"Fortune, the foe of famous chevifaunce, "Seldom," said Guyon," yields to vertue aide, "But in her way throwes mifchiefe and mif"chaunce,
"Whereby her course is stopt and passage staid. "But you, fayre Sir: be not herewith dismaid, "But conftant keepe the way in which ye ftand; "Which were it not that I am els delaid "With hard adventure, which I have in hand, *I labour would to guide you through al Fary "Land."
Thus as he spoke, loe with outragious cry,
A thousand villeins rownd about them fwarmd
Out of the rockes and caves adioining nye;
Vile caitive wretches, ragged, rude, deformd,
All threatning death, all in firaunge manner armd;
Some with unweldy clubs, fome with long speares,
Some rufty knives, fome ftaves in fier warmd :
Sterne was their looke; like wild amazed steares,
Staring with holloweies, and fiffe upstanding
heares.
Thus when they had that troublous route difperft,
Unto the caftle-gate they come againe,
And entrance crav'd, which was denied erft.
Now when report of that their perlous paine,
And combrous conflict which they did fuftayne,
Came to the ladies eare which there did dwell,
Shee forth iffwed with a goodly traine
Of fquires and ladies equipaged well,
And entertained them right fairely, as befell.
Shee graunted, and them leading forth, the fame Thence the them brought into a stately hall,
Wherein were many tables fayre difpred,
And ready dight with drapets festivall,
Against the viaundes fhould be miniftred,
At th' upper end there fate, yclad in red
Downe to the ground, a comely perfonage,
That in his hand a white rod menaged;
He steward was, hight Diet, rype of age,
And in demeanure fober, and in counfell fage.
And through the hall there walked to and fro
A iolly yeoman, marshall of the faine,
Whose name was Appetite; he did bestow
Both gueftes and meate, whenever in they cam
And knew them how to order without blame,
As him the steward badd. They both attone
Did dewty to their lady, as became;
Who paffing by, forth led her gueftes anone
Into the kitchin rowme, ne fpard for nicene
It was a vaut ybuilt for great difpence,
With many raunges reard along the wall,
And one great chimney, whofe long tonnell them
The smoke forth threw; and in the midst of all
There placed was a caudron wide and tall
Upon a mightie fornace, burning whott,
More whott then Aetn', or flaning Mongiball;
For day and night it brent, ne ceafed not
So long as any thing it in the caudron gott.
But to delay the heat, leaft by mifchaunce
It might breake out and fet the whole on fyre
There added was, by goodly ordinaunce,
- An huge great payre of bellowes, which did Soone as the gracious Alma came in place,
Diverfe delights they fownd themselves to please;
Some fong in fweet confort, fome laught for ioy,
Some plaid with ftrawes, fome ydly fatt at ease;
But other fome could not abide to toy,
All pleafaunce was to them griefe and annoy:
This fround, that faund, the third for fhame did
blush,
Another feemed envious or coy,
Another in her teeth did gnaw a rush;
They all attonce out of their seates arofe,
And to her homage made with humble grace;
Whom when the knights beheld they gan difpofe
Themfelves to court, and each a damzell chofe:
The prince by chaunce did on a lady light,
That was right faire and fresh as morning rose,
But fomewhat fad and folemne eke in fight,
As if some penfive thought constraind her gentle
fpright.
In a long purple pall, whose skirt with gold Was fretted all about, fhe was arayd, And in her hand a poplar braunch cid hold; To whom the prince in courteous maner fayd, "Gentle Madame! why beene ye thus difmayd, "And your faire beautie doe with fadnes fpill? "Lives any that you hath thus ill apayd? "Or doen your love, or doen you lack your will? "Whatever bee the cause, it fure beleemes you "ill."
"Fayre Sir!" faid fhe, halfe in difdaineful wife, "How is it that this word in me ye blame, "And in yourfelfe doe not the fame advise? "Him ill befeemes another's fault to name, "That may unwares be blotted with the fame : "Penfive I yeeld I am, and sad in mind, "Through great defire of glory and of fame; "Ne ought I weene are ye therein behynd, "That have twelve months fought one, yet no "where can her find."
So long as Guyon with her communed,
Unto the grownd the caft her modest eye,
And ever and anone with rofy red
The bafhfull blood her (nowy cheekes did dye,
That her became, as polifht yvory,
Which cunning craftefman hand hath overlayd With fayre vermilion or pure caftory:
But at these ftraungers prefence every one did Great wonder had the knight to fee the mayd
So ftraungely paffioned, and to her gently faid;
Fayre danizell! feemeth by your troubled cheare, "That either me too bold ye weene, this wife "You to moleft, or other ill to feare, "That in the fecret of your hart close lyes, "From whence it doth, as cloud from sea, aryse: "If it be I, of pardon I you pray; "But if ought elfe that I mote not devyse, "I will, if please you it difcure, afsay "To cafe you of that ili, fo wifely as I may."
She answerd nought, but more abasht for shame Held downe her head, the whiles her lovely face The flashing blood with blufhing did inflame, And the ftrong paffion mard her modeft grace, That Guyon mervayld at her uncouth cace, Till Alma him befpake, "Why wonder yee, "Fayre Sir! at that which ye fo much embrace? "She is the fountaine of your modeftee; "You fhamefaft are, but Shamefaftnes itfelf is "Thee.".
Thereat the elfe did blush in privitee,
And turnd his face away; but the the fame
Diffembled faire, and faynd to overfee.
Thus they awhile with court and goodly game
Themfelves did folace each one with his dame,
Till that great lady thence away them fought
To vew her caftle's other wondrous frame:
Up to a stately turret fhe them brought,
Afcending by ten steps of alabafter wrought.
That turret's frame moft admirable was,
Like higheft heaven compafled around,
And lifted high above this earthly masse,
Which it furvewd, as hils doen lower ground:
But not on ground mote like to this be found;
Not that which antique Cadmus whylome built
In Thebes, which Alexander did confound;
Nor that proud Towre of Troy, though richly
guilt,
From which young Hector's blood by cruell Greckes wás fpilt.
The roofe hereof was arched over head,
And deckt with flowers and herbars daintily;
Two goodly beacons, fet in watches stead,
Therein gave light, and flamd continually;
For they of living fire moft fubtily
Were made, and fet in filver fockets bright,
Cover'd with lids deviz'd of fubftance fly,
That readily they shut and open might.
Q who can tell the prayfes of that Maker's might!
Ne can I tell, ne can I stay to tell
This part's great workemanship and wondrous
That all this other worides worke doth excell,
And likeft is unto that heavenly towre
That God hath built for his owne bleffed bowre.
Therein were divers rowmes, and divers ftages,
But three the chiefest and of greatest powre,
In which there dwelt three honorable fages,
The wifeft men, I weene, that lived in their ages
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