CANTO X
Paridell rapeth Hellenore:
2 Malbecco her pursewes:
Findes emongst Satyres, whence with him
4 To turne she doth refuse.
1 Paridell rapes Hellenore:
rapes > carries off; ravishes
2 Malbecco her pursues: 3 Finds amongst satyrs, whence with him
Finds > [And finds] satyrs > (Horned forest spirits, man-like above and goat-like below, usually portrayed as more or less lustful. In Roman mythology, Satyr, one of the satyrs, is a companion of Bacchus with long, pointed ears, behind which are the stumps of horns, with the tail of a goat, bristly hair, and a flat nose. Unlike those at 106.7 ff., the satyrs in this canto conform to the usual literary pattern)
4 To turn she does refuse.
turn > return
310.1
THe morow next, so soone as Ph{oe}bus Lamp
2 Bewrayed had the world with early light,
And fresh Aurora had the shady damp
4 Out of the goodly heauen amoued quight,
Faire Britomart and that same Faerie knight
6 Vprose, forth on their iourney for to wend:
But Paridell complaynd, that his late fight
8 With Britomart, so sore did him offend,
That ryde he could not, till his hurts he did amend.
1 The morrow next, so soon as Phoebus' lamp 2 Bewrayed had the world with early light,
Bewrayed > Revealed; betrayed; also: berayed, aspersed; and: be-rayed, covered with rays
3 And fresh Aurora had the shady damp
Aurora > (We may be intended to infer here a correspondence between Tithonus and Malbecco; at 102.7:2 Aurora is described as "weary of aged Tithones saffron bed") damp > mist
4 Out of the goodly heaven amoved quite,
goodly > beautiful amoved > removed; hence: dispersed
5 Fair Britomart and that same Faery knight
that same Faery knight > [Satyrane]
6 Uprose, forth on their journey to wend: 7 But Paridell complained that his late fight
late > recent
8 With Britomart so sore did him offend
offend > pain
9 That ride he could not, till his hurts he did amend.
hurts > injuries amend > heal, put right
310.2
So forth they far'd, but he behind them stayd,
2 Maulgre his host, who grudged grieuously,
To house a guest, that would be needes obayd,
4 And of his owne him left not liberty:
Might wanting measure moueth surquedry.
6 Two things he feared, but the third was death;
That fierce youngmans vnruly maistery;
8 His money, which he lou'd as liuing breath;
And his faire wife, whom honest long he kept vneath.
1 So forth they fared, but he behind them stayed, 2 Maugre his host, who grudged grievously
Maugre > in spite of, notwithstanding grudged > grumbled
3 To house a guest that would be needs obeyed,
needs > of necessity
4 And of his own him left not liberty:
his own > [his own household] liberty > [the liberty]
5 Might wanting measure moves surquidry.
Might wanting measure moves surquidry > Power lacking restraint leads to arrogance (measure = temperance, moderation; surquidry = arrogance, presumption)
6 Two things he feared, but the third was death; 7 That fierce young man's unruly mastery;
young man > (A compound sb., like "old man" (108.30:2, etc.) or "old woman" (302.47:4))
8 His money, which he loved as living breath; 9 And his fair wife, whom honest long he kept uneath.
honest > virtuous, chaste uneath > with difficulty
310.3
But patience perforce he must abie,
2 What fortune and his fate on him will lay,
Fond is the feare, that findes no remedie;
4 Yet warily he watcheth euery way,
By which he feareth euill happen may:
6 So th'euill thinkes by watching to preuent;
Ne doth he suffer her, nor night, nor day,
8 Out of his sight her selfe once to absent.
So doth he punish her and eke himselfe torment.
1 But patience perforce he must aby
patience perforce > (Proverbial: patience upon compulsion, like it or not. Cf. 203.3:3) aby > suffer, endure
2 What Fortune and his fate on him will lay, 3 Fond is the fear that finds no remedy;
Fond > Foolish
4 Yet warily he watches every way 5 By which he fears evil happen may: 6 So the evil thinks by watching to prevent; 7 Nor does he suffer her, +nor+ night nor day,
suffer > allow nor > neither
8 Out of his sight herself once to absent. 9 So does he punish her, and eke himself torment.
eke > also
310.4
But Paridell kept better watch, then hee,
2 A fit occasion for his turne to find:
False loue, why do men say, thou canst not see,
4 And in their foolish fancie feigne thee blind,
That with thy charmes the sharpest sight doest bind,
6 And to thy will abuse? Thou walkest free,
And seest euery secret of the mind;
8 Thou seest all, yet none at all sees thee;
All that is by the working of thy Deitee.
1 But Paridell kept better watch than he, 2 A fit occasion for his turn to find:
turn > purpose
3 False Love, why do men say you cannot see,
Love > [Cupid, who is often depicted wearing a blindfold: he shoots his arrows without caring whom they hit]
4 And in their foolish fancy feign you blind,
feign > fashion, form; hence: depict blind > [as blind]
5 That with your charms the sharpest sight does bind,
charms > spells bind > enwreath, encircle, tie up
6 And to your will abuse? You walk free, 7 And see every secret of the mind; 8 You see all, yet none at all sees you; 9 All that is by the working of your deity.
deity > godhead
310.5
So perfect in that art was Paridell,
2 That he +Melbeccoes+ halfen eye did wyle,
His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well,
4 And Hellenors both eyes did eke beguyle,
Both eyes and hart attonce, during the whyle
6 That he there soiourned his wounds to heale;
That Cupid selfe it seeing, close did smyle,
8 To weet how he her loue away did steale,
And bad, that none their ioyous treason should reueale.
1 Melbeccoes > Malbeccoes 1590, 1609
1 So perfect in that art was Paridell 2 That he Malbecco's halfen eye did wile,
halfen > half (WUS; perhaps derived from "halfendeal". "Halfen eye" = halved eyesight, for he is blind in one eye: see 309.27:6) wile > deceive
3 His halfen eye he wiled wondrous well, 4 And Hellenore's both eyes did eke beguile,
eke > also
5 Both eyes and heart at once, during the while
at once > together
6 That he there sojourned, his wounds to heal; 7 That Cupid himself, it seeing, close did smile,
That > [So that] close > secretly
8 To weet how he her love away did steal,
weet > see, perceive
9 And bade that none their joyous treason should reveal.
310.6
The learned louer lost no time nor tyde,
2 That least auantage mote to him afford,
Yet bore so faire a saile, that none espyde
4 His secret drift, till he her layd abord.
When so in open place, and commune bord,
6 He fortun'd her to meet, with commune speach
Her courted her, yet bayted euery word,
8 That his vngentle hoste n'ote him appeach
Of vile vngentlenesse, or hospitages breach.
1 The learned lover lost no time nor tide,
tide > opportunity
2 That least advantage might to him afford,
least > [the least]
3 Yet bore so fair a sail that none espied 4 His secret drift, till he her laid aboard.
drift > plot, scheme; and metaphorically: motion (an especially pleasing pun) laid aboard > (To "lay aboard" a ship is to run alongside or into her, with the intention of boarding. Spenser also uses "abord", "aboord" (cf. Hubberd 324, RR 185) to mean "adrift" or "astray")
5 Whenso in open place and common board
Whenso > Whenever common > [at the common] board > table
6 He fortuned her to meet, with common speech
common > ordinary; public
7 Her courted her, yet baited every word,
baited > baited; or: bated: moderated
8 That his ungentle host no'te him appeach
That > [In such a way that; so that] ungentle > discourteous; ignoble no'te > could not appeach > accuse
9 Of vile ungentleness, or hospitage's breach.
ungentleness > lack of breeding hospitage > {The behaviour befitting a guest (WU)}
310.7
But when apart (if euer her apart)
2 He found, then his false engins fast he plyde,
And all the sleights vnbosomd in his hart;
4 He sigh'd, he sobd, he swownd, he perdy dyde,
And cast himselfe on ground her fast besyde:
6 Tho when againe he him bethought to liue,
He wept, and wayld, and false laments belyde,
8 Saying, but if she Mercie would him giue
That he mote algates dye, yet did his death forgiue.
1 But when apart (if ever her apart) 2 He found, then his false engines fast he plied,
He > [He her] engines > schemes, wiles fast > fast; closely; firmly plied > plied; applied
3 And all the sleights unbosomed in his heart:
sleights > ruses, stratagems
4 He sighed, he sobbed, he swooned, he pardie died,
pardie > assuredly, verily (an oath)
5 And cast himself on ground her fast beside;
fast > closely
6 Tho when again he him bethought to live,
Tho > Then him bethought > contrived; resolved
7 He wept, and wailed, and false laments belied,
belied > misrepresented; lied about (tautological, and thus intensive)
8 Saying, but if she mercy would him give
but if > unless
9 He might algates die, yet did his death forgive.
algates > altogether did > [he did] forgive > [forgive her]
310.8
And otherwhiles with amorous delights,
2 And pleasing toyes he would her entertaine,
Now singing sweetly, to surprise her sprights,
4 Now making layes of loue and louers paine,
Bransles, Ballads, virelayes, and verses vaine;
6 Oft purposes, oft riddles he deuysd,
And thousands like, which flowed in his braine,
8 With which he fed her fancie, and entysd
To take +to+ his new loue, and leaue her old despysd.
9 to > with 1590
1 And otherwhiles with amorous delights
otherwhiles > at other times
2 And pleasing toys he would her entertain,
toys > games; amorous games
3 Now singing sweetly, to surprise her spirits,
surprise > capture; lead unawares (into doing something not intended)
4 Now making lays of love and lovers' pain,
lays > songs
5 Branles, ballads, virelays, and verses vain;
Branle > {A French dance, or the music for it} virelay > {A sort of song originating in France. See SC, gloss to "November"} vain > foolish; empty; weak
6 Oft purposes, oft riddles he devised,
purposes > riddles; games of questions-and-answers
7 And thousands like, which flowed in his brain, 8 With which he fed her fancy, and enticed
enticed > [enticed her]
9 To take to his new love, and leave her old despised.
310.9
And euery where he might, and euery while
2 He did her seruice dewtifull, and sewed
At hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile,
4 So closely yet, that none but she it vewed,
Who well perceiued all, and all indewed.
6 Thus finely did he his false nets dispred,
With which he many weake harts had subdewed
8 Of yore, and many had ylike misled:
What wonder then, if she were likewise carried?
1 And everywhere he might, and every while
might > could every while > [all the time]
2 He did her service dutiful, and sued
sued > {Followed as an attendant or companion}
3 At hand with humble pride, and pleasing guile, 4 So closely yet that none but she it viewed,
closely > secretly
5 Who well perceived all, and all endued.
endued > digested (used of a hawk); hence: took in, absorbed (Latin inducere, to lead in)
6 Thus finely did he his false nets dispread,
finely > skilfully, artfully dispread > spread out
7 With which he many weak hearts had subdued
subdued > subdued; also: led astray, stolen away (Latin subduco, cognate with seduco and hence "seduce")
8 Of yore, and many had alike misled:
yore > old
9 What wonder, then, if she were likewise carried?
310.10
No fort so fensible, no wals so strong,
2 But that continuall battery will riue,
Or daily siege through dispuruayance long,
4 And lacke of reskewes will to parley driue;
And +Peece+, that vnto parley eare will giue,
6 Will shortly yeeld it selfe, and will be made
The vassall of the victors will byliue:
8 That stratageme had oftentimes assayd
This crafty Paramoure, and now it plaine displayd.
5 Peece > Peace 1596
1 No fort so fencible, no walls so strong,
fencible > strong, well-fortified, defensible
2 But that continual battery will rive,
battery > {Battering; assault with many blows or missiles} rive > tear [it] open
3 Or daily siege, through dispurveyance long
dispurveyance > deprivation of provisions; hence: starvation
4 And lack of rescues, will to parley drive; 5 And piece, that to parley ear will give,
piece > [a] piece, piece of work, contrivance; hence: castle (as 211.14:9, with the same wordplay on "peace")
6 Will shortly yield itself, and will be made 7 The vassal of the victor's will belive:
vassal > slave belive > forthwith
8 That stratagem had oftentimes essayed
oftentimes essayed > often attempted
9 This crafty paramour, and now it plain displayed.
310.11
For through his traines he her intrapped hath,
2 That she her loue and hart hath wholy sold
To him, without regard of gaine, or scath,
4 Or care of credite, or of husband old,
Whom she hath vow'd to dub a faire Cucquold.
6 Nought wants but time and place, which shortly shee
Deuized hath, and to her louer told.
8 It pleased well. So well they both agree;
So readie rype to ill, ill wemens counsels bee.
1 For through his trains he her entrapped has,
trains > wiles, tricks
2 That she her love and heart has wholly sold
That > [So that]
3 To him, without regard of gain, or scathe,
scathe > harm, damage
4 Or care of credit, or of husband old,
of credit > for [her] reputation
5 Whom she has vowed to dub a fair cuckold. 6 Naught wants but time and place, which shortly she
wants > lacks
7 Devised has, and to her lover told. 8 It pleased well. So well they both agree; 9 So ready ripe to ill, ill women's counsels be.
ill > evil
310.12
Darke was the Euening, fit for louers stealth,
2 When chaunst +Melbecco+ busie be elsewhere,
She to his closet went, where all his wealth
4 Lay hid: thereof she countlesse summes did reare,
The which she meant away with her to beare;
6 The rest she fyr'd for sport, or for despight;
As Hellene, when she saw aloft appeare
8 The Troiane flames, and reach to heauens hight
Did clap her hands, and ioyed at that dolefull sight.
2 Melbecco > Malbecco 1590, 1609
1 Dark was the evening, fit for lovers' stealth, 2 When chanced Malbecco busy be elsewhere;
chanced > [it chanced] busy be > [to be busy]
3 She to his closet went, where all his wealth
closet > cabinet; private room, side-room (used for storage)
4 Lay hidden: thereof she countless sums did rear,
rear > gather, collect (usu. said of fines, rents, etc.)
5 Which she meant away with her to bear; 6 The rest she fired for sport, or for despite;
despite > malice
7 As Helen (when she saw aloft appear 8 The Trojan flames, and reach to heaven's height) 9 Did clap her hands, and joyed at that doleful sight.
joyed > rejoiced (see Aen. 6.517-519)
310.13
This second Hellene, faire Dame Hellenore,
2 The whiles her husband ranne with sory haste,
To quench the flames which she had tyn'd before,
4 Laught at his foolish labour spent in waste;
And ranne into her louers armes right fast;
6 Where streight embraced, she to him did cry,
And call aloud for helpe, ere helpe were past;
8 For loe that Guest +would+ beare her forcibly,
And meant to rauish her, that rather had to dy.
8 would > did 1590
1 This second Helen, fair Dame Hellenore, 2 While her husband ran with sorry haste
sorry > painful, distressing
3 To quench the flames which she had tinded before,
tinded > kindled
4 Laughed at his foolish labour spent in waste;
waste > [vain]
5 And ran into her lover's arms right fast;
right > very fast > quickly; closely, firmly
6 Where, straight embraced, she to him did cry,
straight > straightway; strait: tightly him > [Malbecco]
7 And call aloud for help, ere help were past; 8 For lo that guest would bear her forcibly,
bear > take [as a companion; cf. 102.45:9]
9 And meant to ravish her, that rather had to die.
meant > intended rather had to die > [would rather have died]
310.14
The wretched man hearing her call for ayd,
2 And readie seeing him with her to fly,
In his disquiet mind was much dismayd:
4 But when againe he backward cast his eye,
And saw the wicked fire so furiously
6 Consume his hart, and scorch his Idoles face,
He was therewith distressed diuersly,
8 Ne wist he how to turne, nor to what place;
Was neuer wretched man in such a wofull cace.
1 The wretched man, hearing her call for aid, 2 And ready seeing him with her to fly,
fly > flee
3 In his disquiet mind was much dismayed: 4 But when again he backward cast his eye, 5 And saw the wicked fire so furiously 6 Consume his heart, and scorch his idol's face,
his idol's face > [his money; his god is Mammon]
7 He was therewith distressed diversely,
therewith > with that diversely > variously; also: distractingly (SUS)
8 Nor wist he how to turn, nor to what place;
wist > knew
9 Was never wretched man in such a woeful case.