What is become of great Acrates sonne ? XXXVI. Then, pricking him with his sharp-pointed dart, Unmindfull of thy praise and prowest might, Through many a stroke and many a streaming wound, Calling thy help in vaine, that here in ioyes art dround." XXXVII. Suddeinly out of his delightfull dreame The Man awoke, and would have questioned more 3; He then uprose, inflamd with fell despight, XXXVIII. They bene ybrought; he quickly does him dight, 1 Forlorne, lost. 4 Implore, entreaty. 2 Weetlesse, unheeding. 5 Algates, by all means. XXXVI. 6. Lies on sencelesse ground.] Lies senseless on the ground. XXXVI. 7.— His utmost grudging spright.] His last indignant breath. XXXVII. 3.—But he.] Atin. And lightly mounted passeth on his way; And Atin ay him pricks with spurs of shame and wrong. 1 Dismay, subdue. CANTO VI. Guyon is of immodest Merth Led into loose desyre; Fights with Cymochles, whiles his bro- I. A HARDER lesson to learne continence II. Whom bold Cymochles traveiling to finde, 1 Uneathes, scarcely. 2 Maysteries, superiority. II. 4.- Came to a river, &c.] The Bower of Bliss is described as situated upon an island floating in a lake or gulf. Atin finds Cymochles there, and induces him to leave in order to avenge his brother's death. He comes to a river, that is, to the shore of the island, and finds there Phædria, (who represents immodest mirth,) who carries him in her boat to another island in this gulf or lake, similar in its temptations and dangers to that on which the Bower of Bliss is situated. Wayting to passe he saw whereas did swim With boughes and arbours woven cunningly, III. And therein sate a Lady fresh and fayre, Sometimes she laught, that nigh her breath was gone; That to her might move cause of meriment: IV. Which when far off Cymochles heard and saw, He lowdly cald to such as were abord And him to ferry over that deepe ford. Soone hearkned, and her painted bote streightway She would admit, albe2 the Knight her much did pray. V. Eftsoones 3 her shallow ship away did slide, 4 More swift than swallow sheres the liquid skye, Or winged canvas with the wind to fly: Onely she turnd a pin, and by and by 1 Gondelay, gondola, boat. 3 Eftsoones, immediately. 4 Sheres, cuts. It cut away upon the yielding wave, (Ne cared she her course for to apply,') For it was taught the way which she would have And both from rocks and flats itselfe could wisely save. VI. And all the way the wanton Damsell found New merth her Passenger to entertaine; For she in pleasaunt purpose 2 did abound, And greatly ioyed merry tales to fayne. Of which a store-house did with her remaine; Yet seemed, nothing well they her became : For all her wordes she drownd with laughter vaine, And wanted grace in utt'ring of the same, That turned all her pleasaunce to a scoffing game. VII. And other whiles vaine toyes she would devize, 1 Apply, steer. 2 Purpose, conversation. 3 Aguize, deck. 4 Plight, folded. V. 8. For it was taught, &c.] The self-guiding bark of Phædria was suggested by the ships of Alcinous, in Homer, which steered themselves to their destined port. The giving it motion by turning a pin was probably borrowed from the Squire's tale in Chaucer, where the king of Araby sends to Cambuscan a horse of brass, which moves by turning a pin. There is a wooden horse with the same wondrous power in the Arabian Nights. |