"Sithence I loathed have my life to lead, "As ladies wont, in Pleafure's wanton lap, "To finger the fine needle and nyce thread; And thus replyde; "However, Sir, ye fyle "Me lever were with point of foe-man's fpeare" Such as ye have him boasted, to beguyle "Which to prove, I this voyage have begonne. But mote I weet of you, right courteous Knight, Tydings of one that hath unto me donne "Late foule dishonour and reprochful fpight, "The which I feek to wreake, and Arthegall he "hight." IX. "A fimple maide, and work fo heinous tort, His feeling wordes her feeble fence much pleased, The worde gone out, fhe backe againe would call, And foftly funck into her molten hart: As her repenting fo to have miffayd, But that he uptaking ere the fall, Her hortly anfwerd: "Faire martiall Mayd; A gentle knight with fo unknightly blame; I. Hart that is inly hurt is greatly eafed XVI. And fayd, "Sir Knight, thefe ydle termes for- "And fith it is uneath to find his haunt, "And whatfo elfe his perfon most may vaunt?” As it in bookes hath written beene of old, In Deheubarth, that now South-wales is hight, The great magitian Merlin had deviz'd, XIX. It vertue had to fhew in perfect fight Whatever foe had wrought, or frend had faynd, XXIV. Eftfoones there was prefented to her eye XXV. His creft was covered with a couchant hownd, Like to the world itselfe, and seemd a world of He bore a crowned little ermilin, glas. XX. Who wonders not, that reades fo wondrous worke? Yet the might all men vew out of her bowre? Ybuilded all of glaffe, by magicke powre, And also it impregnable did make; That deckte the azure field with her faire pou dred fkin. XXVI. The damzell well did vew his perfonage, Yet when his love was falfe he with a peaze it Did fmyle full smoothly at her weetlesse wol "For nought for me but death there doth re"maine." "O daughter deare," said fhe, " defpeire no "whit, "For never fore but might a falve obtayne: "That blinded god, which hath ye blindly fmit, "Another arrow hath your lover's hart to hit." XXXVI. "But mine is not," quoth fhe, "like others "wownd; "For which no reason can finde remedy." "Was never fuch, but mote the like be fownd,” Said fhe;" and though no reafon may apply "Salve to your fore, yet love can higher ftye "Then reafon's reach, and oft hath wonders "donnc." "But neither God of Love, nor God of Skye "Can do," said fhe, "that which cannot be "donne." "Things oft impoffible," quoth fhe, "feeme ere begonne." XXXVII. "These idle wordes," faid fhe, "doe nought "afwage "My ftubborne fmart, but more annoiaunce "breed: "For no, no ufuall fire, no ufuall rage "Yet is, O Nourfe! which on my life doth feed, "And fucks the blood which from my hart doth "bleed. "But fince thy faithfull zele lets me not hyde "My crime (if crime it be) I will it reed. "Nor prince nor pere it is, whofe love hath gryde "My feeble brest of late, and launched this wound "wyde? "Or why make ye such monster of your minde! Retourned home, the royall infant fell "But wicked fortune mine, though minde be All which the in an earthen pot did poure, 66 good, "Can have no end nor hope of my defire, But feed on fhadowes whiles I die for food, "And like a fhadow wexe, whiles with entire "Affection I doe languish and expire. "I fonder then Cephifus' foolish chyld, Who having vewed in a fountaine there "His face was with the love thereof beguyld; "I fonder love a shade, the body far exyld." And to the brim with coltwood did it fill, And many drops of milk and blood through i did spill. L. Then taking thrife three heares from off he head, Then trebly breaded in a threefold lace, And round about the pot's mouth bound the thread; And after having whispered a space Certeia fad words with hollow voice and bace, Shee to the virgin fayd, thrife fayd she itt, "Come, daughter! come, fpitt upon my face, "Spitt thrife upon me, thrife upon me fpitt; "Th' uneven nomber for this bufinels is mcf fitt." That fayd, her rownd about the from her turnd, LII. Ne ought it mote the noble mayd avayle, She fhortly like a pyned ghoft became, Which long hath waited by the Stygian ftrond; That well can witneffe who by tryall it does Of her mifcarriage should in her be fond, She wift not how t' amend, nor how it to with ftond. Lij |