0> 
 
 3 
 
 ^ 
 
 ITS 
 
LIGINAL CA1 
 
 SPENCER 
 
 Design 'd as Part of his Fairy 
 Queen, but never Printed* 
 Now made Publick, By Nestor 
 
 Ironside, Esq ; . . .' . .;.'- v ; '' : . ^-.; ' 
 London; M.DCC.XIV. 
 
 Reproduced in facsimile, unedited, for the use 
 of students of political and literary history 
 
 ARTHUR H. NASON, PUBLISHER 
 
 UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, NEW YORK CITY 
 
 1912 
 

AN ORIGINAL CANTO OF 
 
 SPENCER 
 
 Designed as Part of his Fairy 
 Queen, but never Printed. 
 Now made Publick, By Nestor 
 
 Ironside, Esq ; 
 
 London; M.DCC.XIV. 
 
 Reproduced in facsimile, unedited, for the use 
 of students of political and literary history 
 
 ARTHUR H. NASON, PUBLISHER 
 
 UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, NEW YORK CITY 
 
 1912 
 
Original Canto 
 
 
 
 O F 
 
 SPENCER 
 
 Defign'd as Part of his FA i R y Qu E E N, 
 but never Printed. 
 
 Now made Publick, 
 By NESTOR IRONSIDE, 
 
 pitta Voluftatis ctwfa jtnt proxim Verls. Hor. 
 
 *i&g&&3f,& 
 
 L NV 
 
 Printed for A. BAJLDWIN near the Oxford-'Anns in 
 Warwic(-Lane. M. DCC.aV. 
 
 (Price 
 

 THE 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 An not infen/lble with what <%eafon tie following <Piec$ 
 of SpencerV will be fufrefted to be fywciow, if A 
 true and fair Account be not fir ft given of it. I am 
 therefore to inform the (Reader, that my Great Grand- 
 father, Sir Caleb Ironfide, was a Schoolfellow and intimate Ac- 
 quaintance of Mr. SpencerV. There are Traditions in the Fflm'dy 
 of many concurring Circumftances that Very much tend to the CP- 
 firmatlon of tins Ajfertion : As, that the <Poet communicated alt 
 his Writings to Sir Caleb, before he made them <Publick.i whether 
 out of Compliment to an old Friend y or becaufe he thought his 
 Judgment really good, I cant fay. It is further faid^ that the 
 Author, out of<%aillery y uid to call him Talus $ there being fome 
 Affinity of the Name of the one to the <Perfon of the other. 
 
 , Upon rummaging my Father s Study, after his Death (I remem- 
 ber 1 wo* then but of two tears /landing in the Univerfoy) among 
 other Family-Obliques , I found JeVeral Sonnets and Paftorals, 
 written by Sir Caleb 5 one of which defcribes a Summers Evening 
 prettily enough^ where Spencer is introducd under the Title of 
 Colin, walking and talking with him upon the Banks of the Mulla 
 A 2 in 
 
 267353 
 
U3 
 
 w Ireland 5 pear which, a confiderable <Part of the Eftate of the 
 Ironfides then lay. One Stan%a,of which <Paftoral runt thus : 
 
 See, gentle Co/w, Silver Mulla weeps. 
 And wets the dewy Shore when you lament 5 
 And eke her plaining Stream in filence fleeps, 
 If you but fmile her Pleafure to augment : 
 Thy powerful Pipe, O lovely Shepherd's Boy, 
 Can .tune infenfate Floods to Grief or Joy. 
 
 From a dufly heap of this antiquated Poetry , I drew the follow- 
 ing Canto 3 which I found a tittle dispgurd with Interpolations 
 and Amendments^ all Jeeming to be written by the fame Hand* 
 At the end of it was written, in Sir Caleb'* Hand 3 This is my 
 dear Friend and Schoole-fellow, Munne Spencers own Hand- 
 wryting 3 but never imprinted, becaufe not approved of by 
 him, though I think it inferiour to none of his Allegories. 
 'This ObferVation I my felf further made : .on the Margin was 
 written in a fmall Character by the Author him/elf^ Memoran^ 
 dum, To relate Mother Hubberd's Tale in Verfe, if it 
 pleafeth God to recover me from my Fevor. From whence 
 I conclude, that this Canto was written in tlx Time of that 
 FeVer 5 and muft therefore take the Liberty to dijfent from Sir 
 Caleb, in averring that I thinly it inferiour to all his other Atte- 
 g&rical Writings : which doubtlefi was one Gteafon why the Author 
 reje&ed it. Several farts of it fem to be written with an un* 
 ufilal Flatnefi with a languid faint Spirit the Author at other 
 times was a Stranger to: and feVeralof the Alexandrines, at the: 
 Oofe of the Stanzas, were undoubtedly breath'd out in the Hei$t 
 a <Phren%y. ' Sut be that as it witl y we may fee by his dijfe* 
 
, 
 
 m 
 
 ring a little from, "the Thred of fa Htftory M it now ftands 
 that it could not be made & fart of it, though probably fo de- 
 figrid when firft fawn. For though all the <Perfons here men- 
 tion d, but one, are introducd by him fomewhere or other, yet he 
 never reprefents tfam under fuch Circumflances. It feems rather 
 that he reVersdhhfirft Defign$ for he has made Arthegall to 
 be enthralfd by R'adigund, who is. fet at liberty by Britomarc, 
 inform d of his Captivity by Talus : and Burbon and Flourdelis 
 are brought in, in the Eleventh Canto of the Fifth Book,, as fuing 
 to Arthegall for Succour, after a Very humble and peaceable man- 
 ner. Why the Author chang'd his firft De/tgn^ it is none of my 
 tBufinefs to enquire* 
 
 I need mafy no Apology for publijbing and obliging the World 
 vaWh any thing written by Jo celebrated a Perfon as EnglandY 
 Arch-Voet Spencer 5 though iforefee how ill it will be relijhed in 
 this Age, where the Stile will be thought obfolete, and the allegorical 
 way of writing has been fo loftg difuid. Who all the <Perfons 
 are he would have hinted at in thoje 'Times, it is bard to tell $ 
 though the Vices which he aims at are Very confyicUous : nor is iff 
 improbable, but he might haVe it in his Mind to diffuade fofterity, 
 by this Example, from fuffering the Liberties of their Confiitution 
 to be infringd by the pretended Zeal of infinuating Traitors* God 
 forbid we Jhould ever fland in need of fuch a (precaution. 
 
 I fhatt further inform the World, that among fome Verfes made 
 in praife of the Author, and publijh'd at the end of his Works in 
 the Edition I have, is a Copy fubfcribed Hobynoll, which I have 
 by me in Sir CalebV Hand, no doubt of his compofing$ who>alfo 
 feems to be introducd in his <Paftorals under that 'Title, as Colin s 
 moji intimate Friend. 1 muft ywn y I was preVaifd upon with no 
 
 jmaH 
 
fmatt Importurtity to make Ms Public^ but the Obligations I 
 to thofe Gentlemen who (erfuaded me to it, ,will more than excufe me : 
 1 fhall Jhortly, at their inftances^ and according to the Welcome this 
 Piece of Antiquity meets with, publifk the <Poems of the Ironfides, 
 written upon divers SubjeEis, by Men of different dges and Genius's 5 
 being f erfuaded they will appear with no dif agreeable Confujlon in a 
 Mifcellany. For you wttft know, all the Ironfides have had fome 
 /mattering of Poetry more or lefs 5 or at leaft have pretended to it. 
 There the Deader fhall be entertain d with the fajhionable Flou- 
 rijhes of every Age, from the Ballad of SidropheLIronfide, in 
 the ^eign of Henry the Fourth, to the Satyr of Neftor Iron- 
 fide, /# in the Time of Charles the Second. 
 
 1 fhall only ajfure the Deader , that what 1 haVe or Jhall publifh, 
 it done with a fincere Defign to inform and pleafe him, who is at 
 liberty to turn it to Inftruttion or S^W/'cw/e, as he things fit. Though 
 I mujt warn him not to cenfure the prefent Fragment, unlefs he 
 knows him/elf to be well acquainted with Spencer, and his manner 
 of writing : for whoever pretends to find fault before he can give 
 his ^eafons for it, will Jhew either his lU-Nature or Jgnoranc $ 
 and expofe bimfelf much more than bis 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 NESTOR IRONSIDE. 
 
[7] 
 
 A N 
 
 Original CANTO, 
 
 Archimage with his Hell-hounds foid 
 J)oth Britomarc enchain : 
 
 Talus doth feek. out Arthegall, 
 And tells him of her <Pam. 
 
 [AIR Liberty, bright Goddefs, Heavenly-born, 
 So high efteem'd by ev'ry living Wight ; 
 O how depreft with Thraldom and with Scorn. 
 Are they who want thy kind refrefhing Light ? 
 How, when we're banilht from thy lovely Sight, 
 Sitting in Clouds of Darknefs evermore, 
 Wrapt up in Errors of eternal Night, 
 Do we, with deep furrounding Sorrows fore, 
 io vain our wretched State with difmal Cries deplore ? 
 
 2* In 
 
C8] 
 
 2. 
 
 In this fad Plight behold fair Britomtrt, 
 Alas ! we muft awhile with-holden fee 
 By that falfe Arcbimag<?$ cunning Art, 
 By whom fair VITA could mifleaden be : 
 la vile Enchantments all excelled He, 
 And whofoever dar'd him to oppofe, 
 Soon feH, or fwiftly did before him fiee ; 
 Or elfe to them he gave a magick Dofe, 
 By which they calmly flept, and fildom more arofe, 
 
 3- 
 
 This nobfe Maiden, whofe avenging Spear 
 So many Tyrant Enemies had (lain; 
 Whofe very Name had filPd all Hearts with Ffear^ 
 Wfcofe very Sight had caufed erft much Pain, 
 In inany a Caftle fair, and many a Plain; 
 Of Life forlorn, or Liberty more fweet, 
 Was now bereft, (0 foul ignoble Stain !) 
 By one vile Caitiff whom too well I weet^ 
 Ere he came near flie mote lay fprauling at ho* Feet. 
 
Cs>3 
 
 4- 
 
 But fhe with 7W/#, Groom 
 In queft of Fame was pacing on her Way ;. 
 Ne dreamt fhe then of any Harm at all, 
 Nor few from whom fhe might exped a Fray : 
 When He, in fhape of Palmer old and gray, 
 DifTembiing, her approacht ; in his left Hand 
 He held an artificial Bough of Bay, 
 And in his right he wav'd a taper Wand, 
 While thus his cunning Speech in comely wize he (can'd. 
 
 5- 
 
 I humbly crave the Caufe (faid he) fair Knight, 
 
 Why in this Land, where nought but Peace fhoul&dwell, 
 You thus appear yclad in Armour bright, 
 Right fully bent fome lufiy Foe to quell, 
 When here are none but Friends that mean you wefl : 
 Let me advize to quit your fierce Intent, 
 And banilh Difcord to its native Hell ; 
 Me here the Princes of this Land have fent 
 To offer Terms of Peace and happy Agreement. 
 
 B 6. With 
 
[10] 
 
 6. 
 
 With modeft Semblant thus he framtt his Tong; 
 But Britomartis prudently forefaw 
 That his difTembled Words intended Wrong, 
 Lifting her into deadly Snares to draw; 
 And thus jQie fpoke in Words commanding Aw. 
 Full well I know what Peace is to be found 
 In Paymrfr Country, where withputen Law 
 Ungentle Knights by force of Arms are crowtfd, 
 And exercife their baleful Tyranny around. 
 
 7- 
 
 By Breach of Publick Faith and guileful Art 
 Full many a noble, Knight they have undone ; 
 By crafty Sleight they ever play their Part, 
 But never ought by worthy Valour wone. 
 Thefe therefore (falfe old Man) nuift be my Pone ; 
 On them I ftrait^way will juft Vengeance reek, 
 On them, who Juftice yet have fhew'd to none ; 
 Thefe are the Rebels which I ever feek, 
 With lharpeii'd Steel of my avenging Lance to flseefc 
 
8. 
 
 This faid, flic onward fpur'd her mettled Steed, 
 And in her Reft coucht well her glittring Spear* 
 And faithful Talus, her Commands to reed, 
 With yron Flail befide her ran fiill near, 
 So that (he mought no living Mortal fear. 
 Whereat the Carle enragM now bolder grew, 
 His Magick Wand aloft he gan uprear, 
 And aftecher with fecret Speed he flew, 
 And ftroke her fo, ah Gods ! the Wound ihe'l ever rev. 
 
 9* 
 
 For foon as fhe th' endiauntirig Touch did feel, 
 The Life-Blood faded in her youthful Cheek, 
 Her crefted Helm and Sword, of tempered Steel, 
 Did into Thoufand Pieces crumbling break, 
 Ne could fhe with her Tongue her Ailment fpeak. 
 Down from her lofty Steed {he trembling fell, 
 And on the Earth's cold Bofom lay fo meek, 
 Who erft could Knights and fturdy Giants queU* 
 Before this fad Milhap fo fodain her befell* 
 
 B 2 ia As 
 
[12] 
 
 10. 
 
 As when fome purple Flowre bedecks the Fields, 
 With Gold enameld, interwove with Green, 
 Which through the Air its dewy Odours yields, 
 Fit to perfume the Bofom of fome Queen ; 
 (So fair a Flowre I. trow is fildom feen,) 
 Yet, when the blafting Mildew's dreary Bane 
 With noifom Breath infefts the Welkin fheen, 
 Its colourd Leaves no longer then remain, 
 But droop and fade away, and die along the Plain, 
 
 ii. 
 
 So faded Jbitom*rti* 9 feireft Flowr ; 
 Her ample Spear befide her ufelefs lay, 
 Her foltring Spright in that accurfed Hour 
 Was dampt with deadly Shame and fore Difmay: 
 Wfcadi cruel Sight did Talus quight affray, 
 And filld his Senfes with Abafhment great, 
 So that with eager Haft he fled away, 
 Ne flayed with that Villain Chorle to treat, 
 "Who toward him came with angry Looks and bitter Threat. 
 
 is. Tho 
 
da 3 
 
 12. 
 
 Tho when he had the Virgin thus at will, 
 He feized firft her Spear and Slueld fo bright 5 
 Yet thus defpoild of Arms he nould her kill, 
 Sith Death is fweet to the enflaved Wight, 
 Who with his Freedom foregoes all Delight : 
 In Bondage her he meaned for to keep, 
 That fhe might make fome Sport for Paynim Knight, 
 Who would rejoyce to fee her wail and weep, 
 Emprifoned full clofe in Dungeon dark and deep* 
 
 *** 
 
 The Trophies won in many a Battle fair 
 (Foul Sight to fee !) the Villein undertrod, 
 And ibore away her golden curled Hair 
 Befceming well to grace fome heav'nly God : 
 Her dradded Plumes that whilom wont to nod, 
 And from Her Creft Ihone like the Ev'ning Star, 
 Languidly faded, ftruk with that fame Rod, 
 Whofe influencing Vapours from afar 
 Shed Peftilence, and all that feemed fair did mar* 
 
14. 
 
 With Witchchrafc vilid he then enwrapt her round 
 In magick Chains of many a mazie Fold, 
 And to a chalky Cliff feft backward bound, 
 Bxpos'd to funny Heat and frory Cold ; 
 Torment too bitter ever to be told. 
 Ah warlike Maid ! who fees thy fad Eftate 
 With Eyes that can from trickling Tears with-hold ? 
 What hoftile Breaft fo fraught with deadly Hate, 
 But muft lament thy Lot, and pity thy hard Fate? 
 
 i5- 
 
 Yet not content with this his cruel Deed, 
 The falfe Enchaunter aggravates her Pain 
 With taunting Words that make her Heart to bleed ; 
 And thus he frames his Speech with light Difdain : 
 Small need has Knight thus guarded to complain ; 
 What Fear of Harm while I thus watchful ftand ? 
 Then banifh from your Mind all Sorrows vain, 
 lor by the Towr of this Almighty Wand, 
 I can approching Dangers far away command. 
 
 id. And 
 
C'53 
 
 And as a Proof of this my Courtefie, 
 Which is not feignd, but real and moft trew, 
 A trufty Legion Ihall be placed nie, 
 Of Courage ftout, a goodly feeming Crew, 
 To reed your high Behefts as is moft dew. 
 With that a bugle Horn he ftrait-way wound, 
 Whofe fhrilling Mufick through the Welkin flew, 
 So that retnoteft Parts mote hear the Sound, 
 Which through Hills, Vales and hollow Rocks, went ecchoing round* 
 
 Eftfoons an ugly and deformed Brood, 
 That with their hideous Yellings rent the Sky, 
 Forth iffued fwiftly from the neighbour Wood, 
 And round the captivd Nymph gan loudly cry ; 
 Such Hell-hounds nere were feen by mortal Eye. 
 Some few like Britijb Bull-dogs ftern and itout, 
 But moft like r fawning Spaniels low did/ly, 
 And meanly to the Wizard's Motions lout, 
 Performing, what he would when fo he caft about. 
 
 18. 
 
[ 
 
 18. 
 
 Yet they not all obeyd his curfed Meed, 
 But on chaft Innocence fome Pity took ; 
 Thofe Bu^dogs ftout of goodly Britifh Breed 
 With Treachery fo foul could never brook, 
 Ne bear on injured Goodnefs thus to look. 
 To free fair Britomart they fiercely ftrove, 
 (Sith Vertue never is by all fbrfbok) 
 And joyning all their Force in common Drove, 
 They vow'd her iron Chains and Fetters to remove. 
 
 19. 
 
 Which when the crafty ArchimAgo faw, 
 Afraid left now his wretched Work fhould fafl, 
 He gins a new devized Scheme to draw, 
 And ties his Hounds in Couples feverall, 
 That he might ftill be Soverain over all: 
 The gen'rous Cur, and Spaniel bafe of Blood, 
 Were linkt together in one fervile Thrall, 
 That thofe who ftill his Meaning underftood, 
 By hanging back might hinder Thefe from doing good* 
 
 20. Thofe 
 
C 
 
 20. 
 
 Thofe honeft Hounds endeavoured ftill foil fain 
 
 To work the forlorn Maiden's Liberty; 
 
 Striving with knawing Teeth to wrarich the Chaia) 
 
 Which did her tender Limbs to th' Rock upty : 
 
 But thefe the bafer Whelps with yelling cry 
 
 Bet off: and ftill as they approched near, 
 
 Perverfely drew their collar'd Necks awry, 
 
 So that they mought not fee that Virgin dear, 
 
 e pity her fad State, nor dread Complainings hsar. 
 
 21. 
 
 For this their Office good, the Sorcerer 
 Forth from a Wallet which befide him hung, 
 Threw many gobbet Offals of good Cheer, 
 Which they devour'd with Cries that loudly rung, 
 And waggM their Tails, and Tilled out their Tucg: 
 Yet when his Bags of Carnage empty grew, , 
 And -to their greedy Jaws he all had flung, 
 Tbe unjuft Carle provokt the goodly Few, 
 
 from their inly Maw their Loads they did opfpew. 
 
 C 22. Which 
 
22. 
 
 Which when the other Hell-dogs did efpy, 
 With much fell Ravin and fierce Greedinefs, 
 They lapt up that fame Filth that near did ly, 
 And rent and tore, and yelPd without Redrefs, 
 Joying they mote the others thus opprefs . 
 And to aggratec their magick Lord the more, 
 Who much delighted in fuch Wickednefs, 
 They deaft their Ears with foul outrageous Rore, 
 And filthy Poifon belcht, of which they had much Store* 
 
 Thereat the others, mov'd with fell Defpight, 
 Their noble Blood high-fwelling in their Heart, 
 Would have ytorn the Sorcerer outright 
 For playing this fo villeinous a Part, 
 At which for very Grief their Soul did fmart .- 
 Ne could the Hell-dogs ftop their furious Heat, 
 Perdie nor ArchimAgo with his Art ; 
 For they impetuous grinn'd a ghaftly Threat, 
 And with their Jharpen'd Fangs the Mongrils off did beat. 
 
 24. O 
 
[Ip] 
 
 Onow feir Br*ta0r4r/&' 'Sprite returns 
 With Ihining plimpfe of Hope's reviving Light, 
 The purple Blood within her pale Cheeks burns ; 
 Once more her Eyes Ihe opens fparkling bright, 
 That erft enfhadow'd lay in darkfome Night : 
 Swift-flying Joy orefpreads her lovely Face, 
 When flie beheld that unexpefted Sight, 
 And merry Tranfport with befeeming Grace 
 Breaks forth ; fure Tokens of her great illuftrious Race ! 
 
 25- 
 
 Like as when Phabus, crownd with golden Beams* 
 Through mirky Clouds that veil the Firmament, 
 His unrefifted Fulgour bughtly (treams, 
 And clears the Sky with Vapours overhent : 
 So the bright Flames that from her Eyes were fent 
 DifTpred a radiant Glory all around, 
 And eas'd the Pain of her fad Captivement, 
 Wbo lay, with many a fore and bitter ftound, 
 Faft lock will k?on fect^s co the dony Ground. 
 
 C 2 26. Ah 
 
[203 
 
 Ah haplefs Maid ! Fate's firm and fix'd Decree 
 Awhile withftands thy growing Happinefe ; 
 And who fo ftrong to- conquer Deftinee, 
 Or the Rcfelvesof Heaven to reprefs? 
 That wyly Man, who wrought thy Wretchednefc, 
 Can ftubborn Sprites and griefly Gorgons tame; 
 Albe thy Prowefs far excells, nathlefs 
 If he his dark inyfterious Charms but name, 
 Loud Storms roar through the Sky, and fhake Earth's foh'd Frame*. 
 
 27. 
 
 Soon as* this Tumult bad the Wizard faw> 
 Which like a fwelling Torrent fiercely rold, 
 And great Deftruftion on him feem'd to draw ; 
 Yet he undaunted flood and ever bold, 
 Counting them one by one their Number told j 
 To know how rfiany did againft him fight, 
 And eke how many with him feem'd to hold, 
 That he from thence mought work his Guiles aright, 
 And on th' Offenders execute his fell Defpight. 
 
 28. Muting 
 
28. 
 
 Mufing a-while with fteddy ferious Look, 
 fie nodded, to and fro in penfive Mood ; 
 Then with his all-bewitching Staff he (book 
 The hollow-founding Lay on which he flood; 
 The quaking Earth trembled full many a Rood. 
 Eftfoonsj the Glebe dividing, there uplprung 
 Six Couple more of that fame Mongril Brood, 
 Who proftrate lickt his Feet with fawning Tong, 
 Then kennelled themfelves the other Pack emong. 
 
 29. 
 
 As when old Nilw with his fatning Wave, 
 Oreflows the fruitful Plains of Egypt's Lond, 
 His flimy Streams the flowry Meadows lave, 
 Manuring als the dry and barren Sond 
 With Mud, that oyerfpreds the delug'd Strond : 
 Soon as the ebbing Stream finks down again, 
 Strange Births emong the teeming Clods are fond; 
 Unheard of Monfters fright the rural Swain, 
 
 half-form'd Bodies rear their Heads above the Plain. 
 
 30. So 
 
I 
 
 So this ualookt for Produft quite affrayd 
 TV avenging Spirit of that angry Crew, 
 And dampt the Hopes of the reviving Maid, 
 
 Whofe Sorrows now afrefh gan to renew, 
 
 At this fo dreadful! and aftounding View : 
 
 For now the Magick Wight, with his bafe Herd, 
 
 Could all the reft full eafily fubdew, 
 
 Ne to affii& them furioufly he fpar'd ; 
 So that his threatfuil Look and Rage by all was fear'd. 
 
 *' 
 
 Then with his Horn again he loudly fung, 
 And blew the Sound aloft into the Air, 
 That Woods and lowly Dales full widely rung, 
 And many a Lake and many a River fair : 
 Eftlbons there forward came a comely Pair, 
 On ftately pacing Courfers mounted high, 
 Who in their Gate Majeftick Prowefs bare; 
 The Knight in Paynim Land bore Sovereinty, 
 The Lady was his Leman fair, and rode him by* 
 
 32. He 
 
He was, I ween, the Great Sir 'Burton hight, 
 Whom late fair ^Bntomnnis did defeat ; 
 A bloody, murdrous and abhorred Knight, 
 Who All with Rage defpighteous did entreat, 
 To rife in Fame, and make his Empire great: 
 Him the falfe Archimago did enfhroud 
 (FavVing with wondrous Art his bafe Retreat) 
 Envelopt fafe within a Sable Cloud, 
 Elfe had he fcant appear'd fo blythe and vainly proud* 
 
 33- 
 
 Yet fhe, that valiant Maid, had firft bereft 
 
 The Heathenifh Tyrant of his blazon'd Shield^ 
 And certes would his Pajnim Skull have cleft, 
 Or made him with full low Obeyfance yield, 
 But that enfhrowded thus Fear wingy-heel'd 
 Him bore far off , ne durft he venture more 
 Gamft Bntomart his .Coward Sword to wield : 
 Who on his guilty Corfe had (truck full fore, 
 And bath'd his brazen Arms in Streams of Purple Gore. 
 
 34. But 
 
But at his Friend old drchimagd's Call, 
 He foon yode forth to feize the wonted Pray; 
 For well he wote fome wretched Wight in Thrall, 
 He had entrapt on that fame craggy way, 
 Withouten Blows, or Dint of bloody Fray : 
 Tho when he faw his lateft dradded Foe, 
 On ftony Rock difarffiM and caft aftray, 
 For fodain Joy his Fear he did foregoe, 
 And grenn'd aloud at Britomarfs heart-breaking Woe. 
 
 35- 
 
 Yet fuch a Dread of his Jate bleeding Smart, 
 And foul Reproches ignominious Stain, 
 Sate deep engraven in his fearfull Heart, 
 That he nould venturp her too near again, 
 So well him warned had his former Pain : 
 But fmiling on the Treachour flood aloof, 
 And cafting forth his vaunting Speeches vain, 
 Upbraided her with villainous Reproof, 
 And Sounder heap'd on Slaunder, as was his Behoof. 
 
 36. So 
 
36. 
 
 So when the wyly Spider has befet 
 Some gallant Wafp, bedeckt with fcalcs of Gold, 
 Enwrappcn in Bis. thinly- woven Net, 
 The ftrugling Fly he firmly doth with-hold, 
 Who (till for Freedom plies both fierce and bold : 
 So that his Foe dares not approche him near, 
 Though clofe within the winding Clew enrold, 
 But from his rankling Sting keeps alway clear, 
 And at his fluttr'ing Motions trembles aye for Fear. 
 
 37- 
 
 So Britowartis, though in Fetters bound, 
 That wicked Coward's Courage did affray, 
 That when her Vifage ftern ihe moved round, 
 His thrilling Heart was filPd with fore Difmay : 
 Yet foftly creeping up he did affay 
 His captive Shield from by her fide to take, 
 And with light Heels it nimbly bore away 
 For flour delis his deareft Ladies fake, 
 Whofe Portraiture thereon the Workman, erft did make. 
 
 D 38. Yet 
 
[26] 
 
 I* 
 
 Yet not that Lady which befide him rode 
 Was Flourdelis, but fair Romania, hight, 
 Who drew her boafted Lineage from fbme God, 
 And deem'd her felf greater than mortal Wight : 
 She many Lovers had of Paynim Knight, 
 But chiefly with Sir Burba* chofe to wonne, 
 Who All affayld to kill in bloody Fight, 
 And Thoufand wretched Mortals had undone, 
 That would not leave their Loves, and worfhip her alone., 
 
 39- 
 
 Upon a wanton Mule (he proudly fate, 
 Clad in white Robes, enfring'd with Crimfon Red : 
 Gold, Pearls and Diamonds in mighty State, 
 Her whole Attire did gayly overfpred ; 
 A triple Coronet adorn'd her Head. 
 And as fhe paft in haughty Surquedry, 
 Like fome great Queen thus richly garniflied, 
 Where-ere fhe caft her .fupercilious Eye, 
 All with low Adoration down on Earth did lye* 
 
 4o. Faft 
 
40. 
 
 Faft by her Side there ran a youthful Squire, 
 Who did with humble Duty on her wait, 
 Joying he mote her beauteous Form admire ; 
 To whom Sir Burbot* promifed had late 
 Him to advance to Knighthood's fair Eftate: 
 And now with Ankim&go gan devize, 
 His vainly fond Ambition to aggrate, 
 In Brifomartis Armour to difguize, 
 Who feem'd his Peer to be in Height and fliapely Size, 
 
 41. 
 
 So gan they foon her Armoury unbrace, 
 Who lay aftound through Force of magick Art, 
 And on that youthful Squire if tried to place, 
 Who thereat woxe right blythe and glad in Heart; 
 Yet nould the Armour fit in any Part ; 
 Which, made for AngeU the Saxon Queen, 
 Did only well befeem fair Britomart ; 
 Ne ever was, ne ever will, I ween, 
 Be worn by fairer Wight, fith fairer maynt be feen. 
 
 D 2 42. The 
 
42. 
 
 The Treffes which adown her fhoulders 
 And veild her fnowy Neck wkh comely 
 Which fineft golden Wyre did far excell, 
 By skillfull Art of crafty Goldfmith'inade, 
 The Sorcerer fhore off with Eurbo??s Blade^ 
 And on his Helmet placed, him to grace: 
 Romania next with Menacings affayd 
 To make her idolize her ftrampet Face, 
 And all by turns nggriev'd her in this Wretched 
 
 4?* 
 
 What iron Breaft fo liard that can endure 
 To work fuch Spight pa Vcrtuous Innocence ? 
 Or dare to violate, with Hands .impure, 
 A Nympli fo fiill of -cnrteons Complacence ? 
 O may the righteous: Gods,, that recorapenfe 
 With Vengeance due the Guih of Sinners foul, 
 Dart Thunder at their Heads of Wrath incenfe ! 
 May flafhing Clouds with teked Lightning. fcowl, 
 While Fiends and Hill-bora Farie* round the MfamMtshpwk ! 
 
 44. But 
 
C 
 
 44. 
 
 But let us leave awhile this Damzell fair* 
 Detained by Paynim Foe in bitter Thrall ; 
 And liften further, while I here declare 
 How fhe was free-ed by Sir ArthegaH, 
 Whilom efpoufed in her Father's Hall : 
 Sage Merlin's cunning Art had thus forefhowu, 
 Though the true Knight file nere had feen at aH; 
 Abfent he in the fflagick Glafs was fliown, 
 And what the Deftinies decree fhall fure be done. 
 
 45- 
 
 That fturdy yron Man bold Talus hight, 
 "Whom Archimago had affrayed fo, 
 "With wondrous Speed fought out this valiant Knight, 
 Where he was warring againft Pa.ymm Foe, 
 In Tilt and Giuft with many a deadly Blow : 
 Eftfoons to him he told the doleful State 
 Of Britomartis over-wfeelmM with Woe ; 
 Wifhing him ftraie, ^ete Tyde might be too late, 
 To hie with him, and (hatch herfrom the Jaws of Fate. 
 
 46*. Strafe 
 
C33 
 
 Strait without Word or Anfwer forth he bent 
 Along as trufty Tatty him did guide, 
 In Might and matchlefs Arms right fully bent 
 To free his Love, and quell the Pajninfs Pride : 
 That Wight muft needs be one Day glorifide, 
 Who againft lawiefs Powre and tortious Wrong, 
 With fierce Avengement gallantly does ride. 
 Thus Arthegall, prickt inly, ftaid not long 
 From his Love's Lore ; fit Matter for another Song* 
 
 FINIS. 
 
cCroxall., 
 An origi 
 Spencer, b 
 
 267353 
 nal canto of 
 y Nestor Ironi 
 
 941 
 C953 
 side 
 
 
 
 1912 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY, OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES