BOOK II CANTO VII. Guyon findes Mamon in a delve II. So Guyon, having lost his trustie guyde, Late left beyond that Ydle Lake, proceedes Yet on his way, of none accompanyde; And evermore himselfe with comfort feedes Of his own vertues and praise-worthie deedes. So, long he yode, yet no adventure found, Which Fame of her shrill trompet worthy reedes: For still he traveild through wide wastfull ground, That nought but desert wildernesse shewed all around. 10 15 III. At last he came unto a gloomy glade, 19 Cover'd with boughes and shrubs from heavens light, 25 His face with smoke was tand, and eies were bleard, His head and beard with sout were ill bedight, His cole-blacke hands did seeme to have ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge, and nayles like clawes appeard. IV. His yron cote, all overgrowne with rust, Whose glistering glosse darkened with filthy dust, 30 A worke of rich entayle and curious mould, Woven with antickes and wyld ymagery; And in his lap a masse of coyne he told, And turned upside downe, to feede his eye And covetous desire with his huge threasury. 35 V. And round about him lay on every side Some others were new driven, and distent 40 The antique shapes of kings and kesars stroung and rare. VI. 45 Soone as he Guyon saw, in great affright Those pretious hils from straungers envious sight, But Guyon, lightly to him leaping, stayd His hand that trembled as one terrifyde; 50 And though himselfe were at the sight dismayd, Yet him perforce restraynd, and to him doubtfull sayd: VII. "What art thou, Man, (if man at all thou art,) 55 That here in desert hast thine inhabitaunce, And these rich hils of welth doest hide apart From the worldes eye, and from her right usaunce?" 60 Thereat, with staring eyes fixed askaunce, In great disdaine he answerd: "Hardy Elfe, That darest vew my direful countenaunce! I read thee rash and heedlesse of thy selfe, To trouble my still seate, and heapes of pretious pelfe. VIII. "God of the world and worldlings I me call, 65 Great Mammon, greatest god below the skye, For which men swinck and sweat incessantly, And in the hollow earth have their eternall brood. 70 IX. 75 "Wherefore, if me thou deigne to serve and sew, At thy commaund lo! all these mountaines bee; Or if to thy great mind, or greedy vew, All these may not suffise, there shall to thee Ten times so much be nombred francke and free." "Mammon," said he, "thy godheads vaunt is vaine, And idle offers of thy golden fee; To them that covet such eye-glutting gaine Proffer thy giftes, and fitter servaunte entertaine. 80 X. "Me ill besits, that in derdoing armes And honours suit my vowed daies do spend, Unto thy bounteous baytes, and pleasing charmes, With which weake men thou witchest, to attend; 85 Regard of worldly mucke doth fowly blend, And low abase the high heroicke spright, That ioyes for crownes and kingdomes to contend; Faire shields, gay steedes, bright armes, be my delight; Those be the riches fit for an advent'rous knight." 90 XI. "Vaine glorious Elfe," saide he, "doest not thou weet, That money can thy wantes at will supply? Shields, steeds, and armes, and all things for thee meet, It can purvay in twinckling of an eye; 95 And crownes and kingdomes to thee multiply. Doe not I kings create, and throw the crowne Sometimes to him that low in dust doth ly, And him that raignd into his rowme thrust downe, And whom I lust do heape with glory and renowne?" XII. "All otherwise," saide he, "I riches read, And deeme them roote of all disquietnesse; 100 105 First got with guile, and then preserv'd with dread, And after spent with pride and lavishnesse, Leaving behind them griefe and heavinesse: Infinite mischiefes of them doe arize; Strife and debate, bloodshed and bitternesse, Outrageous wrong and hellish covetize, That noble heart, in great dishonour, doth despize. XIII. "Ne thine be Kingdomes, ne the scepters thine; But realmes and rules thou doest both confound, 110 And loyall truth to treason doest incline: Witnesse the guiltlesse blood pourd oft on ground; The crowned often slaine; the slayer cround; 115 And purple robe gored with many a wound, Castles surprizd, great cities sackt and brent: So mak'st thou kings, and gaynest wrongfull government! XIV. "Long were to tell the troublous stormes that tosse Then Mammon wexing wroth: "And why then," sayd, "Are mortall men so fond and undiscreet So evill thing to seeke unto their ayd; 125 And having not, complaine, and having it, upbrayd?" XIX. receave 175 "Me list not," said the Elfin Knight, Thing offred, till I know it well be gott; Ne wote I but thou didst these goods bereave From rightfull owner by unrighteous lott, Or that blood-guiltinesse or guile them blott." "Perdy," quoth he, "yet never eie did vew, Ne tong did tell, ne hand these handled not; But safe I have them kept in secret mew From hevens sight and powre of al which them pour sew." XX. 180 "What secret place," quoth he, "can safely hold |