He finds himself in the house of Care (IV. v.). The strength of his nature appears in the description of his grief at the loss of Amoret : His face upon the grownd did groveling ly, Still as she stood, she heard with grievous throb There an huge heape of singults did oppresse Ibid. 12. He is consoled by Britomart (the Queen) in lines most applicable to Ralegh's fortunes: 'Ah, gentle knight! whose deepe conceived griefe Then vertues might and values confidence: For who will bide the burden of distresse, Must not here thinke to live; for life is wretchednesse.' Ibid. 14. He fights with Britomart in rivalry with Arthegal (IV. vi.), and they are both worsted by her. They both adore ner as a goddess (22, 24). This can only refer to the rivalry of Essex and Ralegh for the Queen's favour. She takes Arthegal as her Lord (41). Her reluctance to let him go away is described in terms which apply precisely to the Queen's reluctance to lose sight of her favourites or to risk their running into danger, especially in the case of Essex (42-45). Scudamore is persuaded to relate how he won Amoret. Here follows Canto X., with its superb close, in which the hardships of Ralegh's early life, his audacity in winning the Queen's favour, and the unpopularity, hatred and jealousy by which he was surrounded, are all plainly alluded to. "Amoret," as I have explained in "Venus" is evidently also the my book, is the Queen. BOOK IV. CANTO X. Scudamour doth his conquest tell Great Venus Temple is describ'd; i 'True he it said, what ever man it sayd, For since the day that first with deadly wound I never joyed howre, but still with care was moved. ii 'And yet such grace is given them from above, That all the cares and evill which they meet May nought at all their setled mindes remove, But seeme, gainst common sence, to them most sweet; As bosting in their martyrdome unmeet. So all that ever yet I have endured I count as naught, and tread downe under feet, Since of my love at length I rest assured, That to disloyalty she will not be allured. iii Long were to tell the travell and long toile Through which this shield of love I late have wonne, And purchased this peerelesse beauties spoile, That harder may be ended, then begonne : Then hearke, ye gentle knights and Ladies free, iv 'What time the fame of this renowmed prise Flew first abroad, and all mens eares possest, I, having armes then taken, gan avise To winne me honour by some noble gest, And purchase me some place amongst the best. I boldly thought, (so young mens thoughts are bold), And that both shield and she whom I behold 'So on that hard adventure forth I went, vi 'And it was seated in an Island strong, Abounding all with delices most rare, And wall'd by nature gainst invaders wrong, But by one way that passage did prepare. It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize With curious Corbes and pendants graven faire, And, arched all with porches, did arize On stately pillours fram'd after the Doricke guize. vii 'And for defence thereof on th' other end There reared was a castle faire and strong That warded all which in or out did wend, And flancked both the bridges sides along, Gainst all that would it faine to force or wrong: By all meanes to maintaine that castels ancient rights. viii 'Before that Castle was an open plaine, And in the midst thereof a piller placed ; On which this shield, of many sought in vaine, ix 'Which when I red, my heart did inly earne, That all the castle ringed with the clap. Streight forth issewd a Knight all arm'd to proofe, And bravely mounted to his most mishap : Who, staying nought to question from aloofe, Ran fierce at me that fire glaunst from his horses hoofe. 'Whom boldly I encountred (as I could) And by good fortune shortly him unseated. Eftsoones outsprung two more of equall mould; But I them both with equall hap defeated. So all the twenty I likewise entreated, And left them groning there upon the plaine : And taking downe the shield with me did it retaine. xi 'So forth without impediment I past, Till to the Bridges utter gate I came ; The which I found sure lockt and chained fast. xii 'That was to weet the Porter of the place, Unto whose trust the charge thereof was lent: His name was Doubt, that had a double face, Th'one forward looking, th'other backeward bent, Therein resembling Janus auncient Which hath in charge the ingate of the yeare: And evermore his eyes about him went, As if some proved perill he did feare, Or did misdoubt some ill whose cause did not appeare. xiii 'On th' one side he, on th' other sate Delay, And others, quite excluded forth, did ly Long languishing there in unpittied paine, And seeking often entraunce afterwards in vaine. xiv 'Me when as he had privily espide Bearing the shield which I had conquerd late, So in I past, and streight he closd the gate : But being in, Delay in close awaite Caught hold on me, and thought my steps to stay, Feigning full many a fond excuse to prate, And time to steale, the threasure of mans day, XV 'But by no meanes my way I would forslow And underneath, the river rolling still With murmure soft, that seem'd to serve the workmans will. |