But let that man with better sence aduize, ii That of the world least part to vs is red: And dayly how through hardy enterprize, Many great Regions are discouered, Which to late age were neuer mentioned. Who euer heard of th’Indian _Peru_? Or who in venturous vessell measured The _Amazons_[432] huge riuer now found trew? Or fruitfullest _Virginia_ who did euer vew? Yet all these were, when no man did them know; iii Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene: And later times things more vnknowne shall show. Why then should witlesse man so much misweene That nothing is, but that which he hath seene? What if within the Moones faire shining spheare? What if in euery other starre vnseene Of other worldes he happily should heare? He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare. Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire, iv By certaine signes here set in sundry place He may it find; ne let him then admire, But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace, That no’te without an hound fine footing trace. And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky, In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face, And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery, And in this antique Image thy great auncestry. The which O pardon me thus to enfold v In couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light, That feeble eyes your glory may behold, Which else[434] could not endure those beames[435] bright, But would be dazled with exceeding light. O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare The braue aduentures of this Faery knight The good Sir _Guyon_ gratiously to heare, In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare. FOOTNOTES: [432] Proem, ii 8 _Amarons_ _1590_: _Amazon_ _F. E._ [433] iv 6 thou] then _1590_ [434] v 4 else] elles _1590_ [435] beamez _1609_ _Cant. I._ [Illustration: _Guyon by Archimage abusd, The Redcrosse knight awaytes, Findes Mordant and Amauia slaine With pleasures poisoned baytes._ ] That cunning Architect of cancred guile, i Whom Princes late displeasure left in bands, For falsed letters and suborned wile, Soone as the _Redcrosse_ knight he vnderstands[436] To beene departed out of _Eden_ lands, To serue againe his soueraine Elfin Queene, His artes he moues, and out of caytiues[437] hands Himselfe he frees by secret meanes vnseene; His shackles emptie left, him selfe escaped cleene.