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

344 THE FAERIE QUEEN. [BOOK I
There reign'd a solemn silence over all; Defiled was, that dreadful was to view;
Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seen, in And sacred 11 ashes over it were strowed new.
bow'r or hall! And there beside of marble stone was built
At last, with creeping crooked pace, forth came An altar, carv'd with cunning imag'ry;
An old, old man, with beard as white as snow; On which true Christians' blood was often spilt,
That on a staff his feeble steps did frame, And holy martyrs often done to die,l2
And guide his weary gait both to and fro; With cruel malice and strong tyranny:
For his eyesight him failed long ago: Whose blessed sprites,13 from underneath the
And on his arm a bunch of keys he bore, stone,
The which, unused, rust did overgrow: To God for vengeance cried continually;
Those were the keys of every inner door; And with great grief were often heard to groan,
But he could not them use, but kept them still That hardest heart would bleed to hear their
in store. piteous moan.
But very Uncouth sight was to behold Through every room lie sought, and every bow'r;
How he did fashion his untoward 1 pace; But nowhere could he find that woeful thrall.14
For, as he forward mov'd his footing old, At last he came unto an iron door,
So backward still was turn'd his wrinkled face: That fast was lock'd; but key found not at all
Unlike to men, who ever, as they trace,a Amongst that bunch to open it withal;
Both feet and face one way are wont to lead. But in the same a little grate was pight,15
This was the ancient keeper of that place, Through which he senthisvoice, and loud did call
And foster-father of the giant dead; With all his pow'r, to weet 16 if living wight
His name Ignaro 3 did his nature right aread.4 Were housed therewithin, whom he enlargen 17
His rev'rend hairs and holy gravity might.
The knight much honour'd, as beseemed well; Therewith an hollow, dreary, murmuring voice
And gently ask'd where all the people be These piteous plaints and dolours did resound;
Which in that stately building wont to dwell: " 0! who is that which brings me happy choice
Who answer'd him full soft, He could not tell. Of death, that here lie dying every stound,18
Again he ask'd, where that same knight was laid Yet live perforce in baleful darkness bound?
Whom great Orgoglio, with his puissance fell, For now three moons have changed thrice their
Had made his caitive thrall: 5 again he said, hue,
He could not tell; nor ever other answer made. And have been thrice hidunderneath the ground,
Then asked he, which way he in might pass: ^Since I the heaven's cheerful face did view:
He could not tell, again he answered. welcome, thouthat dost of death bring tidThereat the courteous knight displeased was, ings true
Andsaid; "Old sire, it seems thou hast not read6 Which when that champion heard, with piercing
How ill it sits with 7 that same silver head point
In vain to mock, or mock'd'in vain to be: Of pity dear his heart was thrilled sore;
But if thou be, as thou art p6rtrayed And trembling horror ran through every joint,
With Nature's pen, inage's grave degree, For ruth 19 of gentle knight so foul forlore: 20
Aread 8 in graver wise what I demand of thee." Which shaking off, he rent that iron door
With furious force and indignation fell;
His answer likewise was, He could not tell. With furious force and indignation fell;or,
Whose senseless speech, and doted ignorance, Where enter'd in, his foot could find no floor,
When as the noble Prince had emarkd wellg, But all a deep descent, as dark as hell,
WVhen as the noble Prince had marked well, ) X
He guess'd his nature ibye his countenance; That breathdd forth a filthy baneful smell.
He guess'd his nature by his countenance; 9
And calm'd his wrath with goodly temperance. But neither darkness foul, nor filthy bands,
Then, to him stepping, from his arm did reach Nor noyous 21 smell, his purpose could withhold
Those keys, and made himself free enterance. (Entire affection hateth nicer hands22),
Each door he open'd without any breach: But that with constant zeal and courage bold,
There was no bar to stop, nor foe him to im- After long pains and labours manifold,
peach.l0 He found the means that prisoner up to rear;
There all within full rich array'd he found, Whose feeble thighs, unable to uphold
With royal arras, and resplendent gold, His pinid corse,23 him scarce to light could bear;
And did with store of every thing abound, A eful spectacle of death and ghastly drear.24
That greatest prince's presence might behold. His sad dull eyes, deep sunk in hollow pits,
But all the floor (too filthy to be told) Could not endure th' unwonted sun to view;
With blood of guiltless babes, and innocentstrue, His bare thin cheeks, for want of better bits,25
Which there were slain, as sheep out of the fold, And empty sides deceivd 26 of their due,
1 Awkward, reluctant. 2 Walk. 15 Fixed. 16 Know.
3 Ignorance. 4 Describe. 17 Liberate. 18 Moment.
5 Captive slave. 6 Learned. 19 Pity. 20 Forlorn, undone.
7 Becomes. 8 Declare. 21 Loathsome.
9 Demeanour. 22 Earnest resolution, or all-absorbing love, does not
10 From French, " empecher," to prevent, hinder. halt for fastidiousness or delicacy.
11 Accursed. 12 Slain. 23 Wasted body. 24 Wretchedness.
13 Spirits. 14 Captive; the Redcross Knight. 2 Food. 26, efrauded.