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

CANTOQ XII.] THE IAERIE Q UEEN 441
And an earthquake, as if it straight would;loose Like as the sunburnt Indians do array
The world's foundations from his centre fixt: Their tawny bodies intheir proudest plight:
A direful stench of smoke and sulphur mixt As those same plumes, so seem'd he vain and
Ensued, whose noyance fill'd the fearful stead light,
From the fourth hour of night until the sixt; That by his gait might easily appear;
Yet the bold Britoness was naught y-dread,2 For still he far'd as dancing in delight,
Though much enmov'd, but steadfast still per- And in his hand a windy fan did bear,
severed. That in the idle air he mov'd still here and there.
All suddenly a stormy whirlwind blew And him beside march'd amorous Desire,
Throughout the house, that clappid ev'ry door; Who seem'd of riper years than th' other swain,
With which that iron wicket open flew, Yet was that other swain this elder's sire,
As it with mighty levers had been tore; And gave him being, common to them twain:
And forth issfed, as on the ready floor His garment was disguised very vain,
Of some theatre, a grave personage And his embroider'd bonnet sat awry:
That in his hand a branch of laurel bore,'Twixt both his hands few sparks he close did
With comely'haviour and count'nance sage, strain,
Y-clad in costly garments fit for tragic stage. Which still he blew and kindled busily,
That soon they life conceivd, and forth in
Proceeding to the midst, he still did stand, es d f.
flames did fly.
As if in mind he somewhat had to say;
And to the vulgar 3 beckoning with his hand, Next after him went Doubt, who was y-clad
In sign of silence, as to hear aplay, In a discolour'd 2 coat of strange disguise,
By lively acti6ns he gan bewray 4 That at his back a broad cappucio13 had,
Some argument of matter passionSd; And sleeves dependent Albanese-wise';4
Which done, he back retired soft away, He look'd askew with his mistrustful eyes,
And, passing by, his name discovered, And nicely trod, as thorns lay in his way,
Ease, on his. robe in golden letters ciphered. Or that the floor to shrink he did advise;15
And on a broken reed he still did stay
The noble Maid, still standing, all this view'd, h si i s
The noble Maid, still stading, ahis vied, His feeble steps, which shrank when hard
And marvell'd at his strange intendiment:I7.i. n?~ ~Rthereon he lay.
With that a joyous fellowship6 issfed
Of minstrels making goodly merriment, With him went Danr, cloth'd in ragged weed
With wanton bards, and rhymers impudent; Made of bear's skin, that him more dreadful
All which together sang full cheerfully made;
A lay of love's delight with sweet concent:7 Yet his own face was dreadful, nor did need
After whom march'd a jolly company, Strange horror 1 to deform his grisly shade:17
In manner of a masque, enrangid orderly. A net in th' one hand, and a rusty blade
In th' other was; this Mischief, that Mishap;
The while a most delicious harmony Vith th' one his foes he threaten'd to invade,
In full strange notes was sweetly heard to sound, With th' other he his friends meant to enwrap:
That the rare sweetness of the melody For whom he could not kill he practis'd to enThe feeble senses wholly did confound, trap
And the frail soul in deep delight nigh drown'd:
And, when it ceas'd, shrill trumpets loud did Next him was all armd from top to te,
e ~bray,'~~ ^Yet thought himself not safe enough thereby,
bray,.That their report did far away rebounds But fear'd each shadow moving to or fro;
That their report dlid far away rebound; *.
And, his own arms when glitt ring he did spy,
And, when they ceas'd, it gan again to play, nd, his own arms when glittg he did spy, i", * *. t'.. J.~~ J.'.Or clashing heard, he fast away did fly,
The while the masquers marchSd forth in trim Or clashing heard, he fast away did fly,
As ashes pale of hue, and wingid-heel'd;
array. And evermore on Danger fix'd his eye,
The first was Eac like a lovely boy'Gainst whom he always bent a brazen shield,
Of rare aspect and beauty without peer, Which his right hand unarmed fearfully did
Matchable either to that imp 9 of Troy, wield.
Whom Jove did love and chose his cup to bear; With him went Hone in rank, a handsome maid,
Or that same dainty lad, which was so dear Of cheerful look and lovely to behold;
To great Alcides, that, when as he died, In silken samitc18 she was light array'd,
He wailed womanlike with many a fear,
He wailned womanlike with many a tear, And her fair locks were woven up in gold:
And ev'ry wood and ev'ry valley wide She always smil'd, and in her hand did hold
He fill'd with Hylas' name; the nymphs eke A holy-water-sprinkle, dipt in dew,
Hylas cried. With which she sprinkled favours manifold
His garment neither was of silk nor say,l1 On whom she list, and did great iiking shew;
But painted plumes in goodly order dight, Great liking unto many, but true love to few.,
1 Annoyance. 13 Capuchin, or hood; called after the Capuchin monks,
2 Terrified. 3 The crowd, the audience. from whose dress it was imitated.
4 Reveal, unfold. 5 Meaning, design. 14 Loose hanging sleeves in the Albanian fashion.
6 Company. 7 Harmony. 15 Perceive.
8 Re-echo. 9 Youth. 10 Thin silk stuff. 16 Any horror but its own, any foreign horror.
11 Fantastically fashioned or trimmed. 17 Appearance.
12 Many-coloured. 18 A light fine silk fabric.