Platonism in English poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries — Plato — John Shaqi
Platonism in English poetry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
Plato · en
“In his strong armes he stiffely him embraste,
Who him gainstriving, nought at all prevaild:
For all his power was utterly defaste,
And furious fits at earst quite weren quaild:
Oft he re’nforst, and oft his forces fayld,
Yet yield he would not, nor his rancour slacke.
Then him to ground he cast, and rudely hayld,
And both his hands fast bound behind his backe,
And both his feet in fetters to an yron racke.”
(II. iv. 14.)
The third trial of Guyon’s reason is by a species of wrath so wilfully
furious that it runs to seek an occasion for a quarrel, and finds no
rest until it has succeeded. This type of irascible impulse is portrayed
in Pyrochles. He delights in deeds of daring might, and in blood and
spoil. (II. iv. 42.) His squire, Atin by name, acts as his forerunner to
seek an occasion for his lord’s furious delight. (II. iv. 43.) But Guyon
masters himself both in his refusal to fight for no good reason, and in
his behavior when forced against his wishes to a conflict with
Pyrochles. Guyon bids Atin tell his master that he, Guyon, has bound
Occasion, and the Palmer, who is the rational element of Guyon
personified, lectures the squire on the folly of wilful anger.
“Madman (said then the Palmer) that does seeke
_Occasion_ to wrath, and cause of strife;
She comes unsought, and shonned followes eke.
Happy, who can abstaine, when Rancour rife
Kindles Revenge, and threats his rusty knife;
Woe never wants, where every cause is caught,
And rash _Occasion_ makes unquiet life.”
(II. iv. 44.)
Even when Guyon is compelled by Pyrochles to the fight, the Knight does
not give way to unrestrained wrath, but ever tempers his passion with
reason. In the conflict Pyrochles thundered blows:
“But _Guyon_, in the heat of all his strife,
Was warie wise, and closely did awayt
Avauntage, whilest his foe did rage most rife.”
(II. v. 9.)
When at last Guyon has his foe at his feet, he spares his life, so
firmly he holds his passion in check.
“Eftsoones his cruell hand Sir _Guyon_ stayd,
Tempring the passion with advisement slow,
And maistring might on enimy dismayd.”
(II. v. 13.)