CANTO VI. The Hermite heales both Squire and Dame Of their sore maladies; He Turpine doth defeate and shame For his late villanies. I. No wound, which warlike hand of enemy It ever can recured be againe; Ne all the skill, which that immortall spright Of Podalyrius did in it retaine, Can remedy such hurts; such hurts are hellish paine. II. Such were the wounds the which that Blatant Beast Made in the bodies of that Squire and Dame; 1 Curelesse, hard to be cured. Arg. 3.- He, &c.] Meaning Prince Arthur. I. 8.- Of Podalyrius.] He was the son of Esculapius, and a celebrated physician. II. 6. Carefull Hermite, &c.] In this account of Timias and With many kindes of medicines meete, to tame Their ranckling wounds, and every day them duely drest. For he right well in leaches craft was seene1; And all the passions heale, which wound the weaker spright. 4 IV. For whylome he had bene a doughty Knight, As any one that lived in his daies, And proved oft in many perillous fight, 6 In which he liv'd alone, like carelesse bird in cage. V. One day, as he was searching of their wounds, 1 Seene, skilled. 2 Went, direction. 3 Enforme, fashion. Whylome, formerly. Baies, bays, laurels. Serena's going to the hermit's cell to be cured of the wounds they had received from the Blatant Beast, or Detraction, Upton discovers an allusion to the temporary retirement from court of Sir W. Raleigh and Lady Elizabeth Throgmorton, to escape from the shame which they had brought upon themselves by their misconduct. He found that they had festred privily; And, ranckling inward with unruly stounds,1 That quite they seem'd past helpe of surgery; With holesome reede 2 of sad sobriety, To rule the stubborne rage of passion blinde: Give salves to every sore, but counsell to the minde. VI. So, taking them apart into his cell, He to that point fit speaches gan to frame, And thus he to them sayd; "Faire Daughter Dame, In vaine of me ye hope for remedie, And I likewise in vaine doe salves to you applie: VII. "For in yourselfe your onely helpe doth lie Your eies, your eares, your tongue, your talk restraine From that they most affect, and in due termes containe.* VIII. "For from those outward sences, ill affected, 1 Stounds, pains. 3 Affection, passion. 2 Reede, advice. Containe, govern, restrain. The seede of all this evill first doth spring, IX. "For that Beastes teeth, which wounded you tofore, Are so exceeding venomous and keene, Made all of rusty yron ranckling sore, That, where they bite, it booteth not to weene It ever to amend: ne marvaile ought; For that same Beast was bred of hellish strene,1 And long in darksome Stygian den upbrought, Begot of foule Echidna, as in bookes is taught. X. "Echidna is a Monster, direfull dred, Whom gods doe hate, and heavens abhor to see; XI. "To her the gods, for her so dreadfull face, In fearefull darknesse, furthest from the skie Mongst rocks and caves, where she enrold doth lie Wasting the strength of her immortall age: Cruell Typhaon, whose tempestuous rage Makes th' heavens tremble oft, and him with vowes asswage. XII. "Of that commixtion they did then beget This hellish dog, that hight the Blatant Beast; A wicked Monster, that his tongue doth whet But he them spotted with reproch, or secrete shame. XIII. "In vaine therefore it were with medicine Το goe about to salve such kind of sore, "But sith we need good counsell," sayd the Swaine, Aread, good Sire, some counsell that may us sustaine." XIV. "The best," sayd he, "that I can you advize, 1 Hight, is called 2 Most, greatest. 3 Defame, disgrace. 5 Then, than. Sith, since. 7 Aread, explain. |