But I though meanest[176] man of many moe, xix Yet much disdaining[177] vnto him to lout, Or creepe betweene his legs, so in to goe, Resolu’d him to assault with manhood stout, And either beat him in, or driue him out. Eftsoones aduauncing that enchaunted shield, With all my might I gan to lay about: Which when he saw, the glaiue which he did wield He gan forthwith t’auale, and way vnto me yield. So as I entred, I did backeward looke, xx For feare of harme, that might lie hidden there; And loe his hindparts, whereof heed I tooke, Much more deformed fearefull vgly were, Then all his former parts did earst appere. For hatred, murther, treason, and despight, With many moe lay in ambushment there, Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight, Which did not them preuent with vigilant foresight. Thus hauing past all perill, I was come xxi Within the compasse of that Islands space; The which did seeme vnto my simple doome, The onely pleasant and delightfull place, That euer troden was of footings trace. For all that nature by her mother wit Could frame in earth, and forme of substance base, Was there, and all that nature did omit, Art playing second natures part, supplyed it. No tree, that is of count, in greenewood growes, xxii From lowest Iuniper to Ceder tall, No flowre in field, that daintie odour throwes, And deckes his branch with blossomes ouer all, But there was planted, or grew naturall: Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice, But there mote find to please it selfe withall; Nor hart could wish for any queint deuice, But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice. In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure, xxiii It seem’d a second paradise to ghesse[178], So lauishly enricht with natures threasure, That if the happie soules, which doe possesse Th’Elysian fields, and liue in lasting blesse, Should happen this with liuing eye to see, They soone would loath their lesser happinesse, And wish to life return’d againe to bee[179], That in this ioyous place they mote haue ioyance free. Fresh shadowes, fit to shroud from sunny ray; xxiv Faire lawnds, to take the sunne in season dew; Sweet springs, in which a thousand Nymphs did play; Soft rombling brookes, that gentle slomber drew; High reared mounts, the lands about to vew; Low looking dales, disloignd from common gaze; Delightfull bowres, to solace louers trew; False Labyrinthes, fond runners eyes to daze; All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze.