All these before the gates of _Pluto_ lay, xxiv By whom they passing, spake vnto them nought. But th’Elfin knight with wonder all the way Did feed his eyes, and fild his inner thought. At last him to a litle dore he brought, That to the gate of Hell, which gaped wide, Was next adioyning, ne them parted ought[666]: Betwixt them both was but a litle stride, That did the house of Richesse from hell-mouth diuide. Before the dore sat selfe-consuming Care, xxv Day and night keeping wary watch and ward, For feare least Force or Fraud should vnaware Breake in, and spoile the treasure there in gard: Ne would he suffer Sleepe once thither-ward Approch, albe his drowsie den were next; For next to death is Sleepe to be compard: Therefore his house is vnto his annext; Here Sleep, there Richesse, and Hel-gate them both betwext[667]. So soone as _Mammon_ there arriu’d, the dore xxvi To him did open, and affoorded way; Him followed eke Sir _Guyon_ euermore, Ne darkenesse him, ne daunger might dismay. Soone as he entred was, the dore streight way Did shut, and from behind it forth there lept An vgly feend, more fowle then dismall day, The which with monstrous stalke behind him stept, And euer as he went, dew watch vpon him kept. Well hoped he, ere long that hardy guest, xxvii If euer couetous hand, or lustfull eye, Or lips he layd on thing, that likt him best, Or euer sleepe his eye-strings did vntye, Should be his pray. And therefore still on hye He ouer him did hold his cruell clawes, Threatning with greedy gripe to do him dye And rend in peeces with his rauenous pawes, If euer he transgrest the fatall _Stygian_ lawes. That houses forme within was rude and strong, xxviii Like an huge caue, hewne out of rocky clift, From whose rough vaut the ragged breaches hong, Embost with massy gold of glorious gift, And with rich metall loaded euery rift, That heauy ruine they did seeme to threat; And ouer them _Arachne_ high did lift Her cunning web, and spred her subtile net, Enwrapped in fowle smoke and clouds more blacke then let. Both roofe, and floore, and wals were all of gold, xxix But ouergrowne with dust and old decay, And hid in darkenesse, that none could behold The hew thereof: for vew of chearefull day Did neuer in that house it selfe display, But a faint shadow of vncertain light; Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away: Or as the Moone cloathed with clowdy night, Does shew to him, that walkes in feare and sad affright.