Exceeding shone, like _Phœbus_ fairest childe, ix That did presume his fathers firie wayne, And flaming mouthes of steedes vnwonted wilde Through highest heauen with weaker hand to rayne; Proud of such glory and aduancement vaine, While flashing beames do daze his feeble eyen, He leaues the welkin way most beaten plaine, And rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen, With fire not made to burne, but fairely for to shyne. So proud she shyned in her Princely state, x Looking to heauen; for earth she did disdayne, And sitting high; for lowly she did hate: Lo vnderneath her scornefull feete, was layne A dreadfull Dragon with an hideous trayne, And in her hand she held a mirrhour bright, Wherein her face she often vewed fayne, And in her selfe-lou’d semblance tooke delight; For she was wondrous faire, as any liuing wight. Of griesly _Pluto_ she the daughter was, xi And sad _Proserpina_ the Queene of hell; Yet did she thinke her pearelesse worth[136] to pas That parentage, with pride so did she swell, And thundring _Ioue_, that high in heauen doth dwell, And wield the world, she claymed for her syre, Or if that any else did _Ioue_ excell: For to the highest she did still aspyre, Or if ought higher were then that, did it desyre. And proud _Lucifera_ men did her call, xii That made her selfe a[137] Queene, and crownd to be, Yet rightfull kingdome she had none at all, Ne heritage of natiue soueraintie, But did vsurpe with wrong and tyrannie Vpon the scepter, which she now did hold: Ne ruld her Realmes[138] with lawes, but pollicie, And strong aduizement of six wisards old, That with their counsels bad her kingdome did vphold. Soone as the Elfin[139] knight in presence came, xiii And false _Duessa_ seeming Lady faire, A gentle Husher, _Vanitie_ by name Made rowme, and passage for them did prepaire: So goodly brought them to the lowest staire Of her high throne, where they on humble knee Making obeyssance[140], did the cause declare, Why they were come, her royall state to see, To proue the wide report of her great Maiestee. With loftie eyes, halfe loth to looke so low, xiv She thanked them in her disdainefull wise, Ne other grace vouchsafed them to show Of Princesse worthy, scarse them bad arise. Her Lordes and Ladies all this while deuise Themselues to setten forth to straungers sight: Some frounce their curled haire in courtly guise, Some prancke their ruffes, and others trimly dight Their gay attire: each others greater pride does spight.