PR

2350 1825

SPENSER.

VOLUME II.

THE FAERIE QUEENE.

M. DCCC. XXV.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET STREET.

THE SECOND BOOK OF

THE FAERIE QUEENE

CONTAYNING

THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON, OR OF TEMPERAUNCE.

CANTO VIII.

Sir Guyon, layd in swowne, is by
Acrates sonnes despoyld;

Whom Arthure soone hath reskewed,
And Paynim brethren foyld.

I.

AND is there care in heaven? And is there love

In heavenly spirits to these creatures bace,
That may compassion of their evils move?

There is :-else much more wretched were the cace
Of men then beasts: But O! th' exceeding grace

Of Highest God that loves his creatures so,
And all his workes with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed Angels he sends to and fro,

To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe!

II.

How oft do they their silver bowers leave
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pineons cleave
The flitting skyes, like flying pursuivant,
Against fowle feendes to ayd us militant!
They for us fight, they watch and dewly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant;
And all for love and nothing for reward:

O, why should Hevenly God to men have such regard!

III.

During the while that Guyon did abide

In Mammons House, the Palmer, whom whyleare
That wanton Mayd of passage had denide,
By further search had passage found elsewhere;
And, being on his way, approached neare
Where Guyon lay in traunce; when suddenly
He heard a voyce that called lowd and cleare,
"Come hether, come hether, O! come hastily!"
That all the fields resounded with the ruefull cry.

IV.

The Palmer lent his eare unto the noyce,
To weet who called so impórtunely:
Againe he heard a more efforced voyce,
That bad him come in haste: He by and by
His feeble feet directed to the cry;

Which to that shady delve him brought at last,
Where Mammon earst did sunne his threasury :
There the good Guyon he found slumbring fast
In senceles dreame; which sight at first him sore aghast.