THE

FAERIE QUEENE.

DISPOSED INTO TWELVE BOOKES,

FASHIONING

XII. MORALL VERTUES.

DUTTON AND WENTWORTH'S

Steam Press.

THE SIXTH BOOKE

OF

THE FAERIE QUEENE

CONTAYNING

THE LEGEND OF SIR CALIDORE, OR OF COURTESIE.

I.

THE waies, through which my weary steps I guyde In this delightfull land of Faëry,

Are so exceeding spacious and wyde,

And sprinckled with such sweet variety
Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye,

That I, nigh ravisht with rare thoughts delight,
My tedious travell doe forget thereby ;

And, when I gin to feele decay of might,

It strength to me supplies and chears my dulled spright.

II.

Such secret comfort and such heavenly pleasures,

Ye sacred Imps, that on Parnasso dwell,

And there the keeping have of Learnings threasures
Which doe all worldly riches farre excell,
Into the mindes of mortall men doe well,1
And goodly fury2 into them infuse;
Guyde ye my footing, and conduct me well

1 Well, cause to flow.

2 Fury, inspiration.

In these strange waies where never foote did use,

Ne none can find but who was taught them by the Muse:

III.

Revele to me the sacred noursery

Of Vertue, which with you doth there remaine,
Where it in silver bowre does hidden ly

From view of men and wicked worlds disdaine;
Since it at first was by the Gods with paine1
Planted in earth, being deriv'd at furst
From heavenly seedes of bounty soveraine,
And by them long with carefull labour nurst,
Till it to ripenesse grew, and forth to honour burst.

IV.

Amongst them all growes not a fayrer flowre
Then is the bloosme of comely Courtesie;
Which though it on a lowly stalke doe bowre,3
Yet brancheth forth in brave nobilitie,

And spreds itselfe through all civilitie :

Of which though present age doe plenteous seeme,
Yet, being matcht with plaine antiquitie,

Ye will them all but fayned showes esteeme,
Which carry colours faire that feeble eies misdeeme1:

V.

But, in the triall of true Curtesie,

Its now so farre from that which then it was,
That it indeed is nought but forgerie,
Fashion'd to please the eies of them that pas,
Which see not perfect things but in a glas:
Yet is that glasse so gay that it can blynd
The wisest sight, to thinke gold that is bras:

1 Paine, difficulty.
than.

? Then,

3 Bowre, lodge, grow.

4 Misdeeme, judge wrongly of.