{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/fq/fq13.htm","path":"neu/eng/fq/fq13.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/fq/fq13.htm","text":"SECOND\n BOOKE OF THE \n \n FAERIE QVEENE. \n \n Contayning\n THE LEGEND OF SIR GVYON.\n \n \n OR\n OF TEMPERAUNCE.\n R\n Ight well I wote most mighty Soueraine,\nThat all this famous antique history,\nOf some th'aboundance of an idle braine\nWill iudged be, and painted forgery,\nRather then matter of iust memory,\nSith none, that breatheth liuing aire, does know,\nWhere is that happy land of Faery,\nWhich I so much do vaunt, yet no where show,\nBut vouch antiquities, which no body can know.\n \n But let that man with better sence aduize,\n That of the world least part to vs is red:\n And dayly how through hardy enterprize,\n Many great Regions are discouered,\n Which to late age were neuer mentioned.\n Who euer heard of th'Indian Peru?\n Or who in venturous vessell measured\n The Amazon huge riuer now found trew?\n Or fruitfullest Virginia who did euer vew?\n \n Yet all these were, when no man did them know;\n Yet haue from wisest ages hidden beene:\n And later times things more vnknowne shall show.\n Why then should witlesse man so much misweene\n That nothing is, but that which he hath seene?\n What if within the Moones faire shining spheare?\n What if in euery other starre vnseene\n Of other worldes he happily should heare?\n He w\u00f5der would much more: yet such to some appeare.\n \n Of Faerie lond yet if he more inquire,\n By certaine signes here set in sundry place\n He may it find; ne let him then admire,\n But yield his sence to be too blunt and bace,\n That no'te without an hound fine footing trace.\n And thou, O fairest Princesse vnder sky,\n In this faire mirrhour maist behold thy face,\n And thine owne realmes in lond of Faery,\n And in this antique Image thy great auncestry.\n \n The which O pardon me thus to enfold\n In couert vele, and wrap in shadowes light,\n That feeble eyes your glory may behold,\n Which else could not endure those beames bright,\n But would be dazled with exceeding light.\n O pardon, and vouchsafe with patient eare\n The braue aduentures of this Faery knight\n The good Sir Guyon gratiously to heare,\n In whom great rule of Temp'raunce goodly doth appeare.","title":"The Faerie Queene: Book 2: The Legend of Sir Gvyon, or Of Temperaunce","type":"page"}