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.] 1THE FAERIE QUEEN. 349
All wallow'd in his own yet lukewarm blood, Who then can strive with strong necessity,
That from his wound yet welled fresh, alas! That holds the world in his still changing state;
In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood, Or shun the death ordain'd by destiny?
And made an open passage for the gushing flood. When hour of death is come, let none ask
Which piteous spectacle, approving true whence nor why.
The woeful tale that Trevisan had told, "The longer life, I wot,?' the greater sin;
When as the gentle Redcross Knight did view, The greater sin, the greater punishment:
With fiery zeal he burn'd in courage bold All those great battles, which thou boasts to win
Him to avenge, before his blood were cold; Through strife, and bloodshed, and avengement,
And to the-villain said; " Thou damned wight, Now prais'd, hereafter dear thou shalt repent:
The author of this fact we here behold, For life must life, and blood must blood, repay.
What justice can but judge against thee right, Is not enough thy evil life forespent? 1
With thine own blood to price his blood, here For he that once hath missed the right way,
shed in sight?" The farther he doth go, the farther he doth stray;
"What frantic fit," quoth he, 2 "hath thus " Then do no farther go, no farther stray;
distraught But here lie down, and to thy rest betake,
Thee, foolish man, so rash a doom 3 to give? Th' ill to prevent, that life ensuen 12 may.
What justice ever other judgment taught, For what hath life, that may it loved make,
But he should die, who merits not to live? And gives not rather cause it to forsake?
None else to death this man despairing drive Fear, sickness, age, loss, labour, sorrow, strife,
But his own guilty mind, deserving death. Pain, hunger, cold that makes the heart to quake;
Is then unjust to each his due to give? And ever fickle Fortune rageth rife;
Or let him die, that loatheth living breath? All which, and thousands more, do make a
Or let him die at ease, that liveth here unneth? 4, loathsome life.
"Who travels by the weary wand'ring way, "Thou, wretched man, of death hast greatest
To come unto his wished home in haste, need,
And meets a flood, that doth his passage stay; If in true balance thou wilt weigh thy state;
Is not great grace to help him over past, For never knight that dared warlike deed
Or free his feet that in the mire stick fast? More luckless disadventures 18 did amate:14
Most envious man, that grieves at neighbour's Witness the dungeon deep, wherein of late
good; Thy life shut up for death so oft did call';
And fond,5 that joyest in the woe thou hast; And though good luck prolonged hath thy date,
Why wilt not let him pass, that long hath stood Yet death then would the like mishaps forestall,
Upon the bank, yet wilt thyself not pass the Into thewhichhereafterthou may'sthappenfall.
flood? "Why then dost thou, O man of sin, desire
"He there does now enjoy eternal rest To draw thy days forth to their last degree?
Andhappy ease, whichthou dostwant and crave, Is not the measure of thy sinful hire
And farther from it daily wanderest: High heapid up with huge iniquity,
What if some little pain the passage have, Against the day of wrath, to burden thee?
That makes frail flesh to fear the bitter wave; Is not enough, that to this Lady mild
Is not shortpainwell borne, thatbringslongease, Thou falsed 15 hast thy faith with perjury,
And lays the soul to sleep in quiet grave? And sold thyself to serve Duessa vild,ls
Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas, With whom in al abuse thou hast thyself defil'd?
Ease after war, death after life, does greatly " Is not he just, that all this doth behold
please." From highest heav'n, and bears an equal eye?
The Knight much wonder'd at his sudden wit, Shall He thy sins up in His knowledge fold,
And said; " The term of life is limited, And guilty be of thine impiety?
Nor may a man prolong nor shorten it: Is not His law,' Let every sinner die,'
The soldier may not move from watchful stead,6'Die shall all flesh' What then must needs
Nor leave his stand until his captain bid." be done?
"Who life did limit by almighty doom," Is it not better to die willingl,
Quoth he, " knows best the terms established; Than linger till the glass be all out run?
And he, that points 8 the sentinel his room,9 Death is the end of woes: die soon, O Faery's
Doth license him depart at sound of morning son."
drum. The Knight was much enmoved with his speech,
"Is not His deed, whatever thing is done That as a sword's point through his heart did
In heav'n and earth? Did not He all create pierce,
To die again? All ends, that was begun: And in his conscience made a secret breach,
Their times in His eternal book of fate Well knowing true all that he did rehearse,
Are written sure, and have their certain date. And to his fresh remembrance did reverse 17
1 Pay for. 2 Despair. 3 Judgment. 1o Deem. 11 Already spent.
4 With difficulty, 5 Foolish. 12 Follow. 18 Misfortunes.
6 Station. 7 Decree. 14 Subdue, abase. 15 Violated.
8 Appoints. 9 Place. 16 Vile, 1 Recall.