And rend in pieces with his ravenous paws, If ever he transgress'd the fatal Stygian laws. That house's form within was rude and strong, Her cunning web, and spread her subtle net, Enwrapped in foul smoke and clouds more black than jet. Both roof and floor and walls were all of gold, And hid in darkness, that none could behold But a faint shadow of uncertain light: Such as a lamp, whose life does fade away; Or as the moon, clothed with cloudy night, Does show to him that walks in fear and sad affright. In all that room was nothing to be seen But huge great iron chests, and coffers strong, All barr'd with double bands, that none could ween Them to enforce by violence or wrong; On every side they placed were along. But all the ground with sculls was scattered And dead mens bones, which round about were flung; Whose lives, it seemèd, whylome there were shed, And their vile carcasses now left unburièd. They forward pass; ne Guyon yet spoke word Though all the wealth which is or was of yore The charge thereof unto a covetous spright Commanded was, who thereby did attend, And warily awaited day and night, From other covetous fiends it to defend, "Certes," said he, "I n'ill thine off'red grace, Ne to be made so happy do intend! Another bliss before mine eyes I place, Another happiness, another end. To them that list, these base regards I lend; But I in arms, and in achievements brave, Do rather choose my fleeting hours to spend, And to be lord of those that riches have, Than them to have myself, and be their servile slave." Thereat the fiend his gnashing teeth did grate, And grieved, so long to lack his greedy prey: For well he weenèd that so glorious bait Would tempt his guest to take thereof assay; Had he so done, he had him snatch'd away More light than culver in the falcon's fist: Eternal God thee save from such decay! But whenas Mammon saw his purpose miss'd, Him to entrap unwares another way he wist. Thence, forward he him led, and shortly brought To him did open as it had been taught; Therein an hundred ranges weren pight, One with great bellows gather'd filling air, And with forced wind the fuel did inflame; With iron tongs, and sprinkled of the same Some scumm'd the dross that from the metal came; Some stirr'd the molten ore with ladles great; But when an earthly wight they present saw Glist'ring in arms and battailous array, From their hot work they did themselves withdraw Till that him thus bespake their sovereign lord and sire: "Behold, thou Faerys son, with mortal eye That living eye before did never see! To weet whence all the wealth late show'd by me Here is the fountain of the worldès good! Now therefore if thou wilt enrichèd be, Avise thee well, and change thy willful mood; "Suffice it then, thou money-god," quoth he, All that I need I have: what needeth me To covet more than I have cause to use? But give me leave to follow mine emprize." Mammon was much displeased, yet n'ote he choose But bear the rigor of his bold mesprise: And thence him forward led, him further to entice. SIR GUYON AND THE PALMER VISIT AND DESTROY THE BOWER OF BLISS From the Faery Queene' HUS being ent'red they behold around THUS A large and spacious plain on every side. Strowed with pleasaunce; whose fair grassy ground With all the ornaments of Floras pride, Wherewith her mother Art, as half in scorn Of niggard Nature, like a pompous bride Did deck her, and too lavishly adorn, When forth from virgin bow'r she comes in th' early morn. Thereto the heavens always jovial Look'd on them lovely, still in steadfast state, Their tender buds or leaves to violate; Gently attemp'red and disposed so well, That still it breath'd forth sweet spirit and wholesome smell. More sweet and wholesome than the pleasant hill Of Rhodope, on which the nymph that bore A giant babe, herself for grief did kill; Or the Thessalian Tempe, where of yore Fair Daphne Phoebus's heart with love did gore; Or Ida, where the gods loved to repair, Whenever they their heavenly bow'rs forlore; Or sweet Parnasse, the haunt of Muses fair; Or Eden self, if ought with Eden mote compare. Much wond'red Guyon at the fair aspéct Of that sweet place, yet suff'red no delight But passèd forth, and look'd still forward right, No gate, but like one, being goodly dight So fashioned a porch with rare device, Some deep empurplèd as the hyacine, And them amongst some were of burnish'd gold, Under that porch a comely dame did rest, And garments loose that seem'd unmeet for womanhead. In her left hand a cup of gold she held, And with her right the riper fruit did reach, Whose sappy liquor, that with fullness swell'd, Into her cup she scruzed with dainty breach Of her fine fingers, without foul empeach, That so fair wine-press made the wine more sweet: Thereof she used to give to drink to each Whom passing by she happened to meet; It was her guise all strangers goodly so to greet. So she to Guyon off'red it to taste, Who, taking it out of her tender hond, That all in pieces it was broken fond, Whereat Excess exceedingly was wroth, Yet no'te the same amend, ne yet withstond, But suffer'd him to pass, all were she loth: Who, nought regarding her displeasure, forward go'th. There the most dainty paradise on ground In which all pleasures plenteously abound, The painted flow'rs; the trees upshooting high; The dales for shade; the hills for breathing space; The trembling groves; the crystal running by; And that which all fair works doth most aggrace The art which all that wrought-appeared in no place. One would have thought (so cunningly the rude That Nature had for wantonness ensued Art, and that Art at Nature did repine; So striving each th' other to undermine, |