And deck the world, adorne these verses base. For thereunto doth need a golden quill, E. S. To all the gratious and beautifull Ladies in the Court. HE Chian Peincter, when he was requirde THE To pourtraict Venus in her perfect hew, To make his worke more absolute, desird Of all the fairest Maides to have the vew. Much more me needs, to draw the semblant trew Of beauties Queene, the worlds sole wonderment, To sharpe my sence with sundry beauties vew, And steale from each some part of ornament. If all the world to seeke I overwent, A fairer crew yet no where could I see Then that brave court doth to mine eie present; That the worlds pride seemes gathered there to bee. Of each a part I stole by cunning thefte : Forgive it me, faire Dames, sith lesse ye have not lefte. E S. As time her taught, in lowly Shephards weeds, Am now enforst, a farre unfitter taske, For trumpets sterne to chaunge mine Oaten reeds, And sing of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds; Whose praises having slept in silence long, Me, all too meane, the sacred Muse areeds To blazon broade emongst her learned throng: Fierce warres and faithful loves shall moralize my song. 2 Helpe then, O holy virgin! chiefe of nyne, O, helpe thou my weake wit, and sharpen my dull tong! 3 And thou, most dreaded impe of highest Jove, After his murdrous spoyles and bloudie rage allayd. And with them eke, O Goddesse heavenly bright! 4 Great Ladie of the greatest Isle, whose light The which to heare vouchsafe, O dearest dread, a while! CANTO I. The Putrone of true Holinesse GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde; And on his brest a bloodie Crosse he bore, 2 For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead, as living, ever him ador'd: Upon his shield the like was also scor'd, For soveraine hope which in his helpe he had. Right faithfull true he was in deede and word; But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. Upon a great adventure he was bond, That greatest Gloriana to him gave, (That greatest Glorious Queene of Faery lond) To winne him worshippe, and her grace to have, Which of all earthly thinges he most did crave And ever as he rode his hart did earne Το prove his puissance in battell brave Upon his foe, and his new force to learne Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne. A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow, Yet she much whiter; but the same did hide Under a vele, that wimpled was full low; And over all a blacke stole shee did throw : As one that inly mournd, so was she sad, And heavie sate upon her palfrey slow; Seemed in heart some hidden care she had, And by her, in a line, a milkewhite lambe she lad. So pure and innocent, as that same lambe, She was in life and every vertuous lore ; And by descent from Royall lynage came 5 Of ancient Kinges and Queenes, that had of yore Whom to avenge she had this Knight from far compeld. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, 6 That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain; And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain. Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, 7 A shadie grove not farr away they spide, That promist ayde the tempest to withstand; Whose loftie trees, yclad with sommers pride, Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide, Not perceable with power of any starr: And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farr. Faire harbour that them seems; so in they entred ar. |