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

492 HE'FA IERE QUEEN. [BOOK V.
for,'though he had first won the victory, he had That then all rule and reason they withstand,
wilfully lost it by abandoning his weapon. To purchase a licentious liberty:
Striking him with the flat of her sword, Radi- But virtuous women wisely understand
gund took him as her vassal; but Terpine she That they were born. to base 7 humility,
ordered to be hanged straightway; while Talus, Unless the heav'nsthemliftto lawful sov'reignty.
thundering with his iron flail among those who Thus Artegalllong continued to serve Radisought to bar his path, made his escape-not gund with due subjection; while the royal
once attempting to rescue his lord, but thinking Amazon conceived love for her captive, and was
it just to obey the conditions of the battle. tormented day and night by her anguish, which
Then took the Amazon this noble Knight, ever increased the more she strove against it.
Left to her will by his own wilful blame, At last she began to stoop " to meek obeisance
And caused him to be disarmed quite of Love's mighty reign;" and, calling secretly
Of all the ornaments of knightly name to her the handmaid whom she most did trust,
With which whil6m he gotten had great fame: told her that she must'now test her friendship
Instead whereof she made him to be dight 1 in greatest need.
-In woman's weeds, that is to manhood shame WVith that she turn'd her head, as half abash'd,
And put before his lap an apron white, To hide the blush which in her visage rose
Instead of curiets and bases 2 fit for fight. And through her eyes like sudden lightning
So being clad she brought him from the field, flash'd,
In which he had been trained many a day, Decking her cheek with a vermilion rose:
Into a long large chamber, which was ceil'd But soon she did her countenance compose,
With monuments of many knights' decay, And, to her turning, thus began again;
By her subdued in victorious fray: " This grief's deep wound I would to thee disAmongst the which she caus'd his warlike arms close,
Be hang'd on high, that might his shamebewray; Thereto compelled through heart - murd'ring
And broke his sword, for fear of farther harms, pain;
With which he wont to stir up battailous alarms. But dread of shame my doubtful lips doth still
There enter'd in, he round about him saw restrain.
Many brave knights whose names right well he Encouraged by the handmaid to say on and be
knew, bold, Radigund confesses that the Faery Knight
There bound t' obey that Amazon's proud law, has won her heart, and that she would fain " by
Spinning and carding all in comely rew,3 his freedom get his free goodwill, yet so as
That his big heart loath'd so uncomely view: bound to me he may continue still," by the
But they were forc'd, through penury and pine, bands of "sweet love and sure benevolence."
To do those works to them appointed due: The queen entreats Clarinda to try if she can
For naught was given them to sup or dine, win him any way, without discovering her misBut what their hands could earn by twisting tress's mind;
linen twine. "Which that thou may'st the better bring to
Amongst them all she placied him most low, pass,
And in his hand a distaff to him gave, Lo! here this ring, which shall thy warrant be
That he thereon should spin both flax and tow; And token true to old Eumenias,
A sordid office for a mind so brave: From time to time, when thou it best shall see,
So hard it is to be a woman's slave! That in and out thou may'st have passage free.
Yet he took it in his own self's despite, Go now, Clarinda; well thy wits advise,
And thereto did himself right well behave And all thy forces gather unto thee,
Her to obey, since he his faith had plight Armies of lovely looks, and speeches wise,
Her vassal to become, if she him won in fight. With which thou canst ev'n Jove himself to love
entice."
Who had him seen, imagine might thereby entice.
That4 whilom hath of Hercules been told, Clarinda comforted Radigund with sure proHow for Iola's 5 sake he did apply mise of her best endeavour, and thenceforth
His mighty hands the distaff vile to hold, sought by all the means she might to curry
For his huge club, which had subdued of old favour with the Elfin Knight; proving him with
So many monsters which the world annoy'd; wide-glancing words, drawing dark pictures of
His lion's skin chang'd to a pall6 of gold, his captive future, and kindling in his mind the
In which, forgetting wars, he only joy'd thought of deliverance. Having led him to the
In combats of sweet love, and with his mistress admission that the man were unworthy of better
toy'd. day who did not take the offer of good hope, she
Such is the cruelty of womenkind, spoke thus:
When they have shaken off the shamefast band " Then why dost not, thou ill-advised man,,With which wise nature did them strongly bind Make means to win thy liberty forlorn,8
T' obey the bests of man's well-ruling hand, And try if thou by fair entreaty can
1 Dressed. 5 Not Iola, but Omphale, is intended.
2 Cuirass and armour for the legs. 6 Cloak. 7 Lowly.
3 Row. 4 That which. 8 Lost.