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

Which when that warriour saw, he said no more,                   xxxix
      But in his armour layd him downe to rest:
      To rest he layd him downe vpon the flore,
      (Whylome for ventrous Knights the bedding best)
      And thought his wearie limbs to haue redrest.
      And that old aged Dame, his faithfull Squire,
      Her feeble ioynts layd eke a downe to rest;
      That needed much her weake age to desire,
    After so long a trauell, which them both did tire.

    There lay Sir _Scudamour_ long while expecting,                     xl
      When gentle sleepe his heauie eyes would close;
      Oft chaunging sides, and oft new place electing,
      Where better seem’d he mote himselfe repose;
      And oft in wrath he thence againe vprose;
      And oft in wrath he layd him downe againe.
      But wheresoeuer he did himselfe dispose,
      He by no meanes could wished ease obtaine:
    So euery place seem’d painefull, and ech changing vaine.

    And euermore, when he to sleepe did thinke,                        xli
      The hammers sound his senses did molest;
      And euermore, when he began to winke,
      The bellowes noyse disturb’d his quiet rest,
      Ne suffred sleepe to settle in his brest.
      And all the night the dogs did barke and howle
      About the house, at sent of stranger guest:
      And now the crowing Cocke, and now the Owle
    Lowde shriking him afflicted to the very sowle.

    And if by fortune any litle nap                                   xlii
      Vpon his heauie eye-lids chaunst to fall,
      Eftsoones one of those villeins him did rap
      Vpon his headpeece with his yron mall;
      That he was soone awaked therewithall,
      And lightly started vp as one affrayd;
      Or as if one him suddenly did call.
      So oftentimes he out of sleepe abrayd,
    And then lay musing long, on that him ill apayd.

    So long he muzed, and so long he lay,                            xliii
      That at the last his wearie sprite opprest
      With fleshly weaknesse, which no creature may
      Long time resist, gaue place to kindly rest,
      That all his senses did full soone arrest:
      Yet in his soundest sleepe, his dayly feare
      His ydle braine gan busily molest,
      And made him dreame those two disloyall were:
    The things that day most minds, at night doe most appeare.

    With that, the wicked carle the maister[100] Smith                xliv
      A paire of redwhot[101] yron tongs did take
      Out of the burning cinders, and therewith
      Vnder his side him nipt, that forst to wake,
      He felt his hart for very paine to quake,
      And started vp auenged for to be
      On him, the which his quiet slomber brake:
      Yet looking round about him none could see;
    Yet did the smart remaine, though he himselfe did flee.

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

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

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