Homeward to march, themselves there to repose: LII. Where making joyous feast theire daies they spent In perfect love, devoide of hatefull strife, Allide with bands of mutuall couplement; For Triamond had Canacee to wife, With whom he ledd a long and happie life; And Cambel tooke Cambina to his fere, The which as life were to each other liefe. That since their dayes such lovers were not found els where. The charm that changes strife to peace, and out of feud in noble natures shapes firm friendship, is thus contrasted with the light change of goodwill to discord where Atè rides beside light-minded friends. But there is little more of Cambel and Triamond, who give their names to this book of the "Faerie Queene." The fourth canto tells how Cambel and Triamond met Blandamour and Paridel. Blandamour insulted them, but fair Cambina persuaded them to gentleness, and they all rode together towards that great tourney which was blazed abroad For that rich girdle of fair Florimell, The prize of her which did in beauty most excel. On the way they met Braggadochio, who rode with them, recognised the snowy Florimell who had been snatched from him, claimed her, but avoided battle for her by excuses that made his boastfulness the jest of his companions as all proceeded to the place of tournament. There Braggadochio rode alone to draw the more attention to himself. The rest themselves in troops did else dispose, The knights in couples marched with ladies linked attone. The girdle of Florimell was then drawn from an ark of gold. Then began the tournament, in form not unlike the boy's game of prisoner's base, of which on the first day Sir Satyrane was judged to bear the bell. On the second day Cambel and Triamond were judged the best, but each preferred his friend's praise to his own. On the third day there rode into the lists a stranger knight, with oak leaves and moss on his armour, who was called the Salvage Knight. This was Arthegall, the Knight of Justice, by whom the victors of the days before were all unhorsed, but he was overcome by Britomart, the purity of love. So did the warlike Britomart restore The prize to knights of Maidenhead that day, Which else was like to have been lost, and bore The praise of prowess from them all away. In the fifth canto is told how the ladies strove for the girdle of Florimell. [CANTO V.] I. It hath bene through all ages ever seene, For he, me seemes, most fit the faire to serve, And she most fit his service doth deserve, II. So fitly now here commeth next in place, After the proofe of prowesse ended well, The controverse of beauties soveraine grace; In which, to her that doth the most excell, Shall fall the girdle of faire Florimell: That many wish to win for glorie vaine, And not for vertuous youth, which some doe tell That glorious belt did in it selfe containe, Which Ladies ought to love, and seeke for to obtainc. III. That girdle gave the vertue of chast love, But layd aside when so she usd her looser sport. The fairest lady was to be adjudged to Britomart, and the snowy Florimell was judged the fairest, but the girdle would not stay upon her. It would stay on Amoret, but it was adjudged to the false semblance of Florimell. Britomart would not exchange Amoret for this fair dame. Atè stirred strife for her, and it was at last resolved that he should have her to whom she would go by her own will. She went to Braggadochio, and he departed with her. Britomart, when the strife began, had left the place with Amoret. Scudamour, meanwhile, his soul poisoned with hate for the companion of Amoret, and not to be appeased "for aught that Glaucè could or do or say," sought Amoret, and had a sad night's lodging in the home of Care. XXXIII. Under a steepe hilles side it placed was, There where the mouldred earth had cav'd the banke; Of muddie water, that like puddle stanke, Whereto approaching nigh they heard the sound Of many yron hammers beating ranke, attacked her and was overthrown. Then Arthegall fought furiously till one wicked stroke [CANTO VI.] XIX. upon her helmet chaunst, And with the force, whiche in it selfe it bore, XX. And round about the same her yellow heare, Framéd in goldsmithes forge with cunning hand : Throwes forth upon the rivage round about him nere. Then Arthegall was made powerless by the sight of Britomart's fair face. Scudamour, recovering from his swoon, was caused by Glaucè now to know his The error, since Amoret's companion was a woman. reconciled knights raised their bevers,' and then Britomart saw the face of Arthegall which had been shown to her in Merlin's mirror, and heard Scudamour pronounce his name. But where was Amoret? When they were resting in a desert, weary of the way, while Britomart slept Amoret had strayed from her side, and had not yet been found. Britomart's greater quest was ended. Love had sought to be joined to justice; Arthegall was found. But Arthegall had his own assigned adventure to accomplish, and must part from his betrothed. She was unwilling, XLIII. Yet he with strong perswasions her asswaged, But till the hornéd moone three courses did expire. In the next canto we learn how Amoret-the charm of womanhood-having strayed from the near companionship of Britomart-chastity-was snatched away by a wild man, foul to look upon, another type of lust, and carried to his den. There she heard, when she awoke from her swoon, the plaint of another prisoner, the sad Æmilia. Æmilia had stolen from her home to talk with a lover to whose suit her father had refused assent. At the place of assignation each had been seized and carried 1 Bever was the part of the helmet covering the face that could be raised, so named because it was raised for drinking. off by a monster. Amoret hears only of Emilia's misfortunes; we hear afterwards of her squire's. When the hellish carle who had imprisoned her entered the cave, by rolling the stone away from its entrance, Amoret fled; he followed till they came where Timias had been left while Belphoebe and her nymphs were hunting. Prince Arthur's squire made bold attack upon the monster for rescue of Amoret. While they fought Belphoebe came. She represents the other half of womanhood, the purity; Amoret is its grace and charm, and Florimell the union of both in perfect womanhood. The monster fled before Belphœbe, was pursued by her, and slain at his own door. |