The Faerie Queene · Book II · Canto 2 2 (2/2)

Betwixt them both the faire Medina sate

With sober grace and goodly carriage:

With equall measure she did moderate

The strong extremities of their outrage.

That forward paire she ever would asswage,

When they would strive dew reason to exceed,

But that same froward twaine would accorage,

And of her plenty adde unto their need:

So kept she them in order, and her selfe in heed.

Thus fairely shee attempered her feast,

And pleas’d them all with meete satiety.

At last, when lust of meat and drinke was ceast,

She Guyon deare besought of curtesie

To tell from whence he came through jeopardy,

And whither now on new adventure bownd:

Who with bold grace, and comely gravity,

Drawing to him the eies of all arownd,

From lofty siege began these words aloud to sownd.

“This thy demaund, O Lady! doth revive

Fresh memory in me of that great Queene,

Great and most glorious virgin Queene alive,

That with her soveraine power, and scepter shene,

All Faery lond does peaceably sustene.

In widest Ocean she her throne does reare,

That over all the earth it may be seene;

As morning Sunne her beames dispredden cleare,

And in her face faire peace and mercy doth appeare.

In her the richesse of all heavenly grace

In chiefe degree are heaped up on hye:

And all, that els this worlds enclosure bace

Hath great or glorious in mortall eye,

Adornes the person of her Majestye;

That men, beholding so great excellence

And rare perfection in mortalitye,

Doe her adore with sacred reverence,

As th’Idole of her makers great magnificence.

“To her I homage and my service owe,

In number of the noblest knightes on ground;

Mongst whom on me she deigned to bestowe

Order of Maydenhead, the most renownd

That may this day in all the world be found.

An yearely solemne feast she wontes to hold,

The day that first doth lead the yeare around,

To which all knights of worth and courage bold

Resort, to heare of straunge adventures to be told.

“There this old Palmer shewd himselfe that day,

And to that mighty Princesse did complaine

Of grievous mischiefes which a wicked Fay

Had wrought, and many whelmd in deadly paine;

Whereof he crav’d redresse. My Soveraine,

Whose glory is in gracious deeds, and joyes

Throughout the world her mercy to maintaine,

Eftsoones devisd redresse for such annoyes:

Me, all unfitt for so great purpose, she employes.

“Now hath faire Phebe with her silver face

Thrise seene the shadowes of the neather world,

Sith last I left that honorable place,

In which her roiall presence is enrold;

Ne ever shall I rest in house nor hold,

Till I that false Acrasia have wonne;

Of whose fowle deedes, too hideous to bee told,

I witnesse am, and this their wretched sonne,

Whose wofull parents she hath wickedly fordonne.”

“Tell on, fayre Sir,” said she, “that dolefull tale,

From which sad ruth does seeme you to restraine,

That we may pitty such unhappie bale,

And learne from pleasures poyson to abstaine:

Ill by ensample good doth often gayne.”

Then forward he his purpose gan pursew,

And told the story of the mortall payne,

Which Mordant and Amavia did rew,

As with lamenting eyes him selfe did lately vew.

Night was far spent; and now in Ocean deep

Orion, flying fast from hissing snake,

His flaming head did hasten for to steep,

When of his pitteous tale he end did make:

Whilst with delight of that he wisely spake

Those guestes, beguyled, did beguyle their eyes

Of kindly sleepe that did them overtake.

At last, when they had markt the chaunged skyes,

They wist their houre was spent; then each to rest him hyes.