CONTENTS.

Canto II.

Canto III.

Canto IV.

Canto V.

Canto VI.

Canto VII.

Canto VIII.

Canto IX.

Canto X.

Canto XI.

Canto XII.

THE FAERIE QUEENE. BOOK VI. (CONTINUED.)

VOL. IV.

Two Cantos of Mutabilitie: which, both for forme

and matter, appeare to be parcell of some follow-

ing Booke of the Faerie Queene, under the

Legend of Constancie.

Canto VI.

Canto VII.

Canto VIII. unperfite ...

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The Shepheards Calender conteining Twelve Aeg-

logues, proportionable to the Twelve Monethes

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THE SIXTH BOOKE OF

THE FAERIE QUEENE

CONTAYNING THE LEGEND OF SIR CALIDORE, OR OF COURTESIE.

CANTO II.

Calidore sees young Tristram slay
A proud discourteous Knight:
He makes him Squire, and of him learnes
His state and present plight.

FORE

WHAT

WHAT vertue is so fitting for a Knight,
Or for a Ladie whom a Knight should love,
As Curtesie; to beare themselves aright
To all of each degree as doth behove?
For whether they be placed high above
Or low beneath, yet ought they well to know
Their good; that none them rightly may reprove
Of rudenesse for not yeelding what they owe:
Great skill it is such duties timely to bestow.

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Thereto great helpe Dame Nature selfe doth lend:
For some so goodly gratious are by kind,
That every action doth them much commend,
And in the eyes of men great liking find;
Which others that have greater skill in mind,
Though they enforce themselves, cannot attaine:
For everie thing, to which one is inclin'd
Doth best become and greatest grace doth gaine :
Yet praise likewise deserve good thewes enforst with paine.

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That well in courteous Calidore appeares ;
Whose every deed, and word that he did say,
Was like enchantment, that through both the eyes
And both the eares did steale the hart away.
He now againe is on his former way
To follow his first quest, whenas he spyde

A tall young man, from thence not farre away,
Fighting on foot, as well he him descryde,
Against an armed Knight that did on horsebacke ryde.

Him stedfastly he markt, and saw to bee

A goodly youth of amiable grace,
Yet but a slender slip, that scarse did see
Yet seventeene yeares, but tall and faire of face,
That sure he deem'd him borne of noble race :
All in a Woodmans jacket he was clad
Of Lincolne greene, belayd with silver lace;
And on his head an hood with aglets sprad,
And by his side his hunters horne he hanging had.

And them beside a Ladie faire he saw

Standing alone on foote in foule array; To whom himselfe he hastily did draw To weet the cause of so uncomely fray, And to depart them, if so be he may : But, ere he came in place, that Youth had kild That armed Knight, that low on ground he lay; Which when he saw, his hart was inly child With great amazement, and his thought with wonder fild.

Buskins he wore of costliest cordwayne,

Pinckt upon gold, and paled part per part,
As then the guize was for each gentle swayne :
In his right hand he held a trembling dart,
Whose fellow he before had sent apart;
And in his left he held a sharpe bore-speare,
With which he wont to launch the salvage hart
Of many a Lyon and of many a Beare,

That first unto his hand in chase did happen neare.

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