Long with her travell'd; till at last they see
A goodly building, bravely garnished ;
The house of mighty prince it seemed to be;
And towards it a broad high way that led,
All bare through peoples feet, which thither travelled.
Great troops of people travell'd thitherward
Both day and night, of each degree and place ;
But few returned, having scaped hard,
With baleful beggary, or foul disgrace;
Which ever after in most wretched case,
Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay.
Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace;
For she is weary of the toilsome way;
And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.
A stately palace built of squared brick,
Which cunningly was without mortar laid,
Whose walls were high, but nothing strong nor thick,
And golden foils all over them displaid,
That purest sky with brightness they dismay'd:
High lifted up were many lofty towers,
And goodly galleries far over laid,
Full of fair windows and delightful bowers;
And on the top a dial told the timely hours.
It was a goodly heap for to behold,
And spake the praises of the workmans wit;
But full great pity, that so fair a mould
Did on so weak foundation ever sit:
For on a sandy hill, that still did flit
And fall away, it mounted was full high:
That every breath of heaven shaked it;
And all the hinder parts, that few could spy,
Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.
A keen stroke of satire; for nothing is so mean as pride ;—so superficial in its shows-so shameless in its counterfeits-so ignorant of the uses of self-respect-so neglectful of private happiness.
Arrived there, they passed in forth right;
For still to all the gates stood open wide:
Yet charge of them was to a porter hight,
Cald Malvenú, who entrance none denied ;
Thence to the hall, which was on every side
With rich array and costly arras dight ;
Infinite sorts of people did abide
There waiting long, to win the wished sight
Of her, that was the lady of that palace bright.
By them they pass, all gazing on them round,
And to the presence mount; whose glorious view
Their frail amazed senses did confound.
In living prince's court none ever knew
Such endless riches, and so sumptuous show;
Not Persia's self, the nurse of pompous pride,
Like ever saw: and there a noble crew
Of lords and ladies stood on every side,
Which, with their presence fair, the place much beautified.
High above all a cloth of state was spread,
And a rich throne, as bright as sunny day;
On which there sate, most brave embellished
With royal robes and gorgeous array,
A maiden queen that shone, as Titan's ray,
In glistring gold and peerless precious stone;
Yet her bright blazing beauty did assay
To dim the brightness of her glorious throne,
As envying her self, that too exceeding shone :
Exceeding shone, like Phoebus fairest child,
That did presume his father's fiery wain,
And flaming mouths of steeds unwonted wild,
Through highest heaven with weaker hand to rein;
Proud of such glory and advancement vain,
While flashing beams do daze his feeble eyen,
He leaves the welkin way most beaten plain,
And, rapt with whirling wheels, inflames the skyen
With fire not made to burn, but fairly for to sme.
So proud she shined in her princely state,
Looking to heaven; for earth she did disdain:
And sitting high; for lowly she did hate :
Lo, underneath her scornful feet was lain
A dreadful dragon with an hideous train ;
And in her hand she held a mirror bright,
Wherein her face she often viewed fain,
And in her self-lov'd semblance took delight;
For she was wondrous fair, as any living wight.
Of grisly Pluto she the daughter was,
And sad Prosérpina, the queen of hell;
Yet did she think her peerless worth to pass
That parentage, with pride so did she swell;
And thundering Jove, that high in heaven doth dwell And wield the world, she claimed for her sire ;
Or if that any else did Jove excel ;
For to the highest she did still aspire ;
Or, if ought higher were than that, did it desire.
And proud Lucifera men did her call,
That made herself a queen, and crown'd to be ;
Yet rightful kingdom she had none at all
Nor heritage of native sovereignty;
But did usurp with wrong and tyranny
Upon the sceptre which she now did hold:
Nor rul'd her realm with laws, but policy,
And strong advisement of six wizards old,
That with their counsels bad her kingdom did uphold.
Soon as the elfin knight in presence came,
And false Duessa, seeming lady fair,
A gentle usher, Vanity by name,
Made room, and passage for them did prepare : —
So goodly brought them to the lowest stair
Of her high throne; where they, on humble knee
Making obeisance, did the cause declare,
Why they were come, her royal state to see,
prove the wide report of her great majesty.
With lofty eyes, half loth to look so low,
She thanked them in her disdainful wise;
Nor other grace vouchsafed them to show
Of princess worthy; scarce them bade arise,
Her lords and ladies all this while devise
Themselves to setten forth to strangers sight:
Some frounce their curled hair in courtly guise;
Some prank their ruff; and others trimly dight i
Their gay attire each others greater pride does spite.
Goodly they all that knight do entertain,
Right glad with him to have increas'd their crew;
But to Duess' each one himself did pain
All kindness and fair courtesy to shew;
For in that court whylome* her well they knew:
Yet the stout Faëry mongst the middest crowd
Thought all their glory vain in knightly view,
And that great princess too exceeding proud,
That to strange knight no better countenance allow'd.
Sudden upriseth from her stately place
The royal dame, and for her coach did call:
All hurtlet forth; and she with princely pace,
As fair Aurora, in her purple pall,
Out of the east the dawning day doth call,
So forth she comes; her brightness broad doth blaze. The heaps of people, thronging in the hall,
Do ride each other, upon her to gaze :
Her glorious glitter and light doth all mens eyes amaze. † Hurtle, to rush.
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