Then gan the palmer thus; 'Most wretched man,
That to affections1 does the bridle lend!
In their beginning they are weak and wan,
But soon through suff'rance grow to fearful end:
Whiles they are weak, betimes with them
For, when they once to perfect strength do grow,
Strong wars they make, and cruel batt'ry bend
Gainst fort of Reason, it to overthrow:
Wrath, Jealousy, Grief, Love, this squire have laid
Wrath, Jealousy, Grief, Love, do thus expel:
Wrath is a fire; and Jealousy a weed;
Grief is a flood; and Love a monster fell;
The fire of sparks, the weed of little seed:
The flood of drops, the monster filth did breed:
But sparks, seed, drops, and filth, do thus
The sparks soon quench, the springing seed
The drops dry up, and filth wipe clean away:
So shall Wrath, Jealousy, Grief, Love, die and decay.'
'Unlucky squire,' said Guyon, sith thou hast
Fall'n into mischief through intemperance,
Henceforth take heed of that thou now hast past,
And guide thy ways with wary governance,
Lest worse betide thee by some later chance.
But read how art thou nam'd, and of what kin.' Declare. 'Phaon I hight,' 5 quoth he, and do advance
Mine ancestry from famous Coradin,
Who first to raise our house to honour did begin.'
Thus as he spake, lo! far away they spied
A varlet running towards hastily,
Whose flying feet so fast their way applied,
That round about a cloud of dust did fly,
Which, mingled all with sweat, did dim his eye.
He soon approachéd, panting, breathless, hot,
And all so soil'd, that none could him descry!
His countenance was bold, and bashéd not [shot.
For Guyon's looks, but scornful eye-glance at him
Behind his back he bore a brazen shield,
On which was drawen fair, in colours fit,
A flaming fire in midst of bloody field,
And round about the wreath this word was writ,
Burnt I do burn: right well beseeméd it
To be the shield of some redoubted knight:
And in his hand two darts exceeding flit1
And deadly sharp he held, whose heads were dight2
In poison and in blood of malice and despite.
When he in presence came, to Guyon first
He boldly spake; 'Sir Knight, if knight thou be,
Abandon this forestalléd place at erst,3
For fear of farther harm, I counsel thee;
Or bide the chance at thine own jeopardy.'
The Knight at his great boldness wondered;
And, though he scorn'd his idle vanity,
Yet mildly him to purpose answered;
For not to grow of naught he it conjecturéd;
Varlet, this place most due to me I deem, Yielded by him that held it forcibly: [dost seem But whence should come that harm, which thou
To threat to him that minds1 his chance t' abye?'21 Intends.
'Perdy,' said he, 'here comes, and is hard by,
A knight of wondrous power and great assay,
That never yet encount'red enemy,
But did him deadly daunt, or foul dismay;
Ne thou for better hope, if thou his presence stay.'
'How hight he,' then said Guyon, and from
whence ?'
'Pyrochles* is his name, renowned far
For his bold feats and hardy confidence,
Full oft approv'd in many a cruel war;
The brother of Cymochles; both which are
The sons of old Acrates and Despite ;
Acrates, son of Phlegethon and Jar;
Phlegethon, son of Herebus and Night;
But Herebus, son of Eternity is hight.
So from immortal race he does proceed,
That mortal hands may not withstand his might,
Drad' for his derring-dos and bloody deed;
For all in blood and spoil is his delight.
His am I, Atin, his in wrong and right, That matter make for him to work upon, And stir him up to strife and cruel fight. Fly therefore, fly this fearful stead9 anon, Lest thy foolhardice work thy sad confusion.'
7 Dreaded. 8 Daring deeds.
His be that care, whom most it doth concern,' Said he 'but whither with such hasty flight Art thou now bound? for well mote 10 I discern Great cause, that carries thee so swift and light.' My lord,' quoth he, 'me sent, and strait behight11" Strictly
* 'Pyrochles' means fiery-tempered, and Cymochles' fickle-minded. manded. VOL. L
To seek Occasion, where so she be:
For he is all dispos'd to bloody fight,
And breathes out wrath and heinous cruelty;
Hard is his hap,1 that first falls in his jeopardy.'
'Mad man,' said then the palmer, that does seek
Occasion to wrath, and cause of strife;
She comes unsought, and shunned, follows eke.
Happy! who can abstain, when Rancour rife
Kindles Revenge, and threats his rusty knife:
Woe never wants, where every cause is caught;
And rash Occasion makes unquiet life!'
Then lo! where bound she sits, whom thou hast
sought,'
Said Guyon; let that message to thy lord be
That when the varlet heard and saw, straightway
He waxéd wondrous wroth, and said; Vile knight,
That knights and knighthood dost with shame
And show'st th' ensample of thy childish might,
With silly weak old woman thus to fight!
Great glory and gay spoil sure hast thou got,
And stoutly prov'd thy puissance here in sight!
That shall Pyrochles well requite, I wot,
And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot.'
With that, one of his thrillant 5 darts he threw,
Headed with ire and vengeable despite:
The quiv'ring steel his aiméd end well knew,
And to his breast itself intended 6 right:
But he was wary, and, ere it empight7
In the meant mark, advanc'd his shield atween,
On which it seizing, no way enter might,
But back rebounding, left the forkhead keen: Eftsoons he fled away, and might nowhere be seen.
Pyrochles does with Guyon fight,
And Furor's chain unties,
Who him sore wounds; whiles Atin to
Cymochles for aid flies.
WHOEVER doth to Temperance apply
His steadfast life, and all his actions frame,
Trust me, shall find no greater enemy,
Than stubborn Perturbation, to the same;
To which right well the wise do give that name;
For it the goodly peace of stayéd2 minds
Does overthrow, and troublous war proclaim:
His own woe's author, whoso bound it finds,
As did Pyrochles, and it wilfully unbinds.
After that varlet's flight, it was not long
Ere on the plain fast pricking Guyon spied
One in bright arms embatteiléd3 full strong,
That, as the sunny beams do glance and glide
Upon the trembling wave, so shinéd bright,
And round about him threw forth sparkling fire,
That seem'd him to enflame on every side:
His steed was bloody red, and foaméd ire, [stire. Urge. When with the mast'ring spur he did him roughly
Approaching nigh, he never stay'd to greet,
Ne chaffer words, proud courage to provoke,
But prick'd so fierce, that underneath his feet
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