One day, nigh weary of the irksome way, It fortuned, out of the thickest wood gaping mouth at her ran greedily, The lion would not leave her desolate, And, when she waked, he waited diligent, THE MARRIAGE OF UNA TO ST. GEORGE. His own two hands the holy knots did knit, That none but death for ever can divide; His own two hands, for such a turn most fit, The housling fire did kindle and provide, And holy water thereon sprinkled wide; At which the bushy teade a groom did light, And sacred lamp in secret chamber hide, Where it should not be quenched day nor night, [bright. For fear of evil fates, but burnen ever Then gan they sprinkle all the posts with wine, [day: And made great feast to solemnize that They all perfumed with frankincense divine, And precious odours fetched from far away, That all the house did sweat with great array. And all the while sweet music did apply During the which there was an heavenly Yet wist no creature whence that heavenly sweet Proceeded, yet each one felt secretly Himself thereby reft of his senses meet, And ravished with rare impression in his sprite. THE BOWER OF BLISS. THENCE passing forth, they shortly do arrive Whereas the Bower of Bliss was situate; Goodly it was enclosed round about, As well their entered guests to keep within, As those unruly beasts to hold without; Yet was the fence thereof but weak and thin ; Nought feared their force, that fortilace to win, [might, But Wisdom's power, and Temperance's By which the mightiest things efforced bin : And eke the gate was wrought of substance light, [fight. Rather for pleasure than for battery or It framèd was of precious ivory, First through the Euxine seas bore all the Ye might have seen the frothy billows fry A piteous spectacle did represent; All this and more might in that goodly gate Be read, that ever open stood to all Which thither came; but in the porch there sate A comely personage of stature tall, And semblance pleasing, more than natural, That travell'rs to him seemed to entice: His looser garment to the ground did fall, And flew about his heels in wanton wise, Nor fit for speedy pace or manly exercise. They in that place him Genius did call : Not that celestial Pow'r, to whom the care Of life, and generation of all That lives, pertains in charge particular, Who wondrous things concerning our welfare And strange phantoms, doth let us oft foresee, And oft of secret ills bids us beware: That is our Self, whom though we do not see, [be: Yet each doth in himself it well perceive to Therefore a god him sage Antiquity He of this garden had the governal, With diverse flowers he daintily was decked, And strowed round about; and by his side A mighty mazer* bowl of wine was set, So did he eke Sir Guyon passing by, Thus being entered, they behold around grassy ground Mantled with green, and goodly beautified With all the ornaments of Flora's pride, Wherewith her mother Art, as half in scorn Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride Did deck her, and too lavishly adorn, When forth from virgin bow'r she comes in th' early morn. Thereto the heavens always jovial Looked on them lovely, still in steadfast state, Ne suffered storm nor frost on them to fall, Their tender buds or leaves to violate: Nor scorching heat, nor cold intemperate, T' afflict the creatures which therein did dwell; But the mild air with season moderate Gently attempered and disposed so well, That still it breathed forth sweet spirit and wholesome smell. More sweet and wholesome than the pleasant hill [bore Of Rhodope, on which the nymph, that A giant babe, herself for grief did kill; * A carved bowl of maple wood. Or the Thessalian Tempe, where of yore Fair Daphne Phoebus' heart with love did gore; Or Ida, where the gods loved to repair, Whenever they their heavenly bowers forlore; Or sweet Parnasse, the haunt of Muses fair; Or Eden self, if aught with Eden mote compare. Much wondered Guyon at the fair aspect Of that sweet place, yet suffered no delight To sink into his sense, nor mind affect; But passed forth, and looked still forward right, Bridling his will and mastering his might: Till that he came unto another gate; No gate, but like one, being goodly dight With boughs and branches, which did broad dilate Their clasping arms in wanton wreathing's intricate. So fashioned a porch with rare device, All passers-by to taste their luscious wine, As freely offering to be gathered; And them amongst some were of burnished So made by art to beautify the rest, As lurking from the view of covetous guest, Did bow adown as overburdened. In her left hand a cup of gold she held, And with her right the riper fruit did reach, Whose sappy liquor, that with fulness swelled, Into her cup she scruzed with dainty breach! Of her fine fingers, without foul empeach, That so fair winepress made the wine more sweet. Thereof she used to give to drink to each Whom passing by she happened to meet: It was her guise all strangers goodly so to greet. So she to Guyon offered it to taste, But suffered him to pass, all were she loth: Who, nought regarding her displeasure, forward goth. There the most dainty paradise on ground Itself doth offer to his sober eye, In which all pleasures plenteously abound, And none does other's happiness envy; The painted flowers; the trees upshooting high; The dales for shade; the hills for breathing space; The trembling groves; the crystal running by ; And, that which all fair works doth most aggrace, The art, which all that wrought, appeared in no place. One would have thought (so cunningly the rude And scorned parts were mingled with the fine), That Nature had for wantoness ensued Art, and that Art of Nature did repine; So striving each th' other to undermine, Each did the other's work more beautify; So differing both in wills agreed in fine: So all agreed, through sweet diversity, This garden to adorn with all variety. And in the midst of all a fountain stood, Ofrichest substance that on earth might be, So pure and shiny that the silver flood Through every channel running one might The whiles some one did chant this lovely lay: Ah! see, whoso fair thing dost fain to see, In springing flower the image of thy day! Ah! see the virgin rose, how sweetly she Doth first peep forth with bashful modesty; That fairer seems the less ye see her may! Lo! see soon after how more bold and free |