XV.

And, as she lay upon the durtie ground,
Her huge long taile her den all overspred,
Yet was in knots and many boughtes upwound,
Pointed with mortall sting: Of her there bred
A thousand yong ones, which she dayly fed,
Sucking upon her poisnous dugs; each one
Of sundrie shapes, yet all ill-favored :
Soone as that uncouth light upon them shone,
Into her mouth they crept, and suddain all were

gone.

XVI

Their dam upstart out of her den effraide,

And rushed forth, hurling her hideous taile About her cursed head; whose folds displaid Were stretcht now forth at length without entraile.

She lookt about, and seeing one in mayle, Armed to point, sought backe to turne againe ; For light she hated as the deadly bale, Ay wont in desert darknes to remaine, Where plain none might her see, nor she see any plaine.

XVII.

Which when the valiant Elfe perceiv'd, he lept
As lyon fierce upon the flying pray,
And with his trenchand blade her boldly kept
From turning backe, and forced her to stay:
Therewith enrag'd she loudly gan to bray,
And turning fierce her speckled taile advaunst,
Threatning her angrie sting, him to dismay,
Who, nought aghast, his mightie hand enhaunst;
The stroke down from her head unto her shoulder
glaunst.

XVIII.

Much daunted with that dint her sence was dazd;
Yet kindling rage her selfe she gathered round,
And all attonce her beastly bodie raizd
With doubled forces high above the ground:
Tho, wrapping up her wrethed sterne arownd,
Lept fierce upon his shield, and her huge traine
All suddenly about his body wound,

That hand or foot to stirr he strove in vaine. God helpe the man so wrapt in Errours endlesse traine !

ΧΙΧ.

His Lady, sad to see his sore constraint,

Cride out, "Now, now, Sir Knight, shew what ye bee;

Add faith unto your force, and be not faint;
Strangle her, els she sure will strangle thee."
That when he heard, in great perplexitie,
His gall did grate for griefe and high disdaine ;
And, knitting all his force, got one hand free,

xv. 3. Yet was in knots and many boughtes upwound,] Many boughts, i. e. many circular folds. UPTON.

XVI. 4. CHURCH.

without entraile.] That is, untwisted.

Thus ill bestedd, and fearefull more of shame
Then of the certeine perill he stood in,
Halfe furious unto his foe he came,
Resolved in minde all suddenly to win,
Or soone to lose, before he once would lin;
And stroke at her with more then manly force,
That from her body, full of filthie sin,
He raft her hatefull heade without remorse :
A streame of cole-black blood forth gushed from
her corse.

XXV.

Her scattred brood, soone as their parent deare They saw so rudely falling to the ground, Groning full deadly all with troublous feare

xx. 9. Her filthie parbreake] Parbreake is vomit. TODD XXI. 5. But, when his later spring gins to avale,] To avale is to abate, to sink down, Ital, avallare. UPTON

Arrived there, the litle house they fill,

Ne looke for entertainement, where none was ; Rest is their feast, and all thinges at their will: The noblest mind the best contentment has↓ With faire discourse the evening so they pas; For that olde man of pleasing wordes had store, And well could file his tongue, as smooth as glas: He told of saintes and popes, and evermore He strowd an Ave-Mary after and before.

xxx. 9. With holy father sits not] It sits not, 'tis not becoming. Il sied, it sits well, 'tis becoming. So we say, it sits well on a person. UPTON.

XXXIV. 5. ———————— an holy chappell edifyde,] Built

TODD.

XXXV. 7. And well could file his tongue,] This expres sion we often find both in our poet, and in those old poets whom he imitated. "Tis a Gallicism: “Avoir la langue bier affilée." UPTON.

LIII.

"Love of yourselfe," she saide, "and deare constraint,

Lets me not sleepe, but waste the wearie night
In secret anguish and unpittied plaint,
Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned
quight."

Her doutbfull words made that redoubted Knight
Suspect her truth; yet since no' untruth he knew
Her fawning love with foule disdainefull spight
He would not shend; but said, "Deare damne,
I rew,

That for my sake unknowne such griefe unto you grew:

LIV.

"Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground;
For all so deare, as life is to my hart,

I deeme your love, and hold me to you bound:
Ne let vaine fears procure your needlesse smart,
Where cause is none; but to your rest depart."
Not all content, yet seemd she to appease
Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art,
And fed with words, that could not chose but
please :

So, slyding softly forth, she turnd as to her ease.