But Vertues seat is deepe within the mynd, And not in outward shows but inward thoughts defynd. VI. But where shall I in all antiquity So faire a patterne finde, where may be seene As in Yourselfe, O soveraine Lady Queene? But meriteth indeede an higher name: Yet so, from low to high, uplifted is your Name. VII. Then pardon me, most dreaded Soveraine, That from Yourselfe I doe this Vertue bring, And to Yourselfe doe it returne againe: So from the ocean all rivers spring, And tribute backe repay as to their king: Right so from you all goodly vertues well 2 Into the rest which round about you ring,3 Faire Lords and Ladies which about you dwell, And doe adorne your Court where Courtesies excell. CANTO I. Calidore saves from Maleffort A Damzell used vylde: Doth vanquish Crudor; and doth make ! I. Or Court, it seemes, men Courtesie doe call, Right so in Faery Court it did redound, Where curteous Knights and Ladies most did won1 Of all on earth, and made a matchlesse paragon.2 II. But mongst them all was none more courteous Knight In whom it seemes that gentlenesse of spright To which he adding comely guize withall And gracious speach, did steale mens hearts away: 1 Won, dwell. 2 Paragon, model for imitation. 3 Then, than. - II. 2. Then Calidore.] Sir Calidore, as Upton conjectures, represents Sir Philip Sidney. Nathlesse thereto1 he was full stout and tall, And well approv'd in batteilous affray, That him did much renowme, and far his fame display. III. Ne was there Knight ne was there Lady found 6 4 And loved simple truth and stedfast honesty. IV. And now he was in travell on his way, They knew themselves, and both their persons rad 8: When Calidore thus first; "Haile, noblest Knight Of all this day on ground that breathen living spright! V. "Now tell, if please you, of the good successe 1 Thereto, also. 3 Conditions sound, good qualities. 5 Embase, disgrace. 7 Sore bestad, earnestly bent. 2 Embrace, love, regard. 8 Rad, recognized. "Now, happy man," said then Sir Calidore, "Which have, so goodly as ye can devize, Atchiev'd so hard a quest,' as few before; That shall you most renowmed make for evermore. VI. "But where ye ended have, now I begin Or how to issue forth in waies untryde, "What is that quest,!" quoth then Sir Artegall, "That you into such perils presently doth call?" VII. "The Blattant Beast," quoth he, "I doe pursew, And through the world incessantly doe chase, Till I him overtake, or else subdew: Yet know I not or how or in what place To find him out, yet still I forward trace." Then answered he, "which often hath annoyd Good Knights and Ladies true, and many else destroyd. VIII. "Of Cerberus whilome 2 he was begot And fell Chimæra, in her darkesome den, Through fowle commixture of his filthy blot; 1 Quest, enterprise, expedition. 2 Whilome, formerly. To be the plague and scourge of wretched men: Whom with vile tongue and venemous intent He sore doth wound, and bite, and cruelly torment." IX. "Then, since the Salvage Island I did leave," As if that he attonce would me devoure: X. "That surely is that Beast," saide Calidore, "Which I pursue, of whom I am right glad To heare these tidings which of none afore Through all my weary travell I have had : Yet now some hope your words unto me add." "Now God you speed," quoth then Sir Artegall, "And keepe your body from the daunger drad1: For ye have much adoe to deale withall!" So both tooke goodly leave, and parted severall. XI. Sir Calidore thence travelled not long, Whenas by chaunce a comely Squire he found, To whom approching, in that painefull stound 3 1 Drad, dreaded. 2 Thorough, through. 3 Stound, misfortune. |