Which being whylome launcht with louely dart,
More eath was new impreffion to receiue,

How euer she her paynd with womanish art

To hide her wound, that none might it perceiue : Vaine is the art that feekes it felfe for to deceiue.

So well he woo'd her, and fo well he wrought her,
With faire entreatie and sweet blandishment,
That at the length vnto a bay he brought her,
So as fhe to his speeches was content

To lend an eare, and foftly to relent.

370

At last through many vowes which forth he pour'd, And many othes, fhe yeelded her consent

To be his loue, and take him for her Lord,
Till they with marriage meet might finish that
accord. /

Tho when they had long time there taken rest,
Sir Artegall, who all this while was bound.
Vpon an hard aduenture yet in quest,
Fit time for him thence to depart it found,
To follow that, which he did long propound;
And vnto her his congee came to take.
But her therewith full fore difpleafd he found,
And loth to leaue her late betrothed make,
Her dearest loue full loth so shortly to forfake.

Yet he with strong perfwafions her affwaged,
And wonne her will to fuffer him depart;
For which his faith with her he faft engaged,
And thousand vowes from bottome of his hart

11. 376-7, (who... queft).

380

That all fo foone as he by wit or art

Could that atchieue, whereto he did aspire,
He vnto her would speedily reuert:

No longer space thereto he did defire,

But till the horned moone three courses did expire.

With which she for the present was appeased,

390

And yeelded leaue, how euer malcontent
She inly were, and in her mind displeased.
So early in the morrow next he went
Forth on his way, to which he was ybent.
Ne wight him to attend, or way to guide,
As whylome was the custome ancient

Mongst Knights, when on aduentures they did ride, Saue that she algates him a while accompanide.

And by the way she sundry purpose found
Of this or that, the time for to delay,
And of the perils whereto he was bound,
The feare whereof feem'd much her to affray :
But / all she did was but to weare out day.
Full oftentimes fhe leaue of him did take;
And eft againe deuiz'd fome what to say,
Which she forgot, whereby excuse to make :
So loth fhe was his companie for to forfake.

At laft when all her speeches she had spent,
And new occafion fayld her more to find,
She left him to his fortunes gouernment,
And backe returned with right heauie mind,

1. 396, 'on': 1. 414,, for period (.).

401

410

To Scudamour, who she had left behind : With whom she went to feeke faire Amoret, Her fecond care, though in another kind; For vertues onely fake, which doth beget True loue and faithfull friendship, fhe by her did fet.

Backe to that defert forrest they retyred,

420

Where forie Britomart had lost her late; There they her fought, and euery where inquired, Where they might tydings get of her estate; Yet found they none. But by what hapleffe fate, Or hard misfortune fhe was thence conuayd, And stolne away from her beloued mate, Were long to tell; therefore I here will stay Vntill another tyde, that I it finish may. /

G

Reat God of loue, that with thy cruell darts,

Doeft conquer greatest conquerors on ground,
And setst thy kingdome in the captiue harts
Of Kings and Keafars, to thy feruice bound,
What glorie, or what guerdon haft thou found
In feeble Ladies tyranning fo fore;

And adding anguish to the bitter wound,
With which their liues thou lanchedst long afore,
By heaping stormes of trouble on them daily more?

So whylome didst thou to faire Florimell;

And fo and so to noble Britomart:

So doeft thou now to her, of whom I tell,
The louely Amoret, whofe gentle hart
Thou martyreft with forow and with smart,
In faluage forrefts, and in deserts wide,

With Beares and Tygers taking heauie part,

ΙΟ

20

1. 3, Belphæbe,' and for,-accepted: 1. 6, 'darts'-accepted for 'dart' of '96: 1. 13, ' launcedst.'

Withouten comfort, and withouten guide,
That pittie is to heare the perils, which fhe tride.

So foone as fhe with that braue Britonesse

Had left that Turneyment for beauties prife,
They trauel'd long; that now for wearineffe,
Both of the way, and warlike exercise,
Both through a forest ryding did deuise
T'alight, and reft their wearie limbs awhile.
There heauie fleepe the eye-lids did furprise
Of Britomart after long tedious toyle,
That did her passed paines in quiet rest affoyle.

The whiles faire Amoret, of nought affeard,

30

Walkt through the wood, for pleasure, or for need ; When fuddenly behind her backe fhe heard. One rushing forth out of the thickest weed, That ere fhe backe could turne to taken heed, Had vnawares her fnatched vp from ground. Feebly she shriekt, but fo feebly indeed, That Britomart heard not the fhrilling found, There where through weary trauel she lay fleeping foŭd.

It was to weet a wilde and faluage man,

Yet was no man, but onely like in shape,
And eke in ftature higher by a span,
All ouergrowne with haire, that could awhape
An hardy hart; and his wide mouth did gape
With huge great teeth, like to a tufked Bore:
For he liu'd all on rauin and on rape

40

Of men and beafts; and fed on fleshly gore, The figne whereof yet ftain'd his bloudy lips afore. 50

1. 26, ; for,—accepted: 1. 33 (of nought affeard): 1. 46, ; after 'hart.'