Of high displeasure that ensewen might, XLI. “Ah, dearest Dame," quoth then the Paynim bold, Whome great griefe made forgett the raines to hold Whose shield he beares renverst," the more to heap disdayn. XLII. "And, to augment the glorie of his guile, His dearest love, the faire Fidessa, loe Is there possessed of the traytour vile; He never meant with words, but swords, to plead his right: XLIII. But threw his gauntlet, as a sacred pledg, 1 Treachour, traitor. 2 Prowest, bravest. 3 Renverst, reversed. XLI. 9. — Renverst.] When a knight was degraded, his arms were reversed. That night they pas in ioy and iollity, Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall; That of his plenty poured forth to all: Which doen, the chamberlain Slowth did to rest them call. XLIV. Now whenas darksome Night had all displayd Uprose Duessa from her resting place, And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace: XLV. Whom broad awake she findes, in troublous fitt, Ah deare Sansioy, next dearest to Sansfoy, XLVI. With gentle wordes he can2 her fayrely greet, And bad say on the secrete of her hart: Then, sighing soft; "I learne that litle sweet For, since my brest was launcht with lovely dart 1 Amoves, moves. 3 Muchell, much. 4 Lovely dart, dart of love. Of deare Sansfoy, I never ioyed howre, Have wasted, loving him with all my powre, And for his sake have felt full many an heavy stowre.1 XLVII. "At last, when perils all I weened past, And hop'd to reape the crop of all my care, And ever since hath kept in darksom cave; XLVIII. "But since faire sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd, Of brothers prayse, to you eke longes 4 his love. Be unreveng'd, that calles to you above From wandring Stygian shores, where it doth endlesse move." XLIX. Thereto said he, "Faire dame, be nought dismaid For sorrowes past; their griefe is with them gone. Ne yet of present perill be affraid : For needlesse feare did never vantage none; And helplesse hap it booteth not to mone. 1 Stovore, peril. 3 False faytor, deceiver. 2 Unweeting, unknowing. 4 Longes, belongs. Dead is Sansfoy, his vitall paines are past, Though greeved ghost for vengeance deep do grone: L. "O, but I feare the fickle freakes," quoth shee, "Of fortune false, and oddes of armes in field." 66 Why, dame," quoth he, "what oddes can ever bee, Where both doe fight alike, to win or yield?" "Yea, but," quoth she, "he beares a charmed shield, And eke enchaunted armes, that none can perce; Ne none can wound the man, that does them wield.” "Charmd or enchaunted," answerd he then ferce, "I no whitt reck; ne you the like need to reherce. LI. "But, faire Fidessa, sithens1 fortunes guile, Shall follow you." So, passing forth, she him obaid.* 1 Sithens, since. * Here we find the Red-cross Knight so deluded by the wiles of Duessa, as to become a courtier in the house of Pride, though he cannot be so untrue to his original nature as to feel contented. So far astray has a single rash act led him. CANTO V. The faithfull Knight in equall field I. THE noble hart that harbours vertuous thought, Still did he wake, and still did watch for dawning light. II. At last, the golden orientall gate Of greatest heaven gan to open fayre; And Phoebus, fresh as brydegrome to his mate, In sunbright armes, and battailous array; For with that Pagan proud he combatt will that day. And forth he comes into the commune hall; Where earely waite him many a gazing eye, |