Cant. I.
the Faery Queene.
193
Her purpose was not such, as she did faine,Ne yet her person such, as it was seene,But vnder simple shew and semblant plaineLurkt false Duessa secretly vnseene,As a chaste Virgin, that had wronged beene:So had false Archimago her disguysd,To cloke her guile with sorrow and sad teene;And eke himselfe had craftily deuisdTo be her Squire, and do her seruice well aguisd.
Her late forlorne and naked he had found,Where she did wander in waste wildernesse,Lurking in rockes and caues far vnder ground,And with greene mosse cou'ring her nakednesse,To hide her shame and loathly filthinesse,Sith her Prince Arthur of proud ornamentsAnd borrowd beauty spoyld. Her nathelesseTh'enchaunter finding fit for his intents,Did thus reuest, and deckt with dew habiliments.
For all he did, was to deceiue good knights,And draw them from pursuit of praise and fame,To slug in slouth and sensuall delights,And end their daies with irrenowmed shame.And now exceeding griefe him ouercame,To see the Redcrosse thus aduaunced hye;Therefore this craftie engine he did frame,Against his praise to stirre vp enmityeOf such, as vertues like mote vnto him allye.
So now he Guyon guydes an vncouth wayThrough woods & mountaines, till they came at lastInto a pleasant dale, that lowly layBetwixt two hils, whose high heads ouerplast,
The
