138 three knights seuerall aduentures. For the Methode of a Poet 139 historical is not such, as of an Historiographer. For an 140 Historiographer discourseth of affayres orderly as they were 141 donne, accounting as well the times as the actions, but a Poet 142 thrusteth into the middest, euen where it most concerneth him, 143 and there recoursing to the thinges forepaste, and diuining 144 of thinges to come, maketh a pleasing Analysis of all. The 145 beginning therefore of my history, if it were to be told by an 146 Historiographer should be the twelfth booke, which is the 147 last, where I deuise that the Faery Queene kept her Annuall 148 feaste xii. dayes, vppon which xii. seuerall dayes, the 149 occasions of the xii. seuerall aduentures hapned, which 150 being vndertaken by xii. seuerall knights, are in these 151 xii. books seuerally handled and discoursed. The first 152 was this. In the beginning of the feast, there presented him selfe a 153 tall clownishe younge man, who falling before the Queen of 154 Faries desired a boone (as the manner then was) which 155 during that feast she might not refuse: which was that hee 156 might haue the atchieuement of any aduenture, which during 157 that feaste should happen, that being graunted, he rested him 158 on the floore, vnfitte through his rusticity for a better place. 159 Soone after entred a faire Ladye in mourning weedes, riding on a 160 white Asse, with a dwarfe behind her leading a warlike steed, 161 that bore the Armes of a knight, and his speare in the dwarfes 162 hand. Shee falling before the Queene of Faeries, complayned 163 that her father and mother an ancient King and Queene, had 164 bene by an huge dragon many years shut vp in a brasen Castle, 165 who thence suffred them not to yssew: and therefore 166 besought the Faery Queene to assygne her some one of her 167 knights to take on him that exployt. Presently that clownish 168 person vpstarting, desired that aduenture: whereat the 169 Queene much wondering, and the Lady much gainesaying, yet 170 he earnestly importuned his desire. In the end the Lady told 171 him that vnlesse that armour which she brought, would serue 172 him (that is the armour of a Christian man specified by Saint 173 Paul v. Ephes.) that he could not succeed in that 174 enterprise, which being forthwith put vpon him with dewe 175 furnitures thereunto, he seemed the goodliest man in al that 176 company, and was well liked of the Lady. And eftesoones taking 177 on him knighthood, and mounting on that straunge Courser, 178 he went forth with her on that aduenture: where beginneth the 179 first booke, vz._ 180 181 A gentle knight was pricking on the playne. &c. 182 183 _The second day ther came in a Palmer bearing an Infant 184 with bloody hands, whose Parents he complained to haue 185 bene slayn by an Enchaunteresse called Acrasia: and therfore