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

CANTO vII.] TIE FAERZ QUEEN. 463
Yettwho was that Belphoebe he not'wist; - That, at the last, of all his woe and wrong
Yt saw he often how he waxed glad Companion she became, and so continued long.
When he it heard, and how the ground he kist Upon a day, as she him sat beside
Wherein it written was, and how himself he By chance he certain monimentsl0 forth drew,
blist.2 Which yet with him as relics did abide
Then when he long had marked his demeanour, Of all the bounty which Belphcebe threw
And saw that all he said and did was vain, On him, whilst goodly grace'she did him shew:
Nor aught might make him change his wonted Amongst the rest a jewel rich he found,
tenour, That was a ruby of right perfect hue,
Nor aught might cease to mitigate his pain; Shap'd like a heart yet bleeding of the wound,
He left him there in languor to remain, And with a little golden chain about it bound.
Till time for him should remedy provide, The same he took, and with a riband new,
And him restore to former grace again: In which his lady's colours were, did bind
Which, for'it is too long here to abide, About the turtle's neck, that with the view
I will defer the end until another tide. Did greatly solace his engrieved mind.
All unawares the bird, when she did find
Herself so deck'd, her nimble wings display'd,
And flew away as lightly as the wind:
Which sudden accident him much dismay'd;
CANTO VIII. And, looking after long, did mark which way
she stray'd;
The gentle Squire recovers grace: She s
Slander her guests doth stain: But when as long he looked-had in vain,
Corflambo chaseth Placidas, Yet saw her forward still to make her flight,
And is by Arthur slain.' His weary eye return'd to him again,
Full of discomfort and disquiet plight,
THE poet cites the] saying of Solomon, "that- That both his jewel he had lost so light,
the displeasure of the mighty is than death And eke his dear companion of his care.
itself more dread and desperate;" and points But that sweet bird departing flew forthright,
the proverb by the sad case of Timias, " whose Through the wide region of the wastefull air,
tender heart the fair Belphcebe had with one Until she came where wonned 12 his Belphoebe
stern look so daunted," that his whole life was fair
passed in sorrow and weeping, "as blasted Therefound she her asthen itdid betide)
bloom through heat doth languish and decay." Thee foun she he r (as the t dd bet,
Sitting in covert shade of arbours sweet,
Till on a day, as in his wonted wise After late weary toil, which she had tried
His dool 3 he made, there chanc'd a turtle dove In salvage chase, to rest as seem'd her meet.
To come, where he his dolours did devise,4 There she, alighting, fell before her feet,
That likewise late had lost her dearest love, And gan to her her mournful plaint to make,
Which loss her made like passion 5 also prove: 6 As was her wont, thinking to let her weet 13
Who seeing his sad plight, her tender heart The great tormenting grief that for her sake
With dear compassion deeply did enmove, Her gentle Squire through her displeasure did
That she gan moan his undeserved smart, partake.
And with, her doleful accent bear with him a She, her beholding with attentive eye,
part. At length did mark about her purple breast
She sitting by him, as on ground he lay, That precious jewel which she formerly
Her mournful notes full piteously did frame, Had known right well, with colour'd ribands
And thereof made a lamentable lay, drest:
So sensibly compil'd,7 that in the same Therewith she rose in haste, and her addrest
Him seemed oft he heard his own right name. With ready hand it to have reft away:
With that he forth would pour so plenteous But the swift bird obey'd not her behest,
tears, But swerv'd aside, and there again did stay;
And beat his breast, unworthy of such blame, She follow'd her, and thought again it to assay.
And knock his head, and rend his rugged hairs, And ever, when she nigh approach'd, the dove
That could have pierc'd the hearts of tigers and Would flit a little forward, and then stay
of bears. Till she drew near, and then again remove:
Thus long this gentle bird to him did use, So tempting her still to pursue the prey,
Withouten dread of peril, to repair And still from her escaping soft away:
Unto his won,8 and with her mournful muse Till that at length into that forest wide
Him to recomfort in his greatest care, She drew her far, and led with slow delay:
That much did ease his mourning and misfare: 9 In th' end, she her unto that place did guide
And ev'ry day, for guerdon of her song, Where as that woeful man in languor did abide.
He part of his small feast to her would share; Eftsoons she flew unto his fearless hand,.
1 Knew. 2 Blessed. 7 Constnrcted. 8 Dwelling.
3 Lament. 4 Told his griefs. 9 Unhappiness. io Memorials.
5 Sffering. 6 Feel. 11 Desert. 12 Dwelt. 13 Know.