CANTO VI. Talus brings newes to Britomart Of Artegals mishap: She goes to seeke him; Dolon meetes, I. SOME men, I wote, will deeme in Artegall II. Yet in the streightnesse of that captive state This gentle Knight himselfe so well behaved, That no new Loves impression ever could Bereave it thence: such blot his honour blemish should. III. Yet his owne Love, the noble Britomart, A thousand feares, that love-sicke fancies faine to fynde. IV. Sometime she feared least some hard mishap Least some new Love had him from her possest; V. One while she blam'd herselfe; another whyle She him condemn'd as trustlesse and untrew: For houres, but dayes; for weekes that passed were, She told but moneths, to make them seeme more few: Yet, when she reckned them still drawing neare, Each hour did seeme a moneth, and every moneth a yeare. VI. But, whenas yet she saw him not returne, She thought to send some one to seeke him out; And then both Knights envide, and Ladies eke did spight VII. One day whenas she long had sought for ease And sent her winged thoughts more swift then wind To beare unto her Love the message of her mind. VIII. There as she looked long, at last she spide One comming towards her with hasty speede; Whereat her hart was fild with hope and drede ; But ran to meete him forth to know his tidings somme. IX. Even in the dore him meeting, she begun; "And where is he thy Lord, and how far hence? Declare at once: and hath he lost or wun ?” The Yron Man, albe he wanted sence And sorrowes feeling, yet, with conscience Of his ill newes, did inly chill and quake, And stood still mute, as one in great suspence ; As if that by his silence he would make Her rather reade his meaning then himselfe it spake. X. Till she againe thus sayd; "Talus, be bold, And tell whatever it be, good or bad, That from thy tongue thy hearts intent doth hold.” 66 Ay me," quoth she, "what wicked destinie! And is he vanquisht by his tyrant enemy ?" XI. "Not by that Tyrant, his intended foe; But by a Tyrannesse," he then replide, "That him captived hath in haplesse woe." "Cease thou, bad newes-man; badly doest thou hide Thy Maisters shame, in harlots bondage tide; The rest myselfe too readily can spell." With that in rage she turn'd from him aside, And to her chamber went like solitary cell. XII. There she began to make her moanefull plaint Oft did she blame herselfe, and often rew, XIII. And then she in her wrathfull will did cast How to revenge that blot of honour blent, Awhile she walkt, and chauft; awhile she threw Yet did she not lament with loude alew, As women wont, but with deepe sighes and singulfs few. XIV. Like as a wayward childe, whose sounder sleepe But kicks, and squals, and shriekes for fell despight; Now scratching her, and her loose locks misusing, Now seeking darkenesse, and now seeking light, Then craving sucke, and then the sucke refusing: Such was this Ladies fit in her Loves fond accusing. |