LXXVIII. Her snowy brest was bare to ready spoyle Of hungry eies, which n'ote therewith be fild; And yet through languour of her late sweet toyle, Few drops, more cleare then nectar, forth distild, That like pure orient perles adowne it trild; And her faire eyes, sweet smyling in delight, Moystened their fierie beames, with which she thrild Fraile harts, yet quenched not; like starry light, Which, sparckling on the silent waves, does seeme more bright. The LXXIX. young man, sleeping by her, seemd to be Some goodly swayne of honorable place; That certes it great pitty was to see A sweet regard and amiable grace, Did now but freshly spring, and silken blossoms beare. LXXX. His warlike armes, the ydle instruments Of sleeping praise, were hong upon a tree ; LXXXI. The noble Elfe and carefull Palmer drew So nigh them, minding nought but lustfull game, That suddeine forth they on them rusht, and threw A subtile net, which only for that same The skilfull Palmer formally did frame : So held them under fast; the whiles the rest away for feare of fowler shame. Fled all The faire Enchauntresse, so unwares opprest, Tryde all her arts and all her sleights thence out to wrest LXXXII. And eke her lover strove; but all in vaine: For that same net so cunningly was wound, They tooke them both, and both them strongly bound For nothing else might keepe her safe and sound: LXXXIII. But all those pleasaunt bowres, and pallace brave, LXXXIV. Then led they her away, and eke that Knight Charm'd those wild beasts that rag'd with furie mad; As in their Mistresse reskew, whom they lad; [did ly. Then Guyon askt, what meant those beastes which there LXXXV. Sayd he; "These seeming beasts are men in deed, According to their mindes like monstruous." LXXXVI. Streightway he with his vertuous staffe them strooke, And stared ghastly; some for inward shame, But one above the rest in speciall That had an hog beene late, hight Grylle by name, Repyned greatly, and did him miscall That had from hoggish forme him brought to naturall. LXXXVII. Saide Guyon; "See the mind of beastly man, That now he chooseth with vile difference To whom the Palmer thus; "The donghill kinde Let Gryll be Gryll, and have his hoggish minde; But let us hence depart whilest wether serves a winde." THE THIRDE BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QUEENE CONTAYNING THE LEGEND OF BRITOMARTIS, OR OF CHASTITY. I. It falls me here to write of Chastity, That fayrest vertue, far above the rest: II. But living art may not least part expresse, His dædale hand would faile and greatly faynt, For fear through want of words her excellence to marre. |