Long were it to describe the goodly frame, xxxi And stately port of _Castle Ioyeous_, (For so that Castle hight by commune name) Where they were entertaind with curteous And comely glee of many gracious Faire Ladies, and of[865] many a gentle knight, Who through a Chamber long and spacious, Eftsoones them brought vnto their Ladies sight,[866] That of them cleeped was the _Lady of delight_. But for to tell the sumptuous aray xxxii Of that great chamber, should be labour lost: For liuing wit, I weene, cannot display The royall riches and exceeding cost, Of euery pillour and of euery post; Which all of purest bullion framed were, And with great pearles and pretious stones embost, That the bright glister of their beames cleare Did sparckle forth great light, and glorious did appeare. These straunger knights through passing, forth were led xxxiii Into an inner rowme, whose royaltee And rich purueyance might vneath be red; Mote Princes place beseeme[867] so deckt to bee. Which stately manner when as they did see, The image of superfluous riotize, Exceeding much the state of meane degree, They greatly wondred, whence so sumptuous guize Might be maintaynd, and each gan diuersely deuize. The wals were round about apparelled xxxiv With costly clothes of _Arras_ and of _Toure_, In which with cunning hand was pourtrahed The loue of _Venus_ and her Paramoure The faire _Adonis_, turned to a flowre, A worke of rare deuice, and wondrous wit. First did it shew the bitter balefull stowre, Which her assayd with many a feruent fit, When first her tender hart was with his beautie smit. Then with what sleights and sweet allurements she xxxv Entyst the Boy, as well that art she knew, And wooed him her Paramoure to be; Now making girlonds of each flowre that grew, To crowne his golden lockes with honour dew; Now leading him into a secret shade From his Beauperes, and from bright heauens vew, Where him to sleepe she gently would perswade, Or bathe him in a fountaine by some couert glade. And whilst he slept, she ouer him would spred xxxvi Her mantle, colour’d like the starry skyes, And her soft arme lay vnderneath his hed, And with ambrosiall kisses bathe his eyes; And whilest he bath’d, with her two crafty spyes, She secretly would search each daintie lim, And throw into the well sweet Rosemaryes, And fragrant violets, and Pances trim, And euer with sweet Nectar she did sprinkle him.