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So when that forest they had passed well,
A little cottage farre away they spide,
To which they drew,ere night upon them fell:
And entering in, found none therein abide,
Butan old woman sitting there beside,

Upon the ground, in ragged rude attire,
With filthy locks about her scatter'd wide,

Gnawing her nayles for felness and for ire, And thereout sucking venom to her parts. intire.

A foule and loathly creature sure in sight,

And in conditions to be loath'd no less:

For shee was stuft with rancour and despight
Ip to the throat; that oft with bitterness
It forth would break, and gush in great excess,
Pouring out streams of poyson and of gall,
Gainst all that truth or virtue doe professe:
Whome she with leesings lewdly did miscall,
And wickedly back-bite: her name men Slan-
der call.

Her nature is, all goodness to abuse,
And causeless crimes continually to frame;
With which she guiltless persons may ac-

cuse,

And steale away the crowne of their good name:
Ne ever knight so bold, ne ever dame

So chast and loyall liv'd, but she would strive
With forged cause them falsely to defame:

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Like to a storm that hovers under skie Long here and there, and round about At length breaks down in raine, and haile, sleet,

First from one coast, till nought ther And then another, till that likewise fleet: And so from side to side, till all the work

105. Superstition.

WHERE that old woman day and nigh

Upon her beades devously penitent; Nine hundred Pater-nosters every day, And thrice nine hundred Aves she was w

to say,

And to auginent her paineful penance mom.

Thrice every week in ashes she did sit, And next her wrinkled skin rough sackc

wore,

And thrice three times did fast from anyUpon the image with his naked blade Three times, as in defiance, there he stroke:

And the third time, out of an hidden sha There forth issued from under the altar sma A dreadful fiend, with foul deformed loos

That strecht it self, as it had long lain s That her long taile and feathers strongly shoos That all the temple did with terror till; Yet him nought terrified, that feared nothi ill.

An huge great beast it was, when it in lengt Was stretched forth, that nigh filled all the

place,

And

And seem'd to be of infinite great strength;
Horrible, hideous, and of hellish race,
Borne of the brooding of Echidna base,
Or other like infernall furies kind:
For of a maide she had the outward face,
To hide the horrour which did lurk behind,
The better to beguile whom she so fond did find.
Thereto the body of a dog she had,
Full of fell ravin and fierce greediness;

A lyon's clawes with power and rigour clad,
To rend and teare what so she can oppress;
And dragon's taile, whoes sting without re-

dress

Full deadly wounds, when so it is empight; An eagle's wings for scope, and speediness, That nothing might escape her ravening might,

Whereto she ever list to make her hardy
flight.

Much like in foulness and deformitie
nto that monster, whom the Theban knight
The father of that fatal progeny,
ade kill herself for very heart's despight,
hat he had red her riddle, which no wight
Could ever loose, but suffred deadly doole:
also did this monster use like slight

To many a one, which came into her school,
hom she did put to death, deceived like a fool.

§ 106. Suspicion.

Ur he was foule, ill-favour'd, and grim,
Under his eye-brows looking still ascaunee;
And ever as dissemblance laught on him,
lowr'd on her with dangerous eye-glance,
Shewing his nature in his countenance;
His rolling eyes did never rest in place,
It walkt each way for fear of hid mischance,
Holding a lattice still before his face, [pass.
ro' which he still did peep as forward he did

§ 107. Venus.

IGHT in the midst the goddesse self did¦

stand,

Upon an altar of some costly masse, Whose substance was uneath to understand: or neither precious stones, nor durefall brasse, or shining gold, nor mouldring clay it was; But yet more rare and precious to esteeme, re in aspect, and like to chrystall glass; Yet glass was not, if one did rightly deem; it being faire and brittle, likest glass did

seeme.

But it in shape and beauty did excell ll other idols which the heathen adore ; Farre passing that, which by surpassing skill hidias did make in Paphos isle of yore. [lore Vith which that wretched Greeke that life forDid fall in love: vet this much fairer shined, But covered with slender veile afore,

And both her feet and legs together twined Were with a snake, whoes head and taile were

fast combined.

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But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame,
Nor any blemish which the worke mote blame;
But for (they say) she had both kinds in one,
Both male and female, both under one name:
She sire and mother is herself alone; [none.
Begets, and eke conceives, ne needeth other
And all about her neck and shoulders flew
A flock of little loves, and sports and joyes,
With nimble wings of gold and purple hew;
Whoes shapes seeur'd not like to terrestrial
boyes,

But like to angels playing heavenly toyes;
The whilst their elder brother was away,
Cupid, their elder brother he enjoys

The wide kingdome of love with lordly sway,
And to his law compels all creatures to obey.
And all about her altar scatter'd lay
Great sorts of lovers pitiously complaining,

Some of their loss, some of their love's delay,
Some of their pride, some paragonsdisdaining,
Some fearing fraude, some fraudulently fayning,
As ever one had cause of good or ill.

T

§ 108. Temple of Venus.

HE temple of great Venus, that is hight
The queen of beauty, and of love the mo
ther,

Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other
There worshipped of every living wight;
That ever were on earth, all were they set to-
gether.

Not that same famous temple of Diane,
Whose height all Ephesus did over-see, [fane,

One of the world's seven wonders said to be,
And which all Asia sought with vows pro-
Might match with this by many a degree:

Nor that, which that wise king of Jurie
framed,

With endless cost to be the Almighty's see;
Nor all that else thro' all the world is named
To all the heathen gods, might like to this be
clamed.

Unto the porch approacht, which open stood,
I, much admiring that so goodly frame,
That scem d to be of very sober mood,
But therein sat an amiable dame,
And in her semblant show'd great womanhood:

She wore, much like unto a Danisk hood,
Strange was her tire; for on her head a crown

Poudred with pearl and stone; and all her

gowne

Enwoven was with gold, that raught full low adowne.

On either side of her two young men stood, Both strongly arm'd, as fearing one another,

Yet were they brethren both of half the blood, Though of contrary natures each to other: Begotten by two fathers of one another,

The one of them hight Love, the other Hate, Hate was the elder, Love the younger brother;

Yet

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That she them forced hand to join in hand,

Albe that Hatred was thereof full loth, And turn'd his face away as he did stand, Unwilling to behold that lovely band.

Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might, [stand, That her commandment he could not withBut bit his lips for felonous despight, And gnasht his iron tusks at that displeasing sight.

Concord she cleeped was in common reed, Mother of blessed Peace, and Friendship true; They both her twins, both born of heavenly And she herself likewise divinely grew; [seed, The which right well her works divine did [lends, For strength, and wealth, and happiness, she And strife, and war, and anger, does subdue :

shew:

Of little, much, of foes she maketh friends, And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends.

By her the heaven is in his course contained, And all the world in state unmoved stands,

As their Aknighty Maker first ordained, And bound them with inviolable bands; Else would the waters overflow the lands, And fire devour the aire, and hell them quite, But that she holds them with her blessed hands. She is the nurse of pleasure and delight, And unto Venus grace the gate doth open right. Into the inmost temple thus I came, Which fuming all with frankencense I found, And odours rising from the altars flame; Upon an hundred marble pillers round, The roof up high was reared from the ground, All decht with crowns, and chains, and gir

londs gay,

A thousand precious gifts worth many a pound, The which sad lovers for their vowes did pay; And all the ground was strew'd with flowers as fresh as May.

An hundred altars round about were set, All flaming with their sacrifices fire,

That with the steme thereof the temple swet, Which roul'd in cloudes, to heaven did aspire, And in them bore true lovers vows entire:

Aad eke an hundred brazen cauldrons bright To bathe in joy and amorous desire,

Every which was to a damzell hight; For all the priests were damzells, in soft linnen dight.

$109. Wrath. AFTER that varlet's fight, it was not long Ere on the plaine fast pricking Guion spide One in bright arins embattailed full strong, That as the sunny beams doe glance and glide

Upon the trembling wave, so shined bright, And round about him threw forth sparkling fire,

His steed was bloody red, and foamed ire. That seemed him to enflame on every side: When with the maistring spur he did hin roughly stire.

Approaching nigh he never staid to gree, Ne chaffer words, proud courage to provale. But prickt so fierce, that underneath his t The smouldring dust did round about smoke,

Both horse and man nigh able for to ch;

And fairely couching his steel-headed se, Him first saluted with a sturdy stroke.

And him beside rides fierce revengingWads Upon a lyon, loth for to be led ;

And in his hand a burning brond he hath, The which he brandisheth about his head, His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red,

And stared stern on all that him beheld, As ashes pale of hue, and seeming dead;

And on his dagger still his hand he held, Trembling thro' hasty rage, when choler in swell'd.

His ruffin raiment all was stain'd with bic Which he had spilt, and all to rage yreut,

Thro' unadvised rashness woxen wood, For of his hands he had no government, Ne car'd for bloud in his avengement;

But when the furious fit was overpast, His cruel facts he often would repent,

Yet, wilful man, he never would tores How many mischiefs should ensue his l less hast!

Full many mischiefs follow cruel Wrabi Abhorred bloudshed, and tumultuous str.,

Unmanly murther, and unthrifty scath, Bitter despight, with rancour's rusty kaik, And fretting grief, the enemy of life,

And these and many evils more haunt it. The swelling splene, and phrenzy raging? The shaking palsey, and St. Francis' fi Such one was Wrath, the last of this ung

tire.

SPENSER'S FAIRY QUEEN § 110. Duessa weeping over her Enemy,comis to a Crocodile; and a Description of Nig As when a weary traveller, that strays

By muddy shore of broad seven-men Unweeting of the perilous wand'ring ways Doth meet a cruel crafty crocodile, Which in false grief hiding his harmless Doth weep full sore, and sheddeth tendert The foolish man, that pities all this while His mournful plight, is swallow'd up unawar Forgetful of his own, that minds another car So wept Duessa until even tide, [light: That shining lamps in Jove's high house wer

Then

Then forth she rose, ne longer would abide,
But comes unto the place where th' heathen
knight

In slumb'ring swoon nigh void of vital spright,
Lay cover'd with enchanted cloud all day:
Whom when she found, as she him left in plight
To wail his woful case,she would not stay,
But to the eastern coast of heaven makes speedy
way,

Where griesly Night, with visage deadly sad,
That Phoebus cheerful face durst never view,
And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad,

he finds forth coming from her darksoine mew,
Where she all day did hide her hated hue:
Before the door her iron chariot stood,
Already harnessed for journey new:

And cole-black steeds yborn of hellish brood,
That on their rusty bits did champ as they were
wood.

nd all the while she stood upon the ground,
he wakeful dogs did never cease to bay,
sgiving warning of th' unusual sound,
With which her iron wheels did them affray,
nd her dark griesly look them much dismay.
he messenger of death, the ghastly owl,
Tith dreary shrieks did also her bewray;
nd hungry wolves continually did howl
ther abhorred face, so filthy and so foul.

-On every side them stood
e trembling ghosts with sad amazed mood,
hattering their iron teeth, and staring wide
ith stony eyes; and all the hellish brood
"fends infernal flock'd on every side,
gaze on earthly wight, that with the Night

durst ride.

$111. Description of Lucifera's Palace.
STATELY palace built of squared brick,
Which cunningly was without mortar laid,
hose walls were high, but nothing strong nor
thick,

ad golden foil all over them display'd;
at purest sky with brightness they dismay'd:
gh lifted up were many lofty tow'rs,
ad goodly galleries far over-laid,

all of fair windows, and delightful bow'rs;
ad on the top a dial told the timely hours.
was a goodly heap for to behold,

ad spake the praises of the workman's wit;
it full great pity, that so fair a mold
d on so weak foundation ever sit;
r on a sandy hill, that still did flit
nd fall away, it mounted was full high,
hat every breath of heaven shaked it;
nd all the hinder parts, that few could spy,
ere ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

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§113. Description of Prince Arthur in his Habiliments of War.

UPON the top of all his lofty crest,

A bunch of hairs, discolour'd diversly
With sprinkled pearl, and gold full richly drest,
Did shake, and seem'd to dance for jollity,
Like to an almond tree ymounted high
On top of green Selinis all alone,
With blossoms brave bedecked daintily;

Whose tender locks do tremble every one
At every little blast that under heaven is blown.

$114. Description of Diana with her Nymphs, returned from the Chase, and preparing to bathe.

SHO

HORTLY unto the wasteful woods she came,
Whereat she found the goddess and her crew,
After late chace of their einbrued game
Sitting beside a fountain in a rew,
Some of them washing with the liquid dew
From off their dainty limbs the dusty sweat,
And soil, which did deforin their lively hue;
Others lay shaded from the scorching heat;
The rest upon her person gave attendance great.
Her bow and painted quiver, had unlac'd
She having hong upon a bough on high
Her silver buskins from her nimble thigh,
After her heat the breathing cold to taste;
And her lank loins ung rt, and breasts unbrac'd,
Her golden locks that late in tresses bright
Embreeded were for hindring of her haste,
Now loose about her shoulders long undight,
And were with sweet ambrosia all besprinkled
light.

She was asham'd to be so loose surpris'd;
Soon as she Venus saw behind her back,
And wox half wroth against her danisels Jack,
$112. Lucifera ascending her Coach.
That had not her thereof before advis'd,
But suffer'd her so carelessly disguis'd
DAIN upriseth from her stately place
Be overtaken. Soon her garments loose
The royal dame, and for her coach doth call! Upgathering in her bosoul she compris'd,

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$115. Description of a Garden. FTSOONS they heard a most delicious sound

all that yote delight a dainty ear; Such as at once might not on living ground, Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere: Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, To read what manner music that mote be, For all that pleasing is to living ear Was there consorted in one harmony; [agree. Birds, voices, instruments, winds, waters, all The joyous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade, Their notes unto the voice attemper'd sweet; Th' angelical, soft trembling voices made To th' instruments divine respondence meet; The silver-sounding instruments did meet With the base murmur of the waters fall; The waters fall, with difference discreet, Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did call; The gentle warbling wind low answered to all.

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Emongst the shady leaves, their sweet abode, And their true loves without suspicion tell abroad.

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$119. Guyon conducted by Mammon threat a Cave under Ground, to see his Treasure

A length they came into a larger space
That stretch'd itself into an ample plas
Thro' which a beaten broad high-wa
trace,

That straight did lead to Pluto's griesly reg
By that way's side there sat infernal Pain,
And fast beside him sat tumultuous Strife;
The one in hand an iron whip did strain,
The other brandished a bloody knife,
And both did gnash their teeth, and both s
threaten life.

On the other side in one consort there sate
Cruel Revenge, and rancorous Despite,
Disloyal Treason, and heart-burning Hate;
But gnawing Jealousy, out of their sight
Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bite;
And trembling Fear still to and fro did fly,
And found no place where safe he shroudi
might.

Lamenting Sorrow did in darkness lie, fe
And Shame his ugly face did hide from
And over them sad Horror, with grim hur,
Did always soar, beating his iron wings;
And after him owls and night-ravens flew,
The hateful messengers of heavy things,
Of death and dolour telling sad tidings;
Whilst sad Celeno, sitting on a cliff,
A song of hale and bitter sorrow sings,
That heart of flint asunder would have ri
Which having ended, after him she flieth s

§ 120. Description of Despair, and her Spe
ERE
Eed wight
RE long they come, where that same

His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave,
Far underneath a craggy clift ypight,
Dark, doleful, dreary, like a greedy grave,
That still for carion carcasses doth crave:
On top whereof ay dwelt the ghastly owl.
Shrieking his baneful note, which ever dr.
Far from that haunt all other cheerful for
And all about it wand'ring ghosts did wait --
howl.

And, all about, old stocks and stubs of trees. Wheron nor fruit nor leaf was ever seen, Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees; On which had many wretches hanged bee Whose carcasses were scatter'd on the gree And thrown about the clifts. Arrived ther That bare-head knight, for dread and de'e [Dest

teen,

Would fain have fled, ne durst approac But th' other forc'd him stay, and comfor

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