Vnder a steepe hilles side it placed was, xxxiii There where the mouldred earth had cav’d the banke; And fast beside a little brooke did pas Of muddie water, that like puddle stanke, By which few crooked sallowes grew in ranke: Whereto approaching nigh, they heard the sound Of many yron hammers beating ranke, And answering their wearie turnes around, That seemed some blacksmith dwelt in that desert ground. There entring in, they found the goodman selfe, xxxiv Full busily vnto his worke ybent; Who was to weet a wretched wearish elfe, With hollow eyes and rawbone cheekes forspent, As if he had in prison long bene pent: Full blacke and griesly did his face appeare, Besmeard with smoke that nigh his eye-sight blent; With rugged beard, and hoarie shagged heare, The which he neuer wont to combe, or comely sheare. Rude was his garment, and to rags all rent, xxxv Ne better had he, ne for better cared: With blistred hands emongst the cinders brent, And fingers filthie, with long nayles vnpared, Right fit to rend the food, on which he fared. His name was _Care_; a blacksmith by his trade, That neither day nor night[97] from working spared, But to small purpose yron wedges made; Those be vnquiet thoughts, that carefull minds inuade. In which his worke he had sixe seruants prest, xxxvi About the Andvile standing euermore, With huge great hammers, that did neuer rest From heaping stroakes, which thereon soused sore: All sixe strong groomes, but one then other more; For by degrees they all were disagreed; So likewise did the hammers which they bore, Like belles in greatnesse orderly succeed, That he which was the last, the first did farre exceede. He like a monstrous Gyant seem’d in sight, xxxvii Farre passing _Bronteus_, or _Pyracmon_[98] great, The which in _Lipari_ doe day and night Frame thunderbolts for _Ioues_ auengefull threate. So dreadfully he did the anduile beat, That seem’d to dust he shortly would it driue: So huge his hammer and so fierce his heat, That seem’d a rocke of Diamond it could riue, And rend a sunder quite, if he thereto list striue. Sir _Scudamour_ there entring, much admired xxxviii The manner of their worke and wearie paine; And hauing long beheld, at last enquired The cause and end thereof: but all in vaine; For they for nought would from their worke refraine, Ne let his speeches come vnto their eare. And eke the breathfull bellowes blew amaine, Like to the Northren winde, that none could heare:[99] Those _Pensifenesse_ did moue; and _Sighes_ the bellows weare.