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 Whom Arthure soone hath reskewed, And Paynim brethren foyld. I. AND is there care in heaven? And is there love There is :-else much more wretched were the cace Of Highest God that loves his creatures so, II. How oft do they their silver bowers leave 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 suddeinly 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, Which to that shady delve him brought at last, V. Beside his head there satt a faire young man, VI. Like as Cupido on Idæan hill, When having laid his cruell bow away And mortall arrowes, wherewith he doth fill The world with murdrous spoiles and bloody pray, With his faire mother he him dights to play, And with his goodly sisters, Graces three; The goddesse, pleased with his wanton play, Suffers herselfe through sleepe beguild to bee, The whiles the other ladies mind theyr mery glee. VII. Whom when the Palmer saw, abasht he was Through fear and wonder, that he nought could say, Hath bene thy faithfull aide in hard assay! For life ere long shall to her home retire, And he, that breathlesse seems, shal corage bold respire. VIII. "The charge, which God doth unto me arrett, The care thereof myselfe unto the end, But evermore him succour, and defend So having said, eftsoones he gan display IX. The Palmer seeing his lefte empty place, And his slow eies beguiled of their sight, Woxe sore affraid, and standing still a space Gaz'd after him, as fowle escapt by flight: At last, him turning to his charge behight, With trembling hand his troubled pulse gan try; Where finding life not yet dislodged quight, He much reioyst, and courd it tenderly, As chicken newly hatcht, from dreaded destiny. X. At last he spide where towards him did pace Two Paynim Knights al armd as bright as skie, And them beside an aged Sire did trace, And far before a light-foote Page did flie That breathed strife and troublous enmitie. Those were the two sonnes of Acrates old, Who, meeting earst with Archimago slie Foreby that Idle Strond, of him were told That he, which earst them combatted, was Guyon bold, XI. Which to avenge on him they dearly vowd, XII. Whom when Pyrochles saw, inflam'd with rage Of that same outcast carcas, that erewhile XIII. To whom the Palmer fearelesse answered; "Certes, Sir Knight, ye bene too much to blame, Yourselfe his prowesse prov'd, and found him fiers and bold." |