From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto I. A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde, Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine, The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde; Yet armes till that time did he never wield: His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield; Full iolly knight he seemed, and faire did sitt, As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt. And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead, as living ever, him adored: Upon his shield the like was also scored, For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had, Right, faithfull, true he was in deede and word; But of his cheere, 1 did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. 2 Upon a great adventure he was bond, That greatest Gloriana to him gave, That greatest glorious queene of Faëry lond, To winne him worshippe, and her grace to have, Which of all earthly thinges he most did crave: And ever, as he rode, his hart did earne To prove his puissance in battell brave Upon his foe, and his new force to learne; Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne. A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly asse more white then snow; Yet she much whiter; but the same did hide Under a vele, that wimpled was full low; And over all a blacke stole shee did throw: As one that inly mournd, so was she sad, And heavie sate upon her palfrey slow; Seemèd in heart some hidden care she had; And by her in a line a milke-white lambe she lad. So pure and innocent as that same lambe She was in life and every vertuous lore; And by descent from royall lynage came Of ancient kinges and queenes, that had of yore Their scepters stretcht from east to westerne shore, And all the world in their subiection held; Till that infernall feend with foule uprore Forwasted all their land, and then expeld; Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, That lasie seemd, in being ever last, Or wearièd with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, And angry Iove an hideous storme of raine Did poure into his lemans lap so fast, That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain; And this faire couple eke to shrowd themselves were fain. Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, A shadie grove not farr away they spide, That promist ayde the tempest to withstand; Whose loftie trees, yclad with sommers pride, Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide, Not perceable with power of any starr; And all within were pathes and alleies wide, With footing worne, and leading inward farr: Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred ar. Note 1. countenance. [back] Note 2. dreaded. [back]
Una and the Red Crosse Knight
More from Poet
-
Homokba írtam kedvesem nevét, de jött a hullám s rajzom elsöpörte: leírtam újra minden betűjét, de jött a dagály s munkám eltörölte. Hiú ember, hiú vágy - szólt pörölve a lány - megfogni a pillanatot, hisz magam is így omlok egykor össze és nevemmel együtt elpusztulok. Tévedsz! - felelte: -...
-
From “Amoretti.” Sonnet LXXV. ONE day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves, and washèd it away: Agayne, I wrote it with a second hand; But came the tyde, and made my paynes his prey. Vayne man, say’d she, that doest in vayne assay A mortall thing so to immortalize; For I my...
-
From “An Hymne in Honor of Beautie” SO every spirit, as it is most pure, And hath in it the more of heavenly light, So it the fairer bodie doth procure To habit in, and it more fairly dight With cheerfull grace and amiable sight; For of the soule the bodie forme doth take; For soule is forme,...
-
From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto I. HE, making speedy way through spersèd ayre, And through the world of waters wide and deepe, To Morpheus house doth hastily repaire, Amid the bowels of the earth full steepe, And low, where dawning day doth never peepe, His dwelling is; there...
-
From “The Faërie Queene,” Book II. Canto XII. THERE the most daintie paradise on ground Itselfe doth offer to his sober eye, In which all pleasures plenteously abownd, And none does others happinesse envye; The painted flowres; the trees upshooting hye; The dales for shade; the...