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

CANTO XII.] THE FAERIE QUEEN. 365
Then gan they sprinkle all the posts with wine, Thrice happy man the Knight himself did hold,
And made great feast to solemnise that day: Possessed of his Lady's heart and hand;
They all perfum'd with frankincense divine, And ever, when his eye did her behold,
And precious odours fetch'd from far away, His heart did seem to melt in pleasures manifold.
That all the house did sweat with great array Her joyous presence and sweet company
And all the while sweet music did apply In full content he there did long enjoy;
Her curious skill the warbling notes to play, Nor wicked envy, nor vile jealousy,
To drive away the dull melancholy; His dear delights were able to annoy:
The while one sung a song of love and jollit. Yet, swimming in that sea of blissful joy,
During the which there was a heav'nly noise He naught forgot how he whil6m had sworn,
Heard sound through all the palace pleasantly, In case he could that monstrous beast destroy,
Like as it had been many an angel's voice Unto his Faery Queen back to return;
Singing before th' Eternal Majesty The which he.shortly did, and Una left to
In their trinal triplicities 1 on high: mourn.
Yet wist no creature whence that heav'nly sweet Now strike your sails, ye jolly mariners,
Proceeded, yet each one felt secretly For we be come unto a quiet road,2
Himself thereby reft of his senses meet, Where we must land some of our passengers,
And ravished with rare impression in his sprite. And light this weary vessel of her load;
Great joy was made that day of young and old, Here she a while may make her safe abode,
And solemn feast proclaim'd throughout the Till she repaired have her tackles spent,3
land, And wants supplied; and then again abroad
That their exceeding mirth may not be told: On the long voyage whereto she is bent:
Suffice it here by signs to understand Well may she speed, and fairly finish her
The usual joys at knitting of love's band. intent! 4
THE SECOND BOOK Yet have from wisest ages hidden been;
And later times things more unknown shall show.
OF Why then should witless man so much misween 8
THE FAERIE QUEEN: That nothing is, but that which he hath seen?
What if, within the moon's fair shining sphere,
CONTAINING What if, in every other star unseen,
THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON, OR OF Of other worlds he happily9 should hear?
TE'MIPERAANCE. He wonder would much more; yet such to some
appear.
RIGHT well I wot, most mighty Sovereign, Of Faery Land yet if he more inquire
That all this famous fintique history
TOf some th' abundance of an idle brain By certain signs, here set in sundry place,
Of 5 some th' abundance of an idle brain
He may it find; nor let him then admire,l0
Will judged be, and painted forgery,
Rat than mat, ter of just memory;, But yield 1 his sense to be too blunt and base,
Ratfher than matter of Juste memory; That n'ot 12 without a hound fine footing trace.
Since none that breatheth living air doth know Ad thou, 0 fairest Princess 1 under sky,
Where is that happy land of Fniry And thou, O fairest Princess'3 under sky,
Where is that happy land of Fary In this fair mirror may'st behold thy face,
Which I so much do vaunt, yet nowhere show; And thine own realms in land of Fa1t,
But vouch antiquities, which nobody can know. And in this fntique image thy great ancestry.
But let that man with better sense advise a
The which, O! pardon me thus to enfold
That of the world least-part to us is read;7 In covert veil, and wrap in shadows light,
And daily how, through hardy enterprise, Thatfeebleeyesyourglorymaybehold
Magny great regions are discovered Whichelsecouldnot endurethose beames bright,
Which to late age were never mentioned. But would be daled withexceeding light.
Who ever heard of th' Indian Peru?
ho! pardon, and vouchsafe with patient ear
Or who in venturous vessel measured
The brave adventures of this Faery Knight,
The Amazon huge river, now found true? The good ir Guyon, graciously to he
Or fruitfullest Virginia who did ever view T
In whom great rule of Temp'rance goodly doth
Yet all these were, when no man did them know, appear.
1 In their three hierarchies, with three ranks in each 7 Known, discovered. 8 So wrongly think.
hierarchy. 2 Roadstead, anchorage. 9 Perchance, haply. o0 Wonder.
3 Worn out. 4 Designed voyage. 1 Confess. 12 Knows not, cannot.
5 By. 6 Consider. l2 Queen Elizabeth.