But he, enraged with rancor, nothing hears.
Her servile beast yet would not leave her so,
But follows her far off, nor ought he fears
To be partaker of her wandring woe,
More mild in beastly kind, than that her beastly foe.
To sinful house of Pride Duess
a guides the faithful knight;
Where, brother's death to wreak, Sansjoy
Doth challenge him to fight.
YOUNG knight whatever, that dost arms profess,
And through long labors huntest after fame,
Beware of fraud, beware of fickleness,
In choice, and change, of thy dear-loved dame;
Lest thou of her believe too lightly blame,
And rash misweening do thy heart remove :
For unto knight there is no greater shame,
Then lightness and inconstancy in love;
That doth his Red Cross Knight's ensample plainly prove.
Who, after that he had left fair Una lorn,
Through light misdeeming of her loyalty;
And false Duessa in her stead had borne,
Called Fidess', and so suppos'd to be;
Long with her travell'd; till at last they see
A goodly building, bravely garnished;
The house of mighty prince it seemed to be;
And towards it a broad high way that led,
All bare through peoples feet, which thither travelled.
Great troops of people travell'd thitherward
Both day and night, of each degree and place;
But few returned, having scaped hard,
With baleful beggary, or foul disgrace;
Which ever after in most wretched case,
Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.
Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace;
For she is weary of the toilsome way;
And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.
A stately palace built of squared brick, ⚫
Which cunningly was without mortar laid,
Whose walls were high, but nothing strong nor thick,
And golden foils all over them displaid,
That purest sky with brightness they dismay'd:
High lifted up were many lofty towers,
And goodly galleries far over laid,
Full of fair windows and delightful bowers;
And on the top a dial told the timely hours.
It was a goodly heap for to behold,
And spake the praises of the workmans wit;
But full great pity, that so fair a mould
Did on so weak foundation ever sit:
For on a sandy hill, that still did flit
And fall away, it mounted was full high:
That every breath of heaven shaked it ;
And all the hinder parts, that few could spy,
Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.
A keen stroke of satire; for nothing is so mean as pride ;—so superficial in its shows-so shameless in its counterfeits-so ignorant of the uses of self-respect-so neglectful of private happiness.
Arrived there, they passed in forth right;
For still to all the gates stood open wide:
Yet charge of them was to a porter hight,
Cald Malvenú, who entrance none denied ;
Thence to the hall, which was on every side
With ich array and costly arras dight;
Infinite sorts of people did abide
There waiting long, to win the wished sight
Of her, that was the lady of that palace bright.
By them they pass, all gazing on them round,
And to the presence mount; whose glorious view
Their frail amazed senses did confound.
In living prince's court none ever knew
Such endless riches, and so sumptuous show;
Not Persia's self, the nurse of pompous pride,
Like ever saw and there a noble crew
Of lords and ladies stood on every side,
Which, with their presence fair, the place much beautified.
High above all a cloth of state was spread,
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day;
On which there sate, most brave embellished
With royal robes and gorgeous array,
A maiden queen that shone, as Titan's ray,
In glistring gold and peerless precious stone;
Yet her bright blazing beauty did assay
To dim the brightness of her glorious throne,
As envying her self, that too exceeding shone :
Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fairest child,
That did presume his father's fiery wain,
And flaming mouths of steeds unwonted wild,
Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rein;
Proud of such glory and advancement vain,
While flashing beams do daze his feeble eyen,
He leaves the welkin way most beaten plain,
And, rapt with whirling wheels, inflames the skyen
With fire not made to burn, but fairly for to shine.
So proud she shined in her princely state,
Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdain :
And sitting high; for lowly she did hate :
Lo, underneath her scornful feet was lain
A dreadful dragon with an hideous train;
And in her hand she held a mirror bright,
Wherein her face she often viewed fain,
And in her self-lov'd semblance took delight;
For she was wondrous fair, as any living wight.
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