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

CANTO X.] THE FAERIE QUEEN. 353
His body in salt water smarting sore, And wrath and hatred warily 9 to shun,
The filthy blots of sin to wash away. That drew on men God's hatred and his wrath,
So in short space they did to health restore And many souls in dolours 0 had fordone: 11
The man that would not live, but erst lay at In which when him she well instructed hath,
death's door. From thence to heav'n she teacheth him the
In which his torment often was so great, ready path.
That like a lion he would cry and roar; Wherein his weaker wand'ring steps to guide,
And rend his flesh; and his own sinews eat. An ancient matron she to her does call,
His own dear Una, hearing evermore Whose sober looks her wisdom well descried; 12
His rueful shrieks and groanings, -often tore Her name was Mercy; well known over all13
Her guiltless garments and her golden hair, To be both gracious and eke liberal:
For pity of his pain and anguish sore: To whom the careful charge of him she gave,
Yet all with patience wisely she did bear; To lead aright, that he should never fall
For well she wist his crime could else be never In all his ways through this wide worlde s
clear.1 wave; 14
Whom, thus recover'd by wise Patience That Mercy in the end his righteous soul might
And true Repentance, they to Una brought; save.
Who, joyous of his cured conscience, The godly matron by the hand him bears
Him dearly kiss'd, and fairly eke besought Forth from her presence, by a narrow way,
Himself to cherish, and consuming thought Scatter'd with bushy thorns and ragged breres,15
To put away out of his careful breast. Which still before him she remov'd away,
By this 2 Charissa, late in childbed brought, That nothing might his ready passage stay:
Was waxen strong, and left her fruitful nest: And ever when his feet encumber'd were,
To her fairUna broughtthis unacquainted guest, Or gan to shrink, or from the right to stray,
She was a woman in her freshest age, She held him fast, and firmly did upbear;
Of wondrous beauty, and of bounty rare, As careful nurse her child from falling oft does
With goodly grace and comely personage, rear.
That was on earth not easy to compare; Eftsoons unto a holy hospital,
Full of great love; but Cupid's wanton snare That was foreby16 the way, she did him bring;
As hell she hated; chaste in work and will; In which seven beadmen,l7 that had vowed all
Her neck and breasts were ever open bare, Their life to service of high heaven's King,
That aye thereof her babes might suck their fill; Did spend their days in doing godly thing:
The rest was all in yellow robes arrayed still. Their gates to all were open evermore,
A multitude of babes about her hung, That by the weary way were travelling;
Playing their sports, that joy'd her to behold; And one sat waiting ever them before,
Whom still she fed, while they were weak and To call in comers-by, that needy were and poor.
young, The first of them, that eldest was and best,l8
But thrust them forth still as they waxed old: Of all the house had charge and government,
And on her head she wore a tire 3 of gold, As guardian and steward of the rest:
Adorn'd with gems and ouches 4 wondrous fair, His office was to give ent6rtainment
Whose passing price unneth 5 was to be told:6 And lodging unto all that came and went;
And by her side there sat a gentle pair Not unto such as could him feast again,
Of turtle doves, she sitting in arnivory chair. And double quite 19 for that he on them spent;
The Knight and Una, ent'ring, fair her greet, But such as want of harbour20 did constrain
And bid her joy of that her happy brood; Those for God's sake his duty was to entertain.
Who them requiteswithcourt'sies seeming meet, The second was as almoner of the place:
And entertains with friendly cheerful mood. His office was the hungry for to feed,
Then Una her besought, to be so good And thirsty give to drink; a work of grace.
As in her virtuous rules to school her Knight, He fear'd not once himself to be in need,
Now after all his torment well withstood Nor car'd to hoard for those whom he did breed:
In that sad house of Penance, where his sprite The grace of God he laid up still in store,
Had pass'd the pains of hell and long-enduring Which as a stock he left unto his seed:
night. He had enough; what need him care for more?
She was right joyous of her just request; And had he less, yet some he would give to the
And, taking by the hand that Faery's son, poor.
Gan him instruct in every good behest,7 The third had of their wardrobe custody,
Of Love; and Righteousness; and Well to In which were not rich tires, nor garments gay,
don; 8 The plumes of pride, and wings of vanity,
1 Washed away, atoned. 11 Ruined. 12 Declared.
2 By this time; meanwhile. 13 Everywhere. 14 Uneven way.
3 Head-dress, tiara. 15 Briars. 16 Near.
4 Ornaments, buttons or bosses. 17 Men of prayer, the virtue of Charity was divided
5 Scarcely. 6 Reckoned. by the old theologians into seven heads or branches.
7 Commandment. 8 Well-doing. 18 Highest in order of precedence.
f Carefully. 10 Griefs. 19 Return a double recompense. 20 Refuge, shelter.
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