XXXI.

How many a man," faid he, "with idle fpeach Be wonne to fpoyle the caftle of his health?

"I wote," quoth he, "whom tryall late did teach "That like would not for all this worldes wealth. "His fubtile tong like dropping honny mealt'h "Into the hart, and fearcheth every vaine, "That ere one be aware, by secret stealth "His powre is reft, and weaknes doth remaine. "O never, Sir, defire to try his guilefull traine !"

XXXVI.

His garment, nought but many ragged clouts,
With thornes together pind and patched was,
The which his naked fides he wrapt abouts;
And him befide there lay upon the gras

A dreary corfe, whofe life away did pas,
All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood,
That from his wound yet welled fresh, alas!
In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood,

And made an open passage for the gushing flood.

XXXVII.

Which piteous fpectacle approving trew The woful tale that Trevifan had told, Whenas the gentle Red-croffe knight did vew, With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold Him to avenge, before his blood were cold; And to the villein fayd, " Thou damned wight, "The author of this fact we here behold, "What iuftice can but iudge against thee right, "With thine owne blood to price his blood here "fhed in fight?

XXXVIII.

"What franticke fitt," quoth he, " hath thus dif "traught

"Thee, foolish man, fo rafh a doome to give? "What iuftice ever other iudgement taught, "But he should die who merits not to live? "None els to death this man defpayring drive, "But his owne guiltie mind deferving death. "Is then uniuft to each his dew to give? "Or let him die that loatheth living breath? "Or let him die at eafe that liveth here uneath?

XXXIX.

"Who travailes by the wearie wandring way, "To come unto his wifhed home in hafte, "And meetes a flood that doth his passage stay, "Is not great grace to help him over past, "Or free his feet, that in the myre sticke fast? "Most envious man, that grieves at neighbours ❝ good,

"And fond, that ioyeft in the woe thou haft, "Why wilt not let him paffe that long hath stood "Upon the bancke, yet wilt thy felfe not pas the "flood?

I.

WHAT man is he that boafts of fleshly might,
And vaine affuraunce of mortality,
Which all fo foone as it doth come to fight
Againft fpirituall foes, yields by and by,
Or from the fielde most cowardly doth fly?
Ne let the man afcribe it to his skill,
That thorough grace hath gained victory :
If any ftrength we have, it is to ill,

IV.

Dame Cælia mèn did her call, as thought
From heaven to come, or thether to arife;
The mother of three daughters, well upbrought
In goodly thewes, and godly exercise :

The eldest two most sober, chaft, and wise,
Fidelia and Speranza, virgins were,

Though spoufd, yet wanting wedlock's folemnize;
But faire Chariffa to a lovely fere

11.

By that which lately hapned, Una saw

That this her knight was feeble, and too faint,
And all his finewes woxen weake and raw,
Through long enprifonment and hard constraint,
Which he endured in his late restraint,
That yet he was unfitt for bloody fight;
Therefore to cherish him with diets daint,
She caft to bring him where he chearen might,
Till he recovered had his late decayed plight.

III.

There was an auncient houfe not far away,
Renowmd throughout the world for facred lore,
And pure unfpotted life: fo well, they fay,
It governd was, and guided evermore,
Through wifedome of a matrone grave and hore,
Whofe onely joy was to relieve the needes
Of wretched foules, and helpe the helpeleffe
pore:

All night she spent in bidding of her bedes,
And all the day in doing good and godly deedes.

v.

Arrived there, the dore they find fast lockt;
For it was warely watched night and day,
For feare of many foes; but when they knockt,
The porter opened unto them ftreight way.
He was an aged fyre, all hory gray,
With lookes full lowly caft, and gate full flow,
Wont on a staffe his feeble fteps to stay,
Hight Humilta. They paffe in, ftouping low,
For ftreight and narrow was the way which he did
show.

VI.

Each goodly thing is hardest to begin;
But entred in, a fpatious court they fee,
Both plaine and pleasaunt to be walked in,
Where them does meete a francklin faire and free,
And entertaines with comely courteous glee;
His name was Zele, that him right well became,
For in his fpeaches and behaviour hee
Did labour lively to exprefs the fame,
And gladly did them guide, till to the hall they

canc.

* Thy felfe to fee, and tyred limbes to rest, "O Matrone fage!" quoth fhe, "I hether came; And this good night his way with me addreft, Ledd with thy prayfes and broad blazed fame,