XXXIX. It fortuned one day, when Calidore And spoyld their houses, and themselves did murder, And drove away their flocks; with other much disorder. XL. Amongst the rest, the which they then did pray,3 And all his people captive led away; Mongst which this lucklesse Mayd away was lad,* Faire Pastorella, sorrow full and sad, Most sorrow full, most sad, that ever sigh't, Now made the spoile of theeves and Brigants bad, Which was the conquest of the gentlest Knight That ever liv'd, and th' onely glory of his might. XLI. With them also was taken Coridon, And carried captive by those theeves away; Mote them descry, nor reskue from their pray, Brigants, brigands, robbers. 3 Pray, plunder. XL. 9. - Th' onely glory.] The chief or principal glory. Appeared for people in nor out to pas, Nor any footing fynde for overgrowen gras: XLII. For underneath the ground their way was made Through hollow caves, that no man mote discover! For the thicke shrubs, which did them alwaies shade From view of living wight and covered over; But Darkenesse dred and daily Night did hover Through all the inner parts, wherein they dwelt; Ne lightned was with window, nor with lover, But with continuall candle light, which delt A doubtfull sense of things, not so well seene as felt. XLIII. Hither those Brigants brought their present pray, Of griesly theeves, she thought herself in hell, [dwell. Where with such damned fiends she should in darknesse XLIV. But for to tell the dolefull dreriment1 And pittifull complaints which there she made, 1 Dreriment, affliction. XLII. 5.- Daily Night.] Night or darkness in the day-time. Church proposes to read deadly for daily. XLII. 7.- Lover.] Lover, or louver, (from the French ouvrer, to open,) is an opening in the roof to let out smoke. And waste her goodly beauty, which did fade Which may her feeble leaves with comfort glade1;) Will in another Canto better be begonne. 1 Glade, gladden. 2 Wonne, dwelling. VOL. IV. 16 CANTO XI. The Theeves fall out for Pastorell, Her Calidore from them redeemes, 1. THE joys of love, if they should ever last That worldly chaunces doe amongst them cast, A thousand sowres hath tempred with one sweet, II. Like as is now befalne to this faire Mayd, Faire Pastorell, of whom is now my song: Who being now in dreadfull darknesse layd Amongst those Theeves, which her in bondage strong II. 2.-Faire Pastorell, &c.] "This pastoral part of the Faerie Queene seems to have been occasioned by Sidney's Arcadia, and in conformity to the common fashion of the times, which abounded in pastoral poets."-WARTON. And sorrowes heapt on her in greater throng; 1 That whoso heares her heavinesse, would rew And pitty her sad plight, so chang'd from pleasaunt hew III. Whylest thus she in these hellish dens remayned, IV. At sight whereof his barbarous heart was fired, With looks, with words, with gifts he oft her wowed,3 And mixed threats among, and much unto her vowed. V. But all that ever he could do or say Her constant mynd could not a whit remove, Nor draw unto the lure of his lewd lay, To graunt him favour or afford him love: 1 Rew, lament. 2 Whot, hot. 3 Wowed, wooed. |