Laurel · Edmund Spenser · The Faerie Queene, Book I

Canto IX

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) · 1590

iambic pentameter · ABABBCBCC · 490 lines · from The Faerie Queene, Book I

His loves and lignage Arthur tells:the Knights knit friendly hands:Sir Trevisan flies from Despayre,whom Redcrosse Knight withstands.

O goodly golden chaine, wherewith yfereThe vertues linked are in lovely wize:And noble mindes of yore allyed were,In brave poursuit of chevalrous emprize,That none did others safety despize,Nor aid envy to him, in need that stands,But friendly each did others prayse devize,How to advaunce with favourable hands,As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from bands.

Who when their powres empaird through labour long,With dew repast they had recured well,And that weake captive wight now wexed strong,Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,But forward fare, as their adventures fell,But ere they parted, Una faire besoughtThat straunger knight his name and nation tell;Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,Should die unknown, and buried be in thanklesse thought.

Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me requireA thing without the compas of my wit:For both the lignage and the certain Sire,From which I sprong, from me are hidden yit.For all so soone as life did me admitInto this world, and shewed heavens light,From mothers pap I taken was unfit:And streight deliver'd to a Faery knight,To be upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.

Unto old Timon he me brought bylive,Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beeneIn warlike feates th'expertest man alive,And is the wisest now on earth I weene;His dwelling is low in a valley greene,Under the foot of Rauran mossy hore,From whence the river Dee as silver cleene,His tombling billowes roll with gentle rore:There all my dayes he traind me up in vertuous lore.

Thither the great magicien Merlin came,As was his use, ofttimes to visit me:For he had charge my discipline to frame,And Tutours nouriture to oversee.Him oft and oft I askt in privitie,Of what loines and what lignage I did spring:Whose aunswere bad me still assured bee,That I was sonne and heire unto a king,As time in her just terme the truth to light should bring.

Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent,And pupill fit for such a Tutours hand.But what adventure, or what high intentHath brought you hither into Faery land,Aread Prince Arthur, crowne of Martiall band?Full hard it is (quoth he) to read arightThe course of heavenly cause, or understandThe secret meaning of th' eternall might,That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of living wight.

For whether he through fatall deepe foresightMe hither sent, for cause to me unghest,Or that fresh bleeding wound, which day and nightWhilome doth rancle in my riven brest,With forced fury following his behest,Me hither brought by wayes yet never found;You to have helpt I hold myself yet blest.Ah curteous knight (quoth she) what secret woundCould ever find, to grieve the gentlest hart on ground?

Deare dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake,Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow,Ne ever will their fervent fury slake,Till living moysture into smoke do flow,And wasted life do lye in ashes low.Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire,But told it flames, and hidden it does glow;I will revele what ye so much desire:Ah Love, lay down thy bow, the whiles I may respire.

It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares,When courage first does creepe in manly chest,Then first the coale of kindly heat appearesTo kindle love in every living brest;But me had warnd old Timons wise behest,Those creeping flames by reason to subdew,Before their rage grew to so great unrest,As miserable lovers use to rew,Which still wex old in woe, whiles woe still wexeth new.

That idle name of love, and lovers life,As losse of time, and vertues enimy,I ever scornd, and joyd to stirre up strife,In middest of their mournfull Tragedy,Ay wont to laugh, when them I heard to cry,And blow the fire, which them to ashes brent:Their God himselfe, griev'd at my libertie,Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent,But I them warded all with wary government.

But all in vaine: no fort can be so strong,Ne fleshly brest can armed be so sound,But will at last be wonne with battrie long,Or unawares at disadvantage found:Nothing is sure, that growes on earthly ground:And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might,And boasts in beauties chaine not to be bound,Doth soonest fall in disaventrous fight,And yeeldes his caytive neck to victours most despight.

Ensample make of him your haplesse joy,And of my selfe now mated, as ye see;Whose prouder vaunt that proud avenging boyDid soone pluck downe and curbd my libertie.For on a day, prickt forth with jollitieOf looser life, and heat of hardiment,Raunging the forest wide on courser free,The fields, the floods, the heavens with one consentDid seeme to laugh on me, and favour mine intent.

For-wearied with my sports, I did alightFrom loftie steed, and downe to sleepe me layd;The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight,And pillow was my helmet faire displayd:Whiles every sence the humour sweet embayd,And slombring soft my hart did steale away,Me seemed, by my side a royall MaydHer daintie limbes full softly down did lay:So faire a creature yet saw never sunny day.

Most goodly glee and lovely blandishmentShe to me made, and bad me love her deare;For dearely sure her love was to me bent,As when just time expired should appeare.But whether dreames delude, or true it were,Was never hart so ravisht with delight,Ne living man like words did ever heare,As she to me delivered all that night;And at her parting said, She Queene of Faeries hight.

When I awoke, and found her place devoyd,And nought but pressed gras, where she had lyen,I sorrowed all so much as earst I joyd,And washed all her place with watry eyen.From that day forth I lov'd that face divine;From that day forth I cast in carefull mindTo seeke her out with labour, and long tyne,And never vowd to rest till her I find,Nine monethes I seeke in vain, yet ni'll that vow unbind.

Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale,And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray;Yet still he strove to cloke his inward bale,And hide the smoke that did his fire display,Till gentle Una thus to him gan say;O happy Queene of Faeries, that has foundMongst many, one that with his prowesse mayDefend thine honour, and thy foes confound:True Loves are often sown, but seldom grow on ground.

Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight,Next to that Ladies love, shal be the place,O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light,Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race,Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case.And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life,Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace:For onely worthy you through prowes priefe,Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe.

So diversly discoursing of their loves,The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew,And sad remembraunce now the Prince amovesWith fresh desire his voyage to pursew;Als Una earnd her traveill to renew.Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd,And love establish each to other trew,Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd,And eke the pledges firme, right hands together joynd.

Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure,Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament,Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure,Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent,That any wound could heale incontinent:Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gaveA booke, wherein his Saveours testamentWas writ with golden letters rich and brave;A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to save.

Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his wayTo seeke his love, and th' other for to fightWith Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray.But she now weighing the decayed plight,And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight,Would not a while her forward course pursew,Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight,Till he recovered had his former hew:For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew.

So as they traveild, lo they gan espyAn armed knight towards them gallop fast,That seemed from some feared foe to fly,Or other griesly thing, that him aghast.Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast,As if his feare still followed him behind;Als flew his steed, as he his bands had brast,And with his winged heeles did tread the wind,As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kind.

Nigh as he drew, they might perceive his headTo be unarmd, and curld uncombed hearesUpstaring stiffe, dismayd with uncouth dread;Nor drop of bloud in all his face appearesNor life in limbe: and to increase his fearesIn fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree,About his neck an hempen rope he weares,That with his glistring armes does ill agree;But he of rope or armes has now no memoree.

The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast,To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd:There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast,That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd;Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd,Till he these wordes to him deliver might;Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd,And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight:For never knight I saw in such misseeming plight.

He answerd nought at all, but adding newFeare to his first amazment, staring wideWith stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew,Astonisht stood, as one that had aspideInfernall furies, with their chaines untide.Him yet againe, and yet againe bespakeThe gentle knight; who nought to him replide,But trembling every joint did inly quake,And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake.

For Gods deare love, Sir knight, do me not stay;For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee.Eft looking back would faine have runne away;But he him forst to stay, and tellen freeThe secret cause of his perplexitie:Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speachCould his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee,But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach,Yet forst, at last he made through silence suddein breach.

And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he)From him, that would have forced me to dye?And is the point of death now turnd fro mee,That I may tell this haplesse history?Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye.Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace,(Said he) the which with this unlucky eyeI late beheld, and had not greater graceMe reft from it, had bene partaker of the place.

I lately chaunst (would I had never chaunst)With a faire knight to keepen companee,Sir Terwin hight, that well himselfe advaunstIn all affaires, and was both bold and free,But not so happy as mote happy bee:He lov'd, as was his lot, a Ladie gent,That him againe lov'd in the least degree:For she was proud, and of too high intent,And joyd to see her lover languish and lament.

From whom returning sad and comfortlesse,As on the way together we did fare,We met that villen (God from him me blesse)That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare,A man of hell, that cals himselfe Despaire:Who first us greets, and after faire areedesOf tydings strange, and of adventures rare:So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes,Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes.

Which when he knew, and felt our feeble hartsEmbost with bale, and bitter byting griefe,Which love had launched with his deadly darts,With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe,He pluckt from us all hope of due reliefe,That earst us held in love of lingring life;Then hopelesse hartlesse, gan the cunning thiefePerswade us die, to stint all further strife:To me he lent this rope, to him a rustie knife.

With which sad instrument of hasty death,That wofull lover, loathing lenger light,A wide way made to let forth living breath.But I more fearfull, or more luckie wight,Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight,Fled fast away, halfe dead with dying feare:Ne yet assur'd of life by you, Sir knight,Whose like infirmitie like chaunce may beare:But God you never let his charmed speeches heare.

How may a man (said he) with idle speachBe wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health?I wote (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,That like would not for all this worldes wealth:His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt'hInto the hart, and searcheth every vaine;That ere one be aware, by secret stealthHis powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.O never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.

Certes (said he) hence shall I never rest,Till I that treacherours art have heard and tride;And you Sir knight, whose name mote I request,Of grace do me unto his cabin guide.I that hight Trevisan (quoth he) will ride,Against my liking backe, to do you grace:But not for gold nor glee will I abideBy you, when ye arrive in that same placeFor lever had I die, then see his deadly face.

Ere long they come, where that same wicked wightHis dwelling has, low in an hollow cave,Farre underneath a craggie clift ypight,Darke, dolefull, drearie, like a greedy grave,That still for carrion carcases doth crave:On top whereof aye dwelt the ghastly Owle,Shrieking his balefull note, which ever draveFar from that haunt all other chearefull fowle;And all about it wandring ghostes did waile and howle.

And all about old stockes and stubs of trees,Whereon nor fruit nor leafe was ever seene,Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees;On which had many wretches hanged beene,Whose carcases were scattered on the greene,And throwne about the clifts. Arrived there,That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene,Would faine have fled, ne durst approchen neare,But th' other forst him stay, and comforted in feare.

That darkesome cave they enter, where they findThat cursed man, low sitting on the ground,Musing full sadly in his sullein mind;His griesie lockes, long growen, and unbound,Disordred hong about his shoulders round,And hid his face; through which his hollow eyneLookt deadly dull, and stared as astound;His raw-bone cheekes, through penurie and pine,Were shronke into his jawes, as he did never dine.

His garment nought but many ragged clouts,With thornes together pind and patched was,The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts;And him beside there lay upon the grasA drearie corse, whose life away did pas,All wallowed in his owne yet luke-warme blood,That from his wound yet welled fresh alas;In which a rustie knife fast fixed stood,And made an open passage for the gushing flood.

Which piteous spectacle, approving trewThe wofull tale that Trevisan had told,When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew,With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold,Him to avenge, before his bloud were cold,And to the villein said, Thou damned wight,The author of this fact we here behold,What justice can but judge against thee right,With thine owne bloud to price his bloud, here shed in sight.

What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraughtThee, foolish man, so rash a doome to give?What justice ever other judgement taught,But he should die, who merites not to live?None else to death this man despayring drive,But his owne guiltie mind deserving death.Is then unjust to each his due to give?Or let him die, that loatheth living breath?Or let him die at ease, that liveth here uneath?

Who travels by the wearie wandring way,To come unto his wished home in haste,And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay,Is not great grace to helpe him over past,Or free his feet that in the myre sticke fast?Most envious man, that grieves at neighbours good,And fond, that joyest in the woe thou hast,Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stoodUpon the banke, yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood?

He there does now enjoy eternall restAnd happy ease, which thou dost want and crave,And further from it daily wanderest:What if some little paine the passage have,That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter wave?Is not short paine well borne, that brings long ease,And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet grave?Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas,Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please.

The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit,And said, The terme of life is limited,Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it;The souldier may not move from watchfull sted,Nor leave his stand, untill his Captaine bed.Who life did limit by almightie doome(Quoth he) knowes best the termes established;And he, that points the Centonell his roome,Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome.

Is not his deed, what ever thing is donneIn heaven and earth? did not he all createTo die againe? all ends that was begonne.Their times in his eternall booke of fateAre written sure, and have their certaine date.Who then can strive with strong necessitie,That holds the world in his still chaunging state,Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie?When houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why.

The lenger life, I wote the greater sin,The greater sin, the greater punishment:All those great battels, which thou boasts to win,Through strife, and blood-shed, and avengement,Now praysd, hereafter deare thou shalt repent:For life must life, and blood must blood repay.Is not enough thy evill life forespent?For he that once hath missed the right way,The further he doth goe, the further he doth stray.

Then do no further goe, no further stray,But here lie downe, and to thy rest betake,Th' ill to prevent, that life ensewen may.For what hath life, that may it loved make,And gives not rather cause it to forsake?Feare, sicknesse, age, losse, labour, sorrow, strife,Paine, hunger, cold, that makes the hart to quake;And ever fickle fortune rageth rife,All which, and thousands mo do make a loathsome life.

Thou wretched man, of death hast greatest need,If in true ballance thou wilt weigh thy state:For never knight, that dared warlike deede,More lucklesse disaventures did amate:Witnesse the dungeon deepe, wherein of lateThy life shut up, for death so oft did call;And though good lucke prolonged hath thy date,Yet death then would the like mishaps forestall,Into the which hereafter thou maiest happen fall.

Why then doest thou, O man of sin, desireTo draw thy dayes forth to their last degree?Is not the measure of thy sinfull hireHigh heaped up with huge iniquitie,Against the day of wrath, to burden thee?Is not enough, that to this Ladie mildeThou falsed hast thy faith with perjurie,And sold thy selfe to serve Duessa vilde,With whom in all abuse thou hast thy selfe defilde?

Is not he just, that all this doth beholdFrom highest heaven, and beares an equall eye?Shall he thy sins up in his knowledge fold,And guilty be of thine impietie?Is not his law, Let every sinner die:Die shall all flesh? what then must needs be donne,Is it not better to doe willinglie,Then linger, till the glasse be all out ronne?Death is the end of woes: die soone, O faeries sonne.

The knight was much enmoved with his speach,That as a swords point through his hart did perse,And in his conscience made a secret breach,Well knowing true all that he did reherse,And to his fresh remembraunce did reverseThe ugly vew of his deformed crimes,That all his manly powres it did disperse,As he were charmed with inchaunted rimes,That oftentimes he quakt, and fainted oftentimes.

In which amazement, when the MiscreantPerceived him to waver weake and fraile,Whiles trembling horror did his conscience dant,And hellish anguish did his soule assaile,To drive him to despaire, and quite to quaile,He shew'd him painted in a table plaine,The damned ghosts, that doe in torments waile,And thousand feends that doe them endlesse paineWith fire and brimstone, which for ever shall remaine.

The sight whereof so throughly him dismaid,That nought but death before his eyes he saw,And ever burning wrath before him laid,By righteous sentence of th' Almighties law.Then gan the villein him to overcraw,And brought unto him swords, ropes, poison, fire,And all that might him to perdition draw;And bad him choose, what death he would desire:For death was due to him, that had provokt Gods ire.

But when as none of them he saw him take,He to him raught a dagger sharpe and keene,And gave it him in hand: his hand did quake,And tremble like a leafe of Aspin greene,And troubled bloud through his pale face was seeneTo come, and goe with tidings from the heart,As it a running messenger had beene.At last resolv'd to worke his finall smart,He lifted up his hand, that backe againe did start.

Which whenas Una saw, through every vaineThe crudled cold ran to her well of life,As in a swowne: but soone reliv'd againe,Out of his hand she snatcht the cursed knife,And threw it to the ground, enraged rife,And to him said, Fie, fie, faint harted knight,What meanest thou by this reprochfull strife?Is this the battell, which thou vauntst to fightWith that fire-mouthed Dragon, horrible and bright?

Come, come away, fraile, seely, fleshly wight,Ne let vaine words bewitch thy manly hart,Ne divelish thoughts dismay thy constant spright.In heavenly mercies hast thou not a part?Why shouldst thou then despeire, that chosen art?Where justice growes, there grows eke greater grace,The which doth quench the brond of hellish smart,And that accurst hand-writing doth deface.Arise, Sir knight, arise, and leave this cursed place.

So up he rose, and thence amounted streight.Which when the carle beheld, and saw his guestWould safe depart for all his subtill sleight,He chose an halter from among the rest,And with it hung himselfe, unbid unblest.But death he could not worke himselfe thereby;For thousand times he so himselfe had drest,Yet nathelesse it could not doe him die,Till he should die his last, that is, eternally.

Words in this poem 138

goodly a.: Pleasant; agreeable; desirable. [OE. godlich, AS. g. See Good, and Like.]
wherewith adv.: With which; -- used relatively.
yfere adv.: Together. See Ifere.
yore adv.: In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
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]
lenger a.: Longer; longest; -- obsolete compar. and superl. of long.
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]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
upbrought a.: Brought up; educated.
martiall a.: Of, pertaining to, or suited for, war; military; as, martial music; a martial appearance. [F., fr. L. martialis of or belonging to Mars, the god of war. Cf. March the month.]
youthly a.: Young; youthful. [AS. geoguedhlic.]
vertuous a.: Virtuous; powerful.
merlin n.: A small European falcon (Falco lithofalco, or F. æsalon). [OE. merlion, F. émerillon ; cf. OHG. smirl, G. schmerl ; prob. fr. L. merula blackbird. Cf. Merle.]
ofttimes adv.: Frequently; often. [Oft + time. Cf. -wards.]
oversee v. i.: To see too or too much; hence, to be deceived.
sonne n.: A male child; the male issue, or offspring, of a parent, father or mother. [OE. sone, sune, AS. sunu; akin to D. zoon, OS., OFries., & OHG. sunu, G. sohn, Icel. sonr, Sw. son, Dan. sön, Goth. sunus, Lith. sunus, Russ. suin', Skr. sunu (]
gent a.: Gentle; noble; of gentle birth. [OF. gent, fr. L. genitus born, or (less prob.) fr. gentilis. See Genteel.]
aread v. t.: To tell, declare, explain, or interpret; to divine; to guess; as, to aread a riddle or a dream. [OE. areden, AS. ar to interpret. See Read.]
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.]
aright adv.: Rightly; correctly; in a right way or form; without mistake or crime; as, to worship God aright. [Pref. a- + right.]
eternall a.: Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]
fatall a.: Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary; inevitable. [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.]
behest v. t.: To vow. Paston.
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]
fervent a.: Hot; glowing; boiling; burning; as, a fervent summer. [F. fervent, L. fervens, -entis. p.pr. of fervere o the boiling hot, to boil, glow.]
sithens adv.: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. Piers Plowman.
whiles conj.: During the time that; while. Chaucer. Fuller.
respire v. i.: To take breath again; hence, to take rest or refreshment. [L. respirare, respiratum; pref. re- re- + spirare to breathe: cf. F. respirer. See Spirit.]
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.]
unrest n.: Want of rest or repose; unquietness; sleeplessness; uneasiness; disquietude.
losse n.: Praise. See Loos.
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.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
middest a.: Situated most nearly in the middle; middlemost; midmost. [See Midst.]
mournfull a.: Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person; mournful looks, tones, loss.
brent n.: A brant. See Brant. [Cf. Brant.]
wonne v. i.: To dwell or abide. [See 1st Wone.]
ensample n.: An example; a pattern or model for imitation. Tyndale. [OF. ensample, essample, F. exemple. See Example.]
hardiment n.: Hardihood; boldness; courage; energetic action. [OF. hardement. See Hardy.]
courser n.: One who courses or hunts. [F. coursier.]
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
steed n.: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
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]
humour n.: Moisture, especially, the moisture or fluid of animal bodies, as the chyle, lymph, etc.; as, the humors of the eye, etc. [OE. humour, OF. humor, umor, F. humeur, L. humor, umor, moisture, fluid, fr. humere, umere, to be moist. See Humid.]
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.]
sunny a.: Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
glee n.: Music; minstrelsy; entertainment.
blandishment n.: The act of blandishing; a word or act expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart; soft words and artful caresses; cajolery; allurement. [Cf. OF. blandissement.]
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]
sorrowed a.: Accompanied with sorrow; sorrowful.
eyen n.: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry.
carefull a.: Full of care; anxious; solicitous [AS. cearful.]
visage n.: The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. [F. visage, from L. visus a seeing, a look, fr. videre, visum, to see. See Vision.]
bewray v. t.: To expose; to reveal; to disclose; to betray. [OE. bewraien, biwreyen; pref. be- + AS. wr to accuse, betray; akin to OS. wr, OHG. ruog, G. rügen, Icel. rægja, Goth. wr to accuse.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
mote n.: A meeting of persons for discussion; as, a wardmote in the city of London. [See Moot, a meeting.]
shew n.: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
gratefull a.: Having a due sense of benefits received; kindly disposed toward one from whom a favor has been received; willing to acknowledge and repay, or give thanks for, benefits; as, a grateful heart. [Grate, a. + full; cf. F. gré thanks, good will, fr. L. gratum, neut. of gratus agreeable, grateful. See Grate, a.]
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.]
plight v. t.: To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.]
dreadfull a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
hempen a.: Made of hemp; as, a hempen cord.
weet v. i.: To know; to wit. Tyndale. [See Wit to know.]
mister n.: A trade, art, or occupation. [OF. mistier trade, office, ministry, need, F. métier trade, fr. L. ministerium service, office, ministry. See Ministry, Mystery trade.]
infernall a.: Of or pertaining to or suitable for the lower regions, inhabited, according to the ancients, by the dead; pertaining to Pluto's realm of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients. [F. infernal, L. infernalis, fr. infernus that which lies beneath, the lower. See Inferior.]
inly a.: Internal; interior; secret. [OE. inlich, AS. inlic. See In.]
tellen n.: Any species of Tellina.
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,]
ruefull a.: Causing one to rue or lament; woeful; mournful; sorrowful.
reft n.: A chink; a rift. See Rift. Rom. of R.
bene n.: A prayer; boon. [AS. b.]
languish v. i.: To cause to dr Shak.
cursed a.: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
knightly a.: Of or pertaining to a knight; becoming a knight; chivalrous; as, a knightly combat; a knightly spirit. [AS. cnihtlic boyish.]
termes n.: A genus of Pseudoneuroptera including the white ants, or termites. See Termite. [L. termes, tarmes, -itis, a woodworm. Cf. Termite.]
wofull a.: Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity; afflicted; wretched; unhappy; sad.
fearfull a.: Full of fera, apprehension, or alarm; afraid; frightened.
dismall a.: Fatal; ill-omened; unlucky. [Formerly a noun; e. g., "I trow it was in the dismalle." Chaucer. Of uncertain origin; but perh. (as suggested by Skeat) from OF. disme, F. dîme, tithe, the phr]
triall n.: The act of trying or testing in any manner. Specifically: -- (a) Any effort or exertion of strength for the purpose of ascertaining what can be done or effected. [From Try.]
wealth n.: Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
stealth n.: The act of stealing; theft. [OE. staple. See Steal, v. t.]
guilefull a.: Full of guile; characterized by cunning, deceit, or treachery; guilty.
certes adv.: Certainly; in truth; verily. [F. certes, for à certes, fr. L. certus. See Certain.]
tride a.: Short and ready; fleet; as, a tride pace; -- a term used by sportsmen. Bailey. [Cf. F. tride lively, quick.]
farre n.: A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
clift n.: A cleft of crack; a narrow opening. [See Cleft, n.]
dolefull a.: Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow; sorrowful; sad; dismal.
crave v. t.: To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
whereof adv.: Of which; of whom; formerly, also, with which; -- used relatively.
balefull a.: Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. [AS. bealoful. See Bale misery.]
drave: , old imp. of Drive.
whereon adv.: On which; -- used relatively; as, the earth whereon we live.
sadly adv.: Wearily; heavily; firmly.
eyne n.: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry.
astound a.: Stunned; astounded; astonished. [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone. See Astone.]
dine v. i.: To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner. [F. dîner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See Jeju]
corse n.: A living body or its bulk. [OF. cors, F. corps. See Corpse.]
approving a.: Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
damned a.: Sentenced to punishment in a future state; condemned; consigned to perdition.
distraught p. p.: Torn asunder; separated. [OE. distract, distrauht. See Distract, a.]
uneath a.: Not easy; difficult; hard. [AS. uneá; un- not + eá easily, easy; akin to OS. easy, OHG. .]
envious a.: Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
hast: , 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
passe a.: Past; gone by; hence, past one's prime; worn; faded; as, a passée belle. Ld. Lytton. [F.]
untill prep.: To; unto; towards; -- used of material objects. [OE. until, ontil; un- (as in unto) + til till; cf. Dan. indtil, Sw. intill. See Unto, and Till, prep.]
depart v. i.: To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
shunne v. t.: To avoid; to keep clear of; to get out of the way of; to escape from; to eschew; as, to shun rocks, shoals, vice. [OE. shunien, schunien, schonien, AS. scunian, sceonian; cf. D. schuinen to slepe, schuin oblique, sloping, Icel. skunda, skynda, to hasten. Cf. Schooner, Scound]
avengement n.: The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken.
hereafter adv.: In time to come; in some future time or state. [AS. hræfter.]
shalt: 2d per. sing. of Shall.
repent a.: Prostrate and rooting; -- said of stems. Gray. [L. repens, -entis, creeping, p. pr. of repere to creep.]
forespent a.: Already spent; gone by; past. [Fore + spent.]
betake v. t.: To take or seize. [Pref. be- + take.]
rife a.: Prevailing; prevalent; abounding. [AS. rif abundant, or Icel. rifr munificent; akin to OD. riff, rijve, abundant.]
amate v. t.: To dismay; to dishearten; to daunt. [OF. amater, amatir.]
dungeon n.: A close, dark prison, commondonjon or keep of a castle, these being used as prisons. [OE. donjoun highest tower of a castle, tower, prison, F. donjon tower or platform in the midst of a castle, turret, or closet on the top of a house, a keep of a]
forestall v. t.: To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate. [OE. forstallen to stop, to obstruct; to stop (goods) on the way to the market by buying them beforehand, from forstal obstruction, AS. forsteal, foresteall, pro]
sinfull a.: Tainted with, or full of, sin; wicked; iniquitous; criminal; unholy; as, sinful men; sinful thoughts. Piers Plowman. [AAS. synfull.]
sinner n.: One who has sinned; especially, one who has sinned without repenting; hence, a persistent and incorrigible transgressor; one condemned by the law of God.
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
ronne: obs. imp. pl., and Ron"nen (,
conscience n.: Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
oftentimes adv.: Frequently; often; many times. [Often + time. Cf. -wards.]
amazement n.: The condition of being amazed; bewilderment ; overwhelming wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration.
miscreant n.: One who holds a false religious faith; a misbeliever. [OF. mescreant, F. mécréant; pref. mes- (L. minus less) + p. pr. fr. L. credere to believe. See Creed.]
waver v. i.: To play or move to and fro; to move one way and the other; hence, to totter; to reel; to swing; to flutter. [OE. waveren, from AS. wæfre wavering, restless. See Wave, v. i.]
brimstone n.: Sulphur; See Sulphur. [OE. brimston, bremston, bernston, brenston; cf. Icel. brennistein. See Burn, v. t., and Stone.]
perdition n.: Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin; esp., the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. [F., fr. L. perditio, fr. perdere, perditum, to ruin, to lose; per (cf. Skr. para away) + -dere (only in comp.) to put; akin to Gr. do. See Do.]
finall a.: Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term. [F., fr. L. finalis, fr. finis boundary, limit, end. See Finish.]
battell n.: A single combat; as, trial by battel. See Wager of battel, under Wager. [Obs. form. of Battle.]
spright n.: Spirit; mind; soul; state of mind; mood. [See Sprite.]
accurst p. p.: Doomed to destruction or misery; cursed; hence, bad enough to be under the curse; execrable; detestable; exceedingly hateful; -- as, an accursed deed.
sleight n.: Cunning; craft; artful practice. [OE. sleighte, sleihte, sleithe, Icel. sl (for sl) slyness, cunning, fr. sl (for sl) sly, cunning. See Sly.]
unbid a.: Not bidden; not commanded.
unblest a.: Not blest; excluded from benediction; hence, accursed; wretched. [Pref. un- not + blessed, blest.]
eternally adv.: In an eternal manner.

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

About this text

Canto IX 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 IX, in The Faerie Queene, Book I (1590), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #15272, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/faerie-queene/canto-ix.html, id L15824.

Form and metre

Canto IX is 490 lines in 55 stanzas. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBCC, complete in 54 of its 55 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 90%). 97% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.2 syllables. 26 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 15% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

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 tells · hands^A · despayre · withstands^A
2 ABABBCBCC yfere^A · wize^B · were^A · emprize^B · despize^B · stands^C · devize^B · hands^C · bands^C
3 ABABBCBCC long^A · well^B · strong^A · dwell^B · fell^B · besought^C · tell^B · wrought^C · thought^C
4 ABABBCBCC require^A · wit^B · sire^A · yit^B · admit^B · light^C · unfit^B · knight^C · might^C
5 ABABBCBCC bylive^A · beene^B · alive^A · weene^B · greene^B · hore^C · cleene^B · rore^C · lore^C
6 ABABBCBCC came^A · me^B · frame^A · oversee^B · privitie^B · spring^C · bee^B · king^C · bring^C
7 ABABBCBCC gent^A · hand^B · intent^A · land^B · band^B · aright^C · understand^B · might^C · wight^C
8 ABABBCBCC foresight^A · unghest^B · night^A · brest^B · behest^B · found^C · blest^B · wound^C · ground^C
9 ABABBCBCC awake^A · grow^B · slake^A · flow^B · low^B · fire^C · glow^B · desire^C · respire^C
10 ABABBCBCC yeares^A · chest^B · appeares^A · brest^B · behest^B · subdew^C · unrest^B · rew^C · new^C
11 ABABBCBCC life^A · enimy^B · strife^A · tragedy^B · cry^B · brent^C · libertie^B · intent^C · government^C
12 ABABBCBCC strong^A · sound^B · long^A · found^B · ground^B · might^C · bound^B · fight^C · despight^C
13 ABABBCBCC joy^A · see^B · boy^A · libertie^B · jollitie^B · hardiment^C · free^B · consent^C · intent^C
14 ABABBCBCC alight^A · layd^B · dight^A · displayd^B · embayd^B · away^C · mayd^B · lay^C · day^C
15 ABABBCBCC blandishment^A · deare^B · bent^A · appeare^B · were^B · delight^C · heare^B · night^C · hight^C
16 ABABBCBCC devoyd^A · lyen^B · joyd^A · eyen^B · divine^B · mind^C · tyne^B · find^C · unbind^C
17 ABABBCBCC pale^A · bewray^B · bale^A · display^B · say^B · found^C · may^B · confound^C · ground^C
18 ABABBCBCC knight^A · place^B · light^A · race^B · case^B · life^C · grace^B · priefe^C · liefe^C
19 ABABBCBCC loves^A · shew^B · amoves^A · pursew^B · renew^B · bynd^C · trew^B · mynd^C · joynd^C
20 ABABBCBCC sure^A · ornament^B · pure^A · excellent^B · incontinent^B · gave^C · testament^B · brave^C · save^C
21 ABABBCBCC way^A · fight^B · pray^A · plight^B · knight^B · pursew^C · fight^B · hew^C · knew^C
22 ABABBCBCC espy^A · fast^B · fly^A · aghast^B · cast^B · behind^C · brast^B · wind^C · kind^C
23 ABABBCBCC head^A · heares^B · dread^A · appeares^B · feares^B · degree^C · weares^B · agree^C · memoree^C
24 ABABBCBCC fast^A · dismayd^B · aghast^A · afrayd^B · stayd^B · might^C · arayd^B · flight^C · plight^C
25 ABABBCBCC new^A · wide^B · hew^A · aspide^B · untide^B · bespake^C · replide^B · quake^C · shake^C
26 ABABBCBCC stay^A · mee^B · away^A · free^B · perplexitie^B · speach^C · bee^B · reach^C · breach^C
27 ABABBCBCC he^A · dye^B · mee^A · history^B · nye^B · cace^C · eye^B · grace^C · place^C
28 ABABBCBCC chaunst^A · companee^B · advaunst^A · free^B · bee^B · gent^C · degree^B · intent^C · lament^C
29 ABABBCBCC comfortlesse^A · fare^B · blesse^A · whyleare^B · despaire^B · areedes^C · rare^B · weedes^C · deedes^C
30 ABABBCBCC harts^A · griefe^B · darts^A · repriefe^B · reliefe^B · life^C · thiefe^B · strife^C · knife^C
31 ABABBCBCC death^A · light^B · breath^A · wight^B · sight^B · feare^C · knight^B · beare^C · heare^C
32 ABABBCBCC speach^A · health^B · teach^A · wealth^B · mealt'h^B · vaine^C · stealth^B · remaine^C · traine^C
33 ABABBCBCC rest^A · tride^B · request^A · guide^B · ride^B · grace^C · abide^B · place^C · face^C
34 ABABBCBCC wight^A · cave^B · ypight^A · grave^B · crave^B · owle^C · drave^B · fowle^C · howle^C
35 ABABBCBCC trees^A · seene^B · knees^A · beene^B · greene^B · there^C · teene^B · neare^C · feare^C
36 ABABBCBCC find^A · ground^B · mind^A · unbound^B · round^B · eyne^C · astound^B · pine^C · dine^C
37 ABABBCBCC clouts^A · was^B · abouts^A · gras^B · pas^B · blood^C · alas^B · stood^C · flood^C
38 ABABBCBCC trew^A · told^B · vew^A · bold^B · cold^B · wight^C · behold^B · right^C · sight^C
39 ABABBCBCC distraught^A · give^B · taught^A · live^B · drive^B · death^C · give^B · breath^C · uneath^C
40 ABABBCBCC way^A · haste^B · stay^A · past^B · fast^B · good^C · hast^B · stood^C · flood^C
41 ABABBCBCC rest^A · crave^B · wanderest^A · have^B · wave^B · ease^C · grave^B · seas^C · please^C
42 ABABBCBCC wit^A · limited^B · it^A · sted^B · bed^B · doome^C · established^B · roome^C · droome^C
43 ABABBCBCC donne^A · create^B · begonne^A · fate^B · date^B · necessitie^C · state^B · destinie^C · why^C
44 ABABBCBCC sin^A · punishment^B · win^A · avengement^B · repent^B · repay^C · forespent^B · way^C · stray^C
45 ABABBCBCC stray^A · betake^B · may^A · make^B · forsake^B · strife^C · quake^B · rife^C · life^C
46 ABABBCBCC need^A · state^B · deede^A · amate^B · late^B · call^C · date^B · forestall^C · fall^C
47 ABABBCBCC desire^A · degree^B · hire^A · iniquitie^B · thee^B · milde^C · perjurie^B · vilde^C · defilde^C
48 ABABBCBCC behold^A · eye^B · fold^A · impietie^B · die^B · donne^C · willinglie^B · ronne^C · sonne^C
49 ABABBCBCC speach^A · perse^B · breach^A · reherse^B · reverse^B · crimes^C · disperse^B · rimes^C · oftentimes^C
50 ABABBCBCC miscreant^A · fraile^B · dant^A · assaile^B · quaile^B · plaine^C · waile^B · paine^C · remaine^C
51 ABABBCBCC dismaid^A · saw^B · laid^A · law^B · overcraw^B · fire^C · draw^B · desire^C · ire^C
52 ABABBCBCC take^A · keene^B · quake^A · greene^B · seene^B · heart^C · beene^B · smart^C · start^C
53 ABABBCBCC vaine^A · life^B · againe^A · knife^B · rife^B · knight^C · strife^B · fight^C · bright^C
54 ABABBCBCC wight^A · hart^B · spright^A · part^B · art^B · grace^C · smart^B · deface^C · place^C
55 ABABBCBCC streight^A · guest^B · sleight^A · rest^B · unblest^B · thereby^C · drest^B · die^C · eternally^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
His loves and lignage Arthur tells:	8	·····/˘·
the Knights knit friendly hands:	6	···/˘·
Sir Trevisan flies from Despayre,	8	········
whom Redcrosse Knight withstands.	6	····˘/
O goodly golden chaine, wherewith yfere	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘/
The vertues linked are in lovely wize:	9	···˘··/˘·
And noble mindes of yore allyed were,	10	·/˘···/˘˘·
In brave poursuit of chevalrous emprize,	10	··········
That none did others safety despize,	9	···/˘/˘··
Nor aid envy to him, in need that stands,	10	··/˘······
But friendly each did others prayse devize,	10	·/˘··/˘···
How to advaunce with favourable hands,	10	··········
As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from bands.	12	············
Who when their powres empaird through labour long,	10	···/···/··
With dew repast they had recured well,	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
And that weake captive wight now wexed strong,	10	···/˘···˘·
Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,	10	···/˘··/˘·
But forward fare, as their adventures fell,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
But ere they parted, Una faire besought	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
That straunger knight his name and nation tell;	10	·······/˘·
Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,	10	··········
Should die unknown, and buried be in thanklesse thought.	12	··˘/·/˘·····
Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me require	11	·/˘······/˘
A thing without the compas of my wit:	10	·····/˘···
For both the lignage and the certain Sire,	11	·······/˘/˘
From which I sprong, from me are hidden yit.	10	·······/˘·
For all so soone as life did me admit	10	········˘/
Into this world, and shewed heavens light,	10	······˘/˘·
From mothers pap I taken was unfit:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And streight deliver'd to a Faery knight,	10	··˘/˘·····
To be upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.	12	··˘/·/˘··/˘·
Unto old Timon he me brought bylive,	10	···/˘·····
Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beene	10	·/˘··/˘···
In warlike feates th'expertest man alive,	10	·/······˘/
And is the wisest now on earth I weene;	10	···/˘·····
His dwelling is low in a valley greene,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Under the foot of Rauran mossy hore,	10	·······/˘·
From whence the river Dee as silver cleene,	10	···/˘··/˘·
His tombling billowes roll with gentle rore:	10	···/˘··/˘·
There all my dayes he traind me up in vertuous lore.	13	·········/˘˘·
Thither the great magicien Merlin came,	10	/˘·····/˘·
As was his use, ofttimes to visit me:	10	····/˘·/˘·
For he had charge my discipline to frame,	10	·····/˘˘··
And Tutours nouriture to oversee.	10	·/˘/˘˘·/˘·
Him oft and oft I askt in privitie,	10	··········
Of what loines and what lignage I did spring:	10	··········
Whose aunswere bad me still assured bee,	10	······˘/˘·
That I was sonne and heire unto a king,	10	·····/····
As time in her just terme the truth to light should bring.	12	············
Well worthy impe, said then the Lady gent,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And pupill fit for such a Tutours hand.	10	·/˘····/˘·
But what adventure, or what high intent	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Hath brought you hither into Faery land,	10	···/˘·····
Aread Prince Arthur, crowne of Martiall band?	10	···/˘··/˘·
Full hard it is (quoth he) to read aright	10	········˘/
The course of heavenly cause, or understand	10	···/˘···˘/
The secret meaning of th' eternall might,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘·
That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of living wight.	12	·········/˘·
For whether he through fatall deepe foresight	10	·····/˘·/·
Me hither sent, for cause to me unghest,	10	·/˘·······
Or that fresh bleeding wound, which day and night	10	···/˘·····
Whilome doth rancle in my riven brest,	10	·······/˘·
With forced fury following his behest,	10	··/˘/˘˘·˘/
Me hither brought by wayes yet never found;	10	·/˘····/˘·
You to have helpt I hold myself yet blest.	10	·······/··
Ah curteous knight (quoth she) what secret wound	10	·······/˘·
Could ever find, to grieve the gentlest hart on ground?	11	·/····/˘···
Deare dame (quoth he) you sleeping sparkes awake,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Which troubled once, into huge flames will grow,	10	·/˘·······
Ne ever will their fervent fury slake,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Till living moysture into smoke do flow,	10	·/˘·······
And wasted life do lye in ashes low.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Yet sithens silence lesseneth not my fire,	10	···/˘/˘··/
But told it flames, and hidden it does glow;	10	·····/˘···
I will revele what ye so much desire:	11	·········˘/
Ah Love, lay down thy bow, the whiles I may respire.	12	··········˘/
It was in freshest flowre of youthly yeares,	10	···/˘/·/˘·
When courage first does creepe in manly chest,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Then first the coale of kindly heat appeares	10	·····/˘·˘/
To kindle love in every living brest;	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
But me had warnd old Timons wise behest,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Those creeping flames by reason to subdew,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Before their rage grew to so great unrest,	10	········˘/
As miserable lovers use to rew,	10	·/˘˘˘/˘···
Which still wex old in woe, whiles woe still wexeth new.	12	············
That idle name of love, and lovers life,	10	·/˘····/˘·
As losse of time, and vertues enimy,	9	·········
I ever scornd, and joyd to stirre up strife,	10	·/˘·······
In middest of their mournfull Tragedy,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
Ay wont to laugh, when them I heard to cry,	10	··········
And blow the fire, which them to ashes brent:	10	···/···/˘·
Their God himselfe, griev'd at my libertie,	10	··········
Shot many a dart at me with fiers intent,	10	·/······˘/
But I them warded all with wary government.	11	···/˘··/˘/˘
But all in vaine: no fort can be so strong,	10	··········
Ne fleshly brest can armed be so sound,	10	·/˘···˘···
But will at last be wonne with battrie long,	10	··········
Or unawares at disadvantage found:	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Nothing is sure, that growes on earthly ground:	10	/˘·····/˘·
And who most trustes in arme of fleshly might,	10	·······/˘·
And boasts in beauties chaine not to be bound,	10	···/˘·····
Doth soonest fall in disaventrous fight,	10	·/˘·······
And yeeldes his caytive neck to victours most despight.	12	·······/˘···
Ensample make of him your haplesse joy,	10	˘/˘·······
And of my selfe now mated, as ye see;	10	·····/˘···
Whose prouder vaunt that proud avenging boy	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Did soone pluck downe and curbd my libertie.	10	··········
For on a day, prickt forth with jollitie	10	··········
Of looser life, and heat of hardiment,	10	·/˘····/˘˘
Raunging the forest wide on courser free,	10	···/˘··/˘·
The fields, the floods, the heavens with one consent	11	·····/˘··˘/
Did seeme to laugh on me, and favour mine intent.	12	·······/˘·˘/
For-wearied with my sports, I did alight	10	·/˘·····˘/
From loftie steed, and downe to sleepe me layd;	10	··········
The verdant gras my couch did goodly dight,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And pillow was my helmet faire displayd:	10	·/˘··/˘···
Whiles every sence the humour sweet embayd,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And slombring soft my hart did steale away,	11	·········˘/
Me seemed, by my side a royall Mayd	10	··˘····/˘·
Her daintie limbes full softly down did lay:	10	·····/˘···
So faire a creature yet saw never sunny day.	11	···/˘··//˘·
Most goodly glee and lovely blandishment	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
She to me made, and bad me love her deare;	10	··········
For dearely sure her love was to me bent,	11	···········
As when just time expired should appeare.	10	····˘/˘···
But whether dreames delude, or true it were,	10	····˘/····
Was never hart so ravisht with delight,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Ne living man like words did ever heare,	10	·/˘····/˘·
As she to me delivered all that night;	10	····˘/˘···
And at her parting said, She Queene of Faeries hight.	11	···/˘······
When I awoke, and found her place devoyd,	10	··˘/······
And nought but pressed gras, where she had lyen,	10	····˘·····
I sorrowed all so much as earst I joyd,	10	·/˘·······
And washed all her place with watry eyen.	10	······/˘/˘
From that day forth I lov'd that face divine;	10	········˘/
From that day forth I cast in carefull mind	10	·······/˘·
To seeke her out with labour, and long tyne,	10	·····/····
And never vowd to rest till her I find,	10	·/˘·······
Nine monethes I seeke in vain, yet ni'll that vow unbind.	13	···········˘/
Thus as he spake, his visage wexed pale,	10	·····/˘·˘·
And chaunge of hew great passion did bewray;	10	·····/˘·˘/
Yet still he strove to cloke his inward bale,	10	·······/˘·
And hide the smoke that did his fire display,	10	·······/˘/
Till gentle Una thus to him gan say;	10	·/˘/˘·····
O happy Queene of Faeries, that has found	9	·/˘······
Mongst many, one that with his prowesse may	10	·/˘·······
Defend thine honour, and thy foes confound:	10	˘/·/˘···˘/
True Loves are often sown, but seldom grow on ground.	12	···/˘··/˘···
Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight,	10	·····/˘···
Next to that Ladies love, shal be the place,	10	···/˘·····
O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race,	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case.	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life,	11	·····˘/˘···
Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace:	10	·······/˘·
For onely worthy you through prowes priefe,	9	·/˘/˘····
Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe.	12	·/˘·········
So diversly discoursing of their loves,	10	····/˘˘···
The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew,	10	·/˘·······
And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoves	10	··········
With fresh desire his voyage to pursew;	10	··˘/·/˘···
Als Una earnd her traveill to renew.	10	·/˘·····˘/
Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd,	10	·····/˘···
And love establish each to other trew,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And eke the pledges firme, right hands together joynd.	12	···/˘···˘/˘·
Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament,	10	·····/˘/˘˘
Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure,	10	·······/˘·
Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent,	9	·/˘···/˘˘
That any wound could heale incontinent:	11	·/˘····˘/˘˘
Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gave	10	··/˘······
A booke, wherein his Saveours testament	10	·······/˘˘
Was writ with golden letters rich and brave;	10	···/˘/˘···
A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to save.	12	···/˘··/˘···
Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his way	10	···/˘/˘···
To seeke his love, and th' other for to fight	10	·····/˘···
With Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray.	9	·········
But she now weighing the decayed plight,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Would not a while her forward course pursew,	10	·····/˘···
Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight,	10	·······/˘·
Till he recovered had his former hew:	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew.	12	············
So as they traveild, lo they gan espy	10	········/˘
An armed knight towards them gallop fast,	10	··˘····/˘·
That seemed from some feared foe to fly,	10	··˘···˘···
Or other griesly thing, that him aghast.	10	·/˘·····˘/
Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast,	10	·······/˘·
As if his feare still followed him behind;	10	·····/˘···
Als flew his steed, as he his bands had brast,	10	··········
And with his winged heeles did tread the wind,	10	····˘·····
As he had beene a fole of Pegasus his kind.	12	········/˘··
Nigh as he drew, they might perceive his head	10	······˘/··
To be unarmd, and curld uncombed heares	10	········˘·
Upstaring stiffe, dismayd with uncouth dread;	10	·······//·
Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares	10	········˘/
Nor life in limbe: and to increase his feares	10	······˘/··
In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree,	11	·/˘···/··˘/
About his neck an hempen rope he weares,	10	·····/˘···
That with his glistring armes does ill agree;	10	········˘/
But he of rope or armes has now no memoree.	12	············
The Redcrosse knight toward him crossed fast,	10	········˘·
To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd:	10	···/˘·····
There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast,	11	·········˘/
That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd;	10	··········
Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Till he these wordes to him deliver might;	10	······˘/˘·
Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd,	10	··········
And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight:	10	·······/˘·
For never knight I saw in such misseeming plight.	11	·/·········
He answerd nought at all, but adding new	10	·······/˘·
Feare to his first amazment, staring wide	10	·······/˘·
With stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Astonisht stood, as one that had aspide	10	··········
Infernall furies, with their chaines untide.	10	˘/˘/˘·····
Him yet againe, and yet againe bespake	10	··········
The gentle knight; who nought to him replide,	10	·/˘·······
But trembling every joint did inly quake,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake.	12	············
For Gods deare love, Sir knight, do me not stay;	10	··········
For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee.	10	··········
Eft looking back would faine have runne away;	10	·/˘·····˘/
But he him forst to stay, and tellen free	10	·······/˘·
The secret cause of his perplexitie:	10	·/˘·······
Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach	10	··········
Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee,	10	········˘·
But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach,	10	·····/˘···
Yet forst, at last he made through silence suddein breach.	12	·······/˘···
And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he)	11	···········
From him, that would have forced me to dye?	10	······˘···
And is the point of death now turnd fro mee,	10	··········
That I may tell this haplesse history?	10	·······/˘˘
Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye.	10	··········
Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace,	10	····˘/·/˘·
(Said he) the which with this unlucky eye	10	······˘/˘·
I late beheld, and had not greater grace	10	··˘/···/˘·
Me reft from it, had bene partaker of the place.	13	·····/˘˘/˘···
I lately chaunst (would I had never chaunst)	10	·/˘····/˘·
With a faire knight to keepen companee,	10	··········
Sir Terwin hight, that well himselfe advaunst	10	··········
In all affaires, and was both bold and free,	10	··˘/······
But not so happy as mote happy bee:	10	···/˘··/˘·
He lov'd, as was his lot, a Ladie gent,	10	··········
That him againe lov'd in the least degree:	10	········˘/
For she was proud, and of too high intent,	10	········˘/
And joyd to see her lover languish and lament.	12	·····/˘/˘·˘/
From whom returning sad and comfortlesse,	10	··˘/˘·····
As on the way together we did fare,	10	····˘/˘···
We met that villen (God from him me blesse)	10	··········
That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare,	10	··˘·······
A man of hell, that cals himselfe Despaire:	10	··········
Who first us greets, and after faire areedes	10	··········
Of tydings strange, and of adventures rare:	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes.	12	˘/˘·/···//˘·
Which when he knew, and felt our feeble harts	10	······//˘·
Embost with bale, and bitter byting griefe,	10	·····/˘···
Which love had launched with his deadly darts,	10	····˘··/˘·
With wounding words and termes of foule repriefe,	11	·/˘····/˘˘/
He pluckt from us all hope of due reliefe,	10	··········
That earst us held in love of lingring life;	10	·······/˘·
Then hopelesse hartlesse, gan the cunning thiefe	11	········/˘·
Perswade us die, to stint all further strife:	10	·······/˘·
To me he lent this rope, to him a rustie knife.	12	············
With which sad instrument of hasty death,	10	···/˘˘·/˘·
That wofull lover, loathing lenger light,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
A wide way made to let forth living breath.	10	·······/˘·
But I more fearfull, or more luckie wight,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Dismayd with that deformed dismall sight,	10	····˘/˘/˘·
Fled fast away, halfe dead with dying feare:	10	··˘/···/˘·
Ne yet assur'd of life by you, Sir knight,	10	··˘/······
Whose like infirmitie like chaunce may beare:	10	··········
But God you never let his charmed speeches heare.	10	···/···/˘·
How may a man (said he) with idle speach	10	·······/˘·
Be wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health?	11	······/˘···
I wote (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,	10	·····/˘···
That like would not for all this worldes wealth:	9	·········
His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt'h	10	·····/˘···
Into the hart, and searcheth every vaine;	10	·····/˘/˘·
That ere one be aware, by secret stealth	10	····˘/·/˘·
His powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.	10	·/········
O never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.	12	·/·˘/·······
Certes (said he) hence shall I never rest,	10	/˘·····/˘·
Till I that treacherours art have heard and tride;	11	···········
And you Sir knight, whose name mote I request,	10	········˘/
Of grace do me unto his cabin guide.	10	·······/˘·
I that hight Trevisan (quoth he) will ride,	10	··········
Against my liking backe, to do you grace:	10	···/˘·····
But not for gold nor glee will I abide	10	········˘/
By you, when ye arrive in that same place	10	····˘/····
For lever had I die, then see his deadly face.	12	·/˘······/˘·
Ere long they come, where that same wicked wight	10	·······/˘·
His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Farre underneath a craggie clift ypight,	10	··˘/····˘/
Darke, dolefull, drearie, like a greedy grave,	10	·/˘····/˘·
That still for carrion carcases doth crave:	10	···/˘·····
On top whereof aye dwelt the ghastly Owle,	11	·······/˘··
Shrieking his balefull note, which ever drave	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
Far from that haunt all other chearefull fowle;	12	·····/˘···/˘
And all about it wandring ghostes did waile and howle.	14	·····/˘·····/˘
And all about old stockes and stubs of trees,	10	··········
Whereon nor fruit nor leafe was ever seene,	10	˘/·····/˘·
Did hang upon the ragged rocky knees;	10	·····/˘/˘·
On which had many wretches hanged beene,	10	···/˘···˘·
Whose carcases were scattered on the greene,	10	·····/˘···
And throwne about the clifts. Arrived there,	10	······˘/˘·
That bare-head knight for dread and dolefull teene,	10	·······/˘·
Would faine have fled, ne durst approchen neare,	10	··········
But th' other forst him stay, and comforted in feare.	11	·/˘····/˘··
That darkesome cave they enter, where they find	11	······/˘···
That cursed man, low sitting on the ground,	10	··˘··/˘···
Musing full sadly in his sullein mind;	10	/˘·/˘·····
His griesie lockes, long growen, and unbound,	10	········˘/
Disordred hong about his shoulders round,	10	˘/˘····/˘·
And hid his face; through which his hollow eyne	10	·······/˘·
Lookt deadly dull, and stared as astound;	10	·/˘···˘·˘/
His raw-bone cheekes, through penurie and pine,	10	··········
Were shronke into his jawes, as he did never dine.	11	·········/·
His garment nought but many ragged clouts,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
With thornes together pind and patched was,	10	··˘/˘···˘·
The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts;	10	···/˘···˘/
And him beside there lay upon the gras	10	··˘/······
A drearie corse, whose life away did pas,	10	······˘/··
All wallowed in his owne yet luke-warme blood,	10	·/˘·······
That from his wound yet welled fresh alas;	10	······˘·˘/
In which a rustie knife fast fixed stood,	10	········˘·
And made an open passage for the gushing flood.	12	···/˘/˘··/˘·
Which piteous spectacle, approving trew	10	·/˘˘/˘˘/˘·
The wofull tale that Trevisan had told,	10	··········
When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew,	10	···/˘·····
With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold,	11	········/˘·
Him to avenge, before his bloud were cold,	10	··˘/······
And to the villein said, Thou damned wight,	10	···/˘···˘·
The author of this fact we here behold,	10	·/˘·····˘/
What justice can but judge against thee right,	10	·/˘·······
With thine owne bloud to price his bloud, here shed in sight.	12	············
What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught	10	········˘/
Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to give?	10	·/˘·······
What justice ever other judgement taught,	10	·/˘/˘/˘/˘·
But he should die, who merites not to live?	10	·····/˘···
None else to death this man despayring drive,	10	··········
But his owne guiltie mind deserving death.	10	······˘/˘·
Is then unjust to each his due to give?	10	··˘/······
Or let him die, that loatheth living breath?	10	·····/˘/˘·
Or let him die at ease, that liveth here uneath?	12	··········˘/
Who travels by the wearie wandring way,	10	·/˘····/˘·
To come unto his wished home in haste,	10	······˘···
And meetes a flood, that doth his passage stay,	10	·······/˘·
Is not great grace to helpe him over past,	10	··········
Or free his feet that in the myre sticke fast?	10	··········
Most envious man, that grieves at neighbours good,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And fond, that joyest in the woe thou hast,	9	·········
Why wilt not let him passe, that long hath stood	11	······/····
Upon the banke, yet wilt thy selfe not passe the flood?	13	··········/··
He there does now enjoy eternall rest	10	····˘/˘/˘·
And happy ease, which thou dost want and crave,	10	·/˘·······
And further from it daily wanderest:	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
What if some little paine the passage have,	10	···/˘··/˘·
That makes fraile flesh to feare the bitter wave?	11	········/˘·
Is not short paine well borne, that brings long ease,	10	··········
And layes the soule to sleepe in quiet grave?	10	·······/˘·
Sleepe after toyle, port after stormie seas,	11	···········
Ease after warre, death after life does greatly please.	12	·········/˘·
The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit,	10	···/˘·····
And said, The terme of life is limited,	10	·······/˘˘
Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it;	10	····˘/·/˘·
The souldier may not move from watchfull sted,	10	·······/˘·
Nor leave his stand, untill his Captaine bed.	10	····˘/····
Who life did limit by almightie doome	10	···/˘·····
(Quoth he) knowes best the termes established;	10	······˘/˘˘
And he, that points the Centonell his roome,	10	··········
Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome.	12	·/˘·˘/···/˘·
Is not his deed, what ever thing is donne	10	·····/˘···
In heaven and earth? did not he all create	10	·/······˘/
To die againe? all ends that was begonne.	10	··········
Their times in his eternall booke of fate	10	····˘/˘···
Are written sure, and have their certaine date.	10	·/˘·······
Who then can strive with strong necessitie,	10	··········
That holds the world in his still chaunging state,	10	··········
Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie?	10	··········
When houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why.	12	············
The lenger life, I wote the greater sin,	10	·/˘····/˘·
The greater sin, the greater punishment:	10	·/˘··/˘/˘˘
All those great battels, which thou boasts to win,	10	··········
Through strife, and blood-shed, and avengement,	9	······˘/˘
Now praysd, hereafter deare thou shalt repent:	10	··˘/˘···˘/
For life must life, and blood must blood repay.	10	········˘/
Is not enough thy evill life forespent?	10	··˘/·/˘·˘/
For he that once hath missed the right way,	10	······˘···
The further he doth goe, the further he doth stray.	12	·/˘····/˘···
Then do no further goe, no further stray,	10	···/˘··/˘·
But here lie downe, and to thy rest betake,	10	········˘/
Th' ill to prevent, that life ensewen may.	10	··˘/······
For what hath life, that may it loved make,	10	········˘·
And gives not rather cause it to forsake?	10	···/˘···˘/
Feare, sicknesse, age, losse, labour, sorrow, strife,	10	·····/·/˘·
Paine, hunger, cold, that makes the hart to quake;	10	·/˘·······
And ever fickle fortune rageth rife,	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
All which, and thousands mo do make a loathsome life.	12	···/˘····/˘·

The first 400 of 490 lines; the reader marks them all.

On this poem

I. The Plot: Prince Arthur tells Una of his vision of the Faerie Queene and of his quest for her. After exchanging presents with the Redcross Knight, he bids farewell to Una and her companions. These pursue their journey and soon meet a young knight, Sir Trevisan, fleeing from Despair. Sir Trevisan tells of his narrow escape from this old man, and unwillingly conducts the Redcross Knight back to his cave. The Knight enters and is almost persuaded to take his own life. He is saved by the timely interposition of Una. This is the most powerful canto of Book I. II. The Allegory: 1. The moral allegory in Canto VII presents the transition of the Soul (Redcross) from Pride to Sin (Duessa) through distrust of Truth (Una), and it thus comes into the bondage of Carnal Pride (Orgoglio). In Canto IX the Soul suffers a similar change from Sin to Despair. Having escaped from actual sin, but with spiritual life weakened, it almost falls a victim to Despair through excess of confidence and zeal to perform some good action. The Soul is saved by Truth, by which it is reminded to depend on the grace of God.

Notes from the edition 49

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

Stanza 1, line 1 Give an account of Prince Arthur's vision of the Faerie Queene. 2. Interpret his search for her as an allegory of the young man's quest after his ideal. 3. Observe in xvii an allusion to Spenser's patron, Lord Leicester, who was a favored suitor for Elizabeth's hand. 4. What presents did the Knights exchange at parting? 5. Characterize Sir Trevisan by his appearance, speech, and actions. What does he symbolize? 6. Note the skill with which Spenser arouses interest before telling of the interview with Despair. 7. What was the fate of Sir Terwin? Its moral significance? 8. Describe the Cave of Despair, and show what effects are aimed at by the poet. 9. Compare with Despair Bunyan's Giant Despair and the Man in the Iron Cage. 10. Trace the sophistries by which Despair works in the mind of the Knight, e.g. the arguments from necessity (fatalism), humanity, cowardice, discouragement and disgust on account of his past failures, dread of the future, of God's justice, and the relief of death. 11. Does Despair show knowledge of the Knight's past? 12. With what powerful truths does Una meet the arguments of Despair? 13. Where do you find reference to mediaeval art?
Stanza 1, line 2 The allegory on its religious side seems to have some obscure reference to the long and bitter controversies between Protestantism (Calvinism) and Roman Catholicism allied with infidelity.
Stanza 2, line 1 O GOODLY GOLDEN CHAINE, chivalry or knightly honor, the bond that unites all the virtues.
Stanza 2, line 2 In Merlin Sir Antor is his foster-father.
Stanza 3, line 1 Find examples of Euphuism, metaphors, similes, Latinisms, and alliteration. 15. Explain the verb forms in ll. 154, 321, 336.
Stanza 3, line 9 THANKLESSE, because not knowing whom to thank.
Stanza 4, line 4 In Malory's Morte d'Arthur, Arthur is taken from his mother, Ygerne, at birth, and committed to the care of Sir Ector as his foster-father, i,
Stanza 5, line 6 RAURAN MOSSY HORE, Rauran white with moss. A "Rauran-vaur hill" in Merionethshire is mentioned by Selden. Contrary to the older romancers, Spenser makes Prince Arthur a Welshman, not a Cornishman.
Stanza 5, line 7 THE RIVER DEE, which rises in Merionethshire and flows through Lake Bala.
Stanza 6, line 3 MY DISCIPLINE TO FRAME, etc., to plan my course of instruction, and, as my tutor, to supervise my bringing up.
Stanza 6, line 9 IN HER JUST TERME, in due time.
Stanza 8, line 3 OR THAT FRESH BLEEDING WOUND, i.e. his love for Gloriana.
Stanza 8, line 5 WITH FORCED FURY, etc., supplying "me" from "my" in l. 58 the meaning is: the wound ... brought ... me following its bidding with compulsive (passionate) fury, etc. In the sixteenth century his was still almost always used as the possessive of it. Its does not occur in the King James Version of the Bible (1611).
Stanza 8, line 6 According to the physiology of Spenser's age, love was supposed to dry up the humors ("moysture") of the body.
Stanza 8, line 9 COULD EVER FIND (the heart) to grieve, etc. A Euphuistic conceit.
Stanza 9, line 7 BUT TOLD, i.e. if it (my love) is told.
Stanza 13, line 1 ENSAMPLE MAKE OF HIM, witness him (the Redcross knight).
Stanza 14, line 5 WHILES EVERY SENCE, etc., while the sweet moisture bathed all my senses.
Stanza 18, line 2 NEXT TO THAT LADIES LOVE, i.e. next to his love (loyalty) for Gloriana. Does the poet mean that allegiance to queen and country comes before private affection?
Stanza 18, line 5 WAS FIRMEST FIXT, etc., were strongest in my extremity (in the giant's dungeon).
Stanza 20, line 7 A BOOKE, the New Testament, an appropriate gift from the champions of the Reformed Church.
Stanza 22, line 2 AN ARMED KNIGHT, Sir Trevisan, who symbolizes Fear.
Stanza 22, line 9 PEGASUS, the winged horse of the Muses. For note on the false possessive with his, see note on V, 44.
Stanza 27, line 8 HAD NOT GREATER GRACE, etc., had not greater grace (than was granted my comrade) saved me from it, I should have been partaker (with him of his doom) in that place.
Stanza 29, line 6 AFTER FAIRE AREEDES, afterwards graciously tells.
Stanza 31, line 6 WITH DYING FEARE, with fear of dying.
Stanza 31, line 8 WHOSE LIKE INFIRMITIE, etc., i.e. if you are a victim of love, you may also fall into the hands of despair.
Stanza 31, line 9 BUT GOD YOU NEVER LET, but may God never let you, etc.
Stanza 32, line 1 This simile is a very old one. See Homer's Iliad, i, 249; Odyssey, xviii, 283; Song of Solomon, iv, 11; and Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, ii, 51.
Stanza 32, line 2 TO SPOYLE THE CASTLE OF HIS HEALTH, to take his own life. Cf. Eliot's Castell of Helthe, published in 1534.
Stanza 32, line 3 I WOTE, etc. I, whom recent trial hath taught, and who would not (endure the) like for all the wealth of this world, know (how a man may be so gained over to destroy himself).
Stanza 33, line 7 FOR GOLD NOR GLEE. Cf. for love or money.
Stanza 34, line 2 Imitated from Vergil's Aeneid, vi, 462.
Stanza 36, line 7 AS, as if.
Stanza 37, line 5 A DREARIE CORSE, Sir Terwin, mentioned in xxvii.
Stanza 38, line 8 JUDGE AGAINST THEE RIGHT, give just judgment against thee.
Stanza 38, line 8 WHAT JUSTICE, etc., what justice ever gave any other judgment but (this, that) he, who deserves, etc.
Stanza 38, line 9 TO PRICE, to pay the price of.
Stanza 39, line 7 IS THEN UNJUST, etc., is it then unjust to give each man his due? xxxix. Observe the subtle argument on suicide in this and st. xl. xli. Spenser here puts into the mouth of the Knight Socrates' argument to Cebes in their dialogue on the immortality of the soul. Plato's Phaedo, vi.
Stanza 42, line 7 QUOTH HE, Despair.
Stanza 46, line 7 THY DATE, the allotted measure or duration of thy life.
Stanza 47, line 3 THY SINFULL HIRE, thy service of sin.
Stanza 49, line 8 AS HE WERE CHARMED, etc., as if he were under the spell of magic incantation.
Stanza 50, line 6 IN A TABLE, in a picture. The horrors of the Last Judgment and the torments of the lost were favorite subjects of the mediaeval Catholic painters.
Stanza 53, line 9 FIRE-MOUTHED DRAGON. The dragons of romance are all described as fire-breathing,
Stanza 54, line 5 THAT CHOSEN ART, a reference to the doctrine of Election. Mark, xiii, 20.
Stanza 54, line 8 ACCURST HAND-WRITING. A reference to Paul's letter to the Colossians, ii, 14, in which he declares that the gospel of grace has superseded the law of Moses.
Stanza 55, line 1 HE SO HIMSELFE HAD DREST, he had thus attempted (to take his life). QUESTIONS AND TOPICS (Canto IX)
Stanza 55, line 1 HE SO HIMSELFE HAD DREST, he had thus attempted (to take his life). 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