| The City of Queen Glorianne, The Elven capitol, Is hard besieged by Archimag Who bargains for her soul. |
| 1. The Elven people of the land called Faere Founded a city at their country’s heart, A capitol, a citadel, designed with care, Known for its joyful people’s craft and art; But as our eyes admire its every part, We notice round about it on the plain A gathering of powers at the start Of something sinister and full of pain: We see the scattered cattle, and the trampled grain. 2. Hard boots and heavy engines break down stalks And stems, and crush whatever cannot run; Rude hands rip fences, steal stored corn, crack locks, And desolate the fleeing husbandman; The hobbled and the old, the little one Upon their keepers’ arms seek city gates, As all around them siege works are begun; But in the city square a lady waits To give them help her healing heart creates. 3. As lesser monarchs might strew golden coins, Faith, hope and love Queen Glorianna strews: Faith that her people’s faithfulness rejoins, Hope that her nation’s hopeful heart renews, And love, such that each citizen would choose Of all the places in the whole world wide Here to remain, and never would refuse A soldier’s station at this lady’s side, Where they will stand, and even in death’s shade abide. 4. While Glorianna tends each refugee, A crowd of citizens is rallied round Five captains from a single family — A father and his sons, all soldiers bound To Glorianna’s service, well renowned For deeds and qualities; Each volunteer Is posted on the ramparts that surround The homes and loves ones whom they hold so dear; The queen calls them to listen, and they turn to hear. 5. The east-wall captain, calm Integritis, Turns readily to hear the lady’s speech, And makes room for his brother, Caritas, Who pushes past, keeping his sword in reach; The eldest, Episthomas, (trained to teach,) Pauses from readying his southern force, As third-born Enthuzias scans the breach That roughly interrupts the northern course, Where his men fortify against both foot and horse. 6. Captain of all, and steadiest of all, Imaginatius, father of the four, Is standing with their mother, Inspiralle, Suggesting that she double bar the door Against the dangers of the coming war. She understands. I will stand up to fear, She says; Now husband, we can talk no more; As Glorianna speaks, we’ll pause to hear; (She whispers:) Always, I am next to you my dear. 7. The patient look on Glorianna’s face Suffices to arrest all anxious talk Among her folk, now gathered in one place To hear her speak before the coming shock. I wish, she says, that we could jeer and mock And laugh our way to safety and to peace; But no; I must now call on you to walk Into a troubled storm that must increase Til we prevail, and all these weary troubles cease. 8. There is so much I do not know today — Who are these enemies we never earned? What could they want before they’ll go away? But I am seeking insights; Once they’re learned, I’ll share the news with you; For now we’ve turned To arms — they’ve forced our hand, we cannot wait; Our livestock have been killed and houses burned; Such outrages we cannot tolerate; So now we must defend our city and our state. 9. By state I do not mean buildings and land; No, I mean what we are, and what we hope, The way we listen, seek to understand Our different dreams, the different ways we cope With life’s sometimes steep, often perilous slope; I mean the countless unseen cords that reach Into and bind our hearts, the loving envelope Of family and friendship that folds each Of us in its strong arms; For all this, I beseech: 10. Both volunteers and soldiers of the guard, Promise your Glorianna, every one, You will take heart, not let your hearts grow hard; Though terrible this battle now begun, Stand up to terror — stand when you would run; Think on your loved ones as this battle rolls; Their lives depend on you; Promise you’ll shun All hate, so when we count this battle’s tolls, Though we count tendered lives, count no surrendered souls. 11. Imaginatius calls: Soldiers disperse Each to your station you have been assigned; Don’t linger with your people — it is worse To wait — now send them safely home, behind The walls, beneath the roofs you’ll keep in mind As we together face what we must face. Kisses, embraces, farewells of the kind That have marked every call to war take place Beneath their queen’s fond gaze and special grace. * * * 12. Before the brief assembly in the square, Queen Glorianna had dispatched a scout To each point of the compass, searching where And how the forces are arrayed about The city walls; She charged them to find out What kings and captains bring their armies’ might To battle, and to listen for each pout And peeve that might imply some injured right That moves these multitudes to gather for a fight. 13. The central tower in the city square Has four staircase approaches, one per side; Imaginatius and the queen are there, And hear the scuff of each approaching stride As all four scouts appear; Having defied The enemy successfully, they can Report details about the swelling tide Of foes; Through casement windows they may scan Each force in turn, and so begin to guess their plan. 14. Northward, the Prince Enri’s host is arrayed, And where the sky yields to the low sunrise, Prince Ayez and his lackeys are displayed; Prince Fides’ force, known by its canting cries, Wheels and counter-wheels where the south wind flies, And on the ever-brightening western plain, The golden baubles and the trinketries That decorate both foot-soldier and thane Distinguish gross King Mammon’s troops and train. 15. On all sides, war-like engines, topping towers, And catapults roll ever closer, pulled By flinching wretches, on whose backs sharp showers Of harsh blows rain; Their sense of pain is dulled, As all their human feelings are annulled By covetousness, longing, even lust For promised spoils and treasures to be culled From Glorianna’s city once the thrust Of ram and crush of stone reduce its walls to dust. 16. So scouts account the jealous circling arms Of those investing forces at the walls; Besides no one can tell what evil charms Of wild magicianship, what secret calls To savage monsters, what unnatural falls Of jagged rock or blasting fire might be Called down upon their heads and homes and halls At mere command of this strange enemy; The queen fights to maintain her equanimity. 17. Tell me your thoughts, Imaginatius asks Softly. The look upon her face replies. As bad as that? he laughs; We must don masks Before addressing groups of any size, Or learn the subtle art of telling lies If we aspire to bolster hope among Our countrymen; The legend in your eyes Suggests to me that these reports have wrung Hope from your heart — but let your eyes yield to your tongue. 18. Alright, she says, I’ll tell you what I need From you, since you so sagely read my mind Without a word from me; I must concede — We cannot plan our way to hope, inclined As I may be to order you to find Some stratagem to fool ourselves that we Have power to control this awful bind We’re in; Explain now what I cannot see — Where we can find some hope, if not serenity. 19. Responds the captain: Ma’am, just as you say, We would be fools to place our hope in schemes Or calculations; This upcoming day Has wrapped us in uncertainties, it seems — We are surrounded on each side by teams Of seething enemies we never sought, Who give no indications of the themes, The phantom provocations that have brought Us to the brink of battle, almost certain to be fought. 20. Like country folk beset by winter storms, This sorrow is a season, don’t you see? So he continues: Neither of us knows How long the storm will last, or what will be The outcome; Faced with such uncertainty, We place our hope in our will to persist — We stay alert to each contingency As it arises, flexing with each twist Time takes, and hope that Spring will find we still exist. 21. She smiles at him. Now that’s a face to trust, He laughs, one I will follow through the storm. The queen replies: All that you say is just — The very thing I need to hear; We’ll form No self-deluding master plan, the norm In circumstances such as we face now; Persist — adjust — persist, yes, I can warm To that sort of a plan; And that is how We shall approach it, she says; Now, if you’ll allow A minute, please . . . He steps away, making the slightest bow. 22. But when she turns from him to look afar, Her eyes reach further than her words have gone; She looks beyond her city, all astir, Beyond the north wall, weak and broken down, Beyond the enemy, still coming on, To where the sky and earth meet in a line; Then to that line her secret heart is drawn, Hoping she’ll see at last that brave combine Of Arthur and her knights, bearing triumphant sign. 23. The queen’s consort, Prince Arthur, and the knights Who share with him responsibility Protecting Glorianna’s realm and rights Have been absent a month — Where can they be? She asks herself; They might be roaming free, Pursuing some commission, some fine quest, But oh, how desperately I long to see My Arthur, Artegall and all the rest Relieve my city and my people, so distressed. 24. A parlez, ma’am! (a page calls to his Queen.) Turning attention to the northeast plain, She can distinguish riding out, between The forces there arrayed, a narrow train Of riders dressed in cloaks of coal black stain; They number fourteen, riding in a row, With uncloaked guard around them. Who’ll explain This band’s intent? the Queen asks; Page, please show Them by some sign that I will meet with them below. 25. The page departs; Imaginatius calls A squad of soldiers to the eastern gate; Horseback, they venture far outside the walls Toward the riders who stand still and wait; The queen and captains do not hesitate To lead their guard directly to the line Of silent, sullen enemies, whose hate And baffling savagery, lacking design, Present a puzzle Glorianna must divine. 26. Their counterparts await in perfect silence, Motionless, giving not one indication If they will parlez or burst into violence Before the riders reach the open isolation This enemy has chosen as an apt location To hear whatever they might have to say. The queen speaks low: They chose this destination, So be on guard; The war won’t end today, But we will know more than we did once we parlez. 27. Now face to face, a few yards separate The parties as the Elven soldiers halt; Silence ensues, broken by nothing but The pawing of the chargers’ hooves. What fault (Begins the queen) inspired this rude assault Upon my people? Now you may explain Your perverse thinking, but no words exalt Your explanation to excuse the pain And suffering you’ve caused; What do you hope to gain? 28. At which the middle rider of the row Shies forth his mount, and stops before the host; His hooded cape he gives a backward throw, And so reveals his face, pale as a ghost; He peers at Glorianne as if to boast; She knows him straightaway, and just to see His countenance — oh, how her heart is tossed! He is the Queen’s most dreadful enemy, Styled ARCHIMAGO, Emperor of Sorcery. 29. Poor, Glorianna — you have derelicts About you now, not one among them royal, Whose low birth and base manner contradicts Your dignity; Amidst this grave turmoil You are in need of services most loyal And most noble; Where is Prince Arthur’s band Of knights? For me they are a worthy foil; This lot is hardly worth raising my hand; I speak simply so all present may understand. 30. This insolence with which the Sorcerer Addresses her and denigrates her men Has skillfully struck at her greatest fear; She at a loss, he speaks up once again: Clearly you know neither the where nor when You might once more see them – your dearest knight And his compatriots; But this I ken, As I ken things in and beyond my sight; My sources speak to me, and they are always right. 31. I am a just man, my sweet Glorianne, The kindest ally, dearest friend you have; To prove this I now offer you a plan — With which if you agree, your folk you’ll save From slaughter, or the hard fate of a slave; With which if you agree, you’ll save your folk From these my henchmen, doormen of the grave, All thirteen of whom toil beneath my yolk, Whose fury I release with my hand’s lightest stroke. 32. (Replies the Queen:) Why should we be afraid Of groveling henchmen, covered in their fear? Nor is defeat as certain as you said; Though Arthur and his fellows are not here, You do not know how soon they will appear; And if they don’t, we’ll triumph all the same; (Her entourage gives her a heartfelt cheer;) For these are fine men, free of blot or shame, As fine as any men who carry nobler name. 33. You do not hear me! (Archimago scowls,) Or else you are too dull to understand; I know when they will come; Remove your cowls! (He barks this to the riders close at hand;) I act now long before the time I planned, But it might teach you all to fear my might! Then he withdraws behind the unknown band Who have begun to bring out in the light Their uncloaked faces; The Queen gasps at the sight. 34. For one by one the sable cloaks reveal The Elven faces of her noblemen: First George, the Redcross Knight, who worked his will Against the ghastly dragon, then Guyon, Who faced the gross deceits of King Mammon, And Britomart the chaste, so fierce and fair, Just Artegall, Cambel and Triamon, The courteous Calidore, and more are there — Chief of them Arthur, all locked in demonic stare. 35. Their eyes are riveted upon the wall Of Glorianna’s lovely capitol; Their eyes do neither blink nor move at all, But stare and stare at that bright citadel As if peering from out a doomed man’s cell Upon the gibbet and the gallows tree, Savage conveyance, rude, unnatural, To some insufferable eternity; They stare as if the rest were mere transparency. 36. (Imaginatius calls:) They’re in a trance! Let’s seize them now! (Enthuzias cries out.) Swords draw on either side, and horses dance, Anticipating by these sounds a bout; But Archimago halts them with a shout. Put up your arms; There will be war enough Once we are finished here, without a doubt; Unless, dear Queen, you see I do not bluff, And so decide to treat with me, and not so gruff. 37. The Queen stands just as transfixed as her Prince From that first moment when she sees his face, And even at the rattling of the lance And sword, she does not stir from that first place; So stunned is she, her thoughts no longer race; She seems to share her dear Prince Arthur’s fate; The form of her beloved she can trace, But in her mind arises a debate: How could her true Prince truly live in such a state? 38. Is this my Arthur, or some phantom shape You have concocted here of unknown part? What though at first you set our mouths agape At this uncanny working of your art? This man is not him! You omit his heart, Which always shines so brightly through his eyes; Though, truth to tell, you’ve made a pretty start, This true knight’s image has been built of lies: All’s counterfeit without the part that never dies. 39. So think you, lady, (answers Archimag;) Are you so sure, so certain you are right? I’ve stirred their souls into a troubled fog Which is too turbulent to show a light — And I will send them so into the fight If you will not agree to hear my case; Your pleasure, lady, is my one delight, So hear me, or more vain objections chase. He finds his answer in her grim, bewildered face. 40. So now I’ll tell you what I want to do, Since by your silence you consent to hear; My great armadus has surrounded you Not for your hate, but for your love so dear — I long, sweet Glorianne, to have you near; Were you not beautiful, you’d be unvexed; You’d live ignored if you possessed a peer; If less than splendid, you would not hear next This my unprecedented plea, my lover’s text: 41. I will release these knights, yes, every one, Also disband these armies that you see, I’ll leave them peaceful in the morning sun If you will but consent to go with me; This I propose — What will your answer be? (Poor Glorianna, feverish with thought, Can make no answer to this bleak treaty; Her nobles’ freedom would be dearly bought – If these are hers indeed!) And still you answer not! 42. Speak up, sweet Queen! (the Sorcerer demands,) I’m growing angry at this dull delay! You’ll give me time to think, (the Queen commands,) And after I have thought, you’ll hear my say. Then time to time I’ll send a fresh foray Against your walls, these warriors in the lead, And while we still enjoy the light of day, You’ll be reminded how precious is speed In lovers’ matters when so pressing is the need. 43. So saying, Archimago wheels his steed Toward the line of his awaiting host; The line of knights then follows by his lead, So strictly guided, yet utterly lost; The queen, as in a fever, weighs the cost Of Archimago’s brutal proposition; Her men, each anxious to resume his post, Wait patiently to hear their queen’s permission; She startles, waking from her stunned, confused condition. 44. Sharply she speaks: We’ll now prepare to fight; Responding to him is my task alone; Until I do, we’ll harm no Elven knight — This is my statute firm; I’ll yield my throne Only if they were truly overthrown By Archimag; I cannot think it, though; Captain, instruct your men: Until it’s shown The wizard’s allegations are proved so, Whoever hurts a knight deals me a mortal blow. 45. Imaginatius, name the messengers, Then meet me in my tower on the square; And bring a brave man from this band of yours, For I shall have instructions for him there; Now to our posts let each of us repair! Their hope revived, homeward returns the band; Soon cries of war and warning lace the air, And all is furnished to the Queen’s command; She oversees it all from her high tower’s stand. 46. But there is terror knocking at her breast As she turns inward from her balcony To pace the tower chamber, for no test Can she devise to tell with certainty The thirteen riders’ true identity; If true determination can be made, She will not hesitate, but bartered be; If they are phantoms, she will make no trade, However high the price, however to be paid. 47. Imaginatius is announced with one Known to the queen. She greets him: Fortus, why Did I not think of you myself? There’s none Of your stout group I could more fittingly Have called upon — as you, yourself will see When I describe the task I have for you. Whatever it may be, your majesty, (The soldier speaks,) please rest assured, I’ll do. Still, hear me first, she says; We’ll see if this is true. 48. Imaginatius says: You may rely On Fortus, ma’am; You know I always have. I know, she says and smiles, he will not shy From what I ask of him; He’s called the Brave For good reasons; But you are not my slave, Fortus; What I request is dangerous — No consequence to you if you should wave It off. He says: I’m yours, nought to discuss, Good queen; Tell me your will and I will do it thus. 49. The queen is stunned at this, taken aback; Her heart revolving like the spinning earth; She feels tears start their heavy downward track, But stops them with a show of careless mirth. We shall discuss it first; Will it be worth The confidence you give unqualified? She laughs; How can you know, with such a dearth Of evidence? Blind faith I can’t abide; Though yours does me some good, Fortus, I must confide. 50. So listen now, she says: That Archimag Showed us what was, I think, nothing but lies, A brace of phantasms to set agog Our minds and dazzle our confounded eyes; What I ask you to do reason defies: Will you, in brightest day, walk past our wall, Despite the enemy, and search the lows and highs For some intelligence of those in thrall? Those images of knights — are they our knights at all? 51. He thinks a moment, then he says: I will. And with a short salute, exits the room. His queen and captain are left mute and still; As he descends the tower, engines boom Outside the walls, and missiles hiss and zoom; He hears crashes and cries of injured folk, Emerging, sees the streets cast in a gloom Of sulfur, and quick rising dust to choke The squares where ballistae, great stones, have hit a stroke. 52. He hurries northward to the weakened wall Enthuzias mans facing Prince Enri. As he moves out, he calls: Take shelter all! For missiles are raining continually; Fire balls and boulders fly, crash noisily, And still he makes his way where soldiers lurk, Due east, along the wall’s periphery Up to the crumbled breach, midst dust and murk, Bids comrades there farewell, then goes to start his work. finis canto primo |
| Glorianna Table of Contents |
| The Cantos |
| Appendices |