As he thereon stood gazing, he might see lvi The blessed Angels to and fro descend From highest heauen, in gladsome companee, And with great ioy into that Citie wend, As commonly as friend does with his frend. Whereat he wondred much, and gan enquere, What stately building durst so high extend Her loftie towres vnto the starry sphere, And what vnknowen nation there empeopled were. Faire knight (quoth he) _Hierusalem_ that is, lvii The new _Hierusalem_, that God has built For those to dwell in, that are chosen his, His chosen people purg’d from sinfull guilt, With pretious[349] bloud, which cruelly was spilt On cursed tree, of that vnspotted lam, That for the sinnes of all the world was kilt: Now are they Saints all in that Citie sam, More deare vnto their God, then younglings to their dam. Till now, said then the knight, I weened well, lviii That great _Cleopolis_, where I haue beene, In which that fairest _Faerie Queene_ doth dwell,[350] The fairest Citie was, that might be seene; And that bright towre all built of christall cleene, _Panthea_, seemd the brightest thing, that was: But now by proofe all otherwise I weene; For this great Citie that does far surpas, And this bright Angels towre quite dims that towre of glas. Most trew, then said the holy aged man; lix Yet is _Cleopolis_ for earthly frame[351], The fairest peece, that eye beholden can: And well beseemes all knights of noble name, That couet in th’immortall booke of fame To be eternized, that same to haunt, And doen their seruice to that soueraigne Dame, That glorie does to them for guerdon graunt: For she is heauenly borne, and heauen may iustly vaunt. And thou faire ymp, sprong out from English race, lx How euer now accompted[352] Elfins sonne, Well worthy doest thy seruice for her grace, To aide a virgin desolate foredonne. But when thou famous victorie hast wonne, And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield, Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shonne, And wash thy hands from guilt of bloudy field: For bloud can nought but sin, and wars but sorrowes yield. Then seeke this path, that I to thee presage, lxi Which after all to heauen shall thee send; Then peaceably thy[353] painefull pilgrimage To yonder same _Hierusalem_ do bend, Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end: For thou emongst those Saints, whom thou doest see, Shalt be a Saint, and thine owne nations frend And Patrone: thou Saint _George_ shalt called bee, Saint _George_ of mery England, the signe of victoree.