FOOTNOTES:
[400] ii 5 seeme, 1590 &c.
[401] 9 fall, 1590, 1596
[402] iii 5 fond] found 1596, 1609
[403] vii 3 tymbrel 1590
[404] 7 day, 1590, 1596
[405] viii 3 gracious 1590 passim
[406] ix 1 after 1590
[407] xi 1 when as] whenas 1590
[408] 2 too] to 1590
[409] 4 gossibs 1590
[410] 5 talents 1590 &c.; corr. F. E.
[411] xiv 5 vntayne 1590: corr. F. E.
[412] xvi i pleasures 1596, 1609
[413] xvii 1 that] the 1596, 1609
[414] 7 since] sith 1609
[415] xviii 8 Pynim 1596
[416] xix 5 since] sith 1609
[417] xx 7 since] sith 1609
[418] xxi 7 that] the 1596, 1609
[419] drawing] dawning 1596, 1609
[420] xxii 4 heaunnly 1596
[421] xxvii 7 of] and 1596, 1609
[422] xxviii 1 since] sith 1609
[423] 7 her] his 1596, 1609
[424] xxxi 7 strayd] stayd 1590: corr. F. E.
[425] xxxii 5 t’] to 1590 &c.: corr. F. E.
[426] xxxiv 2 vaine] faine 1590: corr. F. E.
[427] 9 who] wo 1590, 1596: corr. F. E.
[428] xxxvii 6 the] a 1609
[429] xxxviii 3 frankencense 1596, 1609
[430] xl 9 His] Her 1596, 1609
[431] xli 3 ne] nor 1609
THE SECOND
BOOKE OF THE
FAERIE QVEENE.
Contayning,
THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON,
OR
Of Temperaunce.
Right well I wote most mighty Soueraine, i
That all this famous antique history,
Of some th’aboundance of an idle braine
Will iudged be, and painted forgery,
Rather then matter of iust memory,
Sith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,
Where is that happy land of Faery,
Which I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,
But vouch antiquities, which no body can know.
But let that man with better sence aduize, ii
That of the world least part to vs is red:
And dayly how through hardy enterprize,
Many great Regions are discouered,
Which to late age were neuer mentioned.
Who euer heard of th’Indian Peru?
Or who in venturous vessell measured
The Amazons[432] huge riuer now found trew?
Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew?
Yet all these were, when no man did them know; iii
Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:
And later times things more vnknowne shall show.
Why then should witlesse man so much misweene
That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?
What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?
What if in euery other starre vnseene
Of other worldes he happily should heare?
He wonder would much more: yet such to some appeare.
Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire, iv
By certaine signes here set in sundry place
He may it find; ne let him then admire,
But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,
That no’te without an hound fine footing trace.
And thou[433], O fairest Princesse vnder sky,
In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,
And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,
And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.
The which O pardon me thus to enfold v
In couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,
That feeble eyes your glory may behold,
Which else[434] could not endure those beames[435] bright,
But would be dazled with exceeding light.
O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare
The braue aduentures of this Faery knight
The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare,
In whom great rule of Temp’raunce goodly doth appeare.