But _Talus_ hearing her so lewdly raile, xliii And speake so ill of him, that well deserued, Would her haue chastiz’d with his yron flaile, If her Sir _Artegall_ had not preserued, And him forbidden, who his heast obserued. So much the more at him still did she scold, And stones did cast, yet he for nought would swerue From his right course, but still the way did hold To Faery Court, where what him fell shall else be told. FOOTNOTES: [387] i 9 enduren] endure _1596_ [388] v 9 th’Eagle _1609_ [389] xi 6 _Artegals_ _1596_ [390] xiv 1 presumptuous _1609 passim_ [391] 8 steele _1609_ [392] xvii 5 such] sure _1609_ [393] xxiii 2 strooke _1609_ [394] xxx 6 hungerly _1609_ [395] xxxiv 3 slanderously _1609_ [396] xl 5 And that bright sword the sword, of Iustice lent _1596_ [397] xlii 5 slaunders _1609_ [Illustration] THE SIXTE BOOKE OF THE FAERIE QVEENE. _Contayning_ THE LEGEND OF S. CALIDORE _OR_ OF COVRTESIE. The waies, through which my weary steps I guyde, i this delightfull land of Faery, Are so exceeding spacious and wyde, And sprinckled with such sweet variety, Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye, That I nigh rauisht with rare thoughts delight, My tedious trauell doe forget thereby; And when I gin to feele decay of might, It[398] strength to me supplies, and chears my dulled spright. Such secret comfort, and such heauenly pleasures, ii Ye sacred imps, that on _Parnasso_ dwell, And there the keeping haue of learnings threasures, Which doe all worldly riches farre excell, Into the mindes of mortall men doe well, And goodly fury into them infuse; Guyde ye my footing, and conduct me well In these strange waies, where neuer foote did vse, Ne none can find, but who was taught them by the Muse. Reuele to me the sacred noursery iii Of vertue, which with you doth there remaine, Where it in siluer bowre does hidden ly From view of men, and wicked worlds disdaine. Since[399] it at first was by the Gods with paine Planted in earth, being deriv’d at furst From heauenly seedes of bounty soueraine, And by them long with carefull labour nurst, Till it to ripenesse grew, and forth to honour burst. Amongst them all growes not a fayrer flowre, iv Then is the bloosme of comely courtesie, Which though it on a lowly stalke doe bowre, Yet brancheth forth in braue nobilitie, And spreds it selfe through all ciuilitie: Of which though present age doe plenteous seeme, Yet being matcht with plaine Antiquitie, Ye will them all but fayned showes esteeme, Which carry colours faire, that feeble eies misdeeme.