Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

Name: Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII
Author: Spenser, Edmund

Spenser, Edmund

English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry

He staide his hand according her desire,                         xviii
      Yet nathemore him suffred to arize;
      But still suppressing gan of her inquire,
      What meaning mote those vncouth words comprize,
      That in that villaines health her safety lies:
      That, were no might in man, nor heart in Knights,
      Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize,
      Yet heauens them selues, that fauour feeble rights,
    Would for it selfe redresse, and punish such despights.

    Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast                   xix
      Like many water streames, a while she stayd;
      Till the sharpe passion being ouerpast,
      Her tongue to her restord, then thus she sayd;
      Nor heauens, nor men can me most wretched mayd
      Deliuer from the doome of my desart,
      The which the God of loue hath on me layd,
      And damned to endure this direfull smart,
    For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious hart.

    In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre                   xx
      Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight,
      And nature me endu’d with plenteous dowre,
      Of all her gifts, that pleasde each liuing sight,
      I was belou’d of many a gentle Knight,
      And sude and sought with all the seruice dew:
      Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight,
      And to the dore of death for sorrow drew,
    Complayning out on me, that would not on them rew.

    But let them loue that list, or liue or die;                       xxi
      Me list not die for any louers doole:
      Ne list me leaue my loued libertie,
      To pitty him that list to play the foole:
      To loue my selfe I learned had in schoole.
      Thus I triumphed long in louers paine,
      And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole,
      Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine:
    But all is now repayd with interest againe.

    For loe the winged God, that woundeth harts,                      xxii
      Causde me be called to accompt[526] therefore,
      And for reuengement of those wrongfull smarts,
      Which I to others did inflict afore,
      Addeem’d me to endure this penaunce sore;
      That in this wize, and this vnmeete array,
      With these two lewd companions, and no more,
      _Disdaine_ and _Scorne_, I through the world should stray,
    Till I haue sau’d so many, as I earst did slay.

    Certes (sayd then the Prince) the God is iust,                   xxiii
      That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile.
      For were no law in loue, but all that lust,
      Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile,
      His kingdome would continue but a while.
      But tell me Lady, wherefore doe you beare
      This bottle thus before you with such toile,
      And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare,
    That for these Carles to carry much more comely were?

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VIISpenser, Edmund

General

Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

Spenser, Edmund

English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry

He staide his hand according her desire,                         xviii
      Yet nathemore him suffred to arize;
      But still suppressing gan of her inquire,
      What meaning mote those vncouth words comprize,
      That in that villaines health her safety lies:
      That, were no might in man, nor heart in Knights,
      Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize,
      Yet heauens them selues, that fauour feeble rights,
    Would for it selfe redresse, and punish such despights.

    Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast                   xix
      Like many water streames, a while she stayd;
      Till the sharpe passion being ouerpast,
      Her tongue to her restord, then thus she sayd;
      Nor heauens, nor men can me most wretched mayd
      Deliuer from the doome of my desart,
      The which the God of loue hath on me layd,
      And damned to endure this direfull smart,
    For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious hart.

    In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre                   xx
      Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight,
      And nature me endu’d with plenteous dowre,
      Of all her gifts, that pleasde each liuing sight,
      I was belou’d of many a gentle Knight,
      And sude and sought with all the seruice dew:
      Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight,
      And to the dore of death for sorrow drew,
    Complayning out on me, that would not on them rew.

    But let them loue that list, or liue or die;                       xxi
      Me list not die for any louers doole:
      Ne list me leaue my loued libertie,
      To pitty him that list to play the foole:
      To loue my selfe I learned had in schoole.
      Thus I triumphed long in louers paine,
      And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole,
      Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine:
    But all is now repayd with interest againe.

    For loe the winged God, that woundeth harts,                      xxii
      Causde me be called to accompt[526] therefore,
      And for reuengement of those wrongfull smarts,
      Which I to others did inflict afore,
      Addeem’d me to endure this penaunce sore;
      That in this wize, and this vnmeete array,
      With these two lewd companions, and no more,
      _Disdaine_ and _Scorne_, I through the world should stray,
    Till I haue sau’d so many, as I earst did slay.

    Certes (sayd then the Prince) the God is iust,                   xxiii
      That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile.
      For were no law in loue, but all that lust,
      Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile,
      His kingdome would continue but a while.
      But tell me Lady, wherefore doe you beare
      This bottle thus before you with such toile,
      And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare,
    That for these Carles to carry much more comely were?

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

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