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

356 THE FAERIE QUEEN. [BOOK I.
How dare I think such glory to attain! " To have return'd; 15 but dazed 16 were his eyne
"These, that have it attain'd, were in like case," Through passing brightness, which did quite
Quoth he, "as wretched, and liv'd in like confound
pain." 1 His feeble sense, and too exceeding shine.
"But deeds of arms must I at last be fain,2 So dark are earthly things compar'd to things
And ladies' love, to leave, so dearly bought?" divine!
"What need of arms, where peace doth aye At last, when as himself he gan to find,
remain," To Una back he cast him 17 to retire;
Said he, " and battles none are to be fought? Who him awaited still with pensive mind.
As for loose loves, they're vain, and vanish into Great thanks, and goodly meed, to that good sire
naught." He thence departing gave for his pain's hire.l8
" let me not," quoth he, " then turn again So came to Una, who him joy'd to see;
Back to the world, whose joys so fruitless are; And, after little rest, gan him desire
But let me here for ay in peace remain, Of her adventure mindful for to be.
Or straightway on that last long voyage fare, So leave they take of Caelia and her daughters
That nothing may my present hope impair." 3 three.
"That may not be," said he, "nor may'st thou
yet
Forego that royal Maid's bequeathed care,
Who did her cause into thy hand commit, CANTO XI.
Till from her cursed foe thou have her freely
quit." 4 The Knight with that old Dragon fights
Two days incessantly:
"Then shall I soon," quoth he, "so God me Two days incessantlys
grace, Most glorious victory.
Abet 6 that Virgin's cause disconsolate,
And shortly back return unto this place, HIGH time now gan it wax 19 for Una fair
To walk this way in pilgrim's poor estate. To think of those her captive parents dear,
But now aread,7 old Father, why of late And their forwasted kingdom to repair:
Didst thou behight 8 me born of English blood, Whereto when as they now approached near,
Whom all a Faery's son do nominate? " 8 With hearty words her Knight she gan to cheer,
"That word shall I," said he, " avouchen good,9 And in her modest manner thus bespake;
Since to thee is unknown the cradle of thy brood. "Dear Knight, as dear as ever knight was dear,
That all these sorrows suffer for my sake,
For well I wot thou spring'st from ancient race High heav'n behold the tedious toil ye for me
Of Saxon kings, that have with mighty hand, take
And many bloody battles fought in place,
High rear'd their royal throne in Britons' land, "Now are we come unto my native soil,
And vanquish'd them, unable to withstand: And to the place where all our perils dwell;
From thence a Faery thee unweeting 0 reft, Here haunts that fiend, and does his daily spoil;
There as thou slept in tender swaddling band, Therefore henceforth be at your keeping20 well,
And her base Elfin brood there for thee left: And ever ready for your foeman fell:
Such men do changelings call, so chang'd by The spark of noble courage now awake,
Faery's theft. And strive your excellent self to excel:
That shall ye evermore renowned make
"Thence she thee brought into this Faery Land, Above all knights on earth that battle underAnd in a heaped furrow did thee hide; tke.
Where thee a ploughman all unweeting fand,
As he his toilsome team that way did guide, And pointing forth, " Lo! yonder is," said she,
And brought thee up in ploughman's state to " The brazen tow'r in which my parents dear
bide, For dread of that huge fiend imprison'd be;
Whereof Georgos 1 he thee gave to name; Whom I from far see on the walls appear,
Till, prick'd with courage and thy force's pride, Whose sight my feeble soul doth greatly cheer:
To Faery Court thou cam'st to seek for fame, And on the top of all I do espy
And prove thy puissant arms, as seems thee best The watchman waiting tidings glad to hear;
became." That, O my parents, might I happily
" holy Sire," quoth he, "how shall I quite 12 Unto you brng, to ease you of your misery!
The many favours I with thee have found, With that they heard a roaring hideous sound,
That hast my name and nation read 13 aright, That all the air with terror fillid wide,
And taught- the way that does to heaven And seem'd uneath21 to shake the steadfast
bound! "14 ground.
This said, adown he looked to the ground, Eftsoons that dreadful dragon they espied,
1 Rev. vii. 14: "These are they which came out of n1 rewYpros, Greek for a husbandman.
great tribulation." 2 Constrained. 12 Repay. 13 Declared.
3 Diminish. 4 Delivered. 14 Ascend. 15 With the purpose of returning.
5 Favour. 6 Assist. 16 Dazzled. 17 Resolved.
7 Explain. 8 Call. 18 To reward his trouble. 19 It became.
Vidicate as true. 10 Unconscious. 20 On your guard. 21 Underneath.