The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

324 THE, FAERIE QUEEN. [ BOOK I.
And all the hinder parts, that few could spy, For to the highest she did still aspire;
Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly. Or, if aught higher were than that, did it desire.
Arrived there, they passed in forthright; And proud Lucifera men did her call,
For still to all the gates stood open wide: That made herself a queen, and crown'd to be;
Yet charge of them was to a porter hight,2 Yet rightful kingdom she had none at all,
Call'd Malveni, who entrance none denied: Nor heritage of native sov'reignty;
Thence to the hall, which was on every side But did usurp with wrong and tyranny
With rich array and costly arras dight: Upon the sceptre which she now did hold:
Infinite sorts of people did abide Nor rul'd her realm with laws, but policy,
There waiting long, to win the wished sight And strong advisement 12 of six wizards old
Of her that was the lady of that palace bright. That with their counsels bad her kingdom did
uphold,
By them they pass, all gazing on them round, pre
Andtothp e4 msSoon as the Elfin KInight in presence came,
And to the presence4 mount; whose glorious And false Duessa, seeming lady fair,
And false Duessa, seeming lady fair,
view
Their frail amazed senses did confound. A gentle usher, Vanity by name,
In living prince's court none ever knew Made room, and passage for them did prepare:
In living prince's court none ever knew
So goodly brought them to the lowest stair i
Such endless riches, and so sumptuous shew: So goodly brought them to the lowest stair
Not f te n e of p s pride Of her high throne; where they, on humble knee
Not Persia's self, the nurse of pompous pride, M o,
Making obeisance, did the cause declare
Like ever saw: and there a noble crew
Of lords and aies sd on evy sde, Why they were come her royal state to see,
Of lords and ladies stood on ev'ry side,
Which with their presence fair the place much prove the wide report f her great majesty.
beautified. With lofty eyes, half loth to look so low,
She thanked them in her disdainful wise;
High above all a cloth of state was spread, N ther grace vouchsafed them to show
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day;
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day; Of princess worthy; scarce them bade arise.
On which there sat, most brave embellished Her lords and ladies all this while devise'With royal robes and gorgeouis array, Themselves to setten forth to stranger's sight:
A maiden queen, that shone as Titan's ray 5 Some frouncel4 their curlid hair in courtly guise;
In glist'ring gold and peerless precious stone Some prank 5 their ruffs and others trimly
Yet her bright blazing beauty did assay6 - dight 16
To dim the brightness of her glorious throne, Their gay attire: each others greater pride does
As envying herself, that too exceeding shone:.
Exceeding shone, like Phoebus' fairest child,7 Goodly they all that Knight do entertain,
That did presume his father's fiery wain, Right glad with him to have increas'd their crew;
And flaming mouths of steeds unwonted wild, But to Duess' each one himself did pain 1
Throughhighestheav'nwithweakerhandtorein; All kindness and fair courtesy to show;
Proud of such glory and advancement vain, For in that court whil6m18 her well they knew:
While flashing beams do daze8 his feeble eyen, Yet the stout Faery mongst the middest crowd
He leaves the welkin 9 way most beaten plain, Thought all their glory vain in knightly view,
And, wrapp'd with whirling wheels, inflames the And that great princess too exceeding proud,
skien That to strange knight no better countenance
With fire not made to burn, but fairly for to shine. allow'd.
So proud she shined in her princely state, Sudden upriseth from her stately place
Looking to heav'n; for earth she did disdain: The royal dame, and for her coach doth call:
And sitting high; for lowly she did hate: All hurtle forth; 19 and she, with princely pace,
Lo, underneath her scornful feet was lain As fair Aurora, in her purple pall,
A dreadful dragon with a hideous train; 1 Out of t ea he east the dawning day doth call,
And in her hand she held a mirror bright, So forth she comes; her brightness broad doth
Wherein her face she often viewed fain,1 blaze.
And in her self-lov'd semblance took delight; The heaps of people, thronging in the hall,
For she was wondrous fair, as any living wight. Do ride each other,20 upon her to gaze:
Of grisly-Pluto she the daughter was, Her glorious glitt'ring light doth all men's eyes
And sad Proserpina, the queen of hell; amaze.
Yet did she think her peerless worth to pass So forth she comes, and to her coach does climb,
That parentage, with pride so did she swell; Adorned all with gold and garlands gay,
And thund'ring Jove, that high in heaven doth That seem'd as fresh as Flora in her prime,
dwell And strove to match, in royal rich array,
And wield the world, she claimed for her sire; Great Juno's golden chair; 21 the which, they say,
Or if that any else did Jove excel; The gods stand gazing on, when she does ride
1 Directly. 2 Entrusted. 12 Counselling. 13 Step. 14 Plait.
8 Decked. 4 Presence-chamber. 15 Adjust ostentatiously. 16 Arrange.
5 Like the sun. 6 Attempt. 17 Exert. 18 Of former days.
7 Phaethon. 8 Dazzle, dim. 19 Rush forth in ajostling crowd.
9 Heavenly. 10 Tail. 20 Crowd and strain to peer over each other's heads.
11 With pleasure. 21 Chariot.