Therefore a God him sage Antiquity xlviii Did wisely make, and good _Agdistes_ call: But this same was to that quite contrary, The foe of life, that good enuyes to all, That secretly doth vs procure to fall, Through guilefull semblaunts, which he makes vs see. He of this Gardin had the gouernall, And Pleasures porter was deuizd to bee, Holding a staffe in hand for more formalitee. With diuerse flowres he daintily was deckt, xlix And strowed round about, and by his side A mighty Mazer bowle of wine was set, As if it had to him bene sacrifide; Wherewith all new-come guests he gratifide: So did he eke Sir _Guyon_ passing by: But he his idle curtesie defide, And ouerthrew his bowle disdainfully; And broke his staffe, with which he charmed semblants sly. Thus being entred, they behold around l A large and spacious plaine, on euery side Strowed with pleasauns, whose faire grassy ground Mantled with greene, and goodly beautifide With all the ornaments of _Floraes_ pride, Wherewith her mother Art, as halfe in scorne Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride Did decke her, and too lauishly adorne, When forth from virgin bowre she comes in th’early morne. Thereto[850] the Heauens alwayes Iouiall, li Lookt on them louely, still in stedfast state, Ne suffred storme nor frost on them to fall, Their tender buds or leaues to violate, Nor scorching heat, nor cold intemperate T’afflict the creatures, which therein did dwell, But the milde aire with season moderate Gently attempred, and disposd so well, That still it breathed forth sweet spirit and holesome smell. More sweet and holesome, then the pleasaunt hill lii Of _Rhodope_, on which the Nimphe, that bore A gyaunt babe, her selfe for griefe did kill; Or the Thessalian _Tempe_, where of yore Faire _Daphne Phœbus_ hart with loue did gore; Or _Ida_, where the Gods lou’d to repaire, When euer they their heauenly bowres forlore; Or sweet _Parnasse_, the haunt of Muses faire; Or _Eden_ selfe, if ought[851] with _Eden_ mote compaire. Much wondred _Guyon_ at the faire aspect liii Of that sweet place, yet suffred no delight To sincke into his sence, nor mind affect, But passed forth, and lookt still forward right, Bridling his will, and maistering his might: Till that he came vnto another gate; No gate, but like one, being goodly dight With boughes and braunches, which did broad dilate Their clasping armes, in wanton wreathings intricate.