Yet were there fome in that blithe company
That aptly could discourse of virtuous lore,
Of manners, wisdom, and found policy;
Yet nould they often ope their facred store,
Ne might their voice be heard 'mid riot and uproar
XVIII.
Thereto the joys of idleness and love,
And luxury, that befots the nobleft mind,
And cuftom prevalent at diftance drove
All fenfe and relish of a higher kind,
Whereby the foul to virtue is refin'd.
Inftead whereof the arts of flavery
Were taught, of flavery perverse and blind,
That vainly boafts her native liberty,
Yet wears the chains of pride, of luft, and gluttony.
Of which the red-crofs knight right well aware,
Would in no wife agree with them to go,
Albeit with courtly glee their leader fair,
* Hight Politeffa, him did kindly woo.
But all was falfe pretence, and hollow show,
Falfe as the flow'rs which to their breafts they ty'd,
Or those which feemed in their cheeks to glow,
For both were falfe, and not by Nature dy'd.
False rivals of the spring, and beauty's rofy pride.
Then from behind them ftraitway 'gan advaunce
An uncouth ftripling quaintly habited,
As for fome revel mafk, or antic daunce,
All chequer'd o'er with yellow, blue, and red;
Als in a vizor black he fhrouds his head,
The which he toffed to and fro amain,
And beft his lathy falchion brandished,
As if he meant fierce battle to darrain,
And like a wanton ape eft skip'd he on the plain.
XXI.
And eft about him skip'd a gaudy throng
Of youthful gallants, frolic, trim, and gay,
Chanting in careless notes their amourous fong,
Match'd with like careless gefts, like amourous play.
Als were they gorgeous, drefs'd in rich array,
And well accepted of that female train,
Whofe hearts to joy and mirth devoted aye,
Each proffer'd love receive without disdain,
And part without regret from each late-favour'd fwain. XXII.
And now they do accord in wanton daunce
To join their hands upon the flow'ry plain;
The whiles with amourous leer and eyes afkaunce
Each damfel fires with love her glowing swain ;
'Till all-impatient of the tickling pain,
In fudden laughter forth at once they break,
And ending fo their daunce, each tender twain
To fhady bow'rs forthwith themselves betake,
Deep hid in myrtle groves, befide a filver lake.
XXIII.
Thereat the red-crofs knight was much enmov'd,
And 'gan his heart with indignation fwell,
To view in forms fo made to be belov❜d,
Ne faith, ne truth, ne heav'nly virtue dwell:
But luft instead, and falfhood, child of hell;
And glutton floth, and love of gay attire:
And footh to fay, them well could parallel
Their lufty paramours in vain defire ;
Well fitted to each dame was every gallant squire.
Yet when their fov'reign calls them forth to arms
Their fov'reign, whofe behefts they moft revere,
Right wifely can they menage war's alarms,
And wield with valour great the martial spear,
So that their name is dreaded far and near.
Oh! that for Liberty they did fo fight!
Then need not Fairy-land their prowess fear,
Ne give in charge to her advent'rous knight
Their friendship to beware, and fenfe-deluding fleight.
But not for liberty they wagen war,
But folely to f aggrate their mighty lord,
For whom their dearest blood they & nillen spare,
Whenfo him lifteth draw the conqu❜ring fword;
So is that idol vain of them ador'd,
Who ne with might beyond his meanest thrall
Endued, ne with fuperior wisdom ftor'd,
Sees at his feet proftrated millions fall,
And with religious drad obey his princely call.
XXVI.
Thereto fo high and ftately was his port,
That all the petty kings him fore envy'd,
And would him imitate in any sort,
With all the mimic pageantry of pride,
And worship'd be like him, and deify'd
Of courtly fycophants and caitifs vile,
Who to those services themselves apply'd,
And in that school of fervitude ere while
Had learn'd to bow and grin, and flatter, and beguile.
XXVII.
For to that feminary of fashions vain
The rich and noble from all parts repair,
Where grown enamour'd of the gaudy train,
And courteous haviour gent and debonair,
They caft to imitate fuch femblaunce fair;
And deeming meanly of their native lond,
Their own rough virtues they disdain to wear,
And back returning dreft by foreign hond,
Ne other matter care, ne other understond
XXVIII.
Wherefore th' echaunter vile, who fore was griev'd
To fee the knight reject thofe damfels gay,
Wherewith he thought him fure to have deceiv'd,
Was minded to that court him to convey,
And daze his eyen with Majesty's bright ray
So to a stately caftle he him brought,
Which in the midst of a great garden lay,
And wifely was by cunning craftsmen wrought,
And with all riches deck'd furpaffing human thought,
XXIX.
There underneath a fumptuous canopy,
That with bright ore and diamonds glitter'd far,
Sate the fwoln form of royal i furquedry,
And deem'd itfelf k allgates fome creature rare,
While its own haughty state it mote compare
With the bafe count'nance of the vassal fry,
That feem'd to have nor eye, nor tongue, nor ear;
Ne any fenfe, ne any faculty,
That did not to his throne owe servile ministry.
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