The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

CANTO IX.] THE FAERIZ QUEEN. 347
Ranging the forest wide on courser free, Then those two kaights, fast friendship for to
The fields, the floods, the heav'ns, with one con- bind,
sent, And love establish each to other t rue,
Did seem to laugh on me, and favour mine Gave goodly gifts, the signs of gratefal mind,
intent. And eke, as pledges firm, right hands together
" Forwearied with my sports, I did alight o'd
From lofty steed, and down to sleep me laid: Prince Arthur gave a box of diamonds sure,
The verdant grass my couch did goodly dight,1 Embow'd 13 with gold and gorgeous ornament,
And pillow was my helmet fair display'd: Wherein were clos'd few drops of liquor pure,
While every sense the humoulr sweet embay'd,2 Of wondrous worth, and virtue excellent,
And slumb'ring soft my heart did steal away, That any wound could heal incontinent.14
Me seemed, by my side a royal maid Which to requite, the Redcross Knight him gave
Her dainty limbs full softly down did lay; A book, wherein his Saviour's Testament
So fair a creature yet saw never sunny day. Was writ with golden letters rich and brave;
"Most goodly glee 35and lovely blandishment A work of wondrous grace, and able souls to save.
She to me made, and bade me love her dear; Thus be they parted; Arthur on his way
For dearly sure her love was to me bent, To seek his love, and th' other for to fight
As, when just time expired, should appear. With Una's foe, that all her realms did prey.15
But, whether dreams delude, or true it were, But she, now weighing the decayed plight
Was never heart so ravish'd with delight, And shrunken sinews of her chosen Knight,
Nor living man like words did ever hear, Would not a while her forward course pursue%
As she to me deliver'd all that night; Nor bring him forth in face of dreadful fight,
And at her parting said, she Queen of Faeries Till he recover'd had his former hue:
hight. For him to be yet weak and weary well she knew.
"When I awoke, and found her place devoid,4 So as they travell'd, lo! they gan espy
And naught but pressed grasswhereshehadlien,0 An armed knight toward them gallop fast,
I sorrow'd all so much as erst6 1 joy'd, That seemed from some feared foe to fly,
And washed all her place with wat'ry eyne. Or other grisly thing, that him aghast.'6
From that day forth I lov'd that face divine; Still, as he fled, his eye was backward cast,
From that day forth I cast in careful mind As if his fear17 still follow'd him behind:
To seek her out with labour and long tine,7 Als' flew his steed, as he his bands had brast,is
And never vow'd to rest till her Ifind: And with his winged heels did tread the wind,
Nine months I seek in vain, yet n'ills that vow As he had been a foal of Pegasus his kind.
unbind." Nigh as he drew, they might perceive his head
Thus as he spake, his visage waxed pale, To be unarm'd, and curl'd uncombed hairs
And change of hue great passion did bewray; Upstaring stiff, dismay'd with fincouth dread:
Yet still he strove to cloak his inward bale,9 Nor drop of blood in all his face appears,
And hide the smoke that did his fire display; Nor life in limb; and, to increase his fears,
Till gentle Una thus to him gan say; In foul reproach of knighthood's fair degree,
"' O happy Queen of Faeries, that hast found, About his neck a hempen rope he wears,
Mongst many, one that with his prowess may That with his glist'ning arms does ill agree:
Defend thine honour, and thy foes confound! But he of rope or arms has now no memory. -
True loves are often sown, but seldom grow on The Redcross Knight towfard him crossed fast,
ground." To weet 19 what mister wight 20 was so dismay'd:
"Thine, O! then," said the gentle Redcross There him he finds all senseless and aghast,16
Knight, That of himself he seem'd to be afraid;
"Next to that lady's love, shall be the place, Whom hardly he from flying forward stay'd,
O fairest Virgin, full of heav'nly light, Till he these words to him deliver might;
Whose wondrous faith, exceeding earthly race, " Sir Knight, aread 21 who hath ye thus array'd,
Was firmest fix'd in mine extremest case. And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight?
And you, my lord, the patron of my life, For never knight I saw in such misseeming
Of that great Queen may well gain worthy grace; plight."
For only worthy you through prowess' prefe,1r He answer'd naught at all; but adding new
If living man might worthy be, to be herlefe." Fear to his first amazement, staring wide
So diversely discoursing of their loves, With stony eyes and heartless 22 hollow hue,
The golden sun his glist'ning head gan shew; Astonish'd stood, as one that had espied
And sad remembrance now the Prince: amoves Infernal Furies with their chains untied.
With fresh desire his voyage to pursue: Him yet again, and yet again, bespake
Als' 12 Una yearn'd her travel to renew. The gentle Knight; who naught to him replied;
1 Prepare, deck. 2 Bathed. 12 Also. 1s Arched over, embossed.
a Delight, 4 Empty. 14 Immediately. 15 Ravage.
5 Lain. 6 Before. 16 Terrified. 17 The cause of his fear.
7 Otherwise "teen" or "teene;," anxiety. 18 Burst. 19 Learn.
8 Will not. 9 Anguish. 20 Manner of man. 21 Declare.
1o Proof of courage. U1 Love. 22 Timid, fearful.