Laurel · Edmund Spenser · The Faerie Queene, Book I

Canto IV

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) · 1590

iambic pentameter · ABABBCBCC · 463 lines · from The Faerie Queene, Book I

To sinfull house of Pride, Duessaguides the faithfull knight,Where brother's death to wreak Sansjoydoth chalenge him to fight.

Young knight whatever that dost armes professe,And through long labours huntest after fame,Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame,Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame,And rash misweening doe thy hart remove:For unto knight there is no greater shame,Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love;That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly prove.

Who after that he had faire Una lorne,Through light misdeeming of her loialtie,And false Duessa in her sted had borne,Called Fidess', and so supposd to bee;Long with her traveild, till at last they seeA goodly building, bravely garnished,The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee:And towards it a broad high way that led,All bare through peoples feet, which thither traveiled.

Great troupes of people traveild thitherwardBoth day and night, of each degree and place,But few returned, having scaped hard,With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace;Which ever after in most wretched case,Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace:For she is wearie of the toilesome way,And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

A stately Pallace built of squared bricke,Which cunningly was without morter laid,Whose wals were high, but nothing strong, nor thick,And golden foile all over them displaid,That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:High lifted up were many loftie towres,And goodly galleries farre over laid,Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres;And on the top a Diall told the timely howres.

It was a goodly heape for to behould,And spake the praises of the workmans wit;But full great pittie, that so faire a mouldDid on so weake foundation ever sit:For on a sandie hill, that still did flitAnd fall away, it mounted was full hie,That every breath of heaven shaked it:And all the hinder parts, that few could spie,Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

Arrived there, they passed in forth right;For still to all the gates stood open wide:Yet charge of them was to a Porter hightCald Malvenu, who entrance none denide:Thence to the hall, which was on every sideWith rich array and costly arras dight:Infinite sorts of people did abideThere waiting long, to win the wished sightOf her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright.

By them they passe, all gazing on them round,And to the Presence mount; whose glorious vewTheir frayle amazed senses did confound:In living Princes court none ever knewSuch endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew;Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous prideLike ever saw. And there a noble crewOf Lordes and Ladies stood on every side,Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide.

High above all a cloth of State was spred,And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day,On which there sate most brave embellishedWith royall robes and gorgeous array,A mayden Queene, that shone as Titans ray,In glistring gold, and peerelesse pretious stone:Yet her bright blazing beautie did assayTo dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne,As envying her selfe, that too exceeding shone.

Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fairest childe,That did presume his fathers firie wayne,And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wildeThrough highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne;Proud of such glory and advancement vaine,While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,He leaves the welkin way most beaten plaine,And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.

So proud she shyned in her Princely state,Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdayne:And sitting high; for lowly she did hate:Lo underneath her scornefull feete was layneA dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne,And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,And in her selfe-lov'd semblance tooke delight;For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight.

Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was,And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell;Yet did she thinke her pearlesse worth to pasThat parentage, with pride so did she swell;And thundring Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell,And wield the world, she claymed for her syre,Or if that any else did Jove excell:For to the highest she did still aspyre,Or if ought higher were then that, did it desyre.

And proud Lucifera men did her call,That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be,Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all,Ne heritage of native soveraintie,But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannieUpon the scepter, which she now did hold:Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes, but pollicie,And strong advizement of six wisards old,That with their counsels bad her kingdome did uphold.

Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came,And false Duessa seeming Lady faire,A gentle Husher, Vanitie by nameMade rowme, and passage for them did prepaire:So goodly brought them to the lowest staireOf her high throne, where they on humble kneeMaking obeyssance, did the cause declare,Why they were come, her royall state to see,To prove the wide report of her great Majestee.

With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low,She thanked them in her disdainefull wise;Ne other grace vouchsafed them to showOf Princesse worthy, scarse them bad arise.Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deviseThemselves to setten forth to straungers sight:Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise,Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dightTheir gay attire: each others greater pride does spight.

Goodly they all that knight do entertaine,Right glad with him to have increast their crew:But to Duess' each one himselfe did paineAll kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew;For in that court whylome her well they knew:Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowdThought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew,And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd,That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.

Suddein upriseth from her stately placeThe royall Dame, and for her coche did call:All hurtlen forth, and she with Princely pace,As faire Aurora in her purple pall,Out of the east the dawning day doth call:So forth she comes: her brightnesse brode doth blaze;The heapes of people thronging in the hall,Do ride each other, upon her to gaze:Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eyes amaze.

So forth she comes, and to her coche does clyme,Adorned all with gold, and girlonds gay,That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime,And strove to match, in royall rich array,Great Junoes golden chaire, the which they sayThe Gods stand gazing on, when she does rideTo Joves high house through heavens bras-paved wayDrawne of faire Pecocks, that excell in pride,And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide.

But this was drawne of six unequall beasts,On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde,Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts,With like conditions to their kinds applyde:Of which the first, that all the rest did guyde,Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin;Upon a slouthful Asse he chose to ryde,Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin,Like to an holy Monck, the service to begin.

And in his hand his Portesse still he bare,That much was worne, but therein little red,For of devotion he had little care,Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his dayes ded;Scarse could he once uphold his heavie hed,To looken, whether it were night or day:May seeme the wayne was very evill led,When such an one had guiding of the way,That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray.

From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne,And greatly shunned manly exercise,From every worke he chalenged essoyne,For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,His life he led in lawlesse riotise;By which he grew to grievous malady;For in his lustlesse limbs through evill guiseA shaking fever raignd continually:Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company.

And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony,Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne;His belly was up-blowne with luxury,And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne,And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne,With which he swallowed up excessive feast,For want whereof poore people oft did pyne;And all the way, most like a brutish beast,He spued up his gorge, that all did him deteast.

In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad;For other clothes he could not weare for heat,And on his head an yvie girland had,From under which fast trickled downe the sweat:Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat,And in his hand did beare a bouzing can,Of which he supt so oft, that on his seatHis dronken corse he scarse upholden can,In shape and life more like a monster, then a man.

Unfit he was for any worldly thing,And eke unhable once to stirre or go,Not meet to be of counsell to a king,Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so,That from his friend he seldome knew his fo:Full of diseases was his carcas blew,And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow:Which by misdiet daily greater grew:Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.

And next to him rode lustfull Lechery,Upon a bearded Goat, whose rugged haire,And whally eyes (the signe of gelosy),Was like the person selfe, whom he did beare:Who rough, and blacke, and filthy did appeare,Unseemely man to please faire Ladies eye;Yet he of Ladies oft was loved deare,When fairer faces were bid standen by:O who does know the bent of womens fantasy?

In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire,Which underneath did hide his filthinesse,And in his hand a burning hart he bare,Full of vaine follies, and new fanglenesse,For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse;And learned had to love with secret lookes;And well could daunce, and sing with ruefulnesse,And fortunes tell, and read in loving bookes,And thousand other wayes, to bait his fleshly hookes.

Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,And lusted after all that he did love;Ne would his looser life be tide to law,But joyd weak wemens hearts to tempt and prove,If from their loyall loves he might them move;Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paineOf that fowle evill, which all men reprove,That rots the marrow and consumes the braine:Such one was Lecherie, the third of all this traine.

And greedy Avarice by him did ride,Upon a Camell loaden all with gold;Two iron coffers hong on either side,With precious mettall full as they might hold;And in his lap an heape of coine he told;For of his wicked pelfe his God he made,And unto hell him selfe for money sold;Accursed usurie was all his trade,And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.

His life was nigh unto deaths doore yplast,And thred-bare cote, and cobled shoes he ware,Ne scarse good morsell all his life did tast,But both from backe and belly still did spare,To fill his bags, and richesse to compare;Yet chylde ne kinsman living had he noneTo leave them to; but thorough daily careTo get, and nightly feare to lose his owne,He led a wretched life unto him selfe unknowne.

Most wretched wight, whom nothing might suffise,Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store,Whose need had end, but no end covetise,Whose wealth was want, whose plenty made him pore,Who had enough, yet wished ever more;A vile disease, and eke in foote and handA grievous gout tormented him full sore,That well he could not touch, nor go, nor stand;Such one was Avarice, the fourth of this faire band.

And next to him malicious Envie rode,Upon a ravenous wolfe, and still did chawBetweene his cankred teeth a venemous tode,That all the poison ran about his chaw;But inwardly he chawed his owne mawAt neighbours wealth, that made him ever sad;For death it was when any good he saw,And wept, that cause of weeping none he had,But when he heard of harme, he wexed wondrous glad.

All in a kirtle of discolourd sayHe clothed was, ypainted full of eyes;And in his bosome secretly there layAn hatefull Snake, the which his taile uptyesIn many folds, and mortall sting implyes.Still as he rode, he gnasht his teeth, to seeThose heapes of gold with griple Covetyse;And grudged at the great felicitieOf proud Lucifera, and his owne companie.

He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds,And him no lesse, that any like did use,And who with gracious bread the hungry feeds,His almes for want of faith he doth accuse;So every good to bad he doth abuse:And eke the verse of famous Poets wittHe does backebite, and spightfull poison spuesFrom leprous mouth on all that ever writt:Such one vile Envie was, that fifte in row did sitt.

And him beside rides fierce revenging Wrath,Upon a Lion, loth for to be led;And in his hand a burning brond he hath,The which he brandisheth about his hed;His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red,And stared sterne on all that him beheld,As ashes pale of hew and seeming ded;And on his dagger still his hand he held,Trembling through hasty rage, when choler in him sweld.

His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood,Which he had spilt, and all to rags yrent,Through unadvized rashnesse woxen wood;For of his hands he had no governement,Ne car'd for bloud in his avengement:But when the furious fit was overpast,His cruell facts he often would repent;Yet wilfull man he never would forecast,How many mischieves should ensue his heedlesse hast.

Full many mischiefes follow cruell Wrath;Abhorred bloodshed and tumultuous strife,Unmanly murder, and unthrifty scath,Bitter despight, with rancours rusty knife,And fretting griefe the enemy of life;All these, and many evils moe haunt ire,The swelling Splene, and Frenzy raging rife,The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire:Such one was Wrath, the last of this ungodly tire.

And after all, upon the wagon beameRode Sathan, with a smarting whip in hand,With which he forward lasht the laesie teme,So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand.Hugh routs of people did about them band,Showting for joy, and still before their wayA foggy mist had covered all the land;And underneath their feet, all scattered layDead sculs and bones of men, whose life had gone astray.

So forth they marchen in this goodly sort,To take the solace of the open aire,And in fresh flowring fields themselves to sport;Emongst the rest rode that false Lady faire,The foule Duessa, next unto the chaireOf proud Lucifera, as one of the traine:But that good knight would not so nigh repaire,Him selfe estraunging from their joyaunce vaine,Whose fellowship seemd far unfit for warlike swaine.

So having solaced themselves a spaceWith pleasaunce of the breathing fields yfed,They backe retourned to the Princely Place;Whereas an errant knight in armes ycled,And heathnish shield, wherein with letters redWas writ Sans joy, they new arrived find:Enflam'd with fury and fiers hardy-hedHe seemd in hart to harbour thoughts unkind,And nourish bloudy vengeaunce in his bitter mind.

Who when the shamed shield of slaine SansfoyHe spide with that same Faery champions page,Bewraying him, that did of late destroyHis eldest brother, burning all with rageHe to him leapt, and that same envious gageOf victors glory from him snatcht away:But th' Elfin knight, which ought that warlike wageDisdaind to loose the meed he wonne in fray,And him rencountring fierce, reskewd the noble pray.

Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily,Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne,And clash their shields, and shake their swords on hy,That with their sturre they troubled all the traine;Till that great Queene upon eternall paineOf high displeasure that ensewen might,Commaunded them their fury to refraine,And if that either to that shield had right,In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight.

Ah dearest Dame, (quoth then the Paynim bold,)Pardon the error of enraged wight,Whom great griefe made forget the raines to holdOf reasons rule, to see this recreant knight,No knight, but treachour full of false despightAnd shamefull treason, who through guile hath slaynThe prowest knight that ever field did fight,Even stout Sansfoy (O who can then refrayn?)Whose shield he beares renverst, the more to heape disdayn.

And to augment the glorie of his guile,His dearest love, the faire Fidessa, loeIs there possessed of the traytour vile,Who reapes the harvest sowen by his foe,Sowen in bloudy field, and bought with woe:That brothers hand shall dearely well requight,So be, O Queene, you equall favour showe.Him litle answerd th' angry Elfin knight;He never meant with words, but swords to plead his right.

But threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledge,His cause in combat the next day to try:So been they parted both, with harts on edgeTo be aveng'd each on his enimy.That night they pas in joy and jollity,Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall;For Steward was excessive Gluttonie,That of his plenty poured forth to all;Which doen, the Chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call.

Now whenas darkesome night had all displayedHer coleblacke curtein over brightest skye,The warlike youthes on dayntie couches layd,Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye,To muse on meanes of hoped victory.But whenas Morpheus had with leaden maceArrested all that courtly company,Up-rose Duessa from her resting place,And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace.

Whom broad awake she finds, in troublous fit,Forecasting, how his foe he might annoy,And him amoves with speaches seeming fit:Ah deare Sansjoy, next dearest to Sansfoy,Cause of my new griefe, cause of my new joy,Joyous, to see his ymage in mine eye,And greev'd, to thinke how foe did him destroy,That was the flowre of grace and chevalrye;Lo his Fidessa to thy secret faith I flye.

With gentle wordes he can her fairely greet,And bad say on the secret of her hart.Then sighing soft, I learne that litle sweetOft tempred is (quoth she) with muchell smart:For since my brest was launcht with lovely dartOf deare Sans foy, I never joyed howre,But in eternall woes my weaker hartHave wasted, loving him with all my powre,And for his sake have felt full many an heavie stowre.

At last when perils all I weened past,And hop'd to reape the crop of all my care,Into new woes unweeting I was cast,By this false faytor, who unworthy wareHis worthy shield, whom he with guilefull snareEntrapped slew, and brought to shamefull grave.Me silly maid away with him he bare,And ever since hath kept in darksome cave,For that I would not yeeld, that to Sans foy I gave.

But since faire Sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd,And to my loathed life now shewes some light,Under your beames I will me safely shrowd,From dreaded storme of his disdainfull spight:To you th' inheritance belongs by rightOf brothers prayse, to you eke longs his love.Let not his love, let not his restlesse spright,Be unreveng'd, that calles to you aboveFrom wandring Stygian shores, where it doth endlesse move.

Thereto said he, Faire Dame, be nought dismaidFor sorrowes past; their griefe is with them gone:Ne yet of present perill be affraid;For needlesse feare did never vantage noneAnd helplesse hap it booteth not to mone.Dead is Sansfoy, his vitall paines are past,Though greeved ghost for vengeance deepe do grone:He lives, that shall him pay his dewties last,And guiltie Elfin blood shall sacrifice in hast.

O but I feare the fickle freakes (quoth shee)Of fortune false, and oddes of armes in field.Why Dame (quoth he) what oddes can ever bee,Where both do fight alike, to win or yield?Yea but (quoth she) he beares a charmed shield,And eke enchaunted armes, that none can perce,Ne none can wound the man that does them wield.Charmd or enchaunted (answerd he then ferce)I no whit reck, ne you the like need to reherce.

But faire Fidessa, sithens fortunes guile,Or enimies powre, hath now captived you,Returne from whence ye came, and rest a whileTill morrow next, that I the Elfe subdew,And with Sansfoyes dead dowry you endew.Ay me, that is a double death (she said)With proud foes sight my sorrow to renew:Where ever yet I be, my secret aidShall follow you. So passing forth she him obaid.

Words in this poem 145

sinfull a.: Tainted with, or full of, sin; wicked; iniquitous; criminal; unholy; as, sinful men; sinful thoughts. Piers Plowman. [AAS. synfull.]
faithfull a.: Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God.
wreak v. i.: To reck; to care.
beware v. t.: To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for.
deare: variant of Dere, v. t. & n.
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
ensample n.: An example; a pattern or model for imitation. Tyndale. [OF. ensample, essample, F. exemple. See Example.]
goodly a.: Pleasant; agreeable; desirable. [OE. godlich, AS. g. See Good, and Like.]
bravely adv.: In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.
thitherward adv.: To ward that place; in that direction.
balefull a.: Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. [AS. bealoful. See Bale misery.]
farre n.: A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
mould n.: Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil. [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole a]
flit a.: Nimble; quick; swift. See Fleet.
hight v. t.: To be called or named. [OE. heiten, highten, haten, hoten; also hight, hatte, hette, is called, was called, AS. hatan to call, name, be called, to command, promise; also hatte is calle]
arras n.: Tapestry; a rich figured fabric; especially, a screen or hangings of heavy cloth with interwoven figures. [From Arras the capital of Artois, in the French Netherlands.]
dight v. t.: To prepare; to put in order; hence, to dress, or put on; to array; to adorn. [OF. dihten, AS. dihtan to dictate, command, dispose, arrange, fr. L. dictare to say often, dictate, order; cf. G. dichten to write poetry, fr. L. dictare. See D]
passe a.: Past; gone by; hence, past one's prime; worn; faded; as, a passée belle. Ld. Lytton. [F.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
richesse n.: Wealth; riches. See the Note under Riches. [F. See Riches.]
shew n.: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
sunny a.: Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
sate v. t.: To satisfy the desire or appetite of; to satiate; to glut; to surfeit. [Probably shortened fr. satiate: cf. L. satus full. See Satiate.]
royall a.: Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]
gorgeous a.: Imposing through splendid or various colors; showy; fine; magnificent. [OF. gorgias beautiful, glorious, vain, luxurious; cf. OF. gorgias ruff, neck handkerchief, and F. gorge throat, and se pengorger to assume airs. Cf. Gorge, n.]
phoebus n.: Apollo; the sun god.
childe n.: A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as, Childe Roland.
presume v. t.: To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained. [F. présumer, L. praesumere, praesumptum; prae before + sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.]
unwonted a.: Not wonted; unaccustomed; unused; not made familiar by practice; as, a child unwonted to strangers.
daze v. t.: To stupefy with excess of light; with a blow, with cold, or with fear; to confuse; to benumb. [OE. dasen, prob. from Icel. dasask to become weary, a reflexive verb; cf. Sw. dasa to lie idle, and OD. daesen to be foolish, insane, daes, dwaes, D. dwaas, foo]
eyen n.: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry.
welkin n.: The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. [OE. welken, welkene, welkne, wolcne, weolcne, AS. wolcen, pl. wolcnu, a cloud; akin to D. wolk, OFries. wolken, OS. wolkan, G. wolke, OHG. wolchan, and probably]
rapt n.: An ecstasy; a trance. Bp. Morton. [From F. rapt abduction, rape, L. raptus, fr. rapere to seize and carry off, to transport; or fr. E. rapt, a. See Rapt, a., and Rapid.]
dreadfull a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
wight n.: A whit; a bit; a jot. [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. v]
parentage n.: Descent from parents or ancestors; parents or ancestors considered with respect to their rank or character; extraction; birth; as, a man of noble parentage. [Cf. F. parentage relationship.]
jove n.: The chief divinity of the ancient Romans; Jupiter. [L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis, OL. Jovis, nom. & gen. for Djovis; akin to E. Tuesday. See Tuesday, and cf. Jupiter.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
excell v. t.: To go beyond or surpass in good qualities or laudable deeds; to outdo or outgo, in a good sense. [L. excellere, excelsum; ex out + a root found in culmen height, top; cf. F. exceller. See Culminate, Column.]
ought p. p.: Was or were under obligation to pay; owed. [Orig. the preterit of the verb to owe. OE. oughte, aughte, ahte, AS. ahte. sq. root110. See Owe.]
rightfull a.: Righteous; upright; just; good; -- said of persons.
heritage a.: That which is inherited, or passes from heir to heir; inheritance. [OE. heritage, eritage, OF. heritage, eritage, F. héritage, fr. hériter to inherit, LL. heriditare. See Hereditable.]
elfin a.: Relating to elves.
princesse a.: A term applied to a lady's long, close-fitting dress made with waist and skirt in one. [F., a princess.]
frounce v. i.: To form wrinkles in the forehead; to manifest displeasure; to frown.
courtly a.: Relating or belonging to a court. [From Court.]
trimly adv.: In a trim manner; nicely.
spight n.: A woodpecker. See Speight.
middest a.: Situated most nearly in the middle; middlemost; midmost. [See Midst.]
knightly a.: Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit. [AS. cnihtlic boyish.]
aurora n.: The rising light of the morning; the dawn of day; the redness of the sky just before the sun rises. [L. aurora, for ausosa, akin to Gr. ushas, and E. east.]
amaze v. t.: To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze. [Pref. a- + maze.]
flora n.: The goddess of flowers and spring. [L., the goddess of flowers, from flos, floris, flower. See Flower.]
argus n.: A fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a hundred eyes, who has placed by Juno to guard Io. His eyes were transplanted to the peacock's tail.
bestiall a.: Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts. [F. bestial, L. bestialis, fr. bestia beast. See Beast.]
asse n.: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued for its fur.
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
riotise n.: Excess; tumult; revelry.
malady n.: Any disease of the human body; a distemper, disorder, or indisposition, proceeding from impaired, defective, or morbid organic functions; especially, a lingering or deep-seated disorder. [F. maladie, fr. malade ill, sick, OF. also, malabde, fr. L. male habitus, i. e., ill-kept, not in good condition. See Malice, and Habit.]
rode n.: Redness; complexion. [See Rud.]
gluttony n.: Excess in eating; extravagant indulgence of the appetite for food; voracity. [OE. glotonie, OF. glotonie, gloutonnie.]
eyne n.: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry.
whereof adv.: Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.
brutish a.: Pertaining to, or resembling, a brute or brutes; of a cruel, gross, and stupid nature; coarse; unfeeling; unintelligent.
clad v.: To clothe. Holland.
corse n.: A living body or its bulk. [OF. cors, F. corps. See Corpse.]
stirre v. t.: To change the place of in any manner; to move. [OE. stiren, steren, sturen, AS. styrian; probably akin to D. storen to disturb, G. stören, OHG. storen to scatter, destroy. *166.]
counsell n.: Interchange of opinions; mutual advising; consultation. [OE. conc, F. conseil, fr. L. consilium, fr. the root of consulere to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf. Consult, Consul.]
misdiet v. t.: To diet improperly.
lustfull a.: Full of lust; excited by lust Spenser. Tillotson.
lechery n.: Free indulgence of lust; lewdness. [OE. lecherie, OF. lecherie. See Lecher.]
whally a.: Having the iris of light color; -- said of horses.
fantasy n.: Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice; humor. [See Fancy.]
fraught n.: A freight; a cargo. [OE.fraight, fraght; akin to Dan. fragt, Sw. frakt, D. vracht, G. fracht, cf. OHG. fr merit, reward; perh. from corresponding to E. for + The root of E. own. Cf.]
loyall a.: Faithful to law; upholding the lawful authority; faithful and true to the lawful government; faithful to the prince or sovereign to whom one is subject; unswerving in allegiance. [F. loyal, OF. loial, leial, L. legalis, fr. lex, legis, law. See Legal, and cf. Leal.]
avarice n.: An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity. [F. avaritia, fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. av to covert, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.]
cote n.: A cottage or hut. [See 1st Cot.]
morsell n.: A little bite or bit of food. [OF. morsel, F. morceau, LL. morsellus, a dim. fr. L. morsus a biting, bite, fr. mordere to bite; prob. akin to E. smart. See Smart, and cf. Morceau, Mordant, Mu]
kinsman n.: A man of the same race or family; one related by blood.
nightly a.: Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night; happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he kept nightly vigils.
lust v. i.: To list; to like. [AS. lystan. See Lust, n., and cf. List to choose.]
wealth n.: Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
envie v. i.: To vie; to emulate; to strive. [See Vie.]
chaw v. t.: To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating; to chew, as the cud; to champ, as the bit. [See Chew.]
kirtle n.: A garment varying in form and use at different times, and worn doth by men and women. [OE. kirtel, curtel, AS. cyrtel; skin to Icel. kyrtill, Sw. kjortel, Dan. kiortel, kiole.]
hatefull a.: Manifesting hate or hatred; malignant; malevolent.
mortall a.: Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal. [F. mortel, L. mortalis, from mors, mortis, death, fr. moriri 8die; akin to E. murder. See Murder, and cf. Filemot, Mere a lake, Mortgage.]
vertuous a.: Virtuous; powerful.
witt v. t.: To know; to learn. [OE. witen, pres. ich wot, wat, I know (wot), imp. wiste, AS. witan, pres. wat, imp. wiste, wisse; akin to OFries. wita, OS. witan, D. weten, G. wissen, OHG. wiz]
writt: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Write, for writeth.
sitt: obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth.
revenging a.: Executing revenge; revengeful.
choler n.: The bile; -- formerly supposed to be the seat and cause of irascibility. [OE. coler, F. colère anger, L. cholera a bilious complaint, fr. Gr. Gall, and cf. Cholera.]
avengement n.: The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken.
cruell a.: Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless. [F. cruel, fr. L. crudelis, fr. crudus. See Crude.]
repent a.: Prostrate and rooting; -- said of stems. Gray. [L. repens, -entis, creeping, p. pr. of repere to creep.]
forecast v. t.: To plan beforehand; to scheme; to project.
ensue v. t.: To follow; to pursue; to follow and overtake. [OF. ensevre, OF. & F. ensuivre, fr. L. insequi; in + sequi to pursue. See Sue.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
unthrifty a.: Not thrifty; profuse.
scath n.: Harm; damage; injury; hurt; waste; misfortune. [Icel. skathi; akin to Dan. skade, Sw. skada, AS. sceatha, scatha, foe, injurer, OS. skatho, D. schade, schaden; cf. Gr. Scathe, v.]
rife a.: Prevailing; prevalent; abounding. [AS. rif abundant, or Icel. rifr munificent; akin to OD. riff, rijve, abundant.]
ungodly a.: Not godly; not having regard for God; disobedient to God; wicked; impious; sinful.
solace n.: Comfort in grief; alleviation of grief or anxiety; also, that which relieves in distress; that which cheers or consoles; relief. [OF. solas, ssoulaz, L. solacium, solatium, fr. solari to comfort, console. Cf. Console, v. t.]
emongst: , (prep. Among.
whereas adv.: At which place; where.
errant n.: One who wanders about. Fuller.
sans prep.: Without; deprived or destitute of. Rarely used as an English word. [F., from L. sine without.]
harbour n.: A station for rest and entertainment; a place of security and comfort; a refuge; a shelter. [OE herbor, herberwe, herberge, Icel. herbergi (cf. OHG. heriberga), orig., a shelter for soldiers; herr army + bjarga to save, help, defend; akin to AS. here ar]
unkind a.: Having no race or kindred; childless. [See Kin kindred.]
envious a.: Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
wage v. i.: To bind one's self; to engage.
meed v. t.: To reward; to repay. Waytt.
wonne v. i.: To dwell or abide. [See 1st Wone.]
therewith adv.: With that or this.
redoubted a.: Formidable; dread.
eternall a.: Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]
quoth v. t.: Said; spoke; uttered; -- used only in the first and third persons in the past tenses, and always followed by its nominative, the word or words said being the object; as, quoth I. quoth he. [AS.cweedhan, imp cwæedh, pl. cwædon; akin to OS. queedhan, OHG. quethan, quedan, Icel. kveedha, Goth. qiþan. sq. root22. Cf. Bequeath.]
shamefull a.: Bringing shame or disgrace; injurious to reputation; disgraceful.
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
angry a.: Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
gauntlet n.: A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds. [F. gantelet, dim. of gant glove, LL. wantus, of Teutonic origin; cf. D. want, Sw. & Dan. vante, Icel. vöttr, for vantr.]
bowre n.: A young hawk, when it begins to leave the nest. [From Bough, cf. Brancher.]
chace v. t.: To pursue. See Chase v. t.
morpheus n.: The god of dreams.
troublous a.: Full of trouble; causing trouble.
flowre n.: In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage. [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, Flourish.]
unweeting a.: Unwitting. Chaucer. [See Un- not, and Weet, Wit.]
guilefull a.: Full of guile; characterized by cunning, deceit, or treachery; guilty.
darksome a.: Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless.
disdainfull a.: Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful; contemptuous; haughty.
spright n.: Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [See Sprite.]
stygian a.: Of or pertaining to the river Styx; hence, hellish; infernal.
perill v. i.: To be in danger.
vantage v. t.: To profit; to aid.
vitall a.: Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions. [F., fr. L. vitalis, fr. vita life; akin to vivere to live. See Vivid.]
ghost n.: The spirit; the soul of man. [OE. gast, gost, soul, spirit, AS. gast breath, spirit, soul; akin to OS. g spirit, soul, D. geest, G. geist, and prob. to E. gaze, ghastly.]
whit n.: The smallest part or particle imaginable; a bit; a jot; an iota; -- generally used in an adverbial phrase in a negative sentence. [OE. wight, wiht, AS. wiht a creature, a thing. See Wight, and cf. Aught, Naught.]
reck v. t.: To make account of; to care for; to heed; to regard. [AS. reccan, remccan, to care for; akin to OS. rokian, OHG. ruochan, G. geruhen, Icel. rækja, also to E. reckon, rake an implement. See Rake, and cf. Reckon.]
sithens adv.: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. Piers Plowman.
dowry n.: A gift; endowment. [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium. See Dower.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Canto IV is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Faerie Queene, Book I, Project Gutenberg ebook #15272; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Edmund Spenser, Canto IV, in The Faerie Queene, Book I (1590), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #15272, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/faerie-queene/canto-iv.html, id L15819.

Form and metre

Canto IV is 463 lines in 52 stanzas. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBCC, complete in 51 of its 52 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 88%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.2 syllables. 27 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 17% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end. Rhymes that have moved apart since the poem was written: crave / have, gras / was, amis / is, feares / teares, bowre / stowre and 12 more.

See other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 -A-A duessa · knight^A · sansjoy · fight^A
2 ABABBCBCC professe^A · fame^B · ficklenesse^A · dame^B · blame^B · remove^C · shame^B · love^C · prove^C
3 ABABBCBCC lorne^A · loialtie^B · borne^A · bee^B · see^B · garnished^C · bee^B · led^C · traveiled^C
4 ABABBCBCC thitherward^A · place^B · hard^A · disgrace^B · case^B · lay^C · pace^B · way^C · day^C
5 ABABBCBCC bricke^A · laid^B · thick^A · displaid^B · dismaid^B · towres^C · laid^B · bowres^C · howres^C
6 ABABBCBCC behould^A · wit^B · mould^A · sit^B · flit^B · hie^C · it^B · spie^C · cunningly^C
7 ABABBCBCC right^A · wide^B · hight^A · denide^B · side^B · dight^C · abide^B · sight^C · bright^C
8 ABABBCBCC round^A · vew^B · confound^A · knew^B · shew^B · pride^C · crew^B · side^C · beautifide^C
9 ABABBCBCC spred^A · day^B · embellished^A · array^B · ray^B · stone^C · assay^B · throne^C · shone^C
10 ABABBCBCC childe^A · wayne^B · wilde^A · rayne^B · vaine^B · eyen^C · plaine^B · skyen^C · shyne^C
11 ABABBCBCC state^A · disdayne^B · hate^A · layne^B · trayne^B · bright^C · fayne^B · delight^C · wight^C
12 ABABBCBCC was^A · hell^B · pas^A · swell^B · dwell^B · syre^C · excell^B · aspyre^C · desyre^C
13 ABABBCBCC call^A · be^B · all^A · soveraintie^B · tyrannie^B · hold^C · pollicie^B · old^C · uphold^C
14 ABABBCBCC came^A · faire^B · name^A · prepaire^B · staire^B · knee^C · declare^B · see^C · majestee^C
15 ABABBCBCC low^A · wise^B · show^A · arise^B · devise^B · sight^C · guise^B · dight^C · spight^C
16 ABABBCBCC entertaine^A · crew^B · paine^A · shew^B · knew^B · crowd^C · vew^B · prowd^C · allowd^C
17 ABABBCBCC place^A · call^B · pace^A · pall^B · call^B · blaze^C · hall^B · gaze^C · amaze^C
18 ABABBCBCC clyme^A · gay^B · prime^A · array^B · say^B · ride^C · way^B · pride^C · wide^C
19 ABABBCBCC beasts^A · ryde^B · beheasts^A · applyde^B · guyde^B · sin^C · ryde^B · thin^C · begin^C
20 ABABBCBCC bare^A · red^B · care^A · ded^B · hed^B · day^C · led^B · way^C · astray^C
21 ABABBCBCC esloyne^A · exercise^B · essoyne^A · otherwise^B · riotise^B · malady^C · guise^B · continually^C · company^C
22 ABABBCBCC gluttony^A · swyne^B · luxury^A · eyne^B · fyne^B · feast^C · pyne^B · beast^C · deteast^C
23 ABABBCBCC clad^A · heat^B · had^A · sweat^B · eat^B · can^C · seat^B · can^C · man^C
24 ABABBCBCC thing^A · go^B · king^A · so^B · fo^B · blew^C · flow^B · grew^C · crew^C
25 ABABBCBCC lechery^A · haire^B · gelosy^A · beare^B · appeare^B · eye^C · deare^B · by^C · fantasy^C
26 ABABBCBCC faire^A · filthinesse^B · bare^A · fanglenesse^B · ficklenesse^B · lookes^C · ruefulnesse^B · bookes^C · hookes^C
27 ABABBCBCC saw^A · love^B · law^A · prove^B · move^B · paine^C · reprove^B · braine^C · traine^C
28 ABABBCBCC ride^A · gold^B · side^A · hold^B · told^B · made^C · sold^B · trade^C · waide^C
29 ABABBCBCC yplast^A · ware^B · tast^A · spare^B · compare^B · none^C · care^B · owne^C · unknowne^C
30 ABABBCBCC suffise^A · store^B · covetise^A · pore^B · more^B · hand^C · sore^B · stand^C · band^C
31 ABABBCBCC rode^A · chaw^B · tode^A · chaw^B · maw^B · sad^C · saw^B · had^C · glad^C
32 ABABBCBCC say^A · eyes^B · lay^A · uptyes^B · implyes^B · see^C · covetyse^B · felicitie^C · companie^C
33 ABABBCBCC deeds^A · use^B · feeds^A · accuse^B · abuse^B · witt^C · spues^B · writt^C · sitt^C
34 ABABBCBCC wrath^A · led^B · hath^A · hed^B · red^B · beheld^C · ded^B · held^C · sweld^C
35 ABABBCBCC blood^A · yrent^B · wood^A · governement^B · avengement^B · overpast^C · repent^B · forecast^C · hast^C
36 ABABBCBCC wrath^A · strife^B · scath^A · knife^B · life^B · ire^C · rife^B · fire^C · tire^C
37 ABABBCBCC beame^A · hand^B · teme^A · stand^B · band^B · way^C · land^B · lay^C · astray^C
38 ABABBCBCC sort^A · aire^B · sport^A · faire^B · chaire^B · traine^C · repaire^B · vaine^C · swaine^C
39 ABABBCBCC space^A · yfed^B · place^A · ycled^B · red^B · find^C · hed^B · unkind^C · mind^C
40 ABABBCBCC sansfoy^A · page^B · destroy^A · rage^B · gage^B · away^C · wage^B · fray^C · pray^C
41 ABABBCBCC greedily^A · darrayne^B · hy^A · traine^B · paine^B · might^C · refraine^B · right^C · fight^C
42 ABABBCBCC bold^A · wight^B · hold^A · knight^B · despight^B · slayn^C · fight^B · refrayn^C · disdayn^C
43 ABABBCBCC guile^A · loe^B · vile^A · foe^B · woe^B · requight^C · showe^B · knight^C · right^C
44 ABABBCBCC pledge^A · try^B · edge^A · enimy^B · jollity^B · hall^C · gluttonie^B · all^C · call^C
45 ABABBCBCC displayed^A · skye^B · layd^A · eye^B · victory^B · mace^C · company^B · place^C · pace^C
46 ABABBCBCC fit^A · annoy^B · fit^A · sansfoy^B · joy^B · eye^C · destroy^B · chevalrye^C · flye^C
47 ABABBCBCC greet^A · hart^B · sweet^A · smart^B · dart^B · howre^C · hart^B · powre^C · stowre^C
48 ABABBCBCC past^A · care^B · cast^A · ware^B · snare^B · grave^C · bare^B · cave^C · gave^C
49 ABABBCBCC clowd^A · light^B · shrowd^A · spight^B · right^B · love^C · spright^B · above^C · move^C
50 ABABBCBCC dismaid^A · gone^B · affraid^A · none^B · mone^B · past^C · grone^B · last^C · hast^C
51 ABABBCBCC shee^A · field^B · bee^A · yield^B · shield^B · perce^C · wield^B · ferce^C · reherce^C
52 ABABBCBCC guile^A · you^B · while^A · subdew^B · endew^B · said^C · renew^B · aid^C · obaid^C

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa	8	·/˘·····
guides the faithfull knight,	5	··/˘·
Where brother's death to wreak Sansjoy	8	·/˘·····
doth chalenge him to fight.	6	······
Young knight whatever that dost armes professe,	10	···/˘·····
And through long labours huntest after fame,	10	···/˘/˘···
Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,	10	˘/··˘/····
In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame,	10	········˘·
Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame,	10	·······/˘·
And rash misweening doe thy hart remove:	10	········˘/
For unto knight there is no greater shame,	10	·······/˘·
Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love;	10	··········
That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly prove.	12	······˘/˘/˘·
Who after that he had faire Una lorne,	10	·······/˘·
Through light misdeeming of her loialtie,	9	·········
And false Duessa in her sted had borne,	9	·········
Called Fidess', and so supposd to bee;	10	·˘········
Long with her traveild, till at last they see	10	··········
A goodly building, bravely garnished,	10	·/˘/˘/˘/˘˘
The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee:	10	··········
And towards it a broad high way that led,	10	··········
All bare through peoples feet, which thither traveiled.	11	···/˘··/˘··
Great troupes of people traveild thitherward	10	···/˘··/˘˘
Both day and night, of each degree and place,	10	······˘/··
But few returned, having scaped hard,	10	··˘/˘/˘·˘·
With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace;	11	·/˘····/˘˘/
Which ever after in most wretched case,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace:	9	/˘·······
For she is wearie of the toilesome way,	11	···········
And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.	11	·/˘·˘/··/˘·
A stately Pallace built of squared bricke,	10	·/˘·····˘·
Which cunningly was without morter laid,	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
Whose wals were high, but nothing strong, nor thick,	10	·····/˘···
And golden foile all over them displaid,	10	·/˘·······
That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:	10	·/˘·······
High lifted up were many loftie towres,	11	·/˘··/˘··/˘
And goodly galleries farre over laid,	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Full of faire windowes and delightful bowres;	11	···/˘·˘/˘/˘
And on the top a Diall told the timely howres.	12	·····/˘··/˘/
It was a goodly heape for to behould,	10	···/˘·····
And spake the praises of the workmans wit;	10	···/˘··/˘·
But full great pittie, that so faire a mould	10	··········
Did on so weake foundation ever sit:	10	····˘/˘/˘·
For on a sandie hill, that still did flit	10	···/˘·····
And fall away, it mounted was full hie,	10	··˘/·/˘···
That every breath of heaven shaked it:	10	·/˘˘··/˘··
And all the hinder parts, that few could spie,	10	···/˘·····
Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.	11	·/˘···/˘/˘˘
Arrived there, they passed in forth right;	10	˘/˘···˘···
For still to all the gates stood open wide:	10	·······/˘·
Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight	10	·······/˘·
Cald Malvenu, who entrance none denide:	10	·····/˘···
Thence to the hall, which was on every side	10	·······/˘·
With rich array and costly arras dight:	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Infinite sorts of people did abide	10	/˘˘··/˘·˘/
There waiting long, to win the wished sight	10	·/˘·····˘·
Of her that was the Lady of that Pallace bright.	12	·····/˘·····
By them they passe, all gazing on them round,	11	····/·/˘···
And to the Presence mount; whose glorious vew	10	···/˘··/˘·
Their frayle amazed senses did confound:	10	···˘//˘·˘/
In living Princes court none ever knew	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Such endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous pride	10	·/˘····/˘·
Like ever saw. And there a noble crew	10	·/˘····/˘·
Of Lordes and Ladies stood on every side,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Which with their presence faire the place much beautifide.	12	···/˘·······
High above all a cloth of State was spred,	10	··········
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day,	10	·······/˘·
On which there sate most brave embellished	10	······˘/˘˘
With royall robes and gorgeous array,	9	·/˘··/˘˘/
A mayden Queene, that shone as Titans ray,	10	·/˘····/˘·
In glistring gold, and peerelesse pretious stone:	11	···········
Yet her bright blazing beautie did assay	10	···/˘···/˘
To dim the brightnesse of her glorious throne,	10	·······/˘·
As envying her selfe, that too exceeding shone.	11	·/˘····˘/˘·
Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fairest childe,	10	˘/˘··/˘/˘·
That did presume his fathers firie wayne,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And flaming mouthes of steedes unwonted wilde	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rayne;	10	·/˘/·/˘···
Proud of such glory and advancement vaine,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen,	11	·/˘····/˘/˘
He leaves the welkin way most beaten plaine,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen,	10	···/˘·˘/··
With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne.	13	·/···········
So proud she shyned in her Princely state,	10	····˘··/˘·
Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdayne:	10	/˘·/······
And sitting high; for lowly she did hate:	10	·/˘··/˘···
Lo underneath her scornefull feete was layne	11	··˘/·······
A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright,	10	··········
Wherein her face she often vewed fayne,	10	·····/˘·˘·
And in her selfe-lov'd semblance tooke delight;	10	·····/˘·˘/
For she was wondrous faire, as any living wight.	12	···/˘··/˘/˘·
Of griesly Pluto she the daughter was,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And sad Proserpina the Queene of hell;	10	··˘/˘˘····
Yet did she thinke her pearlesse worth to pas	10	··········
That parentage, with pride so did she swell;	10	·/˘˘······
And thundring Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell,	10	·/˘····/··
And wield the world, she claymed for her syre,	10	······˘···
Or if that any else did Jove excell:	10	···/˘···˘/
For to the highest she did still aspyre,	10	···/˘·····
Or if ought higher were then that, did it desyre.	11	···/·······
And proud Lucifera men did her call,	10	··········
That made her selfe a Queene, and crownd to be,	10	··········
Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all,	10	·/˘·······
Ne heritage of native soveraintie,	10	·/˘·/˘····
But did usurpe with wrong and tyrannie	10	··········
Upon the scepter, which she now did hold:	10	··········
Ne ruld her Realmes with lawes, but pollicie,	10	··········
And strong advizement of six wisards old,	11	···········
That with their counsels bad her kingdome did uphold.	12	···/˘·····˘/
Soone as the Elfin knight in presence came,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And false Duessa seeming Lady faire,	9	····/˘/˘·
A gentle Husher, Vanitie by name	10	·/˘/˘·····
Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire:	10	···/˘·····
So goodly brought them to the lowest staire	10	·/˘····/˘·
Of her high throne, where they on humble knee	10	·······/˘·
Making obeyssance, did the cause declare,	10	/˘······˘/
Why they were come, her royall state to see,	10	·····/˘···
To prove the wide report of her great Majestee.	12	····˘/······
With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low,	10	··········
She thanked them in her disdainefull wise;	10	··········
Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show	10	·/˘···˘···
Of Princesse worthy, scarse them bad arise.	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Her Lordes and Ladies all this while devise	10	···/˘···˘/
Themselves to setten forth to straungers sight:	10	˘/········
Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise,	10	····˘··/˘·
Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dight	10	·····/˘/˘·
Their gay attire: each others greater pride does spight.	12	··˘/·/˘/˘···
Goodly they all that knight do entertaine,	10	/˘········
Right glad with him to have increast their crew:	10	··········
But to Duess' each one himselfe did paine	9	·········
All kindnesse and faire courtesie to shew;	10	··········
For in that court whylome her well they knew:	10	··········
Yet the stout Faerie mongst the middest crowd	10	·······/˘·
Thought all their glorie vaine in knightly vew,	10	·······/˘·
And that great Princesse too exceeding prowd,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
That to strange knight no better countenance allowd.	11	·····/˘/˘··
Suddein upriseth from her stately place	10	··/˘˘··/˘·
The royall Dame, and for her coche did call:	10	·/˘·······
All hurtlen forth, and she with Princely pace,	10	·······/˘·
As faire Aurora in her purple pall,	10	·······/˘·
Out of the east the dawning day doth call:	10	·····/˘···
So forth she comes: her brightnesse brode doth blaze;	10	··········
The heapes of people thronging in the hall,	10	···/˘/˘···
Do ride each other, upon her to gaze:	10	···/˘·····
Her glorious glitterand light doth all mens eyes amaze.	13	·/˘/˘˘·····˘/
So forth she comes, and to her coche does clyme,	10	··········
Adorned all with gold, and girlonds gay,	10	˘/˘·······
That seemd as fresh as Flora in her prime,	10	·····/˘···
And strove to match, in royall rich array,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Great Junoes golden chaire, the which they say	10	·/˘/˘·····
The Gods stand gazing on, when she does ride	10	···/˘·····
To Joves high house through heavens bras-paved way	10	·····/˘···
Drawne of faire Pecocks, that excell in pride,	10	······˘/··
And full of Argus eyes their tailes dispredden wide.	12	···/˘·······
But this was drawne of six unequall beasts,	10	······˘/˘·
On which her six sage Counsellours did ryde,	10	·····/˘˘··
Taught to obay their bestiall beheasts,	9	·····/˘··
With like conditions to their kinds applyde:	10	··˘/˘·····
Of which the first, that all the rest did guyde,	10	··········
Was sluggish Idlenesse the nourse of sin;	10	·/˘·······
Upon a slouthful Asse he chose to ryde,	10	··········
Arayd in habit blacke, and amis thin,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Like to an holy Monck, the service to begin.	12	···/˘··/˘·˘/
And in his hand his Portesse still he bare,	10	·····/˘···
That much was worne, but therein little red,	10	·······/˘·
For of devotion he had little care,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Still drownd in sleepe, and most of his dayes ded;	10	··········
Scarse could he once uphold his heavie hed,	10	····˘/····
To looken, whether it were night or day:	10	··········
May seeme the wayne was very evill led,	10	·····/˘/˘·
When such an one had guiding of the way,	10	·····/˘···
That knew not, whether right he went, or else astray.	12	··········˘/
From worldly cares himselfe he did esloyne,	10	·/˘·······
And greatly shunned manly exercise,	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
From every worke he chalenged essoyne,	10	·/˘˘······
For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
His life he led in lawlesse riotise;	10	·······/˘˘
By which he grew to grievous malady;	10	·····/˘/˘˘
For in his lustlesse limbs through evill guise	10	·······/˘·
A shaking fever raignd continually:	11	·/˘/˘·˘/˘˘˘
Such one was Idlenesse, first of this company.	11	·········/˘
And by his side rode loathsome Gluttony,	10	·····/˘/˘˘
Deformed creature, on a filthie swyne;	10	˘/˘/˘·····
His belly was up-blowne with luxury,	10	·/˘····/˘˘
And eke with fatnesse swollen were his eyne,	10	·····/˘···
And like a Crane his necke was long and fyne,	10	··········
With which he swallowed up excessive feast,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
For want whereof poore people oft did pyne;	10	·····/˘···
And all the way, most like a brutish beast,	10	·······/˘·
He spued up his gorge, that all did him deteast.	11	···········
In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad;	10	·······/˘·
For other clothes he could not weare for heat,	10	·/˘·······
And on his head an yvie girland had,	10	··········
From under which fast trickled downe the sweat:	10	·····/˘···
Still as he rode, he somewhat still did eat,	10	·····//···
And in his hand did beare a bouzing can,	10	··········
Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat	10	··········
His dronken corse he scarse upholden can,	10	··········
In shape and life more like a monster, then a man.	12	·······/˘···
Unfit he was for any worldly thing,	10	˘/···/˘/˘·
And eke unhable once to stirre or go,	10	··········
Not meet to be of counsell to a king,	10	·····/˘···
Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned so,	10	········˘·
That from his friend he seldome knew his fo:	10	··········
Full of diseases was his carcas blew,	10	··˘/˘·····
And a dry dropsie through his flesh did flow:	10	··········
Which by misdiet daily greater grew:	10	··˘/˘/˘/˘·
Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.	11	···/˘·/˘···
And next to him rode lustfull Lechery,	10	·····/˘/˘˘
Upon a bearded Goat, whose rugged haire,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And whally eyes (the signe of gelosy),	10	·/˘·······
Was like the person selfe, whom he did beare:	10	···/˘·····
Who rough, and blacke, and filthy did appeare,	10	·····/˘···
Unseemely man to please faire Ladies eye;	11	········/˘·
Yet he of Ladies oft was loved deare,	10	···/˘···˘·
When fairer faces were bid standen by:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
O who does know the bent of womens fantasy?	11	·······/˘/˘
In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire,	10	······˘···
Which underneath did hide his filthinesse,	10	··˘/······
And in his hand a burning hart he bare,	10	·····/˘···
Full of vaine follies, and new fanglenesse,	10	···/˘·····
For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse;	10	··········
And learned had to love with secret lookes;	10	··˘····/˘·
And well could daunce, and sing with ruefulnesse,	10	··········
And fortunes tell, and read in loving bookes,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And thousand other wayes, to bait his fleshly hookes.	12	·/˘/˘····/˘·
Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,	10	˘/˘···˘···
And lusted after all that he did love;	10	·/˘·······
Ne would his looser life be tide to law,	10	···/˘·····
But joyd weak wemens hearts to tempt and prove,	10	··········
If from their loyall loves he might them move;	10	···/˘·····
Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull paine	10	··········
Of that fowle evill, which all men reprove,	11	··/˘/˘···˘/
That rots the marrow and consumes the braine:	10	···/˘·˘/··
Such one was Lecherie, the third of all this traine.	12	············
And greedy Avarice by him did ride,	10	·/˘/˘˘····
Upon a Camell loaden all with gold;	10	···/˘·····
Two iron coffers hong on either side,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
With precious mettall full as they might hold;	10	·/˘·······
And in his lap an heape of coine he told;	10	··········
For of his wicked pelfe his God he made,	10	···/˘·····
And unto hell him selfe for money sold;	10	·······/˘·
Accursed usurie was all his trade,	10	··˘·······
And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.	12	·······/˘···
His life was nigh unto deaths doore yplast,	10	··········
And thred-bare cote, and cobled shoes he ware,	10	·····/˘···
Ne scarse good morsell all his life did tast,	10	···/˘·····
But both from backe and belly still did spare,	10	·····/˘···
To fill his bags, and richesse to compare;	10	·····/˘·˘/
Yet chylde ne kinsman living had he none	10	···/·/˘···
To leave them to; but thorough daily care	10	·····/˘/˘·
To get, and nightly feare to lose his owne,	10	···/˘·····
He led a wretched life unto him selfe unknowne.	12	···/˘·······
Most wretched wight, whom nothing might suffise,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Whose greedy lust did lacke in greatest store,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Whose need had end, but no end covetise,	10	·······/˘˘
Whose wealth was want, whose plenty made him pore,	10	·····/˘···
Who had enough, yet wished ever more;	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
A vile disease, and eke in foote and hand	10	··˘/······
A grievous gout tormented him full sore,	10	·/˘·/·˘···
That well he could not touch, nor go, nor stand;	10	··········
Such one was Avarice, the fourth of this faire band.	11	···/˘······
And next to him malicious Envie rode,	10	····˘/˘˘/·
Upon a ravenous wolfe, and still did chaw	10	···/˘·····
Betweene his cankred teeth a venemous tode,	11	···/˘··/˘˘·
That all the poison ran about his chaw;	10	···/˘·····
But inwardly he chawed his owne maw	10	·/˘˘··˘···
At neighbours wealth, that made him ever sad;	10	·/˘····/˘·
For death it was when any good he saw,	10	·····/˘···
And wept, that cause of weeping none he had,	10	·····/˘···
But when he heard of harme, he wexed wondrous glad.	11	········/˘·
All in a kirtle of discolourd say	10	···/˘·····
He clothed was, ypainted full of eyes;	10	··˘·······
And in his bosome secretly there lay	10	·····/˘˘··
An hatefull Snake, the which his taile uptyes	10	·/˘·······
In many folds, and mortall sting implyes.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Still as he rode, he gnasht his teeth, to see	10	··········
Those heapes of gold with griple Covetyse;	10	··········
And grudged at the great felicitie	10	··˘·······
Of proud Lucifera, and his owne companie.	12	············
He hated all good workes and vertuous deeds,	11	·/˘····/˘˘·
And him no lesse, that any like did use,	10	·····/˘···
And who with gracious bread the hungry feeds,	10	···/˘··/˘·
His almes for want of faith he doth accuse;	10	········˘/
So every good to bad he doth abuse:	10	·/˘·····˘/
And eke the verse of famous Poets witt	10	·····/˘/˘·
He does backebite, and spightfull poison spues	11	········/˘·
From leprous mouth on all that ever writt:	10	·/˘····/˘·
Such one vile Envie was, that fifte in row did sitt.	12	···˘/·······
And him beside rides fierce revenging Wrath,	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Upon a Lion, loth for to be led;	10	···/˘·····
And in his hand a burning brond he hath,	10	·····/˘···
The which he brandisheth about his hed;	10	···/˘˘····
His eyes did hurle forth sparkles fiery red,	11	······/˘/˘·
And stared sterne on all that him beheld,	10	··˘·····˘/
As ashes pale of hew and seeming ded;	10	·/˘····/˘·
And on his dagger still his hand he held,	10	···/˘·····
Trembling through hasty rage, when choler in him sweld.	12	/˘·/˘··/˘···
His ruffin raiment all was staind with blood,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Which he had spilt, and all to rags yrent,	10	··········
Through unadvized rashnesse woxen wood;	10	····˘··/˘·
For of his hands he had no governement,	11	···········
Ne car'd for bloud in his avengement:	9	······˘/˘
But when the furious fit was overpast,	10	···/˘·····
His cruell facts he often would repent;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Yet wilfull man he never would forecast,	10	·····/˘·/·
How many mischieves should ensue his heedlesse hast.	11	·/···˘/····
Full many mischiefes follow cruell Wrath;	10	·/˘/˘/˘/˘·
Abhorred bloodshed and tumultuous strife,	10	˘//···/˘˘·
Unmanly murder, and unthrifty scath,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Bitter despight, with rancours rusty knife,	10	/˘···/˘/˘·
And fretting griefe the enemy of life;	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
All these, and many evils moe haunt ire,	10	···/˘/˘···
The swelling Splene, and Frenzy raging rife,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire:	11	·/˘······/˘
Such one was Wrath, the last of this ungodly tire.	12	········˘/˘/
And after all, upon the wagon beame	10	·······/˘·
Rode Sathan, with a smarting whip in hand,	10	·····/˘···
With which he forward lasht the laesie teme,	10	···/˘·····
So oft as Slowth still in the mire did stand.	10	··········
Hugh routs of people did about them band,	10	···/˘·····
Showting for joy, and still before their way	10	··········
A foggy mist had covered all the land;	10	·/˘··/˘···
And underneath their feet, all scattered lay	10	··˘/···/˘·
Dead sculs and bones of men, whose life had gone astray.	12	··········˘/
So forth they marchen in this goodly sort,	10	·······/˘·
To take the solace of the open aire,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And in fresh flowring fields themselves to sport;	10	···/˘·˘/··
Emongst the rest rode that false Lady faire,	10	·······/˘·
The foule Duessa, next unto the chaire	10	·/˘·······
Of proud Lucifera, as one of the traine:	11	···········
But that good knight would not so nigh repaire,	10	··········
Him selfe estraunging from their joyaunce vaine,	9	·········
Whose fellowship seemd far unfit for warlike swaine.	12	·/˘···˘/·/··
So having solaced themselves a space	10	·/˘/˘˘˘/··
With pleasaunce of the breathing fields yfed,	9	·····/˘··
They backe retourned to the Princely Place;	10	····˘··/˘·
Whereas an errant knight in armes ycled,	10	˘/·/˘····˘
And heathnish shield, wherein with letters red	10	·······/˘·
Was writ Sans joy, they new arrived find:	10	······˘/˘·
Enflam'd with fury and fiers hardy-hed	10	···/˘··/˘·
He seemd in hart to harbour thoughts unkind,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And nourish bloudy vengeaunce in his bitter mind.	12	·/˘······/˘·
Who when the shamed shield of slaine Sansfoy	10	····˘·····
He spide with that same Faery champions page,	10	·······/˘·
Bewraying him, that did of late destroy	9	·······˘/
His eldest brother, burning all with rage	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
He to him leapt, and that same envious gage	10	·······/˘·
Of victors glory from him snatcht away:	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
But th' Elfin knight, which ought that warlike wage	10	·/˘····/··
Disdaind to loose the meed he wonne in fray,	10	··········
And him rencountring fierce, reskewd the noble pray.	12	·········/˘·
Therewith they gan to hurtlen greedily,	10	˘/·····/˘˘
Redoubted battaile ready to darrayne,	11	˘/˘···/˘···
And clash their shields, and shake their swords on hy,	10	··········
That with their sturre they troubled all the traine;	10	·····/˘···
Till that great Queene upon eternall paine	10	······˘/˘·
Of high displeasure that ensewen might,	10	··˘/˘·····
Commaunded them their fury to refraine,	10	·····/˘···
And if that either to that shield had right,	10	···/˘·····
In equall lists they should the morrow next it fight.	12	·/˘····/˘···
Ah dearest Dame, (quoth then the Paynim bold,)	10	·/˘····/˘·
Pardon the error of enraged wight,	10	/˘·/˘·˘/˘·
Whom great griefe made forget the raines to hold	10	····˘/····
Of reasons rule, to see this recreant knight,	11	·/˘····/˘˘·
No knight, but treachour full of false despight	10	··········
And shamefull treason, who through guile hath slayn	10	·/˘/˘·····
The prowest knight that ever field did fight,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Even stout Sansfoy (O who can then refrayn?)	10	/·········
Whose shield he beares renverst, the more to heape disdayn.	12	············
And to augment the glorie of his guile,	10	··˘/······
His dearest love, the faire Fidessa, loe	10	·/˘·······
Is there possessed of the traytour vile,	10	··˘/˘·····
Who reapes the harvest sowen by his foe,	10	···/˘·····
Sowen in bloudy field, and bought with woe:	10	··········
That brothers hand shall dearely well requight,	11	·/˘········
So be, O Queene, you equall favour showe.	10	·····/˘/˘·
Him litle answerd th' angry Elfin knight;	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
He never meant with words, but swords to plead his right.	11	·/·········
But threw his gauntlet as a sacred pledge,	10	···/˘··/˘·
His cause in combat the next day to try:	10	···/˘·····
So been they parted both, with harts on edge	10	···/˘·····
To be aveng'd each on his enimy.	10	··˘/······
That night they pas in joy and jollity,	10	·······/˘˘
Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall;	10	/˘·/˘··/··
For Steward was excessive Gluttonie,	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
That of his plenty poured forth to all;	10	···/˘·˘···
Which doen, the Chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call.	11	···/˘······
Now whenas darkesome night had all displayed	11	·/˘······˘/
Her coleblacke curtein over brightest skye,	10	····˘/·/˘·
The warlike youthes on dayntie couches layd,	10	·/·····/˘·
Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye,	10	··˘/···/˘·
To muse on meanes of hoped victory.	10	······˘/˘˘
But whenas Morpheus had with leaden mace	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Arrested all that courtly company,	10	˘/˘··/˘/˘˘
Up-rose Duessa from her resting place,	9	······/˘·
And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace.	12	·····/˘··/˘·

The first 400 of 463 lines; the reader marks them all.

On this poem

I. The Plot: In this and the following canto the adventures of the Redcross Knight are continued from Canto II. Guided by Duessa, he enters the House of Pride. There he sees Lucifera, the Queen of Pride, attended by her sinful court. Her six Counselors are described in detail, with an account of a pleasure trip taken by the Queen and her court. Sansjoy unexpectedly arrives and challenges the Knight to mortal combat for the shield of Sansfoy. That night Duessa holds a secret conference with the Saracen knight. II. The Allegory: 1. The Christian Soldier, under the influence of false ideals (Duessa), is exposed to the temptations of the Seven Deadly Sins, chief among which is Pride. In the midst of these sinful pleasures, he is assailed by Joylessness, on whose side is Falsehood secretly.

Notes from the edition 27

Notes by Kate M. Warren to The Faerie Queene, Book I (1897; Project Gutenberg #15272).

Stanza 1, line 1 What are the moral reflections in stanza i? 2. What suggestion of the condition of the English roads do you find in st. ii? 3. But few returned, l. 21. What became of the rest? 4. Give a description of the House of Pride. Note resemblance to a typical Elizabethan hall. 5. Explain the allegory of the House, noting the association of ugliness and beauty.
Stanza 1, line 2 The religious and political allegory is here vague and somewhat discontinuous. There is a hint, however, of the attempts of Mary Queen of Scots to bring England back to Romanism. The pride and corruption of the false church and its clergy are set forth. There is also a suggestion of the perilous position of the English in Ireland.
Stanza 2, line 2 How is expectation aroused in vi? 7. Describe the dramatic appearance and character of Pride. Cf. description of Satan on his throne in Paradise Lost, iii. 8. What do you learn in this canto of Elizabethan or chivalric manners and customs? 9. Describe the procession at the court of Pride. 10. What satire of the Romish priesthood in xviii-xx? 11. Note examples of Spenser's humor in xiv and xvi. 12. Point out the classical influence (Dionysus and Silenus) in the description of Gluttony. 13. Subject of the interview between Duessa and Sansjoy. 14. Point out the archaisms in l. 10; alliteration in xxxix and l; the Latinisms in xlvi and xlvii. 15. In what case is way in l. 17? 16. Explain the meaning and historical significance of lazar, l. 24, and diall, l. 36. 17. Explain the references of the pronouns in l. 55, and ll. 418-419. 18. Note the Euphuistic balance and antithesis in xxix and xlv. 19. Explain the suffix in marchen in l. 325.
Stanza 3, line 7 Note the double negative in iv, xlix. 21. Paraphrase in your own words ll. 239, 243, 360, 437.
Stanza 4, line 2 OF EACH DEGREE AND PLACE, of every rank and order of society.
Stanza 4, line 3 HAVING SCAPED HARD, having escaped with difficulty.
Stanza 4, line 6 LAZARS. Leprosy was a common disease in England even as late as the sixteenth century.
Stanza 7, line 4 MALVENU, ill-come, as opposed to Bienvenu, welcome.
Stanza 10, line 1 LIKE PHOEBUS FAIREST CHILDE, Phaethon, the son of Helios. He was killed by a thunderbolt from the hand of Zeus, as a result of his reckless driving of the chariot of the sun.
Stanza 11, line 5 A DREADFULL DRAGON, Fallen Pride.
Stanza 11, line 9 This genealogy of Pride is invented by the poet in accord with the Christian doctrine concerning this sin.
Stanza 13, line 4 SIX WIZARDS OLD, the remaining six of the Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath, Envy, Lechery, Gluttony, Avarice, and Idleness. See Chaucer's Parson's Tale for a sermon on these mortal sins, Gower's Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins, and Laugland's Piers Plowman.
Stanza 18, line 1 COCHE. Spenser imitates Ovid and Homer in this description of Juno's chariot. The peacock was sacred to the goddess, who transferred to its tail the hundred eyes of the monster Argus. See Ovid's Metamorphoses, i, 625 seq.
Stanza 19, line 4 WITH LIKE CONDITIONS, etc. The behests were of a kind similar to the nature of the six Sins.
Stanza 21, line 3 HE CHALENGED ESSOYNE, he claimed exemption.
Stanza 22, line 5 LIKE A CRANE. This refers to Aristotle's story of a man who wished that his neck were as long as a crane's, that he might the longer enjoy the swallowing of his food. Nic. Ethics, iii, 13.
Stanza 24, line 7 A DRY DROPSIE, a dropsy causing thirst.
Stanza 28, line 2 UPON A CAMELL, etc. The reference is to a story in Herodotus' History (iii, 102 seq.), in which the Indians are described as carrying off on camels gold dust hoarded by enormous ants.
Stanza 29, line 9 UNTO HIM SELFE UNKNOWNE, i.e. being ignorant of his own wretchedness.
Stanza 36, line 3 UNTHRIFTY SCATH, wicked damage, or mischief that thrives not.
Stanza 36, line 7 THE SWELLING SPLENE. The spleen was the seat of anger.
Stanza 36, line 8 SAINT FRAUNCES FIRE, St. Anthony's fire, or erysipelas. Diseases were named from those who were supposed to be able to heal them.
Stanza 39, line 2 WITH PLEASAUNCE, etc. Fed with enjoyment of the fields, the fresh air of which they went to breathe.
Stanza 50, line 5 AND HELPLESSE HAP, etc. It does no good to bemoan unavoidable chance.
Stanza 50, line 8 PAY HIS DEWTIES LAST, pay his last duty to the shade of the slain man by sacrificing his murderer.
Stanza 51, line 2 ODDES OF ARMES, chances of mishap in arms due to some advantage of one's antagonist. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS (Canto IV)
Stanza 51, line 2 ODDES OF ARMES, chances of mishap in arms due to some advantage of one's antagonist. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Edmund Spenser

The Faerie Queene, Book I