +for him whom, when he was nearest, she could not +discover because of his disguise!</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Sir Scudamour came to the House of Care</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Thus Britomart, with much toil and grief, still +sought the Knight whom she had seen in the magic +mirror, and in all her sad misfortunes she found her +fellow-wanderer, Amoret, a great comfort. But the +gentle Scudamour, whose heart the malicious Até had +filled with jealous discontent, was bent on revenge—on +revenge against the blameless Princess. The wicked +tale told by Até pricked his jealous heart like a thorn, +and pierced his soul like a poisoned arrow. Nothing +that Glaucé could do or say would alter his feeling; the +more she tried to excuse Britomart, the worse it fretted +and grieved him night and day, so that nothing but +dire revenge might abate his anger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus as they travelled, night, gloomy with cloud +and storm and bitter showers, fell upon them before its +usual hour. This forced them to seek some shelter +where they might hide their heads in quiet rest. Not +far away, unfitting for any guest, they spied a little +cottage, like some poor man’s dwelling. It was placed +under a steep hillside, where the mouldering earth had +hollowed out the bank. A small brook of muddy water, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_245' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_245">245</span>bad-smelling as a puddle, passed close to it, bordered +by a few crooked willows.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Scudamour and Glaucé came nearer, they +heard the sound of many iron hammers ceaselessly beating +in turn, so that it seemed as though some blacksmith +dwelt in that desert place. Entering, they found +the good man himself bent busily at work. He was a +wretched, worn creature, with hollow eyes and wasted +cheeks, as if he had been long pent in prison. His +face was black and grisly-looking, smeared with smoke +that nearly blinded his eyes. He had a ragged beard +and shaggy hair, which he never cut nor kept in order. +His garment was rough and all torn to rags; he had +no better, nor cared for any better. His hands were +blistered and burnt from the cinders, all unwashed, with +long nails fit to rend the food on which he lived.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This creature was called <i>Care</i>. He was a blacksmith +by trade, who never ceased working, day or +night, but made iron wedges of small use. (These are +unquiet thoughts, that invade anxious minds.)</p> + +<p class='c007'>He kept six servants hard at work, always standing +round the anvil with great huge hammers, who never +rested from battering stroke on stroke. All six were +strong men, but each was stronger than the one before, +so they went up, as it were, in steps. So likewise the +hammers which they bore succeeded, like bells, in due +order of greatness. The last servant far exceeded the +first in size; he was like some monstrous giant. So +dreadfully did he beat the anvil that it seemed as if he +would soon drive it to dust. So huge was his hammer, +and so great his energy, that it seemed as though he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_246' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_246">246</span>could break and rend asunder a rock of diamond if he +cared to try.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Scudamour greatly wondered at the manner of +their work and weary labour, and having beheld it for +a long time, at last inquired the cause and end of it. +But all his questions were in vain, for they would not +stop from their work for anything, nor listen to what +he said. Even the gusty bellows blew fiercely, like the +north wind, so that no one could hear. “<i>Sadness</i>” +moved them, and the bellows were “<i>Sighs</i>.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The warrior, seeing this, said no more, but lay +down to rest in his armour. To rest he lay down on +the floor—in olden days the best bed for adventurous +knights—and thought to have refreshed his weary +limbs. And the aged nurse, Glaucé, his faithful +squire, also laid her feeble joints down, for her age +and weakness much needed rest after so long and +tiring a journey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There lay Sir Scudamour, long expecting the +moment when gentle sleep would close his weary +eyes, turning often from side to side, and often choosing +a new place where it seemed he might repose +better. And often in wrath he again rose from there, +and often in wrath lay down again. But wherever he +disposed himself, he could by no means obtain the +desired ease; every place seemed painful, and each +alteration useless.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And evermore when he thought to sleep, the sound +of the hammers jarred his nerves, and evermore when +he began to get drowsy, the noise of the bellows +disturbed his quiet rest. All night the dogs barked +<span class='pageno' id='Page_247' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_247">247</span>and howled around the house, scenting the stranger-guest; +and now the crowing cock, and now the owl +shrieking loudly, fretted his very soul.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_275.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Whereto approaching nigh they heard the sound<br> Of many yron hammers beating ranke.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_249' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_249">249</span>If by fortune a little drowsiness chanced to fall on +his heavy eyelids, immediately one of the villains rapped +him on the head with his iron mallet, so that he awoke +at once and started up quickly, as one afraid, or as if +one had suddenly called him. Thus he was often +roused, and then he lay musing on the unhappy cause +that had led him to the House of Care.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last his weary spirit, too tired to resist further, +gave place to rest; yet even now he was troubled with +bad dreams. Then the wicked creature, the master-smith, +took a pair of red-hot iron tongs and nipped +him in the side, so that his heart quite quaked at the +pain. Thereupon he started up to be avenged on the +person who had broken his quiet slumber, but looking +round about him he could see no one, yet the smart +remained, though the giver of it fled.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In such disquiet and heart-fretting pain, Sir Scudamour +passed all that long night, and now the day +began to peep over the earth, sprinkling the morning +grass with pearly dew. Then up he rose, like a heavy +lump of lead, and one could plainly read in his face, +as in a looking-glass, signs of the anguish he had gone +through.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He mounted his war-horse and set forth again on +his former journey, and with him also went Glaucé, +the aged squire, ready to share whatever pain and +peril might be in store.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_250' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_250">250</span> + <h3 class='c016'>How the “Savage Knight” met the “Knight with the Ebony Spear”</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>The day after Sir Scudamour left the House of +Care, as he rode sadly on his way, he unexpectedly saw +an armed Knight sitting in the shade on the edge of +a forest, while his steed grazed beside him. Directly +this Knight saw Scudamour, he mounted and rode +eagerly towards him, as if he intended mischief; but, +as soon as he saw the arms borne by him, he lowered +his spear and turned aside. Sir Scudamour wondered +at this, but the other said, “Ah, gentle Scudamour, +I submit myself to your grace, and ask pardon +of you for having this day almost done you an +injury.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Whereupon Scudamour replied, “Small harm is +it for any warrior to prove his spear, without malice, +on a venturous knight. But, sir, since you know my +name, pray tell me what is your own?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly, you must excuse me from making known +my right name now, for the time has not yet come for +it,” was the reply; “but call me the <i>Savage Knight</i>, as +others do.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then tell me, Sir Savage Knight,” said Scudamour, +“do you dwell here, within the forest, which +would answer well with your array?—Or have you put +it on for some special occasion, as seems more likely, +as you shun known arms?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The other day a stranger Knight brought shame +and dishonour on me,” replied the Savage Knight. “I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_251' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_251">251</span>am waiting to revenge the disgrace whenever he shall +pass this way, by day or night.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Shame be his reward who purposes shame!” said +Scudamour. “But what is he by whom you were +shamed?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“A stranger Knight, unknown by name, but known +by fame and by an ebony spear, with which he bore +down all who met him. He, in an open tourney lately +held, stole away from me the honour of the game, +and having felled me (already weary), reft me of the +fairest lady, whom he has ever since withheld.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Scudamour heard mention of the spear, he +knew right well it was Britomart, who also, as he +imagined, had taken Amoret from himself. Then +his jealous heart swelled with rage, and he said +sharply, “And that is not the first unknightly act +which that same knight has done to other noble +warriors, for he has lately stolen my lady from me, +for which he shall pay dearly before long; and if to +the vengeance decreed by you this hand can supply +any help or succour, it shall not fail whensoever you +need it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they both agreed to wreak their wrath on Britomart.</p> + +<p class='c007'>While they thus talked together, lo! far away they +saw a Knight gently riding towards them. He was +attired in foreign armour and strange array, and when +he came near they saw plainly he was the same for +whom they waited.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then said Scudamour, “Sir Savage Knight, let me +beg this, that since I was the first to be wronged, let +<span class='pageno' id='Page_252' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_252">252</span>me be the first to requite it, and if I happen to fail, +you shall recover my right.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>This being yielded, Sir Scudamour prepared his +spear for battle, and ran fiercely against Britomart. +But she gave him so rude a welcome that she smote +both man and horse to the ground, from which they +were in no hurry to rise. The sight of his mischance +added fresh fuel to Artegall’s burning rage, and thrusting +forward his steel-headed lance at a venture, he rode +against Britomart; but his evil intention recoiled on +himself, for unawares he suddenly left his saddle, and +in great amazement found himself on the ground.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Starting up lightly, he snatched forth his deadly +blade, and assailed Britomart with such vigour that, +although she was mounted and he on foot, she was +forced to give ground. As they darted here and there, +it chanced in her wheeling round that one stroke fell +on her horse and wounded him so badly that Britomart +was forced to alight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now she could no longer use her enchanted spear. +Casting it from her, she betook herself to her sword +and shield, and fought so valiantly that even now she +was almost a match for Sir Artegall; but towards the +end, while his strength seemed to get greater, hers grew +less. At last, he raised his hand, and gathering all his +force, struck such a terrible blow that it seemed as if +nothing but death could be her fate.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The stroke fell on her helmet, and with its force +sheared off the visor, and from there glanced harmlessly +downwards, and did her no more injury.</p> + +<p class='c007'>With that, her angel face, unseen before, shone +<span class='pageno' id='Page_253' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_253">253</span>forth radiant as the dawn; and round about it her +yellow hair, loosed from its usual bands, appeared like +a golden border, cunningly framed in a goldsmith’s +forge. Yet goldsmith’s cunning never knew how to +fashion such subtle wire, so clear and shining; for it +glistened like the golden sand which the bright water +of Pactolus throws forth on the shore around him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Sir Artegall again lifted up his hand, thinking +to work his utmost vengeance on her, his powerless +arm, benumbed with secret fear, shrunk back from his +revengeful purpose, and his cruel sword fell from his +slack fingers to the ground; as if the steel had sense +and felt some compassion that his hand lacked, or as +if both of them thought to do obedience to such divine +beauty. And Artegall himself, gazing long thereon, +at last fell humbly down upon his knee; and imagining +he saw some angelic being—for he did not know what +else it could be—he besought her to pardon his error, +which had done her such infinite wrong, while trembling +horror seized him, and made every limb quake and his +brave heart quail.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart, nevertheless, full of wrath for that last +stroke, kept her angry hand uplifted all the while; she +stood over him, with a stern look, threatening to strike, +unless he prevented her, and bidding him rise, or he +should surely die. But die or live, nothing would +make Sir Artegall stand up. He prayed more earnestly +that the warrior-maiden would either pardon him or do +with him as she chose, because of the great wrong he +had done her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Scudamour saw this, where he stood not far +<span class='pageno' id='Page_254' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_254">254</span>away, he was wondrously dismayed, and, drawing near +and seeing plainly this peerless image of perfection, he +too was terrified, and did homage to Britomart as to +some celestial vision.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_282.jpg' alt='An armored knight kneeling before another armored figure holding a sword and shield, with a horse and rider visible in the distance.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>But Glaucé, seeing all that happened, knew well +how to put right their error. Glad at such a good +ending, and rejoiced to see Britomart safe after her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_255' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_255">255</span>long toil, she advanced, and saluted her with a hearty +greeting. Then she besought her, as she was dear to +her, to grant truce for awhile to these warriors, which +being yielded, they lifted their beavers and showed +themselves to her such as indeed they were.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Britomart ended her Quest</h3> + +<p class='c017'>When Britomart, with keen, observant eye, beheld +the beautiful face of Artegall, tempered with sternness, +strength, and majesty, her mind at once recalled it +as the same which in her father’s palace she had seen +long since in that enchanted mirror. Then her wrathful +courage began to falter, and her haughty spirit to +grow tame, so that she softly withdrew her uplifted +hand. Yet she tried again to raise it, as if feigning +the anger which was now cold; but always when she +saw his face, her hand fell down, and would no longer +hold the weapon against him. Then having tried in +vain to fight, she armed her tongue, and thought to +scold him. Nevertheless, her tongue would not obey +her will, but when she would have spoken against him, +brought forth mild speeches instead.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Scudamour, glad at heart because he had found +all his jealous fears false, now exclaimed jestingly, +“Truly, Sir Artegall, I rejoice to see you bow so low, +and that you have lived to become a lady’s thrall, who +formerly were wont to despise them!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Britomart heard the name of Artegall, her +heart leaped and trembled with sudden joy and secret +<span class='pageno' id='Page_256' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_256">256</span>fear. She flushed deeply, and thought to hide her +agitation by again feigning her former angry mood.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Glaucé began wisely to put all matters right. +First, she told both the knights not to marvel any +more at the strange part Fate had made Britomart +play; then she bade Sir Artegall not to lament because +he had been conquered by a woman, for love was the +crown of Knighthood; and, lastly, she entreated Britomart +to relent the severity of her anger, and, wiping +out the remembrance of all ill, to grant pardon to +Artegall, if he would fulfil the penance she would impose +on him. “For lovers’ happiness is reached by +the path of sorrow,” she added.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this, Britomart blushed, but Sir Artegall smiled +to himself and rejoiced in his heart; yet he dared +not speak too suddenly of the love he bore her, for +her grave and modest face and royal bearing still +kept him in awe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Scudamour, whose heart hung all this while in +suspense between hope and fear, longing to hear some +glad and certain news of his Lady Amoret, now addressed +Britomart. “Sir, may I ask of you tidings of +my love, my Amoret, since you freed her from her +long and woeful captivity? Tell me where you left +her, so that I may seek her, as is fitting.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Indeed, Sir Knight, what has become of her, or +if she has been stolen away, I cannot rightly tell you,” +replied Britomart. “From the time I freed her from +the Enchanter’s captivity, I have preserved her from +peril and fear, and always kept her from harm, nor +was there ever any one whom I loved more dearly; but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_257' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_257">257</span>one day, as we travelled through a desert wild, both +being weary, we alighted and sat down in the shadow, +where I fearlessly lay down to sleep. When I awoke, +I did not find Amoret where I had left her, but +thought she had wandered away or got lost. I called +her loudly, I sought her near and far, but nowhere +could find her, nor hear any tidings of her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Scudamour heard this bad news his heart +was thrilled with fear, and he stood dazed and silent. +Glaucé tried to comfort him, bidding him not give +way to needless dread until he was certain what had +happened, “for she may yet be safe, though she has +wandered away,” she said. “It is best to hope the +best, though afraid of the worst!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But he took no heed of her cheerful words, till +Britomart said, “You have, indeed, great cause of +sorrow, sir; but take comfort, for by the light of +heaven I swear not to leave you, dead or living, till I +find your Lady, and be avenged on him who stole +her!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With that he was contented.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So, peace being established amongst them all, they +took their horses and rode forward to some resting-place, +guided by Sir Artegall. Here a hearty welcome +greeted them, with daily feasting, both in bower and +hall, until their wounds were well healed, and their +weary limbs recovered after their late rough usage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And all the time Sir Artegall and Britomart grew +more and more in love with each other, though Britomart +did all she could to hide her feeling. But so +winningly did Sir Artegall woo her that at last she was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_258' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_258">258</span>obliged to listen to him, and to relent. She consented +to be his wife, and the marriage took place.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_286.jpg' alt='An armored knight on a horse, with another armored person standing beside and touching the horseman’s hand.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>But their happiness was not yet complete. Sir +Artegall was all this while bound upon a hard adventure, +which had still to be fulfilled, and when a fitting time +came, he had to depart on his quest. Poor Britomart +would scarcely let him go, though he faithfully promised +to return directly he had achieved his task, which would +probably take him not longer than three months. +With that she had to be appeased for the present, however +<span class='pageno' id='Page_259' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_259">259</span>unhappy she really felt; and early the next morning +Sir Artegall started. Britomart went with him for a +while on his journey. She could not bear to part from +him, but all the way kept trying to find excuses for +delay. Many a time she took leave, and then again +invented something to say, so unwilling was she to lose +his company. But at last she could find no further +excuse, so, with a sad heart, she left him and returned +to Scudamour, whom she had promised to aid in his +search for Amoret.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Scudamour and Britomart went back to the +desert forest, where the latter had lately lost Amoret. +They sought her there, and inquired everywhere for +tidings, yet found none.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But by what hapless fate or terrible misfortune the +Lady Amoret had been conveyed away is too long to +tell here. In another story may be read the adventures +that befell her after she parted from Britomart.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_260' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_260">260</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_288.jpg' alt='A man kneeling beside a woman lying on the ground.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>The Squire of Low Degree</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c006'>The Giant with Flaming Eyes</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart, the Warrior Princess, having rescued +the fair lady Amoret from the wicked Enchanter, +then started forth with her to find her husband, the +good Knight Scudamour. Riding through a forest, +they alighted to rest, and here Britomart, overcome +with weariness, lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amoret, meanwhile, fearing nothing, roamed at +pleasure through the wood. Suddenly from behind, +some one rushed out, who snatched her up and bore her +away. This was a huge, hideous savage, who killed and +ate all the beautiful maidens he could get hold of. He +carried Amoret fainting in his arms, right through the +forest, till he came to his dwelling, a horrible cave, far +from all people’s hearing. Into this he flung her, and +went off to see if he could secure any other victims.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amoret was roused by her fall, but when she looked +<span class='pageno' id='Page_261' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_261">261</span>about and found nothing around her but darkness and +horror, she almost fainted again, and did not know +whether she were above or under the ground. Then +she heard some one close by sighing and sobbing, and +found this was another beautiful lady whom the savage +had taken prisoner.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amoret asked her who she was, and the lady told +her sad story.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She said her name was Emilia; she was the daughter +of a great lord, and everything went joyously with her +till she happened to fall in love with a gentle youth, a +Squire in her father’s household. He was gallant and +worthy enough for any lady to love, but he was not of +noble birth like herself, and her father refused to let +her marry him, and was angry with her for her folly. +Nothing, however, would make her alter her mind, and +rather than forsake her faithful Amyas she resolved to +leave friends and family, and fly with him. A meeting-place +in the wood was arranged, to which she came, +but there, instead of her gallant Squire, she found the +savage monster, who pounced on her like an eagle, and +carried her to his cave.</p> + +<p class='c007'>While Emilia and Amoret were talking of their +troubles, the hideous villain who was the cause of them +came rushing back, rolling away the stone which he +used to stop the entrance, in order that no one might +go out. Directly he entered, Amoret slipped past him, +and escaped from the cave with a loud scream of +horror. Fast she fled, but he followed as swiftly. +She did not feel the thorns and thickets prick her +tender feet; neither hedge, nor ditch, nor hill, nor +<span class='pageno' id='Page_262' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_262">262</span>dale could stop her; she overleaped them all like a +deer, and made her way through the thickest brushwood. +And whenever she looked back with anxious +eyes and saw the grisly monster approaching, she quickened +her pace, spurred on by fear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Long she fled thus, and long he followed, and it +seemed as if there were no living aid for her on earth. +But it chanced that the glorious Huntress-Queen, Belphœbe, +with her companions the wood-nymphs, were +that day chasing the leopards and the bears in that +wild forest. A gentle squire, who was also one of +the party, got separated from the others, and he came +in sight of Amoret just as she was overtaken by the +savage, who carried her away under his arm, grinning, +and yelling with laughter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The squire immediately attacked the savage, but +it was difficult to do him any harm, for the latter held +Amoret all the while as a shield, and the squire was +afraid of hurting her. But at last he did succeed in +wounding the wretch, who then flung Amoret rudely +on the ground, and flew at the squire so fiercely that +he forced him back.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In the midst of their battle, Belphœbe drew near. +The robber, seeing her approach with bow in hand +and arrows ready bent, would no longer stay to fight, +but fled away in ghastly fear, for he knew she was +the only one who could kill him. But fast as he flew, +Belphœbe kept pace with him, and before he reached +his den she sent forth an arrow with mighty force +which caught him in the very doorway and slew him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amoret and Emilia were now safe, and they lived +<span class='pageno' id='Page_263' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_263">263</span>together in the wood for some time; but both were +very ill—Emilia from having been kept so long a +prisoner in the cave, where she was nearly starved, and +Amoret from the hurts she had received in the rough +handling of the savage.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day it chanced that through this wood rode +Prince Arthur, and he came to the place where the +two ladies dwelt. He was greatly grieved to see the +sad state in which they were, especially Amoret, who +looked as if she could not live long. He immediately +drew forth some of that precious liquor which he +always kept about him, and which had the power of +healing all wounds. It was the same wonderful medicine +that he had long ago given to the Red Cross Knight, +when he rescued him from the dungeon of Giant +Pride. Prince Arthur sprinkled a few drops of this on +Amoret’s wounds, and she soon recovered her strength.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the ladies were well, Prince Arthur began +to ask what evil guide had brought them there, and +how their harms befell. They told him all that had +happened, and how they had been released from thraldom +by the beautiful Belphœbe. Then the Prince said +he would restore them safely to their friends, and placing +them both on his war-horse, he went beside them +himself on foot, to shield them from fear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus, when they had passed out of the forest they +spied far away a little cottage, to which they came +before nightfall. But entering, they found no one +dwelling there, except one old woman who sat upon +the ground in tattered raiment, her dirty locks scattered +all about her, while she gnawed her nails with cruelty +<span class='pageno' id='Page_264' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_264">264</span>and rage. She was a hideous creature to see, and no +less hateful by nature, for she was stuffed full with +rancour and spite, which often broke forth in streams +of poison, bitterness, and falsehood against all who held +to truth or virtue. Men called her name <i>Slander</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was Slander’s nature to abuse all goodness, and +continually to invent crimes of which to accuse guiltless +people, so that she might steal away their fair +name. No knight was ever so bold, nor any lady so +good and loyal, but what Slander strove to defame them +falsely; never thing was done so well but she would +blot it with blame, and deprive it of due praise. Her +words were not, as common words are meant, to express +the meaning of the mind, but they were sharp and +bitter to pierce the heart and grieve the soul; like the +stings of asps that kill with their bite, her spiteful +words pricked and wounded inwardly.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Such was the hag, unfit to receive these guests, +whom the greatest Prince’s court would have been +glad to welcome; but their necessity bade them look for +no better entertainment. It was, besides, an age which +despised luxury. People were accustomed to hardness +and homely fare, which trained them to warlike discipline, +and to endure carelessly any hard fortunes or +luckless mishaps which might befall them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All that evening, then, welcomed with cold and +cheerless hunger, they spent together, and found no +fault, except that the hag scolded and railed at them for +lodging there without her consent. But they mildly +and patiently endured it all, regardless of the unjust +blame and bitter reviling of such a worthless creature.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_265' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_265">265</span> +<img src='images/i_293.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>A Squire came galloping, as he would flie,<br> Bearing a little Dwarfe before his steed,<br> Whom after did a mightie man pursew,<br> Ryding upon a Dromedare on hie,<br> Of stature huge, and horrible of hew.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_267' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_267">267</span>Directly it was daylight they prepared again for +their journey, and went forth, Amoret and Emilia as +before riding on the horse, and the Prince walking +beside them. As soon as they departed, wicked old +Slander followed, reviling them, and calling them bad +names. The more they were vexed at this, the worse +she raged and railed; and even when they had passed +out of sight and hearing she did not stop her spiteful +speeches, but railed anew against the stones and trees, +until she had dulled the sting that grew in the end of +her tongue.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the travellers went slowly on their way, they saw +galloping towards them, as if in flight, a Squire who +bore before him on his steed a little dwarf, shrieking +loudly for help. They were pursued by a mighty man, +riding on a dromedary, huge of stature, and horrible to +behold. From his terrible eyes came two fiery beams, +sharper than needles’ points, which had the power of +working deadly poison to all who looked on him without +good heed, and of secretly slaying his enemies. +All the way he raged at the Squire, and hurled threats +at him, but the latter fled so fast he could not overtake +him. Seeing the Prince in his bright armour, the +Squire called to him to pity him and rescue him from +his cruel foe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Prince Arthur at once took down the two +ladies from his war-horse, and mounting in their +place came to the Squire. In another moment the +Giant was upon them. He aimed a furious blow at +the Squire, which would certainly have killed him, had +not the noble Prince defeated the stroke by thrusting +<span class='pageno' id='Page_268' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_268">268</span>forward, and meeting it on his own shield. It fell +with such force that it drove the shield aside, and +knocked both the Squire and the dwarf to the ground. +Then Prince Arthur, enraged, smote at the Pagan with +all his might and main, and killed him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Squire saw his foe dead he was indeed +glad, but the dwarf howled aloud to see his lord slain, +and tore his hair, and scratched his face for grief.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the Prince began to inquire about everything +that had happened, and who he was whose eyes flamed +with fire. And all this the Squire then told him:—</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>“For his Friend’s Sake”</h3> + +<p class='c017'>“This mighty man whom you have slain,” said the +Squire, “is the son of a huge giantess. By his strength +he gained rule to himself and led many nations into +thraldom, conquering them, however, not in battle, +by armies of men with waving banners, but by the +power of his malignant eyes, with which he killed all +who came within his control. Never before was he +vanquished, but always vanquished all with whom he +fought. Nor was there any man so strong but what +he bore him down, nor any woman so fair but he made +captive of her; for his chief desire was to make spoil +of strength and beauty, and utterly to destroy them. +Because of his wicked eyes, which cast flakes of fire +into the hearts of those who looked at him, he was +rightly called <i>Corflambo</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He has left one daughter who is named the fair +<span class='pageno' id='Page_269' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_269">269</span>Pœana, who seems outwardly as fair as living eye ever +yet saw; and if her virtue were as bright as her beauty, +she would be as fair as any one on earth. But she is +too much given to folly and pleasure, and is also too +fickle and too fanciful.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Well, as it happened, there was a gentle Squire +who loved a lady of noble birth; but because his low +rank forbade his hoping to marry so high, her friends +sagely counselled her against letting herself down to his +level. But Emilia would not break the promise she +had given Amyas, for she loved him truly, and holding +firmly to her first intention, she resolved to marry him, +in spite of all her friends. They appointed, therefore, +a time and place of meeting, but when accordingly the +Squire repaired there, a sad misadventure happened. Instead +of finding his fair Emilia, he was caught unawares +by Corflambo, who carried his wretched captive, dismayed +with despair, to his dungeon, where he remained +unaided, and unsought by any one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The Giant’s daughter came one day in glee to the +prison, to view the captives who lay in bondage there. +Among the rest she chanced to see this gallant youth, +the Squire of low degree. She took a great liking to +him, and she promised that if he would love her in +return he should have his liberty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Amyas, though plighted to another lady to whom +he firmly meant to keep his faith, thought he had better +take any means of escape offered by fortune, and therefore +pretended to like Pœana a very little, in order +to win her favour and get his liberty. But the Giant’s +daughter still kept him in captivity, fearing that if she +<span class='pageno' id='Page_270' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_270">270</span>set him free he would leave at once and forget her. +Yet she showed him so much favour above the other +prisoners that he was allowed sometimes to walk about +her pleasure gardens, having always a keeper with him. +The keeper was this dwarf, her pet menial, to whom as +a special favour she commits the keys of all the prison +doors. He can, at his will, release those whom he +chooses, and those also whom he chooses he can reserve +for more severe punishment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When tidings of this reached me, I was deeply +grieved because of the great love I bear to Amyas, and +I went to the Castle of Corflambo. There I concealed +myself for a long time, till one day the dwarf discovered +me, and told his mistress that her Squire of low degree +had secretly stolen out of prison; for he mistook me for +Amyas, because no two people were ever more alike.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I was taken and brought before the Giant’s +daughter, who being also beguiled by the likeness, +began to blame me for seeking to escape by flight from +one who loved me so dearly; and then she ordered me +again to prison. Glad of this, I did not contradict her, +nor make any resistance, but suffered that same dwarf +to drive me to the dungeon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“There I found my faithful friend in heavy plight +and sad perplexity, for which I was sorry, yet bent +myself to comfort him again with my company. But +this, I found, grieved him the more; for his only joy +in his distress, he said, was the thought that Emilia and +I were free. He loved Emilia well, as I could guess, +and yet he said his love for me was even greater.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_271' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_271">271</span> +<img src='images/i_299.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>This Gyant’s daughter came upon a day<br> Unto the prison in her joyous glee,<br> To view the thrals which there in bondage lay.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“But I reasoned with him and showed him how easy +<span class='pageno' id='Page_273' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_273">273</span>it would be to manage a disguise because of our +likeness, so that either we could change places or his +freedom might be gained. He was most unwilling to +agree, and would not for anything consent that I, who +was free and out of danger, should wilfully be brought +into thraldom. Yet, over-ruled at last, he consented.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The next day, at about the usual hour, the dwarf +called at the door of the dungeon for Amyas to come +directly to his lady’s bower. Instead of Amyas, I—Placidas—came +forth, and, undiscovered, went with him. +The fair Pœana received me with joy, and gave me an +affectionate greeting, thinking that I was Amyas. Not +having any former love of my own, I was quite willing +to accept her kindness and favour, as indeed it was expedient +to do. I pretended to make excuses for my +former coldness, and promised to be more amiable in +future. All this I did, not for my own sake, but to +do good to my friend, for whose liberty alone I staked +love and life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Thenceforward I found more favour at Pœana’s +hand. She bade the dwarf who had charge of me +lighten my heavy chains and grant me more scope to +walk abroad. So, one day, as I played with him on the +flowery bank of a stream, finding no means of gaining +our freedom unless I could convey away the dwarf, +I lightly snatched him up and carried him off.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He shrieked so loudly that at his cry the tyrant +himself came forth and pursued me. Nevertheless I +would not give up my prey, and hither by force I +have brought him.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Placidas spoke thus to Prince Arthur, the two +<span class='pageno' id='Page_274' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_274">274</span>ladies, still doubtful through fear, came near, wishing +to hear tidings of all that had happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Directly Emilia spied her captive lover’s friend, +young Placidas, she sprang towards him, and throwing +her arms round him, exclaimed, “Does Amyas still +live?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He lives,” said Placidas, “and loves his Emilia.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not more than I love him,” she cried. “But +what misfortune has kept him so long from me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Placidas told her how Amyas had been taken +captive. It filled her tender heart with pity to hear +of the misery in which he had lain so long, and she +eagerly begged Prince Arthur to set him free. This +the Prince readily consented to do, and well he performed +his work.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Giant’s Daughter</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Of all human affection the love of one friend +for another is surely the noblest and most unselfish; +and this true friendship Amyas and Placidas had +for each other—not even their affection for kindred +or fairest lady could shake their loyalty. For though +Pœana were as beautiful as the morning, yet Placidas, +for his friend’s sake, scorned her offered favours. His +only thought was what he could do to set Amyas free.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_275' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_275">275</span> +<img src='images/i_303.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>There did he find in her delicious bower<br> The fair Pœana playing on a rote.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Now after Prince Arthur had promised to succour +the Squire who had lain so long in prison, he next +began to consider how best he could effect his purpose. +Taking up the dead body of the Giant, he firmly bound +<span class='pageno' id='Page_277' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_277">277</span>it on the dromedary, and made it so to ride as if it +were alive. Then he took Placidas and placed him in +front of Corflambo, as if he were a captive; and he +made the dwarf (though very unwillingly) guide the +beast till they drew near the castle. When the watchman +who kept continual guard saw them thus coming +home, he ran down, without doubt or fear, and unbarred +the gate, and the Prince following passed in +with the others.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There in her delicious bower he found the fair +Pœana playing on a rote, complaining of her cruel +lover, and singing all her sorrow in music. So sweet +and lovely she seemed that the Prince was half-entranced, +but wisely bethinking himself of what was +right, he caught her unawares and held her captive.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he took the dwarf and compelled him to open +the prison door, and to bring forth the thralls which +he kept there. Over a score of unknown knights and +squires were brought to him, all of whom he freed +from their bitter bondage, and restored to their former +liberty. Among the rest came the Squire of low degree, +all weak and wan. As soon as Emilia and Placidas +beheld him they both ran and embraced him, holding +him fast between them, and striving all they could to +comfort him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Giant’s daughter, seeing this, envied them both, +and bitterly railed at them, weeping with rage and +jealousy. But when they had been for some time together, +talking over their adventures, although Pœana +had often seen Amyas and Placidas separately, she +began to doubt which was really the captive Squire +<span class='pageno' id='Page_278' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_278">278</span>whom she had loved so dearly; for they appeared +so alike in face and person that it was difficult to discover +which was which. So also Prince Arthur was +amazed at their resemblance, and gazed long in wonder, +as did the other knights and squires who saw them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then they began to ransack the Giant’s castle, in +which they found great store of hoarded treasure, which +the tyrant had gathered by wicked means. Prince +Arthur took possession of this, and afterwards remained +a little while at the castle to rest himself, and refresh +the ladies Amoret and Emilia, after their weary toil. +To these also he gave part of the treasure.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To add to the rejoicing, he set free the captive +lady, the fair Pœana, and placed her in a chair of +state with the rest, to feast and frolic. But she would +show no gladness nor pleasant glee, for she was grieved +for the loss both of her father and of her lands and +money. But most of all she deeply grieved for the loss +of the gentle Squire Placidas, whom she now really +loved.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Prince Arthur, with his accustomed grace, +charmed her to mild behaviour from the sullen rudeness +which spoilt her. With gentle words and manner +he calmed her raging temper, and softened the bitterness +that gnawed at her heart and kept her from the +feast; for although she was most fair to see, she spoilt +all her beauty by cruelty and pride. And in order to +end everything with friendly love—since love was the +cause of her grief—Prince Arthur wisely urged the +trusty Squire Placidas not to despise without better +trial the lady who loved him so dearly, but to accept +<span class='pageno' id='Page_279' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_279">279</span>her to be his wedded wife. Placidas was quite willing +to marry Pœana; so all their strife came to an end.</p> + +<p class='c007'>From that day forth they lived long together in +peace and happiness: no private quarrel nor spite of +enemies could shake the calm security of their position. +And she whom Nature had created so fair that she +could match the fairest of them all, and yet who had +spoilt it by her own wayward folly, henceforth reformed +her ways, so that all men marvelled at the change, and +spoke in praise of her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus having settled these friends, Amyas and +Placidas, in peace and rest (for Amyas, of course, +married his dear Emilia), Prince Arthur again went on +his way; and with him went the Lady Amoret, for +she had still to find her husband, the good Knight +Scudamour.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_280' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_280">280</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_308.jpg' alt='Two knights on horseback jousting with lances on a bridge leading to a castle.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>The Adventures of Sir Artegall</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div>“<i>The champion of true Justice, Artegall.</i>”</div> + <div class='c004'>“<i>Wise, warlike, personable, courteous, and kind.</i>”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Sword of Justice and the Iron Man</h3> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c018'>One of the noblest heroes at the Court of the +Faerie Queene was Artegall, the champion of +<i>Justice</i>. After his marriage with Britomart, it may be +remembered, he started on a hard adventure, which led +him into much peril. This was to succour a distressed +lady whom a strong tyrant unjustly kept captive, withholding +from her the heritage which she claimed. +The lady was called Irene (<i>Peace</i>), and the Tyrant, +Grantorto (<i>Great Wrong</i>).</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_281' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_281">281</span>When Irene came to the Faerie Queene to beg redress, +Queen Gloriana, whose delight it was to aid all +poor suppliants, chose Artegall to restore right to her, +because he seemed the best skilled in righteous learning.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Even from his cradle Artegall had been brought up +to justice; for one day when he was a little child playing +with his companions, he had been found by a great +and wonderful lady called Astræa, who, while she dwelt +here among earthly men, instructed them in the rules of +justice. Seeing that the boy was noble and fit for her +purpose, she persuaded him to go with her. She took +him far away to a lonely cave, in which she brought him +up, and taught him all the discipline of justice. She +taught him to weigh equally both right and wrong, and +where severity was needed to measure it out according +to the line of conscience. For want of mankind she +caused him to practise this teaching on wild beasts which +she found in the woods wrongfully oppressing others of +their own kind. Thus she trained him, and thus she +taught him to judge skilfully wrong and right till he +reached the years of manhood, so that even wild beasts +feared him, and men admired his over-ruling might. +Nor was there any living person who dared withstand +his behest, much less match him in fight. To make +him more dreaded, Astræa gave Artegall a wonderful +sword, called “Chrysaor,” which excelled all other +swords. It was made of most perfect metal, tempered +with adamant, all garnished with gold upon the blade, +whereby it took its name. It was no less powerful +than famous, for there was no substance so firm and +hard but it could pierce or cleave, nor any armour that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_282' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_282">282</span>could guard off the stroke, for wherever it lighted, it +cut completely through.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In course of time Astræa left this world, and went +to live among the stars, from which she had first come. +But she left behind her on earth her servant, an Iron +Man, who always attended on her to execute her judgments, +and she bade him go with Artegall and do whatever +he was told. The man’s name was Talus; he was +made of iron mould, immovable, irresistible, unchanging; +he held in his hand an iron flail, with which he +threshed out falsehood and unfolded the truth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Talus, therefore, went with Sir Artegall on this new +quest, to aid him, if he chanced to need aid, against +the cruel tyrant who oppressed the Lady Irene and kept +the crown from her. Nothing is more honourable to +a knight, nor better becomes brave chivalry, than to +defend the feeble in their right, and redress the wrongs +of those who go astray. So the heroes of old won their +greatest glory, and herein this noble Knight excelled, +who now went forth to dare great perils for the sake +of justice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Artegall and Talus went on their way they +chanced to meet the servant of Florimell, who told the +good news that his lady was safe and well, and engaged +to be married to her own true knight, Marinell. Sir +Artegall was very glad to hear this, and asked when the +wedding was to take place, for if he had time he would +like to be present to do honour to the occasion.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_283' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_283">283</span> +<img src='images/i_311.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>... “<span class='blackletter'>For want there of mankind,<br> She caused him to make experience<br> Upon wyld beasts, which she in woods did find<br> With wrongfull powre oppressing others of their kind.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“The wedding will be within three days,” said the +man, “at the Castle of the Strand; at which time, if +nothing hinders me, I shall be there to do her service, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_285' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_285">285</span>as I am bound. But in my way, a little beyond here, +dwells a cruel Saracen who keeps with strong hand +the passage of a bridge. He has killed there many +a knight-errant, wherefore all men, out of fear, shun +the passage.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What sort of person, and how far away, is he who +does such harm to travellers?” asked Artegall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is a man of great defence, expert in battle +and in deeds of arms,” was the answer; “and he is +made much bolder by the wicked spells with which his +daughter supports him. He has got large estates and +goodly farms by oppression and extortion, with which +he still holds them. His crimes increase daily, for he +never lets any one pass that way over his Bridge, be he +rich or poor, without paying him toll-money. His +name is called Pollenté, because he is so strong and +powerful; he conquers every one,—some by his +strength, and some also he circumvents by cunning. +For it is his custom to fight on the bridge, which is +very narrow, but exceedingly long, and in this bridge +are fixed many trap-falls, through which, not noticing, +the rider falls down. Underneath the bridge flows a +swift and dangerously deep river, into which falls +headlong, destitute of help, any one whom the Saracen +overthrows. But the tyrant himself, because of his +long practice, leaps forth into the flood, and there +assails his foe, confused by his sudden fall, so that +horse and man are both equally dismayed, and either +drowned or treacherously slain. Then Pollenté robs +them at will, and brings the spoil to his daughter, who +dwells hard by. She takes everything that comes, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_286' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_286">286</span>fills her wicked coffers, which she has heaped so high +by wrong-doing that she is richer than many a prince, +and has purchased all the country lying near with her +ill-gotten revenue. Her name is Munera.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“She is very beautiful and richly attired; her hands +are made of gold, and her feet of silver. Many great +lords have wished to marry her, but she is so proud that +she despises them all.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now by my life, and with Heaven to guide me,” +said Sir Artegall, “no other way will I take this day +but by that bridge where the Saracen abides; therefore +lead me thither.”</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Adventure of the Saracen’s Bridge</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Sir Artegall soon came to the place where he saw +the Saracen ready armed on the bridge, waiting for +spoil. When he and Talus drew near to cross it, an +ugly-looking rascal came to them to demand passage-money, +according to the custom of the law. “Lo, +there are your wages!” said Sir Artegall, and smote +him so that he died.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Pagan saw this he grew very angry, and +at once prepared himself for battle; nor was Sir Artegall +behind, so they both ran at each other with levelled +spears. Right in the middle, where they would have +met breast to breast, a trap was let down to make them +fall into the river. The wicked wretch leaped down, +knowing well that his foe would fall; but Sir Artegall +was on his guard, and also leaped before he fell.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_287' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_287">287</span>Then both of them being in the stream they flew +at each other violently, the water in no way cooling +the heat of their temper but rather adding to it. But +there the Saracen, who was well used to fighting in the +water, had great advantage, and often almost overthrew +Sir Artegall. The charger, also, which he rode could +swim like a fish.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Artegall saw the odds against him, he +knew there was no way but to close hastily with his +foe, and driving strongly at Pollenté he gripped him +fast by his iron collar, and almost throttled him. +There they strove and struggled together, each trying +to drag the other from his horse, but nothing could +make Artegall slacken his grip. At length he forced +Pollenté to forsake his horse’s back, for fear of being +drowned, and to betake himself to his swimming. +There Pollenté had no advantage, for Artegall was +skilful in swimming, and dared venture in any depth +of water. So every knight exposed to peril should +be expert in swimming and able to make his way +through water.</p> + +<p class='c007'>For some time the end of the contest was doubtful, +for besides being skilled in that exercise, both were +well trained in arms and thoroughly tried. Artegall, +however, kept his breath and strength better, so +that his foe could no longer withstand him, nor bear +himself upright, but fled from the water to the land. +Artegall, with his bright sword, Chrysaor, pursued him +so closely that Pollenté had scarcely set foot on shore +before his head was cut off.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_288' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_288">288</span> +<img src='images/i_316.jpg' alt='Two armored knights on horses wading in water beneath a stone bridge.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>This done, Sir Artegall took his way to the castle +in which Munera dwelt, guarded by many defenders. +Artegall sought entrance, but was refused and defied +with a torrent of evil abuse. He was also beaten with +stones flung down from the battlements, so that he was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_289' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_289">289</span>forced to retire, and he bade his servant Talus invent +some way by which he could enter without danger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Talus went to the castle gate, and let fly at +it with his iron flail, so that it sorely terrified all the +warders, and made those stoop who had borne themselves +so proudly. He battered and banged on the +door, and thundered strokes so hideously that he shook +the very foundations of the building, and filled all the +house with fear and uproar.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At this noise the Lady Munera appeared on the +castle wall. When she saw the dangerous state in +which she stood, she feared she would soon be destroyed, +and began with fair words to entreat the Iron +Man below to cease his outrage; for neither the force +of the stones which they threw, nor the power of +charms which she wrought against him could make +him stop.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when she saw him proceed, unmoved by pity +or by prayers, she tried to bribe him with a goodly reward. +She caused great sacks with countless riches to be +brought to the battlements, and poured over the castle +wall, so that she might gain some time, though dearly +bought, whilst he gathered up the gold.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Talus was not in the least moved or tempted by +this, but still continued his assault with the iron flail, +so that at length he rent down the door, and made a +way for his master. When Artegall entered, it was no +use for any one to try to withstand him. They all +fled; their hearts failed them, and they hid in corners +here and there; and their wicked lady herself, half-dead, +hid in terror. For a long time no one could find +<span class='pageno' id='Page_290' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_290">290</span>her, but Talus, who, like a bloodhound, could track out +secret things, at length found her where she lay hidden +under a heap of gold, and dragged her forth. Sir +Artegall himself pitied her sad plight, but he could not +change the course of justice. Like her father, Munera +had to be punished, in order to warn all mighty people +who possess great power that they must use it in the +right way, and not oppress the feeble. The Tyrant’s +daughter was thrown into the water, and the stream +washed her away.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Talus took all the ill-gotten gold and treasure +which her father had scraped together by hook and +crook, and burning it into ashes, poured it into the +river. Lastly, he pulled down the castle to its very +foundation, and broke up all the hewn stones, so that +there could be no hope of its being restored, nor +memory of it among any nation. All which Talus +having thoroughly performed, Sir Artegall reformed +the evil fashion and wicked customs of the bridge; +and this done, he returned to his former journey.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Giant with the Scales</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After travelling a long, weary way, Sir Artegall +and Talus came near the sea, and here one day they +saw before them an immense crowd of people, stretching +out as far as the eye could reach. They were much +astonished at this great assembly, and therefore approached +to ask what had brought them together. +There they beheld a mighty giant standing on a rock, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_291' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_291">291</span>and holding high in his hand a great pair of scales, +with which he boasted in his presumption that he +would accurately weigh the whole world, if he had +anything to match it in the other scale. He said he +would take up all the earth, and all the sea, divided +from each other; so would he also make one balance +of the fire, and one of air, without wind or weather; +then he would balance heaven and hell together, and +all that was contained within them, and would not miss +a feather of their weight—any surplus of each that +remained over he would restore to its own part. For, +said he, they were all unequal, and had encroached on +each other’s share, like the sea which had worn the +earth, as the fire had done the air. So all the rest took +possession of each other’s parts, and thus countries +and nations had gone awry. All of which he undertook +to repair in the way they had anciently been +formed, and everything should be made equal. He +would throw down the mountains and make them +level with the plain; the towering rocks he would +thrust down into the deepest sea; he would suppress +tyrants, so that they should no longer rule; and all the +wealth of the rich men he would take away and give +to the poor.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_319.jpg' alt='A person standing on a rock by the water holding up a set of scales, while a group of people look on from the foreground.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_292' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_292">292</span>All the silly ignorant folk flocked about the giant, +and clustered thick to hear his vain delusions, like +foolish flies round a jar of honey; for they hoped to +gain great benefits by him, and uncontrolled freedom. +When Artegall saw and heard how he misled the simple +people, he disdainfully drew near, and thus spoke to +him without fear:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You that presume to weigh the world anew, and +restore all things to an equality, it seems to me show +great wrong instead of right, and boast far more than +you are able to perform.” And then he went on to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_293' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_293">293</span>rebuke the giant for his folly and presumption, and +showed him that if he could not understand nor +weigh properly even the things that he saw, how +much less could he attempt to balance unseen matters, +or call into account the works of the great Ruler of +the universe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the giant would not listen to reason, for he +had no real desire for the right, and he still tried to +continue his false and wicked teaching. Talus, therefore, +seeing his mischievous ignorance, came up, and +toppled him over into the sea, where he fell with a +great splash and was drowned.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the people who had long waited there saw +his sudden destruction, they began to gather in a turbulent +mob, and tried to stir up strife, because of the +loss of all their expectations. For they had hoped to +get great good, and wonderful riches, by the giant’s +new schemes, and resolving to revenge his death, they +rose in arms, and stood in order of battle.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Artegall saw this lawless multitude advancing +in hostile fashion, he was much troubled, and +did not know what to do; for he was loath to soil his +hands by killing such a rascally crew, and yet he feared +to retire, lest they should follow him with shame. +Therefore he sent Talus to them to inquire the cause +of their array, and to request a truce. But as soon as +they saw him coming they began to attack him with +their weapons, and rudely struck at him on every side; +yet they could not in the least hurt or dismay him. +Then Talus lay about him with his flail and overthrew +them like a swarm of flies. Not one of them dared +<span class='pageno' id='Page_294' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_294">294</span>come in his way, but they flew here and there, and hid +themselves out of his sight in holes and bushes. When +Talus saw that they all forsook the field and none of +the rascal rout were left, he returned to Sir Artegall, +and they went on together.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Borrowed Plumes, and the Fate of the Snowy Lady</h3> + +<p class='c017'>After long storms and tempests the sun’s face again +shines forth joyfully, so when fortune has shown all +her spite some blissful hours at last must needs appear. +So it was with the Lady Florimell. After escaping +from the cruel hyena that killed and devoured her +milk-white palfrey, she met with many troubles and +misfortunes; but they were all over now, and she was +happily betrothed to her own true Knight, Marinell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The time and place of the bridal were blazed far +and wide, and solemn feasts and tournaments were +arranged, to which a countless throng of lords and ladies +resorted from all directions, nor was there any brave +knight absent. It would need the tongue of a herald +to tell the glory of the feast that day—the splendid +service, the brilliant variety of entertainments, the pomp +of the bridegroom, the richness of the bride’s array, the +crowd of noble ladies and gallant knights, the royal +banquets, and the general rejoicing. When all the +people had sufficiently feasted, they began to prepare +themselves for deeds of arms and contests of chivalry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then first of all rode forth Sir Marinell, and with +him six more knights, to challenge all on behalf of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_295' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_295">295</span>Florimell, and to maintain that she excelled all other +ladies. Against them came every one that cared to +joust, from every coast and country under the sun: +no one was debarred; all had leave who chose. Many +brave deeds were done that day, and many a knight +unhorsed, but little was lost or won. All that day +the greatest praise redounded to Marinell. So also the +second day. At the end of the fighting the trumpets +proclaimed that Marinell was the best.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The third day came, which would test all the others, +and the warriors met together to finish the tournament. +Then Marinell again showed great valour, and flew +like a lion through the thickest of the press, so that +every one fled from the danger, and was amazed at his +might. But the greater the prowess, the greater the +peril; Marinell pressed so far into the ranks of the +enemy that they closed up behind him, so that he +could by no means make a way out. He was taken +prisoner, and bound with chains, and would have been +led away, forsaken of all, had not some succour overtaken +him in time.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It happened that while Marinell was thus sorely +beset, Sir Artegall came into the tilt-yard, with Braggadochio, +whom he had lately met on the way with the +false Florimell, the “Snowy Lady.” When Artegall +heard the bad fortune that had betided Marinell, he was +much excited at his undeserved disgrace. He immediately +begged the braggart with whom he was riding to +change shields with him, in order that he might be the +better concealed, and thus armed he went forth, and soon +overtook the knights who were leading Marinell away. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_296' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_296">296</span>There were a hundred of them altogether. Half of +them set upon Sir Artegall, and half stayed behind to +guard the prey. Artegall was not long in beating the +first fifty, and soon snatched the prisoner from the +other fifty. Then he quickly armed Marinell again, +and together they overcame all the rest of the knights, +and were left lords of the field. So Marinell was +rescued from his foes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Having done this, Sir Artegall restored his shield +to Braggadochio, who all this while had remained in +the background. Then the trumpets sounded, and the +judges rose, and all the knights who had borne armour +that day came to the open hall to listen to whom the +honour of the prize should be adjudged.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There also in open sight came the fair Florimell +into the public hall, to give his guerdon to every knight, +and the best to him to whom the best should fall. +Then they loudly called for the stranger Knight, to +whom they should yield the garland, but he came not +forth; but instead of Sir Artegall came Braggadochio, +and showed his shield, which bore the device of the +sun, broadly blazoned on a golden field.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sight filled them with gladness, so to him +they adjudged the prize of all that triumph. Then the +shrill trumpets thrice resounded the name of Braggadochio, +and thus courage lent a cloak to cowardice. +Then the beautiful Florimell came to Braggadochio, +and spoke graciously in praise of his gallantry, and gave +him a thousand thanks for so well defending her cause.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To this the boaster (which filled all knights with +utter contempt for him) made scornful answer that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_297' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_297">297</span>what he did that day he did, not for her, but for his +own lady’s sake, who excelled both her and every one +else; and he added further bragging and unseemly +speeches. His words much abashed the gentle lady, +and she turned aside, ashamed to hear what he said.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he brought forth his snowy Florimell, who +was standing near, in charge of Trompart, covered +with a veil from people’s gaze; and when they had +thoroughly eyed her they were stupefied with great +amazement, saying that it was surely Florimell, or if it +were not, then she surpassed Florimell herself. Such +feeble skill have the vulgar with respect to perfect +things!</p> + +<p class='c007'>Marinell, likewise, when he beheld, was exceedingly +amazed, not knowing what to think or to do. He +stood for a long time lost in astonishment, his eyes fixed +fast on the Snowy Maid, whom the more he looked +at, the more he thought was the true Florimell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Artegall, who stood all this while close +covered in the crowd, saw everything that passed, and +the boasting and ungrateful cheating of Braggadochio, +he could stand it no longer, but came forth, and +showed himself openly to every one, and said to the +boaster—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Base wretch, thou hast defaced another’s worth +with thy lies and decked thyself with borrowed plumes; +when they are all restored, thou shalt be left in disgrace. +That shield which thou bearest was indeed the +one which saved the day’s honour to Marinell; but +that was not the arm, nor thou the man who did that +service to Florimell. For proof, show forth thy sword, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_298' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_298">298</span>and let it tell what strokes, what dreadful battle it stirred +up this day. Or show the wounds which befell you!</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But <i>this</i> is the sword which wrought such havoc; +and this the arm which bore that shield; and these the +signs” (he pointed to his wounds) “by which it is +apparent the glory was got. As for that lady which +he shows here,” he continued, turning to the others, “it +is not Florimell at all, but some worthless creature, +fit for such a mate, who has fallen into his hand by +misfortune;” and for proof he bade them call the true +Florimell.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So the noble Lady was brought, adorned with honour +and all comely grace, blushing with modesty, so that the +roses mixed with the lilies in her lovely face, for she still +felt deep shame at the rude words which Braggadochio +had flung at her. And when the people saw her they +shouted aloud, and all showed signs of gladness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Artegall placed her by the Snowy Lady, +like a true saint beside some painted image, to make +trial of their beauty, and to see which should get the +honour. Straightway, as soon as they were both met +together, the enchanted damsel vanished into nothing. +Her body of snow melted as with heat, and nothing +remained of all her goodly appearance except the empty +girdle, which had been clasped round her waist.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the people present beheld this, they were +struck with astonishment, and their hearts quailed with +horror, to see the thing which seemed so excellent stolen +away, so that no one understood what became of it. +Braggadochio himself was so daunted with despair that +he stood immovable, like a lifeless body.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_299' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_299">299</span> +<img src='images/i_327.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Streight-way, so soone as both together met,<br> Th’ enchaunted Damzel vanisht into nought,<br> Her snowy substance melted as with heat,<br> Ne of that goodly hew remayned ought.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_301' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_301">301</span>But Artegall took up the golden belt, the only thing +left of all the spoil, which was not the Snowy Lady’s, +as many mistakenly believed, but Florimell’s own girdle, +reft from her when she fled from the vile monster; unbuckling +it, he presented it to Florimell, who fitted it +perfectly round her slender waist. The girdle possessed +the magic power of breaking or becoming unfastened +when it was put on by any unworthy person. Many +ladies had often tried to wear it, but it fitted no one till +it came into the hands of its rightful owner, Florimell.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How the Good Horse Brigadore knew his own Master</h3> + +<p class='c017'>While every one was busied about Florimell, and in +hearing the truth about Braggadochio, Sir Guyon, as it +befell, came forward from the thickest of the crowd +to claim his own good steed, which Braggadochio had +stolen long ago. Seizing the golden bit with one +hand, he drew his sword with the other, for he meant +to smite the thief heavily, and had he not been held +he would certainly have done so.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then a great hurly-burly arose in the hall because +of that war-horse, for Braggadochio would not let him +pass, and Sir Guyon was quite resolved to have him, or +to put the matter to the proof over his dead body. +The uproar being perceived by Artegall, he drew near +to stay the tumult, and began to ask how the steed +had been taken away, whether extorted by might or +stolen by cunning.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_302' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_302">302</span>Then Sir Guyon told him about the Knight and +the Lady, whom he and the Palmer had found, and +to avenge whom he had gone on his quest against the +wicked enchantress, Acrasia. He described how, when +he had gone into the thicket to help the dying lady, +his horse had been purloined by craft, for which he +now challenged the thief to fight. But Braggadochio +would by no means consent to this, for he hated such +doings, and would rather lose than make trial of his +right by an appeal to arms.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall, hearing this, might then have handed +over the horse to Sir Guyon, for according to knightly +custom there was no need to try one’s cause by the law +of arms, if a foe refused to meet one in the field. But +wishing to establish Guyon’s claim properly, he asked +him to describe any secret token borne by the horse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If that will satisfy you,” said Sir Guyon, “there +is within his mouth a black spot, shaped like a horse’s +shoe, for any one who cares to seek for it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>In order to test this, some one took hold of the horse, +to look into his mouth; but the creature immediately +struck at him so savagely with his heels that he broke +his ribs to pieces. Another, who seemed to have a little +more sense, took him by the bright embroidered headstall, +but the horse bit him so sharply on the shoulder +that he was quite disabled. Nor would he open his +mouth to a single person until Sir Guyon himself spoke +to him, and called him by his name, “Brigadore.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_303' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_303">303</span> +<img src='images/i_331.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>And out of court him scourged openly;<br> So ought all faytours that true knighthood shame,<br> And armes dishonour with base villanie,<br> From all brave knights be banisht with defame.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>The instant the horse understood his voice he stood +stock-still, and allowed every one to see the secret mark; +and when his master called him by name he broke all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_305' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_305">305</span>his fastenings with joy, and gleefully followed him, +frisking, and prancing, and bending his head in submission. +Thereupon Sir Artegall plainly saw to whom +he belonged, and said—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lo, there, Sir Guyon, take to yourself the steed, +arrayed as he is in his golden saddle, and let that worthless +fellow fare hence on foot, until he has gained a horse.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the vain braggart began to rate and revile Sir +Artegall for giving such an unjust judgment against +him. The Knight was so incensed at his insolence that +he was tempted to punish him, and thrice he laid his +hand on his sword to slay him. But Sir Guyon pacified +Sir Artegall, saying it would only dishonour him to +wreak his wrath on a churl like that. It would be +punishment enough that every one saw his disgrace.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Talus seized the boaster, and dragging him out +of the hall inflicted this punishment on him. First he +shaved off his beard; then he took his shield, and turned +it upside down, and blotted out the device; and then he +broke his sword in two, and scattered all his armour. +After that he openly scourged him out of the court.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So should all traitors who shame true chivalry be +banished with infamy from among brave knights, for +their evil doings often bring disgrace on just merit.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Adventure of the Two Brothers and the Coffer</h3> + +<p class='c017'>When the wedding festivities of Marinell and Florimell +were over, Sir Artegall left the Castle of the +Strand, to follow his first quest; and the only person +<span class='pageno' id='Page_306' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_306">306</span>who went with him to help him was his servant Talus, +the Iron Man.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he passed along the sea-shore he chanced to come +where two comely squires were having an angry quarrel. +They were brothers, but were just now stirred up by +some matter of debate. Two good-looking damsels +stood beside them, trying by every means to soothe their +ire—now by fair words, but words did little good—now +by threats, but threats only made them angrier. Before +them stood a strong coffer, fast bound on every side with +iron bands, but seeming to have received much injury +either by being wrecked upon the shore, or by being +carried far from foreign lands. It appeared as if it were +for this coffer the squires were fighting; and though +the ladies kept interfering to prevent their furious encounter, +yet they were firmly resolved to try their rights +by dint of sword. Thus they both stood ready to meet +in cruel combat when Sir Artegall, happily arriving, +stopped for awhile their greedy bickering till he had +inquired the cause of their dispute. To whom the +elder made this answer:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You must know, sir, we are two brothers, to whom +our father, Milesio by name, equally bequeathed his land, +two islands, which you see there before you, not far off +in the sea. Of these the one appears but like a little +mount, of small size, yet it was as great and wide, not +many years ago, as that other island, which is now so +much larger.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But the course of time, which destroys everything, +and this devouring sea, which spares nothing, have +washed away the greater part of my land, and thrown +<span class='pageno' id='Page_307' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_307">307</span>it up to my brother’s share, so his is increased but +mine is lessened. Before which time I loved, as it +happened, the maid over there, called Philtera the +Fair, with whom I should have received a goodly +dower, and to whom I was to have been married.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At that time my younger brother, Amidas, loved +the other damsel—Lucy—to whom but little dower was +allotted. Her virtue was the dowry that delighted—and +what better dowry can a lady possess? But now when +Philtera saw my lands decay, and my former livelihood +fail, she left me, and went over to my brother, who, taking +her from me, completely deserted his own love.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Lucy, seeing herself forsaken, in despair flung +herself into the sea, thinking to take away her grief by +death. But see how her purpose was foiled! Whilst +beaten to and fro amidst the billows, hovering between +life and death, she chanced unawares to light upon this +coffer, which offered to her, in her danger, hope of life.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The wretched maiden, who had formerly desired +death, now that she had had a taste of it began to +repent that she had been so foolish, and caught hold +of the sea-beaten chest, which after long tossing in the +rough waves, at last rested on my island. Here I, +wandering by chance on the shore, espied her, and with +some difficulty helped to save her from the jaws of +death, which threatened to swallow her up. In recompense +for this she then bestowed on me those goods +which fortune had given her, together with herself, a +free gift—both goodly portions, but herself the better +of the two.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_308' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_308">308</span> +<img src='images/i_336.jpg' alt='A man carrying a woman in his arms through shallow water near a shoreline.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“In this coffer which she brought with her we +found great treasure, which we took as our own, and +so considered it. But this other damsel, Philtera, +my brother’s wife, pretends now that the treasure belongs +to herself, that she transported the same by sea, +to bring it to her newly made husband, but suffered +shipwreck by the way. Whether it be so or not +<span class='pageno' id='Page_309' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_309">309</span>I cannot say. But whether it indeed be so or not, +this I do say, that whatsoever good or ill Providence +or fortune throws to me, not purposely wronging any +one else, I hold as my own, and will so hold it still. +And though Amidas first won away my land, and then +my love (though now that matters little), yet he shall +not also make prey of my good luck, but I will defend +it as long as ever I can.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Bracidas, the elder brother, having thus spoken, +the younger one followed on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is quite true what my brother here has declared +to you about the land; but the dispute between us is +not for that, but for this treasure, thrown upon his +shore, which I can prove, as shall appear by trial, to +belong to this lady, to whom I am married. It is well +known by good marks and perfect witnesses, and therefore +it ought to be rendered to her without denial.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they had thus ended, the Knight spoke:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly it would be easy to reconcile your strife, if +you would submit it to some just man.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Unto yourself!” they both cried. “We give you +our word to abide the judgment you pronounce to us.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then in token that you will accept my verdict, +let each lay down his sword under my foot,” said Sir +Artegall, “and then you shall hear my sentence.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So each of them laid down his sword out of his hand.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Artegall spoke thus to the younger brother:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now tell me, Amidas, if you can, by what good +right do you withhold to-day that part of your brother’s +land which the sea has plucked away from him, and +laid on your share?”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_310' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_310">310</span>“What other right,” quoth Amidas, “would you +deem valid, except that the sea laid it to my share?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your right is good,” said Sir Artegall, “and so +I judge it. That which the sea sent unto you should +be your own.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, turning to the elder brother, he spoke thus:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now, Bracidas, let this likewise be plain: your +brother’s treasure, which has strayed from him, being +well known to be the dowry of his wife—by what right +do you claim this to be your own?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What other right,” quoth Bracidas, “would you +deem valid, except that the sea has thrown it unto me?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Your right is good,” said Sir Artegall, “and +so I judge it. That which the sea sent unto you +should be your own; for equal things have equal +rights. What the mighty sea has once possessed and +quite plucked from its owner’s hands—whether by +the rage of the unresting waves, or tempest, or shipwreck—it +may dispose of by its imperial might to +whomever it chooses, as a thing left at random. So +in the first place, Amidas, the land was declared to be +yours; and so, in like manner, Bracidas, the treasure +is yours by right.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Artegall had thus pronounced sentence, +both Amidas and Philtera were displeased, but Bracidas +and Lucy were very glad, and immediately took possession +of the treasure, in accordance with the judgment.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So their discord was appeased by this sentence, +and each one had his right; and Sir Artegall, having +stopped their contention, went on his way.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_311' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_311">311</span> + <h3 class='c016'>Radigund, Queen of the Amazons</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>As Sir Artegall travelled on his way he saw far off +a crowd of many people, to whom he hastened, in +order to discover the cause of such a large assembly. +When he came near he saw a strange sight—a troop of +women clad in warlike fashion, with weapons in their +hands, as if ready to fight; and in the midst of them he +saw a Knight, with both hands pinioned behind him, and +round about his neck a halter tight, ready prepared for +the gallows. His head was bare and his face covered, +so that it was not easy to distinguish him. He went +along with a heavy heart, grieved to the soul, and +groaning inwardly that he should die so base a death at +the hands of women. But they, like merciless tyrants, +rejoiced at his misery, and reviled him, and sorely reproached +him with bitter taunts and terms of disgrace.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Artegall, arriving at the place, asked what +cause had brought the man to destruction, the women +swarmed eagerly around him, meaning to lay their +cruel hands on him, and to do him some unexpected +mischief. But he was soon aware of their evil mind, +and drawing back defeated their intention. He was +ashamed to disgrace himself by fighting with women, so +he sent Talus to punish them for their rash folly. With +a few strokes of his iron flail the latter speedily dispersed +their troop, and sent them home to tell a piteous +tale of their vain prowess turned to their own injury.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The wretched man doomed to death they left +behind them, glad to be quit of them. Talus soon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_312' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_312">312</span>set him at liberty, and released him from his horror at +such a shameful death, unfitting a knight, which he +dreaded more than loss of life; and uncovering his +face, he brought him to his master, who then knew +him at once.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_340.jpg' alt='A group of armored figures walking along a path, with one man raising a sword and shield in the foreground.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_313' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_313">313</span>“Sir Terpin!” cried Artegall. “Hapless man, +what are you doing here? Have you lost yourself and +your senses? Or have you, who can boast of subduing +men, yielded to the oppression of women? Or what +other deadly misfortune has fallen on you, that you +have run so foolishly far astray as to lead yourself to +your own destruction?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The man was so confused, partly with shame, partly +with dismay, that he stood lost in astonishment, and +could find little to say in excuse.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“You may justly term me hapless, who am brought +to this shame, and am to-day made the scorn of +knighthood,” was his only answer. “But who can +escape Fate? The work of Heaven’s will surpasses +human thought.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“True,” said Sir Artegall, “but faulty men often +attribute their own folly to Fate, and lay on Heaven +the guilt of their own crimes. But tell me, Sir Terpin—and +do not let your misery daunt you—how you fell +into this state.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Since you needs will know my shame,” said the +Knight, “and all the ill which has lately chanced to +me, I will briefly relate it, and do not turn my misfortune +to my blame.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Being desirous, as all knights are, to try deeds of +arms through hard adventures, and to hunt after fame +and honour, I heard a report which flew far abroad +that a proud Amazon lately bade defiance to all brave +knights, and wrought them all the villainy her malice +<span class='pageno' id='Page_314' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_314">314</span>could devise, putting some to shame, and doing many +of them to death.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The cause of her hate is for the sake of a Knight +called Bellodant the Bold, whom a short time ago +she liked greatly, and tried in every way to attract; +but finding nothing of any avail, her love turned +to hatred, and for his sake she vowed to do all the +ill she could to other knights,—which vow she now +fulfils.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“For all those knights whom by force or guile she +subdues she treats shamefully. First she despoils them +of their armour, and clothes them in women’s garments; +then with threats she compels them to work to earn +their food—to spin, to card, to sew, to wash, to wring. +She gives them nothing to eat but bread and water, or +some such feeble food, to disable them from attempting +revenge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But if with manly disdain any of them withstand +her insolent commands, she causes them to be immediately +hanged on that gibbet over there, in which +condition I stood just now; for being conquered by +her in fight, and put to the base service of her band, +I chose rather to die than to live that shameful life, +unworthy of a knight.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is the name of that Amazon?” asked Artegall. +“And where, and how far hence does she live?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Her name is called Radigund,” replied Sir Terpin, +“a princess of great power, and greater pride, Queen of +the Amazons, well tried in arms and sundry battles, +which she has achieved with great success, and which +have won her much glory and fame.”</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_315' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_315">315</span>“Now, by my faith,” said Sir Artegall, “I will not +rest till I have tested her power, and avenged the shame +that she shows to knights. Therefore, Sir Terpin, +throw from you those squalid clothes, the pattern of +despair, and go with me, that you may see and know +how Fortune will repair your ruined name and knighthood, +whose praise she would tarnish.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Terpin joyfully threw off his iron fetters, and +eagerly prepared to guide the way to the dwelling of +the Amazon, which was not more than a mile or two +distant—a goodly and a mighty city, called after her +own name Radigund.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On their arrival they were immediately espied by +the watchman, who warned all the city of the appearance +of three warlike persons, of whom one seemed +like a Knight fully armed, and the other two likely to +prove dangerous. The people ran at once to put on +their armour, swarming in a cluster like bees, and before +long their Queen herself, looking half like a man, came +forth into the crowd, and began to set them in array.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And now the Knights, being arrived near, beat +upon the gates to enter in; threatening the porter, who +scorned them for being so few, to tear him to pieces +if they won the city. When Radigund heard them +her heart was torn with rage. She bade her people +to unbar the gates at once, and to make way for the +Knights with well-prepared weapons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as the gates were set open the Knights +pressed forward to make an entrance, but midway they +were met by a sharp shower of arrows, which stopped +them. Then all the mob attacked them savagely +<span class='pageno' id='Page_316' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_316">316</span>heaping strokes so fast on every side, and with such a +hail of arrows, that the Knights could not withstand +them. But Radigund herself, when she espied Sir +Terpin freed from her cruel doom, was suddenly +seized with a fit of fury, and flying at him like a +lioness, smote him so fiercely that he fell to the +ground. Then she leaped to him, and placed her +foot on his neck.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Sir Artegall saw the Knight’s peril, he sprang +at once to his rescue, and assailed Radigund with +such vigour that he drove her back. For a moment +she was stunned, but as soon as she collected her senses +she turned on Sir Artegall, half-mad with revengeful +anger and pride, for she had never suffered such a rebuff. +But before they could meet in fight her maidens +flocked round her so fast that they parted them, in +spite of their valour, and kept them far asunder. But +amongst the others the fight lasted till the evening.</p> + +<p class='c007'>And all the while the great Iron Man sorely vexed +the Amazons with his strange weapon, to which they +had never been accustomed in war. He chased and +outran them, and broke their bows, and spoilt their +shooting, so that not one of them all dared to go near +him. They scattered like sheep before a wolf, and fled +before him through all the fields and valleys.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when the daylight grew dim with the shadows +of night, Radigund, with the sound of a trumpet, +caused her people to cease fighting, and gathering +them to the gate of the city, made them all enter, +and had the weak and wounded conveyed in, before +she would retreat herself.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_317' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_317">317</span>When the field was thus empty and all things quiet, +Sir Artegall, weary with toil and travel, caused his pavilion +to be richly prepared in full view of the city gate. He +himself, together with Sir Terpin, rested here in safety +all that night; but Talus was accustomed, in times of +jeopardy, to keep a nightly watch for fear of treachery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Radigund, full of heart-gnawing grief for the rebuke +she had met that day, could take no rest nor relief, but +tossed about in her mind in what way she could revenge +her disgrace. Then she resolved to try her fortune in +single fight herself, rather than see her people destroyed, +as she had seen that day.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She called to her a trusty maid, named Clarinda, whom +she thought fittest for the business, and said to her—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Go, damsel, quickly; get ready to do the message +which I shall tell you. Go you to the stranger Knight +who yesterday drove us to such distress; tell him that +to-morrow I will fight with him, and try in a fair field +which is the mightier.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But these conditions you must propound to him—that +if I vanquish him he shall obey my law, and +ever be bound to do my bidding. And so will I, if he +vanquish me, whatever he shall like to do or say. Go +straight, and take with you as witness six of your companions +of the highest rank; and carry with you wine +and rich delicacies, and bid him eat: henceforth he shall +often sit hungry.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The damsel instantly obeyed, and putting all in +readiness went forth to the town gate, where, sounding +a trumpet loudly from the wall, she sent warning to the +warrior Knights. Then Talus, issuing from the tent, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_318' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_318">318</span>took his way fearlessly to the wall, to know what that +sounding of the trumpet meant, whereupon the damsel +called to him, and explained that she wished to parley +with his lord.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then he conducted them at once to his master, who +gave them a cordial greeting, and to whom they told +their message, word for word. Sir Artegall, gladly +accepting it, entertained them with fitting courtesy, and +gave them rich and handsome gifts. So they turned their +steps homeward again, but Artegall went back to rest, +that he might be fresher against the next day’s fight.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>How Sir Artegall threw away his Sword</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As soon as day dawned, the noble warriors, mindful +of the fight before them, duly prepared themselves, the +Knight as beseemed a knight, and the Amazon in the +way she liked best to dress.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She wore a light loose robe of purple silk, woven +with silver, quilted upon white satin, and plentifully +trimmed with ribbons; not to hinder her movements +it was tucked up to her knee, but could when she liked +be lowered to her heel. Over that she wore for defence +a small coat of mail. On her legs were painted buskins, +laced with bands of gold; her scimitar was lashed at her +thigh in an embroidered belt; and on her shoulder +hung her shield, decked with glittering stones, so that +it shone like the full moon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus she came forth, stately and magnificent, from +the city gate, guarded with many damsels who waited +<span class='pageno' id='Page_319' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_319">319</span>on her to defend her, playing on shalms and trumpets, +the sound of which reached high into heaven; and so +she marched into the field, where there was a rich +pavilion ready prepared to receive her, until it was time +to begin the fight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then forth from his tent came Artegall, armed +from head to foot, and first entered the lists. Radigund +soon followed, cruel of mind, and with a fierce +countenance, fully bent on daring the utmost trial of +battle. The lists were shut fast, to prevent the mob +from rudely pressing to the centre, and they circled +round in huge crowds to see how fortune would decide +the dangerous problem.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The trumpets sounded, and the fight began—bitterly +it began and ended. The Amazon flew at Sir Artegall +frantic with fury, but the more she raged the more +resolute he stood. She hewed, she thrust, she lashed, +she laid on every side. At first the Knight bore her +blows, and forbore to return them; but presently +in his turn he began to attack, and so mightily did +his strokes fall on her steel armour, that flakes of +flame were seen flashing all round her as if she had +been on fire. But Radigund with her shield so well +warded off the danger of his keen weapon that she +safely guarded her life, until at last, with one stroke of +his blade, Sir Artegall cut away half her shield.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This so enraged Radigund that she flew at Artegall +with her sharp scimitar, like a bear on her prey, and +wounded him badly in the thigh. Thereupon she began +to boast of her triumph, and taunt the Knight with spiteful +speeches, as if she had already got the prize.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_320' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_320">320</span>Indignant at her idle vaunting, Sir Artegall struck +at her again with such power that he shattered the other +half of her shield, and then he smote on her helmet so +that she sank senseless on the grassy field.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_348.jpg' alt='An armored knight standing over another fallen knight on the ground, with a tent and other figures in the background.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When he saw her lying on the ground, he sprang +towards her, and unlaced her helmet, thinking to cut +<span class='pageno' id='Page_321' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_321">321</span>off her head; but when he had uncovered her face +such a miracle of loveliness shone forth that he was +dazzled with astonishment. His heart was so pierced +with pity that he threw away his sharp sword, reviling his +hand that had done injury to such a vision of beauty.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Radigund meanwhile awakened from her swoon, +and stared about her in confusion. As soon as she saw +the Knight standing there beside her with no weapon +in his empty hands, she flew at him with fresh cruelty, +and though he kept retiring she laid on him huge redoubled +strokes. The more he meekly entreated her +to stay her hand from greedy vengeance, the more she +increased her merciless attack.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall could do nothing but shun her angry +onslaught, and ward off with his shield alone, as well as +he could, the fierceness of her rage. He begged her to +stay her strokes, and said that he would yield himself; +yet she would not hearken, nor give him time to breathe, +till he had delivered to her his shield, and submitted +himself to her mercy in the open field.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus was Sir Artegall overcome—though indeed +he was not overcome, but yielded of his own accord. +Yet was he justly doomed by his own judgment when +he had said unwarily that he would be her thrall +and do her service. For though he first gained the +victory, yet afterwards, by abandoning his sword, he +wilfully lost that which before he had attained.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Radigund struck him with the flat of her +sword, in token of true subjection to her power, and +as a vassal took him to thraldom. But the more +hapless Terpin she caused to be pinioned and led away +<span class='pageno' id='Page_322' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_322">322</span>to the cruel fate from which he had but lately been +rescued.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when the Amazons thought to lay hands on +Talus, he thundered amongst them with his iron flail, +so that they were glad to let him escape, for the heaps +of those he slew and wounded, besides the rest which +he dismayed, were too many to number. But all this +while he did not once attempt to rescue his own lord, +for he thought it just to obey.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Radigund took this noble Knight, left at +her disposal by his own wilful blame, and caused him +to be disarmed of all the knightly ornaments with +which he had formerly won great fame. In place +of these she had him shamefully dressed in woman’s +clothes, and put on him a white apron instead of a +cuirass.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus clad, she brought him from the battlefield +into a long, large chamber, decked with memorials of +the ruin of many knights whom she had subdued; +amongst these she caused his armour to be hung on +high, to betray his shame, and she broke his sword for +fear of further harm.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Entering, he saw round about him many brave +knights whose names he knew well, who were there +bound to obey the Amazon’s arrogant law, all spinning +and carding in an orderly row, so that Sir Artegall’s +brave heart loathed the unseemly sight. But the +captive knights were forced through hunger and want +of food to do the work appointed them, for nothing +was given them to eat or drink, but what their hands +could earn by twisting linen twine.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_323' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_323">323</span>Radigund placed Sir Artegall the lowest among +them all, and gave a distaff into his hand, that he should +spin thereon flax and tow—a sordid office for so brave +a mind; thus hard is it to be the slave of a woman!</p> + +<p class='c007'>Yet Sir Artegall took it even in his own despite, +and obeyed her without murmuring, since he had +plighted his faith to become her vassal if she won +him in fight.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The House of Guile</h3> + +<p class='c017'>Thus for a long while Sir Artegall continued +obediently serving proud Radigund, however much +it galled his noble heart to obey the dictates of a +tyrannous woman. Having chosen his lot, he could +not now change.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the days went by, the Amazon Queen began to +have a great liking for her strange captive, but for a +long time she kept this carefully concealed, for her +pride would not allow her to own to such a feeling +for her lowly vassal. At last, when she could bear it +no longer, she sent for her trusted maid, Clarinda, +and told her to devise some means by which to discover +whether there were any chance of Sir Artegall’s +loving her, if she gave him his liberty. Clarinda +promised to do her best, and tried by all the means +in her power to win favour with the Knight, but the +more she saw of him the better she liked him herself, +so she ended by being false both to her mistress and +to Sir Artegall. To the Queen she pretended that Sir +<span class='pageno' id='Page_324' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_324">324</span>Artegall was very stern and obstinate, and scorned all +her offers of kindness and gentler treatment; and to +the Knight she declared that she had earnestly besought +Radigund to grant him freedom, but the Queen would +by no means be persuaded, and had ordered instead +that he should be more harshly treated and laden with +iron chains. This command, however, Clarinda said +she would not carry out, because of her own regard +for the Knight, and she further promised that if she +found favour in his sight she would devise some means +of setting him free.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall, glad to gain his liberty, answered +her civilly, but determined in his heart that nothing +should make him forsake his own true love, Britomart; +and deceitful Clarinda had not the least intention +of freeing him from bondage, but considered rather +how she might keep him more securely. Therefore +every day she unkindly told her mistress that the +Knight spurned her offers of goodwill, and Sir Artegall +she told that the Queen refused him his freedom. +Yet in order to win his affection, she showed him +this much friendship, that his scanty fare was improved, +and his work lessened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus for a long while Sir Artegall remained there +in thraldom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart, meanwhile, waited and longed for news +of her absent lord, and when the utmost date assigned +for his return had passed, a thousand fears assailed her +doubting mind. Sometimes she feared lest a terrible +misfortune had befallen him; sometimes lest his false +foe had entrapped him in a snare; at other times a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_325' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_325">325</span>jealous fear troubled her that perhaps Sir Artegall had +forgotten her, and found some other lady whom he +loved better. Yet she was loath to think so ill of him +as this. One moment she blamed herself; another, +condemned him as faithless and untrue; then, trying to +cheat her grief, she pretended she had reckoned the time +wrong, and began to count it all over a different way.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When months went on, and still he never came +back, she thought of sending some one to seek him, but +could find no one so fitting to do this as her own self.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day, unable to rest quietly in any place, she +came to a window opening to the west, which was the +way Sir Artegall had gone. There, looking forth, she +felt many vain fancies disquiet her, and sent her winged +thoughts swifter than wind to carry her heart’s message +to her love. As she looked long, she spied some one +coming hastily towards her. Then she knew well +before she saw him plainly, that it was some one sent +from Sir Artegall; and as he drew near, she found it +was his servant, Talus. Filled with hope and dread +she ran to meet him, exclaiming—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And where is he, thy lord, and how far hence? +Tell me at once. And has he lost or won?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Talus told the whole story of Sir Artegall’s +captivity.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart listened bravely to the end, and then a +sudden fit of wrath and grief seized her. Without +waiting to make any answer, she got ready at once, +donned her armour, and mounting her steed, bade +Talus guide her on.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So she rode forth to seek her Knight; sadly she +<span class='pageno' id='Page_326' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_326">326</span>rode, speaking no word good or bad, and looking +neither to the right or left. Her heart burned with +rage to punish the pride of that woman who had pent +her lord in a base prison, and had tarnished his great +honour with such infamous disgrace.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_354.jpg' alt='A woman seated by a window looking outside, with a vase of flowers in the foreground.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_327' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_327">327</span>Thus riding, she chanced to meet towards evening +a knight strolling on the plain as if to refresh himself. +He seemed well on in years, and inclined rather to +peace than to needless trouble, his raiment and his +modest bearing both showing that he meant no evil. +Coming near, he began to salute Britomart in the most +courteous fashion. Though the Princess would rather +have remained mute than joined in commonplace conversation, +yet sooner than despise such kindness she +set her own wishes aside, and so returned his greeting +in due form. Then the other began to chat further +about things in general, and asked many questions, to +which she gave careless answer. For she had little desire +to talk about anything, or to hear about anything, +however delightful; her mind was wholly possessed by +one thought, and there was no place for any other.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the stranger observed this, he no longer forced +her to talk unwillingly, but begged her to favour him, +since the skies were growing dark and wet, by lodging +with him that night, unless good cause forbade it. Britomart, +seeing night was at hand, was glad to yield to his +kind request, and went with him without any objection.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His dwelling was not far away, and soon arriving, +they were received in the most gracious and befitting +manner, for their host gave them excellent good cheer, +and talked of pleasant things to entertain them. Thus +the evening passed well, till the time came for rest. +Then Britomart was brought to her bower, where attendants +waited to help her to undress. But she would +not for anything take off her armour, although her host +warmly besought her; for she had vowed, she said, not +<span class='pageno' id='Page_328' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_328">328</span>to lay aside this warrior garb till she had wrought revenge +on a mortal foe for a recent wrong; which she +would surely perform, let weal or woe betide her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When their host perceived this, he grew very discontented, +for he was afraid lest he should now miss +his purpose; but taking leave of her, he departed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Britomart remained all night restless and comfortless, +with deeply grieved heart, not allowing the least +twinkle of sleep to refresh her. In sorrowful thoughts +she wore away the weary hours, now walking softly +about, now sitting still, upright. Neither did Talus +let sleep close his eyelids, but kept continual guard, +lying in much discomfort outside her door, like a +spaniel, watching carefully lest any one should by +treachery betray his lady.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Just at cock-crow Britomart heard a strange noise +in the hall below, and suddenly the bed, on which she +might have been lying, by a false trap was let to fall +down into a lower room; then immediately the floor +was raised again, so that no one could spy the trap.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At the sight of this, Britomart was sorely dismayed, +plainly perceiving the treason which was intended; yet +she did not stir, in case of more, but courageously kept +her place, waiting what would follow.</p> + +<p class='c007'>It was not long before she heard the sound of armed +men coming towards her chamber, at which dreadful +peril she quickly caught her sword, and bound her +shield about her. As she did so, there came to her +door two knights, all armed ready to fight, and after +them a rascally mob, rudely equipped with weapons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as Talus spied them he started up from +<span class='pageno' id='Page_329' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_329">329</span>where he lay on the ground, and caught his thresher +ready in his hand. They immediately let drive at him, +and pressed round in riotous array, but as soon as he +began to lay about with his iron flail, they turned and +fled, both the armed knights and the unarmed crowd. +Talus pursued them wherever he could spy them in the +dark, then returning to Britomart, told her the story of +the fray, and all the treason that was intended.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Though greatly enraged, and inwardly burning +to be avenged for such an infamous deed, Britomart +was compelled to wait for daylight. She therefore +remained in her chamber, but kept wary heed, in case +of any further treachery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The cause of this evil behaviour was unknown to +Britomart, but this is how it was.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The master of the house was called Dolon (<i>Guile</i>), +a subtle and wicked man; in his youth he had been +a knight, and borne arms, but gained little good and +less honour by that warlike kind of life; for he was +not in the least valorous, but with sly shifts and wiles +got the better of all noble and daring knights, and +brought many to shame by treachery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He had three sons, all three like their father +treacherous, and full of fraud and guile. The eldest, +named Guizor, had, through his own guilty cunning, been +slain by Artegall, and to avenge him, Dolon, with his +other two sons, had lately devised many vile plots. He +imagined by several tokens that his present guest was +Artegall, but chiefly on account of the Iron Man who +was always accustomed to remain with Artegall. Dolon, +therefore, meant surely to have slain the Knight, but by +<span class='pageno' id='Page_330' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_330">330</span>the grace of heaven and her own good heed, Britomart +was preserved from the traitor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next morning, as soon as it was dawn, she +came forth from the hateful chamber, fully intending +to punish the villain and all his family. But coming +down to seek them where they dwelt, she could not +see father, nor sons, nor any one. She sought in each +room, but found them all empty; every one had fled +in fear, but whither neither she nor Talus knew.</p> + +<p class='c007'>She saw it was in vain to stay there longer, so took +her steed, and lightly mounting, started again on her +former way. She had not ridden the distance of an +arrow’s flight before she saw in front of her the two +false brethren on the perilous Bridge, where Sir Artegall +had fought with the Saracen. The passage was +narrow, like a ploughed ridge, so that if two met, one +must needs fall over the edge.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There they thought to wreak their wrath on her, +and began to reproach her bitterly, accusing her of +murdering Guizor by cunning. Britomart did not +know what they meant, but she went forward without +pausing till she came to the perilous Bridge. There +Talus wanted to prepare the way for her, and scare +off the two villains, but her eyes sparkled with anger +at the suggestion. Not staying to consider which way +to take, she put spurs to her fiery steed, and making +her way between them, she drove one brother at the +point of her spear to the end of the Bridge, and hurled +the other brother over the side of it into the river.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus the Warrior Princess slew the two wicked +sons of Goodman Guile.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_331' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_331">331</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Battle of Queen Radigund and Britomart</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>That night Britomart spent in the great Temple of +Isis, which was dedicated in days of old to the worship +of Justice. Here in her sleep she had a wondrous +vision, which at first filled her with dread. But when +she described it next morning to the priests in the +Temple, they told her that her dream had a good +meaning, and that everything would end well. Greatly +relieved to hear this, she bestowed rich rewards on the +priests, and made royal gifts of gold and silver to the +Temple. Then taking leave of them, she went forward +to seek her love, never resting and never relenting till +she came to the land of the Amazons.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When news of her approach was brought to Radigund +she was filled with courage and glee instead of being +dismayed. Glad to hear of fighting, of which she had +now had none for a long time, she bade them open the +gates boldly, so that she might see the face of her new +foe; but when they told her of the Iron Man who had +lately slain her people, she bade them hold them shut.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So there outside the gate, as seemed best, her +pavilion was pitched, in which brave Britomart rested +herself, while Talus watched at her door all night. +All night, likewise, those of the town, in terror, kept +good watch and ward upon their wall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The next morning, as soon as it was dawn, the warlike +Amazon peeped out of her bower, and caused +a shrill trumpet to sound to warn her foe to hasten +to the battle. Britomart, who had long been awake +<span class='pageno' id='Page_332' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_332">332</span>and arrayed for contest, immediately stepped haughtily +from the pavilion, ready for the fight, and on the other +side her foe soon appeared.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But before they lifted hand, Radigund began to +propound the strict conditions with which she always +fettered her foes—that Britomart should serve her as +she had bound the rest to do. At this, Britomart +frowned sternly, in disdain of such indignity, and would +no longer parley, but bade them sound the advance, +for she would be tied by no other terms than those +prescribed by the laws of chivalry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The trumpets sounded, and they rushed together +with greedy rage, smiting with their falchions; neither +sought to shun the other’s stroke, but both savagely +hacked and hewed, furious as a tiger and a lioness +fighting over the same prey. So long they fought that +all the grassy floor was trampled with blood. At last +Radigund, having espied some near advantage, let drive +at Britomart with all her might, thus taunting her with +savage scorn—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Bear this token to the man whom you love so +dearly, and tell him you gave your life for his sake!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The cruel stroke glanced on Britomart’s shoulder +plate, and bit to the bone, so that she could hardly +hold up her shield for the smart of it. Yet she soon +avenged it, for the furious pain gave her fresh force, +and she smote Radigund so rudely on the helmet that +it pierced to the very brain, and felled her to the ground, +where with one stroke Britomart killed her.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_333' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_333">333</span> +<img src='images/i_361.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Thence forth unto the Idole they her brought</span>;<br> * * * * *<br> <span class='blackletter'>To which the Idole, as it were inclining,<br> Her wand did move with amiable looke,<br> By outward shew her inward sense designing.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>When Radigund’s warrior band saw this dreadful +sight they all fled into the town, and left Britomart +<span class='pageno' id='Page_335' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_335">335</span>sole victor. But they could not retreat so fast but +that Talus could overtake the foremost. Pressing +through the mob to the gate, he entered in with them, +and then began a piteous slaughter; for all who came +within reach of his iron flail were soon beyond the skill +of any doctor.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the noble Conqueror herself came in, and +though she had sworn a vow of revenge, yet when she +saw the heaps of dead bodies slain by Talus, her heart +was torn with pity, and she bade him slack his fury. +Having thus stayed the massacre, she inquired for the +iron prison where her love lay captive. Breaking it open +with indignant rage, she entered, and went all over +it; when she saw the strange and horrible sight of the +men dressed up in womanish garb, her heart groaned with +compassion for such unmanly and disgraceful misery.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When at last she came to her own Knight, whom +the like disguise had no less disfigured, abashed with +shame she turned aside her head, and then with +pity and tender words she tried to comfort him. +She caused the unsightly garments to be immediately +taken off, and in their stead sought for other raiment, +of which there was great store, as well as bright armour +reft from many a noble knight whom the proud Amazon +had subdued. When Sir Artegall was clad anew in +this apparel Britomart’s spirits revived, and she rejoiced +in his gallant appearance.</p> + +<p class='c007'>They remained for awhile in the city of Queen +Radigund, so that Sir Artegall might recover his +strength, and Britomart be healed of her wounds. +During this time Britomart reigned as a Princess, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_336' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_336">336</span>changed all the order of government. The women +were deposed from the rule which they had usurped, +and true justice was dealt them, so that, worshipping +Britomart as a goddess, they all admired her wisdom +and listened to her teaching. All those knights who +had long been hidden in captivity, she freed from +their thraldom, and made magistrates of the city, +giving them great wealth and authority. And in +order that they should always remain faithful, she +made them swear fealty to Artegall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As the latter Knight was now fully recovered, he +proposed to proceed upon the first adventure which +had called him forth, the release of the Lady Irene +from the villain Grantorto. Very sad and sorrowful +was Britomart at his departure, yet wisely moderated +her own grief, seeing that his honour, which she put +above all things, was much concerned in carrying out +that adventure. For a little while after he had gone +she remained there in the city, but finding her misery +increase with his absence, and hoping that change of +air and place would somewhat ease her sorrow, she too +departed, to appease her anguish in travel.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Adventure of the Damsel, the Two Knights, and the Sultan’s Horses</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As Sir Artegall rode forth on his way, accompanied +only by Talus, he saw far off a damsel on a palfrey +flying fast in terror before two knights, who pursued +her. These in turn were themselves pursued by another +<span class='pageno' id='Page_337' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_337">337</span>knight, who pricked after them with all his might, his +spear ready levelled. At length the latter overtook the +hindmost of the two knights, and compelled him to +turn and face him; but the other still pursued the maid, +who flew as fast in front of him, and never stopped till +she saw Sir Artegall. To him she ran at once, in glad +haste, hoping to get help against her enemy; and Artegall, +seeing her approach, went forward to relieve her +fear, and to prevent her foe from hurting her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the pursuing knight, greedy as a hound after +his prey, still continued his course, thinking to overthrow +Sir Artegall with his spear. Thus alike sternly +resolved they met fiercely. But Artegall was the +stronger, and better skilled in tilt and tournament, +and he hurled the other out of his saddle quite two +spears’ lengths. The Pagan knight, unluckily for +himself, pitched on his head, broke his neck, and was +killed on the spot.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Meanwhile the third Knight had defeated and slain +the second of the villains, and leaving him there dead, +he ran on to overtake his companion. Instead of him +he found Sir Artegall, and not knowing he was also on +the side of the damsel, he ran at him without thinking; +and the latter, seeing him approach so fiercely, made +against him again. So they met, and struck strongly, +and broke their spears; yet neither was dismounted, +though they both shook to and fro, and tottered like +two towers quaking in a tempest.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when they had recovered their senses they drew +their swords, meaning to make amends with them where +their spears had failed. When the damsel, who had +<span class='pageno' id='Page_338' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_338">338</span>seen the end of both her foes, now beheld her friends +beginning for her sake a more fearful fray, she ran to +them in haste, crying to them to stay their cruel hands +until they both heard what she had to say to them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, gentle Knights,” she cried, “why do you thus +unwisely wreak on yourselves another’s wrong? I am +the injured one whom both of you have aided. Witness +the two Pagan knights whom ye may see dead on +the ground! What more revenge, therefore, do you +desire? If more, then I am she who was the root of +all. End your revenge on me.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>When they heard her speak thus, and saw that their +foes were indeed dead, they immediately stayed their +hands, and lifted up their visors to look at each other; +and then Sir Artegall saw that his adversary was none +other than Prince Arthur himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Filled with admiration for his gallant and noble +bearing, and touched with the deepest affection, he +drew near, and prayed pardon for having unknowingly +wronged him, offering to yield himself to the Prince for +ever, or to any penance he chose to inflict.</p> + +<p class='c007'>To whom the Prince replied—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly, I need more to crave the same pardon, for +having been so misled by error as to mistake you for +the dead man. But since it pleases you that both our +faults shall be forgotten, amends can soon be made, +since neither is much damaged thereby.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus their perfect friendship was easily restored, and +they embraced lovingly, each swearing faithfully on his +blade never thenceforth to nourish enmity against the +other, but always mutually to maintain each other’s cause.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_339' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_339">339</span>Then they called the damsel, and asked her who +were the two foes from whom she was flying so fast, +and who she was herself, and what was the reason why +she was pursued by them.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The maiden, whose name was Samient, replied that +she was in the service of a great and mighty queen +called Mercilla, a Princess of great power and majesty. +She was known above all for her bounty and sovereign +grace, with which she supported her royal crown, and +strongly beat down the malice of her foes, who envied +her, and fretted, and frowned at her happiness. In +spite of them she grew greater and greater, and even +to her foes her mercies increased.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Amongst the many who maligned her was a mighty +man dwelling near, who, with cruel spite and hatred, +did all in his power to undermine her crown and dignity. +Her good knights, of whom she had as brave a band +as any Princess on earth, he either destroyed, if they +stood against him, or else tried to bribe slyly to take +his part. And not content with this, he was always +trying by treacherous plots to kill Queen Mercilla.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“He is provoked to all this tyranny, they say, by +his bad wife, Adicia,” continued Samient, “who counsels +him, because of his strength, to break all bonds of law +and rule of right; for she professes herself a mortal +foe to justice, and always fights against it, working +deadly woe to all who love it, and making her knights +and people do so likewise.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“My liege lady, seeing this, thought it best to deal +with Adicia in a friendly fashion, in order to put an +end to strife, and to establish rest both for herself and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_340' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_340">340</span>her people. She therefore sent me on a message to +treat with her, by way of negotiation, as to some final +peace and fair arrangement, which might be concluded +by mutual consent.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“At all times it is customary to afford safe passage +to messengers who come on a just cause, but this proud +dame, disdaining all such rules, not only burst into +bitter words, reviling and railing at me as she chose, +but actually thrust me like a dog out of doors, miscalling +me by many a bitter name, who never did any ill +to her. Then lastly she sent those two knights after +me to work me further mischief, but thanks to Heaven +and your valour, they have paid the price of their own +folly.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So said the damsel, and showed herself most grateful +to Prince Arthur and Sir Artegall for their aid.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knights, having heard of all the wrongs done +by the proud dame Adicia, were very indignant, and +eagerly desired to punish her and her husband, the +Sultan. But thinking to carry out their design more +easily by a counterfeit disguise, they arranged this plot: +first, that Sir Artegall should array himself like one of +the two dead knights, then that he should convey the +damsel Samient as his prize to the Sultan’s court, to +present her to the scornful lady, who had sent for her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>This was accordingly done.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Directly the Sultan’s wife saw them, as she lay looking +out of the window, she thought it was the Pagan +knight with her prey, and sent a page to direct him +where to go. Taking them to the appointed place, the +page offered his service to disarm the Knight, but Sir +<span class='pageno' id='Page_341' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_341">341</span>Artegall refused to take off his armour, fearing to be +discovered.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Soon after, Prince Arthur arrived, and sent a bold +defiance to the Sultan, requiring of him the damsel +whom he held as a wrongful prisoner. The Sultan, +filled with fury, swearing and cursing, commanded his +armour to be brought at once, and mounted straight +upon a high chariot, dreadfully armed with iron wheels +and hooks, and drawn by cruel steeds, whom he fed +with the flesh of slaughtered men.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus he came forth, clad in a coat of mail, all red +with rust. The Prince waited ready for him in glistering +armour, right goodly to see, that shone like the +sun. By the stirrup Talus attended, playing his page’s +part, as his master had directed.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they went forth to battle, both alike fierce, +but with different motives. For the proud and presumptuous +Sultan, with insolent bearing, sought only +slaughter and revenge; but the brave Prince fought +for right and honour against lawless tyranny, on behalf +of wronged weakness, trusting more to the truth of +his cause than in his own strength.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Sultan in his folly thought either to hew the +Prince in pieces with his sharp wheels, or to bear +him down under his fierce horses’ feet, and trample +him in the dust. But the bold Knight, well spying that +peril if he came too near the chariot, kept out of the way +of the flying horses. Yet as he passed by, the Pagan +threw a dart with such force that, had he not shunned +it heedfully, it would have transfixed either himself or +his horse. Often Prince Arthur came near, hoping to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_342' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_342">342</span>aim some stroke at him, but the Sultan was mounted so +high in his chariot, and his wing-footed coursers bore +him so fast away, that before the Prince could advance +his spear, he was past and gone; yet still he followed +him everywhere, and in turn was followed by him.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_370.jpg' alt='An armored figure standing in a horse-drawn chariot and holding a spear, with other horses and a rider in the background.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Again the Pagan threw another dart, which, guided by +some bad spirit, glided through Prince Arthur’s cuirass, +and made a grisly wound in his side. Furious as a raging +<span class='pageno' id='Page_343' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_343">343</span>lion, the Prince sought to get at his foe; but whenever he +approached, the chariot wheels whirled round him, and +made him fly back again as fast; and the Sultan’s horses, +like hungry hounds hunting after game, so cruelly +chased and pursued him that his own good steed, although +renowned for courage and hardy race, dared not +endure the sight of them, but fled from place to place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus for a long while they rushed to and fro, seeking +in every way to find some opening for attack; but +the Prince could never get near enough for one sure +stroke. Then at last from his victorious shield he +drew the veil which hid its magic light, and coming +full before the horses as they pressed upon him, flashed +it in their eyes.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Like the lightning which burns the gazer, so did +the sight of the shield dismay their senses, so that they +turned back upon themselves and ran away with their +driver. Nor could the Sultan stay their flight with +reins or accustomed rule, as he well knew how; they +did not fear him in the least—their only fear was that +from which they fled dismayed, like terrified deer. +Fast as their feet could bear them they flew over hill +and dale. In vain the Pagan cursed and swore and +railed, and dragged with both hands at the reins; he +called and spoke to them, but nothing availed. They +heard him not, they forgot his training, they went +which way they chose, heedless of their guide. Through +woods and rocks and mountains they drew the iron +chariot, and the wheels tore the Sultan, and tossed him +here and there from side to side, crying in vain to those +who would not hear his crying.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_344' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_344">344</span>And all the while Prince Arthur pursued closely +behind, but could find no means of smiting his foe.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last the horses overthrew the chariot, which was +turned topsy-turvy, and the iron hooks and sharp knives +caught hold of the Sultan and tore him all to rags. +Nothing was left of him but some bits of his battered +and broken shield and armour. These Prince Arthur +gathered up and took with him that they might remain +as a token, whenever the tale was told, of how worthily +that day, by Heaven’s decree, justice had avenged herself +of wrong, so that all men might take warning by +the example.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Therefore, on a tree in front of the tyrant’s door, +he caused them to be hung in the sight of all men, to +be a memorial for ever.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the Lady Adicia from the castle height beheld +them she was appalled, but instead of being overcome +with fright, as another woman might have been, +she immediately began to devise how to be revenged.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Knife in hand, she ran down, vowing to wreak her +vengeance on the maiden messenger whom she had +ordered to be kept prisoner by Sir Artegall, mistaking +him for her own knight; and coming into her presence +she ran at her with all her might. But Artegall, being +aware thereof, stayed her cruel hand before it reached +Samient, and caught the weapon from her. Thereupon, +like one distracted, she rushed forth, wherever +her rage bore her, frantic with passion. Breaking out +at a postern door, she ran into the wild wood, where, it +is said, on account of her malice and cruelty she was +transformed into a tiger.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_345' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_345">345</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Adventure at the Den of Deceit</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>After the defeat of the Sultan and the flight of his +wicked wife, Prince Arthur and Sir Artegall wished +to hand over the place and all its wealth to Samient to +hold for her lady, while they departed on their quest; +but the maiden begged them so earnestly to go with +her to see Queen Mercilla that at last they consented.</p> + +<p class='c007'>On the way she told them of a strange thing near +at hand—to wit, a wicked villain who dwelt in a rock +not far off, and who robbed all the country round, and +took the pillage home. In this his own wily wit, and +also the security of his dwelling-place, both of which +were unassailable, were of great assistance. For he was +so crafty both to invent and execute, so light of hand +and nimble of foot, so smooth of tongue and subtle in +his tale, that any one looking at him might well be +taken in. Therefore he was called Deceit.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He was well known for his achievements, and by his +tricks had brought many to ruin. The rock, also, where +he dwelt was wondrous strong, and hewn a dreadful +depth far under ground; within it was full of winding +and hidden passages, so that no one could find his +way back who once went amiss.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The Knights, hearing this, longed to see the villain +where he lurked, and bade Samient guide them to the +place. As they came near, they agreed that the best +plan would be for the damsel to go on in front, and sit +alone near the den, wailing and raising a pitiful uproar. +When the wretch issued forth, hoping to find some +<span class='pageno' id='Page_346' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_346">346</span>spoil, they, lying in wait, would closely ensnare him +before he could retreat to his den, and thus they hoped +to foil him easily.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Samient immediately did as she was directed, and +the noise of her weeping speedily brought forth the +villain, as they had intended.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He was as dreadful a creature as ever walked on +earth, with hollow, deeply set eyes, and long shaggy locks +straggling down his shoulders. He wore strange garments +all in rags and tatters, and in his hand he held a +huge long staff, the top of which was armed with many +iron hooks, to catch hold of everything that came within +reach of his clutches, and he kept casting looks around +in all directions. At his back he bore a great wide net, +with which he seldom fished in the water, but which he +used to fish for silly folk on the dry shore, and in fair +weather he caught many.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When Samient saw close beside her such an ugly +creature she was really frightened, and now in earnest +cried aloud for help. But when the villain saw her so +afraid, he tried guilefully to persuade her to banish fear; +smiling sardonically on her, he diverted her mind by +talking pleasantly and showing her some amusing tricks, +for he was an adept at jugglery and conjuring feats. +Whilst her attention was engaged, he suddenly threw his +net over her like a puff of wind, and snatching her up +before she was well aware, ran with her to his cave. But +when he came near and saw the armed Knights stopping +his passage, he flung down his burden and fled fast away.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_347' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_347">347</span> +<img src='images/i_375.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>The Damzell straight went, as she was directed,<br> Unto the rocke; and there upon the soyle<br> Gan weepe and wayle, as if great grief had her affected.</span><br> <br> <span class='blackletter'>The cry whereof entering the hollow cave<br> Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall pursued him, while Prince Arthur still +kept guard at the entrance of the den. Up to the rock +<span class='pageno' id='Page_349' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_349">349</span>ran Deceit, like a wild goat leaping from hill to hill, +and dancing on the very edge of the craggy cliffs. It +was useless for the armed Knight to think of following +him, but he sent his Iron Man after him, for Talus +was swift in chase.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then wherever Deceit went Talus pursued him, +so that he soon forced him to forsake the heights and +descend to the low ground. Now Deceit tried a new +plan: he suddenly changed his form. First he turned +himself into a fox, but Talus still hunted him as a fox; +then he transformed himself to a bush, but Talus beat +the bush till at last it changed into a bird, and passed +from him, flying from tree to tree, and from reed to +reed; but Talus threw stones at the bird, so that +presently it changed itself into a stone, and dropped to +the ground; whereupon Talus took the stone up in his +hand and brought it to the Knights, and gave it to Sir +Artegall, warning him to hold it fast for fear of tricks. +While the Knight seized it in a tight grip, the stone +went unawares into a hedgehog, and pricked him, so +that he threw it away; then it began to run off quickly, +returning to Deceit’s own shape; but Talus soon overtook +him and brought him back.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when he would have changed himself into a +serpent, Talus drove at him with his iron flail, and +thrashed him so that he died. So that was the end of +Deceit the self-deceiver.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Leaving his dead body where it fell, the two Knights +went on with the maiden to see her Lady, as they had +agreed. Presently they beheld a stately palace, mounted +high with terraces and towers, and all the tops were glistering +<span class='pageno' id='Page_350' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_350">350</span>with gold, which seemed to outshine the sky, and +with their brightness dazzled the eyes of strangers. +There alighting, they were directed in by Samient, and +shown all that was to be seen. The magnificent porch +stood open wide to all men, day and night; yet it was +well guarded by a man of great strength, like a giant, +who sat there to keep out guile and malice and spite, +which often under a feigned semblance works much +mischief in Princes’ courts. His name was <i>Awe</i>.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Passing by him they went up the hall, which was a +wide large room, filled with people, making a great din. +In the thickest of the press the marshal of the hall, +whose name was <i>Order</i>, came to them, and commanding +peace, guided them through the throng. All ceased +their clamour to gaze at the Knights, half terrified at +their shining armour, which was a strange sight to them; +for they never saw such array there, nor was the name +of war ever spoken, but all was joyous peace, and quietness, +and just government.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So by degrees they were guided into the presence of +the Queen. She sat high up, on a throne of bright and +shining gold, adorned with priceless gems. All over +her was spread a canopy of state, glittering and gleaming +like a cloud of gold and silver, upheld by the rainbow-coloured +wings of little cherubs. Thus she sat in +sovereign majesty, holding a sceptre in her royal hand, +the sacred pledge of peace and clemency. At her feet +lay her sword, the bright steel brand rusted from long +rest, yet when foes forced it, or friends sought aid, +she could draw it sternly to dismay the world. Round +about her sat a bevy of fair maidens, clad in white, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_351' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_351">351</span>whilst underneath her feet lay a great huge lion, like a +captive thrall, bound with a strong iron chain and collar.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now at the instant when the two stranger Knights +came into the presence of the Queen, she was holding, +as it happened, a great and important trial. Having +acknowledged their obeisance with royal courtesy, she +gave orders to proceed with the trial; and wishing that +the Knights should see and understand all that was +going on, she bade them both mount up to her stately +throne, and placed one on each side of her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then there was brought forward as prisoner a lady +of great beauty and high position, but who had blotted +all her honour and titles of nobility by her wicked +behaviour. This was no other than the false Duessa, +who had wrought so much mischief by her malice and +cunning. Seeing the piteous plight in which she now +stood, Prince Arthur’s tender heart was touched with +compassion; but when he heard the long roll of her +crimes read forth, he could no longer wish that she +should escape punishment. Sir Artegall, for the sake +of justice, was against her, and she was judged guilty +by all. Then they called loudly to the Queen to pronounce +sentence. Mercilla was deeply moved at the +sight of Duessa’s wretched plight, and even then would +gladly have pardoned her; but in order to save her land +from further evil, which would grow if not checked, +she was obliged to keep to the stern law of justice. +Melting to tears, she suddenly left her throne, unable +to speak the words that doomed the prisoner to death; +and she never ceased to lament with bitter remorse the +fate which the wretched Duessa had brought on herself.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_352' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_352">352</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Adventure of the Tyrant Grantorto</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>While Prince Arthur and Sir Artegall were staying +at the court of Queen Mercilla, there came one day +two noble youths to implore aid for their mother, for +their father was dead. A cruel tyrant, the son of a +giant, had ravaged all her land, setting up an idol of +his own, and giving her dear children one by one to +be devoured by a horrible monster. Prince Arthur, +seeing that none of the other knights were eager for +this adventure, boldly stepped forward, and begged the +Queen to let him undertake it. She gladly granted +permission, and the following morning he started on +his journey. In due course he reached the land which +had been laid waste, fought with the tyrant, and overcame +him, slew the vile monster, and restored the lady +to her rightful possessions.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall, meanwhile, had started again on his +first quest, which was to set free the Lady Irene and +punish Grantorto. He fared forward through many +perils, with Talus, as usual, his only attendant, till he +came at length near the appointed place.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There, as he travelled, he met an old and solitary +wayfarer, whom he knew at once as the attendant of +Irene, when she came in sorrow to the court of the +Faerie Queene to entreat protection. Saluting him by +name, Sir Artegall inquired for news of his Lady, whether +she were still alive, and if so why he had left her. To +whom the aged knight replied that she lived and was +well, but had been seized by treachery and imprisoned +<span class='pageno' id='Page_353' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_353">353</span>by the tyrant Grantorto, who had often sought her life. +And now he had fixed a day by which, if no champion +appeared to do battle for her and prove her innocent +of those crimes of which she was accused, she should +surely suffer death.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall was much cast down to hear these sad +tidings, and sorely grieved that it was owing to his own +long delay in captivity that the misfortune had happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Tell me, Sir Sergis,” he said, “how long a space +hath he lent her to provide a champion?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ten days he has granted as a favour,” was the +answer; “for he knows well that before that date no +one can have tidings to help her. For all the shores, +far and wide, which border on the sea, he guards night +and day, so that no one could land without an army. +Already he considers her as good as dead.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Now turn again,” said Sir Artegall; “for if I live +till those ten days are ended, be assured, Sir Knight, +she shall have aid, though I spend my life for her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So he went back at once with Sir Sergis.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then as they rode together they saw in front of +them a confused crowd of people, rudely chasing to +and fro a hapless Knight, who was in much danger +from their rough handling. Some distance away, standing +helpless in the midst of the mob, they spied a lady, +crying and holding up her hands to him for aid. Sir +Artegall and Talus put to flight the rascally rout who +were assailing the Knight, and then inquired of him the +cause of his misadventure. He replied that his name +was Burbon, and that he had been well known and far +renowned till mischief had fallen on him and tarnished +<span class='pageno' id='Page_354' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_354">354</span>his former fame. The lady was his own love, whom +the tyrant Grantorto had tried to bribe from him with +rich gifts and deceitful words, and now he had sent +a troop of villains to snatch her away by open force. +Burbon had for a long time vainly tried to rescue her, +but was overcome by the multitude of his assailants.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“But why have you forsaken your own good +shield?” said Artegall. “This is the greatest shame +and deepest scorn that can happen to any knight, to +lose the badge that should display his deeds.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That I will explain to you, lest you blame me +for it, and think it was done willingly, whereas it was a +matter of necessity,” said Sir Burbon, blushing half for +shame. “It is true that I was at first dubbed knight +by a good Knight—the Knight of the Red Cross, who, +when he gave me arms to fight in battle, gave me a +shield on which he traced his dear Redeemer’s badge. +That same I bore for a long time, and with it fought +many battles, without wound or loss. With it I +appalled Grantorto himself, and oftentimes made him +fall in field before me. But because many envied that +shield, and cruel foes greatly increased, to stop all strife +and troublous enmity I laid aside the battered scutcheon, +and have lately gone without it, hoping thereby to +obtain my Lady; nevertheless I cannot have her, for +she is still detained from me by force, and is perverted +from truth by bribery.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly, Sir Knight,” said Artegall, “it is a hard +case of which you complain, yet not so hard as to +abandon that which contains the blazon of your honour—that +is, your warlike shield. All peril and all pain +<span class='pageno' id='Page_355' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_355">355</span>should be accounted less than loss of fame. Die rather +than do aught that yields dishonour.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not so,” quoth Sir Burbon, “for when time serves +I may again resume my former shield. To temporise +is not to swerve from truth, when advantage or necessity +compels it.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Fie on such forgery!” said Artegall. “Under +one hood to hide two faces! Knights should be true, +and truth is one in all. Down with all dissembling!”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yet help me now for courtesy against these +peasants who have oppressed me,” said Burbon, “so +that my lady may be freed from their hands.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Artegall, although he blamed his wavering +mind, agreed to aid him, and buckling himself at once +to the fight, with the help of Talus and his iron flail +soon dispersed the rabble.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when they came to where the lady now stood +alone, and Burbon ran forward to embrace her, she +started back disdainfully, and would listen to nothing +he said. The Knights rebuked her for being so fickle +and wayward, and Sir Artegall’s grave words so abashed +her, that she hung down her head for shame, and stood +speechless. Seeing this, Burbon made a second attempt, +and she allowed him to place her on his steed without +resistance. So he carried her off, seemingly neither +well nor ill pleased.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Artegall took his way to the sea-shore, +to see if he could find any shipping to carry him over +to the savage island where Grantorto held the Lady +Irene captive. As good fortune fell, when they came +to the coast they found a ship all ready to put to sea. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_356' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_356">356</span>Wind and weather served them so well that in one +day they reached the island, where they found great +hosts of men in order of battle ready to repel them, who +held possession of the ground and forbade them to land. +Nevertheless they would not refrain from landing, but +as they drew near, Talus jumped into the sea, and wading +through the waves, gained the shore, and chased the +enemy away. Then Artegall and the old Knight landed, +and marched forward to a town which was in sight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By this time those who first fled in fear had brought +tidings to the tyrant, who summoned all his forces in +alarm, and marched out to encounter the enemy. He had +not gone far when he met them; he charged with all +his might, but Talus set upon the tyrant’s troops and +bruised and battered them so pitilessly, that he killed +many. No one was able to withstand him; he overthrew +them, man and horse, so that they lay scattered +all over the land, as thick as seed after the sower.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Artegall, seeing his rage, bade him to +stop, and made a sign of truce. Calling a herald, he +sent him to the tyrant to tell him that he did not come +thither for the sake of such slaughter, but to try the +right of Irene’s cause with him in single fight. When +Grantorto heard this message, right glad was he thus to +stop the slaughter, and he appointed the next morrow +for the combat betwixt them twain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The following morning was the dismal day appointed +for Irene’s death. The sorrowful maiden, +to whom none had borne tidings of the arrival of +Artegall to set her free, looked up with sad eyes and a +heavy heart, believing her last hour to be near. Rising, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_357' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_357">357</span>she dressed herself in squalid garments fit for such a +day, and was brought forth to receive her doom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But when she came to the place, and found there +Sir Artegall in battle array, waiting for the foe, her heart +was cheered, and it lent new life to her in the midst of +deadly fear. Like a withered rose, dying of drought, +which glows with fresh grace when a few drops of rain +fall on her dainty face, so was Irene’s countenance when +she saw Sir Artegall in that array waiting for the tyrant.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At length, with proud and presumptuous bearing, +Grantorto came into the field. He was armed in +a coat of iron plate, and wore on his head a steel cap, +rusty brown in colour, but sure and strong. He bore in +his hand a great pole-axe, with which he was accustomed +to fight, the blade of which was iron-studded, but not +long. He was huge and hideous in stature, like a giant +in height, surpassing most men in strength, and had +moreover great skill in single fight. His face was ugly, +and his expression stern enough to frighten one with the +very sight of it; and when he grinned, it could scarcely +be discerned whether he were a man or a monster.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As soon as he appeared within the lists he surveyed +Artegall with a dreadful look, as if he would have +daunted him with fear, and grinning in a grisly fashion +flourished his deadly weapon. But the Knight of the +Faerie Queene, who had often seen such a sight, was +not in the least quelled by his ghastly countenance, but +began straight to buckle himself to the fight, and cast +his shield in front of him to be in readiness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The trumpets sounded, and they rushed together +with terrific force, each dealing huge and dangerous +<span class='pageno' id='Page_358' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_358">358</span>strokes. But the tyrant thundered his blows with +such violence that they rent their way through the +iron walls of his enemy’s armour. Artegall, seeing +this, took wary heed to shun them, and often stooped +his head to shield himself; but Grantorto wielded his +iron axe so nimbly that he gave him many wounds. +But lifting his arm to smite him mortally, the Knight +spied his advantage, and slipping underneath, struck +him right in the flank. Yet the tyrant’s blow, as he +had intended, kept on its course, and fell with such +monstrous weight that it seemed as if nothing could +protect Sir Artegall from death. But betwixt him +and the blow he cast his shield, in which the pole-axe +buried itself so deep that Grantorto could in no way +wrest it back again. He tugged and strove, and +dragged the Knight all about the place, but nevertheless +he could not free the axe from the shield.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Artegall, perceiving this, let go of his shield, and +attacking the tyrant with his sword Crysaor, swiftly +cut off his head.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the people round about saw this they all +shouted for joy at his success, glad to be freed from the +tyrant who had so long oppressed them. Joyously running +to the fair Lady Irene, they fell at her feet, doing +homage to her as their true liege and princess, while +the glory of her champion was sounded everywhere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Artegall led Irene with fitting majesty to +the palace where the kings reigned, and established her +peaceably therein, and restored her kingdom again to +her. And all such persons as had helped the tyrant +with open or secret aid he punished severely, so that in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_359' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_359">359</span>a very short space not one was left who would have +dared to disobey her. During the time he remained +there all his study was how to deal true justice, and day +and night he gave his anxious thoughts as to how he +might reform the government.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_387.jpg' alt='An armored knight holding up a severed head while standing over a fallen body, with onlookers in the background.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Thus, having freed Irene from distress, he took his +leave, and left her sorrowing at his departure.</p> + +<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_360' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_360">360</span></div> +<div class='chapter'> + +<div class='c001 figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_388.jpg' alt='A person giving drink to a seated armored knight, with shepherds and sheep in the distance.' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div> + <h2 class='c005'>Sir Calidore, Knight of Courtesy</h2> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class='drop-capa0_0_7 c006'>The Quest of the Blatant Beast</p> + +<p class='c007'>One of the best loved knights at the court of the +Faerie Queene was Sir Calidore, for even there, +where courteous knights and ladies most did throng, +not one was more renowned for courtesy than Calidore. +Gentleness of spirit and winning manners were natural +to him, and added to these, his gallant bearing and +gracious speech stole all men’s hearts. Moreover, he +was strong and tall, and well proved in battle, so that +he had won much glory, and his fame had spread +afar. Not a knight or lady at the Court but loved +him dearly; and he was worthy of their affection, for +he hated falsehood and base flattery, and loved simple +truth and steadfast honesty.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_361' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_361">361</span>But like all Queen Gloriana’s other knights, Sir +Calidore was not allowed to spend his days in slothful +ease at the court. He had his task to perform, and the +adventure appointed to him was a hard and perilous one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As he travelled on his way, it happened by chance +that he met Sir Artegall, who was returning half sadly +from the conquest he had lately made. They knew +each other at once, and Sir Calidore was the first to +speak.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Hail, noblest Knight of all that live and breathe!” +he cried. “Now tell me, if it please you, of the good +success you have had in your late enterprise.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Sir Artegall told him the whole story of his +exploits from beginning to end.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Happy man to have worthily achieved so hard a +quest!” said Calidore, when he had finished. “It will +make you renowned for evermore. But where you have +ended I now begin to tread an endless track, without +guide or direction how to enter in or issue forth—in +untried ways, in strange perils, and in long and weary +labour. And even although good fortune may befall +me, it will be unseen of any one.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is that quest which calls you now into +such peril?” asked Sir Artegall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“I pursue the Blatant Beast,” said Sir Calidore, +“and incessantly chase him through the world until +I overtake and subdue him. I do not know how or +in what place to find him, yet still I fare forward.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“What is that Blatant Beast?” asked Artegall.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“It is a hideous monster of evil race, born and +brought up in dark and noisome places, whence he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_362' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_362">362</span>issues forth to be the plague and scourge of wretched +men. He has oftentimes annoyed good knight and +true lady, and destroyed many, for with his venomous +nature and vile tongue he wounds sorely, and bites, +and cruelly torments.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Then, since I left the savage island, I have seen +such a beast,” said Artegall. “He seemed to have a +thousand tongues, all agreeing in spite and malice, +with which he barked and bayed at me, as if he would +have devoured me on the spot. He was set on by +two hideous old hags, <i>Envy</i> and <i>Detraction</i>. But I, +knowing myself safe from peril, paid no regard to his +malice nor his power, whereupon he poured forth his +wicked poison the more.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“That surely is the beast which I pursue,” said +Calidore. “I am right glad to have these tidings of +him, having had none before in all my weary travels. +Now your words give me some hope.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“God speed you!” said Sir Artegall, “and keep +you from the dread danger, for you have much to +contend against.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So they took a kindly leave of each other, and +parted on their several ways.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Calidore had not travelled far when he came +upon a comely Squire, bound hand and foot to a tree, +who seeing him in the distance called to him for aid. +The Knight at once set him free, and then asked him +what mishap had brought him into such disgrace. +The Squire replied it was occasioned not by his fault, +but through his misfortune.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_363' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_363">363</span> +<img src='images/i_391.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Sir Calidore thence travelled not long,<br> When as by chaunce a comely Squire be found,<br> That thorough some more mighty enemies wrong<br> Both hand and foote unto a tree was bound.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>“Not far from here, on yonder rocky hill,” he +<span class='pageno' id='Page_365' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_365">365</span>said, “stands a strong Castle, where a bad and hateful +custom is kept up. For whenever any knight or lady +comes along that way (and they must needs go by, +for it is the pass through the rocks), they shave away +the lady’s locks and the knight’s beard to pay toll for +the passage.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As shameful a custom as ever I heard of, and it +shall be put a stop to!” said Sir Calidore. “But for +what cause was it first set on foot?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“The lady who owns the castle is called Briana, +and no prouder one lives,” replied the Squire. “For +a long time she has dearly loved a doughty Knight, +and sought to win his love by all the means in her +power. Crudor, for that is his name, in his scornful +and selfish vanity refuses to return her affection until +she has made for him a mantle, lined with the beards +of knights and the locks of ladies. To provide this, +she has prepared this castle, and appointed a Seneschal, +called Maleffort, a man of great strength, who executes +her wicked will with worse malice.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“As I came along to-day with a fair damsel, my +dear love, he set upon us. Unable to withstand him, +we both fled, and first capturing me he bound me to +this tree till his return, and then went in pursuit of +her. Nor do I know whether he has yet found her.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>While they were speaking they heard a piteous +shriek, and looking in the direction whence the cry +came, they saw the churl dragging the maiden along +by her yellow hair. When Calidore beheld the shameful +sight he immediately went in pursuit, and commanded +the villain to release his prey. Hearing his +<span class='pageno' id='Page_366' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_366">366</span>voice, Maleffort turned, and running towards him, +more enraged than terrified, said tauntingly—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Are you the wretch who defies me? And will +you give your beard for this maid, whose part you +take? Yet it shall not free her locks from ransom.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>With that he flew fiercely at him and laid on the +most hideous strokes. But Calidore, who was well +skilled in fight, let his adversary exhaust his strength, +and then attacked him with such fury that the churl’s +heart failed him, and he took flight to the Castle, where +his hope of refuge remained. But just as the warders +on the Castle wall opened the gates to receive him, +Calidore overtook him in the porch, and killed him, +so that his dead body fell down inside the door. Then +Calidore entered in and slew the porter.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The rest of the Castle inmates flocked round him, +but he swept them all aside. Passing into the hall +he was met by the Lady Briana herself, who bitterly +upbraided him for what she termed his unknightly +conduct in slaying her servants.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Not unto me the shame, but award it to the +shameful doer,” replied the Knight. “It is no blame +to punish those who deserve it. Those who break the +bonds of civility and make wicked customs, those are +they who defame both noble arms and gentle courtesy. +There is no greater disgrace to man than inhumanity. +Then for dread of disgrace forego this evil custom which +you here keep up, and show instead kindly courtesy to +all who pass. This will gain you more glory than that +man’s love which you thus seek to obtain.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>But the Lady Briana only replied to Sir Calidore with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_367' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_367">367</span>the most scornful insolence, and despatching a hasty +message to Crudor, bade him come to her rescue. While +they waited for the return of the messenger, she treated +Sir Calidore with every indignity, so that an iron heart +could scarcely have borne it; but the Knight wisely +controlled his wrath, and bravely and patiently endured +her womanish disdain.</p> + +<p class='c007'>In due course the answer came back that Crudor +would succour his lady before he tasted bread, and +deliver up her foe, dead or alive, into her hand. Then +Briana immediately became quite blithe, and spoke more +bitterly than ever, yet Calidore was not in the least dismayed, +but rather seemed the more cheerful. Putting +on his armour, he went out to meet his foe, and soon +spied a Knight spurring towards him with all his might.</p> + +<p class='c007'>He guessed at once this was Crudor, and without +staying to ask his name couched his spear and ran at +him. The Knights met with such fury that both rolled +to the ground; but while Calidore at once sprang lightly +again to his feet, it was some time before Crudor rose +slowly and heavily. Then the battle was renewed on +foot, and after a fierce and terrible struggle Calidore at +last brought his foe to the ground. He could easily +have killed him, but Crudor, seeing the danger in which +he was placed, cried out—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Ah, mercy, Sir! Do not slay me, but spare my +life which fate has laid under your foot.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“And is this the boast of that proud lady’s threat, +which menaced to beat me from the field?” said Calidore +quietly. “By this you may now learn not to treat +strangers so rudely. But put away proud looks and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_368' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_368">368</span>stern behaviour, which shall gain for you nothing but +dishonour. However strong and fortunate he may +be in fight, nothing is more blameful to a Knight, who +professes courtesy as well as arms, than the reproach of +pride and cruelty. In vain he seeks to suppress others +who has not learned first to subdue himself. All flesh +is frail and full of fickleness, subject to the chance of +ever-changing fortune: what happens to me to-day +may happen to you to-morrow. He who will not show +mercy to others, how can he ever hope to obtain mercy? +To pay each in his own coin is right and just.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Yet since you now need to crave mercy, I will +grant it, and spare your life, on these conditions: First +that you shall behave yourself better to all errant +knights, wherever they may be; and next, that you aid +ladies in every place and in every trouble.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>The wretched man, who had remained all this while +in dread of death, gladly promised to perform all Sir +Calidore’s behests, and further swore to marry Briana +without any dowry, and to release her from his former +shameful conditions. Then Calidore called the Lady, +and soothing her terror, told her of the promise he had +compelled Crudor to make.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Overcome by his exceeding courtesy, which quite +pierced her stubborn heart, Briana threw herself at his +feet, and acknowledged herself deeply indebted to him +for having restored both life and love to her. Then +they all returned to the Castle, and she entertained +them joyfully with feast and glee, trying by all the +means in her power to show her gratitude and goodwill. +To Sir Calidore, for his trouble, she freely gave +<span class='pageno' id='Page_369' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_369">369</span>the Castle, and professed herself bound to him for +ever, so wondrously was she changed from what she +had been before.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Calidore would not keep for himself land or fee +as wages for his good deed, but gave them at once as a +rightful reward to the Squire whom he had lately freed, +and to his damsel, in recompense for all their former +wrong. There he remained happily with them till he +was well and strong from the wounds he had received, +and then he passed forth again on his first quest.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>The Proud Discourteous Knight</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As Sir Calidore rode on his way he saw not far off +a strange sight—a tall young man fighting on foot +against an armed Knight on horseback; and beside +them he saw a fair lady standing alone on foot, in +sad disarray. Before he could get near to ask what +was the matter, the armed Knight had been killed by +the youth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Filled with amazement, Sir Calidore steadfastly +marked the latter, and found him to be a goodly and +graceful youth, still only a slender slip, not more than +seventeen years old, but tall and fair of face, so that the +Knight surely deemed him of noble birth. He was +clad in a woodman’s jacket of Lincoln green, trimmed +with silver lace; on his head he wore a hood with +spreading points, and his hunter’s horn hung at his +side. His buskins were of the costliest leather, adorned +with golden points, and regularly intersected with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_370' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_370">370</span>stripes, as was then the fashion for those of gentle +family. In his right hand he held a quivering dart, +and in his left a sharp boar-spear.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Calidore, having well viewed him, at length spoke, +and asked him how it came that he, though not yet a +Knight, had dared to slay a Knight, which was plainly +forbidden by chivalry.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Truly,” said the youth, “I was loath to break the +law of chivalry, but I would break it again rather than +let myself be struck by any man. He assailed me first, +regardless of what belongs to chivalry.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>“By my troth,” then said Sir Calidore, “great +blame is it for an armed Knight to wrong an unarmed +man. But tell me why this strife arose between you?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then the youth, whose name was Tristram, told +him that, as he was hunting that day in the forest, +he chanced to meet this man, together with the lady. +The Knight, as Sir Calidore had seen, was on horseback, +but the lady walked on foot beside the horse, through +thick and thin, unfit for any woman. Yet not content +with this, to add to the disgrace, whenever she lagged +behind, as she must needs do, he would thump her +forward with his spear, and force her to go on, while +she vainly wept, and made piteous lament.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“When I saw this, as they passed by,” continued +Tristram, “I was moved to indignation, and began to +blame him for such cruelty. At this he was enraged, +and disdainfully reviled me, threatening to chastise me +as one would a child. I, no less disdainful, returned +his scornful taunts, whereupon he struck me with his +spear, and I, seeking to avenge myself, threw a slender +<span class='pageno' id='Page_371' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_371">371</span>dart at him, which struck him, as it seems, underneath +the heart, so that he quickly died.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Calidore inquired of the lady if this were indeed +true, and as she could deny nothing, but cleared +Tristram of all blame, then said the Knight—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Neither will I charge him with guilt. For what +he spoke, he spoke it for you, Lady; and what he +did, he did it to save himself, against both of whom +that Knight wrought unknightly shame.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then turning back to the gallant boy, who had +acquitted himself so well and stoutly, and seeing his +beautiful face, and hearing his wise words, Sir Calidore +was filled with admiration, and felt certain that he +came of heroic blood. Then, because of the affection +he bore him, he begged the youth to reveal who he was, +“for since the day when I first bore arms,” added the +Knight, “I never saw greater promise in any one.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then Tristram replied that he was the son of a +King, although by fate or fortune he had lost his +country and the crown that should be his by right. +He was the only heir of the good King Meliogras of +Cornwall, but his father dying while he was still +a child, his uncle had seized the kingdom. The +widowed Queen, his mother, afraid lest ill should +happen to the boy, sent him away out of the country +of Lyonesse, where he was born, into the land of +Queen Gloriana, and here he had dwelt since the time +he was ten years old.</p> + +<p class='c007'>His days had not been spent in idleness, for he +had been well trained with many noble companions +in gentle manners and other fitting ways. His chief +<span class='pageno' id='Page_372' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_372">372</span>delight was in following the chase, and nothing that +ranged in the green forest was unknown to him. But +now that he was growing older he felt it was time +to employ his strength in a nobler fashion, and he +besought Sir Calidore to make him a Squire, so that +henceforth he might bear arms, and learn to use them +aright.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So Sir Calidore caused him to kneel, and made +him swear faith to his Knight, and truth to all ladies, +and never to be recreant for fear of peril, nor for anything +that might befall. So he dubbed him, and called +him his Squire.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then young Tristram grew full glad and joyous, +and when the time came for Sir Calidore to depart, +he prayed that he might go with him on his adventure, +vowing always to serve him faithfully. Sir Calidore +rejoiced at his noble heart, and hoped he would +surely prove a doughty Knight, yet for the time he +was obliged to make this answer to him:—</p> + +<p class='c007'>“Glad would I surely be, my courteous Squire, +to have you with me in my present quest, but I am +bound by a vow which I swore to my Sovereign, that +in fulfilling her behest I would allow no creature to +aid me. For that reason I may not grant what you +so earnestly beg. But since this lady is now quite desolate, +and needs a safeguard on her way, you would do +well to succour her from fear of danger.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Tristram gladly accepted this new service, so, +taking a courteous leave, the two parted.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_373' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_373">373</span> +<img src='images/i_401.jpg' alt='An armored knight talking to a man and a woman sitting together under the trees.' class='ig001'> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Not long after this, Sir Calidore came upon a +Knight and a lady sitting in the shade of some trees. +Sir Calidore greeted them courteously, and the Knight +invited him to sit down beside them, so that they +might talk over all their adventures. While they +were chatting together, the Lady Serena wandered away +into the fields to pluck some flowers. Then suddenly, +from the forest near, the Blatant Beast rushed forth, +and catching up the lady, bore her away in his great +<span class='pageno' id='Page_374' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_374">374</span>mouth. Starting up, both Knights at once gave chase, +and Calidore, who was swiftest of foot, overtook the +monster in the midst of his race, and fiercely charging +him, made him leave his prey and take to flight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Knowing that the Knight was close at hand, Sir +Calidore did not pause to succour the lady, but quickly +followed the brute in his flight. Full many paths and +perils he passed; over hill and dale, through forest and +plain; so sharply did he pursue the monster that he never +suffered him to rest, day or night. From the court he +chased him to the city, from the city to the village, from +the village into the country, and from the country back +to remote farms. Thence the Blatant Beast fled into +the open fields, where the herds were keeping the cattle, +and the shepherds were singing to their flocks.</p> + +<h3 class='c016'>Coridon and Pastorella</h3> + +<p class='c017'>As Sir Calidore followed the chase of the Blatant +Beast he came upon a group of shepherds piping to their +flocks. In reply to his questions they answered they had +never seen the creature, and if there were any such they +prayed heaven to keep him far from them. Then one +of them, seeing that Calidore was travel-worn and weary, +offered him such simple food and drink as they had with +them, and the Knight, who was courteous to all men +alike, both the lowly and the high-born, accepted their +gentle offer.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_375' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_375">375</span> +<img src='images/i_403.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Upon a little hillocke she was placed<br> Higher than all the rest, and round about<br> Environ’d with a girland, goodly graced<br> Of lovely lasses.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>As he sat amongst these rustics he saw seated on a +little hillock, higher than all the rest, a beautiful maiden, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_377' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_377">377</span>wearing a crown of flowers tied with silken ribbons. +She was surrounded by the other shepherdesses, as with a +lovely garland, but her beauty far excelled theirs, and all +united in singing the praises and carolling the name of +the “fairest Pastorella.” Not one of all the shepherds +but honoured her, and many also loved her, but most +of all the shepherd Coridon. Yet neither for him nor +for any one else did she care a whit; her lot was humble, +but her mind was high above it.</p> + +<p class='c007'>As Sir Calidore gazed at her and marked her rare +demeanour, which seemed to him far to excel the rank +of a shepherd, and to be worthy of a Prince’s paragon, +all unawares he was caught in the toils of love, from +which no skill of his own could deliver him. So there +he sat still, with no desire to move, although his quest +had gone far before him. He stayed until the flying +day was far spent, and the dews of night warned the +shepherds to hasten home with their flocks.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then came to them an aged sire, with silver beard and +locks, and carrying a shepherd’s crook. He was always +supposed to be the father of Pastorella, and she indeed +thought it herself. But he was not so, having found her +by chance in the open field as an infant. He took her +home, and cherished her as his own child, for he had none +other, and in course of time she came to be accounted so.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Melibee, for so the good old man was called, seeing +Calidore left all alone and night at hand, invited him to +his simple home, which, although only a mud cottage, +with everything very humble, was yet better to lodge in +than the open fields. The Knight full gladly agreed, +this being his heart’s own wish, and went home with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_378' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_378">378</span>Melibee. There he was made heartily welcome by the +honest shepherd and his aged wife, and after the frugal +supper, which they ate with much contentment, Sir Calidore +listened half-entranced while Melibee discoursed +on all the joys of a pastoral life. So tempting was the +picture he painted that Calidore resolved to lay aside +for awhile his toilsome quest and the pursuit of glory, +and take a little rest in this peaceful spot. If he were +allowed to share the cabin and the scanty fare he promised +to reward Melibee well, but the good old man +refused the offered gift of gold.</p> + +<p class='c007'>“If you really wish to try this simple sort of life +that shepherds lead,” he said, “make it your own, and +learn our rustic ways for yourself.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>So Sir Calidore dwelt there that night, and many +days after, as long as it pleased him, daily beholding the +fair Pastorella, and all the while growing more deeply +in love with her. He tried to please her by all the +kindly courtesies he could invent, but she, who had +never been accustomed to such strange fashions, fit for +kings and queens, nor had ever seen such knightly service, +paid small heed to them, and cared more for the +shepherds’ rustic civility than for anything he did.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Calidore, seeing this, thought it best to change +the manner of his appearance. Doffing his bright +armour, he dressed himself in shepherd’s attire, taking +in his hand a crook instead of a steel-headed spear. +Clad thus, he went every day to the fields with Pastorella, +and kept her flocks diligently, watching to drive +away the ravenous wolf, so that she could sport and +play as it pleased her.</p> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_379' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_379">379</span>Coridon, who for a long time had loved her, and +hoped to gain her love, was greatly troubled, and very +jealous of this stranger. He often complained scowlingly +of Pastorella to all the other shepherds, and +whenever he came near Calidore, would frown and bite +his lips, and was ready to devour his own heart with +jealousy. The Knight, on the other hand, was utterly +free from malice or grudging, never showing any sign +of rancour, and often taking an opportunity to praise +Coridon to Pastorella. But the maiden, if ever she +had cared for her uncouth admirer, certainly did so no +longer now that she had seen Calidore.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Once when Calidore was asked to lead the dance +with Pastorella, in his courtesy he took Coridon, and +set him in his place; and when Pastorella gave him +her own flowery garland, he soon took it off and put +it on the head of Coridon.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Another time Coridon challenged Calidore to a +wrestling match, thinking he would surely avenge his +grudge, and easily put his foe to shame, for he was +well practised in this game. But he greatly mistook +Calidore, for the Knight was strong and mightily tough +in sinew, and with one fall he almost broke Coridon’s +neck. Then Pastorella gave the oaken crown to Calidore +as his due right, but he who excelled in courtesy +gave it to Coridon, saying he had won it well.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus did that gentle Knight bear himself amidst +that rustic throng, so that even they who were his rivals +could not malign him, but must needs praise him; for +courtesy breeds goodwill and favour even amongst the +rudest. So it surely wrought with this fair maiden, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_380' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_380">380</span>and in her mind sowed the seeds of perfect love, +which at last, after long trial, brought forth the fruit +of joy and happiness.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But whatever Sir Calidore did to please Pastorella, +Coridon immediately strove to emulate; and if the +Knight succeeded in winning favour, he was frozen +with jealousy.</p> + +<p class='c007'>One day, as they all three went together to the +greenwood to gather strawberries, a dangerous adventure +befell them. A tiger rose up out of the wood +and rushed with greedy jaws at Pastorella. Hearing +her cry for help, Coridon ran in haste to rescue her; +but when he saw the fiend he fled away just as fast in +cowardly fear, holding his own life dearer than his +friend. But Calidore, quickly coming to her aid when +he saw the beast ready to rend his dear lady, ran +at him enraged, instead of being afraid. He had no +weapon but his shepherd’s crook, but with that he +struck the monster so sternly that he fell stunned to +the ground, and then, before he could recover, Sir +Calidore cut off his head, and laid it at the feet of the +terrified maiden.</p> + +<p class='c007'>From that day forth Pastorella grew more and +more fond of the Knight, but Coridon she despised, +because of his cowardice. Then for a long time Sir +Calidore dwelt happily among these shepherd folk, +forgetting his former quest, so full of toil and pain, +and rejoicing in the happy peace of rustic bliss.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But at last malicious fortune, which envies the +long prosperity of lovers, blew up a bitter storm of +adversity.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_381' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_381">381</span> + <h3 class='c016'>In the Brigands’ Den</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>One day, when Sir Calidore was away hunting in the +woods, a lawless tribe of brigands invaded the country +where the shepherds dwelt, ravaged their houses, murdered +the shepherds, and drove away their flocks. Old +Melibee and all his household were led away captive, +and with them also was taken Coridon. In the dead +of night, so that no one might see or rescue them, the +robbers carried their prey to their dwelling. This was +on a little island, so covered with dense brushwood that +there seemed no way for people to pass in or out, or to +find footing in the overgrown grass; for the way was +made underground, through hollow caves that no man +could discover, because of the thick shrubs which hid +them from sight. Through all the inner parts of their +dwelling the darkness of night daily hovered; they +were not lighted by any window or opening in the roof, +but with continual candle-light, which made a dim and +uncertain gloom.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Hither the brigands brought their prisoners, and +kept them under constant watch and ward, meaning, as +soon as they conveniently could, to sell them as slaves +to merchants, who would either keep them in bondage +or sell them again. But the Captain of the brigands +was enchanted with the loveliness of Pastorella, and +determined to keep her for himself. When, therefore, +the other prisoners were brought forward to be sold, so +that the money received for them might be divided +equally among the band, he held back Pastorella, saying +<span class='pageno' id='Page_382' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_382">382</span>that she was his prize alone, with whom no one else +had anything to do. Besides, he added, she was now so +weak and wan through illness that she was worth nothing +as merchandise; and then he showed her to them, to +prove how pale and ill she was.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The sight of her wondrous beauty, though now +worn and faded, and only to be dimly seen by candle-light, +so amazed the eyes of the merchants that they +utterly refused to buy any of the other prisoners without +her, and offered to pay large sums of gold. Then the +Captain bade them be silent. He refused to sell the +maiden; they could take the rest if they would—this +one he would keep for himself.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Some of the other chief robbers boldly forbade him +to do this injury, for the maiden, much as it grieved +him, should be sold with the rest of the captives, in +order to increase their price. The Captain again refused +angrily, and, drawing his sword, declared that if +any one dared to lay a hand on her, he should dearly +rue it, and his death should pay the price.</p> + +<p class='c007'>From words they rapidly fell to blows, and, the +candle being soon quenched in the conflict, the fight +raged furiously in the dark. But, first of all, they +killed the captives, lest they should join against the +weaker side or rise against the remnant. Old Melibee +and his aged wife were slain, and many others with +them; but Coridon, escaping craftily, crept out of +doors, hidden in the darkness, and fled away as fast as +he could. Unhappy Pastorella was defended all the +time by the Captain of the brigands, who, more careful +of her safety than of his own, kept his target always +<span class='pageno' id='Page_383' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_383">383</span>stretched over her. At length he was slain, yet, even +in his fall, continued with his extended arms to shelter +Pastorella, who, wounded with the same stroke, fell to +the ground with him.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/i_411.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Their Captaine there they cruelly found kild<br> And in his armes the dreary, dying mayd.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'><span class='pageno' id='Page_385' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_385">385</span>With the death of the Captain the fray ceased, and +the brigands, lighting fresh candles, made search to see +who was slain, friends and foes. There they found +their Captain cruelly killed, and, in his arms, the dying +maiden; but, seeing that life still lingered, they busily +applied all their skill to call her soul back to its home, +and so well did they work that at last they restored her +to life. This done, they placed her in charge of one +of the brigands, who kept her in harsh and wretched +thraldom, scarcely allowing her food or rest, or suffering +her wounds to be properly tended.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Sir Calidore, meanwhile, having returned from the +wood, and found the cottage despoiled and his love +reft away, waxed almost mad with grief and rage. To +add to his anguish, there was not a soul of whom he +could inquire anything. He sought the woods, but +could see no man; he sought the plains, but could +hear no tidings. The woods only repeated vain echoes; +the plains were waste and empty. Where once the +shepherds played their pipes and fed a hundred flocks, +there now he found not one.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last, as he roamed up and down, he saw a +man coming towards him, who seemed to be some +wretched peasant in ragged clothes, with hair standing +on end, as if he fled from some recent danger, +which still followed close behind. As he came +near, the Knight saw it was Coridon. Running up +<span class='pageno' id='Page_386' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_386">386</span>to him, Sir Calidore asked where were the rest—where +was Pastorella?</p> + +<p class='c007'>Bursting into tears, Coridon told how they had been +seized by the brigands, and carried to their den. He +described how they were to have been sold as slaves, and +the quarrel that had arisen over Pastorella. He told +how the Captain had tried to defend her. “But what +could he do alone against them all?” he added. “He +could not save her; in the end she must surely die. I +only escaped in the uproar and confusion, and it were +better to be dead with them than to see all this place, +where we dwelt together in joy, desolate and waste.”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Calidore was at first almost distracted at hearing +this dreadful news; but presently, recovering himself, +he began to cast about in his mind how he might rescue +Pastorella if she were still alive, or how he should revenge +her death; or, if he were too weak to avenge her, +then at least he could die with her.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Therefore, he prayed Coridon, since he knew well +the readiest way into the thieves’ den, that he would +conduct him there. Coridon was still so frightened +that at first he refused; but at last he was persuaded +by Sir Calidore’s entreaties and promises of reward.</p> + +<p class='c007'>So forth they went together, both clad in shepherd’s +dress and carrying their crooks; but Calidore had +secretly armed himself underneath. Then, as they +approached the place, they saw upon a hill, not far +away, some flocks of sheep and some shepherds, to +whom they both agreed to take their way, hoping to +learn some news.</p> + +<p class='c007'>There they found, which they did not expect, the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_387' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_387">387</span>self-same flocks which the brigands had stolen away, +with several of the thieves left to look after them. +Coridon knew quite well his own sheep, and, seeing +them, began to weep for pity; but, when he saw the +thieves, his heart failed him, although they were all +asleep. He wanted Calidore to kill them as they slept +and drive away the sheep, but the Knight had another +purpose in view. Waking the brigands, he sat down +beside them, and began to chat of different things, +hoping to find out from them whether Pastorella were +alive or slain. The thieves, in their turn, began to +question Sir Calidore and Coridon, asking what sort +of men they were and whence they came; to which they +replied that they were poor herdsmen who had fled +from their masters, and now sought hire elsewhere.</p> + +<p class='c007'>The thieves, delighted to hear this, offered to pay +them well if they would tend their flocks, for they +themselves were bad herdsmen, they said, not accustomed +to watch cattle or pasture sheep, but to foray +the land or scour the sea. Sir Calidore and Coridon +agreed to keep the flocks; so there they stayed all day, +as long as the light lasted.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When it grew towards night the robbers took them +to their dens, which they soon got to know quite +well, and where they sought out all the secret passages. +There they found, to their joy and surprise, that Pastorella +still lived. Watching their opportunity, one dead +of night, when all the thieves were sound asleep after +a recent foray, Sir Calidore made his way to the Captain’s +den. When he came to the cave he found it fast, but +he assailed the door with irresistible might and burst +<span class='pageno' id='Page_388' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_388">388</span>the lock. One of the robbers, awaking at the noise, +ran to the entrance, but the bold Knight easily slew +him. Pastorella, in the meanwhile, was almost dead +with fright, believing it to be another uproar such +as she had lately seen. But when Sir Calidore came +in, and began to call for her, knowing his voice, she +suddenly revived, and her soul was filled with rapture. +No less rejoiced Calidore when he found her, and like +one distracted he caught her in his arms and kissed +her a thousand times.</p> + +<p class='c007'>By this time the hue and cry was raised, and all the +brigands came crowding to the cave; but Calidore stood +in the entry, and slew each man as he advanced, so that +the passage was lined with dead bodies. Then, when +no more could get near him, he rested till the morning, +when he made his way into the open light. Here all +the rest of the brigands were ready waiting for him, +and, fiercely assailing him, fell on him with all their +might. But Calidore, with his raging brand, divided +their thickest troops and scattered them wide. Like a +lion among a herd of deer, so did he fly among them, +hewing and slaying all that came near, so that none +dared face the danger, but fled from his wrath to hide +from death in their caves.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then, returning to his dear lady, he brought her +forth into the joyous light, and did everything he could +to make her forget the troubles through which she had +passed. From the thieves’ den he took all the spoils +and treasures of which they had robbed other people, +and all the flocks which they had stolen from Melibee +he restored to Coridon.</p> + +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_389' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_389">389</span> + <h3 class='c016'>The Beast with a Thousand Tongues</h3> +</div> + +<p class='c017'>Sir Calidore, having rescued Pastorella from the +brigands’ den, took her to the Castle of Belgard, where +the good Sir Bellamour was lord, and there a strange +thing happened.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Years before, Sir Bellamour had secretly married +a beautiful maiden, called Claribel, the daughter of a +rich and powerful man, known by the name of the +“Lord of Many Islands.” Her father had hoped, +because of his great wealth, that his daughter would +marry the Prince of a neighbouring country, and when +he found that she loved Sir Bellamour, he was in such +a rage that he threw them in two deep dungeons, forbidding +them ever to see each other. When Claribel +was in prison, a little daughter was born to her; but, +fearing lest her father should get hold of it, she entrusted +it to her handmaid, Melissa, to have it brought +up as a stranger’s child. The trusty damsel carried it +into an empty field, and having kissed and wept over +it, placed it on the ground, and hid herself behind +some bushes near, to see what mortal would take +pity on the poor little infant. At length a shepherd, +who kept his fleecy flocks on the plains around, led +by the infant’s cry, came to the place, and when he +found there the abandoned treasure, he took it up, +and wrapping it in his mantle, bore it home to his +honest wife, who ever afterwards brought it up as her +own child.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Claribel and Bellamour remained a long time in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_390' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_390">390</span>captivity, till at last the “Lord of Many Islands” +died, and left them all his possessions. Then the +tide of fortune turned, they were restored to freedom, +and rejoiced in happiness together. They had lived +for a long time in peace and love when Sir Calidore +brought Pastorella to the castle. Here they both +received the heartiest welcome, for Sir Bellamour was +an old friend of Calidore’s, and loved him well; and +Claribel, seeing how weak and wan Pastorella was +after her long captivity, tended her with the greatest +love and care.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Now, it happened that before the handmaiden +parted with the infant she noticed on its breast a little +purple mark, like a rose unfolding its silken leaves. +This same maiden, Melissa, was appointed to wait on +Pastorella, and one morning, when she was helping her +to dress, she noticed on her chest the rosy mark which +she remembered well on the little infant, Claribel’s +daughter. Full of joy, she ran in haste to her mistress, +and told her that the beautiful lady was no other +than the little child who had been born in prison. +Then Claribel ran quickly to the stranger maiden, +and finding it was even as Melissa said, she clasped +her in her arms and held her close, weeping softly +and saying, “And do you now live again, my +daughter, and are you still alive whom long I mourned +as dead?”</p> + +<p class='c007'>Then there was great rejoicing in the Castle of +Belgard.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_391' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_391">391</span> +<img src='images/i_419.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic001'> +<p>“<span class='blackletter'>Putting his puissance forth, pursued so hard<br> That backward he enforced him to fall;<br> And being down, ere he new help could call,<br> His shield he on him threw, and far down held.</span>”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c007'>Meanwhile Sir Calidore was pursuing the quest of +the Blatant Beast, seeking him in every place with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_393' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_393">393</span>unresting pain and toil, and following him by his +destroying track, for wherever the monster went he +left behind him ruin and devastation.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last, in a narrow place, Sir Calidore overtook +him, and, fiercely assailing, forced him to turn. Then +the Blatant Beast ran at him with open mouth, huge +and horrible; it was all set with a double row of iron +teeth, and in it were a thousand tongues of every +kind and quality—some were of dogs, that barked day +and night; some of cats that yawled; some of bears +that growled continually; some of tigers that seemed +to grin and snarl at all who passed by; but most of +them were tongues of mortal men, who poured forth +abuse, not caring where nor when; and among them +were mingled here and there the tongues of serpents, +with three-forked stings, that spat out poison at all +who came within reach, speaking hateful things of +good and bad alike, of high and low, not even sparing +kings or kaisers, but either blotting them with infamy +or biting them with their baneful teeth.</p> + +<p class='c007'>But Calidore, not in the least afraid of this horrid +spectacle, met him with such impetuous might that +he checked his violence and beat him back. Then the +monster, rearing up, ramped upon him with his ravenous +paws, as if his cruel claws would have rent him; but +the Knight, being well on guard, cast his shield between, +and putting forth all his strength, forced him to fall +back; and when he was down, he threw his shield on +him and pinned him to the ground. In vain did the +Beast rage and roar; for the more he strove, the more +firmly the Knight held him, so that he was almost mad +<span class='pageno' id='Page_394' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_394">394</span>with spite. He grinned, he bit, he scratched, he spat +out venom, and acted like a horrible fiend.</p> + +<p class='c007'>When the monster saw force was of no avail, he +began to use his hundred tongues, and reviled and railed +at the Knight with bitter terms of infamy, weaving in +many a forged lie, whose like Sir Calidore had never +heard or thought of; yet for all that he did not let +the creature go, but held him so tight that he nearly +choked him.</p> + +<p class='c007'>At last, when he found his strength failing and his +rage lessening, Sir Calidore took a strong muzzle of the +stoutest iron, made with many a link, with which he +fastened up his mouth, shutting up therein his blasphemous +tongue, so that he should never more defame +gentle knight or wrong lovely lady; and to this he +tied a great long chain, with which he dragged him +forth in spite of himself. The hideous Beast chafed +inwardly at these strange bonds, which no one till +then had dared to impose on him; yet he dared not +draw back nor attempt to resist the power of the noble +Calidore, but trembled before him, and followed like +a frightened dog.</p> + +<p class='c007'>All through Faerie Land he followed him thus, as if +he had learnt obedience, so that all the people wherever +he went thronged out of the town to see Sir Calidore +lead the Blatant Beast in bondage, and seeing it were +amazed at the sight; and all such people as he had +formerly wronged rejoiced to see him a captive, and +many wondered at the Beast, but more wondered at +the Knight.</p> + +<p class='c007'>Thus was this monster suppressed and tamed by the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_395' role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="Page_395">395</span>mastering might of the doughty Calidore, and so for +a long time he remained. But at last, either by wicked +fate or the fault of men, he broke his iron chain, and +got again at liberty into the world; and here he still +ranges, barking and biting, sparing no one in his malice, +and doing an infinite deal of mischief wherever he +goes; and since the days of the good Sir Calidore no +man has ever been able to master him.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div>THE END</div> + <div class='c002'><span class='small'>LONDON: WELLS GARDNER, DARTON, AND CO., LIMITED</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +</main> +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c004'> +</div> +<div class='tnotes x-ebookmaker'> + +<div class='chapter ph2'> + +<div class='nf-center-c0'> +<div class='nf-center c001'> + <div>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</div> + </div> +</div> + +</div> + +<table class='table1'> + <tr> + <th class='c019'>Page</th> + <th class='c019'>Changed from</th> + <th class='c020'>Changed to</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c021'><a href='#t116'>116</a></td> + <td class='c022'>carefully, less a worse evil come upon you</td> + <td class='c023'>carefully, lest a worse evil come upon you</td> + </tr> +</table> + + <ul class='ul_1'> + <li>Fixed typos; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. + </li> + </ul> + +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79406 ***</div> +</body> +<!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57i (with regex) on 2026-08-19 14:45:28 GMT --> +</html> |