XXX.

"And were there rightfull cause of difference, "Yet were not better fayre it to accord, "Then with blood-guiltinesse to heape offence, ❝ And mortal vengeaunce ioyne to crime abhord ? "O fly from wrath, fly, O my liefest lord! "Sad be the sights, and bitter fruites of warre, "And thousand furies wait on wrathfull sword: "Ne ought the praise of prowesse more doth marre, "Then foule revenging rage and base contentious XXXI.

[iarre.

"But lovely concord and most sacred peace "Doth nourish vertue, and fast friendship breeds; "Weake she makes strong,and strong thing does in"Till it the pitch of highest praise exceeds: [creace, "Brave be her warres, and honorable deeds, "By which she triumphes over yre and pride, "And winnes an olive girlond for her meeds. "Be therefore, O my deare Lords! pacifide, "And this misseeming discord meekely lay aside."

XXXII.

Her gracious words their rancour did appall,
And suncke so deepe into their boyling brests,
That downe they lette their cruell weapons fall,
And lowly did abase their lofty crests
To her faire presence and discrete behests.
Then she began a treaty to procure,

And stablish terms betwixt both their requests,
That as a law for ever should endure;

Which to observe in word of knights they did

assure.

XXXIII.

Which to confirme, and fast to bind their league,
After their weary sweat and bloody toile,

She them besought, during their quiet treague,
Into her lodging to repair a while,di si a task me t
To rest themselves, and grace to reconcile,
They soone consent; so forth with her they fare,
Where they are well receivd, and made to spoile
Themselves of soiled arms, and to prepare cate
Their minds to pleasure, and their mouths to dainty

XXXIV.

[fare. And those two froward sisters (their faire loves) Came with them eke, all were they wondrous loth, And fained cheare, as for the time behoves, But could not colour yet so well the troth, But that their natures bad appeard in both; For both did at their second sister grutch And inly grieve, as doth an hidden moth The inner garment frett, not th'utter touch; One thought her cheare too little, th'other thought XXXV. [too mutch.

Elissa (so the eldest hight) did deeme

Such entertainment base, ne ought would eat,
Ne ought would speake, but evermore did seeme
As discontent for want of merth or meat;
No solace could her paramour intreat

Her once to show, ne court, nor dalliaunce,
But with bent lowring brows, as she would threat,
She scould, and frownd with froward countenance
Unworthy of faire ladies comely governaunce.

XXXVI.

But young Perissa was of other mynd,
Full of disport, still laughing, loosely light,
And quite contrary to her sister's kynd;
No measure in her mood, no rule of right,
But poured out in pleasure and delight;
In wine and meats she flow'd above the banck,
And in excesse exceeded her owne might;
In sumptuous tire she ioyed herselfe to pranck;
But of her love too lavish, litle have she thanck.
XXXVII.

Fast by her side did sitt the bold Sansloy,
Fitt mate for such a mincing mineon,
Who in her loosenesse tooke exceeding ioy;
Might not be found a francker franion,
Of her leawd parts to make companion.
But Huddibras, more like a malecontent,
Did see and grieve at his bold fashion;
Hardly could he endure his hardiment;
Yett still he satt, and inly did himselfe torment.
XXXVIII.

Betwixt them both the faire Medina sate,
With sober grace and goodly carriage;
With equall measure she did moderate
The strong extremities of their outrage;
That forward paire she ever would asswage,
When they would strive dew reason to exceed;
But that same froward twaine would accorage,
And of her plenty adde unto their need;

So kept she them in order, and herselfe in heed.

XXXIX.

Thus fairely she attempered her feast,
And pleasd them all with meete satiety:
At last, when lust of meat and drinke was ceast,
She Guyon deare besought of curtesie, to bro
To tell from whence he came through ieopardy,
And whether now on new adventure bownd.
Who with bold grace and comely gravity,
Drawing to him the eies of all arownd, dw of
From lofty siege began these words aloud to sownd:

XL.

"This thy demand, O Lady! doth revived » "Fresh memory in me of that great queenem&&** "(Great and most glorious virgin queene alive) →→ “That with her soveraine power and scepter shene "All Faery Lond does peaceably sustene. W "In widest ocean she her throne does reare, "That over all the earth it may be seene;

"As morning sunne her beames dispredden cleare, "And in her face faire peace and mercy doth appeare. XLI.

"In her the richesse of all heavenly grace wo "In chiefe degree are heaped up on hye; il Pa "And all that else this world's enclosure bace "Hath great or glorious in mortall eye, ananas "Adornes the person of her maies ye; ** "That men beholding so great excellence, " And rare perfection in mortalitye, of

"Doe her adore with sacred reverence,econdly I "As th' idole of her Maker's great magnificence.

XLII.

"To her I homage and my service owe, "In number of the noblest knightes on ground; Mongst whom on me she deigned to bestowe “Order of Maydenhead, the most renownd

"That may this day in all the world be found. "An yearely solemne feast she wontes to make, "The day that first doth lead the yeare around, "To which all knights of worth and courage bold "Resort, to heare of straunge adventures to be told. XLIII.

"There this old palmer shewd himselfe that day, "And to that mighty princesse did complaine "Of grievous mischiefes, which a wicked Fay Had wrought, and many whelmd in deadly paine, "Whereof he crav'd redresse. My soveraine, "Whose glory is in gracious deeds, and ioyes 66 Throughout the world her mercy to maintaine, "Eftsoones devisd redresse for such annoyes; "Me all unfitt for so great purpose she employes. XLIV.

"Now hath faire Phoebe with her silver face "Thrise seene the shadowes of the neather world, "Sith last I left that honorable place,

"In which her roiall presence is enrold; "Ne ever shall I rest in house nor hold, "Till I that false Acrasia have wonne,

Of whose fowle deedes, too hideous to be told, "I witnesse am, and this their wretched sonne, "Whose woefull parents she hath wickedly fore donne."