[853] lx 5 curious] pure _1609_ [854] lxi 8 tenderly] fearefully _1590_ [855] lxxiii 1 that] the _1609_ [856] lxxxi 4 the] that _1590_ [857] lxxxiii 7 spoyle] spoyld _1590_, _1596_ [858] lxxxv 1 these _1590_, _1596_ [Illustration] THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE. Contayning, THE LEGEND OF BRITOMARTIS. OR _Of Chastitie_. It falls me here to write of Chastity, i That[859] fairest vertue, farre aboue the rest; For which what needs me fetch from _Faery_ Forreine ensamples, it to haue exprest? Sith it is shrined in my Soueraines brest, And form’d so liuely in each perfect part, That to all Ladies, which haue it profest, Need but behold the pourtraict of her hart, If pourtrayd it might be by any liuing art. But liuing art may not least part expresse, ii Nor life-resembling pencill it can paint, All were it _Zeuxis_ or _Praxiteles_: His dædale hand would faile, and greatly faint, And her perfections with his error taint: Ne Poets wit, that passeth Painter farre In picturing the parts of beautie daint, So hard a workmanship aduenture darre, For fear through want of words her excellence to marre. How then shall I, Apprentice of the skill, iii That whylome in diuinest wits did raine, Presume so high to stretch mine humble quill? Yet now my lucklesse lot doth me constraine Hereto perforce. But O dred Soueraine Thus farre forth pardon, sith that choicest wit Cannot your glorious pourtraict figure plaine That I in colourd showes may shadow it, And antique praises vnto present persons fit. But if in liuing colours, and right hew, iv Your selfe you[860] couet to see pictured, Who can it doe more liuely, or more trew, Then that sweet verse, with _Nectar_ sprinckeled, In which a gracious seruant pictured His _Cynthia_, his heauens fairest light? That with his melting sweetnesse rauished, And with the wonder of her beames bright, My senses lulled are in slomber of delight. But let that same delitious Poet lend v A little leaue vnto a rusticke Muse To sing his mistresse prayse, and let him mend, If ought amis her liking may abuse: Ne let his fairest _Cynthia_ refuse, In mirrours more then one her selfe to see, But either _Gloriana_ let her chuse, Or in _Belphœbe_ fashioned to bee: In th’one her rule, in th’other her rare chastitee. FOOTNOTES: [859] Proem i 2 That] The _1590_ [860] iv 2 Thy selfe thou _1590_ _Cant. I._ [Illustration: _Guyon encountreth Britomart, faire Florimell is chaced: Duessaes traines and Malecastaes[861] champions are defaced._ ]