CANTO IV. To sinfull Hous of Pryde Duess a guydes the faithfull Knight; 1. YOUNG Knight whatever, that dost armes professe, In choice, and chaunge, of thy deare-loved dame; Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love: That doth this Redcrosse Knights ensample plainly prove. II. Who, after that he had faire Una lorne," Arg. 1. To sinfull Hous, &c.] The adventures of the Red-cross Knight are resumed from the second canto. 1. 9. This Redcrosse Knights ensample.] "The author has shown judgment in making his Knight of the Red-cross, or St. George, no perfect character, without which many of the incidents could not have been represented."— HUGHES. Long with her traveild; till at last they see All bare through peoples feet, which thether traveiled. III. Great troupes of people traveild thetherward. IV. A stately pallace built of squared bricke, Whose wals were high, but nothing strong nor thick, That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid; Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres; V. It was a goodly heape for to behould, And spake the praises of the workmans witt: 1 Lazars, leprous persons. And fall away, it mounted was full hie: VI. Arrived there, they passed in forth right; There waiting long, to win the wished sight Of her, that was the Lady of that pallace bright. VII. By them they passe, all gazing on them round, In living princes court none ever knew Such endlesse richesse, and so sumpteous shew: Of Lords and Ladies stood on every side, Which, with their presence fayre, the place much beautifide. VIII. High above all a cloth of state was spred, 1 Hight, intrusted. VOL. I. 2 Dight, ornamented. 3 Presence, presence- or reception-room. 8 In glistring gold and perelesse pretious stone; To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne, IX. Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fayrest childe, That did presume his fathers fyrie wayne, And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wilde, Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne; Proud of such glory and advancement vayne, While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen, He leaves the welkin 2 way most beaten playne, And, rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne, but fayrely for to shyne. X. So proud she shyned in her princely state, XI. Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was, That parentage, with pride so did she swell; 1 Assay, attempt. 2 Welkin, heavenly. 3 Pas, surpass. Or if that any else did Iove excell; For to the highest she did still aspyre; Or, if ought higher were then that, did it desyre. XII. And proud Lucifera men did her call, That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be; But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie That with their counsels bad her kingdome did uphold. XIII. Soone as the Elfin Knight in presence came, A gentle husher, Vanitie by name, Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire: So goodly brought them to the lowest stayre Of her high throne; where they, on humble knee Making obeysaunce, did the cause declare, Why they were come, her roiall state to see, To prove the wide report of her great maiestee. XIV. With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so lowe, 1 Frounce, plait, or fold. |