XLVI. Thus Calidore continu'd there long time To winne the love of the faire Pastorell; Which having got, he used without crime Or blamefull blot; but menaged so well, That he, of all the rest which there did dwell, Was favoured and to her grace commended: But what straunge fortunes unto him befell, Ere he attain'd the point by him intended, Shall more conveniently in other place be ended. 1 Of, above. CANTO X. Calidore sees the Graces daunce To Colins melody: The whiles his Pastorell is led 1. WHO now does follow the foule Blatant Beast, Whilest Calidore does follow that faire Mayd, Unmyndfull of his vow, and high beheast Which by the Faery Queene was on him layd, That he should never leave, nor be delayd From chacing him, till he had it attchieved? But now, entrapt of Love which him betrayd, He mindeth more how he may be relieved [grieved. With grace from her, whose love his heart hath sore en II. That from henceforth he meanes no more to sew 1 He hath, the guerdon of his Love to gaine; Of every blaste, and sayling alwaies in the port. 1 Sew, follow. 2 Quest, pursuit. 3 Then, than. II. 9. — Sayling alwaies in the port.] Always being near the shore without reaching it. III. 1 Ne certes 1 mote he greatly blamed be Of such false blisse, as there is set for stales? IV. For what hath all that goodly glorious gaze The glaunce whereof their dimmed eies would daze,3 Of that shunne-shine, that makes them looke askew: compare, The which, as commeth now by course, I will declare. V. One day, as he did raunge the fields abroad, 1 Certes, truly. 2 Stales, lures. 3 Daze, dazzle. 5 Pill, rob, take from. Troad, tread, footsteps. III. 9. In their eternall bales.] To their eternal ruir VI. It was an Hill plaste in an open plaine, That round about was bordered with a wood Of matchlesse hight, that seem'd th' earth to disdaine; In which all trees of honour stately stood, And did all winter as in sommer bud, Spredding pavilions for the birds to bowre,1 Which in their lower braunches sung aloud; And in their tops the soring hauke did towre, Sitting like king of fowles in maiesty and powre: VII. And at the foote thereof a gentle flud VIII. And on the top thereof a spacious plaine Did spred itselfe, to serve to all delight, Either to daunce, when they to daunce would faine,2 Or else to course-about their bases light; Ne ought there wanted, which for pleasure might So pleasauntly the Hill with equall hight 1 Bowre, shelter themselves. 2 Faine, desire. 3 Bale, sorrow. VIII. 4. To course-about their bases light.] This seems to contain an allusion to the game of prison-base. Did seeme to overlooke the lowly vale; Therefore it rightly cleeped' was Mount Acidale. IX. They say that Venus, when she did dispose She in regard hereof refusde and thought unfit. X. Unto this place whenas the Elfin Knight XI. He durst not enter into th' open greene, 1 Cleeped, called. 2 Hight, high. 3 Weete, know. VIII. 9. Therefore it rightly cleeped was Mount Acidale.] Acidale, from its composition, seems to mean, ‘a needle in a valley,' (acus, Lat.) Several mountain peaks are called needles. |