XLVII. With that all desperate, as loathing light, The Prince, with pacience and sufferaunce sly,2 Tho, when this breathlesse woxe, that batteil gan renew. XLVIII. As when a windy tempest bloweth hye, That nothing may withstand his stormy stowre,3 XLIX. At last whenas the Sarazin perceiv'd How that straunge sword refusd to serve his neede, 1 Foynd, pushed. 3 Stowre, violence. 4 Straunge, not belonging to him. XLVII. 4. — With his owne swerd.] With Prince Arthur's own sword. XLVII. 9.- Tho, when, &c.] Then when this Paynim grew breathless, that Prince renewed the battle. Thinking to overthrowe and downe him tred: And through his nimble sleight did under him down cast. L. Nought booted it the Paynim then to strive; For as a bittur in the eagles clawe, That may not hope by flight to scape alive, Still waytes for death with dread and trembling aw; Did not once move, nor upward cast his eye, LI. But, full of princely bounty and great mind, And all thy wronges will wipe out of my sovenaunce.4" LII. "Foole," sayd the Pagan, "I thy gift defye; But use thy fortune, as it doth befall; Wroth was the Prince, and sory yet withall, 1 Bittur, bittern. 2 Then decay, than death. 3 Miscreaunce, false faith. ▲ Sovenaunce, memory. LI. 1.- Great mind.] Magnanimity. That he so wilfully refused grace; Yet, sith his fate so cruelly did fall, And left his headlesse body bleeding all the place. LIII. By this, Sir Guyon from his traunce awakt, Firme is thy faith, whom daunger never fro me drew. LIV. "But read what wicked hand hath robbed mee Him answered; "Fayre sonne, be no whit sad Whose carcases on ground were horribly prostrate. LV. Which when he heard, and saw the tokens trew, "My Lord, my Liege, by whose most gratious ayd 1 Sith, since. 2 Lakt, lacked, or wanted. 3 Wondrous woe, very sad. 4 Read, tell me. 5 Debate, battle. • Embayd, filled. I live this day, and see my foes subdewd, What may suffice to be for meede repayd But to be ever bound" LVI. To whom the Infant thus; "Fayre Sir, what need To bind their dooers to receive their meed? Of kindnesse and of courteous aggrace2; 1 Dero, duty. 2 Aggrace, favor. LVI. 1.- The Infant.] Infant here means prince, in the sense of the Spanish infanté. LVI. 1.- Fayre Sir, what need, &c.] This remark of Prince Arthur expresses the sentiment of a beautiful maxim of de la Rochefoucauld, that the too eager desire to return a favor is, in itself, a species of ingratitude. LVI. 7.- So goodly purpose they together fond.] Thus they held goodly discourse together. CANTO IX. The House of Temperaunce, in which Besiegd of many foes, whom straung- I. Or all Gods workes, which doe this worlde adorne, Then is mans body, both for powre and forme, But none then it more fowle and indecent, Doth lose his dignity and native grace: II. After the Paynim brethren conquer'd were, 6 To weet why on your shield, so goodly scord, 1 Then, than. 2 Incontinent, immediately. 3 Yfere, together. 4 Bord, address. 5 Read, ask. • Weet, learn. I. 9. In this place.] In the persons of Prince Arthur and the two brothers, Cymochles and Pyrochles. |