28

He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame, Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will, To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame,

As you to leaue, that haue me loued still,
And chose in Faery court of meere goodwill,
Where noblest knights were to be found on earth:
The earth shall sooner leaue her kindly skill
To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth,
Then I leave you, my liefe, yborne of heauenly
berth.
29

And sooth to say, why I left you so long,
Was for to seeke aduenture in strange place,
Where Archimago said a felon strong
To many knights did daily worke disgrace;
But knight he now shall neuer more deface:
Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye please
Well to accept, and euermore embrace

My faithfull seruice, that by land and seas Haue vowd you to defend, now then your plaint appease. 30

His louely words her seemd due recompence
Of all her passed paines: one louing howre
For
many yeares of sorrow can dispence:
A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre:
She has forgot, how many a wofull stowre
For him she late endur'd; she speakes no more
Of past: true is, that true loue hath no powre
To looken backe; his eyes be fixt before.
Before her stands her knight, for whom she
toyld so sore.

31

33

They had not ridden farre, when they might see One pricking towards them with hastie heat, Full strongly armd, and on a courser free, That through his fiercenesse fomed all with sweat,

And the sharpe yron did for anger eat, When his hot ryder spurd his chauffed side; His looke was sterne, and seemed still to threat Cruell reuenge, which he in hart did hyde, And on his shield Sans loy in bloudie lines was dyde. 34

When nigh he drew vnto this gentle payre And saw the Red-crosse, which the knight did beare,

He burnt in fire, and gan eftsoones prepare Himselfe to battell with his couched speare. Loth was that other, and did faint through feare, To taste th❜vntryed dint of deadly steele ; But yet his Lady did so well him cheare, That hope of new good hap he gan to feele; So bent his speare, and spurnd his horse with yron heele.

35

But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce, And full of wrath,that with his sharp-head speare Through vainely crossed shield he quite did pierce, [feare, And had his staggering steede not shrunke for Through shield and bodie eke he should him beare:

Yet so great was the puissance of his push, That from his saddle quite he did him beare: He tombling rudely downe to ground did rush, And from his gored wound a well of bloud did gush. 36

Dismounting lightly from his loftie steed,
He to him lept, in mind to reaue his life,
And proudly said, Lo there the worthie meed
Of him, that slew Sansfoy with bloudie knife;
Henceforth his ghost freed from repining strife,
In peace may passen ouer Lethe lake,
When mourning altars purgd with enemies life,
The blacke infernall Furies doen aslake:
Life from Sansfoy thou tookst, Sansloy shall
from thee take.

37

Therewith in haste his helmet gan vnlace,
Till Vna cride, O hold that heauie hand,
Deare Sir, what euer that thou be in place:
Enough is, that thy foe doth vanquisht stand
Now at thy mercy: Mercie not withstand:
For he is one the truest knight aliue,

Though conquered now he lie on lowly land, And whilest him fortune fauourd,faire did thriue In bloudie field: therefore of life him not depriue.

But her fierce seruant full of kingly awe
And high disdaine, whenas his soueraine Dame
So rudely handled by her foe he sawe,
With gaping iawes full greedy at him came,
And ramping on his shield, did weene the same
Haue reft away with his sharpe rending clawes.
But he was stout, and lust did now inflame
His corage more, that from his griping pawes
He hath his shield redeem'd, and foorth hisswerd
he drawes.
42

O then too weake and feeble was the forse
Of saluage beast, his puissance to withstand:
For he was strong, and of so mightie corse,
As euer wielded speare in warlike hand,
And feates of armes did wisely vnderstand.
Eftsoones he perced through his chaufed chest
With thrilling point of deadly yron brand,
And launcht his Lordly hart: with death opprest
He roar'd aloud, whiles life forsooke his stub-
borne brest.

Great troupes of people traueild thitherward
Both day and night, of each degree and place,
But few returned, hauing scaped hard,
With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace,
Which euer after in most wretched case,
Like loathsome lazars, by the hedges lay. --
Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace:
For she is wearie of the toilesome way,
And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

4

A stately Pallace built of squared bricke, Which cunningly was without morter laid, Whose wals were high,but nothing strong, nor thick,

And golden foile all ouer them displaid, That purest skye with brightnesse they dismaid:

High lifted vp were many loftie towres, And goodly galleries farre ouer laid, Full of faire windowes, and delightfull bowres; And on the top a Diall told the timely howres. 5

It was a goodly heape for to behould,

And spake the praises of the workmans wit; But full great pittie, that so faire a mould Did on so weake foundation euer sit: For on a sandie hill, that still did flit, And fall away, it mounted was full hie, That euery breath of heauen shaked it : And all the hinder parts, that few could spie, Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

6

Arriued there they passed in forth right;
For still to all the gates stood open wide,
Yet charge of them was to a Porter hight
Cald Maluenù, who entrance none denide:
Thence to the hall, which was on euery side
With rich array and costly arras dight:
Infinite sorts of people did abide

There waiting long, to win the wished sight Of her, that was the Lady of that Pallace bright.

7

By them they passe, all gazing on them round, And to the Presence mount; whose glorious

vew

Their frayle amazed senses did confound: In liuing Princes court none euer knew Such endlesse richesse, and so sumptuous shew; Ne Persia selfe, the nourse of pompous pride Like euer saw. And there a noble crew Of Lordes and Ladies stood on euery side, Which with their presence faire, the place much beautifide.